History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 23

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

USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 23

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Joseph J. Kunkel, proprietor of the "Pearl Lake Farm," of Maine Prairie township, was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, May 1, 1868, son of Killian and Elizabeth (Ehmer) Kunkel, natives of Bavaria, who came to this country be- fore they were married, lived for a time in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio, and ended their days in Haverhill, Iowa. Joseph J. was the sixth of seven children. He attended the common schools, worked on the home farm several years, and then started for himself by renting land in Iowa. March 1, 1900, he brought his family to Stearns county, and purchased the old D. E. Meyer farm in the northern part of Maine Prairie township. He has since added to this until he owns 340 acres in one tract, in sections 3, 4, 9, and 10, on the west shore of Pearl lake, eighty acres in section 16, forty acres in section 21, 160 acres in section 9, and 24 acres in section 2, known as Pearl Lake Park, as well as 200 acres in Millwood township. His especial pride is his sightly resi- dence built from cement brick which he manufactured with his own machine on his own premises. The house is modern throughout, equipped with gas light, hot air furnace, bath, sewerage system, and other improvements. The outbuildings and farm equipment are fully in keeping with the beautiful home. Mr. Kunkel has made great strides since coming to Stearns county, and is a splendid type of a modern farmer. He raises a good grade of Hereford cat- tle, pure bred chickens, and bronze turkeys. His orchard of 200 apple trees and 200 plum trees with his fine apiary add beauty to the landscape and profit to the owner. While Mr. Kunkel has not cared to mingle in political life he has served as justice of the peace in the township for some ten years. Mr. Kunkel was married May 3, 1892, in Haverhill, Iowa, to Mary E. Mayer, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, only daughter of John and Walburga Mayer. Mr. and Mrs. Kunkel have had nine children : Leo, John, Joseph, Paul, Albert, Elizabeth (deceased), Ludwig, Marie and George (deceased). There is also an adopted daughter, Anna. Mrs. Kunkel's mother, Walburga Mayer,

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makes her home with her daughter. She was eighty years old in December, 1913, and still in good health.

Nicholas Klein, a prominent farmer of Maine Prairie township, was born in Du Page county, Illinois, April 4, 1862, son of George and Theresa (Henchis) Klein, who came from Germany as children and were married in Chicago. George was a shoemaker by trade, but devoted the later years of his life to farming. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife still lives at the age of eighty-three. In their family there were six children. Nicholas Klein was reared in Du Page county, and secured a good education. About 1885 he went to St. Joseph, Kossuth county, Iowa, and in 1896 opened a general merchandise and implement establishment there. In 1900 he came to Maine Prairie and purchased a farm of 240 acres. This he has since increased to 400 acres. He has made many improvements, has installed a complete equipment of modern implements and machinery, and has one of the show places of the township. Mr. Klein married Margaret Heinz and they have seven children: Mary, Peter, Frank, Aphalonia, Louisa, Jacob and Alvina.

William Loudon, of the "Oak Grove Farm," Maine Prairie, was born in Jefferson township, Washington county, Indiana, November 19, 1839, son of John and Lavina (Lee) Loudon. John Loudon was born in Ireland of Scotch- Irish descent. He came to this country, located in New York state, and there married Lavina Lee, who was a native of Washington county, in that state. There four children, Joseph, Robert, Jane and Alexander, were born. The family came to Washington county, Indiana, and there four more children, James, Sarah, John and William, were born. John Loudon was a progressive farmer, and a prominent man.

In such a home of education and intelligence, William Loudon was reared. Coming of an agricultural family it was natural that he should early turn his attention to farm pursuits. From his native county he moved to Whiteside county, Illinois. He married Mary Nance, daughter of Dr. Clement Nance, a physician. In 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Loudon came to Stearns county, with their two children, Elmer and Clinton. They lived the first winter in St. Cloud. Then they located on a farm one mile west of that city. There the wife died at the early age of thirty-six. Mr. Loudon later married Kate Smith, a daugh- ter of Albert Smith, a pioneer of Stearns county. A few years later they moved onto the present farm in section 6, in the northwestern part of Maine Prairie township. The original farm has been increased to 240 acres, and the place has been wonderfully improved. The farm has been noted for many years for its successful activities. From Illinois, Mr. Loudon brought three famous horses, "Jack," "Gray Eagle," and "Messenger,' and from these horses have been bred some splendid offspring. A specialty has also been made of full blood Shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep, and Poland-China swine. In the early days, Mr. Loudon and his wife were members of the Grange at St. Cloud. Mr. Loudon was also one of the owners of the cheese factory and creamery at Maine Prairie, now discontinued. In addition to his many other interests he has also become a skilled veterinary surgeon. In politics a Demo- crat, he has been justice of the peace and a school official. Mr. Loudon's wife

