The full biographical sketch as printed in 1916, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
MARTIN K. MARTINSON.
Martin K. Martinson, successful and well-known farmer of Compton township, in Otter Tail county, a man who has taken no small part in the development and advancement of the community and the support of its movements and projects for a greater township and county, was born in Sweden on August 4. 1864, the son of Martin Erickson and Emma ( Peter- son) Erickson, both of whom were born in Sweden where they now live. Martin Erickson being a farmer of that country. Martin Erickson and his wife are the parents of four children, Margaret, Peter, Martin, and Chris- tine who is deceased.
Martin K. Martinson was educated in the common schools of his native land after which he came to America, in the year 1889, and went to the state of Minnesota, where he located in Otter Tail county, working for some year-- as a farm helper. In the year 1885 he bought eighty acres of farm land in Compton township, section 28, paying for this land the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars. On this place Martin K. Martinson lias since lived, he having improved the farm and cultivated the soil until the place is among the most desirable of the locality.
On December 4. ton-. Martin K. Martinson was married to Carrie Peterson, wh<> was horn in Sweden, the daughter of Nels Peterson and wife, who came to America in the year 1893, locating in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where they bought a farm, which later they sold to Martin K. Martinson.
Martin K . and Carrie Martinson are the parents of one child, Algot.
who was born on October 14, 1903. Mr. Martinson and his wife are well known and highly respected members of the Swedisli Lutheran church, a congregation in which they are actively engaged as workers and as support- ers of the creeds of this denomination.
In public life Martin K. Martinson has taken no especial part, he pre- ferring to live well and to do his duty as a private citizen of the county and the township.
OLAUS O. HOYL.WT).
The history of one who has lived an honorable life and attained high distinction in the community in which he lives should find a prominent place in the biographical records used by succeeding generations. The lives of these men serve as an inspiration to beginners and as a spur to novices in the field of industry. Among those who have resided in Otter Tail county since the very beginning of her agricultural development, is Olaus O. Hov- land. As a boy he had the privilege of living on a Minnesota homestead and to those days of stern labor and discipline be owes much of the success which came to him in later life.
Olaus Hovland was burn in Winneshiek county. Iowa, on the 16th of September, 1868, and is the son of Ole O. and Anna (Teslo) Hovland. Contrary to the prevailing custom of that locality and period he received more than the average educational training. He attended the local public schools and at the completion of the common school course entered the high school at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. During his attendance in the high school, he absorbed the highest principles of right living and learned to look upon the occupation of farming as a dignified and noble form of labor. His first experience as a farmer was received on his father's homestead where he went to work after leaving high school. For several years follow- ing his period of residence on his father's farm, he rented a place whose resources proved to be unusually profitable. In iqi_>, he bought the place where he now reside^. The farm extends over two hundred acres of ground located in sections 26 and 27. He has erected, since his occupation of the place, buildings of modern construction and design. His interests are with general farming and he gives some attention to stock raising. As a Repub- lican he has served as township clerk and as school director and executed the duties of each office with efficiency and force.
On the 21st of March. 1895, the marriage of Olaus Hovland to Minnie Sjolaas. a native of Oscar township, Otter Tail county, took place She is the daughter of John and Karin (Bjerke) Sjolaas, among the early set- tlers of that section, who settled there in 186V). having come from Houston county, Minnesota, where they had lived since the early development <>f
that community. .Mr. Sjolaas died on the 27th of March, 1902, and his wife passed away on the 7th of January. 10,14. No children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Hovland, but they have found enjoyment and pleasure in the task of rearing- the three nieces of Mrs. Hovland; Ida, Luella and Lena Lider.
J'lie work of Olaus Hovland has been such as to win for him more than passing recognition in the count)- in which he lives. While he has worked mainly [or individual advancement, he has never lost sight of the fact that there are movements for public good and has used his best efforts in furthering the cause of honesty and business prosperity in Otter Tail county. lie is a man of a versatile nature which has found expression in deeds for the welfare of the public at large.
Source: History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota (1916. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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