USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 7
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Knute Monson, who has been one of the prosperous farmers of Swedes Forest township for some thirty-seven years, has one of the best rural places in the county. His home situated in the midst of a rich prairie, is surrounded by beautiful, large and well- kept lawns, dotted here and there with shrubbery and flower-beds, and stretching away in velvety sweeps to the fine hardwood groves on the north and west and the evergreen grove on the southeast. Well graded paths lead to the sightly home, substantial and pleas- ing to the eye on the exterior, and furnished with every comfort on the interior, making a habitation of which any man might well be proud. Supplementing this structure are the commodious barns and other farm buildings, housing the splendid stock, the large crops and the excellent farm implements and machinery. In fact, everything throughout the 400 acres bespeaks the thrift, good judgment, public spirit and hard work of the owner. Knute Mon- son was born near Bergen, Norway, August 22, 1857, son of Mons and Anna (Vasenden) Gimmestad. There he was educated and reared to farm pursuits. His father, who was born in 1825, died in 1878, and the mother, who was born in 1823 and died in 1905, came to America with Knute in 1879. Upon his arrival in this country, Knute at once came to Redwood county and secured employment as a farm hand in Swedes Forest township. By hard work, self-denial and saving habits he was enabled in 1883 to purchase 160 acres in the southwest quarter of section 33, which was the beginning of his present splendid farm. He at once started to develop it, planted groves, erected a small frame house, and worked early and late, ever looking forward to his present prosperity. The original frame house is still standing as a part of his present modern structure. In building up his farm, and achieving his unusual success, Mr. Monson has not forgotten his public duties. For eleven years he did good service as a member of the township board of supervisors, five years of which he served
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as chairman. His business holdings include stock in the State Bank of Belview, in which he is one of the directors. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator at Belview and a member of the Hawk Creek Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Co. The Rock- dale Norwegian Lutheran church has found him an active worker; he helped to build the present edifice, and for the past five years has served in his present, capacity as vice president of that con- gregation. Mr. Monson was married Sept. 13, 1883, to Marie Davidson, who was born in Norway October 4, 1860, and came to this country in 1879. She was the daughter of David and Anna (Gimmestad) Arnestad, who spent their years in the old country. Mr. and Mrs. Monson have been blessed with five children : Alfred, David, Amelia (deceased), Martin and Inga. Alfred was born November 29, 1884, and is now on a homestead in Scobey, Mont. David, born August 13, 1886, is also on a homestead in Scobey. Amelia, born February 4, 1888, died June 3, 1902. Martin, born January 24, 1892, is at home. Inga, born January 30, 1892, and now at home, took the two-year domestic science course at the Red Wing Ladies' Seminary and studied one season at Gale Col- lege, Galesville, Wis.
John A. Malecek, at one time manager of the North Redwood Farmers' Elevator Company, was born in Le Sueur county, Minn., December 24, 1873, son of Mathias and Katherine (Sokolik) Malecek. The father was a farmer born in Bohemia, who came to America in 1866 and to Le Sueur county in 1881, moving subse- quently to Henryville township, Renville county, where he resided until his death, February 9, 1901, at the age of 63 years. His wife now lives at Hopkins, Minn. John A. Malecek remained at home until he was 28 years of age. He then bought the home farm of 160 acres in section 21, southwest quarter, Henryville township, and farmed there until April 1, 1912, when he moved to North Redwood. August 24, 1914, he became manager of the North Redwood Farmers' Elevator Company, which he had organ- ized in June of that year, in company with Joseph R. Keefe, Chas. Fleischer and John Schweinfurter. It started with a capital of $10,000, the half of which was paid in, a frame building being erected during the summer of 1914 at a cost of $6,200, having a capacity of 30,000 bushels. During the first year they had a business of 100,000 bushels and sold 16 carloads of coal. The first officers were: ' Frank Neuenberg, president; William Zum- winkle, vice president; W. C. Maun, secretary, and Thomas Hos- ken, treasurer. The second officers were: John Schweinfurter, president; Henry Amberg, vice president; Charles Fleischer, sec- retary; Thomas Hosken, treasurer. Mr. Malecek held public office both in Renville and Redwood counties. While in Renville county he was the township supervisor for Henryville township for six years and township clerk seven years. He served on the village
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council of North Redwood from the spring of 1913 until his death. A member of the Catholic church of Bechyn, he was its treasurer from 1907. He also belonged to the M. B. A. John A. Malecek died July 24, 1916, and is buried in St. Mary's cemetery, Bechyn, Minn. Mr. Malecek was married May 26, 1903, to Mary Novy, who was born April 9, 1885, daughter of Joseph Novy, a farmer of Pine City, and his wife Mary (Soulkup) Novy. Mr. and Mrs. Malecek had three children: Stanley, born August 23; 1904; Gertrude, born June 23, 1906, and Cecelia, born July 24, 1912.
