USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 19
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owner of stock in the elevator at Carlisle and takes an active interest in its growth.
In 1880 Ole J. Lystad was united in marriage to Mathea Amundson- berg, and to this union were born three children, Betsy, Julius and Henry. Betsy and Julius are married and have established homes of their own. The family are members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they take great interest.
HANS P. SETHRE.
Hans P. Sethre, a native of Norway, was born on October 30, 1848, the son of Peter and Gunhild ( Berger) Sethre. The grandfather, Hans Sethre, and the great-grandfather, Elias Sethre, as well as the great-great- grandfather, Andres Sethre, were all tillers of the soil in their native country. The grandfather also owned and operated a freight boat on Lake Mjosen. The families were all active and devout members of the Lutheran church.
Peter Sethre received his education in his native country. He was a farmer and assisted his father in the operation of his freight boat on Lake Mjosen. In 1867, with his family, he came to America on a sailing vessel and after a voyage lasting from April 11 to May 29. they landed at Quebec. They moved at once to Fillmore county, Minnesota, making the long journey by railroad, steam boat and with horses. They remained there for two years, the father working on a farm as a farm hand, and as a day laborer. On May 20, 1860. they left their home of two years and made the journey of four hundred miles to Otter Tail county, arriving at their destination on June 22, of the same year. Here they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 35. Oscar township. Here the father died in 1887, the mother having died in June. 1884. They were the parents of the following children: Hans P., Ole (deceased), Julia, Martina (deceased). Christian, Maren and Olef.
Hans P. Sethre received his education in the common schools of Nor- way and four months in Fillmore county. As a boy he worked on the farm and when he came to Minnesota he freighted west from Morris, going as far as Pembina on the north. He came to America with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Hans P. Sethre were the parents of the following children : Mary, Lora, Peter and Olga. all of whom are married. Hans P. Sethre home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 35. Oscar township. this county, and here he made his home until the spring of 1915 when he moved to Fergus Falls where he lives a retired life. In 1914 he returned to Norway to visit relatives and friends. Mr. Sethre had added to his homestead farm until he had four hundred acres. The greater part of his land he has sold to his children, Peter owning the home place of two hun-
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dred and forty acres. The land was all developed and improved by Mr. Sethre, the house being built in 1882 and the barn, a structure fifty-two by seventy-six feet, was erected in 1903. He owns a fine home in Fergus Falls in which he now lives.
Mr. Sethre has had an active life full of successful efforts and good deeds. He has served as chairman and treasurer of the board of super- visors of his township, clerk of the school district for twenty years, secre- tary of the Lutheran church for years, and was Federal census enumerator for his district in two successive decades. He is a stockholder in the Scandia State Bank at Fergus Falls and in the bank at Carlisle also in the Otter Tail Power Company and the Woolen mills.
LARS L. ONSUM.
Living in retirement at Pelican Rapids, the gentleman whose successful history is here briefly presented is enjoying the result of his years of indus- try and effort in the agricultural and commercial world. He has for years been greatly interested in the advancement of the community in which he has lived, and the enthusiasm aroused by his activities has continued as a factor in the prosperous town of Pelican Rapids.
Lars L. Onsum, retired farmer, Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, was born on June 26, 1847, in Norway, and is a son of Lars Targersen Onsum, and his wife, Kjerste ( Aasen) Onsum. His education was received at the public schools of his native land, after which he remained under the parental roof until 1869, when he came to America, stopping about two and a half years in Fillmore county, Minnesota. In March, 1872, he came to Otter Tail county, locating in Pelican township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres, two miles northwest of Pelican Rapids, on which he put all the improvements. After thoroughly establishing himself in his agricultural pursuits, Mr. Onsum opened a furniture store at Pelican Rapids, which he operated in connection with his farm, until 1895, when he left the farm and moved his family to Pelican Rapids, where he has since resided. About 1898 he sold his furniture store and in 1899 started a drug store, which he conducted until 1903. when he sold out to his partner and retired from an active business life. Mr. Onsum now owns two hundred acres of fine farm land in Pelican township. Politically, he has always given his support to the Republican party, in the local politics of which he has taken an active part, serving in the town council for two years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which he contributes liberally.
