USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 87
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16. 1886, is a carpenter by trade and lives in St. Paul; Ada, June 25, 1888, is the wife of Archie Dibble, who lives on Mr. Hursh's farm in Inman town- ship; Mlertie, November 17, 1890, is the wife of Benjamin Hildegard, of Hutchinson, Kansas; Emma. October 2, 1892, lives at home; Kathlyn, February 21, 1805: Charlotte, October 26, 1897; Georgia, August 24, 1899, and Jacob Ira Angust 4, 1902, all live at home.
Mr. Hursh has been interested in the Farmers Elevator Company, of Henning, for a great many years. He was president of the corporation for some time. While a resident of Inman township Mr. Hursh was clerk of the school board for many years. He also served as supervisor and chair- man of the board for about six years. Politically, Mr. Hursh was reared a Republican. Before the war, his father had been identified with the Demo- cratic party, but became a Republican during the Civil War. Although Mr. Hursh was reared as a Republican, he left the party many years ago to become a Populist and is now independent in politics. The Hursh family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and two of Mr. Hursh's sons, Marion and Frederick, are ministers in the church, although not ordained. Mr. Hursh is very fond of children. He is highly esteemed in this community.
FRED HANSEN.
Fred Hansen, a prosperous farmer of Everts township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, is a native of Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he was born on July 20, 1865.
Mr. Hansen moved to Grant county, Minnesota, when a mere child, and soon afterward accompanied his parents to Otter Tail county. He is a son of Andrew and Martha ( Erickson ) Hansen, both of whom were born in Norway, the former in 1834, and the latter on July 4. 1839. They were married in Norway and settled in Grant county, Minnesota, in pioneer times. They were also pioneers of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and after remov- ing to this county took a homestead in St. Olaf township in 1880. The next year they purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 8 and 9, of Everts township. Subsequently, however. Andrew Hansen sold the three hundred and twenty acres to his two sons, Fred and Lewis, so that each now has one hundred and sixty acres.
Andrew Hansen and his wife now reside on their old homestead in St. Olaf township, where they have a comfortable and well improved farm and home. Both he and his wife are earnest and faithful members of the Luth- eran church. Of their eight children. Lewis and Anton are dead. The liv- ing children are J. E. H., Tildla, Fred, Anne, John and Carl.
Fred Hansen received his education in the public schools of Otter Tail county, and in 1893 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from
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his father, and most of the improvements on this farm Mr. Hansen has made with his own hands, since he has acquired the farm. He is a general farmer and stockman.
On August 2, 1891, Fred Hansen was married to Sophia Dahl, who is a native of Everts township, her birth having occurred here in 1873, and who is a daughter of Ole H. Dahl, whose biography is presented elsewhere in this work. Fred Hansen and wife are the parents of four children, Anton, Carl, May and Edna, all of whom are living at home with their father. The mother of these children died in 1902. The family are devout mem- bers of the Lutheran church, in which they take an active interest.
The Hansen family occupies a prominent place in the community life of their home neighborhood. Mr. Hansen is a highly respected citizen of the township.
RICHARD WANGERIN.
Richard Wangerin, a representative farmer of this county, by his indus- trious habits and many admirable qualities, has become as thoroughly identi- fied with the community as though he were a native son. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1876, his parents being Frank and Minnie (Marquat) Wangerin, both natives of Germany.
It was in 1872 that Mr. and Mrs. Wangerin crossed the ocean and estab- lished their home in Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Wangerin engaged in car- penter work for four years. He then located on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 10, Effington township, where Mr. Wangerin began the improvements which have since made his property an up-to- date farm. Later he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land where his son now lives and where he and his wife both passed away. They were members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Wangerin served the public as a member of the local school board. Their two children are Gustave J. and Richard.
Richard Wangerin, after attending school in this county, grew up and went to Hope, North Dakota, where he rented a farm for the two follow- ing years. Later he lived for three years in Canada on a farm which he purchased. At the time of his father's death he returned home and has remained here since. His present farm of three hundred and twenty acres is equipped with modern machinery, two large barns and a silo. He has specialized in the raising of purebred Shorthorn cattle.
