History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 38

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

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infant. On April 26, 1892, Mr. Kray married Angeline Schafer, the widow of William Messersmith, by whom she had three children: George, Henry B., and Evelyn Margaret, and their union has been blessed with five children: Emeline M., Frank Arthur, Estella M., Leona Emma (deceased), and Alma Caroline. Clarence Kray lives in Joplin, Mo. He married Martha Shelver. George Messersmith lives in Minneapolis, Minn. He married Angeline Schri- ber. Henry B. Messersmith lives in Decatur, Ill. He married Maude Dalzell. Evelyn Margaret Messersmith is the wife of Dr. M. F. Cook, of St. Cloud. Eme- line M. Kray, formerly secretary and treasurer of the Cold Spring Milling Co., is now wife of Joseph H. Peters, of Cold Spring. Frank Arthur Kray lives in Cold Spring. Estella Marie Kray succeeded her sister as secretary and treasurer of the Cold Spring Milling Co. Alma Caroline attends the public schools.

Joseph H. Kray, the genial postmaster of Cold Spring, was born in Shak- opee, Minn., February 22, 1869, a son of John and Katrina (Hartmann) Kray. He was reared to hotel life by his father, and in 1890 he and his brothers took over the hotel business. In 1895 he opened a barber shop and confectionery store. In 1906 he disposed of this business. Since about that time he has had charge of the Cold Spring telephone exchange. Since 1897 he has been the postmaster, and has given most excellent service. Mr. Kray is a member of North Star Lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M. He was married October 3, 1893, to Barbara Stang, a native of Cold Spring, daughter of George Stang, who came to this vicinity about 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Kray have twelve children: Florence, born May 10, 1894; Elmer, born November 6, 1895; Rosa, born September 30, 1897; Milda, born February 13, 1899; Bertha, born September 24, 1900; Edna, born March 4, 1902, and died September 2, 1906; Edward, born December 12, 1903; Raymond, born October 30, 1905; Isabel, born De- cember 26, 1907; Arthur, born October, 25, 1909; Madeline, born March 21, 1911; Norbert, July 26, 1913.

Michael Mienz, educator, now teaching in the public schools of Cold Spring village, was born on the home farm in Rockville township, February 22, 1873, son of Peter Mienz, the pioneer. Michael Mienz received his educa- tion in the common schools, of his neighborhood; the St. Cloud State Normal School, at St. Cloud; and St. John's University, at Collegeville. He started his career as a teacher in 1895, and has taught every year since then. He is a wide reader, an excellent instructor, and a prudent disciplinarian, re- spected alike by pupils and parents. Mr. Mienz was married to Mary Hansen, August 29, 1897, daughter of Nicholas Hansen, Sr., the pioneer There are two children, Olivia, and Marcella

John Oster, Sr., a pioneer, was born in Bassenheim, near the banks of the Rhine river, Germany, and there married Catherine Loecher, who was born in the same village. In 1849 they started for America with their two children, Catherine and Joseph. Their journey was a pleasant one, the sailboat which they were aboard making the trip across the ocean in the unusually short time of twenty-six days. Upon landing, they came at once to St. Louis, Mo., thence to Wisconsin, and from that state to Stillwater, Minn. After remain- ing there a few years they came to Cold Spring, in Stearns county, and fin-

JOHN OSTER

EUGENE HERMANUTZ

FERDINAND PETERS Officers of Cold Spring Brewing Company and Cold Spring Mineral Water Company

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ally located a farm in Wakefield township. Mr. Oster alternately worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner and labored on his farm. After settling here, he left for a while, and lived two years in Iowa, and two years in St. Cloud. Subsequently he returned to Cold Spring and here farmed for the remainder of his life. He died in 1908 at the age of eighty-six. His wife died in 1892 at the age of seventy-two. The children born in Stearns county were : Anton, Christina and John.

John Oster, the genial president of the Cold Spring Brewing Co., was born in Stearns county, August 5, 1863, a son of John, Sr., and Catherine (Loecher) Oster, the pioneers. He was reared on the farm, and devoted his life to agri- cultural pursuits until twenty-five years of age, since which time he has de- voted his attention to the brewery business. He is a prominent man in the community, and served as president of the village for two years. He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters. His home is one of the most beautiful in this part of the country, and his brick garage has a full equipment of cars and fixtures. Mr. Oster was married, November 16, 1890, to Rosa Friedman, daugh- ter of Jacob Friedman, who is appropriately mentioned elsewhere, and they have five children: Daniel, Alice, Edward, Irene and Ferdinand.

