"A History of Western Murray County" by Robt. B. Forrest, Pages 123-135, Murray Co., MN Published 1947 ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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Be sure to read: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/murray/history/western/preface3.txt ================================================================================ Early W. Murray Co. MN Hist., pages 123-135 FAMILY HISTORIES —123— [BLANK PAGE] —124— THE LARS AGA FAMILY Lars Aga was born in Aga, Hardanger, Norway. He came to America in 1910 and to Murray county in 1914. He was married to Margaret F. Vallance June 11, 1918. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Vallance, prominent early day settlers. Mr. Vallance took an active part in all township, county, and civic affairs. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Aga: Gordon Lewis, John Raymond, Anna Margaret, George Eugene, and Doris Marjorie. Gordon saw a lot of service in World War II. He was attached to the 24th Mech. Cay. He was severely wounded at St. Lo. He has five battle stars, purple heart, etc. John Raymond, born August 7, 1921, was a private in Co. D. Signal Corps Division. Anna Margaret married Ralph Helmke September 26th, 1942. They have a daughter, Carol Ann. They live at Lake Wilson. George Eugene was in the navy for a year and 11 months. He spent most of his service in the vicinity of Norfolk, Va. He was in the LSM rocket division. Doris Marjorie was married to Vinal Severeid on March 23, 1946. THE L. M. ADAMS FAMILY Few men can boast as long an American ancestral line as L. M. Adams, better known as "Bunt." The Adamses came to America way back in the 1600's. But a pedigree does not mean as much to "Bunt" as a piece of International machinery, having been associated with that organization for almost a life time in various towns. Mr. Adams is a son of John Quincy Adams and Dora Yearington, both residents of New York, and was born in Houston county, August 31, 1876. He was united in marriage to Miss Anna Skaar, May 10, 1898. To this union three children were born: Hazel Lorena, November 4, 1899; John Quincy, June 27, 1913; Samuel Andrew, July 4,1917. Mrs. —125— Adams passed away June 6, 1918, and Hazel died August 7, 1918. John married Elsie Drenth, September 24, 1932. John specializes in tractor repair work. Samuel Andrew Adams enlisted in the army September 1938. He was attached to the infantry and was a drill master for several years. He spent a year in the Hawaiian Islands, went overseas with the 84th Division. He was wounded in a booby trap explosion while searching a German house. Four men in the platoon were killed. He had a broken arm and hand, and sustained the loss of eyesight in one eye. After being hospitalized in England and U. S. he entered Teachers College at St. Cloud, December 1946. He has tried to re-enlist but was rejected. Bunt came to Murray County April 1, 1906. Settling first at Slayton, was a blacksmith then went into the machine business. He has made his home in Lake Wilson since January 1, 1927. THE HENRY W. ANDERSON FAMILY Henry W. and Helen Anderson were born in Scotland. Both were teachers in schools around Aberdeen. Three children were born to them: Helen, Alex, and Henry. In the year of 1882 they came to America and settled in Osceola County in Iowa. In 1901 they moved to Murray County and settled in Chanarambie Township. In 1906 they moved to the farm where their son, Henry, still resides. Alex met death accidentally while working on the farm in 1906. Mr. Anderson died in the year of 1919 and Mrs. Anderson continued to live on the farm until her death in 1938. Their daughter, Helen, was a teacher and taught in Iowa and Minnesota. In 1912 she was married to A. L. Partridge and in 1914 moved to Wisconsin. They have one daughter, Ruth. Henry attended the Agriculture School in St. Paul in the winter of 1909. He was married August 27, 1913 to Alice Kench, early settler of Chanarambie township. They have five children: Francis J., Margaret L., Elsie M., Florence H., and Laura E. Francis, after graduating from the high school —126— at Lake Wilson, is farming with his