History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 113

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 113

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).

682

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

operation. Shannon M. was born May 27, 1862, and is now a barber in Lake City. Clara, born in 1864, is now Mrs. William Potter of Minneapolis. Mary was born in 1867, and is now Mrs. Charles E. Winter of Minneapolis, Minn. Lorenzo D., born May 7, 1870, is a traveling salesman with headquarters at Minneapolis. Theodore, born August 17, 1872, is now register of deeds of Wa- basha County, Rachel Ella, born in May, 1875, is now Mrs. B. H. Deters of St. Paul.

Theodore Stegner, register of deeds in Wabasha County, and formerly a well known railroad man, is a native of this county, having been born in Oak- wood Township, August 17, 1872, son of Jacob M. and Rachael N. (McGuffin) Stegner, early settlers. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and at the age of 14 entered the village schools of Zumbro Falls. As a youth he was employed in farming operations. He started his business career in the winter of 1892-93 with a course in the Darling Business College at Rochester. The following spring he entered the office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway at Zumbro Falls, and there learned telegraphy. In 1894 he was sent to Durand, Wis., and in 1895 was promoted to the position of agent at Theilman, in this county .. In 1901 he occupied a similar position at Langdon, in Dakota County, Minn. In 1902 he was made a clerk in the freight department of the railroad at Lake City. In 1906 he entered into partnership with Russell Par- son, of Lake City, in the contracting and building business, but in 1908 re- turned to the railroad in his former position at Lake City. His years of asso- ciation with the public established his reputation as a man of ability and worth, and in 1912, though he had never aspired to office, he was pursuaded to run for register of deeds. To this office he was elected by a comfortable ma- jority, and took up the duties of his position January 1, 1913. He at once proved his ability, and his willingness to serve the public to his fullest power. Since then he has twice been re-elected, the first time without an opponent. Upon taking office here, Mr. Stegner establishd his home here. His real estate holdings include a quarter section of wild timber land in Bel- trami County, this state. Fraternally, he is associated with the Masonic order, being a member of Wapahasa Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., of Wabasha, and Hope Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M., Lake City. He is also a member of the Equit- able Fraternal Union. Mr. Stegner was married February 2, 1897, to Annie E., daughter of Joseph and Henrietta Rahrman, of West Albany Township, this county, and they began homemaking at Theilman, this county. Mrs. Stegner was born in West Albany Township July 23, 1879, and died at Wabasha, May 2, 1916, leaving four children : Erwin J., born April 11, 1898; Arthur F., born October 5, 1899; Marguerite, born July 12, 1901; and Edna R., born December 15, 1904. The first three were born at Theilman, and the youngest at Lake City. Mr. Stegner was married January 18, 1919, to Emma Koelmel, born July 19, 1885, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Koelmel, of Wabasha. The family faith is that of the Congregational church.

Abram J. Anderson, a Wabasha County pioneer now living retired in the village of Hammond, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., October 9, 1838. He came to Wabasha County, Minn., in 1858, as a young man of 20, locating in Zumbro Township, where he bought a pre-emption right to 160 acres in section 18. In 1861 he bought 80 acres in section 19, and erected buildings. The country was then wild, and though white settlers were coming in, there were as yet few cultivated farms. There was a good deal of timber and the Indians were numerous; so also were deer and wolves and various sorts of wild game. Mr. Anderson, like all the pioneer settlers, had to put up with more or less hard- ship and privation, but he made gradual progress in developing a farm, and be- came a little better off. In 1871 he bought 160 acres in section 20, Zumbro Township, and subsequently he bought 160 acres of land at Gettysburg, Da- kota, (now South Dakota, and 240 acres in North Dakota, and at different times his total land possessions in the three states amounted to 800 acres. During

