Polk County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1916 (part 12 of 15)

Climax, but he was confirmed in a class with R. B. Anderson, the Scandinavian writer of Wisconsin, in a church near his old home built the year of his birth, which is the center of Norsk activity in Wisconsin. He and his wife have had six children. Nels Olaf, the tirst bom, died in 1911, aged thirty-two. Carl Marcus is a rural mail carrier at Climax. Clara Cecilia is the wife of Jas. Crook, of near Beach, North Dakota. Lilly, who formerly taught the Climax and other Polk county schools, is the wife of C. N. Knutson, assistant cashier of the State Bank of Climax. Valborg is the wife of Gust Benrud, of Goodhue county, and Ralph Melvin is a student at the high school in Crookston.

Ole Engen

Having passed many years in hard labor making portions of this western wilderness of his earlier days docile and systematically productive for the service of mankind, Ole Engen, formerly an energetic, enterprising and progi'essive farmer iu three big western states, is now living retired from all active pursuits and enjoying in peaceful leisure the fruits of his labors at his comfortable home in the village of Climax. He was born in Norway June 17, 1854, and was brought to this country in 1857 by his parents, Ole N. and Mary Engen, who settled in Houston county and were among the earliest Norwegians who came to Minnesota.

The father bought a pre-emption claim iu Houston county and the son remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-five years. In 1879 he went to Traill county, North Dakota, where he obtained a pre-emption and a homestead claim, both of which he improved and on which he lived fifteen years. During that period he improved three prairie farms in North Dakota and erected buildings on all of them. He found the winter winds too strong to be agreeable, and the unpleasant ones not confined to the winter season, and he longed for a landscape with stretches of timber in it.

Yielding to his ardent desire in 1894, Mr. Engen then returned to Polk county, Minnesota, and bought 163 acres of land on the Red river adjoining the farm of Christopher Steenerson, three miles and a half west of Climax. He made his purchase of Jens Siverson, paying him $3,200 for the 163 aei-es out of the proceeds leaving that state. Later he purchased another tract of eighty acres, and for this he paid $25 an acre, and for nearly ten years he cultivated these lands.

About 1904 Mr. Engen desired a change of climate, and in search of it he went to Montana and procured one and a half sections of land, one section being desert land, fifty miles west of the city of Great Falls. He occupied, improved and cultivated this land nearly three years, then sold it to advantage and returned to his home in this county, and farmed two years. Then passed a year and a half in Crookston and at the end of that period took up his residence in the village of Climax.

Mr. Engen 's agricultural operations comprised general farming and raising Shorthorn cattle. His farm is well adapted to live stock breeding and he used it extensively for that purpose. He served on the township board while living in North Dakota and has also been a member of the village council of Climax. He was married in Houston county, Minnesota, to Miss Maria Classen, a native of Iowa and eighteen years old at the time of her marriage, while he was in his twenty-third year. She died December 19, 1909, at the family home in Climax, aged a little over fifty years.

Seven children were bom in the Engen family, and six of them are living. Olof is on a homestead of his own near Leech lake, Minnesota. Alfred lives on and cultivates Andrew Steenerson 's farm near Climax. Amanda is the wife of Martin Erickson, a merchant at Climax. Non*is C. runs a garage at Climax. Severt T. also lives at Climax. Cora is the wife of Alfred

Carlson, who is on his homestead near Leech lake and lis a school teacher as well as a farmer. He has taught the Climax school. The members of the family are all Lutherans, and the father is an oiEcial in the conof a hunter in his time, and has a fine deer head, Artistically mounted, in his home, its owner having been one of the victims of his prowess as a Nimrod. lie also has a cane of diamond willow grown on his Mougregation to which he belongs. He has been something tana farm and richly carved by himself.

Norman Rosholt

This highly capable and accomplished banker and business man, who has been the cashier of the State Bank of Climax since 1899, was born in Waupaca county, Wisconsin, September 26, 1874, and moved to Minnesota in 1897. He passed two years at Halsted as assistant cashier of the bank at that place, whicli is under the same management as the one at Climax, and in 1899 was assigned to duty in his present position. He gives the affairs of the bank his close and careful personal attention, and its business has flourished vigorously under his judicious management.

Mr. Rosholt seeks recreation in local hunting trips and fishing expeditions to the lakes of Minnesota, especially those in Ottertail and Polk counties. His interest in banking matters has led him into active membership in the State and National Bankers' associations and he takes a helpful part in their proceedings. In 1903 he was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude M. Johnson, of Houston county, this state. They have one child, their daughter Thelma. Mrs. Rosholt is a daughter of the late Hon. Tosten Johnson, at one time state senator from Houston county, member of the state house of representatives at another time, and also for some years a member of the state board of equalization. He served in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery during the Civil war, and after the close of that sanguinary contest was a farmer in Houston count}'. He passed his last years in Climax and died at the home of Mr. Rosholt in that village in 1914, nearly eighty years old, and universally esteemed throughout the state.

The State Bank of Climax was founded in 1897 and the banking house it occupies was buiiL the same year. It has a capital and surplus of $25,000 and deposits aggregating over $185,000 at this time (January, 1916). B. B. Larson is president; James Larson vice president; Norman Rosholt cashier, and C. M. Kuutson assistant cashier. Mr. Rosholt is in partnei'ship with B. B. Larson and they have four state banks in their ownership and under their management. One is at Halsted, and was established in 1892. Another is at Neilsville, another at Eldred and the fourth at Climax. They are all doing well and held in high regard in the communities in which they operate.

Christopher Steenerson

Belonging to a prominent and influential family, Christopher Steenerson, who retired from the office of postmaster of Climax, this county, in 1914, after having filled it acceptably for a period of thirty years, has served his adopted land as well and worthily in his way as his distinguished brother, Hon. Halvor Steenerson, has in liis in the halls of congress and his other brothers have in their quieter but not less fruitful ways in their chosen lines of endeavor in this new home of their familj', which they have all done their pai't to improve, strengthen and magnify. Christopher Steenerson was born in Norway February 22, 1850, and became a resident of Polk county, ilinnesota, in 1875. He was graduated from the normal department of Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, in 1868, and for two years attended the State Normal School in Winona, Jlinnesota, soon after it was opened. In the meantime, between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five, he taught school in Houston county, this state, and he also taught two winters in Polk county after locating here, being the first teacher in what is now Vinelaud township. His first school was kept in his own cabin on his claim in 1876. His services were given free of cost to the pupils and State Superintendent Burt supplied the necessary books. Twelve students attended this school, some of them being grown persons newly arrived fi'om Europe.

Mr. Steenerson settled on a section of school land on which another man had built a shack. Finding that he was on a school section, the first comer had abandoned it and the shack served Mr. Steenerson as a home and a schoolhouse. It was 24 by 14 feet in size and very crude in construction. The pioneer school teacher had driven sixty head of cattle to tliis section from Houston county. His brother Levi was his partner in the enterprise, and the cattle were driven to Pembina, where part of them were sold and the rest were disposed of in Winnipeg after reaching that city.

After this trip Mr. Steenerson went to IMoorhead and built a flat boat for shiping grain. He loaded his own and his brother Levi's grain on this boat and the grain of some other persons, and with about 2,000 bushels on board started down the river. The time wa.s November and ice was forming in the river. Progress became slow, and about ten miles south of Winnipeg the boat was frozen in. This event happened at a mill on the river, however, and although the grain was sold in Winnipeg it was left at the mill. This was in 1876 and the last of the shipment of grain in that way at a profit.

miles from Mr. Steenerson 's farm. He taught this school the first winter it was in operation, and it was the fii"st public school taught in that region. Before the end of 1877 he was elected county school superintendent, the first occupant of that office, and he filled it until he was elected clerk of the district court in 1879. At the end of one term as clerk of the district court he took a pre-emption claim in Clearwater county, on which he lived three years and was engaged in lumbering ou the Clearwater river. He then returned to his Polk county farm, ou which he has made his home ever since. It is one mile and a half from Climax.

The first postoffice in this neigliborliood was that of Meos, which was established about 1878, the name being that of Mr. Steenerson 's father's farm in Norway, and his father was appointed postmaster. When Christopher returned from Clearwater county the office was moved to liis home and he was made postmaster. At that time the name of the office was changed to Climax, and when the railroad was built in 1896 he moved the office to the station and induced the railroad company to adopt the same name for it. But this did not happen until some months after the trains had begun running. He also built tlie house in which the postoffice is now located.

ISlr. Steenei'son owns 300 acres of land and lias it nearly all under ciiltivation. He manages his farming operations with vigor and raises good crops as the result of his industry, judgment and skill as a farmer. In addition to all his other public activities he has served as a justice of the peace from the time of his arrival in the township. Late in life he was united in marriage with Miss Dorothy Lee. They have no children.

