USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 84
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Nearly twenty years ago Thomas Nicholson retired from active farm- ing and the management of the place was assumed by his son, Joseph, who makes a specialty of breeding and raising Guernsey cattle and mule-footed hogs and is one of the leading agriculturists of that section. Thomas Nicholson and his wife were formerly members of the Episcopal church but he is now a member of the Congregational church. She died in 1893. The names of their ten children follow: Lizzie married Edward Slack and their home is in Chicago: Mary is the wife of John Richardson and they live in Compton, Illinois : Thomas is engaged in the livery business and lives in Amboy, Illinois; William is a farmer and his home is near Pickford, Michigan ; Maggie lives at home; Lincoln is a farmer and was last heard of in Arizona: Sarah is the wife of Lincoln Trent and their home is in Chicago, Illinois ; Joseph lives on the home place; L. C., the subject of this sketch; Ed is a farmer and lives in Dunn township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota.
L. C. Nicholson was educated in the schools of Lee county, Illinois, following which he operated the home place, in partnership with his brother, Joseph, for one year and then rented a place for himself. This farm he retained until 1910 and then removed to Floyd county, Iowa, where he pur- chased eighty acres of land on which he remained for three years. In the
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spring of 1913, he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota and purchased one hundred and fifty-six acres in section 36, it being the old Barney Phillips place. This farm is devoted to general agriculture and stock raising.
MARCUS P. MAURIN.
Marcus P. Maurin is one of the representative business men of Eliza- beth, Otter Tail county, and has taken great interest in the civic affairs of the community. His birth occurred on February 8, 1876, in Elizabeth, Otter Tail county. He was educated in the public schools of his native town dur- ing the early years of his life, later becoming a student in St. John's Univer- sity for two years, from 1891 until 1893. Upon the completion of his student days, he became connected with the business interests which his father had established and in which he has continued until the present time. This business was incorporated in 1912, and since that time Marcus P. Maurin has acted in the capacity of secretary and treasurer. He is also administra- tor of his father's estate.
On April 6, 1910, Marcus P. Maurin was united in marriage to Irene Barron, and they are the parents of one child, Marcus P. Maurin, Jr., who was born on February 13, 1914. Irene (Barron) Maurin was born on September 12, 1891, and was the daughter of Harry and Bertha (Lill) Bar- ron. Her death occurred on February 25, 1914.
Marcus P. Maurin is a member of the Catholic church and also a mem- ber of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.
OTTO A. FURRNES.
Otto A. Furrnes, a successful farmer of Otter Tail county, was born at Skage, north of Trondhjem, Norway, March 27, 1864, and is a son of Alexander and Dorothy ( Lestum) Furrnes, who were also natives of that same country. Mrs. Dorothy Furrnes died in her native land and her hus- band is still living in that country, where he is a farmer and where he formerly owned land. He is now living retired. Alexander Furrnes and wife were the parents of thirteen children, as follow: Olava, Erin, who died in infancy : Erin II, Otto A., Matheas, Samuel, Andreas, Anna, Axel, Dorothy, Johanna, Adolph, and Sophia, who died in infancy. Eleven chil- dren of this family are still living, and ten of them live in Norway. Andreas, who spent some time in America, returned to his native land after a visit to Washington and Alaska.
Otto A. Furrnes was educated in the public schools of his native land and emigrated to America in 1887. After landing in New York City,
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March 27, 1887, he went to Thompson. Minnesota, where he worked in a saw-mill for about a year and one-half. Subsequently, however, he removed to Otter Tail county, and worked on farms in the neighborhood of where he first located, continuing at farm work for a number of years. In 1894 he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Tordenskjold township, but lived on an adjoining farm and worked by the month. In 1909 he bought the farm of one hundred and twenty acres where he now lives, and which adjoins his original eighty-acre farm. Mr. Furrnes is engaged in general farming and has been very successful in the raising of all crops common to this region.
In 1898 Otto A. Furrnes returned to Norway, and was there married to Mrs. Maria Ecker, a native of Norway, and the daughter of Andreas Hummer. Ten years after their marriage, in 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Furrnes returned to Norway for a visit among their relatives and friends. They are the parents of two children, Johannes and Dagne.
Since coming to America Mr. Furrnes has been actively identified with the Republican party, and has been more or less prominent in its councils in his locality. He is a good farmer, a good citizen and a good neighbor.
