USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 6
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Ernest W. Currier, cashier of the Security State Bank of . North Redwood, was born in Nicollet, Nicollet county, Minne- sota, June 15, 1883. His father, John Q. Currier, born July 19, 1857, was the first white child born in Granby township, that county. He grew to manhood there, became a farmer and held many township offices. In 1908 he moved to the village of Nicol- let and engaged in the implement business. His wife, Martha
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CHARLES FLEISCHER AND FAMILY
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(Meisner) Currier, died March 14, 1907, at the age of fifty-one. Ernest W. Currier acquired his early education in the schools of his locality and graduated from the Mankato Commercial Col- lege in 1901. He spent one year in the insurance office of F. M. Payne at Pipestone, after which, from 1904 to 1907, he remained at home on the farm. Then he became assistant cashier of the Nicollet State Bank. In 1912 he became cashier of the Security State Bank of North Redwood, where he is at present. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the A. F. & A. M. at. Redwood Falls.
Frederick Hagen, for many years a soldier in the German army, was born in Germany, June 7, 1840, and was there reared and educated. As a youth, he joined the German army and so served in three different conflicts-the Russian Rebellion of 1863, the Austrian-German War of 1866, and the Franco and Prussian War of 1870-1871. When not serving his country in the field he was engaged as a farmer. As a young man he married Fred- ericka Rehfeld, who was born in Germany, July 3, 1841. In 1888, with his wife and his children, August C., Wilhelmina, William and Annie-the oldest child, Helmuth, having come two and one- half years before he came to America and located in Redwood Falls. A year later he moved to the northwest quarter of section 33, Kintire township. There they endured all the hardships of pioneer life. Three years after their arrival in Kintire they moved to section 5, Sheridan township, and took up their home in a granary, where they lived for a year. As the year passed they built up a splendid farm and erected, in time, a sightly home and suitable barns. On this farm the good wife died Sept. 2, 1905, and there Mr. Hagen now makes his home with his son, August C. Of the nine children in the family there are now living four : Helmuth, August C., Wilhelmina, and Annie.
Carl Zuehledorf was born in Germany and there married Wilhelmina Schmidt. In 1889 he brought his family to America, found his way to this county and located in section 3, where he is now a prosperous farmer. Of the eleven children in the family there are now living nine: Ida, Annie, Emelio, Herman, August, Emil, Martha, Minnie, and Ervin.
August C. Hagen, a substantial and respected farmer of Sheri- dan township, was born in Germany, July 24, 1869, son of Fred- eriek and Frederica (Rehfeld) Hagen. He was reared and educated in Germany and in the spring of 1888 came to America with his parents and located in Redwood Falls. Four years later, in company with his father, he bought his present place. At that time it was but little developed, seventy-five acres had been broken and a little shanty of 10 by 12 feet had been erected. On this farm Mr. Hagen began his farming operations. In 1895 he built a five-room home, 16 by 24 feet. In 1899 he added four
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rooms, making a very suitable and commodious farm residence. .
As necessity required, he erected a good barn 36 by 56 feet, a granary 16 by 24 feet, a corn crib, tool sheds, and other farm buildings. Soon after purchasing the place, he planted large groves on the north and west of the house, so that he now has many large trees over twenty years old. He also has a good orchard and a productive berry patch. In addition to the home farm, he has 160 acres of land in section 28, Kintire township. On his splendid developed farms he carries on general agricul- tural operations and raises each year about one hundred and five acres of wheat, seventy-five acres of corn and thirty acres of oats. Mr. Hagen is a good citizen, a good farmer and a thorough believer in education. Mr. Hagen was married May 19, 1899, to Anna Zeuhlsdorf, who was born in Germany, July 7, 1880, daugh- ter of Carl and Wilhelmina (Schmidt) Zuehlsdorf. Mr. and Mrs. Hagen have been blessed with ten children: Reinhardt, born March 12, 1900; Alvina, June 27, 1901; Alma, Aug. 28, 1903; Walter, Jan. 20, 1905; Lena, July 12, 1907; Emil, Oct. 18, 1908; Rudolph, Jan. 5, 1909; Harold, April 25, 1912; Ervin, Feb. 2, 1914, and Adelina, Oct. 25, 1915. All the children of school age are attending the district school of their neighborhood. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.
