A History of Camp, Renville Co., MN Bios Included ========================================================================= 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. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher Submitted: Janusry 2005 ========================================================================= Excerpted from: "HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA" BY REV. EDWARD D. NEILL, -AND — "HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE" BY CHARLES S. BRYANT. MINNEAPOLIS: NORTH STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1882. RENVILLE COUNTY. CHAPTER LXXXIII. CAMP The first settlers in this town were Antoine Bucofsky and Joseph Michelsky, two Polanders who came in the summer of 1858; they were soon followed by John Hose, Conrad Hamm, Werner Bosch, C. Schlumberger, and Andrew Schott. These all left on account of the Indians. In June 1865, John Halverson and Hellek Petersen who had settled in 1862, returned and now live on their original claims. The early records of the town are missing; and a list of the first officers cannot be given. Rev. A. E. Frederickson, Norwegian Lutheran, held services in 1867 and in 1868 a society was organized by Rev. Lars Johnson, with twelve members. Houges Evangelical Lutheran society held meetings first in 1868: in 1881 a log church was built on section 10. The Norwegian Synod and Conference Synod are also organized. The German Methodists hold services at Rieke's mill. The first school was taught in 1868 by Clement Treadbar. The town now has three school-houses. The first birth occurred in Joseph Michelsky's family in 1860. Renville post-office was established in 1873 and T. H. Hofsoe appointed postmaster; he kept the office at his store. In 1879 the name was changed to Camp and Sever P. Nelson appointed postmaster; the office is at his store on section 23. A water-power grist-mill, built by Victor Rieke in 1873 is still operated by him. A woolen mill was built in 1871 by B. Marchner and operated until 1880 when the machinery was taken out and moved to Brown county. William Pless built a mill in 1871 which was operated until the dam was carred out by high water in 1881. Frederick Koke runs a steam saw-mill which he built in 1878. BERGE Nels O. Berge was born in 1851 and accompanied his parents from Norway, his native land, to Dane county, Wisconsin, and two years later to Trempealeau county. He was brought up on a farm and learned blacksmithing; since 1869 he has lived in Camp and he has held the offices of town treasurer, clerk and justice. In 1870 he married Caroline Hagestad who has borne him five children: Minnie, Clara, Otilda, Edward and Alfred. BOIUM Hans O. Boium is a native of Norway, where he was born in 1840.He emigrated from that country in 1867, and since that time has been a resident of the United States Until 1868 he lived in Fillmore county, Minnesota, then migrated to Renville county and settled in Camp, where he owns 160 acres of land. His marriage occurred in the year 1865, with Betsy Oleson; the children are Ole, Christian, Sarah and Olina B. CAMPBELL Patrick Campbell, a native of Ireland, was born in 1831, and remained in that country until seventeen years old. For three years his home was in Manchester, New Hampshire, then twelve years in Madison, Wisconsin, and four years in Rochester, Minnesota, but in 1867 he located in Camp, where he has 160 acres of land. Mr. Campbell married Elizabeth Mullen in 1849, and in 1865 she died; her children were Christopher, Thomas and James. In 1873 he married his present wife. DALE Ole I. Dale was born in 1814, and until 1857 resided in Norway, the land of his birth, then came to America. He was a soldier ten years in his native country, also worked at the trade of tailor. Mr. Dale spent one year in Dane county, Wisconsin, then was employed in farming ten years in Trempealeau county. After living in Pope county, Minnesota, five years he came in 1873 to Camp. Married in 1846, Betsy Berge; children: Iver, Elling, Julia, Martha, Olaf, Betsy, Mary and Nels. ELDEN Mikal Elden who is a native of Norway, was born in 1855. Immigrated in 1866 to Wisconsin, and upon coming to Minnesota two years later later he located on section 4 of Camp. The marriage of Mr. Elden with Anna Johnson occurred in 1877. They have two children: Albert and Caroline. ENGER Louis J. Enger was born in 1845 in Norway, and in 1869 came to the United States. Did carpenter work about two years at Neenah, Wisconsin; since 1871 his home has been in Camp, where he owns a farm, but he has worked at his trade considerably in Waseca county. Miss Johnanna Lee became his wife in June, 1872, and has borne him four children: Randa C., Julia S., Emil A. and John L. GERDES Richard Gerdes was born in 1855, and was educated in the schools and the University at Frankfort, from which he graduated