"History of Freeborn County", 1882
Nunda Twp. Biographies
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B. H. CARTER was born in Cayuga county. New York on the 9th of January, 1823. He resided at home and attended school until 1842, when he began to learn the wheelwright trade, and finished in 1845. On the 22d of October in the latter year, he was married to Miss Helen Eaton. The same year they moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he was engaged at his trade two years, then came west to Dodge county, Wisconsin. In 1859 they removed to this county, purchased a farm in Freeman, and resided there until 1861, when they
came to Nunda, taking a claim in section one. In 1863 Mr. Carter was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and enrolled a large portion of the men of Nunda and Freeman for a draft; he served in the Fifth Minnesota Regiment trom 1864 till the close of the war. After his return he engaged in farming three years and then built a wagon shop in the village of Twin Lake, but in 1879 returned to his farm, which has since been his home. He has held several offices of trust, and was Court Commissioner three years. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have had fifteen children, those living are: Henrietta, Eva, Theda, Daisy, Jerome, Clide, Lillis, James, Ada, Anna, and Asa. Three died in infancy.
JERRY CALLAGHAN was born in the North Parish Chapel in the city of Cork, Ireland, in September, 1829. He attended North Manestry School ten years, after which he engaged in delivering milk, and in five years was employed as a waiter. In 1848, he emigrated to America, located in Schenectady county, New York, where he farmed one year, and came to Racine county, Wisconsin. In 1856, he removed to Freeborn county, and purchased a farm near Albert Lea, resided there until 1864, and bought his present farm in Nunda, section twenty-three. He was married on the 14th of October, 1859, to Miss Mary Honan, and in
1864, enlisted in the army, served nine months and
returned home. On the 20th of December, 1870,
as he was returning home from Albert Lea, he lost
his way, was out all night and was so badly frozen
as to necessitate the amputation of the left leg six
inches above the ankle, the toes from the right foot and the fingers from both hands. Mr. Callaghan has eight children: Joseph, Mary, Ann, Catharine, John, William, Bridget, and Jennie.
H. H. EDWIN was born in Norway on the 7th of January, 1841. When fifteen years old he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then went to Denmark; two years later to Germany, and in one year returned to Norway, working at his trade in both places. In 1865, he emigrated to America, first located in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, engaged in the blacksmith shop of Devon, Smith & Co. until 1867. On the 6th of October in the latter year, he married Miss Martha Thompson, and they removed to Jackson, where Mr. Edwin was employed at his trade until 1874. He then removed to Nunda and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section thirty, where he still resides. He has a family of seven children; Caroline, Theodore, Martinis, Amelia, Dorothy, Nels, and Hannah.
H. G. EMMONS, one of the early settlers of Freeborn county, was born in Norway, on the 16th of October, 1828. He emigrated to America in 1850, directly to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming and railroading. In 1854, he married Miss Christina Larson, and two years later they removed to Minnesota, driving the distance with a yoke of oxen. They located in Nunda, where Mr. Emmons now owns five hundred acres of land. They lived in their wagon two months when a shanty was completed, and in 1861 built a portion of their present dwelling. He has held local offices, being a member of the board of County Commissioners six years, four years of which lie was chairman, and in 1877 and 1878, was in the State Legislature. His farm is supplied with good outbuildings, barn, granary, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Emmons have had eight children, five of whom are living. Two children died at the age of two years, and Charles while attending school at Carlton College, on the 12th of April, 1882, at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Emmons has filled the office of Postmaster fifteen years and Justice of the Peace fourteen years.
ELLEF EVENSON, a native of Norway, was born the 9th of September, 1847, and reared on a farm. When nineteen years old he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, at which he worked until 1868, in his native country. In the latter
year he came to America, direct to Watonwan county, this State, and located a claim. In 1872, he sold his farm and engaged on the Winona and St. Peter railroad for one year, and at the end of that time went to Winnebago county, Iowa; followed farming until 1874, then came to this place, and in 1878, purchased his present farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres, in section thirty-three. He was married to Mrs. Sarah Everson, on the 14th of February, 1878.
ALEXANDER FREEMOTT is a native of Germany, born on the 9th of December, 1822. At the age of fifteen vears he commenced to learn the trade of carriage painting, serving as an apprentice four years. In August, 1853, he came to America, and on the 31st of January, 1854, was joined in marriage with Miss Minnie Hundredmark, in Chicago, Illinios. In 1865, they moved to Batavia in the latter State, and he was engaged at his trade, as foreman, until 1876. Then he came to Nunda and purchased his present farm of one hundred and forty acres, and built a large frame dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Freemott have had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy: those living are: Albert, Amelia, Henry, Edward, Alexander, Lucy, Edith, Anna, and Lena.
