USA > Minnesota > Brown County > History of Brown County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions (Volume 1) > Part 59
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
Russell Ives was active in local civic affairs from the very beginning of his residence in this county and held at one time and another most all of the township offices in Stark township, having been one of the organizers of that township. His wife was a member of the Baptist church while he was a free thinker and both were active in good works, no family in Stark township being held in higher esteem than was theirs. In 1890 Russell Ives and his wife and daughter moved to the state of Washington and located in King county, where their last days were spent, her death occurring in the spring of 1897, she then being about seventy-five years of age, and his death occurring in 1907, he then being past ninety years of age. They were the par- ents of six children, namely: Luther C., the immediate sub-
Digitized by Google
467
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
ject of this biographical sketch; Electa, who died unmar- ried; Claracy, wife of Frank Miner, of Vashon Island, King county, Washington, and three who died in early youth.
Luther C. Ives was reared in Erie county, New York, receiving his education in the common schools of that coun- ty, and grew up assisting his father in the work of the lat- ter's saw- and grist-mill. When he was eighteen years old he decided to put in his lot with those hardy souls who then were beginning to settle the great Northwest and in 1859 came to Minnesota, settling at Northfield, in Rice county, where he remained about a year, at the end of which time he pushed over into Brown county and began trapping among the Indians. So favorably impressed was he from the very first with the possibilities of this section of the state that he sent back word for his father and the other members of the family to join him here, which they did, as recounted in a preceding paragraph. By the time of the Indian outbreak in 1862 Luther C. Ives had become a well- known trapper and pioneer in this section of the state and had acquired not only a thorough acquaintance with the country hereabout, but had established relations with the In- dians that gave him an insight into their character and habits which rendered his services invaluable in behalf of the brave defenders of the New Ulm settlement, during the memorable siege of that village, and fought valiantly with the plucky volunteers until the bloody uprising in this sec- tion of the state had been put down.
On February 22, 1864, Luther C. Ives enlisted in Com- pany G, Second Minnesota Cavalry, volunteers, and in June of that year joined General Sully on the Missouri river, in Dakota Territory, participating in the battle of Takakota
Digitized by Google
468
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
on July 28. On the 8th of August Mr. Ives was wounded in the left leg, an Indian arrow piercing clear through the leg above the knee. He had the satisfaction, however, of bring- ing down the redskin who shot him and the painful wound in his leg presently was healed, without creating any per- manent disability. Mr. Ives was with General Sully until the latter part of September, at which time he was trans- ferred to the hospital at Ft. Wadsworth, suffering a severe attack of typhoid fever. Upon his recovery he was brought down to Ft. Ridgely, where he was promoted to the rank of corporal. Here he was joined by his wife and child, who remained with him for nearly a year. Mr. Ives remained in the service until he was mustered out in December, 1865, the Indians by that time having learned that the white men were indeed the rulers of the Northwest. Mr. Ives's long experience in fighting the Indians was attended by many narrow escapes, but the arrow wound he received during the Dakota campaign was the only serious wound he sus- tained during his service. In one of his earlier skirmishes around New Ulm he was one of the six survivors of a com- pany of seventeen men that went out against a maurading band of redskins and there were many just such thrilling engagements against the savage foe during that troublous time.
In the spring of 1863 Luther C. Ives had married one of the pioneer girls of New Ulm and upon the conclusion of the military service he settled on a homestead claim on a quarter of a section of land in what is now Stark township, in this county, and proceeded to develop the same, presently becoming one of the most substantial and influential farmers in that neighborhood. He bought an adjoining "forty" and
Digitized by Google
469
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
on this two-hundred-acre farm made his home until 1890, in which year he sold out and he and his family went to Ore- gon, where he pre-empted a tract of land in the Cascade mountains and there they lived for about seven years. In June, 1897, he returned to Brown county and bought back one hundred and twenty acres of his old homestead and resumed his residence there. His wife died there in 1905 and in 1908 Mr. Ives sold, or traded, that land and went to South Dakota, later retiring and locating in Tracy, Lyon county, this state, where he is now living, very comfortably situated in his declining years, but still retaining the liveliest interest in Brown county affairs and is a frequent visitor hack to the scenes of other days, ever certain of a warm welcome on the part of his countless friends here.