Anson Charles Merrill

The late Anson C. Merrill, who lived on Section 10, Fisher township, two miles north of the village of Fisher, was one of the greatest farmei-s Polk county has ever had, and when death cut short his usefulness on January 21, 1897, at the early age of thirty-four years, everybody who knew him or of him felt that a career of imperial magnitude and consequence had come to an unfortunate and verj' untimely end. Mr.

Compendiu.M Of History And Biography Of Polk Cointy

Merrill was born in Illinois October 10, 1863, aud came to Polk county in his boyhood with his parents, J. B. and Polly (Braiuerd) Merrill. The family located on the farm which is a part of the one owned aud operated bj' the widow of their son Anson C, the father having sold it to him when he was ready to take charge of it. The parents then moved to Fisher, and there the father kept a general store in partnership with his son, C. B. ]\Ierrill, until the father died as the result of an accident, his wife also pa.ssing away at Fisher five years afterward.

Some time later C. B. Merrill moved to the state of Washington. A. A. Merrill, another son of the family, was a farmer in Nesbit township, one mile north of the old family home, and died on his farm in July, 1014. The members of his family are still living on that farm. Still another son, G. E. Memll, owned a farm half a mile east of the old home. He is now living at Hood River, in the state of Oregon. Their sister Ella is the wife of 0. J. Tinkham, of Fisher township.

The elder Mr. Merrill owned a considerable body of land which became the property of his children. Anson C. got the old home place of 160 acres, and to this he kept adding by successive purchases until he owned two whole sections and a quarter of another one, also 40 acres of timber or 1,480 acres in all, and the whole body of this land is still in the possession of his family. He raised great quantities of grain and kept six to eight men in hLs employ all the time. He also raised and handled large numbers of cattle, fattening beeves for the markets himself and buying and shipping all the live stock in the neighborhood that was intended for the market. The dwelling house on the farm was built by him, but the barn and some of the other improvements were added after his death, but were included in his plans while living.

]Mr. ^Merrill was married Januai-j- 22, 1893, to Miss Ida Strande, a daughter of Ole K. and Carrie (Skatrud) Strande, of Nesbit township. She was born in Jlanitowoc county, Wisconsin, aud was seven years old when the family moved to Polk county and twentyone at the time of her marriage. Three children, Alvis, Ellen and Anson, were born of the union, and all of whom are living. Ellen was a Polk county school teacher for two years. At the time of Mr. Merrill's death the oldest of the three was only three years of age. He is now twenty-one. He has given careful attention to a course of study in agriculture at the state farm.

Mrs. Merrill has won warm admiration and high praise from the whole people of her own and the surrounding townships. Left a young widow, with three small children and a very large body of land to look after, she entered upon her heavy and momentous duties with a resolute spirit and the heroic fortitude of a Spartan matron, and she has met the requirements of her position with great iidelity and ability. She has continued to carry on the farm on a scale equal to that of her husband and made every pha.se and feature of its business profitable. She has also reared her children with the utmost care and developed them into very useful and worthy members of the community, furnishing an admirable example of sturdy American womanhood at its best under severe trials and responsibilities.

John E. Elg

As the founder of the village of Eldred, for which he obtained its selection as a station on the Great Noi'thern railroad, and as one of its leading merchants and business men, John E. Elg has been aud is a source of service and benefit to the part of Polk county in which the village is located for which its residents are grateful. By his course he has shown himself to be enterprising and progressive, aud these qualities have won for him all the success he enjoys in life.

Mr. Elg was bom in Sweden January 8, 1858, and in 1872 he came to the United States and located in Washington eountv. Minnesota. In 1888 he moved to

Dr. Aene Nelson

Polk county, and for some years thereafter he was employed in Montana in the service of the Northern Pacific railroad. He had no capital and was obliged to work at whatever he could get to do to make a living. But before going to Montana he bought 160 acres of land of the Great Northern railroad at $3 an acre, and four years later he bought 160 more at $7 an acre.

On his return to this county Mr. Elg spent ten to twelve years on his farm and got it practically all under cultivation, then sold it in 1903 at $25 an acre. When the railroad was built through this section he donated the right of way for a mile to the company and thereby induced it to establish a station at Eldred. For a number of years he conducted a confectionery store at Eldred and for three years he was postmaster of the village. In 1915 he opened the general store he is now conducting. His fii'st store was the second one in the village, the first being kept by T. M. Boyer, who is now in Beltrami and a sketch of whom appears in this work.

twenty-eight acres as its site, and of this he has sold about one-fourth to residents. The first building erected in the village M'as the Northwestern elevatoi-, the first store put up was that of T. M. Boyer, who was the first merchant at the place, and the second store building was that of Mr. Elg, which was erected in the fall of 1898. The postoflfiee was established in 1899, Mr. Boyer being the first postmaster. Mr. Elg's present store building, the one occupied by his own business, was put up in 1915. He has also built a small residence in the village. It is on the Great Northern railroad between Moorhead and Crookstou, in Roome township, and has about 200 population. It has a union school formed by a combination of four districts, and in this agriculture and domestic science are taught, the state aiding it to the extent of $2,200 a year for the purpose. The school has 120 pupils and employs four teachers, and two years of its course are in the high school grades. The school is very popular and is considered a source of great benefit to its patrons and the whole region lying around it.

Dr. Arnb Nelson

The name of this pioneer physician and surgeon and leading merchant for many years in this part of the Northwest is remembered with cordial esteem and his memory is cherished with veneration by all who had the benefit of acquaintance and association with him in his lifetime or enjoy any part of the fruits of his usefulness and great service to Polk county and the Red river valley in general. In the early years of his residence in Polk county he was an active promoter of immigration to the county, and he dealt in lands for the purpose of carrying on this business extensively. And during the whole period of his residence here he was in active practice as a physician and in mercantile business as a druggist, so that every phase of his activity was serviceable to the region and its residents.

postmaster of Fertile, a sketch of whose life will he found in this work. The doctor was reared in his native land and obtained his academic education at the state public schools and a normal school in that country, and after completing hLs course there he followed teaching for five years. In 1873 he en me to the United States and located in Southern ilinnesota. He found employment with Dr. McNamara at Owatonna, Minnesota, and in the eourae of a little time afterward began the study of medicine under the direction of his employer. He began his practice at Hartland, in Freeborn count}', Minnesota, where he remained two years, then moved to Aldal, Minnesota.

In 1882 the doctor became a partner of Andrew Opheim in a general merchandise and drug business at Aldal. They carried on an extensive trade at that place until 1887, when they moved to Fertile, taking their store building and all their stock to the new site, and their continuing at the head of an active and profitable business until 1893, when they dissolved partnership and divided their stock. Dr. Nelson taking the drugs and Mr. Opheim the other goods. The same year he erected the building now used by hia nephew, Nels Vasenden, in conducting the same business.

The doctor carried on his drug business and kept up his practice as a physician until his death on May 2, 1908. He was widely known in Polk county and the counties adjoining it as an able physician and a progressive and public-spirited citizen, of great force for good in this region. He held membership in several different medical societies, was a member of the

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and took an earnest interest and an active part in everything that pertained to the progress and improvement of his community.

Dr. Nelson was married in 1878 to Miss Bessie Hatleberg, a native of Wisconsin. Tliey became the parents of five children, all of whom died in childhood except their daughter Clara, who is now the wife of Odd Eide, of Fertile. In political faith the doctor was a Republican of strong convictions and he was a leader in the councils of his party in this locality. His religious connection was with the Norwegian Lutheran church. For a number of years he .served as president of the village council of Fertile.

Iielge H. Thoreson

This gentleman, who is now serving his third successive term as one of the county commissionei's of Polk county, is not only one of the most useful public men but also one of the most enterprising and successful farmers in the county. He located in it in 1878 with his parents, who had nothing whatever in the way of capital or property, and he now owns 600 acres of highly improved and well cultivated land, with good buildings on it and everything necessary for carrying on his extensive fanning operations, and he has a record of public service to his township and the county of which any citizen might justly feel proud, but which his modesty forbids him to mention. His farm is in Roome township, Section 19, sixteen miles southwest of Crookston, two miles and a half east of the Red river and eight miles north of Climax.

Mr. Thoreson was born in Norway May 2, 1864, the son of Helge and Johannah T. (Volden) Thoreson. and was brought by them to the United States in 1868. The family located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and remained there until 1871, when it moved with oxen to Ottertail county, the father taking up a homestead at Parkdale in that county. The family was very poor in those days, and the father bad to make all the furniture for the home and shoes for the family. In 1878 he sold his land in Ottertail county and moved with oxen to Polk county, locating on Section 13, Tynsid township, one mile northwest of the present home of his son Helge, on which he died in 1892, aged fiftyfive, and his wife fourteen years later.

