The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 43

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 702

USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 43

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MATHIAS JENNIGES

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there. After a useful life filled with worthy endeavor and suc- cessful achievement, he died April 2, 1915, at the age of sixty- five years. Mr. and Mrs. Jenniges were the parents of ten chil- dren: Mathias, who died in infancy ; Peter B., of Wanda; Valen- tine P., of Wabasso; Mathias M., on the old farm; John J., of Waterbury township; Bernard J., of Willow Lake; Catherine, now Mrs. Bernard Otte of Willow Lake; and Gertrude A., Teresa H., and Helena M., who are at home.

Peter B. Jenniges, a well known contractor of Wanda, was born in Willow Lake township, August 19, 1880, son of Mathias and Gertrude (Eichten) Jenniges, the pioneers. He was reared on the home farm in section 20 and at the age of twenty-one engaged in the mercantile business at Wanda with his father under the firm name of M. Jenniges & Son. Eight years later he sold out his interest in that concern and engaged in the con- tracting business, since which time he has done some extensive drainage work as well as handling a number of large contracts in other lines. Mr. Jenniges married Elizabeth Ludwig, daugh- ter of Peter Ludwig of Waterbury township and they have one child, Jerome V.

Henry N. Reding, a prominent farmer of Three Lakes town- ship, was born in Sheldon township, Wyoming county, New York, May 16, 1861, son of Stephen and Josephine (Perry) Reding. He was reared in Goodhue county, this state, and remained with his parents until after attaining his majority. For a number of years he rented farms in Wabasha and Brown counties, and achieved considerable success. It was in 1892 that he came to Redwood county, and bought 160 acres in section 3, Sundown township. He sold this place in 1901 and secured 160 acres in sec- tion 14, Three Lakes township, where he now resides. This place he has considerably improved. The seven-room house, and the barn, 30 by 50 feet, were built in 1901; and the tile silo, with a capacity of 125 tons was constructed in 1913. For a consid- erable period Mr. Reding has been intimately connected with public life. In 1902 he became town supervisor and clerk of school district 92. The next year he became town clerk, and as town and school clerk he has since continued to serve. He like- wise served for three years as secretary of the Farmers' Ele- vator Company of Morgan, an institution of which he has been a director for the past seven years. Mr. Reding was married February 16, 1886, to Catherine Petsinger, daughter of Belthasar and Barbara (Eckstein) Petsinger, farmers of Goodhue county, the former of whom was born May 16, 1833, and died December 19, 1896, and the latter. of whom was born December 25, 1840, and died March 31, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Reding have six children: John S., Lucy, Mary, Cecelia, Annie and Raymond. John S. was born January 8, 1887, and farms in Morrison county, this state.

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He was married September 26, 1911, to Martha Green, and they have three children, Ethel, Catherine and Crescence. Lucy was born September 30, 1888, was married February 16, 1909, to Alfred Green Miller, of Morgan, and has three children, Wilfred, Leonard and Lucille. Mary was born October 30, 1890, married George Green, a farmer of Morgan township, and has one child, Herbert. Cecelia was born December 30, 1892, and was mar- ried October 26, 1915, to Herman Koll, of Morrison county, Minne- sota. Annie L. was born November 23, 1894; Raymond was born May 26, 1898. Stephen Reding, the father of Henry Reding, was born in Belgium, and was brought to America by his parents at the age of four years. From New York in 1865 he came to this state, and located in Goodhue county, where he farmed until his death, November 28, 1904. He was married November 28, 1858, to Josephine Perry, who was born in Belgium, came to New York with her parents in 1846, and died October 19, 1908.

Andrew Converse was born in New York state, and in 1877 located on a farm in Iowa. After a long and successful career as a farmer he retired in 1902 and moved to Aurelia, in that state, where he died in February, 1912. A Democrat in poli- tics, he was considerably interested in public affairs, and did good service on the town and school board for a number of years. His fraternal affiliations were with the Masons. Mr. Converse married Mary Bliss, also a native of New York state, who died May 10, 1903. They were the parents of nine children: Hiram (deceased) ; Edward, of Windom, Minn .; Elmer E., a retired farmer of Walnut Grove; Jennie, now Mrs. Frank Jones, of Ocheyedan, Iowa; Theron, of Arlington, S. D .; Albert, of Win- dom, Minn .; Norton, of Idaho; George, of Sioux Falls, S. D .; and Fred, now on a farm homestead at White Rover, S. D.

Elmer E. Converse, for many years a successful farmer, now making his home in the village of Walnut Grove, was born in Jefferson county, New York, December 1, 1867, son of Andrew and Mary (Bliss) Converse. He was brought to Iowa by his parents, and lived with them until attaining his majority. Then for several years he rented and operated various farms, and for a time owned a tract of 160 acres in Osceola county, in that state. In 1901 he came to Redwood county, and purchased 160 acres in section 32, Johnsonville township, to which he later added a similar acreage in section 5, North Hero township. This farm he has developed into one of the most modern in the neigh- borhood. He carries on general farming, and devotes a good acreage to corn, oats and rye. His hobby has been full blooded Durham cattle, and his sire, Victorius, registered by the Chicago Shorthorn Association, is widely known. Mr. Converse has also made a specialty of Duroc Jersey swine and Norman and Perch- eron horses. In the past he has raised extensive flocks of Shrop-

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shire sheep but has now abandoned this line of industry. In the spring of 1915 he moved to the village of Walnut Grove, and took up his home in a pleasant residence located on a tract of forty acres on the western edge of the village limits. At Walnut Grove, Mr. Converse is a director of the Farmers' Ele- vator. In politics a Republican, he has served on the Johnson- ville township board for six years, a part of which he was chair- man, and for many terms he was a member of the board of school district 19. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., the K. of P. and the M. W. A. Mr. Converse was married November 21, 1888, to Annie Griffith, born at Morris, Grundy county, Ili- nois, December 13, 1876, daughter of Llewlyn N. and Anna (Lewis) Griffith. Mr. and Mrs. Converse have the following chil- dren : Henry E., born July 20, 1892; Chloe A., born November 10, 1899; Imo, born November 10, 1905; and Oma, born Novem- ber 6, 1906. Mrs. Converse was the sixth child in the Griffith family. The others are: Howell, for many years a prominent citizen of Morris, Ill., now deceased; David, of Kankakee, Ill .; Mary Ann (deceased) ; Jennie, now Mrs. John Campbell, of Omaha, Neb .; Llewlyn, of Omaha, Neb .; Morgan, of Beach, N. D .; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Thomas Farr, of Tracy, Minn., and Thomas, of Dexter, Minn.

Gustav Kamholz, a modern farmer of Morgan township, was born in Germany, October 18, 1865, son of August and Henrietta (Frederich) Kamholz. August Kamholz was born in Germany, . came to America in 1885, working as a farm hand in Nicollet county, this state, for several years, and then lived with his chil- dren until his death, June 4, 1898, at the age of seventy-three years, his wife dying March 9, 1911, at the age of eighty-three years, being survived by eight children, five boys, and three girls, all living. Gustav Kamholz was reared in Germany, and came to America in 1882. After working as a farm hand for a while he rented a farm for three years in Nicollet. It was in 1890 that he purchased the northeast quarter of section 26, Mor- gan township, where he has since resided, and to which he has added 37 acres, making in all 197 acres. He has made improve- -ments from time to time until he now has as good a place as is to be found in the neighborhood. The value of the property is still further enhanced by two and a half acres of grove and orchard. The roomy barn, 32 by 50 feet, was erected in 1901, and the sightly eight-roomed house, 30 by 32 feet, finished in hard pine oil finish, and equipped with several modern comforts, was erected in 1912. Mr. Kamholz carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of Durham cattle, Chester White swine and Percheron horses. For nine years he has served on the township board, and for eleven years on the school board of district 51. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers' Elevator at

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Morgan, and one of the original stockholders in the new Morgan creamery now under construction. He and his family are mem- bers of the German Lutheran church at Morgan. Mr. Kamholz was married April 22, 1892, to Bertha Bartz, born in Nicollet county, this state, January 31, 1871, daughter of Karl and Caro- line (Popp) Bartz, and they have four children: William, born August 16, 1895; Ervin, born January 13, 1898; Elmer, born March 19, 1903; and Arnie, born May 28, 1907. Karl Bartz, the father of Mrs. Gustav Kamholz, was born in Germany, and came to America in 1869, with his family, locating in Nicollet county, where he died February 6, 1882, at the age of forty-seven years. Mrs. Bartz, with her three daughters and three sons, the brothers of Mrs. Kamholz, came to Morgan township in 1888, and secured · a farm. The following year, on March 6, Mrs. Bartz married Henry Patsche, who died January 15, 1907. Mrs. Henry Patsche died October 7, 1908, at the age of sixty-eight years. Mrs. Kam- holz continued to keep house for her brothers until her marriage.

Andrew Ruder, for many years a sturdy Minnesota black- smith, was born in Germany, and there married Catherine Keefe. In 1871 he brought his family to America, found his way to Minnesota and located at Mankato, where he followed his trade for eight years. Then he moved to Janesville, in this state, where he further worked at his trade until his death in 1884. He was a good man of sturdy character and his family sincerely reveres his memory. His good wife survived him until 1911. In the family there were six children : Andrew F., a prosperous farmer of Redwood Falls township; Anna; Sophia, the wife of Henry Amberg, of Delhi township; Joseph and John, twins; and Cath- erine, wife of James Whittet, of Redwood Falls township.

Andrew F. Ruder, one of the prosperous and successful farm- ers of Redwood Falls township, has taken his part in the growth and development of the county, and has done his share as a good citizen by building up a splendid farm. He was born in Germany, July 14, 1870, son of Andrew and Catherine (Keppe) Ruder, who the next year brought him to Mankato in this state, where he attended the schools for a while. He was still a young boy when his parents took him to Janesville, in this state, where he passed through the graded and high schools. As a youth he worked as a farmer and as a blacksmith. In 1894 he bought forty acres of land in Blue Earth county, which he worked until 1898, when he came to Redwood county and bought the present farm in section 7 in Redwood Falls township. At that time his farm was but partially developed and the buildings were all poor. . Mr. Ruder energetically set to work to bring the place to its present excel- lent condition. He has erected an eight-room house and a large barn, 30 by 44 feet, with a 14-foot leanto and a 44 by 44-foot full basement. He has beautified his home surroundings, has tiled

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LOG CABIN ON THEODORE BLAKE FARM

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THEODORE BLAKE AND FAMILY

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and fenced the farm and has planted a fine orchard of apple trees. On this place, he now carries on general diversified farming, feeds cattle for the market and does considerable dairying. A public spirited man, he was one of the organizers of district 111, and has served as its only treasurer. For two years he was township assessor. A thorough believer in modern farming, he has taken stock in the Farmers' Elevator at Redwood Falls. His fraternal affiliations are with the A. O. U. W. of Redwood Falls. The family faith is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Ruder was mar- ried August 28, 1898, to Rose Jackson, who was born in Waseca county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Ruder have been blessed with three children, all born on the farm in Redwood county : Francis S. was born September 2, 1899, and helps his father with his farm work; Andrew L., born November 2, 1902, and A. Leo, born August 31, 1907, are students in the public schools.

Theodore Blake, manager of the Farmers' Elevator at Milroy, was born June 19, 1865, in Knupplykke, Kappel Sogn, Denmark, son of Jacob Jacobsen Blake, and Karen Magdaline Madsen, his wife. He came to America in June, 1882 and in May, 1886, secured 160 acres in section 34, Underwood township, this county. This farm had been secured by a pioneer many years before, and on it had been erected in 1871, a log cabin that is still standing, and from which the place takes its name, "The Log Cabin Farm." To the development of this farm, Mr. Blake devoted many years of his life. In 1889 he erected a substantial two-story house and in 1891 a large barn, granary and swinehouse. From time to time he added other buildings. He also set out orchards and improved the place in many other ways. After a while he was enabled to purchase eighty acres in section 33, thus making a good farm of 240 acres. Carrying on general farming, he made a specialty of breeding swine of which he shipped a considerable number each* year. Taking an active part in public affairs he was clerk of Underwood township for a decade, and a member of the school board of district 68 for a similar period. In 1908 he moved to Mil- roy and assumed the duties of his present position. Mr. Blake was married May 25, 1887, to Carrie Olson, born July 24, 1860, in Den- mark, daughter of Henry and Bodil (Madson) Olson. Mr. and Mrs. Blake have had eight children : William, Clara, Bert, Charles, Jennie, John, Louise and Elmer. William was born November 2, 1888, married Mabel Solseth, lives on the old Blake farm in Underwood, and has three children, Chester C., Clarice M. and Wilbert M. Clara was born April 10, 1890, and died September 5 of the same year; Bert was born November 15, 1891, and died July 18, 1907; Charles was born October 10, 1893; Jennie, Decem- ber 23, 1896; John, November 16, 1898; Louis, January 9, 1901; and Elmer, October 20, 1903. Jacob Jacobson Blake, the father of Theodore Blake, was born in Denmark, in 1831, and was

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THEODORE BLAKE AND FAMILY

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Theodore Blake, manager of the Farmers' Elevator at Milroy, was born June 19, 1865, in Knupplykke, Kappel Sogn, Denmark, son of Jacob Jacobsen Blake, and Karen Magdaline Madsen, his wife. He came to America in June, 1882 and in May, 1886, secured 160 acres in section 34, Underwood township, this county. This farm had been secured by a pioneer many years before, and on it had been erected in 1871, a log cabin that is still standing, and from which the place takes its name, "The Log Cabin Farm." To the development of this farm, Mr. Blake devoted many years of his life. In 1889 he erected a substantial two-story house and in 1891 a large barn, granary and swinehouse. From time to time he added other buildings. He also set out orchards and improved the place in many other ways. After a while he was enabled to purchase eighty acres in section 33, thus making a good farm of 240 acres. Carrying on general farming, he made a specialty of breeding swine of which he shipped a considerable number each . year. Taking an active part in public affairs he was clerk of Underwood township for a decade, and a member of the school board of district 68 for a similar period. In 1908 he moved to Mil- roy and assumed the duties of his present position. Mr. Blake was married May 25, 1887, to Carrie Olson, born July 24, 1860, in Den- mark, daughter of Henry and Bodil (Madson) Olson. Mr. and Mrs. Blake have had eight children : William, Clara, Bert, Charles, Jennie, John, Louise and Elmer. William was born November 2, 1888, married Mabel Solseth, lives on the old Blake farm in Underwood, and has three children, Chester C., Clarice M. and Wilbert M. Clara was born April 10, 1890, and died September 5 of the same year; Bert was born November 15, 1891, and died July 18, 1907; Charles was born October 10, 1893; Jennie, Decem- ber 23, 1896; John, November 16, 1898; Louis, January 9, 1901; and Elmer, October 20, 1903. Jacob Jacobson Blake, the father of Theodore Blake, was born in Denmark, in 1831, and was

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married in 1850 to Karen Magdalena Madsen, who was born September 6, 1831. After his death on March 15, 1874, his widow was married in 1873 to Martin Erickson, born in Sweden in 1843. Mr. Erickson brought the family to America, arrived in Sleepy Eye, this state, June 5, 1882, and engaged in railroad work. His wife died in March, 1911, and in 1912 he returned to Sweden, where he now resides. Henry Olson, father of Mrs. Theodore Blake, was born in Denmark in 1828, and married Bodil Madson, born in 1834. Mr. Olson brought his family to America in 1881, and bought 80 acres of land in Prairieville township, Brown county, improved and developed the place, added 40 acres more of land, and there farmed until his death, June 18, 1907. His widow still lives on the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Olson had the fol- lowing children : Carrie, now Mrs. Theodore Blake; Mary, now Mrs. Jacob Geiser, of Hubbard county, this state; Anna, now Mrs. A. Phillipson, of Cobsen, Brown county, this state, and Christian, now on the home farm.

Ole P. Skeggeby, one of the venerable old pioneers of Renville county, was born in Province of Vermland, Sweden, March 17, 1831, and was there reared. As a young man he went to Nor- way and was there employed at various labor. In March, 1867, he embarked on a wooden sailing vessel, "Amalia," under Cap- tain Peterson, at Skien, Norway, and after a voyage of seven weeks landed at Quebec. From Quebec he went by way of the Great Lakes and the canal to Wisconsin. Next spring in 1868 he came to Renville county and took a homestead of 80 acres in section 26, Hawk Creek township. The trip was made overland by oxen. Upon their arrival the family lived for a while in a dugout. This was replaced by a frame house, which is still standing. The family went through all the privations and hard- ships of pioneer life, but as time passed they prospered, and added to their holdings until they owned 280 acres of good land. . Mr. Skeggeby set out the trees which are still standing as a. tribute to his faith in the future greatness of the country. He was a prominent man in the township, served as supervisor and on the school board, and was especially active in the formation of the Synod church, Rev. Johannes Berg, the first pastor, making his home with the Skeggeby family for several years. Mr. Skeggeby successfully carried on general farming until 1904, when he bought a comfortable home in Sacred Heart village, where he still resides. He has led a useful life, has taken his part in the upbuilding of the county, and is now enjoying a well earned rest. It is such men as he who made possible the present prosperity of the county. Mr. Skeggeby was married March 14,. 1863, to Berit Olsdatter Holton, who was born in Norway, March 21, 1841. This union was blessed with seven children: Chris- tina, Ole, Betsey, Andrea Caroline, Sven, Ole and Carl. Christina

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was born February 9, 1864, and died October 17, 1872; Ole was born July 6, 1865, and died October 22, 1872; Betsey was born December 12, 1868, and married Thov A. Rudy, of Redwood having five children, Bertha, Tillie, Mabel, Ole and Theoren; Andrea Caroline was born November 12, 1870. She married Martin Listrud, by whom she had three children. Mr. Listrud and the three children are all dead. For her second husband she married Svein Homme, better known as Sam Homme, with whom she now lives at Granite Falls, Minn. Sven was born June 12, 1874. He is a farmer in Yellow Medicine county. He married Anna Collin, and they have seven children: Orin, Kenneth, Theresa, Stanford, Prescott, Elmer and Birdella. Ole was born December 3, 1875. He is a merchant at Granville, N. D. He married Clara Foss, and they have a son, Orville. Carl Sivert was born December 15, 1879, and farms on the old homestead in Hawk Creek township. He married Mary Homme, and they have four children : Bernice Gertina, Hildegaard Odella, Owen Wallace and Harvey Gordon.

Thov A. Rudy, a prosperous farmer of Swedes Forest town- ship, was born in a wagon, on the road between Fillmore and Redwood counties, June 25, 1867, son of Thov and Ture Rudi. He remained on the home farm until sixteen years of age, and then secured employment as a farm hand. In 1884 he went to North Dakota, and took up a homestead, but two years later abandoned it, and again returned to Redwood county. In 1895 he purchased from his father-in-law, Ole Skeggeby, 137 acres in section 7, Swedes Forest, where he still resides. On this place he has made many improvements, including a fine substantial house, 14 by 26 feet, with two wings, 16 by 16 feet, and 16 by 14 feet, erected in 1905. Mr. Rudi is on the township board for his tenth year, and has been clerk of the school board. He is treasurer of the Rock Valley Telephone Co. Mr. Rudi was married July 23, 1893, to Betsy Skeggeby, born in Renville county, December 12, 1868, daughter of Ole Skeggeby. Mr. and Mrs. Rudy have five children : Bertha, born August 6, 1894; Tillie, born August 6, 1896; Mabel, born January 17, 1899; Ole, born February 4, 1902, and Theoren, born April 8, 1910.

Thov Rudi, the pioneer, was born in Norway in 1818, and was there reared and grew to manhood. In 1863 he came to America and secured employment among his fellow countrymen in Fillmore county, this state. In 1867 he arrived in Redwood county, and engaged in farming on a homestead of 160 acres in Swedes Forest township. A part of this farm is now the loca- tion of the Rock Dell Norwegian Lutheran church. In the win- ter of 1868, while returning from Redwood Falls, he was over- taken by a blizzard, and so badly frozen that he died from the effects six weeks afterward. The story of this trip is told else-

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where by A. O. Gimmestad. Mr. Rudi was married in Nor- way to Ture Rudi, who was born in Norway December 23, 1828, and now lives in Swedes Forest with her son, the original home- stead having been sold to Evan Sampson and Nels Sandager. In the family there were four children: Louis, born in Norway; Gunild and Arnold, born in Fillmore county; and Thov, born on the trip to Redwood county.

Frederick Hagen, for many years a soldier in the German army, was born in Germany, June 7, 1840, and was there reared and educated. As a youth, he joined the German army and so served in three different conflicts, the Russian rebellion in 1863, the Austrian-German war in 1866, and the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871. When not serving his country in the field, he was en- gaged as a farmer. As a young man, he married Fredericka Reh- feld, who was born in Germany, July 3, 1841. In 1888, with his wife and his two children, Helmuth and August C., he came to America and located in Redwood Falls. A year later he moved to the northwest quarter of section 33, Kintire township. There they endured all the hardships of pioneer life, living the first year in a granary. Three years after their arrival in Kintire they moved to section 5, Sheridan township, where they built up a splendid farm, erected, in time, a sightly home and suitable barns. On this farm the good wife died September 2, 1905, and there Mr. Hagen now makes his home with his son August C. Of the nine children in the family there are now living four: Helmuth, August C., Wilhelmina and Annie.

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The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 43

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages: 702

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 702