USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 25
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Mr. Geisness was still a young and ambitious pioneer when he mar- ried, bringing his bride, Thrina Haugenson, to his crude pioneer cabin home. This was on May 6. 1888. Mrs. Geisness is a native of Norway, having been born there on May 30, 1864. Her parents, Rolland and Christna (Skafnes) Hangenson, were among the first pioneers coming to Folden township, for they arrived in their wagons in 1871. The father died on April 16, 1895, his widow surviving him until September 22, 1914, when she died, at the age of seventy-seven. The children born to them are: Edna Amanda, who married Eric Paulson and lives in Sacred Heart, Minnesota ; Reynard Alexander, who died at the age of eighteen; Annie Bolletta, who died at two years of age, and was followed by another daughter, also named Annie Bolletta, who grew up and married Clifford Read, a resident of Seattle, Washington: Cora Nicoline, Ella Juliet, Thea Jennette and Eva Flenora, all living at home.
The Haugenson family were indeed pioneers, the log house in which they first lived is still standing and is now used as a summer kitchen. When they founded their pioneer home on the northern frontier they were often disturbed by Indians, who by their sudden appearance used to frighten even the horses and cattle. It was in the year 1868 when this family crossed the ocean in a sail boat and by a hard journey overland arrived in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where they lived for the following three years. When they came to this county, in 1871, traveling in covered wagons drawn by oxen, it required three weeks to make the journey. In order to procure necessary supplies they had to walk to town.
Mr. and Mrs. Geisness are members of the Lutheran United church. Mr. Geisness is a Republican. He has been for two terms president of the Henning and Vining Telephone Company and has been also president of the creamery. Since their long residence here Mr. and Mrs. Geisness have brought to their attractive home many friends and acquaintances. Mrs. Geisness has been a valuable assistant in all that her ambitions husband has
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undertaken to do and both are among the most highly respected citizens of this locality, Mr. Geisness being recognized as one of its leading farmers and business men.
HENRY CORDES.
The energy, frugality and business instinct of the German citizen has done much toward the development of the United States. Wherever these people have settled there is evidence of thrift and prosperity. Substantial homes, large barns and well-cultivated fields in the rural districts and well- conducted business interests in the towns and cities. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is no exception to the rule, for here is found the progressive farmer and the successful business man of German origin.
Henry Cordes, a German by birth, is a man true to the instincts of his race, born in Hanover, Germany, February 12, 1872, he came to this country in early boyhood and has been most successful in his calling.
Henry Cordes was the son of Herman and Charlotte ( Winter) Cordes, natives of Hanover, Germany. Herman Cordes was born on April 14, 1842, and was married to Charlotte Winter in 1870, whose birth occurred on May 20, 1844. He received his education in the common schools of his country. He and his wife were active members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Cordes operated a small farm in Germany, where he and his wife reared a family of ten children. In the year 1885 he decided to cast his fortunes in America and, in company with his wife and children, he landed in New York City on April 5, of that year. He came directly to Minnesota, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 21, Leaf Lake town- ship, Otter Tail county. Mr. Cordes is still living on a farm near Henning, Mrs. Cordes having died on July 18, 1909.
The parents of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Cordes never came to America. Henry Cordes, the father of Herman, was an extensive farmer and owned large tracts of land in Germany. Fritz Winter, the father of Mrs. Herman Cordes, was also a tiller of the soil and owned a small farm. The Cordes and Winter families were all members of the German Lutheran church.
Henry Cordes, the subject of this sketch, received most of his educa- tion in Germany, having come to the United States when a lad of thirteen, he received but one year of schooling in America. Mr. Cordes was mar- ried on October 18, 1900. to Doris Bormann, a native of Hanover. Ger- many. She was born on January 28. 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Cordes are the parents of eight children : Herman. Hertha, Emma. Bettie, Clara. Walter. Edwin and Norbert.
In 1000 IFenry Cordes purchased of his father one hundred and sixty
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acres of his present farm. Two years before he purchased an adjoining one hundred and twenty acres completing his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Cordes has added much to the value of his farm by the erection of a large barn, forty by eighty-four feet, with two silos, twelve by thirty-four feet, the work being completed in the year 1909. Two years previous to this he had rebuilt a large and modern house. Later he has added a number of large sheds for his machinery and for the comfort of his many hogs and fine Guernsey cattle. Mr. Cordes owns his threshing outfit, but does only the threshing on his own farm and near neighbors.
Mr. and Mrs. Cordes are active members of the German Lutheran church, in which denomination Mr. Cordes has been a member of the official board for six years. He is at the present time treasurer of the school board, director of the creamery company and he holds the office of vice-president with the telephone companies of Otter Tail and Henning. Mr. Cordes has been very active in all things that tend to the development and improvement of his home and the community in which he lives.
MARTIN K. MARTINSON.
Martin K. Martinson, successful and well-known farmer of Compton township, in Otter Tail county, a man who has taken no small part in the development and advancement of the community and the support of its movements and projects for a greater township and county, was born in Sweden on August 4, 1864, the son of Martin Erickson and Emma ( Peter- son) Erickson, both of whom were born in Sweden where they now live. Martin Erickson being a farmer of that country. Martin Erickson and his wife are the parents of four children, Margaret, Peter, Martin, and Chris- tine who is deceased.
Martin K. Martinson was educated in the common schools of his native land after which he came to America, in the year 1889, and went to the state of Minnesota, where he located in Otter Tail county, working for some years as a farm helper. In the year 1885 he bought eighty acres of farm land in Compton township, section 28, paying for this land the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars. On this place Martin K. Martinson has since lived, he having improved the farm and cultivated the soil until the place is among the most desirable of the locality.
On December 4, 1902, Martin K. Martinson was married to Carrie Peterson, who was born in Sweden, the daughter of Nels Peterson and wife, who came to America in the year 1893, locating in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where they bought a farm, which later they sold to Martin K. Martinson.
Martin K. and Carrie Martinson are the parents of one child, Algot,
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who was born on October 14, 1903. Mr. Martinson and his wife are well known and highly respected members of the Swedish Lutheran church, a congregation in which they are actively engaged as workers and as support- ers of the creeds of this denomination.
In public life Martin K. Martinson has taken no especial part, he pre- ferring to live well and to do his duty as a private citizen of the county and the township.
OLAUS O. HOVLAND.
The history of one who has lived an honorable life and attained high distinction in the community in which he lives should find a prominent place in the biographical records used by succeeding generations. The lives of these men serve as an inspiration to beginners and as a spur to novices in the field of industry. Among those who have resided in Otter Tail county since the very beginning of her agricultural development, is Olaus O. Hov- land. As a boy he had the privilege of living on a Minnesota homestead and to those days of stern labor and discipline he owes much of the success which came to him in later life.
Olaus Hovland was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on the 16th of September, 1868, and is the son of Ole O. and Anna (Teslo) Hovland. Contrary to the prevailing custom of that locality and period he received more than the average educational training. He attended the local public schools and at the completion of the common school course entered the high school at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. During his attendance in the high school, he absorbed the highest principles of right living and learned to look upon the occupation of farming as a dignified and noble form of labor. His first experience as a farmer was received on his father's homestead where he went to work after leaving high school. For several years follow- ing his period of residence on his father's farm, he rented a place whose resources proved to be unusually profitable. In 1912, he bought the place where he now resides. The farm extends over two hundred acres of ground located in sections 26 and 27. He has erected, since his occupation of the place, buildings of modern construction and design. His interests are with general farming and he gives some attention to stock raising. As a Repub- lican he has served as township clerk and as school director and executed the duties of each office with efficiency and force.
On the 21st of March, 1895, the marriage of Olaus Hovland to Minnie Sjolaas, a native of Oscar township, Otter Tail county, took place. She is the daughter of John and Karin (Bjerke) Sjolaas, among the early set- tlers of that section, who settled there in 1869, having come from Houston county, Minnesota, where they had lived since the early development of
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that community. Mr. Sjolaas died on the 27th of March, 1902, and his wife passed away on the 7th of January, 1914. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hovland, but they have found enjoyment and pleasure in the task of rearing the three nieces of Mrs. Hovland; Ida, Luella and Lena Lider.
The work of Olans Hovland has been such as to win for him more than passing recognition in the county in which he lives. While he has worked mainly for individual advancement, he has never lost sight of the fact that there are movements for public good and has used his best efforts in furthering the cause of honesty and business prosperity in Otter Tail county. He is a man of a versatile nature which has found expression in deeds for the welfare of the public at large.
