Renville County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (1 of 2 so headed), 1916 (part 7 of 10)

Peter H. Pederson, son of Hans and Britha (Mundahl) Pederson, was born in Norway, April 30, 1865. His father was born July 5, 1837, and came to America in 1870, locating in Fillmore county where he remained for four years. Then he purchased 130 acres of land in section 1, Birch Cooley township, to which he later added 37 acres. Here he lived until his death Nov. 2, 1913. The mother was born Jan. 1, 1836, and died Jan. 25, 1909. They had the following children: Anna, born Dec. 30, 1862, and died Aug. 3, 1911, wife of Christ Johnson, a carpenter of Minneapolis; Peter H. : Sina, born Nov. 6, 1867, and died Nov. 27, 1900, who was married to Rev. A. M. Lunde, a Norwegian Lutheran minister of South Dakota; Lena, born May 12, 1870, who died March 16, 1913, wife of Christian Christenson, a farmer in Idaho; Andrew, born May 12, 1872, a barber in Franklin; Nellie, born Oct. 24, 1874, and died Dec. 31, 1894; Henry, born Dec. 26, 1876, a farmer in Birch Cooley township; and George, born May 31, 1890, and died April 6, 1907. Mr. Pederson began working out on the farms of the county at the age of twenty years and continued in tins work for about fifteen years. Then he operated a threshing machine with his brother Andrew for several years. Next lie purchased the farm where he now lives. He has erected good buildings and has built a silo with a capacity of a hundred tons. He raises Durham and Holstein cattle, Duroc- Jersey and Hampshire hogs and Belgian horses, and owns two registered Holsteins. In addition to his farm he has twenty acres of timber land in Brown county.

Mr. Pederson is a stockholder in the mill, creamery and in the Farmers' Elevator in Franklin. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Franklin.

Michael Murphy, a prosperous farmer in Birch Cooley township, was bom in Dodge county, Wisconsin, Feb. 5, 1869, son of Peter and Margaret (Bagley) Murphy. The father, Peter Murphy, was born in Ireland and came to America at the age of twenty-one years and lived in Canada for five years. Then he lived in Wisconsin five years and came to Renville county in 1869, where he secured a homestead in section 4, Birch Cooley township and remained there until his death in 1898, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife is still living at the age of eighty years in Minneapolis. Michael Murphy worked in a hardware store in Morton from 1894 to 1908. Then he rented the home farm and still lives there. He married Margaret Ryan, born Aug. 4, 1869. Her father, Philip Ryan, is a retired farmer, being born in Ireland and came to America in 1873. He is eighty-four years of age. Her mother, Bridget (Gleason) Ryan, died March 124, 1883. Mr. Murphy and his wife have eight children: Matilda, born March 22, 1894; Francis, born Oct. 21, 1895; Mary, born April 23, 1897; Ralph, born July 21, 1900; Margaret Jessie, born Aug. 13, 1902; Raymond P., born March 28, 1904; Florence C, born Oct. 10, 1907; and Bernard M., born Jan. 20, 1915. Mr. Murphy has been assessor of the township for four years and a member of the school board. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Morton and a member of the Catholic church.

Henry B. Pederson, owner of Breezy Point Stock Farm, was born in Birch Cooley township on section 1, Dec. 26, 1876, son of Hans and Brithe (Mundahl) Pederson. Henry B. remained at home on the farm until 1899 when he purchased 160 acres in sections 2 ami 11, in Birch Cooley township, in company with his brother Andrew. Here he lived until Oct. 7, 1907, when he rented the farm where he now lives. After four years he bought this place of 160 acres in sections 3 and 10, and made many improvements upon it in the years that have passed. He now owns 240 acres and has built a barn, equipped with electric lights, 26 by 74 feet, and a silo with a capacity of 125 tons. In 1914 he also built a feeding shed 24 by 60 feet. He lias a fine seven-room house also equipped with electric lights. The farm and buildings are near the edge of a bluff along the Minnesota river and the land is level and of good soil. Mr. Pederson feeds cattle for the market, shipping about two carloads every year. He has a small herd of Shorthorn cattle and breeds Duroe-Jersey and Hampshire hogs, of which he ships one carload every year. He also raises Mammoth Bronze turkeys, Belgian horses and Letter Back Italian bees. He has thirteen acres which are set aside for the production of alfalfa. Mr. Pederson has been the township treasurer for two years. He is a stockholder in the Mill, Creamery and Farmers' Elevator Company in Franklin. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mi-. Pederson was married July 18, 1901, to Caroline Holter, born Sept. 22, 1878, daughter of Hans Holter, a carpenter of Minneapolis, born in Norway, who came to America in 1861, and Christine Erickson, who died April 7, 1890, at the age of forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Pederson have had the following children : Harold, born Dec. 13, 1902; Bernice, bom Feb. 11, 1905; George, born Dec. 26, 1906; Helen, born Jan. 2, 1909, and died Jan. 13, 1909; Clara, born July 15, 1910; Edward, born May 11, 1912; and Eleanor, born May 11, 1912, and died Sept. 19, 1912.

Samuel H. Smith, proprietor of the "Plainview Stock and drain Farm," was born in Bureau county, Illinois, Aug. 28, 1868, son of William and .Martha (Edwards) Smith. His father was horn in Ireland and engaged in farming in Illinois, dying there in L870 at the age of thirty-eight years. His mother died in 1899 at the age of fifty-two years. Mr. Smith began working out on the farms of the neighbors at the age of twenty-one years and continued for three years. Then he rented farms in Bureau and adjoining counties in Illinois until 1904. when he came to Renville county and rented a farm in Birch Cooley township until 1912. He I hen bought Kid acres in section 28, Birch Cooley township, southeast quarter, where he still lives. II.' has one acre of fruit. Mr. Smith is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company in Franklin. He was married Aug. 12, 1890, to Esther Hubbard, born Dec-. 28, 1872, daughter of Isaac Hubbard, born May 13. 1838, in Ohio, who engaged in farming and is now living with Mr. Smith, and Viranda (Warkins) Hubbard, who died in 1900 at flic age of fifty-six years. Mi-, ami Mrs. Smith have the following children: Alice, born Sept. 24, 1891, married to Herman Bueholz, a farmer in Birch Cooley township; Harold, born .Jan. 1, 1893, a farmer in Birch Cooley township; Claude, born -Inly 14, 1S!)7; Leonard, born Sept. :i. 1902; and Ina. born -Ian. 2:;. 1911. The three youngest children are at home.

Andrew F. Mahowald, successful real estate agent ami leading business man of Morton, was born in Scott county, this state, May 3. 1869, son of Mathew 1'. and Catherine (Schneider) Mahowald. Mathew B. Mahowald was born in Zimmer, Luxembourg, was brought to Scott county in 1855 by his parents, became a prominent farmer and died Oct. 19. 1900. He married Catherine years. It is interesting to note that Mathew P. Mahowald was preceded to this country by his brothers. John and Mathias, stone-masons by trade, who came to St. Paul in 1851, and worked on many of the first stone buildings in that city, some of which are still standing. Andrew F. Mahowald was reared on a farm, and at the age of nineteen worked a year learning the harnessmaking trade with his cousin. N. II. Mahowald. at Lakeville, Minn. Then he worked for another cousin, Anton Mahowald. at Bird Island, for two years, following the same trade. Oct. 21, 1891, he came to Morton ami opened a harness shop. In 1904 he built a brick building on the east side of Main street in block 9. This building was 25 by 65 feet, one story high with a full basement and cost $4,000. He operated this shop until 1908, when he bought a building on the west side of Main street in block 10, known as the Charles Wolter Building. It is 25 by 65 feet, two-story with a full basement, made of solid brick and cost' $5,000. He then removed his shop to this building and is still there, occupying the basement and the first floor of this building with a $4,000 stock and does business to the amount of $10,000 a year. Be is also a dealer in real estate ami does a very good business in local and western lands. He owns 960 acres in Henry - ville and Norfolk townships and also .'520 acres in Alberta, Canada. He also deals in the Overland automobiles in Renville county and does a large business. He lias built a fine borne in Morton, erected in 1897, a 26 by 32 foot frame building, two stories high, with eight rooms and a full basement. It is furnished with hot water heat, running water, electric lights and is entirely modern, costing $4,000. Mr. Mahowald has served on the village council for six years and is a member of the Catholic church in Morton. July 18, 1892, Mr. Mahowald was united in marriage to Catherine Lorge, a milliner of Morgan, Minnesota, born August 15, 1867, daughter of Nicholas ami Catherine (Schons) Lorge. Nicholas Lorge was a well-known farmer of Nicollet county for several years, and later operated a hotel in Fairfax. He and his wife are now living in Morgan. Mr. and .Mrs. .Mahowald have five children: George F., born May 22. 1893, who works in his father's shop; Leo A., born Oct. 31, DO.".; .1. Elsie, born April 25, 189S; Laura B., born Feb. 9, 1903: and Edward born April 20, 1910.

Rudolph Diekmeier, a progressive farmer of Birch Cooley township, was born in Germany, May 10. 1872. His father, Frederick, came to America in 1878 and bought 120 acres in section 15, and 40 acres in section 21. Sherman township in Redwood county, Minnesota, where he lived until his death Dec 27. 191S, at the age of seventy-five years. He held the office of township treasurer for seven years. His wife, Augusta Fixsen. died June 115. 1909. at the age of sixty years. Rudolph Diekmeier remained on the home farm until he was twenty-five years of age. Then he worked out for six years and began farming in 1903. He bought 160 acres in Sherman township. Redwood county, in 1905, in partnership with his brothel's, Herman and Fred. He also bought 126 acres in section 35 in Birch Cooley township,. September, 1909, with the same brothers, and is making his home there now, having been married Sept. 15, 1915, to Anna Christine Jensen. The three brothers now own 486 acres. They have 125 Durham cattle and about 100 hogs. They make a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs and preparing them for the market, shipping about two carloads of cattle and one of, hoes per year. The farms have good buildings. Mr. Diekmeier is a member of the Creamery and Milling Company in Franklin and has served on the Sherman township board for three years. He was also road overseer for three years.