in 1871. For a time he served as a soldier; was then in the employ of a railroad company as ticket agent five years, and also worked in an office as corresponding secretary some time. Came in 1878 to America and clerked at Ft. Ridgely two years for an uncle; was in partnership with S. P. Nelson a short time, and has since been his clerk. GUNDERSEN Petter Gundersen, born in 1822, is a native of Norway, where for a number of years he was a soldier. In 1869 he came to the United States; came to Renville county, Minnesota, and located a claim in Camp. Mr. Gundersen learned blacksmithing in the old country, and has worked at that trade some here. Married in 1859, Mary Christopherson; the children are Caren, Ganders, Mary, Lena, Hannah and Ole. HALVERSON John Halverson was born in 1827 in Norway. Served in the regular army seven years, and in 1855 immigrated to Wisconsin: removed in 1857 to Waseca, county, Minnesota, and bought a farm which he sold four years later, and in June, 1861, came to Camp; was at Fort Ridgely in the siege of 1862: then lived near St. Peter three years, at the expiration of which time he returned to his farm. In 1854 he married Julia Lund; Georgianna, Mary A., Helen T., Janet, Amelia and Henry T. are their children. HANSON Halvor Hanson was born in 1847, in Norway. In 1868 he came to the United States; lived one year in Wisconsin, and since 1870 his home has been in Camp, Minnesota. Mr. Hanson's occupation has always been that of farmer, with the exception of one year that he was employed in a store in his native country. In 1868 he married Annette Engebretson; the children are Hans E., John, Olga, Alfred and Julia. HANSON Louis Hanson was born in Norway, in 1838; in 1854 immigrated to Dane county, Wisconsin, and five years later removed to Trempealeau county. He enlisted in Company D, 51st Wisconsin infantry, in 1864 and served five months. Mr. Hanson came to Camp, took 160 acres of land and lived on his farm thirteen years: is now employed as clerk in Hector: has been supervisor, constable and deputy sheriff. Married Miss A. Nelson in 1859, who died in 1877; children are Betsy, Henry, Martha. Julia, Louis and Ida. JOHNSON Mathias Johnson, native of Norway, was born in 1846, and upon coming in 1865, to America, settled in Nicollet county, Minnesota, which was his home two years. He enlisted in Company A, First Minnesota: was honorably discharged sis months later. In 1866 took a homestead on section 20, Camp. Mr. Johnson's marriage with Albertina Luke took place in 1870; the children are Emma, Oscar, Anna M. and Maria A. KOKE F. Koke was born in 1841 in Germany, and learned the business of miller and millwright: in 1863 moved to Jersey City, but shortly after went to Lake Superior and remained five years then passed a few months in New Ulm, West Newton and Yellow Medicine. In 1875 he built a mill near New Ulm, which was burned about two years afterwards; he then worked eight months in the Maple River mill, and since 1879 has operated a saw-mill in Camp. Married in 1871, Anna Pless; Helena. Adele, Herman, Louise and Hugo are their children. LEE Mathias O. Lee was born in 1836. He was a soldier in Norway, his native country, five years; his early days were spent on a farm and he learned the trade of carpenter. In 1864 he immigrated to Wisconsin, where he was employed in farming until 1868, at which date he located at his present home in Camp. Miss Olina Oleson was married in 1860 to Mr. Lee; seven children, Ole N., Carl J., Clara J., Minna O., Hannah S., Semniy I. and John B. NASET Anders L. Naset, born in 1841, is a native of Norway. When twenty- six years of age he emigrated from the land of his birth to the United States. His home is at his farm of 160 acres in section 26 of Camp. The marriage of Mr. Naset took place in the year 1868; his wife was Miss Inger Marcusdotter. The children are Christian M., Marcus, Louis and Marie. NELSON Hogen Nelson, born August 12, 1847, in Norway, where he remained until twenty years old. He came in 1867 to the United States and after living about two and one-half years in Fillmore county, Minnesota, he came in 1869 to Camp, where he has held some town offices. In 1869 he married Sarah Thompson. His father, Nels Hoganson, born in 1816 and his mother born in 1818, are living with him. NELSON Peder Nelson, native of Norway, was born in 1828. In 1856, he came to the United States; lived in Wisconsin, and in Fillmore county, Minnesota, until coming in 1867, to Camp, where he has been supervisor three years. Mr. Nelson has 168 acres. Married in 1853, Mrs. Mary Erickson, who had two children: Renda and Christine: she has borne Mr. Nelson six children: Sever P., Julia, Herman, Sarah, Nels and Betsy. NELSON Sever P. Nelson who was born in Norway in 1853, moved in 1856 with his parents to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they