USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 18
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
Mathias M. Jenniges, a farmer of Willow Lake township, was born November 11, 1884, on the homestead of his father in sec- tion 20, Willow Lake township, this county. He received his edu- cation at the district school, and after growing to manhood, en- gaged in farming. At first he located on part of his father's holdings in section 6, where he farmed for seven years. He made many improvements on the place and did considerable tiling, this being the first work of his brother, Peter Jenniges, who is engaged in the ditching and tiling business. In the fall of 1915 he lo- cated on the homestead in section 20, where he now farms 360 acres of land, and also raises good stock. He is laying down a mile and a half of tiling on the farm, using about five carloads of tile. Mr. Jenniges is at present serving as township clerk, having been first appointed to fill the vacancy caused by his father's death, the father having held this office for many years. He was re-elected at the spring election of 1916. He is a share- holder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Wabasso, Minn. Mr. Jenniges was married October 13, 1908, to Anna Turbes, who was born on her father's homestead in Willow Lake township, Novem-
Digitized by Google
766
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
ber 23, 1886. He and his wife are the parents of five children : Marcella Anna, Aloysius Christian, Matilda Gertrude, Edmund Mathias and Mathia Valentine. Religiously the family belongs to the Catholic church.
Athanas Henle was born in Erbach, Wurttemberg, Germany, December 6, 1829, where he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade. In 1853 he came to the United States by sail- ing vessel and located in Chicago, where he remained one year. Then journeying on to Minnesota, he halted eight miles northwest of section 5, Milford township, Brown county, on the southern side of the Minnesota, where he decided to remain. It was a wild country, occupied largely by Indians, with whom he became very friendly. At the time of the outbreak, in 1862, he with others fled to New Ulm. Mr. Henle became a prominent citizen of his locality, serving on the township board and on the school board. He was married in 1855 to Elizabeth Fink, who was born in Erbach, Wurttemberg, Germany, March 22, 1831, and came to the United States in 1853 with a sister and brother-in-law, the latter being a Mr. Zettel, who located near Mr. Henle's place. The whole Zettel family was killed by the Indians during the out- break. The parents of Elizabeth Fing came to Minnesota a few years later and located near the rest of the family on the Minne- sota river. They were both killed in the outbreak, with twenty- two others that belonged to that family. It was these people who gave the name to New Ulm, they having come from near Ulm in Germany. Mr. Henle died at New Ulm in 1893 and was sur- vived a number of years by his wife, who died October 6, 1907. Their children were: Mary, living at Redwood Falls; Martin, who is deceased; Cresentia, wife of Frank X. Schlumpberger; Athanas, John, Anton and Joseph (deceased). The family faith is that of the Catholic church.
Frank X. Schlumpberger, of the J. H. Queel & Co., a lumber company, of Wanda, was born in Cottonwood township, Brown county, Minn., March 19, 1865, son of John and Agatha (Rohner) Schlumpberger. The father was born in Hansen, Oberamt Her- denheim, Wurttemberg, Germany, October 28, 1836, son of Christ and Ursula (Zimmermann) Schlumpberger. John Schlumpberger emigrated to the United States in 1861, the voyage by sailing ves- sel taking 24 days. On landing in this country he came directly to New Ulm, Minnesota, where he became bartender at the Da- kota House, and was thus employed when the Indian hostilities broke out. He took part in the defense against the savages, and in October, 1862, joined the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers and served with them for a year, being present at the hanging of the Indians at Mankato. After this he was employed in a brewery until 1864. Marrying in that year, he located on a tract of 120 acres in section 5, Cottonwood township, Brown county.
-
Digitized by Google
767
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Ten acres of the land had been broken and there was an old log house on the place into which he moved with his wife. The near- est milling place was at Mankato. For four successive seasons the grasshoppers destroyed his crops, but he was perservering and industrious and finally conquered success. Prominent in pub- lic affairs, he held township office, rendering useful service on the school board. He was married June, 1864, to Agatha Rohner, who was born in the Tyrol, Austria, November 14, 1843, daughter of .John George Rohner. Her father later emigrated to America, her mother, Mary (Schneider) Rohner, dying in Germany. Mrs. John Schlumpberger came to the United States in 1853 with her aunt and uncle. They located in Ohio the first year and in 1856 came to Brown county, Minnesota, after reaching Dubuque, trav. eling with an ox team. Mr. and Mrs. John Schlumpberger have now retired from active work and are enjoying the remaining years of their life at New Ulm. They have had twelve children : five sons and seven daughters, all of whom are living with the exception of one son. Frank X. Schlumpberger, who is the eldest of these twelve children, was reared on the parental homestead. He acquired his early education in the district school in Cotton- wood township, later attended school at Mankato, and for about ten years subsequently was engaged in teaching in Brown county. Coming to Redwood county in 1902, he located in Clements, where he was engaged in the lumber business until 1907, also serving for three years as clerk of the school board. In the year last men- tioned he moved to Wanda and engaged in the lumber business with J. H. Queel and Co. Here also he has held public office, hav- ing been a member of the village board and having also served four years as school clerk. Mr. Schlumpberger was married to Mrs. Cresentia Henle Weisensee, widow of Joe Weisensee and daughter of Athanas Henle, born in Milford, Brown county. By her first marriage there is one child, Elizabeth, who was married January 28, 1913, to John Moelter, of Wanda, who is in the dray business. Mr. and Mrs. Schlumpberger have five children : John, Florence, Emil, Frank and Lucy.
