USA > South Dakota > Minnehaha County > History of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. Containing an account of its settlements, growth, development and resources Synopsis of public records, biographical sketches > Part 80
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914
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
HOGANSON, OLE, was born in Trondhjem, Norway. He emi- grated to this country and came to Dakota in 1873, taking up as a homestead and tree claim the south half of section 6, in the town of Edison, where he still resides, having a good farm with substantial and fine buildings.
HOVE, JOHN, came from Minnesota, where he was born Septem- ber 25, 1864. He settled in this county in 1885, and resides on his 160-acre farm in section 3, in Edison, engaged in farming, and has a good farm.
HENJUM, KNUT NELSON, was born in Norway, February 3, 1845, and came to this country in 1861. He resided in Minnesota until 1874, when he removed to Dakota and located in this county. He pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 11 in Edison, and after perfecting his title sold it in 1885. He also secured a timber claim on the southwest quarter of the same section, and a homestead on the southwest quarter of section 14, where he resides and has a very fine farm with substantial buildings and improvements. He owns at this writing about 520 acres of land in Edison township, and is en- gaged in extensive farming. He has held school district and town offices, and is one of the responsible farmers of Edison, and a highly respected citizen. Mr. Henjum, together with John Hermanson, Lars Hove and John J. Henjum were the first persons to settle out on what was then called the "high prairie" in Edison; the settle- ments before that time being along the Split Rock and Pipestone creeks.
INGALLS, WILLIAM HARRISON, was born in Kane county, Illi- nois, December 16, 1848. He lived in Iowa a few years, and came to Dakota in 1872, where he remained until 1874, when he left the terri- torv. In 1884 he returned to Dakota and took up his permanent res- idence in this county on the northeast quarter of section 23 in Edi- son, where he engaged in farming until in November, 1898, when he removed to Todd county, Minnesota, where he is now located on a stock farm. He was an active and well-known citizen, and served as school director and road overseer several years in Edison township.
JOHNSON, NELS P., was born in Sweden in 1846. He emigrated to the United States in 1871, and lived in Chicago, Illinois, until 1873, when he removed to Dakota and located in this county. He resides on his farm in Edison comprising about 400 acres of land in sections 34 and 35, and is a well-to-do farmer and a good citizen.
JOHNSON, THOMAS, was born in Norway in 1852. He emigrated to the United States and lived in Minnesota until he removed to this county in 1875. He took up the southwest quarter of section 22 in Logan as a homestead, and the northwest quarter of section 32 in Edison as a tree claim, where he has since resided engaged in farm- ing. He has a good farm, and is a good citizen.
LOFTESNESS, JOHN H., was born in Norway in 1822, and resided in Wisconsin and Minnesota before coming to Edison in 1873. He took up the northeast quarter of section 20, as a homestead, to which he has added 80 acres, and has a good farm.
915
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
LARSON, OLE, is a native of Norway, and was born in 1845. After coming to this country he lived for some time in Wisconsin and came to Dakota in 1873, and settled in this county, taking up as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 3 in Edison. He also owns the northwest quarter of the same section, making in all a good farm of 320 acres with substantial buildings and improvements. He is an enterprising, reliable citizen.
MILLARD, EDSON, was born at Morris, Otsego county, New York, July 27, 1827. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Before coming to Dakota he resided for a few years in Minnesota. In 1872 he came to this county and settled in Edison, taking up land in sections 25 and 35. He resided on his farm until his decease, which occurred December 5, 1892. He was a kind, gen- erous man, and was greatly beloved by his neighbors. As a citizen he was highly respected, and the pioneers of Edison cherish his memory and often speak of the many little helps he gave them.
NESHEIM, OLE J., is a native of Norway, and was born in 1849. He emigrated to Dakota in 1868 and lived about two years near Ver- million, then took up a quarter section of land in the northern part of Clay county, where he was one of the first settlers. He removed from there to this county in 1872 and took up a homestead and tree claim comprising 200 acres in section 18 in Edison, where he has since resided and has a good farm.
OVESON, ERICK, was born October 1, 1859, in Winneshiek county, Iowa. He lived there and in Minnesota until 1872, when he came to Dakota and settled in Minnehaha county. His farm is located in sec- tion 31 in Edison and section 6 in Brandon. He resides in Edison, is a good farmer and a respected citizen, and has held the office of assessor.
