USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 69
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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOT.1.
To the marriage of Joseph and Paulena Baker one son, Frank, was born. Joseph D. Baker, during his life, was one of the best known and one of the most prominent men of his community, having served for two terms as a representative in the state Legislature of Maine. In the more local life he took an active and appreciated part in the affairs of the community. Mr. Baker was a leading member of the Methodist church, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school.
Arthur D. Baker, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the com- mon schools of the state of Maine, after which he came to Minnesota, and located, in 1876, at Alexandria, where he secured employment in a livery stable, receiving one hundred dollars per year for his services. He after- wards worked as a stationary steam engineer in a flour-mill; he followed that work for some time and then came to Bluffton, Minnesota, where he worked with his brother. C. D. Baker, in a general store. In 1882 Arthur D. Baker came to Deer Creek, where he established a general store, which he conducted for sixteen years. In 1895 he lost his store and stock as a result of a tornado, after which he became a private banker as the head of the firm known as A. D. Baker & Company, an institution' which, later, Mr. Baker reorganized and which is now known as the First National Bank of Deer Creek, Minnesota, and in which he is now cashier. In addi- tion to his interest in the bank at Deer Creek. Mr. Baker is the owner of farm lands in the vicinity, as well as being the proprietor of considerable property in Deer Creek, Minnesota.
In 1870 Arthur D. Baker was married at Alexandria, Minnesota, to Elizabeth Farquhar, who was a native of the state of Minnesota, and in which state she died on April 6, 1889, being the mother of two children. Herbert J., who married Winona Gard, and to whom were born two children, Hazel and Elizabeth: and Harold, who married Marie M. Imsande, to whom was born one child, Louise. On September 12, 1894. Arthur D. Baker was married, secondly, to Ftta Woodruff: to this marriage no chil- dren were born.
Mr. Baker has been prominent in the public and political life of Deer Creek, Minnesota, having served for sixteen years as town clerk before the town was incorporated, after which he served as president of the town board, as well as serving as school treasurer, an office which he has occupied for more than a quarter of a century. Mr. Baker is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, at Deer Creek. The part taken by Arthur D. Baker and his esteemed family, in the town of Deer Creek and in Otter Tail county, is well known for its helpfulness and unselfish interest in the welfare of the community.
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OTTER TML COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
AXEL S. PAULSEN.
The career of Axel S. Paulsen, the pioneer merchant of Henning, Otter Tail county, is one of individual and unaided effort. Mr. Paulsen is a member of an honored pioneer family, his father setting for his children the example of bravery and loyalty, and his mother exemplifying the devotion and self-forgetfulness of which a good mother is capable. Mr. Paulsen was born near Kongsvinger, Norway, on July 22, 1854. In Norway, also, his parents, Soren and Karen Paulsen, were born, grew up and were mar- ried. The father, who was a farmer, lived and died in Norway, his death taking place about the year 1900. His wife passed away two years later. Both were members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom grew to maturity. These are: Annie, a widow. living on the parental farm in Norway; Hermani, who married Tosten Gunderson, also lives in Norway; Johanna, the widow of Christian Olson \ old, lives in South Dakota; Kari, the widow of Emil Huseby, living in Henning, and Axel S.
Coming to this locality when what is now a town consisted of two or three houses, Axel S. Paulsen started a general store and became the first merchant of the settlement. He was prominent in various enterprises, end- ing in the position of bank cashier, which he has honored with good service. He attended school in Norway and worked on the farm until his seven- teenth year, when he came to America and was first employed as a clerk in Chicago for a short time. He learned the upholstering trade, at which he worked for eight years in this city, and in 1880 came to the settlement, which later became Henning. On Piece Prairie, where the cemetery now stands, he bought stock and started a small store, this being his first busi- ness venture. At this time there were only a few homesteaders in this vicinity and no one was living on the spot where Henning is located. It was when the railroads went through that land that Henning received its start, and Mr. Paulsen then moved his store to town, a distance of one-half mile. He built a store, eighteen by thirty feet, and some time after its occupancy, increased its size threefold. Mr. Paulsen succeeded, and a little later went into partnership with G. A. Satre, under the firm name of Paul- sen & Satre. This partnership lasted for five or six years, when Mr. Paul- sen bought out the H. T. Smith store, which he occupied, and Mr. Satre retained the old stand. In 1911 Mr. Paulsen disposed of his business in order to become the cashier of the Farmers State Bank, a position which he has held to the present time. The business of this bank has gradually increased and it now has nearly four hundred depositors. The officers are : President, G. A. Satre; vice-president, Alford Knutson: cashier. Axel S. Paulsen.
