USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 50
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of the same section-making his prosent farm of 320 acres. In addition to his grain farming, Mr. Cruit engages extensively in stock raising.
In the city of New York on Feb. 28, 1876, Mr. Cruit was united in marriage to Mary Welsh, a native of Kilkenny county, Ireland. She died in 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Cruit were born the following named children: John (deceased), Sarah (Mrs. Henry Martin), of Minneapolis; Mike, of Minneapolis; Henry, Thomas, Jerry and Peter, living at home.
Mr. Cruit is a member of the Catholic church of Wilmont. He was a supervisor of Bloom township for six years, was road overseer five years, and a director of school district No. 71 for six years.
FRANK T. GRAVES (1854-1907). One who played an important part in the affairs of the community in which he lived and who was held in high esteem by his neighbors was Frank T. Graves, who was a resident of Nobles county from 1876 until the time of his death in 1907.
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Mr. Graves was born in Kinderhook. N. Y., .July 23, 1854, and was the son of Luther and Lucy Graves. Both his parents died in Ohio, the former in 1862 and the latter three years later. The family had moved from New York state to Canfield, Ohio. when Frank was a baby. After the death of his parents. when twelve years of age, he went to Sunderland, Mass., and on a farm near that city he was reared by a friend of the family. In 1876 he left his home in the east and came to Nobles county in company with his brother, Fred, and a Mr. Hubbard. During the first year of his residence here he worked on the farm of R. B. Ploits in Elk township. and thereafter for a short time for Bedford & Miller. He then bought a relinquishment to a homestead claim to the northeast quarter of seetion 26. Ran- son township. and thereafter until the time of his death engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Graves died March 14, 1907.
In matters political Mr. Graves took an active part He served a number of terms on the Ransom township board and was assessor of the township for several years. Ife was elected county commissioner on the republican ticket from the fourth dis- trict in 1890 and served a four year term.
It was during his incumbeney that the pres- ent county court house was erected. IIe served as a director of school district No. 19, Ransom township, for many years. He was a member of the Ransom Methodist church.
Mr. Graves was married April 7, 1881, to Miss Carrie Dow, a native of Iowa City, Iowa, and a daughter of Geo. W. Dow, of Worthington. To them were born the fol- lowing children: Roy, who died in infancy; Bertha (Mrs. I. A. Milton), of Ransom; Anna L. and Arthur, who reside at home.
THOMAS G. COWIN (1842-1900). Among the pioneer settlers of Little Rock township and Nobles county was Thomas G. Cowin. who drove through with a covered wagon from Milwaukee, Wis., in 1872 and home. steaded in Little Rock township.
Mr. Cowin was born on the Isle of Man Sept. IS, 1842, and came to the United States in 1867. He was a miner by occupa- tion and from the date of his arrival in America until he came to Nobles county he followed that occupation, working in the mines of Superior. Wis .. in Colorado and in California. Upon his arrival in Nobles county he took as a homestead the cast half of the northeast quarter of section 18, se- euring his final papers .July 29, 1884. Upon this he built a sod shanty, in which he lived several years, and engaged in farming until his death. which occurred Sept. II, 1900. On Aug. 6. 1878, Mr. Cowin purchased the west half of the northeast quarter of section IS. Little Rock township.
Mr. Cowin's first naturalization papers were taken out at Central City, Colo .. April 1. 1872. His second papers were issued at Worthington. Minn., in 1878. at the March form of court. Henry Nelson and H. K. Neynes were witnesses to the last named papers.
Mr. Cowin was married in Milwaukee. Wis .. on Sept. 4. 1873. to Miss Annie Mav, who was born Feb. 21. 1852, and who died July 25, 1895. To them were born the following children : Annie May, horn July 29, 1874. died Oct. 15. 1892; Jessie Mandena (Mrs. Joseph II. Skillicorn). of Wadena, Minn .. born Nov. 18, 1875; Joseph T .. of Little Rock township. horn Der. 8. 1878; Lilly Kaye Elizabeth, of Little Rock township. born Dec. 26, 1882; Everett Garett. born July 12, 1892.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Joseph T. Cowin, who farms the original homestead, was born on the farm where he has spent his entire life on Dec. S, 1878. He worked for his father until the latter's death in 1900, and since that date has en- gaged in farming for himself. He is unmar- ried. During the last three years he has held the office of clerk of school district No. 13, the school in which he received his education. ITe is secretary of the Little Rock Township Farmers' Telephone line.
