USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 70
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For a number of years Mr. Holen was the assessor of Pelican town- ship and for the past six years has been township clerk. Mr. Holen's life is an example of the rewards of unremitting labor. He is optimistic in his views, and his personality is truly inspiring.
OLE L. SOLUM.
Ole 1. Solum, a well-known farmer and auctioneer of St. Olaf town- ship, this county, is a native of Norway, having been born in Sigdal, Nor- way, February 8, 1859, son of Lars Olson and Gonora ( Gundbjornsdatter ) Solum, both natives of Norway, the former of whom was born on May 31. 1823, and who became pioneers of Minnesota, their last days being spent on a homestead farm in Douglas county, this state.
Lars Olson Solum received an excellent education in the schools of his native land and became a school teacher, remaining thus engaged until he and his family came to the United States in 1866. Upon their arrival in this country the Solums proceeded to lowa, arriving at Decorah, that state. on July 2. 1866, remaining there about a year, at the end of which time they came to Minnesota and settled in Alexandria township, Douglas county. where Mr. Solum homesteaded a quarter of a section of land. He estab- lished his home there in 1868, and there he spent the remainder of his life. long being regarded as one of the most substantial and influential residents of that community. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, and until their homestead had been brought under cultivation and proper conditions of living established in the neighborhood in which they settled, they were compelled to endure the inevitable hardships of the pioneers' lot. The Indians still were numerous thereabout in those days, besides which
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there were bears, deer and plenty of mosquitoes-in fact, all kinds of wild game. St. Cloud was the nearest railroad point and the nearest mill was forty-five miles distant, but in spite of these handicaps Mr. Solum stuck to the homestead and at the time of his death, on March 23, 1904, he had the place entirely cleared and under cultivation. His widow, ever a valuable and competent helpmeet, survived him less than four months, her death occur- ring on July 12, of that same year. They were prominent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and for many years Mr. Solum served the congregation of that church as choirmaster. In the early days he also served as lay minister and as teacher in the Norwegian school in the neigh- borhood of his home.
The names of the eight children of Lars Olson Solum and wife fol- low : Christina, Leffie, Lizzie, Carrie, Ole L., Anton L., Julius and Elnora. Christina married Chet VanDyke, and has seven sons and one daughter; Leffie married F. Englund, and has five children; Lizzie married John Scott, and has seven children, four sons and three daughters; Carrie married Olaf Solum, and has five children; Anton L. Solum, who is unmarried, remains on his father's homestead, where he is conducting an up-to-date dairy farm and is engaged in breeding full-blooded Guernsey cattle, also serving as director of the Nelson cornet band; Julius L., for the past twenty years a traveling salesman, at present representing Hudson, Thurber & Company, hardware and supplies, of Minneapolis, making his headquarters at Osakis, this state, married Lottie Johnson, and has four children; Elea- nor. deceased, married Nels Sather and had four children.
Ole L. Solum was about seven years old when he came to this country with his parents in 1866 and his youth was spent on the homestead farm in Douglas county. In his early boyhood he assisted his father in the labors of developing the home place, and at the age of seventeen came to Otter Tail county, where for several years he was employed as a farm hand in the neighborhood of Fergus Falls, remaining thus engaged until the fall of 1885. at which time he bought a quarter of a section of land in St. Olaf township, this county, where he since has made his home. To this original tract he later added an adjoining "forty," and now has a well-improved and profitably-cultivated farm of two hundred acres. Mr. Solum also is engaged in general auctioneering, crying sales throughout this and adjoining coun- ties.
In 1881 Ole L. Solum was united in marriage to Anna Johnson, who was born in Norway on July 24. 1861, daughter of Nels and Genetta (Estendatter) Johnson, both natives of Norway, the former of whom was born on September 3, 1833, and the latter, November 1, 1838, who came to the United States in 1866 and located in St. Olaf township, this county.
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being thus among the very earliest settlers of that part of the county. Upon locating there, Mr. Johnson bought a quarter of a section of "government land" at one dollar and a quarter the acre and has added to the same until he now is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Solum one child has been born, a daughter, Gurena, born on April 7, 1882, who married Gustav Hoff, now living in Sheridan county, Montana, and has two children, Orvilla Lawrence and Gladys Cornella.
ANDREW A. BELMONT.
