USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 102
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Gustav Schmidt was born in Germany, June 27, 1861, son of Gottlieb and Wilhelmina Schmidt. Both parents were also natives of the same sec- tion, where he was a farmer, and passed their entire lives in that region. He died in 1870, and after his death the mother came to this country and died about 1900, having never remarried. Both were members of the Luth- eran church and most excellent people. Mr. Schmidt is one of a family of four children, the eldest of whom, August, died in Germany, a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War. Carl lives in Wisconsin and is a stone and brick mason by trade, and Julius, the youngest of the family, died on his farm in Otter Tail county, about six miles east of Underwood.
Gustav Schmidt was educated in the public schools of his native land and was brought up to work. He fulfilled the time of his compulsory military service, but his country was in no action during those years. In
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1887 he came to America, joining his brother, who was located in Wiscon- sin, and there he secured work by the day. He later went to South Dakota and hired out to farm work by the month for a couple of years and then took up farming on his own account on rented land. He later purchased a farmi of one hundred and sixty aeres in this state, where he lived for four years and sold out and came to Otter Tail county. He purchased a farm of one hundred and nine aeres in Tordenskjold township, where he lived for two years and then disposed of his farming interests and became interested in the hardware business.
Mr. Schmidt endorses the platform of the Republican party, although taking no especial interest in such matters, and he holds his religious men- bership with the Lutheran church. He has served as a member of the town board and has in other ways given evidence of his interest in all matters pertaining to the advancement of any phase of community life. Mr. Schmidt has been thrice married. His first wife was Matilda Geide, who died some six or seven years after marriage, leaving four small children. Of these Emma is a clerk in her father's store; Pauline and Reinholdt are at home, and the youngest died in infancy. Mr. Schmidt married Bertha Washer for his second wife; there being no issue to that union. His third wife was Mrs. Anna Hoyer, and to them one child was born, but died early in life. Mr. Schmidt is acknowledged to be one of the leading business men of Underwood and stands high in the estimation of both business acquaint- ances and personal friends.
OLAF LEIN.
Olaf Lein, a farmer living on the outskirts of Underwood, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of the state of Iowa, born in Winneshiek county, June 12, 1872, son of John and Marit ( Randahl ) Lein. John Lein's parents both lived and died in their native Norway, and while the parents of Marit Randahl were also Norwegians by birth, they in 1870 or 1871 emigrated to America with their daughter and her husband. They all lived for a time in Iowa and after a few years the Randahl grandparents came to Otter Tail county, where they bought a farm located just west of where the village of Underwood now stands. There the grandparents spent the remainder of their days.
Both of Mr. Lein's parents were born in Norway and were there mar- ried and in the early seventies, as before stated, came to this country. At their home in Iowa he worked for a time on the railroad and then rented a fruit farm, where he spent some four years. About 1878 or 1879 he moved to Wilkin county, this state, where he purchased a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, thirteen miles west of Fergus Falls. The land was
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good, but the buildings very poor indeed, and he gradually improved them until he brought them up to good condition. He later sold out and moved to Fork, located in the northwest portion of this state, and there operated a small general store and was appointed postmaster, which position he held for a great many years. The mother's death occurred at that place in 1912 and the father then disposed of his little store to a son-in-law and moved to Warren, this state, where he entered into partnership with a friend and they are now doing a real-estate business. Both John Lein and his wife were members of the Lutheran church from childhood and in that faith have reared their family. There were originally eleven children in their family, six of whom grew to maturity. Inga was the wife of Theodore Sjordal, and died at her home in Underwood: Nicolena married I. Ornis and lives at Fork, this state: Carl was from his boyhood a wanderer and his whereabouts at the present time are unknown; John lives at Warren, this state, where he is engaged in farming, and Christena is the wife of G. H. Gunheim.
Olaf Lein was the fourth child in the order of birth, and at the age of two years was taken into the home of his Grandfather Randahl, who reared him. He attended the public schools of Underwood and was taught practical farming on the grandfather's home place just west of Underwood. which is now Mr. Lein's home. On the death of the grandfather. Mr. Lein came into possession of the home. This at first had contained eighty acres, but the grandfather had sold some three acres into town lots and Mr. Lein has platted and sold five additional acres, so his farm now consists of sev- enty-two acres. This is all in good condition, well improved and with good buildings, and he conducts a general farming business in addition to raising considerable live stock.
