USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 51
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Gottlieb Epple, a pioneer, was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, the son of John Epple. The other children in the family were Mary, Rieha, John, David, Gottlieb, Christena, Sophia, Jacob and Lena. About 1851 Mary and John came to the United States and located in Philadelphia, Pa. In 1852 they were followed by the father and mother, and the remainder of the family, with the exception of Richa, who remained in Germany. From Phil- adelphia the members of the family scattered to various parts of the country. Gottlieb eame west in 1858 and took a homestead
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JOHN EPPLE AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
in seetion 32, Franklin township. This tract contained 160 aeres, covered with dense woods. He put up a log shaek, with no floor but the trodden earth, and started farming. His first erops were put in with a grub hoe. When he was out of provisions he walked to St. Paul, bringing the supplies home on his back. Sometimes he camped with the Indians. He understood their natures and was their friend. Often he was able to trade powder and shot with them for much-needed fresh meat. In 1861 he went to Dayton, Ohio, and was married. After the Indian troubles he brought his wife and his three children, Christ, Anna and Sophia, back to his claim in Wright county. He purchased a yoke of oxen, erected a second log house, and began to prosper. Later he ereeted a frame honse and suitable barns. Ile died in Decem- ber, 1911, at the age of eighty-three. His wife died in 1877 at the age of thirty-eight. Mr. Epple was an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was steward or trustee for twenty-five years, and helped build the old log structure of the Seibel church, now known as the Cassel church. Mr. Epple was married at Dayton, Ohio, in 1861, to Barbara Weiman, born in 1836, daughter of Christ Weiman. The other children in the family were: Christ, Michael and Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. Epple had eight children : Christ, Anna, Sophia, David, William, John, Minnie and Louis.
John Epple, a wide-awake farmer of Marysville township, was born on his father's homestead in Franklin township, July 24, 1872, son of Gottlieb and Barbara (Weiman) Epple. He was edueated in the distriet schools of his neighborhood, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. For a time he and his brother operated the home place in partnership. It is now owned by William alone. In 1902 John Epple purchased sixty-five acres in section 36, Marysville township, where he now lives. At that time a small house stood on the land. Mr. Epple has added forty- four acres, and has built a modern house and barns. He raises good stock, and is one of the leading dairymen of the county. He has been an active member of the board of directors of the Montrose Co-operative Creamery. The village of Montrose has found him a valued councilman. In the Methodist church he is especially active, having been a steward and the Sunday school superintendent for many years. Mr. Epple was married, April 23, 1892, to Carrie Cook, born on the homestead of her father in Franklin township, daughter of Joseph and Minnie (Herman) Cook. Mr. and Mrs. Epple have three children: Esther, born May 29, 1903; Viola, born April 4, 1907; Lydia, born August 25, 1910. Joseph Cook lives in Franklin township, to which locality he was brought by his parents. Minnie Herman, his wife, was brought here by her parents a short time before the Indian outbreak.
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Olof Peterson, a substantial farmer of Marysville township, was born in Sweden, May 31, 1856, son of Peter and Carrie (Anderson) Peterson. The mother died in January, 1865, at the age of forty-nine. Later the father married Anna Kelstrom. In 1870 they came to America, leaving the children in Sweden. They seeured forty aeres of land in Marysville township, ereeted a log eabin, eleared the land with the assistance of an ox team, and established for themselves a home in the wilderness. Peter Peterson was a devout member of the Swedish Lutheran church and served as seeretary of the local congregation of that faith. He died December 15, 1897, at the age of seventy-five. His wife is still living at the good old age of eighty-three. Olof Peterson learned his trade as a painter in Sweden. In 1881 he married Hadda Borgstrum, and with her set out for the United States. For a time they lived in Waverly, in Wright county, but then moved to Minneapolis, where he followed his trade as a painter for several years. About 1887 he seeured forty aeres of wild brush land in seetion 7, Marysville township. He built a log house and started in a small way, gradually elearing the land and bringing it under eultivation. He now owns 110 aeres, with good buildings and suitable equipment. He earries on general farm- ing, and raises a good grade of stoek. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have four children : Hjelmer, Arthur, Emma and Arvid. Hjelmer is a farmer in Atwater, Minn. He married Martha Berg. Their children are Algot, Verna and Adolph. Arthur and Arvid eon- duet the home farm and are both enterprising young men. Arthur has served two years as assessor of Marysville township and is now school elerk of Distriet No. 103. Emma is now Mrs. John A. Dokken. Her husband is a merehant of MeLeod county, Min- nesota. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church.
