USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 77
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day of August, 1868, Edwin Smith was born to these parents, the next to the eldest of a family of six children. One year after his birth Edwin was brought to Jackson county by his parents, a county which has ever since been his home. He was brought up on the farm and until his mother died he lived at home. After reaching mature years he engag- ed in farming on his own account and fol- lowed that occupation until six years ago. In 1898 he bought six acres of land in the south part of Jackson, where he now lives. In 1901 Mr. Smith received the appointment of rural mail carrier from the Jackson office and has been so engaged since, now ranking as the old- est carrier in point of service in Jackson coun- ty. Mr. Smith is a member of the Odd Fel- lows lodge.
FRANK J. PRIBYL (1886) farms the south- east quarter of section 20, Hunter township, which he rents from his father. He was born on that farm June 4, 1886, and has always made his home there. He is the son of Albert and Mary (Koranda) Pribyl, now residents of Jackson. They were born in Bohemia and after their arrival to America resided in the city of Chicago and a little later came to Jack- son county. The head of the family bought the farm in Hunter township where his son now lives, and that was his home until he moved to Jackson.
Frank attended the district schools and grew to manhood on the farm. Until he was twen- ty-three years of age he worked for his father; then his parents took up their residence in town, and since that time Frank has con- dneted the home farm. Ile is unmarried and makes his home with his sister, Mary Pribyl. ITis brothers and sisters are Mary, Aggie, Bes- sie. Jerry, Wesley, August, Charlie and Jo- seph.
HENRY W. AHRENS (1890) is one of the successful young farmers of West Heron Lake township, in which precinct he owns the north- west quarter of section 21 and all of section 16 south of the Milwaukee railroad. He farms all his land and engages quite extensively in stock buying and shipping.
Mr. Ahrens, of this sketch, is a son of Christ and Minnie (Mundt) Ahrens, of West Heron Lake township, and was born in Germany,
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January 7, 1873. Henry accompanied his par- ents to the United States at the age of seven years and lived with the family in Will coun- ty, Illinois, until they came to Jackson coun- ty. They arrived here in 1890 and until he was twenty-four years of age he lived on the home farm-the northeast quarter of section 19, West Heron Lake township-working for his father. At that age he married, bought the land on section 21, and engaged in farm- ing. Nine years later he moved to Okabena and for two years was engaged in the stock business. Then he returned to the farm, and that has ever since been his home. He bought the property on section 16 in 1901. In addition to his farm property he owns a house and several lots in Okabena.
At the German Lutheran church on section 18, West lleron Lake township, on November 12, 1897, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ahrens to Alvena Lick, who was born in Germany July 28, 1879, and who came to America with her parents in 1881. Her father died in Rost township July 7, 1902; her mother now re- sides with her daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Ah- rens have no children of their own, but they have an adopted daughter, Doris, born July 7, 1901. Alr. and Mrs. Ahrens are members of the German Lutheran church and he is treas. urer of the church society. llo is also inter- ested in the West Heron Lake Farmers Tele- phone company.
AUGUST POHLMAN (ISS4) is one of the successful farmers of Weimer township and he has been a resident of Jackson county a quarter of a century-ever since he was a boy thirteen years of age. He owns the southeast quarter of section 36 and a half interest in 17 acres of land in section 6, Heron Lake township. In addition to his own land Mr. Pollman farms 240 acres of rented land.
August Pohlman is a native of Hansbergen, Westfallen, Germany, and was born May 6. 1$71. His father was Carl Pollman, who came from Germany in 1884 and who was a resident of Jackson county until his death, which oc- curred in 1901. Our subject's mother is Chris- tina (Gie-elman) Pohlman, who makes her home with her son, Herman Pohlman, near the eastern shore of Heron lake. August was brought up in a little village where he was born and began his schooling in his native land. When thirteen years of age ho accompanied
his parents to America and the family came direct to Jackson county, arriving on the sith day of April. 1851. The head of the family bought an eighty acre farm on section S, Her- on Lake township. and engaged in farming. Un this farm August lived seven years, com- jleting his education in the district school- and assisting with the farm work. When his father located on section 2. West lleron Lake township. in 1991 August accompanied him and continued to make his home with his parents until 1895.
