History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 91

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

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 91

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. ANDREW LEWIS SENN

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ment, and is a well paying piece of property. Mr. Peterson is a Republican in politics.

He was married April 8, 1897, to Gena Olson, who was born in Crystal Valley, Houston Township, daughter of Aslak and Anna Olson, early set- tlers and well known farming people in Houston Township. Of this mar- riage eight children have been born: Fred Edwin, Edna Josephine, Elmore Theodore, Erna Amelia, Alice Marie, Eddie Tillman, Florence Louise, and Norman Leonard.

Andrew Senn, one of the leading citizens of Mound Prairie Township, where for many years he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, was born in Ashton Township, Fond du Lac County, Wis., July 24, 1859. He was only four years old when he accompanied his parents to Houston County, and two years later his father died. He was brought up on the home farm, on which he worked until he finally bought land in Mound Prairie Town- ship and engaged in farming on his own account. He has developed a good farm of 180 acres, which he is still operating. He is at present serving in the office of town supervisor, and is also a director of School District No. 62. In March, 1886, Mr. Senn was married to Elizabeth Schild, who was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, Feb. 23, 1867, and who was brought to this country by her parents when a babe. They have been the parents of eight children, namely: Andrew L., a well known farmer of Mound Prairie Township; Joseph H .; Clara E., now Mrs. Christian Lufi, of Mound Prairie Township; Ella R., wife of Alfred Johnson, of Houston Township; Anna M., wife of Paul Krueger, of Watertown, Wis .; and Edgar F., Ruth E. and Philip V.

Andrew L. Senn, a prominent representative of the farming interests of Mound Prairie Township, was born in Bush Valley, this township, Dec. 28, 1886, son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Schild) Senn. He was the eldest of his parents' eight children, and was educated in District School No. 62 in this township. He remained on the home farm with his father, occa- sionally working for others, until he was 28 years old. Then renting a farm in Mound Prairie Township, he conducted it from Oct. 1, 1915, to March 1, 1918, when he moved to his present farm in section 5 south, which he had purchased the previous March, 1917. It consists of valuable land, and is well improved with good buildings and fences, and a full equipment of modern machinery and implements. The place is a part of the Old Crowe homestead and is a well developed and productive farm. Mr. Senn carries on general farming, raising grain and stock, and is doing a prosperous busi- ness. He is a shareholder in the Hokah Stock and Grain Company, and in the shipping association of Houston. He served four years in the office of town assessor, in politics being an independent Republican. He is a mem- ber of the Rush Valley Baptist Church. Mr. Senn was first married, Aug. 26, 1915, to Marie A. Redmann, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., daughter of Gustav and Mary (Walter) Redmann. She died Feb. 17, 1918, leaving one child, Everett Andrew, who was born Dec. 6, 1917. Mr. Senn married, secondly, March 4, 1919, Alice K. Gstalder, who was born Feb. 3, 1892, daughter of Hubert and Mary (Lorman) Gstalder. Her parents, who for about 35 years were farmers in Mound Prairie Township, now reside in the

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Village of Hokah. They have had eight children: Henry, of Hokah; Julia, now Mrs. William A. Heintz, of Sheldon Township; John, residing on the old homestead in Mound Prairie; Alice K., wife of Andrew L. Senn; Ida, who died, Jan. 4, 1919; Louisa C., now Mrs. Fred Kruckow, of Sheldon Township; Louis and Esther E., both residing at home.

Mrs. Marie Augusta Redmann Senn, who passed away at a hospital in La Crosse, on Feb. 17, 1918, was the wife of Andrew L. Senn, of Mound Prairie Township, and previous to her marriage had gained a high reputa- tion as one of the most efficient teachers in Houston County. She was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1886, daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. Gustav Redmann, both of whom are now deceased. She attended school in New York City until she came west at the age of twelve years, in the spring of 1898, taking up her residence with her uncle, August F. Redmann, and his family, in La Crescent village. There she attended school for a few years. Her uncle then moved onto a farm in Pine Creek, and while living there she attended school in District No. 4. In March, 1901, she came to Kroehler's in Day Valley, and for a few terms went to school in District 11. One term also she attended in District No. 10, in Looney Valley, residing at the E. P. Amidon home. Her education was further advanced in the Caledonia and Houston high schools, and the Winona Normal School, during the summer terms, where she qualified her- self for the work of teaching. In that work she was subsequently occupied for twelve terms, teaching her first term in the southeastern part of the county, the second in District 84, Winona County, the third and fourth in Crystal Valley, District No. 24, the fifth and sixth in District No. 94-the Loretta School on South Ridge-the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth in Day Valley, District No. 11, and the last two terms in District No. 62, Bush Valley. On August 26, 1915, she was married to Andrew L. Senn, of Mound Prairie Township, with whom she lived happily until her untimely demise, on Feb. 17, 1918, cast a gloom over the community where her noble sterling character had made her universally beloved. Mrs. Senn was a Christian of sincere faith and ever helpful disposition. She was reared in an atmosphere of piety and refinement, having been the daughter of a devout clergyman of the Evangelical Association. At the age of sixteen she joined the Tabor Evangelical Church of Oak Ridge, and ever afterward continued active in church work. As a teacher she was an inspiration to her pupils; as a friend she was ever loyal and gracious; and as a wife she fulfilled the highest ideals of family life. She left one small child, Everett Andrew, born Dec. 6, 1917.

