USA > Minnesota > Illustrated album of biography of Southwestern Minnesota : containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers...:History of Minnesota, embracing an account of early exploration...and a concise history of the Indian outbreak of 1862 > Part 100
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The subject of our sketch is a man of pro- gressive ideas and of high moral character. Believing in the renovation of political par- ties he has cut loose from his old affiliation with republicanism and is now an earnest supporter of the principles and policy of the prohibition party. He is a thorough tem- perance man and believes in placing the gov- ernment in the hands of the temperance people. Our subject has been identified with the interests of Osborne township, and, indeed, of the whole county for a number of years, and being one of the pioneer settlers is held in high esteem by the citizens of the township in which he is located. Among the positions of trust which he has held in the township may be named that of treas- urer, to which office he has been elected sev- eral times, being the first incumbent of that position in the town. In his farming opera- tions Mr. Turner has been very successful. He is at present engaged in farming and stock-raising business, giving special atten-
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tion to Durham cattle and blooded horses. He owns some of the best animals of the Durham stock in the county. - -
EBEDIAH W. MARSH is a leading and influential citizen of Shetek township, Murray county, Minnesota. He homesteaded his present place on section 21 in 1871. He was one of the first settlers of the township-the other early settlers being D. Greenman, E. C. French, W. F. Silvernale, David Haddock, T. Conner and Mr. Arm- strong. Our subject assisted in the organi- zation of the township, and originated the petition to organize the first school district in the county in the year 1873. By appoint- ment he served one year as county sheriff, and was then elected to that position for two terms. He has also been county commis- sioner for one year, and has been treasurer of school district No. 1 from its organization up to the present time. He has also held the offices of justice of the peace and township treasurer, and is holding the latter office at the present time. It will thus be seen that Mr. Marsh takes an active interest in all matters of a public nature, and in every instance he has given excellent satisfaction in the administration of the duties of his offices. On coming to the county in the fall of 1871 our subject put up hay, rented a house on the lake shore and made that his home during the winter. He busied himself with getting out logs for a house for himself, which was put up in June, 1872. He broke six acres of land, and planted it to corn. Later he broke twelve acres more, and the following year set out two acres of trees. He has been quite successful in raising trees, and has now a beautiful grove. He has made his residence in Shetek township since his location, with the exception of four years which were spent by him in work at the blacksmith's trade in Currie; his family,
however, remained on the farm. These four years were the years of the grasshopper raids, and no crops could be raised. Our subject experienced many hardships during his early settlement, but these have all been forgotten in the prosperity and good circumstances with which he is surrounded to-day. His nearest market during those early days was New Ulm and Heron Lake, the distance to New Ulm being seventy-five miles, and the trip to that place occupying four days.
Mr. Marsh was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in the village of Gouv- erneur, May 1, 1837. He remained in his native county until he was seven years of age, and from thence removed to Ashtabula. Ohio, where he resided for twelve years. Here he received his education and early training, and at nineteen years of age came to Winona county, Minnesota, locating in Saratoga township. His occupation up to this time and while in Ohio was principally that of a sailor, this line of occupation being engaged in for some five seasons. He resided in Winona county, engaged in farming and teaming until 1861, and then enlisted in the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry as a private. In June, 1862, he was discharged as an orderly sergeant, and in August of that year re-enlisted as a second lieutenant in the Seventh Minnesota Infantry. He continued in the service throughout the war, being dis- charged in August, 1865. He participated in many hard-fought battles, and served his country bravely and well. Our subject was engaged in many fights with the Sioux In- dians of Dakota. He was at the battles of Big Mound and Dead Buffalo Lake. He also served for several years in the operations of the Army of the South, and participated in the battles of Somerset, Tallahatchie River, Big Blue River, Tupelo, Nashville, where our subject commanded his regiment through a two-days' battle. He was discharged at Fort Snelling in 1865, and then returned to
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Saratoga township, Winona county, Minne- sota, where he remained until 1871, engaged in farming. While in that county he occu- pied a prominent position and held various offices, such as constable, for two years, and deputy county sheriff, for two years. In the fall of 1871 he came to his present location, as related in the opening lines of this sketch.
