USA > Minnesota > Brown County > History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1) > Part 50
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
Digitized by Google
310
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
tims of the Indian massacre in 1862 fell to his lot. Captain Pfaender then was transferred to the Mounted Rangers and was appointed quarter-master at Ft. Ridgely, with rank of lieutenant-colonel, in command of the fort. Upon retir- ing from the service in 1864, Colonel Pfaender returned to New Ulm and resumed charge of his interests there, devel- oping his extensive farm and taking part in other enter- prises. From the beginning of his connection with affairs hereabout he had been active in the public service; was one of the first registers of deeds in the county and was one of the members of Minnesota's delegation in the electoral col- lege which elected President Lincoln. He later was elected as representative from this district to the state Legislature and served two terms in that capacity, later being elected state senator, serving in the upper house of the General Assembly for two terms, during which time he created so distinct an impression upon the politics of the state that he later was elected state treasurer, serving in that impor- tant office from 1874 to 1878. In local political affairs he was equally active and for years served as city councilman in New Ulm, also having served very effectively as mayor of the city. He opened up the first set of books in the great flour-mill following the organization of the Eagle Roller Mills Company and in all ways did what he could in the way of developing the industrial and commercial life of the county. He was one of the leading lumbermen and real estate and insurance dealers in the city and in the latter business remained active to the close of his life, the well- known William Pfaender Agency still being continued at New Ulm by the family. This energetic pioneer lived to a good old age, his death occurring in 1905. His wife had preceded him to the grave twelve years, her death having
Digitized by Google
311
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
occurred in 1892. They were the parents of fifteen chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being as follow: Katie, who married Charles Al- brecht, of St. Paul, this state; Johanna, deceased, who was the wife of Carl Brauns; Louisa, widow of Dr. G. Staumm, of St. Paul; Josephine, unmarried, of St. Paul, who owns the old Pfaender homestead in New Ulm, this county ; Caro- line, who died at the age of seventeen years; Fred, post- master at New Ulm; Amelia, wife of Doctor Fritsche, of New Ulm; Albert, a well-known lawyer, of New Ulm, major of the Second Regiment, Minnesota National Guard, a bio- graphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Wilhelmina, wife of Hein E. Loenholdt, of Hom- burg-vor-der-Hoehe, Germany; Herman, of New Ulm, who is managing the old home farm; Emma, wife of Charles Hauser, of St. Paul, and three who died in infancy. The father of these children was one of the three children born to his parents. His father, who was a cooper by trade, was a soldier in the Napoleonic wars. His mother's maiden name was Johanna Kuenzel. He had a brother, Carl, who was a portrait painter of distinction at London, England, and a sister, who died at the age of nineteen years. The mother, Catherine (Pfau) Pfaender, came to America with her parents when a girl, the family settling in Cincinnati, where Grandfather Pfau and his wife for years conducted a boarding house. He died there in 1856, past middle age and his widow lived to be more than ninety years of age. They were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, Philip, Charles, John, who became a promi- nent figure in the life of the national capital, Washington, D. C., and Josephine, Catherine, Wilhelmina and Adelheid. William Pfaender, Jr., was reared on his father's farm
Digitized by Google
312
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
in Milford township, this county, receiving his education in the district school in that neighborhood and in the schools of New Ulm. When nineteen years of age he began help- ing his father in the latter's lumber yard in New Ulm and two years later went to St. Paul, where for eight years he was employed in the wholesale dry-goods and notions house of Auerbach, Finch & Scheffer. He then returned to New Ulm, where he married, and in 1881 took an interest in the New Ulm sugar works, with which he was actively con- nected for a couple of years, after which, in 1883, he re- turned to St. Paul, where he became bookkeeper for a cigar firm, later establishing a book and stationery store in that city and was thus engaged for seven years, at the end of which time he returned to New Ulm and became associated with his father in the insurance business, continuing that connection from 1890 to 1910. He was made deputy secre- tary of the New Ulm Building and Loan Association and presently reorganized that institution under a new plan, changing the name of the same to the New Ulm Savings and Loan Association, of which he is still the secretary; the con- cern long having been recognized as one of the leading in- stitutions of the kind in this part of the state. During all this time Mr. Pfaender had been giving close attention to the study of horticulture along scientific lines and in 1900 started a forty-acre nursery, which he presently increased to eighty acres and has long been one of the leading nursery men in Minnesota. On April 5, 1915, Mr. Pfaender incor- porated his enterprise under the name of the Pioneer Nursery Company, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and is the active head of the concern.
On October 16, 1881, William Pfaender was united in
Digitized by Google
313
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
marriage to Emelia Kiesling, who was born in this county, daughter of Rudolph and Helena (Held) Kiesling, the for- mer a native of Saxony and the latter of Wurtemberg, who came to this county with the colony promoted by the Chi- cago Land Verein in 1853, and both of whom are still liv- ing, now making their home at Kiesling, Washington. Their other children were Fred, Thekla, Sophia, Helen, Rudolph, Hugo, Erna and Lydia. Rudolph Kiesling is the son of August Kiesling and wife, who were among the original pioneers of this county, who had five children, Herman, Mina, William, Rudolph and a son who was killed during the massacre in 1862. Mrs. Kiesling was one of four chil- dren born to her parents, Grandfather Held and wife, the others being Fritz, Albert and Rosa.
To William and Emelia (Kiesling) Pfaender five chil- dren were born, namely: Rudolph, who married Meta Hanschen and is now engaged in the insurance business established by his grandfather at New Ulm, known as the William Pfaender Agency; Max, a horticulturist and for- ester, now assistant superintendent of the government ex- periment station at Mandan, North Dakota, married Hilda Peuser and has two children, Robert and Elizabeth; Thekla, who died of diphtheria when nine years old; Emil, who is associated with his father in the nursery business, and Carl, who died at St. Paul when six months of age. The mother of these children died on January 31, 1891, at the age of thirty years, and on October 10, 1893, Mr. Pfaender mar- ried, secondly, Sophia Berndt, who was born at New Ulm, daughter of Julius and Mina (Kiesling) Berndt, the for- mer of whom was born in Silicia and the latter in New Ulm. Julius Berndt and his wife, both of whom are still living
Digitized by Google
314
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
at New Ulm, are the parents of seven children, Ida, Sophia, August, Hugo, Rudolph, Rosa and Julia. He is one of three children born to his parents, he having had two broth- ers, William and Herman, and his wife is one of the five children of August Kiesling and wife, pioneers of this county, mentioned above. To William and Sophia (Berndt) Pfaender six children have been born, Wallie (a daughter), Thomas, Carl, Catherine, Lottchen and Rosa. Mr. and Mrs. Pfaender are members of the New Ulm Turn- verein, of which he has been an active member for forty- five years. They long have taken an earnest part in the various social and cultural activities of their home town and are held in the highest esteem by all hereabout.
Digitized by Google
315
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
ERWIN E. SPELBRINK.
Erwin E. Spelbrink, cashier of the State Bank of Essig at Essig, this county, and one of the most active young business men of that section of the county, is a native son of Brown county, having been born on a farm in Milford township, April 19, 1890, son of Louis and Dora (Goede) Spelbrink, the former of whom is also a native of Brown county and the latter a native of Germany. They lived on their fine farm of two hundred and sixty-six acres in Mil- ford township, long having been regarded as among the most substantial residents of that community. Louis Spel- brink was born in Milford township, son of one of Brown county's earliest pioneers, and has been a farmer all his life. He is a member of the township board of supervisors and is also clerk of his home school district. He and his wife are the parents of five children, those besides the sub- ject of this sketch being Erna, Lydia, Jessie and Esther.
Erwin E. Spelbrink received his elementary education in the school of district No. 9, Milford township, supple- menting the same by a three-years course in the high school at New Ulm, and remained on the home farm until 1913, in which year he entered the business college at Mankato, from which in due time he was graduated. He then returned to the farm, where he remained until he took his present posi- tion as cashier of the State Bank of Essig in April, 1915. Mr. Spelbrink is an energetic and enterprising young man, who is doing all in his power to advance the best interests of his community. He is a member of the German Luth- eran church and in his political views is an "independent."
