USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 70
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
In St. Kilian on Nov. 13, 1894, Mr. Duwen- hoegger was united in marriage to Matilda Pacholl, who was born in East Prussia Sept. 30, IS75. She is the daughter of John and Barbara Pacholl. To this union have been born the following children: Matilda Annie, Theodore William, Anton John, Emma Al- phonsia, Alouise Conrad, Rudolph, Alfred, Elizabeth, all of whom reside at home. MIr. and Mrs. Duwenhoegger are member of the Catholic church of St. Kilian, and he is a member of the German Roman Catholic Pro- tective Society of Minnesota. He served as township assessor four years, is a director of school district No. 66, which he has held six years, and is the township elerk, having been appointed in the spring of 1908.
CHARLES J. PAINE owns and farms the southwest quarter of section 33, Hersey township. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Paine, of Worthington, and was born in Grundy county, Iowa, Nov. 7, 1870, in which county he lived until 1883, when he eame with his parents to Nobles county. Ile seeured a common school education in the public schools of Grundy county, Iowa, and of Nobles connty.
Until 1900 he lived with his parents on the family farm in Hersey township. On Sep tember 5, of that year he was married to Margaret Dewitt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. K. Dewitt, and to them have been born two children-Floyd and Arthur. At the time of his marriage he moved onto his own farm, the southwest quarter of section 33, Hersey, which he had purchased in 1893, and that has since been his home.
Mr. Paine is treasurer of school district No. 53, to which office he was elected in 1907. He is a member of the Worthington Methodist church and of the Yeoman lodge.
H. A. SCHERLIE. One of the early set- tlers of the Dundee country is H. A. Seherlie, whose farm joins the village of Dundee on the north. Although his residence is practi- cally in the village of Dundee and he has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the village, he is a resident of Murray county. the village being located on the extreme north line of Nobles county.
Mr. Seherlie was born in Norway July 22,
1858, and came to the United States with his parents three years later. The family resided in Waupaca county, Wis., for several years and later resided at Albert Iea, Minn. In the spring of 1880, just as the town of Dun- dee was starting, Mr. Scherlie came to the new village. His father had taken a home- stead in Murray county, and in 1885 he se- cured possession of the farm where he has ever since resided. Although he has devoted his time principally to farming, Mr. Scherlie has taken part in the business life of the village. He erected the first grain house in the village and has been engaged in other business enterprises. He is a member of the K. P. and Yeoman lodges.
At Windom, Minn., in 1891 Mr. Scherlie was married to Miss Bertha C. Sebofield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Schofield. She was born in Iowa, came to Bingham Lake, Minn., in 1873, and a few years later tc Windom. Mr. and Mrs. Seherlie are the parents of three children-one son and two danghters.
FRANK MURPHY is manager of the Su- perior Lumber and Coal company's office at Ellsworth, having had charge of the of- fice for the past ten years. The present firm purchased the yard one year ago from W. J. Brnce & Co., one of the early day firms of Ellsworth.
Mr. Murphy was born in Caledonia, Hous- ton county, Minn., March 26, 1877, but at the age of five years moved with his parents to Brookings, S. D., where he grew to manhood. Fle was educated in the public and high schools of Brookings and finished his educa- tion in a business college there. After quit- ting school, he engaged in teaching several terms near his home. On the first day of August, ISOS, he came to Ellsworth to take charge of the lumber yard and has held the position ever since.
Our subject is the third of a family of six living children. His father is William Il. Murphy, who was born at Salem, Mass., but who emigrated to Minnesota in the early days, and who is now living at Brookings, S. D., aged 64 years. For a number of years lie served as clerk of eourt and is now a deputy in the same office. Our subject - mother is Dora (Quinlan) Murphy, a native of Syraense, N. Y. She is now 58 years of age.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
MATTHEW MUERON, who owns and lives upon the southwest quarter of section 21, Li-more township, is one of the carly day settlers of that precinct. fle is a native of county Mayo, Ireland, where he was born Dec. 12, 1831, the son of llenry and Kach- rine (Moran) Mulroy. The father came from Ireland in 1865 and located in Dekalb county, Il., where he. resided until his death in Isst at the age of 65 years. The mother died in Illinois at the age of 65 years.
Matthew came to America in the fall of 1853 and located at Gasport, N. Y., where he lived four years, being employed on publie works and on farms. After six months spent in Pennsylvania, he returned to New York state, but the next year moved to Dekalb county, Ill. There he worked out by the month several years and then bought a farm and engaged in farming twenty years. lle came to Nobles county in 1882, rented the Ames farm near Worthington one year, and then bough' his present farm in Lismore town-hip, upon which he has ever since lived. During late years he has given up active business and rents his farm to his son, Joseph.
