History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 54

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1343

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the parents of eleven children, Minnie, Cora, Clara, Maud, Frank F., Bert, Elmer, Mary, Ethel, Ray G. and Walter, whose record in brief is as follows: Minnie is the wife of Fred Perkins, of Money Creek township. Cora is the wife of Russell E. Vance, and resides at Del Rio, Texas, her husband being proprietor of a large fruit farm there. Clara is the wife of Ernest Christianson, who is engaged in the hardware busi- ness at Lewiston, Mont. Maud married John Harmon and resides with her

husband on a farm at Banks, N. D. Frank F. is a clerk in a hardware store at Beach, N. D. Bert and Walter are associated together in operating the home farm in Money Creek township. Elmer is a farmer at Beach, N. D. Mary is the wife of Melvin Snuggerud, her husband being engaged in the hardware business at Flandreau, S. D. Ethel married Mark Corey, a farmer, and resides four miles northwest of Money Creek. Ray G. is now in the United States military service. Since her husband's death Mrs. Miller has continued her residence in the village and is an active participant in its social affairs. She is a member of the Eastern Star lodge and is esteemed among a wide circle of friends.

Philip H. Elsheimer, a respected farmer and stock raiser of Crooked Creek township, was born in Franklin county, Mass., Sept. 9, 1863, son of Henry P. and Catherine (Mentis) Elsheimer. In 1865, Henry P. Elsheimer and his father and his father-in-law, John Mentis, came west, and each bought eighty acres of wild land in Crooked Creek township. Here they built a log cabin and made preparations to welcome the rest of the family. They then returned and brought their relatives here. Philip H., then a baby, came with the rest. He had but limited education, but thoroughly learned the business of farming on the rough land on which his parents had

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE G. MILLER

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

y Google

399

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

located. As he grew to manhood he took over the management of the home farm which he operated for many years. In October, 1912, he and his good wife moved to a farm of 203 acres, one mile south of the homestead. This was nearly all wild land and no buildings had been erected thereon when Mr. Elsheimer purchased it. Since then he has erected a modern two-story, eight-room frame dwelling, a good frame barn, granary, machine sheds and the like. An artesian well supplies fresh pure water. The land being rough, only a small portion is tillable, and Mr. Elsheimer has therefore turned his attention to stock raising, for which the land is admirably suited. He has a fine herd of high grade Hereford cattle, with which he has been very successful. His operating equipment is of the best, and he is constantly adding to it. A man of poor parents, who by industry, intelligence and frugality has made his present position in the world, he is highly respected by all with whom he comes in contact. His trading center is at New Albion, Iowa, nine miles south, where he was a stockholder in the Farmers' Savings Bank and in the Farmers' Co-operative Mercantile Co. A thorough believer in education, he has done efficient service as a member of the school board for several years, but he has not cared to mingle in politics. Mr. Elsheimer was married June 15, 1904, to Bertha Neumann, born in Crooked Creek township, June 3, 1880, daughter of August and Louise (Mann) Neumann, early settlers of that township. This union has been blessed with five children : Philip H., Louise M. A., August V., Walter J., and Clara H., all bright children and the pride of their parents' hearts. Philip H. was born March 27, 1905; Louise M. A. was born Jan. 6, 1907; August V. was born Dec. 22, 1908; Walter J. was born Jan. 7, 1915, and Carl H. was born Aug. 8, 1918. The family faith is that of the German Evangelical church of Crooked Creek, of which Mr. Elsheimer is a prominent member and liberal contributor.

Olaf Benson, who was one of the first settlers in Swede Bottom, Hous- ton township, was born in Halland, Sweden, where he married Christine Letberg. While in his native land he saw in a local paper an account of the Root River valley in Minnesota, which was so favorable that he, with several other men and their families, set out for the promised land. It was in 1853, about a year after the first settler had arrived in Houston county, that Olaf Benson, John Anderson and Abraham Abrahamson, and others with their families, located on the east bank of the South Fork of Root River. Wild game of various kinds was abundant, so were Indians, and what is now the flourishing city of La Crosse was only a boat landing with one store. The new settlers lived in tents until a rude log house could be erected in which for a while all the three families made their home. Three other families who had accompanied them from Sweden-two by the name of Johnson, and the family of Lars Redding-took claims in the vicinity. On the land he had secured Mr. Benson began the usual improvements, using axes he had brought with him from Sweden. In the very next sum- mer, that of 1854, he suffered a great bereavement in the loss of his wife, who died in the community log house above mentioned. He persevered in his task, however, for the few years that were yet allotted to him, but was about to move to a farm which he had purchased near Red Wing, when

Digitized by Google

400

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

in 1858 death overtook him also and he rested from his labors. He and his wife had had five children, whose task it became to complete the unfinished work of the parents, a work that in time was well accomplished.

