History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 57

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

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 57

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).

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MR. AND MRS. A. DEMO

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36 by 86 feet in size, with complete equipment. Mr. Feldmeier raises both grain and stock, finding a ready market for his products, and is numbered among the enterprising and prosperous citizens of Hokah township and has been town treasurer since 1915. He is a stockholder in the Hokah State Bank and in the Hokah Grain and Stock Co. In politics he is an independent voter and his religious affiliations is with the Catholic church.

Anthony Demo, now living retired in Hokah, is a man well known and respected throughout Houston county as one of its notable pioneers. His career in different branches of railroad work, as one of the early manufac- turers of the county, as farmer, and as a public official and state legislator, is one of interest and instruction to all who seek knowledge in regard to the history of this county. Mr. Demo is of Eastern birth, his native place being Grand Isle, Vermont, and the date of his nativity April 13, 1835. His parents were Anthony and Louisia Demo, the father being a native of Lower Canada, and the mother of New York State. After their marriage they resided in Vermont for a number of years, while their children were growing up, and then, coming to Houston county, Minnesota, settled at Hokah, where they resided for some thirty years. Anthony, who was the sixth born of their eight children, and who is the only one now living, was educated in the public schools of Vermont. He began industrial life at the age of 14 years, finding employment at bridge work on the Vermont Central Railroad. Later he went to Jordan, Canada, and from there to Chicago, where he entered the employ of Stone & Boomer as builder of bridges and turntables. As such he helped to construct the frame of the first bridge built across the Mississippi at Rock Island, and was there when the first train came in. He also built the turn-table at that place. Finally, in 1855, he resolved to seek his fortune in the Northwest and at Chicago bought a ticket for St. Paul and set out; but on reaching Brownsville, Minn., he got off the train to investigate the place, and instead of proceeding to his in- tended destination, remained in Houston county, from Brownsville walking to Hokah along the Indian trail which was then the only road. Some set- tlers were then coming in and Mr. Demo found carpenter work to do, which kept him employed for a while. Soon, however, in company with Ed Lamp- kin, he started a sash and door factory, the partnership continuing for two or three years, at the end of which time Mr. Demo bought out his partner and continued the business alone, also doing carpenter work at frequent intervals until the Civil War took place. That event caused more or less disturbance in existing conditions and interfered for awhile with the growth of the county, few new settlers coming in and many of those here joining the army, either through enlistment or the draft. Mr. Demo himself be- came a soldier, serving two and a half years as a member of Company K, 2d Minnesota Cavalry. After his return from the war he resumed car- pentry work in Hokah and continued at it until the construction of the railroad, when he found employment in the shops here. He was the first baggageman engaged on the Southern Minnesota division, but worked in the shops as long as they remained in Hokah. He was also placed in charge of the repair shops at Stevens Point, where he remained two years. On his return he took a farm in this township, on which he resided, engaged in its

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cultivation, until his retirement in 1895, at the age of sixty years, when he took up his residence in the village. That Mr. Demo's strong person- ality made an impression on his fellow citizens may be gathered from the fact that he was elected as the first marshal of Hokah. He was also a lieu- tenant in the first regiment of militia organized in the state, and was elected by the voters of this district to represent them in the state legislaure during the sessions of 1879 and 1891. For one term also he was doorkeeper in the Senate, and for six months was gatekeeper at the St. Louis exposition. He also served 18 years as president of the Hokah school board. He helped to organize the first I. O. W. lodge in Minnesota, and for many years has been a member of the G. A. R. post at Caledonia. He is a veteran Mason, having been a member of the A. F. & A. M. He has been elder of the Pres- byterian church since 1895, and has also done the church efficient service as church treasurer and Sunday school superintendent. In politics he is a Republican and in religion a Presbyterian . Mr. Demo was first married March 22, 1858, to Elizabeth Snure, who died Dec. 23, 1891. Two children were born of this marriage: William Anthony, now a practicing dentist at Blue Earth, Minn .; and George Albert, who is employed in the internal revenue office at Pittsburg, Penn. William Anthony married Minnie Still- man, and has three children, Florence, Percy and Robert. George Albert married Inez Hollister, and has one child, Hollister. On Oct. 17, 1894, Mr. Demo married, secondly, Mrs. Maryelta Train, a widow. Her parents, Daniel and Phoebe (Place) Clark, both now deceased, were natives of New York State, the father born at Belgium, Onondaga county, and the mother at Davenport, Delaware county. They were early settlers at Ridgeway, Minn., arriving there in 1855; and there they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Clark dying in 1867, and Mrs. Clark in 1890. Their daughter Maryelta was the twelfth born of their thirteen children. She was first married, May 21, 1876, to Dr. H. B. Train, who for many years was one of Houston county's most prominent physicians, and who died July 27, 1890. The only child of their marriage was Guy Clifford Train, born Jan. 8, 1878, who died when 18 months old.

