USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 86
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Mr. Kendall is a man of sterling qualities, and is highly esteemed in this neighborhood.
KASPER LAUSTEN.
Born in Denmark, March 9, 1843, Kasper Lausten, of Newton town- ship. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, herded cattle when he was a small boy and attended school in the winter. His parents were poor and he has made his own way in the world and is today rated as a self-made man.
Mr. Lausten's parents died in Denmark. He was educated in that country and, in 1878, settled at Norwood, Carver county, Minnesota, and six years later moved to Otter Tail county, where he took a homestead of forty acres in one tract and forty acres in another. He now owns eighty acres where he lives, besides forty acres in section 19. While a resident of Norwood, Mr. Lausten worked on the railroad as a section hand. He has cleared his land and has erected good buildings upon the farm.
In 1873 Kasper Lausten was married to Johanna Christina Nelson. who was born in Denmark. Mrs. Lausten's parents died in their native land. To Mr. and Mrs. Lausten have been born seven children, four of
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whom, Mary, Lewis, Anne and Louis, were born in Denmark. Lewis is deceased. Three children, Nicolena, Sophia and Lena, were born in this country. Nicolena was born in Carver county at Norwood, and is deceased. Sophia is the wife of William Rieman. Lena is the wife of Jerome Com- peau, of Cass Lake, Minnesota. Mrs. Lausten died on the old homestead farm on April 4, 1912. She was a good mother and a good wife and her loss was keenly felt. not only by her immediate relatives, but by a host of friends and neighbors. She was a devout member of the Lutheran church and her husband and children, who survive, are also members of that church.
NICOLAI HAAGENSON.
Nicolai Haagenson, farmer, stock raiser, prominent citizen and man of affairs in Oscar township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born on the Haagenson farm in Oscar township, November 6. 1886, the son of Nils and Marie (Johnson ) Haagenson, natives of Norway. Nils Haagenson is the son of Haagen Hermanson, who came to America and located in Nicollet county, Minnesota, where he farmed for a short time and then retired from active life and lived with his son, Ole Hermanson, for the remainder of his days.
Nils Haagenson was educated in the schools of his native land, and for a time after coming to America. when he was thirteen years of age. he attended classes in the public schools of Nicollet county, Minnesota, where he settled, with his parents, and with whom he lived until 1875, when he came to Otter Tail county, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 35. Oscar township. On this farm Nils Haagenson lived as a general farmer until 1910, when he moved to Fergus Falls, and now lives a retired life at that place. As a business man. Nils Haagenson is prominently connected. being a stockholder in the Fergus Falls National Bank; in the Scandia Bank, of the same city; he is interested in several financial institutions of North Dakota, and is heavily interested in the new Carlisle Bank, of Carlisle, Minnesota. He is an extensive landowner, own- ing large tracts of land in Minnesota and in North Dakota.
Nils Haagenson is a prominent member of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Carlisle, Minnesota, and is known as one of the chief workers and supporters of this denomination in Otter Tail county. Nils and Marie Haagenson are the parents of six children : Anna, Herman, John, Alfred. Emily and Nicolai.
Nicolai Haagenson was educated in the common schools of Oscar township, Otter Tail county, at Northwestern College, of Fergus Falls, and at the Darling Business College, at Fergus Falls, following which he became
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a student of agriculture at the Minnesota State University, and then he took charge of the home farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres in Oscar township. a place which Mr. Haagenson now cultivates as a general farmer, together with the raising of Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs. In addition to his present farm, Nicolai Haagenson is the owner of two hun- dred and forty acres of land elsewhere in Otter Tail county.
On June 23, 1910. Nicolai Haagenson was married to Inga Fjestad. of Carlisle, the daughter of Frank Fjestad and wife, well-known people of the community.
Frank Fjestad was born in Norway, November 12, 1847, and in 1867 came to America, locating first in the state of Wisconsin, where he lived for a short time and then moved to Texas, making his home in that state for one year. after which he returned to Wisconsin, and then later moved to Carlisle township, Otter Tail county. Minnesota, where he now lives as a prosperous farmer and landowner, being the owner of nine hundred and ninety acres of land, all well improved.
Nicolai Haagenson is a stockholder of the Carlisle Elevator Company. of the Carlisle Bank, and is heavily interested in the Cream of Barley Com- pany, of Minneapolis. Mr. Haagenson is a leading member of the Norwe- gian Lutheran church at Carlisle.
