USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 71
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The marriage of Mr. Koster occurred at Flanagan, Livingston county, Illinois, March 15, 1893, when he wedded Bredtji Post, who was born in Flanagan November 2, 1871, the daughter of Albert J. and Antje (Ohling) Post. Seven children have been born to these par- ents, of whom the following six are living: Otto J., Annie D., Mary A., Albert P., Paul- ina H. and Freda E.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
DR. WILLIAM C. PORTMANN (1886), prae- ticing physician of Jackson, is a native of Switzerland, where he was born June 7, 1838. lle is one of a family of ten children born to L'rs Victor and Anna Moore (Von Steinmen) Portman. llis father was a contracting and civil engineer and died in 1871. llis mother died in 1905 at the age of 83 years. A brother of our subject, Dr. E. O. Portmann, is practicing medicine at Canton, Ohio. He was President MeKinley's home physician and after the death of the president was Mrs. McKinley's phy- sician.
When William C. Portmann was ten years old he accompanied his parents to America and grew to manhood in the city of Canton, Ohio. In the common schools of that city he received his early education. His father dying when our subject was thirteen years of age, he was compelled at that early age to turn his atten- tion to the support of the mother and family. llowever, he did not give up his studies but completed his general education in public and private night schools. At the age of twenty- two years he entered the Western Reserve Medical school, of Cleveland, Ohio, and three years later was graduated as a physician. For the first two years after graduation Dr. Port- mann practiced in his home eity and then, in 1883, located at Mandan, North Dakota, where he practiced three years. Dr. Portmann located at Jackson in the spring of 1886 and has since devoted his time to the practice of his profession in that village.
Dr. Portmann owns his home in the village and two Jackson county farms. lle is a mom- ber of the A. F. & A. M. and of the Chapter and Knights Templar of the same order, as well as holding membership in the M. W. A. For twelve years Dr. Portmann served as cor- oner of Jackson county. He was a member of the school board eighteen years and was president of the village council one year.
In Canton, Ohio, on September 13, 1883, Dr. Portmann was mited in marriage to Em- ma Ball, a native of Canton and a daughter of Ephriam E. and Levina Ball. Three sons have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Portmann, Urs Vie- tor. Milton C. and Arthur B.
JOHN M. ANDERSON (1882). of Enterprise township. las lived in that previnet since he was a child. Ile was born in Norway April 17. 1575. the son of Hans and Andrena Maria
Anderson. llis mother died about twenty years ago; his father lives in Enterprise township. Our subject was only two and one-half years of age when the family came to Amer- iva. They resided in DeSmet, South Dakota, one year and came to Jackson county in 1882. John grew to manhood in Enterprise township. where the family home was made. For five years he lived with his parents on section 18, Wisconsin township; then his father took as a tree claim the north half of the south- Last quarter of section 20, Enterprise, and there our subject resided with his father until 1901. That year he married and began farming and has ever since made his home on the farm. lle has engaged in threshing eleven years in addition to his farming operations. Mr. An- derson is a member of the Norwegian Luther- an church.
Mr. Anderson was married January 14. 1901, to Sena Nelson, who was born in linois Sep- tember s. 1876. To them have been born the following named four children: Clara A., born November 2, 1902: Hans A., born May 12, 1901: Clifford 1 .. horn May 28, 1905; Lloyd S .. born January 11, 1909.
MICHAEL WAGNER (1899) is a farmer and stock raiser of LaCrosse township. Ile owns a half section farm, the home place being the southwest quarter of section 26, and he has a nice home.
Mr. Wagner was born in Luxemburg, Ger- many. September 2, 1853, the son of Philip and Barbara (Thome) Wagner. Ile is the oldest of a family of seven children and his parents both died in the ohl country. Michael resided in his native land until he was twenty-four years of age. llis father was a carpenter by trade and Michael Warned the trade under his father's instruction and worked for his par- ent until coming to America in 1877. He first located at Dubuque, lowa. Near that city he worked on a farm several years and at his trade three years. In 1886 he bought a farm in Ransom township. Nobles county, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming until 1899. That year he sold out and located in Jackson coun- ty. loying a part of his present farm in La- Crosse township, and has since made his home there.
