USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 37
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Edward .A. Peck, Jr., received his education in the schools of Lake Park, graduating from the high school in that town. However, he was reared until the age of fifteen years on the place in Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, at which time he assumed full charge of the home farm because of his brother, Harry J., wishing to begin independent operations for himself. Edward A. Peck, Jr., operated the farm for three summers, attending school in Lake Park in the winter. At the age of eighteen years he assumed charge of his father's hardware interests, which he continued for two years, renting the farm in the meantime. This arrangement was very unsatisfactory and the store was sold. He then became an employee on a farm in Becker county, Minnesota, on which he worked for one year, returning to the home place in 1903, which he has continued to cultivate ever since. In addition to the breeding and raising of high grade stock, a large amount of grain is
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also grown. In 1915 the production of grain, raised on two hundred and thirty acres of this place, was three thousand six hundred bushels of oats, two thousand six hundred bushels of wheat, seven hundred bushels of rye and two thousand bushels of barley.
On January II, 1905, Edward A. Peck, Jr., was united in marriage to Anna Lillie Schannach, and to their union have been born three children, whose names follow : William Donald. Edward Aaron and Wilfrid Ira. Lillian Schannach is the daughter of Ira Schannach, an harness-maker, who has resided in Becker county, Minnesota, for forty years. She is a native of that county. Politically, Edward A. Peck, Jr., is a Republican. Anna Lillie ( Schannach) Peck is a member of the Catholic church and is an active worker in that denomination.
HAAGEN HAAGENSON.
Haagen Haagenson is a native of Norway and was born in that coun- try on September 8. 1850. He is the son of Haagen and Kari ( Anderson) Haagenson, also natives of Norway. The father was a blacksmith and fol- lowed that vocation until his death, after which his wife emigrated to America and marrried Magna Samson. Haagen Haagenson received his education in the schools of his native land and emigrated to America in 1877, following which he located in Dakota county, Minnesota, remaining there for three years. In 1880 he removed to Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, and purchased forty acres of land, to which he has since added until he now owns five hundred acres. This farm is devoted to general agricul- ture and stock raising and is well improved. In 1915 a new barn was erected, which adds much to the beauty of the place. Haagen Haagenson was united in marriage to Matilda Anderson, and they are the parents of eight chil- dren, whose names follow : Henry, Alfred, Melvin, Alma, Mabel. Loyd. Minnie and Helmer. Haagen Haagenson and his wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Magna Samson, stepfather of Haagen Haagenson, was born on Novem- ber 3, 1838, in Bergen, Norway, and is the son of Peter and Betsey (Sater) Samson, both natives of Norway. Peter Samson was a farmer of Norway- voss, and emigrated to America in 1841, locating in LaSalle county, Illinois. He remained in that place for five years and then removed to Dane county. Wisconsin, near the town of Madison (now the state capital), where hc lived until 1854. He then removed to Dakota county, Minnesota. where he remained for ten years, and was one of the pioneers of that section. He was the father of two sons, Samuel, who died at sea, and Magna.
Magna Samson received his education in the common schools of Dane county, Wisconsin, and Dakota county, Minnesota. As a young man he
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enlisted in Company B, of the Fourteenth Missouri Sharpshooters, and served in the battles of Mt. Zion Church, Missouri ; the taking of Ft. Henry, Tennessee : Ft. Donelson, and was at the famous battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862: at Corinth, Mississippi, in the spring of and again in the fall of 1862, and at the battles of Buzzard Roost, Resaca and Kenesaw Moun- tain. He was honorably discharged in 1863, but re-enlisted and served until the end of the war. taking part in the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman on the march to the sea. Mr. Samson accompanied his regiment through North and South Carolina and Virginia in 1865, and was present at the Grand Review, at Washington, D. C. He was wounded four times. on two occasions being sent to a hospital in Georgia. For his faithful service and gallant conduct he receives a pension from the United States government of thirty dollars a month. After the war Mr. Samson continued to lead a strenuous life-exploring, hunting, trapping, fishing, locating set- tlers and surveying -- from the effects of which he is somewhat crippled.
