USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 58
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Mr. Mann was elected city treasurer of Worthington in 1892 and was reelected the following year. In 1903 and 1901 he served as a member of the city council, and in 1904 and 1905 he was a member of the school board of independent district No. 5.
Ilis marriage to Millie Montgomery oc- eurred at Worthington on December 4, 1883. Four children have blessed this union, name- ly: Clinton T ... James M., Grace VanEtten and Genevieve Orlina, all of whom are liv- ing at Worthington. Mr. Mann is an ae- tive church worker and has been a mem- her of the Congregational church of Worth- ington since January. 1875.
PHILIP ANTON (185: 1896). Prominent
business and social circles and hold in high esteem by all his neighbors and as- sociates was Philip Anton, who lived in Worthington and the vicinity from 1886 till his death in 1896. He was born at Ger. mantown, Wi -.. August 27. 1854, and was of German descent. Ilis father. Philip Anton. was a native of Grundersblum. Hos- sen-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born April 20, 1826. Ile emigrated to the United States in 1848. His wife, and the mother of Philip Anton of this sketch, was Elizabeth Magdalena (Tarman) Anton.
The Antons moved from Wisconsin to Blackhawk county, lowa, when the late Philip Anton was a child, and in the vi-
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einity of Laporte he was raised and grew to manhood. Until his twenty-third year he was employed on his father's farm, then he moved onto one of his father's places and began farming for himself. In the spring of 1886 he sold out his interests in Jowa and came to Nobles county. He purchased a farm in Worthington township, one and one-half miles south of the village of Worth- ington, and for several years devoted his energies to farming.
In 1890 he took up his residence in Worth- ington and accepted a position with the Farmers' Mercantile Co., and continued with that firm several years, until the firm failed. Ite then accepted a position with the Union Mercantile Co., of which Chas. Salstrom was manager, and continued with that firm until his death, September 15, 1896.
Mr. Anton was married in 1877 to Eliza- beth Pfeil, who survives her husband and lives on the home place south of Worth- ington. To them were born five children : Nellie, who died in infancy; Jennie (Mrs. John Apel), Elk township; Lilly (Mrs. Otto Schmuser), Lake Park. Jowa: Charlie, born Sept. 11, 1886, now engaged in farming the home place: Walter. born September 27. 1888. residing in Seattle, Wash.
Mr. Anton was prominent in church work. He became a member of the Evangelieal Association while living in Towa, and he was one of the founders of the church of that denomination in Worthington.
HARRY R. TRIPP is register of deeds of Nobles county, and resides at the county stat. his home having been at Round Lake prior to his election. ITe was born at Lis- comb. Marshall county, Towa. May 12, 1871. Tlis father. David Tripp. a native of New York, died Angust 14. 1889. His mother. Emily R. (Mayo) Tripp. also a native of New York, is still living. her home being af Round Lake.
Harry spent his boyhood days in the town of his birth, attending the publie schools of Liscomb until 15 years of age. On Angust 2, 1886, he came to Nobles conn- ty for the first time, remained here only until Sept. 22, of the same year, then went back to his old home and almost immediately left for Chieago. There he remained nearly three years, most of the time working for
his father in the drayage business and in a grocery store. During six months of the time he was in Chicago he attended a pri- vate school of telegraphy.
TIe eame to Nobles county to live in Aug- ust, 1889, locating at Round Lake. There. under his brother, E. A. Tripp. he finished learning telegraphy, and until 1892 was em- ployed in the Round Lake depot. In Ang- ust. 1802, he accepted a position as station agent and telegraph operator on the B. C. R. & N. at ITarris, Iowa. In January, 1893. he was transferred to the station at West Bend. Jowa, which he resigned the next month on aceonnt of ill health. Mr. Tripp then returned to Round Lake, where he was engaged in the hay business until July 29, 1897. when he met with an aeeident that resulted in the loss of one of his limbs. As soon as he was able (in the fall of 1897) he took employment as bookkeeper for H. C. Moeller, then engaged in the lum- her, grain and coal business at Round Lake. was with Mr. Moeller until January. 1900. During the summer of that year he engaged in farming. and the next winter elerked in the general merchandise store of Grant & Johnson at Round Lake. From the spring of 1902 till the fall of 1903 he was engaged in farming and other occupations. He then took charge of E. A. Tripp's stock farm in the village of Round Lake, which he conducted one year. He began work in September. 1904. in the general merchandise store of Chas. Nienaber. Round Lake, which position he held two years.
