History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 43

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr.
Number of Pages: 864

USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 43
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 43

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time and attention to dairying, being a valued stockholder and supporter of the Havana creamery. In politics he was a loyal adherent of the Republican party, and, though he never sought public office, took an active part in all that tended toward the well-being of the community. The Modern Woodinen of America counted him a loyal member. December 31, 1877, he was mar- ried to Mary A. Morford, by whom he had four children. Ethel K., born February 7. 1884, is a school teacher at Owatonna, Minn .: William A., born October 4, 1885, conducts the old home farm: Alice, born December 27. 1889. a graduate of the State Normal School at Winona. is teaching; George H., born August 25. 1893, is a student at the Owatonna high school. The family attends the Baptist and Presbyterian churches. The death of Mr. Jones, which occurred December 24, 1907, was mourned by his family, to whom he was a kind and loving hus- band and father, and by the entire community, being universally esteemed and respected by all with whom he came in contact during a useful and noble life. Arad and Laura ( Millard) Jones, parents of our subject, were among the early pioneers of Steele county, coming from Pennsylvania to McHenry county, Illinois, and later locating on their hundred and twenty acre farm in Havana township, in 1857, on which the father followed farming up to the time of his death. The mother is also deceased. Mrs. Orison M. Jones, daughter of J. W. Morford and Nancy M. (McNamara) Morford, comes of a long line of Scottish ances- tors. She was born at Owatonna, May 24, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Morford came to Owatonna township in 1856, the father taking up a claim, which he subsequently sold. Coming to Owatonna, he entered into a general mercantile business, in which he was engaged until his death, August 31, 1889. His wife passed away May 14, 1877. He was very prominent in the early business and political affairs of this city, having served as mayor and also many years as city treasurer. The Masonic order claimed him as a leading member, and owed much to him as an organizer of the Owatonna lodge. He ranked as a Mason of high degree, and was also affiliated with the Knights Templar.

H. P. Clemmensen, one of Summit township's most pro- gressive farmers. is a native of Denmark, where he was born December 27, 1851, and remained until 1880, when he came to Albert Lea, Freeborn county. Here Mr. Clemmensen worked at the carpenter's trade for four years before removing to his present home farm, which comprises four hundred and eighty fertile acres, two hundred and fifty of which are under culti- vation. Mr. Clemmensen believes in diversified farming, has a herd of Shorthorn cattle, and was one of the organizers of the Ellendale creamery, where he is a stockholder and sells his

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cream. He was married to Hanna Nelson in 1877. Seven children, all living, have been given them-Hans, Emma, Harold, Datthie, Lizzie. Walter and Richard. The last two named are still living at home. During the years that the Clemmensen family have been residents of Summit township the farm has been transformed from wild land to its present finely improved condition. Mr. Clemmensen has not neglected his duties as a citizen, serving as school clerk for eighteen years. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Elevator at Ellendale, and is still a stockholler. For eight years he has served on the town board and for four years has been chairman of the township. Politically he is a Republican. Clemmens Swensen and Chris- tina Hansdater, his wife, parents of H. P. Clemmensen, were natives of Denmark, where they lived and died. Mr. Swensen was a sailor.

George H. R. Brush, a progressive farmer of Clinton Falls township, Steele county, was born in Bath, Somersetshire, England, October 2, 1867. After receiving his early education in England, he emigrated to Canada at the age of sixteen, locating at Guelph and completing his education with a course of a year and a half in an agricultural college there. Leaving school, lie engaged in farming four years, and then in 1888 removed to near Austin, Minn., where he carried on general farming until 1894. Moving to Long Prairie, Todd county. Minnesota, he continued farming operation for one year in this locality, subsequently going to Villard, Pope county, Minnesota, where he remained eight years. In 1905 he removed to Clinton Falls township, Steele county, and purchased his present farm of two hundred and fifty acres of highly productive land in section thirty-five. Mr. Brush now rents the place, but per- sonally oversees it. In addition to general farming, dairying and stock raising are extensively engaged in. All that goes to make farming worth while is found here, a large modern house and a $2,000 barn for scientific farming having been erected by Mr. Brush. His first barn, costing $4,000, was totally destroyed by fire a few years ago. In politics he is an earnest Prohibi- tionist. but has never aspired to public office. In 1892 he was married to Lucy Jane Hickock, daughter of Harrison and Han- nah (Herrington) Hickock. The father, a well-known farmer near Brownsdale, Minn., who is now deceased, was born at Troy. N. Y. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brush : Annie and Lela. attending Pillsbury Academy ; John, Verna, Andrey and Clifford, all living at home. Dr. John Ramsay Brush, father of George H. R. Brush, was born in the East Indies, on the island of Java. He was an officer in the British

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army. Elizabeth (Dixon) Brush, the mother, was born in Ten- berden, Kent. England.

