History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 14

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

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Henry Storkamp, dairyman of St. Cloud township, was born in West- phalia, Germany, February 2, 1848, son of Barney and Elizabeth (Corhoue) Storkamp. He brought his wife and four children to America, in 1881, landed at Baltimore, Md., and came directly to St. Augusta township, Stearns county, where he rented a farm for a year. Then they moved to Minden township, Benton county, purchased a farm of 180 acres, erected a fine brick residence and a good set of out buildings and became prosperous farmers. In 1908, Mr. Storkamp came to St. Cloud township, and purchased a farm of forty acres

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in section 23. He has dairy routes in St. Cloud, and although he has been here but five years, is already highly regarded in city and township. Mr. Storkamp served one year as a member of the board of supervisors of Minden township in Benton county. Mr. Storkamp married Elizabeth Eversmann, a native of Germany. They have nine children: Barney, Ferdinand, Henry, Fritz, Martin, George, Frances, Elizabeth, and John T. Barney married Mary Kiffmeyer, and they have nine children. Ferdinand married Otilia Neeser and lives in Sherburne county, this state. Henry married Anna Sand and lives in St. Cloud. Fritz married Julia Walz, and lives in St. Cloud. Martin lives in St. Cloud and is married to Frances Schmit. George lives in Minneapolis. He is married to Bertha Sand. Frances married Toby Gertken, and they live in St. Cloud. Elizabeth lives at home.

John T. Storkamp, who is in partnership with his father in the dairy business, was born in Benton county, and received a good education in the public schools and in the business college at St. Cloud. He has charge of his father's dairy route in St. Cloud. He and his father are both intelligent and progressive men, and are rapidly forging to the front.

Benedict Aschenbrenner, one of the leading citizens of St. Joseph village, was born on the home farm, sections 15 and 16, this township, September 1, 1865, son of George and Leopaldina (Kost) Aschenbrenner. He attended the schools of his vicinity, and remained on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. At that age he came to the village of St. Joseph, and operated the steam plant at the convent of St. Benedict for two years. Then, with Mass, Pallanch & Aschenbrenner, he operated the St. Joseph Rolling Mill at St. Joseph for some seven years. In May, 1897, in company with Martin Loso and Joseph M. Linneman, he started the St. Joseph Creamery. Later Louis Rom- denne was admitted to the firm, but his interests are now owned by Mr. Asch- brenner. The business of this creamery is constantly growing. During the six warm months of the year, the average weekly output is 4,160 pounds. Dur- ing the winter months it is 1,600 pounds. While Mr. Aschenbrenner has been unusually successful in his business, he has also found time for public service, and his work as president of the village of St. Joseph for many years past has been highly appreciated. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Benedict Aschenbrenner married Catherine Loso, and they have nine children.

George Aschenbrenner was born in Munich, Bavaria, in August, 1818, and was reared by his grandfather and grandmother, his mother having died when he was very young. In 1840, shortly after he attained his majority, he came to America, and located at Johnstown, Penn., and it was there that he was married. In 1854 he and his wife came to Minnesota. They selected a claim in sections 15 and 16, but did not then locate here. Instead they went on to Little Falls, where he worked as a lumberman. It was about a year later when they came back to Stearns county and took up their residence on their claim. They first lived in a log house, but a short time later replaced this with a larger structure of logs, which in turn gave way in 1869 to a commodi- ous frame structure. Mr. Aschenbrenner died in 1874. His widow survived until September 11, 1911. Mr. Aschenbrenner, by trade, was a bread maker and candle maker, and during his life time in St. Joseph, made all the candles

B. ASCHENBRENNER

MR. AND MRS. JOHN G. BECHTOLD

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used in the Catholic church here. By his wife, Leopaldina Kost, whom he married in 1849, Mr. Aschenbrenner has ten children, of whom eight are now living: Mary, Anthony, Susan, Theresa, Monica, Benedict, John and Anna. Mary is now Sister Mary Ida, of the Order of St. Benedict. She is located at St. Joseph. Anthony married Christina Burggraff. They have three sons, and have adopted two girls. Susan married Gerhard Ablen, and they have nine children living. Therese and Monica live on the home place. Benedict is one of the leading citizens of St. Joseph. John is a farmer of St. Joseph township. He married Anna Friederich, and they have seven children. Anna is the wife of Carl Remley, and they have five children.

