USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 57
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Ira Brown, who is now living a retired life as a farmer, was born on March 5, 1844. in Hopkinton, St. Lawrence county, New York, the son of Harvey J. and Harriett (Gould) Brown. He was reared on a farm, where he received his first lessons in building those traits of character which served him so well in later years. When a young man, scarcely nineteen, he showed his patriotism by tendering his services in defense of the Union. In December, 1863, he enlisted in Company I. Seventh Heavy Artillery. United States Army, and in the year 1864 left for the front. During his term of service his experiences were varied and thrilling. Mr. Brown was taken prisoner in front of Petersburg, and for three months he was held in the Andersonville prison, during the fore part of his captivity, and two months in the Millen prison. He was finally paroled and was discharged. and came North in June, 1865.
In 1871. when many citizens were migrating to different parts of the West, Mr. Brown joined a colony that went out to Western township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. There were over thirty people in the company and the caravan consisted of horses, cows and wagons. Most of the members of the party upon their arrival began at once the task of homesteading. Mr. Brown built a shanty, twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions, where he and his family lived for four years. The next building erected by him was a frame house, which remained the family residence for thirty-four years. Upon his retirement from the active duties of farm life, Mr. Brown moved to Fergus Falls, which was in the year 1905, and in this community he con-
MR. AND MRS. IRA J. BROWN.
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tinues to reside as a respected, honored and worthy citizen. He now lives at 722 Union avenue, south.
On November 25. 1865, Ira J. Brown was married to Rhoda M. Drurey, who was born on July 11, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of the following children: Eli W. and Mattie M., who were born in New York: Hattie M .: Harvey J. and Jeanette R., who were born in Western township. Eli, who lives in Grant county, married Miss Godwars, and has four children. Mattie, who married E. M. Johnson, has five chil- dren and is living in Tacoma, Washington. Hattie is the wife of W. S. Tombs, and lives in Glenwood, Minnesota, and has four children. Harvey J. lives on the home place in Western township, and is married to Gertrude Toombs ; they are the parents of six children. Jeanette married H. J. Berry and lives with her husband and four children in Glenwood, Minnesota.
Mr. Brown has been intrusted with many public offices. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace and as a member of the town school board. In religious affairs he has always exemplified the deepest Christian faith and charity. He has throughout his life taken an active interest in the affairs of the Presbyterian church. He was superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-two years and also served as an elder in the church. In 1896 he was honored with the appointment to serve as com- missioner to the Presbyterian general assembly. Following the reward that has come to him after years of patient toil and cheerful giving. Mr. Brown is now enjoying the happiness which comes to those who have lived useful lives.
LARS P. OLSEN.
Among the successful citizens of a past generation in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was the late Lars P. Olsen, who was born at Sjelland. Den- mark, March 9, 1847, the son of Ole Peterson and Margaret Nelson, both of whom were born and who lived and died in Denmark. Mr. Olsen's father was a stone mason by trade, and had a family of six children : Nils, who died in Denmark; Lars P., the subject of this review ; Peter, a. retired citizen of Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Andrew, a farmer living in Canada ; Johanna, unmarried, lives in Denmark: Stina, the wife of Anton Nelson, of Fergus Falls.
The late Lars P. Olsen was educated in the public schools of his native laud, and when a young man took up farming. In 1869 he came alone to the United States, and settled first at Winona, Minnesota, where he worked for farmers in that neighborhood, and also on the railroad then being con- structed through that country. Two years later he removed to Otter Tail county and worked near Crockston. He afterwards homesteaded one hun-
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dred and forty-nine acres of land in Tordenskjold township, clearing the land and putting it under cultivation, as well as erecting buildings on the farm and improving it in many ways. In 1879 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Tordenskjold township, where he erected magnificent modern farm buildings. Later he bought eighty acres more. Here his death occurred on May 14, 1910.