GEORGE HALL is a native of Licking county, Ohio, born on the 21st of July, 1837. In 1848, he moved with his parents to Green county, Wisconsin, and thence to Winneshiek county, Iowa. He came to Nunda in the spring of 1857, located a claim in section four and remained one season, then returned to Winneshiek county and settled on a farm. He was married on the 11th of August, 1858, to Miss Eliza A. Stockdale. In 1864, Mr. Hall sold his farm in the latter place, and again came to Nunda, taking land in section three, which is still his home. He has a family of nine children; William, Ruth, James, Lenora, Mary, Rosa, Burt, Flora, and Flossa.
J. R. JONES, a native of England, was born in March, 1824. He resided at home, assisting in the farm labor and attending school until the age of fourteen years, when he began farming for himself, In 1848, he was employed by an English nobleman as groomsman, and remained with him until he emigrated to America in 1852. He was married the previous year to Miss Elizabeth Hughes. They first settled in Green county, Wisconsin, where he carried on a farm a number of years. On the 18th of May, 1854, Mrs. Jones
died leaving one son, who is now a doctor living in Iowa. Mr. Jones was married to his second wife in 1857. She was formerly Savilla Kelley. and bore him six children: Charles, David, Lauren, Mary, Clarence, and William. In 1866, they moved to this county, and after residing in Freeman for a short time, came to Nunda in the spring of 1870, and located on his present farm. His wife died on the 25th of September. 1874.
HELGE LARSON is a native of Norway, born on the 9th of June, 1834, and remained at home until twenty years of age. He then engaged in farming on neighboring farms, and in 1860, emigrated to America, coming direct to Nunda and locating in section thirty-six, where he now owns two hundred acres of land. He was married on the 11th of April, 1861, to Miss Barbara Esselson, and in 1874, erected his present frame house, having previously lived in a log shanty. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have been blessed with ten children.
LOUIS MARPE, a pioneer of Freeborn county, was born in Germany in 1832, and after finishing school was engaged in a wholesale grocery house five years. In 1854, he emigrated to America, located on a farm in Genesee county, New York, and in the fall of 1856, removed to this county, settling in Pickerel Lake township. He was married in 1857, to Miss Caroline Yost, and in 1863 they came to this place, first erecting a log house, but now has a fine frame house in the process of construction. He had eight children, two of whom are dead. His wife also died on the 17th of January, 1875. On the 15th of October 1876, he was again married, his bride being Miss May Fulton, who bore him two children, and died on the 7th of Ssptember, 1881.
TOSTEN NELSON was born in Norway in the 26th of November, 1816. When fourteen years old he learned the shoemaker's trade and was engaged at the same four years. He then, in company with his father, started a tan yard and carried it on until the death of his father. Tosten then took charge of the homestead until coming to America. He married when twenty-six years years old Miss Susan Johnson, and in 1850 they emigrated to this country, locating in Columbia county, Wisconsin. They purchased a farm there but in 1858, sold and removed to Mitchell county, Iowa. In 1863, they removed to Nunda, and bought a farm in section thirty-one which is still their home. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson had eight children; Nels,
the eldest died in the army in 1863. aged twenty-two years; Martha, the second; Johanes died when two years old; John, Mary. Martin, Carlin, '
and Andrew. Mrs Nelson died on the llth of May, 1866. at the age of fifty-one years. On the 2d of June, 1869, Mr. Nelson again married, his bride being Miss Betsey Peterson. He has held numerous offices of trust in the town.
IVER O. OPDAL, a native of Norway, dates his birth the 10th of August, 1825. He spent ten years in the army in his native country, and in November, 1851, married Miss Isabelle Dahlen. In 1864, they emigrated to America, came to Dane county, Wisconsin, and in a short time removed to Winnebago county, Iowa. He came to Nunda in 1865, and purchased land in sections thirty and nineteen which is still his home. Mr. and Mrs. Opdal have had two children.
KNUDT OLSEXNwas born in Norway, on the 7th
of August, 1829. His father died when Knudt was but eight years old. and he remained on the farm with his mother until 1860, when he came to America and directly to this township, buying eighty acres of land in section nineteen, where he now owns one hundred and twenty acres. He was joined in matrimony with Miss O. Thompson in January, 1872, and the issue of the union is
two children.
