USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 52
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ANDREW GLENDE.
Andrew Glende, a well-known farmer of Everts township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, who was born in Norway on December 10, 1855, is the son of Andrew and Kare ( Bye) Glende, both of whom were born in Nor- way, the former in 1823 and the latter about the same year. They were married in Norway and both died in that country, the former in 1857 and the latter in 1865. They were the parents of seven children: Anna Mary. Karen, Erick, Andreas, Andrinie, Anton and Andrew. Andrew Glende's mother was twice married. the second time to Even A. Glende, by whom she had one child. Thor.
Educated in the public schools of his native land. Andrew Glende came to America in 1871 and settled in Fairbault, Rice county, Minnesota. The next year he came to Otter Tail county, and in 1874 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section To, of Everts township. Later he sold this farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, in 1878, where he has since lived. Mr. Glende has erected substantial buildings on the farm and has made other improvements.
In 1885 Andrew Glende was married to Olena Larson, and to them was born one child, Kare. Mrs. Glende died in 1888. and five years later Mr. Glende was married to Mina Venes, of Everts township, who is the daughter of John and Anna Mary Venes. They came from Norway in
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1880 and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Everts town- ship. Later they sold this farm and moved to Battle Lake. By his second marriage Mr. Glende has five children, all of whom are living. Joseph, Marie, Agnes, Ovidia and Altine.
Mr. and Mrs. Glende are members of the Lutheran church.
HENRY D. LUHNING.
Henry D. Luhning. farmer and well-known citizen of Girard township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Hanover. Germany, on June 27. 1873, the son of H. Lubning and Magarete Luhning, natives of Germany.
Henry D. Luhning was educated in the schools of his native country. after which he came to America, in 1899. and located in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. where, in partnership with his brother. William, Henry D. Luhn- ing bought three hundred and thirty acres of land in Otter Tail township. a place which Mr. Luhning cultivated for some time and then he bought one hundred and seventy-two acres of land in Girard township, a farm on which he now lives as a general farmer.
On July 18, 1902, Henry D. Luhning was married to Anna Peters, who was born in Germany, the daughter of Otto Peters and wife. To the marriage of Henry D. and Anna Luhning has been horn one child, William. Mr. and Mrs. Luhning also have one adopted child. Elsie. Henry D. Luhn- ing and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, they being active members in the congregation of their choice.
Henry D. Luhning, for two years has been school treasurer for Otter Tail township, and he is a man who takes an important place in the public life of his community.
JOHN H. DINSMORE.
John H. Dinsmore, a well-to-do farmer of Maine township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 31. 1862.
Mr. Dinsmore is a son of Scott and Isabelle Christie Dinsmore. Scott Dinsmore was a farmer in Pennsylvania, and for twenty-five years taught school in Westmoreland county, that state. He owned one hundred and forty acres of land and was a prominent and leading member of the Presby- terian church, having served as an elder in that denomination for many years. Scott Dinsmore was the father of nine children, eight sons and one daughter.
John H. Dinsmore received his education in the common schools of the Keystone state, and in the spring of 1884 left Pennsylvania for Otter Tail county, Minnesota. For a time Mr. Dinsmore was employed by D. G.
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Keefe, and during this period taught school during the winter months in Fergus Falls township. Afterwards he removed to Page county, Iowa, and for six years operated a farm belonging to his aunt. He also bought eighty acres of land in Page county, and lived in lowa for six years. In 1891 Mr. Dinsmore sold his holdings in Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Maine township, this county, sixty acres of which was cleared. In 1910 Mr. Dinsmore built a comfortable and commodious house. Previous to this, in 1902. he had built a large barn.
In 1888 John Dinsmore was married to Nettic Wilson, a daughter of William Wilson, a Pennsylvania farmer. John Dinsmore and wife are the parents of four children, Isabel, Wilson W., Lilian and J. Scott.
Mr. Dinsmore and family are members of the Presbyterian church in Maine township, and take an active interest in the affairs of that congrega- tion. Mr. Dinsmore has served efficiently for a number of years as clerk of the township school board, and has been a member of the board alto- gether for a period of twenty years. He is well known and highly respected in Maine township.
JOHN SIM.
