USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 45
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In 1874 Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Sarah E. Stone, a native of Olmstead county, Minnesota, daughter of A. K. Stone. The children born to this union are seven in number, namely: Luther A., a jeweler of Cloquet, Minnesota : Harold W., a real-estate dealer of Wadena, Minnesota; Dora, who died in infancy; Catharine Aletha, who married Clayton Church, and lives in Todd county; Jeannette, the wife of W. E. Watkins, and living at home; Jessie, who died in 1910, at the age of twenty ; Marion C., who is employed by his brother in the real-estate business at Wadena.
Besides his occupational and agricultural interests, Mr. Freeman has taken an active part in a number of business enterprises. He has been the president of the Wrightstown Telephone Company and has been vice-presi- dent and director of the Farmers Co-operative Creamery at Bertha, as well as the present vice-president of the Farmers State Bank at Bertha and one of its organizers. Mr. Freeman has served two terms as county commis- sioner from the fourth district and has been township clerk and school treas- urer. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Modern Wood- men of America. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their long residence in this county has given them a wide circle of friends, and their home has long been a center for interesting social gatherings. Mr. Freeman is a man of kindly disposition, charitable impulses, strict integrity and is public spirited to a marked degree.
LOUIS ANDERSON.
Prominent in the agricultural and commercial life of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, Louis Anderson deserves to rank as one of its leading citizens. Mr. Anderson was born in Denmark, October 29, 1872.
Educated in the schools of his native land Mr. Anderson came to America in 1891, and settled on a farm in Dakota, where he was engaged in farming for twelve years. At that time he rented some seven hundred acres of land. In 1903 he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he purchased a farm of ninety-six acres in Sverdrup township, and here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Anderson is a self- made man. His farm is well improved and is highly productive. The buildings are all comfortable and are kept in a very fine state of repair. During the past ten years Mr. Anderson has been connected with the Park
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Region Mutual Telephone Company. He was a director in this company for nine years, and in 1914 was elected president of the company.
While living in Dakota, Louis Anderson was married to Christina Anderson. who is also a native of Denmark, and who came to Dakota in 1893 with her parents. Andrew and Mary Johansen. Mrs. Anderson's father died in Dakota in 1913, while her mother is still living in that state. Louis Anderson and wife are the parents of seven children: Thea, Agnes, Ella, Francis, Lila, Alfreda and Levi.
Mr. Anderson has been repeatedly honored by the people of his town- ship with important local offices. He served altogether seven years as super- visor in his township, and has also served as a member of the school board for many years. Nominally, Mr. Anderson is identified with the Republican party, and is prominent in the councils of his party in Sverdrup township. He is a highly respected farmer, a good citizen and a good man, who has honored the community where he resides by his many good works.
HANS P. OLSON.
Born at Sellan, Denmark, September 3. 1849, Hans P. Olson is a son of Ole and Kisten Hansen, both of whom were natives of Denmark, and who grew to maturity in that country, and were there married. Ole Han- sen died in his native land at the age of fifty-four years, and after his death his widow came to America in 1871, and spent her last days in this country. After coming to the United States she was married to Nils Tygersen.
Ole Hansen and wife were the parents of seven children, of whom Hans P. Olson was the eklest. The other children were Maria, Ingebor. Stena, Lars, Karen and Olena. Of these children Hans P. and Stena came to America together in 1860. They settled first at Winona, Minnesota, and lived there for a couple of years, after which H. P. Olson returned to Den- mark to bring back the remainder of the family. Upon their return to America they were accompanied by their mother and their two brothers and sisters. The family settled in Otter Tail county, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of school land in section 16, of Tordenskjold township They put up a rude log house, where the family lived for some years, but this has long since been replaced with a frame house. They have also built a frame barn ind made many other improvements on the place. and in the meantime Ar Olson has added forty acres to the original farm. Ile is a successful stock breeder ind has made a specialty of raising Holstein cattle.
About 18-3 Vr Okat was married to Christine Jensen, a native of Denmark, who came to Americe when twenty-one years of age. Mrs. Olson
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died in 1892, and her husband has never remarried. Hans P. Olson and wife were the parents of nine children, as follow: Olaf, a farmer living in Canada; Chris, also a farmer in Canada; Peter, who died at the age of twenty-two; Alice, who died in infancy ; Theodore, a farmer living in North Dakota ; Hans, who lives at home with his father, is the owner of a quarter section of land in North Dakota; Emil, living in Idaho; Sande, who died at the age of eleven years; Sande, the second, is a farmer in Dane Prairie township.