William Jensen is a native-born son of Steele county. His natal appearance took place June 23, 1879. on the farm where he is now located. in section ten, Blooming Prairie township. lle is a son of Carl A. Jensen and IIannah Nelson Jensen, natives of Denmark. The father was born in Denmark, Jan- uary 13, 1850, and the mother Angust 2, 1850. The parents left the shores of their native land in 1877 and landed in America June 2. They located and remained for one year near Kasson, Minn. In 1878 they came to Steele county, locating in Blooming Prairie township, where the father purchased eighty acres of land in section ten. This land the father improved, erecting buildings on it, etc., and following agricultural pursuits up to the time of his decease, July 17, 1893. He left a widow and four children to mourn his loss, viz .: Christine, now Mrs. H. J. Bille, of Minneapolis, was born April 12, 1878; William, the subject of this sketch ; Hilda was born February 13, 1881, died March 23, 1883; Hilda was born March 18, 1883, married Mr. A. L. Peter- son, of Tagus, N. D .; Jens C., twin brother to the second Hilda, died November 5, 1887 ; Carl C., born July 27, 1888, is on the old homestead with our subject. William received his early educa- tion in the district schools and then took up the duties on the farm, where he has remained ever since. He is the manager of the farm and takes care of the aged mother. His brother Carl assists him with the work, and the two brothers have very successfully conducted and improved the farm since the death of their father. In 1895 they built an up-to-date and modern house and outbuildings. In 1899 they built a large new barn. William has served as road overseer, and is now serving as supervisor of the town committee. In his political views he is a Republican, thus following in the footsteps of his father. The family faith is that of the Danish Lutheran Church.

John Malone, a successful farmer of Merton township, was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, March 31, 1851. He gained his education at the district school in Merton township. Upon leaving school he followed farming. In the year 1880 he moved to Berlin township, purchasing two hundred and forty acres, and conducted a general farming business for twenty-four years. Mr. Malone then returned to Merton township, where he now owns four hundred and ten acres in sections twenty, twenty- nine and thirty-two. His home is in section twenty. In 1880 John Malone was united in marriage to Mary Lynch, daughter of Patrick Lynch and Ann Gaynor, natives of Ireland. They both died in this country. Nine children were born in the Malone home-Nellie, a teacher; Frank, who lives in Iowa;

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William, Anna, Vincent, Raymond, Mabel, Leo, and Lucile, who still remain at home. Mr. Malone affiliates with the Democratic party and attends the Catholic Church. He has always been a progressive citizen, having served on the town board. He is at present the town treasurer and treasurer of the school board, and is treasurer and owns stock in the Merton Creamery Asso- ciation. Patrick Malone and Julia Burke, his wife, parents of John Malone, are natives of Ireland. Patrick Malone was a farmer in Ireland, but emigrated to America about 1845, and located in Wisconsin, where he was married to Miss Burke. After farming in Wisconsin until 1856, he came to Minnesota and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in Merton town- ship and traded a team of horses for another one hundred and sixty acres. Remaining on this splendid farm until 1895, he then disposed of it and moved to Owatonna, where he died in 1907 at the age of ninety-three. Mrs. Malone died at the age of seventy-seven years.

