History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 16

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

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Frank Reaser, Jr., a prosperous farmer of St. Martin township, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania. As a boy he worked in the coal mines of his native state. In 1878 he was brought to this county by his parents. He has had a busy life, and has been a farmer, a mechanic and a business man. He now lives in the village of St. Martin. He has been a member of the village board for several years past, and has served in other public capacities.

Frank Reaser, Jr., married Katie Linster, who was born in Zion township, this county, daughter of Paul and Dora (Miller) Linster. Mr. and Mrs. Reaser, Jr., have six children : Edward, Tracie, Rosa, Clara, Alfonse and Frank.

George A. Hanna, journalist, useful citizen and retired clergyman, was born in Corning, Iowa, August 30, 1875, son of Robert Wesley and Louise (Butterfield) Hanna. He attended the graded and high schools of Lu Verne, Iowa, and subsequently worked his own way through a college course, attend- ing Cornell College, Iowa, from 1895 to 1898, and Morningside College, at Sioux City, Iowa, from 1898 to 1900. He then started preaching, occupying pulpits in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. After preaching several years he was ordained at Waseca, Minn., as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal faith. In 1910 he became editor of the Annandale "Advocate" in Wright county. May 1, 1912, he purchased the Paynesville "Leader-Press," and the job and print- ing business of W. W. Holmes, and consolidated the two as the Paynesville "Press." The newspaper is an influential journal, and has a good circulation.

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It always stands for progress and for the best interests of the community in every way, maintaining at all times the highest ideals of civic ethics. He has a large job printing establishment, fully equipped to turn out any kind of printing work except binding. The work is of the highest standard, and every detail is most carefully looked after with conscientious attention. Mr. Hanna still maintains his interest in Christian work, and has been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school since coming to Paynesville. He was married at Lu Verne, Iowa, Nov. 23, 1900, to Regula Figi, of that place, and they have two bright sons, Paul R., born June 31, 1902, and Russell G., born December 12, 1907.

Christian Adam, mason and contractor, was born in Saxony, Germany, May 4, 1856, a son of Christian and Mary (Schmitt) Adam, who spent the span of their years in Germany. Christian Adam, Sr., had seven children: three, Sophia, Marie and Christian, were by the first wife, and four, Gotfried, Teresa, Minnie and Anna, by his second wife. Christian Adam, the subject of this sketch, received a good education in Germany, and served three years, from 1877 to 1880 in the Germany army. When scarcely more than a youth he was married in Germany to Anna Krambush, by whom he had two sons, Albert and Paul, the former of whom was born Jan. 2, 1882. In 1884, Christian Adam came to America, accompanied by his young son, Albert. He reached Colum- bus, Ohio, March 7, 1884, and there learned the trade of mason. In 1892 he came to Paynesville as a contracting mason. Since then he has been continu- ously engaged in this work. Among his more notable contracts may be men- tioned the Paynesville High school, and the plants of the North American Cold Storage Co., at Paynesville, and at Alexandria, Minn. In Paynesville, Mr. Adam married Wilhelmina Trappa, a native of Germany, daughter of Chris. Trappa, who came to America from Germany, and located in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Adam's son, Albert, whom he brought from Germany, is also a mason. He is well known as a ball player, and in 1913 played on the team of the North Dakota league. Christian Adam, the subject of this sketch, is an influen- tial and popular man. He is an enthusiastic fraternity, and is the present grand master of Paynesville lodge, No. 131.

Joseph C. Peters, general land agent and investor, with headquarters at Paynesville, was born in Swede Grove township, Meeker county, Minn., 1873, son of Alfred George and Fidelia (Pickle) Peters. Alfred was born in Eng- land, and was descended from the family that gave the British Empire, Lord John Russels, premier of England. Alfred came to Canada as a young man, and was a volunteer in Her Majesty's troops during the Fenian rebellion. His wife, Fidelia Pickle, was born in Vermont, the daughter of Church and Harriet (Harrington) Pickle. Church Pickle was of Holland descent. His wife, Harriet Harrington, was of Scotch and English descent. Her ancestors came over in the Mayflower, and their family name appears signed to the famous Mayflower compact. Mr. and Mrs. Peters lived for a time in Brome county, Province of Quebec, Canada, and there their oldest daughter, Rose, was born. About 1865, the family came to Meeker county, this state, and settled on eighty acres of land in Swede Grove township. This was eventually increased to 240 acres, lying in Swede Grove and Harvey townships. Joseph C., the subject of this sketch, was, as already mentioned, born in Swede Grove

