USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 45
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Clemens Kost, merchant and man of affairs, president of the village coun- cil of Roscoe, was born in Munson township, this county, July 7, 1878, son of Clemens Kost, Sr., the pioneer. He attended the district school of his neighborhood, and later took courses in the St. Cloud Normal School. Thus prepared he began teaching, and for four years did efficient work in District No. 115. After this he engaged in the general mercantile business in Roscoe. He has enjoyed a good trade, and has a full line of everything that is found in a first-class store of this description. By hard work and strict attention to business he has built up a flourishing establishment. He is popular among the leading men, and when the village was incorporated was unanimously chosen president, a position he has since held with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow men. He has taken an active interest in the affairs of his community, and is ever in favor of every movement which tends to its advancement. In addition to his many other duties, he is leader of the Roscoe Band. It is interesting to note as a matter of history, and as an illustration of how the villages of Minnesota have grown up on the prairies, that Mr. Kost once plowed and cultivated corn on the same land where his store now stands. Mr. Kost was married October 16, 1900, to Catherine
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Neutzling, born in Lake Henry township, this county, daughter of Joseph Neutzling. The children are: Arnold, Leo, Florina, Urban and Woodrow.
Frederick W. Hilger, a prominent man of Roscoe, now engaged in the real estate, loan, insurance and investment business, was born in Kirchesch, Province of the Rhine, Germany, July 16, 1862, son of Michael and Catherine (Bell) Hilger, and grandson of Peter Joseph and Elizabeth Hilger. Peter Joseph Hilger and his wife spent the span of their years in Germany. Their children were: John, Joseph, Peter, Michael, William and Anna Marie. Michael Hilger made a short visit to America in 1893, but aside from this, he and his wife also spent their years in Germany. Michael's son, John, was the first of the family to come to America. He reached St. Louis in 1882. In 1886, Frederick W., the subject of this sketch, completed his service in the German army and set out for America. He spent three months in St. Louis, and then found his way to St. Martin, in this county, where he worked on a farm a little over a year. Then he worked about the same period in an elevator and lumber yard at Albany. After this work he became manager of a lumber yard there for eight months. His next venture was to form a part- nership with his brother-in-law, P. J. Nett, with whom he built the elevator at Roscoe. In 1889, Mr. Hilger started a five and ten cent store in Roscoe. This business grew to such proportions that in 1892, Mr. Hilger built an addition to the store, and put in a full supply of general merchandise. He also started a lumber yard. In the meantime in 1900 he had sold his wheat and elevator interests to the Cargill Elevator Co. In 1900 he sold his store to Roeder & Kost. In 1901 he sold his lumber interests to Thomas Sauer. About this time he made an extended trip in Germany. It was in 1899 that he built a stately modern brick block in Roscoe village. From 1892 to 1896, he was postmaster at Roscoe. In 1901, Mr. Hilger invested heavily in Morrison county lands, and since then he has been engaged in his present business. He was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of Roscoe and for five years served as one of the directors. Mr. Hilger was married in 1888 to Elizabeth Terres, born in St. Martin township, this county, daughter of John Terres, who settled in Stearns county in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Hilger have had nine chil- dren: Catherine (wife of Lucas Knese), Eleanor (known in the church as Sister Mary Inez, of the Order of St. Benedict), Mary, Hilda, Elizabeth, Wil- liam, James, Julia and Rosa.
Valentine Becker, auctioneer, nurseryman, and office holder, was born at Richmond, Munson township, this county, January 24, 1865, son of John and Susan (Garding) Becker, both natives of Germany. John Becker came to America in 1855 with his two brothers, lived a year in Indiana, near Chi- cago, and in 1856 came to Stearns county by stage. Each of the brothers secured 160 acres of land. John secured his in section 26, one mile southwest of Richmond in Munson township, on the locality known as the Becker prairie. In 1860, John Becker married Susan Carding, who came from Germany to Wisconsin in 1858, and from Wisconsin to Cold Spring, Stearns county, in 1860, with her parents, Mathias and Margaret Garding. John Becker became chairman of Munson township, and his farming operations brought him pros- perity. He died February 26, 1910, at the age of eighty-three. His wife is
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still living at the age of seventy-six. In the family there were seven children : Gertrude, who died at six months, Margaret, Valentine, Louise, Barbara and Mary (twins), and Nicholas. Valentine was reared on his father's place and attended the district schools. At the age of nineteen he lost both hands in a saw mill which was being operated on his father's place. Four months after the accident he secured a pair of artificial hands. For about three years he was incapable of doing any work, but after a few years' practice he was able to make his own living. With these hands he can write, care for himself, and do nearly all the work that is performed by the average man. For the past seven years he has been assessor of Munson township. He is a master of the auctioneer's art, and his services in this capacity are much in demand. He also has a nursery which he has built up through seven years of hard work. In this line he does a good business, and is widely known for the honor and integrity with which he deals.
