USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 43
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Peter P. Olson, a successful farmer of Renville county, was born in Norway August 5, 1860, son of Peter and Christine (Angestian) Olson, who left Norway in 1864 with their children : Ole. Carrie, Samuel, Christian, Andrew, Peter and Henry. Three children had died in Norway. They were thirteen weeks on the ocean, landing at Quebec and going from there by way of the great lakes to St. Paul, and from there by ox team to St. Peter. Here they remained for some time, the father working at St. Peter until in 1869, when they moved to Renville county. They drove by ox team and brought with them twenty head of cattle. On the way Henry died and was buried in the woods. They located on section 10, south Sacred Heart township, securing a homestead of eighty acres. There were no buildings on it. Mr. Olson had visited and located this homestead the summer before and had made a rnde dug-out, with a grond flour and a sod roof, about 20 by 16 Feet. During that first winter three families lived together in this dug-out. The nearest markets were New Ulm and St. Peter, and one winter they had to grind their own wheat. Their tea was made from the prairie tea plant. Storms were very frequent and caused much damage. Once when Mr. Olson was gone to the mill a storm came up and he lost his way and his family were without any food until he found his way back. As time passed groves were set out and the dog-out was replaced by
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a substantial log house. Meetings were often held in this house before there were any churches. Mr. Olson was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Ile died in 1901 at the age of seventy-eight years and his wife died in 1894 at the age of seventy- two years. Peter Olson grew up on the home farm and helped his father. Ile improved the old homestead and increased the farm to 400 aeres, erecting a frame house and good barns. Then he sold this place and bought 140 aeres in section 6, Emmet township. Ile also owns a tract of 160 aeres in Sacred Heart township and carries on general farming, specializing in stock. Ile has held several township offices, having been justice of peace, constable, assessor and a member of the school board, being one of the organizers of distriet No. 15. Mr. Olson was married December 19, 1881, to Laura A. Olson, born April 13. 1861, in Norway, being brought to America when she was one year old. Her father, Lars Olson, first located at St. Peter and later moved to Kandiyohi county. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Olson have had nine children : Alice, now Mrs. A. II. Lind; Andrew, of Waseca, county agent, teaching agriculture ; Elwin at Jasper, Minnesota, a dentist ; Elizabeth, a school teacher: Edgar and Edna, twins; Ester, Hazel and one child who died in infancy.
John M. Blad, deceased, was born in Sweden July 26, 1833, third of the nine children of Isaac and Gustava Stark. Ile chose the name John Magnus Blad when he became a soklier, in which service he remained eighteen years. lle was married in 1857 to Lena Peterson, born November 22, 1836. In 1870 he came to America, landing at New York. He went to Michigan, where he worked in the lumber camps and the following spring came to Mankato, Minnesota. Then he came to Renville county and located a homestead of eighty aeres in section 22, Palmyra town- ship. Hle dung a cellar five or six feet deep and covered the top with poles, sod and hay. As he had no money and tools to carry on farming he went to Dakota and worked on the railroad until he earned enough to buy a pair of oxen and wagon and passage for his wife and children to come to America. JJust before Christ- mas 1871 the family joined him at Mankato. The following May they moved into the dug-out on the homestead. In 1873 he exchanged one of the oxen for a cow and then the ox team was used in partnership with the former owner of the cow. Wheat was often ground in the coffee mill and bread was baked from the " millings, " or it was mixed with wheat for coffee. The mill was at Peter Latis and old Mr. Reky was the miller. Mr. Blad's first lamp was a four ounee bottle of oil with a hole in the cork over which was placed a round piece of tin through which a piece of grocery thread was run For a wiek. This was considered a very brilliant light in those days. For four years his crops were destroyed by the grasshoppers and he suffered many other hard-
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ships of the early settler. Undaunted, however, he continued to till the soil and improve his land and enlarged his farm to 560 acres, on which he conducted general farming and raised fine horses and eattle. In the early days be built a log house in section 22 near the original place where he settled and later built a frame buikling across the road in section 23, which has been replaced by a modern house. The barn was erected by his son Gustav. Mr. Blad held the office of township supervisor and helped organize the school district of his neighborhood, being a member of the school board. Ile was one of the organizers of the Swedish Mis- sion church and served on the board of trustees. Mr. Blad died December 21. 1914, near the village of Hector, where he had retired to spend the remainder of his days. His wife died February 6, 1897. They had the following children: Gustave, August, Elma. Charlotte R .. Emelia and two who died in infancy. Two acres of the farm were donated to the Mission church, on which the present church was built and a cemetery laid out.
