USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 45
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Mr. Gibbs was married December 4, 1878, in Bradford, Vermont, to Kate T. Stevens, a daughter of Harry B. Stevens and wife. Mr. Stevens died in 1911 at the age of ninety-three years; his wife died in 1908 at the age of eighty-three years. For more than forty years he had charge of the White Mountain state lines. He was a distinguished character in that section of Vermont. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs one son was born, Harry W. Gibbs, whose birth occurred in Waltham, Massachusetts, June 13, 1881. He is now deputy sheriff of Watonwan county. He married Ella Kopp.
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He is one of our well-known and respected citizens and a popular public servant.
The death of Mrs. Edson A. Gibbs occurred on February 22, 1916, and she was buried at Mt. Hope cemetery at St. James. She was a woman of many excellent characteristics and had a host of warm friends.
JOHN A. ENGESWICK.
John A. Engeswick, a well-known and substantial farmer of Storden township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Lamberton, treasurer of his school district and in other ways actively identified with the civic life of his community, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota since his boyhood. He was born at Namsos, a harbor town on the middle coast of Norway, January 26, 1861, son of Michael Johnson and Ellen Sophia Engeswick, natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 1868 and settled in Allamakee county, Iowa. Three years later the Engeswicks came to Minne- sota and settled in Cottonwood county. Michael J. Engeswick homestead the northeast quarter of section 8 in Storden township, established his home there and there spent the rest of his life, an industrious farmer and a good neighbor. He was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. They were the parents of two sons, the sub- ject of this sketch having a younger brother, Segvert Engeswick.
John A. Engeswick was about seven years old when his parents came to this country and settled in Iowa and was about ten when they came to Min- nesota. He was reared on the homestead farm in Storden tonwship, com- pleting his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing the home place. He early began farming on his own account and in 1884 became proprietor of the farm on which he is now living and where he has since made his home. Starting in a small way there, he prospered in his farming operations and gradually enlarged his holdings until now he is the owner of a well-kept and profitably cultivated place of two hundred and forty acres and has long been looked upon as one of the leading farmers in that section of the county. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of high- grade live stock and has done very well. Mr. Engeswick has given thought-
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ful attention to local civic affairs and is now serving as treasurer of his home school district. He has a pleasant home and he and his family are very comfortably situated.
Mr. Engeswick married Senna B. Olson and to this union fourteen children have been born, Hilda, Ella, Anna, Edna, Sidney, Mattie, Clifford, Neva, Cora, Arnold, Raymond, Willard, Russell and Zola. Mr. Engeswick has served as trustee of his church. He and his wife have ever given their earnest attention to local good works and are helpful members of the com- munity in which they live.
ADOLPH GRAFF.
Adolph Graff, chairman of the board of supervisors of Amboy township, Cottonwood county, and one of the progressive farmers of that township, proprietor of a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in the vicinity of Jeffers, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Mankato on December 20, 1874, son of Lewis and Amelia (Langhoff) Graff, the former also a native of Minnesota and the latter of Germany, who are now living retired.
Lewis Graff was born in Blue Earth county, this state, a member of one of the earliest pioneer families of that section of the state, and for years was engaged in farming in that county, but in 1892 he became a build- ing contractor and followed that line until his retirement from business. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There are six of these children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Lewis, Harry, Nora, Edward and Walter.
Adolph Graff received his schooling in the Mankato schools and as a young man began farming on his own account in Blue Earth county. In 1896 he moved into Cottonwood county, locating in Amboy township, where, the next year, in 1897, he bought the tract of eighty acres on which he now lives. The next year, in 1898, he married and bought an adjoining quarter section. He prospered in his farming operations and in 1915 bought another tract of eighty acres adjoining and now has a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of three hundred and twenty acres and is regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood. In addition to his gen- eral farming, Mr. Graff has given considerable attention to the raising of
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Durham cattle and has done very well. He is a Republican and has long given close attention to local civic affairs, having been a member of the board of supervisors for the past six or seven years and has been serving as chairman of that board for the past three years. He also gives much atten- tion to the general business activities of his home community and is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Elevator Company at Jeffers.
In 1898 Adolph Graff was united in marriage to Alvina Quiram, daugh- ter of Stephen Quiram, and to this union eight children have been born, Nora, Esther, Romey, Emilie, Ethel, Gilbert, Millard and a baby girl. Mr. and Mrs. Graff are members of the German Lutheran church and take a proper interest in parish affairs, as well as in all local good works and are helpful in promoting all movements designed to further the best interests of their home community.
SWEN L. SWENSON.
Swen L. Swenson, a well-to-do farmer of Highwater township, Cot- tonwood county, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on a homestead farm on June 8, 1882, son of Lars and Birgit (Opsata) Swenson, natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota in 1870 and later became pioneer settlers in Cottonwood county, where the latter is still living.
