USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 8
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Jacob G. Hiebert of this sketch spent his early boyhood in Russia, where he attended school, finishing his education after coming to Minnesota. He began life for himself in 1888 in the general mercantile business at Mountain Lake under the name of Balzer, Hiebert & Company, and this firm has continued ever since with ever-increasing success and now operates a large department store, carrying a full line of carefully-selected goods. Prompt, courteous and honest dealings are his watchwords. The present store is just across the street from the first store. operated by this firm. Mr. Hiebert is also stockltolder in the First State Bank of Mountain Lake since its organization, also a director in the same all the while. He is also
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interested in the Mountain Lake Milling Company and the local telephone company. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the county's most substantial citizens, and deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished unaided.
Mr. Hiebert was married in 1889 to Anna Franz, who was born in southern Russia, and is daughter of Johan Franz, a pioneer farmer of Cottonwood county, coming here from southern Russia. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiebert, namely: Susie, (deceased) ; Jacob and Gerhard are both at home; Anna and Laura are both deceased.
Mr. Hiebert is a Republican in politics. He has been village treasurer, and for many years was a member of the village council. He and his family belong to the Mennonite church.
GEORGE LE TOURNEAU.
The present efficient and popular postmaster at Windom, Cottonwood county, is George Le Tourneau, a man who has proved to be a valuable citizen in the locality of which this history treats.
Mr. Le Tourneau was born at Fayette, Kennebec county, Maine, Nov- ember 8, 1851, and is a son of Jacques and Mary E. (Keating) Le Tour- neau, natives of Canada and Maine, respectively. The father spent his earlier years in Canada, then came to Maine, where he married and estab- lished his home, and there his wife died when the subject of this sketch was three years old.
George Le Tourneau grew to manhood in his native community in the Pine Tree state and received a common-school education. When nineteen years old he went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he clerked in a grocery store a year, then engaged in the grocery business for himself in that city for a period of eight years. In 1878 he came to Windom, Minnesota, arriving here in July. He worked at various things in this locality until 1882, when he launched out in the feed and grain business in partnership with C. W. Gillam, which line they continued two years. In 1884 Mr. Le Tourneau opened up a meat market which he conducted alone until 1894, in which year he was appointed postmaster, during Cleveland's second administration. Soon thereafter he erected the substantial building in which the postoffice is now maintained. He served as postmaster for four years. In 1886 he was elected a member of the school board, on which he served
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continuously until 1915. He has been a member of the village council for some time, and back in the eighties was village recorder.
When he was operating the meat market he started an ice business which he did not take personal charge of until 1904, and continued to give it his close attention until 1911. He has also been interested in farming in this vicinity since he first came here, owning a valuable place of eighty acres. On July 1, 1915, he was again appointed postmaster, which office he is still in charge of.
Mr. Le Tourneau was married in 1880 to Mrs. Mary B. Smith of Windom, a daughter of J. W. Highleyman. She came to Windom in 1871 with her former husband, Doctor Smith, a pioneer physician in Cotton- wood county. To Mr. and Mrs. Le Tourneau two children have been born, namely : Daisy Lenore, born July 22. 1884. and Louis I., July 15, 1888.
Mr. Le Tourneau has long been prominent in fraternal circles in this section of the state. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons since 1879; he was master of the blue lodge three different years. He has been a member of the chapter since 1886, and was high priest for fifteen years. He has been a member of the commandery since 1891 and of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine since 1892. Politically, he is a Democrat.
CHARLES W. GILLAM.
Charles W. Gillam was born in Omro, Wisconsin, April 10, 1860, a son of Samuel S. Gillam, who was born in New York, June 26, 1822. The maiden name of his wife was Abigal C. Clark, who was born in Washing- ton county, New York, March 17, 1833. In 1869 Samuel S. Gillam came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of government land, in Great Bend township, and the follow- ing year he brought his family. He built a home on this land and began farming, making improvements from year to year until he had a good body of land under cultivation, on which he raised fine crops of the varied products for which land in this section was adapted. He continued to live on this farm until about 1898, when he retired from farming and removed to Windom, Minnesota. His wife died on May 17, 19II. She was the mother of five children :
Henry C., born on November 27, 1854; William
CHARLES W. GILLAM.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
S., July 27, 1856; Charles W., April 10, 1860; Edward E., May 21, 1864; and Albert S. L., September 1, 1866.