Mr. Pohlman bought and located upon his present farm in Weimer township in 1895, where he has ever since resided. The farm was umimproved when he took up his residence there, and the improvements the place now has are the results of Mr. Pohlman's labors. lle set out the grove and erected all the build- ings and has brought the place up to its pros. ent standard. In addition to his general farm- ing Mr. Pohlman engages extensively in rais- ing stock and has large herds, including a fine flock of sheep. Ile also has other busi- ness interests. Hle is a stockholder and diree- tor of the First National Bank of Lakefield and has stock in the Farmers Bank of Wilder. lle is a director of the Sontag Lumber com- pany of Ileron Lake, and has stock in the Jackson County Cooperative company's store of Lakefield, in the Farmers Elevator com- pany of Lakefield and in the Wildler Creamery company. For seven years Mr. Pohlman was clerk of school district No. 30 and he served as a supervisor of Weimer township two years.
Mr. Pohlman was married in West Heron Lake township February 15, 1894, to Amanda loger, who was born in Rolasin, Germany, October 13. 1875, and who came to the United States and to Jackson county in 1893, arriving on July 3. She is the step-daughter of Au- gu-t Lietzow, and her mother is Bertha (Hlog- er) Lietzow. To Mr. and Mrs. Pohlman have been born two children, as follows: Emma, born April 18. 1896; Zelma, horn February 28. 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Pohlman are members of the German Lutheran church of Heron Lake township, and Mr. Pohlman has served as one of the trustees of the church for the last six years.
MARTIN ROTHILMAN (1887) is one of the early settlers of Sioux Valley township, where he owns a fine farm of 240 acres. Ile was
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born in lloistein, Germany, October 2, 1858. Ilis parents were John Kuhlman and Katie (Hamann) Kuhlman, who died in their na - tive land in 1872 and 1883. respectively.
Martin was brought up on a farm and made his home in Germany until 1882. That year he came to the new world and located in Scott county, Iowa, where he resided until 1887, working out on farms. In March, 1887, he came to Jackson county and rented a farm in Sioux Valley. After conducting that five years he bought his present farm-then raw prairie, absolutely unimproved-and has since made his home on it. His home place is the northi- west quarter of section 24 and he owns also the south half of the southwest quarter of section 13. Mr. Kuhlman has served as di- rector and treasurer of school district No. 77 for several years. He is a member of the Sons of Hermann lodge of Sioux Valley.
Mr. Kuhlman was married at Spirit Lake, Iowa, May 17, 1888, to Selma Wellhausen, daughter of Ernst Wellhausen. She died May 24, 1901, having been the mother of five chil- dren : Otto, Willie, Eddie, Charlie and Leonora. The second marriage of Mr. Kuhl- man occurred in Jackson October 22, 1902, when he wedded Annie Rohr, who was born in Holstein. Germany, April 5, 1878, and who came to the United States in 1881.
OTIS M. ASHLEY (1870), proprietor of a transfer line in Jackson, has been a resident of that village from the time when he was less than one year old. He is the son of the late Benjamin W. and Juliet (Robbins) Ashley, pioneer settlers of Jackson. While his mother, who had come to Jackson county several years before, was visiting at her old home in Maines- burg, Pennsylvania, on the eighteenth day of November, 1869. Otis MI. Ashley was born.
The spring following his birth he was brought to the home in Jackson county. Otis wa- educated in the Jackson public schools and grew to manhood in that village. At the age of twenty years he went to Duluth and for one year worked in a meat market. Returning to Jackson, he worked one year in an elevator and then for two years drove the mail and passenger bus for his father. At the end of that time he bought the bus line and has ever since condneted it. In addition to this busi- ness he clerked in the hotel several years dur- ing the time his father was the proprietor. For
a number of years he was also the proprietor of a livery stable, but sold out in 1903.
Mr. Ashley was married February 28, 1907, to Stella May Crane, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of the late V. B. Crane, at one time publisher of the Jackson County Pilot and later postmaster of Jackson.
O. T. FLATGARD (1869) is one of the sue- cessful farmers and stock raisers of Chris- tiania township and has lived in Jackson coun- ty since he was six years of age. He is the son of T. O. and Ingebor (Valden) Flatgard, of Belmont township, and was born in Norway April 23, 1863.
