USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 67
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
1418 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
tinued in farming till their removal many years later to Fari- bault, where the father lived to enjoy the fruits of a well-spent life till 1892. The mother passed away in 1905.
Peter F. Ruge, a native of Holstein, Germany, was born Feb- ruary 17, 1842. He received his education in the public schools of Germany, after which he learned the milling trade, following this line until he emigrated to America in 1868. Arriving in America, he came to Minnesota and located at Faribault, where he was employed as a clerk in a general store for some time. Later he bought out his employer and conducted the business in his own name till 1880. During this time, besides attending to his mercantile affairs, he found leisure to devote to farming inter- ests which he had acquired. In 1880 he entered into the loan, insurance and real-estate business, representing eight different insurance companies, and also handling foreign tickets to and from the European countries. Mr. Ruge has been actively en- gaged in this business ever since, meeting with a very marked degree of success, and has become known as one of Faribault's squarest and most energetic business men. He is a very active member of the Democratic party, and has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of the community. The esteem in which he is held by his fellow townsmen is well evidenced by the numerous offices with which he has been honored. At present he is a county commissioner, serving his second term, elected with no opposition ; has served as alderman four years; mayor of the city of Faribault three terms; he was nominated for the fourth term, but refused the nomination for business reasons ; member of the board of health ; director in the Commercial Club ; president of the Harmonia Singing Society, and has also served as president of the Bundes of Minnesota Singing Society. He was married January 28, 1869, in Germany, to Anna M. Voss, making the trip especially to get his bride. Mr. and Mrs. Ruge have a fine home in the residence section of Faribault, located on the corner of First street and Central avenue. Three children live to survive their mother, whose decease occurred February 15, 1890: John H., a jeweler at Faribault; W. H., special agent for the Northwestern Underwriters' Fire Insurance Company, also located at Faribault; and Telsha, wife of Edwin R. Fleck- enstein, of Faribault. John H. and Trina (Schuelter) Ruge, par- ents of our subject, were both natives of Germany and carried on general farming there until the father's death in 1854. The mother died in 1846.
Ethan Rollins is a successful business man of Faribault, where he has lived since early boyhood. He was born in Houston county, Minnesota, August 4, 1857. His parents, Stanley and Adeline (Newton) Rollins, both natives of Minnesota, removed
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1419
to Faribault in 1877, where the father, who was reared a farmer, conducted a potash distillery until his decease in 1884. Ethan acquired his education in the public schools of Faribault, and after leaving school helped in his father's business, and after his father's death managed the business for his mother some seven years. He then worked as a painter fifteen years and in 1899 engaged in the oil business and carried on a successful trade in that line till 1906, when he bought the grocery business which he has since conducted and in which he is now successfully engaged. He has always devoted himself closely to his business and has had little leisure for outside affairs. In politics he ad- heres to the principles of the Republican party. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On June 1, 1899, Mr. Rollins married Addie, a daughter of Mathias and Ellen (Anson) Warren, both natives of Wisconsin. The father was a farmer all his life and died at Clear Lake, Wis., in 1906; the mother died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Rollins have two children, named, respectively. Audley B. and Dorothy E.
Joseph J. Rachac, a native of Belle Plaine township, Scott county, Minn., was born December 1, 1874. He acquired his education in the public schools of New Prague, Minn., afterwards attending the St. Paul Business College of St. Paul, Minn .. for two years, and in 1891 he graduated from the commercial depart- ment of St. John's University, of Collegeville, Minn. Ilis school days over, he entered the bank at New Prague as a bookkeeper, and remained in that position till the fall of 1892, when he was elected principal of the public schools of Veseli, which position he ably filled for ten years. Mr. Rachac then became deputy county treasurer, holding that office until his election as county auditor in 1904. This position hic held until January 1. 1909. In 1907 he accepted the position he now holds, of assistant cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, attending to his duties as county auditor as well, making him an exceedingly busy man for two years. Mr. Rachac owns a large amount of property in Rice county, having a half interest in a store at Veseli, owns a two-thirds interest in the Veseli Creamery and is a stockholder of the Citizens' National Bank of Faribault. He is a believer in the principles of the Republican party, and has always taken an active part in the affairs of the community. He is a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a follower of the Catholic Church. May 18, 1898, at Veseli, he was united in marriage to Anna F. Pavek, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pavek, prominent residents of the village of Veseli. They have two children, Sadie A. and Edith, both living at home. Frank J. and Josephine (Shimota) Rachac, parents of our subject, were
1420 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
born in Bohemia. The father emigrated to America with his parents in 1863, locating in Belle Plaine township, Scott county, Minn. The mother followed in 1867. Commencing at the age of nineteen, Frank J. worked up and down the Mississippi for six years, having the usual exciting and sometimes perilous expe- riences incident to life on the river at that time. He then returned to the old homestead in Belle Plaine township, where he was mar- ried, and took up general diversified farming and threshing, hav- ing the first steam thresher in that locality. In 1882 he sold the farm and removed to Traill county, North Dakota, where he resided for two years. In 1885 he returned to Rice county, locating in the village of Veseli, and purchased the general store of Joseph Maertz. where he has followed the general mercantile business ever since.