John Sim, well-known farmer and prominent citizen of Scambler town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Scotland, October 28, 1848, the son of John and Agnes (Donald) Sim, both of whom were natives of Scotland, born in the year 1811. John Sim, Sr., who was a blacksmith in the highlands of Scotland, lived in his native country during his entire life, dying in the year 1875. Agnes, the wife of the elder Sim, died in 1885, at Glasgow, Scotland. John and Agnes Sim were the parents of the following children : Margaret, Thomas, James, Agnes, Janet, John, Alexander, David and two children who died in infancy.
Following his education in the public schools of his native country. John Sim came to America, and in 1887 settled in Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, where he started a blacksmith shop. a trade which he followed until 1892, and then bought forty acres of land in Scambler township, a place which he improved and to which Mr. Sim has added land until he now owns one hundred and eighty acres of well-improved and highly-cultivated land. John Sim, in addition to his general farming, makes a specialty of dairying.
During the year 1878 John Sim was married to Isabel Cameron, a native of Scotland, and to this marriage have been born seven children : John Cameron, Thomas. James, Isabel, David, Alexander and Francis.
John Sim has been an active and a valued citizen in business circles of Scambler township. Mr. Sim was one of the organizers of the Park Region Co-operative Creamery and Store Company, of Cormant, Minnesota ; he was
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one of the organizers of the Farmer's Elevator Company, at Pelican Rapids, and is a member of the l'elican Rapids Farmers' Shipping Association. John Sim has been a prominent member of the school board for many years and he is now one of the supervisors of Scambler township.
JOHANNES P. SCHEI.
Johannes P. Schei, a pioneer citizen of Otter Tail county and one of the best-known residents of Tordenskjold township, where he is now living retired, is a native of Norway, born eight miles out of Trondhjem, May 17. 1839.
The venerable Johannes P. Schei is the son of Peter and Jochimine Schei, who in later life immigrated to America. They died on a farm in Tordenskjold township about 1890 and are buried in the Tordenskjold town- ship cemetery. They were farmers by occupation and had a family of nine children, all of whom came with them to America. Johannes P. was the eldest, Maria, who died in Norway ; Ole, who lives in Red Wing, Minnesota ; Olaf, who died in Minneapolis: Berit Martha, who married Aneus Volen and died at Underwood; Paulina, who died unmarried in Minneapolis : Martin, who died in Minneapolis: Mary, who married a Mr. Johnson and lives in Minneapolis, and Ever, who resides near Minneapolis.
Johannes P. Schei was educated in the public schools and, from his boyhood, has been engaged in farmning. In 1867 he accompanied his par- ents to America, and for the next three years worked on a farm in Good- hue county. Later the family came to Otter Tail county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Tordenskjold township. This farm was composed altogether of wild land and, after clearing a place, Mr. Schei built a log house, having lived one summer in a wagon. The old log house stood on the site of the present Schei home. Later, Mr. Schei added forty acres of land in Dane Prairie township and still later two hundred acres more southeast in Tordenskjoldl township, erecting houses and barns on these various farms. For some years, Mr. Schei has been living retired.
On July 4, 1867. Johannes P. Schei was married in Goodhue county. Minnesota, to Barteline Rosvold, an aunt of Martin Rosvold, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Schei have been the parents of ten children, Olaf, who is a merchant at Fergus Falls: Julia, who died at the age of six years; Karen, who married Albert Anderson and lives in Dane Prairie township: Julius, who is a farmer in Tordenskjold township; Joseph. who died at the age of twenty-seven : Ole, who is in the real estate business in Portland, Oregon: Martin, who is a farmer in Idaho; John G., who is the manager of the home farm: Olena, who died at the age of twenty years. and Julia, who lives at home with her parents.
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ELLEF E. RISBRUDT.
Ellef E. Risbrudt is one of the representative agriculturists of St. Olaf township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and is a native of Norway, his birth having occurred on September 27, 1857. He is the son of Engebret T. Ris- brudt, also a native of Norway and the brother of Torkel E. Risbrudt.
Ellef E. Risbrudt received his education in the public schools of St. Olaf township, Otter Tail county, and was reared on the home farm where he assisted his father with the work until twenty-seven years of age. In 1884 he purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land in St. Olaf town- ship, on which he erected buildings and made other improvements. He has continued to live on this place ever since. In 1911 he purchased three hun- dred and twenty acres of land, under the homestead law, in Montana and remained there until Christmas, 1914. Each year he returned to his former home in St. Olaf township to visit his people, and in 1901 purchased ninety acres of land near the home place. In 1900 he invested in forty acres more adjoining his farm, and now owns three hundred and ten acres in St. Olaf township. He is also the owner of ten acres of timber land, which was given to him by his father. The farm in St. Olaf township is devoted to general agriculture and stock raising.
