USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 33
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Albert G. Redman, until recently manager of the Farmers' Co-Operative Creamery, at Buffalo, was born at Albee, South Dakota, November 18, 1882, son of Michael and Margaret (Fri- day) Redman. Michael Redman was born in Posen, Germany, eame to America at the age of seventeen years, and located in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he met and married Mar- garet Friday. They lived on a farm at Markesan, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, until about 1879, then moved to Lamberton, Minn., in 1879, farmed one year, and in 1880 moved to Albee, S. D., where Michael Redman died in March, 1893, and where his wife is still living. The children in the family were as fol- lows: Anna, wife of E. M. Gollnick, of Springfield, Mo .; Mary,
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wife of J. A. Dauman, of Albee, S. D .; Rose, wife of Henry Mar- quardt, of Albee, S. D .; Laura, wife of Rowe Shaw, of Albee; Clara, wife of Edward Marquardt, of Albee ; George G., of Albee; Albert G., of Buffalo; Lillian, who lives with Albert G .; W. E., of Montrose; E. W., of Howard Lake; C. A., of Osseo, Minn. All the sons are expert butter makers, and all are masters in this branch of industry. Albert G. received his education in the public schools of Albee. At the age of sixteen he started working out among the neighboring farmers. At the age of eighteen he started to learn the art of butter making. He mas- tered this work thoroughly and remained until 1907. In that year he came to Wright county as butter maker at St. Michaels. Seven months later he went to Monticello, where he remained a month. It was in July, 1908, he came to Buffalo, and took eharge of the Farmers' Co-Operative Creamery. He has since continued to fill this position. In his ehosen line he has few superiors. In addition to this he is a elever business man, an affable and ap- proachable gentleman, and a splendid musician. For the past five years he has been superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school. So highly has his good judgment been regarded that he has been given a seat on the village eouneil, serving five years. In this eapaeity he has done excellent work. For two years he was vice president of the Butter and Cheese Makers' Association, of Minnesota, and for the past two years he has been president of that body, a position which he has filled with eredit to himself, and to the satisfaction of the dairy workers of the state. Mr. Redman is a member of Buffalo Lodge, No. 141, A. F. and A. M .; Buffalo Lodge, No. 183, A. O. U. W .; and Buffalo Chapter, No. 71, R. A. M. His wife is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. Redman was married November 2, 1904, at Albee, S. D., to Addie B. Hall, born in that place February 12, 1883. They have three children: Celestia A., born August 10, 1905; Ruth M., born May 26, 1909; and James II., born September 3, 1911. Mrs. Redman is the daughter of James and Celia (Loing) Hall, natives respectively of Antwerp, N. Y., and Amherst, Wis. They were married at Amherst, Wis., and from that place in 1881 came as pioneers overland to Albee, S. D., where they took a homestead and farmed for several years. Mr. Hall died in 1885, leaving three children, Egbert, of Albee, S. D., a painter and deeorator; Addie B., now Mrs. A. G. Redman, of Buffalo ; and Walter W., a farmer of Albee, S. D. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hall married G. W. Friday. They condnet a hotel at Albee, S. D. This marriage has resulted in one son, Edward Friday.
John K. Engels, a substantial business man of Buffalo, was born in West Seneca township, Erie county, New York, seven miles south of Buffalo, N. Y., July 1, 1864, son of Jacob and Mary
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(Weasy) Engels. Jacob Engels was born in Germany in 1842, eame to the United States in 1855 and took up farming in Erie eounty, New York. He married Mary Weasy, who was born in Germany in 1838 and came to the United States in 1861. IIe died in 1903 and she is still living. The children in the family were John, Emma, Henry, Lottie, William, and David and Daniel, twins (deceased). John K. Engels was reared on the home farm and attended the distriet schools. For several years he worked as a teamster and in sawmills. In 1887 he came to Buffalo and located on a traet of ten aeres, where he devoted his attention extensively to horticulture. In 1905 he established an ice busi- ness at Buffalo, and in this he has been most successful. He does a good business and stands in high favor with his customers. He is a member of Buffalo Lodge No. 134, I. O. O. F. Mr. Engels was married in 1898 to Adeline Varner, daughter of John Varner, Sr., and they have two children, Frances, born February 10, 1900, and Evangeline, born April 6, 1901.
