USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 56
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John Will, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Otter Tail county, after which he worked on the home farm of his father, a place which he later acquired and where he is now engaged in general farming pursuits and in the breeding of Percheron horses and Red Polled cattle.
During the year 1901, John C. Will was married to Sophia Winter, who was born in Germany, the daughter of Fred Winter and wife, natives of Germany, who came to America and located in Orwell township, this county. John C. and Sophia Will are the parents of five children, Fred, John, Ida, Emma and Elsie.
John C. Will and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church in Western township, and are people who take an active and important part in the work and worship of this congregation. Mr. Will has taken no especial part in the public life of Otter Tail county, but has preferred to serve well and dutifully as a common citizen of the community.
NILS HUSE.
Among the well-known farmers of Tumuli township, this county, who have taken an active interest in the development of the community and its resources, is Nils Huse, a man who, coming to America from a foreign country, has made himself a strong and worthy part of the country of his adoption, serving his township and county as a good citizen, and standing ready with his aid and effort in the movements and projects for a greater community.
Nils Huse was born in Norway on August 19, 1861, the son of Christian and Ingebor ( Peterson) Huse, both of whom were born in Norway, where the father was a farmer until his death and where the mother now lives. Viis Christian received his education in the public schools of his native land and afterward, when twenty-one years of age, he came to America, going immediately to the neighborhood of Hillsboro, North Dakota, where he was employed for some time and then came to Otter Tail county, where he was engaged at general work, following which he, in the year 1895. bought two hundred acres of land in Tumuli township, Otter Tail county, a farm which he has improved and where he now makes his home, engaging in general farming pursuits.
On June 22. 1805. Nils Huse was married to Mrs. Hannah Torwik. who before her marriage was Hannah Quinlog. To the marriage of Nils and Hannah Huse were born five children, Clifford. Noble and Norah,
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living, and two boys deceased Mrs. Huse by a former marriage is the mother of one daughter, Mabel.
Nils Huse and his wife are members of Tumuli township Lutheran church, being well-known and highly-respected people of the congregation.
Politically, Nils Huse has not been especially active, but has been a citizen of whom the locality need not be ashamed, and one who has done no small part in the making of Otter Tail county and Tumuli township a habitable and desirable community.
THORWALD H. FROSLEE.
Few men in Otter Tail county have attained the prominence in business life and in official and political circles as has Thorwald H. Froslee. . \ native of Norway, who on coming to America, has mastered those things to which he has applied himself and a man who in the conduct of his affairs and the duties of public office has shown his capacity for the greater things of life. he is among those citizens of real value to the community.
Thorwald H. Froslee was born near Christiana, Norway, on October 30, 1865. the son of Hans and Ingeborg (Gjefsen) Froslee, both of whom were born and lived in Norway their entire life. Hans Froslee was a farmer and landowner of his native land and spent his days caring for his interests until, at the age of sixty-eight years. he died on December 9, 1894, his wife, Ingeborg, surviving him until the year 1913, when she died, at the age of seventy-seven years. Hans and Ingeborg Froslee were the parents of the following children: Mons, who lives on the home place in Norway: Anders, who lives on a farm, formerly owned by his father, in Norway; Thorwaldl. the subject of this sketch; Michael, who is a merchant at Vining, Minnesota: Hans, who is a farmer at Regents, North Dakota : and Carolina, who is a school teacher in Norway.
Thorwald H. Froslee was educated in the "middle school" of Norway, an institution similar to the academy found in this county. At the age of nineteen years, Thorwald Froslee completed his schooling and helped his father until the year 1886. when, being twenty-one years of age. Mr. Fros- lee came to America. landed at New York City on July II and went to Spring Grove, Minnesota, where he worked for a time in the harvest fields and later was employed at Threshing in Fillmore county, Minnesota, after which he went to Des Moines, Jowa, and followed the business of a clerk until the spring of 1887, when he came to Vining, Minnesota, in Otter Tail county, and has lived here since, with the exception of three months' resi- cence, in 1800, in the state of Montana. On coming to Vining. Minnesota. Thorwald H. Froslee engaged for some time in general employment with the farmers of the community, helping them in clearing and grubbing their land.
