USA > Minnesota > Illustrated album of biography of the famous valley of the Red River of the North and the park regions of Minnesota and North Dakota : containing biographical sketches of settlers and representative citizens > Part 16
USA > North Dakota > Illustrated album of biography of the famous valley of the Red River of the North and the park regions of Minnesota and North Dakota : containing biographical sketches of settlers and representative citizens > Part 16
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PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.
DWARD A. ZIEBARTH, a farmer of Logan township, Grant county, Min- nesota, and a resident of section 14, is a native of the Kingdom of Prussia. He was born in Posen, on the 3d of July, 1840, and is the son of William and Rosena (Spangler) Ziebarth, natives of that king- dom. The parents of the present subject were born in Prussia. In 1855 they emi- grated to the United States, and, after land- ing on America's shores, settled in Chicago, Illinois. They remained in that city during the winter, and in the spring of 1856, after the father's death, the remainder of the fam- ily went to Wright county, Minnesota. They took a claim of 160 acres, and there lived until 1872. The mother died in Wright county in April, 1877. The parents were faithful members of the Lutheran Evan- gelical church. They were blessed with nine children, seven of whom are living, namely -- Matilda, Rosena, Paulena, William, Edward, Bertha and Minerva.
Mr. Ziebarth spent his younger days in his native land, attending the excellent com- mon schools of that country, and at the age of fourteen years came, with his parents, to the American continent. William took charge of the home farm in Wright county, and still operates it. Edward remained with his brother until 1861. He then, on the 30th of September, 1861, enlisted in the Fourth Minnesota Infantry, and served until the 15th of March, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at St. Paul, Minnesota. He served under Captain Ed- son, now a resident of Glencoe and now judge of that district. Mr. Ziebarth par- ticipated in the battle of Iuka, Septem- ber 19, 1862, in which he was wounded in the leg, and was confined in the hospitals for three months. He then returned to his regiment, and took part in the engagements at Holly Springs, Raymond, Jackson, Cham- pion Hill and siege of Vicksburg. He
was taken prisoner on the 13th of Dec- ember, 1864, and was held for three months and ten days, at Florence, South Carolina. He then returned to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he received his honorable discharge. After his discharge he returned to Wright county, Minnesota, where he remained, engaged in farming, until 1866. In 1866 he went- to Minneapolis, Minne- sota, near which place he rented a farm and engaged in farming for a period of three years. He then moved to Grant county, and took a soldier's homestead, on which he lived, engaged in agricultural pur- suits, for eighteen months. At the expira- tion of this time Mr. Ziebarth returned to Wright county, and, after a three-years' sojourn in that region, returned to Grant county. Upon his settling here the second time, he occupied the same homestead, on section 14, Logan township, where he has since lived, devoting his attention, exclu- sively, to general farming and stock-raising. He has 160 acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Ziebarth was married on the 22d of September, 1866, to Miss Mary Knäble, and the fruits of this union have been eleven children, named Emma, Ida, August, Lydia, Herman, Clara, Mary, Anna, Her- bert, Anna M. and Pearly. Anna and Pearly are deceased. Mrs. Ziebarth is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Sullivan county on the 18th of July, 1844. The sub- ject of this article has taken a prominent part in all moves calculated to benefit the locality in which he lives, and is a highly esteemed and exemplary citizen of Grant county. He has held the office of sheriff of the county, member of the board of county commissioners, supervisor of the township and justice of the peace. He is an active member of the Lutheran church, and in political matters affiliates with the repub- lican party. No man has been more prom-
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inently identified with the official history of Grant county.
ILLIAM E. CHIDESTER is a real estate agent in Alexandria, Doug- las county, Minnesota. IIe has a host of private lands on his lists for sale, is agent for lands of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Mani- toba Railroad Company, and is also agent for Florida lands. His agency is one of the most flourishing and highly recommended in the city and county. Land owners will do well to list their lands with his agency.
· Mr. Chidester is a native of Massachusetts, and was born August 1, 1846. . He is the son of Dr. William M. and Sylvia (Bancroft) Chidester, who were natives, respectively, of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Dr. William Chidester's father was Hezekiah Chidester, a native of Williamstown, Massachusetts. The latter's father was William Chidester, a native of Wales. He came to America about 1750, settling at Williamstown, Massa- chusetts.
