USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 10
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
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has been crying sales since 1890, at which time he attended the school for auctioneers located at Galesburg, Illinois, and he now cries on an average of fifty to sixty public sales a year. He possesses in a marked degree those characteristics which go to the making of a successful auctioneer, and in view of his success in this profession, as well as his reputation as a farmer and breeder of Poland China hogs, probably no man in the county has a wider acquaintance or is more generally liked.
EDWARD H. KERKHOFF.
A native of Stearns county. Minnesota, Dr. Edward H. Kerkhoff, editor and publisher of the Piers Journal, conductor of a three-hundred- and-twenty-acre farm and the breeder of pure-bred Hereford cattle, Poland China hogs and Wyandotte chickens, is entitled to rank as one of the fore- most citizens of Pierz township. By profession he is a physician.
Edward H. Berkhoff is the son of Conrad and Katherine (Wanner) Kerkhoff, the former of whom was born in the province of Westphalia, Paderborn, Germany, and who, soon after his marriage in Germany, came to America. He was a cabinetmaker by trade, and after serving his appren- ticeship, in order to gain experience, traveled on foot from north Germany through Austria, Hungary, and down the Danube river into European Tur- key, through the west to Italy, Roumania, Poland, Servia and thence back to Germany, working at various cities to get the necessary experience in order that he might become a master mechanic.
After this trip he came to America, working on a United States war boat during the Mexican War, in 1848, as a mechanic. The boat was sta- tioned in the Gulf of Mexico, and was shipwrecked with a cargo of horses, which had to be dumped overboard. Some of the crew took to the boats and others swam ashore. After leaving the army, Conrad Kerkhoff went to New Orleans, where he took yellow fever and where for several months he lay sick with the fever and with blood poisoning. Later he was a roustabout on the Mississippi river for a couple of years, and then drifted into Cincinnati, where he followed his trade. This was during the time of the cholera epidemic, so in Cincinnati he made coffins, working day and night at his trade. He then established a hand-made furniture factory, which he later sokl.
Afterward Conrad Kerkhoff returned to Europe and then came back
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to America and purchased a tract of land at Blue Mound, near Cross Plains, living there for seven or eight years. He then settled in Stearns county, Minnesota, buying three hundred and sixty acres of land, which he farmed for a period of eleven years. In 1881 he moved to Melrose, Minnesota, and retired, living there until his death, in 1887, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a strong Democrat and a member of the German Catholic church. He held several positions of trust and responsibility. He was the first treasurer of Spring Hill township, during the period when Nick Hennen was chairman of the board. His wife, Katherine Wanner, was born at Stuttgart, Germany. She came to the United States alone and settled first at Syracuse, New York. Later, however, she moved to Cross Plains, where she lived when she was married.
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Kerkhoff had seven children, of whom Earl, the eldest, and Conrad, Jr., the seventh born, are deceased. The latter died at the age of three years. The living children are as follow: Anna, who mar- ried Henry Nietfead, of Stearns county, Minnesota; Mary; Mrs. Elizabeth Coe: Caroline, who married J. D. Rydholm, of Washington; and Edward, the subject of this sketch.
Edward H. Berkhoff was educated in the district schools at Melrose, Minnesota. Afterward he attended the Minneapolis Academy, graduating in 1896. Subsequently he became an interne at the Minneapolis city hospi- tal, and later entered Hamlin University at Minneapolis, graduating from the medical department in 1899. After finishing his medical education, he came to Pierz, and began to practice on January 1, 1900. Doctor Kerkhoff has practiced here ever since.
In 1904 Doctor Kerkhoff was married to Rose Vorath, the daughter of John and Josephine (Miller) Vorath. Mrs. Kerkhoff's parents were natives of Pierz township and old settlers in this community. Mrs. Kerkhoff was born in Pierz in 1882, and educated in the parochial schools. Doctor and Mrs. Kerkhoff have two sons. Milton and Carl, who are attending the parochial school.
