History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 63

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 63

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GILBERT T. STROMMEN.

Although several years have elapsed since the subject of this biograph- ical sketch departed this life, he is still held in remembrance by many friends and old neighbors and the influence of the worthy life he led still lives on. Gilbert T. Strommen was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, on October 7, 1864. son of Torgrim A. and Beret Strommen, both natives of Norway. They were educated and married in their native land and two of their children were born before the time they emigrated to America. They came directly to Wisconsin and were for a time located in Lafayette county, but shortly moved to Green county. However, they did not long remain there and moved again, that time to Buffalo county, same state, where the remaining days of their lives were spent and where both lie buried. Torgrim A. Strommen was a farmer all his life and prospered well in his new surroundings. There were twelve children in their family, eight of whom grew to maturity. The eldest is Carrie, who is the wife of Ole H. Sween and resides in Buffalo, Wisconsin. Andreas is a farmer in Green county of that state. Anders died in Buffalo, leaving his widow and a family of six children. Edward lives in Spokane, Washington. Thonetta ( who was the wife of the Reverend Th. M. Bake) is deceased. Ole and Anton are engaged in farming at Stanley, North Dakota.

Gilbert T. Strommen received his education in the common schools of Green county, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1880. He was an ambitious young man and desired to enter a university near his home, so as to be fitted for a larger place in life. It was necessary for him to earn the money with which to defray the expenses of a university career and to that end he worked at the carpenter trade for a number of years. In spite of his best efforts, he was thirty years of age before he was able to take up the work of higher education, when he entered a university in Minneapolis and then was com- pelled to suffer the acute disappointment of failing health, which forced him to give up his books and return to the less confining life of his trade. When he found that must be his life work. he put his best efforts into it and became a most capable contractor.

Upon leaving Green county in 1889, he took up his residence in Buffalo,

GILBERT T. STROMMEN AND FAMILY

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that state, where he remained until 1897 at which time he became a resident of Otter Tail county, Minnesota. He purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres near Aurdal, where he made his home until 1904, man- aging his farm and at the same time conducting a profitable business as building contractor. Many of the better buildings in this portion of the state stand as monuments to his skill. He superintended the erection of the original St. Luke's hospital. at Fergus Falls, the parsonage in Ostead, remarkably large barns for Peter Sande and John Adams, both of this county. In addition to his two vocations already mentioned, he at different times engaged in the mercantile business in both North Dakota and Minne- sota. He left his farm in 1904 and went to Fergus Falls to make his home. residing for a time near the court house, and from there moved to Dalton, Minnesota, where he operated a hardware store. He disposed of that busi- ness and returned to Fergus Falls, where he purchased three acres inside the city corporation lines and set himself the task of making a beautiful home. The residence on the ground was remodeled, as were other buildings, and a new barn was erected. A fine orchard was set out and a fine selec- tion of fruit trees and small fruits planted and the entire place brought up to a high degree of beauty and comfort. Here he lived but a short time, his death occurring on December 27, 1910.

Gilbert T. Strommen was married on October 7, 1896, to Louisa Bruvold, born in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, daughter of Anders E. and Mary E. (Johnson) Bruvold, both were born in Norway. Both came to this country with their respective families when young, were educated in this land and after marriage settled in Buffalo county, Wisconsin. He was a carpenter and farmer and died there while still a comparatively young and active man. His widow afterward married Andrew O. Huff and still resides in the county mentioned. Mrs. Strommen came of a family of seven chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy, and is the second child in order of birth. The eldest is Bertha, who died in Wisconsin, the wife of Andrew Thon. Anna, whose death occurred in 1906, was the wife of Knut Bren and the mother of four children. Theolina lives in Buffalo, Wisconsin, and is the wife of John Julson. The little child who died was called Julia and after her death the next little daughter was given the same name and this Julia still remains with the mother, unmarried. Albert, the youngest of the family, is a farmer and manages the home place.