The elder Mr. Thoreson bought prairie railroad land at $5 an acre but broke enough within the prescribed time to reduce the price of his whole tract to $3 an acre. He built a good frame house and other buildings in time, and owned 680 acres of land at the time of his death. But his first house was the first one on tlie prairie, and he had many hardships and privations to undergo. When he arrived on his land he camped one night on the prairie, and the next morning he began plowing on two tracts of land before daylight in order to get the start of other men who were on the road to locate on it. He was a member and one of the founders of Sand Hill Free Lutheran church and served some years as township treasurer and as school treasurer. All of his eleven children are living and held a reunion in 1915. His farm is now owned ]iy his youngest son.

he reached the age of twentj'-two. At fourteen he attended a school half-way to Crookstou, walking to it and back home once a week. The next winter they had a school at home, which was taught by a Miss Sprague from Fisher. Helge carried the mail two years between Fisher and Neby, three miles south of his home, and the next year also on to Climax, going to Neby three times a week and to Climax once, and was the first carrier paid by the government on that route, receiving $340 the first year, and $375 the second year ; by the time he was of age he had saved $300.

In the fall of 1885, when he was almost twenty-two, he bought eighty acres of land, the tract being a part of his present farm, for which he paid $9 an acre. In 1886 he began to farm his land, borrowing oxen from his father and starting plowing May 17. The ground was so wet that the oxen mired in it, but by the last of May he had twenty-three acres plowed and seeded, and from this he got a fair crop. He was then living with his parents, but on January 6, 1887, he was married to Miss Anna B'angen, a daughter of Ole and Caroline T. (Bangen) Bangen, of Tynsid township.

The young couple began housekeeping under great difficulties. They had a little shanty, which is still standing, that gave them some shelter, but they were obliged to sleep on the floor and eat off a dry goods box. On the night of February 25, their first in the shanty, Mrs. Thoreson took a lamb into the shanty to protect it from the cold, but it froze to death that night. But they were not dismayed and put all their energies at work to get ahead. Mr. Thoreson paid for his first land and as he prospered kept adding to it until he now owns 600 acres, 520 acres of which are in Section 19, Roome township. He has about 320 acres under cultivation, mostly in grain, and in 1915 raised 8,000 bushels, an average of about 25 bushels to the acre. He keeps graded Holstein cows and supplies cream to the co-operative creamery at Climax. The barn now on the place was built in 1892, the granary in 1896 and the house in 1898.

Mr. Thoreson was township treasurer six years, assessor two years, and has served on the school board since 1889, except during one term of three years. He was elected county commissioner in 1906 for a term of four years, and was re-elected in 1910 and again in 1914. He is a Republican in politics, but is devoted to the welfare of the county without regard to partisan considerations. As lie is on the road and bridge committee of the board he is obliged to devote a great deal of his time to his official duties. His religious connection is with the Sand Hill Free Lutheran church.

Mr. and Mrs. Thoreson have a family of eight children living. Josephine is the wife of Martin Larsen, a farmer living near her father's home. Christine is the wife of John Holm, also a neighboring farmer. Amanda, who was for a time a Polk county school teacher, is now the wife of Carl Olson, of Beltrami county, Minnesota. Thilda is the wife of Hans Hanstad, a near-by farmer. And Olga, Ole, Eddie and Ingman are still at home with their parents. A son named Helge died at the age of fourteen.

Henry C. Hendricks

The late Henry C. Hendricks of Garden township, this county, who died February 13, 1912, at the age of sixty years, when it appeared there were still many years of usefulness before him, was bom in Norway May 4, 1852, and came to the United States with his parents when he was sixteen years of age. His parents were Christian and Sophia Hendricks, also natives of Norway. The mother died in Nicollet

Their son Henry C. came to Polk county in 1880, and was one of the first settlers in what is now Garden township. He took a homestead which is still a part of the farm on which the family lives, and put up a little log house in which he lived for a number of years, with bis sister keeping bouse for bim before his marriage and bis wife doing the same afterward, the present dwelling house not being erected until 1900, although the barn was built some years before that time and other improvements were also made earlier.

The farm, whicli is five and a half miles east of the village of Fertile, now comprises 320 acres, Mr. Hendricks having bought the adjoining quarter-section of land for .-i;2,200 about 1895. About 225 acres are under cultivation, nearly all of which was cleared by the owner during his lifetime. For many years he depended mainly on raising grain, but of late he gave more attention to raising live stock, and always kept twelve to sixteen milch cows for furnishing milk to the co-operative creameries at Fertile and Eindal, in both of which be owned stock.

Mr. Hendricks was a Republican in his political faith and always made it a matter of duty to vote at every election. He was one of the first members of Faaberg United Lutheran church at Rindal, but aside from his duties in the church and as a citizen, he gave his attention exclusively to his farm, except that for a number of years he was in partnership with his brother, N. C. Hendricks, in carrying on a dry goods store at Fertile, remaining in the firm, which

On August 8, 1884, Mr. Hendricks was united in marriage with Miss Laura Larson, a daughter of John and Eli Larson, who lived in Nicollet county, this state, for a time and moved to Polk county in lb80, also becoming homesteaders in Garden township not far from Rindal. Mrs. Hendricks was not yet nineteen at the time of her marriage, but she immediately took charge of the housekeeping for her husband, although she iiad very little furniture and her culinary supplies were often scant and limited to a few very plain articles of food.

Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks were the parents of ten children, one of whom, a son named Arnold Theodore, and the eighth child in the order of birth, died at the age of seven years. The children who are living are : Ella Sophia, now the wife of Thomas P. Bugge, of Seattle, Washington ; Wilbert Eugene, who is living at home ; Cora Josephine, who is a school teacher in Norman county and has taught in Polk county; Hilma Lorando, who works in Seattle; Lawrence Joseph, who has charge of the home farm ; and Clarence Julius, Clara Matilda, Norma Luella and Arnold Leland, who are still members of the parental family circle, and take an active part in all its interests and industries.

Carl Ludwig Hansen

Making jiis way in a new world under difficulties incident to a wild frontier and seriously handicapped by the loss of his right arm when he was but thirteen years old, Carl Ludwig Hansen, one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Garden township, this county, with a tract of 320 acres of land in sections 28-26, 29, which he has made into a fine farm, with 200 acres yielding good crops, has worked out steady progress for himself by his persistent industry, prudent frugality and excellent management of his affairs.

his parents, Lewis and Anna Maria Hanson, to the United States, locating at St. Peter, Nicollet county, Minnesota, where the mother died six weeks later, and was the first white person to die in the township of their residence. What is now the city of St. Peter was then called Travers de Sioux, and there was a missionary family living there. This family took charge of an infant daughter left by Mrs. Hansen, and reared her as their own child. She never knew until after marriage that she was not the daughter of the missionary. Then she learned who she was and opened a correspondence with her brother Carl. The father improved a farm three miles from St. Peter, but passed his last years at Big Stone Lake in what is now South Dakota, where he died, aged more than seventy years, after a long continuance of useful labor.

Carl L. Hansen took up his residence at Crookston June 18, 1881, when the settlement was but a straggling hamlet with big stumps in the middle of its main street. Ole Rindahl, Andrew Olson, Christ Olson, and Ole, Steffen and Martin Horstad, friends of his in Nicollet county, had located here the previous year, and two of them, Ole Horstad and Andrew Olson, are still residents of Garden township. Mr. Hansen took up part of his land in 1881 as a pre-emption claim and built his present dwelling of logs cut on the place, which was all covered with timber.

"Garden" was suggested by Mr. Hansen as a suitable name for the township when it was organized because of the abundance of wild strawberries in it, and his suggestion was adopted. \\Tien he located here he had a wife and seven children, a team of horses and a wagon, two cows and $15 in his vest pocket. So he worked out to provide for his family, especially in harvest times, and gradually got a start. In the meantime, when he had opportunity, he worked on his own land and by persistent industry he has transformed its wild expanse into a well improved and highly productive farm.

ilr. Hansen's main dependence has been growing grain, but he keeps ten to twelve cows to furnish milk for the Co-operative Creamery association at Rindal, in which he is a stockholder, as he is also in the Cooperative store at the same place, which is a mile and a half from his home. There is a feed mill at the creamery which is operated in connection with it and does an extensive business and is a great convenience to the farmers.

In the early years Mr. Hansen served in sui-vey and road work, on the township board and in other public capacities. He has built a good new barn on his farm but is still living in his log house, which, however, is commodious and comfortable enough for his needs. He and his family are connected with Faaberg United Lutheran church, which is near his home. At the age of twenty he was married in Nicollet county to Miss Sarah Clementson, a native of Norway. Slie died January 3, 1893, leaving eight children : Chi-ist, who is a merchant at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; Lewis, a farmer near his father; Charles, who is living at home; Edward, who cullivates the farm ; Mary, who is the wife of Oscar Fugleseth and lives near her old home; Alvin, who works in North Dakota ; Christina, the wife of Peter Hoganson, of St. Paul, and Bertha, who is the housekeeper for her father.

