History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 68

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

day, and they made gradual progress toward a better condition. After living on the farm a few years Mr. Hampel built a frame house, and later substantial barns and outbuildings were erected by him. During the first two years of their pioneer life the family were without wheat bread, but had to depend on corn and buckwheat as their staple breadstuffs, but in time they enjoyed an abundance of everything, raising all the principal crops on the farm, in addi- tion to stock, and becoming prosperous and respected. In 1877 Mr. Hampel suffered a bereavement in the death of his wife, whom he survived for years, passing away in 1884. Eight children had been born to them, but two of whom, however, reached maturity, namely, Ferdinand, now residing in Elgin village, and Christina, who married Henry Schenkel, and went to Groton, Dakota (now South Dakota). The family were members of the Lutheran church.

Ferdinand Hampel, manager of the Elgin Co-operative Creamery, is a man whose present occupation is but the culmination of a long career of practical achievement in the realms of agriculture, business and politics. He was born in Vienna, Austria, September 16, 1843, son of Joseph and Marie (Prince) Hampel, and was there a boy of about seven years when in 1850 he accompanied his parents to the United States. His first English education was acquired in the public school of Coshocton County, Ohio, where the family remained for some years, operating a farm. In the fall of 1856 migration was made to Min- nesota, and during the following winter, while his father was working as a teamster, young Ferdinand occupied a position as clerk in a hotel, earning money to aid his parents get started on a farm. The start was made in the spring of 1857, the land chosen lying in section 6, Elgin Township, Wabasha County. This he helped his father to clear, cultivate, develop, and supply with the necessary buildings. In 1867 he became owner of a part of the farm on which there were no buildings, and he therefore had to make a beginning for himself by erecting a log shanty and some straw sheds. This was soon done, and he then proceeded with other improvements. After a while he became manager of the home farm, and after his father's death its owner. In time he enlarged its area to 400 acres, all in section 6; also built a fine modern farm residence, and two large and well equipped barns, one 34 by 46 feet, and the other 34 by 64 feet, as well as a chicken-house, granary and machine-shed. All this work was well and thoroughly done, and Mr. Hampel was recognized as one of the most enterprising and successful farmers in the township, and also one of its foremast citizens in general reliability and grasp of public affairs. In 1883 he was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature, in which he served from 1884 to 1886. After following diversified farming until 1913, Mr. Hampel retired and purchased his present residence in the village of Elgin, where he has since made his home. He still owns 240 acres of his farm, which he rents to a tenant; the other 160 acres he gave to his sons, Joseph and Edwin. It was he, with six others, who organized the Elgin Co-operative Creamery Association, and he has been manager of the plant for the last five years. For 26 years he was vice president. of the Rochester Farmers Mutual Fire Insur- ance Co., and for the past ten years he has been its president. For many years he was a member of the Elgin town board, serving ten years a chairman, and he was also for a long time a member of the school board. Such long and varied service gives evidence both of ability and reliability, qualities which his fellow citizens have recognized belong to him in a high degree. Religiously he is affiliated with the Lutheran church. Mr. Hampel was united in marriage July 4, 1867, with Augusta Wendorf, who was born in Prussia, near the city of Culberg, October 6, 1850, and who came to the United States in 1862. After a happy married life of 45 years, she passed away on the farm March 12, 1912, leaving the memory of a lovable Christian woman who was faithful in all the duties of life. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hampel, as follows: Joseph, born January 22; 1870, now residing at home; Clara, born August 11,.

MR. AND MRS. HERMAN DREES

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1872, who was married November 25, 1897, to Walter Hein, and now resides at Braham, Minn .; Edwin E., born March 13, 1874, who married Louise Benike, and is now a farmer in Farmington Township, Olmsted County, Minn .; Bertha, born March 19, 1876, who was married September 8, 1898, to Max Hein, and resides in Elgin; Adella, born March 1, 1883, who was married October 25, 1915, to Albert A. Smith, and is now living in Clearwater, Florida; Walter F. A., born March 15, 1886, now residing in Elgin Township, who married Anne Hofmann on March 26, 1914; Elmer B., born August 20, 1889, who was mar- ried March 16, 1915, to Clara B. Fahrman, and is now living at Viola, Minn .; Ella, born June 29, 1891, who was married. March 26, 1914, to Henry Hofmann, and is residing in Farmington Township, Olmsted County; Erma, born Decem- ber 22, 1893, who was married October 2, 1916, to John Hofmann, and lives at Viola; Paulina, born April 27, 1881, who died November 5, 1895; and two others who died in infancy. Such is the record, briefly narrated, of one of the prominent families of this county, typifying the qualities of manhood and womanhood which have made it what it is-one of the foremost in wealth and agricultural development.