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died on the farm at the age of forty-six. By this marriage there were four chil- dren : Charles, Carrie, Sadie and Chester. The family faith is that of the Pres- byterian Church. Mr. Loudon is an affable gentleman of the old school, and his neighborhood has been bettered by his kindly presence.

Michael C. Loesch, a well-known farmer of section 11, in the vicinity of Pearl lake, Maine Prairie township, was born in section 3, across the lake from where he now resides, November 22, 1863, son of Nicholas and Anna Loesch, and grandson of Michael Loesch, all natives of Luxemburg. Nicholas set out for America in 1854. In 1855 he started for the West with a party of eight young men. They were among the first to pass through the canal at Sault Ste. Marie. Through swamps and woods they pursued their course and finally reached St. Paul. From there Nicholas came to St. Cloud. He first took a homestead in Rockville township, but allowed his right to lapse. His par- ents obtained a homestead in Rockville township, where they ended their days. Nicholas finally secured a location in section 3, near Pearl lake in Maine Prairie township. Here he erected a log cabin, and with a yoke of oxen and a cow started farming operations. He marketed his produce in St. Paul, making the journey with an ox team, taking six days to complete the round trip. He became a leading man in the community. His particular interest was taken in churches and schools. He helped to build the Catholic Church on Jacob's prairie, and also the church at Luxemburg Postoffice in St. Augusta township. Later he assisted in building the church at Pearl Lake. Nicholas Loesch died March 17, 1913, at eighty years of age. His widow is still living at the good age of seventy-six. Of their fourteen children, Michael C. is the oldest. The others are: Margaret, Kate (deceased), Lena, Nicholas, Henry, Peter (deceased), Casper, Peter, Anna, Mary, Elizabeth, John and an unnamed in- fant (deceased).

Michael C. Loesch was reared on the home farm, and received a splendid education. For eleven years he taught school in Stearns county. For a while he was clerk for Joseph Walch, at New Paynesville, this county, then for a time he was in the bindery department of the Pioneer Press at St. Paul. When he was about thirty years of age he located on eighty acres which are included in his present farm. At that time the tract was heavily wooded. Mr. Loesch erected a frame house and other buildings, the lumber of which was secured from timber growing on the land. He has added to the original purchase and now owns 120 acres of good land. He has erected a modern, ventilated barn, and a brick residence, as well as other improved buildings. At first he raised Hereford cattle. Recently, however, he has changed to Holsteins. He has a good grade of horses and red swine. He has also raised some excellent fruit. He has been secretary of the Pearl Lake Creamery since it was or- ganized in 1897, and is the Maine Prairie director for the Mutual Fire Insur- ance Co., Incorporated, of Wakefield, as well as a director in the State Bank of Kimball. He has been treasurer of the school district for many years, and has served both as chairman and as a member of the town board. Mr. Loesch was married August 1, 1893, to Margaret Geideman, and they have eight children: Celia, Rose, Frank, Mary, Clara, George, Elma and Law- rence. Margaret Geideman, who became Mrs. Michael C. Loesch, was born

MR. AND MRS. MICHAEL C. LOESCH

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in Rockville township, this county, June 12, 1868, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Grien) Geideman. Joseph Geideman was born in Baaden, and came to America in 1854. He was married in St. Cloud to Catherine Grien, who was born in Belgium, and was brought to Ohio by her parents in 1857. After their marriage, they located on some wild land in Rockville township, erected a log cabin, and started farming with a yoke of oxen. Mrs. Geide- man died in 1893 at the age of fifty-five, and after that her husband moved to Maine Prairie township, where he died in 1906 at the age of seventy- three. There were nine children in the family: Mary (deceased), Kate, Anna, Margaret, John, Barbara (deceased), Aloysius (deceased), Josephine and Elizabeth.