On March 15, 1863, Luther C. Ives was united in mar- riage at New Ulm to Ursula C. Tuttle, who was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Albert and Delight (Horton) Tuttle, natives of that same state, who were among the very earliest settlers in Brown county, they having arrived in the New Ulm settlement with their family on July 3, 1855. Albert Tuttle became a prominent pioneer farmer of this county. He was county commissioner and a member of the Legislature. Both he and his wife spent their last days here and are buried in the cemetery at New Ulm. They were the parents of seven children who grew to matur- ity, William, Esther, Lucilia, Ursula C., George, Frank and Florence. William married Prudence Bond in 1861 and was killed by the Indians at New Ulm on August 19, 1862, leaving his wife and one child, Etta, who now resides in Illinois. Esther married Henry Behnke in 1857 and to this union were born eight children, Frank, Edith, William (de- ceased), Albert, Oscar, Henry, and two who died in infancy.
Digitized by Google
470
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Henry Behnke, Sr., died in 1878. Lucilia married Almond Loomis in 1857 and her husband was killed by the Indians at New Ulm on August 19, 1862, leaving his wife and two children, Mittie and Albert. Lucilia was married, secondly, to Capt. S. A. George and they were the parents of one child, Helen. Captain and Mrs. George both died in 1912. George died in 1873. Frank married Etta Rice and to this union were born two children, Porter (deceased), and May. Florence died in 1892.
Albert Tuttle was the second in order of birth of the ten children born to his parents, Josiah and Jerusha (Bingham) Tuttle, both of whom died in Pennsylvania, the others hav- ing been Chester, Calvin, William, Durinda, Edwin, Joseph B., Eliza, Ethan and Sally A. Delight (Horton) Tuttle was the daughter of William and Esther (Cowell) Horton, also natives of Pennsylvania, who spent all their lives in that state. They were the parents of eleven children, Delight, William, Esther, Eliza, Richard, Lucinda, Rachel, Isaac, Lucy Ann, and two who died in infancy.
To Luther C. and Ursula C. (Tuttle) Ives six children were born, as follow: William, who died when six years of age; Emma J., who died on October 8, 1890, at Loveland, Colorado, who was the wife of George Fox, to which union three children were born; William L., Leroy and one who died in infancy, the former of whom married Ida Wilson and has three children, George, Alton and Burmah, great grandchildren of the subject of this sketch; Minnie, who died when six years old; Albert T., who lives near the town of Veblen, in Marshall county, South Dakota, married Carrie Banker and has six children, Laurel, Lena, Lottie, Leona, Vera and Ray; George R., now deceased, who mar-
Digitized by Google
471
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
ried Pearl Hutchings and had one child, Glade, and Free- man K., of Tracy, this state, who married Helen Ladd and has two children, Marian Ursula and Hollis G. Mrs. Luther C. Ives died at the old homestead in this county on February 14, 1905, she then being past fifty-nine years of age, and is buried in the cemetery at Iberia.
Although now past seventy-five years of age, Mr. Ives has the appearance of a man years younger than that, still retaining much of his old-time force and vigor. His mind is clear and his memory is remarkable for the accuracy with which it recalls incidents of pioneer days, he long having been regarded as perhaps the best authority now living on subjects relating to the early history of Brown county. For some time past Mr. Ives has been employed by the Minne- sota and North Dakota State Historical Societies in the im- portant task of collating and rectifying data relating to the history of several counties and in eliminating the errors of statement that have crept into former histories. He also spent a part of two seasons in western North Dakota search- ing for the graves of fallen comrades. Mr. Ives is a most engaging conversationalist on topics relating to the past and his reminiscences of pioneer days are not only exceedingly interesting, but highly informative and instructive, many of his newspaper articles covering incidents of a day now long gone, possessing a high value to the student of local history. Mr. Ives is independent in his political views and liberal in his conception of the religious duties of mankind, being naturally inclined to that school of thought usually referred to as "free-thinkers." He is a cheerful optimist and be- lieves in doing all the good one can in all the ways possible, being also firmly convinced that he shall be spared for years
Digitized by Google
472
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
yet to contribute his part in the work of bettering the con- ditions of mankind generally. During his residence in this county, Mr. Ives took an active part in civic affairs and held all the various offices in Stark township, and was asses- sor and justice of the peace for about twenty-five years. He is a member of Wesley Green Post No. 71, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Minnesota, and is a prominent and ardent Odd Fellow, a member of Sleepy Eye Lake Lodge No. 83, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah at Tracy, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm in- terest.
