USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 25
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stead. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Sanborn. Mr. Yackel was married to Rosa Stock of Lewiston, Minn., whose parents were early settlers there. Mr. and Mrs. Yackel have three children : Harold, Oscar and Earl.
Charles G. Trapp, a prominent farmer and stockraiser of Charlestown township, was born in Pomerania, Germany, April 18, 1856, son of Fritz Trapp, who brought his family to the United States in 1874 and located in Wisconsin. After three years they moved to Minnesota, locating in Charlestown township, Redwood county. Charles Trapp secured a homestead of 160 acres of land in section 20, Charlestown township, where he now lives. He has erected good buildings and added 80 acres to his farm in section 21. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Co. and the Farmers State Bank of Sanborn. Mr. Trapp was married to Annestena Kennese, a native of Germany. They have had seven children : Albert, Reinhardt, Alma, Anna, Herbert, Clarence, Arthur, deceased.
John G. H. Scharmann, one of the active and enterprising farmers of Charlestown township, was born in Lewiston, Minn., Dec. 30, 1869, son of George and Elizabeth (Huehneogorth) Schar- mann, natives of Germany and was married there. They emi- grated to the United States with their child, Catherine, in 1865 and came to Lewiston, where they rented a farm. John and Edward were born there. In 1872 they came by horse team to Charlestown township and located on 160 acres of land in sec- tion 34. They built a small frame house and began farming. Minnie was born here. They suffered much from the snow and grasshoppers. One crop was harvested before the grasshoppers came and then for five years they had no crops. The father had to seek work elsewhere to provide food and clothing for the family. After the grasshopper siege things were better and he began to prosper. In time he added 240 acres of land to his farm and built a good house. He was a member of the German Luth- eran church. He died Sept. 15, 1904, at the age of seventy and his wife died Oct. 6, 1891, at the age of fifty-two. John Scharmann attended the district school of the neighborhood and lived on his father's farm until he located on his present place in section 27, where he began with 160 acres. He now farms 320 acres. He has a good modern house. He raises good grade of stock of all kinds. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator and of both banks at Sanborn, also the telephone company. He has been chairman of the board of supervisors. He was married to Amelia Struemke Jan. 30, 1873, daughter of Gotlieb and Augusta Struemke. She came with her parents from Germany to the United States when eight years old and lived at Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Scharmann have four children: Aurelia, George, Edna and Lester.
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John Neob, a substantial farmer of Charlestown township, was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, Dec. 31, 1859, son of Henry and Catherine (Stuck) Neeb, natives of Germany. Henry Neeb came to Wisconsin in 1855, and Catherine Stuck came in 1856, both locating in Wisconsin, where they were married. They moved onto a farm in Dodge county, built a log cabin and farmed with one team of oxen. Three children were born in Wisconsin : Minnie, John and Bertha. In 1862 the family moved to Lewiston, Minn., and here three more children were born: Henry, Julius and Caroline. In 1872 they moved to Charlestown township, com- ing with a horse team and covered wagon and secured a home- stead of 160 acres in section 24. Elizabeth was born here. A frame building was put up which is now part of the present house ; a sod barn was also built. They had two cows. The grasshoppers took the first crop, and it was not until 1877 that they raised a good crop. The father worked out in order to earn a living for the family. During one of the severe snow storms he was lost for three days. He held township offices. The first school was taught in his house and he was one of the organizers of one of the first school districts. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He died at the age of fifty-two years, and his wife died at the age of forty-five years. John Neeb received his schooling at the school held in his father's home, and grew up on the farm, and now has charge of it. He raises good stock. He has been assessor for the past three years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Store and Farmers Elevator Co. Mr. Neeb was married May 20, 1884, to Frederica Trapp, born May 15, 1864, in Germany and came to America with her parents when seven years old. Mr. and Mrs. Neeb have had the following children : Gusta, Lillie and Elizabeth and four boys who are dead: John, Bernard, Henry and Edward.
