USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 42
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
To Thomas and Mary ( McNulty) Horan three children have been born, Hilda, Leo and Martin, all of whom are unmarried and at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Horan are devont Catholics and their children have been reared in that faith. They have many friends in that neighbor- hood and are held in high esteem by all who know them. Mr. Horan is a substantial citizen and a very worthy force for good in his neighborhood.
ADISON PETRIE.
Successful farmer, extensive stock raiser, prominent citizen, and public man, Adison Petrie, the subject of this sketch, is a man whom the com- munity values as a citizen, and one in whose record as an office holder and as a man of important affiliation, the township and locality find considerable satisfaction.
Adison Petrie was born in New York state on September 5. 1865. the son of Thomas and Hannah ( Nickerson) Petrie. Thomas Petrie was a farmer of Albany county, New York, until his death, in the year 1871. Hannah, the wife of Thomas Petrie, was the mother of two children, Mrs. Peter Brate, of Wadena, and Adison, of this sketch, with whom she lived until her death, on January 29, 1907.
Adison Petrie received his education in the common schools and in the high school of Wadena, Minnesota, after which he became a farmer on the Petrie homestead in Compton township, of Otter Tail county, a place of one hundred and forty-seven acres of land, which Mr. Petrie received as an inheritance from his mother, who homesteaded the farm in the year 1876. On taking possession of his farm. Adison Petrie proceeded to improve the place by erecting a good barn. building a house, and later buying an addi- tional fifty-seven acres, making him the owner of two hundred and four acres at the present time. He installed a gasoline engine for power. in con- nection with his agricultural pursuits. Mr. Petrie is now engaged as a general farmer, and raises a fine grade of cattle, hogs and sheep.
396
OTTER TAIL, COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
On December 25, 1888, Adison Petrie was married to Effie Wheeler. who was born in Marseilles, Illinois, on March 10, 1860, the daughter of Andrew and Sarah Ann ( Coon ) Wheeler, Andrew W. Wheeler having been a farmer, school teacher and merchant of Illinois, Hastings, Nebraska. Wadena, Minnesota, later moving to Washington. He died in the year 1907, his wife surviving him and now living at Wadena, Minnesota. Adison and Effie Petrie are the parents of the following children: George, Ralph and Roy, who are attending their own school, the high school in Wadena, and the normal school of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Adison Petrie and his family are respected and esteemed members of the community at Deer Creek.
In public and official life. Mr. Petrie has held an important position. having served his township for fifteen years on the township board, twelve years of that time as chairman of the board, and is still a member. Mr. Petrie is now clerk of the school district, an office he has occupied with efficiency and dignity for more than twenty years. He is a prominent mem- ber of the lodge of Modern Woodmen of America, at Deer Creek, Minne- sota, and is prominent in all matters having to do with the progress and advancement of the community and its interests.
H. A. BICKFORD.
Among the men who have distinguished themselves in an eminent degree in the industrial development of the community in which they live is 11. A. Bickford, the subject of this sketch. Invincible courage and deter- mined will have given him a place of prominence in the agricultural life of Otter Tail county. H. 1. Bickford is a native of Albany, Vermont, having been born there on the ioth of February, 1845. He is the son of Paul Bickford, who was born in Sheffield, Vermont, on June 26, 1819, and Mellisa E. Norris, the daughter of Rev. James Norris, who also claimed Vermont as her birthplace, where she was born on September 15, 1819.
The first ancestor of H. A. Bickford, of whom definite facts can be given, is Hezekiah Bickford, who was a farmer during his life in the state of Vermont, where he was born. He was a prominent member of the Bap- tist church of that locality. His son, Paul, who is the father of H. A. Bickford, was educated in the common schools of Vermont, and came to Otter Tail county in 1870. In his native state of Vermont, Paul Bickford owned a farm of one hundred acres and upon arriving in this county took a homestead claim on one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 22, Maine township, where he continued to reside until his death, in March, 1894. His wife, who passed away on March 28, 1904, became the mother of the following children: James, Zobina. Harley A., Wilbur, Elmer, Anne,
397
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOT.I.
Alice, Kate, Frank and Albina. Of this family the first four members men- tioned were soldiers in the Civil War, where the eldst son, James, was shot at the battle of Bull Run, and Zobina died of fever.
