USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 44
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George Wedell. father of Mrs. John Schroeder, was born on the Atlan- tic, while his parents were en route from Germany to America. He was educated at Cold Springs, Minnesota, and was married there. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wedell attended the Catholic church. During the Black Hills War. Mr. Wedell hauled provisions for the soldiers. The children born to this union were eleven in number. Matilda, Bernhard, Mrs. Mary Schroe-
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
dler. Robert, Clara, George, Theresa, Wensel, Anna, deceased; Agnes, Cath- erine They also reared an adopted child, named Francis.
Mr. Schroeder is well and prominently known in the community in which he resides, and where he has long been a resident, and both Mr. and Mrs. Shroeder have a wide circle of sincere friends.
WILLIAM I. OMAN.
William 1. Oman, well-known farmer, stockman and dairyman of Otto township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Calumet, Michigan, on April 2, 1882, the son of Isaac and Mary ( Burkman) Oman, natives of Finland and Sweden, respectively. Isaac Oman was married in Norway and in the year 1865, with his family, he came to America and continued his business as a copper miner, in the mines of Calumet, Michigan. In 1887, Isaac Oman moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Otto township, a place to which he added eighty acres at a later time, and where he now lives a retired life, with his son, William, who has acquired the land. Isaac and Mary Oman are the parents of the following children: Annie, Mary, William ( deceased ) , Petra ( deceased ). John ( deceased), Peter, Henry, Hilda, William I., of this sketch, and Jacob ( deceased ).
William I. Oman was educated in the public schols of Otter Tail county, after which he became a salesman, employed for some years in the stores of John Ilauning, J. G. Mattala and J. H. Muckla, at New York Mills. Later he was engaged in the mercantile business with a cousin, at Bovey, Minnesota, for some time. Following his business career, William 1. Oman became a farmer on the home farm in Otto township, section 13. where he now lives and cultivates one hundred acres of land, together with extensive dealings in live stock and also engaging in the dairy business, keeping twenty good grade cows for this purpose.
William 1. Oman has been one of the leaders in the political and official Die of Otto township, taking an active part in all movements for the better- no :1 of the e Amonffity. for six years having served his township as assessor. In 100g. William L. Offer was married to Mary Jacobson, the daughter x Loob W. Jacobsen con gife, who live in Newton township. William I. and Any that had one donted child, Sadie, age twelve years.
d. cob W. lacohesi war born in Sweden, on August 23, 1851, the son al Jas band Katie Kimann, both of whom were natives of Sweden. . After hi- chel days in his ne tive country, Jacob W. Jacobson came to America and istated in the state of Michigan, in 1873. In 1882 he moved to Otter Tall mounts , Mime ofa, wffere he bought one hundred and sixty acres of
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land in section 30, Leaf Lake township. In 1896, Jacob W. Jacobson dis- posed of his place in Leaf Lake township and went to Newton township, where he bought one hundred and forty-six acres of land in sections 15 and 19, and now lives there engaged in general farming and stock raising.
In 1880, Jacob W. Jacobson was married to Katie Kahgole, a native of Finland, and to this marriage were born the following children, Alfred ( deceased ), Mary, Walter, Marium, Janie, Richard, .Anna (deceased), Arthur, Yalmar, Phillip, Ernest ( deceased) and Arnold ( deceased).
Jacob W. Jacobson has taken an important part in the public life of his community, having served as a member of the school board for nine years, as assessor for twelve years and also as supervisor and township treasurer for some years.
JOHN K. WYATT.
Among the few native-born American citizens of the older generation now living in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is John K. Wyatt, of Inman township, who was born near Waldo, Marion county, Ohio. July 7, 1852.
Mr. Wyatt is the son of Cyrus and Catherine ( Bowers) Wyatt, who were natives of Marion county, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mr. Wyatt's parents came west to Iowa in 1856 and settled in Hardin county. at lowa Falls. Later, they moved to Wright county, Iowa, and it was there that Cyrus Watt enlisted in Company H, Thirty-second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Cyrus Wyatt served about three years under General Thomas. After his discharge he returned to his home and died on July 2, 1865. His wife survived him many years, passing away in Iowa, January 30, 1905. at the age of eighty-two years.
