History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 67

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 67

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OTTER TAIL. COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

In the political and official life of this community. Henry Antonsen has been active and useful to the township and vicinity. for many years having served as township treasurer, as school clerk for several terms and in all the other township offices with the exception of supervisor. Mr. Antonsen has demonstrated his efficiency and value as a public official. Henry Antonsen is an independent voter.

OLE PEDERSON.

Ole Pederson, although a resident of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, for over forty years, is not a native, having been born in Trondhjem, Nor- way, on March 5, 1849. His father, Peder Iversen Leraad, followed farm- ing for years in his native land. Ole Pederson is the sixth son of a family of eight boys born to Peder Iverson Leraad and Kari Esmor, both of whom were born in Norway. The father was born in 1805, and died in 1863. The mother was born in 1813, and died in 1898. The couple reared an inter- esting family : Iver, the eldest son, died at the old home place in Norway ; the second son, also called Iver, now lives in Norway, where he is a farmer ; the next three sons, in the line of birth, died when they were small; Ole was the sixth son; the two boys who were born last in line, died when they were young.

The rudimentary branches of education were received by Ole Pederson in the public schools of Norway. In 1870 he came to America, where he landed alone and practically without friends. His first choice of residence was in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he worked on the farms in that locality. In the fall of 1871 he came to Otter Tail county. The trip as far as Breckenridge was made by rail, and the remaining miles were covered on foot. Upon his arrival in the county where he now lives he settled in Oscar township, where he took up the task of homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land, located in sections 2 and 3. The section of the township in which he settled was an uncultivated tract of prairie land and the first few years, during which the breaking of the soil was the principal occupation, were studded with events of adversity and danger. It was in the time of the greatest trials that Ole Pederson showed his highest traits of character. He grappled with primeval conditions with fearlessness, and the prosperity enjoyed by him today is a direct consequence of his early endea- vors. In 1881 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in sections 28 and 29, Trondhjem township, and took up his residence in that part of the county. He sold the old homestead upon which. in the earlier days, a log cabin had been erected by him, and purchased eighty acres of land adjoining his new residence. Upon the farm where he now lives, Mr. Pederson follow-

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the occupation of general farming. He believes thoroughly in modern improvements and his farm land gives evidence of this fact. The buildings are large and attractive and the fences exhibit capable farm management. Mr. Pederson has not been content with having the farm interests engage his attention, but has given both time and study to other lines of business enterprise. He was director of the creamery, formerly located in Trondhjem township, and is at the present time director of the Oscar Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. In politics, he has always taken more than the usual interest. In the beginning of his political career. Mr. Pederson followed the cause of the Populist party, but later turned to the principles of the Republican party. He now serves as treasurer of the township and treasurer of the school board.

In 1874 Ole Pederson was united in marriage to Kari Wee, also a native of Norway, who was born in that country in 1850. She is the daughter of Frick Olsen Wee and his wife Margaret, who are numbered among the oklest settlers of Trondhjem township, having been residents of that section of Otter Tail county since 1872. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pederson the following children have been born: Caroline, who married Harman Rud, and who is now living in Rothsay, Minnesota; Eric, who lives on a farm in North Dakota; Petrina, the wife of Ole Tetrud, is now living in Rothsay. Minnesota: Ida, who married Iver Nelson, resides in Rothsay; Peter, who lives on the old home place; August, who died in his thirty-second year: Petrina, who died when two years old, and the young- est son, Oscar, died at the age of six months. Mr. and Mrs. Pederson are both devout members of the Lutheran Synod church and contribute gen- erously to every cause for its welfare.

ALFRED P. RESTAD.

Alfred P. Restad, a prosperous and successful young farmer of Otter Tail county, was born at Calmar, Iowa, January 31, 1872, and is the son of Peder and Cecelia ( Dahl) Restad, both of whom were natives of Nor- way, the father having been born in 1836 and the mother in 1825. They came to the United States before their marriage and located in Iowa, where they were married some time later. In 1874 they came to Otter Tail county, where they entered land in section 30. Scambler township. The first farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, which was cleared and improved by Mr. Restad, after which forty acres was added to the original place. The father and mother, the latter of whom is near ninety years old, make their home with their son and his family.

