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 68

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago : Occidental Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 814

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 68

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ALGRUM ERICKSON is an influen- tial farmer of Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and resides on section 2, where he has a fine farm pro- vided with excellent improvements.

The place of our subject's nativity is in Norway, where he was born November 6, 1850, his parents being Erick and Randi (Olson) Rasmuson, also natives of Norway. The father was a farmer by occupation and lived in his native country until his death, which occurred in 1864. The mother is still living and resides in her native land. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm and he was given a good common- school education until he was nineteen years of age.

At nineteen our subject came to America, locating first in Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he found employment on various farms for three and a half years. He then returned to his native land, where he re- mained a year and a half. Returning at the end of that time to Olmsted county, he remained three years and then came to Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, where he settled on 120 acres of land which he homesteaded from the government. He made that his residence for two years and then removed to where he now lives, purchasing a farm of eighty acres from his father-in-law. He now owns 340 acres of fine land, on which stands the best house and barn in the township. His farm is well im- proved and has been brought to a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Erickson was married May 14, 1880, to Annie Chrisson, a native of Norway. This union has been blessed with five chil- dren-Erick, Josephine, Ludwig, Hilda and Ole. The family are members of the Luth- eran church society of Ann township, our subject assisting liberally in the building of the church edifice in 1884.

Since coming to the township our subject has identified himself with all its best inter- ests and has aided in every interprise which tended to improve the condition of public affairs. He has always taken an active part in political matters and has efficiently held the

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positions of assessor, chairman of the board of supervisors, supervisor, and treasurer of school district No. 30 for six years. In poli- tics he affiliates with the republican party, and is one of the leading factors in the ad- ininistration of the local affairs of that or- ganization. Careful in business, honest and upright in all his affairs, generous and warm- hearted, he is well calculated to take a lead- ing place, which he does, among the citizens of his township. He is highly respected both as a man and citizen by all who know him.

DWARD D. BIGHAM is the able editor and proprietor of the Lincoln County Journal, located at Tyler, Lincoln county, Minnesota. He is a son of John C. and Mary (Hannah) Bigham, natives of Ire- land. Edward D. was born in Lake City, Wabasha county, Minnesota, January 25, 1860. He lived with his parents on the farm in that county and attended the district schools at every opportunity until he was eighteen years of age. Then the parents re- moved to Marshfield township, Lincoln county, Minnesota, where our subject lived on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and he was then married and engaged in farming for one year, after which he taught school in the village of Tyler, four months. In the spring of 1882 he concluded to enter the field of journalism and purchased the Lincoln County Journal, which he has been operating ever since.

The subject of our sketch was married, May 14, 1881, to Miss Cora E. Hodgman, a daughter of E. and Artemetia (McCalpin) Hodgman, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. Mr. and Mr. Bigham have been blessed with the following named chil- dren-Frank, John, Albert and Mabel.

Ever since he attained his majority, Mr. Bigham has been actively interested in all

projects which tended to the improvement and betterment of the affairs of the town- ship in which he has lived. Being possessed of good business abilities he has efficiently as- sisted in various ways in the administration of local government affairs. He has held the following offices : Deputy sheriff, five years, clerk of the school board, five years, and village councilman, two years. In July, 1883, he was appointed postmaster of Tyler village, and has held that position ever since. He is a man of good education, intelligent, of progressive ideas, and is of valuable aid in the administration of public affairs. He has been one of the foremost citizens of the vil- lage of Tyler, and was one of the leading spirits in the drafting of the village laws. In his newspaper business he has met with merited success. He is an excellent writer, and conducts the Journal on a basis which commands respect and patronage. In poli- tics he affiliates with the republican party.

