USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 72
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
age of eight years. The three living are: Stella, born June 2, 1908; Clarence, September 3, 1911; and Elnora, September 6, 1913.
Michael H. Wadley, Jr., assistant cashier of the Millville State Bank, and who is also serving as village recorder, was born in Millville, Minn., September 24, 1883, son of Michael H. and Katherine (Wagner) Wadley. The parents were natives of Germany, the father being a stone mason. After coming to the United States many years ago, they resided for awhile in Chicago, where he followed his trade, also continuing to work at it in other places, and in Wabasha County after his arrival here, until he retired in 1912. He and his wife had six children, of whom the four now living are Michael, John, Matt, and Francis, John being a resident of Minneapolis and the others of Millville. Michael H. Wadley, Jr., acquired his education in the graded school of Mill- ville, and subsequently worked at the mason's trade with his father for about 12 years. For the next five years he was occupied as rural route mail carrier, at the same time acting as assistant cashier of the Millville State Bank, and for the last four years he has worked full time in the bank, having shown good business capacity, and being popular with its patrons. In March, 1919, he was elected village recorder of Millville. He belongs to the Order of Red Men, is independent in politics, and is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Wadley was married May 21, 1908, to Tressa Mccullough. She was born in Keeegan, Minnesota, daughter of John and Mary Ann Mccullough, who came to Wabasha from New York State. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wadley have four children, Michael, Joseph, Frances and Norbert.
William Springer, for many years an active and successful farmer of Oak- wood Township, was a native of Germany, where he grew to manhood and married Caroline Becker. They came to the United States about 1865, locating first at Winona, Minn., and then removing to Oakwood Township, Wabasha County, where Mr. Springer bought a farm and engaged in general farming and stock raising. He and his wife remained on that place for the rest of their lives, and both died in the year 1911, Mrs. Springer on February 18, and Mr. Springer in December. They were the parents of eight children: Sophia, wife of John Cour; Louisa, wife of Julius Muckeburg, of Millville; Louis, a farmer in Oakwood Township; Minnie, wife of Fred Sanger, of Bovina, Texas; Dora, wife of Henry Wurst, of Elgin Township; Augusta, wife of Charles Schleicher, of Los Angeles, Calif .; John C., engaged in the implement business in Millville; and one who died in infancy.
John C. Springer, a representative citizen of the village of Millville, where he is engaged in the implement business, was born on a farm in Oakwood Township, this county, November 10, 1873, son of William and Caroline (Becker) Springer. He was educated in the common school and worked on the home farm until 29 years old. Then moving to Millville, he engaged in the meat business, in which he continued here for 13 years. His next two years were spent on the farm and one winter in California. In 1916 he engaged in the lumber and implement business at Millville, and is thus occupied at the present time, carrying a full line of farm machinery, buggies and wagons. He is a stockholder in the Millville State Bank, and one of the enterprising and well- to-do citizens of the village, of which he is now president, having formerly held that position for three years, resigning it when he went to California. His present term of office dates from his appointment in November, 1919. His fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen, and he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Millville, and is now serving as its president. Mr. Springer was married, April 5, 1898, to Louisa Schleicher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Schleicher, of Millville. He and his wife have six children, Florence, Lucy, Dorothy, John, Margaret and Charles, all living at home.
