USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 30
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Edwin A. Randolph, who was for some years a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of North Hero township, was born April 27, 1872, in Kasota, Minn., and died March 8, 1916. He was a son of James and Elizabeth (Bartholomew) Randolph, natives of England, who came to America as young people and settled in Illinois, where they were married. In 1861 they moved to Le Sueur county, Minnesota, where the father died in ,1900. There were eight children in the family, four of whom are now living, James of Kasota, Minn .; John, Henry and Edwin A. Ed- win A. Randolph left home at the age of 17 years and with his brother John bought a quarter section of land in Redwood county, later selling it and purchasing three 80-acre tracts with his brother Henry. They sold these in 1910 and Edwin A. went to Los Angeles county, California, where he bought 12 acres of orange orchard. In 1912 he sold this property and returned to Redwood county, where he bought 160 acres in section 34, North Hero township. His farm, which was originally a tree claim,
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homesteaded by his wife's father, was kept in fine condition. He was engaged in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey swine and Shire and Percheron horses. In politics he was a Republican. Mr. Randolph was an industrious and respected citi- gen whose death, while still in middle life, was much regretted by a wide circle of friends. Mr. Randolph was married August 1, 1894, to Bessie Wiggins, who was born August 20, 1874, daugh- ter of James and Hilda (Sanderson) Wiggins. Her father came to Redwood county at an early date and settled in North Hero township, where he died in 1911, his wife dying there in 1881. There were seven children in the family, four of whom are now living. Milon, of Redwood county; Jesse, of Walnut Grove; Bessie, widow of Randolph, and Eva, who is Mrs. Fred Walker, of North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph's children were : Clara, born May 13, 1896, who died June 22, 1913; Lilliam, born Octo- ber 11, 1897; Earl, born November 9, 1900; Mary, born May 6, 1903; Kenneth, born August 27, 1906; Le Roy, born September 22, 1908, and Clifford, born January 9, 1911. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Victor E. Olson, an enterprising young farmer of North Hero township, was born November 18, 1893, on the farm which he now owns, in section 4, North Hero township. He is the son of Louis and Ingrid (Johnson) Olson. The father was born Janu- ary 5, 1848, at Wase Parish, Vermland, Sweden, and in 1869 came to America, locating at Carver, Minn. In 1873 he moved to Red- wood county, and homesteaded the place in section 4, North Hero township now owned by his son Victor. He and his wife were married April 11, 1877, and his first residence here was a dugout. After a while he built a small frame house and in 1882, the present residence. A Republican in politics, for sev- eral years he served as a member of the school board of dis- trict No. 19. He died March 12, 1915, revered and respected by his friends and neighbors. He had two sisters, Augusta Westin, of Sweden, and Christina Olson, a step-sister, now Mrs. John Larson, of Tracy, Minn. His wife was born December 12, 1857, and came to America in 1872 with her mother, brother and sister. Her father, Henry Johnson, had come in 1870 and settled at Carver, Minn. In 1873 he moved to Redwood county and here he died in 1911. Mrs. Olson died September 6, 1913. There were seven children in the family: Amanda, now Mrs. John Pierson, of Minneapolis, Minn .; Hattie, wife of Albert Carlson, of Red- wood county; John, of Springbrook, North Dakota; Carl, of Rhame, North Dakota; Victor E .; Lillian and Leonard. Victor E. has charge of the farm with his brother Leonard. He attended the country school of his neighborhood and subsequently Minne- sota College at Minneapolis, being graduated in 1911. He then spent a year and a half in the agricultural school at St. Paul,
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Minn. In the spring of 1914 Mr. Olson returned to the farm, and has since devoted his time to making it one of the best im- proved pieces of agricultural property in the district. He has good buildings, and has erected a silo of a hundred-ton capacity. He raises Holstein cattle and is contemplating entering the dairy industry. He markets about 50 head of Duroc Jersey swine every year.
Otto Kostner, a modern farmer of North Hero township, was born January 17, 1877, in Lamberton township, this county. In 1908 he bought his present farm of 160 acres in section 13, North Hero township, from his father. Some improvements had al- ready been made and Mr. Kostner continued to improve the prop- erty, erecting a comfortable dwelling house, commodious barns and good farm buildings. He raises some grain, and has a fine grove of maple trees and an orchard of apple trees and small fruit. As a stockman, he makes a specialty of raising Duroc Jersey swine, Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. In poli- tics Mr. Kostner is independent. He is stockholder in the Farm- ers' Elevator Company of Revere. Mr. Kostner was married December 16, 1908, to Annie Steinke, who was born July 26, 1888, in Waseca county, Minn., daughter of Albert and Amelia (Piper) Steinke, both parents now living in Waseca county. There were six children in the family: Frank; Ida, wife of Au- gust Kostner; Annie; William; Louise, now Mrs. Hugo Prail, of Waseca county, Minnesota, and Carl. Mr. and Mrs. Kostner have one child : Dorothy, born January 6, 1910. Mr. Kostner is a member of the German Lutheran church of Lamberton.