Jacob Englehard, a substantial citizen of Roscoe, was born in Munson township, this county, August 13, 1862, son of Valentine and Barbara (Graf) Englehard; and grandson of Valentine and Catherine (Busch) Englehard, and Philip and Helena Graf; all pioneers. The father, Valentine, was born in Germany, and was brought to America by his parents in 1846. It was in 1859 that he came to Stearns county. He spent a while on his father's farm, and then secured a place of his own in Munson township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was assessor some thirty years, and in addition to this served in numerous town and school offices. He was born August 25, 1835, and died February 20, 1887, at the age of fifty-two. The children in his family were ten: John, who died in Ohio; Kate, who died in Richmond; Frank, Lena, George, Jacob, Anna, Elizabeth, Trace and Philip. Jacob, the subject of this mention, was reared on his father's farm. As a young man he purchased a farm of 160 acres, one hundred and twenty acres in Lake Henry township, Stearns county, and forty acres lying over the line in Kandiyohi county. Later in life, Mr. Engelhard sold his farm, and opened the Engel- hard Hotel in Roscoe village. Some six years later he moved to Richmond. In October, 1912, he returned to Roscoe, where he engaged in his present busi- ness. Mr. Engelhard served some thirteen years as assessor in Lake Henry township. He has been a school officer for nine years and a justice of the peace for six years, being the present justice in the village of Roscoe. Jacob Engelhard was married in 1889 to Mary Rossmeisl, born in Germany, the daughter of Antoin Rossmeisl, who brought his family to America in 1863, settled in Trenton, N. J., and thence came to Stearns county and settled in Richmond. Mr. and Mrs. Engelhard have ten children: Anton, Otilia, Irene, Otto, Robert, Lena, Alexander, Elmer, Raymond, and Elizabeth. Another child, Frank, is dead. The family faith is that of the Catholic church.
Jacob Ganzer, an early settler, was born in Germany, and came to Amer- ica at the age of nineteen. He was an only son, an unusual circumstance in that day of large families. As a youth he learned the basket weaving trade, and this trade stood him in good stead in later life, even after he had become a pioneer. For a while after landing he lived in New York city, and there he was married to Johanna Backes, who was born in Germany, and reached New
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York at the age of twenty-two. In 1862 he came to Stearns county, and settled on 160 acres in Wakefield township. This was about the time of the Indian uprising. As he had secured considerable experience in military mat- ters, while a member of the Home Guards in New York state, he was given command, with the title of captain, of the home guard raised at Cold Spring to defend the settlers. In the meantime, however, he was wrestling with the problem of pioneer existence. He broke some of his land, and erected a log cabin for a habitation. Then he started making baskets. These he took to St. Cloud on his back, and when he disposed of some he was enabled to pur- chase provisions for his home. The demand was soon supplied however, and Mr. Ganzer determined to find a market for his wares in St. Paul. Accord- ingly on October 16, he set out for St. Paul, with an ox team and thirty dozen baskets. But the weather turned suddenly cold, and on his return journey he found himself in the grip of a chilling frost. After much suffering he fin- ally reached St. Cloud, where he was cared for by Peter Seberger, father of the present mayor, J. P. Seberger, of that city. By this freezing, Mr. Ganzer lost all of his toes except one on his right foot. Later in life, Mr. Ganzer became a successful farmer. He was born in 1819 and died in 1886. His wife was born in 1825 and died in 1908. They had four children: Peter and Kate were born in New York city; Nick and John were born in Wakefield township.
