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"Minnesota Biographical Sketches, 1907"
Freeborn Co. Biographies



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Armstrong, Di Witt C., Albert Lea. Banker. Born Nov. 25, 1868 in Milan O., son of D. C. and Frances M. Armstrong. Married in 1892 to Anna E. Hibbs. Educated in public schools Erie Pa. Collector First Nat Bank Erie Pa 1881-1883; engaged in grain business with his uncle Lieut Gov Armstrong Albert Lea Minn. 1883-1891; engaged one year in closing up estate of his uncle who died 1891; one of organizers of Albert Lea Milling Co., 1892 and was sec of same until 1902; cashr Albert Lea State Bank 1902 to date; member Commercial Club, Municipal and Commercial League of Minn.; ex-alderman and member Board of Park Commissioners.

Bennesen, William Aaron, Albert Lea. Physicians and surgeon (R). born feb. 27, 1880 in Freeborn county, Minn., son of John and Delia (Vehem) Bennesen. Educated in public and high schools Albert Lea and granduated U of M, B.A. 1902; medical dept. NW Univ. Chicago MD 1905; post graduate course College of Liberal Arts, Chicago Univ., MS 1905

Blackmer, Heman, Albert Lea. Public official. Born jan. 3, 1850 in Amhearst, Ohio, son of Franklin and Minerva (Wilkins) Blackmer. Married in 1883 to Helen Webster (died 1903); in 1904 married to Ella Huyck. Educated in public schools of Albert Lea and Oberlin Ohio college; graduated from law dept. Univ. of Wis.; admitted to practice 1872; has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Albert Lea to date. Stockholder in Home Metallic Refrigerator Co.; served as city justice, court comm., and has been judge of probate 1885 to date, except 20 months. Member Minn. State and Freeborn Co. Bar assoc.; Commercial Club; Masonic fraternity and IOOF.

Carlson, Henry C., Albert Lea. lawyer. Born Feb. 22, 1872 on a farm in Freeborn county, Minn., son of Adolph and Dorothea (Anderson) Carlson. Married in 1901 to Mabel E. Du Toit. Educated in public schools Albert Lea and U of M. Studied in law office; graduated from Columbian Univ. Washington D. C. 1897; practiced in Albert Lea to date. Dir. Citizens Nat. Bank, Albert Lea Corset Co.; Albert Lea Brick and Tile Co., member Commercial Club, K or P, BPOE and Albert Lea Charter Commission.

Chamberlain, William G., Albert Lea. Merchant. Born Sept. 17, 1867 in Freeborn county, Minn., son of George B. and Emily A. (Skiff) Chamberlain. Married in 1893 to Miss Lottie Skinner. Educated in district and high schools Albert Lea. Clerk in store until 1896; engaged in retail merchandise business Albert Lea. 1896 to date; VP Skinner Chamberlain & Co., member Commercial Club, K of P, MWA, MBA and Library Board.

Day, Harwood G., Albert Lea. Editor and publisher. Born July 15, 1844 in Jericho Vt., son of Jonas and Betsy W. (Stroud) Day. Married in 1871 to Mary Howland. Attended public and private schools Attica Wis. and graduated from Evansville (Wis) Academy 1862. Read law and was admitted to the bar Webster City IA 1868. Located in Emmet county IA and practiced law 1868-1878. In Lanesboro, Fillmore county Minn. 1878-1883, when he purchased the Freeborn County Standard in Albert Lea and has since edited and published same. Served as deputy US collector of internal revenue Webster City, IA; county att. Emmet County IA and member Iowa legislature 1870-1871. Enlisted as private in 13th Wis. Inf 1862 and served in Civil War until discharged on account of ill health 1863. Pres. Minn. Editorial Assn. 1894-1895. Former pres. and now v. pres. Albert Lea Building and Loan Assn. Pres. Board of Park Commissioner; member City Charter Commission; Commerical Club and Masonic fraternity.

Dunn, Howard H., Albert Lea. Lawyer. Born Oct. 29, 1867 in Jackson Minn., son of James W. and Elizabeth M. (Seelu) Dunn. Married 1894 to Eva Nicholas. Educated in public school; studied in law office; admitted to bar 1890; practiced law in Jackson and Fairmont and moved to Albert Lea 1899 and has practiced to date; now being member of law firm Lovely and Dunn. Member state senate 1897-1899; mayor Albert Lea 1900-1902. Member Masonic fraternity and K.T.