Harry Tripp was nominated by primary election. in September. 1906. on the republi- ean ticket for the office of register of deeds. and was elected at the general election the following November. Besides the office he now holds he has been assessor of Round Lake village and Indian Lake township for several years.
His marriage to Miss Lillie Erskine, dangh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Erskine. pioneer settlers of Nobles county. occurred Janaury 5. 1803. Miss Erskine was born in In- dian Lake township. To Mr. and Mrs. Tripp have been horn four daughters and one son -Gladys. Joy. Marjorie. Erma and Ingh Marvel, all of whom are living.
Mr. Tripp is a member of the Old Fel- lows and A. O. U. W. lodges of Worth- ington.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
HERMAN A. LAIS is one of the pioneer settler- of Willmont town-hip and is one of the precinct's extensive land owners, farmer- and stock raisers. Mr. Laje is a native of Germany. He was born Sept. 1!, 1:46, the younge-t of a family of three children. His father was a linen weaver, Herman Lais by name. who died in Ger- many at the age of 72 year -. Our sub- jeet's mother was Rosa (Schelshorn) Lais. She died in Germany Sept. 2, 1552. aged 42 years.
In his native land Mr. Lais learned the shoemaker's trade, which occupation he fol- lowed several years. He came to America in 1873 and located at St. Charles, Minn., where for six years he worked at his trade. During the month of April, 1879, he came to Adrian. and his home has been in Nobles county ever since. In company with Con- rad B. Keller Mr. Lais opened a shoe store in the little west end village, which was con- ducted under the firm name of Lai- & Kol- ler until the fall of 1886. Upon his arrival to the county, Mr. Lai- took as a home- stead the northeast quarter of section 8, Willmont township, and preempted the north west quarter of the same section, and in 1585 he moved onto the farm. He has sinee acquired other land until today he owns 720 acres. all in a body in Willmont township. He raises stock extensively and breeds Gallo- way cartle.
Mr. Lais was married at St. Charles. Minn .. in June. 1874. to Miss Mary Keller. also a native of Germany. She died at St. Charles in September, 1877. after having borne him two children, of whom one, \- fonso, is living, residing at Templeton. lowa.
The second marriage of Mr. Lais occurred at St. Charles Sept. 7. 1879, when he was wedded to Mrs. Specter, a native of Wis- consin. To them have been born the fol lowing children: Felix. Emil, Edmund. Mar- en-, Gregor. Henry. Joseph and Helena. By her former marriage Mrs. Lais is the mother of two sons, Frank and George Specter. The family are members of the Catholic church of St. Kilian.
For many years Mr. Lais served as chair. man of the board of supervisors of Will- mont township. He has been treasurer of school district 67 since it- organization in 1887.
(. \. BIRD. ca-hier of the First National Bank of Ellsworth, has resided in that vil- lage twelve years, and during that time ha- taken a prominent part in the business af- fair- of the town. lle is a native Minneso- tan, having been born at Fountain, in Fill- more county, July 15, 169, one of a family of ten children, all living.
Our subject's father was John Bird, who was born in Quebec, Canada, but who came to the states when a young man and lo- cated at Joliet. II. Thereafter he resided ir. Iowa. ca-tern Minnesota, and finally in Cherokee county. lowa, where he died about 1888. aged 55 years. The mother of Mr. Bird of this sketch is Ann (MeNally) Bird. who now lives at Marcu-, lowa, and is 70 years of age. She was born in Ireland, but came to America when two years of age.
The family moved from Minnesota Marcus, lowa, when C. V. Bird was live years of age. In that town he secured his publie school education, later taking a course at a business college in Omaha, Neb. Ile taught several terms of school at Maren- and then took a position with the Walter 1. Wood Harvesting Co., at Omaha, with which firm he was connected three years. Hle then returned to Marcus and resumed his pro- tession of teaching, which he followed till 1896. That year he came to Nobles county and took up his residence in Ellsworth. In partnership with a brother, W. G. Bird. he engaged in the saloon business three years. In 1899 he opened a real estate office. which he conducted until September. 1900. At that time the First National Bank was or- ganized and Mr. Bird entered the bank as assistant cashier. Three months later he was made cashier. which position he has since held. The bank has a capital stock of Porter. president : T. M. Williams, vice presi- $25,000 and has the following officers: James dent: C. A. Bird, cashier: E. L. Tschirgi. assistant cashier.
