USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 78
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In addition to his farming interests Mr. Schroeder owns stock in the Petersburg Cream- ery company. He served as treasurer of Pet- ersburg township ten years and has held other offices of trust. He is a member of the Ger- man Lutheran church.
Mr. Schroeder was married in November, 1869. to Mary Man, who died a little over a year later. His second marriage oeeurred in April. 1872, when he wedded Mary Kopa. The latter died in July, ISSO. Ilis present wife was Maria Meyer. Mr. Schroeder is the father of the following named children: Lena, born Sep- tember 12, 1870: Mary. Sophia, Annie, Wil- liam. born December 5, 1881; Charlie, born July 14, 1883; Emma, born July 18, IS85. died Mareh 7, 1890; Henry, born September 25, 1886.
FREDERICK A. COOLEY (ISSS), who con- duets a barber shop in Heron Lake, has lived in that village twenty-one years. He is a na- tive Minnesotan, having been born in Fillmore county September 14, 1877, the son of George R. and Evaline (Houck) Cooley.
The Cooley family is one of the oldest in America, settlement dating back to the May- flower. Our subjeet has in his possession rel- ies from that famous vessel which have been handed down from one generation to another. George R. Cooley was born in St. Lawrence county, New York. He moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, in an early day and there he resided until IS88, engaged in farming and acting as superintendent of the county poor farm. Moving to Heron Lake in ISSS, he made his home with a son. George C. Cooley, for several years, and then moved to Washington county. Kansas. He made his home with an- other son. Sherman G., for several years, and then in 1904 moved to California, where he now lives at the age of 86 years. The mother of our subjeet was of German descent, her an- eestors having come to America several gen- erations ago. She was born in Pennsylvania and died in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in ISSI.
Frederick lived on his father's farm in Fill- more county until he was ten years of age.
Six months were spent in the village of Mabel. of the same county, and then, in 1888, he a(- companied his father to Ileron Lake. There he completed his education, which had been be- gun in Fillmore county. During his boyhood days he worked on a farm, clerked in his brother's drug store, and then learned the bar- her's trade. In February. 1895. he engaged in business on his own account, starting a barber shop. which he has ever since condueted. He now has a three-chair shop. Besides this busi- ness he now owns and condnets a billiard and pool hall.
Mr. Cooley is now serving his third term as village recorder. lle is a member of the A. F. & A. M .. having passed the chairs of senior warden and twice as junior warden, and he is now serving his second term as worshipful master. He also holds membership in the Eastern Star, Modern Brotherhood of America and Yeomen lodges.
The marriage of our subject occurred Octo- ber 8, 1895, when he wedded Pauline Miller, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Miller, of Okabena. Four children bave been born to this union. Evaline W .. Frederick A., Wilbur and a baby boy.
JOIN PETERSON (1872) is one of the pio- neer settlers of LaCrosse township, in which precinct he owns a quarter seetion farm. Mr. Peterson is a native of Modum. Norway, and the date of his birth was March 10, 1837. He is the son of Peter Johanson Hugsted and Christie llugsted. both of whom died in their native land.
John Peterson, after securing a common school education. early began to earn his own living. From the age of twelve until he was seventeen he worked in a cobalt factory in his native town, and was then employed four years as a clerk in a grocery store at West- fossen. At the age of twenty-one years he moved to Drammen. Norway, where for the next twelve years he clerked in a grocery store.
In June, 1870, Mr. Peterson came to America, landing in the city of Quebec. He located at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where he resided one year, employed as a shoemaker. From Dodge- ville he went to Green Bay. Wisconsin, where he worked on a railway a few months. and then in a sawmill at Ocounta, Wisconsin, where he was until March I, 1872. In June
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of that year Mr. Peterson arrived in Jackson county and this has ever since been his home. He took as a homestead claim the south half of the southeast quarter of section 20, LaCrosse township, which is still his home. He has since added to his farm by the purchase of an eighty acre tract adjoining.
When he located on his claim there were only a few settlers in the township and Mr. Peterson has seen his township develop from almost a wilderness to the fine farming conn- try it is today. He built a little board shanty. which he covered with sods, and in that he made his home for a number of years. The grasshoppers look five crops in succession and the first few years were indeed hard ones, he having practically nothing when he came. He has prospered and has a fine home and well improved farm. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Heron Lake. For several years he served as treasurer of his school district.