In 1874 the late Lars P. Olsen was married to Stina Margerita Olsen. who was born on December 27, 1854, and who is a sister of Hans P. Olsen, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The marriage took place on January 7, 1874. Mrs. Olsen came to America with her brother in 1869, and after a stop at Winona, Minnesota, for two years, they came to Otter Tail county, where she lived until her marriage. Mrs. Olsen's mother also came to America and died here in 1903. Lars P. Olsen and wife were the parents of eleven children, as follow: Emma, the wife of Jens P. Johansen, and they live in Tordenskjold township: Peter George, who is conducting the home farm and lives with his mother: Alice, the wife of Anton Jensen, and they live in Minneapolis : Otto, living in Montana, where he is a farmer ; Thea, deceased . William, a farmer living in this township: Henry, a farmer living in Montana: Lily, who died young; Eddie, a farmer in Montana: Daisy, deceased, and Benjamin, also deceased.
The late Lars P. Olsen was chairman of Tordenskjold township for many years, and served efficiently as a member of the school board of his township. He was a member of the Free Lutheran church, as is his widow. The family is well known and highly respected in this part of Otter Tail county, where they lived for so many years.
NICK EBERSVILLER.
Nick Ebersviller was born in Germany on December 21. 1854. the son of Claud and Susanah ( Schneider) Ebersviller. both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Ebersviller, with their family, came to the United States and at once settled in Carver county, where they bought fifty- seven acres of land. This they made their home until their death. (land Ebersviller died in 1882 and Mrs. Ebersviller five years before, in 1877. They were the parents of the following children: Margaret, Peter, John and Claud, all of whom are dead: Nick, Lena and Mary.
Nick Ebersviller received his education in his native country, where he remained until he was nineteen years of age. On coming to America he settled in Carver county in the spring of 1874, where he remained until 1884. when he came to Candor township, this county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 22. To the original farm Mr. Ebersviller added until he owned four hundred and sixty-eight acres. The
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land has been highly improved, good buildings erected, until today it is one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Ebersviller remained on the farm until 1914, at which tinte he retired to Vergas, where he owns a substantial home.
He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and always worked for the public good. He was a member and director of the school board for twelve years and was treasurer for many years. He was also chairman of the board of supervisors for twelve years, and is at present village assessor.
Nick Ebersviller was married in 1883 to Mary Krosche, who was born in Germany, June 21, 1858, and was the daughter of Joseph and Theresa Krusche. The father died in 1864 and the widow came to Candor town- ship in 1887, where she died in 1908.
Mr. and Mrs. Ebersviller are the parents of the following children : Louisa, Adolph, Anna, Arthur, Peter, William, Alma and Clara, all of whom are living.
Before his retirement from active life, Mr. Ebersviller sold all his land, excepting one hundred and sixty acres in North Dakota. He is a stock- holder in the Farmers Creamery Company and was the treasurer for some years. His life has been a successful and an active one and he has the respect of all who know him.
CARL ANDERSON.
Carl Anderson, a farmer of Everts township, who owns a splendid farm in section 16. three miles from Battle Lake, Minnesota, is a native of Norway, where his birth occurred on December 31, 1857.
Mr. Anderson is a son of Andreas Sakkariasen and Gunhild Marie Sakkariasen, both of whom were natives of Norway. and spent their entire lives in that country.
C'arl Anderson received his education in the public schools of his native land, and after leaving school came to America and settled in Minnesota in 1881, working for the Northern Pacific Railway Company until 1885. In the latter year Mr. Anderson returned to Norway, but came back to the United States in 1902, and in 1908 purchased the farm which he now owns. This farm consists of eighty acres, and here Mr. Anderson carries on a general system of farming and stock raising, in which he has met with com- mendable success.
In 1886 Carl Anderson was married to Gertie Christenson, a native of Norway, where her birth occurred in 1853, and to this union have been born four children, Conrad Arthur, Bertha Marie, Thora Mathilde and John Henry.
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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Mr. Anderson has made practically all of the improvements which are now on his farm, and within recent years has built a new house. For ten years he rented land and after buying his farm in 1908 still continued to rent land for three years. He moved to his own farm in 1913.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Anderson and family are active and devoted mem- bers of the Lutheran church of Everts township, and take an active interest in the affairs of that congregation. Mr. Anderson is one of the foremost advocates in Everts township of public improvements. He has a host of friends in the township and community where he lives.
MARTIN EVANDER.
Martin Evander is the son of Nels Martinson and Bengta ( Andresdatter ) Evander, both natives of Sweden, where their entire lives were spent. Nels Martinson Evander was a village schoolmaster in his native land.
