The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 58

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

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John Bakke, a progressive farmer of Hawk Creek township. was born in Veglid, Numedal. Norway. October 17, 1861, son of Nels Johnson and Christie (Danielsrud) Bakke. the pioneers. Hle was brought to America in 1867, lived with his parents in Clayton county, Iowa, for two years, and in 1869 was by them brought to Hawk Creek township. Here he grew to manhood, at- tending the district schools, and helping his parents with the farm work. In 1881 he made his first venture in life by going to the Wisconsin pine forests where he worked in the pinery and on the river drive. In the summer of 1882 he went to Hillsboro, North Dakota, then Dakota territory and worked on the Grandin farm near that place. In the winter of 1882-83 he again worked in the

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Wisconsin forests. In the summer of 1883 he joined the W. W. Cole circus and with that aggregation toured the states of Minne- sota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, łowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and portions of Canada. He left the virens in Kansas City, Missouri, where he spent two winters, being in Omaha, Nebraska, the intervening simmer. During this period he was engaged in railroad work. In 1885 he again went to the Grandin farm in North Dakota, and became foreman of one of the see- tions of that vast farm. There he remained for some years, spending some of his winters, however, in the Wisconsin woods. In the fall of 1897 he started for the Pacific coast. After spending a short time in Montana he went on to Washington, where he helped ent the three-mile tunnel of the Great Northern railroad through the Cascade mountains. At Tacoma, Washing- ton, July 2. 1898. he enrolled with the intention of joining a Tacoma company for service in the Spanish-American war. He passed the examinations and went with the company to Seattle. It was found. however, that there were too many men to make a full company and he was one of those left out when the company went into service. The company with Mr: Bakke as a member. was in Seattle, when on July 4, 1898, the news came of Samp- son's great naval victory, and Mr. Bakke will never forget the enthusiasm that prevailed there. After this, Mr. Bakke engaged in threshing in Washington and Idaho. The next winter he spent in Portland, Oregon, and the next summer took up threshing again. In the fall of 1899 he was called home by the death of his brother Erik. Since then he has successfully farmed in Hawk Creek township. He owns the old homestead and in addi- tion to this l'arms an eighty owned by his mother, who makes her home with him. He is one of the progressive men of the town- ship, ready to take his part in everything that has for its object the upbuilding and betterment of the community. As member and chairman of the town board and as director of the school board he has done efficient work for progress and education. He is also deeply interested in the Old Settlers' Association, of which he is one of the vice-presidents. John Bakke was married October 17, 1901, to Laura Sophia Lindquist, who was born in Dalsland, Sweden, February 18, 1869, daughter of Elias M. and Sarah Jonasdaughter Lindquist. This union has been blessed with seven children: Christine Evelyn, born August 4, 1902; Norman Lindquist, born December 5, 1903; Erie Daniel, born May 3, 1905: Alice Sophie, born October 27, 1906, died November 26, 1906; Sarah Aliee, born February 5, 1908; Grace Marie, born June 16, 1909; and John Laurence, born June 23, 1911.

Elias M. Lindquist, a pioneer, was born in Dalsland, Sweden, January 3, 1841, there grew to manhood and married Sarah Jonasdaughter who was born September 9, 1842. He eame to the

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ASTOR LEN .L AND BILDER SINDATIONS

E. J. WILSON AND FAMILY

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United States in 1869, and lived for a short time in Wisconsin, then locating in Minnesota and working on farms near St. Peter. In 1870 he was joined by his wife and his daughter, Laura. That year he seenred the rights of Christopher Anderson Setra to a homestead of eighty acres in section 6 Hawk Creek township. lle perfected the title to this property and there farmed for many years. Like the other pioneers they lived first in a dugout and later in a more pretensions dwelling. They underwent all the privations of pioneer life and in time were enabled to see all their children well established in life.

Mr. and Mrs. Lindquist have had eight children: Laura, Jo- sephine, John, Evelina (deceased), Mary, Anna (deceased), lda and Samnel.

