History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 123

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

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

makes him equally respected. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted at the age of 18 years in Company E, Third Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was attached to the First Division of the 20th Army Corps. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and served until the close of the war. For 15 years he was a supervisor on the Mazeppa town board, and for 20 years a member of the school board of his district. He and his wife favored the Methodist Episcopal church. Their children were Altha, Nettie, Frank H., Mertie and Pearl. Frank H. Tupper was educated in the district school. Reared on his parents' farm, he early acquired a knowledge of agri- culture in its different branches and proved well adapted to the business, in which he has made a success. After working for his father until 1897, he took charge of the home farm, his father retiring, and he has since carried it on as a general farmer, raising grain, stock and other agricultural products. He is a member of the school board of his district, and belongs fraternally to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Tupper was married May 28, 1902, to Elizabeth Hoffman, daughter of Theodore and Mary (Claus) Hoffman. Of this union six children have been born: Ezra L., March 16, 1903; Donald E., May 31, 1905; Ruby H., June 19, 1909; Kenneth R., June 8, 1911; Gordon W., July 18, 1913, and F. Gerald, September 1, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Hoffman, the parents of Mrs. Tupper, were born in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, and came to America when young people, being married at Lake City, Minn. From that place they moved to Goodhue County, and from there to Olmstead County, where for a number of years they were prosperous farmers. They were mem- bers of the Catholic church. Mr. Hoffman died April 2, 1906, and Mrs. Hoff- man, January 19, 1894. Their children were John F., George B., Frank P., Nicholas, Edward, Elizabeth, Celia and Matthew. The last mentioned, Matthew Hoffman, enlisted for service in the world war, at Rochester, Minn., May 31, 1917, in Company D, 2d Minnesota regiment, and left Rochester for Camp Cody, September 27, 1917. He left Camp Cody for Camp Merritt, June 28, 1918; was later transferred to Company F, 307th Infantry, and sailed for France June 28, landing July 15. He was over there ten months, and as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces went through the following named battles : Baccarat sector, July 21 to August 4; Vesle sector, August 11 to August 25; Oise-Aisne sector offensive, August 18 to September 16; Meuse-Argonne of- fensive, September 26 to 29. He arrived in the United States, April 30, 1919, and was discharged May 18, 1919.

George K. Baskin, station agent at Hammond for the C. M. & St. P. Rail- way, was born in Eau Galle, Wis., in February, 1870, son of William and Mar- garet A. (Kirk) Baskin. The parents were natives of the same town. or dis- trict in the Province of Quebec, whence the father came as a single man to Eau Galle, Wis., at an early date. For a number of years he was employed in a sawmill by the well known lumber firm of Carson & Rand. The rest of his life subsequently was spent in farming in Dunn County, except the last few years, after his retirement, when he resided in Menomonie. It was there that he died in 1917. His wife Margaret, to whom he was married in Red Wing, Minn., is still living in Menomonie, Wis. They were the parents of 12 children, five of whom are living: Burt, of Hudson, Wis .; Garfield, of Minneapolis; Clay- ton, of Newberg, N. D .; Ella, residing at home with her mother, and George K., of Hammond, Minn. Those deceased are Will, Thomas, Harold, Edward, Mary, Bertie and Maggie. George K. Baskin was reared on his parents' farm and acquired his education in the district school. He remained on the farm until the age of 19, and then entered the lumber trade, working in the woods in winter and in sawmills in summer. In 1906 he came to Millville, Minn., as station agent for the C. M. & St. P. Railway, and remained there two years. At the end of that time he came to Hammond to take his present position as station agent here, which he has filled for 12 years in a manner satisfactory to the company and also to the patrons of the road, among whom he is popular.

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Fraternally he belongs to the Beavers (in Wisconsin) and to the O. R. T. He has served as trustee on the village board for the last six years. Mr. Baskin was married in 1903, at Wabasha, Minn., to Lena Heise, daughter of Christ and Bertha Heise. Her parents were natives of Germany who settled on a farm in Wabasha County, near Lake City, but are now deceased. They had five children, of whom four are now living: Fred of Red Wing; Ella, wife of Peter Caspari of Lake City; George, residing on the old homestead, and Lena. Mr. and Mrs. Baskin are the parents of five children, Evelyn, Lawrence, Ray- mond, Howard and Harold. All are residing at home except Lawrence, who is attending high school in Wabasha.

