Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1110

 962 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY unsettled, and Red Wing was a tiny village. He has watched the county grow from a barren wilderness in which life at best was accompanied by all sorts of hardships, into a blossoming and fruitful land, with busy cities and thriving hamlets, and with all the luxuries within the reach of all, even those of the most modest means. In March, 1901, he was called upon to mourn the loss of the partner of his toil and wife of his youth. Three of his five children are still living to give him comfort in his old age., James, Jr., is a retired farmer; John lives in "Washington county. Minnesota, and owns a large farm; Anna, born in 1856, was the third white child born in Belle Creek township, the other two being, according to the records, May Cook, born in August, 1855, to Jacob Cook, and John Cavanaugh, born in November. 1855. to Patrick Cavanaugh. Charles, the third son of James O'Neill, Sr., is dead, and Henry lives on the old homestead with his father. The family faith of the O'Neills is that of the Roman Catholic church. Erick 0. Hagman, of Belle Creek township, was born in Vasa township October 1, 1864, son of Ole and Mary (Munson) Hag- man, natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1861 and lo- cated in Vasa township. Here they bought forty acres of wild prairie land, which the father broke, cleared and improved, built a home, barn and other outbuildings and carried on general farming for twenty years, a Tier which he removed to Belle Creek township and continued farming on a farm of 133 acres, which he purchased in 1S65. The father died in March, 1891, and the mother in February. 19S. Krick O. received his educa- tion in the public schools of Vasa and worked on the farm with his father until 1889, when he rented 133 acres from his father in Belle Creek and started general farming and stock raising, which he has since successfully conducted. He has five brothers and four sisters. The brothers are : Andrew 0., now of North Dakota; John R., and Ole R,, living at home; Henry, now of Cannon Falls, and Peter, now of White Rock. The sisters are: Annie, married to Peter Holm, now of Douglass county; Betsy, married to Swan AVaganeus, of Belle Creek; Carrie, married to Claus Lind, employed by the Chicago, Minneapolis & St. Paul railroad at Minneapolis; Christina, married to Peter Ferstad, of Belle Creek. Mr. Hagman is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Vasa. Andrew M. Anderson, of Belle Creek township, was born in Sweden December 24, 1842, son of Andrew and Betsy (Olson) Anderson, natives of Sweden, where the father was a blacksmith and wagon maker. He died September 26, 1856, the mother having passed away in October, 1848. Andrew received his edu- cation in Sweden and worked at farming until June 1, 1864,