Mr. Wagner is a man of family, having been married in Grant county, Wisconsin, February 10. 1887, to Mary A. Dietzel, who was born in
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Grant county in 1865. Twelve children have been born as a result of this union, of which there are nine living as follows: Catherina, horn November 25, 1887; John, born April 16, 1889; Bertie, born December 17, 1890; Dorothy, born December 27, 1892: Julia, born May 12. 1897: Mary, born July 30, 1899; August, born March 18, 1904; Lawrence, born November 25, 1905: Ilenry, born December 30, 1907. The children who have died are: Helena, born Au- gnst 21, 1894, died August 26, 1895: Michael and Frank. twins, born July 1, 1901, died July 1, 1901.
The family are members of the Catholic church of Heron Lake.
RAYMOND BARTOSCII (1886) owns and operates at Jackson one of the best and most up-to-date harness shops and harness manu- facturing establishments in southwestern Min- nesota. The business is conducted in a hand- some briek block on Main street which was erected by Mr. Bartosch in 1899. On the second floor of this building and the one adjoining is located Jackson's opera house. ,
Mr. Bartoseh was born in Bohemia October 2, 1864, the son of German parents, both his parents, Englebret and Rosa (Schmidt) Bar- tosch, having been native Germans. The family left the old country when Raymond was ten years of age, eame to America and settled in Steele county, Minnesota. On his father's farmi in that county Raymond resided until lie was sixteen years of age, receiving a eoun- try school education. Ile then went to Owa- tonna and started learning the harness maker's trade under C. Butch, with whom he remained five years. In January, 1886, he located at Jack- son and took charge of the G. A. Albertus harness shop. After managing the business for Mr. Albertus five years he purchased the store and has ever since conducted it. During the first two years he conducted it in the building south of Kiesel's saloon, then he purchased an old frame building on the site of his present store. and in 1899 he erected his present hand- some strneture. In addition to this business property Mr. Bartosch owns a fine home in the eity, ereeted in 1906. Ile is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
Mr. Bartosch was married in Sauk City, Wisconsin, August 8, 1892, to Dorathea Roeser, a native of that place and a daughter of George
Roeser. To Mr. and Mrs. Bartosch has been born one ebild, Rita Bartosel.
THEODORE SCHROEDER (1898) is one of the prosperous young farmers of Sioux Valley township, where he controls 240 acres of fine farming land. Ile is a native of Cedar coun- ty, lowa, and was born February 15, 1874.
In his native county Theodore grew to man- hood, making his home with his parents and working on the farm until nearly twenty-five years of age. He was educated in the dis- triet schools and in the Wilton Commercial academy. He came to Jackson county in 1898 and located upon the northwest quarter of section 17, Sioux Valley township, then owned by his father, but later purchased by bim. The farm was bare of improvements when he located on it in 1898, but he has built the place up until today he lias a fine, well im- proved farm. In 1909 he raised about 2,500 bushels of corn and 1,600 bushels of small grain. He feeds abont 100 head of hogs each year. Mr. Schroeder is a director of the Sioux Valley Creamery company and was its presi- dent one year. He also has stock in the Lake Park Farmers Exchange elevator and in the Midland Telephone company.
The parents of our subject are Job and So- phia (Krohnke) Schroeder, both of whom were born in Germany and who came to America when children, having been married at Daven- port, lowa. They resided in Cedar county, lowa, many years and later became residents of Scott county. Mr. Schroeder became a heavy land owner and is now living a retired life at Durant, aged 67 years. Mrs. Sebroeder died at Durant June 15, 1905, aged 51 years. They had four children, as follows: Theodore and Minnie (twins), Richard and Herman.
Theodore Schroeder was married in Cedar county, lowa, in the year 1898, to Alvina Miller, who born in the country in which she was married October 22, 1879. She is the daughter of William and Lena Miller, both of whom live in Cedar county. Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder are the parents of four children: Harvey, born May 24, 1899; Lillie, born Sep- tember 24, 1900; Luerna, born May 4, 1902; Irvin, born December 25, 1905. Mr. Schroeder was township supervisor four years and was clerk of school district 72 for seven years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
WILLIAM IL. JARMUTH (1888); cashier of the First National Bank of Heron Lake, was born in Chicago September 29, 1381, the son of llenry and Lena (Ruesch) Jarmuth. He came to Jackson county with his parents in 1888 and lived on the home farm until 1900. Ile was educated in the common schools and in the business department of Toland college.
After his graduation from the business col- lege Mr. Jarmuth took 'a position with the State Bank of Alpha, which he held one year. For several years thereafter he was with the Martin County National Bank of Fairmont, for a time as bookkeeper and for the last three years as cashier. He went to Heron Lake in November, 1907, and has since held the posi- tion of cashier of the First National. Mr. Jar- muth is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum lodges.