There were the following children in his father's family': John 1)., a farmer of Redwood county; William F., a drayman in Franklin; Rudolph, a farmer and stockraiser of Birch Cooley township ; Otto F., a retired farmer living at Morton ; Matilda, Mrs. William Revier, living on a farm in Sherman township, Redwood county ; Herman, a farmer of Redwood county ; Fred, a fanner of Redwood county; and Rose, Mrs. William Lussenhop, living on a farm in Paxton township, Redwood county.

Daniel J. McCartan, a prominent dentist of Morton, was born March 25, 1878, in Columbia county, Wisconsin. His father, John McCartan, ageil sixty-five, is a retired farmer living at Portage, Wisconsin. His mother, Harriett (Hagan) McCartan, died in 1911 at the age of fifty-five. Dr. McCartan graduated from the Poynette High school in 1898 and from the Normal department of Story's Business College at Portage, Wisconsin, in 1899. During the next two years he taught school, one year in Columbia county, and one year as principal at Brownsdale, Minnesota. He also spent one year selling school supplies for the National Publishing Company. Thereupon he attended the Chicago College of Dental Surgery and graduated from that college in 1905. He located at Morton June, 1905, and has built up a very fine practice. At present he has offices both in Morton and in Franklin. At the Dental College Dr. McCartan was a member of the Psi Omega Fraternity. He is a member of three dental societies and also a member of the C. 0. F. and the Knights of Columbus, of which he is Chancellor, at Fairfax. Dr. McCartan has been the village recorder for four years and is at present the clerk of the school board. Nov. 24, 1909, he was married to Mary Kennedy who was born Sept. 29, 1889. She is the daughter of John Kennedy, a groceryman in St. Paul, and Bridget (Glenn) Kennedy. They have two children, John I)., born Sept. 15, 1910, and Mary H, born Nov. 12. 1911.

Martin Siegfried, a prominent farmer of Birch Cooley township, was born in Winona, Minnesota, Nov. 9. 1870, son of John and Mary (Tice) Siegfried. John Siegfried was born in Luxemburg and came to America in 1862, remaining in Winona until 1878, when he became a farmer and purchased 160 acres in the southeast quarter of section 10 in Birch Cooley township at $6.50 per acre. He remained there until his death. His wife is still living at Bird Island at the age of sixty-eight years. Martin Siegfried remained at home until he was twenty-nine years of age. Then he rented a farm for four years. Next he bought 80 acres and his father gave him 60 acres adjoining in section 15, Birch Cooley township, where he is now. He raises Durham cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs and has one acre of fruit land. He has held township offices, having been township clerk for two years and assessor two years. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus at Fairfax and is a member of the Catholic church. He is also director of the Citizens' Bank at Franklin and a stockholder of the Farmers' Elevator and the mill and creamerv in

Franklin. Mr. Siegfried was married June 20, 1899, to Barbara Kirehen, born Feb. 26, 1874, daughter of Matthew and Grace (Wadenspaner) Kirehen. Mr. Kirehen was a pioneer farmer of Norfolk township and died Jan. 26, 1914, at the age of eightyfour years and his wife is still living at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Siegfried have five children : Elizabeth, born July 29, 1900; Grace, born July 10, 1902; Matthew, born March 6, 1904; Bernard, born Dec. 26, 1906; and Margaret, born Feb. 9, 1908.

Fred P. Galle, a substantial citizen of Morton, was born in Brown county, Minnesota, Nov. 23, 1886, son of Phillip H. and .Marie (Gruber) Galle. His parents came from Germany in 1882 and settled in this county, the father dying in 1906 at the age of fifty. The mother now lives in Morton. Fred P. Galle clerked in a store in Morgan for five years, then he bought the restaurant of II. C. Quehl in Morton in company with his brother Henry. At present he is a manufacturer of ice cream. Mr. Galle is the village clerk of Morton and is a member of the German Lutheran church. April 24, 1913, Mr. Galle was united in marriage to Mable Wessell, born July 28, 1890, daughter of R. ('. and Wilhelmina (Henning) Wessell. Mr. Wessell operates a hardware store in Morgan.

Peter Keaveny, deceased, was born Dec. 1829, in County Mayo, Ireland, and died June 8, 1913. His father, Peter Keaveny, died in Lowell, Wisconsin, July 1873, and his mother, Margaret (Horan) Keaveny died in Lowell, February, 1873. Peter Keaveny, the father, came to America in 1849 and came to Renville count}' in 1879. He purchased 160 acres in section 20, Birch Cooley township, where he lived until his death. He served for a time on the township board. Mr. Keaveny was married June 27, 1869, to Johanna Fleming, born Oct. 3, 1849, in Worcester, Massachusetts, and died on the home farm July 27, 1906. Eleven children were born to these parents : Peter, born May 6, 1870, a farmer near Hannah, North Dakota, married to Rose Johnson and has six boys and two girls ; James, born Feb. 7, 1872, a farmer near Bemidji, Minnesota, married to Mary Murphy, who died May 16, 1911, and has one daughter, Johanna Cecelia, born Dec. 1. 1909 ; Margaret, born March 29, 1874, at home ; Mary, born July 7, 1876, married Nicholas Lanigan, a railroad man of Tacoma, Washington, having two daughters and one son ; Patrick F., born Oct. 22, 1878, at home; Anna, born Feb. 14, 1881, married to Michael Murphy, a farmer of Norfolk township, and have two boys and one girl living and one girl dead ; Johanna, born July 21, 1883, a dressmaker, at home; Catherine, born Dec. 5, 1885, a teacher in Renville county ; John, born Dec. 1, 1887, at home ; Ellen, born March 25, 1890, a teacher; Elizabeth, born Aug. 27, 1892, a student at Mankato State Normal school. Margaret, Pat- rick and John now own and operate the home farm. They are famous as well-known potato raisers, having fifteen acres of that vegetable in 1915. The family are all members of the Catholic church at Morton.

John I. Johnson is one of the leading citizens of the county. He is widely known and has had his part in public life for many years. Now, after successfully farming in Wang township for many years he has retired to Sacred Heart village, where he has erected a pleasant home and where he plans to spend the remainder of his days. He was born in Sweden, Oct. 7, 1845, son of Isaac and Ella (Anderson) Johnson, both natives of that country. The father was born in 1812, in his latter years came to America and spent five years with his son, John I. Johnson, in Wang township, this county, but later returned to Sweden and died in 1898. The mother was born in 1829 and died in 1899. In the family there were five children. Christine, Hannah and John I and two who died in their infancy. Christine came to the United States with her brother John and his wife in 1868. They landed at New York and traveled on to Minnesota, locating in Carver county where Mr. Johnson worked for the farmers wherever he could get work. The second year in America was spent in Minneapolis, working there in the lumber yards. In 1870 he worked on the farms around Hopkins. His wife died and in 1871 he secured a homestead in section 24 in Wang township. That same fall he drove up from Hopkins with an ox team. During the summer he had hired three or four acres of land to be broken. During the first winter he lived with A. H. Weflen, a neighbor, as he had not had time to erect any buildings on his farm. The next spring he went back to Hopkins and worked on the farms again to earn more money to start over again. Late in the fall he bought an old team of horses and an old wagon and drove back to his homestead. That winter he lived in a cellar dug on the homestead. It was 14 by 16 feet and lay on the north side of his homestead. During this winter he hauled wood, fence rails and so on and in the spring began to improve the homestead. For many years he lived alone. He built a small frame house which is now a part of the modern home erected since. During those early days he often ground the wheat in the coffee mill and many a time had to carry a sack of wheat on his back to the feed mill to be ground because the snow was so deep that the oxen could not wade through it.

Mr. Johnson has many interesting stories to tell of the early days and its hardships and privations as well as its joys. During the first winter on the farm he lost his oxen by freezing. He and his partner, Isaac Olsen, were near the Minnesota river after a load of wood when a snow storm came up which gradually became worse. They drove through the storm all afternoon and night and about 2 o'clock in the morning abandoned the oxen ami walked. They afterwards found out that they were only three and a half miles from home but they could not find their way in the storm and became lost. Finally at two o'clock in the morning, a short time after leaving the oxen, they stumbled upon a stable owned by John Penlow. This was four miles from where they lost their bearings. They still were so frozen and bewildered that they could not find the house and remained in the barn until daylight when they went to the house. Mr. Fenlow took them in and gave them all the assistance he was able. .Mr. Johnson was very much overcome by the exposure and was put to bed. He slept steadily till the next morning, and was then in a very weak condition. He had frozen his hands and feet and after coming to his own home was sick for a month.

.Mr. Johnson has held several township offices, and has been the assessor and is now the present township treasurer. He has also held several county offices, having been county commissioner for one term, thirty years ago. ami also serving one term during the county seat removal. He has served as the clerk of the school board for several years. He is a deacon of the Swedish Lutheran church.

Mr. .Johnson was married in Sweden to Hannah Torkelson. She died in Minneapolis at the age of twenty-seven, leaving one boy. Andrew, now in North Dakota. In 189o he was united in marriage to Charlotte Jacobson who was born in Sweden and came with her parents to Minnesota. Her father was Adolph Jacobson who settled on a homestead in Hawk Creek township. There were five children by this second marriage: Albert and Carl, who were twins and who died in infancy, Hannah, Alfred and Joseph. Joseph is a student in the University of Minnesota.

