USA > Minnesota > Brown County > History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1) > Part 52
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
Christ Moe, at eighteen years old, started out for him- self, learning the carpenter's trade, doing rough work by the day. In time he became an expert at his trade and in 1898 started out as a contractor, in which line of endeavor he has since been engaged, among his first buildings being a dwelling in the western part of Martin county, this state. In 1902 he began general contracting and has met with large success all along the line. Among some of his more important jobs in this locality may be mentioned the new Hanska high school building, the creamery, library or Liberal Union Hall, all in Hanska; also the creameries at
Digitized by Google
346
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Fairfax, Tyler, and the school building at Truman. These are all brick buildings, the plans for some of which he drew himself. He has erected scores of excellent frame buildings, such as country school houses, residences, stores, barns, etc. Christ Moe was married on December 22, 1898, in Brown county, to Rena Thompson, who was born on June 27, 1877, in the same locality in which Mr. Moe was born in Norway. She is a daughter of Thor and Ronaug (Hovde) Fagerli. The name was later changed to Thompson. Her parents came to the United States in May, 1880, and first located in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, but finally estab- lished their home in Brown county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Moe, namely: Reuben Truman, born on November 18, 1899; Russell James, April 21, 1902; Clinton Maurice, September 5, 1906; Philip Severin, April 25, 1908; and Verna Clarissa Regina, June 15, 1910.
Mr. Moe is an independent voter. He has been town councilman and treasurer of the Hanska school district. He and his family belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, the Yeomen and the Independent Scandanavian Work- ing Men's Association.
Digitized by Google
-
347
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
WILLIAM BRUST.
William Brust, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank at Sleepy Eye, this county, former postmaster of New Ulm and for years one of the best-known business men of Brown county, is a native son of this county, having been born on a pioneer farm in Cottonwood township on May 14, 1858, son of Jacob and Susanna (Schnitzius) Brust, early settlers of this region and prominent figures in the early life of the New Ulm settlement, both of whom spent their last days there.
Jacob Brust was born in Prussia, second in order of birth of the nine children born to his parents, Peter and Anna (Weber) Brust, small farmers, who spent all their days in their native land. He was reared on the home farm, the chief feature of which was a fine vineyard, and he became a skilled vine dresser. In 1852, he then being twenty-one years of age, Jacob Brust came to the United States and for two years was located in Chicago, where he married Susanna Schnitzius. He then, in 1854, came to Minnesota and after a bit of prospecting bought from the Indians a plot of land fifty by one hundred feet on the site of what afterward became the thriving city of New Ulm, with a view to setting up as a trader. The redskins, how- ever, shortly afterward went back on their bargain and drove him away from the place. Mr. Brust then walked to the land office at Winona and entered a claim to a quarter of a section of land in Cottonwood township, this county,
Digitized by Google
348
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
and returning erected a homesteader's shack on the same and proceeded to "prove up" his claim.
From the very beginning of his residence in this section, Jacob Brust took an active part in the civic affairs of the undeveloped country and was the first sheriff appointed for the jurisdiction of Brown county under the territorial government. During the Indian uprising in 1862 he took a prominent part in the defense of New Ulm and in the drastic measures which were required to put down the savage insurrection and in other ways proved himself a most resourceful and useful pioneer of the county. In 1866 he left the farm and moved into New Ulm, where for ten years he was successfully engaged in grain buying, later engaging in the hotel business and was thus employed until he retired from active business in 1882, during which time he became one of the best-known men in this section of the state. Jacob Brust lived to be eighty-four years of age, his death occuring on February 22, 1915. His wife had prece- ded him to the grave many years, her death having occurred in 1888, she then being sixty years of age. He had been reared a Lutheran and she a Catholic. He was liberal in his views, however, and for years had been a member of the New Ulm Turnverein. They were the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Peter, who died in his eighteenth year; Will- iam, the subject of this sketch; Matilda, who died when one year old, and Charles H., who lives at Laporte City, Iowa. Mrs. Brust's parents lived all their lives in Germany. She was one of their three children who came to this country, she having had a sister, Christina, who married Joseph Halm, of St. Paul, and a brother, Peter Schnitzius, who were residents of Minnesota.
