Lyon County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1912 (part 4 of 17)

GEORGE A. TATE (1889) is the former president of the First National Bank of Balaton, the proprietor of an elevator in that village, and a man prominently identified with the business interests of Lyon county. He has been a resident of Balaton a quarter of a century and has spent his entire life in Minnesota.

George A. Tate was born at Elba, Winona county, Minnesota, November 7, 1862, the second eldest of a family of five children born to George WT. and Augusta (Day) Tate. The father, who was a native of Virginia, died April 17, 1890. The mother, a New Yorker by birth, is living. The other children of the family are Frank D., Fred. Nellie F. and Lelia A.

At Elba and St. Charles, Minnesota, young Tate spent his boyhood days and grew to manhood. He located in Balaton in May. 1889, bought grain for a few years, and then erected an elevator and engaged in business for himself, which he has since followed in addition to his banking interests. Mr. Tate was one of the organizers of the Citizens State Bank of Balaton in IMrj and was president of the bank. When the reorganization into the First National Bank was brought about in 1903 he was chosen president of the new concern and served as such until February 1. 1912. He deals quite extensively in real estate.

Mr. Tate was a member of the Hoard of Education of Balaton six years, was village trustee one year and president of the Council one year. He is a member of the Maccabee and Workmen lodges.

Lillian M. Dickinson became the wife of George A. Tate at St. Charles, Minnesota. They have two children living, Harry A. and Lillian Georgia.

ANDREW A. CHRISTEXSOX (1872) is a former sheriff ofsLyon county and one of its pioneer settlers. He served the county in the capacity of sheriff twelve years and was on the police force at Tracy five years. He is assistant sergeant at arms of the Minnesota State Senate, having received the appointment in January, 1911. He is a native of Norway, born October 19, 1863, and came to the United States when one and one-half years of age. He located in Allamakee county. Iowa, where he resided until 1872.

In tne latter year our subject came to Lyon county and located in Monroe township, where his father homesteaded the southwest quarter of section 28, and resided there several years. He then started the struggle of life for himself, working at farm labor, on the section, and for two years was a fireman on the Northwestern railroad. He later served five years on the Tracy police force and was elected sheriff of Lyon in 1894 and served twelve years. He then spent four years on his farm in Monroe township and in 1910 moved to Tracy, where he has since resided.

Our subject is a son of Andrew and Annie (Thorson) Christenson, the former of whom resides in Tracy at the age of eighty-two years, and the latter is deceased. They were the parents of six children: C. A., of Roseau county, Minnesota; Andrew of this sketch; Christina, of Omaha; and Thomas, Ole-and Martin, all deceased.

LAWREXCE H. FREESE (1878) is a farmer of Lynd township. He is a native of Sibley county, Minnesota, and was born July 23, 1876. The parents of our subject were Henry and Sarah Freese, the latter of whom died in May, 1911. The father is one of the early settlers in Lyon county and still resides in Lake Marshall township.

Our subject received his early education in Marshall, where he attended school until sixteen years of age. He then worked out for a while before he started farming for himself.

Mr. Freese is a member of the M. W. A. lodge. Besides farming, he engages in stock raising, including Duroc-Jersey hogs and Shorthorn cattle. He operates the southeast quarter of section 12, Lynd township. Our subject has five brothers and three sisters: Will, of Meadows, Idaho; Arthur, Xoah, Edward and Roland, of Lyon county; Elsie, of Lyon county; Lydia, of Seattle, Washington; and Mary, of Meadows, Idaho.

On June 1, 1900, Mr. Freese was united in marriage to Ada Orr, a daughter of Sumner and Celia Orr, of Marshall. Mr. and Mrs. Orr are pioneer residents of Lyon county and Mrs. Freese is a native of the county. They are the parents of the following children: Allie, Helen, Gertie, Ada, Eleanor.

LEWIS L. ROWELL (1878) came with his parents to Lyon county when one year old, and with the exception of about one and onehalf years he has been a continuous resident of Amiret township since that time.

Lewis was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, Xovember 5, 1877. The next year he was brought by his parents, Lewis and Patience (Brooman) Rowell, #to Lyon county, and the family settled on a farm in Amiret township which the father had purchased. The elder Rowell resided on the farm until his death. Lewis as a lad received the education afforded by the schools of the district and was kept busy at home helping with the farm work. At the age of twenty the boy went to South Dakota and made his home about one year near Huron, being employed as a farm laborer. Returning to Lyon county, he remained here one year before again making a trip, this time to North Dakota and .Montana, where he spent several months.

After his return to Lyon county in 1899, Mr. Rowell took up farming for himself and is today the proprietor of the southeast quarter of section 10, Amiret township, which is the farm taken by his father as a tree claim. Besides his own farm Mr. Rowell operates the O. M. Covey half section in the same township, and he engages in stock raising in addition to his general farming. He raises Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. He is also a shareholder of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Tracy.

The ceremony which united Lewis Rowell and Maggie Montgomery in the holy bonds of matrimony was performed at Redwood Falls, Minnesota, December 18. 1902. To this union have been born the following children: Harold, born April 2, 1904; Lucile, born June -15, 1906: Donald, born April 6, 1908; and Mark, born February 24, 1910. Mr. Rowell's mother is still living and resides with her daughter, Mrs. William Berry, of Amiret. Mr. Rowell is a member of the Modern Woodmen and I. O. O. F. lodges.

HUGH H. JONES (1874) has been a farmer in Custer township since 1888 and has been on his present farm, the south half of section 13, the past two years.

Mr. Jones was born in Racine, Wisconsin, May 10, 1858. His parents, Richard R. Jones and Margaret (Hughes) Jones, were both natives of Wales. The former died thirty-six years ago in Lake Crystal, Minnesota, and Mr. Jones' mother is a resident of Garvin. Hugh lived in Racine until nine years old, and then the family moved to Lake Crystal, where they lived until 1874, coming then to Lyon county and making their home on section 10 in Custer township. Hugh received his education in the public schools of Lake Crystal and in the district school of Custer. He remained on the home farm until his marriage in 1888. »

M. SULLIVAN (1879), of Marshall, was one of the town's early business men and is a leading spirit in many local enterprises. He has been president of the Marshall Board of Education for the last twenty-eight years and was mayor of the city eight successive years. He is a Democrat and served four years as postmaster of Marshall during President Cleveland's first administration.

Mr. Sullivan has been a resident of Minnesota since 1868. He spent two years in Winona, and in the spring of 1870 he opened a lumber yard in St. Charles, where he remained until he became a resident of Marshall in 1879. Upon his arrival here he engaged in the lumber business in which he has ever since been interested.

Mr. Sullivan was married at Fort Plain. Montgomery county, New York, in 1865 to Sarah M. Frink. She died in January, 1901. The second marriage of Mr. Sullivan occurred in 1903, when he wedded Mary Voss. He has two sons, Earl Y. and Emmet M.

ROBERT CUMMINGS (1876) lives on the northwest quarter of section 32, Lucas township, land he took as a homestead thirty-six years ago. He is a pioneer of that precinct and one of the few men there who still live on a homestead.

Scotland is the native land of Robert Cummings. He was born January b, 1855, and when one and one-half years of age was brought by his parents to America. The family home was made in Wabasha county, Minnesota Territory, and there our subject grew to manhood. Upon reaching his majority in 1876 he came to Lyon county and took his homestead in Lucas township. About the same time his parents located in Redwood county, and during the next ten years Mr. Cummings divided his time between his claim and his parents' home. During that dacade he farmed his land part of the- time

.Mr. Cummings took up his permanent abode on the farm in 1887 and has ever since resided there, engaged in its cultivation. He is not married and keeps a Bachelor's Hall. On numerous occasions Mr. Cummings has been called upon to serve in an official capacity. He was a member of the township board one year and was treasurer of his precinct seventeen years. For the past sixteen years he has been a member of the board of school district Xo. 41. Equity Lodge No. 220, A. F. & A. M., numbers Mr. Cummings among its members.

The parents of our subject are John and Isabelle (Steward) Cummings, now residents of Redwood county. Mr. Cummings is eightyseven years old and his wife is eighty-two. Nine children were born to them, as follows: Annie, of Redwood county; Hugh, of Spokane. Washington; John A., deceased; Barbara (Mrs. William Burr), of Pueblo. Colorado; Donald, of Redwood county; Isabelle, Kate, deceased; Margaret and Robert.

JOSEPH H. CATLIX (1892) is president of the First Xational Bank of Cottonwood and is one of that village's leading citizens. He was born in Xew York State but has been a resident of Minnesota for more than fifty years. His parents were William and Sarah E. Catlin, also natives of Xew York State and pioneers of Goodhue county, Minnesota, in wrhich county they both died. There were eleven children in the family, of whom the following named five are living: Joseph H., James, Xelson, Charles and Ellen.

In the county of Orleans, Xew York, on the eleventh of August, 1846, Joseph H. Catlin was born. When he was five or six years of age he accompanied the family to Green Lake, Wisconsin, and in 1861 located with them in Goodhue county, Minnesota. There the father bought government land, and on the farm Joseph remained until he attained his majority. Our subject then located in the little village of Cherrygrove, Goodhue county, where he conducted a general store four years. The next thirteen years of his life were passed as a merchant in the village of Roscoe, of the same county.