Patrick O'Brien, pioneer, veteran of the Civil war and Sioux Indian campaign, is one of the prominent men of the county, and his stories of the early days are of greatest interest. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, July 12. Is4.">. son of Stephen and Julia (Conway) O'Brien, grandson of Daniel O'Brien of Dunball, and great-grandson of an Irish hero who fought with the Irish troops in France and later came to Louisiana in this country where he died. Stephen O'Brien, born in 1800, was one of the four children, the others being James. John and Patrick. Stephen was the only one of the family to leave Ireland. He boarded the sailing vessel "Washington" with his family, in 1858, and after a voyage of eight weeks landed at the port of New York. From there he came to Rice county. ^Minnesota, coming from Reed's Landing to St. Paul by steamboat and from there to Shieldsville by ox team. Here he built a house of logs on the small farm and worked for the neighboring farmers until his death in 1862. He was a member of the Catholic church. He was married in

Ireland to Julia Conway, there being the following children: Daniel. .lames, John and Patrick. By a second marriage, to Margaret Roach, there were tlie following children: Eliza, Thomas, Mary, Ella and Catherine. His second wife married again, after his death, to John Fitzgerald, a native of Ireland, and a farmer of Rice county, to whom were born Nora and William.

Shortly after their arrival to Rice county Patrick O'Brien, then only thirteen years old, started to work for the farmers in the neighborhood. In August, 1862, the Indian hostilities began and he and his brothers, Dan and John, joined the army, enlisting at Fort Snelling with Company II, Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Patrick fought the Indians under Gen. H. H. Sibley and then was sent south to St. Louis, Missouri, and took part in the battles in Tennessee and other important engagements. While under General Sibley he was one of the guards on duty at the time of the execution of the thirty-eight Indians at New Ulm. The Tenth Minnesota was mustered out Aug. 19, 1865, at Fort Snelling. After his discharge Mr. O'Brien located in Dakota county, this state. Then he went to Desha county, Arkansas, where he became manager on a cotton plantation. In 1869 he went back to Dakota county, and engaged in farming in Vermillion township, obtaining a farm of 80 acres where he remained until 1878. Then he moved to Renville county and located on a tract of 160 acres of wild land in sections 5 and 9, in Flora township. In developing the place he erected his home on section 5, but when this home was burned he erected his next residence on section 9. Mr. O'Brien is a lover of trees and his work in setting out trees in Renville county will long be remembered. In all he has set out some twenty-two acres of trees, including some 1,000 plum, apple and cherry trees. Around his 160 acres In- set the trees to be a land mark and a guide to travelers in snow storms, during which terrible storms in the early days people for want of some mark to guide them, often perished only a few rods from shelter and warmth. Mr. O'Brien with shrewdness, intelligence and energy increased his holdings to 828 acres. For many years he carried on general farming, including the raising of a good grade of stock. In 1904 he retired and moved to Renville where he is one of the prominent citizens. On his place here he has also set out many trees and made it a beauty spot indeed.

Mr. O'Brien helped organize the school district No. 97 and was an officer of this district from the time it was organized in 1875 until he moved to Renville. The schoolhouse was built in 1876. Before this Catholic services had been held in private homes. After the schoolhouse was erected, services were held there, the work being conducted under the name of the Emmet Mission. Father Elhorst. Father Flemming, Father Briody and

Father O'Connor were early priests. Mr. O'Brien lias held the position of township supervisor and is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company and was formerly one of the directors.

Mr. O'Brien was married Aug. 3, 1874, at Shieldsville, Minnesota, to Catherine Hanlon, a native of Iowa, born March 2, 1854, daughter of Patrick and Mary Ann (Burns) Hanlon. Her parents were located near Dubuque, Iowa. In 1853 they came to Rice county, Minn., being pioneers of that county, having come there with General Shields. Mr. Hanlon operated a hotel in Shieldsville and also owned some farm land. Mrs. O'Brien died Feb. 22, 1907. Ten children were born to these parents: Julia, born Sept. 23, 1875, and died March 7. 1888; Stephen, born Sept. 10, 1877; Mary Ann, born June 3, 1879; Ellen, born April 22, 1881; Margaret, born Sept. 26, 1883; Josephine, born Dec. 28, 1888, and died Feb. 18, 1889; John, born Dec. 27, 1889, and died Aug. 9, 1890; Catherine, born May 22, 1893: Patrick, born May 3, 1897; and Emery, born Feb. 10, 1900.

Anton Haubrich, one of the prosperous farmers of Flora township, was born in Germany, near the River Rhine, Nov. 23, 1850, son of Peter and Mary (Schneider) Haubrich. His parents were farmers and came to the United States in 1862 with their family of six boys, Fred, Peter, Anton, John, Joseph and Henry. Joseph and Henry both died soon after coming to Minnesota. They were on the ocean forty-six days and landed at the port of New York. From there they traveled to Minnesota where they settled on a farm, in Le Sueur county, of 200 acres, and lived in a log cabin. Here was born a daughter, Mary, who is now Mrs. John De Gonda, of Olivia. They had a rude straw barn and began farming with an ox team. Next they moved to Nicollet county and then in 1877 they moved to Renville county, locating on section 1, in the township of Flora, on a tract of 80 acres of wild prairie land. Here they built a little frame house and began improving the land. They finally secured 240 acres of land and built modern buildings. Mr. Haubrich died in 1895 at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife died in 1880 at the age of fifty-six years. Anton Haubrich began farming on his own place in section 12, Flora township, in 1879. He built a small frame house, 14 by 18 feet with a lean-to, ten feet wide, all of which is still standing. The farm was all wild prairie land. When he began he had only a team of mules, later he bought a cow and built a straw shed. He started with 80 acres and there was not a fence post nor piece of timber on the farm. He has lived there ever since and has added more acres so that now he owns a half section of well improved land and has built modern buildings, including a large barn, 42 by 64 feet and a fine eight-room house. He raises good stock and spe- cializes in Shorthorn cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Belgian horses. Mr. Haubrieh was married in 1875 to Mary Wiessenriether, born in Le Sueur county, May 31, 1856, daughter of Joe Wiessenriether, a native of Germany, who came to .Minnesota, in 1S55, and was one of the pioneers of Le Sueur county. Mrs. Haubrieh died at the age of forty-seven years, Oct. 12, 1903. The following children were born to this union: Anna, Elizabeth, Rose (deceased). Mary, John (deceased), Anthony Y.. Joseph, Paul, Lenora, Clara, who is a teacher, Verona and Jennie. Anna is now Mrs. Gustave Zaske of Troy township and has six children: Susan, Viola, Leona, Theodore. Minnie and Donald. Elizabeth is the widow of Louis Brugman and has two children, Albert and Rose Marie. Rose, now deceased, was the wife of Anthony Brugman, and Anthony V. is married and living in Norfolk township. The rest of the children are at home.

Peter Peterson Kronlokken, deceased, was born in Norway, Aug. 26, 1851, son of Peter and Martha, who lived and died in Norway. There were eight children in the family : Andrew, Nels. Peter, Dorthea, Ellen. Lars and two who died in infancy. All except Lars and Ellen came to America. Peter left Norway in 1866, coming with his brother Andrew who. is now in Iowa. They came to Iowa and worked at the shoemaker trade. Peter went to Renville comity in 1871, made his home in the dugout of David Benson and worked as shoemaker among the neighbors. His old bench and tools are still in the family. Later he located a homestead in section 8. in Emmet township, obtaining a tract of 80 acres, part of which was under water. He dug a cellar, 12 by 14 feet, placed a few logs over the top and covered them with sod. He had a team of horses and after two years he bought a cow. After living in the dugout for seven years he built a modern frame house. He also improved the farm and increased it to 600 acres.

Mr. Kronlokken held several township offices. He was a member of the school board. He was one of the organizers of the first flour mill and held an office in the organization. He also helped organize the first creamery and was the general manager. He was the ((resident and manager of the second creamery until it burned. He was one of the members of the Farmers' Cooperative Elevator Company and held the position of president and director and also helped toward the building of the present fine structure. He was also instrumental in securing a good railroad grade. lie was one of the first directors of the Security State Bank of Renville and one of the organizers and contractors who built the First Norwegian Lutheran church at Renville, which was later destroyed by a cyclone. He also helped build the present church building and has held several offices of the church. He died in 1910.

Mr. Kronlokken was married to Carrie Leite, born April 10, 1856, in Norway. At the age of seven her parents, Knute and Gunhild Leite, brought her to America, coming to Goodhue county, Minnesota. In 1S7L' they located in Renville county. Sacred Heart township, section 2. Here he built a house which was one of the best at that time. This house was later used as a schoolhouse and among the teachers who taught there -was David Benson. .Mr. Leite sold his farm and moved to Brookings county. South Dakota, where lie became a large land owner. Mr. and Mrs. Kronlokken have had ten children. Martha, now Mrs. Xels Engen, living on a farm in Ericson township, and has three children, Agnes, Elmer and an unnamed infant; Carl A., who is township ; Clara, now Mrs. Ole Johnson of Ericson township ; Lars, who is on the old homestead and married Marie Hagen of Lily, .South Dakota; Knute, a farmer of Crooks township; John, a farmer of Crooks township; Caroline, telephone operator for the Northwestern Telephone Co. and lives with her mother; Elmer, on the homestead with Lars; and Lillian at home attending school. Mrs. Kronlokken remained on the old homestead until the fall of 1915 when she moved to the city of Renville where she now resides.

