USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 24
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Mr. Bjorklund's brother. August, who lives in Henning township, is also a prominent farmer. He was born in Sweden on July 8, 1862, and was four years old when the family came to America. He was reared in Eagle Lake
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township and attended the public schools. He bought the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and added eighty acres to the farm. In 1912 he sold the farm and moved to Henning township, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres in section 1. Mr. and Mrs. August Bjorklund are members of the Swedish Baptist church at Henning. While a resident of Eagle Lake, August Bjorklund served on the school board and, for thirteen years, was township clerk. He also served twelve years as justice of the peace and twenty-five years as assessor. For two years he was postmaster of his home town.
On December 31, 1891, August Bjorklund was married to Anna Smith. the daughter of Olof and Mary Smith, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. To them have been born five children, Erwin, Roy, Earl, Reuben and Gladys, all of whom are living except Earl, who is deceased.
Both Peter and August Bjorklund are enterprising farmers, well known and popular citizens. They have done much in behalf of the material devel- opment of Eagle Lake and of Henning townships and both enjoy the confi- dences of a host of friends in Otter Tail county.
H. H. STONE.
H. H. Stone has been a resident of Otter Tail county since 1900, com- ing here when he was sixteen years old. After attending the high school at Fulda and the St. Cloud Normal, he taught school for five years in this county and at the same time worked on the farm. In 1911 he discontinued teaching and since that time has given his entire attention to the cultivation of the soil. The year previous to that he had purchased over eighty acres and now owns the southeast quarter of section 2, in Elmo township. He engages in general farming and is a breeder of Galloway cattle and Duroc- Jersey hogs, having ten of the former and of the latter one hundred.
On October 30, 1910, H. H. Stone was married to Ethel L. Sparks, at Minneapolis. His wife is a native of Miller, South Dakota, but has lived in this county since 1902, and is a daughter of M. M. Sparks, at present a resi- dent of Parkers Prairie, where he is engaged in the garage business. H. H. Stone and wife have two children, Martha Kate, born on October 5, 1911. and Sylvia Beth, born on December 17, 1912. In 1914 Mr. Stone erected a fine new barn, sixty-two by thirty-two feet, having a hip roof and concrete foundation.
Mr. Stone is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of the Royal Neighbors, and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He was census taker in the year 1910 and since that time has been assessor. Ile was, from the organization of district No. 275. clerk, his period of office extending
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from 1907 to the present time. Mr. Stone is secretary of the Almora Co- operative Creamery. In politics, he is an independent voter. Mr. Stone's useful life is a striking example of what energy and perseverance will do, and it is gratifying that now he is able to enjoy the results of his skill.
HANS C. HANSON.
From the roll of public-spirited citizens, whose unselfish interests have done great things for the development of the county and for their more immediate vicinities, the name of Hans C. Hanson, of New York Mills, Minnesota, stands out conspicuously as one who, perhaps has done greater service for the public improvement of his home town and for the promotion of the business activities of his locality than any other of these desirable and valued citizens. A man of varied experience in life, one with broad knowl- edge of the activities of the business world, and a citizen who as a promoter and as an organizer has proved himself as one of unusual ability, this review of Otter Tail county would not be complete without reference to the work and achievements of this worthy citizen.
Hans C. Hanson was born in Denmark on the island of Fynn, on April 1, 1850, the son of Rasmus and Mary Hanson, who were likewise natives of Denmark. Rasmus Hanson is well known in his community for his record as a soldier in the war with Germany, when he received a medal for an act of bravery in cutting chains which were blockading the war area to the ships of his country. In private life, Rasmus Hanson was a farmer and land owner of Denmark, and both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. To the marriage of Rasmus and Mary Hanson were born three children : Hans, the subject of this sketch; Mary, who married .Andrew Hanson, and lives at Orlando, Louisiana, and Anne, who is married and lives on the island of Langeland, in Denmark.
