USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 50
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 50
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In 1843 he went to Ohio and engaged in farming until coming to Cannon City township in 1867. Since that date he has con- tinued to follow farming. Mr. Buchanan is ripe in years and experience, and his advice is much sought after and highly valued by the younger generations. He was married in 1849, to Mary A. McElroy, who died September 26, 1905, leaving two daughters and a son. They are James, a meat dealer in California . Selina, wife of William Brown, and Sallie J., wife of Frank Sweet, manager of the county alms house. The family faith is that of the Christian church.
J. W. Bollenbach, a well known farmer, of Wheeling town- ship, was born in Illinois April 7, 1870, to Michael and Lena Bollenbach, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America and located in Pennsylvania, where the father worked in a tannery and in the woods. He continued there until he came west to Illinois, engaging in farming, he remained there until 1895, when he retired from actual work of life and moved to Palentine, Ill., where he still lives. The mother is also living. The subject of this sketch was educated in the district schools of Illinois. He started life on his father's farm, where he remained until 1888. He worked out until 1891, and then came to Minnesota and located in Rice county, Wheeling township, where he worked on a farm until 1893. At this time he rented a farm of 135 acres in section 13, continuing same until 1900, when he bought the place, where he carried on gen- eral farming in the raising of Holstein-Fresian cattle success- fully at the present time. Mr. Bollenbach was married in Janu- ary, 1893, to Minnie S., daughter of Charles and Caroline Vier- kant, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in the early days. Mr. Vierkant was a Civil War veteran. After the close of the war he came back to Minnesota and bought a farm in the township of Wheeling, on which he carried on general farming until his death, which occurred in August, 1899. Mrs. Vierkant still lives in the town of Nerstrand. Mr. and Mrs. Bollenbach have four children: Gaylord, Wilna, Harvey and Stanley, who are all living at home. In political faith Mr. Bollenbach is a Republican. In religions faith he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is also a stockholder in the Nerstrand Creamery.
Jacob J. Bosshart, a well-to-do farmer, of Wheeling town- ship, was born in Switzerland July 4, 1835. He is the son of Mark and Regina Bosshart, who were natives of Germany and came to America in 1856, locating in Wheeling township, Rice county, where the father made a claim of 160 acres in section 22. They remained here until 1868, when they moved to reside
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with their son, Jacob J., who had filed a claim in section 27 previous to this time. Mr. Mark Bosshart died in 1876 and Mrs. Bosshart in 1879. Our subject was educated in the old country, and came to America in 1853. He worked at farming in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio. Ilinois and Iowa and spent two winters in the pineries. In 1855 he came back to Minne- sota and settled on his claim, which he had filed on in 1854. Here he has remained ever since. He has 295 acres of farm land, on which he has made all necessary improvements. Mr. Bosshart has twice visited the old country. On May 17, 1860, he was married to Sophia, daughter of Fred and Dorothy Hell- berg, natives of Germany. The father was a shoemaker by trade and came to America in 1848, locating in Illinois, where he farmed until 1856. At that time he came to Minnesota and located in Rice county, township of Wheeling, where he farmed until the time of his death in 1874. His wife died in 1867. The home of our subject was blessed with eight children, viz: H. C., died in 1901 : Annie, now Mrs. Henry Kelm, lives at West Concord; Mary, a widow, lives with her father; H. W. is a farmer and lives in Cherry Grove, Goodhue county : Sophia, now Mrs. D. Mensing, lives in West Concord on a farm ; Henry J. is married and lives on a farm in the township of Wheeling ; Frank J. lives at home: John died in 1885. Mr. Bosshart is a Republican and belongs to the German Evangelical church. He has served on the town board and also on the school board.
William Bultmann is one of those thrifty farmers of Wheel- ing township. He was born in Germany March 28, 1856, son of William and Louisa (1faller) Bultmann, natives of Germany. The father was a wagon maker by trade, and came to America in 1857, being one of the early settlers of Rice county, where he located in the township of Wheeling, pre-empted 120 acres of land in section 25, later he bought forty acres in the same section, and again increased his farm by another purchase of 160 acres in section 36, making 320 acres in all. He erected buildings and made his home in section 26. where he worked at his trade as a wagon maker and engaged in general farming until 1882, when he retired from active life. His son, William, then worked the farm and the father resides with him at the present time. The mother passed away May 24, 1902. William acquired his education in the district schools of Wheeling town- ship. Leaving school, he went to work on his father's farm, where he is engaged in general and diversified farming in the raising of Holstein cattle. Mr. Bultmann was married Decem- ber 31, 1877, to Sophia Tatge. Their home was blessed with one child. Henry. Mr. Bultmann was married a second time November 24, 1885, to Amelie, daughter of William and Eustena
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Gess, natives of Germany. The father, a tailor by trade, came to America in 1863, located in Rice county, Wheeling township. where he farmed until 1904, when he retired from farming and moved to Goodhuc county, where he still lives. Mrs. Gess died in 1902. The fruit of this second union is eight children : Mary, who lives at home; Lydia is a dressmaker at Faribault ; Richard, Rosc, Walter, William, Ervin and Leonard are all living at home. Mrs. Bultmann died March 2, 1907. Mr. Buit- mann takes an active interest in public affairs of his vicinity. Ile has served as clerk for the school board twenty-one years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Mutual Elevator at Kenyon. Hle votes the Republican ticket. In religious faith he adheres to the Evangelical church.
Jacob Bosshardt was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 6, 1852. He is a son of Jacob and Barbia S. (Busch) Bosshardt, the father being a native of Switzerland and the mother of Germany. He was a dyer by trade and came to America at an early day and located in Pennsylvania. He ran a news route for a few years and then conducted a grocery store until 1855, when he came west and bought a farm of 160 acres in Wheel- ing township, Rice county. He then returned to Pennsyl- vania and in the fall of the same year brought out his family and settled on his farm in Section 21, where he did general farm- ing until 1883. He rented his farm to his son Daniel and moved to Faribault, where he lived in retirement until his death, in 1887. Mrs. Bosshardt died at Nerstrand in the month of October, 1908. Jacob Bosshardt was educated in the district schools at Wheeling and after leaving school he worked on his father's farm, until 1875, when he rented a farm and did gen- eral farming until 1878. He then moved to LeSueur county, bought eighty acres, and farmed until 1884, when he sold his farm and returned to Rice county and bought the old home- stead of his father. He did general farming until 1909, then he rented his farm to his son Edwin and moved to Nerstrand. where he and his wife are now living. Ten children blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bosshardt: Aaron, married, and living on his farm at Sauk Centre; Adolph, married, and also living on a farm at Sauk Centre; Benjamin lives at Nerstrand; Lydia, married to Charles Taylor, who works in a wagon fac- tory-they live at Sauk Centre; Edwin lives in Wheeling ; Franklin, Herbert, Ellen, Lovern and Lillian, the last five, are living at home with their parents. In politics he is a Republi- can, and he is a member of the United Evangelical church.
G. J. Branes, one of the enterprising farmers of Webster township, was born in Norway, February 16, 1855, to Jens and Anna Thorson, natives of Norway, who cmigrated to Amer-
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ica in 1868 and located in Goodhue county. They remained there one year, then moved to Faribault, Minn., where they remained about a year and a half. whence they returned to Goodhue county, remaining there, on a rented farm, three years. They came to Webster township. Rice county, where they farmed until the death of the father, which occurred in 1886: the mother died in 1898. Our subject attained his edu- cation in Norway, which was supplemented by but a few months' schooling in Goodhue county. Leaving school, he farmed. having bought some land in Webster township pre- vious to moving there. He now has 160 acres in Section 16. on which he has farmed successfully up to the present time, also engaging in dairy business and the breeding of short-horn cattle. Mr. Branes was married in 1878 to Thea Amalia. daughter of Ole Thostenson and Elizabeth Thostenson. They have nine children, viz .: Anna. now Mrs. Holm, who lives at St. Paul; Elizabeth also lives in St. Paul: Ole died in 1886: Ole the second resides in Canada; Jolin also lives in Canada : Julia died in 1886; Julia the second lives in St. Paul: Alfred resides in Wisconsin and Agnes S. lives with her parents. Mrs. Branes died in 1896. Mr. Branes married a second time in 1899, to Anna J .. daughter of John and Anna J. Lein, of Doge county, Minnesota. Mr. Branes takes an active interest in public affairs in his community, and the fact that he has filled a number of local offices signifies that he is appreciated in the community in which he lives. He has served almost continuously on the town board, which office he still holds, and at the present time is treasurer of the school board. He is also a stockholder in the Creamery, Telephone Company and Co- operative stores, and is a director in all of the above mentioned institutions. He was one of the prime movers in organizing the Creamery and the Telephone Company. In religious faith Mr. Branes is a Lutheran and takes a very active part in church affairs. He is at the present time president of the congregation and one of the trustees. In political sentiment he is a Republican.
Mathias Becker, Jr., was born in Bridgewater township. Rice county, Minn .. December 24, 1870. He is a son of Nicholas and Barbara (Meyer) Becker. The mother was a native of Rice county and the father was a native of Germany. He came to America in 1863 and located in Wisconsin. Here he worked out until 1868, when he came to Minnesota, and located in Bridgewater township, where he farmed until his death. in 1907. The mother still lives on the old homestead. Mr. Becker at- tended school in Wells township, and after leaving school worked on his father's farm until 1899. when he purchased
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eighty acres in Section 24, Forest township, on which he has carried on general farming up to the present time. In 1898 hc was married to Gertrude Wagner, daughter of Stephen and Margaret (Green) Wagner, of Mitchell county, Iowa. Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Becker: Dor- othy, Stephen and Joseph, all living at home. In religious belief Mr. Becker is a Catholic, and in politics a Democrat. He is a member of the German Benevolent Society, and a stockholder in the Forest Creamery.
L. N. Becker, a thrifty farmer of Bridgewater township, was born there October 4, 1876, to Mathias and Margaret (Jan- sen) Becker, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1866, and located at Springfield, Ill., where they remained a short time. They came to Minnesota in the seventies and located at New Market, remaining there five years, when they removed to Bridgewater township, Rice county, and located in Section 31, where the father has carried on general farming up to the present time. The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the common schools of Bridgewater. Leaving school, he worked on a farm, and in 1899 he bought a farm in Section 20, which he sold two years later; buying another, 150 acres, in Sections 21 and 30, which he has improved and on which he carries on general and diversified farming with suc- cess up to the present time.
In 1899 Mr. Becker married Miss Barbara, daughter of John and Mary (Driver) Strouth, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1868, locating in Wisconsin, where they farmed for some time, and later came to Minnesota, being of the first settlers in Cannon City township, Rice county, where they are still farming. Mr. and Mrs. Becker have three children : Mathias, Margaret and Alfred, who are all living with their parents. Mr. Becker takes an active interest in the public affairs in his locality. He has served on the town board in Bridgewater, and is also secretary and manager of the Forest Creamery Company. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his family belong to the Catholic church.
J. W. Barnett was born in Buenavista, Iowa, May 31, 1853. son of R. M. and Margaret (Volmerine) Barnett; the mother was a native of Germany and the father of the state of Ohio. He learned the blacksmith's trade and went to Iowa when he was a boy, working at his trade and in the lead mines of that state. He came to Minnesota in 1855 and located land in Good- hue county, one-half of the land which he pre-empted now com- prising the village of Kenyon. He remained there for only one year and then went to Cannon City, where he worked at his trade for about two years, going from there to Faribault,
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where he remained until 1860. He then moved to Owatonna, and was there one year, when he again returned to Rice county, in the year 1861, and located on a farm in Section 25, Forest township, where he did general farming until his death, in 1900, January 4. The mother still lives on the old homestead with her son. J. W. Barnett was educated in the public schools of Cannon City, Faribault and Owatonna. After leaving school he lived at home with his parents for several years, and in 1876 bought eighty acres in the northern part of Forest town- ship. He sold this in 1882 and moved down on his father's place, where he has since remained. He has one brother, Frank B., now living in the state of Washington. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and in his religious belief he is a Congregationalist. He is also a Royal Arch Mason. He has served his town on the school board for sev- eral years, and is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Com- pany of Faribault, and in the Forest Creamery.