One of the prosperous merchants of Henning, Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, is Andrew A. Belmont, who is now the proprietor of a general mer- cantile store at Henning.
Mr. Belmont was born in Sweden in 1844, and is a son of Andros Erickson and Anna ( Stena ) Belmont, both of whom were natives of Swe- den. and who died in that country.
In 1869 Andrew A. Belmont emigrated to America and settled at St. Paul, Minnesota, when it was still a small city. After having been employed for about four months with the Valley railroad he removed to Rochester, Minnesota, and during the harvest time worked in the wheat fields. After living in and around Rochester for some time, Mr. Belmont returned to St. Paul, where he entered the employ of the Northern Pacific Railway Com- pany. In 1871 he came to Otter Tail county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section 6, Leaf Mountain township. He also pre-empted eighty acres of land. Having sold his farm lands in 1898, Mr. Belmont moved to Henning and engaged in the lumber business. He dis- posed of his lumber interests in 1904, and thereafter engaged in the mer- cantile business. The building in which his store is housed is a two-story structure, fifty by fifty feet. At one time Mr. Belmont was engaged in the furniture business, and his son, Anton, is now conducting a furniture busi- ness.
In 1872 Andrew A. Belmont was married to Annastena Swanson, a native of Sweden, where her birth occurred in 1847. Mrs. Belmont's father died in Sweden, and after his death her mother came to Otter Tail county, where her death occurred several years later, at the home of her son, John. in Leaf Mountain township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Andrew A. Belmont have been born six children, all of whom are living, as follow: Anton, Selma, Mary, Ida, Carl and Hulda. Mr. Belmont and his family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which they take an active interest. Mr. Belmont has been very successful in both his farming and business operations, and today is rated as one of the self-made, substantial citizens of his community.
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OLE O. STUBSKIND.
Otter Tail county, with its large element of population from Norway, has no better type of the man following agricultural pursuits successfully, than in the person of Ole O. Stubskind, of Nidaros township.
Ole O. Stubskind was born in Vardalen, near Trondhjem, Norway, on July 21, 1859, the son of Ole and Annie Marsta (Skafhaug) Stubskind, who were born in the same city, the father in 1820 and the mother in 1830. Ole and Annie Stubskind were married in the town of their birth and shortly afterward engaged in the pursuit of farming, until 1873, when Ole Stubs- kind, after providing for his family in Norway, came to America and joined a brother-in-law, in Ashby, Minnesota, later coming to Nidaros township, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 10, a place which he found to be covered with timber. Ole Stubs- kind proceeded to clear his newly-acquired land and he built a cabin near the place where his present home is located. Here this pioneer citizen lived for seven years, and then sent for his wife and son, who were in Norway. Before their arrival he had provided a convenient and substantial log and wooden house for their comfort. At this place Ole Stubskind lived until his death in the year 1889, his wife Annie, at his death, continuing to live on the home place until 1913, when she died. Ole Stubskind was one of the more prominent of the early citizens of Nidaros township, where he served for many years as township treasurer and township supervisor, as well as being the occupant of other local offices. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. To Ole and Annie Stubskind was born one child, a son, Ole O., the subject of this sketch.
Ole O. Stubskind was educated in the public schools of Norway, and following his school-days he worked on a farm, and later, on coming to America he succeeded his father on the home place in Nidaros township, Otter Tail county, where he now lives. Ole O. Stubskind has erected on his farm a new house and barn and has generally improved his place, together with adding to it, about the year 1882, forty acres of land adjoining. Mr. Stubskind is now engaged as a general fariner and raiser of stock, as well as keeping twenty cows for dairy purposes.
In February, 1891, Ole O. Stubskind was married to Gette Haswosg, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Gabriel and Kjestine Haswosg. To this union were born the following children: Ole, who is employed on a dairy farm at Minneapolis: Gunda, who is employed on a farm in North Dakota; Magda, Melvin, Oletta, Gertie and Selwin. Two children. Sigvard and Olga, died in infancy.
Ole O. Stubskind has taken an important part in business circles and in
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the public life of his township and county. He has been a director of the Farmers Elevator Company, at Vining : he has served as township treasurer and for twelve years was treasurer of the school district. Mr. Stubskind has been the occupant of all the township offices, except that of township clerk. In politics, Ole (. Stubskind is a Republican, but in local affairs votes independently. Mr. Stubskind and his wife are members of the Luth- eran church at Vining, a congregation in which they are leading communi- cants.