Hans C. Hanson was educated in the public schools of his native land, where he attended classes until fifteen years of age and then he engaged in general farming, until the year 1880, when, being twenty-one years of age. he sailed for America and landed at New York City, on his birthday, and immediately following he went to Rochester, Minnesota, where he worked on a farm for one summer and then took up work for an elevator company, at the same time attending night school under the direction of a friend, who is now a resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. After two years Hans C. Hanson engaged in work at the Rochester Iron Works, where he was employed for five years, and then resigned to accept a place on the police force of Rochester, under Chief of Police Capp. In the year 1880 Mr. Ilanson came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and bought forty acres of land in section
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II, of Homestead township, land which was unbroken railroad territory. Hans C. Hanson proceeded to clear and to improve this land, and from time to time increased his holdings by the purchase of additional land until he owned two hundred and forty acres. On this place Hans C. Hanson lived until a decade ago, at the time of leaving he having one of the best improved and most completely equipped farms of the community.
During his residence on his farm, Hans C. Hanson, for two years, was driver of the United States mail on the star route, after which he moved to the town of New York Mills and rented an old hotel, which he managed in connection with his duties as a mail carrier, until one Easter morning when the hotel burned. Mr. Hanson then rented a nearby house, where he con- tinued in the hotel business, and in 1906 he erected a new hotel building which was known as "The Merchant's Hotel," a building which was equipped with twenty rooms, all of which were supplied with hot and cold running water and steam heat. Hans C. Hanson conducted this hotel until the year [913, when he retired from this business for two years and then, during 1915, he returned to the management of his former place of business.
At the time of the double tracking of the Northern Pacific railway through the locality, Hans C. Hanson was given charge of a special company of men employed at construction work and for one season followed this work and then during the next year he went to the state of Montana, where he was engaged in the work of laying the steel rails between the towns of Armington and of Billings, after which Mr. Hanson returned to New York Mills, being called home on account of illness in his family. At this time Hans C. Hanson became a grain buyer for the Andrews Grain Company, a position in which he is now engaged.
Hans C. Hanson has taken an important part in the public life and in the public affairs of New York Mills. For six years Mr. Hanson served on the town council and during that time it was largely due to his personal efforts that the streets of the town were graded, that cement sidewalks were built, and that the central park of the town was arranged for and largely completed-this without cost to the community-the funds being collected by public subscription and by donation. Hans C. Hanson was the organizer of the local Commercial Club, an organization of thirty-six members, of which Mr. Hanson is now serving as president. During the year 1914 Hans C. Hanson was an active candidate for a seat in the state Legislature, but was defeated at the election.
Hans C. Hanson was married on September 9, 1881. to Charlotte Carl- son, who was born at Stockholm, Sweden, the daughter of Carl Carlson and wife, who were natives of Sweden, and of whom the father came to America, his daughter, Charlotte, coming to join her father during the year 1880.
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To the marriage of Hans and Charlotte Hanson were born the follow- ing children: Carl Oscar, who is a railroad man of Duluth, Minnesota; Adla, who married William Ash and later died of tuberculosis; Alma, who married Seblon Olson and lives at New York Mills; Abby, who is manager and grain buyer for the Farmers' Elevator Company, of Vining, Minnesota; Arthur, who is a chauffeur for the Fiske livery at New York Mills; Justus, a student of the Wadena Business College; Clara, who married Marshall Lloyd, an electrician of Verndale, Minnesota; and Laura, who lives at home. Fol- lowing the death of his daughter, Adla, Hans C. Hanson adopted his grand- daughter, Lura Ash, who now lives with Mr. Hanson as one of the family.
Hans C. Hanson is prominently and broadly affiliated with several fra- ternal organizations of the community, he being a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows since twenty-two years of age, a lodge in which he has served as vice-grand at Rochester. Mr. Hanson is also a Mason of Perham Lodge No. 159, as well as of the chapter at Wadena. Hans C. Han- son is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America, and in church affiliation he is a member of the Congregational church, in which congrega- tion he serves as treasurer. In politics he is a Republican.
FELIX NYLUND.
Felix Nylund, a native of Finland, who succeeded his father in the pub- lication of the Uusi Kotimaa at the latter's death. in 1892, is a well-known citizen of New York Mills and Otter Tail county, Minnesota.
