USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 59
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Mr. Schinkel was married at Worthingion Nov. 11, 1902, to Lizzie Baker, daughter of Geo. Baker. Mis. Schinkel was born in Chicago. To this union has been born one child Millie born Feb. 11, 190-1.
CASPER BECKER. Larkin township far- mer, has resided in Nobles county twenty- three years. He was born near the city of Pardelborn, in Westfallen, Prussia. Sept. 3, 186], the son of Manuel and Elizabeth (Theala) Becker. Both parents died in their native land, the father Sept. 27, 1877, aged 70 year-, the mother in 1898, aged 68 years.
(asper Becker lived in Germany twenty- four years. He was town raised and when fifteen years of age he started learning the hoemaker's trade, which he followed until the fall of ISS1. He entered the German army Nov. 9. 1881. and served at Kiln. on the Rhine, until his discharge Sept. 21, 1884.
The following spring Mr. Becker sailed for America, arriving in New York on May 1, with two companions. Frank Wipperman and A. Becker. Ile came west direet and ar- rived in the little village of Adrian on May 5. During the first two months after his arrival he worked at odd jobs for his board, and then put in two weeks working on the railroad. He then worked for Mr. Nyons in Little Rock township for three months and thereby earned $75. After six works spent with a. threshing crew, he secured steady employment with Joseph Mul- roy, in Lismore township, and worked on wir farm one year.
This brings him up to the date of his marriage, which occurred at Adrian on Nov. 27. 1886, when he wedded France Goke, who was born in Germany in 186) and who came to the United States in May, 1886. To them have been born the following children: Mary Katie, born Oct. 7. 1887: John, born Aug. 29, 1889: Elizabeth Katie, born Dee. 23, 1890; Frances, born Nov. 23, 1891; Frank, born March, 1894, died Sop- tomber. 1894; John Casper. born Jan. 6, 1896: Lizzie, born Sept. 30. 1898.
After his marriage Mr. Becker took em- ployment on the railroad, and was a section man from 1886 to 1890. He then rented lana on section 18. Larkin township. which he farmed five years. The next eight years he farmed rented land on section 20. of the same township. lle then moved onto his present farm, the southeast quarter of sec- tion 16, Larkin, and has since been engaged in farming it. He had bought eighty acres of his farm in 1891; the other eighty in 1900. Ile erected the buildings when he moved on in 1903.
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Mr. Becker is a member of the Catholic church of St. Kilian and of St. Joseph's society of Adrian. lle has had lots of sick- ness and has seen many hard times during his residence in Nobles county, but he has weathered all the storms of adversity and is now in prosperous circumstances.
THOMAS LARKIN owns a 200-acre farm in Grand Prairie township, a short distance east of Ellsworth. upon which he has lived continuon-ly twenty-eight years. lle is a native of county Galway. Ireland, and was børn Nov. 28. 1848. His parents were John and Ellen (Ryan) Larkin, both of whom died in Illinois, the father in 1874, at the age of 58 years, the mother in 1889. aged 65 years.
Thomas Larkin arrived in the United States March 25, 1855, and for many years lived near Streator, Ill. That was his home until 1880. with the exception of four years. two of which were spent in Texas and two in Missouri. He came to Nobles county in September. 1880, and bought the farm on which he now lives. The place was then unimproved: today he has an elegant home and a finely improved farm.
The marriage of Mr. Larkin occurred in Lasalle county. Ill. He was married Feb. 15. 1882, to Mary Ann Rohan, who was born in Lasalle county in 1852. To them have been born four children: John. born June 4, 1844: Charlie, born July 10. 1890; Winnie, born May 3, 1886: Annie. born Ang. 3. 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Larkin are members of the Catholic church.
FRED SCHAHTZ is one of the successful farmers of Willmont township. Ilis farm consists of 240 acres of land on sections 28 and 29. upon which he has lived for more than a quarter of a century. He is a Ger- man by birth, having been born in Cologne Sept. 14, 1852. Hi- father, Peter Schmitz. was born in 1812 and died in Germany Nov. 3. 1880. flis mother, Agnes (Paas) Schmitz. was born in 1820 and died in September, 1902.