In 1876 when John Oster was but thirteen years of age, Michael Seigel started a small brewery in Cold Spring. He sold to John Ladner, and he in turn to Jacob Heamen. In 1890, Jacob Heamen and John Oster established the firm of Heamen & Oster. Their brewery had a capacity of about 1,000 barrels yearly, in addition to a small building which was devoted exclusively to turning out keg beer. Mr. Heamen sold out to Henry Hill, and the firm became Oster & Hill. Mr. Hill sold out to Ferdinand Peters, and the firm became Oster & Peters. In 1900 the Cold Spring Brewing Co., was incorpo- rated, with John Oster as president; Eugene Hermanutz as vice-president; and Ferdinand Peters as secretary and treasurer.

The property of this company forms almost a small village, and amounts in value to nearly a half million of dollars. Absolute cleanliness and purity is their slogan. The widely known Cold Spring mineral water is used ex- clusively in the manufacture of their beers and soft drinks. The annual busi- ness of the corporation for 1913 was about $192,000. The well-known "Red Star" mineral water is shipped very extensively and its demands cover a radius of over a thousand miles from its home, "Cold Spring."

Anton Oster was born in Cold Spring, January 16, 1865, son of John Oster, Sr., and Catherine (Loecher) Oster, the pioneers. He farmed on the old homestead in Wakefield township a number of years, and in 1902 moved to the village of Cold Spring, where he engaged in the refreshment busi- ness for six months. He then rented the place and entered the employ of the Cold Spring Brewing Company. In 1906 he again became proprietor of his business and has since continued in that line. In 1889, Mr. Oster married Katie Nierenhausen, daughter of Peter Nierenhausen, a pioneer. In the family there are ten children: Margaret, Peter, Kate, Susan, Hilda, Estella, Albert, Nicholas, Marcus and Viola. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Christian Dreis was born in Prussia, Germany, November 27, 1848, son

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

of Peter Joseph and Barbara (Michaels) Dreis. He left his home in Germany in 1868 and upon reaching this country, came to Wisconsin, and located at Cavalry Station, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. After three years there he came to Cold Spring, this county, and secured employment with the Northern Pacific. In 1874, after his marriage, he located on a farm of eighty acres in section 16, Wakefield township. A log cabin had been built, and five acres were under cultivation. About 1884 he moved to his present place in Cold Spring, where his house occupies the site of one of the early claim shanties. Mr. Dreis has held such offices as supervisor, and has been marshal of Cold Spring for the past twenty-five years. Mr. Dries married Mary Bruner in 1874, and they have five children: Anna and Elizabeth, of St. Cloud; Mary, wife of Gustave Peters; Catherine (deceased) ; and Margaret, who died at the age of three years. Having no boys in the family, Mr. and Mrs. Dries adopted a son, James, to whom they have given parental care and affection. He is now in St. Cloud. Mary Bruner, now Mrs. Christian Dries, was the daughter of George and Anna (Uleman) Bruner, the pioneers. She was born in the Bavarian settlement three miles north of Cold Spring, in a covered wagon, August 2, 1856, no houses having at that time been erected there. She was the first white girl born in that vicinity, and the first child to be baptized in the Church of St. James on Jacob's Prairie. Her parents came from Ba- varia to America, lived for a while on a farm north of Milwaukee, and then came to Wakefield township.

Gustave Peters was born on the old family homestead, near Cavalry Sta- tion, Wis., April 21, 1879, son of John Peters. He left home at the age of four- teen and became interested in the live stock and market business. By native ability and strict attention to business he has achieved success. In 1900 he opened a market in Cold Spring, and in 1908 he opened a branch at Rockville. It was in 1913 that he rented 200 acres of good land joining the village of Cold Spring. Here he has established the Cold Spring Stock farm. He raises good crops which are used for feeding purposes on his own farm. His cattle are of the best. The place is well kept, and the handsome residence and com- modious barns make it one of the most sightly places in the community. Mr. Peters was married in 1901, to Mary Dries, and they have five children : Eldred, Albert, Adaline, Emma and Adwenia, who died at the age of three years.