John Ganzer was born in Cold Spring, Wakefield township, June 30, 1866, son of Jacob and Johanna (Backes) Ganzer. He was reared on the home farm, and secured a good education in the public schools. At the age of twenty-one, he went to Richmond, and learned the wagonmakers' trade. Later he worked at this trade in Duluth. When he returned from Duluth he purchased the shop in which he had learned his trade. This he conducted for fourteen years. After he sold out he came to Roscoe and became grain buyer for the Cargill Elevator Co. for twelve years. Then he engaged in his pres- ent business as proprietor of the Roscoe Saloon and Hotel. Mr. Ganzer is an influential man, and is a member of the village council of Roscoe. Mr. Ganzer married Mary Becker, daughter of John and Susan (Garding) Becker, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Ganzer have ten children: John (de- ceased), Jacob, Louise, Barbara, Kate, Irene, Leona, Susan, Adella and Michael.
Valentine Herman is one of the leading men of Stearns county. For some years he was widely known as traveling representative of the McCormick Harvester Co. He has been president of the village of Holdingford for some thirteen years past, and he is now serving his second term as a commissioner of Stearns county. Through all these years he has successfully engaged in general farming. Mr. Herman belongs to Council 961, Knights of Colum- bus, and Court 404, of the Foresters, having been a member of the latter order sixteen years. He also belongs to several benefit lodges. Valentine Herman was married October 16, 1894, to Gertrude Langner, and they have seven children : Mary, Paul, Kate, Sophia, Verna, Aloysius and Anglia. The family faith is that of the Catholic church. The parents of Valentine Herman were Lorentz and Christina Herman. They were the parents of six children: Valentine, Peter, Mary, Paulina, John and Francesca. Peter married Vic-
Sebastian Minimer M.am. Soc. J C. C.
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toria Langner, and they have eight children. Mary married John Hennek and they have eight children. Paulina married Frank Check, and they have seven children. John married Mona Broda, and they have three children. Francisca married Casper Langner.
Thomas Bejach, a retired farmer of Holdingford, son of Lorenz and Anna (Schoenhoffer) Bejach, natives of Germany, the former of whom was born in 1831, and died in 1898, and the latter of whom was born in 1833 and died in 1889. They were married in Wisconsin in 1855, and had ten children, of whom seven grew to adult years. They were : George, Conrad, Thomas, Jacob, John C., Joseph, and Margaret.
Thomas Bejach was married, January 31, 1895, to Theresa Balk, daughter of George and Mary Balk, natives of Germany. Of the nine children born to George Balk, only two, Theresa and Francis, came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Bejach have six children: John, Mary, Joseph, Rosa, Alma and Leo.
Stanley M. Bielejeski, live stock dealer at Holdingford, was born Septem- ber 7, 1877. He is a prominent man in the community, and is now serving as town clerk. Mr. Bielejeski was married June 15, 1909, to Annie Bias, and they have three children: Arthur, Evelyn H., and Albina. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. The parents of Stanley M. Bielejeski were Vincent and Frances Bielejeski, the former of whom is still living at the age of seventy-two years, and the latter of whom died June 4, 1911. They were the parents of fifteen children, of whom there are living twelve: Joseph, Frank, John, Thomas, Stanley, Wanda, Demus, Rosa, Casimir, Annie, William and Vincent. Joseph married Mary Brunda; Frank married Martha Schluss, John married Helen Goranoski; Thomas married Julia Maliszewski; Wanda married Peter Koneczng; Demus married Anna Rochrs; Rosa married Anton Kossloski; Casimir married Tillie Ketcher; Vincent married Miss Kuffel.
William W. Barron, attorney at law, Albany, was born at Brainerd, Minn., May 21, 1886, son of William and Nora E. (Ryan) Barron, who are still living in that place. William W. attended the graded schools and the high school of his native town and then entered the St. Paul College of Law, from which he was graduated in 1910. For a time he was a legal writer for the Keefe-Davidson Publishing Co. Then he returned to Brainerd, where he practiced law for two years. May 1, 1913, he established himself in Albany, where, even in the short time that has since elapsed he has become an active, prominent and useful citizen. One of his greatest fights has been the effort to secure the removal of the county seat from St. Cloud to a more central location in Albany. He is an active worker in the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, and other organiza- tions. He is also in good standing in the Stearns County Bar Association. Mr. Barron married Anna L. Carroll, of Stillwater.