father. He was married in 1938 to Eunice York and has two children: Nancy Kathryn and Byron James. Margaret attended the Calhoun Secretarial school in Minneapolis and is now working in the First National Bank at Lake Wilson. Elsie is a graduate nurse of As-bury Hospital in Minneapolis and got her R.N. degree in 1943. She is now working as an assistant in a doctor's office in Minneapolis. Florence attended the Mankato Teachers College. She taught in the rural schools of Murray county and in 1942 was married to Robert B. Peterson of Ruthton. They have two children: Pamela Ann and Phillip Owen. Laura is taking nurses' training at Asbury Hospital in Minneapolis. THE W. E. ADERHOLD FAMILY William E. Aderhold came to the United States with his parents, Herman H. Aderhold and Mina M. Aderhold in 1882. They first settled at Streator, Ill., moving to Murray County, Minnesota in March 1900. William Aderhold started farming for himself in 1908 and for many years took an active part in agriculture development. He made a success of farming and built a modern set of buildings. He was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta J. Kruse, June 10, 1908. To this union five children were born: Lloyd W., born July 16th, 1909; Alice A., born July 23, 1911; Maynard H., born October 18, 1912; Erna N., born September 23, 1915; Richard R., born July 3, 1923. Lloyd has a B.A. degree from Concordia college, attended the Minnesota and Northwestern universities and was principal of several schools in northern Minnesota. A longing for the farm brought him back to Murray County and he has been farming here for the last ten years. Alice A. attended Normal at Slayton, and taught school for four years. She married William Buldhaupt in April, 1933. They have two children: Marion L., born September 21, 1935, and Paul W., born July 15, 1939. They live on the old homestead. Maynard received his B.A. degree at Concordia, majored in Commercial Business at Fargo college, taught school six —127— years, went into service in northern Alaska as camp supervisor. He was attached to Jnf. Hdqrs. 338th Inf. 3rd Battn., was in Italy for two years. He is now attached to the Civil Service at Minneapolis. He married Mary Schmitt of Jordan on October 1940. They have one daughter, Antonia L., born March 20, 1942. Erna M. after attending normal took nurses training at Fairview hospital, Minneapolis. She was married to John Gerald Murray on May 14, 1940. They have two children: Michael J., May 15, 1942; Jeanne L., May 27, 1944. They live at Parker’s Prairie, Minnesota where J. Gerald manages the Murray Store. Richard attended Western Union college at Le Mars, Iowa, from there he entered the service. In 1942 he took up flying and was attached to the 4th Photo Reconn. Long Range (air echelon), did work over most of the principal battle fields in the Pacific. Is now a patient at Coral Gables, Fla. (He has been attached to the World’s Map Cart.) Herman H. Aderhold was born in Marienthal, Germany, March 4, 1857, died at his home near Lake Wilson, May 15, 1910. His wife who was born August 24, 1856 makes her home with her son in Pipestone. The Wm. E. Aderholds moved to Pipestone February 1, 1945. THE OLE ALECKSON FAMILY We asked one of the early settlers some time ago, “Who was the most useful man in the community?” He answered, “Well, the man that stands Out in my mind is Ole Aleckson. There was nothing he could not do.” Ole Aleckson while a boy in Norway learned wood carving. He was a sailor for several years. He learned the carpenter trade and he worked for two years in the Gulness Copper Works. He was united in marriage to Miss Turi Swanjord on March 29, 1869 and soon afterwards came to America, finally settling on a homestead in Skandia township. He was a valuable man to the settlers who came to him when they needed assistance. His first home was one of sod. He made wooden —128— shoes from basswood from his timber lot in Bear Lake woods. They sold for $1 a pair for adults and 50 cents for children’s sizes. There were two types of wooden shoes, Norwegian and Swedish. He stuck to the Norwegian style. He made skates and skiis. Like the other settlers the