History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 12

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

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Mathias Gans was born in Prussia, Germany, December 8, 1829, and landed at New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1856. He reached St. Cloud in 1857. Then for several years his interests and occupations were varied, and included several of St. Cloud's pioneer enterprises. During the war he was employed in the copper mines in the Superior regions. Finally he became a teacher at

CATHEDRAL, BISHOP'S RESIDENCE AND CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

Wakefield, Minn. In 1870 he was elected treasurer of Stearns county, a po- sition he held with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens until 1878. In December, 1879, he purchased a farm of 340 acres in sections 5 and 8, St. Cloud township. The family moved onto this farm in March, 1880. In 1905, Mathias Gans retired, and once more moved to St. Cloud, where he died April 26, 1906. Mr. Gans had a musical temperament, and was much interested in the vocal music clubs of the city. In June, 1863, Mr. Gans married Marie E. Pung, and they had children as follows: John, Hubert, Joseph, Peter, Michael, Mary, Edward, Leo P., Nestor, Norbert, Anna, Minnie and Rose. Mary married Leslie Morton; Minnie married Ernest Trei- schel; Rose married Joseph Schroeder.

Rev. Meinrad Seifermann, beloved pastor of the Parish of the Sacred Heart, Freeport, was born in Baden, Germany, August 20, 1867, one of the family of four girls and two boys born to Ignatius and Agnes (Kohler) Seifer- mann. The boy who afterward became the reverend father learned the trade of shoemaking in Germany. By diligent application to his studies he also managed to acquire a good education, coning over his lessons while working at the last. In 1888 he came to America and located in Spring Hill township, this county. In 1889, Meinrad Seifermann registered at St. John's University, Collegeville. He there took his classical and theological studies, and was grad- uated in the spring of 1899. He was ordained June 24, 1899, at St. John's, by the Right Rev. Bishop James Trobec. For three years he was assistant rector of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, St. Cloud. In 1902 he went to Minneapolis, and subsequently spent several years in Mission work in Canada. In 1908 he returned to Roscoe, in this county, and after a short service with the Parish of St. Agnes, there, was assigned to the Parish of St. Catherine, in Farming township. In 1912 he was assigned to his present par- ish. Father Meinrad is most admirably fitted for his work. He has known hard work and privation as a layman, and as a priest his devotion and piety has been marked. He is truly the father of his people, and his pastorate, by the grace of God, has resulted in much deeping of spiritual grace in the parish and community.

Rev. Andrew Straub, O. S. B., pastor of the Church of the Seven Daugh- ters, R. C., at Albany, Minn., has been one of the powerful influences for good in the community. A man of broad learning and wide culture and experience, he is an ideal village priest, a true father to his people, stern and uncompro- mising toward wrongdoing, but merciful and sympathetic toward the wrong- doer. He is a friend of education and progress, and his voice is ever raised in support of whatever is best in the life of the village and its people. Father Straub was born in Ashford, Wis., in 1855, son of Joseph and Ursula (Beigel- meyer) Straub. He was reared in his native county of Fond du Lac, Wis., and passed his youth on his father's farm. He attended the district and parochial schools at Ashford. His religious training was obtained at St. Francis, in Milwaukee, St. John's in St. Cloud, and at Duluth and Crookston, and was twenty-two years in Minneapolis. In 1881 he joined the Order of St. Benedict. In September, 1904, Father Straub came to Albany, and here, later, he cele- brated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his first mass. Much of successful work

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and worthy accomplishment has been perfected in the few years that have passed since his arrival. The congregation numbers about 1,500 souls, and the church property consists of a brick church, a large brick parochial school, and a pastoral residence of brick, as well as a well-kept cemetery where the pioneers lie at rest. The church was originally a frame structure, but it has been enlarged and changed to a brick edifice. Joseph Straub, the worthy father of Father Andrew Straub, was born in Württemburg, Germany, and came to America about 1832. After operating a farm at Gratzburg, Penn- sylvania, for a number of years, he moved to Fond du Lac, Wis. Of his six children, only two are living. Jacob lives on the home farm in Wisconsin.

Rev. Alexius Hoffman, O. S. B., was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, January 31, 1863. Both parents were natives of Germany and had settled in St. Paul about the year 1855. After attending the parochial school connected with the Church of the Assumption in that city, he entered St. John's College in Stearns county in September, 1875, and pursued the classical course of study for five years. In 1880 he became a member of the Benedictine Order; then spent four years in the study of philosophy and theology and was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1885. Ever since that time he has been con- nected with the faculty of St. John's University. From January, 1891, to July, 1899, he was director of the institution. Since 1905 he has been librarian of the Abbey Library. He has written a history of St. John's University, published in 1907. At present he is professor of theology and of English lit- erature in that institution.

