A History of Palmyra, 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. PALMYRA This town was set apart for organization January 2. 1872, and the first election held January 30, following, at which were chosen: E. H. Oleson, chairman, John Anderson and Lafe Tennis, supervisors; Thomas Risdall, clerk and assessor: Ole Halvorson, treasurer: A. Tollefson, justice: Halver Halverson, constable. Claims were taken in the town in June, 1870, by D. S. Greene and one Franklin, but the first actual settler was E. H. Oleson, who came the same month; Lorens and John Erickson came soon after. The first religious meeting was held by the Norwegian Lutherans in 1872, conducted by Rev. J. B. Borg: who in 1878 organized a society with about twenty members. Rev. N. P. Xavier now holds services monthly, in the town hall which was built in 1877. The first school was taught in 1876 at E. H. Oleson's, by Martha Ericson; there are now in the town four school districts. The first marriage was that of T. A. Risdall and Anna Johnson, in June, 1871. Carl, son of John Olson born in August, 1870, was the first birth. Palmyra post-office was established at T. A. Risdall’s house in 1873; after several changes it was discontinued in 1880. Eddsville post-office was established in 1878, and E. H. Oleson appointed postmaster, and the office located at his house on section twenty-eight. CARNEY George Carney, born October 15, 1845, in Canada; in 1850 accompanied his parents to Burlington, Vermont, but removed in 1855 to Wisconsin. Enlisted in Company K, Seventh Wisconsin infantry; served from August, 1861, to February, 1863. In 1869 he came to this state and in 1871 to Palmyra. Married in January, 1866, Mary Galliger, born March 19, 1850, in Concord, Massachusetts; six living children, Minnie M., born March, 1868; William J., July 21, 1870: Nettie E., May 31, 1873; Jessie J., November 22, 1876: Gordon G., December 14, 1878, and Thomas A., November 21, 1881. ERICSON Peter Ericson, born December 21, 1845, in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Lived on a farm and worked some at carpentering. He migrated in 1869 to Michigan, and in 1871 came to Palmyra, Minnesota; owns a farm of 160 acres and has engaged in teaching part of the time since coming here. Mr. Ericson has been town clerk, supervisor and justice. In 1873 he married Tena Tennis: five children are living. GILLAN Patrick Gillan, native of Ireland, immigrated in 1853 to Maine. Lived on a farm near Hastings, Minnesota, from 1856 until 1864, the date of his enlistment in Company F, Hatch's battalion; after serving about two years he was honorably discharged and was then in the employment of the government one year. Came to his present farm in May 1869: married in June of that year, Catharine Connell: five children are living. HALVORSON Ole Halvorson, a native of Norway, was born October 15, 1835. After coming to the United States in 1852 he was dependent upon his own exertions. From 1855 until 1871 his home was in Fillmore county, Minnesota: he then located on his farm in Palmyra. Mr. Halvorson married in 1861, Esther Anderson: eight children are living. MATHISON Gilbert Mathison, born March 20,1834, remained in Norway, the land of his birth until 1855 at which time he immigrated to Indiana. The following year he removed to St. Paul; in 1860 he went to Arkansas, but in 1875 settled on his farm in Renville county. In 1867 Anna Ericson became his wife; they have five living children. OLESON Edwin H. Oleson was born October 14. 1830, in Norway, but emigrated from there in 1850 and located in Wisconsin. Enlisted in 1861, in company H, Eighth Wisconsin; re-enlisted and served through the entire war. He came to this state in 1869, but did not settle on his farm in Palmyra until 1870. Mr. Oleson has held different town offices and keeps the Eddsville post-office. Married in 1867, Mrs. Martha Lee; seven children are living. RANBERG Paul J. Ranberg, born July 30,1830 in Norway, moved to New York in 1852, and soon after to Wisconsin. He visited Europe but returned to Wisconsin and sailed on the lakes until enlisting in 1861 in Company H, 15th Wisconsin infantry; re-enlisted in 1863 and served until war ceased. Again visited his native place, but in 1868 came back, and in 1872 moved to Palmyra; married Betsy Nelson in 1873; six living children. REAGAN Michael Reagan, native of Ireland, was born in September, 1831. Went in 1851, to Toronto, Canada, in 1860 to Michigan, and in 1867 to Birch Cooley, where he was one of the first settlers. Since 1880 he has resided at his farm in Palmyra. In 1859 married Johanna Desmond; six children. His brother, J. H. Reagan, also born in Ireland, settled in Birch Cooley, in 1868. Agnes Jones became his wife in 1863 and has borne him ten children.