H. A. Bickford received his education in the common schools of Ver- mont. Desirous of obtaining better advantages he later entered the normal school at St. Cloud, Minnesota. from which he was graduated in the teach- er's course. The year following his graduation he taught in the St. Cloud Normal school, and after that went to Fergus Falls, where he followed his profession as principal in the schools of that city for a period of four years. For a term extending over four years, Mr. Bickford served as assistant county superintendent of schools, in which capacity his ability as a school man was recognized and which probably led to his being elected county superintendent in 1890, an office he held for two years. During the time he served as a county school official, Mr. Bickford resided in Fergus Falls. During the early part of his career as a teacher, Mr. Bickford taught in the schools of Vermont for a period of thirty terms.
After completing the term as county school superintendent, Mr. Rick- ford returned to farm life. The farm on which he resides extends over one hundred and thirty acres of land. It is a mark of distinction that he is known throughout the county in which he resides as the oldest homesteader now living in the township. He not only keeps well informed upon all advances made in modern methods of farming, but he enters heartily into every political movement. The citizens of the community in which he resides have honored him with a number of public offices. Aside from the township school offices he has held, he has also served as district treasurer for fifteen years and as township treasurer for thirteen years.
On November 24, 1870, H. A. Bickford was united in marriage to Etta V. Adley, the daughter of R. T. Adley. Mrs. Bickford, who was born on March 16, 1850, became the mother of the following children: Dr. Har- ley, Adella, who is the wife of A. O. Chapin; Howard, who is residing on the farm with his father; Albina, Seattle, and one foster-child, Gladyce.
OLOF JOHNSON.
Olof Johnson, who has been a resident of this country since 1884, and who owns two hundred and forty acres of excellent farming land in Everts township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Sweden, August 23, 1864.
Mr. Johnson is the son of John and Karn Johnson, both of whom are natives of Sweden, and who, in 1885. came to this country and settled in this county. John Johnson was born in 1824 and his wife in 1826. She died in 1906. Mr. Johnson's father now lives with his son, Carl, in Amor
398
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
township. Of the nine children born to John and Karn Johnson, only three, Chestine, Olof and Carl, are living.
Olof Johnson was educated in the public schools of his native land. After coming to America and settling in Otter Tail county, he purchased one hundred and forty acres of land in Everts township and has since added one hundred acres. having in all, at the present time, two hundred and forty acres. His home is situated on Lost Lake, where he has lived since 1892. He has erected all of the buildings which are now standing on the farm and has a well-improved body of land, which produces abund- antly.
In 1806 Mr. Johnson was married to Maggie Olson, who was born in Sweden on February 22, 1862. Mrs. Johnson's parents died in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have no children, but they have adopted three chil- dren, Reuben, Walter and Ruth. Of these children, Ruth is deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Olof Johnson were members of the Lutheran church in Sweden and are now members of the Free Mission church.
HERMAN G. IMDIEKE.
Herman G. Imdieke, proprietor of two hundred and forty acres of land in sections 23 and 26, of Bluffton township, Otter Tail county, and secre- tary of the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Company at Bluffton, was born Imdieke, both of whom were born in Oldenburg, Germany, came, singly to the United States and settled in Stearns county, Minnesota. Meeting each other in Stearns county, they were united in marriage in that county and there continued to live. Herman J. Imdieke, being a farmer by occupation, came in possession of a tract of land in Stearns county and has followed his occupation in that county ever since. He has taken an active interest in the political and social conditions of his county and served as president of the village of Meier's Grove, as well as filling other local offices of trust and responsibility. He is identified with the Democratic party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Imdieke are devoted members of the Catholic church. Nine chil- dren have been born to them. as follow : Ben, a farmer of Padua, Minne- sota: Joe, also a farmer of Padua; Dinah, who married Nick Brang, and who lived in Stearns county until her death; Eliza, who married Henry Griep, lives in Melrose, Minnesota ; Herman G. is the subject of this sketch : Henry, a farmer, who lives in Meier's Grove; Frank, also a farmer of Meier's Grove : Alois, a farmer of Bluffton, and John, who lives at home with his parents.