Digitized by Google
316
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
AUG. G. ERICKSON.
One of Brown county's busy and well-known citizens is Aug. G. Erickson, attorney and editor of the Springfield Free Press. He was born in Burnstown township, three miles east of Springfield, Minnesota, in 1880, and is a son of Oscar and Tilde (Olson) Erickson, natives of Sweden and Wisconsin, respectively. The father came to the United States when thirteen years old, locating in Burns- town township, Brown county, with his parents, and here he worked out as a farm hand for awhile. His father died when he was young and heavy responsibilities devolved upon him. He finally took up a homestead of eighty acres which he proved up. In 1884 he removed to Springfield and engaged in the implement business until 1901, when he sold out and the following year moved to Comfrey, where he took charge of the First State Bank of that place, an institution which he organized in 1899, from which time he was president until 1913, when he sold out and retired, moving to Springfield. He was very successful as a busi- ness man and accumulated a comfortable competency for his old age. He has been president of the council for two terms at Springfield and for three terms at Comfrey. He was one of the pioneer merchants of Springfield. He did much for the general good of the communities in which he resided. His family consisted of three children, namely : Charles, Aug. G. and Mrs. J. A. Schellenberger.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of Springfield and Pillsbury Academy at
Digitized by Google
317
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Owatonna, Minnesota, graduating from that institution in 1898, then attended the University of Minnesota, taking up the academic course at first and graduating in 1902. Later he studied law and received his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1904. Returning to Springfield soon thereafter, he be- gan practicing his profession, in which he was successful from the start. He was county attorney from 1907 to 1913. He was recorder of Springfield from 1905 to 1907 and is now a member of the school board and city attorney. As a public servant he has discharged his duties most ably and acceptably. In 1914 he bought the Springfield Free Press and has met with pronounced success in its management, greatly increasing its circulation and rendering it a very valuable advertising medium.
Mr. Erickson was married in 1906 to Meta Schweiger, a daughter of F. H. and Anna Schweiger. To this union three children have been born, namely: George, Norman and Walter.
Politically, Mr. Erickson is a Democrat and he has been active and influential in party affairs for a number of years, in fact, is one of the leaders of the same in southern Minnesota. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic blue lodge in which he is now junior warden; also a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he was formerly keeper of records and seal.
Digitized by
318
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
REGINALD H. BINGHAM.
The late Reginald H. Bingham, founder of the well- established, progressive and enterprising firm of R. H. Bingham & Sons at Sleepy Eye, this county, was a native of Canada, having been born on a farm just across the line from Vermont, son of Amherst Bingham and wife, both of whom were natives of Vermont, who moved back to the Lake Champlain district of Vermont during the youth of the subject of this sketch and remained there a number of years, at the end of which time they emigrated with their family to Minnesota and became pioneers of the Winona neighborhood. Amherst Bingham was a substantial farmer and he and his wife were largely influential in the early days of the community in which they settled in this state. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom nine grew to maturity, as follow: Amherst W., Marow A., Ho- ratio S., who was killed by the Indians in Montana; Will- iam E., Frances, Alice, Sapho, Emily and Reginald H.
Reginald H. Bingham was a young man when he came with his parents and the other members of the family to this state and for several years after coming here he was engaged as a clerk in the hardware store of R. D. Cone at Winona. He then went to Rochester, this state, where he took service with a big lumber company and was thus en- gaged for several years, at the end of which time, in 1870, he came to Brown county and located at Sleepy Eye, where he established a hardware and lumber business in a modest
Digitized by Google
-
319
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
way and with characteristic energy and enterprise pro- ceeded to develop the same until he came to be one of the best-known dealers in that line in this part of the state, and continued active in business until his death in 1912, a period of forty-one years, twenty years of which time he also was engaged in a large way in the grain business, building up a very large trade, with connections throughout this section of the state.
