History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 19

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

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George A. Blasdell, a well-known agriculturist of Paynesville township, was born on the homestead where he still resides, January 11, 1865, son of William Henry and Sarah (Abby) Blasdell, the pioneers. He was reared to agricultural pursuits by his father, received good training in the schools of the neighborhood, and has attained great success. Throughout the county his name is well known as that of a skilled stock breeder. He is also highly es- teemed in Paynesville Lodge, No. 196, I. O. O. F. The modern residence in which Mr. Blasdell makes his home, still contains the timbers out of which his father's original cabin was made, and is thus the oldest building in the township. Mr. Blasdell was married November 17, 1908, to Mrs. Mary Scales Braden. The ceremony was performed by Father Leo M. Winter, O. S. B. Mary Scales was born in Ontario, Canada, April 9, 1881, daughter of John and Bridget (Mullen) Scales, and granddaughter of Joseph and Mary (Lynch) Scales, and Peter and Mary (Welsch) Mullen. Bridget Mullen was born in Toronto, Canada; Mary Welsch was born in England; the others mentioned were born in Ireland. John Scales came with his parents from Ireland to Canada, at the age of three years. It was about 1888 when he came to Stearns county and secured a farm of eighty acres in Eden Lake township. Subse- quently he returned to Western Canada, where he died at the age of sixty- four, in 1902. His widow is still living at the age of fifty-eight. The Scale children were: William, Glen, John, Peter, Mary and Patrick (twins), James, Rosella (deceased), and Michael and Sarah (twins). Mary Scales came to the United States with her parents. She married Henry Braden, a native of Luxemburg, Germany. He was smothered in a grain chute, in Eden Valley, June 1, 1903. Henry Braden and his wife had three children. Edward was born December 16, 1900, and was drowned in the Crow river, June 18, 1907; William was born April 19, 1901; Henrietta was born May 30, 1903.

William Page Blasdell, a successful farmer of Paynesville township, was born in Kankakee, Ill., April 23, 1862, son of William Henry and Sarah (Abby) Blasdell, the pioneers. He worked on the home farm until attaining his majority, and then became baggage master for the Northern Pacific rail- road at Miles City, Mont. He was there married, and subsequently returned to Paynesville township, where he located on 160 acres of his father's farm. He has now lived on the place some twenty years. He has been prosperous in his undertakings, and is well liked throughout the community. He is affili- ated with the Masons and the Woodmen at Paynesville. Mr. Blasdell was mar- ried, July 23, 1888, at Miles City, Montana, to Nora Holloran, a native of Eng-

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

land, and the daughter of Daniel Holloran. She was brought to America by her family at the age of one year, and as a young lady went to Montana with her two sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Blasdell have had two children. Daniel was born in 1896 and died six months later. Earl was born in 1898, and is now attending the public schools.

Charles Pemble, one of the respected and honored citizens of Roseville township, was born in West Milton, Saratoga county, New York, August 25, 1836, son of Stephen and Philadelphia (Whitney) Pemble, who had been born in England, and had come to the United States with their two oldest children, John and William. The other three children, Stephen, Charles and David, were born in this country. The family lived for a while in Saratoga county, New York, then moved to Illinois, and from there went to Green county, Iowa, where the parents died. It was about 1872 when Charles Pem- ble came to Stearns county from his home in Illinois. He worked for a time as a farm hand, and met, wooed and won Geneva Blasdell, a daughter of William Henry Blasdell. They were married September 1, 1875. For five years they lived on a rented tract of land, and then moved onto sixty acres, their present place, which he had acquired sometime previous. On this farm they have attained a splendid prosperity and success. The old log school- house, 16 by 18 feet, then known as the Blakely schoolhouse, in which they first lived when they purchased the place, has been replaced by a modern home, furnished with all the comforts of modern life. The old log stable built by Robert Blakely has been replaced with a large barn, and a full com- plement of farm buildings. The ox-team with which they started farming has been replaced with a fine stable of horses and stock, and a complete equip- ment of farm implements and machinery. The farm now embraces 215 acres, and includes a large orchard which yields good results. Mrs. Pemble has been her husband's able helpmeet in all his undertakings. Especially she has been interested in education, and has been treasurer of the school district for some thirty years. The children in the family are Adelphia, Mabel, Ray, Chester, Maude, Lee, Elsie, Milton (deceased), Bertha, Blanche, Hazel and Edith.

