USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
293
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
many, in May, 1896. Mrs. Grefe was born in 1876 and came to this country early in life. Mr. and Mrs. Grefe are the parents of the following children : Katherine, Herman D., Rebecca, William and Lorine.
Herman Grefe and his wife have devoted much time and energy to the development of their farm. It was for the most part a wilderness of wild and undeveloped land when purchased by them, but by constant and patient labor they have seen their rough acres develop into a valuable tract. In the early part of their married life they built a new house and from time to time have added many substantial improvements, in the nature of outbuildings, barn and the telephone.
Mr. and Mrs. Grefe are members of the German Lutheran church and take an active part in the services. Mr. Grefe is active in the affairs of the community, being secretary and treasurer of the Farmers Society of Equity. he is secretary of the creamery that was established in 1905 with but forty patrons and under his wise and careful management they now have one hun- dred and thirty patrons. In 1915 the creamery paid out for butter fat to the farmers more than thirty-seven thousand dollars. The Farmers Society of Equity is an organization of farmers for the purpose of buying and sell- ing. They devote most of their energy to shipping and selling of stock. During the past year more than thirty-nine thousand dollars worth of live stock has been shipped and sold by this organization. This society has handled in 1915. more than forty-eight thousand dollars for farmers around Otter Tail.
LEONARD JOHNSON.
Among the successful farmers of Compton township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Leonard Johnson, who owns two hundred and forty acres in this township.
Mr. Johnson is a native of Sweden, where he was born on June 2, 1857. His parents were John Anderson and Inga Lisa Magnuson, who were also natives of Sweden. Mr. Johnson's paternal grandfather was Andrew Ander- son, a native of Sweden and a farmer in the old country. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church.
John Anderson, the father of Leonard Johnson, received military train- ing in his native country, but farmed practically all of his life. For eleven years he was the overseer of a large tract of land. He died on November 29, 1899, and his wife in June, 1903. They were members of the Lutheran church and the parents of six children, of whom Andrew is deceased. Two of the children, Leonard, the subject of this sketch, and Gustav, came to America. The other children, John Gustaf, August and Matilda C., live in Sweden.
294
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Leonard Johnson was educated in the public schools of his native land. He came to America shortly after his marriage on February 18, 1881. Mr. Johnson was accompanied to America by his wife. They landed in New York City on April 24, 1881, and came directly to Otter Tail county, Minne- sota. Mr. Johnson purchased eighty acres of land in section 19. of Comp- ton township. After living on the farm for twenty-one years, he has gradu- ally increased its acreage until he now owns two hundred and forty acres. He paid six dollars and seventy-five cents an acre for the original tract of eighty acres, which consisted of wild land. Later he paid two thousand dollars for eighty acres which he purchased from his brother in 1899. He moved to the second farm two years later.
To the marriage of Leonard Johnson and Mary Anderson, there have been born eight children, all of whom are living, Alfilda O., Emma M., Selma J., John L., Gustav A., Hulda E., Alma W. and Oscar W.
In 1913 Mr. Johnson rebuilt his residence and in 1905 built a new barn. Leonard Johnson not only carries on general and mixed farming, but has made a specialty of stock raising, and has been very successful. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and family are members of the Lutheran church in Compton township.
ANDERS J. NOREEN.
Anders J. Norcen, the proprietor of one hundred and eighty-five acres of good farming land in Compton township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born on June 11, 1861. in Sweden, and is the son of Jons Jansson and Margaret Anderson, who were also natives of Sweden. Mr. Noreen's grandfather, Jan Anderson, was also a native of Sweden and a farmer by occupation. He owned a small farm in his native land. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Noreen's father. Jons Jansson, was educated in the public schools of his native land and spent all of his life in Sweden. When a young man he received the customary military training. In his native land his name was written Trapp Jons Jansson. He died in September. 1905, and his wife in November, 1907. They were the parents of four children. of whom two, Nels and Anders J .. came to America. Karin. the second child, is deceased. The eldest child. Trapp Jons Jansson, lives in Sweden.
Anders J. Noreen was educated in Sweden and, after finishing his edu- cation, came to America. He landed in New York City on May 26, 1882. and immediately thereafter proceeded to Towa, where he remained for two months. He then came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and for two years worked upon neighboring farms. At the end of two years Mr. Noreen was able to purchase sixty-five acres of land in section 21, of Compton township.
