History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 64

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr.
Number of Pages: 864

USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 64
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 64

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).

C. Oscar Olin, a live and enterprising business man of Fari- bault, Minn., was born in that city February 4, 1881. He re- ceived a thorough education in the public schools of Faribault, supplementing this with a course in the Faribault Business Col- Jege. His school days over, he entered the employ of a book and stationery company, remaining there until 1907, when he launched into business on his own account, opening the Olin

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Book and Stationery Store, which he has managed with great success, now having over a $6,000 stock of well selected, up-to- date goods. He is agent for the St. Paul "Press" and "Dis- patch," and has one of the finest lines of magazines and papers in the city. Mr. Olin also carries a large stock of wall paper, employing nine men as paperhangers and painters. besides a large office and clerking force. As to political principles, he is a strong adherent of the Republican party. He holds to the tenets of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. His residence is located at 414 Tenth street. Mr. Olin is one of a large family, having five sisters and brothers, viz .: William, of Minneapolis ; Ole, of Faribault; John P., of Minneapolis: Lena, married to S. Swenson, of Minneapolis; and Julia, wife of H. Halverson. of Forest township. Ole and Esther (Knuteson) Olin, his par- ents, were born and raised in Norway. coming from the Father- land to America about 1867, and locating at Faribault, where the father was engaged in tailoring up to the time of his death. April 17, 1902. The mother is still living at Faribault.

Alvah M. Olin. The founder of the American family of Olin was John Olin, who was born in Wales, and settled in Rhode Island in 1838. His son. Henry, and grandson, Caleb. were both born in that state, the latter's birth occurring in Old, Warwick, R. I., December 8. 1753. Caleb served during the Revolutionary War. under orders from the military committee of safety, and was present at the evacuation of Ticonderoga and the battle of Bennington. Vt. His death occurred at Potsdam. N. Y .. August 7, 1838. The next in order of descent was Thomas D. Olin, born in Vermont. August 25, 1779.

His son was Thomas H., the father of the subject of this sketch, born in Canton. N. Y .. June 13, 1811. May 25, 1837; he married Sarah A. Church, at Milwaukee. Wis. She was born in West Chazey. Vt .. January 13, 1817. They were the parents of four children : Rollin, C., born Angust 25. 1839. is a physician of Detroit. Mich .: Melvin T., born February 10, 1841, lives in Stevens Point. Wis .: Alvah M., born August 1. 1843. lives in Northfield ; Milicent S., born November 21, 1857, lives in Detroit. Mich.

Thomas H. Olin came to Rice county in the early days. located on a farm on Prairie creek, Northfield township. and built a shanty. He returned to Wisconsin in the fall and when he came back to Rice county, May 31, 1855, he found that a Mr. Sanford had taken his location. Consequently, to avoid trouble, Mr. Olin abandoned his original claim and purchased a site from George Smith. He then brought his family overland from Wisconsin, driving his cattie and bringing his household effects with him. Thomas H. Olin was of stanch character and

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of just disposition, and, being pre-eminently a God-fearing man, was one of the founders of the Congregational Church in North- field, serving as deacon of that church until the time of his death, which occurred in Detroit, Mich., at the home of his son Rollin. His wife died in December, 1899.

The parents of Mrs. Alvah M. Olin were Alexander and Nancy (Packard) Jameson, both born in Maine, the father June 9, 1797, and the mother January 13, 1803. They were married October 25, 1825, and their union was blessed with four chil- dren : Mercy A., born July 24, 1826, married to William Keene ; Abner, born March 30, 1829; Mrs. Sarah E. Olin, born June 19, 1844, and Charles, born May 9, 1837. All are dead except Mrs. Olin. Alexander Jameson died April 19, 1864, and his wife passed away April 19, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Alvah M. Olin have one daughter, Gertrude E., born May 7, 1872. She was married September 16, 1897, to Ernest Bunday, and they have one son, Alvah S., born June 29, 1898.

