USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 38
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Hugh Carrigan, a prominent and estimable citizen of Boon Lake township, was born in Hoosie Falls, Bennington county; Vermont. March 6, 1850, son of Michael and Mary (Goodman) Carrigan. At the age of four years he was brought to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and there attended school until fourteen years of age. Then with his mother he came to Houston county, this state, and worked out on various farms until 1868. Then he rented a farm for two years. In 1870 he came to Renville county and homesteaded 160 acres in sections 22 and 27. With him eame his mother. and his brothers, Owen, John and Michael. The Jand when he secured it was all wild. He broke the land, erected a shanty and endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life. Twice their crops were destroyed by grasshoppers and twice by hail. From time to time he added to his farm, until he had 320 aeres. He built a good home and outbuildings, and became one of the leading men of the community. There he continued to work and prosper until 1912, when he sold out and retired. The place is now owned by his sons. He was town supervisor and road overseer and served for some sixteen years on the school board of his district. For many years he served as director of the Boon Lake Creamery, which he helped to organize.
Mr. Carrigan was married May 5, 1872, to Mary MeLaughlin, of Houston county, who was born February 22, 1851, and died July 5,.1910. This union was blessed with nine children : William J., Harry H., Michael A., and Edward, who are farmers in Boon Lake township; Charles, who is principal of schools at Dinuba, California ; Mary, who is twin sister to Charles, is the wife of William Fallon, also a farmer in that township: John, likewise a farmer nearby: Ellen, wife of A. C. Michaelson, of Mankato: Francis, died at the age of eighteen months.
Michael Carrigan and his wife, Mary Goodman, were born in Ireland, and were married in Vermont. In 1854 they located in Walworth county, Wis., where Michael Carrigan died the same year. His wife came to Minnesota, and died at the age of eighty- one years. In the family there were eight children: JJames, who was killed in the Union army: William, who died at the age of seventeen years; Mary, who died at the age of four years ; Ellen, who died in 1909: Owen, who died in 1897; Hugh. who is living in Boon Lake township; John, who lives in Oregon; and Michael, who lives in Hutchinson.
Edward James Carrigan was born August 31, 1877, on the homestead of his father. Ilugh Carrigan. He attended the dis- triet school of his locality and high school at Hutchinson, later engaging in farming near Brainerd. Next he was employed for two years on the county dredge work and five years were spent in Hutchinson on the police foree. In 1914 he rented a larm in Boon Lake township, where he is still living. He is a progressive
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farmer and raises good stock. Mr. Carrigan was married October 6, 1903, to Mary Fischer, born December 20, 1887, in Janesville, Minnesota, daughter of Max and Anna (Stoiber) Fischer, natives of Germany, who were there married, came to the United States in 1885 with one chill, Rosa, located on a farm in Waseca county, Minnesota, and in 1900 came to Renville county and bought a tract of 160 acres of land, where the father died in 1907 at the age of forty-eight years. The following children were born in Minnesota : Katie (deceased). Hannah, Anna, Mary, Josie, Clara, Max. John, George. Edward, Walter and Kenneth. Mr. and Mrs. Carrigan have had six children : Irene, Veronica. George, Eugene, Leonard and Lucille (deceased). The Family Faith is that of the Roman Catholic church.
Owen Carrigan, deceased, a pioneer of Boon Lake township, was born in Vermont in 1848. He moved with parents to Wal- worth county, Wiseonsin, in 1855, and remained there until 1863, when he removed to Houston county, Minnesota. He was engaged in farming and railroading until 1870, when he came to Boon Lake. Ile served as assessor. supervisor and county commis- sioner. He was married in 1879 to Minnie Buce, who was cap- tured by the Indians when a child. Her parents and four chil- dren were killed by the Indians in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Carrigan had six children : Ellen, JJames, Owen, Pauline. Daisy and Ernest, who chied at the age of six months. Mrs. Carrigan's own story is told at length elsewhere in this work. Historians are indebted to her for much intimate knowledge regarding the events of those stirring times.
Michael Carrigan, son of Hugh Carrigan, was born September 9, 1875, in Boon Lake township. Ile attended the district school and spent one and a half years at the Hutchinson lligh school. Then he engaged in farming, living for two years in Oseeola township, Renville county, and then locating on his present place in section 27. Boon Lake township, where he purchased eighty aeres of land. The farm was partly improved at the time of the purchase and he has since erected good buiklings and de- veloped the farm. Mr. Carrigan has just been elected township overseer under the Dun law. His is the second office of the kind, his brother Henry holding the first office. Mr. Carrigan was married in 1897 to Nettie Brathwaite, born in Chatfield, Min. They have had eight children : Dewey, Hugh, Mabel, Edna, Ellen, Elmer, Leona, Miland, and Edith (deceased). The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church.
