USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 62
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 62
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country, and who were among the first settlers of Wells town- ship, settling on a claim which the father located in Section I. The rude log cabin which they built for their first home here was afterwards replaced by a comfortable house, and other buildings and improvements were added, and the place, under the father's management, became one of the most productive farms in the township. He carried on general farming and was prosperous and thrifty and added to his first claim by the purchase of 200 acres at a later date. His death occurred in 1892 and that of his mother in 1902. Charles P. supple- mented his common school education with a high school course, and after leaving school was some ten years engaged in teach- ing, in the meantime carrying on farming. He was instrumen- tal in starting the Forest Creamery in 1896 and had the man- agement of it some ten years, and in 1906 organized the Fari- bault Creamery, and managed same three years.
Mr. Manahan has served in some local offices, is indepen- dent in his political views and actions. In religious faith he, with his family, are connected with the Catholic church. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Manahan, on May 2, 1894, married Miss Mary Dwyer, whose parents, William and Theresa (Keeley) Dwyer, were born in the United States, of Irish parents, and settled in Forest township, Rice county, Minnesota, where the father died, and the mother died later in Cannon City. Mr. and Mrs. Manahan have nine children, named in order of their birth: John, Will- iam (deceased), Charley, Frank, Irene, George, Raymond, Isi- dore, and Hellen M.
George W. Murphy, one of the enterprising business men of Faribault, Minn., was born at Beloit. Wis., October 3, 1852, and is the oldest of a family of seven children born to Richard and Catherine (Flemming) Murphy. The parents emigrated from Ireland, their native country, in 1848, and settled on a farm in New York. In 1850 they removed to Beloit, Wis., where the father was engaged as railroad contractor. In 1862 he settled on a farm in Section 1, Warsaw township, Rice county, Minnesota ; in 1869 moved to Section 35, Wells town- ship, and there reared his family and made his home till his death, which occurred February 23, 1904. The mother now- 1910-lives in Faribault. George W. acquired his education in the Faribault schools and worked on the home farm till he attained his majority. He then opened a real estate office at Faribault, with Mr. John L. Cashell, which relationship con- tinued some five years, when Mr. Cashell withdrew, moving to Grafton, N. D .; and since 1882 Mr. Murphy, remaining in the old office, has conducted a successful business in real estate.
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mortgage loans and conveyancing. Mr. Murphy has been somewhat active in public affairs and served ten years as city recorder. He is a Democrat in politics and served three years as chairman of the county democratic committee. In religious faith he is a Catholic, and he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Indepen- dent Order of Foresters. On June 2, 1881, Mr. Murphy mar- ried Miss Rosa V .. a daughter of John and Catherine (Carling) Moran, who came from Ireland to Canada and lived there till 1869. then removed to Goodhue county, Minnesota, living there till 1873, whence they settled at Faribault, where they died ; the father's death occurring October 30, 1874. Of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, the eldest, Rosa M .. is married to Mr. J. J. Mahoney, of Faribault. Catherine B. is the wife of Mr. A. J. Kilkenapp, and lives at Faribault; Mary Alice is a teacher at Carrington. N. D .. and Frances, the youngest, lives at home. She is an alumna of the Faribault high school.
William C. Meyer was born in Germany, April 19. 1866. His father, Henry Meyer, was a weaver, which trade he fol- lowed until his death, in 1891. His mother, Katherine ( Tatge) Meyer also died in Germany, in 1896. William C. commenced his education in a graded school in Germany. Not having the means of obtaining a regular education, Mr. Meyer started to follow the trade of his father. This he practiced for a year. when he again strove to obtain something better and different. The next year he went on a farm as a helper and continued the same until 1884. when he emigrated to America. Upon his ar- rival here Mr. Meyer located at Faribault, working as a com- mon laborer during the summer months and attending Eng- lish schools during the winter months. Tiring of this system of work, he hired out to a farmer by the year. laboring as a farm hand until 1892, when he purchased 160 acres of land in Section 14, Richland township. Upon this farm he made vari- ous necessary modern improvements and still continues general and dairy farming, making a specialty of raising Holstein cattle.
