USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 29
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Michael Walz received his education in St. John's College and was graduated from that institution in 1868, after which he taught school for seven years in Stearns county, Minnesota. He then removed to Otter Tail county. Minnesota, locating in the town of Perham, where he engaged in the general mercantile business. He continued in this line for nearly fifteen years and then entered the banking business, organizing a private bank known as the Weber, Kemper & Walz Bank. This bank was operated from 1800 until 1000, at which time Michael Walz sold his interest in the institut- tion and dealt in real estate. In 1912 he organized the Perham Holding Company and became its secretary and manager, which position he occu- pied until 1915. He served the public as representative from 1903 until 1907.
In 1882 Michael Walz was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ries, and they became the parents of five children, whose names follow: Fred A .. Romeo P., Arthur R., and Katheryn M. and Antoinett M., who are twins. Michael Walz and his wife are devout members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Walz is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
EDWARD L. JENAL.
Edward L. Jenal is one of the representative citizens of the community of Perham. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and his progressive ideas have beer of great benefit to the citizens. He is the son of J. P. and Katherine (Goeden) Jenal, and his birth occurred on November 3. 1879. in Cedar county, Nebraska. J. P. Jenal is a native of Switzerland and his wife is a native of Wisconsin. J. P. Jenal is engaged in the real-estate business and is located in Los Angeles, California.
Edward L. Jenal received his early education in the public schools of Hartington, Nebraska, graduating from the high school in that town. He then attended Creighton University, of Omaha, Nebraska, upon the com- pletion of which he entered St. Vincent College, of Los Angeles, California.
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and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902. Soon after this he became assistant cashier of the Pierce County Bank, in Pierce county, Nebraska, and occupied that position for six years. He then became assist- ant manager of the Chaffee-Miller Milling Company, in Castleton, North Dakota, which position he held for two years. In 1911 he became manager of the Globe Milling Company, in Perham, Minnesota, and has retained that position until the present time.
In 1006 Edward L. Jenal was united in marriage to Florence Fay Hut- ton, and they are the parents of one child, Winnefred. Florence Fay ( Hut- ton) Jenal is a native of Pierce, Nebraska.
Edward L. Jenal is a supporter of the Republican party and very active in promoting party principles. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. Besides his other interests, Edward L. Jenal is financial secretary for the Perham Council No. 1773, Knights of Columbus, in which order he is a member.
NILS J. SKOGLUND.
Every successful business man, it is said, leaves behind him a trail of accretions to the well-to-do classes. His children start with advantages of education, environment, easy command of capital. Their occupations, their standards of living are on a new plane. This is what Mr. Skoglund has done for his children and his community. He has been for twenty years a resident of this county and for fifteen years the township treasurer. Mr. Skoglund was born in Sweden on December 1, 1864, and is the son of Jens and Anna (Jenson) Jenson.
Jens Jenson, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer by occupation. The maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Danish War. The father of Nils J. Skoglund, who was a laboring man, is still living in his native country of Sweden, but his wife has passed away. They were the parents of six children, namely: Sven, who lives in Sweden; Nils J., Peter and Anna, residents of the United States; Bengta, who lives in Sweden, and John, who died in America.
After finishing his education in his native state, the subject of this sketch did military service for two years. He then came to America in 1891 and for the two following years worked on a railroad near Fargo, North Dakota, which was then his home. In 1895 he came to this county, where he purchased a farm which is the site of his present home. In East- ern township he now owns two hundred and forty acres, upon which he has built substantial buildings and fences. He is a well-known raiser of Hol- stein cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Skoglund's present possessions are an interesting contrast to his store of worldly goods when he arrived on the
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shores of America, for at that time he had been obliged to borrow the money with which he bought his ticket which was to bring him from the Old World.
The marriage which made Mr. Skoglund and Elsie Christiana Pehrson man and wife took place in 1893. The bride had come to America with her parents when she was a child, her father, Andrew Pehrson, migrated to Fargo. North Dakota, and after a residence in that state came to this county, where he took up the occupation of farming. The children born in this household are: Edwin, Hilden, Lelia, Della, Rhode and Bernard.