Nels A. Erickson, an active farmer of Marysville township, was born in Sweden, April 22, 1854, son of Swan and Anna (Peterson) Eriekson. In 1861, two of the children having died, the parents and the remaining four children, Charles, Mary, Christine and Nels S., started for America, aboard a sailing vessel. The boat sprung a leak, and only by the most heroic measures was it kept from sinking. After landing, the family came to Waukon, Wis., and remained there until fall, when they set out for Waconia, this state, and located on the banks of Clearwater lake, where they rented a farm for many years. There a child, Manuel, was born. From this farm, the family came to Wright eounty in 1867, and secured a homestead of eighty aeres in Marysville township. The tract was covered with wild woods, and no roads led to it. They ereeted a log cabin, and with the help of a yoke of oxen started to elear the land. The family was fortunate in owning two cows. As the years passed, the family prospered and the place became
449
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
highly improved. Swan Erickson was prominent in the Swedish Lutheran denomination, and helped to build the first church of that faith in this vicinity. Hle died in 1909, at the age of eighty- nine. llis wife died in 1897 at the age of seventy-eight. In addition to the children already named, one, Augusta, was born in Wright county. Nels A. Erickson followed the varying for- tunes of his family. Ile assisted his parents in developing the home farm, and as he grew up, secured a tract of forty acres on Tamaraek lake, Rockford township. On this tract was a small log honse, and two or three acres had been cleared. Ile cleared up the land, erected a splendid frame dwelling house and good barns, and remained there until 1910, when he came to Marysville township, and secured a tract of thirty-one and a half aeres on the southwest shore of Mink lake. On this place, only a few acres had been cleared, and the present buildings and improvements are all his own work. Mr. Erickson was married in 1895 to Clara Anderson, and they have three children, Violet and Irene, born in Rockford township, and Carl, born in Marys- ville township. Clara Anderson is the daughter of Cornelius and Mary Anderson, who came from Sweden on the same boat with Nels A. Eriekson. They settled in Marysville township, this county, where the daughter, Clara, was born. The family numbered thirteen children. When they came to America, the first wife of Cornelius Erickson was living, but Mary Anderson, who beeame his second wife, was on the same boat, being then unmarried.
Nels Carlson, a prominent citizen of seetions I and 12, Marys- ville township, was born in Sweden, February 24, 1858, son of John and Helen (Johnson) Carlson. In 1866, the family, then consisting of the father and mother and four children, Peter, John, Anna and Nels, eame to America, landed at New York, came west in a box car, and finally reached the end of the rail- road line at Big Lake. From there they came on foot, and secured a tract of wild land in section 12, Marysville. They eut down trees, and thus made room for the erection of a small cabin. The first year they planted potatoes and corn among the stumps. Two years later they purchased a yoke of oxen for $180.00. Gradually they cleared the land and developed a good farm. Ten aeres were added to the original tract, and a brick house was started. After a long and useful life, the father died in 1900, at the age of eighty-three. The mother died in 1896, at the age of seventy-six. The father was a Lutheran in faith, and assisted in organizing the first church of that faith in Rock- ford township. Nels Carlson was but eight years of age, when his parents came to Wright county. He was edueated in the dis- triet schools, and reared to farm pursuits. In 1882 he took charge of the home place, and has made many improvements
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
thereon. He added eighty acres, and finished the brick house started by his father. He has been justice of the peace for about a dozen years past. He has been president three years and director two years, of the Scandinavian Farmers' Mutual Insur- ance Co. Mr. Carlson has taken an aetive part in the progress of his community. He is especially interested in the agricultural development, and is ever ready to support with his influence and enthusiasm everything that is for the best interests of his town and county. Mr. Carlson married Lena Skoglund, who was born in Sweden, the daughter of John and Mary Skoglund. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson have six children : Edward, born June 12, 1885; Anna, born November 27, 1888; Manda, born July 24, 1894; Ida, born Angust 6, 1900; Mabel, born July 24, 1903; and Florence, born July 26, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Skoglund came to America from Sweden in 1876, and located near Buffalo. Mr. Skoglund died in 1907, at the age of sixty-eight. Mrs. Skog- lund is now living in Buffalo.