KNUT GUNDERSON.
Knut Gunderson was born near Christiania, Norway, March 26, 1863, the son of Gunder and Berit (Johannesdatter) Torgenson, who were born in that same neighborhood and there married. In the year 1885 they came to America and settled in Folden township, this county, where they bought eighty acres of uncleared and unimproved land, which Gunder Torgenson cleared and on which he built a house and other buildings necessary for comfort and for convenience. Gunder and Berit Torgenson lived on this place until the year 1902, when Gunder Torgenson died during the month of September. his wife Berit having preceded him in death by only six months. To the marriage of Gunder and Berit Torgenson were born the following children: Gunhild, who lives in Folden township; Torger, who is a farmer of Folden township; Olena, who married Gule Vatnos and lives in Folden township; Martha, who married Elef Olson and lives in Folden township: Kari, who married Andrew Olson and lives in Folden township: Knut, the subject of this sketch, and Jennie, who married Chris Gordon and lives at Brainerd, Minnesota.
Knut Gunderson was educated and spent his boyhood days in his native land. In 1882, three years before the coming of his parents, he came to America and went to the state of Wisconsin, where he lived for two years and then, in the year 1884, he came to the state of Minnesota and settled in Otter Tail county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of unim-
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proved land in Folden township, land which he cleared and improved by the erection of a house and other buildings, structures which are yet in use.
During the year 1888. Knut Gunderson was married to Maria Rak- stad, who was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, May 17, 1872, the daugh- ter of Peter and Betsey ( Severson ) Rakstad, who were natives of Norway, and who at an early date came to America and to Fillmore county, Minne- sota, where they settled and in the year 1883 came to Folden township.
To Knut and Maria Gunderson were born the following children : Ouidja, who married Olaf Johnson and lives at Colfax, North Dakota; Gunda, who died in infancy; Gunda, who married Clarence Boles, and lives at Colfax, North Dakota: Olga, who is deceased; Petra, who married Oscar Olson, a farmer who lives at Parkers Prairie, this county; Gunder, who died at the age of sixteen years; Matilda. Thea, Nettie, Orve and Hazel.
Knut Gunderson and his wife are devout members of the Lutheran . church at Folden, a congregation in which they are respected and appreciated members. In politics, Mr. Gunderson is an ardent Republican.
RUDOLPH JACOBSON.
Rudolph Jacobson is a successful young farmer of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, who was born at Calumet, Michigan, July 21, 1883, where his parents, Hogen and Karen ( Hendrickson) Jacobson, who were natives of Norway, had settled after coming to America. They had been married. however, after arriving in the United States. Mr. Jacobson's father, who had taken up mining for about twenty years after his marriage, lived at Calumet, Michigan, for about thirty-two years, and then followed the paint- er's trade for about twelve years. In 1899 he emigrated to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty- five acres in Tordenskjold township. After having settled on his farm in this county, he cleared and drained a considerable portion of it, erected modern buildings upon the farm, and here he lived until his death in 1911. His wife, the mother of Mr. Jacobson, is still living.
The late Hogen Jacobson was an ardent temperance worker, and was a charter member of the first Norwegian temperance society in America. This association was organized in 1874. As a matter of fact, there was a society organized in New York City by Adolph Peterson in 1873, but this was a Swedish temperance society. The late Hogen Jacobson was treasurer of the Norwegian temperance society from the time of its organization until he left the state of Michigan. He was a member of the Lutheran church in Calumet, and his wife is a member of the same denomination in Otter Tail county. Mr. and Mrs. Hogen Jacobson were the parents of nine chil-
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dren : Albert, a machinist of Minneapolis; Barney, a resident of Jennings, Michigan, is engaged in railroad work; Leonard, the third in order of birth, whose whereabouts are unknown: Rudolph, the immediate subject of this sketch: Hjelmar, who died in infancy; Samuel, who died at the age of six- teen years; Clara married Victor Bosquet and they live at Maddock, North Dakota; Laura and Flora, both living at home with their mother.
Rudolph Jacobson received his education in the public schools of Calu- met, Michigan. After finishing his school training, he worked for a time on the farm and then worked at the machinist's trade in Minneapolis. Since 1911, however, he has been engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Jacobson is unmarried. He is independent in politics and is a member of the Free Lutheran church.