Thomas H. Nesseth

The late Thomas H. Nesseth, of Fertile, whose tragic death on July 5, 1911, east a heavy pall of gloom over the whole community of his home, was one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers and business men in Garfield township and one of its most highly esteemed citizens. He was born in Norway March 18, 1859, and came to the United States with his parents, Helge and Margaret Nesseth, in 1871, when he was twelve years old. The family located at Harmony, in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and there its members remained until 1881, when they all came to Polk county together. Five of them are still living in Garfield township. The father took lip a homestead in that township on which he died about 1890. The mother is still living and has her home with her daughter, Mrs. B. M. Benness of Garfield township. She is now more than eighty-two years old.

Thomas H. Nesseth took up most of the land on which his family is now residing as a homestead in 1890; the farm has, however, been enlarged to 200 acres, and about 160 are under cultivation. Soon after locating here Mr. Nesseth became a dealer in farm implements at Fertile and was the second mer- chaut there in that line of trade. He was active iu the business for over twenty years and kept his interest in it until his death. Albert GuUickson was his partner and later took over the management of the store, Mr. Nesseth retiring from active connection with it. They built the double store building which the business now occupies about 1900.

When Mr. Nesseth retired to his farm he expected to gather a fine herd of Holstein cattle, and erect a new dwelling house and barn. But all his designs were cut short by his sudden death. He had been exhibiting some of his cattle at the Fertile fair, and, on his return with them to the farm, when he was leading the bull into the pasture the animal became infuriated, turned on him and injured him so badly that he died five hours later. His plans with reference to the house and barn have been carried out and the family now has one of the finest rural homes in Polk county.

Mr. Nesseth had served on the school board, been mayor of Fertile and president of the village council, and was one of the organizers and the secretary of the Farmers Insurance company and secretary of the Co-operative Creamery company. He helped to organize Little Norway United church, whose church edifice is one mile and a half east of his farm and near his old family home, when he first came to Polk county, and he was one of its most active and serviceable members and its secretary to the time of his death. lie was first married to iliss Margaret Rude, who died, leaving no children, and on August 6, 1892, he contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Anna Henderson, the widow of A. S. Henderson, who then had two children: Lillie, who married Robert Erickson and died at the age of twentyeight; and Arthur, who lives with his mother and operates the farm. Mrs. Nesseth 's maiden name was Anna GuUickson and she is a daughter of Andrew and Helen GuUickson, who also were homesteaders in Garfield township and occupied the farm adjoining the present home of their daughter. By her second marriage Mrs. Nesseth became the mother of four children : Mabel, who is a teacher at Greenbush, in Roseau county; Ida, who is teaching at Glyndon, in Clay county, and has taught in Polk county ; Ilelmer, who is a bookkeeper in the Farmers State Bank at Fertile, and Albert, who is living at home. Mrs. Nesseth is a lady of unusual natural ability and her home is a center of refined and elevated social activity and generous hospitality.

H. G. Floan, whose well cultivated and highly improved farm of 157 acres lies in Section 26, Onstad township, this county, two miles southeast of the village of Melvin, eight and a half miles west of Fertile and seventeen miles southeast of Crookston, was born in Norway, and reared, educated and married in that country. In 1880 he came to the United States, bringing his wife and one child with him, and located in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where for seven years he worked by the year for farmers. In that period he saved $100 and became the father of three additional children.

It was a full quarter-section when he bought it, but the railroad has since cut off one corner, taking about three acres. He had eight years in which to pay for his land and had to put up with many inconveniences during a great part of the time. For years his family lived in a one-room shanty with a little crude furniture, but he had a team of horses and two cows which he brought with him from Goodhue county.

Mr. Floan now has all his land under cultivation or in pasturage. The dwelling house he now occupies was built in 1911 and most of the other improvements were made earlier. He keeps eight to twelve milch cows to supply material for the Co-operative Creamery at Fertile, in which he is a stockholder, as he is also in the Farmers State Bank in that village. Ilis cattle are Shorthorns of good grades. He has served as road overseer and on the school board for fifteen years continuous!}', and his son Lawrence is now treasurer of this board. At the age of twenty-eight Mr. Floan was married in his native land to Miss Christina Anderson. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living, Gunder, Anna, Louisa, Albert, Henry, Lawrence, Clara, Giiia, and John. A daughter named Sarah died at the age of sixteen years, nine months and twenty-two days. All the members of the family belong to the Varness United Lutheran church.

Andrew K. Holen

Andrew K. Holen, who lives on a fine farm in Section 22, Liberty township, four and a half miles west of the village of Fertile, came to this county in 1887, when he was twenty-six years of age, with just $100 in money and no other property, and he now owns 400 acres of highly improved and well cultivated land, has stock in the Fertile Co-operative Creamery and the Farmers State Bank of Fertile, and is one of the substantial, enterprising and public-spirited citizens of the county, influential among his fellow men and highly respected by all who know him.

Mr. Holen was born in Norway April 21, 1861, and came to this country with his parents, Knute and Carrie Holen, when he was six years old. The family located in Allamakee county, Iowa, and there the parents remained. The son attended the district schools and as soon as he was big and strong enough worked out as well as on his father's farm, continuing this course until he reached the age of twenty-six. Then, in 1887, he came to Polk county, where his two brothers, Ole Holen and Hans Knudson, were living and had been for eight years, Ole in Liberty township and Hans near Lee station. Ole is still residing on his farm, but Hans has been a resident of Marshall county, this state, for twenty-five years.

Andrew K. Holen bought the farm on which he is now living as a tree claim and converted it into a homestead claim, paying $550 for it. There were no buildings on it and only fifteen acres had been plowed when he bought it. On March 15, 1888, he was married to Miss Hannah Peterson of Allamakee county, Iowa, where she was born, her parents having come to this country before the Civil war. Her assistance enabled him to pay off his indebtedness on his farm and make some improvements. His first house was a log cabin, and its furniture consisted of a homemade table and cupboard, some stools of his own manufacture, six plates, cups and saucers, and a second hand stove. He rented his land to get crops and worked out to support his family. During tlie first three years he was able to sell only 100 bushels of wheat, but he had a cow and some chickens, and these helped to keep the wolf from his door. Coffee was a thing to be thought of and longed for, but not to be enjoyed.

At the end of three years Mr. Holen began to devote his whole attention to his farm, but successive droughts injured his crops leaving him little more than chicken feed for a year or two. He now has his whole farm of 400 acres under cultivation and raises good crops. For some of his land he paid $10 an acre and for some $25 an acre. He built his present dwelling house in 1896 and his fine barn, 40 by 100 feet in size, in 1914, and has other first-rate improvements. Grain was his main dependence for many years but he now has a good deal of dairy stock including ten to twelve milch cows.

Mr. Holen has served three years as chairman of the township board and has filled several other local offices, having been a member of the school board for thirteen years. He sides with the Republican party in political affairs, and he and his wife are members of the Verness United Lutheran church, of which he on the operations on tlie farm, relieving their father is treasurer. They have two sons, Carl, aged twenty- of all the hard labor incident to them, five and Herman, aged twenty-three, who now carry

Conrad G. Selvig

Conrad G. Selvig, superintendent of the Northwest School of Agriculture and Experiment Station of The University of ^Minnesota at Crookston, was born at Rushford, Minnesota, October 11, 1877, being the son of Guilder C. and Marie llogerstad of Norway and wlio came to the United States as a young married couple. A few months were spent in work on the Great Lakes, when, in 1874, they settled at Rushford.

After graduating at the local high school, young Selvig, in 1896 was appointed by Hon. James A. Tawney a cadet to the Military Academy at West Point.

After his return, he entered upon the duties of a teacher becoming Principal of the public school at Granger, Minnesota. In 1901 we find him in a similar position at Harmony, Minnesota, where he was retained for five years. From Harmony he went to the University of Minnesota where he graduated in 1907, receiving his A. M. degree in 1908. Then he became superintendent of schools and principal of Stevens Seminary at Gleucoe. The needs of more practical educational methods were keenly realized at this time and in order to meet the demands as he saw them, he here introduced departments of Agriculture, Home Economics, Manual Training, and Teachers' Training. This was a time when such ideas were being discussed in the state and nation, but had been but feebly tried in actual school life. The result of his efforts were such as to attract attention, not only among teachers and patrons, but also among the public officials, and it was but a matter of a few months when his services were sought by the state to handle the station but recently established at Crookston, he being selected as its superintendent in 1910. The history of this institution being found elsewhere in this work, we will not repeat it here.

It is conceded by all interested that Mr. Selvig has proved to l>e the right man in the right place, his optimism, enthusiasm and business tact being the essential qualities needed at the head of a school designed to instill similar traits into the numerous students, whose future is largely determined by what they may obtain here.

Mr. Selvig 's work has so broadened that it has gone beyond state limits, and is attracting attention wherever advanced ideas are being introduced not only in general educational matters and methods but more especially where communities ai'e awakened to better farming, better social and better living conditions.