EDWARD COOPER, one of the most ex- tensive stockmen of Nobles county, resides at Adrian, which town has been his home since 1877. Mr. Cooper is of English birth, having been born in the town of Freethought, in the county of Norfolk, on October 13, 1850, the son of George and Martha (Male) Cooper.
George Cooper in his native land was a live stock man and shepherd. The family came to the United States in 1856 and set- tled in Orleans county, New York. There the elder Cooper became an extensive breeder and feeder of stock and became the posses- sor of several hundred acres of land. He died there in 1904 at the age of 87 years. Ifis wife died about 1898.
Coming to America with his parents at the age of six years, Edward Cooper lived on a farm in Orleans county until twenty- three years of age. Ile received a common school education there and an academic edu- cation at Mendina, N. Y. Leaving home in 1873, he went to Colo, Story county, Iowa, and engaged in the lumber and stock busi- ness. Four and one-half years later he sold out and moved to the new town of Adrian.
Upon his arrival in Adrian Mr. Cooper engaged in the stock business, which he has ever since followed. He is one of the largest horse, cattle and hog buyers and shippers in southwestern Minnesota. Several years after his arrival to Adrian he bought the north- east quarter of section 24, Westside town- ship, which is now within the corporate limits of the village. Upon that land he has built a beautiful home, which occupies one of the most prominent and picturesque sites in the city. The outside surroundings are beautiful and the improvements of the house are all modern. Mr. Cooper with his own
hands planted the shade trees, shrubbery and evergreens which adorn the grounds.
In addition to the home place Mr. Cooper owns a quarter section of land in Willmont township and an 880-acre traet near Glen- wood, Minn., which is considered the finest stock and grain farm in the state. In part- nership with his son, Lee, he also owns 800 acres of land in Sergeant county, S. D., and 120 acres in Westside township.
Mr. Cooper was married at Cambridge, Story county, Iowa, January 1, 1880, to Olive Chandler, who was born in that county May 9, 1859. Ifer parents, Sereno and Laura (Tillotson) Chandler, both deceased, were natives of Maine. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have been born eight children, all of whom are living. They are Grace M., wife of Dr. Charles MeMann; Maude O., Lee E., Clayton C., lawyer of Mahnomen, Minn .; Edgar, Ruth L., Paul W. and Florence E.
During the period of his residence in Adrian Mr. Cooper has served several terms on the village council and on the school board. Ile is a member of the Masonic, Workmen and Woodmen orders.
AGRO A. ABBOTT, of Indian Lake lown- ship, is one of the pioneer setllers of the county, and has had a continuous residence here for thirty-seven years. During all of that time his home has been on the north- east quarter of section 28, Indian Lake, which land he took as a homestead in 1870.
The Abbotts are of colonial stock and came from England in 1634, settling in Massachu- setts, where the home was until 1773. In that year the great grandfather of the Mr. Abbott of this sketch removed to Vermont and settled in Stockbridge on land which is known to this day as the "old Abbott ranch." a traet of land containing about six hundred acres.
A. A. Abholt was born in Stockbridge. Vt., January 25, 1834. Ilis father was Justin Abbott, born in 1807; his mother was Sarah A. (Gibbs) Abbott. born in Bethel, Vt., in 1816. His boyhood days were spent in the state of his birth, and there, at Royalton. he was married in 1855 to Ellen A. Green. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are the parents of four children, all of whom are living and have families. From 1862 to 1865 Mr. Abbott served in the war of the rebellion.
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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY.
Three years after his discharge from the army he decided to come west, and in 1868 he located in Iowa. Two years later he came to Nobles county, which had not yet Leen organized, and took a homestead claim in Indian Lake township. The next year (1871) he moved up to his claim with his family, and that has been his home ever since. There was then not a town in the county, nor had the railroad bren completed this far. He hauled his lumber for the house from Windom, a town then just com- ing into existence. Mr. Abbott at once took part in the affairs of the community and be- came one of the prominent citizens of Indian Lake township. Ile assisted in the organiza- tion of the township and for many years was an officer thereof. He has the honor of having served as a member of the first grand jury drawn in the county-that of 1872.
Mr. Abbott now has one of the finest im- proved farms in the township. lle raises blooded stock, making a specialty of Aber- deen Angus cattle, Poland China swine and White Wyandotte chickens.