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

township, while the other brother, Henry, was born a short distance away in Harvey township. The family became very prominent in the affairs of the community. Alfred Peters was an enthusiastic church worker and became Sunday school superintendent in the Methodist Episcopal church at Union Grove. His wife was one of the pioneer teachers in Swede Grove township. The daughter, Rose, taught in Harvey township for a period of about fourteen years, and is one of the oldest teachers, in regard to years of service, in that vicinity. Alfred Peters died in 1905 at the age of 65. His wife died in 1896 at the age of sixty. They had moved to Union Grove about 1883. In this family of exceptional ancestry, character, culture and refinement, Joseph C. Peters was reared. He attended the schools of Forest City, Litchfield and Union Grove, all in Meeker county, and also received considerable instruction at home. He engaged in farming on the home place in Union Grove township until the death of his father in 1905. Then he went to Ward county, now Moutrail county, North Dakota. There he proved up on 160 acres of land. Then he worked in the Twin Cities as an engineer. In this connection it is interesting to note that he had studied engineering while still a youth at home, and at one time was the youngest licensed engineer in Meeker county. After leaving the Twin Cities, he came to Stearns county as representative for the International Correspondence Schools. Later he traveled through Iowa, Wis- consin and Illinois as a representative of the Melby Real Estate Co., of Atwater, Minn. In 1900 he once more came to Stearns county. Here, with George J. Andrews as a partner, he organized the Paynesville Land Co. In this capacity, Mr. Peters enjoyed the distinction of selling the first piece of land ever sold by a land company in Paynesville. Elmer A. Schmitt became a partner, and later, Mr. Peters sold him his interest in the company. May 1, 1913, Joseph C. Peters and H. H. Holifer, cashier of the First State Bank, of Paynesville, be- came interested in selling lands in Kandiyohi, Stearns and Meeker counties. This concern gives promise of becoming one of the most important in this part of the county. Mr. Peters is one of the rising men of the county. Fraternally he associates with Paynesville lodge, No. 196, I. O. O. F. and with Unity Rebecca lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F.

Frank Brown, senior member of the firm of Frank Brown & Son, nursery- men, located in section 22, Paynesville township, was born in Wayland, Steuben county, New York, Sept. 27, 1857, son of Justus J. and Alisso (Trembley) Brown, who lived and died in Steuben county, New York, and grandson of the Methodist clergyman Stephen Trembley, and Ruth, his wife, who settled in Stearns county in 1863. From the days of his earliest boyhood, he was inter- ested in farm work. In 1879 he was married in Bolivar, New York, to Lavinda Mccutcheon, daughter of Robert Mccutcheon and widow of C. C. Wilson. In 1879, Mr. Brown came to Paynesville, and for a time rented land in this vicinity. It was about 1882 when he purchased the first eighty of his present farm. He now owns 220 acres in sections twenty-one and twenty-two. His present home, to which he moved some year ago is in section 22. From the early days of his farming to the present time, Mr. Brown has been much interested in all branches of nursery work. This branch of his work now takes fifty acres of his farm. He propagates fruit, shade and ornamental trees and

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shrubs from the seed, and also pays especial attention to flowers. He has shipped as many as 178,000 trees in one spring, and the Elmwood Farm and Nursery are widely known. A general nursery business is now carried on and the appreciation of the public is shown by an ever increasing list of patrons.

Mr. Brown is superintendent of the Minnesota State Experiment Station, located at Paynesville. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have four children: Jennie, Edwin, Charles and Inez. In the family is also Mrs. Brown's son, Robert Wilson.

Aaron Nehring, a prominent agricultural implement dealer in Paynesville, was born March 18, 1870, in Zion township, this county, in the home of his parents, L. F. and Lena (Helmer) Nehring. He received his preliminary educa- tion in the district schools of his neighborhood, and then entered the St. Cloud State Normal school, from which he was graduated in 1893. Subsequently he taught school for six years. Then he worked as a clerk in a mercantile establishment in Paynesville. After this he again entered the St. Cloud State Normal school, and took a post-graduate course. Later he taught school again for two years. With Edward Kruger, he entered the agricultural implement business in Paynesville. Later he bought out Mr. Kruger, and is now the sole owner and proprietor. Mr. Nehring carries a full line of farm implements, engines, power machinery and the like, and has been very successful in building up a large trade. He is a member of the board of education. The family faith is that of the Evangelical church. Mr. Nehring was married June 14, 1898, to Lizzie Behr, and they have four children, Millard, Kenneth, Elsworth and Arnold.

