USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 39
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Mr. Bisbee was married on May 23, 1863, to Ardelia Small, of Wilton, Maine. She is a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary (Merrill) Small, natives of Maine, in which state they spent their lives on a farm. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee, named as follows: Melvina F. married E. C. Warner, who is president of the Midland Linseed Oil Com- pany of Minneapolis; J. Oscar, who married Annie Tierney, of Madelia, runs a livery business at Madelia; Samuel S., who married Margarette
(26a)
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Turnem, has charge of refining and shipping in the Linseed Oil Company; Edgar C., who married Mattie Arnold, is vice-president of the Linseed Oil Company of Minneapolis; Albert J., who married Lulu Wiles, is head book- keeper for a threshing machine company in Minneapolis; Mabel A. married J. W. Palmer, farmer, Madelia township; Arthur L., who married Ethel Patterson, is traffic manager for the Linseed Oil Company of Minneapolis; Frank J., who married Marie Englebrecht, is a superintendent in the Lin- seed Oil Company of Minneapolis; Maurice S. assists his father in the management of his farm; Elmer, who was graduated from the civil engineer- ing department of the University of Minnesota, is developing an old mine in California; Everett H. is assisting his father in the management of his farms; Carroll E. is also with his father on the home farm, and Ardelia, who married J. M. Lowe, superintendent of the New York Mill, property of the Linseed Oil Company of Minneapolis.
Mr. Bisbee has lived to see and take part in the wonderful transforma- tion of the country about Madelia, whose interests he has ever at heart and sought to promote in every legitimate way. He is one of the influential and highly esteemed men of the county. He is a Mason, at Madelia, and he and family belong to the Presbyterian church.
ISAAC D. SCHULTZ.
Isaac D. Schultz, a substantial farmer of Midway township, Cotton- wood county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Mountain Lake, is a native of Russia, but has been a resident of this country since he was a small child and has witnessed the development of this section of Minnesota since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in southern Russia on April 16, 1872, son of David Schultz and wife, who, with their children, came to the United States in 1874, proceeding to South Dakota, whence, the next year they came over the line into Minnesota and settled in Cottonwood county, where they established their home and became useful and influential pioneers. In a sketch relating to David Schultz, pre- sented elsewhere in this volume, there are set out additional details regarding this pioneer family.
Isaac D. Schultz was about two years old when his parents came to this country and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm of his father in Midway township, Cottonwood county. He attended both the public
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schools and the Mennonite school and early began farming on his own account. In 1900 he bought the southeast quarter of section 22 in Midway township and began to develop the same along up-to-date lines. Two years later he married and established his home on that place and there he has lived ever since, he and his family being very pleasantly and comfortably situated. He has a fine residence, a good barn and other farm buildings in keeping with the same and is looked upon as one of the progressive farm- ers of that neighborhood. Mr. Schultz is a Republican, but has never been a seeker after public office. He takes a warm interest, however, in the civic affairs of his community and is found among the promoters of such movements as are designed to advance the cause of good government here- about.
On January 23, 1902, Isaac D. Schultz was united in marriage to Cor- nelia Peters, who was born in Cottonwood county on February 3, 1878, daughter of Cornelius and Lena Peters, both natives of southern Russia, who came to this country in 1873 and settled in Cottonwood county, becom- ing useful and influential pioneers of this section of Minnesota. Cornelius died in 1898 and his widow is still living . To Mr. and Mrs. Schultz four children have been born, namely: David, born on January 7, 1903; Lena, August 5, 1905; Albert, April 30, 1907, and Williard, February 21, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are earnest members of the Mennonite church and take a warm interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good work of their home community.
H. C. FLITTER.
One of the young business men of Lewisville, Watonwan county, who is succeeding by reason of his industry and fair dealings with his fellow- men is H. C. Flitter, hardware merchant. He was born in Waseca county, Minnesota, September 22, 1881, and is a son of Andrew Flitter, who is now living retired in Blue Earth county, this state.
