USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 9
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building. He has built up a prosperous business and enjoys a large patron- age from the farmers of this community.
On October 28, 1896, Lowell T. Langness was married to Minnie Nyberg, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She was born in Tintah, Wilkin county, Minnesota, in 1875, and is the daughter of Charles and Caroline Nyberg, the former of whom lives in Fergus Falls, the latter being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lowell I. Langness have no children.
Mr. Langness is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Clitherall. He has been active in the Farmers Alliance and was a delegate to the national convention of Modern Woodmen of America, at Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Langness is independent in politics, but this does not mean that he takes no part in politics. On the contrary, he has always been rather active. Mr. Langness has served as clerk of the village and has also served on the council. He was township clerk for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Langness are members of the Presbyterian church and take an active interest in religious affairs.
A brother of Lowell I. Langness. Julius I. Langness, who resides in Nidaros township, was born in Norway. November 1. 1858. He was edu- cated in Norway and in 1870 came to Goodhue county, Minnesota. Four years later he settled in Otter Tail county, was reared on a farm and edu- cated principally in the schools of this county. He is a farmer by occupa- tion and in 1885 purchased seventy acres of land, to which he has since added until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres in section 33. He also has eighty acres in section 4, of Leaf Mountain township.
Julius I. Langness was married in 1885 to Lelah Doty, who was born in 1864 in Minnesota, and who is the daughter of Gideon and Lucinda Doty. They now live at Spicer, Minnesota. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Julius I. Langness, as follow : Merrill, Minnie, George. Cleveland, Jennie. Alice, Vernon, Maud, Lawrence, Lloyd and Ray- mond.
Julius I. Langness is a general farmer and stockman. He has never aspired to office.
OLE J. FOSSEN.
The proprietor of the popular Roller Feed Mills on South Mill street. of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Ole J. Fossen, was born at Throndhjem, Nor- way, and is the son of Jens O. and Christena Fossen, who came to America in 1865. After landing on the Atlantic seaboard, the family came west to Minnesota and settled in Goodhue county, where they rented a farm and remained until 1870, a period of five years. In 1870 the Fossen family removed to Otter Tail county and settled in Dane Prairie township, where
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they homesteaded a tract of land. This farm was located in section 6. There the family erected a house and continued to live until about 1900, when Mr. and Mrs. Jens O. Fossen removed to Fergus Falls. After remov- ing to this city, Jens O. Fossen retired from active life.
Ole J. Fossen received his early education in the public schools of Goodhue county and in Dane Prairie township of Otter Tail county. He attended the old school known as district No. 28. In 1884 Mr. Fossen left the home farm and came into the city, working for the Fergus Flour Mill Company for ten years. In 1894 he purchased an interest in the Beardsley & Langley mill, and the firm became known as Beardsley & Fossen. It was operated under this name for a period of five years, when Mr. Fossen pur- chased Mr. Beardsley's interest in the mill. Under the management of Mr. Fossen the mill has been very successful and has done a large business in the grinding of feed and the sale of flour and feed.
By his marriage to Olive Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Fossen have had three children, namely: George is a civil engineer and resides at St. Paul, Minne- sota; Theodore is a bookkeeper employed by the First National Bank, of Fergus Falls; Henry is a graduate of the Fergus Falls high school. Mrs. Fossen is a native of Norway. Aside from his purely private business inter- ests, Mr. Fossen is prominent in the fraternal circles of the city. He is a member of the Sons of Norway and of the Ancient Order of United Work- men.
OLAF J. SCHEI.
Prosperous as a merchant in the commercial life of Fergus Falls, Min- nesota, Olaf J. Schei, who is engaged in the retail sale of clothing and furnishing goods, is a native of Kenyon township, Goodhue county, Minne- sota, where he was born in 1868.
Mr. Schei is the son of Johanes P. and Lena (Rosvold) Schei, the former of whom was born in Yter Pen, and the latter born in Verdolm, Norway. Mr. Schei's parents came to America via Quebec, Canada, in 1867, after a voyage lasting six weeks on the Atlantic ocean. The voyage was made in a sailing vessel. After landing at Quebec, Mr. Schei's parents came direct to Goodhue county, Minnesota, settling near the village of Kenyon. Both father and mother worked out on the neighboring farms the first year, and during the second year they broke ground. In the winter he cut cord wood and broke ground in the summer. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Johanes P. Schei moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and, after locat- ing in Tordenskjold township, they homesteaded land and still live on this farm. They have reared a family of ten children.
