History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 74

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

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the government, and from that time until his death he was engaged in farming, working hard and seeing that his children had as good an educa- tion as he could give them. He died in 1891, being survived by his wife, who is now 81 years old and resides with her son Michael, who was the youngest of their three children. The first born was Margaret, who died at the age of three years ; and the second born, James J., who is now a resident of Albert Lea, Minn. Michael M. Sullivan, besides attending district school, was a pupil for one year in the Caledonia graded school. After becoming industrially active he assisted his father up to the age of 18 years, at which time he took the management of the farm, which he has since operated, ex- cept during two years which he spent in Chicago. He has 240 acres of land, of which 100 acres are cleared. He has erected all the buildings, the barn being a large modern structure, and the whole place well improved and adapted to all the purposes of general farming, which Mr. Sullivan carries on, though giving his chief attention to stock raising. He is a shareholder in the Farmers' Co-operative store and in the elevator at Caledonia, and is widely recognized as one of the enterprising and successful men of his township. In its growth and prosperity he takes an active interest, and is at present serving as town clerk, having formerly been school clerk of his district.

Nicklaus Michael Stadtler, an enterprising grain and stock farmer of Mayville township, residing in section 5, was born in Houston county, Minn., April 13, 1879, son of Michael and Frances (Dobracke) Stadtler. The parents were born in Germany, but were married in America, the father settling near La Crosse, Wis., when a young man. He was engaged in farming until his death. He and his wife Frances had nine children : Nicklaus Michael, Francisca, Anna, Theresa, Michael, Roman, Bernard, Matilda and Charles, all of whom are now living. By a previous marriage Michael Stadtler had five other children, Frank, Margaret, John, Nellie and Kate, who are also living. Mrs. Frances Stadtler, mother of the subject of this sketch, is still living in Houston county. Nicklaus Michael Stadtler attended district school until 18 years old, helping his mother on the farm until reaching the age of 22. Then for two years he was engaged in gather- ing cream on a cream route and carrying it to the factory. After that he rented two different farms in succession, operating the second until 1909, when he bought the farm on which he now resides, and which was then in poor condition, the only buildings being an old house and granary. Since taking possession of the place he has made steady improvements and now has an excellent set of buildings. In 1914 he built a new 7-room house of modern construction; also a hog house, corn crib, chicken coop and wind- mill. His barn, built in 1917, measures 32 by 60 feet, and is also a modernly constructed building with concrete basement. The farm has an area of 120 acres, of which about 90 acres are cleared, the rest being in timber. Mr. Stadtler does mixed farming, giving particular attention to stock raising, his cattle being of the Shorthorn breed, and he is now making preparations to engage in dairying. He is also a shareholder in the co- operative creamery. He has served on the school board in two different districts. On June 20, 1905, Mr. Stadtler was married to Anna Boden, who

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was born in Houston county, Nov. 3, 1880. Her parents, who were natives of the Duchy of Luxemburg, were farming people, but are both now de- ceased. Their children were: Kate, Mary, Frank, Jennie, Anna, John and Theresa. John is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Stadtler four children have been born : Leo, May 1, 1906; George, Feb. 22, 1908, and Florence and Lawrence (twins), Jan. 12, 1910. All are attending school. The family attend St. Peter's (German) Catholic church at Caledonia.

Matt F. Weis, who owns and operates a farm of 120 acres in section 31, Mayville township, was born in Houston county, Minn., April 2, 1869, son of Frank and Katherine (Speilman) Weis. The parents, who were born and married in Germany, came to the United States in 1867, settling in this county, where they engaged in farming. Both are now deceased. They had seven children : a daughter who died infancy; John, who is living; another daughter who died in fancy; Matt F., subject of this sketch; Mar- garet, who died at the age of 18 years; and Katherine and Mary, who are living. Matt F. Weis in his boyhood attended the district school and as- sisted his father to operate the home farm until arriving at the age of 23 years. From that time until he was 27 he worked out for wages. He then married and rented from his father-in-law the farm on which he now lives, buying it in 1910. It contains 120 acres, of which 100 acres are cleared, the rest being in woodland. Mr. Weis has built the present barn, house and outbuildings, having laid out $4,000 for improvements. The house is modern and equipped with furnace heat, while the barn measures 30 by 60 feet, with stone basement. Mr. Weis carries on general farming, including dairying and stock raising, and has a full-blooded bull. Each year he ships a number of cattle and hogs to the market, obtaining good prices for all his products. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Co- operative Elevator at Calendonia. For six years he has served as school director. On Sept. 1, 1896, Mr. Weis was united in marriage with Mrs. Josephine Flaherty, who was previously the wife of John W. Flaherty, by whom she had one child, Viola Julia, now the wife of Earl Kauffman of La Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Weis have two children : Frank Joseph, born Aug. 24, 1897; and Justina Veronica, born July 20, 1902. Mrs. Weis was born on the farm on which she is now living. The family attended St. Peter's Catholic church at Caledonia.