At the age of five years our subjeet accom- panied his parents to America. The family lived in Fillmore county, Minnesota, one year and arrived in Jackson county in June, 1869. His father took a homestead on section 14, Belmont, and on that farm O. T. Flatgard grew to manhood. He moved onto his pres- ent farm, the southwest quarter of section 23, Christiania, in 1905. He owns the quarter sec- tion and makes a specialty of raising Short- horn cattle. Mr. Flatgard owns stock in sev- eral business enterprises, including the First National Bank of Windom, the Farmers State Bank of Windom, the Farmers Elevator com- pany of Windom, and the Christiania Merean- tile company of Bergen. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Mr. Flatgard was married April 4, 1887, to Johanna Lean. To these parents seven child- ren have been born, namely: Theodore, born May 14, 1888: Inga, born February 12, 1890; Julia, born January 5, 1892; Anna, born Sep- tember 4, 1894; John, born November 13, 1899; Osear. born April 13. 1903; Odin, born August 27, 1905.
GEORGE H. WOOD (1899), deecased, late proprietor of the Wood hotel at Lakefield, was born in Erie county. New York, May 24, 1852, the son of George W. and Martha (Stoeker) Wood. natives of England and Connecticut, respectively. Three years after his birth the family moved to Illinois, resided there two years, and then returned to the Empire state.
George was reared in the family of an unele and lived in New York until 1866. He then eame west and until 1869 lived on his father's farm near Rochester, Minnesota. For a short
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time he lived in South Dakota, and in 1872 or 1873 moved to Mower county, Minnesota, where for several years he engaged in farming in partnership with a brother. He took a homestead in Richland county, North Dakota, in 1878 and resided on it until 1884. Return- ing to Mower county, Mr. Wood bought a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuit - several years. He next went to Dexter, Minnesota. where he engaged in grain buying two years and in the hotel business several years. Mr. Wood located in Lakefield in 1899 and bought the leading hotel there from Winter Brothers. 'Two years later he built the brick front and established one of the finest hotels in south- western Minnesota. He conducted the hotel until his death, which occurred in the spring uf 1909.
During hi- residence in Lakefield Mr. Wood served a part of the time as a member of the village council. He was a member of the Masonie order, of the Elks, Workmen, Modern Woodmen. Modern Brotherhood and Yeomen.
Mr. Wood was married at Grand Meadow. Mower county. Minnesota. February 23. 1882, to Ella Funderhide, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, and a daughter of John M. and Amelia M. Funderhide. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood .. as follows: John II .. Martha I. (Mrs. Frank Marrs), of Wol- ford. North Dakota; Mary E. and Grace A.
JOHN O. HOFLAND (1872) is one of the prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Dela. field township, owning 280 acres of land on sections 11, 12 and 13 and farming a rented tract in addition to his own land. He is quite an extensive feeder of cattle and has a herd of 300 sheep.
Mr. Hofland is a native of Norway and was born in March, 1866, the youngest of a family of three children born to Ole and Christie ( Hagen) Hofland. The family came to Ameri- on and to JJackson county in 1872 and the father of our subject took as a homestead claim the north half of the northeast quarter of section 1. Delafield township, the present home of our subject. The father of our suh- ject died on the place May 2, 1896, aged 5S years. The mother, who is now eighty years of age, lives on the farm with her son. The other members of the family are Carrie, who makes her home with her brother, and Susie (Mrs. Andrew Loken), of Delafield township.
John O, Hofland was only six years of age when be came to Jackson county with his par- ent- in 18;2. He grew to manhood on the farm he now condnets and was educated in Jackson county. Until his father's death in jsi; he worked for his parents; then he took charge of the place and has since managed it, having added to the original farm by pur- chase. Mr. Holland is unmarried.
CHARLES H. WASHBURN (83) is one of the successful farmers of Wisconsin township and owns a 100 aere farm on sertions IS and S. He descends from old American stock of English ancestry. According to family tradi- tion a member of the family was one of the passengers of the Mayflower. The ancestry i- traced direct back to Hope Washburn, who was born in 1750, married Tabitha Ward of Scotch descent, in 1774, and died in 1827. He had seventy grandchildren. The parents of our subject were Lorenzo and Caroline (Me- Lean) Washburn, both born in Jay township. Essex county. New York, and both dying there.
To these parents Charles 11. Washburn was born in Essex county, New York, on the 21st day of January, 1843. He made his home on his father's farm until twenty six years of age; then he moved to Chicago and that city was his home for a number of years He came to JJackson county in 1853 and bought the southeast quarter of section >, Wisconsin township, from the state, paying $1,200 for the quarter. He lived on the farm a few years and then took up his residence in Jackson. Ho moved onto his present farm in 1901, Imt has moved back and forth between the farmi and town several times. He owns village prop- erty in addition to his farming lands. While a resident of Jackson Mr. Washburn served on the village council, and has held the office of treasurer of school district No. 1. He is a member of the M. B. A. lodge.