During the first thirty years of his life Fred Schmitz lived on his father's farm in Germany. Excluded from this should be
the years 1872-75. when he was with the Cerman army stationed at Posen. As a result of the advertising of the Catholic Colony company. which settled western No- bles county, Mr. Schmitz decided to leave his native country and seek a home in Nobles county, Minnesota, about which the advertis- ing told in such glowing terms. It was on the 24th day of July. 1882. that Mr. Schmitz landed in New York and five days later when he arrived in Adrian. He at once bought the southwest quarter of section 28, Willmont township .- the homestead of Dan- iel Fritz-paying for that and two yoke of oxen the sum of $450. Upon that land he builded his home, and there he has resided over since. le added to his real estate holdings by the purchase of the south half of the southeast quarter of section 29 in 1890.
lu the business and political life of the community in which he lives Mr. Schmitz ha- always taken an important part. He is clerk of school district No. 66, and has held the office fifteen years. For seven or eight years he served as a member of the Willnont board of supervisors. In company with Emil Graf and Roman Hartman, Mr. Schmitz some twelve years ago organized the Willmont Fire Insurance company. one of the strong financial concerns of Nobles county. Mr. Schmitz has held the office of director of the company ever since it was organized. The company does practically all of the fire insurance business in seventeen townships in Nobles. Rock and Murray com- ties.
Mr. Schmitz was married in Adrian Jan. il, 1886. to Mary Studeny, born in Min- neapolis Nov. 1. 1868. She is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Studeny. Iler father died in 1902. her mother in 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz have been born the following children. all of whom live at home: Fred W. born Ang. 17, ISSS: Peter Joseph. born May 1, 1890: Josephine Maria. born April 17. 1892; Lizzie Kolp. born Dee. 30. 1894: William John. born Inly 9. 1897: Joseph Peter, born August 9. 1900: Mary Theresia. born July 25. 1903; Lena Maria. born Iee. 1. 1905: John. born May 1. 1908. The family are members of the Catholic church of St. Kilian.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
OLOF G. GRUNDSTEN, of Worthington, Is one of the pioneer settlers of the county, having arrived here in the spring of 1872, and having ever since made his home in Worthington.
Mr. Grund-ten was born in Offerdal, Jemt- land lan, Sweden. March 9, 1537, and lived in his native land until 33 years of age. lle received his education in his native coun- try, and after growing to manhood learned the trade of painter, which he followed many years. lle was married June 9, 1861, 10 Miss Sophia C. Larson. To them were born two children, both of whom died. Nels died at the age eight months, and Imma Louisa when six years, nine months and one day old, on May 12, 1878.
In 1870 Mr. Grundsten came to the United State- and located at Waukon, Allamakee county, lowa, where for two years he worked at his trade. Many settlers of Allamakce county had come, and were coming, to the new country of Nobles county, and the sub- jeet of this sketch decided to make his future home in the land of promise. He arrived in Worthington on May 2, 1872, com- ing on the second passenger train that ran into Worthington in the spring of 1872. In the frontier town he worked at his trade for several years. In Isst he organized the Swedish Mercantile company (later reor- ganized as the Hub Mercantile company), one of the best known mercantile firms of the city, and for about seventeen years was its president. lle still owns stock in the company. For several years he was grain buyer and manager for the same company's elevator. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank, serving as trus- tee for two years, and now holds the office of vice president, and has been identified with other business enterprises in Worth- ington. Since 1903 he has not participated actively in business, and lives a retired life. He owns lo0 acres of land in Indian Lake township, which he preempted in 1873, and a fine re-ilence in the city, where he and his wife reside.
Mr. Grundsten served the city in an of- ficial capacity many years, He was a mem- ber of the board of trustees in 1882, 1883, 1896 and 1897, and was assessor from Isst to 1588, inclusive, and in 1892. He is a unmber of the Masonic and the A. O. L'. W. lodges.
HUGH MITCHELL. One of the pioneers of Nobles county and of Bigelow township i, Hugh Mitchell, who came with the colo- nists of 1572 and who has been engaged in farming, ever since. Ile was born in the state of New York Jan. 20, 1849, the son of John and Sarah (Voorhees) Mitchell, both natives of New York state. In his native stato Mr. Mitchell resided until he came to Noble- county in the spring of 1872. Ile homesteaded the northeast quarter of see- tion 18, Bigelow township, and on that farm made his home until March. 1908, when he rented the farm to his son-in-law. Victor Gustafson, and moved onto a forty acre tract on scetion G.
Mr. Mitchell was married in Bigelow Dee. 28. 1883. to Miss Dora Mills, a native of New York state and a daughter of E. S. Mills, at one time county auditor of No- bles county and a man prominent in the affairs of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have been born the following child- reu: Mary (Mrs. Victor Gustafson), born April 20, 1889; John Edward, born Sept. 20, 1×85.