Robert H. Reynolds, one of Berlin township's most enter- prising farmers, was born on June 12, 1843, in Pittsburg, Pa. He gained his early education in Wisconsin, coming to Minnesota with his parents in 1846, where he finished his studies. Robert remained on the home farm until twenty years of age. In August, 1862, he joined the Union army and was mustered in at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Company E, Tenth Regular Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry, as private, later being promoted to corporal. He served his country until August, 1865, being honor- ably discharged at Fort Snelling. Mr. Reynolds took part in all the battles with his regiment, never being away from it except three days during the entire service, when he was confined to the hospital. At the close of the war he returned to the home farm, remaining there for two years, then removing to Waseca county, where he rented a farm, which was conducted for three years. Purchasing eighty acres of land in section twenty-four, Berlin township, in 1876, Mr. Reynolds has since made this farm his home, making many splendid improvements. He has also added another eighty acres in Summit township, making him the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land. The subject of this sketch was married on March 28, 1869, to Anna Corr, and five children bless their home-Frank, of Butte, Mont .; Fred, of Bitterroot Valley, Montana; Pearl, of Geneva, Minn., now Mrs. Peter Jensen; Edith, who lives at home, and Hazel, who is a school teacher. Mr. Reynolds affiliates with the Repub- lican party. He is an honored member of the G. A. R. He owns stock in the Ellendale Creamery Association, in the Security State Bank, and in the Farmers' Elevator. Mr. Reynolds is a citizen respected by all who know him. Robert Reynolds and

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Fannie, his wife, parents of Robert H. Reynolds, were natives of England, coming to America when very young, where they located in New York, going from there to Pittsburg, where he engaged as a merchant tailor. They remained in that city until 1846, going to Wisconsin in 1846, where they farmed until 1856. They then came to Steele county, where they farmed up to the time of his death in August, 1884. Mrs. Reynolds died in 1860.

Frank G. Sloan, a very progressive farmer of Berlin town- ship, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on Novem- ber 10, 1855. He acquired his early education in district schools, this being supplemented with a course of study at Pillsbury Academy in Owatonna. Leaving school, Frank took a trip through Montana and South Dakota, taking up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Spink county, South Dakota, where he remained one year. Upon returning he took charge of the old home, to which he later added eighty acres adjoining it in Summit township. Mr. Sloan also owns another one hundred and sixty acre farm in Summit township. At the time Mr. Sloan took charge of the home farm it was heavily encumbered, but by his honest dealing, faithful attention and hard work he has brought his land into the highest state of cultivation. In 1896 he made improvements on the home farm by erecting a modern two-story home, also having a very promising apple orchard of over seven hundred trees, covering over seven acres of ground. He is a breeder of Holstein cattle, of which he owns a very select herd. Dairying is his chief pursuit on the farin. Mr. Sloan was married, June 1, 1886, to Etta Cusick, who died July 27, 1897, leaving five children-Grant, of Pratt, Kan .; Lyle, at home : Ernest and Alice, twins, both graduates of the Owatonna high school ; Henry, now deceased. The subject is a follower of the Prohibition party and an attendant of the Methodist Church. He has served as chairman of Berlin township one year; is now serving as school treasurer of district sixty-seven ; has been secretary of the Farmers' Elevator since September, 1904, at which date it was organized, and is vice-president of the Security State Bank of Ellendale. He was one of the promoters and organizers of the Ellendale Creamery Association, serving as its secretary since its organization in 1890. He is a splendid citizen, very public-spirited in regard to anything that helps his com- munity. John M. Sloan and Eliza Barkley, his wife, parents of Frank G. Sloan, were natives of New York, migrating west in the spring of 1867. locating in Summit township. That same year they bought one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty- six, Berlin township. It was all wild land, but Mr. Sloan by the hardest toil cleared and broke the land and greatly improved it, carrying on a diversified farming business until he died, in

PETER P. THOMSEN AND FAMILY

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April, 1882, his wife surviving him until October, 1898. John M. Sloan served in the legislature of 1874.

Barnard Schafer, a well-known farmer of Stecle county, was born in New York, April 16, 1857. At the age of cight he emigrated west with his parents, who located at Red Wing. Minn., where he received his early education, completing it at Geneva, Minn. After leaving school he entered the meat busi- ness at Milbank, S. D., in which he remained seven years, with much success, and then removed to Steele county and engaged in farming, now owning two hundred and forty acres of well- improved land, practically all under cultivation, in Clinton Falls township. Holstein cattle and Percheron horses are a specialty. All modern improvements tending for ease and economy in farming are found here, and a commodious modern dwelling- house adds to the comfort of the family. In politics he adheres to the doctrines of the Republican party and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community, though he has never aspired to office. He was married during July, 1882, to Mary Sahler, daughter of August Sahler. They have three children, all living at home-Walter, Elsie and Mabel. The family are loyal attendants of the Methodist Church, in which the father has served many years as a member of the board of trustces. Philip and Mary Schafer, parents of our subject, were natives of New York, the father being a butcher by trade before his emigration west, in 1865. He then located on a farm in Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he followed general farming up to the time of his death, in 1879. He was prominent in the Methodist Church, acting as Sunday-school superintendent, and in politics voted the Republican ticket. Nine children were born to him and his wife: J. M., a hide dealer of Owatonna : Elizabeth, wife of E. A. Keyes, of Excelsior, Minn .; N. J., a banker of Sheboygan, Mich .; Henry, in the hide business at Owatonna; Barnard, our subject; Kate, married to William Schaffer, of Milbank, S. D .: Mary, wife of E. H. Hines, a hard- ware merchant, of Renville, Minn .; George, a sheep rancher, of Belle Fourche. S. D. ; and Anna, married to Dr. Bowers, of Rice- ville, Iowa. The mother passed away in 1902.