On June 2, 1883, Ellef E. Risbrudt, Jr., was united in marriage to Christine Johnson and they are the parents of six children as follow : Clara, Emma, Tena, Elvin, Selmer and Noble. Politically, Ellef E. Risbrudt, Jr .. is a stanch advocate of Republican principles and is very earnest in his con- victions. Religiously, he is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and lends his active support to that church.
OLIVER E. MOSES.
Oliver E. Moses, who claims Minnesota as the state of his nativity, was born in Blue Earth county, on February 19, 1872, and is the son of Emer- son and Alice W. (Calvin) Moses, natives of the state of Connecticut. The grandparents' of the subject of this sketch were born in Hartford county, Connecticut, where Richard Moses, the paternal grandfather, was a farmer and landowner. He and his wife, Rachel Moses, lived in that community until they died. Their son, Emerson Moses, grew to manhood in the state where he was born and took up farming on his father's place. In 1868, after selling the old home, which he had in the meantime acquired, to an elder brother, Adrian, he moved to Minnesota, coming by stage from Winona, there being no railroad at that time, and where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Judson and Garden City townships. located in Blue Earth county. On this land, which was only partially improved, he worked
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at dairying and farming, raising pure-blood Jersey cows, which breed his son. Oliver, still raises. His death occurred in 1901. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Moses continued to live on the homestead until a short while before her death, when she went to make her home with her son, O. E. Moses, the subject of this sketch. She passed away on March 5, 1915. . \t the time of his death, Mr. Moses owned two hundred acres of land. He was always an enthusiastic member of the Democratic party. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Moses, are O. E. and Charles R., who lives on the oll home place in Blue Earth county, and two children who died in infancy.
( E. Moses attended the public schools of the village of Lake Crystal. After completing the course he remained on the home place until he was twenty-six years old. He bought one hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining his father's place and worked upon it at general farming for six years In March, 1004. he and family moved to Otter Tail county, where in 1903. they had purchased three hundred and eleven acres of land in sec- tion 35, Scambler township. This farm they still occupy today. At the time they bought the place, a log cabin was the only dwelling in evidence. but Mr. Moses has added improvements from year to year until the farm is one of the most up-to-date in that vicinity. In 1914. he erected a concrete silo. He is a breeder of full-blood Jersey cattle and keeps fifteen milch cows. He handles eighty head of Yorkshire hogs annually.
Mir. Moses was the originator of the idea of the Farmers Co-operative Creamery at Pelican Rapids, where he served for three years as director of the concern. In 1914. in partnership with L. C. Nicholson, he bought a threshing outfit, which they still operate. Although a member of the Demo- cratic party when national issues are at stake, Mr. Moses votes independently in local politics.
The marriage of Oliver F. Moses to May Q. Beebe, a native of Waupon, Wisconsin, was solemnized on January 1. 1898. Mrs. Moses was born on May 14. 1870, and is the danghter of Norman and Susan L. ( Davis) Beebe. who were among the early settlers of Blue Earth county.
Norman Beebe was a native of Cattarangus county, New York, and moved to Wisconsin during the pioneer days of that state. He settled near Waupon, where he became a successful farmer with large dairy interests. Seven children were born, of whom all are living and all married. They are Bird V., of Spa, California, a rancher ; Icona Butterfield, of Los Angeles, California: May Q. Moses, of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota: Norman F., a farmer of St. Hilaire. Minnesota: Dr. Jav 1., of Anaheim, California, a successful doctor and surgeon: Susie D. Me. Aulay, of Fullerton, California : and Roxy 1 .. Perrin, of Mansfield, Illinois. In 1878 he moved to Blue Earth county. Minnesota, and bought a four-hundrd-acre farm. He kept
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on an average, fifty cows, his daughter (now Mrs. Moses) making cheese of the milk in the summer and butter in the winter, for ten years, having a cheese factory on the farm. In 1895 Mrs. Moses made cheese in a large factory at Garden City, Minnesota, her brother, Norman, working as helper. After selling this farm, the family lived in Lake Crystal, until 1901, when Mr. and Mrs. Beebe and two youngest daughters moved to Upland, C'ali- fornia, where he bought a twenty-acre orange ranch, where they lived until he died in January. 1904. His wife, who is a native of Erie county, New York, was seventy-five years old on January 8, 1916. She is living with her daughter. Mrs. Susie McAulay, at Fullerton, California.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver E. Moses, Bernard Earl, seventeen, who is a student in the State Agricultural College at Crooks- ton, Minnesota ; Jay Lind, sixteen ; Bertha May, fifteen, who will also attend the state school; Norman, seven, and Emerson, five years. They are all at home and help on the farm when not in school.
