History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 121

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 121

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).

730

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

cemetery there. Rev. E. D. Gallagher had charge of the services, and the Masonic fraternities of which the deceased was a member attended at the grave. In the death of Mr. Boss the community and the entire county lost one of its most useful and esteemed citizens. He was a man of great strength of character, and when once convinced he was on the right course could not be swayed from it. In a word, he was a clean-living, right-thinking, honest man whose friendship and association were highly prized by those who knew him best. His life's work was short, but he accomplished more in the time allotted to him than many who lived much longer. Though he has passed on before, his memory will long remain as an inspiration to the living. Mr. Boss was united in marriage, at Lake City, Minn., with Louise F. Koehler, who was born February 22, 1888, daughter of Henry J. and Ida (Kuehn) Koehler. They had four children, all of whom are now living, namely: Jean Louise, born August 20, 1908; Amy Jannette, January 10, 1910; Lloyd John, May 21, 1911, and Forest, May 21, 1913. Mr. Boss also left five brothers and two sisters: Mrs. A. H. Lamb, and James and David Boss, of Gillford; Andrew and William Boss of St. Paul; Mrs. J. E. Knight, of Sherwood, Ore., and Alex Boss, who lives in Washington.

Charles Marx, a typical representative of the self-made men of Mazeppa Township, successfully engaged in agriculture on an excellent farm which he has built up, was born in Pepin Township, Wabasha County, son of Matthew and Margaret (Tison) Marx. The parents, who were born in Ger- many, were pioneer settlers of Wabasha County, coming to this country in the early fifties and settling in Pepin Township. There they spent many years engaged in farming, in early days according to primitive methods, but grad- ually advancing in prosperity until they were at last able to retire. They are both still living and are residents of Wabasha City. Their children (all living) are Fred, Charles, Mike, Margaret, Nicholas and Mathias. Charles Marx, or "Charlie," as he is more familiarly known, acquired his elementary education in the district school and subsequently attended the Wabasha high school. He was early trained to agriculture on his parents' farm, and until 1898 was associated with his father in its operation. He then started in for himself, buying his present farm of 220 acres in section 19, Mazeppa Town- ship. This property he has improved by the erection of a fine set of build- ings, including a good modern residence, electrically lighted. He is engaged in general farming, raising high grade cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is a stockholder in the Peoples State Bank at Mazeppa, also in the Huberty Co- operative Cheese Factory of Pine Island Township, Goodhue County, and was organizer of the Mazeppa Shipping Association and for five years its man- ager. With the readiness of a good citizen to be of service to the community, Mr. Marx has given a part of his time to public affairs, having served 15 years as chairman of the town board of supervisors, treasurer of Mazeppa Township two years, and for several years as a member of the school board of District No. 76. While living in Pepin Township he served seven years as town assessor. A Catholic in religion, he is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Foresters. Mr. Marx was married June 4, 1900, to Margaret Huberty, who was born October 19, 1878, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Huberty. Her parents were born in Germany and came to the United States in 1866, locating first in Wisconsin, where they re- mained two years. They then settled in Goodhue County, Minn., where Joseph Huberty farmed successfully for many years. His wife died in 1904, and he now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Marx. He is a member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife. Their children were Margaret, Jacob, John, Lizzie and Katie. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Marx have had four children, the first of whom, Dora, was born June 21, 1901, and died September 21 the same year. The surviving children are: Lucy M., born August 27, 1902; Léla M., born January 17, 1904, and Felix J., born October 29, 1905. On August 28, 1920, Lucy M. Marx entered the Notre Dame Convent at Mankato, Minn.

CHARLES MARX AND FAMILY.

