USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
John O'Brien, the respected father of the Rev. Father F. C. O'Brien, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and came to America at the age of eighteen. At Little Canada, Minn., he was married to Elizabeth Delaney, a native of Queens county, who had been brought to America as a young girl by her parents. The clergyman who performed the service was the Rev. Father Roberts, afterward pastor of the parish at Chatham, this county. It was about 1860 that John O'Brien took a homestead in Ilelena, Scott county, where he experienced all the hardships of pioneer life. The land was originally all heavily timbered. He cleared and broke the land, made improvements from time to time, and in time developed a splendid place. He also became one of the influential members of the community. In 1886 he sold this farm, and moved to a farm near Faribault, in Rice county, this state,
510
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
where he remained until his death October 24, 1894. His wife re- mained on the farm until 1911, then sold out and removed to Minneapolis, where she still resides. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien had nine children: Stanzy (deceased), John, Mary, Catherine (de- ceased), Martin (deceased), Joseph A., Rev. F. C., Annie and Emily. John lives in Minneapolis. Mary is now a sister of the Order of St. Joseph, and is stationed at the St. Joseph Orphan Asylum in St. Paul. Joseph A. is in the automobile and under- taking business at Minneapolis.
Alexander Payne, stock raiser, Maple Lake township, was born in the Province of Quebec, April 13, 1850, son of Medard and Rosalie (Gregorie) Payne, who spent the span of their years in Canada. In the family there were twelve children: Nels (deceased) ; Joseph, a veteran of the Civil War (deceased) ; Moses (deceased) ; Rose (twin of Moses), of Vermont; Mary, of Vermont ; Alexander ; Louis, of Marysville township, this eounty ; Mary and Aurelia, of Massachusetts; Rose (deceased) ; Peter (deceased) ; and two who died in infaney. Alexander Payne left home at the age of fifteen and upon coming to the United States worked for some years in New York state. After his mar- riage in 1869 he came to Stillwater, this state, where he remained about fourteen years. In 1882 he bought eighty aeres in Maple Lake township, section 1, where he has made some exeellent improvements and where he now carries on general farming and stoek raising. He is a Republican in polities and has been on the school board, either as director or elerk, for twenty-three years. Mr. Payne was married, September 6, 1869, to Matilda Judd, and to this union were born four children: Emma, wife of James Colwell, of Anoka; Ida (deeeased) ; Ira (deceased), and one that died in infaney. For his second wife he married Eliz- abeth Labo, a native of Illinois, who died in 1889. To this union three children were born: Osear (deceased) ; Laura, wife of George Veo, of Marysville, Minn .; Delia, wife of Nils Persian, of Marysville, Minn .; and Rose (deceased). For his third wife he married Mattie Hamilton, a native of Maple Lake, this county. To this union have been born four children: Joseph A., Grace Mary, attending the normal department of the high school at Buffalo; Emary, at home; and Ezra, at home.
Joseph F. Baker, Maple Lake township, county commissioner from the first district, was born in section 26, in the township where he still resides, August 7, 1873, son of Joseph and Chris- tina (Elsenpeter) Baker, natives of Germany, who came to this country and located in Illinois, where they lived until 1867, when they came to Wright eounty and located on a farm in seetion 26, Maple Lake township. The father died there and the mother lives in Montieello. In the family there were six children : Mary, wife of William Bertram, of Monticello; Rose, of Monticello;
ALEXANDER PAYNE AND FAMILY
511
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Joseph F .; Anna, wife of Robert Brett, of Buffalo township, this county ; Josephine, wife of Ernest Holler, of International Falls, Min .; and Catherine, wife of Mons Hawkins, of Monticello. Joseph F. Baker lost his father at the age of fourteen, and sinee that time has continued to operate the home farm of 160 aeres on which he conduets general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of feeding cattle and breeding Poland-China swine. Ile is a Republican in polities, has served his town three years as assessor, and in 1908 was elected county commissioner. Ile is a member of the M. W. A., of Maple Lake. In 1914 he erected a fine modern home. Mr. Baker was married, June 17, 1903, to Anastasia Veehes, a native of Bohemia, and they have four chil- dren : Margaret Anna, Ethel Christina, Marvin Joseph and Earl Francis. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church.