Mr. Catlin disposed of his interests in Roscoe and in 1892 became a resident of Cottonwood, where he has ever since resided. Upon his arrival he erected a building and established Cottonwood's first financial institution, the Bank of Cottonwood, a private bank. The name of the institution was changed to Security Bank in 1901, and two years later it became the First Xational Bank. In addition to being president of the bank at Cottonwood Mr. Catlin has other interests. He is president of the Wood Lake State Bank and is a stockholder of the Xorth Star Implement Company of Cottonwood. He owns 560 acres of farming land in the vicinity of Cottonwood, to the management of which he gives his personal attention. For several years Mr. Catlin served as president of the Cottonwood Village Council and has taken an active interest in local affairs. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Eastern Star of the Masonic orders.

In Goodhue county, Minnesota, on the second day of April, 1872, Mr. Catlin was united in marriage to Catherine Miller, a native of Oak Grove, Dodge county, Wisconsin. They have two children: Charles, who is vice president of his father's bank, and Belle, who is now Mrs. L. McKechnie, of Cottonwood.

Mr. Peterson was born in Iceland April 27, 1863. When he was fifteen years old, in 1878, he accompanied the family to America and to Lyon county. They resided on section 16, Westerheim township, one year and then the father took a homestead in Limestone township, Lincoln county. There young Peterson worked for neighboring farmers until the spring of 1886. At that time he bought his present farm, and he has ever since been engaged in farming it. The first three years he made his home with Joseph Josephson, who resides across the road from his place; then he built on the place.

Ole Peterson has three half-brothers, Frank, Joseph and Sigrud. He also has two stepbrothers, Hal and George Benson. His parents are Segfinn and Segurborg (Segertson) Peterson, now residents of Minneota.

Iceland, came to America in 1896, and prior to her marriage lived in Winnipeg. By a former marriage she is the mother of two daughters, Mabel and Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have had two children, Seg, who was born February 17, 1910, and died August 28, 1911, and Joseph S., born May 29, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are members of the Icelandic Lutheran church of Westerheim township.

LEWIS B. LELAND (1879) is a farmer of Xordland township who has a thirty-three year residence in Lyon county to his credit. He lives upon the farm he took as a homestead in the early days, the southeast quarter of section 28.

Mr. Leland was born in Vos, Norway, December 11, 1847, a son of Bernard and Maglina (Grimestad) Leland. The family came to the United States in 1849, in company with Knute Nelson, now United States senator from Minnesota, and landed in New - York on the nation's birthday. The Lelands made settlement in Dane county, Wisconsin, and in 1873 moved to Buffalo county of the same state.

It was in 1879 that Lewis B. Leland left Wisconsin and came to Lyon county. He purchased a pre-emption claim to his present farm, changed the filing to a homestead, proved up on it, and engaged in its cultivation until 1894. That year he moved to Minneota and for the next fifteen years he worked at the carpenter's trade and conducted a wagon shop there. In 1909 Mr. Leland returned to the farm. For seven or eight years he was clerk of school district No. 25 and for four years he was a justice of the peace. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Mr. Leland is a man of family, having been married in Stoughton, Wisconsin, May 9, 1872, to Martha Gilderhus. She is a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, and was born October 1, 1850. Her parents, Ole and Martha (Overland) Gilderhus, were born in Vos, Norway. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Leland are Luella, Josie, Lillian. Beatrice, Marvin, Mabel and Winnifred.

when Allen Bates and his family located there in 1875, not one is now a resident of the city and they are the oldest settlers. Mr. Bates was engaged in business for many years but during the past eight years has been retired from active pursuits.

The gentleman whose name heads this review was born July 15, 1845, at Dudley, Massachusetts, the son of John and Mary Ann (Jacobs) Bates. The former died April 15, 1873, and the latter in January, 1871. Allen Bates spent his boyhood days attending school and made his home in his native town until nineteen years of age.

At that age, in October, 1864, he enlisted as a member of Company M, First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, and fought for the Union cause during the closing days of the Civil War. He participated in the battle of Petersburg and several skirmishes. At the time of the assassination of President Lincoln he was in Washington, and he was on the detail that paraded at the president's funeral. Mr. Bates was mustered out at Philadelphia June 16, 1865.

After the war Mr. Bates returned to his old home and in the fall of 1866 he was married. After engaging in the shoe manufacturing business for a short time, he moved to Ames, Iowa, where for eight months he was employed at the Northwestern Railroad Company's depot; then he returned to the Hay State and engaged in his former occupation until moving to Lyon county.

In the spring of 1875 Mr. Bates became a resident of the village of Tracy, then being founded, and until the fall of 1880 he was engaged in business there. During the next seven years he lived at Orange, Massachusetts, employed as an engineer by the New Home Sewing .Machine Company. Returning to Tracy in the spring of 1887, Mr. Bates engaged in the restaurant, confectionery and notion business. He discontinued the restaurant the following year, but conducted the store until 1904. when he retired. In the fire of 1893 he was burned out, but he rebuilt and continued the business.

At Dudley. Massachusetts, en September 30, 1866, Mr. Bates was united in marriage to Mary C. Wheelock. who was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, July 28, 1851. Her parents were Henry and .Mary (Thornton) Wheelock. Her mother died January 9, ist; I ; her fatb t December 8, L882. Mr. and .Mrs. Hairs have two children, both residents of Tracy. They are Esther M., the wife of Charles G. Porter, and Clara I., the wife of O. J. Rea. Mr. and .Mrs. Bates are members Of the Methodist church of Tracy and he holds membership in Joe Hooker Post, G. A. R., and the Modern Woodmen lodge.

Mr. An rand t was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1S62. In 1878 he came to Lyon county with his parents and settled on the northwest quarter of section 26, Shelburne, his father taking it as a homestead. The father died October 23, 1885, and since that time Maxwell Aurandt has had Charge of the old home place, besides farming the east half of the southwest quarter of section 23. which he bought in 1900.

The parents of Maxwell Aurandt were David and Susan (Bossom) Aurandt, both descended from good old German stock. David Aurandt was born in Pennsylvania January in. 1824. His wife was born May 16, 1824, in Maryland, and still lives with her son, Maxwell, on the old homestead. To the Aurandts have been born the followingnamed children: George W., William A., Daniel W., Samuel C, Melinda C. (Mrs. George Westbrook), all of Blair county, Pennsylvania; David E., of Carlton, Minnesota; and Maxwell, of this sketch. Two other children, Margaret E. and Jacob B., are dead.

Maxwell Aurandt was married in Balaton December 13, 1893, to Jennie V. Crouch, daughter of James Crouch, a homesteader of Rock Lake. His wife died May 1, 1895, since which time his aged mother and his niece, Anna M. Aurandt, have kept house for him.

Mr. Aurandt has held various offices in the county. He was elected treasurer of school district No. 68 at the first annual election and held the office thirteen years. He is at present clerk of the district and has held the office for the past seven years. He has served on the township board continuously for seventeen years and is the present chairman, an office he has held for s;x years.

ROY W. WILLIAMS (1879) is a young farmer and stock raiser residing in Lake -Marshall township and owns considerable land in that township. Roy is a native of Lyon county and was born at Marshall April 28, 1879, a sen of James W. and Ada F. (Webster) Williams, pioneer residents of the county. The father is a native of Connecticut and was born in 1847; the mother is a native of Ohio and was born in 1858.

Roy received his early schooling at Marshall, where he was a student until eighteen years of age. Then he took a course in the Minnesota School of Business at Minneapolis. After completing his work there he purchased the farm he now operates, the southwest quarter of section 20, Lake Marshall township. He engages in stock raising, including Durham cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Shropshire sheep. He holds membership in the Masonic and Modern Woodmen lodges. Mr. Williams has been treasurer of school district No. 7 for the past six years and was road overseer in Lake Marshall township three years. He holds stock in the Lyon County Agricultural Association. Our subject has been a very successful farmer and stock raiser.

On April 24, 1901, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Martha Bellingham, a daughter of Charles and Louise (Durst) Bellingham, pioneer residents of Marshall. Mr. Bellingham was born in England and Mrs. Bellingham in Maryland. Mrs. Williams was born in Lake Marshall township September 13, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of two children, Margaret, born August 20, 1904, and James Roy, born June 7, 1911.

CARY J. WIMER (1883) is the proprietor of a drug store in Minneota and one of that village's pioneer business men, having been engaged in business there nearly thirty years. During his long residence in Minneota Mr. Wimer has taken an active part in the affairs of his village and community, having served as president of the Village Council and held other offices of trust.

Mr. Wimer descends from two old American families who established residence in the colonies prior to the American Revolution. His paternal grandfather, John Wimer, was born in Maryland in 1785. His maternal great-grandfather, Daniel Ansley, came front

England before the war and served in the American Army under General Washington, taking part in several engagements with the British forces commanded by his brother.

The parents of our subject, Thomas R. and Melinda A. (Ansley) Wimer, were both born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. After their marriage, they moved to Granville, Ohio, where the former studied for the ministry and was later ordained as a Baptist minister. He enlisted in the Fortysixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company I, of which regiment he was a hospital steward and later chaplain. He died while taking part in Sherman's march to the sea and was buried in the National Cemetery in Georgia. Mrs. Wimer resides in Dayton, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of the following three children: Cary J., of this sketch; Ida M. (Mrs. Thomas J. Starr), of Kittanning, Pennsylvania; Thomas H., who died in Marshall April 17, 1907.