Andrew Anderson, of Kintire township, was born in Sweden, February 9, 1868, the son of Olof Anderson, who was born in Sweden, April 12, 1842. Olof was married in 1867 to Johanna Monson, who was born in that country, April 17, 1843. In 1887 he came to America and located in Warren county, Illinois, his wife following him to this country in 1890. Andrew was one of two children, the other, Emily, having been born March 6, 1871. Andrew came to America in 1886, one year before his father, at the age of eighteen years, and located in Roseville, III. In 1887 he went to South Dakota, and was engaged several months in railroad construction near Lake Preston, after which he was employed in Minneapolis for a while. In the fall of 1888 he came to Kintire township and bought eighty acres of land in the south- west quarter of section 31, to which he later added another 160 acres in the same section. Busy as he has been with his many farm duties, he has likewise found time for efficient public service, and his fourteen years on the town board and three years on the school board have been of much value to his fellow citizens. Mr. Anderson was married November 25, 1896, to Augusta Monson, who was born in Sweden, July 2, 1875. Her father, Ben Monson, came to America in 1891 and located in Vesta township, this county, where he is still living. His wife, Engried Monson, who came three years later, died in 1894 at the age of 40 years. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been blessed with five children: Anna, born May 10, 1898; Albin, born May 25, 1900 (died June 10, 1907) ; Selma, born March 13, 1902; Ellen, born August 2, 1904; and Albin (second) born October 13, 1907.
Edward H. Marks, a farmer of Underwood township, was born Feb. 20, 1875, in Wabasha county, Minn., son of William and Minnie (Dunning) Marks. William Marks, born in 1842, in West Prussia, Germany, came to America about 1856, locating in Wis- consin. He enlisted in 1862 in the Second Regiment of the Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He accom- panied General Sherman to the sea, was taken prisoner and con- fined in Libby prison four months until the close of the war. Honorably discharged at Madison, Wis., June, 1865, he remained in that state and worked as a farm hand, well driver and machin-
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ist until 1877, when he came to Clifton township, Lyon county, Minn., and homesteaded 160 acres in section 2. He built rude shacks, broke the land and later improved it with good buildings. In 1894 he returned to Wisconsin, retiring on a pension and died August 2, 1914. His wife was born in Germany and came to America with her parents. The children of William and Minnie Marks were: Emma, now Mrs. Daniel Fitzsimons, of Marshall, Minn .; Herman, a farmer of Clifton township, Lyon county ; Fred- erick, a farmer of Bowbells, Ward county, North Dakota; Charles, a coal miner, in Illinois; Edward H .; Lena, deceased; Matilda, deceased; Arthur, a farmer in section 6, Westline township, this county; Minnie, wife of Henry Ludwig, a farmer of Westline township; Rosie wife of Hugh McCain, a farmer of Montana; and Frank, on the old farm in Clifton township, Lyon county. Ed- ward H. Marks attended the common school of his locality until 19 years of age. June 11, 1894, he enlisted in the Twelfth U. S. Regiment of infantry and did garrison duty at Fort Sully, South Dakota, and Niobrara, Neb. In 1898, at the beginning of the Spanish-American War, he went to Santiago, Cuba, with the Fifth Army Corps under General Shafter, and was engaged in the siege of Santiago and the battle, July 10 and 11. After remaining there until the close of the war, he was returned to Long Island, New York, and thence sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Then he was sent to Manila, Philippine Islands, where he remained two months, being honorably discharged there, June 10, 1899. He returned home to Marshall, Minn., and rented eighty acres of land in Clifton township for three years. Then he moved to West- line township and rented 320 acres in section 6 for six years. August, 1908, he bought 80 acres of improved land in section 30. Underwood township, to which he has since added 152 acres in section 31. He raises graded cattle and makes a specialty of shipping cattle and swine. Mr. Marks was married Dec. 10, 1902, to Emma Fligge, who was born Feb. 12, 1880, in Posen township, Yellow Medicine county this state, daughter of Frederick H., and Louise (Kecher) Fligge. The father, a native of Germany, is now a retired farmer of Marshall and owner of 240 acres of land in sections 3 and 10, Clifton township, Lyon county, Minn. His wife, Louise (Kecher) Fligge, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., died June 8, 1900 at the age of forty-two years. Their children were: Emma; John, a salesman at Minneapolis; William, a farmer of South Dakota; Clara; Frederick, farming the old homestead; Frank, with his brother William, in South Dakota; Alice, de- ceased, and Louise, a student at Hamline University. Mr. and Mrs. Marks have the following children: Laura, born July 17, 1904; Roy, March 7, 1907; Roger, Sept. 15, 1908; Grace, May 18, 1910; Alice, Dec. 2, 1911, and Bertha, July 11, 1914. The family faith is that of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
