USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 58
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Kittel Olson was educated in the public schools of Norway, and when twenty-eight years of age he came to America and settled in St. Olaf town- ship, where he engaged in general farm work for sometime and then, in the year 1883, he came to Folden township and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 27, land which being covered with unbroken timber, he proceeded to clear and to prepare for cultivation. at the same time building a log house in which to live. After some years effort and with the addition of many improvements, among which are a new house of modern construction, and a new barn, together with other necessary build- ings, the farm of Mr. Olson is among the best equipped, for general agricul-
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tural purposes, of the locality. Kittel Olson engages in general farming, each year producing excellent crops and raising first-class cattle for the market and for dairy purposes.
During the year 1880 Kittel Olson was married to Oletta Peterson, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Peder Peterson and wife. Kittel and Oletta Olson are the parents of the following children: Bella, who was born on April 13, 1881, and who married Theodore Bjerke, and now lives at Ruso. North Dakota; Olavus, November 3. 1882, who is a barber at Vining, Minnesota: Peter. February 21, 1885, who died on February 27, 1885: Matilda. July 10, 1886, who died on September 11. 1889, and Clar- ence, October 16, 1888, who married Hilda Rakstad.
Kittel Olson has been a well-known man in the public life of Folden township, Otter Tail county, having served credibly in the office of school director and having been township supervisor. In politics, Mr. Olson is an ardent Republican. Kittel Olson and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which congregation they are faithful and conscientious workers.
CHRISTEN NATTESTAD.
Christen Nattestad, prominent farmer of Erhards Grove township. Otter Tail county. Minnesota, was born in Norway. January 20, 1848, the son of Ole and Bertha Nattestad, both of whom were natives of Norway, in which country they lived their entire life.
Christen Nattestad received his education in the public schools of Nor- way, after which he came to America and located in Fillmore county, Min- nesota, where he lived for four years. In 1872 he came to Otter Tail county. where he homesteaded sixty-eight acres of land. After some time Mr. Nattestad sold his first farm and bought one hundred and fifty acres of land in section 6, Erhards Grove township, a place which he improved and to which he added land until now he owns two hundred and seventy acres of the best farm land in the community. Following an active and successful life as a farmer, Christen Nattestad is now retired from the duties of agricultural life.
During the year 1870 Christen Nattestad was married to Mathea H. Weik. a native of Norway, who was born in 1847, the daughter of Hans and Kare Weik, natives of Norway, who came to America and lived in Otter Tail county for the remainder of their days. To the marriage of Christen and Mathea Nattestad have been born the following children : Bethse. Karolene. Karl .Alfred, Hilda and Martha, who are deceased; and Edwin, Christena, Mena, Ole and Elmer Oscar, who are living. Mathea, the wife of Christen Nattestad, died on September 20, 1912.
Christen Nattestad has been prominent in public matters and official
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life of Erhards Grove township, not only having served well and efficiently as treasurer of the school board, but in all movements having for their object the betterment of life and conditions in the community, Mr. Nattes- tad is interested and active. He is one of the respected citizens of the locality.
JAMES NESBITT.
James Nesbitt, well known in the commercial and real-estate eireles of Vergas, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, has had a great part in the commer- cial activities of his community. Originally a farmer in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, but subsequently entering into a business career, he has sue- eessively engaged in mercantile and real-estate pursuits at St. Clair, and in the mercantile, lumber, implement and real-estate business at Vergas. Dur- ing his successful career as a real-estate dealer, he has dealt extensively in land situated throughout various portions of western and central Minne- sota and has, as a recompense for his earnest labors, become possessor of various large tracts of land situated in Otter Tail as well as adjoining coun- ties. He is one of the owners of "Highland Stock Farm," situated in Otter Tail township; owner of four hundred and eighty aeres in section 27, one hundred and twenty-five aeres in section 31, one hundred and twelve acres in section 3, in Candor township ; and one hundred and sixty-two acres, known as the "Lake Sybil Farm," in Hobart township, and several other tracts. His interests in Vergas are also of a marked nature and characteristic of his power and influence in his community. As one of the stockholders in the Farmers State Bank of Vergus, for two years the president of the coun- cil of Vergas, as a member of the school board when the new school build- ing was constructed, at present the treasurer of the school board and presi- dent of the Vergas Telephone Company, he has exerted much influence and controlled large interests in Vergas.