Ferdinand Peters, secretary and treasurer of the Cold Spring Brewing Co., was born on a farm, one mile north of Calvary Station, Wis., May 1, 1874, son of John and Theresa Mary (Hilt) Peters, and grandson of Nicholas and Margaretha (Lentz) Peters. The grandfather, Nicholas, was a true pioneer. He brought his wife and oldest child from Germany, and secured a homestead of 160 acres one mile north of Calvary Station, Wis. There he built a cabin, and started farming, carrying on at the same time his trade as a blacksmith. His genial character, bravery and honesty, made him a great friend of the Indians. In times of Indian troubles when other settlers fled for protection to Fond du Lac, he remained quietly and untroubled on his farm. He died at the age of forty-seven. The children in the family were: Nicholas, John, Hubert, Mary, Christian and Charles. John Peters, the father, still remains

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on the homestead of his father, Nicholas. John Peters was born in 1844, and is one of the leading men of the community. His first wife, Theresa Mary Hilt died in 1886, at the age of thirty-one, leaving the following chil- dren : Ferdinand, Nicholas, Henry, Gustave, Albert, John and Johanna. The present wife of John Peters was Anna Marie Wagner. She has borne him eight children : Joseph, Mary, Emma, Hubert, Edwin, Edmond, Leonard and Irene. Ferdinand Peters was reared on the home farm, and received his education in the public schools and at Mt. Calvary University, at Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin. As a youth he thoroughly mastered the business of dairying in all its branches, including the care of live stock, and cheese and butter mak- ing. Upon coming to Stearns county, he located at Melrose, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business for one year. Subsequently he entered the employ of what is now the Cold Spring Brewing Co. After keep- ing books for this concern for two years, he spent some six months as general agent for the Minneapolis Brewing Co., with headquarters at Brainerd, Minn. January 15, 1899, he bought a half interest in what is now the Cold Spring Brewing Co., and with that institution he has since been connected. He has other extensive interests. Among them might be mentioned the Oak Park (Benton county, Minn.) State Bank, which has a capital of $12,000. Ferdi- nand Peters is the president, his wife is the vice-president, and Frank J. Pal- lanch is the cashier. Mr. Peters is a prominent man in the community. He has been an efficient member of the village council, and has served continuously since 1908 as village president. Mr. Peters is the father of the project of bottling the Red Star Mineral Water, that has made Cold Spring famous. The water, the first to be shipped from Stearns county, was put on the market in 1906, and is today used in thousands of homes, buffets, and hospitals all through the Northwest. Mr. Peters was united in marriage, November 10, 1897, at Watkins, Minn., to Margaret Hontheim, born in Chicago, April 10, 1880, only child of Mathias and Gertrude (Bishop) Hontheim. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have four children : Marie, Isabel, Johanna and Lucile. Mathias Hon- theim and Gertrude (Bishop) Hontheim, his wife, parents of Mrs. Ferdinand Peters, were born in Murlenbach, Germany. They came to America in 1870, and located in Chicago. In 1885 they came to Watkins, Minn., where Mr. Hontheim is engaged in the mercantile business.

Albert John Peters, merchant of Cold Spring, was born January 16, 1881, on the old Peters homestead, near Calvary Station, Wis., the son of John Peters. He received his preparatory education in the district schools and has supplemented this with wide reading and observation. For a short time he was employed by the Cold Spring Brewing Co. Then he was manager of the Maurin Brothers' Mercantile Co. for several years. In 1905 he became a partner in that concern. In addition to this he is vice-president of the State Bank, of Cold Spring. Mr. Peters was married June 26, 1907, to Rosa Maurin.

George Schaefer, an early hotel keeper of St. Cloud, was born in Kirschof by Heusweiler, Kreis Saarbrueken, Germany, and as a youth learned the trade of carpenter. He also served in the German army. As a young man of twenty-one, when his native land was rent with war, he became entangled in political matters, and as a result was forced to flee for his life. He found

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refuge in America, where he started in to carve a new career for himself. For a time he conducted a hotel at Crown Point, Ind. It was in 1860 that he came to Stearns county and opened a hotel in St. Cloud. It was located on the corner of Sixth avenue and First street, opposite what is now the St. Cloud Hotel. Mr. Schaefer conducted the Schaefer House until 1879, when he turned it over to his son, George M. Schaefer. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. P. Craig, in Cold Spring, this county. His wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Metzroth, of St. Cloud. Mrs. Schaefer, whose maiden name was Margaret Klein, was born near Trear, Prussia, Germany.