Herman G. Umdieke was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of Meier's Grove. At an early age he learned the brick- maker's trade in his father's brick-yard, which trade he followed for many
399
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
years. In 1909 Mr. Imdieke opened a saloon in Meier's Grove and continued in this business for a period of two years, after which time he purchased a threshing outfit and engaged in the threshing business, continuing in the business even after his removal to Otter Tail county. In April, 1913, Her- man G. Imdieke removed to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres in sections 23 and 26, of Bluffton township. He has engaged in general farming and stock raising, being a breeder of Shorthorn cattle. He keeps from thirty to thirty-five head of cattle on his farm. He has also taken an active interest in the organization of the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Company at Bluffton and is at pres- ent its secretary.
On November 26, 1907, Herman G. Imdieke was married to Gertrude Breitbach, a native of Lake George, Minnesota, and a daughter of Peter and Katriana (Gau) Breitbach. Peter Breitbach was born in Germany and as a lad emigrated to the United States, settling at Spring Hill. Stearns county, Minnesota, the birthplace of his wife. He first engaged in farming in Stearns county, but later opened a saloon. He died in May, 1897. and his wife survived him seventeen years, passing away in March. 1914, at the age of fifty-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Herman G. Imdieke have been born four children, Herman Peter, Mary, Wendelin and Marcella.
Herman G. Imdieke has been prominently identified with the Demo- cratic party, and for a period of three years served efficiently as village clerk of Meier's Grove.
EDWARD SJOGREN.
Edward Sjogren, who represents that element in the industrial life of Minnesota which counts for high purpose and great achievement, was born in Lockport, Illinois, on the 25th of .August, 1877, and is the son of John and Margaret ( Erickson) Sjogren. His father was born in 1839 and his mother in 1844, and both parents were natives of Westerbottom, Sweden. John Sjogren, who was a farmer and a landowner, left Sweden in 1868 with his wife and one daughter. During the journey, which lasted for three weeks, the daughter died at sea. The couple, upon arriving in this country, went to Lockport, Illinois, where Mr. Sjogren was employed for eight years in the stone quarries of that locality. Two years he worked in the paper-mill of the same town. In 1878 he came to Otter Tail county. Minnesota, where he began at once the task of homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 30. The log house which he erected during these early days of community development is now occupied by Otto Monson as a home. Before his death, Mr. Sjogren sold one hundred and twenty acres of his original farm and lived on the remaining forty
400
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
acres. His last days were spent with his sons. He and his wife were members of the Swedish Lutheran church. They became the parents of the following children: The eldest child has been mentioned as dying at sea : Johan, who died in infancy; Ida Sophia, the wife of Nel Olson, who lives in Balfour, North Dakota; John William, who lives with his brother. Edward; Edward, the subject of this sketch: Tillie, now Mrs. B. L. Ophus, who resides in Pelican Rapids, and Alma Josephine, of Black Duck, Minne- sota, who is the wife of Simon Thompson.
The early education of Edward Sjogren was received in the public schools of Otter Tail county. From early childhood he was taught the simple duties of farm life, and it was only a natural result of his early train- ing that he should have followed farming as an occupation. In September, 1900, he began to work for R. L. Frazee, in .Pelican Rapids, and remained as his employee for seven years. At the present time he is managing an estate of one hundred and seventy acres, which he has bought out of the three hundred acres which he formerly rented for a period of seven years. He gives special attention to the breeding of Durham cattle and keeps sixty head on the farm as an average number. Mr. Sjogren has never permitted the interests of the farm to monopolize his entire attention. During his publie career he has been active in Republican party politics and has served as school treasurer and road overseer. He attends the Zion Lutheran church, of which his wife is also a member.
On the 24th of June. 1900, Edward Sjogren was married to Minnie Mattestad. a native of Trondhjem township, and the daughter of Ole Natte- stad, an old settler of the same township, who died in Pelican Rapids. To this union the children born are: Evelyn, Helen, Myrne, Lenore Victoria. Marvin Isadore. Joy Willis Oliver and Lillian Bernice.
CHARLES W. KADDATZ.
The proprietor of the hotel which bears his name, Charles W. Kaddatz has enjoyed remarkable success since locating at Fergus Falls, this county, nearly thirty years ago.
Mr. Kaddatz was born near Stateen, Germany, in 1863, the son of Charles and Augusta ( Volbricht) Kaddatz. The Kaddatz family came to America in 1869 and subsequently settled in St. Paul, Minnesota. Charles W. Kaddatz had few of the opportunities of the average boy to obtain an education, his entire schooling having been limited to one year, and he per- formed his first work on a farm near St. Paul, where he worked for one car. Later he worked one year for Smith, the confectioner, and two years m The dry-goods jobbing business. During the next six years he was emduved as a news agent on the railway trains for different railroads, and
-
CHARLES W. KADDATZ.