Hubert Greisch, a prominent representative of the agricultural inter- ests of Mayville township, where he is operating a farm of 340 acres, was born in Houston county, Minn., July 1, 1861, son of Joseph and Rosolina (De Schauber) Greisch. The parents were natives of Belgium, where they were married, coming to America in 1857 and settling in this county, where they engaged in farming. Both are deceased, the father dying some thirty years ago and the mother in 1916. They had three children : Margaret, now deceased ; Katherine, and Hubert. Hubert Greisch acquired his educa- tion in the district school and at St. John's College at St. Cloud, where he became a student at the age of 13 years. When not engaged with his books he worked on the home farm, assisting his father until the latter's death, and after that assisting his mother until she, too, passed away. Since then he has been proprietor of the farm, which contains 340 acres, of which 200

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM FREIBERG

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acres are cleared, the rest being in timber. Mr. Greisch does general farm- ing, giving special attention to dairying and the raising of swine. He has erected all the buildings on the farm, rebuilding the house two years ago. The barn, measuring 64 by 36 feet, is provided with a stone basement and is covered with galvanized iron. Mr. Greisch is also a shareholder in the co-operative creamery at Caledonia. He was married in Caledonia, this county, Feb. 4, 1890, to Katherine Bonert, who was born in the Duchy of Luxemberg, Jan. 1, 1861, son of Johann and Theresa (Kode) Bonert. Her parents, now deceased, were farmers who spent their lives in their native land. They had two children : Anna, now living in Germany ; and Katherine, now Mrs. Greisch. Mr. and Mrs. Greisch have three children : Joseph N., born Aug. 20, 1892, and now residing in Caledonia; Katherine Lavina, born Feb. 5, 1895; and Henry John, born Sept. 12, 1899. The two latter are residing at home.

William Freiberg, proprietor of a blacksmith's shop and farm imple- ment business in the village of Eitzen, and one of the leading officials of Winnebago township, has been a resident of Houston county for more than half a century. He was born in Germany, Feb. 23, 1849, son of George Freiberg. His parents lived and died in their native land, where William resided until 1865, when he came to the United States and to Houston county, Minnesota, locating first in Brownsville, where he worked for two or three years. He had begun to learn the trade of blacksmith while in Germany and worked at it in Brownsville and other places until 1874, when he came to Eitzen village and opened a shop just across the road from his present place of business. He prospered as a blacksmith and a few years later added a line of farm implements. In 1912, owing to long continued hard work, his health broke down and he had to undergo a serious operation. Since then he has had to let his son do the hard work of the shop, though he still remains in it attending to the lighter details. Through industry and frugal habits he has amassed a competency and now owns a comfortable home, as well as a good business. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Savings Bank of New Albin. A Republican in politics Mr. Freiberg has served as town treasurer for the past 15 years and has been treasurer of his school district for 14 years. With his family he belongs to St. Luke's Evan- gelican church at Eitzen, being prominent in church and community work. Mr. Freiberg was married Nov. 23, 1880, to Mary, daughter of Christian and Mary Bunge, her parents being among the pioneer settlers of this sec- tion. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Freiberg, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are : Edmund, now in partnership with his father; Albert, cashier in the Farmers' Savings Bank of New Albin; Ella, a student in Caledonia high school; George, now in the United States military service; and Ruth, a graduate of the Caledonia high school, who is residing at home.

John W. Sheehan, an enterprising farmer of Mayville township, resid- ing in Section 30, was born in Winnebago township, Oct. 20, 1858, son of Michael and Bridget (Corcoran) Sheehan. Both parents were born in Ireland, the father in County Clare, and the mother in Tipperary county. They were married in their native land, and on coming to America settled

