USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 129
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
years later he moved to Aurora, Ore., where he bought a farm of 170 acres, which he operated until April, 1908. He then sold the farm and moved back to Elgin, Minn., taking up his residence in the village, where he is conducting a prosperous business as a painter and paperhanger. Mr. Kinitz was married April 20, 1904, to Anna Schulz. Their home circle has been broadened by the birth of three children: Irene E., born July 13, 1905; Delles F., July 25, 1909; and Vielard H., February 14, 1919. The two elder are attending school in the village.
Colin Sinclair, an early settler in Wabasha County, who was for 38 years engaged in the lumber business in Lake City, was born in Ontario, Canada, January 6, 1846. He came to Wabasha County, Minn., in 1861. In July, 1862, he enlisted here in Company G, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and from Fort Snelling went with his regiment to the frontier to take part in quelling the Sioux uprising. In November, 1864, he returned to Fort Snelling and was sent to Murfreesboro, Tenn., soon after taking part in the Scully expedition and the Nashville campaign, serving until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Fort Snelling in August, 1865, and on his return to Wabasha County went to live with a brother in Mt. Pleasant Township. Later buying a farm in Lake Township, he followed agriculture there until 1870. In that year he entered the employ of a lumber company operating up the Chippewa Valley in Wis- consin and remained with them subsequently until 1872. Having thus gained a fundamental knowledge of the business, he now opened a lumber yard in Lake City on the site of what is now Oaklyn Park, and this business he conducted subsequently until his death on July 12, 1910. His career was successful and he was long numbered among the leading merchants of the city. On July 14, 1876, Mr. Sinclair was united in marriage with Margaret M. Olider, who was born near Mazeppa, Wabasha County, and who since Mr. Sinclair's death has become the wife of W. B. Gordon of Lake City. The religious affiliations of Mr. Sinclair were with the Congregational church.
Leon Chester Sinclair, the enterprising proprietor of a successful moving picture theatre in Lake City, was born in this city July 24, 1887, son of Colin and Margaret M. (Olider) Sinclair. He was educated in the local schools, and subsequently took a course in pharmacy in Wisconsin. For several years he resided in La Crosse, taking up his residence there in 1907. Three years later, in July, 1910, his father, proprietor of a lumber business in Lake City, died, and Leon C. and his brother Earl subsequently conducted the business together until 1914, when they sold it. Earl then engaged in the grocery business in Lake City, and for two years Leon worked for him as clerk. In 1916 the sub- ject of this sketch entered into the moving picture business in Lake City, and since that time has been proprietor of a theatre on the corner of Lyon avenue and Main street. Mr. Sinclair is a York Rite Mason, and has advanced in the order as far as the Commandery, being also a noble of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows, in which order he has passed through the chairs. Politically he is a Republican. On October 9, 1911, he was united in marriage with Maude Cook, daughter of Edward and Mary Cook, of La Crosse, Wis.
Henry Roschen was born in Hanover, Germany, and there married Kath- erine Detjen. He worked hard as a carpenter, established his little home, and reared four sons, Louis H., Christian, Diedrich and John. In 1885 the eldest son, Louis H., came to America, followed the year later by the next son, Chris- tian. In 1890 these two young men sent for the parents and the other two sons. Upon arriving here, the parents settled on a farm in Goodhue County, this state. In 1901 they came to Lake City, and here Henry Roschen worked at his trade as a carpenter. He died April 23, 1915. His wife died December 9, 1917. Of the four sons, Louis H. and Diedrich are farming in Mt. Pleasant Township, this county. Christian lives retired in Lake City after farming many years in Florence, Goodhue County. John is a Lake City merchant.