To these parents Cary J. Wimer was born October 6, 1854, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. Cary spent his boyhood days at home and attended school, fitting himself for a teacher. He attended the Dayton and Glade Run Academies* one term each and spent two summers in the State Normal School in Indiana county. He then taught a number of years in Pennsylvania and one year in Kansas. He spent the winter of 1881 studying medicine, and the next year, in company with his brother, Thomas H., he purchased a drug store at Plumville, Pennsylvania. A year later the brothers sold out and moved to Minneota, where they purchased a drug store. In the meantime, our subject was teaching school and studying pharmacy through correspondence with the National Institute of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated.

The Wimer brothers conducted the store in partnership two years. Then Cary purchased his brother's interest and has conducted the store alone since. He has one of the largest drug stores in the county and carries a complete, up-to-date stock. He also has other interests. He is a stockholder and a director of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Minneota, owns a farm in Yellow Medicine county, and a quarter section of land in Kanabec county, Minnesota. He has been a school officer of Minneota for the past twelve years and has served as justice

Mr. Wimer was married near Frostburg, Maryland, June 23, 1886, to Alice M: Durst, a native of that state and a daughter of Michael Durst, who settled near Marshall in grasshopper days. Michael Durst returned to his native state and a number of years later came back to Minnesota and died at the home of his son near Preston, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Wimer are the parents of the following named five children: June L., Eva F., Leon A., Homer E. and Alice C. Their daughter June L. attended Carleton College and is now a music teacher; Eva F. is a school teacher and also attended Carleton College; Leon A. is a student in the Pharmacy Department of Highland Park College, of Des Moines, Iowa.

LUDVIG E. LARSON (1876), who owns and farms the southeast quarter of section 18, Lucas township, has lived in Lyon county since he was three years of age. He is a prosperous farmer and has taken a leading part in the affairs of his community.

His parents, Haldor and Engel Marie (Anderson) Larson, were born in Norway in 1849, came to the United States when children, and were married in Wisconsin. They came to Lyon county in 1876 and homesteaded the farm now owned by their son. The mother died on the homestead in the spring of 1880 and the father two years later. There are two other children in the family, Theodore, of Broderick, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Bergene (Mrs. Julius Anderson), of Tacoma, Washington.

Ludvig was born in Jackson county, Wisconsin, July 28, 1873. He came to Lyon county with his parents in 1876 and until their deaths made his home with them. Thereafter until he was thirteen he lived with an uncle, John Anderson, and two years after that with another uncle, George Anderson. At the age of fifteen he began to make his own way in the world and has since been farming except for a time when he worked at the livery and dray business and in a hardware store in Cottonwood.

The homestead had remained in the family and in the spring of 1896 Ludvig and his brother began its cultivation. The partnership continued until 1911, when our subject

Mr. Larson was one of the organizers of school district No. 89 and he has been clerk of the district since its organization. He served as assessor of his township two years and was a member of the township board four years, three years as its chairman. He is now serving his second term as township clerk. He and his family are members 'of the United Lutheran church.

Mr. Larson was married in Cottonwood November 28, 1895, to Amelia A. Roberts, who was born in Yellow Medicine county February 13, 1876. Her father is Louis Dibble, but she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Roberts. Mr. Larson and his wife have eight children, named as follows: Harvard Eugene, born October 29, 1896; Alfred Leslie, born March 10, 1898; Amy Luella, born July 5, 1900; Haze! Eunice, born March 15, 1903; Edward Ludvig, born February 20, 1905; Walter John, born March 6, 1907; Mildred Ruth, born February 14, 1909; Elfreda Marie, born December IS, 1911.

MRS. C. A. JOHNSON (1878) is the widow of Charles A. Johnson. She has lived in Lyon county thirty-four years and resides on the old homestead, the northwest quarter of section 2, Coon Creek township.

Mrs. Johnson was .born in Vallers, Norway, September 28, 1850, the daughter of Nels and Mary (Olson) Nelson, both of whom died in this country. Miss Betsey Nelson attended school in her native country until sixteen years of age and then, in 1866, accompanied her parents to America. The family located in Winona county, Minnesota, and there two years later Miss Nelson became the wife of Charles A. Johnson, the date of the marriage being October 22, 1868.

Charles A. Johnson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, May 4, 1840. At the age of twelve years he came to America, spent two years in Chicago, and then until the outbreak of the war resided in Winona county, Minnesota. He enlisted in 1861 in the First Minnesota Light Artillery and served three years and nine months in the service. After the war Mr. Johnson again- settled in Winona county, bought land there, and farmed until moving to Lyon county in 1878. He took a homestead in Coon Creek township and engaged in farming continuously until his' death on July 25, 1908.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Johnson has made his home on the farm, which is conducted by her sons, Carl and Harry. They raise Jersey and Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. The family owns 250 acres of land in Coon Creek. Mrs. Johnson has stock in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.

ARTHUR FREESE (1879), of Lake Marshall township, was born in Sibley county, Minnesota, November 15, 1872. His parents were Henry and Sarah (Schmidt) Freese. The latter died in May, 1911, and the former resides in Lyon county part of the year, spending the winters in California. Arthur attended the Marshall schools until twenty years of age, after which he worked for his father on the farm nine years.

In 1902 he purchased from his father the southeast quarter of section 7, Lake Marshall township, where he has resided continuously since. In 1910 he erected a fine residence on his farm and in 1911 a fine barn. Mr. Freese is chairman of the Township Board of Supervisors, to which he was elected in March, 1911, and was a member of the board previous to that time. He was road overseer in Lake Marshall township several years. He holds membership in the Masonic lodge of Marshall. In addition to farming, Mr. Freese raises considerable stock, including full-blooded Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He makes a specialty of selling blooded stock for breeding purposes.

On October 12, 1910, occurred the marriage of Mr. Freese to Minnie E. Mellenthin, a daughter of August and Anna Mellenthin. Mrs. Freese was born November 12, 1885, in Lynd township. She is the second of a family of three children.

BJORN B. GISLASON (1879) is a lawyer and real estate dealer of Minneota and has lived in Lyon county for the past thirtythree years. He was county attorney in 1905 and 1906. Mr. Gislason is a native of Iceland and was hom May 29, 1873, coming to Lyon county with his parents in 1879 and locating in Westerheim township. He is a son of Bjorn and Adalborg (Johnson) Gislason. The former died in July, 1906. aged seventy-nine years; Mrs. Gislason resides on the old home place with her son, J. B. Gislason. They are the parents of nine children, six boys and three girls, as follows: Eyjolfur Bjornson (Mrs. John Snidal), of Westerheim township; Olive and Walter, of Badger, Minnesota; John B., Mrs. S. J. Holm, Bjorn B., Haldor B., a teacher in the University of Minnesota: and Ami B.

Bjorn made his home with his parents on the farm for several years, attending the country schools, the Minneota schools and the Marshall High School. He served in the Spanish-American War, in Company A, Thirteenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and saw service in the Philippines, his regiment participating in thirty-two engagements.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Gislason again took up his studies, graduating in 1900 from the Law Department of the University of Minnesota. After his graduation from the university Mr. Gislason located in Lake Benton and practised his profession for one and a half years. He then moved to Minneota, where he has since been engaged in the practice of law. In 1900 he assisted in the organization of the Globe Land and Loan Company, capitalized at $50,000. This is one of Minneota's principal enterprises, the firm doing a thriving business. In 1900 its land sales amounted to half a million dollars. There are two branch offices, one at Elbow Lake and one at Badger, Minnesota. The law firm has been conducted under the name of Gislason & Gislason since January, 1911, when our subject admitted A. B. Gislason. The subject of this review is a member of the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen lodges.

Mr. Gislason was married in Minneapolis October 7, 1904. to Joan T. Peterson, a native of Iceland. They have three children, Pjorn B., Rose and Harry Sidney Payson.

JOHN J. LAUDEXSLAGER (1877), of Marshall, is one of the oldest business men of that city, having conducted a saloon there for the past thirty-five years. Besides his saloon business he engages extensively in the ice business with his son, Richard S. He and his sons own 400 acres of Lyon county real estate and he owns his residence in the city, the ice houses with twenty-seven acres of land, and other lots.

John Laudenslager was born in Gratz. Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, August 24, 18.45, and resided there until he was sixteen years of age. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Regiment, at Harrisburg, and served a two-year enlistment. He located at St. Paul in 1863 and re-enlisted in Company A, Fifth Minnesota, and served as a member of that regiment until the close of the war. He took part in the battles of Gettysburg, the second battle of Bull Run and Fredericksburg and participated in the campaigns in Missouri and Tennessee.

After the war Mr. Laudenslager located at New Ulm, .Minnesota, to which place his parents had in the meantime removed, and there he resided until 1875, engaged in the saloon business. He settled in Winona and conducted a salcon and hotel until burned out two years later. He lost everything he had in the fire and moved to Marshall in 1877 with just $2.00 to his name. Until February, 1878, he tended bar in a Marshall saloon, and the next month he engaged in the saloon business on his own account in a little shack on the site he now occupies, the building being destroyed by fire in November, 1892. He built his present building in 1893. Soon after locating in Marshall he engaged in the ice business in a small way, the beginning of his present prosperous business. Mr. Laudenslager's son Charles conducts the saloon and his son Richard S. is his partner in the ice business. Mr. Laudenslager is a member of D. F. Markham Post, G. A. R.

Our subject comes from an old Pennsylvania family of English origin. The parents, Jonas and Sarah (Smith) Laudenslager, were born in Pennsylvania and their ancestors had lived there for several generations. The family located at New Ulm, Minnesota, on January 1, ise,:',, only a' few months after the town had been attacked during the Sioux

War. and both parents lived there until their deaths. .Mrs. Laudenslager died June 11, 1S7_', the anniversary of both her birth and marriage. Jonas Laudenslager was a prominent citizen of New I'lm. lie was probate judge of Brown county several years and was one of those instrumental in the organization of the first Lutheran church in the city. He died at New Ulin in 1899.