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in Houston county, Minnesota, being numbered among the pioneer farmers here. They had six children : Michael, Patrick, Julia, John W., Thomas and Joseph, of whom Michael, Julia and Thomas are now deceased. By a previous marriage the father, Michael Sheehan, had another son, Martin, who is also deceased. John W. Sheehan was reared to manhood on the home farm, attending district school until the age of 18 years, but only during the winter months. Until attaining his majority he assisted his father and then started in for himself, buying a farm of 100 acres in Winne- bago township, which he operated for 15 years, or until his buildings were destroyed by fire. After that he operated rented farms in that locality until he came to Mayville township and rented the farm on which he is now living. Here he does general farming, including dairying and stock rais- ing. He is renting out a part of his farm in Winnebago county, using the rest to feed his cattle on. He is also a shareholder in the Wilmington creamery and the Caledonia Co-operative Store. Mr. Sheehan was mar- ried at Caledonia, Minn., Jan. 9, 1879, to Margaret Higgins, who was born in Winnebago township, this county, Aug. 15, 1863, daughter of Dennis and Mary (Couley) Higgins. The parents were born in Ireland, but were married in Kentucky. They were among the pioneer settlers in Houston county. They had three children : John, Ellen and Margaret. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Higgins married Owen Eugene McDonald, by whom she had two children, Rose and Bridget, the former of whom is now deceased, as also is the mother. Mr. and Mrs. Sheehan have had twelve children : Patrick, John, Mary, Catherine, Anastasia, Julia, Ethel, Ray- mond, Robert, Francis, Emmet, and Leslie. Patrick, born Feb. 2, 1880, is now a farmer in Caledonia township; John, born June 25, 1882, is a plumber at St. Paul; Mary, born June 27, 1884, married Michael Stadtler ; Catherine, born Oct. 11, 1886, married Theo. Breckheimer; Anastasia, born April 15, 1888, married Ignacius Imhoff ; Ethel, born July 7, 1892, is a school teacher; Raymond, born Jan. 23, 1894, is now with the United States army in France; Robert, born Oct. 16, 1896, died in February, 1898; Francis, born Feb. 20, 1900, is residing on the home farm; Emmet, born May 10, 1902, and Leslie, born Aug. 20, 1904, are attending school. All these children have been given good educational opportunities and three of them have been school teachers. The family attend St. John's Catholic church at Caledonia.

August Wiegrefe, one of the leading farmers of Winnebago township, was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct. 6, 1850, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Bonate) Wiegrefe. The parents both died in Germany, the mother when her son August was only six years old, and the father when he was 16. August acquired his education chiefly in a parochial school in Germany, residing in his native land until 1869, when, at the age of 19 years, he came to the United States, landing at New York after a rough voyage. Thence he proceeded west to Chicago, and from the lattter city by way of La Crosse to Brownsville, Houston county, Minn., where he hired a man with a team to take him to Portland Prairie, Winnebago township, not be- ing able to find the way alone. He had but little money, and for the first five years in this county worked as a farm hand, practicing economy and saving his earnings. In 1874 he bought 360 acres in sections 22 and 27,

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AUGUST WIEGREFE AND FAMILY

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Winnebago township, the land being little improved, as but a few acres had been broken, and there were no buildings. Mr. Wiegrefe grubbed a site for a house on section 27 and erected a small log building, in which he subsequently lived for 17 years, during which time he cleared a good deal of his land and put it under tillage. In 1891 he built a substantial frame house one and a half stories in height and containing seven rooms- a very comfortable home, in which he is still residing. He has now a good set of frame buildings, including a barn, granary, hog house, machine shed, poultry house and corn cribs, and his farm is well fenced. One hundred and ninety-five acres are under the plow, the balance of his land being in timber and pasture. His stock consists chiefly of Shorthorn cattle, Duroc- Jersey hogs and Shropshire sheep, of all of which he raises a considerable quantity, his principal market being New Albin, Iowa, which lies six miles to the southeast, though sometimes he makes use of Caledonia, eleven miles to the north. Though never rugged, Mr. Wiegrefe has always been a hard- working man, but during recent years he has taken life more easily, con- tenting himself with managing the farm, which is now actively operated by his sons Albert and Herman. He is a stockholder in the New Albin Stock and Grain Co., of which he has also been a director for some years, and also owns stock in the Eitzen creamery. A Republican in politics, he served for a number of years as a member of the town board, frequently as chair- man, and for the last few years has held the office of town assessor. He and his family are members of the German Evangelical congregation at Eitzen. which he has served for years as trustee and president. Few citizens of Winebago township, if any, are more highly respected, or stand higher socially. Mr. Wiegrefe was married March 3, 1874, to Dorothy Cordes, daughter of William and Marguerite (Benhoefer) Cordes, of Winnebago township. She was born in Germany, April 5, 1853, coming to America with her parents when nine years old. Mr. and Mrs. Wiegrefe have had nine children : William, born March 5, 1875, a prosperous farmer of Wil- mington township; August, born Jan. 21, 1877, now a well to do farmer in Wilmington township; Maria, born April 4, 1879, now deceased; Louisa, born April 4, 1881, who is deceased; Albert, born March 1, 1883, who is helping to operate the home farm; Alvina, born July 8, 1885, now Mrs. August Fruechte of Winnebago township; Anna, born Dec. 20, 1886, who is keeping house for her parents; Herman, born May 4, 1890, who is assist- ing his brother Albert on the farm; and Emma, born Jan. 27, 1893, now Mrs. Louis Fruechte of Wilmington township.