To Gilbert T. Strommen and his wife were born eight children, three of whom died in infancy, the others remaining unmarried. They are, Borg- hild. Marie, Theodore Arnold, Laura Beatha, Ella Alvilda, Gottfried Kal- mer ( died in infancy ), Arthur Kalmer, and Gladys Louisa and Clifford Till-

( 38h) )

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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

man, both of whom are deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Strommen united with the Lutheran church when young and she still remains a faithful mem- ber, as was he all his life. Mr. Strommen was a man of broad and liberal views, charitable to all, and so ordered his life as to win the confidence and respect of all who knew him either in a business or social way. In politics he was a Republican, although he never aspired to office nor took any special interest in political questions.

HUGH H. HALL.

Among those citizens who are actively engaged in the promotion of civic betterment and commercial advancement of their respective communi- ties, Hugh H: Hall is the recipient of the sincere regard of his friends and associates. He was born on March 26, 1868, in Sparta, Wisconsin, and is the son of Hamilton H. and Anna ( King) Hall. Hamilton H. Hall was born in Canada and his wife, Anna ( King) Hall, was born in Sheboygan. Wisconsin. The maternal grandparents of Hugh H. Hall were William and Lydia (Adams ) King, both natives of New York state. William King was a farmer and followed this vocation in Wisconsin during his entire life. Lydia ( Adams ) King passed away in the early summer of 1915. at the age of ninety.

Hamilton H. Hall, father of Hugh H. Hall, received his education in Wisconsin, and in 1861 enlisted for service in the Civil War, being mus- tered into the Eighth Regiment. Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, known as the "Eagle Regiment." During one of the battles he was struck by a shell and part of his breast was torn away. but upon his recovery from this wound he remained in service until the close of the war. At the close of the great conflict Hamilton H. Hall returned to his home in Wisconsin. where he was married Immediately after this event he removed to Par- kers Prairie township, this county, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, which homestead was one of the first entered in that town- ship. After more than forty years of successful cultivation of this farm he removed to Oregon in 1910, where he retired to the town of Newberg. where he died. Anna ( King ) Hall, widow of Hamilton H. Hall. is still a resident in the town of Newberg. They were the parents of ten children : Harry, postmaster of Tron River, Wisconsin; Mina. Hugh. James, Lydia. Amy. Walter, Warren, Pearl and Edith. In seeking their respective for- tunes and following the dictates of their ambitions, these children have wandered far from the parental roof-tree and reside in various parts of the United States. Hamilton H. Hall. during his life, was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, as well as in the political campaigns of his time, in the

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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

interests of which he made many trips to Fergus Falls, Minnesota. At the time of his removal from Sparta, Wisconsin, to his home in Minnesota, the journey was undertaken with an ox-team and one cow, the three children being compelled to walk most of the distance. He was the first county commissioner from this district and served in that capacity for eight years. He held many township offices and was very active in the Baptist church affairs. He was also a member of the Grand Ariny of the Republic.

Hugh H. Hall received his education in the local schools of Parkers Prairie and was a student in the Alexandria high school. Upon the com- pletion of his student days he assisted his father with the work on the home place, later engaging in the livery business in Parkers Prairie for a period of three years. This business has been most successful, and a sales stable has been added, which he has conducted for the past fifteen years.

On December 8. 1899, Hugh H. Hall was united in marriage to Bertha Goelette, daughter of Monteville Goelette, a pioneer of Parkers Prairie township. They are the parents of seven children: Morris, Hazel, Alice, Glenn, Veda, Kenneth and Eugene. Fraternally, Hugh H. Hall is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, and in religious matters is an active supporter of the Baptist church.

JOHN P. POST.

John P. Post has been distinctive in his individuality and, as a conse- quence, has gained the recognition that must always come to those who strive to accomplish things worth while. Poorly equipped with an educa- tion, he has risen from a blacksmith to one of the prominent and progressive business men of his locality and has even extended his commercial interests to the surrounding country.

