USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 83
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Thomas Carew, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the
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schools of Canada, after which he came to the state of Minnesota, and located, on October 4, 1865, at Red Wing, where he worked for four years as a driver of ox teams, work for which he was paid the sum of fifty dollars per month, from the proceeds of which he saved, during eighteen months, five hundred dollars, with which he bought personal property, which he later sold and then moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 27, Buse town- ship, Otter Tail county, land which he improved, at first with crude build- ings, then later replacing these structures with more substantial improve- ments. On this place Thomas Carew lived for some years and then selling his land he moved to Deer Creek township and invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he now lives and engages in general farming together with dairying, he keeping about fifteen cows and twenty young cattle, which furnish for the market one hundred and twenty pounds of cream each week.
Thomas Carew is a man of many varied experiences in life, among the more interesting of which were his days as a trapper. Being unable to secure work at the town of Fergus Falls, on arriving there, he walked to the town of Alexandria, Minnesota, there spending four of his five dollars for traps with which he was able to catch, during the winter, more than eight hundred muskrats, as well as large numbers of other animals, having a market value. Following his season as a trapper, Mr. Carew built a kiln, from which he furnished the lime used in the first bank building of Fergus Falls. Many of the early buildings in Fergus Falls were made possible by the efforts of Mr. Carew, who furnished material and who later having learned the carpenter trade, devoted his time to a line of work which was not as yet plentiful in the community.
On October 15, 1867. Thomas Carew was married to Ella C. Parker, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, the daughter of James Parker and wife, James Parker being a farmer and country store keeper. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Carew were born four children. Ernest O., Arden .A., James P' .. and Emily G., who is deceased. Ella, the wife of Thomas Carew. died on November 23, 1886, survived by her husband and three children.
In the various lines of activity represented in Deer Creek township, few men have taken a more important or more helpful part than has Thomas Carew, who, though now seventy-five years of age and having served his community long and well, is yet interested and active in all those things which promote the welfare of the locality. In public office Mr. Carew has a long and honorable record, having served the township as school treasurer for thirty years, during which time he was instrumental in an effort which resulted in the building of three school houses. For sixteen years Mr.
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Carew was township clerk, and for four years he was justice of the peace. He also enumerated the census of the town of Deer Creek for the govern- ment, three times in forty years. As a church worker, Mr. Carew has been active, having served for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school of the Methodist Episcopal church at Deer Creek. In the business world he is well known as a shareholder in the Farmers Store at Nanola, Minnesota, and also as stockholder in the Henning Creamery Company, at Henning, Minnesota.
NELS PARSON.
Successful as a farmer in Clitherall township, Otter Tail county, Nels Parson is one of the best-known young men in the county. He was born on the farm where he now lives on January 29, 1874, and is the son of Par and Ealna (Olson) Parson, who were born at Skona, Sweden, the former on November 14, 1831, and the latter on January 3, 1832.
Mr. Parson's father was married in his native land and came to America with his first wife, about 1870. They settled on the farm now occupied by Nels Parson and which is situated in sections 21 and 22. Here he built a house and was just well started in the world, when his wife died. After her death in 1872, he was married to Ealna Olson and continued to live on the same farm. Mr. Parson's mother had come alone to America about 1871. When the Parson family settled in this vicinity, the country was covered with Indian trails and abounded in wild animals. On the southern part of the farm about forty rods from the house, the Indians had a camp- ing ground and they were always friendly. Mr. Parson broke his land and cleared the timber from the farm and lived here until his death on Novem- ber 5, 1914. Mr. Parson's mother is still living and enjoying good health. She is a member of the Lutheran church, as was also her husband.
By his first marriage, Par Parson had two daughters, Ellen, who mar- ried Edwin Lundby and lives in Clitherall township, and Hannah, who mar- ried Ole Peterson and lives in Eagle Lake township. To the second mar- riage, there were also born two children, Nels, the subject of this sketch, and Sadie, who married Andie Okerlund and lives at Kelliher, Minnesota.
Nels Parson received a common-school education and was reared on his father's farm. He has been practically in charge of the farm since he was sixteen years old. In 1897 he purchased the farm and has continued to live here. All of the buildings have been improved and repaired. Mr. Parson is a general farmer and stockman and makes a specialty of raising dairy cattle. At the present time, he has ten or twelve head of cows. He also generally keeps a herd for feeding.