HORACE J. LEDLOW, proprietor of the j famous Ludlow fruit farm, known as Oka - bena Orchards, on the south shore of Oka- bena lake, is one of the early day settlers of Nobles county, having resided here per- manently since 1875. The farm upon which he resides is within the city limits of the village of Worthington and was the first land farmel in the vicinity. The claim was taken by G. J. Hoffman before Wor. hington was founded and before the railroad had penetrated Nobles county. The orchard which has since become famous all over south- western Minnesota was started by Mr. Hoil- man from seed which was secured from Peter Gideon. of Excelsior, and the noted Okabena apple was started from that seed. Mr. Ludlow now has about 400 trees in his orchard, and raises every kind of fruit that the climate will permit. Ile has spent $3, 000 in experimenting with fruit, and today has the finest orchard in the county. He has been a member of the state horticultural society for many years, and is an experience- wl horticulturalist.
Mr. Ludlow was born in New Providence, N. J., Jan. 7, 1843, a descendant of the early Massachusetts settlers. Away back in co-
lonial days his ancestor came from England and cast his lot with the Massachusetts col- ony, and in his honor was named the town of Ludlow. Members of the family drifted into New Jersey, and in that state was born the great grandfather of our subject, Gen. Geo. Ludlow, who played such a prominent part in the Revolutionary war. In that state was also born Aaron MI. Ludlow, our subjeet's father. Ile was born Sept. 25, 1801, and died Sept. 7, 1852. On his mother's side Mr. Ludlow also descends from early Ameri- can settlers, who came originally from Ger- many. His mother, Jane (Osborn) Ludlow, was born in New Jersey Oet. 12, 1810; she died in 1895 and is buried in the Worthing- ton cemetery. In the early days the Os- borns resided in Ohio, but later that branch from which Mr. Ludlow descends became residents of the same part of New Jersey in which the Ludlows resided.
Until he was thirteen years of age Mr. Ludlow lived in New Providence, N. J., at- iending the public schools during the winter months and working during the summers. In 1856 he moved to Pittston, Pa., and during the next two years was employed as a clerk in the general store of Clark & Saxe. Re- turning to his old New Jersey home, he worked on the farm during the summer of 1858. In the fall he went to Jersey City and accepted a position as clerk in the re- tail grocery store of M. R. Case. Ile served as clerk two years, and then took the man- agement of the store, sharing in the protits and clearing over $1,000 during the year he was the manager. In company with Cyrus Lawrence he then purchased the store, the partnership continuing two years. Selling ont in Jersey City, Mr. Ludlow returned to his old home, where he remained two years. In 1865 he went to New York city, and for four years was a traveling salesman in the employ of Kingsbury, Abbott & Co., dealers in hats, his territory being in central Illinois. In 1869 he set out to learn the sewing ma- chine business with an uncle, Ezra Ludlow, of Elizabeth City, N. J. For two years he worked with his uncle at the business, and then for a little over two years he was the manager for the Singer Sewing Machine Co., to which position was attached a good salary.
Mr. Ludlow decided to invest his money in western lands, and while searching for suit-
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able investments came to Worthington, ar- riving there May 20, 1875. He invested in some of the cheap lands then to be found in Nobles county, and decided to make his permanent home here. In September, 1875, he purchased the hardware stock of Ilewitt & Martin, and conducted the store twelve years. He then sold to C. St. John Cole, and opened a grocery store in Worthington, which he ran only a short time. In the fall of 1882 he had purchased 87 acres of the old Iloffman homestead on the south shore of the lake, and for two or three years made his home there. In the spring of ISTG he erceted a residence in the village, made his home there, and engaged in the nursery business. In 1895 he moved onto the farm again, and has since resided there. He now owns 208 aeres of land in one body on the lake shore, and during the year 1907 erected one of the finest residences to be found on any Nobles county farm.
Mr. Ludlow was married at Ripon, Wis., April 14, 1873, to Mary E. Barlow, daughter of J. B. Barlow, who was one of the early settlers of Ripon, having come there in 1852 from Delhi, N. Y. Mrs. Ludlow is a native of Hobart, Delaware county, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Ludlow have been born five chil- dren, as follows: Milton, of Worthington; Joseph Burr, of Rushmore; Una, who died when two and one-half years of age; Ilelen, of Worthington; Herbert Dwight, of Worth- ington.
GEORGE JAY. Among the pioneer set- tlers of Nobles county is George Jay, of Ransom township, who took his homestead there in 1872. Mr. Jay was born in Here- fordshire, England, April 20, 185I, the son of Thomas and Sophia (Weager) Jay, bothi de- ceased.
Mr. Jay was raised on his father's farm in England and in his native country he was educated. Ile came to the United States in 1870, his parents coming one year later. He located at Columbus, Ohio, where for two years he was an employe of the street rail- way company. He served as conductor and driver during the greater part of the time, Lut during the last six months was foreman.
