Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1104

 956 HISTOBY OF GOODHUE COUNTY of the Reeves Threshing Machine Company, of Chicago, as sales- man and expert, until 1908, when he engaged in farming in War- saw township, renting 400 acres of land. He raises horses and cattle and sheep and does general farming. Mr. Otterness was married March 14^ 1887, to Thora Melhouse, daughter of Ole and Annie Melhouse, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1866, locating in Warsaw, and engaged in farming. The father is dead and the mother lives with her daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Otterness have had ten children: Nettie, married to Xels Flom; Henry Robert Evans, Oscar, Myrtle, Edward. Effie, Lillian. Stew- art, and Clifford, living at home. Mr. Otterness is a Prohibition- ist in his political views. He was assessor in Norman county for eight years, is president of the Sogn Dairy Co-operative Associa- tion, and a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator at Bombay. Fraternally, he affiliates with the United Workmen and I. 0. G. T. He and his family attend the Norwegian Lutheran church. Ole J. Underdahl, a well known farmer of Warsaw township, now deceased, was born in Norway in February. 1832, and there received his education in the public schools, coming to America in 1866, locating firsl in Wisconsin, where he remained two years. subsequently living in Wanamingo township, this county, one year. In 1869 he purchased 160 acres in Warsaw township and farmed until his death. March 5, 1909. He was married. January, 186:}. to Martha Ellingson, daughter of Elling and Anna (Alison) Ellingson, the former of whom died in Norway in 1850; long years after which, in 1896, the latter came to America and took up her home with her daughter. To Mr. and Mrs. Underdahl were born eight children, six of whom are living. Roy J. Under- dahl. the oldest son, lives on the home farm. lie was born in Aurland, Norway. September 29, 1864, and received his education in the schools of his neighborhood. In September, 1896, he pur- chased 160 acres in Trail county, North Dakota, and lived there two years, after which he homesteaded a quarter section in Itasca county, this state. He next represented the Charlson Brothers, the Underdahl and the Otterness families in buying 800 acres in Mc- Lean county. North Dakota. All these purchases were disposed of, and for ten months Mr. Underdahl was employed as a salesman for the Marion Manufacturing Company, of Fargo, N. D. In 1908 he made a trip to Montana and purchased 160 acres which he now owns. Since his return to this township, September 29, 1908, he has been associated with his brother, John O., jn the management of the home farm, and in addition to this is interested in the elevator at Cannon Falls and the Sogn Dairy Association. He has also taken an interest in church affairs and, like his father before him, is a trustee in the Norwegian Lutheran church. Elling, the second child of Ole J. Underdahl, is dead. John O.