USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 91
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Until he was twenty-three years of age Jacob Metz resided on his father's farm in Marion county. He then left home and went to Carroll county, in the same state, where he resided two years. He then went west, but after spending eight months in California, he returned to lowa and located in Cherokee county, where he farmed until 1899. That year he came to Nobles county and bought the southeast quarter of section 22, Westside township, where he has since been engaged in farming. One year after his arrival he added to his land holdings by the purchase of sixty acres in the northi- east quarter of section 22, both of which tracts he still owns.
Mr. Metz was married in Cherokee county, lowa, Feb. 22, 1892, to Miss Mary M. Bauer, daughter of Fred and Mary Bauer, residents of Cherokee county, Iowa. Mrs. Metz was born in Wisconsin in 1871. To these parents have been born the following children: Frank, Rose, Peter, Josephine and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Metz and family are members of St. Adrian's Catholic church.
JOHN RAMAGE, of Worthington, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, Det. 28, 1856. Ilis father, James D. Ramage, also a native of Canada, died in 1901, aged 71 years. His mother, Helen (Savage) Ramage, was a native of Canada; she died in 1884.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
In Kingston, Ontario, John Ramage lived with his parents until ten years of age. Then the family moved to Compton county, Quebec, which was the home of our sub- ject for nineteen years. Ile had. begun his education in the public schools of Kings- ton, and completed them in his new home largely by home study. Near the town of Megantic, Quebec, he engaged m farming several years. Later he engaged in contract work, elearing land and doing railroad work. During the last three years of his residence in Quebec he was the manager for an Eng- lish colonization company, of which the earl 01 Denmore was the president, which was engaged in clearing lanus and locating set - tiers thereon.
In September, 1885, Mr. Ramage came to Wormmington, and Nobles county has been his home ever since. lle resided in the village the first winter, but in the spring of 1886 he moved onto nis Lorain township farm, just east of the city, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits thirteen years. He then moved to Worthington and opened a machinery and implement house, which he conducted five years. At the end of that time he sold to the Smith Imple- ment company. Since 1903 he has retired from active business life, devoting his time to the management of his properties.
Mr. Ramage was married at Magnolia, Ill., Jan. 15, 1885, to Ella L. Morrill, daughter of Luthier C. Morrill. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramage have been born six children, all of whom are living. They are Luther Morrill, John, Helen, Mary Francis, William Doug- las and Josephine Catherine.
During his residence in Lorain township Mr. Ramage served as chairman of the board of supervisors seven years. Since moving to Worthington he has taken an ac- tive interest in village affairs. He has served as a member of the Carnegie library board since the date of its founding. He is an active church worker, being an elder of the Westminster Presbyterian church of Worthington.
OSCAR A. ANDERSON, in partnership with his brother, Charles L. Anderson, farms a section of land in the northeast corner of Leota township. The boys are sons of Knute and Carrie (lloltum) Anderson. The
father resides with his sous in Leota town- ship and owns the southeast quarter of section 2. The mother died in Lyon county, łowa, in 1879.
Knute Anderson was born in Norway, was married there in 1867, and immediately thereafter came to America. The family located in lowa, just south of the Nobles county line, and in 1882 moved into In - dian Lake township, Three years later they moved to Leota township, when the head of the family bought his present farm.
Oscar Anderson was born in Osceola coun- ty, lowa, Jan. 22, 1876. He worked on the tarm for his father until 1900, when he and his brother rented the home farm and other land and began farming for themselves. Ile was married Nov. 16, 1904, in Leota township to Miss Florence Vail, a native or adrian, and a daughter of the late Jacob Vail and Ella Vail, who now lives in North Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs. anderson have been born two children: Alfaretta Carrie, born Aug. 25, 1900; Laureta Florence, born June 14, 1907.
Charles L. Anderson was born in Osceola county, lowa, May 28, 1877, and has always made his home with his father.
Oscar and Charles are both members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Lismore township and of the M. W. A. lodge of Lismore. They engage in stockraising ex- tensively and have large herds.
Mrs. Oscar Anderson was born in Adrian, Minn., in 1882. Her father, the late Jacob Vail, was engaged in the wagon making business at Adrian 16 years, after which they moved on a farm in Leota township, where they lived until July 9, 1906, when they moved to Oliver county, N. D. At that place the husband and father died May 10, 1907, and where a son also died on April 29, 1907. A daughter, Alta Vail, was born in Adrian in 1893. She moved with her parents to North Dakota, and in the fall of 1907 returned to Nobles and now makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Osear Ander- son.