Seeing the advertisement of the National Colony company in the National Agricultur- ist, Mr. Jay and his parents decided to join
the colony and trust their fortunes in the new country, the advantages of which were so handsomely pictured. They made the trip from Columbus by team and arrived in Worthington on the 9th or 10th day of May, 1872. On the second day after their arrival the Jays went to look at land in Ransom township. Father and son each se- lected an eighty-acre tract on the southeast quarter of section four and went to Jaekson to make their filings. They returned, broke out about twelve acres of prairie land, and on May 17 commenced planting corn.
During the unhappy times of the seven- ties Mr. Jay endured many hardships, losing several crops during the grasshopper scourge. In order to make a living during these per- ilons times he engaged in trapping, which oc- cupation he followed several years. During the severe blizzard of Jannary, 1873, Mr. Jay had a narrow escape from losing his life in the storm, Becoming lost while out with the oxen, he reached safety only by seizing one of the oxen by the tail and following the sagacious animal, which piloted him to safety. In the early eighties MIr. Jay left the county and spent three years in Dexter, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and running a coal shaft. Except that absence and three years (IS94-1897), which he spent in the village of Rushmore, Mr. Jay has lived on his original homestead ever since liis arrival in IS72.
Mr. Jay was married at Bigelow Nov. 14, 1903, to Miranda Brooks, a native of North Carolina.
NICHOLAS KAUFMAN, proprietor of a Brewster furniture store, came to Nobles connty when one year of age and has been a resident of the county ever since. The father of our subject was John Kaufman, one of the old settlers of the county and a promi- ment man in Brewster. He was born in Schiers, Switzerland, in 1840, learned the trade of cabinet maker in the old country, came to the United States when a young man, and engaged in farming in Ilersey town- ship and mercantile pursuits in Brewster from 1873 until his death in August, 1907. Nicholas Kaufman's mother is Johanna (Len- zen) Kaufman, who was born in Germany, came to the United States when seven years of age, and was married in Carver county, Minn. She is the mother of the following
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
children : Nicholas, Tillman, Margartha and lisbeth.
Nicholas Kaufman was born in Carver county, Minn .. April 14, 1872, and came to Hersey township with his parents when one year old. lle was educated in the Brewster public schools and in the Breck school at Wilder, and made his home on the farm until 1902. In that year he bought his fath- er's store at Brewster, and has since been en- gaged in the furniture and implement busi- ness. Besides his business property he owns eighty acres of land in section 15, Hersey townshp. In 1896 Mr. Kaufman was elected assessor of Hersey townshp and held the office two years. In recent years he held the office of town clerk, giving up the posi- tion in March, 1907.
Mr. Kaufman was married June 12, 1906, to lda L. Kasper, and to them have been born one child-Florence R.
THEODORE BOFENKAMP, proprietor of the Ellsworth meat market and dealer in live stock, is one of the pioneer settlers of the village, having made his home there con- tinuously for the last twenty-three years.
Mr. Bofenkamp was born near Burling- ton, Wis., June 17, 1862, the son of Lambert and Anna (Lindermann) Bofenkamp. natives of Germany and Wisconsin, respectively. The father came to America when a young man and died at Belleplaine, Minn .. in 1895, aged 81 years. Mrs. Bofenkamp is living and is now 70 years of age.
When our subject was five years of age the family moved from Wisconsin to Belleplaine. Minn. After a five years' residence there they moved to Kansas and for four years re- sided at Washington, Returning to Belle- plaine they again established themselves in that town, and there our subject was edu- ented and spent most of his younger days.
In ISS5 Theodore Bofenkamp came to the little town of Ellsworth, where he has ever since made his home. For several years he worked at the carpenter trade and helped build many of the principal business houses and residences of the village. He then started a dray line, which he conducted six years. During three years of this time he also served as city marshal. Selling out his dray business, he remained inactive one year, and then in January, 1903, started an oppo-
sition butcher shop in Ellsworth. After run- ning this one year he purchased the shop he is now conducting. lle owns his busi- ness and residence property in the village and 38 acres of land adjoining the town on the north.
