History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 58

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 58
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 58

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in religious faith he adheres to the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served a number of years on the school board.

Edward Hoover, son of Christian Hoover, native of Pennsyl- vania, was born in Pennsylvania, February 24, 1848. In 1865 our subject came to Minnesota with his parents, who bought a farm in section 8, Cannon City township, Rice county, where they farmed for three years. The mother died in 1868, and the father sold the farm and returned to Pennsylvania, where he died May 20, 1908. Edward attended school in Pennsylvania and in Can- non City, Minn. Leaving school, he worked on a farm, and then in 1867 bought 120 acres in section 10, Cannon City township. where he still lives as a retired farmer, having rented the farm. In 1866 Mr. lloover married Nancy L., daughter of John and Jane Caldwell, of Pennsylvania, who in the early days came to Minnesota and located in Faribault. They have two children : C. L., and Lydia, now Mrs. Henry Pipes, who is renting his father's farm. Mr. Hoover is a public spirited citizen well appre- ciated in his community, has served on the school board for twenty-five years, and has served on the town board for five years, which office he still holds. He is interested financially in the Dean Creamery. He is Democratic in his political belief, and in religion he is affiliated with the Congregational church.

O. N. Hegnes was born in Norway January 8, 1862, a son of Nels and Margaret (Hendrikson) Hegnes. Both parents were natives of Norway, and the father was a common laborer up to the time of his death in 1872; the mother came to America in 1887 and lived with her son up to the time of her death in 1907. Mr. llegnes was educated in the district schools of Norway. After leaving school he worked out until 1881, when he came to this country and located in Nerstrand, where he worked out. In 1886 he entered the grain business for himself and followed it until 1891, when he took the management of the Big Diamond Milling Company, the successor of the Sheffield Milling Com- pany, which business he still follows. Ile was married in 1898 to Amanda Christofherson, a daughter of John and Anna (Olson) Christofherson, natives of Norway. The father was a laborer who came to America in 1871 and located in Chicago. He re- mained there until 1874 and then moved to Eau Claire, Wis .. where he still lives. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ilegnes, Rosa Viola. who lives at Nerstrand. Mrs. Hegnes died Septem- ber 28, 1909. Mr. Hegnes is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican. He has been clerk of the village since 1898. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank.

C. B. Hirdler, one of the old residents of Forest township, Rice county, was born in Germany, and there married Maria Mime. They came to America in 1862 and located first in New

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York, where they remained for nine months, then came to Mil- waukee, but remained there but a short time, subsequently going to Michigan, where they lived for twelve years. Mr. Hirdler was a shoemaker by trade, but also preached the Gospel. After leav- ing Michigan they came to Minnesota and settled in Jackson county for one winter, then moved to Rice county, and located in Forest township, where he has farmed and practiced medicine up to the present time. His wife died in 1909.

Aug. Hirdler was born in Schlazing, Germany, February 22, 1852, to C. B. and Maria (Mime) Hirdler, and came to America when ten years of age. He attended the public schools in Michi- gan, and after leaving school worked in a saw mill for nine sea- sons ; then came to Minnesota. Subsequently he farmed in Jack- son county for a while and is still in that business in Forest township, in Rice county. In 1881 Mr. Hirdler was married to Katherine Alterman, and four children were born to them: Idla, Clara J., Melvin and Alma. He was again married in 1892 to Rosa Butler. They had one child. Rosa, who died in infancy. In 1893 his second wife died. He was married a third time in 1893 to Anna Bier and had two children by this union, Walter, now deceased, and Emil, living at home. In political views Mr. Hird- ler is an independent voter, and in his religious belief he is an Adventist.

Charles H. Johnson is proprietor of one of the leading cloth- ing stores of Faribault, Minn. A native of Minnesota, he was born in Sherburne, in Martin county, May 13, 1878, to Perry G. and Annie Johnson, natives of Sweden. The father came to this country in 1860 and went first to Rock Island, 111., where he was variously employed till his removal to Martin county, Minnesota. in 1865. Here he located a homestead of 160 acres and built a rude log house. He began in a primitive way and worked hard and economized, experiencing the trials and privations of pioneer life, but persevered and prospered withal. He improved the place with a commodious farm house and other buildings, and brought it to a high state of cultivation and productiveness, and carried on general farming, adding to his holdings from time to time until he now owns 800 acres of valuable land. He has served in various local offices and is an influential man in the community. being a director in the banks of Sherburne and Dunnell, and financially interested in other local industries. After the deccase of his wife, which occurred in 1885, he married a second time.