John K. Wyatt was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. When he was old enough, he took up farming in the Hawkeye state. Hav- ing purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Iowa, Mr. Wyatt improved the land and lived upon it until 189.1. when he moved to Webster City. In 1901 he moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he lived for seven years. In 1905 Mr. Wyatt purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 29 and 30, of Inman township, and in 1908. three years later, moved to the farm. Mr. Wyatt has made many improvements upon this farm, especially in fencing. Ile is a well-known and successful breeder of Shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs. Mr. Wyatt also makes a specialty of Plymouth Rock chickens and Bronze turkeys. While a resident of Fergus Falls, Mr Wyatt was engaged some in the real-estate business. He owns a number of good lots in Fergus Falls.
On November 15. 1877. John K. Wyatt was married to Elizabeth J. McGill, who was born in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, in 1859, and who
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is the daughter of Samuel and Ellen (Van Lew) McGill. Mrs. Wyatt's father and mother were both natives of Pennsylvania, the latter being born on June 20, 1833, in Northumberland county. They moved to Iowa in 1855. but returned to Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wyatt's father served in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War. He enlisted in Sep- tember, 1864, and on his way home was taken ill and died on July 1, 1865. at Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he was buried. After his death, the mother and the remainder of the family moved to Jasper county, Iowa. The mother died on January 30, 1603.
Mr. and Mrs Wyitt have been the parents of four children: Cyrus S., who is a graduate of the Webster City high school, was a soldier in the Spanish-American War; Percival is deceased; Ruth Eva was graduated from the Fergus Falls high school with the class of 1901, and Fern Ellen, who was graduated from the Fergus Falls high school in 1910.
Mr. Wyatt is identified with the Republican party and has always been active in party politics and is influential in the councils of his party in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt and family are members of the Presbyterian church of Fergus Falls.
CHARLES D. BAKER.
The progressive, wide-awake man of affairs determines the progress and prosperity of a community whether the boundaries of the community be large or small. His influence as a potential factor in the life of a county 1s difficult to estimate. No man living in Otter Tail county has done more for the agricultural development of the county than Charles D. Baker, a dealer in real estate, insurance and mortgage loans at Fergus Falls. From his father, who was a public-spirited citizen and business man, the son no doubt inherited a capacity for the infinite details of business, but Mr. Baker's acquisition by inheritance has been enlarged by careful and painstaking per- sonal application. He had hardly finished his education in the East before he turned his eyes Westward and, heeding the words of Horace Greeley. he settled in this great state. Intimately identified with the industrial, com- mercial and agricultural history of Otter Tail county for nearly a half cen- tury, he is one of the best known men in the county and, as a simple state- ment of fact, it may be said that he is one of the most favorably known residents of the county.
Charles D. Baker was born on August 10, 1848, at Orrington, Maine. the son of Joseph D. and Belinda G. (Baker ) Baker, the former of whom was it merchant for many years and who, during the last thirty years of his life, was occupied in the settlement of estates and in the affairs of his home Town of which he was a selectman. He died about 1895 in his eighty-
CHARLES D. BAKER.
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third year. His wife had preceded him in death many years, her death hav- ing been caused by consumption. There were six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Baker, of whom two, Alonzo and Edward, died while serv- ing their country in the Union army during the Civil War; Charles D., the subject of this sketch; Jefferson, who is a tailor at Bangor, Maine; Arthur, who is a banker at Deer Creek, and Helen, who died of consumption in 1885.
Until he was seventeen years okl, Charles D. Baker lived at home with his parents and attended school. In 1868 he was graduated from the Bucks- port Seminary and immediately thereafter came West on account of his health. He found employment as a bookkeeper in Moulton's nursery, where he worked for five years and then entered the government employ as a detective and as deputy United States marshall for the state of Minnesota, continuing in the latter form of service for seven years, at the end of which time he moved to Alexandria, where he remained for a short time. In 1881 he came to this county, locating at Bluffton, where he opened a general store. Two years later he moved to Deer Creek and engaged in the mer- cantile business. In 1885 he moved to Fergus Falls and, until 1898, was engaged in the loan business. Seventeen years ago he established a real- estate office in Fergus Falls and since that time has confined his attentions entirely to Otter Tail county real estate. Mr. Baker's office is one of the most complete real-estate offices in western Minnesota, being equipped with all the latest ideas in descriptive maps and photographs.