Henry W. Reich, operating the Lone Pine farm in section 13, Elgin Town- ship, was born in Elgin Township, May 17, 1870, son of Herman and Annie (Mathews) Reich. In his boyhood he attended district school in Elgin Town-
MR. AND MRS. HENRY REICH
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
ship, and also the school in Plainview village. On his parents' farm he thor- oughly learned agriculture in its different branches, and continued to work for his father until 1910, in which year he rented a farm in Elgin Township on which he resided until 1912. He then rented his father's farm of 120 acres in section 13, which is known as Lone Pine Farm, and which he is now operating with good financial results, doing general farming and stock raising. He has made a number of improvements on the place, including the erection of a garage and outbuildings. Mr. Reich was married December 14, 1911, to Celia Hostet- tler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hostettler, who was born July 8, 1881, her parents being .members of the Old Settlers' Association of Plainview. The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Reich has been enlarged by the birth of two chil- dren: Anna M., born October 6, 1916; and James H., born March 29, 1918. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Reich are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Alzis Zebina Putnam, a resident of the village of Minneiska, and who for many years served as probate judge of Wabasha County, was born in the town of Florence, Oneida County, N. Y., October 1, 1829, son of Pliny and Flora (Edgerton) Putnam. He is a descendant in the eighth generation of one of the early settlers of New England, John Putnam, who arrived from England in 1634, and located at Salem, Mass. Of the three sons of John Putnam, one was the ancestor of the subject of this sketch, and another of General Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame. Judge Putnam's great grandfather on the paternal side, and also his grandfather, Capt. Joseph Putnam, fought against the British at the battle of Bunker Hill. When the subject of this sketch was six or eight years old, his parents moved to Oswego County, N. Y., where he attended school. Another migration of the family transferred his home to Chautauqua County, where his education was continued, until his parents moved to northern Illinois. In Elgin, that state, he later read law with the firm of Morgan & Joslin, and was there admitted to the bar in 1856. In the fall of the same year he moved to Wabasha County, Minn., and took up his residence in the village of Minneiska, where he has ever since remained. His record as a member of the bar has been long and honorable, and he is now the oldest living member of his profession in the county. In the fall of 1859 he was elected to the office of probate judge, and served four years, his only pred- ecessors in that office having been H. P. Wilson, 1856; G. F. Childs, 1857; and B. C. Baldwin, 1858-9. He was again elected to the same office in 1871, and served two terms, and in 1882 he was elected for the third time, after which he held the same office at intervals for a considerable number of years, and he continues to do a little probate business even up to the present time. In addition to his legal practice, Judge Putnam engaged in the insurance busi- ness, about 1860, and has since continued in it, though in late years but slightly, as advancing years have led to his practical retirement. In earlier times he took a more or less active part in local affairs of a public character, serving for a number of years as a member and chairman of the board of supervisors of the county, of which he first became a member about 1858; also as village' recorder for six or eight years. He was married in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1848, to Jane Elizabeth Fuller, a native of that county, who died in Minne- iska, Minn., in 1906, at the age of 76 years. Of this marriage there was one child, Flora Eugenia, who was born January 21, 1849, in Arkwright, Chau- tauqua County, N. Y. She was married January 12, 1867, to Gustav Edward Kading, a native of Brandenberg, Prussia, Germany, who died January 1, 1870, since which time Mrs. Kading has resided with her father, Judge Put- nam, at his comfortable home in Minneiska, commanding a picturesque view of the Mississippi River, and opposite the bluffs of the. Wisconsin shore. Judge Putnam and his daughter are among the most highly respected residents of this part of Wabasha County. They are people of refinement and education, Mrs. Kading being well versed in French, German, Spanish and Italian, and
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
their home is well supplied with the best books and magazines. They are mem- bers of the Episcopal church, although unable to attend services here, as there is no church of that denomination in the village.
