USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 32
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assessor, in which office he served for three years, and also has served as supervisor and for many years as clerk of the school board.
It was on June 29, 1862, that Francis M. Dyer was united in marriage, in his native state, to Harriet U. Weld, daughter of Zebina and Esther (Ridgeway) Weld, and to this union nine children have been born, namely : Willis F., who married R. Redding and died, leaving one child, a son, Leland D. Redding, who has always made his home with his maternal grand- parents ; Abbie May, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Marion Clyde, who married Ruth McCurdy; Blanche, unmarried; Elsine, unmar- ried ; Grace R., who married Frank Benham, and Merton W., who married Mrytle Chadderdon. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer are members of the Presbyterian church at Windom and have ever given their support to measures designed to advance the common welfare hereabout. Mr. Dyer formerly was an elder of the Presbyterian church at Bingham Lake and in the early days did much to advance the work of the church hereabout. His children have, in turn, taken their places worthily in the common life of this community and the family, very properly, has long been regarded as one of the useful and earnest factors in the social and cultural development of this region.
HENRY A. MARTIN.
Henry A. Martin, a well-known and substantial farmer of Madelia township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a farm of four hundred and thirty acres, four and one-half miles northeast of Madelia and generally recognized as one of the most progressive citizens of that part of the county, was born on the farm on which he is still making his home and has lived there all his life, having been a witness to and a participant in the develop- ment which has marked this region within his lifetime. He was born on April 19, 1866, son of Alfred and Syneva (Johnson) Martin, pioneers of this section of the state, who for years exerted a wide influence in the gen- eral life of the community in which they lived.
Alfred Martin was a native of Norway, born in 1828, and was a young man when he came to the United States with his parents, the family settling at Madison, Wisconsin. When the Civil War broke out Alfred Martin was a resident of Minnesota, having come to this state in pioneer days from Wisconsin, and he enlisted for service in the Eleventh Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for a year, at the end of which
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time he received his honorable discharge on a physician's certificate of dis- ability, his health having been shattered by the hardships he was compelled to undergo. He homesteaded a quarter of a section in section 2, Madelia township, Watonwan county, and there established his home, he and his wife becoming useful pioneers of that section. They were members of the Lutheran church and did much to advance the common welfare in the neighborhood of their home in early days. Alfred Martin was an excellent farmer and added to his homestead tract until he became one of the con- siderable landowners of that township. He improved his farm in excellent shape, planted trees, built a good home and did well in his farming opera- tions. His wife died on July 14, 1892, and he survived until 1909, his death occurring at Lake Benton. He was buried, however, in the cemetery near his old home. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom Henry A. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Bertha, Sarah, Jennie, Elizabeth, John. Peter and Anthony, all of whom are living save the latter.
Henry A. Martin was reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born and is still living there, having years ago bought a tract of four hun- dred and thirty acres, including the old homestead, from his father. He received his schooling in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and continued at home, a valuable aid to his father in the develop- ment of the home place. He married in 1892 and established a home of his own, early becoming recognized as one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. His fine new home was built about seven years ago. The house is lighted with gas and is well equipped as a comfortable residence. The barn and other farm buildings are in keeping with the residence and the farm is well improved. Mr. Martin is a progressive farmer, a believer in modern methods of agriculture, and has done very well. He has a fine, big, seven-passenger automobile and has a gasoline engine to lighten the labors about the barn. Mr. Martin has given considerable attention to the dairy side of farming and has done well in that line, having a fine herd of Dur- hams. He also raises Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs and has had excellent success in both these directions. Mr. Martin has for years given thoughtful attention to local civic affairs and since 1914 has been serving as a member of the board of supervisors of his home township.
It was on December 15, 1892, that Henry A. Martin was united in marriage to Mary Schalcben, who was born at Linden, in Brown county, this state, on October 25, 1870, daughter of Valentine and Emily ( Halver- son ) Schalcben. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have four children living, Stella,
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Willard, Howard and Oliver. The Martins are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural activities of their neighborhood, ever having been among the leaders in the promotion of movements looking to the advancement of the general welfare there- about.