IIENRY GLOVKA is the junior member of the Lismore firm of Greig & Glovka, deal- ers in hardware, farm implements and furt- ture. He was born in MeLean county, Ill., Jan. 20, 1877, the son of John M. and Bar- bara (Kress) Glovka.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Jolın M. Glovka was born in Germany in 1846 and came to the United States with his parents when three weeks old. His boyhood days were spent in ludiana, and at Jamestown in that state he was married and engaged in the lumber business. Later lie settled in MeLean county, Il1. He moved tu Nobles county in 1857 and engaged in farming, living one year in Olney township and thereafter until 1901 in Larkin town- ship. Making several changes in location after leaving the Larkin township farm, ne finally located in the village of Lismore, where he lived until Aug. 1, 1905, when he moved to _Adrian. Ile is 62 years old. lle owis a half section of land in Leota township and business property in town. Barbara Glov- ka is living at the age of 02 years.
Henry came to Nobles county with his parents in 1887 and lived on the farm with his father until 1900. That year he moved to Richland county, N. D., where he bought property and engaged in farming five years. On November 1, 1905, he bought an interest in the hardware store at Lismore, and has since made his home in that Nobles county town.
Mr. Glovka has been married twice. Hle was weuded at Adrian Feb. 19, 1900, to Mary Bittner, a native of lowa and a daughter of Mike Bittner, of Adrian. Mrs. Glovka died in North Dakota July 8, 1904, aged 27 years. To these parents were born two children: Emil J., born July 4, 1901; Bernard C., born Dee. 7, 1902. Mr. Glovka's second marriage occurred at Lismore Feb. 18, 1908, when he wedded Miss Mary Webber, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Anton Webber, of Lismore township. Mr. Glovka is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and of the R. C. M. P. S. society.
FERDINAND HARTMANN, of Willnont township, is one of the very earliest set. tlers of that precinet, having lived there continuously since 1877. lle is the son of the late Romanus and Monica (Schwab) Hartmann. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, lived for some time in Boston after his arrival to the country, and then located in Nobles country, where he died September 15, 1902. Monica Hartmann, also a native of Germany, died Sept. 10, 1877. Ferdinand was born in Carver county,
Minn., Dec. 12, 1867. On March 10, 1877, he came with his father to Nobles county, and until he was twenty-three years of age lived on his father's Willmont township farm. The father took as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 34, and resided there until his death. The family was in very poor circumstances upon its arrival to this country and suffered many hardships during the grasshopper days. At the age of twenty-three years Ferdmand bought the east half of the northeast quarter of section 33, and began farming on his own account. There he has resided ever since, later en- larging the boundaries of his farm by the purchase of the southeast quarter of section 33.
Mr. Hartmann was married at St. Kilian April 10, 1594, to Mary Lies, daughter of John and Margaret Lies. Mrs. Ilartmann was burn at Elizabeth, Ottertail county, Minn. To them has been born one child, Ferdinand, born Feb. 24, 1895. The family are members of the Catholic church of St. Kilian, of which Mr. Hartmann holds the office of treasurer. lle is a member of the Willmont town board, which he has held since his election in the spring of 1907.
HOWARD L. DURFEE, of Worthington, elerk in the office of the American Express company, and an employe of the Omaha railroad company in the freight depot at Worthington, is one of the pioneer settlers of the county, having resided there since he was eleven years old. He was born near Newport, Rhode Island, Sept. 26, 1861, and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. I. P. Durfee, now of Santiago, Cal.
In the early days of Nobles county's his- tory 1. P. Durfee took a very prominent part. He was born in Rhode Island, and that was his home until his arrival with the colonists in 1872 to Nobles county. lle homesteaded the east half of the southwest quarter of section 10, Worthington township, and bought the northeast quarter of seetion 15. Worthington township (now owned by Geo. W. Patterson), and thereon erected the first two-story residence in the county. He was elected county commissioner in 1872 and was reelected in 1874, resigning the office Oct. 12. 1875. Ile served as chairman of the board during both terms. In the fall of
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
1875 he was elected state senator from this district, and served during the sessions of 1876 and 1877. He and his wife moved to the far west many years ago, and are now passing the evening of their lives in California. Mr. Durfee is 73 years of age, and his wife is 70.