Gustave Blad, who has charge of 160 acres of his father's farm in Palmyra township, and owns 200 acres, was born in Sweden, September 22, 1863, son of lohn Magnus and Lena (Peterson) Blad. ITe came to America in 1871, was reared on his father's farm, and has become a well-known citizen. He is a director of the Farmer's Elevator Company and a stockholler in the Tele- phone Company and the Farmers' Insurance Company, of Palmyra. Mr. Blad takes great pride in his live stock, having Holstein cattle and Duroe-Jersey hogs, and is a member of the Swine Breeders' Association. On July 4. 1896, Mr. Blad married Alna Strom, born in Cornish township, Sibley county, Minnesota. in the sod house of her pioneer parents, Bengt and Inga Strom, natives of Sweden, where they were married. Bengt Strom came to America in 1869 and was joined by his wife and three children in 1870. The family came to Cornish township, Sibley county. where they located a homestead. A sod house was built and farming begun with a team of oxen. After some years on this homestead they retired from farming and went to Lafayette village, Nicollet county. Mr. Strom was born August 31. 1839, and his wife was born March 30, 1838. There were eight chil- dren in the family : John, Henry, William. Alma, Carl, Jennie, and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Blad have two children : Bennett and Paul M.
Elias Martin Ericson, proprietor of the "White Star Farm." was born in Norway January 28, 1854, son of Ole and Olia Erieson. Ole Erieson left Norway in 1867 by sailing vessel and arrived in the United States after a voyage of four weeks. Ile went to lowa and there the rest of the family, the mother and two children, Elias and Oleana, joined him the next year. They also came by sailing vessel, being seven weeks on the trip.
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Mr. Erieson rented a farm for two years and then he purchased some land. He came to Minnesota in 1872 with a team of oxen and covered wagon, and seeured a pre-emption claim of 160 aeres in Palmyra township, where he built a slab shanty about twelve feet square. In the fall he built a sod shanty having two rooms. He dug down about a foot, put in a board floor, then built up the shack with poles and sod, whitewashed it with ashes, put on a hay roof and lined the structure with newspapers, thus making it warm and comfortable. With the help of a yoke of oxen he broke the land and started farming. He underwent all the experiences of pioneer life. His milling places were at Beaver Falls and Redwood Falls. After a while he rented ont and later sold this farm and decided to seek another locality. He moved to Hector, entered the hardware business in 1889 and continued in that business until his death in 1892, at the age of sixty-two years. His. wife died January, 1911, at the age of seventy-seven years. Ole Ericson served as assessor at Palmyra for a number of years and was postmaster, the postoffice being at his farm. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Elias Ericson received a limited edueation and grew to manhood in Renville county. Ile obtained a homestead of eighty acres of wild land, but remained at home one year more before beginning on his own place. On his homestead he built a sod house, which is located across the road from where he now lives, and began farming with a team of oxen. Later he bought a horse and fixed up a cart with two wheels and a spring seat. As time passed he built a frame house 14 by 16 feet, which is part of the present house erected in 1882. He now has 280 acres of land and has built a fine barn and silo. The house, baru and silo are furnished with running water. Mr. Ericson raises . Jersey cows. Duroe-Jersey hogs and Belgian horses. He is presi- dent of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Hector. He has held the office of township clerk for sixteen years, was a member of the school board and helped organize distriet 86. Ile is a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church and has been its trustee and treasurer. October 29, 1876, Mr. Erieson was married to Ella Gerald, born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Angust 7, 1858, daughter of Svend and Brythea Gerald, born and married in Norway. They left for America in 1857 with the following chil- dren : Christine, Ragna, Iver, Lars. Two children had died in Norway. Julia had come the year before, coming to Wisconsin and later. in 1872, to Renville county. The mother died in Wis- consin at the age of forty and the father moved to Renville county in 1872. locating in Palmyra township. section 12, where he seeured a pre-emption claim. He made his home there until 1876 and then he lived with Elias Ericson until his death at the age of seventy-five years in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Erieson have
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had the following children: Blanche (deceased at the age of twenty-five). a teacher: Agnes, dairy chemist : Alfred, manager of the telephone exchange of Hector: Elmer, Laura and Edith. Alfred married Mabel Grover and they have two children, Harold L. and Ruth Mildred.
