MN AHGP Archives-Yellow Medicine Co. 1882 Bios
Yellow Medicine County biographies from the 1882 History of the Minnesota Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota
HAZEL RUN
A. Anthony was born in 1845 in Norway. In 1850 the family moved to Wisconsin, in 1852 went to Illinois, and when he was twelve years old they returned to Wisconsin. From the winter of 1865 till the next autumn he served in the 52d regiment of that state. In 1871 he came to Hazel Run; married in the fall of that year Lettie S. Tollefson; Jeanett, Clara, George, Ida, Albert, Alfred, Peter and Melvin are the children.
Edwin Anthony, native of Illinois, was born in 1851, in Boone county, and when a child accompanied his parents to Adams county, Wisconsin, where he was subsequently employed in farming. In the spring of 1872 he located at his present farm in Hazel Run. Betsey Holverson was married to him in 1875, and has borne him three children : Selina J., Belle D. and Henry C.
Amund Johnson who was born in 1855 is a native of Norway. At the age of fifteen he located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, but since March, 1879, has lived in Hazel Run, Yellow Medicine county. In the spring of 1880, he married Julia Everson, who was born in 1860 in Norway.
S. S. Neskang, born in 1836, grew to manhood in Norway, his birthplace. ln 1869 he immigrated to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1870 came to Minnesota; after spending a year in Sandnes he located on section 34 in Hazel Run; he helped organize the town and was the first chairman of the board and has since, held the offices of supervisor and justice.
Mads Pederson was born in 1836 in Norway, and after leaving school engaged in teaching; also followed the life of a sailor for a time. In 1869 he immigrated to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and the next year came to Minnesota; in the spring of 1871 he removed from Sandnes to Hazel Run. Married in 1866, Annie Madson; Jennie A., Mathew M., Sophia, Andrew, Annie, Mary, Margaret and Robert are their children.
J. A. Thompson was born in 1848 in Norway, and at the age of twelve came with his parents to America. In the spring of 1878 he removed from Wisconsin to Minnesota and located on a farm in Hazel Run. Mr. Thompson has filled different town offices. In 1878 he married Annie Gunderson; they have one child: Andrew.
HAMMER.
Erick E. Grasswick was born in Norway in 1845 and immigrated to Wisconsin in 1867: moved to Fillmore county., Minnesota, and from there to this town; has been town treasurer and supervisor. Married in 1871, Margit Oleson; their children are Emil O., Carl A., Annie C., Mina E.
Gunnell Jackson was born in Norway in 1826. At the age of thirteen years he came to America and lived in Rock county, Wisconsin, until 1848, then moved to Dane county. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, 16th Wisconsin, and was at Chickamauga and Resaca, where he was crippled; was discharged in 1866. After the war he moved to Clayton county, Iowa, and five years later returned to Wisconsin. In 1877 came to Hammer.
Thomas McMillan, was born in Lower Canada, June 16, 1834. In 1856 he moved to Wisconsin and engaged in lumbering until 1862, then enlisted in the 27th Wisconsin infantry; was promoted from second to first lieutenant and mustered out in 1865. In October, 1866, he moved to Redwood county, Minnesota, and lived on a farm four years, then engaged in livery business at Redwood Falls. In 1878 he came to this town and has since given his attention to breeding fine blood horses. He was sheriff of Redwood county five years; member of village council two years. Married Lydia B. Malone in 1857. Florence M., Charles J., Lydia B., Minnie May are the children.
Andrew Olson, native of Norway, was born in 1843. In 1858 he came to America, and lived in Illinois. Enlisted in the 16th Illinois cavalry and was discharged in three months; enlisted in Company F, 9th Illinois infantry and served through the war. He learned the carpenter's trade in Chicago; in 1877 he came to this town. In 1872 he married Ida Jergenson; five children: Annie L., Oscar S., Edward O., Freddie A., Ida A.
SWEDE PRAIRIE.
C. B. Lindberg was born in Sweden in 1836. In 1869 he came to Minnesota and lived in Carver county; removed to St. Peter and from there to Swede Prairie. He has been assessor, school officer and poundmaster; owns 360 acres of land. In 1870 Anna Johnson became his wife.
Ola Olason, native of Sweden, was born in 1848. He came to St. Peter, Minnesota, in 1869 and in 1871 moved to his farm in Swede Prairie; has been supervisor and constable. December 12, 1872, he married Christina Lingren; they have two children, Charley and Alfred.
