Cottonwood County, Minnesota Biographies G & H

Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota
Their People, Industries and Institutions
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families
John A. Brown
Volume II : 1916: B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.

Transcribed by Vicki Hartman

Gertner, Gottlieb Page 203-204 Gottlieb Gertner, of Westbrook, was born in Russia, March 6, 1855. He is a son of John and Katherine (Barenstein) Gertner, both natives of Germany, but they finally located in Russia, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father being eighteen years old when he went there and the mother was sixteen, and they were married in Russia, where they bought a farm and devoted their active lives to general farming. They became the parents of fifteen children. The father was a teamster for some time in the Russian army. He and his family were Lutherans. Gottlieb Gertner grew to manhood in Russia and received his education there in the common schools. He immigrated to the United States in 1876, locating at Heron Lake, Minnesota, where his brother, Frederick, had preceded him. The following year he and his brother homesteaded in Rose Hill township, Cottonwood county. However, Gottlieb had in the meantime worked awhile in Iowa, to which state he returned for awhile after he took up his homestead. He helped develop a good farm in Rose Hill township on which he lived until 1905. He erected a good group of buildings on the farm, and added one hundred and sixty acres to his original place, just across the road, making in all three hundred twenty-two and one- half acres. In connection with general farming he raised full-blooded Poland-China hogs, the first of the kind in the township. He shipped them in from Iowa. His renter has continued the breed. Mr. Gertner did much to encourage the farmers of that part of the county to raise a better grade of live stock, especially hogs. Mr. Gertner became one of the leading farmers of the county, and he was able to retire from active life in the fall of 1910, and removed to his pleasant home in Westbrook which he built in 1900, where he now lives, surrounded with all the comforts of life. He has been a stockholder and a director in the Citizens State Bank of West- brook for the past ten years. Politically he is a Republican. He was a school director while living on the farm. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Gertner was married in 1881 to Barbara Hobing, who was born in Galicia, Austria, and is a daughter of Daniel and Marie (Schrock) Hobing, both natives of Prussia, Germany, but they spent most of their lives on a farm in Austria where they died. They were parents of eleven children, namely: Jacob still lives in Austria; Marie, Katherina, Magdelina, John; Henry and Daniel are now (1916) both in the Austrian army and at the front in Galicia; Barbara came to Mountain Lake, Minnesota, in 1881 with some of her brothers and sisters; Elizabeth, Susie and Wilhelm. All these children came to America but the eldest son. To Mr. and Mrs. Gertner one child was born, Marie, who married Oscar Ave, who is operating two large ranches in Colorado for a Mr. Thompson. To Mr. and Mrs. Ave one child has been born, a boy. The following children were those of the parents of the subject of this sketch who grew to maturity : Jacob, John, Theodore, Fred, Katherina, Cornelius, Gottlieb, Michael, Samuel (who died in the Russian army), and Fredericka. Gillam, Charles W. Page 88-89 Charles W. Gillam was born in Omro, Wisconsin, April 10, 1860, a son of Samuel S. Gillam, who was born in New York, June 26, 1822. The maiden name of his wife was Abigal C. Clark, who was born in Washington county, New York, March 17, 1833. In 1869 Samuel S. Gillam came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of government land, in Great Bend township, and the following year he brought his family. He built a home on this land and began farming, making improvements from year to year until he had a good body of land under cultivation, on which he raised fine crops of the varied products for which land in this section was adapted. He continued to live on this farm until about 1898, when he retired from farming and removed to Windom, Minnesota. His wife died on May 17, 1911. She was the mother of five children: Henry C., born on November 27, 1854; William S., July 27, 1856; Charles W., April 10, 1860; Edward E., May 21, 1864; and Albert S. L., September 1, 1866. Charles W. Gillam was educated in the public schools of Windom and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age. When he attained his majority he engaged in the flour, feed, grain and implement business, in Windom, continuing this business for about three years. About 1890 he became connected with the old Cottonwood county bank, of Windom, and, in 1902, was made vice-president of the Windom National Bank. In addition his other business he has been largely interested in the real-estate business. On February 20, 1890, Charles W. Gillam was married to Helen H. Hunt, daughter of J. J. Hunt, of Brownsdale, Minnesota. To this union three children have been born : Paul J., Josephine H., and Stanley S. Mr. Gillam affiliates with the Republican party. He has served as mayor of Windom for three terms, and as city recorder for three terms. In 1914 he was elected state senator on the Republican ticket and is now holding that position. He is a member of the Masonic order, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum. Gillis, Rev. Benjamin Cole Page 209-211 As pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Windom, Cotton- wood county, Rev. Benjamin Cole Gillis is doing a most commendable work for the moral uplift of his locality. He was born at Inverness, Megantic county, Province of Quebec, Canada, March 19, 1859. He is the son of William and Nancy (Robinson) Gillis, both natives of Ireland, the father's birth having occurred on August 20, 1804, in County Monaghan, and the mother's in 1814 in County Tyrone. She was a daughter of Samuel Robinson. William Gillis was a son of Robert and Catherine (McNabb) Gillis, who lived and died in Northern Ireland. William Gillis sailed from Belfast on the steamship ""Boliver,"" arriving at Quebec on July 12, 1829. He located in that city, where he worked in a grocery store for about two years, then went to Inverness, Province of Quebec, entering a claim of one hundred acres of land, then returned to the City of Quebec, where he remained one year, then went back to Inverness and entered another claim of one hundred acres for his brother, James Gillis, for whom he sent to Ireland, and upon the latter's arrival the two brothers farmed together until the death of James. On March 4, 1833, William Gillis married Nancy Robinson, and to their union fourteen children were born, all of whom grew to maturity with the exception of one daughter. They are as follow : James, of Isabel, Kansas; John, deceased; William M., now pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Walnut Grove, Minnesota; Samuel, deceased; Robert B. of Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada; Thomas S., of Lunenburg, Ontario; Benjamin C., of this review; Ellen, of Inverness, Quebec, who became the wife of Robert Kean; Eliza, who was the wife of James George, is now deceased; Hannah, deceased, who was the wife of Robert Scott; Martha, unmarried; Nancy, who died at the age of sixteen; Rebecca, the wife of Rev. John Gar- vin, of Montreal, Canada, and Catherine, the wife of E. H. Brown of Cornwall, Ontario. William Gillis was a well-to-do farmer in Canada, owning in all six hundred acres of land, where he carried on general farming. His death occurred on December 27, 1889, his wife having died July 5, 1887. Rev. Benjamin C. Gillis grew up on his father's farm and received his early education at the Inverness Academy. After leaving home he entered Leland and Gray Seminary at Townsend, Vermont, where he spent two years, then entered Wesley Academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, taking the classical course and was graduated with the class of 1885. He then became a student in the college and theological departments of Boston University, where he remained until 1890. In the spring of that year he came West and preached in the Presbyterian church at Canton, Minnesota, during the summer vacation and in the fall entered Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, graduating from the Theological school of that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in June, 1891, and the same year received his degree of Bachelor of Arts from Boston University. He joined the Minnesota conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in the fall of 1891. His first appointment was at Elgin, Minnesota, where he remained two years, then preached at Olive Branch church, Winona, Minnesota, one year, at Kasson, four years, also four years at Chatfield, and at Marshall, five years, after which he came to Windom, where he has spent the past nine years. He has done an excellent work in all of these congregations, greatly building up the churches he has served. He is a student both of the Scriptures and of life about him and is an earnest, forceful and entertaining speaker. Rev. Benjamin G. Gillis was married on November 17, 1897, to Mary Lodema Palmerlee, daughter of Hon. William Henry and Helen (Cossalman) Palmerlee. They have one child, Bruce D. William Henry Palmer- lee was a native of Cattaraugas county, New York, while his 'wife was a native of Jefferson county, New York. Both came to Minnesota with their respective families and were married in this state and spent their lives in Dodge county. In 1910 Rev. B. C. Gillis made a trip abroad and visited his father's birthplace in Northern Ireland, also visited the Holy Land, Egypt, Turkey, the Balkan States, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France and England. Politically, he is independent and fraternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen, but first of all and above all he is a churchman and enthusiastically believes in the teachings, the spirit and the uplifting purposes of the Christian faith. Goertzen, Cornelius Page 354-355 Cornelius Goertzen, a well-known farmer of Cottonwood county, supervisor of Dale township and secretary of the Farmers Elevator Company at Carson, is a native of Russia, born on November 24, 1868, son of Jacob and Marie (Williams) Goertzen, who later came to this country and became pioneers of this section of Minnesota. Jacob Goertzen was born in Germany, but when a boy moved with his parents to the southern part of Russia, where he grew to manhood and where he married Anna Loewens, to which union five children were born, two of whom, David and Henry, came to the United States, the others remaining in Russia. Upon the death of the mother of these children, Jacob Goertzen married Marie Williams and after a continued residence of ten or fifteen years in Russia came to the United States with his family, in 1878, and proceeded directly to this section of Minnesota, arriving at Mountain Lake on July 6, that year. Upon arriving here Jacob Goertzen bought the partly improved southwest quarter of section 7, in Carson township, and during the first year of his residence there built a new house. He later purchased a nearby tract of one hundred and twenty acres and was engaged the rest of his life in the cultivation of these farms. In addition to his general farming he went in heavily for the raising of cattle and sheep and did quite well in his operation, becoming one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. His death occurred on September 17, 1888, he then being seventy-three years, one month and sixteen days of age. His widow survived him until August, 1904, she being sixty-eight years old at the time of her death. They were the parents of seven children, John J., who is the present postmaster at Bingham Lake; Abraham J., a farmer of Dale township; Justina, wife of William Ewert, of Bingham Lake; Cornelius, the subject of this review ; Isaac J., a farmer of Saskatchewan, Canada ; Frank, a farmer living in Manitoba, Canada, and Dietrich, clerk in a store at Saskatchewan. Cornelius Goertzen was about ten years of age when he came to this country in 1878 with his parents. He had received about three years of schooling in the government schools of his native land, and upon his arrival here, was placed in the German schools, but after an attendance of four months there was transferred to the public schools and there continued, diligent in his studies, for four terms. He was not yet twenty years old when his father died, and for a year thereafter, or until his marriage in the fall of 1889, he remained at the old home. Previous to his marriage he had purchased a quarter section of improved land in Dale township, the farm on which he is now living, and after his marriage began housekeeping in the house which then stood on that place. Eight years later he erected his present commodious two-story, modern residence on the place and he and his family are there comfortably situated. Since then he has also built a substantial new barn and in 1914 erected the first cement block silo in the vicinity of Delft. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of cattle and has done well in his operations along this line. He has purchased more land from time to time and is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres, all of which, save fifty acres, which he rents out, he farms himself. Mr. Goertzen is a Republican, and has for years given careful attention to local political affairs. For several years he was clerk of school district 77, and for the past ten years has served in the capacity of township supervisor. He has also given proper attention to various semi-local business enterprises and is secretary of the Farmers Elevator Company at Carson, and a stockholder in the local creamery company at that place. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite church, and take a proper interest in the affairs of that organization. On October 24, 1889, Cornelius Goertzen was united in marriage to Katherina Dick, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Mary, who died in youth ; Katie Dora, who married David Walter Peterson, the butter-maker at the creamery at Delft, and Cornelius Oliver, Dietrich Jacob, Nicholas Edward and Anna Olga, who are at home with their parents. Goosen, Peter F. Page 460-461 The farmer is beginning to realize that Nature, and her multitudinous servants, cannot forever maintain the pristine fertility of the alluvial valley and loamy plains unless the reckless waste of the soil's riches is checked by scientific rotation of crops or intelligent use of the legumes. Peter F. Goosen is one of the farmers of Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county, who understands this and he therefore keeps his fields rich and productive. He was born in Russia, June 14, 1874, and is a son of Henry F. and Elizabeth (Voth) Goosen, both natives of Russia, from which country they immigrated with their family to America in 1888, locating at Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and here they established the family home on a farm on which the father spent the rest of his life, being now deceased. The mother makes her home with the subject of this sketch. Eight children were born to these parents, namely: Elizabeth, Henry, Marie, deceased; Marie, Susie, Peter F., Anna and John. Peter F. Goosen spent his boyhood in Russia, being fourteen years old when his parents brought him to the United States. He received his education in Russia, only attending school two weeks after coming to Minnesota. He helped his father with the farm work, and for the past six years has farmed for himself, operating two hundred acres in Mountain Lake township, on which he engages in general farming and stock raising, specializing in full-blood Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mr. Goosen was married in 1909, to Maria Schultz, who was born south of Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county, where she grew up and attended the district schools. She is a daughter of Jacob Schultz, Sr., of that community. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Goosen : Jacob is deceased, Marie Martha, Anna Elizabeth and Elizabeth Susie. Mr. Goosen was reared in the Mennonite faith, of which his parents were always adherents, and he belongs to the local church of this denomination. Jacob Schultz, Sr., and wife, Anna Voth, were both born in Russia, where they grew up and married, and immigrated to America in 1874, locating near Youngstown, South Dakota, and in 1875 removed to Mountain Lake township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, to the farm on which their son, Jacob J. Schultz, now resides, the father purchasing eighty acres, and as he prospered he added to his original place until he became owner of five hundred and nine acres, all in one section, lying a little southwest of the village of Mountain Lake, where he farmed on an extensive scale, until retiring from active life. They still reside in the village of Mountain Lake, where they have a comfortable home. Mr. Schultz was supervisor of Mountain Lake township three terms and school clerk for twenty-one years. He and his family belong to the Mennonite church. He had seven children. Graff, Adolph Page 465-466 Adolph Graff, chairman of the board of supervisors of Amboy township, Cottonwood county, and one of the progressive farmers of that township, proprietor of a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in the vicinity of Jeffers, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Mankato on December 20, 1874, son of Lewis and Amelia (Langhoff) Graff, the former also a native of Minnesota and the latter of Germany, who are now living retired. Lewis Graff was born in Blue Earth county, this state, a member of one of the earliest pioneer families of that section of the state, and for years was engaged in farming in that county, but in 1892 he became a building contractor and followed that line until his retirement from business. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There are six of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Lewis, Harry, Nora, Edward and Walter. Adolph Graff received his schooling in the Mankato schools and as a young man began farming on his own account in Blue Earth county. In 1896 he moved into Cottonwood county, locating in Amboy township, where, the next year, in 1897, he bought the tract of eighty acres on which he now lives. The next year, in 1898, he married and bought an adjoining quarter section. He prospered in his farming operations and in 1915 bought another tract of eighty acres adjoining and now has a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of three hundred and twenty acres and is regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Graff has given considerable attention to the raising of Durham cattle and has done very well. He is a Republican and has long given close attention to local civic affairs, having been a member of the board of supervisors for the past six or seven years and has been serving as chairman of that board for the past three years. He also gives much attention to the general business activities of his home community and is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Elevator Company at Jeffers. In 1898 Adolph Graff was united in marriage to Alvina Quiram, daughter of Stephen Quiram, and to this union eight children have been born, Nora, Esther, Romey, Emilie, Ethel, Gilbert, Millard and a baby girl. Mr. and Mrs. Graff are members of the German Lutheran church and take a proper interest in parish affairs, as well as in all local good works and are helpful in promoting all movements designed to further the best interests of their home community. Grant, George W. Page 192-193 The Hon. George W. Grant, representative in the Minnesota state Legislature from the Cottonwood county and a well-known and progressive farmer of Lakeside township, that county, is a native son of Minnesota, having been born on a farm in Jackson county, this state, January 13, 1877, son of J. F. and Mary (Geddes) Grant, the former of whom was born in Ontario, Canada, September n, 1845, and the latter, at Albany, New York, in 1854, who later became pioneers of Cottonwood county. J. F. Grant was one of the organizers of Cottonwood county and served the public for some time in the capacity of county commissioner and also as a member of the school board. He had a fine farm in Lakeside township, where he made his home until 1904, when he retired from the farm and moved to Windom, where he lived until his removal, in 1911, to Eugene, Oregon, where he is now making his home. J. F. Grant was thrice married. His first wife, Emma Greenfield, died many years ago, leaving one child, Emma, who married E. J. Frost. Mr. Grant then married Mary Geddes and to that union six children were born, of whom George W. was the first-born, the others being Charles F., John G., James A., Fred R. and Mary A. The mother of these children died on November 2, 1902, and Mr. Grant later married Mrs. Hermena Schroeder, which union has been without issue. In a biographical sketch relating to John G. Grant, a well- known farmer of Lakeside township, presented elsewhere in this volume, further details regarding the history of the Grant family in Cottonwood county are set out. George W. Grant was reared on the paternal farm in Lakeside township, receiving his elementary education in the district schools of that neighborhood and aftenward attended the Windom high school for three years. He then entered the Minnesota State Agricultural School, from which he was graduated in 1902, after which he began farming in his home township and has ever since resided there, being the owner of a fine farm. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Grant has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. He has given close attention to local civic affairs ; served as towrfship clerk for two years, as assessor for one year, and in 1914 was elected representative from his district to the lower house of the Minnesota General Assembly. In 1906 George W. Grant was united in marriage to Tillie V. Swenson, daughter of John Swenson, and to this union five children have been born, Virgie C., Wilbur E., Mary C., Walter F. and Loren S. Mr. and Mrs. Grant are members of the Baptist church and take a proper interest in the general beneficences of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Grant is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both these organizations. Grant, John G. Page 360-361 John G. Grant, one of the best-known farmers in Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm in Lakeside township, is a native son of that county and has lived there all his life. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, March 12, 1880, son of J. F. and Mary (Geddes) Grant, early settlers of this part of the state. J. F. Grant is a native of Canada, born in the province of Ontario, September n, 1845, an^ became one of the pioneers of this section of Minnesota, having been one of the men who organized the government of Cottonwood county. It was in 1869 that he came out here. Upon locating here he filed on a homestead tract in what later became Carson township and shortly afterward traded that pre-emption claim for a homestead in Lakeside township, where he established his home. He was not only one of the earliest settlers of Cottonwood county, but was one of the most influential in the early days. He was one of the organizers of the county and for many years was a member of the school board, in which capacity he performed an admirable service in behalf of the early schools of the county, also serving for some time as county commissioner. He became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Lakeside township and there made his home until 1905, when he moved to Windom, where he lived until 1911, in which year he disposed of his interests in that city and moved to Eugene, Oregon, where he and his wife are now living in comfortable retirement. J. F. Grant has been thrice married. His first wife, who was Emma Greenfield, died many years ago, leaving one child, a daughter, Emma, who married J. E. Frost. Mr. Grant then married Mary Geddes, who was born at Albany, New York, in 1854, and to this union six children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being George W., Charles F., James A., Fred R. and Mary A. Mrs. Mary (Geddes) Grant died on November 2, 1902, and Mr. Grant later married Mrs. Hermena Schroader, which union has been without issue. Mr. Grant is a member of the Presbyterian church; Mrs. Grant is a Baptist. John G. Grant was reared on the paternal farm in Lakeside township, receiving his elementary education in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home, supplementing the same by a course in the schools at Windom, after which he taught school for one term and later attended the Minnesota State Agricultural School, from which he was graduated in 1903. He then returned to the home farm and began farming on his own account. The next year, in 1904, he married and established his home on the old home farm, where he ever since has made his home, and which he bought in 1910. He has there an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres, well improved and profitably cultivated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Grant has given considerable attention to the raising of pure-bred Holstein dairy cattle and has a fine herd. He takes an active interest in local civic affairs and for years has occupied the position of school treasurer. It was on May 25, 1904, that John G. Grant was united in marriage to Stella Lampson, who was born on May i, 1881, and who was graduated from the State Agricultural School in 1904, and to this union two children have been born, Melburn C, born on July 26, 1906, and Lois Marie, October 24, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Grant are members of the Baptist church at Windom and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good works of the community. Mr. Grant is a member of the Ancient Order of United: Workmen and in the affairs of that popular organization takes a warm interest. Mrs. Grant is a daughter of Jonas T. and Eliza J. (Park) Lampson, both natives of Ohio. Both moved to Kansas in an early day and married there, later came to Minnesota in 1893, lived there until 1901, when they moved to Missouri. Mr. Lampson is a veteran of the Civil War, served four years in the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, in the Western army, and was with General Sherman on the march to the sea. He had three children: Frank L., Emma (deceased), and Stella. He and his son, Frank, are in the mercantile business in Lampson, Wisconsin. Grunenwald, Albert Page 361-363 Albert Grunenwald, a well-to-do farmer of Dale township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres on rural route No. 5, out of Windom, and connected with various business enterprises throughout that part of the county, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of the United States since he was sixteen years of age. He was born on May 17, 1877, son of William and Wilhelmina Grunenwald, who later came to Minnesota and became settlers in Cottonwood county. William Grunenwald, a native of Germany, was reared as a farmer and remained thus engaged throughout his life. During the Franco-Prussian War he served as a soldier in the German army and later became a farmer on a large estate. In 1893 he came to the United States with his family and settled in Lincoln township, Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming for six years, at the end of which time he came to Minnesota, bought the northeast quarter of section 32, in Dale township, Cottonwood county, established his home there and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1907, being sixty-three years of age. His widow is still living. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Albert was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Ernest, a farmer, of Dale township; William, a farmer of Germantown township; Frank, who died in infancy; Fred, now living in Murray county, this state, farming, who married and has three children ; Augusta, who married Chris Richter, a building contractor, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and his six children ; Anna, who married Edward Nitzke, a hardware merchant, also living at Storm Lake, Iowa, and Bertha, who married Maurice Thompson, a fanner of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county. Albert Grunenwald was about sixteen years old when he came to this country with his parents in 1893. He had received excellent schooling in the government schools of his native land, but after locating in Iowa attended the local school in the neighborhood of his new home there awhile. In Iowa he worked on neighboring farms and was thus engaged until 1898, in which year he and his elder brother, Ernest, came to Minnesota, locating in Cottonwood county, where they rented the old Charles Dick farm of three hundred acres. The next year, when his father came out here and bought in Dale township, he rented his father's new place and farmed the same for a year, after which he rented another farm 'of three hundred and twenty- acres and farmed that for a year. In spring, 1901, he bought a quarter of a section in section 29, Dale township, and proceeded to improve the same. For a time he continued to make his home with his parents and then built a house on his place, after which he ""bached"" there until his marriage, in the spring of 1903, when he begun housekeeping right and has ever since made his home there. Mr. Grunenwald has improved his farm in fine shape and is doing well in his operations. Among the other improvements on his place is a nice grove, which he planted upon taking possession of the same and which adds much to the attractiveness of the place. Mr. Grunemvald has added to his farm holdings until now he is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres and is regarded as one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood. He also is interested in other enterprises and holds stock, in the Carson Farmers' Elevator Company, in the Windom Co-operative Elevator Company and in the Rural Telephone Company at Dale. He is an ""independent"" Republican and has served as constable and as treasurer of his school district. On March 5, 1903, Albert Grunenwald was united in marriage to Anna Pelz, and to this union six children have been born, Anna, Paul, Herman, Myrtle, Mabel and Gladys, all of whom are living, save Paul, who died when five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Grunenwald are members of the German Lutheran church and take an active interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in all local good works, Mr. Grunenwald for some time having been a member of the official board of the church. Gustafson, Charles Anders Page 310-311 Charles Anders Gustafson, a progressive farmer of Dale township, Cottonwood county, one of the largest landowners in that part of the county, with a pleasant home on rural route No. 5, out of Windom, chairman of his district school board and a director in the Farmers Elevator Company at Windom, the Carson Farmers Elevator Company, the Northwestern Telephone Company and the Farmers State Bank of Windom, is a native of Sweden, but has lived in the United States since he was twenty years of age and has been a resident of Minnesota since he was twenty-five. He was born on March 15, 1867, son of Gustav and Matilda (Peterson) Gustafson, both of whom died in their native land and who were the parents of seven children, of whom Charles A. was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : Sophia, wife of Mr. Wessling, a farmer, living near Muskegon, Michigan ; Amanda, who lives in Sweden ; Amil, who came to America and is now a well-known farmer in Dale township, Cottonwood county; Axel, who is associated with his brother, Amil, in the latter's farming operations; Freda, wife of Oscar Johnson, a Pullman carpenter at Chicago, and Oscar, who remained in Sweden. Charles A. Gustafson was reared on a farm in his native land and received his education in the government schools. When twenty years of age, in 1887, he settled at Gorrie, Iowa, near which place he was for four years engaged as a farm laborer. He then came to Minnesota, arriving at Windom in 1891. Shortly thereafter he bought eighty acres of wild land in section 33, Dale township, and developed the same. Upon his marriage in 1894 he rented the John F. Gustafson farm and made his home there for three years, at the end of which time he traded his original tract of eighty acres for another ""eighty"" of wild land in section 29 of that same township and there built a house and established his home. Mr. Gustafson has been a very successful farmer. Almost immediately after taking possession of the tract on which he established his home, he bought an adjoining ""eighty"" and two years later bought a quarter of a section west of that, later buying one hundred and twenty acres in section 30 and still later buying another quarter section in section 28, thus being the owner of six hundred acres of land in Dale township, all of which he is farming, besides renting and cultivating other lands in that vicinity. He keeps twenty-five head of horses and also raises annually from seventy-five to one hundred head of cattle. His farm is well improved, a good barn and other up-to-date farm buildings affording him every convenience in his operations. One of the attractive features of the home farm is a grove of about three acres, which Mr. Gustafson planted upon taking possession of the same. He and his family have a pleasant home and are comfortably situated. Mr. Gustafson drives a fine automobile and takes an active interest in the general business affairs of the community. He is an ""independent"" Democrat and is now serving his second term as chairman of the school board of district No. 54. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Windom and also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Windom, the Carson Farmers Elevator Company and the Northwestern Telephone Company, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest. It was on November 2, 1894, that Charles A. Gustafson was united in marriage to Augusta Gustafson and to this union seven children have been born, namely: Sigurd Joseph, born on August 17, 1895; Clarence Conrad, September 28, 1896; Walter, February 19, 1898; Ethel Elvera, April 8, 1900, now attending school at Windom; Hildur, April 21, 1902; Ruth, July 24, 1903, and Myrtle, March 27, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson are members of the Free Mission Swedish church at Windom and their children have been reared in that faith. The Gustafsons take a proper interest in neighborhood good works and are ever helpful in promoting movements designed to advance the general welfare hereabout. Gustafson, John F. Page 176-178 John F. Gustafson, a well-known and substantial farmer of Dale township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres situated on rural route No. 5, out of Windom, chairman of the board of supervisors of his home township, president of the Dale Rural Telephone Company, a director of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Windom, a director of the Minnesota State Grain Dealers' Association, vice-president of the Three Lake Farm Club and otherwise actively identified with the agricultural and business life of the community, is a native of Sweden, but has been a resident of the United States since he was eighteen years old. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Wrigstad, in Smoland, in the southeast part of Sweden, June 10, 1870, son of Sven Gustaf and Emma Caroline (Johnsdatter) Johnson, who were the parents of seven children, of whom John F. was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : Augusta, who is living in Sweden; Minnie, who is the wife of Hans Mau- berg, of Hammond, Indiana; Hilda, wife of John Olson, who is an automobile racing man, living at Milwaukee; Ida, a hairdresser at Chicago; Carl, who lived with an uncle and took the latter's name of Mallander, and Earnest, who died, aged six. The father of these children died and his widow later married and is still living in the old country. To her second marriage there was torn one son, Axel Lauder. John F. Gustafson received his schooling at Wrigstad and when a lad worked on a large estate, Lundholmen, of which his grandfather was the foreman. When eighteen years of age he came to the United States and landed at the port of New York on December 24, following. His objective point upon arriving in this country was Stanhope, Hamilton county, Iowa, where for eighteen months he was employed on the farm of Olaf Cealine. He then went to Webster county, Iowa, where for a couple of years he was employed on big farms in that section, and then went to Pocahantas county, same state, where for some time he worked on a hay press, after which he located at Cowrie, Iowa, and was there engaged, in partnership with Peter Shellstrom, in the tile business for three months, at the end of which time, in June, 1892, he came to Minnesota and settled at Windom. For three years thereafter he worked on farms in that vicinity, in the meanwhile, in September, 1892, having bought eighty acres of wild land in section 28, Dale township, on which, in June, 1893, he built the house in which he is now living, the same, however, having been considerably enlarged and improved since then. While developing his own place, he also rented additional land nearby and after his marriage, in the fall of 1899, began housekeeping on his place and has since made his home there. Mr. Gustafson is an excellent farmer, long having been recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of that neighborhood. He has added to his original acreage until he now has a farm of two hundred acres, well-improved and profitably cultivated; a good set of farm buildings and a modern and up-to-date plant for effective farming. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has a fine herd of Shorthorns. Mr. Gustafson is an ""independent"" Democrat and has ever given close attention to local civic affairs. For the past fifteen years he has been a member of the board of township supervisors and is now chairman of the same, while for seven years or more he has been treasurer of school district No. 11. He has been equally active in neighborhood business enterprises and is president of the Rural Telephone Company of Dale and a director from the time of its organization of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Windom, while he is serving as vice-president of the Three Lake Farm Club and a director of the Minnesota State Grain Dealers' Association, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest. Mr. Gustafson drives a fine automobile and he and his family are very pleasantly situated. On November 16, 1899, Jonn F. Gustafson was united in marriage to Jennie Elizabeth Seashore, who was born in Sweden, June 14, 1881, daughter of John August and Sophia Christina (Carlson) Seashore, farming people, who came to the United States with their family in 1885 and settled at Gowrie, Iowa. After farming for seven years in that vicinity, John A. Seashore came to Minnesota with his family, arriving at Windom in the spring, 1892. He bought the east half of the southeast quarter of section 33 in Dale township and there established his home, later buying the west half of the same quarter, and there he lived for seventeen years, at the end of which time he moved to Buffalo, Wright county, Minnesota, in the vicinity of which place he bought an eighty-acre farm and he and his wife are now living there. To them nine children have been born, of whom Mrs. Gustafson is the eldest, the others being as follow: Axel William, a farmer at Buffalo, Minnesota; Charles Fred, a motorman in the employ of the Minneapolis Street Railway Company; Olive Amelia, wife of Theodore Wester, a carpenter at Windom; John Oscar, who is farming with his father in Minnesota; Harry, who is living at Minneapolis, in the employ of the Minneapolis Dairy Company; Albert Emanuel, who died at the age of six months; Paul Theodore, an assistant to his father on the home farm in Minnesota, and David, likewise engaged. To John F. and Jennie Elizabeth (Seashore) Gustafson six children have been born, as follow: Grant Reuben, born on September 30, 1900; Olga Emma Sophia, July 30, 1902; Adelia Amelia Henrietta, April 7, 1904; Esther Cecelia Agnes, October 27, 1906; Victor Emanuel, August 3, 190$ and Florence Ida Wilhelmina, May 27, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson also have an adopted son, Walter Allin, now twenty-five years old, serving in the United States navy, at present stationed on the battleship ""Colorado,"" and has served four years now at home. The Gustafsons are members of the Free Mission church at Windom and take an earnest interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works, ever concerned in all movements having to do with the elevation of the standards of living hereabout. Hale, Walter M. Page 137-138 Walter M. Hale, station agent for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad Company, at Windom, clerk of the city council and for years actively interested in the affairs of this part of the state, is a native of the great Empire state, born in Herkimer county, New York, June 28, 1862, son of Edward and Martha (lies) Hale, both natives of England, who came to this country with their respective parents in the days of their youth and were married in New York. Edward Hale was a stone mason by trade and in the early eighties came to Minnesota, locating at Windom, where for some time he followed his trade and later became proprietor of the old Pioneer hotel in that city. He is a Mason and a member of the Episcopal church and took an active part in both church and lodge affairs. His wife died at Windom some years ago and he is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Jens Peterson, at Chippewa Falls, this state. Walter M. Hale was reared at Mohawk, Herkimer county, New York, receiving his education in the schools of that town and a business college at Utica, New York. He early began the life of a railroader and became an expert telegraph operator. Upon locating at Windom in 1883 he was made operator in the station of the ""Omaha"" road at that place and after about eighteen months of that service was transferred to the station at Mount- tain Lake, where he was the agent for eighteen months, at the end of which time in 1886, he was transferred back to Windom and there installed as station agent, a position which he has held ever since, thus holding a record as one of the oldest men in continuous service as station agents in this part of the state. Mr. Hale has not only been faithful and diligent in the affairs of the company he has so long served, but he has found time to give thoughtful attention to public affairs. He is a Republican and for nearly ten years served as clerk of the city council at Windom. For three years he has also been a member of the school board and in other ways has contributed to the public service of his home town, long having been regarded as one of the useful and substantial citizens of that place. On March 14, 1883, just before coming West, Walter M. Hale was united in marriage, at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York, to Mary E. Smith, who was born at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have a very pleasant home at Windom and give their earnest attention to the various social and cultural activities of their home town. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hale is prominent in local lodge circles and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Royal Arcanum, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest. Hammerstad, Ole Page 73-74 The qualities which have caused Ole Hammerstad, a merchant of Win- dom, Cottonwood county, to win in life's battle have no doubt been inherited from his worthy Norwegian ancestors, although he himself was born under the ""star spangled banner,"" his birth having occurred in Jackson county, Minnesota, August 29, 1872. He is a son of Ole and Marie (Quevli) Hammerstad, both born in Norway, where they grew up, attending school and were married. In 1871 they set their faces toward the New World and took up residence in Jackson county, Minnesota; homesteading one hundred and sixty acres, where they developed a good farm on which they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1877 and the mother about 1895. They were members of the Lutheran church, in which they reared their four children, namely: Tilda, Julia, Minnie and Ole. Ole Hammerstad grew to manhood on the home farm in Jackson county, and was educated in the public schools. However, his education was limited, for he was compelled to begin life for himself when only twelve years of age, when he took a position as clerk in a store in the town of Jackson. He came to Windom in 1894, where he clerked in the store of his uncle, A. Quevli. Being alert, trustworthy and courteous, his rise was rapid and in 1900 he was admitted as a member of the firm of A. Quevli & Company, and has remained with the firm ever since, doing much toward the general success of this thriving general mercantile establishment. Mr. Hammerstad was married in December, 1899, to Melissa Larson, of Lyle, Minnesota, and to this union three children have been born, namely : Owen, Mark is deceased, and Lynn. Politically, Mr. Hammerstad is a Democrat. He has been a member of the council of Windom and has always been alert to the best interests of the town since taking up his residence here. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Methodist Episcopal church. Hammond, Milton H. Page 42-43 MILTON H. HAMMOND, cashier of the Security State Bank of St. James, a half-brother of the late Gov. Winfield Scott Hammond, of Minnesota, and one of the most prominent figures in the financial life of this section of the state, is a native of Massachusetts, born at Southborough, that state, May 31, 1887, son of John W. and Josephine (Hastings) Hammond, the former of whom was born at Bridgewater, New Hampshire, and the latter at Framingham, Massachusetts. John W. Hammond received an academic education and became an engineer, settling at Southborough, which was his home for about fifty years and where he was for years the owner of a jute mill. He was twice married; by his first wife, Ellen Handing, having had one child, a son, Winfield Scott Hammond, late governor of Minnesota, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. By his second marriage he had two children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the elder, the latter having a younger sister, Alice W., who married Charles H. Sturtevant and now lives at Detroit, Michigan. The mother of these children died in 1890 and her husband survived until January 14, 1906. Milton H. Hammond was reared in his native town, receiving his schooling in the public schools of that place, supplementing that course by a further one in a business college at South Framingham. In 1906, following the death of his father, he came to Minnesota to join his half-brother, Winfield S. Hammond, at St. James, and shortly after his arrival there, was made a clerk in the Security State Bank of St. James. Three years later he was made assistant cashier of the bank and in 1912 was elected cashier of that institution, a position which he now occupies, long having been recognized as one of the ablest young bankers in this part of the state. Mr. Hammond is a Democrat and ever since coming to Minnesota has taken an active interest in local political affairs. In June, 1916, he served as a delegate from this district to the national Democratic convention at St. Louis. In 1910 Milton H. Hammond was united in marriage to Hazel McSteen, daughter of J. E. McSteen, of St. James. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are members of the Episcopal church and take an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works, and are accounted as among the leaders in the general social and cultural life of the community. Mr. Hammond is a Knight Templar Mason and a Knight of Pythias, as well as a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Equitable Fraternal Union and the Modern Brotherhood of America, in the affairs of which several organizations he takes a warm interest. Hammond, Winfield Scott Page 35-37 HON. WINFIELD SCOTT HAMMOND In the memorial annals of Watonwan county and of the second Minnesota Congressional district no name occupies a higher position than that of the late Gov. Winfield Scott Hammond, of St. James, who died while occupying the high position of chief executive of the great state of Minnesota, December 30, 1915. Though not a native of Minnesota, Governor Hammond had spent all the active years of his vigorous manhood in this state, having come here immediately after his graduation from one of the leading colleges of the East, and as educator, lawyer, statesman and, finally, as head of the state government, did well his part in the development of the great Northwest. For years a representative in Congress from the second Minnesota district, his services in behalf of the best interests of this section of the state were of incalculable value to the whole commonwealth, while his active and intimate participation for many years in the general social and cultural life of his home county was productive of results that will have a lasting bearing for good throughout this entire region. Winfield Scott Hammond was a native of Massachusetts, of Revolutionary ancestry, born in Southborough, Worcester county, that state, November 17, 1863, son and only child of John W. and Ellen (Handing)' Hammond died when her only son, the future governor, was but a child, academic training, was proprietor of a jute mill at that place, his home for more than fifty years, or until his death on January 14, 1906. Mrs. Ellen Hammond died when her only son, the future governor, was but a child and the father married Josephine Hastings, to which union two children were born, Milton H., who has been a resident of St. James since 1906, following the death of his father, and who for some years has occupied the responsible position of cashier of the Security State Bank of that place, and Alice W., who married Charles H. Sturtevant and now lives at Detroit, Michigan. Upon completing the course in the high school of his native town in June, 1880, Winfield S. Hammond entered Dartmouth College and was graduated from that excellent old institution in June, 1884. In that same year he came to Minnesota, having been called to serve as principal of the high school at Mankato. His service in that connection attracted the attention of the school authorities of Madelia and the next year he was engaged as superintendent of the Madelia public schools, a position which he held for five years and during which time he did much toward improving the school system there, contributing very largely to the work of elevating the standards of education hereabout. In the meantime Mr. Hammond had been devoting his leisure to the study of law and in 1891 was admitted to the bar. In that same year he entered into a partnership with D. C. Hopkins for the practice of law and was thus engaged, with offices at Madelia, for four years, at the end of which time, in 1895, actuated by business reasons, he moved his office to St. James, the county seat, where he ever after made his residence In 1892 Mr. Hammond was the nominee of the Democrats of the second Minnesota Congressional district for a seat in the House of Representatives, but failed of election, this district having been carried by the Republicans in that year. In 1895, the year in which he moved to St. James, he was elected county attorney and was re-elected in 1896. In 1900 he was again elected to that office and was retained incumbent in the same to the end of 1904. It was in 1898 that Governor Hammond's service in the administration of state affairs began. In that year he was appointed by Governor Lind a member of the board of directors for the state normal schools of Minnesota, in which capacity he rendered such admirable service that he was reappointed by Governor Van Sant and thus served as a normal-school director for eight years. Even after leaving the school room as a superintendent of schools, Mr. Hammond ever retained his interest in educational work and for years was a valued member of the school board at St. James. In 1906 he was again nominated by the Democrats of this district for Congress and in the ensuing election was elected by a good majority. His admirable service in the House of Representatives recommended him so strongly to the people of this district that he was re-elected in 1908, 1910 and 1912, declining to make a further race in order to become a candidate for governor in 1914. He was elected and was inaugurated in the following January. In the winter of that year, 1915, Governor Hammond was enjoying a tour in the South. At Clinton, Louisiana, he was stricken with apoplexy and died, December 30, I9i'5, in the very prime of his vigorous manhood and at the very height of his useful public career. The loss of this good man fell with particular severity upon his friends at his home in St. James and his memory long will be cherished throughout this section of the state. Governor Hammond never married. He took a deep interest in the social side of things and for years was one of the managers of the Minnesota Society of the Sons of the Revolution, to the promotion of the growth of which society in this state he contributed largely of his time and his energies. Hansen, Jens C. Page 260-261 Jens C. Hansen, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres on the range line between Storden and Westbrook townships, a portion lying in section 19 of Storden township and the remainder in section 13 of Westbrook township, with the home situated in the former section, and a former merchant of that vicinity, is a native of Denmark, born -on July 2, 1866, son of Hans and Karen (Larsen) Jensen, natives of that country, the former of whom spent his last days in Minnesota. Hans Jensen was a farmer in his native land. In 1886 he came to the United States and located in Freeborn county, this state, his son, Jens C., having preceded him there a couple of years, and after a residence of several years there moved to Iowa, where he spent six years, at the end of which time he returned to Freeborn county and there spent the rest of his life. Hans Jenson was twice married. His first wife, the mother of Jens C. died in her native land, leaving four children, L. P., Jens C, Chris and Carrie. Mr. Jensen then married Anna Nelson and to that union six children were born, Peter, Ole, John, Walter, Herman and Fritz. Hans Jensen was a member of the Baptist church and his children were reared in that faith. Jens C. Hansen was reared on a farm in his native land, receiving his schooling in the public schools, and when he was eighteen years of age, in 1884, came to the United States and located in Freeborn county, this state, where for ten years he was engaged working on farms in that part of the state. In 1895 he came over into this part of the state, settling in Cotton- wood county, where, in partnership with O. C. Anderson, he started a country store in Storden township, and was thus engaged until the year 1900, when he sold his interest in the store and bought the farm of two hundred acres, where he has lived since then. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Hansen has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock, Holstein cattle, by preference, and has done very well. His farm is well improved and profitably cultivated and he has long been recognized as one of the substantial farmers of that section. In 1897 Jens C. Hansen was united in marriage to Emma Pederson and to this union seven children have been born, Merrill, Ruth, Hattie, Edna, Elvin, Victor and Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Baptist church and take a proper interest in church affairs, Mr. Hansen being the clerk of the congregation. He is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in political affairs, but has never been an office holder. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes an active interest in the affairs of that organization. Hanson, Andrew M. Page 51-52 Restlessness causes many to leave our paternal halls and seek our fortunes in distant lands. Some feel this wanderlust spirit so strongly that they have no control over it. Andrew M. Hanson, cashier of the Citizens National Bank of St. James, and formerly county treasurer of Watonwan county, is one of the large band of foreign-born citizens who has come to this locality and has succeeded. Mr. Hanson was born in Sweden in 1862, and is a son of John and Christina (Nelson) Hanson, both natives of Sweden, in which country they grew up, were married and established their home, but eventually moved with their family to America, settling in Scott county, Minnesota, in 1865, removing to St. James in 1870. The father was a tailor by trade. In 1869 he took up a homestead in Long Lake township, which he transformed into a good farm. He is now living in St. James, retired from active life, spending his declining years in ease and comfort. Andrew M. Hanson was about three years old when his parents brought him to America. He grew to manhood in Minnesota, and received his education in the public schools of Watonwan county, and here he engaged in farming until 1904, when he was elected county treasurer, the duties of which office he discharged in an able, faithful and highly acceptable manner for a period of ten years; then, in February, 1915, he became cashier of the Citizens National Bank of St. James, which position he still holds and is giving high-grade service. He is also engaging to some extent in the real- estate business. Andrew M. Hanson was married in 1889, to Ellen Pearson, who was born in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Clara, Hazel, Leota, Wallace. Mr. Hanson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Republican, and has long been active in party affairs and influential in his locality. Besides the office of county treasurer, he served as clerk of Long Lake township for six years, and was chairman of the township board for several years, and clerk of the local school board for six years, or until 1914. He is president of the Commercial Club of St. James, and is one of the town's most public-spirited citizens; he is also a member of the board of education. Hanson, Henry E. Page 120-121 A thriving banking business is being conducted at Windom by Henry E. Hanson, who understands thoroughly every phase of his chosen line of endeavor and tries in every way to please his many patrons. Mr. Hanson was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, September 18, 1860. He is a son of Elling and Guro (Helgeson) Hanson, both natives of Norway, where they spent their earlier years, immigrating to America in 1848, locating on Rock Prairie, Rock county, Wisconsin, where they remained until about 1851, when they removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where the father died in 1860. The mother married again, and the family removed to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and in 1872 came to Ann township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, where Henry E. Hanson's step-father, Ole Kleven, entered a homestead which he developed and on which he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Three children were born to Elling and Guro Hanson, namely: Mary, deceased; Anna, who lives in Fillmore county, and Henry E., the subject of this sketch. Henry E. Hanson received his early education in the public schools of La Crosse, Wisconsin, later attending school in Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He started out in life as a laborer on farms and with threshing machines, then engaged in railroad construction work for two years, later engaged in farming for himself. In 1889 he was elected register of deeds, which office he held with satisfaction to all concerned for a period of eighteen years, or until January, 1906. The following autumn he was elected to the state Senate, in which body he made a splendid record. In 1907 he was appointed postmaster at Windom, which position he held until July, 1915. He was state Senator during the sessions of the Legislature from 1907 to 1909. In 1907 he organized the Farmers State Bank at Windom, of which he became cashier, continuing as such until in January, 1915, then became president, which position he still occupies. His rare business acumen, sound judgment, recognized industry and honesty have combined to make this one of the sound, safe and popular banks of this section of the state. He is also interested in general farming, owning a fine farm of eight hundred and eighty acres in Ann township, which he claims to be the second best farm in Cottonwood county. It is under a high state of cultivation and improvement, including large, substantial buildings, with, every modern convenience. He formerly bred Shorthorn cattle, also Berkshire hogs. He now rents his land. On May 6, 1889, Henry E. Hanson was married to Gina Peterson, of Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, daughter of Paul Peterson, a part of whose farm is now within the limits of the town of Westbrook. To this union the following children have been born : Emma Pauline is the wife of Frank Strehlow ; Clarence M., Hazel, Irene is the wife of Frank Barr, and Grace. Politically, Mr. Hanson is a Republican. He has long been active and influential in public affairs, and is the recognized leader of his party in this section of Minnesota. He has done much for the general development of his town and community and is one of the most substantial and best-known citizens of Cottonwood county. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal Arcanum and the Sons of Norway. Hanson, Jens Page 195-196 Jens Hanson, of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, was born in Denmark, January 24, 1864, and is a son of Hans and Anna Christen- son, both natives of Denmark, in which country they spent their lives. The father was a soldier in the regular army of his country and served in the war of 1864 against Germany. His family consisted of eight children. Jens Hanson spent his youthful days in Denmark, where he was educated. He came to America in 1888, when twenty- four years of age and settled in Illinois, where he remained three years, then removed to Minnesota, locating in Redwood county, where he spent one and one-half years. In 1890 he came to Cottonwood county, locating on a farm near Windom on which he has since resided, owning a well-improved and productive place of one hundred and twenty acres, where he has carried on general farming and stock raising. Mr. Hanson was married in 1891 to Mary Anderson, who was born in Norway. She is a daughter of Andres Peterson and Helen (Larson) Peterson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, were married and spent their lives. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, namely: Victor, Walter, Myrtle and Orval. Politically, Mr. Hanson is independent. He is the present chairman of the township board of Great Bend township, which office he has held for a period of about ten years. He and his family belong to the Lutheran church. Harper, Arthur Page 251-252 Arthur Harper, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, now living at Windom, where he has made his home since retiring from the active labors of the farm in 1909. is a native of Canada, born in Ontario, November 9, 1864, son of John and Priscilla (Winters) Harper, substantial farming people, natives of Canada, who were the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living, two of whom make their homes in Cottonwood county, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. W. K. Moores, living here. John Harper continued farming in his native country until 1888, when he moved to Minnesota, and continued farming until his death, June 15, 1900. His widow still lives with a daughter, Mrs. W. K. Moores, Cottonwood county. Arthur Harper received his schooling in the schools in the neighborhood of his home in Ontario and when sixteen years of age came to Minnesota, locating in Goodhue county, where he worked as a farm hand for three years, at the end of which time, in 1883, he came to this part of the state and rented a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Springfield township, Cottonwood county. The next year he married and established his home on that farm, continuing there as a tenant farmer for two or three years, at the end of which time he bought the place, paying for the same thirteen dollars and fifty cents an acre, and there he made his home until his retirement from the farm in 1909. Mr. Harper is an excellent farmer and from the very beginning of his operations on his home place he prospered, gradually adding to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of four hundred acres. He spent about ten thousand dollars improving the place and became recognized as one of the most progressive and substantial farmers in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Harper gave considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock and was accustomed to feeding about one hundred head of cattle on his place. In 1909 he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to Windom, where they have a very pleasant home and where they are very comfortably situated. Mr. Harper is ""independent"" in his political views, has ever taken a close interest in local political affairs, but has never been included in the office-seeking class, though for some years he served as a member of the township board and for fifteen years was a member of the school board, representative of his district. In 1884 Arthur Harper was united in marriage to Alice Winslow, daughter of Ezra and Frances (Reed) Winslow, and to this union have been born the following children : Manley, who married Tora Anderson and has two children, Avis and Mildred; John, who married Jennie Eastgate and has two children, Avon and Elsie; George, who married Carrie Schroeder; Jesse, at home; Pearl, at home; Lydia, who married Frank McGrath, and Ida and Willis, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Harper are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Windom, Mr. Harper being 'a member of the official board of the same, and have ever taken an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works. Mr. Harper is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and Mrs. Harper are members of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah, in the affairs of which they take a hearty interest. Hedquist, Olaf Page 58-59 OLAF HEDQUIST, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, now living at Windom, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, born on November 12, 1852, son of Olaf and Mary ( Johnson) Hedquist, both natives of that country, who spent all their lives there. He received his education in his native country and when twenty years of age, in 1872, came to the United States and proceeded to Chicago. Shortly afterward he became engaged in farm labor in Livingston county, Illinois, and later bought an eighty-acre farm in Champaign county, same state. In 1881 he married and established his home there, where he remained until 1901, in which year he sold that place and his wife sold a forty-acre farm which she owned there, and they moved over into Iowa, settling near Sheldon, in O'Brien county. There Mr. Hedquist bought three hundred and twenty acres, which he proceeded to improve and where he made his home for about ten years, at the end of which time, in 1910, he sold his place to advantage and came to Minnesota, locating in Cotton- wood county. He bought section 35 in Springfield township, that county, and there made his home until 1915, in which year he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Windom, buying a fine residence on Ninth street, where he and his wife are now living, very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. Mr. Hedquist still owns his fine farm of six hundred and forty acres in Springfield township and is recognized as a very substantial citizen. He is a Republican, but has never been included in the office-seeking class. He was reared a Lutheran, but he and his family attend the Methodist church. On January 25, 1881, Olaf Hedquist was united in marriage to Lillie Jenkinson, who was born in Marshall county, Illinois, September 23, 1862, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Jenkinson, natives of England, who later moved from Marshall county to Woodford county, Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives, he dying on February 14, 1889, and she in June, 1909. Benjamin Jenkinson and wife were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Hedquist was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Alfred, Jemima, William, Mary Ann, Lydia, Sarah, Benjamin, Kesiah and Anna. Of these children, Alfred, William, Benjamin and Anna now survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Hedquist eight children have been born, Arthur, Mary, Elmer, Clarence, Herbert, Lydia, Leona and John, all of whom are living. Heggerston, E. E. Page 166-167 E. E. Heggerston, a well-known and substantial farmer of Ann township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Walnut Grove, treasurer of that township, former assessor of the same and former member of the board of county commissioners from that district, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born on August 18, 1852, son of Erick and Marit (Clostad) Heggerston, both natives of that same country, the former of whom was born on September 8, 1818. Erick Heggerston was a farmer in comfortable circumstances and spent all his life in his native land. He and his wife were the parents of three children, Kari, E. E., and Ole, who were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church. Reared on the paternal farm, E. E. Heggerston received his education in the government schools of his native land and assisted his father in the work of the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when, in 1871, he came to the United States and proceeded directly to Minnesota, to which state large numbers of his fellow-countrymen had- preceded him. He stopped in Fillmore county for a year and then, in 1872, became attracted to the possibilities that awaited the settlers who were then beginning to open up this part of the state and moved over into Cotton wood county. The next year, in 1873, ne homesteaded a quarter of a section in Ann township, the place on which he is still making his home, and proceeded to bring the same under cultivation, soon having a productive and well-improved farm. One of his first movements was the planting of a fine orchard on his homestead and he ever has been known as one of the leading fruit growers in that section. He has always taken much interest in his orchard and now has more than four hundred and fifty apple trees on his place. In 1887, about ten years after beginning the development of his homestead, Mr. Heggerston married and established a comfortable home on his place, where he and his family are living in substantial comfort. Mr. Heggerston is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. For fifteen years he served the public as assessor of Ann township; for six years rendered admirable service to the county as a member of the board of county commissioners from his district and is now serving as treasurer of Ann township. He has otherwise been active in civic affairs and has long been recognized as one of the public-spirited and influential men of the county. It was in 1887 that E. E. Heggerston was united in marriage to Mary Ellefson and to this union six children have been born, Ida Mabel, Edwin Conrad, Elmer Morris, Adner Irvin, Olive Inge Anthony and Harry Clifford. Mr. and Mrs. Heggerston are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and for many years have been regarded as among the leaders in the local congregation of that church. Mr. Heggerston was one of the most active promoters of the organization of his home church and has served as clerk of the same since its organization. Henderson, John Page 128-129 A diversity of interests has been the outgrowth of the natural conditions found in Cottonwood county. It has been discovered that certain portions of her soil are well suited to be manufactured into brick and tile, and among those who .are taking advantage of this fact is John Henderson, of Bingham Lake, formerly a banker. John Henderson was born in County Donegal, Ireland, June 22, 1848, a son of William and Mary (Russell) Henderson, who immigrated to America and settled in Tama county, Iowa. William Henderson was a farmer and died in Iowa. Mrs. Mary Henderson died at Rhinebeck, Iowa, The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Iowa and there received a common school deucation. He began his active career in the banking business and conducted a bank at Goldfield, Iowa, for a period of fifteen years with gratifying results. It was first a private bank, then became the First National Bank of Goldfield. He was made president upon the organization of the institution and continued in the same position during his residence in Goldfield. He removed to Bingham Lake, Minnesota, in 1902, where he started a private bank, which two years later was converted into the First State Bank of Bingham Lake, with Mr. Henderson as president, which position he retained until 1915, when he sold out to J. A. Redding. His industry, sound, conservative and honest methods made this institution a decided success. In 1913 he took over the brick and tile manufacturing plant at Bingham Lake, which he has conducted on an extensive scale to the present time, his products finding a very ready market owing to their superior quality. He also owns a valuable and well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres which lies immediately south of the village. He also owns seventy acres within the village limits, and on this he makes his home, having an attractive and modernly appointed residence. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the leading men of affairs of the county. John Henderson was married in 1882 to Mary Elizabeth Small. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have no children of their own, but they adopted a child, Victor Rodgers, of Bingham Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the Presbyterian church and are active workers in the church. Hengtgen, Jacob Page 131-132 Jacob Hentgten, a wellrknown and prosperous farmer of Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-three acres lying in sections 22 and 27 of Storden township, and actively identified with the general affairs of that community, is a native of Iowa, born on a pioneer farm in Jackson county, that state, January 22, 1852, son of Barney and Anna (Rystoffer) Hengtgen, natives of Germany and early settlers in that part of Iowa. Barney Hengtgen left his native land and came to the United States when a young man, locating in Jackson county, Iowa, in 1847, thus having been among the pioneers of that county, and there, some years later married Anna Rystoffer, who came to this country with her parents from Germany in 1849, tne family locating in Jackson county, Iowa. To that union four children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born the others being Anna, Nicholas and Maggie. Following the death of the mother of these children, Barney Hengtgen married Mary Thyson and to that union six children were born, Theodore, Michael, Peter, Elizabeth. Margaret and Katherine. Barney Hengtgen remained a farmer all his life, his death occurring on his home farm in Iowa in 1911. He was a member of the Catholic church and his children were reared in that faith. Jacob Hengtgen was reared on his father's homestead farm in Iowa and received his schooling in the primitive school in the neighborhood of his home. As a young man he started farming on his own account in Plymouth county, Iowa, and there he remained until 1909, in which year he disposed of his holdings there and came to Minnesota, settling in Cottonwood county, where he bought his present farm of two hundred and thirty-three acres in Storden township and has ever since made his home there. Mr. Hengtgen has his farm well improved and has been quite successful in his operations. In addition to his general farming, he has given considerable attention to the raising of live-stock and has done very well. In 1886, in Plymouth county, Iowa, Jacob Hengtgen was united in marriage to Minnie Walters and to this union eleven children have been born, Edward, Mary, Frank, Eliazbeth, Anna, Leo, Clara, Lena, Margaret, Florence and Roy. The Hengtgens have a pleasant home on their well- kept farm and are very comfortably situated. Mrs. Hengtgen is a member of the Lutheran church and the children have been reared in that faith, the family ever giving proper attention to local movements having to do with the advancement of the best interests of the community in which they live. Mr. Hengtgen is a Democrat, but has not been a seeker after office. Hiebert, Jacob G. Page 86-87 Russia has sent to the locality of which this history treats many good citizens. They have had opportunities given them to advance in the world, to obtain good homes and make a comfortable livelihood. Among the number is Jacob G. Hiebert, merchant of Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county. Mr. Hiebert was born in southern Russia, May 15, 1863. He is a son of Gerhard and Susanna (Enns) Hiebert, both natives of southern Russia, where they grew up, married and resided until 1876, when they came to the United States, direct to Mountain Lake, Minnesota. The father bought a farm in this vicinity on which he worked until about two years prior to his death when he retired, moving to Mountain Lake village, where he spent the rest of his days. His wife died while the family lived on the farm. Before he came to America he was a miller and spent many years in the flouring-mills in Russia. His family consisted of seven children, all still living, namely: Jacob, Elizabeth, Gerhard, Jr., David, Susanna, John and Peter. The father of the above-named children married, after the death of his first wife, Gertrude Nickle, also a native of southern Russia, and to this second union six children were born, , namely : Helen, Gertrude, Anna, Marie, Abraham, and Bernhard. The above named children are all living. Jacob G. Hiebert of this sketch spent his early boyhood in Russia, where he attended school, finishing his education after coming to Minnesota. He began life for himself in 1888 in the general mercantile business at Mountain Lake under the name of Balzer, Hiebert & Company, and this firm has continued ever since with ever-increasing success and now operates a large department store, carrying a full line of carefully-selected goods. Prompt, courteous and honest dealings are his watchwords. The present store is just across the street from the first store operated by this firm. Mr. Hiebert is also stockholder in the First State Bank of Mountain Lake since its organization, also a director in the same all the while. He is also interested in the Mountain Lake Milling Company and the local telephone company. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the county's most substantial citizens, and deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished unaided. Mr. Hiebert was married in 1889 to Anna Franz, who was born in southern Russia, and is daughter of Johan Franz, a pioneer farmer of Cottonwood county, coming here from southern Russia. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiebert, namely: Susie, (deceased); Jacob and Gerhard are both at home; Anna and Laura are both deceased. Mr. Hiebert is a Republican in politics. He has been village treasurer, and for many years was a member of the village council. He and his family belong to the Mennonite church. Hofstad, Rudolf Page 350-351 Rudolf Hofstad, a well-known and substantial farmer 'of Storden township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Storden, and for many years actively identified with the work of developing the community in which he lives, is a native of Norway, born in Helgoland, October 14, 1853, son of Peter and Marie (Lund) Hofstad, natives of that same country, who spent all their lives there. Peter Hofstad was a farmer and a sailor. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Johannes, Hans (deceased), Morton, Jacob (deceased), Peter, Knute (deceased), and Ole (deceased). Upon completing his studies in the high school in his home country, Rudolf Hofstad began farming and has continued farming ever since. He married in 1879 and three years later, in 1882, came to this country, proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling on a farm in Grenville county, where he lived for three years, at the end of which time, in 1885, he moved to this part of the state and located on his present farm in Storden township, Cottonwood county, where he has made his home ever since. Mr. Hofstad is an excellent farmer and has increased his original holdings there to two hundred and forty acres. He has erected all the buildings on the place and has brought the same to a high state of cultivation, long having been accounted one of the leading farmers in that part of the county. Mr. Hofstad is an ardent Prohibitionist and has done much in his community to advance the anti-saloon cause thereabout. In 1879 Rudolf Hofstad was united in marriage, in Norway, to Anna Paulson. To that union five children have been born, Mary, Anna, Peter, Jennie and Caleb, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Hofstad are members of the Norwegian Methodist church and for years have taken an active part in promoting the affairs of the same in their neighborhood, as well as participating in all local good works. Hofstom, Charles O. Page 371-372 Charles O. Hofstrom, manager of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Windom and one of the most active and energetic business men of Cottonwood county, is a native of Sweden, but has been a resident of the United States since 1889 and of Windom since 1892. He was born on February 7, 1872, son of John and Anna Hofstrom, also natives of Sweden, substantial farming people, the former of whom was born on January 31, 1846, and the latter, February 12, 1846, who were the parents of two children, sons both, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Gustav, who remained in his native land. John Hofstrom died on September 29, 1879, and his widow survived him until May 10, 1910. He was a son of Isaac August and Marie Christina (Tryckblad) Hofstrom, also farming people, the former of whom was a son of Peter Hofstrom, a farmer and stock buyer in Sweden, born in the year 1786. Charles O. Hofstrom was about seven years old when his father died. He completed his studies in the government schools of his native land and when seventeen years of age, in 1889, came to the United States, locating at Gowrie, Iowa, in the neighborhood of which place he worked as a farm hand for about three years, at the end of which time he came to Minnesota and located at Windom, where, and in the vicinity of which place, he has ever since made his home. For a few years after his arrival at Windom, Mr. Hofstrom worked as a farm hand on farms in the vicinity of that town and then engaged in the real-estate business at Windom and was thus engaged until he became connected with the Farmers' Elevator Company at that place in 1910. The next year, 1911, he was promoted to the position of manager of the elevator and has ever since occupied that position, during which time he has done much to advance the interests of the company and establish the reputation of the elevator as one of the leading concerns of its kind in this part of the state. Mr. Hofstrom has a wide acquaintance throughout the region covered by the operations of the Farmers' Elevator Company and takes an active interest in the general business affairs of the community. He is a Democrat and takes a proper interest in local political affairs, but has never been included in the office-seeking class. On October 12, 1912, Charles O. Hofstrom was united in marriage to Ebba Marie Dahl and to this union two children have been born, Dorothy Christina and George Woodrow. Mr. and Mrs. Hofstrom have a pleasant home at Windom and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural activities of their home town. Mr. Hofstrom is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the encampment of that order and both he and his wife are members of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah, in the affairs of which organizations they take a warm interest. He also is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and gives his thoughtful attention to the affairs of that order. Hohenstem, Otto E. Page 76-77 When a boy discovers that his true bent is along the line of mechanics he should make every effort to perfect himself in this useful vocation. This is what Otto E. Hohenstem, of Windom did, and he is now, while only a young man, successfully engaged in the plumbing and heating business. He was born at Lakefield, Cottonwood