On November 15, 1893, Mr. Lein was united in marriage with Berit Sands, daughter of Thore and Guri ( Holt ) Sands, both natives of Trondh- jem, Norway. They lived there several years after marriage, or until the time of the mother's death, in 1881, when the father, with his four chil- dren emigrated to America. They settled in Sverdrup township, this county. where he followed the carpenter trade and later took up farming. He lived for a time at Underwood but now resides in North Dakota, having retired from active duties. Mrs. Lein is the second child of the family, the eldest being Peter, who was an engineer and farmer in Oregon, where he died ; Ragna is the wife of Gus Wanstedt and lives at White Deer, South Dakota, while Olaf, the youngest of the family, is a farmer in Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. Lein have a family of six children, namely : Florence, born on March 26, 1805: Thoralf, July 18. 1896; Jarl, September 16, 1808: Leonard, April 6. 1902; Thelma, June 2, 1903, and Goodwin, Febru-
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ary 19. 1910. Mr. Lein takes a commendable interest in all that affects the life of the community and is independent so far as politics are concerned, voting for the man of his choice. His life has been such that he stands high in the regard of those who know him.
TOSTEN TOSTENSON.
Tosten Tostenson, who is an enterprising farmer of Tordenskjold town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Stavanger, Norway, where his birth occurred on July 21, 1854. Mr. Tostenson is a son of Tos- ten and Mallena ( Knutson ) Tostenson, who, after their marriage in Nor- way, lived there for some years, or until 1862, when they came with their family to America.
After living for one year in Rock county, Wisconsin, the family moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tordenskjold township. This farm was cleared and im- proved in many ways and a log cabin had been erected, in which the family lived. Mr. Tostenson died in 1886, while his wife had passed away three years previously, in 1883. Both were devout members of the Tordenskjold township Lutheran church, and were among the founders of the church. Before coming to the United States Tosten Tostenson, Sr., had served in the Norwegian army. He and his wife were the parents of seven children : Kari, who became the wife of Seamon Tostenson, lives in Battle Lake. Minnesota; Martha is the wife of a Mr. Thompson; Breta married Albert Josephson, and they live in Tordenskjold township; Mallena, the wife of Hans Havobson, and they live in Dane Prairie township; Martha, who died in Norway before the family emigrated to America; Knut, who died at the home of his brother, Tosten.
Tosten Tostenson, Jr., was educated in the common schools of Nor- way, and also attended school after coming to Minnesota. He was reared on the farm and about 1880 engaged in farming for himself. He first home- steaded one hundred and twenty acres of land, and later bought forty acres more. Subsequently he soll his first farm and purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Tordenskjold township, where he is now living. He has made all the improvements on this farm and has cleared the land and put it under cultivation. Mr. Tostenson has made a remarkable success as a stock breeder and general farmer.
In 1879 Tosten Tostenson, Jr., was married to Breta Peterson, a native of Norway, who was born at Stavanger, and who is a daughter of Thor- beron Peterson and wife. Mrs. Tostenson accompanied her parents to America when she was eight years old. The family settled first in Wis- consin, but removed to Otter Tail county in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Tosten
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Tostenson are the parents of ten children: Claus, a farmer living near Battle Lake, Minnesota; Monne, also a farmer living near Battle Lake; Carl, William, Theodore, Andrew and Martin are living at home; Thea, who is the wife of Herman Miller, lives in Dane Prairie township; Mary, the wife of Edwin Larson, of Tordenskjold township; Emma, the wife of Elmer Vincell, lives in Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Tostenson have five grand- children.
Since coming to America, Mr. Tostenson has been identified with the Republican party. He has held practically all of the local offices in this township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tostenson and family are devout members of the Lutheran church.
KNUT OLSON.
Knut Olson, a prosperous farmer of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, who was born eighteen miles out of Christiania, Norway, June 27, 1841, is a son of Ole E. and Osta Olson.