In the Laudenslager family were thirteen children, of whom the following named eight are living: Harry, John J., Wilhelmina i.Mrs. Conrad Hamm), of St. Paul; Elizabeth (.Mrs. Richard Pferle), of New Ulm; Mary i.Mrs. Peter Penning), of New rim; Sarah i.Mrs. Tobias Pferle), of New Ulm; Jonas, of St. Paul; Riley (Mrs. John Sigler), of Brookings, South Dakota.

ARNE SWExNNES (1875) owns and farms 400 acres of land in Eidsvold township and Burton township. Yellow Medicine county, the home place being the southeast quarter of section 2. He has been a resident of Lyon county thirty-eight years and is rated as one of the substantial farmers of his township.

Mr. Swennes was born in Nordre Amdal, Vallers, Norway, September 10, 1858, and in June, 1870, he came with his parents to America. The family lived in Walworth county, Wisconsin, five years and came to Lyon county in 1875. The northwest quarter of section 2, Eidsvold township, was taken as a homestead, and on that farm Arne lived with his parents twenty-five years.

In 1900 Mr. Swennes moved to his present farm, which he had purchased eight years before. He built a home on the place, otherwise improved it, and has since resided there. With the help of his five sons he farms his entire holdings. During the Alliance and Peoples Party days Mr. Swennes took a prominent part in local politics. He has held several township and school offices.

On the old homestead in Eidsvold, on June S, 1892, Mr. Swennes was united in marriage to Effie A. Doane. She was born in Pepin county, Wisconsin, June 16, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Swennes have five sons, Sidney, Olaf, Harold, Arne and Lee.

They were pioneer settlers of the township and prominent in its social, business and political affairs. There are five living children of the family.

EDWARD ANDERSON (1879) is one of the early day settlers of Shelburne township, having lived continuously on the one farm for a third of a century. His home is on section 5, a couple of miles north of Florence.

Mr. Anderson was born in Norway February 1 1. 1848, and he lived in his native land until attaining his majority. He came to America in 1S69 and lived ten years in Fillmore county, Minnesota. Upon his arrival to Lyon county in 1879 he purchased from the railroad company the west half of the southeast quarter of section 5, Shelburne township, and later he bought the west half of the northeast quarter of section 8. He was the purchaser of the first railroad land sold in the township and it cost him $4.00 per acre.

When he came to make his home in Shelburne township it was largely prairie land, the township had not been organized, and the nearest postoffice was Marshfield, on Lake Benton. His first home was a little 14x16 feet shack. He has prospered and become one of the substantial farmers of the community.

Mr. Anderson has served as a member of both the Board of Supervisors of his township and of bis school district. The credit for the establishment of rural mail route No. 2 out of Tyler belongs to Mr. Anderson, he having spent time and money in bringing about the service. He also assisted in securing the establishment of the first telephone line in the vicinity. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Masonic, Woodmen and Workmen lodges.

Edward Anderson is the oldest child in a family of six children born to Andrew and Karen (Evenson) Christenson, who came to America in the seventies and died in their adopted country. The other children of- the family are Karen (Mrs. Bore Larson), of Florence; Evan Berg, Christina (Mrs. Hans Benson), of Shelburne; Andrew Anderson Berg and Carl Anderson.

of Norway. As a result of this union seven children have been born, as follows: Karen (Mrs. Chris Miller), Olaus, Amelia (Mrs. W. Innes). of Tracy; Anton, of Florence; Edwin, Martin and John, who reside at home.

ORVIN J. REA (1877) is editor and proprietor of the Tracy Weekly Herald and a former postmaster of that city. He is an old-time newspaper man of Lyon county and has devoted his entire life to the printing and publishing business. He has taken a leading part in the affairs of his county and city and is rated one of Tracy's most progressive citizens.

In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on March 7, 1862, occurred the nativity of Orvin J. Rea. He is one of a family of eight children, the others being Ida (deceased), Art A., Lilly (deceased), Merch C, Clyde W. (deceased), Pearl E. and Jesse G. The parents of these children were James A. and Lucinda (Barber) Rea, the former born in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania, and the latter near Akron, Ohio. They were pioneers of Oshkosh, having settled there in the fifties. The father died March 31, 1894; the mother August 20, 1883.

In the spring of 1870 Orvin accompanied his parents from Oshkosh to Sparta. Wisconsin, and there he spent his boyhood days. He was educated in the Sparta High School and among his classmates were John J. Esch, now a congressman; James Gillette, later governor of California; Judge Bunn and other men distinguished later in life. After his school days young Rea worked at the printer's trade for a time in the office of the Monroe County Republican and in 1877 he accompanied his parents to Lyon county and located with them in Marshall.

When the Lyon County News was established in Marshall by Todd & Edes in the spring of 1879 he became the first printer on that paper, and a little later he went to Currie, then the county seat of Murray county, and accepted a position on the Currie Pioneer. He removed to Marshall in the winter of 1881 and for the next three and onehalf years worked for C. P. Case on the Marshall Messenger. He had charge of the Temperance Review job office at Minneapolis for a time, worked over a year for C. C. Whitney on the Marshall News-Messenger, and spent one summer in Chicago, working in printing offices and as a substitute printer on the Times when Story was the editor.

It was in February, 1885, that Mr. Rea located in Tracy and first became a publisher. At that time he bought the Tracy Trumpet in partnership with Harry C. Buckingham. Six months 'later the firm was dissolved and Mr. Rea became sole proprietor, continuing the publication until 1892, when he sold to V. W. Lothrop. In September, 1894, Mr. Rea founded the Tracy Weekly Herald and has ever since conducted it.

During his long residence in Tracy Mr. Rea has been identified with many local enterprises. He was made postmaster during the second administration of President Cleveland and served a four-year term, and he was president of the City Council in 1892. He was one of the organizers of the Tracy Saving and Loan Association, was elected its first president, and has ever since held that office. He was also one of the incorporators of the Houston Pen Company, formed to manufacture the fountain pen invented by W. H. Houston, of Tracy.

Mr. Rea is a man of family. He was married at Tracy en May 19, 18S8, to Clara I. Bates. She was born in Dudley, Massachusetts, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Bates, who homesteaded land in Monroe township in 1876. Six children - three boys and three girls - have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rea, as follows: Nona. Elgin A., Doris, Noel B., Lois and Leon I).

NIELS F. LARSON (18 83) is the proprietor of a general merchandise store at Lynd, carrying dry goods, groceries, crockery, glassware, shoes, etc. He has been a resident of Lyon county since he was fourteen years old, and until buying the store in the present year he has been engaged in farming.

Mr. Larson was born in Denmark on the last day of the year 1869, the son of Peter and Stine (Peterson) Larson, now residents of Nordland township. In 1883 he came to America with his parents, and his first home in the New World was in the old town of Lynd. For two seasons he herded cattle and then for several years he worked out as a farm hand.

In 1893 Mr. Larson was married and started farming for himself. For two years he rented land in Lyons township and then he bought the northwest quarter of section 2 of that township. On that place he farmed and made his home until 1910. He then moved to section 33, Lynd township, having bought 200 acres of land there the year before, and his home is still there. In May, 1912, he traded 431 acres of land in Lyons and Lynd townships for the stock of goods in Lynd and is now in charge of the store. He also conducts Ms farm on section 33 and raises and ships cattle. He raises thoroughbred Polled Angus cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. His farm is a place of great historic interest, having been the place designated as the first county seat of Lyon county, known as Upper Lynd. There the first court house was built and there Rev. Ellis had his store.

In the city of Marshall, on March 15, 1S93, Mr. Larson was married to Lottie G. Watson. She is a native of the county and was born July 4, 1874. Her parents, Gordon and Mary Watson, natives of Ohio, were among the very early settlers of Lyon county. Mr. Watson came in 18 69 and took as a homestead claim the northwest quarter of section 2, Lyons township. The family moved to the claim the following year and lived in the county until their deaths. The following named seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Larson: Oliver G., Olive F., Iva E., Ida P., Elva M., Loyal W. and Ruth.

FERDINAND AMUNDSON (1878), farmer of Nordland township, is a native of Lyon county and a son of pioneer settlers, Gregar and Annie (Furgeson) Amundson. He was born in the township of Nordland March 9, 1878, received a district school education, and grew to manhood on his father's homestead. Two years were spent working in the Furgeson blacksmith shop in Minneota; except that he has always lived in his native township. In the fall of 1911 he rented the west half of the southwest quarter of section 27 from his father and started farming. He now has charge of a 160-acre farm and is meeting with success.

Mr. Amundson was married in Island Lake township June 27, 1905, to Cora Christenson. She was born in that township May 17, 1884, and is a daughter of Peter and Alma (Russel) Christenson. Her parents were born in Denmark and Wisconsin, respectively, and now live in Island Lake township. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Amundson, as follows: Vivian, born April 11, 1907; Arlo, born June 10, 1908; and Laneda, born October 13, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Amundson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Minneota.

OLUF ANDERSON (1876) has been a continuous resident of Monroe township, on the southeast quarter of section 28, since his birth on February 26, 1876. His parents, Ole and Thora (Olson Bjerkrud) Anderson,, were both natives of Norway and came to America in 1869, residing. in Fillmore county, Minnesota, two years before locating in Lyon county, on the land which Oluf now owns. The trip from Fillmore county was made in a prairie schooner, and most of the summer of 1871 was spent in looking for a suitable location.

