A History of Town 116—36, 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 LXXXV TOWN 116—36 This town is not organized, but attached to Emmett for official purposes. Early in the spring of 1871 three families, C. G. Bell, J. F. Smith and Henry Crooks came and settled on section 32. Religious services were held by the Methodists at private houses as early as 1874. The first school was taught in the summer of 1874 by Miss Nettie Spicer, in a building erected for that purpose on section 30. The first birth in the town was that of Ellen, a daughter of C. G. and Phoebe Bell, born in the spring of 1872. The first death was in December, 1875, John Johnson, who was frozen to death. BAKKEN Edward C. Bakken, a native of Norway, was born in 1852. Came with parents to America when five years of age and grew to manhood in McLeod county, Minnesota; in 1872 he removed to Renville county. His marriage with Miss Mattia Anderson occurred in the spring of 1880 at Beaver Falls; they have one child: Annie. BOCKEN C. A. Bocken was born in Norway in 1855. Came with parents to this country and for a number of years their home was in McLeod county, Minnesota, but since the spring of 1875 he has resided in town 116; in 1877 he married Julia Lilleby; their children are William and Nellie E. DAGEN Albert Dagen was born in 1836, in Prussia. The family immigrated to Dodge county, Wisconsin, when he was eight years old: in 1864 he removed to Beaver Falls, Minnesota, and since 1876 he has lived in town 116. January 6,1863, he married Mrs. Theresa Isenrich, whose maiden name was Hartinger; she was married in Illinois to Mr. Isenrich, and in 1855 they came to this state; he was shot at the breaking out of the Sioux massacre, while fleeing from his home: she and five children were held captive six weeks; Mr. Dagen is the father of seven children. GORDON C. B. Gordon was born in 1820 in Logan county. Kentucky, and moved with his parents to Illinois, when he was a boy. In 1842 he married in that state and in 1865 removed to Iowa county. Wisconsin, where his wife died the next year. Franklin A. and Elizabeth A. are their children. Since the fall of 1872, has lived in this town. He has been justice of the peace and postmaster of Gordon, named in honor of him. Married in 1867, Elizabeth C. Bell, who has borne him four children: Thomas B., John C. Matilda J. and George. JOHNSON/OLSON Mrs. Ingborg Johnson-Olson was born in 1841, in Norway, and in 1861, became the wife of John Johnson. In 1868 they immigrated to Iowa and lived near Decorah until 1872 at which date they removed to town 116, Minnesota, and took 160 acres of land. He died here in 1874, after which his widow and her sons conducted the farm. In the spring of 1881 Mrs. Johnson was married to Mr. C. Olson, who was born in 1854 in Sweden, came to America in 1879, and after a short stay in Massachusetts came to Minnesota. The children are John, Anthony, Peter, Ole and Annie. LARSON Torry O. Larson, a native of Wisconsin, was born in 1853, in Jefferson county: in 1877, came to this town. Miss Emma Nelson was married in 1873, to Mr. Larson, and has borne him three children: Perry N., George T., and Tilda, who is deceased. MATHISON James Mathison, born in Norway, in 1830, moved in 1853, to Illinois. He was in the employ of a lumber manufacturer, in Indiana and Michigan, for a time, but in the spring of 1856, began farming in Carver county, Minnesota. In August 1864, he enlisted in Company A, 11th regiment of this state, and was discharged at expiration of term. Worked at farming in McLeod county until coming to this town in 1874. Married in 1854, Mary Olson; Martin, William, Peter and Edward are their children. OTNES Lars L. Otnes was born in Norway, in 1843. In the spring of 1867, he became a resident of the United States. For three years he resided in Fillmore county, Minnesota, but his home has been in town 116 since 1872: Miss Mary Olson became his wife in 1871, and has borne him five children; Louis O., Dena B., Ludwig M., Peder A. and Betsy D., who is dead. SVENDLY Johan A. Svendly, who was born in 1840, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of America since 1867. He settled in LaFayette county, Wisconsin; was in a store four years there, and subsequently lived about the same length of time at Chippewa Falls. In 1877, he came to town 116 and took 80 acres on section 34. Miss Mina Hanson was married to him in March, 1880, and has borne him one child: Annie Amelia.