Lars Targersen Onsum, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Norway, as was also his wife. Kjerste (Aason) Onsum. Mr. Onsum died before Lars L. was born. This union was blest with seven children.
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After the death of her husband, Mrs. Onsum was again married, and became the mother of two children by her second husband.
Lars L. Onsum was united in marriage, in 1887, with Karen Onsum, to which union four children have been born: Clara, Laura, Matilda and Leopold.
Mr. Onsum is justly popular in his home community, where he not only has the happy faculty of winning friends, but holding them by his sterling qualities.
JENS A. STORTROEN.
Probably none of the leading citizens of the town of Dalton, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, have taken a more honored or more conspicuous place in the public life and general affairs of the community, than has Jens A. Stortroen, who; as a prominent office holder, an enterprising merchant and a citizen who has had a part in the establishment and the incorporation of the town of Dalton, has won a place of permanence in the records and history of the community.
Jens A. Stortroen was born in Martill, Wisconsin, on July 8, 1862, the son of Andres and Segre ( Bjerken) Stortroen, both of whom were born in Norway, the father coming to America alone, and the mother coming to this country with her parents. Andres Stortroen was the son of Jens and Ingeborg Stortroen, who were natives of Norway and lived in that country, where Jens Stortroen was a farmer, during their entire lives. Segre Bjerken is the daughter of Paul and Segre Bjerken, who were born in Norway, came to America in the year 1856, and located in the state of Wisconsin, where Paul Bjerken was a farmer, and where they both spent their last days.
Andres Stortroen, father of the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Norway, afterward coming in the year 1856, to America, where he located in the state of Wisconsin and bought eighty acres of land on which he lived until the year 1883, when he moved to the state of Minnesota and purchased two hundred acres of land in Aastad town- ship, this county, where he lived until the year 1900, at that time retiring and living a quiet life, until his death during the year 1906. Segre, the widow of Andres Stortroen, is now a resident of Fergus Falls, where she lives with her children.
Jens A. Stortroen was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin, after which he farmed with his father and then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Aastad township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he engaged in general farming until the year 1807, when he moved to the town of Dalton, Minnesota, and there entered the business as an implement
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merchant for two years, after which time Jens A. Stortroen and John Rovang established a general merchandise store, a business in which Mr. Stortroen was engaged for some time and then he sold his interest to his associate. After this Jens A. Stortroen became a wheat buyer for some time and for the next ten years he was a lumber salesman, the last three of these ten years, this enterprising citizen also conducting a general merchan- dise store. During the year 1905. Jens A. Stortroen purchased the gen- eral store of John Rovang, and in 1913 Mr. Stortroen secured the store where he is now located and where he is prosperously engaged as a general merchant.
In the year 1801 Jens A. Stortroen was married to Sirianna Hansel, who was born in Tumuli township, this county, and to this marriage were born the following children: Andres, Albert, Regna, Selma, Eliza, Mar- ville, Esther and Edwin, who is deceased.
Jens A. Stortroen has served his township in public office for many years, he having been the occupant of practically all the offices within the gift of the people. In the office as chairman of the township board Mr. Stortroen did many things for the progress and welfare of the community and its life, making an enviable record while serving in this capacity. One of the most notable of the public works of Jens .A. Stortroen was his effort and his aid in the incorporation of the town of Dalton, Minnesota, during the year 1907.
Jens A. Stortroen and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, his work and his aid in support of the efforts and prin- ciples of this church being well known in the congregation.
STEFFEN A. HAUGER.
Steffen A. Hauger was born in Norway on July 8, 1858, the son of Andrew and Anna ( Hanson) Steffenson, both of whom were natives of the country. The grandfather. Steffen Anderson, was a farmer and owned his own farm.