Oluf received his education in the country schools of the township and at the age of fifteen completed his schooling, but remained on the farm, helping his father. At the age of twenty-three he rented the place and in company with his brother Anton ran the farm, afterward renting it alone until coming into full ownership when his father died. He has since been successfully managing the farm and engaging in stock raising.

The marriage of Oluf Anderson and Ida Amalia Anderson occurred October 30, 1901. To this union were born three children: Oscar Edgar, born July 6, 1902; Ruth Christine, born June 12, 1904; and Theodore Arthur, born December 3, 1905. Mrs. Anderson is also a native of Lyon county and was born October 13, 1882, a daughter of Ellef and Ch'risti Anderson, pioneer settlers of Monroe township.

Mr. Anderson is a member of the Farmers Club of Tracy, and belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church of Monroe township. One sister of our subject is living, Bertha (Mrs. H. C. Olson), of Petersburg, North Dakota. His mother died in 1909.

CHARLES F. TIBBIT (1873), a well-todo farmer of Island Lake township, was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, November 12, 1861. He lived on the Tibbit farm in that county twelve years, and during that time received several years' schooling in the district.

When the boy was twelve years of age, in 1872, his parents moved to Lyon county, Minnesota, and the father took as a homestead the south half of the south half of section 6, Island Lake township, and there Charles finished his education and assisted his father with the farm work. At the age of twenty years he bought a pre-emption claim of eighty acres on section 8, later changed it to a homestead, and proved up on the same. He has since lived on the place and has recently purchased an additional eighty acres on section 6 and eighty acres on section 5, making him the owner of 2 40 acres of the township's best land. He has devoted much time to the raising of Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Tibbit has a fine home.

The subject of this sketch was married in Lyon county to Eliza McCurdy, the wedding occurring March 2 5, 1884. She was born in New York and is a daughter of James and Anna McCurdy. Four children have been born to the union: Lee E., Mae E., Ada C. and Flora A.

FREDERICK K. WEIKLE (1878), prominent in the life of the town for more than thirty years, is a retired business man of Marshall. During the last ten years Mr. Weikle has erected four residences in the city, all of which are occupied by tenants. He looks after this property and oversees the work on his farm in Stanley township. The Weikles are members and active attendants of the Congregational church.

Our subject is a son of David and Sarah (Harnais) Weikle, natives of Germany and Maine, respectively. He was born in Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1843. The father was a butcher and Fred learned the business at an early age. When the war broke out he enlisted at Philadelphia as a team driver in the Ninth New York Battery for three months' service. Later he served as watchman for the government over the warehouses and docks at Acqui Landing on the Potomac, eventually joining the civil engineer corps and driving teams until the close of the war. Returning home after the war, outsubject was in the cattle and hog business for six months and then went to Chicago and ran a butcher shop for a Chicago firm.

Mr. Weikle left Chicago in IS 6 6 and returned to his native town. November 10, 1866, he married Barbara Kinckiner, of Mertztown, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Henry and Julia Ann (Pierpont) Kinckiner, the ceremony taking place at Allentown. He then engaged in the tobacco manufacturing business for a few years, later opened another butcher shop, sold out in 187 6, and went to Dixon, Illinois, for the winter. The next spring he worked for his brother in Plainview, Minnesota.

In the spring of 1878 Mr. Weikle moved to Marshall and bought a little frame building on the present site of Richtmyer's pool hall, in which he conducted a meat market several years. Mr. Weikle then conducted a shop in Redfield, South Dakota, one year. Returning to Marshall, he opened a shop on the north side of Main street and when the Great Northern road came he took the contract for furnishing the construction crews with meat, which he held until the road reached Sioux Falls. Then he went to Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky, and was meat contractor for the L. & N. railroad two years. Returning to Marshall, Mr. Weikle bought the brick building he now owns, and his son Harry ran a market there for a time. Mr. Weikle meanwhile engaged in buying and shipping stock, a business which he followed until ten years ago, when he retired from active work.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Weikle are the parents of the following children: Harry O. and Frank M., of Sturgis, Saskatchewan, Canada; George E., of Dickinson, North Dakota; Anna L. (Mrs. Harry Addison), of Marshall; and Malcolm T., cashier of the First National Bank of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Weikle also brought up from infancy the two sons of

Mrs. \Veikle"s sister, .Margaret Crabtree, who died in Marshall when the boys were little. The boys are Sam H. and Will T. Crabtree, now of Enid, Montana.

HENRY NELSON (1876), a farmer of Lucas township and a continuous resident of the county since 187 6, was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, March 20, 1870, and is a son of Evar and Aase (Olson) Nelson, both of whom are now deceased.

The parents were natives of Norway, and some idea of the times in which they immigrated to this country can be gained from the fact that Mr. Nelson was on the ocean nineteen weeks when coming to this country. He landed in New Orleans in 184 5 and served five years in the Mexican War, afterwards coming North and locating in Wisconsin. On his journey he visited St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota, and at that time Minnesota was still a territory and there was a single store on the present site of St. Paul. Evar Nelson was married in Wisconsin, and after a few years' residence in Fillmore county, Minnesota, he moved to Western Minnesota and purchased land in Yellow Medicine county and resided there four years.

In the spring of 1876 the Nelson family came to Lyon county and took a homestead in Lucas township. There the parents resided until their deaths, and the old homestead is now operated by their son Iver. The subject of this sketch came to Lyon county with his parents when six years old, and he attended the district schools until seventeen years of age. Afterward the boy helped his father until twenty-two years of age and then engaged in farming for himself on the place which he now owns, the northeast quarter of section 11. He has a well-improved place and is making a decided success of stock raising in addition to his general farming. Mr. Nelson has served several years as assessor of the township, as a director of school district No. 19, and for several years he was road overseer.

On November 11, 1891, our subject was married at Cottonwood to Minnie Prestegaard, a native of Yellow Medicine county. She was born November 18, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of the following children: Adelia Louise, born October 24, 1893; Gerhardt, born June 29, 1895; Hulda, born November 16, 1897; and Rudolph, born December 5, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of Silo Norwegian Lutheran Church of Cottonwood.

PETER ELBERS (1883). One of the old residents of Lyon county and a merchant of Ghent is Peter Elbers. He came to Lyon county in 1883 and spent several years working on farms near Ghent. He then went to Marshall and in partnership with Will Boerboom conducted a meat market three years. Returning to Ghent, he opened a meat market, later adding a stock of merchandise, and has since conducted the business.

Peter Elbers is a son of Theodore and Johanna (Tichlovan) Elbers and was born December 13, 1853, in Holland. There are seven children in this family living, namely: Bernard, Dena, Mena, Dora and Johanna, all of whom reside in Holland, and Peter, of this sketch. A daughter, Mary, is deceased. The parents died in the old country. Our subject is a member of the Catholic church and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He owns the southwest quarter of section 12, Amiret township, a quarter section of land near Aberdeen, South Dakota, and several buildings and lots in the village of Ghent.

On July 3, 1889, Rosa Lee Decock became the wife of Mr. Elbers at Ghent. She is a native of Belgium. Mr. and Mrs. Elbers are the parents of four children, as follows: Annie, Leo, John and Henry. Another child, Mary, died in infancy.

OLE E. RYE (1879), one of the large land owners of Eidsvold township and a successful farmer of that precinct, has lived in Lyon county since he was a child eight and one-half years of age. He has taken a leading part in the affairs of his community and is rated among the substantial men of northwestern Lyon county. He started without a dollar and has won his way to the top. He is the owner of 560 acres of land in the township, on sections 22, 23 and 33. For a number of years he farmed his entire holdings, but

The parents of our subject, Esten and Margaret (Ranon) Rye, came to Lyon county from Norway in 1879 and took as a homestead claim the southwest quarter of section 34, Nordland township, where they have ever since resided. He is eighty-seven years old and she is eightyone. There are in the family the following named six children: Andrew E., who farms the old homestead; Annie (Mrs. Charles Furgeson), of Barnes county, North Dakota; Inger (Mrs. O. O. Dovre), of Eidsvold; Mary (Mrs. A. B. Ruksted), of Florence, South Dakota; Julia (Mrs. Harry W. Hecket), of Spokane, Washington; and Ole E., of this review.

Ole E. Rye Avas born at Norde Urdhal, Valdres, Norway, December 7, 1870. He came to America and to Lyon county with his parents in 1879 and until he was seventeen years old lived on the Nordland township homestead. In 1887 and 1888 he was in Barnes county, North Dakota, working on farms. Returning to Lyon county in the fall of 1888, he rented the farm in Eidsvold where he now lives, the southeast quarter of section 22. Two years later he bought the farm, and he has since added to his holdings until he has become one of the largest land owners of the precinct.

Seventeen years ago Mr. Rye was elected a member of the Township Board of Supervisors and served two years. Eight years ago he was again elected to the office and has held it continuously since, having been chairman of the board four years of that time. For the past two years he has been a member of the Lyon County Republican Committee. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge and of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Minneota.