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On September 16, 1898, Mr. Parson was married to Anna Nelson, a native of Sweden and the daughter of Nels and Ellen ( Nelson ) Johnson. Mrs. Parson's father is still living, but her mother died in Sweden. Mrs. Parson came to America with one brother and two sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Parson are the parents of eight children, Victoria, Anton, Lincoln, Lillian. Ruth and Ruben, twins; Anna, and Mabel,
Mr. Parson is identified with the Republican party in political matters. Hle has served in various school offices and has also served as road overseer. Mr. and Mrs. Parson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church.
LOTH HOLM.
Enjoying distinctive prestige as an adopted citizen and agriculturist of Parkers Prairie township. Otter Tail county, the gentleman whose history follows, is a descendant of Swedish ancestry, and who first looked upon the light in the land of his forefathers, now represents substantial industry and progressiveness in America, which has for many years been his home.
Loth Holm, farmer, Parkers Prairie township. Otter Tail county, was born on April 2. 1855, in Sweden, and is a son of Swan and Anna ( Nelson ) llolm. His education was obtained at the public schools of his native coun- try, where he followed farming, and was for a time engaged in railroad work, coming, in 1881, to the United States, arriving on June 3. of that year. The first year of his citizenship in this country was spent at Stillwater, Min- nesota, and in July, 1882, he came to Otter Tail county, where he bought his present farm, to which he afterward added forty acres more. Mr. Holm divides his attention between general farming and the breeding of thorough- bred Poland China hogs, of which he has some very fine specimens. He has put all the improvements on his place, including a commodious barn, erected in 1915, and is now building a substantial modern dwelling. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never taken an active interest in local politics. Religiously, his membership is with the Swedish Lutheran church.
Swan and Anna ( Nelson) Holm, parents of Loth, were both born in Sweden, where they lived and died. They were farmers, and were the par- ents of seven children, Loth being the only one to come to America.
Loth Holm was united in marriage, in 1889 to Lizzie Rosenquest, by whom he has had seven children-Melvin. Anna, Hilma. Agnes, Marie, Reu- ben and Erne. Mrs. Holm died on September 23. 1907. and the daughter, Agnes, died three years later.
Mr. Holm holds the respect of the entire community in which he makes his home, and where he has reared the children to be useful and honored citizens.
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GEORGE HUGGETT.
One of the best-known and most highly respected farmers and citizens of Girard township. Otter Tail county, is George Huggett, who was born at Levanna, Cayuga county, New York, October 14. 1852, and who is the son of William and Rebecca ( Warden ) Huggett.
Mr. Huggett's father was a native of Surrey, England, born on August 9, 1822, and his mother was a native of Sussex, England, born on Novem- ber 8, 1825. They were married on January 1, 1850, in England, and, on April 1, of the same year, started for America. They landed in New York city after a voyage of five weeks and subsequently settled in Cayuga county, New York. In 1856 they inimigrated to Wisconsin and located in Dodge county. In 1867 they moved to Waupaca county and here Mrs. Rebecca Huggett died in 1869. In 1878 Mr. Huggett moved to Douglas county, Minnesota, trading his Wisconsin farm for land in Douglas county. In 1882 he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota and there lived a short time, after which he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he died on July 12, 1906. During the Civil War, he served in the Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry for nine months. His wife was a member of the Methodist church, but he was a member of the Con- gregational church. They were the parents of eight children, of whom one, Martin R., died in 1902. The living children are, George, Mary J., P. W., Etta E., Sarah Jane, Anna E. and Rebecca A.
George Huggett attended school only about one hundred days in his whole life, in Dodge county, Wisconsin. When he was fifteen years old, he moved with his parents to Waupaca county, Wisconsin, and there, in 1875. he was married to Mary A. Shelly, who was born in Milwaukee, Wis- consin, September 25. 1854. She was the daughter of Volney K. and Eliza- beth ( Demming) Shelly, who lived at Hartford, Wisconsin, where she was born. Mrs. Huggett's father was a native of New York, and died at Matoon, in Shawano county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. George Huggett have twelve children, Mary E., Martha A., George W., Maud A. and Melvin T., twins: William V., Olive, Jennie, Martin R., Earl, Bessie and Blanche. Mrs. George Huggett died on March 17. 1905, and in June, 1906, Mr. Hug- gett was married to Mrs. Mary Fulton, of Oconto, in Oconto county, Wis- consin.
