USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 15
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On June 4, 1901, Mr. Streitz was united in marriage to Rosa Yaeger, born in Rockville, August 15, 1866, daughter of Carl and Rosa (Enderle) Yaeger. To Mr. and Mrs. Streitz there have been born four children: Carl, born October 11, 1902; George, born January 7, 1904, and died October 13, 1908; Frances, born December 21, 1904; and Gertrude, born March 4, 1906.
Nicholas Streitz came to America at the age of fourteen and spent his young manhood in Illinois. In the middle fifties he came to Minnesota and located in St. Cloud township. He first built a shack. This was later replaced with a modern dwelling. He broke and developed the land, and became a prosperous citizen. After granite was discovered on his land, he leased the quarry rights, and in his latter years received a considerable royalty from this source.
Nicholas Streitz married Mary Weidert, and they had nine children, of whom there are living eight ; John L., Margaret, William, Mary, Joseph, Lewis, Clara and Julius. John L. and Joseph are quarrymen. Lewis operates the home farm. Mary married John Yaeger and Clara married John Johannes. The members of the family attend the church of the Immaculate Conception. Nicholas Streitz died September 5, 1910. His widow still lives on the home farm with her son, Lewis.
Mat. Blonigen, progressive farmer. of section 34, St. Martin township, was born in Calvary, Wis., March 10, 1859, son of John and Elizabeth (Heinen) Blonigen, who brought him to Zion township with the rest of the family in 1860. He was reared on the home farm and at the age of twenty-six was mar- ried. Then he located on a farm of 160 acres in sections 6 and 7, Zion town- ship, where he remained six years. After selling this place, he located on his present farm in section 34, St. Martin township, where he now owns 240 acres of good land. On this farm he has erected a modern home and a good barn 40 by 84 feet. In connection with his general farming he makes a specialty of raising good stock. He has been school treasurer, and has a share in the Farmers' Co-Operative Creamery, at St. Martin.
Mr. Blonigen was married in 1885, to Katie Doll, daughter of John Doll. She died in 1900 at the age of thirty-nine, leaving eight children : John, Lizzie, Katie, Anna, Christof, Mattie, Mary and Lena. The present Mrs. Blonigen was Mary Niehaus. She has borne Mr. Blonigen six children, Nicholas, Peter, Teresa, Margaret, Sophia and Josie.
Joseph Blonigan, merchant, blacksmith and good citizen of St. Martin village, was born in Zion township, this county, March 18, 1862, son of John and Elizabeth (Heinen) Blonigan. The parents were born in Germany, were married at Calvary, Wis., and in 1860 brought their three children, John, Nicholas and Mat., to Zion township, where they secured 160 acres in section 2, and started farming under primitive conditions. They erected a log build- ing, and with an ox team started to improve the place. In time they owned 320 acres. They erected a splendid stone residence, and other buildings in keeping with this. They also helped to erect the Church of St. Martin, R. C. The father and mother died a year apart, each at the age of seventy-four.
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The children born in Stearns county were: Margaret, Joseph, Gotthard, Eliza- beth and Christ.
Joseph Blonigan was educated in Zion township, and learned his trade in St. Joseph. For eleven years he worked in Villard, in Pope county. For many years past he has followed his trade in St. Martin village, where he owns in addition to his shop, a sightly nine-room house. He also owns a gen- eral store, where he does a good trade, and a tract of twenty acres of farm 'land which yields him some excellent crops. He has been president of the village for some time.
Mr. Blonigan was married at Sauk Centre to Theresa Aydt, born in Wright county, the daughter of Frank Aydt. She died March 10, 1913, at the age of forty-nine, leaving eleven children: Elizabeth, Joseph, Amanda, Leo, Alma, Hilda, Raymond, Clara, Marcella, Lorenzo and Alnisia.
Peter Haehn, a pioneer, was born in Germany, and came to Calvary, Wis., as a youth of nineteen. There he married Anna M. Schneider, also a native of Germany, who was brought to Wisconsin by her parents at the age of five years. In territorial days, Mr. Haehn assisted in surveying portions of Minne- sota. Later he brought his wife here, and settled in St. Martin township, on 160 acres in section 36. He was a member of the small colony, which made up the list of the first settlers in the county. He erected a log building and started farming with an ox team. During the Indian troubles they lived in St. Cloud, but soon returned to the farm. As time passed his place assumed the appear- ance of a well-ordered, well-improved place, with suitable buildings, stock, crops, and equipment. He was a leader in politics, was town clerk thirty-five years and town assessor thirty-six years, and did good service for one term as county commissioner, during which term he assisted in distributing seed to those who had been impoverished by the grasshopper plague. Mr. Haehn died in 1893 at the age of sixty-eight. His widow now makes her home in the village of St. Martin. She has reached the age of seventy-four. In the family there were seventeen children.