Rev. Martin Schmitt, O. S. B., beloved pastor of the Parish of St. John, at Meire Grove, was born near Cologne, Germany, January 24, 1858, son of Joseph and Margaretha (Unkel) Schmitt, who started for America with their family in 1866. The mother died during the voyage, and the father and the four young children located at St. Louis, Missouri. After having secured a good home with a family for the older girl of 11 years and placed the three younger children, a boy and two girls, under the care of the Sisters of St. Joseph, in charge of the St. Vincent's German Catholic Orphan Asylum the paternal parent secured work and after four years he went to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he died some two years later, amid the comforts of re- ligion. The youth who was afterward to become the reverend father en- tered the University of St. Louis at St. Louis, in the fall of 1871. In 1872 he entered St. John's University at Collegeville, this county, and there finished the classical course. Having become a scholastic for St. John's he entered the novitiate at St. Vincent's Abbey, Beatty, Pennsylvania, where he made his simple vows. The following year he returned to St. John's, finished the philosophical and theological courses, and made solemn vows July 11, 1879. July 25, 1882, he was ordained by the Right Reverend Bishop Rupert Seidenbusch, of St. Cloud. His first assignment was to the Parish of St. Benedict, at Avon. While there he served missions at Alexandria and Belle River, and acted as a professor at St. John's University. In 1884 he went to Mandan, North Dakota, where he served missions in an area covering some 300 square miles, bringing the comforts of the church to people who had long been without spiritual benefits. In 1887 he returned to St. John's

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

University, was a professor in several branches, and also attended several mis- sions in the neighborhood. In the fall of 1888 he became pastor of the Parish of St. Boniface, at East Minneapolis, and in the following summer became as- sistant pastor of the Parish of the Assumption, at St. Paul. In 1890 he was ordered by his superiors to take charge of the Parish of St. Mary at Bismarck, North Dakota, where he revived religions interest, reopened a parochial school that had been closed, and attended missions to the north, northeast and south, covering a radius of from 50 to 75 miles. After six years of hard labor there, he was recalled in 1896 to Minnesota, to become pastor of the Parish of St. Boniface at Cold Spring, during the absence of the regular pastor who was abroad. In the fall of 1896 he became assistant to the pastor of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception, at St. Cloud. In May, 1897 he was sent by his superiors to start a parish at Roscoe. St. Agnes was selected as the patron, a church and parsonage were erected, and a thriving parish inaugurated. After three years of faithful work there, Father Schmitt was sent to the Parish of St. Martin, in St. Martin township, this county. In May, 1906, he came to his present parish at Meire Grove. He has merited and won the love of his large parish of 125 families, and the respect and confidence of the entire community. He has ever been a faithful, able and energetic worker for the True Cause of Right, and through his untiring work, by the Grace of God, the parish is in a flourishing condition and the people are now contemplating the erection of a substantial parish school.

Rev. Father Ludger Ehrens, O. S. B., pastor of the parish of St. Joseph, in St. Joseph village, was born in Walchum, Province Hanover, Germany, July 14, 1853, son of Herman and Elizabeth (Heyen) Ehrens. He was educated in the schools of his native land, and in November, 1872, he came to America. At once upon his arrival he entered St. John's University, in Collegeville, this county. He took his novitiate in 1874 and was ordained at St. Cloud by the Right Rev. Bishop Rupert Seidenbusch, O. S. B., on December 15, 1878. His first pastorate was the station of St. James, Stearns county, this state. In 1880 he was assigned to the parish of St. Martin, this county, where he re- mained six years. In the year 1886 he was stationed in the Parish of the As- sumption, at St. Paul, for a short time, and in the parish of Cold Spring, in this county, till September 1892. In 1892 he became pastor of his present parish in St. Joseph and remained till August, 1900. From the latter year he was with the parishes of St. Joseph, Minneapolis, Richmond, Minn., New Mun- ich, Minn, and Avon, Minn. In October, 1907, again transferred to his present charge.

