History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1), Part 37

Author: L. A. Fritsche, M. D.
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Minnesota > Brown County > History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1) > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

try at Meyer's mills, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where for a year he worked at his trade. He then walked to Cumberland, Maryland, and in Gilpintown, Allegheny county, that state, on the old National road, found employ- ment. He was there nine months, at the end of which time he went to Philadelphia, where he was employed until the financial crash of 1857 caused a general closing of the mills and he found himself out of work. He then went to Harris- burg and thence into the Allegheny mountains, where he spent the winter chopping wood. Later he found employ- ment in a tannery at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and was there employed until 1861, in which year, attracted by the fine reports received in the East regarding the promising conditions in the great Northwest, came to Minnesota, his "good star" guiding him to the New Ulm settlement. He was so much impressed with conditions then existing in Brown county that he bought a farm in Cottonwood town- ship and proceeded to develop the same. When the Indian massacre occurred on August 18, 1862, he responded at once to the call to arms and enlisted in the volunteer militia serv- ice, later transfering his services to the Mounted Rangers with which he served until the Indian uprising was most effectually put down. Upon receiving his honorable dis- charge at Ft. Snelling he returned East and for some time rendered efficient aid in the tannery of his former employer, Samuel Steele, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania. While thus employed he met a Bavarian girl, Anna Roeck, who not long before had come to this country with her parents from Munich, and it was a case of "love at first sight" for both. On May 5, 1865, Mr. Doehne and Miss Roeck were united in marriage and immediately thereafter started West, Mr.

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Doehne bringing his bride to Brown county and establishing his home on the Cottonwood township farm which he had bought a few years ago, and there he and his wife prospered from the very beginning, laying there the foundation for their later very substantial material success. That pioneer farm Mr. Doehne retained until a few years ago, when he sold it.

From the beginning of Mr. Doehne's permanent resi- dence in this county he took an active part in the common life of the community and was soon not only regarded as one of the substantial men of his neighborhood, but one of the most useful and influential. He was one of the early super- visors of Cottonwood township; was later a valued member of the board of county commissioners, and after his location in New Ulm was for years one of the most influential mem- bers of the city council. It was in 1874 that Mr. Doehne left the farm and moved with his family to New Ulm, where he engaged in the lumber business and also established a plan- ing-mill. After being thus engaged for about two years he formed a partnership with Jacob Pfaenninger and Werner Boesch in the operation of the old Eagle roller flour-mill and was thus engaged until that enterprising trio sold the mill to Charles Silverson, since which time Mr. Doehne and his former partners have lived retired. In 1884 Mr. Doehne erected a beautiful and commodious residence at 124 South German street, in New Ulm, and there he ever since has made his home, very comfortably situated. He has an ex- tensive and carefully selected library and in the genial "evening time" of his life finds much comfort and pleasure in his favorite books. He has ever been a lover of good books, a great reader, and still, though living in the eighth

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decade of his life, retains the liveliest interest in current affairs, though his chief pleasure, in reading, is found in those noble works of literature that have stood the test of the years. Mr. Doehne is one of that all too rapidly passing type of manhood lovingly referred to as "a gentleman of the old school," and has ever stood for those things that are true of good report. Having no patience with the shams and weakness of mankind, and despising all in life that is mean and debased, his aspirations ever have been of a lofty character and his life in this community has for many years exerted a most wholesome influence for good.

On August 17, 1910, Mr. Doehne was bereaved by death of the gentle and loving companion of his married life, Mrs. Anna Doehene dying on that date, at the age of sixty-one years and eight months, she having been born on December 22, 1848. Mr. Doehne suffered a great loss in the death of his wife, who was a loving and faithful companion, a compe- tent helpmeet and an able and sympathetic counsellor to her husband. Mrs. Doehene was a woman of much refinement and in her gentle way did much to elevate the standards of social life in this community, while her life was ever aboun- ding in good works. She was devoted to her husband and her children and ever sought to make her home the pleasantest place in the world for them. There were five of these children, as follow: William, a graduate of the Uni- versity of Michigan and a young man of brilliant accomp- lishments and a most promising future, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Amelia, who married Dr. O. C. Strick- ler, of New Ulm, and has two daughters, Vera and Leola: Clara, who married Dr. C. J. Rothenberg, of Springfield, this county, and has three children, Robert, Norma and

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Marion; George, who was graduated from the pharmaceu- tical department of the University of Michigan and now lives at Spokane, Washington, and Louise, who is at home with her father.