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Christian Larson, a native of Chicago, became the wife of Mr. Paul- sen in 1881, and five children have blessed their home. These are: Junius, who died when two years of age; Willard Junius, who died at five; Ray- mond, a merchant living in Henning, whose wife was Hilma Collins, of Fergus Falls, and the mother of two children, Raymond and Howard; Alice, who married R. T. Nelson, of Mankato; and Lillian, who lives at home.
Since their residence here, Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen have come to occupy a prominent place in church and social circles, and the former is a well- known leader in the commercial world. Having the advantage of long residence here, it is not surprising that they have many warm friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen stand high in the estimation of this community.
OLE TORKELSON.
Among the business men and citizens of Henning, a thriving town of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Ole Torkelson, the proprietor of a feed store in this town.
Ole Torkelson was born in Norway on February 18, 1846, and is a son of Torkel Olson and Martha ( Anderson) Torkelson, both of whom lived and died in Norway, the latter's death occurring in 1850; the former died several years later, at the age of about sixty-five years. They were the parents of two children: Ole, the subject of this review, and Gunda, who is now living in Henning.
Ole Torkelson received his education in the public schools of his native land and. in 1870, emigrated to America and settled in Houston county. Minnesota. The next year he moved to Tordenskjold township. Otter Tail county, taking a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in that town- ship. After living upon this farm for twelve years and improving it in many ways, Mr. Torkelson disposed of the farm and moved to Henning township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, in see- tion 34. In 1914 he sold his farm in Henning township and, having moved to Henning in 1895. has also been engaged in business here for many years. For some time he was the proprietor of a hotel, and later he was engaged in the shoe business. For a number of years, however, he has been engaged in the feed business in Henning.
In 1875 Mr. Torkelson was married to Inger Wolmer, a native of Norway, born there in 1849. Mrs. Torkelson's father died in Norway and after his death. the mother came to Otter Tail county and died a few years ago.
Ole Torkelson and wife are the parents of eight children. all of whom are living. Clara. Melvin. Bergel, Dora, Anne. Alexander, Eddie and Jose-
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phine. The mother of these children died on April 20. 1914. She was a good wife and a good mother and was esteemed in the town where she lived for so many years before her death. Mr. Torkelson is an upright man and is rearing his family to honorable and useful lives in this community.
HERMAN J. CORDES.
Herman J. Cordes, Henning's present mayor, is the son of German parents, who braved the dangers and privations of pioneer life, in order to give their children a better, freer existence than they had been able to have in the old country. Mr. Cordes is, however, a self-made man, for, although his early opportunities were meager, he created for himself the conditions of prosperity he desired. He is a successful blacksmith and implement dealer. Mr. Cordes was born in Hanover, Germany, on November 14, 1879, where his parents, Herman and Charlotte ( Winter ) Cordes, were born, grew up and married.
Herman Cordes, Sr .. gave up his farming in the old country to emi- grate to America in March. 1885. He was one of the early homesteaders of Leaf Lake township, Otter Tail county, beginning by buying out the improvements of a pioneer. Some years later he sold out to his eldest son and now lives a quiet, retired life with his son, John F., near Henning. His wife passed away on July 18, 1909. They were both members of the Leaf Lake Lutheran church, which they helped to establish. They were the parents of ten children. namely: Henry, a farmer, living on the home- stead: Fred, a farmer in Illinois; Mary, who is single and lives with her brother, William, in Wisconsin: Sophia, who married Henry Bolland, a well-to-do farmer, living near Kingsville, Texas: Herman J., the subject of this sketch; Doris, the wife of John H. Schmidt, who lives in Vining ; Joim F .. a farmer of Henning township: Dietrich H., who is in the auto business, in partnership with Herman J .; William, a farmer, of Comstock. Wisconsin ; Ernest, who owns eighty acres of land near Henning, but lives with his eldest brother.