Rev. Father Meinulph Stuckenkemper, O. S. B., beloved pastor of the Church of St. Martin, St. Martin township, was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Germany, January 17, 1837, a son of Casper Stuckenkemper, who brought the family to America in 1847. Father Meinulph prepared for college and then pursued his classical and theological studies at St. Vincent's College, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania. He was ordained July 20, 1861, and was assigned to the parish of the Church of the Assumption at St. Paul. Two years later he came to St. Cloud where he organized a parish and erected the Church of the Immaculate Conception, also the parish house. Then he served various

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mission parishes in southern Minnesota. In 1872 he took charge of the Im- maculate Conception Church at New Munich, in this county. Subsequently he was again attached to the Church of the Assumption at St. Paul, and after that he organized the parish and built the house of worship of the Church of St. Joseph, Minneapolis. Later he served the Church of St. Wendelin in St. Wendel, after which he did his memorable quarter of a century's work with the Church of St. John, at Myer Grove, in this county, beginning his service there in February, 1881. In 1906 he was assigned to his present parish. He has been one of the foremost church builders in Minnesota, suffering priva- tions, going without food and comforts, working in poor parishes, sacrificing every pleasure in order that the Church of God should flourish in this part of the world. The years have taught him that gentleness which is a man's greatest strength and his devout life is an example to the people of all de- nominations. His work has meant something to the community, and the world, by the grace of God, is the better for his having lived in it. On July 20, 1911, Father Meinulph celebrated the golden anniversary of his ordination, and many were the felicitations he secured upon his half century of faithful service.

Mathias A. Bussen, postmaster, journalist and business man, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1851, son of Henry and Anna Margaret (Horren) Bus- sen who spent the span of their years in Germany. The children in the family were: Herman, Elizabeth, Bernhard, Henry, Joseph, Mathias A., Gerhard, Christina and William. Of these children, Henry was the first to come to this country. He left Germany and reached St. Louis, Mo., in 1866, just after the close of the Civil War. It was in 1870 that Mathias A. came. He secured employment for a while as a clerk in St. Cloud, this county. Then he entered St. John's University at Collegeville, where he took a three years' course, finishing in 1875. Subsequently he went to Quincy, Ill., where he clerked in a store, and then to St. Louis, Mo., where he was employed as a traveling sales- man. In 1876 he returned to St. Cloud, where he once more secured work as a clerk. After his marriage in 1877 he came to Richmond, where he entered a store as bookkeeper and clerk. In 1880 he engaged in the general mer- cantile business at Richmond, with a partner. In 1892 this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Bussen entered the real estate and general investment business. On July 4, 1902, he issued the first number of the "Richmond Standard," one of the most popular papers of this vicinity. This paper is still published, J. M. Bussen being his father's partner in the venture. From 1885 to 1893, Mathias A. Bussen was postmaster of Richmond, and since 1898 he has been in that office continuously. He has also served two years as chair- man of the board of supervisors of Munson township, and for many years was town clerk and justice of the peace. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Bussen married Anna Lieser and they have eleven children : L. H., J. A., B. L., J. M .; Anna W., wife of H. Woolsey; Sister Mary Alesia, O. S. B .; Sister Mary Alice, O. S. B .; Sarophine, Ulric, Aloysius and Hilda.

Bernard Bruening, retired farmer of Richmond, and brave veteran of the Civil War, was born in Hanover, Germany, September 22, 1839, son of Henry and Angelica Bruening, who brought their family to America in 1846 and settled in Missouri. In 1855, one of the sons, Gerhard, the brother of

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Bernard, came to Stearns county. After looking about he returned to Mis- souri to get his widowed mother and his brothers and sisters. With four yoke of oxen they started out for their new location, the trip consuming seven weeks. The quarter section of land which they obtained embraced the present site of Richmond. Bernard secured 160 acres two miles east of St. Martin. He was on the pleasant road to prosperity when the Civil War broke out. Believing thoroughly in the cause of the Union, he enlisted in Company G, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, in all a period of three years and five days. He saw strenuous work on many a bloody battle field. Much of the time he was in the hospital corps. After the war he returned to his farm. He was very successful in his operations, and increased his holding until he owned 200 acres. In 1899 he retired and moved to the village of Richmond. Mr. Bruening was married in 1868 to Margaret Schlener, a daughter of George Schlener, who was one of the early settlers of Munson township. She died in 1911 at the age of sixty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Bruening adopted two children, Joseph Larmer and Maud Lugneatte.