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REV. ROBERT SCHLINKERT.

The Rev. Robert Schlinkert, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic church at New Ulm, this county, is a native of Germany, having been born in the town of Warstein, in Westphalia, July 21, 1868, son of Frank and Wilhelmina (Spanke) Schlinkert, both natives of Westphalia. Frank Schlinkert was a village merchant, a calling he followed un- til his death. He was born on November 1, 1822, and died on March 31, 1897. His widow survived him a little more than four years, her death occurring on April 14, 1901. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living, the subject of this sketch being the only one, how- ever, who has ever been a resident of Brown county.

Robert Schlinkert received his elementary education in the public schools of his native town, where he also attended the high school or gymnasium for two years. Soon after coming to the United States he entered St. Thomas College at St. Paul, this state, where he studied for five years in preparation for the seminary. After the prescribed six- years course in the seminary he was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1899 and on December 17 of that year cele- brated his first mass at the Church of the Assumption at St. Paul.

After his college and seminary career the authorities retained him at St. Thomas College as an instructor in Ger- man, Latin and ancient history. After four years of valu- able service in that capacity, Father Schlinkert was assigned to a parish at Hampton, this state, and for six years re-

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mained at that place as pastor of St. Matthew's church dur- ing which period of service he did much toward extending the general interests of the parish, improving the same largely both in a spiritual and a material way. In 1910 Father Slinkert was transferred to the more important parish of Holy Trinity at New Ulm and has ever since been serving as pastor of that church, the interests of which also have been largely advanced under his intelligent and effi- cient direction.

Father Schlinkert is chaplain of the New Ulm branch of the Knights of Columbus and serves in the same capacity in the local branch of the Catholic Order of Foresters, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

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JOHN H. SIEGEL.

John H. Siegel, first vice-president of the Eagle Roller Mills at New Ulm, this county, and one of the best-known flour-mill men in the Northwest, was literally born to the milling business, his father having been a pioneer miller in Indiana, and he has been connected with the flour-milling industry all the active years of his life.

Born at Newburg, Indiana, in 1858, John H. Siegel received his education in the schools of that thriving little town and early took a place in his father's flour-mill. When nineteen years of age he went to Elizabethtown, Illinois, where he remained until 1879, in which year he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was placed in charge of the W. B. Lowery mill. Two years later his services were en- gaged by the Jewell Milling Company, at Brooklyn, New York, and he had been connected with that mill four years when a more attractive proposition took him to Milwaukee, where, in 1885, he became second miller in the Daisy Roller Mills, and he remained there until 1891, in which year he came to Minnesota and started the Eagle Roller Mills at New Ulm for the Allis-Chalmers Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the following year he became the superin- tendent of the Daisy Roller Mill Company and was thus connected with that concern for four years, at the end of which time, in 1896, his services again were secured by. the Eagle Roller Mill Company and he was installed as super- intendent of that company's great plant at New Ulm. Mr. Siegel gradually became the owner of a considerable block

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of stock in the company and in 1904 was elected first vice- president of the company, a position which he still holds and by virtue of which he is recognized as one of the most commanding figures in the great flour-milling industry of the Northwest.

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FRED J. BACKER.

Fred J. Backer, well-known merchant of New Ulm, this county, doing an extensive business in harness and leather goods generally, also an extensive manufacturer of harness, is a native of the kingdom of Bavaria, having been born there on June 3, 1870, son of John and Martha (Weis) Backer, natives of that same country, who later became well-known and influential residents of this section of Min- nesota, their last days having been spent on their big farm in Milford township, this county.