Dr. William M. Chidester came to what is now the State of Ohio in 1802. His family settled first at Canfield, Mahoning county, from whence he removed to Lorain county, where he lived until his death in 1856. He married Sylvia Bancroft, by whom he had four children, three of whom are now liv- ing - Buel, William E., and Anne.
The early history of this family and the tracings of its genealogical record are very interesting. The hardships to all families in the latter part of the last century and early years of this present one were severe and cruel, but to this family came hardships the most cruel. William, the great-grandfather of the subject of our sketch, was killed in an attempt to rescue some friends who had been captured by the Indians. His son served about five years in the Revolutionary 1
War, and was in the sanguinary battles of Brandywine and Monmouth. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio, and died February. 26. 1813.
William E. Chidester, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, passed his early life in Ohio attending school at Oberlin. On the opening of the Civil War, possessed of the spirit of patriotism that had burned in the breasts of his fathers, he was ready to serve his country at the front. In 1862, at fifteen years of age, he enlisted as private in Company D. Eighty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteers, in the three months' serv- ice. He saw service soon after his enlist- ment at Harper's Ferry, September 14th, where he was captured by the rebels and held prisoner for two days, when he was paroled. In January, 1863, he re-enlisted in Company K, Tenth Regiment Ohio Cavalry, rising in a year from the private ranks to that of corporal. While scouting between the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, North Carolina, on the 18th of March, 1865, he was again taken prisoner. From that time till the 2nd of April he was kept in con- finement in that vilest of all vile places, Libby prison, and was among the last of the inmates of that prison who were liberated. His was not a silk-stocking service by any means. His sufferings in prison were in- tense. as his shattered constitution and impaired health attest. He also saw severe service in fighting the enemy, being in the battles of Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Kingston. siege of Atlanta, battle of Jonesboro, Love- joy, Macon, siege of Savannah, and many smaller battles and skirmishes. At the cessation of hostilities he was honorably discharged, and returned to Ohio a much altered man. He was sun struck in Au- gust, 1863, and this, with his sufferings in prison and rough life in camp and on the field of battle, had broken down his health so that he was but a wreck of what
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PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.
he was and promised to be on entering the service. Indeed, the effects of his war experience have never left him, and never since his discharge has he been a thoroughly well man. He returned to Oberlin, Ohio, after his discharge, and com- menced a course of study in the college at that place. But his poor health forced him to give up study, and he went to Wyoming Territory, where he was employed as agent for the Union Pacific Railroad Company from 1868 till 1871. From thence he came to Alexandria, Douglas county, Minnesota, re- maining but a short time and going there- from to St. Anthony, where for a year and a half he was agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Poor health forced him out of this employment, and thinking to find some relief, he came back to Alexandria, where he has remained ever since. He has held a number of positions of trust in the county, and in every case has proven his efficiency and trustworthiness. He has served as deputy county treasurer, deputy register of deeds and deputy judge of probate, and for one term held the office of clerk of the dis- trict court. For several terms he has been town clerk.
Mr. Chidester was married in 1870 to Miss Mary E. Tenney, of Baldwinsville, New York. She died in December, 1871. Mr. Chidester was married the second time in 1873, to Miss Elizabeth A. Stoneman, of St. Anthony, Minnesota. Five children have blessed this union - Orvill T., Ruth S., Bes- sie B., Ellen A. and William E.
In 1882 Mr. Chidester opened up his present business, which he has conducted ever since. He purchased 200 acres on Lake Geneva, about a mile and one-half from Alexandria, where he has a beautiful home, called the Sylvan Home. He has since sold 140 acres of said land. On this original tract is the well known " Hotel Alexandria," one of the best known summer resorts in the
Northwest. Mr. Chidester platted thirty acres of his land and has been sellinga num- ber of lots. Politically he affiliates with the republican party, is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and the G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church, in which society he holds the posi- tion of deacon. . Mr. Chidester is one of Alexandria's most progressive and represen- tative citizens, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow townsmen.