Mr. Mulroy was married in Dekalb county, Hi., Nov. 24, 1860, to Katherine Malone, a daughter of Dave Malone. She was born in Nings county, Ireland, and came to America when eighteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mulroy are the parents of the following named children: Henry, Matthew, Edward, Jo-eph, Kate (Mrs. P. H. Glasgow), of Adrian; Bridget (Mrs. M. O'Brien), of St. Paul; Mary (Mrs. James Lynch), of Fulda; 1.izzie ( Mr-, John Ladchoff), of Browns Val- ley, Minn .; Rosa (Mrs. Henry Terhaar), of Jackson. The family are members of the Catholic church.
ANDREW T. GALBRAITHI. Ransom town- ship farmer, was born near Portage, Wis., Aug. 20, 1861. the son of William and Agnes (Thomp- son) Galbraith, natives of Scotland. The father died May 12, 1898, aged 90 years; the mother lives in floyd county, lowa, and is 75 years of age.
When Andrew was five years of age the family moved from Wisconsin to Floyd county, lowa, and in that county he was maised and resided with his parents until his marriage in 1881. Hle was married there on
March 16 of that year to Jennie Dawson, a native of Belvidere, Ill. After his marriage Mr. Galbraith began farming for himself in l'loyd county. In 1898 he moved to Kossuth county, lowa, farmed there two years, and then moved to Nobles county, purchasing the sontheist quarter of section 24, Ransom. On that place he has resided since. He is a member of the Methodist church of Bigelow.
STELLE S. SMITHI, attorney at law, Worthington, was born in Faribault, Rice county, Minnesota, December 30, 1875, the son of Milton S. Smith and Flora (Ingram) Smith. Ilis father is a native of New Bruns- wick, New Jersey, and now resides at Worth- ing.on. llis mother was born near Madison, Wis,, and died August 14, 1886.
Stelle Smith came with his parents io Nobles county in March, 1879, and his early days here were spent on a farm in Worth- ington township. We started to school in 1881, for two years attending the school taught by Mrs. J. O. Edwards in her house in Worthington township. For the next two years he attended the school taught by his mother in the same district. Next he attend- ed the Lincoln school, taught by Miss Josie Allen (now Mrs. Stanley Moore). In 1886 he took up his residence with his grand- father, R. R. Smith, who lived just north of Worthington, and thereafter attended the Worthington school. He removed to that city in 1891. He finished the course provided by the high school, graduating with the class of 1894, and being valedictorian of his class.
Immediately after his graduation from the Worthington high school he went to Min- neapolis and took a one year's course in Cur- tiss' Business college. In 1895 he took a position as private secretary and business manager for J. H. Thompson, of Minneapolis. The latter was a wealthy man who had a clothing store in the Mill city and had in- terests in many other lines. Mr. Thompson spent the greater part of his time in the cast and upon Mr. Smith's shoulders fell the burden of many and varied business cares. He continued in this capacity until July 1. 1901.
From 1897 till 1900 Mr. Smith attended the night law school of the University of Minnesota, taking the degree of Bachelor of Inws in 1899 and Master of Laws the fol-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
lowing year. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state of Minnesota Nov. 1, 1899. In July, 100]. he opened a law office in Minneapolis, which he maintained until October, 1903. He then moved to Worthington, since which time lie has been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in that city. Besides his law business he is also interested in the Smith Implement company.
Mr. Smith was married May 10, 1902, to Miss Blanche Curtis Petrie, danghter of Al- bert H. Petrie and Mary J. Petrie, of Mus- kegon, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children-Phylis Virginia, Samuel Stelle and Paul Richard.
Fraternally, Mr. Smith is associated with many worthy orders. Ile holds a membership in the commercial club of Minneapolis, is a member of Fraternity Lodge, No. 101, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Worthington; Zuhrah Temple, Nobles of Mystic Shrine, Minneapolis; Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Minneapolis; Royal Archi Masons, Worthington; and Knights of Pythias, Worthington.