In 1893, Richard Wangerin and Emma Gasche were married. Mrs. Wangerin is a native of Cleveland and a danghter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gasche, who afterwards located in Effington township. The children born to this union are Henry, Frank and Louis.
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Mr. Wangerin and his wife have been valued members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Wangerin is interested in public affairs and is at present a member of the local school board. He is known as an expert farmer and as a man of integrity.
JORGEN A. FISKUM.
Jorgen A. Fiskum was born near Christiania, Norway, January 26, 1863, the son of Andrew and Johanna Fiskum, who were born in Norway, there grew to maturity, married, and are now living in the vicinity of their birthplace. Andrew Fiskum by trade is a shoemaker and in his native land enjoys a large patronage for his business. To the marriage of Andrew and Johanna Fiskum were born nine children, two of whom came to America, namely, Olavus, who was a shoemaker at Vining, Minnesota, and who later went to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he died, and Jorgen, the subject of this sketch.
Jorgen A. Fiskum was educated in the public schools of Norway, after which he worked on farms in that country until he was nineteen years of age and then he came to America and went to Vining, Minnesota, and for some time was employed generally on the farms of that locality. During the year 1889, Jorgen A. Fiskum purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 28, of Folden township, which being uncleared he started to pre- pare for cultivation and to improve, adding such buildings as were neces- sary, until a few years later the farm was equipped with a modern house, a splendid barn, and in acreage had been doubled by the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 26, a short distance away. Jorgen A. Fiskim proved a success as a farmer engaged in general agricultural pursuits and as a farmer engaged in the breeding of Guernsey cattle. Mr. Fiskum also took an active interest in the business affairs of the community, being a director of the Folden Telephone Company, and a man who at all times was willing to aid in the promotion of trade projects for the common good of the locality.
On June 9, 1889, Jorgen A. Fiskum, was married to Hannah Halvor- son, who was born near Christiania, Norway, a daughter of Peter and Maren Halvorson, who were natives of Norway, and who came to America about the year 1870 and settled in Nidaros township, about two miles south of the town of Vining, where they now live, the father being about sixty- eight years of age and the mother about seventy years of age.
To the marriage of Jorgen and Hannah Fiskum were born thirteen children : Julia, who married Edward Ulland and lives at Mayville, North Dakota; Andrew, Emma, Alfred, Hjelmar, Hilda, Helmer. Oscar, Ruth and Roy, who are twins; Edwin, Theodore and Lawrence.
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Jorgen A. Fiskum was a prominent man of Folden township, as a holder of various offices having to do with the better elements of life represented in the county. For seventeen years Jorgen A. Fiskum served with dignity and unusual ability as treasurer of Folden township, and in the Free Lutheran church at Folden, of which Mr. Fiskum was a devout member, he served for some years as a trustee. Jorgen A. Fiskum, when called by death on March 11, 1914, left behind a host of friends who mourn the loss of this worthy citizen. He was a good neighbor, a kind friend, unselfish in his efforts towards others, and one who was generally loved and esteemed, not only in the vicinity of his late residence, but throughout the county.
JULIUS SEVERSON.
Julius Severson, a prosperous merchant of Clitherall, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and the postmaster of Clitherall, is a native of Clitherall town- ship, where he was born on August 21, 1873.
Mr. Severson is the son of John and Hannah ( Hovren) Severson, both of whom were born in Norway, the former on February 2, 1842. They moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1870, where John Severson worked in a quarry. He assisted in taking out the stone which was used to build the normal school. In 1872 he moved to Clitherall township and took a home- stead farm of one hundred and sixty acres. During the next few years he was busily engaged in improving the land. He died on this farm on July II, 1912. His widow is now living at Clitherall. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Clara and Alfred are deceased. The living chil- dren are Julius, Clara, Jenetta, Christina, Jens and Nora. After the death of her first husband, Mr. Severson's mother was married to Paul Olson, of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota.
