USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 60
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Hendrick Anderson, a pioneer. was born in Vermland. Sweden,
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
and there married Kari Larson. They came to America in 1869, located in Carver county. this state, and there lived for a little over a year. In the fall of 1869, Hendrick Anderson came to Renville county, and located a homestead of eighty acres in section 2, Hawk Creek township. He built a shack and made preparation for the future. Then he returned to his family in Carver county. In the fall of 1870 the family moved here. They at once began improving and developing the farm, under- going many hardships and privations. The grasshoppers ruined the crops for several seasons, the trips to Willmar after pro- visions were long and tiresome, money was searee and the food was of the simplest. But by hard work and frugality, together with good judgment and untiring energy, Hendrick Anderson became a prosperous citizen and won for himself a place as one of the leading men in the community. To his original traet hie added 120 acres of railroad land in section 11, and on this tract of 200 acres he carried on general farming for many years. After a dozen or so years the original shack was replaced with a log honse. A few years later this gave place to a splendid frame house. Good barns and substantial outbuildings were also erected. This he continued until his death, Feb. 27, 1908. llis good wife died a week earlier. In the family there were ten children. Five boys and one girl are dead. Henry lives in Sacred Heart village. Kari is Mrs. John Farnhof, of Santa Rosa, California. Andrew HI. lives in Sacred Heart. Mary is now the wife of Andrew Dahl- gren and they live on the old homestead in Hawk Creek town- ship.
Ole T. Ramsland, one of the leading and influential citizens of Renville county is the oldest merchant in Sacred Heart village, and for nearly a half a century has been actively identitied with the progress and growth of the western part of the county. He was born in Norway. Oet. 16, 1853, the son of Tonnes and Torborg Ramsland. and descended from a long line of sturdy Scandina- vian ancestry. When he was seventeen years of age he asked his father if he could go to America. His father answered, "I have blamed myself many times for not going to America when I was a young man and if you really wish to go I will not say no." So in 1871 he came alone to America and located in Ilous- ton county, Min. After working on a farm in Houston county for a year and a half he worked in lumber camps of northern Wisconsin two winters and one summer. Next he went to Eau Claire, Wis., attended school seven weeks, and then clerked in a store for Ingraham, Kennedy & Mason of that city for two years. In 1876 be settled in Renville county and purchased eighty acres of land in Wang township. Ile also rented eighty aeres near by. He planted all his broken land in wheat. but the grasshoppers came and he realized only 185 bushels. He at-
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tended the public school in Granite Falls the following winter, and in the spring of 1877 accepted a position as clerk in the gen- eral store of Neste Bros. in that place. With the exception of three months, spent at the Folsom Business College in Minneapolis during the winter of 1878, he remained with this firm until June, 1880. Since June 8, 1880, Mr. Ramsland has been engaged in the general mercantile business in Sacred Heart. When he came here he bought the interest of Christian Evenson in the store of Evenson & Stenson. Later he bought out Henry Stenson and has since continued in business alone on practically the same site. He has built up a large trade, earries a good stock, and enjoys the confidence and respect of the people for miles around, his honesty and fair dealing being widely known. Ile has taken an active part in publie life, and has assisted in the development of Renville county and the village of Sacred Heart in partienlar. Although born and educated in a foreign country his sentiment is "America for me and my posterity," and it is only fair to say that he has done and is doing more than any other man in his community to Americanize the Scandinavian people and make them see the necessity of using the American language and cus- toms in schools and churches. Ile has for many years served on the village council of Sacred Heart and he is now president of the school board, in which capacity he has served for many years. In 1904 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the legislature and served one term. He also helped to organize the American church of Sacred Heart, he and his wife and two daughters being four of the original seven members. Mr. Rams- land was married in November, 1879, to Julia Thompson, born in Houston county, this state, March 4. 1861. daughter of Martin and Gurina (Iverson) Thompson. She died April 20. 1896, Jeav ing seven children, Tyler, Magnus, Gertrude, Lenora, Rudolph, Odin and Mabel. Tyler married Birdie O'Connor and lives in Lemmon, South Dakota. Magnus married Sarah MeEwen and lives in Kamsack, Canada. Gertrude is the wife of Dr. Henry Schealaben of Seward, Alaska. Lenora is the wife of Dr. T. II. Titus of Ontario, California. Rudolph married Miss Russell and lives in Kamsack, Canada. Odin married Ida Sailes and lives in Faith, South Dakota. Mabel is the wife of Olie Skjie of Madison, Minn. Mr. Ramsland was married May 15. 1898, to Lenora Arestead, who was born in Norway, October. 1870, daugh- ter of Christ and Dorothe Arestad, who brought her to America when six months of age. They located in Houston county, Minn., and moved to Cooperstown. North Dakota when she was ten years of age. Mrs. Ramsland is one of the three first graduates of the Valley City State Normal school, Valley City, North Da- kota. She is the mother of two children: Clement, born Oet. 3, 1905, and Dorothe, born Oct. 2, 1906.