Mr. Olson's parents were both natives of Norway and there grew up and were married. After the death of his mother, Knut Olson came to America with his father in 1866. A little later they settled in Mower county, Minnesota, and afterward the father, whose death occurred in 1874, joined his son in Otter Tail county, where he had removed some time prev- iously. Mr. Olson was one of seven children born to his parents, namely : Ingebrit, a farmer by occupation, died in Mower county, Minnesota; Thor, also a farmer, died in North Dakota; Sarah, the wife of Eric Ingebritson, died in Norway: Chester, who married Nils Harls, died in Minnesota; Mary was married in Norway and there died; Ole, a farmer living near Dawson, Minnesota, and Knut, the immediate subject of this review.
Knut Olson received his early education in the public schools of Nor- way, and after coming to America with his father, in 1866, settled first in Mower county, Minnesota, where he worked for his brother on a farm. Two years later he came to Otter Tail county, when there was not a house on the present site of Fergus Falls. Here, in section 4, of Tordenskjold township, he homesteaded one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, which was mainly prairie, but upon which there was some timber standing. Here he built a log house, and has lived on this farm ever since, clearing his land and improving it in various ways. In the meantime, however, he has erected modern farm buildings and is engaged in general farming. Mr. Olson is a stockholder in various enterprises.
In 1872 Knut Olson was married to Sarah Erickson, a native of Nor- way, and the daughter of Ole Erickson, and to this union there have been
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born ten children : Edward E., a farmer of Tordenskjold township; Anna, living on a homestead in Dakota: Emma. the wife of Ed Nelson, lives in Dakota; Clara died at the age of twenty-three years; Neal, a farmer living in Dakota; Minnie, the wife of Harry Ingebretson, and they live in Dakota; Christian is a farmer living in Dakota; Sanford, a homestead farmer, and Hulda and Carol, living at home with their parents.
Mr. Olson was a Republican in politics for many years, but is now inde- pendent in his vote. Mr. Olson and family are earnest and devoted mem- bers of the Lutheran church.
EVEN SETHER.
Even Sether, a prosperous farmer and cattleman of Otter Tail county, was born near Trondjhem, Norway, September 8, 1839, a son of Even and Olong (Sether ) Sether, both of whom were born, reared and died in their native land of Norway. Mr. Sether's father was a farmer and landowner. and both he and his wife were earnest and devoted members of the Luth- eran church. They were the parents of seven children: Lars, a miller and farmer living in Norway; Jens, a retired farmer of Norway; Ole, who died in infancy: Even, the immediate subject of this sketch; Ole, deceased; Car- rie, deceased, and Guri, also deceased.
Even Sether received his early education in the public schools of Nor- way. afterwards supplementing this by attendance in a military school until he was twenty-three or twenty-four years of age. After leaving school he began work in his father's mill, where he worked until 1866, when he came to America. After arriving in this country, Mr. Sether settled first in Fill- more county, Minnesota, where he engaged in the milling business for four or five years, and continued in this business in Minneapolis and elsewhere until 1881. In the latter year he came to Otter Tail county and settled at Underwood. Mr. Sether had previously purchased a farm of one hundred. and eighty acres in Tordenskjold township, which was partially improved and under cultivation, having some buildings on it, but Mr. Sether has erected a new barn and other farm buildings, and has also repaired his house. He is extensively engaged in the breeding of Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle, and is otherwise engaged in general farming.
Mr. Sether was one of the organizers of the Farmers Mercantile Cor- poration, and in fact, was the promoter. He was elected clerk of this cor- poration, but is no longer serving in this capacity.
In 1806 Even Sether was married to Gertrude Aune, a native of Nor- way, and the daughter of Ole Aune, and to this marriage have been born five children, Edwin, Oliver, Olga. Oscar and Iva.
Politically, Mr. Sether is a Democrat, and has served in every local
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office within the gift of the people of his township, except that of town- ship treasurer, filling all these positions with credit to himself and to the constituents to whom he was responsible.
PETER EMIL HOLBECK.
Among the prosperous young farmers of Dane Prairie township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Peter Emil Holbeck, who is a native of Tordensk- jold township, Otter Tail county, where he was born on July 28, 1882, the son of Peter N. and Ingebor ( Peterson) Holbeck, the former of whom was born in Denmark, August 12, 1849, and who is the son of Nils and Karen (Olson ) Holbeck. A biographical sketch of Peter N. Holbeck is presented on another page of this volume, to which the reader is referred for further facts relating to the ancestry of Peter Emil Holbeck.