Louis Payne, Sr., a leading farmer of Marysville township, was born in the Province of Quebee, Canada, May 1, 1852, son of Medard and Rose (Gregory) Payne, and nephew of Franeis and Joseph Payne. The grandparents were from France, the original family name being Santoum. Medard Payne spent his life as a farmer in Canada, and died at the age of sixty-seven. His wife, Rose, died at about the age of sixty-eight. In the family there were ten children: Nels, Joseph, Mose and Rose (twins), Peter, Alexander, Louis, Mary, Orilla and Magdalena. All exeept Peter located in Minnesota. Louis was but fifteen when he and his brother, Alexander, went to New York state, and worked three years on a farm. Then they returned to Canada. Three years later they went to Lake Superior. In that region, Louis Payne followed lumbering some fifteen years. Then he eame to Maple Lake, and bought forty acres of land in section 1. About ten aeres of this land had been eleared. Mr. Payne set at work clearing the remainder, and erected a small house. About two years later he was married. After many years he sold out and bought his present place in Marysville township. About fifteen aeres had been eleared, and a part of a house and a swine barn had been erected. He cleared up the place, completed and added to the house, and erected various build- ings, including a barn, 44 by 56 feet. Like the other pioneers he started with but little, and used an ox team to help him with his clearing. Now he is prosperous and well-to-do. He carries on general farming and raises full blood Holstein cattle and Chester White thoroughbred swine. For several years he has been road overseer. He is a stoekholder in the Buffalo Co-opera- tive Creamery and the Co-operative Store in Waverly. The family faith is that of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Buffalo.
LOUIS PAYNE, SR., AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Mr. Payne, Sr., was married July 26, 1886, to Leona Labo, and they have two children, Louis, Jr., who married Minnie Perisien, and Mary. Leona Labo was the daughter of Joseph Labo, a native of Canada. From Canada, Joseph Labo went to New York state, where he married Catherine La Plant, a native of that state. From New York state they moved to Illinois. In 1872, they came to Maple Lake, took up a farm, lived in a log cabin, eleared up the place with the assistance of a yoke of oxen, and gradually achieved prosperity. Mr. Labo was at one time chorister in his church. He was also sexton and bell ringer. He died at the age of eighty-four. Ilis wife died at the age of sixty-five. In their family there were thirteen children: Joseph, Mary, Phelia, Phelix, Charles, Adeline, Peter, Rosa, Martha, Amelia, Elizabeth, Leonard and Leona.
Joseph Bland (deceased), a strong, upright character, who lived for many years in Wright county, was born in what is now Tyler county, West Virginia, near the Pennsylvania line, July 14, 1821, oldest son of Richard Bland, a Virginian farmer. IIe was reared on the home farm, and while still a youth began work on the Ohio river as pilot and engineer on different steam- boats. Ile married Castilda Wyatt, in 1842, and the following children were born: Thornton, Rachael, Mary, Martin, Samuel, Sampson and Phoebe. Thornton died in 1910. Rachael is Mrs. David Kriedler, of Marysville, this county. Mary died in 1883. Martin is a successful farmer of Marysville. Samuel died in 1892, Sampson in 1882. Phoebe lives with Martin. In 1865 the family came to Wright county, and located on a tract of eighty acres in section 24, Marysville township. Abont twenty aeres had been cleared and a shaek had been ereeted. They moved into the shack, and with one horse and three cows started farming. They cleared the remainder of the traet, and added other pieces of land from time to time nntil Mr. Bland was the owner of 200 acres of excellent land, as good as any in the county. He carried on general farming and stock raising, and was an unusually successful man. When his prosperity became assured he erected a new house, and from year to year he constructed such barns, sheds and fenees as were necessary. Everything around him bespoke his thrift and industry. Mr. Bland served in a number of local offices such as that of town treasurer for five years, and school treasurer for about twenty years, and for one term he was one of the commissioners of Wright county. Mr. Bland died October 9, 1911, at the age of ninety years. Ile was known far and wide for his droll jesting, and many of his jokes are still remembered. He was strong in his likes and dislikes, and very outspoken, always desiring, how- ever, to do the thing that was right. His death was sincerely mourned. Ilis wife had died in 1889 at the age of sixty-six.
