USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 20
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
SOREN HOLEN.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ISTOR LENDY
209
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
member of the first board of trustees in charge of the United Lutheran church at St. James.
Soren Holen was married on September 15, 1883, to Julia Johnson, who was born in Norway, August 29, 1860. She is a daughter of Peter and Andrine (Olson) Johnson, both born in Norway, the father on May 2, 1833, and the mother on September 29, 1837. There they grew up and were married, remaining in their native land until 1871, when they emi- grated to the United States and settled in Chicago, where they resided until their deaths, the mother dying in 1905 and the father in 1908. Mr. John- son was a carpenter by trade and became a highly skilled workman, con- tinuing in that line of work all his active life. His family consisted of five children, named as follow: Julia, Edward, Soren, Arndt and Peter.
To Mr. and Mrs. Holen seven children were born, namely: Harvey is deceased; Alma was educated in the schools of St. James; Pliny died when four years old; Inga was graduated from the St. James high school in 1908 and from St. Olaf College in 1912, and after teaching two and one-half years, including a short time in St. James, is now at home with her mother; Mildred J. died when seven years old; Hester, who was graduated from the St. James high school in 1915, is now a student in St. Olaf College; Mil- dred is attending the local public schools.
REV. BENJAMIN COLE GILLIS.
As pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Windom, Cotton- wood county, Rev. Benjamin Cole Gillis is doing a most commendable work for the moral uplift of his locality. He was born at Inverness, Megantic county, Province of Quebec, Canada, March 19, 1859. He is the son of William and Nancy (Robinson) Gillis, both natives of Ireland, the father's birth having occurred on August 20, 1804, in County Monaghan, and the mother's in 1814 in County Tyrone. She was a daughter of Samuel Robinson. William Gillis was a son of Robert and Catherine (McNabb) Gillis, who lived and died in Northern Ireland. William Gillis sailed from Belfast on the steamship "Boliver," arriving at Quebec on July 12, 1829. He located in that city, where he worked in a grocery store for about two years, then went to Inverness, Province of Quebec, entering a claim of one hundred acres of land, then returned to the City of Quebec, where he
(14a)
210
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
remained one year, then went back to Inverness and entered another claim of one hundred acres for his brother, James Gillis, for whom he sent to Ireland, and upon the latter's arrival the two brothers farmed together until the death of James.
On March 4, 1833, William Gillis married Nancy Robinson, and to their union fourteen children were born, all of whom grew to maturity with the exception of one daughter. They are as follow: James, of Isabel, Kansas; John, deceased; William M., now pastor of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Walnut Grove, Minnesota; Samuel, deceased; Robert B. of Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada; Thomas S., of Lunenburg, Ontario; Ben- jamin C., of this review; Ellen, of Inverness, Quebec, who became the wife of Robert Kean; Eliza, who was the wife of James George, is now deceased ; Hannah, deceased, who was the wife of Robert Scott; Martha, unmarried; Nancy, who died at the age of sixteen; Rebecca, the wife of Rev. John Gar- vin, of Montreal, Canada, and Catherine, the wife of E. H. Brown of Corn- wall, Ontario. William Gillis was a well-to-do farmer in Canada, owning in all six hundred acres of land, where he carried on general farming. His death occurred on December 27, 1889, his wife having died July 5, 1887.
Rev. Benjamin C. Gillis grew up on his father's farm and received his early education at the Inverness Academy. After leaving home he entered Leland and Gray Seminary at Townsend, Vermont, where he spent two years, then entered Wesley Academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, taking the classical course and was graduated with the class of 1885. He then became a student in the college and theological departments of Boston Uni- versity, where he remained until 1890. In the spring of that year he came West and preached in the Presbyterian church at Canton, Minnesota, during the summer vacation and in the fall entered Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, graduating from the Theological school of that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in June, 1891, and the same year received his degree of Bachelor of Arts from Boston University. He joined the Minnesota conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in the fall of 1891. His first appointment was at Elgin, Minnesota, where he remained two years, then preached at Olive Branch church, Winona, Minnesota, one year, at Kasson, four years, also four years at Chatfield, and at Marshall, five years, after which he came to Windom, where he has spent the past nine years. He has done an excellent work in all of these congregations, greatly building up the churches he has served. He is a student both of the Scriptures and of life' about him and is an earnest, forceful and enter- taining speaker.
