History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 49

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

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John Adelbert Roach was born on the family homestead, section 12, Rose- ville township, Kandiyohi county, near the township line of Paynesville, Stearns county, September 22, 1866. He received a good education in the common schools. For several years he lived in Watab township, Benton county, where he took an active part in public affairs, as a member of the school board of his district nine years. He was also constable six years and town clerk one year. He has lived on his present place on the town line between Roseville and Paynesville townships, since 1903. A part of this farm is the old family homestead. It consists of 160 acres; in all he owns 2191/2 acres, and Mr. Roach has been most successful in his operations. He takes a particular interest in his thoroughbred swine. Mr. Roach is one of the most active men in this vicinity. He is president of the local lodge of the American Society of Equity, and was president of the Farmers' Elevator Company three years. He is vice-president of the Farmers' Zion Rural Tele- phone Company, also lineman for one of the circuits. Mr. Roach married Anna L. Woolhart, born in Benton county, Minn., daughter of Jacob Wool- hart who was born in Holland, settled in New York, and then came to Min- nesota. Mr. and Mrs. Roach have four children: Charles H., Howard E., Letty A. and George L.

Richard Nehring, an active farmer of Kandiyohi county, just across the line from Paynesville township, in Stearns county, was born on the family homestead in Zion township, December 25, 1870, son of Ludwig Ferdinand and Virginia (Helmar) Nehring, the pioneers. He received a good education in the district schools, and after his marriage, rented land for a while in Zion township. Then he purchased two tracts of land that now constitute his farm, one of 120 acres, and one of eighty acres across the river to the westward. Here he successfully carries on general farming.

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Mr. Nehring married Ida Ruenger, and they have five children: Milton, Arley, Ada, Chester and Viola. Mr. Nehring is an official and an active worker in the Evangelical Church.

Ludwig Ferdinand Nehring was born in Pomerania, Germany, July 23, 1842, and lost his father when he was two years old. At the age of eighteen he came to America and, after spending four years in Wisconsin, settled on eighty acres in Zion township, Stearns county, where he built a log house. He married Virginia Helmer.

William E. Glenz was born in Zion township, Stearns county, March 21, 1883, the son of William F. and Matilda Glenz. He attended the district schools, and remained with his parents until twenty-five years of age. Then he started out for himself by buying a farm of 160 acres in Roseville town- ship. On it stood a shack. In the comparatively few years that he has owned the place he has been wonderfully successful. He has increased his holdings to 253 acres, has erected a modern eight-room house, and a barn 32 by 58, and also made many other improvements, including the purchasing of a full supply of farm implements and machinery. He raises full blooded imported pedigreed Belgian horses, and good grade horses and swine. Mr. Glenz is a member of the Roseville town board.

Mr. Glenz was married to Emma Kingsriter, a native of Paynesville, Stearns county.

William F. Glenz was born in Germany, and was brought to America by his step-father, Kiend Glenz, and his mother. William F. was the oldest child in the family. The other children brought at the same time were Gus- tave, Augusta, Amelia, Henrietta and Bertha. After reaching America in 1864, the family came to Paynesville, and secured eighty acres in the locality known as Salem, in Zion township. They began under very adverse circum- stances. Their primitive cabin was built of logs and thatched with rushes. Provisions were hauled from St. Cloud with an ox team. Finally they se- cured a cow. In the seventies, the family sold out their farm at Salem, and came to the tract on the borderline between Stearns and Kandiyohi counties, which has since remained in the possession of some member of the family. There the mother and step-father died, and there William F. spent the re- mainder of his days. He became one of the leading men of his community. After his marriage, he started life in a log cabin, his farm buildings con- sisting of a granary covered with hay, and an old log barn. He was super- visor of Roseville township, a member of the school board, and an official in the Evangelical Church. Starting as he did under crude conditions, he lived to see his splendid farm of 220 acres fully cultivated and bearing heavy crops, while his original log cabin gave place to a modern home, commodious barns, and ample outbuildings. The ox team and one cow were replaced by a splendid array of cows, horses, swine and poultry. William F. Glenz died in 1902.