Robert Wiehr, a leading farmer of Camp township, was born in Germany. June 8, 1855, son of Albert and Wilhelmina Gerts- mann) Wiehr. The father came to America in 1869, bought the northwest quarter of section 13, Camp township, within the Ft. Ridgely reservation. Hle erected a log house. 14 hy 18, and did his farming with the assistance of a yoke of oxen. Being a cooper by trade he made barrels, tubs and pails for his neigh- bors, and carried on quite a flourishing trade in butter firkins, which he sold in New Ulm. For several years the wheat on the farm was out with a cradle. In 1890 Albert Wiehr took up his home with his daughter. Mrs. Ilerman Reetz, of Brown county. Then he lived with his son, Robert, until his death in 1907. at the age of eighty-two. His wife died in 1888 at the age of sixty-five. Robert Wiehr remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of age. Then he bought the southwest quarter of section 13, Camp township. In 1892 he moved back to the home place. Ile has a well-improved farm of 320 acres and carries on general farming and stock raising. He has taken his part in the affairs of the community, and has served as town supervisor eighteen years and as school elerk thirty years. Mr. Wiehr was married November 23, 1882. to Annie Alke, who was born November 9, 1859. daughter of Anton and Dorothy (Liskey) Alke. The father came to America in 1855, lived in Cleveland, Ohio, a few years, then took up his residence in Carver county. this state, until : 1869, and thence went to Yellow Medicine county. this state, where he lived until his death in 1897, at the age of eighty-seven. The mothed died in 1898 at the age of eighty-five. Mr. and Mrs. ' Wiehr have eight children: Albert, born October 8, 1883, a farmer in Camp township: Louis H .. born November 5, 1885, a farmer in Yellow Medicine county: Robert A., born March 10. 1887; Julius J., born March 15, 1889: William, born October 15, 1892: Dorothy, born March 13, 1895; Annie, born Jnne 2. 1898. and Richard, born November 30, 1901.
Christian Rockmann, one of the prosperous farmers of Brook- field township, was born August 7, 1852, in Prussia, Germany, son of Christian and Christina ( Wuhlbrand ) Roekmann, who lived and died as farmers in that country. There were nine chil- dren, of whom seven grew up to manhood and womanhood : Marie, Henry, Christine. Christian, August, Caroline and Sophie. "The father lived to the age of sixty-two years and the mother lived to the age of eighty-three years. Christian was the first of the family to leave for the United States. He and Caroline, who
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came with her husband, William Wehking, were the only ones of the children to come to this country. Christian left Germany in the fall of 1872 and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he fol- lowed his trade as a carpenter for four years. During this period he married and had one child. Hard times eame on and finding himself out of employment he left his wife and child in Cinein- nati and started for Le Sueur, Minnesota, where he arrived in January and seenred employment as a wood chopper. In the spring his wife was sent for and they moved into a wood chopper's eamp in the woods. The first summer he worked at his trade or at anything he could do to earn some money. Then he worked for a farmer for two years. In the meantime he bought a team, plow and other things needed and rented a farm. In the winter he did teaming, and in the summer he worked on his farm. This continued for three years and in this way he earned enough money to buy more machinery and 'was able to rent a larger farm. He farmed in this way for eight years and gathered together some stock and machinery. Then he came to Renville county, locating 160 acres in Brookfield township. After he had paid for this land he bought eighty aeres more and later purchased some for his sons. He has now retired from farming and sold some of the land, now owning the home place of 160 acres. When he moved on to this place there was a straw shanty and a few trees there. He has since creeted a fine house and barns and keeps a good grade of stock. Mr. Rockmann has held township positions for many years, having been chairman four years, supervisor another six years and treasurer four years. He assisted in founding the German Lutheran church of Brook- field township and is now a member of the church board. Mr. Rockmann was married in the spring of 1874 at Cincinnati to Frederica Geseking, who was born in Germany, March 25, 1853, and eame alone to America in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Rockman had both attended the same school and church in Germany. Frederica Geseking was the daughter of Henry and Marie Geseking, who lived and died in Germany. They had six children: Henry. Christina, Carolina, Sophia, Frederica and William. All came to America exeept Christina. Mr. and Mrs. Rockmann had the fol- lowing children: William A. was born March 10, 1875, at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, is a representative farmer of Brookfield township, married to Augusta Kiep and has three children : Marie, Florence and Clara. Emma C. M. was born January 17, 1877, at Le Sueur county, Minnesota, and married to Carl Schoen, a grain buyer in North Dakota : Henry C., born in Le Sueur county, May 28, 1878. is living at home; August II., born in Le Suenr county, Novem- ber 26, 1880, is a prosperous farmer of North Dakota, married to Marie Albert and has one child, Myra. Clara C .. born in Le Sneur county, April 20, 1886. married R. Newman, a farmer of Brook-
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field township and has one child, Ralph. Reka, born in Le Sueur county. October 14, 1889, is the wife of Ben Loetfers, who con- duets the Rockmann home farm. They have one child, Ruth.
