History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 94

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

another nearly every foot of land in Lake Township. One of his early ventures was the purchase of 80 acres of wild land in section 31, where he established his home, and on which he erected a fine two-story frame house and other good buildings, also grubbing and clearing the land and converting it into a fine farm. There he resided until a few years before his death, those last years being spent in Rochester where he owned a good house. He passed away in 1909, at which time his wealth was rated at $250,000. His wife survived him several years, dying in Rochester in 1912. They were both faithful members of the Catholic church. Their family numbered ten children: John, now living in Los Angeles, Cal .; Mary, wife of John O'Connell, a farmer of Benson County, N. D .; Jerry, who is farming near Millville, Wabasha County, Minn .; Thomas, deceased; James, a farmer in Benson County, N. D .; Catherine, now Mrs. Thomas Lawler of Rochester, Minn .; Daniel, a prosperous farmer and land owner, residing in Lake Township; Elizabeth, a resident of Rochester; William, a banker in Benson County, N. D .; and Ambrose, who is also a resident of Benson County, N. D. The children, like their parents, are all Catholics.

Daniel Harney, a farmer and considerable land owner residing in section 31, Lake Township, was born in section 29, this township, February 28, 1873,- son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Doley) Harney. His education was acquired at intervals in the district school and his agricultural training on the home farm under his father's direction. In 1899 he came into possession of the prop- erty, and now owns 700 acres in Lake Township, besides having large land possessions in North Dakota and Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. He is farming on an extensive scale, breeding pure-blooded shire horses, Shorthorn Durham and Poll Angus cattle, Poland-China hogs, and Shropshire sheep, hav- ing large herds of each. He has a good modern equipment and is numbered among the most prosperous men in Lake Township. Formerly a Democrat in politics, Mr. Harney is now a member of the Non-Partisan League. He has served in all the town offices and for a number of years has been clerk of the school board. In religion he is a Catholic, and a member of St. Mary's parish, Lake City.

Henry Fick, for many years a successful farmer of Wabasha County, was born in Mecklenberg, Germany, October 19, 1849. At the age of seven years he came to America with his parents, who settled first at Galena, Ill. There the family remained one year, at the end of which time they came to Wabasha County, and homesteaded 160 acres of wild land in West Albany Township. There they underwent many of the hardships of pioneer life, breaking their land with the aid of a yoke of oxen, living the first years on corn, potatoes and bacon, and working hard to establish for themselves a home in the wilderness. Under these conditions young Henry grew up, picking up a little schooling as he found opportunity, and working the parental acres with his father until reaching the age of 24. He then began an independent career, buying a tract of 80 acres in West Albany Township, near the old home, and about the same time, or in October, 1873, he married Sophia, daughter of Gottleib and Dora Schmidt, of West Albany. Her parents had come with their family directly from Germany to West Albany Township, this county, and had likewise en- dured many hardships in establishing themselves here. Mr. and Mrs. Fick lived about ten years on their original farm, at the end of which time Mr. Fick sold the place to his father, and bought 160 acres in Lake Township, section 34. There they farmed for about 29 years, or until 1912, by hard work and frugality developing their property and acquiring a competence. Then they remove'd to Lake City, where they resided until 1916, retired. In the year last mentioned they bought a farm near Lockhart, Minn., and are now living there with their son Henry; enjoying the fruits of their former labors. Mr. and Mrs. Fick are the parents of children, Edward, Fred C., Minnie, Henry, Alfred, Mattie and Mabel. Edward, born April 16, 1875, is now on the farm at Lockhart. Fred C., born May 16, 1877, is in the automobile repair business at Lake City. Min-

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nie, born March 24, 1879, is the wife of Anthony Lang, of Lake City. Henry, born May 9, 1881, is operating the farm at Lockhart. Alfred, born July 31, 1884, is a resident of Lake City. Mattie, born February 2, 1891, is residing at Lockhart. Mabel, born July 17, 1895, is the wife of Peter Pauley, of Austin, Minn. Mr. Fick is a Republican in politics, and for a number of years served Lake Township as clerk. He and his wife are German Lutherans in religion, and were formerly members of St. John's congregation at Lake City, which he served as trustee. They now belong to the congregation at Lockhart.

