USA > Minnesota > Brown County > History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1) > Part 43
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JULIUS BERNDT.
Julius Berndt, well-known architect and surveyor and superintendent of the noble monument to Hermann at New Ulm, who also is one of the few remaining survivors of that hardy band of pioneers who braved the hardships of the wilderness and laid the foundation for the present social and material well-being of this favored section of Minnesota back in the middle part of the last century, is a native of Germany, having been born in Kloster, Heinrick Aan, Bres- lau, in Prussia, March 13, 1832, son of John and Josepha (Kottvitz) Berndt, who were the parents of fourteen chil- dren, of whom the venerable architect at New Ulm is now the sole survivor.
Johann Berndt was a small merchant in his home vil- lage in Breslau. Determining to better his condition he came to the United States about the year 1850, with a view to seeking out a location in which to go into business, leav- ing his family in Germany. He located in Chicago, where he began working as a carpenter, and in 1852 was joined there by his sons, Julius and Herman. The next year, in 1853, Johann Berndt became a victim of the cholera scourge and died in Chicago, his dreams of creating a new and better home for his family in this country unrealized. His widow, who continued to make her home in her native land, died there when past ninety years of age.
Julius Berndt was twenty years of age when he came to America. He readily found employment in Chicago, having received an excellent education in the schools of
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Breslau, his course having been directed with particular reference to civil engineering and architecture, and he was a skilled draftsman and architect. In 1857 he joined the Chicago Landverein and put in his lot with that of the hardy colonists of his own nationality in Brown county. Immediately upon his arrival here his special talents were recognized and utilized by the pioneer community, he hav- ing been the first duly elected official surveyor of Brown county, a position which he held continuously for a period of thirty years and in the performance of the duties of which office he rendered a most signal service in behalf of the commonwealth. In addition to performing his official duties he also was constantly called upon to lend his serv- ices as an architect to the new community and he became a general building contractor, continuing thus actively en- gaged until his retirement from business in 1899, during which time he had superintended the erection of many of the most important buildings in the county. In the fall of 1861, four years after his arrival in this county, Mr. Berndt married one of the pioneer girls of this community and he and his wife witnessed the full horrors of the massacre of 1862. Mr. Berndt was one of the most distinguished of the valorous home defenders during that awful period and was one of the provost marshals of the town during the time it was under siege. He received the appointment of first lieu- tenant of the Brown county camp of Light Artillery, Twenty-second Regiment, Minnesota National Guard, and upon the conclusion of his military service received from Governor Ramsey a certificate of commendation for his valor, patriotism and fidelity to duty.
For many years Mr. Berndt has been an active and
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enthusiastic member of that powerful and benevolent asso- ciation, the Society of the Sons of Hermann, one of the strongest and most popular German societies in the United States, which since its organization in 1840 has disbursed nearly fifteen million dollars among its members, and was the prime factor in the movement which led to the selection of New Ulm as the site for the erection of the noble monu- ment to Hermann, built in honor of the society and dedi- cated on September 25, 1897, in the presence of a great con- course of people, numbering about twenty-four thousand. Upon the completion of the monument Mr. Berndt was made superintendent of the same and since then has been devoted to its care and preservation.
On September 14, 1861, Julius Berndt was united in marriage to Mina Kiesling, who was born in the kingdom of Saxony, November 9, 1844, daughter of August Kiesling and wife, who were among the earliest and most influential pioneers of Brown county, and to this union twelve children have been born, as follow: Herman, who died when one year old; Ida, who married Anton Gag and died at the age of twenty-three; Sophia, who married William Pfaender, Jr., a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Julia, who since the death of the wife of her brother, Julius, is at home with her parents, taking care of her brother's bereaved children, Ruth Alice and Albert Julius; August, a tinner, of New Ulm, who married Ida Liesch and has two children, Victor and George; Bertha, who married Charles Davin, a well-known Brown county farmer, and has eight children, Armin, Roland, Elsie, Rosa, August, Chester, Ernest and Bernen; Julius, a well-known citizen of New Ulm, who married Alice Baumann, who died,
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leaving two children, named above; Rudolph, of Minneapo- lis, who married and has two children, Norman and Flor- ence; Rosa, who married Barney Greig, of New Ulm; Hugo, now deceased, who married Beulah Knighten and had four children, Robert, Russell, Herbert and Tom Knighten; Rob- ert, who married Julia Hammond and lives in Huron, South Dakota, and Emil, who is unmarried.
