USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 83
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Edmund C. French, D. D. S., now of Eau Claire, this state, has practiced in that city since 1874. He has attained prominence in his profession, and was a member of the Wisconsin State Dental Board of Examiners, as well as president of the Wisconsin State Dental Society. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, and his politics are those of the Republican party. Dr. French was married Jan. 27, 1867, to Esther Edwards, who was born in Salem, Penn., and this union has been blessed with four children, Myrta, Ernest E., Dwight Day and one who died in infancy. Myrta, known as Madam Kursteiner, the Wisconsin Nightingale, is a famous grand opera singer. She lives in New York, and is the wife of Jean Paul Kursteiner, a composer of some note, and the director of music at Bryn Mawr and
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Ogontoz Colleges. She has been soloist for the Strackash Grand Opera Company, of London, Berlin, Paris and Vienna with Madam Nellie Melba and Madam Phoebe Strackash, and leading soprano with the International Grand Opera Company, Andrews Grand Opera Company, Sousa's Band, the Walter Damrosch Orchestra and the Siedel Orchestra in this country. Ernest E. is a dentist in Osseo, Wis. Dwight Day is an interior decorator at Minneapolis.
Chester I. Field, garage man and automobile dealer of Osseo, was born in the village where he now resides, Aug. 18, 1891, son of Horace A. and Zoe (Shephard) Field. Horace A. Field was born in Richland County, Wis- consin, came to Sumner Township, this county, in 1861, with his parents, was reared on the farm, and devoted his life to that occupation and to keep- ing a hardware store in Osseo. He died in 1913 at the age of 62, while his wife died in 1896 at the age of 36 years. In the family there were six children. Roy died in infancy. Genevieve is secretary to Superintendent L. D. Harvey, of the Stout Institute, at Menominee, Wis. Her twin, Elinor, is the wife of Bartlett Cole, an attorney of Portland, Ore. Martha is a teacher in the primary grade of the Osseo schools. Marshall F. is an insur- ance agent at Osseo. Chester I., the youngest of the family, received his early education in the schools of Osseo and Menominee. For a time he helped his father operate the farm. In the spring of 1911 he established his present business. He handles the Chevrolet cars, does general repair- ing, and carries a full line of accessories and supplies. His financial hold- ings include stock in the State Bank, of Osseo; the Farmers Exchange Bank, of Osseo, and the Osseo Telephone Company, in the latter of which he is the vice-president. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Field was married Oct. 29, 1915, to Mrs. Ella (Stearns) Bradley, born in Fairchild, Wis., May 14, 1881, daughter of Charles and Barbara Stearns, who conduct a hotel at Fairchild. By her previous marriage to Charles Bradley, a traveling salesman of St. Paul, Mrs. Field has a daughter, Louise.
John Thompson, one of the most prominent citizens of Preston Town- ship, who is both a farmer and business man, was born in the northern part of Sweden, March 16, 1848. His father, who was Thomas Olson, was born in 1810, and in 1857 emigrated to the United States with his family, locating first in Racine County, Wisconsin. After residing there until 1864 he decided to remove farther west, and accordingly, hitching an ox team to a wagon, he started with his family for Trempealeau County. On arriv- ing here he located in Preston Township, taking up land which forms the present farm of his son John-a fine piece of agricultural property con- taining 218 acres, in sections 21, 22 and 27, and known as "The Oaks." When he took it, however, it was unimproved and he spent many years in its cultivation and development until it began to assume somewhat the appearance it has today. On this farm he died in 1890. His wife, whose maiden name was Brita Johnson, and who was born in Sweden in 1820, passed away before him in 1882. John Thompson, who was reared on his parents' farm, remained at home until the year of his mother's death. Some years before that event, or in 1878, he had purchased his present
MR. AND MRS. JOHN THOMPSON AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
farm, and he now moved onto it and has since made it his home. Aside from his interests represented therein he is president of the First National Bank of Blair, Wis., and for two years has been a stockholder in the creamery there. His success has been marked, both as farmer and busi- ness man and there are few citizens of Preston Township who stand higher in public confidence and esteem. For ten years he served as township assessor, and he has also held the office of township treasurer, in both posi- tions making a creditable record. June 26, 1880, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Ellina Mattison, who was born in La Crosse County, Wis- consin, daughter of Mattes and Anna (Olson) Mattison. Her father, born in Sweden in 1827, came to America in 1852, residing in Pennsylvania until 1866, in which year he came to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, making his home here until his death in 1905. Mrs. Thompson's mother, who was born in 1828, died in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of eight children : Anna, who married Gilbert G. Anderson, a farmer of Ettrick Township, and Melvin, Oscar, Emma, Edmund, Victor, Arthur and Gilford. The seven last mentioned are residing at home, except Edmund, who is traveling in the interests of the Agricultural Department of the United States at Washington. The family are members of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church.