SCAR E. BUSS is a prominent resi- dent and farmer of Moulton town- ship, Murray county, Minnesota. His ex- cellent farm is located on section 20, where he has surrounded himself with many evidences of prosperity. Oscar E. Buss was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, March 21, 1855. His parents were Horace F. and Mercy Buss, both of whom are natives of England. The parents came to America in 1848, and located in Illinois, where our sub- ject was born. In 1869 the family removed to Independence, Iowa, where the father remained until 1885, when he located in Murray county, where he still lives. The mother passed from this life in 1861 in Illinois. In the father's family there were five children, our subject being the third child, and only son.

The subject of our sketch remained with his parents until he reached the age of

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twenty-two years. During his early life he received the benefits of a good schooling, and obtained an excellent education. When not in school he assisted his father in work on the farm. After he reached the age of twenty-one years he engaged in work on an adjoining farm in Iowa for one year, and then came to Minnesota, locating in Adrian, Nobles county, where he worked at various employments for four years. In 1881 he came to Murray county and located the homestead where he now lives.

Mr. Buss was married March 21, 1880, to Miss Enie A. Penberthie, by whom he had one child, Enie A. Miss Penberthie was a native of Wisconsin. She died March 28, 1884. January 1, 1889, our subject was married to Lizzie Bissett, a native of Scot- land.

The farm of our subject is composed of 160 acres of excellent land, which he has under good cultivation, and provided with fine farm buildings. He has been quite suc- cessful in his farming operations, and has become quite well-to-do. He has taken an active interest in the local affairs of the republican party, with which he has affiliated for years. He has held various township offices, among them being that of clerk, which position he held for five years. He has also been a member of the school board for some time. He is a man of excellent and pleasant qualities, and is highly re- spected.

ATTHIAS E. LANG is an influential resident of the village of Lake

Wilson. He is a farmer by occupation and owns a fine farm of 160 acres on section 33, Chanarambie township, Murray county, Min- nesota.

The place of the nativity of the subject of our sketch is found in Germany, where he was born July 4, 1860. His parents were

Casper and Gertrude (Saur) Lang, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation, and had a family of seventeen children, our subject be- ing the fifth in order of birth. In 1869 the family came to America, locating in Mankato, Blue Earth county, Minnesota. They re- mained in that city until 1878, when they came to Murray county, where both the father and son pre-empted lands. The father settled on section 28, and the son on section 10. The parents are both living, and are at pres- ent living on the old homestead.

During his early life the subject of our sketch was given excellent educational ad- vantages, and remained with his parents un- til he grew to manhood. He followed them in their various migrations and finally located on a farm in Murray county. Our subject was the first to break land in his township, and was one of the most prominent of the pioneer settlers. Until twenty-four years of age he remained beneath the parental roof and then lie accepted a posi- tion on the Wilson stock farm, where he worked for one year. He then went north to Grant county and took charge of a large wheat farm owned by Mr. Wilson. He operated this business for one year, and was then given charge of several thoroughbred horses owned by the same gentleman, at Lake Wil- son. After a short time he became the agent for renting the Wilson lands, in which line of business he has since engaged. He owns a beautiful home in the village of Lake Wilson, on the shores of the lake bearing that name.

The subject of our sketch was married November 18, 1888, to Dosy Drew, a daugh- ter of Oliver and Mary (Atwood) Drew, both of whom were natives of the State of New York. Before Miss Dosy was born, her parents moved to the State of Illinois, where they resided at the time of her birth. They are now residents of Murray county, and a

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biography of her father is given in another department of this work.

In politics Mr. Lang affiliates with the republican party in whose local counsels he has become quite prominent. He has effi- ciently filled various official positions, hav- ing held the office of supervisor for two years, school treasurer six years, constable one year, and for some time was a road over- seer. Thus it will be seen that our subject has taken a prominent part in the public af- fairs of his locality, and has become one of the leading spirits in all matters tending toward local improvement. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, of the high- est character, and is well and favorably known all over Murray county.