Severin Johnson, who is engaged in the automobile and garage busi- ness in Houston, was born in Sweden. He was a young man when he came to the United States, and first went to Connecticut, where for a time he worked as a quarryman. With the object of bettering his condition, he then came to Houston County, Minnesota, and on arriving here located in Swede Botton, where he worked for one year on a farm. Afterwards he engaged in farming elsewhere, in 1890 removing to the farm in Houston Township that is now occupied by his son Charles E. Johnson. After cul- tivating it until 1910, he turned it over to his son and engaged in his present

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MARIE A. (REDMANN) SENN

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ABRAHAM WILSON AND FAMILY

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business in Houston, where he has met with good success. Mr. Johnson married Hannah Carlson, a native of Sweden, and they have been the parents of seven children.

Charles E. Johnson, well known in Houston Township as an enterpris- ing and prosperous stock raiser, proprietor of the old Johnson homestead of 280 acres, was born in Houston County, Jan. 1, 1882, son of Severin and Hannah (Carlson) Johnson. He was the second born child in a family of seven, and was educated in District School No. 5, this township. Resid- ing at home until twenty years of age, he then began working out, and continued to do so until 1910, when his father turned over the homestead to him, and he has since been engaged in operating it as a general stock farm, in which enterprise he is meeting with good success. Among his other business interests are those of a shareholder in the Houston Creamery Company and the Farmers Elevator and Telephone companies. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and in politics is a Republican.

Mr. Johnson was married March 23, 1910, to Henrietta Olson, who was born in Houston County, daughter of O. M. and Tilda (Haupth) Olson. Her parents were born in Minnesota, and her father is now a farmer in Mound Prairie Township, and a stockholder in the Houston Creamery. He is also one of the supervisors of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of three children, Harold Henry, Laura Marjorie and Lorene.

Edward Wilson, a general farmer, proprietor of the old Wilson home- stead in section 1, south, Houston township, and sections 31, 32 and 36, Mound Prairie township, in which latter township his residence is situated, was born on the farm on which he now lives, Oct. 14, 1877, son of Abraham and Guro (Kittelson) Wilson. The father was a native of Sweden, born Oct. 4, 1833, who came to Houston county when a young man, settling on the land which now for the most part constitutes the present Wilson farm, which he developed and improved, and on which he resided until his death, Feb. 1, 1911. He first married Sarah Thompson, by whom he had three children : John (born July, 1860), Emma and William, of whom the two latter are now deceased. His second wife, Guro, who was born in Norway, March 24, 1845, is now residing with her son Edward. The children of Abraham and Guro Wilson were: Sarah, born Aug. 17, 1870; William, Aug. 25, 1872; Alfred, May 30, 1875; Edward, Oct. 14, 1877; Lizzie, Nov. 21, 1881; and Samuel, born Oct. 13, 1884, and died in March, 1888. Lizzie is now Mrs. H. O. Sanden. Edward Wilson in his boyhood attended school in Crystal Valley. He has always resided on the home farm, the manage- ment of which came into his hands when he was 17 years of age. It now contains 201 acres of valuable land and is highly improved, the buildings and equipment being modern and kept in fine condition. Mr. Wilson is operating the farm on a profitable basis and is numbered among the pros- perous citizens of his township. His sister, as well as his mother, resides with him, the former having charge of the household. The family attend the "Stone" Norwegian Lutheran church in Houston township, and Mr. Wilson is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Houston. In politics he is an independent Republican.