Martin Evander was born on December 31, 1839, in Stora Keopinge. Harrestad Harad, Malmo Huslan, Skane, Sweden, and received his educa- tion in that country. After seven years as an apprentice to a cabinet-maker and carpenter in Ystad, he engaged in that vocation for some years, both in Sweden and Denmark. On December 26, 1865, the marriage of Martin Evander and Elna Pehrsdatter was solemnized, the ceremony being per- formed in Ystad, Sweden. Elna Pehrsdatter was born on November 19. 1841 in Tostrop, Ingelstad Harad, Kristianstad-lan, Skane, Sweden, and is the daughter of Pehr Pehrson and Maria Klemens, both natives of Sweden. Pehr Pehrson was employed as a groomsman for Lord Albert Aransvard. of the Swedish nobility. Pehr Pehrson always lived in his native land where his death occurred.
Martin Evander immigrated to America in 1869, and immediately located in Eagle Lake township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he homesteaded a farm on which he now resides. One year after his arrival in this country he was joined by his wife and two sons. Martin Evander was the first carpenter to take up his abode in this community, and most of the buildings of the early days were erected by him, including the church, in which services are still held. He erected all of the buildings on his own farm, and constructed most of his household furniture, as well. He has continued to increase his holdings, until he now owns two hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land, which has been more than ample for the provi- sion of the family, and a liberal education for each of the children. Martin Evander has been a modest man, and has never sought office. To the union of Martin Evander, and Elna Pehrsdatter, seven children have been born, and their names follow : Gustave, Alfred. Erick, IFuldah, Ida. Samuel and Joseph. With the exception of Huldah, the fourth child, all reside in vari-
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ous parts of the United States, she only remaining at home. For the past twenty years Huldah Evander has been a teacher in the schools of Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Her education was received in the public schools and at the State Normal school.
Gustave Evander married Lucy Klemack and they reside in Wheaton, Minnesota, where he has been a druggist for the past twenty years. They are the parents of three children, Amy, Edwin and Elna. Alfred Evander married Anna Kaddock, and they reside on a farm near Diamond, South Dakota, and are the parents of seven children : Daniel, who married Muriel Lindquist and has one child. William; Dorothy, Ada, Alfred, Robert, Martin and Loyd: Erick Evander married Caroline Slocum, and they are residents of Seattle, Washington, where he is engaged as a taxidermist. They have one child. Martin Bruce. Caroline (Slocum) Evander is a descendant of General Slocum. Ida Evander became the wife of John Erickson. of Menahga, Minnesota, where he was engaged in the hardware business. They are the parents of one child, Elsa. Samuel Evander married Maud Pottenger, of Maddock, North Dakota, where he is engaged as a druggist, and is also interested in agricultural pursuits. Joseph Evander is also a druggist, and is engaged in that business in Underwood, North Dakota. He married Emma Fredrickson, and they are the parents of one child, Percy.
Martin Evander and his wife, Elna ( Pehrsdatter ) Evander have reared a lovely family and are rounding out a life of unselfish service, both to the community in which they have resided, and to their family. On December 26, 1915. they celebrated their golden wedding in the presence of all their children, grandchildren, relatives, neighbors and old-time friends.
ALFRED NILSSON.
Born in Sweden, October 24. 1864, Alfred Nilsson, who is a self-made man, and who has succeeded in a large measure as a farmer in his adopted country, is a son of Nils Peter Jagnuson and Johanna (Gurston ) Nelson. both of whom were born in Sweden. and who died in their native land.
Alfred Nilsson was educated in the common schools of Sweden, and in 1892, when he was twenty-eight years old, came to America and settled in Sverdrup township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota. In 1895 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, to which he has since added four- teen acres, making a total of one hundred and thirty-four acres which he now owns and operates. Mr. Nilsson is a general farmer and stockman, and has been very successful in this county.
On May 20. 1886, six years before coming to America, Alfred Nilsson was married in Sweden to Anna Lata, who was born in that country in 1855. To this union have been born eight children, as follow: John G ..
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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Anna Alfreda, Carl Fritz, Oscar Alexander, Hugo H., August R., Henry, and Otto Samuel, deceased.
