History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 24

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

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Andrew Alstrom, deceased, was born in Sweden, April 18, 1850, descended from a sturdy line of peasant farmers. After learning the carpenters' trade he came to the United States at the age of twenty-one, settled in Illinois, and secured employment at his chosen occupation. He later removed to Hast- ings, Minnesota, where he was employed at bridge construction on the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. He was married at Hastings, in 1880, to Emma Fredeen, a native of Sweden, who came to America in 1878 and located in Cannon Falls, Goodhue county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Alstrom had two children. Charles A. married Helen Berger, and lives at Haliday, North Dakota. Nettie F. married Ira L. Williams, and lives in Snohomish, Wash. In 1914, while spending the summer with her mother at her summer

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home on Lake Linneman, she furnished the material upon which this sketch is based. In 1886, Mr. and Mrs. Alstrom came to St. Cloud, where Mr. Alstrom opened the Bodega Restaurant at 606 St. Germain street, a business he con- ducted until his retirement in 1910. During the years that Mr. Alstrom lived in St. Cloud he was elected to the city council from the Fourth Ward for sev- eral terms, and was at one time vice-president of that body. He was consid- ered one of the substantial citizens of St. Cloud and took a great interest in its development. He had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and was a member of the Masonic order, the Red Men, the Eagles, the Sons of Herman and the Gustavus Alolphus Society. He died July 22, 1910, and was buried at Hastings, Minnesota, with Masonic orders.

W. S. Bartholomew, postmaster at Avon, was born September 5, 1860, in Monroe, Butler county, Ohio, son of Samuel K. and Mary (Mellor) Bar- tholomew. Samuel K. Bartholomew was born in Strasburg, a few miles from Lancaster, Penn., about the year 1827. In the forties he was engaged in trans- porting freight on the government road over the mountains in that vicinity. In 1879 he brought the family to Waverly, Wright county, and later bought land near Annandale, that county, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died in 1890. His wife died in 1888. Of the ten children in the family, six are living. W. S. Bartholomew obtained his early education at College Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio. He came to Minnesota with his father, and alter- nated teaching school with work on the farm. In 1885 he went to Dassel, Minn., was there married, and there lived four years. In 1889 he came to St. Cloud. It was in 1890 that he moved to Avon, and became a sawmill operator. In 1899 he was appointed postmaster, a position he still retains, giving gen- eral satisfaction to the patrons of the office. He was chairman of the town board for six years, and town clerk eleven years. Being of a fraternal nature he has allied himself with the B. P. O. E. and the M. W. A., at St. Cloud. Mr. Bartholomew was married in 1885, to Nellie Mann, born in Vermont, daughter of Willard and Elvira (Dudley) Mann. There are two daughters: Nellie A. and Ethel M., both teachers.

Rudolph Grunloh, a retired farmer living in the village of Avon, was born in the grand duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, November 1, 1834, son of Lambert and Elizabeth (Ludica) Grunloh. He was reared in his native land and in 1858 came to America. He spent the winter in New Orleans, and then secured employment with a farmer living near Cincinnati, Ohio. In the fall he went to work for another farmer in the same vicinity, and remained with him for three years. He and his brother, Lambert, then lived in Indianapolis, Ind., for a short period. He was married in 1863, and two years later brought his family to St. Paul. In 1868 he came to Avon, and took a homestead in the northwest quarter of section 6, where he erected a log cabin, broke the land, and started raising grain. Here he reared his family, and here he successfully farmed until 1910, when he and his wife moved to Avon vil- lage. For eighteen years he was school treasurer in his district. His wife, whom he married in Cincinnati, in 1863, was the daughter of William and Margaretha (Kramer) Grus. Five of their children are still living. They are: Mary is now Mrs. Lucon, and lives in Albany ; Rudolph J., married Augusta

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

Von Wahlde, and lives on the home farm; Hannah married Adam Keppers; Elizabeth married Barney Terwey; Katherina married Frank Meyer.

Rudolph J. Grunloh, a successful farmer, living on the old homestead in section 6, Avon township, was born on the farm, where he still resides, April 25, 1872, son of Rudolph and Margaretha (Grus) Grunloh. As a youth he attended the school of District No. 72, of which his father was the first treas- urer, and of which his children are now pupils. He has one of the finest farms in the township, his home is attractive with commodious outbuildings, he is progressive and modern in all his methods, and a true gentleman in every respect. Mr. Grunloh married Augusta Von Wahlde, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they have six children: Marie, Gertrude, Rudolph, Lonora, Regina and Loretta.