JOHN CARLSON.
.Among the. well-known merchants of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and especially among the successful hardware dealers of the county, is Jolin Carlson, who is the proprietor of a prosperous business at Almora.
Mr. Carlson is a native of Norway, where he was born on November 4, 1874. He is the son of Carl and Anna (Amundson ) Olson, both of whom were natives of Norway, being born in 1845 and 1848, respectively. They came to Wisconsin in 1881 and settled in Polk county in July, of that year. A little later they moved to Barron county, Wisconsin, and purchased eighty acres of land. There the family lived until 1900, at which time Mr. Olson came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Elmo township. After selling this farm, he purchased forty acres in the same township, where he has lived ever since 1902. He is now retired. To Carl and Anna ( Amundson) Olson were born six chil- dren. Amund. Anton. John, Peter, Ole (deceased) and Anna.
John Carlson was reared on a farm in Barron county, Wisconsin, and lived there until nineteen years of age, attending the public schools of Barron county. When Mr. Carlson was nineteen years old, he was employed as a clerk and as a tinner at Rice Lake, Wisconsin, for one and one-half years. Later he moved to Prairie Farm, 'in Barron county, Wisconsin, and acted as manager of a general store for two and one-half years. He then engaged in the grocery and confectionery business in the same place and remained in business until 1903. when he came to Parkers Prairie, in Otter Tail county. He acted as clerk for John P. Post in his general store for three years and then moved to Almora, Minnesota, in September. 1908, and engaged in the general mercantile and hardware business. Some years ago Mr. Carlson erected a splendid building in which his business is housed. The structure
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is forty-two by sixty feet. Mr. Carlson has been very successful and has a large and growing patronage in this community.
In 1898 John Carlson was married to Linnie Elseth, who was born at Menomonie, Wisconsin, in 1878. She died in 1903. Three years later, Mr. Carlson was married to Mina Olson, of Otter Tail county. She was born in Parkers Prairie in 1887, the daughter of Paul and Mary (Erickson) Olson. They were natives of Norway and in 1870 came to Parkers Prairie township. Otter Tail county, and homesteaded land, where they lived for forty-three years. During the last two years they have lived at Clitherall. Mrs. Carlson's mother died in 1894.
By his first marriage, Mr. Carlson was the father of one child, Verna Ovedia. By his second marriage there were born two children, Elnora and Parmer.
The Carlsons are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Carlson is a stockholder in the Almora Co-operative Creamery Company and has served as clerk of the building committee when several of the school buildings in this vicinity have been erected. He is known in this county as a prosperous, influential and popular citizen.
HERMAN BURAU.
Herman Burau, deceased, was born on December 15, 1847, in Ger- many, and after the death of his father, came with his mother to America and settled in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he took up a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he later added forty acres more, making in all, two hundred acres at the time of his death. He was a blacksmith by trade, and conducted a shop at Elizabeth, being the first blacksmith in the town. He was a very progressive and prosperous man, and was an earnest member of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Buran put valuable improvements on his homestead, including a substantial house, which was built thirty-eight years ago.
On October 21. 1868, Herman Burau was married to Mary Nigler. daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Arn) Nigler. She was born on Jan- ary 17. 1850, in Switzerland, and came with her parents to America in 1852. To Herman and Mary ( Nigler ) Burau were born the following children : Rose, Mary, Charles, Helen, Emma, Bertha, Herman, Frank, John and Ray- mond, all of whom are now living. Rose Burau became the wife of Peter Wilmes and resides at Glen Ullin, North Dakota: Charles was married to Minnie Godfrey, and resides at Elizabeth; Helen became the wife of E. A. Forder and resides at Chisholm, Minnesota: Emma was married to Joseph Miller and lives at Elgin, North Dakota ; Bertha is now Mrs. James Williams
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and lives at Grand Forks, North Dakota; Herman was married to Martha Becker and lives at Elizabeth, Minnesota ; Jolin was united in marriage with Anna Johnson; Rose Burau, the eldest of this family of children, was the first white child born in Otter Tail county, Minnesota; the others were all born on the home place.
Frank Burau, the eighth child of Herman and Mary ( Nigler ) Burau, was born on April 26, 1885, at Elizabeth, Minnesota, and is unmarried. He lives on the old homestead and takes care of the place, which is located a quarter of a mile from Elizabeth. He is one of the progressive and up-to-date farmers of Otter Tail county, possessing a keen foresight along the lines of agriculture.