Mr. and Mrs. Skoglund are interested in the Swedish Lutheran church, of which they are members. Mr. Skoglund is now occupying the office of township trustee, a position which he has filled with credit for the past fifteen years. He is interested in many business enterprises in Parkers Prairie, being vice-president of the Farmers Equity Association, of which he was one of the organizers and since its beginning a director. He is also a director of the Joy Creamery Company, located at Parkers Prairie. He is also vice-president of the Eastern Telephone Company and was one of its organizers, and has held the office he now holds, namely, the vice-presi- dency, since the beginning of the organization. The many positions of honor and trust which have been held by the above named gentleman classify him as one of the progressive, wide-awake citizens of Parkers Prairie. His life has been no small contribution to the general welfare of this commun- ity. who in return give him their respect and esteem.
JENS CHRISTIANSON.
When an ambitious youth starts out with no capital except his health and his determination to succeed and middle age finds him a representative of his chosen line of work. no better evidence is required to show that in the beginning he possessed the necessary traits of character. Jens Christianson. a native of Sweden, was born there in July, 1866.
Christian Johnson and Anna Christianson, parents of the gentleman whose name appears above, were natives of Sweden, but came to America in 1893 to live with their son. Jens. The father was a working man in the old country. Here they lived until their death.
Jens Christianson, the subject of this sketch, went to school in Sweden and came to America in December, 1802. He journeyed to this township. where he has lived ever since. About a year after his arrival he bought eighty acres and to this later added forty acres more, and again twenty acres. In 1900 he bought one hundred and twenty acres in section 28, of Fastern township, and later erected the buildings in which he and his family have lived and carried on their farm work.
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Jens Christianson was united in marriage to Mrs. Anna (Skoglund) Carlson, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Melvin, Ruth, Stella, Freda and Mildred. Anna Skoglund was first married to August Carlson, to which union were born two children, William and Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Christianson are affiliated with the Swedish Lutheran church, in which they are active and devout members.
Mr. Christianson, besides his farming interests, is a stockholder in the Joy Creamery Company. He has been gifted with the qualities of perse- verance and energy for which his countrymen are noted, and he richly deserves the prosperity which has come as a result of his active, ambitions career.
WILLIAM TANGLEN.
So sharp is modern competition that even the man who inherits an estate and is able to retain it is accredited rightfully with success. William Tanglen. a well-known farmer of Parkers Prairie, deserves mention here not only as a man who has attained recognition by reason of his material prosperity, but because, as a public servant, he has been honorable and upright in the discharge of his duty. William Tanglen, a native of the farm on which he now lives, was born on November 26, 1881, his parents being John and Louise ( Peterson) Tanglen, both of whom were natives of Sweden.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Tanglen was Peter Magnus, who lived and died in Sweden. The maternal grandparents were Peter and Ellen Hawkinson, the latter of whom died in Sweden, and her husband came to America in 1873. dying in Otter Tail county. Louise Peterson came to America in 1871 and lived at Stillwater, Minnesota. Her husband was educated in Sweden and came to the United States about 1860, locating in Illinois, where he enlisted in the Fifteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. During the Civil War he was wounded and was in the hospital, but served until the close of the war.
John Tanglen then returned to Illinois for awhile and later came to Stillwater, where he met and married Mrs. Tanglen. After taking up various occupations, in 1869 he began farming, homesteading a quarter sec- tion. the farm on which his son now lives, remaining there until his death, on June 19, 1902. His widow still lives on the farm. It is said that he and Frank B. Saunders were the first settlers of this township. Mr. and Mrs. John Tanglen are the parents of twelve children, of whom Minnie, the eklest. is deceased. The others are: Hilda, Mary, Matilda, Peter, Anna, William, Lydia, Albena, Josie, Blanch and Walter. The parents belonged to the Lutheran church
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William Tanglen, who has continued to live on the home place, has been a successful farmer, to which fact his well-cultivated and modern- equipped farm as well as his beautiful new home, will bear testimony. Although not given to seeking public office or honors, Mr. Tanglen has served his community in an official capacity, and has also aided the move- ments which in his judgment contributed to the general good of the com- monwealth of which he has become a prominent factor.