Herman Drees, who after an active career of forty years or more in this county, has arrived at prosperity by the hard but ready road of agricultural activity, was born in Hanover, Germany, July 14, 1848, son of Henry and Mary (Williams) Drees. His parents were farmers who lived and died in their native land. There Herman also remained until 1875, attending school to the age of 14, and out of school hours being obliged to work, with little leisure for play. When he was 27 years old letters received from a brother, Benedict, who had emigrated to Nova Scotia, contained such a glowing account of this country that he resolved to emigrate also, and accordingly in 1875 he set out, landed in Baltimore, and came direct to Wabasha County. Here for six or seven years he worked as a farm hand, being mainly employed in grubbing. Dur- ing this time he saved most of his earnings, and was finally able to buy 80 acres of land on Zumbro Bottoms, back of Wabasha. In about a year he sold that tract, and for six years or more subsequently was engaged in the saloon business at Wabasha and Reed's Landing. In 1880 he returned to farming, buying his present farm of 180 acres in section 23, Pepin Township, four and a half miles west of Wabasha. The land was but slightly improved, most of it being in timber, and Mr. Drees began operations by erecting a small board house, in which he lived for some years. His subsequent career has been similar to that of other hard-working and successful farmers, and he has today a well developed farm, with a good two-story frame house, a barn 36 by 56 by 14 feet, with full stone basement, and other substanial buildings, including a tool shed, corn crib, machine shop and poultry house. He engaged in gen- eral farming, finding a ready market for all his produce, and continued active work until several years ago, when he turned over the management of the farm to his son, Bernhard, though still residing thereon. Mr. Drees was mar- ried in 1883 to Mary Jennings, daughter of Henry and Helen Jennings, and a native of Hanover, Germany, their wedding taking place at Wabasha, to which place she, with her sisters, Theresa and Helen, had come in 1882. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Drees: Paul, born at Reed's Landing in June, 1884, died in infancy ; John, born at Reed's Landing June 1, 1885, who is a farm laborer residing at home; Emma, born September 10, 1887, who is now Mrs. Anton Voskar, of Arkansaw, Pepin County, Wis., and has two chil- dren, Dorothy and Marcella; Bernhard, born April 30, 1891, who is operating the home farm; Mary, born March 15, 1895, who died May 3, 1919; and Clara, born August 3, 1899, who resides at home with her parents. The family are of the Catholic faith and members of St. Felix parish at Wabasha. In politics Mr. Drees is a Republican. Though not active in public affairs, he is a well known and respected citizen.

Ralph Waldron Huffman, M. D., who, after service in the recent World War, has established himself in the practice of his profession at Elgin, was