Alexander Wog was born in Dalsland, Sweden, son of Ole Rhenhard Wog. His father died when Alexander was a child. He came to America when a young man in 1869, stopping at St. Paul. He worked in the pineries for a time and then came to Charlestown township in company with Ole Burg, Daniel Trom- berg and August Strong, all now deceased. Mr. Wog located 80 acres in section 10 and built a shanty 12x14, set out a grove and began farming. At first he used horses in partnership with Mr. Burg but later he bought a team of oxen. He also had one cow. His wife spun the yarn for the stockings, mittens and caps used by the family. Shoes were made by knitting the tops and making leather soles. The grasshoppers took several crops dur- ing the first years. Redwood Falls was the nearest milling place. By dint of hard work he began to prosper and in time added 80 acres more to his farm. He was interested in public affairs of the township and helped secure the station at Sanborn. Lam-
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berton at that time was only a siding. He held office on the school board and was one of the organizers of the old school dis- trict. He was married Sept. 12, 1874, in Minneapolis, to Agnetta Danielson, born in Wermland, Sweden, April 24, 1846, and came to the United States in 1870 with her brother Daniel, locating at St. Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Wog have five children: Daniel, Carl, Gust, William and Alfred. He died June 23, 1887, at the age of thirty-nine years.
J. Alfred Wog was born Dec. 22, 1884, son of Alexander and Agnetta Danielson Wog. He remained at home and engaged in farming, taking charge of the farm. He farms 280 acres and raises good stock. He built a modern house. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Co. and the Farmers State Bank of Sanborn. Mr. Wog was married to Lillie Lockie, and they have one child, Abigal Lockie Wog.
Charles Hensch of Charlestown township was born in Branden- burg, Germany, Jan. 22, 1866, son of William and Louisa (Herzoe) Hensch, natives of Germany. They came to America with their four children: Gusta, Charles, Herman and William. They lo- cated in Washington county Minnesota, where the father worked out and later rented a farm. He died in Blue Earth county at the age of seventy years. The children born in Minnesota were: Lucy and Minnie. Charles Hensch attended school in Washing- ton county and grew to manhood there. He learned the black- smith trade. After a time he went to Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county, where he lived for twelve years. Then he came to Charles- town township and secured 160 acres of land. He has improved the place, added buildings and brought his land to a high state of cultivation, and raises O. I. C. hogs, Holstein cattle, and keeps a good grade of horses. He has served as justice of the peace and road boss. For several years he served on the board of su- pervisors and at present is the treasurer of the school board. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Co. and the Farmers Co-operative Store of Sanborn. Mr. Hensch married Margaret Mayer and they have the following children: George, Carl, Wal- ter, Theodore, William, Louisa, Edna and Leonard. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.
Henry Mayer was born in Germany, Jan. 7, 1839, son of George Henry and Elizabeth Margot (Gluckner) Mayer. George was a farmer in Germany and came to New York July 4, 1850, with five children : Jacob, Elizabeth, Henry, Antoine and Peter. Another child, George, was born in Wisconsin. George Mayer went to Dodge county, Wisconsin and located some land. He built a log cabin and began farming with an ox team. Milwaukee was the nearest market. He remained there fourteen years and then sold out and moved to Winona county, locating near Lewiston. After four years he moved to Blue Earth county, where he farmed for
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four years and then died at the age of seventy-five. His wife died at the age of eighty. They were members of the German Lutheran church. Henry Mayer received his schooling in Ger- many and was about eleven years old when he came to the United States. There was little opportunity for going to school in Wis- consin. He came to Minnesota as a young man and lived with his father about four years and then, in 1868, started farming for himself on 160 acres near Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county. He built a frame house 14x19 and a straw barn, and began to farm with an ox team, one cow, and a hen with chickens. He endured all the hardships of the pioneer days and suffered much from the snow storms and grasshoppers, losing his crops several years in succession. He lived there thirty-five years. In 1901 they moved to Charlestown township, where they are still living. Mr. Mayer married Margaret Ohlis in 1866, born in Germany May 29, 1844, daughter of George and Engel Henns, natives of Germany. There were four children in the family: Henry, Engel, Jochin and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer have had eleven children: Henrietta, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Pope; Margaret, now Mrs. Han- ach; George, Henry, Antoine F., died in infancy; Adolph and three who died in infancy.
