An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 93

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 924

USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 93
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 93

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lowa, and to this union two children bave been born, Donald and Marvel. Mr. Math- ews holds membership in a number of Lu- verne's leading fraternal orders, among them the Encampment and Canton branch- es of the Odd Fellows, the Modern Wood- men, United Workmen and Degree of Honor. He has been a trustee of Myrtle Lodge No. 67, I. O. O. F.

BERT W. BENNETT (1873), farmer and stock raiser of Beaver Creek township, was born in and has passed his entire life with- in the borders of that precinct. He is the son of Levi and Frances (Ells) Bennett, both natives of New York state, who were among the Rock county pioneers of 1872. In the spring of that year Levi Bennett filed a homestead claim to the southeast quarter of section 25, range 47, Beaver Creek town- ship, and it was on this farm that our sub- ject first saw the light of day, on October 12, 1873. Bert was educated in the district schools and until 1895 resided on and as- sisted in the operation of the home farm. He then commenced farming for himself, renting land until 1900, when in partnership with his brother, Clyde, he bought his farm of today, the southwest quarter of section 19.

At Beaver Creek, in 1907, the subject of this review was joined in marriage to Elsie Hattinger, the daughter of Jacob and Louise (Lukensmeyer) Hattinger, of Beaver Creek. One daughter, Evelyn May, was born to these parents, on February 3, 1908. Mr. Bennett holds membership in the Yeo- men, United Workmen and Degree of Honor lodges.

FERDINAND J. LEMKE (1882), propri- etor of Hardwick's only barber shop, has been a resident of Rock county since his third year. He is the son of F. J. and Hen- rietta Lemke, natives of Germany, who came to America in the late seventies. They homesteaded on section 22, Denver township, where Mr. Lemke died in 1900. His wife, the mother of our subject, now lives at Princeton, Minnesota.

Ferdinand first saw the light of day in the city of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, November 23, 1879. Three years later he accompanied

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his parents to Rock county and on his father's farm in Denver township he was a valued assistant until after his twenty-sixth birthday. Two

years thereafter he farmed on his own account the southeast quarter of section 4, Denver township. On retiring from the farm he moved to Lu- verne, where he was initiated into the ins and outs of the barber trade. He left Lu- verne to make an extended tour of the west. He visited many towns in the Pa- cific coast states and went as far south as Mexico, supporting himself by bis trade enroute. Returning to Minnesota, Mr. Lem- ke was employed at Wells for a time, and in 1908 he moved to Hardwick and bought his present three-chair barber shop, which he conducts to the complete satisfaction of a large circle of patrons.

Mr. Lemke was joined in marriage at Wells, Minnesota, on April 8, 1908, to Lil- lian G. Griggs, wbo was born April 22, 1888, at Grand Island, Nebraska. One son, Fer- dinand H., was born to these parents, Jan- uary 10, 1909. Mr. Lemke is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. lodge.

WILLIAM K. KASCH (1896), of Luverne township, is a native of Germany, born in Holstein March 24, 1872. The first seven- teen years of the life of our subject were spent in the land of the kaiser, where he was reared on a farm and received an edu- cation in the common schools.

During the year 1889 Mr. Kasch crossed the Atlantic and commenced his career in the land of his adoption. He located hrst in Sherman county, Nebraska, and hired out as a farm hand. Up to the time of coming to Rock county in 1896, he re- sided in different parts of Nebraska and Iowa. The first two years in Rock county Mr. Kasch was employed with a threshing crew and at farm labor in Springwater and Luverne townships. In 1898 he was mar- ried and the same year moved on to his present farm, the northeast quarter of sec tion 5, which was owned by his wife. With the exception of one year spent on an irrigated farm in Colorado, his residence on the farm mentioned has been continuous since 1898. He has served as road overseer of his district.

William K. Kasch is the son of Carl and

Willhelmina (lipp) Kasch, who still live with their son. Our subject was married in Rock county on February 14, 1898, to Lucine Ahrendt, who was born in Benton county, Iowa, Angust 16, 1867. One son and two daughters have blessed this union: Paul, born November 22, 1898; Millie, born May 22, 1901; and Esther, born August 17, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Kasch are members of the German Evangelical Lutheran church.

JOHN G. GABRIALSON (1895), a Kan- aranzi township farmer, has lived in Rock county the entire sixteen years he has been an adopted son of Uncle Sam. He was horn near Christiansand, Norway, March 14, 1878. His father, Gabriel Hoi- land, still resides in the land of the mid- night sun at an advanced age. The mother, Rebeka (Olson) Hoiland, died December 8, 1906.