Olaf 'J. Schei received his elementary education in Tordenskjold town-
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ship and was reared on the home farm. In 1891 he settled in Fergus Falls, entering the employ at that time of J. H. Grass, the well-known clothier. There he learned the clothing business and after being associated with Mr. Grass for seven and one-half years, in 1899, engaged in the clothing busi- ness on his own responsibility. Mr. Schei has been remarkably successful, owing principally to his pleasing personality and to his grasp of the clothing business.
By his marriage to Signe Vinje, a native of Kongsvinger, Norway, Olaf J. Schei has four children, Helen T., Russell J., Vernon O. and Ilar- old W.
Mr. Schei is a member of the Sons of Norway, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
ALBERT LARSON.
Born in Sweden on March 4, 1853. Albert Larson, a successful mer- chant of Clitherall. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is the son of Lars and .inna ( Erickson ) Asleson, both of whom were born in Sweden. They were married in their native land and immigrated to Filmore county, Minnesota, in 1868. In 1872 Mr. and Mrs. Lars Asleson moved to Leaf Mountain township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and took a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres. Subsequently, they moved to Clitherall, where Lars Asleson spent his last years. He died in 1903 at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died in 1901 at the age of seventy-three. They were the parents of eleven children, Betsey, Albert, Jennie, John, Maria, Anne, Caro- line, Matilda, Lewis, Amelia and Ellen. Of these children, Anne, Matilda, Lewis, Amelia and Ellen are deceased.
Albert Larson was reared on a farm in Otter Tail county and edu- cated in the public schools of Leaf Mountain township. When Mr. Larson was old enough, he began working on his father's farm. He later pur- chased a farm in Leaf Mountain township from Charles J. Wright. He added to this farm until he owned three hundred and forty acres of land. situated in sections 15 and 16. Mr. Larson now has one hundred and eighty acres of that farm. In August, 1908. Mr. Larson moved to Clitherall and purchased the store which he now occupies. He is engaged in the general mercantile business and also owns stock in the Clitherall Grain Associa- tion, and in the Clitherall Co-operative Creamery Company.
On December 11, 1880, Albert Larson was married to Lena Halverson. who was born in Norway on August 15. 1864. and who is the daughter of Ilalvor and Ragena ( Martinson) Halverson, both of whom were natives i Norway. Mr. Larson's father remained in Norway, but her mother cune to Goodhue county, Minnesota, and after living for a few years in
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Faribault and Red Wing came to Otter Tail county in 1873 and settled in Leaf Mountain township, where she died on February 4, 1902, at the age of eighty-five. Her husband had died many years previously in Norway. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom seven are living. Rebecca, Mary, Robert. John, Ole, Sever and Lena.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Larson have thirteen children, Lloyd Arthur, John Alfred, Ole Rudolph, Rachel Amanda, Alma Augusta, Henry Marvin, Mabel Josephine, Selma Matilda, Ida Amelia, Clifford Clarence, Edna Grace, Gladys Lillian and Lena Lenora, all of whom are living.
Although Mr. Larson is independent in politics, he has always been active in local affairs. He has served as a member of the council since he came to Clitherall and also as clerk of the village. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Larson and family are members of the United Lutheran church.
JOHN H. LOKEN.
One of the successful merchants of Clitherall. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is John H. Loken, who is a native of Norway, where he was born on July 30, 1868.
John H. Loken is the son of Hagen J. and Gura ( Helseth ) Loken, both of whom were born in Norway. Mr. Loken's father was born on Octo- ber 13. 1833, and his mother on June 6, 1830. After their marriage in Norway, they immigrated to America and settled in Wisconsin in 1870. . On July 10, 1871, they settled in Otter Tail county, taking a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section 8, of Nidaros township. Hagen J. Loken improved his farm in many ways. He erected good buildings on the farm and lived upon this old homestead until March 16, 1909. His wife died on December 5. 1905. They were members of the United Lutheran church. They had a family of five children, of whom Gunder, the youngest, died in infancy. The living children are Johanna, John H., Josephine and Jens.