Nicholas Moelter was born in Germany, March 23, 1853, son of Mat. and Anna Catherina (Knauf) Moelter. His mother died at the age of 28 years, when Nicholas was four years old, and left three children : John, Nicholas and Barbara, who died at the age of four years. In 1872, the father, with John and Nicholas, emigrated to the United States, the voyage by steamer taking thirteen days. They first settled in Chicago, where they remained four years. Then Mr. Moelter returned to Germany where, after remaining about a year, he was taken sick and died at the age of fifty-four. The son John is now in Wathena, Kansas. Nicho- las Moelter received his schooling in Germany and while in Chi- cago did whatever kind of work he was able to get. After four
Digitized by yGoogle
768
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
years he went to La Salle, Ill., where he worked in the coal mines for three years. In 1878 he came to Minnesota, locating in Sigel township, Brown county. After a short time he secured a home- stead of 80 acres of wild land in section 22, Willow Lake town- ship, Redwood county. Two acres of this land were broken, but there were no buildings, and Redwood Falls was the nearest mill- ing place. He built a rude shack, 12 by 14 feet and ten feet high, into which he and his wife moved. He owned very little in the way of farm equipment to start with and had only two cows. However, the neighbors helped him until he was able to get a team of horses. His wife spun the yarn needed for stockings, caps and mittens. Mr. Moelter set out a grove and gradually made improvements until now he has a well-cultivated farm of 400 acres, a nice residence and good farm buildings. He has held township offices and has served on the school board.
Mr. Moelter was married April 7, 1879, to Margaret Jenniges, who was born October 16, 1859, in Germany, daughter of Chris- tian and Mary (Brauer) Jenniges. In 1869 the parents with their six children, came to America and located near New Ulm, Sigel township, Brown county, Minn., where they had secured land and where they resided for about 11 years. They then moved to Willow Lake township, Redwood county, purchasing 80 acres of wild railroad land in section 23, to which they later added 80 acres more. Here they set out groves, erected buildings and lived out the rest of their lives. Mr. Jenniges died in 1895, at the age of 69, and his wife in 1891, at the age of 65 years. Mr. and Mrs. Moelter have had fifteen children: Mary, Anna, Katie, Margaret, Mat, John, William, Nicholas, Susan, Julia, George, Beno, Christ and two who died in infancy. The family faith is that of the Catholic church.