Rutledge Moss, a progressive farmer of Maine Prairie township, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, March 24, 1855, son of Thomas and Rachael (Donahue) Moss. The parents were born in Pennsylvania, and were mar- ried in Indiana. Thomas Moss was a cooper by trade, but he also devoted many years of his life to farming. At the close of the war he brought his family to Stearns county and secured a homestead of 160 acres in Fair Haven township. In the family were seven children, six of whom came with the parents, and one of whom came soon afterward. They were: John W., Elias D., Thomas, Jennie, Theodore, Rutledge and Anna. Upon their arrival here they erected a log cabin for a residence. They also constructed a log barn covered with hay, for their ox team, their horse and their two cows. The parents ended their days on this farm.

Rutledge Moss received his early education in the district schools of Fair Haven township. At the age of nineteen he started for himself on ninety acres of wild land in Fair Haven township. Here he erected a frame build- ing, and started farming with an ox team. About this time he married Cora Dormas, a native of Meeker county. About two years after his marriage he moved to a farm of forty acres in section 35 in Maine Prairie township, where he still resides. When he moved on the place no buildings had been erected, and only five acres had been broken. He built a log house and a board barn, and started in to carve his fortune. He now has a fine home, a model small barn with patent stanchions, and excellent farm equipment. He carries on diversified farming and raises a good grade of stock. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Kimball. Mr. and Mrs. Moss were mar- ried in 1879 and have six children: Guy, William, Florence, Cecil, Charles and John.

Ferdinand Mielke, a prominent farmer of Maine Prairie township, was born in Pomer, Germany, December 13, 1843, son of Frederick and Marie (Lodewick) Mielke, who spent the span of their years on a farm in Ger- many. Ferdinand, the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native coun- try, and was there married, July 20, 1864, to Amelia Bretzke, who was born in Karlsthal, Germany, October 27, 1844. In 1868 the family came to America. In the party were: Ferdinand Mielke and wife, their two children, William, aged two years, and Emilie, aged seven weeks, as well as Ferdinand Bretzke and family. Twenty-eight days were spent on the water, the trip being made in the sailing vessel, "Schmitt," which was named from its captain.

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The party landed at New York, and started for St. Paul. They became sepa- rated, and endured many hardships before reaching their destination, ina- bility to speak the English language often making it difficult for them to obtain food and attention. At last they were all united at Carver, in this state. On May 13, 1869, Mr. Mielke came to Stearns county, and was taken through Maine Prairie township by a pioneer. However a trip he had taken through the wild country while living at Carver, when he and his companions suffered severely from cold, rain, snow, weariness and hunger, discouraged him from making another attempt to establish a homestead, so he secured a position on a steamboat at $50.00 a month. In the meantime, the father-in- law, Frederick Bretzke, had secured a claim in section 14, Maine Prairie, and he induced Frederick Mielke to locate in that vicinity. So with his family and an ox team, Mr. Mielke took up his residence on section 14, Maine Prairie township. There were no buildings on the tract and no roads leading to it. The first home consisted of a hole dug in the ground, with the wagon box for a cover. Later a small log cabin was erected. One pane of glass for the only window, purchased for thirty-five cents, represented the only money expenditure. After living on this place five years the family moved to a tract of 160 acres in section 3, which Mr. Mielke purchased at $6 an acre. Here he erected a story and a half log cabin, with a kitchen in the rear. This was a very substantial structure for those days. Mr. Mielke had no money and went to St. Cloud for the purpose of securing lumber from N. P. Clark on credit. He there met John Zapp, now a leading banker, with whom he established a confidential financial relation which has since continued. Mr. Mielke has continued to reside on the farm in section 3. He has a good place with excellent buildings and well-tilled soil. He has been school treasurer for ten years and has served in other local positions. He and his family are adherents of the Evangelical Church. Mr. and Mrs. Mielke have had twelve children: Otilia (deceased), William, Emil, Helena, Matilda, Theodore, Her- man, Ferdinand, Amelia, Julius (deceased), Clara and Arthur.

Sylvanous J. Phillips was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, December 22, 1857, son of A. J. and Nancy (Livingston) Phillips, who were born in Alle- gany county, New York; came to Minnesota in 1861, lived a while in Dakota county, and then established their home in Meeker county. Sylvanous J. Phillips was educated in Dakota county, farmed there with his parents, and was also a mail carrier five years in Meeker county. In 1908 he came to Maine Prairie, and purchased a farm of 120 acres near Kimball in section 11. Later he sold that and purchased eighty acres adjoining. There he follows diversi- fied farming. In 1911 he purchased a store at Kimball, which he still conducts.