Andrew Steffenson received his education in Norway and there grew to manhood, was married and lived the life of a farmer till he came with his family to the United States in 1882. They landed at New York and came at once to Rothsay, where the father lives a retired life with his son, S. A. Hauger, the mother having been killed on June 22, 1887, by lightning that struck the house. They were the parents of the following children : Steffen A .. Hilda and Hans, who was drowned in Norway.
Steffen A. Hanger was educated in the common schools of his native country, where he lived until he was twenty-four years of age. when he came to America with his parents. He was married in 1887 to Martha
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Henderson, who was also born in Norway. They are the parents of the following children: Andrew. Hannah, Marvin, Agnes, Dovre, Elmer. Mabel and Clifford. Hannah is the wife of Oswald Haugen and they live in Montana. Andrew and Marvin are homesteading in Canada.
In 1800 Mr. Hanger purchased the one hundred and sixty acre farm. where he now lives, in Oscar township. He also owns twenty acres in Elizabeth township. The splendid barn was built in 1906, the house having been erected some years before, but since rebuilt.
Mr. Hauger practices general farming and is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He owns stock in the Farmers Elevator Company at Rothsay. Besides his duties as a farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Hauger has been road overseer for the past fourteen years.
ANDREW SWANSON.
In the list of mason contractors, the name of Andrew Swanson occu- pies a place as one skilled in his vocation and in which he has become prominently successful. Mr. Swanson has always possessed that inborn love of the rural district, and in connection with his trade, has acquired a splendid tract of land, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and which was originally the old Swanson homestead.
Andrew Swanson, mason contractor, Alexandria, Minnesota, was born in October, 1863, in Sweden, and is the son of Carl and Christina ( Ander- son) Swanson. At the age of three years he came to America with his parents, and his education was received at the public schools of Parkers Prairie township. As a young man he began farming on the old home place. In 1901 he became the owner of the oldl homestead, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1899 Mr. Swanson moved to Alexandria. where he bought a house, following his trade as a vocation. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party, while his fraternal alliance is with the Owl lodge.
Carl and Christina ( Anderson) Swanson were both born in Sweden. where they followed farming. They came to America in 1868, settling at once in Parkers Prairie township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where they were the oldest of the pioneer settlers, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, on which they put all the improvements. In 1800. Mr. Swanson retired and moved to Alexandria. The children born to Carl and Christina (Anderson) Swanson were: Christina, Ellen, Svin. August. Mary, Andrew, Emma. Amanda and Anna. Carl and Christina Swanson died in 1901.
Mr. Swanson has never married, having had the care of looking after his parents while they lived, and with his own busy life, has taken but little
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opportunity for his individual pleasure. His support is given to every movement in the direction of material benefit to his community, where he is highly esteemed.
GUNDER REIERSON.
Among those men of the town of Dalton, Minnesota, who have made for themselves a position of prominence in the community, as a result of their success, not only in business, but in the public life of the office holder, men who have given of their time and their abilities for the general good of the locality and who as the result of long and good lives have secured the esteem and respect of their fellow citizens and associates, is Gunder Reierson, who was born in Norway, on November 9, 1854, the son of Reier and Ella (Brotten) Elingson, both of whom were natives of Norway, who lived in that country until the year 1861, when they came to America and settled in Spring Grove, Minnesota, where they lived the remainder of their lives, on a farm which they bought on reaching that locality. Reier and Ella Elingson were the parents of the following children: Eling. Bertha, Anna, Gunder and Clement.
Gunder Reierson was educated in the common schools and in the high school of Decorah, Iowa, after which he was a salesman in a store for three or four years. In the year 1877 he established a general store under the name and partnership of Haugen & Reierson, where he remained for about four years and then sold out to his partner, and came to the town of Dalton, Minnesota, and purchased an interest in the store and firm known as Olson & Burg, Mr. Reierson acquiring the share of Mr. Burg, and the company assuming the firm name of Olson & Reierson. Although the interests in this firm changed hands a number of times, Gunder Reierson remained in the business until he is now the oldest merchant, in point of service, in the community.