Mr. Washburn was married at Au Sable Forks, Essex county, New York, June 27. 1882. to Anna Lewis, who was born in Essex county February IS, ISAl. Her father was John Lewis and her mother is Jane (Forker) Lewis, who still lives in Essex county and is 92 years of age. Two children were born lo Mr. and Mrs. Washburn, both of whom have died. They were Lewis L., who died at the age of eight years, and Jane, who died in infancy.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
FRANK E. DAY (1895), a retired business man of Heror Lake, was born in Salem, Ohio, August 8, 1865, the son of William A. and Nancy (Heisler) Day. At the age of two years he moved with his parents to Newton, lowa, and there he lived eighteen years, re- ceiving an education in the Newton schools.
In 1883 Mr. Day moved to Marcus, Iowa, and for the next twelve years was engaged in farming. Ile moved to Heron Lake in Decem- ber, 1890, bought the machine business of P. D. MeKellar, and was engaged in that busi- ness many years. He sold a half interest to F. J. Appel in 1903 and in December, 1904, sold the rest of his interests to the same gentle- man. During the time of his residence in Jackson county Mr. Day was the traveling representative of the Northwest Thresher com- pany for one year and for two years served as boiler inspector for Jackson and Cottonwood counties. Ile is a member of the K. P. and M. B. A. lodges.
Mr. Day was married in November, 1889, to Miss Anna A. Cobb, who was born in Belle Plaine, Benton county, Jowa, in November, 1866. They are the parents of the following children: Jessie, J. Frank, Leslie. Elmer, J. William. Four children have died.
JOHN P. EGGE (1865). who owns and farms 200 acres of land on sections 22 and 15, Bel- mont township, has resided on his present farm forty-four years-ever since he was three years of age. His house is on the north half of the northwest quarter of section 22-histor- ie ground because of its connection with the Belmont massaere of 1862. Here on that mem- orable 24th day of August, 1862, Mrs. Knute Langeland and her children were murdered by the bloodthirsty Sioux.
John P. Egge was born on the eighth day of November. 1862, near the site of the pres- ent city of Yankton, South Dakota. his parents being Peter and Ambger Egge. These parents were born and married in Norway and came to the United States in 1861. They resided one year in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and then pushed out onto the extreme frontier, selecting a homestead in the midst of the In- dian country near Yankton. Because of the hostility of the Indians they were forced to abandon their claim in 1865 and located in Jackson county, which was then considered reasonably safe from the ravages of the red-
skins. Upon their arrival Mr. Egge filed on the north half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 22, Belmont, as a homestead claim, and there he resided, engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1888 at the age of 69 years. Mrs. Egge is living at the age of 84 years, making her home with a daughter in Ileron Lake. There are the following living children of this family: Sarah Halverson, Rosa Peterson, Anna Egge, John P. Egge, Tol- lef Egge. Sarah Johnson, Ida Tollefson, Chris- tie Twinsberg.
Our subject came to Jackson county with his parents in 1865. and until his father's death in 1888, assisted in the management of the home farm. Then he bought the two hundred acres he now owns and has been engaged in farming since. Besides general farming he is quite a feeder of hogs and cattle. He has held a school office ever since he was twenty-one years of age and is now clerk of district No. 123. Ile has also served as township super- visor. He is a member of the Norwegian Luth- eran church.
Mr. Egge was married on the old Belmont homestead September 12, 1897, to Ida Iverson, who was born in Norway May 15, 1871, and eame to the United States in 1895. She is the daughter of Bringel and Sophia Iverson, of Belmont township. To them have been born the following named five children: Bennie, born March 22. 1899: Annie, born April 5, 1900; Helen. born August 17, 1902; Clarence, born July 19, 1904; Edwin, born December 1, 1907.
VINCENT BEZDICEK (1888), a farmer of Hunter township, was born in Bohemia Jan- nary 12, 1884, the son of Frank and Francika (Bezdieek) Bezdieek. When an infant he came to America with his parents, lived with them a short time in Nebraska and in Lyon county, lowa, and then in 1888 came with the family to Jackson county.