Herman J. was only six years of age when his parents came to this country, and he began his school days in Leaf Lake township. He lived on his father's farm until his nineteenth year, when he left home and went to Perham to learn the blacksmith's trade. Here he worked with Henry Schmidt for three years. He came to Henning in 1898 and was employed at his trade by John Post for about a year and a half, when he purchased the blacksmith shop of Charles Walters and employed his brother. Dietrich. as his assistant until the year 1910. On January 1. of that year. these broth- ers became partners in business under the firm name of Cordes Brothers.
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OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
They first erected a garage, with forty-eight feet front and fifty-six feet depth, built of concrete, two stories high and equipped with modern machin- ery for the repairs of autos. This structure is also provided with space for the storage of many cars. About 1907 Mr. Herman started to deal in farm implements, a business in which he has continued to the present time. The plant occupies two buildings, separated by a lot, all of which is owned by the Cordes Brothers. They are agents for the Studebaker, Oakland and Max- well cars.
On June 26, 1907, Herman J. Cordes was married to Margaret Brock- hoff, a native of Germany, who came with her parents to this country when a child. Her father was Louis Brockhoff. To them have been born three children, Rosella, Raymond and Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Cordes are members of the German Lutheran church, of which Mr. Cordes is trustee.
Mr. Cordes has been interested in the general welfare of this com- munity and, while an independent voter, has been a benefactor to his town. He served one term on the village council and in 1913 was elected mayor of Henning. He has twice been re-elected to this office. In the life of Mr. Cordes are to be found undaunted courage, indomitable will and an energy that considered no obstacle too great to overcome. Mr. Cordes has the confidence and esteem of the people whom he has served so well.
ANDREW ANDERSON.
Andrew Anderson, who is well known in the vicinity of Henning. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, as a grain buyer, was born near Battle Lake, in Clitherall township, March 31, 1874, and is the son of Nels and Fred- erika Anderson.
Mr. Anderson's father was born in Sweden and in 1868 came to Litch- field, Minnesota. In 1870 he emigrated to Clitherall township and home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. Both he and his wife are still living and reside on the old homestead farm in Clitherall township. They had a family of fourteen children, of whom Ida, Gustav, Amanda, John and two unnamed infants are deceased. The living children are Elof, Andrew, Martin, Oscar, Alfred, Selma, Ida and Augusta.
Andrew Anderson was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools and at Park Region College. After finishing his education, he clerked in a store for A. S. Paulsen at Henning for a number of years. During the past fourteen years, Mr. Anderson has been engaged in the grain business at Henning and has been very successful in business.
In 1901 Andrew Anderson was married to Alice Mollerstrom, the daughter of Lars Mollerstrom, of Henning, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have two children, Arvie Willard and Kenneth Wendall.
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Mr. Anderson has served as a member of the Henning village council and also as a member of the school board. He was formerly clerk of the village and is at present one of the trustees. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church.
GEORGE A. POULSON.
One of the most prominent business men of Henning, located in Hen- ning township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is George A. Poulson, pro- prietor of a large hardware business in this town.
Mr. Poulson is a native of Denmark, where he was born on February 11. 1858. He is the son of Julius and Mete Lene ( Quitsouw ) Poulson, both of whom were natives of Denmark. Mr. Poulson's father and mother came to America in 1866 and lived for a year at Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1867 they came west to St. Cloud, Minnesota, where Mr. Poulson's father spent one summer working in a blacksmith shop. Later the family moved to Crow Lake township, Stearns county, Minnesota, and lived there for ten years, during which time the father took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He also had a blacksmith shop on his farm. On July 3. 1877, the family came to Otter Tail county. Mr. Poulson's father pur- chased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, three and one-half miles northeast of Henning, in Henning township. In 1881 he engaged in the general mercantile business at Henning, and was in business until his death. in 1880, when he was fifty-three years old. His wife survived him many years, passing away at her home in 1913, at the age of seventy-seven. They were the parents of three children, George .A., the subject of this sketch ; Jens, who died at the age of six years in Denmark, and Mete Katrina, who is now Mrs. Morris Petersen.
