History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 92

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 92

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Orris Albertson was educated in the public schools of Redwood, Jeffer- son county, New York, and, until he was nineteen years old, worked on a farm. In 1869 he immigrated to Battle Lake, having a sister at this place, who was Mrs. Benjamin Sherman. She took one of the first homesteads in Everts township. After coming to Everts township, Mr. Albertson attended school here. For a short time, he left the county, but returned in 1872 and was employed as a clerk by Johnson & Jackson at Otter Tail city. After

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working for them a short time, Mr. Albertson was employed in a drug store, after which he made his home with his brother, Josiah IJ. Albertson, in Everts township.

In the fall of 1873, Mr. Albertson was married to Mrs. Roseltha Corliss. whose maiden name was Gould, and who was born in Utica, New York, the daughter of George and Eleanor Gould, who immigrated to Wisconsin, where they homesteaded a farm and later to the southern part of Minnesota. In 1868 they came to Everts township and took a homestead, where both died. Mrs. Albertson also had a homestead and her husband, Orris Albertson, also took a homestead adjoining that of his wife. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in Clitherall township on the site of the old Mormon settlement. Mr. and Mrs. Albertson lived on this farm for some years and finally established a store on the farm in 1876. Five years later, they moved the stock to Battle Lake and established it in a building which Mr. Albertson erected. He had the honor to purchase the first lot in Battle Lake and helped to make the survey of the village. Mr. Albertson was engaged in the mer- cantile business at Battle Lake until 1898, when he sold out and engaged in the manufacture of butter. He erected a building for that purpose and con- tinned in the manufacture of butter for four years. Later the building was converted into a summer hotel, which he recently sold. He then built a resi- dence on the shores of Battle Lake, where he now lives.

Mrs. Albertson had one child by her first marriage, Minnie, who is now Mrs. E. D. Holms, of Santa Anna, California. They have a fruit ranch there. Mr. and Mrs. Albertson have been the parents of four children, Orris. Jr .. Eleanor, Coral and Earl. Orris, Jr., who died in IQ11 at the age of thirty years, married Lona Larson and had three children. Eleanor is the wife of William Neshiem, a druggist of Moorhead, Minnesota, and has two daughters. Coral is the wife of Otis Hoyt, of Fergus Falls, who had a music store in that city until 1910, when he sold out and moved to Missoula, Mon- tana, where he had a large piano store. He recently sold out at Missoula. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt have three children. Earl married Anna Davis, of Detroit, Minnesota, where he now lives. He is a traveling salesman and the father of two children.

Mr. Albertson has been a Republican all of his life. He served as town- ship clerk for eight years during the early history of this township. He was also postmaster of Battle Lake and held the office for six years. Mr. Albert- soft served on the school board and as president of the village. In 1904 he Was elected sheriff of Otter Fail county and served for four years. Frater- molly, Mr. Albertson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Vr- Albertson is a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. It can be said of former Sheriff Orris Albertson, that he gave to the

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people of Otter Tail county a most efficient and effective administration as sheriff and that he has well discharged his duties as a public and private citizen. Few men living in Otter Tail county are so well known as he, and few have an equal number of friends throughout the county.

CARL J. JOHNSON.

Carl J. Johnson, who owns eighty acres of land in section 9, of Everts township, is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was born on August 27, 1875.

Mr. Johnson is the son of Ole and Karn Johnson, both of whom were natives of Norway. Mr. Johnson's father was born in 1845 and his mother in 1855. They came separately to America and settled in Minneapolis, Min- nesota, where they married. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living, Carl J., Anna, Tillie and Sophie. Mr. Johnson's parents came to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, in 1880 and in 1881 moved to Everts town- ship, where they took a homestead. Here Mr. Johnson's father died in 1885. After his death, the mother and the remainder of the family returned to Fergus Falls, where the mother died on December 31, 1886.

Carl J. Johnson, after the death of his mother, lived with Even A. Glende and attended the public schools. For twelve years, he rented a farm of one hundred acres in section 8, of Everts township. Mr. Glende is now deceased, but his widow still lives on the farm. Mr. Johnson owns eighty acres in section 9, of Everts township, which he purchased in 1910. He is unmarried. He is a member of the Lutheran church and popular as a farmer and citizen of this township.

WILLIAM BECKMAN.