For many years Mr. Smith has been identi- fied with the Minnesota militia. On Feb- ruary 14, 1899, he enlisted in comptny D, of the Fourth regiment, and served an enlist- ment of five years. The company of which he was a member was transferred and be- came company F. of the First regiment. Mr. Smith continned to be a member of the com- pany until 1905. February 14, 1904, he was appointed to the non-commissioned staff of the First regiment. He was instrumental in the organization of company F, of the Third regiment, at Worthington, which company was mustered into the service Nov. 28, 1905. lle was elected and mustered in as first lieu- tenant of the new company, which office he held until Feb. 25, 1908. Owing to the absence of the commanding officer, Mr. Smith has had practical control of the company since its formation, and was elected captain on Feb. 25, 1908. During his service with the Minneapolis company Mr. Smith was with the state rifle teams of 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1908. He participated in the inter- state shoot at Camp Lakeview, Minn., Sep tember, 1903, at which teams from Minne- sota, Illinois and Iowa took part. He was a member of the Minnesota state team which participated in the national contests at Camp Perry, Ohio, in August, 1908.
ARTHUR W. LYON, of Worthington town ship, has lived in the county ever since he was a boy twelve years of age. He is the son of B. W. and Emily (Haines) Lyon, who reside in Worthington and who were early settlers of the county. The father was born in New York state and came to Worthington in 1873. For fifteen years he engaged in the mercantile business in Worthington, ten years he was a traveling salesman for a Sioux City cigar house, and since then has lived a re- tired life, Ile is 74 years of age. Our sub- iect's mother is also a native of New York state.
Arthur was born in King county, Ill., Dec. 22, 1861. From there he came to Nobles county with his parents in IS73. Ile received his education in the Worthington public schools and when a young man entered the employ of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapo- lis & Omaha railroad in the capacity of brakeman. For twenty years he followed railroading on the one road and during nearly all of that time lie was a conductor. After retiring from the railroad business Mr. Lyon went to Minneapolis, where for two years he was engaged in selling northern Minneso- ta timber lands. IIe then returned to Worth- ington and moved onto his farm, the south- west quarter of seetion 9, Worthington town- ship, which he had bought several years be- fore, and has since been engaged in farming.
Mr. Lyon was married at St. James, Minn., Nov. 27, 1889, to Miss Anna E. VanVelzer, a native of Allamakee county, Iowa, and a daughter of Bevel and Catherine VanVelzer. They are the parents of one child-lva, born in St. James Nov. 6. 1891. Mr. Lyon is a member of Fraternity Lodge No. lol, A. F. & A. M., of Worthington.
EDWARD SANGER, of Dewald township. is one of the early day settlers of Nobles county. having resided here ever since he was ten years old. He is a native Minneso- tan, having been born at Mankato Nov. 10. 1871. Ilis father, Jacob Sanger, who was a native of Germany, died in Nobles county in April, 1899. His mother, Sophia (Walters) Sanger, was a native of Berlin, Germany; she died in April, 1893.
Edward lived on his parents' farm near Mankato until 18SI. Hle then came with 11 parents to Bloom township, Noble- county. and during the next eighteen years of his
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
lite worked on his father's farm there. After his father's death in 1899 he bought 80 acres ot land in section 24, Dewald township, where he lived a little over one year. lle then sok that and purchased the northwest quarter of section 4, in the same township, and has since made his home there. During his resi- denve in Bloom he served two years as clerk of the school district in which he lived, and since taking up his residence in Dewald be has been road overseer three years.
Mr. Sanger was married May 1, 1902, at Worthington to Lizzie Hornstine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Horustine, of Dewald township. Mrs. Sanger was born in lowa. Two children, Henry and Johnnie, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sanger.
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11. A. VOSS is one of the large land owners and farmers of Bigelow township. Hle owns 640 acres of land in sections 29 and 34 and farms it all. lle engages exten- sively in stock raising, feeding cattle and hogs, and is a big buyer and shipper of cattle.
Mr. Voss was born in Stephenson county, Ill., Oct, 26, 1866. llis parents are AAlbert and Catherine (Tiddens) Voss, natives of Germany, who were married in their native land, but who came to the United States soon after their marriage. They located first in Illinois, later moved to Grundy county, lowa, and are now living at Little Rock, Jowa, aged 69 and 62 years, respectively. The family moved from Illinois to Grunay county, lowa, when the sub- jeet of this biography was five years of age, and in the latter place he grew to man- hood. In 1892 he came to Nobles county and bought the quarter section of land upon which he has since resided. Later he pur- chased his other property, the half section on 34 having been bought in 1907. Mr. Voss is a member of the school board of distriet No. 108, having hell the office for the last eight years. For eleven continuous years prior to the enrrent year he hohl the office of township treasurer.