John Gabrialson's life until after his sev- enteenth birthday was spent in the land of his birth. He was brought up on a farm and received an education afforded by the neighboring school. This was supplement- ed by a short term of schooling after com- ing to America and to Rock county, which was in 1895. For the first two years after his arrival he was employed by his brothers, who were farmers in Kanaranzi township; then he set up as an independent tiller of the soil. Settling on the northeast quarter of section S, of which he is the owner of forty acres, he continues to conduct the same farm. Mr. Gabrialson is a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is unmarried.

GEORGE M. BENDT (1890), of Spring- water township, has a continuous residence in Rock county of twenty-one years to his credit. A native of Germany, he was born in Holstein February 21, 1873, the son of Henry and Dora (Schmidt) Bendt. George came to America with his parents at the age of eleven years and resided with them for six years in Scott county, Iowa. 1890 the father came with his family to Rock county and rented land in Luverne township, where our subject finished his education in the district schools. After coming of age he worked out on different

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farms for a time, and in 1903 he rented his present land, the southeast quarter of section 36, Springwater township, and commenced farming on his own account. He is a director of school district No. 46.

Mr. Bendt was married in Luverne on October 4, 1893, to Eda Geoskey. She was born March 6, 1878, the daughter of Fred and Sophia (Jonart) Geoskey, both na- tives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bendt have the following named children: Wil- liam, born November 13, 1895; George, born January 24, 1897; Alma, born April 22, 1898; Herman, born April 3, 1901; Edna, born April 11, 1902; and Hitda, born June 7, 1904.

JOSEPH L. SNOOK (1884) with his cous in, J. F. Snook, operates the popular res- taurant and confectionery store kown as Snook's cafe, located in the MeGraff build- ing on the main street of Luverne. He was horn in McLean county, Illinois, Au- gust 17, 1874.

Our subject is the eldest living son of W. II. and Sarah M. (Johnson) Snook, both natives of Ohio, who in early youth became residents of MeLean county, Illinois, where they were married and lived until 1884. That year they moved to Rock county, bought land and farmed in Luverne town- ship until 1895, and then removed to De- Witt county, Illinois, where W. H. Snook died July 7, 1900, at the age of fifty-three. The mother now resides in Unverne and is the owner of the Rock county farm. There were six children in the family, one of whom died in infancy. Besides Joseph L. the others are Harry, Daisy, Stella and Rosa.

Joseph was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents from Illinois to Rock county, He lived on the home farm, attended the rural schools and assisted with the work until attaining his majority. He then married and managed his father's farm four years. Since then his home has been in the city of Luverne. He operated a bus and transfer line for some time, then in partnership with Ira Sanders bought the Union livery barn. On retiring from the livery business he was employed as a gro- cery clerk for a year and a half and for a short period served as the city mar- shal. In 1904 Mr. Snook assisted in the

organization of the Luverne Mercantile com- pany and was connected with the firm as buyer until March of the following year, when he became the owner of the F. 1 .. Burley restaurant. In 1907 he admitted his cousin into partnership in the business, a union which still exists. He is a mem- ber of the fire department and of the follow- ing fraternal orders: Odd Fellows, Rebekahs and Modern Woodmen. He holds the degree of patriarch militant in the first named or- der.

The marriage of Mr. Snook to Hattie Heinz was solemnized in Luverne on Feb- ruary 2, 1899. Mrs. Snook is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Heinz, of Luverne, and she was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Jan- uary 2, 1876. One son, Leo L., was born to this union on September 26, 1901.

HENRY SCHLUETER (1900), who man- ages the interests of the J. P. Coffey Grain company at Ashcreek, was born in Ger- many on the twenty-seventh of May, 1864. He is the son of Frank and Anna (Schultz) Schlueter, the former of whom lives in the old country at the advanced age of eighty- three years. The mother died some years ago.

Henry received a good education in his native land. He completed the course of the common schools and at an early age entered the high school of his town, where he was a student for several years. The United States has been his adopted country since 1880. For the first six years follow- ing his arrival he was employed as a farm laborer near Salem, South Dakota. Go- ing from there to Omaha, Nebraska, he was employed on the Union Pacific railroad until 1892. That date marks his commence- ment as a citizen of Minnesota, He rented a farm near Adrian and conducted the same for eight years. Ashcreek in 1900 became his home. He lived in the village, build- ing himself a residence, and for seven years farmed a piece of land near by. Then for two years previous to the spring of 1900, when he assumed his present duties in Ashcreek, he farmed near Hardwick.