Born in Sweden, April 2, 1862, William Beckman, a well-known citi- zen of Sverdrup township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was educated in the schools of his native land, and came to America in 1883, settling finally in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Shortly after coming to this county, Mr. Beckman was married, and for the next thirteen years he lived in Friberg township, but in 1910, came back to the old homestead in Sverdrup town- ship. He is a general farmer and stockman, and has been very successful in his chosen vocation.

On January 5, 1889, Mr. Beckman was married in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, to Nellie Pederson, who was born October 28, 1865, in Norway, and who is a daughter of Ole and Olena Pederson, both of whom were also natives of Norway, the former born in 1833, and the latter in 1838. Mrs.

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Beckman's parents were married in Norway, and in 1870 came to America and settled in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, in 1871. They afterwards came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where they homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Sverdrup township, and it is upon this farm that Mr. and Mrs. Beckman now live. Mrs. Beckman's father died on December 31, 1914, and her mother passed away on November 9, 1909. Mrs. Beckman is the only child born to her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. William Beckman are the parents of six children, Oscar, Olga, Selvin, Ludwig, Hulda and Willard. Of these children Ludwig is deceased. Olga, the second child, is the wife of Christian Onstad, and they have one daughter, Marie Geneva.

In the neighborhood where they reside, Mr. and Mrs. Beckman and family are highly respected and esteemed. They have a host of friends and acquaintances throughout the township and community.

HANS S. NELSEN.

Hans S. Nelsen, who is a member of the firm of O. C. Nelsen & Company, general merchants of Battle Lake, Minnesota, is a native of Norway, where he was born June 30, 1862, and the brother of O. C. Nelsen, senior member of the firm in which he is interested.

Mr. Nelsen is a son of Nels and Helena ( Johnston ) Nelsen, both of whom were natives of Norway, who were born there in 1827 and 1825. respectively. Mr. Nelsen's father was engaged in farming until his death in 1899, after which, on September 15, 1901, his widow emigrated to America and settled in Battle Lake, Minnesota, where her death occurred October 15, 1901. They were the parents of five children, of whom the fourth and fifth born are deceased. The living children are Ole Christian, Josephine and Hans S.

Educated in the public schools of his native land, Hans S. Nelsen arrived in America on October 16, 1880, and settled at Chicago, from which place he emigrated to Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1882, and after living two years in the latter place. he removed to Battle Lake, working for the next few years at both Stillwater and Battle Lake. In 1880 he accepted employment with his brother, Ole (. Nelsen, in the latter's store, and was employed by him until 1907, when he became a member of the firm of O. C. Nelsen & Company. Mr. Nelsen also owns a farm of one hundred and fifty-seven acres in Everts township, and is a shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company, of Battle Lake, Minnesota. He also owns stock in the Battle Lake creamery.

In 1002 Hans S. Nelsen was married to Johanna Christine Scott, the sister of Mrs. H. O. Larson, and to this union have been born five children :

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Herbert Scott, who is deceased, Helen, Catherine, Frederick Alexander, Julius Melvin and George.

Mr. and Mrs. Hans Nelsen and family are prominent members of the United Lutheran church. Mr. Nelsen has never been active in politics, and has never aspired to office. Nevertheless he is known as a good man and a good citizen.

OLE M. HAGEN.

Among the most successful stockmen and business men of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Ole M. Hagen, of Sverdrup township, who was born in Norway, July 31, 1866.

Mr. Hagen is the son of Mikkel and Gurina ( Hallan) Hagen, who died in Norway. They were the parents of nine children, Ole M., Martha, Gertie, Johannes, Mette, Elseus, Elof, Margaret, who died in infancy, and Inger.

Mr. Hagen was educated in the public schools of Norway and, in 1888, came to America and immediately thereafter settled in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, purchasing a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Sverdrup township, which he now owns. When Mr. Hagen purchased the farm in 1896, there were only five acres of land in cultivation, but now the whole farm is under cultivation and it is a very productive tract of land. Mr. Hagen has magnificent buildings on the farm.

In 1894 Ole M. Hagen was married to Julian Nelson, who was born in Aurdal township, Otter Tail county, in 1877, and who is the daughter of Haldor E. and Mette Nelson, both of whom were natives of Norway and early settlers in Aurdal township. Mrs. Hagen's father died in 1880, but her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Hagen have been the parents of twelve children, Mabel, Helmer, Alvena, Laura. Jonas, deceased. Ernest. Hilma, Julia. Olene, Henry, Marie and Ellen.

Mrs. Ole M. Hagen was the youngest of four children, the others being, Gertie, who lives in the state of Washington; Josie, deceased ; and Hannalı, also deceased. After the death of Mrs. Hagen's father, her mother was married again in 1882, to Nels E. Nelson, a brother of her first husband. To them were born four children, Haldor, deceased. Anna, Nels, Jr., and Henry.

Ole M. Hagen is a stockholder in the Underwood Co-operative Creamery and in the Co-operative Mercantile Store at Underwood. IIe is also mana- ger for the stock shipping association and has been engaged in the stock business as a dealer for the past ten years.

One of Mr. Hagen's brothers, who own an adjoining farm, Elof Hagen, was born in Norway, November 15, 1881, and was educated in the public schools of his native land. He came to Sverdrup township, Otter Tail county,

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in 1899 and, for some time, worked in Fergus Falls and in Dakota. Elof Hagen was married on June 15, 1909, to Alvena Jensen, who was born on the farm where she and her husband now live, August 5, 1878. Mrs. Hagen is the daughter of Jens and Karen Christina ( Neilson) Jensen, who were born in Denmark, the former on March 9, 1842, and the latter on January 6, 1847. They came to Otter Tail county in 1872 and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. They also bought twelve acres of land, upon which they erected good buildings. Mrs. Elof Hagen's father died in 1910 and her mother three years previously in 1907. They were members of the Unitarian church and had a family of nine children, Alma, Caroline Marie, deceased ; Anna, deceased; Alvena, Hannah, who died in infancy; Nels Peter, Hannah, deceased ; George, deceased, and Alfreda.

Mr. and Mrs. Elof Hagen have two children, Katherine, born on July 5, 1910; and Mervin, born on January 9, 1912.

It is doubtful if there are now living in Sverdrup township, any family which surpasses the Hagen brothers in general intelligence, popularity and all-around success in business. The Hagen brothers are well known in this part of Otter Tail county and enjoy the confidence and esteem of a host of friends.

OTTO NILSBY.

Born in Norway on February 18, 1861, Otto Nilsby, a successful farmer of Sverdrup township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is the son of John O. and Karn Mathea (Larsen) Nilsby, both of whom were born in Norway, the former in 1824 and the latter in 1822.

In 1870 the Nilsby family came to America and settled in Houston county, Minnesota, and. with an ox team, moved to Otter Tail county two years later, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land. John O. Nilsby cleared a great deal of land during his life and made extensive improvements upon his homestead farm. He died on this farm in 1909 and his wife one year later. They were members of the Lutheran church and prominent in the community where they lived. They had only one child. Otto, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Nilsby's father was a tailor by trade, but never followed his trade after coming to this state. He lived on his homestead farm and his life was devoted to agriculture.

Otto Nilsby was educated in the public schools of Norway and in this country. He was nine year old when he accompanied his parents to America. After settling in Minnesota, he attended the public schools of this county and state and, when eighteen years old, entered the Augsberg Seminary at Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was a student for three years.

Mr. Nilsby is a farmer by occupation and now owns the old homestead

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farm which his father acquired upon his removal to this country. Mr. Nilsby is a general farmer and stockman and is prominent in the agricultural life of this township.

In 1884 Otto Nilsby was married to Emma Erickson, who was born on December 15, 1863, in Sweden, and who is the daughter of Erick and Mary (Larsen) Erickson, both of whom died in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Otto Nilsby have been the parents of ten children. Olga Julia, Lydia Matilda, Alma Ther- esa, Hulda Malvina, deceased, Clara Eledia, Hulda Clarissa, Ida Melvina, Alvin Victor, Wilhelm Ludwig and Hjalmar Rudolph. Of these children, Olga Julia married Haldor G. Moen and has three children, Edna, Borgel and Hilma, Lydia married Hans Hegen and has one child, Lila. Alma is the wife of Andrus Graurud and has one child, Byron. Clara is the wife of Martin Gilbertson and has one child, Floris.

