USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 59
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Ole J. Franze was thirteen years old when he accompanied his parents to America. He attended the common schools in his native land. After
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reaching manhood he worked on farms in the neighborhood of his home until 1877, when he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Grant county, Minnesota. After living in the latter county for twenty years, Mr. Franze sold out and removed to Otter Tail county and purchased the farm his father had homesteaded in this county. This farm is now well improved and is devoted to general farming and stock raising.
On April 1, 1884. Ole J. Franze was married to Maria Storstad, a native of Norway, and a daughter of Peter Storstad. Mrs. Franze came to America at the age of twenty-two years. She died on March 28, 1914. leaving her husband and eight children, as follow: Joseph, who is a cook by trade, lives at home ; Hilda, Ida, Amanda, Peter, Oscar, Arthur and Agnes also live at home.
Mr. Franze is identified with the Republican party. He served as supervisor in Grant county, and also as a member of the school board. He is a member of the Synodical Norwegian Lutheran church, as was his good wife also at the time of her death.
CARL KLUG.
Carl Klug is one of seven children born to the union of Carl and Rachel ( Bomgard) Klug, and his birth occurred on September 22, 1857, in West Prussia. His parents were also natives of Prussia and their marriage was solemnized in that part of Germany. After the birth of their third child they emigrated to America in a sailing ship, and were eight weeks en route. Their arrival was in 1857 and they immediately located in Car- ver county, Minnesota. Carl Klug, Sr., was employed by a Mr. Hite to clear twenty acres of land and in remuneration was given twenty acres of land. This was soon cleared and eighty acres more were purchased, and this farm became the home of the family until the father's death, in 1910. The mother is still living, at the age of eighty-four years. Carl King, Sr., and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, and the names of their chil- dren follow: Herman is a retired farmer living in Fergus Falls; Fred resides in Fargo, North Dakota: Carl; Amelia married Carl Bamke, and they live in Dora township: Augusta married Otto Paske, and their home is in East Grand Forks. Minnesota; Eugene lives on the old home place in Carver county, and Rudolph, who was a blacksmith, died at the age of thirty, in Carver county.
Carl Klng received his education in the public schools of Carver county, Alinnesota, in Waconia township, and remained on the home place until twenty-one years of age, at which time he became employed as a farm hand on the surrounding farms. In 1878 he removed to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and purchased one hundred and forty-one acres of land, under
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the homestead law. in section 14, Dora township, range 41. This land was unimproved, but a log cabin was erected and the place was soon under cul- tivation. In 1014 the farm was sold and Carl Klug retired to the town of Vergas, where he purchased a residence and thirteen acres of land within the village corporation, on which he still lives. Politically, he is a Republi- can and has served as a member of the school board for fifteen years.
On February 15. 1881. Carl Klug was united in marriage to Matilda Schimmelfenig, and they are the parents of four children, whose names fol- low: Helma is the wife of Julius Milke, and they live in White Earth Reservation : Luella is the widow of Ernest Barker, and lives in Tacoma, Washington: Herbert is a barber living in San Francisco, California, and Amber is employed as a bookkeeper in the land office at Larimore, North Dakota. Matilda ( Schimmelfenig) Klug is the daughter of John Schim- melfenig, a pioneer of Carver county, Minnesota.
HERBERT A. PUTNAM.
Herbert A. Putnam, successful farmer, prominent citizen and leader in the affairs of Amor township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Sherburne county, Minnesota, October 1, 1865, the son of Henry T. and Caroline ( Newton ) Putnam, the former born at Sutton, the latter at Auburn, Massachusetts. Henry T. Putnam was the son of Tyler Putnam, a farmer and prominent man of the Congregational church in the state of Massachu- setts.
Henry T. Putnam was educated in the common schools of his native town, after which he left Massachusetts, in 1855. and moved to Sherburne county, Minnesota, where he purchased a farm on which he lived for some time, and then, disposing of his farm, Henry T. Putnam conducted a general supply store for two years. in Stearns county, Minnesota. Later, having soll his goods to one of the Whitings, merchants of Clitherall, he home- steaded, in 1870, one hundred and forty acres of land in Amor township. and pre-empted one hundred and forty additional acres, a place which Henry T. Putnam improved and cultivated, and a farm to which he added more land until, at the time of his death, on February 2, 1892, he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of choice land in Amor township. Otter Tail county. During his later life, Henry Putnam was a member of the Presbyterian church. he taking no especial part in the political life of the community. Henry T. and Caroline Putnam were the parents of the fol- lowing children : Mary. Newton, Henry, Herbert and Tyler.
