Watonwan County, Minnesota Biographies G & H
Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota
Their People, Industries and Institutions
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families
John A. Brown
Volume II : 1916: B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.
Transcribed by Vicki Hartman
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Gall, Frank Page 222-223 Frank Gall, a well-known, well-to-do and progressive farmer of Rose- dale township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in that township and actively identified with the general affairs of his home community, is a native son of Minnesota, born at Mankato, April 17, 1868, son of Michael and Mary (Hermann) Gall, the former a native of Germany, born on June 22, 1822, and the latter, of Austria, born on April 26, 1834, who is still living on the old homestead farm in Rosen- dale township, where she and her husband settled in the early days of the settlement of this part of the state. Michael Gall and Mary Hermann were married in Germany and lived there until they came to this country in the spring of 1867, locating in Man- kato, this state, in June of that year. There they remained eleven months and during the time of their residence there the subject of this sketch was born. The next spring they came over into Watonwan county, arriving there on May 12, 1868, and settled on a tract of eighty acres which Michael Gall had homesteaded in section 22 of Rosendale township, being thus among the earlier settlers of that part of the county. Michael Gall built a shanty on his homestead tract and began to develop his farm, but what with hard times, crop failures and the grasshopper scourges he faced a hard struggle for the first few years and it was twelve years before he was able to supplant the shanty with a suitable dwelling place for his family. After a time, however, his affairs began to prosper and he presently bought an adjoining ""eighty"" in section 21. He set out a grove, made substantial improvements to his place and finally became very well circumstanced, one of the well-to-do farmers of that neighborhood. He was a Democrat and took an active part in local political affairs, having served as township treasurer for ten years and for some time as highway overseer in his district. His death occurred on December 25, 1906. For some years thereafter his widow made her home in St. James, but is now living with her son, Frank, on the old home farm. Michael Gall was a member of the Catholic church, as is his widow, and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, of whom Frank was the seventh in order of birth, the others being Mary, Katie, George, Andrew, Annie, Margaret, Mary Catherine, Anna Cleora and Magdaline, all of whom are living save Mary, who died before the family came to this country ; Andrew, who died in St. Paul at the age of thirty-eight, and Annie, who died in Germany when eighteen months old. Frank Gall was reared on the homestead farm in Rosendale township, receiving his schooling in the local schools and has lived on the old home place, which he now owns, all his life. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. He is carrying on his farming operations according to modern methods of agriculture and has made many excellent improvements to the old home place, being regarded as one of the most progressive farmers in that neighborhood. Mr. Gall is independent in his political views and has never sought public office. He is a member of the Catholic church and takes a proper interest in parish affairs. Gibbs, Edson A. Page 461-464 The name of Edson A. Gibbs, a progressive real estate dealer of St. James, Watonwan county, needs no introduction to the readers of this history, for he has long been one of the influential citizens of this locality. Mr. Gibbs was born in Woodstock, Vermont, November 4, 1865. He is a son of Seth W. and Lavina W. ( Holland) Gibbs. The father was born in Bridgewater, Vermont, in 1816, and died in Norwich, that state, August 5, 1865; the mother was born in Pittsfield, Vermont, in 1818; she came to Minnesota in 1895, and died in this state, January 19, 1891. Seth Gibbs devoted his active life to the hotel business. His family consisted of the following children: William W., who came to St. James in 1877, and became proprietor of the St. James Hotel, when it was a part of what is now the Boston Hotel; he became an extensive landowner in Watonwan county; his death occurred on September 25. 1914, at the age of seventy-three years. Myron D., second child of Seth W. Gibbs, came to Cameron Falls, Minnesota, in 1874, later locating in Tracy, this state, where he lived twenty-nine years; his death occurred in April, 1908. Edson A., subject of this sketch, was the third child in order of birth. Edson A. Gibbs received his education in Vermont, attending the public schools and the Norwich classical and English boarding school, taking a preparatory course for Dartmouth College. He learned telegraphy when a young man, and became operator at Bradford, Vermont, but not finding this work congenial, he learned the watchmaker's trade, went to Waltham, Massachusetts, and had charge of a"" retail jewelry store for George H. Waltham from 1876 to 1883, then he crossed the continent, and located at Marysville, California, where he engaged in the hotel business until he came to Minneapolis in 1885 and engaged in business, handling gas and electric fixtures until 1890, in which year he opened the Hotel Gibbs in St. James, now the Boston House, the leading hotel in Watonwan county. He was proprietor of the same for five years, when he turned his attention to real estate and he has built up a very extensive and important business, his present offices being in the Olsen block. In reference to this line of endeavor, we quote the following from a local newspaper: There is probably no man in the county that personally knows of as many farms as does E. A. Gibbs, of the firm of Gibbs & Schweppe. Mr. Gibbs is the pioneer land man of the county. There is hardly a farm in the county that he does not know all about. He knows the good features and the bad features, where there are any, about every farm. He knows the farms that have yielded well for a series of years, and he knows those that have yielded extra well. His vast fund of information about the county is at the disposal of every prospective buyer. A talk with him will help to inspire confidence in the county. He can tell just what the crops have been for a period covering more than thirty years. Mr. Gibbs first started in business in St. James as proprietor of the Boston Hotel. While still in the hotel business he gradually got into the land business. In 1892 an irrigation project was opened in Montana and the attention of people was turned to that state. He secured the agency for this county to sell irrigated land, and in three years' time the land company he was working for had sold eighteen thousand acres of the land. While he was selling Montana land he was also selling Watonwan county land to buyers from other states to the south and east of us. In 1897 Mr. Gibbs took in as partner in the land business, Andrew Strum. They worked an irrigated project in the south Platte Valley, Colorado, and all the time kept getting buyers here from Iowa and Illinois to buy this land as fast as the people sold it, to go other places. In 1899 he sold land in Charles Mix county. South Dakota, for ten dollars an acre that is now worth one hundred dollars an acre. From 1900 to 1910 he devoted more of his energies to locating people in this county, and many of our good farmers are thankful to Mr. Gibbs for inducing them to come to such a good country. In 1910 Mr. Gibbs took in as a partner, Henry Schweppe, and the firm has since been known as Gibbs & Schweppe. Having two good men on the job, it enables them to work both ends of the business. There are always people in the community who have money to invest in land and they generally want cheap land. There are renters who want to go where land is cheap and get a start for themselves. Mr. Schweppe has made a specialty of looking after the wants of those who are after cheaper lands, while Mr. Gibbs has continued to devote his time to get some of the best farmers from other states to settle here and help develop this country. Mr. Schweppe has sold many farms in Canada, largely to those who wanted to speculate in land. The firm has also sold land in Texas to those who want to get into a warmer country for the winters. The firm now has the state agency for an irrigated project in the Pecos Valley, Texas, and are locating other agents to work that country in the winter. Politically, Mr. Gibbs is a Republican. He has been chairman of the Republican County Committee for many years. He served as mayor of St. James for two terms. He has done much to boost his town and county and has aided the general welfare of his locality in a most commendable manner. Fraternally, he is past master of Lodge No. 96, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; he is past high priest of Concord Chapter No. 25, Royal Arch Masons, and Mankato Commandery, Knights Templar, and also Order of Eastern Star; he is a member of St. James Lodge No. 207, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was first chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias lodge, instituted June 12, 1892. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Gibbs was married December 4, 1878, in Bradford, Vermont, to Kate T. Stevens, a daughter of Harry B. Stevens and wife. Mr. Stevens died in 1911 at the age of ninety-three years; his wife died in 1908 at the age of eighty-three years. For more than forty years he had charge of the White Mountain state lines. He was a distinguished character in that section of Vermont. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs one son was born, Harry W. Gibbs, whose birth occurred in Waltham, Massachusetts, June 13, 1881. He is now deputy sheriff of Watonwan county. He married Ella Kopp. He is one of our well-known and respected citizens and a popular public servant. The death of Mrs. Edson A. Gibbs occurred on February 22, 1916, and she was buried at Mt. Hope cemetery at St. James. She was a woman of many excellent characteristics and had a host of warm friends. Gilbertson, Gustav E. Page 71-72 As a contractor Gustav E. Gilbertson of St. James, Watonwan county, is making a pronounced success, partly because he is industrious and persistent and partly because he is honest and reliable. He was born in Norway, October 8, 1863, a""d 's a son °f Engebret and Gurina Gilbertson, both natives of Norway, both born in the year 1830. There they grew to maturity, married and made their home until 1866 when they immigrated to the United States, locating at Red Wing, Goodhue county, Minnesota, where they spent one year, then moved to Pierce county, Wisconsin, bought a farm which he operated successfully until retiring from active life and locating again in Red Wing, where his death occurred in September, 1914, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1908. They were the parents of the following children : Anna is the wife of W. D. Bishop, of Montrose, South Dakota; Gusta, who married Andrew Ulvin, is now deceased; Julius C, who was a practicing physician at Luvern, Minnesota, is now deceased; Gustav E., the subject of this sketch; Dina is the wife of Hans Norheim of Red Wing, Minnesota; Emma is the wife of Otto A. Ulvin, a banker, living in Red Wing; Christian lives in North Dakota. Gustav E. Gilbertson was reared in Pierce county, Wisconsin, and was educated in the public schools. He remained on the home farm until 1886, when he came to Watonwan county, Minnesota; then he bought a farm of four hundred and forty acres in Brown county, where he engaged in general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale until 1908, when he moved to St. James and took up drainage contracting which he has since engaged in successfully. He has a large and pleasant home here. He has also been an auctioneer for twenty-five years and has cried scores of sales over this country with much success, his services having been in demand in a number of counties in this part of the state. Mr. Gilbertson was married, December 19, 1886, to Thora Sunde, who was born in Norway, October 16, 1865. When she was three years old her parents, Torkel and Ragnel Sunde, brought her to Brown county, Minnesota, in 1868, taking up a homestead on which the parents spent the rest of their lives, both being now deceased. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson, namely: George R., Elmer B., Arthur T., Roy A., Edith G., Julius C, and Gerald T. They are all living. Politically, Mr. Gilbertson is a Republican. While living in Brown county he was a member of the school board for a number of years. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Gilbertson's contracting business takes him all over this state. Gjertson, John Page 194-195 John Gjertson, a well-to-do farmer of Madelia township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a farm of two hundred acres situated on the state road three miles due north of the city of Madelia, is a native of Watonwan county, born on the homestead farm which he now owns and where he still lives, March 26, 1875, son of Andrew and Petroneall (England) Gjertson, natives of Norway, who were among the best-known and most influential of the pioneers of that part of the county. Andrew Gjertson was the son of Jert Royseth, a farmer and fisherman, of Norway, who was lost at sea when his son, Andrew, was thirteen years of age. The latter grew up on a farm and also took to the fishing boats. He married in his native land and in 1866 came to the United States with his wife and three small children to join a brother who had previously come to America and had settled in Madison, Wisconsin. When the tide of emigration began to flow to this section of Minnesota, Andrew Gjertson and his family came out here and located. He homesteaded eighty acres in section 10 of Madelia township and there established his home. He planted trees and otherwise improved his place and became a very substantial farmer, adding gradually to his holdings until he became the owner of a farm of two hundred acres, a quarter of a section in section 10 and a ""forty"" in section 3, and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on November 22, 1891, he then being about sixty-seven years of age. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There are ten of these children, all still living, seven having been born after the Gjertsons came to this country. Of these the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being Peter, Marie, Belle, Helen, Elisa, Julia and Georgiana. The widow Gjertson is still living on the old homestead place. She is a daughter of Elias and Marie (Unstad) England, natives of Norway, whose last days were spent in Minnesota, they having come here in their old age to join their children. Elias England was eighty-six years of age at the time of his death in 1890. John Gjertson was reared on the homestead farm, where he has always lived, and has been a farmer all his life. He received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and remained on the farm, a valuable assistant to his father in the development of the same. In 1910 he bought the interests of the other heirs in the place and is now the sole owner of a highly improved and profitably cultivated farm of two hundred acres. The house, which was built in 1904, is lighted with electric lights and is equipped with bath, furnace, telephone and all the conveniences of a modern farm house. The barn, fifty-eight by sixty feet, built in 1893, also is electrically lighted and the other farm buildings, including a silo erected in 1912, bespeak the enterprise and the progressiveness of the owner. Mr. Gjertson, in addition to his general farming, has devoted considerable attention to stock raising and has done well in that line. Mr. Gjertson has given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and served as a member of the board of supervisors for six years, 1908-14. He is a member of the Lutheran church and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest. Glasier, Jacob M. Page 347-349 Jacob M. Glasier, one of the best-known farmers and stockmen in Watonwan county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Rosendale township, in the vicinity of St. James, and widely known throughout this and neighboring states as a breeder of high-grade swine, is a native of Illinois, born on a farm near Pontiac, in Livingston county, that state, November 8, 1878, son of Peter and Anna (Fair) Glasier, natives of Germany, the former of whom was born on March 12, 1825, and the latter. May 5, 1840. Peter Glasier and wife came to the United States in 1874 and located at Trenton, New Jersey, where they remained for a year, Mr. Glasier being employed in the wire mills there, he being an expert iron-worker and blacksmith. They then came West and settled in Livingston county, Illinois, where Peter Glasier bought a small farm in the neighborhood of Pontiac, in Livingston county, erected a blacksmith shop on the same and there lived for nearly twenty years, fanning and blacksmithing. In the spring of 1894 he disposed of his interests there and moved to Kossuth county, Iowa, where, in the vicinity of Whittemore, he was engaged in farming until 1901, when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved into Whittemore, where he died on July 9, 1911, and where his widow is now living. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being as follow : A daughter, who died in infancy in Germany: Lena, who was born in Germany; Elizabeth, who was born in Trenton, New Jersey; another daughter, born in Livingston county, Illinois, who died in infancy; Peter J., born in Livingston county; Dr. William F. Glasier, born in Livingston county, who is now a practicing physician at Sisseton, South Dakota, and John T., also born in Livingston county. Jacob M. Glasier was fifteen years old when his parents moved from Illinois to Iowa and his schooling was completed in the public schools of Kossuth county, in the latter state. He became an experienced fanner and early began farming on his own account. In 1909 he married and a couple of years later, in 1911, disposed of his interests in Iowa and came to Minnesota, settling in Watonwan county, where he since has made his home. Upon locating here, Mr. Glasier bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 17 of Rosendale township and proceeded to improve and develop the same until now he has one of the best-kept and most profitable farms in the vicinity of St. James. Mr. Glasier had had much success with the raising of hogs in Iowa and upon coming to Minnesota began operations on an extensive scale along that line, paying particular attention to the raising of pure-bred Poland China swine, with which he had been very successful in Iowa, for some years previous to coining to this state he having held annual sales of his high-grade hogs which attracted attention among stock breeders far and near. These annual sales have been continued on the Rosen- dale township farm and attract wide attention. Mr. Glasier ships his hogs into adjoining states, as well as throughout this state, and is a well-known exhibitor at state and county fairs. Mr. Glasier is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker. In 1909, in Iowa, Jacob M. Glasier was united in marriage to Anna Kennedy, of Algona, that state, daughter of John and Catherine (Mimsgarn) Kennedy; the former died in 1913 and the latter is still living at Algona, and to this union four children have been born, Catherine Bernice, Anna Stella, Theresa Beatrice and Dorothy Cecelia. Mr. and Mrs. Glasier are members of the Catholic church and take an earnest interest in parish affairs, as well as in the general good works of the community and are a helpful influence in the neighborhood in which they live. Hage, Siver Page 481-482 Step by step Siver Hage, of Madelia, Watonwan county, has worked his way up from a modest beginning to a position of no mean importance in his community. He came to the New World from a foreign strand, ""A youth to fortune and to fame unknown.” Thus he is deserving of much credit for what he has accomplished unaided. Mr. Hage was born in Norway in 1840, and is a son of Jorgen and Kari T. (Halstenstande) Hage, both natives of Norway, where they spent their entire lives. The father was a school teacher. He was twice married. Four children were born to his first union, which was with the mother of the subject of this sketch. His second wife bore him five children. Siver Hage spent his boyhood in Norway and was educated there, and there he began life for himself as a farmer when only fourteen years of age, and he continued for a period of thirteen years, immigrating to America in 1867, spending two years in Okanto, Wisconsin, removing to Brown county, this state, in 1869, and took up a homestead of eighty acres in Lake Hanska township. He added to his original holdings until he had a good farm of three hundred acres. He continued to reside there until the fall of 1876, then came to Madelia township, Watonwan county, Minnesota, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres on which he continued farming until 1884 when he moved to the village of Madelia. He has continued to reside here but has owned and operated various farms near the village, at present owning two hundred acres in this county. He formerly owned two fine farms near New Ulm, in Nicollet county, containing two hundred acres and two hundred and forty acres, respectively. In 1884 he started a lumber yard at Madelia, which he has continued to operate to the present time, enjoying a large business all the while. The business was incorporated in 1902, with Mr. Hage as president, under the firm name of S. Hage Lumber Company. He is also a stockholder in the Madelia State Bank, which he helped organize, and in which he was a director from the time of its organization until 1914 when he retired. He also assisted in organizing the LaSalle State Bank, in which he is still a stockholder; also helped organize the Security State Bank of Hanska, in which he is still a stockholder and director. He was formerly president of the last named institution. He is a stockholder in the National Citizens Bank of Mankato, and the Peoples Bank of St. Paul. He has worked hard, managed well, dealt honorably with his fellow men and is deserving of the universal respect and good will which are his. He is one of the most substantial and influential men of affairs of Watonwan county. Mr. Hage was married in 1873, to Ing Serumgard, a native of Norway, and to this union the following children have been born: Anna M. Helling, George S., Karen P., Emil G. and Segar. Mr. Hage is a Unitarian in his religious beliefs. He has long been active in party affairs and has done much toward the upbuilding and betterment of his town and county. While living in Hanska township he served as justice of the peace, and was also assessor while living there; township treasurer and treasurer of the school board, holding these offices until he removed from the township in 1876. He subsequently served as justice of the peace in Madelia township, and was also assessor two years in that township, and was for two years a member of the board of aldermen of the village of Madelia. As a public servant he has always performed his duties in an able, faithful and highly acceptable manner. Haislet, Herman W. Page 125-127 The name of Herman W. Haislet, successful publisher, of St. James and the present representative of Watonwan county to the Legislature, needs no introduction to the readers of this work. Mr. Haislet was born in Decorah, Iowa, September 17, 1875, and is a son of George W. and Emma Caroline (Wood) Haislet, who came from the East and settled in Howard county, Iowa, the father establishing the first newspaper at Howard Center (now Cresco). Himself and his brothers, Samuel and Frank were the promoters of the newspapers in northeastern Iowa. George W. Haislet remained at Decorah for a number of years, his death occurring there in 1880, his widow surviving until 1883. He was a Republican. His wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Their family consisted of eleven children, only three of whom are living at this writing, namely: Fred W., of Rice Lake, Wisconsin; Katie Irene is the wife of Robert Mapson, of El Modena, California; Herman W., the subject of this sketch. After the death of his mother Herman W. Haislet went to live with an uncle, Edward W. Wood, publisher of the Democrat at Lyons, Rice county, Kansas. There he attended school and worked in his uncle's printing office until he was fourteen years old, when he went to Frederick, Kansas, where he was employed four years on the News, then became a cowboy for two summers, and worked on newspapers during the winter months. He came to Decorah, Iowa, in the winter of 1897, arriving on January 1st, and worked on the Decorah Public Opinion for some time. While there he married, in 1898, Bessie D. Houck, and to their union one son was born, Donovan Herman Haislet, whose birth occurred in October, 1899, and is now a student in second year high school. After his marriage, Mr. Haislet moved to