On February 17, 1878. Mr. Huggett came to Douglas county, Minne- sota, and in June of that year, he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres in St. Olaf township. Otter Tail county, adding to this farm until he owned at one time three hundred and fifty-four acres of land. Mr. Huggett lived upon this farm until 1906 when he moved to Fergus Falls,
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where he lived for three years. In 1909 he moved to Girard township, where he owns four hundred acres of land, which he has greatly improved. Mr. Huggett has a fine residence, which he built in 1914. He is well known in Girard township as a stock breeder, specializing in Shropshire sheep and Duroc-Jersey hogs.
Mr. Huggett served as a member of the St. Olaf township board for seven years and. for six years, was chairman of the board of supervisors in Girard township. He is a Republican in politics and has been active in local politics all of his life. For three years he was a director of the local schools and for twenty-two years, was treasurer of the school corporation. He is president of the local Farmers Society of Equity and is also president of the Henning Shipping Association.
OTHO A. AUSTIN.
Otho A. Austin, a retired citizen of New York Mills, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on March 2, 1856. Mr. Austin is the son of Theodore and Susan (Keely) Austin, the former of whom was born in Dutchess county, New York, July 27, 1813, and the latter in Pennsylvania. September 18, 1818. Mr. Austin's maternal grand- father was Henry Keely.
After their marriage in the Keystone state, Theodore and Susan (Keely) Austin immigrated to Montgomery county, Indiana. Theodore Austin was a pattern-maker by trade. He came to Otter Tail county in 1873. driving through from Illinois. After living for one summer in New- ton township he returned to Illinois, but in 1875 came back to Newton town- ship, driving overland once more. He died in Otter Tail county on Febru- ary 12, 1898, and his wife died in this county on October 30, 1001. They were the parents of five children: Theron ( deceased), Grace, Henry ( deceased ). Jerome and Otho.
Otho A. Austin was reared principally in Indiana. When he was thir- teen years old he moved to Potomac, Illinois, and, on May 10, 1873, came to Otter Tail county with his parents. He returned to the state of Illinois but later, on December 30. 1875. came back to Otter Tail county, and in 1877 took a homestead of eighty acres in section 28, Newton township. Subsequently, however, Mr. Austin gave up this homestead in Newton town- ship. His father had taken a homestead of forty acres and Otho .\. bought his father's interest. Later he sold out and moved to New York Mills.
On March 2, 1882. Mr. Austin began work as a bookkeeper in the gen- eral mercantile store of Olof Pary. After working for Mr. Pary for twelve years, Mr. Austin purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres
OTHO A. AUSTIN.
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in section 27, of Homestead township. Gradually he improved this farm and with his family lived on the farm for twenty years. However, he finally sokl out and returned to New York Mills. In 1915 he erected a splendid residence in New York Mills, where he now lives. Mr. Austin has bought and sold a great deal of property in Otter Tail county. He became postmaster on January 15, 1898, and was postmaster for over fourteen years in succession. He has also served on the school board in New York Mills and was also village recorder for a number of years. He has also served as president of the village. In politics, Mr. Austin is identi- fied with the Republican party.
Otho A. Austin's wife, before her marriage, was Grace Green, who was born in Sweden. Her parents died when she was a child and she was adopted by a Mr. Green. Her father's name, however, was Peterson. Mr. and Mrs. Austin are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living, Susie, who is the wife of Orlo Wilcox, of North Dakota; Fannie I., who is the wife of W. P. Telin, of New York Mills: Stanley A., who home- steaded land in Montana in 1913; Theodore E., Clarence A., Ralph H., Mae B. and Grace Lois.
PETER PETERSEN.
Peter Petersen, a prosperous farmer of Inman township, Otter Tail county, was born October 1, 1863, in Sweden, and is a son of Peter and Ellen Petersen, both of whom were born and reared in Sweden. Mr. Peter- sen's father died in 1874, at the age of fifty years, and his mother in 1913, at the age of eighty-three. There were seven children born to Peter Peter- sen and wife, of whom Andrew, Daniel, Elsie and Mary are deceased. The living children are Martin, Peter and Olof.