By his first wife William F. Glenz had four children: Gustave (de- ceased), William, Rachael and Helena. In 1884, Mr. Glenz married Wilhel- mina Patetznick. This union has been blessed with five children: Matilda, Helmut, Emmet, Arthur and Martha. Wilhelmina Patetznick was born in

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

Germany, November 25, 1860, daughter of Ferdinand and Caroline (Angle) Patetznick, who came from Germany to Stearns county in 1882. The chil- dren in their family were: William, Carl, Herman, August, Gustave and Wilhelmina.

John Fred William Arndt, usually known as William Arndt, was one of the early settlers of Zion township. He was born in Pomerania, Germany, June 2, 1824, a son of Frederick and Dorathea (Koehn) Arndt. On June 1, 1854, he started for America. After landing he found his way to Monroe, Green county, where he was married. There too, his parents joined him. For a time he worked as a farm hand, later he rented farms in various local- ities. In 1867 he set out for Minnesota, with one horse team and one ox team. With him were his father and mother, his wife, and his five children. They brought their household goods, a supply of provisions and clothing, some crude farm implements and tools, two cows and some calves. Upon reaching Zion township, the family settled on section 21, where they started to wrestle with the problem of living in a pioneer country. They erected a log cabin, and a straw-thatched log barn. As the family prospered, they added two eighty-acre tracts of tillable land, and a twenty-acre tract of timber land. In 1880 they erected a modern dwelling. Other buildings were also added as needed. The family was prominent in the Evangelical Church, in which Mr. Arndt was a class leader. Mr. Arndt died in 1907, having sur- vived his wife for many years. Mr. Arndt was married in 1856, to Wilhel- mina Holtz, a native of Pomerania, Germany. She was born April 16, 1834, and died January 20, 1886. Five children were: Lovina Louisa and Frank Ferdinand, twins, born April 1, 1859; Albert, born December 20, 1860; Au- gusta Phillipina, born January 11, 1863; Matilda, December 13, 1865. There were two children born in Minnesota; William who was born January 31, 1868, and August Frederick, who was born August 28, 1872, and died June 26, 1876.

William Arndt, a successful farmer of section 21, Zion township, was born on the farm where he still resides, January 31, 1868, son of Fred Wil- liam Arndt and Wilhelmina (Holtz), his wife. He received a good common school education, and learned farming from his father, gradually assuming entire charge of the home farm. He is now one of the most prominent and progressive farmers of the county. His farm is a model one in every respect, and aside from the usual crops and stock of a general farm, he has made a specialty of graded Holstein cattle, and Percheron and Hamilton horses. He was the first in this vicinity to advocate the establishment of the telephone, and was first secretary of the Zion and Paynesville Farmers' Telephone Co .; was president of the Paynesville Farmers' Elevator Co., and secretary of the Paynesville Farmers' Insurance Co., which latter position he has occu- pied for the past fifteen years. From 1897 to 1912 he was treasurer of the Roscoe Farmers' Creamery Co. For twenty-two years he has been assessor of Zion township and is still serving. He is one of the trustees of the Evan- gelical Church, and was Sunday School superintendent for six years. Mr. Arndt was married, February 14, 1889, to Helena Rosalia Helmer, daughter of Frederick Helmer, a pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Arndt have two children :

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Sadie Florence Alfreda, born November 10, 1894, and Victor Walter, born June 4, 1903.

Albert Arndt, a modern farmer of section 27, Zion township, was born December 20, 1860, in Monroe, Green county, Wis., son of John Fred Wil- liam Arndt and Wilhelmina Holtz, his wife, who brought him to Stearns county in 1867. As a young man he started out for himself in life and pur- chased 160 acres in section 27, Zion township. On this farm, to which he has added another small tract of twenty-three acres, he has since continued to live. When he located on the place, no buildings had been erected. He erected a frame building, and about the same time constructed a barn. A year later he built a log barn thatched with straw. As time passed, new and modern buildings were built. In his early years of farming Mr. Arndt devoted his time largely to grain raising. More recently he has become in- terested in stock breeding.

Mr. Arndt has served in several town offices, holding such positions as supervisor for three years and constable for twelve years. He was married to Augustine Sack. They have six children living: Herman, Rheuben, Ell- win, Alice, Emma and Lorene. Minnie is dead.

