"History of Freeborn County", 1882
Manchester Twp. Biographies
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MATHIAS ANDERSON, one of the first settlers and organizers of this township, was born in Norway on the 15th of June, 1824. He emigrated with his parents to America in 1851, located in Broome county, Illinois, where his mother and one sister still reside. On the 1st of October, 1854, Mathias was joined in matrimony with Miss Betsey Helga. In 1857, they came to this township and staked out a claim in section two, which is still their home. Mr. Anderson was Chairman of the first board of Supervisors and the first Clerk of School District No. 18. He is the father of five children, three boys and two girls.
ERIK O. AASEN was born in Norway on the 15th of October, 1832, and learned the blacksmith trade in his native country. In 1857, he emigrated to America, came to Iowa and resided one year, then moved to this place and located in section nine which has since been his home. In 1860, he met with an accident, one of his cows hooking him, which resulted in the loss of his eyesight. He was married on the 25th of December, 1870, to Miss Argatta Mark, who has borne him five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Aasen has held town and school offices since his residence here.
LEWIS BEACH was born in New York on the 20th of December, 1830. He was married on the 27th of September, 1857, to Miss Lessie T. Soumiss and the same fail moved to Michigan. In the spring of 1858, he came to this township and was among the first settlers, staked out a claim in section eighteen and has since made it his home. In 1863, he was elected Town Clerk and held the office five years. Mr. and Mrs. Beach have had nine children, six of whom are living.
CHARLES BICKFORD, a native of Vermont, was born in Richford, Franklin county, on the 29th of September, 1835. He enlisted in Company A, of the Sixth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1864, and served till the close of the war, participating in seven battles, and while in the battle of Petersburg was wounded. After his discharge he returned to his home and remained until the spring of 1866, when he came to Minnesota and settled on his present place in this township. He was married on the 25th of December, 1868, to Miss Almira J. Tucker. They have had six children, five of whom are living.
JAMES H. CHAMBERLAIN was born in Ashford, Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 1st of April, 1830, and was never outside of his native State until coming to this State in 1864. He was married on the 10th of March, 1850, to Miss Angeline Margaret Hall. They have had nine children, eight of whom are living. Mr. Chamberlain was drafted in the late war but was not able to serve. He came to Freeborn county and resided in Bancroft until 1868, when he moved to this township and has since made his home in section thirty-four, engaged in the cultivation of his farm.
CARL GUSTAVESEN is a native of Norway, born on the 8th of December, 1828. Having a talent for music he devoted considerable time to its study and for a time was leader of the "Great Norway Military Band." He was married on the 26th of December, 1852, to Miss Annie Mortenson. In 1855, they came to America, resided in Iowa until 1863, and then moved to Manchester in section five where they still make their home. Of seven children born to the union, four are living. When first coming here Mr. Gustavesen taught instrumental music but since 1876 has devoted his time to farming.
PIUS HUBEK was born in Germany on the 5th of May, 1849. He emigrated to America in 1867, and first settled in Connecticut; in 1873, came to Houston county, and the following year to this township. In 1876, he purchased land in section twenty-one and has since devoted his time to its cultivation. He was married on the 25th of December, 1877, to Miss Mary Flaelman. They have been blessed with three children.
JOHN JOHNSON, one of the first settlers of Manchester, is a native of Norway, and dates his birth the 14th of February, 1831. He came to America in 1855, and first settled in Walworth county, Wisconsin. On the 7th of February, 1856. he married Miss Esther M. Olson. The following year they removed to this place and located in section one where they have since devoted their time to the cultivation of the farm. They have had six children, four of whom are living. Mr. Johnson is one of the Directors of school district No. 19.
JOHN OLSEN JORDAHL, deceased, was a native of Norway, born on the 14th of February, 1820. In 1857, he emigrated to America, and first settled on Washington prairie, in Winneshiek county, Iowa. In the autumn of 1857, he came to this county and made a pre-emption in sections eleven, fourteen, and fifteen, and in 1858, moved his family on the same. He married in the spring of 1842. Miss Flora Nelson, and of thirteen children born to the union, nine are living. Mr. Jordahl died on the 8th of October, 1871, and his wife followed on the 27th of October, 1881.
