USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 53
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Elias Evans Scott, deceased, was born in Lieking county, Ohio, May 28, 1837, son of Joseph and Mary Seott. Joseph Seott was born in Scotland and his wife was of Welsh ancestry. They had two children, Elias and Martha. Elias received his early train- ing and grew to manhood in Lieking county. When he was
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eighteen years of age he came to Dakota county, Minn., in 1855, where he secured some timber land. August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Dakota county and was mustered in at Fort Snelling in Co. F, Sth Minn. Vol. Inf., under Captain Leonard Aldrich and was discharged July 11, 1865, at Charlotte, N. C. Before going south he took part in the Indian campaign. On his return he located at Dundas, Rice county, where he followed the trade of carpenter until 1871, when he came to Renville and located at Vicksburg, Flora township, then consisting of only a store and a postoffice. Here he obtained 160 acres of land. There were no buildings on the place and no road leading past it except the old govern- ment trail. They came in a covered wagon and horse team, being two weeks on the road. They moved into a neighbor's house and the next spring built a log house on their claim having a board floor and shingled roof. Besides their team of horses they also had a cow. Willmar was the nearest market and as it often was inconvenient to get supplies many substitutes had to be used. Parched wheat was often used for coffee. Here he lived for many years and improved the farm and enlarged it until he had 200 acres. He built modern buildings and home. In 1894 he retired from farming and moved to Renville, but the farm is still in the family. Mr. Scott was a member of the G. A. R. Post of Renville. He was also a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company and also in the creamery in Sacred Heart township near his farm. He died April 12, 1912, and his widow resides in Renville. January 1, 1866, Mr. Seott was married at Fari- bault to Lueia Erwin, born .June 7, 1845, in St. Lawrence county, New York, danghter of Benjamin Franklin and Orilla Wal- bridge) Erwin, both natives of St. Lawrence county. Benjamin Franklin Erwin was the son of .John Erwin, a veteran of the war of 1812, and of Scotch ancestry. Orilla Walbridge was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Temperance (Austin) Wal- bridge, both natives of Vermont and of English parentage. Mr. Walhridge was a colonel in the regiment of the Home Guards of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Scott first became members of the Christian church at Vicksburg, in the town of Flora, and have always been staunch members and supporters of that denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Scott had seven children: Charles Judson, Mabel Orilla, Earl Winfield, Effie Lulu, Arthur Walter, Fred Albert and Frank Erwin, the last two named being twins. Charles Judson is a farmer in Redwood county, this state. Mabel Orilla is a teacher. Earl Winfield is a grain buyer. Effie Lula. a former teacher, is now Mrs. Fred Tibbetts, of Redwood county. Arthur Walter is a traveling salesman, with headquarters at Fargo, N. D. He married Cora Pease, of St. Paul. Frank Albert is a barber in Renville village. Frank Erwin is a traveling sales- man at Fargo, N. D. He married Della Kellenbach, of Milwaukee.
THE NEW 1
PUBLIC LL
ASTOR I TILDr .
HENRY DUNSMORE AND FAMILY
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August Lund was born in Sweden June 2, 1859, son of Andrew and Catherine (Larson) Lund, both natives of Sweden and engaged in farming. They had the following children: August, John, Clara, Hjelmar, Augusta, Matilda (deceased), Charles (deceased), and Katie. The family came to the United States in 1871, coming to New York port by steamer and continuing their journey to St. Peter, Minn., by way of Chicago and New Ulm. They located a homestead in Lafayette township, north of New Ulm. It was all wild prairie land. Andrew Lund built a dug- out with a covering of logs and sod and with a ground floor. It was two years before he could afford a cow and an ox team. St. Peter and New Ulm were the nearest milling places. He lived there till his death in 1894 at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife is still living at the age of eighty-two years. They were members of the Swedish Lutheran church. August Lund had but few opportunities for acquiring an education and engaged in farming, next going to Montana, where he carried on freighting by ox team for four years, from 1880 to 1885, between Helena and Benton. Then he came to Winthrop, Sibley county, bought a threshing machine, and has covered Sibley and Renville counties sinee during the harvest season. In the meantime, he obtained his farm of 180 aeres in seetion 14, Heetor township, to which he has sinee added 40 acres more. When he took the farm in 1892 there were poor buildings on it. He has since erected modern buildings, a barn 32 by 64 feet with a eement floor, and a silo with a capacity of 90 tons. He raises Shorthorn cattle, Percheron horses and Chester White hogs. Mr. Lund is a member of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company at Heetor. He has held the office of township supervisor and has been a member of the school board of his district. Mr. Lund was married November 28, 1889, to Clara Johnson, born in Sweden April 18, 1865, daughter of John and Lottie (Swenson) Lund, who are still living in Sweden. Lottie Swenson came to Amer- iea in 1880 and came to Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Lund have the following children: Andy, Charles, Anna, Catherine. IIngo, Joel, Edith. George, Arvil, Ruth and Vivian.