Mr. Marsh was married September 30, 1863, while on a furlough, to Miss Mary Jane Jasper, a native of Newton, Union county, Pennsylvania. This lady was reared and educated in West Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have been blessed with five chil- dren-Millionette, Ella M., Clyde, Walter and John. Millionette married Everett Greenman, and is now residing in Shetek township. She was thoroughly educated, and tanght twelve terms of school in Murray county prior to her marriage.
The subject of our sketch is a man of broad ideas, is possessed of excellent business capabilities, and is highly esteemed as a true and loyal citizen. He is a man of great en- ergy, is independent in thought, and in poli- tics affiliates with no particular party, but supports the man best fitted for the position. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is an influential member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
LFRED BLENKIRON is a prosper- ous farmer and influential citizen, living on section 31, Springfield township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. The place of his birth was in Yorkshire, England, where he first saw the light June 30, 1855. The parents of our subject were John and Anna (Southerland) Blenkiron, the former a native of England, and the latter born in Scotland.
The subject of our sketch remained in England until he was nineteen years of age, up to which time he had received a good
common-school education. At that age he went to the island of Ceylon, where he en- gaged for six years on a coffee plantation. At the expiration of that time he returned to England for two years, when, in 1881, he came to America, and soon came to Cotton- wood county, locating on the place where he now lives. In connection with A. B. Keir, our subject purchased 640 acres of ex- cellent land, where he is now engaged in farming. Since coming to the township Mr. Blenkiron has shown his capability as a pub- lic-spirited citizen, and has assisted in various ways in the administration of local affairs. In politics he affiliates with the democratic party, is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and belongs to the Epis- copal church.
Mr. Blenkiron wedded Mary Elotia Moore, December 8, 1884. This union has been blessed with two children, both of whom are now deceased.
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B ERNT TORESDAHL is the leading member of the firm of Bernt Tores- dahl & Company, proprietors of the Minne- apolis Store of Pipestone, Minnesota. This firm carries one of the largest and best assorted stocks of goods in the city, consist- ing of dry goods, notions, hosiery, fancy goods and gents' furnishing goods. Their store has become quite popular with the denizens of Pipestone, and the company enjoys a large and profitable trade. Our subject located in the city in May, 1888, at which time he brought his immense stock of goods from the city of Minneapolis, where he had been doing business for some two years. The place of the nativity of Mr. Toresdahl is found in Norway, where he was born in 1860.
The subject of our sketch is the son of Swan and Mary (Larson) Toresdahl, both natives of Norway. The father was an
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influential man in his native land and was engaged extensively in farming, and also in the stock business. He operated quite largely in shipping horses from Norway to England, and is still living, engaged in that business. The mother died in 1865. In the father's family there were five children, three of whom are now living-Asbijoren, Bernt and Gurene. The first named came to America in 1884 and settled in Wright county, Iowa, where he is engaged in farm- ing. The grandfather of our subject was Asbijoren Toresdahl, an influential farmer of Norway. He was a soldier for seven years in the war between Denmark and Norway and Sweden, and was wounded by being shot in the arm in one of the promi- nent battles.
The parental home remained the abiding place of our subject until he was thirteen years of age, up to which time he had been given more or less educational advantages in the place of his nativity. When thirteen years old he was sent to school at Staranger, where he remained two years, continuing his educational course. At the end of that period he engaged as a clerk in a dry goods and notion house, remaining with his em- ployer for about five years. 1880 found him on his way to America. He first settled in Sheldahl, Iowa, where he accepted a posi- tion as clerk in a drug store. About eight- een months were spent in that employment, and then he went to Eagle Grove, Wright county, where he clerked in a dry goods house for three years. Removing thence he stopped in Randall, same State, where for one year he found employment in a dry goods house. He went thence to Minne- apolis, as clerk in a dry goods and clothing house. After eight months of clerking he opened in the same line that he now carries and continued in business in that city for about two years, at which time he brought his present stock of goods to Pipestone.