John Ward, a retired farmer living in Maple Lake, was born in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland, May 25, 1837, son of Michael and Margaret (Thornton) Ward. He came to America at the age of seventeen, and worked in New York for two years. In 1856 he took up farming in La Salle county, Illinois. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company D, Twenty- Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, being nmstered out in West Virginia, with the rank of corporal. At Lexintgon, Mo., he was shot in the right forearm and captured. From September 19, 1861, to January 6, 1862, he was on parole. Then he was again baek in the thiek of the fighting. IIe partici- pated in the battles of Gettysburg, South Mountain, Antietam and Chaneellorsville, as well as in a dozen or more important skirmishes. It was in 1866 that he brought his wife to Wright county and settled in seetion 33, Maple Lake township, where he secured eighty aeres of timbered land. Ile cleared this land, erected buildings, and here successfully conducted general farm- ing for many years. In October, 1913, he retired and moved to the village of Maple Lake, where he now resides. He has always done his part toward the progress of the community and has served as school clerk of his distriet some thirty years. The family faith is that of the Catholic church. John Ward was married, December 27, 1864, to Mary Maek, daughter of John and Anne (Cantlion) Maek. John Maek was a mason by trade. He was born in England, and in 1856 settled in Earlville, Ill. He was a thorough patriot and served three years in the Fifty-Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, proving his valor in many engage- ments. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have had seven children: William E. lives in Portal, Minn .; Margaret is the wife of Daniel Seannell ; Anne is the wife of William Ellis, of Maple Lake; Michael lives in Minneapolis; Aliee is the wife of Carl West, of Minneapolis; Mary and Robert live on the home farm.
512
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
James G. Nugent, a retired resident of Maple Lake village, was born in Medford, Middlesex county, Mass., June 27, 1844, son of James Nugent, a native of Ireland, and Maria L. (Lamb) Nugent, a native of Massachusetts. The family moved from Massachusetts to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and from there came to Minnesota in 1857 and located in St. Paul. In Septem- ber, 1858, they came to Wright county and located on a elaim of 160 aeres in Chatham township. The traet was covered with heavy timber. They put up a log cabin, providing it first with a roof of hay, and later with a "shake" roof. They broke and . grubbed the land, and as time passed became prominent people in the community. In 1870 they erected a frame house and a modern barn, and year by year the farm was developed and improved until it was one of the best in the neighborhood. There James Nugent followed farming until his death in 1877. Ilis devoted wife died May 15, 1904. In the family there were three children: James G., of Maple Lake; Jolin C. (deceased), and Luey M., now Mrs. Michael Smith, of Chatham township. James G. Nugent received his early education in Massachusetts. He came with his parents from Medford, Massachusetts, to Sault Ste Marie, thence with them to St. Paul, and from there with them to Chatham township in September, 1858. With his family he lived in a log cabin, assisted in developing the place, and underwent all the privations of pioneer life. At the opening of the Sioux troubles in August, 1862, he enlisted in Captain Nel- son's company for three months. October 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, and served until November 16, 1863, when he was honorably discharged. Then he returned home and remained until October 16, 1864, when he enlisted as a veteran in Company B, Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the confliet. He was discharged at Ft. Snelling and returned home. Then he remained on the farm with his father until October, 1866, when he took a homestead of eighty aeres in section 32, Chat- ham township. He broke and cleared the land and continued in agricultural pursuits. In 1883 he sold this farm and pur- chased another one of eighty aeres in Maple Lake township. For a time he engaged in the buying and selling of horses and became widely known as a breaker of colts. Ile was influential in creating two new school districts in Chatham township, and one in Maple Lake township. He was a member of the school board for many terms and was assessor of Chatham township for some twenty years. He now lives retired in Maple Lake village. Mr. Nugent was married in October, 1866, to Maggie A. Varner, who died October 14, 1873, leaving four children: Norman ; Ella, now Mrs. Horace Bohanon, of Minneapolis; Luey, now Mrs. Nelson Eceles, of Clearwater; and Ida, now Mrs. Jolin Sture-
513
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
walt, of Silver Creek. Mr. Nugent was married October 16, 1874, to Elizabeth Peters, and this union has been blessed with ten children: James W. (deceased) ; Minnie M., now Mrs. George Cohn, of Portland, Oregon; Elizabeth (deceased) ; Eunice (deceased) ; Laura (deceased) ; Hattie, now Mrs. Frank Tons- ley, of Verona, N. D .; Sadie (deceased) ; Clarence (deceased) ; Cecelia, now Mrs. William Fortwengler, of Kellogg, Minn .; and Elsie, a capable teacher now in North Dakota.