FRANK H. HORNE.
One of the first hotels in Almora is the establishment built and man- aged by Frank H. Horne, who, because of his genial nature and thorough understanding of the business, has made it a popular home for travelers in the north. Coming here when the town consisted of a small group of houses, he saw the need for hotel accommodations and with true business instinct and with pioneer hardihood, set to work to supply the need. Since that time his business has grown and he has added livery service to his first enterprise.
Frank H. Horne was born on December 3. 1859, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Elias A. and Mary ( Minnick ) Horne. The parents were of German descent, but were born in Berks county, where they grew up and were married. The father followed his trade as shoemaker until 1869, when, removing to Blackhawk county, Iowa, he became a farmer and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in quiet pur- suits, she passing away in 1912 and his death following a year later. Both were members of the Reformed church. Sarah, their eldest daughter, became the wife of John P. Berry, of Waterloo, Iowa: Frank H. is their second child; Annie is now Mrs. George Davis, also of Waterloo, Iowa.
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The public schools of Blackhawk county. Iowa, furnished Frank H. Horne his education and in his early manhood he became a farmer on rented land in Floyd county, lowa. In 1902 he moved to Otter Tail county. living near the village of Clitherall on a farm for one year. He then loca- ted in Elmo township, when Almora was only a settlement. A number of buildings were then being erected, and in order to provide lodging for the workmen engaged on them Mr. Horne established a boarding house in a tent. He immediately began the erection of a hotel containing twelve rooms, the dimensions of the building being thirty by forty feet. He has been its proprietor ever since and by the pursuance of good business methods has built up an enviable trade. To this business was added, in 1915, a livery service, when he built a substantial new livery barn. Another line of activity in which Mr. Horne was engaged was a phase of railroad work when for four years he was local agent of the Soo Line and manager of the grain elevator. These enterprises he has given up. His farm of one hundred and thirty-one acres near the village is rented and operated by his son, Earl, who is the eldest son born to Mr. and Mrs. Horne, who were married on Septem- ber 7. 1880, she having been Ida L. Crane, the daughter of Thomas Crane, of Minnesota. A daughter was born previous to the birth of Earl, her name being Alice. She is the wife of Irvin Hering, a resident of Charles City, Iowa. The other children in the order of their birth are: Bert, a mail clerk; of Dixon, Illinois: Iva and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Horne are members of the church of Latter-Day Saints.
As a hotel man and as one of the first settlers in this locality, Mr. Horne is among the best-known citizens of Almora. He and his wife are hospitable and it has been their effort to diffuse about their hotel the atmos- phere best described as "home-like." Theirs has been an influence for good during the many years of their residence here,
GERMAN SHA
German Sha was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 3, 1838, the son of Sebastian and Elizabeth ( Lark) Sha, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which country they lived their entire lives, Sebastian Sha being a farmer of twenty-five acres, as well as a cattle buyer of his local- ity. The elder Sha served for some years as a soldier of the German army, having made a good record during the period of his service. Sebastian Sha was a member of the Catholic church. To Sebastian and Elizabeth Sha were born five children: Pauline, who is deceased: Elizabeth, who married Martin Muckenteiler and in the year 1855 came to America, locating in the state of Kansas, where she died; German, the subject of this sketch; Sebas-
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tian, who is a baker and cattle buyer of Germany, and Frank, who died in New York City.
German Sha, following his education in the common schools of Ger- many, learned the miller's trade, which he followed for three years and then came to America, in the year 1857, making the voyage of thirty-five days on a sailing vessel. After arriving in New York City he went to Scott county, Minnesota, where he worked on farms, generally, until the year 1860, when he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in Erhards Grove township, and buying about one hundred acres of additional land from the Northern Pacific Rail- way Company. This place he cleared of the timber and broke up the sod of the prairie land, building a log cabin for a home and afterward during his active life made this farm his home, in the meantime adding many improvements until now his farm is one of the best in the community. In the year 1915, German Sha retired from the farm and moved to the town of Elizabeth, Minnesota, where he has erected a good home.