JOHN WUTAMAKI.
Another of the sterling farmers and pioneers of Otter Tail county, and of Newton township, is John Wutamaki, a man who has done his duty to his community, and whether in business or private life, has so conducted himself, that he has gained the respect and esteem of his fellowmen.
John Wutamaki was born in Finland on December 19, 1869, the son of Mat and Dena Wutamaki, who were born in the same country and lived there, where Mat Wutamaki was a farmer and landowner, until his death. His wife, Dena Wutamaki, now lives on the home place. Mat and Dena Wutamaki were devout members of the Lutheran church, being workers of note and prominence in the congregation, which they served in a most unselfish manner. To the marriage of Mat and Dena Wutamaki were born ten children, of whom three came to America, namely, Mat, who lives in Deer Creek township, Otter Tail county ; Fina, who married John Kovonimi and lives at Eveleth, Minnesota ; and John, who is the subject of this sketch.
John Wutamaki was educated in the confirmation schools of the Luth- eran church in Finland, afterwards working on a farm for some time. In 1888, he came to America and worked in a mine at Eveleth, Minnesota. after which he came to Otter Tail county, and bought a farm of eighty acres of land about three miles north of the village of Bluffton, Minnesota. land that at that time was uncleared and without improvement. On secur- ing possession of his farm, John Wutamaki proceeded to remove the brush and to cut the timber on his land and to build a frame house, in which he lived for five years and then he sold his place and came to Otter Tail county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land in sec- tion 36, Newton township, a place where he has since lived. On this farm Mr. Wutamaki has placed a number of improvements, among which are a new and modernly constructed house, a large barn, thirty-four by sixty feet, equipped with a hay-fork and provided with the most approved form of stanchions. John Wutamaki, in addition to his general farming, con- ducts a dairy which is supplied with a herd of about thirty-five cows. In
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the larger business interests of the town of Dopelius, John Wutamaki takes a leading and important part, being a stockholder in the Dopelius Creamery Company. His counsel in matters of business in connection with the dairy and creamery industry, is rated as most valuable.
In 1895 John Wutamaki was married to Amalia Heino, who is a native of Finland. To this marriage have been born the following children: Will- iam, who is a jeweler and watchmaker of Eveleth, Minnesota; Ida, John. Alexander. Arthur, Herman, Victor, Saima, Elina and Esther, who live at home.
In political affiliation, John Wutamaki is a member of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Wutamaki are members of the Lutheran church at New York Mills, a congregation in which they are highly respected work- ers and communicants.
M. B. KLEIN.
A well-known citizen and a pioneer merchant of the town of Bluffton, Minnesota, a town in which he is recognized as one of the leading men, both in business activity and in public life, M. B. Klein, who because of his industrious ways and his resourcefulness has risen from the ranks of more common industry to that of a prosperous and enterprising merchant in a thriving community, is one of those men whose record deserves recognition in this volume.
MI. B. Klein was born in Morrison county, Minnesota, the son of Nicholas and Mary (Schmidt ) Klein, both of whom were born in Ger- many, where they lived before coming to America and settled in Morrison county, Minnesota, where Nicholas Klein homesteaded eighty acres of land on which he and his family lived for many years. They subsequently moved to Benton county, Minnesota, where the elder Klein bought two hundred acres of land, a place on which he spent his last days. His wife, Mary, is also deceased. Nicholas Klein and his family were members of the Catholic church. To the marriage of Nicholas and Mary Klein were born the following children: Mary, Nicholas, Frank, Katherine, Peter, M. B., John, Lucy and Jacob.
N. B. Klein was educated in the common schools of Minnesota, after which he became a farmer on eighty acres of land which he bought in Benton county, Minnesota, later selling this land and buying one hundred and sixty acres of land which he farmed and later sold. For a considerable period he worked in Rice, Benton county, at blacksmithing. Subsequently, Mr. Klein came to Bluffton. Otter Tail county and established a general store, where he is now engaged as a leading merchant. With time, Mr.
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Klein has grown in the business world and now in addition to his large stock as a merchant, he is one of the shareholders in the elevator at Bluffton.