Michael A. Callahan, a well known merchant of Minneiska, who for the last 14 years has also held the office of postmaster, was born in Sandy Creek village, Orleans County, New York, November 23, 1858, son of John and Mary Callahan. The parents, natives of Ireland, came to the United States about 1839 or 1840, and spent the rest of their lives in Orleans County as farmers. The mother was the first to pass away, her death taking place in 1869. She had been twice married, John Callahan being her second husband. He survived her but a short time, dying in 1872. Michael A. Callahan, who was the only child of his mother's second marriage, resided in Orleans County, New York, until reaching the age of 20 years. After attending the local schools, and for > a part of the time while thus engaged, he assisted his father on the home farm. He then learned telegraphy and for some years was in the employ of the New York Central Railroad, at Rochester, N. Y. About 1880 he came west to Min- nesota and entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co., from 1881 to 1888 being stationed successively at St. Paul, Winona, and Weaver, Minn. Then going to Montana, he worked for the Great Northern Railroad Co. for a while. Under President Harrison's administration he ob- tained a government position in the Indian service, and was thus employed dur- ing the rest of that administration, and for eight months under that of Presi- dent Cleveland. He then returned to railroad work, but was shortly taken sick, and for the next two years did little, on account of poor health. When he resumed active work again, it was as an employe of the Mississippi Logging Company, and for four years he had charge of their store at West Newton. In 1898 Mr. Callahan came to Minneiska and started his present store, well stocked with boots and shoes, and men's furnishing goods, in which line of trade he has established a reputation as a reliable. merchant. In September, 1906, he be- came postmaster and has remained a popular official. The office is located in his store. In 1882 Mr. Callahan was married at Weaver, Minn., to Eliza J. Hitchcock, who was born in Missouri, November 27, 1860, but had lived in Minnesota since she was three years old, and in Weaver, Wabasha County, since she was 18. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Hitchcock, who settled at an early date in this county. One member of the family is said to have been the first white child born on Greenwood Prairie, near Plainview. To Mr. and Mrs. Callahan were born three daughters; Daisy, September 15, 1883; Ellen Grace, October 20, 1884, and Frances, June 28, 1887. Only one is now living, Daisy having passed away August 4, 1901, and Ellen Grace, August 10, 1886. The surviving daughter, Frances, was married February 18, 1908, to Edward J. Valentine, and now resides in Rollingstone Township, Winona County. She has six children, namely: Donald, born November 20, 1909; Ruth Elizabeth, August 14, 1911; James Edward, November 29, 1912; Katherine M., February 22, 1914; Frances A., October 22, 1915; and Florence in December, 1918. Mrs. Michael A. Callahan died January 14, 1917, leaving t o her husband the memory of a happy wedded life. He is one of the leading citizens of the picturesque little village of Winneiska, the history of which he has helped to make, and few men in this part of the county are better known or more popular.
John M. Berktold, who holds a high place among the active and successful farmers of Mt. Pleasant Township, was born on a farm in section 7, this town- ship, April 5, 1872, son of Engelbert and Anna (Daniel) Berktold. The father was born in the German Tyrol and the mother in Luxemburg. They came sep- arately to the United States, Engelbert Berktold coming in 1858, when single, and Anna Daniel a little later, their marriage taking place in this country. They settled in section 7, Mt. Pleasant Township, where they established a farm, on which their son, John M., worked hard from an early age, though he
MR. AND MRS. DAVID PUGH
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
attended district school during the sessions until he was fifteen. He remained on the home farm until he was 26 years old, and was then married, June 22, 1898, to Mary Horrigan, daughter of John and Mary Horrigan, of Mt. Pleasant Township. They began home making in section 27, Mt. Pleasant Township, on their present farm of 240 acres, situated seven miles southwest of Lake City. All the land is now under the plow and is very productive, the farm being one of the best in the county. It has a fine set of buildings, the residence being a frame structure, a story and a half in height and containing twelve rooms. The barn measures 42 by 80 by 18 feet, and has a full stone basement; and there are, in addition, a tool shed, 22 by 30 by 12, with a lean-to 18 by 30; a granary 20 by 32 by 16; corn crib 18 by 40 with an 8-foot drive; a poultry house, wash- house, garage, work shop, scale house, and a steel windmill with a large reser- voir. All the buildings are in fine condition and the farm is beautifully located. Mr. Berktold operated it successfully as a grain and stock farm, having large herds of high grade Shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey swine and Shropshire sheep. For each herd he has full-blooded sires. His equipment, besides an adequate amount of modern machinery, includes 15 good work horses. Enterprising and industrious, he is getting results, and is one of the most prosperous citizens of his township. Mr. Berktold and his wife are the parents of six children: Edward Leroy, born April 13, 1899, who is working on the farm with his father; Irene Helen, born August 12, 1900, who is a grad- uate of the Lake City High School and the Winona Normal School, and is now engaged in teaching; Harry Mathias, born December 24, 1901; John Bernard, born March 7, 1905; Irma Mae, born June 22, 1906; and Frances Margaret, born September 11, 1911. The family are members of the Catholic church, attending St. Mary's at Lake City. In politics Mr. Berktold is a Republican.