H. C. Flitter received his education in the public schools of his native community. He grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked in the crops when he became of proper age, but not finding husbandry entirely to his liking, left the farm and clerked in various places until December 12, 1912, when, having saved his earnings and learned the various details of merchandising, he opened a hardware store in Lewisville, Minnesota, and
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has continued the business to the present time, with increasing success, enjoying a good trade with the surrounding country. He erected his pres- ent substantial and convenient brick building. He carries a large stock of general hardware and implements, and conducts his business without a partner.
Mr. Flitter was married in 1903 to Ernestine Bergemann, of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where she grew to womanhood and was edu- cated in the common schools. To this union five children have been born, namely: Gerhard, Lorin, Alma, Lillian, and Viola. The last named is deceased.
Mr. Flitter is a member of the German Lutheran church, and politically, he is a Republican.
CARL H. RUHBERG.
The Danes have always been regarded as good citizens of the United States, being industrious, law-abiding and loyal. Many of them have selected Cottonwood and adjoining counties as the arena of their activities, and among these who deserve special mention in a work of the nature of the one in hand, is Carl H. Ruhberg, banker of Storden.
Mr. Rhuberg was born in Denmark, October 19, 1865, and is a son of Peter A. and Mettie (Nelson) Ruhberg, natives of Germany and Denmark, respectively. These parents were reared and married in Europe, removing to America in 1868, locating in Iowa, but later came to Storden, Minnesota, where the father became a well-to-do and prominent citizen and where he is still living, now retired from active life. A complete sketch of these par- ents will be found on another page of this volume.
Carl H. Rhuberg was the second of a family of nine children, the others being named as follow: Adolph, Rosa, who died, and the next child was also named Rosa as was also the third, the second to bear the name also dying in infancy ; Mary, Albert, Elmer E., and Iva May.
The subject of this sketch was three years old when he was brought to America, and here he grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools of Windom. He assisted his father with his farm work when he became old enough, continuing agricultural pursuits until he entered the general mercantile business at Windom. Subsequently, he was a salesman for a harvester company for some time, then clerked in the Hutton store in Windom. In 1904 he organized the First State Bank of Storden and became cashier of the same, which position he still holds to the entire satisfaction
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of the stockholders and the patrons of the bank; in fact, the success of this institution has been due in no small measure to his efforts.
Mr. Ruhberg was married in October, 1890, to Caroline C. Jenson, of Storden, and to their union seven children have been born, namely: Mettie M., Maude I., Bessie H., Mary D., George D., Pearl G., and Willis C.
Mr. Ruhberg is a member of the Baptist church. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Bankers Life Association and also the M. B. A. Politically, he is independent.
E. I. LEONARD.
E. I. Leonard, one of the prominent retired farmers, of Watonwan county, was born on October 17, 1850, in Marquette county, Wisconsin. He is the son of Ezra and Abigail (Seager) Leonard. Jonathan Leonard, the paternal grandfather of E. I. Leonard, was a native of Vermont and later settled in Marquette county, Wisconsin. The maternal grandfather, Julius Seager, was a native of a New England state and at an early date settled in Minnesota.
Ezra Leonard, was born and educated in the state of New York, where he grew to manhood and was married to Abigail Seager. He later became a resident of Marquette county, Wisconsin, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and here he made his home until the time of his death, November, 1904. Mrs. Leonard died in 1908. To Ezra and Abigail Leonard was born the following children: Julia, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Susan, Julius, Amanda, deceased; Edward I., Charles, William, deceased; Laura, deceased; Ella and Sherman.
E. I. Leonard was married on June 7, 1873, to Nancy Seager, the daughter of Charles and Mary (Scoville) Seager. Mrs. Leonard was born on October 26, 1851, at West Salem, Wisconsin, the first white child born in LaCrosse county. To this union the following children were born : Maud, who married Charles Sherman, of South Branch, Minnesota; LeRoy, a doctor in Redwood, Minnesota, who married Agnes Peterson; Millie is the wife of William Skelton, a farmer near Redwood. Maud attended high school at Madelia and St. James, taught four years previous to her mar- riage; LeRoy, after high school, graduated with honors from the College of Osteopathy at Des Moines, Iowa; Millie attended Madelia high school and Winona Normal, and taught school seven years previous to marriage.