John Backer was the youngest of the four children born to his parents, the others having been George, Mrs. Gareis, deceased, and one who died in the old country. His parents, who were well-to-do farming people, spent all their lives in their native land. John Backer was reared to the life of the farm and became a brick and tile manufacturer in Seibels- dorf, Bavaria. There he married Martha Weis, only child of Frederick and Margaret Weis, the former of whom died in his native land. His widow accompanied her daughter when the Backers came to Minnesota and she died in old age at the Backer home in Milford township. It was in 1872 that John Backer and his family came to the United States. They proceeded directly to Minnesota upon landing and settled in Milford township, this county, where Mr. Backer bought a fine farm of four hundred acres. There he estab- lished his home and reared his family and there he and his wife spent their last days, long having been regarded as among the most substantial residents of that neighborhood.

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John Backer died in 1881 and his widow survived until August 24, 1902, making her home with her son, Fred J., for about four years before her death, she being nearly seventy years of age at the time of her death. Both she and her husband were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were twelve of these children, namely: Fredricka, deceased, who was the wife of Gustav Lueck; Johanna, wife of Henry Horst- korta, of Minneapolis, this state; Kunigunda, wife of Bernhardt Knees, of Milford township, this county ; Martha, wife of William Dehn, also of Milford township; Christian, of New Ulm; Andrew, who lived on the old homestead farm in Milford township until the spring of 1916 when he retired and moved to New Ulm; Fred J., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; David, deceased; August, of Essig, this county; Anna, wife of Herman Meyer, of New Ulm, and two who died in early youth in the old country.

Fred J. Backer was about two years old when his family settled in this county and he grew up on the home farm in Milford township, receiving his education in the public schools. He remained at home until he was eighteen years old and then went to New Ulm, where he learned the harness- maker's trade, which he has followed ever since, having been in business for himself since 1892. Mr. Backer carries an extensive stock of light and heavy harness and all kinds of horse goods, as well as a full and complete line of trunks, valises, robes and leather goods generally and does a flour- ishing business, being regarded as one of the leading mer- chants in his line in this part of the state. He takes an active interest in the general commercial life of the commu- nity and is one of the directors of the State Bank of New

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Ulm. During the terrific cyclone which swept this section in 1881 Mr. Backer, then an active boy of eleven, received a serious injury and he has always regarded it as a little less than a miracle that he was not killed. A good-sized piece of board was driven by the force of the wind clear through his right leg, but fortunately careful nursing brought him through without the loss of his leg.

On January 13, 1898, Fred J. Backer was united in marriage to Emma Buenger, who was born in New Ulm, daughter of Louis and Henrietta (Ipps) Buenger, well- known residents of this community, a detailed history of which interesting family in this county is set out in a biographical sketch relating to Emil Buenger, presented elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children have been born, Martha and Alfa. Mr. and Mrs. Backer are members of the Lutheran church and are warmly interested in the various beneficences of that organization, being held in high esteem by their many friends hereabout. Mr. Backer is a member of the famous Second Regiment band at New Ulm and is a musician of considerable ability. He is "independent" in his political views, regarding the man as of importance than the mere party emblem, when it comes to local elections, and tries to do his full part as a citizen and as a neighbor.

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JOHN F. NEUMANN.

For many years John F. Neumann now living in retirement at New Ulm, was one of the most enterprising merchants of Brown county. He was born in East Prussia, Germany, February 21, 1840, and is a son of Carl and Louisa Neumann. The father was a farmer in the old country. His family consisted of nine children, of whom John F. was the second in order of birth. John F. Neumann spent his boyhood in Germany and there attended school until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to work in a dry goods store. He was for some time a soldier in the light cavalry and took part in the war against Hanover in 1866, being promoted to a corporal for good conduct. He immi- grated to the United States in 1868 and worked a year on the Union Pacific railroad, laying ties from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Ogden, Utah. He then came to Rochester, Minnesota, and worked on a farm six months, then secured employment in a store, in which he spent six months. In February, 1870, he came to New Ulm and peddled dry goods and notions around the country, starting a store the follow- ing year in partnership with Frank Friedman, selling out to his partner a year later and started a saloon and store in combination, finally giving up the saloon and continued in general merchandising. By good management and close application he prospered with advancing years, building up the largest department store in New Ulm and doing an ex- tesive business which extended over a wide territory. He continued in this line for over forty years, then, in 1910, sold

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out and retired from active life, having accumulated a hand- some competency for his declining years. He still owns his business block in Minnesota street, New Ulm.