Charles W. Gillam was educated in the public schools of Windoni and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age. When he attained his majority he engaged in the flour, feed, grain and implement business, in Windom, continuing this business for about three years. About 1890 he became connected with the old Cottonwood county bank, of Windom, and, in 1902, was made vice-president of the Windom National Bank. In addition his other business he has been largely interested in the real-estate business.
On February 20, 1890, Charles W. Gillam was married to Helen H. Hunt, daughter of J. J. Hunt, of Brownsdale, Minnesota. To this union three children have been born: Paul J., Josephine H., and Stanley S. Mr. Gillam affiliates with the Republican party. He has served as mayor of Windom for three terms, and as city recorder for three terms. In 1914 he was elected state senator on the Republican ticket and is now holding that position. He is a member of the Masonic order, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum.
JOHN NELSON.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Norway and comes of a hardy stock of Norwegian ancestry. He was born in Norway, August 22, 1870, a son of Nels P. and Anna (Johnson) Nevermo, both natives of Norway.
The father of the subject of this sketch was a lumberman in his native . country. He came to America in 1888, landing in Quebec. Following in the footsteps of others of his countrymen, he found his way to Minne- sota. He left Norway on May 17, 1888, and June 9, of that year he arrived in Windom, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, "where he decided to locate. He worked at the carpentering trade in Windom and continued to make this his home. He was identified with the Norwegian Lutheran church at this place. There were eight children in this family: Peter, John, Bertha, Marie, Edward, Georgia, Christine and Nickoli.
John Nelson received his education in the public schools of Norway. He came to this country with his parents, in 1888, and made his home with them in Windom. He worked on the railroad for about four years. In 1896 he engaged in the grain business and continued in this business for
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about four years in Windom. In 1900 he came to Bingham Lake and for the first year after coming to this place was manager of the citizens' elevator. For the last fifteen years he has been manager of the St. John elevator.
Mr. Nelson has been twice married. His first wife was Sophia Olsen. She was the mother of two children: Arthur and Oscar. His second marriage was to Anna Flyum, who was the mother of six children: Milo, Olga, Alvin, Effie, Norman and Edna.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of the Lutheran church at Windom. He is independent in politics.
THEODORE KINTZI.
Among the many Austrians who have cast their lot with the people of Cottonwood county is Theodore Kintzi, a successful merchant of the town of Westbrook. He was born in Austria, October 10, 1868, and is a son of John and Katherine (Bergthold) Kintzi, both natives of Austria, where they grew up and were married, remaining in their native land until 1883, when they removed with their family to Minnesota, spending a few years at Rose Hill and Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county, then returned to their native land, where they spent the rest of their lives, both being now deceased. Three of their children remained in this country, including Theo- dore, R. J. of Mountain Lake and Margaret, wife of H. K. Rupp, of Westbrook.
Theodore Kintzi spent his boyhood in Austria, where he received a public school education. After coming here he clerked at Mountain Lake for some time. After spending three years here he returned to his native land where he remained until 1890, when he again came to Mountain Lake, where he again secured a position in a local store as clerk, later went to Canada and followed the same line of work, where he engaged in the mer- cantile business, with a partner, for two years. The last year he lived in Manitoba he was secretary and treasurer of the municipality of Rhineland. Returning to Minnesota in 1900, he engaged in mercantile pursuits for him- self at Darfur, operating a general store for a period of ten years, selling out his stock of goods in ' 1910, but retained the building for some time thereafter. In that year he bought land near the town of Butterfield, where he built a fine home in which he resided three years. He moved to the farm very largely to change his mode of life at the request of the family;
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after his long years of indoor work; but not having been reared to hus- bandry he found the labor too hard and returned to general mercantile pursuits in 1913, at his present location in Westbrook. He carries a large and well-selected stock and does a large and growing business with the town and surrounding country. While he lived in Darfur he was vice-president of the State Bank, in which he was a stockholder; in fact, he assisted in organizing that institution. He was for some time recorder of the town of Darfur, also a member of the council. Politically, he is Independent, and he belongs to the Mennonite church.