Rudolph and Elizabeth (Arn) Nigler, parents of Mrs. Herman Burau, were both born in Switzerland, and came to America in 1852, locating first in Ohio and from there they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Mr. Nigler was engaged in business for several years, conducting a general store and a hotel, finally coming to Elizabeth in 1868, and taking up a homestead one and one-half miles west of that town. The farm consisted of one hun- dred and sixty acres, and was their home until their death. Politically, Mr. Nigler was a Democrat, and always took an active part in local politics. Both Mr. Nigler and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, and it was through him that the town of Elizabeth, Minnesota, was started, the place being named for his wife, Elizabeth (Arn) Nigler. They were the parents of the following children : Louise, Mary Ann, Rose, Minnie, Mary, Adolph and Edward; and reared Andrew, an adopted child.
JAMES DAVIS.
James Davis is a native of Otsego county, New York, and his birthi occurred on November 26, 1825. He is one of thirteen children born to the union of Ezra Davis and Sabra Somers, both natives of Otsego county, New York, having been born near the town of Cherry Valley. The names of their children follow: Anna Maria, Roswald, Joel, John, Andrew, James, Ezra, Rhoda, Sally, Elmira and Louisa. Two other children are deceased.
James Davis became an employee in a cotton factory near New Berlin, Otsego county, New York, at the age of eight years and remained as an employee of that institution until the age of twenty-two. By close economy he had saved some money and with it removed to Wisconsin, where he pur- chased forty acres of land near Waupun, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and engaged in agricultural pursuits for nearly six years. He then sold the farm and removed to Houston county, Minnesota, where he located for a
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short time only, finally removing to Mower county, where he purchased eighty acres of land. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in which company he served as a musician for three years. He was present at the battles of luka, Corinth and at the siege of Vicksburg, also at the battle of Black River bridge. While stationed at Vicksburg, Mississippi, he was taken ill with fever and for two weeks received treatment in a fieldl hospital. After his recovery from this illness he joined his regiment at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, where he was engaged in picket duty along the railroad. He also marched with Sherman to the sea, returning home from Savannah, Georgia, by the way of New York City. Immediately upon his return to Minnesota, he again engaged in agricultural pursuits which he has continued to the present time.
On April 4, 1847. James Davis was united in marriage to Evelyn Cronkhite, daughter of Jeremiah Cronkhite, and of their union eight chil- dren were born: Lucy, Frances, Cyrus, James, Jeremiah, Joel, Alva and Malina. Lucy married Austin Laughlin and her death occurred in Maine township, this county; Frances is the widow of George Plowman and resides in Becker county, Minnesota; Cyrus left the parental roof many years ago and his whereabouts is unknown; James is a drayman and makes his home in California: Jeremiah is engaged in farming near Harlowton, Montana ; Joel resides at Gillette, Montana; Alva lives in California, and Malina makes her home in Becker, Minnesota, where she lives with her husband, Finneas Austin. Evelyn ( Cronkhite ) Davis was married at New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, and after forty-three years of service to her family passed away on April 9, 1866, leaving her husband and eight children to mourn her loss.
On November 28, 1867, James Davis was married, secondly, to Eliza Epler, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Cressey) Epler, and to this union ten children were born: Sophia, David C., Mattie ( deceased). Ervin E., John E., Nelson, Lilly May, Clara, Custis (deceased) and Cora E. Sophia married Charles Clintsman and they live in section 2 in Amor town- ship, this county; David C. is a merchant in Dead Lake township; Ervin is a farmer living in Amor township: John F. is a traveling salesman and his home is in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lilly May died at the age of nineteen years : Clara married John A. Gaylord and lives in Amor township: Cora E. is the wife of John I .. Bixby and lives in Dead Lake township, this county. The maternal grandparents of these children removed from New Jersey to Illinois and thence to Mower county, Minnesota, where their deaths occurred. Joseph Epler having died on April 20. 1880 and his wife, Hannah (Cressey) Epler, on February 17, 1899.