Frederick John Peters, and his good wife, Anna Sophia, eame to Wright county in 1865, and purchased 160 aeres of land in Rockford township. A few acres of this land had been broken, and a log shanty stood on the place. They at once set at work to improve and develop the farm, and their hard work and thrift reaped its due reward. In due time, a sightly resi- denee and good set of out buildings replaced the log structure, and Mr. Peters became identified with the active life of the community, following general farming on an extensive scale. In 1898 they sold their farm and moved to the village of De- lano, where they continued to live until 1898, and then moved to Detroit, Michigan, where they spent their declining years, both dying in May, 1905, he on the third day, and she on the thirtieth. There are four children: William, now of Chantau- qua county, New York; Rebecca, now Mrs. Charles Knoll, of Delano, Minn .; John, of Canada; and Elizabeth Julia, now Mrs. James G. Nugent, of Maple Lake.
John Goelz, for many years a substantial farmer of Corinna township, was born in Germany, July 24, 1858, son of John Goelz, Sr., and Margaret (Schmidt) Goelz. Jolm Goelz, Sr .. was born in Germany, and learned the trade of weaving. As a young man he came to Iowa county, Wisconsin, and worked for his brother on a farm for one and a half years. In 1869 he came to Minnesota, and took a homestead on section 24, Maple Lake township. He cut off the timber, and broke the land and developed a good farm. His first structure on the place was a eabin of unhewed logs, 16 by 22 feet. The house was somewhat better than the average at that period, there be- ing a board floor and a shingled roof. The first wagon he had was home-made, the wheels being constructed of oak planks. For drawing this vehicle and for help in his farm work he used a cow and a steer hitched together. Ile was at first unable to clear more than four or five acres a year. Hard work and in- dustry won the victory, and the place in time became as good a one as could be found in the neighborhood. John Goelz, the subjeet of this sketch, was brought to Maple Lake by his par- ents, and was reared on the home place, attending the public schools and learning farming from his father. At the age of twenty-eight he bought seventy-six acres in section 23, Corima
514
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
township, where he farmed until 1907. When he started he had two eows, two pigs, and a few chiekens; a grub hoe, a plow, an axe, a seythe, and a eradle. He purchased in addition to these a yoke of oxen. He built a frame house, 16 by 26, a story and a half high, and later, from time to time, he erected barns and sheds. The second year he raised about 140 bushels of wheat, about half of which he marketed in Monticello and Clearwater at $1 a bushel. It was with a beginning that Mr. Goelz became a prominent and prosperous man. He built up a sightly place and became very successful and carried on general farming. He has been a member of both town and school boards. In 1907 he retired and moved to the village of Maple Lake, where he has a fine residence and is enjoying the afternoon of life in peace and plenty. The farm is now conducted by his son, Adam H. Mr. Goelz was married November 15, 1883, to Anna L. Schefehick, daughter of John and Anna (Hudek) Schefchiek, of Maple Lake township. Mr. and Mrs. Goelz have had four children : Helen Rosa is the wife of W. J. Dircks, section 13, Corinna township; Adam H. married Mary Cordell, and lives on the home place; Lila May died at the age of fifteen ; another died in infaney. John and Anna Schefchick were of Bohemian blood. They came to Wright county in 1870 and became pros- perous farmers of Maple Lake township.
John B. Roehrenbach, one of the founders of Maple Lake village, and present manager of the Maple Lake Telephone Com- pany, was born in Odessa, in Waseca county, this state, April 27, 1859, son of John and Lucille Roehrenbach. John Roehren- bach was a farmer and miller. From 1874 to 1879 he lived in Delano, in Wright county. Ile died in Stevens county, this state, in 1904. His wife died in the same county about 1898. John B. Roehrenbach was reared in the western part of this state. The Indian outbreak found him at Breckenridge. When that place was burned by the Sioux, he fled with a fourteen months old baby to Campbell, skulking through the tall grass, wet and chilled by rain and cold. In 1877 he entered the em- ploy of the Great Northern railroad, and worked for that con- cern five years as a brakeman and four and a half years as a conductor. It was in 1886 that he became the pioneer in Maple Lake. He erected the first store in the village, and conducted a general mercantile establishment for five years. Then for some years he dealt in lumber, and engaged in general contracting and building. In 1909 he took charge of the Maple Lake Tele- phone Co., as general manager. In this capacity he has given the best of satisfaction. Ile is capable, courteous, a thorough believer in good service, and the line under his charge has reached the highest degree of efficieney. Mr. Roehrenbach is one of the active of popular men in the village and has been
515
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
a member and president of the village conneil as well as a mem- ber of the school board. Ile attends the Catholic church at Maple Lake and belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters there. John B. Roehrenbach was married Angust 7, 1883, to Regina Hahn, daughter of Joseph and Christina Hahn, market gardeners near St. Paul. In the family there are two sons, Charles and Leo, Charles in St. Paul, employed by the Great Northern, and Leo in Onamia, employed by the "Soo" line.