401
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
finally engaged in the confectionery business on his own account in St. Paul. In this business he obtained a substantial start in life and in 1886 located at Fergus Falls, at that time having a little money that he had saved and some more money than he had borrowed. He there and then engaged in the fruit and confectionery business and carried on that business until 1896, in which year he engaged in the bakery business, which he conducted with phenomenal success until 1914, at which time he decided to build a hotel in Fergus Falls.
Suffice it to say that the hotel was completed and opened in February, 1915. It is one of the finest hotels of the Northwest, modern in every respect and is located in the center of the business district of Fergus Falls. The hotel has been a success from the start. Mr. Kaddatz also has various other interests. He is a president of the Red River Milling Company, president of the Congress Candy Company, at Grand Forks, and a director in the First State Bank of Fergus Falls and in other ways has demonstrated his keen interest in the city's material welfare.
By his marriage to Ida Asslen, who was born at Parkers Prairie, this county, Mr. Kaddatz has one daughter, Katherine. Mr. and Mrs. Kaddatz and daughter have one of the finest residences in the city of Fergus Falls, located at 226 Summit avenne, west, and take a prominent part in the city's social activities.
CHRISTIAN JOHNSON.
Christian Johnson ranks with those citizens who have given untiring energy to the support and development of the agricultural sections of Min- nesota. Devoted to the pursuit of agriculture as a business he has also found time to indulge in civic and industrial affairs in the community in which he lives and has been a valuable assistant to those interested in educa- tional and political affairs. His work has been thorough and the results obtained by him in his chosen occupation have been lasting.
Christian Johnson is a descendant of an old and honored Norwegian family, and is part of that element which has played so important a part in American industrial life. He was born in Modum, near Christiania, Nor- way, on the 27th of February, 1859, and is the son of Johan and Maren (Gorgerson ) Pederson, both natives of that country. The parents of Christ- ian Johnson were married in Norway and in that country spent the greater part of their lives, where Johan Pederson was a miner for thirty-eight years. His death occurred in 1891 and his wife passed away eleven years later. Both parents were devout members of the Lutheran church. The couple reared a family of eight children, among whom are the following : Gunhild Maria, the wife of Axel Gulickson, who is living near New Auburn, Wisconsin : Peter, who is a farmer in Norway: Torger, who died on Sep-
(26b))
402
OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
tember 18. 1906, in Nidaros township, Otter Tail county; Edward, who is a farmer in Girard township. Otter Tail county; Karen Maria, the wife of William Gulickson, who died in Wisconsin; Christian, the subject of this sketch; Hans, a farmer, lives in Girard township with his brother, Edward; Thor, who is employed in a planing mill in Idaho.
When he was only twenty-one years old, Christian Johnson came to this country and settled in that section of the country which was given over for the most part to the pursuit of farming. For four years before his arrival in this country he worked as a miner in Norway, following the occupation of his father. In 18So he came to America, where he worked in the lumber woods of northern Wisconsin. In that locality he was employed for four years and during that time bought eighty acres of land in section 17, Nidaros township. Otter Tail county. In the spring of 1885 he took up his permanent residence on the farm. His initial appearance in Otter Tail county was accompanied by the usual hardships incident to pio- neer days, and from the difficulties encountered and conquered. Mr. Johnson showed such force of character as to deserve a place beside those who are considered the true foundations upon which the best agricultural life of Minnesota rests. The land on which he worked was raw prairie with no buiklings. He began his life on the farm by building a small house and entering at once upon the task of breaking up the soil. The present farm serves as an example of what may be done with uncultivated land when the tiller of the soil has force of will, integrity and firmness of purpose. Large, modern farm buildings now occupy a prominent place on the land, the farm is well kept up and in an excellent state of cultivation. In 1893 Mr. John- son bought eighty acres of land, which he added to his original purchase. He follows the occupation of general farming.
Mr. Johnson takes an active interest in civic affairs. He is a share- holder in the Farmers Co-operative Elevator Company, both of Clitherall and Vining, and also of the Telephone Company. In politics, he is an inde- pendent voter. He has served as treasurer of the school district and chair- man of the board of supervisors of Nidaros township.