Carl Alfred Kronlokken, son of Peter Kronlokken, was born Feb. 11, 1878, in Emmet township, lie remained on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age and then went to the Dakotas where he worked for a short time for an uncle. Then he returned to the farm in Renville county. After a year he. went to Willmar and took up a business course in the Willmar Seminary. Then he secured a homestead in Ward counts-. North Dakota, which he proved up and then sold, returning to Renville county where he began telephone construction work. He was en.- of the first contract workers in this line in the section. Then he went to Lyon county and built the first system out of Mimieota. Next he went to Chicago for the Municipal Engineering & Contracting Co. and traveled for that company for three years. Then he came to St. Paid and worked for the St. Paul Ditcher & Carrier Co. for two years. In 1910 he returned to Renville and took charge of his father's affairs after his death. In 1911 he engaged in the automobile and garage business at Renville, building a reinforced fireproof building, buying the site of the old American Hotel. The first well which was duo- in the city of Renville is on this site and is used by the garage. He has a livery and does general repairing.

Mr. Kronlokken is on the committee of the Publicity Club, a member of the Commercial Club and a member of the Fire Department. He is also a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

June 24, 1914, Mr. Kronlokken was married to Dagny Anderson, daughter of Lars Anderson, a pioneer of Belgrade, Stearns county, Minnesota. They have one child, Cecelia Dagmar, born April 4, 1915.

Hans Christian Wein was born in Als Svendstrup, a Danish possession, May 20, 1841, son of John P. and Anna Prederieka (Klausen) Wein, who were workers in wooden ware. There were seven children in the family: John. Clause, Ellen (deceased), Anna, Hans, George and Peter. In 1881, after his wife's death, John P. Wein came to the United States with his daughter Anna, who was Mrs. Jesse Bonde, and located in Sacred Heart township. Hans C. came during the same year and George came later. The sisters remained in Europe. Hans C. grew up in his native village and became a sailor. For many years he sailed the seas, touching nearly every port in the world and spent four years in China. In 1881 he located on a tract of 80 acres in Sacred Heart township where he built a small house of one room, 12 by 15 feet. He also bought a team of horses and two cows. The first year he broke up only a small part of his farm, about fifteen acres, and set to work putting in a crop. As time passed he became prosperous, made improvements on his farm and increased it to 200 acres.

Mr. Wein was married in Europe to Ellen Jensen, who was born in 1850 and died five weeks after coming to Renville county. There were four children by this marriage : Hans J., who is now a pastor of a church at Caledonia, Houston county, Minn.; John, Anna and Christine. In 1882 Mr. Wein married Marie Thompson, born in Felstar, Germany, May 10, 1843, daughter of John and Catherine (Clausen) Thompson, the former of whom was a fisherman, both of whom are now dead. There were six children in the family: Chris, Marie, Matthew, Tena, Catherine and John. John was the first to come to America, < 'atherine came in 1881 and Tena came later. The rest of the family remained in Europe, By this second marriage there were four children: Ellen. Chris., and one who died, who were triplets, and Marie (deceased).

Joseph Kienholz, prominent farmer and breeder of Melville township, was born in Araboy, Blue Earth county, this state, Aug. 31, 1876, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Baumgardner ) Kienholz. The father was born in Switzerland, Oct. 17, 1843, came with his parents to America at the age of seven, lived in Red Wing, this state, until twenty-three years old, married, and then took 160 acres in Amboy township, Blue Earth county, where he died Dec. 28, 1909. The mother was born in Switzerland, May 4, 1S49, came to America at the age of twelve and still lives in Amboy. Joseph Kienholz was reared on the home farm, was educated in the neighborhood schools, and remained with his parents until 1901. when he purchased 160 acres in the southeast quarter of section 4, Melville township, where he still resides. He has built up a splendid place, and made a specialty of swine breeding, shipping some ninety Ouroc-Jerseys each year. He has been constable two years and clerk of the school board for six years.

Mr. Kienholz was married Dec. 18, 1901, to Martha Fraze, who was born in Germany, Uee. 11, 1886, the daughter of Adolph and Louise (Peters) Fraze. Her father was born in Germany, Feb. 19, 1855, was married Oct. 15, 1880, came to America in 1887, and located in Ransom, La Salle county, Illinois, where he and his wife now live. Mr. anil Mrs. Kienholz have two children : Clarence, born Oct. 9, 1905, and Irwin, born Dec. 19, 1910. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Ole Shoberg, an industrious farmer of Sacred Heart township, was born in Sweden, April 15, 1866, son of Erick Sundquist and Christine Olson. His parents were married in Sweden and came to America in 1869, landing at Quebec. They went to St. Peter, Minnesota, where the father obtained work on the railroad. They had lost their luggage on the way and had no money. The father was a carpenter by trade, but was willing to do whatever work he could find in order to earn something for food and clothing. In the fall the family moved to Renville county and during the first winter stayed with P. B. Olson. The mother and youngest children rode in the wagon of a neighbor but, the rest of the family walked. St. Peter is aboiit 100 miles from Renville county. They also brought with them their cow. At first they lived in a rude dugout but later the father built a better log house, lint died before it could be shingled so it stood there for twenty years with a sod roof. This homestead was located in section 34, Sacred Heart township, being a tract of SO acres. They also owned a team of oxen but lost one when Mr. Sindquist was hauling wheat to Willmar, the animal breaking its leg, which meant quite a loss in those days. Mr. Sundquist was a member of the Lutheran church. He was married Aug. 12, 1843, to Christina Olson. There were four children: Ole. Peter, .John and Tilda. Mr. Sundquist died in 1875 at the age of forty-two years. His wife was married again, to Andrew Shoberg. Two children were born to this marriage, Frank and Anna. Mrs. Shoberg is still living at the age of seventy-two years but the step-father is dead. Ole Shoberg grew to manhood in Sacred Heart township and learned the trade of stone mason. He also became a thresher and since 1891 lias been in farm work for twenty-one seasons. He farms the old homestead and also works upon his own farm of 80 acres across the road. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and is not married.

Anthony Sanger, deceased, was born in Germany, and came with his father to the United States when he was about eleven years of age. The rest of the family followed, first locating in Wisconsin and later traveling to Minnesota by ox team, settling at Mankato. Here he grew to manhood. He enlisted in Company 11, Sixth Minnesota, in 1862, and was assigned to military service, taking part in the tight against the Indians at Birch Cooley, in August, 1862. In 1865 he was mustered out of service and returned to .Mankato. Mr. Sanger came to Renville county in 1877. He was a carpenter by trade and built the first high school building in the county under the direction of X. G. Poore, of Bird Island, and helped on other buildings. He located on a homestead in section 34, Bird Island township, securing 80 acres on tlie old Beaver Palls mail route. It was all wild prairie land. He built a small frame house and worked with one ox team. Captain King, a noted character ot those days, was his neighbor.

Air. Sanger served on the township board and on the school board. Hi- was one of those who assisted in getting a school started in this locality. He also .was a member of the Catholic church and helped build it. Air. Sanger was married to Susan Kritz, born in Germany. She came to the United States with her first husband, locating in Minnesota. Four children were born: Charles, Carrie, .Mike and Stephen. Mr. Sanger died May 5, 1891, at the age ot forty-nine and his wife died Sept. 14, 1900, at the age of eighty-one years.

Michael Sanger was born Dee. lis, 1S7L\ and came to Renville county with the family as a smalhboy. He received his early education in Bird Island and then took up farming on the home place, he and his brother, Stephen, buying the homestead and the 160- acre tract, the old Captain King place. Mr. Sanger is the present treasurer of Bird Island township and has been on the school board for six years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and also a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Sanger was united in marriage to Margaret Thomas, who was born in Holland, daughter of Simon Thomas, who brought his family from Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Bird Island township, Renville county. The following children were born to these parents: Clarence, Sylvester, Viola, Gregory, Sophiana, Geraldine and Dorothy.

Martin Nordby, a very successful farmer of Camp township, was born in Norway. .Inly 5, 1858, son of Christian Nelson, a railroad man in Norway, who died in 1912, at the age of eightyone years, and his wife, Sarena (Olson) Nelson, who died in 1898, at the age of seventy-two years. Martin Nordby, who took the name of the farm, came to America in 1880, and woi'ked out until 1892. He now owns a very hue farm in Camp township, section 14, of 240 acres, and has improved it and built a good substantial barn and silo. He specializes in Holstein cattle. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company. Creamery and Cooperative store in Fairfax. He is also a member of the Society of Equity and of the Hauge's Norwegian Lutheran church, duly

York

David Benson is one of the leading citizens of Renville county. He attained prominence soon after his arrival and lie is nowknown the length and breadth of the eounty. He is broadminded, public-spirited, and id' kindly temperament, one who keeps thoroughly informed on current events and one who is intimately in touch with the currents of modern life. His appearance in any home in the county is hailed with delight, and especially among the pioneers of the western part of the county a visit from him is something to be highly appreciated and long remembered. Whether as pioneer, citizen, friend, office holder or law maker, he has demonstrated the same sterling worth. His life and influence have left their impress on the county's history and he is now regarded as one of the county's most useful citizens. After many strenuous years of hard work he is now living a retired life in Renville, where he is thoroughly appreciated at his true worth. In the making of this history he has had an important part, and much of its completeness in regard to the western part of the county is due to his untiring and devoted efforts. Something over a hundred years ago, David Anderson was born in the vicinity of Trondhjem, in Norway. His ancestors were sea-faring people, and he naturally, became a navigator. In following this occupation he met with many thrilling adventures. During a North Sea raid of the British men-of-war in 1812, his ship was taken, and was subsequently held for about a year before being released. This David Anderson took up his home on the island of Hedsel. There were reared his five children: Jacob, Martin, Anna, Dorethea and Ingeborg. His wife's name was Dorthea Oleson.

