Lyon County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1912 (part 5 of 17)

HERMAN P. MEYER (1881) is the owner of a fine quarter section, the northwest quarter of section 1, Rock Lake township, and 120 acres on sections 35 and 36, Lyons, and he farms both places. Mr. Meyer makes his home on the Rock Lake quarter.

Michael and Julia (Peters) Meyers, parents of our subject, were natives of Germany. Herman was born in the Fatherland August 10, 1879, and the family moved to America when Herman was a baby two years old, settling in Rock Lake township in the spring of 1881. The father died in 1885; the mother is a resident of Balaton. Herman grew up on the Rock Lake farm and attended country school in the district until twenty years of age. He then worked out at farm labor in the county until the fall of 1902, in which year he rented the Julius Meyers farm in Rock Lake and farmed it five years, in addition to farming his own quarter on section 1.

In the spring of 1907 Mr. Meyer greatly improved the buildings on his farm. In the summer of 1910 he purchased the 120 acres in Lyons and now has 280 acres of fine land to look after.

The wedding of Herman Meyer and Anna Stankey occurred January 9, 1903, at Balaton. Mrs. Meyer is a native of Wisconsin and was born October 18, 1886. She is a daughter of Charles and Albertina (Leliman) Stankey, pioneer settlers near Ripon, Wisconsin, and now residing in Lyons township, Lyon county. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Meyer are the parents of five children, Elsie, Alma (deceased), Myra, Esther and Viola. The Meyers are members of the German Lutheran church of Balaton.

DR. EDWARD T. SANDERSON (1881) is a physician of Minneota and has resided in Lyon county for the past thirty-one years. He is a native of Iowa and was born at Xenia on April 20, 1875. When a young boy he moved to Nebraska and In 1881 to Lyon county. He received his early education in the schools of Lyon county and St. Olaf's College.

When thirteen years of age young Sanderson started out in life for himself. Ten years were spent in the lumber business, working at various places in South Dakota for the Laird-Norton Lumber Company, in North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa for the Smith & Rogers Company, and in Wisconsin for the Ellefson Lumber Company. He also spent three years as assistant cashier in a bank at Lake Preston, South Dakota. In 1901 he went to Chicago and took up the study of medicine at the Bennett Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1905. Dr. Sanderson was secretary of and professor of anatomy during 1906 and 1907. He then returned to Minneota and has since been engaged in practice.

The subject of this review is a son of the late Dr. Samuel E. Sanderson, of Minneota, one of the pioneer physicians of Lyon county and one of the best known practitioners in this section of the state. He was married to Eliza Ellefson. Both were natives of Dane county, Wisconsin, where their parents settled in an early day, having emigrated there from Norway. They made settlement in SpkaskKonong township, which was the original settlement place of the Norwegian colony in that state. The mother of our subject died in 1902 and the father in 1910. They were the parents of the following children: Edward T., of this sketch; Frederick W., a lumber dealer of Madison, Wisconsin; Theresa, a trained nurse of Madison; Docto *

Our subject is a member of Masonic.. Elks and Modern Woodmen lodges and the Tau Alpha Ipsalon fraternity. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Minnesota State Society and the Lyon-Lincoln Medical Society, of which he is censor and a delegate to the State Society. He is county physician.

Dr. Edward Sanderson was married at Eastman, Wisconsin, on December 31, 1906, to Miss Harriett Wallin, a native of that state. They have one child, Elsie Theresa.

Rev. William Joseph Stewart

REV. WILLIAM JOSEPH STEWART (1905), pastor of St. Edward's Catholic Church of Minneota since September 10, 1905, is a native of Ireland. He was born in Cashel, county of Tipperary, July 14, 1875, and is the eldest son of Jamieson and Mary (Moloughney) Stewart, the former of whom is deceased, and the latter still residing at the old home in Ireland.

Until fifteen years of age the boy William attended the Convent and Christian Brothers' Schools in his home town. In 1890 he entered Rockwell College, Cashel, where he began his classical studies. After three years at that college he continued his preparatory course for the seminary under the private tutorship of the Very Rev. Daniel Canon Ryan, P. P., Clonoulty, county Tipperary. Our subject entered St. Patrick's College, Thurles, Ireland, as a student in 1896, and having completed his two years' course of philosophy and four years' course of theology, was ordained priest for the Archdioceses of Cashel and Emly by His Grace the Most Reverend Thomas Fennelly, D. D., on June 21, 1903.

After his ordination Rev. Father Stewart came on the mission to America and received appointment from Archbishop Ireland as assistant pastor to St. Joseph's Church, St. Paul. There he labored until he was sent as pastor to St. Edward's Parish, Minneota, in 1905.

FRANK W. WEBB (1886), deceased, was among the first business men in Amiret and was a resident of the village twenty-six years. He was, perhaps, the town's most prominent and best known business man. Mr. Webb was a stockholder and the vice president of the Amiret State Bank, and for many years he directed the management of his 480 acre farm in Amiret township.

William W. and Mary Ann Webb, parents of Frank Webb, were natives of England, and after coming to America both located in Buffalo, where they were married. They then moved to Jackson county, Wisconsin, where they made their home until their deaths. They left three children, Thomas H. Webb, of Tracy, A. J. Webb, of Melrose, Wisconsin, and Frank Webb, of this sketch.

Frank Webb was born in Jackson county, Wisconsin, January 5, 1859, and he grew to manhood in that state. After the death of the parents Frank and Thomas Webb came to Minnesota and found work on farms in the southern part of the state. In 1886 they began their business career in Amiret. The brothers established a small store and were identified with the town's development in no small degree. In addition to his mercantile business Frank conducted the Van Dusen elevator, the first in the town, thirteen years, and held the office of postmaster fifteen years. In the late eighties the brothers divided their interests, and Frank remained in control of the store at Amiret.

In 1908 our subject suffered a severe loss in the burning of his store and much of its contents. The business had grown and Mr. Webb had erected a large building, and at the time of the fire he was carrying a $10,(mm» stock of general merchandise, dry goods, groceries, shoes, hardware, etc. The owner was fairly well insured and immediately began the construction of a fine new brick building and soon had replaced his stock and was actively continuing business. There is no doubt, however, that the loss of his building and stock by fire was a serious blow to Mr. Webb, and while he was able to rise to the situation financially his health refused to stand the strain, and his physical breakdown dated from that time. He sought medical aid at St. Paul and Rochester but his case seemed to be not within the range of medical help. Mr. Webb's death, from anemia, occurred at Amiret August 13, 1911. Until about three weeks before he died he was able to be around and in a measure to attend to his duties in the store.

Inez .Marshall, a native of Jackson county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of William H. .Marshall. To this union were born four children, Lester, Hobart, Marshall and Howard, all of whom are living.

KNUTE SWENNES (1875). A pioneer settler and one of the prominent citizens of Eidsvold township is Knute Swennes, who owns and farms the northeast quarter of section 2. He has lived on the farm he now owns since he was eleven years of age and he has seen northwestern Lyon county develop from a trackless prairie to one of the best farming communities of the state.

Knute Swennes was born at Valders, Norway, January 2, 1863. He came to the United States with his parents in 1870, and after living- in Walworth county, Wisconsin, five years came with the family to Lyon county in 1875. The trip was made in wagons and the father selected as his homestead claim the land now owned by the son. At that time there was not a house within sight of the claim, and the nearest neighbor was E. K. Kjorness, three miles southeast. Ten miles to the east lived Ole Brusven, there were a few settlers ten miles to the west, and there was practically nothing nearer than thirty miles to the north.

The Swennes family erected on their claim one of the best homestead cabins of the county. The lower story was built in. a side hill and sheeted with lumber; the second story was built of lumber; and it was quite a comfortable home at that time. Five years later the pioneer home was replaced by a more pretentious building, and later still the present two-story, ten-room house was erected. The grasshoppers brought destruction to several crops, but the family succeeded each year in harvesting enough wheat to carry them through the succeeding winter. They were obliged to burn hay during the memorable winter of 1880-81.

Ever since coming to the county as a boy thirty-eight years ago Knute Swennes has lived on the old homestead. During boyhood days he attended the district school and helped with the work on the farm; later he remained to manage the farm for his father. He came into possession of the farm in 1900 and has since operated it to his own account. Mr. Swennes was assessor of Eidsvold township a number of years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge.

Knute Swennes is a son of the late Ole A. and Ingrid (Ulvestad) Swennes, who lived on the Eidsvold farm many years. The father died in 1906, the mother two years later. Ole A. Swennes took an active part in the business and political life of his township and was an influential citizen. He was one of the organizers of school district No. 39 and held school office many years. With O. L. Orsen and E. K. Kjorness he organized the Norwegian Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and he wrote the by-laws of the original company.

Three sons and two daughters comprise the Swennes family. They are Arne, who resides on the southeast quarter of section 2, Eidsvold; Knute, of this biography; Inger (Mrs. Ole E. Rye), of Eidsvold township; Ola, Jr., a hardware merchant of Flaxton, North Dakota; and Anna, the wife of J. O. Hovland, a retired merchant of Flaxton.

The subject of this review is a man of family, having been married to Marie Johnson December 16, 1903. She is a native of Eidsvold township and was born February 25, 1881. Her father, L. P. Johnson, was born in'Sweden, and her mother, Marit (Nyhagen) Johnson, was born in Norway. They settled in Eidsvold township in 1877. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swennes: Knute B., on December 5, 1904, and Ola Odin, on February 28, 1907.