JOHN W. SOMERS.
John W. Somers, chairman of the board of commissioners of Waton- wan county and one of the most progressive farmers of St. James town- ship, that county, proprietor of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of the city of St. James, a pioneer of this section and for many years active in the public service, is a native of Connecticut, born on August 29. 1845, son of Rufus and Esther ( Peck) Somers, both natives of that same state, the former born in 1800 and the latter in 1798, who spent all their lives in their native state. Rufus Somers died in 1857 and his widow survived him many years, her death occurring in 1884. They were the parents of six children, who grew to maturity, of whom John W. is now the sole survivor, the others having been Emily, Henry, George, Esther and David.
John W. Somers was reared in Connecticut and obtained his schooling in the public schools in the neighborhood of his home there. When twenty- two years of age, in 1868, he came to Minnesota and after a short stay in St. Paul proceeded to Blue Earth county and the next year, 1869, came over into Watonwan county and homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in what is now section 28 of St. James township, to which he later added a quarter of a section in sections 27 and 28, and proceeded to develop the same. In 1881 he married and established his home on his homestead place. Some years later a series of business reverses caused him to lose his home farm and he was compelled to start all over again. Nothing daunted by his failure he went bravely to work and, about 1890, was able to buy an- other quarter section in that same township. To this he later added an adjoining "eighty" and now has a well-kept and highly-cultivated farm of two hundred and forty acres in sections 33 and 34. He has a substantial and comfortable residence there, a modern barn and other farm buildings to match, and is very well situated. He built his residence in 1901 and his barn in 1906. His farming operations have been carried on along up-to- date lines and he has done very well.
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Ever since coming to Minnesota, back in pioneer days, Mr. Somers has given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs and for many years has been regarded as one of the leaders in the Republican party in Waton- wan county. For more than thirty-two years he has been clerk of the town board; for ten years a member of the school board of St. James corpora- tion and for twenty-two years a member of the school board in the township. In 1913 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the board of county commis- sioners and was elected chairman of the board upon the organization of the same and is now serving in that capacity. Mr. Somers is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization.
In 1881 John W. Somers was united in marriage to Mary King, who was born in the state of Illinois, daughter of William King and wife, who became pioneers of Watonwan county, and the latter of whom died years ago, after which her husband made his home with the subject of this sketch, where his death occurred in 1902. Mrs. Somers ever was an able and com- petent helpmate to her husband and took an active part in the general social affairs of her home community, her death, on September 16, 1910, causing much sorrow in the neighborhood in which she had lived so long. She was the mother of eight children, Rufus, Esther, David. Margaret, Ruth, Emma, Francis and Mary, all of whom are living and who are doing well their re- spective parts in the common life of this community.
JAMES S. MATHER.
The fact that agricultural pursuits have not progressed as they should have done in this country during the past ten years, is recognized by far- seeing men to such an extent that at the present time we find some of the strongest minds of the country grappling with the problem of putting agri- culture on a permanent and sound basis.
James S. Mather is one of the wide-awake farmers of Madelia town- ship, Watonwan county. He was born in Waushara county, Wisconsin, January 8, 1852, and is a son of John and Mary E. (Bedient) Mather. The father was a native of Vermont. His death occurred in 1875, at the age of fifty-three years. In his earlier career he moved to Lockport, New York, where he worked at the carpenter's trade and where he was married, later moving to Wisconsin, locating near Green Bay, buying a small farm on
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which he spent about eight years; then came to Rice county, Minnesota, and bought one hundred and sixty acres, on which he spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of the following children: Harriet, Mary A., James S., F. W. and J. H. The father of these children was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in the work of the same. His widow died in November, 1912, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, having survived him thirty-seven years.