David H. Orr, now retired, deserves a high place among the pioneer farmers of Minnesota. He was one of the pioneer raisers of hops, barley and apples in this part of the country, and had much to do with the agricultural upbuilding of Rice county. He has also been interested in educational matters, and is himself a poet of no little ability. Born August 27, 1825, in Oneida county. New York, he received his education in his native state, and in 1857 came to Minnesota and pre-empted 160 acres in Waton- wan county. He then returned to New York, settled up his business affairs there, and in 1857 returned and purchased 200 acres in sections 14 and 15, in Northfield township. In 1865 he built a cheese factory, one of the first built in Minnesota. Mr. Orr declares that he made as good cheese in those days as is now produced by the most modern methods. In 1863 he planted a hop yard and raised the first hops that were produced in Min- nesota, with the exception of a Mr. Owans, who had a small yard, but did not make a success of the attempt. In the spring of the same year that he started his hop-raising venture he sent to New York for twenty-five apple trees, and planted these on his farm. The trees flourished and produced one crop, but a heavy snow, followed by a partial thaw and a very hard freeze. killed every tree. In the spring of 1863, the same year of his other ventures, he raised barley on his place, which makes him among the first in the state to raise that crop also. Some years later he purchased an interest in the Cascade Manufacturing Company, in Goodhue county, which he at first operated in part- nership with D. F. Aiken, Mr. Lockwood and Sumner Drake. He later purchased his partners' interest and operated the mill until it burned, in 1896. In the meantime he was adding to his

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farm, and finally acquired in all 760 acres. He has now sold all but 420 acres. Several years ago he moved to Northfield, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Orr are members of the North- field Pioneer Society, and Mr. Orr has served as its president. Mr. Orr is known in surrounding counties as well as his own, and his poems, written to celebrate various occasions, have be- come widely and favorably received. He has always been inter- ested in education and for many years has been prominently identified with literary and debating societies, many of which have assisted in the development of the higher life of the com- munity. The subject of this sketch has served his township as supervisor and has been treasurer of schools. Ile was married February 7, 1862, to Catharine Tiffany, born in Schoharie county, New York, but raised in Oneida county, where her parents moved while she was still an infant. To Mr. and Mrs. Orr were born four sons: Charles D., now of Northfield; Erwin E., now of Wadena, Minn .; Burton E., of Faribault, and Benjamin F .. also of Faribault.

William and Phcebe ( Parkhurst) Orr, parents of David H. Orr, spent the larger part of their lives in Madison county, New York. The father was born in June, 1800, in County Down, Ire- land, and died in June, 1872. The mother was born in Farley, Vt., in 1802, and died July 2. 1873. They were married in Oneida, N. Y.

Thomas Olson, retired business man of Northfield, was born in Norway, January 1, 1856, his parents, both of Norwegian birth, being now deceased. He came to America in 1882, and settled at once in Northfield. For twelve years he conducted a café and was also engaged in the grocery business with C. O. Lockrain three years. Hle then opened a shoe store, which he managed for a period of about three years also. In 1906 he retired from active business, with the pleasing consciousness of having attained success in all his undertakings. In 1908 he returned to his native country and remained about four months, looking after his real-estate holdings there, which consist of a farm and timber land. Ile now lives in his comfortable resi- dence at 700 South Division street, and in addition to this and his Norway property, owns a fine business block in this place. He is a popular member of the Eagles and the Odd Fellows. Mr. Olson was married August 26, 1886, to Caroline Peterson, also a native of Norway.

John G. Osmundson was born in Rice county, May 20, 1864. He is a son of O. and Anike Osmundson, both natives of Nor- way. The father was a sailor, and came to America in 1845, locating in Wisconsin, but in 1850 he went to California, pros- pecting for gold. In 1855 he returned and located in Nerstrand,

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Minn .. pre-empting land. upon which he has carried on general farming up to the present time. He is now eighty-four years old. Osmund Osmundson is entitled to the credit of naming the village of Nerstrand, that being the name of the town in Norway where he was born. Mr. John G. Osmundson was edu- cated in the district schools of Nerstrand, and at St. Olaf's Col- lege, Northfield, Minn. After leaving college he established a general mercantile business at Nerstrand, in partnership with H. N. Hegns, which continued until 1892. when he sold out to his partner and bought an entire new stock and continued in business. In 1885 he was married to Lena Hanson, a daughter of John and Olive (Peterson) Hanson, both natives of Den- mark. Mr. Hanson was a sea captain, who came to America. and finally located in Minnesota, where he engaged in farming up to the time of his death. His wife died in 1907. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Osmundson : Albert O .. J. Orville, and Amanda, all living in the state of Montana. Mrs. Osmund- son died some years ago, and Mr. Osmundson was married a second time to Adelia Barte, whose parents lived and carried on a farm in Wheeling township until their death. Five children were born by the second wife: Mildred, Gertrude, Hazel, Rus- sell, and Sharpe, all living at home. Mrs. Osmundson is quite extensively engaged in raising poultry. Her favorite breeds are Plymouth Rocks, Golden Wyandottes, Rose Comb Black Ban- tams and Bronze turkeys. She has received a number of prizes. In politics Mr. Osmundson is a Democrat, and he has been treas- urer of the village for a number of years. In his religious views he is a Lutheran.

