"A History of Western Murray County" by Robt. B. Forrest, Pages 164-175, 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. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Robert B. Forrest III ========================================================================= Note: Use your "Find and Replace" option under "Edit" to search this file. Where there is noted (Picture) there is a picture or darwing that you can view. The file name (ex: 004.jpg) can be found on the TOC in the description box next to the file you are viewing. Just click on the picture file name or you can view the book in HTML format at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/murray/history/home.htm where the pictures are placed within the book. Special thanks go to Robert B, Forrest for sharing his Grandfather's works. Be sure to read: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/murray/history/western/preface3.txt ================================================================================ Early W. Murray Co. MN Hist., pages 164-175 1827, and came to this country in July, 1836. He worked seven years in a rolling mill in Indiana and attended the Baptist University at Granville, Ohio. He then moved with his parents to Brown County, Minnesota, in 1856. Mr. Jones took part in the defense of New Ulm, during the Indian outbreak of August, 1862. A month later skulking Indians killed his father when they were stacking grain, and Evan fled to the woods, ran down a ravine and took refuge in a slough where he and two German neighbors remained in hiding for eleven days subsisting only on corn and one small melon which he obtained at night from a near-by field. He married Rachel Jones in June, 1866. He moved to near Lake Benton in 1878, and in 1879 traded the farm for the store and farm of L. Manchester near Bear Lake in Lowville township where he owned and operated the store and was postmaster there for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born: Elizabeth, Ellen, Mary, Hattie, Alice, Herbert, Diana, and Katie. Elizabeth was born in 1867. Ellen was born in 1868. She was united in marriage to Arthur Bock of St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1896. Ellen died in April, 1933. They had two children: Vera and Edna. Mary was born in 1869. Hattie was born in 1872. She married John Davis of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, in 1895. Hattie died Thanksgiving Eve, 1945. They had two children, Ann and Arnold. Alice was born in 1 874. She married John F. Nelson of Slayton, Minnesota, in 1901. He passed away in March, 1946. They have a daughter, Fern. Herbert was born in 1876. He was married to Jennie Augusta Bangston in 1906. They have two children: Oran, who married Ethel Miller in 1936. They have a daughter, Ruth Darlene. They live on the farm purchased by Grandpa Jones in 1879 and still owned by Oran's father, Herbert Jones of Balaton. Evelyn married Ernest Miller in 1935. They have two children, Roger Ernest and Dennis Burton. Diana was born in 1877. She married Glen Garrett of Mankato, Minnesota, in 1902. They have a son, Lloyd. —164— Katie was born in 1879. ln 1910 she filed on a homestead near Havre, Montana, where she met and married Joe Cuckler. They have four children: Daniel, Rachel, Herbert, and Alice Trudy. Evan E. Jones died on the old home farm in Lowville township November 15, 1904. He was born in Wales in 1827. His wife, Rachel, was also born in Wales in 1836 and died in 1915 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alice Nelson, near Kremlin, Montana. Herbert E. Jones was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Evan E. Jones. He farmed the home place for many years, is retired and now lives at Balaton. At the present time the five surviving daughters are living in or near Pasadena, California. THE HANS JACOBSON FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. Hans Jacobson, who were born in Norway, came to Murray county in 1873. Hans, who was a founder of the township, came here in 1872. They built the first frame house in the township. Five children were born to the Jacobsons: Jacob, Mary, Bernt, Caroline, and Ludwig. Jacob married Mattie Amundson. They had four children: Mabel, Henry, Carl, and George. Jacob taught school in the county before going into business in Chandler. His son, Carl, is a graduate of Carleton. Mary married Charley Norwood. They had seven children: Rudolph, LaDue, Alva, Luella, Mabel, Eveline, and Sylvester. Luella is a graduate of Carleton and has a doctor's degree from Columbia. She also studied in Germany. Caroline married Nels Lewis. They have four children: Norma, Florence, Theodore, and Mabel. Ludwig married Bertha Rakness. They had two children: Ruel and Irene. Ludwig, a graduate of Mankato normal, was county superintendent, graduate