Arthur B. Childress, the efficient and able county attorney of Rice county, was born in Kingston, Tenn., August 17, 1871. He attended the schools of his neighborhood and later entered Grant University at Athens, Tenn., graduating in June, 1892. In the fall of 1893, having decided to locate in the North, he came to Rice county, took up his residence in Dundas, and in company with a partner, opened a law office in Northfield, the firm being known as Childress & Barrett. January 1. 1907, Mr. Childress became county attorney, in which position he has won hundreds of friends and demonstrated his fitness. The con- fidence of his constituents is shown by the fact that at the expi- ration of his first term he was named to succeed himself in the office and was elected by a large majority. Attorney Childress has moved his family to Faribault and established his home at 324 Fifth avenue, but he still retains his law office at North- field. He belongs to the Masons, the Elks, the Modern Wood- men, the Modern Brotherhood and the Odd Fellows, as well as to the Faribault Commercial Club. He has also associated himself with the Minnesota Bar Association. Attorney Chil- dress was married January 22, 1901, at Ilerman, Minn., to Mabel E. Noel, daughter of Jacob A. Noel, a merchant, farmer and stock buyer. John Childress, and Mary Glenn Childress, his wife, parents of Arthur B. Childress, were both natives of Tennessee. The father is a merchant in Athens, Tenn., and the mother died in March, 1906.
Charles H. Caron, contractor and builder, of Faribault, was born in Quebec, Canada, February 18, 1861, son of Antoine and Sarah Caron, natives of Canada. The parents went to Massa- chusetts in 1872. In 1875 they went back to Canada. After
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five more years there they located in Minnesota, and in 1884 came to Faribault, Minn., where the father was a carpenter. He still lives in Faribault, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years, his wife having died February 5, 1908. Charles H. received his education in Canada and learned the currier trade in a cotton mill in Massachusetts. He then came to Minnesota and worked at the carpenter trade. In 1887 he again went back to Boston and worked about a year and a half for the American Tool Machine Company in the millwright department. In 1889 he returned to Faribault, and in 1890 started in the general contracting and building business for himself, in which he has since continned with good success. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Foresters and the Faribault Commercial Club. He is a Democrat in politics and attends the Catholic church. Mr. Caron was married May 7, 1882, at Salem, Mass., to Angeline Tramblay, of that city. To this union have been born ten children: Angeline, Emil, Emma (deceased). Eva, Lena, Rose, Emma, Charles, Beatrice and Margaret. The family residence is on East Division street.
Noble S. Canedy, of Northfield, was born in Bennington, Vt., February 6, 1851, son of Joseph and Anna (Phipps) Canedy, natives of Vermont. The father was born November 15, 1811. and the mother March 17, 1817. The father came west and purchased 320 acre of land in Northfield and Bridgewater town- ships in 1854, and then returned to Vermont, where he remained a year, after which he came back to Minnesota in 1856, with his family, and took up his residence permanently on his farm, where he devoted his entire life to farming. He had been married twice, his first wife being Sally Crosier, whom he mar- ried February 2, 1836, by whom he had three children: Thomas, born February 2, 1837, died November 1, 1868; Joseph, born February 22, 1841, died in infancy ; Willard, born April 26, 1843, now of Beloit, Wis. The mother of these children died July 30. 1843, and on October 9. the same year, Mr. Canedy married Anna Phipps, and to this union were born three children: Maryette, born June 8, 1845, died June 20, 1863; Noble S., the subject of this sketch; Charles H., born February 19, 1855, now of Tracy, Minn. The mother of these children died October 23, 1891, and the father passed away May 4, 1902. Noble S. received his education in the public schools of his neighborhood and afterward took up farming at home with his father, and in 1874 assumed entire charge of the homestead and conducted a general line of farming and dairying, keeping cows of the short- horn breed, principally. In 1906 he retired and moved to North- field, where he now resides. Mr. Canedy has taken part in public affairs for many years, having served on the board of