Nicholas Keppers, one of the earliest pioneers of Stearns county, was born in Prussia, Germany, August 31, 1836, son of Adam and Margaret (Kramer) Keppers. Adam Keppers was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1810, was there married, and in 1852 came to America and located in Lafayette, Indiana, where he lost his wife. In 1854 he brought the children to Stearns county, and settled on a claim of 160 acres in St. Joseph township, where he died in 1884. In 1863, Nicholas Keppers was married to Mary Terwey, and they secured 160 acres of land in Avon township, The home was a combination of log cabin and dug-out, covered with bass-wood bark. In 1880 they erected a frame house. There he died in 1897. He was prominent in local affairs, and served for a time as county commissioner. In his family there were sixteen children : Adam, a farmer of Avon : John, living in Collegeville, this county ; Annie, the wife of Frank Whitman, of Avon; Joseph, of St. Wendel; Susie, now Sister Mary Jerome, in the convent at Little Falls; Elizabeth, the wife of William Roch, of Avon; Michael, of Avon village; Bernard J., the principal of the schools at Holdingford, this county.

Adam Keppers, one of these sons, was born on the farm in Avon, Septem- ber 12, 1865. He attended school in District No. 60, one of his teachers being Mary Scotup. As a young man he was himself a teacher for a short time, and then as a bachelor took up his residence on his farm in section 22, Avon township, where he built a log cabin. Two years later he married and brought his wife to the place. Mr. Keppers carries on general farming and has a splendid place of 200 acres. In 1908 he erected a sightly brick residence, sup- plied with steam heat and other modern conveniences. Mr. Keppers was the first white child born in the township, has taken a part in its progress, and few men are better informed as to its history. He has been town clerk and asses- sor, and in 1912 was defeated for the office of county commissioner by only a small majority. He was married in 1894 to Johanna Grunloh, daughter of Rudolph and Margaret (Grus) Grunloh. In the family there are nine chil- dren, four boys and five girls. Rudolf, Stella, Philip, Martha, Mari, Nicho- laus, Ursella, Margaret and Francis.

Thomas F. Roche, a well-known resident of Avon village, was born in Illinois, October 14, 1858, son of Thomas and Bridget (Collnan) Roche. Thomas Roche was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and in time came to America and located in Illinois. At the beginning of the Civil War he brought

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

his family to St. Paul, and about 1868 he came to Avon, and homesteaded 160 acres in section 10. He died in 1908 and his wife in 1913. Of their eleven children seven are now living. Thomas F. attended school in the neighbor- hood of his home, and remained for some time with his parents. Then he worked on the railroad for five years. After he married, he rented a farm a year, and then moved to the village of Avon, where he conducted a general , mercantile store for a quarter of a century. Under Grover Cleveland he served as postmaster of the village. Since his retirement from the store he has engaged in various lines of endeavor, and now spends his time looking after his numerous interests. He owns 284 acres in the township, stocked with Hereford cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine, well supplied with buildings, and also 110 lots and numerous buildings in the village. He has one of the best residences in the vicinity. Mr. Roche is an active energetic man, and has long labored for the upbuilding of the township and village. He has occupied various offices and is now president of the village. He has been a member of the school board for thirteen years. In 1894 he assisted in organizing the Avon Literary Society, which during its existence of one season had a most beneficial influence upon the life of the community. Mr. Roche married Rose Ellen Randolph, of Anoka, this state, and they have six children living. They are: Alice, Edward, Frank, Dora, Lillian and Grace. Alice married Fred Belleu, of Royalton, Minn., and they have one child, Elvina. Edward married Katie Merkling and lives in Avon. They have one child, Lester.