ED. GITS (1883), dealer in general merchandise at Ghent, first came to that village when a child six years of age, when the town was not much larger than he was. Although a young man, he has built up a prosperous business and is meeting with deserved success.

Ed. Gits was born in Belgium January 19, 1876. When six years old, in 1883, he came with his parents to America and his first home in the New World was Ghent. He lived with his parents until sixteen years of age and then went to Faribault, Minnesota, and clerked in a store for sev- eral years. In 1898 he enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, for service during the war with Spain. He was stationed with his regiment at Chickamauga and Lexington and was mustered out of the service in 1899. Then he became a member of the Home Guards of Duluth and went to Kootchechink and assisted in suppressing an Indian outbreak on the international boundary line.

After that service Mr. Gits returned to Ghent and for five years he was manager of the C. M. Youmans lumber yard. In 1907 he bought a store building of Joseph Pierard and stock of general merchandise of Aime Vanhee and has since been engaged in, that business. He handles dry goods, groceries, shoes, furnishing goods, notions, crockery, etc.

Mr. Gits was married in Ghent on November 8, 1904, to Louise Schreiber, they being the first couple married in the new Catholic church. Mrs. Gits was born on her father's homestead in Westerheim township. She is the daughter of Mathews J. and Johanna (Brewers) Schreiber, who settled in the county in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Gits have two daughters, Juliet and Prudence, and a son, Wilfred Edward, born November 14, 1911.

For several years Mr. Gits served as recorder and treasurer of Ghent. He is a member of the Catholic church and of the Catholic Order of Foresters lodge, of which he has been chief ranger since its organization.

Francis and Louise Gils, the parents of Ed. Gits, also reside in Ghent and have done so since they came from Belgium in 18 83. Francis Gits was one of the early business men of Ghent and one who has done much to bring it to its present standing. At one time and another he conducted a blacksmith shop, general store, hardware store, hotel and livery barn and erected six or seven of the buildings in the village. He has also engaged quite extensively in farming and burned the first and only brick ever manufactured in the town.

In the Gits family are seven children, as follows: Paul, Julius, Joe, Victor, Clemence (Mrs. Charles Foulon), Edmund and Arthur. Prudence, who became the wife of Gustave Vergote, is deceased.

SNORRI HOGNASON (1877), of Minneota, was born in Iceland May 13, 1846, a son of Hogni Gunlaugson and Kristin Snorradottir, both now deceased. Snorri received in his youth such education as was common in Iceland at that time. He was brought up and worked on a farm until 1873, when he came to America and worked on farms in Iowa and Green counties, Wisconsin, three years. -In 1876 he located in Goodhue county, Minnesota, and a year later took a homestead on the northwest quarter of section 4, Westerheim township, Lyon county, where he farmed until 1885.

That year Mr. Hognason located in Clarkfield, Minnesota, where he built the first hotel and conducted it until 1890. He sold out and returned to Lyon county, locating in Minneota, where he has since been engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business. He has a nice residence property in the town, is one of the progressive citizens, and is an active member of the Icelandic Lutheran church. Mr. Hognason has been justice of the peace in Minneota and WTesterheim and was one of the organizers of, and for three years a trustee of, the school district in which he resided in Westerheim township, also serving on the Board of Supervisors. While a resident of Clarkfield he was a member of the Board of Education three years and justice of the peace.

Mr. Hognason was married May 18, 1879, to Wilborg Peterson, a native of Iceland, born January 26, 1846. They are the parents of the following children: William (deceased), Johanna, teacher in the Minneota High School; Kristine Lillie (Mrs. Steven Peterson), of Yellow Medicine county; Martha (Mrs. H. G. Johnson), of Minneota; and Guy Byron, a graduate of the Mining Engineering Department of the State University. The children have all been excellent students in school, the three girls having taken first or second honors in their graduating classes at high school and college.

LAURITZ E. BLEGEN (1879), farmer of Shelburne township, has lived in Lyon county all except the first two years of his life and is a native Minnesotan. He

Mr. Blegen was born in Olmsted county, Minnesota, July 9, 1877, the son of Iver and Christina (Haugen) Blegen. The parents came from Norway in the early seventies, lived in Olmsted county a number of years, and since 1879 have lived in Shelburne township. They have only one child, the subject of this biography.

When Lauritz was two years old the family came to Lyon county. The father took as a homestead claim the southeast quarter of section 32, Shelburne, lived on the place until after proving up, and then purchased land on section 8, where he has since lived. Lauritz grew to manhood on that farm and secured his education in the nearby district school. After growing up he took the management of the home farm, and in 1909 he bought his present property and moved thereon.

Mr. Blegen was chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Shelburne township one year and is the present township assessor. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge and is clerk of Camp No. 3871, Florence. He is a member of and one of the trustees of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Florence.

The marriage of our subject to Lizzie Alsaker occurred at Benson, Minnesota, on the last day of the year 1903. She is a native of Swift county. Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blegen, named Nestor, Lloyd and Howard.

MRS. JAMES A. HARRIS (1880) is the widow of James A. Harris, who was one of the most highly respected citizens of Lyon county. Mrs. Harris' maiden name was Mary A. Foster. She is a daughter of the late Charles S. and Sarah J. (Roberts) Foster, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1854 her parents moved from their native state to DeKalb county, Illinois, where they resided until 1865. At that early date they moved to Minnesota and settled in Wabasha county. The family became residents of Lyon county in 1879, residing in Lynd township until 1896, when they took up thenresidence in Marshall. Mrs. Foster, died October 3, 1900, and Mr. Foster on May 7. 1909.

To these parents Mary A. Foster was born in DeKalb county, Illinois, May 25, 1S57. Winn eight years of age, in 1865, she accompanied her parents to Minnesota and attended the public schools of Elgin, Wabasha county, until fifteen years of age. Miss Foster continued to reside with her parents in Wabasha county until her marriage to Mr. Harris on June 4, 1875.

.lames A. Harris was of Pennsylvania stock, the son of John and Cynthia Harris. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, January 15, 1849. In 1873 he, too, became a resident of Wabasha county, Minnesota, where he resided until March, 1880. At that time he and his family moved to Lyon county, in which he spent the rest of his life. He took a homestead in Island Lake township, which he sold two years later. He resided one year in Lynd township and seven years near the little village of Ghent. Then he bought a farm on section 8, Lynd township, later added to his real estate holdings, and resided on that farm until his death on June 28, 1911, after an illness of eight years.

All the children except Frank and Lee reside at home and assist their mother with the management of the home farm. The Harris family are large holders of Lyon county real estate. Mrs. Harris owns 400 acres of land on section 8, Lynd township. Frank and Lee, who are independent farmers, own 520 acres in Island Lake township. Charles, Harry and George are the possessors of 480 acres on section 5, Lynd township. In addition to grain farming, the Harris family engage extensively in stock raising. Charles Harris is a director of school district No. 17, an office which his father held continuously from 1891 until his death. James Harris also served as chairman of the Lynd Township Board of Supervisors for ten years.

RICHARD R. BUMFORD (1878), who conducts a loan and real estate office in the city of Marshall, has been a resident of Lyon county thirty-four years. He is a native of Racine county, Wisconsin, and was born October 26, 1856. He was educated in the district school and in the grammar school at Racine.

In 1876 Mr. Bumford moved to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he engaged in teaching district schools two years. He came to Lyon county in the spring of 1878, took a homestead claim in Monroe township, and for a few years was engaged in teaching school. He was elected register of deeds in 1882 and held the office three terms, until the first of the year 1889. That year he engaged in his present business. Mr. Bumford makes a specialty of real estate loans and has built up a very large business along that line.

The subject of this review was married at Marshall in June, 1886, to Lucy Lewis, a native of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Bumford have two children: Gladys E., a graduate of the Marshall High School and who for two years attended the Conservatory of Music of Oberlin, Ohio, and Truman Lewis, who was graduated from the Marshall High School in 1911 and who is now attending Carleton College. The family are members of the Congregational church of Marshall, Mr. Bumford being one of the trustees of the church.

Richard R. Bumford is a son of the late David and Ellen (Roberts) Bumford. The parents were born in Wales, came to America when young, and were married in Racine, Wisconsin. David Bumford was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as a member of Company F, of the Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He died at the home of his son, Abner G. Bumford, in Custer township in December, 1889. The mother of our subject died in Wisconsin a number of years ago. There were only two children in the family - Abner G. and Richard R. Bumford.

JOHN B. CULSHAW (1880), farmer and land owner of Nordland township, has lived in that precinct since he was eight years of age. He was born in England August 20, 1872, a son of Robert and Helen (Parker) Culshaw, also residents of Nordland.

It was in 1880 that the Culshaw family came from England and made settlement in Nordland township, the father having purchased a quarter section of land on section 3 through Father Hanly the year before their arrival. John received his schooling and grew to manhood on the farm. After growing up he assisted his father in the management of the home farm and was so engaged until 1909. Then, having purchased the southwest quarter of section 2 from his father, he engaged in farming for himself.

Mr. Culshaw raises Guernsey cattle and Poland China hogs. He has served as treasurer of Nordland township and as clerk of school district No. 77. He is a member of the Catholic church and of the M. W. A. and K. C. lodges.

The marriage of Mr. Culshaw to Ann O'Brien occurred in Minneota November 8, 1905. She was born in Illinois December 6, 1879, a daughter of John and Margaret O'Brien. Her father was born in Ireland and died in Nordland township in 1896; her mother was born in Scotland and died in Nordland township in 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Culshaw have five children: Helen B., Margaret, Agnes, Mary J. and Ann T.