John Varner, Sr., was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, July 11, 1834, and was reared to manhood in his native state. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted at Sandy Creek, Pa., in Co. K, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served eighteen months, being mustered out at Pittsburgh, Pa. In the spring of 1866 he started westward with his brothers. At Prairie Du Chien they crossed the Mississippi river to MeGregor, and came with teams and wagons to Buffalo, this county. This entire trip of six weeks was made overland from Pennsylvania with mule teams. Mrs. Varner and two children came later by train to Montieello. Mr. Varner bought the eighty-acre homestead of Chandler Chamberlain for $400. At that time a small granary stood on the place. The family suffered the first winter from the severe cold, and provisions were very scaree. Sometimes the family existed for days on nothing but corn meal bread. But when the spring eame, they managed to get in some erops, and with their team of oxen they continmed to clear the land and develop a farm. As the years continued, sueeess erowned their efforts, and they became substantial members of the community. Mr. Varner took a deep interest in education matters and served in school offiees for many years. In 1863, John Varner, Sr., married Frances Hiekman, born in Pennsylvania, January 9, 1844, daughter of William and Sarah (Stover) Hickman. Mr. and Mrs. Varner had eleven children: William, Minnie, Letta, Reuel (deceased), Simeon, Charles, Adeline, Grace, Francis, John and Alice. William Hiekman was of Seoteh-Irish descent, and spent his life in Pennsylvania. His wife was of German descent. Their children were: Simeon, Christina, Priscilla, Francis, Will- iam (a veteran of the Civil war), Rebekah, Sadie, Elmira, Hannah and John.
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Halvor T. Moland, postmaster at Buffalo, was born in Nor- way, April 21, 1860, son of Thomas J. Moland, who died in 1900 at the age of eighty-two, and of Mary (Halvorsen) Moland, who died in 1870, at the age of forty-three. Halvor T. Moland was reared in Norway, and graduated from the Military School at Kristiansand in that country. In 1881 he came to America and located in Mower county, Minnesota, where he worked for some three years. It was in 1884 that he came to Wright eonnty and bought land in seetion 17, Silver Creek township, which he im- proved and developed. In 1902 he sold out and came to Buffalo, where he devoted his time to drainage engineering and surveying. From the time of his arrival until August 24, 1914, he was county surveyor and drainage engineer. On the latter date he became postmaster of Buffalo. Mr. Moland was married October 30, 1894, to Aliee M. Bryant, born October 25, 1875, daughter of Charles H. and Belinda Bryant, farmers of Silver Creek town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Moland have had three children: Emily M., born April 17, 1896; now a junior in Carleton College, North- field, Minn .; Thomas O., born October 13, 1900, now attending high school; and James I., born November 3, 1904, and died September 8, 1905.
Martin F. Lowe, D. D. S., a leading professional man and former mayor of Buffalo, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, January 5, 1864, son of Thomas and Barbara (Cleland) Lowe, of English and Scottish deseent respectively. In the family there were two children, Martin F. and John W. The career of Martin F. Lowe has been typical of the many Ameriean youths who struggle to obtain an education, and then in after years reach the heights of success and comfort. First he passed through the distriet schools of his neighborhood, and then studied in the high school at Columbus, in the same state. In 1885 he came to Min- nesota, and secured employment three years as a bookkeeper in Minneapolis. Then he taught school one year in Wright eounty and one year in Martin county. Long before this he had de- eided what profession he was to make his serious life work. Consequently, in 1891 he entered the dental department of the University of Minnesota, and was graduated in 1894. Buffalo appealed to him as a suitable place for residence and business, and he consequently opened his office here. IIe has a well- equipped set of offices and enjoys the confidenee of a large elien- tele. For four years he served proficiently as president of the village council of Buffalo. He is affiliated with the Masonie body at Buffalo. Dr. Lowe was married in 1903 to Ada M. Ponsford, daughter of William Ponsford, the Wright county pioneer, and they have two children, Doris Janet and Mary Elizabeth.