Julius Severson was reared on the old homestead farm and lived with his parents until about eighteen years old. He was educated in the public schools and, when old enough, took up the machine business at which he worked for a number of years. In 1899 Mr. Severson came to Clitherall and engaged in the restaurant and confectionery business. He has been engaged in this business ever since. In 1900 he was appointed postmaster of Clitherall and resigned in 1904. He was reappointed in 1900 and has held the office ever since. Mr. Severson owns the telephone exchange and is the agent for the Northwestern Telephone Company at this place.
In 1899 Julius Severson was married to Caroline Olson, who was born in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. December 24, 1874, and who is the daughter of Paul Olson, now of Clitherall. Mr. and Mrs. Severson have one daugh- ter, Evelyn Delores.
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Mr. Severson has filled many positions of trust and responsibility within the gift of the people of Clitherall. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors of America.
N. P. R. NELSON.
N. P. R. Nelson is one of the most progressive agriculturists of Parkers Prairie township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, as well as one of the most active citizens and is fully worthy of the respect which he receives.
He is a son of the late Anders P. Nelson, who was born on January 8, 1835, in Furebu, Smaland, Sweden. Anders P. Nelson came to America in 1854 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. D. Anderson. They were pioneers of Chisago county, Minnesota. Anders P. was a trusted employee of the government when the preliminary survey for the government road was made from St. Paul to Superior City, and continued at this kind of work for three seasons, the winters being spent in the pineries. In 1862 Mr. Nelson led the forces who intrenched the peninsula at Center City against an Indian outbreak which was pending. He was active in politics and a pioneer in many of the important events in the early settlement of upper Minnesota. In 1870 he moved to Parkers Prairie, being one of the first to settle in that fertile country. His home was the scene of many early gatherings, as it was the only one large enough to accommodate a meeting of any size. The first church and school in Parkers Prairie were held in his home and the first political meeting of those times was held there. Mr. Nelson afterward did considerable contract work, getting out a large part of the timber sup- plies for the Northern Pacific railroad which was being built. Mr. Nelson died in 1914 at Parkers Prairie, where he had moved from the homestead two years before.
N. P. R. Nelson, the subject of this sketch, was the third child of his parents. There were six children in the family. They are all living and are: Mrs. John A. Hawkinson, Mrs. Charles A. Bergquist and N. P. R. Nelson, all of Parkers Prairie: Mrs. C. A. Carlson, of Garrison, North Dakota; J. A. R. Nelson, of Deer Lodge, Montana; and J. G. Vasa Nelson, of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. N. P. R. Nelson was born on May 24, 1873. on the old homestead at Parkers Prairie. He was educated in the common schools of the locality. From the time he was fourteen years of age he practically managed his father's farm, the father's business of car- penter and contractor taking him away from home a greater part of the time. As soon as he became of legal age his ability as a leader was recog- nized and he was elected to and held with credit many local positions of honor and trust in school and township affairs.
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On December 21, 1898, N. P. R. Nelson was united in marriage to Augusta Sigfrid and their married life has been a particularly happy one. In 1901 Mr. Nelson went to Bismarck, North Dakota, where for two years, in company with his brother, J. A. R. Nelson, he managed the Grand Pacific hotel, a leading hostelry for politicians at the capital city of that state, and there he came to know much about matters which have been of help to him in later life. In 1903 he returned to Minnesota and for three years was agent for the Woodworth Elevator Company at Carlos and Parkers Prairie. In 1906 he went to Detroit, Minnesota, where he was in the mercantile business for a year, but disposed of his interests there in 1907 to accept a position with the North Dakota Grain Company, of Superior, Wisconsin, as traveling solicitor. In 1910 he resigned with this company to return to Parkers Prairie and take up the active management of his farm, where he has since remained.
Mr. Nelson is not only a progressive farmer, but is actively interested in co-operation among farmers along other lines. He is now secretary and treasurer of the Parkers Prairie Co-operative Creamery Company, which he was instrumental in organizing a number of years ago. He is also secre- tary of the Parkers Prairie Mutual Fire Insurance Company, an organization with over a million dollars of policies and is interested in and was first president of the Parkers Prairie Farmers Telephone Company, the pioneer of a system of co-operative companies which give his home locality a service which has grown from a small beginning to one second to none. Mr. Nel- son's counsel and advice are eagerly sought by his friends and acquaintances as being worth while and he is one of the residents of Parkers Prairie to whom they refer with pride.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have three children: Earl E., born on June 17, 1900; Signe A., April 20, 1904, and Carl C., May 19, 1910.
