USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 39
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Hans Christian Christensen received his education in the public schools of his boyhood home, but as a result of the poor health of his father he had to stay at home most of the time to assist his father, as a result of which Hans C. Christensen is largely a self-educated man. As a young man Hans Christian Christensen learned the carpenter's trade but later engaged as a farmer and now cultivates about one-half of the original homestead in Tordenskjold township.
During the year 1903 Hans Christian Christensen was married to Christina Robertson, who was born in Denmark, the daughter of Didloff and Margaret (Larsen) Robertson, who were natives of Denmark, and many years ago came to America and settled in Clitherall township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota. To Hans Christian and Christina Christensen were born the following children : Lorris, who died at the age of three months : Delora.
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Huldah, Lawrence, Marvin, who died when seventeen days old; Margaret and Joyce.
For the past twenty years Mr. Christensen, in addition to his farming pursuits has been engaged in the business of conducting a threshing machine and in more recent years has been running a portable saw-mill, which he has operated in many localities, until Hans C. Christensen is one of the best- known men of agricultural activities in the county.
Hans Christian Christensen has not only been a busy and a successful farmer but he has found time to serve his township in the office of town clerk for seven years, and in the office of clerk of the school district for fourteen years. Mr. Christensen in politics is a Socialist. In church affilia- tion, Hans Christian Christensen is active in the work of the Lutheran church.
WILLIAM J. LEACH.
William J. Leach, the well-known superintendent of the Fergus Falls waterworks, is a native of Westport, province of Ontario, Canada, where he was born in 1856.
Mr. Leach is the son of Isaac J. and Minerva ( Robertson) Leach, the former of whom was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was a painter by trade. He emigrated to Canada when he was about twenty-one years old and there opened a shop where his business developed amazingly. He did contract work for a number of years, or until 1861, when the family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where they lived for some years. Afterward they moved to Excelsior, Hennepin county, this state, where the father still continued to work at his trade and where he spent the remainder of his life.
William J. Leach obtained his early education at Rockford, Illinois. He left home when he was twenty years old and moved to Minneapolis, where he worked at the Minneapolis reaper works for a time and was later employed at the Lillybridge cracker shops. On Easter Sunday, 1882, Mr. Leach arrived at Fergus Falls, this county, and his wife followed him two weeks later. For a few months, Mr. Leach turned his hand to anything that he could find to do. In 1883 he was employed with the pipe crew. laying waterpipes for the city, and since that time has been continuously employed in the city waterworks department, with the exception of five years which were spent at Wahpeton, North Dakota, where he was employed in the construction of a waterworks plant. In 1889 he returned to Fergus Falls and was employed by C. D. Wright, who had charge of the water- works at that time. When the waterworks were turned over to the city. Mr. Leach continued in the employ of the corporation and is now the efficient superintendent of the plant.
WILLIAM J. LEACIL.
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Before going to Fergus Falls, Mr. Leach was married to Ida Raymond, who was born in Moline. Illinois, the daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Longdon) Raymond. The former was born in Rindge, New Hampshire, and is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Leach, being in his eighty-sixth year. His wife died in November, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Leach have two children, Irene, who married Arthur L. Brown, and Florence, who is the wife of Edwin Schow and has two children, Florence R. and Donald R.
In 1893 Mr. Leach became a member of Corner Stone Lodge No. 99. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1887 and is likewise a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
WILLIA H. HARRIS.
Born in Stephenson county, Illinois, February 8, 1861, Willia H. Harris, a successful farmer of Oak Valley township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is the son of Christopher and Cyntha ( Hodgson) Harris. His father was born in Pennsylvania on January 20, 1818, and his mother in Ohio, Febru- ary 14, 1822. Christopher Harris emigrated from Luzern county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was born, to Ohio, when he was a young man. He settled in Delaware county in 1838 and, after his marriage in that county,' moved to Franklin county, Illinois, in 1851, and then to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1855, where he pre-empted a claim where the city of Rosemount is now located. Later he returned to Illinois, but came back to Minnesota and settled at Rosemount, where he lived for seven years. He then moved to Oak Valley township, Otter Tail county, in 1878, and took a homestead of eighty acres in section 24. of this township, which his son now owns. He improved this farm and lived upon it until his death, on August II, 1892. His widow died on the old homestead farm on September 27, 1893. They had a family of eight children, as follow: Jane, born on November 26, 1841; Harriet, February 14. 1844: Monroe, November 15, 1845: Marcella, October 13. 1849: Caroline, October 10, 1851; Martha, October 10, 1854: Willia H., the subject of this sketch, and Josephine, June 13, 1862.