Lars Swenson was born in 1845 and was reared on a farm in his native land. In 1870 he came to Minnesota and located in Olmsted county, but remained there only about a year, at the end of which time he moved over into Cottonwood county, which at that time was attracting much attention among homeseekers in the Northwest, and homesteaded a quarter of a sec- tion in Highwater township, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life. Lars Swenson became very successful in his farm- ing operations and as he prospered added to his holdings until he became recognized as one of the largest landowners in that part of the county. Not only was he diligent in his own business, but he ever gave a good citi- zen's attention to public affairs and from the beginning of his residence here proved a potent factor in the great task of developing the civic and other interests of the new country. He was a Democrat and served the public in numerous official capacities, being a member of the board of county commissioners at the time of his death, a position which he had held for years. His widow is still living on the old home place. She is a member
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of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as was her husband, and they took a prominent part in the organization of that church in their home community in the early days. They were the parents of eight children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Henning L. Halvor, Orin, Theodore, Olena, Hannah and Laura. After the death of Lars Swenson his estate was divided among his children and all are doing well their respective parts in the com- munity, the family long having been one of the representative and influen- tial families of Cottonwood county.
Swen L. Swenson was reared on the homestead farm on which he was born and became a very capable and practical farmer. He received his school- ing in his home township and at Wilder and from boyhood was a valuable assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm and in carrying on the extensive agricultural operations undertaken by his father. Upon the death of his father he came into possession of the fine farm of two hunderd acres in Highwater township, where he is now living, and which he has improved in excellent shape and brought to a high state of cultivation. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. Mr. Swenson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and gives his earnest support to the same, as well as to all agencies for good hereabout. He is inclined to be independent in his political views, preferring to reserve his support for the best men in politics irrespective of party.
MICHAEL SIZER.
Michael Sizer, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of St. James town- ship, Watonwan county, is a native son of Minnesota, born in Hennepin county, in the immediate neighborhood of the city of Minneapolis, June I, 1864, son of Thomas and Theresa (Holscher) Sizer, the former a native of England and the latter of Germany, to whom two sons were born, the sub- ject of this sketch having an elder brother, Thomas.
Mrs. Theresa Sizer came to Minnesota in 1864, the year in which her youngest son was born, and located in Hennepin county, where she spent the rest of her life, her death occurring at Minneapolis in 1894. She was born in Germany in 1825, daughter of Moritz Holscher and wife, both natives of that same country, the former of whom was born in 1800, and who came to the United States in 1856, locating in New York, where Theresa Holscher was married to Thomas Sizer some time afterward. After the
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Civil War her parents came West and settled in Iowa, where her mother died. Her father later moved to Minneapolis, where his death occurred in 1873. Mrs. Sizer was the eldest of five children born to her parents, the others being Joseph, Frank, Louise and Moritz.
Michael Sizer grew to manhood in the neighborhood of Minneapolis and received his schooling in both the public and parochial schools. He early learned the tinner's trade and for nine years was employed at that trade, after which he began farming and has ever since followed that pursuit. In 1886 he married and about four years later came to this part of the state, arriving in Watonwan county on November 6, 1890. Upon arriving here Mr. Sizer bought three hundred and twenty acres in St. James township and there established his home, having lived there ever since, long having been recognized as one of the most substantial citizens of that part of the county. Upon taking possession of his farm he set out a fine grove and otherwise beautified the place. He has a substantial residence, well-kept farm build- ings and has ever carried on his farming operations along up-to-date lines. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well in all his operations. Mr. Sizer is independent in his political views, as he always has been, and gives close attention to local political affairs. For six years he served as chairman of the township board and for six years has been a member of the local school board, while in other ways he has contributed of his time and ability to the public service.
It was in 1886, at Minneapolis, that Michael Sizer was united in mar- riage to Mary Sandmeyer, who was born in Germany, February 8, 1864, and who had come to the United States with her parents, John J. and Mary (Sandhenry) Sandmeyer, in 1877, the family proceeded to Minnesota and locating in Watonwan county, where Mr. Sandmeyer bought five hundred and forty acres of land and established his home, spending the rest of his life there, his death occurring in 1908, at the age of seventy-one years. His widow is still living, at the age of seventy-seven. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Sizer was the first-born, the others being Frank (deceased), Anna, Katie, Theresa (deceased), Frank, Joseph and John. To Mr. and Mrs. Sizer ten children have been born, as follow : Michael John, Mary Anna, Frank L., Alphos J., Joseph J., George J., Bernard S., Gertrude (deceased), Clara and Thomas J. The Sizers ever have given proper attention to the general social activities of their home community and have done much toward promoting the general development of the section in which they have so long made their home.