In 1910 Dr. Edward H. Kerkhoff built a fine home on the edge of Pierz on a tract of seven acres. In addition to the practice of medicine, he is keenly interested in farming, and especially stock raising, as side lines. In 1910 he purchased the Piers Journal and is now the editor and publisher. The Piers Journal was established in June, 1909, by H. C. Bailey. After conducting the paper for a year and three months, he sold it to Doctor Kerkhoff. Its circulation covers all of the eastern part of Morrison county from the first line of townships east of the river to the county boundary.
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Independent in politics, the Piers Journal has been the instigator and pro- moter of the movement, "Clean up your own backyard."
Doctor and Mrs. Kerkhoff are members of the St. Joseph Catholic church. He is a member of the board of health of Pierz and Pierz township.
CHARLES HALL BROWN.
Charles Hall Brown. a well-known druggist of Little Falls. Morrison county, Minnesota, is a man, who by his own unaided effort, has worked his way up from a modest beginning to a position of influence and commercial prominence in the community where he lives. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and his systematic and honorable busi- ness methods have won for him the unbounded confidence of a large patron- age. The greatness of a community consists not so much in the machinery of government nor even in its institutions, but rather in the sterling qualities of individual citizens and in their capacity for high and unselfish efforts. Charles Hall Brown is a man who fully measures up to the highest standard of citizenship.
Charles Hall Brown is a native of Saratoga. New York, born there on July 5, 1855. He is the son of Nathan Hollister and Amanda ( Hall) Brown, the former of whom was born in Saratoga, New York, and who. (luring the Civil War, served as captain of Company .\, Seventy-seventh Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He also served as colonel dur- ing the illness of the regularly appointed colonel of the Seventy-seventh regiment. Before the war, he had been engaged in the lumber and mill business, but his health was ruined by service in the war and he died soon afterward. He was prominent in local Democratic politics in New York state and a natural leader in his community, He served one term as a representative in the lower house of the New York General Assembly, from the Saratoga district. Mrs. Amanda ( Hall) Brown was a native of Sunny- side, New York. There were four children born to Nathan H. and Amanda ( Hall ) Brown, of whom Charles Hall is the youngest.
Charles Hall Brown attended the common schools of Saratoga, but received only a limited education. He was compelled to go to work carly in life in order to support his mother and three sisters. When he was not yet ten years old, he went to Detroit, Michigan, and through the efforts of an uncle obtained a position in a drug store at Detroit. He remained in
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CHARLES H. BROWN
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this store until he was twenty-one years old, and in the meantime thoroughly learned the drug business. Because of failing health, he accepted a position as a salesman for the Frederick Stearns Drug Company, of Detroit, and traveled for them for sixteen years throughout the country, introducing their product, "The New Idea." After remaining with this firm until 1891, Mr. Brown came to Little Falls, Minnesota, and established a drug store here, just across the corner from his present location. Mr. Brown is a registered pharmacist and has a large business in Little Falls and vicinity.
In 1892 Charles Hall Brown was married to Mary N. Warner, who was born at Racine, Wisconsin, and who was educated at Racine and at Chicago, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hall Brown are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Brown is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Little Falls Lodge No. 104, Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
MELCHIOR WERMERSKIRCHEN.
Melchior Wermerskirchen, the proprietor of the Columbia hotel at Pierz, is a native of Minnesota, born near Jordan, in Scott county, on Janu- ary 6, 1866, a son of Frank Joseph and Katherine (Smith) Wermerskirchen, the former of whom was a native of Germany, born at Cologne, in 1807. There he lived until 1855, when he came to America, settling in Scott county, Minnesota, on a farm of two hundred and forty acres. Later he added one hundred and sixty acres, and had at the time of his death, four hundred acres in all. In his native land, Frank Joseph Wermerskirchen was a farmer and miller. Mr. Wermerskirchen died in 1894 at the age of eighty-seven years. At his death, the old homestead passed to his eldest son, Casimer.
Mrs. Katherine (Smith) Wermerskirchen was born in 1822, at Cologne, and accompanied her husband and the family to America, in 1855. She died in 1903, at the age of eighty years, after having borne her husband the fol- lowing children : Mrs. Caroline Duesterman, Mrs. Yustina Neighbor, Mrs. Susan Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Schneiderhau, Casimer, Mrs. Bertha Domler, Gregor, and Melchoir, the subject of this sketch.