Iloward Durfee resided on the farm with his parents most of the time previous to nis entering the employ of the Omaha rail- road company, which was in 1889. Sinee that date he has served continuously with the company. He is a member of Living Areh Chapter No. 28, Royal Arch Masons, in which he holds the office of High Priest. Ite also holds a membership in the Modern Woodmen of America lodge.
Mr. Durfee was married in Worthington Nov. 12, 1907, to Mrs. K. Horgan.
HIERMAN H. GOTMER, Bloom township farmer, was horn in Fayette county, Iowa. Dec. 19, 1876, the son of Henry and Ger- trude (Temforda) Gotmer. llenry Gotmer was horn in Munsterland, Westphalia, Ger- many, in 1832, came to the United States about 1868, and engaged in farming in Iowa. lle died in Bloom township May 15, 1897. Gertrude Gotmer was born in Holland in 1843, came to America in 1868, and is now living in Colorado.
Herman was raised on the farm and lived in Fayette county until 1891. That year the family eame to Nobles county and located in Bloom township. After renting one season, the head of the family bought a homestead relinquishment to the northeast quarter of seetion 22 and secured title to it from the government. On that farm our subject has lived ever since. After his father's death he managed the farm three years for his mother. Then he and a brother farmed it three years in partnership. Since 1905 Ilorman has farmed it alone.
On Jan. 22, 1906, at St. Kilian, Mr. Got- mer was married to Tina Onken, daughter of Ilenry and Lena Onken, of Bloom town- ship. She
was born in Waseca county, lil., Jan. 31, ISSS. To Mr. and Mrs. Gotmer have been born two children, Martha and Henry.
The family are members of the Catholic church of Wilmont. Mr. Gotmer is director of school district No. 109, which office he has held two years.
THEODORE CRAMER owns and farms 160 acres of land on sections 34 and 33, Ran- som township. He is a native of Grant county, Wis., where he was born May 24, 1864, the youngest of a family of three children. His father was Edward Cramer, who was born in Germany and who came to the United States when 20 years of age. lle settled in Grant county, Wis., and was one of the pioneer settlers of that part vi the state. During the California gold ex- citement he went to California, and engaged in mining where six years. Returning to Wisconsin, he lived in Grant county until his death, which occurred Dec. 9, 1006. He was 97 years of age at the time of his death. The mother of our subject was Julia Cramer, who died in Grant county in 1884, aged 61 years.
Until he was of age Theodore Cramer lived in Grant county, securing an education and working in the lead and zine mines. lle first came to Nobles county in 1885 and for five summers worked at farm work near Bigelow. During the winter months of these years he worked in the coal fields of lowa and the zinc mines of his native state. Ile then rented land iu Ransom township and farmed three years. He then purchased eighty acres of laud where he now resides and has ever since been engaged in farm- ing. He purchased the other eighty acres of his farm some three or four years after buying the first piece. Mr. Cramer is one of the supervisors of Ransom township, hay- ing held the office for the last two years lle is a member of the M. W. A. lodge and he and his wife belong to the Catholic church of Sibley. Besides his farm property he owns business and residence property in Bigelow village.
Mr. Cramer was married in lowa county, Wis., Jan. 2, 1896, to Miss Lizzie Martin, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Fred and Minnie Martin. They are the parents of four children: Alice, born Der. 21. 1897; Edward, born April 18. 1899; Minnie, born Oet. IS, 1903; Clara, born Sept. 27, 1905.
PETER G. JOHNSON, manager of the C. L. Coleman Lumber company. of Worth- ington. has been a resident of Worthington eighteen years. He was born in Sweden in
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
from, and came to America when three years of age, arriving in October, 1869. The family first located at Anton, Minn., (near St. Paul), and there Peter spent the next two years ut his life. In October, 1871, the family moved to Montevideo, Chippewa county, and there the subject of this sketch spent luis boyhood ways. He worked on his father's farit and attended the public schools. Hle completed his education with a thice years' course at Gustavus Adolphus college at St. leter.
After completing a commercial course in the St. Peter college, he accepted a position with the Deering Harvester Co. in 1890, as traveling salesman and expert. His duties with the harvester company brought him to Worthington, and in the fall of 1890 he resigned his position and became a resident of the town. He accepted a position as bookkeeper and assistant cashier in the Nobles County Bank, then owned by Peter Thompson, and was thus employed about two years. İle then formed a partnership with L. G. Carlstedt and engaged in the general merchandise business, the firm name being Carlstedt & Johnson. About a year and a halt later he bought his partner's interest and effected a consolidation with the firm of Ledene & Anderson, the new company being designated J. J. Anderson & Co. With this firm he was identified several years.