NDERS B. PEDERSEN. No man in the famous Park Regions is more deserving of credible mention than the gen- tleman whose name heads this article. He is the postmaster, and also the leading mer- chant at Rothsay, a thriving village located in the northeastern part of Wilkin county, Minnesota. Born in Norway, he comes of the same sturdy nationality which has fur- nished Minnesota with so many of its most enterprising and thrifty citizens, and a race proverbial for their integrity, frugality and industry.
Mr. Pedersen was born at Sigdal, near Christiania, the capital of Norway, on the 28th of October, 1838. His parents were Peder and Berthe Erickson, who were farin- ers in their native land.
Anders B. Pedersen made his home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. During this time he received the same training and education that is common to ·the youth of that land, and in addition to this he learned the tailor's trade, and when about eighteen years of age he enlisted in the military service, as artillerist, in the city of Christiania. After coming home from there, at the age of twenty-five, he purchased a farm, which he carried on in connection with his trade. Thus matters continued until 1870, when he came to the United
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RED RIVER VALLEY AND
States, making his way directly to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he secured work at his trade. In November, 1879, he removed to Rothsay, and has since made that his home. He was among the very first settlers there, and, in fact, was the first man to haul Inmber to the site of the village, bringing it from Manston, ten miles distant, the railroad not being completed to Rothsay as yet. He at once got in his goods and erected his build- ing and got it enclosed, but not finished, when winter : set in. That happened to be the coldest winter on record since the State was settled, and he had difficult work some of the time to keep from freezing. At one time he had to stay in his store for three days and nights without anything but crack- ers to eat, as the storm was so severe he could not get to his boarding house, only a few rods distant. Undaunted, how- ever by such difficulties, he has continued in business at this point ever since, and has built up an extensive trade. He is in excel- lent circumstances financially, and it is all the result of his own industry and persever- ance, as he is a self-made man in the fullest sense of that term. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres, five miles from Rothsay, and eighty acres adjoining the village, upon which he has a good residence and other valuable improvements.
Mr. Pedersen has always taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature. At the present writing he is president of the villiage council and has been a member of that body ever since the village was incor- porated. He has also been village treasurer as well as treasurer of the creamery com- pany, and he is recognized as one of the most substantial and capable business inen in the Park Regions. An affable and genial gen- tleman, he has made many warm friends and his honorable method's of doing business have made his word as good as a bond. Mr. Pedersen is also the inventor of a patented
razor sharpener which has a great deal of merit and promises to be profitable. By it a child can sharpen a razor better than nine- tenths of the barbers. A company called the Scandia Razor Sharpener Company has lately been incorporated at Fergus Falls to handle the invention.
Our subject was married in September, 1872, to Miss Jorgine Watnoss, and by this marriage they became the parents of the following named children - Peder Georg, Berthe Seline, Oscar Edward, Petra Olivia and Ida Alice. The following are deceased- Peder G., Petra and Oscar -while the remain- ing two are still at home with their parents. Mrs. Pedersen is a daughter of Ole G. and and Sigri Watnoss.
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SVER IVERSON, the principal grain dealer at Norcross and manager of the elevator at that place, is one of the most capable and efficient young business men in Grant county. He was born in the city of Christiania, the cap- ital of Norway, on the 28th of February, 1860, and is a son of Jorgens Iverson. The father was a railway engineer, and was one of the first men to run a locomotive in Nor- way, having followed that business since 1855. Jorgens Iverson and wife were the parents of five children - Iver, Samuel, Jen- nie, Andrew and Charles.
Iver Iverson, whose name heads this arti- cle, received his education in Norway, the land of his birth. He attended school from the time he was six until he was fifteen ears of age, and then took up a seafaring life. After following a sailor's fortunes for a year he then was employed for a year in the railway shops. At the expiration of that time he " fired " for his father for two years on the railroad. When he had reached the age of eighteen - in 1878 - he sailed for the United States, and after a voyage of
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twenty-one days, landed in Castle Garden, New York. He made his way directly to Morris, Minnesota, where he began working in an elevator. After two years of this work he started on an extended trip which lasted six months, and upon his return to Morris he resumed his former position. Six months later he was given charge of the elevator at Norcross, where he has remained ever since.
