History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 46

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

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Joseph Lehner, who is in charge of the Farmers' Elevator, at Albany, was born in the town of Danesbach, Bavaria, September 13, 1866, son of John and Mary (Swatz) Lehner. He came alone to America, and landed at New York city, March 20, 1881, and imediately came west to Albany. He worked

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on a farm, and in the hotel, for a short time, and then entered the employ of the flour mill. Some two years later he went to Wahpeton, N. D., where he remained about two years. Upon his return he worked in the flour mill about six years. After a brief respite during which he worked on a farm in St. Martin township, he resumed his work in the mill, where he was em- ployed ten more years. At the end of that period he was taken ill, as the result of constantly working in a dusty atmosphere, and was disabled for about a year. For the past eight years he has been in his present position, successfully buying and selling grain for the farmers of the community. He is a shrewd buyer, a good seller, and an able judge of conditions. He is president of the village board of Albany, has in times past been on the school board, and has done other public service. He is a member of the St. Joseph Society. Mr. Lehner married Victor, the daughter of Frederick Bier, and they have seven children: Antonia, Andrew M., Maty, Alphonse, Raymond, Annie and Alois.

P. J. Nett was born in Fond du Lac, Wis., in 1847, and was there reared. As a young man he found his way to St. Martin township, in Stearns county, where he engaged in farming. In 1885 he came to Albany village, acquired an elevator, and became a grain dealer. Three years later he engaged in the lumber business. In the meantime he also operated two large farms. He became a very prosperous man, and continued in the lumber business until April 14, 1912, when he died. Mr. Nett married Mary G. Terres, and they have six children: John (deceased) ; Elizabeth, at home; Matthew, who mar- ried Julius Fuchs, and has two sons, Ralph and Jerome; Celia, at home ; John, a lumberman of Albany; and Peter J., who also lives in Albany.

John Nett, of the firm of Nett & Berger, lumber dealers, at Albany, was born in St. Martin township, this county, September 27, 1884, son of P. J. and Mary G. (Terres) Nett, who brought him to Albany village as an infant. Since he was old enough to be interested in business he has been identified with the lumber trade, and since babyhood, with the exception of one year spent in the West, he has made his home in this village. First he worked for his father. Then, after his father's death, he and his brother, P. J., Jr., carried on the yard for a while. In 1913, P. J., Jr., sold his interest to J. Borgerding & Co., of Melrose, and the present firm was established. The company does a good business, and is one of the important factors in the busi- ness life of Albany. Mr. Nett married Mary M. Barker, and they have two children : Rita and Howard. Mary G. Terres, who married P. J. Nett, was born in Barberg, Luxemburg, daughter of John and Katherina (Charlier) Terres, who brought her to America in 1857. After living in Chicago for one winter they came to St. Martin township, this county. Mr. Terres was a tailor by trade and for many years made a greater part of the masculine clothing used in this vicinity. In latter life he devoted much of his atten- tion to farming.

John B. Pallansch, postmaster of Albany village, was born in Belgium, July 28, 1858, son of Adam and Katherina (Zimmermann) Pallansch. He was reared in his native town, and at the age of twenty was induced to come to

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America by his brother, John Peter, who was then home on a visit, but who had previously become a successful man in the United States. John B. therefore accompanied his brother, John Peter, to this country, and entered his employ in a flouring mill at Fredonia, Ozaukee county, Wisconsin. In 1882 he came to Stearns county, and for seven years he was a faithful employe in the mill of Edwin Clark, in Melrose. In 1889 he returned to Fredonia, and once more entered the employ of his brother. Five years later he was forced to abandon the milling business, as further continuance therein would have seriously endangered his health. In 1894, he came back to Stearns county, and engaged in the mercantile business at Holdingsford, for eight years. In 1902 he acquired the mill at Freeport, in this county, which he opearted two years. It was in 1904 that he came to Albany village, and operated a general store. In 1909 he was appointed postmaster by President Theodore Roose- velt. Under his care the postal service has been of the best, and has given general satisfaction. Mr. Pallansch is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was married, June 17, 1884, in Melrose, by Rev. Father Wil- liams, to Elizabeth Schauble, and they have had six children. Of these, three, Bertha, Eleanor C. and Mary C. are living. Bertha married Dr. Joseph Weyrens. They live in Taylor, N. D., and have two children, Raymond and Erma. Eleanor C. lives at home and assists her father in the postoffice. Mary C. has been a teacher for several years past.

