USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 53
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years later, he erected a small frame house and still later, in 1910, a modern barn. Mr. Knudsen has always rented considerable land in his immediate neighborhood as well as adding to his original tract. At the present time he operates about two hundred acres. He is devoted to general farming and has about eight milch cows on his farm.
In 1873 Albert Knudsen was married in Fillmore county to Johanna Gilbertson, also a native of Norway and the daughter of Gilbert Jacobson, a pioneer settler in Fillmore county, who later moved to South Dakota, where he died many years ago. To this happy union there have been born seven children, as follow : Clara, who married Frank Potter, died in Wadena, Minnesota; Josephine is a trained nurse and lives at home with her parents ; Louisa married Mark Greene and lives in North Dakota; Albert is a build- ing contractor and an electrician of Wadena; Matilda married Elmer John- son and lives in the state of Washington; Julia, the twin of Albert, married Charles Bradford and lives in Crete, North Dakota, where he is station agent ; Arthur lives at home with his parents.
Albert Kidsen is identified with the Republican party and much inter- ested in local politics. He has served successfully and efficiently as super- visor of Bluffton township, and as road boss has had much to do with road building in this section of Minnesota.
KARL J. KOPPERUD.
Karl J. Kopperud is one of the successful agriculturists of Norwegian Grove township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota and also is a leader in the affairs of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which denomination he has been choir leader for many years. He was born on January 1, 1859, in Norway and is the son of Johanes O. and Anne Kopperud, both natives of Norway. Johanes O. Kopperud was born in 1800 and his death occurred in 1884. Anne Kopperud was born in 1813, and died in 1905. Johanes O. Kopperud was a farmer while a resident of his native country and immi- grated to America in 1871. traveling as far as St. Cloud, Minnesota, by rail and finishing his journey to Norwegian Grove township, Otter Tail county. by ox-team conveyance. Upon his arrival in this locality, he purchased forty acres of land, under the homestead law, continuing to reside with his sons. He was the father of seven children, whose names follow: Ole, Martin. Randine, Andrew, Johanes ( deceased), Mathia and Karl J.
Karl J. Kopperud is indebted to the schools of his native heath for the education which he received, following which he immigrated to America and engaged in general farming on the place he now owns. This farm consists of one hundred and twenty-six acres located in Norwegian Grove township, Otter Tail county.
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In 1902, Karl Kopperud was united in marriage to Matilda Mikelson, and to them have been born four children, whose names follow: Calmer, Esther, James and Nora. Karl Kopperud and his wife are earnest members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which denomination he has served as treasurer for nearly nine years in Norwegian Grove church.
OLE HENRY.
In the days when homesteading was a popular occupation in Minne- sota, many enterprising men were drawn to her prairies to work at clearing the land of its timber and underbrush. Among those who have been most successful at this employment are the members of the colony of Norwegians, who hearing of the agricultural wealth of the state, crossed the Atlantic to farm within its boundaries. Ole Henry is one of the pioneer farmers of Otter Tail county, and owes his success to his ability to meet the demands of a life in the wilderness, and to his method of removing obstacles inci- dental to establishing a home in a primitive district.
On November 11, 1854, Ole Henry was born, sixty miles north of Christiania, Norway. He is the son of Henry Pederson and Caroline Maria Olson, both natives of Norway. His father worked the greater part of his life at the occupation of farming. He was owner of a small tract of land in his native country and for a time before his death was employed in a saw-mill. After his death, which occurred in 1869, his widow and three children came to the United States to join the eldest son, Martin, who was living in Otter Tail county.
His mother was a woman of much force of character and sound wis- dom. Left a widow when her children had not yet reached the age of inde- pendence, she left her native land to brave the dangers of a life of toil in the wilderness of a foreign land. Being a widow she was entitled to eighty acres of homestead land, of which she held possession until her son Ole was of age. Upon reaching manhood he, too, acquired eighty acres of land which adjoined his mother's, and converted the whole tract into one farm place. Mrs. Ilenry is the mother of the following children: Martin, a farmer of Clitherall township; Christena, the wife of Peter Hanson, who is living at Battle Lake: Ole, the subject of this sketch, and Christian, who is a farmer living in Clitherall township.