Erven J. Wilson, the Duroc-Jersey swine enthusiast, is one of the leading men in his line in the whole state, and his reputa- tion as a breeder is nation-wide. Although he is comparatively a new comer in Renville county, he has already become one of the most prominent citizens in the township, has been elected to honorable and responsible office, and has done much to spread the fame of this part of the state as an ideal agricultural region. He was born in Ironton, Lawrence county, Ohio, February 13. 1884, son of Rev. Samuel and Sarah (Bruce) Wilson, and de- scended from sturdy Scotch ancestry. He attended the public schools of his native town as a boy, and at the age of fifteen went to Ransom, La Salle county, Illinois, where he completed his education. For a time he was employed by various farmers in La Salle county, and after a while he began renting farms. During this time he made a thorough study of swine breeding, and became convinced of the merits of the Duroc-Jersey variety. So in the spring of 1911, with a capital of but $1,600 he came to Renville county, purchased a farm of 160 acres in seetion 27, Crooks township, and started the venture which has since brought him fame and profit. He has made many improvements on the buildings and land. Among other things may be mentioned the fact that he has erected over 700 feet of woven wire fencing, extensively tiled the farm, and at a cost of over $2,000 erected a swine house construeted along the most modern lines and a model in every partieular. Thorough student of his business as he is, Mr. Wilson's success has been phenomenal. Hle breeds from 150 to 200 registered pure blooded Duroc-Jerseys each year, ex- elusively for breeding purposes. His sales, which he hokls in January and October of each year, have attracted nation-wide attention and drawn buyers from many states. Perhaps one of the most notable of these sales was the one he held January 7, 1915. For this sale he issued a splendid catalogne which was eireulated throughout the country and did much to add to Renville county's fame. The forty-four hogs for sale were de-

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seribed in the catalogue in detail, with full pedigrees, while the sires of the herds were given elaborate write-ups. Purchasers floeked to the farm in large numbers, and were entertained both there and at a Renville hotel, at Mr. Wilson's expense. The hogs brought a total of $4,318.16, an average of $98.14 and the bidding was spirited. At one time Mr. Wilson was the owner of the undefeated grand champion herd boar, Big Wonder 125,591, which he purchased for $1,500 and later sold at the same price. In addition to his busy farm duties, Mr. Wilson has found time to serve as town elerk of Crooks township, a position he is still most admirably filling. He is a member of Ransom Lodge, No. 741, 1. O. O. F., of Ransom, Illinois. Mr. Wilson is a splendid type of the modern farmer, young, energetic, hard-working, a deep thinker, a wide reader, a pleasant conversationalist and a keen business man. Mr. Wilson was married at Ransom, Illinois, to Mary A. Weber, born near that city, February 17, 1885. They have two children, Verle W., born October 14, 1907, and Dorris L., born January 18, 1913. The Rev. Samuel Wilson is a Baptist clergyman in Ironton, Lawrence county, Ohio. By his wife. Sarah Bruce, he has four children: Clarence is a contractor and builder at Poughkeepsie, New York; Vietor is a lumberman at Raymond, Washington: Oscar owns an omnibus and dray line at West Point, New York. Erven J. is a swine breeder in Ren- ville county. Two children, Julia and JJosie and two unnamed children died in infancy. By his present wife, buvina Rice, the Reverend Wilson has one daughter, Lennie, who resides with her parents.

Michael Larson, early settler, was born in Norway, March 2, 1837, and on April 12, 1869, married Anna Hendrickson, who was born September 10, 1846. This young couple set sail a few days after their marriage and after a voyage of six weeks landed at Quebec. From there they reached St. Peter in this state, where they visited a week before setting ont for Wang township, where they secured a homestead in section 34. Four years later they sold out and went back to Norway. But some six months later they came back to Wang township, and bought school land in section 36. Here, as on the previous homestead, they constructed a sod house, in which they lived until prosperity enabled them to con- struet better habitations for themselves and stock. They went through all the privations of pioneer life. Their mill was at New London. Mr. Larson often walked to the store of Louis Robert (pronounced Robaire or Ruber) near the Minnesota in the southern part of Hawk Creek township. He was one of the original members of the Hawk Creek congregation and a mem- ber of the building committee when the church was erected. After a long and useful life he died in 1892. His widow is still living on the home place. In their family there were five chil-

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dren : Henry, Olaf, Laura, Louis and Oline. Henry, Olaf and Louis are dead.