Peter Petersen received his educational training in the public schools of his native land, and when twenty-three years old, in 1886, came to America, and settled at Deer Creek, in Otter Tail county. For a number of years he worked on neighboring farms. Later, he took up contract work and was engaged in this for several years. Finally, Mr. Petersen engaged in farming, and in 1910, purchased eighty acres of land in section II, Inman township. This farm is now known as the Nels Isakson farm. Mr. Petersen carries on a general system of farming and stock raising, and has been very successful in this vocation since coming to America.
In 1910 Mr. Petersen was married to Mrs. Nels Isakson, the widow of Nels Isakson, who was a son of Isaac and Betsey Johnson, mentioned else- where in this work. By her first marriage to Nels Isakson, Mrs. Petersen became the mother of six children, Esther, Roy, Nina, Arthur, Mabel and (50b)
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Alice. Peter Petersen and wife are the parents of two children, Nels and Ruby.
Mr. and Mrs. Petersen are earnest members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Petersen has been more or less prominent in local politics ever since coming to this county, and is now clerk of the local school board.
Mrs. Petersen, before her marriage to Nels Isakson, was the daughter of Ole I. and Rebecca ( Halverson ) Saetre, both of whom were natives of Norway. Mrs. Petersen's father was born in 1845, and died in Norway in 1893. Her mother was born in 1847, and in March, 1914, came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and is now living with her son, Hans O. Saetre, proprietor of a well-known hotel and livery in Otter Tail county. Ole I. and Rebecca ( Halverson) Saetre were the parents of four sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. The sons are Hans O., Ivar, John and Peter. The daughters are Mary, Lena and Minnie.
HANS NESVOLD.
Hans Nesvold is one of three children born of the union of Peter Nes- vold and Mary Norman and his birth occurred on February II, 1863. in Norway, the native home of his parents. Peter Nesvold immigrated to America in 1881 and arrived in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on August II of that year. Three years following his arrival in the United States, he pur- chased eighty acres of land on which he has since resided. The names of his three children are: Lovna, Hans and Hannah. The paternal grand- parents of Hans Nesvold were Lawrence and Ellen Nesvold, both natives of Norway who lived and died in their native country. The maternal grandparents of Hans Nesvold also lived and died in their native land of Norway.
Hans Nesvold is indebted to the schools of his native land for the edu- cation which he received, following which he engaged in agricultural pur- suits in connection with his parents. He has always resided under the parental roof-tree and, for the past eleven years, has had the entire manage- ment of the home place. He has erected the present buildings and has been instrumental in effecting many improvements, which have added to the value of the farm.
Mary ( Norman) Nesvold, mother of Hans Nesvold, passed away in 1904. leaving her husband and three children to mourn her loss. Hans Nes- vold was married to Mary Hanson in 1905. Mary ( Hanson ) Nesvold is a native of Tumuli township. Otter Tail county, but was reared and educated in Polk county, Minnesota. To the union of Mary ( Hanson) Nesvold and her husband five children have been born: Edna, Henry, Alice, Albert and
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Robert. All members of this family are affiliated with the Norwegian Lutheran church and are actively engaged in the furtherance of the creeds of that denomination. Hans Nesvold is much respected and well liked among his many friends and associates.
CHARLES SCHEER.
Charles Scheer was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, July 22, 1859, the son of Henry and Wilhelmina Louisa Scheer, who were natives of Ger- many, in which country they lived until the year 1855, when with his family Henry Scheer came to America and settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he owned a small farm and followed general agricultural pursuits. In 1877 Henry Scheer came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, here securing a farm on which he lived until his death in the month of May, 1900, having been preceded in death by his wife, who died in 1896. Henry and Wilhel- mina Scheer were the parents of the following children: Augusta, who mar- ried Fred Schacht and who later died near Elizabeth, Minnesota; Henry, who died near Erhard, Minnesota, in 1915; Louise, who married Louis Candaux and lives in Elizabeth township; Charles, the subject of this sketch; August, who lives a retired life in Elizabeth township, and William, who died when twenty years of age, the latter two being twins.