During the year 1875, Gunder Reierson was married to Lena Nelson. who was born in the state of Wisconsin and to this marriage were born five children, Ella and Benjamin and three children who are deceased.
Gunder Reierson, in public office, has served his township well as clerk of the school district, an office which he has occupied for more than twenty years, and as township clerk this worthy citizen made a good and satis- factory official. During the terms of office of Presidents Harrison and Cleveland, Gunder Reierson was the efficient and capable postmaster of the town of Dalton, Minnesota.
Gunder Reierson and his wife are faithful and devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Dalton, a congregation in which they are highly respected. as they are throughout the township and county.
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JACOB O. HATLING.
Among those men who have been successful merchants in the county, and who have now retired to the more quiet walks of life, men who in the past have served notably in official life and who as the result of unselfish life and an interest in the welfare of the locality have won an honored place in the ranks of local citizenship, is Jacob O. Hatling, who was born in Nor- way, on December 17. 1851, the son of Tarl and Inger ( Huse ) Olson, both of whom were born in Norway, where they lived until the year 1865, and then came to America, locating about ten miles south of the town of Decoral, lowa, where Tarl Olson worked as a farm helper, until the year 1867, when on July 31. with a number of families which made an ox wagon train of twenty wagons, they moved to the state of Minnesota and settled in St. Olaf township, of Otter Tail county. Here Mr. Olson engaged in farming as a squatter, until the land of this locality was surveyed by United States government officials, and then he homesteaded a farm of one hundred and sixty acres where he lived for some time and then sold his land and moved to the town of Dalton, Minnesota, there establishing, about the year 1879. a general store in which business he continued until he retired from active life: the first six months of his business career he being in partnership with K. IT. Brandyokl, then a prominent business man of Otter Tail county. Tarl and Inger Olson were the parents of three children, who grew to maturity, J. O. Hatling, the subject of this sketch. Ole Rambeck and Henry Anton. Tarl Olson was one of the well-known men of Dalton and the community, a man who took an interest in public affairs and one who, as a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, was appreciated for his good life and for his support of the efforts of this congregation.
Jacob (. Hatling, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the schools of Norway and for a short time attended classes in the public schools of this country, after which he was engaged as a farmer for some years, in St. Olaf township, Otter Tail county, where he was the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he cultivated until the year 1886, when he disposed of his land and associated himself in business with his father as a general merchant. Later, with his father and Peter Strom- stad, Jacob O. Hatling purchased a stock of hardware, and this firm con- tinued in business for some time when Mr. Stromstad retired and his inter- est was acquired by J. O. Hlatling and his father, the senior member of the company. After a period of enterprising business, Mr. Hatling and his father enlarged the scope of their business activity by the erection of a new addition to their original store, a room in which they engaged as hardware dealers, for some years and then Tarl Olson retired from business, and a
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brother of Jacob (. Hatling entered the firm, the brother operating the gen- eral merchandise store and J. O. continuing in the conduct of the hardware stock until the year 1907, when he sold his share and retired to the town of Dalton, where he now lives.
On June 28, 1871. Jacob O. Hatling was married to Gusta Meldahl, who was born in Norway, later coming to America with her parents. To the marriage of Jacob and Gusta Hatling were born the following children : Ole, Lewis, Emma, George, Noble, Julia, May and Arthur.
Jacob O. Hatling has been a conspicuous figure in the public life of Dalton and of Tumuli township, he having served the community in nearly every township office, his first office being that of township clerk, to which he was elected when twenty-one years of age. In all matters for the pro- motion or advancement of conditions in Otter Tail county, J. O. Hatling is a leader, the results of whose efforts is a better and more prosperous locality.
SPENCER FOLKEDAL.
Few citizens of Dalton and of Otter Tail county have been more prom- inently connected, or have been honored by the people of the locality in more ways than has Spencer Folkedal, the well-known and popular post- master of Dalton, Minnesota. \ man of thorough culture, a citizen of unusual intellectual attainments and achievements, and one who with broad and valued experience in life has proved to be a notable and appreciated addition to the life and activities in the business and public circles of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, no review of life or events in the county would be complete without reference to the works and accomplishments of this man.