Magna Samson became surveyor of Dakota county, Minnesota, serving two terms of two years each. In 1880 he removed to Leaf Mountain town- ship, Otter Tail county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he now lives. His second wife was Mrs. Kari ( Anderson) Haagenson, and to them have been born these children: Betsey, wife of Axel Fieldset : Carrie, wife of Iven Jacobson, and Anna, wife of Morton Jacobson. Mr. Samson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and is a Republican. He has served as township clerk, chairman of the town- ship board and postmaster. He was appointed justice of the peace and served in that capacity for many years. He is a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic and one of the pioneers of Otter Tail county.
OLE JOHNSON.
Having been born and educated in Skane, Sweden, Mr. Johnson, like many others of his native country, has combined the thrifty habits of his ancestors with the modern progressiveness of America, making a combina- tion difficult to beat, viewing it from a standpoint of financial success.
Ole Johnson, farmer, Eagle Bend, Eastern township, Otter Tail county, was born October 20, 1860, in Skane, Sweden, and is a son of Johan and Mattha ( Nelson ) Person. His education was obtained in the public schools of Sweden, from which country he came to America in 1887, locating at once in Eastern township, Otter Tail county, where he bought his present farm in 1801, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in section 25. all of which was in timber and had to be grubbed. He has put all the improve- ments on his place, and now has some good buildings. Mr. Johnson divides his time and attention between general farming and stock raising, and keeps
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a large number of dairy cows. Religiously, he is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which he has served as deacon and officiated as secre- tary for the past three or four years.
Johan Person, father of Ole Johnson, was born in Sweden, where he was a laborer and where he spent his entire life. His wife was Mattha Nelson. This marriage was blest with three children, Ole, Andrew and Nels.
Ole Jolinson was united in marriage in 1885 with Ingar Nelson, born in Skane, Sweden, and by whom he has had nine children, two being dead. The living children are John, Martha, Anna, Esther, Ernest, Arvid and Oliva. John Johnson was united in marriage, December 31, 1912, with Christiana Skyburg. by whom he has had one child. Leona V. Johnson. John Johnson received his early education at the public schools of Eastern township, and later attended the Northeastern College at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. In 1907 he established the Round House at Duluth, and in 1909, he engaged as a fireman at Two Harbors, where he remained until the fall of 1912. He now owns his own farm of eighty acres in Eastern township, in section 24, near his father's place, where he follows general farming and stock rais- ing.
Ole Johnson has reared his children along the lines of usefulness, and has always impressed upon them the importance of leading lives that would result in holding positions of the highest respect in their community. Both he and his wife enjoy the friendship of a large number of warm friends.
CARL BERG.
Born in Norway, February 10, 1870. Carl Berg, who, with his brother. Martin, owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Everts township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and who with his mother, owns eighty acres of land in Everts township. is a well-known farmer and stockman.
Mr. Berg is a son of Anton C. and Anne ( Glende) Berg, both of whom were natives of Norway, the former of whom was born in 1839, and the latter in 1845. They were married in Norway, and in the spring of 1880 settled in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land, also homesteading seventy-three acres. Mr. Berg's father died on the old homestead farm in 1807. His mother, who is a devout member of the Intheran church, is still living. Carl Berg is the second child in a family of ten children. The others, in the order of their birth, are as fol- low: Annete, Martin, Ole W., Anna, Inga, Emma. Sophia. Alfred and Karen, all of whom are living with the exception of the eldest born.
Educated in the public schools of Norway, which he attended until he was ten years of age. Mr. Berg came to Everts township. Otter Tail county. Minnesota, with his parents, and after coming to this country was a student
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in the public schools of his home township for a time. He is a well-known farmer and stockman of this community, and with his brother, Martin, has an interest in two hundred and forty acres of land, and with his mother an interest in eighty aeres more in Everts township.
In 1908 C'arl Berg was married to Lina Larson, who was born in Nor- man county, Minnesota, in 18844, and who is a daughter of Lars Larson, a successful farmer of Everts township. Mr. and Mrs. Berg have no chil- dren. They are earnest and devout members of the Lutheran church, and take an active and interested part in the work of the church, and are prom- inent in social and civic affairs in the community where they live.