On December 6, 1898, Mr. Johnson entered the employ of the John W. Tuthill Lumber * company, with which he was connected until July, 1903. During the last three years of his service he was manager of the Worthing- tun office. lle then bought a hardware stock and engaged in business for himself until July, 1901. Ile became the manager of the C. L. Coleman Lumber company at Worthington July 15, 1904, and still retains that position.
JACOB REMACKEL, retired farmer of Wilmont, is a native of Luxemburg, where he was born Oct. 28, 1537. His parents were Nick and Anna (Shu) Remackel, both of whom died in Luxemburg, the former in Isss, aged 65 years, the latter in 1590. aged 65 years.
In his native country Jacob grew to man- hood, and after growing up worked at com- mon labor, most of the time on the rail-
road. Ile arrived in the new world Marel 7, 1880, and located in Dubuque county, lowa. He worked at farm labor there one year and in Clinton county three years at the same work.
lle was married at Lyons, Clinton county, Jan. 8, 1884, to Annie Halfmann, who was born in Prussia Sept. 5, ISGI, and who came to America and to Illinois on August 1, Issl. They are the parents of one child, Walter Francis, born in Wall Lake, lowa, July 5, 1892.
After his marriage Mir. Remackel worked two years in a saw mill at Lyons. Ile then moved to Wall Lake, Sac county, Iowa, where he farmed rented land seven years, In 1893 he moved to Nobles county and located on section 25, Larkin township. He bought a quarter section of land at that time and later bought another quarter, both of which he still owns. lle engaged in farming there eleven years and then moved to Wilmont, where he has since lived a retired life. He owns an eighty acre tract of land within the incorporated limits of the village. MIr. and Mrs. Remakel are members of the Catholic church.
D. V. LEES, proprietor of the Park hotel, Brewster, is a native of Scotland, having been born in Campbleton, Argyle shire, Feb. 20, 1870. ITis father was John C. Lees, who died in India about twenty-five years ago while in the English service. His mother is Isabella (Waddel) Lees, now a resident of Omaha, Neb.
Mr. Lees was educated in the public schools of Scotland and England. He came to the United States in March, 1889, went to Canada, where he resided a few months, and then moved to llersey village (now Brewster), where he has since lived. Hle engaged in farming two years, and then went into the grain and hotel business. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the M. W. A. and Royal Neigh- bors lodges.
For many years Mr. Lees has held publie office. He has been clerk of the school board for the last twelve years; was on the township board four years; was village recorder two years; and for the last Three years has been mayor of Brew- ster.
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Mr. Lees was nnited in marriage to Miss Magdeline Meier on Nov. 15, 1882. To them have been horn the following children: Fred- ericka, aged 14 years; Jack, aged 13; David, aged 10; Florence, aged 5; Hazel, aged 3.
CHIARLES B. WARD, proprietor of the Western Hotel, of Worthington, was born in Grant county, Wis., Aug. 2, 1872. In 1880 he moved with his parents onto a farm near Redfield, S. D. He secured an educa- tion in the schools of Sioux Falls, and after his school days took employment in the Central hotel, where he remained until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in IS98.
Mr. Ward enlisted in company B, of the first regiment of South Dakota volunteer infantry, and served until the muster out of his regiment. After his discharge from the army he returned to Sioux Falls, where he remained until 1902. That year he mov- ed to Worthington, purchased the Western hotel, and has ever since been its pro- prietor.
On April 27, 1902, Mr. Ward was married at Worthington to Bessie Anderson, daugh- ter of Alexander Anderson, of Crawford county, Wis.
When the Worthington militia company was mustered into service Mr. Ward was elected second lieutenant. lle served with the company in that capacity until Feb. 25, 1908, when he was chosen first lieutenant. Mr. Ward is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges. In March, 1908, he was elected member of the village council, and is now serving.
PETER B. SCHOLTES, who is mayor of Ellsworth village and interested in many business enterprises in that village and other parts of the country, is a native of Lansing, Iowa, where he was born August 24, 1868. Ile is the oldest of a family of six children, all living. His father, Peter Scholtes, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, came to the United States in the early fifties, and became one of the pioneer set- tlers of Allamakee county, Iowa, where he now resides at the age of eighty years. Mary (Reingenbach) Scholtes, our subject's mother, is living at the age of sixty years.