Mr. and Mrs. Berndt celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage on September 14, 1911, the occasion being made one of rejoicing among their many friends. Despite the growing weight of their years, both are still hale and well preserved, active and vigorous, and continue to take a warm interest in local affairs. They have witnessed the development of this favored section of the state from the days of the very beginning of a social order hereabout and have done well their parts in promoting that wonderful development. They have a very wide acquaintance through- out the city and county and are held in the very highest esteem throughout the whole community.
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HERMAN HELD.
Herman Held, president and manager of the New Ulm Stone Company at New Ulm, this county, who also is prom- inently identified with numerous other industrial concerns in and about the city, being thus one of the most active and energetic business men in this section of the state, is a native son of New Ulm, having been born there on July 23, 1875. Herman Held grew up in the old family home on South German street in New Ulm, and was graduated from the New Ulm high school in 1892. He then worked one year at St. Paul and in the winter of 1893-94 taught school in district No. 2, in Brown county. He then entered the Nor- mal School at Winona, from which he was graduated in 1895 and for three years thereafter taught school in New Ulm. He then engaged in the book and stationery business with his brother, Otto, in New Ulm, and was thus engaged until 1906, during a part of which time and continuing until 1913 he was the local agent for the United States Express Company and the Adams Express Company. In 1906 Her- man Held was placed in charge of the late Jacob Pfen- ninger's private affairs and from 1909 to the present has been one of the trustees of the Pfenninger estate.
In 1909 Herman Held formed a partnership with El- mer H. Haeberle and took over the ice business of the Leon- ard Haeberle estate, later organizing the New Ulm Ice Company, which they are still successfully conducting. In addition to his extensive connection with the New Ulm Stone Company, of which latter concern he is the president
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and general manager, Mr. Held has other business interests hereabout. He is a director of the New Ulm Savings and Loan Association and president of the Pioneer Nursery Company. In general public affairs he also ever has taken an active interest and is a member of the board of educa- tion and of the board of health.
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BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
CHRISTIAN SPRENGER.
Christian Sprenger, veteran clerk in the extensive mer- cantile establishment of Crone Brothers at New Ulm, this county, and one of the best-known and most popular figures in the commercial life of this section, was born on the Atlan- tic ocean while his parents were on their way to this coun- try, August 11, 1855, son of Peter and Mary (Eigenberger) Sprenger, both natives of Bohemia, and has been a resident of Brown county since the first year of his life.
Peter Sprenger was reared in Bohemia, one of the seven children born to his parents, farming people in that country, the children being Anton, Peter, Weinzel, John, Joseph, Mary and Simon. There Peter Sprenger married Mary Engenberger, who was the youngest of the three chil- dren born to her parents, who later also came to the United States and became pioneers of Delaware county, Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their three children were Joseph, Barbara and Mary. In the sum- mer of 1855 Peter Sprenger and his wife came to the United States and on the way over their first child was born. Upon their arrival in this country the Sprengers immediately came West and their first winter was spent in Iowa. Early in the following spring, 1856, they came to Minnesota, locating in Brown county, where, in Cottonwood township, they homesteaded a quarter of a section of land and there established their home, thus becoming among the earliest settlers of that section. Peter Sprenger was a good farmer and developed a valuable property on his quarter
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section. During the Indian uprising in 1862 he was one of the defenders of New Ulm and ever did his part in the work of promoting the best interests of this region in pioneer days. He and his wife were devout Catholics and were help- ful in all local good works. Mrs. Sprenger died in 1884, at the age of fifty-six years. In 1892 Peter Sprenger retired from the farm and moved to New Ulm, where he spent his last days, his death occurring in 1904, he then being past eighty years of age. He and his wife were the parents of six children, namely: Christian, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Frank Schneider, of New Ulm; Mary, who is the wife of John Liesenfeldt, of Park Rapids, this state; Anton, of Searls, this county ; Henry, of Webster City, Iowa, and John, deceased.
