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Chippewa County Minnesota |
Biographies
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Chippewa County Minnesota |
Abel Anderson
Herringshaw's American Blue-Book of Biography by Thomas William Herringshaw and American Publishers' Association, 1914 - TK - Transcribed by FOFG
Anderson, Abel, clergyman of Montevideo. Minn., was born Dec. 6, 1847, in Albion, Wis. In 1888-99 he filled the chair of ancient and modern languages in the Windom institute; and was school inspector for a number of years.History of the Scandinavians and Successful Scandinavians in the United States, Volumes I & II (1900) submitted by cd
Anderson, Abel, clergyman and educator—Montevideo —born 5 Dec, 1847, in Dane county. Wis. His mother's ancestors had been officers in the Norwegian army for several generations; in 1830 she married Bjorn Anderson, a farmer's son and a Quaker, but a marriage between the daughter of an officer and a farmer was in those days, and to a certain extent is yet, looked upon with great disfavor; besides, the young couple had not only sinned against the social rank, but, what was worse still, Anderson did not
belong to the state church, the Lutheran. To avoid all social and religious unpleasantness, they emigrated to the U. S. in 1836; lived a year in Rochester, N. Y., and four years in Illinois; settled in Wisconsin in 1841, being therefore among the very earliest Scandinavian immigrants in this country. Abel Anderson, who is a brother to the well known Prof. R. B. Anderson, attended Albion Academy two years and the University of Wisconsin for a couple of years; graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, in 1872, and two years later completed his theological studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. From 1874-87 he had charge of a church belonging to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod at Muskegon, Mich., being also school inspector for several years; took active part in politics; was a delegate to the Republican national convention which nominated Blaine for president in 1884, being one of the first Scandinavians in this country who was a delegate to a national convention of this party; was a candidate for representative to the state legislature twice, but his party being in the minority, was defeated both times. Anderson came to Appleton, Minn., in 1887, and settled in Montevideo the following year, having charge of churches at both places. He has been instructor in ancient and modem languages, in which he is considered to be quite proficient, at Windom Institute, and was one of its trustees. He has contributed frequently to the Chicago Tribune and other papers, both in the Norwegian and the English language. In 1874 he was married to Mary Olson, of Cambridge, Wis. Anderson has two brothers who are married to two of his wife's sisters. They have several children living, of whom two daughters have studied at Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.
Peter Bela Crane
Source: Progressive men of Minnesota. Published by The Minneapolis Journal (1897) submitted by Diana Heser Morse
Peter Bela Crane, of Minneapolis, was born in Wisconsin, March 6, 1847. His father, V. G. Crane, had shortly before that removed from New York to Wisconsin. He was a mechanic and a farmer in reduced circumstances, his lack of means bring due to prolonged illness. E. F. Crane, a brother of the father of the subject of this sketch, is a Baptist minister, now over ninety years of age, who is said to have baptized over three thousand people. The subject of this sketch attended the district school, which in the early days of Wisconsin was comparatively a primitive affair. His attendance, however, was confined chiefly to the winter months, his services, as in the case of most farmer's boys, being required on the farm in the summer. In the spring of 1869, Peter Bela Crane came to Minnesota in a covered wagon and settled on a farm near Montevideo. He has had quite a varied career, having been engaged in farming, in selling farm machinery, and as a fire and life insurance agent. In 1874 he was appointed the agent of the St. Paul Fire and Marine and the Minnesota Farmer's Fire Insurance companies, which he managed with success. In 1880 he accepted the general agency for Dakota of the St. Paul Fire and Marine Company. In 1885 he engaged in the life insurance business, and in 1887 he organized the Odd Fellow's National Benevolent Association the membership of which was confined exclusively to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In January, 1892, the company was changed to a general insurance company of the natural premium plan. The name was also changed to the National Mutual Life Association. Mr. Crane is president of this company and is giving it his especial attention. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, although he does not take a very active part in politics. He is a member of the Montevideo Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Sunset Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His church connections are with the Congregational body. On December 20, 1876, he was married to Miss Addie L. Lawrence, who died May 3, 1888. He has six children, Mary L., Mertle E., Alta R., Bela L., Harold C. and Gladise E.
Christopher A. Fosnes
Source: Progressive men of Minnesota. Published by The Minneapolis Journal (1897) submitted by Diana Heser Morse
C. A. Fosnes is an attorney of Montevideo, Minnesota. He is a native of Fosnes, Norway, where he was born on July 2, 1862. When only five years old he came to this country with his parents. Amund Fosnes, his father, was a farmer, and, like many of the emigrants from the Scandinavian peninsula, was very poor. His wife was Miss Britha Sherdahl. Upon arriving in this country Mr. Fosnes settled in Winona County, Minnesota. He afterwards removed to Faribault County, and it was in the district schools of these two Minnesota counties that young Christopher obtained his early education. As is common with farmers' boys, he went to school in the winter only and worked on the farm in the summer. Even when going to school he worked for his board. As he approached manhood he determined to become a lawyer, and he left the farm and went to Winona, where he attended the State Normal school and afterwards studied law. In the fall of 1884 he was admitted to the bar at Montevideo, Minnesota, and has since practiced law in that place. For the first year of his legal practice Mr. Fosnes was associated with Owen J. Wood, the firm being Wood & Fosnes. After the dissolution of this partnership the firm of Smith & Fosnes was formed, the senior member of the firm being Lyndon A. Smith. Mr. Fosnes continued his partnership with Mr. Smith until May, 1890, and since that time he has practiced alone. He has a large and well established business which consists almost exclusively of court work. During his twelve years of legal life Mr. Fosnes has accumulated one of the best law libraries in the state, west of Minneapolis. He has had numerous important cases, one of which was the defense of George M. Clark, undertaken in 1896. Clark was charged, at Milbank, South Dakota, with securing from New York bankers the sum of forty thousand dollars on forged paper. He left the country last January, but has since been arrested in Mexico and brought back for trial. Mr. Fosnes is independent in politics. He was a candidate for congress in 1888 on the Prohibition ticket and a delegate to the National Prohibition Convention in the same year. In his home town he has been mayor, member of the school board and for several years city attorney, and in 1896 was elected to the state legislature on the fusion ticket. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Masonic bodies. On July 3, 1883, Mr. Fosnes and Miss Sarah Arneson were married. They have four children, Walter, Alfred, Ernest and Carl.