Not long after locating in Sleepy Eye, Reginald H. Bingham was united in marriage to Jennie N. Baker, who was born in Sauk City, Wisconsin, daughter of William H. and Mary (Farmer) Baker, both natives of England, who came from Wisconsin with their family to this county and located at Sleepy Eye, where their last days were spent, both living to advanced ages. William H. Baker was a well-known and prosperous grain buyer in Sleepy Eye and was for years one of the leading citizens of that city. He and his wife were the parents of two children, Mrs. Bing- ham and William H. Baker. Reginald H. Bingham and his wife were earnest members of the Episcopal church and were regarded as among the leaders in all good works in and about Sleepy Eye, the family being held in high regard thereabout. Mr. Bingham ever took an active part in local civic affairs and was a substantial and useful citizen. In the early days of his residence at Sleepy Eye he served for some years as city recorder and was for years an influential member of the school board. He was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and in the affairs of his local lodge ever took a warm interest. Reginald H. Bingham died on May 5, 1912, at the age of sixty-three years and one month. His widow, who still survives him, continues to make her home
Digitized by Google
320
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
in Sleepy Eye, where she enjoys many evidences of the high esteem in which she is held by the entire community.
To Reginald H. and Jennie N. (Baker) Bingham six children were born, as follow: Amherst W., who married Grace Stiles and has three children, Millicent, Alice and Lulu; William E., who married Martha Hagen, who was born in New Ulm, this county, but whose parents now live in Los Angeles, California, to which union one son has been born, William E .; Alice J., deceased, who was the wife of J. W. S. Gallegher; Reginald H., who married Helen Man- ning, and Charles B. and Neil D., who are unmarried.
About 1903 the three eldest sons of Reginald H. Bing- ham were admitted to partnership in their father's busi- ness and became his successors in the operation of the busi- ness at his death. They afterward associated with them in equal partnership the younger sons, Charles and Neil, and their mother is also a member of the firm, which continues to do business under the old firm name of R. H. Bingham & Sons, one of the best-known commercial names in this part of the state. The eldest son, Amherst W. Bingham, some time ago withdrew from the firm and moved to West Ed- monton, Canada, where he is now engaged in the general merchandise business, and since that time William E. Bing- ham has occupied the position of senior member of the firm. The Bingham brothers are active, energetic and enterpris- ing in the management of their extensive business interests and are held in high regard in commercial circles generally hereabout. They are public-spirited citizens, ever taking an active interest in the common welfare, and are very prop- erly regarded as among the leaders in the social and busi- ness life of Sleepy Eye.
Digitized by Google
321
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
L. G. BELL, D. D. S.
Dr. L. G. Bell, the oldest resident dentist in New Ulm, this county, and who for years has been prominently identi- fied with the social and cultural activities of that city, is a native of Germany, having been born in the grand duchy of Baden, September 3, 1864.
L. G. Bell received a sound education in his native land and upon completing the course corresponding to the high- school course in this country he worked for a dentist in Ger- many for over a year and attracted by the superior quality of American dentistry he came to the United States to qual- ify himself for the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his life. It was on July 1, 1883, that he landed in the United States and two years afterward entered the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1887. Thus equipped for the practice of his profession, Doctor Bell returned to his native land and followed his occupation in Germany and Switzerland, but he was not content after four years of life in those countries and he returned to the United States. The Doctor for a time after his return was engaged in practice in New York City and then moved to Milwaukee, where he remained about a year, at the end of which time, in 1889, he came to Minnesota and located at New Ulm, where he ever since has been quite suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of his profession, being now the oldest resident dentist in the city.
(21a)
Digitized by Google
322
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
In 1893 Dr. L. G. Bell was united in marriage to Louisa Fischer, daughter of Richard Fischer and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Kurt, a graduate of the Indiana Dental College, of the class of 1916. Doctor Bell is a member of the Sons of Herman and takes a warm inter- est in the affairs of that popular organization. He is an "independent" in his political views and for years has taken an earnest interest in local governmental affairs, ever an advocate of purity in politics.