Hugh F. Swalm was born in Toronto, Canada, October 3, 1882, son of John C. and Jennie (Davis) Swalm. John C. Swalm, M. D., came from Canada to Chicago in 1885, where he lived until his death Feb. 14, 1914, at the age of sixty-seven. His wife died March 14, 1914, at the age of sixty-five. For four years Hugh F. Swalm was assistant foreman of the shoe factory of C. M. Hen- derson at Dixon, Ill. Then he was in the train service on the C., R. I. & P. railroad for a number of years. After that he drove racing cars for four years, and then engaged in the automobile business in Chicago and in Minneapolis for about eight years. In 1910 he opened a garage in Redwood Falls and is agent for the Buick machine. Mr. Swalm was married April 20, 1907, to Emma Dauvenel, of Minneapolis. They have two children: Fred- erick and Louise.
Hiram D. Thorp, photographer, of Redwood Falls, was born in New York state, Jan. 2, 1878, son of Jacob Thorp, a farmer of New York, who died at the age of sixty-four in 1900, and his wife, Mary Thorp, who died in 1885 at the age of twenty-eight. The early part of Hiram Thorp's life was spent on a New York farm, working summers, going to school a very short time each winter. At the age of nineteen he went to Buffalo to learn the photograph trade. In 1900 he purchased a studio and after oper- ating this for four years sold it, traveling in the interest of his trade until 1909, when he located in Redwood Falls, his studio being a "photo car" 10 by 20 feet. In 1910, Hiram D. Thorp
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MRS. FREDERICK HOLT
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was married to Effie M. McDaniels, daughter of A. G. McDaniels, a farmer residing south of Redwood, and his wife, Nancy Ellen (Roswell) McDaniels. Mrs. Effie Thorp was one of Redwood county's efficient teachers from 1908 to 1913. In 1911 Mr. and Mrs. Thorp purchased a double lot on the corner of Second and Mill street, erecting the Scenic City Studio. Starting with more "sand" than money, Mr. Thorp did studio work daytime, making concrete blocks nights. Mrs. Thorp taught for two terms a rural school, five miles out, driving back and forth, making pictures at night. After several months of hard toil Mr. Thorp succeeded in making 3,600 concrete blocks, and erected the studio, a build- ing 22 by 40, two story, with full basement. This soon became too small to accommodate their rapidly growing business, so in 1915 an addition 24 by 40 was added to the north side, making a building 46 by 40, two story, with full basement. This is one of the most modern studios in the Northwest, equipped with the best that money can buy-moving picture camera, cirkut, graflex and special lenses. Mr. Thorp makes a specialty of convention and outdoor work, leaving the studio work in charge of his wife, Effie M. Thorp, who was a student of the Illinois College of Pho- tography in 1914. In 1916 Hiram Thorp was appointed official photographer of the Minnesota State Sunday School convention, held at Austin, Minn.
Finley A. Gray, municipal judge and prominent citizen of Redwood Falls, was born in Canton, New York, June 16, 1863, son of Francis A. and Alice A. (Baker) Gray. At the age of twelve years he took up his home with his uncle, W. E. Baker, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. This uncle in 1879 brought him to Redwood Falls, where W. E. Baker engaged in the lumber busi- ness. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Gray became clerk in the Bank of Redwood Falls, serving until 1886. In that year he became assistant postmaster. In 1889 he went to Fairfax and with Dr. J. A. Beard, also of Redwood Falls, established the Bank of Fair- fax. In 1893 he returned to Redwood Falls and engaged in the collection business, which aside from his public duties has since occupied the larger part of his attention. From 1900 to 1905 he was city recorder and in 1911 he assumed the duties of his present position.