Digitized by Google
-
473
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
PROF. JOSEPH C. HOFMEISTER.
Prof. Joseph C. Hofmeister, well-known teacher of in- strumental music and leader of the Second Regiment Band, Minnesota National Guard, at New Ulm, is a Bohemian by birth, having been born near the city of Egar, in Bohemia, March 29, 1867, son of Ignatz and Maria (Keim) Hofmeis- ter, natives of Bohemia, who later became well-known resi- dents of New Ulm, in this county, where their last days were spent.
Ignatz Hofmeister was the first-born child and only son of his parents, he having had a sister, Theresa. His father was an official of the Bohemian government and was killed while in the performance of his official duties. Ignatz Hof- meister received an excellent education in his native land and became an efficient building contractor. There he mar- ried Maria Keim, daughter of a peasant farmer, and second in order of birth of the five children born to her parents, the others being Joseph, who died a resident of this county, he having been a well-to-do farmer of the Sleepy Eye neighbor- hood; Magdalina, now living in New Ulm, widow of John Eckstein; Catherine, widow of Wenzel Tauer, and Peter, who is an important citizen of the city of Vienna, capital of Austria. In 1885 Ignatz Hofmeister and his wife came to the United States, three of his sons and a few others of his kindred having preceded them here, and settled in New Ulm, where he became actively connected with the building trades and where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring two years after that of his wife. Both
Digitized by Google
474
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
were devoted members of the Catholic church and their chil- dren were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, all sons, as follow: Franz, of Neuheisel, Bohemia ; Joseph C., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch ; Andrew, deceased; George, of New Ulm; John, also of New Ulm, and two who died in youth.
Joseph C. Hofmeister was but fourteen years of age when he came to the United States in 1881. Upon arriving on the shores of this country he proceeded immediately to this county and joined kinsfolk who were farming in Mil- ford township, and there he made his home for six years, working on the farm and completing his common-school education. In the schools of his native land he had ac- quired an excellent elementary education and had given particular attention to the study of music, which he had followed closely for three years under competent masters. He did not neglect his music upon coming here and when twenty years old left the farm and located in New Ulm, where he devoted himself assiduously to the further study of his favorite theme and became a very able musician, pres- ently beginning the teaching of music, particularly instruc- tions in the technique of the violin and wind instruments, it not being long until he was recognized as one of the ablest music masters in this part of the state, a prestige which he ever since has maintained. For nearly twenty years he has been the leader of bands in New Ulm and is now the leader of the famous Second Regiment Band, Minnesota National Guard, a musical organization consisting of thirty-six mem- bers and ranking second to none in the state. In addition to his duties as leader of the band, Professor Hofmeister has
Digitized by Google
1
475
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
a large class of pupils and is a very busy as well as a very popular teacher.
On April 25, 1892, Prof. Joseph C. Hofmeister was united in marriage at New Ulm to Anna Manderfeld, daugh- ter of Anton and Anna (Holm) Manderfeld, a history of which family in this county is presented elsewhere in this volume in the sketch relating to Carl Manderfeld, and to this union four children were born, namely: Josephine, who after graduating from the New Ulm high school took a course in the normal school and taught school for three years, later marrying Albert Hacker, of Lafayette town- ship, Nicollet county ; Ella, who died in infancy; Hayden, who is taking a commercial course at New Ulm, and Frank, who is a student in high school. The mother of these chil- dren died on August 25, 1900, and on September 30, 1902, Professor Hofmeister married, secondly, Mary Hackel, daughter of Wenzlar and Anna Hackel, and to this union six children have been born, Louis, Walter, Peter, Hugo, Otto and Theodore. Mrs. Hofmeister was born in Bohemia and came to this country, locating in New Ulm, when a young girl. Her mother later joined her here and is now making her home with her, the father having died in the old country. Grandfather Hackel was a musician of note in Bohemia, as were all his children, and all held govern- ment positions there save Wenzlar, who was city clerk of Neurn, Bohemia. Professor and Mrs. Hofmeister take an active interest in the general social and cultural life of their home town and are held in high regard by all hereabout. Haydn, Frank and Louis Hofmeister are also enlisted in the Second Regiment Band as musicians.