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After his second marriage James Davis remained in Mower county, Minnesota, for some years but later moved to the town of Carpenter, Iowa. where he remained for eighteen months, removing to Otter Tail county. Minnesota, in the spring of 1878, where he purchased a homestead (soldier's right ) in section 2, Amor township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. This was virgin land, uncleared and unimproved, but a small clear- ing was soon made in the woods near the river, and on this a cabin was built in which the family lived for six years. In addition to cultivating this farm, James Davis was engaged in other labors and has continued to reside on the one place until the present time. Eighty acres of the original homestead was sold and eighty acres retained. James Davis is independent in his political faith, reserving the right to cast his ballot in favor of the best man. Religiously James Davis and his wife are both members of the Seventh-Day Adventist church, which denomination receives their active co-operation and support.
DAVID C. DAVIS.
David C. Davis is one of ten children born to the union of James and Eliza ( Epler ) Davis, and his birth occurred on January 13, 1872, in Mower county, Minnesota. His education was received in the public schools of Otter Tail county, after which he became a student in the Park Region Lutheran College, returning to the home place at the completion of his student days. He purchased forty acres of government land in Dead Lake township on which he remained for five years. This land was unimproved but under the management of David C. Davis was soon ready for cultivation. After selling this farm he purchased eighty acres of the old homestead, which he cultivated for a period of ten years, trading same, in the spring of 1915, for eleven acres of Dead Lake property. This property included the Boswood store which carries a large stock of general merchandise.
On December 15, 1898, David C. Davis was united in marriage to Lulu Mills, daughter of Edward C. and Ella Harriett Mills, pioneers in Swift county, Minnesota. Lulu ( Mills) Davis is a native of Swift county and her union has been blessed with four children: Vivy, Iva. Eva and Bessie Madge. Edward C. Mills was a farmer and a resident in former years, of Arkansas, removing to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in 1893, later remov- ing to Becker county. Minnesota, in 1902, where he still lives. He is a native of Vermont and his wife a native of Illinois.
David C. Davis is independent in his political faith, recognizing the dictates of no creed in his right of franchise. He has been a member of the school board for a period of ten years.
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OLE P. NESS.
Ole P. Ness, who is well known as a farmer in Everts township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, but who, for many years, was engaged in railroad work, was born in Norway, April 10, 1859, and is a son of Halver and Ellen ( Petersen ) Ness, both of whom were natives of Norway, his father's birth occurring on July 7, 1828, and his mother's in 1830.
In 1883 Halver Ness and his family came to Minnesota, from their native land, and here took up one hundred and sixty acres of land in Mar- shall county, which their son, Ole P., now owns. The family remained in Marshall county about eighteen years, and Halver Ness now lives with his son, his wife having died in 1905. Halver Ness and his wife were the par- ents of five children, of whom John and Hilda are deceased. The living children are Ole P., Torvald and August.
Educated in the public schools of his native land, Ole P. Ness came to America in 1880, settling in Everts township. In 1882 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, later adding forty acres in one tract, and twenty-nine acres in another, and he is now the owner of one hundred and eighty-nine acres in Everts township, besides one hundred and sixty acres in Marshall county, Minnesota. Mr. Ness is a general farmer and stock- man, and has met with a very commendable degree of success in his chosen calling.
In 1883 Ole P. Ness began working in the round-house at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The next year he became a fireman on the railroad, and five years later was promoted to the post of engineer, holding this posi- tion for several years on the Great Northern railroad. For a time he was located at Barnesville, Minnesota, as inspector of engines. Later he settled in Marshall county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming. In 1907 he removed to his farm in Everts township.
Ole P. Ness was married in 1893 to Bertha Ellstad, who was born in Decorah, lowa, and who is a daughter of Tollef and Margaret Ellstad, early settlers in lowa, who came from Norway. Both are now deceased. By this first marriage of Mr. Ness there were four children born, of whom Elmer, the youngest born, is deceased. The living children are Hilda, Lillian and John. The mother of these children died in 1902, and some years later Mr. Ness married Clara Aune, who was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 19, 1886. She is a daughter of Ole and Margaret ( Wigen ) Aune, the former of whom was born in Norway in 1853, and the latter in 1863 in the same country. Ole Vune came to Minneapolis in 1882, and Margaret Wigen came to this country in the same year. They were married in Minneapolis in 1885. and are now living in Marshall county, Minnesota. Mrs. Ness's mother was a daughter of Berndt Wigen and wife, natives of
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