Harry Carrigan, a farmer of Boon Lake township, was born April 11, 1873, on seetion 22, Boon Lake township, and with the exception of five years has spent his life in the county. Hle received his education in the district school and at Hutchinson, later engaging in Farming. At first he rented the farm of Minnie
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(Bruce) Carrigan, section 22, where he farmed for one year. Then he went to Wisconsin and lived there about five years, coming back to Renville county and renting a farm in section 28 for about eight years. In 1914 he purchased his present place of 140 aeres. Boon Lake township. Ile is interested in the prog- ress of the farmer and in co-operative movements. He is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Carrigan was married in 1900 to Gertrude Spencer, born in Wright county, November 31, 1881, daughter of John and Margaret (Dogget) Spencer. John Spencer was a native of Maine and his wife, of New York. Ite was of Irish parentage and she of Irish and German parentage, her mother of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Carrigan have six children : Bernice, Georgiana, Esther, Clifton, Vernon and Cor- rine.
William J. Carrigan, son of Hugh Carrigan, was born in Boon Lake township, March 17, 1873. Ile attended the district schools of the county and spent three years at the Hutchinson High school. He then engaged in farming with his father until 1896, when he decided to work for himself and bought eighty acres in section 27. Here he erected a home and necessary buildings and made many improvements. He has since added eighty aeres to his farm and carries on diversified farming. He is interested in farmers' associations and is a stockholder in the Boon Lake Co-operative Creamery and shareholder in the Farmers' Elevator at Buffalo Lake. Mr. Carrigan has also been a prominent factor in the affairs of the community both politically and education- ally, and served as assessor for eight years from 1906 to 1914, and is now one of the deputy sheriff's, serving his third term. He has been director of school district 120 for the last fifteen years. llis faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Carrigan was married May 5, 1896, to Leah Funk, of Boon Lake, born January 31, 1878. daughter of Samuel and Jane (Kniver) Funk, early settlers of Boon Lake, now living at Weyerhauser, Wis. The children born to these parents are: Franeis, born May 15, 1898; Mildred, born June 2, 1901; Charles, born June 2, 1903; Robert, born January 19, 1905; Donglas, born April 21, 1908: Lenora, born April 28, 1910, and Clarice, born November 18, 1911.
John H. Carrigan, son of Hugh Carrigan, was born in Boon Lake township on the farm where he now lives, October 27, 1881. Ile received his early education at the district school and engaged in Farming at home until 1907. when he became manager of the home farm. After two years he rented the Potter farm and remained there four years. In 1912 he bought 160 acres, a part of the home farm, and has lived there ever since. He has become a successful farmer, carrying on diversified farming, and has made many improvements on his farm. June 26, 1906. he was
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married to Mabel Braithwaite, who was born Dee. 6. 1880. They have the following children: Mary Ruth, born April 27, 1907; Clifford John, born December 23, 1909; Sarah Catherine. born September 12, 1911: Agnes Genevieve, born May 11. 1913. The family are all members of the Roman Catholic church.
William Kurth, one of the successful farmers of Boon Lake township, was born in Pomerania, Germany, January 22, 1852, son of Gotlieb and Caroline (Raether) Kurth, farmers, who lived and died in Germany, the father dying at the age of seventy- five years and the mother at the age of seventy years. In the family there were ten children, four of whom came to the United States, namely : William, Herman, Caroline and Wilhelmina. William and Wilhelmina left Germany in 1873 coming by steamer to New York, from which eity they set out for Buffalo, New York, where they had friends. William remained at Buffalo for five months, where he worked at whatever he could find, and then went to the state of Illinois, where he worked on the farms for two and a half years. Then he came to Minnesota. Ile secured a piece of land of 160 acres in section 2, Boon Lake township, on which a small shanty had been erected, and with a yoke of oxen, a new wagon, and two cows, he and his bride began farming. They met with many adversities the first three years. The first two years the crops were destroyed by the grasshoppers and the third year the crop raised from the seeds given by the county, harvested more straw than grain, and had to be sold at 35 cents per bushel. After selling his cow Mr. Kurth had $100 for three years of hard work. Then he rented the farm where he is now living. Ile had a fair erop the first year and was offered the place on time, a young steer being taken in part payment. Ile was charged $120 for the improve- ments already made. He built a log house, 16 by 24 feet, and made a rude barn from crotch sticks with a straw rooľ. The nearest market was at Hutchinson. Ile used the oxen for a short time and then bought a pair of eolts. In time he added 546 acres more to his farm and built modern buildings on the place. He now carries on general farming and raises a good grade of stock. Mr. Kurth is a member of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company of Hutchinson. He is the treasurer and has been a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Lake Side Creamery. Ile has held township offices for thirty years and has been the chairman of the board of supervisors, and a member of the school board for nineteen years, having helped organize the school district. He helped organize the Lutheran church at Cedar Mills and has been treasurer for twenty years. Mr. Kurth was married Feb- ruary 19, 1876, to Augusta Knack, born in Pomerania, Germany, August 10, 1853, daughter of William and Caroline Knack, who came to America with their family in 1872. Nine children were
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born to Mr. and Mrs. Kurth: Matilda, Amelia, Henry, Paul, William, August, Otto, Helmuth and Rudolph.