WILLIAM PICKLE was born in New York, on the 31st of December, 1834. His younger days were spent on a farm and in school, finishing his education at a select school in Wisconsin. At the age of eighteen years he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade in what is now known as the "Upton Manufacturing Works" at Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1855, he was engaged in a shop at Marshall in the same State and in 1857, went to the Rocky Mountains, where he found employment at his trade and mining, remaining until 1859. In that year he came to Freeborn county, locating in Freeman township, and in 1862 enlisted in the Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, served three years and two months, being mustered out the 7th of April, 1865, and returned to his i farm. He sold his farm in Freeman and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in this township on section four, and has his farm supplied with a fine frame dwelling and numerous out-buildings. On the 27th of May, 1865. he was
joined in matrimony with Miss Mary Kranshoor, and they five children: Lillian. Walter, Martin, Etta, and Ralph.
HOGAN RASMUSSON, one of the old settlers of this township, was born in Norway, on the 29th of March, 1835, and came to this country with his parents in 1857. They located in Columbia county, Wisconsin, and in 1858, Hogan came to this township and staked out a claim in section thirty, where he now owns two hundred and forty-six acres of land. He was married on the 10th of October, 1858, to Miss Isabelle Anderson, and they had three children. Mrs. Rasmusson died on the 24th of May, 1865, and our subject was again married on the 21st of April, 1867, his bride being Miss Christina Nelson. This latter union has been blessed with seven children, one of whom is dead. 'Mr. Rasmusson has held many local
offices in the place.
OLE TARALDSON is a native of Norway and dates his birth the 8th of May, 1827. He was married in 1859, to Miss Alena Mikkelson, the ceremony taking place the 25th of December. In 1862, he learned the carpenter trade, and in 1867, came to America, directly to Nunda, where he has a farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres. Mr. and Mrs. Taraldson have a family of six children; Theodore, Martin, Alena, Ole, Christina, and Tena.
ANDREW A. TOMPSON was born in Norway in 1836, and remained at home until eighteen years old, then went to work for himself on a farm. He was married in 1864, to Miss Martha Oleson, and the same year they emigrated to America locating in Spring Prairie, Wisconsin; a year later they removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, being engaged in farming in both States. In 1868, he came to this township, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section nineteen, where he still resides. He has four children: Ole, Mary, Amy, and Betta.
N. N. WALAKER is a native of Norwav, born on the 16th of April, 1830, and when seventeen years old learned the shoemaker's trade. In November, 1854, he was married to Miss Carrie Lewis, and two years later they came to America. For several years they lived in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he farmed during summer months and worked at his trade in the winter. In 1860, he removed to Nunda, section twenty-nine, building first a log house, and in 1874, erected his present commodious dwelling. He has a family of four children; Anna, George, Nicholas, and Louis. Mr.
Walaker has held many offices of trust in the place since his residence here.
JOHN V. WOHLHUTER, a pioneer of this county, was born in France, on the 29th of September, 1827. In the spring of 1847, he emigrated to America, went to Buffalo. New York, where, for seven months, he was engaged on the Erie Canal; from there went to Peru, Indiana, and thence, in 1849, to Chicago, Illinois, and found employment at teaming. On the 28th of February, 1853, he married Miss F. Fortman and the same year removed to Fayette county. Iowa; remained until the fall of 1857, and then came to this place, locating in section sixteen, where he has two hundred and seventeen acres of land. He was one of the first officers here and has held many offices since. He has four children.
R. A. WHITE, one of the oldest settlers of this place, was born in Tioga county, New York, on the llth of January, 1840. He came here with his parents in 1857, and on the 11th of October, 1861, he enlisted and was appointed Sergeant of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company F, serving until the 22d of December, 1864, when he received an honorable discharge. He returned to Nunda and has since been engaged in farming, owning four hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, which is all well improved. He was married on the 26th of March, 1873, to Miss Jennie M. Budler, and the result of the union, is four children; Belle M., William M., Allen R., and Ferris L.
CHRIST. YOST was born in Germrny on the 15th of September, 1837. He attended school seven years, and afterward engaged in teaming until 1857. In the latter year he emigrated to America, located near Chicago on a farm, and in one year removed to that city where he again engaged in teaming. On the 11th of May, 1862, he married Miss Elizabeth Lucas, who was born in Germany on the 17th of July, 1843. Later, Mr. Yost was a street car conductor, and in 1866, purchased a farm in Nunda, and brought his family here. In 1875, he sold his land in section twenty-two, and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section sixteen. His children are; Frederick W., Mary L., Katie A., Margaret A., and Louis J.
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