Fritz Sternberg, popular and successful merchant, proprietor of the Daylight Store, the largest establishment of its kind in
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Buffalo, was born in East Prussia, Germany, April 3, 1860, son of John George and Caroline (Krink) Sternberg. By his first marriage, John George Sternberg had three children, Wilhelmina, Angusta and Magdaline. By his second marriage he had five children, Leopoldine, Mary, Ida, Bertha and Fritz. Of these children, Fritz was the only one to come to America. He was edneated in his native country, and in 1881 came to St. Panl, where he worked five years for Bernard Mitehell. After this with a partner, under the firm name of Rothbauer & Sternberg, he had a groeery store on West Seventh street, St. Paul, for nearly seven years. After selling out his interests in 1891, he took an extended trip baek to his old home in Germany, spending a considerable period in visiting his relatives. Upon his return in 1892 he engaged in business in Duluth for two years. In 1895 he came to Buffalo and opened a small store. About 1897 he purchased his present place, where he carries a large line of general merehadise. He has a large store, his goods are of the best, he is known far and wide for honesty and square dealing, and he has been unnsnally prosperous and sneeessful. Mr. Stern- berg married lda Marshall, a native of Wright county, daughter of Gotfried Marshall, the pioneer, and they have four children, Fred, Ida, Lydia and Abigail.
Herman A. Nagel, a popular agrienlturist, residing on the outskirts of the village of Buffalo, was born in Roekford town- ship, section 18, December 18, 1867, son of Eberhardt F. and Louisa (Keherbach) Nagel, the pioneers, who are appropriately mentioned elsewhere. He was edneated in the district schools, and remained with his parents until their death. In 1898, when the old homestead was sold, he moved with his parents to the forty-aere traet partly in the village of Buffalo, on which he still resides. When he came to the place only four aeres had been broken. It is now one of the prettiest small farms in the county. Its well improved acres yield abundant erops, and its substantial buildings overlook beautiful Buffalo lake. Mr. Nagel makes a specialty of good stoek and Plymouth Roek chiekens, and his operations have been unusually snecessful. He is one of the prominent men of the community, and before coming to Buffalo served as one of the officers of the school district in Rockford which his father helped to organize and in which he himself attended school as a boy. In Buffalo he has been a member of the board of education sinee 1907. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and of the M. W. A., while his wife is a member of the Eastern Star and the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Nagel was married July 2, 1895, to Mary Steinhilber, born in Roekford township, the daughter of George Steinhilber, who was born in Germany, came to Rockford in the early days, and died when his danghter was a small ehild. Mr. and Mrs. Nagel have three
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bright children: George, born October 22, 1897, who is follow- ing in his father's footsteps in his interest in farming, and Edward and Mary, twins, born July 30, 1906, who are in their third year in school, young Edward being named from his unele, Edward M. Nagel, a prominent publie man.
Peter J. Marsh, one of the best known men in Wright county, was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, New York, May 2, 1851, son of Peter Smith and Mary (Swain) Marsh, and grandson of Nicholas Marsh and Horace and Catherine Swain. He was reared to boyhood in his native state, and at the age of twelve was taken to LaGrange county, Indiana. When he was sixteen he started out in life for himself as a farmer. In 1874 he was married, and in 1876 he and his young wife, with their daughter, Blanche M., now widow of Albert Denney, started westward with a team of horses, a pioneer wagon, and their household goods, to establish for themselves a home in the wilderness. Their intention was to locate in Wisconsin, but not liking the country which they looked over in that state they continued on their way until they reached Wright county, Minnesota. Thus, after a tedious journey of thirty days, they found themselves among strangers in a new country, with but $20 in their pos- session. But with courage sustained by their great faith in the future they set about to overeome difficulties and win success. They rented a small place, and Mrs. Marsh looked well after the household affairs, while Mr. Marsh threshed and worked at such labor as he could find to do. The grasshoppers partly destroyed the crops, and the severe pineh of poverty was felt throughout the county. Later better times came, and the family prospered. In the fall of 1878 they bought forty aeres of wild land in section 16, Rockford township. No buildings had been ereeted, and no elearings had been made. Mr. Marsh eleared a small traet, erected a log eabin, and with his wife and two children, Blanche M. and Frank, took up his home there. In this log building, 16 by 26 feet, all the other children were born. Thus settled in a permanent home, Mr. Marsh set at work to establish his fortunes. Entirely by his own efforts he eleared and developed the land and brought it under cultivation. To the original traet he added eighty aeres, which likewise had to be eleared. But he was hard-working and industrious, and in time he had transformed the wilderness into a fertile farm. In the barn-yard was erected the only octagon-shaped barn in the country, an innovation which has ever since justified the faith which Mr. Marsh put in its utility. Other buildings were also ereeted, good fenees built, modern machinery purchased, and conveniences installed. Dur- ing these years the family gained a most admirable place in the community. Many children were reared, and out of the house- hold eame seven danghters to teach in the public schools of the