Inger Swennes became the wife of Ole E. Rye on June 28, 1894, the ceremony taking place at the Swennes home in Eidsvold township. Mrs. Rye was born in Norway and came to America with her parents when a child. The family lived in Wisconsin five years and came to Lyon county in 187 6, taking homestead and tree claims in Eidsvold township. Ole A. and Ingred Swennes, her parents, are deceased. Eight children have been born to

JAMES McGINN (1881), of Minneota, is a dealer in real estate, makes loans and writes insurance. He is a member of the Board of County Commissioners, an office to which he was elected in November. 1910. James McGinn was born in Ireland on January 11, 1863. His birth in Ireland came about in this way: His father and mother, who were natives of Ireland, came to America when children and settled in New York City, where they were married. In 18 63 they returned to Ireland to take charge of the old home place and while in that country the subject of this review was born.

Before returning to the United States Mr. and Mrs. McGinn, Sr., visited Scotland and England. They again located in New York City, but in 1867 moved to California, where they resided until 1872, at which time they returned to New York City. The family remained in the metropolis until 1881, when they moved to Lyon county, locating near Minneota. The parents of our subject were Patrick and Sarah (McBeth) McGinn. They settled on a farm in Westerheim township, where the father was accidently killed in 1889; the mother died the following spring.

James McGinn received his early education in New York and when eighteen years of age accompanied his parents to Lyon county, where he assisted his parents on the farm until 1892. That year he moved to Minneota, where he conducted a general store four years, during which time he was postmaster. After his term expired he went to Flandreau, South Dakota, where he worked a year. Then he returned to Minneota and opened a cigar factory. In 19 08 Mr. McGinn disposed of the factory and engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business with Anton Heymans, the firm name being Heymans & McGinn.

When a young man and before he had left the farm for good, Mr. McGinn conducted a cigar factory at Spencer, Iowa, which he sold in 1889. He also worked one and one-half years in a cigar factory at Watertown, South Dakota.

Mr. McGinn was married at Minneota on June 20, 1893, to Margaret Kiley, a native of Canada and a daughter of James Kiley, who settled in Lincoln county in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. McGinn are the parents of the following five children: Patrick, a graduate of the Minneota High School; James, Ellen, Sarah, Arthur.

Mr. McGinn is a member of the Minneota School Board and was president of the Village Council in 1907. He is a member of the M. VY\ A., Yeomen and K. C. lodges.

W. R. GREGG (1880) is one of the early business men of Lynd and postmaster of that village the past seventeen years. Mr. Gregg is a native of Vermont and was born at Valatia July 30, 1854, a son of Rev. Oren C. and Betsey (Mosher) Gregg, natives of Vermont. Our subject spent his early days in several places in Vermont, accompanying his parents to the different pastorates which his father held. He received a good education, attending high school, the Montpelier, Vermont, Seminary and Fort Edward Institute of New York. His father died in 1902 and the mother in the fall of 1879.

In 1880 Mr. Gregg, at the age of twentysix years, came to Lyon county, to the farms of his brothers, O. C. and Leslie Gregg, in Lynd township. His first summer in the county was spent working at the carpenter's trade. He worked for F. S. Wetherbee at Marshall for a snort time and then went to Minneapolis for a short sojourn.

Returning to Lyon county, Mr. . Gregg conducted a store at Camden for Fred Healy, of Marshall, later buying it and running it for five years. The following eight years he was employed on the Coteau Farm in Lynd township. In November, 1895, he moved to Lynd and purchased the F. W. Cowham store, which he has since conducted. His commission as postmaster dates from January, 1896.

Northwestern Railroad Company, with headquarters at Marshall. His territory embraces Minnesota and North and South Dakota east of the Missouri river. He is a pioneer of Lyon county and has spent over thirty years of his life in the employ of the railroad company which he now represents.

In Clinton, New York, on August 13, 1851, James C. Burchard was born. His parents were Henry M. and Eliza H. (Clark) Burchard, both natives of New York State. On his father's side he descends from one of the oldest American families, a Burchard having come to America in 1635 and made settlement in Connecticut.

In the fall of 18 66 young Burchard accompanied his parents to Winona, Minnesota, and a few years later the family home was made in Northern Illinois. After securing his education James began work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company in a clerical capacity, and he has been connected with that corporation ever since. He located in Marshall in the fall of 1878, remained one year, and then for a year was station agent at Watertown, Dakota Territory, opening the station when the railroad reached that place. He then made his home in Chicago and for several years was in the general office of the Chicago & Northwestern Company.

Mr. Burchard again became a resident of Marshall in 1884. At that time he entered the land office of what was then known as the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company as cashier. His father was at the time the general lanu agent for the railroad at that point and had been since the office was opened. Upon the death of his father in July, 1898, James Burchard succeeded him as general agent and he has since held the position. The railroad land office was established on the site it now occupies in 1876. For a number of years the office was located in a twostory frame building which was burned. Then the present brick block, which also housed the United States Land Office, was erected.

For several years Mr. Burchard served as a member of the City Council and he was mayor of Marshall two terms. He is a prominent member of the Masonic or- ders, holding membership in the Shriners; Scottish Rites and Royal Arcanum. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason and is the grand commander of the state organization.

Mr. Burchard was married in Chicago in 1879 to Sidonia M. Schupp, a native of that city. They have three children: Simeon J., of St. Paul; John E., Jr., and William S., of Marshall.

MARTIN C. LARSON (1877) in partnership with his brother, Anton S. Larson, farms 540 acres of land in Monroe township, 320 acres of this being the estate left them by their father, Hans T. Larson, who died August 7, 1908.

Hans T. Larson was born in Norway April 11, 1846, and came to the United States in 1866, locating in Fillmore county and making that his home until 1871. Then he came to Lyon county and took as a homestead the west half of the northeast quarter of section 10, Monroe township. The next year he took the southeast quarter of section 10 as a tree claim. He experienced the hardships of the early days, the grasshopper scourge and the terrible blizzards of the early eighties. He prospered and was well off at the time of his death. He was active in township affairs. Turi (Gullickson) Larson, his wife, was born in Norway June 16, 1848, and came to America in 1870, where she was married two years later, in Monroe township. She died in 1893.

Martin C. Larson was born on the Monroe township homestead March 5, 187 6, and has lived on the farm ever since. He was educated in the school of district No. 35 and in the Tracy High School. He remained on the farm and worked for his father until the latter's death, since which time Martin and his brother have had charge. Martin was township assessor four years. He has stock in the Farmers Elevator Company of Tracy and in the telephone company. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Tracy.

Anton S. Larson, brother of the above, was born on the Monroe homestead January 28, 1879, and was brought up and educated in the township. He was married May 29, 1907, in Tracy, to Adelia Montgomery. To this union have been born four children. Mildred and Manly, the eldest, are twins. The other children are Frances and Gertrude Clara. Mrs. Anton Larson was born in Redwood county March 25, 1878, and is a daughter of George and Julia (Steves) Montgomery, natives of Canada who settled at Walnut Grove just after the Indian outbreak. The father is dead and the mother lives with her daughter. Anton Larson is at present on the school board of his district and he has served on the township board.

Martin and Anton Larson have the following brothers and sister living: Louis, of Braham, Minnesota; Hans T., of Crosby, North Dakota; Tien, of Hastings, Minnesota; and Clara M. (Mrs. Ben Cole), of Amiret.

JOSEPH VERHAAKE (1879), a farmer of Island Lake township, was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, December 31, 1863, and is a son of Andrew and Rose (De Buscher) Verhaake, natives of Belgium.

Joseph's parents came to America when young and settled in Illinois, where our subject was born. When he was thirteen years of age, in 1879, the family moved to Lyon county and the father bought the northwest quarter of section 2 6, Westerheim township. While Joseph was living there with his parents he finished his schooling in the district and attended school one year in Marshall.

Our subject remained on the farm with his parents until 1898, when he entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad Company, and he was in the service three and one-half years in the yards at Marshall. He then rented land on section 21, Grandview township, and farmed there until 1907. Then he moved to his present farm, the southeast quarter of section 2, Island Lake township, and for several years he rented and farmed 480 acres of land on that section and on sections 1 and 11. He then bought the property and has lately sold at a handsome profit. Mr. Verhaake is a breeder of blooded stock and owns one of the best Belgian stallions in the county. He is also interested in the Farmers Elevator Company of Marshall and in the Lyon County Fair Asso-

The marriage of Joseph Verhaake and Minnie De Belser occurred at Ghent February 18, 1903. She was born in Belgium and is a daughter of Peter De Belser. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Verhaake have two children: Leona C, born November 7, 1904, and Lizzie V., born August 1, 1906. The Verhaakes are members of the Catholic church.

CHARLES C. RICHARD (1881) is the proprietor of Richard's Department Store of Tracy. Although a young man, he has attained prominence in the commercial circles of Tracy. He is strictly a selfmade man, having arisen to his present position through his own resources, without financial assistance.

Mr. Richard has lived in Tracy since he was one year old and secured his education there. When eleven years of age he began working in the store of J. D. Owens as delivery boy and continued to work in stores during the summer months, attending school winters, until sixteen years of age. Thereafter for six years he devoted his entire time to clerking in the store of C. P. Hewitt. At the end of that time, in January, 1902, he purchased his employer's store, conducted it at the old stand until 1911, when he erected his present store building. This structure is the most modern building in Tracy. Its dimensions are 24x130 feet. The business is carried on under the title Richard's Department Store. He deals in dry goods, crockery, shelf hardware and tools, wall paper, paints, toys and five- and ten-cent goods.

During 1909 and 1910 Mr. Richard was mayor of Tracy and he was president of the Commercial Club four years prior to 1911. He is a stockholder and a director of the Tracy Savings and Loan Association. Fraternally he is a Mason, holding membership in the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Eastern Star.

