USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 60
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and his son, William S. Pieree, Jr., took up a homestead at Eeho Lake, forty-five miles north of Wadena, where he has a large cattle ranch, and with whom Mr. Pieree now makes his home. Mr. Pieree is a member of the G. A. R. at Hutchinson. Mr. Pierce was married September 9, 1866, to Uretta Porter, who was born April 28, 1846, and died December 8, 1898, leaving two sons : II. C., who for the past seven years has been a member of the Provincial Parliament, and is also engaged in real estate busi- ness. He was married to Mattie Hoffman and they have six children : Herbert, Ivan, Melvin, Olive, Myrtle and Fernwald. William S., Jr., conducts a large cattle ranch at Eeho Lake, Sas- katchewan, Canada. He was married to Lucy Foght, and they have two children : Donald and Ruth Loretta.
John P. Nestande, one of the estimable pioneers of Renville county, was born in Gulbrandsdahlen, Norway, December 22, 1841, son of Peter Jacobson Nestande and Mary. (Haga) Nes- tande, who spent the span of their years in that district. John P. Nestande attended the public sehools of his neighborhood and as a youth learned the shoemakers' trade. In 1868 he started out to seek his fortune in the new world. After a long voyage and a tedious overland trip he reached Oconto, Oeonto county, Wis. A year later he came to Renville county and seeured eighty aeres in section 26, Bandon township. For two years he lived in a sod house. Then he hauled in logs and poles from the river bottoms and built a log shanty. He also eonstrueted some erude shelters for his stock. With this beginning Mr. Nestande has achieved his present suceess. He subdued the wild prairie land, built up a splendid farm, inereased his holdings to 480 aeres, and in time erected a sightly home and many outbuildings. There were many drawbacks and many diseouragements. Crows and blackbirds stole the erops, grasshoppers ravaged the land, blizzards and cold weather added to the diseomforts of life, mosquitoes were abun- dant, prairie fires threatened, low prices prevailed, erops some- times failed in abundanee, there was a large family to support. But with undaunted courage and perseveranee Mr. Nestande, assisted by his good wife, overcame the difficulties, and became a prosperous and successful citizen. In 1909, after a busy life, full of busy work well performed, Mr. and Mrs. Nestande moved to the village of Fairfax, where they are spending the afternoon of life in peace and quiet, reaping the well deserved fruits of their worthy effort. Mr. Nestande served his township as supervisor and assessor. In the school district he took an especially interest and served on the board for many years. He helped to organize the first school, and hauled timber from a demolished government building at Ft. Ridgely with which to build the first sehool. Mr. Nestande was married October 1, 1873, to Lena P. Lee, born in Norway, November 22, 1856, daughter of Peder Lee, who was
JOHN P. NESTAANDE AND FAMILY
TSV M PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX IND TILDEN YOUNGATIONS
MR. AND MRS. CHRIST. THOMPSON
1 THE N PUBLIC ATT
ACTOR, LE. 1
TIDEN " ....
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born February 12, 1824, and died July 12, 1912, and of Anna (Hohle) Lee, who was born February 22, 1829, and died June 25, 1909. The Lee family came to America in 1867 and after a year in Fillmore county came to Camp township, this county, and set- tled on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Nestande have had twelve ehil- dren : Peter, Albert, Minnie, Anna (deceased), Anna Patrina, Palma, Joseph (deceased), Joseph (deceased), Oliver (deceased), Joseph, Alvin and Spencer. The oldest son, now the Rev. Peter Nestande, was born January 22, 1875, attended the public schools, took preparatory courses in the Minnesota State Normal school at Madison, Minn .; studied at what is now St. Olaf College, at Northfield, Minn., and was graduated in 1900; entered the United Church Theological Seminary at St. Anthony Park, Minn., and there completed his studies in 1903. He was ordained at Duluth, and from 1903 to 1915 was in charge of several churches, with headquarters at Dodgeville, Wis. He is now located in Lanes- boro, in Fillmore county. He was married in 1903 to Constance Emerson, who died in 1908, leaving one son, Constantine. In 1912 he was married at Dodgeville, Wis., to Bertha Laun, and they have one child, Marion. Albert is a farmer in Bandon town- ship. He was born June 8, 1876, and married Anna Peterson. They have had five children: Merle, Alf, Lenora (deceased), Leah and Melchior. Minnie was born February 5, 1878, and married Enoch Ellevold, who left her two children : Evangeline and Joseph. Her present husband is Gunder Gjerdahl, by whom she has one child, Oliver. They live in Fairfax. Anna was born in 1880 and died in 1880. Anna Patrina was born July 1, 1881, and lives with her brothers, Joseph and Alvin. Palma was born September 16, 1885, married John Frank, and has three children : Melba, John P. and Constanee. Joseph was born in 1886 and died in 1886. Joseph was born April 14, 1888, and died May 12, 1893. Oliver was born December 6, 1890, and died May 15, 1893. Joseph was born May 28, 1893, and with his brother Alvin, born August 8, 1896, conduets the old homestead. Spencer was born December 30, 1898, and attends the Fairfax High school. The Nestandes are members and liberal supporters of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Christopher Thompson, one of the prosperous farmers of Birch Cooley township, was born in Norway, August 14, 1856, son of Thorsen and Marit (Lien) Thompson, who spent the span of their years on a farm in the old country, the father dying in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years and the mother in 1902 at the age of sixty-seven years. Christopher came to America in 1881, and after reaching Franklin, in this county, was variously employed as a farm hand for some three years. Then he purchased 160 aeres in seetion 1. township 112, range 34, Birch Cooley, where he still lives. Mr. Thompson is a successful man and has brought
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his place to a high stage of development. He has a splendid home, with a full basement, and equipped with hot water heat, acetylene lights and other conveniences. The rooms of the lower Hoor are finished in oak. He also has a large barn and other suitable buildings. The farm is well fenced and well equipped with tools and machinery. In addition to cultivating his farm for the usnal erops, he has set five and a half acres in apple trees, mostly of the Wealthy and Northwest Greening variety. Ile also makes a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and ships about three carloads of cattle each year. Mr. Thompson takes an interest in public affairs and is a stockholder in the creamery, mill and elevator at Franklin. Christopher Thompson was married June 22. 1853, to Bertha Lee, who bore him six children : Palmer, Milton. Alfred, Antoinette. Clarence and Leon. Palmer was born May 8. 1884. attended the Mankato Commercial College, married Julia Martin September 30. 1912, has two children, Antoinette and the baby, and operates a store at St. Ignatius. Mont. Milton was born September 14. 1886, attended the State Agricultural school, and is now a farmer in Camp township. Alfred was born September 8, 1885, and lives at home. Antoinette was born April 20. 1895, passed through the public schools, graduated from the Ladies' Lutheran Semi- mary at Red Wing, Minn .. in 1914. and had taken a year's course at the Mankato State Normal school. Clarence was born Novem- ber 6. 1597, and is at Bellingham. Wash .. attending the Belling- ham State Normal school. He makes his home with his unele and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Bjorlie, pioneers of Camp township. who moved to Washington in 1913. Leon was born August 14, 1×99. and is still at home. Bertha Lee, afterward Mrs. Chris- topher Thompson, was born in Lesje, Gulbrandshallen, Norway, December 25, 1855, daughter of Peter and Anna Lee, who brought her to Fillmore county. this state, when she was eight years of age. A year later she came to Renville county, where she con- timed to make her home until her death. June 6. 1913. She was an influence for good in the community. a teacher in the Sunday school. and a member of the Ladies' Aid Society, of Trinity Nor- wegian Lutheran Evangelical church. At the time of her death it was appropriately said of her: "She was an industrions woman, a diligent church member, a good Christian, seeking the spiritual as well as the temporal welfare of her family. Her labors here are ended. but her blessed memory will live in the hearts if those who were dearest. and who stood nearest to her through life's struggles, trials and victories. "
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CHAPTER XXL.
HORTICULTURE.
Wild Fruits and Berries-Early Difficulty With Tree Raising-
Fruits Best Grown Here-Apples for Swine-The Orchard as an Asset-The First Nursery-Growth of the Industry in Renville County-Present Nurseries-The Old Home With Fruits and Flowers-By Henry Dunsmore.
The larger part of Renville county was originally a rolling prairie, but the watercourses were heavily wooded. The natural supply of fruits, nuts and berries was most abundant, and flow- ers and shrubs kept the landscape brilliant with color from early spring until late autumn.