MELVIN I. GRINA.
Among the merchants and citizens of Erhards Grove township, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, few are better or more favorably known and appre- ciated for their work in the community than is Melvin I. Grina, who is a leading merchant of the town of Erhard, and an organizer and director of the larger interests in the locality.
Melvin I. Grina was born in Trondhjem township, this county, April 21, 1878, the son of Iver O. and Olena (Ohe) Grina, who were natives of Halan, Norway. Iver O. Grina was the son of Ole and Martha Grina, who came to America when Ivor O. was but three years of age, and settled at McGregor. Iowa, where they lived for about twenty years, and then, with his family, Ole Grina moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and bought
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a farmi from the school land reservation, in Norwegian Grove township, a place on which he lived until his death in 1908, aged about eighty-four years.
Iver O. Grina, father of the subject of this sketch, was about twenty- three years of age when he moved with his father and family, from McGregor, Iowa, to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Trondhjem township, later adding one hundred and twenty acres of land, a farm which he improved extensively and cultivated until the year 1913, at that time selling his place and moving to the town of Pelican Rapids, where he now lives in retirement. Iver O. Grina has been a man prominent in the affairs and public life of the town of Trondh- jem, not only taking an active interest in all general matters, but he has served for some years as a member of the school board and as township assessor.
When thirteen years of age, Olena Ohe came with her parents to America, her father, Lars Ohe, settling in the state of lowa, where he lived for some time and then moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, locating in Erhards Grove township, there homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land to which he added, later by purchase, eighty acres, living with his son, who cultivated the land until his death about the year 1895. Mrs. Olena (Ohe) Grina died on February 22, 1914, survived by her husband and eight children.
Iver O. and Olena Grina were the parents of nine children as follow : Ole, who is a lumberman of Halstead, Minnesota; Lars, who deals in lumber and machinery, at Felton, Minnesota; Melvin I., the subject of this sketch; Conrad, a lumber and machinery dealer of Borup, Minnesota; Joseph, who died in infancy; Joseph, who rents the farm of his father in Norwegian Grove township and now lives there; Inga, who lives with her brother, Melvin I., at Erhard, Minnesota; Theodore, who is an employee of his brother, Melvin, and Emma, who lives at home with her parents.
Melvin I. Grina received his education in the common schools of Otter Tail county, and at the Pelican Rapids school, after which he worked for his father until he had reached the age of twenty-two years. In the year 1900 he went to the state of North Dakota, there homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in Benson county, a place on which he lived for five years and then moved to Williams county, North Dakota, locating at the town of Kermit where he established himself in the lumber business, remain- ing in that business for two years, when he traded his stock with his part- ners in such a manner that he became a member of the firm of Stenersen Brothers Lumber Company, a company owning and operating four stations for the sale of its products, the headquarters of the concern being located at Felton, Minnesota.
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During the spring of the year 1912, Melvin I. Grina came to the town of Erhard to care for the interests of the branch of his company located at this place, and while here arranged for and superintended the erection of a modern brick store building, in size twenty-five by seventy feet, in which building he now carries a stock of hardware, lumber and farm machinery valued at about twelve thousand dollars. In other lines of business than that of merchandising Melvin I. Grina has been notably connected, being one of the founders and now a stockholder in the Erhard State Bank, of Erhard, Minnesota.
Politically, Mr. Grina is independent of party and is a man who has preferred to serve his community as a private citizen rather than as an office holder. In church affiliation Melvin I. Grina is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, a denomination which he supports with his efforts and means in a most substantial way.
Melvin [. Grina has never married. but lives in a convenient and modern home, which is managed by his sister, Inga.
ELLSWORTH W. SMITH.