Mr. Mitchell and his wife are members of the Methodist church of Bigelow and he is a member of the M. W. A. lodge. For sev- (ral years he served on the school board of district No. 80.
DAVID HERLEIN is one of the big farm- ers of Nobles county, he being the owner of the whole of section 7, Worthington town- ship. He has been a resident of the county for the last twenty years. Burreau county, lil .. is the place of his nativity, and July 22, 1861, was the date of his birth. lle is the son of Peter Herlein and Sabina (Sehu- ecket) Ilerlein. His father was a native of Germany and died in January, 1893. His mother resiles in Burrean county. 111.
The elder Herlein was a farmer and David grew to manhood on his father's place in Illinois. There he secured a common school education and resided until he was 26 years of age. In IS86 Peter Herlein had come to Nobles county and purchased section 7. Worthing'on township, for which he paid $10.25 per acre-land which is today easily worth $60 per arre. In March. 1888, David came to Noble- county, located on the lan.l, and has since that date been engaged in its
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
cultivation, he being now the owner of the traet. Sinee locating here he has purchased a half section of land in Wadena eounty and a quarter section near Iliuekley, both of which he still owns. He devotes his energies largely to the raising of stock and has some of the finest herds in the county. Mr. llerlein has held a sehool office for many years past. For several years he was di- rector of the district in which he lives, and for the last four years he has held the office of treasurer.
Mr. Herlein was married at Iowa City, Jowa, July 2, 1896, to Emma Erhart, to whom have been born the following children, all of whom are living at home: Emma, Jolin and Edna.
Besides being rated as one of the suc- cessful farmers of Nobles county, Mr. Her- lein has gained notoriety in another way. He is one of the best rifle shots in the United States, and is the possessor of over a dozen gold medals secured in tourna-
ments held by the Upper Mississippi Schut- zen Bund. In 1886 he won the championship prize given by the association, winning over 250 contestants representing the states of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Min- nesota, lowa and Ohio. At that shoot he made a score of 219 out of a possible 250, and the score has never been beaten, al- though the targets now in use are larger, having three-fourths inch rings instead of one-half inch. Had the target been the size of those now in use his score would have been 232. MIr. llerlein joined the associa- tion when nineteen years of age, and at the first shoot after becoming a member of the team he took first prize. He has at- tended nearly every shoot since he has be- come a member of the organization and his medals cover a period from 1880 to date.
HENRY KUNZE, of Elk township, has resided in the county sixteen years. Ile is a native of Germany and was born June 2, IS50, the son of llenry Kunze and Mary Kunze. His father died in Crawford county, lowa, in 1887; his mother died in Germany in 1872.
Mr. Kunze lived in Germany until 20 years of age, living with his parents on a farm. He came to America in 1870 with a sister and located in Jackson county, Iowa.
For a few years he worked at farm work for wages, then rented a farm and for six or seven years was in business for himself. fle moved to Crawford county, lowa, in 1882, bought an eighty acre farm, and dur- ing the next ten years was engaged in the care of that. Mr. Kunze came to Nobles county in 1892 and purchased the southwest quarter of section 12, Elk township, which place has since been his home. Later he bought one-half of section II, in the same town, which he still owns.
March 14, 1875, Mr. Kunze was married in Jackson county, lowa, 10 Mary Harms, daughter of Henry Harms, then of Jackson county. Mrs. Kunze is a native of the county in which she was married, having been born in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Kunze are the parents of twelve children, as fol- lows: Henry, Hersey township; Minnie (Mrs. Carl Will), Brewster; Fred, died in 1898; Rosie (Mrs. Jos. Martin), Worthing- ton; Louis, Montana; Willie, Otto, Doris, Amil, John, Harvey and Amanda. The seven last named reside at home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kunze are members of the German Lutheran church of Worth- ington. Mr. Kunze has held the office of road overseer for several years.
FRANK GLASGOW, superintendent of bridges and buildings on the Sioux City division of the Omaha railroad, with headquarters at Worthington, has resided in Worthington since 1878. Ile has held the position he now holds with the railroad company twenty- five years, and has had a continuous service with the Omaha road of thirty-two years. During his long residence in Worthington Mr. Glasgow has become identified with the business and social life of the city to a considerable extent.
Mr. Glasgow was born in Constantia, Os- wego county, N. Y., on the 17th day of Angusc, 1843, the son of John and Eliza (Buckley) Glasgow, both natives of the Emerald Isle. When young the parents emi- grated to the United States, and in New York their marriage was celebrated. The father, who was a contractor and builder, died at Worthington in January, ISSS. His wife had preceded him to the other world, having passed away in Wisconsin in 1866.