On his father's farm in Allamakee county, Iowa, Peter B. Scholtes lived until he reached his majority, receiving an education in the district schools and in Valder Com- mercial college at Decorah, lowa. At the age of twenty-one years lie went to Dubuque and took a position with the Rider-Wallace Dry Goods company, a wholesale firmu with which he was connected seven years, four years in the house and three years as a traveling salesman. Mr. Scholtes moved to Ellsworth in 1897 and engaged in the retail mercantile business as the senior member of the firm of Seholtes, Crow ley
& Bratsberg, with which he was connected until 1906.
Since disposing of his interest in
the store Mr. Scholtes has continued to make his home in Ellsworth and is identified with many business enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the Fisrt National Bank of Ellsworth and still owns stock in that institution. He is president of the Ellsworth Automatic Telephone company, president of the Ellsworth Land and Town Lot company, and is a partner in the mercantile estab- lishment of Scholtes Brothers at Wilmont, Minn.
At Cascade, Iowa, on July 20, 1897, Mr. Scholtes was married to Miss Bridget Daley, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John and Catherine Daley. Her father died in 1907; her mother still lives at Scranton. Mr. and Mrs. Scholtes are the parents of two children: Geraldine, MI., born August 22, 1899; Bernard P., horn Oc- tober 13, 1903. The family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Scholtes holds membership in the lodges of Knights of Co- lumbns and Catholic Order of Foresters and has been secretary of the latter organiza- tion since its establishment.
IHENRY SEWARD, of Hersey township, has resided in Nobles county for the last twenty-one years. He was born at Plato, Ill., Nov. 15, 1847, the son of Levi Seward and Ilarriet (Spencer) Seward. The family is one of the old ones of America and is the one to which belonged William Henry Seward, the famous secretary of state in President Lincoln's cabinet during the civil war. The father of our subject was a na- five of New York state, but took up his residence in Illinois, where he died. Our
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subject's mother was a native of Connec- tient; she died in Illinois five years after her husband's death. Henry Seward's grand- father was a veteran of the war of 1812. In Illinois Henry Seward was raised, grew to manhood, and lived until 43 years of age. Ile secured a common school edi- cation and when a man grown engaged in dairying and farming, as had his father before him. Hle was one of the large num- ber of Illinois farmers who came to Nobles county in the late eighties and early nineties in the search for cheap lands. lle was one of the first of these in llersey township, coming in the year 1887. lle liked the coun- try and purebased 240 acres in seetion one, and that has been his home ever since. Ile carries on a dairying business on a large scale and has a fine farm.
Mr. Seward was married at Plato, III., Dee. 21, 1873, to Jeanette Babcock, dangh- ter of Chas. Babcock, who also descends from one of the old American families. Mrs. Seward is a direct descendant of Gen- (ral lee of Revolutionary fame. Her great grandfather and one of his sons served in the war of the Revolution, and her grand- father in the war of 1812. Two of her moth- er's uncles were also soldiers of that war, and one of them was killed in battle.
To Mr. and Mrs. Seward have been born four children: Nellie (Mrs. M. Oaks), who resides in the northern part of Minnesota, Edith (Mrs. R. J. Andress), Kinbrae; Walter and Warren Guy, the two sons living at home.
CHARLES C. ERWIN, of Worthington, is the mail carrier for route one out of that village, which position he has held during the last three years. lle was born in Ef- fingnam county. Ill., Feb. 2, 1859, the son of Robert and Anna (Harrison) Erwin, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Both parents died in Illinois, the father in 1875, and the mother in 1872.
In his native county C. C. Erwin se- oured an education and grew to manhood. At the age of seventeen years an accident left him a cripple for life. At the time he was practically penniless and an or- phan and had obstacles to overcome that would have overwhelmed many a man. lle did not give up as many would have done,
but set determinately to work to better his condition. During the summer months he worked in the woods making railroad ties, and during the winter months worked in a cooper shop. By hard work, economy and frugality he prospered, and is today the owner of considerable property.
Mr. Erwin came to Nobles county in 1890 and for one year farmed the Bond place in Lorain township. He then rented a farm in Ransom township and lived there nine years. During the time of his residence there he purchased a quarter seetion of Ransom township land. Later he sold that and bought 245 acres on section 31, Worth- ington township, which he still owns. In Dreember, 1905, Mr. Erwin moved to Worth- ington and entered the mail service. For six months he was a substitute mail ear- rier, and then became the regular carrier for route No. 1, which position he has since held.
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