M. B. Klein was married to Bertha Rajkosky, a native of Germany, and to this marriage have been born five children, Theckla, Raymond, Clarence, Alphonse and Alice.
M. B. Klein has found time during his busy life to serve his com- munity as a public man and as an office holder, having served for two years as a member of the village council and at one time he was the able and efficient treasurer of the village.
CHARLES A. MATALA.
One of the most prosperous, as well as most generally known mer- chants of the town of New York Mills, is Charles A. Matala, who has by intelligent management and by devotion to purpose, become one of the most extensive general dealers of the county. A good citizen, serving his con- munity well and unselfishly in public office, he is among those people whom the community delights to recognize as a representative citizen.
Charles A. Matala was born in Finland on February 14, 1880, the son of Olaf and Mary Matala, who were natives of Finland, and who, in 1881, came to America and located at New York Mills, Minnesota, where Olaf Matala secured employment in a saw-mill, where he has worked since that time. The wife of Olaf Matala died in 1886. To the marriage of Olaf and Mary Matala were born the following children: John, who died when twenty-one years of age; Evert, a cattle dealer and real-estate man of Vir- ginia, Minnesota: Kate, who married C. A. Tervo and lives at Victoria. British Columbia : Charles A., the subject of this sketch, and Olaf, who is a dealer in real estate, of Seattle, Washington.
Charles A. Matala was educated in the public schools of New York Mills. Later, he was employed as a salesman for the firm of Matala and Tervo during about four months, after which he went to the state of Wyom- ing, where he was employed for two years in the commissary department of the Yellowstone Park Association. He then returned to New York Mills. and accepted a position with the Farmers Mercantile Association, working for twelve years as a salesman and for two years as manager of the business.
In 1908 Charles A. Matala established himself in a small store, on what was known as the R. A. Williams property. After two years of suc- cess as a merchant he found it necessary to erect new buildings for his stock. and now conducts his business in a large store building thirty-seven by eighty-four feet. with two stories and a basement, together with eight other small buiklings which are used in the conduct of the business. Mr. Matala now carries a general stock, employs about fifteen people and does about one
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hundred thousand dollars worth of business annually. In addition to his regular business, Mr. Matala is a stockholder in the New York Mills Creamery Association, a company for which he served as manager for seven years, and he is a stockholder in the New York Mills Farmers Elevator Company.
On June 10, 1910, Charles A. Matala was married to Auna Koste, who was born in Finland. To this marriage were born two children, Mildred and Curtis Melvin.
Charles A. Matala has been prominent in the civic life of the town of New York Mills, having served for eleven years as town recorder. Mr. Matala is a Mason and is a leading member of the local Finnish organiza- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Matala are members of the Congregational church, in which they are leading members and active workers.
CHRISTIAN DAMLO.
A well-known farmer and prominent citizen of Gorman township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Christian Damlo, who was born in Gorman town- ship, on August 6, 1880, the son of Fredrick and Lena ( Rischo) Damlo. both of whom are natives of Germany. Fredrick Damlo is the son of Jacob and Sophia ( Schultz ) Damlo, the former of whom was a general worker in Germany, where he lived his entire life. Jacob and Sophia Damlo were the parents of seven children, Joseph. John. Dortha, Mary, Christ. Dorater. and Fredrick, father of the the subject of this sketch, and the only one who came to America.
Fredrick Damlo, who was born on February 8. 1841, received his edu- cation in the schools of his native land, and in 1869. he came to America and located at Danville, Illinois, where he was a railroad worker for three years. In 1880, he moved to Otter Tail county, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Gorman township, a farm to which he added eighty acres at a later time, and a place which Mr. Damlo, some years later, sold to his children and then retired from active life and now lives at Per- ham, Minnesota. Fredrick Damlo was married in 1867 to Lena Rischo and to this marriage were born seven children. Charles, Mary, John, Will- iam, Christian, Martha and Martin. Fredrick Damlo fought in the War of 1866.
Christian Damlo was educated in the common schools of Gorman town- ship. Otter Tail county, after which he became a farmer, working for some time with his father on the home place. At the time of his father's retire- ment from farm life, Christian Damlo acquired a part of the home farm, where he now lives and engages in general agricultural pursuits.