Mr. Phillips married Lizzie Shoutz, a native of Illinois, daughter of John Shoutz, now of McCloud county, this state, a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have six children: A. J., Anna Maude, Frank, Nannie, Sylvanous J., Jr., and Walter. Stella is dead.

Eliel Peck, postmaster at Kimball Prairie, was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, February 26, 1867, son of Solan A. and Sarah (Hubbard) Peck, natives also of Lebanon, where the sixth generation occupies the Peck home which was built in 1780. Eliel Peck received his education in the graded

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and high school of Lebanon, and in the agricultural department of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. After his graduation in 1875 he became steward in the large hotel, the "Twin Mountain House," in the White Moun- tains, for five years. In 1880 he came to Minnesota and opened a general store at Kingston, Meeker county. When the "Soo" line came through in 1889, he came to Kimball Prairie, and erected the first store, which has now de- veloped into a large mercantile establishment which he still owns. In the spring of 1890 he was appointed postmaster, and this position he has since occupied with the exception of two years under Grover Cleveland's second administration. He is interested in the progress of the village, and main- tains his home here though for the past twenty-five years he has spent his winters in Florida. He is a member of Plumb Line Lodge, No. 173, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Peck was married February 14, 1881, to Emma A. McLane.

Peter Roth, a farmer of Maine Prairie, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, June 28, 1855, son of Mathias and Lucy Roth, who were born in Prussia, Germany, came to America, located in Missouri, were married in St. Louis, came to Stearns county in 1867, located in section 6, Maine Prairie township, and lived a pioneer life, erecting a log cabin, breaking the land, prospering with the years, and finally erecting modern buildings, and adding eighty acres to the original farm. The father died in 1906 at the age of eighty-three and the mother in 1905 at the age of seventy-three. Peter Roth came here with his parents, and spent his boyhood amid frontier conditions. He has always remained on the home farm. His place now consists of 240 acres of good land, upon which he successfully conducts general farming, making a specialty of pure blooded Herefords. He is a leading man in the community and has ocupied school office nearly a quarter of a century. Mr. Roth married Katharina Volz, and they have nine children: Leo, Joseph, Elizabeth, Henry, Anne, Mathew, John, Albert and Andrew.

David Bright Stanley, for many years postmaster and storekeeper in Maine Prairie village, was born in Edinburg, Penn., February 23, 1845, son of Thomas and Mary Stanley, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ireland. The original rendering of the name was Standley. From Pennsyl- vania the family went to Ohio, where the father worked at his trade as a machinist. In 1858 they came to Stearns county, and located on a farm in section 11, near Pearl lake, in Maine Prairie township. Here they erected a log cabin and started farming with an ox team. Later the father sold this place, and went to Dunkirk, Indiana, where he spent his last days. In the family there were six children: David B., Joseph, Plum, Frank, Roger and Bird. David B. Stanley attended the district schools of Maine Prairie, the St. Cloud High School, and the Bryant & Stratton Business College, of Minne- apolis. In 1867 he and his brother, Roger, erected a store building in Maine Prairie village, and opened a general merchandise establishment. In 1868 Mr. Stanley was appointed postmaster. A few years later he bought his partner's interest, and then continued in business alone. He served as super- visor and as a member of the school board. He was town clerk for nearly two decades. His fraternal affiliation was with the Masonic Lodge at Kimball. He died March 17, 1911. Mr. Stanley was married August 22, 1868, to Emma

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Gene Allen, born in Maine, December 2, 1850, daughter of Barney and Hannah (Wakefield) Allen, who, in 1855, brought their twin children, Alden and Emma Gene to Anoka county, Minnesota ; came to Maine Prairie in 1867, and spent their declining years at Kimball village. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have twelve children: Grace A., born October 26, 1869; Ida M., born November 22, 1870; Milton P., born February 16, 1872; Henry M., born April 14, 1878; Kate . A., born May 8, 1874; Inez, born January 5, 1882; David B., born April 11, 1887; Mary H., born August 27, 1883, and died October 29, 1887; George W., born December 31, 1888; Barney A., born September 15, 1890.