Valentine Haehn, merchant of St. Martin village, was born in St. Martin township, September 2, 1868, son of Peter and Anna M. (Schneider) Haehn. He received his early education in the district schools, and attended the St. Cloud State Normal School two years. Thus prepared, he taught school for ten years. Then he engaged in the mercantile business in St. Martin village. For ten years he was in partnership with John Braun, for two years he was with Chris. Braun, and since that time he has been in business alone. He car- ries a large stock, and enjoys an extensive trade. He has been president of the village for several years, and a leader of the St. Martin Cornet Band for over two decades. He is an active member of the St. Joseph Society.
Mr. Haehn married Josephine Braun, the daughter of John Braun, and they have eight children: Edward (deceased), Alma, Rosa, Annie, Hilda, Lit- wina, Edmund and Ferdinand.
Henry B. Haehn, educator, of St. Martin, was born in the township where he still resides, May 15, 1886, son of Peter and Anna M. (Schneider) Haehn, the pioneers. He passed through the district schools and the St. Cloud State Normal School, and then began teaching.' For two years he had charge of the
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school in District No. 72, Munson township, and since then he has taught in District No. 22, St. Martin. He also has a photographic studio. In 1911 he was elected recorder of St. Martin village, and for some years he has been an efficient officer of the Society of St. Aloysius.
Daniel Kuhl, an influential resident of St. Martin township, was born on the Kuhl homestead, in the township where he still resides, July 4, 1866, son of Peter, Sr., and Anna (Kirst) Kuhl. He received a good district school edu- cation and was reared to agricultural pursuits. For many years he was asso- ciated with his brother, Mathias. He and Mathias operated the home place together, and also owned a threshing machine outfit. Daniel later sold out his threshing machine interest to Nicholas Blonigan. Daniel and Mathias Kuhl purchased 240 acres in section 26, and for many years operated the property jointly. At that time there was an old residence on the place, but no barns. The brothers brought the farm to a high stage of cultivation and erected some excellent buildings. Daniel Kuhl bought out his brother's interest. He now owns 400 acres and has one of the best farms in the township, having been successful in every way.
Mr. Kuhl married Emma Arceneau, born at Cold Spring, this county, daughter of John B. Arceneau, a native of Montreal, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl have six children: Peter, John, Mary and Lucy (twins), Andrew and Anna, all at home.
Peter Kuhl, Sr., was one of the earliest settlers of St. Martin township. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in September, 1831, and was reared in his native kingdom. In 1856 he and his wife started for America, the voyage occupying forty days. They came at once to Minnesota, and located on Jacob's prairie in Wakefield township, this county. A year later they secured a fine tract of land on section 26, St. Martin township, lying mostly on the right bank of the Sauk river. They were among the very first families to locate here. They erected a log cabin and a log barn, and started farming with one cow. They had no tools and no wagon, and their furniture was of the most primitive kind. Gradually they secured the various necessities of farm life. During the Indian troubles they fled several times to Cold Spring. Flour and other provisions were brought from St. Paul. But as time passed they became prosperous and successful. They were devout people, and helped to build the old original log building for St. Martin's church. Mr. Kuhl held all the princi- pal township offices, and his opinions were held in high respect. Peter Kuhl was married in 1856 to Anna Kirst, also of Prussia. They had seven children : Susan (deceased), Peter, Mathias, Valentine (deceased), Margaret (deceased), Catherine (deceased) and Daniel. Peter Kuhl died in November, 1865. His wife died in 1898 at the age of seventy.
Mathias Kuhl, an extensive land-owner of St. Martin township, was born on the old Kuhl homestead, December 26, 1859, son of Peter, Sr., and Anna (Kirst) Kuhl. He attended the schools of his neighborhood and early became a farmer. For a time he was associated with his brother, Daniel, both in oper- ating the home place, and in managing the place now owned by his brother. For many years he was associated with Daniel in the threshing business, but now Nicholas Blonigan has taken Daniel's place as a partner in the outfit.