Mr. Bird was married in Ellsworth Jan. 25. 1899, to Miss Brigie Condon, a native of Boston, Mass. and a daughter of John Condon, one of the early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Bird are members of the Catholic church of Ellsworth. He is a member of the M. W. A. and Knights of Columbus lodges, the latter at Sioux Falls.
STEPHEN MUCK (1848-1897) Nobles County's first Settler.
STEPHEN MILLER (1816-188) . Minnesota's War Governor.
HENRY BRAYTON :1832-1906 A Pioneer of 1869.
WILLIAM DWYER First Settler of Lorain Township.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
HENRY BRAYTON (1832-1906) belonged preeminently to that class of sturdy pio- Heers who are fast passing to the great be- yond and who are leaving us such a rich heritage in the memory of their unselfish lives. No one of the earlier settlers of Nobles county was held in higher esteem than was he. When he took up his resi- dence on the bank of Indian lake on Sept. 29. 1869, there were very few white people living in the county and what few there were lived in a community on Graham lakes. Camped all around his place on the lake were Indians, who made their living by trapping; in order to secure lumber for his house it was necessary to haul the lumber from Mankato; Mr -. Brayton was the only white woman within a radius of many miles; for a time the family was cut off entirely from associates. We of this day can hardly imagine the conditions as they existed during the period of very carly set- tlement of Nobles county. Then 2 trec- le>>, unimproved. trackless prairie, almost minhabited; now a rich, fertile country in- habited by thousands of thrifty inhabitants, with towns, villages, churches, school houses, and farm houses everywhere. Surely the change wrought in less than forty years has been marvelous! It is of the life of one of the men who brought these condi- tions about that we are permitted to write, in a space all too brief to do justice to his memory.
Henry Brayton was born in Washington county. New York. March 6. 1832, and his early youth was spent among the pioneers of western New York, in Erie county, near Ruffalo. HIP was destined to spend most of his early life as a pioneer, and in 1853 he moved to Delaware county. Iowa, with the first settlement of that community. When he arrived there there was not a mile of railroad nearer than Rockford, III. In that early day he established a boot, shoe and harness shop at Delhi, and in that frontier village he lived for about fifteen years. From that point he enlisted in 1861 as regimental musician under Col. Peters, and served until discharged on account of sick- nous, In ASGS he again determined to push ont into the frontier, and located near flum- bolt, Kansas. There he bought a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. But the
agne attacked the family and he was ob- liged to leave the country.
In a search for a healthful country he came to Spirit Lake, lowa, making the trip by team. There he learned of the new country lying to the north, just over the line in Minnesota, where a few people had been and taken claims. About the middle of May, 1869, he drove up to Indian lake, liked the looks of the country, and decided to make his future home there. On Sept. 29, 1869. he filed a soldier's claim to land on the west shore of Indian lake-land which was his home for thirty-seven years, and where his widow still resides. Hauling Inmber from Mankato, he built a frame house, one of, if not the, first frame houses erceted in Nobles county. When the county was organized in the fall of 1870 he took a prominent part in the work, and took his place as one of the prominent men of the new county. He was elected to the office of county treasurer in the fall of 187] and served one term when the county seat was in Graham Lakes township. lle helped to organize Indian Lake township and for many years was township treasurer. After the pioneer days he did not take a very active part in politics, but devoted his energies to the improvement of his home. le resided on his farm on Indian lake until his death, which occurred April 15, 1906.
Mr. Brayton was married at Chicago, Ill., Sept. 28, 1865, to Miss Celestia A. Clough, of Concord, N. H., where she was born and raised. the date of her birth being July 26, 1832. Miss Clough belonged to one of the prominent New England families and re- ceived a good education. She was a talented singer, and for one year was engaged in singing in the Presbyterian church of Con- cord, of which Dr. Theo. Parker was the pastor. For these services she received a salary of $1,500 a year. Occasionally Henry Ward Boccher exchanged pulpits with Dr. Parker. and Mrs. Brayton knew that rmin- ent divine personally. She as also inti- mately acquainted with Harriet Beecher Stowe, that lady boarding at the Clough home while she was engaged in writing that great American novel. "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
To Mr. and Mrs. Brayton were born three children-Matt Brayton, who lives on the home place, and a sketch of whose life
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appears elsewhere in this volume; Luna, who died when one year of age; and Bert Clough Brayton, who died June 1, 1907. Bert Brayton was born and raised in No- bles county and was held in high esteem by all his associates. He was a natural musician, being master of the violin, man- uchin and guitar. He was the orgamzer of a band of twenty pieces and was its leader.