Mr. Nylund was born on January 4, 1873, in Finland, and is the son of August and Sophia Nylund, both of whom were natives of Finland, the former born in 1835 and the latter in 1845. They were married in Finland and in 1878 he came to America and settled at Calumet, Michigan. Three years later the family came, and they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in July. 1884, to New York Mills, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. August Nylund had established the Uusi Kotimaa in 1882, at Minneapolis, and in 1884 moved the business to New York Mills, where the publication of the paper has since been continued. August Nylundi died on December 12, 1892, but his widow is still living, and resides at New York Mills. Felix Nylund. the subject of this sketch, in partnership with his brother, August Ferdinand. continued the publication of the paper alone. under the firm name of Nylund Brothers. August Ferdinand Nylund was born in Finland in March, 1868. The Uusi Kotimaa has a circulation of approximately six thousand five hun- dred. It is a financial success and is ably conducted by its present owner and proprietor.
Angust and Sophia Nylund were the parents of nine children. of whom
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four, Felix, Lydia, Hilma Sophia and Olga, are now living. Felix Nylund attended public school in Finland, at Calumet, Michigan, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. He came to New York Mills, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, with his parents and took up the publishing business in 1892. He has been connected with the business ever since. For three years Mr. Nylund has been a member of the New York Mills council. He has been a member of the school board for nine years and was clerk of the board for five years. Mr. Nylund has forty acres of land inside the village of New York Mills. He owns real estate and the building in which his business is housed. Besides this he owns residence property in New York Mills. He is an enterprising business man and well deserves the success which has attended his efforts since his father's and his brother's deaths. Mr. Nylund is a thorough-going American, thoroughly in sympathy with the institutions and traditions, and loyal to the country of his adoption.
JENS NELSON.
Jens Nelson, a prosperous farmer of Tordenskjold township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Sjalland, Denmark, where his birth occurred on January 29, 1870. Mr. Nelson is a son of Nels and Sophia (Nelson) Jensen.
Nels Jensen and wife were born, reared and spent all their lives in Den- mark. The former was a laborer and a soldier in the War of 1863-64 against Germany. He is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two years and is in good health. His wife died about 1907. Nels Jensen and wife were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom were daughters and two sons. Nine of these children remained in Denmark. One daughter, Helena, came to America, and after arriving in this country, was married to N. P. Gloier, and they are residents of Brooklyn, New York.
Jens Nelson was educated in the common schools of Denmark, and when he was twenty-one years of age came to America, settling in Tordenskjold township, where he worked for the farmers of the neighborhood for about two years. Afterward Mr. Nelson purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 19. and has lived here ever since. The farm was originally wild land, and had only a small log house on it in the way of improvements. Only about twenty-two acres of the farm had been cleared, but at the present time there is a fine house and a magnificent bank barn with a concrete foun- dation on the farm. There is also a concrete chicken house, and all of the outbuildings are substantial and convenient for modern farming. The house was erected in 1901 and the barn in 1900. There is a beautiful avenue of oaks leading from the road to the house, and Mr. Nelson has also set out
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evergreens and box-elders, adding much to the beauty and attractiveness of the place. He has an orchard of fifty apple trees, and is engaged in mixed farming, in which he has met with a very commendable degree of success.
On August 9, 1892, Jens Nelson was married to Johanna Christina Christensen, a sister of H. C. Christensen and C. H. Christensen, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of five chil- dren, Marie, George, Christine, Lauritz and Herbert.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and family are members of the Free Luth- eran church, in which they take an active and interested part. Mr. Nelson is independent in politics. He is an enterprising farmer, a good neighbor and a good citizen, and enjoys the confidence of many friends and acquaint- ances.
LEANDER HOLMES.
Of those men who from foreign counties have come to this country, and in the land of their adoption have proved thorough successes regardless of the handicap of life in a strange nation, the name of Leander Holmes, a native of Finland, is one which stands as an example of the result of industry and determination, used with tact and with foresight, in the development of busi- ness and industrial life.
Leander Holmes was born in Finland on November 20, 1852, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Holmes, who likewise were born in Finland, and lived in that country during their entire life, where the father was engaged as a farmer. Charles and Elizabeth Holmes were the parents of the following children : Anna Brita, who married Leander Mattson and lives at Duluth, Minnesota ; Charles, who lives in Finland, and Leadner, the subject of this sketch.