Julius Seager, the paternal grandfather of Nancy Leonard, was a promi-
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nent farmer of Wisconsin, where he died at an advanced age. Asa Scoville, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Nova Scotia. He later devoted his life to farming in Wisconsin. Charles Seager, the father of Nancy Leonard, was born in Massachusetts, and when Nancy was twelve years of age came to Minnesota, where the family remained for nine years. He returned to Wisconsin for a short time and later settled in Waseca county, where he died in 1876. Mrs. Seager died in 1890.
E. I. Leonard resides in Madelia, living on a property that he pur- chased thirteen years ago. His farm of two hundred and forty acres, that he bought thirty years ago, is situated in section 25, Antrim township. All the improvements on the places were made by Mr. Leonard. He served his township as supervisor for two years and was for a number of years a director of the schools.
At the age of fifty-one, Ezra Leonard enlisted in the army and served for fourteen months, in the Civil War. His son Thomas served for three years and the son of Julius for five months, he having died of measles while in the service.
AMELIUS E. WOODRUFF.
Amelius E. Woodruff was born in Essex county, New York, July 26, 1842, a son of Lyman L. Woodruff, who was born in New York City, and Laura (Lee) Woodruff, who was born in Essex county, New York state.
Lyman L. Woodruff was a lumberman and handled wood, and was also connected with ore mining in New York state. He made his first trip West in 1861, coming to St. Paul, Minnesota, but only remaining for five months, when he returned to New York. Four years later, in 1865, he came again to St. Paul, this time bringing his family with him .. His first occupation after coming to Minnesota was manager of a stage line, with headquarters at Mankato. After two years in this business he located on a farm near St. Paul, where he lived the rest of his life. The children in this family were: William Wallace, Alonzo S., Harry, who died at the age of three years; Millard L., Amelius E., Alice A., Nellie E., Sarah, who died at the age of fourteen, and Millie.
Amelius E. Woodruff was educated in the district schools of Essex county, New York, and worked during his boyhood years with his father in the lumber and mining business. He came West with his father, in 1865,
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and was engaged for about four months driving the stage between Stillwater and Taylor's Falls, Minnesota. He then went on a farm at Meriam Park, St. Paul, and farmed for nine years; then conducted a farm for one year at Fridley Park, Minneapolis ; following this he was employed on the railroad for two years. In 1875 he came to Cottonwood county and conducted a farm in Mountain Lake township for fifteen years. In 1890 he came to Mountain Lake, built a store and started a general merchandising business, which he continued until 1910, when he retired. For ten years he was con- nected with the Cottonwood County Bank, serving as director and vice- president of this institution.
Mr. Woodruff was twice married, first to Lauretta Ware, daughter of Silas Ware and wife. His second marriage was to Rose Bawman. To this union four children were born: Harry E., Winnifred, who died at the age of three years; Seymour and Winnifred, who died when a child. The mother died on March 14, 1902.
Mr. Woodruff is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. His fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order, including the blue lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, and the Shriners, at St. Paul.
NELS SIEM.
Nels Siem, one of the prominent farmers of Long Lake township, was born in Norway on January 20, 1869, the son of Thomas and Carrie ( Asper- hain) Siem. Thomas and Carrie Siem were natives of Norway, and grew to manhood and womanhood, in their native country, and were married there. In 1869 they came to the United States and settled for one year in Wisconsin. They then came to Minnesota, where they homesteaded eighty acres of land, in Long Lake township. The land was raw prairie when entered, but in time was developed into a well-improved and highly culti- vated tract. By hard work and industry the original farm was increased to two hundred and eighty acres, before the death of Mr. and Mrs. Siem. Mr. Seim assisted in the organization of the Long Lake and the Kansas Lake Lutheran churches.
To Thomas Siem and wife were born the following children: Ole; . Nels; Ida; Henry ; Sever, deceased; Lena ; Tilda, deceased; Peter, deceased, and two who died in infancy.
Nels Siem was educated in the schools of his township and has always
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lived here, with the exception of two years that he spent farming in Lac qui Parle county. He has resided on his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres since 1909. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising.