William J. Thompson, of Walnut Grove, who is engaged in concrete block and cement work, was born September 30, 1866, in Dover Center, Olmsted county, Minn., son of William and Mary (Hardwick) Thompson, natives of Ireland and England respectively. His father came to America in 1830 and settled in Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land. Both parents are now living at St. Charles, Minn. Mr. Thompson, Sr., is a Republican and was very active in local poli- tics in Olmsted county, where he still owns a homestead. There were 12 children in the family: Robert, now deceased; Minnie, wife of E. E. Nichols, of Redwood county; William J .; Florence, now Mrs. Wm. Parson, of St. Charles, Minn .; Mary, who married Charles Betry, and resides in Kansas; Alfred, of Alexandria, Minn .; Hiram, of Clay county, Minn .; Lucy, now Mrs. Baten- houser, of Sherburne county, Minn .; Mabel, who married Herman Loucks, of Arkansas; Garfield, deceased, and one who died young. With the exception of one year William J. Thompson lived on his father's farm until 1893, when he moved to Walnut Grove and rented 120 acres in the vicinity for two years. Then he bought 160 acres of farm land in Springdale township and
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM J. THOMPSON
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lived there until 1910, when he returned to Walnut Grove. In 1915 he engaged in concrete block and cement work with Ole Seether as partner. He still owns the farm which he rents out and also 160 acres more in the same township. He has a seven- room modern house in Walnut Grove. On the home farm he has a seven-room house, good barns and other farm buildings, a fine grove of maples and a small orchard. On the average he has an acreage of 70 acres of corn, 50 of oats, 50 of wheat, 40 of barley, 25 of rye and 18 of flax. He used to raise swine for the market, shipping several carloads every year. Mr. Thompson is director of the First State Bank of Walnut Grove and stock- holder in the Farmers' Elevator at Tracy Minn. In politics he is independent. He was a member of the Springfield township board in 1903 and chairman from 1908 to 1910. Since 1912 he has been marshal of Walnut Grove and a member of the school board. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge of Walnut Grove. Mr. Thompson was married October 20, 1896, to Frances A. Quigley, who was born May 11, 1872, at Springfield, Ill., daugh- ter of Richard and Annie (Furlong) Quigley, the parents being natives of Ireland, who came to America as young people. Mr. Quigley farmed in New Jersey for several years and then went to Illinois from which state he moved in 1882, coming to Redwood county, Minn., and buying a farm in Springdale township, where he died December 17, 1886. His wife died June 8, 1914, at Man- kato, Minn. There were five children in the family: Mary, de- ceased; Ellen, deceased; Annie, now Mrs. A. L. Morrison, of Mankato, Minn .; Frances; and Thomas, who lives on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have the following children: Frances, born December 8, 1900; Phillip, February 10, 1903; Rob- ert, February 1, 1905; Mary, August 12, 1906; Gertrude, June 4, 1910; Richard, August 31, 1912; and Daniel, September 18, 1911.
Edward A. Schwarm, of the firm of Schwarm & Wiggins, dealers in men's furnishings and clothing, at Walnut Grove, was born May 17, 1889, at Minneapolis, Minn .; son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schwarm. In 1892 he accompanied his mother, who was then a widow, to Springfield, Minn., and there he finished his common and high school education. He then took a book- keeping course at the Minneapolis Business College. He had two brothers, Charles, now a baker, at Walnut Grove, and Au- gust, a farmer of Brown county. Edward was employed as a clerk in Springfield and Minneapolis until 1911, when he came to Walnut Grove and clerked three years. In 1914, in partner- ship with J. P. Olson, he bought a general store, which they owned together until February, 1915, when Mr. Schwarm sold his interest to Mr. Olson, and started his present business with an entirely new stock. December 1, 1915, he took Clarence
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Wiggins as a partner. He is a stockholder and auditor of the Walnut Grove Building and Loan Association. In politics he is independent. Mr. Schwarm was married February 18, 1914, to L. Adell Harwood, who was born October 8, 1885, at Walnut Grove, daughter of William B. and May E. (Cox) Harwood. Her father is a retired farmer and prominent citizen, living at Wal- 'nut Grove. There were three children in the family: L. Adell, Belva and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Schwarm have one child, Rob- ert, born August 7, 1915.