Mr. Kintzi was married about 1898 to Minnie Linscheid of near Butterfield, but she was born in Austria, from which country she came to Minnesota, when a child, with her parents who located on a farm two miles from Butterfield. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kintzi, namely: Emilia, Louisa, Leona, Ewald, Erna, Martha (deceased) and Viola.
MATTHEW. S. PORTER.
Success in the meat business has not come to Matthew S. Porter of Windom, Cottonwood county, without effort, for he knew at the outset of his career that he would have to work diligently for what he expected to achieve, and not "serenely fold his hands and wait."
Mr. Porter was born in Cresco, Iowa, March 21, 1869. He is a son of James Clark and Lydia (Alexander) Porter, natives of New York state and Ohio, respectively. They removed to Cottonwood county, Min- nesota, about 1876, the father purchasing a quarter section of land in Lake- side township, where he developed a valuable farm, on which he continued to reside until within about three years of his death, when he retired and moved to Windom where his death occurred, as did also that of his wife. They were the parents of five children, namely: Genevra, Matthew S., the subject of this sketch; Clarence and Mabel, twins, the former deceased ; and Stella. The parents of these children were members of the Methodist church.
Matthew S. Porter received his education in the public schools of Cottonwood county. He assisted his father with the general work on the home farm when he was a boy, then worked for H. M. Clark, a butcher in Windom, for a period of six years, then bought out his employer and has been engaged in business for himself since about 1895. He has a well-
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equipped market and is doing a large business with the people of Windom and vicinity. He has also dealt in farming lands for many years, and for about twelve years lived on a farmi near town, operating his meat market from there.
Mr. Porter was married in June, 1895, to Annie Soule of Omaha, Nebraska, a daughter of Joseph Soule. This union has been without issue, but Mr. and Mrs. Porter adopted a son, Sherman Porter, in infancy, and are raising him.
Mr. Porter belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and he is a member of the Methodist church.
OTTO WENSTROM.
The well-known and successful contractor, Otto Wenstrom, of St. James, Watonwan county, is one of the large number of immigrants from Scandinavia who has succeeded in the great republic of the West through sheer courage and perseverance. He was born in Sweden, January 4, 1865, and is a son of Severn J. and Sophia Wenstrom, both born in Sweden, where they grew up and were married. In 1869 they removed with their family to Rockford, Illinois, and in 1870 came on to Watonwan county, Minnesota, where they took up a homestead of eighty acres on which the father spent the rest of his life, dying in 1909 at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The mother died in 1883 at the age of fifty-eight years. They were the parents of five children, namely: Annie, Claus, Charley J. (deceased), Emma and Otto. These parents were members of the Swedish Lutheran church. The father was a charter member of the first church of this denomination in Watonwan county. He was a trustee of the same for many years and a leader of the choir, also a deacon for a long time, in fact, was the main pillar in the church. Politically, he was a Republican, but never an office seeker.
Otto Wenstrom was four years old when his parents brought him to America. He grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the district schools. When eighteen years old he began railroad grading work, later turning his attention to the threshing business, which he has followed each autumn for the past thirty-five years and is one of the best-known threshers in the county, in which he has lived for a period of forty-five years, most of the time at St. James. He has noted wonderful changes
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"come over the face of the land" during that period, seeing the town of St. James grow from the start, and he has always assisted in any way he could in its development. He owns a fine home in the town. He has been very successful both as a contractor and in the threshing business. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church.