Digitized by Google
349
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
William Brust was eight years old when his parents moved from the Cottonwood township homestead into New Ulm and he grew to manhood in the town, being a witness to its rapid development in the early days. Upon complet- ing the course in the New Ulm public schools he took a course in the Milwaukee Business College and was employed as a bookkeeper in the Citizens National Bank at New Ulm. He quickly acquired a notable proficiency in the banking business and was shortly advanced to the position of assistant cashier, a position he held until 1885, in which year he formed a partnership with Charles Stuebe, Henry Engel and John Atkinson and engaged in the milling business, but after nine months of that form of business a call was made on him to resume the banking business and he was made cashier of the bank at Redwood Falls, a position which he held for a year, at the end of which time he engaged in the dry-goods and general merchandise business in New Ulm and was thus engaged until his appointment to the position of postmaster of that city in 1894, in which capa- city he served the public very acceptably for four years. On June 1, 1900, Mr. Brust was made assistant cashier of the State Bank of Sleepy Eye and served in that position until he transferred his services to the Farmers and Mer- chants Bank, of the same city, in November, 1904, and has ever since been thus engaged, his position as cashier of that sound financial concern having been assumed upon the organization of the bank on November 17, 1904. The Farm- ers and Merchants Bank was organized with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars and its last statement showed a surplus of five thousand dollars. Mr. Brust is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, taking an active
Digitized by Google
350
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
part in all movements designed to advance the general wel- fare of his home town, and has been secretary of the Sleepy Eye Telephone Company since its organization.
In September, 1882, William Brust was united in marriage to Amelia Graff, who was born in New Ulm, daughter of John and Catherine (Schmitz) Graff, pioneer German residents of this county, the former of whom was born in Prussia and the latter in Luxemburg, both now deceased. John Graff and his wife were the parents of four children, George and John Graff, of New Ulm, the latter of whom is one of the present commissioners of Brown county ; Mrs. Helen Jensen and Mrs. Brust.
To William and Amelia (Graff) Brust, twelve children have been born, Raymond, George, Felix, Olivia, Martha, Cecelia, Flora, Adela, Richard William and three who died in early youth. Of these children, Raymond is married and is a bookkeeper in the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Sleepy Eye, and George, also married, is a railroad man. The others of the children are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Brust are members of the Catholic church and their chil- dren have been reared in that faith. The family is actively concerned in the various social activities of Sleepy Eye and is held in high esteem thereabout. Mr. Brust is a member of the St. John Society, in the affairs of which he is warmly interested, and gives his political allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, ever taking a good citizen's part in the polit- ical affairs of the county.
Digitized by Google
351
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
HENRY J. BERG.
Henry J. Berg, treasurer of Brown county and one of the best-known men in the county, has been a resident of Brown county all his life, having been born on a pioneer farm in Sigel township, February 28, 1867. He is a son of John and Frederika (Bomm) Berg, natives of Germany, the former of whom was born in the Rhine province and the latter in Mecklenburg, early settlers of Brown county, where their last days were spent.
John Berg was the eldest of the four children born to his parents, German farming people, the others having been Henry, Joseph and a daughter who died in Germany. John Berg came to America in 1856, immediately after his mar- riage, and for several years lived in Illinois. In 1863 he came to Minnesota, locating in Brown county, where he bought a small farm of forty acres in Sigel township and there established his home and reared his family. He was a sturdy and energetic farmer and, as he prospered, added to his land holdings until he became the owner of about three hundred and twenty acres. In their latter years he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to New Ulm, where their last days were spent, their deaths occurring within two weeks of each other, John Berg being seventy- seven years of age at the time of his death and his wife seventy-four. They were earnest members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight children, namely: Mary, wife of Fred Kretsch, of New Ulm; John, of Sigel township; Hubert, of New Ulm;
Digitized by Google
352
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Henry J., the subject of this sketch; Bertha, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Liesenfeld; Helena, wife of John Kretsch, of New Ulm, and Anna and Louise, who died in their youth.