Our subject acquired his education in the public schools of his native place and grew up a farmer boy on the family home- stead. He began his business career in 1897 as a clerk in a cloth- ing house, where he remained some eight years. Coming to Fari- bault, October 1, 1905. he spent four months clerking. and then

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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES

purchased a one-half interest in the business of Mr. A. B. Cooling. This relationship continued about two years, and in 1907 Mr. Johnson purchased his partner's interest and since that date the business has been conducted under the name of C. H. Johnson & Co. It is in every respect an up-to-date establishment carrying besides men's clothing of every description, hats and caps and a full and complete line of gentlemen's furnishings, and is a leader of its kind in Faribault. Mr. Johnson has devoted himself closely to his business and has had little leisure for outside affairs. He is identified with the B. P. O. E., also belongs to the Eagles, and is a member of the Faribault Commercial Club. He is a Repub- lican in political belief, and in religious faith is connected with the Lutheran church. On August 28, 1907, Mr. Johnson married Miss Alice B., a daughter of Lewis and Mary Carlson, who came from Denmark, their native land, in an early day and settled at Albert Lea, Minn., where the father followed his trade as a car- penter. The family later moved to Sherburne, where the father and mother now live-1910. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children, Charles Gerald and Arthur Harold.

Edward W. Johnson, a progressive business man of Faribault, Minn., is a native of Chicago. Il1 .. his date of birth being April 15, 1873. He acquired his education in the public schools of his birthplace, after which he became a clerk in a retail grocery store for a short period, leaving this employment to take a similar position with a wholesale and retail cigar and tobacco company. Later he entered the wholesale grocery house of John A. Tolman Company, of Chicago, filling his place with credit for ten years, when, in 1900, he accepted the office of assistant manager of the Western Grocer Company, located at Albert Lea, Minn., remain- ing here two years. He then removed to Faribault, and early in 1903, together with W. A. Russell, started a wholesale and retail cigar and tobacco establishment, adding a billiard room in 1904. In 1906, he purchased Mr. Russell's interest, and moved into his present commodious quarters on Central avenue, now having one of the most up-to-date cigar stores in this section of the state, carrying a full and finely selected line of smoker's sup- plies. He has recently put in several new billiard and pool tables, and has three first-class bowling alleys. In connection with his main business, he conducts a well furnished cigar. periodical and candy stand in the postoffice building. As to politics, Mr. John- son is a prominent member of the Democratic party. and has always taken an active interest in all that is good for Faribault and Rice county. In 1907 he was appointed a director on the board of trustees of the Institution for Defectives, by the late Gov. John A. Johnson, to fill out the unexpired term of the late Mr. McKellip, the following year being appointed for a term of

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five years. He is identified with numerous fraternal organiza- tions, being a Chapter Mason, a member of the F. O. E., hav- ing served as secretary of the last named association for two years. The Commercial Club also claims him as a member. December 4. 1907. he married Adilia Kaul, of Faribault. They have two children: Edward W., Jr., and Alelia Kaul. Their residence is located on Central avenue. Charles and Olivia (Hawkinson) Johnson. parents of our subject, were born in Sweden, coming from the Fatherland to this country in 1855, and locating at Chicago, where the father followed tailoring till his death in 1877. The mother later married W. P. Breen, of Chicago, and they now reside at Lake Bluff, a suburb of that city.