-
295
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
He has added to this original farm until he now has one hundred and eighty- five acres. In 1886 Mr. Noreen built his first house. His original farm was purchased from the railroad company and most of it has been cleared at the present time. Mr. Noreen has live stock on the farm and has been successful, measured by the standard of the community in which he lives.
In 1886 Anders J. Noreen was married to Anna Johnson, a native of Sweden, and to them have been born six children, all of whom are living and are unmarried. The names of the children in the order of their births are as follow : Fred William, George Henry, Ruth Emelia, Elsie Josephine, Ellen Augusta and Sophia Magdeline.
Mr. and Mrs. Anders J. Noreen and family are members of the Mission church and are active in church work. Mr. Noreen is chairman of the town board and has served as chairman for six years. He is a prominent citizen of Compton township and a man who wields a tremendous influence in behalf of worthy public enterprises.
VERNON STEDMAN BEMUS.
Vernon S. Bemus, a prosperous farmer of Compton township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, who owns a most attractive farm in the community where he lives and whose buildings are all practically new, both the house and barn having been erected in 1914, is a native of Dodge county, Minne- sota, born on October 22. 1860.
Mr. Bemus is the son of William and Elizabeth (Stedman) Bemus, natives of Clay county, New York, and Virginia, respectively. Mr. Bemus's father died in 1901 at the age of eighty-one. The father of William Bemus was a native of England, who, during the later years of his life, immigrated to America and settled in New York state. The Bemus family were farm- ers by occupation and attended the Methodist church.
The late William Bemus was a carpenter and contractor until 1860, when he moved to Dodge county, Minnesota. After working at his trade in Dodge county for one and one-half years, he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Dodge county and lived upon this farm until his death. He attended the Methodist church. His wife died in April, 1908. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are living, George W., Cora, Luella May, Vernon S., Frank F., Florence E., Henry C., Eva and Alva A.
Vernon S. Bemns received a good common-school education in the pub- lic schools of Dodge county, Minnesota. After his first marriage, Mr. Bemus lived in Dodge county, Minnesota, for nine years, renting land for a time. Finally, he purchased two hundred acres, which he sold when he came to Otter Tail county on March 1. 1912. At this time Mr. Bemus pur-
206
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
chased two hundred and forty acres, but sold it in the fall of 1914 and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres in the farm where he now lives and eighty acres for his son, Harold. The barn on Mr. Bemus's place, which he erected in 1914. is thirty-two by sixty feet. Mr. Bemus is one of the enterprising farmers of this section, and is one of the foremost stock raisers of Otter Tail county, where he owns and operates "Fair View Stock Farm." situated two miles east of the town of Deer Creek.
Vernon S. Bemus has been twice married. He was first married on December 1, 1881, to Carrie May Baldwin, who died on February 14, 1890. By this marriage, there was born one son, Percy W. Mr. Bemus was mar- ried, secondly, on November 18, 1892. to Emma Leibold, and to them has been born one child, Harold Earl, who married Mildred Arbuckle and lives in Otter Tail county.
Mr. Bemus is among the leading farmers and stockmen of Otter Tail county and is popular in the community where he lives.
ANDY VEDEN.
Andy Veden, who owns two hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land, all of which is well improved and which is situated in Compton town- ship, and who is the president of the Deer Creek Co-operative Shipping Association, which did a business amounting to ninety-six hundred dollars in 1914, is a native of Otter Tail county, born here on November 6. 1874.
Mr. Veden is the son of Charles and Caroline ( Johnson) Veden, both of whom were born in Sweden, the former in 1833. Charles Veden came to America before his marriage. He located in Chisago county, Minnesota, where he owned eighty acres of land. Some time after the Civil War he sold the farm and moved to Parkers prairie, Otter Tail county, pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres of land at Horse Head lake. He lived on this farm until 1877. when he sold out and came to Compton township. Here he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 4. and here lived until his death. He served three years in the Civil War, as a private in the Third Regiment. Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Veden's father was a member of the Lutheran church and one of the organizers of the church in Compton township. He served as constable of his township for twenty-six years. He died in November, 1913, and his wife in June, 1914. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom, Theresa and Corena. are deceased. The living children are Altora, John, Andy, Elot and Herbert.
