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 49

Author: Alden, Ogle & Company
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Alden, Ogle & Company
Number of Pages: 872

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 49
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 49

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Mr. McVeety was married in Ontario, Canada, January 15, 1879, to Miss Mary Ann Burns, a daughter of Walter and Mary Ann (Roberts) Burns. Their marriage has been blessed with the following children-Jessie A., May E., Maud and Lawrence W.

JACOB KIEWEL is one of the leading citi- zens of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the brew- ery business. Mr. Kiewel is a native of Prussia, Germany, where he was born in the year 1846. His parents were John and Eliz- abeth (Ash) Kiewel, natives of Prussia. The parents emigrated to America in about 1856, settling first in St. Paul, Minnesota. For many years in his native land he followed his trade, which was that of carpenter and

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builder, but on coming to this country he began to turn his attention to farming. After remaining a short time in St. Paul, he removed to Carver county, Minnesota, where he purchased land and where, for ten years, he engaged in farming. At the end of this period he removed to St. Cloud, Min- nesota, where lie became an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. Here he made his home until his deathı in 1871. He was a consisten member of the Catholic church and was uni- versally respected. In; politics he affiliates with the democratic party, and, being a man of wealth and large influence, took a prom- inent place in the affairs of the county in which he lived. His family numbered eight children-Angeline, now Mrs. Artz; Jacob John, Katie, now Mrs. Lare; Mary, deceased; Lizzie, now Mrs. Madevet; Peter and Theresa.

The subject of our sketch received his edu- cation in Germany and in Minnesota, while living with his parents. His early days saw much hard work on his father's farm and working on the river, boating. In 1867 he turned his steps westward, and in 1868 con- cluded to locate in Otter Tail county, Min- nesota. He became the pioneer of Carlisle township, where he settled on 160 acres of wild prairie land. He helped organize the township and was appointed justice of the peace, but refused to qualify. He continued his residence there until 1872, improving his farın and erecting fine buildings thereon. In the fall of that year he removed to Moor- head, Minnesota, where for about three years he engaged in the butcher business, re- turning at the end of. that time to his farm in Otter Tail county. He remained on the farm about three years and then removed to Alexandria, Douglas county, Minnesota, where he engaged in the hotel and butcher business. After eleven months in that place, in the year 1880 he went to Fergus Falls and purchased a large brewery. This plant was destroyed by fire in 1883, Mr. Kiewel

sustaining severe financial loss, there being no insurance on the property. That same summer he bought one acre of ground nearer town where he rebuilt his brewery and where he now carries on the business, con- stantly employing five men. He owns a beautiful residence property, there being two acres of land laid off in beautiful grounds.

An important feature in the history of Mr. Kiewel is the fact that lie was an active participant in the famous Sioux Indian out- break. He enlisted and served all through the frontier movements. The command with which he was connected went Northwest from Mankato-and he saw the refugees and those massacred in the regions of Lake Shetek and Big Stone-and on to Fort Thompson and return. On this expedition they were attacked three times by the Indians.

In 1871 Mr Kiewel was united in matri- mony to Miss Rosa Niggler, of Minnesota. By this marriage there have been eight children-John, Charles, George, Frank, Fred, Benjamin, Lizzie and Louise.

Mr. Kiewel has by dint of perseverance and hard labor built up a fine business. His farm and other projects too have been man- aged most successfully and have all proven good investments. Politically, Mr. Kiewel believes in the principles of the democratic party and is a member of the Trueden. In every way he is one of the foremost busi- ness men of the city and is deeply inter- ested in its financial welfare and commercial prosperity.

USTAF A. LINDQUIST is the present treasurer of Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, and resides at Fergus Falls. He is a native of Smaland, Sweden, and was born on the 30th day of October, 1837.