John J. Skauge, an energetie and prosperous farmer of Wang township, was born in Norway, August 2, 1868, son of Johan Johnson Skauge and of his good wife, Sigri Olsdatter, who spent the span of their years in Norway. The other children in the family were Randi, Ole, Marit, Johannah, and Berit. Of this family, John 1. was the only one who came to America. He landed at New York, August 11, 1893, and three days later reached Minneapolis. For several reasons he alternated working in the saw-mills of Minneapolis and in the pine forests of the northern part of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then he devoted several years to house building in Minneapolis, in the meantime working in the same line for a year in Charles City, lowa. It was in 1903 that he decided to settle down on a farm, the life to which he had been reared in the old country. Accordingly he came to Wang township, and located on 140 acres in section 36, which he purchased the following year. Here he successfully carries on general farming and makes a specialty of raising good grade stock. He has made many improvements on his farm and has reason to be proud of its well-developed condition. Mr. Skange has taken an active part in the affairs of the community. He is director of his school district, as well as a director in the Hawk Creek Farmers Telephone Co., and the Sacred Heart Stoek Shipping Association, and a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Co. of Sacred Heart. Mr. Skange was married Decem- ber 20, 1903, to Lanra Larson, who was born and reared on their present farm, October 15, 1878, daughter of Michael and Anna (Hendrickson) Larson, the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Skange have four children: Martin Julian, Lewis Jerome, Silas Archer and Edna Lenora, all at home.

Torger Olson Skrukrud, one of the early pioneers of the Ilawk Creek valley, was born in Norway. December 9, 1842, and at the age of sixteen came to Fillmore county, this state, where he joined his brothers, Ole and Knute, who had preceded him. For several years he was there employed as a farm hand. In 1868 he drove an ox team overland to Renville county, and se- lected a quarter section in section 5, Hawk Creek, buying eighty acres from Christina Olson. He broke a few acres, erected a log cabin, and then drove back to Fillmore county. In June 15. 1869, he again drove his oxen, bringing his family, and taking up his home in his cabin. He went through all the privations and hardships of pioneer life, though he was somewhat better off than some of the settlers on the prairie, for there was plenty of timber on his claim along the creek. The nearest markets were at New Ulm, New London and Willmar, and the trips to those places were long and tedious. There were few settlers in the country.

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and there were many drawback to farming. The grasshoppers and the hail eame, and the winters were long and cold. But with courage he worked early and late and developed a splendid farm. The log house was rebuilt into a sightly frame house. Barns and outbuildings were erected, and the place developed into a modern and successful farm. The situation is picturesque and comfortable, the creek adding much to the appearance of the surroundings. Mr. Skrukrud became a prominent man in the community, and while he did not seek publie office, his opinion was highly valned by his friends. and his standing was very high. In 1905, Mr. Skrukrud retired from farm life and moved to Granite Falls, where he purchased a pretty home overlook- ing the Minnesota River, where he lived in comfort until his death. April 23. 1913. Mr. Skrukrud was married in Fillmore county, this state. Derember. 1866. to Anna Ingebretson, who was born in Norway. October 19, 1843, and came to America the year before her future husband. She now makes her home in Granite Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Skrukrud had eleven children, of whom eight are liv- ing. They are : Ellen, Ole. Engebret, Mathias T .. Albert. Carl, Anna and Mabel, living : and Mary, and two unnamed infants, deceased. Ellen was born April 10, 1867, and married John Tandberg, of Can- ada. Ole was born November 2, 1868. and lives in Montana. Enge- bret was born September 13. 1872, and is a hardware merchant of Maynard, Minnesota. He married Christine Lerohl. Mathias T. was born December 29. 1874. Albert was born February 18, 1877, and is a merchant in Canada. He married Clara Braum. Carl was born June 30, 1880, and farms in Wang township. lle married Sophia Berge. Anna, born October 16, 1884. and Mabel. born Jan- uary 6, 1887. both live at home.

Mathias T. Skrukrud, a progressive farmer of Hawk Creek township, was born December 29, 1874. son of Torger O. and Anna Brettingen, on the sightly farm in section 5. Hawk Creek township, where he still resides. As a boy he played on the his- torie banks of Hawk creek, attended the neighborhood schools, and learned farming from his father, taking his part in the de- velopment of the home place. llis education was completed with a year's course at Decorah College, at Deeorah, Iowa. For three years he was second miller under his brother in the May- nard Flour Mill. With these exceptions he remained on the home farm until 1905, when he went into Clearwater county, this state, where he purchased a farm, on which he remained for five years. Then he returned to the home farm, where he has sinee been actively identified with the agricultural pursuits of Ren- ville county. He has now sold his farm in Clearwater county and devoted his attention entirely to his place in Hawk Creek. IIe has continued the improvements started by his father, has repaired the buildings, painted the house, added porches, and

