USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 74
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F. E. Salomonsen was married in 1900 to Ellen M. Erickson, who was born in Sweden, daughter of Charles Erickson, of Pelican Rapids. To this union a family of five has been born, namely : Elmer F., Clarence E., Vernon E. ( deceased ), Liles G. and Esmer H. Both Mr. and Mrs. Salomon- sen and wife are members of the Lutheran church, and he is independent in politics. He takes more than a passing interest in local political matters and has filled various local offices, among them being justice of the peace. Mr. Salomonsen can well boast the title of "self-made man," and his way in life is such as to win the confidence and regard of both business associates and personal friends.
OLE AXNESS.
Although the parents of Ole Axness were born and married in Norway, he was born in America on December 7, 1871, at Norwegian Grove town- ship. Otter Tail county. His father and mother. M. O. and Herbor ( Moe) Axness, braved the sea voyage necessary to bring them to America in 1869, and immediately established their new home in Fillmore county, Minnesota. Today they are living on the same farm in Norwegian Grove township which they occupied in the spring of 1871. On these two hundred acres. which Mr. Axness has improved, he has made his living by general farming. He and his wife are prominent members of the North Emmanuel church. Their home has been blessed by the birth of six children, namely: Ole, whose history is briefly presented here: Nels. Julius, Melvin. Bernard and Hilda.
Ole Axness was educated in the common schools and the high school at Pelican Rapids. and was a student in the Lutheran College at Fergus Falls during the first year of that institution's existence. Ambitious to acquire a profession, he then went to the Minnesota Institute of Pharmacy, located at Minneapolis. At that time this was the only school of its kind north of Chicago. After graduating from this institution in 1892, Mr. Axness worked for four years each in Minneapolis and Fergus Falls, after which he went into business for himself in Pelican Rapids, where he still lives and is a well-known druggist.
The marriage of Ole Axness and Rhoda Linder was solemnized in
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1905. Mrs. Axness, a native of Norway, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Linder. On coming with them to America she located in Pelican Rapids, where she met and married Mr. Axness. Their home has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely : Clarice, Clayton, Royland and Venice.
Mr. and Mrs. Axness are united with the Lutheran church. Mr. Axness believes in the effectiveness of social organization, and is active in both the Knights of the Maccabees and Knights of Pythias. His long resi- dence and his standing in the community as a business man entitle him to a place among those who represent commercial interests in this township. He has always been ready to support the movements which he considered were conducive to the general welfare.
O. A. E. BLYBERG.
When Mr. Blyberg first came to Pelican Rapids he found the village consisting of a few groups of small houses inhabited by men and women not afraid to risk their lives to protect their newly established homes. Mr. Blyberg joined with them, and added to the wealth of the village by starting a general merchandise store. Coming with his father, Carl Blyberg, from Norway in 1865, he had located at North McGregor, lowa, at the age of fifteen, having been born in 1850. From his sixth year he had attended school in his native country, where his mother. Louise Blyberg, died after her husband and son emigrated to America. The father at first was com- pelled to work at anything he could find todo, and in 1868 O. A. E. Bly- berg began a three years' residence in Sauk Center, Minnesota, where he was employed as a clerk. The same year his father located in St. Olaf township, Otter Tail county, where he homesteaded a quarter section of land and remained three years. He then went to Becker county, in the same state, pre-empting a claim, but he died soon after, in the year 1877.
In 1871 the younger Mr. Blyberg left Sauk Center in order to live in Pelican Rapids, where he became a dealer in general merchandise, under the firm name of Pendergast & Blyberg, a partnership that lasted for eight years. In 1881 the company became known as Blyberg & Haugen. This partnership was dissolved in 1908, when Mr. Blyberg retired from mercan- tile pursuits. During his career as a merchant in Pelican Rapids, Mr. Bly- berg also had business interests in a number of other places, where he was equally successful. But he was the first merchant in Pelican Rapids.