John Obermiller was born in Germany, and was one of a family of three boys and three girls. Five of them came to America, and located at Aurora, New York, leaving the youngest brother in Germany. The two boys made shingles by hand, and thus supported the family. During the winter, John worked in the pine woods. One day while thus employed he heard the sound of a horn in the distance. He recognized the sound as belonging to a horn which the members of the family had used in Germany, and at once remarked to a companion that he believed his youngest brother was approaching, though at that time he did not know that the brother had reached America. His intuition proved to be true, and thus the six members of the family were re- united. John and one of his brothers came to Wisconsin, and after working a while as farm hands developing forty acres of land, which they broke, cleared, fenced and planted to wheat. The farmer for whom they did this work paid them $100, a sum of money which they greatly needed. Each of the two brothers then bought forty arces of land. About this time his sister married a man named Rass. A few weeks afterward he went away to look for work, and never returned. John Obermiller then cared for her, and became foster father to her son Frank when he was born. Later they sold out and drove to Minnesota with an ox-team, the trip lasting about six weeks. This was in 1858. They secured a homestead in section 2, Collegeville, and were among the very earliest settlers in that vicinity. When they arrived they had seven dollars. Four of this was spent for lumber and three for flour. They started farming in the wilderness and gradually became prosperous. There were a number of maple trees on the place and sometimes the family got as much as one hundred dollars' worth of sugar and syrup in a season.

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

As circumstances permitted they erected a frame dwelling and a good barn. During all this time John Obermiller made a home for his nephew, Frank Rass, and gave him a father's love and care. This brief mention of his career has been prepared from his own notes. He was an upright, generous man, and true gentleman in every sense, and his life-long example of kindl- ness will long be remembered in the community he helped to establish.

Frank Rass was born in Wisconsin. His father disappeared a short time before he was born, and he was reared by his mother and by his uncle, John Obermiller. He came to Collegeville, this county, with his mother and uncle in 1858, and lived with them until his marriage. After his marriage he farmed in Collegeville for twenty-nine years. In 1911 he exchanged the farm for a hotel and livery barn in Avon village. He was married in May, 1882, to Mar- garet Gasperlin, who was born in Germany July 1, 1863. Her parents brought her to America in 1868 and located at St. Anthony, this state, where they ended their days, he at the age of eighty-three and she at the age of sixty. Frank Rass and his wife had a large family of children, twelve of whom are living. Joseph lives in Melrose. Mary married John B. Schmidt, who died in St. Cloud, in 1913. Amelia is the wife of Mr. Roering, who lives near New Munich. Frank lives in St. Cloud. Sebastian and John are in Avon. Elizabeth is the wife of Mr. Mertes, of Bowbells, North Dakota. Anna, Alfred, Leo, Emmanuel and Agatha H. are all at home. John Rass was born in Collegeville town- ship, March 25, 1888. He attended the district schools of his neighborhood, and in 1911, when his parents purchased the hotel and livery at Avon village, he and his brother Sebastian took charge of the livery. He married Flora Emerfall, and they have two children: Genevieve, born May 17, 1912, and Gazella, born October 5, 1913.

Nicholas Schirmers, a respected farmer of Avon township, was born in Sefferweich, district of Trier (Treves), Rhine province, Germany, son of Nich- olas, Sr., and Mary (Roths) Schirmers, farmers, who spent the span of their years in the old country. The subject of this mention was reared in his native district, became a farmer, and married. In 1884 they came to America, and after living a short time in St. Michael township, Wright county, this state, purchased a farm in Avon township, where he still lives. The farm consists of 120 acres of fertile land in a high stage of cultivation. By his wife, Kath- erine Zeimetz, Mr. Schirmers has had nine children: Mary; Nicholas who mar- ried Johanna Blenkush and has two adopted children; Stephen, of Buckman, who married Mary Schmidt; Martin of Buckman who married Margaret Smith and has two children; Jacob who lives at home; John and Lucy, who died in infancy; Sebastian a reverend father of the Catholic Church; and Aloysius M., at home.

John P. Schneider, who is connected with the business interests of Avon, was born December 3, 1880, in section 27, Avon township, son of John and Anna (Baur) Schneider. John Schneider was born in Luxemburg, March 12, 1824, and came to America about 1846, settling in Ohio. In 1849 he fol- lowed the gold rush to California. In the middle fifties he arrived in St. Joseph, where he worked as a farm hand for several years. In 1867 he came to Avon, secured a place in section 27, and engaged in general farming. He

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there reared his family. With his active interest in public events it was nat- ural that he should take a prominent part in town affairs. For some time he served as town clerk. He died in September, 1907, in his eighty-fourth year. He and his good wife were parents of nine children, of whom there are living five. Barbara married Michael Bach. They live in Grand Forks, N. D., and have nine children. Andrew married Clara Maehren. They live in Cold Spring, and have five children. Margaret married Henry Smith, and they have six children. John P. is a clerk in Avon village. Lena married Michael Lutgen, and they have four children. John P. Schneider received his early education in the school of district 60, and at the age of twenty-three engaged in the stock business. Five years later he entered the employ of J. Borgerding & Co., engaged in the general mercantile, hardware and lumber business in Avon. In this concern he has since remained. He is interested in the general welfare of Avon, and is serving as clerk of the township. He belongs to the St. Joseph Society. John P. Schneider married Anna Brandtner, born in Meire Grove, this county. They have three children, Ida M., Adaline A. and Margaret L.