Frank X. Bechtold. a leading farmer, of St. Joseph township, was born in St. Paul, this state, on May 12, 1862, son of John George and Therese (Vogle) Bechtold. John G. and his parents came to America in 1852, making the voy- age in company with a family friend, Franz Sigel, who afterward became the famous Civil War general, and the distinguished victor of Pea Ridge. The family settled in Ramsey county, near St. Paul, and secured 400 acres of land. In 1864 John George Bechtold, and his family, came to St. Joseph township, and secured land in section 22, part of which had previously been owned by John Payne and part by Moses Morrison. John George Bechtold died in 1901 at the age of seventy-two. His wife died in 1911 at the age of seventy-nine. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living: Charles, Theresa, Rosa, Frank X., Ignatius, Anna (deceased), and Joseph. Charles married Mary Hoffman, of St. Joseph, and they have five children. Theresa married J. Barney Nilling, of St. Cloud, and they have four children. Rosa is Sister Mary Paul, of the Order of St. Benedict, and is stationed at New Munich. Ignatius married Kathrina Frederich, and they have five children. Anna married John Michalik, and has two sons. Joseph is married and a jeweler in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Frank X. was reared on the home farm and attended school in his neighborhood district. When he was nine- teen years he started to learn the carpenters' trade, and after he had mastered it he worked at this occupation for several years. In time he bought 269 acres in sections 22 and 23, and started farming. This tract he has since increased to 340 acres. His farm is one of the "show farms" of the township. His buildings are commodious and sightly and in a perfect condition of repair. Mr. Bechtold being a carpenter, has taken the deepest pride in his buildings and fences, and his skilful hand is at once apparent. In addition to carrying on diversified farming along the latest approved lines, Mr. Bechtold makes a specialty of Guernsey cattle, in the breeding of which he is an enthusiast. He is in every way an enterprising man, and is a leader in his community. Mr. Bechtold married Lena Lauermann, daughter of Nicholas Lauermann, an early resident of St. Joseph. They have twelve children: Rosa (a trained nurse), Abalonia, Peter, Albert, Kate, Cecelia, Joseph, Martin, Cornelia, Frank, John and Hildegaard.

Ignatius Bechtold, a modern farmer of St. Joseph township, was born on the home farm in section 22, this township, October 5, 1865, son of John G. and Therese (Vogle) Bechtold, the pioneers. He attended the district schools and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He is one of the active men of the

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community, and has a comfortable home and commodious outbuildings. His farm is one of the best in the township. He married Katrina Frederich, and they have five children : Helena, Alois, Beno, Lawrence and Theresa.

William T. Brinkman, a farmer of St. Joseph, was born in Rockville, Stearns conuty, January 11, 1864, son of George Henry and Susan L. (Taylor) Brinkman. George Henry Brinkman was born in Brunswick, Germany, Janu- , ary 15, 1829, and came to America in 1849. He located at Hunter, New York, in the Catskill region, and there followed his trade as a cabinet maker. From there he went to Massachusetts, where he remained some five years. He was there married, April 15, 1855, to Susan L. Taylor, a native of South Worthing- ton, Hampden county, Mass. In the same month they came west and settled at St. Anthony, now a part of Minneapolis. In 1856 he came to Rockville, in Stearns county, and selected a claim. He left his wife, and his two brothers, to hold the claim, while he worked for another year in St. Anthony. Then he came to Rockville, and started his farming operations. In 1864 he served several months in Company A, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery. After his dis- charge he went to St. Cloud, where his family had previously moved. How- ever, about a year later he once more took up his residence on the farm. While in Rockville he served in several offices, including that of treasurer, a position he held for some fifteen years. In 1895 he moved to California, where he died April 6, 1910. His wife passed away February 10, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. George Henry Brinkman had five children. Elizabeth is the wife of Jacob Staples; George H. died in 1882; William T. is a farmer of St. Joseph; Ida M. is the wife of H. E. Davis; Minna S. is the wife of C. M. Templin. William T. Brink- man attended the district schools, and also received a part of his education at home. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. It was in 1903 that he moved to his present place in section 34. He has erected a good house, roomy barns, and other suitable outbuildings. He is one of the progressive men of the township, and has been very successful in his life work. Mr. Brink- man married Ada A., daughter of Ivory and Rosetta (Alden) Staples, and a native of Maine. They have three promising children: Henry S., born Feb- ruary 9, 1902; Leslie T., born September 24, 1903; and Arthur W., born April 1, 1906.