Theodore W. Prail, a prominent dentist of Walnut Grove, was born January 14, 1892, in 'Waseca county, Minnesota, son of William and Augusta M. (Tash) Prail, natives of Germany. His parents emigrated to America when they were young peo- ple and settled in Waseca county, Minnesota. The father was a farmer until recently, when he retired and took up his residence in Janesville with his wife. They have eight children: Fred, a farmer of Redwood county; Lena, now Mrs. Emil Dimmel, of Janesville, Minn .; William, of Alma City, Minn .; Herman, of Waseca county, Minnesota; Ella, who married William Dundei, of Waseca county, Minnesota; Arthur, residing in the same county ; Theodore W.,; and Emma, who is a school teacher. Theo- dore W. Prail received his early education in the common school and completed his studies in the Janesville high school in 1911. He then attended the Minnesota University, taking a dental course in 1912. Going to Northwestern College at Chicago, he continued his work during the terms of 1913 and 1914, and was given the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. In 1914 he lo- cated in Walnut Grove and has since built up a flourishing prac- tice here. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. lodges, at Walnut Grove, and of the M. W. A. Mr. Prail was married June 16, 1915, to Frances Danielson, who was born December 21, 1892, a daughter of Joseph Danielson. The fam- ily are members of the German Lutheran church.
Mathias J. Turbes, proprietor of a general merchandise store at Walnut Grove, was born March 31, 1885, in Redwood county, this state, son of Christian and Anna (Ross) Turbes, natives of Germany. The father was born June 1, 1854, and came to Amer- ica with his parents at an early age, they first settling near New Ulm. In 1878 he moved to Redwood county, where he bought land in section 16, Willow Lake township, and now owns 240 acres. Mathias J. Turbes took a course at the Mankato Com- mercial College in 1908 and was employed by the Western Ele- vator Company at Wanda for three years. Then he was with O. C. Kuehn at Wanda, for two years, in the general merchan- dise business. In the fall of 1914 he bought the stock of Fos- som and Hallum, merchants, of Walnut Grove, where he has since resided and where he enjoys a good business patronage.
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CHRISTIAN TURBES AND FAMILY
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Mr. Turbes was married November 9, 1914, to Lydia Yackel, who was born August 10, 1891, at Lamberton, Minn., daughter of John and Sophia (Wagner) Yackel, both natives of Germany, Her father, born June 7, 1863, and her mother, October 12, 1867, now live on the farm in Lamberton township. There were the following children in the family: Anna (Mrs. W. J. Lang, of Vesta, Minn.) ; Ida (Mrs. Lee Huelett, of Lohrville, Iowa) ; Lydia; Erna (Mrs. Henry Zorn, of Vesta, Minn.) ; Alma, a teach- er; Leonard, Martin, John, Henry Edward and Louise, residing at home, and Lawrence, deceased. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church.
Christian Turbes, an industrious farmer of Willow Lake town- ship, was born in Prussia, Germany, June 1, 1854, son of Hubert and Anna (Groshan) Turbes. In 1857 Hubert and his family emigrated to the United States, the voyage across the ocean by sailing vessel, taking 32 days. From New York they journeyed to St. Paul by train, then up the Minnesota river to St. Peter, and then by team to New Ulm. There were seven children in the family: John, Peter, Christian, Mary, Anna M., Magdalena and Gertrude, the eldest being 14 years of age. They arrived in New Ulm about May and the father died in June of that same year. The mother subsequently married Mat. Hillesheim and the family then located in the township of Sigel, Brown county. Here Christian received his early education in the district log school and grew to manhood. At the time of the Indian massa- cre, the family moved to St. Peter. In 1878 Christian Turbes secured a tract of 160 acres of wild school land in section 16, Willow Lake township, Redwood county. Here he built a board shanty, 14 by 18 feet, and began farming with a horse team. In time he improved his farm, set out a grove, and built a good substantial house and barn. He now owns half a section and carries on diversified farming, raising a good breed of stock. Independent in politics he served as chairman of the township board for many years, and also served 12 years on the school board of district No. 94. He was a member of the creamery of Sundown and New Avon townships, when it was in operation; is a director and stockholder in the State Bank of Wanda and a stockholder in the Wanda Creamery. Mr. Turbes was married in 1881 to Anna Ross, who was born in Germany, March 21, 1852, and who came to America in 1868, with her parents, Hubert and Anna (Mary) Ross, they locating in Sigel township, Brown coun- ty, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Turbes have had ten children : John P., a carpenter of Willow Lake township; Hubert H., subject of this sketch; Mathias J., who is in the general hardware business at Walnut Grove; Anna M., now Mrs. Mathias Jenniges of Wil- low Lake township; George H .; Gertrude R .; Nicholas C .; Mary (died June 30, 1901) ; Christian W. and Magdalena B., all resid-
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ing on the home farm. The family is affiliated religiously with the Catholic church.