During the year 1862, German Sha was married to Elizabeth Colosky, who was born in Canada, the daughter of Anthony Colosky and wife, natives of Germany. To the marriage of German and Elizabeth Sha have been born the following children: Joseph, a farmer of Orwell township, Otter Tail county; Peter, a farmer who died in Aurdal township; Frank a far- mer, butcher and cattle buyer of Trondhjem township; Alexander, a farmer living near Erhard, Otter Tail county ; Edward, who lives on the Sha home- stead : Maggie, who married M. F. Kniprath and lives in the state of North Dakota; Elizabeth, who married R. A. Burau and lives at Fairview, Mon- tana; Carrie, who married Henry C. Burau, and lives at Fairview, Mon- tana : Mary, who married Elmer J. Parson and lives at Brook Park, Minne- sota: Clara, who married Joe Morris, and lives near Staples, Minnesota; and Kate, who married Charles Spies and lives in Oscar township, this county. German Sha and his family are faithful and devout members of the Catholic church at Elizabeth, Minnesota.
From April 1, 1862, Mr. Sha was employed by the government at Yel- low Medicine, a Sioux Indian agency. On the 18th of August, 1862, there broke out an Indian uprising. With the assistance of a friendly Indian (Jolin Other Day). Mr. Sha, wife and a party of thirty-five people, were able to escape, traveling across country for five days.
In the political and official life of Erhards Grove township German Sha has served his community in various offices, his conduct and regulation of his offices and related affairs always being above criticism. One of the best evidences of the standing of German Sha in his locality is his election for more than thirty-five years to the important office of school director, as well
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as his election as chairman of the board of supervisors for ten years, and also as assessor for one year.
Although German Sha has now retired from active life he maintains his ustal interest in the affairs of the township and is known as a citizen ready at all times to do or to serve his community in any way. In political affilia- tion Mr. Sha is of the Republican party.
HARRY BAKER.
Aside from being the owner of a considerable tract of land situated in Alberta, Canada, as well as the proprietor of a farm in Candor township, comprising one hundred and forty-two acres, considerable interest attaches itself to the man whose name heads this biographical sketch in that he is reputed to be the first child born in Lida township.
Harry Baker was born in Lida township, Otter Tail county, on April 15, 1876, the son of Harrison and Lena (Ulven) Baker, the former of whom was born in Clay county, Kentucky, in 1848, and the latter in Norway in 1842. Harrison Baker served valiantly throughout the entire Civil War, having enlisted as a mere lad of thirteen years. After the close of the great struggle, he moved to Ft. Abercrombie, North Dakota, where he was mar- ried. Subsequently, in 1874, he removed from North Dakota and settled in Otter Tail county, living at Pelican for a period of one year and then mov- ing to Lida township, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of virgin land. He spent his entire life on this homestead, passing away in 1891 at the age of forty-three years. His beloved wife survives him and is now residing at Vergas. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker there were born six children, namely: Robert, Julia, Harry, John, Minnie and George, all of whom are still living.
Reared on his father's homestead and receiving his elementary educa- tion in the public schools of his community, Harry Baker, when a lad of but seventeen years of age, removed to North Dakota, where five years later he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. After spending seven years on this homestead, he then immigrated to Alberta, Canada, purchased six hundred and forty-five acres of land and occupied this land for ten years. In 1912, however, still retaining his Canadian land, he returned to the county of his birth and bought one hundred and forty-two acres in section 34. of Candor township. Since that time he has devoted his attention and efforts to general farming and stock raising.
In 1912 Harry Baker was united in marriage to Emma Hoffman, a native of Otter Tail county, born in Dora township in 1890, and the daughter of Charles and Bertha ( Kratzke) Hoffman. Her parents settled in Otter
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Tail county in 1882 and are still living in section 5, of Dora township. To Mr. and Mrs. Harry Baker there has been born one child, Minnie Bertha, born on December 19, 1914.
Mr. Baker is at present serving in the capacity of treasurer of the school board of his township and is serving this position creditably to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the people of the township.
WILLARD P. BURTON.
Though not a native-born citizen of Minnesota, Willard P. Burton has the claim of being one of the pioneer settlers of the great Northwest. He endured with many others the hardships incidental to pioneer life and, using his own words, "can well remember the grasshopper days of this section of the country " By his hard and patient labor he has accumulated a gratify- ing competence and now enjoys the distinction of being one of the most successful farmers as well as the possessor of some of the finest farm build- ings in Otter Tail county. During the summer of 1915, he, with his wife, enjoyed a season of travel and sightseeing, and attended the Panama Expo- sition as well as making side trips of charm and interest.