Mrs. Olson, during her life, was a member of the Free Lutheran church, the church with which her husband is now identified. Mr. Olson has always been independent in politics.
TORGER TOLLEFSON.
One of the well-known farmers of Folden township and of Otter Tail county is Torger Tollefson, who in agricultural life and in business activity. has demonstrated his ability and a citizen who in those things which make up the desirable community resident, is not lacking.
Torger Tollefson was born in Saetersdalen, Norway, on April 26, 1800, the son of Tollef Tollefson and Borghild Torgenson, both of whom were born in the same district, the father on February 17, 1817, and the mother on May 8, 1824. Tollef Tollefson and Borghild Torgenson grew to matur- ity and were married in their native country, where Tollef Tollefson was engaged in general work, and then, in 1872, with two children, he and his wife came to America and went to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they lived for three years and then in 1875 they came to Otter Tail county and settled in Eagle Lake township, where they lived for five years. In 1880 Tollef Tollefson homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 30, of Folden township, land which was as yet uncleared of the timber and brush. Tollef Tollefson, with the aid of his son, Torger, on taking posses- sion of his homestead, proceeded to clear the land and to build a "cellar." a work which was not finished by the elder Tollefson, as he was overtaken by death, shortly following the beginning of this task. Borghild ( Torger- son) Tollefson continued to live on the home place until she died, at the age of eighty-four years, in 1908. To Tollef and Borghild ( Torgenson ) Tollef- son were born the following children: Tollef, who died in Norway, at the age of three years: Torger, the subject of this sketch ; and Thora, who mar- ried Morten Peterson, and lives in Folden township.
After his education in Norway. Torger Tollefson, at the age of twelve years, came with his parents to America, and when twenty years of age was called on to fill the place of his father, who died at that time on the home
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place, mn Otter iai county. Torger Tollefson completed the unfinished work of digging a "cellar begun by his father, and cleared the land, erecting thereon such buildings as were necessary for comfort, and in 1886, he con- structed a substantial log house, one which is now in use as a farm out- building. His efforts have resulted in the clearing of eighty-five acres of land, on which Mr. Tollefson is now engaged successfully as a general farmer. In 1913 Torger Tollefson replaced his early-built log house with a modern home, erected nearby, in which he now lives.
Torger Tollefson, in 1886, was married to Lisa Hanson, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Hans Larson and wife, who lived and died in their native land, the daughter having come to America when she was twenty-five years of age. Torger and Lisa Tollefson are the parents of the following children : Tom, who is a farm manager in Eagle Lake township; Mary, who is employed at an asylum of Fergus Falls; Helmer, who lives at home; Bernhard, Conrad, Thea, Boletta, Otto and Oscar.
Torger Tollefson and his wife are leading members of the United Nor- wegian Lutheran church, where Mr. Tollefson is now one of the choir singers. In politics, Torger Tollefson is an ardent Republican. Among the residents of Otter Tail county, Torger Tollefson and his wife are highly respected and are held in high esteem as workers for those things having for their object the advancement of the community interests.
ALFRED EKLUND.
Of the well-known and successful farmers of Newton township and of Otter Tail county, the name of Alfred Eklund is one which stands for good citizenship and for a type of manhood which in the history of the locality. has done great things for the progress and advancement of the general interest. Industrions, thoughtful and with a resourcefulness characteristic of the people of Sweden, his native country, he has been a fair example of the rewards of honest endeavor and of unselfish pursuits.
Alfred Eklund was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 22, 1868, the son of Carl and Catherine ( Anderson ) Eklund, who were born in Sweden and there married, and where Carl Eklund and his wife now live. the former being ninety years of age and the latter about ten years younger. and both active members of the Lutheran church. Carl and Catherine Eklund tre the parents of the following children : Lena, who married John Carlson. and who died at Chicago, Illinois: Johanna, who was married to Edward Larson, who died, and later she was married to John Anderson, and lives at St Louis, Missouri: Angust Dena, who married John Olson, and lives at Evanston. Illinois: John, a carpenter, of Humboldt Park, Chicago, Illi-
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nois; Anna, who lives in Sweden; Alfred, the subject of this sketch; Nata- lius, a farmer of the state of Illinois; Carl Andrew, who is a farmer in Sweden; Huldah (deceased ) ; Ida, who married John Selander, and lives in Newton township; Frank, a farmer, who lives near Buffalo, North Dakota, and two daughters, who died in infancy.