C
MR. AND MRS. THORWALD H. FROSLEE.
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Later, having received a sum of money from home, in 1888, he established himself in the business of general merchandising with Mons G. Hoff, under the firm name of Hoff & Froslee, a business in which he continued for one and one-half years and then sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Hoff, and went to the state of Montana, where he lived for three months. In 1890 Thorwald H. Froslee became the wheat buyer for the Farmers Elevator Company, at Vining, Minnesota, a position which he held until the year 1893, when he bought the interest of Mons G. Hoff, in his former general store, and was the sole proprietor. In the spring of 1892 Michael, the brother of Thorwald Froslee, came to America, and was taken as a partner in the firm. During the year 1894, Thorwald H. Froslee returned to his native country of Norway, leaving his brother in charge of the store. In September, 1894. Mr. Froslee came back to Vining and continued in busi- ness with his brother for the next eleven years. Thorwald H. Froslee, dur- ing the year 1809, erected the Froslee grain elevator, and conducted this business, together with his general store, until 1914. when he closed the elevator and rented the Farmers elevator, which, for the next year, he con- ducted and then returned to the management of the Froslee elevator, which he now controls.
Thorwald H. Froslee has taken a conspicuous part in the conduct and organization of the more important business and industrial interests of Otter Tail county and of the town of Vining, Minnesota. Mr. Froslee was one of the organizers of the Vining Co-operative Creamery Company, of which corporation he is now the manager and the secretary, and he has done much in the promotion of business prosperity by the investment of sums of money in those ways which would be of general benefit to the locality. Thorwald H. Froslee is a large owner of real estate in Canada and in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and has filled an important place in real-estate circles of the districts in which his holdings are to be found. He was the owner of a great part of the land on which the town of Vining has been built, and is the owner of a well-cultivated farm bordering on the city.
In official and political life, Thorwald II. Froslee is no less conspicuous than in business circles. Mr. Froslee, in 1806, was honored by his election to the high office of a member of the state Legislature, in which body he served as a candidate of the People's' party. Mr. Froslee, in more local affairs, has served with his characteristic efficiency in several offices, among which was a seat in the Vining city council and the occupancy of the office of city treasurer. No truer evidence of the position of Thorwald H. Fros- lee in his community can be found than the appointment of this leading citizen to the coveted office of postmaster, an office to which Mr. Froslee (34b) )
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was appointed by President Wilson and Postmaster-General Burleson, on December 11, 1914, and an office in which this worthy man is proving his competency and his ability.
On November 7. 1898, Thorwald H. Froslee was married to Olena Greftegreff, who was born near Christiana, Norway, the daughter of Ole Greftegreff and wife, who lived and died in their native land of Norway. Thorwald H. Froslee, on January 2, 1913, suffered a great loss in the death of his wife, who died while undergoing a surgical operation. To Thorwald and Olena Froslee no children were born.
Thorwald H. Froslee is a man of Otter Tail county, who at all times has found satisfaction and pleasure in serving his community and a man who in the unselfish conduct of his affairs has done no small part in making the town of Vining, Minnesota, one of the most thriving of the smaller towns to be found in the entire state. A man active in all movements having for their aim the public goods and a man who after the busy affairs of the week finds time and disposition to serve well and conscientiously the United Lutheran church, of which he is a member. he is today a citizen whose posi- tion is second to none in Otter Tail county.
ERIK WILHELM ERICKSON.
Among the farmers who have taken an interest in the development of Otter Tail county, and in the promotion of its life and its activities to a more advanced and progressive position, and a man who from his busy life has found time to serve his township in public office and as a leader in political and community life, is Erik Wilhelm Erickson, who was born in Sweden, on April 6, 1875, the son of Erik and Matilda Anderson, both of whom were born in Sweden, where Erik Anderson now lives, his wife having died some years ago. Erik Anderson is the son of Andres Orinson and wife, Andres Orinson being a farmer in his native country. Matilda Anderson was the daughter of Johan and Ellen Johnson, Johan Johnson being a farmer and landowner of Sweden, in which country he was born. Erik Anderson, father of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer, and was the father of two children, Sarah, who lived and died in Sweden, and Erik Wilhelm.