Barney M. Terwey, a successful farmer of Avon, was born in Burlington, Wis., April 2, 1858, son of John and Gertrude (Liether) Terwey. John Terwey was born in Westphalia, Germany, and there married, and in the early forties brought his family to America. They lived many years in Burlington, Wis., and in May, 1860, came to Stearns county, Minn., and located in Meire Grove. John Terwey died a short time after his arrival here. The family, however, retained the claim. The widow afterward married Henry Kreager. John Terwey and his wife had eight children: Gertrude, Mary, John, Henry, Susan, Christine, Barney M. and Anna. Gertrude married Anton Miller, and they live in Menomonie, Wis. John married Antonette Sehweiters, now de- ceased. Henry lives in White Earth, Becker county, Minn. He married Ada- line Terhaar. Susan married Gregger Guek, and lives in Rice, Benton county, this state. Christine married Matthew Rietter, and they live in Chokio, Minn. Barney M. is a farmer of Avon township. Mary was married to Nick Keppers and after her death Nick Keppers was married to Anna.

Barney M. Terwey attended schools in Meire Grove, St. Joseph and Avon. At the age of nine years he went to St. Joseph to live with Nicholas Keppers. Two years later he took up his home with his unele, Barney Terwey. After a short time with him he again went to Mr. Keppers, with whom he remained until twenty-one years of age. Then for several years he worked for various farmers. His first piece of land was forty aeres in section 15, Avon township. Later he sold this and acquired 234 acres in section 8, Avon township, on which he still resides. He built a log house, broke and improved the land, and has since continued to carry on general farming. He married Elizabeth Grunloh, daughter of Rudolph and Margaret (Grues) Grunloh, and they have six chil- dren living: Rudolph J., Julian M., George A., Bernard B., Henry M and Roman J.

Frank Monroe Whitman, successful creamery man of Avon village, was born near Owatonna, Steele county, Minn., July 29, 1875, son of Monroe D. and Anna (Bryant) Whitman. Monroe D. Whitman was born in Newbury

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Center, Vermont, and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. During the war he was a private in the Thirteenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and among other engagements, took part in the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war he came to Steele county, Minn., and farmed until 1910, when he retired and moved to the city of Owatonna. The seven children are: Clarence, a mis- sionary in South Africa; George M., living in Minneapolis; Frank M., living in Avon; Arthur J., living in Good Thunder, Minn .; Hattie, now wife of Gary Felton, who farms near Owatonna; Charles E., who lives on the home farm near Owatonna; and Lynn who works for Charles. Frank M. received his early education in the district schools of his neighborhood and in the Owa- tonna High School. Then he attended at St. Anthony Park, the Dairy School, Department of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, and after the customary practical experience, received his diploma. He worked for a while in the Crown Creamery, near Owatonna, Minn .; the following year went to Rush- more, Minn., and operated a creamery, then went to Amherst, South Dakota, where he put in a creamery and remained four months; from there going to Kidder, South Dakota for a month; and from thence to Holdingford, this county, where he put in a creamery for Mathias Wardran, and remained a little over three years. In 1900 he came to Avon, and in company with Frank Schmid, established the creamery which they are still successfully conducting. Mr. Whitman belongs to the Minnesota State Buttermakers' Association, to the Catholic Order of Foresters and to the St. Joseph Society. He is one of the progressive young men of Avon, and is much interested in the prosperity of the village. For ten successive years he served as village recorder. He married Annie G. Keppers, daughter of Nicholas Keppers, one of the pioneers of Avon. They have three children: Ethel A., Irene M. and Lucile E.