David Pugh, one of the pioneers of Wabasha County, now deceased, was born in Wales, April 16, 1839. In 1856, a young man of 17, he accompanied his parents to the United States, the family coming west as far as Milwaukee, where David remained until 1858. He then went to St. Louis, in which city he resided for about four years. In 1862 he came to the river, and, settling at a point near Wabasha village, entered the employ of a steamboat company, being thus occupied until 1867. After that he followed the occupation of raftsman for two years, and then, in 1869, turned his attention to farming. Buying 140 acres in section 2, Greenfield Township, he built a log house, which he occupied for two years until he was able to erect a better residence. He also put up other necessary buildings, and for about 36 years thereafter was engaged in general farming and stock raising, or until his death on June 30, 1905. Mr. Pugh was a man held in high respect by his fellow citizens and neighbors for his sterling personal qualities, and as one of the hardy pioneers of this county who had taken an active part in its development. He was married October 18, 1874, to Josephine Bush, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bush, her parents being natives of Canada, who came to Wabasha County in 1854, and spent the rest of their lives in Wabasha village. Mr. and Mrs. Pugh had a large family, numbering 11 children, namely: Hugh A., born September 10, 1876; Mary B., May 19, 1878; Susan E., January 6, 1880; Jacob H., November 4, 1882; David W., December 6, 1884; Cora E., December 28, 1886; Della E., January 15, 1890; Anna L., March 15, 1892; James O., May 15, 1894; Margaret M., Septem- ber 4, 1897, and Owen F., August 15, 1900. Mary B. became the wife of Joseph Felix, Susan E. the wife of Reed Hovet, and Della E. the wife of Robert Braun. Anna L. died at the age of nearly 19 years on February 28, 1911. Since her husband's death Mrs. Pugh has made valuable improvements on the farm, hav- ing erected a fine residence, barn and other buildings. The farm is located on what is known as Pugh's Point, commanding one of the finest views on the Mississippi river, and in the vicinity are some handsome summer homes.
Engelbert Berktold, now living retired in Lake City, is a man well known and highly esteemed throughout the northern part of Wabasha County, of
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
which he was a pioneer settler. He was born in the Austrian Tyrol, May 1, 1845, son of John and Chassens Berktold. His parents were poor and he had but little schooling, notwithstanding which handicap he has played a worthy part in the battle of life. In 1859 the parents, with their family, emigrated to Minnesota, he being then a boy of 14 years. For ten years thereafter he was in the employ of a Mr. Girard at Frontenac, Goodhue County, and during this period, in 1866, he married Anna Daniels, who had come to this section when about seven years old, with her parents, who, like the Berktolds, were in poor circumstances. For two years after his marriage Mr. Berktold remained at Frontenac. Then, in 1868, he bought 80 acres of wild prairie land in section 17, Mt. Pleasant Township. This marked the beginning of his independent career, full of hard labor, but producing results at which he can look back with pride. For his first residence on his property he erected a board shanty, which measured only 12 by 12 feet, but which gave him and his wife enough room to turn around in, and for a few years afforded them sufficient shelter. With an ox team he broke and cultivated his land, being ably assisted by his wife, who, after children came, not only cared for her family during the day, but after supper went out and shocked grain until long after dark, and proved a worthy helpmate in every way. The little 80-acre farm proved only a nucleus for Mr. Berktold's property acquisitions, and insufficient to give scope for his superabundant energies, for, from time to time, he kept buying land until he was the owner of 480 acres, 240 lying in sections 17 and 7 and the other 240 in section 27. Each tract constituted a separate farm, and these two farms he made among the best in Pleasant Township. In September, 1906, Mr. Berktold retired from agricultural work, and bought a nice residence at No. 204 North Prairie Avenue, Lake City, where he and his wife are now enjoying a well earned leisure, provided with all the reasonable comforts of life. In 1914 he sold the old home farm in sections 7 and 17 to his son, Ted. Mr. Berktold has always been a Democrat in politics. He was too busy during his active career to take an active part in governmental affairs, but served seven years as treas- urer of the district school board. He and his family are Catholics in religion, and he can remember the time when he drove ten miles to church, sitting on a board laid across his wagon box. During those early years he and his family suffered privations, but endured their lot with fortitude, and made themselves useful as factors in the development of this section. To Mr. and Mrs. Berktold eight children were born: Edward, who is deceased; Catherine, now Mrs. John Mueller, of Goodhue County; John, who is on the home farm in section 27, Mt. Pleasant Township; Frank, deceased; Minnie, now Mrs. George Marchessault, of South Minneapolis; Theodore, a prosperous farmer of Mt. Pleasant Town- ship; Mary, who married Edward Gregorie, of North Dakota, and Rose, wife of A. Giles, of Chicago. Though Mr. Berktold had a successful career and accumulated much of this world's goods, he and his wife were not selfish, but were always ready to help others, and their generosity is remembered by many of the present residents of the county, who also had their early struggles, and with timely assistance were enabled to conquer success.