Erik Wilhelm Erickson was educated in the public schools of Sweden. after which, at the age of eighteen years, he came to America, and went to the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, near where he secured employment for the next four years on farms in the forests, and also worked on the rail- roads of the district. In the year 1808. Erik Erickson bought a farm in section 11. Wilken county, Minnesota, where he lived for four years and then came to Otter Tail county, where he purchased two hundred acres of
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land in Western township, where he has since lived, after placing on his land various improvements and buildings.
In 1900, Erik Wilhelm Erickson was married to Hilda Steen, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Berthus and Youndena Orstand, the mother being deceased and the father now living in Norway. Berthus Orstand is the son of Donald and Johanna Berterson, who were farmers and fishers in Norway, where they died. Youndena Orstand was the daughter of Joha and Ellen Johnson, who were landowners and extensive farmers of Norway, where they lived their entire lives.
Erik and Hilda Erickson are the parents of six children, Ellnora Charlotta, Blanche Joy. Lloyd Ezra. Allan Jerald, Ella Hazel and Willy Milton.
In church and religious affiliation Erick Erickson and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and take an active part in the work and worship of this congregation. Erik Erickson has served his town- ship in several important school offices, filling the positions in an efficient and business-like manner.
WINFIELD W. GOULD.
In a state like Minnesota, where the greater part of the land is used for agricultural purposes, the man who can successfully meet the great competi- tion in his field of endeavor and bring returns of substantial profit from the soil, deserves a place in the annals of the county in which he lives. Such a man is Winfield W. Gould, who has been a resident of Otter Tail county for a period of over forty years, and who by his noble attributes of character and his ability to enter upon all affairs that go to uplift the community in which he lives, has attained a position of influence and prominence.
Winfield W. Gould was born in Washington county, Wisconsin, on August 20, 1852. He is the son of George and Eleanor (Sherman ) Gould. who are numbered among the early settlers of the West. The mother of Winfield Gould was the daughter of Jacob and Rhoda Sherman, the former of whom was a native of England. Upon his arrival in this country, Jacob Sherman settled in New York, in Herkimer county. His first move to the West brought him to Fillmore county, Minnesota. In 1869, Mr. Sherman came to Otter Tail county and settled in Everts township, where he experi- enced the dangers and the hardships of early pioneer life. His love of simplicity and plain methods of living, however, offered him a means of con- tentment in his later days and he died in Otter Tail county, not imhappy that he had chosen a vocation of toil. His wife spent her last days in the town of Maine. Otter Tail county, with a son, where she passed away. The
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father of George Gould was a native of England who came to America and settled in New York. He was returning to the British Isles on a business trip when he lost his life at sea. His wife remained in New York where she died.
George Gould, the father of Winfield Gould. was born in the state of New York on January 18, 1819, and Eleanor Sherman Gould, who later became his wife on December 25, 1844, was a native of the same state, hav- ing been born there on August 5, 1821. In 1848 they moved to Washing- ton county, Wisconsin, bought and cleared up a timber farm which he sold in 1857 and came to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they lived until 1868. The last change of residence made by Mr. and Mrs. Gould was in 1868, when they came to Otter Tail county, where they lived to enjoy the pros- perity of well-directed lives. The trip to the county where they spent the last days of their lives was picturesque. In those days the scanty furniture with a few provisions and household necessities were placed in a covered wagon and hauled by a team of oxen. Upon his arrival in Otter Tail county Mr. Gould began at once the task of homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land which he gained possession of. The land was part prairie and part timber. He first built a log cabin and later a frame house and culti- vated the farm until his death, which occurred on April 14, 1895; his wife survived him until September 17, 1898. Mr. Gould was a popular member of the Republican party, and held a number of township offices, where he served the party of which he was a member, earnestly and conscientiously. Mr. Gould was also deeply solicitous regarding religions affairs, especially in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The first marriage of Mr. Gould was contracted on December 31, 1840, with Amanda Williams, who became the mother of two children: George, who lived with Winfield Gould until his death, which occurred on March II, IQII, and Jane, the widow of Thomas Crane, who lives in Independence. Mis- souri. By his second marriage Mr. Gould became the father of the follow- ing children: Roseltha, the widow of William Corliss; she later married Orris Albertson, and is living at Battle Lake; Clayton, who is living a retired life in Independence, Missouri ; Winfield, the subject of this sketch : Eleanor, who is the wife of Lurett Whiting and who lives in Clitherall village, Otter Tail county, and Emma, who married William Oakes, and is now living in Canada.