In the same neighborhood there lived Lars Gabrielson and his good wife. Ingeborg, and their three children. Bendick and John (twins) and Ole. Bendick married Ingeborg Anderson, daughter of David Anderson. She died about 1857, leaving six children : Lars, Sophia, David, Ole, Jacob and Martin. Later Bendick married Sophia Swenson, and by this union had one child, Ingeborg. He died in 1902 at the advanced age of 100 years, longevity being a characteristic of the family. In fact the ancestry on both sides is a long, unbroken line of sturdy men and women, widely known for their strength of body and character, their hospitality, and their devotion to the church. To this family on August 23, 1841, was born in Nordland, Norway, David Benson, a son of Bendiek Larson and tngeborg Davidsdatter, and grandson of Lars Gabrielson and Ingeborg Gabrielson, and David Anderson and Dorthea Oleson. He was reared in his native land, received a good education and had the advantages incident upon attendance at the agricultural college in his neighborhood for three j'ears. It was in 1867 that he set his face toward the new world. After arriving at Liverpool, he crossed the ocean to Quebec, found his way to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and from there reached Rochester, Minnesota, where he secured employment in doing clerical work and farming. At about this time, northern people were being urged to go south and raise cotton. Cotton was bringing a good price in the markets and it was represented that fortunes were to be made from a single season's crop. So in 1869, David Benson, with two friends, pooled their funds, and with the $1,000 thus secured, started for the South. But after various experiences their money was gone and there was no cotton fortune in sight. So they had to work their way back. . In Chicago, David Benson worked in the shops of the Northwestern Railway long enough to earn his fare back to Minnesota. Here penniless he started in again to carve his fortune. At Dodge county, Minnesota, he married, and in 1870 came with his bride with an ox team and covered wagon to Renville township and located on section 6, Emmet township, on a piece of wild prairie land. For a time he lived in the wagon in which he had come. His first activity was to cut enough hay for the six head of cattle he had brought with him. Later he devoted his attention to constructing a rude dugout, roofed over with slough grass and sod. In this the family lived until the frame house was erected. During the first two autumns, Mr. Benson worked in the harvest fields at St. Peter in order to earn a little ready cash, walking the entire distance each way. In time, he added eighty acres to the original homestead. He erected suitable buildings, and successfully carried on general farming for sonic twenty-two years. He and his good wife underwent all the privations of pioneer life and had an important part in the upbuilding of the community. From 1882 to 1886 he was in the railroad mail service. In 1890 he moved to Renville where he now lives. Mr. Benson's public activities have been numerous. In 1873, 1874, 1875 and 1877 he sat in the lower house of the Minnesota legislature, being elected on the Democratic ticket. At the session of 1873 he obtained an appropriation for the Hawk Creek bridge to the amount of $1,000, and in the session of 1874 he obtained an appropriation of $600 for the Henry ville bridge. Among other bills which he introduced was one prohibiting a county attorney from being elected a justice of the peace. For a number of years he was assessor of Emmet township. From the time of its organization until his removal to Renville he was a director of school district 33. In 1880, 1890, 1895, 1905 and 1910 he was census enumerator for his district. For twenty years he has been a justice of the peace Fraternally he is a member of the I. 0. O. F. Mr. Benson was married September 16, 1870, to Carrie Knuteson, born August 29, 1851, daughter of Knute Akselson and Carrie Knuteson. This union has been blessed with eight children: Bell, Benjamin, Louisa, Clara, Mary, Anna, Emma and Dinah. Bell is the wife of Dr. Edward Mark Clay, of Renville. Benjamin is in business in Minneapolis. The rest are school teachers. Mrs. Benson's maternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Knute Knutson. After the death of her father, they brought her and her mother to America, but soon after their arrival the mother died at Quebec, and the present Mrs. Benson and her grandparents continued the journey to Wisconsin. There the grandmother died, and the grandfather moved to Iowa, two years later moving to Adams, Minnesota, and in 1863 moved to Rockdale. Olmsted county, also in this state, where he died at the age of ninety-five years.

Benjamin F. Benson, of the Benson-Newhouse-Stabeck Grain Commission Co., Room 809, Chamber of Commerce Building, Minneapolis, is one of the Renville county boys, born of Renville county pioneers, who have gone but in the world, far from their native county, and won for themselves a place in the world's activities. He was born on the homestead in Emmet township, son of the Hon. David Benson, and his good wife, Carrie Benson. He attended the old log schoolhouse with whose interesting history his father was so intimately connected, and later studied in the public schools of Renville. It was in 1895 that he left home and started out for himself as collection man in the law firm of Loekerby & Cady, at Forman, North Dakota. Subsequently he returned to Renville, and was employed in the collection department of the first National Bank as well as in the store of J. H. Dale & Co. In 189S, when patriotic fervor was stirring so many of the youths of the land, he elisted as a private in Co. H, 14th Minn. Vol. Inf. He was sent with his regiment first to Chickamauga, then to Knoxville, Tennessee, and then back to St. Paul, being promoted successively to corporal and sergeant. For a time he continued his former employment at Renville. In 1899 he was appointed by Gov. John Lind as deputy grain inspector, and thereupon moved to Minneapolis. Some two years later he went on the road traveling for various grain commission firms. For a time he was associated with the "Way, Johnson, Lee Co., grain commission merchants of Minneapolis ; later the Loomis-Benson Co. was formed with Mr. Benson as vice-president, and later the Gold-Stabeck Loan and Credit Co. bought out the Loomis inter- ests and the firm became the Benson-Newhouse-Stabeck Grain Commission Co. Of this concern, which is one of the leading grain commission concerns of the Northwest, Mr. Benson is still the vice-president. The company has branch offices in Dnluth, Winnipeg and Chicago, and does a tremendous business. When the (irain Commission Merchants Association was organized, in the year 1911, Mr. Benson became its first president, a position in which he served with much credit and dignity. His standing in the business world is shown by the fact that he is one of the board of directors of tin' Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the membership committee of that board. Likewise he is a member of the Minneapolis Athletic Club. True to the staunch religious training of his early years, he has interested himself in church and uplift work. In the Minneapolis Y. M. C. A. he is a member of the board of directors. In the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church lie is a member of the official board, a member of the finance committee and the teacher of the Young Men's Bible class of some ninety pupils. Fraternally he is associated with the Renville Lodge of A. F. & A. M. and Renville Camp, No. 145, Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Benson was married January 27, 1906, to Elsie Irene Turner, and they have two children: Bruce Hoyt, born May 28, 1908; and Robert Wesley, bom April 25, 1914. The family residence is at 2008 Emerson avenue, south.

James O'Connor, Sr. The story of a penniless Irish immigrant, who in early youth was doomed to total blindness, and who, in spite of this great handicap, achieved, assisted by his heroic wife, a fair measure of success and reared a large family of sons and daughters who have made their mark in the world's work, is a most interesting one, and is distinctive even in this land of opportunity where so many penniless youths achieve fame and fortune. And the story of the wife, a callow Norwegian immigrant, who worked by her husband's side, identified herself thoroughly with the people of his nationality, and aside from attending so efficiently to the physical wants of her family, found time to instill in her children's minds the staunchest of principles and the highest of ideals, is no less interesting.

James O'Connor, Sr., was horn in Ireland in 1804. At the age of sixteen, when Ireland was in the throes of a great famine, he set out for America hoping to better his condition and hoping also to be able to contribute toward the support of his parents. Landing on Canadian soil he worked on the Wellington canal, then crossing into the United States, he later became a laborer on railroad and canal construction work, working on the first railroad constructed in the United States, and while laboring in this capacity saw pioneer life in various parts of the country. At the age of twenty-two years, while employed on a large construe- tiiin contract at Indianapolis, Indiana, he was stricken with a bilious fever. His physical strength was in time recovered, hut his eyesight was totally destroyed. Tims overtaken by so dire a misfortune in the prime of his youth, he returned to Ireland. hoping that in the land of his birth he might once more be permitted to look upon the light of day. But his hopes were blasted. for his condition did not improve. So he returned to America where he remained for about two years. Then, again thinking his sight would be restored by crossing the salt water he returned the second time to Ireland. But finally being convinced that his affliction was permanent he courageously determined to adjust himself to his new circumstances and to make the most of the faculties still left him. With a young nephew, Patrick Malone, to lead him about, he came again to America, and for many years traveled from place to place with a small pack, selling goods in many a hamlet and isolated neighborhood in the middle west as regular selling points was a settlement at Perry, in Dane county, Wisconsin. There, in 1853, he called at a house with his pack and met his greatest happiness. Elizabeth Erickson, a young Norwegian girl who had come to America at the age of IS. was greatly attracted to tin- witty blind Irish peddler, and after a short courtship, they were married March 16, 1851. From Perry the young couple went to Stoughton. Wis., where they hoarded the train for Milwaukee. At Milwaukee they were met by a friend who took them by ox team to Erin, in Washington county, in the same state. Erin was entirely an Irish-Catholic settlement. The young Norwegian girl learned Gaelic before she learned English, ami when she finally learned the language of her adopted country it was with the rich accents of her husband's countrymen that she spoke it. Living thus among the kindly Irish people, she was converted to the Catholic religion, and in the faith of that church she and her husband were remarried, this time h\ justice of the peace. For several years. .Mr. ami Mrs. O'Connor conducted a store at Erin. In 1857 they sold out. and went hack to Dane county, where .Mrs. O'Connor had formerly lived, am! win-re Mi-. O'Connor had acquired a farm. They broke seven acres of this farm and for nine years lived in a dug-out. As the years passed Mr. O'Connor overcame many of the handicaps of his blindness. By following the sound of the man in front of him he could mow as well as a man with sight. He was an expert rail splitter ami could work alone all day lone at this occupation, not only split ting' the logs into rails, but also building fences with the rails thus manufactured. He was also an adept at many other branches of farming. In 1866 the family started overland for Winnebago county, Iowa, a distance of some eight hundred miles. A book of this journey might well be written, the blind father, the energetic mother, and the seven children, the oldest ten years old and the youngest (Timothy, now a prominent man of Renville county, and his twin sister, Eliza), four weeks old, form the elements for many dramatic incidents. Arriving at the -end of their journey, the family purchased a tract of timberland known as Benson's grove. There they built a log cabin 12 by 14 feet and there the family lived under the most primitive conditions. James O'Connor, Sr., died there in April, 1879, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at Bristol, in Worth county, Iowa. Though he raised a family of seven sons and five daughters, he never saw his wife or one of the children. The welfare of his family was ever his first interest and his life was one of usefulness and cheer. Elizabeth Svenbalrud (Erickson) O'Connor, his wife, was born in Hadland, Parish of Lenner, Norway anil came to America, in 1846, settling in Perry, Dane county, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Eriek and Mary Erickson, who died in Norway. All the children came to America in 1851. They were Mary, Eriek, Paul and Sarah. Mary and Paul settled in Renville county, Mary married John Roste, of Sacred Heart. She and her husband are both dead. Mrs. O'Connor was the youngest of the children. She came to Renville county after the death of her husband, and is now living in the city of Renville at the good old age of eighty-seven. The children of Mr. and Mrs. James O'Connor, Sr., were: James, John, Edward, Michael Timothy, William, Abe, Mary, Eliza, Anna (deceased), Anna and Ellen.