Hubert H. Turbes, a well known clothier of Wabasso, was born February 8, 1884, in Willow Lake township, Redwood coun- ty, this state, son of Christian and Anna (Ross) Turbes. Chris- tian Turbes was born June 1, 1854, in Germany, and came to America in 1857, locating in Sigel township, Brown county, with his parents. His father died the same year and his mother mar- ried Mathias Hillesheim. Christian lived at home and worked as a farm hand until late in the seventies, when he bought land in section 16, Willow Lake township, Redwood county. He mar- ried Anna Ross, a native of Germany, whose father, Hubert Ross, born in Germany in 1825, came to America in 1868, locating in Brown county, Minnesota. There he bought land and resided until his death in 1896. Hubert Turbes remained at home until he was 20 years of age. During the winters of 1904 and 1905 he attended the common school of his neighborhood and the Man- kato Commercial College. In the spring of 1905 he entered the employ of George Goblirsch, a dealer in general merchandise, as bookkeeper and clerk. After six years he entered the employ of the Nelson & Riedl Clothing Co., of Wabasso, and worked for them until 1914. He then bought their stock and has continued the business for himself, also adding a shoe department. He is also a stockholder in the Redwood County Telephone Co. and a member of the Commercial Club. He served as village recorder one year and is the present secretary of the fire department. Fra- ternally Mr. Turbes is affiliated with the St. George Society, the C. O. F. and the E. F. U. Mr. Turbes was married November 25, 1913, to Madlyne B. Schmitz, who was born March 11, 1893, in Hastings, Minn., daughter of Bernard J. and Anna (Schmit) Schmitz. Mr. Schmitz was born in 1870, in Holy Cross, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Turbes have one child, Veronica A., born April 12, 1915.
Fred W. Zasko, a prosperous farmer of Morgan township, was born in Eden township, Brown county, Minnesota, Decem- ber 8, 1874, son of John and Albertina (Timm) Zaske. The father was born in Germany and came to America in 1871, locating in Eden township, Brown county, where he farmed until his death in 1894 at the age of 45 years. He and his wife were married in 1873 in Brown county. Eleven children were born of this union, six sons and five daughters, Fred W. being the eldest. Fred W. Zaske grew up on the farm and after his father's death took charge of the place. In 1899 he bought 160 acres in section 16, Morgan township, Redwood county, where he now lives. He built a house of seven rooms and from time to time erected other buildings. In 1907 he built a barn, 38 by 60 feet, and in 1914 a silo with a capacity of 105 tons. On his farm he has made
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many improvements and now owns 240 acres, having two acres set out in fruit and 50 acres in clover and timothy. He raises Shorthorn cattle and carries on dairying. Mr. Zaske has served as township clerk since 1901. He is a director of the Farmers' Elevator Company and of the creamery. He is a member of the Equitable Fraternal Union. Mr. Zaske was married July 6, 1899, to Bertha Sandmann, who was born November 22, 1874. daughter of William Sandmann, a farmer of Brown county, and his wife, Augusta (Blumerisch) Sandmann. Mr. and Mrs. Zaske have four children: Leona, born May 25, 1900; Harold, February 12, 1903; Wilhelm, February 8, 1906; and Wallace, March 4, 1910.
Paul R. Petrick, a well known farmer of Morgan township, was born in Germany, January 29, 1869, son of Adam Petrick, a farmer who died in Germany at the age of 75 years, and his wife, Louisa (Schram) Petrick. Paul R. Petrick came to America in 1885, locating in Brown county, Minnesota, and working as a carpenter for five years. Then in 1890 he bought 80 acres of prairie land in section 4, Morgan township, Redwood county, where he now lives. He has developed and improved his farm and made additions to his land as his means permitted until he now owns 120 acres. All the buildings were erected by him. He served on the township board for three years, and was also director of school district No. 99 for 15 years. He is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal church, holding the offices of trustee and treasurer. March 3, 1891, Mr. Petrick was mar- ried to Mary Hagen, daughter of Conrad and Ernstina (Sasse) Hagen, farmers of Blue Earth county. She died in 1893 at the age of 30 years, and he married secondly, April 13, 1894, to Lena Imberg, who was born August 3, 1872, daughter of August and Louisa (Dircks) Imberg. Her mother died in 1906, at the age of seventy, and the father lives with Mr. Petrick. By his sec- ond marriage Mr. Petrick has had five children: Ella, born February 10, 1895; Elmer, October 4, 1896; Harry, October 26, 1898; Martha, January 15, 1905, and Milton, May 28, 1908.
