Renville County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (1 of 2 so headed), 1916 (part 4 of 10)

Paul Erickson was among the worthy pioneers of Renville county and had his share in the general uplift and development of the community. He was born in Hadeland, Norway, there lived until 1864, when he came to America and stayed for awhile at Benson's Grove, Iowa, where his sister, the wife of James O'Connor, Si'., had already located. A short time later he came to this state and located in Waseca county. In the fall of 1868 he came to Renville county and took a homestead of eighty acres in Sacred Heart township. The following spring he brought his family here. For a time they lived in a dugout amid many discomforts. Later they were enabled to build a.two-story log structure at that time considered one of the best residences in the county. It was Hi by 26 feet, the logs were carefully hewed and squared by Mr. Erickson himself and the gable roof was his especial pride. The house was a conspicuous land mark and was used for school and church, as well as for residence purposes. As the years passed the farms developed and prosperity came in full measure. In May, 1889, a frame house was started, but Mr. Erickson died that fall, and did not live to see it completed. He was a worthy citizen and his memory will long be cherished in tile hearts of those who knew him.

Paul Erickson was married at Benson's Grove, Iowa, to Martha Amundson, who died Sept. 13, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson were tlie parents of eight children: Anna, Gudbjor, Theodore. Edward, Magnus, Herman, Gina and Mary. Anna was born Feb. 20, 1860, and died Nov. 26, 1896. Gudbjor was born Feb. 7. 1863, and died May 14, 1872. Peder was born Fell. 13, 1866 and .lied March 18, 1879. Edward was born Oct. 2(1. 1867, and now lives in Sacred Heart township. Magnus was born March 1, 1869, and was killed by lightning June 6, 1896, leaving a widow, Minnie Kling, and one child. Berdie. Herman was born Sept. 29, 1871, and died March 13, 1879. Gina was born Oct. 10, 1874, married Alfred Kling of Dunn county. North Dakota, and has nine children: Walter, Berdine, George, Elmer, Myrtle, Vina. Wallace, Millard and Harold. Mary was born Feb. 22, 1876, and died Jan. 11, 1911. She married Joseph Berquist to whom she bore four children : Marian Myrtle, Hilda and Mollie.

Edward Paulson, county commissioner from the Fifth district, Renville county, was horn in Waseca county, this state, Oct. 20, 1867, son of Paul and Martha (Amundson) Erickson, pioneers, who brought him to Renville county in 1869. lit- was reared on the home farm, section 18, Sacred Heart township, attended the district schools and thoroughly learned fanning from his father. He continued to remain on the home farm, completed the frame house which his father had started, planted trees and shrubbery, including the red cedar trees which now carefully trimmed are among the landmarks of the county, made beautiful lawns and developed the place in many ways until it is now the best in the neighborhood. For nine years, beginning Oct. 20, 1895, Mr. Paulson was grain buyer at Sacred Heart for Edward O'Connor, but aside from that he has devoted his entire life to farming. He is a competent business man and agriculturist, lias been very successful and pays particular attention to raising full blooded Shorthorn cattle and Poland China swine. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers' Telephone line and a stockholder in the Sacred Heart Hotel Co. He is doing the county especially good service as commissioner and in the past has been town supervisor anil a member of the school board. The story of Mr. Paulson's real estate holdings is most interesting. Sept. 22, 1890, lie bought the home farm, then consisting of 160 acres. In 1892 he bought forty more acres in the same section. In 1900 he bought forty acres in section 17 and in 1905 another forty acres in that section. In 1911 he bought eighty acres in the same section. In 1914 he bought 110 acres adjoining the home farm. He now owns 540 acres of good land under high cultivation and well developed. In 1910 he purchased the Hans Rude farm of eighty acres which he sold four months later at a pleasing profit. Mr. Paulson was married June 25, 1890, to Marie Gunderson and they have eight children: Hilma was horn May 27. 1891. married John Trongaard of Sacred Heart township and lias two children, Emery and Sylvia. Elwin was horn Nov. 3, 1892; Arthur, Aug. 25, 1894; Esther, born Dec. 6, 1897; Viola, born May 16. 1900; Leona, born Dec. 24, 1903; Florence, born July 25. 1906: and Helen, born April 12, 1911. The family faith is that of the Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Sacred Heart.

Ole Hendrickson, a retired farmer of Sacred Heart, was born in Vermland, Sweden, April 20, 1846. and came with his parents to America- in 1869. In 1870 he took a homestead of eighty acres in section 2, Hawk Creek township, and farmed there until 1900 when he retired from farming but continued to live on the homestead until 1910 when he moved to Sacred Heart.

He was married Nov. 2, 1872, to Lisa Pederson, born in Vermland, Sweden, July 15, 1850, and came to America in 1871. She came to Hawk Creek township, where she was married. Seven

Simon C. Engen, a retired fanner of Sacred Heart, was born in Toten, Norway, June 20, 1843. and came to America with his wife and one child in 1869. For two years he lived in Freeborn county, this state, and then moved to Renville county in 1871, taking a homestead in section 30, Ericson township. There he farmed until 1911, when he sold his farm to his son Nels and retired to Sacred Heart. He was the first pathmaster of the township and was one of the first supervisors. He was treasurer of school district No. 43 for eleven years anil town treasurer for three years. Hi' \v;is married August 30, 1866, to Andrena Nelson, born in Norway April 16, 1843, and they have had the following children: Peter Anton, Martenus, Sophia, Nels, .lens, .Marie, Signe, Adolph and Jennie. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and has served as treasurer for many years.

Iver Oie, a retired farmer of Sacred Heart, was born in Norway, July 30, 1845. and came to America in 1868. He located in Goodhue county and in 1870 came to Renville county where he took a homestead in "Wang township, driving from Goodhue county with ox team. With him came Sever Strand. Ove Strand, Ole Strand, Thorsten Hamre, Andrew Weflen and family, Marie Estram, Engebret Thoronson, Gunder Haan and Iver Nystuen. Iver Oie remained on the farm until 1911 when he retired to Sacred Heart. He was married in October, 1874, to Gunhild Solfest, a native of Norway, born June 21, 1850. She came to the United States in 1872 and located in Faribault county and came to Renville county in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Oie have six children: Gjorgena, Severin, Helmina, Ingvald, Dena and Gust.

Andres Johnson, a pioneer, was born in Sweden in 1818 and there married Bertha Olson, who was born in the same country in 1836. They came to America in May, 1868, and found their way to St. Peter in this state. From there Andres Johnson came to Hawk Creek in June of the same year and took a claim of eighty acres in section 26. Then he went back to St. Peter after his family and died there. The next year, 1869, the wife and children came and settled on a claim. For seven years they lived in a dugout. Then for fifteen years they resided in a log cabin. Subsequently they erected a frame house. They became prosperous and respected farmers and were well regarded throughout the community. The widow died in 1905.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of seven children. Gustaf lives in Fosten, Minn. Oscar lives in Hawk Creek township. Carl lives in Sacred Heart village. Olie lives in Fargo, North Dakota. Otto and Anna are dead. Augusta keeps house for her brother Carl.

Carl Anderson Public '

Carl Anderson, one of the well-known men of Renville county, now residing in Sacred Heart village, was born March 25, 1855, in Sweden, son of Andres and Bertha (Olson) Johnson, the pioneers. He was reared on the home farm, and in 1888 purchased it from the other heirs. For several years he engaged extensively in grain raising and stock raising, making a specialty of Poland China swine and a good grade of mixed cattle and horses. Mr. Anderson still owns this farm of 280 acres, but since 1904 has lived in Sacred Heart village. He is a useful, progressive citizen, has filled several offices with credit to himself and to the advantage of the community and his public work will long be remembered. From 1882 to 1887 he was assessor in Hawk Creek town ship. From 1887 to 1902 he was justice of the peace and town clerk in that township. From 1885 to 1904 he was clerk of the school board of his district. From 1902 to 1914 he was a member of the board of county commissioners and was on the committee which had charge of the erection of the courthouse at Olivia. At present he is the assessor of Sacred Heart village. Outside of his real estate, his holdings include stock in the Sacred Heart Hotel, the Farmers' Milling Co., of Sacred Heart, and the Farmers' State Bank of Sacred Heart. He is a director in the first two mentioned. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church. Carl Anderson and his sister, Augusta, have a pleasant home in the village, and delight in keeping open house to their friends.

Ole Skalbeck, one of the sturdy pioneers of Hawk Creek township, was born in Sweden, May 23, 1843, and was there reared. Upon attaining his majority lie came to America in 1S(14, and rented land in Dakota county, this state. It was four years later, in 1S68, that he came to Hawk Creek township and homesteaded eighty acres in section 24. For a time lie lived in a dugout. Later he erected a log cabin and there took his bride. Together they toiled early and late, and as time passed well deserved prosperity came in abundant measure. Their original tract was increased to 800 acres, their log cabin was replaced by a frame house, and near it were erected suitable barns and outbuildings. Mr. Skalbeck was a prominent man in the community, and was especially active in the work of the Hauge Norwegian Evangelical church in which he was one of the trustees, lie also served as supervisor of the township and on the school board. He and his good wife passed through all the trials and tribulations of pioneer life, and were held in high esteem throughout the community. He died Oct. 6, 1903, honored and revered by all who knew him.

Mr Skalbeck was married Nov 20, 1870, to Anna Lien, who was born in Sweden. June 12, 1853, and came to Hawk Creek in 1869. Mr and Mrs. Skalbeck were the parents of a goodly family of children, as follows: Hermon 0., of Sacred Heart; Olof, who died Aug. 4, 1903 ; Idan. who lives at home ; Oscar, of Hawk Creek township ; Albert, of Belfield, North Dakota ; Hilda, of Montana ; Matilda, who died March 8, 1903; Joseph, at home; Alma, a teacher ; and Benjamin, who lives at home.