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OSCAR EXSTROM AND FAMILY
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L. Oscar Exstrom represents a splendid type of modern farmer. Coming here a poor boy from Sweden, he has worked his way, has educated himself, has studied the latest approved methods of farming and equipped himself with the latest forms of implements and machinery, and has become one of the leading men of his community, a man after whom the younger generations may well pattern. He was born in Sweden, September 27, 1854, the fifth child of Gord P. and Anna Exstrom, the other children in the family being Peter, who died in Sweden; Catherine, the wife of Jankletus Jacobson, of Sweden; Christina Cerafvia, of Sweden; Selma, of Sweden; Olaf, who died in 1903 at Pullman, Ill., and Anna, wife of John Johnson, of Florence, Wis. The subject of this sketch was reared in the old country, came to America in 1881, lived in Chicago for a while, and then secured employment in the machinery department of the Pullman car shops, Pullman, Ill. In 1886, while still in Illinois, he bought 80 acres of raw land in section 9, Underwood township, Redwood county. To this tract he came in 1891, but he at once sold out and bought 120 acres in section 7 in the same township. On this wild prairie he built a shack, planted groves and started to develop a farm. Since then his prosperity has kept pace with the years, and his shrewdness and hard work are everywhere apparent throughout his posses- sions. In 1905 and 1906 he erected a splendid set of buildings, and in 1909 built the present modern home. In 1915 he con- structed a fine stave silo, 16 by 30 feet, with a capacity of 120 tons. Mr. Exstrom carries on general farming and makes a specialty of Hereford cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine. The farm, which now consists of 462 acres, is a model one in every particular .. The barns are well kept and the house is surrounded with a beautiful lawn, decorated with flowers and shrubbery. An orchard of apple, plum and cherry trees enhances the value of the farm and the pleasure of the family. Although busy from morn till night with farm duties, Mr. Exstrom has taken interest in public affairs, and has done good service as a member of the township board and of the school board. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Exstrom was married February 7, 1885, in Pullman, Ill., to Mary Timgren, who was born May 4, 1862. After the death of the father, the mother, Christina (Hogren) Timgren, with her three children, Mary, August and Hjelmer, came to America in 1884 and located in Pullman, Ill. The mother now lives in Cotton- wood, Minn., while the brother, August, and his stepbrother, Hjelmer, are both farmers of Underwood township. Mr. and Mrs. Exstrom have eight children, Hulda, O. Henry, Alice, Frederick, Arthur, Mabel, Laura and Harry. Hulda was born November 11, 1885, and lives with her brothers, O. Henry and Frederick, in Mon- tana. O. Henry was born August 23, 1887, and farms in Montana. He married Sadie Wilson and they have one child, Alton. Alice,
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born June 25, 1890, is the wife of Oscar Pierson, of Minneapolis, and has two children, Floyd and Gordon. Fred was born July 17, 1892, and farms in Montana. Arthur, born May 11, 1895; Mabel, October 6, 1897; Laura, March 18, 1900, and Harry, September 16, 1902, all live at home. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church.
Peter Erickson, a well-known farmer of Underwood township, was born September 11, 1862, in Norway. In 1884 he came to Granite Falls, Minn., and worked as a farm hand and also worked with the railroad construction crew on the M. & St. L. railway at Echo and Windom. In 1895 he bought 160 acres of land in section 4, Underwood township, which he rented. In 1901 he moved onto this land, which had been broken. A few rude shacks had been put up, which were gradually replaced by better build- ings. He carries on general farming and has a fine orchard of apples, plums and small fruits. In 1913 he built a fine home of seven rooms. Mr. Erickson was married, October 14, 1891, to Betsy Erickson, a native of Norway, who died in 1898 at the age of 33 years. Her parents were Ole Erickson, now a farmer in Windom, Cottonwood county and his wife, Gurina (Broback) Erickson, who died in 1912 at the age of sixty-eight years. They had four children: Lars of Norway; Betsy, first wife of Peter Erickson; Gurina, and Lena, second wife of Mr. Erickson. By the first wife there were two children : Edwin, born May 30, 1891, and Clara, born August 20, 1895, both living at home; and by the second wife there were three children: Benjamin, born April 28, 1901; Gena, born May 16, 1904; and Pearl, born October 3, 1909.