Alfred P. Restad received his education in the common schools of the

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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

county, where he has resided most of his life. Having been reared on the farm his inclination for agricultural pursuits was developed at an early age. Mr. Restad, being the only child, has for the most part of his life worked on the old homestead, which he has assisted in developing and cultivating. He also owns forty acres, which is all timber. He has erected a beautiful brick residence. In 1914 he remodeled the barn, which is a structure forty- six by sixty-six feet.

Mr. Restad is a most excellent farmer and a successful breeder of Shorthorn cattle, his stock being of the best. He has been a member of the board of supervisors and at one time was the chairman. He is at pres- ent clerk of the school board.

In 1896 Alfred P. Restad was married to Hilda Krogstad, who was born in Otter Tail county in 1879, the daughter of John and Petra Krog- stad, both of whom were natives of Norway. They came to Otter Tail county in an early day and now live retired at Pelican Rapids.

Mr. and Mrs. Restad are the parents of the following children : Cecelia, Alvida, Lottie, Maurice, Norman, Joel and Edna. all of whom are living.

CLINTON R. STINAR.

Clinton R. Stinar, prominent real-estate dealer of New York Mills. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, Febru- ary 20, 1864, the son of Abraham and Julia Anne ( Luke ) Stinar, the former born on June 4, 1828, in Marion county, Pennsylvania, and the latter, Jann- ary 7, 1838, in the same county. Abraham Stinar was educated in the schools of Marion county, Pennsylvania, after which he went to Delaware county, Ohio, where he farmed for a time and then moved to Hardin county, Iowa. Later, on June 4. 1876, Abraham Stinar came to Compton township, this county, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 6, where he lived as a farmer for twelve years and then moved to Bluffton, Minnesota, living a retired life until his death in 1900. Julia Anne, the wife of Abraham Stinar, preceded her husband in death by only three weeks. Abraham and Julia Anne Stinar were the parents of the following children: Lawrence, Mary, Tellie, Flora, Lowell, Clinton, Nellie (deceased), Maud and Al.

Clinton R. Stinar received his education in the schools of Alden, Hardin county, Iowa, and then moved to Compton township, Otter Tail county. Minnesota, where he worked on the railroad which at that time was being constructed through Deer Creek township, after which he was transferred to Fergus Falls, where he had charge of the railway yards and also had the care of the line to Elizabeth. After five years in the railroad business.

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Clinton R. Stinar took up farming and in 1893, bought a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in section 12, Newton township, which he improved extensively and to which farm he later added forty acres.

During the year 1911, Clinton R. Stinar came to New York Mills and in the spring of the year 1912 established himself in the real-estate business, a business in which he has successfully engaged since that time. Clinton R. Stinar is the owner of three properties in New York Mills and is a man who is conceded to be an authority on matters of real-estate value and dealings.

During the year 1885. Clinton R. Stinar was married to Marrion Jane Bain, who was born in London, England, on January 7, 1866, the daughter of James and Jane ( Robbins ) Bain, the former born near Edinburgh, Scot- land, in the year 1828, and the latter born in London, in 1830. To the mar- riage of Clinton and Marrion Stinar have been born the following children : Christina Grace, Osay, Ennon, Thora, James, and Lemuel and Sarah, twins.

James Bain came to America in 1871 and located at Duluth, Minne- sota, where he lived for some time and then moved to Brainerd, Minnesota. About the year 1878 he came to Bluffton township, this county, and home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 6, where he lived thirty years and then moved to Seattle, Washington, where he lived ten years and died on August 12, 1915.

JOHN MATTFELD.

Among the successful farmers and prominent men in Gorman town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is John Mattfeld, who was born in Gor- man township. January 26, 1880, the son of Henry and Anna ( Aldrich ) Mattfeld, natives of Hanover, Germany. Henry Mattfeld was the son of Herman Mattfeld. a farmer and landowner of Germany, in which country he lived his entire life.

Henry Mattfeld came to America in 1879, and located in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he joined a brother, Fred, who had come to America ten years earlier. and was established as a farmer. Later, Henry Mattfeld bought one hundred and seventy acres of land in section 5. Gor- man township, on which he erected substantial buildings, and on which he lived as a general farmer until 1884. Disposing of his land in section 5, Gorman township. Henry Mattfeld bought two hundred and forty acres of land in sections 16, of Gorman township. On this farm Henry Mattfeld lived until 1905, when he bought eighty acres of land in Becker county, Minnesota, a place which he cultivated until 1913. when he retired and moved to Frazee, Minnesota, where he spent his last days. Henry and

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Anna Mattfeld were the parents of fourteen children : Mary, Mate, Anna, John, Minnie, Emma, Frederick, Herman, Henry, William, Richard, August. Cecelia and Edward. all of whom are living.