Gordon, David, Albert Lea. Physician and surgeon. (R). Born Dec. 11, 1864 in Londonderry Ireland, son of John and Phoebe M. (McAskie) Gordon. Married in 1897 to Mattie L. Trow.. Moved to Philadelph in 1895; then to Minneapolis 1896 where he was variously employed as street car conductor; laborer in flour mills. Studied pharmacy and entered medical department of Hamline Univ graduating 1897. Moved to Elmore Minn., and practiced medicine 1897-1902. Moved to Albert Lea and has been engaged in the practice of his profession to date. Coroner Freeborn County and member Blue Earth Valley and Minnesota State Medical societies; member Commercial club; IOOF, MWA and Eagles.

Lattin, George P., Albert Lea. Educator. Born Mar. 25, 1857 in Fox Lake, Wis., son of Richmond E. and Martha (Calkins) Lattin. Married in 1882 to Nettie E. Scott. Educated in public schools and Downer College, Fox Lake Wis. Taught school Freeborn Co. Minn. 1878-1888; member firm of Gilmore and Lattin gen merchandise Freeborn 1888-1894; Lattin and Scott 1894-1896; and alone until 1902; later Borland and Lattin; appointed superintendent of schools Freeborn County 1901, reelected three times; term expires 1909; Dir. First State Bank Freeborn; pres. Peoples B & L Assn. Albert Lea. County comnr. 1897-1901; member State and County Educational assns; Masonic fraternity.

Lovely, John A. Albert Lea. Lawyer. Born Nov. 18, 1843 in Burlington Vt., son of Noble and Aurelia (Post) Lovely. Married in 1871 to Helen M. Church. Educated in public schools Burlington Vt. and New Hampton Institute of Fairfax Vt. Studied law in Milwaukee and admitted to bar 1864; practiced in Wis. 1864-1867; moved to Albert Lea 1867 and engaged in practice there to date; also has office in St. Paul, Member firm Lovely and Dunn; City Atty. Albert Lea 2 years; county atty. 10 years; judge of supreme court Minn. 1900-1906. Pres. State Bar Assn 1875-1878

Luce, Clint L., Albert Lea. Editor. Born Sept. 28, 1854 in Stowe Vt., son of Harvey and Ann (Stone) Luce. Educated in the public schools of IA and MN. First engaged in farming Freeborn Co., Minn. Moved to Albert Lea 1878 and after learning printer's trade purchased half interest in Albert Lea Enterprise under firm name of Halvorsen and Luce which continued until 1897; editor Albert Lea Tribune 1900 to date; assisted in organizing Albert Lea Merchantile Co. 1895 and was made sec. of same; assisted in organizing Skinner Merchantile Co., which was later merged into Skinner Chamberlain Co. and of which he is now sec. Dir of Citizens Nat Bank and member of firm of Reynolds and Luce Livery; former coroner Freeborn county. Pres. Albert Lea Library Board; member Commerical Club, Freeborn County Horticultural Society; KP and Masonic fraternities; sec Albert Lea Driving Club.

Moen, Nels T., Ada. Lawyer. Born May 26, 1866 in Freeborn township. Freeborn county Minn. son of Tollef Nelson and Marit (Nelson) Moen. Married Jan. 21, 1893 to Betsy Johnson. Graduated from Red Wing Seminary 1891; from law dept U of M LL B 1893. Prin. Halstad public schools 1894. Moved to Ada Minn 1897 and has been engaged in practice of law to date. Judge of probate Norman county 1899-1903; county atty 1905-1907. Grand Chief Templar IOGT of Minn 1901-1902

Nelson, Emil, Albert Lea. Postmaster. Born July 13, 1859 in Freeborn Co. Minn., son of Lars and Agnetta M. (Johnson) Nelson. Married in 1896 to Lora E. Higgins. Educated in public schools Northwood IA; engaged in farming until 1883'; telegraph opoerator 1883-1890; grain buyer 1890-1892; register of deeds Freeborn county 1892-1896; real estate until 1900; merchantile business Albert Lea 1900-1904; postmaster 1904 to date. Sec. Lempke Dry Goods Co.; member Commercial Club, Masonic fraternity and Shrine.

Olsen, John W., Albert Lea, Supt of Public Instruction of Minnesota. Born in Denmark and came to Freeborn county with parents 1871; educated in common schools; Albert Lea High School; graduated from Valparaiso (Ind) College BS 1887; served as principal of public schools Alden Minn. and Holton KS; county supt of schools Freeborn county 1890-1906 when he was appointed state supt.