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Mathias Kuhl now owns over 600 acres in sections 12, 18, 19, 22 and 26, which includes the old homestead where he was born. He has a full equipment of everything needed to successfully carry on general farming, and his operations have been most profitable. He has been town supervisor, town treasurer, and school officer, secretary of the Sauk Valley Farmers' Co-Operative Creamery, and a director in the Paynesville-Zion Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Kuhl was married in 1886 to Lucy Diedrich, of St. Martin township, daughter of Pankratz and Christana Diedrich, the former of whom came to Wisconsin as a young man in 1844, and the latter of whom was brought there by her parents at the age of nine. The Diedrichs were married in Wiscon- sin, and in 1856 came to Minnesota, locating on 160 acres in section 36, St. Martin township. They experienced all the hardships of pioneer life, and like the other settlers, drove first to St. Paul and later to St. Cloud, after pro- visions. In their latter years they retired and moved to Richmond village. In their family there were ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl have had thirteen children : Robert, Mathias, John, Susan, Bernard, Leo, Katie, Louisa, Lizzie, Matilda, Elenora, Joseph and Ida.
Peter Kuhl, a substantial citizen of St. Martin township, was born in the township in which he still lives, September 4, 1858, son of Peter, Sr., and Anna (Kirst) Kuhl. He received a good English and German education, attending both the district schools and the St. Cloud State Normal School. For eight years he taught school in this part of the country. Since then he has assisted his brother, Mathias, on the farm. He is a popular man, and has been clerk of the township since 1894. He has also been assessor four years. While he is a Democrat in politics he is independent in thought, and votes for the man and the issue rather than for the party.
Henry Loosbroek, pioneer merchant and woodworker, of St. Martin, was born in Holland, February 13, 1839. The original form of the name was Van Loosbroek. The parents were John and Ella Loosbroek, and in the family there were three children, Henry, John and Ella. At the age of twelve years he was apprenticed to a wood worker, and thoroughly learned the trades of carpentry and cabinet making. In 1859 he came to America, and located at Dubuque, Iowa. In the fall of 1867 he came to Stearns county, and after looking about for a while secured a lot in the suburbs of the village of St. Martin. He followed his trade as a woodworker, and also engaged in several other lines of business. In 1880 he erected a large building in the village, and here opened a general store, hotel and boarding house. He was appointed post- master by President Rutherford B. Hayes and served for twenty-five years. He has also been constable and has served on the school board.
Mr. Loosbroek was married at Fair Play, Wisconsin, to Margaret Heisler, now deceased. There were twelve children born. For his second wife Mr. Loosbroek married Julia Iceward,
John Mondloch, merchant of St. Martin, was born in Belgium, Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, February 25, 1861, son of John B. and Magdalene Mond- loch, and grandson of Nicholas Mondloch. John B. came to America from Germany, and settled on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, about thirty-five miles south of Milwaukee. He erected a log cabin, broke roads to
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his claim, and started farming with an ox team. He married in Wisconsin, and with his wife started to wrest a living from the wilderness. Success came to him, and he became a town official and a substantial citizen. A devout fol- lower of the Catholic faith, he was an officer and one of the builders of the Lake Church, at Belgium, Wis. He and his wife died several years apart, each at the age of seventy. They had eleven children: Katherine, Elizabeth, Peter, John, Paul, Nicholas, John B., Jr., Mary, Anna, Theodore and Michael. John Mondloch received his early education and training on the home farm in Wisconsin. At the age of twenty-one he came to Minnesota, and secured em- ployment in Albany, this county. After his marriage in 1887 he settled on a farm of 160 acres, which he rented in section 2, Zion township. Two years later, however, his health failed and he moved to the village of St. Martin, where he opened a small hardware store. From this beginning he has built up a large establishment and a large trade, handling a full line of general hardware and farm implements. He has been both member and president of the village council, and constable of the township. By his marriage to Mar- garet Haehn, Mr. Mondloch has had twelve children.