lived until 1865, at which time he removed to Camp. Until 1880, he was engaged in farming, since that time has kept a general store: at first in partnership with Richard Gerdes, but since, alone. Mr. Nelson has been postmaster since being in business here. In 1876 he married Mary Johnson; three children: Amelia, Betsy and Sana. NESBURG O. O. Nesburg was born in 1836. in Norway. He followed the life of a sailor about nine years previous to locating, in 1855, in Columbia county, Wisconsin; removed in 1857, to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and one year after to Fillmore county. In 1861 he enlisted in the 1st Minnesota artillery; he returned and taught Norwegian school seven years: since 1868 he has lived in Camp. Married in 1862, Julia Anderson. The living children are Nellie, Andrew, Gunder, Anna and Louise. O'NEIL D. O'Neil, born in Washington county, Wisconsin, remained there until twenty-two years of age, living on a farm. In 1868 he migrated to Renville county, Minnesota, and located at his present place; has been chairman of the town board several years. Johanna Mountain was married to him in January, 1860; they have four children: Margaret, James F., Josie and Daniel. OTTO E. Otto, native of Germany, was born in 1834, and immigrated in 1854 to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked six months at carpentering. Previous to coming to Minnesota in the fall of 1855, he spent six months in Iowa; worked two winters in the St. Croix pineries, then from 1859 until 1862, his home was in Camp; passed some months in Wisconsin, and six years in Nicollet county, this state, then returned to Camp. Miss Catherine Orth became his wife in 1857; the children are Henry, Emily, Frederic, Anna, William. PETERSON Hellek Peterson, born in 1835, in Norway. Upon coming to this country in 1844, he located in Wisconsin, where he lived eleven years; removed to Iowa and there married in 1857, Julia Jacobson; since 1859 his home has been in Camp, with the exception of about three years passed in Goodhue county and Faribault. In 1862 he was one of the defenders of Fort Ridgely; has held town offices and served as county commissioner. The children are Peter, Isabella, Jacob, Edward, Louis, Henry and Alfred. RIEKE Victor Rieke, native of Germany, was born in 1836, and while living there learned the trade of miller and millwright. Immigrated in 1857 to Ohio, where he was employed in wagon making until 1859, the date of his removal to Minnesota; worked at farming in Cairo, this county, and since 1872 has been operating the mill which he built that year. Married in 1866, Mina Wulfe; five children: William, George, Anna. Lydia, Martha. RUND Lauritz H. Rund was born in 1842, and raised as a farmer in Norway, the land of his birth. In 1869 he emigrated from that country, and soon after pre-empted 160 acres of land in Camp, which town has since been his home. His marriage took place in March, 1873, with Maria Evanson; four children: Helga, Carl, Mollie, and Albert. SCHOTT Mrs. Elizabeth Schott was born in Warren county, Pennsylvania, and married in that state in 1852. Her husband, Max Haack was a native of Saxony; after attending college and studying medicine, he began practice as a physician, and also engaged in the drug trade. In 1858 they moved to Nicollet county, this state, and in 1862 he was killed at New Ulm. The children are Louise, Otto and Amelia. She remained on the farm until coming in 1865, to Camp. Henry Graff, her second husband, was killed in 1867 by falling from a wagon. By this marriage she had one child: Henry; also has one son, Oscar, by her present husband, Andrew Schott, who is a native of Germany. THOMPSON John Thompson was born in Norway in 1846. When he was four years old the family immigrated to Dane county, Wisconsin. Eleven years later they removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and after living there ten years came to Camp; has been commissioner three years, and town clerk and justice about eight years. Enlisted in Company D, Eighth Minnesota, for three years; he was in General Sully's Indian expedition and afterwards in the south; he had two brothers in the army. TWEET Thomas Tweet, native of Norway, was born in 1836, and upon coming to America in 1854, located in Wisconsin, which state was his home until 1861. Enlisted in Company A, Seventh Wisconsin infantry; was kept in a hospital several months by a wound caused by the slipping of an axe which he was using in the fort; returned to his company and engaged in some severe battles; was wounded in the arm twice at the battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Tweet has 160 acres in Camp. He has been deputy sheriff and has held all the town offices. Married in 1864, Belle Surson; the children are Anna J., Sarah L., Matilda A., Johnanna A., Julia S., Betsy P., Theodore J. and Henry U.