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born at Barth, Ontario, Canada, September 27, 1873, son of Cyrus and Angeline (Miller) Huffman, who also were Canadians by birth. The mother died in 1875, but the father is still living at Barth. Ralph W. Huffman was graduated from the Napanee high school, of Ontario, in the class of 1897. He then entered Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of 1899. The next eighteen months of his life were spent in Nicaragua, Central America, where he was engaged in the practice of medi- cine. In 1901 he came to Minnesota, locating at Georgetown, Clay County, where he followed his profession for four years. Then for two and a half years he followed it in Chatfield, Fillmore County, and for three years sub- sequently in Stewartville, Olmsted County. A sense of duty to his native land then caused him to return to Canada, where he entered the Canadian army as captain in the medical corps, and in that capacity he spent eight months on transports, crossing over to England four different times. Having escaped the submarines and other dangers, and with an enlarged and varied experience, his service came to an end, and he was honorably discharged September 11, 1919. He then came directly to Elgin, where he is already enjoying a lucrative prac- tice in medicine and surgery. He is a member of the Olmsted County Medical Society and of the State Medical Association, also of the Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Joseph Gosse, who during his span of life in Wabasha County made a good record as a successful agriculturist and reliable and useful citizen, was born in Hanover, Germany, December 23, 1850, son of Bernhard and Caroline (Rumke) Gosse. The father was a small farmer in Germany, and he and his wife has nine children : Christine and Theresa, who are still living in Germany; Joseph, the subject of this sketch; Henry, of Greenfield Township; Mary, now Mrs. August Schutch, of Greenfield Township; Josephine, wife of Fred Welter, of Crookston, Minn .; Bernhard, deceased; and Clemens and August of Waba- sha city. Joseph Gosse, who attended school in his native land, resided there until attaining his majority. Then in 1871 he came to the United States, locat- ing first in St. Cloud, Minn., where his grandparents on his mother's side then resided. His occupation for seven or eight years after arriving in this country was that of a farm hand. Durng that time he saved his money, and in 1880 came to Wabasha County and bought 160 acres of partly improved land on Pepin Hill, in section 23, Pepin Township. The location was four and a half miles west of Wabasha city and near Reed's Landing, which at that time was a lively place. The buildings on the place were small and unimportant, and the work o f developing a good farm lay before him. It was a task for which he was suited. He was industrious and frugal, and at once set to work. The task took time but was gradually accomplished. The neighbors saw first one new building then another go up, the cultivated acres increased, the land was fenced, cattle and other stock multiplied, and Mr. Gosse took his place among the well to do citizens of his township, and was respected for his achieve- ments, as for his personal character. All this was not accomplished alone, for Mr. Gosse had the aid of a good wife, who did her full part in looking af ter the affairs of the household and rearing a family of children, who as they grew up became useful to their parents. Mrs. Gosse was in maidenhood Catherine Kennebeck, daughter of Bernhard and Letta Kennebeck, of Big Waumandee, Buffalo County, Wis., and was born August 15, 1863. They were married June 19, 1883, and lived together in happy wedlock for nearly 32 years, when death broke the bonds that united them, and Mr. Gosse passed to the higher life on April 19, 1915. His remains were laid to rest in St. Felix cemetery at Wabasha, he and his family being faithful Catholics and long members of St. Felix' parish. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gosse, namely: Mary, March 21, 1885; Bernhard, May 15, 1887; Caroline, August 20, 1889; Frank, July 1, 1891; Anthony, June 21, 1893; Theodore, January 28, 1897; Lizetta, March 6, 1899; Joseph, May 28, 1901; and Louis, October 28, 1903. Mary is

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now Mrs. William Tritchler, and has three children, Myrtle, Ervin and Cath- erine. Bernhard married Maude Preston, who is a farmer near Bearman, N. D., and has two children, Mary and Joseph. Caroline is the wife of George Bruegger, a farmer near Bowman, N. D. Frank, who is farming near Bear- man, N. D., married Lottie Seybold, and has a son named Estell. Anthony is working the home farm for his mother. Theodore is a bridge builder in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and resides at home when not working far away. He was drafted October 24, 1918, sent to Camp Forrest, Georgia, and discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa, January 3, 1919. Lizetta, Joseph and Louis are residing at home with their mother, the two youngest attending St. Felix school.

Matthew Arens, a member of the firm of McDonough & Arens, general merchants of Kellogg, is one of the 'live business men of this thriving com- munity, and a citizen held in high esteem. He was born in Greenfield Town- ship, Wabasha County, December 29, 1893, son of John and Amelia (Weber) Arens. The father was a native of the Duchy of Luxemburg, and the mother of Baden-Baden, Germany. On coming to Wabasha County they took land in Greenfield Township, where they are now living on a 160-acre farm, engaged in general. agriculture and stock raising. They are the parents of five children, all now living in Wabasha County, namely : Emil, Barbara, Michael, Margaret and Matthew. Matthew Arens was brought up on his parents' farm and in his boyhood attended both the parochial and district schools. While attend- ing school in Wabasha he worked in his brother's store there. Subsequently he became clerk for John Costello & Co., with whom he remained four years. In 1916 he entered into his present business as a partner with James Mc- Donough, and is now in the full tide of a prosperous career as one of the leading merchants of Kellogg, the firm handling all the various kinds of goods forming the stock of an up-to-date general store. Mr. Arens was married No- vember 7, 1916, to Bessie Odell, daughter of Bert and Margaret Odell, of Kel- logg. He and his wife have one son, Matthew Odell. Mr. Arens and his family are members of the Catholic church, and he belongs also to the Knights of Columbus. He is known far and wide as a successful merchant, a good citizen and a true American.