Herbert A. Putnam received his early education in the common schools of Maine township. after which he attended the St. Cloud Normal School
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for three years and then became a school teacher, teaching for one term near Pelican Rapids, for two terms in the schools of Battle Lake, Minnesota, and for some time in district No. 60, of Amor township. Mr. Putnam now lives on the home farm and engages in general agricultural pursuits.
On December 31. 1891, Herbert A. Putnam was married to Celia J. Oakes, a native of Wright county, Minnesota, and the daughter of A. E. Oakes, and wife, well-known people of their community. To the marriage of Herbert A. and Celia Putnam have been born the following children : Henry, Helen, Carrie, Everett, Alfred and Kenneth, all of whom live at home. Mr. Putnam and his family are members of the Presbyterian church of Maine.
Herbert A. Putnam is perhaps best known in Otter Tail county as a representative of the people in the Minnesota Legislature, Mr. Putnam for four terms having served the people of Otter Tail county in that body. He has also served his township as chairman of the town board, an office which he occupied most efficiently for several years. In politics, Herbert A. Put- nam was a Republican for many years, but at heart is a Prohibitionist. As a fraternal man, Mr. Putnam is a leading member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and also a member of the Royal Neighbors.
OTTO MARTINSON.
Otto Martinson is one of ten children born to the union of Martin Christianson and Olenia Halverson, both natives of Norway, who married in that country and emigrated to America in 1869. Martin Christianson immediately located on the homestead, which is now in the possession of his son, Otto, and where both he and his wife passed to their eternal rest. The original farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres. Martin Christ- ianson and his wife, Olenia ( Halverson ) Christianson, were both members of the Lutheran church in ( litherall, Minnesota.
Otto Martinson is indebted to the public schools of Eagle Lake, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, for his education, following which he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has always resided under the parental rooftree and assisted in the cultivation of the home place. In 1896 he purchased some land, under the homestead law, and has since added eighty acres more, which has been improved with new buildings and other things neces- sary to the successful cultivation of a farm. He has erected a large granary and built an addition to the barn.
In 1898 Otto Martinson was married to Lena Herness. To their union have been born eight children, namely: Mildred, Myron. Oris, Lane, Ray- mond, Raymond. Helen and Earlin. Lena ( Herness) Martinson was born
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in Eagle Lake township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and is the daughter of Lars Herness, a native of Norway, and the first settler in Eagle Lake township.
W. F. LADWIG.
W. F. Ladwig is one of the representative and respected citizens of Vergas, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, who is identified with the advance- ment of the community. He is one of four children born to the union of William Ferdinand and Rosa ( Hensel ) Ladwig, and his birth occurred on September 1, 1884, in Sac City, Iowa. The paternal grandfather of W. F. Ladwig was Christian Ladwig, a stock dealer of Pomern, Prussia, who lived and died in his native land. He was the father of three sons: Fred- erick, a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War, who died in Germany : William and Albert. Albert lives in Ball, Prussia, and is a stock dealer of that town.
William Ferdinand Ladwig was born in Germany and when a young man emigrated to America. He was a farmer and stock raiser and followed that vocation until 1887. in lowa, where he located upon his arrival in the United States. In 1887 he removed to Jackson county, Minnesota, remain- ing there until 1000, at which time he removed to Wilkin county, Minne- sota, where he purchased eight hundred acres of land in Tanberg township. This land was virgin soil, but is now improved with modern buildings and a specialty is made of breeding and raising high grade Shorthorn cattle. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Co-operative Elevator Company, at Lawn- dale. Minnesota. Politically. he is a Republican and very active in local matters. William Ferdinand Ladwig is a member of the German Lutheran church and the father of four children, whose names follow: Frank is a farmer and stock raiser, and lives near Barnsville, Minnesota; W. F., the subject of this sketch : Paul is a farmer living six miles north of Barnsville, and Walter, who lives on the home place.