Gotthard Blonigen, a leading farmer of section 2, Zion township, was born in township of Zion on the seventeenth day of January, 1865, son of John and Elisabeth Blonigen. He was educated in the district schools, and worked for his parents until twenty-eight years of age. Then in partner- ship with his brother, Chris., now deceased, he took over the management of the home place for several years. In 1898 he purchased his present farm of 160 acres. At that time there were no buildings on the place. He has, however, developed it into one of the model farms of the township. Every- thing about the whole place is kept in neat condition, the crops are plentiful and the stock good, the barns and other outbuildings are commodious and well equipped, while the house is a comfortable structure of brick, containing seven rooms.

Mr. Blonigen was married in 1899 to Thekla Vogt, born in Munson town- ship, this county, daughter of Herman Vogt. Their children are: Regina, Herman, Aloysius Mathias, Monica, Agnes and Rosa Elizabeth. Mr. Blonigen is a friend of education, is taking much interest in the schooling of his chil- dren, and is one of the school officers of his district.

George Ehresmann, who owns a large farm in section 3, Zion township, was born in Illinois, February 5, 1864, son of Peter and Katie (Reugemer) Ehresmann, who brought him to Stearns county, in 1866. He was reared in this county, attended the public schools, and finally, when circumstances permitted, purchased the home place where he now resides. He has 320 acres of good land, and operates it to the best advantage. The farm has unusual features for a country place. The farm house is built of red brick, and con- tains ten large rooms, in addition to the usual closets and the like. The house is modern, among the conveniences being running hot water. The grounds are well kept, and cement walks lead about the yard. A new barn 36 by 78 increases the efficiency of the farm work. The crops are abundant, and the stock is of a good grade.

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Mr. Ehresmann is an officer in the Sauk Valley Creamery. He married Elizabeth Blonigen, and they have twelve children: Peter, John, Kate, Johanna, Mathew, Therese, Thaler, Martin and Paul (twins), Mary, Lena and Elizabeth. All the children live at home, and constitute a pleasant and contented family. The household is known for its hospitality and good cheer.

Peter Ehresmann was born in Germany, and came to America at about twenty years of age. For a time he lived in Illinois, and there he met Katie Reugemer, also a native of Germany, who had come to America at the age of eighteen. In 1866, the family, which then consisted of Peter Ehresmann, his wife, and three children, started out for Minnesota, driving a horse team, and bringing their household goods. Upon reaching Stearns county, they located on a tract of 160 acres, three miles west of Richmond, and moved into a log cabin which they found on the place. They lived in this house eighteen years, and then purchased another quarter section and erected a new house. Still later they moved to the large farm in Zion township, which was later turned over to the son, George Ehresmann. Later, Peter Ehres- mann secured a farm of 320 acres in Spring Hill township. After disposing of his place there, he entered into partnership with his son, Martin, and opened a general store at New Munich, in this county. Subsequently he sold out his interest, and retired. He now lives in New Munich. A Catholic in religion, he has assisted in building the churches at Richmond, St. Martin and New Munich.

August C. Hein, a retired farmer living in Paynesville, was born in Prussia, Germany, November 25, 1845, son of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Elke) Hein. In the family there were six children: Amelia, Henrietta, Adolph, Otelia, William and August. The mother died in Germany, and the father in 1872 came to America, bringing William, August C. and Otelia (afterward wife of Herman Schultz). August C. had been reared in Ger- many, and had fought in the war between France and Germany in 1870-71. As a young man he had also learned the tailors' trade. Upon coming to America, he found his way west, and worked at his trade at Hastings, Austin, and other points in Minnesota and elsewhere. Finally he secured eighty acres of land in Zion township, this county. There were no buildings on the tract at that time. He erected a log cabin and began life here under primi- tive conditions. Later he added eighty acres to his farm, and in time erected modern buildings. In 1911 he retired and moved to Paynesville, where he now resides. Mr. Hein was married in 1874, to Henrietta Glenz, a native of Prussia, Germany. They have had seven children: Amelia, Bertha, Otelia, Ida, Herbert A., Adelia (deceased), and Edwin.