In 1900 Nels Siem was married to Hilda Sarklend, the daughter of Peter Sarklend and wife. To them have been born the following children : Hilda, Harry, Emma, Eddie, Melvin, Esther, and Nelius.
Mr. Siem and family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, of Long Lake township.
MRS. ELIZABETH REBECCA WEST.
Elizabeth Rebecca West, one of the prominent and successful pioneers of South Branch township, was born in the state of New York, being the daughter of Lyman and Abigail (Wooden) Reynolds. Thomas Reynolds, the grandfather of Mrs. West, was a native of Germany and came ot Penn- sylvania, where he engaged in farming, until his death.
Lyman Reynolds was a man of education, and for a time taught arith- metic and geometry, in a select school. He and his family came west when the daughter, Elizabeth, was but four years of age. They located in Illi- nois, where Mr. Reynolds purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Whiteside county. He later purchased another three hundred and twenty acres in Henry county and devoted himself to farming.
Lyman Reynolds and wife were the parents of the following children : Mary, deceased; Elizabeth Rebecca. Phoebe, deceased; Thomas Jefferson, deceased ; Ellen, deceased, and Benjamin Franklin.
Elizabeth Rebecca Reynolds was married at the age of eighteen, in Henry county, Illinois, to Elijah Sylvester West. Mr. West died in the soldiers' home hospital, in California, where he had been for a few years, because of organic heart trouble.
Elijah Sylvester West and Elizabeth Rebecca West were the parents of the following children: Frank, Milo, Augusta, Warren, Elta and John O. Frank is deceased. He was the father of the following children : Dolly, Lula and Alonzo M. Milo lives at Edon, Montana. He married Olive West and they have the following children: Frank, Elizabeth, named for the grandmother, and Helen. Augusta lives near St. Paul and is the wife of Dennis Newton. Warren is deceased. He was married to Etta Durham and to them were born the following children: Dennis, Alice,
MRS. ELIZABETH R. WEST AND CHILDREN.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
.K. L. NEX
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Mammie and Ray. Elta married Oscar Durham of Portland, Oregon. They have one child, Grace. John C. married Jennie Shilleto and to them have been born the following children: John, Jr., Lila, Warren and David B., deceased.
Forty-six years ago when Mrs. West came to her present home, there was no town of Lewisville or St. James, and but a blacksmith shop at Madelia. They were bothered with prairie fires and the land was all unde- veloped. For ten years the family lived in a sod house, there being no other buildings on the farm. Mrs. West owns one hundred and sixty acres in section 12, where the home is situated and one hundred and sixty acres in section II. Eighty acres of the farm she homesteaded and filed the claim herself. At present most of her land is rented and she keeps some cattle.
Many trees, box elders, cottonwood and willow, have been planted on the farm, which adds much to its value and beauty.
GUSTAV MISSLING.
Gustav Missling, a progressive young farmer of Amboy township, Cot- tonwood county, proprietor of a farm of nearly two hundred acres in the vicinity of Jeffers, is a native of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Rapidan township, Blue Earth county, January 14, 1881, son of Augustus and Augusta (Franz) Missling, the former a native of the state of Wisconsin and the latter of Germany, who are now living retired in the town of Good Thunder, in Blue Earth county, this state.
August Missling was reared on the farm on which he was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and when a young man came to Minnesota, settling on a farm in Rapidan township, Blue Earth county, where he lived until his retirement from the active labors of the farm, he and his wife now living at Good Thunder, where they are very comfortably situated. They are members of the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There are five of these children, all living, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Robert, Lena, now Mrs. Yeager; Otto and Edward.
Gustav Missling was reared on the paternal farm in Blue Earth county, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and remained there until his marriage in 1907, when he started farming on
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his own account, renting the farm on which he now lives and where he ever since has made his home. In 1909, two years after taking that place, he bought one hundred acres of the farm and later bought the remainder, now being the owner of one hundred and ninety-six and seventy-five one-hun- dredths acres of fine land, which he has improved and brought under profit- able cultivation. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Missling has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well, being recog- nized as one of the substantial farmers of that community. He is a Repub- lican and takes a proper interest in local political affairs, but has not been an aspirant for public office.