Politically, Mr. Nilsby is identified with the Socialist party. For the past twenty-seven years, he has been assessor of Sverdrup township and for the past twenty-six years, he has been a member of the local school board. Mr. and Mrs. Nilsby and family are members of the Unitarian church. They are active in religious matters and contribute liberally to the support of the church of which they are members.

MARTIN KNUTSON.

Martin Knutson, a prosperous farmer of Everts township, is a native of the Hawkeye state, where he was born on May 21, 1865. He is the son of Albert and Mary Knutson, both of whom were born in Norway, the former in 1812 and the latter in 1824.

The Knutsons, after their arrival in America in 1845, settled in lowa and were there married. In 1868 they immigrated to Clitherall township and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. Mr. Knutson's father lived at Battle Lake during the seven years prior to his death, which occured in 1886. His wife died eight years later in 1894. They were members of the Lutheran church and had a family of five children, Martha, Jennie, deceased; Charles, Martin and Anne, deceased.

Educated in Clitherall township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, Mr. Knutson engaged in the meat business at Battle Lake for eight years and is now engaged in farming. He owns one hundred and seventeen acres in Girard township, Otter Tail county, which he purchased in 1901. He now lives on a farm of one hundred acres in section 25. of Everts township, which formerly belonged to C. E. Berg, his brother-in-law, who now lives at Vin- ning, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and is unmarried. Mr. Knutson is a general farmer and stockman.

In 1896 Martin Knutson was married to Kare Berg, who was born in

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1867 in Norway and who is the daughter of Olaus and Rebecca Berg, who came to Everts township in 1889. Mrs. Knutson's parents are now both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Knutson have one son, Orris Knutson, who was born on July 30, 1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Knutson and their son are members of the Lutheran church and take an active part in religious affairs.

WALTER WEST.

Among the well-known farmers of Otto township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Walter West, who was born in Otto township, on August 10, 1884, the son of Isaac and Bertha ( Tapo) West, both of whom are natives of Finland, the former born in that country in 1842, and the latter born in the same country in 1846. Isaac West, shortly after his marriage to Louisa Lonto, his first wife, came to America and located in the state of Michigan, where he lived for some time and then his wife died, leaving two sons, Charles and Arthur, with whom the elder West moved to Otter Tail county, Minnes- ota. In Otto township, Isaac West bought eighty acres of land, to which he added until he now is the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of land on which he lives as a general farmer. Isaac West was married, secondly, to Bertha Tapo and to this marriage were born the following children: Ida, Levi, Walter and Phillip, the latter of whom is deceased.

Walter West was educated in the public schools of Otter Tail county, after which he was a salesman for some time and then he became a locomotive fireman, a line of work which he followed for a time and then took charge of his father's farm, where he now engages in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising.

In February, 1915, Walter West was married to Anna Erkkila, the daughter of Jacob and Lizzie Erkkila, well-known people of Otto township.

JOHN P. NELSON.

John P. Nelson, well-known implement dealer of Almora, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Sweden, born on March 20, 1868, the son of Nels and Ellen Person, both of whom were natives of Sweden, and who came to Henning township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in 1888. Upon coming to this county, Mr. Nelson's parents purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Henning township and here Mr. Nelson's mother died in 1911, at the age of sixty-three years. Mr. Nelson's father is now liv- ing on the old farm and is sixty-eight years old. He sold the farm, however, to his son, Peter P. Nelson. There were seven children in the Nelson family. Ellen, who is the wife of John Brogart, who is mentioned elsewhere in this

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volume; John P., the subject of this sketch; Hans, who is deceased; Nels, Gustine, Peter P., and Ingre.

John P. Nelson was educated in the public schools of Sweden and in 1887 came to America and settled in Henning township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where for some time he worked by the day and by the month on farms in Henning township. After a time, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 31, of Amor township. In 1912 Mr. Nelson sold this farm and the same year moved to Almora and engaged in the imple- ment business. He also purchased a blacksmith shop, to which he built an addition for his implement business. Since 1912, Mr. Nelson has been engaged in the implement business and is also manager of the blacksmithing business. He is a stockholder in the Almora Co-operative Creamery Com- pany. Mr. Nelson owns a residence'in Almora and it is here that the family lives.