Mr. Schlueter holds membership in the M. W. A. and I. O. O. F. lodges. While living in Omaha, on November 21, 1886, he was married to Hannah Law, the daughter

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ROCK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.

of John and Margaret Law, who came from Germany in 1881 and settled near the Ne- braska city. They are the parents of three children, Anna M., Emil and Henry.

ANNIE M. TUFF (1887) is the widow of Hans Tuff, for more than twenty years a well known Rock county farmer. She was born in Hadeland, Norway, March 10, 1865, the daughter of Nels and Annie Ol- son. At the age of twenty-two she came alone to America and direct to Rock coun- ty. For a time she was employed by Mrs. Asle O. Skattum, and the year after her arrival she was married to Hans Tuff. Mr. Tuff came to Rock county from his native land, Norway, and bought eighty acres of section 32, and eighty acres of section 29, also the southwest quarter of section 32, all in Martin township. The latter tract he dis- posed of in 1885, but the title to the re- mainder of the land is held by his widow. Mr. Tuff died August 5, 1901.

There are seven children in the Tuff family, all except the eldest residing at home, and are as follows: Bertha M. (Mrs. Peter Erickson), of Beadle county, South Dakota, born October 5, 1888; Anna N., born September 22, 1890; Olga, born July 10, 1892; Henry O., born March 23, 1894; Enga C., born March 4, 1896; Alfred, born February 23, 1898; Melvin H., born June 27, 1901.

JAMES A. DAVIDSON (1904), proprietor of the Central hotel of Luverne, is a native of Portage, Wisconsin, and was born April 28, 1856. His father died when our subject was a baby. James was brought up in his native town, making his home with his mother until he was twenty-two years of age and securing a common schoot edu- cation in Portage.

In 1878 Mr. Davidson located in Adrian. Soon afterward he married and for sev- eral years engaged in farming near Adrian. Moving to Bryant, South Dakota, Mr. Da- vidson bought a flour store and meat mar- ket, which he conducted three years. He next located in Pipestone and for seven years was engaged in the restaurant busi- ness, after which he was engaged in the hotel business in Jasper one and one-half years. In September, 1904, Mr. Davidson

moved to Lnverne and he has since been the proprietor of the Central hotel, one of the pioneer hostelries of the city.

The parents of our subject, James and Agnes (Duff) Davidson, were of Scottish birth. Soon after their marriage they came to America and located at Portage, Wiscon- sin, where their only child, the subject of this biography, was born. James Davidson, Sr., died in Portage, at the age of twenty- five years; his widow remarried and now lives at Bryant, South Dakota, aged seven- ty-seven years.

James A. Davidson was married at Lu- verne October 30, 1889, to Rose M. Calkins, also a native of Wisconsin. They are the parents of six living children, named as follows: Charles C., of Luverne; Maud M. (Mrs. Bert Henton), of Beaver Creek; Grace M., Bernice E., Fred V. and Harry A. A son, Alton J., died June 21, 1909, at the age of twenty-one years.

Mr. Davidson is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Luverne and of the An- cient Order of United Workmen of Adrian.

JOHN M. TRENHAILE (1892) is engaged in the livery and dray business in Hard- wick and also engages in farming. He is the son of Thomas and Eliza (Paul) Tren- haile, prominent and respected residents of Hardwick, and is one of a family of eight children, named as follows: Henry, John, Clarence, Guy, Mabel, Maud, Carrie and Florence.

John was born in Saunders county, Ne- braska, April 28, 1875. When a boy of thirteen years he moved with his parents from Nebraska to Orient, Faulk county, South Dakota, and there resided three years. John attended the village school and as- sisted his father in the work around his store and livery stable. Since 1892 his home has been in Hardwick and he has fol- lowed the pursuits before mentioned. He is unmarried and makes his home with his parents.

Thomas Trenhaile, the father of our sub- ject, is a native of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where he was born December 26, 1849, the son of George and Mary (Stephens) Trenhaile. He began the battle of life for himself on arriving at the age of twenty- one. During the summer seasons he work-

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ed as a farm lahorer and during the other seasons was employed in the mines. For fifteen years he farmed in Saunders coun- ty, Nebraska, then was engaged in the mer- cantile business at Orient, South Dakota, until 1892, sinee which time he has lived in Hardwick. The first year of his residence there he conducted a general store, and then for two years farmed a few miles from the village. He again entered the mercantile field and with Q. Stark con- ducted a hardware store four years, when he sold out his inetest to his partner and engaged in the livery and dray business and farming. In recent years he purchased the hardware and harness stock of Q. Stark and the drug business of A. H. Haigley, combined the two stocks, and is now a hardware aud drug merchant.