James Nesbitt was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, January 1, 1868, the son of Andrew and Jane ( Jordenson) Nesbitt, both natives of Canada. The parents of Andrew Nesbitt were early pioneer settlers to Dane county, and both lived and died in that county. Andrew and Jane (Jordenson ) Neshitt were married in Dane county and soon afterward removed to Fari- bault county, Minnesota, where for four years they were engaged in farm- ing, at the expiration of which time they removed to Waseca county, Min- nesota, where, and in Blue Earth county, they lived until 1903. In 1903 they moved to North Dakota, where Mrs. Nesbitt died in 1900. After the death of his wife, Andrew Nesbitt spent his remaining years with his chil- dren, William, James, Amy, Anna and Isabel. all of whom are still living.
James Nesbitt, the second child born to his parents, was reared in
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Minnesota and educated in the public schools of that state. When twenty years of age he began farming in Blue Earth county and farmed there until 1000, when he sold his farm and engaged in the mercantile business at St. Clair for three years. In the meantime he had become actively engaged in the real-estate business, and while engaging in this business, bought and sold extensive tracts of land in western and central Minnesota. In 1905, however, he removed to Vergas, where for a time he engaged in the mer- cantile, lumber and real-estate business and where he formed a business association with C. A. Peterson, which association continued until 1910, or until he sold his mercantile interests and entered into the implement business. Subsequently, on September 14, 1915, Mr. Nesbitt sold out his implement business and devoted his attention strictly to his large real-estate interests, only, however, after having constructed a modern business building, fifty by one hundred and forty feet, made necessary because of his large business interests.
In 1890 James Nesbitt was united in marriage to Etta M. Dunsmore, who was born on February 16, 1871, in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, the daughter of Randall and Caroline Dunsmore, both of whom were pioneer settlers of Blue Earth county and who spent their last days in Forest Grove. Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. James Nesbitt there have been born five chil- dren, Lilah, Lura, Fern, Florence, and one that died in infancy. Of these children, Lilah is the wife of A. G. Schwarzrock, cashier of the First National Bank of Perham, Minnesota.
JOHN G. RIEMAN.
John G. Rieman, one of the prominent and successful business men of V'ergas, was born on April 5, 1874, in Dodge county, Wisconsin, being the son of William and Frederrika ( Schlievert) Rieman, both of whom were natives of Germany, the father being born in 1841 and the mother in 1847. The parents came to Wisconsin from their native country in early manhood and womanhood, settling in Dodge county, where they were married some time after coming to their now home. They were the parents of eleven children, as follow : Herman F., August (deceased), William F., John G., Bertha, Albert. Emma, Ida. Frank, Lydia and Lawrence.
John G. Rieman was educated in the common schools of Dodge county, Wisconsin, and as a boy and young man worked on a dairy farm. He came with his parents to Otter Tail county in 1891 and made his home with them until he was twenty-seven years of age. During this time he was engaged in the cultivation and development of a farm in Otto township. adjoining that of his father. The father owned two hundred and forty-seven acres of land here, which he purchased when he came to the county and here he
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resided until 1012, when he removed to Otter Tail, where he now lives a retired life. The family are members of the German Evangelical church.
The maternal grandparents of John G. Rieman emigrated to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where they died some years ago. His paternal grand- parents lived and died in Germany ; they both died while the father of John G. was a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War.
In 1903 John G. Rieman established himself in the grain business in Vergas and in 1913 added lumber to his growing business. Today he has one of the substantial business enterprises of his home town. He is secre- tary for the Co-operative Creamery Company and has served as a member of the town council.
John G. Rieman was married in 1902 to Milda McAteer, who was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1881, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon McAteer. Mr. McAteer was an early settler in Girard township, where he took up a homestead and where Mrs. McAteer died. Mr. McAteer lived a retired life at Fergus Falls until his death, some years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Reiman are the parents of two children, Hazel and Cedric.
ANTON KOPPERUD.