Mr. Baker has devoted considerable money, time and study to deter- mine the possibilities of the soil of Otter Tail county. He has made diligent investigation and study of the produce for which this soil is best adapted and has furnished the farmers of Otter Tail county high grades of clover seed, alfalfa and corn, which in turn have brought forth abundant crops. Thousands of dollars have been expended by Mr. Baker in gathering statis- tics throughont Otter Tail county, and these facts, printed in pamphlet form, have been distributed among the farmers for their guidance. In other words, he has been a pioneer in determining the direction of agricultural development and productions in the county, and, as a pilot. is accorded today a foremost rank among the county's leading citizens. On his own initia- tive and as a private enterprise, he has done for Otter Tail county what the United States government is now doing in a larger way for the various states of the Union and for the country as a whole. The fundamental fact in Mr. Baker's propoganda is that he recognized early in his career as a real-estate dealer that agriculture is an exact science and that success in this vocation is determined by the possession of accurate, scientific and complete knowl- edge of soils and productions. In the strictest sense of the word, he is a (27h))
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constructive citizen, one who has performed tangible service in behalf of the people of Otter Tail county.
Mr. Baker was married to Almeda Coulter, and to them have been born two children, Roy A. and Addie C. Roy A. Baker is his father's right- hand man in business: is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is keenly interested in the civic, industrial and commercial progress of Fergus Falls. He married Lillian Morrell. Addie C. Baker married A. P. Stowell and lives in Huron, South Dakota.
Charles D. Baker is a member of the Masonic fraternity. When still a young man, in 1869, he became a member of Cataract Lodge No. 2, at St. Anthony and, after moving to Fergus Falls, demitted to Corner Stone Lodge No. 99, and has been a member of the commandery there for the past twenty years. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
OTTO CHRISTIAN FOSS.
Owing to the conditions surrounding his early life, Otto Christian Foss, while still a youth, became versed in the secrets of agriculture, and to this day has given his entire attention to this field of activity. Mr. Foss. who was a native of Christiania, Norway, was born on October 4. 1861. His parents, Ole Anderson and Ellen Mathia Jorgenson, both of whom were born in Norway, came to America in 1872, and on June 22, of that year, arrived in Pelican township, this county. Here the father took up a homestead claim three-fourths of a mile west of the present home of his son. Otto. This tract of land consisted of one hundred acres, was improved by the owner and is now operated by his son. Anton J. Ole Anderson lived there until his death. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were six in number, namely : Anton J., Milla Oliva Olson. Marie Emile Fisher. Anna Margaret Larson, Otto C. Foss, the subject of this sketch: Johanna Elisa Thorson.
The educational advantages of Otto C. Foss were extremely limited. his schooling consisting of six years in Norway schools and two months after he reached America. He was compelled to start to work while young. and by hard work has acquired two hundred acres of splendid farm land. However, he and his family together own four hundred and twenty acres. The farm upon which his home is located and other property have been extensively improved. Ile is known as a successful breeder of Guernsey cattle.
The marriage of Otto C. Foss and Bertha Seilstad took place in March, 1891, the wife being a native of Norway. Mrs. Foss came to this
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country with her parents when she was only two years oldl. They located in Wisconsin, but her father, Elevson, died in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Foss are the parents of two children, Clara Emilia and Oscar Edward. They are members of the Grove Lake church.
The character of the gentleman whose life is here briefly presented is one which challenges admiration. Noted for his rugged honesty and fear- less independence in matter of principle, the life of Otto C. Foss has been a well-rounded career.
JOHN ADOLPH PETERSON.