John Schwinghammer, the first pioneer of Albany township, now living in retirement in Albany village, was born in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, March 22, 1840, son of John, Sr., and Katherine (Gruber) Schwinghammer. The family came to America in July, 1856, and settled in Watertown, Jeffer- son county, Wis. Some three and a half years later they moved to a farm near Appleton, in Outagamie county, in the same state. In 1862, John Schwinghammer, the subject of this sketch, then known as John Schwing- hammer, Jr., came to Stearns county, looking for a location for the family. In this quest he reached the locality then known as Two Rivers, now called Albany. There was at that time no evidence of previous occupancy in that locality. After deciding upon a few suitable claims, Mr. Schwinghammer went back to his home in Wisconsin. In 1863 the entire family arrived. The father, John, Sr., took a claim in section 22, the son, John, took a claim in section 23, while another son, Joseph, took a claim in section 24. All of this territory was then a part of Brockway township. When Avon was organized in 1866 it included Albany. John Schwinghammer, the subject of this sketch, was elected the first assessor. Albany was organized in 1868. At the first meeting, John Schwinghammer was elected chairman of the board of super- visors, and his brother, Joseph, was elected justice of the peace. The father, John, Sr., had in the meantime died, October 12, 1870, his being the first death in the township. When the family first settled here, they all lived together in a small cabin on section 22. Three years later they built a more commodious log house on section 23. Subsequently the father and the two sons, each occupied their individual claims. When they first arrived, the land was covered with timber, and it took long years of laborious work to render it tillable. In 1866, John Schwinghammer was married, and the young couple

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started housekeeping in the log cabin on section 23. In 1886 a frame house was built, and in 1892 this was replaced by a larger frame structure. In the meantime, Mr. Schwinghammer had added to his original tract, and had also gradually improved, enlarged and increased his farm buildings and equip- ment. In 1903, Mr. Schwinghammer retired and moved to the village of Albany, where he has since resided. Mr. Schwinghammer has taken an active interest in the affairs of the community in which he has lived. In addition to the offices already mentioned, he has been clerk of Albany town- ship, and of School District No. 111. He was one of the organizers of the Albany Mutual Fire Insurance Co., that started business June 1, 1895. The original officers, Jacob Krebs, president, and John Schwinghammer, secre- tary, have since continued to serve. John Schwinghammer was married in 1866, to Annie Pfau. They have had eight children. Kate is now Sister Mary, of the Order of St. Benedict. She teaches in the parochial school at Eden valley. Aloys lives in Canada. He married Anna Blenker and they have five children. Simon also lives in Canada. He married Talma Neiser, and they have seven children. Henry lives on the home farm. He mar- ried Mary Fenners, and they have four children: Peter lives in Canada. He married Anna Diedricks, and they have four children. Gregor lives in Albany township. He married Margaret Emel, and they have four children. John lives in Canada. He married Kate Biensfield. Mary has been a teacher for several years, first in Albany village and now in the township.

Nickalaus J. Theisen, implement dealer of Albany village, is one of the pioneers of Stearns county, having been brought here by his parents while scarcely more than an infant. He was born in New Regel, Seneca county, Ohio, April 1, 1854, son of Nickalaus and Anna (Ruppert) Theisen, who came to America in 1848, lived in Ohio for a while, and in 1859 came west to St. Joseph, in this county, where a relative, Nickalaus Hoffman, his father and his brothers, had lived for some years. The father had devoted considerable time to railroad work before reaching Stearns county, but here he became a farmer. Nickalaus J. remained on his father's farm until he was twenty- six years of age, and being the oldest in the family, assumed a special inter- est in the home place. After he started out in life for himself, he operated a threshing machine, and also got out railroad ties. In 1887, Mr. Theisen moved to the village of Albany, where he opened a hardware store, which he has since continued. In addition to this he has been an extensive shipper of stock for the past few years. Mr. Theisen is a quiet, substantial man, and while he has not cared to mingle in public affairs, he can nevertheless be depended upon at all times to do his share in any movement that has for its object the progress of the village or township. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Theisen was married in 1888 to Mary Stuhl, born in Ohio. They have four chil- dren. Aurelia and Eleanor are teachers. Henry J. and Olevia are at home. Mr. Theisen's father died in 1901, and his mother about the year 1894.