JOIN S.ANON, a retired farmer of Worth- myton, is one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He was born in Sweden November IS, I>45, the son of John and Christine Saxon. The family came to America in Is52 and located at Moline, Ill. Two years later they moved to Fulton, Ill., and there the next year both parents died.
Our subjeet continued to live in Fulton until 1864, when he moved to Winona, Minn. He entered the union army in February, 1864, and served until the elose of the war, most of his service being in North Carolina. Near Winona he lived practically all the time from the close of the war until his arrival in Nobles county early in 1872, working on a farm.
From St. James he came to Worthington by stage, and on February 7, 1872, filed a homestead claim to the southwest quarter of section 30, Indian Lake township. He came with his brother, Charles Saxon, Jerry Haines and a Mr. Perkins. All four took claims, but the two last named abandoned them and soon moved away. On his In- dian Lake homestead Mr. Saxon lived, en- gaged in farming, until May, 1907, when he rented the farm to his nephew, Wallace Saxon. and moved to Worthington, since which time he has lived a life of retire- ment. During the year 1908 he erected a home in the city.
Mr. Saxon was married August 13, 1880, to Miss Martha Johnson in Worthington. She, also, is a native of Sweden. She came to the United States with her father. Louis Johnson, in the fall of 1878. Her father took a homestead claim on section 20, In- dian Lake township, and still resides there with his wife. Both are 84 years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Saxon have been born five children : Unda (Mrs. Andrew Christian- son). of Denver, Colorado; George, of Worth- ington; Violet, Ethiel and Earl.
For several years Mr. Saxon served as di- rector of the school district in which he lived in Indian Lake township and was road overseer for a number of years. For three years Mr. Saxon was postmaster of the Saxon postoffice, situated on his farm. It was discontinued upon the advent of rural free delivery.
WILLIAM E. BLOOM, of Worthington, ranks among the carly settlers of Nobles county, having resided here permanently since 1873. lle is a native of Green county, Wis., where he was born Oct. 19, 1860, the son of Fred and Mary Ann (Robey) Bloom. llis mother died in ISG8, and his father is now in the mercantile business at Woodstock, Minn.
Fred Bloom, our subject's father, was one of the prominent citizens of the county in the early days. He was a native of Swit- zerland, but came to America when twelve years of age, and went from New York to Milwaukee, Wis., by way of the Erie eanal and the great lakes. Ile settled in Rock county, Wis., but remained there only a few years, and then went to Green county, where he was married. In 1873 he came to Nobles county and took as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 32, Seward township, where he resided many years. lle look an active part in politics, and in 1878 was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, later being chosen chairman of the board. lle served an unexpired term as superintendent of schools, receiving the appointment in 1882.
William E. Bloom lived on his father's farm in Seward sixteen years, and then moved lo Worthington, where he has sinee resided. During nearly all of this time he has been engaged in the house moving bus- iness, and has built up a merative business, his work calling him to all parts of south- western Minnesota. Mr. Bloom is a mem- her of Fraternity lodge No. 101, A. F. & A. M .. and during the years 1906 and 1907 was Worshipful Master.
On July 24, 188), Mr. Bloom was mar- ried at Worthington to Estellah Parshall, daughter of James Parshall, an early sel- tler of Seward township. To them have been born five children: Ethel, born Aug. 21, 1882; George, born June 14, 1885; Harry
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
born Feb. 1, 1887; William, born Jan. lo, 1894; Barbara Catherine, born Oct. 2, 1898.
ASMUS NAZARENU'S, Elk township farmer, was born in Schleswig-holstein, Ger- many, Jan. 8, 1857. His father was Peter Nazarenus, who died in Koppeln, Germany, in August, 1901, aged 68 years. Hlis mother was Christina (Schnock) Nazarenus, who ched in 1869, aged 34 years.
In his native country Mr. Nazarenus re- sided until 25 years of age and engaged in farm work. lle came to the new world, ar- riving in New York city Feb. 22, 1882, and located at Luzerne, Benton county, Iowa. There for two and one-half years he worked for wages at farm work, and then moved to Council Bluffs, lowa. Near that city be re- sided two and one-half years, for a short time working for wages, the rest of the time farming on shares. Ile moved to Plymouth county and there farmed three years. In 1889 Mr. Nazarenus came to Nobles county and bought the cast half of the northeast quarter of section 13, Elk township, and engaged in farming. Three years after his arrival he purchased the other eighty acres of the quarter, and in 1896 he purchased the northeast quarter of section 24, making a half section in one body he now owns. Until February, 1903, he lived on the farm; then he moved to Worthington, where he re- sided one and a half years. He then erected his buildings on his property on section 24, and has since been engaged in farming it.