Henry Dunsmore, nurseryman and farmer, was born in Seot- land March 25, 1861, son of Robert and Marion (MeCanley) Dunsmore, both natives of Scotland, where the former died in 1912 at the age of eighty-nine, and where the latter is still living at the good old age of eighty-seven years. Henry, the subject of this mention, received his education in his native land, and there grew to manhood. As a youth he learned the stonecutter's trade, and, after coming to Ameriea in 1882, he secured employment at his trade in Detroit, Mich. Subsequently, he followed this line of employment in several of the larger cities of the United States. It was in 1885 that he came to Renville county and bought 160
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aeres of wild prairie in section 34, Troy township, paying only $6.25 an aere. He broke the land, and by hard work and per- sistent effort, intelligently applied, now has one of the finest farms in the county. His place of 320 aeres is well tilled and provided with the best equipment, while his sightly home and farm buildings are one of the beautiful features of the landscape. For many years Mr. Dunsmore has been profoundly interested in the study of horticulture. In 1900 he launched definitely in the nursery business. The fifteen years which have since passed have brought him a full measure of success. Hle is one of the leading horticulturists of Minnesota, and is widely known for his experiments and his intelligent observations. So prominent is Mr. Dunsmore in this line that he was chosen by the committee to prepare the chapter on Renville County Horticulture, which appears in this work .. It is a credit to himself, an inspiration to the fruit growers of the county, and a valable addition to the history. Mr. Dunsmore carries on general farming on an extensive scale and makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. The splendid buildings. the fertile acres, the modern tools and machinery, and the sleek live stock, everywhere bespeak his thrift and good judgment. Mr. Dunsmore is a stock- holder in the creamery, the canning factory and the telephone company, all of Olivia. For many years he was on the school board of his distriet. He is a prominent member of the A. O. U. W. at Olivia. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Dansmore has been highly honored by his Fellow fruit growers. Hle is a life member of the Minnesota State Ilorticultural Society, a member of the Sonth Dakota Horti- cultural Society, and a member of the American Genetic Asso- ciation of Washington, D. C. Mr. Dunsmore was married Septem- ber 6. 1885. to Agnes Aitkin, who was born in Scotland July 14, 1869, and came to America with her parents. Thomas and Janet (Fairbain) Aitkin, in 1880, locating in Michigan. Mr. Aitkin (lied in 1894 at the age of forty-nine. Mrs. Aitkin is now living in Winnebago, Minn., at the age of seventy-three. Mr. and Mrs. Dunsmore take great pride in their splendid family of fifteen children, all living. This is one of the largest families in Minne- sota. Janet was born October 11, 1886, and is the wife of R. G. Stewart. of St. Paul. Thomas was born April 15, 1888. He mar- ried Katie Swoboda, and is a farmer in Flora township. Mary was born August 8, 1889, and is now Mrs. Albert Stahle, of St. Paul. Naney was born October 6, 1893, and lives in St. Paul. Margaret was born April 23, 1896; Henry, March 14, 1899; Fannie, March 1, 1900; Viola, January 5, 1902; Myrtle, Novem- ber 23, 1903: Robert, June 10, 1905; Charles, February 11, 1907; Lulu and Luella (twins), July 17, 1908: Randall. December 9, 1909; Maynard. April 12, 1913.
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Rev. Andrew Bengtson, pastor of the Swedlanda Swedish Lutheran church of Pahnyra township, was born in Sweden JJuly 24, 1849, son of Lars and Anna Bertha (Anderson) Bengtson. Lars Bengtson was born in Sweden December 4, 1822, and married Anna Bertha Anderson, who was born in that country February 21. 1821. They brought their five children, Andrew, Frederick, John, James and Anna Bertha, to the United States in 1867 and settled in Batavia, Ill. The members of the family were of devont faith and the father was one of the founders of a Swedish Lutheran church at Batavia in 1871. Lars Bengtson died at the age of seventy-seven and his wife at the age of eighty- five. Andrew Bengtson devoted his early life to farming. Fired with an earnest purpose to make his life count for something in the world's work, he long cherished the idea of entering the ministry. After courses in the Augustana College and Seminary. at Roek Island, IH., he was ordained to the ministry at James- town, New York, in 1890. He served varions charges in Wis- consin and in 1900 came to Stillwater. 1le has been in charge of his present parish since 1905. Hle was married October 10, 1874, at Batavia, III., to Anna B. Larson, born in Sweden August 8, 1845, daughter of Lars Helgeson. She came to the United States in 1872 and died March 21, 1907, leaving seven children : Emma, who keeps house for her brothers, Emil and Robert : Emil ; Julia, a graduate of Angustana College at Rock Island in 1908 and at present a teacher and assistant superintendent of Renville county ; Mathilda, who keeps house for her father; Carl O., who is now a clergyman at Chicago: Amalia M., superintendent of Renville county schools, and Robert, a graduate from the pre- paratory department of Augustana College. Robert and Emil are both farmers of Renville county.
Amalia M. Bengtson, the well known and popular superin- tendent of schools of Renville county, was born at Batavia, Illinois, the daughter of the Rev. Anders and Anna (Larson) Bengtson. She completed her education at the State Normal School at River Falls, Wisconsin, and then taught at Estella for a year, going from there to Bloomer, where she taught the eighth grade for two years. She spent the next two years in Renville conuty. teaching in Distriet No. 91, her home school, and the following year was in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, going from there to Castle Rock. Washington, where she remained a year. Subse- quently for two years she was an efficient high school teacher at Minneapolis. In 1914 she was elected superintendent of schools of Renville county and has already demonstrated her fitness for the position. Her energy, her splendid training, her broad views. her experience, her knowledge of the county, her pleasing person- ality, her genuine interest in the eanse of education and her high ideals are all factors in the success which she is winning.
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Patrick E. Toole, a respected and successful farmer of Hector township, was born January 7, 1864, in Washington Lake town- ship, Sibley county, Minn., son of Thomas and Mary (Hughes) Toole. Thomas Toole was born in Ireland and came to America at the age of fourteen years with his father Patrick, the mother having died in Ireland. There were four boys and two girls : Michael, James, Donald, Thomas, Catherine and Mary. The father brought these children to America, coming to New York state in 1844. At the time when the Civil war broke out they came to Minnesota and James enlisted in Minnesota. The family located in Sibley county. A homestead was seeured in Washing- ton, Lake township. and farming was begun with an ox team. The land was mostly timber land and a clearing was made and a house was built of logs. There were many Indians in the neighborhood but the family was never annoyed by them. I 1879 Thomas sold this place and brought his family to Renville county, locating a farm in Hector township, consisting of rail- road land. Here he made his home until his death in 1900 at the age of seventy years. He was of the Catholic faith and Mass was often held in his log house in Sibley county. He helped to build the church at Hector, which was one of the first in this section. HIe encountered many hardships in the early days in Sibley county and often had to carry meal and groceries from Henderson on his back, there being no roads or horses. Patrick E. Toole received his early education in the log school house in Sibley county in his neighborhood and also attended school at Hector after the family came here. He was then fifteen years old and here he grew to manhood. He engaged in farming and purchased his present place in section 21, Hector township, in 1885. It was a tract of 160 acres and was in a very poor condition, the only thing on the place was a rude ohl shack. He built a small frame house and a straw barn, beginning with nothing and buying the land on time. He has prospered as the years have gone by and has built a fine modern house and increased his farm to 200 acres. He has set out a fine grove of trees and raises registered stock, having Shorthorn cattle. Chester White hogs and a good grade of Percheron horses. He is a member of the Farmers' Grain Exchange at Hector and also of the old Co-operative creamery. He has held township offiees, having been on the township board ten years, and has served as treasurer for eight years. Mr .. Toole is a member of the Catholic church and has assisted materially in building up the church at Hector. Mr. Toole was married October 5, 1896, to Jennie Freeman, born in Ticonderoga, N. Y., daughter of George and Mary (MeDonald) Freeman. They have six children : Gordon. Hazel. Bernice, Leo, Allen and Aliee. Mrs. Patrick E. Toole, then Jennie Freeman, received her education in the public schools of her native state, completing her studies
1
MR. AND MRS. P. E. TOOLE
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LEMOX AND TILLY " HC
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at the Sherman Academy, at Moriah Corners, New York. Thus equipped she commenced teaching at Elizabethtown, New York. In 1883 she came to Minnesota and for three years taught in the vieinity of St. Paul and Hastings. Then, with the exception of one term in Sibley county and one term in McLeod county, she taught in Renville county until her marriage in 1896.