John H. Loken was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of Nidaros township. For a number of years he was engaged in farming. When he was twenty-one years old, in 1889, Mr. Loken pur- chased his father's farm. In 1909 he moved to Clitherall and engaged in the hardware and furniture business. Since that time he has built up a large and prosperous patronage in Clitherall and vicinity. Mr. Loken owns his own place of business as well as his residence in Clitherall. He owns stock in the Clitherall Grain Association and also in the Co-operative Creamery Association and the Farmers' Elevator Company at Vining. Min- nesota.
In 1893 John H. Loken was married to Johanna Johnson, who was
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born in Sweden, April 21, 1873, and who is the daughter of Andrew and Frederika Johnson. They came from Sweden to America in 1889 and settled in L'eaf Mountain township, where Mrs. Loken's father died in 1904, at the age of about seventy-three years. His widow is still living and is now seventy-eight years old.
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Loken have four children: Mabel, born on July 13. 1897. who was educated at the Park Region Luther College, of Fergus Falls ; Henry, October 31. 1900; Gordon. April 8, 1905: and Law- rence, August 28, 1907.
Mr. Loken has served as president of the village of Chtherall for two years and is now a member of the Clitherall council. He was clerk of the school board of district No. 53. for twelve years and served as supervisor of the township for three years. Altogether. John H. Loken is one of the most prominent citizens of Clitherall township and one of its most highly respected citizens and business men.
ANDREW GUSTAFSON.
Born in Sweden on January 8, 1860. Andrew Gustafson, a well-known lumber dealer of Clitherall. Otter Tail county. Minnesota, is the son of Gustav Person and Louisa ( Ryberg) Gustafson, both of whom were born in Sweden in 1832. They were married in Sweden and there Mr. Gustaf- son's father died in 1911. His mother is still living in her native land and is now eighty-three years old. The seven children born to Gustav Person Gustafson and wife are: Carl, Andrew, Aunett, Peter. Louisa, Caroline and Anne, all of whom are living. Of these children. Louisa is the wife of Peter Ericksen, of Garfield, Douglas county, Minnesota. With the excep- tion of Andrew and Louisa, the remainder of the family still live in Sweden.
Andrew Gustafson was educated in the public schools of his native land. He came to America in 1882 and settled in Douglas county, Minne- sota. where he lived until 1902, when he settled at Clitherall, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and engaged in the lumber business. Here Mr. Gustaf- son has built up a most prosperous and growing business in lumber. Prior to coming to Clitherall, he was engaged in the lumber business at Garfield. in Douglas county, for ten years. Mr. Gustafson is a stockholder in the Garfield Creamery Company and also a stockholder in the Clitherall Co- operative Creamery Company. He is now president of the Clitherall council and has served as a member of the school board since he came to Clitherall. with the exception of the last four years. He was also a member of the school board of Garfield, when he resided in Douglas county.
In 1802 Andrew Gustafson was married to Louisa Angus, who was born in Minnesota, and who is the daughter of Robert and Elsie Angus.
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Mrs. Gustafson's father is deceased, but her mother is living in Garfield, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson have four children, William S., my C., Roger A. and Anna C.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gustafson are members of the Presbyterian church at Clitherall. They are prominent, not only in religious work, but take an active interest in all publie matters.
ADSIT C. HATCH.
One of the most prominent business men and citizens of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and, in point of years, the oldest merchant in Battle Lake, Minnesota, is a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, where he was born on July 12, 1855.
Adsit C. Hatch is the son of Lorenzo and Clara E. (Adsit ) Hatch, both of whom were natives of New York state, the former having been born on March 17: 1822, and the latter on September 29, 1821. Mr. Hatch's paternal grandparents were Wells and Mary ( Rexford) Hatch, who were natives of Connecticut and New York state, respectively. They immi- grated from New York state to Virginia, where they both died. Mr. Hatch's grandfather was killed during the Civil War. He was a soldier in the First Virginia Cavalry. His death occurred in 1862, when he was seventy-four years old. Timothy Hatch, who was Adsit C. Hatch's great-grand- father, was the son of Jethro Hatch, a major in the Revolutionary War. Adsit C. Hatch is in possession of a sword which Jethro Hatch carried during the Revolutionary War. Major Jethro Hatch participated in the battle of Ticonderoga. Timothy Hatch, the son of Jethro Hatch, enlisted in the Revolutionary army at the age of seventeen and took part in the battle of Saratoga. He was a pensioner at the time of his death in 1856 at the age of ninety-six years. The Hatch family is of English descent.