Philip Beaupre was one of the early pioneers of Minnesota, and his career constitutes a story of thrilling adventures in a wild country inhabited by Indians, with here and there a trading post of the whites. He was born in Two Rivers, Lower Canada, July 6, 1823, and at the age of seventeen years started out on his incursion into pioneer regions. He was employed in 1840 on the Chicago canal, after which he went to Green Bay, Wis., and spent a year and a half. Then, after a trip to St. Louis and New Orleans, he went into the Yellowstone country, and was for one year in the employ of the American Fur Company. In the summer of 1844 he came to Minnesota, and located at Crow Wing, in the employ of the Indian traders, Morrison and McDonald, with whom he remained one year. Then he worked for Henry M. Rice a year. In 1849 he established a trading post in what is now Morrison county, and was elected one of the county commissioners of Benton county which then took in a large district in this part of Minnesota. In 1850 he came to what is now Sauk Rapids, took a claim, and combined farming with trading. He was made a justice of the peace, and had a number of cases tried before him. In 1852, having married, he went Pembina, then in Dakota territory, and was employed in the United States Custom Office. In 1855 he opened a trading post in Sauk Centre, in Stearns county, and in 1856 he took the contract for transporting government supplies from St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie. In 1859 he was elected sheriff of Stearns county and served two years. Then he

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made a trip to Montana, and after his return took up his residence in St. Cloud where he engaged in draying. For two years he was employed by Nathan Myrick, in the construction of Fort Pembina. After this he returned to the old homestead in Sauk Rapids, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died Nov. 7, 1906, at the age of eighty-five years.

Philip Beaupre was married May 6, 1852, in the old log church at St. Paul, to Theresa Denoyer, born in St. Louis, Mo., September 8, 1835, daughter of Louis and Marie (Robert) Denoyer. Mr. and Mrs. Beaupre had sixteen chil- dren, thirteen of whom have lived to adult years. They are: William P., Louis G., Emma E., Henry, Mary L., Eulalie, Jeanette, Theresa, Frank, John B., Elizabeth, and Alphonse L. and Andrew (twins). William P. is married and has ten children. He lives in Alberta. Louis G. is on a ranch in Sweet Grass. Emma E. is a painter of more than usual ability. Henry is a dentist in Sweet Grass. He married Josephine Homan, and they have two children. Mary L. is the wife of John H. Homan, a St. Cloud patrolman, and they have five children. Eulalie is a nurse and lives at home. Jeanette married Arthur Hill, and they have four children. They live in Butte, Mont. Theresa mar- ried C. Nelson, and they have two children. Frank is married, has four chil- dren and lives in Minneapolis. John B. is married, has three children and lives in Butte, Montana. Elizabeth married Albert Dorsh and they have four children. Mrs. Beaupre is now living in Montana. One of her prized posses- sions is a painting on china of the historic log church in which she was mar- ried. She also has many beautiful paintings executed by her daughter Emma E.

Charles E. Bell, now a resident of Sauk Rapids, was born in Pittsburg, Penn., August 11, 1843, son of Roger and Margaret (Scott) Bell. In 1845, the family moved from Deer Creek, a little settlement at which the father had a blacksmith shop, twelve miles from Pittsburg, and located in Port Byron, Rock Island county, Illinois. Charles E. Bell enlisted, July 23, 1861, in Company D, Twelfth Illinois Vounteer Infantry. He re-enlisted January 1, 1864, and served until he received his honorable discharge, July 24, 1865. He saw stren- uous active service, and followed the fortunes of his regiment in its historic campaign. To recount the list of his engagements would be to write a history of the regiment. After his return to Port Byron, he worked in his father's store for a while. Later he engaged in railroading on the Northwestern with Clinton, Iowa, as his headquarters. In 1879 he came to Sauk Rapids, where he has since resided. Mr. Bell now conducts an ice cream parlor in Sauk Rapids. He is the manufacturer of Bell's "Wonder Ointment and Liniment," a remedy for all skin disorders which is sold under a guarantee and has met with much favor. Mr. Bell has taken an active interest in the affairs of Sauk Rapids and Benton county. At one time he was county commissioner. He has been president of the village, and for some twenty years has been the justice of the peace. He is also a notary public. He belongs to the Sauk Rapids Lodge, No. 84, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to McKelvey Post, G. A. R. Mr. Bell married Sophia Bricket, and they have one daughter, Ida.

Joseph A. Coates, for over half a century a resident of Sauk Rapids, was born in Lincolnshire, England, November 30, 1849, and was brought by his

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parents to America in 1854. After living in Davenport, Iowa, for a while, the family moved to Harmony, Fillmore county, Minn. In the spring of 1861 the family came to Sauk Rapids, and here with the exception of two years in Arkansas, he has since spent his life.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 24

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