During the same year he was married to Elizabeth Meese, daughter of Ernest and Louisa (Rodewald) Meese. Mr. Meese was a native of Illinois and came to this state in 1864. locating at Wheeling. Rice county, where he engaged in farming until 1906. when he retired from active life and moved to Faribault. where he and Mrs. Meese (a native of Germany) still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have five children, namely : Lillian. Ernest. Oscar, Harry and Robert, all living at home with their parents. Mr. Meyer is very much interested in the public welfare of his community. He is a director of the school board, which office he has had since 1904. Ile is also town treasurer and treas-
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urer of the Richland Creamery AAssociation. His political senti- ments are with the Republican party. His religious faith is with the Evangelical church.
W. L. T. Meyer, a farmer of Wheeling township, was born in Prussia, Germany, September 20, 1839, son of Louis and Doras Meyer, natives of Germany. The father, a farmer in his native country, was one of the early settlers in Minnesota. He emigrated from Germany in 1854, locating in Illinois; then the following spring-1855-he moved to Minnesota, locating in the town of Wheeling, Rice county, where he made a pur- chase of 160 acres of land in Section 29. After living here two or three days he went into the timber a short distance from the home and opened a road and never returned. His remains were found the following spring: how he met his death was never known. The family deprived of the father and protector, it devolved upon the son, William, to take charge and work the farm, which he continued to do until August 22, 1862, at which time he enlisted in Company B, Eighth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, doing service in the Civil War until he was mus- tered out with honor, July 11, 1865. After the end of the war he returned to the farm, where he has remained ever since, carrying on general and diversified farming.
Our subject received his education in Germany. After leav- ing school he worked on a farm in the old country and {came to America with his parents. In 1865 Mr. Meyer married Louisa, daughter of Fred and Mary Kicknake, natives of Ger- many, who came to America in 1853 and located in Illinois. They removed to Minnesota in 1855 and located in Section 20, in the township of Wheeling, Rice county, where he farmed until the time of his decease. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer is blessed with eleven children, viz .: Emma, later Mrs. Will- iam Duke, now deceased; Gustaf. who is married, lives in Cali- fornia; Minnie, now Mrs. Charles Kiel, a farmer in Wheeling township; William, deceased; Frank is married and works the farm for his father; Rudolph lives in California; Ida, deceased : John and Eddie both reside at Faribault; Lawrence resides in Kenyon, and Clara, deceased. Mr. Meyer affiliates with the Re- publican party, but has never sought the responsibility of any office. He, with his family, belong to the German Evangelical church. He has filled local offices in his community, has served on the town board about twenty years and also on the school board.
John Jacob Miller is a prosperous and influential farmer and stock breeder of Morristown township, Rice county, Minnesota. His model farm of 200 acres in Section 27, with its complete equipment of modern appliances its remodeled, up-to-date
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barns, silos, granaries, cribs, sheds, garage and commodious farmhouse, its splendid herd of thoroughbred black and white high grade registered Holstein-Frisian cattle and its herd of Poland-China swine, and fine Belgian horses, all of the proprie- tor's own breeding and raising, and its bountiful yield of the various grains, hay and other products, is one of the beauty spots of Rice county. Mr. Miller was born in Rice county, in 1864, and is one of a family of seven sons, five of whom are liv- ing, and two daughters born to John Jacob Miller, the other children being Louise, the wife of Mr. Richard Christian, and Lena, the wife of F. K. Miller, both residents of Orlanville, Minn .; Henry, who lives in Faribault; William, of Chicago; and Aaron and Samuel R., of Morristown. The father was among the pioneer settlers of Lesueur county, Minnesota, prior to the Indian uprising and passed through that terrible ordeal. He subsequently settled on the northwest quarter of Section 2, in Warsaw township, Rice county, which he subdued and im- proved and where he made his home and reared his family. His death occurred about 1899. Our subject acquired his edu- cation in the district schools and on attaining his majority went to Lac-Qui-Parle county, where he bought a claim, and lived till his return to Morristown. While in Lac-Qui-Parle county he served in various local offices. Besides looking after his vast farming interests Mr. Miller is largely engaged in other affairs and is president of the Morristown Creamery and the Morris- town Telephone Company. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Miller married Cecilia Von Escher, of Morristown, and they have six children, named, respectively: Jesse, Pearl. John. Daisy, Bessie and Donald.