History of the Scandinavians and Successful Scandinavians in the United States, Volumes I & II (1900) submitted by cd
Fosnes, C. A., lawyer and legislator—Montevideo—born 2 July, 1862, in Gloppen, Bergen stift, Norway. At the age of four he came with his parents to this country; they settled in Winona county, Minn., but moved to Faribault county two years later. Fosnes received a common school education, attended the state normal school at Winona for two years, and studied law in a private office in Winona. Since 1884 he has practiced his profession in Montevideo, and was the Prohibition candidate for Congress in 1888. He has been a member of the school board in his district, and city attorney and mayor. In 1897 and 1899 he served in the state legislature, having been elected on the Fusion ticket, although he is independent in politics. Fosnes made an excellent record as a legislator, and was especially successful in defeating several pernicious bills. If his party had been in the majority instead of in the minority some of the highly deserving measures which he tried to pass would undoubtedly have been enacted. He is a Freemason and a member of the I. O. O. F., and was married to Sarah Arneson, of Montevideo, in 1883. They have children.
Nels H. Hanson
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Richard Ramos
HANSON Nels H, Anoka. Merchant. Born Sept 7, 1854 in Norway, son of Hans Hanson. Married Dec 7, 1876 to Mary Bertelson. Educated in common schools at Lansing Ia; worked in a cooper shop Red Wing 1875; moved to Chippewa county 1879 and took up homestead; moved to Glyndon 1885 engaged in mercantile business; moved to Anoka 1890 and engaged in dry goods business to date. Mayor of Anoka 4 terms.
Hans Waldemar Hendrickson
Source: Progressive men of Minnesota. (Shutter, Marion Daniel, 1853-ed.) Minneapolis, The Minneapolis Journal (1897) Submitted by Diana Heser Morse
Dr. H. W. Hendrickson, of Montevideo, Minnesota, was born on February 20, 1868, in Nestved, Denmark. His parents were of respectable families of the middle class and fairly well-to-do financially. When only eight years old young Hendrickson was sent to America by his parents, and soon came to Minnesota. His boyhood days were passed on a farm in Chippewa County, and like most farmer boys he worked hard during the busy season and went to school during the winter months. The death of his father while he was quite young and the straitened circumstances in which his mother subsequently found herself left young Hendrickson at an early age much on his own resources and early taught him the lesson that success depended very largely upon the persistent efforts and individual ability. And like many before him his success was not very promising with the circumstances which surrounded him. His education, obtained in the midst of hard work, was supplemented by three years of school teaching in his won and adjoining counties, during which time he was continuing his studies as rapidly as possible. At the age of twenty-two he entered to medical department of the University of Minnesota. He graduated with the class of 1893 and at once opened an office at the corner of Riverside and Cedar Avenues and commenced practice. As the prospects for building up an extensive practice were not very bright, together with the financial depression that was severely felt in the city during that year, D. Hendrickson determined to go west. In the latter part of June, 1893, he located at Canton, South Dakota, where he remained for two years. In August of 1895 he removed to Montevideo, in the vicinity his old home, with the intention of permanently establishing at that place. Since moving to Montevideo he has bought a pleasant home. In January of 1896 he was chosen county physician by the Board of County Commissioners and his practice has rapidly enlarged so that he has, at present, a comfortable income. Dr. Hendrickson was one of the first physicians in his part of the state to introduce electricity extensively into practice, and to employ the Galvano-Cautery in nasal surgery. While in South Dakota he helped to organize the Canton Hospital Stock Company, and he is still consulting physician with that institution. Dr. Hendrickson is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican, though he has never taken a very active part in the political affairs. He was married on November 30, 1888, to Miss Thora J. Ness. Three children have been born to them, John Christian, Melvin and Ella. Dr. Hendrickson seems destined to become a leader in his profession in the state.
Charles Kittelson
History of the Scandinavians and Successful Scandinavians in the United States, Volumes I & II (1900) submitted by cd
Kittelson, Charles, state treasurer—Montevideo—born 1837, in Sigdal, Kristiania stift, Norway. He came to this country at the age of thirteen; resided for seven years in Wisconsin; then moved to Albert Lea, Minn., where he resided for several years, and was county treasurer of Freeborn county for six terms. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota Infantry, was successively promoted to second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain of company E of his regiment. In 1872 he was presidential elector; served as state treasurer in 1880-87; was for a few years connected with a couple of banks in St. Paul; moved to Minneapolis in 1890, where he was president of Columbia National Bank until it failed about seven years later; and has since together with a son been operating a flour mill in Montevideo. Kittelson seems to have been out of place as a public servant. His bookkeeping as treasurer of Freeborn county could not be disentangled by experts. Ignorance rather than dishonesty appears to have been his main fault. He is a Republican.
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