The maternal grandfather of W. F. Ladwig was Gotlob Hensel, a native of Swedensburg, Germany, who emigrated to America in 1868, accompanied by his wife and five children, leaving a married son in Germany. This son was a soldier. The names of the children follow : Fred (deceased) remained in Germany; William is a farmer living near Auburn, lowa: Ernest is a farmer living near Lake City, Iowa ; Bertha is the widow of John Gray, and lives in Auburn, Iowa: Rosa: Pauline is a missionary of the Methodist Episcopal faith, and resides in Los Angeles, California. Gotlob Hensel located in Auburn, Iowa, and remained there until his death, in April. 1913. He followed the vocation of farmer during his entire life. Rosa Hensel was born in Swedenburg. Germany, and emigrated, with her parents, to America in 1868. Her marriage to William Ferdinand Ladwig was solem-
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nized in lowa, where her parents had settled. Her death occurred on March 9. 1895. in Jackson county, Minnesota. She was a member of the German Lutheran church.
W. F. Ladwig received his preliminary education in the common schools of Jackson county and Fergus Falls, Minnesota, completing his education in the Park Region Lutheran College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907. He also took a course in Aaker's Business College, after which he accepted a position with the First State Bank in Mercer, North Dakota. as assistant cashier. He served in this capacity from 1900 until 1913. In March. 1913, he became cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Vergas, which position he still holds. This bank was originally owned by William Galvin, and operated as a private institution. In 1905 it was incorporated as a state bank, and the officers who were elected are: L. W. Oberhauser. president, who lives in Frazee; Charles W. Higley, vice-president, who lives in Chicago, and W. F. Ladwig, cashier. W. F. Ladwig is a notary public and serves his community as city treasurer. Politically, he is a Republican and a member of the German Lutheran church.
On November 20, 1911, W. F. Ladwig was united in marriage to Louise Guslander, a native of Kensal, North Dakota, and they are the par- ents of one daughter. Carol Rose, who was born on December 24, 1914. Louise (Guslander ) Ladwig is the daughter of William Guslander.
WALTER S. FISK.
Walter S. Fisk, successful farmer and well-known citizen of Maine township, Otter Tail county, was born in Vermont. September 12, 1869. the son of Orvil T. and Salome ( Bickford) Fisk, the former a native of Ver- mont. After his marriage in his native state, Orvil T. Fisk came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and homesteaded eighty acres of land in Maine township. a place which the elder Fisk improved and a farm on which he followed general agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his days. The elder Fisk was notably successful as a farmer, having acquired at the time of his death one hundred and sixty acres of the most desirable land of the community. Orvil T. Fisk was a veteran of the Civil War. having served with the colors for three years, during which time he had a part in the battle of Gettysburg, as well as in many other conflicts. Orvil and Salome Fisk were the parents of six children : Alice I., Walter S .. May, Julia, Jennie, and Milo ( deceased). Orvil T. Fisk and his wife were mem- bers and active workers of the Presbyterian church in their community.
Walter S. Fisk received his education in the common schools of district No. 22, Maine township, after which he became a farmer, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he secured in Maine township. Mr. Fisk
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is now successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits on his well- improved and modernly-equipped farm.
During the year 1901 Walter S. Fisk was married to Louretta Brown, who was born at River Falls. Wisconsin, the daughter of E. A. Brown, well-known people of that community. To the marriage of Walter S. and Louretta Fisk have been born two children, Edwin and Dorris.
Walter S. Fisk has taken many parts in the public and official life of Maine township and is ready to do his part in the advancement of the locality and its various interests. He has served on the town board of Maine township for ten years: also has served in other offices in the town, besides being a member of the school board in district No. 22.
MAGNUS STROBECK.
Magnus Strobeck, who is one of the well-known retired citizens of ('litherall and who is a native of Sweden, where he was born on February 20, 1811, is the son of Bengt and Eleanor Strobeck.
Mr. Strobeck's parents were both natives of Sweden. His father was born in 1804 and died in 1898 in Leaf Mountain township, Otter Tail county, and his mother was born in 1814 and died on July 4, 1869, in Wash- ington county, Minnesota. The Strobecks emigrated to Washington county, Minnesota, May 7, 1869, and it was here that the mother died two months later. In 1871 the family moved to Leaf Mountain township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and took a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Strobeck's brother, Nels, also took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Leaf Mountain township. Bengt Strobeck gradually improved his farm and shortly after acquiring the homestead erected a log house. He died on this farm in 1898. There were four children in the family, of whom Peter and Oscar, the eldest and youngest, are deceased. The living children are: Mangus, the subject of this sketch, and Nels.