Fred C. Fick, who is doing an extensive business in automobile repairing in Lake City, was born in West Albany Township, this county, May 16, 1877, son of Henry and Sophia (Schmidt) Fick, and a grandson on both sides of Wabasha County pioneers. He was reared in Lake Township, to which his par- ents moved when he was an infant. There he attended school, and as a young man was employed at farm work, both at home and among the neighboring farmers. In 1900 he established a well-drilling business, and in 1902 came to Lake City as an employe of Bartron & Schmauss, dealers in farm implements. For two years he operated their well-drilling outfit, and then for nearly four years was in their warehouse. In 1908 he purchased the implement business of Wise & Redding at Lake City, and operated this for ten years. In the fall of 1912 he opened the Central Garage on Washington street, where he has built up a big business in automobile repairing. He has worked hard and has built up a big business, and is regarded as one of the substantial men of the city. He has a pleasant home and takes his part in all progressive movements. Mr. Fick was married April 16, 1906, to Margaret Burfiend, daughter of John and Margaret Burfiend, of West Albany Township, and this union has been blessed with one daughter, Dorothy Amelia, born October 19, 1912. The family faith is that of St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran church of Lake City.

Jacob L. Gengnagel, one of the leading merchants of Wabasha city, pro- prietor of an up-to-date furniture store, and who is also one of the present county commissioners of Wabasha County, was born in this city, September 8, 1875, son of Jacob and Paulina (Affeld) Gengnagel. The father, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1832, came to America in 1849, and in Albany, N. Y., learned the furniture-making business. In 1855 he came west to Dubuque, Iowa, from which place in the following year he removed to Wa- basha, Minn. As there was then no opening here in his trade, he engaged in carpenter work, and was thus occupied for three years, or until 1859, when he went to New Orleans, where he was living when the Civil War broke out. Hav- ing no desire to serve in the Confederate army, he seized an early opportunity and on June 30, 1862, enlisted in Company L, Third Massachusetts Cavalry, at New Orleans. He was in the service for 18 months, and was finally discharged on account of disability, having received a gunshot wound in his right elbow. In the fall of 1864 he returned to Wabasha, Minn., and established a furniture business on Second street, between Pembroke and Bailey streets, both manu- facturing and dealing in furniture. On November 21, 1865, he married Paulina Affeld, of Wabasha, and in a few years a family was growing up around them, the eldest son, Charles, subsequently becoming his father's business partner. In 1895 Jacob Gengnagel bought a farm in Cook's Valley, Greenfield Township, Wabasha County, and moved to it, leaving the furniture business in the hands of his son. After five years on the farm, however, the father returned to Wabasha. In 1900 the business was taken over by his younger son, Jacob L. He died August 26, 1910, being survived by his wife, who is still living. Their

children were: Charles, previously mentioned, who is now in the furniture business for himself at Parker's Prairie, Minn .; Katherine, who assists her brother, Jacob L., in the furniture business; Jacob L., subject of this sketch; William, who is now deceased; Dora, and Paulina, who are also deceased. Jacob L. Gengnagel, who was educated in the Wabasha public schools, early became associated with his father in the furniture business, and since becom-

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ing proprietor of the store in 1900 has continued to conduct it on a profitable basis. The present store is located on Main street, east of the post office, and is a large and well stocked emporium. Mr. Gengnagel has taken his place among the progressive and successful business men of Wabasha, and is well known through the county. He was elected county commissioner in 1918, taking office January 7, 1919. He was mayor of Wabasha from 1911 to 1916, and previous to that served as county coroner, having thus identified himself in various ways with the public business of his city and county, of which he has been a faithful servant. He is senior warden of Grace Episcopal church of Wabasha, and belongs fraternally to Waupahassa Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M .; Teutonia Lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F .; Wabasha Tribe, No. 27, I. O. R .; and lodge No. 106, A. O. U. W., all of Wabasha.