MARTIN O. HALVORSEN.
Martin O. Halvorsen is one of four children born to Ole and Agnete ( Erland ) Halvorsen, and his birth occurred on April 4, 1866, in the city of Stavanger, Norway. He has not needed a leader to shape his destiny nor a fortune with which to begin his business career but, with the natural apti- tude for his chosen vocation and keen foresight, he forged straight ahead. until he has reached a position of prominence.
Martin O. Halvorsen immigrated to America in 1884 and located immediately in Dalton, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where his brother Halver had preceded him the previous year. After the arrival of Halver and Martin O., the remaining members of the family followed in quick suc- cession until, in 1885, the last ones had taken up their abode in the great West. Ole Halvorsen, father of Martin Halvorsen, was employed for twenty-two years making "block and tackle." while a resident of his native country and during the entire time was engaged by the same firm. After his arrival in the United States he engaged in agriculture. To this union were born four children : Johanna, Ingeborg, Halver and Martin O. The paternal grandparents of Martin O. Halvorsen were Halver and Ingeborg Halvorsen, who immigrated to America in 1880, locating near Dalton, Minne- sota. where his death occurred at the age of eighty-two years. His wife (lied at the age of ninety-two years. He was employed in the capacity of clerk for one of the business firms in Norway. The maternal grandparents of Martin O. Halvorsen were Morton and Ellan Erland, who lived and died in Stavanger, Norway. Morton Erland was a shoemaker by trade and fol- lowed that vocation until his death. The paternal grandparents were very
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old when they immigrated to this country and spent their last days, with their son, Halver.
Martin O. Halvorsen received his education in the schools of Norway and after completing same, he was engaged in the rope-making trade, but upon his arrival in America he became interested in farming, which occupa- tion has claimed his energies until the present time. In 1891 he purchased a farm and now owns one hundred and sixty acres, plus the one hundred and sixty acres contained in the original place. He has put on all the improvements and the buildings are far superior to those on the average farm. He makes a specialty of general farming and stock raising and uses progressive methods in the production of his crops.
On November 18, 1888, Martin O. Halvorsen was united in marriage to Hannah Sonmor, a native of Norway and daughter of Even Sonmor. also a native of Norway. Hannah was born in that country, but emigrated to America with her parents at the age of six months. To the union of Martin O. and Hannah ( Sonmor) Halvorsen, have been born three chil- dren, namely, Carrie. Ole Alvin and Melvin Herman. Carrie became the wife of Julius Madson. The two sons are at home. Martin O. Halvorsen was supervisor for Town of Tumuli, covering a period of six years. He and his wife are loyal supporters and active members of the Ten Mile Lake Lutheran church. He is much respected and liked by those who know him best and he has many friends in the community in which he resides.
GEORGE WASHINGTON SHELDON.
Born in the town of Lawrence, St. Lawrence county, New York, August 13. 1839. George Washington Sheldon, a well-known retired resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, is the son of Nehemiah and Sarah ( Lincoln ) Shel- don, the latter of whom died when George W. was a mere lad, leaving at the time of her death four children. Mr. Sheldon's father was married, secondly. to Nancy Smith, and to them was born one child. now Mrs. Clif- ford. Mr. Sheklon has two brothers living, Gordon II., who lives near Nicholville, New York, and Milo P., who lives at Lawrence, New York. Mrs. Nancy (Smith ) Sheldon died a few years after her marriage to Nehe- miah Sheldon and he was married. thirdly, to Sarah Andrews, and to them were born three children.
George W. Sheldon was reared on the home farm at Lawrence, New York, and, after growing to manhood, purchased a farm adjoining that of his father, where he carried on farming until 1872, when he and his wife came west with a colony which had left New York state at that time. They eame to Minnesota and settled in Otter Tail county, locating in a town which the colony called Western. Mr. Sheldon homesteaded one hundred
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. SHELDON.
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and sixty acres and bought enough more to make two hundred and fourteen acres. He built a small frame house and later added to this house, spending many years on this farm. After living on the farm until 1903, Mr. Sheldon moved with his wife to Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Previously he had been, for six years, overseer of the county poor farm. Since moving to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Mr. Sheldon has been living retired.