On the woh of January, 1886. Christian Johson was united in mar- riage to Ten. Nelson, the daughter of Nils Rejerson, who died in Norway. the place of his nativity. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson the following children have been born: John whe died at the age of twenty six years; Dedrick. who lives in Montana, where he has a homestead claim: Kaia, who is applied in Minneapolis; Cara, also of Minneapolis: Bennie, who lives at house : Grunda, teacher in Valeros township, and Arthur, who lives at home @ch Ju- parent Mr. : d Mrs Johnson are ardent members of the Luth- enwi church and contribute generously to its support and welfare.
403
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
WILLIAM E. WESTOVER.
William E. Westover was born on October 19, 1891, and is the son of Albert MI and Augusta ( Wegner ) Westover. His paternal grandparents were Isaac and Mary Ann (Witts) Westover. natives of Canada and Eng- land, respectively. Their marriage was solemnized in Canada, and some years afterward they moved to Kansas, later removing to Austin, Minne- sota, where they remained for a short time. and in 1875 changed their location to Otter Tail county. Upon their arrival in this county, they set- tled on one hundred and sixty acres of homestead land, gradually adding to the original tract until their farm consisted of more than four hundred acres, all adjoining on the south shore of Dead lake. Here they spent the remainder of their lives and are now sleeping side by side in Mt. Faith cemetery, in Fergus Falls. They were the parents of five children : Augusta, Della, Luella, Albert and Will.
The maternal grandparents of William E. Westover were Fred and Wilhelmina ( Blank) Wegner, natives of Prussia, Germany, where they grew to maturity and remained for some years after their marriage. After their emigration to America they settled near Paynesville, Minnesota, where they purchased a farm on which they remained until their death. Fred Wegner died abont 1900, and Wilhelmina (Blank) Wegner died about 1897. They were the parents of six children: August, Fred, Amelia, Augusta, Herman and Carl.
Augusta Wegner was born on October 15, 1866, in Germany. Albert MI. Westover was born on July 12. 1856. They met and married in Mis- soula, Montana, and shortly after removed to Tacoma, Washington, where Albert M. Westover was employed by a railroad company in that city. He served in this capacity until 1802, and then returned to Otter Tail county. where he purchased eighty acres of land on the south shore of Dead lake, adjoining his father's farm, and here remained until his death. This prop- erty was uncleared and uncultivated, but in a few years was under cultiva- tion, and their improvements consisted of a modern house and other neces- sary buildings. The original eighty acres was increased until his holdings amounted to two hundred acres. His death occurred on December 27, 1912. Fraternally, he was identified with the Eagles and with the Modern Wood- men of America. ITis marriage to Augusta Wegner was solemnized in 1880, and they became the parents of one child, William E. Westover.
William F. Westover received his education in the public schools and in the Park Region Lutheran College, also in the Northwestern College, the latter two being located in Fergus Falls. After completing his education he returned to the farm, assisting his father with the work until his death. and since that time has continued to manage and cultivate same. He is
404
OTTER TAIL, COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
making a specialty of breeding and raising dairy cattle and keeps a herd of thirty-five head. He is a stockholder of the Richville Creamery Company and the Amor Telephone Company, and it is safe to assume that many good things await his efforts to grasp and hold them, and that each effort will be conducted with the love of humanity as a guide to the natural trait of innate nobleness and honesty. The just reward of sincere friendships and high esteem, extended by those with whom he has associated must, of neces- sity, result to his credit. His enthusiasm for all that is progressive and of betterment to the community will be unselfishly given without thought of recompense, other than the good will of his fellowmen.
NELS NELSON.
A sketch of the life of Nels Nelson would be incomplete without reference to his father, Jolin Nelson, whose rare qualities of prudence and industry have combined to make him one of the most esteemed citizens in the community in which he lives. John Nelson was born in the southern part of Norway, not far from Stavanger, in 1844. and is the son of Nels Salveson and Bertha Johnson, also natives of Norway. Nels Salveson, who was a farmer and a landowner, died in his native country in 1868 and his wife passed away in 1856. The couple reared a family of six children. as follow: Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Thompson), died in Norway; Kari also died in her native country, at the age of twenty years; Inga, the wife of Verman Sigredson, is buried in Norway, and Bertha, the wife of Lars Oftedal, resides in Norman county, Minnesota; Sam follows the occupation of farming near Lake Ida, in Becker county, Minnesota, and Jolin is referred to in the next paragraph.
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.