LEONARD ERIKSSON.
Among the most successful lawyers of Fergus Falls, and especially among the younger lawyers who have attained a large measure of success, is Leonard Eriksson, a native of Vesterao, Sweden. He was born on November 11, 1876. son of August Herman and Anna Matilda (Person) Eriksson. Having attended school regularly in his native land, Leonard Eriksson was well advanced in his studies at the age of fourteen years when he came to America. After landing at Quebec, he came to the state of Minnesota and settled in Warren, Marshall county, where he arrived in 1891. After having been employed for some time on a farm in Vega town- ship, Marshall county, Mr. Eriksson began clerking in a hardware store and in the meantime attended school. Subsequently he was graduated from the normal school at Moorhead and then obtained a government position as clerk in the census bureau at Washington, D. C., being detailed to take statisties of factories, a position that lasted four and one-half years. Dur- ing a part of that period, while a resident of Washington, Mr. Eriksson was a student in Georgetown University, and was graduated from the law department of that university with the class of 1904, most of his legal studies having been pursued at night. On August 22, 1905, Mr. Eriksson took up the practice of law in Fergus Falls, this county, in partnership with two other lawyers, the firm name being Eriksson, Rice & Schweitzer, which arrangement continued until 1907, in which year Leonard Eriksson pur- chased the interests of his partners. He has since continued in business alone and has built up a large and Incrative practice in Fergus Falls and Otter Tail county. He is a good lawyer and enjoys today not only a large practice, but one that is rapidly growing, his clientele comprising all classes of people.
By his marriage to Kate Shonts, daughter of James G. and Emma C. Clement ) Shonts, Mr. Eriksson has two children, Sidney M. and James S.
Mr. Eriksson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
LEONARD ERIKSSON.
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and is secretary of the local lodge and past grand master of the lodge in this district. He is also foreman of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, as well as a member of the influential Chippewa Club. In politics he has been active in municipal affairs and is now a member of the Fergus Falls city council. In 1912 he was a delegate to the national convention of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Mr. Eriksson is a member of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Fergus Falls and Mrs. Eriksson is a member of the federated church of Fergus Falls. They are regular attendants at church services and liberally support all of the church enterprises.
JOHN OLSON.
Since the subject of this brief biographical record has become a repre- sentative among the farmers in this community, it may be assumed that he early made a plan for his life, and with undeviating determination carried out this plan from day to day, until the present time. He spent a long and arduous apprenticeship under the guidance and example of his father, who was also a farmer. Coming from Sweden, where he was born on May 23, 1864, John Olson has become a full-fledged American citizen.
Mr. Olson's parents. Ole Anderson and Margaret Nelson, were born in Sweden, where the latter died, but the former came to America the year fol- lowing his son's arrival here. He lived with his son, Bengt Olson, until his death at Minneapolis. In the old country he was a farmer. The children born to him and his wife were Margaret, Elna, Andrew, Bengt and John.
John, who is the subject of this sketch, arrived in America from Sweden in 1887 and located in Minneapolis, where he worked in a flour-mill for seventeen years, being conversant with this trade from his experience as a miller in Sweden from the time he was fifteen years old. Leaving his mill work in Minneapolis, in 1903, he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Eastern township, this land consisting of uncultivated fields, barren of any profitable vegetation, and without buildings of any kind. He immediately set to work to clear this land and to erect necessary buildings, and since that time has become well known as a general farmer.
Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Matilda Nelson in February, 1894. Mrs. Olson, who was born in Sweden in 1872. is a daughter of Christian and Elna Nelson. the latter being a daughter of Nels Pehrson. Both of Mrs. Olson's parents were born in Sweden, where the father died. The mother of Mrs. Olson came to America in 1888 and made their first home at Litchfield, Minnesota. later living in Minneapolis. Mrs. Olson's father was a miller by trade.
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An interesting family of six children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Olson, these being Oscar A., Mabel Elizabeth, Ethel G., Florence Hilda, Mildred Joseph and George William. All of them have been brought up in the faith of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which the parents are members.