Frederick E. Jenkins, head master of St. James school, is a man well qualified by nature and training to fill the important position to which he has been called. With a sympathetic under- standing of boy nature, he combines the qualities of exactness and justness, and his own life and character are an inspiration to the boys, who in the undeveloped years of their teens are placed in his charge. The subject of this sketch was born in Butler, JI1., January 20, 1866, son of Charles W. and Camilla (Burnap) Jenkins, natives respectively of South Carolina and Illinois, the father dying August 22. 1882. and the latter being still a resident of Hillsboro, Ill. Frederick E. received his edu- cation in the public schools of Illinois, and then attended the state normal school at Normal, in the same state, graduating in 1886. His first experience as a teacher was in Cedar Rapids, Neb., where he was principal for two years. In 1888 he was chosen superintendent of the public schools of Albion, Neb., and served there with much credit until 1893. While filling this position he studied law. and was admitted to the bar. In 1903 he went to Kansas City, Kan., and there took up the practice of law. In 1894 he came to Faribault as an instructor in the pre- paratory department of the Shattuck school. In 1901 he became principal of the Lower school. founded in that year. In 1909 this school was incorporated as St. James school, and Mr. Jenkins became its head master. Mr. Jenkins is a Mason, belonging to the local Blute Lodge. Commandery and Chapter. He has been master and high priest and commander of the Commandery. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and has associated himself with the Faribault Commercial Club. He is an independent voter. Mr. Jenkins was married, July 25, 1888, at Lyons, Neb .. to Ella Gregoire. of that place. This union has been blessed with one daughter, Jessie Winifred, a student in St. Mary's school.

J. M. Jones was born in Faribault, Minn., June 5, 1856. He is a son of J. John Jones and Plooma (Sargent) Jones, the father a native of Canada, and the mother of the state of Maine. Mr.

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Jones was a farmer by occupation, and came to Minnesota in 1855; he located at Faribault, where he remained a short time. and then he pre-empted 160 acres in sections 27 and 28 in Forest township, where he has carried on general farming up to the present time. His wife died in 1893. Mr. Jones attended the district schools of Forest, and aiter leaving school worked on the farm until, in 1878, he bought a farm in section 27, Forest township, where he has done general farming and run a thresh- ing outfit up to the present time. In 1877 he was married to Helen A. Smith, a daughter of Hugh and Hulda Smith, both natives of Maine. They came to Minnesota in about 1856, and pre-empted land in Rice county, and engaged in farming. The father died in 1885 and the mother in 1886. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones : Lillian, now Mrs. F. G. St. Mars, of Forest; Edith, now Mrs. Paul Thielbar, of Dundas; Grace, now Mrs. Cody, of Forest ; Loren, now living at home, and Clif- ford, Joseph, Clarence and John, who are also living at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Jones is a Republican, and his religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served on the town board of supervisors, and also on the school board at different times, is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of Faribault and in the Farmers Creamery of Forest.

R. C. Krasemann, a self-made and progressive business man of Faribault, Minn., was born in Germany, June 24, 1877. While still an infant, he left the Fatherland with his mother and came to America, locating at Faribault, Minn., where he received his education in the public schools. Afterwards, he worked four years in the A. L. Hill Furniture Factory, and then engaged in farming for five years, after which he embarked in the flour and feed and undertaking business on his own account, continuing in this line two years. Mr. Krasemann next entered into the ele- vator business, being connected with the Central Minnesota Elevator Company and rapidly rising to the position of manager. The company does an extensive and increasing business through- out this section of the state, owning the Sheffield Milling Com- pany, the Sheffield King Milling Company, the Sheffield Elevator Company, and the Big Diamond Milling Company. Mr. Krase- mann is now acting as manager of the last named company, in which capacity he has been very successful. As to political con- victions, he holds to the principles of the Republican party, but has never aspired to office, being exclusively devoted to his busi- ness affairs. The Modern Brotherhood of America counts him a loyal supporter. June 26, 1901, he was united in marriage with Sybilla Kitzmann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Kitzmann, to whom have been born two children: Walter, born in 1902.

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and Carl, born August, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Krasemann attend worship at the German Lutheran Church. Their home is on the corner of Second street and Eighth avenue. Carl and Caroline (Lindenburg), parents of our subject, were natives of Germany. where the father died in 1881. The mother came to America in the same year. settling at Faribault, where she died January 22, 1894. The father of Mrs. Krasemann is also deceased. but her mother is still living.

William Kaut has been a resident of Faribault, Minn., since the fall of 1905. He is a native of St. Louis, Mo., and was born September 3. 1882, and is a son of William and Lavina (Gerd- man) Kaut. The father was born in Europe in 1848 and came to St. Louis in 1850. He was one of the leading commission mer- chants in St. Louis and was held in very high esteem. He served on the school board, was an active member of the Merchants' Exchange; also a member of the Odd Fellows, and stood high in the Masonic order. Both he and his wife were loyal members of the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1898, in St. Louis, at the early age of forty-two. The mother still resides in St. Louis. Our subject received a good grammar-school education in his native city and began his business life as office boy in a shoe factory, and has worked his way up. acquiring a thorough and practical knowledge of the shoe manufacturing business. He set- tled at Faribault in November, 1905, and accepted a position as foreman over a large force of men in the cutting department of the Shaft-Pierce Shoe Company. On March 2. 1908. Mr. Kaut was appointed superintendent of the factory, which position he still holds. In September, 1907. he married Myrtle Dean, whose parents were living in Pennsylvania, where the father still con- ducts a large department store. the mother having died in Fargo, N. D., in August, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. William Kaut have one child, named Virginia Fern.