THEO. STEGNER

.683

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

the period of these investments, he continued farming and stock raising on his home farm in Zumbro Township, making yearly trips to the Dakotas. For 35 years .he bought cattle in the vicinity of Hammond. In 1915 he retired and rented his farm to his sons, and in 1919 moved to Hammond village. There are probably very few, if any, surviving pioneers of Wabasha County who have had such a long, active career, covering 52 years, and there are few who are better known or have a wider circle of friends and acquaintances. During his period of activity Mr. Anderson performed some public service, for 12 years being one of the supervisors on the Zumbro town board, and for many years serving on the school board of his district. He attends the Wesleyan Methodist church at South Troy. Mr. Anderson was first united in marriage on February 12, 1858, to Angeline Dennison of New York state, who after 14 years of married life died September 12, 1872. She left four children, namely: Alonzo D., born December 10, 1859, who is residing in Hammond; Hattie, born April 15, 1862, now the widow of Charles Devery, and who with her son, Grover, is operating a farm in Zumbro Township; Wesley W., born September 4, 1865, residing in Chester Township; Clark L., born August 23, 1868, who lives in Wabasha. Mr. Anderson was married secondly September 23, 1873, to Melvina Mitchell, a native of the state of Maine. By her he has had eight children, as follows: Mott M., born July 20, 1874, who is now postmaster at Hammond; Blanche E., born March 24, 1876, who is the wife of Walter Lord; Lynn R., born July 12, 1880, who resides in Hammond; Jesse L., born August 6, 1882, who died May 24, 1918; Lura A., born September 20, 1885, now Mrs. Peter Kruger of Roches- ter, Minn .; Ray A., born January 11, 1888, a farmer in Zumbro Township; Percy F., born December 28, 1893, also on the farm, and Roy W., born April 1, 1890. The last mentioned, Roy W., on September 18, 1917, was drafted into the U. S. Army, becoming a member of Company B, Second Regiment, 163d Depot Bri- gade, and served in France 19 months. He is now residing at home.

·Chalmer Scott Shore, V. M. D., was born October 18, 1873, on a farm near Three Springs, Penn., son of Eli E. and Angeline (Miller) Shore, of Dutch and early colonial Maryland blood. Here he received his common school education and was reared to farm pursuits by his parents. In the fall of 1898 he took up the study of veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and re- ceived his degree in June, 1901. With this preparation he came to Minnesota, established an office at Lake City and began the practice of his profession, which grew rapidly, and he soon found it necessary to hire an assistant. His professional work now covers Wabasha, Goodhue, Olmsted and Winona Coun- ties, in Minnesota, and Pepin and Pierce Counties, across Lake Pepin, in Wis- consin. He has been a leader in the modern movements which have had for their object the improvement of farm and live stock conditions, and has ably supported the efforts of all public authorities in behalf of the same. He has been especially interested in the development and showing of all farm animals and in the building of a spirit of co-operation between the city or town and the farm. As a result of the work done by himself and others he has had the pleasure and satisfaction to see as many as 1,000 farmers and business men gathered and banqueted at one time to discuss agricultural conditions. His faith in this community as a farming and stock raising section is evidenced by the fact that he has acquired a 400-acre farm in Goodhue County, four and one-half miles west of Lake City, to which he gives his personal attention, and where he is taking an active part in the development of scientific farming and stock raising. That Dr. Shore has attained an enviable position in his pro- fession and as a citizen, is perhaps best attested by the fact that since he began the practice of Veterinary Medicine in Lake City, twelve young men from this community, actuated undoubtedly by the desire to emulate, have chosen to follow this profession and have educated themselves and qualified and are at this time practicing. Dr. Shore has served as president of the Minne- sota State Veterinary Association; member of the City Council of Lake City

684

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

(two terms). Fraternally he is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Com- mandery and Shrine of the Masons, and of the Red Men and Modern Woodmen. He was married March 16, 1910, to Olga Chinberg, daughter of Charles and Martha Chinberg, of Lake City, and this union has been blessed with two chil- dren : Martha Angeline, born February 20, 1911, and Catherine Louise, born February 16, 1915. The family attends the Episcopal church.