James S. Mather grew up on the home farm, and received his education in the public schools of Rice county, Minnesota. On November 1I, 1871, he married Emma F. Fanning, who was born in Wabasha county, this state, February 22, 1857. She is a daughter of George W. and Sophronia A. (Bradford) Fanning. William Bradford. the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Mather, was a native of Vermont, devoted his active life to farming, living in Switzerland county, Indiana, on a farm for many years. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist church. The paternal grandparents, David and Mary (Hoyt) Fanning, first lived in the state of New York, then moved to Illi- nois, among the pioneers of that state. They finally moved to Wabasha county, Minnesota. and spent the rest of their lives near Lake City. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The father of Mrs. Mather was twelve years old when his parents moved with their family to near Henry, Illinois, and he was married in that state. He was one of the band of gold seekers to cross the plains in the days of the gold excitement on the Pacific coast, but being sick the entire time that he spent in the gold fields, he returned unsuccessful. He came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, in 1855, where he became owner of one hundred and sixty acres, later moved to Rice county, this state, where he spent eight years, then came to Madelia township, Watonwan county, where he continued farming about twenty years, owning a farm here of five hundred and thirty acres. His death occurred here on September 1, 1912, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife pre- ceded him to the grave on May 19, 1907, at the age of seventy-nine years. To these parents the following children were born: Emma E., wife of Mr. Mather; Annie is deceased; Olive M. was next in order of birth; Eliza A. is deceased, and William D., the youngest. The parents of these children were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in the work of the same.
James S. Mather located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Rice county, Minnesota, where he spent sixteen years, then sold out and bought a farm in Madelia township, Watonwan county, purchasing part of
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the farm of his father-in-law before moving here. He spent two and one- half years in Faribault, this state, where he engaged in the pump and wind- mill business ; then spent three and one-half years in Westbrook, Cotton- wood county, in the hardware and implement business, under the firm name of Swain & Mather Hardware Company. All the while he retained his farm in Madelia township, Watonwan county, which place consists of two hundred acres, which is now looked after by his children. He also owns two hundred acres in Cass county, Minnesota, and a half interest in a tract of five hundred and twenty-nine acres in Polk county, this state.
Politically, Mr. Mather is a Prohibitionist. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a steward and was formerly a trustee. He was at one time superintendent of the Sunday school. His wife belongs to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mather, namely: Olive M., who is the wife of Wesley Tate, of Madelia township. and they have one child. Lyle: George A. was next in order of birth; Carrie B. is the wife of Clyde Maberry, an electrician of Minneapolis, and they have two children, Everett and Vera; Clarence E., who lives in Watonwan county, married Marjory Cisney. and they have one child, Richard; Clinton B., who lives in Westbrook, Cottonwood county, married Olive Archard; Earl E., farming in Fieldon township, and Perry J., at home.
A. F. MEYER.
A. F. Meyer, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Owatonna, Steele county, Minnesota, May 29, 1886, a son of H. A. and Sophia (Hom- meyer) Meyer, the father a native of Germany and the mother a native of Steele county, Minnesota. When a boy of nine years, the father came to America and located in Steele county, Minnesota, where he grew to man- hood and was married. He is now living at Claremont, Dodge county, Minnesota.
A. F. Meyer was educated in the public schools of Steele county, and later attended the high school at Claremont, following this by taking a course in the business college at Owatonna. He then engaged in the bank- ing business, first taking a position in the bank in Claremont, in 1902. In
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January, 1904. he went to Madelia, Minnesota, and took a position in the First National Bank, at that place, and continued there for about four years. In October, 1908, he took a position in the First National Bank, at Belle- plaine, Scott county, and remained there until July, 1915, when he came to Westbrook to accept the position of cashier of the First National Bank of this place, the position which he holds at the present time.
Mr. Meyer has practically grown up in the business and is thoroughly familiar with modern banking methods in all its details. He is a progressive, public-spirited young banker. The Masonic order is his only fraternal affiliation.