Haagen OIsen, a well-to-do and enterprising farmer of Web- ster township, was born in Norway, September 18, 1839. He is a son of Ole and Johanna (Gunderson) Hendrickson, natives of Norway, who farmed in their native country until the father's death in 1880. The mother died in 1895. Our subject received his education in Norway. Leaving school, he farmed in his native country until 1867. which time he emigrated to America and located in Dakota county, where he farmed for five years. and then went to North Dakota, where he farmed for two years : returning to Minnesota, he located in Webster township. Rice county, where he has carried on general farming successfully up to the present time. In 1867 Mr. Olsen married Mary Olsen. They have four children, viz .: Olivia, who lives in North Da- kota; John, also in North Dakota; Hermina, a teacher, residing at home; Mary is dead. Mrs. Olsen died in 1873. Mr. Olsen married a second time in 1879. to Miss Anna M. -- , whose parents live in Dakota county, Minnesota. They have eight chil- dren, named, in the respective order of their birth : Juliana, now

E. B. ORCUTT

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Mrs. Johnson; Edwin, Harold, Herbert George, Ole, Alma, Johanna. Mr. Olsen has taken an active part in the progressive movement of his community. He is a stockholder in the Farm- ers' Elevator at Louxdale, the Farmers' Webster Co-operative Telephone Company, and in the creamery. He has served as treasurer in the school board for a number of years, and has also served on the town board. In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party, and in religious faithi he belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

William F. Orcutt, who has been a resident of Cannon City township, Rice county, Minn., nearly all his life, was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and is the eldest of a family of five children born to Edward B. and Sylvia (Dunning) Orcutt, na- tives of the Empire State. In 1852 the father settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on a farm, and three years later moved with his family to Rice county, Minnesota, settling on a tract of 160 acres of land which he purchased in Cannon City township. Here he made a home, and carried on general farming and spent his days, his death occurring February 1, 1894. His widow sur- vived him some fifteen years, and died April 21, 1909. Of their other children, Francis J., whose sketch appears in this volume, is a farmer : Miranda is married to Mr. J. F. Clossin, of Cannon City township; Lorinda S., now deceased, was married to Mr. W. A. Thompson, and Minnie, the youngest, is married to Mr. D. A. McLean. Our subject has always devoted himself to farming. and is counted one of the substantial men of the com- munity. He is a Republican in political sentiment, but has never sought or held any office. In religious faith he is affiliated with the Methodist Evangelical Church. On October 6, 1893, Mr. Orcutt married Miss Lydia Schreiber, whose parents, John and Sophia (Smith) Schreiber, came from Germany, their native land, at an carly day, and settled on a farm in Wisconsin. Thence they moved to Rice county, Minnesota, and settled on a farm in Wheeling township, where the father died in 1907, and where the mother now resides (1910). Mr. and Mrs. Orcutt have three children : Myrtle M., Lloyd F .. and Helen D., all of whom are attending school.

Francis J. Orcutt is a prosperous farmer of Cannon City town- ship, Rice county, Minn., and was born there, July 24, 1855. son of Edward B. and Sylvia (Dunning) Orcutt, natives of New York state. In his early life the father followed the Eric Canal. but in 1852 settled on a farm in Dodge county, Wisconsin, whence, in 1855, he moved to Rice county, Minnesota. Here he bought a quarter section of land in Cannon township, which he subdued and improved, and where he carried on general farming and reared his family. He died at the family home-

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stead February 1, 1894. The mother's death occurred April 21, 1909. Our subject grew up on his father's farm and attended the public schools. He lived on the home farm till he was twenty-two years old. He then came into possession of eighty acres of land and afterwards, with his brother, William F. Or- cutt. purchased the interests of the other heirs in the home place, and still later added twenty-five acres, making in all 265 acres of farm land. He also has twenty acres of timber land. The farm is improved with good buildings, is well stocked, and equipped with modern appliances and implements needed in carrying on general farming. Mr. Orcutt is a leading man in the community and has served as a member and chairman of the town board, as supervisor and for twenty-four years as clerk of school district. He is a Republican in politics and has served on the county committee.