After coming to Pipestone he took in John Grun as a partner, under the firm name of Bernt Toresdahl & Co.
The subject of our sketch was married in 1888 to Miss Julia Egland, of Iowa. This lady was a daughter of Knute Egland, a native of Norway. This marriage has been blessed with two children-Hiram C. and Martine.
Since coming to America the subject of our sketch has been one of the stanch sup- porters of the republican party. He is also a member of the order of Knights of the White Cross. Matters of a public nature interest him, and he always aids in those enterprises by word and deed, giving of his means whenever it is necessary to further the projects of public importance. In his mercantile business he has been quite suc- cessful, having accumulated considerable means. He has an excellent stock of goods and enjoys a large and increasing trade.
NUTE TORGERSON is a leading farmer and stock raiser of section 16, Highwater township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He made his location on his present place in 1872, coming with the fam- ily of his parents. They settled on section 22 of that township, and the father remained there until his death, which occurred in 1882. The father was a native of Norway, and came to the United States in 1856, settling in La Crosse county, Wisconsin. Through- out his life he was a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Lutheran church. Our subject's mother's name was Gro Knutson, a native of Norway, and now a resident of sec- tion 22 of Highwater township. In the father's family there were seven children, of whom our subject was the third youngest- Julia, Torg, Jennie, Bessie, Knute, Ole (de- ceased) and John (deceased).
The subject of our sketch is a native of
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La Crosse county, Wisconsin, his birth occur- ring August 4, 1863. He was reared in La Crosse county until he was nine years of age. He then came to Cottonwood county and re- ceived a common-school education in the dis- trict schools. He remained with his parents until he was seventeen years of age, and then commenced work for himself. In 1885 he bought his present farm of eighty acres, and has since been operating the same in his own behalf. Since attaining his majority he has taken an active interest in all public matters, and was elected assessor of Highwater town- ship in 1886, which position he still holds. He was also chairman of the township board for one year. His father being one of the early settlers of the township, he assisted in its organization, and interested his son, our subject, in the affairs of the government. Our subject has been clerk of the township, and, by careful and capable attention to the details of the various offices which he has held, has made himself well known to the people, and has gained their respect and es- teem. In politics he affiliates with the repub- lican party, and, with his family, belongs to the Lutheran church. He is a man of excel- lent principles, and a man of the highest in- tegrity.
Mr. Torgerson was married June 2, 1885, to Miss Susie Seim, a native of Norway. When she was a year old her parents came to America, locating for a few years in the State of Iowa. From thence they went to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where Miss Susie completed her education. Her father was Ole Seim, and now lives in Murray county. Mr. and Mrs. Torgerson have three children -Alice F., Olaf W. and Albert O.
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OSEPH A. SHAVER, a leading business man of Rock county, Minnesota, is the manager of the C. P. Crosby lumber yard, at Beaver Creek. He is a native of Colum-
bia county, Wisconsin, where he was born in 1859.
The parents of the subject of our sketch were Benjamin W. and Julia A. (Hall) Sha- ver, both of whom were natives of the State of New York. The father has been en- gaged in the livery business throughout the most of his life. He came west to Wiscon- sin in an early day, and remained in that State until 1872, in which year he removed to Kasson, Minnesota, and engaged in the same line of business-that of operating a livery. He remained in Kasson for two years, and then removed his family to Fari- bault, Minnesota, where he continued his old business until going to Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1883. He has changed his location a number of times, but has finally found a permanent location in Cedar Falls, where he is now engaged in the livery business. He was a man of strong patriotic sentiments, and served in the Union army during 1864 and 1865. In the father's family there were four children-George, Joseph A., Emiline and Zelia.
The subject of our sketch remained with his parents during his early life, receiving his education and training in Kasson and Faribault. Prior to 1884 he assisted his father in the livery business, and in that year came to Beaver Creek and opened the lumber yard, of which he is the present manager.