John P. Post was born in 1861 in Key West, Iowa, and is the son of Nicholas and Odelia ( Dumond) Post. The birthplace of John P. Post was located about twenty miles south of Dubuque, lowa, but he grew to matur- ity in Minnesota, where he removed with his parents at an early age. His education was also received in Minnesota. Nicholas Post, father of John P. Post, was rather an umusual man, for he had the courage of his con- victions and was willing to fight, if need be, for those things he deemed right, but was also a firm believer in arbitration, and struggled as strenu- ously for an amicable settlement to a question as he did when forced to use might as the best argument. He was a native of Paris, France, and his wife was a native of the city of Luxemburg, and they were married in France, emigrating to America in 1860. Shortly after their arrival in this country, the Civil War was begun and Nicholas Post was one of the first to enlist for service, being mustered into a Minnesota regiment, in which he

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remained until the close of the great conflict. Directly after the war he removed to Minnesota, where he continued in his profession as contractor and builder, which he had followed in France. In connection with his building interests, he cleared and cultivated a homestead, which was located in Stearns county, Minnesota. He was one of the pioneers who settled in that localty and was instrumental in naming the town of Luxemburg. The majority of the inhabitants at that time were Prussians, and they were very desirous of having the town named according to their choice, but so well liked had Nicholas Post become that he won in spite of the many protests. After many years of service to that community he retired to the village of Cold Spring, where his death occurred. Of the nine children born to his union eight are now living and their names follow: Frank. Nicholas, John P .. John, Robert, Valentine, Lizzie and Emma.

John P. Post was forced to go four miles to school and this fact was the main reason why he received so little education, as the roads in those days were very poor affairs and the severe winters of the west made travel well-nigh impossible. After assisting his father for some years with the work on the home farm he learned the trade of blacksmith and then engaged in that business in Sauk Center and Alexandria, Minnesota. In 1882 he removed to what was at that time the settlement of Parkers Prairie and opened a blacksmith shop. Eight years of planning and saving resulted in the establishment of a grist-mill, in 1890, which was the first industry of its kind in that locality. He built and operated the mill for about ten years and then sold out, for the purpose of engaging in the mercantile business, which he had previously started. About that time a railroad was built some distance from the former site of Parkers Prairie and a new settle- ment was built near the scene of new activities. Realizing the advantages to be gained through having his business interests in close touch with the facilities now at hand, he removed to the new town of Parkers Prairie and built the store which he now occupies and also became associated with the State Bank of that place, becoming the vice-president of same. He is, at the present time, president of this institution. The general merchandise store, which he owns and manages, contains a large and high-grade stock and is mitch the same as that which is carried in his store at Ogemar, Minnesota. The store at Ogemar is under the supervision of F. N. Hibbard, son-in-law of John P. Post.

In the fall of 1883 John P. Post was united in marriage to Louisa Steindl, a native of Austria, and daughter of Joseph Steindl. To them have been born two children. Anna and Harry.

John P. Post has been interested in the buying and selling of real estate and is still the owner of considerable property. He is a charter men-

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ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which order he was instru- mental in organizing in Parkers Prairie. In connection with his many other interests, he is part owner of the Prairie hotel, located in the town of Parkers Prairie. With a past of such notable achievements, surely the future will be as rich in service as his honesty and ability entitle him, and the sincere regard of his fellow citizens will be as loyal and lasting.

DAVID JOHNSON.

David Johnson, born in Jylland, Denmark, March 10, 1872, has been a resident of this county for eighteen years. His father, George Johnson, was also a native of Denmark, and was born there in April, 1841. The mother, Mary ( Jergenson ) Johnson, was born on February 26, 1839.

George Johnson served in the navy of his native country and also in the War of 1863, surviving the conflict unharmed. Before the war he had traveled extensively as a marine in the naval service, his travels including journeys south of the equator, made for the purpose of protecting merchant ships. As a young man George Johnson was employed as a mail carrier in the postal service. He married and later became a successful farmer and landowner. He has now retired from active work and is still living in his native country. His faithful wife died in February, 1914. To them were born nine children, as follow: Mary, wife of Samuel Sorenson, lives in Copenhagen ; Mary died in infancy ; John H., a farmer living in Story City. Iowa; David, the subject of the present article; Marcus, formerly a photog- rapher, now a farmer living in Canada; Nels, who lives with his father; Annie, who died at the age of nine, and two children who died unnamed.