William Adolph Nelson, a farmer of Boon Lake township, was born in Sweden, October 4, 1867, son of Nels Alfred Carlson and Clara Louisa Carlson, deriving his surname from his father's Christian name, Nels. His parents were farmers in Sweden; his father died there in 1882 at the age of forty years and his mother is still living at the age of seventy-five years. There were twelve children. six boys and six girls: John, Ililda. Charles, Claus, Emil, William, Algot, Anna, Louise, Emily, Alma and Hiha. With the exception of Hilda, Emil (deceased) and Alma, all eame to this eountry. William was the first of the family to leave Sweden. He had received his education at the public school there and had engaged in farming. In 1885 he and a friend came to Nieollet county, Minnesota, where he farmed abont two years. In 1887 he came to Renville county and worked for Darwin S. Hall. With the exception of three years spent in Minneapolis he worked for Mr. Hall until 1897, when he mar- ried and went to Minneapolis. After a year and a half he re- turned to Renville county and worked for Mr. Hall again, re- maining with him for two years. Then he started for himself and rented a farm in section 3], Boon Lake township, where he lived for twelve years, next moving to his present place, the old II. D. Boorman farm, in section 34, Boon Lake township. lle raises a good grade of stoek, specializing in Holstein cattle. He is a member of the Buffalo Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company. Ilis faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church of Preston Lake township. Mr. Nelson was united in marriage January 30. 1897, to Hilma Carlson, born in Sweden, March 22, 1875, daughter of Andrew and Johanna M. (Abrahamson) Carl- son. Andrew Carlson came to the United States in 1880 and lo- cated in Carver county, now living in the village of Carver at the age of 64. His wife died in 1884 at the age of forty-five years. Four children were born to this marriage: Ifilma, Gusta, Hilda and Esther. Mr. Carlson married again to Mary Ost, three chil- dren being born to this marriage: William. Anna and Nellie. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have eight children, all living at home : Clara, Edith, Lloyd, Emery. Elliot. Ruth, Harvey and Glenn.
John H. Runke, a successful farmer of Boon Lake township, was born September 5, 1856. in Pomerania. Germany, son of Fred and Sophia (Block) Runke, both natives of Germany. Fred Runke was the son of Ferdinand Runke, who had the following children : Fred. Ferdinand, Sophia, Wilhelmina and Gusta. Sophia Block was one of five children. Fred and Sophia Runke were the only ones of their parents' families who came to the United States. Fred Rimke and his wife had seven children: William, August. Ferdinand, John, Emelia, Alvira and Albert.