JOHN B. THOMPSON.
A man of splendid attainments as a lawyer, John B. Thompson has long held local precedence as an exponent of the most loyal and progressive spirit. An influential factor in the promotion of various important business enterprises, he is eminently entitled to more than passing consideration in the biographical records of the county in which he resides. A native son of Otter Tail county and a representative of one of its well-known and honored Norwegian families, Mr. Thompson has well upheld the prestige of the name which he bears and which has been long and prominently iden- tified with the industrial affairs of Battle Lake, this county. His character and services have but further exemplified that fine type of citizenship which has made the Norwegian element one of so much importance and influence in the sturdy citizenship of Minnesota.
John B. Thompson was born on November 4, 1876, in Dane Prairie township. this county, son of Bernt and Inger (Gulseth ) Thompson. His parents were born in Selber, Trondhjem, Norway, where they were also married. Upon their arrival in America with a large family early in the seventies, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson settled in Spring Grove, Minnesota. They later came to Otter Tail county and took a homestead claim on one hundred and sixty acres on the west side of Indian lake in Dane Prairie township. In that section Mr. Thompson met the trials of pioneer life in a strange commity, but his character was of such force and strength that he was able to turn his means of maintenance in life from a hardship to a pastime. He cleared a place for a log cabin before he entered upon any form of agricultural life, and lived several years in the dwelling, most of which had been erected by himself. Later in life he sold his place to his son. Nels B. Thompson, and moved to the opposite side of the lake, where he died after a few years. Mrs. Thompson spent her last days with her
JOHN B. THOMPSON.
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daughter, Mrs. Thomas Larson, the wife of one of the prominent men of this county, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Thompson was a Republican and took an active interest in the political affairs of the county, but could never be persuaded to accept a candidacy for a political office. He was deeply devout in all his religious undertakings and with his wife gave loyal support to the Lutheran church of which they were members. Mr. Thompson was not only one of the founders of the church in the community in which he lived, but for a time before its establishment on a permanent basis, gave the use of his house as a meeting place for the congregation.
John B. Thompson received the advantages of a liberal education, avail- ing himself first of the opportunities offered in the course of study at the Wilmer Seminary. After he left Luther College in the year 1896, he attended the University of Minnesota, from which institution he was gradu- ated in the year 1904. Following the plan he had mapped out for his future profession, his course in the university was that of the law and shortly after his graduation he was admitted to the bar and began his prac- tiee in Henning, a village in Otter Tail county. During the legislative session of 1905, he was engrossing clerk, and at the expiration of that term of service he returned to Otter Tail county, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Thompson has made rapid and substantial progress in his practice of law and through his ability and well-fortified powers as a counselor, has gained a position entitling him to the full confidence and respect of the com- munity. Aside from his law practice, he has at different times been engaged in business enterprises which have proved most successful. In 1912, in com- pany with T. A. Ranstad, Mr. Thompson made his initial appearance in the field of business enterprise, as agent for a popular line of automobiles. This line of work has not only proved to be profitable, but it has also been of an unusually pleasant nature, and has gained for the subject of this sketch a wide acquaintance throughout the entire county of Otter Tail. Further prestige was later gained by him as director and manager of the Battle Lake Milling Company which he organized. He has also found time and oppor- tunity for work in the field of real estate in which he takes a live interest.
Mr. Thompson has given his entire political support to the cause of the Republican party, and has been honored for the last four years with the position of mayor of Battle Lake. With the numerous cares of professional and business interests on his mind Mr. Thompson still finds time to engage in the recreations of fraternal and social life. He is a member of the Elks lodge at Fergus Falls, and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. He fills the office of secretary of the Commercial Club at Battle Lake, an office (16b)
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the duties of which have brought him in contact with the best class of citizenship of the community in which he lives and won for him much popu- larity among its members.
On June 23, 1901, John B. Thompson was united in marriage to Pauline Tjostelson, who was born in Dane Prairie township, the daughter of l'eter Tjostelson, one of the pioneer settlers of that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have no children.
HENRY GEORGE HOFF.
From the land of Norway have come to America many of the desirable and enterprising citizens of foreign countries who take an important and conspicuous part in the life of this country; men who are hardy, persevering. industrious and resourceful, a type of manhood without which America and American life would be denied one of its most acceptable elements. Of this type of manhood and citizenship is Henry George Hoff, and the excellent family of which he is a representative.