He assisted in organizing the Northwestern Agricultural Fair association, the Red River Development association and is president of the Red River Dairymen's association and he is a director of the Alumni association of the State University, treasurer of the Minnesota Educational association, a member of the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, a member of the National Educational association and is a charter member of the American Association for the Advancement of Agricultural Teaching.

His addresses are filled with valuable suggestions showing a depth of thought and are delivered with such ease and assurance that hearers are captivated and permanently benefited.

Possessed with natural urbanity ripened by a broad culture and experience, his personal relations with all with whom he is thrown in contact are ever of the most agreeable, admiration of him as a teacher being excelled only by that accorded him as an individual.

Although his interest in politics is only such as is clue from every true American citizen, he has been alive in party matters, once at least serving as a delegate to a state convention.

His marriage, June 17, 1903, at Mabel, Minnesota, to Miss Marion E. Wilcox, a graduate of the Central High School of Minneapolis, has resulted in the birth of three children - Helen Mai-iou ; Margaret Elizabeth ; and Conrad George.

August C. Schmidt

One of the leading painters, decorators and paperhangers in the Northwest, and chief of the fire department of the city of Crookston, August C. Schmidt contributes essentially and substantially to the service of the people around him by pleasing their taste and promoting their safety and aiding greatly in the protection of their property as well as their lives. He was born in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, August 3, 1859, and came to iliunesota in 1878, locating at Stillwater. He had learned his trade in his native state and was in charge of a shop in Stillwater two years. He then passed six months in Minneapolis, and at the end of that time moved to Hastings, where he was in charge of a shop until 1880.

At that time he saw an advertisement from McKinnon Bros, of Crookston, stating that they were in need of a first class carriage painter, and as he had heard much in favor of the Red river valley, he determined to seek this job. He came to Crookston and for two years was in charge of the McKinnon Bros.' paint shop, and then started his own business in 1883. He has adhered to his enterprise continuously since that time, and his is now the only business that has been in operation in Crookston steadily for thirty-three years. He has given his attention mainly to interior decorating, and he is sought for to do this kind of work on all of the best residences and public buildings nearly all the way from Crookston to Duluth. His sons, E. W. and Harry F., are associated with him in the work, and he employs regularly twelve to fifteen men in addition.

ladder company with a truck and a chemical engine, which was familiarly called "The Old Soap Boiler." The company had sixteen members, and Mr. Schmidt is the only one of the number who is still active in the department, which is a volunteer one to this day. When the company started its work he was foreman in charge of the apparatus at fires. In 1895 he was elected chief, and he served as such for two years. After the end of that period he served in the ranks until January, 1915, when he was chosen chief again, and he is still filling that office. He has had some thrilling experiences and some narrow escapes from serious injury, and has rendered valuable service at many big fires, especially the largest one Crookston ever had, the one that destroyed the Auditorium and some adjoining buildings at a loss of $250,000. At present the department has twenty-four members, three of whom are paid officials and devote their whole time to the work. The department also owns two liose wagons, one hook and ladder truck, forty-five hundred feet of hose and four horses, besides chemical engines and other apparatus. Usually five of the members sleep at the engine house. The company formerly took part in many tournaments of the Northern Minnesota Firemen's association, and carried off many honors in them. In these tournaments Mr. Schmidt's son Harry was the leader in ladder climbing contests and won glory for his organization in many a hot one.

Mr. Schmidt was a member of the city council from the Second ward in 1894, when the Northern Pacific Railroad was built through Crookston. He was made a Freemason in 1886 and is still active in his lodge, his Royal Arch Chapter, his Commaudery of Knights Templar and the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Order of Elks. On December 18, 1884, he was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Ross, the daughter of John Ross, for many years janitor of the courthouse and the high school. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living, Edward W., Harry Frank, Lillie, Ross Owen, Helen, Allen and Grace. A daughter named Isabel died when she was twelve years old. Lillie is now the wife of Thomas Morteusou, of Crookston, and Harry married Miss Blanche McDonald. Mr. Schmidt and his son Harry are members of a hunting club which has had a deer camp twenty miles from Hibbiug for twelve years. The club has an outing at the camp every year, and they usually get a bountiful supply of venison while the outing is in progress.

Nels Clementsen

In many ways this enterprising and progressive farmer and bank president has shown his capacity to advance his own interests and aid materially in promoting the welfare and advancement of the region around him. He was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, June 30, 1859, the son of Knut Clementsen who came to this country and located in Illinois in 1855 and moved to Goodhue county, this state, in 1858. He took up government laud there and converted it into a fine farm, and is now living retired at Zumbrota. At one time he owned two tracts of land in Polk county, one in Liberty township and the other partly in Russia and partly in Onstad township.

His son Nel.s, whose home is in Section 15, Liberty township, five miles and a half west of the village of Fertile, remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-seven, farming his father's land as a tenant for some years. On May 20, 1887, he came to Polk county and bought a quarter-section of land adjoining his father's. He then took charge of both places and now owns both, his home farm comprising 580 acres, his first purchase having cost him $3 an acre. He has 200 acres of the home place in grain and raises beef and milch cattle, keeping generally about fifteen milch cows. He also owns timber lands, some in St. Louis and some in Cook county, which he is holding as investments. When he came to this county in 1887 he had no cash but owned four horses, a wagon, a plow and some other farm implements.

one-room shack 14 by 16 feet in size. His present residence is a fine modern structure built in 1903, and he has a first clas.s barn 40 by 72 feet with a T 40 by 42 feet in dimensions, which was built in 1908 and gives him stabling for all his live stock. He is a stockholder in the Co-operative Creameiy company of Fertile and also in the Farmers Elevator company, which he helped to organize in 1894, and which he has served for about ten years as president. He was also one of the organizers of the Mutual Fire Insurance company and has been its president for eight or ten years. When he saw that the hour was ripe for the enterprise he helped to organize the Farmers State Bank of Fertile and of this he has been president from its organization.

The public aifairs of the township have always interested Mr. Clementsen in a leading way and he has taken an active part in them. He served as township clerk five years and twelve as chairman of the township board, and he is at present (1916) township treasurer. In politics he is a Republican, but in local affairs he is never a partisan Init always eager to promote the best interests of his township. In religious connection he is affiliated with the Varness United Lutheran church, which is one mile north of his home, and for some time has been secretary of the congregation.

Mr. Clementsen was married in 1896 to Miss Jennie Landsverk, a native of Norway. They have seven children, all of whom are living at home with their parents. The children are Norman, Josie, Millie, Mabel, Ida, Nellie, and William. All the members of the family attend the church to which the head of

Hon. John Clementson

This very active, highly useful and thoroughly representative citizen of Polk county, whose fine home farm of 160 acres is in section 17, Knute township, three miles south of Erskine, was born at Pine Island, Goodhue eoiuity, Minnesota, December 6, 1866, and is the son of Knute and Gunhild Clemeutsou, who were bom in Norway and married in Iowa. In 1857 they moved to Goodhue county, this state, where the father took up a pre-emption claim, they being among the first residents at Pine Island. In their old age they changed their residence to Zumbrota, and there the mother died in tlie winter of 1913 at the age of eightynine. There also the father is still living very far advanced in years. Three of their children, Nels and Marie, who live near Fertile, and John are in Polk county. Marie is the wife of P. J. Bollie.

John Clementsou remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-five. He completed his education at St. Olof College, Northfield, which he attended two yeai's. In 1893 he came to this county and bought 600 acres of railroad land at $8 an acre, having about $1,500 to start with. He engaged in mixed farming and raising live stock, put 500 acres of his land under cultivation, made permanent improvements, and then, in 1903, sold his land at $21.50 an acre. He helped to organize Seandia township and was its first clerk and justice of the peace, holding these offices until he left the township, moving to his present home.

When he came to Knute township in 1903 Mr. Clementson bought three separate tracts of 160 acres each, one in section 17, the home place, another in section 18 and the third in section 20, but he has farmed them all as one farm, and now has 275 acres under cultivation in the three. There was only one set of little log buildings on the three tracts and only 115 acres were partially cultivated when he bought the land. Mr. Clementson paid for the land at an average of $18 an acre, and he has since sold none of it except two acres for a school lot. He has put up a good house and barn and other necessary buildings, and has kept regularly about fifty head of cattle, with fifteen milch cows to furnish material for the Co-operative creamery, in which he is a stockholder.

Mr. Clementson has served as chairman of the township board one term and for a number of years on the school board. In the fall of 1912 he was elected a member of the State House of Representatives.

On March 2. 1893. Mr. Clementson was married in Goodhue county to Miss Clara Mithangen, of that county. They have had nine children. Gustav died at the age of twelve. Conrad, aged nineteen, was graduated from the Agricultural College at Crookston in 1915. Joseph, aged seventeen, is a .student at Concordia College, Moorhead. Cora, aged fifteen, is in the high school at Erskine. Oscar (twelve), Philip (ten), George (seven), Ruth (five), and Clarence (one), are at home. The parents belong to the United Lutheran church at Erskine, of which the father is secretary and one of the deacons.