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Ole Erickson, who was an early settler in the northern part of Houston county and for a number of years was engaged in the work of agricultural improvement on various farms, was born in Gubrandsdalen, Norway, Dec. 19, 1846. While a young man and still single he emigrated to Canada, when he came to Houston county, Minnesota, locating first in Looney Val- ley, Houston township. After remaining there two years he took a farm in the same township, west of Houston village, which he operated for five years. His next agricultural operations were carried on in Sheldon town- ship for two years, after which he resided for a year in Houston. He then returned to his former farm west of the village and from there moved to an 80-acre farm in section 36, west. When he took this place it was but slightly improved, but he subsequently brought it into good condition and resided on it until his death, Oct. 16, 1916. He was married in Minnesota to Sophia Olson, who was born in the same locality of Norway as him- self, on April 25, 1848. She is now residing with her son Julius on the old homestead.

Julius Erickson, who as a general farmer is engaged in operating the old Erickson farm in section 36, west, Houston township, was born at Hous- ton, this county, April 23, 1889, son of Ole and Sophia (Olson) Erickson, he being the eighth born of their nine children. He acquired his education in the schools of Houston township, attending the Houston High School, and his life up to the age of 20 years, after he became industrially active, was spent on the home farm, where he acquired a knowledge of agriculture in its different branches. He then worked out for other farmers for four years, but subsequently returned to the old homestead, which has been his place of residence and activity ever since. As a general farmer he is doing a good business and making the land yield satisfactory returns, raising both crops and stock. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Lutheran church. He is one of the four survivors of his parents' nine chil- dren, the others being: Anna, wife of J. C. Peterson, of Rushford; Obert, a farmer in Houston township; and Alfred, a farmer in the same township, his farm being one mile west of that of Julius.

Alfred Inglett, one of the pioneer settlers of Winnebago township, now passed away, was a native of England, where he grew to manhood, entered the government service, and married Sarah Holliday. With five children they came to Minnesota in 1864 and for four years operated a rented farm in Houston county. In 1868 Mr. Inglett bought 120 acres of wild land in section 1, Winnebago township, a tract destitute of buildings, on which he erected a small log house. A sturdy and industrious man, he made good progress and at the time of his death had 80 acres under the plow. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, six born in England and three in the United States. Alfred was born Feb. 18, 1856, and is now farming in Lyon county, Iowa. Edward was born Oct. 17, 1857, and is now farming in Fillmore county, this state. Sarah was born June 20, 1859, and is the wife of Elliot Stearns, of Hubbard county, this state. George was born Aug. 25, 1861, and died in England. Frances was born April 13, 1863, and is the wife of Ivan Stearns, of Becker county, this state. Emily, born Feb. 14, 1865, is dead. Cecil T., born May 10, 1869, is a leading farmer of

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CECIL F. INGLETT AND FAMILY

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Winnebago township, this county. Harriett, born Oct. 5, 1871, is the wife of B. Winneschloger, of New Albin, Iowa. Ella M., born Feb. 18, 1876, is dead.

Cecil T. Inglett, who is engaged in general farming, including dairying and stock raising, in Winnebago township, his residence being in section 1, was born in a small log house on the farm he now owns and operates, on May 10, 1869, son of Alfred and Sarah (Holliday) Inglett. He was edu- cated in the district school and has always resided on the parental home- stead, on which he acquired his knowledge of agriculture in its various branches. This farm, which then consisted of 120 acres, he has since in- creased to 350 acres. To his enterprise and progressive spirit it also owes much of its present flourishing appearance, as he has made some of the principal improvements on the property, including the erection of a modern two-story, nine-room frame house; a barn, 34 by 80 feet in size; a granary and engine room combined, 24 by 28 feet ; a hog house, 18 by 30 feet, with a cement feeding floor, 16 by 30; a machine shed, 18 by 40; garage, 12 by 18; poultry house, 14 by 28; well house, 12 by 20, together with corncribs and other outbuildings. The farm as a whole is one of the best in Win- nebago township and is located ten miles from Caledonia and eleven miles from New Albin, Iowa, the former place being Mr. Inglett's market. In addition to what stock he raises Mr. Inglett is a buyer and shipper of high- grade cattle and hogs. He has a good operating equipment, including a fine Dodge automobile, and has been very successful in his business. He is a Republican in politics, and for a number of years has served as clerk and treasurer of his district school board. He is a prominent member of Caledonia Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M., and also of the Modern Wood- men of America. The Methodist Episcopal church of New Albin, Iowa, to which he and his family belong, finds in him a liberal supporter. Mr. Inglett was married, June 23, 1891, to Mary Haas, who was born Sept. 20, 1872, daughter of John and Anna Haas, of Freeburg, Crooked Creek township, this county. This union has been blessed with five children: Everett, born Oct. 13, 1892; Alfred, born June 6, 1894; Robert, born July 17, 1901; Leslie, born Dec. 26, 1907; and Melvin, born May 26, 1911.

