History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 112

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222

USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Henry Angelbeck, now living retired in Plainview after an active agricul- tural career in Highland Township, was born in Germany, where he grew to manhood. Like other German youths, he was obliged to serve in the army, and took part in the Franco-German war of 1870. In 1872 he came to the United

676

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

States, first locating in Cincinnati, where he remained for a year. Then com- ing to Wabasha County, Minnesota, he bought and settled on 160 acres of land in Glasgow Township. The tract was wild and largely covered with timber, which he cleared off, first building a small log house. In 1897 he moved to Highland Township, buying 175 acres in sections 4 and 9. On this farm in . 1897 he built a new frame house of nine rooms; a barn 30 by 68 feet, and a granary 30 by 34, with a lean-to 14 by 34. Here he farmed successfully until 1909, in which year he retired and removed to Plainview. Henry Angelbeck married Louise Evers, who, like himself, was born in Germany. They have had a family of six children, of whom four are now living: Mary, wife of Frank Deming, Jr .; Lizzie, wife of George Passe of Merrifield, Minn .; and The- resa, wife of William Passe of the same place. Those deceased are Henry and Anna. Mr. Angelbeck was formerly supervisor in Glasgow Township. In re- ligion he and his wife are Catholics, and are people well known and highly esteemed.

John J. Angelbeck, an active and successful farmer of Highland Township, was born in Glasgow Township, Wabasha County, Minn., February 12, 1880, son of Henry and Louise (Evers) Angelbeck. He was reared on the home farm and acquired his education in the district school, and he accompanied the fam- ily when in 1897 they moved to sections 4 and 9, Highland Township. Up to the age of 27 years he was engaged in assisting his father. Then for two years he operated the home farm under rental, subsequently buying it. Here he has since followed general farming and stock raising, breeding cattle, hogs and sheep, and with the intention of specializing in hogs, Holstein cattle and sheep in the future. An active citizen, he was supervisor of Highland Township two years. He is a Catholic in religion and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Angelbeck was married at Wabasha in 1907 to Caroline Passe, daughter of Herman and Anna (Schut) Passe. Her parents were natives of Germany who came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, two years before the Angelbeck family, settling in Glasgow Township, on a farm. Later they removed to a farm within the city limits of Wabasha, where they are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Angelbeck have eight children, Mary, Margaret, Joseph, Agnes, Albert, Berna- dine, Clara and Paul, all residing at home and four attending school.

Joseph Schurhammer, now living retired in Kellogg after an active career . devoted chiefly to agriculture, was born on a farm in Greenfield Township, Wabasha County, Minn., September 8, 1856, son of Joseph and Mary M. (Trich- ler) Schurhammer. The parents were born and married in Germany and came to the United States in 1855, settling first at Dubuque, Iowa. Thence in the spring of 1856 they came to Wabasha County, locating on a farm in Greenfield Township, where a few months later the subject of this sketch was born. After following agriculture here for a number of years, both parents died. They had nine children, six of whom are living, namely: George, Joseph, August, Minnie, Christ and Lawrence. Minnie is the wife of Thomas Herschberger of Polk County, Minnesota. John and Andrew are deceased and also one other child who died in infancy. Joseph Schurhammer in his boyhood attended the district school and at an early age began to make himself useful on his parents' farm. There he remained until 1879, by which time he was a good practical farmer. For two years subsequently he worked out. Then in 1881 he bought a farm of 400 acres, together with his brother-in-law and his wife's sisters and brother. It was the home farm of his father-in-law, John Huber, and they operated it together until Joseph Schurhammer, after buying the interests of some of the others in succession, became the sole owner of 300 acres. There he farmed until 1906, when he gave up that occupation and removed to Kellogg. During the first two years he resided here he was engaged in railroad work and other occupations. Then he entered into the saloon business, which he carried on until January 10, 1920, when he retired. Mr. Schurhammer served for sev- eral years as supervisor of Greenfield Township and as roadmaster. He is a

677

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

member of Teutonia Lodge No. 19, and for nine years has belonged to the Odd Fellows' lodge in Wabasha. In 1879 Mr. Schurhammer was married, in Wa- basha, to Sarah Huber, daughter of John and Caroline Huber, who were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Schurhammer had nine children, of whom six are now living, namely: Caroline, wife of Con Quigley, who lives on a farm in Greenfield Township; Joseph, Jr., of Kellogg; Valentine, on the home farm; Mary M., wife of Paul Schmoker of Greenfield Township; Leonard, of Minne- iska, and Marie, wife of Frank Spooner, living on a farm in Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Those deceased are Minnie, Andrew and Emil. Emil, who was a steel worker in Chicago, met a tragic death in 1918 by falling nine stories off a building. Mrs. Sarah Schurhammer, the mother, died in Wabasha in March, 1920.