Andrew C. Hansen, an industrious farmer of Underwood town- ship, was born June 6, 1870, in Denmark, son of Jens C. and Christina Hansen. Jens C. Hansen was born in Denmark and came to America in 1879, locating at Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, where he began working on the railroad. After two years he bought 80 acres of land in Brockway township, Stearns county, and in 1881 he moved to this land taking a shanty with him from Sleepy Eye. He broke the prairie land, set out a grove and engaged in farming. His health failing, he had to undergo many hardships and privations, but he remained happy and contented. As means permitted, improvements were made and buildings erected. He lived there until his death, May 1911, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife still lives on the old farm. Their children were: Christian, who died in 1900; Andrew C .; Peter, a farmer of Brown county; Robert, on the old farm in Stearns county; Adolph, on the old farm in Stearns county; Margaret, wife of Hendrick Newman, owner of a general store at Springfield, Minn .; Bertha, wife of Nels Nelson, a grain buyer of Milroy; Lydia, wife of Frank Peterson, a grain buyer of Saskatchewan,
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Canada; Lena, wife of Hans Rassmussen, a farmer of Brown county; and Laura, wife of Fred Caney, who is in the cement business at Sleepy Eye. Andrew C. remained at home a short time, herded cattle on the prairie, and then worked as a farm hand until 1895, when he came to Redwood county with an ox team. He bought 157 acres of partly improved land in section 35, Underwood township, and here he set to work to till the soil and found a home. The nearest market was at Marshall, which was also the nearest place at which he could obtain fuel in the winter time. Warm clothing was a luxury not to be indulged in and frozen feet were a common occurrence. By sacrifice and self- denial success became possible and as time passed he broke the balance of the land and erected suitable buildings from time to time. In addition to the usual farm machinery, he owns a thresh- ing outfit with a traction engine. He carries on general farming and raises good stock. Mr. Hansen was married at Sleepy Eye to Sena Hansen, who was born in 1870, daughter of Hans Hansen. Her father, born in 1839, and his wife, Mary Hansen, were both natives of Denmark. Hans Hansen came to America and home- steaded 160 acres in Brown county, to which he has since made ad . ditions, so that he now owns 320 acres of well improved land. They had the following children: Sena; Hannah, who died in 1907; Laurena, who died in 1905; Christina; John, a farmer of Brown county; Andrew, a farmer of Sundown township; and Charles, on the old home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew C. Hansen have the following children: Arthur, born January 28, 1897; Rudolph, born March 9, 1900; Edna, born July 1, 1902; and Elmer, born October 12, 1904. All are residing at home.
Anton Johnson, an enterprising young farmer of Underwood township, was born December 7, 1880, on the farm where he now lives, son of Henry and Carrie (Bertelsen) Johnson. The father, Henry Johnson, was born in Denmark in 1847. He left home at the age of sixteen, going to sea, where he remained several years; after which he came to America and enlisted in the United States army, serving three years, most of which time was spent in Wash- ington territory. In 1869 he came to Richwood, Becker county, Minn., and pre-empted 160 acres. Breaking land, he made some improvements; and after living there six years, sold it and in 1875 moved to Underwood township, Redwood county, Minn., where he homesteaded 160 acres and secured a tree claim of 80 acres in section 34. Here he set out a grove, built a house and barn and engaged in farming. He died Oct. 2, 1889. He was married July 20, 1874, to Carrie Bertelsen, who was born Dec. 22, 1855, in Denmark, and now makes her home with her son Anton. Her father, Madis Bertelsen, was born in Denmark in 1823 and came to America with his wife, Anna Dorothy (Nelson) Bertelsen, in 1863, locating in Columbus, Wis., where he worked as a farm hand
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for two years. Then he went to Dodge county, Minn., and rented a farm for two years. Next he went to Sleepy Eye, Minn., and in 1867 bought 80 acres in Eden township, Brown county, where he remained for five years. He next sold this and in 1872 came to Swedes Forest, Redwood county, where he bought 160 acres, to which he later added land until he had 280 acres. In 1880 he sold and moved to Underwood township, where he homesteaded 160 acres and secured a tree claim of 80 acres. Later he sold this and moved to Texas, where he bought 160 acres of land. After six years he sold out and came back to Underwood township, where he bought 200 acres in section 35 and lived there two years. He sold again and retired to Tracy, Minn., and after the death of his wife, in Tracy, he returned to Denmark, where he died in 1907. The children of Henry and Carrie Johnson are: Nels, now a farmer of Canada; Johanna M. C., now Mrs. A. Culver, of Inter- national Falls, Minn .; Anton; Anna, who died June 21, 1909, at the age of twenty seven; Hans, a farmer of Westline township; Matilda, wife of Henry Kremin, of Underwood township; and Henrietta who died April 25, 1910. Anton Johnson attended the common school of his neighborhood and grew to manhood on the home farm. In 1900 the buildings on his farm were destroyed by fire and were replaced by modern structures. He now owns the home farm of 160 acres in section 34 and follows general diversi- filed farming. He also owns stock in the Farmers' Elevator of Milroy.