Michael F. Plantikow was born in Blumberg, Germany, and was married in that country. The oldest child, August, died there. Thus bereaved, Mr. and Mrs. Plantikow came to America alone. For a time they lived on a farm in Monroe county, Wis., and there two more children, Frank and Wilhelmina, were born. With this family of two children, Mr. and Mrs. Plantikow came to Stearns county, and secured 160 acres in Zion township. They put up a log shanty, and like many of the pioneers, used an ox-team for work for trans- portation. They arrived just before the Indian outbreak, and like the other settlers, sought refuge at one time in the stockade at Paynesville. For many years Mr. Plantikow lived on the farm in Zion township. To his original tract he added eighty acres of tillable land and eighty acres of timberland. He also in time erected modern buildings to take the place of the log structures. When the Salem Evangelical Church was erected he was one of those who helped in its construction. In his latter years he retired, and moved to Paynes- ville where he died.

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Dennis F. Kelly, a prominent farmer of section 30, Paynesville township, was born in Illinois, November 2, 1855, son of John and Mary (Nooman) Kelly, who brought him to Paynesville in 1865. He remained with his parents until 1877, when he went to North Dakota, and took a claim. In 1883 he brought his wife back to Stearns county, and for two years lived on a rented farm. Subsequently they lived in Green Lake, until 1892, and then in Burbank, until 1896. It was in that year that he settled on the old homestead where he still resides. He operates 240 acres, and makes a specialty of raising Duroc- Jersey hogs, Hamilton Clyde and Percheron horses, and grade Holstein cattle. Mr. Kelly was married, November 13, 1882, to Catherine Tucker, daughter of Hugh Tucker. Hugh Tucker was born in Ireland, settled in Newburgh, New York, went from there to Whitewater, Wis., and from there came to Melrose, in this county, where he spent the remainder of his days. His widow makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Dennis F. Kelly. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have six children: John B., Hugh F., Catherine, Edward (de- ceased), Margaret and Ethel V.

John Kelly, a pioneer, was born in County Gallaway, Ireland, and was there reared. As a young man he went to England, where he entered the employ of a breeder of fast horses. His thoughts, however, turned toward America, and finally he secured permission from his employer to accompany a shipment of stock to this country and remain here. He did railroad and canal work in New York for a while, and then moved to Ohio. There he was employed in building stone fences which are still standing. From Ohio he went to Will county, Illinois, where he farmed for about ten years. In the early sixties, when the Civil War broke out, he determined to come to Minne- sota. He was deterred for some years, however, by the reports of the Indian troubles. Consequently he did not locate in Stearns county until the spring of 1865. Then with his wife, Mary Nooman, and his children, Edward, Dennis F., Paul, Henry, Thomas and Anna, he drove to Minnesota. Upon reaching Paynesville, he stopped at the tavern of his old friend, William H. Blasdell. To live once more within four walls was a great pleasure after having been on the road for four weeks. Mr. Blasdell drove Mr. Kelly about the township, and finally helped him select a claim of 160 acres in Paynesville township. Here Mr. Kelly erected a log cabin, 16 by 24 feet, and into it the family moved. This original cabin stood a few rods east of the present location of the splendid new barn which now adorns the place. As time passed a log house, 16 by 40 was built, and other log buildings were also constructed. A serious setback was encountered when the log barn burned, with all the valuable farm implements and machinery. After this mishap, Mr. Kelly sold his horses, and for some time carried on his farming with oxen. Hard work, however, soon resulted in prosperity. In 1878 a brick house was built, and from time to time other buildings were erected. Eighty acres were added to the original farm. John Kelly was a Democrat of the old school, and never ran for office. He was an active worker in the Catholic church. He died November 2, 1900, at the age of ninety-four. His next birthday would have been on June 24. His wife died August 2, 1896, at the age of seventy-eight. In addition to the children al- ready mentioned, two, Joseph and Margaret, were born in Stearns county.