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LARS O. JACOBSEN.
Lars O. Jacobsen, well-known stock shipper at Butterfield and one of the most progressive and up-to-date farmers of Watonwan county, owner of a fine farm east of St. James, in Rosendale township, now operated by his eldest son. George T. Jacobsen, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of this country since he was twenty-one years of age. He was born on a farm in Helle, September 14, 1861, son of Ole and Gertrude Jacob- sen, the father of whom died in 1865, leaving four children, Jacob, Lars O., Cecelia and Abraham, all of whom are still living. Ole Jacobsen married, secondly, Matsey Noriedi and to that union four children also were born, Gertrude, Sjore, Peter and Soren, all of whom are living. Ole Jacobsen spent all his life in his native land and lived to be eighty-two years of age.
Lars O. Jacobsen grew up on the paternal farm in Norway and received careful schooling. In the spring of 1883, he then being twenty-one years of age, he came to the United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, arriving at Madelia in May of that year. The first year after his arrival here he spent with his uncle, Abraham Jacobsen, who is still living in the village of Grogan, and then for two summers was engaged working on the railroad section. He then began working as a railroad contractor and for several years was quite successfully engaged in that line, he afterward taking up farming, at first renting, but presently buying a farm of one hundred and eighty acres near Grogan, in Rosendale township, which he sold to advantage two years later and then bought the farm in section 18 of that same town- ship, east of St. James, which he still owns, and there he made his home for twenty-two years, becoming a very successful farmer. In 1914 he retired from the farm, bought a desirable tract of thirteen acres adjoining the town of Butterfield on the east, built a fine house there and has since made his home there, giving his chief attention to his extensive stock-ship- ping interests, his eldest son, George T. Jacobsen, managing the farm. For years Mr. Jacobsen has given serious attention to the breeding of pure- bred Hereford stock and he and his son have a fine herd of Herefords on the farm. Their farming operations are carried on in accordance with mod- ern methods and their place is regarded as one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farm in that part of the county. Mr. Jacobsen is a Republican and for six years served as treasurer of Rosendale township.
In June, 1894, Lars O. Jacobson was united in marriage to Mary Olson, who was born in Norway in 1863, daughter of Thron and Nicholina Olson, who came to Minnesota in 1872 and settled on a farm near Madelia, later
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moving to St. James, where Thron Olson died in 1891, at the age of seventy- three years, his widow surviving him until in June, 1913, she being eighty- three years of age at the time of her death. Thron Olson and wife had two children, Mrs. Jacobsen having an elder brother, Ole Olson. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen seven children have been born, George T., Arthur, Nor- well, Mabel, Obert, Lillian and Gladys, all of whom are living save Arthur, who died at the age of six months. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in the various beneficences of the same. as well as in all local good works, ever concerned in movements having to do with the promotion of the community inteest.
JACOB P. DOERKSEN.
Jacob P. Doerksen, a well-known farmer of Midway township, Cot- tonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Mountain Lake, is a native of Russia, born on a farm in the southern part of that country, on October 7, 1863, son of Peter and Anna Doerksen, who came to the United States in 1876 and proceeded to Minnesota, settling in Cottonwood county, where they spent the rest of their lives. Upon coming here, Peter Doerksen bought two hundred and forty acres of land in Mountain Lake township and there established his home. He later added to that farm by the purchase of an adjoining "eighty" and became a very substantial farmer. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Katherine, Peter, Frank, George, Bernard, John and Abraham. The mother of these children died in 1877, the year after coming to this country, and Peter Doerksen married, secondly, Lena Dick. His death occurred in 1895.
Jacob P. Doerksen was about fourteen years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1876 and he spent his youth on the home farm, proving of valuable assistance to his father in the work of developing the home farm and when he was grown began farming on his own account and presently bought a quarter of a section of land in Jackson county, where he settled, proceeding to develop the same and there he lived until 1910, when he returned to Cottonwood county and bought a quarter of a section in section 20, Midway township, where he established his home and where he has lived ever since. Upon taking possession of the latter place he began
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improving the same by the erection of a substantial house and farm build- ings in keeping with the same and now has a well-improved and profitably cultivated place. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Doerksen gives considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock and has done very well. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.
In 1891 Jacob P. Doerksen was united in marriage to Sarah Thaisen, who was born in Russia in 1873, and to this union ten children were born, of whom eight are living, Jacob, Sarah, Peter, Frank, Bernard, Anna, Lena and Lizzie, and two who died in infancy, Peter and David. The mother of these children died at her home in Midway township in 1913.
JOHANN D. LUDEMANN.
