USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 95
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Robert Halverson came to America during the year 1886 and settled in Otter Tail county, where he took out a homestead in Tumuli township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he improved and to which he later added by purchase one hundred and sixty additional acres, making one-half section of land owned by this pioneer farmer. On taking possession of his farm Robert Halverson proceeded to prepare his ground for cultivation and placed many improvements on it, until he had one of the best farms of the county for the general agricultural pursuits, in which he engaged until the year 1915, when he retired and moved to the town of Dalton, after disposing of his farm land to his son Tayler, the subject of this sketch. Tore ( Serenson) Halverson came to America with her par- ents, who located in Grant county, Minnesota, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which the father spent the remainder of his days and where his widow now lives, at the age of eighty-five years. Robert and Tore Halverson were the parents of the following children : Mary, Oscar, Henry, Tina, Tayler. Tayler, Tina and Rose. Robert Hal- verson and his family are all members of the Norwegian church.
Tayler R. Halverson, the subject of this sketch, following his educa- tion in the public schools of Otter Tail county, helped his father on the home place until the year 1915, when on the retirement of the elder Hal- verson, Tayler Halverson succeeded his father and has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising. Tayler Halverson has been thor- oughly successful in the operation and the conduct of the Halverson home-
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stead farm and because of his industrious ways, his resourcefulness and his knowledge and training in modern agricultural pursuits, he promises to continue as one of the enterprising and well-to-do farmers of the county.
ALVIN OLSON.
Alvin Olson is one of the four children born to the union of Nels Olson and Christena Evander, and his birth occurred on April 12, 1880, in Clitherall township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. The parents of Alvin Olson immi- grated to America in 1869, and secured a farm under the homestead law, in Clitherall township, where they remained until their death. The paternal grandfather of Alvin Olson was Ole Erickson, who lived and died in Sweden. Alvin Olson is the second child born to his parents, and the names of his brother and two sisters follow: Christenia, Oleva and Oscar.
Alvin Olson received his education in the schools of Eagle Lake town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and has always resided in this locality. He owns one-half of the old home place and, beside, owns two hundred acres on which he does general farming and stock raising. In 1905 he was successful in winning the hand of Emma Elwanger, and of this union five children have been born: Walter, Irene. Myrtle, Reynold and Roy. Emma (Elwanger) Olson is the daughter of Fred Elwanger, who immigrated to America from Germany and became a pioneer of Clitherall township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota. It was here that Emma Elwanger was born. Alvin Olson and his wife, Emma (Elwanger) Olson are both members of the Lutheran church at Eagle Lake, and are earnest supporters of this denomin- ation. They have many friends among the citizens of this locality and are well liked by all who know then.
ED. E. LARSON.
Among the well-known and prosperous farmers of Otter Tail county and of Tumuli township is Ed. E. Larson, who was born in Tumuli town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, on September 25, 1875, the son of Erston and Creste (Peterson ) Larson, who were natives of Norway. Ers- ton Larson came to America at an early age, and engaged in general farm- ing pursuits in Tumuli township, where he died. His widow, Creste Lar- son, after the death of her husband, remarried and now lives in Tumuli township. Erston and Creste Larson were the parents of six children : Serena, Louis, Mary, Ed., Christina and Martin.
Ed. E. Larson was educated in the public schools of Tumuli town- ship, Otter Tail county, after which he helped his father on the home place for some time. During the year 1900 Mr. Larson bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tumuli township, a place which he improved with
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the addition of new buildings and new equipment, where he has since been engaged in general farming.
During the year 1906, Ed. E. Larson was married to Bertha Ander- son, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Andrew and Dortha ( Mickelson) Larson, the former of whom is now deceased. Andrew and Dortha Larson were the parents of three children: Sarah, who lives in Norway; Lars, a resident of Canada, and Bertha, wife of the subject of this sketch, she having come to America during the year 1904, locating in Otter Tail county, where she was married to Ed. E. Larson. To the mar- riage of Ed. and Bertha Larson were born four children, Chester, Alice, Leona and Bernice. Ed. E. Larson and his family are members of the Hangus Norwegian Lutheran church, a congregation in which they are respected and appreciated both for their lives and for their support of the works and activities of the denomination.
In political life Ed. E. Larson has taken no especial part as an office holder or party man, but has preferred to serve his community as a private citizen interested and ready to aid his county and township in all ways.
WILLIAM TENTER.
Township Clerk William Tenter, of Edna township, this county, was born in Germany on November 8, 1866. He received his education in his native land and worked in the mines and on a farm there until 1891, in which year he came to America, coming directly to this county, to join his brother, Henry Tenter, who had settled here some time before and had become established as a substantial farmer of Edna township. In a bio- graphical sketch of Henry Tenter, presented elsewhere in this volume, there are set out further details of the genealogy of the Tenter brothers, to which the reader is referred in connection with this sketch of William Tenter.
Upon arriving in Edna township, William Tenter purchased eighty- five acres of land on which he lived for two years, at the end of which time he sold that tract and bought the farm of eighty acres on which he now lives, to which he since has added by the purchase of forty acres adjoining and now has an excellent farm, all of which is well improved and under profitable cultivation. When Mr. Tenter located in Edna town- ship, there were no roads thereabout and his place was practically unbroken timber. This he has cleared and improved by the erection of excellent buildings and is recognized as one of the leading farmers thereabout. In addition to his general farming, he gives much attention to the raising of Red Polled cattle and Poland China hogs and finds his stock raising a profitable feature of his agricultural pursuits.
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In 1897 William Tenter was united in marriage to Lizzie Diederichs, who was born in Germany, daughter of Albert Diederichs, now a well- known resident of this county, a well-to-do farmer of Edna township, who came to this country from Germany in 1895, and to this union five chil- dren have been born, Tillie, Albert, Henry, Katherine and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Tenter are members of the Lutheran church and their children have been reared in the faith of that church. The Tenters are earnest in their endeavors to aid in all ways the betterment of conditions, social, moral and civic, in their home community and are active in all good works, being held in the highest esteem by their many friends in the neighborhood of their home.
William Tenter, ever since coming to this county, has taken a warm interest in civic affairs and for the past sixteen years has served the public in the important capacity of township clerk, in which position he occupied a prominent place in all community activities. For six years he served as township supervisor, during which period of service he did an excellent work in the way of developing better roads in that section of the county. He is a substantial citizen, well worthy of the entire confidence which his neighbors repose in him and fully entitled to the high measure of esteem in which they hold him.
HANS L. JORUD.
Hans L. Jorud is one of five children, born to the union of Lars Hal- verson Jorud and Christenia Thorstenson, both natives of Norway, who immigrated to America during the year of 1869. Immediately after their arrival in the United States, a farm was purchased, under the homestead law, in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and in 1870 the present homestead was purchased. This farm is located in Eagle Lake township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and, after many years of successful farming on this place, Lars Halverson Jorud and his wife retired and spent the last ten years of their life at the home of their daughter, Amelia. The names of their children follow: Amelia, Thorwal, Hans L., Marcus and Oliver. Hans L. Jorud was born on November 23. 1861, in Norway, and immigrated to America with his parents in 1869. He is indebted to the schools of Eagle Lake township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, for the education which he received, and he was reared, and has always remained, on the old home place, which he has improved and now owns. In the fall of 1914 the original buildings were destroyed by fire, but Hans L. Jorud immediately erected new ones. He has also added forty acres of land to the original homestead, and the entire place is devoted to general farming. Hans L. Jorud has been very active in local matters, and has served the
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community as road supervisor and overseer for some time. In educational matters he has served as school director and has discharged the duties con- nected with both offices to the best of his ability. He has many friends and is well liked by all.
CHRIST E. KIRKVOLD.
Christ E. Kirkvold is a native of Norway, born in 1857, the son of Eric Larson and Marit R. Kirkvold, both natives of Norway, who lived and died in that country. Eric Larson Kirkvold was a farmer in Norway and the father of eight children.
Christ E. Kirkvold received his education in his native country, and immigrated to America in 1882, locating in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he has since resided. In connection with his brother, Hans, he pur- chased two hundred acres of land in St. Olaf township, but retained the property only one year. In 1892, a farm of one hundred and sixty acres was purchased, in Eagle Lake township, this county, on which he raises general crop and specializes in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle.
In 1906, Christ E. Kirkvold was successful in winning the hand of Olena Rea, a native of Norway, and daughter of Olas and Olova Rea, who still reside in Norway on a small farm, and to them have been born these children: Clarence, Norris and John. Religiously, Christ E. Kirkvold and his wife are members of the Lutheran Free church, and are active for the advancement and support of this denomination. Christ E. Kirkvold was appointed as a school director and served in that capacity for some time, discharging every duty connected with that office in an able manner.
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ANDREW B. OLSON.
Andrew B. Olson was born at Skane, Sweden, May 14, 1863, the son of Ole and Hannah Tygeson, who were natives of Sweden and lived in that country during their entire lives, where Ole Tygeson was a farmer. Ole and Hannah Tygeson were the parents of four children: Par, who came to America and died in 1881 at Moorhead, Minnesota; Elna, Johanna and Andrew.
Andrew B. Olson was educated in the public schools of Sweden, but was compelled at an early age to leave his classes in order to make his way in the world, his parents having died when he was a youth. During the year 1887 Andrew B. Olson determined to come to America, and on reaching this country he located at Odebolt, Sac county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for two months and then came to the state of Minnesota, where he was employed generally in building and street work at St. Paul for some
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time and then he was engaged on railroad construction work for a time, after which he worked at general farm duties in the states of North and South Dakota. In the year 1891, Andrew B. Olson came to the city of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, near where he secured work on a farm, in Buse township, a place he lived until the year 1893, when he married and estab- lished himself as a farmer in partnership with a brother-in-law. Shortly afterward he bought eighty acres of land on which he built a house, planted an attractive grove, and otherwise improved into a well arranged and. mod- ern farm. In 1909 Andrew B. Olson purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Aasted township, where he now lives and a farm which is well cultivated and well equipped for general agricultural purposes.
Andrew B. Olson was married in the year 1893, to Tilda Swenson, who was born in Smoland, Sweden, and who came, at an early age, to America, with her parents. To the marriage of Andrew and Tilda Olson were born four children, Edwin, Hilma, Emma, and Henry.
Andrew B. Olson and his family are esteemed and valued residents of the locality, being people who are progressive and interested in the welfare of the community and its activities.
OLE PETERSON.
Ole Peterson was born on September 29, 1864, in Sweden, the son of Per Nelson and Inger Thortelson both natives of Sweden, who spent their entire lives in that country. Ole Peterson received his education in his native land and immigrated to America when seventeen years of age. After his arrival in the United States he located in Clitherall township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and was employed on the railroad for a period of one year. Following this position he became a farm hand for two years and in 1885 purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he now resides.
On January 3, 1885, Ole Peterson was united in marriage to Hannah Person, daughter of Per and Anna (Olson) Person, and they are the par- ents of three children whose names follow: Emil S., who is employed as a ticket agent in Bowman, North Dakota: Oliver and Edna. Hannah (Person) Peterson, wife of Ole Peterson, was born on January 9. 1866, and is a native of Sweden. Her parents were also natives of Sweden and immigrated to America in 1869. They located in Clitherall township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and were the second family to locate in that com- munity. They purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which their son, Nels Person, now lives.
Ole Peterson has been very successful in his chosen line of endeavor (57b)
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and an ardent worker in the Swedish Lutheran church, of which he is a member, having held various offices in that congregation for a number of years. He is now deacon of the church and held the office of clerk for twenty-two years. He has also served his fellow citizens in the capacity of school clerk for a period of six years.
CHRISTIAN HERNESS.
Christian Herness was born on January 22, 1879, in Eagle Lake town- ship, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and is the son of Lars and Martha (Hollo) Herness, both natives of Norway. They immigrated to America several years previous to the birth of their son, Christian, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, under the homestead law, on which the family resided until the father's death. They were the parents of nine children whose names follow: Henry, Emma, Julia, Minnie, Christian Lenna, Louis and Jessie, one other child dying in infancy. Lars Herness, father of Christian Herness, was a very energetic man and, beside clearing and cultivating his farm, erected buildings necessary for the family and the products of the farm, and these buildings were all of the best possible con- struction. The maternal grandfather of Christian Herness was Christian Hollo, who owned a homestead in Clitherall township, which he cultivated until his death.
Christian Herness received his education in the schools of Eagle Lake township, and, with the exception of seventeen months spent in North Dakota. where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, has resided on the old home place. Half of this farm is owned and retained by Martha ( Hollo) Herness, while the other half is operated and owned by her son Christian Herness. In 1908 he was united in marriage to Wilma Thompson, a native of Alba Lake, Minnesota, and daughter of Tave Thompson, and to them have been born two children, Lyman and Lester. Christian Herness. his wife and mother are all members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and are active in its support.
ALBERT HOLLATZ.
Albert Hollatz. farmer and stock raiser of Effington township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born on July 27, 1866, in Germany, and it was in that country that his education was received. He is the son of Ludwig and Eliza- beth ( Mialke) Hollatz, both natives of Germany. Ludwig Hollatz immi- grated to America in 1882, with his wife and children, and located in Miller- ville, Minnesota, where he was employed as a day laborer. In 1885 he removed to Effington township, this county, where he purchased a farm con-
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sisting of one hundred and sixty acres and located one mile east of the farm which is the property of his son, Albert Hollatz. The death of his wife occured on this place and he is still a resident there.
Albert Hollatz immigrated to America, with his parents, and some years later purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-two acres of unimproved land, and has continued to cultivate this one place ever since. Previous to buying the present farm he owned and cultivated eighty acres, located one mile north of the farm which he now operates.
In 1894 Albert Hollatz was united in marriage to Bertha Brockapp, daughter of Fritz Brockapp, both natives of Germany. Fritz Brockapp set- tled in Effington township after his arrival in America. To the union of Albert and Bertha Hollatz have been born the following children, namely : August, William, Anna, Ida, Bertha, Albert, Martha, Herman, John, Elda, Zelma and Paul. Both Albert and Bertha ( Brockapp) Hollatz are devout members of the German Lutheran church and are very active in its support.
AUGUST MILLER.
August Miller was born on April 29, 1853, in. Germany, and is the son of Powell and Elizabeth ( Schmitkens) Miller, both natives of Germany. Powell Miller operated and owned a grist-mill in Germany, and followed the vocation of miller until his death in that country. Two of his brothers served in the German army, and were killed in service during the war of 1864.
August Miller immigrated to America in 1870, and first located in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, but soon removed to Kentucky, where he was occupied as stage driver and at various kinds of labor, for a period of three years, later removing to Illinois, where he was employed for three years as a farmihand. He then removed to Moore county, Minnesota, where he returned to his former trade of miller, which he had learned while a resident of Germany. After following this vocation for some time he removed to Parkdale, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and operated a mill there for one year. In 1880, one year following the arrival in Otter Tail county, he purchased a small water mill located on the property which he now owns in Eagle Lake town- ship. This mill he fully equipped and operated successfully until 1894, at which time it was destroyed by fire. The stream which ran the mill is an outlet of Eagle Lake. August Miller purchased a small farm at the same time he purchased the mill, and has added to the original place, until he now owns three hundred and eighty acres of well improved land. Owing to his realty investments he was fully equipped to enter the agricultural field, and thus, undaunted by the destruction of his mill, he became a breeder of Short- horn cattle, and has one of the finest herds ever raised in the county. In
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1912 he retired from active farming and stock raising, but still resides on the place, of which he has sold a minor portion.
August Miller was united in marriage to Emma Neller, a native of Mower county, Minnesota, and to them have been born four children : Edward, Amelia, Nellie and Robert, all graduates of the high school in Fer- gus Falls. Edward and Robert are also graduates of the Columbus Business College located at Columbus, Ohio, and Edward is now a professor in a business college in San Francisco, California, while Robert is the head sales- man for a furniture concern in Springfield, Ohio. Amelia and Nellie were engaged for some years in the capacity of school teachers. August Miller has always been actively engaged in the furtherance of all questions pertaining to the betterment of the community and has served his fellow citizens as school director, treasurer, and chairman of the board of supervisors. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
HAAGEN PAULSON.
Haagen Paulson is a native of Norway and his birth occured on January 15, 1846. He is the son of B. and Isabel ( Gunderson ) Paulson, both natives of Norway, who lived and died in that country. B. Paulson was engaged in farming and followed that vocation until his death. To this union with Isabel Gunderson were born these children: Peter, Gunder, Seivert, Gerena, Haagen, Sophia, and Gertrude. This family lived near the town of Stodall, Norway, and were members of the Verness church, located in that town.
Haagen Paulson is indebted to the schools of his native land for the education which he received. At the age of twenty years he immigrated to America, and chose Rock county, Wisconsin, as a temporary location. There he was employed as a farm hand for four years, and was united in marriage to Mary Clemenson, while a resident of that county. The marriage of Haagen Paulson and Mary Clemenson was solemnized in 1870, and in 1873 they removed to Otter Tail county, where eighty acres of homestead land was purchased in Eagle Lake township. At the time of purchase this land was unimproved but the entire farm was cleared of the heavy timber then stand- ing, and was put under cultivation. A specialty has been made of breeding and raising thoroughbred Belgian horses and Haagen Paulson has been notably successful along this line. He has increased his realty holdings until he now owns, besides the original eighty acres, two hundred and ten acres located in the townships of St. Olaf and Eagle Lake.
To the union of Haagen Paulson and Mary Clemenson have been born six children : Carl, Benjamin (deceased), Martin, Peter, Emma and Gina. Carl Paulson, the first born, is a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, his birth having occured on July 8, 1871. His education was received in the public
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schools of Battle Lake, and he has always remained under the parental roof tree. Realizing the opportunities in the agricultural field, he engaged in that vocation at the close of his student days, and now operates a farm of two hundred acres. This two hundred acres is the major portion of the land belonging to his father, ten acres being retained by Haagen Paulson. The family are members of the Lutheran Free church, and are very active in the support of same. For sixteen years Haagen Paulson has been honored by the citizens of Eagle Lake township by his election to the office of super- visor, his term of service having covered a period of sixteen years.
MARTIN ERIKSON.
That Martin Erikson is, and has been, of service to the community in which he lives, is evidenced by the fact that he was appointed to act as con- stable and has served in that capacity for thirty-six years. He has also been a member of the township board for many years, and has discharged all duties connected with that office with dispatch and efficiency. Martin Erikson is one of six children born to the union of Christ Erikson and Annetta Peterson, and his birth occured on March 23, 1855, in Norway. Christ Erikson was a native of Norway and immigrated to America, with his family, in 1856, locating eight miles east of Beloit, Wisconsin. While a resident of that state he was employed as a day laborer, but in 1872 he removed to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, under the homestead law, in section 22, Eagle Lake township. He and his wife remained on this place until his death, after which she resided with her son, Peter, on the adjoining farm. The names of their children follow: Ed. Martin, Peter, Anton and John. One daughter died in infancy.
Martin Erikson is indebted to the schools of Norway for the education he received, with the exception of three weeks of schooling obtained in America after his arrival here. At the age of seventeen years, and shortly after his arrival in Otter Tail county, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land under the homestead law and remained on this property for a period of nine- teen years. In 1889 he removed to the present site and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, since adding two hundred acres, which measures three-quarters of a mile square. The first homestead has been sold since his location on the present place and, through energy and thrift, both places have been well improved. General farming and the breeding of purebred Short- horn cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Percheron horses are the modes of pro- duction on this well regulated farm. In former years the breeding of Poland China hogs was a specialty, but the breeding of Duroc-Jerseys has been a greater financial success.
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