Dr. Arthur C. Rogers, superintendent of the Minnesota State School for the Feeble-Minded, located at Faribault, is an ac- knowledged authority on the subject of mental deficiency in human beings, and his efforts in the behalf of bettering the con- ditions and increasing the value of the feeble-minded to society at large have won him a nation-wide reputation. In spite of his multitudinous duties, which demand so much of his time, Dr. Rogers 'is democratic and approachable, and has taken a deep interest in the welfare of the city of Faribault, outside of those interests with which he is officially associated. Arthur C. Rogers was born in Decorah, lowa, July 17, 1856, and received his early education in the schools of Ohio and Michigan. After completing his preliminary studies, he took a course at the Raisin Valley Seminary, near Adrian, Mich., and then entered the Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., from which he graduated in 1877. with the degree of B. S. This college conferred the degree of LL. D. upon Dr. Rogers in June, 1905, in recognition of his work for the feeble-minded. During his first and third years at this college he did considerable tutoring in elementary chemistry. and after graduating he taught the village school at Fairmont, Kan. The following year he took charge of a country store at Fairmont for a time, and then accepted a position as head book- keeper in a large mercantile store at Glenwood. Iowa, June, 1879. In October of the same year he became bookkeeper in the Iowa State School for the Feeble-Minded at Glenwood, a position he held five years. During this time, having decided upon the care of the unfortunate as his life work, he studied medicine at the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, graduating in 1883 with the degree of M. D. His first practice as a physician was in the latter part of 1883 and the early part of 1884, when he was clerk and physician for the government training school for Indians, Chemawa, Ore. His work in this capacity was of such merit
DR. A. C. ROGERS
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1421
as to attract commendable attention, and while there he received appointment as superintendent of the State School for the Feeble- Minded at Faribault, arriving in this city August 20, 1885, and at once entering upon his duties. At that time the institution was comparatively small, having an enrollment of ninety. In the years that have passed since then, during which the capacity has been augmented to 1,300, and the enrollment 1,225, Dr. Rogers has proven himself equal to every emergency, and has under all circumstances proven himself pre-eminently fitted for the serious responsibilities of his office. Following are some of Dr. Rogers' professional and social affiliations: Member of the Masonic order, having taken the thirty-second degree; member of the Royal Arcanum; serving second year as president of the Rice County Medical Association; now serving second year as president of the board of trustees of the Faribault Congrega- tional Church ; member of the Faribault Commercial Club ; mem- ber of the programme committee of the quarterly conference of the state board of control and superintendents of state institu- tions; cx-president of the Minnesota state conference of chari- ties and corrections ; first vice-president of the Minnesota Acad- emy of Political Science ; secretary of the American Association for the Study of the Fecble-Minded ; member of American Med- ico-Psychological Association ; member American Association for the Advancement of Science; member of the American Asso- ciation for the Study of Epilepsy ; chairman of the sub-commit- tee on defecture of the committee on cugenics of the American Breeders' association ; member of the National Conference of Charity and Correction, having during the past twenty years served as chairman of the committee on feeble-minded for this conference at different times. In former years, Dr. Rogers served as a member of Company B, Fifth Regiment, lowa National Guard, of which he was first lieutenant. For two years he was president of the Travelers' Club, a Faribault association which includes many minds of breeding and of learning.
