USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 47
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
1238 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
justice of the peace, constable and town overseer. He was post- master of Lysne, on his farm, where the station of Anderson is now located, and at one time conducted the store at Anderson. Gov. John A. Johnson appointed him a delegate to the Farmers' National Congress, at Buffalo. He has been trustee of the Nor- wegian Lutheran congregation three years and secretary of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Aurora four years. His wife and family are also loyal members of the Lutheran faith. Mr. Anderson is also one of the popular members of the Modern Woodmen of America. He was married June 25, 1884., to Anna Moe. To this union have been born twelve children, all of whom are living, Mary, wife of Alfred Anderson, a traveling salesman of Mankato; Alma, of Mankato; Hattie, who lives at home; Clare, of Watertown, S. D .; Louise, now wife of L. W. Thomp- son, a hardware merchant, of Denhoff, N. D .; Melsien, Arthur, Myrtle, Ervin, Ruben, Esther and Bernard. Mons Anderson, father of Thomas M., died on the old farm, December, 1898. The mother lives with her son.
Lars Anderson, a successful farmer of Summit township, was born in Denmark, December 7, 1851, son of Anders Hansen and Carrie Christiansen, his wife, who lived and died in the old country. Lars received his education in Denmark and came to America in 1873. For a time he worked on a farm in Dodge county by the month, and came to Steele county in 1877. He first purchased eighty acres in Summit township, and later added eighty more, making a fine farm of 160 acres, which he now con- ducts. His land is well tilled and his buildings neat and well kept, his stock being looked after in a humane and scientific manner. Mr. Anderson was married March 19, 1877, to Anna S. Nelsen, and to this union have been born six children: Mary. the wife of Lewis Larsen, of North Dakota; Sena, the wife of George Larsen, of North Dakota; Carl W. and Anton S., of Summit township, and Dora J. and Arnold V. at home. The family faith is that of the Lutheran church. and Mr. Andersen votes the Republican ticket.
L. G. Campbell, president and manager of the milling com- pany at Owatonna, that bears his name, was born at Northfield, Rice county, Minnesota, September 16. 1862, to John and Cath- erine (Graham) Campbell, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Canada. The father settled at Milwaukee. Wis., in 1852, and for a time was engaged as a railroad contractor. He afterwards settled on a farm near Northfield, Rice county Min- nesota, and carried on general farming till 1868. He then moved to Claremont in Dodge county, and engaged in the same occu- pation, giving special attention to grain and stock raising till 1889. when he moved to Austin, Minn., where he and his wife
1239
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
now reside, 1910. Our subject was educated in the public schools in Dodge county and at Pillsbury Academy, and after leaving home engaged in railroad contract work. In 1886, in company with his brother, under the name of Campbell Brothers, he turned his attention to the milling business at Austin till 1894. The firm also took a mill at Blooming Prairie, of which Mr. Campbell has had the management till 1909, when the L. G. Campbell Milling Company at Owatonna was organized, and incorporated with L. G. Campbell, president; T. H. Kelly, vice president ; E. G. Campbell, secretary and T. R. Kelly, treasurer. The com- pany conducts an extensive business, and has a far reaching influence, its output being six hundred barrels per day, and its products being shipped throughout the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and other sections of the Northwest, also to New York and the New England States, while its export trade reaches London, Amsterdam, and other European markets. Mr. Camp- bell is a wide-awake and thorough man of affairs and takes an active interest in matters outside of his private business. At Blooming Prairie he served two years as president of the city council, and also on the city school board. He is also a Mason of high standing. In politics he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and in his religious belief is a Pres- byterian. In August, 1885, Mr. Campbell married Janet McMar- tin, whose parents, Peter and Conlin McMartin, removed from Scotland, their native land, to Canada. Thence they came to Claremont, Minn., and settled on a farm, being among the early settlers of that section, and there passed their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have four children, of whom Edward G., the eldest, is connected with the milling company; John S., is a student at Macaelester College, while Margaret G. and Lawrence M. are pupils in the Owatonna High School.