James O'Connor, a leading citizen of Granite Falls, is a former resident of, and still an extensive land owner in, Renville county. While his actual residence in this county was of comparatively short duration he has continued actively identified with its leading financial activities for considerably over thirty years. James O'Connor is called in his family, James the second, his father and his oldest son and his grandson, all bearing the name of James. The story of his parents is appropriately told elsewhere in this work. The subject of this mention was born in Washington county, Wisconsin, April 22, 1856, and spent the greater part of his boyhood in Benson's Grove, Winnebago county, Iowa. April 24, 1880, he arrived in Renville county with his brother Timothy. For two years he was in business with several of his brothers in Sacred Heart village. Then for ten years he was in business in Granite Falls. During this period he also did considerable farming, and at the end of the ten years became an extensive buyer of farm lands, operating in Chippewa, Yellow Medicine and Renville counties. He now owns nearly 2,500 acres of land, most of it being within a radius of fifty miles from Granite Falls. For five years, he made his home on a farm in Hazel Run township.

James O'Connor Henry Norman Stabeck

Yellow Medicine county, but with that exception he has lived in the village of Granite Falls since first' taking up his residence there. He has one of the best places in the village, picturesquely located on the east bank of the Minnesota river and commanding a most beautiful variety of landscape. Here, surrounded on all sides by the home comforts in which his soul delights he is reaping the rewards of his life of hard work and self-denial. Mr. O'Connor is noted for the liberal support he has accorded all public improvements and his private benefactions have been many. He has taken an active interest in everything that has tended to the betterment and progress of the community, and while he has made a practice of refraining from accepting political office, he has given most admirable service for two years as one of the councilmen of Granite Falls. Mr. O'Connor was married . I une 22, 1881, to Tena Nelson, who was born July 28. 1861, daughter of Nels' Nelson Jethus. and died February 22, 1909. On November 27. 1911, Mr. O'Connor married Belle Anthony, born in Yellow Medicine county, February 17, 1878, a daughter of Edward and Bessie (Olson) Anthony. Mr. O'Connor has five children : James, Luvina, Alfred, Thomas and Myrtle. James (the third) was born June 13, 1882, married Lena Enger, and has three children, Arda, Myrtle and Evelyn. Luvina was born December 23, 1884, married Alfred Emmerson, and has three children, Carolina, Elien and Jane. Alfred was born August 29, 1886, and died June 11, 1910. Thomas was born July 2, 1888, married Ella Anthony, and has one son, James (the fourth). Myrtle was born November 15, 1891. Nels Nelson Jethus was born in Norway and came to America in 1840. From Fillmore county, this state, he came to Chippewa county in 1866, and located on a farm near Minnesota Falls where he spent the remainder of his life. His good wide. Ellen, died in Seattle, in 1915.

Edward Anthony was born in Adams county, Wisconsin, and married Bessie Olson, who was born in Norway. In 1872 he came to Yellow Medicine county, and farmed in Hazel Run township until his death in 1889. His devoted wife died there in 1882. They had two daughters. Tena is the wife of James O'Connor (the second) ; and Selma is the wife of H. N. Wilson, who farms in Hazel Run township.

Henry Norman Stabeck, for several years actively identified with the financial, business and social life of Renville county, is now one of the dominant figures in the financial stability of the Northwest. His finacial and grain interests are large and in the upbuilding of these interests he has been an important factor in the development of several agricultural and grain raising districts, especially in Minnesota, North Dakota and western Canada. He comes of middle-west pioneer stock, having been born in Davis, Illinois, March 26, 1875, son of Thurston and Torgen

(Patterson) Stabeck, natives respectively of Davis and Durand, Illinois. He attended the high school of Freeport, III., the Davis Union School, in his native town; and graduated in 1893. It was that year that he came to Renville and became bookkeeper in the Security Bank. From 1895 until 1902 he was its cashier. In 1902 he became president and retained that office in the First National Bank of Renville which replaced the Security Bank, January 17, 1903, being, it is said, the youngest national bank president in the United States at that time. In the years that followed his personal interests increased in size and importance and in 1907 he resigned his bank position. In the meantime, in 1902, the Gold-Stabeck Loan & Credit Co. had been organized, and for several years a large loan and land business was conducted in Renville. But it grew to such proportions that in 1907 the offices were moved to the Minneapolis building of the Northwestern Fire & Marine Insurance Co., of which company Mr. Stabeck had become vice-president. Of the Gold-Stabeck Loan & Credit Co,. Mr. Stabeck is president. The firm does an extensive business in commercial paper, bonds, mortgages and the like, being o f the largest concerns of its kind in the Twin Cities. In connexion with its other activities it controls a line of banks in Illinois and North Dakota. Mr. Stabeck is also, president of the Benson, Newhouse, Stabeck Co., of Minneapolis, Duhith, Winnipeg and Chicago, a grain commission company which does the largest grain business in the Northwest. He is vice-president of the Anchor Elevator Co., of Moose Jaw, Canada, controlling a large line of elevators along the line of the Canadian Pacific railroad in the Provinces id' Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic and Woodmen orders. Of the [nterlochen Club he was the first president, and he is also a member of the Minneapolis (dub, the Minikhda (dub and the .Minneapolis Automobile club. When he turns from his busy labors, -Mr. Stabeck finds his recreation in outdoor life. He enjoys golf and trap shooting, and has probably done more big game hunting than any other business man in Minnesota. Mr. Stabeck was married April .">. 1S99, to Jennie Alice Carey, daughter of Frank and Alice (Gunderson) Carey, and they have two sons, Vincent Francis Thurston, born July 1, 1901, and Maxwell Norman, born August 23, 1903, both of whom are attending tic Blake School, at Minneapolis.

Frank 0. Gold, now deceased, banker, grainman, and philanthropist, exerted a notable influence on several generations of dern life in the Northwest, not only in establishing many business institutions and laying the foundation for many important ventures whose results were far reaching, but also finding the time in the course of a busy, useful life to devote to church, Sunday school and charitable work. Combining as he did the shrewd, careful common souse and far-seeing intelligence of a successful business man. with the moral uprightness, quick sympathy and wide understanding of a devoted and warm-hearted Christian, his influence in church and business, in society and in finances, was beyond measure, and the great good which bis life meant to his fellow men can never be adequately comprehended. Frank O. Gold was born in Easton, Perm., August 120, 1855, son of Aaron and Ellen (Cahoon) Gold, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York, and descended on the paternal side from German ancestry. While Frank 0. was a boy, the family moved to Davis, Illinois, and there he completed his education ami grew to manhood. His first business venture was as a clerk in a general store in Davis. From there he went to Iowa, and for a while engaged in the grain and milling business at Delmar. About 1878 he engaged in the manufacture of wire bed springs, establishing several factories in various parts of Iowa. Some six years later he sold the patent rights and came to Minnesota, locating in Farmington, Dakota county, where he again engaged in the grain and milling business. It was in 1887 that he came to Renville county, and with his brother, William H. Gold, purchased a lumber yard at Sacred Heart. Some two and a half years later, a branch was established at Renville. To Renville, Frank O. Gold moved in 1890, while William II. Gold remained in charge of the yard at Sacred Heart. Frank 0. Gold continued in the lumber business for several years. Gradually he became interested in the land, loan ainl credit business, as well as in grain dealing. In this connection he worked mure or less in conjunction with the Security State Bank. When that bank was reorganized as the First National Bank of Renville, January 17. 1903, he became vice-president, a position he occupied until 1907 when he became president. A year later, the bank was sold to the Dale interests. In the meantime, in 1901'. the Gold-Stabeck Loan & Credit Co. was organized, and of this Frank 0. Gold had been made the president. For several years a large loan and land business was conducted in Renville. But it grew to such proportions that in 1907 the offices were moved to the Minneapolis building of the Northwestern Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Frank < >. Gold, however, remained with the bank in Renville for another year, and then in 1908 moved to Minneapolis and assumed the presidency of the Land & Credit Co. Tn that position he remained until his death. Mi-, (lohl was a man of sterling qualities and took a deep interest in every move that had for its object the betterment of humanity. He was just and upright in every walk" of bis day by day life, a loyal and helpful friend, and a devoted and loving father and husband. The Methodist church ever found him an ardent supporter. In Renville he helped build the present Methodist Episcopal church. In Minneapolis he was steward, trustee ami Sun

