Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/914

 ;>- HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY Ole Kittleson, of Zumbrota township, son of Kittie and Berit (•Loken) Kittleson, was born in Norway, November 25, 1843. His parents died in Norway, the father in 1884 and the mother in 1845. Ole received his education in Norway, and came to America in 1859, locating at Rock county, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for two years. He then went to Illinois, and engaged in farming, remaining six years, after which he came to Pine Island township, where he purchased 100 acres of improved land and followed general farming until 1881, when he removed to Zumbrota and purchased a farm of 231 acres in section 34. Here he built a home and other outbuildings and has followed a general line of farming. May, 1872, Mr. Kittleson was married to Julia Lee, daughter of Nels and Ambor (Torkelson) Lee, na- tives of Norway, who came to America in 1865, locating in "Wis- consin and later removing to Pine Island, where they engaged in farming for six years, when they came to Clay county, where the father died in March, 1887, and the mother in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Kittleson have had ten children : Bessie, married to Gustaf A. Nelson, of Minneola township; Nels, Cornelius and Julia, liv- ing at home; Josephine, married to Elba C. Harper, of Pine Island; Henry, of Cherry Grove; Theodore, of Spokane, Wash.; Emma and Emma (deceased), and Olaf, a medical student at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Kittleson is a Republican in his politics, but has never sought public office. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator of Zumbrota, and the family attend the Lutheran church. Benjamin A. Kolbe, a well known shoe merchant of Zumbrota, was born in Minneola township, March 27, 1867, and received his education in the public schools, engaging in farming until the year 1898. when he removed to Zumbrota and engaged in the ice business for one year. Receiving the offer of a good position with the Piano Harvesting Company, he entered their employ, re- maining with them for four years, afterward becoming agent for the International Harvesting Company, for whom he worked for two years, and then traveled two years for the J. I. Case Thresh- ing Machine Company. Being ambitions to get into business for himself, he purchased the boot, shoe and harness business of W. E. Mosher & Son, which he has since conducted with great suc- cess, being one of the prominent merchants in Zumbrota and making it his aim to carry only high-grade and standard goods. Mr. Kolbe was married October 15, 1891, to Anna Maher. Hav- ing no children of their own, they adopted a little girl, Marie, still living at home. Mrs. Anna Maher Kolbe died January 27, 1900, and Mr. Kolbe was married October 22, 1901, to Anna Zetz- man, by whom he has two daughters : Myrtle, born in June, 1904, and Ruth, born in February, 1907. Mr. Kolbe is an independent