ANDREW ANDERSEN.
As a boy denied those things which are part of youthful life and with- out educational advantage or training; to be thrown upon the world with the necessity of relying on one's resources and, regardless of this handicap. to rise to a place of prominence in the business life of the community and to be given a place of note in the public affairs of the locality of his resi- cence is the record of Andrew Andersen, who is one of the leading citizens of Otter Tail county and of New York Mills.
Andrew Andersen was born in Finland, February 18, 1854. the son of Andrew and Mary Huhtaketa, both of whom were born in Finland, where they lived on one of Andrew Huhtaketa's farms during their entire life. Andrew Huhtaketa and wife were the parents of eight children, of whom was Andrew Andersen, the subject of this sketch.
Andrew Andersen had opportunity for attending school but one day in his life and that when about eighteen years of age, shortly after which time he came to America and went to the state of Ohio, where he was employed on a railroad for some time and then later he engaged in general farm work, after which he went to Ashtabula, Ohio, and was there employed as a dock- hand, until the year 1879. when he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. and bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres of land in Leaf Lake township, land which as yet was uncleared. With a determination to suc- cecd, Andrew Andersen proceeded to clear his newly-acquired land and for a home he built a log cabin, one which is in use to this day. During the year 1898 Mr. Andersen bought eighty acres of land located in the village of New York Mills, to which place he moved and became the agent for the Monarch Elevator Company, with which company he was employed until they became a part of the New York Mills Farmers Elevator Company. when he was continued as the agent of the new proprietors.
During the year 1881 Andrew Andersen was married to Mary I. Runts, who was born in Finland, the daughter of Eric Runts and wife, who at an early date emigrated to America and settled in Otter Tail county, Minne- sota. To the marriage of Andrew and Mary Andersen were born the fol- lowing children : Emil .1., who is manager of a store at Hibbing. Minne-
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sota; Huldah, a school teacher: John L., a farmer who lives on the home place; Ida, who lives at home; and Alma, George, William, Vernon, and two children who died in infancy.
Andrew and Mary Andersen are members of the Lutheran church at New York Mills and take an active part in the work of that congregation. In politics, Mr. Andersen is an ardent Republican.
Andrew Andersen is a man who amid his personal business affairs has found time to work in the interests of community good, and for those things which have had no small part in the development of the town and the county.
CHRISTIAN JOHANESEN.
A well-known farmer and man who has taken active interest in the affairs of Pelican township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Christian Johanesen. Successful as a farmer and stock raiser, public spirited in his attitude to his community, and a man of force and personality so that he has become an influence among his associates and fellow citizens, he is a man who has a place among the prominent citizens of the township and county.
Christian Johanesen was born in Norway, October 30, 1859, the son of Johanes Hogenson and Martha Christianson, who were natives of Nor- way, in which country they lived until the year 1880, when they came to America, and located in Pelican township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where Johanes Hogenson bought twenty acres of land, which he farmed for the remainder of his days. To the marriage of Johanes Hogenson and Martha Christianson were born eight children. Agnes, Hakon, Christian, Mathias, Karen, Netta, Mathia and Marie.
Christian Johanesen was educated in the public schools of Norway, after which he became a farmer, later, in the year 1882, coming to America and locating in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he bought a farm of eighty acres of land, to which he subsequently added until he now has one hundred and sixty-six acres of well improved and highly cultivated land, on which he lives as a farmer and stock raiser.
During the year 1880 Christianson Johanesen was married, in Norway, to Marie Johanesen, daughter of Johanes Mekelsen and Agnets Haagenson, who came to America with their daughter and son-in-law and at their home lived for fifteen years, after which the elder Mekelson and his wife died.
Christian and Marie Johanesen are the parents of eleven children, Anna, Edins, Minna, Melvin, Carl, Hans, Alvin, Henry, Joseph and Clara. Mr. Johanesen and his family are active members of the Norwegian Luth- eran church.