-lay school teacher in the Wesley Methodist Episcopal church until the time of his death. He was one of the most prominent lay delegates in the Minnesota conference of the Methodist Episcopal church and in 1904 was sent as a lay delegate to the general conference at Los Angeles. He was also an official of the State Sunday school association. His benefactions to charitable and religious organizations were many. Mr. Gold was married July 20. 1884, to Elizabeth Nichol, who was born at Marcaills, Illinois, August 15. 1859, daughter of James Franklin and Harriet (Hecox) Nichol. natives respectively of Ohio and Michigan, who as young people went to Illinois, and were there married, the father dying in Renville. .Minn., in 1900, and the mother now making her home with hei' daughter, Mrs. Gold. Mr. and Mrs. Gold had three children: Roj' Clinton, Roy Franklin and Minor Bidwell. Roy Clinton was born June 18, 1888 ami died February 10, 1889. Roy Franklin was born May 5. 1890, and is now treasurer of the Gold- Stabeck Loan & Credit Co. He graduated from the Minneapolis West High school, attended the Hamiline University two years, and the University of .Minnesota one year. He married Vera Locker, and they have one son. Frank Locker Gold. Minor Bidwell was born October 5. 1892, and is now with the Benson, Newhouse, Stabeck Co. He attended the Minneapolis West High school and the Hamline University.

Patrick H. Kirwan, who for many years exerted a powerful influence on the life and destinies of Renville county, was born in Towanda. Bradford county. Pennsylvania, March 17, 1851, son of James ami Mary (Blake) Kirwan. pioneers. He was taken as a child to Columbus, Columbia county, Wisconsin, attended the district and graded schools there, and took courses at the Waylaid University at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. In 1874 he took up farming at Riceville, Iowa. In 1875 he came to Brown county, Minnesota, and taught school there that winter. It was in 1876 that he located in Beaver Falls village. After teaching school four terms he engaged in the grocery business in that village. In September, 1878, he was appointed auditor of Renville county to fill a vacancy. At the next election the voters returned him to the position, and in that office he remained for twelve consecutive years, with much credit to himself and greatly to the satisfaction of his constituents. That was the time when the political life of the county was at fever heat, and Mr. Kirwan was ever in the forefront in the numerous contests for political supremacy. After he retired from office he moved to Olivia, and was associated with the O'Connor brothers in the organization of the Olivia State Bank, of which he became the cashier. In November. 1895, when President Grover Cleveland appointed him U. S. Surveyor General for Minnesota, he resigned his position in the bank, greatly to the regret of his associates, and moved to

Patrick H. Kiewan William .1. Asiii.Kv

St. l'aul where he took up his new duties. In 1000 he retired from office, and devoted Ins time exclusively to the land business, in which for several years previous he had been more or less interested. Be has offices at 201 New York Life Building, St. Paul, and is extensively engaged in the business of farm sales, loans and mortgages in ^Minnesota and North Dakota. Mr. Kirwan still retains some of his interests in Renville county. He has developed and improved Prairie View Farm, his 520-acre place, six miles south of Olivia, in Ilenryvillc township, until it constitutes as good a farm as is to be found in the township. This farm, which he has owned for thirty years, he now rents. He also owns large tracts of land in Nelson county. North Dakota. Some of this land he rents, but he and his son. James F., operate about 1,500 acres of it, Mr. Kirwan spending the larger part of his summers there. A specialty is made of raising Percheron horses and Shorthorn cattle from registered sires, and in addition a successful line of general farming is carried on. Some time ago, Mr. Kirwan, in order to better handle his North Dakota interests, organized the State Bank of Juanita, at Juanita, Foster county. North Dakota, of which he is president and principal owner. Patrick H. Kirwan was married July 20. 1875, to Mary E. Bridges, who died in St. Paul. September 24. 1S96, leaving two sons, James F. and John H. James F. was born at Otsego, Wisconsin, August 20, 1877. He is engaged with his father in farming in Nelson county, North Dakota. He married October 8, 1909. Anna Wilhelm, of Delano, Minnesota, and they have one son, James, bora October 31, 1910. John II. was bora in Beaver Falls. Minnesota, December 7, 1879. and is now cashier of the State Bank of Juanita, North Dakota. He married Julia Kelly, January 17. 1916. On February 4. 1901. Patrick H. Kirwan married Anna B. Horgan, of Blue Earth, Minnesota. The family residence is at 231 Arundel street, St. Paul.

William J. Ashley, mayor of Renville, and consequently the only city mayor in Renville county, is one of the leading citizens of the community. He has devoted the greater part of his life to the milling industry. Born in Lodi. Columbia county, Wisconsin, October 4. 1861, son of James W. and Laura (Narracong) Ashley, he was reared in Markesan, Wisconsin. At the age of seventeen, he went to Trout Run, near Black River Falls, Wisconsin, to learn the milling business from his uncle, Jonas Narracong. Some three years later he joined his father at Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and then returned to Markesan, the home of his boyhood, and took charge of the mill for three years. He was then successively employed as miller at Ettrick, Taylor Station, and North Bend, all in Wisconsin. In the summer of 1888, he went to the pine region in the northern part of that state. It was in the fall of 1888 that he came to Renville county and took charge of the Farmers Milling Co. mill at Sacred Heart for some two years. Then he took a trip of a few months to the Pacific coast. Upon his return he again took charge of the mill at Sacred Heart for a short period. Subsequently he went to Rockford, Iowa, where he leased a mill with the option of buying it, but finding that the wheat raising industry was on a decline in that state he decided not to buy. Returning to Minnesota he leased the North Star mill at Granite Falls. .Minnesota, and conducted it for about a year. Then, in partnership with 0. R. Beal, he went to Warner, South Dakota, leased a mill and elevator, and dealt in wheat and operated the mill for about a year. For some nine months lie was in .Minneapolis where he received treatment for his eyesight, and at the end of that period went to Iowa and leased the Okoboji mills at Milford. It was in 1896 that he came to Renville, and in company with Ed O'Connor, purchased the flour mill, which they conducted for three years. Then. .Mr. Ashley bought out his partner and became sole owner ami proprietor until 1914, when he took August Moline as a partner, an arrangement which still continues. The mill manufactures the '"Ideal" and '-Harmony" brands, and their flour is sold extensively to local dealers, the largest shipping point, however, being Chicago, to which place the flour is sent in carload lots. Mr. Ashley is also interested in agriculture, and has good farm property in Ericson township. He is a prominent man in the community, was the first alderman at large of the city, has served the city in various other capacities. and has been mayor for the past live years. He is socially inclined and belongs to the Masonic body and to the Woodmen. William -I. Ashley was married February 7. 1898, to Anna O'Connor, daughter of .lames O'Connor, Sr., ami Elizabeth Erickson O'Connor. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley have had the children: June, Myrth, Ardua (deceased), Ruth and .lames, -lames W. Ashley was born in New York state, the son of Stephen and Nancy Waterbury > Ashley, the former of whom, a miller, brought his family to Wisconsin at an early day. and there spent the remainder of his life.

Wisconsin, spent the remainder of his days in that place. He died in 1894. By his wife. Laura Narracong, who died in is?::, he had two children. Eva, now Mrs. Charles Bolen, of Black River Falls, Wis., and William -J., of Renville, this county. By his second wife. Mis. Martha (Nelson) Lord, he had one son, Harry N., now cashier of the First National Bank of Raymond, Minnesota. Charles J. Whitney, one of the well-known business men of 1 lector, is a man of cordial and genial temperament, who for many years has had his part in the commercial and social life of the village where he now makes his home. He was born in Fillmore county, this state. September 12, 1 872, son of Oscar L. and Amelia M. (Riley) Whitnev, and grandson of Lemuel ami Fanny

(Gould) Whitney, and of Volkerl and Ann (Bloom) Riley, and descended from Revolutionary ancestry. The name "Whitney" is of English extraction and is followed back in a direct line to John and Nancy Whitney, who landed in Massachusetts, from England, in 1635. Among the very earliest colonial pioneers, and whose numerous descendants have taken an active part in all of the subsequenl development of this country. Charles .7. Whitney was brought to Renville county by his parents in 1880, and spent his boyhood in Brookfield and Melville townships, this county: Grafton township, McLeod county; and the city of Minneapolis, before locating in Hector with his parents in May, 1890. He attended the public schools of the various places in which lie lived, and in 1892 completed the business course of the Wesleyan Methodist Seminary at Wasioja, Minnesota. He started his career in 1891 in the employ of the McGregor Lumber Co. at Hector. In 1893 h«' became a grain buyer, working in this capacity in Hector and in Redwood Falls. In 1898 he connected himself with the Northern Shade-Cloth Co. at St. Paid, where he worked for nine years. It was in 1908 that he again came to Hector and entered into partnership with his brothers-in-law. W. B. Strom and Et. F. Clark in tin' W. B. Strom Drug Co. His courtesy and integrity have helped in the success of this pioneer firm. For eight years Mr. Whitney was assistant postmaster under W. B. Strom. He is an active member of the Commercial Club. Fraternally he is associated with Hector Lodge, No. 158, A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Minnesota Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Mr. Whitney was married Jan. 30, 1897, to Effie M. Clark, born in Victory, Wis., daughter of Calvin and Sarah (Wilcox) Clark. They live in a well-furnished, modernly-equipped home, constructed of stucco work, one of the prettiest homes in the village.