The marriage of O. A. E. Blyberg and Anna G. Olson was solemnized in 1873. Mrs. Blyberg being a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Peter Olson. Their first-born, a daughter named Laura, is deceased ; the younger
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daughter, Lottie M., became the wife of C. D. Haugen, of Pelican Rapids. Mr. Blyberg is a valued member of the Norwegian Lutheran Synodical church in whose welfare and work he has been actively interested for many years, as was also Mrs. Blyberg. Mrs. Blyberg died on January 5. 1905. Among the public offices held by Mr. Blyberg is that of justice of the peace, he being the first man to hold that office in Pelican Rapids. The term extended from 1871 to 1874. He was at one time president of the village council. Mr. Blyberg is known for miles around for his sincere interest in public affairs, his business integrity and his upright character.
CHARLES R. FRAZEE.
Randolph L. Frazee, the father of the subject of this sketch, who estab- lished the Frazee family in Otter Tail county, was born in Vinton county, Ohio, on July 3, 1841, and as a young man followed the occupation of a farmer in the state where he was born. He came to Minnesota in 1866, where for a short time he stopped in St. Cloud. In 1868 he came to Otter Tail county, and settled in Ottertail, when the place just mentioned was a village, whose inhabitants lived in tents. In Ottertail village, Randolph Frazee built the first saw- and grist-mill ever known in the place. After a few years the railroad, which was being put through that section of the county, failed to take account of Ottertail village as a possible station, and Mr. Frazee, on account of better business possibilities, was obliged to move his mill to Frazee's mills ( now New York Mills), stationed on the Northern Pacific railroad. From the Frazee mill was furnished the first bridge material used by Northern Pacific railroad in Minnesota.
In 1872, Randolph Frazee sold his interest in Frazee mills and moved to Detroit, Minnesota, where he lived just one year. Upon returning to Otter Tail county, he bought the water rights of the town now named Frazee. At this place he built a saw-mill and also a flour-mill. After establishing a blacksmith shop. a general store and the two mills, Mr. Frazee found it impossible to persuade the railroad officials to move the railroad station from Hobart, where it was then located, to Frazee. However, he took the matter into his own hands, by persuading the train crew to accompany him to Hobart one night. where they loaded the depot on a flat car and brought it to Frazee. In 1890, Mr. Frazee moved to Minneapolis, where he resided for three years. During that time he built the first concrete elevator ever erected there. From there he came to Pelican Rapids, where he had pur- chased the water rights of the place about 1874. In this location he built the Frazee mill and elevator. In 1882, Mr. Frazee established the bank of Pelican Rapids and also the Riverside Bank, which was reorganized into the
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First National Bank in 1902. with Mr. Frazee as president. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1906, he was also president of the Great Eastern Elevator Company, of Minneapolis.
Randolph Frazee married Mary Brant, a native of Germany, and to their union the following chikiren were born: Charles, the subject of this sketch; Mary A .: W. E .; Harry E .; Paul C. and Cora. In his political relations, Mr. Frazee gave support to the Democratic party.
Charles Frazee was born in Richland county, Ohio, on May 21, 1865. He was educated by a tutor and received private instruction in the early days of his boyhood in Frazee. From 1879 to 1883, he attended school at Faribault, Minnesota, where he was a student in the Shattuck mill school. Upon completing his education, Charles Frazee came to Pelican Rapids as bookkeeper in his father's mill. He continued at this employment for three years and at the end of that time he went to Twin Valley, Minnesota, where he conducted a general store and a drug store until 1800, when he returned to Pelican Rapids. He remained there, working in his father's mill until 1895. when he was appointed postmaster at Pelican Rapids, a position he still retains.
Charles Frazee has established himself in many lines of business, and in each field of endeavor he has met with unusual success. In December. 1912, he established the Pelican Rapids State Bank, of which he is now president. He is also president of the Frazee Brothers Company and holds the office of secretary in the Frazee Real Estate Company, of Pelican Rapids.
On August 29, 1887. Charles Frazee and Glissie Kinney were united in marriage. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Frazee are. Wilfred K., Ethel. Kathleen and Charles R., Jr. The members of the Frazee family attend religious services at the Episcopal church, of which they are mem- bers. Mr. Frazee, in his political relations, is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is associated with the Knights of Pythias.
P. C. FRAZEE.
.A career of constant application to business interests and .consecutive industry has been that of P. C. Frazee, whose family carries with it prestige and honor in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. The Frazee family, which was founded in this community in 1868, was established by Randolph Frazee, a native of Vinton county, Ohio, who is the father of the subject of this sketch.