Ridgeway, Iowa, and established the Record, which he conducted for about eighteen months, and in November, 1901, he came to St. James and secured employment in the office of the Plaindealer where he worked until December, 1901, when he took charge of the Butterfield Advocate, and with the exception of the years 1905 to 1907 he has been a residence of Watonwan county ever since coming here. In November, 1914, he was elected to the Legislature on the non- partisan ticket and has made a commendable record in this office. He was chairman of the legislative expense committee and had charge of all expenditures made for supplies of Legislature. He made a record of economy not surpassed in twenty years. He is a man of force and character, and in the face of considerable opposition has won out, when he knew he was right, on many occasions. He is outspoken and not afraid to let everybody know just where he stands on all important questions affecting the people. He has made his paper a strong factor in the general welfare of his community, and it has been a success from a business standpoint under his able management. He was justice of the peace at Butterfield for a period of nine years, and gave eminent satisfaction in the same, his decisions being noted for their fairness and clear interpretation of the law. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he took an active interest in the rate fight in 1912 and 1913. In December, 1913, he established the St. James Independent in partnership with Fred W. Haislet, buying his partner's interest in June, 1915, and has since been sole editor and publisher. The paper is gaining rapidly in circulation and is being recognized as a valuable advertising medium. Halvorsen, Ole A. Page 167-168 Ole A. Halvorsen, hardware merchant of LaSalle, Watonwan county, was born in Norway in 1866, and is a son of A. and Ragnhel Halvorsen, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, were married, spent their active lives on a farm and died there. They were the parents of four sons, namely: Halver, Rudolph, Annon and Ole A. The last named spent his boyhood on the farm and attended the common schools. He came to America about 1883, locating in Rio, Wisconsin, where he spent four years as a farm hand, then went to South Dakota and was there four years, working on various farms. His next move was to Yellow Medicine county, Minnesota, where he learned the carpenter's trade and was engaged in the lumber business three years at Hazel Run. In 1900 he came to LaSalle at the starting of the town and here he has since remained and has played well his part in the general upbuilding of the place. He erected his present building and put in a stock of hardware which he has kept increasing as the country settled up until he now carries a large stock of general hardware and implements and does an extensive business with the people of this township. He was in partnership with his brother, Annon, under the firm name of the LaSalle Hardware and Implement Company, until 1915, when the brother sold his interest to the subject of this sketch, who has since conducted the business alone, but has retained the original firm name. Mr. Halvorsen was married in May, 1908, to Mary Flogslad, a native of Minnesota, whre she grew up and attended school, and a daughter of Paul Flogslad, of Watonwan county. To this union three children were born, namely: Inez, Amie and Oleta. Mr. Halvorsen belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Mutual Benefit Association, and the Norwegian Lutheran church. Hamre, Andrew C. Page 394-395 Andrew C. Hamre, a substantial farmer of Madelia township, Waton- wan county, proprietor of a well-kept farm of fifty-eight acres, situated three miles north and one mile east of the city of Madelia, is a native son of Minnesota, born on a pioneer farm in the near vicinity of Emerald township, in Faribault county, this state, son of Christopher and Anna (Erick- son) Hamre, natives of Norway, the latter of whom is now deceased. Christopher Hamre came to the United States in his young manhood and settled on a farm near the city of Madison, in Wisconsin, later coming to Minnesota and settling on a farm in Faribault county, where he eventually became the owner of a farm of four hundred and eighty acres and was regarded as one of the most substantial farmers of that neighborhood. He is now living comfortably retired in the city of Blue Earth, in Faribault county. To him and his wife were born four children, of whom Andrew C. was the last-born, the others being Sylvia, Erick and Christopher. Andrew C. Hamre was reared on the homestead farm of his parents in Faribault county and received his schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood. He grew tip to the life of the farm and has ever been a farmer. In 1909 he located on the farm he now owns in Madelia township, Watonwan county, and where he ever since has lived and where he and his family are very pleasantly situated. The farm was partly improved when he bought it, the improvements including a substantial dwelling house. In 1910 Mr. Hamre added to the improvements by the erection of a modern barn and has otherwise improved the place and brought it to its present well-kept condition. He follows modern methods of farming and is looked upon as one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood. Mr. Hamre married April 30, 1900, Ingrie Fedje, to which union three children have been born, Christopher, Eunice and Sylvia. Mr. and Mrs. Hamre are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper part in the affairs of the same, as well as in the general good works of the community in which they live. Hanson, Severt Page 74-75 Another of the Norwegians who have come to Watonwan county and proved that he could succeed at some useful occupation other than farming is Severt Hansen, who is engaged in the jewelry business in St. James. He was born in Norway, February 27, 1879, and is a son of Hans and Betsey Olson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up and were married. They came to America in 1892, locating in Mankato, Minnesota, where the father lived retired until his death in 1899. The mother died in 1900. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. They were the parents of the following children: Ole is the eldest; Marie is the wife of Ole Bykhus, of Mankato; Thomas is a merchant in Minneapolis; Bertha is the wife of H. H. Myhrum, a tailor of Worthington, Minnesota; Carrie is the wife of Carl Hendrick, of Teddington, Canada; Tillie died in Fargo, North Dakota; Severt, of this sketch; Mary is head bookkeeper for the Benson Drug Company of Fargo, North Dakota. Severt Hansen spent his early boyhood in Norway and attended the public schools. When thirteen years old he accompanied his parents to America, and continued his education in the public schools of Mankato, Minnesota. He began learning the jeweler's trade when fourteen years of age and in due course of time became highly skilled. He came to St. James in 1899 and worked nine years for C. A. Westerbaum, giving entire satisfaction. In 1908 he formed a partnership with A. A. Westberg in the jewelry business under the firm name of Hansen & Westberg. This partnership continued successfully until July I, 1915, when Mr. Hansen bought out his partner and has since conducted the business alone. He enjoys a liberal patronage and carries a large and well-selected stock of everything commonly found in a modern jewelry store. He maintains a well-equipped repair department and his work is very satisfactory in every respect. Mr. Hansen was married in 1911, to Anna Matilda Westberg, of Nelson township, Watonwan county, and a daughter of A. P. Westberg, a pioneer of this county. To this union one child has been born, Mildred Synneva, whose birth occurred on June 3, 1915. Politically, Mr. Hansen is a Republican. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church and is a member of the choir. He is a lieutenant in Fire Company No. I. Harbitz, Monrad Page 326-327 Monrad Harbitz, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Rosen- dale township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and forty-five acres in the vicinity of St. James, and actively identified with the general interest of the community in which he has lived all his life, is a native son of Watonwan county and has been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region from the days of his childhood. He was born on the pioneer farm on which he still lives, January 13, 1886, son of George and Johanna (Rodseth) Harbitz, natives of Norway and early settlers of Watonwan county, the former of whom died on March 23, 1914, at the age of sixty-seven, and the latter, at the age of seventy-three, is making her home with her youngest son, the subject of this biographical sketch. George Harbitz and his wife came to this country from Norway in 1867 and proceeded to Minnesota, coming to this part of the state, which then was being opened to settlement, and located in Rosendale township, Watonwan county, thus having been among the very earliest settlers of that part of the county. Mr. Harbitz homesteaded a tract of eighty acres, on which he established his home, and began to take a prominent part in the pioneer activities of that region. He was a good farmer and as he developed his homestead and prospered in his operations, he gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine place of three hundred and eighty acres, well kept and profitably cultivated. Mr. Harbitz allied himself with the Democratic party upon becoming a citizen of this country and for years was one of the leaders of that party in his part of the county. For some years he was chairman of the board of supervisors of Rosendale township and for many years served as a member of the local school board, while in other ways he took an active part in local civic affairs and was a useful and influential citizen. He and his wife were, from the beginning of their residence in this county, among the leaders in the work of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living: Johanna, Ingaborg, Anna, Karen, Mary, Hannah and Monrad. Monrad Harbitz was reared on the old homestead farm on which he was born and became a practical farmer. He finished his schooling in the Madelia schools and early began farming on his own account. He now owns one hundred and forty-five acres of the old home farm, where he makes his home, and is doing well in his farming operations, which are conducted along modern lines of agriculture. He gives considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock and has done well in that line. The farm of Mr. Harbitz is well kept and well improved and he and his family are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. One of the attractive features of the place is the fine grove and the splendid avenue of great trees skirting the sides of the highway, which were planted by the elder Harbitz when he began to develop his homestead back in the sixties and which have grown to be veritable landmarks in that section. In 1913 Monrad Harbitz was united in marriage to Anna Grogan, daughter of Mathew and Mary (Reynolds) Grogan, of Riverdale township, old settlers there, and to this union two sons have been born, Lawrence and Francis. Mr. Harbitz is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and takes an earnest interest in the various beneficences of the churches. Mrs. Harbitz is a Catholic. Mr. Harbitz is a Democrat and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He is progressive, public-spirited and enterprising and is regarded as one of the substantial young farmers of the community in which he lives. Hartmann, Rev. M. K. Page 232-233 Contented to merely follow in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene, Rev. M. K. Hartmann, pastor of the United Norwegian Lutheran church of St. James, is doing a most commendable work and is one of the deservedly popular and highly esteemed men of Watonwan county, where he has done much for the general welfare of the people. M. K. Hartmann was born in Benson, Minnesota, April 3, 1878, and is a son of Rev. H. A. and A. H. (Olson) Hartmann, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, attended school and were married. They emigrated to the United States in 1877 and located at Benson, Minnesota. The father was a minister in the Norwegian Lutheran church and was pastor of the church of this denomoination at Benson for two years, then removed to Allamakee county, Iowa, and was pastor of a church at Lansing, that county, for a period of seventeen years, then returned to Norway, where he now resides. His wife died in Lansing in 1889. To these parents the following children were born: M. K., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest; Herbert is in the United States navy; Allison, Charlotte, and Alphild are all living in Norway. M. K. Hartmann received his education in the public schools of Lansing, Iowa, including the high school. He then took the course at St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1900, also studied at the University of Minnesota for some time. He was graduated from the United Church Seminary, St. Paul, in 1903. Thus exceptionally well prepared for his life work he went to Portland, Maine, where he was pastor of the church of his denomination in 1903 and 1904, then moved to Cresco, Iowa, and was pastor there from 1904 to 1910, when he came to St. James and has since been pastor of the United Lutheran church, which has a membership of over five hundred. He is also pastor of the Waverly Lutheran church in Martin county. He has built up the churches that he has served and has been popular with all his congregations. He is profoundly versed in the scriptures and is an earnest, forceful and eloquent pulpit orator. He also looks after the general welfare of his congregation, being ready at all times to help in time of distress or sorrow — teaching and practicing a practical religion. Rev. M. K. Hartmann was married on July 12, 1905, to T. Bockman, of St. Paul, Minnesota, a daughter of Dr. M. O. Bockman, president of the United Lutheran Church Seminary of St. Paul. To this union two children have been born, namely: Hildur L., born on May 2, 1910; and Charlotte F., born on October n, 1912. Mrs. Hartmann is a lady of education and culture and has been of great assistance to her husband in his pastoral work. Hasenheyer, Gottlieb Page 132-133 Gottlieb Hasenheyer, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer of Watonwan county, now living in comfortable ease at St. James, is a native of Germany, born on January 16, 1857, son of Andrew and Mary Hasenheyer, both natives of that same country, the former born in 1824 and the latter in 1826, who came to the United States in 1867 and settled on a farm in Will county, Illinois, where both spent the remainder of their lives, her death occurring in 1894, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his, the next year, 1895, he then being seventy-one years of age. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Mary (deceased), Andrew, Johanna, Frederick, August, Fredericka and Herman. Gottlieb Hasenheyer was about ten years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1867 and he completed his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home in Will county, Illinois. From the age of fifteen years to twenty-three years he worked on a dairy farm, when, in 1880, he went to Chicago, where for sixteen years he was profitably engaged in the milk business. In 1886 Mr. Hasenheyer made a trip to this part of Minnesota and bought two hundred and forty acres of land in section tion 31, St. James township, Watonwan county, regarding the same as a most excellent investment against the future. Ten years later he and his family moved out here, arriving on October 25, 1896, and established their home on that farm. With characteristic energy Mr. Hesenheyer proceeded to add to the improvements he already had projected on the place, set out a grove, erected substantial buildings and soon had one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farms in that neighborhood. On October 10, 1913, he sold his farm and on January 30, 1914, moved to St. James, where he had bought a fine residence at the corner of First street and Sixth avenue, and there he since has made his home. Mr. Hasenheyer is a Republican and during his residence on the farm served for some time as a member of his local town board and also served for one term as township assessor. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and in his fraternal relation is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. On October 14, 1883, Gottlieb Hasenheyer was united in marriage to Caroline Gronert, who was born at Concord, Wisconsin, July 9, 1861, daughter of William and Ernestine Gronert, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1858, settling in Wisconsin, where William Gronert died in 1871, at the age of forty-four. William Gronert was born in 1827. Ernestine Gronert was born on June 30, 1836. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Hasenheyer was the third in order of birth, the others being Minnie, Amelia, Frank, Martha, William, Emma and Mary. The Widow Gronert married, secondly, Ferdinand Stack, and to that second union two children were born, Frederick and Malvina. Mrs. Stack is now living at Norwood, this state, at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Hasenheyer died on March 24, 1907, leaving three children, namely: Martha, born on June 29, 1884; Alice, April 25, 1895, and Leslie, June 29, 1888, who married Ida Swick, of Princeton, Wisconsin, and has two children, Myrtle Evelyn and Leslie. Haugen, Hans A. Page 453-454 Hans A. Haugen, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Rosendale township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 2, and long recognized as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood, is a native of Norway, born in Lorn, Gudbrandsdalen, on March 18, 1874. He is a son of Anders and Sisil Vekkin, who are still living there, parents of five children, of whom Hans A. was the first-born, the others being Anna, Inga, Bertha and Embjor. Hans A. Haugen received his education in his native land and when eighteen years of age, in 1892, came to the United States, settling in Winne- bago county, Iowa. He worked on a farm there for a couple of years, at the end of which time, in 1894, he came to Minnesota and located in Watonwan county, where he worked on farms until his marriage, in 1897, when he rented different farms until 1912. In that year he bought his present farm, where he ever since has made his home. In 1915 he built a fine residence on the farm and has otherwise improved the place, until it is now regarded as one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farms in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Haugen has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well, he and his family now being comfortably situated. In 1897 Hans A. Haugen was married to Barro Bakke, who was born in Norway in 1882, daughter of Imbert and Gunhild Bakke. Her mother was remarried in Norway to Knut Teigen and came to Minnesota in 1892 and settled on a farm of eighty acres in section 6, Rosendale township, Watonwan county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Teigen dying in 1915, and his widow in 1916. To Mr. and Mrs. Haugen ten children were born : Oliver, Gena, Sigurd, Emma, Ingvald, Adolph, Mabel, Helen, Myrtle and Luella, all of whom are living. The mother of these children died on the i8th of February, 1915, and on June 7, 1916, Mr. Haugen married Laura Laugeness, who was born in Lom, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, March 31, 1884, the daughter of Ole and Raguhild Laugeness. She received a good education in her native land, her grandfather, Lars Peterson, having been a school teacher and a highly cultured man. She came to the United States in 1904, and for six years taught school in North Dakota. Mr. Haugen is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church in Rosendale and takes an earnest interest in the general affairs of same, as well as in all neighborhood good works. He is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been an aspirant for public office. Haycraft, Emery Page 205-207 Emery Haycraft, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer, living at Madelia, where for some years he was engaged as the local agent for the Standard Oil Company and where he is now engaged in the fuel business, is a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, born on March 9, 1858, son of Isaac and Sarah P. (Jolly) Haycraft, natives of Hardin county, Kentucky, who later came to Minnesota, locating in Blue Earth county, whence, later in life they moved to Madelia, where Isaac Haycraft spent his last days and where his widow is still living. Isaac Haycraft, who was a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, June 28, 1829, son of the Rev. Samuel J. and Elsie (Rhoades) Haycraft, the former of whom also was a native of that same county, son of James Haycraft, whose father also was James Hay- craft and whose father also was James Haycraft. The Haycrafts are said to have come from England to America about the year 1740, settling in Virginia and emigrating thence to Kentucky about 1775 or 1780, settling near Elizabethtown, Hardin county. In that county, as is well known, Abraham Lincoln's parents lived and there Abraham Lincoln was born. In some of the histories of Abraham Lincoln, the Haycraft family is mentioned as a family of more or less importance in the county. Samuel Haycraft, a cousin of the Rev. Samuel J. Haycraft, above mentioned, and who was clerk of Hardin county for fifty consecutive years, is mentioned in these histories as having issued the marriage license to Abraham Lincoln's father, Thomas Lincoln, for his second marriage to Sally Bush Johnson. Stephen P. Haycraft, a brother of Isaac Haycraft, settled in Madelia in 1865. He owned a large part of the townsite of Madelia and several additions to the village are known as Haycraft additions and one street is named Haycraft street. He died in 1913. In 1837 the Rev. Samuel J. Haycraft and his family moved from Kentucky to Macoupin county, Illinois, where he continued in the gospel ministry the rest of his life. Isaac Haycraft was about eight years of age when his parents moved from Kentucky to Illinois and he was reared to manhood in the latter state, as a young man beginning to farm for himself. On October 28, 1848, he married Sarah P. Jolly and in April, 1861, came to Minnesota and after a short residence in Dakota county moved to Blue Earth county, settling near Madelia. While there he enlisted for service during the Civil War as a member of the Second Minnesota Cavalry, with which command he served for about three years. In 1864, while he was in the army, his family moved to Madelia and eighteen months later, upon the completion of his military service, returned to Blue Earth county, where the family home was established on a homestead farm of eighty acres in Lincoln township. In the fall of 1892 he and his wife retired from the farm and returned to Madelia, where Isaac Haycraft spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1914. His widow is still making her home in Madelia. They were members of the Baptist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, of whom four died in infancy, the survivors being as follow : Mrs. Hattie A. Rhoades, of Montevideo, this state; Emery, the subject of this biographical sketch; Mrs. Eugenia S. Rhoades, of Madelia; Isaac G., of Solway, this state; Mrs. Liva Dodge, of Truman, this state, and Julius E. Haycraft, of Fairmont. The last named was postmaster at Madelia for twelve years; was state senator from the district composed of Watonwan and Martin counties for the four-year term from January, 1911, to January 1, 1915, and is now practicing law at Fairmont, senior member of the law firm of Haycraft & Palmer. Emery Haycraft was but a child when his parents came to Minnesota from Illinois and he was seven or eight years old when they located on the homestead farm in Blue Earth county. He completed his schooling in the Lincoln township schools in that county and as a young man, following his marriage in 1882, started farming on a farm nearby his father's place. There he made his home until 1892, in which year he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Madelia, where he ever since has made his home and where he and his wife are very pleasantly situated. From 1896 to September, 1915, Mr. Haycraft was engaged as local agent for the Standard Oil Company at Madelia and since the latter date has been engaged in the fuel business. In September, 1882, Emery Haycraft was united in marriage to Jennie Sargent, who was born in Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, a daughter of William and Sophia (Matthewson) Sargent, who moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Fieldon township, Watonwan county. Mrs. Haycraft was the third in order of birth of the six children born to her parents, the others being Mary, who married J. W. Pond, Randall, Mrs. Adelaide Hewett, Franklin and John. To Mr. and Mrs. Haycraft three children have been born, Edwin R., who married Sue M. Wedge and has two children, Berryl and Rollo; Harry, who married Anna Reese