Mr. Lindquist's parents were Jonas and Kate (Nelson) Lindquist, both of whom were

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natives of Sweden. Mr. Lindquist senior was a glass cutter by trade and also did consider- able farming, continuingin these occupations in his native country until he came to Amer- ica in 1868. His first settlement was made in Cliisago Lake, Chisago connty, Minne- sota, where he purchased 100 acres of land, remaining on this farm until October, 1869. At this time he sold his farm and moved to Parker's Prairie, Otter Tail county, Minne- sota, where he took a homestead of 160 acres. He has continued improving on this farm and is at present residing thereon. He has a family of six children-Gustaf A., Caroline, now Mrs. J. G. Nelson, Peter N., a farmer by occupation, Charlotte A., now Mrs. P. O. Nelson, Frank A., a farmer, and Christina, now Mrs. A. Oleson, The father and family are all members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Lindquist senor is a prominent citizen of the town in which he lives, and is a repub- lican in politics.

The subject of our sketch was reared on the farm until seventeen years of age, and received a common school edu- cation in his native land. At seventeen years of age he engaged as a clerk in a general store, at which business he contin- ued until he left Sweden in 1867, in which year he came to America, settling in Chisago county, Minnesota. For four months he attended school at Sunrise City, after which he returned to Sweden, remaining six weeks. At the end of this time the entire family came to America. His trip to Sweden was made for the purpose of assisting his family in migrating to America. They all settled in Chisago county. In 1868 Mr. Lindquist came to Otter Tail connty with his brother-in-law, John G. Nelson, looking for a location. They located their claims on the 17th day of August, 1868, on what is known as Parker's prairie, each taking 160 acres of land. On the 18th of September Mr. Lindquist moved upon his land, built a log house, and contin-

ued improving the farm until 1882. Prior to this, in 1881, he was elected to his present office, that of Treasurer of Otter Tail county, which office he has continued to hold up to the present date. While residing in Parker's prairie he held the office of town clerk for three years, was justice of the peace for two years, and held the position of chairman of ' the board of supervisors for one year. He was also assessor for one year, and in 1880 was census enumerator for three townships. For two years he held the office of deputy tax collector for Otter Tail county. Mr. Lindquist has made a marked success in farming, having added to his original home- stead a tract of sixty acres. He has a fine farm with excellent improvements, and of late years lias been turning his attention very largely to fine stock. In politics he is thoroughly republican, and has always taken a deep interest in the workings of his party. He has proven himself a valuable factor in making the township and county what they are to-day.

In 1871 Mr. Lindquist was married to Mrs. Johanna Leffler, a native of Sweden and daughter of Swen and Christina Nelson. Her father came to America in 1853, settling in Chisago county, Minnesota, and engaging in farming. On the breaking out of the war he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment and was sent South. He died in a hospital in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Lindquist have a family of eight children - Fred Leffler, a step- son ; Albert J., Carl O., Henry E., Walter A., Emily C. E., and Hilma and Hilda, twins.

Mr. and Mrs. Lindquist are leading mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Mr. Lindquist lias been very fortunate in his business in- vestments, owns a number of city lots, and has a fine residence in which he lives on Vasa Avenue. He is one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of the town and county.

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IMON D. SIMONSON, the proprietor of the Key City Hotel of Moorhead, Minnesota, is a native of Waukesha county, Wisconsin, born May 3, 1849. He is a son of Daniel and Enga (Tufta) Simonson, natives of Norway. They came to Wiscon- sin in the early settlement of that State, and at that time were both single. The father's early years were spent in his native land, on . a farm, coming to America when he was twenty-two years old and located in Wiscon- sin, taking up 120 acres of land from the Government-the same being wood land. This has all been cleared off, except about twenty acres. There he still lives, in his old age, on the same tract of land taken up when a young man. It is here he was mar- ried, and here his family have been reared and cared for. This spot is indeed a sacred one to the family, for around it linger fond memories of other, earlier days. The father is about seventy years of age; the mother died in 1856. It may be still further said of the father that he is a member of the Luth- eran church and one of the prominent and wealthy men of Waukesha.

Our subject, Simon D. Simonson, was reared on his father's farm and received a common school edcation, remaining at home until seventeen years of age, then worked at the lumber business in the big woods of Michigan; he also did farming. He came to Clay county, Minnesota in 1878, having lived the two years previous in Fillmore county, being engaged in the saloon busi- ness at Lanesboro for a time. He came to Fargo, Dakota Territory, where he worked as a common laborer for about two years, then went to Clay county and took up land in Morken township-a tree claim and homestead, each 160 acres in size. After having lived on and improved his land two years he came to Moorhead and kept the Western Hotel, on Front street, following this five and a half years, until 1888, then

took the Key City House, where he is now located. He is doing a large hotel and saloon business and commands commercial trade as well as local boarders.