Mr. Shaver was married November 29, 1888, to Miss Mary V. Bailey, of Luverne, Minnesota, daughter of Joseph N. and Kate (Strong) Bailey.
Mr. Shaver has earnestly taken hold of the business affairs of Beaver Creek village, and has assisted in the organization of vari- ous financial enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the roller flouring mills, and continued his interest in the same until after the mill was gotten under good head- way. He then sold out. He has purchased
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a house and lot in the village and has a beau- tiful home. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and was elected one of the board of village trustees in 1888. He is a man of excellent business principles, a loyal citizen, and is one of the prominent business characters of the locality. -
ACOB G. HIEBERT is one of the leading general merchants of the village of Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county, Min- nesota. He is the son of George and Susan (Emm) Hiebert, both natives of Germany. The parents came to America in 1876 and settled in Mountain Lake township on a farm about three miles from the village of Mount- ain Lake. The parents are still living on that farm. The father was a mniller by trade, and while in his native country oper- ated a large flouring mill. In the father's family there were the following children- Jacob, Eliza, George, David, Susan, John and Peter. These children were by his first wife, who died in 1881. The second mar- riage of the father was to Gertrude Nichols, by whom he had four children-Helen, Ger- trude, Anna and Mary. The daughter, Eliza, is the wife of H. P. Goertz, a prominent business man of Mountain Lake, and of whom a sketch is given in another depart- ment of this work.
Mr. Hiebert was born in the village of Perdenia in Southern Russia, May 15, 1863. He remained with his parents in their native land until in 1876, when they came to the United States, locating in Cottonwood county. Our subject resided on the farm with his father and assisted him in its opera- tion until 1886, when he commenced clerk- ing for David Ewert, a merchant of Mount- ain Lake village. He continued with that gentleman for nearly two years, and then opened in the furniture business for himself, continuing in that line for about a year, when
he sold out his furniture stock and engaged in the general mercantile business, having been engaged in this line ever since. He is doing an excellent business and has built up a large trade. His father and J. J. Balzer are in company with him in this business. In public matters our subject takes an active interest and has become one of the promi- nent and substantial business men of the village.
OHN LAVESON, a leading farmer and stock raiser of Ash Lake township, Lin- coln county, Minnesota, owns an excellent farm on the northwest quarter of section 14, where he homesteaded in 1880. There were no improvements on the property when he settled, and it is now provided with an excellent dwelling-house and other buildings, barns, granaries, etc. The barn is 26x50 feet, with fourteen-foot posts, and with a shed on the west side. The dwelling-house is substantially built of good materials, and is 16x24 feet, with a kitchen 14x16 feet and fourteen-foot posts. The granary is well built, and is 14x28 feet, having a shed 8x36 feet on the west side and also one on the north end 14x14 feet. Mr Laveson came to Lincoln county in 1879, about a week before Christmas. He first located on section 2, where his brother was then living. In the spring of 1880 he took the homestead where he now lives. He at once commenced active operations, improving his farm, breaking about five acres of land, and erecting a shanty 10x12 feet, in which he lived until 1885, when he built his present comfortable and commodious dwelling. The first year he built a stable 14x16 feet, with a straw roof, and used this for his stock for some two years. To this he has been continually adding and making improvements, until he has the best barn and farm buildings in the township. The second year of his settle
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ment he had a good crop, and has continued in general farming up to the present time. He has taken an active interest in public matters, and has been treasurer of school district number 30.
Mr. Laveson was born in the southern part of Sweden, March 12, 1840. He was the son of Lave Larson, a native of Sweden, in which country he was engaged in farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1883. The mother's name before her marriage was Anna Nelson, a native of Sweden, in which country she still lives. In the father's fam- ily there were seven children, five boys and two girls-Sesa, Pete, Hannah, Nels, our subject, Andrew and Hans.