Charles M. Lohn

It is a high tribute to the ability, correct deportment and skill and conscientiousness of any man to say that he has occupied a trying and important public position in the service of the public for nearly eighteen years continuously without having any complaint made against him or his work or a word of disagreement with his superior ofBcers. This has been the experience of Charles M. Lohii, reporter of the district court at Crookston over which Judge "Watts presides.

Mr. Lolni was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, December 18, 1872, and is the youngest member of a fauuly of which his brother Lewis, cashier of the First National Bank at Fosston is the oldest. He was reared and educated in his native count}% completing his preparation for the duties of life by a course in commercial training at the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, the county seat of that county. In 1895 he came to Crookston and for three years and a half thereafter he was employed in the Merchants National Bank of that city. In 1899 he was appointed

On August 28, 1901, Mr. Lohn was married to Mi.ss Mary J. Fairbairn, a native of Stillwater, Minnesota, of Scotch and English ancestry. They have four children, Kenneth F., Howard, Lois and Charles M., Jr. The parents are active workers in the undertakings of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they both belong, and Mr. Lohn is one of its trustees. In fraternal relations he is a Freemason, and an Elk and he also takes an earnest and helpful interest in the affairs of the fraternity. He is zealous in the performance of all his duties as a citizen and is highly esteemed as a good one.

Robert Ii. Balfour

Robert H. Balfour, of Euclid, a well known grain dealer and local agent for the Red Lake Falls Milling company, was born in Lanark county, Ontario, May 8, 1880, and came to the United States when seventeen years of age, locating at Fisher, in Polk county, where he resided until his removal to Euclid in the following year. During the first five years of his residence in Euclid he was employed in clerking, also spending a short time on a farm and then began his association with the grain business with the Minneapolis, Northern, Red Lake Elevator company, who operate an elevator at Euclid with a capacity of thirty thousand bushels and also retail flour and feed. Mr. Balfour i-emained with that company for a number of years, until the establishment of the Red Lake ]\Iilling Company in 1911, when he was put in charge of the office at Euclid as the grain buyer for that region, and has since given his attention to the able management of the extensive operations of this company, in the year of 1914, shipping some seventy car loads of grain, handling wheat and oats for the nio.st part. Mr. Balfour is also agent for the Standard Oil company and is in charge of the local tanks. In political belief, he is an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and is actively identified with the various interests of the community in which he lives, in official capacity, giving capable service as township assessor. I\Ir. Balfour is a member of the Presbyterian church. He was married at Crookston, in 1908, to Margaret Bieven, whose father was for many vears a farmer near Euclid.

K. 0. Balstad, well known stock farmer of Sletten township, was born in Norway, January 4, 1854. He has been a resident of Polk county since 1897 and has been notably associated with the development of the stock business in this region. He came to Minnesota with his parents in 1866. For .several years they lived in Goodhue county and in 1870, just before the laying out of Fergus Falls, they removed to Otter Tail county, where his father, Ole E. Balstad, continues to make his home. K. 0. Balstad remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age when he decided that the cities and towns offered the greater opportunities for success. For twenty-two years he engaged in various business pursuits, for the most part in the mercantile business, in Duluth, Fergus Falls and other places. During this time he had kept in touch with the agricultural growth of the country through his investments in farm land and association with the stock business and in 1897 he reversed his earlier decision and returned to the farm. He came to Polk county and bought one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty-one of Sletten township, he has since added to this tract and now has eight hundred and forty acres in the home farm. Much of this land and that adjoining was flat and high and possessed no natural drainage, which depreciated its value and rendered the construction of good roads an impossibility. Mr. Balstad, at once, began to give every effort to this drainage project. He was the manager of some four thousand acres belonging to a company in Chicago and with this company he began the building of ditches, expending four thousand dollars to secure the main outlet. Eventually, he received the cooperation of neighboring property owners and this section is now well drained. Mr. Balstad is considering further improvement of the drainage system by installing tile. He has devoted his farming interests to the raising of stock, achieving not only financial success, but he has been instrumental in arousing and promoting general interest in the breeding of blooded stock, an important phase in the development of any agricultural district. He raises Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs.

Years of experience and study have persuaded him that the hardy Hereford stock is peculiarly adapted to conditions in northern Minnesota, and he owns many fine specimens of this strain and has won honor as an exhibitor at the county fairs. Beside forty head of registered cattle he keeps a herd of about one hundred steers and he has sold many fine animals for breeding purposes, the greater number of which are in Polk county. Clover for grazing and hay is his principal crop and one in which he has never had a failure. He raises some alfalfa but considers the rolling land of the region singularly fine clover country. He has erected good barns, one being utilized for feeding purposes alone and his farm is well equipped for the successful management of a large stock business. Mr. Balstad, also has extensive interests as a dealer in farm lands and has met with equal success in all his activities, making many profitable investments. He is the present owner of the former Bagley farm which is located two miles south of Fosston and of three hundred and twenty acres, adjoining on the north of this estate. His home farm is thirteen miles southwest of Fosston and four miles southeast of Winger. Mr. Balstad was married in 1885 to Gina H. Weiley of Otter Tail county and they have six children, Henry 0., a successful young farmer of Sletten township, a sketch of whose life is found in this work; Manda C, Edward C, Carl 0., Rudolph G., and Marvin. The older sons attended the Agricultural college at St. Anthony Park and are associated with their father in the stock and real estate business under the firm name of K. 0. Balstad & Sons, R. F. D. 1, Fosston. Mr. Balstad and his family are members of the Lutheran church.

Norman Hanson

worldly way and high esteem among his fellow men, as weU as to an exalted rank in business circles, Norman Hanson, cashier of the bank of Matthews & Co., at Fertile, this county, has demonstrated the value of ability, industry and fidelity as means of advancement in the world, and has given an excellent example to the young niun of the coining generation.

Mr. Hanson was born on a farm in Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1857, the son of Gunder and Kjersti Hanson, who were born in Norway. He was the oldest in a family of twelve children. The sou worked on the farm and attended school until 1877, when he moved to Rock county, Minnesota, where he first worked on a farm and after\\'ard obtained a position in a general store at $12 a month and board. His compensation was raised in a short time to .$20 a month and board, and at this very moderate wages he continued to render faithful sei-yice to his employer until 1880, moving then to the Red river valley.

In this part of the state Mr. Hanson was first employed as a day laborer, but before long was given a position in a real estate and insurance office in Glyndon, Clay county. Later he accepted employment in a general store at $50 a month, and some time afterward was transferred to Ada to take charge of a store owned by the same firm at a salary of $75 a month, which was soon raised to $100 a month. In 1887 he took up his residence at Fertile and in partnership with W. H. and E. L. Matthews and F. F. S. Miller founded the bank of Matthews & Co. with a capital of $10,000, which was furnished by the Messrs Matthews and Mr. Miller. During the nearly twentynine years which have elapsed since then Mr. Hanson, has had charge of the operations of this bank, the last several years as its president.

This sound and progressive financial institution is now known as the Fii-st State Bank of Fertile. It has a capital of $25,000, a surplus of $5,000, individual profits amounting to $6,000 and deposits aggregating $280,000. It carries on a general banking business, and has out loans, bonds and other investments totaling $220,000. Under the skillful and prudent management of ]\Ir. Hanson it has grown .steadily and flourished continuously, and it is now regarded in business circles as one of the best of its rank in the northwest. Mr. Hanson now owns a controlling interest in it and is also interested in several other banks in IMinnesota, North Dakota and Montana. He was married in 1881 to ]\Iiss Julia Christianson near where Fertile now stands. They have had seven children, six of whom are living. The oldest son of the family is cashier of the bank of which his father is president.

Peter Stuhr

For a number of years after reaching his majority Peter Stuhr, now one of the leading merchants of the village of Euclid, in this county, was an enterprising and successful farmer. He was bom in Hanover, Germany, April 13, 1868, and is the son of Carsten and Elsie (Rogge) Stuhr, also natives of Germany. The family came to the United States when Peter was about two years old, and about one year later located in Goodhue county, Minnesota. In March, 1880, the family residence was changed to Polk county, the father having taken up a homestead in Section 4, Euclid township, the year before.

Peter Stuhr remained at home until 1896 and followed farming until 1899. In the year la.st mentioned he moved to Euclid, and during the next five years was the agent of the Minneapolis & Northern Grain Elevator company at that place. Since 1904 he has been engaged in mercantile business at Euclid, conducting a general store with farm implements as a large part of his stock. He has built up an extensive trade bj' his enterprise, his knowledge of the needs of his community and his excellent management, and is now considered one of the leading merchants in his part of Polk county.

On June 2, 1896, Mr. Stuhr was married, at Euclid, to Mrs. Bertha Misner, the widow of Wells Misner, and a native of "Wisconsin. They have two children living, Florence and Gordon, and lost one son who died in infancy. Mrs. Stuhr had three children by her fir.st marriage, Harold, Vasta and Ruth. Mr.