Anton N. Freng came to Trempealeau County in 1875, and has lived on his present place of 160 acres in sections 27 and 28, Sumner Township, since 1883. As chairman of the town board of supervisors he has served on the county board eleven years, he has been assessor seven years, and clerk on the school board for twelve years. His financial relations are with the State Bank of Osseo, his business holdings include a half interest in his son's furniture store in Osseo, and his church connections are with the Hauge Norwegian Lutheran congregation, of which he has been secretary nearly a quarter of a century. As a modern farmer he keeps well abreast of the times and takes great pride in the development and improvement of his estate. Mr. Freng was born in Ringsacker, Norway, July 31, 1852, and was brought to America by his parents, Nels and Bertha (Johnson) Haakenson Freng, living with them in La Crosse, Wis., two years, before coming to this county. He was married July 10, 1880, to Louise Huskelhus, born in Biri, Norway, Feb. 20, 1862, daughter of Peter Arneson Huskelhus and Sedsel Jorgenson, who came to America in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Freng have four children: Bernt A., Peter N., Sena E. and Albert L. Bernt A. is a furniture dealer and undertaker at Osseo. He has two children, Mildred and Nels. Peter N. is employed in a garage at Osseo. He has two children, Blanche and Sena. Sena E. died at the age of twenty-five years. Albert L. farms with his father. He has two children, Anton and Elmer. Nels Haakenson Freng settled in Golden Valley, Sumner Township, in 1875, and five years later moved to Hale Township, remaining there until he took up his home with his son, Anton N. Freng, where he lived until his death in 1905 at the age of 79 years. His wife, Bertha Johnson, died in Sumner Township in 1878 at the age of 67. Before locating in this county they had lived in La Crosse, Wis., to which city they came from their native land of Norway in 1873.
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
David L. Davidson, proprietor of a good farm of 169 acres in sections 22 and 27, Lincoln Township, was born near Bergen, Norway, March 5, 1861. He is a son of Lars Davidson, also a native of Norway, who came to America in 1866, locating in Ettrick Township, Trempealeau County, Wis. Later he removed to Preston Township, where he subsequently resided until his death in 1909 at the age of 79 years. Lars married Julia Johnson, who did not long survive him, passing away in 1910, at the age of 81 years. David L. Davidson was reared on his parents' farm, which he purchased in 1887. He conducted it thereafter until 1911, at which time he sold it and bought his present place. In 1914 he rebuilt the barn, which is a substan- tial frame structure, 30 by 50 feet, with an L-shaped addition 34 by 46 feet, and having a capacity of 50 head of cattle. In 1915 he built a cement block silo, 16 by 40 feet. He keeps graded Holstein cattle, milking 25. Mr. Davidson is a member of the Synod Norwegian Lutheran Church. He has served three years on the Preston Township school board, and is a man who takes a personal interest in the welfare and development of the com- munity in which he lives. He was married July 3, 1887, to Bertha Everson, of Arcadia Township, whose father, Ever, died in Dane County, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are the parents of six children: Louis, John, Elmer, Clarence, Ernest and Mildred. The last mentioned was the third in order of birth, and is now the wife of Jacob Wilitzky, a farmer of Arcadia Town- ship. All the others reside at home. Mr. Davidson and his family are well known and prosperous people, he and his wife reaping the reward of industry and thrift. Their children have been brought up to be a credit to the family name.