George Engelhard, a leading citizen of Richmond, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 26, 1844, son of Valentine and Catherine (Busch) Engel- hard, who brought him to Ohio in 1846, and to Munson township in 1859. George Engelhard lived on the home place in Munson township about fifty- three years. As a farmer he has been very successful. The home place has been increased to 240 acres, and brought to a high stage of development and improvement, and under his diligent care its operation has been very profit- able. But in building up his own interests, Mr. Engelhard has not forgotten the welfare of the community. He has been a school officer for a consider- able period, he has given satisfaction as township supervisor, treasurer and assessor, he sat with dignity in the lower house of the Minnesota legislature, and his twelve years as county commissioner will not soon be forgotten. In a private capacity he has also aided in the growth and development of the county. Mr. Engelhard was married June 11, 1867, at Richmond, to Angeline Korte, and they have ten children: Valentine, Catherine, Mary, Henry, Bar- bara, Therese, Jacob, Gertrude, Elizabeth and Barney. Angeline Korte, now Mrs. George Engelhard, was born in Hanover, Germany, March 7, 1846, daugh- ter of Barney and Anna (Schle) Korte, who in 1860 came to America and set- tled in Farming township, Stearns county, bringing their five children: Wil- liam, Catherine, Henry, John and Angeline.

Jacob Engelhard, a retired farmer of Munson township, was born in Ger- many, January 6, 1837, son of Valentine and Catherine (Busch) Engelhard. The parents came to America in 1846, bringing with them the six children : Stephen, Valentine, Jacob, Catherine, George and Martin, the latter of whom died in St. Cloud after their arrival here. The family lived in Ohio some thirteen years, and there the father worked at his trade as a shoemaker. Then they started out for Minnesota, making the trip up the Mississippi by boat to St. Paul, and then by means of a team of horses to Richmond, in Stearns county, arriving April 28, 1859. They located on a claim of 160 acres three miles west of Richmond, and erected the second frame house built in this vicinity. During the Indian troubles they remained on the farm, but thoroughly forti-

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fied themselves. During the height of the trouble they never locked up for the night without collecting all their axes, pitchforks, guns and the like, in order to be prepared against sudden attack Amid surroundings, Jacob, the subject of this mention, spent his young manhood. He married, and after the Indian uprising was over, he and his good wife located on 160 acres of land near his father's home. He built a log cabin, 18 by 28, and started farming with an ox team and two cows. Later he added 120 acres to his original farm. In time he erected new buildings and added modern equipment. After more than thirty-five years on this farm he retired and moved to the village of Richmond. He is a Democrat in politics and has served in school office. He and his family attend the Catholic Church. Mr. Engelhard married Thracie Wilber, and they had the following children: Valentine (deceased), Eliza- beth, Catherine, William, John (deceased), Eva (deceased), George, Joseph (deceased), Mary, Glasesus (deceased), and Rose.

Thracie Wilber, now Mrs. Engelhard, was born in Germany, October 15, 1842, daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth (Coch) Wilber, who came from Ger- many to Westphalia, Clinton county, Mich., bringing their children: John, William, Henry, Joseph, Elizabeth, Marian, Catherine and Thracie. In 1858 Thracie came to Jacob's Prairie in Stearns county to join her brother, John, and here she met Mr. Engelhard.

John Kost, village marshal of Richmond, was born in Johnstown, Penn., in 1856, son of Clemens and Theresia (Schaiber) Kost, who brought him to Stearns county in 1860. He was reared on the farm, and after his marriage settled on what was known as the "disputed" land, near Morris, in Swift county, Minn. Since 1882 he has lived continuously in Richmond. He has been constable twenty-five years and marshal twenty years, and makes a most excellent guardian of the peace. Mr. Kost has many interesting recollections of life in the early days, and has many thrilling and amusing stories to tell of his experiences in driving an ox team which freighted goods between St. Cloud and Winnipeg.

John Kost was married in 1878 to Anna Kesler, a native of Chilicothe, Ohio, daughter of Frank and Cecelia (Riley) Kesler both born in Baden, Ger- many. Frank Kesler was born in 1819, came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Ohio. Cecelia Riley was born in 1829, the daughter of Bartholo- mew Riley, and was brought to Ohio by her parents in 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Kost have seven children: Paul (deceased), Frank (deceased), Benjamin, Edward, Lydia, Clara (deceased) and Stella.