Willia H. Harris was reared on his father's farm and educated in the schools of Rosemont. Minnesota, and the public schools of Stephenson county, Illinois. He was seventeen years old when the family moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. He assisted his father on the old home farm and later purchased eighty acres in Todd county, Minnesota. In 1911 Mr. Harris purchased eighty acres adjoining his original farm, and in 1913 built a good barn and a splendid residence. In 1914 he built a large granary.
(24h)
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and in 1915 he built another large barn, thirty-four by seventy feet. The buildings are all painted and his farm is kept in a good state of repair.
On October 26, 1884. Willia H. Harris was married to Lillie Flora Marshall, who was born in Wright county, Iowa, January 21, 1868, and who is the daughter of Rasmus and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Marshall. Mrs. Harris' father was born in Denmark on September 26, 1833, and her mother on June 22, 1845. They were married in Iowa. Her mother died in Iowa. September 10, 1871. There were two children born to this marriage, Lillie Flora and Lydia Ann, born on February 4, 1870. Mrs. Harris's father moved to Todd county, Minnesota, in 1875 and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He has served three years in the Civil War and owned property in Wadena, where he lived for three years. He died, how- ever, on the old homestead on September 11, 1911. By his second marriage, to Laura Nelson, there were born four children, Anna, Minnie, William and Frank. .
Mr. and Mrs. Willia H. Harris have been the parents of nine children : Frank Monroe, born on October 12, 1885: Charles Eugene, July 29, 1887; Grace Luella, July 25, 1889: Roy Wilbur, March 12, 1892; Earl Clifford. November 25, 1804; Hazel Blanche, July 26, 1897, died in infancy ; Harold William, October 5. 1899: Floyd Ralph, September 4, 1002; and Miriam Lee, April 24, 1906.
Mr. Harris has never aspired to office and has never been especially active in politics. He has devoted his life and his energy to farming and his ability to apply himself to his chosen vocation, no doubt, is responsible for a large measure of his success. Mr. and Mrs. Harris and family attend the United Brethren church.
ADOLPH SCHMITZ.
Proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Bluffton town- ship, Otter Tail county, and a man prominent in the political circles of Bluffton township, having served three terms as supervisor, two years as clerk and at the present time as justice of the peace of that township-por- trays in a very brief maner the life accomplishments of the person whose name forms the caption of this biographical sketch, as well as being an index of the esteem and respect which he has commanded for himself in his com- munity.
Adolph Schmitz was born on September 27. 1856, in Dane county, Wisconsin, the son of Joseph and Annie ( Buyschal) Schmitz, both natives of the province of Prussia, Germany, the former born on December 24. 1808, and the latter on April 28. 1828. Each came to America unmarried
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and settled in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where it chanced they became acquainted and, the acquaintanceship developing in love, were married. Soon thereafter they removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, where, after purchas- ing one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land, they set about to clear and improve the land and to engage in husbandry. For the remainder of their lives, Joseph and Annie ( Buyschal ) Schmitz lived lived on this farm and reared their children. He passed away in 1888, at a mature age, and she, surviving her husband many years, passed away on February 14, 1914. at the ripe old age of eighty-six years. To this devoted couple there were born twelve children. namely: Celia, the widow of Henry Ganser, who lives at Sauk City, Wisconsin; Nicholas, a laborer, who died in Wisconsin at the age of thirty-five years; Margaret, the wife of Anton Kirschner, who died on the home farm; Joseph, a farmer of Sparta, Wisconsin; Adolph, the subject of this sketch; Mary, the wife of a Mr. Foose, who lives in Madison, Wisconsin: Annie, the wife of Hubert Lombardy, who lives at Lodi, Wis- consin : Theresa, the wife of Charles Strangt, who lives at Charles City, Iowa; Barbara, who married a Mr. Kelly, and also lives at Charles City. lowa: John, who lives on the homestead farm in Dane county; Mat, a car- penter, of Waunakee, Wisconsin, and Frank, a carpenter of Sauk City, Wisconsin. Both Joseph and Annie ( Buyschal) Schmitz were devoted miem- bers of the Catholic church.