On March 7, 1888, Mr. Orcutt married Miss Anna M., daugh- ter of Warren and Hanna (Wright) Smith, natives of Orleans county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Orcutt have three children, viz .: Guy Francis and Edward Buir, who are pupils in the high school at Faribault, and Leslie W., who also is attending school.

T. O. O'Grady, Jr., was born in Forest township, Rice county, Minn., April 4, 1887. He is a son of T. O. and Mary Jane (Shields) O'Grady. The mother was a native of Wisconsin and the father a native of Ireland. He came to this country, when a child, with his parents. They located first in New York state and later came to Illinois, remaining there until 1853. In that year Mr. O'Grady, Sr., came to Minnesota and located in Forest township, Rice county, where he took up a claim, cleared the land, erected buildings, and did general farming until his death, September 25, 1909. The mother still lives on the old homestead. They had nine children : Mary Ann. Margaret, Isa- bel, Ruth, John, James, now deceased; Ellen, now deceased ; T. O. Jr., the subject of this sketch, and Nora. In his religious belief Mr. O'Grady is a Catholic, and in politics he is a Demo- crat. Mr. O'Grady, Sr., in his lifetime held all the town offices and served one term on the county committee.

August Oleson was born in Sweden, July 18, 1849. He is a son of Olaver and Marie Johnson. They were both natives of Sweden, and the father was a farmer until his death in 1876; the mother died in 1882. August attended school in Sweden, and worked on his father's farm until he came to America, in 1868. He located first at La Crosse, Wis., where he worked as a day laborer until 1869, when he came to Faribault. He worked out on a farm for three years, when he married Mary Swanson, a daughter of Swan and Augre (Peterson) Swanson. After his marriage he went to Minneapolis and worked in the lumber mills

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for about five years. He then came back to Rice county and bought a farm of eighty acres and later an additional eighty acres in Forest township, where he has done a general farming up to the present time. Six children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oleson: Freda, now Mrs. Frank Anderson ; Ingre M., now Mrs. A. Johnson ; Edward, living at home; Axel, mar- ried and living in Minneapolis; Anna and Walfred, both at home. Mr. Oleson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In his political views he is a Democrat. He has served his town on the board of supervisors and also on the school board.

M. S. Osmundson, a progressive farmer of Wheeling town- ship, has been prominently identified with the public life of his vicinity for many years. He has served as treasurer of the village council for the past eight years; also as trustee two years of the Valley Grove Church. He was the first treasurer of the village of Nerstrand. He is also a stockholder of the Farmers' State Bank at that place. Mr. Osmundson is a native born son of Minnesota, his natal appearance having taken place August 31, 1862, in Wheeling township. He is the son of Osmund Os- mundson. Our subject received his education in the district schools of Wheeling township. After leaving school he worked on his father's farm, where he has made his home ever since. In 1898 Mr. Osmundson married Lena, daughter of Nels and Margaret (Hendrickson) Hegnes, natives of Norway. The father's work was that of a common laborer, which he followed until he passed away in 1872. Mrs. Hegnes emigrated to Amer- ica in 1887, and lived with her son, O. N. Hegnes, at Nerstrand, until she died in 1908. Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Osmundson, viz .: Osmund, Leonard and Am- brosia, who are all living at home. In political faith Mr. Os- mundson is a Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Charles H. Pierce, postmaster of Northfield, has given the people efficient service, and his accommodating and genial spirit has made him one of the most popular citizens of the city. After leaving school, Mr. Pierce worked for a number of years as a printer, and received his appointment as postmaster of Northi- field from President William Mckinley, his commission being renewed by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft.