731

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

William A. Clemens, a well known business man of Mazeppa, was born in Zumbrota Township, Goodhue County, Minn., March 19, 1876, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Boulard) Clemens. The father was a native of Luxemburg, and the mother of Illinois. Peter Clemens first came to Minnesota in 1860 from Madison, Wis., but soon returned to that place, and in the first year of the Civil War enlisted in the 14th Wisconsin regiment. He served three years and eight months, taking part in many battles, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. After receiving an honorable discharge, he came again to Minnesota, and took a farm in Zumbrota Township, Goodhue County, where he followed agriculture until 1893. He then moved to Bear Valley, Chester Township, Wabasha County, and in 1896 to Mazeppa, where he died in the year 1918. His wife died in 1907. Of their seven children three are now living: Frank, of Mazeppa; Anna, wife of Allie Louck, of Motley, Minn., and William A. William A. Clemens was reared on his parents' farm, and in his boyhood attended district school and the Mazeppa public school. He accom- panied his parents to town, and for a while followed the trade of a carpenter. For ten years subsequently until July, 1919, he operated a saloon, and since then has been proprietor of a billiard hall, also carrying a line of soft drinks, tobacco, and lunches. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Elks and the United Workmen. Mr. Clemens was married at Mazeppa November 22, 1898, to Edith Arnold, daughter of Andrew and Lena Arnold. Her parents, who were both born in Ohio, were early settlers in Mazeppa Township, this county, where they followed farming. Their family included seven children, one of whom, Bert, is now deceased. The survivors are: Julia, wife of James Stull, of Chester; Charlie, residing in Mazeppa; Edith, wife of W. A. Clemens; Fred, of Portland, Ore .; Wayne, of Albany, Ore .; and Glenn, of North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Clemens have two children living, Mildred and Hazel. Three others are now deceased, Marvin, Norman, and one who died in infancy.

John H. Plein, a prominent farmer of Highland Township, residing in sec- tion 22, was born in Glasgow Township, Wabasha County, June 26, 1870, son of Peter and Kate (Valler) Plein. The father, Peter Plein, was born in the Duchy of Luxemburg and came to America in 1862, locating in Glasgow Town- ship, Wabasha County, Minn., where for a number of years he worked on farms. He then bought a small farm on which he lived and which he operated for half a century, but is now retired and residing with his son John H. He was married to Kate Valler in 1869, and she died in March, 1874. They had six children: John H., Peter, Anna, Lizzie, Katie and Mike. Of these chil- dren Katie and Lizzie are now deceased. John H. Plein was reared in Glas- gow Township, where he attended district school. He performed farm labor for his father and others until 1895, in which year he started in for himself, buying 160 acres in section 22, Highland Township. He has built a large barn and outbuildings, and installed an electric lighting system for all buildings, the farm and buildings being now in excellent condition. He carries on gen- eral farming, raising good cattle and Chester-White hogs, and keeping full- blooded sires at the head of his herds. In religion a Catholic, he belongs to the Old Settlers' Association of Wabasha County; also to the Equitable Fra- ternal Union, the Knights of Columbus, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Modern Samaritans, of which his wife is also a member. Mr. Plein was first married April 7, 1896, to Lora Umbrecht, who died November 20, 1901. By her he had five children: Alvin B., born March 13, 1897; Ralph J., April 19, 1898; Floyd E., May 22, 1899; Eunice F., July 20, 1900, and Ethel, February 21, 1901. On April 17, 1917, Ralph J. enlisted in the U. S. navy and subsequently made 15 trips across the Atlantic on a U. S. transport vessel. He was discharged in September, 1919, and is now in Minneapolis. Alvin B. enlisted in the army August 15, 1918, in a machine gun company, and was sent to Minnesota University farm, later to Camp Hancock, and then to Camp Dodge, being discharged January 9, 1919. Eunice F. is now Mrs. Hubert Weise

732

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

of Plainview Township. Ethel is residing at home. Mr. Plein was married secondly, in 1903, to Ida Maahs and of this union ten children have been born, as follows: Elsie B., April 4, 1904 (died December 23, 1907) ; Erving J., born July 21, 1905; Johnnie J., July 23, 1906; Francis E., February 13, 1908; Stella A., April 22, 1909; Lawrence A., April 21, 1910; Viola E., July 21, 1911; Florence P., September 29, 1913; Arthur C., April 22, 1915, and Joseph A., June 22, 1918. All the surviving children are residing on the home farm.