Herman 0. Skalbeck, a successful business man of Sacred Heart, hardware and implement dealer, and Ford and Overland automobile agent and skilled auctioneer, was born in Hawk Creek township, this county. May 25, 1872, son of Ole H. and Anna (Lien) Skalbeck, the pioneers.

Herman 0. Skalbeck received a good public school education, and attended the Hauge Seminary, at Red Wing, this state. In 1895 he returned home and rented one of his father's farms. When his father sold the farm in 1904, he moved to Sacred Heart and bought the hardware store of J. J. Felska, and added a line of implements. Later he became agent for the Ford and Overland ears. For sixteen years he has also been a successful auctioneer, and his services in this capacity have been greatly in demand. His business holdings include 160 acres of kind in Beltrami county, this state, an interest in 320 acres in this county, ami stock in the State Bank of Sacred Heart. Mr. Skalbeck is a Democrat. When in the township lie served as town supervisor for three years. Since coming to the village he has served on the school board and on the village council.

Mr. Skalbeck was married Oct. 18, 1896, to Petra Berg, of Hawk ('reek township, born .June 5, 1ST"), daughter of Paul and Ragnild Berg, natives of Norway. .Mr. and Mrs. Skalbeck have six children: Ruth, born Aug. 27. 1897; Arthur, born April 10, 1899; Hilma, born .Ian. 5, 1901; Mabel, born March 23, 1903; Hoy, born May 19, 1905; and Edna, bora June 3. 1907. Tin- family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Ole P. Skeggeby, one of the venerable old pioneer.-, of Hawk Creek township, now living in retirement in Sacred Heart village, was born in the Province of Vermland, Sweden. March 17, 1831, and was there reared. As a. young man he went to Norway and was there employed at various labor. In March, 1867, he embarked on a wooden sailing vessel. "Amalia." under Captain Peterson, at Skein, Norway, and after a voyage of seven weeks landed at Quebec. From Quebec he went by way of the Greal Lakes ami the canal to Wisconsin. It was in 1868 that he came to Renville county and took a homestead of eighty acres in section 26, Hawk Creek township. The trip was made overland by oxen. Upon their arrival the family lived for a while in a dugout. This was replaced by a frame house which is still standing. The family went through all the privations and hardships of pioneer life, but as time passed they prospered, and added to their holdings until they owned 280 acres of good land. Mr. Skeggeby set out the trees which are still standing as a tribute to his faith in the future greatness of the county. He was a prominent man in the township, served as supervisor and on the school hoard, and was especially active in the formation of the Synod church, the Rev. John Berg, the first pastor, making his home with the Skeggehy family for several years. Mr. Skeggeby successfully carried on general farming until 1904, when he bought a comfortable home in Sacred Heart village where he still resides. He has led a useful lit!', has taken his part in the upbuilding of the country, and is now enjoying a. well-earned rest. It is such men as he who made possible the present prosperity of the county.

Mr. Skeggeby was married March 14, 1863, to Berit Olsdatter Holton, who was horn in Norway, March 21, 1841. This union was blessed with seven children: Christina. Ole. Betsey, Andrea Cordine, Sven, Ole and Carl. Christina was born Feb. 9, 1864, and died Oct, 17, 1872. Ole was horn July 6, 1865, and died Oct. 22, 1872. Betsy was born Dee. 12, 1868, and married T. A. Rudy, of Redwood county. They have five children: Tillie, Mabel. Ole and Theorine. Andrea Carolina was born November 12, 1870. She married Martin Listrud by whom she, had three children. Mr. Listrud and the three children are all dead. For her second husband she married Sven Homme, better known as Sam Homme, with whom she now lives at Granite Falls, Minn. Sven was born June 12, 1874. He is a farmer in Yellow Medicine county. He married Anna Collin, and they have seven children : Orrin, Kenneth, Theresa, Stanford. Prescott, Elmer and Birdella. Ole was born Dee. 3, 1875. He is a merchant at Granville, North Dakota, He married Clara Foss, and they have a son, Orville. Carl Sivert was born Dec. 15, 1879, and farms in Hawk Creek township. He married Mary Homme, and they have four children: Berniee Gertina, Hildegaard Odella, Owen Wallace and Harvey Gordon.

Carl Sivert Sheggeby, a leading farmer of Hawk Creek township, was born in the township where he still resides, son of Ole P. Skeggeby and Berit (Holton) Skeggeby. He was educated in the district schools and grew up on the paternal farm. In 1900 he rented the home farm, and in 1911 purchased it. The farm consists of 280 acres, under a high degree of cultivation. He is one of the most progressive men of the township and carries on general farming along the latest approved methods. In 1914 he erected a modern home, one of the best in the western part of the county. The surroundings are ideal and the home is one of which the owners may well be proud. Mr. and Mrs. Sheggeby delight in keeping open house to their friends, and their hospitality is widely known. Mr. Sheggeby is one of the best types of the modern farmer and business man. and makes a deep study of his farm work.

Mr. Sheggeby was married Nov. 24, 1904, to Mary Homme, who was born April 26, 1882, in Yellow Medicine county. This union has been blessed with four bright children: Bernice Gertina, born Oct. 27, 1905: Hildegaard Odella, born Aug. 1, 1907; Owen Wallace, born Aug. 11, 1910; Harvey Gordon, born Aug. 12, 1912.

The parents of Mrs. Carl Sheggeby were Henry and Gertie (Homme) Homme, who were born in Norway, came to America when quite young, married in Lincoln county, this state, settled in Yellow Medicine county about 1875, and now live in Pennington county, Minn.

Peter Fagerlie, a well-known resident of Hawk Creek township, was born in Norway, .Time 20, 1845. He attended the common school of his neighborhood and grew to manhood. In 1872 he came to America and located in Blue Earth county, Minn. In 1875 he came to Renville county and, in 1884, he located on his present farm in section 22, Hawk Creek township.

Mr. Fagerlie was married in 1882 to Ingeborg Lien, born in Norway, April 19, 1853, and came to America in 1880. This union resulted in eight children: Caroline is the wife of Hilmer Eliason, of Hawk Creek township ; Anna is dead ; Otbilda Emalia is now Mrs. Anfin Deason, of Sacred Heart ; Peter Olaf lives in Hawk Creek township: Ida Paulina is now Mrs. Melvine Sagness, of Erieson township; Fredericka Elisa is at home: Emma Josephine is the wife of John Jorgenson, of Yellow Medicine county ; Alma Christina is at home.

Hendrick Eliason, one of the honored pioneers of Renville county, is one of the few men living who can claim a residence of forty-five years in this vicinity. He was born in Varmeland, Sweden, Jan. 1, 1839, and came to America in 1870, locating at once on a homestead of forty acres in section :J4. Hawk Creek township. Upon his arrival, he erected the log cabin which is still a part of the present dwelling. He broke and developed the land, suffered all the privations of t he early settler, prospered witli the years, increased his holdings until he hail 320 acres and in 1895 constructed the present home and outbuildings. For many years lie was one of the influential men in the community. In 1903 he retired and moved to Wright county where he lived for a year. There a longing for the scenes of his boyhood came over him ami he departed for his native land. He visited many interesting points, saw many of his old friends, and then returned to America, locating in Sacred Heart village, where lie is spending the afternoon of life, happy in the respect of all who know him. Hendrick Eliason was married in Sweden to Lisa Lien, who was born in that country, March 8, 1843, and died on the farm in Hawk Creek township, Sept. 12, 1903. This union has been blessed with ten children: Emil, Marthea, Hilmer, Olaf,

Amelia, Christina, John, Lydia, Herman and Oscar. Emil farms in Oregon. Marthea is the wife of Albert Wiglund, of Baglejr, Minn. Hilmer farms in Hawk Creek township. Olaf lives in Sacred Heart. He first married Carrie Myra and after her death, Veva Arntzen. Amelia is the wife of Nels Wei man, of Bagley, 31 inn. Christina lives in Minneapolis. John lives in Oregon. Lydia is the wife of August Salk, of Elkton, South Dakota. Herman married Bernice Panney. He farms in Oregon. Oscar is dead.

Hilmer Eliason, an eminently prosperous agriculturist of Hawk Creek township, was horn in Sweden. .May 27. INTO, son of Heiidriek Eliason and Lisa (Lien) Eliason, who brought him that year to Hawk ('reek township. He spent his childhood much as the other boys of his time ami period, attending the district schools and helping his parents. In 1904 he rented the home farm and two years later purchased it. lie now owns forty acres in section 24, 120 acres in section 13, and forty acres in section 14. where the residence is Located. He has made many improvements, has sunk a 98-foot well which gives ample water supply for household and farm purposes and has installed an acetylene gas plant which furnishes lights for both house and barns. Mr. Eliason is a useful member of the community and lias been treasurer of the school district for eight years and is now serving on the town board as supervisor. He is a stockholder ami treasurer in the Hawk Creek Telephone Co., of Hawk Creek.

Mr. Eliason was married March 10, 1903, to Caroline Fagerlie, who was born in Hawk Creek township. Oct. 4. 1882, daughter of Peter and Ingebor": I Lien i Fagerlie. This union has been blessed with five children: Leona Isabella, born Dec. 28, 1903; Palmer Harlam. Feb. 11, 1906; Carlton Harris. Aug. 24, 1909; Osear Raymond, Oct. 20. 1912; Delmore Arthur, .lime 27, 1914.

