The Anderson Families of Jackson County, Minnesota

OLE ANDERSON (1861). There arc only a few people living in Jackson county whose arrival antedates that of Ole Anderson, of.Jackson. For nearly fifty years he has lived in the county, playing a part in many of the events described in the historical section of this volume. More than any person living is he acquainted with the details of the early Norwegian settlement of Jackson county and the terrible times during and succeeding the Belmont massacre of 1862. He has always taken an interest in preserving the accounts of the early times, and except for his interest in the matter, much of historical interest contained in this volume must have remained unrecorded. It was largely through Mr. Anderson's persistence in demanding an appropriation from the Minnesota legislature that the handsome shaft in memory of the killed, in the Indian massacres has recently been erected in the village of Jackson.

Mr. Anderson was born in Norway June 11, 1852, the son of Anders Olson and Annie (Engebretson) Olson. When five years of age he came to America with his parents and located at Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, where he lived until the spring of

1861. In the month of June of that year he arrived in Jackson county, the family having driven through by ox team. The head of the family preempted a claim on section 3, Des Moines township, and on that place the family lived until the following summer, Anders Olson having died there in April, 1862.

The Belmont massacre took place in August,

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

After his marriage Mr. Anderson moved onto his mother's old claim, built a house on it and engaged in farming. There he remained until 18,S0, with the exception of eighteen months during the grasshopper times, when he lived in Capron, Boone county, Illinois. His health failed in 1880 and he v.as obliged to give up farm work. He then located in Lakefield, then just founded, where he resided two years. In 1882 he bought a farm on section

16, Des >comes township, where he engaged in farming until he was elected sheriff of.jackson county in 1892. Then he moved to Jackson, where he has since lived, having Ijcen engaged in several different business enterprises.

Anders Olson, the father of our subject, Avas a shoemaker in his native land. He came to Americu in 18.')7, lived in Houston county, Minnesota, until 1861, and then came to Jackson county. He enlisted in the Ainion army in 1861 and served until his death, which occurred in hospital at St. Louis, Missouri, in the spring of 1802. His widow remarried and lived in Jackson county until her death, which occurred in 1004 at the age of 84 years. There were four children in the family: Bertha, Christina, Bertha and Ole, of whom the first two named arc dead.

Mr. Anderson was married in Hdniout township.Tanuary 2., 1872, to Kli/.a Hanson, who was born in Boone county, Illinois, November

17, 1847. Her parents were Hans and Eliza 'Triam) Hanson, who were born in Norway and who came to America before their marriage and settled in the (then) village of Chicago. They were married in Chicago, later moved to Boone county, Illinois, where they died.

To Mr. end Mrs. Anderson have been born live children, all born in.Jackson county. They are: Ella (Mrs. C. A. Stromme), of Kenyon, Minnesota, born December 4, 1872; Hannah (Mrs. A. B. Krederiekson), of Balfour, North Dakota, born September 30, 1874; Hattie (Mrs. F. A. Brown), of Fairmont, Minnesota, born September 23, 1878; Wallace, who is married and a resident of Wilbur, Washington, born August 25, 1881; Pearl, who resides at home, born January 31. 1887.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HANS ANDERSON (1881), farmer and landowner of Enterprise township, is a native of Norway ami was born August.5, 1841. His parents, who are both dead, were Anders and Oleana (Larson) Ulrickson.

Mr. Anderson lived in Norway until he was forty years of age. He received a common school education, and after growing up engaged in farming. He came to the new world in 1881, and in October of that year arrived in Jackson county. The first four years he lived on section 18. Wisconsin township. Two years after his arrival he took as a tree claim the north half of the southeast quarter of section 20, Enterprise township, and in 1886 moved onto that place, where be has ever since resided. He now owns 120 acres on that section.

In April. 1871, Mr. Anderson was married to Andrena Anderson, was was born September 4, 1845, and died December 10, 1887. Seven children were born to this union, as follows: Alma C., born September 19. 1872: Lena, born May 20. 1875; John and Andrew (twins), born April 17, 1878; Hans, born October 28, 1880; Arthur and Enery (twins), born May 10, 1885. Mr. Anderson and children are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Belmont.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN M. ANDERSON (1882), of Enterprise township, has lived in that precinct since he was a child. He was born in Norway April 17, 1878, the son of Hans and Andrena Maria

Anderson. His mother died about twenty years ago; his father lives in Enterprise township.