Michael Thelen, who is engaged in the bottling business in the village of Albany, was born in Farming township, this county, June 11, 1869, son of Mathias and Mariana (Wagner) Thelen. Mathias Thelen, the father, was

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

born February 24, 1832, in the village of Leimbach, Kreis Ardow, Koblenz, Prussia, Germany, and came to America in 1852. He at once found his way to Fond du Lac, Wis., where he secured employment in the pine woods. In 1860 he secured some government land in Farming township, this county, at $1.25 an acre. During the Civil War he was employed in the copper mines of Lake Superior. After the close of the war he took up his residence upon his land in Farming township, where he devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits. He died December 19, 1911. His widow still resides on the old homestead. Michael Thelen received a district school education in the vicinity of his home, and remained on the home farm until he was twenty-seven years of age. Then he went to St. Cloud and purchased a soda- water factory. In 1899 he came to Albany, and opened a similar business here. He has been very successful, and has a large trade covering a large district in all directions. Mr. Thelen is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Michael Thelen married Mary Spoden, the daughter of Nathias Spooden, and a native of Rockville township. They have four children : Andrew M., Mariana, Rose C., Olevia M., and Gero P.

John Braun, a successful farmer of Spring Hill township, was born in Fond du Lac county, Wis., April 16, 1849, son of Mathias and Marion Braun. Mathias Braun came to America in 1846. He went back to Germany, mar- ried, and in 1848 brought his wife to Wisconsin, settling on eighty acres near Fond du Lac. They lived in a log cabin, and thus started to carve their for- tunes. Four children, John, Peter, Elizabeth and Frank, were born in Wis- consin. In 1856 the family came to Minnesota, going by rail to La Crosse, thence by boat up the river to St. Paul, and from St. Paul to St. Cloud by team. From St. Cloud they went west a few miles, and located on 160 acres two miles east of the village of St. Joseph, in the township of that name. Ten acres were under cultivation and a shack stood on the place. Improve- ments were made as circumstances permitted. Seven children, Mathias, Her- bert, Mary, Joseph, Henry, Agnes and Anna, were born in Minnesota. The family assisted in erecting several of the early Catholic churches. John Braun remained with the family until 1874. Then he purchased 160 acres of wild land in Spring Hill township. In 1875 he married, and brought his wife to the place. They set to work with a will, and the years brought suc- cess. Mr. Braun now owns 280 acres in the home farm, and 200 acres in Lake Henry township. Beginning with a meagre equipment he now has a modern farm in every particular, with the best of stock, crops, and buildings. His barn, 38 by 120 feet, is a model of its kind. He makes a specialty of stock raising on an extensive scale, and has taken a deep interest in the Spring Hill Creamery, of which he was formerly the president. He has been both a member and chairman of the town board, at different times, for many years, and is one of the active progressive men of the community. Mr. Braun mar- ried Anna Minerat, and they have had eleven children. Of these there are living nine: Josephine, Mary, Mollie, C. A., Elizabeth, John A., Michael, Henry and Elnora.

Joseph Emmel, clerk of Spring Hill township, was born on the homestead in section 22, in the same township, February 7, 1879, son of Henry J. Emmel.

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He attended the district schools, and spent one year at the St. Cloud State Normal School, and three years in St. John's University, Collegeville. He has farmed both in Albany and Spring Hill townships. In 1908 he located on his present farm of 240 acres. He is a good farmer, raises good crops and breeds good stock. He has been town clerk since 1911, and treasurer of his school district since 1910. For three years he was secretary of the Spring Hill Creamery Co. Mr. Emmel was married in 1902 to Wilhelmina Watercott, a native of Wisconsin, and they have five children: Rebecca, Albert, Ed- mund, Mary and Joseph.