ERMAN H. HANEY settled in Pipe- stone county, Minnesota, in 1878, since which time he has become one of the leading and prosperous farmers of Gray township. He was one among the very first settlers in that township, locating in 1878 on section 2, in the month of October, and continuing his residence on that section until 1888. He was engaged successfully in gen- eral farming and stock raising and held a prominent place among the early residents of the township, which place he still retains to-day. He has grown with the growth of Pipestone county and has accumulated con- siderable means. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1855, and was the son of Franz and Dora (Spangenberg) Haney, both of whom were natives of Germany.

In 1848, before their marriage, the parents left their native land and came to Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, where they met and were married, and where they lived for a number of years, removing from thence to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where they are now living, engaged in farming. While

in Philadelphia the father followed his trade, that of glove-making. In the father's family there were six children-Amelia, Herman, Lewis, Maria, Frank and Anna.

Mr. Haney's early life was spent at the home of his parents. He received good schooling, and went with them when he was three years of age to the State of Wisconsin. His father's house remained his home until he was twenty-one years of age. Up to this age, what time had not been given to study in school was occu- pied with work on the farm. On obtaining his majority he concluded to strike out for Western Minnesota and find government land where he might locate and lay the foundation for a successful farm enterprise. He made his settlement in Gray township, as was stated in the opening of this sketch, and has remained a resident ever since. He commenced operations by building a primi- tive frame house 8x10 feet and an old-fashion- ed sod stable about 12x14 feet. He has now a comfortable home and good buildings on his farm and to the passer-by there is exhib- ited signs of prosperity and success.

Mr. Haney was married March 16, 1880, to Miss Mary E. Avery, a native of Oakfield, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Her par- ents were Jacob and Deborah (Peebles) Avery, natives of New York. In an early day her parents came westward and settled in Wisconsin. The father was a millwright by trade and was killed in a mill in 1885. He was an exemplary man and a leading member of the Baptist church. The mother is still living. Mrs. Haney was one of five children-Newton, Helen J., Jay, Frank and Mary. She received her early training and obtained her education in the county of her nativity, and continued her residence there until she was married in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Haney are blessed with three living children -Walter, Avery and Dora.

Mr. Haney is a prosperous farmer and an

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exemplary citizen, and by his industrious habits and interest in general matters has made many friends and has drawn to him- self the respect of all with whom he has to do. In politics he affiliates with the union labor party, and is indeed one of the repre- sentative men and farmers of the county.

ILBERT B. OLESON, a thrifty and industrious farmer of Lincoln county, Minnesota, is the son of Bore and Olea (Siverson) Oleson, natives of Norway. The family came to the United States in about 1861 and first stopped in Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin, where the father died two weeks after they arrived. In the family there were five children-Gilbert B., Sarah, Betsey, Tonita and Ole.

Gilbert B. Oleson was born in Christian- stift, Norway, September 24, 1844, and was reared on a farm in his native country. He was given the educational advantages of the district schools and became well informed in book learning. He came with his parents to America in 1861 and located with them in Madison, Wisconsin. After his father's death, as he was the oldest, our subject be- came to all practical purposes the head of the family and remained with them, taking care of them until he was twenty-five years of age. He then removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he was married and engaged in farming on land he had purchased some time before. He resided in Chickasaw county for five years, and then sold out and removed to Lac-qui-parle county, Minnesota, in 1872. When he arrived in Lac-qui-parle county he had only fifteen cents in his pocket, and also owned a horse and wagon. He located on a claim in that county and resided there for three years until he was driven out by the grasshopper raids. These destructive insects destroyed all his crops, and growing dis- couraged he left the claim and removed