Henry J. Berg was reared on the paternal farm in Sigel township, this county, and received his education in the district school in that neighborhood. He lived at home until his marriage in 1888, after which his father gave him an interest in a quarter of a section of land in that same township and he lived there two years, at the end of which time he sold the place back to his father and moved to New Ulm, where he engaged in the livery business in a partner- ship, under the firm name of Kretsch & Berg, and was thus engaged for six years, after which he sold his interest in that business and moved to Sleepy Eye and engaged there in the retail liquor business. For ten years Mr. Berg was a resident of Sleepy Eye and during that time his acquaint- ance was being extended to all parts of the county. He took an active interest in local politics and in 1906 was nom- inated by the Democratic party as the candidate of that party for the important office of county treasurer. He was elected in the ensuing election and in 1907 entered upon the duties of his office, which duties he is still performing to the general satisfaction of the public, having been re- elected to office at each succeeding election.
On August 7, 1888, Henry J. Berg was united in mar- riage to Mary Hoffman, who was born at Bayren, Germany, on June 19, 1869, daughter of Clement and Mary (Hacker) Hoffman, natives of that same place, who came to the United States in 1883 and settled in Albin township, this county, where the father spent the rest of his life. After
Digitized by Google
353
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
her husband's death the Widow Hoffman made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Berg, where her last days were spent.
To Henry J. and Mary (Hoffman) Berg eight chil- dren have been born, as follow: Mary, who married Dr. A. W. Eckstein, of Comfrey, this state, and has one child; Ed- ward, who is serving under his father as deputy treasurer of Brown county; Henry, a druggist, of Paynesville, this state, and Dora, Leo, Helena, Clement and Walter, at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Berg are devoted mem- bers of the Catholic church and their children have been reared in that faith. The Bergs take an active interest in the general social affairs of New Ulm, are interested in all movements having to do with the advancement of the com- mon welfare hereabout and are held in high regard by their many friends. Mr. Berg is a member of the Knights of Columbus, being grand knight of the New Ulm council of that order; a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters; of the St. Joseph's Society of New Ulm, the St. John's So- ciety of Sleepy Eye and of the Arbiter Verein Society of New Ulm, a labor organization, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
(23a)
Digitized by Google
354
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
LARS GULBRANDSON.
Among the Norwegians who have come to Brown county and made good, not only establishing comfortable homes but becoming desirable citizens in every respect, is Lars Gulbrandson, manager of the elevator at Hanska. He was born in the parish of Romdal, Norway, August 17, 1863, and is a son of Gulbrand and Martina (Anderson) Larson. The father was a laborer in the old country where he still lives at the age of eighty years. His family con- sisted of ten children, Lars of this sketch being the eldest, and as a boy he received a very limited education, for his father being very poor he had to rustle for himself at an early age and help make the living for the family. When only eight years of age he began doing teaming of a light sort, outside of school hours. He worked as a laborer in Norway until he was twenty-two years of age when he came to America, landing in New York in 1885, but came on at once to Iona, Murray county, Minnesota, where he had rela- tives. In the spring of 1886 he went to Heron Lake, where he worked as a section hand for the Omaha division, from Minneapolis and St. Paul of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, with which road he remained for five years, then secured work as a "jack-of-all-trades" in an elevator in St. James, where he remained from 1895 until 1900. At that time elevators were being built on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad, and Mr. Gulbrandson secured a position as manager of the Eagle Roller Mills at New Ulm, in their
Digitized by Google
-
355
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Hanska elevator. At first the firm bought grain only, later adding flour and feed, and finally added coal. He has re- mained here to the present time, giving eminent satisfaction to the firm.
Mr. Gulbrandson was married on November 13, 1888, in Heron Lake, Jackson county, Minnesota, to Ida Lund- berg, who was born in Skane, Sweden. She is a daughter of Hans and Truan (Olsen) Lundberg, also natives of Swe- den in which country they spent their lives, their daughter, Ida, coming to the United States in 1886, with some friends, the party locating at Heron Lake, where she secured work in a shoe store in which Mr. Gulbrandson was working at the time. To Mr. and Mrs. Gulbrandson five children have been born, namely: Gilbert, born October 19, 1889, married Maud Daniels and they live in Mankato, where he is em- ployed on the Mankato Free Press; Tilda, September 29, 1892, teaches in the schools of Wantonwan county, near Butterfield, having previously taught for three years in Brown county; Mattie, February 8, 1895, who has also taught school in Brown county is now teaching near Butter- field, Minnesota; Harry, February 18, 1898, is a graduate of the Mankato high school and is now employed on the Hanska Herald; Lewis, November 2, 1900, was a member of the graduating class of the Mankato high school in 1916.