Dan Brown, a retired stock dealer, now residing in the village of Hokah, who has also for the last six years been one of the leading officials of the Houston County Fair Assiciation, was born in Winona county, Minn., April 15, 1858, son of Edward and Adeline (Blanchard) Brown. The father, a native of Montreal, Canada, born in 1817, when a young man removed to New York State, whence in 1857 he came to Winona county, Minn., seeing the county under primeval conditions when deer, bear, and other wild game were plentiful, and the creeks were full of trout. Taking 185 acres of land at Fremont, he farmed it until 1876, and then engaged in the hotel business in Utica, Winona county. In 1885 his hotel burned, and for six years following he worked as a weaver. He then went to Roseburg, Ore., with his son Edwin, remaining there five years, at the end of which time he returned to Minnesota, and until the death of his wife, which occurred Aug. 5, 1910, resided with his son Dan in Hokah. He then accompanied the same son to Spokane, Wash., where he died Dec. 9, 1910. Dan Brown, who was the seventh born of his parents' ten children, was educated in the

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schools of Winona county and was reared on his parents' farm, where he acquired a good knowledge of stock. When 21 years old he borrowed twenty dollars from his mother to enter the butcher's business, which he followed subsequently for ten years. After being engaged in it for five years he began shipping live stock to Chicago from Utica, Hokah and Houston, Minn., and was engaged in that business for 36 years, during the last five of which he also shipped from North Dakota. He also owned a number of fast horses, at one time having five trotters, and keeping a trainer at the Utica tracks. Becoming the owner of the J. L. Klein farm, he resided on it, feeding live stock for the Chicago markets, and also owned a 160-acre farm in Money Creek and a section of land in North Dakota. In 1910 he built his present residence in the village of Hokah. For the last six years he has been superintendent of the horse division at the Houston county fair, and for many years previously was starter for the races at the same fair. He is a stockholder in the Hokah State Bank and the La Crescent State Bank, being a director in the former, and has served three terms as president of the village of Hokah. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Brown was married in December, 1880, to Eva Duckworth. On Jan. 1, 1897, he married for his second wife Anna Snure, daughter of John Clark and Addie (Hochstrasser) Snure, she being the third born of their six children. He has one daughter, Mabel, now the wife of Frank Spencer, Grand Canyon, Arizona. John Clark Snure was born at St. Catherine's, Canada, July 21, 1832, and came to Hokah, Houston county, Minn., when a young man. Until 1878 he was engaged in farming in this vicinity, and then entered the grocery business in Hokah, in which he continued until 1902, from which time until his death, July 1, 1907, he resided in Tacoma, Wash. His wife Addie, born Aug. 17, 1839, died June 28, 1918.