John F. Neumann was married in October, 1870, to Theresa Rosskopf, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Zavier Rosskopf. To this union eight children were born, five of whom are still living, namely: Louisa, who married Fred Pfender, the present postmaster of New Ulm, and they have four children, Walter, Armen, James and Ther- esa; Prof. John Achs, single, is a teacher in the University of Wisconsin at Madison; Mamie is the wife of Albert Pfender and they have two children, Hans A. and Marion; Anna married Frank Rinher and two children were born to them, Grace and Thelma; Aurora is the wife of Louis Quast and has one child, Lois.

After the death of his first wife, in May, 1888, Mr. Neumann was united in marriage, on October 1, of that year, to Amelia Kuhnel, a native of Nicollet county, Minne- sota, and a daughter of Gotleib Kuhnel, and four children have been born to this union, namely: Victor took up a homestead in North Dakota where he now lives; Rolland is a physical culture instructor in the high school in St. Louis, Missouri; Lawrence is a graduate of the University of Wis- consin; Phyllis is a student in the New Ulm high school.

Mr. Neumann is a member of the Turnverein. He is a man of public spirit and has always been one of New Ulm's most enthusiastic boosters, having done much for the gen- eral welfare of the city and community.

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JOHN SCHLUMPBERGER.

After a successful, honorable and varied career, John Schlumpberger, who has also a reputation as a soldier, is living in retirement in his cozy home in New Ulm. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, October 28, 1836, where he spent his earlier years and attended school, coming to the United States in 1861. He was a son of John and Ursula (Semmerman) Schlumpberger, who spent their lives on a farm, and whose family consisted of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the ninth in order of birth. Upon leaving school at the age of fourteen John Schlumpberger served an apprenticeship as a mechanic for eight years, then worked in a factory in Rolfinger, which was owned by the state of Wurtemberg, and locomotives and railroad equipment were manufactured. He could not se- cure employment at his trade when he reached America, the Civil War being then in full blast, so he turned his attention to farming in Brown county, Minnesota, which was then a new country. After working out for one year near the town of Milford, he secured a position as bartender, in 1862, at the Dakota hotel bar, and worked there for six months, then proved his loyalty to his adopted country by enlisting in Company L, First Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, for the purpose of fighting the Indians, and served in the regiment one year. He had previously been a member of the state militia, in which he enlisted on August 18, 1862, and the same day had his first skirmish with the Indians. Later he took part in the battle of New Ulm, and on November 1,

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JOHN SCHLUMPBERGER AND FAMILY.

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1862, he enlisted in the army as before mentioned. He did scout duty, most of the time at South Branch, near Fair- mount, and was honorably discharged in November, 1863, later receiving a pension from the government. After leav- ing the army he secured employment in the plant of the Schell & Bankard Brewing Company where he worked nine months, then bought a piece of land and got married, June 15, 1864. His land was located three and one-half miles from New Ulm, and there he resided until 1902, in April of which year he retired and moved to New Ulm. He was married in Mankato, Blue Earth county, to Mary Rohner, who was born in Austria, November 14, 1843, and was a daughter of Jacob and Anna Rohner. Her father was a car- penter by trade; her mother died when she was very young and she was then taken into her uncle's home-that of Frank Beltstein-where she lived until her marriage with the sub- ject. The Beltstein family came to the United States in 1854, locating in Ohio, where they spent one year, then re- moved to Iowa, where they spent twelve months, then came to Brown county, Minnesota, in 1856, where they bought land of the government three miles of New Ulm, and there the uncle and aunt of the subject's wife spent the rest of their lives.

Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schlumpberger, only one of whom is deceased; they are named as follow: Frank, who married Chrisenca Weissen- see, has five children, John, Florence, Ameil, Frank and Lucy; Mary, who married Anton Springer, has six children, Amelia, Hugo, Otto, Bruno, Terry and Egatha; Amelia, who married Max Reinhart, has three children, Alfred, Jenette and Martha; Alfred, who married Jennie Small, has three (7a)

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children, Alvin, Bessie and Leander; Hermonie, who mar- ried Joe Bruner, has nine children, Oscar, Lucile, Albert, Josie, Mamie, Edgar, Grace, Cora and Dora (twins) ; Lud- wig, who married Ada Backer, has four children, Eleanor, Ray, Clifford and Charlotte; Gustav, who died on March 19, 1913, married Theresa Schneider, and they had two chil- dren, Arthur and Martha; Albert has remained unmarried; Caroline, who married Joseph Portner, has four children, Armen, Elvira, Adeline and Leola; Magdelen, who married Adolph Schneider, has three children, Clarence, Matthew and Alfonse; Antonia is not married and lives at home ; Amanda married John Nehls and has two children, Norman and Elmer. Mr. Schlumpberger has two great-grand- children, Melvin, who is a son of Amelia, who is a daughter of Mary and Anton Springer, Amelia having married Val- entine Zeller; Hugo Springer also has a child named Elmora.

Mr. Schlumpberger was a member of the Evangelical church in Germany, but has not joined any denomination here. His wife is a member of the Catholic church. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, also Hager Post No. 48, Grand Army of the Republic. He votes independently, and he was a member of the school board in Cottonwood township for several years, representing dis- trict No. 3. He was on the board of supervisors in Cotton- wood township for four years.

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FRANK P. ZSCHUNKE.

Frank P. Zschunke, well-known clothing merchant at New Ulm and head of a chain of five clothing stores in Minnesota and the Dakotas, one of the most enterprising and energetic business men in this section of the state, is a native of Germany, having been born in the town of Alstedt, Thueringen, June 29, 1873, son of Louis and Mina (Mueller) Zschunke, both natives of that same state, who later became residents of New Ulm, where the former died in 1891, at the age of forty-six years, and where the latter still lives, in her sixty-fifth year.

Louis Zschunke was reared to the tailor's trade in his native land and became a very competent tailor, the owner of a merchant tailoring establishment in his home town. In September, 1885, attracted by the good reports proceeding from this part of Minnesota, he and his family came to the United States and settled at New Ulm, where he opened a merchant tailoring establishment, which he conducted to the time of his death in 1891. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, namely: Fred, deceased; Frank P., the immediate subject of this biograph- ical sketch; Carl, of Springfield, this county; Otto, of Harvey, North Dakota; Louisa, who married C. W. Bloom, now living at Los Angeles, California; and Anna, who married Allen Steffen, of Detroit, Michigan.

Frank P. Zschunke was twelve years old when he came

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to America with his parents. For two years after his arrival in New Ulm he attended the city schools and then, in 1887, he then being fourteen years of age, he went to work on the farm of August Kiesling. In 1888-89 he was engaged as a clerk in the clothing store of John F. Neumann, at New Ulm, and in 1890-92 worked as an apprentice in the printing department of the New Ulm Post, a German paper, follow- ing which he went to Watertown, South Dakota, where he was for a while engaged as a printer on a newspaper there, after which he returned to New Ulm and for some time worked in the office of the New Ulm Review, an English paper. He then returned to his old position in the clothing store of Mr. Neumann and was there employed until in August, 1901, at which time he formed a partnership with Albert Schilling and the two established a clothing store in New Ulm. At the end of a year of this partnership, Albert J. Katz bought Mr. Schilling's interest in the store, the firm then becoming F. P. Zschunke & Co. In 1908 this firm established a store at Mankato, in addition to its New Ulm store, and incorporated, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, as the Columbia Clothing Company. As this company's affairs prospered additional stores were started, until it now owns a chain of five stores, those besides the central store at New Ulm being the stores at Brooking, South Dakota; Howard, South Dakota; Harvey, North Dakota, and at Morton, in the neighboring county of Ren- ville, this state. During the time of his ownership of the store at Mankato Mr. Zschunke made his home in the latter city, but in 1910 he returned to New Ulm, and ever since has resided there. The store at New Ulm is well-stocked and admirably managed and is a fitting model for the other

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History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1), Part 37

Author: L. A. Fritsche, M. D. Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: L. A. Fritsche, M. D.
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: