USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 40
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Frank L. Petrie, a well known farmer of Granite Rock town- ship, was born March 31, 1876, at Cannon Falls, Goodhue county, Minn., son of Owen L. and Eliza (Adams) Petrie. Owen L. Petrie was born in 1842, in New York State and came west to Dodge county, Wis., where he bought 40 acres of land. In 1875 he sold it and came on to Minnesota, where he rented farms till 1893. In 1883 he moved to Redwood county and in 1893 bought 120 acres of raw prairie land in section 33, Granite Rock township. He began breaking the land and planted a grove, also building a rude house and barns, and in time he improved his farm. His death occurred March 8, 1906. He was married in Wisconsin to Eliza Adams, who was born in Vermont in 1835, and died in 1888. There were seven children in the family : Veloris, a farmer in California; Henry, now a farmer in Paxton township, Red- wood county; Frank L .; Cecelia, wife of Tom Miller, a farmer in Colorado; Eva, who is single and lives with her brother Frank; . Pet, born in 1863, who died in 1887; and Helen, born in 1878, who died in 1894. Frank L. Petrie remained at home and assisted in carrying on the home farm, on which he has since made various improvements. In 1899 he built a large barn and machine shed, and in 1911 rebuilt the house. He carries on general farming, raising a considerable quantity of grain. He has been a member of the school board for fifteen years.
Peter Drees, of the Lucan Hardware Company, was born in Germany, October 9, 1878, son of Mathias and Katherine (Jen- niges) Drees. Mathias Drees was born in 1835 in Germany and came to America in 1894, locating in Willow Lake township, Redwood county, where he engaged in farming. He died March 23, 1898. There were eight children in the family: Marguerite, now living in Germany; John, a farmer of Gales township; Mathias, a farmer of Wanda ; Helen, now Mrs. Lambert Ravertz, of Thief River Falls; Nicholas, of Red Lake Falls, who is engaged in driving wells; Peter, subject of this sketch; Barbara, who married Louis Olson of Wanda; and Hilarius. Peter Drees grew up on the home farm and in 1898 began working out as a farm hand. In 1900 he began tending bar in a saloon at Wanda and in 1905 bought a saloon at Clements. Selling out in 1906, he returned
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MICHAEL M. MORLEY AND FAMILY
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to Wanda, and bought a saloon there. In 1909 he took a trip to Germany, remaining seven months, and upon his return engaged in his former business, buying a saloon at Lucan. In 1911 he entered into partnership with A. R. Wegner, son of F. C. Wegner, in buying and selling farm lands. After being thus engaged until 1914, he then bought the hardware business of William Schoenenbach and entered into partnership with Fred C. Wegner under the firm name of Lucan Hardware Co. In this business he has since remained, and is now numbered among the thriving business men of Lucan.