Mr. Hatch's maternal grandparents were Stephen and Elizabeth ( Hyer ) Adsit, natives of New York state. They immigrated to Dane county. Wis- consin, and there they both died.
Mr. Hatch's father moved to Virginia when he was eighteen years old. For several years he was superintendent of public works in the District of Columbia. In 1852 his parents located in Dane county, Wisconsin, and there took up a farm. Lorenzo Hatch died in Dane county in June, 1911. His wife had died in 1861. They had four children. Susan, Mary, Clara and Adsit. Lorenzo Hatch was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Legislature and deputy provost marshal during the Civil War. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Adsit C. Hlatch was reared in Dane county, Wisconsin, on a farmi and educated in the public schools. He completed his education at Albion
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Academy, the Wisconsin State University and was graduated from a busi- ness college at Madison. Until he was twenty-one years old, Mr. Hatch lived on the farm. Shortly after his twenty-first birthday he went to Texas where he lived for two years. He then returned to Wisconsin and lived for two years and then established himself in business at Evansville. Mr. Hatch came to Battle Lake in 1881 and has been continuously in business since that time. He has the longest business career in this town of any man now in business. Mr. Hatch owns the grain elevator at Battle Lake. farm lands in Otter Tail county and other important industrial and financial interests.
On March 9, 1890, Adsit C. Hatch was married to Louisa Sahol, of Battle Lake, Minnesota. To them have been born eleven children, all of whom are living, namely : Susie, Agnes, Charles, Hattie, Edith, Carrie, Alice, Elizabeth, Dorothy, Hester and Lorenzo.
Few men have taken a more active interest in the work of the Minne- sota Anti-saloon League than Adsit C. Hatch. He is an implacable foe of the liquor traffic and an ardent believer and advocate of temperance. Mr. Hatch is independent in politics and has never aspired to office. The Hatch family are all members of the Lutheran church and take an active interest in religious affairs.
MARTIN ROSVOLD.
Martin Rosvold, who is a well-known and highly-respected farmer of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and who has made a success of his chosen vocation, was born at Trondhjem, Norway, March 5. 1858, and is the son of Peter and Annie (Volen) Rosvold.
Mr. Rosvold's parents were also born at Trondhjem and grew up there and were married. The father came to America in 1867, leaving his family in Norway. He lived in Goodhue county. Minnesota, for three years and. in 1860, his wife and five of the six children came to join him. In 1870 the whole family moved to Otter Tail county and settled in Tordenskjold township near the Lutheran church, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. Later, however, they sold this farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Dane Prairie township. This land was mainly covered with timber. Mr. Rosvold cleared the land and, from year to year, erected substantial outbuildings, including a house, barn and granary. About fifteen years ago, he retired to a small forty acre tract of land in Tordenskjold township and died there two years later. His wife had died in 1896. They were members of the Lutheran church and reared a family of five children, seven dying early in life. The names of the children in the order of their birth were: Martin, the subject of this sketch: Andor,
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who lives in Portland, Oregon; Karen, who is the widow of Sam Kloostad and lives in Duluth, Minnesota; Anna, who lives with her brother, Martin; Andreas, who is a farmer in North Dakota; Olaf, who made his home prin- cipally with his brother, Martin, died in Otter Tail county; Ole, who died at the age of three years; the eighth child died in infancy; Anna Margaret, who died at the age of twelve years; John, who died in childhood; and two who died early in life.
Martin Rosvold received a meager educational training in district No. 43, of Dane Prairie township, and was reared on the farm. When he was twenty-four years old, he moved to Port Ransom, North Dakota, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and one acres of land and pre-empted another one hundred and sixty. He cultivated practically all of this land, except fifty acres which were devoted to pasture, and engaged in general farming until 1900, when he returned to Otter Tail county and purchased his father's farm, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Rosvold has erected new buildings, including a house, barn, granary and garage. He is engaged in diversified farming.