Thomas Tranbaile was justice of the peace two years and for the same length of time served on the village council. He was married in Iowa county, Wisconsin, October 10, 1873, to Eliza Paul.

LEE ENGLISH (1902), of Beaver Creek township, was born in McLean county, Illi- nois, July 14, 1877. He is the son of D. H and Jane (Frankeberger) English, residents of Ellsworth, Illinois, where the former couducts a saw mill. Both parents are natives of Illinois and come from families of long residence in America.

Lee was educated in the district schools of his nalive county, where he passed the first twenty-hve years of his life. Ile as- sisted his father with the supervision of the home farm, then was engaged in teaming for several years prior to leaving Illinois and coming to Rock county in March, 1902. For the first two years after settlement in this county, Mr. English was employed by an uncle in Beaver Creek township, then worked for seven months in a livery barn at Beaver Creek village. He assisted his uncle for another year, then set up in farming on his own account. He farmed 100 acres of section 16 for a year, was located for a like period on an eighty acre farm on section 9, and since 1907 has rented and conducted with success his present place, the south half of section 16. He is a large breeder of Chester White hogs. Lee English and Nettie Brooks were mar-

ried at Beaver Creek on September 26, 19.7. Mrs. English was born near Sheldon, lowa, August 7, 1882, the daughter of E. C. and Julia Brooks, now residents of Beaver Creek. One child, Norma Gertrude, was born to these parents on April 22, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. English are members of the Beaver Creek Presbyterian church.

HALVOR J. BOE (1904), of Rose Dell township, is a native Norwegian, having been born in Borge Prestefeld Lofoten on July 18, 1883. He is the son of Johan and Hansine (Gilbertson) Anderson, and is the third in a family of four children, the others of whom are Alexandria ( Mrs. M. O. Petter- sen), of Rose Dell township; Gustav A., who died in infancy; and Magnhild, who lives in the old home in Norway. Our sub- ject acquired a common school education in his native land, worked out as a farm laborer, and in 1904 came to this country and direet to Rock county. He lives with his brother-in-law, M. O. Pettersen. He works forty acres of land and threshes during the harvest seasons.

JOHN E. LAMM (1899), cigar manufac- turer of Luverne, was born in Freeport, Illinois, the fourteenth of December, 1879. When four years of age he moved with his parents to Adrian, Nobles county, Minne- sota, where they still reside. His father, Andrew Lamm, is a native of New York state, while his mother, Barbara (Schead- ley) Lamm, was born in the city of Free- port. John has four sisters: ('lara, Lulu, Mayme and Agnes.

After acquiring an education in the pub- lic schools of Adrian, our subject entered the cigar manufactory of W. L. Bartlett at that place as an apprentice. He mastered the cigar maker's trade under Mr. Bartlett, and in August, 1899, he moved to Luverne and entered the employ of E. L. Dobell, with whom he was connected for more than ten years. In August, 1910, Mr. Lamm established a factory of his own in Luverne and has made the venture a success. His principal brands of cigars are "La Palma," "Luverne, Our Choice," "Lamm's Best" and "Miss Dainty." He is a member of the

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Luverne fire department and the Odd Fel- lows and Modern Woodmen lodges.

John E. Lamm was married in Luverne on May 30, 1902, to Clara Thomte, the daughter of Hans Thomte, of Luverne. She was born in the county January 10, 1881. One daughter, Fern, has been born to this union. There is a peculiar distinction in connection with the birth of Mrs. Lamm. She was born ten days later than her twin sister, Enga, the only case on medical record of such a long interval in connec- tion with a dual birth.

JACOB O. JACOBSON (1897)' is a well known farmer and stock raiser of Martin township. He is the son of Abraham and Nicholine (Hegg) Jacobson, natives of Nor- way, who came to America early in life. Abraham Jacobson was a minister of the gospel and his first charges in the new world were in Illinois and Iowa. He was one of the very first to settle in Winne- shiek county, Iowa.

It was in Winneshiek county, on April 13, 1868, that Jacob O. Jacobson of this re- view was born. Shortly after that event, he accompanied his parents to Dane coun- ty, Wisconsin, where his youth was passed. After mastering the curriculum of the dis- trict schools, he was for two years a stu- dent at Breckenridge college, located at De- corah, Iowa. For two years previous to his locating in Rock county, in 1897, Jacob was a resident of the state of Washington. He was the landlord of a hotel in the town of Stanwood for part of the time, later being employed in a saw mill. For a number of years our subject was engaged in the business of well driller, and in 1901 he bought his present place, the northeast quarter of section 11, range 47, which he continues to farm. Mr. Jacobson has served for a considerable period on both the town- ship board and the board of his school dis- trict. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator company of Valley Springs and in the Farmers Telephone company.