FRANK E. STARR (1873), of Tracy, is the son of one of the first settlers of southeastern Lyon county and has lived in the county all except the first four years of his life. He engages extensively in the stock business with his brother, Charles Starr, the firm being Starr Brothers.

The brothers are sons of the late E. L. Starr, one of the pioneers of Tracy and a man who took a prominent part in the affairs of his community. The family came to the county in 1873 and took as a homestead claim land adjoining the future city of Tracy on the east. There a small frame house was erected and a sod barn was put up to shelter the oxen. On the claim the Northwestern Railroad Company established the first station in the vicinity, the predecessor of that of Tracy.

B. L. Starr engaged in farming and stock buying and conducted a butcher shop in Tracy when the town was started. Before that time the household supplies were hauled from Currie. The elder Mr. Starr served as county commissioner in the early days. He died in 190S. The following named seven children are members of the family: Mary A.. Frank E., Charles E., Lillian. Lucy, Eva and Mabel.

Frank E. Starr was born near Winona, Minnesota, March 19, 1869, and when four years old came with the family to Lyon county. Prior to his father's death he and his brother were associated in business with their parent. Frank bought his present place on the outskirts of Tracy about ten years ago. Besides his other business interests he engages in farming. He also owns an 110- acre farm near town. Our subject is a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge.

MARTINUS ANDERSON (1S80) farms 280 acres of land in Lucas township, a short distance west of Cottonwood. The farm is the southeast quarter of section 6. He was born on the adjoining farm, the homestead of his father, October 14, 1880. With the exception of a few months spent in Colorado and Canada, Martinus has always lived in this vicinity. The farm on which he now resides he has farmed since 1905 and he has since made many improvements on it, including a large barn built in 1912. v

Gabriel Anderson, the father of our subject, superintends the farming of the home place, although he resides in Cottonwood. He is one of the largest land owners of Lyon county, having purchased about 1600 acres since taking up his residence here. He was born in Norway and came to America when one year old. He came to Lyon county in the early seventies and was one of the first settlers of Lucas township. The mother of our subject is Margaret (Olson) Anderson, a native of Fillmore county, Minnesota.

The oldest child of the Anderson family, Edward, was drowned when five years old. The other children are Martinus, Mrs. Bernard Dahl, Mrs. J. Von Williams, Mabel, Joseph, Henrietta and Hartford.

Martinus Anderson was married at Granite Falls, Minnesota, October 18, 1905, to Annie Wangsness, a native of Fillmore county. Their only child, Gifford J., died at the age of five months.

JAY P. PETERSON (1886) is a member of the Home Land Company of Russell and is interested in other business enterprises in that village. He is an early settler of southwestern Lyon county and was the first station agent at Russell.

Mr. Peterson was born in Denmark May 4, 1874, the eldest of four children born to Hans and Ellen Peterson, who now reside in Russell. The other children of the family are Hans C, William C. and Carrie K., the wife of Peter Hanson, of Russell.

When Jay was nine years old the family came to America and made settlement at Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa. In 1886 they moved to Lyon county, bought the northeast quarter of section 36, Coon Creek township, and on that farm Jay lived with his parents a little over a year. While living there, during the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, Hans Peterson and our subject had an experience that will never be effaced from their memory. An account of their experience in the storm can be found in the historical part of this volume.

At the age of fourteen years Jay Peterson left the parental roof and set out in life for himself. His first work was on the grade of the Willmar & Sioux Falls road, which was then building through the county. In 1891 he went to Tyler and in the railroad station at that place learned the telegrapher's trade. On September 12, 1892, he located at the new station of Russell, opened the station, and had charge of the company's interests there until 1900.

During the next three years Mr. Peterson was agent, respectively, at Lester and Doon, Iowa; Yankton, South Dakota; and Pipestone, Minnesota. He was then promoted to traveling freight agent for the Great Northern, with headquarters at Sioux City, and held the position until 1909. That year he gave up railroading, returned to Russell, and opened a general store. He conducted that one year and has since been engaged in the real estate business. In 1910 he organized the Home Land Company in company with

B. Leknes, cashier of the First State Bank. He is also engaged in the jewelry business and is a stockholder in the Russell Tile and Cement Manufacturing Company.

Upon the incorporation of Russell Mr. Peterson was chosen the first village recorder, and he was one of the first trustees of the Presbyterian church of Russell. He is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Mason and a member of the Woodmen and Workmen lodges. His wife is a member of the Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors and Degree of Honor orders.

The marriage of our subject occurred in Russell November 27, 1899, when he wedded May B. Patton, a native of Lodi, Wisconsin, and a former resident of Esmond, Kingsbury county, South Dakota. Her parents, James and Jane Patton, were born in Scotland and in the early seventies located in Kingsbury county.

JOHN H. HUGHES (1876), one of the early settlers of Custer township and a farmer who has prospered on his eightyacre farm and been active in the affairs of the community, was born in New York State March 22, 18 52. When a small child he accompanied his parents, Hugh R. and Ann (Pew) Hughes, to Wisconsin, where the family resided until John was ten years old; then the family moved to Blue Earth county, Minnesota.

Blue Earth county coutinued to be the home of the Hughes family until John was twenty-four years of age. He was brought up on a farm and attended school in the home district. He had been helping his father on the farm several years when, in 1876, the family came to Lyon county, the father and John each taking homesteads in Custer township. The parents made their homestead their home until their deaths, and John has been a continuous resident on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 14 ever since taking it as a homestead in 187 6. He is a stockholder of the Garvin Creamery Company.

John Hughes and Margaret J. Owens were united in marriage January 1, 1877. Mrs. Hughes was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, March 2 5, 1856. 'To them have been born six children, named as follows: Hugh, Philip, Hannah, Mary, Margaret and

THEODORE JANSEN (1885). One of the most prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Lyon county is Theodore Jansen, of Lake Marshall township. He was born in Beubwe, Holland, August 31, 1865, and resided there until twenty years of age. Theodore is a son of Albert and Annie (Boerboom) Jansen, both deceased, 'the former having died in 1891 and the latter in 1895.

In 1885 our subject accompanied his parents to Lyon county and the father bought land near Ghent. Albert Jansen died there in 1891 and Theodore then assumed charge of his father's farm in company with his brother Jacob. They farmed together until 1901, when they sold out and moved to Oklahoma. Not finding the latter country to their liking, they returned to Lyon county and purchased 5 60 acres of land in Lake Marshall township. They farmed together until 19 05, when they divided, and our subject became the owner of 400 acres of improved land. He raises a great deal of stock, including Shorthorn and Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. Our subject is a member of the Catholic church.

The subject of this review was married in Ghent June 30, 1891, to Caroline Hennen, a native of Lemberg, Holland. Mrs. Jansen was born October 19, 1872, and is a daughter of Arnold and Helena (Becker) Hennen, who came to America in 1884 and located at Ghent, later moving to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The mother died in 19 05; the father is living at the age of seventythree years. Mrs. Jansen died March 9, 1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Jansen were the parents of the following children: Mary H, born July 20, 1892; Albert A., born August 1, 1893; William O., born November 11,1894; Agnes W. J., born October 12, 1896; Leo T., born April 24, 1898; Annie H-, born May 4, 1899; Helena C, born February 15, 1903; Carolina M., born March 7, 1905. Mr. Jansen was married a second time, to Maria Vergot on February 28, 1911. She was born in Belgium September 4.

JAMES GRIEVE (1889), senior member of the firm of Grieve & Laingen, is a prosperous merchant of Cottonwood. The proprietors built the large and commodious two-story brick building which they occupy and the firm handles a large line of general merchandise and is one of the most popular business institutions in the county. Grieve & Laingen also own a well improved quarter section of land in Lucas township, to which they give their personal supervision.

Mr. Grieve is a native of Ontario, Canada. He was born October 24, 1872, and when a child the family moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where James resided until 1889, when he was seventeen years of age. At that time he came to Lyon county and worked out as a farm laborer about two years, finally seeking employment in Cottonwood and securing a position as clerk in the store of Arneson & Olson, which he held four years. The ambition to get into business for himself led Mr. Grieve to form a partnership with John Michie, and the two young men bought Dahl Brothers' general merchandise stock and ran the store under the firm name of Michie & Grieve six years. In 1902 C. R. Laingen bought out Mr. Michie, and the firm name has since been Grieve & Laingen. In 1904 the partners built the present modern building.

Our subject was married in Lucas township August 5, 1896, to Ellen Garry, a native of Canada and a daughter of John Garry, an early settler of Lucas township. In the summer of 1911 Mr. Grieve built a fine residence of the bungalow type, and he and his wife are now comfortably installed in the new home. Mr. Grieve's mother is still living and makes her home in Cottonwood. The father, Joseph Grieve, died in the early seventies.

PEDER GILBERT RONNING (1879) has spent his entire life as a resident of Shelburne township. He is the son of Thomas and Maret (Otton) Ronning, who came to

Perler was born on section 18, May 18, 1879. He was educated in the schools of Florence and the vicinity and was a student until eighteen years of age. Thereafter until he reached his majority he worked on his father's farm. Since becoming of age he has farmed for himself. During the past four years he has farmed the east half of the southeast quarter of section 28. Besides general farming, Mr. Ronning raises considerable stock, including Shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Percheron horses.

Randy Christensen became the wife of Peder Ronning on May IS, 1902. She was born in Norway June 8, 1876, and is the daughter of Rasmus and Andrena Christensen, pioneer settlers of and still residents of Coon Creek township. To Mr. and Mrs. Ronning have been born the following named children: Alma Matilda, born November 5, 1903; Torvel Roy, born May -12, 1906; Pleda Ruth (deceased), born January 13, 1909; Aimer Olea. born January 16, 1911.

The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Florence. Mr. Ronning is a member of the Modem Woodmen order and was formerly one of the officers of the local lodge.

LORENTS KLAITH (1875) is a general merchant of Minneota and a man who has resided in Lyon and Lincoln counties for thirty-seven years. He is a native of Norway and was born October 18, 1856, one of a family of seven children. The other living members of the family are Mrs. Anna Spillum, of Racine county, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Oleni Feste, of Williams county. North Dakota. The father of this family died in Norway when Lorents was a child; the mother, Marie Klaith, died in Lincoln county about 1899, aged seventy-four years.

In the spring of 1873 Lorents came to the United States with his mother, brothers and sisters and located in Racine county, Wis consin, where he remained until the summer of 1875. Then he came to Lyon county and worked on farms near Minneota until 1879. That year he homesteaded land in Limestone township, Lincoln county, when' he lived until the fall of 190L On t lint farm he "batched" for two years in a dug-out and then built a log house, which still stands on the farm. He went through all the hardships of early days, but when times bettered he became a prosperous farmer. Mr. Klaith still owns the old farm besides another quarter section adjoining it.

In 1901 Mr. Klaith moved to Minneota, where he bought livestock for a year and then purchased an interest in the general store of Christ Urdahl. Later he bought Mr. Urdahl's interest and has continued the business. Mr. Klaith is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. While on the farm he was assessor eight consecutive years, chairman of the township board four years, one of the first constables in the township, and was clerk of the school district from its organization until he left the farm.

Mr. Klaith was married in August. 1886, to Gorgine Feste. a native of Norway who was then a resident of Nordland township. They have five children living, Martin, Josephina, Annie, Amanda and Laura. Those deceased were Martin, Annie, Lewis.

KASPER FISCHER (1888), of Lynd township, is a farmer and land owner of Lyon county who has resided here many years. He is a native of Germany and was born at Bavaria August 1, 1847, the son of John and Marguerite Fischer. Both parents are deceased.

Kasper Fischer received his early education in Germany, where he attended school until eighteen years of age. He then wrorked for his father on the farm until twenty-two years of age, wiien he enlisted in the German army and fought in the Franco-German war, spending about four years in the service. He then returned home and worked for his father until 1875.

Mr. Fischer came to Lyon county in 1SSS and has been a very successful farmer and stock raiser. Previous to coming to Lyon county he worked in Chicago for six years.

Our subject is a member of the Catholic church. He has stock in the farmers' elevator companies of Marshall, Ghent and Lynd. He is also a stockholder in the Independent Harvester Company of Piano, Illinois. Mr. Fischer engages extensively in sYock raising, breeding Hereford cattle, Red Jersey hogs. White Plymouth Rock chickens and Belgian horses. He was road overseer in Lynd township for three years. He owns four hundred eighty acres of land in Lynd township and four hundred acres in Island Lake township and has one of the best improved farms in Lyon county. He drives an International automobile.

On February 1, 1875, Mr. Fischer was united in marriage to Babata Stachar, a native of Germany. To this union were born the following children: Katherine, Anna, Elizabeth (deceased), Joseph, William and Harry. All reside at home. Mrs. Fischer died in 1905. Joseph is a member of the M. W. A. lodge and a graduate of the Minnesota State Agricultural College. Katherine is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

FREMONT SHARPE BROWN (1880) has practised law in the city of Tracy for the past thirty-two years and has been prominently identified with the affairs of Lyon county during all that time. He has served as judge of probate and county attorney and held many minor offices. His part in the political and business affairs of the county richly entitles him to a place in this History of Lyon County.

Judge Brown was born in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, June 15, 1856. His ancestry can be traced back to colonial days in New England; his parents, Myron Holly Brown and Sarah M. (Sharpe) Brown, were both born in New York State. In May, 1865, the family became residents of Minnesota, locating in Wabasha. There young Brown read law and in 1879 he was admitted to the bar. He practised in his home city a few months and then located in the young but growing town of Tracy, which has ever since been his home.

Many times has Judge Brown been called upon to serve in an official capacity. Before the incorporation of Tracy he served as clerk of Monroe township, and after the incorporation he was the first village recorder. He was elected county judge of probate in 1882 and was re-elected four consecutive times, serving until January, 1893. He was chosen county attorney in 1896, was re-elected in 1898, and held the office until the beginning of the year 1901. In 1887 the Minnesota Legislature provided that the governor apmoURAPIUCAL HISTORY.

point a commission of three members to codify and revise the probate laws of the state. Judge Brown, who was then serving as probate judge, was named as one of that commission and assisted in the work. In 1SS9 the Legislature adopted and enacted into law the probate laws as revised and codified by the commission.

In business affairs Judge Brown has also had considerable to do. having perfected the organization of several incorporated companies for investment in lands. In Masonic circles Judge Brown has taken advanced degrees. He holds membership in the Minnesota Consistory, Paladin Commandery No. 21, Osman Temple, St. Paul Council, R. S. M., Bower Chapter No. 44, R. A. M., Tracy Lodge No. 155, A. F. & A. M., and Virginia Chapter No. 14. O. E. S.

Judge Brown was married in Mankato to Sue B. Gleason. She died in September, 1896. To them were born two children. Mary Kathrine and Hoit Sharpe. The second marriage of Judge Brown occurred in February, 1907, to Flora A. Hartigan, a native of Plainview. Minnesota.

WILLIAM J. BRULL (1884), the subject of this sketch, was born in Bocholtz, Holland, July 17, 1860, was educated in the public schools of Holland, and learned the blacksmith's trade, after which he was employed by the government as mail carrier, and during that time, on the first day of May, 1882, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Rycken, to which union Mary Lizzie was born February 8, 1883.

On the eleventh day of April, 1884, Mr. Brull and his family, accompanied by his father and mother, immigrated to America, and they arrived in the village of Ghent, Lyon county, Minnesota, on April 28 of the same year. Soon thereafter he rented a farm and settled on the southwest quarter of section 24 in the township of Lake Marshall, at which place and on the nineteenth day of April, 1885, his only son, William J. Brull, Jr., was born. In 1887 he purchased the south half of section 34 in the township of Grandview and moved thereon in the spring of 1888. He continued to operate the farm in Grandview until 1899, at which time he purchased the south half of section 36 of the same township and moved thereon and on that place he has resided ever since. Mr. Brull has since purchased several other farms, making his land holdings at the present time 680 acres, and he has improved the same by erecting thereon a set of farm buildings equal, if not superior, to any in the county, including a residence with all of the modern conveniences at a cost of over $6000, which farm and home are within two miles of the city of Marshall, the county seat.

Mr. Brull has prospered in all of his undertakings and investments and is today enjoying the results of an active and well-spent career. He has been active in all the affairs of his township and in addition thereto has been traveling salesman for the Page Woven Wire Fence Company of Adrian, Michigan, and is a director of the Western Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Balaton.

Mrs. Brull was born at Broeksittard, Holland, on January 13, 1861, and is a daughter of Henry Rycken and Mary Elizabeth (Panhausen) Rycken, both of whom are now deceased.

His only daughter, Mary Lizzie, became the wife of Constant Senden on September 25, 1907, who died on the sixth of June, 1908, at which time she returned to and has since made her home with her father and mother. His son William J. Brull, Jr., is unmarried and makes his home with his parents.

JAMES CHRISTENSON (1886), Stanley township farmer, is a native of Denmark and was born January 6, 1862, a son of Christ and Amelia (Peterson) Jensen.

In his native land James Christenson was reared and educated. In 1886, when twentyfour years of age, he came to America and direct to Lyon county. For a few years he worked out as a farm hand and in 18S9 he rented land in Stanley township and started in business for himself. He located on the present place in 1909. He farms 320 acres on section 6, Stanley, and 30, Lucas. He raises Poland China hogs and other stock. For seven years Mr. Christenson served as a director of school district No. 15. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Maria Sorenson occurred in Marshall August 28, 1888. She was born in Denmark March 13, 1865, and died March 4, 1912. Her parents were Paul and Bodel (Peterson) Sorenson, both of whom are buried in the old country. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Christenson, as follows: Paul, born June 13, 1889; Chris, born October 23, 1890; Fred, born October 19, 1892; Henry, born February 23, 1895; Emma, born January 28, 1898; Jacob, born March 30, 1900; James, born April 7, 1903; and Mary, born June 27, 1907,.

A. R. CHACE (1878). is a dealer in implements, stock and grain in the city of Marshall and an old-time resident of Lyon county. For the last thirty-four years he has lived in the county and most of that time has been spent in the city in which he now has his home. During these years he has been active in the affairs of the city and he is rated among the men of integrity of the community.

Mr. Chace was born in Danby township, Rutland county, Vermont, on May 1, 1838. rihe first twelve years of his life were spent in his native state and then he moved to Erie county. New York, where he resided until the outbreak of the Civil War.

For three years and one month Mr. Chace served in the Union Army, having enlisted as orderly sergeant in Company A, Sixtyfourth New York Infantry. He participated in every battle in which the Army of the Potomac took part, including Gettysburg, the second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Culpepper Court House, Cold Harbor, the 'Wilderness, Fair Oaks, Antietam and Yorktown. He was in the Fourth Brigade (General John R. Brooks) of the Second Army Corps (General Hancock) and in the battle of Antietam was under General Nelson A. Miles. After the battle of Gettysburg Mr. Chace was promoted to second lieutenant, was made first lieutenant a few weeks later, and later still was made captain. During the last year of his service he was brigade inspector on the staff of General John R. Brooks.

After the war Captain Chace located in the oil regions of Pennsylvania." For several years he was engaged in the oil industry, putting down wells and promoting enterprises. After leaving Pennsylvania he spent six months in the same business at South Norwich, Canada. The Fenian raids were taking place in that part of Canada at the time and Mr. Chace had exciting experiences in them. For the next ten years Mr. Chace was a resident of Chicago, one year in the merchandising brokerage business, and the rest of the time in the foreign and domestic fruit trade. In the great fire of 1871 he lost everything he possessed, but later recouped his' fortunes.

It was in 1878 that A. R. Chace became a resident of Lyon county. He bought a preemption claim to the northwest quarter of section 14, Sodus township, and later bought 120 acres of railroad land adjoining. He lived on the farm one year and then moved to Marshall, where he has ever since resided. At the time of locating in the county seat Mr. Chace formed a partnership with J. P. Watson and engaged in the implement and stock business. For twenty-five years the firm of Watson & Chace had an existence. Then William Neill bought the Watson interests, and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of Chace & Neill. Besides his other duties our subject devotes his time to the management of his farms. He owns 240 acres of land in Lake Marshall township, and he and Mr. Neill own the same amount in Island Lake township.

Watson & Chace's first store was at the corner of .Main and Fourth Streets, on the site of the building recently vacated by the ten-cent store. Later they bought the yards of the Empire Lumber Company and those of the Hall & Ducey Lumber Company and were engaged in that business two years, .selling to the Ross Lumber Company. Upon purchasing the business of the Empire Lumber Company they moved into that company's building, where Chace & Neill now have their office. That building was one of the earliest erected in Marshall, having been put up by the Empire Company when W. M. Todd was their agent.

The parents of our subject were Ephraim and Emily (Rhodes) Chace, natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. There were nine children in the family, as follows: Mary (Mrs. Ira Vail), deceased, of Vermont; Susan (Mis. Pliney Bartlett), deceased, of Collins, Erie county, New York; Amelia Vail, of Erie county, New York; Eliza Jacobs, deceased; Frances, Clara Willett, of Erie county; Lydia Wilbur, deceased; and A. R. Chace.

The marriage of A. R. Chace to Alice G. Perry occurred in Erie county, New York. She is a native of that county and a daughter of Esquire P. H. Perry. Mr. and Mrs. Chace have one child, Naomi, now Mrs. Edward G. Campbell, of Owatonna, Minnesota.

ANDREW HENRY HATTLESTAD (1878), one of Lucas township's farmers, was born at Marshall June 19, 1878, and is a son of Ole H. and Carrie (Anderson) Hattlestad. The family were early settlers of the county, and Ole Hattlestad is still a prominent figure in county affairs and resides at Cottonwood. His wife died some years ago.

Andrew when two years of age accompanied his parents when they moved to a farm in Lucas township. He grew up on the farm and attended district school until sixteen years of age, after which he was a student in the Norwegian Lutheran College at Madison, Minnesota, for three years. After quitting that school, Andrew engaged in carpenter work and followed that calling two years at Toronto, South Dakota. Returning to Lyon county, the young man worked three years for his father on the home farm, then married, and again took up his tradt- for a short time in Cottonwood.

Shortly after our subject's marriage he moved to a farm in Vallerg and commenced farming for himself, in which occupation he has since been engaged. Some years ago he moved to Lucas township and is now the proprietor of 216 acres. He raises considerable stock.

The subject of this sketch was married November 28, 1900, to Emma J. Ludwig. She was born near the town of Parker, South Dakota, June 1, 1883, and died August 1, 1910. By her marriage to Mr. Hattlestad she became the mother of the following children: Carol Sidney, born April 28, 1902; Kenneth Olai, born June 10, 190?,, died June 20, 1903; Basil Jerome, born December 15, 1904; Clifford Orran, born June 15, 1907; and Erma Alsine, born June 20, 1909. Mr. Hattlestad

WILLIAM C. HENRICHS (1887), deceased, was a citizen of Russell and Shelburne township for many years. He was born in Bremer county, Iowa, December 6, 1876, and spent the first eleven years of his life in that state. His parents, Fred and Rachael (Troosh) Henrichs, were natives of Germany and Ilion, Illinois, respectively, and are now living in Todd county, Minnesota.

The Henrichs family moved from Iowa to Lyon county, Minnesota, in 1887 and located in Shelburne township. That was William Henrich's home for many years, and he conducted a farm of his own eleven years before moving to Russell to take the management of the tile plant.

The Russell Cement Tile Manufacturing Company was started by John Bengtson in April, 1910, and in August the plant was bought by stockholders and incorporated for $30,000, for the purpose of manufacturing cement building blocks, drain tile and other cement work. The capacity of the works was increased to 4000 tile- per day and the plant was equipped with the latest machinery and became one of Russell's best enterprises. The officers of the new company were William C. Henrichs, president and general manager; John Bengtson, vice president; J. P. Peterson, secretary; and B. Leknes, treasurer.

Mr. Henrichs was married in Coon Creek township October 14, 1899, to Eva S. Burckhardt. Two children were born to this union, Rudolph and Ida. Mrs. Henrichs was a native of Freeport, Illinois, and died May 28, 1909. The subject of this sketch was the victim of an automobile accident and came to his death in the summer of 1911. Besides his two children he left nine brothers and three sisters, as follows: Fred, William C, Mary Hamm, Emma Burckhardt, Herman, Byron, Albert, Frank, Henry. Etta and Ida. Mr. Henrichs was a well known and well liked citizen and one of the active and reliable business men of Russell. His death was a universal loss. He was very prominent in lodge circles and held mem bership in the A. F. & A. M., Modern Woodmen, A. O. U. W. and Royal Neighbors lodges.

JOHN O'CONNOR (1880) is the proprietor of Elder Grove Farm, comprising 240 acres on sections 11 and 13, Eidsvold township. When he came to Lyon county thirty-two years ago his worldly possessions consisted of $3.15. He worked hard and economized to pay for his farm and improvements and is deserving of the greatest credit for what he has accomplished, for he is now in prosperous circumstances and has one of the fine farm homes of Eidsvold township.

Mr. O'Connor was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, September 19, 1841. His parents, Edmund and Margaret (Mullane) O'Connor, died in the old country, and there are three living children of a family of six. The children are Helen, who still lives in Ireland; Margaret, of Washington, District of Columbia: and John.

In 1868 Mr. O'Connor decided to seek his fortune in the New World and he landed in Castle Garden on April 23 of that year. In the metropolis of the country he was married and resided there ten years. The next two years were spent working on a railroad in Wabasha county, Minnesota, and then he came to Lyon county.

The trip to Lyon county in 1880 was made by train to Granite Falls and thence to Minneota by "Shank's horses." No houses were in sight for many miles of the foot journey and the first night he slept on the prairie. Upon his arrival he contracted for the purchase of his present farm from the railroad company, agreeing to pay $6.00 per acre for the same. He had no funds and the land was without improvements. He rented a little shack a mile south of his place, in which he lived and to which he brought his family two years later, and went to work on the section to earn money to meet the payments on his land and to support his family.

For twenty years Mr. O'Connor worked on the section, for the last twelve years of the period being foreman of a crew. Thus he struggled to gain a competence, and he finally won the fight. Three years after his arrival he built a little shack on the land and moved his family there. In 1898 he erected an eight-room, 32x36 feet, well appointed house and other buildings. After quitting the railroad he began farming and has since been so engaged. The grove of elder trees planted in the early days suggested the name for the farm, which is now recognized as one of the fine ones of the precinct. Among the improvements made in 1912 was the erection of a 100-ton silo, thirty-six feet high, and the expenditure of $1000 in tiling. It is Mr. O'Connor's intention to feed cattle for the market.

In the city of New York, on January 8, 1871, Mr. O'Connor was united in marriage to Julia O'Connor. She was also a native of County Cork and arrived in America February 15, 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor were born nine children, of whom the following named five are living: Edmund, who now conducts the home farm; John, of Duluth; Mary, of Minneapolis; Julia, of New York City; and Veronica, a school teacher. The family are members of the Catholic church of Minneota.

For his success in life and the making of his home he desires much credit given to his faithful wife, who departed this life on April 25, 1903.

JOHN \V. WILSON (1881) is the proprietor of 360 acres of well-improved farm land in Island Lake township and is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. He was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, September 5, 1853, and is a son of John and Lucinda (Rister) Wilson, natives of Indiana and Illinois, respectively. They came to Wisconsin in an early day and pursued the occupation of farmers.

John was brought up in Wisconsin and spent the first twenty-eight years of his life in that state. He obtained a common school education and afterward remained on the farm with bis father, helping with the work. In 1881 the family moved to Minnesota and the elder Wilson bought 160 acres on section 3, Island Lake township. The property was at that time raw prairie land and the efforts of its owners have brought the farm to its present state of improvement. Mr. Wilson every year makes a shipment of Durham cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs to market, and is conducting his farm with profit.

He was married in the township to Mary Helvig. She is a daughter of Joseph and Catherine Helvig, natives of Germany, who now reside at Ivanhoe, Minnesota. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.

CAM1EL F. DE SUTTER (1882), of Grandview township, was horn in Belgium December 3, 1863, and was brought up and educated in his native land. At the age of nineteen years he came with his parents, Charles F. and Mary (De Pauw) De Sutter, to the United States and located in Westerheim township, Lyon county, Minnesota, the father buying land on section 29. Charles F. De Sutter made that his home until 1903, when he moved to Ghent, and there he died in 1906, aged seventy-eight years; Mrs. De Sutter died on the farm in 1897.

Camiel De Sutter remained on his father's place ten years after the family located in Lyon county. Then he married and bought the southwest quarter of section 34 and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 33, Westerheim township, and made his home there ten years. He then moved to the north half of section 10, Grandview township, and farmed the whole section, later buying the south half. There were no buildings on that half, and Mr. De Sutter has since improved the farm. He conducts practically all the 520 acres in the two townships. He donated three acres of his land to the Catholics and they built their church there.

Camiel De Sutter married Mary E. Van Hee in Ghent, the wedding taking place July 6, 1892. She is a native of Belgium and was born October 19, 1865, a daughter of Angelus Van Hee, who located in Grandview township in 1881 and who died about eighteen years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. De Sutter have been born nine children, as follows: Aime, a student at Sacred Heart College, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; and Charles, Andrew, Mary, Joseph, Rachael, Lucy, Alice and Emil, who reside at home. Mr. De Sutter has seven brothers and sisters living: Andrew, Nathalie, August, Peter, Louis, Archer and Emil.

F. W. SICKLER (1878), cashier of the Lyon County National Bank, has been a resident of Marshall since 1878. He is one of the influential citizens of the city and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people of the entire county.

Mr. Sickler was born in Rockford. Illinois, October 21, 1856. When he was one year of age he accompanied his parents to Rome, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and where he received an academic education. Later he moved to Athens. Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1878. That year he located in Marshall and has ever since been identified with the town's prosperity.

For a few years Mr. Sickler served as deputy register of deeds of Lyon county and as deputy county treasurer, doing practically the entire work of both offices. In 1881 he was made assistant cashier of the Lyon County National Bank and has since been connected with that financial institution, of late years as its cashier. He received the appointment of postmaster of Marshall in 1898 and served a four-year term. He is a Mason.

At Marshall, on July 25, 1895, Mr. Sickler was married to Lillian S. Porter, a daughter of Charles Porter, of Lamberton, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Sickler are the parents of the following named children: Vivian G., Florence B., Frances Porter, Wallace W., George Howard and Robert.

ANDREW OFSTAD (1881), who owns the northwest quarter and south half of the southeast quarter of section 19, Shelburne township, adjoining the village of Florence, is a well-to-do farmer and stockraiser of the vicinity.

Our subject was born in Trondhjem, Norway, March 21, 1851, his parents being Guilder S. and Mary Ofstad, both now deceased. Andrew was reared in the land of his nativity and received a common school education, attending until fifteen years old, after which he worked with his father on the farm until he was twenty years of age. In 1871 the boy immigrated to America, locating near Ishpeming, Michigan, and obtaining employment in the iron mines, where he worked for the next four years. Thence

In the spring of 1881 Andrew, then a man of thirty, determined to seek a less confining occupation, and he has never regretted coming to Minnesota and taking up farming in Lyon county. He bought 120 acres of his present farm at that time; in later years he has purchased additional land and now owns 240 acres.

Mr. Ofstad has been cpiite active in affairs of the township, having been a member of the Township Board of Supervisors three or four years and a director of school district Xo. 78 two terms. He was also road overseer in Shelburne two terms. He has been interested in the Florence Creamery Company and was president of the company two years. Mr. Ofstad is a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge of Tyler and he affiliates with the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Andrew Ofstad was married August 14, 1ST",, at Ishpeming, Michigan, to Gurn Ronning, a native of Norway and a daughter of Knute and Mary (Gorseth) Ronning, both now dead. Gurn Ronning was born August 7, 1852. Andrew and Gurn (Ronning) Ofstad are the parents of the following children: Gustad A., Mary (deceased), Oluf (deceased), Mary (deceased), Oliver, Clara, Martin, Albert, Guy and Pauline. Gustad A., the oldest son, is the Great Northern Railway station agent at Florence.

STEVE BLANCHETTE (1884) is a real estate dealer of Marshall, doing business under the title Marshall Land Company. He handles Southern and Central Minnesota lands exclusively and has built up an extensive business. He first came to Lyon county at the age of fifteen years and his home has been here the greater part of the time since.

In Kankakee county. Illinois, on August 24, 1869, Mr. Blanchette was born. He attended the district school and completed his education with a course in Vieteurs College at Bourbonnais Grove, Illinois. He came to Lyon county with the family in 1884 and during the next ten years worked for his father on the farm on section 31, Vallers township. That place was bought two years before the family came to the county and all

After leaving the farm Steve spent a number of years railroading for the Northwestern Company on the line between Winona and Tracy. He then moved to Napoleon, North Dakota, and during the next seven years operated a cattle ranch. In 1909 Mr. Blanchette returned to Lyon county and entered the Marshall State Bank and he has been with that institution practically all the time since. In the spring of 1911 he engaged in the real estate business. He holds membership in the M. W. A. and K. C. lodges.

The parents of our subject were Eli and Desanges (Boule) Blanchette, natives of Canada. The father located in Chicago when that place was a village and later located in Kankakee county, Illinois, making the fiftymile trip from Chicago on foot. He was one of the first settlers of that now populous county and land there sold for $1.25 per acre when he arrived. Eli Blanchette lived in Kankakee county until 1884 and then became a resident of Vallers township, Lyon county. He died October 18, 1911, at the age of seventy-one years. Mrs. Blanchette died in 1905. There are eight children in the family, as follows: Albert, Steve, Mitchel and Jerry, all of Lyon county: Mrs. J. J. Caron. of Detroit, Minnesota; Dr. V. J., of Walkerville, Michigan; Ivan and Homer, both of Marshall.

Steve Blanchette was married at Waseca, Minnesota, September 13, 1892, to Catherine Shortell, a native of Mantorville, Minnesota. They have four sons and one daughter, Harold, Armend, Genevieve, Donald and Raymond.

JAMES HALL, SR. (1897) is president of the First National Bank of Balaton and a retired farmer residing in that village. He is a native of Ireland and was born near Belfast, coming to the United States during the Civil War. He located near Kankakee, Illinois, where he engaged in farming with his parents for some time, after which he took up agricultural pursuits for himself. He farmed in Illinois until 1883, when he moved to Hand county, South Dakota, where he took a homestead and also purchased 160

That year Mr. Hall came to Lyon county and purchased land in Rock Lake township. the southeast quarter of section 28, which he farmed until the fall of 1911, when he moved to Balaton, where he has since resided. In January, 1912, he was made president of the First National Rank. In addition to looking after that office, he engages quite extensively in stock buying. Our subject is a member of the Methodist church of Balaton and is superintendent of the Meth: odist Sunday School.

Mr. Hall was married December 25. 1874, at Chicago to Margaret A. Meglade, a native of Illinois. She was born and brought up near Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are the parents of the following children: James and Walter, of Marshall; Robert, of Rock Lake township; Eliza (Mrs. N. H. Olson), of St. Peter; Anna (Mrs. F. Bartlett), of Balaton; Iva (Mrs. Harry Tate), of Balaton; Eva and Margaret, of Balaton. One child, William, is deceased.

JOHN HOLLO (1881), of Marshall, is one of the largest land owners of Lyon county. He is a native of Norway and was born June 13, 1864, a son of Matthias and Ella Hollo. The parents died in Yellow Medicine county, the father in 1909 and the mother in 1881. They settled in that county in 1869, being among the pioneers and being the first to homestead land outside of the river districts.

The father and our subject helped in the construction work of building the Northwestern railroad through Yellow Medicine county, using eight head of oxen to scrapers. They did their first trading at Granite Falls, which was then a trading post with no railroads, and had to go to New London for flour, a distance of eighty miles, by ox team. They lived the first ten years in a dug-out. The other children of the Hollo family are Johanna (Mrs. M. Martinson), of Yellow Medicine county; Annie (Mrs. Andrew Volstan), of Harlan, Montana; Gunda, of Cottonwood; and Ella (Mrs. Hans Larson). The two last named are deceased.

When three years of age our subject accompanied his parents to the United States and made settlement at Le Sueur, Minnesota, in 1867. In 1869 the family moved to

Yellow Medicine county and made settle in. iii on a homestead. Our subject resided on the place with his parents until 1881. In the latter year he moved to Marshall and has made his home there since. The following spring he began clerking for John G. Schutz in a general store and was with him eight or nine years. He then went to Cottonwood and had charge of a branch store for Mr. Schutz there until 1890, when he returned to Marshall.

On his return to the county seat, Mr. Hollo formed a partnership with John H. Schneider and engaged in business under the firm name of Schneider & Hollo; five years later they took in Mr. Schutz as a partner. The latter continued a member of the firm three years and then sold. In 1905 Mr. Hollo purchased the interest of Mr. Schneider and conducted the business under the name of John M. Hollo until the fall of 1910, when he sold to F. M. Birkemyer & Company. Since that time Mr. Hollo has devoted his time to farming his land, including 2000 acres in Lyon and Yellow Medicine counties. In 1911 he put in 650 acres of flax, the. largest tract ever sowed to that crop in the county by one individual.

During the gold excitement in the Klondike in 1898 our subject made a trip to the Coffer river country, Alaska, near Cook's inlet, and remained there that summer. Mr. Hollo began business without capital, and by hard work and trading he has become one of the county's largest land owners. His first work was for Mr. Schutz at four dollars per month.