From early childhood Winfield Gould was prepared for a life on the farin and was edneated in the public schools. At an early age he entered upon the task of homesteading in Everts township, where he had come into possession of eighty aeres of prairie land. The occupation required more than an ordinary amount of physical strength and mental ability, and Mr.
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Gould grappled with the obstacles and conquered the primeval conditions in the midst of which he toiled. In 1901 Mr. Gould sold this tract, consisting of eighty acres, and bought one hundred and sixty acres in section I, Clith- erall township, which touches the shores of Battle Lake as well as Clitherall lake. Since the time of his purchase, Mr. Gould has erected a residence, barn and a number of smaller buildings on the farm land. He has been occupied with no special line of agriculture, but devotes his time to general farming.
In his political relations. Winfield Gould has followed the example of his father, who was a prominent Republican. Mr. Gould works with untiring energy for the good of the party of which he is a member and as a reward has held a number of offices. He has not only served as supervisor and assessor in Everts township but he has also held the position of treas- urer of the school board in the same township. Mr. Gould is a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
On July 7, 1875, Mr. Gould was united in mariage to Ella Whiting, the daughter of Lewis Whiting, who was widely known as one of the early settlers in Otter Tail county. To this union the following children have been born: Leon, who is a farmer residing at Bemidji, Minnesota; Win- field, who died when he had reached the age of manhood; Maude, the wife of P. A. Sherman, who is now living in Independence, Missouri; Hallie, Iva and Gladys, who are teachers in Clitherall township; Ethel, the wife of Frank Tucker, who resides at Dear Creek, and Nina, the wife of Orrison E. Tucker, of Clitherall.
WILLIAM MORROW.
William Morrow, born in Ireland, August 8, 1846, was the son of Thomas and Mary (Lackey) Morrow, both natives of Ireland. William Morrow was named for his grandfather, William Morrow, a farmer of northern Ireland. The Morrows were members of the Presbyterian church and very active in. its affairs. The elder William Morrow never came to America. Thomas Morrow, father of the subject of this sketch, received his education in the common schools of his native country. After his mar- riage he and his wife rented a piece of ground which they tilled for a num- ber of years. In the year 1853 they decided to try their fortunes in the New World. After reaching New York City they proceeded to Wisconsin. Owing to the lack of funds the son, William, was left with an uncle in New York. The Morrows located near the town of Troy, Wisconsin, where the father worked by the day. Thomas Morrow was the father of the follow- ing children : Mary Jane, Isabelle (deceased), William, Esther and Joseph. All but William live in Wisconsin. The father died in 1866 and the mother in 1894.
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William Morrow received most of his education in New York City while staying with his uncle, James Morrow. William Morrow enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War, where he fought for eleven months with Com- pany L, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. At the time of the assassination of President Lincoln he was stationed at Arlington Heights. On the night of the fatal shooting he was mounted on a horse and given instructions to shoot anyone he met in the road without warning, as he was carrying dis- patches to headquarters.
William Morrow sent home to his father in Wisconsin some four hun- dred dollars saved from his pay in the army. With this money his father purchased a little home of four acres near the town of Troy, Wisconsin. After some time William joined the family at Troy. He worked on a farmi to the time of his marriage to Caroline Rawson, May 29. 1873. Mrs. Mor- row is the daughter of Lorenzo and Sallie ( Folensbee) Rawson, the former of whom was a native of the state of Vermont and the latter a native of New York. Lorenzo Rawson was twice married. His first wife was Mary King and to this union the following children were born: Helen, Lorenzo, John, Carlos and Flora. Of these children, John and Lorenzo were veterans of the Civil War. John having served four years and Lorenzo one hundred clays. The children of Lorenzo and Sallie ( Folensbee) Rawson are : Caroline, wife of William Morrow, Emma and Jennie. Lorenzo Rawson, the father of Mrs. William Morrow, was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and always took an active part in the song service. He was born on May 22. 1810, and died on October 16. 1907.