POWERS, JOHN, was born in Ireland in 1844, and came to Minne- sota in 1870, and to this county June 1, 1873. He took up the north- east quarter of section 29, as a homestead, where he has since re- sided. He also filed upon the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 28, as a timber claim, and has since purchased land in Edison so that he is now the owner of 520 acres. He is a good farmer and a good neighbor, and it looks now as though he would get along comfortably without any outside help. He has held several important town offices, and is a highly esteemed citizen. His father, Allen Powers, took up the southeast quarter of section 29 in Edison as a homestead in 1873, and resided there until his death, which oc- curred in December, 1876.
ROGNALDSON, HANS H., was born in Norway in 1847. He emi- grated and lived in Wisconsin and Washington Territory before he came to Dakota in 1880, when he located in this county. He bought the east half of the northeast quarter of section 11, and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 12, in the town of Edison, where he now resides, and has a good farm with substantial build- ings and improvements.
STEPHENSON, ANDREW H., was born in Norway in 1865, and came to the town of Edison with his father in 1873. He owns and re-
916
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
sides upon the southwest quarter of section 9, and has purchased the northwest quarter of section 16, and has a good farm. He has been assessor three years, member of the school board and chairman of the town board, and in 1895 was elected county commissioner from his district. He makes a good official and is an enterprising and re- spected citizen.
STEPHENSON, JACOB, is a native of Norway and was born June 25, 1856. He emigrated to Minnesota and lived there until he re- moved to Dakota with his father in 1873. He has a homestead on the southeast quarter of section 9, in Edison, and also owns the west half of the northeast quarter of the same section, where he resides and has a good farm.
STEPHENSON, STEPHEN, was born in Norway, December 16, 1853. He came to this country and lived in Minnesota for some time, but removed to Dakota and settled in this county in 1873. He then filed a homestead on the northwest quarter of section 9, where he still resides. He also owns the east half of the northeast quarter of section 8, making in all a good farm of 240 acres.
STOKKE, JOHN J., was born in Norway in 1826. He emigrated to the United States and lived in Minnesota until 1872, when he re- moved to this county. He took up considerable land, but disposed of a large portion, and now owns 400 acres in sections 30, 31 and 33 in Edison, where he resides and has a good farm. He is a good neigh- bor and an esteemed citizen.
VADHEIM, L. A., is a native of Norway and was born January 10, 1850. He emigrated to the United States and lived in Iowa until in July, 1873, when he removed to this county. He secured 240 acres of land in section 12 in Edison by homestead and tree claim filings, and resides on the northeast quarter of that section. He has been town supervisor and school district clerk, is a good farmer and a good citizen.
WANGSNESS, CHRISTOPHER H., was born in Norway, July 15, 1857. He came to this country with his father, Herman H. Wangsness, lived with him in Minnesota and Iowa, and came with him to Edison June 19, 1873. His father took up as a homestead the east half of the northwest quarter and the west half of the northeast quarter of section 17, and as a tree claim the west half of the south- east quarter of the same section. This land is now owned by Chris, and is a good farm. His father was born January 14, 1814, and is still living. Chris is an active participant in public affairs, and for the past few years a republican county convention without his pres- ence has been of rare occurrence. He was the first town clerk of Edison, has held nearly all the township offices and has been chair- man of the town board. He was elected register of deeds of this county in November, 1892, was re-elected in 1894, and performed the duties of this office to the entire satisfaction of his constituency. Since the expiration of his term of office as register of deeds he has been in the employ of the McCormick Harvester Co., and resides in the city of Sioux Falls. He is one of Minnehaha county's foremost citizens, has a wide circle of acquaintances and a host of friends.
C. H. WANGSNESS.
SVERDRUP TOWNSHIP.
(103-49)
The town lines of Sverdrup were surveyed by Wm. J. Neelev in July, 1859, and the subdivisions made by Carl C. P. Meyer in Sep- tember, 1864. It has an acreage of 23,031.58, and is one of the best townships in the county. The Big Sioux river enters on section 2, and running in a southeasterly course, leaves the township on sec- tion 32. On the map of the first survey there appear two quite ex- tensive sloughs, but they have gradually yielded to cultivation, and only during very wet seasons are noticeable. There are some tribu- taries of the Big Sioux in the eastern part of the township, but the volume of water is greatly increased or diminished by dry or wet sea-
sons. The first settlement was made on section 29, by John Thomp- son, on the 2d day of July, 1866, and through his influence others came to this county and settled during the year following. On the 12th day of Angust, 1868, the first church in the county was organ- ized in this township. The first school house in Sverdrup was built of logs, and located a little southwest of John Thompson's grove, where the Early Settlers Association has held its annual meeting's and picnics for the last five years. The first school meeting of which there is any record, was held at this house on the 30th day of An- gust, 1871. William Melvin was elected director, John Thompson clerk, and A. W. Johnson treasurer. The first school teacher was Ole J. Aasen, who commenced school on the 28th day of December, 1871, and taught three months for the sum of $37. The school was held in John J. Aasen's log dwelling house, which was situated on the northwest quarter of section 29. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad runs through the entire length of Sverdrup, but its nearest station is at Baltic, formerly known as St. Olaf and Keyes, located on the southeast quarter of section 32, in Dell Rapids town- ship. It has more resident farmers than any other township in the county, and its valuation of personal property is the largest, except Sioux Falls and Dell Rapids with the cities included. The popula- tion is principally of Scandinavian descent; and the well cultivated farms, fine buildings and other evidence of thrift that can be seen in Sverdrup is a high testimonial of the industry and good citizenship of this race of people.