Frederick Holt, war veteran, pioneer, and highly honored and respected citizen, now deceased, led a long life of usefulness in which he served well his adopted country in military life, and his state, county and community in civil life. He was born in Prus- sia, Germany, Feb. 24, 1836, and was there reared and educated. It was in 1854 that he came to America, locating in Indiana, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Imbibing thoroughly the patriotism of this free country, he responded early to the call of President Abraham Lincoln for volunteers to defend the Union,
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and enlisted as a private in the Twenty-second Indiana Volun- teer Infantry. During his three years of service he proved his valor in many battles, marches and skirmishes, including the Battle of Lookout Mountain, the Battle of the Wilderness, and Sherman's famous March to the Sea. He was taken prisoner three times and wounded once. Having been honorably dis- charged at the close of the war, he returned to Indiana and was a resident of that state until 1866. Then coming to Minnesota, he secured employment as a farm hand at Northfield, Rice county. In was in 1869, only five years after the first permanent settlers had located at Redwood Falls, that he came to this county and located on section 26, Swedes Forest township, where he obtained the north half of the southeast quarter of the section; also the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 26, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 25. For a month he lived in the wagon in which he had arrived, after which he built a log cabin. In the meanwhile he had broken the land and started general farming. Together he and his good wife endured the hardships of pioneer life, made slow but steady progress, and finally were numbered among the leading people of the community. The farm was increased to 320 acres, and the improvements on the place kept pace with the growing prosperity of its owners. This happiness and success were brought to a sad conclusion on July 8, 1883, when Mr. Holt was killed by a horse kicking him in the side. He was laid to rest with the regret of his neighbors, and his memory has never ceased to be revered by his family and associates. Mr. Holt was married May 23, 1869, to Mrs. Henrietta Evert Miller. Henrietta Evert, as she was then called, was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, April 27, 1841, and there received the usual training of the girls of her time and country. In 1860 she married Joachim Miller, and to him bore four children-John, Louisa, Minnie, and Sophia. The family came to America in 1868 and located in Northfield, Minne- sota. June 8th of that year, Mr. Miller died as the result of a sunstroke. Thus left with four small children, she bravely faced life, and started in with courage to sustain herself and educate her children. Later, as noted, she married Frederick Holt. To him she bore six children-Edward A., Sarah A., Bertha E., Fred- erick C., Mary E., and Harry G. To her family Mrs. Holt has given a lifelong devotion. Left a second time a widow with many children, she again took up the battle of life with fortitude. By hard work, sound management and shrewd business sense she has succeeded in giving all her children a good education, and has seen them all well established in life and respected and sub- stantial members of society. Now, one of the oldest settlers in the county, ripe in years and wisdom, she is spending the evening of life surrounded by the love, care and affection of her family, and
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the respect of the entire community. The record of her children is, in brief, as follows: John Miller graduated from the Mankato State Normal School, and after teaching two years entered Ham- line University and was there graduated. Then after teaching seven years more, he entered the employ of the State Bank of Bertha, in Todd county, Minn. When that institution was reor- ganized as the First National Bank of Bertha, he became cashier, a position in which he is still serving with much credit. Louisa Miller is the wife of Frank Sleight of Mankato, this state, and has one daughter, Beatrice. Mr. Sleight is general manager of a Mankato branch of the Gamble & Robinson Wholesale Fruit Co. of Minneapolis, of which he is likewise one of the stock- holders. Minnie Miller is the wife of John Gebhard, of Hamline, treasurer of the Bankers' and Merchants' Insurance Company, of Minneapolis, and has two children, Elmer and Lillian. Sophia Miller is a modiste in Minneapolis. Edward A. Holt, born June 20, 1872, was graduated from the Agricultural Department of the University of Minnesota. Then, after two years at home, he went to Isabel, Ziebach county, South Dakota, where he took a claim, and remained two years, finally proving up his claim and returning to Redwood county. Here he has served as township supervisor, and as clerk and director of school district No. 55. Sarah A. Holt was born June 20, 1872, twin sister to Edward A. She and her sister, Bertha E., graduated the same year from the school of District No. 55, being a member of the first class to receive diplomas from that school. Later she graduated from the Mankato State Normal School, and became a teacher. She is now Mrs. William Beckman, of Bowman, North Dakota, and is the mother of two children, Bertha and Eveline. Bertha E. Helt was born Feb. 6, 1874. Like her sister, Sarah H., she was a member of the first class to receive diplomas from the school of District No. 55. Later she graduated from the Mankato State Normal School, taught school for a while, and now lives at home,
looking after the wants of the other members of the family. Frederick C. Holt, born Dec. 25, 1876, took a course in book- keeping at the Minnesota School of Business, Minneapolis. Mary E. Holt, born August 25, 1879, attended for one year the North- western Conservatory of Music at Minneapolis, married M. E. Lewis, a real estate dealer in Minneapolis, and has three children, Louisa, John and Theodore. Harry G. Holt was born August 18, 1882. He attended the German Methodist Episcopal School (now the Hamline Preparatory School) at St. Paul Park, and then took the three-year course in the agricultural department of the University of Minnesota from which he was graduated. He is treasurer of school district No. 55. The Holt farm is still owned by Mrs. Holt, and is operated by Edward A. and Harry G., the daughter, Bertha E., assisting in the home. The farm
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is one of the best in the neighborhood and is situated in the mag- nificent forest of oak, elm and basswood which has given the township its name. The improvements so worthily started by the father, have been continued by the mother and children. In 1886, a barn, 60 by 62 feet was built. In 1894, the present home, a large eight-room house, 24 by 26 feet, with a 16 by 24 feet ell was erected. Later, as necessity required, other buildings, such as granary, garage, blacksmith shop, sheds and the like have been constructed. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church at Echo, Minn., of which all the Holts are loyal supporters.