Peter Emil Holbeck was educated in school district No. 162, of Tor- denskjold township, and was reared on his father's farm. He remained at home until 1904, when he was married and he then rented a farm for three years in Tordenskjold township, subsequently purchasing one hundred and sixty acres just over the line in Dane Prairie township. In the meantime, Mr. HoĊbeck has erected a new house, a new barn and has made many other improvements on the farin. He was one of the incorporators of the Otter Tail County Co-operative Store Company and also one of the incorporators of the creamery.
On July 16, 1904. Peter Emil Holbeck was married to Inga Christine Mortenson, a sister of Martin Mortenson, a history of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume Mr. and Mrs. Holbeck have one son, Herbert Marion, born on April 9, 1905.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Holbeck are members of the Free Lutheran church. Fraternally, Mr. Holbeck is a member of the Danish Brotherhood. He is independent in politics.
OLE ERICKSON.
Ole Erickson was born in Norway, November 29, 1851, the son of Berger and Oline ( Olson ) Erickson, the father born on December 4, 1825, and the mother born on April 12, 1833. Berger and Oline Erickson, in the year 1852, came to America, making the voyage on a sailing vessel, which required more than nine weeks for the journey. After landing at New York, Berger Erickson and wife went by rail to the city of Milwaukee and from there, by ox-team, they went on to White Water, Wisconsin, where they lived for three years and then went to Adams county, Wisconsin, where they bought a farm, which they improved and where they lived for
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the next eighteen years. In 1871 the entire family moved, by ox-team and covered wagons, across the woods and prairies to Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, where they bought one hundred and twenty acres of state land in sec- tion 36. Dane Prairie township. At this time the land of Dane Prairie township was heavy timber land and Berger Erickson set out to bring his land under cultivation and to build such structures as a log house and a small log shed for a barn, after which he broke up the land and engaged as a general farmer. Berger Erickson improved his farm and built new build- ings as time went on and then bought forty acres of land adjoining, where the family lived until the year 1881, and then Berger Erickson took up a homestead in section 25, a short distance north of his original home. At this place Berger Erickson lived for six or seven years and then sold his home place to his son, Ole Erickson, the subject of this sketch, who now lives on the place.
On selling his land to his son, Berger Erickson retired from active life and now, a hale and hearty man, at the age of ninety years, often walks the distance of two miles to the town of Dalton. Oline (Olson) Erickson died on March 17, 1911. Berger Erickson. during the Civil War, served about a year with Company D, Eighteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, taking part in several engagements while in the service. Berger Erickson was one of the founders and builders of the Lutheran Synod church, his wife also having been a worker in the same church. To Berger and Oline Erickson were born the following children: Ole, the subject of this sketch; Amelia, who married L. A. Rustad and now lives in Virgina; Sophia Pauline, who married Andrew Johnson, and who is deceased; Bern- hard, who is a farmer and landowner of Dane Prairie township; Christiana. who is the widow of C. G. Peterson and lives at Barrett, Grant county, Minnesota: Cornelius, a farmer of Tumuli township; Bertha, who married Dr. O. A. Norman, and who died in 1914: Otto, who is a carpenter of Superior. Wisconsin; Anna, who is an employee of the state hospital at Fergus Falls. Minnesota ; Karen, who married Adolph Glorvigen, and lives at Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Lena, who lives with her brother, Ole, and two children who died in infancy.
Ole Erickson was educated in the public schools of his native country and then came with his father to the state of Minnesota, where he helped his father on the farm and then bought the home place, of one hundred and sixty acres, in Dane Prairie township, on which place he added many im- provements, among which was a new house, a new barn and other necessary buildings, and then engaged in the pursuit of general farming and stock raising.
Ole Erickson has never married, but has a younger sister who acts as
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his housekeeper. Mr. Erickson is a member of the Lutheran church and takes a prominent place in the work. In politics, Ole Erickson is inde- pendent. preferring to support all candidates that stand for good citizenship and advancement of community interests.