John M. Hjellming, who owns and operates a farm of 160 acres in Mayville township, where he is making good progress as an agriculturist and stock raiser, was born in Sweden, Dec. 20, 1865, son of Axel and Charlotte Hjellming. The parents, also natives of Sweden, were there married, the father being a bricklayer and farmer by occupation. With an elder brother Axel Hjellming came first to the United States and engaged in farming, being followed by his wife and children four years later. Both are now deceased. Their children were Charles, now residing in Dakota ; John M., subject of this sketch; Hulda, who is married and living in La Crosse; Theodore and Tillie, who are unmarried; and a daughter who died

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in infancy. John M. Hjellming was eleven years old when he came to this country. He attended school in Sweden, which was nearly all the educa- tion he received. Until 22 years old he assisted his father on the home farm, after which he worked out, but still resided at home. Later he rented 40 acres of land, which he farmed for one year before his marriage, con- tinuing to operate it for three years after that event. Then he engaged in railroad work and was thus occupied for eight years. At the end of that time he rented the farm on which he is now living, in section 22, Mayville township, buying it about the year 1900. Sixty acres of it are cleared, the balance of 100 acres being in bluff and woodland. Mr. Hjellming does general farming, including dairying, and raising cattle and hogs for the market. He was married Jan. 23, 1894, to Katherine Denfel, who was born in Freeburg, March 3, 1871, daughter of Lawrence and Matilda (Schatz) Denfel. Her parents, natives of Germany, were married in Houston county, Minn., where they engaged in farming. Mr. Denfel died some 30 years ago, but his wife is still living in Freeburg. Their children were Max, Katherine, Lizzie, Lena, Anna, Joseph, and two-a boy and girl -who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hjellming are the parents of eight children : Matilda, wife of John Wagner; Hedwig, wife of M. Wagner; Georgina, who is single; Edwin, who died Oct 2, 1917; Olga, single; and Alfred, Hugo and Lawrence, who are attending school.

Ingvald Ingvaldson, proprietor of a farm of 212 acres in Mayville town- ship, was born in Wilmington township, this county, Feb. 28, 1886, son of Ingvald Ingvaldson Twet and wife, the parents being natives of Norway. Ingvald, Sr., came to America fifty years ago, locating in Houston county, Minn., where he died in 1901, after an industrious career in agriculture. He is still survived by his wife. They had a family of nine children, of whom the five eldest are now deceased. Those living are Ida, Ingvald, Albert, and Minnie. Invgald, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the district school, and trained to farming on the parental homestead, on which he lived until attaining his majority. He then worked out for a year, and then returned and worked the home farm for seven years. In 1916 he took possession of the farm on which he now lives, and which con- tains 212 acres, 180 acres being cleared. It is well improved with fine build- ings, and Mr. Ingvaldson is doing a profitable business as a general farmer, paying particular attention to stock raising. He was married, in Caledonia, this county, Jan. 10, 1914, to Constance Anderson, who was born in Moss, Norway, Aug. 27, 1886, daughter of Ole Anderson and wife, and who was six years old when she came to this country with her parents, both of whom are now living. She was the third born child of the family, the three others being Hulda, Axel and Carl, of whom the last mentioned is now deceased. Her father, an expert mechanic, was formerly a carpenter by trade, but is now engaged in farming in Mayville. Mr. and Mrs. Ingvaldson have two children, Gladys Wilhelmina, who was born May 24, 1914, and Helen Violet, June 28, 1919. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Peter Anderson Dahle, who owns and operates a farm of 95 acres in section 18, Winnebago township, was born in Norway, Aug. 23, 1842, son