OLE J. JORDAHL was born on the 19th of July, 1842, in Norway. He emigrated with his parents to America in 1857, and resided on Washington prairie in Winneshiek county, Iowa, until 1858. He then came to this township with the family, and in 1866 bought his present place, in section two. He was married on the 3d of December, 1865, to Miss Anna Johnson. They have a family of seven children. Mr. Jordahl has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors five successive years and clerk of his school district five years.
CHARLES M. JOHNSON was born in Norway on the 20th of August, 1829. He left his native country in 1841, and came to America with his parents, settling in Boone county, Illinois. In 1852, he went to the gold mines of California, but four years later returned to Boone county, where, on the 20th of March, 1856, he married Miss Adeline Olson. On the 2d of July, 1857, he started for this State, and located a claim in section twelve, Manchester township. He has been road Overseer two years, and Treasurer of his school district two terms. He is the father of six children, two boys and four girls.
SIVERT JOHNSON, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Norway on the 12th of August, 1807. He was united in matrimony on the 13th of January, 1829, to Miss Anna Peterson, who bore him eight children, three of whom are still living. She died on the 4th of August, 1848, and the following year he came to America with five of his children, two having died since coming here. He married his present wife, formerly Annie Paulson, on the 1st of January. 1849. This union has been blessed with four children, three of whom are living. When first coming to this country Mr. Johnson settled in McHenry county, Illinois; in 1855, moved to Butler county, Iowa, and two years later came to Manchester, taking a farm in section twelve, which has since been his home. His eldest son, Lewis Johnson, was born on the 12th of March, 1838, in Norway, and resided with his father until 1861. He was married on the 8th of May in that year, and moved to his farm in section two. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors several terms. He is the father of six children.
JENS O. JENSON was born in Norway on the 16th of November. 1813. He was married on the 25th of December, 1832. to Miss Martha Olsdatter. In 1851, he came with his family to America, first located in Dodge county, Wisconsin, remaining in that State until coming here, in 1860. He immediately selected his present farm in section twenty-four, to which he has since devoted his time. Mr. and Mrs. Jenson have had ten children, three of whom are living, one girl and two boys; three of their sons were killed in the army.
KNUT KNUTSON MORRUM, a native of Wisconsin, was born in Waukesha county, on the 1st of October, 1844. In 1855 he moved with his parents to Goodhue county where they remained one year, and in 1856, became pioneers of this township. Knute was married on the 25th of December, 1873, to Miss Inglebert Oleson, who has borne him four children. His farm is located in section fourteen and is well cultivated.
OLE K. MORRUM was born in Norway on the 14th oi September, 1835. He emigrated to America in 1843, and settled in Wisconsin, thence in 1857, to Manchester, where he married his wife, Miss Ingeborg Peterson, on the 2d of October, 1858. They have had ten children, eight of whom are living. Mr. Morrum's farm is in section thirteen, and he is one of the Directors of school district No. 19.
LEWIS L. OLSON, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Norway on the 15th of October, 1824. He was drafted and served in the army in his native country for five years. On the 5th of December, 1846, he married Miss Annie Helgnesdatter. In the spring of 1832 they came America, and on the 10th of September of the same year, Mrs. Olson died. Of three children, the result of the union, one is living. Mr. Olson first settled in Racine county, Wisconsin, and there married Miss Rangle Deisledatter on the 4th of July, 1854. In 1857 they removed to this township and located their present farm in section thirteen. While in Wisconsin Mr. Olson learned the blacksmith trade, at which he was engaged until quite recently, he has devoted his entire time to the cultivation of his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have been blessed with seven children.
OLE PETERSON, one of the earliest settlers and a leading man of this township, is a native of Nor¬way, born on the 16th of February, 1832. He emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Illinois, first in Boone and afterward in Rock county. On the 20th of December, 1852, he married Miss Eliza Gulbrandson, and they have had six children, five of whom are living. In 1856 Mr. Peterson came to this county and selected a home in section fifteen, Manchester. He was a member of the first board of Supervisors, and afterward elected Justice of the Peace, taking an interest in all local matters. He is President of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of which he was also the organizer. In 1862 Mr. Peterson enlisted in the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company K, was promoted to First Lieutenant, and served one year when his health failed, on account of which he was discharged and returned to his family, having since made this place his home.