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Frederick Shaller, a pioneer of Crooks township, was born in Germany, Nov. 15, 1834, son of Henry and Eva Shaller. He eame to America with his mother at the age of seven years and lived a while in New Jersey where though still of tender years he helped support his mother by working in the woolen mills and doing such other labor as his strength would permit. At the age of twelve he started to learn the painter's trade but as this proved unfavorable to his health he became a blacksmith. From New Jersey he came to Racine, Wis., where he continued in the same line. In July, 1861. he enlisted as a blacksmith for three years in Co. A, Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. This was the first three-year regiment in Wisconsin. At the ex- piration of this period, Mr. Shaller returned to Raeine, but at onee re-enlisted in the same company and regiment and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Madison, Wis. Ilis entire service embraced four years, eleven months, and twenty days. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Raeine, and resumed his former occupation. It was in 1869 that he came to Renville county, bringing his family, and locating in Beaver Falls village, where he continued as a blacksmith. It is interesting to note that during his residence there he helped haul the stones for the old stone jail, the first courthouse of Renville county. In 1878 he took a homestead of wild prairie land in section 22, Crooks township. There he and his good wife underwent the hardships incident to pioneer life. The accommo- dations were crude and the discomforts were many. At first they lived in a frame shanty and sheltered their cattle in straw sheds. But as the years passed the place was developed and became as good as any in the township. A good frame house, barns and outbuildings were erected, groves were planted and flourished, fenees were put up, the land was developed and tilled. and the family became one of the most prominent in the com- munity. In 1893 after many years of strenuous farm labor, they sold the place. bought a pretty home in Renville and retired. Mrs. Shaller died May 18, 1915, and since then, though Mr. Shaller still ealls Renville his residence, he spends quite a little of his time with his daughter, Mrs. Ilenry Wileken, at 1119 Irv- ing Avenne, North, Minneapolis. Mr. Shaller has many pleasant and interesting memories of the past. He and Holstein Ottos were prominent in the organization of Crooks township, and Mr. Shaller was a member of the first town board remaining in that position some twelve years. He also helped to build the first schoolhouse in the township and was a member of the school board for a considerable period. Ile is a loyal and patriotic member of Hazen Post, G. A. R., at Renville, also a charter mem- ber of Pop Wilson Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mr. Shaller was married at Raeine, Wis., May 14, 1864, to Christina Yantz, who was born
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in Erie county. New York, July 5, 1845. She proved a loyal companion. a faithful wife. and a loving mother, and her death is being long and sincerely mourned. To this worthy couple there were born five children : William, Mary, Matilda, Ida and John. William, born April 24, 1867. at Racine, Wis., is now living in Renville county. Mary was born in Racine, Wis., March 28, 1869, is the wife of Martin Peterson, of Crooks township, and has eleven children : Murray, Amanda, Laura, Eva (who died at the age of seven months), Ruth, Edna, Dorthe, Gerald, Mary, Joel and Lilah. Matilda was born in Beaver Falls, this county, is the wife of Henry Wileken, of Minneapolis, and has three children. Carl. Harry and Theodore. Ida was born in Beaver Falls. March 30. 1875, married II. S. Pettis, of Crooks township, and has eleven children. Larressa, Edith, Fred, Adelia, Lloyd, Jennie, Florence. Percilla, Ira, Wallace and Allen. John was born in Beaver Falls, Sept. 21, 1877, and now lives in Granite Falls. Ile married Laura Erickson, and they have six children : Lawrence. Fred. Lyle, Olga, Amanda and Eva. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Oscar Anderson, a well-to-do farmer of Hawk Creek town- ship, was born in Sweden, April 24, 1851, son of Andres and Bertha (Olson) Johnson, who brought him to America in 1868 and to Hawk Creek township in 1869. For a year Oscar Ander- son worked with his father. Then he went to St. Peter and worked as a stone mason for some seven years. In 1878 he rented the home farm, and ten years later purchased it. In the years that have passed he has made extensive improvements. In 1910 he ereeted a unique home which is one of the sights of the county. The house is made of cement bricks manufactured on the place. The cement brick of which the body of the house is made are tinged with red, giving the appearance of ordinary brick. The cornices and trimmings are also made of cement bricks, gray in color, and finished to a high degree of smooth- ness and hardness. The brieks about the windows and doors neatly and artistically beveled. The interior of the house is finished in oak, and the appointments are modern in every par- ular. The picturesque house with its many gables and large front porch resembles a small castle such as one sees in the Old Country. The place is indeed a monument to the owner, not only from the fact of its beauty and oddness, but also from the fact that he planned its construction himself, and carried ont his own plans, all the material except the lumber and the cement originating on the place. Among the other comforts and con- venienees may be mentioned the gas lights. Mr. Anderson is a prominent man in the community, has served on the town board as chairman and on the school board as clerk and director, and has done public service in many other ways. He engages in gen-
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
HANS GRONNERUD
REV. JOHANNES E. BERGH
HENRY AHRENS
NEWTON G. POORE
ERIC ERICSON
P. 11. SWIFT
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OLE FUGELSKJEL
DAVID CARROTHERS
HENRY KELSEY
HANS LISTERUD
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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eral farming and has been very successful. Mr. Anderson had three children : Carl O .. born May 8. 1884; Emma, born Nov. 13, 1891, now the wife of Albert Olson, of section 12. Hawk Creek township; and Florence, born Ang. 23, 1904.
Carl O. Anderson, an active young farmer of Hawk Creek township, was born on the farm where he still resides, May 8, 1884, son of Ose " Anderson, the pioneer. He passed through the public schools and has spent his life on the home farm. Hle is progressive in his ideas, is energetic and hard working, makes a close study of the latest methods of farming and is regarded as one of the coming men of the community. lle is doing good work as clerk of school district 41.
Ole Fugleskjel, the pioneer, was born in Norway. Dec. 7, 1827, and was there reared and educated. It was there also that he married Synnena Nortras, who was born in that country Jan. 5, 1837. There, too, two of their children, Mary and Marithe, were born. In the summer of 1866, he set sail with his wife and these two children, and after a tedious and dangerous voyage of seven weeks reached Quebec. For a time they lived in Mil- waukee, Wis. Later they came to Freeborn county, this state. In 1869 they set out with an ox team, a cow, and their househoki goods for Renville county. Here they started their life in a dng- out on an eighty aere homestead in section 10, Hawk Creek town- ship. Like the other pioneers they endured many hardships. The nearest market and mill were far away. To earn money, Mr. Fugleskjel worked in St. Peter for several summers. Grad- ually his farm was developed and he attained prominence and prosperity. The dug-ont was replaced with a substantial log house sided over with boards, suitable buildings were erected, and the farm was highly improved. Mr. Fugleskjel's merit was recog- mized by his fellow citizens, and he was elected to such offices as clerk. justice and assessor of the township, and treasurer of the school board. For a time he was deputy county treasurer. In church work he was especiall prominent. being one of those who helped to organize the Hawk Creek church, and serving on the building committee which went to St. Peter to get the lumber for the first edifice. For several years he lived in the village of Sacred Heart where he operated a lumber yard and served as postmaster, but he spent his declining days on the old home- stead in Hawk Creek township, where he died Nov. 27, 1892. His good wife died April 25, 1905.
The children in the family were Mary and Marithe, already mentioned, and Ole (born in Freeborn county), and Olina, Simon, Ola. Peter and Petra, the younger five all being born on the homestead. Mary became a teacher and is now Mrs. T. II. Ny- gaard. Marithe became a teacher, went to China in 1897, and died in 1899. Olina is now Mrs. A. J. Deason, of North Dakota.
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Peter died in infancy. Petra is now Mrs. Paul Nystuen. The story of Ole is a sad one. He passed through the public schools, graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., and taught there for one year. As orderly on the Hospital staff he served three years in the army. At Des Moines, Iowa. in 1909. he was ordained a clergyman of the Lutheran church, and was assigned to Spooner and Bandette, in Beltrami county, this state. Dee. 5, 1910, he lost his way in the woods and died from exposure. A monument has been erected at St. Olaf's in his memory by the students of the United Church Seminary.