George .A. Poulson began his education in Denmark, but, when he was eight years old his parents came to America and he accompanied them. He attended school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the year his parents lived in that city and later attended school at St. Cloud for one summer. practically completing his education when he was nine years old. For a short time, however, he was a student in the parochial schools.
In 1879 Mr. Poulson took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Inman township, Otter Tail county, and later purchased forty acres. The homestead farm was situated in section 6, of Inman township. and the forty acres, which Mr. Poulson purchased, in section 2, of the same town- ship. Until February 11, 1886. Mr. Poulson was engaged in farming and. at that time, moved to Henning and engaged in the hardware business. He has
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OTTER TML COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
the largest business of any individual in the town and is one of the best- known citizens of this part of Otter Tail county. Mr. Poulson is a stock- holder in the farmers' elevator and is treasurer of the organization. Some years ago he sold his farms and now confines himself to the hardware business.
In 1880 George A. Poulson was married to Anna Johanna Knudson. who was born in Denmark on February 24, 1863, and who is the daughter of Jens and Inger Christine ( Peterson ) Knudson. They came to Crow Lake township, Stearns county, Minnesota, in 1871, and there took a home- stead adjoining Mr. Poulson's father's farm. Later they moved to Fisher. in Polk county, Minnesota, where Mrs. Poulson's father died in 1889. Her mother died in the fall of 1889 at Henning, Minnesota. They were the parents of nine children : Anna Johanna, Karen Marie, Knud, Peter, Anton, Mats, John. Jens and Nina.
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Poulson have been the parents of four chil- dren : Lena, who died at the age of eleven months: Jens, born in October. 1883, who is in the hardware business at Jamestown, North Dakota, mar- ried Emma Harrison and has one child. Jewel Aleda: Julius, born in Sep- tember, 1886, who assists his father in the store at Henning, married Tina Hansen, and has one child, Lillian Josephine; and John Arthur, born on March 23, 1880, who also assists his father in the store, married Christine Loden, and has one daughter, Ruth Margaret.
Mr. and Mrs. Poulson and family are members of the Lutheran Free church. Mr. Poulson has served as mayor of Henning and has been a mem- ber of the council for several years. He has worthily discharged all of his duties as a citizen and business man and is one of the most popular men in Henning township.
DAVID NELSON.
One of the most prosperous farmers and landowners of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, a man who has made a notable success of agricultural pursuits, is David Nelson, the subject of this sketch. Progressive and mod- ern in his methods, as a result of which he has become a man of consider- able means, he has proved himself to be of value to his community.
David Nelson was born in Sweden on March 6, 1853, the son of Nels and Ellen Erickson. His father was a general worker, who lived in Sweden during his entire life. He and his wife, Ellen, were the parents of ten children, of whom David came to America.
David Nelson was educated in the public schools of his native country. after which, in the year 1887, he came to America and located in Eastern township. Otter Tail county, where he purchased forty acres of land, later
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purchasing one hundred and twenty acres more, which he cultivated, pros- pering to the point that a short time later he was able to buy two hundred acres of land in another part of Eastern township, all of which he cares for and cultivates to a high state of production. Mr. Nelson, with a true pro- gressive spirit, has placed extensive improvements on his farms, and takes pride in his efforts to make his farms second to none in the community.
In 1880 David Nelson was married to Betsey Nelson, and to this mar- riage have been born the following children: Kate, Ellen, who died at the age of seven years; Anna, who died at the age of two years; Ellen, Anna, Nels, Matilda, Arthur, Hilding and Dortha. Mr. Nelson and his family are well-known members of the Swedish Lutheran church.
WILLIAM FABIAN.
Of those citizens who have gone to their reward, and who in other days were a force and influence for the progress and advancement of the interests of Otter Tail county, men who have succeeded materially in their own interests and who have been a success as an example of unselfishness in promotion of general welfare, as well as in the development of the county's resources, the late William Fabian was one who did much and one without whom the community might be less advanced and less prosperous.