Lewis G. Graner, proprietor of Pine Ridge Stock Farm, Greenfield Town- ship, was born in this township September 23, 1875. His parents, Henry and Mary (Frye) Graner, were natives of Hanover, Germany, who came to America in 1850, landing in Baltimore, where they remained two years. In 1852 they became pioneers of Minnesota, settling in Greenfield Township, Wabasha County, where they bought a homestead right of 160 acres in section 29. Later they purchased 205 acres more, making a total owned by them of 365 acres. They improved the property into a good farm, erecting buildings and fences, and were engaged in farming and stock raising there until the death of Henry Graner on September 4, 1915. Mrs. Graner now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. George Foster of Greenfield. She and her husband were the parents of 11 children, eight of whom are now living, the full list being: Henry, Herman of Kellogg, Elizabeth of Almena, Kans .; Mary, of Greenfield Township; Augusta, of Almena, Kans .; Emma, of Eagan, S. D .; Amelia, of Waukon, Iowa; Lewis G .; William, of Watopa Township; Clara and Edward. The deceased are Henry, Clara and Edward. Lewis G. Graner acquired a dis- trict school education in Greenfield Township. He worked for his father on the home farm until 1903, and in that year bought the farm on which he has since remained, and where he is carrying on general farming and stock raising. He gives special attention to stock raising, breeding Shorthorn cattle, and im- proving his stock by the use of full-blooded sires. His barn is equipped with an Empire milking-machine, and is electrically lighted. For 12 years Mr. Graner served as town clerk of Greenfield Township, and is now serving as clerk of School District No. 28. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern Samaritans, and is religiously affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Graner was married October 18, 1904, to Bertha Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Swan Anderson, Sr., of Greenfield Township. Her father, who died August 11, 1888, was in the employ of the C., M. & St. P. railway. Her mother is now living in the village of Kellogg. They were also members of the M. E. church. Their children were: Carrie, of Verndale, Minn .; Swan, Jr., of Kellogg; Thomas, of Minne- apolis; Emma; Allen, of Superior, Wis .; Bertha; William, of Minneapolis, and John. Mr. and Mrs. Graner are the parents of one child, John L., who was born November 6, 1909.

Henry E. Bade, a man who took a worthy part in the development of Wa- basha County along agricultural lines, was born in Galena, Ill., July 6, 1863, son of Louis H. and Sophia (Haase) Bade. The father, Louis H. Bade, was born in the German state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, January 28, 1836, and was the son of a farmer. He attended school in Germany, and at the age of 17 be- gan an apprenticeship to the wagonmaker's trade, at which he subsequently worked as a journeyman. In October, 1859, he came to the United States and remained here for over two years, going back to Germany on a visit in the spring of 1861. There he was married in March, that year, to Sophia Haase, a native of the same part of Germany as himself, and in 1862 he returned to the United States, accompanied by his wife, and located in Galena, Ill. When their

T @ GRANER AND FAMILY

MR AND MRS J HENRY GRANER

MR. AND MRS. SWAN ANDERSON

MR. AND MRS. LOUIS BADE

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first child, Henry E., was two years old, the family came to Wabasha County, Minn., and rented the John Haase farm in West Albany Township. They had practically no money, but were energetic and industrious, and with the aid of an ox team they operated that farm for two years. They then bought 160 acres of wild land in West Albany Township, built a log house, and some pole shacks for stock, and grubbed and cleared the land, and it was on that farm that Henry E. was reared to the age of 11. Then in 1874 Louis H. Bade sold the place and bought 340 acres of partly improved land, though mostly bluff, in section 36, Lake Township, not far from his first place. Here he built a comfortable frame house, a barn, and other necessary structures, residing on the place until 1905, when he retired and moved to Lake City, where he is now living at the age of 83 years, and in good health except for a lameness resulting from a broken hip which he sustained in 1917, which obliges him to use a crutch and cane. His wife died January 1, 1915. They had six children : Henry E., whose name forms the caption of this sketch; Edward, who was killed in an Idaho mine; Louis, now in Big Timber, Mont .; Amelia, wife of Fred Lange, of Lake City; Frederick. a farmer in Glasgow Township, Wabasha County, and Augusta, who married James Warner of Lake City and is now deceased. After his father left the farm, Henry E. Bade took up its operation, having previously worked on it since his boyhood, and during his career as its active proprietor he made many valuable improvements, including the erection of substantial buildings for every branch of the farm work. At last his health began to fail and for three years he became more and more of an invalid, until he finally passed away April 15, 1914. He had continued to work until three days before his demise. Henry E. Bade was of quiet and retiring disposition, industrious and upright, and was a man highly respected. He was a director in the Wa- basha County Fire Insurance Company, and served for some years as township clerk. He was married November 19, 1891, to Adeline Haase, who was born in West Albany Township, this county, October 21, 1870, daughter of John and Wilhelmina (Lang) Haase. Of this union three children were born: Edwin W., born November 14, 1893, now operating the home farm; Luella, born May 14, 1896, who is the wife of Fred Stahmann of Section 35, Lake Township; and Mabel, born February 15, 1905, who is a student in the Lake City high school. After her husband's death Mrs. Henry E. Bade remained on the farm until 1917, when she took up her residence in Lake City, where she is now managing the home for Louis H. Bade.