Peter Loso was born in Prussia, Germany, February 24, 1824, and came to America as a young man. He worked in various places in the United States, and came to Stearns county in 1854. He took a claim in sections 9 and 10, St. Joseph township, and upon a part of his land, the village of St. Joseph was afterward platted. He took an active part in the growth of the village. He built a flouring mill and operated a saw mill, and after a time erected the Washington House, the first hotel in the village. This hotel he conducted until his death, October 27, 1877. His wife died in 1913. Peter Loso married Margaret Fiedler, whose parents were early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Loso had ten children, of whom there are living seven : Margaret, Martin, Mary, Michael, Katherine, Frank and Peter. Margaret married W. J. Lewis. Martin is men- tioned elsewhere in this work. Mary is the wife of J. W. Koop. Michael married Madaline Kramer and they have six children: Leona, Clarence, Cor- nelia, Melba, Lewis and Peter. Katherine is the wife of Benjamin Aschen-

MR. AND MRS. G. H. BRINKMAN

MR. AND MRS. IVORY S. STAPLES

MR. AND MRS. ADAM YAGER

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brenner, and they have nine children. Frank married Frances Gretsch. Peter married Mena Bernick, and they have six children.

John Herzberger was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, January 18, 1826, and was there married to Isabeth Dressler, a daughter of John Dressler, who became one of the early pioneers of Stearns county. Mr. and Mrs. Herz- berger came to America in 1855, and found their way westward to Minnesota, and eventually located in section 25, St. Joseph township, where they erected a log cabin, started breaking the land with the assistance of a pair of oxen, and lived true pioneer lives. As time passed they prospered. When they came here, they brought with them their oldest son, John, Jr., born in Germany. Three more children, Mary, Katherine and Margaret, were born here. Kather- ine is Mrs. Adam Yager. Mary is Mrs. Frederick Wendt. Margaret died at the age of six years.

Katherine (Herzberger) Yager, who supplies the information for this family record, was born May 17, 1862, and was reared in St. Joseph town- ship. One of the teachers who made the greatest impression on her life was Fred Schilplin, Sr., now deceased. In 1883, she was married to Adam Yager. Theirs was a long and happy life together, and the fruit thereof was twelve splendid children. But their happiness was brought to a sudden close, March 16, 1907, when Mr. Yager, and the daughter, Edith, were killed by a railroad train. While Mrs. Yager has never fully recovered from the shock of these sudden deaths, she feels that she still has much to be thankful for in the pos- session of her admirable family. She has borne up under her sorrow, keeping herself young in mind and heart, and has made an ideal companion for her children. The family lives on the well-improved farm of 360 acres, originally owned by Mrs. Yager's grandfather, John Dressler. The place is operated by Mrs. Yager's sons. This splendid farm, with its many comforts, its good crops, and its well-kept live stock, makes a home well worth having, and one of which the family is justly proud. The twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Yager are as follows: John is a veterinary surgeon. He is married, and has one daughter, Edna A. Edward married Beckey West. Edith, the twin sister of Edward, was killed at the age of twenty-one, in the sad accident above re- ferred to. George is a veterinary surgeon. Emma L. died at the age of three months. William, Robert and Arthur operate the home farm. Benjamin A. is dead. The three youngest are triplets. They are: Ethel Emma Josephine, Elma Michael Theodore, and Ellen Eva Luratie. Of these Elma Michael Theo- dore died at the age of two years and seven months.

John Henry Linnemann, one of the first settlers in the vicinity of St. Joseph village, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 11, 1825, and was there reared. As a youth he learned the stone masons' trade. In 1852 he came to America, and found employment at his trade in Lafayette, Indiana. There his mother joined him. There also he was married. In 1854 he and his wife started for Stearns county. They drove to Rock Island, Ill., and there took a boat to St. Paul. From that city they came by ox team to St. Joseph, arriv- ing in September, 1854, and settling in section 3. Quite a German colony ar- rived at about the same time. Mr. Linnemann erected first a log house and then a log store, which was a great convenience to the early settlers. This