Melchoir Wermerskirchen attended school only nine months in his life, but, thanks to the careful attention of his father and of his own endeavor, (28)
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he was able to get a good education. His father's library, at his death, was appraised at five thousand dollars. The father spoke four languages fluently and was a highly educated man. It was under his direction that Melchoir received his education.
After remaining at home on the farm until fifteen years old, Melchior WVermerckirchen, in 1883, came to Morrison county, Minnesota, where he remained until 1885, when he went to Madison, South Dakota, and worked out by the month for a year. Upon returning to Scott county, he took charge of the one-hundred-and-sixty-acre farm left to him by his father, which he farmed for five years, until 1890, when he sold out and removed to Morrison county, buying two hundred and eighty acres in Buh town- ship, which he farmed for ten years. In 1902 Mr. Wermerskirchen sold the farm and purchased the saloon at Pierz. Two years later he rebuilt the structure in which the saloon was housed and made out of it a hotel, which now has fourteen rooms and which is thoroughly modern.
On November 27, 1888, Melchior Wermerskirchen was married to Mary K. Hartmann, the daughter of Valentine and Rosalia ( Dealinger ) Hartmann, the former of whom was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. May 9, 1835, and who, after coming to America with his parents, settled in Scott county, Minesota. Valentine Hartmann married Rosalia Dealinger on September 4, 1858, and lived at Benedict until his death, on April 29, 1915, four days after the death of his wife, who was born on August 13, 1835, in Germany, and who had come to America at the age of cighteen with her parents. They lived in St. Louis a year and then moved to Shako- pee. They had eight children, as follow: Mrs. Gregor Wermerskirchen, Mrs. John Seifert, Mrs. Melchior Wermerskirchen, Mrs. John Bruner, Anton, Valentine M., P. A., and J. B. Mrs. Mary K. ( Hartmann) Wer- merckirchen was born on January 15, 1867, in Scott county, Minnesota, where she lived until her marriage. She received her education in Scott county.
Mr. and Mrs. Melchior Wermerskirchen have had eight children, as follow: Rosa Adela was born on September 3. 1889. in Scott county and married John N. Faust ; they live at Pierz, where he is the manager of the Burton clothing store; Eugenie Louise, December 9, 1890, in Scott county, married Francis Gilbright : they live at Pierz and have two children, Milton and Lea, and Mr. Gilbright is engaged in the jewelry business : Philip Leo, born in Pierz on November 12, 1893; Angeline HI., June 22, 1895: Hildi- gard I., April 6, 1897, is now teaching school; Theresa L., June 27, 1899; Nicholas A., February 8, 1901 : Hugo T., April 27, 1904.
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Mr. and Mrs. Wermerckirchen are members of the Pierz Catholic church. Mr. Wermerckirchen is a member of the Catholic Order of For- esters. He owns a business block on Main street in Pierz besides the hotel business. He also owns considerable wild land in Pierz township.
ETHEL M. EHR.
Ethel M. (Covert) Ehr, to whom this brief outline refers, has been honored with the appointment, by our government, to an office of trust and efficiency, and she has reflected credit upon that position. Ethel M. Covert was born on June 9, 1879, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the daughter of Enoch M. and Arletta (Geary) Covert, to whom five children were born, as follow: Ethel M., living in Randall, Morrison county, Minnesota; James, a farmer at Lindsay, Montana; Walter, a brakeman, who lives at Dillworth, Minnesota; Raymond, a school teacher living in Montana, and Lillian J. ( Mrs. Sullivan), at Lindsay, Montana.
The father of Ethel M. Covert, Enoch M. Covert, was born in 1847, in Missouri, and followed the trade of cooper. In 1875 he removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was employed in the cooperage business until 1887, at which time he transferred his business relations to Thorp, Wisconsin, where he worked as a teamster for seven years. By his frugal industry, Enoch M. Covert accumulated some wealth and in 1894 removed to Parker township, Minnesota, where he purchased eighty acres of land. which he cultivated and improved with buildings. Four years later he went west, to Pasco, Washington, in which town he died in 1914. The mother of Ethel M. Covert, Arletta (Geary) Covert, was born in 1859 in Pennsylvania, and now resides at Lindsay, Montana.