Christian N. Peterson, artistic photographer of Faribault, is a native of Norway, born January 8, 1860. He came to America with his parents as a boy of six years, receiving his education in the public schools of Wisconsin and Minnesota. After leaving school he learned the furniture finishing trade with A. L. Hill and N. S. Flint, and spent a short time house painting with Ship-

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man & Arney. In October, 1878, he entered the employ of A. F. Bunham, and worked with him one and a half years, learning the art of photography. Then he engaged in that business in part- nership with Louis Peavey, continuing until 1884, when he pur- chased the gallery of A. F. Bunham, for whom he had previously worked. Mr. Peterson has built up a large trade, and his artistic work carries its own appeal to persons of refined tastes. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Faribault Commercial Club, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. He is a Republican in politics, and attends the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

The parents of Christian N. Peterson were Ole and Cecil O. Troseth Peterson, natives of Norway. They came to America in 1866, located ten miles east of La Crosse and engaged in farming. In 1869 they came to Faribault, and here the father engaged in carpenter and mason work for a long period. He has now retired. The mother died in March, 1907. In the family there were two children besides Christian. Both are living. They are Randvold and Pauline E.

Caleb G. Pye, an honored and respected citizen of Faribault. Minn., was born near Chicago, Ill .. February 15, 1851. A few years later his parents removed to Wheeling township, Rice county, Minn., and there he spent his boyhood, acquiring a good common-school education in the district schools, after which he assisted his father in farming the old homestead till 1878, when he rented the old farm for himself, and later, 1886, purchased it outright. He continued to improve and cultivate the land, added new buildings, and built up one of the finest farms in the county. and followed his profession of agriculture with much success till 1900, when he sold the place and moved to Faribault. Mr. Pye is an ardent adherent of the principles of the Prohibition party, and has always taken a keen interest in things tending to the betterment of society. He has served as justice of the peace, road assessor, and clerk of his school district, all in the town- ship of Wheeling. In religious belief he follows the tenets of the Congregational Church. December 31, 1877, at Jackson, Minn., he married Florence E. Cooke, of Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orson Cooke. Six children have blessed this union, viz .: Watts O., born October 20, 1878, who is now a missionary at Shan-Si, Fon-Cho-Fu, China; Alberta E., born February 17. 1880, died June 20, 1905; Ernest C., born October 6, 1881, stu- dent at Oberlin Seminary. Ohio; Marva B., born August 20, 1883, died July 29, 1902; Hazel E., born September 7, 1891, a student at Faribault high school; Gladys E., born March 26, 1894, now attending the Central school. Watts O. and Mary A. (Goodman) Pye, parents of Caleb G. Pye, were born in Nor- folkshire, England. The father was a molder and furnaceman

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in a foundry in his native country till 1848, when he emigrated to America with his wife, and located in Illinois, engaging in farming for seven years; then removed to Wheeling township, Rice county, Minn., where he pre-empted a 160-acre claim. This was their home till 1883, when they removed to Cannon City, Minn., where they lived retired until the death of the mother, February 11, 1886. The father then returned to the farm in Wheeling, where he lived with his son, Caleb G., until his decease.

John Peterson, the well-known furniture gentleman of Fari- bault, was born in Sweden, November 23, 1871. Here he re- mained till he was fourteen years of age, receiving a good edu- cation in the public schools of his native country, after which he came to America, working his way over. Landing in his adopted county, he located in Boston, Mass., where he completed his education. In 1891 he migrated North, coming to Faribault, and entering the employ of the Faribault Furniture Company, in which he passed the next ten years, acquiring a good knowl- edge of the furniture business. He then went to Waterville, Minn., and established the Waterville Furniture Company, to which he devoted his entire attention for the next five years, meeting with a very marked degree of success and winning a wide reputation for his output. He is still connected with this company as designer, also being one of the important stock- holders. In 1906 he came back to Faribault and organized the Peterson Art Furniture Company, of which he has been sole owner and proprietor ever since. Mr. Peterson is an independent voter, believing that the fitness of the man for the office should determine his election, regardless of party. He has never aspired to political office, his large business interests absorbing all his time and energy. He is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a prominent member of the Com- mercial Club. In religious convictions he holds to the faith of the Lutheran Church. November 24, 1905, he united in marriage with Grace Goodwin, of Marshall, Minn., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Goodwin. They have two children: Jack G., born September 14, 1906, and Lonta D., born June 5, 1908. The family residence is on the corner of Fifth avenue and First street, South. Andrew and Bertha (Martinson) Peterson, parents of our subject, were natives of Sweden. The father died in 1874, and the mother in 1880, leaving their son an orphan at the age of nine. Joshua Goodwin, father of Mrs. John Peterson, fol- lowed farming as an occupation and carried arms during the War of the Rebellion. He survives his wife, who died in 1903.

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History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 64

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr.
Number of Pages: 864