Christian Sprenger was not a year old when his parents settled in this county and he grew up on the home farm in Cottonwood township, receiving his early education in the schools of New Ulm. When eighteen years of age he went to Iowa, where for several years he made his home with his maternal grandparents, working on the farm during the summers and going to school during the winters. He then returned home and aided in the work of his father's farm for two years, at the end of which time he went to work for Benke Brothers and was thus engaged for a year, after which he returned to the home farm, where he remained another year. He then, in 1880, began clerking in the store of Theodore Crone & Sons at New Ulm, that store now being operated by Crone Brothers, and has ever since been thus engaged, a period covering more than thirty-five years of
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continuous service in the one store, during which time he has become one of the best-known figures in commercial cir- cles in this part of the state.
On November 8, 1882, Christian Sprenger was united in marriage to Bertha Gareis, who was born in Germany, second in order of birth of the eight children born to her parents, John Gareis and Fredericka Backer, the others having been Rosa, Rika, Susanna, Margaret, Margaret (sec- ond), John and Fred. John Gareis and his family came to the United States in 1871 and located on a farm in Milford township, this county, where he and his wife spent their last days, well-known residents of that community. John Gareis was the son of George and Roseina Gareis, who were the parents of four children, George, John, Johannes and Barbara.
To Christian and Bertha (Gareis) Sprenger five chil- dren have been born, as follow: Emil, who is a linotype operator at Toledo, Ohio; Edward, who lives in St. Paul, this state; Leo, proprietor of a men's furnishing store in New Ulm; Chrysinthia, who is at home, and Alphonse, also at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sprenger are earnest members of the Catholic church and their children have been reared in that faith, the family being held in high regard throughout this community. Mr. Sprenger is a member of the St. Joseph Society of the Catholic church, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
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BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
ALFRED HELLMANN.
Alfred Hellmann, well-known druggist and pharmacist at New Ulm, this county, has lived in that city all his life, havign been born there on May 8, 1870, son of August and Sophia (Welzien) Hellmann, natives of Mecklenberg- Schwerin, Germany, and early settlers of the New Ulm neighborhood, both of whom spent their last days here.
August Hellmann, father of Alfred, left his native land in 1852 when a young man and came to the United States, locating in Chicago, in which city he found employment at his trade of wagon-making, and where he, in 1854, was mar- ried to Sophia Welzien. When the Chicago Landverein's party was made up to help colonize this section of Minne- sota in the year 1855 he joined the colonists and came to Brown county, entering a homestead claim to a quarter section of land in Milford township adjoining the city of New Ulm, which he proceeded to develop and where he made his home, until the Indian outbreak in 1862, and was one of the defenders of New Ulm. After the Indian war August Hellman enlisted for service in behalf of the Union cause and served with the army in the south until the close of the war. Upon the conclusion of his military service he returned and settled in New Ulm, where he resumed his trade as a wagon-maker and blacksmith and was thus en- gaged until the year 1885 when he retired from business. Mr. Hellmann died in 1914, having lived to be ninety-one years of age. Mrs. Hellmann died in 1902 at the age of sixty-nine years. To August Hellmann and wife seven chil-
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dren were born, namely: George, of Chicago; Lisetta, un- married, of Milwaukee; Frida, wife of O. M. Olsen, of New Ulm; Alfred, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Ida, wife of O. C. Schumacher, of Milwaukee, and two who died in early youth.
Alfred Hellmann was reared in New Ulm, the city of his birth, and was educated in the public schools of that city. At the age of sixteen he began clerking in a drug store and from the very beginning of that connection made a careful study of pharmacy. He passed his examination under the state pharmacy laws at the age of twenty-one and has ever since been an active pharmacist and druggist. In Febru- ary, 1914, he bought the store of his employer, O. M. Olsen, in which store he had been employed continuously for twenty-eight years, and has since been conducting the same on his own account. The Hellmann drug store is one of the best-known mercantile establishments in New Ulm and its proprietor is regarded as one of the "live" business men of the city, enterprising, energetic and public spirited, enjoy- ing the full confidence and regard of his business associates and the community generally. Mr. Hellmann is an active and influential member of the local Turnverein and is held in high esteem by his many friends hereabout. Though affiliated with the Republican party for years, he is in real- ity an "independent" in his political views and supports with his suffrage such candidates for public office as he believes best fitted for the faithful performance of the duties of the offices to which they aspire.