Henry Schwedes, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Kuehn Mercantile Company, of Wabasha, Minn., who has been a resident of this city for 38 years, and for the greater part of that time a live factor in its develop- ment, was born at Wheeling, W. Va., January 26, 1859, son of John Christopher and Netta (Michel) Schwedes. His parents were of German nationality. The father, John C. Schwedes, was born at Breuna Castle, Hesse, March 14, 1826. At the age of 20 he entered the German army and served in the infantry under Marshall Wrangel, being a man of good physique and fine soldierly bearing. His period of military service in the army of his native land being over, in 1857 he came to the United States, and in the same year he married Netta Michel at Alexandria, Penn., who was, however, like himself, of German origin, having been born October 18, 1828, at Luedersheim, Fuerstenthum, Waldeck, Germany. A few years after Mr. Schwedes' marriage the Civil War broke out, and he enlisted in 1861 in the Second West Virginia regiment, serving under General Rosecranz. At Sheet Mountain he was wounded in the right eye, which he lost, and on account of this disability was discharged. After his return from the war he resided for three years in Cincinnati. In 1865 he came west to Buffalo County, Wisconsin, settling in Alma, where for many years subsequently he followed the occupation of a tailor. Though for some years in poor circumstances, his sterling character as a man and citizen made a favorable impression on the community and he was highly respected. In 1880 he lost his wife Netta, and four years later he married Minnie Louise Neuman of Alma. Mr. Schwedes passed away on February 22, 1918. For years he was an active and useful member of the German Reformed church, and also of the Odd Fellows and G. A. R. lodges at Alma and Fountain City. Henry Schwedes was one of a family of three children, the two others being a daughter Emma, born at Wheeling, W. Va., February 16, 1862, who died at Alma, Wis., in 1868, and a son, Henry (first), who was accidentally killed at Wheeling, W. Va. Henry (the subject of this sketch) was but six years old when the family set- tled in Alma, and his early education was acquired in the common schools there. At the age of 13 he began working in a sawmill, and was thus occupied for about two years, during which time he turned his earnings over to his parents. At 15 he became clerk in the drug store of Hummer & Ginskey and after that kept some of his money for himself, carefully saving it so that in two years he had sufficient to pay for a course in bookkeeping in the La Crosse Business College, where he completed his studies in 1877. In the following year he entered the employ of the Mississippi River Logging Company on Beef Slough as a log scaler, and was thus occupied for two years, or until 1879, when he took charge of the company's log books, which he kept for three years. On January 5, 1882, Mr. Schwedes was married by the Rev. Mr. Trobec to Mary Magdelene, daughter of Lucas and Clarrie Kuehn, of Wabasha, Minn., and in the same year took up his residence in this city, becoming bookkeeper in the general store of Lucas Kuehn, his father-in-law. Later he became a member of the Kuehn Mercantile Co., of which he is now, as already stated, secretary, treasurer and general manager. His rise in the business world has been

678

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

steady, and accomplished by unremitting attention to his multifarious duties, backed by native ability and integrity. Though of a quiet and retiring disposi- tion, he has never been slow to lend a helping hand to any project for the ad- vancement and general welfare of the community in which he resides, and he is recognized by his fellow citizens as a man of power and reliability. He is affiliated religiously with Grace Memorial Episcopal church of Wabasha, of which he had proved a useful member. Mr. Schwedes has had the misfortune to lose his wife, who passed away May 14, 1918, after an illness of a year and a half. She was a woman of a generous and sympathetic nature, devoted to her home and family, and one who diffused an atmosphere of sunshine and happi- ness wherever she went, being beloved by old and young alike. She left two children : Walter F., born October 18, 1883, and Carl H., born July 9, 1887. Walter F. is now employed as an electrical engineer with the Oliver Mining Co. of Duluth, Minn. Carl H. was graduated from the dental department of the State University in the class of 1920 and is now located in Minneapolis.