Frank W. Enghauser, for many years a well-known citizen of this county, was a native born son of this region. Born in Middleville township, October 29, 1879, and died in Maple Lake village, May 13, 1914; this eamparatively brief life was filled with busy work and successful accomplishment. Ilis career was a useful one, and his years were well-lived. Frank W. Enghauser was the son of Joseph and Matilda (Heaton) Eng- hauser, the pioneers. Ile was reared on the farm and attended the district sehool. At the age of eighteen he went to Buffalo, and learned the barber trade with Walter Davis. Then he opened a shop of his own in Maple Lake. In 1902 and 1903 he was in the real estate business in the same village. For the next five years he again devoted his attention to barber work. In 1908 he spent the year in regaining his failing health. It was in April, 1909, that he bought the controlling interest in the Maple Lake Telephone Co., which had been organized in 1905. When Mr. Enghanser took hold of it, there were 125 sub- seribers. By hard work and energetie determination he in- creased this list to 320. Sinee his death, his wife has owned the company. Mr. Enghanser was married December 30, 1903, to Josephine E. Zimmerman, daughter of Frederick and Matilda (Nelson) Zimmerman. She was born May 16, 1882, the young- est of a family of three, and was educated in the Annandale schools. Mr. and Mrs. Enghauser have two children. Paul was born June 6, 1908. John Francis was born May 21, 1912.
John P. Gorman, former postmaster, Maple Lake, was born August 18, 1869, in Port Hope, Canada, son of James and Bridget (Gearrie) Gorman, the former a native of Canada, and the latter of Ireland. In 1870 they came to Maple Lake and seeured a farm. They are now retired. In the family there were seven children : Mary J., wife of A. J. Phillip, of Minneapolis; James F .; John P .; Margaret, wife of E. E. Connuch, of Gull Lake, Canada ; Anna, wife of J. D. Kennedy, of Maple Lake; Lucy (deceased) ; and Thomas, of Maple Lake. John P. Gorman remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age. Then he went to Little Falls, Minn., and engaged in the manufacturing business. Later he took up farming. He purchased 137 acres in Maple Lake township, and farmed there for three years. He then oper- ated a hotel and livery in Maple Lake. For three years he was
516
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
postmaster at Maple Lake. He now owns a farm in Albion town- ship, and is interested to some extent in the real estate business. Mr. Gorman is one of the most prominent men in the community. He was village president four years and town treasurer five years, and has served in minor offiees. He votes the Republican tieket, and belongs to the M. W. A. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Gorman is married, and has four children : Mildred Franees, Eloise Marion, Catherine Helen and Walter I.
George A. Miller, scientifie dairyman, was born in Faribault, Minn., Mareh 25, 1876, son of Charles T. and Catherine (Finlay- son) Miller, grandson of George W. Miller, and great-grandson of William Miller. Charles T. Miller was a railroad engineer for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. In 1879 he lost both his hands as the result of a railroad aeeident. George W. Miller was state evangelist for the First Day Advent Christian church. He died about 1874 as the result of injuries received in a runaway aceident at Monticello. William Miller was the founder of the "Millerites," the seet which developed into the Advent ehureh. He was also a colonel in the War of 1812, and took part in the Battle of Lundy's Lane. As a boy George A. Miller became interested in dairying, and in 1894 he spent the winter as a stu- dent in the dairy department of the University of Minnesota. Then he became agent at the skimming station at Millersburg, Riee county, Minnesota, for the Creseent Creamery Company, of St. Paul. In 1897 he went into the ereamery business in Millers- burg. From 1899 to 1901 he conducted a grocery store in Dundas, Minn. Then from 1901 to 1907 he was in the ereamery business at Lakeville, Minn. It was in 1907 that he came to Chatham township, in this eonnty, and became secretary, manager and buttermaker for the Chatham Co-operative Dairy Association. May 1, 1911, he became farm dairy inspector for the Minnesota State Dairy and Food Department. In connection with traveling over the state investigating farm dairy conditions, this position also involved responsibilities as a teacher in the State Dairy school, which as a boy he had many years before attended. April 1, 1914, Mr. Miller became buttermaker for the Maple Lake Farm- ers' Co-operative Creamery, in which capacity he is meeting with great success. Aside from being so thorongh a master of his profession, Mr. Miller is also an inventor of note. Ile has per- feeted a farm cream cooler that has been endorsed by the State Food and Dairy Department, and by the leading dairy authorities of the Northwest. Mr. Miller was married, June 27, 1906, to Maude Amidon, daughter of Charles F. and Martha (Thompson) Amidon, pioneers of Lakeville, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have three children: Kenneth, born May 5, 1907; Jay, born April 28, 1909; and Rex, born June 15, 1912. The family belongs to the
517
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Fifth Christian Seientist Church, of Minneapolis. Mr. Miller belongs to the blue lodge and the chapter of the Masonie body, and the M. W. A. and the M. B. A.