Arthur C. Rogers was married July 17, 1882, at Fort Dodge. Kan., to Phobe Coffin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Coffin. Five children have blessed their union: Arthur K. died in in- fancy ; Elloise H. is now studying music at the Lachmund Con- servatory of Music in New York City; Margueretta died in infancy; Helen L. is a student at the Minnesota State Univer- sity; Arthur W. lives at home and attends the graded schools of Faribault. In addition to his other duties, Dr. Rogers is editor- in-chief of the "Journal of Psycho-Asthenics," published at the institution, organ of the American Association for the Study of the Feeble-Minded. The parents of Dr. Rogers were Ansel and Cynthia (Benedict) Rogers, who came West in the early fifties
1422 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
and located in Iowa in 1852. The father was a clergyman of the Society of Friends, and was a miller practically all his life. He died in Richmond, Ind., in 1873, and the mother died near Ash- Jey, Ohio, in 1863.
C. A. Reed, of Dundas, was born in Canada, March 5, 1847, son of Alanson and Elizabeth (Bridges) Reed. The father spent his early life in Canada, where he was married, and later moved to the United States, and engaged in farming in Wisconsin. He died in 1902. His father, Salyerine Reed, was born in this coun- try, and lived to the advanced age of 106 years. C. A. Reed received his early education in the common schools of Wisconsin and later attended Marshall Academy, at Marshall, Wis. After completing his studies, he took up different lines of work, and subsequently went to Kansas in 1870 and spent two years for the benefit of his health, after which he returned to Wisconsin. In 1873 he came to Minnesota and located in Rice county, where he engaged in farming near Dundas, until 1896, when he retired from the farm and has since made his home in the village. He held several offices in the county, having been county surveyor for thirteen years, and superintendent of the state highways in the county. He is now serving as justice of the peace and is also a member of the village council. He is an independent voter. December 19, 1874, he was united in marriage to Olive T. Enis. a native of Canada, and to them have been born six children : Jessie, married to Otto Bolhman, a farmer; Teressa, married to Rev. WV. S. Gosman, who is the principal of the Mount Ellis Academy, at Bozeman, Mont .; John E., who is a railroad engi- neer, and has spent part of his time in Alaska; Salyerine, who lives at Bozeman, Mont .; Luella, who is a trained nurse, and Harl K., both of whom are at Bozeman, Mont. Mr. Reed is a highly respected citizen, who has acquired his possessions by hard work, and is now enjoying the benefits of his labors. He still resides at Dundas.
Hiram H. Reed, a native of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, was born May 25, 1830, and is one of the four survivors of a family of fourteen children (twelve of whom grew to maturity) born to John and Mary (Curtis) Reed. The father was a farmer and died at the age of fifty-two years. The mother was of Revolt- tionary stock, and lived to the age of seventy years. The other survivors are: Mrs. Catherine Smith, of Park Rapids, Minn. : Mr. Morris Reed, of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Amanda Schaver, who lives in Kansas. Hiram H. worked on his father's farm and attended the district school, but when six- teen years of age began railroading on the Washington Railroad, running over the mountains from Holly to Dunmore, and until he was twenty-one was engaged in repair work on a construction
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1423
train. He was next employed on the Michigan Central Railroad. running from Detroit to Michigan City, and when that road was extended to Chicago he was baggagemaster on the first train that entered that city, it being a mixed train, under the charge of Conductor Phelps. In the spring of 1852 he went to Galena, ill., and thence down the Mississippi to St. Louis, and from there to St. Joe, Mo., where he joined a large body of gold-seekers, and under the direction of an Indian guide made the trip overland by ox and horse teams to California, the journey taking fifty-five days. After reaching his destination. Mr. Reed hired out for one month for fifty dollars, then began work for himself, and for six years was engaged in mining on his own account, using all the various methods, from mining by hand to hydraulic hose mining, and had all the experiences that fell to the lot of the hardy pioneer miner of those days. On his return he went from San Francisco by boat to Panama, crossed the isthmus, and thence by boat, 1,900 miles to New York, and from there 130 miles to his early home in Pennsylvania. Continuing his trade after his visit home, he went via the lakes to Three Rivers, Mich. : from there through Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa, then by boat up the Mississippi to Hastings, and from there to Morristown. Minn., bought a span of mules and took up the northwest quar- ter of school section 36, in