Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1097

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 949 Seminary, now married to Theodore G. Hultgreen, a Chicago rail- road man, and Frances, a school teacher who has received the advantages of an education in the Cannon Falls high school. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church. Charles Edstrom, of Leon township, was born in Sweden, Feb- ruary 14, 1850, son of Magnus A. and Mary E. Edstrom, natives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1854 and settled in Henry county, Illinois, remaining over winter, after which they eame to Minnesota, traveling by boat up the Mississippi river and landing at Red Wing, where there was at that time only a small group of houses. They went on to Leon township and pre- empted land in Section 21 and engaged in farming until -the death of the father in 1890. The mother died in 1887. They had seven children, all of whom are alive. John A., a farmer of Leon township; Christine married to Aarn Larson, of St. Paul; August, of Belle .Creek; Mary, married to Charles Jackson, of Vasa township ; Axel, living in Yasa ; Ferdinand F., of Leon town- ship; and Charles, the subject of this sketch. Charles attended the public school of the township and worked on the farm with his father. While working at home he often drove cattle to Red Wing for ten cents a trip, the trip taking two nights and a day. Later he engaged in farming for himself, and purchased 120 acres which he improved and developed, and where he now lives, carrying on general farming. He was married, in 1876, to Chris- tine Onstad, daughter of Ragnald J. and Martha (Iverson) Onstad, who came to America in the early days and settled in Chicago, 111., remaining for three years, after which they came to Leon township and engaged in farming, which they have since continued. They had nine children, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Edstrom have been blessed with four children : Emma, married to Joseph Swenson, of Wanamingo township ; Arthur, who lives at home ; Susie, married to Selmer Hommedahl, of Wanamingo ; and Frederick, who is at home. Mr. Edstrom is a Republican in his political views, and has served as supervisor and on the school board. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. K. K. Esterby, was born in Leon township, where he still- resides, January 24, 1867, son of Knut and Rannei (Hougo) Esterby, natives of Norw r ay, who came to America in 1863, stopped one year in Fillmore county and then moved to Zum- brota, where they remained for a short time, subsequently coming to Leon township, where they bought 160 acres, and carried on general farming until the death of the father, July 6, 1900, the mother having passed away in 1877. K. K. Esterby received his education in the common schools of Leon and worked on the farm with his father up to the time of his death, when he" came