Nels Hanson, a pioneer, was born in Norway in 1833, and was there reared and educated. In 1862 he came to America and engaged in farming near Rio, Columbia county, Wis. In 1872 he came to Redwood county and purchased 120 acres in the northwest quarter of section 35, Swedes Forest township. Here he successfully farmed for some quarter of a century, retiring in 1902. After seven years of rest from the strenuous work of farm management he died in 1909, deeply mourned and lamented. His good wife, Karen Andrea Augustinsen, was born in Norway in 1839 and died in 1908. This union has been blessed with ten children : Karen, now Mrs. Christen Knutson, of Swedes Forest; Hans, of Belview; Rosena, now Mrs. G. F. Rahn, of Belview; Ole, of Montana; Clara, now Mrs. Ole Nelson, of Swedes Forest; Jorgen, of Canada; Annie, who married A. Anderson and was killed in a runaway; and three who died in infancy.
Christen Knutson, a thrifty and prosperous farmer of Swedes Forest township, was born in Trondhjem, Norway, April 5, 1860, son of Knute and Anna (Roe) Knutson, Norwegian farmers, the former of whom died in 1876 at the age of 45 years and the latter in 1870 at the age of 41. Christen Knutson was reared in Norway, and grew to manhood in his parents' home. After at- tending the parish and normal school, he taught school for a while. In 1881 he came to America and located in Redwood county, working as a farm hand for several years. It was in 1885 that he bought 80 acres in the southwest quarter of section 27, Swedes Forest township. To his farm, and to educational work, he has since devoted his time and attention. By hard work and intelligent management, he has established one of the finest farms in the neighborhood, having added to the original tract 120 acres more, making 200 acres in all. In 1897 Mr. Knutson rebuilt and remodelled his home, so that it is now a comfortable ten-room building, 26 by 16 feet with a 20 by 26 ell. In 1909 further improvements were made when a barn 32 by 44 feet, and a granary 26 by 26 feet were built. On this modern place, Mr. Knutson carries on general farming and stock raising. In addition to looking after the interests of his farm, he has
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MR. AND MRS. NELS HANSON
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served for some years as clerk of the township. His business holdings include stock in the State Bank of Belview, of which he is the vice president. As a church worker he has also been active, and since his first arrival here he has served as secretary of the Rock Dale Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, which was the first religious congregation organized in Swedes Forest township. From soon after his arrival until 1914 he was clerk of the school board of his district. During the entire period of his residence here he has taught parochial school from one to three months during the summer and fall of each year, a duty for which his early training in the old country has most admirably fitted him. Mr. Knutson was married November 13, 1884, to Karen Kistine Hanson, who was born near Rio, Columbia county, Wis., April 16, 1864, daughter of Nels and Karen Andrea (Au- gustinsen) Hanson. This union has been blessed with seven children: Cora A., Nettie C., Carl S., Anna B., Nora M., Walter B. and Gerhard E. Cora A., who was born May 27, 1886, gradu- ated from the Sioux Falls State Normal School and taught school seven years, married Otto Flom, of Swedes Forest township, and has two children, Kathlene S. and Otto C. Nettie C., born August 6, 1888, graduated from the Sioux Falls State Normal School, and the Red Wing Ladies' Seminary, and has taught school for the past five years. She was married August 23, 1916, to Rev. J. A. Peterson. Carl S., born August 8, 1891, graduated from the Redwood Falls High School and from Luther College at Decorah Iowa. He was principal of the public schools at Bode, Iowa, two years and is now principal of the Delhi public schools. Anna B. was born July 23, 1895, graduated from the Redwood Falls High School, and is now a student in the Northwestern Con- servatory of Music at Minneapolis. Nora M. was born Aug. 24, 1901; Walter B., May 1, 1905; and Gerhard E., Sept. 7, 1907.