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

William P. Haines was born in Canada, March 2, 1845, son of William and Jane Haines and grandson of Philip and Ann Haines. Philip Haines was born in Canada, and served in the American Revolution. At one time he held a claim of 400 acres, a part of which is now included in the present city of Toronto, Canada. He and his wife, Ann, who was born in Scotland, had five children : James, William, George, Robert and Ann. William Haines re- mained in Canada until 1863. He was a cabinet maker and painter by trade, but in addition to this he was versed in general woodworking. For a time he was the owner of a sawmill at Darlington. From that place he came to the United States, and located in Kankakee, Ill., where the family lived from 1863 to 1869. In the latter year they came to Paynesville, and located across the river from what was then the village, in what is now known as the North town. Some time later, they purchased eighty acres of land in the same township. William Haines died in 1899, his wife having passed away in 1871. They had eight children: James, Angus, William P., John, George, Jeannette, Maria and Ellen. The latter died at the age of four years. William P. has continued to live on the old homestead, now owning the eighty acres pur- chased by his parents, in addition to 200 acres which he has himself acquired. He is well known in the township, and has been road overseer for thirty years. William P. Haines was married December 18, 1882, to Clara E. Pipps, daughter of John Pipps. She was born in Illinois in 1858 and died in Cali- fornia, December 9, 1905. She left two children, Frank Philip and Edith. Frank Philip married Nellie Agnes Barrie, the daughter of Thomas J. and Nellie (Kingsley) Barrie. Their son, Philip Thomas, was born September 18, 1912. Edith, the second child of William P. and Clara E. (Pipps) Haines, died in California.

Thomas J. Barrie was born in Canada, July 20, 1860, son of Thomas and Agnes (Lett) Barrie, the former of whom was brought to Canada from Scot- land as a boy, and the latter of whom was born in Canada. In the family there were four children, Agnes, James, Thomas J. and Anna. After the death of Thomas Barrie, his wife married James Nichols, and this union resulted in one son, John. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas brought the five children to the United States and located in Union Grove, Meeker county, this state. Later they moved to Paynesville, and still later to California. Thomas J. Barrie devoted his early years to farming. At about the age of thirty he became a barber. First he worked at Bird Island, Renville county, this state, and later at Paynes- ville. He has done good service as a member of the school board, and be- longs to the Masonic Order, the Woodmen and the Modern Brotherhood. Mr. Barrie married Nellie Kingsley, daughter of Quartus Kingsley, and their children are Fred, Nellie, Alice, Howard and Etta. Quartus Kingsley was born at Staten Island, New York, December 6, 1828, son of Quartus and Sally Mary (Miller) Kingsley, and grandson of Seth and Sarah Kingsley. Seth Kingsley came either from Ireland or England. He was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War. His wife Sarah was of Scottish birth. Quartus, the elder, was born in Hatfield, Mass. He and his good wife both died in Williamsburg, Mass. Two of the seven children were older than Quartus, the younger, who had a twin sister, Mary. Quartus, the younger, became an iron and brass moulder.

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

For his first wife he married Almira Shippey, of Massachusetts, who died in 1894, leaving three children, Effie, Walter and Nellie. For his second wife he married Jane Van Etten, a native of Pennsylvania.

Max W. Nagel was born in Germany, June 30, 1881, a son of William and Wilhelmina Nagel, who brought him to Stearns county in 1883. He was reared on a farm in Lake Henry township, and received his education in the district schools and in a business college at St. Cloud. He learned the barber busi- ness at Belgrade, in Stearns county, and operated a shop for a while. Then he opened a place in Paynesville, where, with the exception of four years spent in North and South Dakota, he has since been in business. Mr. Nagel was married in June, 1913, to Bertha Manz, daughter of Herman Manz, pioneer of this county. William Nagel was born in Brandenburg, March 19, 1835, son of Gotlieb and Louise Nagel, and descended from a long line of shep- herds. He was married November 14, 1867, to Wilhelmina Oilbrey, born Oc- tober 12, 1850, daughter of Christian and Wilhelmina Dora Oilbrey. William and his wife with their two children, Paul and Max, came to America in 1883. After living for a while at Roscoe, in Zion township, they moved to a farm in Lake Henry township, where they established their family home. William Nagel died in Lake Henry township, January 20, 1910. In the family there were four children: Max was born June 30, 1881; Paul was born May 20, 1878 and died August 9, 1884; Otto was born November 5, 1885; and Marga- ret was born January 13, 1889.

John R. Theel, an energetic business man of Paynesville, was born in Ger- many, June 22, 1878, son of Carl F. and Minnie (Frank) Theel, who brought him to Stearns county in 1882. At the age of sixteen he left home and became a harness maker, a business which he followed for some fourteen years. He was frugal and shrewd, and acquired more property than is usually possessed by a man of his age. Being thoroughly abreast of the times, he early foresaw that the farmer was to become one of the heaviest purchasers of automobiles, but that the machines must be both strong and cheap. Accordingly he became agent for the Ford machine, and opened a local office and garage under the firm name of John Theel Co. Mr. Theel is a member of Minneapolis Lodge, No. 4, K. P.