Mr. Bofenkamp was married in Carver county, Minn., Jan. 13, 1886, to Miss Therresa Bovy, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of Matthias Bovy, a native of Germany. To them have been born eight children, as fol- lows: Matthias, born Feb. 24. 1889; Rosa, born Dee. 2, 1890; Clara, born Feb. 6, 1893; Katie, born June 17, 1894; Mary, born March 28, 1896; Frank, born Feb. 17, 18OS; Joseph, born March 6, 1900; Theodore, born March 4, 1903. The family are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Bofenkamp belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
HENRY ROLL is a retired business man of Ellsworth, in which village he has had his home twenty years. Ile is a native of Buf- falo, N. Y., and was born June 16, 1862. Ilis father, George Roll, a native of Germany, came to America when sixteen years of age and located in Buffalo, where he lived until his death in January, 1899, at the age of $3 years. His mother, Gertrude (Gorge) Roll, was also a native of Germany. She died April 23, 1899, at the age of 78 years.
Until he was fourteen years of age llenry lived in his native city, and then he moved west and located in Michigan. Early in life he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed many years. From Michigan he went to Chicago, and in 1880 moved to Man- kato, Minn. In that city and in neighbor- ing towns he worked at his trade a number of years. Mr. Roll located in Ellsworth in ISSs, bought a blacksmith shop, and con- ducted it twelve years. lle then sold out and has since lived a retired life. Ile owns 240 acres of farm land in Swift county, Minn., a traet in Duel county, S. D .. and a fine home in the village of Ellsworth.
In Kenosha, Wis., Mr. Roll was married to Mary Lichter, who was born Nov. 3, 1867. in the county in which she was married. Her parents, Peter and Barbara Lichter, were na- tives of Germany, the farmer coming to America at the age of twenty-two years and the latter when a babe of one year. Mr.
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Lichter located in Racine, Wis., where he lived until his marriage March 30, 1858. He then bought a farm, upon which he lived forty years. Disposing of his farm, he moved to Kenosha village, and died there March 10, 1906, at the age of 74 years. Mrs. Lichter is living in Kenosha at the age of 70 years. To Mr. and Mrs. Roll have been born the following named eight children: Lillian, born March 26, 1890; George, born April 9, 1892; Alfred, born March 3, 1894; Florence, born Aug. 27, 1898; Sylvester, born Oct. 5, 1900; Gerald, born Aug. 24, 1902; Mary, born Aug. I, 1905; Leona, born April 15, 1908.
Mr. Roll has served one term as president of the Ellsworth village council and three terms as councilman. Ile is now a member of the board of health. Ile and his wife are members of the Catholic church and he is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.
PETER H. ACKERMAN, of Dewald town- ship, is a fruit and grain farmer. Ilis farm consists of 120 acres in section 2. He has it finely improved and makes a specialty of fruit growing. He has on the place over one hundred apple trees, besides many other kinds of fruit.
Mr. Ackerman was born in Holstein, Ger- many, Oct. 18, 1846, the son of Peter and Telge (Hanson) Ackerman. The mother died when the subject of this sketch was eight years of age; the father passed away in IS83. Peter H. lived in his native country until his 27th year. There he secured an education in the village schools, and after boyhood days worked as a laborer by the month. When 23 years of age he joined the German army and took part in the French-German war, being in active service from the fall of 1869 till the fall of 1871.
In the spring of 1873 Mr. Ackerman came to the United States and located at Clinton, Iowa. For two years he was employed near that city as a farm laborer. He then moved to Grundy county, Iowa, which was his home until 1882. The first two years i Grundy county were spent in working by the month. He then rented land and farm- ed for himself during the remainder of his residence there. In 1880 he purchased a quarter section of land in Hancock county. Iowa, and in 1882 moved to that location.
There he engaged in farming nineteen years. In 1901 he came to Nobles county, bought his present place of 120 acres, and has since made his home there.
Mr. Ackerman was married at Grundy Center, Iowa, Nov. 2, 1877, to Mary Hanno, who is a native of the same place as is her husband. To these parents have been born six children, as follows: Gusta (Mrs. Chas. Davis), Des Moines, Iowa; Emma, a school teacher residing at Wesley, Iowa; Anna (Mrs. Charles Morton), Rushmore; Margaret, Minneapolis; Clara (Mrs. N. Baker), of near Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Harry, residing at home.
Mr. Ackerman is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America lodge of Reading. Dur- ing the last six years he has held the office of treasurer of school district No. 15.
HENRY PFEIL, breeder of Aberdeen An- gus cattle and Poland China hogs, is one of the well known farmers of Bigelow town- ship, where he owns 640 acres of land, most of which lies on the north bank of Ocheyda lake. He devotes his energies almost ex- clusively to the breeding of stock, the greater part of his land being farmed by his sons, Walter and George.
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