William C. Meyer, a successful farmer of Willow Lake town- ship, was born in Denmark, October 1, 1862, son of Julius and Frederica (Book) Meyer. His parents emigrated to America in 1871, bringing with them their family of five children; Amelia, Emma, William C., Hans F., and Christian, who is now deceased. They came first to New Ulm, Brown county, Minn., and then settled in Nicollet county, where they remained three years rent- ing the farm of Christian Book, a relative. One child was born there, but died in infancy, and the mother died at the age of thirty-five. Mr. Meyer was married again to Barbara Rotnam, of Norway, who came to the United States about the same time that Mr. Meyer did, locating in Goodhue county, Minn. Then the family moved to Redwood county and located on a homestead in section 32, Sundown township, where they obtained 80 acres of wild land. A rude house of rough lumber was built and plas- tered with clay. A hole was dug in the hillside, covered with rails and straw and used for a barn. An ox team was used to
Digitized by Google
-
-
Digitized by
MC.HAVE CHOSEN
Mest Lara TiHojen
WILLIAM C. MEYER AND FAMILY
Digitized by Google
1
769
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
break the land. The nearest market was Redwood Falls. Mr. Meyer set out a grove of trees and in time erected many substan- tial buildings, carrying on general farming. He became suff- ciently prominent to serve one term as township supervisor. The family faith was that of the Lutheran church and many of the early services were held at his home. Mr. Meyer also assisted in the building of the Sundown township Scandinavian Lutheran church, located in section 28, and served as its trustee. He died in 1906 at the age of 71 years. The children of his second mar- riage were: Engebret, Anna, Peter, Guri, and Frederica, who is now deceased. The mother died September, 1915. William C. Meyer attended school in Denmark for about two years, but after his arrival in America found little time to continue his edu- cation. He assisted his father and remained at home till 24 years of age. Then he located on 80 acres of wild school land in sec- tion 36, Willow Lake township, which he had bought in 1884. A small frame house, 20 by 14 feet and 10 feet high, was built and roofed with straw. A rude barn of rough boards, 14 by 16 feet in size, with hay on top, was built for the horses. He started farming with four cows, a team of horses and a colt. As time passed he made many improvements, set out a fine grove, and built a comfortable eleven-room house. He now operates 440 acres of land, carrying on general farming and stock-raising and keeping a good grade of stock. In addition to the property above mentioned, which constitutes the home farm, he owns 160 acres of land in section 22, Willow Lake township; 160 acres in North Star township, Brown county, and 160 acres in Norman county, Minnesota. Mr. Meyer has held office on the school board since the district was organized twenty years ago. He is a director of the Sanborn Farmers' Elevator Company, and of the Farmers' Store and a stockholder in the Farmers' Bank of Sanborn and in the Springfield Telephone Company.
Mr. Meyer was united in marriage May 7, 1886, to Anna Hojem, who was born in Norway, June 4, 1862, daughter of Lars and Goranna Hojem. Her parents emigrated from Norway to Iowa in 1869, with their four children, Grace, John, Anna and Theodore. After remaining in Iowa two years, they came in 1871 to Minnesota, when another child, Louis, was born.
The trip from Iowa had been made by ox team, the children driving the calves and cows and walking most of the way. They located on a homestead of 80 acres in section 28, Sundown town- ship, Redwood county. Here a dugout was built in the side of a hill and covered with sod. The nearest market was New Ulm and often wheat for family use was ground in the coffee mill. The mother spun wool into yarn to make stockings, caps and mittens for the family. Mr. Hojem, who was one of the early settlers in the locality, helped to organize the township, held the
Digitized by Google
770
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
office of treasurer on the township board and also helped to organize the district school and served as a member of the school board. A leading church member, he donated half an acre of land to the church, of which he was one of the trustees, Rasmus Jenson also donating half an acre. Mr. and Mrs. Hojem owned 240 acres of land at the time of their death. He died in the fall of 1895 at the age of 75 and his wife in 1911 at the age of 82 years. Mr. and Mrs. William C. Meyer are the parents of nine children : Julius, who married Lenora Leberg and resides in Nor- man county, Minnesota; Lydia (Mrs. H. Hemmingson, residing in Sundown township) ; Lars, who married Lillian Puck and resides in North Star township, Brown county; Fred, Emil, Tilda, Wil- liam T., Anna and Leander. Mr. Meyer and his family belong to the Lutheran church, of which he has been treasurer and a trustee for many years.