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BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
EDWARD L. ALWIN.
Edward L. Alwin, a well-known clerk in the postoffice at New Ulm, who for years was one of the ablest school teachers in this county, is a native-born son of Brown county, having been born on a pioneer farm in the neigh- borhood of the Cottonwood banks, two and one-half miles from New Ulm, in Cottonwod township, December 1, 1863, son of William and Wilhelmina (Gruening) Alwin, both na- tives of Germany and early settlers of this county, the for- mer of whom died in 1910, at the age of eighty-five years, and the latter of whom is still living, being now past ninety years of age.
William Alwin was born in Prussia. He was bereft by death of his parents, Andrew Alwin and wife, peasant farm- ers, when he was seven years old and he was thereafter reared in the family of his uncle, William Kreuger. At the age of twenty-one he entered upon his military service and was stationed three years in the barracks at Berlin. At the age of twenty-eight he married Wilhelmina Gruening, one of the twelve children born to her parents, the others who grew to maturity having been Gottlieb, Henrietta, Julia, Herman, Ada, August and Fritz. Mrs. Alwin's father was a schoolmaster and church organist, as well as clerk of his church, the duty of reading the Scripture, in the absence of the pastor, thus falling upon him. Both he and his wife lived to be upwards of sixty years old.
In 1854 William Alwin and wife came to the United States and for about a year made their home in the city of
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Milwaukee. The next year, in company with a number of other persons of German birth, they left Milwaukee and came to Minnesota, arriving at New Ulm on July 1, 1855, being thus among the very early settlers of this section of the state. William Alwin had practically no money, but he and his wife had strong hands and willing hearts and after homesteading a quarter of a section of land in Cottonwood township entered heartily upon the task of creating a home in the wilderness. During the trying times of the Indian uprising, in 1862, William Alwin was one of the sturdy de- fenders of New Ulm and in all ways did well his duty as a citizen during the pioneer days and throughout his long life in this community. He and his wife were German Meth- odists and were among the founders of the church of that denomination in this community. In 1885 they retired from the farm, turning the management of the same over to their son, Rudolph, and moved into New Ulm, where Mr. Alwin spent the rest of his days. His widow, who still survives him, celebrated the ninety-first anniversary of her birth on February 14, 1916.
To William and Wilhelmina (Gruening) Alwin nine children were born, all of whom are still living, as follow: Fred, of Sleepy Eye, this county; Herman, of St. Paul; Adolph, of New Ulm; Rudolph, who makes his home on the homestead farm in Cottonwood township; Emil, of Milnor, North Dakota; Albert, of Minneapolis; Edward, the imme- diate subject of this biographical sketch; William, also of New Ulm, and Edwina, wife of Herman Breitkruetz, of Arlington, in the neighboring county of Sibley.
Edward L. Alwin was reared on the homestead farm in Cottonwood township, receiving his elementary education
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in the city school in New Ulm, supplementing the same by a course of three years at the State Normal School at Man- kato, upon the completion of which he entered the ranks of Brown county's excellent and well-trained corps of teachers and taught sixteen terms in the district schools of the coun- ty. He then took the civil service examination for post- office clerks, which he passed with credit, and in 1903 was appointed clerk in the postoffice at New Ulm, a position which he has held ever since and in the performance of the duties of which he has rendered faithful and efficient service.
On November 8, 1895, Edward L. Alwin was united in marriage to Anna Schneider, who was born in the city of Berlin, daughter of Herman and Caroline (Bleck) Schneid- er, both of whom were born at Gartz, in the province of Pomerania, and who were the parents of nine children, those besides Mrs. Alwin having been Otto, Frieda, Her- man, Mary, Robert, Bertha and two who died in youth. Herman Schneider and his family came to the United States when the daughter, Anna, was eight years old and settled in New Ulm, where Mr. and Mrs. Schneider spent the remainder of their lives, the latter dying in 1907 and the former in 1910.