Stuhr has taken an active and helpful part in all township affairs. For eighteen years he served well and wisely as a member of the school board, and he has also filled most of the other township offices and all with credit to himself and benefit to the township.

His parents are still living in Euclid township. Their six children are Anna, Peter, Katie, Mary, Henry and John. Peter owns 360 acres of land near the village of Euclid.

Erickson Brothers

Emil and Martin Ericksou, who carry on a general merchandising business at Climax, this county, in which they succeeded A. & E. Steeuerson November 20, 1906, and have been engaged ever since, are sons of Hans Erickson, one of the leading farmers of Traill count}'. North Dakota. He lives ou a fine farm in that county nine miles west of Climax, on which he settled in 1877 or 1878, and was one of the pioneers of the county. His farm comprises a whole half-section of land and is well improved. He was born and reared in Norway, and came to the United States in his young manhood, locating in Mitchell county, Iowa, and there his son Emil was born, September 20, 1874. Martin's life began in Traill county. North Dakota, December 23, 1880.

Emil Erickson remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-five years, then returned to Iowa and took up his residence in Worth county, opening a hardware and agricultural implement .store at Joice. He kept this store seven years and built up an extensive trade for it, then sold the business and for a year lived in Grand Forks. In 1906 he and his brother Hildus bought the business of the Steenersons, at Climax, and the next year Martin joined them

The two enterprising merchants, who are trading under the firm name of Erickson Bros., have about $10,000 invested in their business and it is very flourishing. Their trade is growing steadily and their hold on the confidence and good will of the people is constantly increasing and intensifying. They are strictly up-to-date business men, and they please the community around them because they study how and try hard to do it. They make it their first consideration and leading desire to know the needs of their trade and their prime undertaking to provide for them.

Emil Erickson was married at Joice, Iowa, in 1901, to Miss Sophia Holstad. They have seven children, Reuben, Hazel, ]\Iaynard, Lillian, Gladys, lona and Wilma, aU of whom are still with their parents. Martin's marriage took place in 1904 and united him with Miss Amanda Engen, a daughter of Ole Eugen, of Climax, a sketch of whose life will be found in this work. Martin and his wife have two children, their daughters Vivian and Orpha. The brothers and their wives belong to the Lutheran church at Climax.

Ole Knudson

Ole Knudson, who is one of Polk county 's advanced, enterprising and successful farmers, lives on Section 10, Roome township, nine miles west of Crookston, four and a half north of Eldred and five southeast of Fisher, owns 480 acres of excellent land improved with good modem buildings and up-to-date conveniences, and carries on extensive operations with great vigor, progressiveness and profit to himself and the region in which he lives. He was born in Norway, September 23, 1848, and came to the United States in 1870. After spending some months at Decorah, Iowa, he moved to Reed's Landing in "Wabasha county, Minnesota, and there he worked on the railroad. In the spring of 1871 he began running lumber rafts on the Mississippi river to St. Louis. A steamboat was used to push and steer the rafts, and each trip to the Missouri metropolis consumed about three weeks. Mr. Knudson next spent two winters as a driver in the lumber woods near Menomouie, Wisconsin, and at the end of that period made a trip to the Black Hills to prospect for gold. He had no luck, owing to lack of water, Eind remained in the diggings only about one month, leaving there the day of the Custer massacre and in the midst of excitement over the theft of a pony in the locality by Indians. His experience as a gold seeker cost him about $400.

In 1878 Mr. Knudson decided to turn his attention to farming and came to the Red river region in search of land for his purpose. He selected a homestead in Section 11, Roome township, and Andrew and John Locken, who were then, or afterward became, his brothers-in-law, did the same. They all obtained railroad land and located on it, building a house and living together and doing their own house work. In 1882 Mr. Knudson sold his laud to the Lockens and bought a part of the place on which he now lives in Section 10, which was a homestead belonging to Ole Lee.

This homestead was improved with a little log shanty and a sod stable, and about twenty-five acres of it had been plowed. Mr. Knudson agreed to pay Ole Lee $1,800 for it and was soon able to make the whole payment. He had broken some 200 acres of his first farm and seeded it in wheat. He liarvested a good crop from this and got $1.25 a bushel for wliat he sold, and so he had money to clear his new home of debt. But he had no team with which to cultivate the land, and had to work for other farmers to get one. He succeeded in buying a team that same year,

From this time on Mr. Knudson was in debt for thirty years. But he bought eighty acres more for $600, an additional tract of 160 for $2,000 and still another of eighty for $1,100. His farm is now half a mile wide and a mile and a half long, with the buildings at the north end, the house in which he now lives having been built in 1891. His crop in 1915 aggregated 9,000 bushels of wheat, oats and barley. He also keeps nine milch cows and furnishes cream for ice cream factories in Crookston. His cattle are Shorthorns and Holsteins of good quality, and he keeps fifteen horses for his work. He has recently installed a complete acetylene lighting plant for his buildings.

Mr. Knudson served as chairman of the township board for twelve or fourteen years and then refused to accept the office longer. He has also been a member of the school board for eighteen years, and has taken an active part in all drainage and good roads movements in his township. He has been married three times. His first wife was Miss Guro Locken, sister of John and Andrew Locken, who died three years after her marriage, leaving no children. His second wife was Miss Mary Locken, a sister of tlie first wife. She died a year and a half after her marriage, leaving one son, George, who is now 26 and still with his father. On December 19, 1897, Mr. Knudson solemnized his third marriage, which iinited him with Mrs. Josephine Carlson, a widow with one son, Wilfred, who is now 27. By her marriage with Mr. Knudson she has become the mother of another son, Richard, M'ho is 16. Mr. Knudson is a RepTiblican in politics and he and his wife and sons belong to the Lutheran church.

Ole Christiansen

The late Ole Christiansen, who developed and improved a fine farm of 224 acres in Section 29, Lowell township, and who died February 14, 1908, aged fiftyfive years, was one of the sturdy and sterling citizens of Polk county for many years. He was born at Shalland, Denmark, and came with his parents. Christian and Caroline Hansen, to the United States and settled in Ottertail countv, Minnesota. There the mother died, and sooii afterward tlie father and son moved to Polk county, where Mr. Christiansen bought railroad land. Thej' settled here in the j'ear 1878. The country at that time was new and unimproved; there were few settlers, but the land was soon taken up. The farm is on the Red Lake river, and is part timber land and part meadow bottom and upland, and the latter is devoted to growing grain and hay.

Mr. Christiansen continued to manage his farm until his death. He erected most of the buildings now on it and improved it into a fine farm and an attractive country home. He served in township offices nearly all the years of his life in Polk county, being a member of the township board, supervisor, clerk and assessor at different times. He was married in this county to Miss Anna Olson, who died within one year after his demise. They had five children, all of whom are living. Carl and Alfred have the real estate. Christiana is the wife of Martin Gulseth. Lorena is the wife of Otto Nelson, of Polk county and Alice is unmarried.

on it May 4, 1882, and when he was thirty-one was married, in Denmark, March 18, 1914, to Miss Catherine Marie Christensen. They have one child, their daughter Anna Harriet. Mr. Christiansen keeps an average of twenty -five head of dairy and beef cattle, his milch cows numbering five to twelve according to circumstances. He was elected to his first public office, that of township clerk, in 1915, and he is giving its duties devoted attention and gives the residents of the township good satisfaction in his performance of them, as it was expected he would when they elected him.

Carl Christiansen was married to Miss Olga Eklund, November 4, 1915. He also was born on his father's farm in Lowell township. He succeeded his father in the office of school treasurer and served in it several years. He now owns and operates a threshing outfit, and also lives on the farm, and, in partnership with his brother Alfred is also operating a feed mill, and a saw miU on the home farm on the bank of Red Lake river, the output of the mill being 40,000 to 100,000 feet of lumber every winter.

Olaus Benson

One of the pu.shing, thriving, up-to-date and successful farmers of Polk county, Minnesota, is Olaus Benson, who lives in Section 1, Hubbard township, owns 320 acres of land in addition to the farm on which he lives and is a member of the firm of Benson Bros., general merchants, at Neilsville. He was bom in Hoi;ston county, Minnesota, April 3, 1868, and is the sou of Bendick and Gunhild Breiland, his surname being formed by the addition of the suffix "son" to part of his father's given name, according to the Norwegian custom. The mother died in Houston county, in 1871, leaving five children, of which two still live, Annie and Olaus. The former is living near Gonvick, in Clearwater county, this state.

The father was married twice afterward. His second wife had one son, Halvor Benson, who is in partnership wrni Olaus in the store at Neilsville. A few mouths after the family located in Polk county the second wife died. The third wife had two childi'en, Andrew, who is living on his father 's homestead near Trail, in Polk county, Minnesota, and Geline, who is married and has her home at Duluth. The family came to this county in 1880, and the father lived here until 1887, when he took up a homestead near Trail, where he died in 1910.