county, February 25, 1883. He is a son of Albert and Otella (Pietz) Hohenstem, both natives of Germany, where they spent their earlier years. Immigrating to the United States they were among the early pioneers in Cottonwood county, Minnesota, locating on a farm. The father also engaged in merchandising at Lake- field for a number of years. He removed to Windom in 1910, where he is now living retired. He has laid by a competency for his old age through his industry and good management. He has five children living, namely : Alvina, Pauline, August, Otto E., and William. The father is a member of the German Lutheran church, in which he reared his family. Otto E. Hohenstem received his education in the public schools at Lakefield, including the high school, and as a boy helped his father with the farm and the store. He very early evinced a liking for tools and machinery and eventually went to Minneapolis, where he attended a plumbing school, in which he made rapid progress and became highly skilled in this line of endeavor. In 1907 he went to Montana and worked at Belgrade for a period of three years, then began in business for himself at Three Forks, where he remained until November, 1914, enjoying a very satisfactory patronage, when he came to Windom and here he has since been engaged in the plumbing and heating business with his former success. He has a well equipped shop and is prepared to do all kinds of work in his line promptly and in an up-to-date manner. Politically, he is a Democrat. He was married in 1908 to Emma Richie of Belgrade, Montana, which union has been without issue. Hoyt, Ole C. Page 351-352 Ole C. Hoyt, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Westbrook, is a native of Wisconsin, born on a farm in Green county, that state, December i, 1861, son of Christian Larson and Caste (Gilbertson) Hoyt, natives of Norway, who upon coming to the United States located in Green county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1875, in which year they and their children came to Minnesota, driving through by wagon and settling in Cottonwood county. Upon coming out here Christian L. Hoyt bought a farm in section 34, Ann township, established his home there, became one of the useful and substantial pioneers of that section and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in March, 1895. His widow is still living. She is an earnest member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as was her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven children, of whom Ole C. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Christie, Lars, Gilbert, Lena, Randa and Mary; the latter died in infancy. Ole C. Hoyt was about fourteen years old when his parents came to Minnesota in 1875 and he completed his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his new home in Ann township. As a young man he was engaged for some time ""working out"" on the farms of neighboring farmers and about 1884 he began farming on his own account in Westbrook township. The following year he took the tenancy of the farm on which he is now living, in section 4, Westbrook township, and after his marriage in 1890 established his home there. In 1897 he bought the place and is now very substantially situated, the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, well improved and profitably cultivated. Mr. Hoyt has made all the improvements on his place and has one of the model farms of that neighborhood. In addition to his general farming, he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock. Mr. Hoyt is a Democrat and gives close attention to local political conditions. He has served as a member of the school board and in other ways has contributed to the public service. On June 10, 1890, Ole C. Hoyt was united in marriage to Martha Josephina Skow, daughter of Paul and Agnetta (Jensen) Skow, who were the parents of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Hoyt is the eldest, the others being Mary, Emma, Bertha, Oscar, Dinah, Amanda, Martin, Edwin, Agnes and Pearl. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt ten children have been born, Ella, Joseph and Alfred (twins), Arthur, Willie, Henry, Helen, Clarence, Myrtle and Arnold. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a proper interest in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Hoyt is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization. Huffman, John C. Page 450-452 John C. Huffman, a well-known and substantial farmer of Storden township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a well-kept farm of eighty acres in the vicinity of Storden, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Schuyl- kill county, that state, August 23, 1876, son of William and Elizabeth Huffman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania, who later became pioneers of this section of Minnesota and are now living comfortably retired at Jeffers. William Huffman was born on February 14, 1853, son of Martin and Barbara Huffman, German farming people, who spent all their lives in their native land and who were the parents of six children, William, Kizmer, Anna, Agnes, Josephine and Elizabeth. When he was nineteen years old William Huffman came to the United States, arriving in Pennsylvania in October, 1872. He began working in the coal mines in Schuylkill county and there married. In 1875 ne came to Minnesota and located at St. Peter, where he worked in the limekilns for about two years, at the end of which time he moved over into this part of the state and homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Storden township, Cottonwood county, where he established his home and where he lived until 1910, in which year he sold that farm and moved to another farm in that same township, where he lived until his retirement and removal, in 1912, to Jeffers, where he now lives. William Huffman is a Democrat and has for many years given close attention to local political affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being William (deceased), Margaret, Martha, Tracy, Henry (deceased), William, Josephine and Elizabeth. John C. Huffman was but an infant in arms when his parents came to Minnesota from Pennsylvania and was but two or three years old when they took up their residence in Cottonwood county. He grew to manhood on the paternal homestead in Storden township, receiving his schooling in the public schools in the neighborhood of his home, and when a young man began farming on his own account. In 1899 he bought the farm on which he is now living and where he has lived ever since that time and he and his family are very pleasantly situated there. Mr. Huffman has a well-improved farm of eighty acres and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of that part of the county. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well. He is a Democrat and for years has been a member of the school board in his home township. Mr. Huffman has been twice married. In his young manhood he married Emma Frederickson and to that union three children were born, Elmer, Blanche and Gordon, the latter of whom is deceased. Following the death of the mother of these children Mr. Huffman married, May 24, 1904, Emma Carey, who was born in Cottonwood county, daughter and only child of John and Zelia Arzalia Carey, pioneers of that county. John Carey, a native of New York state, was an honored veteran of the Civil War, having served throughout the struggle between the states as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, attached to General Butler's brigade. A few years after the war he came to Minnesota and shortly thereafter settled in Cottonwood county, one of the useful and influential pioneers of this section of the state. Mrs. Huffman for sixteen years previous to her marriage was one of the best-known members of Cottonwood county's able corps of public-school teachers and in that connection rendered a most valuable service to the community at large. To John C. and Emma (Carey) Huffman two children have been born, Zelia Mary and Nora Belle. Mrs. Huffman is a member of the Baptist church and both she and Mr. Huffman take a warm interest in neighborhood good works, influential factors in the development of the community's best interests in a general, social and cultural way. Hunter, William W. Page 304-306 William W. Hunter, assessor of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, justice of the peace, road overseer for his home district, vice-president of the Cottonwood County Fair Association, vice-president of the Old Settlers Association of that same county and one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Springfield township, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on rural route No. 3, out of Windom, is a native of Wisconsin, born on a farm in LaCrosse county, that state, April I, 1861, son of Wesley W. and Elizabeth (Williams) Hunter, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in the state of New York. Wesley W. Hunter grew to manhood in his native state and there became a farmer. He remained there until about 1854, when he came West and settled in LaCrosse county, Wisconsin, where he homesteaded a farm and was engaged in farming until he enlisted for service in the Union army in 1863 and went to the front as a member of one of the Wisconsin regiments. In one of the engagements in which his regiment took part he was captured by the enemy and was confined in the Confederate prison pen at Andersonville, where he shortly afterward died, a victim of the privations to which the prisoners in that stockade were subjected. He left a widow and three children, Ira E., William M. and Etta, of which family the subject of this sketch is the only member now living in Cottonwood county. The widow Hunter married again and in 1871 came with her husband and her cihldren to Minnesota, settling in Cottonwood county, where she spent the rest of her life. William W. Hunter was about ten years old when he came to Minnesota with his mother and stepfather in 1871 and he consequently may very properly be regarded as one of the real pioneers of this section of the state. He had been going to school in LaCrosse county, Wisconsin, and upon coming out here attended a couple of terms of pioneer school in Cottonwood county, after which he began work as a farm hand and became a very competent farmer. In 1883 he homesteaded the quarter of a section of land on which he is now living and began the development of the same. After his marriage he established his home on that homestead farm and has ever since lived there, he and his family being very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Mr. Hunter has spent about five thousand dollars in improving his place and has a model farm. He has for years given close attention to local civic affairs and is now assessor of his home township, road overseer and justice of the peace. He also has been active in the work of promoting the agricultural interests of his home county and is vice-president of the Cottonwood County Fair Association, in the affairs of which organization he for years has taken a warm interest. As one of the real pioneers of Cottonwood county, Mr. Hunter has given much attention to the work and the meetings of the Old Settlers Association and is now vice- president of that body. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Windom and is warmly interested in the affairs of that organization. It was in 1887 that William W. Hunter was united in marriage to Ella D. Peterson, who was born in Blue Earth county, this state, daughter of Elias and Irene Peterson, natives of the state of Vermont, and to this union five children have been born, Earl V., born on May 28, 1889; Wesley E., August n, 1896; Sylvia Esther, April 21, 1898; William and George, October 12, 1891, all of whom are living save the latter. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter give proper attention to local good works and have ever displayed their interest in movements having to do with the promotion of the common welfare hereabout. Earl V. Hunter married Lena Snyder and lives in Cottonwood county. They have one child, named Vernard E., born on February 3, 1915. All other children are single.

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