Charles Scheer was educated in the public schools of Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in the common schools of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, after which he worked on the farm of his father for some years and then was given as a homestead the railroad land which was owned by his father, land to which Charles Scheer added by purchase until at the time of his death this prosperous and successful farmer was the owner of four hundred and forty acres of choice land, all well improved with modern buildings, and cultivated to a degree of high productiveness.
On August 1. 1888. Charles Scheer was married to Elizabeth Was- muth, who was born in Germany, October 6. 1863, the daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth ( Hoffman ) Wasmuth, they being natives of Germany, in which country they lived their entire lives, Conrad Wasmuth having been a landowner and farmer. To the marriage of Charles and Elizabeth Scheer were born the following children: Anna, who married Neil White and lives in New Zealand: William, who lives on the old home farm in Erhard's Grove township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota; Mary, who was educated in the Pelican Rapids high school, from which she graduated in the year 1910, later attending and graduating from the Moorhead Normal College, in the year 1913, and is now a teacher in the schools at Fessenden, North Dakota; Ida, who was educated at the Moorhead Normal College, after which she
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taught school in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, for two years; Rosa, who is a stenographer at Fargo, North Dakota, and Charles and Esther who live at home.
Charles Scheer was a member and active worker in the German Evangel- ical church at Erhard, Minnesota, a congregation in which he was generally honored and appreciated for his efforts and support of the work and worship of this denomination.
In politics Charles Scheer was an ardent Republican, and though he took no especial part in the political life of the township and county, he was known as a man who had no small part in the development of the com- munity, through his successful efforts as a private citizen endeavoring to make his life of value in all possible ways.
Charles Scheer died on June 26, 1912, mourned by all who knew of his forceful and beneficent life, lived not alone for himself but for all.
JOHN KNUTSON.
Typical of the citizen of Norway who comes to this country and makes of himself a valued and appreciated part of the life of this nation, is John Knutson, the subject of this sketch. Hardy, persevering, resourceful, and determined in the effort to realize an ambition, and industrious, tactful and progressive, this type of citizenship which is fairly represented by John Knutson, has taken an important part in the life of Otter Tail county.
John Knutson was born in Norway, on January 7, 1859, the son of Knut and Mary ( Youngson) Ellefson, who were natives of Norway, where Knut Ellefson was a farmer during his entire life.
After his education in the schools of his native country, John Knutson, the subject of this sketch, learned the trade of a shoemaker, a line of work which he followed for ten years. In 1880 he came to America and located in St. Olaf township, Otter Tail county, where he worked as a farmer for some time. During 1884, he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land and, later, bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land, together with sixty acres of timber land, and he is engaged in general agricultural pursuits.
In 1882, John Knutson was married to Christie Ingebretson, to this marriage there being born the following children: Minnie. Engebret. Carl, Carrie, Julia, Edward, Torkel, Clarence, Andrew, Gena, Bennie, Clifford and Alice. John Knutson and his family are members of, and active work- ers in, the Norwegian Lutheran church of Dalton, Minnesota.
Mr. Knutson is an ardent Republican and while he supports his party faithfully, is ready at all times to join with any other party or movement
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which will aid in the life or conditions of the community. John Knutson and his wife, together with his family, are among the respected and esteemed people of the township and county, their part in the progress and develop- ment of the locality and its resources being well known.
L. C. NICHOLSON.
L. C. Nicholson was born on September 20, 1875, in Lee county, Illi- nois, the son of Thomas and Ann ( Burrows) Nicholson, both natives of England. Thomas Nicholson was born in 1826 and his wife was born in 1836. They grew to maturity and married in their native land and, some years later, immigrated to America in a sailing ship. Thomas Nicholson had formerly been to America and had purchased a tract of government land while here. He had then returned to England by way of California, in 1849, and on to Australia, returning to America with his bride. They located in Lee county, Illinois, with the intention of cultivating the farm which he had formerly purchased, but, to his dismay, was informed that it had been disposed of by well-meaning friends who were positive that he had been killed by the Indians. He then purchased two hundred acres of timber and prairie land in Lee county, on which he still resides. He is one of the pioneers of that community.
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