Carl F. Theel was born in Pomerania, Germany, September 7, 1840, son of Fred and Mary (Black) Theel, who spent the span of their years in Ger- many. The children in the family were: Caroline, Christina, Carl F., Augusta and Marie. Of these Carl F. was the only one to come to America. He was married in 1872 in Germany, to Minnie Frank, and in 1882 brought his wife and four children Eliza, Anna, Otto and John, to this country, coming at once to Stearns county. He had been a wagon maker by trade, but upon coming here he became a farmer. For a while he rented land. In 1892 he purchased 160 acres, twenty acres of it being timber land. Later he bought an additional twenty acres of meadow land. He now carries on general farm- ing, and is highly regarded in his community. The children born in Stearns county are Martin and Rheuben.

John Baitinger, one of the pioneers of Stearns county, was born in Fauer- bach, o|a Wuertemberg, Germany, son of Tobias and Dorethea (Lang) Bait-

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

inger. The mother died in Germany. In the latter part of November, 1854, John Baitinger, the subject of this sketch, set sail for America. After a long voyage on a sailing vessel, he reached New York city, January 7, 1854. From there he found his way to Wayne county, New York, where he was joined by his father, in 1855, and where, also, he was married. On March 17, 1856, John Baitinger and his wife started for Iowa. At Galena, Ill., however, they en- countered a party of people bound for Minnesota, and they induced the young people to change their destination. Many glowing stories were told of the Northwest, it even being said that St. Cloud was in such a flourishing condi- tion that it had two postoffices. As soon as news came that the ice was out of Lake Pepin, the party started up the Mississippi river in boats. They landed at St. Paul, took wagons to 'St. Anthony, now a part of Minneapolis, and at St. Anthony took another boat for St. Cloud, in which hamlet they arrived the latter part of April. A few scattering cabins of rather squalid aspect were all that marked the present site of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Bait- inger bought two lots, and secured a span of mules, then the only means of transportation in the hamlet, to cart their goods to their new location. After looking about for a farm, they finally located on 160 acres in section 6, Eden Lake township. To this another 160 was afterward added. Mr. Baitinger erected a log cabin, and started to live a pioneer life in the wilderness. Bear and deer were plentiful and sometimes dangerous. Mr. and Mrs. Baitinger suffiered many discomforts and privations, especially the first winter. Flour was high and scarce. Pancakes which for a time were their only food, were made by grinding buckwheat in a coffee mill, mixing the meal with a little water, and cooking it over the hot coals. During the Indian outbreak, all their buildings were burned and their crops destroyed. The family fled to St. Cloud. After the danger had passed, they returned to their farm. They made the trip from St. Cloud to Cold Spring, a distance of over seventeen miles, on foot, he carrying the provisions and she the baby. Starting in life anew they attained success and prosperity. They developed with the coun- try, and as the years passed their farm became an excellent place, well culti- vated, and ornamented with sightly modern buildings. Ever alive to the best interests of the community, he early became a conspicuous figure in its affairs. He served as member and as chairman of the board of supervisors, and for some time was town assessor. He was instrumental in securing the estab- lishment of a post office at Zions, now discontinued, and was its postmaster from December 9, 1869, to the latter part of 1885. About 1890, he retired from active life, since which time he has made his residence in Paynesville village. In the family there were fourteen children. Of these there were seven, Jennie, Caroline, Kate, George, John, Mary and Henry, who lived to adult years. Jennie married Adam Stanger and they live in Paynesville. Caroline married Henry Ulrick, and they live in MeLead county. Kate is the wife of Benjamin Bardson, of St. Cloud. Her first husband was Christ Stanger, now deceased. George lives in Hutchinson. John lives in St. Paul. Mary is the wife of Ferdinand Schultz, of Paynesville township. Henry lives in Seattle, Wash- ington. The family faith is that of the Evangelical Association. Fredericka Jaeger, to whom John Baitinger was married at Wayne county, New York,

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August 28, 1855, was born in Germany, January 28, 1836, and reached Wayne county, April 2, 1854, after a journey of thirty-seven days. She was the daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Weber) Jaeger, both of whom spent the span of their years in Germany.