William Herman, of Zumbro Township, a good type of the enterprising and modern farmer, recently retired, was born in Trempealeau County, Wis., March 16, 1867, son of William and Mary (Springer) Herman. The parents were natives respectively of Germany and Switzerland, who came to the United States in the early fifties, settling in Wisconsin, where the father was engaged in ordinary farm labor for several years. Later he took a homestead in Trem- pealeau County, but subsequently sold that property and in 1880 came to Minne- sota, locating on 120 acres of land in Gillford Township. He improved that place and carried on general farming there until his retirement in 1893, when he and his wife took up their residence at Zumbro Falls. There Mrs. Herman died in 1898 and Mr. Herman in 1903. They had eight children: William, Albert C., Edward, Anna, Lizzie, Fred L., Emil and Ida. Anna and Lizzie are now deceased. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. William Herman (Jr.) in his boyhood attended school at Zumbro Falls. He worked for his father until 1888, and then went to Tacoma, Wash., where for four years he followed the carpenter's trade. In 1892 he returned to Wa- basha County, Minn., and for two years rented the home farm of his father. Subsequently he operated other rented farms in this county. In 1907 Mr. Her- man bought 120 acres in section 14, 80 acres in sections 11 and 14, and 40 acres in section 11, making a farm of 240 acres, which he operated for 13 years. He erected all the buildings, installed acetylene lights and the James barn equip- ment, and carried on general farming according to modern methods and with profitable results. He bred high grade Holstein cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, having full-blooded sires at the head of his herds. In addition to these inter- ests, Mr. Herman became president of the Zumbro Falls Shipping Association, also of the Zumbro Falls Co-operative creamery, and treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Company of the same place. On October 1, 1920, Mr. Herman retired from the farm and is now living in the Village of Zumbro Falls, where he has bought some village property, including besides the land an old house and building. He has now under construction a new barn and garage and will soon erect a new modern residence. For 12 years he has been chairman of the school board of his district. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church, while he belongs fraternally to the Modern Woodmen of America. On July 9, 1890, Mr. Herman was united in marriage with Matilda Scholer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Scholer. Her parents were natives of Germany who settled in Glasgow Township, this county, later moving to the vicinity of Zumbro Falls. Both are now deceased, the mother having died in Zumbro Falls in 1888 and the father in Chester Township in 1895. Their children were John, Andrew, Edward, Charles, Albert, William, Christie, Rose, Emma, Lena and Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Scholer were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. William Herman have had ten children, all of whom are now living but one. They are as follows: Edward A., born August 19, 1891; Henry H., born November 10, 1892; Emma D., born March 2, 1894; Esther M., born October 19, 1895, now Mrs. George Reppe of Zumbro Falls; Lydia M., born April 11, 1897, died June 21, 1898; Ethel M., born Jan- uary 3, 1899, now Mrs. Carl Walker of Olmsted County; Alfred W., born July 23, 1900; Lottie M., born August 26, 1902; Clarence F., born April 9, 1905, and Marian I., born June 23, 1909.

Amos Fetzer, who is helping to develop the agricultural resources of Wa- basha County, as the owner and operator of a farm of 291 acres in Zumbro

WILLIAM HERMAN AND FAMILY (taken in 1911)

733

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

Township, was born in Glasgow Township, Wabasha County, Minn., Novem- ber 14, 1875, son of Perry and Martha (Speed) Fetzer. The father was a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the mother of Maine. They settled in Glasgow Town- ship, this county, in 1865, and spent the rest of their lives there in farming, the father dying in 1896 and the mother in 1910. They were members of the Baptist church. Of their ten children, nine are now living, the full list being as follows: Alice, Anna, Edward, Mamie, Amos, William, Bertha, Susan, Clara and Perry. Edward is now deceased. Amos Fetzer was educated in the dis- trict school, and subsequently worked at farm labor until 1896, when he started in for himself by renting a farm in Glasgow Township. On that farm he re- mained two years, after which he spent eight years on a farm in Hyde Park Township. In 1910 he bought 160 acres in section 31, Zumbro Township, which is a part of his present farm, he having bought the additional 80 acres in 1919. He has erected all the buildings except the residence, and is profitably engaged

in general farming, raising good stock. While living in Hyde Park he served five years on the school board of his district, and he has filled a similar position for three years in Zumbro Township. He is a member of the Catholic church and is fraternally affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Fet- zer was married March 24, 1896, to Josephine Gilsdorf, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Matier) Gilsdorf, farmers of West Albany Township, this county. Andrew Gilsdorf, the father, came to the United States from Germany about the year 1865, Mrs. Mary Gilsdorf (Mary Matier) coming to this country from France about 1858. She was one of the earliest white women to settle in Wa- basha County. At one time she owned 160 acres of land which is now included in the site of the City of St. Paul. She was first married to a Mr. La Point, who died, and she subsequently married Andrew Gilsdorf, whom she survived sev- eral years, Mr. Gilsdorf dying in 1890 and she in 1893. They had ten children, Andrew, Edward, Henry, Fred, William, George, Nicholas, Thomas, Josephine and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Fetzer are the parents of three children: Bertha M., born October 30, 1898, now Mrs. Andrew Rosch; Hazel I., born July 15, 1904, and Thomas A., born May 26, 1910.