John Carson, of Osseo, was born in Winneshiek County, Iowa, Dec. 24, 1867, oldest of the thirteen children of Ole and Jennie Carson. Ole Carson was born in Norway, came to America in 1865, and farmed near Decorah, Iowa, until his death in 1898, since which time his second wife, Julia Green, has made her home in Osseo. John Carson was reared in his native county, and started out on his own responsibility at the age of 13 years. When he was about 15 he came to Osseo. After working on various farms for a number of years he opened a general store in Osseo in 1900. For a time he had J. N. Lee as a partner, but for some 15 years he conducted the busi- ness alone, selling out to M. I. Gilbert in 1916. In 1908 he erected a cement block building, with two full stories and a basement, thus giving him ample room for his rapidly growing trade. As justice of the peace for six years Mr. Carson won the respect of the community. He is especially interested in church work in the Hauge Norwegian Lutheran congregation, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for nearly twenty years. Mr. Carson was married June 5, 1899, to Anna Nelson, daughter of Eric and Betsy (Robertson) Nelson. Eric Nelson was born in Norway, came to America as a boy of nine years, has lived in Osseo 35 years, and now makes his home with the Carson family, his wife having died in 1914. With the family also lives Lottie Nelson, an Osseo miliner, who was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Carson.
William Thompson, Sr., a retired farmer residing in section 31, Preston Township. was born in Broome County, New York, Feb. 17, 1840, son of
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM THOMPSON
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
Robert and Elizabeth A. (Scott) Thompson. The father, also a native of New York State, came to Wisconsin in 1847, locating in Milwaukee, where he resided two years. The next six years of his life were spent in Columbia County, Wisconsin, after which, coming to Trempealeau County, he bought 360 acres of land a mile and a half east of Blair, and farmed there until 1865. He then bought a farm in Little Tamarack Valley and resided there two years. Selling that place, he bought a farm near Mankato, Minn., where he lived three years. The next two years of his life were spent at the home of his son William. He then retired to Blue Earth County and there died at the age of 74 years. His wife died at the home of her son William, Jan. 8, 1892. They had a family of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth. William Thompson Sr., was brought up on his parents' farm and early acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture. He was in his twenty-first year when the Civil war broke out and in the following year, Aug. 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at Reynolds' Coolie school house, Preston Township. After a military service of three years he returned home and for the first year worked in the woods. Then in partnership with Cyrus H. Hines he built Pigeon Falls mill. In 1867 he traded his interest in the mill for Mr. Hines' farm in section 6, Preston Township, where he resided for some years engaged in farming. Again he traded, this time for a one-half interest in Coral City mill, residing at Coral City for several years, or until 1885, at which time he bought the farm on which he now lives, which is a good piece of agricultural property, with very fine improve- ments. During his active career as a farmer Mr. Thompson was an exten- sive cattle raiser, specializing in Durham cattle and doing a considerable dairy business. At an early date he hauled for Ole Knutson the first load of lumber ever carried to old Whitehall. Since 1914 he has been prac- tically retired from active work, the farm being operated by his son, Ira Thompson. Mr. Thompson was first married Dec. 14, 1866, to Laure Hine, daughter of Cyrus H. and Catherine (Barber) Hine, of Pigeon Falls. Of this union there were six children born: Dewey, who died in infancy; William C. and Ira, who are both farmers in Preston Township; Catherine E., who was born after William and before Ira, Nov. 15, 1871, and who died Oct. 15, 1877, and Bert and Selon, both of whom are farmers in Preston Township. On Friday, June 18, 1882, Mrs. Laure Thompson met an instant and tragic death. The