Ole Henry received his elementary education in the public schools of Norway and in 1870 came to America with his mother and family. They began the homestead life upon their arrival in Minnesota. After clearing roads and cutting large tracts of timber land, the family began to build a small log house, which is still standing on the present farm. It is a ride structure, twelve by fourteen feet and remains a memorial to the thorough-
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ness and simplicity which characterized the work of the earliest settlers in that section. In relating his experiences in clearing the land, Mr. Henry has many interesting stories to tell. For twelve years during his process of making roads and cutting timber he used a team of oxen. Perham, the nearest station, was often reached by the most tiresome and dangerous journeys. Tribes of Indians still made their homes in the forests, but the recollections of Mr. Henry regarding his intercourse with them are of the most pleasant character.
The farm now occupied by Mr. Henry has been improved from time to time, until now it represents everything new in modern improvements. In 1908 he erected a barn of large proportions and he has also made a num- ber of additions to the house.
In 1895, Mr. Henry was united in marriage to Thea Ellwanger, the daughter of Fred Ellwanger, one of the oldest settlers of Otter Tail county. Mrs. Henry, who is a native of Clitherall township, is the mother of the . following children: Harold, who was born on September 21, 1897, and Irvin, who was born on September 28, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Henry are members of the Synod congregation and contribute generously to its sup- port. Not content with giving close attention to his agricultural affairs. Mr. Henry takes an active interest in politics and gives his loyal support to the cause of the Republican party.
SEVER C. SORENSON.
Representing two generations of expert farmers, Sever C. Sorenson is continuing the family name in a way which reflects credit upon those who have gone before, and success has come as a reward for conscientious work. Sever C. Sorenson was born on March 22, 1884, on the farm which is still his home. His father, Christian Sorenson, came with his wife, Mary (Hawkinson) Sorenson, to America from Norway, their native country, in I866.
The paternal grandfather of Sever C. Sorenson, died in Norway, where the paternal grandparents, Ever and Ella Hawkinson were both born. After Christian Sorenson and his wife landed in America, they journeyed to this township and their early efforts and frugality enabled their son to acquire his present home, a part of which consists of the old log cabin in which the pioneer settlers lived. The elder Sorenson homesteaded one quarter section of land, where he lived until his death on January 2, 1913. Two years previous to his death he homesteaded eighty acres in North Dakota and this land his wife proved up after his death. She is still living with her son. Sever Sorenson. The father spent only enough summers in Dakota to legalize his claim. To this couple were born ten children, five of whom are
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still living. These are, Paulina, Eliva, Gena, Sever and Hilda. The par- ents identified themselves with the Lutheran denomination.
Sever C. Sorenson, who lives with his mother on the old home farm, attended the local country schools and interspersed his school-days with farm work. He bought eighty acres of the home farm of his mother, and having previously purchased forty acres which his father had added to the original homestead, the property in his own name consisted of one hundred and twenty acres. He was engaged in erecting a fine modern barn at the time that his father was called away by death.
Mr. Sorenson is regarded as a man thoroughly conversant with the science and practice of farming, but more than this he is a dutiful son and has devoted himself to the care of his mother and the management of her property. Mr. Sorenson is highly respected in this vicinity.
DANIEL A. PETERSON.
The name of Daniel A. Peterson is a synonym for efficiency, thrift and honesty, these three qualities having been dominant factors in the successful issue of his many commercial and civil interests. He was born on Novem- ber 28, 1869, in Sweden, and is the son of Andrew and Kazsa (Johnson) Peterson, both natives of Sweden. Andrew Peterson immigrated to America in 1869, effecting a temporary location in the city of Chicago, moving in 1874 to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he purchased a homestead in Eagle Lake township and prepared for the arrival of his family. In Octo- ber, 1874, Kazsa ( Johnson) Peterson, immigrated to America, accompanied by her children and they immediately joined the husband on the farm in Otter Tail county. The names of the children are as follow: Andrew. John, Peter. Agnes and Daniel. One daughter died in Sweden. Andrew is a farmer living in Eagle Lake township, Otter Tail county ; John passed away while in Saskatchewan, Canada; Peter is proving on a homestead in Canada: Agnes is deceased. The mother of these children is a widow. her husband having died some years ago, and she resides with her son, Daniel. She is eighty-three years of age.