Nels Lenander, proprietor of the "Ideal Home Farm," was born in Sweden, January 12, 1858, son of Swan and Pernilla (Torgleson) Lenander. Ilis parents left Sweden in 1872, with two children, Nels and Johanna, another son, Peter, remaining in Sweden to complete his time of service in the army. The family came to Nicollet county and here shortly afterwards Johanna mar- ried Nels Anderson and the parents made their home with them. Mr. Lenander died at the age of seventy-five years and his wife at the age of eighty years. For several years Nels Lenander rented a farm and then he purchased his present place in section 14, securing 137 acres of land on the shores of Preston Lake. Mr. Lenander is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator at Buffalo Lake and in the Collins Creamery. He had held several township offices, having been township supervisor for several years and a school director. He is a trustee of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Lenander was married Mareh 29, 1884, to Ana Gundberg, native of Sweden, born November 7, 1864, daughter of Johannes Anderson Gunberg and Eva (Lars- datter) Gunberg. Mr. Gimberg was born in Elfsborg. Sweden, August 5, 1833, and his wife was born in Westre Blekinge, March 10, 1833. They were married October 5, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Lenander have had the following children: Alice, born February 22, 1885, now Mrs. Charles Charter, married November 2, 1907 ; Elmer, born April 18, 1886, married at Minneapolis Jume 24, 1915, to llilda Stred ; Adinna, born July 13, 1887. now Mrs. Amandus Sagstrom, married June 17, 1908; Clara and Clarence, twins, deceased in infaney : Norman Rudolph, born May 16, 1891 ; Mabel M., born August 9, 1893; Ruth E., born September 18, 1895: Edwin W., born March 26, 1897: Melvin E .. born May 21, 1901. and Rosella C., born March 2, 1904.
The Ideal Home Farm, owned by Nels Lenander. is indeed true to its name. Formerly a wild stretch of land, with nothing but a small house, 14 by 20 feet, and a rude barn, it is now a beantiful tract, ornamented with sightly and modern buildings. The farm consists of nearly two hundred aeres and borders on Preston Lake. The fine eight-room modern house is the home of cheer and comfort and is surrounded with beautiful lawns bedeeked here and there with gardens of beautiful flowers. A large apple orchard is a heavy bearer and there are also small fruits and berries in abundance. The barns are constructed and operated along the latest approved methods and a fine silo has
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been erected. The machinery and tools are ample, and the farm is well improved, well fenced and of the highest development. Being a believer in tiling Mr. Lenander has underlaid his farm with nearly six carloads of tiling, and his improved erops have showed the result of his modern and progressive spirit. Mr. Lenander carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of a good grade of Shorthorn, Hereford and Holstein cattle, Duroc- Jersey swine and Percheron horses.
Charles H. Nixon, pioneer business man and prominent citizen, was born in Boone county, Illinois, February 2, 1840, son of Erastus A. and Emily ( Walters) Nixon. Erastus A. Nixon, a tanner and enrrier by trade, was born in New Jersey of Irish parentage and married Emily Walters, of New York, a descendant of Pennsylvania German and New England stock. lle came to Boone county, Illinois, in 1836, and was there joined by his wife about two years later. He began farming and remained until the spring of 1846, when he moved to Chicago and followed his trade there until 1848, when he moved back to Boone county, living on the same farm. In 1855 he set out for Minnesota, traveling with a team of oxen and covered wagon. At that time there were seven children: Charles, Amelia, Revo, George, Angeline, Helen and Harriet. Two other children had died. After a trip of four weeks they reached Rochester, in Olmsted county, and settled in Kalmer township. He built a log house and had thirty or forty acres under cultivation at the time of his death in 1859. Charles 11. Nixon grew to manhood there. He had received some school training in Chicago and in a small village in Illinois. He enlisted in 1861 in Company K, Third Minnesota Vohmteer Infantry and was sent South. Ile was captured with the regiment at Murfrees- boro, parolled and sent north to Fort Snelling to fight the Indians. Then, having been exchanged with another regiment of the south, he again was sent south and took part in the battle of Vieksburg, being mustered out in August, 1865, after serving three years and eleven months. He had enlisted as a private and was discharged as a corporal. He returned to Olmsted county and remained there until 1869, when he came to Reuville county and de tled in Cairo township. Here he seeured a homestead in section 22 and erreted a log house 24 by 16 feet, which was a comparatively large house for those days. It was built on the line of two claims, that of a sister and his own. He had three horses to start with. He farmed there for seven years when he moved to Ft. Ridgely. where he engaged in the mercantile business, afterwards going into partnership with Harry Simmons. After three years he came to Hector and engaged in the mereantile business in the spring of 1879, being the first merchant of the place. For two years he was alone, then he entered into partnership with W. D. Griffith, who was postmaster, and the firm became known as
CHARLES H. NIXON
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR LY: TILL ..