Mr. Nilsson has cleared all his land since settling in this county, and has made many and various improvements on his place, and he now has one of the most productive farms to be found in Sverdrup township, where he is well known as a valuable citizen.
OLE A. AARNESS.
.A man who boldly faced the responsibilities of life and who by deter- mined and untiring energy has won for himself a place of honorable success is Ole A. Aarness, the subject of this sketch. By a straightforward and commendable course he made his way to that point where now he is of valuable aid and benefit to the community and to a place of esteem and respect in the eyes of his fellow citizens and among his associates.
Ole \. Aarness was horn near the city of Kristiansund, Trondhjem, Norway, January 24, 1857, the son of Anders and Ingebor ( Olsdatter ) Aarness. The father and mother of Ole A. Aarness were born near Krist- iansund, and there grew to maturity and were married and lived the remain- der of their days in that locality. Anders Aarness was the owner of a small farm in his native land, a place which he cultivated until his death. To Anders and Ingebor harness were born the following children: Mary, who married Ole Vaagen, and who died in Norway, was the mother of two children, Ingebor and Olena, the latter of whom lives in America; Ole, the subject of this sketch; Frederick, who came to this country on the sug- gestion of his brother, Ole, and who worked on a railroad for his first sum- mer and then went to St. Paul, Minnesota, later to the state of Oklahoma, after which time he was lost to the knowledge of his family; Anna, who married Ole Swinweg, and lives at Kristiansund, Norway.
Ole A. Aarness was educated in the public schools of his native coun- try, after which he came to America, making the journey alone, and located at Fergus Falls, where during the year 1881 he took up work with the Great Northern railroad, following this trade in the summer and in the winter working in the northern woods. After a time Ole Aarness accepted employ- ment with Martin Gillespie, at the New York Mills, and worked there for two years, leaving on account of receiving no pay for his services. Ole Aarness then went to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and worked as a farm har- vester for some time and then was employed on what is now the Hans Ryen place for the next three years, during the winters of which time Ole Aarness attended school, and then later returned to the employment on the Great Northern railroad, where he worked for some time. In the meantime he
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OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
had purchased a half interest, with Knut Aasgaard, in a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in section 26, of Dane Prairie township.
During the year 1880 Ole A. Aarness was married, on April 23, to Randi Torvig, a native of Norway, and the daughter of Martenus Torvig, who came to America and lived here about twenty years. After his mar- riage, Ole A. Aarness and his wife moved to the farm of Mr. Aarness, which they improved and to which later Ole Aarness added the interest held by Knut Aasgaard, his partner. Today the farm of Ole A. Aarness is one of the most modern and picturesque places to be found in the entire com- munity. Mr. Aarness has erected a beautiful house, not far back from the road, reached by a well-designed driveway bordered with trees. Mr. Aar- ness and his family are members of the Lutheran church and take an active and appreciated part in the work of that congregation. In political affiliation Ole A. Aarness is a Republican. To Ole and Randi Aarness have been born one son.
Ole A. Aarness, his wife and his son are among the highly respected and esteemed people of the county and township. Their interest in, and their efforts towards, all movements for the betterment of the community are well known and they are among the appreciated residents of the locality.
JONAS GUSTAV JOHNSON.
Jonas Gustav Johnson, well-known farmer of Erhards Grove town- ship, this county, was born in Sweden, October 26, 1857, the son of John and Gustava Person, natives of Sweden, where they lived their entire life, John and Gustava Person were the parents of eight children, Peter, John, Jonas Gustav, Carl. Mary ( deceased). Andrew, Nels and Erick.
Jonas Gustav Johnson received his education in the public schools of his native country, after which he came, in the year 1882, to America and located in Otter Tail county, where he bought forty acres of land in Lida township. After two years on his farm, in Lida township, Mr. Johnson disposed of his land and then bought seventy acres of land in Erhards Grove township, a place to which he later added twenty acres of the best land in the community, which Jonas Gustav Johnson owus. Jonas G. John- son now engages in general farming and stock raising on his well improved and modernly equipped farm.