Mr. Wenstrom was married December 31, 1891, to Ida Olson, who was born in St. James, July II, 1872, and she is a daughter of Iver and Julia Olson, natives of Norway, from which country they came to Wisconsin about 1865, and in 1870 removed to St. James, Watonwan county, and here they still reside, Mr. Olson being seventy-seven years of age and his wife sixty-nine. She is a daughter of Andrew Bentrud and wife, who came to Wisconsin about 1852, then moved to Mitchell county, Iowa, and purchased a farm. They are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Olson the follow- ing children were born: Halver, Bertha, Mattie, Christie and Julia.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wenstrom the following children have been born: Harry, born November 7, 1893, was educated in the schools of St. James, graduating from the high school in 1911, and he is at home working with his father; Ruth, born on March 10, 1896, was graduated from the St. James high school in 1914 and is now a student in Carlton College; Evelyn, born on August 31, 1901, is attending the local high school. Mr. Wenstrom has been re-elected to the city council for the second term this spring.
ARTHUR F. STRUNK.
Lumbering has been one of the principal industries in Minnesota, but the great forests have been depleted to such an extent that other industries have superseded it. Among those who are still successfully engaged in this line of endeavor is Arthur F. Strunk, of Windom, Cottonwood county.
He was born at Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1862, and is a son of Daniel and Eliza A. (Fish) Strunk, both natives of the state of New York, where they spent their earlier years, but later came to Wisconsin, where they lived for some time. They are both now deceased, her death occuring at Windom, Minnesota, and he died in California. The father was a highly skilled machinist and was an inventor of note, especially as an inventor of devices for improving farming machinery. Only two of his children grew to maturity, Arthur F. and a daughter, Nettie, now deceased.
Arthur F. Strunk received his education at Janesville, Wisconsin, later
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spending one winter in the University of Minnesota. He came to Windom in 1883 and soon thereafter launched out in the lumber business for him- self, just across the street from his present location. He remained alone for many years, then took in a Mr. Sherwin as partner. The firm name is now Strunk-Sherwin & Company, which erected its present commodious and convenient quarters in 1895. Mr. Strunk has been very successful in this field of endeavor, and he is also interested in the F. Strunk Lumber Company at Lake Crystal, Minnesota, which was established by his uncle in 1882. He is also interested in the Thomas Halverson Lumber Company at St. James, Minnesota. He understands thoroughly every phase of the business and is energetic, prompt and honorable in his dealings.
Mr. Strunk was married in 1893 to Agatha Grimes of Windom, a daughter of Michael Grimes, and to this union one child has been born: Arthur Rudolph (known as Dolph),
Politically, Mr. Strunk is a Republican. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
THOMAS TONNESSON.
In the cosmopolitan life of America many nationalities are represented. The virile stock of the old world has infused into our national life many elements of lasting benefit. In the state of Minnesota we find the sturdy off- spring of the hardy Norseman predominant in the business and social life of this state. This also might be said in a great measure of Watonwan county.
The history of Watonwan county would be most incomplete if, in this volume the banking and other industries were not reviewed. There have been many forces in the business life of Watonwan county, and especially in St. James, that have contributed much to the general development of the county. Among those who stand out for personal achievement and public spiritedness is Thomas Tonnesson, well known throughout the county as a leading banker and man of public spirit.
Thomas Tonnesson, cashier of the First National Bank of St. James, was born in Norway, October 7, 1867, the son of Hans and Ingeborg Ton- nesson, both of whom were natives of Norway, the father dying in 1872, and the mother in 1915. Thomas Tonnesson was the only child born to his parents. His early youth was spent in the country of his nativity, and deciding to come to America, the land of opportunity, he arrived in this
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country in May, 1889. He immediately came to this section and at once entered into the spirit of the community and soon became known as a factor in the business life of Watonwan county.