At Minneapolis on July 20, 1908, Mr. Jar- muth was married to Myrtle M. Childs, a na- tive of Iowa and a daughter of I. C. and Minnie Childs.
OLE IVERSON (1882), Belmont township farmer, residing five miles north of Jackson, is a native of Norway and was born November 26, 1855, the son of Iver and Bertha Skolestad. Both his parents died when Ole was six years of age, and from that age he has made his own living. Until he was nearly twenty-six years of age he worked out in Norway.
In 1881 Mr. Iverson came to America, lived one year in Lee county, Illinois, and then, in 1882, came to Jackson county. For two years he worked out at railroad work and in the har- vest fields, and then bought his present farm in section 36, Belmont. The land was all prai- ri at the time, but he planted a grove, built a house and made other improvements, and in the spring of 1885 moved to his new home. There he has ever since been engaged in farm- ing.
Mr. Iverson was married in Lee county, Il- linois, March 25, 1882, to Lena Rondland, who was also horn in Norway. They have an adopt- ed son, Oliver, aged seventeen years. Mr. and Mis. Iverson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr. Iverson is a member of the school board of district No. 79.
ERNST SHUMACHER (891), deceased. late proprietor of a saloon in Lakefield, was born
in Germany August 15, 1832. Ilis parents were Martin and Ernestina ( Urban) Shumacher. They came to the United States in 1876 and lo- cated in Faribault county, Minnesota. The father died at Minnesota Lake in 1883, at the age of 65 years; the mother died at Kimball, Minnesota, in 1905, at the age of 73 years.
Our subject lived in Germany with his par- ents until eighteen years of age and then came to America. He bought a farm in Faribanit county, Minnesota, upon which he lived several years, and then moved to Wells, where he en- gaged in carpenter work. Mr. Shumacher be- came a resident of Lakefield in 1891, bought a saloon from Tossen & Company, then located in the building which is now occupied by the Standard, and continued in the saloon business until his death, which occurred December 1. 1909. Ilo erected the brick building in which the saloon is conducted in 1896 and two years later erected the brick building which adjoins it on the north. Hle owned his home in the village.
Mr. Shumacher was married at Lakefield in 1894 to Miss Fredericka Bragger, a native of Germany. To them were born seven children, as follows: Lena. Eliza, Erna, Clara, Harry, Eddie and Emma. Mr. Shumacher and his family were members of the German Lutheran church.
CHRISTIAN E. LINDBERG (1882), of Bel- mont township, was born in Norway May 23, 1852. Ilis mother, Annie Lindberg, resides in Belmont.
Until he was eighteen years of age Christian lived with his parents. Then he began life's battles on his own account. For the next twelve years he was employed as a farm hand and at work in the pineries of his native land. lle came to America in ISS2 and direct to Jackson county. For five years he worked out on farms in Belmont township and then he bought the west half of the northeast quarter of section 30, Belmont, and that has ever since been hi- home. When he arrived in the country he was penniless and owed his brother for the passage money across the water. By in- dustry and hard work he has prospered. now owning a 250 acre farm, well improved and Stocked. The place was unimproved when he bought it: now he has a splendid grove, a nice house, barn- and other buildings -- one of the many fine homes of Belmont township.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Mr. Lindberg was married in Jackson coun- ty October 30. ISSS. to Olena Lindberg, who was born in Norway in 1862. They are the parents of three children: Janetta, born in Belmont township July 1, 1889; Anton, born in Belmont October. 1890; John, born in Bel- mont January 2. 1893. Another child, Clara Olava, was born December 20, 1900, and died the same day. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of West Belmont, Mr. Lindberg having been secretary of the church society fifteen years. He served as treasurer of school district No. 18 for five years.
PETER HAFER (1902), a farmer and breed- er of thoroughbred stock of Ewington town- ship, was born in Germany April 7, 1865, and two years after bis birth accompanied his par- ents to the new world. Until he was twenty- two years of age he worked on the farm for his father in LaSalle county, Illinois.
After his marriage in 1887, Mr. Hafer rented his father's farm and conducted it five years. He then rented another farm in LaSalle conn- ty, which he conducted until 1902. That year he came to Jackson county and rented of George W. Patterson the west half of section 11, Ewington township. upon which place he has ever since lived. During the first year of his residence in Jackson county, because of the wet season. Mr. Hafer lost the thousand dollars he brought with him from Illinois, but since that time has encountered more prosper- ous times. In 1909 he harvested 3,000 bushels of oats. 1,500 bushels of flax and 1,500 bushels of corn.