Reared on his father's farm and receiving a good education in German and English public schools, Adolph Schmitz, upon attaining his majority, learned the mason's trade, which trade he has followed intermittently up to the present time. In 1879 he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved and heavily tim- bered land. After erecting a log house upon the same site where the present farm dwellings are situated, he began to clear his land and to break the soil. Continuing the process of clearing, Mr. Schmitz now possesses seventy acres of cleared land besides the remainder of the one hundred and sixty acre tract which is in meadow and timber land. In 1909 the present farm home was erected. Being interested in live stock; Mr. Schmitz has made a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle and keeps from fifteen to twenty head of cattle on his farm.
On April 20, 1880. Adolph Schmitz was united in marriage to Mary Welsch, a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, and the daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Mertans) Welsch, the former of whom died in 1800, as a result of severe injuries received from a bull, and the latter of whom is still living in Sauk county, Wisconsin, at the age of eighty-nine years. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz have been born twelve children, as follow : Annie, the wife of Bert Lamb, who lives in the state of Washington : Mary.
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the wife of Christ Thompson, who lives in Staples, Minnesota; Theresa, the wife of Kinif James, who resides in Bluffton township; Mat, who lives at home with his parents; Lena,' the wife of John Hanson, who resides at Nashwauk, Minnesota; Julia, the wife of Joseph Ertz, who resides in Bluff- ton township; Joe, a carpenter, living at home with his parents; Susanna, the wife of Watson Overstreet, who lives at Nashwauk, Minnesota; Lizzie, John, Katie and Henry, who live at home with their parents.
A successful farmer, devoted husband and parent who has reared his large family of children to lives of usefulness, Adolph Schmitz has done more than attend to his agricultural. and family interests, having ever been solicitous of the social conditions of his community. As a Republican he has served Bluffton township creditably and well as supervisor for three terms, township clerk for two years and now is justice of the peace. He and his beloved wife have also been influential in religious affairs and have been devoted members of the Catholic church.
GEORGE W. STOKES.
Born in England, February 21, 1862, George W. Stokes, a successful farmer of Oak Valley township, is the son of George and Anna H. (Mudg) Stokes. Mr. Stokes's parents were both natives of England. His father was born in 1830 and his mother in 1828. They were married in England and in 1864 the father came to New York. He was followed by the family in 1867, and in 1880 they emigrated to Minnesota and, on February 21, 1880, settled at Wadena. Later on in the year they came to Oak Valley township, Otter Tail county, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, one hun- dred and twenty acres of which was in section 6, of Woodside township and forty acres in section 32, of Oak Valley township. Here the father lived until his death. The mother died on May 31, 1912. They had a family of six children: Grace, who married Benjamin Costen, of Hewitt, Minnesota: Elizabeth. who married John Biggs, of Wadena: George W., who is the subject of this sketch: Jane, who is the wife of Barney Sanders. of Park Rapids, Minnesota: Katie, who was the wife of Mike Snodgrass, both now deceased. and Edward, who lives in Canada.
George W. Stokes was reared on a farm until he was nine years old and was educated in the public schools of New York state. He accompanied his parents to Wadena county and a little later to Oak Valley township. Otter Tail county. Mr. Stokes purchased forty acres of land where he now lives and which is situated in section 32. He later added eighty acres to his original farm and has erected substantial buildings on the farm. In 1915 he built a fine barn, thirty-two by fifty feet. Mr. Stokes is a general farmer
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and stockman, and has been prominent in the agricultural life of Oak Valley township for many years. He is a stockholder in the Oak Valley Creamery Company and in the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Company of Hewitt.