Olaf A. Odegaard was born in Norway, A] nil 6. 1834. His good wife, Ingeborg O. Berge, was born in the same country, Aug. 27, 1841. In the fall of 1866 they embarked on a sailing vessel ami, after a long and tedious voyage, reached America. They were married in Goodhue county. Minnesota. Nov. 12. 1866. and there lived until 1870, when they came to Renville county and took a homestead of eighty acres, in section 2-">. Hawk Creek township. Mr. Odegaard set to work with a will and constructed a dugout in which lie and his bride lived happily for two years. This habitation was destroyed by fire and Mr. Odegaard then built a substantial log cabin in which the family lived for over a quarter of a century. Assisted by his worthy helpmate, he worked early and late, tilled his fields, planted groves, erected fences, purchased equipment and developed a splendid farm. He replaced the log cabin with a frame dwelling and constructed other buildings as necessity required and means permitted. He purchased an additional eighty acres of railroad land and still later added forty more, thus bringing his holdings up to 200 acres. In 1900, after a long life filled with hard work, he retired and purchased a comfortable home in Sacred Heart village, where he died April 24, 1911, and where his widow is still living.

In the family there were nine children: Betsy, born May 18, 1867, is now Mrs. A. S. Dokken, of Yellow Medicine county; Emma, born May 30, 1869, is now Mrs. O. II. Antonson, of Hawk Creek township; Ole, born April 6, 1871, married Rosa Peterson and now lives in Taylor, North Dakota; Anna, born June 5, 1873, married Martin Falaas, of Brandon, Minn., and has five children : Alice, Miller, Orville, Leonard, Ina, Cheolyn: Ida was born April 29, 1875 and died June 10, 1899; Steven O. was born Jan. 10, 1878 and now conducts the home farm. Theo. Karolina was born March 29, 1880, and died Sept. 24, 1902; Olaf Alfred was born Feb. 27. 1883, and died March 11, 1903; Inga was born Feb. 27, Ins.",. and died Dee. 2, 1904.

Steven O. Odegaard, an enterprising and representative citizen of Hawk Creek township, was born on the farm in section 25, where he now resides, Jan. 10, 1878, son of Ole A. and Ingeborg O-.(Berge) Odegaard, pioneers. He attended the district school of his neighborhood and completed his studies with a three-year course at the Willmar Seminary at Willmar, Minn. In 1900 he started out for himself by purchasing 120 acres in the section where he was born. He also rented the old home place, which in 1912 he purchased. In addition to this, he bought another 40 acres, thus making him a splendid farm of 360 acres. Mr. Odegaard is energetic and an excellent manager and a hard worker. He carries on his agricultural operations along the latest approved lines and his success has been well deserved. In addition to raising the usual crops, he makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire swine. Being a thorough business man in the upbuilding of the community, he has taken stock in the Sacred Heart Hotel Company. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, was clerk of School District No. 16 for eight years, served for a considerable period as town treasurer, and has served as justice of the peace for the past six years.

Steven O. Odegaard was married Nov. 12, 1905, to Hilda Gun- Jerson, who was born in Wang township, this county, Feb. 27, 18m', a <laughter of Hans and Bergit (Myrhougen) Gunderson, pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Odegaard have been blessed with two bright children: Otis, born Nov. 13. 1906, and Berdie Idella, born Dec. 5, 1914. The family faith is that of Our Saviour's Norwegian Lutheran church, at Sacred Heart.

Andrew H. Erickson, deceased, an early pioneer of Hawk Creek township, was born in Vermland, Sweden, June 11, 1857. son of Hendrick and Lisa Erickson. He came to America with his parents in the spring of 1869, stayed with them that summer in Carver county, Minnesota, and came with them thai same fall to Hawk Creek township, where they took a homestead of eighty acres in section 2. He attended the district schools of the neighborhood and grew to manhood, assisting his father on the farm. Being of an industrious mind he saved his money, and about 1885 purchased the home farm, consisting then of 200 acres. He paid off the rest of the heirs and became sole owner and proprietor. He erected a good frame residence and a complement of barns and outbuildings in keeping with the residence. In 1893 the barn was struck by lightning and destroyed, but was soon replaced with a new one. He became a prominent man in the community and took a very active part in the school and church work, and also in the township affairs, holding offices of importance in all of these. For a number of years he was president of the Hawk Creek Mutual. Fire Insurance Co. On account of illness in March, 1913, he moved with Ins family to the village of Sacred Heart, into his home which he had previously bought. He died April 29, 1913, leaving besides his wife three daughters.

Mr. Erickson was married Feb. 3, 1887, to Maria Berg. She was born in Vermland, Sweden. .Inly 2(1. Is61, daughter of Hendrick and Lisa (Thompson) Berg. She came to America with her parents in 1869 and stayed that summer with them in Carver county, coming with them that fall to Sacred Heart township. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Erickson, three of whom are living. Hulda was born Dec. 21, 1887. She attended the district schools and the grade and high school of Sacred Heart, also took the academic course at the Jewell College and two years at the Mankato State Normal school. She taught for two years at the Austin, Minn., public schools, then for a short period at Hoquiam, Wash. She was also bookkeeper for a short time in a bank at Spokane. Then she taught a year at Sacred Heart, and is now7 a student at the Northwestern Conservatory at Minneapolis. Milda Luella was born Aug. 20, 1896. She is a senior in the agricultural department of the state university. Amy Eunice was born July 23, 1900, and is a student of the Sacred Heart high school. Harry Arthur was born July 28, 189-4, and died May 11, 1899. Ella Louise was born June 29, 1889, and died Oct. 12, 1889, and one died unnamed.

Hendrick Erickson, deceased, a pioneer of Hawk Creek, was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1818. He was married in his native country to Lisa Hendrikson, born in 1824 in Vermland. They with their family came to America in the spring of 1869 and stopped the first summer in Carver county. In November they proceeded to Renville county and took a homestead of eighty acres in section 2, Hawk Creek township. Heavy rains had made the trails almost impassable and it took them a week to make the trip with their ox team. In the party were Hendrick Erickson arid family, Andrew Carlson and family, Hendrick Tompte and wife and John Tompte. A rude shanty was their first home and straw and log sheds were put up for the stock. They experienced all the trials of pioneer life, but in time prosperity came. Mr. Erickson increased his holdings by adding three 40-acre tracts of railroad land, thus making him a fine farm of 200 acres. He followed general farming until about 1885, when he sold the farm to his son, Andrew H. However, he continued to live on the farm until his death, in 1913. at the age of ninety-five years. His wife died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick Ericson had the following children: Hendrick, deceased; Ole Hendrickson, of' Sacred Heart ; Maria, Mrs. Ole R. Olson, of Sacred Heart ; John Erickson, of California : Kari, Mrs. Albert Larson, of Sacred Heart; Erick deceased; Andrew H., deceased; Hannah, of Wisconsin. Two died in Sweden and one died on the ocean before reaching the port of Quebec and is buried in Canada.

Hendrick Berg, deceased, was born in Vermland, Sweden, on Feb. 21, 1826, ami was there married. In the spring of 1869 he set sail for America with his good wife, Lisa (Thompson) Berg, and their children. They remained in Carver county during the summer of 1869 and then journeyed on to Renville county and settled on a homestead in Sacred Heart township. He secured eighty acres in section 28. At first they lived in a log cabin and endured all the trials of pioneer life, but as time passed a good home was built, barns and outbuildings erected and general farming was carried on by these worthy and hard-working people. In 1895 they retired to the village of Sacred Heart and lived there until 1901, when they took up their home with their daughter, Mrs. A. II. Erickson, in Hawk Creek township. The mother dieil that same fall. Mr. Berg, while walking west from Sacred Heart towards Hawk Creek on the railroad, was run down by a train and instantly killed in 1904.

Theodore A. Nellermoe, one of the early farmers of Renville county, was born in Norway, Feb. 15. 1864. He was the sou of Andrew ami Karen Nellermoe of Norway. His father died in Norway at the age of fifty-four years and his mother died in America at the age of sixty-live. There were eight children in the family; Trine, Christopher, Frantz, Ellen, Theodore, Anna, Jacob and Nels. Theodore's uncle John, his father's brother, came to America in 1866, coming on a sailing vessel, the trip taking eleven weeks, and landed at Quebec. He had intended to go to Iowa, but went only as far south as La Orosse, Wisconsin, from there going to Red Wing by boat and settling in (iood- Ime county. Here he stayed two years, working on the farms in the neighborhood, then he went to Kandiyohi county and located in Irvine- township. After a year he came to Renville county and secured a homestead of 80 acres in section 14, in Hawk Creek township. Here lie built a sod cellar ami a log stable. In the spring he bought an ox team and began working on his farm. In 1873 he returned to Norway and in 1874 he came hack to-Renville county, bringing with him his two nephews, Theodore and Frantz. He prospered with the years, added 160 acres more to his farm and built a Hue modern house and buildings. He served on the township hoard and on the school board and helped to organize the Synod church and was a member of the conference. He died Nov. 13, 1902, at the age of .sixty-nine. Theodore Nellermoe grew to manhood on Ins uncle's homestead. He attended school at the country school log building and later was a student at St. Olaf College at Northfield, and also attended business college in Minneapolis. For a time he clerked in a general merchandise and implement store at Granite Falls, then he engaged in business for himself, with his brother, Frantz, at Sacred Heart, in a general merchandise and machinery store. After fifteen years he sold Ins store and became a traveling salesman. Soon after this he was elected register of deeds of Renville county, on the Republican ticket and served in this capacity for four years. About this time his uncle John died and he returned to the home farm of '.i\10 acres which he now owns.

Mr. Nellermoe has made extensive improvements mi the farm since he has owned it, having erected a large barn, 36 by 100 feet, modern and sanitary, with full cement lower story. He has also built a tine hennery. 18 by 40 feet, and lias done a great deal of ditching and fencing, also has tiled nearly all the low land and has as fine a farm as one would care to see. He specializes in registered "Big Type" Poland-China swine and singlecomb Blaek Orpingtons and single-comb Brown Leghorn fowls. His farm in every way bespeaks thrift and progressiveness.