Benjamin Benson, proprietor of a fine general stock farm of 217 acres in section 10, Sheldon township, and who is also one of that rapidly dimin- ishing band of veterans of the great Civil War, was born in Halland, Sweden, June 2, 1845, son of Olaf and Christine (Letberg) Benson. He was a lad of about eight years when he came with his parents to Houston county, Minnesota, and found himself amid novel and primitive scenes incidental to frontier life. He was scarcely a year older when he lost his mother, but his father continued in the work of developing a homestead until he, too, a few years later, was snatched away by the hand of death. Young Benja- min attended the first district school established in the neighborhood of Swede Bottom, Houston township, where the family settlement had been made. He was only sixteen when the Civil War broke out, and in the fol- lowing year, or, to be more exact, on August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany G, Seventh Minnesota Regiment. His first service was against the hostile Indians in Minnesota and Dakota, but subsequently he was trans- ferred to the South and took part in the battles of Nashville, Tupelo, Abbey- ville and the siege of Mobile. Though never wounded in battle, he received an injury while in the service. It is interesting to note that he was present at the hanging of the Indian murderers at Mankato after the uprising and stood in the third rank from the scaffold. After being mustered out in 1865 he returned to Houston county and settled on his present farm in section 10, Sheldon township. It was then, however, merely a tract of wild land without improvements, and his first task was to erect a log house. During the half century that has since elapsed he has developed his place into a fine farm of 217 acres, well provided with good modern buildings and has had a successful career as a farmer, making a specialty of stock raising. He is also a shareholder in the creamery and telephone companies. Indepen- dent in politics, he served for about twenty years as town supervisor, and was also for a long time a member of the school board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he served formerly as junior vice commander and in other offices. Mr. Benson was married March 28, 1874, to Christine Nelson, who was born in Halland, Sweden, June 30, 1853, and who came to this country in 1871, her parents remaining in Sweden. He and his wife have had nine children, all of whom are living, namely: Adelia Caroline, wife of Herbert Mathews, a farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada; Charlotte Jane, wife of Henry Holmes, a farmer of Money Creek town- ship; Henry and Oliver (twins), both of whom live in Canada, the former having married Bessie Strand and having one child, Ben. C., and the latter having married Maude Scott; Frank B., who married Elsie Safner, resides on the home farm and has two children, Roger A. and Myrtle L .; Charles E., a farmer of Money Creek township, who married Ella Benson, and has two children, Goldie and Lena; Lille Grace, who married Alfred Redding, a banker of Bingham Lake, Minn., and has seven children, James, Willis, Victor, Lillie, Gladden, Iris and Benson; Otto Emil, who married Ellen Anderson, of Looney Valley, and is farming a half section in Canada; and

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. BENJAMIN BENSON

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

Google-

Digitized by Google

FRANK BENSON AND FAMILY

By Google

Digitized by

401

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

Vesta Leona, who married Frank Anderson, who is now farming in Canada and has two children, Dorothy and Chapman.

Patrick Welsh, one of the pioneer settlers of Winnebago township, was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States as a young man in 1850, locating in Lexington, Scott county, Ind. There he married Stacy McDonald, a native of Wexford, Ireland, who, like himself, had come to America on a sailing vessel in 1850. While residing in Lexington, Patrick worked on the railroad. From there he removed with his family to Hanni- bal, Mo., and from the latter place in 1859 to Houston county, Minnesota, making the journey in a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. He and his wife had then four children, Thomas, Mary, Larry and John. Before bringing his family here, he had made a visit to the county in 1857 and bought 120 acres of wild land in Winnebago valley, Winnebago township, and on this he now settled, he and his family living in the wagon until he had built a log house. In addition to his oxen he had one cow, and with this limited amount of stock he began the career of a pioneer farmer in this county. His markets were at Lansing, Iowa, and Brownsville, this county, to which he drove with his wagon and oxen. He increased the size of his farm until it contained 360 acres, and erected all the necessary buildings. He was one of the school officers of his district, and in 1865 helped to build the Catholic church in Jefferson township, of which he and his wife were members. About five years before his death he moved to New Albin, where he finally passed away at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He had been a widower for a number of years, his wife having died on the farm at the age of fifty-eight. In addition to the four children previously mentioned, six others were born to them in Houston county: Mary, Margaret, Ann, Ellen, Anestolea and Michael.