Anton Kopperud was born on April 5, 1850, in Norway, and is the son of Andrew and Johannah ( Bugsted) Kopperud, both natives of Norway. The family, together with Anton, emigrated to America in 1870. and located in Illinois for one year, removing to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in 1871, where they established a home in Norwegian Grove township.
Anton Kopperud is one of seven children born to his parents and his education was received in the schools of his native land. While still a resi- dent of Norway he was employed as a farm hand. Upon his arrival in Norwegian Grove township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, he purchased one hundred and ten acres of land, under the homestead law, and has increased his holdings until he now owns one hundred and twenty-five acres. This well-improved farm is devoted to general agricultural pursuits and stock raising. Politically, he is a Republican and has served as township assessor for twenty-eight years. He has also served on the school board for many years and has been a trustee of the Norwegian Lutheran church for thirty- five years.
In 1879 Anton Kopperud was married to Elise Hill, a native of Nor- way. She was born on December 11, 1854, and is the daughter of John E. and Anne ( Amundson) Hill, both natives of Norway. To the union of Anton Kopperud and Elise ( Hill) Kopperud no children have been horn, but they have adopted two girls, Olea, who married Ed Krare, and
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Maria. John E. Hill, father of Elise ( Hill ) Kopperud, was born on Octo- ber 17, 1831, and was married to Anne Amundson in 1854. She was born on March 23, 1829. They emigrated to America in 1870 and located for eighteen months in lowa, removing to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in 1872. Here they purchased one hundred and fifty-three acres of land in Sverdrup township, which they improved and on which they lived until 1909. Since that time they have resided with Anton Kopperud. To them were born these children: Elise, Carl, Edward, Anna and Otelie.
HENRY CARL DEIDRICH OTTO, M. D.
Successful in the practice of his profession as well as dutiful to the public life and welfare of Vergas is surely evidence by the large and lucra- tive practice as well as the faithful public service of Dr. Henry Carl Deid- rich Otto. Having served as president of Vergas during 1910 and at other times as chairman of the school board and as president of the village coun- cil, he is justly entitled to the respect and success which have attended both his professional and public efforts.
Henry Carl Deidrich Otto was born in Nicollet county, Minnesota, August 15, 1885, the son of Frederick L. and Emily ( Netzke) Otto, both natives of Prussia, Germany, the former born on November 28, 1842, and the latter in 1847. The paternal grandfather, Christopher Edmond Otto, emigrated from the Fatherland to America in 1856 and settled in Cook county, Illinois. Having received an excellent education in Cosline Univer- sity, Germany, and having experienced teaching in the schools of his native land, upon his arrival to America he began teaching school and for a period of twenty-five years followed the teaching profession in the schools of Illi- nois and Minnesota. He died in Nicollet county in 1890, two years after the death of his wife. In politics, he was a Republican.
Frederick L. Otto came to Nicollet county when a lad of sixteen years of age, preceding his parents two years. Having formerly received his education in Germany, he took up farming in Nicollet county and home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, as did also his father. \t that time there were but few white settlers in this section of the country and the region was exceedingly wild. During the rest of his life, Frederick L. Otto lived on this homestead, passing away in 1899. He was a Democrat and a member of A. K. Skaro Post No. 47, Grand Army of the Republic. His widow survives and is living at Lakefield. Jackson county, Minnesota. To this union there were born eleven children, namely: Fred, Emil, Will- iam, Herman and Henry Carl Deidrich, Madtie, Minnie, Helen, Mary, Ber- tha, and Olga, deceased.
Henry C. D. Otto was reared on the farm until fourteen years of age,
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at which time he removed to Elysian, LeSueur county, Minnesota, and still later to Lakefield, Jackson county, Minnesota. Having received his ele- mentary education in the public and parochial schools of Nicollet county and pursued his secondary education in the Elysian high school he entered Ansgar College, at Hutchinson, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in the commercial and academic departments. Desirous of entering the medi- cal profession, he entered the Hospital College of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, and was graduated from the Louisville and Hospital College of Medicine in 1908. After serving an interneship in a private hospital of Louisville. he located at Perham with a Doctor Brabec, but in the fall of 1008 removed to Vergas, where he has followed his profession ever since.
On June 10. 1914, Dr. Henry C. D. Otto was united in marriage to Alice A. Norgren, a native of Otter Tail county, born near Fergus Falls, the daughter of Andrew Norgren. To this happy union there has been born one child. Kermit Labreath.
