History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 18

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

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it to be used as a hospital. It was formally opened under his management in the fall of 1898. Since that date over 6,000 operations including the clinic operations have been performed in that hospital, covering the entire field of surgery. As time passed, the facilities of the old hospital became inadequate to accommodate all those who came seeking help. Consequently a new build- ing was planned. Ground was broken, August 18, 1913, and a structure was erected at a cost of $25,000. The hospital was formally opened August 16, 17 and 18, 1914. On the afternoon of Sunday, August 16, a religious service was held at the hospital attended by 250 people, at which the various clergymen of the city delivered addresses. On the following evening a banquet was given at the high school building, the guests being the business men, and the speakers those distinguished in local affairs. Susannah Benton, of Harwick, was the first superintendent-nurse and held that position for four years, after which Florence Thompson, the present superintendent, took charge. For three years she was away, and during that time, Charlotte Smith, now nurse in the Philip- pine Islands, and Hulda Conrad, now superintendent of a hospital in Portland, Oregon, were in charge of the hospital.

The hospital records show that there have been patients from Iowa, Wis- consin, North Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Washington, Oregon, Mon- tana and Minnesota, in the United States, and from Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, in Canada. In the early history of the hospital, Dr. J. J. Donavan, then of Eden Valley, now of Litchfield, was the assistant surgeon. In 1906, Dr. Harry E. Sutton, now of Cold Spring, came to Paynesville, and became associated with the hospital until 1908, in which year, Dr. George E. Putney took his place. In 1911 came Dr. Theodore Sattersmoen, now of Park Rapids, who was associated with the hospital one year. In December, 1912, Dr. George D. Rice came here from Pipestone, and became associated with Doctors Pilon and Putney, in the work of the hospital. The hospital has an ideal location in the city of Paynesville. Its grounds are spacious and sightly, and spreading lawns, shaded with trees and graced with shrubbery, inter- spersed with picturesque walks, give ample opportunity for outdoor recreation. The building itself is of stucco, 36 by 70 feet, four stories high. The latest modern equipment has been installed throughout. The heat is furnished by a hot water plant, with an evaporation attachment which insures correct humid- ity, while absolute purity of air is secured by admirable ventilating apparatus. A duel lighting system of gas and electricity has been installed, and the con- struction of the building with its sun parlors on every floor, its ample halls, and its large windows, gives plenty of natural sunshine and brightness during the hours of the day. The fire protection is much more ample than is required by law. A special feature is the fact that the beds are of the latest approved chair pattern, and the doors in the building are all wide enough so that the patients may be taken to any part of the building without being removed from bed. Upon entering the main portal, one is at once ushered into an atmosphere of quiet, rest and healing. One of the features of the main floor is the recreation room, which is fitted with billiard tables and other forms of amusement. On this floor is the dining room. Here are also found the kitchen, the laundry, and various store rooms, work rooms, and power rooms,

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necessary to the routine up-keep of the institution. On the second floor are the offices, the reception rooms, the laboratory and X-ray roms, and the baths for massage and clinical work. On this floor there are also a number of private rooms, with baths, for patients. The third floor contains private rooms of a similar nature. Here by various contrivances of construction, the walls have been rendered sound proof. Here also is the operating room, equipped with an auxiliary heating plant, and with large ceiling lights in addition to the splen- did provision that is made for the admission of the sunlight. On this floor too are the linen closets, the dressing rooms, and the sterilizing rooms, where the sterilizing is done by gas and electricity. The wards, likewise located on this floor, are each equipped with two beds. The fourth floor is devoted to the use of the employes. The hospital staff is composed as follows: Chief surgeon, P. C. Pileon, M. D. (E. M. C. M., Montreal, 1886), for two years a student of post-graduate work in Europe ; surgeon and laboratory supervisor, G. E. Putney, M. D. (Medical College of Harvard University, Cambridge, 1876) ; surgeon, G. D. Rice, M. D. (Medical College, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1903) ; head nurse, Florence M. Thompson (graduated from St. Barnabas Hospital at Minneapolis) assistant head nurse, Amy Anderson.