Alfred Eklund was educated in the public schools of Sweden, after which he worked on his father's farm until twenty years of age and then came to America and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed at the city of Chicago for sixteen years, and in 1903 Alfred Eklund came to Otter Tail county and bought eighty acres of land in section 2, of Newton town- ship, land which was cleared, but a place on which there were few improve- ments. Alfred Eklund, on taking possession of his farm, proceeded to improve the place with new buildings and other necessary equipment, until he now has one of the best and most convenient farms of the locality. On his land Mr. Eklund is now engaged in general farming, a line of work in which he has been peculiarly successful, producing excellent crops and feed- ing for market large numbers of live stock.
In 1892 Alfred Eklund was married to Matilda Carlson, a native of Sweden. To this marriage were born two children, Hilga and Arthur.
In political affiliation, Alfred Eklund is of the Independent party, and has served well his community in those things which have called for public support. Mr. Eklund and his wife are highly respected people of Newton township, in which locality they have a host of friends.
MILTON R. GREENWOOD.
Among those who stand first in the life of the locality in which they are residents, is Milton R. Greenwood, lumberman and farmer, also business man, of the town of Richville and of the surrounding county of Otter Tail, Minnesota. He was born on January 16, 1876, in Wells county, Indiana, and is the son of Thomas and Sophrona ( McGeath ) Greenwood, both natives of Wells county, Indiana.
The maternal grandparents of Milton R. Greenwood were Thomas R. and Rebecca McGeath, both natives of New York state and among the first settlers of Wells county. Indiana. Thomas R. McGeath was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and a pioneer in his vocation. llis professional services were in behalf of the residents of the locality in which he lived and his death was looked upon as a loss to the community.
Thomas Greenwood, father of Milton R. Greenwood, was born on July 5. 1848. in Wells county. Indiana, and there grew to manhood and received his education. After reaching maturity he engaged in the humber, real-
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estate and agricultural interests of the town and county and in 1882 removed to Rice county, Minnesota, where he engaged in the lumber business until 1900. He then came to Otter Tail county, and became the purchaser and owner of seven hundred and fifteen acres of timber land, adding four hun- dred more in a few years later. This land was located in Rush Lake town- ship, Otter Tail county, and after the timber had all been sold, the land was subdivided into smaller farms and sold. For eighteen months he resided in the town of Perham, but following the incorporation of the town of Richville, he removed to that place for the purpose of being in closer touch with his realty interests. Subsequent to his arrival in Richville, Minnesota, forty acres of Tholke's addition was sub-divided into lots and he sold it in that way. The later years of his life were spent partly in Minnesota, but the winters being too severe, were spent in Locksley, Alabama, near Mobile. His death occurred in Richville on December 25, 1914. Sophrona ( McGeath ) Greenwood, his wife, is now living in Richville. Thomas Greenwood was a Republican and very active in the life of the town and was, at one time, a member of the town council of Foreston. He was also a soldier and served his country during the Civil War, having enlisted in Company E, Seventy- fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and engaged in the battles at Chattanooga and Chickamauga and was also with General Sherman on his march to the sea. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To then were born seven children: John, William, Alonzo, Milton R., Oscar, Inez and Minnie. John is an employee of the Standard Oil Company and resides in Mankato, Minnesota: William died while in Rice county, Minnesota; Vonzo also died in that county; Oscar is a farmer and lives in Richville; Inez became the wife of George Schroeder and they live in Locksley, Ala- bama, and Minnie died in infancy.