Aaron E. Miller, a brother of John J. and senior member of the firm of Miller Brothers & Company, hardware dealers of Morristown, was born in Rice county, February 7, 1867. He spent his boyhood in Warsaw township and there attended the public schools. Subsequently he spent fourteen years farming in Lac-Qui-Parle county and then returned and engaged in the hardware trade with his brother-in-law, L. F. Von Escher, and his brother, S. R. Miller. He is a trustee of the German Evan- gelical church, of Morristown. He married Emma Von Escher. and they have two children, Gladys and Ralph.
Samuel R. Miller, the third member of the firm of Miller Brothers & Co., was born on the old homestead in Warsaw township, September 24, 1872, and grew up and acquired his schooling there. He owned a fine farm in Waseca county, which he leased. He married Lillian, a daughter of Mr. John Bosshardt, of Morristown. He is a Free Mason and is treas- urer of Cannon City Lodge, No. 52, of Morristown. He also
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belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The firm of Miller Brothers & Co., besides dealing in all kinds of light and heavy hardware, carry a complete line of farm implements and machinery, and conduct an extensive and growing trade in their up-to-date storc.
Joseph Meillier, successful and prosperous farmer of Wells township, Rice county, Minnesota, was born in France, Novem- ber 20, 1858. His parents, Alexander and Louise (Sleige) Meil- lier, came from France, their native land, in 1865, and settled on a farm near Faribault, where the father died in 1870. The mother returned to her native land in 1907 and now lives there. Joseph acquired his education in France, and after leaving school turned his attention to farming. He came to Minnesota in 1881 and farmed two years, and in 1883 went to Winneshick county, Iowa, where he purchased twenty acres of land, where he lived eleven years, returning to Rice county, Minnesota, in 1894, and bought eighty acres of land in Wells township, to which he added another eighty acres. He carries on general farming and dairying, selling the product to the Faribault Creamery, in which he is financially interested. The place is finely improved and stocked with a splendid herd of short horn cattle. He is also interested in the Faribault Elevator. Mr. and Mrs. Meillier have three children, named in the order of their birth : Mary, Joseph B. and Eva. The family is affiliated with/ the Catholic Church in religious faith. In politics Mr. Meillier is a Republican, but has never held any office. He was in the mili- tary service seven years before leaving his native land.
Paul Michael is a farmer who has made his way in the world by faithful work, perseverance, and economy. He is a native of Wisconsin, and was born December 13, 1860, to Frederick and Louise (Vinkleman) Michael, who emigrated from the Father land and settled on a farm in Wisconsin in 1855. They removed thence to Le Sueur county. Minnesota, and from there to War- saw township, Rice county, in 1879. and settled on a farm which became the family homestead. Here the father met an untimely death on May 27, 1887, through an accident while working in a well, a son also losing his life at the same time. The mother continued to live on the home farm until her decease, in 18 -. Paul attended the district schools and later studied two years in the State school. After his father's death he took charge of the home farm, and later leased it two years.
In 1894 Mr. Michael purchased the farm of 180 acres which he now owns, and began its improvement and development. Besides general farming, he has given special attention to dairy- ing, and has a splendid herd of Durham cattle. He has also given much attention to breeding fine farm horses, formerly
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raising the Belgians, but later changing to the Percheron, and keeps a fine registered stallion. Mr. Michael has always taken an interest in the affairs of his community, and has filled local offices, such as school director, treasurer. etc. He is a Repub- lican in his political beliels, and in religious faith is affiliated with the Baptist denomination. On December 7, 1892. Mr. Michael married Miss Winnie, daughter of Fred Becker, who came from Germany, their native land, and settled on a farm in Waseca county, Minnesota. The father died and the mother afterwards lived with our subject and his family and died in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Michael have five children, named, respect- ively, Raymond. Salva, Ethel. Lilly and Harold.