William Morrow, after his marriage, rented and farmed his father-in- law's farm of two hundred and twenty acres, for seven years. He then removed to Mower county. Minnesota, near the town of Austin. In 1881 he came to Otter Tail county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 24. Otter Tail township. He later added to his first purchase until he had four hundred and sixty acres, but he later sold one hundred and sixty acres. The land was all purchased in the undeveloped stage and by hard work and industry he has made it into a well-cultivated farm. He has placed all the improvements on the farm, the house he built in the year 1904. The barn he had built some five years before. Mr. Mor- row and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Morrow has been president of the town board for years. He was secretary and treasurer of the school district and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Minnie, Vernon. Lorenzo. Frank, Olive and Clayton. Minnie and Frank are deceased.
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JENS P. BERGER.
One of the best known farmers of Dane Prairie township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and one of the most successful farmers in this part of the county is Jens P. Berger, a native of Norway, born at Aamodt, Oster- dalen, on December 27, 1861.
Jens P. Berger is a son of Peter Jensen and Eline ( Olson) Berger, both of whom were also natives of Aamodt, Osterdalen, Norway, the for- mer on June 9, 1833, and the latter on June 6, 1830. They grew up in the neighborhood of Osterdalen, and were married there. Peter Berger was a farmer by occupation, who, in 1883, emigrated to America, and located at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He spent his last days, however, at the home of his son, Jens P., the subject of this review, passing away, July 4, 18gc. His good wife died less than a year later, on May 1, 1891. In Nor- way. Peter Berger had been a soldier in the Norwegian army before coming to America. There were four children in the Berger family, of whom two died in infancy. Those who survived were Jens P. and Ole, a miner by occupation, who died in Michigan about 1895.
Jens P. Berger received his education in the schools of his native land and was reared on his father's farm. He came to America alone in 1880, and after arriving in Fergus Falls on June 5, 1880, began work on neigh- boring farms, at which he continued for five years. After his marriage, Mr. Berger rented a farm for three years in Dane Prairie township, and in 1887 purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section I, of Dane Prairie township. About twenty acres of the farm was cleared, and there was a small house and a log barn on the farm. At the present time there are one hundred and ten acres of the farm under cultivation. In 1915 Mr. Berger built a magnificent new barn, thirty-two by sixty-four feet, and a wing sixteen by twenty feet. The barn is thirty-eight feet high and has a hip-roof. The foundation is made of concrete and the barn is painted red. There is room in it for nine horses and twenty-six head of cattle, and seventy-five tons of hay and fifteen hundred bushels of oats can be stored in this commodious barn.
Some five years after coming to America, Mr. Berger was married to Olga Everson, a native of Norway, who was born at Frederickshald. Mrs. Berger is a daughter of Ole Everson, who died in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Berger are the parents of six children: Peter O., a merchant of Mission Hill, South Dakota: Ole Edward, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Elise Marie. George O. and Magna Constance are living at home with their parents. while Arthur R. died at the age of eight years.
Jens P. Berger had been prominent in the educational, political and civic life of his township since coming to this country. He served twelve
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years as treasurer of school district No. 43, and for two years was presi- dent of the Underwood Co-operative Creamery. Politically, he is identified with the Prohibition party. The family are all members of the Free Luth- eran church, of Tordenskjold township.
IRA J. BROWN.
Among the pioneers from older communities who have contributed to the best citizenship of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, is Ira J. Brown, who as a representative of the highest type of the reliable, industrious and intelligent settler has passed many busy and productive years. \ man, in all things upright, he has never lacked the largest measure of popular confidence and trust. His career has been studded with all the dramatic events found in the life of a soldier and a pioneer. There is not a phase of early American life in the West with which he is not familiar and cannot recall with the keenest memory and accuracy. And aside from this, he has a fund of war experiences, the stories of which even the greatest adventurer could not fail to be interested in.
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