Robert Hoover, physician and clergyman, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1828, son of Jonas and Hetty (Zimmerman) Hoover. He received his advanced education at Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn., and was ordained to the min- istry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Subsequently he occupied various pulpits in Illinois and Minnesota, finally reaching Paynesville. Here he preached and farmed and practiced medicine. He died at California, July 6, 1891. For his first wife, Dr. Hoover married Sarah Bumstad. For his sec- ond wife he married Fannie Montgomery. This union was blessed with two children: Lulu, wife of Robert Sherill, of California; and Hattie, wife of Mr. Beck, of California. Jonas Hoover was born in the Allegheny mountains, in 1800, and in early youth became foreman of the ore mines in Pennsylvania. For about four years he lived near Peru, Ill. In the fifties he located in Fari- bault, Minnesota. Near that village he obtained 160 acres of wild land, and there resided until his death at the age of sixty-nine. His widow died at the age of eighty-six. He was the father of fifteen children. By his first wife, Mary Peters, he had two children, John and Mary. The thirteen children by his second wife, Esther Zimmerman, were: Robert, Henry, Joseph, Eliza, Mar- jory, Ezekiel, Catherine, Rebecca, Susan, William, Esther, Isabella and Mel- vin H.

Samuel P. Roach was born in St. Ives, Cornwall, April 14, 1836, son of John Roach. The father and mother and five children : John, Mary, Samuel, Bridget and Thomas, came to America in 1842, and located in Dodge county, Wisconsin. The father, John, turned his attention to carpenter work, while the boys engaged in farming. Samuel P. was reared in Wisconsin. In 1861 he came to Minnesota and secured 160 acres of land on the line between Kandiyohi and Stearns county. About a year later he was married. During the Indian uprising the family had many thrilling adventures. Part of the time the fam- ily lived in the stockade at Paynesville, while Mr. Roach went each day to his work on the farm. There was also a period when Mrs. Roach stood guard

SAMUEL P. ROACH

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with a gun, while Mr. Roach worked in the field. For one year Mr. Roach served as a private in the Third Minnesota Voluntary Infantry. But the years of the war and of the Indian troubles passed, a period of settled peace en- sued. As the years passed, Mr. Roach became successful and prosperous. After nineteen years he moved to the village of Paynesville, still, however, retaining his interest in the farm. Mr. Roach was a strong influence for righteousness in the community. He was a staunch Methodist, and though he had obtained no theological training except that received from reading, he nevertheless often occupied Methodist pulpits, and frequently preached funeral sermons. He was a Democrat in politics, and by that party was elected to be justice of the peace and a member of the school board. Often urged to accept higher offices, he always pleaded his home and religious duties as an excuse, and re- fused to become a candidate. He died August 10, 1913. Mr. Roach was mar- ried January 25, 1862, to Susan Hoover, born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1840, daughter of Janas and Hettie (Zimmerman) Hoover. Mr. and Mrs. Roach had nine children: Albert Edson was born January 8, 1865; John Adelbert was born September 22, 1866; Charles Henry was born May 26, 1868, and died April 4, 1897; Mary Alice was born September 11, 1869; William Robert was born September 26, 1871; Esther Blanche was born April 14, 1873; Eva Estella was born December 10, 1880; Susan Sophia was born March 2, 1882; Samuel Z. was born December 19, 1883.

Elmer A. Schmitt, secretary and treasurer of the Paynesville Land Co., was born July 3, 1887, at Roscoe, in Stearns county, a son of Anton and Anna M. (Logman) Schmitt. He was the eldest of seven children. As a youth he attended school at Roscoe. Later he studied at the St. Cloud State Normal School, and still later, in 1904, completed a course in the Vaths Business Col- lege, at St. Cloud. After graduating from this institution he devoted himself to assisting his father in farming and in the grain business. His first experi- ence in the banking business was with Boylan & Carlock, as assistant cashier. When this firm was incorporated as the Security State Bank he remained in the same position until he became treasurer of the Paynesville Land Co., then composed of himself, Joseph C. Peters and George Andrews. March 1, 1913, Mr. Schmitt purchased Mr. Peters' interest, and became secretary and treas- urer. The company deals in land in Kandiyohi, Meeker and Stearns counties, and also has interests in more remote localities. Mr. Schmitt is an independent thinker, and consequently has allied himself with no political party. He thor- oughly studies the issues and principles of each campaign, and votes for ideas in government and management, rather than for the platform of any par- ticular organization. He is a member of the Paynesville lodges of the B. A. Y., and the M. W. A., being clerk of the latter order. He married Anna L. Apple- gren, daughter of John Applegren.