Mr. Nellermoe has also served on the township board of Hawk ('reek for three years, and has been a member of the council of Sacred Heart, and also of the school board at Sacred Heart. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Sacred Heart, and a member of the Swine Breeders' Association. He is president of the Farmers' Club and a member of the Pioneer Association of Renville county. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Nellermoe is secretary of Our Saviour's church, of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod of Sacred Heart, Minn.

Mr. Nellermoe was married in 1887 to Petra Gerde, born in Waseca county. Minn., Sept. 12, 1866, daughter of Peter O. Gerde and Mrs. Engeborg Gerde, who came to Renville county in 1874 and located in Ericson. Mr. and Mrs. Nellermoe have had ten children : Jay Clarence, born May 11, 1888 : Arthur, born Jan.

Halvor Helgeson Golie, one of the worthy pioneers, underwent many interesting- experiences in the early days and had his share in making the western part of Renville county the prosperous land that it is today. He was burn in Lyner, Hadlan, Norway, son of Helge Hanson Golie and Berte (Skoen) Golie, Halvor being the only son in a family of four children. Halvor Helgeson Golie was married in Norway to Karrie Ogaard, ami there had two children. In 1867 they set out for the new world. With them was Halvor Halvorsen Mutta and family, who were related to them. They landed at Quebec and. in time, found their way to Freeborn county, this state, where so many of their countrymen had preceded them. From Freeborn county they set out with a colony for Renville county. Mr. and Mrs. Golie walked the entire distance, their little girl riding on one of the wagons. After reaching Renville county, they took a home-stead of eighty acres in section 24. Hawk Creek township. The family was fortunate in owning a cow and a calf which they had purchased in Freeborn county, but Mr. Golie was sick during the greater part of the first year and they had to sell the cow to gel loud. Tie- claim which they took was wild prairie land without a tree and absolutely unbroken. For four years they lived in a dugout and there their oldest son. Herman M., was born. In 1872 they erected a log cabin, hauling the logs all the way from the river bottoms. After a time they acquired a pair of oxen. Herman M. remembers seeing these oxen hitched to the old Buckeye reaper. Later they raised two yokes of oxen and traded them for a team of horses. In 1870. the father. Helge Hanson Golie, came from the old country and took a claim nearby. Halvor Helgeson Golie and family in time achieved prosperity. They erected suitable buildings from time to time and brought the farm to a high state of development. They added eighty acres of railroad land and also another eighty, making in all a fine farm of 240 acres. Mr. Golie became a prominent man in the community and his death. March 7. 1896, was sincerely mourned. His faithful wife is still living on the home farm.

In the family there are four living children : Bertha is the will of Otto Sweiven, of Sacred Heart township. Herman M. is on the home farm. Matilda is the wife of Edward Kamrud. of Makoti, North Dakota. Hans lives in Morris, Minn. Five are dead: Bertha, the oldest, died in Norway; Martha and Henry

Herman M. Gclie, one of the leading farmers of Hawk Creek township, is a true pioneer, having been born in a little dugout on the farm where be still resides, March 24, 1871, son of Halvor and Karrie (Ogaard) (Jolie, early settlers. He received his education in the district schools and remained with bis father until the latter 's death in 1896. A year later he purchased the home place, but from 1897 to 1900 he rented and operated the Bergosa farm. - Since then he has been on his present farm. He carries on general farming on a successful scale, has made many and varied improvements on the farm and makes a specialty of breeding pure-blooded Shorthorn cattle. He is president of the Hawk Creek Telephone Co. and a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Co. at Sacred Heart. He has been supervisor of the township for seven years and has been a school director of District No. 16 for twelve years. He is now doing good work as road overseer.

Herman M. Golie was married Nov. 24, 1S94, to Oleane Olson. who was born in Norway, July 16, 1863; this union has been with two children, Hazel Margaret, born Aug. 28, 1895, and Clarence Mornell, born May 27, 1898.

Karenus 0. Agre, one of the honored and respected early pioneers, was born in Norway, Oct. 11, 1840, the son of Ole N. and Metta Agre, seventh in the family of eleven children, the others being Peter, Nels, Helga, Ole, Berener, Martinus, Karelins. Haaken, Ole Gusenus, Kari and Bertha. Ilaaken, the first of the family to come to America, left the old country in 1866 and settled in Fillmore county, this state. The next to come were Martinus and Karenus. They left Norway April 2, 1867, landed in Quebec, and on May 10, of the same year, reached Fillmore county, in 1his state. Karenus secured work, grubbing wild land for various pioneers, securing for this arduous labor only $1 a day, sometimes less. He managed to save some of this, however, and in the fall of 1868 he and his two brothers, Martinus and Haaken, and their two cousins, Simon and Tollef Johnson, went into partnership with the intention of locating in Renville county as pioneers. They purchased three yoke of oxen, and after a long journey overland reached Hawk Creek township. There they each took claims on the prairie, and purchased a place of 160 acres, nearer the Minnesota bottoms. On this farm the young men moved into a little cabin already erected, ami there they lived for a while. All the men being single, they kept house themselves and the duties of cook fell to Karenus. The winter of 1868-1869 Mas spent in Fillmore county. In the spring of 1869 they came back to Hawk Creek, and broke a few acres of land on each of their claims. During the summer of 1869, Martinus, Haaken and Simon went back to Fillmore county and worked for farmers, while Karenus and Tollef stayed in Hawk Creek. In the fall they came back to make their permanent home here. Four of the party continued to reside in the county. Toilet' died and his parents came over and took las claim. While living in the cabin on the 160 acres, Karenus had been busy making improvements on his claim on the prairie, and when everything was ready he took up his home in a soil house which he had constructed. It was to this place that he brought his bride. There they began their married life together, undergoing all the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Times were hard and provisions were few, the mosquitoes, the grasshoppers and the crows were a nuisance, trips to market were long and sometimes dangerous. But they worked hard and prosperity crowned their efforts. As time passed, their farm became one of the best in the neighborhood, and before many years a comfortable home, suitable barns, appropriate outbuildings, and well-tilled, well-developed and well-fenced fields took the place of what had originally been an almost unbroken waste, ornamented only by a crude sod house.

Aside from successfully working his farm, Mr. Agre found time to serve his community in various capacities, and he ever had the best interests of his township at heart. He has served both as supervisor and as chairman of his township, and has done admirable service as treasurer of the school board. He was .one of the first stockholders in the Farmers' Elevator at Sacred Heart and is likewise a stockholder in the Hawk (.'reek Telephone Company. For many years he has been active in the Hawk Creek church. For some ten or fifteen years the services of this church were held in a log cabin located on his farm, as well as in a cabin on the Brevig farm.

.Mi'. Agre was married in 1870 to .Mary Hanson, born in Norway. Nov. 4. 1848, daughter of Hans and Anna (Christopherson) Hanson. Her parents came to the United States in 1862 and located in Fillmore county, where they remained until 1867, when they came to Renville county and located near the Chippewa county line. Mr. and Mrs. Agre have had seven children: Ole, Hans (deceased), Marthea, Halbert, Casper, Martin (deceased), and Julius. Ole Casper and Julius have purchased the home farm and are successfully operating it. Marthea married Henry K. Rude and they live in Bagley, Minn., owning a farm in Clearwater county. They have two sons, Carl Melvin and Archie Oliver. Halbert married Minnie Jacobson, and they live in Clearwater county. They have three children, Millie Adeline, Phoebe Irene and Harvey Albert Odean.

Mr. Agre has many interesting stories to tell of the early days. One particularly interesting story relates to a freshet in the earlv seventies which swelled Hawk creek way beyond its natural boundaries. Mr. Agre and other members of the colony had been to Willmar, some forty miles away, and had purchased three stoves, other hardware, 800 feet of lumber, and general provisions, making a very heavy load. About a mile this side of Willmar, however, they were stuck in the mud, and found that they could not make the journey through the wet earth with so much material. Consequently they returned to Willmar and unloaded the heavy material, after which they again undertook the journey with some 300 feet of lumber and some light provisions. Though the wagon wheels sank deep into the earth, they reached the east branch of the Hawk creek in safety. There they found that the creek had swollen and covered the prairie a wide distance in all directions. One of the men, Ole Kringsberg, took a rope and swam across the creek to the solid ground on the other side. A raft was made out of the lumber, and the rope held by the man on the further shore was tied to the front of the raft, while another rope, held by the men standing on the other shore, was tied to the back of the raft. Thus, by pulling the raft back and forth from shore to shore, the young men managed to carry all their provisions and their wagon in safety to the further bank. Then the oxen were compelled to swim, and, in due time, the party proceeded on its journey.