Hon. Sebastian Wimmer, retired, for many years a distinguished figure in the engineering history of the United States, was born January 5, 1831, at Thalmassing, near Ratisbone, Bavaria, son of George Wimmers and Theresa (Hahn) Wimmers. His father was a hotel proprietor at Thalmassing, but
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removed to Munich in 1833, where the son graduated from the Technical and Polytechnical School, having also taken up the four year engineering course at the latter school, 1847-1851. His uncle, the late Arch Abbot Boniface Wimmer, of America, being on a visit to Europe at that time, urged him to come to America, and so June 2, 1851, he joined his company of students and others he had engaged for his labor in establishing the Benedict Order at St. Vincent, Pennsylvania. They arrived in New York on the United States steamer "Washington" and made their journey on to St. Vincent by way of canal boats and steamers and even part way by walking until they reached there August 12, 1851. He remained with his uncle until September 15, trying to perfect his English, as without it he would have difficulty in getting a position. He spent a short time visiting two of his brothers, who lived twenty-eight miles distant from St. Vincent, and in 1852 he was tutor to the three children of William Huve, a German farmer. In the spring of 1852 he secured the position of roadman with the county surveyors Hastings and Preisser at Pittsburg. Finding life rather rough, and at this time re- ceiving some money from his friends at Munich, he decided to return home. Before doing so, however, he wished to see his brother in New Orleans, so with his brother, George, he started south, and reached Lafayette, a northern suburb of New Orleans, November 27, where he found his brother. After spending the winter there, he started back March 9, reaching Ferdinand, Dubois county, March 21. Here he spent about seven weeks visiting friends, and finally reached St. Vincent, May 19, 1853.
June 10, 1853, he received an appointment as roadman with the Allegheny Valley Railroad, receiving soon afterwards, the position of sub-assistant. Next he was assigned the subdivision from Canal Crossing to Scranton, hav- ing twenty-two miles to take care of. In 1856, having a month's vacation he made his first visit to Minnesota, going with an expedition of priests to estab- lish a college in the German settlement near St. Cloud.
In the fall he left the service of the Allegheny Valley Railroad, going to St. Paul. In 1857 he brought his family to Minnesota, they living at Anoka, as his work kept him moving about. He was first engaged on the subdivision Government land near Cambridge. He was occupied a great deal of the time in sketching the location of the townships and different settle- ments along the Sank river, making several trips between St. Paul and St. Cloud. June 30, 1858, he was engaged by T. L. Kellet in the department of the Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad, and left for Northfield, later being transferred to the Faribault division of that company. As that com- pany failed he decided to visit his brother in the South and look for work there. He was offered a professorship there and came back to get his family but becoming sick, decided not to go south again.
In 1859-1860 he attended the Iron City Commercial College at Pittsburg, taking up bookkeeping and expecting to act as bookkeeper for the St. Vincent Abbey. However, in 1860 he was appointed roadman of St. Vincent and sent to Garland, Erie county, to make surveys for the Philadelphia and Erie Rail- road to Oil City. Next he was transferred to St. Mary's, Pennsylvania, to take charge of the construction of the Luneberg and Erie Railway Company.
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In 1865 he received an appointment under Col. T. A. Scott, the assistant sec- retary of war, and left for Havana to take charge of the Maltrata division of the Imperial Mexico Railroad. He spent 1865-1867 in construction work in Mexico.