OLE E. SUNDT.
Upon the roll of representative business men of Watonwan county is Ole E. Sundt, cashier of the State Bank of LaSalle. He possesses those qualities of head and heart which not only bring success in a material way, but commend themselves to persons of intelligence and good citizenship. He was born in Norway, October 25, 1875, and is a son of Einar and Ron- naug (Kveen) Sundt, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, were married and resided until 1888, when they immigrated to America, locat- ing in Watonwan county, Minnesota, where the father engaged in farming. He is now living in Hanska. The mother died several years ago. To these parents six children were born.
Ole E. Sundt was thirteen years old when his parents brought him to the new world. He received a common-school education, including the schools of Brown county and Madelia, also studied at the Curtis Commercial College, in 1895 and 1896, after which he became manager for the Nelson and Albin Mercantile Association, which position he held four years, giving the firm the utmost satisfaction. He then came to Sleepy Eye, where he engaged in general mercantile pursuits until 1906, when he moved to LaSalle and assisted in organizing the State Bank of LaSalle, and he has filled the position of cashier of this popular and sound institution ever since, doing much toward its success. A general banking business is carried on along conservative lines, and the bank has enjoyed a steady growth from the first, meeting a long-felt want in this community. Mr. Sundt is a stockholder and director in the bank. Under the supervision of Mr. Sundt, this bank has achieved success, its deposits gradually increasing until it now has a
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STATE BANK OF LA SALLE
STATE BANK OF LA SALLE.
THE NEW MAK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTER, LET OK SIDEN F. NLATINO
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substantial standing among banks of this class, at this time, having about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars deposits.
Mr. Sundt was married on March 14, 1900, to Clara Olson, of Brown county, Minnesota, and to this union the following children have been born : Horace and Evelyn.
Mr. Sundt is a member of the Lutheran church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, and the Mod- ern Brotherhood of America. Politically, he is independent.
WILLIAM JUHNKE.
William Juhnke. a well-known and progressive farmer of Germantown township, Cottonwood county, member of the board of supervisors of that township and otherwise actively identified with the civic life of his home community, is a native of Germany, but has lived in Minnesota since he was about a year old. He was born on October 5, 1869, son of Fred and Augusta (Bader) Juhnke, natives of Germany, pioneers of Cottonwood county. Fred Juhnke is still living on his homestead farm in Germantown township, but his wife is dead.
Fred Juhnke was a tailor in his native land. In 1870 he and his family came to the United States and proceeded directly to the Northwest. For a year or two they made their home in Wisconsin and then came to Minne- sota and settled in Cottonwood county. Fred Juhnke homesteaded eighty acres of land in Germantown township and there established his home, early becoming recognized as one of the substantial and influential farmers of that section of the county. He is still living on the old homestead farm. They were members of the German Evangelical church and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, of whom Will- iam was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Charles, Minnie, Flora, Fred, Emil, Anna, Edward, Herman and Mary.
William Juhnke was but a baby when his parents came to this country and his youth and early manhood were spent on the old homestead farm in Germantown township. He received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home there and grew up to the life of the farm, becoming an excellent farmer. As a young man he started farming on the place on which he now lives and in 1891, when twenty-two years old, bought
(22a)
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the place, a full quarter of a section, and proceeded to improve the same. After his marriage, in 1897, he established his home on that farm and has ever since lived there, he and his family being pleasantly situated. Mr. Juhnke has made all the improvements on the place and his farm is looked upon as one of the best-kept places in that part of the county. In addition to general farming, he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well. Mr. Juhnke has for years given close attention to local political affairs and has been a member of the board of supervisors of Ger- mantown township since the year 1900. He also has served for some years as a member of the school board.
On July 23, 1897, William Juhnke was united in marriage to Martha Utecht, and to this union four children have been born, Levi, Fred, Everett and Adell. Mr. and Mrs. Juhnke are members of the German Evangelical church and take a proper interest in the general beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works.
