The Pederson Families of Otter Tail County, Minnesota

CARL K. PEDERSON.

Carl K. Pederson is a native of this county, having been born in Sverdrup township, March 18, 1876, son of Knud and Marit (Gulbranstad Datter Onstad) Pederson, the former born at Aaberg and the latter at Onstad, Valdris, Norway. They were friends from early life and were married in their native land, coming to this country in 1866. They located in Mower county, this state, where for some three years he worked at farm labor and other things, and in 1870 came to this county and settled on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Sverdrup township. His farm was mostly wild land and he set about clearing it and getting it ready for the plow and also erected most of the buildings which are standing on the tract today, lie purchased additional land from time to time until at his death, in November of 1903. he owned three hundred and twenty-eight acres. The mother died some years previous — in July of 1896, and the father never remarried. Knud Pederson was a man who took a most active interest in political affairs. Originally a member of the Farmers Alliance, he later became a Populist and was filling one office or another over a goodly stretch of years. He served as county commissioner of the third district for thirteen years in succession and filled many other local offices. In addition to this, he served two terms as a member of the state Legislature ( 1897-190 1 and was always actively interested in the political issues of the day. Both Knud Pederson and his wife embraced the Lutheran faith (members of the Xorwegian church) and were active in religious circles.

Carl K. Pederson is a member of a fami of nine children, being the sixth child in order of birth. Peter, the eldest, is a farmer living on the old homestead; Edward died in ioo_>; Matilda lives in Seattle, Washington, the wife of Ferdinand De Flon; Dinah and Geline are both deceased; Gilbert is a farmer of this county, living about five miles north of Underwood; Clara lives in Oregon, the wife of Ole Nygaard, and Ella, the youngest of the family, is the wife of a Mr. Parson, and lives in Seattle, Washington. Carl K. Pederson received his education in the public schools of this county, attending district No. 5, in the little old log school house located on his father's farm. He was raised on the farm and after school days were over he followed that vocation until [902, when he became a stockholder in the Farmers Mercantile Corporation and at the same time took a clerkship in the company's store under its manager, C. J. Moen, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in the pages of this hook. This relationship continues to the present time and Mr. Pederson now holds a responsible position. having long since demonstrated the fact that he possesses those qualities which especially lit him to water to the needs of the public. With his brother, Peter, Mr. Pederson purchased the old homestead and together they (In general farming and give especial attention to the raising of live stock for the market.

Mr. Pederson is independent in politics, but has never given the time to that phase of citizenship which his father gave. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and both be and his wife hold their religious membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mrs. Pederson, before her marriage in 1903, was Marie Nygaard, daughter of Lars and Ingeborg Nygaard, both natives of Norway, who came to this country in the early eighties, Marie being born not long after they settled in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Pederson have two children, Kenneth and Irvin. The family is considered among the representative families of this section and move in the best social circles. Mr. Pederson, because of his business connection, has a wide acquaintance throughout this part of the county and is universally liked.

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

GILBERT EC PEDERSON.

Gilbert K. Pederson, who is one of the most extensive farmers in Sverdrup township, where he owns two hundred and sixty-seven acres of splendid farming land, is a native of the township where he lives, and was born on February _, iSjU. Gilbert K. Pederson is a son of lvnut and Mary Pederson, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume.

Horn and reared on a farm and educated in the public schools, Mr. Pederson grew up on his father's old homestead, and has been an active farmer all his life. He has made a specialty of raising stock, and has been very successful in this line of agriculture. In fact, he is known as one of the most successful stockmen in the township.

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

Mrs. Pederson's father and mother were both natives of Norway, and educated in the schools of that country. They came to America about 1872, and settled in Otter Tail county, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. It was here that Fred Stomforo spent his last days. Mrs. Pederson's mother is now living in her home.

When the history of this township and section is written it must accord to Gilbert K. Pederson high rank as a farmer, citizen and business man. He has worthily discharged all the duties of life, both private and public.

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

( )le Pederson, although a resident of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, for over forty years, is not a native, having been born in Trondhjem, Norway, on March 5, 1849. His father, Peder Iversen Leraad, followed farming for years in his native land. Ole Pederson is the sixth son of a family of eight boys born to Peder Jverson Leraad and Kari Esmor, both of whom were born in Norway. The father was born in 1805, and died in 1863. The mother was born in 181 3, and died in 1898. The couple reared an interesting family: Iver, the eldest son. died at the old home place in Norway; the second son, also called Iver, now lives in Norway, where he is a farmer; the next three sons, in the line of birth, died when they were small; Ole was the sixth son; the two boys who were born last in line, died when they were young.