John Mattfeld received his education in the common schools of Gorman township, after which he became a farmer and in 1907 came to the farm in Gorman township, where he now lives and engages in general agricultural pursuits. In addition to his regular farm activity Mr. Mattfeld conducts a dairy and is a breeder of good grade Holstein cattle and Yorkshire hogs.

On November 20, 1906, John Mattfeld was married to Anna Johnson, who was born in Gorman township, this county, the daughter of P. R. John- son and wife, early settlers of Otter Tail county. To this marriage no children have been born. John Mattfeld and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church, of Perham.

John Mattfeld is prominent in business circles of Gorman township. being a stockholder and secretary of the Farmer's Store Company, at Per- ham. a stockholder of the Luce Creamery Company, and he is secretary and treasurer of the Farmer's Shipping Association of Perham, with which Mr. Mattfeld has been affiliated since the organization of the association.

As a public official. John Mattfeld has served as township assessor for four years, as clerk of the school board for nine years and as school treasurer, an office which he has occupied for three years.

RAY PHELPS.

Ray Phelps, one of the prosperous and successful farmers and busi- ness men of Otter Tail county, was born in that county on February 23. 1881, the son of O. C. and Margaret ( Gould ) Phelps, both of whom were natives of New York, where they grew to manhood and womanhood and were married, after which they moved to Blue Earth county. Here he was a successful farmer and a large landowner. In 1880 he sold his land there and came to Otter Tail county, where he took up a homestead of eighty acres and at the same time purchased eighty acres in section 8. Maine town- ship. Here he still makes his home, his wife having died on December 22, 1913. They were the parents of eight children: Nona ( deceased ), Hulcy, Catherine, Guy, Mary, Fred, Margaret and Ray, all of whom are married with the exception of Margaret.

Ray Phelps was married on May 13, 1907, to Luella Welchle who is a native of LeSueur county. They are the parents of one child. Deggle. Mr. Phelps was educated in the common schools of his county and remained on the home farm until 1904, when he began working for W. E. Thomas, at Phelps Station, and is now the miller there.

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Mr. Phelps is the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of land in Maine township, which is well improved and developed. The farm is rented and he and his family make their home in Phelps Station, which was named for the family and at one time the postoffice was located there, but since the establishment of the free rural delivery it has been abolished.

Mr. Phelps and his family are active members of the Presbyterian church and take great interest in all church work. They are interested in the social and business life of the town and devote much time and attention to all things that tend to the betterment of the community.

JOHN HANSON.

John Hanson, of Leaf Lake township, this county, who was born in Sweden on December 18, 1854, but who has lived in America since he was sixteen years old, owns five hundred and fifty acres of land all in one body and practically all of which was wild land when he purchased it.

Mr. Hanson is the son of Hans Johnson and Marna Olson, who were also natives of Sweden. His paternal grandfather was Ole Hanson, a native of Sweden and a fisherman by occupation.

Mr. Hanson's father, Hans Johnson, came to America in 1871, bring- ing his family with him to the new country. After a short stay in the state of Maine, the family moved to Meeker county. Minnesota, where they purchased eighty acres of land. From 1871 to 1890, the family lived in Meeker county and there the mother died and the father went to Sweden for a visit. Upon his return to Minnesota he settled in Otter Tail county. Hans Johnson lived with his son, John Hanson, until his death, about 1895. He was a farmer all of his life and a devout member of the Lutheran church. His wife died about 1890. They had only two children who grew to maturity: Helen. who is now deceased, and John, the subject of this sketch.