John Laveson remained on a farm in his native country, where he received a good common-school education throughout his early life. He did not leave his native land until he was thirty-one years of age, when he came to the United States, landing at Castle Garden, June 19, 1871. Soon after coming to this country he went to Mankato, Minnesota, from whence, after five weeks' stay, he went to Wabasha county, same State, and lived on a rented farm until 1879. He then came to Lincoln county and made his location, as related in the opening lines of this sketch. He was among the early settlers of the township, and has become one of its prominent men. Our subject is still unmarried. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, and has been a stanch sup- porter of the principles of that organization ever since coming to the United States. Besides taking an active interest in all pub- lic matters, he has also actively interested himself in the religious affairs of the Luth- eran church, of which he is at present a deacon and trustee. He takes an active part in the affairs of this society, and has been a trustee since its organization. He has been quite successful in his various financial oper- ations since making his location in Lincoln
county, and he is now one of the most sub- stantial of its citizens.
F. PRIDE is a member of the firm of Francisco, Pride & Wing, millers of Blue Earth City, Faribault county, Min- nesota, and proprietors of the Blue Earth City roller mills.
Mr. Pride is a native of Peoria county, Illinois, where he was born in the year 1856. He is the son of Charles G. and Delia M. (Hendricks) Pride, natives of Pulaski, New York. The parents were farmers by occu- pation and settled in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1854, removing to Waseca county, Min- nesota, in 1865, in both of which places they engaged in farming.
Our subject remained with his parents until twenty seven years of age. He was given a good common-school education in early life and assisted his father in farm work. He was married when twenty-seven years of age to Miss Rosetha A. Styles, of Wisconsin, by whom he had one child-Elsie M. In 1884 he removed to Henderson, and from that time on engaged in milling in various places, coming to Blue Earth City in September, 1885. In politics lie is an inde- pendent, and belongs to the Masonic frater- nity. Mr. and Mrs. Pride are members of the Presbyterian church.
OHN SWAN is a prosperous and reli- able farmer, of Scandia township, Mur- ray county, Minnesota. He is the son of Swen and Pernella (Nelson) Pearson, natives of Sweden, where our subject was born, in the city of Stockholmn, June 24, 1858. Up to fifteen years of age his life was spent in the home of his parents, where he received a good comnion-school education. From that age until twenty he was away from home, except for occasional visits, employing his
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time in working for farmers. At the age just mentioned he returned home, and after remaining about two years came, in 1881, to the United States, stopping first in Niagara county, New York, where he worked by the month at farm work. from the 25th of July until the 8th of the following November. At that time he came to Murray county and staid with Ole Miller for three weeks, at the end of which time he moved onto a farm owned by his brother Peter, remaining until spring. The next summer was spent in work for Mr. Fehring, and in the fall he moved back to his brother's, where he remained until February 22. The next day he was married and moved to his wife's farm, re- maining on that place until 1886, and then moved into the village of Lake Wilson, and after keeping a hotel in that place for one year, returned to the farm, which has re- mained his home ever since. The farm which our subject's wife owned was a fine one of 200 acres, with about one-half of it under cultivation. Our subject also owns consid- erable stock. Mr. Swan is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and being a man of good character, is highly respected by all who know him.
February 23, 1883, is the day on which our subject was married in Scandia town- ship, to Fredreka Clare, daughter of Henry Clare, a native of Germany, where she also was born in the year 1850. Before her mar- riage to Mr. Swan, Miss Clare had been mar- ried to August Bosch, who died, leaving her a widow with three children-Jennie L., Earnest C. and Lotta. Mr. and Mrs. Swan have been blessed with one child-Elida.
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ACOB KLAASSEN is a prominent farmer and stock raiser, located on sec- tion 18 of Carson township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He located in this coun- ty with his parents in 1875. The parents
settled on section 12, where they still live. The parents of our subject were of Russian birth, and remained in that country until 1875, when the father came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, bringing with him four sons and one daughter. He was a farmer by occupation in his native country, and has followed that line of occupation since coming to America. Our subject's mother's name was Mary Johnson, also a native of Russia, and who died in that country when our sub- ject was four years old. The father was married again to Sarah Wiens, a native of Russia, and who is now living in Cottonwood county.
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