Of those men who have overcome obstacle and hindrance and, surviv- ing discouragement and set-back, have risen to places of note in the locality and who have proved to be a success in their chosen line of work, the name of John Adolph Peterson, of this sketch, stands out conspicuously. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age and without substantial aid or encouragement, he has become one of the leading men and merchants of Otter Tail county and of the town of Dopelius, and has been given a place of note in the larger business affairs of the community, and a rank of honor in the public circles of his town and his township.
John Adolph Peterson was born in Black Hills, South Dakota, on November 16, 1885, the son of Isaac and Mary ( Pary) Peterson. Isaac Peterson was born in Norway and Mary Peterson, his wife, was born in Finland, and each having come to America and settled with their parents in the same locality, they became acquainted, were married and then went to Hancock, Michigan, where Isaac Peterson worked in a mine for some time and then later moved to Black Hills, South Dakota, where the father. lived until his death, in the year 1801. The mother, with the children, who were living in Otter Tail county, where they owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Newton township, later was married to John P. Majava, she now living at New York Mills. To the marriage of Isaac and Mary Peterson were born the following children: Anna, who married Matthew Lind, and who died in the state of Michigan; William, who died at New York Mills: Ida, who married Emil Anderson and lives at Mark- ham, St. Louis county; Arthur, who is a cattle buyer of New York Mills; John Adolph, the subject of this sketch ; George, who is a railway brakeman of British Columbia: Lena, who married James Currie and lives at Minne- apolis, and Matilda, who lives at home with her mother.
John Adolph Peterson was educated in a state school at Owatona, Minnesota, and from that institution was adopted by a family with whom he lived until the age of eighteen years, when he came to New York Mills and secured employment with the l'iske Brothers Company livery, where he
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worked for three or four years and then went to the town of Dopelius, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he was engaged as a butter-maker for the Dopelius Creamery Association, a position which he now holds. John Adolph Peterson has extended his business interests since coming to Dope- lius until now he is the manager of a mercantile business, and in addition to this is one of the directors of the Dopelius Creamery Association, with which he has been connected for so many years.
On July 18, 1910, John Adolph Peterson was married to Anna Muck- ala, who was 'born in the state of Michigan, the daughter of John Henry Muckala and wife. To the marriage of John A. and Anna Peterson has been born a daughter, Erna Arbutus, whose birth occurred on June 8, 1913.
John Adolph Peterson and his wife are active members of the Lutheran church, a congregation in which they take an interested part. In politics, Mr. Peterson is an ardent Republican.
EDWARD JOHNSON.
Edward Johnson, a prosperous farmer of Girard township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Norway, born there on November 12, 1853
Mr. Johnson is a son of John Peterson and Mary (Torgenson ) Peter- son, both of whom were born in Norway, and spent their entire lives in that country. They were the parents of eight children, those living being as follow: Gumiel Mary, Peter, Edward. Christ. Hans and Thomas. The deceased children are Torger and Karen.
Edward Johnson received his education in the public schools of his attive land. In 1879 he came to America and settled at Baldwin. Wis- onsin, near which place he worked on a farm for a time. afterward obtain- ing work on the railroad. For some years he spent the winters in the lum- ber camps. He was also one of the first men employed in the iron mines of Wisconsin. After working in the mines for five months, he came to Otter Tail count ?. Minnesota, in 1882, and purchased land from Charles 1 Wright, the tract consisting of eighty acres. He sold this farm in 1802 and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Oak Valley township. He disposed of this form in 1806, and thereafter made a trip to Norway. remaining four month Vier his return from his trip to Norway in June. 1806, he took a position is manager of the Clitherall elevator. and remained with this firth tor fil voir- Altogether Mr. Johnson lived in Clitherall For thirteen vers and During this time was engaged rather extensively in real estate operations 40 1909 he made a trip to Norway, remaining ten months In scro he renjoyed to the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Girard township, which he had purchased in 1907. Mr. Johnson's brother.
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Hans, who came from Norway to America in 1910, operates the farm, while the latter is living retired. Mr. Johnson's farm is well improved and highly productive.
Formerly Mr. Johnson was a member of the council at Clitherall, and was also supervisor of Nidaros township for a number of years. During a part of the time he was chairman of the township board. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Lutheran church, and is unmarried.
ANDREW ANDERSON.