George W. Sheldon has been twice married. He was married the first time to Mary Dewey, a native of New York state, and, after her death, he was married to his present wife, who, before her marriage, was Abbie Giffin, a daughter of Calvin and Rhoda (Hewitt) Giffin, both natives of Vermont, who later moved to New York, where they remained the rest of their lives.
The Sheldons are highly respected citizens of this city and are well known among the people of Fergus Falls and vicinity. Mr. Sheldon served as supervisor in the town of Western.
PETER C. SVENDSRUD.
Peter C. Svendsrud is one of nine children born to the union of Chris- tian and Ingeborg ( Petersdatter) Svendsrud and his birth occurred in 1865, in Norway, of which his parents were both natives. The names of the other children follow: Nels, Carn, Mathia, Mathew, Carl, Julia, Marie and Otto. Christian Svendsrud was a farmer and the home place was near the town of Forburg, Norway, where Peter C. Svendsrud was born. Christian Svends- rud died in Norway and his widow still lives in that country. The paternal grandparents of Peter C. Svendsrud were Nels Nelson and Marie Svendsrud who remained in Norway all their lives. Nels Nelson Svendsrud was a farmer and followed that vocation until his death. The maternal grand- parents of Peter C. Svendsrud were also natives of Norway and farmers, who lived and died in that country. Their names were Peter Horen and Karen Petersdatter. Both families were members of the Lutheran church.
Peter C. Svendsrud is indebted to the schools of Norway for the edu- cation which he received, following which he immigrated to America, in 1800, and came direct to Dalton, Otter Tail county, where he was employed for a period of seven years, in the service of K. H. Brandvold. After com- pleting this service, he rented the farm he now owns and cultivated it, for the former owner, for a period of two years, at the end of which time he purchased it. This place consists of one hundred and sixty acres of land, located in Tumtuli township. Otter Tail county.
In 1004. Peter C. Svendsrud was united in marriage to Inger Nelson, daughter of Tulif Nelson, an early settler of Tumuli township. To the
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union of Peter C. Svendsrud and his wife have been born four children : Chester, Mildred, Burghild and Evelyn. He has been an earnest worker and his wife has been of material help to him in his effort to evolve a com- fortable competency from his labors.
ALBERT KNUDSEN.
The sturdy Norwegian has played a conspicuous role and has had a large part in the development of the great state of Minnesota. The seeds of their thrift and energy, the sturdiness of their race and the fervor of their religious belief, have been beneficially scattered broad-cast throughout this great state, whose present growth and development are a marvel. The sub- ject, whose name heads this sketch, is one of those sons of Norway who has aided in the development of Otter Tail county, Minnesota.
Albert Knudsen was born in Bergen, Norway, on October 2, 1845. the son of Knud Larson and Ingeborg Jacobsen, both of whom were born, lived and died in Norway. Knud Larson Jacobsen was a farmer and landowner in his native land and reared his children to manhood and womanhood on his farm, instilling in them the love of husbandry. He was actively inter- ested in the local politics of his county. Both he and his beloved wife were devoted members of the Lutheran church. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Knud Larson Jacobsen, as follow : Lars, a farmer who lived and died in Norway: Annie, the wife of Nels Muklebush, who remained in her native land: Jacob, a farmer and stock dealer of Norway: Ingeborg, the wife of Jacob Skenlo, who lives in Norway, and Martha, the wife of a Mr. Skenlo, who died early in life.
Albert Knudsen was educated in the public schools of Norway, follow- ing the school as it was conducted from place to place. At an early age the love of adventure, so characteristic of the race, asserted itself and he became a sailor and fisherman, which occupations he followed until he was twenty- three years of age. In the meantime he had also served at various times in the army. In 1860 he left his native land and emigrated to America and. upon his arrival in the United States, came directly to Minnesota, where he worked on various farms in Fillmore county. Later he removed to Wis- consin and was employed in the pine woods, near Black River Falls. Still later he returned to Fillmore county and then went to Duluth, where he was employed in the lumber camps and on the lakes. Subsequently, he removed to Superior and lived there for a time, but returned to Duluth. Finally, in 1878, he came to Otter Tail county and homesteaded forty acres of land in section 34. Bluffton township. At that time the land was covered with brush and had never been cultivated. Having erected a log house west of the present barn, he began to clear the land and to break the soil. Several
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