The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 53

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 986

USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 53

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Mr. O'Brien helped organize the school district No. 97 and was an officer of this distriet from the time it was organized in 1875 until he moved to Renville. The schoolhouse was built in 1876. Before this Catholic services had been held in private homes. After the schoolhouse was erected, services were held there. the work being conducted under the name of the Emmet Mission. Father Elhorst, Father Flemming. Father Briody and

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Father O 'Connor were carly priests. Mr. O'Brien has held the position of township supervisor and is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company and was formerly one of the directors.

Mr. O'Brien was married Aug. 3, 1874, at Shieldsville, Minne- sota, to Catherine Hanlon, a native of Iowa, born March 2, 1854, daughter of Patrick and Mary Ann (Burns) Hanlon. Iler parents were located near Dubnque, Iowa. In 1853 they came to Rice county. Minn., being pioneers of that county, having come there with General Shields. Mr. Hanlon operated a hotel in Shields- ville and also owned some farm land. Mrs. O'Brien died Feb. 22, 1907. Ten children were born to these parents: Julia. born Sept. 23, 1875, and died March 7, 1888; Stephen, born Sept. 10, 1877: Mary Ann, born June 3, 1879: Ellen, born April 22, 1881 ; Margaret, born Sept. 26, 1883; Josephine, born Dee. 28, 1888, and died Feb. 18. 1889; John, born Dec. 27, 1889, and died Ang. 9, 1890; Catherine, born May 22, 1893: Patrick, born May 3, 1897; and Emery, born Feb. 10, 1900.

Mr. O'Brien was married a second time, to Mrs. Catherine (MeMenomy) O 'Brien, a widow of James O'Brien, his brother.

Anton Haubrich, one of the prosperous farmers of Flora town- ship, was born in Germany, near the River Rhine, Nov. 23, 1850, son of Peter and Mary (Schneider) Haubrich. His parents were farmers and came to the United States in 1862 with their family of six boys, Fred, Peter, Anton, John, Joseph and Henry. Joseph and Henry both died soon after coming to Minnesota. They were on the ocean forty-six days and landed at the port of New York. From there they traveled to Minnesota where they settled on a farm, in Le Suenr county, of 200 acres, and lived in a log cabin. Here was born a danghter, Mary. who is now Mrs. John De Gonda, of Olivia. They had a rude straw barn and began farming with an ox team. Next they moved to Nicollet county and then in 1877 they moved to Renville county, locating on section 1, in the town- ship of Flora, on a traet of 80 acres of wild prairie land. Here they built a little frame house and began improving the land. They finally secured 240 aeres of land and built modern buildings. Mr. Haubrich died in 1895 at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife died in 1880 at the age of fifty-six years. Anton Hau- brich began farming on his own place in section 12, Flora town- ship, in 1879. He built a small frame house, 14 by 18 feet with a lean-to, ten feet wide, all of which is still standing. The farm was all wild prairie land. When he began he had only a team of mules, later he bought a cow and built a straw shed. He started with 80 acres and there was not a fence post nor piece of timber on the farm. He has lived there ever since and has added more acres so that now he owns a half section of well improved land and has built modern buildings, including a large barn, 42 by 64 feet and a fine eight-room house. Ile raises good stock and spe-

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cializes in Shorthorn cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Belgian horses. Mr. Haubrich was married in 1875 to Mary Wiessenriether, born in Le Sueur county, May 31, 1856, danghter of Joe Wiessen- riether, a native of Germany, who came to Minnesota, in 1855, and was one of the pioneers of Le Suenr county. Mrs. Haubrich died at the age of forty-seven years, Oct. 12, 1903. The following chil- dren were born to this union: Anna, Elizabeth, Rose (deceased). Mary, John (deceased), Anthony V., Joseph, Paul, Lenora, Clara, who is a teacher. Verona and Jennie. Anna is now Mrs. Gus- tave Zaske of Troy township and has six children: Susan, Viola, Leona, Theodore, Minnie and Donald. Elizabeth is the widow of Louis Brugman and has two children, Albert and Rose Marie. Rose, now deceased, was the wife of Anthony Brugman, and An- thony V. is married and living in Norfolk township. The rest of the children are at home.