Until he was ten years old Frank Glasgow
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BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORY.
lived in his native county in New York state. Then he accompanied his parents to Wis- consin. in which state he grew to manhood. He secured a good education in the com mon and high schools of Wisconsin, and after completing his studies he worked at the car- peuter'- trade with his father. When he reached hi- majority, in 1504. he enlisted in company D. Fifth Wisconsin volunteer in- fantry. commanded by Col. Thomas S. Allen. For eighteen months Mr. Glasgow served as a sablier in that regiment, taking part in the battles in and around Petersburg. He was with the army of the Potomac until after the surrender of General Lee, and was hon- orably di-charged in June, 1865.
After the war Mr. Glasgow returned to Wisconsin and continued working at his trade. In ISTO he moved to Mankato, Minn .. where he engaged in contracting and build- ing for eight years. In IS78 he came to Worthington, where he entered the employ of the Omaha Railroad company in the con- struction of bridges and building-, and two years later was made superintendent of the Sioux City division, with headquarters at Worthingion. He has hold the position ever since, having constructed the bridges, depots and other buildings, and kept them in repair, along the 275 miles of his division.
In the business, political and social life of Worthington Mr. Glasgow has played an important part. He served as a member of the village council in ESSG 87 88 89-90-91 94 96, and was mayor of the city in 1897 and 1898. Ile has served as a member of the school board and of the old library board. When the Carnegie public library was opened he was named as one of the members of the bord. a position be still holds, ile is a member of Stoddard Post No. 31. G. A. R. and for several years was its commander. He is also a member of Okabena Lodge No. 72. K. P. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank in 1903, and has held the office of second vice president since that date.
Mr. Glasgow has been iwice married. In 1882 was solemnized his first marriage to Viss Mary A. Mellale, of Mankato, Minn .. a native of the Empire state. To them were born two children: John F. and Edith. Mrs. Glasgow died in Worthington Nov. 11. 1:01. His second marriage occurred Feb. 11,
1:07. when he led to the altar Miss Mary .. Faby, of Worthington. Mrs. Glasgow's parent- were born in Ireland. Her father died Nov. 6. 1907. Her mother is still liv- ing at Graceville, Minn., where the Fahy family resided for over a quarter of a cen- tury.
Mr. Glasgow owns a handsome residence in Worthington, at the corner of Fifth avenue and Fleventh street, where he resides, and other city property and farm lands. Mankato he owns a house and lot at the corner of Fifth and Main streets.
ERICK ANDERSON owns and resides on the southwest quarter of section 1. Dewald township, which place bas been. his home for the last thirteen years. lle is a native of the town of Carlsham, Sweden, where he was born June 1, 1866. He is the son of Andrew Anderson. now residing in Illinois. His mother was Bertha (Hanson) Anderson, who died in Sweden in 1875.
Erick received a common school education in his native country and his boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. In 1882, when sixteen years of age, he came to the United States, preceding his father two months The family located in Kirkland, Dekalh county, Ill .. and in the vicinity of that town Erick Anderson spont thirteen years working at farm work for wages. In the spring of 1895 he moved to Nobles county and located on the property where he has since resided. This property he had pur- chased in 1887.
Mr. Anderson was married in Dewald township June 29. 1898, to Natalia Carlson, daughter of the late Swan Carlson, Mrs. An- derson is a native of Sweden, having been born iu Va-tergodand Ang. 3, 1874, and came to the United States in ISS6. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born five children: Oscar Edward, born Det. 20. 1899, died JJuly 15, 1901; Walter Raymond, horn March 1. 1902; Clarence Willard, born July 21. 1903; Esther Verna. horn Dee. 6, 1903: Mabel Lillian, born Oet. 8, 1907.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Lutheran church of Worthington, of which he is a trustee. Mr. Anderson is a director of school district No. 15.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
GUST OLSON, member of the firm of Olson & Waage, implement dealers of Round Lake, is a native of Round Lake township, Jackson county, Minn .. where he was born Jan. 10, 1874. No is the son of Kmit and Olene (Olson) Olson, of Jackson county.
Knut Olson was born in Kopervik. Norway. Jan. 13. 1850, came to America in ISTI and located near Deerfield, Dean county, Wis. In the spring of 1873 he took as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 28. Round Lake town-hip, upon which land he still resides. Our subject's mother was born in 1846 in Stavanger. Norway, and was mar- ried to Mr. Olson in Wisconsin in November, 1872. They are the parents of the following children: Gust, of this sketch; Ellen (Mrs. C. J. Hanson). Jackson county; Anna (Mrs. John Hemmingson). Jackson county: Lena (Mrs. E. O. Hanson), Jackson county; Ser- erin, Jackson county.