Alecksons had their scarfs, sox, mittens, etc. knitted from wool, carded, spun, cleaned and dyed at home. He built the weaving loom from oak lumber from the woods and his wife wove shawls, blankets, and carpets. He was just as handy when working in iron, making horseshoes, hinges, etc. He made the tables, chairs, beds, cupboards and the bureau for their humble home. He did much carpenter work in the county not only for the neighbors but in the nearby villages. His life was one of service to the community. While he took no leading part in politics or social affairs, he was an important man in the eyes of the community. The Alecksons had six children: two dying in infancy. Aleck who was born in 1870 never married. He died in 1937. Mary, born in 1871, was married on March 29, 1898 to B. F. Lindsey. Mr. Lindsey died in 1929. Six children were born to this union: Maria, Lillian, Mark, Ruth, Seth and Paul. Mrs. Lindsey taught school in Murray county for several years. So did Annie and Lena. Annie, who was born in 1874, married George Mumby New Year’s Day 1907. They lived on the old Aleckson homestead. The Mumbys had four children: Richard, William, Lucille and Rose. Mr. Mumby passed away January 27, 1947. Lena, who was born in 1883, married James E. Larson on May 11 , 1921. They have two sons, Harold and Floyd. THE ANDREW AMUNDSON FAMILY Mr. Amundson came to this country from Norway in 1865. He was born on February 15, 1843. He married Ingeborg Ruen in 1870 at Decorah, Iowa. Seven children were born to this union: Albert, January 4,1872; Augusta, April 19, 1875; Clara, February 13, 1877; Ida, January 3, 1879; Joseph, Octo- —129— ber 23, 1882; Andrew, October 6,1886—he died November 12, 1912. One child died in infancy. Mr. Amundson died November 14, 1886 and five years later the family moved on a farm in Leeds township. Albert Amundson married Hannah Mathilda Jacobson of Upsala June 10, 1906. They live in Lake Wilson where Albert has been in the contracting business for thirty-five years. He has also been a director in the First National Bank for twenty- three years. They had a son, Laurence Arnold, who died when he was young. Augusta married Henry Larson of Decorah, Iowa. They had two children : Bernice, who stays at home with her father in Lake Wilson, and Lyle, who married Ruth Steinmetz on December 6,1942. Mrs. Larson died October 16, 1943. Clara married Andrew Johnson (see Claus Johnson biography) Ida married V. B. Smead in 1904. The family moved to Clayton, Wis. in 1910. They had four children: Irene, Frank, Edwin and Alice. Frank Alvin married Mildred Thompson August 22, 1 930. They have three children: Milton Frank, born November 8,1932; Wayne Lloyd, born December 5,1937, and Lois Ida, born January 6, 1939. Irene Viola was married to Earl Goldsmith June 12, 1926. They have four children: Van Earl born March 26, 1932; Kenneth Layton, born December 5, 1933; Jean Alice, born October 7, 1936; and Judith Irene, born August 7, 1941. J. Edwin married Clara Plahn March 12, 1933. They have three children: Patricia Claire, born March 30, 1936; Carolyn Alice, born October 29, 1937 and died October 29, 1937; and James Edwin, born August 25, 1939, and died August 25, 1939. Alice Martha married Russell Peterson May 4, 1938. They have two children: Vincent Russell, born September 7,1939; and Alice Jane, born February 25, 1941. Joe married Hannah M. Blomgren in November 1911. They have a son, Laurence, who married Margaret Solem. He served in the infantry in World War II. Joe, who is a well driller, has bored more holes in Murray County than any other one man. —130— THE SEVERT AMUNDSON FAMILY Severt Amundson was born in Norway November 15, 1846. He came to the United States in 1869. He lived for a time at Decorah, Iowa. While there he married Raghnild Torgeson, born February 15, 1849, also of Norway. He came to Leeds township in 1876 and built a sod house. The Amundsons had seven children: Bertha, Sophia, Albert, Tilly, Ida, Emma and Lawrence. Albert, the oldest son, was born on the old homestead where he still lives. He was born on July 9,1880. He married Alma Axlund of Volin, S. D. To this union five children were born: Ruth, Morris, June, Alvin, and Edith. Ruth was born January 27, 1918. She married Harold C. Hendrickson. They have three children: Lavonne, Carol ,and Larry Allen. Morris was born July 27, 1919. He was in the Signal Air Corps in World War II. Was Tech. Sgt. in Radio Division and served with the 443rd Signal Battalion at Hickam Field, Oahu, Hawaii. He spent a year in Hawaii, landing there in December, 1942. June, born June 26, 1921, is supervisor for the Horni Company that makes airplane coils for the government. She has been in technical work for the last four years. Alvin, born April 25, 1923, enlisted March 10, 1943 and graduated from the Springfield college. Was Lt. in the air transport service in the 805 A.A.F. Squadron. He did transport service to South America and on the West Coast. Edith, born August 18, 1931, is attending Slayton high school. Part of the present Amundson house contains some lumber that was taken from the houses built by the construction crews when the railroad was built in 1879. THE HENRY D. BOSE FAMILY Henry D. Bose, Jr., was born in Bloomington, Illinois in 1874. He came to Murray County with his parents, Mr. and —131— Mrs. Henry D. Bose in 1898. He was united in marriage to Anna Elizabeth Schulen at Slayton, Minn., December 14, 1906. Mrs. Bose was born in Germany December 9, 1882. Mr. Bose bought the farm he now lives on in 1914. This farm was first owned by G. H. Smith, who drove with a team to the Missouri River in 1881 for the cottonwood trees for the grove, some of which are still standing. Mr. and Mrs. Bose had ten children: Lauraine, Alice, Olive, Evelyn, Ralph, Henry, Elizabeth, Ruth, Kenneth, and Doris. Lauraine married Wallace Apland in 1924. They have two children, Wallace and Donna Jean. They live at Jasper. Alice married John R. Goertzen in 1932. They live at Newhall, Iowa. Olive married Mike Piszek in 1933. They live at Pipestone. Evelyn married Luther G. Iverson in 1934. They have two children: David L. and Ardyth. Mrs. Iverson has been teaching in this vicinity for the last three years. They live at Lake Wilson. Ralph married Vivian Gunderson in 1937, of Chandler. They have two children: Gary and Jeraine. They live at Lake Wilson. Henry married Johanna Van Eck in 1938. They have four children: Marian, Carolyn, Donald and Roger. They live at Woodstock Elizabeth married Alfred Holmbeck in 1941. They have six children: Robert, Karen, Ronald, June, Richard, and Melvin. They live at Lake Wilson. Ruth married John Van Eck, Jr., in 1940. They live at Lake Wilson. Kenneth married Beryl Bjerke in 1943. They have two children: Marjorie and Rodney. They live at Lake Wilson. Doris married Louis Platt in 1942. They have two children, Michael and William. They live at Lake Wilson. Mr. Platt was a veteran of World War II, serving in the European sector. Mrs. Wallace Aapland passed away June 8,1947. —132— THE ERNST BULDHAUPT FAMILY Ernst Buldhaupt was born at Westwood, Ohio, April 10, 1875. He came to Lake Wilson in 1899 and purchased the farm on which he still lives. In 1900 he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Pleggenkuler who was born at Richfield, Iowa in 1876. To this union six children were born: William, George, Louisa, Emma, Clara and Minnie. William married Alice Aderhold in 1933. They have two children: Marion and Paul. George took a business course at the Mankato Business college. He was married to Miss Elsie Dettmer in 1930. To this union three children were born: Ardyth who died in infancy and Donald and Robert. Clara graduated from the Lake Wilson high school and then attended the Mankato Business college. She was married to William Miller in 1937. They have four children; Carol, Sandra Lee, Willis, and Mary Ann. Minnie graduated from the Lake Wilson high school and then attended the Mankato Teacher’s college. She is now teaching at Magnolia. Louisa and Emma are at home. Ernest is one of the oldest farmers in Lowville township, living on the same farm continuously. He is steady and conservative. The kind on which depressions never make a dent. He has served as director on the Lake Wilson Co-op. Elevator and Lumber Co., the township board of Lowville and for