Haagen 0. Agre, whose work in Kenville county since the earliest days has had an important influence in the growth and development of the community, was born in Rendalen, Osterdalen, Norway, Jan. 31, 1843, son of Ole Nelson and Martha Peterson, natives of that locality, where they devoted their lives to agricultural pursuits. The father died about 1868, and the mother about 1876. Haagen O. Agre received a good education in the schools of his native parish, and worked in the timber and lumber business until 1866, when he set out with high hopes and a courageous heart to try his fortunes in the new world. He embarked on a steamboat, which encountered a bad storm just after leaving Christiania, and was tossed about on the North Sea a week before reaching Hull, England. After a ten days' trip out of Liverpool, he landed at Quebec, and there took the railroad for Chicago' and from there to La Crosse, where he took a boat up the Mississippi to Winona, going thence by team to Fillmore county, where he worked among the farmers for two years.. In 1868 he started with four others for Renville county. From Fillmore county they went to Chatfield, and thence to Waseca by railroad, from there going to St. Peter on foot. Then they came by team to Renville county. Thus arrived in this vicinity Haagen O., K. O. and M. 0. Agre, and Tollef and Simon Johnson. They had been told to follow the trail, to Yellow Medicine, but by keeping to the government road they found themselves in a different direction from that in which they intended to go. Night was coining on, so they wrapped themselves in their blankets, which had been cut with a hole for their heads, thus giving the men much the appearance of Indians. It was in this garb that they approached the shack of Joseph Myer, an early pioneer. He was a German and could not understand Norwegian. They could not understand German. He mistook them for Indians and was badly frightened, the more so because all he could understand of what they said was "Yellow Medicine," and Yellow Medicine was, in those days, the headquarters of the Indians. He pointed out the direction and slammed the door in their faces. The next morning Myer started for the shack of his neighbor, Joseph Schaffer, and told him Indians were in the community, declaring that he had himself seen five individuals whom he was sure were Indians because they wore blankets and spoke an unknown language. The young men, after leaving Myers, found that they were practically lost, but as a prairie fire was raging, they decided to stay in the vicinity all night. Nearby they saw a black object, dimly visible through the dusk. Making their way to the place they discovered that the black object was a log barn in which were a pair of oxen. Making the oxen move over to the side of the barn, the men brought in hay, and made themselves a comfortable bed for the night. The next morning they were on their way early. A light snow had fallen through the night. With nothing to eat, they made their way up the prairie, approached a cabin, and noted a young woman in the yard, attending to the farm chores. They still had on their blankets, and when they approached the young woman and asked her the way to Yellow Medicine, she, like the German the previous night, mistook them for Indians. She ran into the house and, hugging her little boy to her breast, determined to meet death bravely. But the men soon made themselves known to her as fellow countrymen. Her joy at meeting some one from home who could talk the dear old tongue of her fathers was equalled only by the fright that she had previously felt. She explained to them that she was Mrs. Maria Rude, and that her husband was working on the railroad near St. Peter. Soon she had a meal set out for them on a wash tub turned upside down. Her stories of the locality were so attractive that all five young men determined to take claims in the vicinity. Haagen 0. Agre took a claim of 80 acres in section 10. He built himself a crude shack of logs and rails, witli a sod roof, just sufficient to hold the claim. He did not live therein, but returned with the other young men to Fillmore county to get their oxen. There the weather turned cold, and as it did not seem advisable to make another trip to Renville county amid such conditions, the young men spent that winter in Fillmore county. The next summer they drove to Renville county, and. until they could make suitable quarters for themselves, lived in a log cabin in the timbers on 160 acres, which, in addition to their claims on the prairie, the young men had acquired nearer the Minnesota bottoms. During that fall aud winter they continued to live iu this cabin, and in the meantime drew logs to their claims on the prairie and erected cabins. During these trips to the prairie claims, the young men often stopped at the home of Nels Bakke, father of John Bakke, for meals, and sometimes they spent the night there. In the spring of 1870. the young men moved onto the prairie claims. Haagen 0. Agre took up his home in the neat cabin which he had built in section 10. In this cabin his family lived for several years, after which they erected a frame house. 16 by 24 feet, which is a part of the present sightly dwelling. As time passed he made many other improvements. He broke the land, erected necessary buildings, constructed fences, and planted groves and a good orchard of some 130 apple trees, ami brought the place to a high stage of development. Mr. Agre passed through all the hardships of pioneer life, suffering intensely during the grasshopper raids and the hail which soon followed. The nearest trading point was YVillinar, and provisions were scarce and highpriced. But with undaunted courage, Mr. Agre pushed ahead, determined to succeed. He worked early and late, managed his affairs with frugality and shrewdness, and in time acquired 600 acres, the larger part of which has been divided among his children, leaving him the eighty acres on which the cabin originally stood. In 1897 he erected what was then one of the largest barns in the community, its dimensions being 44 by 64 with 16-foot studdings. This building was destroyed by fire on Oct. 26. 1901. They were shredding corn with a Cyclone husker and had the blower going into the barn, when suddenly they saw the bai-n on tire. Another was erected on the same basement, but this one had 12 instead of 16-foot studdings. Then came a wind storm, which turned the building on its foundations and bent it almost boM'-shaped. A wrecking crew straightened it up, but a year later came a great cyclone, which swept the barn to destruction and killed a horse and four head of cattle. On the afternoon of the cyclone the family had been visiting. Upon their return, although it was chore and milking time, they decided to have supper before doing their evening work. While eating supper the storm came up. Had they been doing their chores at the usual time, instead of eating supper as they were. several members of the family would doubtless have been killed. Since that time, however, Mr. Agre has erected a fine complement of barns and outbuildings, which form a picturesque background to the pleasant home.

Creek Mutual Fire Insurance Co. and, during this period of membership, he served both as secretary and president. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers' State Bank of Sacred Heart, and for a considerable period was a stockholder and director in the Farmers' Elevator at Sacred Heart. As town treasurer for many years, he did good service, and was on the town board as supervisor and as chairman. In the church he has been active, being chairman of the building committee when the Hawk Creek Norwegian Lutheran church was erected, and he was also the man designated to purchase the lumber, the reasonable price at which it was obtained being a tribute to his shrewdness and business ability.

Mr. Agre was united in the holy bonds of wedlock in -Inly, 1871, to Inge Marie Johnson, born in Norway, Feb. 24, 1846, daughter of John Thoroson and Marit Peterson, who came to America in 1871. located in Hawk Creek township, on the homestead of their son, Tollef Johnson, and spent the remainder of their lives in that neighborhood, the father dying in 187") and the mother in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Agre have had eight children: Martha, Ole, John, Martin, Hannah Maria, Theoline Bertha. Hannah Olava. and Harold. Martha was born April 26, 1872. married Oluf Kvistero, of Yellow Medicine county, and has live children, Esther, Julia, Harold, Melvin and Peter. Ole was born Oct. 26, 1873, and is one of the leading farmers of Hawk Creek township. He married Mary Lindquist. John was born April 8, 187"). and is also a leading farmer in Hawk Creek township. He married Amelia Hanson, and they have three children. Oral, Hazel and Arbie. Martin was born Nov. 22, 1876, and suceesstY'Hy conducts the home farm, of which he is now the owner. Hannah Maria was born Dec. 20, 1878, ami died in May. 1886. Theoline Bertha was horn Sept. 29, 1882, and died Sept. 18. 1914. By her husband, <He K. Imes, she left one child. Myrtle Henrietta. Hannah Olava was born July 27. 18S7, and resides at home, looking after the welfare of her parents. Harold was horn Feb. 10, 1889, and died March 2, of the same year.

Ephraim McBroom, a retired farmer of Renville, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, June 16, 1856, son of William and Maria (Miller) McBroom. William McBroom, son of John, was born in Ireland. January. 1814, and died in 1885. lie came to America when he was twelve years old, the family locating in St. Lawrence county. In 1869 William and his family moved to Illinois, there being six children: John, Thomas, William, Ephraim, Margaret ami Mary. They located in McHenry county, where they lived on a farm, Later moving to Woodstock, where he remained until his death, two years later. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife died in 1889, at the age of seventy-three. Ehpraim McBroom received his early educa- tion in New York state and in Illinois, where he attended the district school. For a time he farmed on the home place. Later he moved to Woodstock, where he remained for two years, then coming to Minnesota in the spring of 1890, and locating five miles northwest of Renville, in Ericson township, where lie secured 320 acres. Here he built a small frame house, 12 by 16 feet. About thirty acres were broke when he took charge of the farm. He also built a rude barn and here the family lived until the spring of 1914. when they moved to Renville. During this time he improved the farm, built good buildings and developed tinland. Mr. McBroom held many township offices, being supervisor and chairman of supervisors, and school officer for many years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of Renville. In 1899 a cheese factory was started on his place, which was known as the Ericson Co-operative Cheese Factory, .Mr. McBroom being the treasurer for a long time and also the salesman. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. of Renville. Mr. McBroom was married Sept. 6, 1882, in Illinois, to Alice McLean, born in Clayton county, Iowa, May 30, 1861, daughter of John and Allison (Binnie) McLean, both natives of Scotland, the father coming to America when he was twenty-six years old and the mother when she was eleven years old. -John McLean was born .June 13, 1S2G, near Glasgow, and settled in Dundee, Kane county, Illinois. He was a veteran of the Civil war. having enlisted in the fall of 1864, in Company K., in the Fifteenth Iowa Regiment, and was discharged duly 24, 1865. He accompanied General Sherman on his famous march to the sea. lb- died .Ian. 20, 1907. Allison McLean was born Feb. 23, 1837, at Airdrie, near Edinburgh, Scotland, and they were married Sept. 7. 1852. Her parents also settled in Kane county, later moving to Denton county, Iowa, and then to Clayton county. Then they returned to Illinois, where they settled in Seneca township, McHenry county. Mrs. McLean died June 29, 1906. Fifteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McLean: James, born Sept. 11, 1853; Robert, born Sept. 30, 1854; John, born Feb. 14. 1856; Agnes, born April 21. 1857; Maggie, born May 9, 1858; Albert, born Nov. 27, 1859; Alice, born May 30, 1MC1 ; .Mary, born April 5. 1864; William, June 21. 1866; David, born July 15, 1867; Christian, born Jan. 11, 1869; Jessie, born March 11. 1870; Henry, born Sept. 13, 1877, and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. McBroom have had eleven children: Roy; Harley and Charles, twins, Charles dying at the age of twenty years; George, a veterinary surgeon at Atwater, Minnesota ; Winnie, Harry, Allison, Howard, Margaret, Guy and Mary. Roy is in charge of the farm in Ericson township.