Henry J. Krause, now living retired in Mazeppa, after a successful agri- cultural career, was born in Lowell, Dodge County, Wis., May 10, 1870. His parents, John G. and Augusta (Arndt) Krause, were born in Prussia, Ger- many, and came to the United States, when single, in 1866, John G. Krause locating at Watertown, Jefferson County, where he worked on a farm until his marriage. He and his wife then settled near Lowell, where he bought a farm. This he subsequently traded for a farm near Pine Island, Goodhue County, Minn., to which locality the family removed in 1875. There he fol- lowed farming for the rest of his life, passing away April 1, 1918. His wife died March 15, 1909. They had five children, all of whom are now living, namely: Henry, of Mazeppa; Emil, who lives on a farm in Pine Island Town- ship, Goodhue County; Lydia, wife of Frank Schleip, of New York; Louise, wife of Ed Adler of Pine City, Minn., and Ida, wife of George King, of Pine Island Township, Goodhue County. Henry J. Krause was about five years old when he accompanied his parents to Goodhue County, Minn. He attended district school in Pine Island Township, and on his parents' farm acquired a good practical knowledge of agriculture. In August, 1892, he bought a farm in that township and for 25 years subsequently was there engaged in carrying on general farming and stockraising, with profitable results. On September 23, 1917, he moved to Mazeppa, where he has since resided, enjoying a well earned leisure, his farm being rented to a tenant. While living in Pine Island Township, Goodhue County, he served three years as a member of the board of supervisors, and for one year as chairman of the board. Mr. Krause was married in Pine Island Township, Goodhue County, March 15, 1892, to Anna M. Lueck, daughter of William and Anna (Brunkhurst) Lueck. Her parents, na- tives of Germany, came to this country about 1868, residing in New York State three years, and then coming to Minnesota. After arriving in this state, they first located at Lake City, from which place they removed to a farm in Hay Creek, Goodhue County, and from there to a farm in Pine Island Township in the same county. There Mrs. Anna Lueck died in 1882. Her husband sur- viving her 30 years, passing away on August 10, 1912. They had four chil- dren, all except Anna M. now living in Pine Island Township, namely: William, Minnie, and Frederick. Minnie is the wife of Edward Klingsporn. Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Krause are the parents of one child, Minnie A., born June 30, 1893, who is now the wife of Fred Tewes, and lives on the home farm in Pine Island Township, Goodhue County.

Joseph Larson, an enterprising and prosperous farmer of Mazeppa Town- ship, where he is carrying on agricultural and stock raising operations in asso- ciation with his brother Elmer, was born in this township, December 14, 1883, son of Andrew and Christina (Johnson) Larson. Andrew Larson, the father, was born in Sweden, January 6, 1842. His wife Christina was a native of Nor- way. They came to the United States in the early sixties, settling in Mazeppa Township, Wabasha County, Minn. Before he took a farm of his own, how- ever, Andrew Larson worked for about 12 years as a farm laborer. He subsequently bought land at intervals until he owned 600 acres situated in sections 21, 27 and 28, Mazeppa Township. Some of this he cleared, besides erecting a set of buildings. He continued to work for others, however, until a

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

few years before his death, which occurred January 11, 1913. His wife died November 10, 1894. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their children were Ella, Lillian, Reed, Anna, Joseph, Elmer, Clara and Mabel. All are living except Clara, who died March 12, 1893. Joseph Larson was edu- cated in the district school and worked for his father until the latter's death. Having received some land from his father, he bought some more and now owns 225 acres in sections 27 and 28, Mazeppa Township, residing on the old home farm. He has improved the property by the erection of a barn, silo and other outbuildings, the residence, yard and barns being electrically lighted. The Larson brothers are prosperously engaged in general farming, feeding a large amount of stock, and are now branching out into the breeding of pure blood Hereford cattle. One of the leading citizens of his township, Joseph Larson has served six years on the board of supervisors. He was married March 21, 1911, to Clara Rucker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Jacob Rucker, of Oronoco, Minn. He and his wife have two children: Roger A., born June 4, 1916, and Lorena M., born April 2, 1919.