Joseph Geris was born in Netherlands, July 18, 1852, son of Nicholas and Gertrude Geris. The father, Nicholas, was a small man in stature, so small that he could stand under his son Joseph's arm. He was, however, strong and courageous, and took his part in the activities of pioneer endeavor. Nicholas Geris left Netherlands in 1862, with his wife, and six children: Lawrence, Henry, Joseph, Martin, Lena and Theodore. After a voyage of sixty-five days they reached New York, and then came to St. Paul. They located in Benton, now called Cologne, in Carver county, and secured forty acres of land. The first flour for the family was a sack of fifty pounds, brought twelve miles by the father on his back. Before the land was ready for crops, the family dug ginseng for which they obtained from seven to fifteen cents a pound. They had been here but a few days when the Indian outbreak occurred. When the news came the family left their food on the table and joined the throng that was fleeing to Carver, for safety. The par- ents took what household possessions they could. Joseph carried the family coffee mill. The little children carried the dog and cat. After three days, the father and the older children returned to the farm, leaving the mother and younger children at Carver until the scare was over. After Nicholas Geris had been in Benton but fourteen days, he went to the polls and voted. He had no conception of the laws nor of the issues at stake, but voted because his neighbors were voting. As a result his name appeared on the list of citi- zens and he was drafted for the Civil War. To avoid serving he paid $600 to hire a substitute. This kept him in debt for twenty years. After living a while on the farm, they sold out, and went to Belleplaine, where they oper- ated a brickyard. There the mother died. In 1867 the father and the chil- dren started out for Alexandria, Douglas county. The trip was made with an ox team, nineteen days being spent on the road. Upon arriving at their des- tination, they secured a homestead of 160 acres, erected a log cabin, and started life in the wilderness. In 1872, Joseph took a homestead adjoining that of his father. In 1877 he located on 160 acres in section 28, Spring Hill township, Stearns county. Sixty acres had been broken, and a log cabin stood on the place. He at once set at work to beautify and improve the place. He has added sixty acres, erected a modern home and other buildings, and has been very successful in his operations. His stock is as good as any in the county. Often as Mr. Geris looks over his rich acres with the waving har- vests and sleek cattle, with the barns filled with plentifulness, and the house bright with comfort, he thinks of the early days when he lived in a log cabin, and obtained fresh meat for his family by trading rutabagas and garden

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produce for bear meat brought by the Chippewa Indians. Mr. Geris is a prominent man and has served on the village council of Spring Hill village.

Joseph Geris was married October, 1876, to Margaret Mehr, a daughter of John Mehr. They have had eight children: Susan (deceased), Ava, Joseph Peter, Anna, Kate, Celia, Frank and Olevia. Susan was the first wife of George Winter : Ava is Mrs. Louis Punk; Anna is now Mrs. George Winter ; and Celia is now Mrs. Leo Gillitzer.

John J. Salchert was born in Prussia, Germany, son of Rhinehart and Catherine Salchert, who brought him to America at the age of thirteen, and settled at Calvary, Wis., where they spent the remainder of their days. John J. grew to manhood on the farm at Calvary, and married Catherine Geser. In 1858 he brought his wife and two children, Catherine and John, to Min- nesota, and settled on 160 acres of land in Spring Hill township. He erected a log cabin, and with two ox teams and an Indian pony starting farming. By hard work he acquired 820 acres of land, and erected the substantial dwell- ing in which his son, Joseph, now resides. He died in Lake Henry township at the age of eighty-one. His wife died at the age of thirty-four. In the family there were seven children.

Joseph Salchert was next to the youngest of the children. He was born in Spring Hill township, and was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools of his neighborhood and the graded schools of Sauk Centre. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He owns 400 acres of the old homestead, and successfully carries on general farming. He raises good crops, and breeds some good grade cattle. Of late years he has turned his attention especially to dairying, and is one of the directors of the Spring Hill Creamery, and a stockholder of the Greenwald Bank. He has done good service as assessor for twenty-four years; as constable for sixteen years; and census enumerator for three terms. He has been a successful fire and hail insurance agent for twelve years. Joseph Salchert married Mary Pung, a daughter of Arnold Pung, and they have had seven children: Anna (de- ceased), Hubert, George, Isabel, Lena, Arnold, and Susie.