Martin A. Grove, veteran of the Civil War, prominent public official, sub- stantial business man and successful agriculturist, has been an important fac- tor in the life of Wabasha County for many years. As a Civil War soldier he offered his best to his country's service, and bears to this day the scars of this heroism; as a business man, whether clerk or proprietor, he was accommodat- ing, affable and efficient; as a public official he gave to this county and town- ship the advantages of his wide experience and keen judgment, and as an agri- culturist he developed an excellent farm. In addition to this, he and his good wife reared a family of children who have taken a prominent part in the pro- fessions, and have been a credit to the county that gave them birth. Now in the prime of life, he looks back over the years well spent, content in the fact that he has been permitted to take so goodly a share in the world's work. Mar- tin Andreas Grove was born in Valders, Norway, May 9, 1846, the son of Andrew and Ona (Olson) Grove, worthy farmers of that country. Of the large family born to this worthy couple, Julia, the eldest, married and spent her life in the old country, while Knute, Clara, Ole, Nels, Andrew and Martin A. came to this country. All are dead except Andrew, who lives in Fertile, Worth County, Iowa, and Martin A. The family came to America in 1852 and settled in Black Earth, Dane County, Wis. After the death of the mother in 1872 the father took up his home with his son, Martin A., in Wabasha County, Minn., and died in 1872. Martin A. received his education in Wisconsin and was reared to farm pursuits. At the age of 19, in the early spring of 1865, he enlisted in Co. G, 38th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. and was sent South. He participated in the skirmishes before Petersburg, Va., and in the taking of Petersburg and Richmond. In the actions incident to the latter, he was shot through the left arm below the elbow, which caused a permanent stiffness of that member. Upon recovering from his wound, he became a clerk in a general store at Black Earth. In 1867 he came to Minnesota, and became a clerk in the store of F. A. Cornwall. Two years later he was married, and the young couple took up their home in Lake City, where Mr. Grove was employed as a clerk by H. F. William- son. In 1872 he purchased a quarter section in Oakwood Township. There he lived and labored for many years, developing a well-improved place, and carry- ing on general farming, dairying and stock raising on a successful scale. In 1899 he came to Plainview village, and for a number of years engaged in busi- ness, first as a dealer in farm implements, and later as a furniture dealer and undertaker. Afterward he retired, and now devoies his time to looking after his various interests, including considerable real estate holdings in North Dakota. In public life, Mr. Grove's influence has ever been toward the best interests of the community. In addition to filling with credit various local, school and town offices, he served with distinction as county commissioner and during this long period was several times chairman, guiding the affairs of the county with dignity and discretion. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic

JOHN LAQUA AND FAMILY

679

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

order and the G. A. R. In the G. A. R. he is one of the five surviving members of the Post at Plainview. He has been an active member in the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years was Sunday school superintendent at Millville, in addition to serving the church in several official capacities. Mr. Grove was married October 31, 1869, to Mary Christopherson, who was born in Norway, daughter of Christopher and Jennie (Nelson) Christopherson, who came to America in the middle fifties, and lived in Wisconsin and Iowa, before coming to Oakwood Township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Grove died December 6, 1916. She was a woman of sterling qualities, a loving wife, and an ideal mother, and her memory is sacredly cherished. Mr. and Mrs. Grove were blessed with eight children: Illey Anders, Carl Joseph, Alfred Joseph, George Nimes, Martin Melvin, Ina Jemema, Arthur Francis and Lilly Irene. Illey Anders married Fannie Bailey of Zumbro, this county, and died March 3, 1915. Carl Joseph married Lulu Bailey, of Zumbro, has one son and is now a dentist at St. Paul. Alfred Joseph is a farmer and business man. George Mines married Kata Parr, and is now a dentist at Owatonna, this state. Martin Melvin married Grace Fisk, of Plainview, this county, and is now a dentist at Dell Rapids, S. D. Ina Jemema is dead. Arthur Francis married Gusta Diana and lives in Dell Rapids, S. D. Lilly Irene married Roby R. Fisk, a physician of Flandreau, S. D. They have two sons.