"Teaching the young idea how to shoot," requires not only a proper education but the aptitude of a well-disciplined mind, cultivated with patience and an inborn love of the art. Ethel M. Covert received her education in the schools of Thorp, Wisconsin, and having graduated from the eighth grade, began the duties of a school mistress and taught her first term at the age of eighteen years, in the district school located in Clark county, Wis- consin. Two years later she resumed the duties of her favorite vocation and taught in Morrison county, Minnesota. Some time later she taught two terms at Randall, Minnesota.
In 1905 Ethel M. Covert was united in marriage to Nicholas Ehr, who
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was born in 1877, at Portage, Wisconsin. Nicholas Ehr was the station agent at Randall, Minnesota, and the short duration of this marriage was broken by his untimely death in 1908. From this union two children were born, Evangeline and Josephine.
In her fraternal relations, Ethel M. (Covert) Ehir is a member of the Royal Neighbors, of Randall, Minnesota. In 1898 she was honored with the appointment of postmistress at Randall, Minnesota, and is the owner of the realty comprising the postoffice property. She also owns other valuable, unimproved properties at Randall, Minnesota.
Ethel M. (Covert) Ehr is a woman of sterling worth, a good mother, an obliging, companionable neighbor, a friend, faithful and true, in her business relations capable and honest and as postmistress of Randall, she is beloved by all.
GEORGE N. CHIRHART.
George N. Chirhart, a well-known implement dealer of Royalton, Mor- rison county, Minnesota, has been closely identified with the industrial history of Morrison county and especially of the country around Royalton. He represents a high type of the enterprising, energetic young business man.
George N. Chirhart was born in Stearns county, Minnesota, in 1888, the son of Isadore and Mary (Thierse) Chirhart. Isadore Chirhart was born in New York state in 1850 and came to Stearns county, Minnesota, when twenty-one years old. There he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and his mother also took a homestead adjoining that of her son, which he later acquired. Isadore Chirhart, who is still living, is an ardent Democrat and has held several similar offices, including those of assessor and trustec. His wife was born near Evansville, Indiana, and came with her parents to Stearns county, Minnesota, where her parents took up land. She lived with them until her marriage. Eleven children have been born to Isadore and Mary ( Thierse) Chirhart.
George N. Chirhart received his education principally in the little old- fashioned school house, district No. 12, in Stearns county. After finishing his education he remained at home with his father until about eighteen years old, when he engaged in partnership with his brother, Henry, in a saw-mill at Brockway, Minnesota. They managed the business together for about six years and were prosperous and successful. In 1913 Mr. Chirhart went to western Canada and remained for about six months, look-
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ing for land. He came back to the United States and settled in Royalton, where, in 1914, he purchased one-half interest in the implement store across' from the Royalton depot, from J. M. Cairns. A little later he purchased the other half interest in the business.
George N. Chirhart was married to Stuvanah Stewart, a native of Minnesota, and to them have been born three children, Robert, George and Irene.
Mr. and Mrs. Chirhart are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Chirhart is independent in politics.
ANDREW W. HONSTROM.
It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life and whose career has been such as to command the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief, is the record of the well-known creamery man whose name heads this sketch, and in justice to him it may be added that he has not only won a pleasing degree of success along material lines, but he stands high in the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He labors not only for his individual advancement, but is broad-minded enough to wish to include in his own success the well-being of the community in which he has chosen to make his home. Mr. Honstrom has demonstrated that he is the possessor of some pleasing attributes, among them being ambition and an honest desire to succeed, and it is with pleasure the biographer takes this opportunity of setting before the public a few facts relative to his career.
Andrew W. Honstrom is a native of the state of Iowa, born in Boone county on December 31, 1873, a son of Andrew and Hildia (Larson) Honstrom, both of whom were born in Sweden. Andrew, the elder, was born in 1836, and Hildia, his wife, six years later. After their marriage, and when Andre was about twenty-five years of age, they immigrated to this country and went directly to Iowa, where they found many others of their nationality. Andrew secured work in a coal mine, where he continued until the time of his death, in 1881. He was succeeding in a modest way and at the time of his death was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land, which was handed down to the estate. The mother passed away in 1909 and both of Mr. Honstrom's parents lie buried at Swede Valley, Iowa.