MR. AND MRS. PETER J. MARSII
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county as well as three sons to take their share in its work and progress. Mr. Marsh early took a lead in the affairs of the com- munity, and his genial disposition, his helpful spirit, and his trained ability made him a valuable asset to the township. For nearly two decades he held the office of school clerk, and for one term he assessed the township. lle is now a member of the Buffalo village council. He also served on various committees at various times. Mrs. Marsh was a capable farmer's wife, care- fully reared her children, and was noted for her hospitality. The farming community in which they had taken so prominent a part felt its loss keenly when, in 1912, they sold their farm, retired from extensive agricultural operations, and moved to the village of Buffalo. They have a sightly brick residence in one of the picturesque localities in the village. All the modern comforts have been introduced and the home is an ideal one in every respect. In connection with the home is a tract of thirteen and a half acres of good land, where Mr. Marsh still busies him- self with gardening operations. Mr. Marsh is a member of the Masonic body and of the Workmen. His wife belongs to the Eastern Star. Peter J. Marsh was married April 7, 1874, in La Grange county, Indiana, to Mary J. Barber, daughter of Jackson and Phoebe A. (Ifawley) Barber, and granddaughter of James and Hannah Barber. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have had eleven chil- dren. Blanche M. was born August 25, 1875, and married Albert Denney, now deceased. Frank Henry was born March 31, 1877. Alma Bell was born October 16, 1878, and married Emil Leerssen. Dora Ella was born May 14, 1880, and married John Schefchik. Effie Augusta was born October 25, 1882, and married John Walker. Mabel Zoa was born May 25, 1885, and married Oscar Sandstrom. Grace Edith was born May 27, 1887; and Myrtle Ena, May 28, 1891. Peter J., Jr., was born June 12, 1889, and died October 5, 1890. Clayton Fletcher was born April 8, 1893, and Ralph Leo, Mareh 23, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh thoroughly believe in education. To educate this large family and at the same time maintain a large farm, has meant much toil and many sacrifices, but as the result of their work they have reared a family that is a eredit to them and a help to the community. The genealogical history on both sides of the family is most interesting. Nicholas Marsh was of New England stock, but spent the whole span of his life as a farmer in New York state. His wife was descended from the Hollanders who in colonial days settled in the Mohawk valley. Their children were: Peter Smith, Walter, Randall, William, Kleeber D., Angeline and Ada- line. Peter Smith Marsh was born in Onondaga county, New York, November 30, 1818. Ife was reared in his native state and there operated a small farm. In the spring of 1863 he took his family to La Grange county, Indiana, and located in Mill-
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ford township, on eighty acres, only eleven acres of which had been eleared. Later he sold this and purchased forty acres which he also cleared and developed. Later he moved to Belle Plaine, Sumner county, Kansas, where he engaged in the mercantile business. There he and his wife both died. He married Mary Swain, the daughter of Horace and Catherine Swain, and their children were as follows: Catherine K., wife of Mrs. Philip Voorus, born January 2, 1843, died June 15, 1914; Charles R., born November 15, 1844, died in infancy; Horace N., born De- cember 16, 1846, for a long time lived in Red Creek, Wayne county, New York, and died January 15, 1895; Augusta, born January 18, 1849, and married George Rowland; Peter J., of Wright county, Minn .; Alice, born July 30, 1853, and died at the age of seven years; Hattie M., of La Grange county, Indiana, born November 22, 1864, and married George Clester (now de- ceased). Horaee Swain was born in New England, of Puritan stock. He was a farmer and tobacco raiser, and also owned a cigar factory. By his wife, Catherine, he had five children, John (a California Forty-niner), Esther, Mary, Hannah and Lucinda. Jackson Barber was born in Stark county, Ohio, March 13, 1823, son of James and Hannah Barber, and as a young man came to Indiana and farmed in Millford township, La Grange county. He died June 13, 1902. In April, 1851, he married Phoebe A. Hawley, who was born February 17, 1831, and died in August, 1871. The children born to this family were: Alice A., born February 17, 1852; Harriet P., born August 31, 1853; Mary J., born August 18, 1855; Laura, born October 26, 1857; Leonard, born August 4, 1859; Flora E., June 5, 1862; Sherman, January 19, 1864; George Albert, January 8, 1867; Dora Bell, December 7, 1869.