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Martin Bland, representative farmer of Marysville township, was born in Pine Grove, in what is now Wetzel county, West Virginia, September 20, 1851, son of Joseph and Castilda (Wyatt) Bland, who brought him to Wright county in 1865. He received a district school education and remained at home nntil 1886. Then he moved onto his own farm, of eight acres, which he had previously acquired in section 23, Marysville. Ile broke and developed the land, and built a house and other buildings. In 1888 his wife died and for two years he lived on the home place, but in 1890 he again moved baek to his own farm. A year later he once more took up his home on his father's place. Since 1912 he had lived on his own place. He rents the land and is practically retired from the more strenuous duties of life. Aside from the original eighty he purchased forty acres in section 14, and forty in section 23. IIe also owns 100 acres of his father's home place. Mr. Bland has traveled extensively. In the winter of 1884 he spent several months in Wetzel county, West Virginia, and in the winter of 1900 he spent several months in visiting points of interest on the Pacific coast. He has taken an interest in the affairs of his community, and was road super- visor for some twenty years. In every way he is a desirable citizen, and few people in the community are more highly re- spected than he. He and his sister, Phoebe, live together, and their home is well known for its comfort and good cheer. Mr. Bland was married January 1, 1886, to Anna Laura Baker, of Bayfield, Wis., who died March 13, 1888. October 14, 1890, he was married to Emma R. McCardell, of Montrose, who died October 23, 1891.
Henry Bremer, an early settler, was born in Germany, and came to America as a young man. For a time he worked in New York state. Then he came west to Minnesota. In the summer time he worked on the steamboats plying between St. Louis and St. Paul. In the winter he worked on a claim which he took in 1855, on the south shore of Waverly lake, in section 32, Marysville township. This tract was all wild woods. He cut down the trees and with a yoke of oxen started to break the land. The log cabin which he erected is still standing. He was married, about 1862, to Frederieka Schultz, also a native of Germany. He cleared forty acres of land, and was planning to build a new house, when he was stricken with a sun-stroke and died suddenly. He was a man of great strength, and was just at the height of a successful career when he died in 1868, at the age of thirty-four. He was also a devout man, and often walked many miles to attend service at the home of different early settlers. The children in the family were Minnie, Henry, Louis and Fredericka.
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HISTORY OF WRIGIIT COUNTY
Louis W. Bremer, noted far and wide as the breeder of the finest horses in the county, was born on his father's homestead, in Marysville township, May 17, 1867, son of Henry and Fred- erieka (Schultz) Bremer. Left fatherless as an infant, he early learned the responsibilities of life. He attended the district schools to a certain extent, but spent most of his youth working on the home farm. At the age of eighteen he started out to see the world. He saw much of life, traveled in various states, and worked at many oceupations. In 1891 he returned, and worked on the homestead for three years as a helper. Then he rented the place. Finally he purchased it. To the original eighty aeres he has added one tract of fifty-three acres, and one tract of forty aeres. He has ereeted a modern home and sightly barns. An attractive feature of the place is a new barn. 32 by 80 feet, with a cement floor, patent stanchions, seientifie ventilator system, and the most modern sanitary improvements. He takes partien- lar pride in his full blooded Percheron horses, and during the past three years has taken many prizes for his stallions, mares and colts. lle also raises a high grade of Shorthorn eattle. Mr. Bremer is a natural leader among his fellows. He has been president of the school board of his distriet for several terms, president of the Waverly Farmers' Co-operative Creamery for twelve years; and president of the Waverly Farmers' Elevator for the past eight years. He has joined the Masomie order and the United Workmen. Mr. Bremer was married November 28, 1893, to Ida Stuhr, born in Germany, daughter of Herman and Wilhelmina (Miea) Stuhr. They have four children: Wilhel- mina, Frederieka, Henry and Sylvia. IIerman Stuhr was a carpenter by trade. lle came to America in 1873, and worked his way to Stillwater, in this state. The following year his wife, and his eight children, llenry, Herman, Emil, Otto, Emma, Ida, Charles and Rudolph, joined him. Later they secured a farm in seetion 32, Chatham township, Wright county. They moved into the eabin of Herman Erath, which was so small that they had to hang the table from the ceiling in order to give the chil- dren an opportunity to play on the floor. Herman Stuhr died in 1891, at the age of seventy-three. Beginning pioneer life with nothing but a small tract of land and an ox team, he so pros- pered that at the time of his death he owned a half section of good land. His wife died in 1911, at the age of seventy-three.
Charles H. Ferrell, a retired and respected farmer of Montrose, was born in West Virginia, February 19, 1850, son of Elisha Ferrell, the pioneer, who brought him to this eounty in 1865. He attended the distriet schools and grew to manhood on the farm. When he was twenty-one, he bought forty acres adjoining his father's homestead in Woodland township. On this tract of land he ereeted a log cabin, and started developing the farm.