Mr. Peterson was married in Dodge county, Wisconsin, March 1. 1877. to Jane Holgriem. who was born in Norway and came to Ameri- ca when one year old. They have children as follows: Peter Olof and Carl Henrick, of Des Moines. Towa: Clara Soneva, of Albert Lea. Minnesota : Helmer Orville and Reuben, who reside at home.
PETER T. OLSON (1870) has lived in Bel- mont township since he was six years of age. He owns and farme 200 acres of land on see- tion 13 and engages quite extensively in stock raising. Hle is the son of Thore O. Flaigard and Ingebor (Waldon) Flatgard. both past seventy years of age and residents of Bel- mont. They came from Norway in 1870 and less than a year later to Jackson county. where they homesteaded land on seclion 11. Belmont. They have nine children, as follows: Ole Peter, Mary (Mrs. J. F. Ellefson). Andrew, Edward. John, Julius, Ida and Lena (Mrs. Ole Eide). of .Jackson.
Peter T. Olson was born in Norway Novem- her 21, 1861. At the age of five years he came to America with his parents, lived one year in Fillmore county, and then located in Jackson county. Until 1892 Peler resided on his father's homestead, attending school and helping work his father's farm. In the year last named he bought forty acres of his pres- ent farm on svetion 13 and began to improve
it. He was married the next year and moved onto his own farm. Later he bought the other property adjoining. He is treasurer of school district No. 39 and has held the office for eight years. For a period of eleven years he has been a member of the board of township supervisors. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
In the Christiania church on July S. 1893, Mr. Olson was married to Rosa Peterson. a native of Jackson county and a daughter of Ole Peterson, one of the early settlers of Bel- mont. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Olson, namely: Tillie, born June 1. 1894: Ida, born January 31. 1896; Clara, born January 31. 1896: Olga, born February 27. 1899: Lillian. born October 4. 1900; Mabel, born February 10, 1903: Josie, born September 14. 1905: Ruth, born March 16. 1908.
HENRY FRANDRUP (1890) is a Weimer township farmer who lives two miles north of lleron Lake. He is a native of Germany and was born July 2. 1855. He is one of a family of five children. all except himself living in Germany. His parents were Fred and Annie (Lonsmann) Frandrup, both of whom died in the fatherland.
Heury lived in Germany until twenty three years of age. attending school and working on his father's farm. In ISTS he came to the United States and located in Carroll county. lowa, where he farmed rented land until 1890. That year he came to Jackson county, bought bis present farm the southeast quarter of section 7. Weinter, and has ever since made his home there. He is a member of the Catho- lie church.
Mr. Frandrup was married in Bremen, Ger. many. July 15, 1878 just before his departure for America - to Dina Reackr. born November 1. 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Frandrup are the par- out- of five sons and three daughters, named as follows: Barnard. Alouis, Henry, Ferdi nand. Frank. Elizabeth. Annie and Margereth. Another child. Eda. died May 26, 1909. aged twenty-three years.
HENRY VON BEHREN (1892) is one of the progressive and successful farmers of Ewing. ton township, where he has lived for the last seventeen years. lle owns and farms the south half of svetion 2 and owns the northeast
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quarter of section 11, which is farmed by his son. Ilis farm is well improved, he having laid eight car loads of tile and having the place all fenced with hog tight wire.
Mr. von Behren was born in Germany De- cember 11, 1854, the son of Henry and Mary von Behren. His parents came to America in 1879 and died in Woodford county, Illinois. They were the parents of thirteen children, Ilenry being next to the eldlest. Our subject was educated in his native land, attending school for a total of seven and one-half years, and spending his early years with his parents on the farm.
In 1879 Mlr. von Behreu came to America and located in Peoria, Illinois. Ile worked in Peoria for a while and then went to Woodford county, where he worked for his father on the farm one year. During the next year he worked in the coal mines and then spent one year working at odd jobs. He was married in 1882 and then began farming rented land in Woodford county, where he resided until he came to Jackson county in 1892. Two years before coming to the county Mr. von Behren had purchased the south half of section 2, Ewington township. and when he came to re- side he erected buildings and began the im- provement of the farm. At the time he bought there was not a stick of timber on the place-so scarce was it. in fact, that, as Mr. von Behren expresses it, he had to go to Lakefield to get a stick to whip the children with. lle planted the grove and has made all the improvements. He prospered and eight years'ago added to his land possessions by the purchase of another quarter section. When Mr. von Behren came to America he was prac- tically penniless and had to take any kind of work he could to get a start. For several years he experienced many hardships. He was naturalized in Woodford county, Illinois, on the tenth day of October, 1884.