Daniel A. Peterson received his education in Eagle Lake township and has always resided on the old home place, which he now owns. This place contains two hundred and forty acres and is very well improved. On June 2, 1901, Daniel A. Peterson was united in marriage to Olena Finkleson, a native of Norway and a daughter of Ole Finkleson, also a native of Nor- way. The Finkleson family immigrated to America in 1800 and located in Eagle Lake township. Otter Tail county. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been born six children, Edith, Mabel, Ruth, Ida, Hazel and Lennard
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Mr. Peterson has served in various capacities, in township offices, act- ing as constable, school clerk and school treasurer. Commercially, he is a director of the Midway Telephone Company; director of the Farmers' Ele- vator Company at Melby, Minnesota, and is the president of the Melby Potato Warehouse Association, of which he was organizer, and has been president since 1912. He is also a stockholder in the State Bank of Melby, Minnesota. Few men are more respected by their fellow citizens than is Daniel A. Peterson, and the high regard in which he is held is a deserving tribute to his life of service and activities.
KARL MERZ.
Among the men of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, whose sterling qual- ities have made their imprint upon the business community, and without a record of whom the history of Otter Tail county would be incomplete, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Merz is an agriculturist of exceptional qualifica- tions and keen foresight, all of which have been of benefit in his financial achievement.
Karl Merz, farmer, Elizabeth township, this county, was born on August 4. 1840, at Wittenberg, Germany, and is a son of Schaufer and Frances Merz. He received a good education in his native country, and came to America in 1863, at the age of twenty-three years, landing at New York City, from where he went direct to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed in a sash and door factory. After a short stay there he went to Michigan and worked in the copper mines for seven years. In 1870 he came to Eliza- beth township, Otter Tail county, where he acquired a homestead in section 22, Friberg township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, which he farmed for a time and then sold out to Ferdinand Schmidt and then moved to Elizabeth township. where he bought two hundred acres, the most of which is under cultivation. Mr. Merz sold eighty acres of this tract to William Kort, and bought one hundred and twenty acres, eighty acres of which he gave to his step-son. Charles G. Wicker. He improved his farm with a substantial barn, which was erected in 1895. a house, built in 1898, a silo and two garages. Politically, Mr. Merz has always given his support to the Republican party, while his religious sympathies are with the Catholic church, to which he contributes liberally.
Schaufer Merz was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1779. His wife was also a native of Wittenberg, where they both lived and died. Mr. Merz followed the vocation of a farmer, and was a soldier in the Napoleonic wars, serving in all twelve years, during which time he was never injured. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merz were members of the Catholic church. He died in 1867. This union was blest with six children: Joseph, Schaufer. John,
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George, Karl and Anna, the last two of whom were the only ones to come to America. Schaufer and George were soldiers in the army and never left their native country.
Karl Merz was united in marriage, in 1880, with Mary Koch, daugh- ter of John Koch, and widow of John Wicker, by whom she had one son. Charles. She died on August 24, 1907, leaving one child. George, who was born on March 30, 1882, and was married on November 10, 1908, to Martha Knackendoffel, daughter of Adolph and Marie Knackendoffel. Martha Knackendoffel was born on November 27. 1884. Her parents were natives of Germany, and came to America about 1875. To George Merz and his wife, Martha Knackendoffel, have been born five children: Lawrence. Alvin, Elroy, Henry and a son who died in infancy. George Merz is living on the home place with his father, and owns forty acres, which he bought from his father in 1913.
Mr. Merz is a man of praiseworthy traits, and enjoys the good will and confidence of the community in which he resides.
PEDER LIEN.
Few men in Otter Tail county have a wider acquaintance than former Justice of the Peace Peder Lien, of Amor township, who is one of the best- known citizens of the Richville neighborhood and who is held in very high esteem throughout that entire section of the county.