21I
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Rev. Benjamin G. Gillis was married on November 17, 1897, to Mary Lodema Palmerlee, daughter of Hon. William Henry and Helen (Cossal -ยท man) Palmerlee. They have one child, Bruce D. William Henry Palmer- lee was a native of Cattaraugas county, New York, while his wife was a native of Jefferson county, New York. Both came to Minnesota with their respective families and were married in this state and spent their lives in Dodge county.
In 1910 Rev. B. C. Gillis made a trip abroad and visited his father's birthplace in Northern Ireland, also visited the Holy Land, Egypt, Turkey, the Balkan States, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France and England. Politically, he is independent and fraternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen, but first of all and above all he is a churchman and enthusiastically believes in the teachings, the spirit and the uplifting purposes of the Christian faith.
PETER J. FRANZ.
It was a fortunate thing when the Russian colony decided to locate in Cottonwood county, for ever since others from their native land have been coming here and they have made good citizens and established comfortable homes, benefiting themselves and us. Among this number is Peter J. Franz, a farmer of Mountain Lake township, who was born in Russia, October I, 1872 (Russian calendar.) He is a son of John and Susanna (Dickman) Franz, both natives of Russia, where they grew up, married and established their home, residing there until 1878, when they came to America and located two and one-half miles north of the village of Mountain Lake, Minne- sota, buying a farm of eighty acres there. The father was a tailor by trade and continued to work at it during spare hours on the farm. His death occurred about 1886. His widow moved from the farm after his death and is still living in the village of Mountain Lake. He is of German blood. Six children, who grew to maturity, were born to John Franz and wife, namely: Martin, Susie, Anna, Cornelius, Peter J., and John J. These children were reared in the faith of the Mennonite church, to which their parents always belonged.
Peter J. Franz received his education in the German parochial schools and in our public schools. He worked on the home farm when a boy and when starting out in life for himself, learned the painter's trade, which he
212
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
followed in the village of Mountain Lake for a period of sixteen years, becoming highly skilled. On April 5, 1910, he moved to the farm on which he still resides, in Mountain Lake township. It consists of one hundred and twenty acres and is a good farm and he is making a very comfortable living there.
Mr. Franz was married in 1900, to Regina Miller, of South Dakota, and to their union four children have been born, all living, namely: Oscar Jacob, Silas John, Susie Rosella, and Elmer Martin.
PETER A. RUHBERG.
Peter A. Ruhberg, now living in retirement in Storden, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, October 14, 1839, and is a son of Christian Adolph and Marie (Vogt) Ruhberg, both born in the year 1803, in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein. There they grew up, were married and established their home, but removed in 1846 to Denmark, where the mother died in 1871, the father dying in 1883 on a farm near Windom, Minnesota, having come to America about 1871, soon after the death of his wife. He spent his last years in retirement, living among his children, dying on the farm owned by the subject of this sketch. His family consisted of eight children, namely: John (deceased), Henry, Christian, Dorothy Henrietta, Louise, Peter, Sophia and John. This family have always been adherents of the Lutheran faith.
Peter A. Ruhberg received his education in Denmark. He learned the blacksmith's trade under his father, who devoted his active life to that voca- tion. He served in the Danish army from 1862 to 1865, and took part in the war between Prussia and Denmark, being in the Twelfth Battery and Second Regiment, and although in many engagements was never wounded. He now receives one hundred crowns annually until death as a gift of honor or pension. He immigrated to America in the spring of 1868, locating at Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, working at various things, being for a time in the manufacturing business, then worked at his trade of blacksmith. Later he went to Olmstead county where he continued his trade about three years. In 1872 he came to Windom, arriving here in August, but he had taken up a claim in Westbrook township in June of that year, and pre- empted one hundred and, sixty acres. He put up a blacksmith shop at Windom which he conducted seven years. In 1878 he bought eighty acres
213
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
of railroad land, one mile north of Windom, and in 1879 moved thereto, improved the place and carried on general farming successfully until in March, 1913. He added to his original purchase as he prospered until he with his son had a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres. The son, Adolph, bought eighty acres in 1883; the rest belongs to the father. He paid seven hundred dollars for the first land he bought here, and nine hundred dollars for what the son bought, and nineteen dollars per acre for the last he purchased. They sold out the last at one hundred and twenty- five dollars per acre. In 1913 Mr. Ruhberg and his son, Adolph, removed to Storden where the father has since lived retired.