John Waldorf, secretary of the Spring Hill Creamery, located in sec- tion 28, Spring Hill township, was born in Maine Prairie township, April 7, 1863, son of Peter and Gertrude (Schafer) Waldorf, who were born in Ger- many, came to America in the early fifties and were here married. For some years they lived in Maine Prairie township, this county, where two of the children, John and Mathias, were born in the old log cabin. It was in 1865 that they came to Spring Hill township, and settled on eighty acres near the town line in section 30. A cabin had already been built on the place. Here the family lived until the grasshopper raids of 1877. Then they moved to 160 acres of wild land in section 32, in the same township. They erected a frame house and other buildings, and successfully engaged in general farm- ing. The father died in 1886 at the age of sixty-four. The mother died in 1888 at the age of sixty-two. They had eight children. One died in infancy leaving five brothers and two sisters. John Waldorf was educated in the schools of the neighborhood, and remained with his parents until 1888, when he located on his present place in section 32. At that time the 160 acres

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were without improvements. He has developed the place in many ways, and has a fine farm, with good buildings, and modern equipment. He has been a member of the town board continuously since 1896 and was made chairman of the board in the spring of 1913. He has been secretary of the Spring Hill Creamery for six years. In addition to his home place, Mr. Waldorf also owns his father's farm in section 32. John Waldorf married Kate Weller, born in Waseca county, this state. They have had fourteen children: Anna Michael, John, Margaret, Susan, Kate, Mamie, Nicholas, Gerhard, Joseph, Alfred, Otta, Elizabeth, and Gertrude (deceased).

John H. Emmel, a successful young business man of Greenwald, was born in Spring Hill township, this county, August 4, 1885, son of Henry and Ap- pollonia (Miesen) Emmel. He attended the district schools of his neighbor- hood, and the graded schools of St. Cloud, and started his commercial career as a clerk at Melrose. In the spring of 1911 he came to Greenwald, and opened a general store. He carries a good line of goods, and has the confi- dence and respect of the people of the village and neighboring rural districts. He has identified himself with the life of his adopted village, and has taken a special interest in the Spring Hill Farmers' Rural Telephone Co., of which he is one of the directors. In October, 1912, he married Kathryn Reiter, of Waite Park, and they are the parents of one daughter, Emelinda.

August Ernst, a substantial farmer of Lake Henry township, was born in Pomerania, Germany, June 27, 1851, son of Christ and Johanna Ernst. Christ Ernst died in Germany in 1856, at the age of forty-five. In the family there were three children, William, a girl, who died at the age of fourteen, in Germany, and August. The widowed Johanna Ernst married Christ Luekou, who, in 1870, brought the family to America, living first in Buffalo, N. Y., then in Watertown, Wis., and then coming to Stearns county and locating in Zion township, where they spent the remainder of their days. For a time August worked as a farm hand. In due time he secured 200 acres in sec- tion 34, Lake Henry township, the tract at that time being without improve- ments. He erected a log house, a part of which is still standing. He also built a straw shed. His stock consisted of a horse team and a cow. As the years passed he prospered, improved and developed his farm, and erected suitable buildings. He also added forty acres to the original tract. Mr. Ernst is now a prosperous man of the community and a respected member of the Evangelical church. He married Johanna Wentland, and they have four children : Minnie, Frank, William and Lena.

Frank Ernst is one of the successful young men of Lake Henry township. He was born on the home farm in the township where he still lives; son of August and Johanna (Wentland) Ernst. He was educated in the district schools and reared to agricultural pursuits. His farm consists of 120 acres of the old homestead, on which he has made many improvements. He is clerk of the school district and township constable. Mr. Ernst was married in 1902 to Helen Wartenberg, daughter of Antoin and Amelia (Hein) Wartenberg, who came from Germany and settled in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Ernst have two children. Lillian was born August 21, 1906, and died June 8, 1908. Ada was born June 6, 1908.

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William Ernst is a native-born son of Lake Henry township, having first seen the light of day on the home farm, June 19, 1881, son of August and Johanna (Wentland) Ernst. He attended the district schools and was taught farming by his father. He owns 120 acres of the old homestead, and has replaced with a frame structure the crude log cabin in which he was born. Mr. Ernst carries on general farming, and is making a specialty of breeding good stock. He was married May 28, 1901, to Martha Grudzmacher, and they have one child, Matilda, born May 17, 1903. Martha Grudzmacher was born in Lake Henry township, daughter of William and Johanna Grudz- macher, natives of Germany, who after coming to America lived in Wiscon- sin for a while, later reached Stearns county, settled on 160 acres in Zion township, and finally located in Lake Henry township. They had thirteen children, one born in Germany and twelve in America.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 46

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