Mr. Simonson was married in 1880 to Miss Annie Ramstad, a native of Norway and a daughter of Lars Ramstad. Mr. and Mrs. Simonson have four living children - Henry, Clarence, William and Oscar. Mrs. Simon- son died February 6, 1888. Politically our subject is a democrat, and he is accounted among the representative men of his county as well as the city of Moorhead.

ELS O. PAULSRUD, the present able and efficient sheriff of Polk county, Minnesota, is one of Crookston's most valued ard respected citizens. Strict integrity in the discharge of his official functions and his industry, energy and excellent abilities have raised him in the estimation of the community to a high point.

Mr. Paulsrud is a native of Norway, born amid its wild and rugged scenery, July 22, 1847, and is the son of Ole and Else (John- son) Nelson. He received in early youth the education which is the birthright of every Norse child. When he was about eight years of age his father was carried by death to that land " from whose bourn no traveler ever returns," and our subject remained beneath the parental roof with his mother, on their farm, until he was sixteen years old, when he assumed a part in life's battle. For six years he was employed in farm labor in the land of his birth, but in 1869 he sought on the free soil of this republic the chance for advancement and financial compe- tency denied him in the home of his ancestors. Crossing the stormy Atlantic, on landing on American shores he started for Minnesota, and settled at Zumbrota, Goodhue county. For the succeeding three years he made his

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home there, but in the fall of 1871 removed to Wilken county, with the intention of tak- ing up a homestead in that part of the State, but after spending one winter there con- cluded to come to the far-famed Red River Valley. Accordingly settingout with his wife and family in the wagon, which was drawn by patriarchal oxen, and attended by a small herd of other cattle, he reached Polk county, Minnesota, in May, 1872, and settled in the town of Hubbard. At that time the popula- tion of the entire county consisted of but some twenty-five families, most of whom had settled along the Red and Sand Hill rivers. Mr. Paulsrud at once took up a claim, upon which, by his own labor, he put up a log cabin, 12x14 feet in area, finish- ing it in the course of a week. His fam- ily thus being protected from the ele- ments, after breaking up a small piece of ground for a garden, he went to work freighting with his team, to support his wife and children. Through poverty and the hardships ever attendent upon life in a new country, he and his family pushed on toward the goal, laboring on his farm, gradually raising themselves in the world and sur- rounding themselves with comforts until January, 1887, when he removed to Crooks- ton. His original farm, which by industry and hard work he has increased to 360 acres, and upon which he has a neat and tasty modern residence and comfortable outbuild- ings, he still retains and carries on.

Mr. Paulsrud has been identified with the official life of the county to a gratifying de- gree since coming here. In 1875 he was first elected treasurer of the town of Hubbard, and held that position for three years. At the expiration of that period he was elected chairman of the town board, the township then embracing all the territory now known as Hubbard and Vineland, and when the lat- ter was set off and organized, in 1882, still re- tained that office in the former, which he

did until 1885, when he was honored with the postion of justice of the peace in and for that town. In the fall of 1886, having met with the favor of the people of the county, who admiring his upright independence of spirit, so characteristic of his race, he was . elected to the post of sheriff of the county, and was nominated and elected his own suc- cessor in 1888. Always identified with the republican party, Mr. Paulsrud has always been a consistent supporter of the principles of that organization, and in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him in his office has tempered justice with leniency and mercy. As a man and a citizen he stands de- servedly high in the estimation of the people of the county, and is regarded as one of the leading men in the community.

Mr. Paulsrud was united in marriage, in Norway, January 10, 1868, with Miss Betsey Amundson, a native of that kingdom, and is the parent of the following children - Olaf Albert, Emma C., Gina Bertha, John Arnt, Edwin Julius and Nicholay Bernard.

VEN JORGENS. In examining the biographies of many of the promi- nent members of the farming community of Grant county, Minnesota, it will be noticed that the Norwegian race furnishes many of the most industrious, thrifty and frugal citizens of this section of the State. The subject of this biographical memoir is a native of Norway, born on the 18th of March, 1858, and is a son of Jorgen Svenson and Aslong (Thovsen), whose biography appears in another part of this ALBUM.