Charles Holifer, an early pioneer of Munson township, now a retired resi- dent of Paynesville, was born in Germany, February 11, 1834, son of Gottlieb and Mena Holifer, who in 1853 brought their eight children, Minnie, Gotlieb, Grace, Fredericka, Charles, Johanna, Ernst and Amelia, from Germany to Illinois. In 1856, Charles came to Stearns county, and located in Munson and Eden Lake townships. The rest of the family came a year later. They erected a log cabin, broke the wild land, and for some time subsisted on wild game, and crude flour made from flour which they manufactured by grinding wheat in a coffee mill. During the Indian troubles the family home was burned. In 1874, Charles Holifer moved to Eden Lake township, where he lived until June, 1912, when he retired and moved to the village of Paynes- ville where he has lived since. He is a prominent man, and while in Eden Lake served as town supervisor and as a member of the school board.

Charles Holifer was married in 1862 to Minnie Schultz, who died April 25, 1904, at the age of sixty-one. In the family there were seven children : Charles, Ernslena, Hulda, Henry, August, Minnie and Amelia (deceased). Charles lives in Munson township. Ernslena is the wife of Henry Koeler, of Lake Henry township. Hulda is the wife of Henry Stanger, of St. Joseph township. Henry is a banker. August lives in Zion township. Minnie is the wife of Herman Wendt, of Alberta, Canada. The family faith is that of the Evangelical Church.

James H. Boylan, retired farmer and banker, was born in Allegany county, New York, May 13, 1834, son of Firman and Laura (Hulbert) Boylan, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Massachusetts. In the family there were eight children: Vandervent, James H., Edwin Hulbert, Samuel, Alonzo, Lenora and Victoria (twins) and Mary. James H. received his early training on a farm in New York. At the age of twenty-one he left his native state, and located in Morris, Ill. Then he came to Minnesota, lived a short time at Anoka, and freighted on the road with an ox-team. He came to Paynesville in the fall of 1857, and secured 160 acres of land in section 16, a part of which tract is included within the present limits of the village of Paynesville. After abandoning this tract, he located on a farm of 320 acres, one mile east of Paynesville. He built a log cabin, and lived the usual life of the pioneers of this neighborhood. In 1859 he was married. In 1861 he took his family back to New York state, where they remained through the years of the Civil War. Thus they avoided the disasters of the Indian up- rising. In 1866 they returned to the farm in Paynesville township. By hard work they prospered. From time to time they erected buildings as necessity required, and also added to their real estate holdings until they owned 580 acres. In 1890 the family moved to the village of Paynesville. In 1888, Mr. Boylan became interested in the banking firm of Boylan, Brackett & Co., of which he became president. After about fourteen years Mr. Boylan disposed of his interest to the Security State Bank. Mr. Boylan has given many years

J. H. BOYLAN

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

of his life to public service. For thirty-two years he was supervisor of Paynes- ville township, serving thirty of these years as chairman. He was also mem- ber of the schoolboard in his district. Since moving to Paynesville he has been a member of the schoolboard of the village for twenty-one years. He has also been postmaster of Paynesville at two different times. Being of a fraternal nature he has allied himself with Paynesville Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been treasurer for over twenty-five years. He is also Past Worshipful Master of this lodge. Mr. Boylan was married at Paynesville, in 1859, to Canarissa Richardson, the daughter of William Richardson. She was born in Wisconsin, August 31, 1838, and died in Paynesville, Minn., March 2, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Boylan have had eight children: Arthur (deceased) ; Firman, of Carrington, North Dakota, engaged in the implement business; James H., Jr., auditor of the Midland Lumber Co., of Minneapolis; Reuben Richardson (deceased) ; John, accountant for a wholesale grocery company in Seattle, Wash .; Dana, who is in the grain business in Weyburn, Canada; Minnie, wife of Edgar Phipps, of Paynesville; and Anna, wife of Charles L. Cushing, of Kendallvalle, Ind.

John Peter Appelgren, a pioneer miller of Paynesville, was born in Sweden, December 18, 1842, and there learned the miller's trade under com- petent masters. In 1869 he came to America, and after working in mills in various places, he came to Paynesville, and purchased a grist mill. He con- verted this into a flour mill, and manufactured the well-known "Paynesville Roller Flour," which was a great favorite with housewives. In 1893 Mr. Appelgren suffered a stroke of paralysis, and retired from the mill. It is now a crumbling mass of ruins. Although from the time of his earliest ar- rival, he continued to make his home in Paynesville, he nevertheless took great interest in his farm of 160 acres in Kandiyohi county, just across the line from Stearns county. He broke and improved the wild land and brought it to a high stage of cultivation. Mr. Appelgren died in 1900. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic order.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 19

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