IVER A. RODSATER was born in Norway on the 18th of September, 1845. He received a good education in his native place, and in 1856 emigrated to America, first settling in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1857 he moved to Worth county, Iowa, and the same summer came to this place. He was married on the 27th of October, 1867, to Miss Ingeborg Anderson, and have since made their home in section ten. Mr. Rodsater was elected Town Treasurer in 1869, served till 1871, and was then elected Town Clerk, having since held the offices. He has been a member of the board of County Commissioners since 1877, and has held school offices; has also been Secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Manchester since its organization. Mr. and Mrs. Rodsater have had seven children, sis of whom are living.
S. B. SMITH, more familiarly known as Uncle Sam, is one of the earliest settlers and organizers of Manchester. He was born in Renville, Licking county, Ohio, on the 16th of July, 1818, and moved with his parents to Portage county in the same State in 1832. When twenty-one years old he was united in marriage with Miss Sabra S. Dewey, the ceremony taking place on the 16th of June, 1839. She was born on the 16th of December, 1819, in Westfield, Hampden county, Massachusetts. In 1844 they moved from Ohio to Indiana, and remained until 1850, then resided in Illinois for several years. In the summer of 1857 Mr. Smith came to Manchester, and has since been interested in the improvement of the town and of his own home. His wife died on the 27th of March, 1869. She bore him two children; William A., and Helen J., both of whom are now dead. The son enlisted on the 18th of August, 1862, in the Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and served his country until 1865; and the daughter died on the 12th of November, 1876. On the 27th of August, 1870, Mr. Smith was joined in wedlock to his present wife, Mrs. Sarah J. Gray. This union has been blessed with two children, both girls.
PAUL J. SPILDE, youngest son of Sivert and Annie Johnson, was born in Norway on the 24th of December, 1849. He came with his parents to America at the age of eight months, and has always lived with them, they now making their home on his farm in section twelve. He was joined in matrimony on the 29th of January, 1874, to Syneva Guttormson, who has borne him four children, three boys and one girl. Mr. Spilde is one of the Directors of his school district.
JOHN SIPPEL, deceased, was a native of Germany, born on the 28th of September, 1807. He was married on the 26th of June, 1838, to Miss Margaret Wenzel. The result of the union was ten children, eight of whom are still living. Mr. Sippel brought his family to America in 1855, lived for three years in Wisconsin and in June, 1858, became one of the pioneers of this place, staking out a claim in section twenty-seven. He died on the 27th of May, 1871. His son Dennes Sippel was born in Germany on the 27th of July, 1845, and now resides on the old homestead. He was joined in matrimony on the 4th of May, 1871, to Miss Ida Tida and they have had six children, four of whom are living.
GUNNE THYKESON, who built the first log house in this place, was born in Norway on the 22d of March, 1832. He was united in marriage on the 1st of May, 1853, with Miss Signa Olson, and the same year they came to America. They resided in Winneshiek county, Iowa, until coming to this place in 1856, taking a claim in section nine, which is still their home. They have had eight children, six of whom are living.
BOLLOF THYKESON, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Norway on the 27th of February, 1837. In 1852, he came to America and directly to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1854, then moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa. In 1856, he came to Manchester and staked out a claim in section fifteen upon which he lived several years, then moved to his present home in section sixteen. On the 20th of January, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Company K, and served till the close of the war, having participated in four battles. After his discharge he returned to his farm in this place, and on the 25th of July, 1866. married Miss Annie Ellingson. Of
nine children born to this union, eight are living. Mr. Thykeson has been a member of the board of Supervisors several times and has held school offices.
O. J. TAYLOR, a native of New York, was born in Hamburgh, Erie county, on the 21st of March, 1832. In 1845, he moved with his parents to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood, and on the 15th of August, 1862, enlisted in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company C. He was in several important engagements and returned to his home at the close of the war, without a scratch, having received an honorable discharge.
Before entering the army, on the 6th of February, I860, he was married to Miss Emily A. Gibson and they have been blessed with one child, Ervin O. Mr. Taylor has been a resident of this place several years, his farm being located in section thirty-five.
SEVERT THORESON, a native of Norway, was born on the 14th of November, 1849. He came with his parents to America when five years old and settled on Jefferson prairie in Boone county. Illinois. On the 12th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company M, of the Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served till the close of the war, participating in a few small skirmishes. In 1866, he removed to Iowa, which State he made his home two years, then came to Manchester and selected a farm in section nine. He was married on the 30th of May, 1869, to Betsy, widow of Halver Peterson. and the mother of four children. Mr. and Mrs. Thoreson have had six children. He is at present Postmaster and has held other local offices.
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