Peter Peterson Kronlokken, deceased, was born in Norway, Ang. 26, 1851, son of Peter and Martha, who lived and died in Norway. There were eight children in the family : Andrew, Nels. Peter, Dorthea, Ellen, Lars and two who died in infancy. All ex- cept Lars and Ellen came to America. Peter left Norway in 1866, eoming with his brother Andrew who is now in lowa. They came to lowa and worked at the shoemaker trade. Peter went to Ren- ville county in 1871, made his home in the dugout of David Ben- son and worked as shoemaker among the neighbors. His old bench and tools are still in the Family. Later he located a home- stead in section 8, in Emmet township. obtaining a tract of 80 aeres, part of which was under water. le dug a cellar, 12 by 14 feet, placed a few logs over the top and covered them with sod. He had a team of horses and after two years he bought a cow. After living in the dugout for seven years he built a modern frame house. He also improved the farm and increased it to 600 acres.

Mr. Kronlokken held several township offices. He was a mem- ber of the school board. He was one of the organizers of the first flour mill and held an office in the organization. He also helped organize the first creamery and was the general manager. Ile was the president and manager of the second creamery until it burned. Ile was one of the members of the Farmers' Coopera- tive Elevator Company and held the position of president and director and also helped toward the building of the present fine structure. He was also instrumental in securing a good railroad grade. He was one of the first directors of the Security State Bank of Renville and one of the organizers and contractors who built the First Norwegian Lutheran church at Renville, which was later destroyed by a cyclone. He also helped build the pres- ent church building and has held several offices of the church. He died in 1910.

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Mr. Kronlokken was married to Carrie Leite, born April 10, 1856, in Norway. At the age of seven her parents, Knute and Gunhild Leite, brought her to America, coming to Goodhue county, Minnesota. In 1872 they located in Renville county, Sacred Heart township, section 2. Here he built a house which was one of the best at that time. This house was later used as a schoolhouse and among the teachers who taught there was David Benson. Mr. Leite sold his farm and moved to Brookings county, South Dakota, where he became a large land owner. Mr. and Mrs. Kronlokken have had ten children. Martha, now Mrs. Nels Engen, living on a farm in Erieson township, and has three children. Agnes, Eher and an unnamed infant: Carl A., who is mentioned in this work elsewhere; Osear, a farmer of Erieson township ; Clara, now Mrs. Ole Johnson of Erieson township ; Lars, who is on the old homestead and married Marie Hagen of Lily, South Dakota; Knute, a farmer of Crooks township; John, a farmer of Crooks township: Caroline, telephone operator for the Northwestern Telephone Co. and lives with her mother; Ehner, on the homestead with Lars; and Lillian at home attending school. Mrs. Kronlokken remained on the old homestead until the fall of 1915 when she moved to the city of Renville where she now resides.

Carl Alfred Kronlokken, son of Peter Kronlokken, was born Feb. 11, 1878, in Ennnet township, He remained on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age and then went to the Dakotas where he worked For a short time for an nnele. Then he returned to the Farm in Renville county. After a year he. went to Willnar and took up a business course in the Willmar Seminary. Then he secured a homestead in Ward county, North Dakota, which he proved up and then soll, returning to Renville county where he began telephone construction work. He was one of the first contract workers in this line in the section. Then he went to Lyon county and built the first system out of Mine- ota. Next he went to Chicago for the Municipal Engineering & Contracting Co. and traveled for that company for three years. Then he came to St. Paul and worked for the St. Paul Diteher & Carrier Co. For two years. In 1910 he returned to Renville and took charge of his father's affairs after his death. In 1911 he engaged in the automobile and garage business at Renville, buikl- ing a reinforced fireproof buikling, buying the site of the old American Hotel. The first well which was dug in the city of Renville is on this site and is used by the garage. He has a livery and does general repairing.

Mr. Kronlokken is on the committee of the Publicity Chb, a member of the Commercial Club and a member of the Fire De- partment. Ife is also a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

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June 24, 1914, Mr. Kronlokken was married to Dagny Ander- son, daughter of Lars Anderson, a pioneer of Belgrade, Stearns county, Minnesota. They have one child, Cecelia Dagmar, born April 4, 1915.