When the early settlers first came into this county it was be- lieved that no cultivated fruit would ever grow here, and that such fruits as the apple, pear and phun, which in the eastern states they had been accustomed to picking in their back yards. would now have to be obtained, if used at all, from far distant points at heavy transportation expense. The weather conditions were such that the raising of fruit in the county of Renville seemed forever out of the question.
The pioneers found here, however, the wild apple, the wild grape, the black currant, the wild plum. the wild strawberry. the smooth and prickly gooseberry, the sand cherry, the choke cher- ry and the high bush cranberry.
The native apple was fortunately a good keeper that could be stored and used for a considerable time into the winter: the larg- est and best flavored made passable sance, and perhaps as fine a jelly as can be produced from any fruit whatever. The trees were found on the edges of the meadows. The wild grape was as abundant then as it is today, and while very small both in bunch and in berry, was found in sufficient quantity to be used largely in marmalades, jellies and home-made wines. The wild plum was undoubtedly the best of the native fruits, some select kinds having a Havor surpassed by few of the stone fruits of any climate. It was very plentiful among the thickets at the edge of the timber, and along the water courses generally. It was the first of the native fruits to enter the cultivated lists, and through selection and hybridization it has become the basis of the culti- vated varieties of the north Mississippi valley. The wild straw- berry was abundant in favorable seasons, and while rather soft and difficult to piek, was of such excellent flavor as to be per- haps the highest prized of all the native small fruits. The wild gooseberry, both the smooth and prickly form, was found in
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considerable abundance throughout the country, being most plen- tiful in the timber bordering the Minnesota river. A few thrifty farmers transplanted some of these fruits to their gardens.
For many years Peter M. Gideon, of Lake Minnetonka, justly called the father of the Minnesota apple industry, pursued his long and patient efforts in originating seedling apples suitable to growing in Minnesota. Among these varieties were the Wealthy, now at the head of the list for commercial planting in Minnesota, and the Peter. an apple similar in color and qual- ity to the Wealthy. Through the work of Mr. Gideon it be- came apparent to the farmers that there were important lessons to be learned if they were to make the apple a staple erop in Minnesota. Trees must be grown that were adapted to the soil and climate conditions, among the necessities being hardness of tree, strong constitutionality to resist blight and sun seald and endure the sudden and severe changes of winter. and the ability to mature in time to avoid the early frosts. It takes years to originate and test fruits adapted to our state. With the arrival, however, of our famous Wealthy and some very good crabs as the Whitney, real and lasting progress was being made in horti- culture. These apples were propagated as fast as possible and planted in almost every county of the state. A few years later found these apples in many places in the county, doing well and hearing excellent fruit. The farmers would point with pride to their fine, healthy trees with bent-down branches full of luscious apples. These two varieties have done much in re- moving the old indifference and in making horticulture more popular in our country. However, they were not the only vari- eties which were sent out during this period ; many more were originated and introduced by our experimenters, but none of them ever enjoyed the popularity of our Wealthy. This apple is now grown east and west, from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. It has become a favorite with every fruit grower, and famous for its excellent qualities and has merited the distinc- tion of being called the "Jonathan of the North."
Through all the early days in Renville county, fruit was eon- sidered a luxury. A few people gathered wild fruit. a few se- cured some semi-cultivated fruit which they had transplanted to their gardens. The only ones who ate cultivated fruit were those who could afford to pay the high price demanded for that brought to the market from eastern and southern states.
It was not until 1890 that fruit culture began to be con- sidered a possibility here, and it was not until 1900 that any considerable strides were made. One of the reasons for the increase in fruit growing in this county was the work carried on by the Minnesota Horticultural Society, throughout the state. Before 1893 it scarcely had more than 300 mem-
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bers any given year, but from now on it made a most wonderful progress in its membership, and in 1914 more than 3,000 active hortieulturists of the state belonged to this society. It is now the largest horticultural society in the United States. From the very beginning its members worked hard to test all the different varieties of fruits, Foreign and native, for the purpose of finding out suitable sorts that could be safely planted in Minnesota. They sowed seeds from fruit trees annually to originate new hardy sorts and encouraged everyone else to do the same, so that we might originate our own pomology which we could not pos- sibly get from other states. Their work was erowned with won- derful success, not only in introducing many sorts from foreign lands but also in originating new varieties adapted to our county and state. It is only necessary to mention such native seedlings now grown in Renville county as the Wealthy, Okabena, Peer- less, Patten's Greening and many other sorts not so well known.