Carl L. Dahlke, a well known citizen of Hokah, owner of the old Dahlke farm near this village, but who is at the present time conducting a pool room in the village, was born in Prussia, Germany, Oct. 9, 1852, son of John Frederick and Henrietta (Kajuth) Dahlke. The father, born in 1834, came to America with his family in 1870, settling on the farm above mentioned near Hokah, this county, where, after an industrious agricultural career, he died in 1914. His wife, born in 1828, died in 1880. Carl L., who was the eldest of their five children, was educated in Germany, and was 18 years old when he accompanied his parents to this country. In 1873, at the age of 21, he took a farm in Peiffer Coolie, La Crescent township, and in the same year he was married to Mary Bonnwarth, daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Meyer) Bonnwarth, and who was born in Alsace, France, in 1850. For 15 years after his marriage, Mr. Dahlke remained on the home farm. Then he sold and bought the Neumeier place, near the old convent at Hokah. There he and his family lived until 1915, when he took up his home in Hokah village. The farm is now operated by his son Charles, and daughter Frances, he himself devoting his time to attending to his business interests in the village. He is one of the stockholders in the Hokah State Bank. For over twenty years he was a member of the town board, the greater part of which time he was chairman. He was also a member of the school board for over twenty years. He was bred in the Lutheran

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faith, and in politics is a Republican, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Dahlke have had ten children, four of whom died in infancy. Flora (Mrs. Portz) is also dead. The survivors are Mary (Mrs. Kindhammer), Otto, Eda, Charles and Frances. Mrs. Dahlke is deceased.

James E. Parish was born in Mound Prairie township, Minnesota, August 13, 1876. He moved with his parents, Thomas R. and Lucy (Rice) Parish, now of Rushford, to Houston in 1879, and attended the public schools at that place, entering the Signal office as an apprentice while at- tending school. He taught school in this county five years. Dec. 22, 1896, he married Nellie M. Briggs, who died June 22, 1898. August 27, 1902, he married Molena T. Weone, and has three children: Royal, born August 22, 1903; Myrtle, born March 22, 1905; and Fern, born October 24, 1911. Mr. Parish was owner and publisher of the Rushford Star-Republican from February, 1912, to 1914, and then sold to S. N. Risley and worked for him two years, going to Spring Grove and for two years managing the Herald. He took charge of the Hokah Tribune December 1, 1918. He served in Co. G, 12th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American war. His fraternal relations are with the A. F. & A. M., M. W. A., B. A. Y., and Henry Lawton Camp, No. 12, United Spanish-American War Veterans of Winona.

George J. Hoffman, cashier of the Hokah State Bank, and a business man of high reputation in this part of Houston county, was born in Hokah township, this county, Jan. 3, 1869, son of John and Martha E. (Mohr) Hoff- man. The parents were natives of Germany who came to the United States when children in 1840, their respective families locating at Burlington, Kenosha county, Wis., where they remained until 1855 or 1856. They then came in two prairie schooners, drawn by eight oxen, to La Crosse, and, crossing the river on a ferryboat, settled in Houston county, the Hoffmans taking a farm of 160 acres in section 34, Hokah township, for which they paid $1,200. Arriving on July 4, they planted Indian corn, which ripened notwithstanding the lateness of the season. There the parents spent the rest of their lives, the father dying Jan. 13, 1882, and the mother in June, 1894. George J., who was the second born of their six children, in his boy- hood attended the Hokah public school for awhile, his parents' farm being near the village, but his book knowledge was gained mostly through home study. In his youth he assisted his father on the homestead and until the age of 27 years was engaged in farming and the nursery business. In 1896 he engaged in the implement business at Hokah, as a member of the firm of Adams & Hoffman; but after six months' experience in that line, he went back to the farm, where he remained until 1901. He then sold the farm, of which he had become the proprietor, and bought the hardware and farm implement business of J. D. Becker, of Hokah. In 1903 he added groceries to his stock in trade. A year or two later he took John Ender into the business as a partner, and they bought out the general store of Otto Rippe, and carried it on for about eight years, or until 1913, when they sold the general store to Reilly & Reilly, and added a lumber yard to their other business. In 1910, Mr. Hoffman, in association with C. J. Schofield, started

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GEORGE J. HOFFMAN AND FAMILY

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MR. AND MRS. CHRISTOPHER BROWN-B. B. BROWN

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the Hokah State Bank, of which he has since been cashier. For five years he had a one-third interest in the Hokah Creamery Co., which he increased to a half interest on Jan. 1, 1919. On the same date he disposed of his interest in the hardware business previously mentioned, and became sole proprietor of the Hokah Midget Mill, in which he had owned a half interest for two years. Politically he is a Republican, and, religiously, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On Sept. 28, 1894, Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage with Bessie Miller, daughter of Rev. Henry J. and Mercy (Fox) Miller, and a native of Pennsylvania, where her father followed his minis- terial calling until his death. Mrs. Bessie Hoffman died July 9, 1902. On Feb. 25, 1903, Mr. Hoffman married Laura Cook, who was born in Red Wing, Minn., daughter of George and Louisa (Fuchs) Cook, her parents, who were natives of Germany, having settled in Goodhue county, this state, the father dying Feb. 3, 1899, and the mother still continuing to make her home in Red Wing. By this union Mr. Hoffman has three children: Rol- land, born Dec. 12, 1903, now assisting his father in the bank; Clinton, born March 7, 1910, and died Oct. 2, 1910, and Ruth, born May 26, 1914.

Lorenz Brothers, John, Anton and Joseph, well known farmers and respected citizens of Hokah township, are the sons of Anton and Elizabeth (Brooks) Lorenz, and were born in Hokah township, John on Dec. 8, 1876, Anton in January, 1887, and Joseph Feb. 1, 1897. The parents were both natives of Bohemia, Austria, the father born in June, 1848, and the mother in September, 1863. The former came to Hokah, Minn., in 1866, and took the farm on which he resided subsequently until his death in March, 1918. Mrs. Elizabeth Lorenz, then Elizabeth Brooks, came to America in 1871, locating first in Maryland, where she resided for two years. She then came west to Chicago, remained there two years, and then came to Hokah, Hous- ton county, Minn., where she soon after became the wife of Anton Lorenz. She is now residing on the home farm with her sons. The latter were edu- cated in the convent school at Hokah, and were associated together on the farm, in the development of which they assisted their father. On the lat- ter's death they assumed the care of the farm, which contains 90 acres, John being the owner of an additional tract of 26 acres. The place is well improved and they are conducting agricultural operations with profitable results. They are members of the Roman Catholic church. Anton is now serving as road overseer. The other children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Lorenz, Sr., are Frances, Katie, Anna, Mary and Frank. Francis is the wife of Fred Schnedecker, of Hokah township; Katie is now Mrs. George Sauer, of La Crosse; Anna is now Mrs. William Tschumpen, of La Crescent township; Mary is now Mrs. Joseph Schnedecker, of Hokah; and Frank is a farmer of Hokah township.

B. B. Brown, who is engaged in operating the old Brown farm at Hokah, having altogether 360 acres of land, was born in Hokah village, this county, Oct. 30, 1868, son of Christopher and Margaret (Shea) Brown. The father, who was born at St. Catherine's, Canada, Sept. 16, 1836, came to Houston county, Minesota, when a young man, being among the earliest settlers at Hokah. Here he establised the farm now operated by the subject of this sketch, on which he resided until his death in 1909. His

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wife, who was a native of Ireland, came to this county with her parents when very young, settling near Brownsville. She died in the same year as her husband. B. B. Brown, who was the second born of his parents' four children, was educated in the Hokah public school. He worked on the home farm until about twenty years of age, after which, for about eight years, he was engaged in railroad work on the Wisconsin Central Railway, with headquarters at Ashland, Wis. Then returning home, he took charge of the old homestead in Hokah, where he has since remained. The farm is well improved, and Mr. Brown is making a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle. He is a stockholder in both the Hokah banks, having formerly been a director in the Farmers' State Bank. He has also seen a number of years' service as village treasurer and assessor, in politics being a Republican. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.