Among those men of Swedish birth residing in Buse township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, Andrew Anderson, the subject of this sketch, is well known. Mr. Anderson was born in the southern portion of that country on June 11. 1871, son of John and Hannah ( Isaacson) Anderson. Both parents were born in the same locality, where they were engaged in farming until the father came to America in 1891. This was two years after his son, Andrew, had crossed the water. John Anderson located in Illinois. and three years after he had emigrated, his family joined him and all lived there until 1904, when they came to Otter Tail county and rented a farm in Western township. There they lived until the death of the father, on July 13. 1911, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother died in the spring of 1914, at the age of sixty-seven years. Both were reared in the Lutheran faith and lived honest and useful lives.
Andrew Anderson is the eldest of a family of nine children. all of whom are now citizens of the United States. Hannah is the wife of Carl Olson and lives in Millelacs county, this state. Carl lives in Montana, where he is engaged in farming. Emma is the wife of John Larson, of Vikind, this state, and Louisa, who is Mrs. Louie Hanson, resides in Martin county. John is a ranchman and farmer in Montana, and hoth August and Edward are farmers in Western township. of this county. Clara, the youngest of the family and the wife of Charles Hanson, also lives in the same town- ship. Andrew was educated in the public schools of his native land and in 1880 came to America and settled in Illinois, where he remained until 1894. when he came to this state and located in Martin county. He purchased a farm of eighty acres and made that his home until 1902, when he became a citizen of this county. Ile purchased one hundred and sixty acres in West- ern township, where he lived until the spring of 1915, when he sold out and bought a tract of like size in Buse township, intending to make that his permanent home.
Mr. Anderson was married on November 3. 1901. to Cecelia Johnson. also born in Sweden, a daughter of John Peterson, still living in his native
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OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
land. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of four children, namely : Albert, Oscar, Arthur and Hilda, and both are members of the Swedish Lutheran church, to the support of which they give generously of their means. Mr. Anderson votes independently in politics, and inasmuch as he is interested in all that makes for the welfare of the community, he bids fair to become one of the highly esteemed citizens of his township.
GEORGE F. FREEMAN.
.As the reader peruses a work like the present volume, one of the effects pt which he becomes conscious is the inspirational value of certain types of biography. For this reason the man whose life forms the subject matter of this sketch is well worthy of consideration. George F. Freeman is a native of Clayton county, lowa, having been born there on December 17, 1853, his parents being Ruben and Lydia ( Denton ) Freeman. Mr. Freeman has been a resident of this county for twenty-three years.
The parents of Mr. Freeman were born in Cayuga county, New York, where they grew up and were married. After their marriage they first nioved to Ohio, later to lowa, and in 1855 to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where they purchased land in 1853. In 1864 Mr. Freeman lost his wife and soon afterwards moved to Hastings, and thence to Minneapolis, where he became a bath-house keeper, a business which he continued until his death, which took place in 1885. At one time he served as justice of the peace. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. The family of chil- dren that came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman was twelve in number, being : John D., Willie T., Mary A., Juliet. Hattie, Charlotte. George F., the subject of this biography; Ruben F., Alfred, and Charles, who died in infancy; Lyda and another infant, named Charles, who passed away.
George F. attended the district school of Roscoe, Minnesota, and later the high school at Pine Island. He early learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for seven or eight years. In Cannon Falls he then became profi- vient in the occupation of mill-wright and carpenter and worked in Cannon Falls Hearing of the good farm lands in Dakota, he pre-empted a quarter section and filed on a tree claim, but left there in 1890 to again engage in his trade at Fergus Falls. He later added to his income by "breaking in horses" for a man named Jack Billings. Two years later he began the career of a farmer by purchasing cighty acres in section 1. west half of the south- west quarter of Woodside township. At the time of the purchase only "leven acres had been broken, and on these a log cabin had been built. As Ur Freeman was still engaged in carpenter work. he was obliged to hire
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men to clear his new-made purchase. He built a house, barn, granary, machine shed and chicken house. With this equipment he has since engaged in farming and has been for some years a breeder of Shropshire sheep and of standard-breed horses, as well as of full-blooded Jersey cattle.
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