family were at that time occupying J. W. Snow's house, on his farm half way between Blair and Whitehall. It was 11 o'clock at night, and she and her husband and youngest child were asleep in bed, three elder children being asleep upstairs. A terrible storm was passing over the neighborhood, when suddenly a bolt of lightning passing down to the bed room, killed Mrs. Thompson instantly and shocked Mr. Thompson and his child and threw them both out of bed. For several minutes he was unconscious, but neither he nor the child was seriously injured. Two of the other children upstairs were thrown out of bed onto the floor, but not seriously injured. The house was splintered more or less all through and several trees and posts standing near were split open. Mrs. Thompson was born at Lenox, Ill., July 4, 1849. She was a very popular lady in this
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
vicinity, and her funeral was attended by a large number of friends and neighbors. Mr. Thompson subsequently married Mrs. Emma Ellison, by whom he had two children: Grace E., now the wife of Alvah Van Sickle, a farmer of Pigeon Township, and Alice M., wife of Oscar Cummings, a carpenter living in Whitehall, Wis. Dec. 28, 1898, Mr. Thompson con- tracted a third marriage, with Agnes Wright, who was born at Staffords- ville, Ontario, Oct. 4, 1864. Her father, Joseph Wright, a native of Canada, came to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, by team, accompanied by his wife and family, and was subsequently a resident of Pigeon Township until his death in 1901 at the age of 71 years. His wife, Mrs. Thompson's mother,
whose maiden name was Georgiana Douglas, is now residing at the age of 84 years on the old farm in Pigeon Township, operated by her son James Wright. The family attended the Presbyterian church. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics. He is a man who takes an intelligent interest in all measures calculated to advance the interests of the community in which he lives, but has never sought public office.
Samuel Cardinal dates his residence in Trempealeau County from 1897, when he came to Sumner Township and purchased 140 acres in sec- tions 18 and 19, then owned by John Lovesey. To the development of this place he has since devoted his attention. In 1909 he built a barn, 38 by 6 feet, with cement floors; in 1910 he rebuilt his house, making a pleasant home of eleven rooms, and in 1911 he erected a stave silo, 14 by 35 feet. He keeps a good herd of Durham cattle, four of which are registered, and a drove of Duroc-Jersey swine, eight of which are registered. His public work has included service as township supervisor for three years and as clerk of the school board of his district for five years. His financial hold- ings include stock in the Farmers Exchange Bank and the Farmers Products Company, both at Osseo. Mr. Cardinal was born in Montreal, Canada, April 18, 1868, the son of Gideon and Rose Ann (Roberts) Cardinal, natives of Canada, the former of whom was born in 1836 and died in 1904, and the latter of whom was born in 1832 and died in 1908. The family came to the United States in 1872, to a homestead in Chippewa County, Wis- consin, and there lived until 1892, when they moved to Tomahawk, in Lincoln County. There Samuel Cardinal was employed at home and on various farms until coming to this country. He was married Aug. 26, 1891, to Emma Olsen, who was born in La Crosse, July 20, 1870, and was reared at Strum, in this county, where her mother, Mary Anderson Olsen, now lives, the father, Christ Olsen, who was born in Christiania, Norway, in 1844, having died in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal have had nine children, of whom there are living seven: Nora, a nurse at Eau Claire, Wis .; Goldie, the wife of M. P. Skogstad, the cashier of the Farmers Exchange Bank at Osseo, and Leo, who married Pearl Ring, daughter of John Ring, post- master at Osseo, March 28, 1917; Marshall, Lillie, Mabel and Juanita, who are at home. Ethel died at the age of six years and Marian died in infancy. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.
John A. Call, an influential and prosperous business man of Strum, was born in Crawford County, Wisconsin, March 1, 1864, son of Andrew and Brita (Johanasdotter) Call. Andrew Call was born in Sogon, Norway.