Michael M. Morley, a well known agriculturist of Redwood township, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, February 2, 1856, son of Miles Morley, a stone mason, and his wife, Bridget (Jen- nings) Morley, both natives of the Green Isle. Michael Morley was reared much as other Irish boys of his time. He started out as a youth to seek his fortune in England, and for a time he worked in Straffordshire. But he longed for wider opportunities, and in 1881 set out for America. For a few months after arriv- ing here he lived in Newark, N. J., and for four months in St. Paul, Minn., coming to Redwood Falls in the fall of 1882. For a time he worked on the railroad, but in the meanwhile, in 1883, he purchased the southwest quarter of section 19, in Redwood township. Still continuing to work on the railroad, he rented this farm until 1894, since which date he has occupied it, now having a large, well improved farm in sections 19 and 30, on which he very successfully conducts general farming and stock raising. For some years he specialized in wheat, but has now turned to diversified agriculture, having some 160 acres in clover, and 200 acres in corn. He makes a specialty of feeding cattle for the market, shipping each year a carload of cattle and. a carload of swine. During his years of farm life Mr. Morley has made many improvements on his place, and has a splendid looking estate, with a good house, commodious barns and outbuildings, and an excellent equipment of tools and machinery. In addition to his farm interests he holds stock in the Redwood Rural Telephone Co., in the elevator at Redwood Falls, and in the hardware store, elevator and creamery at Wabasso. Taking, as he does, an active interest in the affairs of the community, he has served on the school board of district 46 some twenty-five years, part of the time as director and part of the time as treasurer. Mr. Mor- ley was married February 21, 1881, to Annie Coleman, who was born May 1, 1858, daughter of Michael and Mary (Ruane) Cole- man. To this union have been born nine children : James, Mar- garet, Michael, Mary, John, Ann, Joseph, Austin and Jane, whose record in brief is as fallows: James, born December 18, 1883, is residing at home; Margaret, born September 25, 1885, married Edward Nelson, a farmer of Redwood Falls township; Michael,
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born July 24, 1887, now lives in Canada; Mary, born July 15, 1889, is the wife of Marion A. Washburn of Milaca, Minn., and has one child, Elenora Gertrude; John, born May 14, 1891, is re- siding at home; Ann, born September 7, 1893, is the wife of Wil- liam Hanson, a farmer of Redwood Falls township; Joseph, born January 2, 1896, is a student in the agricultural department of the State University; Austin, born November 23, 1897, resides at home; Jane, born July 12, 1900, is a member of the senior class of the Redwood Falls high school.
Homer A. Clipson, a successful young farmer of Redwood Falls township, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, Jan. 19, 1890, son of Albert Clipson, a farmer and stockbuyer of Vermil- ion county, Illinois, and his wife, Ethlen (Sanford) Clipson. There were four children in the family: Homer, Lela, Russell and Pauline. At the age of twenty-one years Homer A. Clipson began renting his father's farm in Illinois. Two years later he rented the farm of his father-in-law, E. E. Mosier, in New Avon township, Redwood county, Minn. After a year, in September, 1913, he bought 160 acres of land in section 33, Redwood Falls township, where he now has a well improved farm. Five acres of his land are set out in alfalfa, and 55 in clover and timothy. Mr. Clipson was married Jan. 25, 1911, to Effie Mosier, born Sept. 16, 1893, daughter of E. E. Mosier, a farmer of New Avon town- ship and his wife, Electa (Neal) Mosier. There were three children in the family: Opal, wife of Herbert Winn, a farmer of Redwood Falls township; Bruce, who died in 1892, at the age of three years; and Effie.
Otto Lindeman, a prosperous farmer of New Avon township, was born in Henryville township, Renville county, Minn., March 11, 1886, son of Herman and Martha (Schoemaker) Lindeman. Herman Lindeman was born in LeSeuer county, Minn., and lived in Renville county for a time, later operating a lumber yard at North Redwood from 1892 to 1900. He then organized a lum- ber yard at Danube and resided there until his death in 1901 at the age of forty-eight years. His wife now lives at North Redwood with her children, of whom there were eight in the family, namely: Otto, Esther, wife of Louis Garttner, a baker of Pueblo, Colo .; Ella, a teacher at Olivia; August, a rural mail carrier of North Redwood; Arthur, a student at the State Uni- versity; and Paul, Dewey and Minnie, residing at home. Otto Lindeman was graduated from the Mankato Commercial College in 1906 and became bookkeeper at the Hubbard Milling Com- pany at Mankato, being thus occupied one year. Then he at- tended the State Agricultural College and was graduated in 1910. For one year he was statistician for the State and Federal Governments at Marshall, Minn. For a year and a half he was farm manager at Albert, Canada. Then in 1913 he rented his
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mother's farm of 320 acres, the north half of section 25, New Avon township, where he now is. The farm is well improved and fenced with woven wire. There is a barn, 36 by 70 by 16 feet. Fifty acres of his land are set out in clover and timothy. He makes a specialty of feeding stock for the market and ships two carloads of cattle and one carload of Duroc Jersey hogs every year. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. of Redwood Falls. Mr. Lindeman was married August 27, 1913, to Julia Ash, daughter of James Ash, a pioneer farmer of Grant county, Minnesota, and his wife, Mary (Marple) Ash, who died in 1910 at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Lindeman was a graduate of the State Agricultural College in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Lindeman have one child, Raymond L., born July 24, 1915. The family faith is that of the Church of the Evangelical Associa- tion of Redwood Falls.
Fred J. Carity, one of the proprietors of the Redwood Falls Steam Laundry, was born in Rice county, Minnesota, February 14, 1892, son of August and Louise (Beucler) Carity. The father is a retired farmer of Redwood Falls, who came to Minnesota in 1878 and to Redwood county in 1900. Fred J. Carity attended Brown's Business College, at Marshall, Minn., in the spring of 1911 and later worked for the Farmers' Elevator and Lumber Company at Redwood Falls for a year and a half. He then bought one-half interest in the Redwood Falls Steam Laundry with C. F. Martin. After a time he bought Mr. Martin's share and operated the plant a year by himself, subsequently taking Joseph Houle as partner. The plant which cost about $6,500 and is run by electric power, is one of the most modern and best equipped in the state. It gives employment to six people. Re- cently over $3,000 worth of the latest kinds of machinery and equipment were added. The firm has a fine business from the surrounding towns which they justly deserve. They ship bas- kets to Madison, Dawson, Wood Lake, Belview, Delhi, Morton, Fairfax, Gibbon, Sleepy Eye, Wabasso, Franklin, Lucan . and Vesta. Mr. Carity is a member of the Catholic Order of For- esters and of the Catholic church. He was married October 27, 1914, to Edna Shippee, born April 21, 1892, daughter of Blucher Shippee, a farmer of Illinois who died May, 1911, at the age of forty-two years and his wife, Laura (Cole) Shippee, who now lives at Redwood Falls.
Harry George, a rising young farmer of Morgan township has spent his life on the farm which he now so ably conducts. As a boy he assisted his father in its operation, and as a young man, first in partnership with his brother, Willie, then with his brothers, Arthur and Elmer, successively, and later alone, has conducted the home place. He carries on general farming and makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and Chester
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White swine. His interest in the affairs of his neighborhood is shown by excellent service as clerk of school district No. 51. Born April 13, 1893, son of Lars and Mary (Johnson) George he is still a young man and his friends predict for him an un- usually successful future. Mr. George was married February 18, 1914, to Nora Axland, who was born April 12, 1894, daughter of Nels and Helen (Molness) Axland, well known residents of Morgan. Mr. and Mrs. George have one child: Helen Marian, born April 3, 1915.
Lars George, one of the earliest settlers of Morgan township, was born in Denmark, April 9, 1848, and there grew to man- hood. In 1871 he came to America, found his way to Minnesota and located in Brown county. It was in 1876 that he came to Morgan township, acquired 160 acres of land in section 26 and engaged in general farming and stock raising. His affairs were attended with prosperity and in time he increased his holdings to 684 acres of land on which he raised large herds of cattle, big flocks of sheep and much grain. As a public spirited citizen he served as town supervisor for ten years, as justice of the peace for a considerable period and as treasurer of school dis- trict No. 51 for many years. His fraternal affiliations were with the Modern Brotherhood and the United Workmen. After a life filled in busy labor, Mr. George died August 14, 1914, and his death was sincerely mourned by the entire community. Lars George was first married in 1872 to Maggie Peterson of Brown county, Minnesota, who died in childbirth and was laid to rest in the Prairieville cemetery. January 8, 1876, he married at Riceland, Minn., for his second wife, Mary Johnson, who was born in Denmark, February 27, 1859, daughter of Andrew and Ellen Johnson, and who came to this country with her parents in 1868, when nine years old, they settling in Riceland, where she lived until her marriage. Her parents are now deceased. Mrs. George is still living with her sons on the home farm. She bore. to her husband seven children: William, Ida, Arthur, Harry, Elmer, Minnie and Elef. William, who is a farmer in Granite Rock township, this county, was born June 21, 1877. He married Mary Kragh of Evan, and has one child, Leona, who was born December 19, 1909. Ida, who was born December 11, 1879, is the wife of James Jensen, a farmer of Three Lakes town- ship, and has had seven children: Elmer, Alfred, Anna, Myrtle (died in the hospital at Redwood Falls, July 26, 1916), Sadie, Sophie and Leonard. Arthur, born April 24, 1888, is a farmer of Granite Rock township. He married Emma Larsen but has no children. His wife, who was born January 5, 1893, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Lars George from the Orphan's Home at Owa- tonna. She lived with them eight years before being married to their son, Arthur. Henry, born April 13, 1892, conducts the
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LARS GEORGE AND FAMILY
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home farm. Elmer, born July 14, 1897, lives on the home farm with his mother and brother. Minnie, born November 26, 1881, married George Hansen, a farmer of Brown county, Minnesota, and died August 6, 1902. Elef, born July 1, 1886, died at the age of two years, eight months and four days.
Gust Zarbock, of Brookville township, was born in Germany, February 1, 1867, son of Frednon and Gusta (Roda) Zarbock. His father was born in 1830 and his mother in 1831, both natives of Germany. There were six children : Robert, Emil, Gust, Emma, Albert, and Hulda, all of whom are living. Gust Zarbock came to the United States in 1892 by steamer, being thirteen days on the ocean. He landed in New York and then came to Tracy, Minn., going to work on a farm near there at $180 per year. He worked at this place for seven years. Then he bought a farm. In 1914 he moved with his family to his present location in sec- tion 21, Brookville township. Mr. Zarbock was married to Lena Schlismer. Five children were born to this union : Jennie, Lydia, Emma, Robert, and Viola.
Edward J. Volk was born in Nicollet county, Minnesota, April 14, 1870, son of Christ and Susan (Schuetz) Volk. Christ Volk was born in Germany and came to America in 1853, locating at Cincinnati. In 1868 he moved to Nicollet county, Minnesota, where he resided until his death in 1903 at the age of seventy- one years. During the Civil War he served for three years in an Ohio regiment and was wounded. His wife died December, 1892, at the age of fifty-six. Edward J. Volk remained at home until twenty-two years of age when he bought 160 acres in section 16, Three Lakes township, and lived there until March, 1915, when he moved to Clements. He served on the township board for three years and was treasurer of school district No. 106 for three years. Mr. Volk was married Dec. 12, 1893, to Annie Block, who was born Oct. 7, 1876, daughter of Andrew Block, a retired farmer, living near Morton, Minn., and his wife, Minnie (Tats) Block, who died in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Volk have had eight children: Ida, wife of Emil Stricker, a farmer in Three Lakes township; Mary, now Mrs. Albert Stricker, of Clements; Meta and William, residing at home; Arthur, deceased; Edward, de- ceased; Raymond and Bernice. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Clements.