Mr. Inglett suffered severely in the tornado of June 6, 1906, one of the worst catastrophies to visit the southeastern part of Houston county, entailing a great loss of property and causing the death of three persons, one woman and two children, besides severely injuring several others.

The tornado, accompanied by a drenching rain and traveling in the direction of east-northeast, visited the northeast corner of Winnebago township and the southeast corner of Crooked Creek township, between 5 and 6 o'clock in the afternoon, dying away across the Mississippi in Wis- consin.

The first serious damage was done at Louis Kreuger's farm on sec- tion 1, Winnebago, where it destroyed barns and other buildings and swept away a small addition to the dwelling house. It also took the roof off Mrs. Richard Dunn's barn and destroyed the granary and corncribs near by.

At Cecil F. Inglett's all the buildings were torn into fragments, the barn and floor of the house being carried a distance of more than half a

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mile. Every member of Mr. Inglett's family except his aged father was injured. The most seriously injured was the son, Alfred, then 12 years old, who had his skull fractured in two places. When found the boy was lodged under the wheel of the windmill, which Mrs. Inglett, with the strength of desperation, raised to rescue him. The 14-year-old son, Everett, had his arm and shoulderblade fractured and was cut severely over an eye. Mrs. Inglett was badly bruised, and the 4-year-old son, Rob- ert, slightly so. Mr. Inglett also suffered numerous injuries.

The next place struck was that of George F. Lampert's, on section 6, township 101-4, Crooked Creek, where the granary and orchard were dam- aged. On the same section the schoolhouse was entirely wrecked, the barn, windmill and roof of the dwelling of John Plembling were destroyed, and the house of L. Yohe badly wrecked and his barn demolished. Mr. Plembling himself had an unusual escape. He was near the schoolhouse when the wind carried the building into the air and threw it onto his team, wrecking the wagon and killing one of the horses.

On section 31, township 102-4, Philip Goetzinger's buildings were damaged and the windmill torn down. On the Elizabeth Schottz farm, on section 32, all the buildings were destroyed. The storm then passed along- side of John F. Brenner's place in the same section, tearing only a few shingles from the buildings. Trees were uprooted and broken down and many were carried for some distance.

But the storm passed this place, only to strike another home in the same section with a most appalling tragedy. Approaching the home of Peter Meyer in the shape of a funnel-like cloud, 200 feet in length and 100 feet in diameter, it swept up the buildings and distributed them over the landscape, leaving in their ruins the dead bodies of Mrs. Meyer, aged 34, and the two children, Joseph, aged 8, and Nicholas, aged 3, and the uncon- scious form of Mr. Meyer. The youngest boy was killed in his father's arms. When the storm approached Mr. Meyer picked up the youngster and with the other two members of the family hastened toward the cellar. Then came the crash. When Mr. Meyer regained consciousness he was still holding in his arms the body of the little fellow who had been killed by a piece of flying timber. Seven or eight rods away was the dead body of his wife. The other son was nowhere to be seen. Failing to find him, Mr. Meyer walked to the home of John F. Brenner, a neighbor, who sum- moned other aid, and in time found the terribly mangled body of young Joseph under a portion of the demolished roof of the house. The bodies were removed to the home of Joseph Becker and three days later the funeral was held in the Catholic church at Freeburg, hundreds of people gathering from near and far to do honor to the departed and express sympathy for the bereaved husband.

At Michael Kenney's farm, in section 33, the house and windmill were damaged and the barn moved about a foot. A little further east the roof was lifted off William Wunnecke's barn. Then the tornado proceeded east- ward, crossing the Mississippi and continuing its destruction of life and property at Stoddard and vicinity in Wisconsin.

A little earlier in the day another tornado had entered Spring Grove

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without, however, doing the great damage of the later one. It started about six miles southwest of Hesper, Iowa, and took a northeasterly direc- tion, tearing down houses, barns, outbuildings and trees, and injuring a number of people. Upon entering Spring Grove it tore down the out- buildings of Eric Larson and stripped the shingles from his house. At Ole Helgeson's all the buildings except the house were torn down. At Theodore Kroshus' place the barns and other outbuildings were destroyed, the wind- mill was wrecked and a part of the dwelling unroofed. By the time the storm reached the village of Spring Grove it had spent its force and little damage was done there.