Olson, Edward, Albert Lea. President Citizens Natl Bank. Born April 16, 1863 in Iowa county, Wis., son of Knudt and Christine (Hellekson) Olson. Married in 1886 to Mary Hanson. Educated in country school Iowa county Wis. and Northwestern Business College Madison Wis. Engaged in gen merchantile business Hanley Falls Minn 1885-1894. Moved to Estherville and became member of firm of Hanson and Olson, conducting Estherville Bottling Works and gen store 1894-1897. Moved bottling works to Albert Lea and conducted same until 1898 when he purchased the entire business and conducted alone until 1904. Sold out and became pres of Citizens Nat. Bank, which office he still holds. member Commercial Club and Albert Lea Driving Club.

Rodli, Olaf E., Albert Lea. Physician and surgeon (R). Born Dec..8, 1867 in Norway, son of Lars and Johanna (Nostvig) Rodliu. Married in 1900 to Nora Gulbrandson. Educated in public schools and Royal Univ. of Norway and post-graduate courses in New York and Vienna. Practiced in Norway, then moved to Albert Lea 1896, where he has been engaged in practice to date. Member Commercial Club, Am. Medical and Minn State Medical assns. and Freeborn county medical society.

Skinner, Bert, Albert Lea. Merchant. Born Sept. 21, 1868 in Freeborn county, Minn, son of John E. and Jane (Gardner) Skinner. Married in 1896 to Nettie J. Bessenger. Educated in public schools, Glenville and Albert Lea. Engaged as clerk in grocery and merchandise stores until made sec. of Albert Lea Merch Co.; pres. Skinner-Chamberlain Co. gen merch.; member Commercial Club, BPOE, K of P and MWA.

Subby. Oscar, Albert Lea. Public Official. Born Feb. 14, 1875 in Denmark, son of Nels P. and Christina (Hanson) Subby. Married in 1903 to Lillian Jones. Attended public schools Albert Lea; first engaged in business with father and later held various public offices until 1905 when he was elected sheriff of Freeborn county. Member BPOE.

Swenson, Carl L., Albert Lea. Cashr. Citizens Nat Bank. Born Dec. 14, 1869 in St. Peter, Minn., son of Swen and Kristi (Knudtson) Swenson, married 1895 to Annie C. Weberg. Graduated from Luther Academy Albert Lea 1890 Teacher in rural schools Freeborn and Norman counties; bkpr for Knatvold and Brown Bank Albert Lea 1894-95; cashr of same 1895-1900; bank reorganized as Citizens Nat Bank 1900, of which he has since been cashr. dir. Freeborn State Bank. Alderman Albert Lea 1899 todate; elected mayor of Albert Lea April 2, 1907 to serve 2 years. Member Commercial Club, K of P. BPOE, MWA and Royal Neighbors.

Tveit, Samson S., Albert Lea. Public official. Born May 2, 1863 in Ullensvang, Hardanger, Norway, son of Solomon T. and Anna (Kvitno) Tveit. Married in 1890 to Christie Berven. Educated in public schools of Norway, teacher in Norway 1883-1888; schools in Illinois and Minnesota 1888-1901; asst. county treas. Freeborn county 1901; county treas. 1906 to date.

Tweedy, Robert J., Albert Lea. Real estate and insurance. Born June 25, 1876 in La Crosse, Wis., son of William and Margaret (Collins) Tweedy. Educated in public and high schools and Luther Academy Albert Lea. Clerk of Minn. House of Representatives 1893-97-99, 1903 and 1905. Engaged in real estate and insurance business 1894 to date; served om 12th Minn. Vol. Spanish-American War. Sec. Republican County Committee 6 years; sec. Freeborn County Fair Association 4 years; member Commercial Club; BPOE; K of P; and Eagles.

Wilkinson, Charles M. Albert Lea. Publc official. Born April 20, 1850 in Oswego NY, son of Allen and Mary (McGuire) Wilkinson. Married in 1874 to Ella C. Fuller. Attended public school Rio, Columbia county Wis., and academic dept. Milton (Wis) college. pre-empted a farm in Kansas 1870-1871. Moved to Albert Lea 1872 and engaged in grain buying business. later operating livestock, which he continued until 1900, when he was elected dep. sheriff and jailer, continuing until Jan. 1907; elected register of deeds Freeborn county 1906 , which office he holds to date. Mayor of Albert Lea 7 years; member Commercial Club; Masonic fraternity; Shrine; AOUW KOTM; K of P and BPOE.