John Laqua, whose death on February 12, 1919, deprived Highland Town- ship of one of its most respected citizens, was born in Prussia, Germany, June 19, 1867, son of Carl and Anna Laqua. His parents spent their lives in their native Germany and are both now deceased. John Laqua came to the United States in September, 1890, landing at New York, and coming directly to Wa- basha County, Minn. Locating at Theilman, he worked for a year in the wagon shop of his brother, Frank, at that place. At the end of that time he bought a farm of 120 acres in section 6, Highland Township, one mile from Theilman, and later bought 80 acres more in section 5, making in all 200 acres. Subse- quently he sold the tract of 120 acres and moved to a tract of 80 in section 5, where he spent the rest of his life engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing, increasing the size of the farm to 200 acres before his death. Mr. Laqua was married at Wabasha, January 12, 1898, to Emma Sagissor, daughter of Fred and Barbara (Ammon) Sagissor. Her parents and family came to this country in the early sixties, settling first in Illinois. After remaining there until 1875, they came to Wabasha County, Minn., locating in Highland Town- ship, where Mr. Sagissor conducted a blacksmith shop for a while. Later he bought a farm which he operated until 1905, when he moved to Wabasha. There his death occurred in 1907, his wife having passed away two years pre- viously at the time he gave up the farm. They were the parents of six children, all now living, namely: Albert Fred, Hector, Matilda, Lena, Bertha and Emma. Albert Fred resides in Highland Township, and Hector in Wabasha. Matilda is the wife of Gottleib Burkhardt of Wabasha Township, her sister Lena resid- ing with her. Bertha is the wife of Fred Goetz of Plainview Township. Mr. and Mrs. Laqua have had four children, one of whom, Henry is now deceased. The living are Myrtle, Vera and Arthur, the last mentioned of whom is carrying on the farm work for his mother.

Peter C. Wood, a summer resident of Plainview village, who was formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits in Whitewater Township, Winona County, was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., July 5, 1839, son of Arnold and Christina (Rorick) Wood. The parents were natives of New York state, where they were engaged in farming. The father died in the fall of 1863 and was survived 34 years by his wife, who passed away in 1897. They were worthy people and members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their children those now living are Catherine, Orin and Peter. The deceased are William, Eliza J., Elizabeth, David, Alanson, Abraham, Charles and Louis. Peter C. Wood in his boyhood attended district school in New York state. Until 1857 he worked

680

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

for his father, and then came to Minnesota, locating in Plainview Township, Wabasha County, where until 1863 he worked at farm labor. After that he rented a farm in the same township for a year, and the next year rented one in Whitewater Township, Winona County. In 1865 he bought 80 acres in White- water Township and began the development of a farm, erecting all the build- ings. There he was engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1892, and by that time had been so successful that he owned 633 acres in Whitewater Township, and had acquired a competence. In 1892 Mr. Wood retired and moved to Plainview village, where he resided continuously until 1909. Since then he has spent most of his time in the states of California and Oregon, but spends his summers in Plainview, Minn. During his active career as a farmer in Whitewater Township, he served two years as a member of his district school board; and he subsequently served six years on the Plainview school board as treasurer, and five years as a member of the village council, being recognized by his fellow citizens as a man of ability and public spirit. In his religious affiliations he has followed the example of his parents, being con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wood was married July 3, 1863, to Cevilla Leininger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Leininger of Wood- land, Plainview Township. Her parents came to this locality from Pennsyl- vania in 1857, and were engaged in farming until 1892, after which they lived retired in Plainview village, where Mr. Leininger died in December, 1892, and Mrs. Leininger in 1910. They had seven children, three of whom are living, Elizabeth, Isaac and Catherine. The others, Lucy, Sarah, Margaret and Cevilla (Mrs. Peter C. Wood), have passed away. Mrs. Wood died February 12, 1909, and was tenderly laid to rest in Greenwood cemetery, Plainview village. She had been a loving wife and mother and was a woman whose loss. was deeply felt. Mr. and Mrs. Wood had two children: John E., born July 18, 1864, who died September 17 the same year; and Alice M., born March 1, 1866, now Mrs. George W. French of Carleton, Oregon.

Henry Brinkman, a thriving representative of the farming interests of Mt. Pleasant Township, residing in section 16, was born in Belvidere Township, Goodhue County, Minn., December 12, 1870, son of John and Engel (Martens) Brinkman. He was educated in the district school and was associated in agri- cultural work with his father until 30 years of age. In the year 1900 he came to Mt. Pleasant Township, Wabasha County, and bought his present farm of 240 acres in section 16, seven miles west of Lake City. Of its total area he has 230 acres under the plow, and, the soil being very productive, he is raising large quantities of grain and other farm products. He has from 40 to 50 head of high grade Shorthorn cattle, and from 25 to 40 Duroc-Jersey swine, with full blooded sires for each herd, and as a general farmer has achieved a pro- nounced success. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator and Lake Pepin Creamery Association, both of Lake City, and is a member of the school board of District No. 11. Since taking possession of his farm Mr. Brinkman has made some valuable improvements on it, having fenced most of it, sunk a 260-foot drilled fell, and erected a steel windmill and a double corn crib, 38 feet long, with a driveway through the center. Mr. Brinkman assumed the responsi- bilities of domestic life in April, 1913, when he was married to Emma Henning, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Henning of Mt. Pleasant Township. Their home circle includes three children: Luella, born June 15, 1914; Ray, born May 25, 1916, and Roy, a stepson, born April 10, 1904. Mr. Brinkman and his family are members of the Belvidere congregation of the German Lutheran church.