P. C. Frazee was born in Frazee City, Becker county, Minnesota, on April 13. 1875. Ile received his early education in the common schools of
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Frazee, and in 1886 entered the Bishop Whipple school, at Moorhead. Upon completing the course in this school he attended the Moorhead Nor- mal school from 1888 to 1889, and in the Minneapolis center high school, from 1890 until 1894, he received his high school training.
P. C. Frazee began his business career the year he left school, when he returned to Pelican Rapids and was employed by his father in the Frazee mill. In 1895 he went to Staples, where he entered the employment of the Northern Pacific railroad, as a fireman. He remained at this occupation until 1898, when he left for California, and in that section of the country, worked for the Southern Pacific railroad. He returned to Pelican Rapids, where until the fall of 1900, he worked in his father's mill. Since 1909. Mr. Frazee has been interested in real estate, loans and fire insurance and has built up an extensive business in this line. He is president and treasurer of the Frazee Estate Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Frazee Brothers Company.
On July 4. 1900, the marriage of P. (. Frazee to Flora M. Cole was celebrated. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Frazee : Dortha, Paul, Merle, Ralph and Louise. In lodge affairs Mr. Frazee is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.
REV. ELLEND J. OVRI.
From earliest historical time, the place of the clergyman in the com- munity has been one of influence and power. Of this type is Ellend J. Ovri, of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, a man and a minister who, because of his work among the people of Pelican township, and among the people of Otter Tail county, has won the esteem and love, not only of the com- municants of his own church, but among all the people with whom he is associated. or thrown in contact.
Ellend J. Ovri, the honored minister of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, was born in Norway on Janu- ary 25. 1860, the son of John A. and Martha ( Stadheim) Ovri, who were born in Norway, in which country they lived until the year 1864, and then came to America, locating in Freeborn county, Minnesota, where John A. Ovri homesteaded a farm on which he and his wife lived for the remainder of their days.
Ellend J. Ovri received his early education in the public schools of Freeborn county, Minnesota, after which he became a student at the Nor- wegian Lutheran College, of Decorah, lowa. from which he was graduated in the year 1886: he then studied theology for two years at Madison, Wis- consin, and for one year at Minneapolis, which was known as the Lutheran Seminary.
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Following his graduation and ordination as a minister of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church, the Rev. Ellend J. Ovri, came to the town of Peli- can Rapids, Minnesota, to accept his first call at the local Ringsaker Nor- wegian Lutheran church and adjacent congregations, on August 4. 1889. since which time the Rev. Mr. Ovri has served the people of his church and of the community, in a most helpful manner.
On September 12, 1894. the Rev. Ellend J. Ovri, was married to Chris- tine Hangen, the daughter of N. N. Haugen, of Pelican Rapids, and to this marriage has been born one son. Norman, on July 2. 1899.
During his residence and service as a minister in the town of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. the Rev. Ellend J. Ovri, has been of much value to the community, not only with his ministrations and his teachings, but as a man and as a citizen, the Rev. Mr. Ovri has taken an influential position in those efforts for a better and more advanced life among the people of the town and township.
OLE G. HELSETH.
To possess one of the finest farms in a neighborhood famed for its good farms, is the good fortune of Ole G. Helseth, a native of Norway. who was born on October 11, 1849. His parents lived and died in the country of his birth.
Mr. Helseth received a technical education. After attending the com- mon schools of Norway from his ninth to his fifteenth year, he went to the Hedemarken Amts Landbrugoskole, an agricultural school, which he attended from 1868 to 1870 and graduated. The following ten years he engaged in agricultural pursuits and then left his native land for America, coming direct to this county. Here, however, for the next three years he worked in the capacity of carpenter in the vicinity of Pelican Rapids, hav- ing learned the carpenter's trade in Norway. In 1883 he returned to his original occupation and purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Nor- wegian Grove township, which was state university land and was unculti- vated. He later added forty acres of cultivated land and made extensive improvements on the entire tract. Here he lived and worked as a general farmer until 1913, when his success enabled him to retire and to live in Pelican Rapids. For the past four years he has been vice-president of the Pelican Rapids Telephone Company and was an organizer of the Farmers Elevator Company. For twenty years he held a township office in Nor- wegian Grove township.