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PETER A. DAHLE AND FAMILY

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of Andrew and Mary (Peterson) Dahle. The parents were natives of Nor- way, where they were married, coming to the United States in 1869. The father was a farmer, and after arriving in Houston county, took the farm in Winnebago township which his son Peter now operates. His progress was somewhat slow, however, as he was badly handicapped by rheumatism, from which he suffered for 13 years until death finally relieved him. He and his wife had eight children. Andrew, Peter, Knute, Peter A., Ingrie, Carrie, Ratchael, and another daughter named Ratchael who died young. The first Ratchael married John Higgins. Ingrie married Nick Blexrud. Andrew, the first Peter, and Knute are deceased. Peter A. Dahle was 28 years old when he came to America, landing in Quebec. From there he came directly to Houston county, locating in Wilmington township, where for four years he worked out by the month. He then began working the home farm, on which he has since resided. Of its total area of 95 acres, about 45 acres are under the plow, the balance being in woodland and pas- ture. Mr. Dahle has erected all the buildings himself, and the place is now well improved. He does mixed farming, giving special attention to the raising of cattle and swine, and is conducting a profitable business, being also a shareholder in the co-operative creamery. He has served as school director and road overseer. Mr. Dahle was married in Spring Grove, Houston county, to Mrs. Ratchael Sherdahl, who was born in Norway, April 14, 1854, daughter of Andrew and Bernt (Olson) Anderson. The father died in Norway, and the mother subsequently came to this country, dying in 1899. Their daughter Ratchael was their only child. Mr. and Mrs. Dahle have two children: Mary Dahle Anderson, born May 6, 1894, who was married June 30, 1919, to Carl Laumb; and Albert Oscar Dahle, born Feb. 19, 1896, both of whom are residing on the home farm.

Frank Ratonde, who owns and operates a farm of 160 acres in section 15, Mayville township, where he is making good progress as an agricultur- ist and general stock raiser, was born in Pommern, Germany, Sept. 26, 1863, son of Frederick and Matilda (Weist) Ratonde. Neither of his par- ents ever came to America. The mother is now deceased, but the father, a blacksmith by trade, is still living. They had twelve children: Frank, subject of this sketch, was the only member to come to this country ; Emil, deceased; Ida, who married George Fredindorf; Herman; Gustave, de- ceased; Minnie and Carl, twins, the former of whom married a Mr. Saline, and the latter died at the age of five years; Paul and William, twins, both of whom died in infancy; Anna, who also died in infancy; Max, who is living in Berlin; and Otto, who died in infancy. Frank Ratonde attended school in Germany and also learned the blacksmith's trade there. At the age of 25 he came to the United States, proceeding west to St. Paul, and from that city a few days later to Houston county, Minn. For seven years after arriving here he was engaged in railroad work. After that he rented land, farming and working out at intervals, and for four years operated a rented farm on shares. He then rented the farm on which he now lives, buying it in 1911. Of its total area 100 acres are cleared, the rest being in wood and pasture. Mr. Ratonde has erected all his present outbuildings and is now contemplating the erection of a new residence, and making other improve-

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ments. He has drilled a well, which gives him an ample supply of good water. He does mixed farming, including dairying, and raises cattle, swine and sheep, sending a number to market each year. He is also a stockholder in the co-operative creamery at Caledonia. On Sept. 26, 1890, Mr. Ratonde was united in marriage at Hokah, this county, with Emelie Bolduan, who was born in Hokah, Minn., Dec. 12, 1870, daughter of Fred- erick and Wilhelmina (Voss) Bolduan. Her parents were natives of Ger- many, in which country they were married, subsequently coming to the United States. The father worked at the cooper's trade in Germany, and also for a while after coming to Houston county, Minnesota, but for the most part he has been engaged in farming. He and his wife are both living. They had nine children: Frederick W. A., Ernest, Emelie, Lizzie and Henrietta, twins, Charles, Huldina, Joseph and Tillie. Lizzie, Henrietta and Joseph are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ratonde have been the parents of eleven children: Herman, born July 19, 1891; William, July 29, 1893; Esther, Jan. 9, 1896; Frank, July 1, 1898; Paul, Aug. 12, 1899; Emma, March 5, 1902; Anna, March 3, 1904; Matilda, Aug. 7, 1905; Estella, Oct. 6, 1907; Charles, May 17, 1910, and Leona, Aug. 6, 1912. Frank is now de- ceased. Esther is the wife of August Schroeder. The other members of the family are residing on the home farm, those of suitable age attending school. One of the sons of this family, Herman, has a most remarkable war record, being one of those heroes whose exploits have become a pic- turesque episode in the country's history. He entered the service May 28, 1918, and was honorably discharged June 28, 1919. Six months of this period was in France. At first a member of Co. E, in a regiment of the 77th (New York) Division and after transferred to Co. D, he was with the famous "Lost Battalion" in the Argonne Forest, an honor shared by but one other in this region. For six days he was without food or drink. Wounded and gassed he was disabled for three weeks. His record has reflected honor not only on himself and family, but upon the county from which he came.

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 74

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

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