Because of his success in the material world and his worthy character as a man, the record of John Olson has a place among those of the prom- inent men of this locality. He is noted for his unflinching loyalty to duty, his rugged honesty and his steadfastness of purpose.
DWVITE ROYAL GREEN.
Born in Erie county, New York, March 6, 1857, Dwite R. Green. a prosperous farmer of Girard township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is the son of Rev. Eli W. and Caroline (Colby ) Green.
Mr. Green's father was born in Broome county, New York, April 7. 1835, and his mother in Sardinia, Erie county, New York, January 14. 1838. In 1863 they emigrated to Wisconsin, and, after a number of years. returned to Evans, New York, where Mr. Green's father died in 1900. His mother is now living at St. Paul. They were the parents of six children, of whom Cora, Carrie and Clyde are deceased. The living children are Dwite R., Ralph H. and Itie.
Dwite R. Green was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin. When he was eighteen years old he moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and. three years later, was married in Limesprings, Howard county, Iowa, to Frances E. Conklin, who was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, August 31, 1860, and who is the daughter of Lewis and Lena ( Hayes) Conklin. Mrs. Green's father was born in Broome county, New York, about 1820. and her mother in Binghamton, New York, in 1823. They emigrated to Wisconsin in pioneer times and later to Fillmore county, in 1857. Mrs. Green's mother died about 1878 on the old homestead in Fillmore county, and in 1900 her father died in Iowa. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, Elizabeth, George. Kate, Emily, Robert. Thomas, Frances, Charles and Minerva.
Dwite R. Green engaged in farming in Fillmore county, Minnesota, but in 1880 moved to Compton township, Otter Tail county, and soon thereafter to Oak Valley township, where he took a claim. After two and one-half years he moved to the village of Deer Creek and. two and one-half years later, in 1885. moved to Girard township and rented a farm. He also bought one hundred and fifty-five acres, which he soll and later purchased eighty acres in section 23, where he lives. Before he purchased the last eighty acres he had purchased another forty acres. Mr. Green has cleared and cultivated his land and erected all of the buildings which stand upon it.
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Mr. and Mrs. Dwite R. Green are the parents of twelve children, all of whom are living, Mary, Ella, Merle, Cora, Beryl, Frank, Jesse, Muriel, Allie, Thelma, Fay and Dwite, Jr.
Mr. Green is a member of the Farmers Shipping Association of Hen- ning, Minnesota. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is now clerk of the school board and has been a member of the board for sixteen years. He has also served as supervisor of the town- ship. He is now a justice of the peace. Mr. Green's father was a well- known pioneer Baptist minister.
JULIUS JENSEN.
A review of the life of the subject of this sketch must of necessity be curtailed, as specific mention is made within the pages of this volume of a number of the worthy residents of Otter Tail county, among whom Mr. Jensen has figured in the growth and development of Pelican township, aid- ing with his industry, wealth and public interest.
Julius Jensen, farmer, Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, was born on August 26, 1865, in Norway, and is a son of Jens and Beata Nelson. When about two years of age he came to America with his parents, who settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota. His education was obtained at the public schools of Pelican township, and as a young man he began farming for him- self on the place which he now owns, and which he bought in 1895, consist- ing of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Jensen divides his time and atten- tion between general farming and stock raising. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which he has held the office of trustee for many years.
Jens and Beata Nelson were both born in Norway, where Mr. Nelson learned and followed the carpenter's trade, coming to America about 1867, and settling, first, for about two and one-half years, in Fillmore county, Minnesota. In 1870 he came to Pelican township, Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1878. To Jens and Beata Nelson were born nine children: Nels, Agnette, Bernt (deceased), Dedrich, Julius, Ludwig, Anton, Julia (deceased in infancy). and Gina. Mr. Nelson was an earnest member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he was one of the founders.