Willard P. Burton was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on January 28. 1853. the son of Cyrus and Louisa ( Platt) Burton, the former a native of England and the latter of New York state. Mr. Burton spent nearly his entire life in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, passing away there in 1852. After her husband's death, Mrs. Burton, with her family, moved to Wisconsin, later to Iowa, and in 1874 came to Otter Tail county, living here until 1001. when she moved to Bemidji, Minnesota, where she died in 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Burton were born six children, namely : Ira. who lives at Emmett, Idaho; Lovisa, who resides at Fort Dodge. Iowa: Lovina, who resides in Scambler township; Loretta, deceased; Zolmon, a resident of Spokane, Washington, and Willard P., the subject of this sketch. By a former marriage to Ira Willard, Mrs. Cyrus Burton had given birth to one child. Sabria.
Willard P. Burton was reared in the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Iowa and received his education in the public schools of those states. In 1873 he came to Scambler township, this county, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land situated in section Io. He immediately began the process of improving his farm and also of adding additional land to his original claim. Continuing this policy of gradual increase, Mr. Burton now owns one thousand and forty acres of land, all of which is contiguous except one farm lying two miles sonth. He also has lands in North Dakota. All his holdings on his farm are strictly modern, one barn being sixty feet wide and one hundred feet long.
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In October, 1892, Willard P. Burton was united in marriage to Anna Monsen, a native of Sweden, born on May 16, 1867, daughter of Nels and Ella ( Swansen) Monsen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Monsen were natives of Sweden and, after immigrating to the United States, settled in Litchfield, Meeker county, in 1870, and subsequently in Becker county, where they homesteaded land upon which they now reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Monsen have been born seven children, Anna, Ella, Mary, Oscar, Ernest, Hannah and Christina, all of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Willard P. Burton there has been born one child, Albert Ira, who was born on October 18, 1893. For some time he has been a student at the Dakota Business Col- lege at Fargo, North Dakota.
Besides the operation of his farm, Willard P. Burton has taken an active part in the maintenance of the Farmers Creamery Company, Farmers Elevator Company and Pelican Telephone Company, of Pelican Rapids, and is a stockholder in each of these companies. He also has become an exten- sive shipper of stock, most of which is the product of his own farm. He has never aspired to political honors, being content to confine his best efforts to the management of his large farming interests.
CHARLES H. PERDUE.
Charles H. Perdue, former postmaster of the village of Dent, this county, and now a dealer in live stock at that place, was born at Minerva, Ohio, in 1870, son of R. J. and Elizabeth ( Dumbleton) Perdue, both natives of Ohio, farming people and the parents of eight children, all of whom are living. R. J. Perdue died in 1894, and his widow is making her home with her son, Charles H., at Dent.
Following his graduation from the high school at Altoona, Iowa, in 1887, Charles H. Perdue took up farming, which he followed in Iowa until 1905, in which year he came to Minnesota, locating in Dead Lake township. this county, where he bought four hundred acres, on which place he lived for two or three years. In 1908 Mr. Perdue was appointed postmaster of Dent, at which time he moved to the village, where he since has made his home, being the owner of a fine dwelling house, which he built in 1910. His term as postmaster expired in January, 1915, since which time Mr. Dent has been quite successfully engaged in the live-stock business and is widely known throughout the county. Upon leaving his farm in Dead Lake town- ship, he rented the same to responsible tenants and operates it as a stock farm, being extensively engaged in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle.
In 1806 Charles H. Perdue was united in marriage to Prussia Gifford, of Altoona, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Perdue are members of the Christian church at Dent and are active in all good works in that village and in the
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community generally. they being held in the highest regard by all who know them. Mr. Perdue is a member of the Masonic lodge at Perham and of the Odd Fellows lodge at the same place and takes an active interest in the affairs of these two popular orders. He is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in the politics of the county and of the state. He is an energetic and enterprising citizen who is looked upon as one of the leaders of the community in which he lives and where he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all.
JACOB MERCER HURSH.
Born in Fairfield, Greene county, Ohio, July 7, 1851, Jacob Mercer Hursh, who is now living retired at Henning, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, has been for nearly forty years one of the foremost citizens and farmers of Otter Tail county.