Hans Christian Wein was born in Als Svendstrup, a Danish possession, May 20, 1841, son of John F. and Anna Frederieka (Klausen) Wein, who were workers in wooden ware. There were seven children in the family: John, Clanse, Ellen (deceased), Anna, Hans, George and Peter. In 1881, after his wife's death, John F. Wein came to the United States with his daughter Anna, who was Mrs. Jesse Bonde, and located in Sacred Heart township. Hans C. eame during the same year and George came later. The sisters remained in Europe. Hans C. grew up in his native vil- lage and became a sailor. For many years he sailed the seas, touching nearly every port in the world and spent four years in China, In 1881 he located on a traet of 80 aeres in Sacred Heart township where he built a small house of one room, 12 by 15 feet. Ile also bought a team of horses and two cows. The first year he broke up only a small part of his farm, about fifteen acres, and set to work putting in a erop. As time passed he became prosper- ons, made improvements on his farm and increased it to 200 acres.

Mr. Wein was married in Europe to Ellen Jenson, who was born in 1850 and died five weeks after coming to Renville county. There were four children by this marriage: Hans J., who is now a pastor of a church at Caledonia. Houston county, Minn. : John, Anna and Christine. In 1882 Mr. Wein married Marie Thompson, born in Felstar. Germany, May 10, 1843. daughter of John and Catherine (Clausen) Thompson, the former of whom was a fisher- man, both of whom are now dead. There were six children in the family : Chris, Marie, Matthew. Tena, Catherine and John. John was the first to come to America, Catherine came in 1881 and Tena came later. The rest of the family remained in Europe, By this second marriage there were four children: Ellen. Chris., and one who died, who were triplets, and Marie (deceased).

Joseph Kienholz, prominent farmer and breeder of Melville township, was born in Amboy. Bhie Earth county. this state. Aug. 31, 1876, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Baumgardner) Kienholz. The father was born in Switzerland, Oct. 17, 1843, came with his parents to America at the age of seven, lived in Red Wing, this state, until twenty-three years old, married, and then took 160 aeres in Amboy township. Blue Earth county, where he died Dee. 28, 1909. The mother was born in Switzerland, May 4, 1849. eame to America at the age of twelve and still lives in Amboy. Joseph Kienholz was reared on the home farm, was educated in the neigh- borhood schools, and remained with his parents until 1901, when he purchased 160 aeres in the southeast quarter of seetion 4, Mel- ville township, where he still resides. He has built up a splendid

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place, and made a specialty of swine breeding, shipping some ninety Duroc-JJerseys each year. He has been constable two years and clerk of the school board for six years.

Mr. Kienholz was married Dec. 18, 1901, to Martha Fraze, who was born in Germany, Dee. 11, 1886, the daughter of Adolph and Louise (Peters) Fraze. Her father was born in Germany, Feb. 19, 1855, was married Oct. 15, 1880, came to America in 1887, and located in Ransom, La Salle county, Illinois, where he and his wife now live. Mr. and Mrs. Kienholz have two children : Clar- ence, born Oet. 9, 1905, and Irwin, born Dec. 19, 1910. The fam- ily faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Ole Shoberg, an industrions farmer of Sacred Heart township, was born in Sweden, April 15, 1866, son of Erick Sundquist and Christine Olson. Ilis parents were married in Sweden and came to America in 1869, landing at Quebec. They went to St. Peter, Minnesota, where the father obtained work on the railroad. They had lost their luggage on the way and had no money. The father was a carpenter by trade, but was willing to do whatever work he could find in order to earn something for food and cloth- ing. In the fall the family moved to Renville county and during the first winter stayed with P. B. Olson. The mother and youngest children rode in the wagon of a neighbor but the rest of the fam- ily walked. St. Peter is about 100 miles from Renville county. They also brought with them their cow. At first they lived in a rnde dugout but later the father built a better log house, but died before it could be shingled so it stood there for twenty years with a sod roof. This homestead was located in section 34, Sacred Heart township, being a traet of 80 acres. They also owned a team of oxen but lost one when Mr. Sindquist was hanling wheat to Willmar, the animal breaking its leg, which meant quite a loss in those days. Mr. Sundquist was a member of the Lutheran church. Ile was married Ang. 12, 1843, to Christina Olson. There were four children: Ole, Peter, John and Tilda. Mr. Sundquist died in 1875 at the age of forty-two years. Ilis wife was married again, to Andrew Shoberg. Two children were born to this mar- riage. Frank and Anna. Mrs. Shoberg is still living at the age of seventy-two years but the step-father is dead. Ole Shoberg grew to manhood in Sacred Heart township and learned the trade of stone mason. He also became a thresher and since 1891 has been in farm work for twenty-one seasons. He farms the old homestead and also works upon his own farm of 80 acres aeross the road. Ile is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and is not married.