Mr. Iverson was married in November, 1884, to Miss Bertha Sherstad, who is also a native of Norway.
In political matters Mr. Iverson is a re- publican. He has always taken an active and prominent part in all matters of a public nature, and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the locality in which he lives. At various times he has held local offices, such as school clerk and treasurer, justice of the peace, etc., and every enterprise calcu- lated to benefit his town or county has always received his support and coopera- tion.
MEL LARSEN, one of the most promi- nent merchants at Brandon, and one of the most successful and enterprising busi- ness men in Douglas county, Minnesota, was born at Edsberg, Smaalenderne, Norway, on the 16th of November, 1849, and is a son of Lars Evenson, who also lives in Brandon. Our subject was one of a family of eight children, as follows-Julian, Sophia, Carl, Johanna, Emel, Martin, Anton and Tea. Sophia is still in Norway, while Carl and Julian are both farmers in Moe township, Douglas county, Minnesota. Martin is a farmer in Norman county, Minnesota.
Emel Larsen, whose name heads our pres- ent article, received his education near the capital of his native land, attending school
until he was about fourteen years of age, and from that time until he was twenty-one he was employed principally in wholesale houses. In 1871 he sailed for the United States, and after a voyage of about thirteen days he landed at Castle Garden, New York. From there he went to Chicago, and a short time later to Michigan, and then to Wiscon- sin, where he worked in saw mills, and also in the pineries. In 1872 he came to Douglas county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming in Moe township. There he took considerable interest in public affairs and held various local offices. In 1879 he removed to Bran- don, where he has since lived. He built and ran the first hotel started in the village, and afterward in company with others engaged in the general merchandise business under the firm name of Larsen, Peterson & Co. He has since continued in this line, and the firm now carry the heaviest stock of goods in the place, and they are rated as one of the most substantial business houses in the county. Mr. Larsen has always taken a prominent part in all enterprises calculated to aid in the growth and development of the village or surrounding country. In 1887 he aided in organizing a company which erected the Brandon flouring mills, and is now one of the directors of the corporation. He has also taken an active interest in public mat- ters, and for a number of years has been president of the village council, and holds that office at the present writing. He is a republican in political matters, and an honored member of the Masonic frater- nity.
Our subject was married, in 1882, to Miss Menda Larson, and they are the parents of four living children- Lars G., Ovida A., Emil A. and Ella S. One child, Ella M., died when six months of age. The family are exemplary members of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Larsen was born in Norway, and came to the United States in 1873.
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RED RIVER VALLEY AND
JOHN CHRISTENSON, who is engaged in the general merchandise and drug business in Elbow Lake, Grant county, Min- nesota, is a native of Sweden. He was born in the southern part of that country, October 30, 1842, and is a son of Christian and Anna (Christenson) Nelson, natives also of the kingdom of Sweden. The father and mother of the subject of this article were the parents of five children, as follows-Anna, George, Christian, Peter and John.
John, the subject of our present sketch, remained on the home farm in his native land and attended school until he was sixteen years of age. He then entered as an appren- tice to the watch-maker's trade, at which he was engaged until he was twenty-one years of age. After learning the trade, he worked at it until 1867, when he settled in Germany, where he followed his trade for four years. Mr. Christenson then started for the United States, landing in New York City after a passage on the ocean of nineteen days. From New York he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he was engaged in the jewelry business for two years. He then went to Cresco, Iowa, and after one year's work at his trade went to Leroy, Minnesota, remaining in that place for three years, occupied in the jewelry and drug business. On leaving Leroy, Mr. Christenson removed to Herman, Grant county, Minnesota, settling there in 1878. He engaged in the jewelry and drug business, and four years later added general merchan- dise. In the spring of 1887 he sold his busi- ness interests in Herman and moved to Elbow Lake, in the same county. On settling in Elbow Lake, he opened his present store of general merchandise and drugs, and Mr. Christenson is now one of the most prom- inent and influential business men of Grant county.