Morristown township. Rice county. being accompanied by his brother-in-law, Thomas J. Dexter. He subsequently gave up this location and bought 210 acres in sec- tion 13, and settled down to the work of opening and improving the land and making a home, where he lived until his retirement from farm life and removal to the village of Warsaw, in 1896. In the early days he endured all the hardships and inconveniences incident to pioneer life in a new country. Farming was carried on in the primitive ways, mowing being done with the scythe, grain being ent with a cradle and raked and bound by hand, and wheat being hauled to market at Hastings with ox teams, and sold for 45 cents per bushel. But with hardy courage and endur- ance, Mr. Reed faced and overcame obstacles, and lives to enjoy the well carned fruits of his busy and strenuous life. He carried on general farming and in later days was noted as a breeder of fine cattle and hogs and a raiser of sheep. Since selling his farm and his removal to the village, Mr. Reed has devoted himself to looking after his property there. For many years Mr. Reed has been identified with the Masonic order, being a member of Can- non River Lodge, No. 52, at Morristown. On March 16, 1857. Mr. Reed married Lydia L. Wilder, a daughter of Samuel Wilder. of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, who died October 20, 1893. Of six children born to them, the eldest, Nina, is married to Mr. J. Cassell ; George lives at Michigan, N. D .; Minnie is the wife of
1424 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
Mr. Thomas Moffett, Faribault ; Edward has his home in Michi- gan, N. D .; May is married to Mr. Edwin Davis, and Catherine, who lives in Utah. On November 16, 1897, Mr. Reed married Mrs. Belle Cheney, the widow of Mr. W. H. Cheney. Her maiden name was Wood, and she has had three children by her former marriage, viz .: Mattie Arliza, who is married to Mr. F. B. Kinyon, a young lawyer of Boise City, Idaho; John is a farmer at Beaver Falls, Minn., and Cynthia M., who died in early womanhood. Mrs. Reed is a member of the Episcopal Church at Warsaw.
Alfred Quist was born in Sweden. January 21, 1859. In 1875 he came to America, and worked for four years on a farm in Goodhue county. In 1879 he came to Rice county and located in Forest township, buying 160 acres, and later an additional forty acres in Forest township, on which he has done general farming up to the present time. In 1890 he was married to Ida Matilda Johnson. They have a family of seven children : Esther, Elmer, Marie, Emma. Hobert, Lenhart and Gladys, all living at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Quist is a Republican, and he is a member of the Lutheran Church. He has held many offices in the township.
Maxson S. Randall, who was born in Fulton county, Ohio, March 16. 1835, is the oldest of four children born to Russell and Amanda (Gunn) Randall, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Massachusetts. They were married in Ohio. whither the father, who was a master cooper, miller and cabinet- maker, came and thence went to Illinois, after which he returned to Pennsylvania, and thence back to Illinois. He returned with his family to Rice county, Minnesota, in 1855, settling on a claim of 160 acres in Warsaw township, where he built a log house and established the family home, and where he died in May, 1857. his widow surviving him forty years. Of their other three chil- dren, Annie is married to Henry C. Masters, and lives in Lyon county, Minnesota ; Horace lives with his family in Minneapo- lis, and Sewell G. died in the Civil War, a member of Company I, Fourth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Our sub- ject attended the public schools in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and after leaving school engaged in farming. He went to Nebraska City in 1859, and then for eight years was engaged under govern- ment contracts with Messrs. Russell. Majors and Waddell, carry- ing supplies for the army, across the plains. Returning to Rice county in 1867. he bought the family homestead and turned his attention to general farming. Under his management the place has been thoroughly and completely remodeled, new buildings have been erected and everything added in the way of equipment that is required in an up-to-date model farm, particular attention
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1425
having been given to the matter of stocking the place with high grade horses, cattle and swine. In 1904 Mr. Randall retired from the farm and since then has lived in the village of Warsaw. He has long been a leading man in the community, and has served three terms in the village council of Morristown. He is an active Mason and belongs to Cannon River Lodge, No. 52, of Morristown. In political sentiment he is a Democrat. His relig- ious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In May, 1867, Mrs. Randall married Abi Davis, who died in Feb- ruary, 1872. Of two children born to them, Bettie, the oldest. was married to Mr. K. Holbrook, and died in 1873. Therese died in infancy.