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
in 1826, came to America in 1850, farmed in Crawford County, Wisconsin, until 1872, and then came to Unity Township, Trempealeau County, where he remained until his death in 1896, his widow now making her home in Strum. John A. Call was reared in Crawford County and came to Unity Township when eight years old. He attended district school and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits until 1896. In that year he came to Strum and engaged in the hotel and livery business. Subsequently he became a salesman of farm machinery. In 1904 he engaged in the hardware and implement business. In addition to this he handles harnesses and pianos and deals extensively in live stock. He has been a director of the school board since 1915. Mr. Call was married March 6, 1896, to Christine Johnson, of Unity Township, born in Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, in 1872, the daughter of Lars Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Call have had nine children: Birdella. William, Clarence, Lillian, Ruth, Esther, John and two who died in infancy.
Charles H. Anderson, whose well cultivated farm of 230 acres is located in sections 26 and 35, Lincoln Township, was born in Dane County, Wis- consin, Dec. 15, 1865. He is a son of Bennett and Ellen (Everson) Ander- son and is of Norwegian ancestry. His grandfather, Gilbert, married Inger Flategar. Gilbert had considerable property in Norway and during a famine gave it all away to feed the starving. His mother, aged 80 years, had a life interest in the old home, and this she sold to provide her son Gilbert and his family with funds to come to America. They reached Mil- waukee with no money and this aged lady walked from Milwaukee to Dane County; Wisconsin, with the family and the ox team. Bennett Anderson, father of Charles H., was reared in Dane County and there married Ellen Everson. After living in Dane County until 1868 he homesteaded land in Arcadia Township, which was his home until his death. He and his wife had nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth. Charles H. Anderson lived on the old home in Arcadia Township till 1887. He then went to Yellowstone Valley in Montana, where he worked at railroad construction work for eight years. Then in the summer of 1896 he bought his present farm, which is a well improved piece of agricultural property. He raises Shorthorn cattle, keeping 50 head, which are all high grade. He feeds one carload a year and milks 20 cows, and keeps 40 acres of his land in clover and timothy. Mr. Anderson has served six years on the township board, during three years of which he has been chairman. He was married April 14, 1897, to Mrs. Marian Skaug (nee Wald), widow of Christopher Skaug, of Unity, Wis. They have had 11 children, of whom three-Charles, Omer and Rudolph R .- died in infancy. The living are: Blanche, Laura, Jane, Julia, Eleanor, Myrtle, Casper and Doris. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Synod Norwegian Lutheran Church.
Charles J. Amundson is proprietor of the Amundson Auto Company, of Osseo. This company has the Osseo agency for the Ford cars. The garage is a frame building, 30 by 50 feet, supplied with all kinds of Ford supplies and accessories. The place is excellently equipped for general repairing, an electric motor and a lathe being among the special features. Mr. Amundson was born in Jackson County, this state, Sept. 9, 1878, son of
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
Thore and Mary (Johnson) Amundson, the former of whom died in Jackson County in 1888, and the latter of whom is now the wife of John Larson, of that county. Charles J. Amundson was the fourth of five children, the others being: Anna, now wife of John Olson, an undertaker of Marietta, Minn .; Theodore, who farms in Jackson County ; Helen, who died at the age of 17 years, and Josephine, now of Eau Claire. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm pursuits in his native county. At the age of 15 he started work at the carpenter trade, and was employed in this line until 1912, when he established his present business. His fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Amundson was married, June 1, 1906, to Anna Christianson, of Hale Township, daughter of Charles and Helen (Johnson) Christianson. This union has been blessed with one child: Hilman Charles, born Dec. 6, 1911.