and has one child, a son, Gordon R., and Vernon, who married Emma Bargland and has one child, a daughter, Verna Emma. Mrs. Haycraft is a member of the Baptist church and she and her husband take an earnest interest in the general movements having to do with the betterment of the community at large. Henderson, Martin Page 388-389 It was a half century ago that the Henderson family arrived in Waton- wan county, which was then sparsely settled and little improved, and from that pioneer day to the present time the name has been well known and has stood for good citizenship in every respect. Martin Henderson, a successful farmer of Long Lake township, formerly spelled his name Hendrickson, but when he filed on his homestead here, the clerk entered the name on the records as Henderson, which name he has since adopted. He was born in Sweden, December 3, 1848, and is a son of Hendrick and Martha (Anderson) Hendrickson, natives of Sweden and Norway, respectively. They came to America in 1852 and located first in Muskego, Wisconsin, where they spent one winter, then moved to Dane county, that state, for one year, then moved to Vernon county, the same state, where they bought a farm and lived until 1866, when they came to Watonwan county, Minnesota, arriving on July 19 on the banks of Kansas lake> locating on the farm where their son, Martin, still lives. They were the first settlers here; however, other families came later that year. The father of the subject of this sketch pre-empted one hundred and twenty-five acres, also bought fifty acres of railroad land. Here he worked hard and had a good farm and a comfortable home, dying on the place just thirty years to a day from the time he reached the land which he selected for his future home. His wife died on June 19 of the following year, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Helen Erickson, in Coon Valley, Vernon county, Wisconsin. To these parents the following children were born : Helena, who is deceased ; Olea, who is deceased ; Martin, of this sketch ; Anna, Kate and Henry. The father of these children helped organize the Kansas Lake Lutheran church, which was effected in his log cabin home. He was an advocate of a free church, not connected with a larger organization. Martin Henderson grew up on the home farm and assisted his father with the work of the same when a boy. He received excellent educational advantages for those early days, having attended the public schools of Wisconsin and Minnesota and the Curtis Business College of Minneapolis. For fifteen years he was a railroad grading contractor, his first work being in Canada in 1875, later working at various places. He then pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in Mountain Lake township, Cottonwood county, but resided on it only long enough to prove it up. He began the active operation of his father's farm in 1892, and is now owner of two hundred and thirty acres of valuable and productive land, and his wife owns fifty- five acres nearby. He has kept the land well cultivated and well improved and erected good buildings or remodeled the old as his needs require. He carries on general farming and handles a good deal of live stock from year to year. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers elevator at St. James. Mr. Henderson was married on August 4, 1883, to Christian Erickson, who was born in Sweden, and is a daughter of Andrew and Kisa (Larson) Erickson, both natives of Sweden. He came to America in 1880, and she came in 1883. They lived for some time in Minneapolis, later moved to a farm in Watonwan county, Minnesota, in 1888. They are both deceased. Their family consisted of the following children: Christina, wife of Mr. Henderson; Matilda, wife of Oscar Pehrson, and Edwin, who died in 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Henderson the following children have been bom: Henry Walter, Matilda, who is the wife of Louis Boon; Marie and Arthur, the latter deceased; Philip, Ella, Rodger and Thomas. Politically, Mr. Henderson is Republican. He has never been very active in public affairs, nor cared for office. He and family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Heppner, John Page 475-477 John Heppner, one of the largest landowners in Watonwan county, proprietor of a fine home place in Butterfield township, vice-president of the Peoples Bank of Butterfield, former county commissioner and for many years actively identified with the agricultural, Civic and business life of the community in which he has so long resided, is a native of Russia, but has been a resident of Minnesota since 1876. He was born on March 19, 1858, son of Deitrich and Mary Heppner, both natives of that same country, the former born in 1816 and the latter in 1821, whose last days were spent in Watonwan county, where they settled in pioneer days. In 1876 Deitrich Heppner and his family came from Russia to this country, proceeding straightway out to Minnesota and settling in Watonwan county, where they arrived on July 20 of that year. Deitrich Heppner homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Adrian township and there established his home. He died there in 1882, before he had the place ""proved up"" and his widow completed the homestead requirements and continued to make her home there the rest of her life, her death occurring in 1906. Deitrich and Mary Heppner were the parents of fourteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the tenth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Mary, born on September 23, 1841; Margaret, May i, 1843; Cornelius, November 18, 1844; Jacob, 1846, deceased; Deitrich, September 12, 1847, who died in infancy; Deitrich, second, December 7, 1848; Susanna, April 20, 1851, who died in 1855; Jacob, March 26, 1853; Peter, July 19, 1855; Susanna, second, February 19, 1859; Aganeta, April 27, 1861, who died on July 6, 1866; Helena, December 8, 1864, who died on January 21, 1878, and Erdman, December n, 1866. Deitrich Heppner and his wife were members of the Mennonite church and their children were reared in that faith. John Heppner was about eighteen years old when he came to Minnesota with his parents in 1876 and he has lived here ever since. He remained on the homestead farm in Adrian township, assisting in the development of the same until after his marriage, when, in 1883, he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 8 of Butterfield township and there he established his home. Mr. Heppner put out a fine grove and set about improving his farm in the most substantial manner. He succeeded from the very start of his farming operations and as he prospered gradually added to his land holdings until now he is the owner of one thousand three hundred and eighty acres of land and is accounted one of the most substantial residents of Watonwan county. He continues to make his home on the original quarter section on which he started his operations in 1883 and has a beautiful place, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Heppner, in addition to his extensive farming operations, has given considerable attention to general business affairs and is the vice-president of the Peoples Bank of Butterfield. He also has taken an active part in local political affairs, long having been counted one of the leaders of the Republican party in his part of the county. For many years he has served on the township board and the school board and also served for some time as a member of the board of county commissioners. It was in 1882, in Butterfield township, that John Heppner was united in marriage to Anna Dick, who also was born in Russia, December 26, 1861, daughter of Ben and Aganeta Dick, natives of that same country, the former of whom came to Minnesota in 1875 and settled in Butterfield township, Watonwan county, with his eight children, his wife having died in her native land in 1871. Ben Dick settled on an eighty -acre farm in Butterfield township, where he lived for years, but later went to Saskatchewan, Canada, where he spent his last days, his death occurring in 1908, he then being seventy-eight years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Heppner seven children have been born, namely: Mary, born on May 5, 1883, who died just two weeks later; Mary, second, April 5, 1884; Ben, October 6, 1886; Deitrich, June 29, 1888; John, October 10, 1891 ; Jacob, October 8, 1893, and Peter, January 19, 1902. The Heppners are members of the Mennonite church, in the affairs