When the Rosvold family came to America, they spent from seven to nine weeks on the sailing ship, transportation facilities being very poor at that time. They were compelled to change many times from the cars to a ship and back again to the cars on their way from Quebec to Minnesota and it was a long, hard trip. On moving from Goodhue county, Mr. Ros- vold and his father's family spent twenty-two days in all on the trip. Mr. Rosvold's parents and the six children rode in a covered wagon. The roads were terrible and it rained most of the time. The cattle were driven through and some member of the family was compelled to drive them. On arriving in Otter Tail county, the family spent some time in a mere shack with straw thatch for shelter. After breaking three acres of the land, the family had but two dollars. Leaving one dollar with his wife, Peter Rosvold started for Goodhne county with an ox team, where he knew he could obtain work, there being no work in this vicinity. The nearest postoffice at that time was Clitherall. Peter Rosvold started for Goodhue county in Novem- ber and, after his return, built a small log house. The next year he began to clear the land. During this period, he had but one cow and the family was often compelled to live on dry bread and black prairie tea. Peter Ros- vold, however, lived to see better days and his old age was spent in comfort. He died at the age of seventy-five.
Martin Rosvold was married on July 28. 1885, to Olena Eggen, a native of Norway, who was also born near Trondhjem and who is the daughter of Olaf Eggen. The Eggen family came to America and settled in Dakota. Mrs. Rosvold's mother died in Fargo and her father afterward settled in
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Ransom county. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Rosvold have been the parents of ten children : Karen, who died early in life; Paul Oscar, who died at the age of two years; Astrid, who married Albert Hoversten, of Waseca, Min- nesota, both of whom were educated in the University of Minnesota; Alfred, who helps on the home farm, is a graduate of the agricultural department of the University of Minnesota; Nora, who was educated in the Fergus Falls high school, teaches in the public schools and lives at home; Annie, who is a student in the University of Minnesota; Olaf, who lives at home; Martha Olena, who died in infancy; Agnes and Margaret, both of whom live at home.
Mr. Rosvold has always been independent in politics. He supports measures and men rather than parties and party emblems. He served many years as a school director and has always been keenly interested in educa- tion, as the exceptional opportunities which he has given to his children so well prove. The Rosvold family are members of the Swan Lake Lutheran church.
EDWARD L. AASNES.
Born on June 10, 1835, in Norway, Edward L. Aasnes, a prosperous farmer of Dane Prairie township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a son of Lars and Ellen Knutson.
Mr. Aasnes's parents spent their entire lives in Norway. His father was a glass-blower by trade, and was employed in a glass factory in his native land. Mr. Aasnes is one of nine children born to his parents : Andrew, the eldest, was also a glass-blower by trade, and died in Norway; Ole, who was a turner by trade, also died in Norway : Cornelius, who was a retired farmer, and who came to St. Olaf township, Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, in 1867, died in June, 1915, at Fergus Falls; Lawrence, living in Norway; Rasmina lives in Norway; Anna, living in Norway with her hus- band; Adolf, living in North Dakota; John, who died at the age of four years ; Edward L., of Dane Prairie township.
Edward L. Aasnes was educated in the public schools of his native land, and worked at various occupations until 1866, when he emigrated to America, settling first in lowa. After living in the latter state for one year, he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and settled in St. Olaf township with his brother, Cornelius, with whom he lived for three years. In 1870 Mr. Aasnes homesteaded sixty-eight acres of land in Dane Prairie township. and here built a log house. At this time the Indians still roamed over the prairies and came for miles around to this section to hunt. However, they were very friendly. Under truly pioneer conditions Mr. Aasnes continued to improve and clear his land and erected substantial buildings from time
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to time. He prospered as a farmer and has been able to add forty acres more to his original holdings, and now owns one hundred and eighty acres.
In 1880 Edward L. Aasnes was married to Aletta Olson, a native of Norway, born in 1845, at Moss. Mrs. Aasnes is a daughter of Ole and Martha ( Larson ) Olson, both of whom died in Norway. Mrs. Aasnes came to America in 1871, and has a brother, Otto, and sister living in Chicago. Her sister, Lena, is the wife of Jens Olson.
Edward L. Aasnes and wife are the parents of two children, Oscar, who lives at home and operates the home farm. and Emma Matilda, who died September 12, 1886, at the age of six months.
Upon coming to America Mr. Aasnes identified himself with the Repub- lican party, and served for thirty years as a supervisor in Dane Prairie township. Mr. Aasnes and family are members of the Lutheran church, in which they have always taken an active interest.
OLE CHRISTIAN NELSON.
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