of the Minnesota University and was supervisor of Minnesota rural schools. His children are St. Olaf's graduates. Bernt married Mary Clauson. They had five sons: Harry, Arthur, William, Leonard, and Rudolph. They adopted —165— Amanda Remstead, who married Leslie J. Wagley. They have four sons: Gordon, Lowell, Robert, and Roger. Arthur, a graduate of Minnesota University, is superintendent of Agriculture in the Cloquet schools. He married Blanche Dumphey. William married Merriam Knutson. They have three daughters: Maureen, Janet, and Marion. They live at Slayton. Leonard married Mary Swarm. They have a son, Donald. Rudolph, who is in the army, is married and has three children. Bernt (B. H.) bought the homestead in 1891. He died in 1924. Harry bought the farm inn 1929. Harry married Bertha Thorson. They have four daughters, Maxine, Avis, Bette, and Mary Ann. Harry served in the Marine Corps in World War I. Maxine graduated from Mankato Teachers college and taught in Murray county. She was married to Robert F. Keller. They have one daughter, Linda, which is the fifth generation of the Jacobson family tree. Avis graduated from Mankato Teachers College and is teaching at Ellsworth. Bette attended Minneapolis Business College and is married to Robert C. Payton. Mary Ann, the youngest, is a senior at the Slayton high school. Thus the family tree of Hans Jacobson comes to an end without anyone left to carry on the Jacobson name on the homestead. THE GILBERT JOHNSON FAMILY Gilbert Johnson and his wife Anna were natives of Norway and came to America in 1866, landing at Quebec. From there they moved to Fillmore County, Minnesota. They came to Murray County in 1872, locating on a claim in township 106-42. Mr. Johnson was one of the active men in the new colony. He circulated the petition for the formation of Leeds township and presented it to the County Commissioners. He also took the first census of Leeds and held many other offices. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born, John G., Ingebor, Engebret, Hans, Andrew, Mary, Chris, Carl and Augusta. —166— John G. was born in Norway. He took an active part in politics and represented Murray County in the legislature for two terms. He was united in marriage to Johanna Solem. They had four children: George, Ida, Arthur, and Elsie. George was united in marriage to Miss Rachel I. Brewster in 1914; four children were born to this union: Donald G., John G., Harold A., and Dale D. The four boys saw service in World War II; one of them, Harold A., was killed in action in the Mediterranean area on October 17, 1944. Donald G. was a staff Sgt. in India with the 10th Air Force. He was married to Miss Evelyn Gowin, March, 1943. They have one daughter, Janet Kay. John G. trained in the Air Forces, and was a Corporal. Dale was a Pfc. in the 81st Inf. Division, The family lives in Lake Wilson. Ida was united in marriage to Russel Gamble December 31, 1915. They have four children: Margaret, Lois, Shirley, and Joyce. Margaret was married to Gordon Payton of Slayton in October, 1938. They have two children, Leland and Dianne. Lois, the second daughter, was united in marriage to C. A. Lukens August 26, 1944. Mr. Lukens was a glider pilot inn World War II, serving three years in the European sector. The other daughters, Shirley and Joyce are at home. Arthur married Gerda Carlson in 1925. They have four sons: Richard, Wallace, Dwight, and Dennis. Wallace is a veteran of World War II, serving in the Japanese area. Dwight is in the army and is stationed in the Hawaiian Islands. Richard and Dennis are at home. Elsie was united in marriage to Ben Toft in 1921. Five children were born to this union: Adele, Beulah, Neva, Dean, and Darrel. Adele married Les Schrader in 1938. They have a daughter, Joan, born in 1939. They live at Sioux Falls, S. Dak. Beulah married Dale Dayton in 1938. He was killed in action in France in World War II. He was a member of the 7th army. Two children, James and Nancy, were born to this union. —167— Neva, Dean and Darrel are at home. Engebret was born in Rushford in 1869, and came to Leeds with his parents in 1872. He was married to Miss Serena Drake. They lived north of Hadley. Mr. Johnson died in April, 1936. To this union two children were born: Beatrice Myrtle and Leon Gilbert. Beatrice graduated from Mankato Teachers College and taught school in Murray County before she married Albert A. Olson. They live at Slayton, and have two children: Marlene Beatrice, and Gary Albert. Leon, the only son, is a graduate of St. Olaf, taught and coached football at Roseau for seven years. Married Eleanor Day of Clinton Falls; graduate of University of Minnesota. She taught at Roseau. They have three children, Leland Gilbert, Barbara Ellen, and Eileen Sylvia. They are managing the home