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made other developments in the way of feneing, and the pur- chase of stock, equipment and tools. The place shows his thrift and prosperity. While in Clearwater county, Mr. Skrukrud served as a member of the town board of Greenwood, Clearwater county. Mathias Skrukrud was married April 4, 1900, to Clara Rude, born February 26, 1878, daughter of Knute T. and Marie (Hanson) Rude, the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Skrukrud have eight children : Theodore, born February 25, 1902: Myrtle, born Au- gust 9, 1903; Alice, born March 1, 1905; Irwin, born February 1, 1907: Mabel, born July 5, 1908: Kenneth, born September 17, 1910; Melvin, born December 7, 1912; and Viola, born May 15, 1915.

Harry E. Johnson, a prosperous young farmer of Flora town- ship, was born in Flora township, Renville county, April 29, 1887, son of William Johnson, a leading man of his community and For many years clerk of the township. Harry E. Johnson received his early education in the district school and later in the high school in Renville. He then remained at home until his father helped him get a farm of 200 acres in Crooks township. Later he sold this and purchased 160 acres in section 8, Flora township. Ile has improved the farm and keeps a good grade of stock. Mr. Johnson was married to Emna Wulf, born in Brownton, Mcleod county, this state, and daughter of Herman and Chris- tine (Boie) Wull, natives of Germany and United States. respec- tively. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child, Helen Merle, born June 23, 1912. The family are members of the Methodist church at Renville.

William Johnson, an estimable citizen of Flora township, was born in Indiana. March 1, 1861, son of George and Martha (Lawson) Johnson. George Johnson died about 1863, leaving two children, William and Pleasant II., now residing in Oregon. The widow married Henry Thompson, and in 1867 they came to Renville county and located on a homestead in section 18, Flora township. There they erected a log cabin and started farming, undergoing all the privations and hardships of pioneer life. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are both dead. Their son, Louis, lives in Montevideo, Minnesota, while their daughter, Emma, is de- ceased. William Johnson received his education in Flora town- ship. He was abont eighteen when he started ont for himself by working as a farmhand. At the age of twenty-two he bought a tract of 120 acres of railroad land in section 5, Flora township. No improvements had then been made. Gradually he developed the place and in time put up a frame house and erected other suitable buildings. He has increased this farm to 200 aeres and to it he has added a farm of 160 aeres in seetion 8, Flora township. He has erected good buildings, set out a grove, and brought the place to a high stage of cultivation. He also has a fine fruit

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orchard. Ilis farming operations have been successful and he has been especially fortunate in the raising of good stock He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Renville and in the Flora Township Insurance Co. He has been supervisor of his township, and a member of the schoolboard and has served in many other positions of trust and responsibility. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen. William Johnson was married about 1885 to Ellen, the daughter of James Gaffney, and they have two sons. Harry E. and Ray. By a previous marriage Mrs. Johnson has one son, Arthur.

Herman F. Manthei, one of the leading agriculturists of Troy township, has been a resident of this county for some thirty-five years. Coming to this region without resources. except his health, strength and sturdy character, he has gradually achieved pros- perity, has become a prominent man in the community, has raised a large family of splendid children, and has more than taken his part in the growth, progress and development of the county. Herman F. Manthei was born in Germany, March 17, 1862, son of Charles and Wilhelmina (Wilke) Manthei, who brought him to the United States in 1875. For several years he lived with them in Nicollet county, this state. Early in 1881 he came to Renville county, worked out as a farm hand for a while, rented a farm in Flora township for a few years, and in 1886, after having married, bought 160 acres in section 29, Troy town- ship. To this, in time, he added tracts of forty, eighty, eighty and two hundred acres, thus making 560 acres in all. To his son, Herman II., he has given 80 aeres in section 21, Troy township and he has sold an aere to the school distriet so that he now owns 519 acres of as good land as is to be found in the county. When he acquired the original 160 acres no improvements had been made thereon. He at onee set to work to bring it under culti- vation. lle erected a sightly house, commodious barns. and other ontbuildings. constructed foures, purchased equipment and ma- rhinery, and as time progressed achieved prosperity, success and comfort. Hle raises good stock, and takes special pride in his herd of Full-blooded Shorthorn cattle. His horses are of a good grade, mostly of Belgian breed. His swine are also of a good grade. llis chickens are of the Plymouth Rock variety. Busy as he is with his extensive farm work. he has found time for public service, having been supervisor of the town four years as well as serving in other offices. A thorough believer in education he has given good service as treasurer of the school board for eighteen years. A faithful adherent of the Evangelical Associa- tion faith, he has been an officer of that church in Troy township. Ile has also served the community in other ways. Mr. Manthei's long residence in this county covers a period of many interesting memories. He has seen all the present villages of Renville county