Mr. Jorgens spent his younger days in the land of his birthi in attending the. common schools of that land. At the age of twelve years he came with his parents to the United States. and, after landing, moved at once to Red Wing, Goodhue county,

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Minnesota, and attended school for a number of years. He then removed to Grant county, Minnesota, where he completed his education at the age of twenty-one years. During this time he had worked out a good deal and made his own way and depended largely on his own efforts. He now owns a beautiful farm of 240 acres in Pomme De Terre township, on section 31, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has a well-improved farm with neat and commodious buildings. He is one of the successful and prominent farmers of Pomme De Terre township and is highly esteemed by all who bear his acquaintance.

Mr. Jorgens was united in marriage in 1880 to Mrs. Olson, a native of Norway and the widow of Kittle Olson. Her former name was Miss Rashild Amundson and she was married to her first husband in 1878. They came to the United States and settled in Becker county, Minnesota, where he died. After his death she removed to Grant county, Minnesota, met our subject and was soon after married to him. She passed away from the scenes of earth and to her reward March 5, 1887, leaving a large circle of friends, her bereaved husband and the following-named children to mourn her loss -Samuel, Alice, Clara, Jorgen and Rashild. Our subject, with his family, belongs to the Lutheran church and is an active sympa- thizer of the same. He is a member of the republican club in Elbow Lake, Grant county, and takes an active interest in all local affairs.

NTON MIKSCHE is one of the leading business men of Wahpeton, Richland county, North Dakota, and has a large trade in the general merchandise line. He is a native of Austria, where he was born July 10, 1839.

Mr. Miksche's parents were Anton and Mary (Penjen) Miksche, both natives of Aus- tria. The father was a leather merchant and contractor for Government bridges through- out the province in which he lived. The father died in 1860; the mother is still living and a resident of Austria. They had a family of five children, three of whom are now liv- ing-Anton, Mary and Leo.

The subject of our sketch spent his younger days in school in his native country, and when seventeen commenced to learn the leather business, remaining away from home for a period of three years. At the end of that time he engaged in the manufacture of leather, in which business he continued until 1867, when he emigrated to America, settling first in Chicago, Illinois. He went to work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, at $1.75 per day, and followed this employment for several months, until he had saved $150. He then purchased an out- fit of Yankee notions, and peddled them through Illinois until 1868, when he came to St. Paul, Minnesota, and continued peddling until January 1, 1869. He then purchased a house and forty acres of land at St. Martin, Stearns county, Minnesota, and engaged in the mercantile business, starting in with a capital of $200. He ran this business for about eighteen months and then sold out,real- izingabout $2,000. At this time be removed to Elizabeth, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he purchased a store and stock of goods for $3,000. Within a few days after this trade was consummated the grasshoppers came in swarms and settled all over the country. Hard times came apace and in three years Mr. Miksche had lost all his hard-earned means and was in debt over $5,000. He continued the business, however, and better times came at last, and those he had helped during the grasshopper raids returned the favors and he got on his feet again. In 1877 he opened a branch store at Manson, Min-

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nesota, but this was not a success, so he returned to Wahpeton, North Dakota, in 1878, and his partner's son conducted the business. In 1882 Mr. Miksche moved his family to the last named town where he has since resided. Again ill fortune came upon him in the shape of the loss of a young son, Anton, two years old -the child was drowned in a barrel of water. During the next year he lost three children by diphtheria - Marcus, Sophia and Matilda, and three other children were dangerously sick. In 1884 his daughter Annie died under painful circumstances. His daughter Mary was to be married and the wedding day dawned. The invited guests arrived and everything went merry as a marriage bell, when, suddenly, the daughter Annie was taken sick and died the same night. There was a funeral instead of a marriage, and the wedding did not take place till a month later. The lines, in this regard, have fallen in many bitter places for Mr. Miksche.

On moving to Wahpeton Mr. Miksche at once took charge of his business, and has met with unbounded success. He built the second store in the village, and has built sev- eral other buildings. He is a large land- liolder and owns thirteen hundred acres of land in the county. He has improved his land with good houses and barns, and has two farms, on each of which there are five acres of timber, planted by his own hands. He is an extensive horse and cattle grower and has some fine blooded stock - Hamble- tonian and Red Clyde horses, and Durham and Jersey cattle. In his business lines he has been very successful, and some years has taken in as high as $40,000.