In Butler county, lowa, on Jan. 3, 1890, Mr. Voss was married to Rebecca Peters, who was born in Grundy county, lowa, Oct. 13, 1869. Mrs. Voss is the daughter of the late llenry Peters and Jennie (Shoemaker) Peters, who were born and married in Ger-
many and came to the United States on May 8, 1869. They settled in Grundy county, lowa, resided there five years, then moved to Butler county, where they lived until 1900, when they moved to Little Rock, lowa. Mr. Peters died there Sept. 24, 1904, at the age of 64 years. Mrs. Peters died at Wells- burg, lowa, June 5, 1908, at the age of 62 years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Voss have been born the following children: Catherine, born Dec. 9, 1890, died Feb. 1, 1891; Henry, born Aug. 1, 1891, died Feb. 1, 1892; llenry H, born May 23, 1895; Margaret, born Feb. 5, 1898; Anna Marie, born May 8, 1906.
Mr. and Mrs. Voss are members of the German Lutheran church.
FRANK TURNER. of Worthington, has resided in Nobles county sinee he was a boy 14 years of age. lle was born in Oswego county, N. Y., Oet. 16, 1858. During his boyhood days he attended the public schools of his native county, and 1872 moved with his parents to Nobles county,
He assisted with the farm work until after Ira Turner's death in 1890, and then he farmed the home place until 1892. Dur- ing his residence in Elk township, Mr. Tur- ner served two terms as member of the board of supervisors and two terms as town- ship assessor. In 1893 Mr. Turner moved to Worthington and went into the hay and coal business, in which he was engaged until the spring of 1903. That year he went to Moose- jaw, Saskatchewan. Canada, bought land and engaged in farming. Hle sold out his Cana- dian holdings in August, 1906, and returned to Worthington, where he has since resided.
Mr. Turner was married July 3, 1887, at Harper, lowa, to Emma Seydel, daughter of William Seydel. To them have been horn two children: MIrytle. born May, 1888; Arthur, born March, 1894.
DR. C. A. GILL, physician and surgeon of Ellsworth, has been practicing his profession in that village for the last eight years. He is a native of Madison, Wis .. where he was born Oct. 12, 1858, the second of a family of fourteen children. His father, Eli May Gill, was born in Three Rivers, Canada, in 1825 and died at Madison, Wis., in April,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
1905. Our subjects mother was Margaret J. (Byrne) Gill, who was born in Vermont and died at Madison in September, 1896, aged 63 years.
On his father's side Dr. Gill descends from one of the old American families-a family with an exceptionally romantic history. The American branch was founded by an English officer who came to the colonies about the year 1700, and located in New Hampshire. One of his sons was Samuel Gill, who at the age of eleven years was captured by the Abenankis tribe of Indians and taken to Three Rivers, Canada, where he was held in captivity several years. At the same time there was captured a girl by the name of James who was of about the same age. It was the intention of the savages to marry the boy to a squaw and the girl to an Indian of the tribe, but a Jesuit priest in- terfered on behalf of the children and by strategy and cunning secretly married the captives to each other. The marriage oe- curred in 1715, and from it descended the Gill family of America and Canada.1
In the city of Madison Dr. Gill was raised and received his general education, attending the public schools and the University of Wisconsin, from which institution he was graduated in 1877. During the few years following his graduation he taught school in the vicinity of the capital city and in 1881 he entered Rush Medical college, at which he was a student until 1884. Dr. Gill then went to Northville, South Dakota, where he opened an office and practiced his profession for one year. Returning to Rush college, he took another course of study for six months, and then practiced his profession in Madison until 1890. Ile then took a posi- tion as assistant at the Northern Hospital for the insane at Oshkosh. which he held six months. He next established his residence at Mount Horeb, Wis., where for five years he was engaged in the practice of medicine and in the drug business in partnership with Dr. N. C. Evans. He next went to La- Crosse, Wis., where he engaged in his chosen profession some years. In the fall of 1900 he came to Ellsworth, since which time he has had an office in that village.
1In an historical and biographical work on- titled "Histoire des Abenankis." written by Father J. A. Maurault, a Jesuit priest, and published at Montreal in 1866. is given a con- plete history of the Gill family. Judge Chas.
Dr. Gill was married at Mount Horeb, Wis., Sept. 26, 1896, to Miss Mary Alice Rice, a daughter of Bernard Rice and a former resi- dent of Wilton, Wis. To Dr. and Mrs. Gill have been born the following children: Charles A., Lumena, Bernard L., Rose M. Both Dr. and Mrs. Gill are members of the Catho lic church. The doctor is the health officer of Ellsworth village and is a member of the board of education. IIe holds a membership in the Modern Woodmen of America.