Frank M. Kaisersatt, a native of Montgomery, Minn., was born January 27, 1880. Here he passed his boyhood, and acquired much of his education, completing this with a course in the Omaha Commercial College, of Omaha. Neb., in 1899. He then taught school in district No. 18. in Le Sueur county, for three years, during which time he also attended the Sherman high school at Montgomery, graduating from that institution with the class of 1904. In the year 1902 he accepted a position in a Rice county district, and was principal of the Willow Grove school in Wheatland township for two years. Acquitting himself with much credit, he was then offered the principalship of the Veseli school, which he filled with marked success for five years, and until his appointment as deputy county auditor, January, 1909, which position he now holds. In politics he is a follower of the

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Republican party and his influence in public affairs has always been for the good; especially in educational lines has he been very active. Mr. Kaisersatt has served as town clerk of the town of Wheatland, and as justice of the peace of the village of Veseli. He is prominent in fraternal organizations, being a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America, the C. S. D. P. J. (Bohemian Workmen), the Z. C. K. J. (Bohemian Catholic Union). He was married, July 6, 1905, at St. Paul, to Anna E. Nestaval, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nestaval, of Mont- gomery. They have one child, Harriet Mae Kaisersatt, born October 31, 1906. The family residence is on Second street, West. They are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Thomas J. and Catherine (Havel) Kaisersatt, parents of our subject, were natives of Bohemia, emigrating to America in 1865, and settling near Montgomery, Minn., where they engaged in general diversified farming till the father's death, July 6. 1901. The mother passed away in 1884.

F. L. Klemer, president of the Faribault Woolen Mills Com- pany, was born in Watertown, Wis., September 4, 1856, and is a son of C. H. and Anna (Frederca) Klemer. The parents came from the fatherland to Watertown, Wis., in 1848, and lived on a farm there till 1857; thence went to Goodhine county, Minne- sota, and farmed till 1865, when they moved to Rice county. Here the father established the business known as the Faribault Woolen Mills Company, and carried it on alone till 1892, when his two sons, our subject and H. F. Klemer, now vice-president and treasurer, were admitted to the business. The father of the concern died March 31, 1904; the mother died in January, 1893. Our subject attended the district schools and after leaving school he clerked three years in a shoe store, and later, with his brother, entered the woolen business, with which he has been connected ever since. In December, 1879, he married Lydia M., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Nippert) Schaefer. They had five chil- dren, viz .: Carl A., who was a practicing physician, and died in Germany in 1907; Edgar L., on fruit farm in Oregon; Walter F., who works in the woolen mills, and Albert A. and Helen E., who are attending school. Mr. Klemer belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, is a Republican in politics, and in religious faith is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. F. H. Klemer, who is a son of H. F. and Catherine (Roth) Kle- mer, natives of Wisconsin and Ohio, respectively, was born at Faribault, October 21, 1878. He acquired his education in the schools of his native place and at the State University, where he was graduated in 1901. He then spent three years in the engi- neering department of the Northern Pacific Railroad and in 1904 became bookkeeper for the Woolen Mills Company. On Octo-

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ber 16, 1907, he married Eleanor Jennings, and they have one child, named Mary Catherine.