Johann D. Ludemann, a well-to-do farmer and stockman of Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Amboy and Delton townships, with a pleasant home on rural route No. I, out of Jeffers, is a native of Iowa, born on a farm in Butler county, that state, September 20, 1877, son of Diedrich and Johanna (Brinkman) Ludemann, natives of Germany and substantial farming people in Iowa.
Diedrich Ludemann was reared on a farm in Germany and received his education in the government schools there. When twenty-three years of age he came to the United States and settled in Grundy county, Iowa, where for a year he was engaged at farm labor as a hired hand. He then married and for two years thereafter lived on a rented farm of eighty acres, after which he bought the farm and for two years more continued to make that place his home. During these two years his home was twice destroyed by fire. He then sold the place for twenty-four dollars an acre and went up into Butler county, where for eleven dollars and fifty cents an acre he bought five hun- dred and forty acres of wild prairie land and there he established his per- manent home. He began farming on a large scale and presently became the owner of fourteen hundred and fifty acres of land, seven hundred acres of which was in one tract. There Diedrich Ludemann spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on January 24, 1890, he then being forty-four years of age. His widow later married C. Primus and is now living at Wellsburg, Iowa. Diedrich Ludemann and wife were the parents of twelve children, all of whom are living and of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in
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order of birth, the others being as follow: Bena, who married Henry Uen- hoff, a farmer of Butler county, Iowa; Johanna, who married Jell Schuer- mann, of that same county; Sander, who married Lena Wirtz and is living at Fairmount. this state; Gertie, who married Ralph Wesels and is living on a part of the old Ludemann farm in Iowa; Harm, who married Lena Miller and is also living on the old home farm; Ettie, who married Honno Burme and lives at Fairmount, this state; Mary, who married Dick Lindeman, of Buttler county, Iowa; Lena, who married Jacob Bohlen and lives near Mason City, Iowa; George, who married Tina DeVries and lives at Aplington, Iowa ; Jarena, widow of Luie Peters, now living at Aplington, and Diedrich, who married Ettie Schuerman and lives near Aplington.
Johann D. Ludemann was reared on the paternal farm where he was born in Iowa, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighbor- hood of the same. He was about thirteen years old when his father died and he remained on the farm with his mother until his marriage in 1898. having charge, with his elder brother, Sander, of his mother's extensive farm- ing operations. For a year after his marriage Mr. Ludemann rented a farm of three hundred and twenty acres from his father-in-law and then rented from his mother five hundred and forty acres of her big farm, including the old home place, and was engaged in farming the same for three years, at the end of which time he secured two hundred acres of the old home farm in his own right and for three years was engaged in farming that tract. He then, in the fall of 1901, rented his farm and came to Minnesota, locating in Cot- tonwood county, where he invested in land, and two years later sold his Iowa farm. Upon coming here, Mr. Ludemann bought three hundred and twenty acres on the range line between Amboy and Delton townships, in Cottonwood county, a quarter of a section in section 25 of the former township and a quarter in section 30 of the latter, and there he established his home and has maintained his residence ever since. The land was but partially improved and for four years after taking possession of the same, Mr. Ludemann and his wife lived in an old house that stood on the place. He then built a new house and he and his family are now very comfortably situated. The house has a basement thirty-two by thirty-two feet, is heated by steam, lighted by acetylene gas, as is the barn, and is piped for hot and cold water. In addition to his extensive general farming, Mr. Ludemann has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well in that line. He has an automobile and manages his farm along up-to-date lines generally, long hav- ing been regarded as one of the leading farmers in that part of the county.
In March, 1898, in Butler county, Iowa, Johann D. Ludemann was
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united in marriage to Tilke Schuerman and to this union have been born six children, Hannah, Edward, Diedrich, Margaret, Clara and Nellie, all of whom are at home. Mr. Ludemann is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He and his family are members of the Dutch Reformed church and take a general interest in all local good works, being willing promoters of what- ever movements are designed to advance the common welfare hereabout.
HARRIS MITCHELL.
The history of the past decades proves that the agriculture of the United States, if not actually on the decline has not made the strides forward that it should have, and the result of this affects the producer and consumer alike in one respect-a rapid increase in the high cost of living. One of the wide- awake farmers of Madelia township, Watonwan county, is Harris Mitchell, who was born in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, March 27, 1863, and is. a son of T. J. and Anna C. (Harris) Mitchell. The father was born and reared in the northern part of Scotland, from which country he came to America when a young man, locating in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he bought a farm. He was the son of John Mitchell, a farmer, who spent his life in Scotland. T. J. Mitchell married after coming to Minnesota. He spent his last days in retirement near Los Angeles, California, where his death occurred in September, 1910. His widow is now living in Potterville, California. To these parents the following children were born: W. J., Anna C., Harris, Luella and Cyril.
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