In 1861 Mr. Miksche was married to Miss Mary Foks, of Austria. Three liv- ing children are in the family -Frank, Leo and Mary. Frank was married in 1884 to Paulina Marsh, by whom he has one son-Anton. Mary married Matheias Kre-

ker by whom she has had two children- Matheias and Marcus. Leo is with his father as his book-keeper and buyer.

Mr. Miksche is one of the foremost citi- zens and has always been one of the moving spirits in town and county matters. Being eminently successful in the management of his own finances, his advice and counsel is sought by his friends, who have honored him with many positions of trust and responsi- bility. In Minnesota he was postmaster for twelve years; has been a member of the city council since its organization and was elected president of the same in 1888, besides holding many other minor offices. He has been president of the St. John's Society. In politics Mr. Miksche is a democrat and, with his wife and children, belongs to the Catholic church. He is at the head of the mercantile business at Wahpeton and as a progressive citizen has no peer.

HARLES L. LEWIS is at present the county attorney of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, with headquarters at Fergus Falls, the county seat of said county. Mr. Lewis is a native of Ottawa, Illinois, and was born on the 8th of March, 1852. He is the son of Hon. Samuel R. and Ann (Har- ley) Lewis who were natives of Pennsyl- vania.

Samuel R. Lewis came to Illinois when fourteen years of age with his parents, who were Jehu and Rachel Lewis, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and on coming to Ill- inois settled in Putnam county. He had a family of three children-Joseph, Elizabeth and Samuel R. Jehu Lewis, the grandfather of the subject of our sketch, died in Putnam county, Illinois. The grandmother died in Ottawa, La Salle county, of that State. The Lewis family is of Welsh and English

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descent. Hon. Samuel R. Lewis was reared on a farm in his early life, and has followed that occupation ever since. He is now located at Ottawa, Illinois. He is an extensive farmer, and deals largely in blooded stock, principally horses. From 1856 to 1860 he held the office of treasurer of La Salle county, and from 1879 to 1883 was State senator. He had four sons-William R., a farmer living in La Salle county, Illinois ; Edward C., early in life a lawyer, but for the last ten years engaged in raising blooded stock, horses and cattle; Charles L. and Samuel M., a farmer who runs the home farm. The father's family being in good circumstances, the children were all well educated. The father is still living, is a republican in politics, and is one of the prom- inent men in that party in the State of Illi- nois.

Charles L. Lewis, the subject of our sketch, remained under the parental roof until he was eighteen years of age. Up to this time he had attended school during the winters and worked upon the farm during the summer months. On reaching the age of eighteen he attended the high school at Ottawa, Illi- nois, for one year, after which he spent four years in the University of Chicago, then two years at Oberlin College in Ohio, from which institution he graduated in 1876. He then spent one year at home on the farm, after which he read law in the office of Judge Charles B. Lawrence, of Chicago, continuing his reading through the years 1878 and 1879. In 1879 he was admitted to the bar in Chicago, and in the fall of that year moved to Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he tried his first case in a justice's court. During the year 1882 he was associated with M. R. Tyler. This partnership was dissolved in 1883. Mr. Lewis has followed his profession with good results throughout his entire career in Fer- gus Falls. In 1880 he was elected clerk of

the school board, which position he held for three years. He was elected county attorney in 1884 and re-elected in 1886, being the present incumbent of that office. He is one of the stockholders and a director in the Otter Tail Flouring Mill; is president of the Fergus Falls Electric Light and Power Company. He has made numerous investments in real estate in the city and county, owning several valuable farms and considerable village property.

Mr. Lewis has always been a stanch republican, was a delegate to the Chicago convention in 1888, and was one of the supporters of the present president of the United States. He has been an important factor in local and State politics and has been a delegate to the State con- vention several times.

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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 49

Author: Alden, Ogle & Company Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Alden, Ogle & Company Number of Pages: 872

Author: Alden, Ogle & Company
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Alden, Ogle & Company
Number of Pages: 872