Gust Olson was raised on his father's farm and secured a country school education. During his boyhood days the nearest school was nine miles from his home, and his schooling was obtained under difficulties. Gust assisted with the farm work until he was twenty-two years of age. Then he moved to Dickinson county, Iowa, and in partnership with his brother-in-law. C. J. Hanson. en- paged in farming one year. During the next year and a half he was the manager of the implement house of J. R. Jones at Fenton. Towa. In January, 1900, he moved to Round Lake village and took a position with Grant & Johnson, general merchants and implement dealers, with whom he was associated until they sold out in 1905. He continued to work for Walker & Austin, the purchasers. until January, 1906. AAfter a two months' trip to Texas and Arkansas, Mr. Olson returned to Round Lake, and in company with Bert Waage bought the implement business uf his former employers, and has since conducted the business.
Mr. Olson was married at Aurelia, Iowa, Feb. 3. 1907. to Emily E. Parker, daughter of Louis Parker. Mr. Obon is a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife is a Presbyterian.
CHARLES BARNARD is one of the early ray settlers of Nobles county and a success. ful farmer of Little Rock township. He was
born in Dodgeville, Iowa county, Wis., Feb. II, 1856, and is a descendant of one of the old families of New York state.
William Barnard, our subject's father. was born in New York in 1829, but was raised in Canada. About 1849 he went to Towa county, Wis., where he died in 1885. Our subject's mother was Margaret (Jones) Barn- ard. She was born in Wales, but came to America with her parents when thirteen years of age and located at Springgreen, Sae county, Wis. She died at Little Rock, lowa. in 1894.
In lowa county, five miles north of the town of Dudgeville. Charles Barnard grew to manhood. Ile received a country school education and was employed on his father's farm until seventeen years of age. After that, until the year 1878, he worked out at farm work by the month. It was on the twelfth day of March, 1878, that Mr. Barn- ard first saw Nobles county. Ile took a position as a farm hand with J. J. Lecce, who conducted a farm in Grand Prairie township. and was employed by him during the first season. The next year he went to Lake county. S. D., and was employed by Austin Ayers one season. Returning to Nobles county, he worked the next season for M. E. Crosby, who at the time lived north of Adrian. Mr. Barnard then decided to begin farming for himself and purchased from Tom Quine the homestead right to the west half of the southeast quarter of soc- tion 32, Little Rock township, and in time proved up on it. Abont the year ISS5 he bought the other 80 acres of the quarter. Ilis home has been on the homestead ever since taking possession of it.
Mr. Barnard was married at Sibley, lowa, Dee. 19, 1882, to Miss Belle James. a native of Jowa county, Wis., and a daughter of R. T. and Elizabeth James, of Little Rock. Towa. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnard have been born the following children: John 11 .. Littk. Rock township farmer, born Jan. 17. 1884: William B., Lyon county, lowa, farmer. bom Feb. 25, 1886: Milton, horn Dee. 23, 1889: Jennie, born April 18, 1892; Maggie. horn May 5, 1895; Roy and Raymond (twins). born Sept. 2, 1899. The five children last named reside at home. Mr. Barnard is a member of the M. W. A. lodge of little Rock, lowa. For four years he served as director of school district No. It.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
G. KNIPS, who resides on a farm in Lis- more township, just outside of the village of Li-more, is one of the first men to take a claim in Leota township and one of the alitest settlers of northwestern Nables county.
Mr. Knips was born in Germany Ang. 15. 1832. the sonof Kasper Joseph Knips, who was a judge in his native land. Our subject learned the brewer's trade in Germany and came to the United States in 1852. Ile lo- cated in St. Louis, where for five years he was in a mali house. Moving to Stillwater, Min., in 1857, he started a brewery there, which he conducted twenty years. He came to Nobles county in 1877 and took a home- stead and tree claim on section 22. Leota town-hip, when there were only two settlers in that township. He resided on the farm there until 1903. when he bought his present eighty acro farm on section 2. Lismore town- ship. since which he has made his home on the edge of town.
In the city of St. Louis on Oct. 10. 1854, Mr. Knips was married to Miss Mand Well hausen. a native of Germany. She died in 1888, aged 62 years. To them were born eight children as follows: Robert, William. Amel, Louis, Otto, Eugene, Clara, Emma.
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