Andy Veden was educated in the public schools of Compton township and has been engaged in farming all of his life. He has lived on the farm, which he now occupies, for twenty years. In the beginning Mr. Veden pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of land, most of which was wild prairie.
1 !
207
OTTER TAH. COUNTY, MINNESOT.A.
He now owns two hundred and twenty aeres, all of which is in one body. In 1913 Mr. Veden built a splendid house and in 1907 a large barn.
On June 24, 1895, Andy Veden was married to Charlotte Ingwald, who was born in Sweden and who is the daughter of Swan Ingwald. Mr. and Mrs. Veden have seven children, all of whom are at home. Eleonora, Delia, Clarence, Lilly, Charles, Mable, and Donald.
Mr. and Mrs. Andy Veden are members of the Lutheran church and take an active interest in church work. Mr. Veden served fifteen years as constable of Compton township, but is no longer filling this position. He also served as assessor of Compton township for seven years and served seven years as clerk of school district No. 94.
ANDREW A. PETERSON.
Andrew .\. Peterson, a prosperous farmer of Eagle Lake township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Sweden, September 6, 1860. the son of Andrew and Cagse Peterson, who were also natives of Sweden. Mr. Peterson's father was a farmer in his native land and was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until he came to America in 1867. During the first two and one-half years of his residence in America, he was employed in the copper mines of Michigan. Subsequently, he immigrated to Missouri and. because of ill health, moved from Missouri to Iowa and, at the time of his arrival in Iowa, had only about fifty cents. In the spring of 1874 he came to Eagle Lake township, Otter Tail county, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. to which he added until he owned two hundred and forty acres before his death. He had a hard struggle to make a suc- cess in life, but he did succeed in a large measure and, at his death, left his family well provided with all of the comforts of life. Andrew and Cagse Peterson were the parents of five children, Andrew A., John, Peter, Magnus and Daniel. The late Andrew Peterson was a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and was identified with the Republican party.
Andrew A. Peterson was educated in the common schools of Eagle Lake township and, until he was twenty-three years old, was employed on his father's farm. In 1883 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. where he now lives and, the next year, moved to the farm. Mr. Peterson is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Most of the improvements which are to be seen on the farm today have been put here by Mr. Peter- son's own hand. He has erected all of the buildings and practically all of the fences and installed most of the drainage.
In 1883 Andrew A. Peterson was married to Kate Peterson, and to them have been born four children, Alvin J., Oscar L., Vide and Phoebe.
Mr. Peterson has departed somewhat from the political ways of his
298
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
father. Andrew A. Peterson is identified with the Democratic party, while his father was a Republican. Mr. Peterson has served as chairman of the township board as supervisor and as constable. The Peterson family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church.
Andrew A. Peterson is one of the most hustling farmers of Otter Tail county and has a variety of interests aside from his farm. He is a director in the Battle Lake Telephone Company, a director in the Melby State Bank, a director in the Melby Farmers Elevator and a director in the Melby Live Stock Shipping Association. All of these various interests demand a great deal of his time. He is a man of engaging personality and extremely popu- lar in the county where he lives.
OLE O. AUNE.
Among the self-made citizens of Sverdrup township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and among its successful farmers, is Ole O. Aune, who was born on December 11, 1836, in Norway, the son of Ole O. Anne, Sr., who lived and died in his native land.
Mr. Aune was educated in Norway and immigrated to La Crosse, Wis- consin. in 1860. Prior to coming to America, he had been engaged in ship- building in his native land. After coming to this country he worked on the railroad in Huston county. Wisconsin, for a time and then went to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he worked in a saw-mill. Later he worked in the pine regions of Wisconsin and. during the summer of 1870, worked in the mills on the river. He was taken sick in the fall of 1870 and in February of the following year, returned to work in the mills. In May, 1871, Mr. Aune set out for Minnesota. One of his companions purchased an ox team at St. Peter, Minnesota, and met Mr. Aune at Willmar, Minnesota, from which place the two made the trip to Fort Abercrombie, North Dakota. They moved to a place called Georgetown and then turned east and followed the Buffalo river to where the city of Hawley now stands. Here they built a log cabin, shortly after June, 1871. After remaining at this place until the spring of 1872 they came to Fergus Falls, which at that time was a small village.