Knute O. Olson, one of Redwood county's pioneer settlers, now deceased, was born in Norway, October 20, 1846, son of Ole and Christina Olson, who lived on their farmstead called Odden. In 1852 they came to the United States by sailing vessel-the voyage taking about 17 weeks-and located on a farm near Eau Claire, Wis., where they engaged in agriculture. From this farm three boys went to war and died on the battlefield. Later Ole Olson brought his family to Goodhue county, Minnesota, making the journey with an ox team. Locating in Bell Creek township on a tract of wild land, he put up a log building and broke the land with his oxen. Here he remained until his death at the age of 85 years. He was a member of the Scandinavian Lutheran church. After having lived in Wisconsin for three years Knute O. Olson, then 9 years of age, left home to shift for himself. He herded cattle and did what else he could find to do. In time he secured employment with the T. G. Mandt Wagon factory at Stoughton, Wis., and began to learn the trade of a wagonmaker. When Mr. Mandt added a blacksmith shop to his plant, Knute O. Olson became the blacksmith's helper and thus learned the trade of a blacksmith, at which he worked until 1870. He then came to Minnesota, traveling on foot a distance of over 1,300 miles be- fore arriving at his destination in Redwood county. Taking a homestead in section 22, Willow Lake township, he put up a sod shanty. His nearest neighbor was a Mr. Evans, who lived three miles away. The following year he bought an ox team and then began to break the land, having to go a long way east for his oxen. When his plow share became dull he carried it on his back to New Ulm to get it sharpened. This long tiresome journey made him decide to have a blacksmith shop of his own, and as soon as he had secured a few tools, he drove by ox team to the Minnesota river and got a few poles. With these he constructed a frame, around which he built a sod blacksmith shop-prob-
Digitized by Google
--
771
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
ably the first blacksmith shop in this section, if not in all Red- wood county. It proved a popular institution, and the settlers would come from great distances to have work done. After four or five years Mr. Olson set out a grove. All the hardships of pioneer life were experienced by him. The nearest milling place was at New Ulm. The grasshoppers came for five years in succes- sion and destroyed his crops, and those of his neighbors, so that they had to work out to secure necessary supplies and clothing. After a time Mr. Olson built a one-story house, 40x14 feet, banked with dirt, in one end of which was an old brick oven for burning hay. He was one of the organizers of the township and held public office. He also helped to organize the school district, was school director as long as he lived and was one of the early mem- bers of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Mr. Olson was married in 1872 to Anna Errickson, who was born in Norway, April 25, 1848, and came to the United States in 1854, being 14 weeks on the ocean. She came directly to Goodhue county, Minnesota. As a child she became acquainted with Mr. Olson, her future husband. Sometime after their marriage they moved by ox team from that county to the new home in Redwood county, and went to housekeeping in the sod shanty. She brought with her a spinning wheel and during the winter months spun yarn to make the caps, mittens and stockings for the family.
Their children were Lewis, of Willow Lake township, and Ole, a farmer in North Dakota. Mr. Olson died in 1892 and his wife died in 1893. They are buried in the church yard cemetery at Sundown.
Lewis Olson, son of Knute O. and Anna (Errickson) Olson, was born July 13, 1873, in Goodhue county, Minnesota. He re- ceived but a meagre education and began working very early. Growing to manhood on the home place, he learned the black- smith trade of his father. In time he took charge of the parental farm of 160 acres, which he now operates, having a well cul- tivated place and raising good stock. He is one of the organizers and is treasurer of the Wanda Creamery, having held that office since its organization. He has also shares in the Wanda Bank and in the Farmers' Insurance Company. Prominent in township affairs, he has been supervisor for eight years and clerk of the school board for 12 or 14 years. Religiously he is affiliated with the Lutheran church.
Mr. Olson was married in October, 1898, to Barbara Dress, a native of Germany and daughter of Mat. and Anna Catherine Dress. Her mother died in Germany, leaving eight children, and the father in 1894 brought the rest of the family, with the excep- tion of the oldest daughter Maggie, to Minnesota, located on sec- tion 7, Willow Lake township, Redwood county, where he died in
Digitized by Google
772
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
1898. He was a member of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Olson have had the following children: Alfred, Anna, Gertrude, Agnes, Wilbur, Louisa, Arnold and Mat. (deceased).
James C. Peterson, a farmer of Willow Lake township, was born in Denmark, April 7, 1850, son of Peter and Anna (Larsen) Peterson who lived and died as farmers in Denmark. There were five children in the family ; Elsie, Christ, James, Mary, and Peter, of whom Christ and Elsie were the first to come to the United States. James received his early education in Denmark and came to the United States in 1873, locating at once in New Ulm, Minn. He worked at railroad and farm work for about a year and then, going to Omaha, Nebraska, was in the employ of Hil- man and Company, clothing store proprietors, for three or four years. He then went to Chicago, Ill., and worked for the Illinois Central railroad. After a time he decided to own a place for him- self and returning to Minnesota, located on a farm near Lamber- ton, which he rented for five years. At the end of that time he went to Chippewa county, where he bought 160 acres of land and resided for three years. Then, selling that property, he bought 80 acres in section 23, Willow Lake township, Redwood county, which place he has since improved.
Mr. Peterson was married in 1882 to Catherine Casterson, a native of Germany, who came to the United States when 19 years of age. She died in 1910. Five children were born of this union, Charles, George, Walter, Arthur and Anna. Mr. Peterson and his family belong to the Lutheran church.
Peter W. Ross, a farmer of Willow Lake township, was born on his father's farm in section 16, Willow Lake township, March 29, 1882, son of John Henry and Madeline (Turbes) Ross. The father, John Henry Ross, was a native of Germany, born October 24, 1841, son of Hubert Ross and wife. He acquired his education in Germany and learned the carpenter's trade. In 1857 when 16 years of age, he emigrated to the United States and settled near New Ulm, Minn. During the outbreak of Sioux Indians in 1862, he took part in the defense against the savages. Removing to Redwood county, he purchased 80 acres in section 16, Willow Lake township, on which he built a small shack and set out a grove. Later he erected a barn and house and in time increased his holdings of land to 400 acres. He now resides in Lamberton.