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Andrew W. Honstrom, the immediate subject of this sketch, was one of a family of ten children, six of whom are living at the present time. He received his education in the district schools of Boone county, where he was raised and remained at home until the year 1901, being engaged in work on the home farm and hiring out to other farmers of the neighborhood. He was filled with an ambition to do other than agricultural work, and as the first step toward the goal he had in mind he entered Ames Agricultural Col- lege, Ames, Iowa, in 1901. There he spent the following eighteen months as a student in the dairy course, and after completing his studies he secured a position as manager of a skimming station in Berkeley, Iowa. However, he remained there but a short time and in 1903 came to the state of Minne- sota and secured a position with a creamery in Todd county. A short time later he came to Morrison county, securing a like position, and in the year 1904 he came to Randall, this county, and secured the position as manager of the Randall Co-operative Creamery Company. Mr. Honstrom is an expert butter-maker and is scientifically versed in the handling of milk and its products. From the first of his connection with the above named firm he has rendered most efficient service and is at the present time a share- holder in the business he so well conducts. He has become one of the established and respected citizens of the town and is the owner of real estate, consisting of his residence and two lots.
On February 19, 1908, Andrew W. Honstrom was united in marriage to Nannie Lucas, who was born on September 27, 1882, in Motley, Morri- son county, a daughter of Franklin and Lina (Crandall) Lucas. The Lucases were both natives of Pennsylvania and were among the carly settlers of this county. While they are now residents of the state of Idaho, they lived here for a goodly number of years, Mr. Lucas being identified with the lumber business and known as a large owner and manager of saw-mills.
To Mr. and Mrs. Honstrom have been born a family of three children, namely : Ruth, born in 1909, while the family lived at Little Falls ; Burton, born in 1910, and Andrew, born in 1912, the latter two being born in Randall.
In politics, Mr. Honstrom votes independently, being bound to no party platform whatever. He holds his fraternal affiliation with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows through the local society at Ogden, lowa. While not a member of any religious society, he is an attendant on the services of the church and gives of his means toward the cause. Mr. Honstrom takes a keen interest in any plant for the advancement of the interests of the town of Randall and is now a valued member of the city council. His life
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has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable methods he has followed are bringing to him not only material success, but that which a true man values still higher-the unbounded con- fidence and respect of those who know him best.
GEORGE O. NELSON.
Although not an old man in years, the gentleman whose life record is hereinafter outlined has stamped his individuality upon the community where he resides in no uncertain manner, being an excellent representative of that much-heralded type-the American business man who does things. He is meeting with success along his chosen line of endeavor and bids fair to attain to still more gratifying things as the years roll by, as he is pos- sessed of pleasing characteristics which win and keep for him the friendship and confidence of those with whom he comes in contact.
George O. Nelson, hardware merchant and funeral director of Randall, Morrison county, Minnesota, is a native of this state, having been born in Steele county on November 14, 1875, son of Robert and Bertha Nelson, farmers of that county. George was reared on the farm, attending the district schools near his home, and from his early boyhood he assisted his father with the work of the home place. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-eight years of age, and having by that time decided that he wished his life to lay in other than agricultural work, he left home and secured a position as clerk in a grocery store, where he remained for one year. He again engaged in farming with his parents, remaining there three years, but the call to other fields was still insistent and in 1910 he came to Randall, and in partnership with his brother, he engaged in the furniture and hardware business. They succeeded well from the start, and, with the desire of widening his opportunities, Mr. Nelson went to St. Paul, where he became a student in the art of embalming under Professor John- son, a recognized authority on that subject. He was duly graduated from that institution and has been meeting with pleasing success in his chosen field of endeavor, being possessed of many kindly qualities, which win for him the highest esteem of those needing his services at one of the most trying times of life.
George O. Nelson was united in marriage in 1912 to Emma Schwanke, who was born on February 5, 1889, in Carver county, this state, a daughter
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of August and Amelia (Rebischke) Schwanke, both of whom were born in Germany. To Mr. Nelson and wife has been born one child, Evelyn B., born on July 26, 1914.
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