On account of trouble in Mexico the whole staff were compelled to leave Mexico, and Mr. Wimmer took this opportunity of visiting Europe, also see- ing the Paris Exposition of 1867. He was then ordered back to Mexico, but soon after his return to the United States was offered the position of building the Allegheny Valley extension from Driftwood to Dubois, so did not go to Mexico. In 1874 he was elected to represent Elk county in the Pennsylvania state legislature, There he served two seasons, was chairman of the railroad committee, secretary of the committee on counties and townships, and a member of the Centennial and Geological committee. In 1877-79 he was chief engineer of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad; in 1879-82 was located in New York city as the chief engineer of the New York city & Northern Railroad, building the line from High Bridge to Brewsters, N. Y .; and in August, 1882, he was sent to Mexico by a New York syndicate for the purpose of examining the Mexican Central Railway. During 1882-84 he was chief engineer on the construction of the Erie & Wyoming Railroad from Pittston and Scranton to Hawley. He then returned to New York, and built the Yonkers Rapid Transit Railroad from Van Cortland Station of New York City & North Erie Railroad to Gettys Square, in Yonkers; reported on the line between Turners on the Erie road and Danbury, Conn .; and located lines in Elk and Clearfield counties, Pennsylvania, for the Pittsburgh, Shaw- mut & Northern Railroad. From 1901 to November 1, 1903, Mr. Wimmer was associate chief engineer of the Wabash railway, a distance of 59 miles, comprising the Pittsburgh, Carnegie & Western Railway, from Pittsburgh to the Ohio river; the Pittsburgh, Toledo & Western Railway from the Ohio river to the connection of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad in Harrison county, Ohio, to Toledo. This was one of the most difficult railroads to build in the United States, having seventeen tunnels, varying in length from 200 to 4,700 feet, and many iron bridges, including two exceptionally long ones over the Monongahela and Ohio rivers at Pittsburgh, and at Mingo June- tion, Ohio. From November 1, 1903, to August 10, 1904, he was engaged in surveying about St. Marys and after the death of his wife, May 4, 1904, he soon retired from active life to live on his farm in Minnesota, at Albany. This was a large dairy and stock farm of nearly 600 acres, and a modern house was erected. In 1911 the farm was sold to his nephew, Sebastian P. Wimmer, who had been in charge of it since 1890, but Mr. Wimmer still lives on the place. Here he may be found, surrounded by a large library of books where he devotes much of his time to reading. His profession and his ex- tensive travels have made for him a host of distinguished friends of whom he may well be proud. Mr. Wimmer is a man of distinguished appearance, quiet in manner and of keen intelligence, a gentleman of the old school. At the age of nearly eighty-five he is still well preserved, and at the height of his intellectual abilities. Since March 2, 1881, he has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he is also a member of the International
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Engineering Congress at San Francisco, California, to be held September 25, 1915, which he expects to attend.
Mr. Wimmer was married at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1857, to Lavinia H. Blakely, daughter of James Blakely, a prominent real estate man, and three sons were born, Wilfred, at St. Paul, Minn., January 14, 1858 (now deceased) ; Ernest J. (deceased), born September 11, 1859, at Pittsburgh; and Sebastian J., July 8, 1862, at Latrobe, Penn. Ernest J. grad- uated from the law department of Columbia University in 1882, and was ad- mitted to the New York bar. Sebastian J. graduated from the medical de- partment of the Columbia University, and is now a practicing physician in New York.
Henry J. Blenker, successful merchant of Albany, was born in Oak town- ship, this county, May 15, 1883, son of Herman and Katherina (Ballah) Blenker. Herman Blenker was born in Westphalia, Germany, October 25, 1833, and was there reared. In 1861 he came to America and located in McGregor, Iowa. It was in 1866 that he came to Stearns county and located in Oak township, where he followed the occupation of a farmer, until a year before his death. Then he came to Albany village and engaged in the cer- cantile business. He died June 15, 1904. October 13, 1869, Herman Blenker married Katherina Ballah, who was born in Mosta, Austria, March 27, 1849, and came to America in 1866. Herman Blenker and his wife were the parents of eight children : Gertrude, Anna, John, Herman, Frank, Mary, Henry and Elizabeth. Gertrude died in infancy. Anna married A. J. Swinghamer and they have five children. John married Annie North and they have six chil- dren. Herman died November 21, 1907. He married Matilda Shulte and they had four children. Frank married Mary Hiltner and they have four children. Mary is the wife of R. G. Sperd and they have three daughters. Henry J. is the one whose name heads this sketch. Elizabeth lives with her mother in the village of Albany. Mrs. Herman Blenker has adopted a bright boy named Edwin, who makes his home with her. Henry J. Blenker was reared on the home farm in Oak township, and attended school in District No. 33. His first teacher was Joseph Himsl, now a prominent attorney of St. Cloud. After leaving the district schools, Mr. Blenker entered St. John's University at Collegeville, and was graduated from the commercial course September 13, 1901. Immediately after graduation he entered his father's store. August 2, 1903, he became owner and proprietor. He conducts a large and prosperous mercantile establishment, and enjoys the confidence and respect of the com- munity. His agreeable personality has been one of the greatest factors in his success, and his reputation for fair and honest dealing is wide spread. Mr. Blenker is clerk of Albany township, and financial secretary of the local lodge of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Henry J. Blenker was married May 1, 1912, to Matilda Thielman, daughter of Leonard Thielman, and they have one daughter, Mary C., born April 11, 1913.
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