Alexander Michael Johnson, deceased, was born in Norway, September 2, 1833, and came by sailing vessel to America in 1866, the voyage taking four weeks. He purchased 40 acres of land in Lansing, Iowa, and in 1867 his wife and four children joined him. In 1872 he sold his land and set out for Minnesota, coming the distance by ox team and covered wagon in three weeks. and located a homestead, where his son John now lives, in section 14, Palmyra township, obtaining a tract of 160 acres of wild land. For a time the family lived in the wagon until a shanty 12 by 12 feet could be built. The lumber for this shanty was hauled from New Ulm. A sod barn was also erected and that fall a sod shanty of two rooms was built. They had a few head of cattle and brought from Iowa two yoke of oxen and two wagons. They lost their crops for three successive seasons on account of the grass- hoppers. As time passed they added 100 acres more to their land and built a modern house. Alexander M. Johnson was a member of the Palmyra Norwegian Lutheran church which he helped to build. lle died in February, 1913. at the age of eighty years and his wife, Susanna (Mathison) died in 1891. They had the following children: Martin, born December 13, 1855; Justin, born October 25, 1859; Andrew S., born July 18. 1863; Anna, born April 29, 1865; John A., born November 7, 1869, and Tilda MI., born May 20. 1873. John Adolph Johnson remained on the home- stead and in time assumed charge of it. Here he carries on general farming and raises Shorthorn cattle. He has erected good buildings, including a fine silo, and reclaimed land from the sloughs. By attending the agricultural college in 1888 and graduating in 1891 he acquired many ideas which he put into operation in his work. Mr. Johnson has held the office of town- ship elerk for nine or ten years and has been a member of the school board for the past twenty-one years. Ile is stockholder of the Farmers' Elevator at lector in which he has been a mem- ber of the board of directors, and is vice-president of the Ilector Telephone Exchange. He is also clerk of the associated board of the school districts of his neighborhood. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and has been the secretary for twelve years. Mr. Johnson was married November 7, 1896. to Ingeborg Marie Rossi, born in Fillmore county, daughter of Bent and Marin (Hole) Rossum, both natives of Norway. They both came to Fillmore county where they were married, later going to Rock county where they purchased land and began farming with an ox team and two rows. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: Selma. AAlexander, who died in infaney. Edward L., and Arthur B.
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REV. LUDWIG H. KETTNER AND FAMILY
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August Blad, deceased, was born in Sweden, September 5, 1860, son of John Magnus and Lena (Peterson) Blad. August received but a meagre education, going to school a short time in Renville eounty. When he grew to manhood he engaged in farming and seeured a tree elaim of 160 acres in seetion 34 in Martinsburg township and bought a fraet of 160 aeres in section 28, Martinsburg township, where he ereeted a house. In 1SSS he located his present place. in section 22. Palmyra town- ship, where he seeured 200 acres of farming land. He built a fine modern house and barn and raised good stock. Mr. Blad was a member of the township board and has served as township clerk. He was a member of the Swedish Mission church and died December 30, 1893, being buried in the Swedish Mission Cemetery. Mr. Blad was married June 26, 1885. to Christine Nelson, born in Sweden. April 12, 1862. daughter of Nels P. Danielson and Kisa Lisa (Anders' Datter) Danielson. The parents both died in Sweden where they were engaged in farming. The father was born in 1822 and died at the age of eighty-four years and the mother was born in 1815 and died in 1894 at the age of seventy- nine years. They had two children, Christine and Elling. Christine was the only one to come to the United States, coming with an aunt, Marie C. Anderson, who married Chris. Danielson, of Palmyra township. They came in 1SS0, coming directly to Mr. Danielson. Here Christine made her home until her marriage with Mr. Blad. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Blad, two of them are dead: Henry Leander, who died at the age of eight months : Earnest M., born in Martinsburg township May 29, 1887: Esther Amalia, who died at the age of twenty-two years in 1911: David, born January 26, 1891 ; and Enoch, born May 11, 1893. Earnest M. now operates the home farm for his mother, and the family find it much easier and more pleasant driving to town in their automobile than it was by the ox or horse team of years gone by.