These tornadoes showed the usual vagaries of such storms. Buildings were picked up, whirled high in the air and scattered over the ground. Giant trees were uprooted, carried about as though they were twigs and then hurled to earth. Grain straws were driven inches into oak trees. Some trees were as nearly riven as though with a saw and left standing. Sometimes milk and canned goods were undisturbed in cellars after the whole house had been demolished.

The storm over, the afflicted ones started at once to rebuild and in a few years there was little evidence except splintered trees to tell of the great disaster which had overtaken them.

Mr. Inglett had no insurance, and of the money collected for the suf- ferers he received but $50, with $25 from the M. W. A. of New Albin, Iowa. After the disaster he started in again and soon had a good set of build- ings and in a few years had achieved a full measure of deserved pros- perity.

Dennis Dever, who added to the agricultural wealth of Houston town- ship by establishing a good farm in section 27, was born in County Mayo, Ireland. Coming to this country when a young man, he was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Anna Anderson, who, like himself, was a native of County Mayo in the Green Isle. They came at once to Houston county, Minnesota, and here for about twenty-two years Mr. Dever was engaged in railroad construction work. In 1891 he moved onto the farm above men- tioned, which at that time was only partially improved. Here he con- tinued until his death in October, 1895, by which time he had erected buildings and made considerable progress in cultivating his farm. His wife survived him for over nine years, passing away March 9, 1915. They were the parents of four children: Patrick and John, who are now operat- ing the farm; Bridget, who died in childhood; and Mary, who is residing on the homestead with her brothers.

John Dever, who in company with his brother Patrick is engaged in operating the old Dever farm in section 27, Houston township, was born in the village of Houston, this county, May 6, 1871, son of Dennis and Anna (Anderson) Dever. He was educated in Houston and assisted his father on the home farm until 19 or 20 years of age, at which time he took charge of it and is now operating it with the assistance of his brother, the two being partners in the business. It contains 120 acres of good land, and he has added considerably to the improvements. General farm-

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ing is carried on successfully, and the two Dever brothers are numbered among the well-to-do farmers of the township. John Dever is a member of the Houston Shipping Association and a stockholder in the Houston State Bank and the local creamery company. He also owns a farm of 120 acres in Houston, which is operated by tenants. He and his brother and their sister Mary, who resides with them, are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Dever is a Democrat in politics, but confines his political activi- ties to casting his vote.

Iver G. Iverson, as public citizen and business man, is exerting an influence on the affairs of the county that is being widely felt and will long endure. He has made of his business as lumberman a beloved profession, he has recognized the possibilities of service to his fellowmen in that business, and sightly buildings in his home village of Houston and comforta- ble, commodious homes and roomy, substantial barns throughout the county testify to the inspiration of his work. His fame in his business has extended far beyond his county and state, and leading publications have made of his artistic lumber yard and untiring devotion to the highest architectural ideals the subject of extended articles, holding him up as a model to all others engaged in the same line of business. Mr. Iverson was born in Romsdale, Norway, in 1879, son of Peter and Mary Iverson, natives of Norway, both born in 1849. In 1880 the family came to America and located at La Crosse, where a year later young Iver G., as a lad of 12 years, entered upon his career by securing employment in the lumber mills. He was hard working, frugal and progressive, and thoroughly interested in his labors. As he grew to manhood he determined to enter the lumber business for himself. His ambition in this regard was realized when in 1904, in company with A. Peterson, whom he afterward bought out, he started a lumber yard at Houston, handling lumber and all kinds of build- ing material. The standing which he now enjoys has been the result of the gradual unfolding of his ideas. One of his first thoughts was that a lum- ber dealer, urging the importance of good buildings on others, should him- self maintain a yard that would in some measure express the ideas that he was preaching. Accordingly he turned his attention to beautifying his lumber sheds. At that time the sheds were of a miscellaneous character, much like the average lumber yards in other villages. With this un- promising material, by a clever arrangement of the connecting roofs and with flower boxes, flowering plants, bungalow siding and stucco work, and artistic windows and doors, he has evolved a shed which is bungalow-like in appearance, a real addition to the architectural beauty of the village. The equipment is of the latest design, and the office would do credit to a large banking house. With this yard as an exhibit Mr. Iverson has been preach- ing the necessity of better buildings and better homes. He not only sells lumber and building material, he advises the purchaser to the best use of that material, and while not a professional architect, his training has been such that he is always able to make a pleasing reality of the ideas that the purchaser has of any building under consideration. As one purchaser builds a more artistic home, another desires one, and the result is that the whole architectural tone of the rural districts of the county has been

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 91

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

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