to Canby, Yellow Medicine county, Min- nesota. Here he started in the hotel business and continued its operation for one year, after which time he took a contract to carry the United States mail from Canby to Maderia, Dakota Territory, distant some fifty- three miles. He fulfilled his contract for a year and then sold out. In Yellow Medicine county he took an active part in public matters and was assessor for two years, being assessor in Lac-qui-parle county for the same length of time. After two years' resi- dence in Canby he came to Royal township, Lincoln county, and settled on a homestead of 160 acres, also taking a tree claim of the same number of acres. His land is the east half of section 18, Royal township. He made his permanent location in that township in the spring of 1879 and has lived there ever since. In the spring of 1880, so rapidly had he grown in public opinion, he was unanimously elected justice of the peace and assessor, which positions he held with great credit and efficiency for some years, being the present justice of the peace of the town- ship. In the fall of 1882 he was elected county commissioner, in which position he has for five years served his constituents with great ability. He was also chairman of the board of supervisors for two years, and was clected township clerk four different times. Since coming to the township he has continu- ously actively engaged himself in all matters which pertain to the public welfare, and has become one of the leading public spirits in the county. He is a man of rare business abilities, and is heartily in sympathy with the oft repeated phrase "public office is a public trust." He is a man of large intelli- gence, is genial and courteous in his bearing and conduct and is respected as being one of the most loyal and exemplary citizens of the county and township. The active part he has taken in official matters has inseparably associated his name with the history of

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Lincoln county. He is a man of high char- acter, and is highly respected by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. On coming to the county Mr. Oleson had but little means, but, being of an active and energetic spirit, he has been continually adding to his fortunes, and has now put him- self and family in good circumstances. He has an excellent farm of 320 acres, ninety acres under cultivation, a grove of ten acres, and a good frame dwelling house and barn. He has twenty head of cattle, two horses, and a large number of hogs and sheep.

Mr. Oleson was married in Chickasaw county, Iowa, April 30, 1870, to Carrie Marcuson, a daughter of Marcus and Ronag (Tolofson) Oleson, natives of Norway. This union has been blessed with eight children- Bennie, Oscar, Raford, Caroline, Matilda, Anna, Galena and Elmer. - -

RI D. MILLER is a prominent farmer who resides on section 12, Amboy township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He is engaged in general farming and stock- raising, and has met with merited success. The place of his nativity is in East Hanover, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he was born December 9, 1856.

The parents of our subject were Jacob and Mary A. (Landis) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married May 1, 1846. This State remained their home for six years after their marriage; then they removed to Wisconsin and resided six years, after which they returned to Pennsylvania and resided six years. At the end of this time they returned to Wisconsin. The father enlisted in 1863 in the Twenty- seventh Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, serving as a private until his death, which occurred six months after his enlist- ment, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a man of excellent qualities, and was thor-

oughly educated, having been a teacher for a number of years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a member of that organization for some years. The mother died at Greenbush, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, in 1879. She was a consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and died in the tri- umphs of Christian faith. Our subject was one of eight children-Bertha M., Eleanora, Arba Nancy, Ebenezer L., Uri D., Orin D. R., William Romeo and Olivet. The last named married Clinton S. Montgomery, who is a railroad engineer, living in Arizona. She was a teacher by occupation.

The subject of our sketch followed his parents in their various moves, and received his education principally in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. He assisted his father on the farm, and after his father's death commenced working out in different places in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1877 he came to Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming for two years, at which time he homesteaded eighty acres of his present farm in Cottonwood county. He now owns 160 acres. He has been one of the most public-spirited citizens, and has shown his willingness to help in all matters of a public nature. He has held va- rious official positions, and has affiliated with the republican party. He was clerk in school district No. 45 in 1885, and still holds that office. He was supervisor of the town- ship for some six years, and has assisted in various other ways. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is now class leader. Formerly he be- longed to the Good Templars' society, and was the financial secretary for some time. He is a man of excellent character, and is highly esteemed.

Mr. Miller was married May 1, 1879, to Miss Rara Avis Scherer, a native of Indiana, where she was reared until seven years

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of age. She was then brought to Blue Earth county, whence, after five years' resi- dence, she removed to Vernon Centre. She is the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Scherer, a farmer. Her mother's maiden name was Martha Ann (Walker) Scherer. Mrs. Miller was educated at Vernon Centre, where she lived for a number of years. She is one of ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been blessed with four children-Nora, Leonard, Mabel and Loucina.