The rudimentary branches of education were received by Ole Pederson in the public schools of Norway. In 1870 he came to America, where he landed alone and practically without friends. His first choice of residence was in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he worked on the farms in that locality. In the fall of 1871 he came to Otter Tail county. The trip as far as Breckenridge was made by rail, and the remaining miles were covered on foot. Upon his arrival in the county where he now lives he settled in < >sc.ir township, where he took up the task of homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land, located in sections 2 and 3. The section of the township in which he settled was an uncultivated tract of prairie land and the first few years, during which the breaking of the soil was the principal occupation, were studded with events of adversity and danger. It was in the time of the greatest trials that Ole Pederson showed his highest traits of character. He grappled with primeval conditions with fearlessness, and the prosperity enjoyed by him today is a direct consequence of his early endeavors. In i88t he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in sections 28 and 29, Trondhjem township, and took up his residence in that part of the county. He sold the old homestead upon which, in the earlier days, a log cabin had been erected by him, and purchased eighty acres of land adjoining his new residence. Upon the farm where he now lives. Mr. Pederson follows the occupation of general farming. He believes thoroughly in modern improvements and his farm land gives evidence of this fact. The buildings are large and attractive and the fences exhibit capable farm management. Mr. Pederson has not been content with having the farm interests engage his attention, but has given both time and study to other lines of business enterprise. He was director of the creamery, formerly located in Trondhjem township, and is at the present time director of the Oscar Fanners Mutual Insurance Company. In politics, he has always taken more than the usual interest. In the beginning of his political career, Mr. Pederson followed the cause of the Populist party, but later turned to the principles of the Republican party. He now serves as treasurer of the township and treasurer of the school board.

In 1874 Ole Pederson was united in marriage to Kari Wee, also a native of Norway, who was born in that country in 1850. She is the daughter of Erick Olsen Wee and his wife Margaret, who are numbered among the oldest settlers of Trondhjem township, having been residents of that section of Otter Tail county since 1872. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pederson the following children have been born: Caroline, who married Harman Rud, and who is now living in Rothsay, Minnesota: Eric, who lives on a farm in North Dakota: Petrina. the wife of Ole Tetrud, is now living in Rothsay. Minnesota: Ida, who married Iver Nelson, resides in Rothsay; Peter, who lives on the old home place: August, who died in his thirty-second year; Petrina, who died when two years old, and the youngest son. Oscar, died at the age of six months. Mr. and Mrs. Pederson are both devout members of the Lutheran Synod church and contribute generously to every cause for its welfare.

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

Among the well-known farmers and stock raisers, of Trondhjem township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Syvrin Pederson, who was born on the old Pederson homestead in Trondhjem township, Otter Tail county, 'in January 12, 1879, the son ot A. G. and Johanna (Opegard) Pederson, both of whom were natives of Norway, the former born in 1840, and the latter born in the same year. A. G. and Johanna came to America with their parents and located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where A. < i. and Johanna Pederson were married, after which they came to Otter Tail county, and settled nil three hundred acres of school land in section 35, Trondhjem township, where the elder Pederson lived as a farmer for some time and then went to the states of Minnesota ami North Dakota, where A. G. Pederson acquired considerable land, he at the time of his death being the owner of more than eight hundred acres of land. A. G. Pederson died in the year 191 1, survived by his widow, who now lives mi the home farm in Trondhjem township. A. G. and Johanna Pederson were the parents of the following children: Kari, Julia Augusta, Mollie, and Hannah, who are deceased, and Ole, Syvrin, Edwin, Thora, Henry and Melvin, who are living.

Syvrin Pederson received his early education in the common schools of Trondhjem township, after which he attended Park Region Lutheran College, and then he became a farmer, he renting one hundred and sixty acres of the home-place, where he now is successfully engaged in general farming and in the raising of good grade live stock.

Syvrin Pederson is one of the most active and progressive farmers of Trondhjem township, not only conducting his place after the most approved scientific methods, but he is equipped with the best of machinery and implements for the conduct of his agricultural life. Although Syvrin Pederson is a public spirited citizen interested in the public welfare, he has not aspired I.- public office, but has preferred to serve his community as a private citizen. Mr. Pederson is unmarried.

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