Michael F. Schultz was born in Germany, October 24, 1847, a son of Michael and Minnie Schultz, who brought the family of four, August F., Min- nie, Michael F., and Lena to America in 1856, the voyage on the sailing vessel occupying five weeks and three days. After living a while in Green county, Wisconsin, they drove to Minnesota with an ox team, and located on eighty acres of wild land in section 35, Zion township, this county. Later they

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added eighty acres more. A log cabin which was erected, later gave place to a modern dwelling, and the farm became one of the best in the neighborhood. The parents died in 1891, six weeks apart, the mother first at the age of sev- enty-three, and the father at the age of seventy-eight. Michael F. grew to manhood on his father's place, and finally purchased a farm of 100 acres in Zion township. He lived there something like twelve or fifteen years. Then he secured a tract of 160 acres in sections 11 and 12, Paynesville township. . There he lived about thirty years. He became a prominent man, served on the town and school boards for many years, and was an active worker in the Evangelical church. In 1905 he retired and moved to Paynesville, where he and his wife still reside. He has many interesting stories to tell of the early days, especially of the time of the Indian troubles, when he and his wife fled first to the fort at Paynesville and then to Richmond, where they remained until the coming of the troops. Mr. Schultz was married June 17, 1870, to Augusta Gedosch, who was born in Germany, August 10, 1850, daughter of August and Christina Gedosch, who came to America in 1860, landing after a voyage of seven weeks, with their three children, Augusta, Fred and Louisa. They spent seven weeks in Green county, Wisconsin, and then drove with an ox team and a horse team to Stearns county, where they secured a tract of 198 acres in section 1, Paynesville. They first built a log cabin and then pros- pered with the country. August Gedosch died in 1898 at the age of seventy- five and his wife in 1891 at the age of sixty-three. They were members of the Evangelical church. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have eight children : William E., who is in the bank at Paynesville; Matilda, deceased; Otelia, Caroline, Michael, Mandy, Aloina (deceased), and Fred.

Fred Schultz, who resides on the old homestead of 160 acres in section 12, Paynesville township, was born on the place where he still resides, March 11, 1890, son of Michael Schultz, the pioneer. He attended first the district schools, and then the Paynesville High School. In 1912 he took charge of the home farm. He has an excellent stock farm, understands his business thoroughly, and in addition to the usual crops he raises a fine grade of Holstein cattle. One of the features of the farm is a barn 38 by 100 feet. Mr. Schultz was married in August, 1911, to Carrie Buckman, of Dodge county, Minnesota.

Antoin Wartenberg, deceased, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 4, 1832, son of David and Anna Wartenberg. There were three older children in the family, Dorethea, Minnie, and Christian. For a second wife, David Warten- berg married Elizabeth Yust, and brought her to America. Antoin Wartenberg came to America from Germany in 1854, and lived for a while in Illinois. Next he settled in Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin. He was there married. After the marriage, he and his wife went to Stevenson county, Illinois. Although he was a cobbler by trade he devoted a portion of his time to farming. In 1860 he determined to devote his time entirely to farming. Accordingly he and his wife joined a party in which there were also six other families and on May 7, started for Minnesota. Thus riding in covered wagons drawn by ox teams, and leading their cows, the party reached Stearns county, and were wel- comed by John Baitinger, who had a cabin in section 6, Eden Lake township. The date of this arrival was June 3, 1860. After looking about for a while,