In Woodford county, Illinois, on the ninth day of March, 1882, Mr. von Behren was united in marriage to Mina Mang, who was born in Germany September 20, 1862. They have nine children living, Lena, August, Henry, Mary, Louis and Sophia (twins). Fritz, Laura and Walter. Lena and Charlie have died and two other children died in infancy.
Mr. von Behren has been treasurer of school district No. 91 ever since coming to the county, was township treasurer six years and for five years was on the town board. He and his
family are members of the German Lutheran church of Ewington township. He has stock in the creamery company of Brewtser.
GUSTAV II. MOLKENTIIIN (1887) owns the northeast quarter of section 4, Hunter township. adjoining the village of Lakefield. HIe is of German birth and was born Decem- Ber 7, 1866, the son of John and Ernestina (Schultz) Molkenthin. Our suhjeet's mother died in Germany in 1879, and the next year the rest of the family emigrated to America. The elder Molkenthin died in Jackson in 1904 at the age of 66 years.
Gustav lived with his father in Carroll coun- ty, Towa, seven years, and then accompanied him to Jackson county. Arriving here, his father bought land and hegan farming in Rost township, while Gustav made his home with his grandfather, Ferdinand Seuran, on the farm he now owns. He lived with his grand- father one year and then made his home with his father in Rost six years. He again took up his residence with his grandfather in 1894. The latter died in the fall of 1898 and Gustav fell heir to the farm, which he has since con- ducted.
May 2, 1894, Mr. Molkenthin was married in Hunter township to Amelia Albers, who was born in Blue Island, Illinois, May 19. 1867. She is the daughter of Henry and Annie Al- bers, of Lakefield. They are the parents of four children: Willie, Bertha. Eddie and An- nie. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Lakefield and he has been secretary of the church organization for the last fifteen years. Mr. Molkenthin was a member of the Hunter board of supervisors one year and was township assessor one year.
CHRISTEN JENSEN (1886) is a Des Moines township farmer residing three miles north of Jackson, on section 1. There he owns a finely improved, well tiled farm of 240 acres. On it is one of the finest groves in Jackson county, which Mr. Jensen set out with his own hands, and also a fine apple orchard.
Mr. Jensen is a Dane by birth and first saw the light of day December 8, 1852. ITis par- ents were Jens Larsen and Anna (Peterson) Larsen, both of whom died in their native land. They were the parents of four children,
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of whom three sons, Lars, Christen and Hans, are living.
Up to the time Christen was fourteen years of age he lived at home, attending school. Ile then began making his own living, working out as a farm hand until 1573. That year he came to the United States and until ISSo he resided in MeHeury county, Illinois, working out as a farm hand. Several years before the last named date Mr. Jensen had bought the southwest quarter of section 1, Des Moines township. Jackson county, and in 1886 he came to the county and began the improvement of the land. For several years he and another gentleman lived in a little shack on the land. Then he married, built the house, and has since made his home there, with the exception of two years' residence in Jackson. Later he bought the adjoining eighty.
Mr. Jensen was married in Jackson Novem- ber 26, 1893, to Christina MI. Jensen, a native of Illinois and a daughter of J. P. Jensen. They are the parents of the following named four children: George P .. Anna C., Emma A .. Lillian J. The family are members of the Lutheran church. Hle belongs to the Danish Brotherhood lodge and has served two terms as road overseer.
PERRY L. RUSSELL (1875). of Jackson. was born in a log cabin in Petersburg town- ship September 2. 1575. the eldest of a family of eleven children born to Thomas J. and Emma (Lee) Russell. who still reside in Petersburg. The other children of the family are Lafayette F' .. Richard, Thomas, Carrie. Mand. Retta, Julia, Ruby, George. Myra and Grace.
Perry lived on the home farm in Petersburg township until he was of age. Then he en- gaged in the threshing business, which he fol- lowed about twelve years-four seasons in South Dakota, the rest of the time in Jackson county. Since giving up the threshing busi- ness Mr. Russell has been engaged in farming. writing insurance and other occupations. He owns the northeast quarter of section 20, Mid- dletown township. In the spring of 1909 he filed upon a homestead claim in Fergus coun- ty. Montana. He holds membership in the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen lodges.
STEPHEN REUNELT (1871). Weimer town- ship farmer, owns the cast half of the south-
cast quarter of section 25, upon which place Le has lived since he was one year of age. lle was born in the state of Wisconsin May 31, 170, the son of Stephen and Theresa (Law renee) Robnelt. tlis father died January 6. 1908: his mother lives with another son in Delafield township.