Jacques Mueller, a retired farmer of Morristown, Rice county. Minn., is a worthy example of the self-made, successful man who makes his way by persevering hard work. He was born in Alsace. Germany, January 15. 1849, a son of Michael Mueller, and there learned the mason's trade. In 1873 he came to the United States, and worked at his trade in Sullivan county, New York, three years. In 1877 he went to Faribault, Minn., and in his search for work, walking from place to place, came to Mor- ristown and secured a job plastering the farmhouse of John Molin, and thereafter had no difficulty in getting work. He settled on an eighty-acre tract in Morristown township, which he bought for $700. in the fall of 1878, and built a rude log cabin, sixteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions. This land was located in section 15, and was covered with timber, basswood. oak, elm and maple, which he cleared off from year to year. grubbing by hand at first and later with the aid of an ox team. and fitting it for cultivation. He borrowed the money with which to buy the farm from John Sauffer, from whom he also bought a cow. In these early days, full of privation and hard- ships, he drove to church on Sunday, taking his wife and chil- dren, and made the most of what he had, and patiently plodded, hoping for better things. Later he bought a span of horses. borrowing the money, $175, from William Crawford, now de- ceased, to pay for them. He cut his hay with the scythe and cradled his grain and raked and bound it by hand, and, in fact, did all his work in the primitive fashion of pioneer days. While his family were growing up, he kept a hired man to help in the farm work, and himself worked at his trade much of the time, and among other things built numerous stone culverts and bridges. He built the bridge near the old Hershey grist mill. also built three bridges across Devil lake, on the county line, and another near Waseca. By good management, economy and thrift, Mr. Mueller was able to improve his land and add to his holdings from time to time. He now owns 120 acres, all under
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cultivation, except eighteen acres reserved for timber, and with its fine buildings and substantial brick dwelling and modern and up-to-date conveniences, it ranks with the best farms in the township. Mr. Mueller has practically retired from active work, the farm being carried on by his son, John, who has it stocked with a fine herd of Durham cattle, splendid horses of his own breeding and raising, and high grade swine. In 1873, at Brook- lyn, N. Y., Mr. Mueller married Caroline Gicher, a native of Alsace, Germany. Of eight children born to them, the eldest died in young womanhood : Jacob, the second child, lost his life in a cyclone near Morristown; Maggie, the third child, is mar- ried to George Scheffman, Jr. These three were born in New York. Louis, the fourth child, is married to Fred Neabaur ; Katie lives with her parents; John lives on the old homestead ; Dora lives at home, and Clara is a school teacher. The family are all loyal members of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Mueller has served in various local offices, and in 1910 was elected a member of the village council of Morristown. He holds independent views in politics and casts his ballot for the candi- date whom he thinks best qualified to fill the office sought, re- gardless of party affiliations.
Frank Merat, a native of Switzerland, was born February 24, 1855. He passed his boyhood and received his education in the Fatherland, coming to America with his mother at the age of twenty (his father having died), and locating at Faribault, Minn., where he was engaged in various labor till 1878. when he purchased an eighty-acre farm in Wells township, which he worked for the next three years. He then sold out and bought a 160-acre tract in South Prairie, where he followed general diversified farming for the next six years. Then he moved to St. Augustine county, California, where he acted as foreman of a 500-acre fruit farm, owned by D. M. Dalmas, which he han- dled very successfully and gave entire satisfaction to his em- ployer the ten years he was in charge. Afterwards he returned to Rice county, acquiring a thirty-five-acre farm in Walcott township, which claimed his attention for the next four years. Mr. Merat then moved to Faribault, where he purchased an cleven-acre tract, on which he erected his present residence. He also owns eighty-three acres of land near Cannon City. In political principles he is independent of any party, always voting for the man he believes best qualified for the office. In religions faith he is a follower of the Catholic Church. February 24, 1902. he was united in marriage with Janette Portier. They have no children.