John P. Nelson was married to Jennie Axlena Osterberg, who was born in New Jersey. She is a daughter of Alfred and Ellen Osterberg. They immigrated from New Jersey to Douglas county, Minnesota, and it was there that Mrs. Nelson's mother died. Her father is still living and is a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. John P. Nelson have six children, Joseph, Millie, Leonard, Reuben, Violet and Vernon.

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Nelson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Nelson has served as treasurer of the school board and has been more or less active in politics ever since coming to Otter Tail county. He is a well known and popular citizen in Almora and vicinity.

JOHN SEM.

Among the successful young farmers of Sverdrup township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is John Sem, who was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, September 28, 1883, and who is the son of Hans and Mary Ann Sem, both of whom were natives of Norway, who came to America about 1880, settling in southern Minnesota. One year later they emigrated to Otter Tail county, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of school land, and lived on this land from 1895 mintil 1913, when they moved to Oregon, where they now live. During the years from 1881 to 1895 the family lived in Fergus Falls, where Hans Sem worked at the carpenter's trade. Both he and his wife are earnest and faithful members of the Lutheran church. They are the parents of four children, of whom John is the second in order of birth. The eldest child, Anna, is deceased. The other two children are Hilma and Olga.

John Sem was reared in Fergus Falls and received his education in the schools of that city. Mr. Sem is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sverdrup township, which he has acquired from his father.

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Most of the buildings on the farm were erected by the elder Sem, who sold it to his son in 1913.

In 1913 John Sem was married to Nellie Quam, who was born in Sverdrup township, December 18, 1883, and who is a daughter of Ole and Injebor Quam, both of whom were natives of Norway, and who were early settlers in Sverdrup township, Otter Tail county. They homesteaded eighty acres of land, to which they afterwards added forty acres, but they subse- quently sold the last forty to their son, Olaf. Mr. and Mrs. John Sem have one child, Homer, who was born on March 12, 1914.

Mr. and Mrs. Sem are well known in Sverdrup township, and are pop- ular in the community where they live.

DANA L. BURTON.

Dana L. Burton, who is the proprietor of a highly productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Oak Valley township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is a native of Whiteside county, Illinois, where he was born on November 27, 1869.

Mr. Burton is the son of Benjamin B. and Emerett ( Martin ) Burton, the former of whom was born in Chautauqua county, New York, October 12, 1835, and the latter born in Oswega county, New York, September 29, 1841. Mr. Burton's father immigrated to Illinois when eighteen years old and his mother accompanied her parents, Edward and Chloe ( Hopson ) Martin, to the state of Illinois. Mr. Burton's father died in Illinois, but his mother died in Otter Tail county in 1884.

The paternal grandparents of Dana L. Burton were William and Mary (Pierson) Burton, the former of whom died in New York soon after his son, Benjamin B., was born. His wife later moved to Illinois and died there in 1876.

Benjamin B. and Emerett ( Martin ) Burton were married in Illinois, April 11, 1858, and, in 1878, moved to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, loca- ting in Compton township on a homestead of eighty acres. Later Mr. Burton purchased eighty acres adjoining his original farm and here he lived for fifteen years. In the meantime, he purchased and sold eighty acres in section 2, of Oak Valley township. He lived on this other farm until the death of his wife on April 10, 1904, and since that time has lived with his son, Dana L., in Oak Valley township. He served as justice of the peace for about eighteen years and is a prominent member of the Evangelical association. There were six children born to Benjamin B. Burton and wife. William, Helen, Walter, Jennie, Dana L. and Rose, who is deceased.

Dana L. Burton, who was reared on a farm in the state of Illinois, where he lived until nine years old, came to Otter Tail county with his parents. He

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attended the public schools of this county and has always been engaged in farming. Twenty years ago, Mr. Burton purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 25, of Oak Valley township. In 1898 he sold this farm and purchased eighty acres in section 24. of the same township. He later sold this second farm and in 1912 purchased one hundred and twenty acres in section 15. of Oak Valley township. It is upon this farm that Mr. Burton now resides.

Dana L. Burton was married on November 1, 1899, to Minerva Rode, who was born in the state of Illinois, June 24, 1880, and who is the daugh- ter of Christian Rode, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Dana L. Burton have one son, Wallace, who was born on July 27, 1900.

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History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II, Part 92

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Mason, John W. (John Wintermute), 1846- 4n
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1156