Mr. Ruhberg was married in 1860, to Mattie Nelson, who was born in Udland, Denmark, and is a daughter of Christian Nelson. These par- ents both died when Mrs. Rulberg was young. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruhberg the following children have been born: Adolph is a retired farmer; Carl H. is a banker at Storden; three daughters were named Rosa in succession, all deceased; Mary, who married Walter Larson, died in the fall of 1897, her husband died the previous year ; Albert is deceased; Elmer E. is a tinner and lives at Crookston, Minnesota ; Eva May, the youngest, married Herbert Erickson, a preacher at Joyce Chapel, Anoka county, Minnesota, who also engages in farming.
Politically, Mr. Ruhberg is independent. He served as treasurer of Great Bend township for two years. He is a member of the Baptist church.
The death of Mrs. Ruhberg occurred on November 3, 1910, on the home farm near Windom. She was a member of the Baptist church and was buried near Windom.
ELLISON D. MOOERS.
Ellison D. Mooers of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, was born in Franklin county, Maine, and is a son of David and Rosanna (Winslow) Mooers. The mother was a direct descendant of one of the "pilgrim fathers" who came over on the "Mayflower" in 1620. Both these parents were born in the state of Maine where they grew up and were mar- ried, removing to Dorchester, Iowa, in 1866, and the following year they came on to Fillmore county, Minnesota. In the spring of 1869 they located in Cottonwood county, David Mooers homesteading in section 8, Great Bend township, and there he spent the rest of his life. His widow spent
214
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
her latter years with her children, and died at the home of her son, Ellison D. Mooers, on the farm where he now lives. He was the eldest of four children, the others being named as follows: Emiline, Ann and Well- ington K.
Ellison D. Mooers spent his boyhood in Maine and there attended school, continuing his education after coming to Minnesota, including a course in the seminary at Worthington. When a young man he carried the mail from St. James to Big Bend post office, prior to the founding of Windom, the year the railroad was extended to the present site of Windom. He was then sixteen years old, and carried the first United States mail into Cottonwood county, continuing as carrier from March until October. He then turned his attention to school teaching, which he followed for sixteen terms in Steele and Cottonwood counties, Minnesota and Floyd county, Iowa, being one of the first educators in this part of the state. This was in the days of sod school houses and other primitive conditions. During part of this period he lived at home, sometimes going long distances to his work. He then took up farming in Cottonwood county and has followed this line of endeavor to the present time, living on his present place since the spring of 1889. He owns five hundred and sixty acres in Springfield and Big Bend townships. He has put up two good sets of buildings and added many other important improvements, and he has some of the best land in this part of the state. He also owns four hundred and twenty-six acres, a valuable grain farm in Nebraska, and six hundred and forty acres in Oklahoma, on which cotton and other staple crops are raised. He carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, is a man of rare executive ability along agricultural lines and is an exceptionally good judge of live stock of all kinds, and large numbers are to be seen about his barns at all seasons. He has been very successful as an agriculturist, has kept well abreast of the times in modern methods of tilling the soil and general farm methods.
Mr. Mooers was married in 1879 to Ellen F. Pratt, and to their union two children have been born, namely: . J. M., who is engaged in farming near Great Falls, Montana; and Vera, wife of Arthur Hanefield, who lives on one of Mr. Mooers' farms.
Mr. Mooers has been a very busy man but has never neglected his duties as a citizen. He has been chairman of the Cottonwood county board on three different occasions, and has held various township offices. Politic- ally, he is a Republican, and has long been one of the local leaders of his
215
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
party, although never a candidate for important public office. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a liberal contributor to its support.