Hans C. Listerud, for many years a notable figure in Ren- ville county publie life, was born in Norway, March 22, 1838, was there reared, served in the army five years and as a youth learned the trade of gunsmith. In 1869 he came to America, and for a year lived at New Sweden, not far from St. Peter in this state. It was in 1870 that he came to Renville county and took a homestead in Hawk Creek township. He was elected to many local offices, gradually won the esteem and confidence of the voters of the whole county, and was elected county treasurer, a position he filled with honor and eredit for fourteen years. In 1910 he left the county, and took a homestead near Wolf Point, Montana. He died there Jan. 8. 1916. and was brought back to Sacred Heart for burial. Mr. Listernd was survived by a wife and eight children: Mrs. A. C. Nedrud. of Minot. North Da- kota: Mrs. D. II. Schjoll. of Sacred Heart: Peter Listerud, of Minneapolis: John Listerud. of Wolf Point, Montana: Bert Lis- terud, of Sacred Heart : Mrs. Henry Urban, of Wolf Point. Mon- tana : Henry Listernd, of Sawyer, North Dakota ; and Mrs. Morris Lund, of Wolf Point, Montana.
Eric Ericson was born on June 11. 1844, in Palmyra town- ship. Jefferson county. Wisconsin. He spent his boyhood days on the farm doing general work during summer months and attend- ing the public schools in the winter. Later he attended the Palmyra High school. He received a good general education which was the foundation for his life work. During the Civil war he served seventeen months with the Thirty-eighth Wiseon- sin Vol. Inf .. taking part in many of the severe battles in Gen- eral Grant's campaign in 1864 and 1865. He was in the terrible conflict at Petersburg where so many lives were lost, but he escaped injury and illness. At the close of the war he returned to Wisconsin and resumed teaching. On July 4, 1867. he was married to Julia Gerald of Palmyra. Wis. They came to Minne- sota in 1872. settling on a homestead in Palmyra township. this county. This same year Mr. Ericson was elected county auditor, in which capacity he served for five years. In 1873 the family moved to Beaver Falls. In 1878 he secured the position of rail- way mail clerk on the Northwestern Railway, which position he
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held until 1882, when he was elected to the office of county super- intendent of schools of Renville county, serving until 1907, with the exception of two terms. During his superintendeney he was much interested in the work of the Minnesota Educational Asso- viation, at one time being elected President of the County Super- intendent's Section. With his family he resided in Olivia from 1901 to 1908, when the removed to Minneapolis. In 1909 while engaged in school work at Moose Lake, Minn., Mr. Erieson was taken ill with pneumonia. and passed away at his home in Minne- apolis, on April 17. He was buried at Palmyra, Minn., where a monument has been erected and dedicated to his memory by the school children and teachers of Renville county. The surviving members of Mr. Erieson's family are his widow, his sons Spencer, Newman L .. and Clair G .. and his daughter Alice. all of Minne- apolis, and his son Edward J .. of Raymond, Minn. Eric Erie- son's name is perpetuated in the name of Erieson township, which was designated in his honor.
Henry Kelsey, a pioneer editor of Renville county. was born in Danville. New York. in 1838. In 1842 he was taken by his parents to Ohio, and the next year to Wisconsin. In 1857 he reached Reed's Landing, in this state. From 1861 to June, 1864, he served in the Civil war. After a year's experience as a printer he took charge of a daily paper at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In 1867 he removed to Paxton. Illinois. Two years later he located at Chippewa Falls, Wis., where he was engaged as a printer and editor. In 1871 he was editor of a paper at Paxton, Illinois. Then he was editor of a paper at Lone Tree, Nebraska, for two years. In 1874 he bought the Renville County Times at Beaver Falls from Darwin S. Hall. In 1890 he moved the paper to Olivia, and ten years later sold to Wilson & Soule. In 1900 he moved his family to Woodburn, Oregon, where he died seven years later. In 1865, Mr. Kelsey married Leonore MeMillen. and they had five children.
