USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 30
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Jacob H. Wall spent his boyhood on the farm and he received a com- mon-school education. He has always followed farming for a livelihood. He was seven years old when his parents brought him to the United States. He has lived on his present farm since 1891. He has a valuable farm of four hundred and forty acres on which he has erected modern and substan- tial buildings and made many other improvements, and he carries on gen- eral farming and stock raising on an extensive scale.
Mr. Wall was married in 1890, to Agetha Buhler, a daughter of Abram Buhler, a native of Russia, and to this union the following children have been born: Lena, Henry, Abram, Justina and Anna.
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Mr. Wall is a member of the Mennonite church. He has taken con- siderable interest in local public affairs, and has been township assessor for a period of seventeen years and is township clerk at the present time.
CHARLES ANDERS GUSTAFSON.
Charles Anders Gustafson, a progressive farmer of Dale township, Cot- tonwood county, one of the largest landowners in that part of the county, with a pleasant home on rural route No. 5, out of Windom, chairman of his district school board and a director in the Farmers Elevator Company at Windom, the Carson Farmers Elevator Company, the Northwestern Tele- phone Company and the Farmers State Bank of Windom, is a native of Sweden, but has lived in the United States since he was twenty years of age and has been a resident of Minnesota since he was twenty-five. He was born on March 15, 1867, son of Gustav and Matilda (Peterson) Gustafson, both of whom died in their native land and who were the parents of seven children, of whom Charles A. was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Sophia, wife of Mr. Wessling, a farmer, living near Muskegon, Michigan; Amanda, who lives in Sweden; Amil, who came to America and is now a well-known farmer in Dale township, Cottonwood county ; Axel, who is associated with his brother, Amil, in the latter's farm- ing operations ; Freda, wife of Oscar Johnson, a Pullman carpenter at Chi- cago, and Oscar, who remained in Sweden.
Charles A. Gustafson was reared on a farm in his native land and received his education in the government schools. When twenty years of age, in 1887, he settled at Gorrie, Iowa, near which place he was for four years engaged as a farm laborer. He then came to Minnesota. arriving at Windom in 1891. Shortly thereafter he bought eighty acres of wild land in section 33, Dale township, and developed the same. Upon his marriage in 1894 he rented the John F. Gustafson farm and made his home there for three years, at the end of which time he traded his original tract of eighty acres for another "eighty" of wild land in section 29 of that same township and there built a house and established his home. Mr. Gustafson has been a very successful farmer. Almost immediately after taking possession of the tract on which he established his home, he bought an adjoining "eighty" and two years later bought, a quarter of a section west of that, later buying one hundred and twenty acres in section 30 and still later buying another quarter section in section 28, thus being the owner of six hundred acres of
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land in Dale township, all of which he is farming, besides renting and culti- vating other lands in that vicinity. He keeps twenty-five head of horses and also raises annually from seventy-five to one hundred head of cattle. His farm is well improved, a good barn and other up-to-date farm buildings affording him every convenience in his operations. One of the attractive features of the home farm is a grove of about three acres, which Mr. Gustaf- son planted upon taking possession of the same. He and his family have a pleasant home and are comfortably situated. Mr. Gustafson drives a fine automobile and takes an active interest in the general business affairs of the community. He is an "independent" Democrat and is now serving his second term as chairman of the school board of district No. 54. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Windom and also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Windom, the Carson Farmers Elevator Company and the Northwestern Telephone Company, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
It was on November 2, 1894, that Charles A. Gustafson was united in marriage to Augusta Gustafson and to this union seven children have been born, namely : Sigurd Joseph, born on August 17, 1895; Clarence Conrad, September 28, 1896; Walter, February 19, 1898; Ethel Elvera, April 8, 1900, now attending school at Windom; Hildur, April 21, 1902; Ruth, July 24, 1903, and Myrtle, March 27, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson are mem- bers of the Free Mission Swedish church at Windom and their children have been reared in that faith. The Gustafsons take a proper interest in neighborhood good works and are ever helpful in promoting movements designed to advance the general welfare hereabout.
RICHARD ALBRECHT.
Richard Albrecht, a progressive young farmer of Germantown town- ship, Cottonwood county, who is the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in that township, is a native of Germany, but has lived in Min- nesota since his early childhood, he having been but an infant when his parents came over here. He was born on January 18, 1888, son of August and Wilhelmina (Thram) Albrecht, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1889, proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling on a farm in Germantown township, Cottonwood county, where they are still living, having for years been among the best-known and most influential residents of that community. August Albrecht and his wife are members of the
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German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, of whom Richard was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Augusta, Herman, Otto, Mary, Emma, Ernest and Minnie.