Leander Holmes was educated in the schools of Finland, and was con- firmed in the Lutheran church of that country, after which he learned the carpenter's trade and followed that business as a skilled and expert workman for some years, both in his immediate locality and at the city of Petrograd (St. Petersburg), Russia. In the year 1882 he came to America and was employed as a workman in the lumber camps of the state of Michigan for some years, and then he went to the state of California, where he followed the same business, later going to Park City, Utah. and engaging as a worker in the silver and lead mines of that locality, work in which he continued for three years. In the year 1802 Leander Holmes came to the state of Minnesota and located in Otter Tail county, where he bought eighty acres of land in section 9, of Newton township. Being covered with brush and timber, Lean- dler Holmes proceeded to clear his land and to replace the unsatisfactory
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buildings with new structures, together with the adding of land to his hold- ings until he now has one hundred and twenty acres of land, all well improved and in a good state of cultivation.
During the year 1877 Leander Holmes was married to Gemina Coopar, who was born in Finland, the daughter of Herman Coopar and wife, of that country. To the marriage of Leander and Gemina Holmes were born the fol- lowing children: Ina Maria, who married Edward Deschaine and lives at Menominee, Michigan; Gusta Leander, who died at Petrograd, when an infant; . Axel Ananias, who died in infancy; John Adolph, an employe of the Dower Lumber Company, at New York Mills, Minnesota; Lydia Wilhel- mina, who married Arthur Haglund and lives at Hibbing, Minnesota; Hilma Sophia, who lives at home; Fannie Josephine, who died during the year 1910, being seventeen years of age; and Frank William and Winnie Esther, who live at home.
Leander Holmes is one of the men of Otter Tail county and of Newton township who has done much for the progress of the community, being willing at all times to give of his time and effort for the promotion of public and general interests. Unselfish and ambitious for the welfare of the locality he has proved to be a worthy addition to the citizenship of the county.
CHALKLEY M. BUTTON.
.Among the strong and influential citizens of Otter Tail county, the review of whose lives is an important part of this book, is Chalkley M. But- ton, who as a man of keen perception, tireless energy and honesty of purpose. together with the use of intelligence, has exerted a beneficial influence in the community of his residence, as well as having contributed largely to the sup- port of the moral and material advancement of the county.
Chalkley M. Button was born in Hardin county, Iowa, on September 30. 1860, the son of Hiram and Fannie ( Bolden) Button, the father being born in Chautauqua county, New York, on February 12, 1833, and the mother being born near the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 20, 1843. Hiram Button was the son of Albert and Mary ( Collins) Button. his mother being a Quakeress and his father a well-known citizen of New England, in which part of the country they were married and afterward moved to Chautauqua county, New York, where they lived for some time and then later went, about the year 1855, to Hardin county, Iowa, where he followed his profession and his trades as a lawyer, merchant and as a shoemaker. Hiram Button, father of the subject of this sketch, was one of ten children, of whom two are living.
Fannie Boldon was the daughter of Asher and Emeline ( Pitman) Bol-
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don, who were natives of the state of Indiana, where they lived until going to the state of lowa, where Asher Boldon followed his vocation as a farmer during the remainder of his days. Fannie Button was one of ten children, five of whoni the now living.
Hiram and Fannie Button each came to the state of lowa with their parents and there met and married, and then Hiram Button engaged as a general farmer for some years, after which he came to the state of Minnesota and located in Otter Tail county, where he homesteaded a farm of eighty acres of land in section 26, of Newton township, land which he cleared and where he established a home, where he lived until his death, in the year 1902. Fannie Button, the wife of Hiram Button, survives her husband, she being seventy-two years of age. Hiram Button, though a man of quiet and retiring disposition, was faithful to his duty as a citizen and served his community in the offices of assessor, school director and supervisor, as well as being one of the men who organized the Farmers' Alliance, a strong and beneficial organization.