Magnus Strobeck was educated in the public schools of his native land. In 1869 he came with his parents to America and settled with them in Wash- ington county, Minnesota. Two years later he moved with the family to Leaf Mountain township and himself took a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres in Nidaros township. In the beginning he had three oxen, with which to perform the work of the farm, but his claim was eventually lost. Mr. Strobeck's wife, however, had a homestead, which she had received from her first husband. Fred Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Strobeck lived on this farm until 1905, when they came to Clitherall. Mr. Strobeck now lives retired.
On January 26, 1877, Magnus Strobeck was married to Mrs. Fred Brown, whose maiden name was Mary Peterson. She was born in Sweden
MR. AND MRS. MAGNUS STROBECK.
GODFRED L. STROBECK.
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in 1836. After the death of her parents, she came to Moline, Illinois, in 1869, and two years later emigrated to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. To her first union there were born four children, Hulda Amelia, Florentine Elizabeth, Helena Josephine and Henry. By her marriage to Mr. Strobeck there was born one child, Godfred Leonard, who married Emily Okenson, and has one child. Evelyn Jalelin Evangeline, who was born on August 9. 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Godfred Leonard Strobeck live at Cogswell, North Dakota, where he is vice-president of the Cogswell State Bank and is inter- ested in other banks of the state. He is also a dealer in real estate and has been very successful in business.
From the fruits of his early labors Magnus Strobeck has accumulated a substantial competence, by which he is able to live in comfort during his declining years. He has been successful in business and is a highly valued citizen of this great county.
J. EMIL NELSON.
A successful farmer and a man who by the quality of his life has made a host of friends and has won for himself a place of respect and esteem in Otter Tail county is J. Emil Nelson, who was born in Meeker county, Minnesota, September 19, 1886, the son of Hans and Anna (Johnson ) Nel- son, both of whom were born in Sweden, where they lived until the year 1880, and then came to America, landing at Quebec, Canada, from which they went to the state of Minnesota and located near the town of Litchfield, where Hans Nelson was employed in the town of Litchfield ten years, until his death, in the year 1890. Following the death of her husband Anna ( Johnson) Nelson, with her family, continued to live near Litchfield, where she purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land, on which the family lived for ten years, after which they disposed of their land in that locality and moved to Wadena county, Minnesota, there buying one hundred and sixty acres of land in Leaf River township, a place where Anna ( Johnson ) Nelson and her family lived for three years, and then disposing of this land they came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and bought a farm in sections 26, 27 and 34, in Compton township, where they now live. To the marriage of Hans and Anna ( Johnson) Nelson were born the following children : Nels Alfred. John Emil and Fritz Edwin, all of whom are married.
J. Emil Nelson was educated in the common schools of Meeker county, Minnesota. after which he, with his brothers, helped in the farming of the home farm, later J. Emil taking possession of the home place, where he now engages in general agricultural pursuits. Mr. Nelson now cultivates two (36b)
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hundred acres of land, on which he produces good crops and where he has a well improved and modern farm.
On September 20, 1011, J. Emil Nelson was married to Tova Lauritzen, who is a native of Denmark, and to this marriage have been born two chil- dren, Kenneth Raymond and Lesley Emil.
J. Emil Nelson is a man who, though having taken no special part in the political or public life of the community, has been a good and capable citizen of the county, and is a man whose interest in the welfare of the life and activity of the community is unquestioned.
CHRIST J. HANSEL.
Successful farmer, public man and official, and one of the best-known men of Otter Tail county, where he has lived his entire life, Christ Hensel is one who, because of his life and his works for the general welfare of the community, has a rightful place in a work of this kind.