Richard Albrecht was little more than a year old when his parents came to Minnesota and he grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Ger- mantown township. He received his education in the public schools of that township and from the days of his boyhood was a valuable assistant to his father in the labors of developing the home place. When he reached man- hood's estate he began farming on his own account and has been very suc- cessful, now being the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Germantown township, the same being in an excellent state of cul- tivation. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Albrecht has given con- siderable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well.
In 1915 Richard Albrecht was united in marriage to Olga Steve, daugh- ter of Henry Steve. Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht are members of the German Lutheran church and take a proper interest in parish affairs, as well as in all local good works, being willing promoters of such movements as are de- signed to advance the common welfare. They have a pleasant home and take an earnest part in the general social activities of their home neighbor- hood. Mr. Albrecht is a Republican in his political views, ever taking a proper interest in local governmental affairs.
ALVIN RAND.
Alvin Rand, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers in Cottonwood county, proprietor of beautiful "Valley Dale Stock Farm," a fine place of two hundred and forty acres in section 35, Dale township, situated on rural route No. 5, out of Windom, is a native son of Minnesota, born on a homestead farm in Faribault county, February 6, 1871, son of John and Ada Rand, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Vermont, who were married in Wisconsin, later coming to this state, where their last days were spent, influential and substantial residents of Cottonwood county.
John Rand was reared on a farm in New York and when a young man came into the Northwest, settling in Wisconsin, where he married. After a few years spent there he came to Minnesota and homesteaded a tract
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RESIDENCE AND BARN OF ALVIN RAND.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AFTOR LENCA DEN FOUNDATIONS
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of forty acres in Faribault county, at the same time buying a quarter of a section of wild land adjoining. He improved that place and made his home there until 1884, when he sold the same to advantage and moved to Arkan- sas, but after farming for one season in that state, returned to Minnesota and spent a year in Dodge county, after which he returned to Nebraska and for two years was engaged in farming in the neighborhood of Norfolk, that state. He then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he lived for about nine months, at the end of which time he returned to Minnesota and for four years lived on a rented farm in Rock county. He then moved up into Cottonwood county and bought a quarter of a section of wild land in Dale township, where he established his home and where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in February, 1908, he then being past sixty-six years of age, and hers, in September, 1909, she then being fifty-six years of age. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born.
Alvin Rand was about thirteen years old when his parents left the old homestead farm in Faribault county, where he was born and where he had received his early schooling. During their later moves he was a constant aid to his father in the work of the farm and became an excellent farmer. He was twenty-one years of age when the family finally located in Cotton- wood county in the early nineties and he continued assisting his father on the farm until his marriage in 1897, after which he rented a farm of six hundred and forty acres and started farming on his own account. Shortly afterward he bought a quarter section of wild land in section 35, Dale town- ship, and there he established his home and has continued to live there ever since. Mr. Rand has done well in his farming operations and now is the owner of two hundred and forty acres and has long been recognized as one of the most substantial and progressive farmers in his neighborhood. Upon taking possession of his place, Mr. Rand. planted a large grove and has con- tinually improved his farm until "Valley Dale Stock Farm" has come to be known as one of the most attractive places thereabout. He early built a nice two-story frame house, later erected a large bank barn, forty by sixty- four feet, and in 1914 erected a concrete-block silo. Upon beginning his farming operations, Mr. Rand engaged in the live stock business in a small way, and has gradually added to his herd until now he has a herd of forty- five purebred Shorthorn cattle and twenty head of horses. Mr. Rand is an "independent" Republican and has held the offices of township clerk and township supervisor. He is a stockholder in the Carson Farmers Elevator Company at Delft and in the Farmers Elevator Company at Windom. He
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owns a livery barn and two residence properties in Mountain Lake and a couple of lots in Jeffers. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen and with the Royal Neighbors, in the affairs of both of whichi organizations he takes a warm interest.
Alvin Rand has been married twice. It was on February 26, 1897, that he was united in marriage to Bertha Miller. To that union six children were born, Effie, who married Archie Carr and now lives at Lake City, Iowa; Ada, Edith, Sadie, Pearl and Alice, all of whom are living save Pearl. The mother of these children died on February 23, 1905, and on July 15, 1908, Mr. Rand married Mrs. Otto Hotzler. The Rands have a very pleasant home and take an earnest interest in the general social activities of their neighborhood. contributing to all movements designed to advance the general welfare thereabout.
GUNDER JOHNSON.
No history of Cottonwood county would be complete without fitting mention of the venerable Gunder Johnson, an honored veteran of the Civil War and the first settler of Highwater township, who has been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development that has marked this part of the state within the past generation and who is still living, hale and hearty, at the age of eighty-two, on the farm in Highwater township, where he homesteaded in 1869.