Claus Bremer, who died on his farm in section 2, Mt. Pleasant Township, December 19, 1913, was for a number of years a well known and respected citi- zen of that township, and had done useful work as a developer of farm land. He was born in Hanover, Germany, March 5, 1866, son of Henry and Anna (Luetjen) Bremer, and came to the United States with his parents when about

681

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

15 years of age, the family settling in Goodhue County, Minn. Claus had ac- quired a common school education in his native land and attended school for some time here. After arriving in Minnesota he found work as a farm hand, which occupation he followed for a number of years. By 1896, through in- dustry and economy, he had accumulated about $2,000, and in the fall of that year he bought 230 acres of land in section 2, Mt. Pleasant Township, of which 100 acres were under the plow. There were no buildings, and so his first task was to erect a small house. Being now in a condition to enjoy domestic hap- piness, he married, July 25, 1897, Marie Catherine, daughter of Paul and Marie (Dohrmann) Cordes of Mt. Pleasant Township. She was born in Hanover, Germany, August 18, 1869, and came to America with her parents in 1883, they settling in Goodhue County. Mr. Bremer went to work at once to improve his farm by erecting good buildings, including a house, a good barn 36 by 60 by 16 feet, with an 8-foot basement, and equipped with steel stanchions, also with a lean-to 14 by 36; a granary 18 by 24, a poultry house, and machine shed. Since Mr. Bremer's death his widow has built a triple-walled silo and a circular hog-house with cement floor, and with the help of her two sons has conducted the farm successfully. It is well stocked with grade Shorthorn cattle, the herd numbering from 30 to 35, of which 12 to 15 are milch cows; also a herd of 15 to 30 Chester-White hogs. The farm is well tilled and very productive. Mr. Bremer was a thrifty and industrious man and highly respected. He served as treasurer of his school district for seven years and always took an interest in the welfare and progress of the community. Politically he was a Republican. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, he and his family worship- ing with Emanuel congregation at West Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Claus Bremer were the parents of five children: Walter Paul, born June 3, 1898, who died January 8, 1911; Edna Marie and Edwin Frederick (twins), born September 18, 1899; Clarence Christian, born March 24, 1902, and Alma Marguerite, born August 24, 1906. All the surviving children are residing on the home farm with their mother. They were educated in the district school, and Edna Marie, in addition, attended the Minnesota Agricultural College.

Jacob M. Stegner, an early settler in Oakwood Township, was born in Indiana in 1825, of English and German descent. He was there reared and in 1851 married Rachel N. McGuffin, who was of Scotch and Irish descent. In 1866 they came to Wabasha County and bought 160 acres of wild land in Oak- wood Township. The county had then been settled for some years and had a considerable population, but conditions were still quite primitive. Mr. Stegner set to work to build for himself and family a comfortable log house and to wrest a living from the soil, gradually breaking more and more land. When the railroad came through the tracks were located so near his house that the road- bed extended practically to its foundations. In 1881 a more suitable location was selected and a comfortable dwelling built. The family prospered with the years and won an honorable place in the community, residing there until 1886. They then moved to Zumbro Falls, where the father engaged in the general mercantile business, being thus occupied until his death in 1898. Soon after that event Mrs. Stegner removed to Lake City, where she resided with her. daughter, Mrs. William Potter, until her own death, which occurred in the spring of 1908. In the Stegner family there were ten children: Benjamin F., Edwin J., Robert I., Johanna, Shannon M., and Clara, all born in Indiana; and Mary, Lorenzo D., Theodore and Rachel Ella, born in Oakwood Township. Ben- jamin F. was born in January 1, 1852, and now lives on a farm near Beardsley, Big Stone County, Minn. Edwin J. was born in 1854 and died at St. Paul, August 2, 1917. In early life he had been a farmer and at the time of his death was a traveling salesman for the McFadden Candy Co. of St. Paul. Robert I. was born in 1856 and was a farmer; he died in 1900 at Aurora, S. D. Johanna was born in 1858; she married Mason Brandt, a miller, and later a farmer at West Albany, this county, and died at Rochester in 1912 after undergoing an

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 112

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1222

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222