Elmer Larson, who is engaged in farming with his brother Joseph in Ma- zeppa Township, was born in this township, May 19, 1885, son of Andrew and Christina (Johnson) Larson. He acquired his education in the district school, and like his brother Joseph, worked a number of years for his father. Coming into possession of land on his parents' death, he has since increased his hold- ings, and now owns 385 acres in sections 27, 28 and 21, Mazeppa Township. He and his brother Joseph live together and operate their farms in business asso- ciation, being equal owners of the stock, horses and machinery. They have fine buildings, and have acquired a reputation for industry and enterprise, which qualities have placed them among the well to do citizens of their town- ship. They are religiously affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Henry Ahlers, a general farmer who is operating a good farm of 230 acres in Glasgow Township, was born in Westphalia, Germany, October 31, 1885, son of Martin and Mary (Kors) Ahlers. Given only a limited common school edu- cation, he was bound out at the age of 12 years by his father to a farmer, and thus early acquired a knowledge of agriculture. In 1910 he came alone to Wabasha County, Minnesota, where he had a brother, Herman, living. For two years he worked out as a farm hand during the summers, cutting cordwood in the winters. On November 7, 1912, Mr. Ahlers married Mary Stamschror, who was born on the farm in Glasgow Township, on which Mr. Ahlers. now lives, in 1890, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Stamschror. The first year after his marriage Mr. Ahlers rented his father-in-law's farm, situated in sections 10 and 11. In 1913 he bought it and has since made his home there. It contains 230 acres, and is provided with a comfortable residence. When it came into his possession the other buildings were poor, but he has improved the property by erecting a modern barn, 36 by 72 by 16 feet, with a full eight-foot stone basement for cattle and horses. It has a cement floor and is provided with a modern equipment. He also built a silo, 14 by 30 feet, of 100-ton capacity, a steel windmill and other necessary buildings. The farm is well stocked with high grade Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, and Shropshire sheep, and Mr. Ahlers' equipment includes a Dodge touring car. From a young man with a capital of $60 Mr. Ahlers has risen to be one of the most prosperous farmers of his township and is highly esteemed as a man and citizen. The latter he became in the late spring of 1920, when he received his final papers of natural- ization. He and his wife have been the parents of five children, the youngest of whom died in infancy. The survivors are: Margaret A., born August 30, 1913; Helen E., born June 4, 1915; Joseph C., born March 9, 1917, and John G., born September 9, 1918. The Ahlers family are Catholics in religion and members of St. Felix parish.

Anton Stamschror, a retired farmer residing on a farm in sections 10 and 11, Glasgow Township, which formerly belonged to his brother Henry, was

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born in Westphalia, Germany, March 22, 1849, son of Arnold and Gertrude Stamschror. In his boyhood he attended the common school up to the age of 14 and until 1880 lived on a farm in Germany. In that year he came to Min- nesota, settling in Glasgow Township, where his brother Henry was already living, and with him he took up his residence. Having no money, he worked six years for his brother, at the end of which time he bought the farm, which he subsequently operated successfully until 1913, when he sold it to his son- in-law, Henry Ahlers, but is still residing on it. Through industry and good management Mr. Stamschror acquired a competence and is now well to do. He was married, October 25, 1887, to Elizabeth Wolfe, a native of Hanover, Ger- many, who came to America with two brothers, Garrett and Clem. To Mr. and Mrs. Stamschror six children were born, two of whom died in infancy. The others were: Anna, now Mrs. George Hager, of Kellogg, Minn .; Mary, wife of Henry Ahlers; Charles, of Kellogg, and John, who is deceased. Mrs. Elizabeth Stamschror died on the farm in 1895. Mr. Stamschror is a Catholic in religious faith and a member of St. Felix parish at Wabasha, in which city his brother is now living.

Albert J. Klassen, proprietor of a farm of 320 acres in Highland Township, of which he is a prominent citizen, was born in Chicago, Ill., February 9, 1872, son of Jake and Margaret (Mittes) Klassen. The father was born in Russian Germany, January 23, 1837, and came to America in 1867, settling in Chicago. He was married to Margaret Mittes July 25, 1868. After a continued residence in Chicago until 1875, they came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, and engaged in farming. Mrs. Klassen is now deceased, but Mr. Klassen is still living and resides with his son Albert J. They had seven children, John, Albert J., Lizzie, Theodore, Katie, Matthew and Mary. John, Lizzie, Theodore and Matthew are now deceased. Albert J. Klassen was educated in the school of his district in Highland Township. Until reaching the age of 25 years he worked for his father, and then, in 1897, began farming for himself, buying 80 acres in section 22, Highland. On this land he erected his present residence, also a good barn 40 by 76 feet, and outbuildings. In 1905 he purchased 80 acres in section 32, and in 1915 160 acres in section 27, thus bringing his farm up to an area of 320 acres, which he is now cultivating as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has made good progress and is numbered among the well to do citizens of his township. Religiously a Catholic, he belongs also to the Knights of Co- lumbus, the Catholic Foresters, and the Old Settlers' Association of Wabasha County. Mr. Klassen was married September 25, 1896, to Katherine Maahs, and they have had six children, as follows: Elmer, born in 1897 on a farm in Highland Township, who married Viola Wise and has one child, Donald; Clarence C., born August 1, 1898; Felix, October 15, 1899; Leo, December 21, 1900; Helen, December 21, 1902, and Christina, April 27, 1903. The five younger children are residing on the home farm. The Klassen family are well known in Highland Township and the vicinity and are popular socially.