Daniel L. Petersen, who has a worthy record of many years of hard work in the Northwest, is now living retired in the Village of Minnieska, after a life which has been largely devoted to railroad work, teaming and farming. He was born in Sweden, May 3, 1846, son of Daniel and Clara (Pel) Petersen, the former of whom was a carpenter and housebuilder. Young Daniel, as a child, attended the common school and the catechism school, and was duly confirmed in the Swedish Lutheran church. At eight or nine years of age he was hired out to neighboring farms for his board and clothes, gradually being paid small wages, until he was 22 years old when he was receiving $50 a year in addition to his living and clothing. In 1868 he came to the United States, landed at New York, and then came to Chicago, where he was employed a short time nearby at Rosehill. Then he came by rail to La Crosse, and took a boat to Red Wing, Minn., from there going to Spring Garden in the same county. A year later he went to Mitchell County, Ia., and was there married. His next em- ployment was with the Winona & St. Peter Railroad, living in a tent and mov- ing along with the progress of the work until the present site of Marshall was reached, that village then being in a wild, little settled country. In the fall of 1872 he returned to St. Peter, and there remained until the spring of 1875. Then after a summer at Minneapolis, he came to Minnieska and for four or five years engaged in teaming. Subsequently for many years he farmed in Winona and Wabasha County, all in this vicinity. Then he purchased a good farm in the Whitewater Valley, in Whitewater Township, Winona County. The home farm consisted of 80 acres, but in addition to this, Mr. Petersen owned another tract of 80 acres and another of 120 acres, all in the same county. On the home farm he built a residence and stables, and improved it in many other ways. In 1918 he retired, and built a residence in the Village of Min-

734

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

nieska, in which village he had first taken up his residence in 1875. Mr. Pe- tersen was married February 19, 1870, in Mitchell, Mitchell County, Ia., to Anna Louisa Carlson, a boyhood friend, who was born in the same parish as himself, July 29, 1840, and in 1869 came by the same route as himself to Spring Garden, Goodhue County, this state. This union has been blessed with three children, Fred, Edward and Emil. Fred was born in Iowa in 1870, married Della Harris, and works on the home farm. Edward was born in St. Peter, Minn., in 1874, married Minnie Johnson, has a daughter, Eva, born March 25, 1905, and conducts a barbership in Millville, this state. Emil lives on the home farm with his brother. He was born in Minnieska in 1875.

Fred W. Guehlke, who has been a resident of Chester Township for the last 36 years, and is one of its well known and highly esteemed citizens, was born in Posen, Germany, September 5, 1855. He remained in his native land until 29 years old, coming to the United States and to Wabasha County, Minn., in 1884. For seven years after his arrival he rented a farm, and in 1891 bought 120 acres in section 33, Chester Township. On this place he erected the entire set of buildings, and followed general farming and stock raising industriously and successfully until 1918, when he retired from active work, renting the farm to his son Charles. He now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Herman Behm. Mr. Guehlke was married February 1, 1885, the year after he had arrived in this country, to Katherine Nearing, a native of Germany, and they spent 25 happy years of wedlock together, which were brought to an end by Mrs. Guehlke's death on December 15, 1910. They were the parents of seven children: Edward E., born July 29, 1890; Lydia, born May 30, 1892, now the wife of Herman Behm; William, born in February, 1894; John, born June 2, 1896, who served in the late war; Fred, born March 15, 1898; Albert, born December 19, 1904; and Otto, born May 17, 1908, who died when seven weeks old. John Guehlke was drafted June 24, 1918, and sent to Camp Grant, and afterwards to Camp Dix. He left for France September 9, 1918, and served eight months there in the 86th and 78th Divisions, successively. He saw active service for 22 days on the front lines in the Argonne Forest and the Argonne- Meuse sector. He was discharged June 3, 1919. All the members of the Guehlke family have been trained in habits of industry and are useful mem- bers of the community in which they reside. The Guehlke farm is productive and well managed.

Louis Ferber, who is extensively engaged in farming in Mazeppa Town- ship, was born in Olmsted County, Minn., October 13, 1893, son of Jacob and Lizzie (Miller) Ferber. The father, Jacob Ferber, was born in Germany and came to America in the early sixties, locating in Goodhue County, Minn. His wife was a native of Wabasha County. After residing for some time in Good- hue he removed to Olmsted County, where he was engaged in farming until a few years ago. He and his wife are both living and now reside in the Village of Oronoco. They are members of the German Lutheran church. Their chil- dren were Philip, Minnie, William, Tena, Louis, Anna, Tillie, Albert and Bertha. Louis Ferber acquired his education in the district school and was trained to agriculture on the home farm. Until 1914 he worked for his father, and after that for several years was engaged in farm labor in the vicinity of Mazeppa. On February 25, 1917, he was drafted into the U. S. army and subsequently served 12 months in France, during five months of that time being under fire at the front. He was a member of Company I, 130th Infantry, 33d Division. Escaping casualties, he returned in good health to the United States, and was. honorably discharged May 29, 1918. In 1919 Mr. Ferber rented 520 acres in sections 28, 32 and 33, Mazeppa Township, where he now resides, profitably engaged in general farming and stock raising. He was married September 3, 1919 to Emma Mueske, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gust Mueske of Mazeppa Township. She was born April 27, 1900, in Wabasha County, Minn., and was educated in District School No. 54.