One of the most prominent old families of Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, is that of Ellsworth W. Smith, a well-known lecturer on scientific farming in this state, who was born thirty miles east of Buffalo, in Benning- ton township, Wyoming county, New York, March 23. 1864. Mr. Smith is the son of Isaiah S. and Maria ( Foster ) Smith.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Smith, Sardious and Isabel Smith, were natives of Vermont and, for many generations, were connected by blood ties with the oldest New England families. Sardious Smith was a pioneer in western New York, having immigrated to the "Holland Purchase," and settled in Bennington township in 1815. He died there at the age of ninety- six years. Although he carried a musket in the War of 1812, he was not an enlisted soldier. He was the leading man in his community and was highly respected as a citizen. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of eight children. Mr. Smith's maternal grandparents were farmers in New England, who, very early in the last cen- tury, immigrated to Bennington township, Wyoming county, New York.
Ellsworth Smith's mother, who before her marriage was Maria Foster, was born at Belfast, New York, about 1820. His father, Isaiah S. Smith, was born in Bennington township, Wyoming county, in 1817. There they grew up and married. Isaiah S. Smith was a farmer, a contracting carpenter and a well-known builder of bridges, dams and mills. About 1866, he left New York state and made a trip to Nebraska, looking for a location. After remaining in Nebraska for six months, during which time he built a mill at
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what is now Decatur, he returned to New York and remained until the fall of 1876, when the family moved to Wisconsin. There they lived for four years, but in the spring of 1881, came to Woodside township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and purchased eighty acres of railroad land, which was then wild prairie. Here they built a frame house and began to cultivate the farm. Isaiah S. Smith died in 1893 and his wife in 1872. He was always active in local politics. There were four children in the Smith family, George D., who died in Whatcom county, Washington, where he was engaged in farming; Ann Augusta, who married William Van Dyke and died in the state of New York: Warren A., who died at the age of seventeen, and Ells- worth, the subject of this sketch.
Ellsworth W. Smith was educated in the public schools of New York state, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He was reared on the farm and, early in life, learned the carpenter trade. Having come into possession of his father's farm, he operated the place since coming here. In 1802 Mr. Smith built a barn, thirty by forty-two feet, and about 1908 erected an addition, which makes the barn now, thirty-six by seventy-six feet. He also has other barns and outbuildings. In 1902 he erected a good house.
Mr. Smith calls himself an all-around farmer, but makes a specialty of raising clover seed, potatoes and pure-blood Duroc-Jersey hogs. He keeps a drove of from fifty to seventy-five head and also operates a small dairy. He also breeds pure-blood barred Plymouth Rock chickens and generally has from eighty to one hundred hens.
For the past eight years, Mr. Smith has been employed by the farmers institute department of agriculture of the state of Minnesota, to address institutes all over the state. He spends from four to six months of each year in this work. Mr. Smith is the kind of a farmer who "takes some- thing to town to sell every time he goes" and this is the slogan of his lec- ture, and the principle which he practices and preaches throughout this state. Mr. Smith has often exhibited products raised on his farm at nearby fairs. His wife, who is an expert cheese maker, took a prize at the state fair at one time. In their early lives, Mr. and Mrs. Smith experienced many hard times, but, by pluck and hard work, they have made a large success of farm- ing. Mr. Smith is a director in the Farmers State Bank, at Bertha, Minne- sota.
In 1887 Ellsworth W. Smith was married to Anna S. Streit, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Benjamin Streit, who was born in Missouri, of German parentage. Benjamin Streit came to Otter Tail county about 1878, but is now living at Roseburg, in Douglas county, Oregon.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth W. Smith have six children, namely: Ralph,
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who lives on the farm in Woodside township and is a graduate of the agri- cultural school; Roy A., who also lives on the farm in Woodside township; Ina G., who lives at home and was educated in the Parkers Prairie high school and at the Agricultural and Teachers Training school of St. Anthony Park; Clifford, who is a student in the Alexandria high school; Zetty and Marjorie, both of whom are at home.
Mr. Smith has filled practically all of the township offices but has always been especially interested in school affairs. He is independent in politics and prefers to vote for men whom he considers best fitted for the office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
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