In the spring of 1571 Stephen accompanied his parent- to Jackson county. The father took a homestead claim of eighty acres where the son now lives, and upon that homestead our subject grew to manhood. He was edueat - ed in the district schools and worked for his father until 1899. That year he located at Westbrook, where he conducted a pool and billiard hall one. year. He then returned to the farm, which was given him by his father, and has since been engaged in farming.
Mr. Rehnelt was married in Delafield town- ship May 31. 1899, to Julia Hrdena. a native of Austria. To them have been born the fol- lowing named children: Hilda, born Septem- her 17, 1905: Annie, born May 23, 1907; Lcona. born April 12. 1909. The family are members of the Catholic church of Heron Lake.
ETHAN W. ALLEN (186G) is one of the oldest settlers of Middletown township, having lived in that precinet since he was six years of age. This parents were William and Clarinda (Arm-) Allen, who were born and married in New York state. Afterwards they lived in Wisconsin and Winneshick county. lowa, and came to Jackson county in 1866. The mother died in 1885 and the father in 1890, Ethan is one of a family of eleven children.
To these parents Ethan W. Allen was born in Winneshick county, lowa, January 25. 1860. and in 1866 he accompanied his parents to Jackson county. The head of the family took as a homestead claim the southwest quarter of section 32. Middletown, and upon that farm our subject lived until ISS1. He then sold and bought the southwest quarter of section 28 - part of the farm now owned by the son and upon which Ethan has ever since lived. I'pon the death of his parents he fell heir to the farm, and he has since added to his holdings by the purchase of the northwest quarter of section 33. Mr. Allen has been a member of the township board for nine years and has held the offices of director, treasurer and clerk of school district No. 60 for fifteen years. He is a member of the Methodist church.
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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY.
Mr. Allen was married in Jackson county October 6, 1885, to Miranda Lucas, a native of Emmet county, Iowa, and a daughter of John Litvas. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have a fam- ily of five children: George H., born June 23, 1886; Clyde H. V., born February 14, 1888; Albert E., born May 22, 1890; Grace MI., born August 23, 1893; Lawrence W., born Septem- ber 5, 1897. Another child, Bessie, died of smallpox April 192 1908, aged sixteen months.
MORTON W. SMITH (1878), secretary of the St. John Grain company, is a native of Jackson county, having been born in Weimer township June 21, 1878, the son of John T. and Jennie (Weir) Smith. He was brought up on the farm and attended the graded schools of Ileron Lake. He was graduated from the Waupun (Wisconsin) high school, and in 1901 received his diploma from the university of Wisconsin.
Returning to Heron Lake after his school days, Mr. Smith took a position as bookkeeper in the Bank of Heron Lake. In the fall of the same year he took a like position with B. P. St. John, grain dealer. The next year the St. John Grain company was incorporated, and Mr. Smith continued to serve the new corpor- ation as bookkeeper. In 1905 Mr. Smith was made secretary of the company, a position he still holds. He owns land in Weimer town- ship and residence property in Heron Lake. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic order.
Mr. Smith was married at Heron Lake Feb- rmary 26, 1907, to Ethel D. St. John, daughter of the late W. P. St. John and Minnie E. St. John, still living in Ileron Lake. To this union has been born one child, John Morton Smith, born November 7, 1908.
RUDOLPH KUHNAU (1881), a farmer and land owner of Weimer township, is a native of the county. having been born in Heron Lake township April 5, ISS1, the son of Robert and Alvina (Shoeman) Kuhnan.
Rudolph has spent his entire life in his na- tive county. Ile secured a district school edu- cation in Ileron Lake township and made his home on his parents' farm until his father's death, which occurred in 1897. From that time until he was twenty years of age he worked ont as a farm hand. Then he rented the farm
in Weimer township which he now conducts, and which was then owned by John Dobereiner, and has lived on the farm since. He has other land adjoining, making a farm with a total acreage of 320.