Henry H. Herman, a general farmer and stock raiser of Zumbro Township, a member of a well known and respected family, was born in Tacoma, Wash- ington, November 10, 1892, son of William and Matilda (Scholar) Herman. The father was a native of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, who came to Wa- basha County with his parents in 1880. The mother was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Scholar, who were early settlers in Glasgow Township. After returning in 1892 from Tacoma, Wash., where he had spent four years, William Herman engaged in farming in Gillford Township, but since 1907 has been proprietor of a large and finely equipped farm in Zumbro Township. Henry H. Herman was educated in the district school and worked for his father until 1917. He then rented 187 acres in section 24, Zumbro Township, a farm which he has since operated, doing diversified farming and stock raising. He expects to move to his father's farm in the fall of 1920. On September 29, 1917, he was united in marriage with Mina E. Pencille, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wil-

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

liam D. Pencille, of Zumbro Township. He and his wife are the parents of one child, William H., who was born July 5, 1920.

Edward A. Herman, who is prosperously engaged in operating a farm of 320 acres in Zumbro Township, was born in Tacoma, Wash., August 19, 1891, son of Wlliam and Matilda (Scholer) Herman. The father was a native of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, born in 1867 of German ancestry, the grand- parents, William and Mary (Springer) Herman, coming to the United States and settling in Wisconsin in the early fifties. The family moved to Wabasha County, Minnesota, in 1880, locating on a farm in Gillford Township, which the grandparents carried on until their retirement in 1893, after which they resided at Zumbro Falls until their death. William Herman (Jr.) worked for his father until 1888, when he went to Tacoma, Wash., where he resided four years. After his return to Wabasha County, Minn., he operated rented farms until he purchased one in Zumbro Township, in sections 11 and 14, where he now lives. He was married to Matilda Scholar in 1890. Edward A. Herman acquired his education in the district school and was trained to agriculture on his parents' farm. For a few years he worked for his father and afterwards did farm labor for others near Zumbro Falls. In 1915 he rented his present farm of 320 acres in sections 14 and 15, Zumbro Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising with profitable results. Mr. Herman was married November 24, 1915, to Grace Parkinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Parkinson of Zumbro Township, her parents being prominent and well to do farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Herman have one child, Ralph William, who was born April 1, 1917.

Fred F. Bade, of the firm of Bade & Johnson, proprietors of Trout Brook Stock Farm, located in Trout Brook Valley, Glasgow Township, was born in West Albany Township, July 2, 1871, son of Louis and Sophia (Haase) Bade. The parents were natives of Germany who came to the United States in the late fifties, settling at Galena, Ill., whence in 1860 they came to Wabasha County, Minnesota. Fred F. Bade was educated in Lake City, attending first the common school and then the high school, from which he was graduated in the English course in 1893. After that he taught school for nine years in Wa- basha County, spending his vacations at home. Towards the end of that period he became interested in politics, and, having made many friends and acquaint- ances throughout the county, in 1902 was elected county auditor, taking office January 1, 1903, and serving four years. While still holding that position Mr. Bade began activities in farm work. During the years 1915, 1916 and 1917 he was employed as bookkeeper in the Dwelle Telephone office in Lake City. In 1918 he relinquished all other work but farming, beginning the active de- velopment of his present place, where his family joined him in the fall of the following year. This business was begun in a small way in 1913, Mr. Bade placing "Trout Brook King," a pure blood Shorthorn sire, at the head of his cattle stock, with a pure blood cow and heifer. He operated the business alone until October 1, 1919, when William S. Johnson became associated with him as partner, and they have since continued together. Mr. Bade's farm con- sisted of 304 acres of good land in the valley, while Mr. Johnson's, adjoining, contained 162 acres, and the two estates have been combined to form the Bade & Johnson Stock Farm. Their present herd numbers 64 head. In 1918 Mr. Bade added 25 head, mostly cows, to the herd. In January the firm placed in the herd a pure blood sire, "British Lex," purchased of Leslie Smith & Sons of St. Cloud at a cost of $4,100, but this investment proved unfortunate, as they lost the bull in five weeks after the purchase. A more recent addition to the herd is "Irish Poplin" No. 899597, imported in January, 1920, which they pur- chased in March of William Hartnett, Chicago, at a cost of $10,000. This ani- mal, which is a three-year-old, sired in England, is now at the head of the herd. He took sweepstakes as champion in 1919 at Belfast, Ireland, and the first prize and a blue ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair in 1920. The firm have