Kjirtsen, with his three brothers, Iver, Henry and Thorn, and his four sisters, Veljer, Kjersti, Soneva and Berit, the voyage taking eleven weeks. The family came to Goodhue county, July 4, and made their home there. Here A. T. received his education at the common school and then spent one year at St. Obit's College at Northfield, Minn. In 1873 lie moved to Renville county, where he secured a homestead in section 4, Wang township, when- he has lived ever since. Mr. Ellingboe lias held many positions of public trust. In 1876 he was elected town clerk of Wang, which position he has held ever since. In 1877 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he also has held ever since. In 1878 he became clerk for School District No. 44. In 1880, 1890 and 1910 he was appointed enumerator of the census of Wang, Hawk Creek and Ericson. In 1902 he was elected treasurer of the Hawk Creek Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co., and has held the office ever since. He was postmaster of New Lisbon for eighteen years.

Mr. Ellingboe Avas married Dec. 16, 1876. to Berit E. Lien, daughter of Endre K. Lien and Berit (Gjevre) Lien, natives of Norway, who came from Norway in 1866. Nine children were born to this union, six of whom are living. Thorn, born Oct. 6, 1877, died Sept. 18, 1913. Bertha, bom April 10, 1879, married Gilbert Strand in 1914 and has one child, Bertha Iola Marie. Christine, born Feb. 13, 1881, has been a teacher for ten years. Endre, born June 10, 1S83, is a farmer in section 10, Wang township, and married to Gina Lofsgorden, June, 1912. Iver, born June lo, 1885, is a farmer in section 10, Wang township. Andris A., born Sept. 16, 1887, is a land owner in North Dakota. Clara, born July 16, 1890. is a teacher. Two children died in infancy. Mrs. Ellingboe died Aug. 26, 1895. Mr. Ellingboe was married a second time to Marit G. Gjevre, Aug. 1, 1897. She was a cousin of his first wife, and daughter of Guilder and Gro (Helgeson) Gjevre, natives of Norway, who came to America on the same sbip as tbe parents of his first wife. Three children were born by this marriage: Esther, born in 1898, a student at Madison, Minn.; George, born Sept. 25, 1899, at home on the farm, and Agnes, born Sept. 3, 1901, student at Maynard public schools, Maynard, Minn.

John Gens was born in Germany and there married Caroline Rhofult. They came to America in 1869, the voyage taking thirteen weeks, and landed at New York. Then they traveled on to New Ulm, where they located for a time. Mr. Gens finding work in the lime kiln. In 1871 they came to Renville county and secured a homestead, in section 34 of Emmet township, of 80 acres of prairie land. There were no buildings and no roads. A sod hut was built and money was borrowed to buy a cow and a steer. A piece of a wagon was also obtained and breaking of the land was begun. Mr. Gens gradually prospered so that in time he was the owner of 620 acres and was able to erect new and modern buildings on his farm. Mr. Gens held several township offices, serving on the school board, and helped start the first school. He was also a member of the Lutheran church and held the position of trustee. He also was instrumental in helping build a new church building. Mr. Gens, as noted, was married in Germany to Carolina Rhofult, and one child, Amelia, was born in Germany; Anna was born in New Ulm, and the following in Renville county: Ida, August, John and Henry. Mr. Gens died in 1896 at the age of sixty years and his wife died in 1906 at the age of sixty years.

John H. Gens, a successful farmer of Emmet township, was born Feb. 4, 1873, son of John and Caroline (Rhofult) Gens, natives of Germany. He received his early education in Emmet township schools and lived on the home farm until he was twentysix years of age, when he was married and located on a farm of his own, in section 29, Emmet township. He bought 160 acres and planted trees and erected buildings, as there were no improvements on the place when he came into possession of it. He built a barn, 70 by 48 feet, with a cement basement, and raises full-blooded Durham cattle. He has also added 80 acres more to his farm. Mr. Gens is a stockholder in the Renville Farmers' Elevator. He has also held several township offices, having been supervisor, assessor, road overseer and clerk of the school board. He is also a member of the Luthern church and has held various offices in the church. Nov. 11, 1898, Mr. Gens was married to [da Rachild, born in Emmet township, July 1, 1877, daughter of Albert and Minnie (Britine) Rachild. Eight children were born to these parents, all of whom are living: Alma, Mattie, Esther, Herbert, Louis, Cora, Clarence and Walter.

Paul C. Brevig who, for many years, has taken an active part in the development and progress of Hawk Creek and vicinity, was born in Kalverids, Prestigjeld, North Trondhjims Amt, his boyhood name being Paul Christian Pettersen Brevig. His father was Petter Jacob Loeretsen Brevig and his mother Olava Nelsdatter Brevig. P. C. Brevig was born June 24, 1840, baptized July 26, 1840, and on July 15, 1855, was confirmed by the Rev. John Ludwig Lampe. He attended school and grew to manhood, and on June 17, 1866, was married at Folderieds Kirke, by the Rev. Knute Torkelson, to Anna Sophia Benjaminsdatter. daughter of Benjamin Nielsen Bjoraa and Sophia Berthilsdatter. Anna Sophia Benjaminsdatter was born in the same neighborhood as her husband, Sept. 27, 1847, was baptized Oct. 30, 1847, and was confirmed Aug. 16, 1863, by the same minister who married her. She died May 31, 1909. On May 8, 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Brevig left Norway, determined to seek their fortunes and establish their new home in America. They reached Olmsted county, in this state, July 29, 1867, and there stayed some two years. There their oldest child was born. In May, 1869, they set out with a party of home-seekers from Olmsted county, ami in due time reached Hawk Creek township. Mr. Brevig homesteaded a claim in section 4. and started life as a Minnesota pioneer. There were many privations to endure and hardships to overcome, but with true courage, he and his good wife worked together, and. as the years passed, developed one of the best farms in the community. They raised a large family and gave them a good education, giving them a sound Christian upbringing. It was in 1904 that Mr. Brevig retired from the farm and moved to the village of Sacred Heart, where lit- engaged for a time in the banking business. He is not now actively engaged in business. He has erected a number of houses in Saered Heart, and now lives in a sightly home which he erected some years ago, facing the high school building. For many years. Mr. Brevig occupied a prominent position in the township, having served both as chairman of the town board and as township treasurer. For many years he was director in School District No. 41'. lie was on tin- board of the first Farmers' Club organized in Hawk Creek. He has also been on the boards of the farmers' creamery, mill and warehouse at Sacred Heart. Possibly his most active public work has been done in the church. Early services of the Vestre Sogn congregation were held on his farm, and he helped to organize that congregation. He was on the committee when the church was erected. He has been treasurer of the congregation 44 years. When he became treasurer he also became the "kjerkesanger, " and has since retained that position, now serving in thai capacity in the Norwegian Lutheran church in Sacred Heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Brevig have been Messed with ten children, of whom four arc- dead. Veils Jorgen was born Feb. 10, 1869. and is now cashier of the American Scandinavian Bank at Fargo, North Dakota. He married Mina Melsness. Oluf Leonard was born May 19. Is72. and is pastor of the Norwegian Synod church at Plaza. North Dakota. He married Lena Ellison and has two children: Samuel Bernhof was born Oct. 6. Is74, and is cashier of the State Bank of Baker, North Dakota. He married Thora Larson and has five children. Petra Julia was born April 19, 1876, and is now the wife of Rev. I. B. Kilness. pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod church of Westby, .Montana. They have seven children: Anna Christina was bom Aug. 13. 1*77. and died Aug. 16. 1886. Selma Louise was born July 6. 1879, and died Aug. 12. 1886. Otto was born Feb. 1. 1882, and died Nov. 13, 1S82. Emma Ovida was born Aug. 25, 1883, and died Aug. 6, 1886. Ilanna Maria was born Oct. 26, 1885. and died Feb. 16, 1903. Anna Christina was born Jan. 5. 1888, and is

Paul G. Berg, one of the early settlers of Hawk Creek, was born in Norway, Nov. 23, LS:J2, son of Uulbrand and Anna Berg, farmers for many years in Norwaj-, the former of whom died at the age of forty-four, but the latter of whom lived to the good old age of nearly ninety-three years. Of the four sons and one daughter in the family, three sons and the daughter came to America. Paul Berg attended school in Norway, grew up to farm work, and there married. In 1869 he and his wife and three children made the great venture into the new country. Few people can realize the terrors of that trip. Everything was new and strange, sea voyages aboard sailing vessels in those days were fraught with dangers, the food was poor and scarce, illness broke out, and the poor mother saw two of her children die and sadly watched them silently lowered over the side of the vessel to their last resting place. But the voyage was finally concluded and the family lauded and found their way to St. Peter, where they remained for about a year. Mr. Berg in the meantime working about on farms to pay the $40 which he had borrowed to make the trip. Then he began to save a little and. in 1870, he had enough to hire a man with an ox team to briny him and his family to Hawk Creek township, where he secured a homesteam of eighty acres. This was in the wilderness, and the land was all wild prairie. All the live stock he owned was a cow. which he brought with him. In order to build a cabin, he was compelled to hire a man with a pair of oxen to haul timber from the bottoms. Later he bought a pair of four-year-old oxen, but even then he owned no wagon, and had to do his work under a great handicap. But as times changed he prospered and became one of the substantial men of the community. To his original farm he added fifty acres; he brought all his farm under a high stage of cultivation, and erected a good house and suitable barns. For many years he has carried on general farming in a sueress fill manner. He lias served as treasurer of the school board and has been chairman of the town board. In the affairs of the Hawk Creek Norwegian Lutheran church he has taken an .-special interest, the first services being held in his log cabin and the first baptism being performed there.