JOHN ROXIN.
John Roxin, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of the Butterfield neighborhood in Watonwan county, owner of a fine farm of eighty-three and seventy-five hundredths acres one mile from the village of Butterfield and actively identified with the best interests of that part of the county, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was twenty-five years of age. He was born in 1864 and grew to manhood in his native land, where he lived until he was twenty-five years old, when, in 1889, he came to the United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, locating at Welcome, in the neighboring county of Martin, where he remained, working on the railway section, until 1901, when he was made foreman of the Northwestern's section at Odin and has ever since made his home in Watonwan county. For eleven years he served as fore- man of the section at Odin and then, in 1911, bought the farm of eighty- three and seventy-five hundredths acres on which he is now living, in Butter- field township and there he has lived ever since, he and his family being very comfortably situated. The year after he bought his farm Mr. Roxin was offered thirty-four dollars an acre more than he had paid for the place, but rejected the offer. In addition to his general farming Mr. Roxin has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. His place is well improved and he is carrying on his farming opera- tions according to modern methods of agriculture. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local politics, but has never been an aspir- ant for public office.
On May 19, 1896, while living at Welcome, John Roxin was united in marriage to Eliza Wieg, who was born in Germany and who came to Minne- sota in 1896, locating in Martin county, and to this union four children have been born: Otto, who is now a clerk in a general store at Ringsted, Iowa; Amelia, Herman and William. Mr. and Mrs. Roxin are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works.
216
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
REV. ERDMAN A. PANKOW.
Erdman A. Pankow was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, May 2, 1849, a son of Rev. Erdman and Sophia (Moldenhauer) Pankow, both natives of Germany, where they spent their earlier years, immigrating to America in 1843 and settling in Dodge county, Wisconsin, when it was a territory. The father was teacher in the Lutheran congregation at Lebanon, Wisconsin, and in 1848 he became minister of the church of his denomina- tion there, continuing preaching until 1905, although far advanced in years. His death occurred in 1907, at the age of eighty-eight. He was a grand old man in Israel and a powerful preacher in his day. He was connected with the church at Lebanon as teacher and preacher for a period of sixty- three years, a record that it would be difficult to equal. He was twice mar- ried, his first wife dying in 1859. To their union six children were born, namely : Minnie was the eldest; Herman is editor of the Democrat, at Marshfield, Wisconsin; Rev. Erdman A., the subject of this sketch; Mich- ael is a minister and lives at Waterloo, Wisconsin; Sophia died, leaving five children; John died when seventeen years old. The second wife was Mrs. Michaels, with whom he lived for a period of forty-eight years, and to their union nine children were born, namely: Augustine died when eighteen years old; Albert is a minister at Cambria, Wisconsin; Adolph is ex-mayor and now postmaster at Mansfield, Wisconsin; Anna was next in order of birth; Eva died in 1814; Agnes was the sixth child; Oswald is farming in Wisconsin; Pauline and Agela are the two youngest. The mother of these children had one child by her first husband, whom they named Louisa. This large and happy family grew up in harmony and were all much de- voted to each other. Mrs. Pankow died on February 1, 1914.
Erdman A. Pankow was reared at Lebanon, Wisconsin, and there he attended the public schools, later studied at Northwestern College, Water- town, Wisconsin, being the first person to enter that institution as a pupil, the college being opened in 1865. He was graduated with the first grad- uating class in 1872. He then attended a theological seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, for three years, graduating therefrom in 1875. Thus excep- tionally well equipped for his chosen life work, he began his career as min- ister at Bloomfield, Wisconsin, also preached at Winneconne, that state, for two years, then preached at Tomah, Wisconsin, five years. Ill health com- pelled him to retire from active work two years, after which he became a professor at St. Paul College, Concordia, Missouri, where he spent ten
217
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
years, then took charge of the congregation at Caledonia, Minnesota, in 1889, remaining there until 1911, when he came to St. James and has been pastor of the German Lutheran church here ever since. He is a man of profound education and is a forceful, earnest and eloquent pulpit orator and he has given the utmost satisfaction in all his work, whether as preacher or teacher. He is popular not only with his congregation but with all who know him.