Theodore A. Berktold, a farmer of section 7, Mt. Pleasant Township, comes of a good pioneer family, and in his personal career has emulated his parents' virtues and is meeting with a similar reward. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, May 4, 1880, son of Engelbert and Anna (Daniels) Berk- told, and the scenes of his childhood are those by which he is now surrounded, except that of the old familiar faces some have passed away beyond earthly re- call, and others have dispersed and no longer brighten the old home. But in their place new ones have come which are no less dear, and the work of the world must go on and men and women must do it. Among others, Mr. Berk- told is doing his share. His mental preparation was made in the district school, which he attended up to the age of 15 years. His industrial experience has been more prolonged, and has been in that line of industry which is most neces-
G. H. RUSSELL AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY
sary to mankind, and which has been the chief factor in the development of Wabasha County and the increase of its wealth. Both as boy and man he as- sisted his father in the work of the farm, learning something every day and in time becoming a good practical farmer. The farm on which he now lives, con- taining 240 acres, formed one half of his parents' estate, and it became his by purchase in 1914. Every foot of ground was familiar and he, himself, had aided largely in bringing it to its present high state of cultivation, all the land being now under the plow, and producing abundant crops of grain and other farm products. The buildings include a good eleven-room frame house; a barn, 40 by 72 by 16 feet, with a full stone basement of nine feet; a granary, 20 by 32 by 10, together with a hog house, shop and tool shed, poultry house, and ma- chine shed, all of adequate dimensions. There is also a good equipment of tools and machinery, including an auto car. Mr. Berktold follows general farming and stockraising, keeping Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine, with full- blooded sires for each herd. With such resources Mr. Berktold is making good, and has taken high rank among the leading farmers of his township. He was married September 26, 1905, to Anna Catherine Giles, who was born in Goodhue County, Minn., November 1, 1883, daughter of George W. and Mary (Guenter) Giles. He and his wife are the parents of one child, Engelbert John, who was born July 29, 1917. Mr. Berktold and his family are members of the Catholic church and of the Belvidere congregation. Politically he is a Democrat, and served as clerk and treasurer of the school board for seven years.
Matt Binner, a prosperous citizen of Greenfield Township, engaged in agri- culture, was born in the Duchy of Luxemburg, March 27, 1858, son of Andrew and Anna (Arens) Binner. His parents, who were natives of the same coun- try, resided there all their lives. He was there educated and remained until arriving at the age of twenty years, when, in 1878, he came to Minnesota, locat- ing in Caledonia, Houston County. After remaining there a year he came to Wabasha County, where he resided two years. He then spent some time in traveling through the West, finally returning to Wabasha County, and in 1888 he settled down to farming, buying 100 acres in sections 8 and 9, Greenfield Township, which is his present farm. He has erected all the buildings on it and put up fences, and is engaged in mixed farming including the raising of garden truck for the market. In addition, he breeds a high grade of hogs, keep- ing a full-blooded sire, and is making satisfactory financial progress. For ten years he has served on the school board of district No. 5. Mr. Binner was mar- ried January 28, 1884, to Bridget Weber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Weber, her parents being natives of Germany who are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Binner have eight children, as follows: Andrew, born December 7, 1885; Bar- bara, born February 5, 1888, who is now Mrs. Edward Klug of Caledonia ; Michael, born March 25, 1890, now residing in Greenfield Township; John, born March 5, 1892, also of Greenfield; Katherine, born March 15, 1894, now Mrs. Charles A. Carrels of Wabasha; Millie, born March 27, 1896; Emil, born Octo- ber 19, 1897, and Martin, born September 29, 1901. Mr. Binner and his fam- ily are members of the Catholic church.
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