Edward M. York, a pioneer of Hyde Park Township, who died in 1897, at the age of 75 years, was born at Webster, Me., January 6, 1823, son of John and Eliza York. The early ancestors of the family on the paternal side were of English and Irish blood, and came to America at an early day from England. On the maternal side the ancestry was Scotch and Welch, and one or more were numbered among the Mayflower's passengers who landed at Plymouth, Mass., in 1620. At a later date the York family settled in Maine, where they were established for several generations. In 1855 the brothers moved to Minn- esota, viz., William G., Isaac J. and Edward M., and located on farms in Wa- basha County, and without doubt members of this family served in both the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War. Edward M. York was educated in the common schools of the old Pine Tree State and spent his youth on his parents' farm. In 1851 he removed to New Hampshire, where he remained until 1855. He then emigrated west to Wabasha County, Minn., settling on section 31, Zumbro Township, in what is now Hyde Park, the location being four miles northeast of Hammond. There he owned 200 acres of land, and became a prominent citizen, serving for some years as assessor, and for 30 years as supervisor. Politically he was a Democrat. Mr. York married Mary Sinclair, whose parents were natives of Maine, and of this union were born nine children. Three of the children, Jennie L., Isaac and Arthur, died previous to 1884, but the others are still living, namely: Edward N., of Hammond; Dora Ann, wife of Ole H. Olson, of Hammond; Minta, widow of M. J. Muldoon, formerly a grain buyer of Hammond; Elnora L., wife of Charles Wading, of Hammond; Lorinda A., wife of Frank Lawson, residing in Goodhue County; and Estella A., wife

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of Frank A. Parker, living on a farm three miles south of Goodhue. The mother, Mrs. Mary York, died in January, 1892, at the age of 64 years.

Edward Nathaniel York, for many years a leading citizen of Hammond, with the development of which village he has had much to do, was born in Manchester, N. H., November 19, 1853, son of Edward M. and Mary (Sinclair) York. He was about two years old when he accompanied his parents to Wabasha County, Minn., this being more than two years before Minnesota be- came a state, and for the last 64 years he has lived within four miles of Ham- mond, the farm on which his parents settled being four miles to the northeast of the present village. After attending the district school he took a commer- cial course in a business college, but remained on the home farm until he was 27 years old. Then coming to Hammond, he entered upon a business career, starting a general store, which he conducted alone for 13 years. At the end of that time William Kruger became his partner, and besides carrying on the store they started the first creamery in this part of the county, which they con- ducted together for seven years and then sold to the farmers. Mr. Kruger re- mained in the store business for about four years longer and then sold his in- terest in it to Adam A. Funk. In the same year Andrew Haggerty, a farmer, joined Mr. York, and Mr. Funk increased the stock and erected the building in which the business is now carried on under the style of E. N. York & Co. The concern handles a general line of merchandise, including dry goods, shoes, gro- ceries and men's and ladies' furnishings. In the fall of 1899 E. N. York was instrumental in organizing the Hammond State Bank, and served as its cashier and president, being still a director. His son Walter is now cashier. Mr. York also served as postmaster of Hammond for 26 years. He was for four years a member of the county board of commissioners, was treasurer of the town of Zumbro for 13 years, treasurer of Hammond Village nine years, school treasurer for many years, trustee of the village two years, and also a member of the school board. During his long and active public career he was never once defeated for a public office-a strong testimony to the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, which is justified by his record. Both in his busi- ness and public career he has given the best that was in him to the matter at hand, never sparing himself when there was work to be done, and his efforts have had beneficial and permanent results. For all these things he is re- spected by his fellow citizens, while his social qualities have also made him personally popular. Edward N. York was married at Alma, Wis., in May, 1882, to Amelia Dodsall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dodsall, the parents being natives of Germany. Of this marriage have been born nine children: Ella, now the wife of Alfred L. Schuchard, a farmer of Hyde Park Township; Walter E., cashier of the Hammond State Bank; Earl, a traveling salesman; Harry, em- ployed in his father's store, who enlisted in the infantry and served 17 months in France during the recent world war; Francis, a boy possessing musical talent, which he is cultivating; Herbert O., who also enlisted for service in the recent war and was stationed in Tennessee; Raymond, manager of the local telephone company; Ernest, who is in the confectionery business in Ham- mond, and Arleigh, who is residing at home.