William Fabian was born in Gross Gauth, West Prussia, Germany, on March 30, 1849, the son of Frederick Wilhelm and Anna Maria ( Santofski) Fabian, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which country Frederick Wilhelm Fabian lived until his death at Riesenburg, in 1869, and after which his widow. Anna Maria Fabian, remarried and came to America, with her family and located in the state of South Carolina, later moving to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the husband was employed in a match factory for some time, after which they came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and settled in Western township. where they spent the remainder of their days.
William Fabian, the subject of this sketch, came to America with his mother and step-father, and located with them in the state of South Caro- lina, later going with them to the state of Wisconsin, first to the city of Oshkosh and then to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was employed in a saw-mill for some time and then came to Otter Tail county and settled in Western township, where he acquired a homestead, in the year 1872, a place on which he made a dug-out for a home, after having made the journey from the state of Wisconsin in a covered wagon, a trip which required four weeks to complete. On reaching Western township. in Otter Tail county. Minnesota, William Fabian was compelled to endure many privations and hardships, as a result of stormy and severely cold weather, which made it difficult to secure food and necessities of life. It is related that during the
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM FABIAN
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first winter in their new location, while William Fabian was engaged at his duties in the forest, some distance away, that a severe snowstorm came up, making it impossible for this pioneer to find shelter for four days, and dur- ing which time his wife was imprisoned in their dug-out home. As time went on William Fabian experienced better days and placed many improve- ments on his farm, together with acquiring additional acreage, until he was the owner of two thousand acres of well-improved and well-cultivated land, on which he engaged in general farming and stock raising.
On April 15, 1872, William Fabian was married to Augusta Caroline Roloff, who was born in Mollstow, Pommern, Germany, on August 28, 1854, the daughter of Carl and Augusta ( Dummer) Roloff, both of whom were born in Germany and lived in their native country until the year 1871, when they came to America and located in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, and later moved to Otter Tail county, where Carl Roloff was engaged as a farmer, until his death on March 26, 1889. To the marriage of William and Augusta Fabian were born the following children: Herman, Rosa, Lena, Anna, Carl. Martha, William, Bertha, John, Arthur and Walter.
William Fabian was one of the best known and most interested and devout members of the Emmanuel church, of the Evangelical Association in Western township. he being largely responsible for the organization of the church in which he took. an important part in the arrangement for and the construction of the church building. In political life Mr. Fabian was influen- tial and was always ready to support all movements for the good or advance- ment of county interests. William Fabian for a number of years served his township in the office of township treasurer.
William Fabian, good man and ideal citizen, died on November 4. 1912, mourned by a host of friends and admiring fellow citizens.
JULIUS I. HOLEN.
A representative farmer of this township is Julius I. Holen, who has become one of the leading agriculturists of this section of the state. He was born on the farm on which he still resides on November 7, 1876. He is the son of John Holen and Anna Ellefsdatter, both of whom were born in Norway. They were unmarried when they came to this country many years ago and, subsequently, were married in Wisconsin. From there they came to Pelican township and homesteaded the farm on which their son, Julius, now lives. John Holen homesteaded a claim of one and a quarter sections, increasing this until he owned three hundred and sixty acres. The majority of the buildings now on this farm were erected by him. Mr. Holen was prominent in the community and was for several years a mem-
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ber of the township board of trustees. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He passed away on the farm on which he had lived since early manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Holen were the parents of five children : Julius Ingvald and Edward Christian, both of whom are deceased; Caren Christina, Julius Ingvall and Edward Christian.
Julius I. Holen was educated in this county and trained in farm work. At the death of his father. in 1895, he operated the farm of two hundred and eighty acres, on which he has become a general farmer. Here he has lived since that time.
In 1905 Mr. Holen was united in marriage to Gina Afseth, a native of Pelican township and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mons Afseth, of the same township. The children born to this union are Alice Agnora, Minnie, Jean- nette, Mildred, Adelaide, Norval Julin and Norman Grover, twins; Irvin Clifford and Bernice Eleanor.
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