Erdman A. Pankow was married on May 6, 1878, to Emma Kalbfleisch, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 16, 1859. She is a daughter of Henry and Barbara (Sheiffelen) Kalbfleisch, both natives of Germany, from which country they came to America when young, both spending the rest of their lives in St. Louis, his death occurring in 1889, at the age of sixty-five, and her death occurred in 1904, at the age of seventy-two. To Reverend Pankow and wife eight children have been born, namely: Gustav, Arthur, Theodore, Carl, Helen and Angela, twins, deceased; Hugo and Eugene.
Mrs. Pankow is one of a family of twelve children, named as follow : Henry ; Louisa and August are deceased: Emma is the wife of the subject ; Carl; Lillie and Martin are deceased; Marie, Gustav; Katie; Julia and Bar- bara are deceased.
JOHANN W. KOBS.
Johann W. Kobs, a well-known farmer of Rose Hill township, Cotton- wood county, proprietor of a well-kept farm of eighty acres in the vicinity of Westbrook, is a native of Germany, born on June 12, 1853, son of Mich- ael and Eva (Stolz) Kobs, who spent all their lives in their native country and who were the parents of eight children, of whom Johann W. was the eldest, the others being Frederick, Hermine, Carl, Herman, Augusta, Emil and Gustav. The father of these children died in 1868, when the eldest son was about fifteen years old, and the mother in 1903, the direction of the home farm thus being early left to the eldest son. He married in 1881 and he and his wife came to the United States in 1881 and located in the state of Nebraska, where they remained for something more than seven years, at the end of which time they returned to Germany, but after a stay of eigh- teen months at their old home, they returned to America and came to Minne- sota. Upon arriving in this state, Mr. Kobs bought a farm of eighty acres in Rose Hill township, Cottonwood county, and there established his home,
218
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
having lived there ever since. When he took possession of the farm it was wholly unimproved and he has made all the present improvements on the place, having now one of the best-kept farms in his neighborhood.
It was in 1881, in his native land, that Johann W. Kobs was united in marriage to Emaline Yeschke, who was born in 1860, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Gustav, born in 1889; Marie, 1894, and Martha, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Kobs are members of the German Luth- eran church and take a proper interest in neighborhood good works. Mr. Kobs is "independent" in his political views. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well in his operations.
JACOB J. LINSCHEID.
Jacob J. Linscheid, one of the best-known and most progressive farm- ers of the Butterfield neighborhood, owner of a fine farm of two hundred and fifty-eight acres in Butterfield, for nearly seventeen years clerk of that township and in other ways actively identified with the interests of that part of Watonwan county, is a native of the kingdom of Austria, born on July 25, 1863, son of John and Elizabeth Linscheid, who came to Minnesota in 1881, arriving in Watonwan county on July I, of that year.
Upon his arrival in Watonwan county, John Linscheid bought a quarter of a section of land in Butterfield township and there established his home, soon becoming one of the most substantial farmers in that part of the county. As he prospered in his farming operations he added to his holdings until he became the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of fine land. He was a Republican and took an active interest in local political affairs. His wife died in 1907, at the age of seventy-six years, and he afterwards retired to the village of Butterfield, where his death occurred in 1912, he then being seventy-eight years of age. He and his wife were earnest members of the Mennonite church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being John, Elizabeth, Rudolph, Robert, Edward and Wilhelmina, all of whom are living except Robert.
Jacob J. Linscheid was eighteen years old when he came to Minnesota with his parents in 1881 and he set himself to the work of farming, event- ually becoming the owner of his present fine farm of two hundred and fifty-
219
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
eight acres in the vicinity of Butterfield, where he and his family are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. From the very beginning of his farming operations, Mr. Linscheid adopted modern methods in the work of his farm and has developed one of the best farms in the county. The place is well improved, systematically tiled and well equipped for up-to-date farming, and its owner has long been recognized as one of the leading farm- ers of that part of the county. Mr. Linscheid is a Republican and for years has taken an active part in the civic affairs of his home township, for nearly seventeen years having been clerk of the township and in other ways doing what he can to advance the common interest thereabout.
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.