Henry George Hoff was born on the farm where he now lives, in Tordenskjold township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, on July 10, 1883, the son of John T. and Marie ( Ilshing) Hoff, both of whom were born in Norway, the father at Hedemarken, on August 12, 1849, and the mother at Vadsoe, of northern Norway, on April 18, 1856. John T. Hoff was the son of Tollef and Gunor (Johnson) Hoff, who were born in Norway, where they were married and to whom were born four sons, one, Andrew, came to America in the year 1868, and located in Houston county, Minnesota. Later Tollef and Gunor Hoff, with their three sons, came and located with the son and brother, Andrew, in Houston county, where they lived for one year and then moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where Tollef Hoff and two sons took up a homestead in Tordenskjold township. Later Tollet Hoff sold his homestead and moved to Ashby where he died in January. 1897. Gunor Hoff preceded her husband in death thirteen years, dying in the year 1884.
Marie Ilshing was the daughter of Ole and Guri Ishing, who were born in Norway and came to America in the year 1865 and settled at Minne- apolis, Minnesota, where Ole Ilshing followed his trade as a mason, until the year 1868, when he, with his family. moved to Otter Tail county, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, in section 32. where Henry George Iloff. the subject of this sketch, now lives. After some years. during which time Ole Ilshing cleared his land and improved it, he sold his farm to John T. Hoff, following which he moved to St. Olaf township. and purchased a farm which later he sold and then bought another farm, which after a time he sold. Then Ole Ilshing became a merchant at Dalton.
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Minnesota, a business in which he continued until four or five years later. when he died, his wife, Guri, having preceded him in death, in the year 1886. Ole and Guri Ilshing were the parents of three children: Marie, mother of the subject of this sketch; Hans, who died as a boy, in Norway; Hansena, who married Halbert Parker and lives at Junction City, Oregon.
John T. and Mary Hoff were married in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. after which they established a home on the claim of John T. in section 7. of Tordenskjold township, a place where they lived for four years and then bought out the place of Ole Ilshing, a farm of two hundred acres in section 32. John T. and Mary Hoff lived on this farm until 1907 when Mr. Hoff sold his place to his son, Henry George, and retired. John T. Hoff was one of the founders of the Lutheran Free church of Minnesota. Mary Hoff lived as the faithful wife of John T. Hoff until her death in the year 1900. To the marriage of John T. and Mary Hoff were born six children: Oscar Theodore, who lives on a farm in Tordenskjold township, Minnesota; Gena Gurina, who married Edward K. Johnson and lives in Tordeskjold town- ship: Alma Helena; Henry George, the subject of this sketch: Manda Georgia, a stenographer, who lives in the state of Idaho, and Borghild Julia.
Henry George Hoff was educated in the schools of district No. 20, of Tordenskjold township, and then he worked on his father's farm for a time after which he attended the agricultural college of the state of Minnesota. during the year 1901-2, and then returned to the farm and aided his father until 1907, when he bought his father's place and engaged himself in the pursuit of general farming and stock raising.
On June 23, 1900, George Henry Hoff was married to Mary Weiby. who was born in Dalton, the daughter of Clement Weiby and wife. To this marriage two children have been born: Jean, who was born on March 13, 1910, and Allen, who was born on May 18, 1913.
NATHAN J. FINN.
Born in Chase county, Kansas, December 4. 1870, Nathan J. Finn, of Oak Valley township, is a prosperous farmer. Mr. Finn is the son of Jasper and Vilette ( Packard) Finn, the latter of whom was a native of Illinois. They were married in Jowa and later settled in Kansas in an early day. Mr. Finn's father died in Kansas, November 11, 1901. His widow, however, is still living. Mr. Finn knows very little about his parents, how- ever, as he was reared by his maternal grandparents, Nathan H. and Lucy Packard. They came to Otter Tail county in June, 1875, and settled on section 2, of Oak Valley township. Mr. Finn's maternal grandfather died in 1891 and his grandmother in 1803.
Mr. Finn came to Otter Tail county with his grandparents in 1875
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and has since resided in this county. He remained with his grandparents until their deaths and, after this, the farm was sold. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres in sections 23 and 25, of Oak Valley township. In 1912 Mr. Finn built a large barn, thirty-two by forty-four feet. He also has improved the farm in various other ways.