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west to Minnesota with his parents, Jonathan L. and Susan B. (French) Clifford, in 1855. They pre-empted 160 acres of land in Stanton township, Goodhue county, and cleared and cul- tivated this farm until in 1873, when the father moved to Can- non Falls and lived a retired life until his death in 1878. The mother died in 1901. There were seven children in the Clifford home: Samuel, who died of yellow fever in the West Indies; Arthur T., of Cannon Falls; Mrs. Willard Kenyon, of Ray- mond, Neb .; John (deceased) was formerly in business at North- field; Everett F., of Wabasha, Minn .; Charles, the subject of this sketch, and Albion L., of Cannon Falls. Arthur T. and John were soldiers in the Civil War, the former serving in the First Regiment, fleavy Artillery, and the latter in Company F, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Charles F. remained at home, and in 1872 took charge of the farm, which he after- ward purchased. He carried on a general line of farming, and also engaged in stock raising to a considerable extent. In 1894 he rented the farm and moved to Northfield, having purchased a small farm of forty acres within the city limits, where he has since resided. While a resident of Stanton township he served as treasurer and was also a member of the school board of his district for many years. April 5, 1873, Mr. Clifford was united in marriage to Jeanette Whitson, a native of Smith Falls, On- tario, and was born November 8, 1848, daughter of Robert and Mary (Riddle) Whitson. The father was born in Edinborough, Scotland in 1827, and the mother was born in Canada April 19, 1828. In 1863 they came to Minnesota and settled in Stanton township, where the father died July 7, 1889. Two years later the mother moved to Northfield, where she passed away Feb- ruary 10, 1904. They were the parents of eight children: Mrs. C. F. Clifford : Robert A., of Drayton, N. D .: James, of Fergus Falls, Minn. ; Mrs. Amos Gile, of North Yakima, Wash. ; William (deceased) ; John H., of Stanton, Minn .; Mrs. Eugene Bullock, of Puyallup, Wash., and Henry, of Drayton, N. D. To Mr. and Mrs. Clifford have been born five children : John E., born Janu- ary 3, 1874, who is a farmer, of Northfield township ; William P., born April 1, 1877, of Alberta, Canada : Charles W., born October 8, 1882, of Minneapolis; Herbert, born July 4, 1886, of Havre, Mont. : Jeanette M., born September 19, 1890, is at home. The family are members of the Congregational church at Northfield.
Carl Clarine, horticulturist, who, with his brother. Nils P. Clarine, conducts the only greenhouse in Faribault, was born in Sweden, April 13, 1868. Carl received his earlier education in the country schools of Sweden, and came to America in 1887, locating in Webster county, Iowa, for about a year. He then engaged in the greenhouse business in Minneapolis, until
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1891, when he went to St. Paul, continuing in the same business until 1894, when he came to Faribault, where he and his brother built their present large greenhouse. They handle a large variety of flowers of all description and enjoy a large trade. Mr. Clarine is an independent voter. He belongs to the Sons of Herman, the Degree of Ilonor and the United Workmen. He was married July 2, 1901, at Faribault, to Marie Beyer. To this union have been born four children: Esther, Herbert, Florence and Donald. The family faith is that of the Episcopal church.
N. R. Castle, of Faribault, has the sole agency for southern Minnesota for the sale of the Phelps carbide feed gas generator, and has exploited the excellent qualities of this light in so able a manner as to secure for it a wide distribution and general pop- ularity. N. R. Castle was born in Lee Center, Oneida county, N. Y., May 7, 1844, son of John J. and Sary R. (Cornishi) Castle, natives of New York. The father was superintendent of the Black river canal for eight years. Ile came west with his fam- ily in 1859, located in Walcott township, Rice county, and con- tinued farming until his death, in 1901, his wife having passed away in 1896. The subject of this sketch received his early education in New York state, came west with his parents in 1859, and here continued his schooling. After working on the home farm for a time he took up railroad work, and after six years purchased 160 acres of wild land in Merton county, im- proving the land, erecting a house and barn, and developing the place in general. In 1896 he sold out and purchased the old homestead in Walcott township, which he worked until 1905, when he sold the farm and came to Faribault. Two years later he took the agency which he still retains. Mr. Castle is an independent Democrat. While in Walcott township he served several terms as supervisor and occupied other posi- tions of public and private trust and honor. Mr. Castle was married July 3, 1864, at Clinton Falls, Steele county, Minnesota, to Amelia J. MeNitt, daughter of Sylvester and Susan MeNitt, who died January 4, 1904. To this union eight children were born : W. H., a miller of Morton, Minn .; George W., a farmer of Wadena, Minn .; Asa, of Faribanlt ; Fred, a farmer of Todd county; Adren, a farmer of South Dakota; Clifford, who is a plumber and lives at home; N. R., Jr., who lives at home, and Nona M., who married Frank L. Wentworth, an Owatonna barber. Mr. Castle was married December 25, 1905, to Mrs. Ella Freeman, of Shenandoah, Iowa. The family faith is that of the Universalist church.
Henry Chaffee, an early pioneer, was born in Berkshire county, Mass., April 9, 1827. He was reared on the farm and when eighteen years old entered a store in his native county
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