Politically, Mr. Gulbrandson is a Republican and is a director on the Hanska school board, being president of that body. He has never sought or held political office. He has done much to encourage better schools in this locality, and was a member of the school board when the new school house was built in Hanska. The family were members of the Methodist church in Norway and he has since held to
Digitized by Google
356
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
that faith. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
Lars Gunderson, subject's grandfather, was born in Norway about 1812 and he spent his life in his native land. Lars Gulbrandson had been assigned to a cavalry regiment in the Norwegian army, but never got to serve. It was planned that he should enter a military school, which would have fitted him for an under officer. After deciding to come to the United States he secured a permit from the govern- ment, and was thus excused from military service. He took out his first naturalization papers in Murray county, Minnesota, and secured his last papers in St. James, this state.
Digitized by Google
357
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
HENRY DURBAHN.
Henry Durbahn, a painter of New Ulm, Brown county, was born in Nicollet county, Minnesota, just across the river from New Ulm. He is a son of Juergen and Wiebke (Langmach) Durbahn, both natives of Holstein, Germany, from which country they came to the United States when young, but not together, and they were married in Nicollet county, Minnesota, where they established their home on a farm where they continued to reside until the father retired from active life and removed to New Ulm where he spent the rest of his life. He was in the fight with the Sioux Indians here in 1862. His family consisted of six children, of whom Henry was the third in order of birth.
Henry Durbahn received a common-school education and worked on the farm during the vacation periods, until he was twenty-three years old, when he bought the home- stead and continued to operate it until 1898 when he quit farming, selling his land and moving to New Ulm where he turned his attention to painting, not long thereafter. In 1900 he built a large brick residence.
On February 16, 1886, Henry Durbahn was married in Nicollet county to Mary Gebhart, who was born on February 16, 1861, in the town of Kreuznach, Rhineland, Germany. She was a daughter of John and Mary Gebhart. When about sixteen years of age she left home, after her mother's death, and went to England where she worked for two years, then came to the United States, her father, step- mother, two sisters and a half-sister coming about two
Digitized by Google
358
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
years later. Mrs. Durbahn died September 30, 1904. She was the mother of three children, namely: Edwin, born on May 1, 1887, attended school at St. Paul Park for a year, married Bertha Lieb and they now live in Nicollet county ; Adeline, June 5, 1889, keeps house for her father. Walter, June 22, 1894, was graduated from the New Ulm then spent one term at Stout's Institute, Peoria, Wisconsin; graduated at Menomonie, Wisconsin, and is now a teacher of manual training at Stewartsville, Minnesota.
Mr. Durbahn and family are members of the German Methodist Episcopal churh, in which he is a trustee, a stew- ard and superintendent of the Sunday school. His wife was also an active church worker. He is independent in politics, voting for the man rather than the party. He was school clerk while living in Nicollet county for a number of years. He is a man of progressive ideas, hospitable and highly respected.
Digitized by Google
359
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
FRANK C. SCHNOBRICH.
Industry and fair dealing have been watchwords with Frank C. Schnobrich, butcher, of New Ulm, and he has therefore built up a very satisfactory business. He was born on April 16, 1876, in New Ulm, Minnesota, and is a son of Joseph and Anna (Betz) Schnobrich, both natives of Germany, who immigrated to Minnesota about 1861 and were among the pioneers in Brown county, where the father engaged in farming for some time, later established a butcher business. During the Indian troubles in 1862 he took part in the defense of New Ulm. His family consisted of eight children, seven of whom lived to maturity.