Milton R. Greenwood was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the public schools of Rice county, Minnesota. Subsequent to his school work, he became engaged with his father in the work on the home place, as well as in the capacity of lumberman on his father's property. In 1900 he removed to Otter Tail county, with his father, and purchased land in connection with his father, now owning one hundred and seventy acres near Richville, and one hundred and sixty acres in Beltrami county, near Bernigi. llis commercial interests have consisted in selling the timber from his land, thereafter disposing of the land, and he has also operated a saw-mill in con- nection. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which lodges he is held in Ingh esteem. Politically. he is a faithful follower of the Republican party. On November 28. 1800. Milton R. Greenwood was united in marriage
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to Catherine Shields, daughter of Patrick Shields, an old settler of Shields- ville, Minnesota, and her birth occurred in Wisconsin. Shieldsville, Minne- sota, was named for the Shield's family, of whom there are a large number in and around that town. Patrick Shields now resides in St. Joe, Minne- sota. Three children have been born of the union of Milton R. Greenwood and Catherine Shields, namely : Delbert, Joseph and Mamie. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood and family are justly esteemed in the community in which they reside.
AMOS H. WETMUR.
Amos H. Wetmur, a farmer of Candor township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, has been one of the earnest workers for the development of all things educational and for the advancement of community interests. He has given time and service and in return has received the approbation of his fellow citizens. He is a native of Orange county, New York, and was born on May 5, 1852. He is one of ten children born to the union of Sylvanus and Sarah Jane ( McCarter ) Wetmur, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Newark, New Jersey, respectively.
The paternal and maternal grandfathers of Amos H. Wetmur were both soldiers of the American Revolutionary War and were of English and Scottish descent. The father of Amos H. Wetmur was born in Pennsyl- vania on May 3, 1812, and died on November 6, 1899, aged eighty-six years, six months and three days. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born at Newark, New Jersey, January 4, 1819, and died on June 6, 1893, being seventy-four years, five months and two days old. Both deaths occur- red at Morgan Hill, California, and they are both buried at Gilroy, Cali- fornia.
Sylvanus Wetmur and Sarah Jane McCarter were married on Novem- ber 30, 1841. Sylvanus Wetmur's carly life was spent in the woods during winter months, and in spring was engaged in driving logs down the Susque- hanna river. In 1856 he removed to Wisconsin, taking his wife and six children with him. The family located near Rippon, where they remained until 1860. During their residence in that place, Sylvanus Wetmur was engaged as a farm-hand, which vocation he continued after his removal to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, until 1866. In that year he decided to make Minne- sota the home and the journey was made with two yoke of oxen and a cov- ered wagon. This removal was the result of a visit made to the home in Wisconsin, by an uncle, George Wetmur, who persuaded Sylvanus Wetmur to make the change. After reaching Minnesota, they located at Mapleton. Blue Earth county, where the father became employed as a farm hand for
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two years He then moved to Steel county, Minnesota, and purchased eighty acres of land, near Havana and Owatonna, and lived there for many years, moving, in 1890, to California.
The names of their ten children are as follow : Josephine Augusta was born on July 6. 1843; died in early infancy. Esther Ann ( deceased ) was the wife of Daniel Willis and lived in Mapleton, Minnesota. Mary Delia become the wife of George Stephens, and her death occurred at Mapleton, Minnesota, October 16, 1876. Phebe Ellen, born on February 5, 1851, mar- ried William Marshall in 1807; issue, one boy, William Marshall, Jr .; then divorced and became the wife of Joseph Carpenter, and her death occurred on April 30. 1914, in Seattle, Washington. Amos H. Wetmur was born on May 5, 1852. Charley 1. Wetmur was born on June 29, 1853, is a well driller, thresher and farmer, and lives at Minot, North Dakota. Jane Eliza- beth was born on April 21, 1857, and became the second wife of George Stephens: they now reside in San Jose, California. George M. Wetmur was born on March 20, 1855, and was last heard of in Montana in 1878. Willard S. Wetmur was born on October 13, 1860, and is working at the barber trade in Gilroy, California. Orin Eugean Wetmur was born on Octo- ber 13, 1861, and died at Morgan Hill, December 4, 1903, and is buried with father, mother and sister ( Ellen ) at Gilroy, California.
George Wetmur, uncle of Amos H. Wetmur, was a prominent man in Minnesota in the early days, and built the first grist-mill at Chatfield, Minne- sota. He was also interested in the iron mines of the state in its early history.
Amos H. Wetmur received his education in the public schools of Blue Earth and Steele counties, Minnesota, and was reared on the home farm. His first independent business venture was the purchase of forty acres of land, located near Rice Lake, Steele county, in 1875, for which he paid four hundred dollars and which he bought from the Lamberton Land Company. of Winona, Minnesota. This farm was cleared and improved and soon after he removed to Cass county, North Dakota, where he homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres. After improving the one hundred and sixty acres he added three hundred and twenty acres more, improved this, and then sold out in the spring of 1888, for ten thousand dollars. Previous to this sale he had taken in trade one hundred and sixty acres, located in Hobart town- ship: this was improved and a residence was effected on this land in the fall of 1888. In 1904. after making many improvements, the place was soll and Amos 11. Wetmur moved to the town of Vergas, Minnesota, where he pur- chased forty acres of land within the town corporation. At the time of purchase the land was uncleared and unimproved, but it was cleared and put
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under cultivation and in 1915 eighteen acres, which was sown to oats and barley, yielded more than one thousand bushels.
In 1880 Amos H. Wetmur was united in marriage to Carrie May Hoyle, and to them have been born eight children, whose names follow : Ervin was born on November 23, 1881, is an engineer on the Great Northern railroad, and lives in Minot, North Dakota : Florence was born on February 24. 1883, and married Albert Abraham, and they live in Elkhart, Indiana : Bertha, born on June 10, 1885, became the wife of William Long, and they live in Echo, Oregon. Minnie was born on May 6, 1887, is the wife of Glen Crawford, and their home is in Ontario, Canada. Myrtle was born on June 23. 1888, and is the wife of Charles Hauser, and their home is in Fargo. North Dakota. Ernest was born on June 25, 1890, and was married on January 4, 1916, to Borga Burman, and is living at home. Ray was born on December 16, 1895, and is living at home; Pearl was born on October 20, 1897, and is employed as an operator by the local telephone company.
Carrie May ( Hoyle ) Wetmur was born on March 13, 1867, the daugh- ter of Thadous Hoyle, a native of Logansport. Indiana. Amos 11. Wetmur is affiliated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and is a Socialist in his political views. He has served the public as a justice of the peace for many years, both in Candor and. Hobart townships. He has served as school clerk in Hobart for many years, also clerk in the village of Vergas for three years, and was one of the organizers of the village of Vergas.
HENRY HENSCH.
Henry Hensch, who was born in Germany on January 4, 1874, the son of Nicholas and Mary ( Beckmann) Hensch, both of whom are now resi- (lents of Germany, where Nicholas Hensch is a farmer.
Henry Hensch was educated in the schools of Germany, and for a short time attended school in the state of Iowa, where he went after reaching America, in the year 1880. Following his settlement in Lyons county, Iowa, Henry Hensch was employed generally at farm work for eleven years and then he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Western township, a place on which he put many improvements. At a later date this enterprising farmer purchased one hundred and sixty acres, south of his original farm, all of which land is now well improved and in a good state of cultivation.
During the year 1900 Henry Hlensch was married to Johanna Kohnke. who was born in Germany, the daughter of John and Katherine ( Blohm) Kohnke, who are natives of Germany, where they now live. To the mar-
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riage of Henry and Johanna Hlensch have been born four children. Albert, Frida, Henry, Jr., and Louise.
Henry Hlensch and his family attend the German Lutheran church, a congregation in which Mr. Hensch is one of the best known, and with his wife. is among the most highly respected communicants.
In the public life of Otter Tail county and Western township. Henry Hensch has taken no especial part, but has preferred to serve as a private citizen and to do his duty to the community as it is presented.
EDWARD T. BARNARD.
Successful as a merchant in Fergus Falls and a prosperous and success- ful furniture dealer and undertaker. Edward T. Barnard is a native of Minneapolis, this state, the son of Thomas G. and Eliza ( Hayes ) Barnard.
Mr. Barnard's' father was born on Prince Edward Island and located in Boston, Massachusetts, abont 1848. It was in Boston that he worked in a cabinet shop, as it was called in those days-what we now call a furniture store. At that time in the cabinet shop, or store, most all of the furniture was made, and the product was beautiful and substantial, the furniture made in those days, with its antique design, now being bought and sold at almost fabulous prices. In 1857 Thomas G. Barnard came West and engaged in the manufacture of furniture in a Minneapolis factory, which is still in operation and which is known as the Barnard-Cope Manufacturing Com- pany. Mr. Barnard is now retired from active life and lives at Los Angeles. California.
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