Michael Murray, a typical Irish gentleman, and true Minnesota pioneer, was born in County Cork, Ireland, son of Patrick and Johanna (Ryan) Murray. The parents came to America in the early fifties, leaving their two children, Michael and Mary, in Ireland, and settled at Belleplaine, Scott county, Minne- sota. Michael joined his parents there at the age of twelve. Soon after that the father died, and the mother married Michael Mellett. In 1861, when the country was filled with the alarms of war, Michael attempted to enlist, but he was under age, and his mother would not give the necessary consent. How- ever, as a civilian, he gave his country material aid. During the troubled days of the Indian uprising he drove three yokes of oxen and three teams of mules over the Red River trail, carrying provisions, ammunition and relief to Ft. Abercrombie, Ft. Ripley and Ft. Ridgley. He was in the midst of the terrors of the massacre, and had many narrow escapes. After the war was over and the forts were abandoned, Mr. Murray became a riverman, working on steam- boats and rafts plying the upper Mississippi. In 1869 he secured a homestead in section 13, St. Martin township. The land was wild, no buildings had been erected on it, and no roads had been cut to it. He built a log cabin, and a log barn, and started farming with a yoke of oxen. He was given a cow as a wed- ding present. In the years that have passed since then he has become one of the leading men of the community. Of kindly instincts he makes many friends, and he and his wife delight in keeping open house, their hospitality being widely known and appreciated. He is a good farmer, a desirable citizen, and a considerate husband, as well as a loyal friend.
Mr. Murray was married in 1872 to Margaret Sullivan, of Belleplaine, Minn. She died at the age of thirty, leaving seven children, Patrick, Mary, Daniel, Hannah, Elizabeth, Margaret and Michael. September 28, 1888, Mr. Murray married Rosanna McCaffery, daughter of Patrick McCaffery, and widow of another Patrick McCaffery. Patrick McCaffery, the husband, came to Amer- ica as a young man from County Tryon, Ireland, and settled in Lowell, Mass., where he was married. He was drowned in the Merrimac river, August 14,
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1881, leaving one child, Thomas P., born July 5, 1880. The widow and child came to Minnesota in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have adopted a little girl, Madaline, born July 22, 1898. She is bright and intelligent and gladdens the affectionate atmosphere of the home.
Martin Noll was born on the home place, where he still resides in St. Martin township, July 17, 1863, son of John C. and Anna (Faust) Noll. John C. Noll was born in Bavaria, and came to America at the age of thirty-two. He was married at Fond du Lac, Wis., to Anna Faust, who came to America with her parents at the age of twenty-six. In 1857 they came to St. Martin town- ship with the first colony of settlers. They secured 160 acres and to this added by purchase forty acres of school land. They erected a log cabin and a log barn, and with an ox team began to clear the land. During the Indian trou- bles they went to Richmond for a while. John C. Noll was the first assessor of the township and later held other offices. In politics he was a Democrat. A devout Catholic in religion, he assisted in erecting several early churches. He died in 1899 at the age of seventy-six. His wife died in 1903 at the age of seventy. There were five children in the family: Joseph, Mary, Anna, Anna Marie, and Martin and Apollonia, twins.
Martin Noll has always remained on the old homestead. He has 250 acres of good land, and has been very successful at general farming. He has held office in the village council, in the Sauk Valley Creamery and in the St. Mar- tins Church. He was married January 15, 1888, to Katie Baumhofer, a native of Scott county, Minnesota, daughter of Frank and Louisa (Starkenkemper) Baumhofer, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Noll have ten children : John, Joseph, Peter, Frank, Norbert, Albert, Clara, Verena, Coletta and Hildegard.
Martin Shay, a pioneer, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and as a young man went to Liverpool, England, from which city he found his way to the United States, landing at New York. Working westward he finally ac- quired a farm in Rosemont, Dakota county, this state. He there married Cath- erine Hayes, who was born in Ireland, and came to the United States with her parents. He started out with his wife and seven children, and with an ox team and a lumber wagon drove to Stearns county, where he secured a homestead of 160 acres in St. Martin township. He erected a log cabin and started farm- ing in what was then an undeveloped country. He experienced the usual vicis- situdes of pioneer life, driving to Paynesville and St. Cloud for provisions. Later they erected a larger cabin, and there ended their days. Two of their children, David and Hannah were born in St. Martin township. The family contributed toward building the church at New Munich.
David Shay, a sucessful farmer of St. Martin township, was born on the place where he still lives, son of Martin and Catherine (Hayes) Shay, the pioneers. He has always remained at home. His excellent farm of 280 acres is highly improved, and his farm buildings are models of their kind. The barn is especially notable, 36 by 80 in dimensions, thoroughly modern in every way, equipped with a ventilator system, and possessing a basement lined through- out. The rafters are ten feet, and eight by eight timber was used in the con- struction. The mow is 36 by 80 feet, and extends to the roof, having a capacity of about 100 tons. A specialty is made of stock breeding. Mr. Shay is well
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known in the community and was one of the school officers of District No. 48. He was married in 1889 to Nora McGowan, and they have nine children.