Our subject was married at Tracy on March 27, 1903, to Emogene Rogers, a native of Iowa and a daughter of H. A. Rogers. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard: Lester J., who died

Charles C. Richard is one of a family of five children, the others being Lillian May, Almeda Belle, Malcomb M., who died in 1909; and Stanley J. The parents of these children are W. J. and Alice Richard. The former was born in Ohio and settled in Tracy in the spring of 1881. He lived in that city until 1902; then he moved to St. Cloud, where he has since been foreman of construction in the employ of the state. During his long residence in Tracy Mr. Richard was a prominent contractor and built many of the best business houses and residences there after the big fire. He erected the First National Bank building, the J. D. Owens store building, the J. W. Beedle store building, several business houses on Front Street, the D. H. Evans residence, and many others. When the Lyon county court house was built Mr. Richard was employed by the county commissioners as building inspector.

OLAI AAMODT (1879) is the owner of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 12, Vallers township. He is a Lyon county product, was born May 30, 1879, and is a son of Gulick and Liva Aamodt, who were early settlers of the county.

Our subject received his education in the district schools and grew to manhood on the home farm. He assisted his father with the farm work and remained at home until 1905. That year Olai, in company with his brother Fred, rented 700 acres of land in Vallers township, and the' boys started farming for themselves and were in partnership three years. Olai then bought his present place and has since been located on section 12. Since 1900 he has been engaged in the threshing business.

The marriage of Olai Aamodt and Caroline Kolhei occurred in Yellow Medicine county January 2, 1907. She was born in that county June 29, 1879, and is a daughter of Ingebret and Corine Kolhei, natives of Norway. They were early settlers of Yellow Medicine and now live in

Cottonwood. One child, Carla L., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Aamodt, on January 6, 1912. The Aamodts are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

CHARLES H. MIDDLETON (1882) is a farmer and land owner of Lake Marshall township who has lived in Lyon county many years. He is a son of John Middle - ton, an Englishman by birth, who for many years was a boatman on the Erie canal. In 18 80 the family moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where the father rented land and resided two years. In 1882 a new home was established, in Lyon county, John Middleton buying the north half of section 3 4, Lake Marshall township. The father died September 30, 1898, at the age of seventy-four years. The mother of our subject, Martha E. (Sheffield) Middleton, was born in New York State, the descendant of an English family. She is now eighty-four years of age and resides with her son. The other members of the family are Fred W., of Canada; Hannah Jeanette (Mrs. H. J. Benson), of Syracuse. New York; and John J., of Marshall.

Charles H. Middleton was born in Oswego county, New York, November 19, 1863. He resided with his parents until 1890, when he was married and engaged in farming on his own account. At that time he bought 200 acres of land on section 3, Lake Marshall township, upon which he has ever since resided. Later he added to his landed possessions by the purchase of 120 acres on section 2 and now has a finely improved half section farm, adorned with substantial buildings. He engages in stock raising and is a feeder and shipper. He raises Shorthorn cattle, Oxford sheep and Poland China hogs. He is a member of the Masonic lodge of Marshall and the family are regular attendants of the First Presbyterian Church of Marshall.

In Oswego county, New York, on February 17, 1890, Mr. Middleton was united in marriage to Martha J. Loser, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Peter and Caroline (Spaulding) Loser, both of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Middleton have been born the following named six children: Mae L., born December 11,

CARL O. SKOGEN (1879), who makes his home in Minneota and who farms land close to that village in Westerheim township, is a native of the county and a son of Ole O. and Engeborg (Sheldrew) Skogen. His parents were born in Tellemarken, Norway, came to America in 1867, lived near Neenah, Wisconsin, a few years, in Boone county, Iowa, a short time, and located in Lyon county in the early seventies. They took as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 30, Westerheim township, close to which the village of Minneota was later founded.

On the homestead Carl Skogen was born August 21, 1879, and there he grew to manhood, working for his father. He spent one and one-half years in the Dakotas, and in 1905 he rented from his father the northwest quarter of section 31, Westerheim, and engaged in farming. Three years later he moved to section 4, of the same township, farmed there one year, and then moved to Minneota, where he purchased a residence and where he has since lived. He now rents from his father the northwest quarter of section 31.

Mr. Skogen was married at Porter November 7, 1904, to Eliza Crogness. She was born in the village in which she was married September 1, 1886. Her parents, Bersven and Engebor (Nelson) Crogness, were born in Sonmor, Norway, came to America in the seventies, and bought a homestead right to land in Yellow Medicine county, near Porter. The parents both died on the homestead in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Skogen have two children: Leola C. and Olinda B. Our subject and his wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

CHARLES C. BREENING (1880) is one of the big farmers of Rock Lake township and has lived in Lyon county thirtytwo years. He owns the southeast quarter of section 9 and rents other land, farming

The subject of this review is one of a family of six living children, the others being Mary (Mrs. William Darger), of Tracy; William, of St. Paul; Fred, of Balaton; John H., of Marshall;, and Henry C, of Balaton. The parents of these children, John and Elizabeth (Schenck) Breening, came from Germany in 1869, lived in Du Page county, Illinois, until 1880, and then came to Lyon county. The head of the family had charge of the section at Balaton for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company five years and then purchased land in Rock Lake and engaged in farming until his death.

Charles C. Breening was born in Verben, Germany,. November 20, 1862, came to America with the family in 1869, and spent his boyhood days in Illinois, attending school and working for the Northwestern Railroad Company. He came to Lyon county in 1880 and for the next fifteen years worked for the railroad company, with headquarters at Tracy and Brookings, South Dakota. Since severing his connection with the railroad company Mr. Breening has been engaged in farming in Rock Lake township and has been very successful.

Mr. Breening served several years as a member of the Township Board of Supervisors, for eight years was assessor of his township, and during the last three years he has been clerk of school district No. 60. He holds membership in the Masonic lodge of Russell and the Workmen lodge of Balaton.

Anna M. Olson, a native of Norway, became the wife of Mr. Breening April 12, 188 8, the ceremony being performed at Balaton. His wife was born April 12, 1871, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Olson, pioneer settlers of Murray county. Mr. and Mrs. Breening have thirteen children, all of whom reside at home. Their names are Arthur J., Edna E., Richard O., George W., Carl, Alice, Ora, Bessie, Maude, Eva, Dorothy, Luella and Irene.

was one of the very first of the present residents to visit Lyon county. He first came in 1869, but his permanent residence did not begin until some years later.

Mr. Miller was born in Cook county, Illinois, May 25, 1847. His parents. Charles D. and Mary M. (White) Miller, were born in New York and Vermont, respectively, and both are deceased. Earle attended the schools of Illinois until 1866 and then accompanied .his parents to Winona county, Minnesota, and resided with them until 18 69. That year he came with the Mitchell and Scriven families to Lyon county, remained a short time, and then located in Jackson county, Minnesota.

In that county, a few miles east of the present city of Worthington, Mr. Miller took a homestead claim, on which he resided two years. He then returned to Winona county, bought land, and engaged in farming there until 1876. He again came to Lyon county at that time and the same year took a pre-emption claim in Pipestone county, which he held three years and then sold. He was one of the crew that surveyed the line of railroad from Tracy to Pierre, being thus engaged one year. Mr. Miller bought grain in Tracy two years and has since been engaged in the real estate business there.

Mr. Miller was married in Wabasha county, Minnesota, November 24, 1887, to Jennie Paine. She was born in England October 11, 1857. Mr. Miller is a member of the Masonic lodge of Tracy.

JOSEPH M. MITCHELL (1880) is the owner of a fine eighty-acre farm and comfortable home in Amiret township, and he is today a prosperous farmer after more than thirty years' residence in the county. Mr. Mitchell's introduction to Lyon county was perhaps not one to lend enthusiasm to the mind of a new settler, inasmuch as his first winter in the county was the one of deep snows, blizzards and blockades. Our subject, however, is one of many who regrets not that he has made his home in Lyon county.

Mr. Mitchell took an active part in the Civil War. He enlisted January 5, 1864, as a private in Company A, Thirty-fifth New Jersey Infantry, and was mustered out

July 2 0, 18 65. During that time he took part in General Sherman's campaign in Georgia and in the famous "March to the Sea." Mr. Mitchell is a member of D. F. Markham Post No. 7, G. A. R., of Marshall, and has held at different times the office of post commander, senior vice and junior vice.

Joseph Mitchell was born in Glen Gardner, New Jersey, December 13, 1847, and is a son of George and Lydia (Narcross) Mitchell, both deceased. His parents located in Illinois in 1871 and resided there until their deaths. Joseph received a common school education in New Jersey and during the later years of his residence in that state worked out at farm labor. He came to Illinois with his parents and worked out in Ogle county two years. He then married and rented land in Winnebago county, where he farmed eight years.

In March, 1880, our subject came to Lyon county and purchased the land he now owns on section 23 from the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company. It is one of the nicest farms in the township, and thirty-two years ago Mr. Mitchell paid for it the small sum of $6 per acre.

In various capacities Mr. Mitchell has been called upon to serve in an official capacity. He was a member of the Township Board two years ago and served one year as chairman. For three years he was clerk of the township, and for the past ten terms he has been the assessor. He was road overseer several years and was for eighteen years the clerk of school district No. 23. In 1895 and 1905 he was census enumerator.