Christopher Whelan, an early settler of Willow Lake township, of which he was a well known and respected citizen for many years, was a native of Canada, and came from that country in 1872, with his wife, Jane (Roach) Whelan, and their family of ten children to Minnesota, settling at Delano, Wright county. In 1872 he came to Redwood county and took a homestead of 160 acres in section 34, Willow Lake township. In the spring of 1873 he brought his family and took up his home here. All the children came with him, except a daughter, Clara, who never came to this county. On commencing farming operations here Mr. Whelan put up a small building and bought a team of oxen and a few cows. At first he had serious difficulties to contend with and many discouragements. In 1874 and for several succeeding years the grasshoppers came and destroyed his crops and those of his neighbors, but he persevered and in time reaped his reward. After a while he secured another claim of timber land. He became a prominent man in the community and was selected to serve on the township board and also on the school board. Being a de- voted member of the Catholic church, religious services in the early days were held at his home, and in time he had the satisfac- tion of helping to build St. Mathias Catholic Church in Willow Lake township. Mr. Whelan died in 1898, when he had attained the advanced age of seventy-nine years, after an industrious and well spent life. His wife was not long in following him to the Better Land, passing away in November, 1900, at the age of seventy-five. She, too, had done her part, having been a faithful
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helpmeet to her husband, a careful housewife and a good mother. They had in all thirteen children, three of whom, however, died young. The ten who grew up were: John R., Joseph, William, Clara, Nora, Christ W., Lewis, Mark, Michael and Hannah.
John R. Whelan was born in Carleton county, Ontario, Canada, November 7, 1846, son of Christopher and Jane (Roach) Whelan, who were natives of Canada. From that country they came to Minnesota in 1872, first settling in Wright county, but soon after in Willow Lake township, Redwood county. John R. was a young man when he came with the family to Minnesota. In 1872 he se- cured a homestead of wild land in section 2, Charlestown town- ship, set out a grove and built a house and barn. He subsequently acquired more land and carried on diversified farming, keeping a good grade of Shorthorn cattle. He was a member of the Farmers Elevator Company, a director in the Farmers Bank at Sanborn, and a stockholder in the Wanda Bank. He also ren- dered useful service on the school board. His death, which oc- curred February 14, 1916, was widely regretted. Mr. Whelan was married to Ellen Dooner, who was born in Canada, daughter of John Dooner, her father being a native of Ireland, who later located in Willow Lake township, Redwood county. Mr. and Mrs. Whelan had the following children: Andrew Joseph; William Henry, of Minneapolis; John Christopher; James Norman, who died February 22, 1908; Maria Jennette, now Mrs. Edward Flaig of Charlestown township; Jane Angeline, who died July 22, 1913, and Elmer, who is residing on the home farm. The family faith is that of the Catholic church. After a useful and active life, Mrs. Whelan died July 24, 1895.
John Christopher Whelan, a rising young farmer of Charles- town, was born on his father's homestead, Nov. 30, 1881. He attended the district school and grew to manhood on the home place, after which he rented the farm. He also owns one quarter of section 3, Charlestown township. He carries on general farm- ing, raising good stock and is, besides, a member of the Farmers Elevator Company, the Farmers Store and the Farmers State Bank. Mr. Whelan was married Feb. 23, 1909, to Martha Black, who was born at Sleepy Eye June 2, 1884, daughter of John Black, a meat dealer and carpenter who later located at Sanborn. Mr. and Mrs. Whelan's children are: Everett, Helen, James and Elaine.
Emil J. Moude, a successful farmer of Charlestown township, was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, Oct. 16, 1868, son of John and Johanna Moude, both natives of Germany. In 1867 they emigrated to America with their three children: Anna, Matilda and Gusta, coming by sailing vessel. They were twenty- eight days on the water. They stopped a short time in New York and then went to Reeds Landing, Wabasha, where they re-
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JOHN R. WHELAN
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mained one year. In 1871 they drove by ox team to Redwood county and located in the southeast quarter of section 30, Charles- town township, on Dutch Charley Creek, where they put up a stove and a clay building. The second building was of logs and later they had a frame building. The snow storms were very severe and once during a blizzard Mr. Moude lost his way. For several years the grasshoppers destroyed his crops, but in time he prospered and added more land, securing 80 acres of land by pre-emption. He died in 1897 at the age of seventy-two and his wife died Dec. 10, 1891, at the age of sixty-four years. They were members of the Evangelical church. Emil J. Woude grew to man- hood on his father's farm and took charge of the old homestead. He has erected a new barn and made extensive improvements. He raises a good grade of Red Poll cattle and O. I. C. and Chester White hogs. He farms about 135 acres. He has held township offices, having been supervisor for three years and also director of the school board for five years and clerk of same for ten years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Lam- berton. Mr. Moude was married in 1889 to Agnes Schonlach, a native of Wisconsin. Ten children were born to them: Martin, Lucy, William, Fern, Lee, Nona, Elsie, Everett, Leonard and Grace. 4.