Daniel Spanier, for many years a farmer in Farming township, was born in Prussia, Germany, and there married Kate Eve. In 1852 they came to America, and settled in Fond du Lac, Wis. In 1857 they came to Stearns county and located in the north part of the township of Rockville, several miles from the village of St. Joseph. There they built a cabin, and started farming. During the Indian uprising Mr. Spanier helped to bury the dead, for having seen four years' service in the German army, he was well equipped to brave the dangers of the Indian country. In 1863 he moved to 100 acres in section 31, Farming township. He erected a log cabin, started farming with an ox team, prospered as time passed. In 1874 he bought 100 acres of school land in section 36, St. Martin township, now the village of St. Martin. Here he died January 25, 1893. His wife lived then with her son, Christopher, and died May 14, 1908. Both were buried at the St. Martin Cemetery. Daniel Spanier served on the town and school board, and took his part in public affairs. He also had his share in the building of the Church of St. Martin in St. Martin village. In the family there were ten children: Anna, Katie, a deceased infant, Mathias, Mary, Josephine, Veronica, Christopher, Susie and John.
Christopher Spanier, the eighth child in this family, was born on the home farm in Farming township, October 29, 1870, and has always lived at home. He owns 360 acres in section 31, Farming township, and section 36, St. Martin village, and carries on general farming on an extensive scale. He has erected a barn and granary and takes particular pride in his good graded stock. He is clerk of School District No. 22, and president of the Sauk Valley Creamery Co. Christopher Spanier married Susie Mehr, who was born in Zion township, the daughter of Mathias Mehr. They have eight children: Mathias, James, John M., Hilda, Veronica, Michael, Leo and Aloise.
Peter J. Terres, a leading farmer of section 14, St. Martin township, was born in the township where he now lives, February 2, 1861, son of John B. and Catherine Terres. The parents were born in Germany, where they were mar- ried, and there had two children, Mathias and Mary. In 1857 they came to America, and located for a while in Chicago, where one child, Bertie, was born. In 1858 they came to Stearns county and secured 160 acres of land in section 25, St. Martin township. They built a small log cabin, and with an ox team began to break the wild land. For the first six weeks they lived on corn ground into meal in the hand coffee mill. During the Indian uprising they lived a short time in St. Cloud, but soon returned to their farm. In 1862 they erected a larger cabin. Though the father was a tailor by trade, he prospered as a farmer, and in time added to his possessions until he owned a half a section of land. He was treasurer of the township. He was a devout member of the Catholic Church, helped to build the old Church of St. Michael, and sang in the church choir. He died in 1903 at the age of seventy-two. His wife died at the age of seventy-six. The children born in St. Martin township were Veronica, Peter J., Elizabeth, Catherine and Susanna. Peter J. was edu- cated in the district schools of his neighborhood, learned farming from his
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father, and for a time rented the old homestead. Then he purchased 120 acres. To this he has added from time to time until he now owns 600 acres of good land, upon which he raises some excellent crops. He has ample buildings and a splendid farm equipment. Mr. Terres married March Lucy Doll, born on Jacob's Prairie, this county, daughter of John Doll. At her death she left five children : John D., Peter D., Michael M., Veronica and Anna. The pres- ent Mrs. Terres was Mary M. Schaffer, daughter of August Schaffer, a Chicago business man. To this marriage there have been born ten children: August (deceased), Catherine, Nicholas, Frank, Mathias, Marie, Elizabeth, Helen, Rosa and Barbara.
Frank Reaser, Sr., was born on the boundary line between Luxemburg and France, September 28, 1825, son of Henry and Mary Reaser. The mother died in the old country, and the father came to America and settled in Read- ing, Penn., bringing his two children, Frank and Caroline. Frank became a farmer in Berks county, Pennsylvania. He married Barbara Grell, who was born in Alsace, Germany, December 10, 1825, daughter of Antoin and Anna (Buser) Grell. Antoin Grell came to America and after living here ten years died. Then his widow and three children, Barbara, Elizabeth and Lena came, and settled in Carbon county, Pennsylvania. Later the widow came to St. Cloud, and died at the age of eighty-four. Frank Reaser and his family came to Minnesota in 1878, and located on the farm of his uncle, Peter Brady. Fi- nally they rented a farm a short distance north of St. Martin township, and still later purchased one in Farming township. Then for some twenty years they lived in St. Cloud. In 1910 they took up their home with their son, Frank, Jr., in St. Martin township. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reaser, Sr., were the par- ents of ten children.
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