George J. Andrews, president of the Paynesville Land Co., was born in Burbank township, Kandiyohi county, this state, Jan. 24, 1885, son of John S. and Emma (Dougherty) Andrews, and grandson of John Q. Andrews. John Q. Andrews came to Minnesota from Defiance, Ohio, in 1865, bringing his family with him. With four other families they located in Burbank township, and there established a neighborhood settlement. Like so many pioneers they started with an ox team, and with but crude equipment. John Q. Andrews was a deep thinker, and took an active part in the various granger and people's movements in this state. At one time he was a candidate for a seat in the legislature on the People's ticket. His wife was an able helper and sympathizer in all his undertakings. In such a family, John S. Andrews was reared. He was a man of broad and liberal thought, very progressive in his ideas. In educa- tion, religion, politics and fraternal life he was both useful and prominent. For two terms he was county superintendent of schools in Kandiyohi county, for some years he was a justice of the peace, and his membership in the Modern Woodmen of America was highly valued. His wife, Emma Dougherty was born in Ohio, her parents who were born in Pennsylvania being of English and German origin. Possessed of ancestors who had lived nobly and thought deeply, it was natural that George J. Andrews should be given the best educa- tion within his reach. He attended the district schools of Burbank township, the graded schools of New London, and the High school of Glenwood. Then he graduated from the Paynesville high school. With this preparation he entered the University of Minnesota, completing the course in the law depart-

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

ment of that institution in the spring of 1911. The Paynesville Land Co. was at once organized with Mr. Andrews as president, an office which he has since retained, and in which he has been very successful. He is a member of the Woodmen and the Yoemen.

Albert E. Bugbee, closely identified with the history of Paynesville for nearly fifty years, has lived on the site of Old Paynesville for some thirty-seven . years on lots which he purchased from Clarke & McClure, which were formerly owned by Edwin E. Payne, the founder of the village. He was born in Hol- yoke, Mass., Oct. 6, 1849, a son of Elbridge Gerry and Amanda (Bumstead) Bugbee, and grandson of Calvin Bugbee. As a boy of seventeen, Alfred E. came to Paynesville, and was joined soon thereafter by his widowed mother. For some time he made his home with his uncle and aunt, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Hoover. In 1867 he acquired a farm of 160 acres. On this farm, ten acres of land had been broken. He continued the work of breaking until he had twenty-five acres under cultivation. After he sold this farm, he devoted several years to teaching, part of the time in Paynesville, and part of the time in Roseville. Then he again turned his attention to farming, and purchased eighty acres, on a part of which stands the new Paynesville High school. He has also two other farms, one in Lyon county and one in Kandiyohi county, in this state. Mr. Bugbee has been clerk of Paynesville township for forty- three years. Probably this record has not been exceeded in Minnesota. He is thoroughly conversant with the workings of township government and has been a most valuable man in the position. For a time he was treasurer of the school board of his district. He has been secretary of Paynesville lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., for twenty-eight years. His wife is active in the Eastern Star. Mr. Bugbee was married at Paynesville, October, 1873, to Janet Haines, who came to Paynesville in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Bugbee have six children : William G., of Paynesville ; Bertha J., wife of R. F. Schwartz, of Paynesville ; Frank E., New York City; Everett (deceased), Guy C., of Paynesville; and Lura, who lives at home.

Julius Behr, deceased, was born in Saxony, Germany, July 1, 1829, and was there reared. He came to the United States as a young man, and located in Wisconsin. October 20, 1864, he enlisted from Green county, Wis., in Co. H., Eighth Wis. Vol. Inf. With the exception of nine months following the Battle of Memphis, during which he was in a hospital as the result of a bullet wound in the right knee, he followed the fortunes of that regiment until honorably discharged at Demopolis, La., September 5, 1865. This was the regiment which was accompanied by "Old Abe," the famous war-eagle. To mention the campaigns, skirmishes, marches, sieges and battles in which Mr. Behr participated would be to reproduce a part of the history of the Civil War. It is sufficient to say that he showed his valor on many a bloody battlefield, and with the exception noted above participated in all the engagements of his regiment during his period of service. Like all soldiers he had many narrow escapes from death. At one time a bullet passed through the brim of his hat, but left him unscathed. After the war he returned to Wisconsin, but almost immediately came to Stearns county, and secured a homestead of 160 acres in Zion township. Here he built a log cabin. In addition to his yoke of oxen, he