John R. Carroll. Among those whose lives are worthy of be- ing recorded in this book, as examples of hard work and progress to the younger generation, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Canada, July 11, 1846, and in 1863 came with his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin. In 1876 he came to Austin and worked in the railroad shops for the C. M. & St. P. Ry., for one and a half years. Then he came to Steele county and lived in Meriden township five years. At the close of this period he had saved enough from his earnings to purchase 100 acres in Summit township, in addition to 100 acres which his wife received from her father, Jeremiah Foley, one of the pioneers. This farm of 200 acres he has developed and improved, bringing it to a high stage of cultivation. The well kept land and the comfortable buildings makes the farm one of the best in the immediate neighborhood. Mr. Carroll is a Democrat in politics,
1210 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
and has served as supervisor of Summit township three years and as chairman of the board five years. He is a director of school district No. 95 and a stockholder in the Security State Bank, of Owatonna. Mr. Carroll was married in January, 1876, to Anna Foley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Foley, the early settlers. Ten children have blessed the Carroll home, William, of Ellendale; Mamie, wife of Christopher Lynard, of Summit township; Nellie, a school teacher; Arthur, who is at home; Myrtle and Mabel, twins, students at the Owatonna High School ; George, Irene and Ida. Alvin is dead. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church. Roger and Mary (Gal- agher) Carroll, parents of John R. Carroll, were natives of Ire- land. They located in Canada in 1845, and in 1863 took up their residence in Dane county, Wisconsin, engaging in farming the remainder of their lives. Both are deceased.
John Hobenschield, one of the well liked farmers of Summit township, was born in Austria, November 25, 1855 and came to America thirty years later, locating in Steele county, on sixty acres of land, which he purchased in Aurora township. Two years later he came to Berlin township and rented the Lord Brothers farm. In 1897 he purchased 920 acres in Summit township, known as the Kelley farm. This tract of land he has developed and greatly improved, and has carried on farming with great success. In addition to this, he and his son own a complete set of ditching machinery, which they work with throughout the township, in addition to conducting the farm. Mr. Hoben- schield is a Democrat in politics and attends the Catholic church. He owns stock in the Farmers' Elevator and the Farmers' Cream- ery at Ellendale. Mr. Hobenschield was married in October. 1877, in Austria, and to this union have been horn a goodly number of children, eight of whom are living. Joseph assists his father in conducting the farm; Theresa is the wife of Frank Hondl, of Aurora township ; Carolina is the wife of Anton Iondl, of the same township; John. Anton, Leopold, Frances and Ida live at home.
Nels Jergensen has successfully conducted the Deloss Higbee farms for over thirty years, and his agricultural methods have been successful during all of that long period. He was born in Denmark, October 25, 1852, and after receiving his education in that country, learned the weaver's trade. In 1873 he came to America, located in Summit township. Stecle county, and took up general farming. In addition to the 520 acres, which he so admirably manages, he owns a small tract of forty acres in his own name. For twenty-five years he has been breeding up to a high grade of Shorthorn cattle, and his fine herd is now one of the prides of the township. With this herd, Mr. Jergensen
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1241
makes a specialty of dairying. He is a Republican in politics, has been supervisor of the township and director of the school board several years. He is a stockholder in the Ellendale cream- ery and in the Farmers' Elevator. The subject of this sketch was married August 30, 1873, to Karen Kerstine, of Denmark. Of their ten children, seven are living. George is dead; Hannah is Mrs. R. P. Nelson, of Blooming Prairie township; Mary is Mrs. M. W. Nelson, of Minneapolis; Harvey, who married Anna Casperson, now deceased, lives at home ; Turvel lives in Water- loo, lowa; Peter and Ida live at home; Arthur, twin of Ida, is dead; Emma is a dressmaker at home, and Arthur, the second. is dead. The family faith is that of the Lutheran Church. Jer- gen Nelson and Marie Jacobson, his wife, parents of Nels Jergen- sen, were natives of Denmark. The mother died in 1854, and the father is still living in Denmark at the good old age of 81 years.