Henry Ahrens, one of the few settlers who lived in the county before the Massacre and returned afterwards, was born in Han- over, Germany, August 2, 1833, and came to this country in 1853. In 1854 he located in New York and the following year moved to Cineinnati, Ohio. going to Illinois in 1859. He was married in 1861 to Minnie Bobson, and that year they came to Minnesota and located in Nicollet county. The following spring they came to Beaver Falls, but were driven out that summer by the Mas- saere. The story of their thrilling escape, the destruction of their home, the loss of all their worldly possessions, their so- jonrn in Illinois, and their return to their former home is told at length elsewhere in this history in connection with the Wieh- man narratives. In addition it is interesting to note that when the family first came here they drove all the way from Will county
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with an ox team. at the Indian Outbreak drove all the way back to Will county, and afterward came to this country again in the same manner. Judge Ahrens and his good wife took an active part in forming the destinies of the new county. For ahnost fifty years Judge Ahrens earnestly and devotedly served his town, county, state and country in various official capacities, being the county's first treasurer, one of the earliest commissioners, and later being honored by being sent to the state senate, in which capacity he showed that same solid worth and good judgment which had previously been his distinguishing characteristics. In 1903 the family moved to Morton, and here died on July 29, 1910. at the age of sixty-eight. she who through so many trying years had been his faithful wife and helpmate. Judge Ahrens con- timued to live in Morton, until, rich in honor, years, and the re- speet of his fellow men, he died Jan. 30, 1914, at the age of eighty- one years. In the family there were nine children. Of these there are living six, Fritz, Reikie, Eliza, Henry, Frank and Charles.
P. H. Swift, for many years a leading newspaper man in the Northwest, was one of the remarkable characters of Beaver Falls in the early days and left his impress on the life of the comity. He was born in Orange county, Vermont. Dec. 28, 1843, son of Henry S. and Diana C. Swift, and descended from early Colonial and heroic Revolutionary ancestry. He attended the common schools of Edgerton, Wisconsin, until 1857, and then entered the normal department of the Albion Academy, leaving in his Junior year in June, 1861. At that time he enlisted in Company C. Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. A little later he was promoted to be sergeant. Ang. 30, 1862, upon recommendation of the field officer "for merit, " he was promoted to be second lieutenant of Co. E. Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. During the Siege of Vicksburg he was promoted to be first lieu- tenant, June 24, 1864. and to captain Aug. 29, 1864. He was wounded at Tupelo, Miss., July 15, 1864, by a fragment of a shell, and resigned Sept. 27, 1864. at Little Rock, Arkansas. Of his five brothers who engaged in the war, two were killed in battle, two wounded, and one crippled for life. After his resig- nation, Captain Swift returned to Edgerton, Wis .. and soon after entered upon the study of law, being admitted to the Rock county bar in June, 1867. Then he came to Beaver Falls and started practice. He was the first county attorney of Renville county and the first man from this county to sit in the legislature. While in the legislature he was chairman of the committee on federal relations, and a member of the committees on judiciary, and towns and counties. In 1872 he removed to Wisconsin, and engaged in journalism, publishing papers at Clinton and Oeonto, in that state. For six years he was editor and publisher of the Oconto County Reporter. In January, 1885, he went to Rice Lake, Wis., to take
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charge of the Barron County Chronotype. Some years later the Leader was launched at Rice Lake by Col. Swift and his sons. In April. 1906, he disposed of his newspaper interests in Rice Lake and went to Watertown, Wis., where he purchased. with his two sons, the Watertown Republican, which a few months later he changed to a daily under the name of the Watertown Leader. Ile was prominent in public affairs, was city school superintendent. county supervisor, and was foremost in advane- ing all causes tending to the upbuilding of the city. county and state. For four years he was correspondence clerk in the Wiseon- sin state treasury.
May 25, 1865. Col. Swift married Mrs. Mary C. Swift, widow of his brother, Henry S. Swift, who was killed in battle April 19, 1863, leaving one child, Henry S., Jr. Colonel and Mrs. Swift had two children, Dean M. and Ward L. D. B. Swift lives in Winona, Minn., and travels for the Wright, Barry & Stilwell Co., St. Paul. W. L. Swift is connected with the Ean Claire ( Wis.) Press Co.
Newton G. Poore was born at Columbus, Pen., May 28, 1838. At the age of four years he was taken to Ohio by his parents, and with the exception of one year in Kentneky he lived in vari- ous places in that state until he came to Minnesota. For seven- teen years he made his home near Hastings, in Dakota county. One of these years he devoted to steamboating on the Mississippi, and one to working for the government in the South. It was in 1872 that he came to Renville county and took up his home in Melville township. He was married, in November. 1860. to Sarah J. Finney, and they had five children.
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