Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1039

 HISTORI OF GOODHUE COUNT1 897 in 1849, locating in Fillmore comity, and engaged in farming until the death of the father, August 17, 1891. The mother is still living at Peterson, Fillmore county. Lauritz received his education in the schools at Fillmore and later attended business college at Ottawa, 111. After leaving school he was employed in the grocery store for three years at Ottawa, 111. Then he took up pharmacy for a couple of years, after which he went to Jewel, Iowa, and took a business course. When he had completed this course, he returned to the drug store, and remained until 1889, when he came to Wanamingo township and purchased the old AVilliam Williams farm of 240 acres. Here he made a great many improvements, and built a new house, with all modern conven- iences, including an electric light plant, with air pressure water system, and hot water heat. This house is valued at $6,000. He now carries on general farming and stock raising, and has been very successful. Mr. Johnson was married November 16, 1899, to Angeline Wing, daughter of Charles and Lilly (Hill) AVing, natives of Illinois, now residents of Leon township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children : Charles, born October 2, 1906, and Geneva, born June 15, 1908. Mr. Johnson is a Repub- lican in politics and has served as town clerk of Wanamingo and as clerk of the school board of District 61. He owns stock in the farmers' elevators, creameries at different places, and is also interested in the Farmers' Telephone Company. Ole Bygd was born in Wanamingo township, where he still resides, March 12, 1857, son of Hans and Catherine (Bolstad) Bygd, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1853, settling in Illinois, where they remained until 1856, when they came to Wanamingo township, where they took up a government claim of 160 acres which the father cleared, built a home and other out- buildings and followed general farming until 1882, when they retired. The mother. died in March, 1898, but the father is still living. Ole received his education in the common schools of Wanamingo and worked with his father on the farm until 1882, when he bought the old homestead and has followed a general line of farming. Mr. Bygd was married July 14, 1900, to Sophie Island, daughter of Martin and Gertrude Island, natives of Nor- way, who came to America and settled in Cherry Grove town- ship. The father died in 1899, but the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Bygd have, three children: Lillian, born October 24, 1901 ; Mary, born February 20, 1903 ; Helen, born August 2, 1904. Mr. Bygd is a Republican in his politics and is a stock- holder in the farmers' elevators at Wanamingo and Kenyon. The family attend the Lutheran church. John A. Bonhus was born in Wanamingo township, where he sit ill resides, February 7, 1856, son of Andrew K. and Anna