Shortly afterward, Mr. Anne located on a farm of one hundred and forty-four acres, where he now lives. During the next few years, he was busily engaged in clearing the land and in making miscellaneous improve- ments. He is a general farmer and stockman and, in addition to his farm- ing interests, owns stock in the elevator and in a store and creamery at Underwood.
In 1888, Ole O. Aune returned to Norway and was there married to Gertrude Ilalgunset, who was born on January 12, 1860, in Norway. They
299
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
have been the parents of two sons, Ole O., Jr., who was born on May 26, 1890, and who was educated in the schools of Otter Tail county, is a farmer and lives at home with his parents, and John O., born on November 30, 1893, was also educated in the public schools and lives at home on the farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Ole O. Anne, Sr., are Lutherans. Mr. Anne is a Repub- lican in politics, but in late years has not been especially interested in politics and has taken no part in it. He is a good farmer and has been successful as a result of his own personal effort.
JOHN J. WOLD.
John J. Wold. a well-to-do farmer and business man of Sverdrup town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Norway, January 28, 1854. Mr. Wold is a son of Jens and Johanna (Swenson) Wold, both of whom were natives of Norway. Mr. Wold's father was born in 1820, and his mother in the same year. They were married in Norway, and in 1868 they emigrated to America, locating first in Goodhne county, Minnesota. In 1872 they made the journey by ox team from Goodhue to Otter Tail county. Here they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, where their son, John J., now lives. They cleared and improved this farm and made it their home the rest of their lives. Mr. Wold's father died in 1891, and his mother in 1903. They were earnest and devoted members of the Lutheran church, and were active in religious matters in this township in the early days. Of the six children born to Jens Wold and wife, Edward, the eldest, is deceased. The other children in the order of their birth are as follow : Sophia, John J., Elizabeth, Ole and Theodore, all of whom are living.
John J. Wold received his education in the public schools of Norway, and also attended the schools in Goodhue county, Minnesota, after coming to this country. When Mr. Wold was eighteen years of age, he came to Sverdrup township, Otter Tail county, with his parents, and has lived con- tinuously upon the farm where he now resides since coming to the county. After his father's death, in 1891, John J. Wold purchased the old home- stead farm, and built thereon a fine residence. He has also made many other substantial improvements on the farm and now has one of the most desirable tracts of land in this part of Otter Tail county. He is a general farmer and stockman.
On November 30, 1802, John J. Wold was married to Karen Thronson, who was born in Norway, November 15, 1864, and whose parents never left their native land. To this union have been born three children : Edwin. born on Angust 25, 1893, was educated in the public schools and lives at home with his parents; Clara Gelena, born on February 9. 1897, was also a student in the public schools of her home township, and is living at home;
300
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Margaret Johanna, born on May 20, 1904, is a student in the schools of her home township.
Mr. Wold is a stockholder in the Underwood Co-operative Creamery Company, and in the co-operative mercantile store at Underwood, as well as the Farmers Elevator and Shipping Association, at Underwood.
Politically, Mr. Wold is identified with the Prohibition party. He has served as supervisor of Sverdrup township, and as treasurer of the school board for seventeen years. Mr. and Mrs. John J. Wold and family are all very active members of the Lutheran church in this township. They are substantial and successful farmers, and well-known and valued citizens.
DAVID L. ROWE.
David 1. Rowe, who is well-known in Everts township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, as a successful farmer and breeder of Holstein cattle and who owns a splendid farm of two hundred and forty acres located in sections o and jo, is a native of Norway, where he was born on February IO. 1848.
Mr. Rowe is the son of Lars and Kari ( Groethe ) Rowe, both of whom were born in Norway, the former in 1814 and the latter in 1815. They came to Dodge county. Wisconsin. in 1852, and three years later moved to Portage county, Wisconsin. Later they moved to Waupaca county and pur- chased a farm of eighty acres, to which they added forty acres. Mr. Rowe's father died in Waupaca county in 1892 and his wife in 1898. They were the parents of three children. David I., Andrew L. and Olena. Mr. Rowe's mother had been previously married and by this first marriage, had three children, Nels. Susan and Kisti. The Rowes left Bergen, Norway, on May 17. 1852, and were ten weeks on the voyage from Norway to America.
David L. Rowe was four years old when the family arrived in Wis- consin. He was educated in the public schools of that state and, when twenty-five years old, in 1873, moved to Mower county. Minnesota, where he acquired a farm and where he lived until 1003. when he moved to South Dakota. After living in South Dakota for eight years, Mr. Rowe immi- grated to Otter Tail county and purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in sections 9 and 10. Everts township. He is a general farmer and stock man and a breeder of Holstein cattle.