The subject of this sketch received only a limited edu- cation, for he preferred work to going to school. He as- sisted with the general work on the home farm, later taking care of the live stock, finally working in his father's butcher shop, where he learned the business. In 1897 he purchased his father's shop and has been conducting the same alone ever since, enjoying an excellent trade. He has remodeled the building, installing a modern refrigerating plant and now has one of the largest and most up-to-date plants of its kind in this part of the state. He handles the best material obtainable and caters to the best trade.
On April 21, 1896, Mr. Schnobrich was united in mar- riage to Johannah Griebel, who was born April 25, 1876, in Brown county, where she grew to womanhood and was edu- cated. She is a daughter of Mike and Cornelia (Demer) Griebel, both natives of Germany, from which country they
Digitized by Google
360
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
came to Minnesota and were early settlers in Browne coun- ty, locating here in the early sixties. They took part in the Indian troubles and had some very narrow escapes and thrilling experiences. Six children, five of whom are living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schnobrich, namely: Ar- thur, born on February 3, 1897; Bennie, October 11, 1899, died in January, 1900; Frank, March 30, 1900; Elsie, Au- gust 26, 1902; Jennie, July 8, 1905; Lucile, January 27, 1907.
Mr. Schnobrich and family are members of the Holy Trinity Catholic church. He also belongs to St. Joseph's Society and St. John's Society. His wife is a member of St. Elizabeth's Society and St. Anna's Society. Politically, he is a Democrat. He has been a member of the town council for two terms, or four years.
Digitized by Google
-
361
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
JOHN M. SCHROPFER.
John M. Schropfer, well-known dealer in agricultural implements and automobiles at Sleepy Eye this county, is a native son of Brown county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Cottonwood township, May 28, 1868, son of Frank and Mary Schropfer, both natives of Germany and early settlers of this county.
Frank Schropfer was reared on a farm in Germany and served for twelve years in the army. In 1867, he then being thirty-six years old, he came to the United States and upon landing at the port of New York came directly to Min- nesota, settling in the New Ulm neighborhood. While "get- ting his bearings" he worked on various farms in the vicin- ity of New Ulm and presently bought an eighty-acre farm in Stark township, where he established his home. He was a good farmer and prospered in his operations, gradually adding to his holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres. To him and his wife nine children were born, Joseph, Barbara, Michael, John M., Mary, Anton, Frank, Andrew and George.
John M. Schropfer was reared on the home farm and he remained there until he was sixteen years old. His school days came to an end when he was ten years old and when he was sixteen he began to work "on his own hook." Five years later he bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he farmed for three years, at the end of which time he rented it and went to Sleepy Eye, where for seven
Digitized by Google
362
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
years he was engaged as a clerk in an agricultural imple- ment store. He then formed a partnership with his em- ployer and three years later bought his partner's interest in the store, since which time he has been conducting the store alone at the same old stand and has done very well, his trade showing a very material increase in volume each year. He carries a stock valued at above eight thousand dollars and long has been regarded as one of the leading merchants of the city. Some years ago Mr. Schropfer became the local agent for the Buick Automobile Company and he has done a fine business in that line. Mr. Schropfer is a Democrat and has served the public in the capacity of a member of the school board and as a member of the city council.
On May 22, 1894, John M. Schropfer was united in marriage to Mary Bruckbrauer, who was born in Germany, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Helget) Bruckbrauer, who came to this county in the early days of the settlement here- about with their five children, John, Joseph, William, Mary and Margaret, and became substantial residents of the com- munity. To Mr. and Mrs. Schropfer one child has been born, a daughter, Rose. They are devout members of the Catholic church and take an earnest interest in parish af- fairs, as well as in all the good works of the community.
Digitized by Google
-
363
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
OTTO TAPPE.
Otto Tappe, well-known building contractor at New Ulm, this county, is a native of Germany. He was born on March 9, 1860, son of Henry and Johannah Tappe, also natives of the Fatherland, the former of whom was a tailor by trade and followed that trade until his death. In 1880 Henry Tappe and his wife and their younger children came to the United States and located at New Ulm. There Mr. Tappe opened a tailor shop, which he conducted until his death. He and his wife spent their last days in New Ulm. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch and Mrs. Mary Koester are the only ones liv- ing in this country.
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.