Anthony Sanger, deceased, was born in Germany, and came with his father to the United States when he was about eleven years of age. The rest of the family followed, first locating in Wisconsin and later traveling to Minnesota by ox team, settling

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at Mankato. Here he grew to manhood. He enlisted in Company HI, Sixth Minnesota, in 1862, and was assigned to military service. taking part in the fight against the Indians at Birch Cooley, in August, 1862. In 1865 he was mustered out of service and returned to Mankato. Mr. Sanger came to Renville county in 1877. He was a carpenter by trade and built the first high school building in the county under the direction of N. G. Poore, of Bird Island, and helped on other buildings. Hle located on a homestead in section 24, Bird Island township, securing 80 acres on the old Beaver Falls mail route. It was all wild prairie land. Ile built a small frame house and worked with one ox team. Cap- tain King, a noted character of those days, was his neighbor.

Mir. Sanger served on the township board and on the school board. He was one of those who assisted in getting a school started in this locality. He also was a member of the Catholic church and helped build it. Mr. Sanger was married to Susan Kritz, born in Germany. She came to the United States with her first husband, locating in Minnesota. Four children were born : Charles, Carrie, Mike and Stephen. Mr. Sanger died May 5, 189], at the age of forty-nine and his wife died Sept. 14, 1900, at the age of eighty-one years.

Michael Sanger was born Dee. 28, 1872, and came to Renville county with the family as a small boy. He received his early edu- cation in Bird Island and then took up farming on the home place, he and his brother, Stephen, buying the homestead and the 160- arre traet, the old Captain King place. Mr. Sanger is the present treasurer of Bird Island township and has been on the school board for six years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and also a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Sanger was united in marriage to Margaret Thomas, who was born in Holland. daughter of Simon Thomas, who brought his family from Green Bay. Wisconsin, to Bird Island township, Renville county. The following children were born to these parents: Clarence. Sylvester, Viola, Gregory, Sophiana, Geraldine and Dorothy.

Martin Nordby, a very successful farmer of Camp township, was born in Norway, July 5, 1858, son of Christian Nelson, a railroad man in Norway, who died in 1912, at the age of eighty- one years, and his wife, Sarena (Olson) Nelson, who died in 1898. at the age of seventy-two years. Martin Nordby, who took the name of the farm, came to America in 1880, and worked out un- til 1892. He now owns a very fine farm in Camp township, see- tion 14, of 240 aeres, and has improved it and built a good sub- stantial barn and silo. Hle specializes in Holstein cattle. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company, Creamery and Co- operative store in Fairfax. He is also a member of the Society of Equity and of the Hauge's Norwegian Lutheran church. July

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YORK LIBRARY

ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

MR. AND. MRS. DAVID BENSON

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23. 1892, Mr. Nordby was married to Segrid Larson, born Nov. 29. 1867. Iler Jather, Ingebret Larson, came to America in 1867 and farmed in Camp township from 1870 until his death, in 1910, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, Martha ( Arneson), died in 1898, at the age of sixty-two years. Nine children were born to this nion: Christian, born June 10, 1893; Alfred, born July 23, 1894; Nicolai, born Oet. 1, 1896; Morris, born Sept. 21, 1898; Elmer. born Dee. 10, 1899; Ingvald, born March 23, 1901; Mable, born May 26, 1903; Spencer, born Ang. 24, 1905 : Leonard, born Nov. 14, 1908.

David Benson is one of the leading citizens of Reuville county. Ile attained prominence soon after his arrival and he is now known the length and breadth of the county. Ile is broad- minded, public-spirited, and of kindly temperament, one who keeps thoroughly informed on current events and one who is inti- mately in touch with the currents of modern life. His appear- ance in any home in the county is hailed with delight, and espec- ially among the pioneers of the western part of the county a visit from him is something to be highly appreciated and long remembered. Whether as pioneer, citizen, friend, office holder or law maker, he has demonstrated the same sterling worth. His life and influence have left their impress on the county's history and he is now regarded as one of the county's most useful eiti- zens. After many strenuous years of hard work he is now living a retired life in Renville, where he is thoroughly appreciated at his true worth. In the making of this history he has had an im- portant part, and much of its completeness in regard to the western part of the county is due to his untiring and devoted efforts. Something over a hundred years ago. David Anderson was born in the vicinity of Trondhjem, in Norway. His ances- tors were sea-faring people, and he naturally, became a navigator. In following this occupation he met with many thrilling adven- tures. During a North Sea raid of the British men-of-war in 1812, his ship was taken, and was subsequently held for about a year before being released. This David Anderson took up his home on the island of Hedsel. There were reared his five children : Jacob, Martin, Anna, Dorethea and Ingeborg. His wife's name was Dorthea Oleson.