In 1886 George W. Stokes was married to Eliza Irons, who was born in 1869, in England, and who was the daughter of William and Anna Irons. Mrs. Stokes's parents came from England to America in 1886 and located eventually in Oak Valley township, in section 32. They purchased forty acres of land and here they lived for a number of years. Mrs. Stokes's father is deceased, but her mother is still living. At the time of her death, in 1902, Mrs. Stokes left six children, Albert, Ernest, Joseph, Roy, Rose and Ralph. One child. Leo, had previously died. In 1903 Mr. Stokes was married, secondly, to May Hubbard, who was born in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and who was the daughter of Frank and Anna Hubbard, now of Oak Valley township. By this second marriage there was born one son, Fred, who died in infancy, September 27. 1901. Mrs. May Stokes died in September. 1906.
George W. Stokes has served as a member of the school board, but is not now a member. He has never aspired to office. Nevertheless, Mr. Stokes enjoys the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and the respect and admiration of those who know him for his worth as a man and citizen.
JOHN C. JOHNSON.
A prosperous and well-known farmer of Bluffton township, the pro- prietor of a farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres of contiguous land equipped with a beautiful house and barn, director of both the tele- phone company and creamery at Wadena, chairman of the board of super- visors of Bluffton township for the last fifteen years and a man who has served as school director-stand as evidence of the energy and thrift, of the eminent success and of the high regard and esteem with which the people of Bluffton township and Otter Tail county regard the man whose name heads this biographical review.
John C. Johnson was born in Skane, Sweden. on January 28, 1859, the son of John and Annie ( Nelson) Johnson, both of whom were born and reared in Skane, the former both on June 21, 1821, and the latter on October 12, 1824. The parents were married, lived and reared their chil- dren to manhood and womanhood in their native village, the father being a laborer by occupation. In 1883, however, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson left their native land and emigrated to the United States to the United States in order to spend their declining years with their son, John C., who two years pre- viously left the parental roof and came to America. Annie ( Nelson) John- son died two years after her arrival in the United States, in 1885, at Rock-
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ford, Illinois, where her remains were buried. John Nelson survived his wife many years, passing away in 1912, in Bluffton township, his remains being buried at Wadena, Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson were born four children, as follow : Emma, who married Andrew Hanson, lives in Bluffton township; Betsey, the wife of Nils Nelson, lives in Sweden ; John C. is the subject of this sketch, and Andrew died quite young in Sweden.
John C. Johnson was educated in the public schools of his native land and at an early age learned farming. In 1881 he emigrated to America and settled near Rockford, Illinois, where he at first worked on neighboring farms but later became a renter. He remained in Illinois during the next fourteen years, or until 1895, when he came to Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of wild, unbroken land in section 21, of Bluffton township. Like many another farmer now living in this section of Minnesota, he began to clear his land of brush and timber, to break the soil, and to build a log cabin and barn to serve as the pioneer home. Later he added two hundred acres until he now owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, all lying in a contiguous body and highly improved. Mr. Johnson continued the process of improvement and in 1915 erected a magnificent barn and other buildings, the barn being one hundred and twenty feet long and thirty feet wide and equipped with every modern convenience, hay sling and fork and large enough to shelter sixty head of cattle, sixteen head of horses and one hundred and twenty tons of hay. Both the house and barn are equipped with electric lights generated by an electric light plant located on the farm. He also has a waterworks which makes possible the furnishing of the house with modern plumbing fixtures. The water is compressed in a tank located in the cellar. Mr. Johnson also owns an automobile which insures rapid transit and conserves a great deal of time. All in all. Mr. Johnson enjoys all the conveniences of modern life and is reaping the fruits of his labor. Mr. Johnson is deeply inter- ested in high grade stock and, though formerly a breeder of Durham cattle, now keeps a fine herd of Holstein cattle as well as Duroc-Jersey hogs.
In 1882 John C. Johnson was married to Christena Tornstrand, a native of Sweden. To this happy union there have been born nine children, as follow : Oscar is at home with his parents: Edna married Allen Keller- man and lives in Bluffton township: Edwin died at the age of fourteen ; Ella married Victor Marine and lives in Minneapolis: Emma married Albert Schwartz and lives at Wadena: Julius, Ester. John and Edith live at home with their parents.
John C. Johnson has always taken an active part in the civic and social life of his community. More or less independent in politics, he has served
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as school director and as chairman of the board of supervisors of Bluffton township, serving both positions to the utmost satisfaction of his constitu- ency. He plays no small part in the commercial circles of Bluffton town- ship, being both director of the telephone company and of the creamery of Wadena. Raised as a supporter of the Lutheran faith, he still supports this denomination and takes an active part in church affairs.