JOHN McHARG, one of the leading citi- zens and farmers of Belfast township, Murray county, Minnesota, was born in Leeds township, Megantic county, Canada. October 6, 1850. His parents were Joseph and Margaret (Hunter) McHarg, natives of the northern part of Ireland and of Scotch descent. In the father's family there were twelve children, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth. The early his- tory of the McHarg family shows that there were three brothers in Scotland. One re- mained in that land; Joseph came to the United States and John McHarg, the grand- father of the subject of our sketch, located in Ireland, where he engaged in farming. IIe reared a family of four boys and one girl, one of these children being Joseph, the fa- ther of our subject.

In early life our subject was given good ed- ucational facilities and he assisted his parents in work on the home farm when not engaged pursuing his studies in school. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age and then engaged in lumbering in Vermont. After two years, in 1873, he went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, and worked in the Washington woolen mill during one summer. In the fall he came to Minneapolis and for several years he was employed in a saw-mill during the summer and in the pineries during the win- ter months. In 1878 he came to Murray

county and took a homestead on the north- east quarter of section 28, Belfast town- ship. Here our subject has resided ever since. His parents years ago moved to Canada, where they now live and where our subject has visited them once or twice since taking up his residence in Murray county.

Mr. McHarg was married August 28, 1876, in Westminster church, Minneapolis, to Anna Hardy. This ceremony was performed by Rev. George Sample, assisted by Rev. Wilton. Miss Hardy was a daughter of Robert and Jessie (Shaw) Hardy, natives of Scotland. She was born in Leeds, Megantic county, Can- ada, April 18, 1850. She lived about two miles from where our subject was born and reared, and their knowledge of each other and their "loves and quarrels" date from their very infancy. They were playmates together in their younger days and their engagement was of four years standing before their mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. McHarg have been blessed with the following-named children- Joseph Archibald, born in Minneapolis, March 4, 1878; Robina H., born in Belfast township, Murray county, February 13, 1880; Jessie Shaw, born in the same place Feb- ruary 20, 1885, and a baby born July 8, 1889.

Mrs. McHarg's father, Robert Hardy, was born in Balmoral, Scotland, in September, 1809. He emigrated to Canada, where he died March 13, 1871. The mother is still living and is a resident of Fulda. She was born October 13, 1809, in Aberdeen, Scot- land. She has reached the advanced age of eighty years, but is still strong and in good health. In the Hardy family there were nine children, four of whom are living-Robina, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, is now Mrs. Wm. Hogan, of Fulda; Robert, born in the same place; John, born in Canada. and now a resident of Anoka; and Annie, the wife of our subject. Mrs. McHarg's mother's parents were Charles and Betsey (Morrison) Shaw, natives of Aberdeen, Scotland. Mrs. Mc-

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Harg's father's parents were James and Katie (Guield) Hardy.

When our subject commenced life for him- self he had but little means, his parents not being able to render him any financial assistance. He commenced work with good courage, and by energy and perseverance and economical habits has risen to a front rank among the wealthy and well-to-do citi- zens of Murray county. Numerous hard circumstances came to him in the early days, among them being the failure of a friend to pay a debt, which caused a heavy loss to fall on our subject. Mr. McHarg now owns a fine farm of eighty acres of land under good cultivation, has several horses and nu- merous head of cattle, and owns a comfort- able frame dwelling-house and farm build- ings. He has taken an active interest in public matters, and has held varions official positions. He has been court commissioner, is now assessor, and has been school clerk for nine years. He has been chairman of the board of supervisors, and has held some township office almost constantly for the past ten years. He is a man of excellent social qualities and has a pleasant and agree- able family. His wife is a most estimable lady, and presides over one of the most hos- pitable homes in the township.

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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 68

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago : Occidental Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago : Occidental Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 814