Aris B. Kelly, a retired druggist of Northfield, where he was engaged for many years in the drug business, was born in Perrys- burg, Ohio, August 21, 1852, and came to Minnesota in 1865, locating on a farm near Lakeville, Dakota county. Tiring of farm life and anxious to make something of himself, he came to Northfield in 1869, and became a clerk in a general store of Hiram Scriver, where he remained ten years. In 1879 he engaged in the drug business, in partnership with J. L. Blackman, con- tinuing in this capacity until 1882, when Mr. Blackman sold his interest to Mr. Kelly and J. S. Tripp was taken into the firm as a partner. They conducted the business for a period of seven- teen years, after which Mr. Tripp sold to Henry B. Hamre, who had been a clerk in the store for many years. In the spring of 1909, Mr. Kelly sold his interest to Mr. Hamre, and retired from business. The building in which the store is located was built in 1886 by Mr. Kelly and is of brick and modern in every respect. Mr. Kelly is a very public-spirited citizen and has done much toward the growth and development of the city. He has served as a member of the council as alderman for six years, and is at present Federal supervisor of the Third congressional district in taking the thirteenth census in 1910. He has served five suc- cessive terms in the state legislature, where he has done faithful and efficient service. He is a member of high standing in the Masonic order, holding the office of treasurer, and belongs to the I. O. O. F., of Northfield, in which he has held all the offices. He is also a member of the Commercial Club, and has served as president for the past three years. In his politics he is Repub- lican. Robert and Amanda (Donaldson) Kelly, parents of Aris B. Kelly, were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The former was born August 12, 1813, and the mother May 18, 1825, daugh- ter of Thomas Donaldson, who was born July 25, 1786, in Vir- ginia, and married Nancy Saffer, also born in Virginia, October 8. 1790. He died in Muskingum county, Ohio, July 27, 1835, and his wife passed away November 30, 1879. They were the · parents of five children : Frank, George H., and John B. are dead; Henry K. lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and Aris B. is the subject of this sketch. Their great-grandfather, William Don- aldson, came from Scotland in colonial times, and settled in Vir- ginia. Mr. Kelly was married December 12, 1878, to Arvilla M. Eckles, who was born near Fort Wayne, Allen county Ind., March 15, 1855, daughter of William and Mary A. (Fetterer) Eckles. Mrs. Kelly comes of a sturdy Revolutionary stock, her great-grandfather, Arthur Eckles, having served seven years in the Revolutionary War, taking part in the battle of the Brandy-

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wine and other engagements. His son, John Eckles, served in the War of 1812, and his son, William Eckles, father of Mrs. Kelly, at the second call in 1861 for volunteers, formed Company G, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being at that time a resident of Antwerp, Ohio, and served three years and five months. He was chosen captain of his company and they joined the forces of General Sherman, and were constantly in action. He was the youngest of seven children, and was born November 30, 1821, and was married September 29, 1843, to Mary A. Fet- terer, who was born June 28, 1830. He died in Glendora, Cal., October 26, 1906, but the mother still lives at Pasadena, Cal. Mr. Eckles' father, John Eckles, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1788, and was married October 24, 1811, to Martha Hannon, who died in 1825. Her husband died at Northfield. September 13, 1872, at the advanced age of eighty- four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have been born two sons: Aris Verne, born January 3, 1881, is a graduate of the high school of Northfield, and afterwards took a course at the State Univer- sity, and is now holding the responsible position of credit man with Haley & Lang Company, of Sioux Falls, S. D. He married Fannie L. Babcock, October 12, 1905, and they have one child. Lawrence B., born May 5, 1907. The second son, Ralph E., was born February 1. 1883, is also a graduate of the Northfield high school and completed his studies with a business course and afterward entered the employ of Mr. Hamre, of Northfield.

Anthony W. Karp, an enterprising young business man of Faribault, Minn., was born there August 12. 1884. He is the fifth child of a family of thirteen children born to John P. and Mary (Degross) Karp, the former being a native of Germany and the latter of New Market. Scott county, Minn. The father, who is a shoe dealer, came to this country in 1869. He first settled in Hastings, in Dakota county, Minnesota, but in 1872 opened a shoe store at Faribault and conducted it in his own name till 1907, when the firm of A. W. Karp & Company was organized. The father and mother are both living. Of their other children, Elizabeth, the eldest, is a Sister of Mercy at Duluth : Theo J. is clerking at Faribault ; Henry J. also lives at Faribault ; Peter resides at Portland, Ohio; Mary lives at home: Margaret lives at Duluth, Minn., and Lena, Michael, Josephus, Mathilda, George and Cecelia live with their parents. Anthony W. acquired a good English education in the public schools at Faribault, and after finishing his studies entered his father's store and familiarized himself with all the details of the shoe business, remaining with his father till 1907, when the present firm of A. W. Karp & Company was formed. This firm has a fine up-to-date store supplied with all the necessary appli-

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History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II, Part 58

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