Mr. Nazarenus was married in Benton county, lowa, Sept. 18, 1883, to Emma Jam- mar, who was born in Mecklenberg, Ger- many, and who came to the I'nited States in January, 1883. They are the parents of the following children: Johannes, born June 13, 1885, now farming in Elk township; Annie, born June 5, 1887, now of Water- town, S. D .; Alfred, born April 3, 1896, now residing at home. Mr. and Mrs. Nazarenus ale members of the German Lutheran church of Brewster.
ROBERT J. JJONES, president of the State Bank of Reading, was one of the first set- tlers of that little village and erected the first business house in the town. lle has taken an active part in the affairs of the
village, and is interested in several busi- ness enterprises besides his bauking bus- iness.
Mr. Jones was born in lowa county, Wis., Sept. 18, 1809. llis father was David J. Jones, a native of Wales, who died in 1889. llis mother, Mary J. (Jones) Jones, was born in Wisconsin and is still living. The family moved to a farm near Sibley, lowa, in 1873, and there the subject of this biog raphy was raised. He secured an educa- tion in the country schools of Osceola county and in llull (lowa) academy, where he took a two-year business course. In I888 the family moved to Ocheyedan, lowa, where Mr. Jones, Sr., engaged in the mercantile bus- iness. Robert managed the store until 1890.
For two years thereafter he taught a country school, and in 1892 took employment with the Porter Lumber company, of Ochey- edan, with which firm he continued until 1898, being bookkeeper and assistant cash- ier. Ile next entered the newspaper business, managing the Ocheyedan Press until the fall of 1899, when he disposed of his in- terest and moved to Nobles county. During his residence in Ocheyedan he served three years as village clerk and two years as assessor. Upon his arrival in Nobles county he went at once to the site selected for the town of Reading, on the new railroad, creeted the first building in the village, and engaged in the hardware and lumber busi- ness. Hle remained in the lumber business three years and ran the hardware store until 1906. Ile was one of the organizers of the State Bank of Reading, which opened its doors August 2, 1902, was elected president at that time, and still holds the office. Hle took the active management of the bank in the fall of 1904. Ile was appointed post- master in February, 1904, and served three years. He is secretary and general manager of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Co., a cor- portion with a paid-up capital of $9,000.
Besides his business interests, Mr. Jones has time to devote to public and social matters, Ile has been town clerk of Sum- mit Lake township since 1901, and for two years was a director of school district No. 7. Ile is a member of the Masonic lodge of Worthington, the M. W. A. and Yeomen of Reading, and of the Reading Presbyterian church.
Mr. Jones was married at Ocheyedan,
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lowa. April 21, 1897, to Jean A. Woodworth, daughter of C. Woodworth, of that city. They are the parents of two children, a daughter, Mary Gladys, and an infant son.
HENRY SCHINKEL. One of the well known Dewald township farmers is Henry Schinkel, whose place is the southeast gnar- ter of section 11. He owns in addition 260 aeres in section 12 and 527 acres in Pope county, Minn., which latter ho purchased in 1992.
Mr. Schinkel was born in Grundy county, lowa. Jan. 3. IST1. His father. Andrew Schinkel. was born in Germany Sept. 4. 1821. The elder Schinkel came to the United States when 21 years of age, lived here 6 years and then returned to his native coun- try. where he resided sixteen years. Com- ing to America again in 1869, he made this country his home until his death, which occurred ai Worthington March 14. 1896. The mother of our subjeet was Mary ( Klie) Schinkel. She was born in Germany Ort. 2. 1828, and died in Grundy county, lowa, Ang. 6. 1880.
U'ntil he was twenty years of age Henry Schinkel lived on his father's farm in Grin- dy county, lowa. securing a common school education and assisting in farm work. In 1891 he came with his father to Nobles county and for a short time resided on the farm in Dewald township. When he became of age the next year he went to Colorado Springs, Colo .. and there he was employed in mining and other occupations for two years. Returning to Nobles county, hr took charge of his father's farm and managed that for six years. After his father's death in 1896 he purchased the in- terests of the other heir- in the home farm, and latter purchased the other property which he now owns. For a few years he turned the management of the farm over to a renter, and for about one year of this time resided in Pope county. Minn., looking after his business interests there. He again took possession of his Dewald township farm in 1903, and that has since been his home.
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