Gunder Johnson is a native of Norway, born on October 12, IS33, son of Ole and Hedwick (Gunder) Johnson, and grew to manhood in his native country, being twenty-two years of age when the family came to this country in 1855. Ole Johnson located with his family in Portage county, Wiscon- sin, established his home on a homestead farm there and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1872. He and his wife were the parents of three children, of whom Gunder was the last-born, the others being Mary and John. Upon settling in Portage county, Gunder Johnson was occupied with his father in the work of developing the homestead farm and was thus engaged until 1863, in which year he enlisted in Company D. Fifth Regi- ment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War and served with that command until mustered out at the close of the war. Mr. Johnson saw much active service with his regiment, participating in the bat- tles in the Wilderness, through the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, Cherry
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Creek, the battles around Petersburg and was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, later participating in the Grand Review at Washington. Through all these battles and engagements he never was wounded, though on several occasions bullet holes in his hat attested the imminence of death.
Upon the completion of his military service, Mr. Johnson returned to his home in Wisconsin. He married there in 1867 and in 1869 he and his . wife drove through by "prairie schooner" to this part of Minnesota and set- tled in Highwater township, Cottonwood county, being the earliest arrivals in that township, Mr. Johnson later becoming an active factor in the organ- ization of the township when it was organized to one of the civil units of the county. He homesteaded a quarter of a section of land there and has ever since made his home on the original homestead, thus being one of the oldest pioneers in point of continuous residence in this part of the state. When Mr. Johnson settled here, his nearest market was New Ulm, fifty-five miles away, for he then was on the frontier, indeed. He had a struggle before him for several years and during the years of the grasshopper scourge left his wife and children on the homestead and went over into Fillmore county to work in the harvest fields. After awhile, however, he began to see his way clear and presently became established on his farm, from the very first being looked upon as one of the leading farmers of that part of the county. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and ever since locating in Cot- tonwood county has taken a warm interest in civic affairs, though not being included in the office-seeking class. For many years he has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and continues to take a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. Despite the weight of his eighty- two years, Mr. Johnson still retains the erect carriage of his military days and is in vigorous physical condition, never having been ill for even a single day during all the years of his residence in Minnesota.
In 1867, back in Wisconsin, Gunder Johnson was united in mar- riage to Marie Staindahlen and to this union nine children have been born, Martin, Jacob, Peter, Aaron, Gilbert, Hannah, Gerina, Toline and Anna, all of whom are living in Minnesota save the first born, Martin Johnson, who is living in Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and were prominent figures in the work of organizing that church in this locality in early days and have ever been held as among the leaders in all good works hereabout, the influence of their lives in the formative period of this now well-established and prosperous community having been of far-reaching benefit hereabout.
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JAMES J. BILL.
James J. Bill, well-known and energetic dealer in real estate at Madelia, for many years one of the leading druggists of this part of the state and in all ways active in the promotion of the best interests of his home town and the community at large, is a native son of Minnesota, born at Mantorville, county seat of Dodge county, August 27. 1862, son of Dr. Dyar R. and Amanda M. (Vermillion) Bill, the former of whom was born at Greenfield, Vermont, and the latter at Syracuse, New York, who later became pioneer residents of Madelia, this state, where they spent their last days.
Dr. Dyar R. Bill, pioneer druggist at Madelia, was a graduate of an Eastern medical college, who, about 1852, came West and settled at Beaver Falls, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the drug business and continued thus engaged at that place about eight years, at the end of which time he came to Minnesota and located at Mantorville, where he was for some time engaged as a teacher in the schools of that place. While thus engaged he was elected county superintendent of schools of Dodge county and served in that capacity for two years, at the end of which time he moved to what then was known as Shelbyville and while there served for two years as superintendent of schools of Blue Earth county. Doctor Bill then moved to Garden City, upon the founding of that place, and opened the first drug store in the town, remaining there until the time of the founding of the town of Madelia, when, in 1870, he moved to the latter place and there opened a drug store, which remained in the control of his family for forty-three years.
Doctor Bill was a man of much force of character and took an active part in the work of promoting the interests of the new town of Madelia and of Watonwan county generally during the five years of his residence in Madelia. In 1872 he was elected clerk of court for Watonwan county and was serving in that capacity, with a promise of larger service and much con- tinued usefulness in behalf of the new community, when his death occurred in 1875. He was a Republican and was one of the leaders of that party in this part of the state during the time he resided here. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom James J. was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Frank D., Edward H., Frederick J., Kathryn and Emma F. Following the death of Doctor Bill his widow continued the drug store, with the assistance of her sons, under the firm name of A. M. Bill & Sons, which arrangement continued for about five
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years, or until 1880, when Mrs. Bill sold her interest in the place to her sons, who continued the store under the name of Bill Brothers, until James J. Bill became sole owner in 1902, continuing as such until he later sold the store in order to give his undivided time to his rapidly growing real-estate interests.