Gotlieb Radach, now deceased, and one of the pioneers of Charlestown township, was born in Brandenburg, Germany, March, 1811. He married Caroline Schitz and with their three children, August, Caroline and Minnie, they came to America in 1855 and homesteaded in Herman township, Dodge county, Wis -. consin. In the fall of 1862 he moved to Lewiston, Minn., and lived there for a time. Then he secured a homestead of 80 acres in section 24, Charlestown township, Redwood county. It was all wild land and he set to work to break up the land with a team of oxen. He set out a grove and erected good buildings. His first house was a small building, 14 by 16 feet. Like many other set- tlers he suffered from the severe winter storms and from the grass- hoppers which destroyed his crops for five years. Half of his homestead was "jumped," so that he had only 40 acres. He was one of the organizers of Sanborn and held township office. The children born in the United States were Mary and Ferdinand. The family faith was that of the German Lutheran church.
Ferdinand Radach, a progressive farmer of Charlestown town. ship, was born in Herman township, Dodge county, Wis., May 15, 1855, son of Gotlieb and Caroline Radach. He was brought by his parents to Lewiston and later to Charlestown township, Redwood county, Minn. Here he attended the school held at the home of Mr. Neeb and taught by a Mr. Wagner. He grew to manhood here and engaged in farming, locating 160 acres in section 24. It was all wild land and five acres had been broken. He set out a fine
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grove and built a frame house, 18 by 14, which has since been re- placed with a modern house. When he first started farming he had a team of oxen and two cows. Besides his farm in Redwood county he also farms 80 acres in Brown county. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company. Mr. Radach was married to Mary Winter. They have had the following children: Ben, Law- rence, Esther, Anna, John, Otto, Eda, Dena and Laura.
John Weber, now deceased, was born in Germany in 1826 and died April 17, 1912, in Charlestown township, Redwood county, Minnesota. His parents came to America by sailing vessel and located in Wisconsin when he was 19 years of age. He farmed in Wisconsin until 1864 when he came to Winona county, Minne- sota, and located near Utica and Lewiston. In 1871 he came to Charlestown township and located 160 acres of wild land and here he built a log and frame building and began farming. He broke up the land, set out a good grove and in time built modern build- ings and added 160 acres more to his farm. He held township office and was one of the organizers of the township. He helped organize the German Lutheran church. Mr. Weber was married in Wisconsin to Mary Stock, who came to America from Germany with her mother when 15 years of age. Her father had died in Germany. They also located in Wisconsin. His wife died in 1902 at the age of 63 years. There were nine children in the family.
John H. Weber, son of John and Mary Weber, was born in Wisconsin, February 16, 1863, and brought to Redwood county when eight years old. He grew to manhood in Charlestown town- ship and had but meagre opportunity for an education. He took up farming on 80 acres of partly improved land and has since bought 160 acres adjoining. He set out a grove and in time built a modern house and a barn, 40 by 62. He carries on diversified farming and raises good Holstein cattle. He is a stockholder in the Telephone Company, the Farmers' State Bank, the Farmers' Store of Sanborn, and also director of the Farmers' Elevator of Sanborn. He has held township office and is the present township treasurer. He was married to Tillie Holznagel, daughter of Frederic Holznagel. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weber: Martha, Ella, Reinhardt, Arthur and Beata. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.
Otto J. Weber was born May 21, 1878, in the log cabin on his father's homestead on section 26, Charlestown township, Red- wood county, son of John and Mary (Stock) Weber. He attended the district school of his locality and grew to manhood on the home farm. He then bought the homestead and engaged in farm- ing for himself. He has made many improvements and additions. He carries on diversified farming and raises a good grade of stock. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of San- born. Mr. Weber married Emelia Kosel, born in Charlestown
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township, daughter of Rudolph and Wilhelmina Kosel, old pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Weber have five children : Lunetta, Roy, Ruth, Melvin, and Noreen. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.