Mr. and Mrs. Berg have had eleven children: Christian, Oh-. Anna, Odina, Olaf, Petra, Olaf, Petra, Paul, Hans, and Hannah. Christina was first married to Christian Olson, now deceased, by whom she had six children, of whom there are living: Carrie. Lizzie, Emily and Christian. By her present husband. E. A. Hendrickson, of Roy, Washington, she has had four children. Ruth, Esther and Edgar, living, and Henry (deceased). ()]e lives in Granite Falls, this state. He married Anna Hanson and their children are : Ruth, Huldah, Arthur and Elvin, living, and Harold and an unnamed infant (deceased). Anna married Henry Stensou. of Starbuck, Minn. Their children are: Paul, Melville, Arnold. Herbert, Ruth, Ernest, Ralph, Gladstone, Mildred and Henry, alive: and Herbert and Ruth (deceased). Odena, Anna's twin, died in Norway. Olaf and Petra died on the ocean. Olaf lived in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. He married Minnie Peterson and their children are: Ruth, Paul. George. Ralph and Helen, living, and Roy (deceased). Petra is the wife of Herman Skalbeck, of Sacred Heart. Their children are: Ruth, Arthur, Ililma, Mabel, Roy and Edna. Paul and Hans are dead. Hannah is now the wife of Louis Nelson. They own and conduct the Paul Berg farm in Hawk Creek township-. They have three children, Ruth, Florence and Hazel. In addition to these children, there are five great-grandchildren, Coral Swenson, Norma Swenson, Paul Edward Swenson, Robert Anderson, Geraldine Anderson. There are five great-great-grandchildren, Harold Helgeson (deceased), Arnold Helgeson. Vera Helgeson, Merill Sneezby and Nora Sneezby. Mrs. Paul Berg died in 1913 at the age of seventy-nine years.

Stephen Dusterhoff, a pioneer, was born in Germany in 1850, son (it! .Martin and Tena ( Bruch) Dusterhoff, who brought the family over to the United States in 1S64, coming on a sailing vessel, and spending seven weeks on the water. One of the children died on the ocean. On their arrival they located in Marquette county, Wisconsin, where they bought a farm. Stephen was fourteen years of age when they located in Wisconsin and remained on the farm until he was twenty-one years old. Then he came to Minnesota and located in Wabasha county, where he remained for six years. He then returned to Wisconsin and married and, with his bride, moved to Renville county, locating on a homestead of 80 acres, in Emmet township. There were no buildings on the place and no roads in the neighborhood. He built a small frame building and a clay barn, starting with one horse and one cow. Later he increased his farm by buying 40 acres more in Emmet township and 40 acres in Sacred Heart township, and kept a good grade of stock. Mr. Dusterhoff was a member of the township board for eleven years, being the chah*- man for several years. He was also the township clerk and assessor for three years, and served as a school board member for nine years. He was a member of the Methodist church and a member of the Renville Masonic Lodge No. 195. He died in April. 1903. Mr. Dusterhoff was united in marriage to Mary Ann Griffith, daughter of William and Mary (Roberts) Griffith, and born in Watertown, Wisconsin, Dec. 15, 1850. Her parents came from Wales and located in Watertown, Wisconsin. At first her father worked in a saw mill, then he moved to Marquette county, locating on a tract of land which he cleaned up from trees and woods. He built a log cabin and used an ox team in breaking the laud. Later he and his wife moved to the home of the Dusterhoff's. There were seven children in the family: Alary Ann. William, John, Jennie, Margaret (deceased), Jacob (deceased), and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith both died at the home of their daughter, Mary Ann Dusterhoff, -Mrs. Griffith dying in 1894. at the age of seventy-six and Mr. Griffith, in 1907, at the age of eighty-lour years. Besides a son, William, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dusterhoff had a daughter, Margaret, of Renville.

William Martin Dusterhoff was born Jan. 21, 1880, on his father's homestead, in section 18, Emmet township, son of Stephen and Alary (Griffith) Dusterhoff. As a youth, he attended the district schools and adopted agricultural pursuits as his life work. The home farm consists of 120 acres, on which is carried on general farming and a specialty made of full-blooded Poland- China swine. Mr. Dusterhoff married Rose Noska, born in New Prague, daughter of John and Mary (Wiskochil) Noska, and this union has been blessed with three children, Donald. Helen and Stephen.

Michael Steven Knaresboro, a thrifty farmer of Emmet township, was born in New York City, Oct. 28, 1857, son of Martin and Catherine (Dervin) Knaresboro. natives of Kilkenny, Ireland. He was brought to this state by his parents as an infant and received his early education in Rosemont. When he was about twenty-three years of age he came to Renville county and located on a tract of 160 acres of prairie land, section 33, Emmet township. Here he built a 11 by 16 foot frame building and worked with a span of horses but had no stock. Mr. Knaresboro is a stockholder in the Renville Farmers' Elevator, and is a member of the Catholic church, and assisted in securing a Catholic church at Renville.

Nov. 28, 1885, he was married to Bridget Brannick, born in Kilmaverick county, Canada, April 4, 1860, daughter of Joseph and Anastasia Brannick. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Knaresboro have had three children : One child, a girl, died in infancy. Martin, born Sept. 21, 1887, is married and lives on the home place, and Josephine, born March 4, 1S95, is also at home

Martin Knaresboro, a Minnesota pioneer, was the son of Thomas and Margaret (Fleming) Knaresboro, farmers in Ireland. At the age of seventeen he came to New York City, spending five weeks on the ocean voyage. He began work in New York City as a drayman, but after three years he came to Minnesota, going by way of the St. Lawrence river and up the Mississippi to St. Paul. In the spring of 1858 he bought a tract of 80 acres in Rosemount. Here he built a log house and began breaking up the land with his ox team. He had paid $200 for the 80 acres, which was mostly brush and woodland. He at this time possessed $100 in gold, a cow, a breaking plow, chain and wagon. He erected a straw barn on his farm. Next he moved to Dellwood and secured 80 acres, then he moved to Empire City, in the same county, purchasing 320 acres. Here he built a tine home and lived the remainder of his life. He served on the school board many years and was a member of the Catholic church. He was influential in securing the new Catholic church in that section. Mr. Knaresboro was married to Katherine Dervin, daughter of Michael and Catherine Mulroy, farmers of Ireland. She eame to America when she was sixteen years of age, coming to New York City with an aunt. They were married sixty years ago, in New York City. The following children have been born to these parents: Thomas (deceased), Michael, Margaret, John and Catherine (deceased). Mr. Knaresboro died in 1897 at the age of seventy years, at his home in Empire City, Dakota county, Minnesota.

Joseph Brannick, a pioneer, was the son of Michael and Catherine (Martin) Brannick, of Kilkenny, Ireland, who came to Canada in 1812, and located at Osgood, near Ottawa. He brought his family to Renville county, June 7, 1872, and located in section 36, in Emmet township, on a quarter section of land and built a log house, 16 by 20 feet, his son, Michael, helping his father cut the logs. Joseph Brannick lived on this place until his death in 1880, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife died in 1908, at the age of seventy-five years. During the time that he lived in Renville county lie served several years as a member of the school board. He was a member of the Catholic church and the first meetings were held in his log cabin, until the members eoidd build a church. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brannick: Michael. Canice, John, Mary, Bridget, Joseph, Anna, Johanna, James and Elizabeth. One died at the age of three weeks.

Michael J. Brannick, a prosperous Renville county farmer, was born in Ontario. Canada, July 12. 1856, son of Joseph and Anastasia Brannick, natives of Canada who. when Ik- was in his teens, brought him to Renville county. He received all his early education in Canada and remained on tin- home farm in Renville county until he was twenty-five years old, when lie located in section 28, obtaining 160 acres in Emmet township. Few improvements had been made on this land. Mr. Brannick has erected g 1 buildings, made many improvements and developments, and put the farm into a good condition. He raises thorough-bred Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs ami keeps a good grade of horses. .Mr. Brannick is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Renville. He was married to Bridget Gavin, of Minneapolis. Nov. 16. 1891. daughter of John and

Catherine Haw Icy. who were early settlers of Minnesota, of Irish ancestry. II r. and Mrs. .M . -I. Brannick have had ten children: Anna M., a teacher; Florence Marguerite, a teacher; Johanna, deceased ; Bridget Theresa; Catherine Veronica, deceased; Frances Rose; Elinar Clara; Canice Joseph; Agnes Irene, and one who died in infancy.

John Koldorn was horn in Norway, May 3, 1841, only son of Ole and Beret (Johnsdatter) Koldorn. lie came to America alone in 1868, landed at Quebec, went on to Chicago, and, moving on. spent a short time in Council Bluffs, Iowa; in Wisconsin; in Goodhue county, this state, and finally in Renville county, where he secured a homestead of 80 acres, in section II. Sacred Heart township. It was all wild land, no mails leading past his place. Here he built a log house, 14 by 16 feet, and here his family joined him. When he was in Goodhue county he bought a yoke of oxen, and with these and a worn out wagon anil a cow he began his farming in Renville county. He dug sod and made a sod dugout for a barn. He now owns 280 acres of land and raises a good grade of stock. He has improved the farm and has erected a large ten-room modern house. He has also one of the best orchard farms in the county and hue oak and birch groves. Mr. Koldorn was married in Norway to Ann Croven. Three children were horn: Ole, John and Ingebregt (deceased). His wife died in 1884, at the age of fifty-seven years. In 1886 he married again, this time to Mary Blom, born in Sweden, Oct. 16, 1862, daughter of Peter and Carrie (Anderson) Blom. She came to America in 1885 and was married the next year. Three children have been born to this marriage: Marcus, born March 9, 1889, who died in infancy; Robert, Sept. is. 1890, and Alma, born March 27. 1898.