Mr. Hollo was married at Minneota, Minnesota, August 28, 1886, to Lizzie Prairie, a native of Kankakee county, Illinois. They are the parents of four children: Louise, Myrtle, Raymond and Donald.

JOHN ANDERSON (1877), Coon Creek township farmer, is a native of Winona county, Minnesota, where he was born November 19, 1874. His parents are Nels and Magdalena (Erickson) Anderson, with whom he makes his home. When three years of age he accompanied his parents to Lyon county, and he has resided here continuously since.

some time, after which he taught school in district No. 70 several terms. He then took up his labors on the farm with his father and has continued that work since. In addition to farming, our subject raises a great deal of stock, among other breeds, Duroc- Jersey hogs, Jersey cattle, Shropshire sheep and Plymouth Rock chickens. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Island Lake Presbyterian Church, of which he is treasurer and an elder. He is a member of the Workmen lodge and holds stock in the Farmers Independent Elevator Company of Russell and the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company. He is also a stockholder in the Independent Harvester Company of Piano, Illinois, and is the owner of the southeast quarter of section 33, Island Lake township.

During Mr. Anderson's long residence in Lyon county he has been called upon to serve several times in an official capacity. He formerly held the following offices: Assessor of Coon Creek township four years, justice of the peace several years, road overseer several years. He was secretary of the Farmers Independent Elevator Company of Russell two years, superintendent of the Sunday School of the Island Lake Presbyterian Church several years and secretary and treasurer of the Island Lake Cheese Company seven years. Mr. Anderson is now secretary of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, secretary and treasurer of the Island Lake Cemetery Association and solicitor for the Hope Mutual Insurance Company of Tyler, his territory being Coon Creek and Island Lake townships. Mr. Anderson has been very successful in his undertakings.

JOHN B. REGNIER (1883), Lake Marshall township farmer, was bora in Kankakee county, Illinois, October 29, 1865. He is a son of Isaac and Mary (Toushette) Regnier, natives of Canada. The parents moved to Illinois, where our subject was born, received his schooling, and grew to manhood.

In 1883 John Regnier accompanied his parents to Lyon county and his father purchased land in Grandview township. John remained with his parents until 1888, when he started farming for himself on eighty acres in the same township which had been given to him by his father. He later sold this and purchased a half section in Fairview township, which he farmed until 1907, when he sold and later purchased the southeast quarter of section 8, and the northwest quarter of section 17, Lake Marshall township. On March 1, 1912, Mr. Regnier purchased the east half and the east half of the west half of section 29, Lucas township, making him a farm of 480 acres in that precinct.

Our subject also engages in stock raising, among other breeds, Red Polled Angus cattle, Poland China hogs and Belgian horses. He owns stock in the Farmers Elevator Company of Marshall. Mr. Regnier is a member of the M. W. A. and K. of C. lodges and of the Catholic church.

The subject of this review was married at Ghent December 29, 1890, to Severine Caron, a native of Canada. Mrs. Regnier was born September 29, 1864, and is a daughter of Isaac and Adaline (Bosquet) Caron, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Regnier are the parents of the following children: Oscar A., born September 16, 1891; Edna B., born October 24, 1892: Charles Henry, bom August 18, 1895; Peter N., born September 10, 1896; Olivine O., bom October 1, 1897; Emil L., born February 28, 1902; and Adleine X.. bom July 30, 1905.

ANTON E. ANDERSON (187 2) is proprietor of the A. E. Anderson elevator in Cottonwood, having in 1909, in company with his brothers, George and Gabriel, bought the Northwestern elevator. The company buys grain and sells coal and wood. Mr. Anderson is secretary and a director of the Norwegian Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Eidsvold and is president of the Home Telephone Company of Cottonwood. He was also one of the organizers and a former president of the Cottonwood Hardware Company.

Anton E. Anderson was born in Coon Prairie, Wisconsin, August 6, 1869. His parents, Endre and Bertha Anderson Barstad, were pioneer residents of Wisconsin and were among the first settlers in Lucas township, Lyon county, locating there in 1872, and taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 8. There the parents resided until their deaths, the father in 18 85 and the mother in 1899. Our sub- ject attended the country school and worked on the home farm until the age of fifteen, then hiring out as a farm hand for a number of years. At the age of eighteen he engaged in business in Cottonwood, continuing until his marriage three years later.

July 20, 1890, occurred the ceremony which made Anton E. Anderson and Martha Orwoll man and wife. To this union were born eight sons: Endre B., Sylfest M., Virgil L., Archie M., Nuel Fridtjof (deceased), Fridtjof B., Nordal O. and Earl R. Mrs. Anderson died December 17, 1907. After his marriage Mr. Anderson moved to his farm in Lucas and ran the place five years, then engaging in the grain business at Cottonwood, where he represented the Minnesota <fe Western Grain Company of Minneapolis fifteen years, until buying the Northwestern Elevator Company's business.

Mr. Anderson has been a member of the school board eight years, seven years of that time as secretary. He is active in church circles of the Norwegian Lutherans, being secretary of Silo Church of Cottonwood. He is one of the board of directors of the annuity fund and financial secretary of the Montevideo district of the United Norwegian Lutheran church of America.

Our subject has living the following sister and brothers: Dena (Mrs. O. H. Hatlestad), of Cottonwood; Tonnes, on the old homestead in Lucas; Henry E., of Minneota; John, of Parkland, Washington; Gabriel and Anton, of this sketch, both of Cottonwood.

CHARLES DOVE (1885) is one of Amiret township's successful farmers and stock raisers. His 160-acre farm, the northeast quarter of section 11, is one of the fine improved tracts in the township, and he is also the owner of 150 acres in Redwood county. Mr. Dove in his stock raising is partial to the Shorthorn breed of cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine.

(Atkins) Dove, now deceased. Charles was born in 1855 and was brought up in England. At the age of twenty-five years he crossed the water to Canada, where he lived one and one-half years. He came to Lyon county in 188 5. He settled in Amiret and for several years was employed on farms in the vicinity.

The subject of this sketch was married in Marshall October 14, 1888, to Mary Amelia Berkey. After his marriage Mr. Dove rented land and commenced farming for himself. He later bought the northeast quarter of section 11 and is still farming the place. He is a stockholder of the creamery company at Tracy.

Mrs. Dove is the daughter of Peter and Johanna (Garver) Berkey. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 4, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Dove two children have been born, Herbert J. and Horace A. Charles Dove is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America lodge.

JOHN C. ROGDE (1877), until recently of Eidsvold township, now of Dunn county, Wisconsin, was born in Hardanger, Norway, May 2 8, 18 51. His parents, Christian and Bretha A. (Kragevik) Rogde, are buried in their native land. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Rogde fought in the war between Norway and Sweden in which the former secured its independence.

After quitting school at the age of fourteen years, young Rogde spent six years on a fishing vessel. He came to America in the spring of 1872, lived in Stoughton, Wisconsin, a short time, and then located near Deerfiekl, of the same state, where he worked at farm labor five years. With money he saved he purchased a team of horses and a wagon and in the spring of 1877 drove to Lyon county, arriving in Minneota during the month of June.

For a year or more after his arrival Mr. Rogde worked as a farm hand. Soon after his arrival he traded his team and wagon for a homestead right in Westerheim township, and, after his marriage in December, 187 8, he moved to his claim, proved up on it, and engaged in farming there until the spring of 1902. At that time he moved to his Eidsvold township farm, which he had purchased the fall before. He sold his

Westerheim farm in 1911. Mr. Rogde is now the owner of 480 acres in Eidsvold and a 2 00-acre farm in Dunn county, Wisconsin, to which place he moved in the spring of 1912.

In the early days Mr. Rogde experienced the hardships encountered by all the early settlers of Lyon county, but he persevered and has come upon prosperous times. In 1907 our subject paid a three months' visit to his old home in Norway.

Mr. Rogde was a member of the Westerheim Township Board of Supervisors a number of years, was treasurer of that township several years, and in 1884 and 1885 he was the assessor. For three years he was a member of the Eidsvold Township Board. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers & Merchants Supply Company of Minneota, was a director of the company for a number of years, and still has stock in it. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and he holds membership in the Masonic lodge of Minneota and the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Marshall.

The first marriage of Mr. Rogde occurred at Marshall December 3, 1878, when he wedded Anna Thompson. She was born in Norway February 14, 1851, and died on Christmas Day, 1888. Four children were born to the union, as follows: Bertha (Mrs. O. H. Sterk), of Marshall; Albert, who resides near Amiret; Sarah (Mrs. Joseph White), of Minneota; and Carrie, of Marshall.

At Marshall, on April 24, 1891, Mr. Rogde's second marriage occurred. His bride was Nancy Ann Heimdal, who was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, September 3, 18 52. Mrs. Rogde's parents, Olaf and Haegae (Bergstie) Heimdal, both deceased, were born in Norway and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1844. Two children have been born to Mr. Rogde and his wife, both of whom reside at home. They are named Oritha Ann and Gerhart Christen.

HENRY J. BOT (18 87) is manager of and buyer for the Farmers Elevator Company of Ghent. He was born in Uithuizen, Province of Groningen, Holland, October 14, 1876.

In 1887 Henry accompanied his parents to America and Lyon county. The family located in Grandview township, where they owned 480 acres of land. Henry resided on the farm with his parents until twentyfive years of age and then moved to Ghent and bought grain for the Bingham Brothers' Elevator Company until 1910. He then entered the employ of the Farmers' Company and has since 'been with that firm. Mr. Bot is the owner of a farm in Vallers township. He is a member of the Catholic church and the Catholic Order of Foresters lodge. He is the village recorder and was justice of the peace, village treasurer and treasurer of the town board for a number of years.

