USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The History of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 44
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Carl Zuehlsdorf was born in Germany and there married Wil- helmina Schmidt. In 1889 he brought his family to America, found his way to this county and located in section 3, where he is now a prosperous farmer. Of the eleven children in the family there are now living nine: Ida, Annie, Emelie, Herman, August, Emil, Martha, Minnie and Ervin.
August C. Hagen a substantial and respected farmer of Sheri- dan township, was born in Germany, July 24, 1869, son of Fred- erick and Frederica (Rehfeld) Hagen. He was reared and edu- cated in Germany and in the spring of 1888 came to America with his parents and located in Redwood Falls. Four years later, in company with his father, he bought his present place. At that time it was but little developed, seventy-five acres had been broken and a little shanty of 10 by 12 feet had been erected. On this farm Mr. Hagen began his farming operations. In 1895 he built a five-room home, 16 by 24 feet. In 1899 he added four rooms, making a very suitable and commodious farm residence. As necessity required, he erected a good barn 36 by 56 feet, a granary, 16 by 24 feet, a corn crib, tool sheds and other farm buildings. Soon after purchasing the place, he planted large groves on the north and west of the house and he now has many large trees
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM SMITH
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over twenty years old. He also has a good orchard and a produc- tive berry patch. On this splendidly developed farm he carried on general agricultural operations and raises each year about 105 acres of wheat, 75 acres of corn and 30 acres of oats. In addition to the home farm, he has 160 acres of land in section 28, Kintire township. Mr. Hagen is a good citizen, a good farmer and a thorough believer in education. Mr. Hagen was married may 19, 1899, to Anna Zeuhlsdorf, who was born in Germany, July 7, 1880, daughter of Carl and Wilhelmina (Schmidt) Zeuhlsdorf. Mr. and Mrs. Hagen have been blessed with ten children: Reinhardt, born March 12, 1900; Alma, born August 28, 1903; Alvina, June 27, 1901; Walter, January 20, 1905; Lena, July 12, 1907; Emil, Octo- ber 18, 1908; Rudolph, January 5, 1909; Harold, April 25, 1912, and Ervin, February 2, 1914, and Adeline, October 25, 1915. All the children of school age are attending the district school of their neighborhood. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.
William Smith, at one time mayor of Redwood Falls, exerted a strong influence on the life of the community as farmer and public officer and his death on January 14, 1904, is still sincerely mourned. He was born in London, Ontario, Canada, December 13, 1845. At the age of ten years, he was brought by his parents to Minnesota and was reared in Dakota and Rice counties. After his marriage in 1874 he purchased a farm near Northfield which he conducted until 1879. In that year he moved to Redwood county and secured land in section 22, Kintire township, which he pro- ceeded to improve and develop. He at once took a prominent part in the affairs of his community and for five years served as chair- man of the town board. In 1895 he moved to Redwood Falls, opened an office and engaged in the land business, buying and sell- ing real estate, negotiating farm loans and looking after numer- ous holdings. His worth here is recognized as it had been in the country and in 1899 he became mayor, a position in which he served for two terms. Although of a retiring and home-loving disposition, Mr. Smith was cordial and pleasant in social and po- litical life, made acquaintances rapidly and retained those that he made. He was active in church work and did much to promote the interests of the Presbyterian church, of which he served for some time as a trustee. He was likewise an enthusiastic member of the Knights of Pythias, Rathbone Sisters and the United Workmen. Mr. Smith was married in Dakota county, December 10, 1874, to Mrs. Ida A. (Steadman) Price, who was born in Ta- berg, Oneida county, New York, in 1854, and this union was blessed with three children : Libby M., Tena and George William. Libby M. is the wife of Paul R. McCoy, of St. Louis, Mo .; Tena is the wife of Walter Hinze of Aberdeen, S. D., and George William Is farming on the old homestead. By her marriage to Mr. Price,
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Mrs. Smith had one daughter, Carrie, the wife of Clarence King of Redwood Falls. Mrs. Ida A. Smith died June 29, 1916, at Redwood Falls, Minn., and her daughter, Carrie, died in 1906 at Redwood Falls.
George William Smith, better known as Will Smith, still farms on the homestead in Kintire township, where he was born Decem- ber 5, 1885, the son of William and Ida A. (Steadman) Smith, pioneers. He was reared to farm pursuits, remained at home until eighteen years of age and then went to Minneapolis, where, after learning the plumbers' trade, he was employed in that occupation for several years. Since then he has devoted his time to farming on his present place. He has a sightly home, commodious barns and a well developed farm, and successfully carries on general agricultural pursuits. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the United Workmen. Mr. Smith was married October 28, 1909, to Maude E. Kempton, who was born in Hennepin county, this state, November 4, 1887, daughter of Rollin and Lora (Ellis) Kempton. Her parents were born in New Hampshire, and in 1905 came to Morgan, this county, where Mr. Kempton still conducts a general store. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children: Maude E., born August 3, 1910, James R., born March 6, 1913, and Robert K., July 17, 1915.
George W. Whittet, a prominent factor in the agricultural and horticultural life of Redwood county, was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, Jan. 24, 1854, son of John and Janet (Watson) Whittet. John Whittet was born in Perthshire, Scotland, learned the cap- penters' trade, and became an expert building contractor. In 1850 he came to America and located in Sumner township, Jefferson county, Wis., where he farmed the remainder of his days, dying June 2, 1870, his wife, who was born in Perthshire, Scotland, August 19, 1821, dying at Milton Junction, Rock county, Wiscon- sin, June 2, 1911. George W, Whittet attended the district schools as a boy, but has acquired the greater part of his education by wide reading and close observation. At the age of sixteen his father died, and the work of operating the farm fell upon him, his mother, and the younger children in the family. His residence in Redwood county dates from March 3, 1876, when he home- steaded 160 acres in section 21, Three Lakes township. In 1878 he sold this tract and acquired 80 acres in section 35, Delhi town- ship. This land he has increased by judicious purchases. His pres- ent home is in the city of Redwood Falls, just at the entrance to the Ramsey State Park, where he has sixteen acres of land, and a pleasant residence in which he has lived since July 20, 1915. Many years ago Mr. Whittet purchased his first nursery stock from Clarence Wedge, of Albert Lea. He now has about 1,400 apple and plum trees, aside from a berry patch of considerable size. A man of strong public spirit, Mr. Whittet has occupied such
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GEORGE W. WHITTET, SR., AND FAMILY
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Delhi township offices as supervisor and assessor. His fraternal affiliation is with the I. O. O. F., in the subordinate Canton and En- campment of which he has been a prominent officer. Mr. Whittet was married February 27, 1878, to Anabell King, daughter of Thomas H. and Nancy J. (Yesley) King, and this union has been blessed with eight children, of whom there are living six : George W., Jr., Maude, David K., Christopher P., Elias and Willard. George W., Jr., was born November 1, 1879, and farms in Delhi township. He was married May 30, 1905, to Bessie Bower, who died November 20, 1911, leaving two children: Bernice, born August 7, 1906, and Bessie, born November 20, 1911. July 2, 1913, he married Lorena Alexander, who was born August 16, 1879. Maude was born July 30, 1889. She graduated from the Redwood Falls high school, took the home economics course in the Battle Creek Sanitarium, also studying instrumental music at the same time, and then studied kindergarten work for two years at the State Normal school at Winona. She is now a teacher. David K. was born October 21, 1891, graduated from the Redwood Falls high school, took a course in Ford's Business college at Minne. apolis, and is now with the First National Bank of Three Forks, Montana. He was married June 5, 1916, to Florence Berg, of Chicago. Chris P. was born December 19, 1893, and was married in June, 1915, to Julia Spalsberry, and is now on the home farm. Elias was born March 16, 1897, and Willard A., October 13, 1900.
Thomas H. King, a pioneer of Delhi township, was born in Missouri and came to this county in 1872. He lived a long and useful life, and died in the spring of 1903, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife, Nancy J. (Yesley) King, was born February 27, 1844, and now lives in Redwood Falls. Mr. White was the son of a Baptist clergyman, but as his conscience forbade him to narrow his principles to adopt the tenets of any particular creed he be- came a Free Thinker. He loved the good and hated the bad. He believed that by right living the kingdom of God will be estab- lished on earth, and that if a man lives right physically and spirit- ually, he will never suffer any pain, but live to a ripe old age, and drop off like ripe fruit.
John T. Brakke, a thrifty farmer of Westline township, was born September 2, 1884, in Brule county, South Dakota, son of Amon T. Brakke. Amon T. Brakke was born in Norway in 1857 and came to America in 1869, locating in Blooming Prairie, Steele county, Minnesota, where he worked as a farm hand. In 1882 he took up a homestead of 160 acres in Presho township, Lyman county, South Dakota. He improved his land, planted groves, built a house and barn, and farmed here until 1890, when he sold out and came to Westline township, Redwood county, Minnesota. He bought 160 acres in section 1, which he improved and to which he made additions until he owned 480 acres, 160 acres in section 11
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and 160 acres in section 15. He sold 400 acres and gave his son John 80 acres and then retired to Paynesville, Stearns county, Minnesota, where he still lives. His wife was born in 1859 in Steele county, Minnesota. They had the following children: Stena, Mrs. Chas. R. Terhell of South Dakota; Matilda, Mrs. Holvre Johnson, who died February 12, 1915; John T .; Elizabeth, Mrs. N. Reuter of Paynesville, Minn .; Alfred, a mail carrier of Milroy; Minnie; Clara; Alma; Lillian; William, and Eleanora. John remained at home until 1910, when he began farming for him- self on the eighty acres received from his father. He also rented 160 acres in section 9 from Ed. Ellison for two years. Then he rented 320 acres of good land from Heagel & Van Dorn for two years. In 1915 he moved onto his 80 acres in section 11 and bought 80 acres more in section 11. He built a small house and barn and engaged in farming there. Mr. Brakke was married November 19, 1912, to May Simmons, born in 1893 in Underwood township, Redwood county, daughter of Taylor Simmons, born in Janesville, Wisconsin, and his wife Adelia Simmons, born in New Ulm. Mr. and Mrs. Brakke have one child, Russell, born March 30, 1914.
Holvre Johnson was born April 11, 1872, in Norway. He came to America in 1888 locating in Delhi township, Redwood county, where he secured work as a farm hand and remained there for four years. In 1892 he bought 160 acres of land, with his brother, in section 23, Westline township, and in 1897 sold his interest to his brother. He then bought the northwest quarter of section 23, which he sold in the spring of 1900 and purchased 160 acres of partly improved land in section 15. From time to time he added to this until he now owns 446 acres. In 1902 he built a barn and gradually other buildings were erected, such as cribs, granary and a wind mill. He also planted an orchard. In 1914 he built a com- fortable two-story house. Mr. Johnson was married in 1900 to Tillie Brakke, born in 1883 in South Dakota and died February 12, 1915. She was the daughter of Amon T. and Guneld (Johnson) Brakke, both natives of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have the following children : Mildred, Florence, Ethel and Sanford.
Oscar R. Nordgren, dealer in farm implements in Walnut Grove, was born July 18, 1883, at Hastings, Minn., son of Gustav A. and Ida (Larson) Nordgren, both natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1882. They lived at Hastings one year and in 1883 came to Walnut Grove where the father bought a farm in Gales township and lived there until 1911, when he sold and moved to Walnut Grove, where he and his wife are now living. He is a Republican and has served on the school board for a number of years and held other local offices in Gales township. Besides Oscar R. there was a daughter, Olga, who died in 1907. After completing his education in Gales township, Oscar R. attended
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the Minneapolis Business College one term in 1908. In 1910 he started in the farm implement business, succeeding A. W. Olson. The business has grown rapidly since he took charge of it. He has a well equipped office and two warehouses. He handles the John Deere farming machinery and gasoline engines. Aside from the above business he owns, in partnership with Alex L. Dahlgren, the Walnut Grove electric plant with an investment of $7,000. It has been in operation since October, 1914. He is also interested in the local oil business under the firm name of Nordgren, Dahl- gren & Co. They have two 12,000-gallon oil tanks, one tank wagon and team with which they supply Walnut Grove and vicinity with oil. Mr. Nordgren married August 27, 1910, Caroline Johnson, born March 27, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Nordgren have two children : Orville, born April 27, 1912, and Bernetta, born February 9, 1914. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church.
Julius Christensen, a successful farmer of Sundown township, was born in Denmark, September 28, 1858, son of Christ and Johanna Christena Christensen, both natives of Denmark. Christ Christensen was born April 9, 1825, and his wife was born Febru- ary 19, 1831. He was a harness maker by trade. In 1848 he served as a soldier in the war between Germany and Denmark and was wounded. Julius received his education in Denmark and came to the United States in 1885, locating in West Branch, Iowa, where he began working. He rented a place and farmed for five years. Next he went to South Dakota, where he remained one year and then came to Lamberton, Minn., and afterwards to Wil- low Lake township. Then he bought 120 acres in section 8, Sun- down township. There was a small house and barn on the place. Since that time he has remodeled his house and made other im- provements. In 1909 he built a barn 28 by 42, a granary 18 by 28, a machine shed 14 by 20, and corn crip 24 by 24, besides putting down a well and fencing the farm. In 1911 he bought 160 acres in section 5. He has served as county road officer. Mr. Christen- sen was married in 1886 to Mary K. Sorensen, born June 14, 1856, in Denmark. She came to the United States in 1886 and was mar- ried the same year. They have seven children: John, Nels, William, Edward, Lena, Otto and Fredrick. The family are mem- bers of the Scandinavian Lutheran church.
John Schwengle, at one time an extensive land owner of Red- wood county, was born in Wisconsin, June 18, 1868, and was there reared. From Sleepy Eye, this state, where he farmed for sev- eral years, he came to Waterbury township, Redwood county, and secured 400 acres of land in sections 22 and 23. With the excep- tion of a tract of 20 acres of flax this land was entirely wild. He set to work, and from a small beginning developed one of the best farms in the county. In 1900 he built a six-room house and a barn. In 1906 he extended his building operations still further
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by erecting another barn, 40 by 80 feet. This barn was burned and in 1910 he replaced it by a structure 40 by 60 feet. In 1907 he spent $4,000 in tiling the 400 acres. For many years he carried on general farming on an extensive scale and became one of the leading men of his community. For eleven years he was treasurer of school district 93, and for two years served as director of school district 30 (consolidated). His death, January 30, 1913, is still sincerely mourned. The farm is now conducted by Mrs. Schwengle, who has further improved it. Mr. Schwengle was married Oc- tober 29, 1893, to Bertha A. Kreuger born at Sleepy Eye, Minne- sota, January 10, 1874, daughter of Julius and Hattie (Sparman) Krueger and they have six children : Teresa, Magdalen, August, Bertha, Cecelia and Leona. Teresa and Magdalen graduated from the Lamberton high school and the normal department thereof, and have taken a summer course in the University of Minnesota. The others are still attending the Wanda Consolidated school. Julius Kreuger was born in Germany, was brought to America at the age of seven years, was married in 1869, and had a family of ten children : Herman, Fred, William, Lewis, Emma, Bertha, Tena, Ida, Albert and Amelia. Albert and Amelia are dead.
Frank Heiling, a prosperous farmer of Morgan township, and father of one of the largest families in the county, was born in Austria, April 11, 1869, son of Joseph and Annie (Schneider) Heil- ing, both of whom died in 1905, the former at the age of seventy- six and the latter at the age of sixty-five. Frank Heiling was reared in Germany and in 1888 came to America and located in Morgan township, this county, where, with the exception of two years spent in Watertown, Wis., has since been his home. In the early nineties he rented a place of 320 acres in section 20. This place in 1900 he purchased. He has rebuilt the house and erected other farm buildings, and he has also greatly improved and de- veloped the farm. The value of the place is still further en- hanced by four acres of grove and orchard. Mr. Heiling carries on general farming and dairying, and specializes in breeding Duroc-Jersey swine. In addition to his Redwood county property he has a farm of 625 acres in Carrington, N. D., which he rents. Mr. Heiling was married September 29, 1891, to Magdalen Mark, born March 18, 1870, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Leibl) Mark. Mr. and Mrs. Heiling have sixteen children: Clara, Magdalen, Laura, Elizabeth, Katherine, Matilda, Anna, Agnes, Mary, Elea- nor, Frank, Hugo, Joseph, Paul, Alois and Reuben.
Andrew Werner, a prosperous citizen of Springdale township, was born in Sweden in 1857, was brought to America by his par- ents as an infant and was reared in Illinois. In 1899 he bought 160 acres in section 2, Springdale township, this county, where he still resides. He was married at Mankato in 1871 to Anna L. Roselund, who was born in Sweden in 1853, and this union has
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been blessed with eight children: Carl A., Frank L., John O., Walter L., Selma, Ellen, Ardena and Anna. Carl A. farms in South Dakota. Selma is now Mrs. Axel Truedson, of Gales town- ship. The others are on the home farm.
Lars Trudeson, for many years a worthy citizen of Springdale township, was born in Sweden, October 30, 1846, and there grew to manhood. In 1868 he came to America and after traveling about for a while located in Carver county, this state. From there, in 1882, he made his way to Redwood county and took a homestead of 160 acres in Springdale township. He erected a rude shack in which to live and a shed for his stock, and set about with a will to establish his fortune. He broke the sod, planted a grove, and by toiling early and late developed as good a farm as is to be found in the community. As the years past the shack and shed were replaced with a modern home and a fine set of barns and other buildings. The value of the farm was still further enhanced by a splendid apple and plum orchard which he brought into bearing condition. For many years he carried on general farm- ing and made a specialty of Hereford cattle. In 1910 he retired and moved to a sightly home just outside the village limits of Walnut Grove, where he died June 2 of that year. Mr. Trudeson was married in 1884 to Anna Benson, who proved a faithful help- mate in all his undertakings, a loyal wife and a loving mother. She died June 2, 1910, at the age of sixty years, leaving four children : Nels, a farmer of Springdale township; Axel, a farmer of Gales township; Dora, now Mrs. E. Swenson of Springdale township, and Albert, a farmer of Springdale township. Mr. Trudeson was married the second time, April 18, 1911, to Hannah Younglun, who was born in Sweden, June 8, 1865, came to Amer- ica January 5, 1878, and located in Waseca county, this state.
Albert Truedson, a well known farmer of Springdale township, was born December 10, 1887, in the township where he now resides, son of Lars and Anna (Benson) Truedson. He was reared on the home farm, passed through the common schools of his neighbor- hood, and took a commercial course at the Mankato Commercial College, as well as an agricultural course at the University of Minnesota. With this preparation he has since successfully en- gaged in farming on the parental acres in section 14. He is popu- lar among his associates and is regarded as one of the rising men of the township. Mr. Truedson was married October 14, 1913, to Ellen Werner, born March 24, 1890, in Waseca county, Minne- sota, daughter of Andrew and Anna L. (Roselund) Werner, and they have one child : Kathryn M., born January 12, 1915.
Michael Wagner, a successful farmer of Sheridan township, was born in Brown county, Minnesota, February 5, 1870, son of Engelbert and Mary (Kuelbs) Wagner. Engelbert Wagner was born in Germany, was brought to America in 1855 by his parents,
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and in 1870 took a homestead in Home township, Brown county, where he lived until his death in 1897, at the age of fifty-seven years, his good wife dying Mar. 28, 1915, at the age of seventy-five years. Michael Wagner was reared to farm pursuits on the home place. For a time he was employed in his native county on the farm of Julius Schroeder, whose daughter he married. After his marriage, he bought 200 acres in section 31, Sheridan township, where he now resides. This place he has highly developed, making many improvements. The pleasant home was erected in 1897, and his roomy barn, 32 by 12 feet, with a basement, was erected in 1912. On this place he conducts general farming, and makes a specialty of Duroc swine, breeding, feeding and shipping to the markets. The value of the farm is enhanced by a three-acre fruit orchard, while another feature of the place consists of a fifteen- acre tract of clover and timothy. In public life, Mr. Wagner has served for several years as road overseer and as treasurer of school district 12. He holds stock in the Farmers Grain & Fuel Company at Seaforth, and is one of its directors. His fraternal affiliations are with the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. Mr. Wagner was married April 24, 1894, to Emily Schroeder, who was born in Brown county, January 13, 1874, daughter of Julius and Emily (Hemp) Schroeder. Julius Schroeder was born in Ger- many, came to America in 1854, and farmed in Brown county until his death, January 14, 1906, at the age of eighty-eight years, his wife dying December 24, 1903, at the age of seventy-four. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have had four children: Hugo V., born Sep- tember 1, 1895; Lorina, born September 28, 1900; Alpha, born June 27, 1907, and died January 28, 1910, and Anita, born March 14, 1912. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church.
Julius Jacobsen, a progressive farmer of Brookville township, was born in Denmark, September 19, 1860, son of Christian and Carrie Jacobsen, who spent their lives on a farm in that country. Julius was one of seven children, the others being Mena, Fred- ericka, Carl, Maren, Peter and Ole. He came to the United States in 1879, practically penniless, and found his way to New Ulm, in Brown county, this state, in which vicinity he worked during the summer as a farm hand. For a few months he worked in an eleva- tor in Nicollet county, but finding the work too confining, he se- cured employment as a farm hand for some three years. Later he went to Montana, where he hauled apples for an orchard con- tractor, later taking up his residence in Valley City, N. D., for a while. In 1884, he came to this county, and after working about for a while, settled on a tract of land in section 15, Brookville township. Starting on this wild land, he set out groves, erected buildings, fenced the fields, and purchased modern equipment. By judicious purchases he has increased his holdings to 200 acres. Mr. Jacobsen carries on general farming, but makes a specialty
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