Christ J. Hansel was born on the Hansel homestead in Tumuli town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. on June 15, 1875. the son of John and Goro ( Brekken ) Hansel, both of whom were born in Norway. John Han- sel was the son of Christ and Sigrid Hansel, who lived and died in Norway. where Christ Hansel was a farmer; and Goro Hansel was the daughter of Ole and Mali Brekken, who lived their entire lives in Norway, where Ole Brekken was engaged in general farming. John Hansel and wife came to America during the month of May, in the year 1870, and settled in Tumuli township, Otter Tail county. Minnesota, where he homesteaded a claim of one hundred and eighty-nine acres of land, a place which this pioneer farmer improved extensively and where he and his wife spent the remainder' of their days. John and Goro Hansel were the parents of the following chil- dren : Ole, living in Canada. Anna, deceased: Christ, the subject of this sketch, and two deceased children who bore the name of Christ. The elder Hansel and his wife were devout members of the Parkdale Norwegian Luth- eran church, a congregation in which they were honored and highly respected communicants.
Christ J. Hansel received his education in the local schools of Tumuli township, Otter Tail county, after which he aided his father on the home farm for some years and then went to Renville county, Minnesota, where he homesteaded a farm on which he lived for three years, then returned to Otter Tail county and bought the home farm of his father, a place where he now lives, after having added thirty-three acres of land adjoining. Christ J. Ilansel has one of the best improved and most modernly equipped farms of the county, where he now engaged in general agricultural pursuits.
During the year 1807. Christ J. Hansel was married to Mary Johnson.
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who was born in Norway, and to this marriage five children were born. namely: Gelena, Hilmer. Alma, Roy and Clarence.
Christ J. Hansel in political circles and in public life is well known, having served the township for four years as assessor, at one time having been elected to a seat on the township school board, and he is now the occu- pant of the office of road overseer.
HENRY E. SIEBELS.
One of the most progressive and enterprising young farmers of Gorman township, this county, is Henry E. Siebels, who was born on the farm on which he still makes his home, on July 18, 1876, son of Edward and Angeline ( Shulta ) Siebels, both natives of Oldenburg, Germany, the former of whom was born on August 14. 1833, and the latter, February 2, 1848, who home- steaded a place in this county in 1874.
Edward Siebels, who was the son of Henry Siebels, a farmer in Olden- burg. first came to America in 1868, leaving his first wife, who was Mar- garet Sears before her marriage, and their small daughter, Rose, at home while he was making arrangements for the creation of a new home on this side of the Atlantic. For two years he worked with a railroad construction force and then returned to Germany for his wife and daughter, with the expectation of bringing them to America. Before their preparations for departure were completed, however, Mrs. Siebels, while crossing the river Alba, broke through the ice and the shock induced a fatal illness. Some time after her death, Mr. Siebels married, secondly, Angeline Shulta, and in 1872 returned to America, bringing his wife and his daughter, Rose. From New York, the Siebels came to Minnesota and for a year lived at Duluth. Mr. Siebels then resumed his former work with a railroad con- struction crew and helped to build the first railroad through this county.
Becoming impressed with the possibilities of the region hereabout, Edward Siebels homesteaded eighty acres of land in Gorman township, in 1874, and made his home there, the remainder of his life being spent on the homestead farm, his death occurring on March 20, 1911. To him and his second wife six children were born: Margaret. Henry E., Regina, Anna ( deceased ), Edward ( deceased) and Edward. His widow is now making her home with her eldest son, the immediate subject of this sketch, who is managing the old home place. Edward Siebels had prospered during his life in this county and at the time of his death was the owner of three hun- dred and twenty acres surrounding the original homestead in section 22, of Gorman township. He had made substantial improvements to the same . and was regarded as one of the leading farmers thereabout. He and his wife were devout members of the Catholic church and their children were
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reared in that faith, the family being one of the leaders in the various good works of the parish.
Henry E. Siebels received his education in the excellent school of dis- trict No. 14 and was reared to the life of the farm, becoming in time one of the most progressive young farmers in that part of the county. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of well-tilled land surround- ing the old home place and forty acres over the line in Becker county. Mr. Siebels takes an active interest in community affairs and gives his faithful and intelligent attention to all movements having to do with the betterment of conditions in the vicinity of his home. He long has taken a warm inter- est in educational matters thereabout and for thirteen years has been the treasurer of the school board. He is one of the leading stockholders in the farmers store and creamery at Perham; a shareholder in the local telephone company and is actively connected with the farmers insurance association. In his farming operations he gives much attention to stock raising and his Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs are of the best.
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