Oscar L. Whitney, for several years a resident of Renville county, was born in Illinois, son of Lemuel and Fanny (Gould) Whitney. He was reared in that state, and as a young man went to Minnesota, where he married Amelia L. Riley, daughter id' Yolkert and Ann (Bloom) Riley. They settled in Fillmore county, this state, soon after their marriage, and in 1874. located in Dodge county, this state. In 1880, they came to Renville county, and located on a homestead of eighty acres in Brookfield township. In 1883 they went to Minneapolis, but in 1884 located in Grafton township, in McLeod county. In 1890 they came to this county again, and bought a farm in Melville township, from which in 1892 they came to Hector. For some years Mr. Whitney had combined horse dealing with farming, when, in 1898, he went to St. Paul, opened a feed stable, and continued as a horse dealer. His health failed, however, and he died in St. Paul March 4,

1910. His good wife died in that city, May 25, 1912. In the family there were three children : Charles J. is a merchant in Hector. Nellie was horn May 30, 1874, and is now the wife of John Knox of St. Anthony Park, this state. Roy was born May 30, 1876, and is a steam engineer at Heron Lake, Minnesota. He married Velzora McAdam of Pine City, Minn., and they have three children, Ruth, Merlin and Lois.

William E. Morris, county agricultural agent, Renville county, and agent of the United States Department of Agriculture, the work being carried on mider the United States Department of Agriculture, the College of Agriculture, University of Minnesota and Renville County cooperating, was born in Middlebury, Wis., Dec. 23, 1886, son of David J. and Clara B. (Theobold) Morris, and was reared on a dairy farm at Ridgeway, Wis. He attended the state graded school of Ridgeway, graduated from the Wisconsin Academy at Madison, Wis., in 1905, and from the College of Agriculture. University of Wisconsin, in 1909. In 1909-11 he was connected with the Department of Dairying, Wisconsin College of Agriculture ; in 1911-13 he was in charge of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying departments of the La Crosse (Wis.) County School of Agriculture and Domestic Economy. In August, 1913, he started his duties as county agent of Renville county.

Ole O. Enestvedt, Sr., His Family and Times. - A life sketch by Mrs. Anne Enestvedt. My husband, Ole O. Enestvedt was born on the farm Enestvedt in Opdal Annex, Nore parish, Numedal, Norway. March 5, 1835, of parents Ole E. and wife, Joran, born on North Kittilsland in Nore. His grandfather. Ole Tollefsen E. was sheriff in Nore parish. The Enestvedt family was a large one, eleven brothers and sisters grew to mature age, viz., Helga, Ragnild, Tollef, Kittel. Guri. Ole, Barbro, Reier, Lars. Joran and Gunild. Of these only two arc living. Joran, single, at the Enestvedt home in Sacred Heart, and Gunild. now Mrs. P. O. Kittilsland. I was born on the farm. South Kittilsland, in Nore, Numedal, Sept. 5, 1841. of parents Knut Kittilsland and Sigrid, born at Bakke, Veglid. Seven brothers and sisters reached mature age, namely, Vighild, Anne, Liv, Sigrid, Engebret, Margit and Ingeborg. One, Mrs. Liv Knutson, is now living in the town of Swedes Forest, Redwood county, and three are in Norway. I was next oldest of the children. My oldest sister Vigheld had to stay on the farm in the valley with the folks, while I had to stay with mother and the smallest children on the sater or mountain dairy, herding stock and taking care of the little ones. 1 was in this work from 9 until 16 years of age.

the sheep ami goats away in the nights. Sometimes he would kill two or three, at other times he would get scared so he would get nothing. One night he came and got the goats and sheep out, drove them past our sater house. Mother heard it at once, and rushed out, calling back again to me: "Anne, now you must get up, the bear has taken the small stock out," and then ran after the flock in her nightgown, without having any shoes on even, the sheep running ahead followed by the bear, and mother following him. It must be remembered that there were no menfolks up there for miles around. I came out of bed pretty fast, but put on my shoes and dress and woke my younger sister, bidding her take care of the little ones if necessary. When I came, out, mother called again: "Anne, you have to take the north mountain road, the goats went that way; I have the sheep and the bear." I ran through the fir thickets up along the mountain side, for about one mile, calling to the bell-goat, which at last stopped above the forest line. I took hold of her bell-collar and called to the others and a whole flock of scared goats followed and we started hack again. At times the goat ran so fast that I would fall over, but I held fast to the collar and was dragged along, running and falling alternately. In this way we soon got down again to the sater, where mother already was waiting for us. She had scared old bruin away, had got the sheep together and was back ahead of us. We now chased the whole flock into tinstable and hunted up nine more sheep in a corner of the broken shed where they were bleating piteously. While engaged in this we heard a crushing, breaking noise in the thicket outside. In the morning we discovered that the bear had been bark again and had devoured an old carcass left there by a hunter some time ago. That day we found all the missing sheep, except a small goat kid. which mother said the bear had to have for his trouble. But late in the fall this young goat also was found.

I will also tell about a wolf that came to our sater when mother was in the hayshed. She heard the goats jump and act seared outside and looking out she saw that two of the goats were missing. Looking way up the hillside, she discovered a large wolf in the act of throwing a dead goat on his back, and heard a goatkid bleat. She ran to the place and found that the wolf had torn the kid from the goat, and that it was still alive. But as the little thing would be motherless, she thought best to end its sufferings by killing him. Then she ran after the wolf who with his burden had disappeared in a thicket. When she got there she found the other goat torn to pieces, but Mr. Wolf made good his escape with the one he carried on his back. To us children it was a sad event that mother had killed the little kid. We would have brought it up for curiosity's sake.

June 4. 1864, in Nore church, by Rev. C. C. Olsen. The same day we moved to the old Enestvedl home, where we lived for two years. On the seventeenth of December, 1865, our first child, Ole <>.. was born, and the following spring, in May, we came to America. We stopped a while at Christiania, where my husband, on the recommendation of Prof. Gisle Johnsen, bought religious books for $150. One-half the number of these books were the Konkordibogen, and Luther's Explanation to the Epistle of Galatians, and other books.

We bought a ticket with the Allan Line and were the first ones to come by steamship. It was the "Peruvian" and we were three days in crossing the North Sea ami eleven days across the Atlantic; we landed in Quebec. June 20, and eaine to Madison. Wis., the twenty-sixth. Here we happened to meet old Nils Smithback, who said he was next neighbor to my Aunt, Ainbjor Morkvolden, already settled on Koshkonong. He offered to let us ride with him home, but it was twenty miles out. and the oxen jogged along at a slow rate. We rode the rest of the day and half of the night in a wagon without a spring seat, a board across the box serving this purpose. Our little boy was sick at the time and Mr. Enestvedt was ill from drinking iced water at a hotel in Madison, so it was a very dreary and unpleasant journey. But we were received with such genuine hospitality on our arrival, that our troubles were soon forgotten. My aunt was a widow and lived here with her youngest son Gjermund. We enjoyed a week's rest here, when they took us to Stoughton, Wis., where we boarded the train for Prairie du Chien, and crossed the Mississippi on a ferry boat to MaeGregor, Iowa. From this place we drove nearly all night in a pouring rain for 22 miles to Hans Svensrud and a few days later came to our destination with Lars Reiersen Oset, who was second cousin to Mr. Enestvedt. With these hospitable and cordial people we stayed about one year. Many other newcomers, whether relatives or not were well received here by the lively and able housewife. Gunild, and found a temporary home, until they could get a home of their own. During harvest my husband hired out to Ole Evenseii Lien from Skudalen, Numedal. He had to sit on a reaper and rake the grain in bunches off the platform (the hand rake reaper) myself and the boy going there also, but after harvest we all went back to Reiersen. I shall never forget the good-will and hospitality we received during our stay there. Reiersens had three children and an adopted daughter, a son. Nils, was born later. They afterwards moved to Blooming Prairie. Minn., where Mr. Reiersen recently died as a well-to-do man, respected by the whole community. His wife Gunild is living.

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not only care for the material well-being of his people, bnt also ministered to their spiritual wants by reading a chapter - every evening out of the Bible, and questioning his children about what he had read to be sure that they had understood the words. Blessed be his memory. Many books of those which Mr. Encslvedl brought from Norway were sold here in Clayton county, Iowa. .My husband also went to school a couple of months here, and acquired in this short time a working knowledge of the English language.

In the spring of 1867, in April, Mr. Enestvedt ami his brother Tollef started out afoot from Clayton county, they having heard of free homestead land along the Minnesota river. They took a northwesterly course from Albert Lea, through New Ulm and Redwood Falls and crossing the river to Renville county, they took their claims side by side, making a few necessary improvements, bought a yoke of oxen each, and borrowed wagons. With these they came back as far as St. Peter, where they found myself and "the boy" and the household goods which all bad come by steamboat along the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Another newcomer, Erick Nilsen, had come with me from Clayton county, and now joined the party. We now had a four days' journey by oxteam to our destination and it rained nearly all the time, so that the country was flooded in many places. When we arrived at Beaver creek, on the north side of the river, people told us that we could not cross the stream, that many wagons had tipped over and been carried away by the current. Mr. Enestvedt, being a tall man, waded out into the stream and found a rock in the ford that had been the cause of the wagons tipping over. His oxen were so well broke that while he remained standing on the rock he commanded them to come on past him, and we got well across, although the water reached to the top of the wagonbox. I sat on a chair with baby in my lap and by holding my dress well around me, I only got wet on my feet. After that all went well and in the evening of the twenty-seventh of June we arrived at our farm in South Sacred Heart, where we continued to make our home.