Garrett F. Woolley, a successful and substantial business man of Buffalo, was born in Medina, Ohio, September 20, 1854, son of Williams and Ellen Ann (Amerman) Woolley, natives respect- ively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. For some years Williams Wool- ley farmed and operated an abattoir near Cleveland, Ohio, where he sold his meat wholesale. In 1862 the family went to Galena, and from there embarked on a Mississippi river boat, reaching Olmsted county, this state, in the fall. The part of the trip that was not made on water was accomplished by driving. In the family at the time were four children, William B., Garrett F., and Perry and Mary, twins. Upon reaching Olmsted county, they settled in Viola township, where the parents lived for many years until their retirement to Lamberton, in the same county, where he died. He lived to a good old age, and had the great joy of celebrating his golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Woolley still resides in Lamberton, hale and hearty, at the advanced age of 84 years. In addition to the children they brought with them
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to the state, three more, John, Jennie and Roy, were born in Olmsted county. Garrett F. Woolley was reared and educated in Olmsted county, and farmed there for several years. He was also in Brown county, this state, five years, and in LaMoure county, North Dakota, twelve years, the last five of which he conducted a meat market. In May, 1895, he came to Buffalo and opened a market which he has successfully conducted. He is vitally interested in the growth of Buffalo, and has done much toward its commercial upbuilding. Being of a fraternal disposi- tion, Mr. Woolley has allied himself with the Woodmen, the Workmen and the Yeomen. The family faith is that of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Woolley was married September 11, 1878, to Maggie C. Cunningham, a snecessful school teacher, and they have had five children, Roy, Pearl, Edna, Lloyd and Wayne. Roy married Nancy Smith, who died March 6, 1906, at the age of twenty-five, leaving two children, Glen and Myrtle, who since the death of their mother have made their home with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Garrett F. Woolley, of Buffalo. Both are students in the Buffalo publie schools. For his second wife he married Celia Wall. They live near Bend, Ore. Pearl died at the age of ten. Edna is the wife of Edson D. Washburn. He is a graduate of the agricultural department of the Univer- sity of Minnesota and a successful young farmer of Otsego. They have two children, Ennid and Annis. Wayne is a graduate from the dental department of the University of Minnesota, grad- uating before he was twenty-one years of age, and is now a sue- eessful dentist of Fairmont, Minn. Mrs. Maggie C. (Cunningham) Woolley was the daughter of William 1. W. and Lucina (Sheeks) Cunningham, and the granddaughter of Robert and Rachael Cun- ningham and George and Artemieia (Crawford) Sheeks. Robert and Rachael Cunningham were both natives of Boone county, Indiana, and were the parents of fifteen children. They reached Minnesota in 1856 and located in Olmsted county, four miles north of what is now the village of Eyota. One of these children was William I. W. Cunningham. He was admitted to the min- istry of the Methodist Episcopal church, preached in many dif- ferent places in the Northwest, and spent his declining years on a farm in Brown county. He and his wife Lueina were both natives of Boone county, Indiana. George Sheeks moved from Ohio to Indiana, and from there came overland to Minnesota, locating in Olmsted county. The town of Dover is laid out on his farm. The children in the Cunningham family were : Maggie, George, Charles, Frank, Willis, Mary, Artemieia, Lueina, John and Alvin. Mr. Cunningham died April 8, 1880. Mrs. Cunning- ham now resides at St. James, Minn.
William Korb, the energetic and capable manager for Osborne & MeMillan, in their elevator at Buffalo, was born in Venango
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county, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1861, son of Adam and Anna (Berry) Korb, who spent the span of their years in Pennsylvania. He attended the common schools of his native county and was there reared to manhood. I 1883 he came to Wright eounty and secured a farm in Buffalo township. In 1889 he became wheat buyer at the Buffalo Flour Mills for Thomas Hellier. In 1893 he took his present position. In this eapacity he buys wheat extensively and sells large quantities of fuel. He is an honest, straightforward and sueeessful eitizen, a good man both for his company and for the community. Interested as he is in the wel . fare of the town, he has served as a member of the council. He is a member both of the Masonie order and of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Korb was married, December 21, 1888, to Harriet Varner, daughter of the distinguished pioneer, Henry Varner, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Korb have five children, Sadie M., Beulah F., Anna R., Elizabeth B. and Howard W., all at home. Beulah is a teacher.
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