Henry John Meincke, proprietor of two excellent farms in Mt. Pleasant Township, but who has recently retired and is now residing in Lake City, was born at West Florence, Goodhue County, Minn., November 9, 1872, son of Henry and Anna (Tomforde) Meincke. Accompanying his parents to Mt. Pleasant Township when young, he was educated in the common schools, and until he was 22 remained on the home farm working with his father. On May 24, 1894, he married Margaret E. Hoeft, daughter of John and Wilhelmina Hoeft, who resided on an adjoining farm, and they began housekeeping on the farm in section 29, where until recently they resided. This farm contains 160 acres and is provided with a good two-story frame house, lighted with gas, and standing in a beautiful yard shaded with large trees and surrounded with a fine hedge. There is also an adequate set of outbuildings, including a frame barn 38 by 70 by 16 feet in size, with a 9-foot stone basement and cement floor, and provided with steel stanchions; a granary 22 by 34 by 12; a corn crib and shed 24 by 30 by 12; a sheep barn 32 by 40 by 14; a calf barn of two stories 12 by 28; besides a poultry house, wash house, stave silo and steel windmill. In sec- tion 30 Mr. Meincke has another good farm of 240 acres, on which is a com- fortable frame house, a new frame barn 44 by 72 by 14 feet, with full basement, and other substantial buildings. Both farms are highly cultivated, all the land being under the plow except about 20 acres. They are well stocked with from 35 to 50 head of high grade of Shorthorn cattle, and from 40 to 50 Duroc-Jersey hogs, the herds having full blooded sires. There is also a good flock of sheep. Mr. Meincke carried on general farming and stock raising very successfully, and was numbered among the leading farmers of his township, which he served several years on the board of supervisors. Politically he is a Republican, but exercises judgment in casting his vote, placing the man before the party. In the spring of 1920 he retired from active work, leasing his farm to his son, Henry G., and took up his residence in Lake City, buying a fine modern home at No. 306 South Oak street, where he now lives. He and his wife are the parents of six children: Laura Henrietta, born March 19, 1895; John Alfred Frederick, December 8, 1896; Henry George Emil, February 12, 1899; Arthur Adolph, January 7, 1903; Wilhelmina Anna, August 2, 1906; and Ralph Fred- erick, January 26, 1919. Laura Henrietta is now Mrs. Frank Furst of Mt. Pleasant Township, her marriage having taken place July 26, 1916. John Alfred Frederick, who is a farmer in Mt. Pleasant Township, was married May 30, 1918, to Geraldine Meyer, and has one child, Robert John, born July 17, 1919. Henry George Emil, who attended the Lake City High School, and was later graduated from the Minnesota Agricultural College, is now operating the home farm. He was married May 12, 1920, to Mabel M. Heltman. Arthur Adolph is a student in the Minnesota Agricultural College. Wilhelmina Anna is a fresh- man in the Lake City High School. The religious affiliations of the family are with the Belvidere congregation of the Lutheran church.

Asa B. Doughty, for many years president of the Lake City Mill Co., was born on Long Island, N. Y., in 1826, son of Samuel and Betsey (Nelson) Doughty. He lost his father in early life, and in 1837 came west to Blooming- ton, Ill., with his mother, his brother Edward and his sister Alice. The last named was the wife of Henry Coleman, who established a plant for the manu- facture of plows, and with him Asa B. learned his trade. In 1855 he made a visit to Lake City and in 1857 he located here. After a time he engaged in the grain and commission business with a partner under the firm name of Bessey & Doughty. In 1863 this firm, in order to handle the financial requirements of

HENRY J. MEINCKE AND FAMILY.

685

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

its increasing business, established a banking business which, however, was discontinued in 1866. Some years later Mr. Doughty established a factory for the manufacturing of wagons, plows and harrows. In 1880 he bought the Lake City Flour Mills, entirely remodeled the plant, and established the Lake City Mill Co., of which he was made the president. Mr. Doughty was married in 1849 to Ellen McClung, a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Illinois. She died in 1862, leaving two children: Lillie, who married William C. Water; and Lulu, who married B. Y. McNairy. In 1864 Mr. Doughty married Sue Johns, a native of Pennsylvania.

Frank Harper Doughty, municipal judge of Lake City, was born in Bloom- ington, Ill., August 17, 1854, son of Samuel and Hannah (Rider) Doughty, who brought him to Lake City in 1854 when he was but a few months old. He passed through the Lake City schools and as a young man went to St. Cloud, in this state, to learn the jeweler's trade. After a year and a half, however, financial depression necessitated a discontinuation of the apprenticeship, and being unable to find another place in which to continue his training, Mr. Doughty came back to Lake City in 1872 and entered the mill of Doughty & Selover. There he had the misfortune to lose his right arm. Thereafter he was variously employed for nearly three decades. Standing high in the estimation of his fellow citizens as a substantial, reliable man, he served the city for some years as constable. He was also for a while State Oil Inspector for this region. December 10, 1900, he was appointed by Governor John Lind as municipal judge of Lake City, which position he has since retained by successive re-elec- tions. In this capacity he has combined strict justice with a keen and sympa- thetic insight into human nature, and his work has been an important factor in maintaining the respect in which the enforcement of the law is here held. In addition to his judicial duties, Mr. Doughty holds the local agency for several fire insurance companies, and along this line does considerable business. Fra- ternally his affiliation is with the Independent Order of Foresters and the Mod- ern Brotherhood of America. Mr. Doughty was married December 25, 1898, to Minerva Vought, daughter of James C. and Mary Ann (Gowdy) Vought. The family residence is that formerly occupied by Asa B. Doughty, and is one of the most substantial homes in the city.