Doctor Otto has taken a great interest in the medical circles and is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations.
JACOB LARSON.
Jacob Larson, who is a successful farmer of Tordenskjold township, Otter Tail county. Minnesota, is a native of Seeland, Denmark, where he was born on March 13, 1862. Mr. Larson is the son of Lars Petersen and Kirstine Larson.
Mr. Larson's parents were born in Denmark. His father, who is deceased, spent his entire life in his native land. His mother, however, is still living. Lars Petersen was a soldier in the Danish army and a laborer. He was a member of the Lutheran church. as is also his widow. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Jacob was the fourth. The others were: Karen, who married Mads Larson, and lives in Denmark ; Christena, who married Anders Gregeson, and lives in Denmark; Christian, who lives retired in Underwood; Sophia, who is the widow of Peter Peterson, and lives in Tordenskjold township: Peter, who lives in the state of Washing- ton, and Wilhelmina, who married Christ Jeppesen, and lives in Denmark.
Jacob Larson was educated in the public schools of his native land and in 1883 emigrated to America, settling in Otter Tail county after his arrival in America. He worked on various farms in this state and also in the state of Dakota until about 1886, when he purchased eighty acres of land in Tordenskjold township. This farm was poorly improved at the time. but Mr. Larson replaced the old buildings with substantial and modern frame structures. Only about twenty-five acres of the farm was cleared when he purchased the land. Subsequently, he purchased thirty-four acres from the
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railroad and later sixty-four acres more in Clitherall township. Mr. Lar- son has made a splendid success as a general farmer and stockman.
In 1886, just a few years after coming to America, Jacob Larson was married to Karen Olson, a native of Denmark and the sister of H. P. Olson, referred to elsewhere in this volume Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Larson have eight children : Louisa, who married Joe Schiller, and lives in Fergus Falls ; Albina, Erwin, Henry, Dora, Carl. Amelia and Esther, all of whom live at home with their parents.
Jacob Larson is identified with the Democratic party and, as a Demo- crat, has served as school treasurer of district No. 257, a position which he filled most creditably. He is highly respected in the community where he lives and where he is well known.
OLE T. LANGEN.
This country can hardly ever repay the debt it owes to its pioneers, to those rugged and enterprising citizens who carved out homes on our western frontier, who have cleared the forests and who have made the soil, once a barren waste, teem with growing crops and fruitful with the good things of this earth. Among these venerable pioneer citizens of Otter Tail county. Minnesota, is Ole T. Langen, who is living retired at Battle Lake, Minnesota.
Mr. Langen is a native of Raroaas, Norway, where he was born on January 30, 1844. Mr. Langen is the son of Tron O. and Bertha Louisa (Larson) Langen.
Ole T. Langen's parents were natives of Norway. His father was born in 1822 and his mother in 1821. They grew up in their native land and were married about 1843. In 1852 they came by sailing vessel to Canada and by boat to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they fitted out a prairie schooner and drove to Winneshiek county, Iowa, locating about two miles southeast of where the town of Hesper now stands. Their nearest neigh- bors at the time were two miles away. This land was not in the market until 1853. when it sold for one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. The late Tron O. Langen was able to buy, in all, about two hundred and forty acres. He lived upon the farm until his death, in 1889. of pneumonia. His wife died a few months later. They were active in all local affairs in their township and county and were prominent in the Lutheran church.
Ole T. Langen is the eldest of six children born to his parents. the others being Nellie, Annie, Lars, Peter I, and Peter II. Nellie married G. A. Hauge and died in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Annie is the wife of E. J. Lein and lives in Faribault county, near Delevan, Minnesota. Lars, who, when he was twenty years old, attended St. Olaf College and then the Decora Intheran College, became a school superintendent and died when still a young
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man. Peter I died in infancy. Peter HI passed away in Faribault county, Minnesota.