Peter P. Thimsen, one of the well-known and respected resi- dents of Steele county, is a native of Schleswig-Holstein, Den- mark, where he was born April 3, 1831. He received his early education in his native land and worked as a farmer until 1857, when he came to America and settled in Rock county. Wiscon- sin, following farming until 1862, when, in comany with Ed. Darmady and mother, Patrick Fallon and wife and family, John Anderson and wife and family, and Nis P. Thimsen, his youngest brother, he made a trip to Minnesota by team. One sad circum-

1208 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES

stance marred that trip-when the mother of Ed Darmady died. The party was obliged to stop and bury her by the way. Of the sturdy and courageous pioneers who made that trip, only three are alive-Ed. Darmady, Nis Thimsen and Peter P. Thim- sen. Arriving in Blooming Prairie township, the subject of this sketch took up eighty acres, built his own buildings, improved his land, and added to it until he owned four hundred acres. July 19, 1863, Mr. Thimsen was married to Julia A. Eichler, a native of Lafayette, Onondaga county. New York, born June 24, 1845. She came with her parents to this state, settling first at Geneva and later in Aurora township, where her people lived until after the war. Her father. John Eichler, was one of the oldest settlers. He served in the Union army from 1862 until 1864, and was discharged for disability, having been a prisoner in both Libby and Andersonville prisons. During the early days Mr. and Mrs. Thimsen took an active part in caring for the sick and needy. No disease was too contagious for them to nurse the afflicted one back to health and strength: and in case of death, no fear ever kept them from administering the last sad offices to the departed ones, taking the place of the undertaker, and sacrificing their own peace and comfort for the love of humanity. They were the parents of four children-Marion C., born June 10, 1864, now Mrs. Hans Johnson, of River Point, Minn .; Hattie F., born February 10, 1866, now Mrs. J. C. Peter- son, of Blooming Prairie township; John F., born August 31, 1868, died April 13, 1909; Katharine M., born July 19, 1873. Besides the four children there are nineteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Thimsen living to see the fourth generation grow up around them. After many years. Mr. Thimsen sold eighty acres of his home farm, leaving three hundred and twenty acres which he still owns. He also has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Summit township. In 1893 Mr. Thimsen retired from active farm life and pur- chased a home in Owatonna, where he has since lived, at 321 South Oak street. Mrs. Thimsen died September 20. 1904, since which time his daughter Katharine has kept house for him. He has always been a staunch Republican and a public-spirited citizen, having served his township as road overseer. He attends the Danish Lutheran Church. Nis Thimsen and Marion, his wife, parents of Peter P. Thimsen, were natives of Denmark, where they lived and died.

Nis P. Thimsen, a retired farmer of Blooming Prairie town- ship, was born in Denmark, June 3, 1840. Following his school days he learned the tailor's trade, and after coming to America in 1861 he spent a year in Wisconsin. In 1862 he homesteaded eighty acres of land in Blooming Prairie township, Steele county.

