Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1033

 HISTORY OF (iOODHUE COUNTY 891 dead. Ole II. Tongen and his wife, Karen Andrea Ruglad, par- nits of Andrew H. Tongen, eame to America in 1845, and after living three years in Chicago, farmed in Columbia, Wis., until L871, and then came to Wanamingo township, purchasing 160 acres on which they carried on general farming until the death of the father, .May 17, 1882. The mother died in November. 1905, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. O. H. Houkos. having, been blessed in her declining years with the loving care of her children. Hans H. Holtan, of Wanamingo, now deceased, was born in Norway, December 14, 1820, and came to America in 1845, set- tling in Chicago. In 1849 he moved to Belvidere. 111., and in the spring of 1850 located in Portage City. Wis., where he remained one year, after which he purchased a farm on what was known as "Indian land," about six miles from Portage City. Here he tilled the soil until 1856, when he came to Wanamingo and pur- chased 160 acres on Section 17, which, on account of sickness, he afterward sold. Later he made another purchase, to which he added from time to time until he owned 400 acres, 160 being in Section 13 and 240 in Section 24. Upon this farm he erected a home which at that time was considered the finest country residence in the county, and which is still a beautiful country place. Mr. Holtan had the distinguished honor of sitting in the first general assembly of the state of Minnesota, and in addition to this he was chairman of the township several terms and also served in other public positions of trust and honor. He was a liberal public-spirited man, greatly liked in the community wherein he resided. By his first wife. Aline Svenungsdatter, whom he married July 4, 1848, and who died August 12, 1855, he had two children. Of these, Hans is dead and Samuel lives in Dawson, Minn. He was married again in Faribault, October 31, 1857, to Anna Maria Pedersdatter Nostebiae, who died Janu- ary 13, 1876. By this union there were six children. Charles lives in Madison, Peter lives in Kenyon; Gunhild lives in Madi- son, Wis. ; Andrew lives in Zumbrota and Henry lives in Madison, Wis.; as does also Christine. July 11, 1877, he was married again to Sophia Mosleth, by whom he had six children. Marie is the wife of T. T. Rygh ; Joseph lives in Park City, Mont. ; John lives in Wanamingo township ; Louise also lives in Wanamingo township; Hulda and Selma are both deceased. Hans H. Holtan died September 4, 1904, and his death caused genuine sorrow throughout the county. John M. Holtan was born April 1, 1882, on the farm in Wana- mingo where he is now located, his parents being the pioneers, Hans H. and Sophia (Mosleth) Holtan. • After completing the courses offered in the Wanamingo public schools, he attended a business college in Minneapolis, subsequently returning to the