Edward Leopold was born April 24, 1879, on section 28, Charlestown township, Redwood county, on the homestead of his father, Jacob Leopold. He received but little schooling and he grew to manhood on the farm. He remained at home on the farm until 1902, when he secured a tract of 160 acres of land in section 21. There were a couple of old buildings on the place and here he began farming for himself. In time he will have a good farm, and raise good stock. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator, the Farmers' Store and also the Farmers' State Bank, all of Sanborn. He was married to Henriette Pape. They have had the following children : Alvin, Myrtle and Orland. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.
Jacob Leopold, a well-known farmer of Charlestown township, was born in Saxony, Germany, October 30, 1841, son of George and Elizabeth (Runnel) Leopold. His father was a tailor by trade. He died at the age of 86 and his wife died at the age of 87. They had six children: Louisa, Caroline, Elizabeth, John, Adam and Jacob. Jacob received his schooling in Germany and in 1860 emigrated to America, coming by sailing vessel, the voyage taking 42 days, he landing at Baltimore. Then he went to Pennsylvania, where he learned the baker's and confectioner's trade, which he followed until he settled in Minnesota. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-Ninth New York Volunteers, and served two years and five months. He took part in the battle of the Wilder- ness and at Petersburg and Gettysburg. After the war he re- turned to Pittsburg, Pa. In 1878 he made a trip to Charlestown township, Redwood county, Minn., and bought 160 acres of land in section 28. The nearest milling places were Windom, Redwood Falls and New Ulm. He erected buildings and added 160 acres more to his farm. He raises Duroc Jersey hogs and keeps a good grade of Shorthorn cattle and horses. He held township office, having been assessor four years. He also served on the school board 25 years. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company, Sanborn, and in the Farmers' State Bank. Mr. Leopold was married to Sophia Wagner, a native of Germany. Seven chil- dren were born, of whom five are living: William, Fredericka, John, Carolina and Mena. Mrs. Leopold died in 1876 at the age of 35. Mr. Leopold was married the second time in 1878 to Mary Ellen Bernhardt, born February 22, 1856, in Butler county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Abraham and Rachel (Faninger) Barn- hardt. Mr. Barnhardt died January 12, 1904, at the age of 72 and his wife died at the age of 76 years. There were six children in the family, of whom five are living: James, Henry, Reuben,
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Emma and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Leopold have the following children : Edward, Harvey, George, Louis, Arthur, Alfred, Ida, Emma and Elna.
Martin Christensen, a prosperous farmer of Sundown town- ship, was born Dec. 6, 1867, in Denmark, son of James Martin and Caroline (Frederickson) Christensen. James M. Christensen was born May 6, 1836, in Denmark, son of Chris and Inger Peter- sen, farmers of that country. They had the following children: Jorgen, Peter, Marie, Antoinia and James. He was married in 1867 to Caroline Frederickson, born Jan. 8, 1845. They came to the United States in 1873 with two children: Martin F. and Inger, locating at New Ulm, Minn., where the father did brick work for two years and in 1875 located a homestead of 80 acres of wild land in section 32, Sundown township. He made a dugout and a straw barn and began farming there with one cow, a team of oxen and a few chickens. He set out a grove, and in time built a house and barn and added 40 acres more. Martin Christensen was five years old when his parents brought him to the United States. He did not have much opportunity to attend school until he was fifteen or sixteen years old. He attended the Lutheran school at Westbrook a few months. At the age of twenty-three he struck out for himself and bought 120 acres in section 31, to which he made additions from time to time so that at the end of three years he owned 320 acres. He set out groves and built a house and other needed farm buildings. After a time he moved to Clements and bought and sold stock. He also conducted a meat market for one and a half years. Then he moved to a farm three miles northeast of Clements and farmed 141 acres for a year. He sold out and returned to Clements. After a year he returned to his farm in Sundown township, where he lives now. He makes a specialty of feeding stock for the mar- ket. He has been a thresher for twenty-eight years and owned his threshing outfit for twenty-six years. He began with the old horsepower machine, but has since secured more up-to-date ma- chinery. He served as a member of the school board of Clements and Sundown township. Mr. Christensen was married to Mary Olson, daughter of Ole C. Olson of Sundown. She died at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving the following children: Jessie, Olga, Elsie and Levi. He married the second time Anna Christen- sen, born in Brown county, daughter of Hans Christensen of Denmark. By this marriage there have been the following chil- dren : Maggie, Myrtle, Harley, Brown, Eldred, Roland and Milton.
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