Peter W. Ross, in his youth, attended the school in his locality and remained at home on the farm until he was 23 years of age. He then engaged in the dray business at Springfield. Five years later he moved to the old family homestead in Willow Lake town- ship, and now has a good farm of 200 acres. Here he carries on general farming, raises good stock and also specializes in Rhode Island Red poultry. Mr. Ross was married April 23, 1912, to Catherine Schneider of Springfield, daughter of John Schneider,
Digitized by Google
-
-
--
Digitized by Google
GEORGE SCHOTTENBAUER AND FAMILY
Digitized by
-
773
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
a native of Austria. They have two children, Alfred and Chris- tina. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
George Schottenbauer, a well-to-do farmer of Willow Lake township, was born in Germany August 18, 1867. His parents, John and Barbara (Fogel) Schottenbauer, the former born in 1831, located in New Ulm, Minn., where the father went to work in the mill. Later he took a homestead in Brown county, on which he built a log house, 12x14, and a straw barn. This he subsequently sold and in 1879 moved to Redwood county, where he secured 480 acres of partly broken land in New Avon town- ship, 160 acres of which is still owned by him. Mrs. Schotten- bauer died in 1879, leaving five children, George, Maggie, Anna, Mary and Katie.
George Schottenbauer, in his boyhood days, attended the dis- trict school four miles from his home and grew to manhood on the homestead. When 24 years of age he located in Willow Lake township, where he had secured 160 acres of land in section 12. The following year he built a barn and granary, making his home in the latter until he could build a house. After the erection of the house, which was 16x24 feet, he resided in it eleven years, in time making additions and improvements to it, so that now he has a fine nine-room dwelling. In 1898 he built a barn 48x60 feet. On his farm he raises small grain. In 1893 Mr. Schotten- baner bought 40 acres in section 13, in 1895, 160 acres in section 7, Sundown township, and in 1913, 160 acres in section 6, in the same township. This land is now all under cultivation. He is a stockholder in the Wanda Creamery. Mr. Schottenbauer was married June 15, 1888, to Kate Hornick, and their children are: George, Margaret, William, Matilda, Hedwig, Leonard, Otto, Bernard and Ledwina. The family faith is that of the Catholic church.
Herman John Stern, a successful farmer of Willow Lake town- ship, was born in Pomerania, Germany, April 24, 1862, son of Fred and Charlotta (Modeska) Stern. His parents, who were farming people, had seven children, Herman, Albert, Matilda, Elena, August, Mary and Charles. In 1882 they came to Minne- sota and located near Springfield, where they purchased 80 acres of land and engaged in farming. There were then no buildings on the place, but good ones were soon erected. In time additions were made to the farm until it contained over a section of land. Fred Stern and his wife have retired from active work and now live at Springfield. Religiously they are of the Lutheran church.
Herman J. Stern, as a boy, attended school in Germany. At the age of 18 years he left his native land for the United States to join his Uncle Frank Rodka, who was living near Springfield and who had sent him money for his journey. He arrived at his destination in August, 1880, and began working on the farms and
Digitized by Google
774
HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
doing railroad work to earn enough to repay his uncle. In 1887 he bought 120 acres of wild school land in section 36, Willow Lake township. A neighbor broke a few acres for him and here he began farming with five cows. He built a barn of posts and boards, 20x30 feet, and a frame house, 16x24, and after two years set out a grove. He has improved his property and added to it until he now farms 280 acres of land in sections 35 and 36, Willow Lake township. He carries on general farming, raising good stock, and has considerable land set out in fruit. He has built an eight-room house and a barn, 32x52 feet, and has numerous other necessary or useful buildings. As an intelligent citizen, ready to be of public service, he has served as a member of school board, district 88. Mr. Stern was united in marriage May 30, 1884, to Teresa Fleishman, a native of Germany, born in Saxony, May 27, 1864, daughter of George and Anna (Arp) Fleishman, and who, at the age of two years, was brought to the United States by her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Stern have the following children: Al- bert, now owner of 160 acres of farm land in section 24; Theodore, of section 35, Willow Lake; Emma (deceased) ; Lilly; Mary ; Pau- lina; Lawrence; Clara; Charlotta; Anna; Alvina; Elizabeth and George.
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.