It was in 1907 that Gustav Missling was united in marriage to Anna Graf, daughter of Fred Graf, of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and to this union three children have been born, Harold, Earl and Valuria. Mr. and Mrs. Missling are members of the German Lutheran church and take a warm interest in church affairs as well as in all local good works.
O. A. KABRICK, M. D.
O. A. Kabrick was born in Plainville, Illinois, November 9, 1880. He is a son of J. C. Kabrick, born in West Virginia, and Mary E. ( Badg- ley) Kabrick, who was born in Barry, Illinois.
J. C. Kabrick, when a young man, went to Adams county, Illinois, and engaged in farming, and followed that occupation in Adams county during the rest of his life. He was the father of six children: Cora B., Albert F., Lucy V., David, who died young; O. A .. the subject of this sketch, and Mary E.
The subject of this sketch was educated in elementary branches in Adams county, Illinois. Later he attended a normal college at Bushnell and Macomb, Illinois, and afterward was was engaged in teaching for one win- ter. In 1902 he entered a medical college at Keokuk, Iowa, and took a four-years course in that institution, graduating in 1906. He began the practice of his profession in Butterfield, May, 1906, remaining at that place for about two years and a half. In November, 1908, he came to Odin and has since continued his practice here. In August, 1913, he was appointed postmaster of Odin.
On June 17, 1908, Doctor Kabrick and Clara E. (Boud) were united in marriage. Mrs. Kabrick is a daughter of Edwin L. and Elizabeth (Booth)
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Boud of Keokuk, Iowa. Clayton E. is their only child. Politically, Doctor Kabrick is an independent; fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Modern Woodmen of America.
WILLIAM A. MULLEN.
William A. Mullen, merchant of Madelia, Watonwan county, has been able to succeed at whatever he has turned his attention to, because he plans well, is energetic in execution, "preparedness" being his motto, in other words; he first decides that he is right, then goes ahead.
Mr. Mullen was born in the above named town and county, January 25, 1869, and is a son of Charles G. and Mary E. (Johnson) Mullen. The father was a native of the state of New York and the mother of Norway. Grandfather Thomas Mullen was a native of the state of New York, from which he moved to Madelia, Minnesota, during the latter fifties. He was for many years door-keeper of the United States Senate, which position he held until about 1890. He spent the last years of his life in Madelia, where his death occurred. The maternal grandfather, Paul Johnson, was a native of Norway. Emigrating to Minnesota, in an early day he homesteaded land in Lincoln township. Blue Earth county. The parents of the subject of this sketch were married in 1868, each having come to Minnesota with their parents. The father devoted the early years of his life to farming, finally started a book store and sewing machine shop in Madelia, later adding other lines and became a successful general merchant, continuing as such until 1892, when he sold out to his three sons. Removing to California he spent his last years in that state, dying there in 1897. His widow still lives at Long Beach, California. He was postmaster at Madelia during President Harrison's administration. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company G, Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and served throughout the conflict. His family consisted of three sons, namely: William A., Frank L. and Walter G. After the father's death the sons continued the business as Mullen Brothers, Walter G. withdrawing from the partnership in a few years and is now engaged in the real estate business in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. William A. and Frank L. are still conducting stores, which enjoy an extensive trade. A large and well-selected stock of general merchandise is carried at all seasons and honesty ard courtesy have continued to be watchwords.
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William A. Mullen grew to manhood in his native town and was edu- cated in the public schools. He was married on August 9, 1901, to Ada M. Williams, of Fremont, Iowa, and to their union three children have been born, namely: Marcella, Fannie Eloise and Jean Elizabeth.
Fraternally, William A. Mullen belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, the Mystic Workers and the M. B. A. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder. He was once state com- mander of the Sons of Veterans.
Frank L. Mullen was born in Madelia, in December, 1871, was edu- cated in the public schools here and when a boy entered the store of his father and has since devoted his life to mercantile pursuits. He was mar- ried in 1899, to Bertis Hagen, of Janesville, Minnesota, and to this union one child has been born, Charles Mullen. Fraternally, Frank L. Mullen is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Presbyterian church.
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