Mr. Christenson was united in marriage December 27, 1878, to Miss Belle Vaa, and this union has been blessed by two children,
Albert and Julius. Mrs. Christenson was born in the kingdom of Norway, and was brought to the United States when she was but one year old, by her parents, who settled in Fillmore county, where she was reared and educated. Mr. Christenson, with his family, belongs to the Lutheran church, of which organization they are acceptable mem- bers. The subject of this article is an adher- ent to the principles of the republican party, and takes an active interest in any enterprise whereby his town or county may be benefited. He held the office of village trustee while in Herman, and since his resi- dence in Elbow Lake has held the position on the school board and now holds the office of trustee.
NUD D. ERICKSON, the efficient and accommodating postmaster at the village of Aastad, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, is a thrifty representative of the Nor- wegian race, that nationality so distinguished for their energy, frugality and economy. Mr. Erickson is a native of Norway, born on the 15th of June, 1853, and is the son of Erick and Ingrid (Hanson) Knutson, natives also of Norway. The parents of the present subject emigrated to the United States in 1861, and settled in Decorah, Iowa, where they remained five years, then removing to Winnebago county, Iowa, and after a six years' sojourn in that place, engaged in farm- ing, they removed to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. The father homesteaded a tract. of land on section 34, Aastad township, where he hassince lived, engaged in farming. In addition to his farm labors, he is engaged in the mercantile business in the village of Aastad, and is one of the most prominent and influential men of the village. The father and mother of our subject were the parents of the following children - Knud
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PARK REGIONS OF MINNESOTA.
and Isabella, who died at the age of twenty- one years, in 1883.
Mr. Erickson, the subject of this article, emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1861, and after a voyage of six weeks on a sailing vessel, landed at Quebec, Canada. After landing they removed to Iowa, settling at Decorah. At the expira- tion of five years, they again removed, this time settling in Winnebago county, Iowa. It was in this county where our subject re- ceived the greater part of his schooling, securing a practical business education. Six years later they came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. Here Knud Erickson studied under George W. McComber, of Tumeli, Otter Tail county, and thus received a thorough education.
Mr. Erickson was married in September, 1883, to Miss Torena T. Bergseid, a native of Norway, who came to the United States when in her fourteenth year. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are the parents of one child, Edward T. Mr. Erickson with his family belongs to the Lutheran church. He has held the following offices in his township- postmaster, since April 13, 1880, chairman of the board of supervisors, and justice of the peace since 1882. He is a stanch repub- lican in his political belief, and one of the active participants in all movements of a local nature, in which the town or county may derive benefit.
ENRY M. HUNTING, one of the old- est residents of the village of Ada, and the present justice of the peace of that place, is one of the " brave boys in blue" that flew to the defense of their native land in the hour of its direst need in the Civil War of 1861-65, and a history of his life is possessed of many points of interest.
Mr. Hunting was born June 24, 1837, at
Henderson, Jefferson county, New York, and is the son of Jabez and Caroline (Kemp) Hunting. His earlier boyhood was spent in the schools of that portion of the "Empire State," but in 1854 he was brought by his parents to Wisconsin. The family settled in Columbia county, on a farm purchased by the father, where our subject grew to man- hood, and there finished his elementary edu- cation.
While the pulse of the nation beat with feverish intensity in the spring of 1861, on the receipt of the news of the attack upon Fort Sumter, and the subsequent call to arms, with the fires of patriotism glowing in , his breast, our subject left the parental roof and enrolled himself among the brave defenders of our country's honor and flag. Enlisting in Company A, Second Wisconsin Infantry, he was mustered into the United States service at Madison, June 11, 1861, and with the command was at once for- warded to Washington, then threatened by the rebels. On the 21st of July, of that year, he participated in the first battle of Bull Run, that so much misunderstood con- test, where our arms suffered their first re- pulse. In September, following, the regi- ment was taken from the brigade of General Sherman, where it had been since joining the Army of the Potomac, and placed under General King, of Milwaukee, who wanted Western men. The Second, Sixth and Sev- enth Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana formed his command, afterward so widely and justly celebrated as the "Iron Brigade." They lay in camp, on the Maryland side of the river, until November, and then were transferred to the south shore, on the " sacred soil of Virginia," and were in camp, near Arlington Heights, all winter. In the spring of 1862 the brigade moved with the column under General Irwin McDowell, to Cedar Mountain, but did not reach that point in time. to participate in the battle
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