Our subject's marriage to Sarah Seal occurred at Elida, Illinois, August 12, 1871. She was born August 18, 1847, in New Jersey, and is a daughter of John and Jane (Bellis) Seal, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of the following children: Elizabeth (Mrs. George Purves), of Tracy; Eleanor (Mrs. Eleanor Gary), of Marshall; Lydia (Mrs. M. D. Bair), of Amiret township; Agnes (Mis. C. J. Armstrong), of St. Paul; and Belle, who lives at home. The Mitchells are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Mitchell was for a number of years a trustee.

KNUTE O. BAKKEN (1876) is a home steader of Eidsvold township and has lived in that precinct thirty-six years. He has lived in a sod shanty, fought grasshoppers, burned hay, and performed other feats that were required of the pioneers of Lyon county. He owns a quarter section of land. His homestead is the north half of the southeast quarter of section 10, and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 15 was purchased from the railroad company.

His parents, Ole and Annie (Knutson) Garlibakken, died in Norway. He has a brother and sister: Knute O. Garlibakken, who still lives in Norway; and Carrie K. T. Monum, of Pope county, Minnesota.

In Norway, on the seventeenth of August, 1851, Knute O. Bakken was born. He came to the United States in 18 68 and settled in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin. There he resided until coming to Lyon county in 1876, working on farms and in the pineries. Mr. Bakken came to Lyon county in the spring of 187 6 and filed upon his homestead. He erected a board and sod house, in which he resided several years, and he has lived on the homestead ever since. The grasshoppers took the best part of his first crop and he met other discouragements, but he persevered and in time came upon more prosperous times.

Mr. Bakken served as director and treasurer of school district No. 79 many years. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Minneota.

The marriage of Mr. Bakken to Caroline Olson occurred in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, in April, 1876. His wife is a native of the county in which she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Bakken are the parents of seven children, as follows: Ole, of North Dakota; Julia (Mrs. Helge Helgeson), of Eidsvold township; Gusta (Mrs. Herman Esping), of Burton township, Yellow Medicine county; Annie (Mrs. Charles Peterson), of Minneota; Hattie (Mrs. Selma Quickstad), of Deuel county, South Dakota; Christina (Mrs. Martin Erickson), of Yellow Medicine county; and Emma, a school teacher.

G. A. DALMANN (1879), a prominent and influential business man of Minneota, has resided in that village thirty-three years and has been identified with the growth and development of the town as have few others.

Mr. Dalmann was born in Iceland September 19, 1856, the son of Grimur and Rose (Davidson) Dalmann. He was the youngest member of a family of five children, all of whom except himself are deceased. His parents died when he was a child and he grew to manhood without school privileges and without aid from relatives. He is a self-made man in every respect and has reached his present standing by unaided effort.

Our subject was brought up on a farm in his native land. He came to the United States in 1879 and direct to Minneota, where he has since had his home. One year he worked on the railroad and then clerked in the store of T. D. Seals and later in that of Coats & Davidson. In 1886 he engaged in business for himself, conducting a fruit and confectionery store and restaurant for about two years. Then he added a line of groceries and has since been engaged in that line of business. He now handles groceries and crockery exclusively and has a model store. His motto is: "The Best of Everything." He located in his present commodious quarters in 1909. In 1894, 1895 and 1896 Mr. Dalmann was on the road buying produce for a Winona company.

On many occasions Mr. Dalmann has been called upon to serve his village in an official capacity. He has held the office of president of the Village Council, member of the Council, assessor and street commissioner. He has been active in school matters and has taken a leading part in all movements for the betterment of the public schools. He was president of the Board of Education when the schools were moved to the present location and he was one of the organizers of the independent district. In fraternal circles Mr. Dalmann is also prominent. He holds membership in the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Woodmen lodges. He was the first master of Equity Lodge No. 2 58 of Minneota and has the distinction of being the first Icelander to hold the office of worshipful master of the

In Minneota, on April 1, 1883, Mr. Dalmann was united in marriage to Sarah Peterson. She is also a native of Iceland and came to the United States in 1877. Four children have blessed this union, as follows: Rose, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, the wife of R. C. Domehower, who is the assistant superintendent of the Milwaukee railroad at that point; Baldur J., a traveling salesman for Scott & Dillon, tobacco manufacturers, married October 4, 1911, to Zelpha Hall, of Smith Mill, Minnesota; Christine, who clerks for her father; and Walter, who clerks in the transfer office at Aberdeen, South Dakota.

CHARLES J. SPONG (1883) located in Clifton township immediately upon coming to Lyon county in 1883. He purchased the southeast quarter of section 2 in partnership with his brother August and soon after bought the brother's interest. Later Mr. Spong bought the southwest quarter of section 1, eighty acres on section 11, and sixty-four acres on section 13, and he is now the owner of 464 acres of Clifton township's choicest farming land. Stock raising is also claiming much of Mr. Spong's attention. He is partial to Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and he has a splendid flock of Shropshire sheep.

Mr. Spong came to the county from Illinois. He was born in Sweden August 5. 1855, and was brought up in the old country. In his young manhood he learned the carpenter's and cabinet maker's trades and worked at them some time in Sweden. It was in 1879 that he came to America and located in De Kalb county, Illinois, where he worked at farm labor three and one-half years. In 1883 he came with his brother to Lyon county and bought land, and he has since then been a resident of Clifton township. He is a director and shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Milroy. For ten years he served as a member of the school board of district No. 4 2, and his church affiliations are with the Evangelical Association church. He has been a class leader since the Clifton church was organized and Sunday School superintendent for the past fifteen years.

Charles Spong's ruamage to Gustava C. Grip took place in De Kalb county, Illinois, March 3, 1883. She was born in Sweden February 13, 1853, and died May 3, 1889. By her marriage to Mr. Spong she became the mother of two children, John W., born February 21, 1884, died January 14, 1911, and Oscar M., born July 2 9, 1886.

On December 24, 1889, our subject was married at Marshall to Augusta M. C. Dahl. She is a native of Sweden and her parents, Peter and Caroline (Johnson) Dahl, still live in the old country. She and Mr. Spong are the parents of the following children: Harry B., born October 25, 1890; Paul H., born May 13, 1892; Frank A., born January 4, 1894; and Ruth E. A., born August 19, 1898.

The parents of our subject are Christopher and Johanna (Swenson) Spong, and they are still living in the Fatherland. Besides his fine farm land Mr. Charles Spong owns a house and seven lots in Marshall.

WILLARD J. VAN DUSEN (1879) farms the south half of the southwest quarter of section 4, Monroe township. He has lived on the place ever since his father took it as a homestead thirty-three years ago, and since the father's death in February, 1907, Willard has had charge of the place.

Willard's father and mother were Charles E. Van Dusen and Fannie E. (Staley) Van Dusen. The father was born at Canton, Ohio, January 17, 1843, and was brought up on a farm. At the age of sixteen years he moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he made his home several years and where he married in the fall of 1865. In 1866 the young couple located in Medford, Minnesota, where they lived several years, then moving to Lyon county and taking as a homestead the farm where our subject now resides. Mrs. Charles Van Dusen was born in Kalamazoo May 24, 1845, and is living on the old homestead in Monroe with her son Willard. The -Van Dusens and the Staleys are both descendants of old colonial families, and the family histories date back to the earliest settlement of the colonies.

when he came with his parents to Lyon county. He has lived on the Monroe township homestead practically ever since. Willard had some interesting experiences during his early days in the county. During the blizzardy winter of 1880-81 he teamed between Tracy and Sleepy Eye for Tracy merchants and carried passengers. He made five trips that winter, one trip taking him fourteen days.

June 8, 1893, Willard Van Dusen was married to Annie Lee, who was born in Norway, March, 1876, and came to this country at the age of ten "years. She died February 6, 1904. To Willard Van Dusen and his wife three children were born, Albert E., Clarice E. and Frank E.

SPURGEON ODELL (1889), president of the .Marshall State Bank and a former clerk of the district court of Lyon county, is one of the substantial citizens of the county seat - a man who has taken an active part in the business and political life of his community.

Mr. Odell is a native Minnesotan, having been born at Oronoco, Olmsted county, July 6, 18 60. At the age of twelve years he moved to Faribault county, and there he grew to manhood. He was one of the first graduates of the Wells High School and he completed his education with a two years' course in a college at Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1884 Mr. Odell moved to Granite Falls, where he taught school and worked at the painter's trade until 1889.

In the month of August, 18 89, Mr. Odell became a resident of Lyon county. For five years he was associated with the Northwestern Elevator Company at Green Valley station. He was elected clerk of the district court in November, 1894, moved to Marshall, and during the next eight years held the county office, having been re-elected in 1898. From the first of 1902 until November 1, 1905, Mr. Odell was traveling agent for the Burchard Hulburt Investment Company, of St. Paul. On the date last mentioned he purchased a half interest in the firm of D. D. Forbes & Company, real estate, loans, collections and insurance, and for several years he engaged in that business with James A. McNiven, the firm being styled Odel] & McNiven. On

June 15, 1909, Messrs. Odell and McNiven and S. J. Forbes organized the Marshall State Bank and have since been associated in its management. Mr. Odell is president; Mr. MeXiven, vice president; and Mr. Forbes, cashier.

For three years, 1907-09, Mr. Odell was mayor of Marshall. In 1902 he was the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, on the ticket headed by the late Leonard

A. Rosing, but was defeated with the rest of the state ticket. Mr. Odell holds membership in the Chapter, Blue Lodge and Commandery of Marshall, in Osmun Shrine of St. Paul, and in the Knights of Pythias and Elks lodges.