Olaus Benson began to work out for wages early in life and gave part of his earnings to his parents. But by the time he reached the age of twenty-one he had $300 saved. He then rented a farm belonging to Tollof Tollofson, an uncle of Olaus' half brother, Halvor, whom Tollofson reared. Olaiis married Mr. Tollofson 's only child, Turin, and when her father died she inherited his farm of 185 acres. Mr. Tollofson was born in Norway and came to the United States before the Civil war. He served iu that war for three years iu a Wiseousin regimeut, and came to Red River valley in 1871, one of the first settlers. He lived there until he died, in 1890. His wife, Sigred, died in 1905.

Mr. Benson has built one of the best country residences in Polk county on his farm, which comprises 320 acres in addition to the Tollofson land, and on this he raises large crops of grain and potatoes. His crop in 1915 amounted to 4,000 bushels of wheat, 2,000 of barley, 1,500 of oats and an abundant yield from forty acres of potatoes. He keeps regularly thirty head of good cattle, employs two men all the time, owns his threshing outfit, plows with a tractor engine and uses an automobile for driving and hauling. He and his wife are the parents of one child, their daughter, Gina; and Ilanna Arneson is reared at the Benson home.

In 1905 Mr. Benson and his half-brother, Halvor, started a general store at Neilsville. Halvor has been in charge of the store ever since, while Olaus has given his attention mainly to his farming operations. Both eutei'prises have flourished through careful management and good business ability, and both are steadily growing in value and the volume of their operations, and the men at the head of them are everywhere held in high and general esteem by all who know them.

Ole 0. Romo

Having come to this county about thirty-six years ago with no earthly possessions except about $20 saved out of slender and hard-earned wages paid him in another county in this state, and having acquired the ownership of 200 acres of well-improved and productive laud and other property by his industry, thrift and good management, Ole 0. Romo, one of the substantial and enterprising farmers of Vineland township, has made his time and ability tell greatly to his advantage and worked out a career of usefulness and success that is highly creditable to him.

Mr. Romo was born iu the ancient and historic city of Trondhjem, Norway, July 7, 1860, and was brought to the United States by his parents, Ole and Kjersti Romo, when he was nine years old. The family settled on eighty acres of railroad land about thirty miles southwest of Red Wing, Minnesota, and there the parents died some years later. Of their seven children only Ole and his sister, Mrs. Charles Nelson, are residents of Polk county. The others are living in different parts of Minnesota and the adjoining state of North Dakota.

Ole 0. Romo came to this county in 1880 with his sister and her husband, Charles Nelson, and worked for the latter, breaking nearly all of his land, including the part that now lies in the village of Climax. He next worked for Levi Steenerson, who lived at that time in a little cabin about where his present residence stands. He was with Mr. Steenerson six years, and at the end of that period had .$700 to invest in a farm for himself. He bought the homestead of Ole Bramseth, a pioueer, in Section 28, Vineland township, one mile and a half cast of Climax, agi'eeing to pay $1,630 for the 160 acres of land, whose improvements consisted of a little log house, a stable and a granary, all covered with straw and sod. The land was nearly all plowed and Mr. Romo was allowed ten or eleven years in which to complete his payments on it, and these he at once began to make provision for.

Soon after taking possession of his farm Mr. Romo built a small frame house on it, and that lie and his family occupied until a few years ago, when the present dwelling was erected, as were the barn and other buildings. Becoming at once an intensive farmer, Init devoting his forces mainly to raising grain, he prospered from the start. His crop in 1915 averaged 30 bushels of wheat and 53 bushels of oats to the acre. He keeps a good-sized drove of cattle, including nine or ten milch cows, and owns stock in the co-operative creamery, the co-operative store and the telephone company at Climax. In addition, he has bought forty acres of other land and has a lot and house in the village of Climax.

his farm to Mrs. Sigre Amuudsou, a native of Norway, and the widow of Ole Amundson, who had a farm of 145 acres in Hubbard township. She had oue child by her fii-st marriage, Alfred Amundson, who is a farmer in Hubbard township. By her second marriage Mrs. Romo has become the mother of seven children : Oscar, who is cultivating her farm in Hubbard township; Oliver, who is variously employed in the neighborhood; Clara and Thea, who are employed in the central telephone office in Climax; Bertha, who

The members of the family all belong to Skatvold Lutheran church, of which Mr. Romo is the treasurer and one of the trustees. He has also served as township supervisor for three years and is now president of the school district. He is a director of the cooperative store and tlie co-operative creamery at Climax, also treasurer for the Ladies Aid at Skatvold.

Andrew J. Kelley

Andrew J. Kelley, whose pleasant home is located on the Red Lake river one mile and a half east of Crookston, is a scion of a military family, and was himself a valiant soldier in our Civil war, and during that momentous struggle gloriously did he sustain the examples and spirit of his family. His grandfather, Andrew Kelley, was a soldier in the Revolution and fought under Washington. His father, John Kelley, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and he also fought under Harrison at Tippecanoe, where he was left on the field as dead from a tomahawk woimd from the effects of which he died young. Andrew J. served three years in the Union army, Company E, Seventeenth Michigan infantry, from 1862 to the close of the war, and his son Edwin, the present sheriff of Polk coimty, was a soldier in the Spanish-American war, of short endurance but decisive results.

Andrew J. Kelley was born in La Grange county, Indiana, September 2, 1845, and moved to Adrian, Michigan, where he passed his boyhood and youth. He enlisted in 1862, served to the close of the conflict and received a medal for specially meritorious conduct in trying situations. He took part in more than thirty battles and had some very trying experiences, being selected at different times for particularly hazardous duties. Space is not available for a detailed account of his military exploits, but on one occasion he volunteered to burn a house in which the Confederates were quartered and steadily picking off the flower of the

After the war Mr. Kelley became an officer in the Michigan state prison. One of the prisoners had a book describing the Red river country, and this induced Mr. Kelley to come to this region in 1872. Railroad operations were almost suspended in this locality at the time, and he journeyed from Glyndon to Crookston on a hand car, his wife being with him and holding the present sheriff of the county in her arms. He selected a homestead in the northwest quarter of section 28, Crookston township, two miles northeast of Crookston and about one mile from the Red Lake river.

Spending the summer in the shack on his homestead, Mr. Kelley found the conveniences of life almost wholly lacking in his neighborhood. The settlers put a sail on a flat car and with this would run to Glyndon for groceries when the wind was favorable, and there they would remain until it shifted so that it would bring them back, as the trains on the railroad were not running regularly. Mr. Kelley was married in 1869 to Miss Ella A. Fleming, a daughter of Rev. S. Fleming, D. D., a Presbyterian clergyman in Indiana. In May, 1873, his wife and children joined him on the homestead. His house was the only one on the prairie between Crookston and Red Lake agency. Indians often visited it for food, but they never showed any violence. Sometimes they brought their wives and

Since settling here Mr. Kelley has given his attention mainly to his farm. But he has served as township clerk since the organization of the township. In the course of time he acquired another quarter-section of land and later bought forty acres on the bank of Red Lake river, and on this tract he now has his home. His principal dependence for many years was raising grain, but during the last fifteen he has given a great deal of attention to dairj'ing.

Mrs. Kelley is a native of Michigan and she and Mr. Kelley were married at Burr Oak in that state. They have seven children: Herbert, a civil engineer, whose home is now in Vancouver, British Columbia ;

Edwin Fleming, who is now (1916) sheriff of Polk county; Clara, who is the wife of Bert Cochrane, of Crookston ; Mabel, who is the wife of David Fleming, a member of the Crookston police force; Maude, who is the wife of M. J. 0 'Boyle, a machinist in Crookston ; and Lulu and Leonard H., who are stiU membei-s of the parental family circle. The parents are members of the Congregational church and were among its first communicants. ]Mr. Kelley was the first Sunday school superintendent in Crookston, presiding over a union Sunday school which he started in 1874, and he has been continuously interested in Sunday school work since. In political faith he is a Republican Prohibitionist, and rejoices in now seeing Crookston "di*y," which it never was until veiy recently.

Michael Quirk

This extensive, enterprising and successful farmer of Polk county, who managed all his own land until a short time ago, has been a resident of the United States for about fifty-four years and of Polk county, Minnesota, about forty-five years. He was bora in County Galway, Ireland, some seventy-five years ago, and left his native land for America while our country was in the terrible throes of the war between the North and South. He landed at New York and for some years was employed in railroad work in that state, Pennsylvania, and the states westward a.s far as l\Iissouri.

In 1872 he was in St. Louis, Missouri, and fi'om that city, in company with Barney Haggerty and Mattie Martin, all of whom were unmarried except Mr. Haggerty, he traveled by boat up the Mississippi to St. Paul and from there overland to Moorhead. At the place last named they heard accounts of the value of the land farther down the Red river, and all of them came to Polk county and all squatted on unsurveyed land. Patrick Quigley joined the party at Moorhead, and he also took up land.