NIDAROS NORWEGIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This church was named after the city of Nidaros (now called Trondhjem), in Norway. It was organized August 12, 1868, and was the first church organization in this county. Its members were mostly resi-
920
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
dents of the western half of Sverdrup. Its first pastor was the Rev. E. Christensen, who then resided in Yankton county. He preached to the congregation occasionally until the fall of 1873. On the 23d day of October of that year the Rev. O. O. Sando was installed as pastor of this church, and has since then remained as such. In 1878 a church building was erected on the northwest quarter of section 17, in Sverdrup, at a cost of 53,500, which sum was raised among the
NIDAROS NORWEGIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
members of the church. There were in 1896 two hundred and eighty communicants, and the congregation numbered six hundred. Ser- vices are held in the church once in two weeks. There is a parochial school connected with the church which is maintained from four to seven months each year.
ST. OLAF'S NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This church was organized at Baltic, March 16, 1890, with a membership of thirty- four, which has remained about the same since then. There is a Woman's sewing circle connected with, and in aid of the church. The Rev. C. C. Moe holds services about every third Sunday. Ow- ing to the hard times for the past few years, the society has not yet erected a church building.
SVERDRUP TOWNSHIP BOARD.
The first meeting of the board was held at the residence of John Vollan on Saturday the 15th day of January, 1881. At this meeting there were present T. S. Roberts chairman, O. P. Moe and Ole J. Aasen supervisors, A. J. Berdahl clerk, and Erik J. Berdahl justice of the peace. John Thompson had been elected as- sessor and J. Hogstad one of the constables, but having failed to
921
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
qualify, Sever J. Aasen was appointed assessor and Magnus Tide- mann constable. John H. Roberts was treasurer, and Thomas Mc- Kean one of the constables during this year. On July 18, there as a meeting of the board, and John O. Langness was present as one of the supervisors in the place of Ole J. Aasen. On the 19th day of July the first warrant was issued to Sever J. Aasen in the sum of $28 for services as assessor. The treasurer reported at the end of the year that he had received no money.
1882. Supervisors, Dr. T. S. Roberts chairman, John O. Lang- ness, O. P. Moe; A. J. Berdahl clerk, Sever J. Aasen assessor, John H. Roberts treasurer, A. P. Risvold road overseer, James Flamoe constable. On the 21st day of July the board levied taxes as follows: Town 2, bridges 2 and road 4 mills. During the year the treasurer received $233, and paid out on warrants $221.97.
1883. Supervisors, John Thompson chairman, Ole P. Moe, Peter P. Risvold; Andrew J. Berdahl clerk, Sever J. Aasen assessor, John O. Langness treasurer, Ole J. Aasen and Erik J. Berdahl jus- tices, James Flamoe, Jr., constable, A. P. Risvold road overseer. At the first meeting of the board it was ordered that all bridges built in the township should be of the width of 16 feet.
1884. The annual town meeting was held on March 4, at the Kringen school house. At this meeting three guide posts were or- dered erected and three places designated for posting legal notices. At this meeting John Thompson was elected chairman, Peder P. Risvold and Ole P. Moe supervisors, A. J. Berdahl clerk, John O. Langness treasurer, Severt J. Aasen assessor. Thirty-seven votes were cast. On the 27th day of September the resignation of A. J. Berdahl as clerk was accepted and John R. Bjorgan was appointed to fill the vacancy.
1885. The annual town meeting was held in the John Thompson school house on the 3d day of March. It was voted to raise $100 for general purposes, $75 for road and bridges and $25 for incidental ex- penses. John Thompson was elected chairman, Peter P. Risvold and Ole J. Aasen supervisors, John R. Bjorgan clerk, John O. Lang- ness treasurer, Severt J. Aasen assesssr, Ole J. Aasen and E. J. Berdahl justices, J. Flamoe and John O. Hammer constables.