Vincent received his education in Jackson county and was brought upon his father's farm. After his mother's death, which occur- red in 1903, the home farm-the northwest quarter of section 13-became the property of the children. Vincent has been farming the place on his own account since 1907. Ile has been a director of school district No. 15 for the past two years. He is a member of the Catholic church of Jackson and of the Catho- lie Western Union.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Vr. Bezdicek was married at Jackson Sep- 1ember 17. 1907, to Annie Dvorak. She was born in Jackson county August It. Isso, the daughter of the late Frank Dvorak, an early settler. Her father died in 1903; her mother lives in Hunter township. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bezdieck. Therest, born April 11, 1908.
ANTON CORDES (1892), one of the success- ful farmer of Ewington township, was born in Germany April 15. 1842. the second of a family of five children born to Gerhard and Martha Cordes, both of whom died in Germany.
Anton received his schooling in the old coun- try and until he was thirty years of age lived with his parents, working on the farm. He came to America in 1872, worked on a farm several months in Jefferson county, Missouri. and then located in Livingston county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming rented property until 1892. That year he arrived in Jackson county. bought his present farm, the north half of section 20, Ewington, and has ever since made his home on the place. When he bought the farm the only improvements on it. wore a little shanty and a shed. Ho now has a well improved farm and is installing a com- plete system of tiling.
Mr. Cordes was married in Livingston coun- ty, Illinois, in January, 1875. to Annie Mason. who was born in Ohio. To this union have been born the following named five children: Henry, Andrew. John. Lizzie, Martha. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Ewington township. Mr. Cordes has been treasurer of school district No. 119 for the past seven years.
MICHAEL MeGLIN (1892). of Lakefield. in partnership with his brother. John McGlin. conducts an elevator and coal business at that point and is a joint owner of several other ole- vators at different points in the vicinity. His parents. John and Jane ( Rogers) MeGlin, came from Ireland when children and were married in New York state April 1, 1850. Soon after their marriage they moved to Iowa, where they resided many years. The father died in Buena Vista county. lowa. September 9, 1982. aged 64 years: the mother died in Heron Lake April 21, 1900, aged 64 years.
To these parents Michael McGlin was born
in Dubuque county, Iowa. November 5, 1865 When he wa- five years old the family moved to Buena Vista county, of the same state, and there Michael was raised. making his home on the farm and attending the district schools. Upon reaching his majority in Iss6 he and hie brother. John MeGlin, left home and located at Rock Valley, lowa, where for six years they were engaged in the lumber and coal business. He then moved to Heron Lake, which was his home for eight years, being engaged in the same line of business there and at Okabena in partnership with his brother. From Heron Lake Mr. Metilin went to Kinbrac. where he and his brother built an elevator which he conducted two years. He located in Lakefield in 1905 and has since made that point his home, engaging extensively in the grain, seed and coal business. He served two years as a member of the Lakefield village council and was elected president of the council in 1908.
Mr. MeGlin was married at Fulda. Minne- sota. December 30, 1903, to Miss Eva I. Wright, a native of that village. She is the daughter of Joseph Wright. now a resident of Milwau- kre. One child has been born to this union, Leo Michael, horn June 3. 1905. Mr. MeGlin is a member of the M. W. A. lodge.
WILLIAM M. F. SCHROEDER (56) owns and farms two hundred acres on section 27. Petersburg township, which has been his home for the last twenty-three years.
Mr. Schroeder is a native of Mecklenberg. Germany, where he was born March In, 1810. and where he lived until he was twenty four years of age. Ho landed in New York on the twelfth day of January, 1864, to seek a home in the new world. During the first five years of his residence in America he worked at farm work in Illinois. Ile married in 1869 and then took up his residence near the town of Niles Center. Cook county, only eight miles from the city of Chicago, and there he engaged in farming until his arrival to Jackson county. During the great Chicago fire of 1871 Mr. Schroeder assisted in removing the homeless from the stricken city, and remembers vividly the tragedies of that great calamity.
On the twenty- fourth day of March, 1886, Mr. Schroeder arrived in Jackson county and located upon the farm where he has ever since resided. His initiation to the county was not of the most pleasant nature. During his first
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LEMOX AND TIDEN FOUNDATIONS
JOHN T. SMITH Heron Lake's First Resident.
CHARLES WINZER First Settler of Weimer Township.
FREDERICK A. COOLEY Heron Lake Business Man.
CARL S. EASTWOOD Heron Lake's Postmaster and Publisher of the News.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
year's residence here he was caught in a tor- nado, was carried a short distance by the pow- erful wind, and received several very bad flesh wounds on the limbs and chest, from the effects of which he suffers to this day.
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