Ole T. Langen enjoyed little opportunity to obtain an education. His education has been acquired largely by home study, and he is today a well- informed man, conversant with all current topics of general interest and a most interesting conversationalist. Mr. Langen was reared on a farm and was engaged in farming with his parents until 1867, when he journeyed to Douglass, Grant and Otter Tail counties, Minnesota, on a prospecting trip in a wagon. The only improvements which he saw on this whole trip through Otter Tail county were in Tumuli township, west of Ten Mile lake. The Mormons were then at Clitherall, but could not be seen because the lakes and woods were impassable. Mr. Langen bought the west half of section Io, in Dane Prairie township. He spent the harvest of 1867 with his father, and in 1868, with two other men and their wives, moved by ox team to Otter Tail county, coming by St. Peter and Sauk Center, in Stearns county. The trip took twenty-two days. These early pioneers settled in the southeastern part of St. Olaf township, in sections 12, 13 and 14. Mr. Langen's two friends settled on nearby land. There were few settlers in the township at that time, but the following year they began to come very rapidly. Mr. Langen pre-empted prairie land and began to build a log house. In the early months of their residence in this county, the three families lived together until 1869, when Mr. Langen built on his own land. He was com- pelled to go to Otter Tail city to get the lumber for the doors and the floors. Mr. Langen employed others to erect his buildings and, in the meantime. was able to put out a crop of sixty-five acres. He raised a great deal of wheat and was compelled to pay a very high price for threshing. As late as 1870 he had to hanl the grain to Otter Tail city. There were only a few Indians in the township at that time.
As time passed Mr. Langen added barns and granaries to his farm and lived upon it until 1882. In 1867 he had bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Dane Prairie township; he paid ninety-five dollars for one hundred and sixty acres of this place. . Although he has never lived upon that farm he still owns it. In 1882 he moved to Battle Lake, but the previous year had established a lumber yard near the railroad track of the newly- built Northern Pacific railway. He continued in the lumber business until 1900, having added a line of farm machinery in the meantime. In 1900 he had begun to sell out his interests in preparation for retirement and, in the meantime, had purchased land in Saskatchewan, Canada.
In February, 1870. Ole T. Langen was married to Thurid J. Larson, a native of Winneshiek county, lowa. She was born near Hesper in 1852. Mrs. Langen is the daughter of Halgren Larson, who came to lowa in 1852
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from Wisconsin. He was a Norwegian by birth. Mr. and Mrs. Langen have been the parents of seven children, namely : Louise married John .1. Wedum, of Alexandria, Minnesota : Tron and Amanda died of diphtheria, at the ages of four and seven years, respectively: Agnes died at the age of eighteen: Leonard lives in Kensington, Minnesota, where he is a lumber dealer : Bert P. is employed in a bank at Glasgow, Montana: and Lenora, who lives at home. is a student at the Stout Institute at Menominee, Wis- consin.
Mr. Langen has always been interested in the history of his county and state, especially in local history. He has always been active in local affairs from the time of the organization of St. Olaf township, in 1860. until he left the township. He was a member of the board of supervisors, and part of the time was chariman of the board. He was also school director of dis- triet No. 2, and, for many years, was the school treasurer. He also served as road overseer for a time. Mr. and Mrs. Langen are members of the Lutheran church, although they were formerly members of the Synod Luth- eran church while living in St. Olaf township.
OLE I. FRANZE.
Ole J. Franze, who is a well-known farmer of Tordenskjold township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born twelve miles northwest of Chris- tiania, Norway, December 7, 1852, and is a son of John and Inga ( Olson) Franze, also natives of near Christiania, Norway, where they grew to matur- ity and were married. In 1866 the family came to America and settled seven miles from Red Wing. Minnesota. The father was ill during the first summer after coming to Minnesota. and the family suffered many hard- ships. Mr. Franze worked on neighboring farms for four years, and in the fall of 1870 emigrated to Otter Tail county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land.
Of the farm which John Franze homesteaded on coming to Otter Tail county there was a log cabin standing and only four acres of the land had been cleared and put under cultivation. Mr Franze put new floors and (loors in the cabin, and lived in this house for some time. In 1897 Mr. and Mrs. Franze removed to a small farm in Clitherall township, where he is still living, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His good wife died in 1008, at the age of eighty-seven. They were the parents of five children. of whom Ole J. is the ellest : Joseph died when a small boy; John is a farmer in Chitherall township: Peter lives with his father and is unmarried ; Mary lives at home with her father.
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