Mr. Kuhnau was married May 23, 1904, to Daisy Winzer, daughter of Charles and ida Winzer, pioneer settlers of Weimer township. Mrs. Kuhnau was born in Weimer township September 21, 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Kuhnau have been born two children: Ida, born April 14, 1905; Theodore, horn July 4, 1907. The family are members of the German Lutheran church and he is treasurer of school district No. 30. Mr. Kuhnau is a member of the fol- following associations: The Jackson County Co- operative company of Lakefield, the Coopera- tive Creamery company of Wilder, the Jackson County Fair association of Jackson, the Ameri- can Chester White Record association. Mr. Kuhnau is a progressive young farmer of his township, and is a booster for the pure breed- ing of live stock, demonstrating his activities along this line by capturing many first and second prizes and diplomas on his entries of Shorthorn cattle, Chester White hogs and Shropshire sheep at fairs in Jackson and ad- joining counties.
P. F. KOEP (1901), Delafield township farm- er, was born in Schlesbeck, Germany, August 16, 1861. the son of Clans and Mary (Paulson) Koep. Ilis father died in Benton county, Iowa, September 12. 1800; his mother still lives in that county.
The family emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1867 and located at Daven- port, lowa. where for two years our subject's father worked in a brick yard. The family home was then made in Benton county, Iowa, and on a farm in that county our subject grew to manhood. There he secured a district school education and there he spent his young- er years working for his father. In 1883 he engaged in farming for himself and was so engaged in Benton county until 1892. From that time until 1901 he engaged in farming in Plymouth county, Iowa.
Mr. Koep came to Jackson county in 1901, bought the northwest quarter of section 22, Delafield township, and has since made his home there. Ile has a nice home and rents a quarter section of land adjoining his own prop- erty. He engages in the raising of hogs and
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rattle extensively, and is rated as one of the -necessful farmers of the neighborhood. Ile has stock in the Farmers Elevator company of Window and is one of the directors of the company. Our subject takes a deep interest in educational matters and has served as clerk of school district No. 121 since the district was organized seven years ago.
Mr. Koep was married in Benton county, lowa. February, 5, 1889, to Minnie Rutz, who was born in Mecklenberg, Germany, May 22, 1873, and came to the United States when four years of age. She is the daughter of John and Johanna (Bartol-) Rutz. Her father lives in Benton county, lowa; her mother is dead. To Mr. and Mrs. Koep have been born the fol- lowing named children: John, born February 19, 1890; Herman, born January 27, 1891; William, born December 2, 1892; Elenora, born March 30, 1895; Frank, born February 13, 1897; Walter, born May 27, 1899; Albert, born April 13, 1901; Ida, born June 17, 1903; Bessie, born August 23, 1907.
MERTON F. JACKMAN (1889) is a farmer and stock raiser of Petersburg township, where he owns a three hundred and twenty acre farm the northeast quarter of seetion 26 and the southeast quarter of section 23. lu addition to his farming operations he is in- terested in several other lines of business. Ile owns stock in, and is a director of, the Farm- cis' Elevator company, has stock in the Jack- son Telephone company and is a member of the board of directors of the Petersburg Creamery company, in which he is also finan- cially interested.
Mr. Jackman was born in Dekalb county, Il- linois, October 22, 1858. His parents, Charles D. and Eunice (Holliday) Jackman, are both drad. llis father was a veteran of the civil war, having served three year: as a member of company 0, 103th. regi- ment of Illinois volunteers. Merton grew to manhood on the farm in Dekalb county and after reaching mature years engaged in farm- ing for himself. In the spring of 1889 he moved to Minnesota and located at Sherburn, Martin county. In November of the same year, he moved to Jackson county and located on what is now known as the A. C. Jack- man farm, in section 21. Petersburg town- ship. In 1891 he moved onto his present place, where he has since resided. Hle have served
ten years as clerk of his township and has also been a member of the school board of the district in which he lives. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the M. W. A.
Mr. Jackman was married November 2, 1881, lo Mi -- Alice E. Fenton. To this union have been born the following children: Charlie F., horn June 26, 1882: Maud A., born Jamary 13. Isst: Clande E., born October 12. 1586; Ruby E., born October 18. 1595. died February 2. 1896: Amy M., horn February 10, 1897: Gol- die R., born November 21, 1898: Bernard, born December 6, 1901: Daisy, born May 1, 1903.
CHRIST LUDVIGSEN (1890), president of the Jackson village council and member of the firm of Ludvigsen Brothers, which invented and manufactures the famous welded steel
center for calk for horseshoes, is a native of Denmark and was born August 20, 1859, the son of George and Agnes (Jorgenson) Ludvig- sen. George Ludvigsen was a blacksmith. Ile came to the United States in 1882 and died at Jackson in 1893 at the age of Gt years, Our subjeet's mother died in 1891 at the age of 64 years.
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