MR. AND MRS. FRED F. BADE

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

also several young cows that are regarded as coming winners. Well appointed quarters for the herd have been provided on the Bade premises, and a modern stock barn .. has been erected, 44 by 80 by 14 feet, with a full stone basement and full steel equipment. It is provided with running water and is electrically lighted. The farm is beautifully situated in a fertile valley about eight miles southeast of Lake City and about the same distance southwest of Wabasha, and is in direct charge of Fred McNichol, a native of Scotland and a herdsman of long experience. In 1917 Mr. Bade began breeding pure blood Duroc hogs, and though this branch of the business is still in its infancy it has a promising future. Some general farming is also done, the product of the land being fed to the stock. Mr. Bade was married September 1, 1903, to Mabel Johnson, who was born in Glasgow Township, May 1, 1877, daughter of Knute and Laura (Steenerson) Johnson. Of this union two children have been born: Allan F., October 15, 1904, and Donald J., May 22, 1911. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bade were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church.

Paul L. Mitchell, a prominent citizen of Zumbro Township, where he is en- gaged in agriculture, being also a member of the board of supervisors, was born in this township, September 9, 1877, son of Allen and Cora (Phelps) Mitch- ell. The father was born in Maine and the mother in Chicago, Ill. They came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, in the early sixties, and were engaged in farm- ing here until their retirement in 1915, since which time they have resided in Hammond. They are affiliated religiously with the Methodist Episcopal church, and Allen Mitchell served for some time on the school board of his district. Their children were Paul, Bert, Grover, Leonard and Floyd. Paul L. Mitchell was educated in the district school and worked for his father until 1898, after which he rented the home farm for a year. He then rented the Sidney Corp farm, on which he now resides. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, breeding Red Durham cattle, and having full blooded sires at the head of his herds, and his operations have been conducted with profitable re- sults. For four years he has served as treasurer of the town of Zumbro, and was also for several years clerk of the school board of his district. Mr. Mitchell was married, February 18, 1903, to Adella Rolph, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rolph of Zumbro Township. Mrs. Rolph is now deceased, having passed away in 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of four children, who were born as follows: Wilma, December 22, 1903; Luella, February 20, 1905; Lyle, February 16, 1912, and Clayton, October 2, 1915.

Orrin Pencille, a pioneer settler in Zumbro Township, now deceased, was a native of Canada and married Mary A. Denison of New York State. They came to Wabasha County, Minnesota, in 1856, at which time there was a con- siderable influx of settlers, though but little land had been cleared, and the few farm houses were nearly all small log cabins. Mr. Pencille took a claim of 80 acres in Zumbro Township, and later increased the size of his farm to 120 acres, subsequently buying still more land until he owned 280 acres, a part of which he cleared, besides erecting buildings. He also acquired a quarter section at Bigstone, Minn. In addition to general farming, he worked at the blacksmith's trade. In 1892 he moved with his family to Plainview, where he engaged in the music business, selling musical instruments, and giving music lessons. Encouraged by his success in this line of endeavor, but desiring a wider field, he went in 1902 to Chicago, where he followed the same business until 1907. He then sold his Chicago interests and returning to Minnesota, took up his residence in Rochester, where he died in the same year. He had been a widower for eight years, his wife having passed away in December, 1899. They were members of the Methodist church. Their children were William D., Annie L., Ida, Nettie, Carrie, Grace E., and Catherine A., of whom William, Annie and Grace are now the only survivors.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 123

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