Mr. Hursh's father. Frederick Hoak Hursh, was a native of Harris- burg. Pennsylvania, where he was born on January 29, 1833. His mother, who before her marriage was Ann Mercer, was born in Greene county, Ohio, December 8, 1830. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Hursh were Jacob and Sarah ( Hoak ) Hursh, the former of whom was born in 1808 and the latter in 1809. Sarah Hoak's father was Frederick Hoak, who was born on August 16. 1767. On January 5. 1832, Jacob Hursh and Sarah Hoak were married and, after their marriage, settled in Pennsylvania. Sarah ( Hoak ) Hursh died on December 1, 1850, in Ohio, and her husband at Long Lake, near Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 2, 1894.
Mrs. Aun ( Mercer ) Hursh, the mother of Jacob M. Hursh, was the daughter of Robert Mercer, a soldier in the War of 1812, who died in the state of Ohio.
Mr. Hursh's father, the late Frederick Hoak Hursh, who was a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, immigrated to Clark county, Illinois, and later lived for a time in Cumberland county. Illinois. He was a resident of the latter county at the outbreak of the Civil War and enlisted in Company G. Fifty-fourth Regiment. Illinois Volunteer Infantry. At the close of the war he returned home and moved shortly thereafter, in 1866, to Long Lake, Minnesota. In 1877 he moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he received by virtue of his service in the Civil War. This claim was located in Inman township. three and one-half miles from what is now known as the town of Henning. but was then known as Peas Prairie. After a time. Mr. Hursh's father sold the claim and moved to California and later to Oregon and Idaho. He spent his last days in Henning, dying here on June 4. 1907. His widow also spent her last days at Henning and died at the home of her son, Jacob
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JACOB M. HURSH AND FAMILY.
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M., September 25, 1914. Mr. Hursh's parents were married in 1850. The late Frederick H. Hursh served on the town board of Inman and was chair- man of the board for some time. He was a member of the Lutheran church early in his life and his wife was a member of the Baptist church. At the time of their deaths, however, both were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
To Frederick Hoak and Ann ( Mercer) Hursh were born the follow- ing children, Jacob M., the subject of this sketch; Isaac and his twin brother died in infancy; Frederick, Jonathan Clark, Edward, Philip, Mertie Dell, Anna, Charles and Minnie.
Jacob M. Hursh, from the time he was four years old until the time he was fifteen, lived in the state of Illinois. When he was fifteen years old his parents moved to Hennepm county, Minnesota, and, in 1877, came to Otter Tail county and located in section 18, of Inman township, on eighty acres of land. Soon thereafter Mr. Hursh bought land, and increased his holdings to seven hundred and ten acres, all of which was located in Inman township, Otter Tail county. Of this seven hundred and ten acres, three hundred and ten were in sections 18 and 19, and the remainder in sections 7, 8 and 17. Until 1910 Mr. Hursh was actively engaged in farming. He retired in that year, but lived on the farm until November 1, 1914, when he moved to Henning and purchased the place where he now lives. He also bought another house and lot and ten acres, within the corporation limits of Henning, all of which is platted. Some of this has been sold recently. Not very long ago, Mr. Hursh sold one of his farms for twenty-four thou- sand dollars.
On April 9, 1873, Jacob M. Hursh was married to Lucy E. Braman, who was born in Hennepin county, near Minneapolis, February 23, 1856, the daughter of Cyrus and Sarah A. ( Stinson ) Braman. They were natives of Vermont and Maine, respectively, and pioneers in Hennepin county. Mrs. Hursh's father served in a Minnesota regiment during the Civil War. He died at Grand Junction, Colorado, and his wife at Albany, New York. They were the parents of seven children: Fred, Lucy, Dora, Effie, James, Kate and Ida.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob M. Hursh have been the parents of fourteen chil- dren : Ethel May, born on June 18. 1875, married Ira Parks, of St. Paul ; Marion, March 8, 1877, is now a physician at Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Frederick, April 2, 1879, is a farmer; Ida, July 20, 1880, is the wife of George Parks, of Inman township; Clarence, June 23, 1882, is a farmer on his grandfather's old homestead farm in Inman township: Laura, February 27, 1884, is the wife of Alvin Hontosh, of Bemidji, Minnesota : Perry, May
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