Herbert A. Hein, proprietor of the Hill View Farm, section 20, Zion town- ship, was born in the township where he still resides, April 18, 1888, son of August C. and Henrietta (Glenz) Hein. He received a thorough education in the public schools, and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. By hard work, wide reading, close observation, and shrewd judgment he has become one of the most prominent and progressive farmers in the county. His farm, appropriately named, consists of 180 acres. On it he profitably

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

raises the usual crops. His orchard of apple trees has been an interesting and successful experiment. He has paid particular attention to the Wealthy, the Hibernal and the Wolf River varieties, and his displays of the latter vari- ety have won many prizes at various horticultural exhibits. Mr. Hein was married in 1912 to Marie Robertson, a native of Iowa.

Richard A. Koepp is a native born son of Zion township, having first seen the light of day on the farm where he still resides, October 27, 1875, son of Ludwig and Sophia Koepp. The parents were born in Pomerania, Germany, were married there, and with their oldest son, Henry, came to America and took up their residence in Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin. There, another child, William, was born. In 1866 the family came to Stearns county, and located in section 21, Zion township. They erected a log cabin a little northwest of where the present frame house stands, and built a log barn a little southwest of where the new modern barn is located. The land had already been improved to a certain degree. With an ox team they began their farming operations, and for a time were in very poor circumstances. But as the large crops began to be garnered, their affairs brightened. So prosperous did they become that they finally enlarged their farm to 340 acres, and erected some splendid new buildings. Ludwig Koepp died in 1900 at the age of sixty-eight. His wife died in 1910 at the age of sixty-seven. Ludwig Koepp had taken his part in the growth of the community, and has been town clerk, clerk of his school district and an official in the Evangelical Church. Richard A. Koepp attended the district schools and the St. Cloud State Normal School. Then he taught school for four years. His farm, with which he has been very successful, consists of 160 acres of the old homestead. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, and treasurer of School District No. 139. The subject of this mention married Elizabeth Reeck, born in Ger- many, the daughter of William Reeck, of Zion township. They have four children : Milton, Raymond, Adalaide and Bernice.

Frank Heitke, one of the progressive farmers of section 28, Zion town- ship, was born in Green county, Wisconsin, November 29, 1858, son of Got- fried and Sophia (Nehring) Heitke. Gotfried Heitke and his wife were both born in Germany, and there their two oldest children, Fred and William, were born. Upon coming to America, the family settled in Green county, Wis., where three children, Frank, Augusta and Paulina, were born. It was in 1864 that the family reached Stearns county; a pair of horses drawing the household goods and the younger children, while the older members of the family trudged along beside. For a time they lived with M. F. Plantikow, a pioneer, at Paynesville. Then they located on 160 acres in section 28, Zion township, which has since remained in the possession of members of the family and is now owned by the son, Frank. The land was wild, and deer and bears and wolves abounded. They built a small log cabin and a log barn, and started farming with an ox team. Later they erected a larger log house. One hundred and twenty acres were also added to the farm. Gotfried Heitke died at the age of seventy-five and his wife at the age of seventy-four. In addition to the children already mentioned, another, Amelia, was born in Stearns county. She died at an early age. Frank Heitke has always re-

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mained at home, and is now the owner of his parents' farm. He has added several acres to the original farm, and has erected a modern home and a large barn. He has also greatly beautified the grounds. He raises good crops and live stock, making a specialty of Red Poll cattle. His interests are diversi- fied. He is interested in the Paynesville-Zion Insurance and Telephone com- panies, and in the Paynesville Farmers' Elevator. For several years he has . been treasurer of Zion township, and he is also one of the trustees of the Salem Evangelical Church. Frank Heitke was married in 1882, to Augusta Frank, daughter of Christ Frank, a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Heitke have five children: Amandus, Frank, Charles, Bernhard and Zelma.

August Miller, a substantial farmer living in section 34, Zion town- ship, was born in Paynesville, this county, March 24, 1866, son of Frederick and Sophia (Moede) Miller, natives of Germany. In 1864, Frederick Miller came to America, bringing his wife, and his daughter, Minnie. They came directly to Minnesota, and secured 160 acres of wild land in section 27, Zion township. This vicinity was then very thinly settled. The Millers erected a log house and a log barn, broke the wild land, and in time acquired a com- petence. One of the sons, Gustave, now lives on the home place. Frederick Miller died in 1890 at the age of fifty-six. His wife died in 1900 at the age of sixty-five. August Miller received a good education in the district schools and learned farming thoroughly from his father. In 1887 he located on his present place of 160 acres on section 34, Zion township. There were at that time no buildings on the place. He, however, has erected modern structures, and is in every way well equipped to carry on general farming. He is well known in the community, has been town treasurer for a long time, and a member of the school board for several years. He married Emma Nehring, who died October 21, 1906, at the age of thirty-three. There are four chil- dren: Francis, Arthur, Lucinda and Fred.