SHERMAN T. WOOD, proprietor of the Rushmore lumber and coal yards and dealer in machinery and live stock, is one of the oldest business men in Rushmore, having been in the same business continuously since early in February, 1891.
Mr. Wood was born at Traer, Tama county, Iowa, Dec. 9, 1864. His father, Al- fred Wood, was born at Albany, N. Y., in 1814 and died at Traer, Iowa, in 1892. His mother is Sevena (Beven) Wood. She was born near the city of London, England, in 1840, and still lives at Traer, Iowa. Until he was twenty years of age Sherman T. Wood lived on the farm near Traer. He was educated in the country schools and in the graded and high schools of Traer. After his student days he engaged in teaching school and had charge of country schools in the vicinity of Traer from 1884 to 1888. During the summer months of these years he was employed in his brother's mercantile business at Traer, and after giving up the teacher's profession in 1888 be continued in the mer- cantile business until he came to Nobles county.
On the 16th day of February, 1801, Mr. Wood arrived in Rushmore, and on the 20th of the same month the firm of Wood & Bry den, dealers in lumber, coal, machinery and live stock, opened a place of business. The firm and Wood & Bryden was maintained twelve years. At the end of that time Mr. Wood bought his partner's interest and has since conducted the business alone. He erec ted the present commodious place of business in 1904. At the start the lumber business in Rushmore was small, but by untiring en
Gill, of the supreme court of Montr il. ? ' ond cousin of Dr. Gill, has also por tel work "A History of the Gift Finil which the history many generations.
is traced compl t It is published #
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ergy Mr. Wood has built up an excellent business and has met with prosperity. Mr. Woud is an extensive land owner, being the possessor of 500 acres of Nobles county soil and 300 in Polk and Wadena counties, Minn. Mr. Wood was married at Traer, lowa, June 28, 1893, to Lillian V. Gravatt, daughter of O. Gravatt, of Traer. To this union have bren born the following children: Lester G., born in 1994: Ilelen B., born in 1896; Rus- -ell P .. horn in 1901. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the Methodist church of Rushmore. He was superintendent of the Sunday school for two or three years and is now assistant superintendent.
In local matters Mr. Wood has alway- taken an active part. He was president of the Rushmore school board during the years 1894 to 1896, was a Dewald township super- visor one year, was a member of the village council from 1901 to 1903. inclusive, and in 1906, and was mayor of the city in 1904 and 1905. Fraternally, Mr. Wood is a mem- ber of the 31. W. A. lodge, and was a char- for member of the Rushmore organization.
B. C. DENKMANN. cashier of the State Bank of Round Lake, was born at Walcoii, Towa. Feb. 22, 1880. the son of Ford and Mary (Telsrou) Denkmann. now of Walcott. lowa. The father was born in Germany. March 3. 1848, and came to the United States when a young man. The mother was born in 1853.
At the age of fourteen years B. C. Denk- mann completed his high school studies and went to Take Park, Iowa, where he held a position as clerk in a store for a short time. From there he went to Davenport and look a course in the Davenport Business college. After receiving his diploma from that institution he took a position as draft clerk in a Davenport bank. He moved to Take Park again in 1899 and for six years hold the position of assistant cashier in the Tako Park Stite Bank.
Mr. Denkmann moved to Round Lake in 1905 and took a position in the Bank of Round Take. When the State Bank of Round Lake was organized in 1906 he was spleetel cashier of the new institution. and has since hold the office. The other officers are Charles Vienaber. president: Louis Stol- ienberg, vice president.
On October 18, 1906, Mr. Denkmann was married at Davenport, Iowa, to Martha Schworting. a native of lowa. To them has been born one child- Dorothy, born Oct. 31. 1907. Mr. Denkmann is a member of the Odd Fellows and Woodmen lodges.
JOIN WAGNER has been engaged in farming in Bigelow township twenty-one years. He owns 240 acres of land on section 28, one part of which he purchased a few years after his arrival in the county, the rest at a later time. Mr. Wagner was born in Luxemburg. Germany, Sept. 26, 1862, the son of Philip and Barbara (Thume) Wagner. His parents never came to the United States, but died in their native country a few years ago, aged 78 and 75 years, respectively.
The subject of this biography emigrated to the United States in 1882 and located in Grant county, Wis., where for five years he engaged in farming. He then came to Nobles county and located on the farm in Bigelow township where he has ever since resided. When he purchased the land it was all raw prairie and unimproved in any way. Dur- ing his residence in Bigelow township he has served as member of the school board of distriet No. 108 for three years.
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