On November 9, 1904, Christian Damlo was married to Martha
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Buchaus, and to this marriage have been born five children, Fredrick, Adel- bert. Herbert, Lambert and Blundine. Mr. and Mrs. Damlo are rearing an adopted child, Fritz Poliske. Mr. Damlo and his family are active mem- bers of the German Lutheran church, a congregation in which they are prominent workers and appreciated communicants.
As a business man, Christian Damlo has been notably successful. He is a stockholder in a creamery company, as well as a member of the Farm- ers Shipping Association, of Gorman township. Mr. Damlo has served his township as a supervisor and as a member of the town board. He proved to be a good and satisfactory official while filling these positions.
JOHN LAURITZEN.
A contractor and builder of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, is John Lauritzen, whose career has been confined principally to the erection of public buildings, and there are standing today not only in Otter Tail county, but throughout this and adjoining states, many buildings of his making.
Mr. Lauritzen is a native of Denmark, having been born there in 1863. He is the son of Anders and Johanne ( Johansen ) Lauritzen, both of whom are deceased.
Mr. Lauritzen was twenty years old when he came to America in 1883. He had learned the bricklayer's trade in his native country and, after com- ing to America, located at Mankato, Minnesota, where he pursued his trade for four years. In 1887 he moved to St. Paul, where he remained for one year, but in the fall of 1888 came to Fergus Falls and worked at his trade until 1890, when he had charge of the construction work at the state hospital at Fergus Falls. In 1802 he was made superintendent of the construction work.
The next year Mr. Lauritzen took his first contract on his own account from the board of trustees of the state hospital for the insane. He was engaged in work there until 1897 and since that period has finished several important jobs, all awarded by the same institution. Mr. Lauritzen's work has been devoted chiefly to public buildings throughout the states of Minne- sota, Jowa and the Dakotas. He constructed the postoffice at Waterloo, lowa, also the postoffice at Bismarck, North Dakota, and at Minot. Like- wise, he built the dam for the Otter Tail Power Company and the Hoot Lake power works in Otter Tail county. The postoffice at Fergus Falls. the inebriate asylum at Wilmar. the industrial school for girls at Sauk Center and the Kaddatz hotel at Fergus Falls, were constructed by him.
Aside from his interests in construction and building work, Mr.
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Lauritzen is president of the Fergus Manufacturing Company, vice-presi- dent of the Northwestern Building Association, of Fergus Falls, and trustee of the Wright hospital. He is a trustee of the Congregational church. Mr. Lauritzen is a director of the Minnesota Employers Association and a director of the Minnesota Employers Mutual Liability Insurance Company. Mr. Lauritzen was married on May 30. 1887. to Anne C. Bohlke, who was born in Schleswig, which province since 1864 has been under the German government. To this union were born five children : Lucia, Marie. Anders and Thomas are still living. Eleanore died in 1913, at the age of twenty.
JACOB RUSCH.
Jacob Rusch, one of the best-known and most substantial retired farm- ers of the Dent neighborhood, in this county, was born in Germany in 1850, son of Arnold and Anna ( Schmitz) Rusch, farming people, whose lives were spent in Germany, the land of their birth. Arnold Rusch served his Fatherland as a soldier during the War of 1849. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, five of whom are still living.
At the age of twenty-eight, in 1878, Jacob Rusch was united in mar- riage to Sophia Serpenberg, also a native of Germany, daughter of Henry and Louisa ( Von Dusen ) Serpenberg, and eleven years later, in 1889. came to America, proceeding immediately to Minnesota. For the first year of their residence in this state they lived in Carver county and then came to Otter Tail county, locating in Edna township, on section 10, where they bought forty-five acres. Upon this small farm Jacob Rusch pursued his agricultural labors with such diligence that he presently was enabled to enlarge his holdings by the purchase of adjoining tracts, until he became the owner of four hundred acres of fine land, all of which has been well improved and is being profitably tilled. He gave one hundred and eighty acres of the home farm to his sons, retaining the rest for his own use and on this he erected a fine brick house and other good buildings. There he lived until the fall of 1914, at which time he and his wife retired from the farm and moved into the village of Dent, where they purchased a tract of two acres on the edge of the village and erected on it a comfortable home in which they are now living, enjoying the rewards of their active lives of earnest endeavor.
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