of which they take a warm interest, as well as in all local good works, and have long been helpful in promoting measures for the general good of the community in which they live. Holen, Soren Page 208-209 The late Soren Holen was for many years one of the leading citizens of St. James, of which town he was a pioneer and did much to promote its growth and general welfare, being a public-spirited citizen and especially active in church work. He was essentially a man of affairs — sound of judgment and far-seeing in what he undertook, and every enterprise to which he addressed himself resulted in a large measure of material success. Soren Holen was born in Norway on December 10, 1848, in which country his parents lived and died, and there he grew up and was educated. He emigrated to Minnesota in 1871, spending a short time at Rush- ford, then went to Mankato. In January, 1877, he located in St. James and managed a lumber yard, which he purchased in 1898 and operated for himself until February, 1911, when he sold out and lived retired until his death, which occurred on December 5, 1914. He built up a large trade, and was one of the best-known lumber dealers in this section of the state. He built a fine residence in 1894. Politically, he was a Republican. He served for some time as a member of the city council, also as a member of the school board for six years. He was a Mason. Mr. Holen was a member of the Lutheran church and was very active in church work. He was a member of the first board of trustees in charge of the United Lutheran church at St. James. Soren Holen was married on September 15, 1883, to Julia Johnson, who was born in Norway, August 29, 1860. She is a daughter of Peter and Andrine (Olson) Johnson, both born in Norway, the father on May 2, 1833, and the mother on September 29, 1837. There they grew up and were married, remaining in their native land until 1871, when they emigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago, where they resided until their deaths, the mother dying in 1905 and the father in 1908. Mr. Johnson was a carpenter by trade and became a highly skilled workman, continuing in that line of work all his active life. His family consisted of five children, named as follow: Julia, Edward, Soren, Arndt and Peter. To Mr. and Mrs. Holen seven children were born, namely: Harvey is deceased; Alma was educated in the schools of St. James; Pliny died when four years old; Inga was graduated from the St. James high school in 1908 and from St. Olaf College in 1912, and after teaching two and one-half years, including a short time in St. James, is now at home with her mother; Mildred J. died when seven years old ; Hester, who was graduated from the St. James high school in 1915, is now a student in St. Olaf College; Mildred is attending the local public schools. Holte, Even O. Page 138-139 The rugged country of Norway has produced a sterling race. Her people are courageous and never permit obstacles to down them. Being fighters by nature they necessarily succeed when given even half a chance, so it is no wonder they soon become comfortably situated after taking up their residence in such a locality as Watonwan, Minnesota. Among those who have come here and made good, Even O. Holte, now living in retirement in St. James, should be mentioned. Mr. Holte was born in Norway, July 8, 1852, and is a son of Ole and Esther Holte, both natives of Norway, where they grew up and were married and there the father spent his life, dying in 1876, at the age of fifty- four years. In 1878 the mother came to Mower county, Minnesota, and to Watonwan county in 1879 and lived most of the time with her son, Even O., until her death in 1905, at the age of eighty years. Mr. Holte spent his boyhood in Norway and there attended the public schools. In 1873 he came to Mower county, Minnesota, where he remained until 1879, when he located in Watonwan county, buying forty acres. Prospering through close application and good management, he added to this place until he owned four hundred acres of valuable land in Long Lake and South Branch townships, and for years carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He finally sold part of his land, and in 1911 came to St. James, bought a commodious home and is now living retired from the active duties of life. Mr. Holte has been one of the influential men of his community, is a loyal Republican, and he was chairman of the township board in Long Lake township for several years, also served on the Republican central committee, also served on the local school board. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Even O. Holte was married, in 1876, to Martha Anderson Ovaley, who was born in Mower county, this state, in 1855. She was a daughter of Knut and Annie Ovaley, pioneers of Mower county, where the father died, but the mother is living in St. James, being now eighty-one years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Holte eleven children have been born, namely: Lena, Knute, Alma, Ida (deceased), Hilda, Otto, Elmer, Amanda, Arthur, Anne and Victor. Hovden, Ben Page 395-396 Ben Hovden, a well-known and progressive farmer, stockman and dairyman, of Rosendale township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres in the vicinity of St. James and for years actively identified with the rapidly developing interests of that community, is a native of Norway, born on January 26, 1871, but has been a resident of Minnesota ever since he was twenty-one years old. His parents died when he was quite young and since he was ten years old he practically has made his own way in the world. Industry, thrift and energy have secured their customary reward in his case and he has scored a substantial success, long having been looked upon as one of the leading farmers and stockmen in the part of the county in which he lives. When he was twenty-one years of age, early in 1892, Ben Hovden came to the United States and located at Minneapolis, where he remained for eight months, at the end of which time, in the fall of that same year, he came to this part of the state and located in Watonwan county, which has since been his place of residence. He married the year after coming here and in 1902 bought a forty-acre tract in section 9 of Rosendale township, where he established his home and where he ever since has lived. As he prospered in his farming operations, Mr. Hovden has added to his holdings until now he is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in sections 9 and 10, all of which is well-improved and profitably cultivated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Hovden has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock, with particular attention to Holstein cattle and Poland China swine. His operations are carried on along modern lines and his farm equipment is as good as any. His big, modern barn is lighted by electricity and the other outfittings are in keeping with the up-to-date spirit in which the place is conducted. Mr. Hovden's pure-bred dairy herd is his special pride and he does an extensive dairy business, the cream from the Hovden farm being in large demand by customers in the nearby city of St. James. Mr. Hovden is a Democrat and gives close attention to local civic affairs. He is a member of the township board and for nine or ten years has been a member of the school board in his district. On December 5, 1893, Ben Hovden was united in marriage to Amelia Olson, who was born in Rosendale township, Watonwan county, January 12, 1873, daughter of Lars and Elizabeth Olson, who came to Minnesota from Norway in 1869 and settled in Watonwan county, being among the early settlers in this part of the state. Lars Olson homesteaded a farm in section 10, Rosendale township, and there established his home, becoming one of the substantial and influential farmers of that part of the county. In his declining years he retired from the farm and moved to St. James, where he spent his last days, his death occurring on March n, 1909, he then being eighty-four years of age. His widow, who was born on March 12, 1840, is still living at St. James. To Mr. and Mrs. Hovden six children have been born, Carl, Emma, George, Alfred, Arthur and Ervin, all of whom are living. The Hovlands are members of the Lutheran church, in the various beneficences of which they take a warm interest, Mr. Hovden being clerk of the church, and they likewise give proper attention to all other neighborhood good works. |