735

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

Michael Sweeny, a California pioneer who spent the last years of his life in Gillford Township, Wabasha County, and whose widow and several chil- dren are now residing here, was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, October 10, 1827. He resided in his native province until 1852, in which year he came to the Northwestern states, settling in Red Wing, Minn. Three years before, the discovery of gold in California had sent a thrill of excitement throughout the civilized world, and adventurers from almost every country were soon braving the perils of the long and difficult journey to the then almost unknown territory. Mr. Sweeny, too, resolved to try his fortune and joined in the rush to the new El Dorado, which he reached safely. There he became one of the founders of Virginia City, and helped to maintain law and order, being a member of a Vigilant Committee that hanged several notorious characters. In 1864 he set out on his return trip to Minnesota, traveling on foot across the plains to the Mississippi river, and then up the river to St. Anthony Falls, and thence to Fort Garry and Fort Colvin. While in camp on the Yellow Stone river, on his return trip, he and his party were attacked by Indians and three of the party killed and three wounded. It was in 1865 that he reached Goodhue County, Minn., again, and there soon afterward he bought a partly improved farm of 160 acres in Florence Township, which he started to de- velop. There, too, he met and married Mary A. Wortha, their wedding taking place January 9, 1868. She was born in Bohemia, Austria, May 3, 1847, and had come to the United States at the age of 18 years, arriving in Red Wing, Minn., June 16, 1855. Mr. Sweeny lived on his farm in Florence Township, Goodhue County, until 1884, when he sold the place and moved to Gillford Township, Wabasha County, taking a farm of 175 acres, with good buildings, in section 28. This he cultivated until his death on February 5, 1899. Mr. Sweeny was a Democrat in politics, and a Catholic in religion. He was a liberal supporter of his church and helped to build nearly every Catholic church in Wabasha County. He and his wife had a family of ten children, all of whom were daughters. One of them is deceased and most of the others are married and have homes of their own, but two-Mary F. and Agnes C- have remained at home with their mother, who, since her husband's death, with their assistance, has conducted the farm successfully and has gained a competence. A full list of the daughters is as follows : Helen, born January 31, 1869, now Mrs. Michael Sullivan of West Albany Township; Margaret, born February 1, 1871, who married Emory Atherton and resides in Minneapolis; Mary Ann, born February 12, 1873, deceased; Elizabeth Ann, born August 9, 1875, now Mrs. William Koester of Waucoota, Minn .; Mary Frances, born March 29, 1877, residing on the home farm; Bridget, born September 25, 1879, now Mrs. Harley Dunn of Warroad, Minn .; Agnes Cicely, born February 19, 1881, on the' home farm; Clara Josephine, born August 27, 1885, now Mrs. Hoken Johnson of Gillford Township; Rosa Florence, born April 29, 1887, wife of John Krueger of Red Wing, Minn., and Lucy Legoria, born December 14, 1893, now Mrs. Perley Cook of Minneapolis.

Marion Dewitt, a well known farmer of Zumbro Township, where he is also serving as justice of the peace, was born in Markesan, Green Lake County, Wis., March 26, 1850, son of Newland and Olive (Guthrie) Dewitt. The par- ents were natives of New York State who emigrated west to Wisconsin in 1849. The father died in 1868. His wife, who survived him many years, passed away at Napa, California, at an advanced age in 1916. They were the parents of six children: George, now in Rochester; Malinda and Alma, de- ceased; Marion, who lives in Zumbro Township, this county; James, who lives in New Mexico; and Freeman, deceased. Marion Dewitt acquired his educa- tion in Green Lake County, Wis. After becoming industrially active, he was employed two and a half years driving a mule team on government work. Coming to Minnesota in 1871, he found work on a farm in Olmsted County, at the location known as Farm Hill, and remained there two years. In 1873 he

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 121

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