Spencer Folkedal was born in Medo, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, on August 20, 1875, the son of L. S. and Mattie ( Munden) Folkedal, both of whom were born in Norway, where they lived until the year 1854, when L. S. Folkedal came to America and located in Combridge township, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm and in a pinery. In 1859 L. S. Folkedal started for the Pacific Coast with a party of gold seekers. They went as far as the Pike's Peak region, Colorado, and at that time Denver was only a village. Not being pleased with the outlook for gold mining the prospectors returned to Wisconsin. Later Mr. Folkedal moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he remained for a short time, and in the year 1874 he came to Minnesota, and located in Medo township, Blue Earth county, where he bought a farm of eighty acres of land on which he lived for twenty-four years, acquiring during that time two hundred acres, which he improved and cultivated.
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After this time L. S. Folkedal moved to Otter Tail county, and bought one hundred acres of land in Tumuli township, where he lived for some years and then retired to the town of Dalton, where he now lives.
I. S. Folkedal was married to Mattie Munden, daughter of Gitle Munden and wife who were natives of Norway, in which country they died.
Spencer Folkedal was educated in the common schools of Blue Earth county and at Park Region College, after which he engaged for about five years in the profession of a newspaper man at Fergus Falls, later becoming a farmer on his father's place for about four years and then, in the year 1905, he moved to the town of Dalton, Minnesota, and established himself in business as a dealer in farm implements, which business he now follows. On March 4. 1914. Spencer Folkedal was honored by his appointment to the office of postmaster of Dalton, Minnesota, an office which he is now serving with dignity and with recognized ability. In public life Mr. Folkedal has been a prominent figure, he having been elected to the office of township clerk where he served two years and for three years he was school treasurer. In political affiliation Spencer Folkedal is of the Democratic party.
On June 15. 1903. Spencer Folkedal was married to Anna Torgerson and to this marriage were born two children, Julian and Adrian.
KNUTE STENERSON.
An opportunity is here afforded for the perusal of the record of one of the prominent and influential business men of Pelican Rapids. Mr. Stenerson enjoys distinctive prestige as having achieved wealth, without even a dollar at the start as a working basis.
Knute Stenerson, lumberman, Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, was born on February 19. 1862, in Norway. He was educated in the public schools of Norway, emigrating to Wisconsin in 1887, where he spent one vear. In 1888 he came to Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, and for the first two years worked as a day laborer. In 1890 he engaged in the lumber business with his brothers, four of whom came to America. In 1913. Gunder and Knute bought out the elder brother, and now handle all kinds of building supplies, under the firm name of Stenerson Brothers Lumber Company, the brothers owning the controlling stock in the company, as well as four other yards. Politically, Mr. Stenerson is a stanch Republican. while religiously, he belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church, and is an all-around. wide-awake business man. He owns considerable stock in the First National Bank of Pelican Rapids, and is vice-president and director in the Arhard State Bank.
Ingemunt Stenerson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Norway, as was also his wife. He was a saving, industrious farmer, and
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lived and died in Norway, where he reared his family of seven children, four of whom came to America.
Knute Stenerson was united in marriage, in 1893, with Lina Stein. They have an adopted daughter, Mollie, who became the wife of Carl Clausen.
Mr. Stenerson has long enjoyed the undivided respect of a large circle of sincere friends and acquaintances in Otter Tail county, and as one of the prosperous and representative men of his town, merits representation in a history of the county.
CHRISTIAN C. KNUDSON.
One of the best-known farmers of Otter Tail county and of Aastad township, a man who has been peculiarly successful as a farmer, and one who as a citizen has so conducted himself as to win the respect and esteem of the community is Christian C. Knudson. Public spirited, far seeing, and of nature and training to soon become an important part of the locality of his residence, he has proved to be one of those men without whom the county and township would be less advanced and less progressive.
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