1886. The annual town meeting was held at the Kringen school house on the 2d day of March. It was voted to pay the assessor $2.00 per day for his services instead of $3.00. A. P. Risvold was elected overseer of highways for the whole township. A tax was ordered levied sufficient to raise for general purposes $125, and for bridges $200. John Thompson was elected chairman, Ole J. Aasen and Peter P. Risvold supervisors, John O. Langness treasurer, Sever J. Aasen assessor. Eighteen votes were cast at this election.
1887. The annual town meeting was held March 1, when John Thompson was elected chairman and Ole Aasen and Erik Berdahl supervisors and justices, John R. Bjorgan clerk, John O. Langness treasurer, Severt J. Aasen assessor, Jens Flamoe and G. A. Gard- ner constables. Eighteen votes were cast. At this meeting the as- sessor's pay was raised to $2.50 per day.
1888. The annual town meeting was held March 6. The vote
922
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
on dividing the town into road districts was 21 for, and 12 against. John Thompson was elected chairman, Ole J. Aasen and E. J. Ber- dahl supervisors, J. R. Bjorgan clerk, John O. Langness treasurer, Severt J. Aasen assessor, P. A. Moen constable, A. P. Risvold road overseer. June 4, road matters were considered, and the town offi- cers upon petition of twelve freeholders decided to submit the ques- tion of a resurvey of the township "according to the U. S. survey and field notes."" At the town meeting held June 18, 62 votes were cast on the resurvey question, 44 in favor and 18 against. October 30 and 31, the board divided the township into four road districts, and on the last mentioned day the town board of Dell Rapids met with the board and divided the west one mile and a half for the maintenance of a highway on the town line between the two towns.
1889. The following officers were elected: John Thompson chairman, E. J. Berdahl and Ole J. Aasen supervisors and justices, John R. Bjorgan clerk, John O. Langness treasurer, S. J. Aasen as- sessor, John Finnegan and J. Flamoe constables. July 8, the board directed Ole J. Aasen to procure the resurvey of certain roads. Oc- tober 5, board settled with Mrs. A. B. McKean for damages which she had received by the new survey.
1890. Supervisors, John Thompson chairman, E. J. Berdahl, Andrew J. Aasen; John R. Bjorgan clerk, John O. Langness treas- urer, S. J. Aasen assessor and S. T. Kirkeby constable.
1891. Supervisors, John Thompson chairman, E. J. Berdahl, H. J. Solem; John R. Bjorgan clerk, John O. Langness treasurer, Ole J. Aasen assessor, E. J. Berdahl and T. J. Questad justices, S. J. Kirkeby and John Finnegan constables. Forty-four votes were cast. March 31, board met and T. T. Vrenne was appointed justice, T. J. Questad not having qualified.
1892. Supervisors, E. J. Berdahl chairman, H. G. Solem, Oliver Olson; John R. Bjorgan clerk, A. J. Berdahl treasurer, Ole J. Aasen assessor, T. T. Vrenne justice of the peace, Ole J Fundaun con- stable.
1893. Supervisors, E. J. Berdahl chairman, T. T. Vrenne, John P. Risvold; John R. Bjorgan clerk, Ole J. Questad treasurer, Ole J. Aasen assessor, E. J. Berdahl and George W. Sisson justices, Ole J. Fundaun and T. O. Nyhus constables. Mr. Vrenne refused to qualify and H. G. Solem was appointed to fill his place. Mr. Sis- son also refused to qualify and John G. C. Schlegel was appointed, and upon his death E. J. Langness was appointed.
1894. Supervisors, A. J. Berdahl chairman, Ole P. Moen, John P. Risvold; clerk, John R. Bjorgan; treasurer, Ole J. Questad; asses- sor, Ole J. Aasen.
1895. Supervisors, F. J. Berdahl chairman, Ole P. Moen, John P. Vollen; clerk, John R. Bjorgan; treasurer, Ole J. Questad: asses- sor, Ole J. Aasen.
1896. E. J. Berdahl chairman, Peter A. Moen, N. B. Peterson; clerk, John R. Bjorgan; treasurer, Ole J. Questad; assessor, John P. Vollen.
1897. Supervisors, John Thompson chairman, N. B. Peterson, Paul A. Risvold; clerk, John R. Bjorgan; treasurer, Ole J. Questad; assessor, H. S. Sandvig.