In political or public life Christian Johanesen has taken no especial
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part, but has preferred to serve his community as a good citizen and as one ready to volunteer his services in those ways or places where he may be of use or benefit. Mr. Johanesen and his family are well and favorably known throughout the township, they being people who are highly respected and esteemed for their part in the life of Pelican township and of Otter Tail county.
AUGUST J. SITZ.
A man of conspicuous affiliation in business and financial circles of Otter Tail county, one who in public life has served prominently and who has brought honor to his community as a representative in political associa- tion, a citizen who in the affairs of local life has been given a place second to none, the name of August J. Sitz takes a leading place in the record of life and event of Otter Tail county, and of the town of New York Mills.
August J. Sitz was born in the province of East Poland, near Schnei- demuhl, Prussia, Germany, on June 24, 1851, the son of August and Doro- thy ( Utke) Sitz, both of whom were born in Germany, there grew to maturity and were married, after which August Sitz, Sr., took up a position as manager of a large farm in his native country, the duties of which he followed for seven years, and as compensation for which he received fifty dollars per year, his house rent, the use of one cow and the wool from two sheep, this product being spun in the home. In the year 1853 August Sitz, Sr., with his family, came to America and went to the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he engaged for some time in general work. Later he rented a farm in Milwaukee county, which he cultivated for four years and then he moved to Monroe county, Wisconsin, and bought a farm near the town of Tomah and lived there for about sixteen years, until his death, which occurred in the year 1880. Dorothy Sitz, his wife, lived the remain- der of her life with her son, August, at New York Mills, Minnesota, she dying during the year 1898. August and Dorothy Sitz were devout mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran church. August Sitz, Sr., was a man of quiet and retiring disposition, preferring to live as a common citizen, rather than to hold public office or to take part in those things which would bring him before the public.
To August and Dorothy Sitz were born three children: Louisa, who married Christopher Liefke, and who died near Tomah, Wisconsin; August. the subject of this sketch, and Angusta, who married Angust Spangler, and lives near Brainerd. Minnesota, where Mr. Spangler is a monkdler.
Angust J. Sitz. the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Tomah, Wisconsin, and following his school days he worked on a farm and then bought out the heirs of his father's farm and lived there
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until the year 1883. when he came to the state of Minnesota and settled at New York Mills, near where he worked one season as foreman of a ditch- ing gang who were employed on the construction of the Northern Pacific railway in that locality. Later in the year August J. Sitz built a store on Front street, of the town of New York Mills, where he engaged in the sale of implements and general hardware, at first carrying a small stock and later, with the progress of his business, adding to his line until, in the year 1915. Mr. Sitz disposed of his holdings for the sum of twelve thousand dollars, which was more than five times the value of his original stock. During his mercantile experience, August J. Sitz was able to see his business increase to the point where he found it necessary to erect a warehouse and to enlarge his store room to one having a fifty-foot front. When he dis- posed of his store, Mr. Sitz was the oldest merchant, in point of continuous business, in the town of New York Mills.
For the past four or five years Angust J. Sitz has been the occupant of the office of vice-president of the First State Bank of New York Mills, at the same time serving his community in several local offices, among which are those of councilman and village president. During a period of more than twenty-seven years this worthy citizen has served his locality in some of the various offices of honor and of trust. he at the present time being treasurer of the township. In political life. August J. Sitz has represented his district at a number of county and state conventions, where he has at all times been a credit to his constituents and to his county. He was county commissioner for four years.
During the year 1878 August J. Sitz was married to Sophia Pankow. who was born at Watertown, Wisconsin, the daughter of the Rev. Erdman Pankow and wife. The wife of Mr. Sitz died during the month of March, 1889, and on June 6, 1890, August Sitz was married, secondly, to Anna Pankow, who was a half-sister to the first Mrs. Sitz.
To the marriage of August J. and Sophia Sitz were born five children : Adolph, a lumber dealer of Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Luella, who lives at home: Rufus B., who lives at Duluth, Minnesota, where he is assistant buver for the Marshall-Wells Hardware Company ; Blandine, a school teacher of Walla Walla, Washington, and Alexander, who is a Lutheran clergyman of Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
August J. and Anna Sitz are the parents of three children: Arnold, a student of the Lutheran Seminary, of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; Herbert, a student at New Ulm, Minnesota, and Erna, who lives at home.