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store was a primitive affair, with no flooring, and its supplies consisted only of the necessities. As time went on, he opened his log house as an inn for the accommodation of travelers. He also kept the barns at which the stage horses were accommodated. In 1862 Mr. Linnemann erected a mill on the present site of the village of St. Joseph. First he used a windmill for power, or when that failed a patient horse was used. Later he purchased an old engine, which was duly installed. The mill had three run of stones and a capacity of about thirty barrels daily. Mr. Linnemann conducted this mill for some twenty-two years. Mr. Linnemann was married about 1853 to Mar- garet DeHahan, who was born December 23, 1833, and died May 7, 1883. There were eleven children born to this union: Anna C. (deceased), Jennie A., Mary M., Regena M. (deceased), Joseph M., Rebecca M., Henry W., Nicholas L., Her- man J., Margaret B., and Alphonse M. By her first husband, Charles J. De- Meules, now deceased, Jennie A. had two children, one of whom is now living. By her present husband, Herbert N. Richardson, she has three children. The family lives in Minneapolis. Lena M. married John Henry Koop, and they have three children. Regena M. died shortly after her marriage to Wiliam J. Koop. Joseph M. is a prominent business man of St. Joseph. Rebecca M. mar- ried Daniel E. Regan. They live in Twin Falls, Idaho. Henry W. married Emelie Murphy, and has four children. He lives in Brainerd, Minn. Nicholas L. is a practicing physician, in Duluth, Minn. Herman J. married Sarah Canan. Margaret B. teaches school in Minneapolis. Alphonse lives in Duluth. For his second wife, John Henry Linnemann married Angeline Kraemer, November 7, 1885. She is still living, and is in the possession of knowledge such as few people command regarding the beginning and growth of this county. She is considered an authority on all subjects pertaining to the early history of this part of the state, and in all such matters she is deeply interested.

Joseph M. Linnemann, a successful merchant of St. Joseph, was born in St. Joseph, this county, March 5, 1862, son of John Henry and Margaret (De- Hahan) Linnemann, the pioneers. He attended the schools of his neighbor- hood, and also had the advantages of the commercial course at St. John's University, Collegeville, this county. Even as a boy he had been interested in the mercantile business, and upon his return from college he gradually be- gan to assume the responsibilities of his father's store. Since his father's death he has been sole manager. He carries a good line of stock, and enjoys the confidence of the community. He is a popular man, and is a member of the St. Joseph Society. Joseph M. Linnemann was married May 20, 1884, to Elizabeth Blommer. Of their ten children, there are living, six: Martin, Ed- ward, Marguerite, Alois, Edmund and Herman.

George Adam Marshall, one of the oldest living pioneers of St. Joseph township, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, July 19, 1838, son of Conrad and Margaret (Schmitt) Marshall, the former of whom was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, in 1808, and the latter on February 7, 1805. It was on November 11, 1853, that the family set sail for America, arriving in February, 1854. The five, father and mother, George A., Kunigunda and Conrad, landed at New York, and then went to Utica, in the same state. Later they found their way to Galena, Ill., there took a boat to St. Paul, and from thence came by team

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE A. MARSHALL

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to St. Joseph, arriving June 19, 1855. They secured 160 acres in section 15, and built a shanty. This was later replaced with a frame house. Other build- ings were erected from time to time as necessity required, and the farm was gradually developed and improved. The father died May 10, 1881, at the age of seventy-three years, and the mother in 1888, at the age of eighty-three years. George A. has continued to live on the home farm, and has attained prominence in the community, as well as success in his personal endeavors. While he has not cared to mingle prominently in public affairs, he did good service for ten years as clerk of the township, also as clerk of School District No. 9, for many years. At the age of fifty he was considered one of the finest looking men in the county, and he is still wonderfully well preserved. He keeps well abreast of the times, and is a member of the Stearns County Old Settlers' Association.

Mr. Marshall was married on November 9, 1866, to Anna Mary Guck, a native of Bavaria, Germany. She died September 21, 1905. To this union were born ten children, of whom eight are living. Anna teaches school in Ottertail county. Mary married Carl Hearung, and they have thirteen children. Otilia married Richard Nathe, and they have eight children. Theresa, of Minneapo- lis. Josepha married Albert Litzinger, and they have five children. They live at Waite Park, this county. Rose lives at home. Cecelia married Frank Drea- woes, and they have four children. They also live at Waite Park. Joseph lives at home. He married Helena Schulte. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hearung are: Mary (deceased), Otilia (now Sister Verona, O. S. B.), Anna (now Mrs. Joseph Hoesch), Bernadena (now Mrs. William Schoen), John, Aloysius, Romana, Rosa, Edelbert, Caroline, Angelbert, Fred and George. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Nathe are: Emelia, Alma, Peter, Reinert, Stella, Evelyn, Otto and George. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Litz- inger are: Conrad, Fred, Helen, Isabel and James. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dreawoes are: Adolph (deceased), Loretta (deceased), Lorina and Cyrill.