After receiving a meager education in the public schools of his native land. John Hanson, at the age of sixteen years, came to America with his parents. He settled with them in Meeker county, Minnesota, but moved to a homestead in section 6, Leaf Lake township and lived there five years. This tract he sold later on. Mr. Hanson first purchased forty acres, in 1888, in section 25, of Leaf Lake township, but has added to the original farm until he now owns five hundred and fifty-one acres of land. In 1912 his house burned and a little later in the same year the house was rebuilt. In 1807 Mr. Hanson built a commodious barn. He raises a great many Durham cattle and red Duroc-Jersey hogs and keeps altogether about one hundred head. For twenty years, Mr. Hanson has been engaged in the live-stock shipping business. He has shipped to all of the nearby markets,

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including St. Paul and Chicago. For twelve years Mr. Hanson was in the grain business at Henning and, during five years of the time, operated the farmers' elevator at Henning, which he leased.

In July, 1882, John Hanson was married to Mattie Olson, who was born in Norway, and to them have been born ten children: Helen, Minnie, Tena, Alice, Henry, William, John, Mable, Lillian and Orvy. Three of these children died young.

Although not a member of the Lutheran church, Mr. Hanson has always been a warm and ardent supporter of this denomination and contributes liber- ally to its support locally. Before moving to Henning, Minnesota, he served as chairman of the township for two years and also served as supervisor of the township for three years.

THOMAS STRAND.

Thomas Strand, who is a prosperous farmer of Inman township. this county, is a native of Olmsted county, Minnesota, born there on August 25, 1865.

Mr. Strand is the son of Thomas O. and Betsey ( Ashland ) Strand. both of whom were natives of Norway. Mr. Strand's father was born in Norway in 1824 and his mother in the same country in 1829. In 1860 they immigrated to America and settled in the state of Illinois. Five years later they moved to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and, after living in Olin- sted county for about three years, in 1868, moved to Freeborn county and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, where they lived until 1882. The family then moved to South Dakota, where Mr. Strand's father died in 1880. His mother is still living and resides at Howard, South Dakota, with a daughter, Mrs. Jens Jensen.

Mr. Strand's parents, Thomas O. and Betsey ( Ashland) Strand, had a family of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The six living children are: Ole, who lives with Thomas, the subject of this sketch ; John, who is an abstractor at Howard, South Dakota; Knute, who is an abstractor at Clark, South Dakota: Thomas, who is the subject of this sketch; Inge- borg, who is now Mrs. Jens Jensen, of Howard: Anna, who is now Mrs. George Jensen, of Howard. Ingeborg and Anna married brothers, who operate a general store at Howard. South Dakota. under the name of Jen- sen Brothers.

Thomas Strand was reared on a farm and was educated principally in Freeborn county, Minnesota. He also attended school for some time in South Dakota. At one time he owned land in South Dakota and, in part- nership with his brothers, Ole and John, operated a general store at Carthage. South Dakota. His land holdings in South Dakota amounted, at one time,

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to three hundred and twenty acres. In 1911 Mr. Strand came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 27, of Inman township. He is a general farmer and stockman.

In 1902 Thomas Strand was married in South Dakota to Jennie Gut- terson, who was born in Iowa and who is the daughter of Ole Gutterson, a soldier in the Civil War, who now lives at Carthage, South Dakota. Mr. Gutterson came to the United States from Norway in 1857. He was born in 1841 and his wife, Betsey Gutterson, was born in 1844. Both are now living and have been married forty-nine years.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Strand have three children, Thalma, Bernice and Edward. all of whom are living at home with their parents on the Inman township farm.

SAMUEL N. BROOKS.

Samuel N. Brooks, well-known and successful salesman of Richville, this county, was born at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 22, 1868, the son of Gilbert and Frances (\dsit) Brooks, both of whom were natives of New York state, the former born on February 23, 1822, and the latter in the year 1829. About the year 1856, Gilbert Brooks and his family moved to Neenah, Wisconsin, and later to Oshkosh, and then to the state of North Dakota, after which they made their home with their son, Andrew C. Frances, the wife of Gilbert Brooks, died in the year 1907. Gilbert Brooks for more than thirty years was a lumberman by occupation, a line of work which he followed until the time of his retirement. Gilbert and Frances Brooks were the parents of eight children: William, Evelyn ( deceased). Mattie, Nellie, Jennie, Andrew C .. Samuel N. and Mary.