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Mr. Wartenberg took a claim of 160 acres in section 14, Paynesville township. Here he erected a cabin 14 by 20 feet. He had more ready funds than some of his neighbors, he owned two pairs of oxen, and three cows. He started in with vigor and courage and the prospects seemed of the brightest. But then the Indian troubles came on. One day, John Boylan, severely wounded by the Indians, came to their cabin, and had his wounds bound with curtains torn from the windows. Then they all fled, taking their cattle, but leaving every- thing else. The Indians came along on a raid, and finding Mr. Boylan's blood on the floor, reached the conclusion that an Indian had been slain there. Con- sequently, in revenge, they burned the cabin, and also set fire to four stacks of grain upon which the family was depending for winter food. Shortly after this Antoin Wartenberg enlisted in Company D, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, October 20, 1862, and served until November 3, 1863. He entered the service as a private and was promoted to corporal. During his absence his wife lived in St. Cloud. After the war was over they returned to their claim. This time they erected a cabin in section 11. To this he added until at the time of his death, in 1879, he owned 600 acres of land. He was a prominent worker in the Evangelical church, and acted for some years as a Sunday school teacher. After her husband's death, Mrs. Wartenberg successfully operated the farm. She erected a modern house and made many other improvements. She still lives on the home place with her son, Antoin, Jr. Antoin Wartenberg and Amelia Heim were married in 1859. She was born in Prussia, Germany, Octo- ber 15, 1838, daughter of Martin and Louisa (Lest) Heim. The children in the Heim family were: Augustine, William, Berndt, Herman, Albert, Amelia, Florentine and Caroline. Of this family, Florentine, and Amelia who was after- ward Mrs. Wartenberg, came to America in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Wartenberg have nine children living : Flora, born November 3, 1859; Augusta, born Octo- ber 5, 1864; Amelia, February 20, 1867; Antoin, December 19, 1869; Matilda, February 13, 1872; Helena, January 19, 1876; Anna, August 29, 1879. One son, Albert, died at the age of four years. Antoin Wartenberg, Jr., is one of the leading farmers of Paynesville township. He was born on the home farm, attended the district schools, and now owns the homestead of 370 acres. He is president of the Co-operative Creamery, president of the Zion-Paynes- ville Fire Insurance Co., and supervisor of Paynesville township. He was mar- ried June 14, 1892, to Helena Koepp, daughter of Ludwig Koepp, and they have six children.

Conrad P. Winther, leading dentist and representative citizen of Paynes- ville, was born in the township of Paynesville, March 26, 1885, son of O. N. and Johanna (Paulson) Winther, natives of Norway, and grandson of Hans Paulson, the early pioneer. O. N. Winther and his wife came to America in June, 1883, and located on a farm in section 31, Paynesville, owned by Hans Paulson, the father of Mrs. Winther. Mrs. Winther died October 4, 1913, and Mr. Winther still lives on the place.

Conrad P. Winther received his preliminary education in the district schools of his neighborhood, in the Minneapolis High School, and in the Augs- burg Seminary at Minneapolis. In 1903 he entered the dental department of the University of Minnesota, and was graduated in 1906. Immediately after

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his graduation he opened an office at Paynesville, where he has built up a large practice. His reputation for skill has extended wide, and his patients come from many miles in the country as well as from the village. He is well liked, and is a splendid type of an honorable young man. January 2, 1912, his well-equipped office was totally destroyed by fire, but, undaunted, he at once purchased new and modern machinery and equipment, and fitted up a suite of splendidly furnished offices in the First State Bank Building. He is a member of Paynesville Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., of Minneapolis Consistory, No. 2, Scottish Rites, and Zurah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Minneapolis. Dr. Winther was married July 5, 1910, to Elsie Hand, who was born in Aurora, Ill., in 1886. Mrs. Winther is a graduate of the Iowa State University at Iowa City, and before her marriage was a successful educator. She came to Paynes- ville as instructor in Latin in the Paynesville High School.

Ferdinand Heimerdinger, miller of Paynesville, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 30, 1850, son of John and Regina Heimerdinger, who were married in Germany in 1840, and in 1854 brought their six children to the United States. From Baltimore, Maryland, they went to Cleveland, and from there in 1856 they came to Minnesota. John Heimerdinger assisted C. Turner in erecting the first steam flour mill in New Ulm. He erected the first flour mill in Home, Minn. During the Indian uprising of 1862 he served among the volunteers. Ferdinand Heimerdinger, prior to coming to Paynesville, was in the milling business at Redwood Falls, Minn., and at Golden Gate, Minn. He came to Paynesville in May, 1903, and purchased the flour mill at this place and has operated same ever since. Ferdinand Heimerdinger was married in 1879 to Anna Hoffman, who was born in New Ulm, Minn., February 8, 1861, daughter of those substantial German people, Henry and Margaret Hoffman, the former of whom was born in Germany, May 9, 1830, came to the United States at the age of seventeen, and devoted his adult years to his work as a blacksmith. Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Heimerdinger have six children: Agonia, Harold, Walter, Maro and Marion (twins), and Willard.