Digitized by Google
-
.... .
323
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
ADOLPH FREDERICKSON.
Adolph Frederickson, county attorney of Brown county, a practicing attorney of Springfield and a well- known resident of that city since 1896, is a native of the kingdom of Denmark, born on May 25, 1869, son of Lars and Olena Frederickson, both natives of that same coun- try, who came to the United States in 1881 and settled in Prairieville township, this county, shortly afterward mov- ing over into Redwood county where they established their home and where Lars Frederickson died in 1890. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters.
Adolph Frederickson was about twelve years old when he came to this country with his parents. He had received five years of schooling in his native land and upon coming here entered the district school, completing the course there, after which he took the course in the high school at Sleepy Eye and was thereafter engaged as a school teacher in the schools of Brown and Redwood counties for five years, at the end of which time he entered the law department of the University of Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1896. Upon receiving his diploma he opened an office at Springfield, this county, and has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession in that city, long having been one of the best-known lawyers at the bar of the Brown county court. In 1912 he was elected to the position of county attorney and is still occupying that important po- sition.
Digitized by Google
324
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
In 1896, the year of his graduation from the university, Adolph Frederickson was united in marriage to Jennie Jensen, who was born in Redwood county, this state, and who for five years before her marriage had been engaged in teaching school in that county, and to this union four chil- dren have been born, Muriel, Myrtle, Hubert and Cyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Frederickson are members of the Lutheran church and their children have been reared in that faith. Mr. Frederickson is a Republican and for years has taken an active interest in the county's political affairs, long hav- ing been regarded as one of the leaders of that party here- about. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a past master of his local lodge; one of the charter members of the chapter at Springfield, and a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He and Mrs. Frederick- son are members of the Order of the Eastern Star and he is patron of the Springfield chapter of that order.
Digitized by Google
-
325
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
WILLIAM MUELLER.
William Mueller, postmaster of the thriving little city of Springfield, this county, and for many years a well- known cigar manufacturer and retailer of that city, is a native son of Brown county, having been born in the city of New Ulm, March 31, 1866, son of Matthew and Mary (Brunner) Mueller, both natives of Germany and for years well-known residents of New Ulm.
Matthew Mueller was born in the Rhine province of Germany and came to this country when about eighteen years of age, proceeding directly from the port of entry to Minnesota and settling at New Ulm, where he speedily found employment at his trade as a plasterer and where he made his permanent residence, spending the rest of his life in that city, his death occurring in July, 1913. He was there during the days of the Indian uprising and assisted valiantly in the defense of the city. He married a German girl, whose parents were among the early settlers of Brown county, and established a home in New Ulm, his children being reared in that city. There were five of these chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being Clara, John, Albert and Ferdinand.
William Mueller was reared at New Ulm and received his education in the schools of that city. At the age of six- teen he took employment with the Berg Cigar Company at New Ulm and for thirteen years was connected with that firm, acquiring a thorough acquaintance with the business of manufacturing and distributing cigars. He then entered
Digitized by Google
326
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
the manufacturing business on his own account, establish- ing a cigar factory at Springfield, this county, which he successfully operated for twenty-four years, conducting a quite extensive retail and wholesale business in connection with the same, and was thus engaged at the time he received the appointment to the office of postmaster of Springfield in 1914, since which time he has given his practically undi- vided attention to the important duties of his official po- sition.
On November 25, 1890, William Mueller was united in marriage to Emma Hauenstein, one of the ten children of Weigand and Regina Hauenstein, pioneers of Brown county, and to this union two children have been born, Richard J. and Norman, the former of whom is connected with an automobile establishment in Springfield. For some years before her marriage Mrs. Mueller served as assistant clerk of Brown county, in the court house at New Ulm and she, as well as Mr. Mueller, takes an earnest interest in the public affairs of the county. Mr. Mueller is a Democrat and for years has been looked upon as one of the leaders of the party in his part of the county. He was state oil inspector under Governor Johnson for two years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.