Steven J. Ertel, farmer, Maple Lake township, was born in Indiana, May 29, 1879, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Enxel) Ertel, natives of Indiana, now living near Batesville, in that state. In the family there were seven children: Mary, wife of John Sehwegmann, of Indiana ; Clara, of Batesville, Ind .; Steven J .; and Clemence, Emma, Anna and Joseph, of Batesville, Ind. Steven J. has devoted his life to farming. In 1902 he came to Wright county, and settled on 160 aeres in section 22. Maple Lake township. The traet at that time was heavily wooded. Mr. Ertel eut down the timber, broke the land and erected build- ings, and brought the place to a high degree of improvement. He earries on general farming and is one of the prosperous men of the township. Mr. Ertel is a Demoerat in polities, and has served as assessor of the township for three years. He has also been assistant road overseer. Fraternally he associates with the Cath- olie Order of Foresters. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Ertel was married, May 12, 1903, to Jane McAlpine, and they have one son, Henry Steven, born November 7, 1906. Mrs. Ertel was the daughter of John and Ellen (Halalan) MeAlpine, pioneers of Wright county, both now deceased. In the McAlpine family there were ten children: John (deceased) ; Thomas, of Summerlands, British Columbia ; Mamie, wife of W. D. Young, of Princeton, British Columbia; Agnes (deceased) ; Jane, wife of Steven J. Ertel ; George, of Maple Lake township; Rosanna, wife of John O. Laughlin, of Minneapolis; Paul (deceased) ; Franeis, of Chisholm, Minn .; and Irene, who lives with Rosanna.
James McAlpine, farmer and stoek raiser, Maple Lake town- ship, was born in Ireland, in 1842, son of Patriek and Bridget (MeKeown) MeAlpine. The family started for America in 1843. The father and two children died on shipboard. The mother, with John (now deceased), Michael (now of Iowa) and James, continued the trip and settled in Canada. For her second husband the mother married Michael Donohue, and this union has been blessed with five children: Thomas (deceased) ; Michael, of Can- ada; Bridget, wife of William Kennedy, of Canada; Maria (de- ceased), and Annie, the wife of Patriek Evans, of Canada. James McAlpine remained with his mother in Canada until twenty years old. He devoted his youth to farming, logging and river driving. It was in 1865 that he came to Wright county, and located in seetion 34, Maple Lake township, where he seeured eighty aeres. He now owns 114 aeres of good land and carries on general farming. Mr. MeAlpine was married, September 29, 1874, to Mary McDonald, a native of the Province of Ontario,
518
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Canada, daughter of John and Mary (Nicholson) McDonald. The father died in Canada, and the mother came to Wright county in 1897 and died two years later. In the MeDonald family there were nine children : Patrick, of Stuart, Minn .; James (deceased) ; John, of Grand Rapids, Minn .; Thomas (deceased) ; Peter, of Hibbing, Minn .; Margaret, the wife of William Carral, of Hib- bing, Minn .; Bridget, the wife of Thomas Mooney; and Julia, the wife of John Doran, of Grand Rapids, Min. The oldest in the family is Mary, the wife of James McAlpine. Mr. and Mrs. McAlpine have had ten children: James (deceased) ; John (de- ceased ) ; Michael, at home : Mary, of Grand Rapids, Minn .; Nellic, a teacher ; Alfred, chief of the fire department at Chisholm, Minn .; Blanche, a teacher; Margaret and Lillian, at home; and Cora, who is attending the St. Cloud State Normal School.
George L. Katilinek, farmer, Maple Lake township, was born in the township where he still resides, February 15, 1887, son of Thomas and Mary (Meier) Katilinek, natives of Germany, who came to America and settled in section 22, Maple Lake town- ship. In the family there were ten children: Henry (deceased) ; Alma, wife of Walter Obey: George L .; Genevieve, wife of Leo Rohenbeck, of Onamia, Min .; Walter, of Maple Lake township; Alice, attending the St. Cloud State Normal School; Nettie, at home; Lester, of Maple Lake township; and Florence and Roger, at home. George L. Katilinek attended the public schools, was reared to agricultural pursuits, has always lived at home, and in 1913 took charge of the home place. He has 160 acres in section 22, and successfully carries on general farming. Mr. Katilinek was married, October 16, 1912, to Lilly Pavliek, of Maple Lake township, and they have one son, Mark, born July 8, 1913. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.