A. J. Oleson was born in Sweden, August 22, 1852. While a child he came with parents to America; they lived in Chicago a year, in St. Paul a few months, then lived in Washington county, Minnesota until 1864; went to Nicollet county and in 1876 to Janesville, Wisconsin, and studied telegraphy, after which he was employed in Chicago. After working for the Metropolitan Telegraph company two years, he returned to Nicollet county and came to Swede Prairie. March 4, 1879 he married Martha S. Peterson
P. W. Swenson was born May 10, 1849 in Sweden. In 1868 he came to St. Peter, Minnesota, and worked on a farm there and in Olmsted county; for four years from 1873, he was an attendant at the hospital for insane at St. Peter. It 1878 he came to Yellow Medicine county and located on section 28, Swede Prairie; he has been chairman of town board two years. Married Inger Peterson November 24, 1874.
FRIENDSHIP.
Gerharth Gorman was born April 19, 1821, in Norway, where he acquired a good education, and then engaged in teaching. In 1864 he removed to Quebec, Canada, and soon after to Fillmore county, Minnesota; in 1866, went to the town of Sandnes; was one of the first settlers there; still owns that farm and one in Friendship, where he has lived since 1879. Married in 1869, Carolina Tompkins-Knutson. She had three children by a former husband and has borne Mr. Gorman, four.
Iver Iverson, native of Norway, was born December 6, 1836. The family came in 1839 to America; from New York, removed to Chicago, and in 1841 to Wisconsin, where he lived on a farm until coming in 1860 to Minnesota; located in Linden, Brown county. In May, 1879, he came to Friendship, where he owns a farm of 160 acres. Married in 1857, Elena Christophers; of their six children four are living.
Gunder Johnson, born April 14, 1843, was reared on a farm in Norway, the land of his birth. In 1863, he emigrated to Canada, soon after located on a farm in Wisconsin. In 1867, Mr. Johnson came to Minnesota, and to his present home in June, 1875. He was married on Christmas day, 1870, to Mary Gulason, and has six children.
Henry Munson, born November 15, 1846, in Norway; at seventeen years of age he came with his parents to America, and located in Iowa. In June, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, 9th Iowa cavalry; from the close of the war till August, 1878, he lived in Dodge county, Minnesota, where he owns a farm, then came to Friendship; he has been town treasurer and supervisor. Married in 1866, Anna Wilson; eight children.
Peter Petersen was born November 9, 1829, in Sweden; came to America in 1855; lived the greater part of the time at Chicago until enlisting in March, 1865; served, until the war ceased. In 1869 he located at Lac qui Parle, but since May, 1877, has lived in Friendship. Married in 1851, Sarah Magnus, since deceased; his second wife was Anna Olson. Seven of their nine children are living.
WERGELAND.
Bernhard A. Borgersen was born in 1845 in Norway; traveled through different portions of Europe; was also a soldier in Norway; immigrated to the United States, and previous to coming to Minnesota was for a time in Chicago and Wisconsin. In 1876 he located in Wergeland, where he works at farming and carpentering. Married, February 22, 1873. Anna Torgerson; the children are Henry E., Ludwig M., Alfred N., Janette F. and Lillie E.
O. H. Dahl was born October 1, 1849, in Norway, and came to this country in 1866. He located in Dunn county. Wisconsin, and from there moved to Decorah, Iowa, where he attended the Norwegian Lutheran College, and graduated in 1872. He then came to Yellow Medicine county and engaged in business until 1875 at Minneota; then lived on a homestead in Lyon county two years, then bought wheat in Minneota for Van Dusen & Co. In 1881 he came to Dalston, now Porter, and engaged in merchandise business and buying wheat for Van Dusen & Co.; he is also postmaster. Married, February 7, 1877, Amelia Michaelson; Alma, Toline and Hans M. are the children.
W. E. Drummond was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1845. Moved with parents to Iowa when ten years old, and to Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1856; he began learning blacksmithing in 1866. Enlisted in 1862 in Company E, Seventh Minnesota, and served till the spring of 1865. He worked at the blacksmith trade in Fillmore county three years, then came to Wergeland; is now running a blacksmith shop in Porter village. Married Mary H. Cooper in 1875; she died in 1877, leaving one child, Charles E. Lizzie Pifenger became his wife in 1878; one child, William R.
Arthur Hewitt, a native of England, was born in 1844. Emigrated in 1848, and lived in Indiana until 1855, then moved to Carver county, Minnesota; in 1879 he took a homestead in Wergeland. in 1863 he enlisted in Company I, Second Minnesota cavalry, and served until November, 1865. In 1874 he married Mary M. Cole; children, Elizabeth, Frank E. and Ellen M.
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