OLE A. OLSON.
Ole A. Olson, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Madelia town- ship, Watonwan county, now living comfortably retired in the city of Madelia, is a native of Wisconsin, born in Green Bay county, that state, December 29, 1855, son of Andrew and Anna ( Effson) Olson, natives of Norway, whose last days were spent in Minnesota, they having become earnest and influential pioneers of Watonwan county in the days preceding the Civil War.
Andrew Olson, an honored veteran of the Civil War, came to this state from Wisconsin. He was the son of Ole Olson and was reared on a farm in Norway. He married in his native land and he and his wife shortly afterward came to the United States, settling in Green Bay county, Wiscon- sin, in 1852, some time later coming over into Minnesota and settling in Watonwan county, being among the pioneers of this section of the state. Andrew Olson homesteaded a tract of sixty-three acres in Madelia town- ship and there established his home. He prospered in his farming opera- tions and at the time of his death in 1909, he then being seventy-five years of age, was the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. During the Civil War Andrew Olson served for three years as a member of the Eleventh Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. His wife preceded him
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to the grave two years, her death having occurred in 1907. They were members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Julia, Andrew, Ellef, Anon, Gunder, Halvor, Mary and Lena.
Ole A. Olson was reared on the paternal homestead farm, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and pres- ently became a farmer on his own account, eventually becoming the owner of a farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Madelia township. He mar- ried in 1884 and continued farming until 1910, in which year he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved into Madelia, where he and his wife are now living and where they are pleasantly situated, their son, Oscar, now managing the home farm. During his long residence on the farm, Mr. Olson took an active interest in local affairs; for twelve years was treasurer of his school district and for three years served as a member of the board of supervisors.
On June 16, 1884, Ole A. Olson was united in marriage to Lizzie Mary Anderson, daughter of Andrew and Julia Anderson, homesteaders of Riverside township, Watonwan county, the latter of whom is still living, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Albert, now living in Brown county, this state, who married Emma Melser and has one child, a daughter, Edna Emma, who married Carl Skrean and now lives in North- field, this state, and Ella, Amelia, Oscar and Gilmer. The Olsons are all members of the Lutheran church and take a warm interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works; ever willing to help promote the cause of good citizenship hereabout.
DANIEL E. WOG.
Daniel E. Wog, chairman of the board of supervisors of Germantown township, Cottonwood county, owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 23 of that township, a director of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Sanborn, a director of the Westbrook Fire Insurance Company and in other ways identified with the business interests of that community, is a native of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a pioneer homestead farm in Charlestown township. in the neighboring county of Redwood, March 20, 1875, son of Alexander and Agnetta (Dan-
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ielson) Wog, natives of Sweden, both born in the same community in that country, and who became early settlers in the southern part of Redwood county back in pioneer days.
For some time after coming to this country, Alexander Wog worked in a brick-yard in St. Paul and was there engaged until 1871, in which year he homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in Charlestown township, Redwood county, and set about "proving up" the same. He and a neighbor owned a team of horses in partnership and for two years used that team in the joint labors of the two farms. One horse then died and they traded the other for a team of young oxen and continued working thus in amicable neighborliness until they were able to see their ways sufficiently clear to admit of the purchase of additional stock. In those days there were still a few Indians in this part of the country and Mr. Wog found a couple of abandoned canoes, which he utilized as mangers for his stock. After the first few hard years, however, he began to prosper and later added to his farm an adjoining "eighty" of school land, which he bought at auction, and became a substantial farmer. His death occurred on June 26, 1887, in a hospital at Minneapolis, to which place he had been taken for treatment for a cancer. Alexander Wog and wife were members of the Norwegian Luth- eran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were five of these children, of whom Daniel E. was the first born, the others being Carl O., Nels Gustav, Alexander, Wilhelm and Johan Alfred.
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