over thirty years was clerk of the school district in which he lives. THE FRED B. BEDFORD FAMILY Fred B. Bedford came to Lake Wilson in Murray county in 1923. He farmed for several years in Leeds and Lowville townships. He entered the trucking business when he moved to Lake Wilson in 1932, starting out in a very modest way and now —133— has the largest trucking business in western Murray County. He now has five trucks and does live stock and other commercial hauling. Mr. Bedford was born in Joliet, Illinois, February 24, 1897. He was united in marriage to Ella H. Stolk of Sherburn February 6, 1923. Mrs. Bedford was born at Belle Plaine, Iowa, October 30, 1899. To this union five children were born; Dean L., born August 2, 1924; Howard W., born October 20, 1925; Arlyss Agnes, born May 6, 1927; Doris Ann, born November 23, 1929, and Keith F., born February 18, 1934. Dean L. entered the navy in World War II, December 20, 1943. Was attached to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor and then was attached to the U.S.S. Bullock. Was seaman 3rd class when discharged April 25, 1946. Howard W. entered the navy January 13, 1944. Took his boot training at Farragut, Memphis, Tenn., and Fort Pierce. Was attached to the Pacific area with the landing craft division. Was in the three day battle in Manila Bay. Was killed in action in front of Corregidor. His body lies in Maraveles cemetery, on the Bataan peninsula. Arlyss was graduated from Mankato Teachers College in 1947. Doris Ann was a member of graduating class in Lake Wilson in 1947. Keith is attending grade school. The Bedfords moved to Sioux Falls, S. D. in March where Mr. Bedford died May 22, 1947. THE ROBT. COURTNEY FAMILY Up from the deep south came Bob Courtney to try his hand at farming in the north and is one southerner that made good in the north. Robt. Courtney was born April 13, 1892 at Russellville Tenn. He moved north to Onawa, Iowa where he married Clara Dallen, who was born on August 30, 1895. The Courtneys moved to Murray county in 1914. They have two children: Robt. Kenneth and Erma Lucile. They live on the farm north of Lake Wilson. —134— Robert Kenneth was born May 25, 1915. He married Anna Johnson, February 21, 1938. They have five children: Ralph K., Larry G., Joyce Ann, Howard R., and Russell LeRoy. Erma Lucile, born November 16, 1916, attended the Mankato Commercial college, worked in the bank at Viborg, South Dakota and the First National Bank at Lake Wilson. She married Arie Kluis at Nashua, Iowa, April 26, 1940. They have three sons, Keith R., Glen H., and Dennis Clair. Mr. Kluis spent two years in the service during World War II. He was with the Diesel Engines Section. He was also attached to the U.S.S. Tate. He was in the Pacific area and was M.O. M.M. 2/c. They live at Slayton. Mr. and Mrs. Courtney are enjoying life in their fine new modern home in Cameron Township. THE HENRY CARNEY FAMILY Henry Carney was born in Cass County, Iowa in 1883, and was united in marriage to Miss Rose Myrtle Brockman on December 31, 1903. Mrs. Carney was born in 1886. They came to Murray County and settled on a farm in Leeds township where they still make their home. The Carneys have three children: Arthur W., Morton, and Arvid A. A son, Gordon, died at the age of three. Arthur was born in 1910 and was married to Miss Melba Martin, January, 1935. They have three children, Vesta, Verna, and Leon Charles. They live north of Lake Wilson. Morton married Miss Martha Alfs July 12, 1939. Morton was a graduate of the Mankato Teachers' College and has taught at Lake Benton and Granite Falls where they now live. Morton teaches industrial arts. His wife also was a graduate of Mankato Teachers' College. They have two sons, John Morton and Jerry Lee. Arvid, the youngest, is a graduate of the Lake Wilson High School. He entered the service in 1946 and was attached to the infantry. He was united in marriage to Julie Ellen Haag, November 21, 1946, at Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Carney received his discharge last year. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Carney have retired from farming but still live on the home place. —135—