On July 5, 1892, Mr. Tonnesson was united in marriage with Elise Olson, also a native of Norway. She was born a daughter of J. A. and Elizabeth Olson. To the union of Thomas Tonnesson and Elise (Olson) Tonnesson have been born two children, Floyd, born on May 30, 1893, and Herbert, born on April 3, 1894, both graduates of the St. James high school, also both have taken business courses at Gustavus Adolphus at St. Peter, Minnesota.
Mr. Tonnesson, aside from his business activities, has always taken the proper interest of a good citizen in the civic affairs of this community. In politics, he is a Republican and has served for two terms as city treasurer of St. James. As cashier and stockholder in the First National Bank, he is known throughout the county as a man of splendid business integrity. The First National Bank has a high standing in banking circles and is recognized as one of the most substantial banks in this part of the state. This, in a measure, is largely due to the close attention given it by Mr. Tonnesson, and also largely due to the executive ability displayed in the office which he holds. He is also a director and stockholder in the St. James Telephone Company. Mr. Tonnesson's fraternal affiliation is with Libanus Lodge No. 92, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Concordia Chapter No. 25. He and his family are faithful attendants of the United Norwegian church of St. James, Minnesota.
In a review of those forces that have been potent in the development of achievements of Watonwan county, Mr. Tonnesson is among those who stand in the forefront.
SOLOMON BALZER.
An enterprising druggist at Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county, is Solomon Balzer, who was born in southern Russia, August 18, 1865, and he is a son of Jacob Balzer and wife, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work.
Solomon Balzer spent his boyhood in his native land and there attended the public schools. Coming to America before he reached his majority he finished his education at Mountain Lake, Minnesota, whither he came with his parents in 1877. Deciding upon a career as druggist he attended the
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Minneapolis Institute of Pharmacy, where he was graduated in 1890. Returning to Mountain Lake he bought out the drug business of F. J. Kane, which he has since conducted with success, enjoying a good trade with the town and surrounding country, and carrying at all times a large and carefully selected stock of drugs and drug sundries. He also assisted in organizing the local telephone company. He has been a member of the board of health for about twenty years and was village clerk for two years. He belongs to the Mennonite church.
Mr. Balzer was married in 1895, to Anna Bauman of Mountain Lake, and a daughter of George Bauman, one of the pioneer settlers in the vicinity of Mountain Lake, having come here about 1871. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Balzer has been without issue.
JOHN E. VILLA.
John E. Villa is a native of Norway, born on August 24, 1873. He is a son of Jens N. and Martha (Kunston) Villa, both natives of Norway. Jens N. Villa followed the occupation of a ship-builder in his native country. He came to America in 1880 and located in Windom, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and found employment working on the railroad for a year or so. After working in the vicinity of Windom for about two years he removed to Tracy, Lyon county, Minnesota, where he worked in the construction of a new railroad being built from Tracy to Marshall, Minnesota. In 1884 he abandoned railroad work and located on a homestead in Westbrook town- ship, Cottonwood county, and engaged in farming, making this his home for the remainder of his life. In addition to farming he did carpenter work while living here. Part of the village of Westbrook now covers the homestead land of Mr. Villa. Mr. Villa died in 1895; his widow is still living in Westbrook. The children of this family were: Nels, Knut, Ole, John E., Marianna, who died young, and Bella. Mr. Villa was a Repub- lican in politics. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
John E. Villa received his early education in Norway. After coming to America he attended school at Tracy, and also the school in Westbrook township. During his early years he worked with his father on the farm. Afterward he was employed for one year in the depot at Windom, and later was a clerk in a store in Windom. In 1901 he established a store in the line of general merchandise, in Westbrook, and continued this business
JOHN E. VILLA.
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until August, 1915, when he sold out. In 1902 he was one of the prin- cipal organizers of the Citizens State Bank of Westbrook. A year later he became one of the directors, and in 1907 he was elected vice-president ; the following year, 1908, he was elected president of this institution. He has held this position ever since and is actively engaged in the management of the bank.
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