The people of Renville county, and for that matter of the state, were, on account of past failures in fruit-growing, to a great extent, still in a mood of indifference. It now became nec- essary to educate the public in this art, to eliminate failures in the future as much as possible, to show the people in a practical way the possibility of more extensive fruit-growing in the state and to arouse a general interest for renewed efforts. There were many persuasive means, foremost being our State Fair. To most people who go there it is a revelation in horticulture, an exhibi- tion of horticultural success never expected to be seen in Minne- sota. Many times the visitors from all over the state could be noticed glancing over the long tables in admiration and saying, "Is it possible that these fine apples have all been grown in Minnesota ?" Usually they go home with the mental resolve to try again. Next in importance come the county fairs. They, too, are educating the masses and create new interest in horti- culture. For the many years of its existence the Minnesota Hor- ticultural Society has spread the gospel of horticulture in the state by its many publications, its reliable information on horti- cultural topies and its annual meetings. The influence of this society is now well recognized when one visits the many towns and farms and notices the many fruit trees or orchards bearing an abundance of luscious fruit. Finally, there is another factor that works well for the advancement of horticulture in our county. We mean the lecture corps which visits the principal towns and cities in our state. To this belong practical men who not only lecture on agricultural topies but also make it a point to instruct our farmers how to grow fruits successfully. All these means unite in producing the one desired effect-to edu- eate our people in the art of successful Eruit-growing in our eounty, and we may say that this has been wonderfully aceom-
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plished. Our people have now not only a reliable fruit list, but know how to grow these fruits to perfection. It is compara- tively but a few years ago that there was not an apple grown in Renville county; it was not even thought possible, and now the crop is both large and important.
In 1913 the orchard of G. A. Anderson, Renville, produced 1.300 bushels of marketable apples: that of Henry Dunsmore. Olivia. 1.000 bushels.
Great interest has been taken in horticultural exhibits at the county fair, and the horticultural display takes up more than its share of the space in the agricultural builling. Renville county people have also made extensive displays of fruit at the Minnesota State Fair, and have won many prizes, capturing first place in 1914.
At the present time we do not know what Renville county has in store for us; we do not realize its possibilities in Irnit-growing as yet. But Renville county, with its open prairies, is one of the best adapted counties in Minnesota for horticulture. As it is now one of the foremost agricultural counties, so it will be one of the best fruit-growing counties in the state. Since We have accomplished so much in a few years. we may confidently and reasonably expect to accomplish more in the time to come. There is no doubt that we have the land for it. Are you skep. tical? Walk out into the woods; there you will find native vari- eties of all kinds: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, goose- berries, cherries, thornapples, hazelnuts, grapevines and many others. Now all these native fruits would not grow there if the soil were not adapted to their requirements. As for quality, it is a law of nature that fruits grown at their northern limits are better than the same fruits grown further south. This is why our Minnesota strawberries, for instance, are much better than those from Louisiana. "But you cannot change the cold win- ters, which are so injurious to our fruits," it is said. Yes, this is very true. we cannot change the cold winters, but we can change the fruits so they will stand the winters. This is just the very thing that is now being done at the Minnesota State Fruit Breeding Farm at Zumbra Heights near Lake Minnetonka. And how is this to be accomplished? By trying to combine the hardiness of our native fruits with the good qualities of the cultivated varieties. Take, for instance, the plum. The flowers of the wild plum from the woods are crossed by hand with the pollen from a California or a Japanese phim. The resulting seeds contain now the qualities of both plans, hardiness to stand our winters and quality to suit our taste. By planting these seeds we may obtain what we want, a good hardy plum tree that will stand our winters and bear excellent plums akin either to the California or Japanese phim. But many trials are neces
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sary to find one plum in which both of these qualities are domi- nant. In this manner the work of fruit-breeding is carried on with all other fruits. Good results have already been obtained. although the work of fruit-breeding has only been carried on for six years. There are now originated new strawberries, black- berries, raspberries, grapes and plums. There are now thou- sands of hybrid trees and plants growing at the Fruit Breeding Farm: all are tried and only the few good ones will be propa- gated and sent out to the trial stations for their final trial be- fore they are recommended for general planting in the state. Should this work be carried on for a sufficient number of years, it is very probable that Minnesota will be able to grow some of the choicest fruits in the United States.