Martin J. Rucker, a prosperous business man of Mazeppa, who during his active career has successfully turned his hand to various occupations of a mercantile character, was born in Oronoco, Olmsted County, Minn., January 6, 1863, son of Frederick and Johanna (Rueber) Rucker. The parents were natives of Wurtemburg, Germany, who came to this country in December, 1860, accompanied by four children, two sons and two daughters: Frederick, Jr., Jacob Charles, Reca and Katherine. In the spring of 1861 the family embarked from a steamboat at Read's Landing, proceeded to Lake City, and went from there by ox team to Oronoco, where they settled on a farm of 120 acres. There the parents resided until their death. Of the four children who came from Germany with them, Frederick is now deceased; Jacob C. is living in the vil- lage of Oronoco; Reca married David Tibbitts, of Redwood Falls, where she died in 1904, and Katherine married Ernest Adler, of Oronoco, where she died in 1917. Martin J. Rucker was reared on the home farm in Oronoco, Olmsted County, where he attended the district and public schools. There he remained until he was 20 years old, and then, coming to Mazeppa, began his business career, selling pianos and sewing machines for J. B. Gregoire. From that em- ployment he entered the general store of E. L. Ford, in which he worked as clerk for 11 years. Then, with O. G. Nichols and James Robinson, he pur- chased the stock and business of the Ford Company, and continued in the part- nership for five years, at the end of which time he sold his interest. In December, 1899, he started a general store on his own account, which he carried on until 1912, when he sold out to Fred Prahl. In the same year, 1912, he was appointed postmaster, which office he held for four years. In 1916 he was ap-

686

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

pointed oil inspector for the county. Since resigning the post office he has sold insurance, silos, pianos and nursery stock, showing an energy and ability that have made him respected as a business man. For three years he has served the village as councilman, and for 14 years has been a justice of the peace. In the Masonic order he belongs to the Blue Lodge and Eastern Star Chapter, and is also a member of the Elks, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Degree of Honor. Mr. Rucker was united in marriage in April, 1884, at Trempealeau, Wis., to Caroline Bobzine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bobzine of Oronoco, Minn. Her parents were natives of Germany who came to Minnesota in the eighties and engaged in farming here, but are now deceased. Their children were: Bertha, wife of William Ritter of Rochester; Mary, a widow residing in Chicago, Ill .; Caroline, wife of M. J. Rucker; Amelia, now deceased, who was the wife of J. C. Rucker; and Louis C., residing in Chicago. Mrs. Rucker has a half brother, Fred C. King, who married Sophia Miller, but he is now deceased. She has a half sister, Augusta, who is the wife of Charles Kurth of Oronoco. Mr. and Mrs. Martin J. Rucker have one child, Grace C., born March 24, 1905, who is attending high school at Mazeppa.

Bernard C. Blee, who is prosperously engaged in truck farming near the village of Kellogg, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1866, son of Bernard and Ellen (Mullen) Blee, and a member of a family of eight children. The parents always resided in their native land, where Bernard C. attended school. In 1886 he came to the United States and directly to Wabasha County, where at first he found employment at farm work. Later he bought 120 acres of rough land, which he cultivated for a while, but afterwards sold, and in 1906 bought 54 acres of land just outside the village of Kellogg, and devoted himself to truck farming, in which occupation he has since continued with profitable results. He has a good frame house of eight rooms, barns and store-house. Politically a Democrat, he is also a member of the Catholic church and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Mr. Blee was married April 26, 1898, at Wa- basha, Minn., to Mary Hughes, daughter of Anthony and Mary (O'Hara) Hughes. Her parents, natives of Galway, Ireland, came to the United States about 1881. Mrs. Mary Hughes died in 1914, but Mr. Hughes is still living. They had eight children, of whom six survive. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Blee, seven of whom are living, namely: Sister Serenus, now in a convent at Rochester; James, Bernard, Joseph, Anna, Margaret and John. Arthur and Michael are deceased. The survivors, except "Sister Serenus," reside with their parents, those of suitable age attending school:

Bernard Steffes, an enterprising and well to do farmer of Highland Town- ship, was born in Rolling Stone, Winona County, Minn., in 1867. His parents, John and Katherine Steffes, were born in Luxemburg, the former coming to the United States in 1860 and locating for one year in Buffalo. He then re- turned to Luxemburg, but came again to this country in 1866, and to Winona, Minn., whence he went to Rolling Stone, Winona County, residing there two years. In 1868 he came to Wabasha County, buying 138 acres in section 24, Highland Township, where he began agricultural work. The land was mostly wild, only 30 acres being broken, and he at once began the task of clearing more, which he did with the help of an ox team. His original buildings were an old log house and a straw barn, but in time he erected a good house of eight rooms and a barn 28 by 38 feet, besides other buildings. He and his wife, Katherine, had 11 children-four sons and seven daughters. Three of the sons and five of the daughters are now living, namely: Bernard, of Highland Town- ship; Maggie, wife of John Klee, of Olmsted County; Susie, who married George Klee, of Rochester, Minn .; Lizzie, wife of Nicholas Weber, of Watopa Township; Katherine, wife of Roy Irish, of Plainview Township; Mary, wife of Robert Bennett, of Plainview Township; Peter, a business man of Kellogg; and John, who is farming in Watopa Township. Those deceased are: Angeline, who was the wife of Charlie Heaser, of Plainview Township; Nicholas, who died

MR. AND MRS. GOTTFRIED SCHAD

687

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

young; and one who died in infancy. The mother of these children died July 24, 1896, and the father in 1914. Bernard Steffes was reared on the home farm and attended school in district No. 40. He worked on the home farm assisting his father until the latter's death, at which time he was made administrator of the estate. He subsequently managed the farm until he purchased it in 1915, since which time he has been the sole owner. He is successfully engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying and is numbered among the pros- perous citizens of his township. Mr. Steffes was married in 1903 at St. Charles, Minn., to Rosa Lenertz, daughter of Peter and Mary Lenertz, her parents being early settlers in Winona County, where they followed farming. They had 14 children, of whom 11 are now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Steffes three children have been born: Katherine, February, 1904; Dorothy, February 21, 1909; and Mildred, August, 1912. The family are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Steffes belongs also to the order of Woodmen.

John H. Lee, a well known and popular resident of Highland Township, who came to Wabasha County at an early date with his parents, was born in Norway, January 12, 1854, son of Oliver and Bertha (Knutson) Lee. The fam- ily came to America in 1861, locating in Blackearth Valley, Dane County, Wis., and he attended school for some time in the village of Blackearth. After farm- ing in Dane County until 1865, the parents came to Plainview Township, Wa- basha County, Minn., and rented the Andrew Helgerson farm of 160 acres, Mr. Helgerson furnishing everything and giving them one-fourth of the crop for their labor. In 1867 Oliver Lee bought the homestead right of 160 acres in section 28, Highland Township, of Mr. Lathrop, where he and his wife resided engaged in agriculture until their death, Oliver Lee passing away February 29, 1888, and Mrs. Bertha Lee April 10, 1901. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are living. Those deceased are: Andrew; Anna, who was the wife of William Barnid; and Carrie, who was the wife of Even Even- The survivors are: Bertha, wife of Chris Christoverson; Knute, who resides in Oregon; and John H., of Highland Township, who is now the owner of the old home farm on which he lives alone. He is a member of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church, and a reliable citizen, respected by his fellow towns- men.

son.

Gottfried Schad, a pioneer of Highland Township, now deceased, was a native of Germany, and came to the United States and to Wabasha County, Minn., when this part of the country was new and wild, homesteading 160 acres of land in sections 5 and 8, Highland Township. The tract was largely covered with timber, which he cleared, and his first residence here, erected by himself, was a small log shanty without windows or doors. After marrying Barbara Lowry, a native of Indiana, the needs of a growing family made better accommodations imperative, and he accordingly erected a larger and better log dwelling, in which he and his wife resided for the rest of their lives. To his original tract of 160 acres he added 20 acres more, and continued gen- eral farming until his death in 1880. He took an active part in the development of the county and was always ready to assist in any movement for the better- ment of the community in which he lived. His wife survived him 26 years, dying in 1906. They had a family of ten children, of whom seven are now living, namely: Michael, residing on the old home farm, which is now owned by his brother, Joseph J .; Genevieve, wife of August Strich, a farmer of Olm- sted County; Christian, who is farming in Mt. Pleasant Township; Elizabeth, wife of Fred Hopkins, of Wabasha; Anna and Margaret, residing with their brother, Joseph; and Joseph J., who, as previously mentioned, is the owner of the farm. Those deceased are John, the first born; Godfried and Lena. Since the father's death Joseph and his brothers have added 120 acres to the farm, making its area 300 acres. The house also had been remodeled and enlarged, and contains ten rooms, the modern part being frame and enclosing the orig- inal log structure. This improvement was made in 1917. Other improvements

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 113

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