Thomas William Welsh, one of the leading citizens of Freeburg, Crooked Creek township, where for over forty years he has carried on a blacksmith's business, was born in Lexington, Scott county, Ind., July 8, 1853, son of Patrick and Stacy (McDonald) Welsh. While still very young he accom- panied his parents to Hannibal, Mo., and from there to Houston county, they arriving here in 1859. He was then about six years old, and soon became a pupil in the log schoolhouse in Winnebago valley, Crooked Creek township, where the family settled. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the trade of blacksmith of G. A. Graf, of Brownsville, Minn., and after acquiring a good practical knowledge of it started in business for himself in Winnebago valley. He also conducted a shop for three years at Winnebago Mills. On Oct. 8, 1877, he bought a blacksmith's shop in Free- burg, moving his family here on November 3rd, and taking possession of a house which he had also purchased. His present shop, an improvement over the old one, was erected in 1885. Here he has conducted business unin- terruptedly and has become widely known all over the county. He is a stockholder in and one of the directors of the Freeburg State Bank. For thirty-one consecutive years he has served as town clerk. He helped to build St. Nicholas Catholic church and has been one of its officials for. thirty-nine years. Mr. Welsh married Johanna Early. of New York State, and he and his wife have had eight children, one of whom, Anestolea, 26

Digitized by Google

402

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

died at the age of seventeen years. Those living are Mary, Anna, Michael, James, Minnie, Ella and William. Mr. Welsh has also seven grandchildren.

Fredrick Otto, one of the thriving agriculturists of Mound Prairie township, operating a farm of 240 acres in section 17, was born in Pom- mern, Germany, Dec. 11, 1852, son of Fredrick and Carolina (Reinke) Otto. The parents, who never came to this country, are both now deceased. Fredrick, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was reared to farming pursuits in his native land, where in time he became operator of a farm, remaining there until 1880. He was then married to Bertha Saun, a native of Pom- mern, and in the same year, 1880, they came to the United States, locating in La Crosse, Wis. During his first year's residence there he was employed in railroad work, and then for thirteen years was an employee in a sawmill. He then came with his wife and family to Mound Prairie township, Houston county, and took his present farm, which he is operating along general lines, raising grain and stock on a profitable basis, being now numbered among the prosperous citizens of his township. He is a member of the Lutheran church and in politics is independent, voting for the man rather than for the party. Mr. and Mrs. Otto are the parents of four children: William, born April 29, 1884, who married Minnie Hyer and who is a car- penter residing at La Crosse; Frank, born Jan. 23, 1888, who now operates the home farm, and who married Olga Blank, a native of La Crosse and has one child, Fredrick; Rosa, born Sept. 29, 1890, residing in La Crosse; and George, born June 3, 1895, who has served in the United States military service in France with Co. A, 42d Engineers.

Fred Stelplugh, a well known dairyman and swine breeder, having a fine farm of 358 acres in section 30, Money Creek township, was born in Livingston county, Missouri, June 10, 1871, son of Joseph and Caroline (Fink) Stelplugh. The parents were natives of Germany, but were mar- ried in Davenport, Iowa, the father coming to the United States when a young man. Later he settled in Missouri, where he operated farm lands, and died when the subject of this sketch was a lad of fourteen years, his wife having passed away ten years previously. Fred, who was the youngest of his parents' seven children, completed his literary education in the high school at Utica, Mo. On his father's death, about 1885, he began working for others, herding cattle, handling horses, and following similar occupa- tions in Missouri for a number of years. Then for two years he operated farms in Freeborn county, Missouri, subsequently buying land there which he cultivated until 1912. In that year he came to Houston county, Minne- sota, and settled on his present farm, where he is breeding registered Poland-China hogs, and frequently shipping from his herd to other states. His farm is one of the best equipped in the township and Mr. Stelplugh keeps it up to the highest standard in every respect. He was married March 29, 1894, to Mary J. Webster, who was born at Utica, Mo., July 9, 1871, daughter of Daniel W. and Amelia (Carlton) Webster, and who is a descendant of Anna Dustin, whose name is famous in the annals of New England for her heroic escape from Indian captivity, she, with the assistance of a young boy killing their Indian guards while they lay asleep. Her