Hiram and Fannie Button were the parents of the following children : Chalkey M., the subject of this sketch; Florence, who died in infancy; Byron A., who lives at Williston, North Dakota; Asher J., who conducts a business college at Moorhead, Minnesota; Jessie M., who married Ole Tranby and lives at Malta, Montana: Oscar, who is a school teacher of Bellingham, Washington; Aivin, who is a school teacher of Aldrich. Minnesota; Lusia. who married Clarence Rowdon and lives at Malta, Montana; Mabel, who married David Henry and lives at Malta, Montana; Myrtle Edna, who died at the age of seven years; and Fannie Luella, who died at the age of three years.
Chalkley M. Button was educated in the common schools of Hardin county. Jowa, and in the schools of Otter Tail county. Minnesota, after which he taught school for some time and then settled in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he homesteaded eighty acres of land, across the road from the land that was owned by his father, Hiram Button. Being uncleared land, Chalkley M. Button set out to prepare his land for cultivation, clearing the soil of brush and timber and building a house and other buildings, until he has now one of the most complete farms of the community, where he engages in general farming and in the breeding of cattle and hogs.
On December 12. 1900, Chalkley M. Button was married to Frances Rummins, who was born in the state of Iowa, the daughter of George Rum- mins and wife. To the marriage of Chalkley and Frances Button has been born two children, Florence and Chalkley Monroe, Jr.
Chalkley M. Button is prominent in the business life of his community, being a shareholder in the local telephone company and being a man, who
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because of his experience and training, is one whose counsel and judgment in matters of general business are highly valued.
In politics, Mr. Button is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Prohibition party and is a man whose efforts in the direction of the object of this party has proved of great value.
JOHN GEISNESS.
John Geisness, a resident of this county for twenty years, and owner of two hundred acres of splendid farm land, while not a native of the county, is looked upon as such. From far off Norway he came when a child of nine years, bringing with him the strong traits of character for which his coun- try is noted. Through energy, thrift and perseverance, he has accomplished much and has acquired the right to be called a representative farmer and a man of high character.
Mr. Geisness was born in Trondhjem, Norway, on January 31, 1857, son of Alexander and Annie Boletta (Lund) Geisness, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they were married. Encouraged by reports of the new country, they set sail for America in 1866 and arriving in this country made their first home in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where they bought a farm the first year. Seven years after he purchased a farm there, Mr. Geisness died, but his wife continued to live there until her death, in 1911. at the age of seventy-seven. She never re-married. Both she and her hus- band were members of the Lutheran church, and the latter was a Republican in politics. Of the ten children born in their home, four died while very young. The living are: John, the subject of this biography; Bolletta Mar- garet, who married Magnus Olson and lives two miles east of New Rich- mond, Wisconsin; Anne, Mrs. Arthur Howell, resides in Duluth, Minne- sota : Ellen is the wife of Edward Halvorsen and lives in Duluth; Thomas is a resident of Port Angeles, Washington, and Amanda is Mrs. Louis Wahl, who lives on the old home place in Wisconsin.
Because of the large family and the difficulty of securing an adequate livelihood in the early days, John Geisness, with his brothers and sisters. shared the lot common to the children of pioneer settlers. The school days were short and the work days were long and therefore his education was only such as could be acquired at that time. Spending his early youth on the farm, he later worked in the pine woods for five years previous to several years spent as a farm laborer in Minnesota and Dakota. In 1886 he bought eighty acres in section 31, in the township of Henning, built a log house and there he lived for four years, during which time he broke the land which was at the date of purchase only a wilderness. He then moved to Vining.
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where he purchased a hotel, which he operated for eight years. Selling the Henning township land he bought a farm in Nidaros township, which was adjoining to his village hotel. This he later sold to a man named Froslee, and with the means thus obtained bought two hundred acres in Folden town- ship, one and one-half miles from Vining. There he lived for four years, adding to his property by a tract of eighty acres in section 5, and later a similar amount where he now lives. His residence on this place has been for the last nine years. The improvements consist of a fine new home and barn and such other necessities as the modern farm demands. Mr. Geisness has been successful as a breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs and has made a spec- ialty of dairy farming, keeping on hand from ten to fifteen cows.
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