Harold Heimerdinger, joint partner with his father, Ferdinand, in the Paynesville Flour Mills, was born at Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, November 12, 1887, son of Ferdinand and Anna (Hoffman) Heimerdinger. He received a district school and business college education and learned the milling business from his father. The present firm was established in the fall of 1910. It turns out a good product, and has an excellent reputation. The two best known brands are the "White Lily" and "Korona." Mr. Heimerdinger is a member of Paynesville Lodge, No. 196, I. O. O. F., and of Paynesville Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M. On May 15, 1912, Mr. Heimerdinger married Florence Phipps, a native of Paynesville. One child, Audrey May Heimerdinger, was born to them in May, 1913.

Edward D. Gale was born December 28, 1844, in Skaneatles, Onondaga county, New York, son of Gillis V. and Fannie (Darby) Gale. Gillis V. was born in Dutchess county, New York, of colonial English blood. He had five children : John, James, Frank, Charles and Edward D. Edward D. remained at home until after reaching his majority. In 1868 he started out for Minne- sota. Upon reaching Stearns county, he located on forty acres which included

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the present site of the Paynesville High School. This land was then entirely wild. Mr. Gale erected a log cabin about half a block from the present site of the schoolhouse, and started farming with an ox-team and a second hand wagon. A short time after locating on this land he was married. Later he sold the forty acres and purchased the southwest quarter of section 9, Paynes- ville township. On this farm was a log cabin, and some fifteen or twenty acres of the land had been improved. On this farm Mr. Gale lived for forty years. He made many improvements, erected comfortable buildings, raised good crops and kept some high grade cattle. In 1913 he built a home on a part of the farm which he had platted into lots, and resides there at present. He was treasurer of his township in the early days, and served on the school board for some thirty years. He and his family worship at the Presbyterian Church. In 1870, Mr. Gale married Mary E. Boylan, and this union has been blessed with four children: Fannie died at the age of one year; Victoria has been a school teacher and now lives at home; Edward travels from the North American Storage Co., and makes his headquarters in Paynesville. Frank is on the home farm in Paynesville township.

William Henry Blasdell, the pioneer, was born at Stanstead Plains, Upper Canada, October 18, 1814, son of William Blasdell, a native of France, who reached America from his native land, after a hazardous trip during which his beloved brother was lost off the island of Jamaica, and never afterward heard from. William Henry was reared on the home farm in Canada. In 1833 he went to Ohio, where for one year he served as store clerk in a country village. Then he became purchasing agent for the Huron Iron Works, at Vermillion, Ohio. He later went South for a time, but in 1838 returned to Ohio and settled on a farm near Brownsville. In 1842 he moved to Frank- fort, Illinois, where he resided for twenty years and for four years was sheriff of Will county. During this time, he was engaged in the farming, lum- bering and hotel business. In 1862 he started for Minnesota in a covered wagon of the type known as "prairie schooners." After a trip of six weeks he reached Paynesville, in this county. He found that the Indians had risen against the whites, and that the people of Paynesville were in a constant state of apprehension. Accordingly he went to St. Cloud for a year. Then he returned to Paynesville, and located on 150 acres of land. He erected a log building 18 by 24 feet, with a shed 12 by 12 feet, and in this edifice opened a tavern which he called the "Western Hotel." Later the building was re- modeled and rebuilt, and new conveniences installed. Mr. Blasdell kept the "Western Hotel" open to the public for twenty-five years. In the mean- time he devoted much attention to general farming and stock raising. He increased his original claim of wild prairie to 420 acres of well cultivated land, and on this farm he erected a barn 36 by 40 feet, the first frame barn in the county. He also in time constructed other buildings, and the farm became a model place in every way. For thirty years, Mr. Blasdell was a justice of the peace. He was an honored man in the community, and his death, April 24, 1888, was sincerely mourned. William Henry Blasdell was married November 16, 1838, to Harriet Beardsley, who was born October 24, 1818, and died September 19, 1842. To this union three children were born.

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Mary Jane was born November 2, 1839, was married November 6, 1859, and died in June, 1879. Sarah Ellen was born October 16, 1841, and died Sep- tember 2, 1842. Harriet E. was born September 11, 1842, and died. For his second wife, Mr. Blasdell married Sarah Abby, who was born in Clinton county, New York, July 2, 1831, and died November 6, 1911. She was the daughter of Samuel and Anna Abby, who spent nearly all their lives in Can- ada. By this union, Mr. Blasdell had seven children: Irene, born November 23, 1851; Anna L., born October 14, 1853; Geneva, born November 11, 1855; Theda, born November 1, 1857; Ida M., born January 30, 1860; William P., April 23, 1862; and George A., born January 11, 1865.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 18

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