Mr. Helseth's marriage to Alma Anderson, a native of Norway, took place in 1881. Five children have blessed this union. These are, Martin.
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Agnes, Oscar, Edwin and Sophia. Martin is a farmer of Burke county, North Dakota; Agnes is now Mrs. I. B. Rossum, and she and her husband live on her father's farm, which they bought ; Oscar and his brother, Edwin, are partners, living on a farm in Sheridan county, Montana; Sophia is Mrs. Edwin Colnes, the wife of a farmer living in Saskatchewan, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Helseth are prominent members of the Norwegian Synodical church. Mr. Helseth, who has attracted many friends, and whose upright life has won general respect. is one of this county's best known agriculturists.
JOHN M. RANGER.
Although a native of Vermont, and of English parentage, the subject of this sketch has developed into a thoroughbred middle westerner, where his efforts have been crowned with more than ordinary success. Mr. Ranger, whose resourcefulness stands out in the following sketch, has amply demonstrated a claim to be mentioned as a leading citizen of Pelican Rapids.
John M. Ranger, contractor, Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, was born on April 28, 1854. in Vermont, and is a son of James S. and Lucy F. ( Morse ) Ranger. James S. Ranger, father of John M., was born in 1820, in England, and came with his parents to America in 1823, locating in Orleans county, Vermont, where he received his education. As a young man, he followed the vocation of a sawyer, and later engaged his services in a sash and door factory. At the age of twenty-seven years, he came to Wisconsin, locating at Horicon, Dodge county, where he followed agricul- ture for three years. He served in the Civil War in Company C. Twenty- ninth Wisconsin Infantry. remaining out three years, during which time he participated in all the battles of his regiment. After the war he returned to Horicon, and soon afterward settled at Janesville, Wisconsin, where he lived five years, and then moved to Chicago, where he was employed in a planing-mill. Two years later he came to Lyon county. Minnesota, near Marshall, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, living there five years, and in 1882, he came to Otter Tail county, and located near Pelican Rapids, where he farmed for the remainder of his active life. The children born to James S., and Lucy F. ( Morse ) Ranger, were : Jennie. John M. and William.
John M. Ranger received his early education at the public schools of Janesville. Wisconsin, and later, in 1872, attended the high school at that place. As a young man, he learned the machinist's trade, which he followed at Janesville and Chicago. In 1882 he came to Otter Tail county, where he took up a homestead in Lida township, consisting of one hundred and
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sixty acres, on which he put all the improvements, including good and suit- able buildings of every description, and while following his agricultural pur- suits, Mr. Ranger also worked for the Great Northern railroad, as timber inspector. In 1901, he came to Pelican Rapids, where he built a planing- mill, which he sold about seven years later, in 1908, since which time he has been a contractor in concrete work, in addition to which he owns a fine farm of one hundred acres in Lida township. Politically, Mr. Ranger is in sympathy with the policies of the Republican party, and has taken an active interest in local politics, holding the office of township assessor for about ten years, and has been assessor for the village of Pelican Rapids for five years. He also served on the school board during the entire time he lived in Lida township.
John M. Ranger was united in marriage to Minnie J. Herrman, by whom he has had the following children: Merton, Lester, Jennie, Harry, Earl, John, William, Violet and Donald.
Mr. Ranger is a man in whom everyone has confidence, and one true to every trust reposed in him.
HARRY E. FRAZEE.
Harry E. Frazee was born in New York Mills, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, on January 18, 1873. He is the son of Randolph L. and Mary ( Brant ) Frazee, the former was a native of Vinton county, Ohio, and the latter was born in Germany. Randolph Frazee was looked upon as one of the most prominent men of his time, in the county in which he resided. Having played a part in the very beginning of community life around l'elican Rapids, he became widely known throughout that section of the state which marked the scene of his endeavors.