MR. AND MRS. HUGH BLAKELY

MRS. MAUDE PETERSEN. LORINE PETERSEN MRS. CARRIE GRIDLEY

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had a team of horses, one of a very few at that time in the whole county. After his marriage he brought his bride to this farm. From time to time they made improvements; and the development of the farm, and the erection of modern buildings, kept pace with the progress of the years. Mr. Behr was a school officer. Being of devout religious faith, he assisted in erecting the Evangelical church at Salem, Zion township. He died June 17, 1898. Mr. Behr was married October 17, 1873, to Wilhelmina Kruger. This union has been blessed with seven children. Lizzie was born July 24, 1875, and married Aaron Nehring. Charles was born March 6, 1877. Agnes was born January 12, 1879, and married W. G. Schroeder. Frank was born January 11, 1881. Lydia was born April 1, 1887, and married W. H. Weber. Harry was born April 5, 1889. Arleigh was born October 3, 1891. Wilhelmina Kruger was born in Germany, July 8, 1851, daughter of August and Augusta (Schultz) Kruger. The mother died in Germany, and in 1874, August Kruger, the father, started for America with his four children: Ferdinand, Robert, Amelia and Wilhelmina. After three years in Wisconsin, they came to Stearns county, and located in Zion township, where Mr. Kruger farmed and followed his trade as a blacksmith. He is still living at the good old age of ninety-three.

Harry Behr was born in Zion township, this county, and attended the district schools and the Vaths Commercial College at St. Cloud. For a time he engaged in business in Paynesville with Fred Parker as a partner. He is now the proprietor of a delivery system which delivers goods for all the con- cerns in town which handle groceries. He is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America. Arleigh Behr received his educatin in the district schools and in the Paynesville high school. For a time he worked in the general store of E. E. Finger, at Paynesville. Since May 1, 1913, he has been employed in the clothing store of W. S. Johnson, at Paynesville. He is a member of the B. A. Y.

Hugh Blakely, the pioneer, was born in eastern Canada, son of John Blakely, a well-known Canadian surveyor. John Blakely came from a Scotch family which had moved from Scotland to Ireland, and from Ireland to Canada. By his wife, Mary, he had a large family of children. Only one of the children is living. She bears her mother's name, Mary, and lives in eastern Canada. Hugh Blakely was reared in the vicinity in which he was born. As a young man he came to America and found his way to St. Cloud, this county, where, on July 4, 1861, he was married by the Rev. William Phillips, to Justina Wil- helmina Schmidt. After their marriage the young couple took up their resi- dence on 160 acres in Roseville township, Kandiyohi county, which he had previously preempted. The young people had a frame house, and the prospects were of the brightest when the Indian troubles came on. Just at the beginning of these troubles four Indians called at their house one day. They did no harm, but seemed to be ascertaining the resources of the white people. When Hugh Blakely and his wife heard the reports of the massacre, they remembered the fact that there were Indians in the vicinity, and immediately loading their provisions and most valuable goods onto a wagon, they started for the home of John Blakely in Roseville township, Kandiyohi county. There a number of settlers gathered, and the men built a sort of a stockade or fort. A few