MRS. MARTHIA (HILDEN) LARSON.
The life of Mrs. Martha Larson has exerted an influence which has been uplifting as well as sympathetic upon those with whom she came in contact. As a valuable companion of her husband, during the days of his early struggles in the uncultivated sections of Minnesota, she proved to be a woman of rare wisdom, firm convictions and true sympathy. The suc- cess attained by her husband was attributed by him to the efforts of his wife. whose presence and advice lent inspiration to his business endeavors. Those who had the good fortune to know Mrs. Larson, speak of her as a woman whose life was full to the brim. Her usefulness has extended along various lines until she can truthfully be classed with those women whose descend- ants "rise up and call them blessed."
The birthplace of Martha Hilden was at Holland. Norway, where she was born on the oth of February. 1847. She was the daughter of Johannes Hilden, a resident of Norway, who spent the greater part of his life as a farmer in that country, where he is now buried. The aim Martha Hilden had in coming to this country was to join her brother, Peter, who was located in Goodhue county, Minnesota. She arrived in that section of the country on the 4th of July, 1868, where she lived with her brother until the 7th of November, 1870, when her marriage to Ole Swensen, also a native of Norway, took place.
Shortly after their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Clitherall township, located in section 18. The land was a wilderness covered with timber and underbrush and the task of removing the growth of vegetation was both difficult and dangerous. The toilers were left upon their own resources, and as the community was only scantily inhabited, assistance could be obtained only after delayed communication. It was in the capacity as a farmer's wife that Mrs. Swensen proved her greatest worth. She and her husband were obliged to live in a dugout for two years, until they were able to erect a log house, which, in part, is still standing on the farm, a landmark of the early privations endured by the pioneers. After their struggles had terminated in enjoyment and pros- perity, Mrs. Swenson lost her husband on the 3rd of May. 1886. His
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death occurred shortly after he had reached his thirty-eighth year. He and his wife were devout members of the Norwegian Synod church, and among its first members.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Swenson, the following children were born: Mary, who died at the age of eleven years; John, who passed away at the age of twenty-five years; Helma, who married Harold Halvorson, and who resides at Henning, Minnesota; Alfred, who died in infancy: Mary ( Mrs. Carl Gilbertson ), who resides near Battle Lake; Julia, who makes her home with her mother. and Lottie, who is also at home.
On the 17th of November, 1889. Mrs. Swenson became the wife of Andrew Larson, a native of Eidswold, Norway, who came to America about 1868, where he lived for a time in Goodhue county. Minnesota. Upon his arrival in Otter Tail county he took a homestead claim on one hundred and sixty acres in sections 21 and 28. in Clitherall township. At the time of his meeting with Mrs. Swenson, Mr. Larson had five children, who were born to his marriage to Mrs. Martha Paulson, a widow, who passed away in 1888. The children who survived Mrs. Martha Larson are: Mary ( Mrs. Albert Beardsley ), a resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Clara. the wife of Francis Vennerstrom, who lives in White Fish, Montana ; Alfred, of New Effington, South Dakota; Amanda, who married Clarence Rolandson, of Fergus Falls, and Martha who makes her home with an aunt in Dakota. One child Louis, died in infancy.
After his marriage to Mrs. Swenson, Mr. Larson took full charge of the homestead at Battle Lake, where he proved his ability to meet the prob- lems of agricultural life with courage and strength of will. He worked unceasingly upon improvements on the land. He built a large barn, cleared large tracts of land surrounding the place and before his death bought one hundred and thirty-three acres joining the original farm, located in section 7. Mr. Larson was a man of progressive spirit. high ideals and force of character. At the time of his death he was interested in many lines of farm work and enjoyed a wide and popular acquaintance among the citizens of the community in which he lived. In his political interests he was a Republican. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in whose welfare he took a keen interest. Mr. Larson passed away on the 3rd of January, 1907, and after that his wife continued to live a retired life on the farm, to the excellent state of cultivation of which she so gener- ously contributed in former years. Her life was, on account of its useful- ness, singularly happy and beautiful and the memory of her good works will be cherished by those children for whom she sacrificed many pleasures.
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