August J. Sitz and his wife are active and esteemed members of the Lutheran church of Perham. In political affiliation, Mr. Sitz is a Republi- can.
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L. H. D. SCHMIDT.
1 .. H. D. Schmidt is a native of Germany and was born in that country on November 15. 1861. He is the son of Deidrich and Caroline (Tearman ) Schmidt, also natives of Germany. Deidrich Schmidt was a blacksmith by trade and followed that vocation until his death. L. H. D. Schmidt received his education in the schools of his native land and upon the completion of same engaged in the wagon-making business until his emigration to America in 1889. Upon his arrival in the United States he at once located in Min- neapolis, Minnesota, where he again took up his trade for more than three months, removing thence to Perham, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Imbued with an independent spirit, he opened a wagon-making shop and has con- tinued in that line until the present time. In 1004 he erected the present shop, which is eighty by eighty feet and two stories in height at the front. His three sons, one other man and himself are constantly employed in the manufacture of wagons and hob-sleighs, completing about fifty of the for- mer and from two hundred to five hundred of the latter each year.
In: 1800 L. H. D. Schmidt was united in marriage to Emma Bauck, and to them have been born nine children, whose names follow: Dora, Lonis H., Herman, Arthur. Martha, Luella. Theodore, Milton, Caroline. Louis, Herman and Arthur are connected with their father in the manufac- turing business. Emma ( Bauck ) Schmidt is a native of Illinois and the daughter of John Bauck, a pioneer farmer of Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, who still lives on the farm near Perham.
L. H. D. Schmidt and his wife are both members of the German Luth- eran church and active in church affairs. In politics, Mr. Schmidt is a Republican.
HENRY SCHMIDT.
Henry Schmidt is one of ten children born to the union of Deidrich Schmidt and Caroline Tearman, both natives of Germany. Henry Schmidt was born on June 27, 1866, in Germany, and is indebted to the schools of his native land for the education which he received. Deidrich Schmidt was a blacksmith and followed that vocation until his death. having lived and died in Germany. Caroline ( Tearman) Schmidt is still living.
Henry Schmidt was reared in the land of his nativity and became a blacksmith. assisting his father in that business until his emigration to America, in 1800. Upon his arrival in the United States, Henry Schmidt immediately proceeded to Perham, Otter Tail county, this state, and engaged in his former vocation, opening the blacksmith business which he has con- tinned until the present time. In 1906 the present building of brick was erected.
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In 1890 Henry Schmidt was united in marriage to Dora Brockman, and to them have been born eight children, whose names follow : Emma, Arnold. Robert. Richard, Edwin, Walter, Paul and Hilda. Dora ( Brock- man ) Schmidt is a native of Germany. Both Henry Schmidt and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church and very active in its support. He is a respected citizen of the town of Perham, having devoted energy and thought to the solution of the community problems.
PER GUSTAV MATSON.
Successful farmer and stock raiser, well-known citizen of Otter Tail county, and a man who has had an important part in the development of Lida township and its resources, Per Gustav Matson, because of his helpful and useful life to the community, has attained a notable place among those men, who from the ranks of common citizenship as well as in public office, have done no small part to make the locality an advanced and prosperous community.
Per Gustav Matson was born in Westerbotten, Sweden. on March 14. 1867, the son of Mathias Olson and Maria Margareta (Nelson) Olson, both of whom spent their entire lives in Sweden. where Mathias Olson was a farmer and landowner. Mathias and Maria Olson were the parents of eigh- teen children, Maria Matilda, Bertha Louisa, Margareta Katherine, Eliza- beth Sophia, Anna Christina. Charlotta Wilhelmina. Carl Magnus, Olaf. Eva Erika. Nils, Mathias, Johan, Clara Gustava, Erik, Anders Oscar, Per Gustav, and two other children who died in infancy.
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