Jacob O. Jacobson has been twice mar- ried. He was joined in the bonds of matri- mony August 21, 1894, in Winneshiek coun- ty, Iowa, to Mary A. Johnson, and to this union one son, Paul Allert, was born Sep- tember 22, 1896. Mrs. Jacobson died May

16, 1897. Again, on June 28, 1900, at East Sioux Falls, South Dakota, our subject was married to Bertha Iverson, who was born September 19, 1867, and is the daughter of Iver and Kristi (Sponheim) Borsheim, of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. These parents have three children, namely: Iver A., Carl N. and Mary A. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson are members of the United Lu- theran church of Hills.

SAMUEL A. CARTER (1907) is a lead- ing citizen of Ashcreek, where he has heen engaged in the grain business since February, 1907. New York is his native state, and in Broome county he was born February 16, 1846.

When six years of age our subject moved with his parents to Adams county, Wiscon- sin, where he was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools. Samuel was a lad of sixteen when he en- listed in the union army to aid in the de- fense of his country and her honor. He served for three years and was an active participant in the engagements at Vicks- burg, Pleasant Hills, Franklin, Nashville and Tupelo, Mississippi, not to mention others of lesser importance. Mr. Carter's regiment was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa, September 8, 1865. At the return of peace he returned home, secured another year's schooling, and then rented a farm, which he operated six years. After that he engaged in the grain business at various places until 1890, when he located at Primghar, Iowa, and was in the employ of the McCormick Harvester company for three years.

In the election of 1894, Mr. Carter was chosen sheriff of O'Brien county, Jowa, and served in that capacity four years. He was then justice of the peace for a year. In 1899 he re-engaged in the grain business, at Egan, South Dakota, where he remained until 1907. That year, in company with his son, he bought the J. Morland elevator at Ashereck, which he has since conducted. In connection with his own business, he manages the local yard of the W. T. Joyce Lumber company.

Mr. Carter was married at Laporte, In- diana, December 20, 1866, to Sarah K. Drake, a daughter of William H. and Bet-

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ROCK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.

sie (Cline) Drake, of Mitchell county, Iowa. Three sons and a daughter have blessed this union: Frank A., born February 22, 1868; Fred L., born January 10, 1869; Lil- lian A., born October 8, 1872; and Charles E., born November 20, 1875.

Mr. Carter is chairman of the Clinton township board of supervisors. He is a prominent lodge man and has passed through many of the Masonic degrees. He holds membership in lodges of that order at Coleman and Flandreau, South Dakota, and at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is also a member of the G. A. R. and of the Con- gregational church.

THOMAS EDWIN LEWIS (1890) has spent all except the first seven years of his life as a Rock county resident. A na- tive of Coffey county, Kansas, he was born April 27, 1883. His parents, Thomas and Mattie (Tidd) Lewis, both natives of Ohio, moved from Kansas with their family to Rock county in 1890. Until attaining his majority, the life of Thomas was much the same as the average healthy country boy. He entered the district schools and early began performing the many tasks on the home farm. In the first year of his man- hood he rented land and commenced farm- ing on his own account. In 1905 he rented and moved to his present place, the north- east quarter of section 14, range 47, Spring- water township.

Our subject was married in Luverne March 27, 1903, to Florence E. Maurice, a daughter of Charles and Lizzie (Bourne) Maurice. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are the par- ents of the following children: Florence E, Gertrude L. and Floyd E.

IIENRY GOETTSCHI (1909), one of the more recently established farmers of Den- ver township, is a German by birth and breeding. He was born in the province of Ilolstein the fifteenth of December, 1861. His parents, Henry and Cecelia (Snyder) Goettsch, lie buried in the fatherland. The former died in 1888 and the latter in 1903.

Ilenry worked on the home farm unti; after his sixteenth birthday. He then com- menced to hire out and was employed at

farm labor until the time of his immigra- tion to the United States in 1885, at the age of twenty-four. He resided two years in O'Brien county, lowa; then l'or lifteen years he was a farmer of Benton county, lowa. In 1902 Mr. Goettsch became a resi- dent of Minnesota. He farmed rented land near Woodstock, Pipestone county, for seven years, or until the fall of 1909, when he established a home on the Rock county farm he now cultivates, the northeast quar- ter of section 33, Denver township. Our subject is a director of school district No. 71 and the overseer of road district No. 4. He is a shareholder in the Woodstock Farmers Elevator company.

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An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota, Part 93

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970 Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company Number of Pages: 924

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Luverne, Minn. : Northern History Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 924