Our subject was only two and one-half years of age when the family came to America. Tluy resided in DeSmct, South Dakota, one year and came to Jackson county in 1882. John grew to manhood in Enterprise township, where the family home was made. For five years he lived with his parents on section 18, Wisconsin township; then his father took as a tree claim the north half of the southeast quarter of section 20, Enterprise, and there our subject resided with his father until 1001. That year he married and began farming and has ever since made his home on the farm. He has engaged in threshing eleven years in addition to his farming operations. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Mr. Anderson was married January 14, 1901, to Sena Nelson, wOio was born in Illinois September 8, 1876. To them have been born the following named four children: Clara A., born Novembor 2, 1!)02; Hans A., born May 12, 1!)04; ClilTord born May 28, 190. [name withheld], born January 11, 1909.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES ANDERSON ( 1872). Delafield township farmer, has spent all except the first year of his life in Delafield township. He was born at Hastings, Minnesota, March 22, 1871, the son of Lars and Maria (.Johanson) Anderson. His father was born in Sweden in 1837, came to the United States in the spring of 1870, and located at Hastings. He came to Jackson county in the spring of 1872, homesteaded the west half of the southwest quarter of section 20, Delafield, and resided upon that farm until his death, August 30, 1902. The mother of our subject died in Delafield township when Charles was nine years of age.

The subject of this biography came to Jackson county with his parents in March, 1872, when one year old. He secured a country school education and until he was seventeen years of age, worked on his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he went to Windom, where he lived three years, working in a hotel. When he was twenty years of age diphtheria attacked the family and carried off two brothers, one sister and two half sisters. This disaster necessitated his return home to take the management of the farm. After his father's death Charles rented the home farm, which now consists of the south half of the south half of section 20, and he has since conducted it to his own account. He also rents 25 acres of land adjoining.

Mr. Anderson was married at Jackson June 14, 1905. to Gertie Danielson, daughter of Daniel Hoog and Christina (Hokanson) Hoog- The former resides in Sweden, the latter is dead. Mrs. Anderson was born in Sweden April 23, 1874, and came to America in 1895. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson has been born one child, [name withheld], born September 27, 1909. The family are members of the Free Mission church of Windom.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

PETER O. ANDERSON (1868) is one of Jackson county's native sons, having been born on his father's old homestead in Belmont township September 13, 1868. He is the son of the later Ole A. Aas and Caroline (Lilleberg) Aas, who came from Norway when young and who were married in Jackson county soon after their arrival in 1866. His father died in Jackson in 1906; his mother lives in Jackson.

Our subject took the name Anderson in preference to that of Aas when a young man on account of the similarity of names in the neighborhood. Until his marriage in 1896 Mr. Anderson lived with his parents on the old homestead on section 4. He then bought his present farm on section 9, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Mr. Anderson was married in Jackson county April 12, 1896, to Annie Hanson, a native of Belmont township and a daughter of Jonas Hanson that pioneer settler of the township. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, as follows: Clara, Joseph, Obert, Maurice, Pearl, Henry.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY G. ANDERSON (1886), president of the Jackson National Bank and chairman of the board of county commissioners, has lived in the village of Jackson twenty-three years end has taken a leading part in the affairs of his village and county. Mr. Anderson first saw the light of day in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, on November 17, 1867. His parents, Gilbert and Olina (OlFcn) Anderson, were born in Norway and came to the United States before their marriage. They are now residents of Dickinson county, Iowa; the father is 74 years of age, the mother 70 years.

Henry lived on his father's farm in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, until he was fifteen years of age. In the district schools of his native county he was educated, supplementing that schooling with a two years' course in Emmet county, Iowa. In 1872 he accompanied his parents to Dickinson county, and in that county lived on the farm until 1886. He then took up his residence in Jackson and engaged in business, having traded his Iowa farm for a stock of hardware. After having conducted the hardware store eleven years he sold out and engaged in the implement, harness and live stock business five years, in partnership with F. W. Lindsley. For several years thereafter he devoted his time and attention to the management of his farms, which now include 1,400 acres of improved Jackson county soil. In addition to this farming property Mr. Anderson owns considerable valuable village property.