HIERMAN MANTHEI AND FAMILY

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ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

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in their infancy and has watched their growth with interest. IIe went through the great storm of 1880-81 which blocked traffic for weeks. Ile has experienced the hail and the droughts and on several occasions has barely escaped serious injury in winter storms. His knowledge of the past has made him a valued ob- server of present day conditions and his advice on all subjects is received with respectful attention. Mr. Manthei was married to Mathilda Rieck, born in Germany, February 17, 1863. daughter of William and Henrietta (Fale) Ricek, the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Manthei have had eleven children: Herman, Clara. Esther, Olga. Rheuben, William C., Osear Otto, Mathilda, Ralph, Marcella, and Glorine. Herman married Clara Pfeiffer and they have one child. Gordon. Clara married Herman A. Schondall, and they have two children, Ruth and Lanrel. Esther married Henry Metz, and they have one child, Annette. Olga married Henry Albert, and they have one child. Lola. Rhenben married Grace Brietz- kratz, and they have two children, Adaline and Joyce.

William Reick was born in Germany, married Henrietta Fale, and in 1873, came to America, bringing his wife and four chil- dren, Gustave, Herman, William and Mathilda. They came to Troy township, located on section 20, bought out an earlier set- tler's homestead rights, and there spent the remainder of their days. Like many other pioneers, they lived in a sod honse, farmed with oxen, and underwent many hardships. But in time they prospered and achieved comfort and happiness. Their son now lives on the place. William Rieck was one of the officials of the Evangelical church of Troy, of which he and his wife were among the charter members.

Peder J. Myra, the pioneer, was born in Kongsberg, Norway, and was there married. In 1867, he and his good wife, Christina, set sail for America, reaching this land of promise after a long and tedious voyage of thirteen weeks aboard an old-fashioned sailing vessel. For a time he lived in Wisconsin. In 1872 he again set out, leaving his wife and three children, Jorgen P., Lena and Helen, behind, and driving with a pair of horses to Ren- ville county, this state, finally selecting a good elaim in section 36. Wang township. For a time he lived with Olavas Rude. Then he erected a ernde structure, a hole in the earth built np with logs and roofed with marsh hay, and into this moved with his family. The land was all wild, there were no comforts, hard- ships were many. He sold his horses and secured some oxen. He had brought his old wagon with him, but he had to make a drag out of the erudest materials. He brought a cow and this furnished milk for the children. The nearest mill was at New London, and the trips to this point were always fraught with incidents and sometimes with dangers. Thus he labored ahead. Gradually he got his land cleared and broken, he added to the original traet

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until he owned 220 acres, he erected a good frame house and some substantial buildings and became a prosperous and prom- inent man. In spite of the grasshoppers and the dry year he forged ahead and achieved success. While never a seeker for office he served for a while on the school board. He was one of the earliest members of the Hawk Creek church. After a useful, well-spent life, he died December 15, 1902, and his widow, who was born in October, 1840, is now living in Sacred Heart. In addition to the children mentioned there are seven more: Carrie, Anna, Tilla, Petra, Mary, Emma, and Sophia.

Ole Nelson, early settler of the town of Hoff, in Pope county, was born in Norway, and there married Mary Hangen. In 1868 he left her and the two children, Sophia and Martin, in the old country, and after a voyage of seven weeks reached America. For a time he lived in Clayton county, Iowa, and there the family joined him in 1869. In 1870 he started ont with a yoke of oxen, his wife, and his three children (Lena having been born in lowa), for Hoff township, where he located on 80 acres of wild land. For a time the family lived in the wagon in which they came. Then they lived in a dugout until they built a house. There Mrs. Nelson died. There Mr. Nelson still lives at the good old age of 78. In addition to the three children mentioned, there are three, Mary, Olive and Nels born in Iloff township.

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The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 58

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