Samuel N. Brooks was educated in the public schools of Oshkosh, Wis- consin, after which, in the year 1886, he went to the state of North Dakota and six years later homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land and also took up a "tree elaim" of one hundred and sixty acres. Until the year 1904. Mr. Brooks lived on his land in North Dakota and then he came to Richville, where he engaged in the mercantile business, as a member of the firm of Prentice & Brooks, for about four years. Afterward, Samuel N. Brooks traded one hundred and sixty acres of his land in Rush Lake town- ship for land in North Dakota, which land he rents, and now Mr. Brooks has a farm in North Dakota and a home in Richville, where he lives as the representative of the Rose Hill Nursery Company, of Minneapolis, Min- nesota.

During the year 1800 Samuel N. Brooks was married to Deborah Prentice, who was born at Toronto, Canada, in 1871. the daughter of Adam

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F. and Sarah ( Birch ) Prentice, both of whome were natives of Canada. Adam F. Prentice died in the state of North Dakota, where he went from Canada, his death occurring in the year 1905. His widow, Sarah, died on February 10, 1915. Samuel N. and Deborah Brooks are the parents of the following children: Mand, who was educated at Northwestern College, of Fergus Falls, and who is now the wife of Elmer Christensen, butter manufacturer of Stewartville, Minnesota: Vernon, who was educated at Park Region Lutheran College, now assistant butter maker of Stewartville, Minnesota : Gilbert, educated at Perham high school, and who is now assist- ant cashier of the Farmers State Bank, of Richville, Minnesota.

JULIUS E. SCHWANTZ.

Julius E. Schwantz, a general farmer and stock raiser, came from Germany, having been born there on March 22, 1855, his parents being Charles and Caroline ( Schwantz ) Schwantz.

Mr. and Mrs. Schwantz were born. grew up and married in Germany. where Charles was a successful farmer and landowner, until his emigration to America, in 1855 or 1856. He came directly to Wisconsin, where he bought a farm near Portage City, the land having thirteen acres already cultivated, and on which was a log house. Both the land and the buildings were improved by Mr. Schwantz, who with his family lived there until 1900. He then sold out and went to live near Barabee, Wisconsin, living a retired life at the home of his son. He died in 1912, at the age of eighty- two years and nine months, his wife having passed away two years pre- viously, aged seventy-nine years. Both were members of the Lutheran church. Their four children are: Charles, a farmer of Effington town- ship; Julius E., the subject of this sketch; Albert, who died in 1895, and William, a resident of Sac county, Wisconsin.

Julius E. Schwantz attended school in a log school house, in what was known as Dog Hollow, near Portage City, Wisconsin. He was brought up on his father's farm, where he learned the secrets of agriculture. By the year 1870 he had saved up sufficient means to buy eighty acres in this county, the land being located in section 9. Woodside township; about twelve acres of this farm had been broken. The log buildings on the place were soon supplanted by modern buildings, and so successful was their owner, that by the year 1900 he added to his holdings by the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres, located across the road in the northwest quarter of section 10. This property had been improved by an old settler of Wisconsin. The new owner removed the log structures which he found and converted the entire land into a place for general farming and stock

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raising. The subsequent years of Mr. Schwantz's activities have been emi- nently successful.

The ceremony which united in marriage Mr. Schwantz and Rose Jacob- son, a native of Boskebel, Wisconsin, took place in 1881. A large and interesting family was born to Mr. and Mrs. Schwantz, as follow: Nettie, a former school teacher, is living on a claim in Montana; Edward, a farmer, lives in Big Sandy. Montana; Ida is Mrs. Herbert South, a resident of North Dakota; Bert, when last heard from, was a resident of Detroit, Minnesota; Mabel is Mrs. Arthur Hendershot, of Woodside township: Charles resides at Beach, North Dakota : Carrie and Willie reside at home. The others are Koy and Frank.

Mr. Schwantz, besides his other activities, was secretary of the Wrights- town Telephone Company in 1914, and is now president of the company. For twenty-five years Mr. Schwantz has felt a keen personal interest in the education of the boys and girls of Parkers Prairie and, in fact, of the whole township. Much of the present high standing of the schools of this township is due to his foresight and conscientious effort. He was for twenty-five years school director in Woodside township. Other public offices held by him were constable and assessor of Effington township, a position which he held for two years. Mr. Schwantz has made his life eminently useful, and has been of distinct service in his own corner of the earth. His many friendships, as well as those of his capable wife, are evidence of his success in making his influence for good felt.

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History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 67

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