The educational training of Harry E. Frazee was begun in the common schools of Frazee City. Later, he attended the Bishop Whipple school at Moorhead, Minnesota, from 1885 until 1888. From 1888 to 1890, he took a course at the Moorhead Normal school, and after leaving that institution. took some work in the high school at Minneapolis, where he remained only a short time. In June, 1891, he joined his father in Pelican Rapids, where he became an assistant in the Frazee mill of that place. Since that time his interest in the mill has never abated. In 1897, Harry E. Frazee, in part- nership with his brother. P. C. Frazee, leased the mill belonging to their father for a period of one year. At the end of that time the father turned over the ownership and management of the mill to these two sons. In 1908, Harry Frazee bought from his brother, P. C. Frazee, the latter's share in the business, and since that time has been sole owner and operator of the
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concern. Mr. Frazee handles chiefly, flour, feed and grain, and he is also interested in coal. Mr. Frazee is a man of rare business ability, of broad judgment and progressive spirit, and his success in business has been due chiefly to habits of thrift, industry and application to duty.
In June, 1909, Harry Frazee was united in marriage to Susie A. Swien, a native of Northfield and the daughter of John Swien. Mr. and Mrs. Frazee are the parents of the following children: Robert E., Douglas L., and Harold E. In the social life of Pelican Rapids, Mrs. Frazee has also played a part. Mr. Frazee is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and also holds membership in the Elks lodge, at Fergus Falls.
NELS W. NELSON.
To the combined efforts of the representative and progressive business men, is the success of a community due, and to this class belongs the sub- ject of this sketch.
Nels W. Nelson, clothing merchant, Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, was born March 13. 1864, at Decorah, Iowa, and is a son of Knute and Gunel ( Holen ) Nelson. His education was obtained at the public schools of Ridgeway, Iowa, where he lived with his grandfather Nelson, assisting him on the farm. In 1884. he went to South Dakota, engaging his services as a clerk in a country store. In 1887 he went to Dell Rapids, South Dakota, where he clerked for about eleven years, and in the fall of 1902. he came to Pelican Rapids, and on October 17, of that year, he opened a clothing store, in which business he is still engaged.
Knute Nelson, father of Nels W., was born in Norway, as was also his wife, Gunel Holen. He was educated in the public schools of Norway, and came to America in 1859, locating for one year at Decorah, Iowa. In 1860, he moved to Rushford, Minnesota, where he spent the remainder of his life. About 1866, the cholera struck Rushford, and Mr. Nelson's brother, his wife, eldest daughter and youngest son, all died within three weeks. To Knute and Gunel ( Holen ) Nelson were born the following children : Lars, Martha, deceased; Bertha, Nels W., and Andrew, deceased.
Nels W. Nelson was united in marriage, November 15, 1893. to Carrie Blanes, to which union have been born three children, Guy, Ferdinand, and ('athleen.
Mr. Nelson is an intelligent, wide-awake merchant, and a pleasant man to meet, to which characteristic is largely due his business success. His reputation for. square dealing has also had its share in building up his busi- ness.
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ALFRED K. BONDY.
Although not an old man in years, the gentleman whose life record is herein ontlined has stamped his individuality upon the locality in which he resides in no uncertain manner, being a true type of the progressive and hustling American business man. The success attained by Alfred K. Bondy in his business affairs has been due much to his steady persistence, stern integrity and excellent judgment, qualities which have also won for him the confidence and esteem of the public to a marked degree. Personally, he is genial and friendly in his relations with others and has a wide acquaintance.
Alfred K. Bondy was born on May 3, 1882, in Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, and is the son of Knut W. and Anna Gurie ( Osmundeson ) Bondy, both of whom were natives of Norway, they having come to America in an early day and were married in Rich county. Minnesota. The elder Mr. Bondy changed his name from "Bonde" to "Bondy" after coming to America. to avoid confusion with many other settlers by the former name. He was a man of much force and character and attained considerable prominence in his community, having been a member of the state board of equalization and a member of the state Legislature, which positions he filled with credit to himself and with entire satisfaction to the people he represented.
Alfred K. Bondy, as a young boy, developed a desire for an education and after completing his common school course in Battle Lake he entered the Park Region Lutheran College where he finished the course in com- mercial work.
At the age of twenty Mr. Bondy engaged in business for himself as a meat merchant and the buying and selling of live stock, in which business he was successful. In 1910 he became associated with the Independent Silo and Milking Machine Company, of St. Paul. In this work he has advanced through the various stages of development, until he is at present the state representative for the company with offices in St. Paul. His work has been most satisfactory to the company and his advancement has been the result of diligent and conscientious desires to make good for the company and himself.
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