Peder Lien, who was born on April 21, 1873, is a brother of John Lien, whose biographical sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume of biography. carries further details of the genealogy of the well-known Lien family, to which the reader is referred for additional information regarding that phase of the biography of the subject of this sketch. Reared on the home farm, receiving a common-school education, Peder Lien early became a farmer on his own account, having bought the farm on which he now lives in 1899. This is a fine farm of eighty acres and is under excellent cultivation, all the improvements on the same having been made by the present owner, who built the barn in 1001 and his present house in 1903.
On May 3, 1906, Peder Lien was united in marriage to Hannah Hult. who was born in Otter Tail county, daughter of John Hult, and to this union three children have been born, Julia, Hilma and Melvin. Mr. Lien for years has taken an active interest in civic affairs in Amor township and in the county at large and is much concerned in matters relating to good government. For eight years he served as constable for Amor township, in which capacity he performed excellent public service, and for four years he was a justice of the peace, his services in that connection having been of much value to the community, his decisions upon such matters of neighbor-
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hood dispute as would come before him for adjudication invariably being accepted as final. Mr. Lien is regarded as one of the leaders in the com- munity in which he lives and is held in high respect throughout that part of the county.
NELS N. HOLT.
Successful as a farmer and business man in Inman township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, Nels N. Holt was scarcely a year old when he was brought to America by his parents. Mr. Holt was born in Norway, Febru- ary 9. 1865, and is the son of Nels O. and Olena Holt, both of whom were natives of Norway. Mr. Holt's father was born in 1831 and his mother in the same year.
The Holt family came to America and settled in Trempealean county, Wisconsin, in 1866. Two years later they emigrated to Dakota county, Minnesota, purchasing eighty acres of land. Later they sold this first farm and purchased one hundred acres, where Mr. Holt's father died in 1910. His mother died in January, 1805. They were the parents of ten children. of whom Mary. Theodore, Theodore and Lena are deceased. The living children are Ole, Otto, Reinhart. Martin, Nels N. and Tina.
Nels N. Holt, who was about one year old when the family came from Norway to America, was six weeks on the ocean in the voyage from Nor- way to America. He was reared on a farm in Dakota county, Minnesota, and, when old enough, took up farming on his own responsibility. Mr. Holt purchased one hundred and forty acres in Scott county, Minnesota. and. after living on the farm for four years, sold out and moved to Otter Tail county in 1900. He settled in Inman township on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 34, which he had purchased in 1899. Mr. Holt is a farmer and stockman. Some years ago he built a good house and barn. the latter of which is thirty by forty-six feet. His buildings are all well painted. His farm is well fenced and well drained and produces abundantly.
While a resident of Dakota county, in 1894. Nels N. Holt was married to Sarah Seversen, who was born in Dakota county, Minnesota, on the old homestead in 1860. She is the daughter of Ellend and Gunhild Seversen, early settlers of Dakota county, Minnesota. Mrs. Holt's father served in the Civil War and is now deceased. Her mother, however, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Nels N. Holt have been the parents of two chil- dren. Mabel Otilia, and Mervel Netleton, who died in IQUI, at the age of eleven years.
Mr. Holt has served on the school board for fourteen years and has served as supervisor of the township for three years and as assessor for three years. He has one more year to serve in the last named office. He has
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always been prominent in local politics and prominent in the life of the neighborhood where he has lived. Nels N. Holt is a man of most genial temperament, who makes friends readily and who, by his upright and hon- orable course in life, is able to hold the friends he makes.
JOHN E. BOEN.
John E. Boen, a prosperous farmer of Aurdal township, this county. who is the son of Erick T. and Ingeborg ( Bjorgo) Boen, was born in Nor- way, September 3, 1862. Mr. Boen's parents were natives of Norway. They emigrated to America and settled in Otter Tail county, where they home- steaded eighty acres of land. This farm is located in section 27, of .Aurdal township. Here Mr. Boen's father died in 1896 and his mother three years previously, in 1893. They had nine children, of whom three sons and three daughters are now living.
John E. Boen came with his parents to Otter Tail county in 1876. He was educated in the public schools of Norway and also attended the public schools of Aurdal township after moving to this county. Mr. Boen is a farmer and owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in this township. He is a general farmer and stockman and has been prominent in this town- ship for a number of years.