Digitized by Google
476
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
EDWARD F. BERKNER.
Edward F. Berkner, of Sleepy Eye, one of the most extensive realty dealers in southern Minnesota, vice-presi- dent of the State Bank of Sleepy Eye, who also is a stock- holder in five other banks; an extensive dealer in fine horses and one of the most progressive and enterprising business men in Brown county, is a native of Wisconsin, having been born on a farm in Manitowoc county, that state, October 19, 1873, son of William and Henrietta (Weber) Berkner, the former a native of Holland and the latter of German West- phalia, for many years substantial farming people in Wis- consin, who are now living retired in Sleepy Eye, this county.
William Berkner came to the United States with his parents when a well-grown boy and grew to manhood on the farm on which the family settled, in Manitowoc county, Wis- consin, where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted as a soldier in behalf of the Union cause and served in the army for three years and six months. At the conclusion of his military service, William Berkner re- turned to Manitowoc county, where he married Henrietta Weber, whose parents had settled in that county years be- fore. After farming in Manitowoc county for a few years, William Berkner moved to Dodge county, in that same state, where for thirty years he was engaged in farming. Later he and his wife moved to Fond du Lac and after a residence of some years there moved, in 1905, to Sleepy Eye where they now reside. They are members of the German
Digitized by Google
477
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Evangelical church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, namely : George, who lives in Home township, this county; Clara, deceased, was the wife of John Berndt; Alvina, who died at the age of nine years; Edward F., the immediate subject of this bio- graphical sketch; Alfred, of Sleepy Eye; Henry, also a resi- dent of that same thriving little city, and Ezra, of the same place.
Edward F. Berkner was reared on the paternal farm in Dodge county, Wisconsin, receiving his education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home. At the age of twenty he came to Brown county, locating at Sleepy Eye, where for three years he was engaged in the general store of George Knutson. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Knutson in the milling business at Brooking, South Dakota, and was located at the latter place, engaged in milling, for eight months, at the end of which time he sold his interest in the business and returned to Sleepy Eye, where he went to work for Peter Christianson and was thus engaged for a year. He then transferred his services to the Sleepy Eye Milling Company and for a year was engaged as a grain buyer by that concern, after which, in partnership with his brother, Alfred, bought the Bueler & Orth general store at Sleepy Eye. Six months later the brothers extended their mercantile connection by buying the Theodore Weber store and for about fourteen years were actively engaged in mer- chandising in Sleepy Eye. Mr. Berkner in the meantime had been paying considerable attention to the realty busi- ness and was also largely concerned in the horse market, he having been the owner of some locally celebrated horses dur- ing his connection with the horse business. Since retiring
Digitized by y Google
478
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
from the store he has given his attention almost exclusively to the real estate business, with particular reference to farm lands, and has become recognized as one of the most enter- prising and progressive realty dealers in southern Minne- sota. In addition to his extensive operations as a real estate agent, Mr. Berkner is a large landowner, being the possessor of about four thousand acres, including eighteen farms in Brown county, two in Chippewa county, this state; two in South Dakota and eighteen hundred acres in Lincoln coun- ty, Colorado. Mr. Berkner is also largely interested in various banking ventures, being a stockholder in five fine banks. He is the vice-president of the State Bank of Sleepy Eye and a director of the State Bank of Shields, North Dakota. It will be seen, by a review of the above connections, that Mr. Berkner is a very busy man and he is known far and wide throughout this section of the state as a "hustler," one of the real "live wires" of Brown county, and as such has the full confidence and regard of business circles generally hereabout. When Mr. Berkner came to Brown county he was a poor young man and was content to go to work in Mr. Knutson's store at a wage of ten dollars a month, which was his rate of pay for three years. His inde- fatigable industry, however, soon brought him to a position of importance in the commercial and general business life of the community, and he has prospered, as he deserves to have done.