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Ten years later he replaced the eabin with a modern dwelling. He also added forty more aeres to his farm and still later ten more acres. There he farmed for many years, attaining material snecess and the respeet of the community. In 1912 he moved to the village of Montrose, where he now makes his home, and where he has some good property. While in the country, Mr. Ferrell served six years as a member of the school board of his distriet. Formerly he was a member of the Montrose Co-operative Creamery Company, and he is still a director of the Montrose Mereantile Company. He belongs to the lodge, the Canton and the Encampment of the I. O. O. F., and his wife is a member of the Degree of Rebekah. Mr. Ferrell was married in 1872 to Mrs. Lorana Staey, daughter of Henry and Catherine Hainor and widow of Ezra Staey. Two children, Arthur and Anna V., were born. Mrs. Lorana Ferrell died in 1891, and in 1893 Mr. Ferrell married Mary H. Swarthout, born in Saratoga county, New York, May 5, 1852, daughter of Kramer and Charlotte (Bureh) Swarthout, the pioneers.
Kramer Swarthout, one of the pioneers, was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1823, and there married Charlotte Bureh. They came to Minnesota in 1856, and located on the west side of the Mississippi river, ten miles below St. Paul. In 1857 they came to Wright county, driving a yoke of cows. They settled in Woodland township, to which they afterward added until they owned 160 aeres. When they arrived in the county they were $2.50 in debt. For the first six months they lived in a shanty roofed with hay. Mr. Swarthout several times walked to St. Anthony, bringing from there a fifty-pound saek of flour on his baek. Two days before the Indian outbreak he took his family to Roekford and enlisted in Company E, Eighth Minnesota Vol- unteer Infantry, in which he served, first against the Indians in the Northwest and then against the Confederates in the South. His only injury was a slight seratch from a bullet. After the war he returned home and resumed farm work. He was promi- nent in the Methodist Episcopal church and was the first elass leader of that denomination in this vieinity. He was also a prom- inent member of the G. A. R. Mr. Swarthout died August 30, 1909. His wife died in May, 1903. In the Swarthout family there were six children : Marie, Sibyl, Julia, Mary II., Charlotte Ophelia and John (deceased).
Oscar A. Denzel, miller, proprietor of the Montrose Roller Mills, is one of the most substantial men of the village. He was born in Waeonia, Minn., November 14, 1875, son of Xavier and Angusta (Vallroth) Denzel, natives of Germany. The father was a miller by trade, and after loeating in this country took up the milling business in Carver county, this state. He died in 1902 at the age of fifty-five. His wife is stlil living at Watertown.
MR. AND MRS. DAVID C. KRIEDLER
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
In the family there were two boys and five girls. Osear A. Denzel attended the public schools of Carver county, and learned the milling business from his father. For fourteen years he worked at this trade in Watertown, in his native county. In 1899 he eame to Montrose, and in partnership with L. C. St. John, J. P. Thornquist and Herman Sehultz, ereeted the Montrose Roller Mills. In time L. C. St. John withdrew and the other three partners continued the business. Now Messrs. Thornquist and Schultz are out of the eoneern and Mr. Denzel is the sole owner and proprietor. The Montrose Roller Mills have a daily capacity of seventy-five barrels. The mills have been in operation fifteen years, and in addition to apparatus for manufacturing household flour, feed, graham, cornmeal and whole wheat flour, a sawmill for eustom sawing has also been maintained. The main building is 30 by 44 feet, and a basement with a briek engine room, 26 by 34 feet. Steam power is furnished by a sixty horse-power engine. The principal brand manufactured here is the "Happy Home," a flour that because of its sterling worth has met with wide favor from the housewives throughout a large area. Mr. Denzel has done most efficient serviee as a member of the village eouneil. Fraternally he is a member of Montrose Lodge, No. 185, I. O. O. F. He was married in 1900 to Adaline Malsed, born in Watertown, Carver county, this state, daughter of John and Sarah Malsed, pioneers who in the early days settled near Howard Lake in Wright eounty, from which place they later moved to Carver county. Mrs. Malsed assisted in binding up the wounds of Mrs. Dustin, one of the vietims of the Dustin massaere. Mr. and Mrs. Denzel have one ehild, Arlys.
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