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John Roschen, energetic representative of the business interests of Lake City, is junior partner in the firm of Kemp & Roschen, general merchants. He was born in Hanover, Germany, June 21, 1876, son of Henry and Katherine (Detjen) Roschen. He received his early education in Germany, and in 1890 came to America with his parents and his brother, Diedrich, two other broth- ers, Louis H. and Christian, having preceded him here. The family settled in Goodhue County, where John started farm work. To better perfect himself in English, he attended rural school for two winters. However, he had little time for study, for he not only had his own way to make in the world, but also to pay his brother Louis for money advanced to pay his passage here. In 1893 the subject of this sketch started work for Michael O. Kemp in his general store. In 1898 he left this employ and became a clerk for H. A. Young & Co., also of Lake City. In 1902 he bought an interest in the Kemp store, and the firm became Kemp, Roschen & Co. In 1914 he became an equal partner and the firm has since been conducted under the name of Kemp & Roschen. Mr. Roschen is one of the substantial, prosperous men of the community, and is taking his part in everything that tends toward the best interests of the city and county. During the World War he was active in the various patriotic and financial drives. Mr. Roschen was married May 18, 1904, to Alvina L. Luth, daughter of Harvey W. and Anna (Brinkhorst) Luth, of Florence Township, Goodhue County. She was born on the home farm January 23, 1881, and received her education in the schools of her neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Roschen are the parents of four children : Harry Louis, born April 4, 1905; Rollie Carl, May 15, 1906 Esther Sophia, May 19, 1910; and Fritz Paul, October 2, 1913. The family faith is that of St. John's Lutheran congregation of Lake City.
August C. Mussell, who owns and operates a farm of 150 acres, was born in Quincy Township, Winona County, December 12, 1889, son of Fred and Mary (Drinkhorn) Mussell. The father was born in Germany and the mother in Winona County, Minn. They are now farming in Whitewater Township, that county. It was in the rural schools of Winona County that August C. Mussell acquired his education. Until he was 23 years old he remained on his parents' farm, where he acquired a good practical knowledge of agriculture in its dif- ferent branches. In 1912 he started in for himself, buying his present farm in section 12, Plainview Township. To the original improvements he has added a garage and hen house and has brought the place into excellent condition. He successfully practices general farming, keeping grade cattle and other good stock, and raising the usual grains and farm products, with profitable results. On April 11, 1912, Mr. Mussell was united in marriage with Ella Matthees, who was born in Winona County, Minn., March 10, 1890. Two children are the issue of this marriage: Aline A., born October 31, 1913; and Raymond A., born February 26, 1918. Mr. Mussell and his family are members of the Lutheran church.
Louis Gray, a well known pioneer of Chester Township, where he is still living, was born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1850, settling near Princeton, Wisconsin. With his wife, whose maiden name was Lottie Freiheit, she being also a native of Germany, he came in 1861 to Wabasha County, Minnesota, making the journey with an ox team. The oxen proved use- ful in the work of breaking and cultivating the tract of 160 acres which they took in Chester Township. For several years they lived in a small frame shanty, after which they were able to erect a good frame house. Subsequently Mr. Gray added two quarter sections to his original tract, which gave him a farm of 480 acres. All this he ultimately brought under cultivation and he has since continued to reside here, though for some time he has been retired from active work, his son Emil operating the farm. Mr. Gray's first wife died in 1870, leaving four children, all of whom are now living, namely: Lenora, wife of Henry Schulter of Ottertail County, Minn .; Albert, of Goodhue County ; Emil, residing on the home farm, and Henry R., a prominent business man of
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Plainview. After his first wife's death Mr. Gray married Otelia Semp, a na- tive of Germany who came to this country when a young girl. She is still living on the home farm in their fine modern residence.
Henry R. Gray, a prominent citizen of Plainview village, where he is con- ducting a successful garage and auto car business, was born in Chester Town- ship, Wabasha County, Minn., April 8, 1874, son of Louis and Lottie (Freiheit) Gray, pioneers of that locality. He was reared on his parents' farm and re- sided with them until 30 years of age, in his boyhood attending the district school. In 1906 he went to Zumbro Falls, where he engaged in the hardware business, also operating a garage, and he continued there until he sold out to Alfred Klingworth and moved to Plainview. Here he is handling Ford autos, tractors, and other Ford products, and also operates a garage, keeping a full line of supplies and doing general repairing. While residing in Zumbro Falls he served that village seven years as mayor. He was also vice president of the Zumbro Falls State Bank, and served in several minor offices. As a business man he has made an excellent record, and in Plainview is living up to the reputation which he established in Zumbro Falls. In the latter place he was married, November 20, 1907, to Lydia Welkie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Welkie. Her parents were early settlers in Minnesota. They were born in Germany and were residing in New Ulm, this state, at the time of the Indian uprising in 1862, but receiving notice in time of the threatened attack by the savages, Mr. Welkie hastily hitched up his ox team, and he and his family fortunately made their escape. Many of those who were less prompt fell vic- tims in the massacre which followed. Mr. and Mrs. Henry R. Gray are the parents of two children: Maynard, born July 10, 1913, and Hazel B., born . August 20, 1909, both of whom are attending school in Plainview.