Walter £. York, son of Edward N. and Amelia (Dosdall) York, was born in Hammond, Minn., March 22, 1886. His education was acquired in the village school and at Rochester Business College. He subsequently worked for four years in his father's store. After the organization of the Hammond State Bank, he entered it as bookkeeper, and so continued until January 12, 1909, when he was made assistant cashier. On January 14, 1919, he was elected cashier, which position he still holds. He was married June 19, 1913, to Bertha Caspari, whose parents were early settlers in Wabasha County. He and his wife are the parents of one child, Dallas.

Ralph E. Graves, now engaged in operating a feed mill at Elgin, was born at Whitewater Falls, Minn., April 14, 1886, son of Washington and Minnie

E. N. YORK GROUP

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(Soreson) Graves. The father was a native of Vermont who came to Minne- sota in 1856 among the pioneers. He first settled near Lewiston, where he fol- lowed blacksmithing. Later he bought a farm in that locality, but subsequently sold it and removed to Whitewater Falls, where he bought another farm, resid- ing there for 23 years. He then removed to a farm south of Elba, Winona County, where he died in 1909. His wife, a native of Norway, whom he mar- ried in Winona, is now living at Elba. Their three children are all living, namely, Leonard S., a bank cashier; Edward, residing on a farm in Elgin Town- ship, and Ralph E., of Elgin. Ralph E. Graves in his boyhood attended school in Elba and worked on his parents' farm. He then entered the Elba mill, where he spent four years learning and mastering the milling business. In 1910 he came to Elgin and bought the old Elgin mill, which he operated for three years, at the end of that time erecting his present mill on the railroad, which he is now running as a feed mill, grinding grist for the farmers. The machinery is operated by a 20-horsepower oil engine, and Mr. Graves has named his mill the Elgin Feed Mill. He is the sole proprietor. He is thus launched on a promising enterprise and has the energy and ability to conduct it to a successful issue. Mr. Graves is a past master of the Masonic Blue Lodge No. 115 at Elgin.

Michael Costello, one of the pioneer settlers of Highland Township, was born in County Galway, Ireland, where he grew to manhood and was married to Bridget McDonough. In 1848 they came to the United States, settling first in Vermont, whence they removed to Ohio, and from the latter state to Virginia. In 1856 they arrived in Wabasha County, Minn., locating on 160 acres of land in Highland Township, which they later homesteaded. Two other tracts of land were subsequently purchased, one of 100 acres and one of 80 acres, the lat- ter of which, however, they sold, leaving their farm with an area of 260 acres. On this Mr. Costello began improvements, but he was not permitted to bring his labors to full fruition, as he died in 1879, 23 years after his arrival in this county. His wife died at the age of about 75 years in 1897. As one of the ad- vance guard in the march of civilization in this region, Mr. Costello played an important part, and when he passed away he left worthy descendants to con- tinue the work he had begun. He and his wife had in all 14 children, five of whom are still living, namely, Maria, wife of George Fox of Aberdeen, Wash .; Bridget, widow of John McNallan, and a resident of Glendive, Mont .; Daniel, a practicing physician, of Grand Rapids, Minn .; Martin J., residing in Wabasha, and John, a banker in Kellogg.

John Costello, banker and merchant, of Kellogg, is one of the live factors in the business world in Wabasha County, which he formerly served as a pub- lic official. He was born in Wheeling, W. Va. (then Virginia), in 1855, son of Michael and Bridget (McDonough) Costello. In the year after his birth his parents, who had come to this country from Ireland, joined the tide of west- ward emigration to Minnesota, settling on land in Highland Township, Wabasha County. There he was reared, acquiring his elementary education in the dis- trict school, and later attending college at Prairie du Chien, Wis. He began industrial life by assisting his father to develop the home farm, and after his father's death in 1879, continued for some time in the same manner to help his mother. His mind, however, was set on a business career, and therefore, on a favorable opportunity, he came to Kellogg and entered the employ of J. A. Schonweiler as clerk in that merchant's store. Later, after acquiring some business experience, he went to Wabasha, where he engaged in the grocery and feed business on his own account. He thus made many acquaintances, upon whom he created so favorable an impression that it was no surprise to any- body when, in 1900, he was elected county treasurer. On the occurrence of that event he sold his business and for the next four years-the length of his incumbency-devoted his time to the affairs of his office. He then returned to Kellogg and, associating himself with C. C. McDonough and Peter Weimsch-

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 68

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