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The call for troops to put down the rebellion then being waged against the United States led him to enlist in 1863 in Com- pany K. Second Minnesota Cavalry, serving until May 24, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Fort Ripley for disability from injury. Returning home, Mr. Thimsen applied his energies to the cultivation and development of his farm acres, which increased to two hundred and forty in 1883. In 1893 he rented his farm property to his son, Ernest, and with his wife has since lived in retirement at Blooming Prairie village. He was mar- ried October 26, 1867, to Hannah Jensen. Three sons were born to them-Frederick, with the Blooming Prairie Mercantile Com- pany : Nels, a physician at Hayfield; Ernest, who conducts the old farm. Mr. Thimsen is a Republican and an adherent of the Lutheran Church. In civil affairs he has always manifested a keen interest, having served on the town board as clerk and supervisor, and also on the school board. Ernest A. Thimsen, son of Nis Thimsen and Hannah Jensen, was born in Blooming Prairie township, December 20, 1873. He attended the district school, and in 1893 rented the splendid homestead of his father. Here he has since carried on general farming. On February 3, 1910, he was married to Hannah Nelson, of Bixby. Politically Mr. Thimsen is a Republican, and in his religious affiliations is a Lutheran. He also belongs to the Danish Brotherhood. As a citizen he is well liked.

Martin M. Spurr, a prosperous farmer of Berlin township. was born in the country of Denmark in 1867. Martin gained his education in his native land, coming to this country in 1887. lle lived in St. Paul three years, and at the end of that time came to Berlin township, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land, where he has lived ever since, carrying on a general diversified farming business. Mrs. Anna Thompson became his wife on July 17, 1891. Seven children have made happy the Spurr household-Emma, Marie, Olaus, Selmer, Alma, and Mae and Tedmore. Politically Mr. Spurr is a Democrat, and religiously affiliates with the Norwegian Lutheran Church, of which he has been a trustee for seven years, and is a member of the Danish Brotherhood. He is treasurer of school district No. 83: is now a stockholder in the Ellendale creamery, and also of the Farmers' Elevator & Milling Company, of Ellendale, and of the Farmers' Telephone Company, of which he was for- merly a director. In 1909 Mr. Spurr was elected county com- missioner. Mrs. Spurr's first husband, Mr. Thompson, died in 1887, leaving two children-Sena, now Mrs. Henry Langelie, of Turtle Lake, N. D., and Ole, a farmer in Berlin township. Thomas Spurr and Anna Martinson, his wife, parents of Mar-

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tin M. Spurr, natives of Denmark, never left their home land, Mr. Spurr dying in 1901. Mrs. Spurr still lives in the old home.

John Pichner, for many years a prominent and respected citizen of Steele county, was born in Bohemia, January 6, 1844, coming to this country with his parents while still an infant. The education he received was very meager, there being practi- cally no schools in those early pioneer days. At an early age he commenced assisting his father with the farm work, and when thirty-one years of age became the owner of his present two hundred and twenty-five acres of highly improved land, on which he has carried on general farming for the past forty-five years. It is located in Owatonna township, three and a half miles from Owatonna. Mr. Pichner is a staunch believer in up-to-date machinery and equipment, and his farm is a splendid example of what modern agriculture can accomplish. Two gaso- line engines, furnishing ample power for various machinery, an elevator in the granary, and a stacker, of Mr. Pichner's own invention, make up a small part of the numerous devices for lessening labor. Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine are a specialty. The milk is sold to a nearby creamery, of which Mr. Pichner is a stockholder and was a director for seven years. For fifteen years he operated a J. I. Case threshing machine. owned by five neighbors and himself, with the help of his sons, during season ; but it is now managed exclusively by his sons. In politics he adheres to the doctrines of the Democratic party and has been active in local affairs, having served many years as supervisor and town treasurer, and is now acting as path- master. Lodge No. 67 of the C. S. P. S. of Minnesota numbers him among its loyal members. In 1865 he was married to Rosie Jirousek, by whom he has six children-John, a farmer of Owatonna township; Annie, wife of Frank Spatenka. a farmer ; Hattie, married to Joseph Stencel, engaged in farming in Havana township; Robert, married to Frances Marek, resides at Owatonna ; Maggie, wife of Anton Ripka, a farmer of Owatonna township; and George, who assists in the management of the home farm. John S. and Paulina Hodinar Pichner, parents of our subject, emigrated from their native land (Bohemia) to Amer- ica about 1850, locating in Illinois, where the father was engaged in railroad work for two years, receiving what was then good wages-fifty cents per day. In 1852 they came to Owatonna, then but a rough frontier post with one store and hotel. The country surrounding was a pathless wilderness infested with Indians, but they bravely ventured forth, blazing trees to mark their way, and located a claim in what is now Owatonna township. Cakes made from corn ground in a coffee-mill were often their only bread, the nearest market and mill for wheat being Hastings,

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History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 43

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Jewett, Stephen
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. C. Cooper, Jr.
Number of Pages: 864