Charles Bolduan, who is the owner of a good farm of 130 acres in section 6, Hokah township, which he is operating successfully along gen- eral agricultural lines, raising grain, hay and stock, was born in Hokah village, May 17, 1877, son of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Voss) Bolduan. The parents were natives of Germany who came to the United States in 1869, locating immediately in Hokah township, Houston county, Minn. After a residence here for about ten years they bought land and engaged in farming, continuing in that occupation until about fifteen years ago, when they retired from active work and are now making their home with their son, Charles. They are the parents of six children : F. W. A., Ernest, Amelia, Charles, Hulda and Tillie. F. W. A. lives with Charles; Ernest is a resident of Chicago Heights; Amelia is now the wife of Frank Rotunde, of Mayville township, this county; Hulda keeps house for her brothers, and Tillie is now Mrs. Louis Helm, of Hokah village.

Charles Bolduan, the subject of this sketch, acquired his education in Hokah and worked at home with his father until about 1903. He then bought his present farm from his father and has since been engaged in its cultivation. It is well improved and is yielding good returns in bountiful crops and healthy stock, for all of which he finds a ready market. Mr. Boulduan is also a shareholder in and secretary of the Hokah Stock & Grain Company. Occupying a prominent position among the well-known and reliable citizens of his township, he has served as town supervisor since 1910, and since 1918 has been president of School District No. 12. In politics he is independent, while his religious affiliations are with the Lutheran church. Mr. Bolduan was married at Brownsville, this county, Cet. 4, 1905, to Anna Kelly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Kelly. Her parents were born in Ireland and came to the United States, settling in Wisconsin, probably about fifty-five years ago, or towards the close of the Civil War period. They remained in that state, however, but a short time, soon locating in Houston county, Minnesota, and taking a farm in Union township, where they were numbered among the early settlers. They are still living on their farm. Their daughter, Mrs. Anna Bolduan, died in February, 1907, leaving two children, Frank and Marguerite, the latter of whom died in the fall of 1915. Mr. Bolduan's sister Hulda is now keeping

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house for him and his family circle includes his parents, who are making their home with him, and one brother, who owns a threshing outfit and a machine shop, where he does some repairing.

Edward J. Reilly, cashier of the Farmers' State Bank of Hokah, Minn., was born in Hokah, Aug. 19, 1875, son of Edward and Marie (Solon) Reilly. The parents came to this section from Ireland about 1848 and are still residing here, the father for most of his life having been engaged in railroad work. Edward J. was the fourth born of their six children and was educated in the local schools. At the age of 20 years he went to Iowa, where for twenty-one years he was engaged in the grain business. In October, 1916, he returned to Houston county to take his present position in the bank, where he has shown ability and made himself popular with the patrons of the institution. He also has farming interests in Iowa. His fraternal society affiliations are with the Woodmen, Royal Neighbors and Yeomen. In politics he is a Republican and in religion a Roman Catholic. Mr. Reilly was married in June, 1903, to Mae McDermott, daughter of Michael and Margaret McDermott. Her parents, who were born in Illinois, moved in 1896 to Iowa, where the father engaged in mercantile business. They are still residents of that state. Their daughter Mae (Mrs. Reilly) was the first born of their four children.