Peter Wenisch, a young farmer of Brookville township, was born on his father's farm, in Brookville township, May 5, 1891, son of Martin and Mary (Goulden) Wenisch. His father was born in Germany, and when about fifteen years old came to the United States, locating at New Ulm, Minn., just before the Indian outbreak. He did farm work, and went to Illinois for about two years and then spent three years in Kansas. He returned to New Ulm and was married. Two years later he came to Brook-
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ville township, this county, by horse team and located in section 30, where he rented a farm. For four years. the grasshoppers destroyed his crops. Then he bought 160 acres in section 29, at $10 per acre. He built a farm house and set out groves. He used a team of oxen to break up the ground. The nearest milling places were at Iberia, New Ulm and Golden Gate, and he went as far as New Ulm for wood. In time he added 240 acres more land to his holdings. He held township office and served as road over- seer. He was a director of the school board for twenty years. He was a director of the Farmers' Creamery and also a stock- holder in the State Bank at Springfield. He moved to Spring- field, October 24, 1911, and is still living there. He has had the following children: Peter (deceased), Nick, Frank, Peter, Louie, Mary, Celia (deceased), Veronica, and one who died in infancy. The family faith is that of the Catholic church. He helped build the old church at St. Raphael. Peter Wenisch took charge of the farm in 1911, when his father moved to Springfield, and car- ries on diversified farming. He raises pure Poland China hogs, shorthorn cattle and graded Percheron horses. He was married to Bertha Wurnstein, born at New Ulm. They have two children : Erwin and Vincent.
William A. Hauck, a progressive merchant of Seaforth, was born in St. Paul, Minn., October 17, 1873, son of Jacob S. and Mary E. (Shue) Hauck. Jacob S. was born in Germany, May 18, 1832, and with his parents moved to Canada when about eight years of age. He was married to Mary E. Shue, April 27, 1856, and the same year they moved to St. Paul, where he worked as a carpenter until 1862. He enlisted August 14, 1862, in Co. E., Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and was honorably dis- charged May 10, 1865. He was with his regiment in the campaign against the Indians in Minnesota Valley and during the campaign in Arkansas and Alabama. He was later engaged in the grocery business in St. Paul, and in 1900 became interested in the general merchandise business with his oldest son, J. P., at Wood Lake, Minn. Although not active in the store business, he looked after his affairs in St. Paul until his death, which occurred July 20, 1908, at the old home on Olmsted street, St. Paul. His wife was born in Germany, March 24, 1834, and now lives with her son Fred, a poultry man at Spokane, Wash. William A. Hauck re- ceived a common school education, having attended the Washing- ton and Franklin schools at St. Paul and the Curtiss Business College. He lived at home until 1889, when he became clerk for his brother, J. P., and his father in a general store at Wood Lake, and was so occupied until about 1897. He was then employed by Francois & Schmahl at Redwood Falls until 1900. He next became manager of their branch store atWabasso, Minn., and in 1903 became manager of their branch store at Seaforth, Minn. In
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A. H. SEEBECK
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1904 he bought this in partnership with R. E. Burbridge of Minne- apolis, and operated it under the firm name of W. A. Hauck & Co. He purchased his partner's interest in 1911 and now operates the store under the name of W. A. Hauck. He has been a member of the village council for two years and served as village recorder since 1911. For six years he has been clerk of the school district No. 104. Mr. Hauck was married at Clarion, Iowa, December 14, 1898, to Olive Lutz, born May 31, 1874, daughter of J. S. Lutz, of Sioux Falls, S. D., and Mary Doris Lutz, who died in 1913 at Sioux Falls, S. D., at the age of fifty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Hauck have two sons: William Clare, born November 18, 1901, and Dean Burton, born February 24, 1905. Mr. Hauck was en- tered as a charter member of Florence Lodge, U. D., A. F. & A. M., April 26, 1895, at Wood Lake, Minn., later chartered as Florence Lodge No. 216, A. F. & A. M. He became interested in the organization of Wabasso Lodge No. 245, A. F. & A. M., was Mas- ter several terms and became D. D. G. M. while a member there. At present he is a member of Antiquity Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M., and Redwood Chapter No. 34, R. A. M .; is Past Grand in Sea- forth Lodge No. 259, I. O. O. F .; Past Master in Seaforth Lodge No. 254, A. O. U. W .; a charter member of Court Redwood No. 3797, I. O. F., and a member of Florence Chapter No. 117, O. E. S., in which Mrs. Hauck holds membership; also Seaforth Lodge, D. of H.