Giles E. Cripps, an enterprising and successful agriculturist, who is engaged in operating a farm of 280 acres in sections 13 and 14, Burnside Township, was born in section 11, this township, Oct. 19, 1861, son of Giles and Harriet (Wood) Cripps. A memoir of his parents may be found in the biography of Fred C. Cripps, elsewhere published in this volume. He was reared on his parents' farm and resided on it until reaching the age of 22 years, during this period being engaged in assisting his father. Dec. 30, 1883, Mr. Cripps married Eliza Zimmer, who was born at New Lisbon, Wis., Dec. 16, 1863, her parents being John J. and Margaret (Wunderlich) Zimmer. The father, usually known as Jacob Zimmer, was born in Erie County, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1836, and came West with his parents to Racine, Wis., in 1845, residing there one year. He then removed to Jefferson County, where he lived until 1865. His marriage to Margaret Wunderlich took place March 12, 1856. She was a native of Germany, born March 12, 1834, and died Nov. 15, 1912. John J. Zimmer in 1862 enlisted in the Twelfth Wisconsin Battery and was wounded in the right leg at the battle of Corinth. In the spring of 1865 he came to Trempealeau County and rented a farm in Hale Township, but after a two years' residence there, he moved to Traverse Valley, section 17, Burnside Township, where he bought a farm on which he lived until 1892. The remainder of his life was spent in the village of Independence, where his death finally occurred, Feb. 6, 1909, about three years and nine months before that of his wife. On beginning agricultural work for himself Giles E. Cripps purchased the farm on which he has since resided, and which is now well improved, the land being well tilled, the buildings ample and of good, substantial construction, and the equipment of tools and machinery being fully adequate to all the needs of modern farming. An all-woven wire fence surrounds the entire farm. Mr. Cripps and wife have been the parents of three children, the first of whom died at birth. The others are: Ralph, born Nov. 6, 1890, and Mildred, born Sept. 12, 1894. Ralph Cripps, who is engaged in operating the farm for his wife's mother, was married Oct. 3, 1916, to Jennie Cooke, of Inde- pendence, who was born Aug. 9, 1897, daughter of Samuel and Martha (Arnold) Cooke. They have one child, Willis Ralph, born Sept. 10, 1917. Mildred resides at home.
Ole O. Hovre, recently county treasurer of Trempealeau County, was
MR. AND MRS. GILES CRIPPS
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN JACOB ZIMMER
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
born in Guldbrandsdalen, Norway, Feb. 14, 1864. His father, Ole O. Hovre, also a native of Norway, came to the United States on 1874, settling in Ettrick Township, where he homesteaded land in section 2 in 1876. He died on his farm in 1900 at the age of 70 years. Ole O. Hovre married Sönnov Husmoen, who survives him and still resides on the homestead, being now 78 years old. They had six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born. Ole O. Hovre, Jr., was graduated from Gale College in 1886. He then went to Spink County, S. D., where he remained until 1890, working on farms during the summers and teaching school in the winters. At the end of that period he bought a general · store in Hale, Trempealeau County, Wis., and conducted it for 26 years, or until the spring of 1916, when he sold out. He was elected county treasurer in the fall of 1914 and served two years. He has lately purchased a farm in Taintor Township, Dunn County, to which he intends to remove after Jan. 1, 1917. Mr. Hovre served as clerk of Hale township for 12 years. He was also clerk of School District No. 3 for eight years. For 24 years he served as deacon of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod church, acting as secretary for six years. He was also justice of the peace for 24 years. Mr. Hovre was married May 13, 1891, to Mathia Böle, of Ettrick, Wis., who was born there Feb. 7, 1871, daughter of Juuhl and Ingri Böle. Her father, who was born in Norway, came to America in 1875, locating in Vernon County, Wis., from which place after a year he came to Ettrick. He died in 1914 at the age of 89 years. His wife still lives on the old farm, having now attained the age of 90 years. Mr. and Mrs. Hovre have had a family of 10 children: Selma, residing at home ; Olga, who lives in Culbertson, Mont., where she is employed as a bookkeeper; May, who is the wife of the Rev. Folkestad, of Strum, Wis .; and Helmer, Hazel, Myrtle, Lillian M., Orvel, Allice and Catherine, all of whom are residing at home except Lilliam M., who died at the age of 2 years.
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