Michael Ellenbecker was born on November 1, 1859, in Sheboygan county, Wis., son of Nicholas and Catherine Ellenbecker, both natives of the grand dutchy of Luxemburg. They came to America in 1848, and lived in Sheboygan county, Wis., until 1867 when they moved to Stearns county and located on 150 acres of wild land in Luxemburg township. They erected a log house and a log cabin, and brought the wild land under cultivation. There they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1891 at the age of sev- enty-eight, and the mother in the same year at the age of seventy-six. Michael was reared on the home farm, and at the age of nineteen he entered the sa- loon business at what is now known as Old St. Nicholas in 1878. Two years later he returned to and operated the old farm. In 1883 he engaged in the saloon and grocery business at Cold Spring, in which he continued until 1886, when he again returned to the old farm where he remained until the spring of 1898, after which he re-entered the saloon business at Cold Spring in which he continued until 1904, when he engaged in the livery business and also held a position as rural mail carrier until 1906, after which he engaged in the mercantile business in which he continued for five years, and after disposing of his interests in that business in 1911 he again entered the saloon business in which he is now engaged in Cold Spring. Mr. Ellenbecker married Emma Theisen on May 20, 1884, and they have had seven children: Margaret, Peter I., Anna, Emma, John, Matilda and John F. (deceased).

John Wocken, principal of the Cold Spring schools, was born in Hanover, Germany, August, 26, 1855, son of Bernhard and Elizabeth (Schumacher) Wocken, who spent the span of their years in Germany. There were two daughters, Margaret, living in Germany, wife of Henry Ahlers, and Cath- erina (deceased). John Wocken attended the graded schools of his native place, and in 1874 graduated from the teachers' seminary at Osnabrueck. With this preparation, he taught school for several years in Germany. In 1881 he came to America, and after a short stay at Shakopee, Minn., came to St. John's University, at Collegeville, this county, to perfect himself in Eng- lish. Then he resumed his profession as a teacher. He was the first teacher in the parochial school at Melrose. For a while he taught in district 33, this county. It was in 1887 that he became the teacher of the school in Cold Spring. The second year of his service here he was made principal, a position he has since retained. The school now has four teachers and has made won- derful progress under his capable charge. Mr. Wocken is a deep reader and keeps well abreast of the latest developments in the world's events as well as in the most modern aspects of pedagogy. As a hobby he has taken a

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deep interest in bees, and his apiary has been very successful. Fraternally he affiliates with the Society of St. Joseph. Mr. Wocken married Kate Schlick, and their living children are: Bernard, Joseph, Paul, Marcus, Raymond, Mary, Amanda and Hortense. Aloysius, Alphonse and Louise are dead.

Otto Wolf was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 22, 1865, son of John and Eva (Salzman) Wolf, who spent the span of their years in Ger- many. John and Eva Wolf had four children, Leopold, Otto, Henry and Theodore. After the death of his first wife, John Wolf married Margarethe Oechsner, by whom he had three children, John, George and Gretchen. Otto, the subject of this sketch, learned the vintner's and cooper's trades as a youth, and later became interested in the wine business. In 1888, he came to Amer- ica as a single man. For fourteen years he was identified with the wholesale wine business in New York and San Francisco. In 1899 he gave up his loca- tion at 41-45 Broadway, New York, and came to Cold Spring, reaching here April 26. For two years he conducted the old Central Hotel. Then he built the Merchant's Hotel, a sightly modern brick structure, two stories high. He has built up a good trade and is well liked by the traveling public. In addi- tion to the hotel, he has a flourishing wholesale wine business, his cellars con- taining one of the finest stocks of domestic and imported wines in the North- west. Mr. Wold has taken an active interest in the development of the village and is one of the stockholders in the Cold Spring State Bank. He is also an extensive land owner. In 1914 Mr. and Mrs. Wolf were in Europe for three months at the time the war broke out. Mr. Wolf was married in New York city to Minnie Wiesner, who was born in his native town. Their only son, the light of their home, was born in New York April 21, 1895, and died at the age of five years.

Joseph P. Benolken, of the firm of Benolken & Rose, general merchants of New Munich, was born in Oak township, this county, June 8, 1876, son of Frank Benolken, early county commissioner and member of the state legisla- ture. Joseph P. was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood, in the St. Cloud State Normal School, and in the Sauk Centre Business School, at Sauk Centre. Thus prepared he taught school four years in district 167, Spring Hill township, and two years in district 102, Freeport village, both in this county. In 1906 he entered the mercantile business at Freeport. In May, 1912, he purchased an interest in the general store of C. A. Brown, in New Munich, and associated himself with Joseph G. Rose, under the present firm name. The company does an excellent business, carries a good stock, and has a splendid building, 72 by 32. Mr. Benolken is a member of the St. Joseph Society and of the German Aid Society. He was married in November, 1900, to Elizabeth Bockhold, of New Munich, Minn. They have had six chil- dren : Alfred, Hugo (deceased), Ludwina, Robert, Valeria and Beatrice.