Mr. Hafer raises full blooded Hereford cattle and has been very successful in their breeding and in getting fancy prices for them at private sale. Ile also raises thoroughbred Berkshire hogs. Ile is interested in the farmers' store and elevator at Brewster. He is a member of the Catholic church of Brewster.
Peter is one of a family of two boys, a brother, William, having died at the age of twelve years. The parents of our subject were William and Gertie Hafer, who were born in Germany and came to the United States in 1867. They bought a farm in LaSalle county, Illinois, upon which they lived until their death.
Mr. Hafer was married at Richland, Illinois, October S, 1887, to Gertrude Shoenenboun,
who was born in Germany in 1866. To them have been born the following children: Fran- eis A., born January 22, 1890; Peter, born April 25. 1892; Henry, born December 17, 1893; William P., born January 30. 1895; Anton. born February 7, 1897 : John, born February 7, 1899: Rosy J., born February 7, 1901; Bennie J., born January 22. 1903: Robert A., born Feb)- ruary 7. 1905: Dorothy MI .. born January 30, 1907; Edward W .. born September 3, 1909.
In 1892 Mr. Hafer and family made a trip to Germany to visit with the relatives of his wife. They remained five months and visited many of the large cities of Europe. While abroad their son, Peter, died at the age of ten months. Mr. Hafer was called back to the United States by the death of his mother.
MARIUS TONDER (1885). hay dealer and lessee of the Ole Anderson ice plant of Jack- son, has been a resident of the county nearly a quarter of a century. He is a native of Schles- wig-Holstein, Germany, and was born April 17, 1865.
The parents of our subject were Soren and Annie (Top) Tonder, who were also natives of Schleswig-Holstein. having been born in that country when it was Danish territory and be- fore it had been acquired by the German em- pire. The elder Tonder was a veteran of the war of 1848, serving in the Danish army in its fight against Germany for the possession of Schleswig. After the war he engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. Marius is one of a family of eight children, of whom the following six are living: Peter. Jens, Marius, Antonia, An- nie and Catherina. Both parents died in their native country.
Marius attended school and worked in his father's store and on his father's farm in the old country until he was twenty years of age. Then, in ISS5. he came to Amer- ica, spent that summer in Moline, Illinois, and in the fall came to Jackson county. He bought land in Wisconsin township and farmed it twelve years. Moving to Jackson village at the end of that time, he has since made his home there. For five years he engaged in flax raising on land adjoining the village and then engaged in the hay business. He added to the latter business in 1907 by taking over the ice business formerly conducted by Ole Anderson. Mr. Ton- der owns a home in the city. 1Te is a member of the Lutheran church and of the Danish Brother-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
hood lodge, being treasures of the latter.
Mr. Tonder made a trip to his old German home in 1892. and there that year he was united in marriage to Annie Christensen. a daughter of Martin Christensen, who still resides in the old country. To Mr. and Mrs. Tonder have been born seven children as fol- lows: Julius, born June 4. 1893: Annie, born August 27. 1895; Mary, born October 8. 1897: Emma. born April 8. 1901: Florence, born June 22, 1903: Thyre, born September 25, 1905: Olga, born April 21. 1908.
HENRY STEFFEN (1900) is a farmer and land owner of Hunter township. Germany is his native country and October 20. ISGO, was the date of his birth. His parents were Paul and Marie Steffen. The former died when our subject was one year old and his mother when he was ten years of age.
After his mother's death until he was fifteen Henry lived with a sister. At the age of fifteen he began working out on farms, and when twenty years of age joined the German army and served three years. The next spring after his discharge from the army, in 1884, Mr. Steffen came lo America. He worked as a farm hand in Carroll county, lowa, two years, and then located in Omaha, where for six and one- half years he was employed in a packing house. The next years were spent in farming rented land in Carroll and Crawford counties. Towa. He came to Jackson county in 1900, farmed rented land in Hunter township two years, and in 1902 bought his present farm. Ho owns the east half of the southwest quarter of section 15 and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 22, Hunter.
Our subject was married in Germany in ISS.1 to Paulina Labeck, who was born July 28. ISGO. To them have been born the following named seven children: Herman, born December 21. 1SS5: Emma, born October t. 1886: Harry. born November 20, 1892: Agnes, born June 27. ISO1: Vona. horn March 10. ISOS: Edward and I'dna (twins), horn August 5, 1900. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Lakefield.