John Rassier, a worthy, substantial and respected pioneer, was born in Losheim, Germany, in 1823, and was there reared and educated. It was in 1854 that he came to America to try his fortune in the new world. For a year he lived in Chicago. In 1855 he came to Minnesota, and located in section 35, St. Wendel township, this county, where he eventually secured 208 acres of rich land. He erected a small cabin, and started to break and cultivate the land. Starting under the most primitive conditions, he gradually worked his way to prosperity. He improved and developed his farm and in time replaced the original log structures with more modern frame buildings. After the coun- try was settled up he still remembered with pleasure the events of the frontier days, he enjoyed the company of his old friends, and when the Old Settlers' Association was organized he was one of the first to enroll. He was an ex- cellent husband and father, citizen and neighbor, a man of influence in his community and esteemed by all.

John Rassier married Lena Warnert, also a native of Germany, and their children were: Elizabeth M., Nicholas B.

Bernard Schmallen, now deceased, for many years a worthy citizen of

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Stearns county, was born in Neidenbach, Kries, Bittburt, Trier, Germany. He grew up on his father's farm, attended the neighborhood schools, and lived the usual life of boys of his time and station. As a young man he came to America.

Mr. Schmallen was married November 30, 1893, to Elizabeth M. Rassier, the daughter of John and Lena (Warnert) Rassier, the pioneers, and they have one son, Gerhard J., born October 9, 1896, a graduate of the St. Cloud Business College. Mr. Schmallen died July 14, 1908. Mrs. Schmallen was born in the old log cabin on her parents' homestead in St. Wendel township, and was there reared. She now lives in her comfortable home in St. Cloud, and is well re- garded by her neighbors.

Nicholas B. Rassier, a farmer of St. Wendel township, was born in a log house on the farm in section 35, where he still resides, May 10, 1868, son of John and Lena (Warnert) Rassier. He was reared on the home farm and edu- cated in the district schools. He worked nine years for Kotschever & Timmers, at St. Joseph, but aside from that has always remained on his present place. He has a splendid farm of 448 acres and carries on general farming on an ex- tensive scale. He has been town clerk for ten years past, and has served for some time as a member of the school board of his district. In 1903 the house which his father had built was totally destroyed by fire, and in the fire his seven months old baby lost its life. Mr. Rassier at once erected a new and modern home.

Mr. Rassier was married to Julia Lauerman, daughter of Nicholas L. Laverman, and they have five children: Lena, Barney, Norbert, Fritz and. Roman.

Carl Yaeger was born in Baden, Germany, and came to America in 1848. After several years in Ohio, he came to Minnesota in 1855, and located in the town of St. Joseph, this county. Five years later he removed to Rockville, and took a homestead of 132 acres. Like all the early pioneers, he was at- tended by hardships and discouragements, but as time passed he prospered. He erected his home and other buildings, and became one of the leading men of his township, following general farming until about five years before his death, when he retired and moved to the city of St. Cloud. He died June 14, 1908. Mr. Yager married Rosa Enderlie, and to them there were born seven children, of whom there are still living five, John, Joseph, Rudolph and Rosa. Charles and Frank are dead. Mrs. Rosa (Enderle) Yaeger died September 14, 1910.

John L. Streitz, quarryman of St. Cloud township, was born in the town- ship where he still resides, January 1, 1869, son of Nicholas and Mary (Wei- dert) Streitz. He first attended a log schoolhouse and later a frame one. He learned farming from his father, and in June, 1901, immediately after his mar- riage, moved onto a neighboring farm, where he now owns 147 acres, partly underlaid with valuable granite. He hires the farm work done, while he and his brother, Joseph, operate the quarry previously owned by their father. The quarry produces a very fine grade of gray monumental granite. John L. Streitz has taken an active part in current affairs. He has been on the board of supervisors of the township for seventeen years. He is vice-president of

MR. AND MRS. NICHOLAS STREITZ

MR. AND MRS. CARL YAGER

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the Luxemburg Telephone Co. Mr. Streitz is also well known in St. Cloud, where he is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 14

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