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William was the first to come to the United States. coming in 1870, by sailing vessel. Ile came to Dodge county, Wisconsin, August, his brother, coming the next year. Then the father and mother came with the rest of the family in 1873, coming to Wis- consin. They. too, came by sailing vessel, being five weeks on the sea. Ilere the family engaged in farming. The father died the following year, in 1874, at the age of fifty-six years. Ile was a member of the German Lutheran church. The next year the widow came with the son, William, to Meeker county, Minne- sota. She died at the home of her son John, in Renville county, February 4, 1904, at the age of seventy-two years. John I. Runke was educated in the schools of Germany and at about the age of fifteen years came to Wisconsin. He had to earn money to pay his passage over and at $5.00 a month thought he could not afford to continue his school work in America. It was three years before he could have a store suit. Hle came to Renville county in 1881 and located on 112 acres in section 4, Boon Lake township. It was partly broken, but had no buildings. John stayed here two years with his brother August. who lived near, while he improved the place, built a small frame house, 14 by 18 feet, erected a straw shed and bought a yoke of oxen. After his marriage he moved into the 14 by 18 building and lived there abont ten years. He built an addition to the house and built a log barn and rude shed for more stock. He also built a good granary and windmill. During the next few years he added 347 acres of land to his farm and bought a house and two lots in Hutchinson and later two acres more of lots in Hutech- inson. Then he moved on the Mooney farm, renting his old place. For five years he had from 900 to 1,000 aeres under cul- tivation. He had built a log house on section 8, also a granary and horse barn and is living there now. He has built a modern house of eleven rooms, 32 by 42, and also a new horse barn and a windmill. Ile raises full blooded Holstein cattle. Percheron horses and fine hogs. He is a member of the Hutchinson Farm- ers' Co-operative Elevator Company, a director of the Lake Side Creamery Company, which he helped organize, and also a di- rector of the Coma Creamery, which he also helped organize. Mr. Runke has held various township offices, having been a super- visor and road overseer from the very first years and township treasurer for about eight years. He has been a member of the school board and is at present the clerk, and helped organize the district No. 122. Hle is a member of the German Lutheran church and helped organize and build the church at Cedar Mills, Meeker county, of which he was a trustee for six years. Mr. Runke was married September 15, 1884, to Matilda Schamndt, born in Illinois, March 14, 1867, daughter of Martin and Louise (Ronke) Schanmidt. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Runke have had the
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following children : Louisa (deceased ), Reinhold, Leta, Matilda, Linda, Henry, Arnold, Ida and Elsie.
Martin Schamndt, a pioneer, was born in West Prussia, Ger- many, and there married Mrs. Louise (Ronke) Litzeo, also a native of West Prussia. In 1864 they, with their three children, Alvina, Hermina and Amelia, started for the United States, reaching New York, where they remained about one year and then came to Illinois, where Mr. Sehamndt worked out on the farms until 1868. A boy, Henry, was born in Ilinois. Then they eame to MeLeod county, Minnesota, where Mr. Schamndt worked by the day for a year. Ile next secured a homestead on section 4, in Boon Lake township, bought a yoke of oxen, "Bright and Brindle," and began farming. A rude shelter was constructed of eroth sticks and covered with marsh hay. They were greatly troubled by the mosquitoes and the mother often sat up all night keeping the mosquitoes off from the children. The first wagon was made from the logs with wheels out from the large trees. The nearest market was at Dassel, the trip taking three days, and Mr. Sehamndt lost his way in the snowstorms several times. His wife spun yarn from the wool of their own sheep and made clothing for the family. The rude summer home was replaced by a dugout for the winter, with long grass for a roof, after- wards replaced by a cambrie cloth roof, with a clay chimney. The barn was a rude straw shed. Here they lived and prospered, in time adding 60 acres more to their farm and setting out groves of trees. Two more children were born in Boon Lake town- ship, Ida and Rudolph. Mr. Sehamndt deeded 100 aeres of his land to Rudolph and erected buildings on the remaining 60 acres, later adding 80 acres more. Mrs. Schamndt died in 1881 at the age of fifty-six years and Mr. Schamndt married Bertha Keafear, a widow of William Schmachel, by whom she had four children : Henrietta, Wilhelmina, Emil and Walter. By her marriage to Mr. Schamndt there were born two children, Fred and Anna. Fred still lives on the home place, and his mother lives with him. Martin Schamndt died at the age of seventy- two years in 1908. Henry Schamndt was killed in an accident in 1890 at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a wife and two children. Ida Schamndt died from the effects of burns in 1882 at the age of eleven years. Wilhelmina, the stepsister, also died in 1890, leaving a husband and six children.