CHARLES E. PERRY (1898) carries the I'nited States mail on rural ronte No. I out of Heron Lake. He was born at Owego, Tinga county. New York, December 2, 1859, the eldest
of a family of eight children born to Oscar and Frances (Granger) Perry, both natives of the Empire state. The family came west in Isit and located in Wineshick county. lowa. In that county Mr. Perry lived until his death, which occurred in April, 1909. at the age of 70 years. His widow still lives in Winneshick county and is 67 years of age.
Charles Perry lived in his native county dess than two years. In 1561 the family drove though by team from New York state to Winneshick county. lowa. the trip being made in thirty-one days. There the head of the family bought land at $6.00 per acre, and on that farm Mr. Perry of this sketch grew to manhood. making hi- home with his par- ents until twenty-five years of age. He then engaged in farming for himself in Winneshick and Fayette counties, Iowa, for several years. later engaging in the same business in North Dakota. Ile located in Heron Lake in 1SOS and for several years worked at the carpenter trade. In 1902 he received the appointment of mail carrier on the first route established out of lleron Lake and has since been engaged in that capacity.
At West Union, Iowa. on December 22. 1901, Mr. Perry was nited in marriage to Caroline A. Brooks. She was born in Lyons, New York. and is the daughter of Charles and Mary Brooks. Four children have been born to this union, of which the oldest. Heury C .. died when nineteen months old. The others are Bertha. born July. 1904; Francis, horn March 20. 1906: Oscar, born February 22. 1908. Mr. Perry is a member of the 1. O. N. W. and Degree of Ilonor lodges.
JOIN S. WOOLSTENCROFT (SOS), editor and publisher of the Jackson County Times of Heron Lake, is a pioneer of southwestern Minnesota and one of the best known residents of Jackson county. He is a native of Clayton county. lowa. and was born December 23. 1848. the son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Keer) Woolstencroft. The father of our subject was a soldier of the regular army, being a ser- grant of company K. First U. S. infantry. and participated in the Blackhawk war. Florida war. Mexican war and the war of the rebellion. John was raised on a farm in his native coun- ty in Towa. In the spring of 1864. although he was then only a little past fifteen years of age, he enlisted as a union soldier. becoming a
JOHN S. WOOLSTENCROFT Editor and Proprietor of the Jackson County Times and an Early Day Settler.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOL ... - FALL
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
member of company L, of the Sixth Iowa cavalry. With his regiment he took part in the memorable campaign against the Sioux Indians in 1864, engaging in two pitched battles with the Indians in the Bad Lands. In 1865 he started again with the forces against the Sioux, but owing to sickness was left in hospital at Fort Rice. While there he was in three en- gagements with the hostile Indians. Mr. Wool- steneroft was mustered out with his regiment at Sioux City, Iowa, in the latter part of Oc- tober, 1865, and the regiment was disbanded at Davenport.
After his discharge from the army Mr. Wool- stencroft returned to his home and engaged in farming. Ile arrived in Jackson county on the 29th day of May, 1868, and located in the Graham Lakes country in Nobles county, when there were only five or six families in the whole county. Hle resided in that frontier settlement until June 19, 1869, and then returned to his old home, where he was married. He came north again in 1872 and took a homestead elaim on section 34, Belfast township, Murray coun- ty, and upon that claim he lived until March 22, 18SI.
On the date last mentioned Mr. Woolsten- croft located in Heron Lake, where he went to superintend the large farming interests of J. T. Smith. On the 17th day of November of that year he was caught and wound in some shaft- ing and so severely injured that he was inea- pacitated for physical labor. In May, 1882, he engaged in the saloon business in Heron Lake and was so engaged until 1SS8. Mr. Woolsten- croft then engaged in the hotel business and in 1891 built the Wavertree hotel, which he con- ducted seventeen years. In partnership with C. W. Schultz he founded the Jackson County Times in 1895 and in July of the next year he took exclusive charge of the management and editorial department. He has ever since been the editor and publisher.
Mr. Woolstencroft was married March 31. 1870, in Clayton county. Iowa, to Elizabeth Ann Abel. Two children were born to this union: Carry D., born July 28, 1877; Mary II., born December II. ISSO.
JOSEPH J. PRIBYL (1884) is the assistant cashier of the Brown National Bank of Jack- son and has been a resident of the county since he was five years of age. He is a native of Budweiss, Bohemia, and was born May 19,
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