Mr. Johnson was married January 10, 1910, to Mary Dirn- berger, born March 22, 1890, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hoff- man) Dirnberger. Her father, Joseph, was born in Germany and came to America, locating in Sleepy Eye, Minn., where he worked in a flour mill for some time. Then he rented a farm in Brown county. In 1898 he moved to Redwood county, where he bought 160 acres of land in Granite Rock township. Selling this in 1905, he bought 80 acres in Vesta township, which he also sold, and in 1913 rented the farm of Jos. Troske of Vail township, where he now lives. His wife died in 1892. Their children were: Joseph, now a farmer in Westline township; and Mary, wife of Anton Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child, Lester, born December 2, 1910. They are affiliated religiously with the Lutheran church.
Herman Kremin, a progressive farmer of Underwood township, was born in Germany August 24, 1871, son of William Kremin, born September 2, 1835, and his wife, Augusta (Kalone) Kremin, born May 3, 1843, both natives of Germany. They were married in Germany November 25, 1863, and came to America in 1884, located first at New Ulm, Minn., and then bought 104 acres of land in section 9, Eden township, Brown county, which Mr. Kremin im- proved and farmed until 1902 when he sold and moved to Red-
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MR. AND MRS. HERMAN KREMIN AND DAUGHTER
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wood county. With his son Herman he bought 640 acres of partly improved land in section 20, Underwood township. There were the following children : Alvena, now deceased; Gustave, a farmer in section 17, Underwood township; Emil, a farmer in section 20, Underwood township; Amanda, deceased; Herman; Theodore, deceased; Augusta, wife of Herman Penke, a farmer of Renville county ; Hulda, wife of J. S. Johnson, a hardware dealer in Lidger- wood, North Dakota; Emma, wife of Ed Grunert, a farmer of Ren- ville county; Ida, wife of August Jens, a farmer of Renville county; William, a farmer on section 20, Underwood township, who died July 28, 1915, and Henry, a farmer in section 20, Under- . wood township. Herman grew up on the home farm in Eden towu- ship and in 1893 bought.120 acres in section 19, that township, where he farmed until 1902. He then came, with his father, to Underwood township, Redwood county, and bought land in sec- tion 20. In 1903 the land was divided, his father taking the north half of section 20, where he still lives, and Herman taking the southeast half, and Emil the southwest quarter. The farm was well improved when he took it and he has made many other improve- ments upon it. The buildings were destroyed by fire and have been replaced by larger and more modern structures. A fine grove and orchard have also been added. He has served on the town- ship board for a period of four years and on the school board for the past eight years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Milroy.
Mr. Kremin was married May 8, 1899, to Augusta Marotzke. She was born December 11, 1872, in Germany and came to America in 1897 with her brother Julius and sister Willimena, who is now the wife of H. Ott, a farmer in Morgan, Redwood county. Mr. and Mrs. Kremin have one child, Martha B., born October 14, 1900, who is studying music at the Bethany Ladies' College at Mankato.
Peter Scott, a modern farmer of Underwood township, was born December 2, 1867, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, of Danish parentage. His father, Hans Scott, came to America in 1884 and located in Redwood county, Minnesota, buying 80 acres of par- tially improved land in section 28, Underwood township. He erected good buildings and lived there until his death December 14, 1913, at the age of 80 years. He was married in Germany to Mary Gaasvig, who died in 1872 at the age of 33 years. Their children were Peter and Jens, who now farm 160 acres in sec- tion 27. Peter Scott came to America in 1883 and located near Marshall, Minn., where he worked as a farm hand until 1892. Then he bought 80 acres of railroad land in section 29, Underwood township. It was wild prairie, which he broke, and here he planted a grove and built a house, 16x24 feet, and a barn, 28x44 feet, also setting out an orchard of apple trees. He served as deputy sheriff of Redwood county for two years and was
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