Jonas Gustav Johnson is a prominent member of the Swedish Lutheran church at Pelican Rapids. Although Mr. Johnson is a man of public spirit and is a citizen interested in the development and promotion of the welfare of his community, he has preferred not to serve in public office but to give of his efforts as a private citizen.
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MARTIN H. HEXUM.
Wise is the man who takes advantage of an opportunity when it is presented to him. Mr. Hexum, whose name heads this sketch, has pos- sessed the foresight to accept the business chances in his career, in the order in which they were presented to hin, believing this to be far more advantag- eous than to wait for more desirable things, all of which has resulted in his permanent financial benefit.
Martin H. Hexum was born on February 26. 1837, at Toten, Norway. and is the son of Hans and Elena ( Rusven) Hexum. He was educated at the public schools of Norway, and after completing his studies he started to farm for himself in his native country. In October. 1866, he came to America and traveled to Chicago, where he spent two weeks, and from there he went to Lockport, Illinois, for three months, at the end of which time he moved to Houston county, Minnesota, and worked at the trades of carpenter and blacksmith. In 1871 he came to Carlisle. Otter Tail county, where he took up a homestead consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, bringing with him an ox team and his family. There was nothing on the place but a shanty. Mr. Hexum improved the farm and has continued to prosper until he is now the possessor of a splendid estate of six hundred acres. He has put all the improvements on his place, including a commodious residence, erected in 1804. and a good barn, erected in 1912. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, while his religious belief is with the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is a large stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Carlisle, Otter Tail county.
Hans, father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Toten, Norway. and died while still a young man. He was united in marriage with Miss Elena Rusven, both of whom lived and died in Norway.
Martin H. Hexum was united in marriage, April 27, 1863, with Karine Nestrud, who was born in 1840, and died in 1867. in Houston county, Min- nesota. To this union were born two children: Johanna Mary, who is living in Carlisle; and Helmer, who is a farmer in Otter Tail county. Mr. Hexum was married, secondly, January 6. 1870, to Marit Grotte, who died on May 31, 1893. Their children are: Carl, unmarried: Lena, who became the wife of Lars Krogstad; Ella, who was married to Leo Peterson : Ole, who, was united in marriage with Matilda Linner: Henry, deceased; and Albert, who was married to Olga Sethre. Albert Hexum attended the Park Region Luther College at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, graduating later from the C'aton College at Minneapolis, since which time he has remained on the farm with his brother, Carl, where they cultivate five hundred and sixty acres, owning in partnership one hundred and sixty acres. Albert is a stock- holder and director in the Farmers elevator at Carlisle, Minnesota. To
MARTIN H. HEXUM.
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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Albert and Olga ( Sethre ) Hexum have been born two children, Mabel and Eunice.
Martin H. Hexum is one of the prominent citizens of Carlisle, Minne- sota, where he is noted for his serupulous honesty and charitable disposition towards his fellow man.
KITTEL OLSON.
A pioneer of Otter Tail county, who came to the locality when it was yet unbroken and uncultivated, and by his determined and persevering nature was able to do those things which today gives him one of the best farms of the township and a man who by his good citizenship and unselfish interest in the community and its welfare has won the rank of a leading resident and a valued citizen, the name of Kittel Olson and a review of his life are a suitable part of this work.
Kittel Olson was born in the central part of Norway, on January 27, 1852, he being the son of Ole Kittleson and Berit Ellefson, who were born in Norway, married there, and in the year 1882 came to America, to join their son, Kittel Olson, who had preceded them. On reaching America, Ole Kittleson and Berit Ellefson went to Vining, near where Ole Kittleson was employed on farms for some years, later living in retirement with his son, Kittel, until the death of the elder Kittleson, in the year 1899. Ole Kittle- son was survived by his wife, Berit, who now lives near Vining, being eighty-three years of age. To the marriage of Ole Kittleson and Berit Ellefson were born the following children : Kittel, the subject of this sketch; Ellef, a farmer who lives one and one-half miles east of the town of Vin- ing; Knut, a farmer living one-half mile north of the town of Vining; Tom, who was a farmer and railroad worker, now deceased; Ole C., who is the manager of a grain elevator at the town of Underwood; Knut, who is a farmer of the state of North Dakota; and Rev. Adw. Olson, who is pastor at Morris, Minnesota.
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