Andrew Hjeldness, a pioneer farmer of Swedes Forest town- ship, was born in 1838 in Norway, and came to America in 1863, settling in Freeborn county, Minn., where he bought 80 acres of land and farmed for six years. In 1869 he sold this land and came to Swedes Forest township, Redwood county, where he bought 80 acres of wild prairie land in the north west quarter of section 34. Here he began farming, breaking up the land with his ox team and after the harvest, hauling his grain to Willmar, which was the nearest market, the trip taking about one week. Later Redwood became the market. Here he lived until his death in 1903, adding to his land from time to time until he owned 200 acres. He assisted his neighbors to build their log houses and the log house which he built on his own farm in the early days is still standing. He was married in Norway in 1862, to Christina Fjarled, who was born in 1842, in Norway, and now resides in Belview. Their children were: Louisa, John, Lena, and Gerta
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(twins) ; Jens, proprietor of the restaurant and pool room at Bel- view; Anna, Ole and Mina. John Hjeldness grew to manhood on the home farm, where he has ever since resided. He has improved and developed the farm and brought it to a high state of cultiva- tion. In 1892 he built a comfortable house, 32 by 32 feet, and in 1895 a barn, 24 by 32 feet. He has served on the town and school boards. He is married and has the following children: Arthur, born August 20, 1899; Alma, born March 30, 1904; Irene, born April 28, 1908, and Evelyn, born Feb. 25, 1912.
Evan Sampson, the pioneer, was a prominent factor in Red- wood county agricultural life for many years. Coming here in 1876, he established a splendid farm, was active in church work, reared a large family, and became one of the substantial men of the community. He was born in Norway in 1845, and was there reared and educated and there grew to manhood. In 1870 he came to America, worked for a while in the plow works at Waupun, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Later he farmed in Columbia county in the same state. When in 1876 he came to Redwood county, he bought 240 acres of land in section 28, and here he farmed until his death in 1908, giving his mind to his work and not seeking public office. He was a devout member of the Rock Dale Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical church, and helped to erect the edifice which now houses that congregation. Evan Sampson was married in Wisconsin, shortly after his ar- rival in this country, to Esther Hanson, who was born in Nor- way in 1847, and died in Swedes Forest in 1909. In the family there were eight children: Tena, Hans, Samuel, George, Gus- tave, Rahn, Anna and Halvor. The farm is now conducted by the sons, George and Halvor. George born March 5, 1875, is now treasurer of school district No. 10; also a stockholder in the Farm- ers' elevator at Belview. He married Martha Bekke, who was born in 1878 in Swedes Forest, this county, daughter of Hans A. and Emma (Christopherson) Bekke, and their union has been blessed with one child, Iona. Halvor, born October 8, 1885, was. married in 1911 to Alga Fleming, who was born in 1893, in Wis- consin, a daughter of Olof Fleming. He has two children, Ernest and Helen.
Mathias Monson was born in Norway, December 29, 1858, son of Mons and Anna (Vassenden) Gimmestad Monson. The father, born in Norway, in 1823, died there at the age of fifty-five years, in 1878. His wife, who was born in Norway, in 1823, came to America and died in Swedes Forest, Redwood county, Minn., June 9, 1905. Mathias Monson came to America in 1879 and in June of the same year to Swedes Forest, where he pre-empted 40 bores of land, in the northeast quarter of section 36, building a dugout and a rude shack for a barn. Later he bought 160 acres of land in the southwest quarter of section 31, Delhi township,
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besides other land, so that now he has 360 acres. In 1897 he built a barn 55 by 80 feet, and in 1902 a good, comfortable house, 18 by 32 feet, with a wing 18 by 18 feet. He has served for ten years as a member of the township board, and is also a member of the school board, having been treasurer of it for twelve years. He is a member of the Rock Dale Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he was one of the organizers. In 1883 Mr. Monson returned to Norway to be married, the ceremony, which united him to Ester Jacobs, taking place March 31, 1883. His wife was born September 16, 1848. They have had children as follows: Martin, born in December, 1883; Albert, born in 1884; George, born in 1885 ; David, born February 4, 1887; Mary, born in October, 1889; and Edwin, born August 6, 1891. All reside at home except George, who lives in Minneapolis, and Mary, who died September 17, 1915.
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