Henry Kruckeberg, a prominent farmer of Steele county, his birthplace, was born December 14, 1858, a son of Fred Krucke- berg. A sod shanty was his boyhood home, his education being the best obtainable from the district schools at that time. His father was a large landowner, at one time, possessing 1,000 acres. and after leaving school, he helped him with the farming of a portion of it for a few years before engaging in farming on his own account. He is now the owner of 450 acres, eighty in Aurora and the remainder in Dodge county, and carries on gen- eral farming on a large scale with much success, his up-to-date equipment and buildings being of much assistance. Dairying is extensively engaged in, a large herd of Durham cattle supplying milk of the best quality to a near by creamery, of which Mr. Kruckeberg is one of the largest shareholders. Poland China and DuRoch Jersey hogs are an important factor. In politics, he is a loyal adherent of the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office, his other affairs taking all his time and attention. During 1885 he was married to Ida Day, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann Day. They have seven children : Delorma is a drayman at Owatonna, and Stella. Ezra. Rachael, Elmer, Harold and Willard all live at home. Lizzie, Esther. Myrtle and another child, who died in infancy, are deceased. The family are loyal attendants of the Lutheran Church.
James J. Lea is one of the men who have assisted in building up the farming interests of Summit township. He was born in Norway, January 4, 1849, there received his education, and in 1871 came to America, locating for a time in Freeborn county. He purchased 174 acres and farmed thereon until 1879, when he came to Steele county and purchased eighty acres in Berlin township. He later sold that and purchased 163 acres in sec-
1212 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
tion 28. Summit township, erected buildings, improved the land and made other modern improvements, now carrying on general farming successfully. He has been constable. and has served many years on the school board of his district, being a thorough believer in education. To his union with Carrie Anderson, whom he married February 20. 1874, twelve children have been born : Johnnie is dead ; Henry is a farmer in Berlin township : Christina is the wife of Andrew B. Lea, of Goodhue county ; Joseph is a farmer in Berlin township and Annie. Ola. Jennie, Carl, Emma, Mary and Clara are at home. The family religion is that of the Lutheran Church. John and Anna (Peterson) Lea. parents of James J. Lea, were natives of Norway, where the father died. The mother came to America in 1877 and lived with her chil- dren until her death in 1894.
John Richmond Morley, one of Minnesota's distinguished citizens, is known far and wide for the interest he has taken in the pure food laws, and his efforts in behalf of the dairymen of Minnesota, being at the present time president and general manager of the Minnesota Co-Operative Daries' Association. He was born in Onondaga county, New York, November 19, 1850, and at the age of nine years was brought to Wisconsin by his parents in 1860. In 1868 he came to Steele county, re- mained here until 1872, then went to Illinois in the Chicago & Northwestern Railway service, remaining there until 1883, when he returned to Steele county and purchased his present farm. He now owns a model dairy farm, and is one of the foremost exponents of modern dairying methods in this state. In his official capacity with the Co-Operative Dairies he has actively worked for the interests of the creameries throughout the state. During his seven years of service from 1902 to 1909, as secretary of the Minnesota State Dairymen's Association, he did much toward making that organization the power that it now is. In politics, Mr. Morley is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and as a member of the lower house of the Minnesota Legislature from 1901 to 1905, he did the state distinguished service. The Knights of Pythias count him as a loyal brother. October 16. 1872, Mr. Morley was married to Emma C. Searl. by whom he has four children: Mrs. Mary C. Annett, of Owatonna ; Mrs. Ida Maude Foster, of Clark, S. D .; Mrs. Alice E. Scram, of Owatonna, and Edith C. Morley, also of Owatonna.
John S. and Corinthia S. (Richmond) Morley, parents of John R. Morley, were natives of Onandaga county, New York, being of English and Welsh descent, respectively. They moved to Wisconsin in 1860 and came to Steele county in 1868. The grandparents of Mr. Morley came from England and were among the pioneer settlers of Onandaga county.
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1243
Axel Nelson, a well known resident of Summit township, lives on the farm where he was born, October 29, 1879. He received his education in the district school, and farmed with his father, still remaining on the home farm, and looking after his mother's interests. In addition to this he rents 150 acres, and carries on farming in an able maner, being one of the successful men of the vicinity. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church. He has been clerk of school district No. 56 since reaching the age of 21 years. He was a member of the Republican county committee two years. His particular pride is in his fine herd of Durham cattle and his drove of Poland China hogs. Jacob Nelson and Jane Jergen- son, his wife, were born in Denmark and came to this country in 1877. One year later they purchased eighty acres in section 25, Summit township, made many improvements and built a home, conducting farming for many years. The former died July 17, 1904, and the latter still owns the old place. In the family were eight children: Emma, Nora, Anna, Olga, Alma, Sarah, Ella and Axel, the latter of whom manages the farm for his mother.