Edwin W. Bade, a prominent farmer of Lake Township, was born in section 36, this township, November 14, 1893, son of Henry E. and Adeline (Haase) Bade. His education was acquired in the district school and he subsequently had a year's training in the Minnesota Agricultural College, which added to the knowledge he had already gained in practical farm work while associated with his father. After the father's death in April, 1914, the entire manage- ment of the home farm fell into his hands, and he has since operated it on a profitable basis, his mother for a while keeping house for him. This is one of the best farms in the northern part of the county and contains 327 acres, of which 240 are in Lake Township and the remainder in West Albany Township. Two hundred and forty acres are under the plow, and the farm is well stocked with Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine. The residence is a two-story modern frame house, consisting of an upright and wing, and the farm buildings include a frame barn 40 by 80 by 18 feet, with a full basement of 9 feet and cement floor; a granary 24 by 36 by 10, containing an elevator; a buggy shed, engine house, machine shed, and well house, and new 32 by 20 hog house, all substantial structures, most of which were erected by himself and his father. The house contains nine rooms, including bath and toilet; is wired for electric light, and furnished with hot and cold water. Mr. Bade's equipment includes a five-passenger auto car. Enterprising and industrious, he is making good progress, having a fine record behind him which he is trying to excel. Polit-

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ically he is a member of the Non-Partisan League. Mr. Bade was married in 1916 to Elsie, daughter of Peter and Mary Palmer, of Lake Township, and he and his wife are the parents of three children: Mildred Adeline Mary, born May 3, 1917; Elenore Agnes, born May 13, 1918, and Agnes Frances, born June 19, 1919. The family are affiliated religiously with St. John's Lutheran church of Lake City.

Martin W. Benn, proprietor of the Benn Hardware Co., of Wabasha, was born near Rollingstone, Winona County, Minn., Feb. 3, 1876, son of Louis and Anna (Rogue) Benn. His parents were farmers, and he was the eldest of five children, the others being: Ferdinand, now a practicing physician in Minne- apolis; Helena, now Mrs. Schmidt, of Bemidji, Minn .; Albert, who is traveling auditor for the Great Northern Railway Co., and resides in Vancouver, B. C., and Edward, of Milton, Ore., who is in the United States military service. In 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Louis Benn removed with their family to Cass County, N. D., locating on a farm near Casselton, where they remained until 1894, when the parents moved to Milton, Ore. Martin W., who was only three years old on his arrival in Cass County, subsequently attended school there up to the age of 18 years, and when not engaged with his books assisted his father on the farm. In 1894, instead of accompanying his parents to Oregon, he began to learn the tinner's trade with Herman Strehlow, of Casselton, N. D., and was with him for four years, returning to Minnesota in 1898. In the fall of that year he took employment as tinner with John Tritch, a hardware merchant of Alma, Wis., with whom he remained for about eight years. In September, 1906, Mr. Benn came to Wabasha City and entered the employ of Julius Schmidt, a hardware merchant in the Jewell Block. With him he remained for seven years, or until 1913, when he engaged in the same business for himself on Pembroke street. In 1915 he bought the stock and business of Julius Schmidt, his former em- ployer, and has since operated the concern under the firm name of the Benn Hardware Company, dealing in general hardware, and also doing plumbing and tinsmith work. A master of his trade, he is enjoying a good patronage and increasing in prosperity. For some years he has served as chief of the Wa- basha Fire Department. Politically he is a Republican, while his fraternal affiliations are with White Oak Camp, No. 2077, M. W. A., and the Equitable Fraternal Union, both of Wabasha. Mr. Benn was married in September, 1896, to Catherine, daughter of Michael Damm, of Buffalo City, Buffalo County, Wis., where she was born August 24, 1876.

Eugene S. Churchill, who was for a number of years a prosperous farmer and business man of Wabasha County, was born in Freeport, Ill., of Scotch and Dutch ancestry. He came to Wabasha County, Minn., about 1880, and for some time was engaged in furnishing brush to the government for dams on the Mississippi river, doing the work under contract. After a while he bought 360 acres of land in Greenfield Township, and began farming, erecting a good set of buildings and developing his land. While so doing he still did a little con- tract work occasionally. In 1908 he rented the farm to a tenant and moved to Wabasha city, where he engaged in business, and where his death occurred November 6, 1912. He had had a successful career, beginning with nothing and acquiring a competence through his own efforts. As a man and citizen he stood high in the estimation of his neighbors. Mr. Churchill married Emma Brown, who was born in Pepin, Wis., in 1852, of German parentage, and who is still living in Wabasha. They had five children: A son who died in infancy ; Walter, born in 1885, now deceased; Warren G., a prominent business man of Wabasha city; Anna, born March 24, 1892, now Mrs. W. S. Johnson, of Trout Valley, this county; and Reta, born June 17, 1896, who is a nurse in the Wa- basha Sanitorium.