John Lang, a prominent merchant of Richmond, was born November 3, 1867, three miles southwest of that village in Munson township, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Lang. He was reared on the home farm and received such meagre education as the schools of his time and neighborhood afforded. At the age of seventeen he abandoned the farm for commercial pursuits by open- ing a general store with Jacob Schlener as a partner. By strict attention to business they have built up a good trade, and now have the leading store in the village. In addition to this, Mr. Lang deals extensively in real estate. He has been president of the village and has served on other public offices. Mr. Lang married Mary Kost, daughter of Clemens Kost, a pioneer. She died

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in 1906 at the age of thirty-three, leaving five children: Albert, Aloysius, Sylvester, Benjamin and Lavretta. The present Mrs. Lang was Elizabeth Reoder, born in Roscoe, this county, daughter of Nicholas Reoder. The chil- dren are Leona and Lucille. Joseph Lang was born in Iowa, the son of Con- rad and Barbara Lang. His wife, Elizabeth, was brought to America by her parents as an infant of nine weeks. In 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lang came to Stearns county and located in Munson township, with the early pioneers. They erected a log cabin, and with a yoke of oxen started to break the land. They constructed a primitive wagon, making the axles out of wood, and furnishing it with wheels by cutting round slices out of logs. In this wagon they drove to St. Paul for supplies. During the Indian uprising they sought refuge at Richmond. Through hard times they passed to prosperity, and be- came substantial members of the community. Joseph Lang died at the age of sixty-five and his wife is still living. They had seven children, two boys and five girls.

P. A. N. Vreyens, vice-president of the Richmond State Bank, was born in France, August 5, 1842, son of Peter and Mary Adaline Pauline Vreyens, who spent the span of their years in France. The father, Peter, was one of thirty-six children, and was the father of sixteen. The subject of this brief mention lost his mother at the age of two years, and his father at three years of age. He came to America in 1868, at 26 years of age, and located in Phila- delphia. Two years later he came to Minnesota. He taught school in Henne- pin and Carver counties, and was county superintendent of schools in the latter county for five years. Subsequently he came to Richmond as an ac- countant. It was in 1902 that he entered the Richmond State Bank, as cash- ier. In 1907 he became the vice-president. He is a member of the Bankers' Association. Mr. Vreyens was married in 1890 to Mary Heffaley, who was born in Alsace, France, and died in Richmond, Stearns county, at the age of sixty-three. Their one child died at birth.

John P. Myers, respected pioneer and honored veteran of the Indian cam- paigns, was born in Prussia, Germany, October 20, 1842, son of John and Bar- bara (Engle) Myers, the pioneers. The parents came to Iowa in an early day, bringing their children, Barbara, John P., Elizabeth and Jacob. After remaining in Iowa some ten or twelve years, the family came to Stearns county and located on a quarter section four miles west of Richmond, in Munson township. They began life in a log cabin and gradually achieved prosperity. On this farm both parents ended their days. John P. started out for himself at about the age of eighteen. During the Indian troubles in 1862 he took a most active part in the measures for defense. He joined the Home Guards, a military organization organized to protect the settlers. The Guards patroled the vicinity of Richmond, and gave a sense of security to the pio- neers. In October, 1862, the subject of this mention was in the home of Henry Thein, a mile west of Richmond, when at about 5 o'clock one morning the place was surprised by Indians. The cabin was crowded to its utmost capacity, many of the inmates being women and young children. All were sleeping on the floor. Twenty or thirty shots entered the cabin, and kitchen utensils and crockery were smashed, but the shots were too high to injure the sleeping

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settlers on the floor. Mr. Myers was one of the detachment that pursued the Indians beyond Paynesville toward Norway lake. During the next win- ter, Mr. Myers worked for Austin, Freeman & Richardson, co-partners in operating a hotel at Richmond. In October, 1863, as a teamster for Henry Burbank, the famous stage man, he accompanied Hatch's Independent Bat- talion to Pembina. He returned in the spring of 1864. He and Claudius Weiber established a brewery in Richmond, this being the first in the county outside of St. Cloud. This partnership continued for three years. Then Mr. Myers sold out, and engaged in farming in Eden Lake township. Like so many of the pioneers, he started farm life in a log cabin and with a yoke of oxen. He became a very prosperous man. He was respected by his fellow townsmen, and his opinions on public questions were highly valued. He was supervisor for eighteen years and also served in other town and school posi- tions. For a time he conducted the Washington Hotel, in St. Cloud, but with this exception he remained on the farm from the time he purchased it, until 1903 when he retired and moved to Richmond where he now makes his home. Mr. Myers was married in 1866 to Kate Lemm, a native of Luxemburg, a daughter of Henry Lemm, of St. Augusta township, this county. There are seven children : John, Henry, Kate, Peter, Jacob, Lizzie and Mary.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 12

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110