Gustave F. Miller, a well known citzen of Zion township, was born on the homestead in section 27, where he still resides, August 28, 1875, son of Fred- erick and Sophia (Moede) Miller, natives of Germany. He received a good education in the district schools and has always remained at home. To the original farm he has added enough to make a splendid place of 210 acres. He has still further developed the excellent farm which his father left, and has built a substantial, 32 by 80 barn, a tool shed and a granary. His stock is good, and his general farming operations have been very successful. He and his family attend the Evangelical Church.

Mr. Miller married Emelia Hein, the daughter of August Hein. They have six children : Lillian, Milton, Emeline, Bernice, Harold and Orion.

William Carl Miller, for many years a respected resident of Zion town- ship, was born in Germany, January 15, 1839, and died in Zion township, this county, May 5, 1911. In the old country the original form of the name was Mueller. Mr. Miller was married in Germany, to Christina Feibelkorn, who was born in 1839 and is still living. In 1866 they came to America, reaching this country after a voyage of thirteen weeks in a sailing vessel. They set- tled in Green county, Wis., where they remained for seven years. In the spring of 1873 they drove through the mud to Stearns county, where for a

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short time they found a home with Frederick Miller, a brother of William C. Then, with his family, William C. moved into a log cabin 16 by 20 feet. Soon afterward a log barn was erected, and before many years a larger part of the homestead of 120 acres was under cultivation. In 1889, Mr. Miller replaced the log cabin with a modern frame dwelling. In 1900 he built a barn, 66 by 32 feet. To his original farm, Mr. Miller added an eighty acre tract of tillable land, and two wood lots of fifteen and fourteen acres respectively. Mr. Miller was a school officer, and a prominent worker in the Evangelical Church.

William Carl Miller, Jr., one of the influential young farmers of Zion township, operates the home place in section 22. He has added forty acres to the place, and has erected a large silo, as well as made other improvements in equipment and operation. While he carries on general farming, and breeds many varieties of farm animals, he takes special pride in his fine Holstein cattle. Like his father before him he is a member of the Evangelical church at - and has served as secretary of its Sunday school for a con- siderable period. William Carl Miller, Jr., was married in 1896 to Ella Schultz, daughter of William Schultz, of Fair Haven township. They have four children: Esther, Alvin, Sadie and Harvey.

Herman J. Manz, a progressive farmer of Zion township, was born on the old homestead in section 30, where he still resides, July 22, 1876, son of Her- man Ludwick and Amelia Manz, the pioneers. He passed through the dis- trict school of his neighborhood, and then took courses in the St. Cloud State Normal School. With this preparation he taught school in Stearns county for two years. Then desiring to increase his knowledge of the world before settling down, he went west, and saw life in that part of the country for a while. Subsequently he returned and took up his residence on the old home- stead, where he still resides. The new modern house stands a few rods west of the location of the old log cabin. This house, with its hot and cold water, its many rooms, its convenient arrangement, its telephone, and its gas lights is in striking contrast to that old cabin of the early days, with its dingy inte- rior and its tallow dip. Mr. Manz carries on general farming and stock raising. He makes a specialty of registered Red Poll cattle, registered Red Duroc hogs, and good horses. Being a man of progress he holds stock in the local telephone, elevator and insurance companies. He is one of the officials of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Manz married Adelia Hein, and they have five children : Viola, Milo, Margra (deceased), Adela and Vernon.

Michael Nehring, one of the earliest pioneers of Zion township, was born in Germany, November 14, 1820. He lost his father in Germany, and was early in life compelled to shift for himself. Upon attaining the years of manhood, he learned the carpenters' trade. When circumstances permitted, he married Caroline Arndt. In 1856, he started for America with his wife, Caroline, and two children, August Ferdinand and William, the journey oc- cupying eighteen weeks by water. Upon reaching America he located in Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin, where he operated a rented farm, and worked at his trade. In that state two more children were born: Frank, and

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 49

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