In 1888 John F. Boen was married to Sigri Bergrud, who was born in Norway in 1862, and who is the daughter of .Andrew and Sigri Bergrud, early settlers in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Mrs. Boen's father is deceased but her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. John E. Boen have been the parents of four children, Edgar, who is deceased, Inga, Emil and Anne.
Mr. Boen has served on the school board of Aurdal township and for ten or twelve years was supervisor of the township. He has also been chair- man of the board of supervisors. Mr. and Mrs. Boen and family are mem- hers of the Lutheran church.
JOHN H. JOHNSON.
John H. Johnson, who owns an especially fine farm in Compton town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born on March 12, 1882, in Sweden, and is the son of R. J. and Margaret ( Person) Johnson, both of whom were also born in Sweden. Mr. Johnson's paternal grandfather was a native of Sweden, a farmer by occupation and spent all of his life in his native country. Ile is now deceased. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Johnson's father, the late R. J. Johnson, was educated in Sweden and, after his marriage came to America in 1882. Upon landing at Halifax
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he proceeded immediately to Detroit, Michigan, and then to Wadena, Min- nesota. He lived in Wadena county until his removal to Compton town- ship, Otter Tail county. Here the late R. J. Johnson purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 21. He lived on his farm until his death, which occurred on January 3. 1009. His widow and her son, Carl, make their home with the subject of this sketch. At the time of his death, the late R. J. Johnson had one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, most of which he had succeeded in clearing. He was a member of the Mission church. Before he came to America he received military training in his native country. Four children were born to R. J. Johnson and wife, Anna, Carrie, John H. and Carl W. Of these children. Anna married Andrew Noreene, and Carrie married Nels J. Noreene.
John H. and Carl W. Johnson, having been educated in the rural schools of Compton township, lived at home with their parents on the farm until the father's death and afterward had charge of the farm. They now live on the home place, which comprises one hundred and seventy-five acres, of which one hundred and fifteen acres belongs to the mother until her death. The barn was built by Mr. Johnson in 1908 and the house was built in 1900.
On November 29. 1912, John H. Johnson was married to Ella Jose- phine Anderson, who was born in Compton township, this county, and who has borne her husband one son, Kenneth E. Mr. Johnson is a successful farmer, an enterprising and useful citizen and one who is well liked by all of his neighbors.
BERNHARD A. SLETNER.
Born in Norway on March 17, 1868, Bernhard A. Sletner, a successful farmer of Everts township, this county, is the son of Andreas O. and Karen (Olson) Sletner.
Mr. Sletner's parents were natives of Norway, his father having been born in 1832 and his mother in 1831. They came to Everts township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in 1882, and purchased eighty acres of land, later adding ten acres. Some years later he sold the ten acres to his son, Ole, and later the eighty-acre farm to his son, Anton. Mr. Sletner's father is now living retired at his home. His wife died on January 6, 1913. To them were born six children, of whom three, Anetta, Maren and Caroline Augusta are deceased. The last named died in infancy. The living children are Ole, Bernhard and Anton.
Bernhard A. Sletner was educated in the public schools of Norway and in the public schools of Everts township, this county, which he attended after coming with his parents to America. Mr. Sletner owns one hundred
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and sixty acres of land in section 11, of Everts township and is engaged in general farming and stock raising.
In 1898 Bernhard A. Sletner was married to Anne Berg, who was born in Norway in 1876, and who is the daughter of Anton and Anna Marea (Glende ) Berg, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Sletner have no children.
Mr. Sletner has made many valuable improvements upon the farm where he now lives. He moved to the farm in 1808 and now has good buiklings upon it, including a good house and a good barn. Bernhard Slet- ner is a progressive farmer and citizen. He and his wife are members of the Free Lutheran church.
OLOF PETERSON.
Farmer and stockman of Henning township. Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, Olof l'eterson was born on July 20. 1874, in Sweden. Mr. Peterson is the son of Peter and Elna Peterson, who were also natives of Sweden.
Mr. Peterson's father died in 1875 and his mother in 1913. They were the parents of seven children. of whom four. Andrew, Daniel, Ellis and Mary, are deceased. The living children are Martin, Peter and Olof.
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