On November 4, 1896, Edward F. Berkner was united in marriage to Kate Moll, who was born in Sleepy Eye, daughter of Daniel and Josephine (Mandel) Moll, both of whom are still living in Sleepy Eye, and to this union two children have been born, Daniel Horace and Staunton
Digitized by Google
479
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Harry. Mrs. Berkner is a member of the Congregational church and the family is warmly interested in the advance- ment of the cause of all good works in the vicinity. Mr. Berkner is a Republican and is a member of Sleepy Eye Lake Lodge No. 83, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in the affairs of which several organizations he takes an active interest. He and his family take a proper part in general social affairs here- about and are held in high esteem by all.
Digitized Google
480
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
MICHAEL LEHRER.
Among the enterprising, progressive and widely-known citizens of Brown county is Michael Lehrer, one of her na- tive sons and a scion of an old and honored family of this locality. He is now living in retirement in his beautiful home in Springfield, and he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, which has been in the face of obstacles that would have crushed men of less grit and ambition. He became one of the leading merchants of Minnesota.
Mr. Lehrer was born in New Ulm, Brown county, May 19, 1858, a son of Michael and Anna (Oswald) Lehrer, both natives of Bavaria, Germany, where they spent their earlier years, immigrating to the United States in the early forties. For a number of years the father worked as a laborer after coming to the new world. In 1857 he located in New Ulm, Minnesota, and started teaming, hauling freight at first from New Ulm to St. Paul, later from Mankato to St. Peter, which he continued until the railroad was built, after which he did local odd jobs of various kinds until his death in 1895, being killed in a runaway. His widow survived until 1907. He was one of the defenders of New Ulm during the Indian raid. His family consisted of three children, namely: Joseph, who died on September 12, 1907; Michael, the sub- ject of this sketch, and Anna, who is now Sister Hippolyta and has charge of an orphans' home in Chicago, where the poor children receive educations.
Michael Lehrer received his education in New Ulm,
1
Digitized by Google
-
481
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
then spent a year and one-half in the St. Paul Business College, after which he returned to Brown county and en- gaged in ranching in Stateley township for two years, then sold out and went to Sleepy Eye where he conducted a hotel and saloon for a year and one-half, and in 1885 he came to Springfield, Minnesota, and engaged in the hardware and lumber business with William Schmid under the firm name of Schmid & Lehrer. Later they added plumbing, and in 1905 they incorporated and started a sash and door factory, remaining in that business until 1909 when Mr. Lehrer re- tired from active life, having accumulated a handsome com- petency for his declining years, through his sound judgment, industry, rare business ability and honest dealings. It was due to his efforts that the company adopted a profit-sharing plan-all the employees sharing in the company's earnings. Every man working for the firm owns some stock in the company, which is incorporated for fifty thousand dollars. Although not active in the management of the same Mr. Lehrer is president of the company and oversees its affairs in a general way, continuing the prime motive factor in the same. He is also chairman of the board of directors of the State Bank of Springfield, of which institution he was presi- dent for a period of fifteen years, but on account of being absent from the city so much, he resigned this position and was elected to the position he now holds. In 1902 he platted the town of Verona, North Dakota, owning nine thousand acres there. This was a successful venture, and the town now has a population of over three hundred. He still holds a large interest in that section.
Michael Lehrer was married in December, 1882, to (31a)
Digitized by Google
482
BROWN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Elizabeth Schmid, a daughter of Clements Schmid and wife. To this union twelve children have been born, namely : Anna is the wife of Albert Nuessle and they have one child, Elene; Arthur C. married Georgia Seigert; Veronica, Otto, Elenora, Alfred J., Emma married Arthur Yaeckel and they have one child living; Agnes, Viola, Carola, Gertrude and Ida.
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.