Hardships begun early in the life of David Johnson, for he was only a lad of seven when his young shoulders assumed the burden of making a livelihood. At that age he laid down his books to begin such farm duties as he was capable of, continuing in this work until his twentieth year, when he came to America. Joining an uncle who lived in Story City, Iowa, he worked on various farms for a period of two years. He then went to a district near Curry, Murray county, Minnesota, and after working for some time, he became a renter. He then lived and worked in Pipestone county for two years. It was in 1897 that he moved to this county. where he had bought a farm of eighty acres in section 19, Woodside township. This property, which afterward became a well-equipped, modern farm. boasted only of a log house at the time its new owner made the deal which gave him ownership of the land. With the exception of one year, during which time he engaged in mercantile business at Cass Lake, he and his family lived on this farm until 1909, during which time he cleared the land and built a splendid new barn. In the meantime he had bought also an

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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

improved tract of land consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in section 9, adding to it a new barn, granary, machine shop and fence. This he sold in 1914 and subsequently purchased three hundred and twenty acres in sections 17 and 20. Besides cultivating the land by modern methods, the owner has erected a substantial barn and granary, and has built new fences around the entire enclosure. This well-equipped farm has been his home ever since and he has become expert in the breeding and raising of Short- horn cattle and Poland China hogs.

In 1899 David Johnson was married to Lydia, the daughter of John and Harriet Windgate, who died in England.

Mr. Johnson, who is public spirited in his inclinations, has been an honored public official, serving as school clerk and school treasurer. He is an independent voter and attends the church to which he is a liberal con- tributor. Both he and his wife occupy a prominent place in local church and social circles. Though not given to seeking public honors or office, Mr. Johnson has served well his community in an official capacity, and has also aided the movements which he deemed contributed to the general good. He is a man of genial nature and readily makes friends.

GILBERT N. RAKSTAD.

Gilbert N. Rakstad was born about six miles north of the city of Christiania, Norway, July 21, 1859, the son of Nels Hanson and Maria (Hanson) Hanson, who were born and grew to maturity in their native land, the mother dying there about the year 1871, and the father about twelve years later came to America and lived with his children, who had preceded him, until the year 1800, when the elder Hanson died. Nels Han- son and Maria Hanson were the parents of the following children: Peter, who came to America and died in the year 1912, leaving his second wife a widow: Bertha, who married Nels P. Rakstad and lives in Folden town- ship: Annie, who married Ole J. Hoff. and lives at Vining, Minnesota : Nels N., a farmer of Folden township, who died during the year 1910, and Gilbert N., the subject of this sketch.

Gilbert N. Rakstad was educated .in his native land and later, after coming to America, during the year 1876. he attended one term of classes in the schools of Fillmore county, Minnesota. Having joined his brother, Peter, in Fillmore county, Gilbert N. Rakstad lived there until December. 1879. He then came to Otter Tail county and was employed generally on farms, in the townships of Nidaros and St. Olaf, until the year 1880, when he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section =8, of

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OTTER TAIL COUNTY. MINNESOTA.

Folden township, a place at that time covered with timber. Gilbert N. Rakstad proceeded to clear his land and built a log house with a sod roof near where the public road is now located, and as time went on he con- tinued to break up his ground, at the same period devoting a part of his time to working on the Northern Pacific railway, which at that time was being constructed in that locality. From time to time Mr. Rakstad added needed improvements to his farm, among which was a new house, a new barn and other buildings, which combined, today make the farm of Gilbert N. Rakstad one of the best improved in the township. Mr. Rakstad has bought forty acres of land adjoining his farm, which he now cultivates and he is a half owner of a forty-acre farm in section 21, of Folden township.