Rev. Ludwig Herman Kettner, pastor of the German Lutheran church of Brookfield township, Renville county, was born in Pomerania, Germany. July 25, 1866. son of Ludwig and Dorethea (llasseleu) Kettner. Both parents were natives of Pomerania. Germany, where the mother was born August 8, 1836. and died at the age of forty-three years. In the family there were eight children : Augusta. Wilhelm. Ferdinand. Ernestina, Ludwig. Marie. August. and Emma. Ferdinand was the first to reach America, coming in 1882 to Nicollet county, Minnesota. Then he went to Redwood county where he located a farm in Sundown township and sent for the rest of the family. Wilhelm remained in Germany where he fills a government position. The father died in Redwood county in 1891 at the age of seventy-three years. He was a member of the German Lutheran church. Imdwig
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Lerman Kettner received his education in the parochial school of his native land until the age of seventeen when he came with his father to Redwood county, Minnesota, in 1883. and worked on the farm until twenty-four years of age. At this time he decided to take up the ministry and entered the Lutheran Semi- nary at Phalen Park, near St. Paul in 1890, remaining six years. His first call was to his present charge. He organized the church and established the German school of which he is still the teacher. At the time of his coming there were only twelve Lutherans who were church members. He has now by sacrifice and devotion to the interests of his calling built up a model school and congrega- tion. At spare times he has filled the pulpits at Bird Island and Cosmos. He has also organized the Osceola township church. Rev. Kettner was married October 28, 1896, to Emma Bethke. born in Germany December 13, 1878, daughter of Frederick and Otielie (Fenske), natives of Germany who came to the United States in 1885, locating in Minnesota. The father was born November 2. 1828, and died May 2, 1910, and the mother, born June 25, 1837, is still living. Rev. and Mrs. Kettner have had the following children: Elsie, born April 15, 1898; Freda, born February 10. 1900; Ehrhardt, born February 1, 1902; Arthur, born February 23. 1903; Esther. born March 2, 1905; Selma, born December 30, 1906: Linda, born March 28, 1908; Gertrude, born January 29, 1910; an unnamed infant, born January 15, 1913. who died in infancy; and llarold, born April 2, 1914.
Halvor Erieson, a prominent farmer of Palmyra township, was born in Norway, April 31, 1861. son of Halvor and Anna Johanna Halvorson. Ilis father died in Norway at the age of eighty years. The widow married Lawrence Ericson and Halvor took the name of the family. They left Norway in 1866, coming by sailing vessel, being fourteen weeks on the water. In 1869 they reached Renville county where Mr. Ericson located 160 acres of land in the northwest quarter of section 20. They made a dugout and began farming with a yoke of cattle and wagon, which they had obtained in lowa, and with which they had driven into the county. The nearest milling place was at Beaver Falls. Often wheat was ground at home in the coffee mill. After a short time they built a sod shanty and later this was replaced by a frame building and still later by more modern buildings. Lawrence Ericson was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. The district school was conducted at his home before any school building was erected. He died at the age of eighty-two and his wife at the age of seventy-six years. Halvor Erieson had but small chance of receiving any education and began farming in section 20, Palmyra township, about twenty-six years ago. Ile had 160 aeres of wild land and broke up the land with a yoke of steers Ile bought some old frame buildings which he moved onto the
HE AIN YORK
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CLIC LIBRARY
LENOX AND DATIONS
THOMAS SIMMONS AND FAMILY
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