place. Andrew G. was born in this county. He was married in 1902 to Ida C. Nelson, who died in 1920. Three children were born to this union: Vern W. Lloyd and Avery C. Vern was married to Miss Milda Frerk of Slayton in 1930. They have one son, Ronald, born June 20, 1931. Vern is president of the Murray County Livestock Improvement Association, and was assessor of Lowville township for seven years. Lloyd married Ella Olson in 1932. They have one son LeRoy. Avery is assisting his father on the farm north of Hadley. Carl G. is the youngest son of Gilbert and Anna Johnson, was born July 25, 1 879. He was united in marriage to Emma Alfreda Fresk, July 20, 1906. He farmed for several years and is now farming on the farm he and his family built up in Leeds township. He served on the Hadley creamery board for several years and is a member of the Hadley Elevator board. The following children were born to this union: Herbert Fresk, born June 8, 1907, married Marie Quaintance; one child, Marilyn, was born to this union. Living on the farm once owned by his grandfather, Herbert has been active in all community affairs, serving as President of the Farm Bureau, President of the Murray County Co-op. Oil Co., member of the Extension Board, etc. He was appointed director on the State Farm Bureau board in 1946. —168— Craig Lowell, born December 13, 1918, was married to Donna Campbell. They have two children, Craig and Karen. Craig graduated from St. Olaf College, and is now teaching Physical Education at Benson, Minnesota. Allen Eugene, born September 8, 1910, was married to LaVonne Olson. One child, Joyce, was born to this union. He is now farming in Leeds township. Nolan Clair was born April 3, 1912, and is farming in Leeds township. Douglas Earl, born November 20, 1913, was married to Mary Helmke. They have four children: Janice, Jerome, Joan, and James. He is living in Hadley, and is a member of the school board. Vincent Keith was born August 22, 1922, and is farming with his father on the home place. He enlisted in the Navy in World War II. Ingebor died in 1942. Hans passed away a number of years ago., Mary married Axel Knutson. They had ten children. (See Knutson biography.) Chris was killed by lightning when he was 21 years old. Augusta married Ole Solem. (See Solem biography.) THE OLAUS JOHNSON FAMILY One of the signers on the petition for the formation of Leeds township is Olaus Johnson, who came here with his wife in 1872. The Johnsons were born in Norway. They built both a sod house and a log cabin, the wood coming from Lost Timber. The Johnsons had eight children: Maren, Andrew, Matilda, John Ingebor, Christian, Olaf and Jacob. Maren married Tom Gunderson in 1883. Six children were born to this union: Gullick, Amelia, Ella, Lena, Nellie and Thea. Gullick still lives on the old farm. Amelia married Jacob Mattson in 1909. They have four children: Inger, Theodore, Olaf and Edna. Ella married Theo. Thompson. They had one son, Clifford. —169— Lena married the late Fred Oberg (see Oberg biography). Nellie married A. Hames. They have seven children. Tilda married Ole Bjorkman. They live on the Gunderson farm. They have three children: Jewell, Evelyn and Oriole. Andrew married Clara Amundson. He took an active part in township affairs and was board chairman for several years in Lowville township. The Johnsons had seven children: Oscar, Inez, Clarence, Elsie, Richard, Florence and Goodwin. Oscar lives on the old homestead. Inez married Joe Griesser. They had two children: Richard and Donna. Clarence married Elizabeth McCarthy. Elsie married Harold Thompson of Slayton. They have two girls: Audrey and Bette Jean. Richard married Helen Glarum. They have two children: Ronald and Larry. Florence is at home with her mother. Goodwin married Fern Buse. They have four children: Roger, Joyce, Jean, and Andrea Gale. Matilda married Dan Carst. Both have passed away. John M., who was postmaster at Chandler years ago, is dead. Ingeborg married Magnus Erdahl. They have five children. Christian, who lives at Karval, Colorado, has five children. Olaf is married and lives at Gordon, Nebraska. They have five children. THE THEODORE KNUTSON FAMILY In the first group of settlers in Leeds were Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Knutson. Mr. Knutson came here in 1872 and was one of the petitioners for the formation of Leeds. He served over ten years on the town board and took an active paint in all the early activities. Mr. and Mrs. Knutson were born in Norway. Eight children were born to them: J. Axel, Walborg, Lucas, Trygve, Augusta, J. Donie, Rebecca, and Norma. Axel married Mary Johnson. They had ten children: LaDue, Norma, Viola, Irene, Arnold, Merriam, Joseph, Evelyn, Lowell and Katherine. —170— Walborg married Sig Satter. They had three children: LeRoy, who