Jens C. Petersen, who owns a fertile farm in Blooming Prairie township, was born in Denmark September 3. 1855, son of Peter Jensen and Patrena (Andreasen), natives of Denmark, where they were both born and died. Jens received his educa- tion in the schools of Denmark and at the age of twenty years, in 1875, immigrated to America, locating first in Illinois, where he remained for two years following cement work and mining. In 1876, he went to lowa, where he was engaged in railroad work. In the month of December, 1877, he came to Minnesota, locating at Owatonna, in the spring of the following year he moved to Blooming Prairie township, where he first worked by the month at the rate of $18, he then purchased 180 acres of land and engaged in farming until 1887. At this time he sold the farm and went to Colorado, where he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad one year. He then returned to Steele county and pur- chased 120 acres of land. on which he farmed until 1895. Again selling his land, he repurchased 120 acres in Blooming Prairic township, sections 26 and 27, where he has followed diversified and general farming ever since. Mr. Petersen was married March 25, 1882, to Hattie F. Thimsen. Their home is blessed with nine children, viz .: Peter J., Julia A., now Mrs. Dowd, living in Charles City. Iowa ; Jessie J., Geo. J., Charles J., Wil- liam J., Patrena J., Hans C. and Jay C. Mr. Petersen is Demo- cratic in his political views. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is also a member of the A. F. A. M., M. W. A., and the Danish Brotherhood. He has served his township as justice
1244 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
of peace for twenty years, and is still serving, and many are the people that has been guided by his good advice. He has been assessor for fourteen years, which office he still holds. and he has also served on the school board in his district. He is also interested in co-operative enterprises and has been director in the Dearfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company for seven years, and also was one of the organizers of the first Co-Opera- tive Creameries in Blooming Prairie township, now called the Union Creamery. Mr. Petersen is a good citizen, has made all by his own hard work, and is highly respected by all who know him.
Peter Pribyl, a substantial agriculturalist of Summit town- ship, was born in Bohemia, in May. 1859. and received his educa- tion in the schools of that country. In 1866 he came to America and lived in Somerset township, Steele county, two years. Then he came to Summit township and purchased a farm of 200 acres, 120 acres in section 11 and eighty acres in section 12. He de- veloped this land, erected buildings, and made many improve- ments. making the place one of the excellent farms of the county. He is now engaged in general farming with great success. He holds stock in the Summit creamery. votes the Democratic ticket, and belongs to the Catholic Church and the St. Joseph Society. To his union with Matilda Kubecek, whom he married in September, 1890, have been born six children: Peter, Jr .. Frank. Charles, Mary, Joseph and Henry.
William L. Smith, now deceased, was for many years one of the capable and highly regarded farmers of Summit township. He was born in Ohio in 1843, son of John W. and Susan ( Shabo) Smith. The mother died in 1849 and the father, after marrying again, came West in 1858 with his family, and located in Summit township, engaging in farming until his death in 1893. William L. grew to manhood on the farm, and as he reached manhood purchased eighty acres of land. In 1867 he married Mrs. Julia A. Russell, a widow, who also purchased eighty acres of land. Mr. Smith worked this farm of 160 acres in Summit township until his death January 2. 1880. He is survived by seven children : James A., Robert P. and John W .. farmers in Sum- mit township: Elizabeth. now Mrs. Charles Gordon, of Canada : George E .. a farmer in Summit township; Charles P .. who works with his mother, and Sarah, wife of E. Koffman, of Canada. Mr. Smith was a Democrat in polities, and a member of the Universalist Church.