923
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
1898. Supervisors, E. J. Berdahl chairman, N. B. Peterson, Erik Nelson; clerk, John R. Bjorgan; treasurer, Ole J. Questad; as- sessor, Hans S. Sandvig.
1899. Supervisors, E. J. Berdahl chairman, N. B. Peterson, Erik Nelson; clerk, H. R. Bjorgan; treasurer, Ole Questad; assessor, H. S. Sandvig; justices, E. J. Berdahl, Ole Questad.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
AASEN, Jr., JOHN J., one of the first farmers who settled in this county, is a native of Norway and was born February 15, 1843. He emigrated to the United States and lived in Goodhue county, Minne- sota, until the fall of 1866, when in the company of Ole O. Gilseth he started for Dakota; the hardships and privations endured by them during this journey being more fully described in the chapter of reminiscences. After having arrived in this county, Mr. Aasen took up a homestead in sections 20 and 29 in Sverdrup, where he has been engaged in farming. He resides at the present time on his farm in section 30 in the same township, is well-to-do and has a good farm. In 1865, he served in the army for six months. He is a good farmer and a respected citizen.
AASEN, OLE J., was born in Norway in 1846, and is one of the early settlers of this county. He came here from Minnesota July 23, 1867, there being no railroads in this section of the country at that time, the slow conveyance of an ox-team was employed to bring the sturdy settler to Dakota. He located in this county and secured as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 18 in Sverdrup, where he has since resided, and has a good farm with substantial buildings. He was appointed constable in 1871, in district number three, and since that time has almost continuously held some prominent town- ship office either as supervisor of the town board, justice of the peace or assessor, and in the winter of 1871-2 taught the first school in that locality. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his town, and is a highly respected citizen.
BERDAHL, ERICK J., was born in Norway August 8, 1850, and came to Minnehaha county with his father in June, 1872, having prior to that time lived with him in Iowa and Minnesota. He filed on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter and the north half of the southeast quarter of section 24 in Sverdrup, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 19 in Edison as a home- stead. He took up a timber claim, which he afterwards sold. He also sold the west 40 acres of his homestead, and bought 120 acres north of the remainder of his homestead, making him a farm of 240 acres, on which he now resides. He also owns 80 acres of section 25 in Sverdrup. He has been justice of the peace, member and chair- man of the town board, postmaster of Pennington post office fifteen years, and at the election in November, 1892, was elected to the House of Representatives of the state legislature on the Populist ticket, and was the only candidate of his party elected to the legisla- ture from this county that year.
924
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
BJORGAN, JOHN R., was born in Norway, January 8, 1851. In 1872 he emigrated to the United States, and located in this county. He lived in Sverdrup two years, and then went to Decorah, Iowa, where he for three years attended the Luther college, from which he was graduated in 1877. He then went to Goodhue county, Minn., and taught school until he returned to Sverdrup, where he followed the same vocation until the summer of 1892. He resides on his farm in section 30, in Sverdrup. He has held the office of clerk of the town board of supervisors since 1884, and is also secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of Minnehaha county. He is an enterprising and respected citizen.
BRENDE, GUDMUND O., is a native of Norway, and was born July 18, 1839. He emigrated and came to Minnesota in 1867, resided there three years, and removed to Dakota and located in this county in July, 1870. He took up as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 21. in Sverdrup, and has since then purchased about six hundred acres of land in the same township. He lives on his home- stead and has a very good farm. The Sverdrup post office is located on his farm, and Mr. Brende has been the postmaster ever since it was established. He is one of the prominent farmers of Sverdrup, highly esteemed as a neighbor and citizen, and well known all over the county.
BRENDE, ERICK G., was born on the North Sea, May 5, 1867, while his parents were emigrating to the United States. His father, Gudmund O. Brende, settled in Minnesota for three years, and then removed to Dakota and located in this county. The subject of this sketch is an enterprising young man, and at the present writing is residing upon the old homestead in section 21, in Sverdrup.
BRENDE, OLE G., was born in Norway, November 13, 1864. He came with his parents to Minnesota in 1867, and three years later to Sverdrup. He now owns a good farm in sections 16 and 22 in that township. He is a good citizen.
BRENDE, OLE THOMPSON, is a native of Norway, and was born December 6, 1852. He emigrated to Minnesota in 1869, and resided there until he removed to this county in 1872. He settled in Sver- drup township, taking up as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 14, to which he has added by purchase and at the present writing has a farm of about three hundred and sixty acres. He is one of the substantial farmers of Sverdrup, and has held the office of treasurer of his school district for more than ten years. He is a good neighbor and a respected citizen.
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