married Martha Christensen; Russel, who married Leota Sawyer; Lucas is unmarried. Lucas Engelstad is married and lives in California. They have two adopted sons: Anthony and Harland. Lucas has been a pastor in the Lutheran church for over twenty years. Trygve married Anna Fresk. They had two sons, Junior and James. Mrs. Knutson died and Mr. Knutson married Amy Stone, who had two children, Helen and Ross. James Knutson married Lydia Bacon. He was a member of the 103rd Infantry Div.; went overseas in 1944; wounded while leading an infantry platoon; recovered, and was on the line until January, 1945; was assigned to military government at Salzburg, Austria. Junior, who is a veteran of World War II, lives with his folks at Slayton. "Trig" was elected to the Minnesota legislature in 1946. Gusta married Nels Evenson. They had four children: Geneva, Theodore, Phillip (deceased) and Neil. J. Donie married Viola Kadolph October 21, 1914. They have four children: Byron, Glen, Delpha, (with the Murray Co. Co-op. Oil Co. of Slayton), and Beverly (with the Murray County State Bank at Slayton). Glen was Staff Sgt. in the 5th Air Force, attached to the 90th Bomb. Group. Had 49 missions on B-24's; top turret gunner; has Asiatic Pacific ribbon; six campaign stars; air medal; three oak leaf clusters, and is now with the National Citizens'; Bank of Mankato. Rebecca married Albert Holmberg. They have one child, Rebecca. Norma married Rev. Victor L. Peterson of Abercrombie, North Dakota, October 15, 1919. They have three children: Rachel, who married Thomas Norris; Norma Evie, and Mark. THE B. M. LOW FAMILY Active in the early days of the development of western Murray county was B. M. Low. The Low family emigrated from New York to Wisconsin and from Wisconsin to Minnesota in the middle sixties. B. M. was a civil war veteran and took a —171— claim in Bear Lake timber in 1866. Mr. Low was a captain in the Union army. He held a long list of offices: was the first clerk in the township, first surveyor in the county, was county commissioner and finished his career with two terms in the legislature. He was married to Lora Zoe McCann in 1868. They came west the same year. To this union six children were born: Kate, J. M., Helen, Carl K., George and Lora. Kate was united in marriage to Dr. Thurston in 1897. They had one daughter, Kathleen. Mrs. Thurston and her husband are both dead. J. Marshall married May Peterson in 1897. To this union seven children were born: Bartlette, Dolores, Allen, Pauline, Leah, Wilbur and Glen. Bart, a veteran of World War I, married Mildred Barrows. They had one daughter, Lois. Bart died in 1930. Lois is attending the School of Commerce in Minneapolis. Dolores married Clare Braley. They live at Miles City, Montana. They have one daughter, Joan. Allen married Jennie Mae Sullway in 1920. They have one daughter, Jacqueline. They live in Denver, Colorado. Pauline married Dr. E. H. Allison in 1929. They live at Balaton. Leah lives at San Diego, California. Wilbur died in 1921. Glen is at home. Helen married Julius Gullord of Slayton in 1899. She died in 1931. Carl married Miss Pearl Craig of Tracy. He was travelling auditor for a Canadian grain firm when he died in 1924. Two girls were born to this union: Helen Kathryn, born March 10, 1918, and Marjorie Craig, who died in infancy. Dr. George Earl Low married Ethel Templeton. He was a graduate of Wesley University, Oregon. Was made a major in World War I. He died in 1935. Lora married Zi Walbridge of Miles City, Montana. They live in Oakland, California. —172— THE JAMES LOWE, SR. FAMILY The James Lowe family came to Lowville township in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe were natives of Perthshire, Scotland. Mr. Lowe had a brilliant and versatile mind and wrote articles of interest as well as many poems. The Lowe's had seven children: James, Jr., born in 1849; David, in 1855; John, in 1857; Thomas, in 1858; William, in 1861; Minnie, in 1863; and Alexander, in 1866. The Lowe family is one of the most prominent in western Minnesota, producing six doctors, college professors, business executives, educators, members of the Minnesota legislature, a Rhodes Scholar, county officials, and one of the largest road contractors in the west. James, Jr., was married to Miss Annie Sheerin in 1880. While farming in Lowville township, he was elected sheriff of Murray County which office he held until his death in 1923. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lowe: Charles, John, Jim Davy, Minnie, Florence, Miles, Harry, Vernon, and Kenneth. John was married to Miss Clara Larson, November 2, 1911. Mr. Lowe is postmaster at Slayton. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowe was born one son, Jack, Jr., who was married to Mary Wells on June 3, 1939; they have a daughter, Ann, born October 15, 1940, and a son, Jack, born November 24, 1945. The John Lowes have a daughter, Geraldine, who was born February 15, 1921. She was married to James Verhay June 20, 1944. They have a son, James, born March 20, 1945. Chas. Lowe married Effie Engebretson, a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Simonson, the first settler of Leeds. He has been in the employ of the Massey-Harris Machine Company in Canada, being district sales manager. They have one adopted daughter, Alice, who married John Connors. He served with the Canadian and American Air Force and was killed in action. Jim Davy was married to Miss Mable March December 29, 1909. They have one daughter, Mary Margaret, who was united in marriage to John Holland, September 10, 1936. They —173— have three children: John David, born July 28, 1941; Robert James, born October 11,1944; Linda Kay, born August 28, 1946. Jim Davy has been managing the Boote plant in Slayton for the last 16 years. Minnie Lowe was married to Leslie Mitson, October 7, 1908. They had three children: Frances Clare, James, and Jack. Minnie died November 23, 1929. Florence was married to Jack Haberman, September 23, 1920. They have two children: John and Florence Ann. Miles H. Lowe was married to Lillian Barnholdt, December 20, 1927. Mr. Lowe has been marshal of the village of Slayton for three years. Harry was united in marriage to Lillian Breen, June 8, 1926. They have three children: Marilyn, born May 17, 1928; James, born May 17, 1932; and Judy, born December 9,1939. Harry has been in the R. F. D. service for over thirty years. Vernon died in infancy. George Kenneth was married to Miss Mary Breen, April 6, 1931. They have five children: Margaret Ann, born April 19, 1935; Jean Marie, born May 20, 1937; George David, born June 5,1933; Richard Allen, June 16, 1942; and Michael John, born December 1, 1946. Kenneth, besides being in charge of the Silverberg's Store, has held the office of mayor of Slayton four terms. David Lowe married Betsy Paulson and for many years farmed in Lowville. They moved to Cheney, Washington, in 1902. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have passed away. Jack, who never married, was a farmer by occupation. Spent his life in southwestern Minnesota and Canada. He died in 1931. Thomas was born November 8, 1858. In his youth he taught in Leeds and Skandia. He later attended medical college and started his medical career at Hadley. He later moved to Slayton where he practiced until 1904 when he moved to Pipestone. He served in the Minnesota Legislature from Pipestone County in 1935, 1937, and 1939. He passed away in St. Paul on March 12, 1939. —174— He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Southwell on June 18, 1887, in Slayton. To this union four children were born: William, born December 7,1892; Alice, born July 24, 1894; Margaret, born July 8,1896; and Duncan, born August 15, 1900. William Lowe was educated at Carleton and Mankato Business ollege. He was united in marriage to Eloise Haney, September 30, 1916. They have two children, Douglas Martin, and Mary Elizabeth. At one time, William was cashier of the First National Bank of Jasper, Minnesota. He lived in St. Paul for many years. While living there he held the positions of credit manager of Brown and Bigelow, bank examiner, and collector of internal revenue, in recent years, he has been auditor for the construction of the Alaskan Highway through Canada, and now is at Shafter, California, and auditor for the S. L. Camp Company at that location. Douglas Lowe was born February 10, 1919. He graduated from Macalester College, and entered the service in 1941. Served 24 months overseas with 7th Bomb Air Group in India, covering Burma sector with a B-24. Was discharged as Captain. He is now with the Houghton Mifflin Co. and lives in Minneapolis. He married Faye Nadine Peterson of Crosby, December 31, 1942. They have a daughter, Barbara Jeanne, born February 1, 1946. Mary Elizabeth was born December 12, 1920. She attended Macalester College and did secretarial work at North American Aviation Plant at Englewood, California, for three years. She married Harold William Pinkhain of Los Angeles on November 7, 1943. They have one son, Stephen William, born March 9,1945. Alice was united in marriage October 5, 1921, to E. Raymond Hughes of Mankato. They have two children: Thomas Lowe Hughes, born December 11, 1925; and Marianne Hughes, born June 2, 1930. Thomas is a student at Carleton College. He is active in school work and was National president of Students' Federalists 1944-45. Was selected as Rhodes Scholar in 1946. Marianne is a student at the Mankato high school. E. Raymond Hughes is a graduate of Carleton. He has been commander of American Legion, Grand patron of O. E. S., U. S. —175—