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days later, they made their way to the stockade at Paynesville. During their stay there, their experiences were many and thrilling. On one occasion when the men were out threshing grain in an endeavor to save some of the crops, the Indians spied them, and in the pursuit which followed chased them nearly to the walls of the fort itself. On another occasion when John Blakely and John Boylan went out to investigate a fire which had been started, the Indians surprised them, and Mr. Boylan was wounded. From the fort at Paynesville, Hugh Blakely and his wife went to Richmond, and still later to St. Joseph. In the latter township they rented a farm two years. Then they returned to their home in Kandiyohi county. Some years later they took up their resi- dence on the farm of August Schmidt, the father of Mrs. Blakely. This farm lies on the line between Roseville township, Kandiyohi, and Paynesville town- ship, Stearns county. Mr. Blakely was an influential man in his community and served as justice of the peace for about a quarter of a century. He was a charter member of Paynesville Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., and served as its first Master. He died January 1, 1908. The date of his birth was September 26, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Blakely had ten children: Caroline A., born May 9, 1862; Justina M., November 3, 1863; Charles H., June 26, 1867 (died November 16, 1897) ; Mary Jane, June 16, 1869; August Francis, April 12, 1871; Ella Katharine, January 13, 1873; John William, February 11, 1876; Eliza Emma, January 16, 1878; Canna Estella, May 25, 1880; and George Robert, January 13, 1884. Justina Wilhelmina Schmidt was born in Germany, September 20, 1840, daughter of August and Caroline (Nehring) Schmidt. Caroline (Neh- ring) Schmidt was born February 20, 1815 and died in 1850. A few years later, August Schmidt, his two children, Carl and Justina Schmidt, and a relative, Amelia Kruger, came to the United States, and found a home in Hoboken, N. Y. Later August Schmidt and his daughter Justina, came to Minnesota. It is interesting to note that they thus lost track of Amelia Kruger. When they finally heard of her, many years afterward, she was living in Racine, Wis. Upon reaching Minnesota, August Schmidt located on a farm in Kandiyohi county, near the line of Paynesville township, in Stearns county. In addition to the 160 acres in Kandiyohi county, he also secured eighty acres across the road in Stearns county. He first erected log buildings, which he later replaced with more modern structures. He married Catherine Lynch, and the two spent a long and happy life together. He died December 17, 1885. His daughter, Justina, when a young lady, found employment with the Rev. William Phillips. This clergyman performed the ceremony when she married, just as he had performed the ceremony for her father before her.

August Francis Blakely, a prosperous farmer living in Paynesville Village, was born in Roseville township, Kandiyohi county, April 12, 1870, son of Hugh and Justina Wilhelmina (Schmidt) Blakely, the pioneers. He received a good education and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. In addition to the usual stock and crops, he makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle, and a good grade of swine. Mr. Blakely is a Democrat and a member of Paynesville Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., Paynesville. He married Carrie Burr, a native of this part of the state. They have three children: Beatrice Lillian, Bernice Min- nie and Margaret B.

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Jacob Brick, one of Paynesville's leading business men, was born in Minneapolis, August 2, 1867, son of Adam and Barbara Brick. Adam and Barbara Brick were born in Germany, and were there married. They came to America with their one child, Catherine, and located in what is now Minneapo- lis. There Adam cut heavy wood, in localities which have become the busiest sections of Minneapolis. For a while he worked in a sawmill. During the Indian outbreak he was forced to take his pay in flour. At times even that was not forthcoming, and the family lived on corn meal, washed down with coffee made from roasted barley. About the time of these troubles, the family started out for Stearns county, having sold their small property for a wagon, a pair of oxen, and a cow. By that time, six more children, Jacob, Mary, Anna, Margaret, Gertrude and Sever, had been born. Upon reaching Stearns county, the family settled in section 1, Lake Henry township. There they erected a log cabin of poplar logs, with a roof of rough hewn boards. In after years they added forty acres to their original farm, and also erected modern buildings. Adam Brick helped to build the church at Spring Hill. The church is now burned. Adam Brick died at the age of eighty-seven, and his wife at the age of seventy-two. The children born in Lake Henry township were Emma, Peter, Christian and Nicholas. Jacob Brick was brought to Lake Henry township by his parents, and was here reared. His first venture away from home was with a threshing machine outfit. Then for some years he was in the refresh- ment business in Spring Hill, and later in Sauk Centre. For some years past he has been in business in Paynesville. Jacob Brick was married June 21, 1897, to Catherine Hogan, and this union has been blessed with three children : Archibald (deceased), Esther and Elmer. Catherine Hogan was born in Spring Hill, this county, daughter of Capt. Michael James and Johannah (Meyer) Hogan. Capt. Hogan was born in Prince Edward Island, son of James Hogan, also a native of that island. Capt. Hogan went to sea at the age of seventeen, and followed a sea-faring life until forty years of age, working his way up from cabin-boy to captain. Four times he sailed around the globe. Finally his ship, loaded with tea, was sunk in New York harbor. After abandoning a sailor's career he traveled for a while. Then he came to Sauk Centre and married, after which he went to Spring Hill, where he opened a store, and became postmaster and justice of the peace. He was also town clerk. He died at Spring Hill at the age of sixty-eight. His wife is still living at the age of sixty-nine. The children are: Edward, Anna, Catherine, John, Mary, Joseph- ine (deceased), Henry and James D.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 16

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