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. FREDERICK OTTO

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

Google

ALBERT TIETZ AND FAMILY

Google

Digitized by

403

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

parents were natives of Haverhill, Mass., and were early settlers in Mis- souri. The father in early life was a teacher, but later engaged in news- paper work and in the mercantile business. After retiring from active work he spent a number of years with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Stelplugh, but died at Marcelline, Mo., having survived his wife sev- eral years. To Mr. and Mrs. Stelplugh eight children have been born: Letta Agnes, born Jan. 11, 1895, wife of Ralph Harris, a fruit farmer of La Crescent township; Grace Amelia, born July 14, 1896, who is a teacher residing at home; Verne Bennett, born Dec. 8, 1898; Bertha Jenette, born Feb. 23, 1902; Blon Waldo, born Feb. 4, 1906; Homer Carey, born June 29, 1908; Hazel Alley, born April 24, 1911; and Helen Marie, born June 6, 1913, who also reside at home with their parents.

Albert William Tietz, who for forty-six years has been a resident of Mound Prairie township, and is the owner of a farm of 140 acres in sections 5, 6 and 8 with residence in section 6, was born in Schlava, Hinter Pommern, Germany, March 1, 1850, son of Martin and Henrietta (Schramm) Tietz. His parents were natives of the same province, where they spent their lives and died. Albert William, who was the third born of their seven chil- dren, attended school in his native land, where he remained until he was twenty years old, being employed chiefly at farm work. In 1872 he emi- grated to the United States, landing at Baltimore, from which port he came directly to Houston county, Minnesota. He was at that time unable to speak English, but found employment at farm work in Mound Prairie township, where later he bought land which he developed into his present farm, and which he has operated along general lies, raising crops and stock. Though he has now rented it out, he still exercises a general supervision over the property. He is a stockholder in the Houston Elevator and the La Crescent State Bank, and is numbered among the prosperous citizens of his township. Politically an independent Republican, he served for twenty- five years as a member of the local school board. Mr. Tietz was first married March 1, 1888, to Margaret Kroehler, daughter of Jacob and Kathrine (Eberhard) Kroehler, her parents being numbered among the pioneers of Mound Prairie township, developing a farm in section 21. The father died in November, 1914, and the mother in February, 1915. Mrs. Margareet Tietz died in March, 1900, leaving no children. May 20, 1903, Mr. Tietz mar- ried Ella Ender, who was born in Mound Prairie township, Dec. 8, 1882, daughter of Leonard and Amelia (Radtke) Ender, her parents being farmers in this township. Of this union two children have been born: Florence Annabel, born April 9, 1904, now attending the Houston high school, and Avis Luella, born June 7, 1909.

Bernhard C. Pohlmann, who occupies a prominent place among the successful farmers of Jefferson township, his residence lying in section 9, was born in Eitzen, Houston county, Minn., June 5, 1878, son of William and Elizabeth Pohlmann. The third born in a family numbering 11 chil- dren, he was educated in the district school, which he attended regularly from his early years until the age of 11, and subsequently during the winters until he was 15. For three years longer he continued to reside with his parents and then, at the age of 18, began an independent career

Digitized by Google

404

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

as an agriculturist, which has been one of successful achievement. The farm which he now owns in Jefferson township contains 400 acres, of which 150 are under cultivation, the rest of the land being in timber and pasture. The buildings include a good frame house, a barn, corn crib, machine shed, a hog-house with a basement for poultry, a repair shop and garage, and there is also a complete operating equipment. Mr. Pohlmann is engaged in general farming, giving particular attention to the breeding of high grade Black Aberdeen Angus cattle and Poland-China swine. " He is also a shareholder in the Co-Operative Stock and Grain Company and the Co-Operative Mercantile Company of New Albin, Ia., and in the Jeffer- son Township Threshing Company. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Pohlmann was married Oct. 16, 1907, to Clara Neumann, daughter of William F. F. and Margarite Neumann of Crooked Creek township. Of this union four children have been born, all now living, namely: Versell, May 18, 1910; Hilda, Jan. 30, 1913; Esther, Jan. 29, 1917, and Melvin, born Jan. 10, 1919.