In 1893, after the death of his grandmother, Nathan J. Finn was mar- ried to Hattie Smith, who was born in 1873, in Chicago, and who is the daughter of Charles and Sarah ( Naylor ) Smith. They came to Oak Valley township in 1876 and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section 26. Mrs. Finn's father died in October, 1913. Her mother is now living in Hewitt, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Finn have two children, I.ee. born on July 2, 1910, and Leona, born on March 22, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Finn also have two adopted children, Naomia, who is seventeen years old. and Ralph, who is fourteen.
Mr. Finn is a member of the township board at the present time and is treasurer of the school board, a position which he has filled creditably for several years. He is well known and well liked in the community where he lives and where the people have had an opportunity to know his char- acter and his worth as a man.
ANDREW ISAKSON.
Andrew Isakson, an enterprising farmer of Inman township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Sweden on December 16, 1872, the son of Isaac and Betsey Johnson.
Mr. Isakson's parents were both natives of Sweden. They immigrated to America and settled at Henning, Otter Tail county, in 1892. Mr. Isak- son's father died in Henning in 1896 at the age of fifty-six years and his mother in 1911 at the age of seventy-eight. They were the parents of six children, John, Christine (who lives in Sweden), Berg, Nels (deceased), Andrew and Olaf.
Andrew Isakson was educated in Sweden and, in 1892, came to America and settled at Henning, purchasing forty acres in section 17, of Henning township. Later Mr. Isakson sold this farm and in 1900 purchased eighty acres in section 12, of Tuman township. He has cleared his farm and erected good buildings on it. Mr. Isakson is not only a good farmer and stock man, but he is a carpenter by trade and has worked at this trade almost con- tinuously during the past two years. Nevertheless, Mr. Isakson has kept a very close oversight on his farm and has supervised the work on the farm.
In 1900 Andrew Isakson was married to Sadie Person, who was born in 1889 in Sweden and who is the daughter of Olaf and Ellen Person, of
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Leaf Lake township. Mr. and Mrs. Isakson have two sons, Edwin, born on August 29, 1909, and Melvin, born on July 22, 1913.
Mr. Isakson is now serving his second term as supervisor of Inman township. Mr. and Mrs. Isakson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. They are not only prominent in religious affairs but likewise prominent in civic affairs of this township. They have a host of friends in the neighborhood where they live.
JOHN S. TORGERSEN.
Among the pioneer citizens of Tordenskjold township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and among its successful farmers and business men, is John S. Torgersen, who was born near Talvake, in Sopnes, Norway, Septem- ber 12, 1849. Mr. Torgersen is the son of Michael and Kari (Thompson) Torgersen.
Michael Torgersen was born at Raroaas, Norway, and his wife in Tap- luft, near Talvake, Norway, the former in 1815 and the latter about 1825. They were married in Norway and lived near Sopnes, where, for twenty- five years, Michael Torgersen taught school. After the death of his wife, in April, 1866, Michael Torgersen came to America with his family. The voyage to America was made on a steamship and on their arrival in America, the family spent on winter in Winneshiek county, Iowa. After moving to St. Paul, Minnesota, Michael Torgersen left three daughters in that city, and, with three sons and two daughters, came to Otter Tail county. The journey from St. Paul to St. Cloud was made by rail and from St. Cloud to Otter Tail county by wagon. Upon arriving in Otter Tail county, Mr. Torgersen homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tordenskjold town- ship on the west shores of Stalker lake. A cabin built on the shore of the lake was destroyed by fire in 1868. For some time Mr. Torgersen had no horses and only two cows. Subsequently, he built another log house on a hill just north of the first and there lived until late in life, when he built a little house near the home of his son, Jens. He died there in 1898. After coming to Otter Tail county, he had married Ellen Haldorson. He also taught school here for some years and, for some time, sang in the choir of his church. He was a prominent member of the Synod Lutheran church. Of his twelve children, four died early in life in Norway, Salvine married Robert Karsman, and, having returned to Sweden, now lives in Stockholm; Magdalena married Thomas Dwyer and died in Minneapolis; John S. is the subject of this sketch; Lena married Andrew Burg and lives in Grand Island, Nebraska: Dora is the widow of Knut Foss and lives in Butte, Mon- tana; Jens is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Bert lives at Tentpole.
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