Arne Haagenson homesteaded a farm in Sacred Heart township, Renville county, in 1876. Be was born in Vaaler Amt. Saaler, Norway, 1818, emigrated to America at the age of 15, and spent some years in steamboat work and driving logs upon the Mississippi river between St. Paul and New Orleans. He later was a sub-contractor in grading the roadbed for the Hastings & Dakota Railway when it was built through Renville county. In 1S77 he was married to Ida Albertine Erickson at Christiania, Dakota county, Minnesota. Mrs. Haagenson was born in Minnesota, her parents. Johanes and Louvisa Erickson, having emigrated from Sweden in 1845 to Rockford, Til., and later in 1S48 settled in Dakota county, coming with the earliest of that nationality that settled in the North Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Haagenson lived upon that homestead all the years through their life, Mrs. Haagenson dying in 1897 and Mr. Haagenson in 1902, and rest in peace in that God's half-acre of the Hauges Lutheran church, which lies just outside of the village of Sacred Heart to the southwest. This young man, this young woman, came out into this then wilderness of the new west and planted a home for themselves. In the happiness of their youth they had their all, like most of the pioneers of that day. They endured the hardships, poverty and adversities which were then common to all. True to the tradition and characteristics of their race they believed in the spiritual and intellectual progress of a community as well as its material advancement ; they helped to build schools and churches and spared no efforts to give the growing generation a better training to meet life's problems. To them nine children were born. Robert (I) dying in his infancy, the others all reaching maturity and occupying places of distinction and responsibility in their respective communities, and all giving testimony to a good father and mother. Alfred, the oldest son, lives at Barnesville, Minn. He is the president and treasurer of the Red River Seed-Produce Co., which operates grain and produce elevators at Barnesville, Baker, and Downer, Minn. He has served his city as alderman, mayor and school director. < 'arl is in the mercantile business at Barnesville. Sina is married to N. A. Oslund at Sacred Heart. John farms in Williams county. North Dakota. Bennie is in the mercantile business at Hamlet, North Dakota. Thilda is married to M. 0. Iverson at Bok, Minn. Olivia lives at Barnesville, and Robert (II) lives at Osceola, Wisconsin.

Peter Bjorn was born in Sweden. April 19, 185-t, son of John Johnson and Mary Peterson. His parents were farmers and charcoal burners. There were seven children in the family: John, Peter, Johoan, Stena, Anna, Erick and Henry. Peter was the only one' of the children who came to the United States, coming in 1880 and landing at New York. He had been an iron worker in Sweden and went to Maine to work in the iron works there. He worked there for about a year and a half and then he went to .Minnesota. At St. Paul he worked on the railroad in the summer and in the winter worked in the pineries. Alter four years of this work he went back to Sweden to visit his parents, remaining there for six months. On his return to the United States he came to Sacred Heart township and. in 1885, he purchased a tract of land of 160 acres. There were some old buildings on the place when he bought it. He had a team, one cow. and a couple of chickens. He has now increased his farm to 200 acres and raises a good grade of stock, and has improved the farm in every way.

Mr. Bjorn has held many township offices, having been the assessor for two years, chairman of the board of supervisors for eight years and a member of the school board. He is also a member of the Swedish church at Sacred Heart, and has been a deacon for many years.

In the fall of 1885 Mr. Bjorn was united in marriage to Eliza Edlund, who was born in Sweden Sept. 27, 1865. Her parents, John Bechman and Christina (Peterson) brought their family to the United States in 1868, locating in Sacred Heart township, section 2. The father died after they had been here two years, leaving his wife with the two children, John and Elizabeth. Mrs. Bechman Inter married Peter Edlund, Mr. and Mrs. Bjorn have had three children, John and Melvin. both at home, and Anna, who died at the age of six. They have also had an adopted child. Christina, who died at the age of twenty-one.

William H. Krueger, furniture dealer and undertaker, of Danube, was born June 25, 1879, in Green Lake county, "Wisconsin, son of William and Caroline (Schwandt I Krueger. The father came to America at an early age, came to Flora township, this county, in 1888, became a very successful farmer, and is nowengaged in the furniture, diygoods and grocery business at Spring Valley, Wis. The children of the family are: Martha, now wife of F. E. Schroeder, of Danube; Henry, now living in North Dakota; William II., of Danube: George, a farmer in Troy township, this county; Ella, now Mrs. James Moghan ; Emma, now Mrs. Otto Hauter, of North Dakota: Esther, now .Mrs. Charles Dobretz, of Spring Valley, Wis.; and Aaron, Irvin and Lillian, who are living with their parents in Spring Valley, Wis.

William H. Krueger was reared in the home (if his parents and attended the neighborhood schools. In 1903 he came to Danube and engaged in the painting and paperhanging business for several years. July 6. 1910. he bought out the furniture business of 'Mil Schmidt, and in 1913 added funeral undertaking and funeral directing. Mr. Krueger is a Republican in politics, and served as village recorder of Danube from 1911 t<> 1912.

Mr. Krueger was married, Dec. J. 1907, to Bertha Hinriehs. of this county, who was born Jan. 19, 1880. daughter of Folkert and Adaline (Carstens) Hinriehs. Mr. and Mrs. Krueger have three children: Sylvia, born June 6. 1909; Etta, born Dee. 24, 1911; and lues, born May 5, 1914. The family faith is that of the Evangelical church.

Folkert Hinriehs was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1839. and came to America at the age of twenty-one years. He came to Renville county in 1867 and settled in Beaver Falls township, where he engaged in farming for ten years. Then he removed to Winfield township and there engaged in farming until 1894 and then retired to Olivia for six years. He next moved to Danube, where he made his home until his death Nov. 12, 1904. He was married at Joliet, 111.. Oct. 28, 1865. to Adaline Carstens, born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1844. She came to America at the age of six vears and is still living at Danube. Thev had the following children: Henry, of this comity: Fredericka, of this county; Louisa, now Mrs. Otto Schmidt, of Danube; Fred, a farmer of this county; Louie, of Danube; and Bertha, now Mrs. W. II. Krueger, of Danube.

Anton 0. Skrukrud was born in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, May 22. 1859, son of Ole and tageborg (Romsaas) Skrukrud. His father was born < >ct. 22, 1827, in Norway and came to America in 1866, going to Rushford, Fillmore county, Minn., where Injoined his brother Knute, who had located on a farm two years before. During the first year he worked with a threshing machine. His family came to America the next year, coming on a sailing vessel, the voyage taking nine weeks and one day. From Quebec they went by boat to Milwaukee and from there on to Rushford. He there bought a tract of 200 acres of land in Pilot Mound township in Fillmore county. He built a log house, bought an ox team and began to improve the hind. It was two years before he could afford a horse team. He also bought a cow for which he paid $2.'>. Here he lived until he retired when he moved to Lanesboro. where he now resides at the age of 88 years. Before retiring he had improved his farm, built good buildings, fenced it well and increased it to 400 acres. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and helped to organize the congregation in his neighborhood. October 23, 1856, he was united in marriage in Norway, to Ingeborg Romsaas, born June 22, 1828. His wife died in Lanesboro at the age of seventy-seven years. There were seven children, five of whom were born in Norway, and the two youngest in Fillmore county. Ole, Anton, Ella. Mathias, Olaf, [ngebret and Mary.

Anton was a small boy when he came to this country and received his early schooling in Fillmore county. In 18S0 he left Fillmore county and came to Renville county, where he secured a tract of school land of 40 acres in section 6. in Erieson township. It was all wild land and he began to work upon it in a small way. with his team and wagon and with $25 in cash. In May, 1883, he took a trip to Canada to investigate conditions in that country. To pay his way he worked on the Canadian-Pacific Railroad near Calgary. The line of road he was on ran from Winnipeg to Calgary. He did not find the country satisfactory to locate his family in so he worked the months of May. June. July and August on the railroad, then returned to his farm in Erieson township, this county. He gradually improved it and increased it until he owned 356 acres. In 1910 he rented this and moved to section 6 in Sacred Heart township, where he is now located. He has built modern buildings and fenced the farm and keeps a good grade of stock. He now owns 160 acres of land in that township and carries on general farming, specializing in the raising of sugar beets.

Mr. Skrukrud has been director of the Farmers' State Bank at Sacred Heart for the past five years and was one of the first to become a stockholder. He is also a director in the Farmers' Elevator at Sacred Heart. For several years he has served as township supervisor and has held other township offices. He having been both treasurer and director. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and for the past three years has been a member of the board of trustees.

On March 12, 1888, Mr. Skrukrud was united in marriage to Anna A. Kolstad, born May 19, 1866, in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. She came to America with her parents in 1867, coming over on the same sailing vessel that the Skrukrud family came on. Her parents were Engebret and Anna (Voldon) Kolstad, who located on a farm in Fillmore county. The father died four years later at the age of thirty-three. His widow married Sven Kolstad, of the same name, and they are still living on their farm near Fountain, both being about seventy-eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Anton 0. Skrukrud have had seven children: Onne Emelia, born July 17, 1889 ; Hot, born April 12, 1891, and dying in infancy; Arthur Hot, born August 16, 1893; Mabel Eleda, born August 26, 1896; Odin Millard, born Sept. 18, 1899; John Alven, born Oct. IS, 1903: and Baldwin Palmer, born July 30, 1905.

Ole Skrukrud, eldest son of Ole and Ingeborg (Romsaas) Skrukrud, and brother of Anton O. Skrukrud was born in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, and came to America with his parents in 1866 and located with them in Fillmore county. In 1879 he came to Renville county and settled on 40 acres of railroad land in section 6, Ericson township. That same fall he returned to Fillmore county and there remained until the spring of 1880, when he returned to his holdings in this county, his brother Anton O. coming with him. They worked together for two years when Ole, on account of ill health, was obliged to give up farming. So he returned to his father's home in Fillmore county, where he died April 9, 1884.