H. A. Mueller is one of the substantial farmers and breeders of Holstein-Friesian cattle of Wheeling township, prominently
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identified with public affairs of Wheeling. He was born in Wheeling township, Rice county, April 30, 1860, the son of Will- iam and Sophia (Schwake) Mueller, natives of Germany. The father is a farmer and emigrated to America in 1858, located in Illinois, remaining there a short time, and thence removed to Minnesota, and located in Rice county, township of Wheeling, where he took a claim, which he improved and engaged in gen- eral farming until his death, which occurred in 1868. The mother died in 1901. The subject of this sketch received his education in district schools of Wheeling township. After leaving school he worked for his step-father ten years; he then bought 160 acres in section 8, where he has carried on general farming up to the present time. On June 24, 1886, Mr. Mueller married Emma, daughter of William and Mary ( Helberg) Grote. natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in the later forties. They located in Illinois, where they remained until 1858, at which time they came to Minnesota and located in Rice county, Wheel- ing township, where the father tarmed until the time of his death, in 1871. The mother passed away in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Mueller have ten children, viz .: Meta, William and Emma, who are all living at home: Henry died in 1908; Bertha and Mary both died in infancy; Selma, August, Ingebor and Dena, who are all living at home. Mr. Mueller favors the Republican party. In religious faith he is identified with St. John's Evangelical Church. The fact that Mr. Mueller has served as supervisor on the town board seven years, director of the school board for a number of years, and a road inspector, goes to show that he is well appreciated in his community. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Creamery at Nerstrand and the Farmers' Elevator at Faribault, and a member of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America.
Charles W. Marks was born in Saratoga county, New York. March 22, 1846. He was a son of Geo. W. and Phebe Jane (Smith) Marks, both natives of New York state, the father was a farmer. He came West in 1849 and rented a farm in Wiscon- sin : from there, in 1854, he came to Walcott, Rice county, Minn., and pre-empted 120 acres, upon which he did general farming up to the time of his death, in November, 1875. The mother died in 1904. Charles Marks was educated in the district schools of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and for one term attended the Seabury grammar school at Faribault. After leaving school he went back on the farm, where he worked until he enlisted in Company H, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, under com- mand of Captain Ruble. He was mustered out at Fort Snelling in November, 1863. He re-enlisted in Company H, Third Min- nesota, February, 1864, at Jamson, and was mustered out Sep-
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tember, 1865, at Duvales Bluff, Kan. After the war he returned to the farm, where he has continued to live up to the present time. He was married, October 23, 1875, to Phebe Jane Fish, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah A. (Carr) Fish, the father a native of England and the mother a native of Canada. Mr. Fish was a shoemaker by trade. He came to America and first located in Canada, and afterwards came to the States. He served in the Black Hawk War. In 1857 he located in Wisconsin, and in 1861 he moved to Minnesota and located at Minnesota Lake, where he remained until 1875. Ile then moved to Minneapolis, where he lived until 1889. and then moved on the farm with their daughter, Mrs. C. W. Marks, where they lived until their death, September 16. 1904. It was the prayer of Mr. Fish that both he and his wife should pass away at the same time. This prayer was granted, and both died on the same night and within two or three hours of each other. Mr. and Mrs. Fish had a family of ten children and two adopted children. One child has blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Marks, George Henry ; he is now married and has one child. Mr. Marks is a Republican in his political views. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and of Masonic Lodge, No. 9, of Faribault. He was elected treasurer of the school board in 1898 and served nine years. He is a stockholder in Wright Relationship League.
William M. Meehl was born in Pennsylvania, June 8, 1858. He is the son of Jacob and Henrietta (Peter) Meehl, natives of Germany. They came to America in 1846 and located in Penn- sylvania. They remained there until 1863 and then moved to Minnesota, settling in Forest township, Rice county, where the father homesteaded eighty acres and later purchased 160 acres ; here he carried on general farming until his death in 1887. The mother died in 1902. William M. Meehl attended the district school in Forest, and after leaving school worked on his father's farm. In 1880 he bought 267 acres, on which he has carried on general farming up to the present time. He was married in 1883 to Carolina Voss. a daughter of Henry Voss, a native of Ger- many, who emigrated to America and located in Forest town- ship, where they now live. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Meehl: Edward, William, Arthur, Henry, Goodwin, Elizabeth, Anna and Theresa, twins, and Clara and Kora, also twins. In politics Mr. Mechil is a Republican, and a member of the Baptist Church. He has served on the town board of super- visors and is now serving on the school board. He is a stock- holder in the Webster Co-operative Telephone Company, Fari- bault Co-operative Elevator Company, and the Montgomery Co-operative Store.
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