Corydon David Shoemaker, a farmer of Maine Prairie township, was born in Lake county, Ohio, April 17, 1854, son of Abram and Ashsah (Waite) Shoe- maker. Abram Shoemaker was born March 10, 1816, and died April 29, 1886. His wife, Ashsah Waite, was born January 23, 1823, and died December 28, 1900. They were married June 8, 1846. Their children were: Athalie, born May 4, 1847; Helen, born August 17, 1849; Almon, born April 1, 1853; Corydon, born April 17, 1854; Merritt E., born October 15, 1856; and Waite A., born March 24, 1860. Of these Athalie, Corydon, Merritt E. and Waite A. lived to adult years. In 1863, while the Civil War was raging, Abram Shoe- maker and his wife set out for Minnesota. They located in Plainview, in Wabasha county, and there lived until 1871, when they came to Stearns county, and located on the shores of Day's lake, in section 22, Maine Prairie township. Here they spent the remainder of their lives. Abram Shoemaker was a farmer-preacher, being one of the pioneer clergymen of the Christian Church. Corydon D. was but seventeen years of age when the family came to Stearns county. He has devoted his mature years to agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-one he started out for himself. His first place embraced eighty acres, forty being a homestead in section 35, Maine Prairie township, and forty being school land in section 36. With the passage of the years, Mr. Shoemaker has became an influential and prosperous man. He has been chairman and director of his school district, has been constable about fifteen years, and assessor for some four or five years. He is also president of the Kimball Creamery Company, at Kimball. Mr. Shoemaker was married in 1875 to Elizabeth Greeley, daughter of Augustus Greeley. She died in May, 1897, at the age of forty. To this union have been born five children: Ernest H., Alvin Leslie, Clara Elizabeth, Edna Myrtle and Ashsah Helen. Mr. Shoe- maker was married the second time, in July, 1898, to Anna West, born in Stearns county, October 7, 1869, daughter of William Preston West and Martha Jane Moore West, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have two children: Abram W. and Ward Almon.

Henry Steichen, a prosperous farmer of Maine Prairie township, was born in Luxemburg, January 20, 1860, son of John and Angelica (Roller) Steichen, who brought their three children, Henry, Susan and John from Germany in 1865, and settled on 160 acres in section 34, Rockville township. At this time about forty acres were under cultivation, and a log cabin had been erected. They began farming with an ox team and as the years passed were unusually successful. The farm buildings showed the evidences of their increasing pros-

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perity, and in time a modern home was built. John Steichen was a member of the school board for many years. He was also an active member of the church at Luxemburg, which he assisted in erecting. He died in 1882 at the age of seventy-one. His wife died in 1898 at the age of sixty. Four chil- dren were born in Stearns county: Mary, Nicholas, Anna (deceased), and Katie. Henry Steichen has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He was reared on the home farm, and attended the district schools. In 1889 he moved onto a farm in section 10, Maine Prairie township, which his parents had pur- chased from D. E. Meyers. At the time of the purchase there was nothing on the place in the way of improvement except a small shack. Mr. Steichen has erected a brick residence and other sightly buildings. He has made a marked success of general farming, and has added 160 acres to his original place. His specialty is Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Poland-China swine. A Democrat in politics he has served as chairman of the town board for many years, and for four years as town clerk. He is a stockholder in the State Bank of Kimball, and a member of the board of directors of the Cold Spring Co-Operative Insurance Co. Mr. Steichen was married February 25, 1884, to Anna Kremmer, a native of Luxemburg, and they have ten children : Angelica, Nicholas, Anna, Susan, John N., Katie, Henry, Aloysius, Margaret and Paul.

Freed Scheelar, who carries on general farming in Maine Prairie town- ship, was born in Ohio, January 10, 1853, son of Sacheries Scheelar. The mother died when Freed was but three days old, and the father brought the eight children, five of whom had been born to a former marriage, to Minne- sota, and located on 160 acres in section 20. He built a log cabin and started farming with an ox team. Later he sold out. He died when Freed was but eight years old. Thus left an orphan in his tenderest years, Freed Scheelar secured a living as best he could, living with whatever families would supply him with board and lodging in return for such services as he could render. He was still a boy when he secured eighty acres and moved into a log cabin where he lived alone. He married Mary Heid and the two started life together. By hard work and frugality they secured a competence. They have erected a modern home and barn and their farm of 120 acres is in a high state of culti- vation and improvement. It is a matter of gratification with them that they were among those who assisted in building the Church of St. Holy Cross, R. C., at Maetz. Mr. and Mrs. Scheelar have three children: Julia, Fridolin and Agnes.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 23

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