Warren G. Churchill, a well known business man of Wabasha City, where he is engaged in the jewelry and piano business, was born on a farm in Green- field Township, this county, September 26, 1888, son of Eugene S. and Emma.

MR. AND MRS. JOHN L. FUNKE

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(Brown) Churchill. He was reared on his parents' farm and educated in the district school, which he attended up to the age of 15. He then attended the graded school at Kellogg, from which he was graduated, and later entered the Brandrup & Nettleton Business College at Winona, which he attended for five months. He then entered the employ of Beinhorn & Meier, Winona, to learn the jeweler's trade, remaining with that concern for two years and a half. After that he took a position with the jewelry firm of Blickel Bros., of Roches- ter, Minn. On November 2, 1911, he started in business for himself in Wa- basha, renting space for a jeweler's bench and a showcase from E. B. Kenefec. This venture met with success, and on August 17, 1912, Mr. Churchill bought out the stock and business of Charles Tryon, on Pembroke street, Wabasha, which he has since developed into a large. business, having a well equipped store. He has also extended his operations to include a line of musical goods, selling Edison phonographs, Raden-Bush pianos, Waltham player pianos and the Starr player pianos, in all of which he has developed a good trade covering a large territory in this section of the country. His enterprise and square business methods have made him popular, and he is now serving as president of the local commercial club, known as the Wabasha Boosters' Club. Politically he is a Republican, but places the man above the party, reserving his right to vote for any candidate whom he esteems most worthy of office. Mr. Churchill assumed the responsibilities of domestic life on February 11, 1918, when he was united in marriage with Eva Dorothy, daughter of John and Katherine Schmidt, of Wabasha City, of which place she is a native. Mr. and Mrs. Churchill are members of St. Felix Catholic parish, and are popular members of society here.

Nicholas Funke, an early settler of Glasgow Township, was born in Ger- many, and there married Catherine Leirsch. For some years he was an itin- erant salesman, traveling from place to place with his wares. In 1858 he and his wife determined to better their fortunes in the New World. Accordingly they set sail, landed at New York, took the railroad to Dubuque, Ia., and from there boarded a ship to Reed's Landing, in Wabasha County. Proceeding ten miles south of Reed's Landing, they secured 160 acres of wild land in Glasgow Township. This was in 1858. They built a small log house, and with the help of a yoke of oxen, started to break the land. Here they underwent all the hardships of pioneer life, sometimes being almost without food. The trading point was at Reed's Landing, from which Mr. Funke often brought provisions on his back. Gradually the farm was improved, good buildings were erected, and the family prospered. In 1893 they disposed of the place to the son, John L., and moved to Wabasha, where they died, Nicholas Funke in the spring of 1902, and his wife in the winter of 1906. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, all born in Glasgow Township: Rose, John L., George (first), George (second), Anna, Joseph, Clara, Louis, Clarence. Rose is the wife of Michael Jacoby, now deceased, and lives at Duluth, Minn. John L. farms on the out- skirts of Wabasha. The first George died in early infancy and the second at the age of three years. Anna, Joseph and Clara, are dead. Louis is a bank cashier living at St. Leo, Minn. Clarence is dead.

John L. Funke, who is farming on the outskirts of Wabasha, was born in Glasgow Township, this county, April 23, 1861, son of Nicholas and Catherine (Leirsch) Funke. He was reared on the home farm and attained such educa- tion as he could, being the oldest boy in the family it was necessary for him to help his parents in the summer, and in the winter it was often impossible for him to get to the school which was three miles away. In 1883 he came to Wabasha, and clerked in the store of his brother-in-law, Michael Jacoby, but in less than two years returned to the farm. Upon his parents' retire- ment in 1893 he took entire charge of the place and in time became its owner. He was most successful in his farming operations, and by careful saving and shrewd buying, he was able in time to acquire 1,100 acres, all in one tract.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 94

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