During the year 1880 Gilbert N. Rakstad was married to Ingebor Hanson, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Hans Hanson and wife, who lived and died in their native land. To the marriage of Gilbert and Ingebor Rakstad were born the following children: Nels, who is a fireman on the Great Northern railway and lives at Superior, Wisconsin ; Mary, who married John Johnson, and lives at Superior, Wisconsin ; Hans, who is a salesman in a store at Tacoma, Washington; Inga, who was edu- cated at the Henning, Minnesota. high school, and who married Hans E. Vien, and now lives at Fargo, North Dakota; Hildah, who lives at home ; Selmar, who is a railroad workman of Superior, Wisconsin; Nettie, who is a student at a business college of Fargo, North Dakota; and Huldah and Selmer, who died as infants.

Gilbert N. Rakstad is a director of the Vining Farmers Elevator Com- pany, with which corporation he has been affiliated for some years and dur- ing which time he has been regarded as one of the valuable members of the directorate. In public office Mr. Rakstad has served as treasurer since the organization of the school district, and many times has been elected as township supervisor, he being one of the first three men to serve on this board and also one of the men who had the honor of organizing Folden township. At the present time Gilbert N. Rakstad is chairman of the board of supervisors, an office which this worthy citizen is serving with dignity and with efficiency. In politics, Gilbert N. Rakstad was at an earlier time a Republican, but at the present time is an independent voter.

Mr. Rakstad is a prominent member of the Lutheran church and has served his congregation as a trustee for some time. Public spirited and broad minded, a man of varied and of valuable experience, and a man of unusual executive and administrative ability, he is one of those men with- out whom the county and the township would be less progressive and less prosperous in business and in agricultural life.

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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

HON. OLE O. SAGENG

Farmer, teacher, business man and all-around man of affairs, Senator Ole O. Sageng, of Tumuli township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is the leading citizen of this section of Otter Tail county, and one of the best- known men in the state of Minnesota. Elected on the Populist ticket to the House of Representatives in 1900, Senator Sageng served during the session of 1001 and the extra session of 1902. In 1906 he was elected on the Populist ticket to the Minnesota state Senate and has served continuously ever since, having been re-elected in 1910 as a Populist, and in 1914 as a non-partisan. In 1908 he was an independent candidate for Congress from the ninth Minnesota congressional district. During the past twelve years he has been president of the Dalton Grain and Lumber Company and was one of the incorporators. For seven years Senator Sageng was manager of the Dalton Co-operative Creamery Company.

Senator Ole O. Sageng is a native of Norway, where he was born on December 1, 1871, the son of Ole H. and Mali ( Dahlen ) Sageng, the former of whom was born in Norway on July 9. 1839, and the latter born in Nor- way on February 3. 1839. They were married in Norway on April 9. 1866, and in the spring of 1878 came with their family to America. After a time, they located near Dalton, in Tumuli township, Otter Tail county. Minnesota, where Mr. Sageng homesteaded forty acres of land. After fifteen years, he sold the forty-acre farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in the same township about four miles west of Dalton. In 1913 he retired from farming. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ole H. Sageng, as follow: Ingeborg, Kari, Hans, Ole O., Halvor, Marit and Lars who died some years ago. The parents of these children are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Of these children, Ole O. Sageng received his education in the common schools of Tumuli township and in the high school at Fergus Falls, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895. After graduating from high school, he attended the Augsberg Seminary at Minneapolis for one year and then taught school in Otter Tail county for about five years. He also taught one year in North Dakota. During the time that Ole O. Sageng was engaged in teaching, he was also engaged in farming, having started to farming in 1898 on his father's farm.

In 1909 Senator Sageng purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, adjoining the town of Dalton on the north, and since that time has lived upon this farm. He is engaged in mixed farming and in stock raising.

En 1904. Ole O. Sageng was married to Kari Brandvold, who was born on December 4. 1881. and who is the daughter of K. H. Brandvold, men- tioned elsewhere in this volume. To this union there have been born six

HON. OLE O. SAGENG.

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children, of whom one, Ole, Jr., died in infancy. The living children are Borghild, Matikla, Karl. Maria and Olga.

Senator and Mrs. Sageng and family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Senator Sageng is now secretary of the Sarpsburg con- gregation.

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History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 63

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1156