August H. Seebeck, a progressive farmer of Honner township, was born in Germany, August 9, 1849, son of John and Helen (Rush) Seebeck, and came to America with his parents in 1861. The father was a native of Germany and engaged in farming in LeSueur county Minnesota, where he subsequently resided until his death in 1887, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife died in 1898 at the age of seventy-six. August H. Seebeck worked out on the farms from the age of twelve to that of twenty-one years. His first wages were $5.00 for three months' work. He plowed, mowed with scythe and cradled grain all summer for one pair of shoes with wooden soles, one pair of overalls, two shirts, one jacket and two pounds of wool. At the time of the Indian out- break he was working out about eight miles east of Ottawa in LeSueur county, and was engaged in cradling wheat when the courier drove through and notified the people of the approaching danger. They at once dropped everything and three families there fled to Ottawa for safety. The men all went to New Ulm to join forces against the Indians, leaving young Seebeck and Fred Berndt to protect the women and children. The next night the men returned to their families. It was late when they re- turned and the boys thought it was the Indians coming. Young Berndt cautiously pushed open the door, while August Seebeck had raised his gun to fire when he recognized the late arrivals.
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Young Seebeck felt bound to fight the Indians and next day got a neighbor's team and drove to the camp, 30 miles away, to join the troops. He stayed over night at the camp, but on account of his youth was rejected and, much disappointed, returned to where he had been working. Subsequently he learned the miller's trade and worked at it for nine years. Then he farmed in LeSueur county for two years and in the fall of 1879 came to Redwood county and rented a farm in Paxton township until 1884. He next bought 40 acres in section 32, Homer township and now owns 160 acres in the same section. He owned at one time 440 acres. Mr. Seebeck has made many improvements on his farm. In 1900 he built a comfortable nine-room house, having previously erected a barn in 1890. He has a fine apple orchard of 550 trees. As a stockman he raises Hereford cattle, Duroc Jersey swine and Percheron and Belgian horses. Taking an active interest in pub- lic affairs, he has served as assessor for two years, chairman of the township board for three years, is now a member of the board of supervisors, and for six years has been clerk of the school board. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator of Redwood Falls and of the Redwood County Fair Association. Mr. Seebeck was united in marriage March 15, 1877, to Bertha C. Soltau, who was born February 2, 1860, daughter of Jurgen Soltau, who died in 1896 at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife, Rebecca (Shoemacher) Soltau, who died in 1879 at the age of fifty-four. Mr. and Mrs. Seebeck have had twelve children: George W., a druggist at Conrad, Mont .; Garfield, who died in 1900 at the age of nineteen; Hattie, wife of Ewald Schulz, a farmer; Ella, wife of Harry Barnes, a farmer; Carolyn V., a teacher; Herbert B., at home; Bertha C., wife of Arthur Dittbenner, of Echo; Walter; Ormie; Harold; and Grace, and one who died in infancy.
Hans Knudsen, an enterprising farmer of Morgan township, was born in Denmark, June 13, 1876, son of Christian Hansen and Hanna (Hansen) Knudsen, farmers of Denmark. Two of Mrs. Christian Knudsen's sisters, Martha and Maren, had come to the United States in the early days. Martha, arriving first, located at Racine, Wis., where she married Christian Eichart Hansen, and came by ox team to Evan, Minn. St. Peter was then the nearest market. Maren, the other sister, was married in Denmark to Nels Matsen and later came with her husband and family to Evan, Minn. Christian Knudsen and his wife had eleven children, two of whom, Johanna and Anna, were by a former marriage of Mr. Knudsen's. The children by the second marriage were : Carl, Sophia, Christian, Adolph, Hans, Amelia, Christopher, Julianus, and Gertel. Christian was the first member of this family to come to the United States. In 1893 Hans came to Evan, Minn. He had borrowed his fare from his uncle, Christian Eichart Hansen, and stayed with him the
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