Arthur R. Nichols, proprietor of a garage at Revere, was born August 16, 1876, at Revere, Brown county, Kansas, son of John T. and Lucinda (Miller) Nichols. Both parents were born in Pennsylvania in 1835. The father who had moved to Iowa in 1850 and later to Kansas, died in 1903; the mother died in 1877. There were seven children in the family: Clara B., now Mrs. J. C. Bartlett, of Dixon, Minn .; Mary, wife of L. M. Wine, of Lowpoint, Ill .; Ira, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; Frank, of Franklin, Ill .; Arthur R .; Belle, who married D. K. Wine, of Missouri, and Mabel, now Mrs. Walker Manahan, of Franklin, Ill. In 1898 Arthur R. Nichols came to Redwood Falls township, Redwood county, Minnesota, and for two years worked on the farm of
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T. D. Lyman. Then in 1900 he went to North Hero township, and he rented the farm of Mrs. T. A. Anderson, who later be- came his mother-in-law. Three years later he rented the farm of W. Parker in Delhi township, for two years. In 1905 he re- turned to the Anderson farm in North Hero and in 1913 purchased it from Mrs. Anderson. Selling that farm in 1914 he bought 160 acres in section 12, North Hero township. The following year he moved to Revere and bought the garage, and livery business, which he is now conducting. Mr. Nichols was united in marriage August 21, 1900, to Julia Anderson, who was born May 20, 1883, in North Hero township, and died April 29, 1915. Her parents were Thomas and Caroline (Jacobs) Anderson. The father, born in Norway in 1855, came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1864 and to Minnesota in 1876. In 1878 he homesteaded 160 acres in section 10, North Hero township, Redwood county, and later bought 320 acres in section 15, all of it being raw land. After farming a number of years and making many improvements he retired to Walnut Grove, Minn., where he is still living. There were six children in the Anderson family: John C., of Walnut Grove; Minnie, who married B. M. Knight; Lottie, wife of Wil- liam C. Belemy, of South Dakota; Julia, who married Mr. Nich- ols; Fred, residing in Montana; and Belle, who married John Mckinnon, of North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have two children : Jessie, born August 18, 1903, and Florence, born Feb- ruary 15, 1913.
William A. Masters, justice of the peace of Walnut Grove, was born August 23, 1855, in Hornby, New York, son of William J. and Emiline (Hurley) Masters. The father was born June 16, 1829, in New York state, and died September 24, 1914, at Wal- nut Grove, Minn. The mother was born in 1831, in New York state, and died August 24, 1883, at Walnut Grove. William J. Masters went to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1857, and farmed there until 1875, when he moved to Redwood county, Minnesota, and settled at Walnut Grove. Here he was engaged in the gen- eral merchandise business with his son, William A., under the name of W. J. Masters & Son, from 1877 to 1882. They also bought and sold farm lands, holding and working many of them. In 1887 William A. Masters engaged in a wood and coal busi- ness at Walnut Grove. This he sold in 1903 and opened a bowl- ing alley and later started a rink which he now operates in win- ter. In summer he farms 70 acres of land adjoining Walnut Grove. At one time William A. Masters and his father owned over 1,600 acres in Redwood and Murray counties. Besides Wil- liam A. there were two other children, both now dead, Eugene and Mary E. William A. is a staunch Democrat and has held several positions of public trust. For ten years he was recorder of the village of Walnut Grove; for four years a member of the
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MR. AND MRS. E. C. NELSON
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village council, and for two years, assessor. He is now serving as justice of the peace. He and his father are members of the Ma- sonic lodge, William A. having been the first member of the Wal- nut Grove lodge and serving as junior warden for ten years. Mr. Masters was married February 19, 1876, to Nancy Holt, of Burr Oak, Iowa, who was born in England, November 16, 1855, and went with her parents at an early age to Iowa, where her father engaged in farming. Both parents are now deceased. There were eight children in the Holt family: Robert, Mary, Anna, Nancy, Ellen, John, William and Drucellia. Mr. and Mrs. Masters have two children: May E., born May 29, 1877, now Mrs. John Doig, of Walnut Grove and Orabelle, born July 15, 1881, now Mrs. Henry Norton, of Walnut Grove. Mary has one child, Gerald, born February 2, 1899.
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