In the same neighborhood there lived Lars Gabrielson and his good wife. Ingeborg, and their three children, Bendick and John (twins) and Ole. Bendick married Ingeborg Anderson, daughter of David Anderson. She died about 1857, leaving six children : Lars, Sophia, David, Ole, Jacob and Martin. Later Bendick mar- ried Sophia Swenson, and by this union had one child. Ingeborg. He died in 1902 at the advanced age of 100 years, longevity being a characteristic of the family. In fact the ancestry on both sides is a long, unbroken line of sturdy men and women, widely known

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for their strength of body and character, their hospitality, and their devotion to the church. To this family on August 23, 1841, was born in Nordland, Norway, David Benson, a son of Bendiek Larson and Ingeborg Davidsdatter, and grandson of Lars Gabriel- son and Ingeborg Gabrielson, and David Anderson and Dorthea Oleson. He was reared in his native land, received a good educa- tion and had the advantages incident upon attendance at the agricultural college in his neighborhood for three years. It was in 1867 that he set his face toward the new world. After arriv- ing at Liverpool, he erossed the ocean to Quebec, found his way to La Crosse, Wiseonsin, and from there reached Rochester, Min- nesota, where he seenred employment in doing elerical work and farming. At about this time, northern people were being urged to go south and raise cotton. Cotton was bringing a good price in the markets and it was represented that fortunes were to be made from a single season's erop. So in 1869, David Benson, with two friends, pooled their funds, and with the $1,000 thus seenred, started for the South. But after various experiences their money was gone and there was no cotton fortune in sight. So they had to work their way back. In Chicago, David Benson worked in the shops of the Northwestern Railway long enough to earn his fare baek to Minnesota. Here penniless he started in again to carve his fortune. At Dodge eounty, Minnesota, he mar- ried, and in 1870 eame with his bride with an ox team and covered wagon to Renville township and located on section 6, Emmet township, on a piece of wild prairie land. For a time he lived in the wagon in which he had come. His first activity was to cut enough hay for the six head of cattle he had brought with him. Later he devoted his attention to constructing a rude dugout, roofed over with slough grass and sod. In this the l'amily lived until the frame house was erected. During the first two autumns, Mr. Benson worked in the harvest fields at St. Peter in order to earn a little ready cash, walking the entire distance each way. In time, he added eighty acres to the original homestead. Hle erected suitable buildings, and successfully carried on general farming for some twenty-two years. He and his good wife under- went all the privations of pioneer life and had an important part in the upbuilding of the community. From 1882 to 1886 he was in the railroad mail service. In 1890 he moved to Renville where he now lives. Mr. Benson's public activities have been numerons. In 1873, 1874, 1875 and 1877 he sat in the lower house of the Minnesota legislature, being elected on the Democratic ticket. At the session of 1873 he obtained an appropriation for the Hawk Creek bridge to the amount of $1,000, and in the session of 1874 he obtained an appropriation of $600 for the Henryville bridge. Among other bills which he introduced was one prohibiting a county attorney from being elected a justice of the peace. For a

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

BENJAMIN F. BENSON

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minber of years he was assessor of Emmet township. From the time of its organization until his removal to Renville he was a director of school district 33. In 1880, 1890, 1895, 1905 and 1910 he was eensus enumerator for his district. For twenty years he has been a justice of the peace. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Benson was married September 16, 1870, to Carrie Knuteson, born August 29, 1851, daughter of Knute Akselson and Carrie Kiteson. This union has been blessed with eight children: Bell, Benjamin, Lonisa, Clara, Mary, Anna. Emma and Dinah. Bell is the wife of Dr. Edward Mark Clay, of Renville. Benjamin is in business in Minneapolis. The rest are school teachers. Mrs. Benson's maternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Knute Knutson. After the death of her father, they brought her and her mother to America, but soon after their ar- rival the mother died at Quebec, and the present Mrs. Benson and her grandparents continued the journey to Wisconsin. There the grandmother died, and the grandfather moved to Iowa, two years later moving to Adams, Minnesota, and in 1863 moved to Rockdale. Olmsted county, also in this state, where he died at the age of ninety-five years.

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The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 53

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. Number of Pages: 986

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 986