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Nixon & Griffith. This was continued until the winter of 1893, when he bought out Mr. Griffith's share and continued alone until 1898, when he sold out the stock. During the time that he was in business he built the brick store which he occupied. Mr. Nixon was elected state senator in the fall of 1898 on the Republican tieket and served four years. Then he spent one year on the Pacific coast, returning to Ileetor, where he entered into the livery and horse business. Hle conducted this until 1910, when he retired From business. Mr. Nixon has been active in local affairs and has served on the village board several times. He has also been a member of the school board for a number of years. He has been a director of the State Bank of Heetor for some time. Mr. Nixon is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Hector, and of Hector Lodge No. 158, A. F. & A. M. Charles H. Nixon was married in 1870 to Marietta La Baron, of New York state, where her parents were born. Her father, Joseph La Baron, eame to Cairo township, Renville county, in 1866. By this marriage Mr. Nixon had three children : Joseph, who died at the age of six months; Eda, Mrs. Frederick Hanson, of Minneapolis, and Har- rison, of Woodworth, North Dakota. Mrs. Marietta (La Baron) Nixon died November 25, 1896, at the age of forty-five. The present Mrs. Nixon was Caroline Johnson, of Wright county, Minnesota, who was the widow of Charles Johnson, by whom she had four children : Ruth, Ethel, Effie and Roy.
Lewis Hable, a farmer of Martinsburg township, was born in Germany February 29, 1836, son of Jacob and wife, who died when Lewis was six years of age. Jacob with his two children, Lewis and Christian, set out for America in 1842 by sailing vessel. being seven weeks on the water and came to New York, to Croton- on-the-Iludson, where he worked in a brick yard. Here his son Henry joined him. After a time the father and two of the boys went to Illinois and Lewis was left to shift for himself. He went to school a little and worked out on the farms. Later he also went to Ilinois and came to Kendall county and worked on the farms. Next he came to lowa, where he remained for fifteen years. Seventeen years ago he came to Minnesota and settled where he is now living, having 280 acres of land. Lewis Hable was married February 11, 1864, to Maria Adams, of England, who eame with his parents, Peter and Sarah Adams, who located land in Illinois. The mother died at the age of sixty-three years, in August, 1904. She was born July 2, 1841, near Gravesend. England. There were eight boys in the family: Chester HI. (deceased), Edward, William, Lewis, John, Joseph, Nelson. and Frederiek.
Chester Henry Hable was born in Kendall county, Illinois, son of Lewis and Marie (Adams) Hable. He was educated in the Kendall county distriet school and at the age of nineteen came
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with his parents to Kossuth county, Iowa, where he grew up on the farm. Later he engaged here in farming for himself and in 1897 came to Renville county, where he located in Palmyra town- ship, where he remained ten years. Then moved to Martinsburg township, where he died August 15, 1913, in the faith of the Methodist church. Chester Hable was married February 19, 1889, to Alice Archer, born in Scott county, Iowa, daughter of George and Mary Jane (Leslie) Archer. George Areher was born in Ohio, of French and Irish descent. Mary Jane Leslie was born in Pittsburg. Pa., May 17. 1850, daughter of James and Marie (Pieree) Leslie. James Leslie and his wife were both natives of Pennsylvania, he being of German descent and she of Seotch deseent. Ile kept a hotel at Princeton, lowa. George Archer and Mary .J. Leslie were married November 27, 1868, and spent their lives on a farm in Seott county, Iowa. He died in 1879 at the age of forty-four years. Chester Hable and his wife had four chil- dren: George, who died in 1910 at the age of twenty years, Edward, Bennie and Mary.
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