Ilerewith is appended the list of fruits which was adopted by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society December 3, 1914. l'or the guidance of planters :
Apples. Of the first degree of hardiness: Duchess, Hibernal. Patten's Greening. Okabena. Of the second degree of hardiness : Wealthy. Malinda. Anisim, lowa Beauty. Lowland Raspberry. Jewell's Winter, Milwaukee. Valnable in some locations: Wolf River, Yellow Transparent. Longfield, Northwestern Greening, Tetofsky. Peerless. Most profitable varieties for commercial planting in Minnesota: Wealthy, Duchess. Patten's Greening. Okabena, Anisim. Recommended For top-working on hardy stocks: Wealthy. Malinda, N. W. Greening. Stayman's Wine- sap. Grimes' Golden. Milwaukee, MeIntosh. Varieties for trial : Eastman, Evelyn, Windsor Chief, Gilbert.
Crabs and Hybrids. For general cultivation : Florence, Whit- ney. Early Strawberry, Sweet Russet, Transcendent. Varieties for trial : Faribault, Dartt, Success.
Plus and Hybrid Plums. For general cultivation : De Sota. Forest Garden, Wolf freestone ., Wyant, Stoddard. Terry. Most promising for trial: Compass Cherry, Hanska. Opata, Sapa.
Grapes. First degree of hardiness: Beta, Janesville. Second degree of hardiness: Moore's Early. Campbell's Early. Brighton. Delaware. Worden, Concord, Moore's Diamond, Wyoming Red.
Raspberries. Red varieties: King, Turner, Miller, London, Minnetonka Ironclad, Sonbeam. Black and purple varieties: Palmer, Gregg. Older, Columbian. Cumberland.
Blackberries. Ancient Briton, Snyder, Eldorado.
Currants. White Grape. Victoria, Long Bunch Holland, Po- mona, Red Cross, Perfection. London Market.
Gooseberries. Honghton, Downing. Champion, Pearl, Carrie. Strawberries. Perfect varieties: Bederwood, Enhance. Lov- ett. Splendid. Glen-Mary. Clyde. Senator Dunlap. Imperfeet varieties: Crescent. Warfield, Haverland, Marie. Everbearing varieties for trial : Progressive. Superb, American.
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Native Fruits. Valuable for trial: Dwarf Juneberry, Sand Cherry, Buffalo Berry, High Bush Cranberry.
Nut Fruits. Shellbark Hickory, Black Walnut, Butternut.
The farmer who contemplates planting a home orchard would do well to confine his selections of varieties to the list as recom- mended by this society. Many new varieties appear on the market from time to time, and many of them promise fair for a while, but when weighed in the balance with our standard vari- eties many of them perform very poorly. New varieties should be tried in a small way, but set standard varieties for the main crop.
There was a time when the prodnet of the apple orchard was looked upon as a luxury for home use or for market. To- day the apple orchard on every farm is an absolute necessity to insure the health and happiness of the family and also to pro- mote health and profitableness with live stock. If every farm in the Northwest had an apple orchard of from one to five acres, and the lower grades of apples fed to swine, the ravages of hog cholera would be a thing of the past and the raising of swine would become a profitable industry.
Wherever apples are raised in quantity, there is always a large percentage that never should be marketed and these should be fed to stock on the farm. Horses, cattle, sheep and swine relish apples, and when Ted in liberal quantity it is the best conditioner that it is possible to obtain, and can be grown on the farm at one-twentieth of the price of the many nostrumis which Hood the market under various significant names, pur- porting to enre every ailment that the animal kingdom is heir to. 1 have realized more money for low grade and cull apples by feeding them to swine during epidemies of hog cholera than I realized for No. 1 hand picked. Last year (1914) hundreds of bushels of apples were allowed to rot on the ground. Ilad they been fed to the hogs in liberal quantity, it would have meant thousands of dollars to the farmers of Minnesota.
The problem that confronts the American stock raiser today is practically the same as the United States had to deal with when we took over the Panama Canal. Over thirty years ago in company with six others, I went to Central America to work for the De Lesseps Company, as stonecutter on the Panama Canal. At that time the climate was unfit for a white man to live in. 1 had almost said statisties would prove it, but at that time statisties pertaining to the death list were buried with the men who lost their lives in an endeavor to make the Panama Canal possible. After eight months' stay in the canal region. we, or those of us who were left, decided to get out, as there was something the matter with the climate, three of our party of seven having sneembed to yellow fever. The French used
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