Louis Vix, a pioneer settler of Mound Prairie township, where he founded a farm on which he is now living with his son, Grover C., was born in Alsace, France, March 2, 1841, and came to America with his parents and other relatives when four years old. In the spring of 1854, they moved to Minnesota, settling in Mound Prairie township, this county. In the spring of 1860, he made a trip to Kansas, and pre-empted land near Lawrence, but sold out a month later and went to Kansas City. He then went in the employment of the Government through the Indian Territory to the Arkansas River, thence to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and back up the Arkansas River to El Paso and Canon City, thence up the Platte River to Fort Kearney, and back to Leavenworth, Kansas, and St. Louis, Missouri, and finally to Minnesota. In 1863, he made a claim in Blue Earth county, upon which he made some improvements, but the claim was "jumped" while he was on a visit home. He then purchased land in section 29, Mound Prairie township. In 1865 he enlisted in Co. L, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, was in several battles, and was mustered out Oct. 1, 1865, at Selma, Alabama. In 1876 he married Arvilla Edmonds, who was born in New York State in 1853, and died in 1898. Of their nine children, the first three died of diphtheria within eighteen days of each other. The others are Louis Vix, Jr., Ida, Margie, Grover, Lulu, and Metta. Ida is now Mrs. Herman Papen- fuss; Margie is now Mrs. Charles Bottcher; Lulu is now Mrs. Andrew Flatten; and Metta is now Mrs. William Bottcher.

Grover Cleveland Vix, a well known and prosperous farmer of Mound Prairie township, residing on the old Vix homestead in section 29, of which he is now the owner, was born on this farm, Feb. 14, 1885, son of Louis and Arvilla (Edmonds) Vix. After the usual attendance at the district school, and even before he abandoned his studies, he became active as his father's assistant in the improvement of the homestead. When only 14 years old he rented the farm from his father and operated it from that time until his marriage. He then moved to La Crosse, where for two years he was engaged in the hide business. Returning to the home farm at the end of that time, he resumed agricultural work and a few years later became the

Digitized by Google

BERNHARD C. POHLMANN AND FAMILY

Google

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. GROVER C. VIX

Digitized by

Google

405

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

owner of the property, which he is now operating as a general stock farm, his father, a widower since 1898, residing with him. The farm has an area of 201 acres and is highly improved as to buildings and equipment. In 1916 Mr. Vix erected one of the finest farm residences in Houston county. On May 12, 1903, Mr. Vix was united in marriage with Malissa Woolley, who was born at Hokah, Houston county, July 26, 1885, daughter of Frank and Henrietta (Fischer) Woolley. Her parents are still residents of Hokah, the father being a painter, paper-hanger and musician. Their daughter was one of the elder members in a family of eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Vix have eight children: John, residing on the home farm; Arvilla Jane, who died at the age of six months; Arvilla (second), Alice, and Rob- ert, who are living at home; a child who died in infancy; and Sereta and Wauneta, the two youngest of the family. Mr. Vix is independent in poli- tics, aiming to cast his vote for the best man regardless of party. He and his family are among the most respected residents of Mound Prairie township.

Peter C. Gran, who is now living retired on his farm of 280 acres in Jefferson township, is a type of the hardy Norwegian race which has done so much to civilize and develop the resources of the great Northwest. He was born in Toten, Norway, Feb. 8, 1848, a son of Christian Pederson. In his native land he attended the common school and subsequently entered the ranks of industry. In 1871 he came alone to the United States, and making his way to Houston county, Minnesota, located in Spring Grove, in the vicinity of which place he worked for a year as a farm hand. During the next two summers he was engaged in running logs on Black River in Wisconsin after which he made a trip to the Red River Valley in north- western Minnesota. A year after his arrival in this county he had been joined by his parents, who arrived from Norway accompanied by a young lady, Karine Christiansen, to whom he had plighted his troth in his native land, and to whom he was united in marriage in January, 1873. While working for others he had been saving his money, and by 1874 he found himself in a position to begin an independent career as a farmer. Not having enough money to buy an improved farm, however, he selected a tract of 160 acres of wild grub land in section 17, Jefferson township. It had no buildings and his first task was to erect a log house into which he moved with his wife, and his parents, the house being double, with two rooms in each part. Though his wife was not very strong, she rendered valuable assistance to him in improving the place, working daily with him in the fields when the weather permitted, and together they accomplished the task of grubbing and clearing. In time they acquired more land, buy- ing an adjacent tract in section 8, and erecting larger and more modern buildings, including a house, barns, machine-sheds, granary and hog house. About 100 acres of the farm are now under cultivation, and the old log dwelling, though long since abandoned, is still standing on the original tract. Mr. Gran continued general farming and stock raising until 1914, in which year he retired from active work, renting the farm to his son Otto, but he and his wife continuing their residence on it. He is a share- holder in the New Albin (Ia.) Co-Operative Stock and Grain Co., and in

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 54

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1343

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1343