Mr. Bot was married August 15, 1908, in Holland to Grada Feters. After his marriage he made a trip through Germany, Switzerland, England, Italy, Holland and Belgium. Mr. and Mrs. Bot are the parents of one child, Debora Mary, born May 18, 1909.

The parents of our subject are the late William H. Bot and Debora B. (Schrender) Bot. The father died in 1907; the mother resides in Ghent. To them were born the following children: Hero W., Henry J. and William H., of Ghent; Bernard, Renier, John H. and Catherina (Mrs. Joseph Senden), all of Lyon county. One daughter, Theresa (Mrs. Edward Maertens), died in 1908.

The Ghent Farmers Elevator Company was organized in 1909 by the farmers in the vicinity of Ghent and the elevator was built at that time. The capitalization was $10,000. The capacity of the elevator is 20,000 bushels. The company buys and ships grain and sells coal, flour, oil meal, bran, shorts, grain and seeds. In the season of 1910-11 they bought 200,000 bushels of grain. The officers of the company are as follows: President, John Breen; secretary, Edward Maertens; treasurer, Charles Foulon; manager, Henry Bot. These, with Mathew Hennen, John Brewers and Henry Vanhee, constitute, the board of directors.

His parents are Hubert and Fhelomina (Vuggen) Princen, who conducted a soap and salt factory and a brick and roofing factory in the old country. When two years of age, in 1883, Joseph accompanied his parents to America, came direct to Lyon county, and his father purchased land near Ghent. There our subject attended school, working at home until twenty-eight years of age.

In 1901 Mr. Princen commenced farming for himself on the southeast quarter of section 3, Grandview township, land which he had purchased from his father. He operated that place one year and then rented his father's farm three years, during which time he purchased forty acres more in the same township. After leaving his father's place Mr. Princen moved to his own farm, which he conducted until 1905, when he bought 320 acres on section 34, Grandview township, and eighty acres on section 3, Lynd township. He moved to the latter place and farmed it until 1909, when he purchased 400 acres on section 1, Lynd township, and resided on the place eight months, having sold the place the same year he purchased it. He then moved to the east half of section 21, Lake Marshall township, which he had previously bought and where he now lives.

Mr. Princen holds membership in the Catholic Order of Foresters lodge and has served on the Township Board. He was treasurer seven years and clerk two years of school district No. 12. Mr. Princen is a member of the Catholic church.

On December 12, 1904, occurred the marriage of Leona Monnet to our subject. She is a native of France and was born September 2 9, 1877. Her parents are Julian and Stephanie (Guillot) Monnet. Mrs. Princen came to the United States alone in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Princen are the parents of four children: Joseph J., born September 21, 1905; Maria, born August 21, 1906; Julian, born February 4, 1908; Bernadette, born July 22, 1911.

MYRON W. HARDEN (1891), president of the First National Bank of Marshall, is one of the substantial and popular business men of the county seat, having been cashier of the bank since its organization

Myron W. Harden is of colonial stock, his ancestors having settled in New England before the Revolutionary War. His paternal grandparents were John and Sophia i Cook) Harden, who were natives of New York but of New England descent. They came West late in life and settled at Burr Oak, Iowa. At that place John Harden died August 31, 1864, aged seventy-nine years; Sophia Harden died in 1872.

The parents of our subject were Halsted J. and Ellen (Willsie) Harden, both natives of Clinton county, New York. The Willsie family is also of early American stock, the great-grandfather of our subject having been a veteran of the Revolutionary War. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Harden were John and Sabra (Hutchison) Willsie, natives of New York, who in 1855 located in Iowa and later became early settlers of Fillmore county, Minnesota. They both died in that county at ages of about seventy-five years. Halsted J. Harden and family came West in 1857 and settled in Burr Oak, Iowa. Both parents died in that place, Mrs. Harden at the age of forty-three years and Mr. Harden aged seventy-two years. They were t^he parents of six children, of whom four are living.

In Clinton county, New York, on May 6, 18 51, occurred the birth of Myron W. Harden. When six years of age he accompanied the family to Burr Oak, Iowa, and on his father's farm near that place he grew to manhood. At the age of twentyfive years he secured the appointment as deputy clerk of the district court of Winneshiek county and held the office from 187 6 to 1880, making his home at Decorah, the county seat. After serving as deputy four years, he was elected clerk of court and served a four-year term. In June, 1884, Mr. Harden went to Grafton, North Dakota, and from that date until he came to Lyon county in 1891 he was assistant cashier of a bank.

In the year last mentioned Mr. Harden located in Marshall and in partnership with H. M. Langland aud R. M. Addison organized the First National Bank of Mar- shall. He served as cashier until recently elevated to the presidency, and the active management of the bank has been almost entirely in his hands. Under his able management it has grown in favor and it ranks today as one of the strong financial institutions of Southwestern Minnesota. Mr. Harden has large real estate interests, owning over one thousand acres of Minnesota land and a pretty home in Marshall.

In educational matters Mr. Harden has been especially interested and he has served as a member of the local Board of Education for the last fourteen years. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in the Scottish Rite and Zurah Temple of Shriners, Minneapolis.

Mr. Harden married May Standing at Decorah, Iowa, on June 4, 1884. She was born in that city, the daughter of Leonard and Mary (Prothroe) Standing. The family came originally from New York and settled in Iowa about 1856. Her father was a banker of Decorah and died there at the age of fifty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Harden have two children, Mate and Leonard S.

EDWARD MEYER (1876) was for many years a successful farmer of Lyon county and now lives a retired life in the little village of Garvin. He knows the meaning of the word pioneering and is an early resident of the county, having come to the county thirty-six years ago and having lived in the county almost continuously since that date.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Freystadt, Prussia, May 26, 1841. He is the only one of a family of three children to come to America, his sisters, Caroline and Anna, living in the Fatherland. His parents, Leopold and Caroline (Mertius) Meyer, are both buried in the old country. Edward came to America in 18 59, lived a few months in Franklin county, Missouri, and then settled at Meredosia, Illinois. He taught a German school in that village and enlisted in the army at Jacksonville, Illinbis, on April 7, 1862.

of Company A, Twelfth United States Infantry. His service was with the Army of the Potomac and he participated in all the engagements of that army up to August 19, 1864, when he was taken prisoner near Petersburg. He was incarcerated in Libby Prison, at Bell Island and at Salisbury, North Carolina.

After the war Mr. Meyer returned to Illinois and for two years lived at Jacksonville, one year employed in the insane asylum and one year as a clerk. He then lived in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, until coming to Minnesota in 1876. Mr. Meyer came to Lyon county by way of Mower county, making the trip in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen. Upon his arrival he traded his team and wagon for a tree claim, the southwest quarter of section 32, Sodus township. His first home was a combination log and sod shanty.

During the first few years of his residence in Lyon county Mr. Meyer had trouble to make both ends meet. For several years he worked at odd jobs to support himself and during the hard winter of 1880-81 he worked for his board. A few years after coming to the county Mr. Meyer sold his tree claim to A. R. Chace, of Marshall, and took a homestead in Johnsville township, Redwood county, where he lived two and one-half years. He then returned to Lyon county and bought eighty acres of land in Custer township, later adding to his holdings by the purchase of railroad lands. He made his home on section 2 for about six years and thereafter for many years he lived on section 3. In 1901 Mr. Meyer gave up farming and has since lived in Garvin. He has never married.

For three years Mr. Meyer was a director of school district No. 4 and for the same length of time was the district treasurer. He served one term as township treasurer. Mr. Meyer is a member of the Congregational church, the Grand Army order, and has taken many degrees in Masonry, holding membership in the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery, the Shrine at Minneapolis, and the Scottish Rite at Winona.

he has had his home for the past thirty years. The home place is the southwest quarter of section 5 and he also owns the northwest quarter of 9, the northwest quarter of 7, and the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of 6, making a farm of 520 acres. The place is well improved and Mr. Benson has one of the finest homes in the township.

Our subject was born in Naes, Norway, October 13, 1846, a son of Brnt and Rognlie (Halborson) Benson. He attended the common schools of his native land until fourteen years of age, and thereafter until he was twenty-one years old he worked on the farm for his father. Mr. Benson came to America in the spring of 1868 and during the next three years worked at various occupations at La Crosse, Wisconsin. He moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1871, where he worked at farm labor until coming to Lyon county in the spring of 1882.

When he arrived in Lyon county Mr. Benson had only $320. To meet expenses he worked the first year as a section hand on the railroad between Tyler and Burchard. He experienced trying times in getting a start, but persevered and came upon more prosperous times. He purchased eighty acres of his present farm from the railroad company upon his arrival and from time to time added to his landed possessions until he now owns nearly a section of land.

Mr. Benson is a stockholder of the State Bank of Florence. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Florence and was formerly a trustee of the same. For three years he was a director of his school district and has several times served as road overseer.

The marriage of Mr. Benson to Christine Anderson occurred in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1883. Mrs. Benson was born in Norway. They are the parents of the following children: Bert, Aletta (Mrs. John Anderson), of Tyler; Randa (Mrs. Victor Anderson), of Florence; Clara, Adolph, Lena, Emma, Henry and Elmer.

Balaton and is interested in several other business enterprises of that village. He has been a resident of Lyon county many years and is one of the prosperous business men of the little village on the southern edge of the county.