J. D. Becker, who is connected with the Hokah post office as rural mail carrier, was born in Union township, this county, July 11, 1861, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (James) Becker. The father, born in Germany in 1832, emigrated to Canada, whence, after a year's residence, he came to Hokah, Minn. But a year later, in 1860, he removed to Union, where he bought a farm of 165 acres, on which he resided until 1872, when he returned to Hokah. Here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1911. His wife Elizabeth, who was born in Germany in 1834 and who came to America in childhood, died in 1914. J. D., who was the eldest of their six children, was educated in public schools. At the age of 22 he left home and entered the Hokah mill, where he was employed for fourteen years subsequently. He then engaged in the hardware business in Hokah and was thus occupied for ten years, giving it up to engage in carpenter work, in which he spent two years. In 1903 he took his present position as rural mail carrier on Route No. 1 from Hokah. He owns a comfortable home in the village and is a man in good circumstances. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America, having served six years as clerk of the latter. Independent in politics, he has served nine years on the school board, being its present treasurer, and was village president nine years-from 1894 to 1902. Mr. Becker was married, June 18, 1889, to Lucinda Walter, daughter of Jacob and Lucinda (Schaller) Walter, her father being a native of Germany. They were farmers for many years in Mower county, Minnesota, residing there until Mrs. Walter's death, after which Mr. Walter made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Becker, until his death, Aug. 25, 1904. Of the eleven chil- dren in the Walter family, Mrs. Becker was the third in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Becker six children have been born: George, Irene, Jacob, Ralph, William and Walter. Jacob and William served in the United States

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Army during the great war, and Ralph in the Navy, William being still in France. Irene is a teacher.

William J. Miller, a well known and respected citizen of Hokah, resid- ing on the outskirts of the village, was born at Mineral Point, Iowa county, Wis., Sept. 20, 1872, son of William and Mary (Hocking) Miller. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch or German ancestry, and died at Mineral Point, Wis., when the subject of this sketch was 7 years old. His wife, who was born at Mineral Point, Dec. 29, 1852, soon after his ·death became an invalid, her care devolving upon her son, William J., as soon as he was old enough to assume the responsibility. Another son had died in infancy, and a sister at the age of 14. Mrs. Mary Miller never recovered her health, though she survived her husband for thirty-three years, her death occurring March 11, 1912. She was an earnest Christian woman, a lifelong member of the church, and endured her sufferings with admirable patience and resignation. William J. Miller, owing to the causes above mentioned, had but a limited opportunity for obtaining an education. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, he learned the value of self-help and not only acquired additional knowledge through home study but also made good progress along industrial lines. In 1891, when he was about 19, a change of climate was recommended for his mother, and for that reason he came to Hokah, Houston county, Minn., buying his present home near the village, a neat and attractive place. For awhile he worked . at various occupations, making a specialty, however, of gardening, a branch of industry in which he is well skilled. For a time he was employed by F. Sobeck, merchant, as clerk and general helper, remaining with him three and a half years. For nine years he was gardener on the Dunham estate in Hokah. Later he became the Houston county agent for the Dr. Koch Remedy Company, of Winona, also for the California Perfume & Extract Company. In these interests he is still engaged and also sells a line of dry goods. Politically he is a Republican, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the Rebeckah Lodge. Mr. Miller was married in Brownsville township, Oct. 2, 1912, to Mary Isabella Ainsworth, daughter of Richard and Mary (Balderstone) Ains- worth. Her father, born in England, Jan. 14, 1842, came to America in 1866, meeting his future father-in-law on shipboard, with whom he came directly to La Crescent, Minn., and worked for him awhile here. After his marriage in 1870 he settled on a farm in Dover, Minn., but two years later, on the death of his wife, he drifted west, going with a yoke of oxen to Worthing, S. D. Contracting a second marriage, he reared a family by his second wife, losing all trace of his daughter by his first marriage, Mary Isabella, now Mrs. W. J. Miller. He died May 26, 1915, and having left her by will a generous legacy, his executors discovered her whereabouts and her identity being proved, she received the legacy. The mother of Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Mary (Balderstone) Ainsworth, was born in England, Aug. 5, 1847, and resided in her youth in Liverpool. With her mother and other members of the family, she followed her father to America and resided on the parental homestead in Brownsville township, where she remained until her marriage and where her only daughter, Mary Isabella, was born.

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 57

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

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