E. J. HANSON.
Born on the farm where he is now living in Tordenskjold township, February 26, 1877, E. J. Hanson, a well-known and prosperous farmer of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a son of Nils Hansen Loken and Annie ( Monstadt) Loken, both of whom were born in Norway, the former on January 25. 1837, and the latter on March 3, 1836.
Mr. Hanson's parents grew up in their native land and were married in that country and had two children before coming to America. During his active life, Nils Hansen Loken was a shoemaker by trade, but wishing to improve his condition, came to America about 1871, and for a time lived in Red Wing, Minnesota. After acquiring an ox-team he drove to Otter Tail county, settling in Clitherall township, where he lived for three or four years. Mrs. Hanson's mother, Ingebor Monsen, accompanied her daughter and son-in-law to this country, and after he arrived in Minnesota, took up a homestead in Clitherall township, where she lived for some years, her death occurring in Tordenskjold township, at the advanced age of ninety- one years. Nils Hanson later came to Tordenskjold township, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in sections 13 and 24. After clearing and improving this place in various ways, he erected hand- some modern buildings to replace the log structures which he had first con- structed. He and his good wife are both now living retired in their little home. On July 3, 1913, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, and at that time entertained many of their descendants, who took part in the celebration. Both are devout members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. To this worthy couple have been born seven children: Hans J., who lives in North Dakota, where he is a farmer; Inga, who is the wife of Hans Olson, also lives in North Dakota; Dina, the first child born in America, married Herman Lillestrand, and they are now living in North Dakota: Hendrick Arnold. a farmer of Tordenskjold township; Mollie, the wife of J. B. Higsdale, a farmer of Tordenskjold township; E. J., the sixth in order of birth, is the immediate subject of this review: Sarah, the wife of Jule Morstad, and they live at Wall Lake, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota.
E. J. Hanson received his education in school district No. 71, Otter Tail county and Tordenskjol township, and after leaving school he took up farming, and in 1914 purchased the old homestead, comprising one hun-
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dred and sixty acres, besides eighty acres which his father had later bought. Mr. Hanson is engaged in general farming, and is the thresherman for his neighborhood.
On October 25, 1908, E. J. Hanson was married to Mary Hedberg, a native of Sweden, and the daughter of Ole Hedberg, who died in Sweden in 1913. Mrs. Hanson's mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Hanson are the parents of four children, Nils, Arthur, Olive and Edna.
Both Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Hanson are members of the Norwegian Synod church. Mr. Hanson is identified with the Democratic party and has been prominent in local politics, having filled a number of local offices, among which is that of constable.
PETER N. HOLBECK.
Born in Denmark, August 12, 1849, the son of Nils and Karen ( Olson) Holbeck, Peter N. Holbeck is one of the enterprising farmers of Tordensk- jold township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and one of its older citizens.
Mr. Holbeck's parents were born in Denmark, and in 1873 came to America to join their son, the subject of this sketch. They settled in what is now Underwood and, although Nils Holbeck was a man sixty-three years old, he homesteaded forty acres in Sverdrup township, the farm which is now occupied by Olaf Lein and part of which is now embraced in the village of Underwood. Later he sold the farm and lived with his son, with whom he died at the age of seventy-five years. His wife had died twelve years previously, in 1875, at the age of sixty-six. They were the parents of four children, of whom Christian lives at Ft. France, Canada, and is retired, being seventy years of age; Christena married Jens Jensen and lives in section 30, of Sverdrup township: Peter N. is the subject of this sketch, and Nils lives in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he is the proprietor of the Columbia hotel.
Educated in the public schools of his native land, Mr. Holbeck worked at almost anything he could find to do until, in 1869, just before he was twenty years old, he came to America. After living for a time at Winona. Minnesota, Mr. Holbeck joined his brother in Otter Tail county and, after his parents came to America, he assisted his father on the homestead, but soon purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tordenskjold town- ship. There was a small house and a small barn on the farm when Mr. Holbeck purchased the land, but only ten acres had been cleared. He cleared the remainder of the farm and added forty-eight acres of land nearby. Within recent years Mr. Holbeck has erected modern buildings and made substantial improvements. He is a general farmer and stockman and is especially interested in raising cattle.
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