In March, 1873, Mr. Randall married Mary, a daughter of John and Mary (Schofield) Davis, both natives of Vermont, who settled in Minnesota, where the father died in 1880 and the mother in -. Of five children born of this marriage. the eld- est, Waldo, was killed by an accident on a wind mill ; Mary died when three years old, and Olive died at the age of eighteen months ; Rufus lives at home, and Ethel is married to Mr. James Waldon, and lives in Morristown.
Henry Remick was born in Harting county, Ohio, December 11, 1859. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Remick, natives of Germany. They came to America in the forties and located in Ohio, where the father worked out on a farm. In 1867 he came to Minnesota, and settled in Erin township. Rice county, and farmed there until 1907. when he sold his farm and bought in Forest township, where he now lives. Mrs. Remick died in Feb- ruary, 1901. Mr. Remick attended the public schools in Shields- ville, and after leaving school worked on a farm. In 1887 he bought 107 acres in section 18, and later eighty acres in section 20. Ile now lives on section 18 and does general farming. Hc was married in 1890, to Sophia Deman, a daughter of Christian and Johanna Deman, the parents being natives of Germany who emigrated to this country. Five children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Remick: Henry, George, Fred, Mary and Will- iam. Mr. Remick is a member of the Lutheran church. In his political views he is an independent voter. He has served on the town board. and is now serving on the school board. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company of Faribault.
Rev. John J. Slevin, the popular and beloved pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, at Faribault, Minn .. was born in County Longford, Ireland, March 4, 1855, where he passed his boyhood days. He received his early education in the classical schools of Longford. and in 1873, entered the All Hallam College at Dublin, where he completed his training for
1426 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
his life work. Leaving "the ould sod" in 1878, he came to America, and took up his profession at Shakopee, Minn., having the pastorate of St. Mary's Church there for a year and a half. He was called to Shieldsville, Rice county, in 1880, to take charge of St. Patrick's Church, having a membership of over 600, and remained here for two years, endearing himself to the hearts of the people. His rare ability demanded a larger field, however, and in 1900 he removed to Faribault, engaging upon his duties as head of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where he has ever since been. Reverend Slevin is greatly esteemed by the I.200 members of his congregation, and wields a wide influence in the community. In connection with the church there is a parish school having over 200 pupiis, which he directs.
Benjamin Saufferer, a prominent citizen of Faribault, Minn., was born on his father's farm in Waseca county, January 6. 1874. After his education in the district schools, he took up farming with his father until 1898, and then had complete charge of the old home farm for one year, afterwards removing to Faribault county, Minnesota, and engaging in farming two years. Coming to Warsaw township, Rice county, he purchased a 160-acre tract and continued in general mixed farming with much success till 1908, when he rented his farm and, moving to Faribault, bought his beautiful modern home, located on First street. South, and Sixth avenue, where he now resides with his family. In poli- tics he usually supports the Republican party, but believes the best interests of the community should prevail, regardless of party. He served as a director on the local school board while a resident of Warsaw township. February 16, 1898, at Morris- town, Minn., he was married to Caroline L. Reineke, born March 23, 1879, by whom he has two children : Walter J., born May 26. 1899, in Faribault county, and Myron W., born August 8, 1903. in Rice county, and died March 19, 1905. The family attend the German Methodist Church. John L. and IIenrietta (Miller) Saufferer, parents of Benjamin, were natives of Wurtemberg. Germany. Emigrating to this country in their younger days. they first located in Ohio, and then in Illinois. Afterwards, in the early sixties, they settled in Waseca county, near the Steele county line, the father engaging in farming on his 720-acre farm till his death, November 23, 1906. His wife still lives on the old homestead. Henry and Caroline ( Fehmer) Reineke, parents of Mrs. Benjamin Saufferer, were born in Hanover and Mecklen- burg, Germany, respectively. Coming to America, they first set- tled in Illinois, later removing to Steele county, in the early six- ties, where the father followed farming till their retirement to Morristown, Rice county, their present place of residence.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.