Dedrich Jensen, brother of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1862, and received his education in the public schools of Pelican township. As a young man he clerked in a store at Pelican Rapids. About 1895 he opened a hardware store at Pelican Rapids, in partnership with J. E. John- son, which business he discontinued at the end of five years and became a
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salesman until about 1915, when he took charge of the Farmers Co-operative Store at Norwegian Grove, which he managed for two years. He then went to North Dakota for four years, and is now living at Pelican Rapids. He was united in marriage with Mathia Afseth, by whom he has had seven children: Julia, Arthur, Nora, Betsey, Oliver. Morris and Grace. Mr. Jen- sen is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he has been trustee for three terms. He has also served as a member of the town coun- cil for a number of years.
Julius Jensen was united in marriage in 1898 with Nicoline Bentrud, by whom he has had six children: Nora, Borghild, who died in 1915; Bennie, Alida, Arnold and Elma.
Mr. Jensen is genial and unassuming in manner, and has made many warm friends throughout Pelican township, where he is well known and highly esteemed by all who know him.
EDWARD KLIMP.
Born in Sweden, May 17, 1876, Edward Klimp, a prosperous farmer of Henning township. is the son of Aaron and Matilda Klimp. Mr. Klimp's parents were both natives of Sweden, the former born in 1857 and the latter in 1849. They were the parents of six children, as follow: Anna, who died at the age of six : Edward. John, Ogvald, Hulda and Daniel, the last named being deceased. In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Klimp came to America and settled in Leaf Mountain township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where they purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land. John Klimp added to this farm until they had one hundred and forty acres. They are now living retired on the old home farm, but the farm is owned by their son, John, who also owns one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the old farm. Mr. Klimp's parents are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Edward Klimp attended the state school in Sweden and the public schools of Otter Tail county, Minnesota. He has always been engaged in farming. In 1897 Mr. Klimp went to North Dakota and homesteaded a tract of land in Cavalier county. After living in North Dakota for six and one-half years, he sold out and came back to Henning township, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 33. of Henning township. Most of the improvements to be found upon this farm have been placed here by Mr. Klimp. He is a general farmer, but makes a specialty of rais- ing stock ..
In November, 1901, Edward Klimp was married to Anna Tellofson, a native of Pope county, Minnesota. Mrs. Klimp's parents were early settlers in Pope county. The mother is now deceased, but the father is living in
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Vining, Minnesota. He owns a farm in Folden township. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Klimp have six children, Tillie, Arthur, Amy, Edna, Roy and Edwin.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Klimp and all of the members of their family belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church at Vining. While a resident of North Dakota, Mr. Klimp served as a member of the school board. He is a prosperous farmer and a well-known citizen, and is highly popular in the community where he lives.
JOHN ESSER, M. D.
One of the active physicians who has lent honor to the medical pro- fession in Minnesota is Dr. John Esser, whose technical knowledge and skill are such as to give him a place of confidence in the community where his greatest practice is carried on. He who is the subject of this sketch was born on the Ioth of June, 1883, in St. Cloud, Wisconsin. His father, Theodore Esser, who was a native of Madison, Wisconsin, came to Minne- sota in 1872, and located at Austin, where he was employed as an engineer on the railroad. The wife of Theodore Esser, who was Mary Stephany, of St. Cloud, Wisconsin, became the mother of the following children: John, who is the subject of this sketch; Benjamin: Margaret, who is deceased; Joseph and Malinda.
The early educational discipline of John Esser was secured in the public schools of Austin, and after completing a high school course he availed him- self of the opportunities offered in the State University of Minnesota, where two years were spent in the course of liberal arts and four years in the medical school. Doctor Esser began his service as interne in the Bethesda Hospital, of St. Paul, where he remained on duty for a year. In 1909 he moved to Perham. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he has built up an extensive practice in his chosen field of endeavor. Aside from the insistent demands of his profession, Doctor Esser has found time to mingle among those citizens who have the welfare of the community development at heart and has taken an active interest in political and educational affairs.
On the 4th of October, 1900, occurred the marriage of John Esser to Lucy Wallace, a native of New Richmond, Wisconsin.
Doctor Esser votes an independent ticket. He holds membership in the American Medical Association, the Minnesota Medical Society and the Otter Tail County Medical Society, and in these organizations receives distinctive attention. He is also prominently affiliated with local fraternities, being a Knights of Columbus, a member of the Workmen's lodge and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
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