Peter Nestande was born in Norway, February 17. 1850, son of Peter Nestande, a farmer in Norway, who died in 1857 at the age of fifty and his wife, Mary (Olson) Nestande, who was born in 1812, died in 1896. The subject of this sketch came to Amer- ica in 1870 and for five years was employed as farm hand. Then for five years he lived on school land in section 16, in Bandon township, this county, and in 1880 homesteaded in seetion 2. Ban-
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don township, where he still resides. Ile has been industrious and has increased his holdings so that now he owns 240 aeres of land. He has served as township treasurer For three years, school treasurer for twenty years and is a stockholder in the co-operative elevator, the creamery. the co-operative store and the First National Bank, all of Fairfax. He is a member of the Norwegian Intheran church. Mr. Nestande was married Jan- ary 8, 1876. to Inger Karena Iloimyr, who died in 1896, at the age of thirty-six. Ten children were born: Matilda, wife of John Delin, of St. Paul. Min .; Annie, widow of Joseph Mundahl, of St. Panl ; Peter P., a miner in the Black Hills, South Dakota : Elsie, wife of Daniel Matson, of St. Paul; Marit Josephine, wife of Edwin Jacobsen, of Washington; Inga, wife of Andrew Mum- dahl. of St. Paul; Olga, Palma, Emma, all living at St. Paul : and Ehner, at home.
Ole E. Kelly, a well known farmer of Bandon township, was born in Norway, September 1, 1856, son of Erland and Jorend (Nestegaard) Kelly. The father was born May 10. 1810, and came to America in 1868 with his son, Mathias, settling on see- tion 30, in Bandon township, where he lived until his death, Jan- nary 15, 1900. The mother was born JJanuary 1, 1814, and died in January, 1901. Ole Kelly came to America with his parents and worked out from the age of fourteen until he was twenty- seven years of age. Then he bought 80 aeres in section 30, Bandon township, where he still lives, now owning 440 acres. The first house on his farm was built of hewn logs, 16 by 24, and his farming outfit consisted of a yoke of oxen. Mr. Kelly has now a very fine improved farm and has built a large barn, 32 by 90, and tile silo with a capacity of 180 tons. He makes a spe- cialty of raising Hereford cattle and Duroe swine. He has been prominent in public affairs and has served on the township board for four years. He has also been treasurer of the school district for ten years. Ile is stockholder in the mill and the State Bank at Franklin and is a member of the Hange's Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Kelly was married March 9, 1883, to Annie Gunder- son, daughter of Gunder and Annie Gunderson. Mrs. Annie (Gunderson) Kelly died Mareh 1, 1897, at the age of thirty-two, leaving three children: Edward, born November 24, 1886, now manager of the home farm; Gilbert, born October 16, 1888; and Olaf. born December 21, 1893, who is attending the Red Wing Seminary, at Red Wing, Minn. Mr. Kelly was married a second time on October 28, 1900, to Ellen Hanson, widow of William Hanson, a farmer of Camp township. She was born February 14, 1861, and by her first marriage had one child, Minnie, born Sep- tember 28, 1894.
Nels H. Strom, a prosperous farmer of Bandon township, was born in Norway, July 2, 1832, and came to America in 1863. Ile
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lived at Mankato one year, working on the railroad, and, in 1864 homesteaded in seetion 26, Bandon township, where he still lives. The first house was built of logs. By dint of hard work and industry he has now a fine and well improved Farm. Ile is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and is a stock- holder in the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator C'o., of Fairfax. In 1864 he was united in marriage to Mary Linrud, born August, 1840, who died October 9, 1903. The following children were born: Hans. born February 14, 1871; Albert, of North Dakota, born December 26, 1872; Carl, born December 17, 1874, a farmer in Camp township: Ole, born January 11. 1877. now manager of the home farm; Matilda, born November 4, 1880, at home; and Henry, born May 4, 1882, at home.
Jonas Brandjord was born on section 32, Bandon township, March 13, 1886, son of Iver and Oleve Schgei. The father was born in Norway, in 1837, and came to America in 1866, living in Fillmore county two years and then homesteading 80 aeres in the east half of the northeast quarter of seetion 32, Bandon town- ship, where he remained until March 7, 1911, when he removed to Franklin, and died there July 24, 1911. Jonas remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1908 he took a homestead of 160 acres in Billings county. North Dakota, where he remained about one year, and then sold out. Next he engaged in a wholesale grocery house at Duluth for about one year and later worked for the Minneapolis Milk Co. for about two years. On January 1, 1911, he rented the home farm and is still living there. Ile is a stockholder in the Franklin Farmers' Elevator Company, at Franklin. Mr. Brandjord was married JJune 4, 1909, in Minneapolis to Alma Anderson, born October 5, 1882. daugh- ter of Gustav and Helen (Hloimyr) Anderson. Her father was born in Sweden and became a farmer in Bandon township. Her mother died December 18, 1896. at the age of thirty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Brandjord have the following children: Harriet Olivien. born October 24. 1910: Gloyd Hlert, born December 15, 1911, and Evelyn Ordis, born April 21. 1914.
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