James J. Bill was about eight years of age when his parents settled in the new town of Madelia and he consequently has been a witness to the growth of that thriving little city from the days of its very beginning. He received his schooling in the public schools of Madelia and early took his place in the drug store, under the careful direction of his father, and became a skilled druggist. After the formation of the firm of Bill Brothers he continued taking an active part in the management of the store's affairs and in 1902 bought his brothers' interests in the place and continued to conduct the store alone until he sold it in 1913, since which time he has given his whole attention to his extensive real-estate business, he being regarded as one of the leaders in the realty market in this part of the state. Mr. Bill gives his particular attention to the market in farm lands and has done very well. He is "independent" in his political views and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has never been included in the office- seeking class.
In 1891 James J. Bill was united in marriage to Grace G. Goddard, daughter of Charles A. Goddard, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Dyar G. Mr. and Mrs. Bill are attendants at the services of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural activities of their home town. Mr. Bill is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
MARTIN FRANZ.
Martin Franz, a well-known and up-to-date farmer of Midway town- ship, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Mountain Lake, is a native of southern Rus- sia, born on March 4, 1859, son of John and Susanna Franz, who came to the United States in 1878, proceeding directly to Minnesota and coming to this part of the state, arriving at Mountain Lake on July 6, of that year. John Franz bought eighty acres of school land in that neighborhood and later added to his place by the purchase of an adjoining quarter of a sec-
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tion. He died in 1886 and his widow is still living, being now in the eighty- fifth year of her age.
Martin Franz was about nineteen years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1878 and he has been a continuous resident of the Mountain Lake neighborhood ever since. He early began farming on his own account and is now the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Midway township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. He set out all the trees that at present adorn his farm and has erected a substantial class of buildings on the place, a comfortable residence and farm buildings in keeping with the same, as well as a capacious silo. Mr. Franz is a Republican and for many years has been a member of the school board, at the same time ever taking an active interest in the general civic affairs of his home township, and is regarded as one of the leaders in the common life of that community.
In 1883 Martin Franz was united in marriage to Susanna Balzer, daughter of Jacob Balzer, a sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, and to this union nine children have been born: John, Jacob, Su- sanna, Peter, Anna, Solomon, Elizabeth, Frieda and Ferdinand, all of whom are living. Of the children, John is in Canada in the ministry; Jacob is in Montana; Susanna and Anna are at present in California, doing mission work. Mr. and Mrs. Franz are members of the Mennonite church and for years have taken an active interest in the affairs of the same.
FRANK BALZER.
Frank Balzer, veteran lumber dealer at Mountain Lake, one of the best- known business men in Cottonwood county, president of the North Star Telephone Company of Mountain Lake, vice-president of the First State Bank of that city, a director of the State Bank of Darfur and for more than twenty years treasurer of his home town, is a native of Germany, born on March 19, 1859, son of Jacob Balzer, who later became a prominent pioneer of this section of Minnesota and regarding whom further reference is made elsewhere in this volume of biography.
On July 1, 1877, the Balzer family landed in Philadelphia to settle on the new lands that then were being opened to settlement in this part of Minnesota, and in due time they were established on a homestead farm in the near vicinity of Mountain Lake. Jacob Balzer was a man of energy and
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resourcefulness and it was not long until he became recognized as one of the substantial farmers and useful citizens of that part of the county. He and his wife were of the Mennonite faith and were among the leaders in the work of the considerable colony of Mennonites that then was being estab- lished in this part of Minnesota.
Frank Balzer was eighteen years old when he came to this country with his parents and the first few years of his residence here were spent in assisting in the development of the homestead farm. When he was twenty- three years of age he went to St. James, where he was engaged for a year as a grain buyer. He then, in 1883, married and a few years later, on April 5, 1886, engaged in the lumber business at Mountain Lake and has ever since been thus engaged, thus being one of the oldest lumber men, in point of continuous connection with that business, in this part of Minnesota. Mr. Balzer not only for years has been one of the leaders in the lumber trade hereabout, but he has been actively identified with other business interests in and about his home town and has long been regarded as one of the leading men of affairs. He is vice-president of the First State Bank of Mountain Lake, a director of the State Bank of Darfur and president of the North Star Telephone Company, of Mountain Lake. Mr. Balzer is a Republican, for years one of the leaders of that party in his part of the county, and has been for twenty-one years treasurer of Mountain Lake and for about twenty years a member of the school board of that city, now serving as treasurer of the board; while in other ways he has shown his interest in the civic and business life of his home town.
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