In 1877 Mr. Rowe was married in Mower county, Minnesota, to Kisti Monson, who was born on January 13. 1851, in Norway, and who is the daughter of Mons O. and Kari ( Tomjum) Monson. Mrs. Rowe's parents came to Wisconsin in 1861, but the same year immigrated to Union county. South Dakota. From Union county, the family traveled overland by ox team to lowa. Later they settled in Mower county, Minnesota, purchasing
301
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOT.A.
one hundred and twenty acres of land, where Mrs. Rowe's father died. Her brother later sold the farm and moved to Union county, South Dakota, and now owns the farm which his father had owned in that county. Mrs. Rowe's mother died in South Dakota in 1906.
Mr. and Mrs. David I .. Rowe have been the parents of eight children, Lars, who is deceased; Clara, who is the wife of Leif Swennumson and has three children, Francis, David and Robert; Matthew, who was born on September 29, 1881, in Mitchell county, Iowa, where his parents lived for three year's, was educated in the public schools and is now a farmer, living at home with his parents; Lawrence, born on April 14, 1883, in Mitchell county, lowa, was also educated in the public schools and the Leroy high school and immigrated to Hettinger county. North Dakota, where he took up a claim and farmed for two years, now being clerk of Everts township, to which office he was elected in 1913; Olene, who is the wife of Raymond Hendrix, of Elk Point, South Dakota, has two children, Margaret and Raiman Rowe; Norman, who lives at Devon, Montana, has a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in that state and is unmarried; Carl Edward, who died at the age of three years, and Esther, who lives at home.
OLE BERG.
Ole Berg, a very successful farmer, who owns two hundred acres of land in Compton township, besides one hundred and sixty acres in Canada, is a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred in that country on June 9. 1856.
Mr. Berg's parents were Ole Olson and Margaret Anderson, both natives of Sweden. His grandfather was Ole Anderson, a farmer by occupation and a prominent member of the Lutheran church in his native country. In 1887 Ole Olson came to America, and after landing at Halifax, came direct to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Here he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 23 and 28. of Compton township, and took up farming. He is now living with his son, Ole Berg, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. His wife died some years ago. He is a devout mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and in politics is a Republican.
Ole Berg, the only child of his parents who grew to maturity, was edu- cated in the schools of Compton township, and when old enough took up farming on his father's place, and in this vocation has been very successful, and besides having a splendid farm, it is improved to the minutest detail. The buildings are all well painted and are kept in a good state of repair. In IQUI Mr. Berg built a barn sixty by thirty-two feet.
In 1885 Ole Berg was married to Maggie Anderson, and to this union have been born four children, Maggie, Anie, Andrew and Charles, all of
302
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
whom are unmarried and who live at home with their parents. Mr. Berg and family are earnest and faithful members of the Lutheran church, and for many years have been active in church work. For the past five years Mr. Berg has been treasurer of the local congregation. Aside from his interests in his church, Mr. Berg's whole interests are centered in his family and in his farm. He has a host of friends in this neighborhood.
CHARLEY EKLUND.
Charley Eklund, another well known and enterprising farmer of Nidaros township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Sweden, where he was born on July 7, 1864.
Mr. Eklund is the son of Ole and Hannah ( Johnson) Eklund, both of whom were born in Sweden. Mr. Eklund's father was born on January 22, 1836, and his mother on July 19, 1834. They were married in Sweden and, after some years, Mr. Eklund's father came to America, settling at Litch- field in 1868. The family came to America the next year and settled with the father at Litchfield. In the fall of 1870, the family moved to Clitherall township. Otter Tail county, settling on a homestead farm in section 32. This farm had been pre-empted in 1868. Mr. Ekhind's father improved the land and erected excellent buildings. He died on the farm on March It, 1910, and his widow is still living on the old homestead. He was one of the first members of the Swedish Lutheran church, known as the Eagle Lake church. By his marriage to Hannah Jsakson, there were born seven chil- dren, one of whom, Elizabeth, is deceased. The living children are, John, Charley, the subject of this sketch, Inga, Sophia, Helma and Otto. The last named lives on the old homestead.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.