Jacob J. Tentis, a prominent citizen of Glasgow Township, owning and op- erating a good farm of 360 acres, was born in this township November 28, 1884, son of John and Katherine (Zentz) Tentis. The parents came to this country from Germany in 1860, and settling in Wabasha County, Minn., were prosper- ously engaged in farming in Glasgow Township until their death. The mother first passed away in 1899, the father dying in 1902. They were worthy and industrious people and consistent members of the Lutheran church. They 1 had nine children: Sophia, Adam, John, Della, Jacob J., Allen, Emil, Frank and Susan. Jacob J. Tentis acquired the elements of knowledge in the school of his district. Afterwards he worked on the home farm for several years and then did general farm labor until 1910. In that year he started in for himself, buying his present farm of 360 acres, located in sections 13, 24 and 25, Glas- gow Township. Here he is doing a good business in general farming, keeping full blooded Shorthorn cattle, his barn being equipped with a milking-machine. For the last six years he has served as a member of the local school board. On November 19, 1912, Mr. Tentis was united in marriage with Cynthia Cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cox of Glasgow Township. He and his wife are the parents of five children: Norman A., born September 12, 1913; Caleb F., born May 30, 1915; Beryl and Meryl (twins), born June 12, 1917; and Delia M., born July 3, 1919. Mr. Tentis is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cox, the parents of Mrs, Tentis, were born in Illinois and came to Wabasha County, Minn., in 1868, settling in Glasgow Township, where they farmed until Mr. Cox's death in 1916. Mrs. Cox is now residing in High- land Township. They had a family of six children, Cynthia, Levi, Mabel, Myrtle, Michael and George.
Ignatz Grossbach, who is prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits in section 9, Mazeppa Township, was born in Pine Island Township, Goodhue County, Minn., March 25, 1890, son of Joseph and Frances (Kunert) Gross- back. The parents came to this country from Germany in 1856 and for 19 years were residents of Wisconsin. In 1875 they removed to Goodhue County, Minn., where Joseph Grossbach took 160 acres of land and developed a farm on which
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
he erected the buildings. In 1885 he moved with his family to Mazeppa Town- ship, where he improved another farm, and in 1895 took another farm, of 137 acres, in this township, which he operated until his retirement in 1917. He now resides in the village of Mazeppa. Ignatz Grossbach was educated in the district school and the high school at Zumbrota. He was trained to agricul- ture and worked for his father until 1918, in which year he started in for him- self, buying his present farm of 137 acres in section 9, Mazeppa Township. Here he is carrying on diversified farming and stock raising and making good financial progress. His religious affiliations are with the German Lutheran church. Mr. Grossbach was married November 25, 1918, to Bessie Copp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Copp of Gillford Township, of which her parents are natives and where they are now operating a farm. She is one of a family of seven children: Ruth, Archie, Walter, Bessie, Margaret, Edwin and Iva. The Copp family are affiliated religiously with the Methodist Episcopal church,and both the Copp and Grossbach families stand well in the community, their various members being intelligent, law-abiding, industrious and pro- gressive.
John Shierts, Jr., who owns and operates a farm of 160 acres in section 35, Glasgow Township, was born in this township June 17, 1884, son of John and Susia Shierts. The father, a native of Germany, was an early settler in Wa- basha County, coming to America in the early fifties, and locating on 120 acres in section 26, Glasgow Township. He cleared most of the land on his farm and engaged in raising both crops and stock until his retirement in 1916, when he rented the place to his son-in-law, Al Boden. He and his wife have been the parents of six children : Mary, Frank, Lizzie, Katie, John, Jr., and Clara. John Shierts, Jr., acquired his education in the district school and was reared on the home farm. After working for his father until 1908, he began farming for him- self, buying his present farm, which he has since improved by the erection of a new set of buildings, besides fencing. As a general farmer and stock raiser he has met with success. His cattle are of the Shorthorn variety, which he is improving by means of a full blooded sire, and his other stock is also of good grade. Through enterprise and industry he has taken his place among the prosperous citizens of his township and enjoys the respect of all. He is a Catholic in religious faith and a member of the Knights of Columbus. On No- vember 17, 1917, Mr. Shierts was united in marriage with Theresa Plein, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. John Plein of Kellogg. She was one of four children, Celia, Ferdinand, Clarence and Theresa.
Mr. a Mrs. S. W. Hodadon
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