In company with eight others Mr. Anderson organized the Jackson National Bank on January 1, 1904, and has since served as president of that financial institution. The bank in capitalized for $30,000 and the present officers are: Henry G. Anderson, president; Dr. W. C. Portmann, vice president; W. D. Hunter, cashier; Asher 0. Nasby, assistant cashier.

In an official capacity Mr. Anderson has often been called upon to serve. He has been a member of the village council and was president of the council in 1894 and 1896, and is now a member of the board of education. He was elected county commissioner from the Second district in 1906 and was made chairman of the board at the first meeting after he qualified. Each year since that time he has been elected to preside over the county law makers. Fraternally he is associated with the Odd Fellows and Sons of Norway orders.

Mr. Anderson was married at Jackson March 10, 1886, to Julia Berge, daughter of H. H. Berge, one of the county's early day settlers. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born three children, as follows: Giles H., Anna and Lida.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GUSTAF A. ANDERSON (1896), proprietor of a photograph gallery in Jackson, was born in Sweden September 22, 1873, the son of Andrew and Sophia (Jonason) Anderson. His father died when our subject was three years of age and thereafter during his residence in the old country he lived with an uncle.

In 1891 Mr. Anderson came to the United jStates and located at Estherville, Iowa, where for several years he lived at the home of an uncle, attending school during the winter months and working on the farm during the summer months. In the fall of 1895 he began learning the photographer's trade in Estherville and the next year moved to Jackson and opened a gallery, renting the Roberts' studio. He remained in that location eight years and then bought Ins present property. He built the operating room and made other iinpruveinents and now lias one of the finest studios in southwestern Minnesota. Miss Louie Itubcock has been employed as retoucher by ilr. Anderson for the past twelve years.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN A. ANDERSON (188C) is a solicitor for the Woodmen Casualty company and resides at Lakefield. He was born in Norway October 6, 1800, and is the next youngest child in the family of Andrew Johnson and Catherine (Peterson) tJolinson. The other children of the family are Jennie, of Belvidere, Illinois, and Johannes and Peter, who still reside in the old country.

John was educated in his native land and resided on his father's farm until twenty years of age. lie came to America in 188G and located in the village of Jackson. Five years later he became a resident of Lakefield. where he has since made his home. During the first eight years of his residence in the new world and in Jackson county Mr. Anderson worked on the railroad. Then he started a restaurant and confectionery store in Lakelicld, which he conducted until July, 1908. Selling out at that time, lie took a )Osition with the Woodmen Casualty company, and has since been engaged in securing members for the order. He has served two terms as a member of the Lakefield village council and holds membership in the following fraternal orders: I. O. 0. v., M. W. A., Royal Neighbors, Encampment and Rebekafis.

Mr. Anderson was married in Lakefield Februray 22, 1803, to Nellie Hauge, a native of that village. To them have been born two children, Gertie and Myrtle.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ADOLPH ANDERSON (1897), blacksmith of Jackson, was born in Sweden March 13, 1874. His parents are Andrew and Christina Anderson, both of whom are living in their native land. Adolph received a common school education in Sweden, and at the age of fourteen years began working at the blacksmith trade, which.he has followed all his life. He left home in 1893 and came to the United States, locating first at Howard, South Dakota. He worked at his trade there two years, at Coming. Iowa, one year, and again in Howard, South Dakota. He located in Jackson in 1897 and that village has since been his home. He worked in the shop of Ludvigsen Brothers four years, in that of George Sawyer two years, and in 1903 he bought a shop of L. A. Moon, and has since been in business for himself. He bought his present shop from Gus Thompson.

Mr. Anderson is a member of the Odd Fellows and M. W. A. lodges and of the Consolidated Casualty company. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. He has been connected with the Jackson fire department for the past eight years.

At Jackson, on September 5, 1902, Mr. Anderson was married to Theresa Weiland, a native of Wisconsin. To them has been born one child, Antonette Anderson.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.