John Frevel, for some years a merchant in New Munich, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 30, 1838, and died October 30, 1909. He was the son of Bartholomus and Anna Elizabeth (Heeresbach) Frevel, who brought the family to America and located on section 18, Oak township, this county. They erected a log cabin, and lived much the same kind of life as their neigh- bors. John Frevel came with the rest of the family, and lived on the home

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farm in Oak township until 1885, when he moved to New Munich and opened a store. Twelve years later he moved to Melrose. After conducting a store there for four years, he returned to New Munich, and again took up the mercantile business here. For some years he was postmaster at that point. He also served in various town offices. For his first wife he married Agnes Kessing. The children were: Bartholomus, Elizabeth (deceased), John (de- ceased), Anna, Henry (deceased), Henry (deceased), Mary and a deceased infant. For his second wife he married Anna Meisen, whose parents settled in the early days on a farm two and a half miles north of New Munich, in Oak township. In the family there are thirteen children by this marriage: George, Elizabeth, Peter, Agnes, Timothy, Mathew, Appelonia, Francis, Lena (deceased), Rosa (deceased), Marcus, Magdalena (deceased) and Evelyn.

George Frevel was born in Oak township, this county, April 15, 1885, son of John and Anna (Meisen) Frevel. He attended the district schools and the Melrose High school. In 1908 he entered into the mercantile business with his father at New Munich. At the time of his father's death in the fall of 1909 he took over the business, which is now in a flourishing condition. He carries a good stock and enjoys a large trade. He is a leader in the com- munity and an active worker for its progress. He has been postmaster since October 31, 1907, and village recorder since 1910. Mr. Frevel married Minnie Zimmerman, of Freeport, August 17, 1909.

John Herbes, hardware and furniture merchant, of New Munich, was born in New Munich, June 30, 1890, son of Henry and Cecelia (Rieland) Herbes. He attended the district schools of his neighborhood, and studied two years in St. John's University, Collegeville, and four terms at the St. Cloud State Normal School. Subsequently he worked on the farm for a while, and in 1911 engaged in the hardware and furniture business at New Munich. His is an unusually complete stock, and the attractive appearance of his store does much to give New Munich the aspect of a flourishing village. He mar- ried Mary Guenter, daughter of Theodore Guenter. Henry Herbes was born in Germany, and as a young man came to McHenry county, Illinois, where he worked for a time. In 1869 he came to Stearns county, and homesteaded 160 acres in section 32, Oak township. The claim was in the woods and had no improvements. He erected a log cabin and started to clear the land. His log cabin was burned, but, undaunted, he at once started to build another. Gradually he attained success and prosperity. To his pioneer cabin he brought his bride and the two faced life's battles together. As time passed they erected modern buildings, and their holdings were increased to 440 acres. Henry Herbes was school director for a time, and contributed toward build- ing the three successive Catholic churches at New Munich. He died in 1908 at the age of seventy-two. His wife still makes her home on the farm. They had eight children: Frank, Benedine, Eliza, Lena, Joseph, Herman, John and Christina. Mary, Theresa and Benjamin are dead.

Conrad W. Young, New Munich, one of the modern creamery men of Minnesota, was born in Holding township, this county, November 30, 1888, son of Henry Young. He received his early education in the district schools of the township and in the village school of Holdingford. At the age of six-

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teen he left the farm to learn the trade of buttermaker at Albany, in this county. In 1906 he entered the Dairy School, Department of Agriculture, of the University of Minnesota, and after the necessary experience received his diploma therefrom in 1907. Subsequently he was employed as buttermaker at Flensburg, Morrison county, Minn .; Minneapolis, Minn .; Duluth, Minn .; Boyden, Iowa, and Crookston, Minn. In 1910 he became general manager of the Bridgeman-Russell Creamery at Holdingford. August 1, 1911, he and A. H. Wester, of Albany, this state, became owners of the New Munich Cream- ery. Under the capable management of Mr. Young the creamery is con- stantly growing in popularity and output, and its standing in the community is high, both among the farmers and the dealers. Mr. Young is of that type of young man which counts so much for the growth of a village, and his friends predict for him a brilliant future. On August 20, 1912, he married Theresa, daughter of Mathias Pitzel, of New Munich.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 38

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