To Edward L. and Anna (Schneider) Alwin seven chil- dren have been born, Lloyd, Winona, Olive, Wilbur, Myrtle, Evelyn and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Alwin are members of the German Methodist church, in the various beneficences of which they take a warm interest, and are held in the high- est esteem by their many friends hereabout. They have a very pleasant home at 219 North State street in New Ulm, erected in 1910, and which is the scene of much quiet hos- pitality.
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ANDREAS AMANN.
Andreas Amann, well-known proprietor of the popular Merchants hotel at New Ulm, who has been a resident of this community, off and on, since 1873, is a native of Ger- many, having been born in Upper Trauversbourg, Wurtem- berg, November 5, 1850, son of Martin and Maria (Haller) Amann, both natives of Germany, well-to-do farming peo- ple, both of whom spent their lives there, the latter dying in 1882 and the former in 1888, he then being about sixty-four years of age. They were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, those besides the subject of this sketch being Martin, of Germany; Johann Baptiste, of New Ulm; Pauline, who died unmarried, and Theresa, who also died unmarried, all of whom were reared in the faith of the Catholic church.
Andreas Amann was reared in his native land and there acquired a thorough working knowledge of the blacksmith trade, which he followed for some years. In 1873, he then being twenty-three years of age, he came to the United States and proceeded directly to Minnesota, locating at New Ulm, this county, where he remained for a couple of years. He then went to California, where he remained for a year, at the end of which time he returned East and settled on a farm in Carroll county, Illinois, where he remained three years. He then returned to this section of Minnesota and at Courtland, over the river in Nicollet county, opened a blacksmith and wagon shop, which he conducted quite suc- cessfully for nine years, at the end of which time he re-
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turned to New Ulm and engaged in the retail liquor busi- ness and was thus engaged until in September, 1914, when he rented the old Merchants hotel, which he ever since has been conducting and which he has made one of the most popular hostelries in this part of the state.
In 1877, Andreas Amann was united in marriage to Catherine Sturm, youngest of the six children of John and Dora Sturm, well-known residents of this county at that time, both now deceased, whose other children were Bern- hard, Paul, Theresa, Anna and Mary, and to this union five children were born, as follow: John B., of Sleepy Eye, this county, who married Emma Bellig and has three children, Arthur, Sylvia and Irene; Anna, who married John For- ster, to which union twelve children were born, Lucy, Adelaide, Hugo, Rosa, Harold, Marcella, Elfretta, Mar- garet, Helen, Marie, Grace and Alma; Bernhard, who mar- ried Rosa Reinhart and has four children, Henry, Rosa, Raymond and Loretta; Lucy, who lives at home, and Adelaide, also at home. The mother of these children died on November 8, 1889, and on June 29, 1891, Mr. Amann married, secondly, Theresa Kamm, who was born near Gleisenberg, Germany, January 6, 1872, daughter of John and Maria (Kopp) Kamm, the former of whom died in Germany in 1877, at the age of about thirty-eight, his widow and her three children, Carl, Volberga and Theresa, then coming to America, in 1881, and settling in New Ulm. John Kamm was the second in order of birth of the five children born to his parents, Joseph and Barbara Kamm, farming people in Germany, the others having been Christopher, Joseph, Helen and Anna. His wife was one of the consider- able family of children born to her parents, Peter and Bar-
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bara (Wild) Kopp, the others who grew to maturity having been Christoff, Alois, Victoria, Mary, Barbara, Volberga and Albert.
To Andreas and Theresa (Kamm) Amann seven chil- dren have been born, Andrew, Charles, Adolph, Edwin, Frank, Harry and Hildegarde. Mr. and Mrs. Amann are members of the Catholic church and their children have been reared in that faith. Mr. Amann is a member of the St. Joseph Society and Mrs. Amann is a member of St. Elizabeth's Society and of the Christian Mothers' Society, in the affairs of which organizations they are warmly inter- ested. Mr. Amann is an "independent" Democrat and for years has given close attention to local political affairs. For three years he served as a member of the New Ulm city council and does his part in advancing the general interests of his home city, he and his family being held in high regard by their many friends hereabout.
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