Mrs. Julia A. Smith was born in Indiana, October 29, 1835. She married Enos Russell, who was killed in 1864 in the service of the United States Army, leaving two children. She was married in 1867 to William L. Smith, and has seven children
THE NEW YORK
DR. E. E. BIGELOW
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1245
by this union. Since Mr. Smith's death she has managed the farm herself, and has proven a most capable business woman. She has increased the farm until she has 320 acres in the home farm, aside from a quarter section that one of her sons is work- ing. Mrs. Smith is highly esteemed among hier neighbors.
A. J. Young, a native of Merton township, where he is now a thriving farmer, was born October 25, 1872. His education begun at the district school, was supplemented by four years of study at Pillsbury Academy, Owatonna. Leaving school lie has ever since engaged in farming. In 1898, Mr. Young rented his father's farm, on which from that time, he has been busy in tilling the soil and caring for his live stock. His especial interest is in Holstein cattle and Percheron horses. He was married to Lydia Greeley, daughter of James and Amelia Rib- stein Greeley, in 1898. Three children bless their home: Clar- ence, Jay and Loleita. A Republican in politics and an attendant upon the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Young has been active in local affairs, serving as treasurer of the school district for a number of years and also as township road overseer. He owns stock in and is a director of Merton Creamery, and is also director and stockholder of the Merton Rural Telephone Company.
James R. Young and his wife, Ellen Wilson, parents of A. J. Young, came to Minnesota in 1861, and located on a home- stead claim of 160 acres in Merton township. Mr. Young was a native of New York, while his wife was born in England. In 1863, he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War, in Company C, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the rebellion, when he was honorably discharged. Return- ing home, he worked on his farm until 1898, when he moved to Owatonna, where with his wife he still lives.
Edward Elisha Bigelow, the oldest physician and surgeon residing in Owatonna, was born in Akron, Ohio, July 1, 1842, his father being a descendant of the Bigclow and Sumner families of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont, cmigrating from the latter state to Akron with his parents at the age of 18 years ; his mother was a daughter of Dr. Jacobs of Elmira, N. Y .; both families spring from purely English blood. His mother died in 1848, leaving a family of eight children, four boys and four girls, he being the fifth born to the family. In 1850 he joined his father, who had emigrated to Lake Mills, Wis., and there received a common school and academical education and was prepared for college work when the war of the rebellion inter- rupted and he enlisted in the fall of 1861 with what was known as General Fremont's body guards and went to rendezvous at Milwaukee, from whence the company went to St. Louis and
1246 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
reported to Gen. Fremont. He was finally rejected as being unfit for service and returned home. Determined to make an- other trial, in July, 1862, he procured a commission to recruit a company of infantry and soon, being joined by an old friend, C. H. Bryant, who afterwards became the captain of the com- pany, and who had just completed a three-months' service, the two soon secured a full complement of volunteers and organized the company which subsequently became Company D of the Twenty-ninth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, in which he was a seargeant.
From the over exertion, the subject of this sketch was pros- trated and taken to the post hospital at Helena. Ark .. army measles followed and, in turn pneumonia and a relapse of the same, lying in the hospital at Helena during the months of Jan- uary, February and March, 1863, then removed to Memphis Hospital, where he was finally discharged from service by a general order, extended to all similar cases, and returned to his home in the North under the care of the sanitary board conducted by the ever-to-be-remembered soldiers' friend, Mrs. Governor Harvey of Wisconsin, who had. after the death of the governor, dedicated her service to the caring for the sick and disabled soldiers.
In the procuring of sanitary stores and forwarding them to the front so that he felt that he had been able to do a fraction of good in the cause. In the winter of 1864 and 1865 he taught the village school of Milford. Wis., and in September following entered the University of Michigan, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery in March, 1867, hav- ing while a student at the university been honored by the position of an assistant to the demonstrator of anatomy, professor of anatomy and professor of gynecology and diseases of women and children. Though there were no paid assistants at the university. as such, except in a few instances, the experience received in that capacity was of priceless value to the doctor in after life in en- abling him to render better service to his patrons. After leaving the university he immediately began work at the village of Milan, a few miles south of Ann Arbor. that he could continue in close touch with the university and add knowledge from an associa- tion with the teachers of the institution as a member of the Washtenaw County Medical Society, where advanced papers were read and discussed by them. At Milan he immediately entered upon a large and lucrative practice, his old teachers ever ready to render good council when needed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.