The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 80

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246

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SAMUEL W. RICE

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Samuel W. Rice, pioneer, veteran of the Civil war, and retired farmer now living in Austin, was born in Thetford, Orange county, Vermont, February 27, 1834, son of Samnel B. and Sarah (Caswell) Rice. He was taken by them to Errol, Coos county, New Hampshire, in 1851, and in the spring of 1855 came West, being employed for a time in running a head saw in the Michigan pineries. Ile arrived in Austin the same year, the city then being but a small hamlet of scattered houses. He went to work for Chauneey Leverich, one of the original proprietors of Austin, and in his saw mill sawed the lumber for the first hotel ereeted in Austin, the strneture being located on the corner of Franklin and Mill streets, on the present site of the Williams House. Mr. Rice and R. O. Hunt were afterwards in partnership in the blaek- smith business for a short time. He then operated a threshing machine with Wesley Slocum one year. The subject of this sketch enlisted in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infan- try. in the early stages of the Civil war, and served over two years as bugler, receiving an honorable discharge for disability cansed by eye trouble. Returning to Mower county, he farmed until fifteen years ago, when he retired. His son now owns and operates the home farm. Mr. Rice married Lneinda Slocum, daughter of Cook Sloeum, a native of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have had seven children, of whom the living are : Mary L., now Mrs. Louis Clark; Charles L .; Emma, now Mrs. Otis Robbinson ; and Walter J. Those deceased are : Nettie B. Adams, William Riee and one who died in infancy.

Samuel B. and Sarah (Caswell) Riee were natives of Vermont. The former, who was a miller by oeeupation, sold his mill in 1851. and moved his family to Erroll, Coos county, New Hampshire, where he purchased several hundred aeres of land. There he farmed and raised his family of four children: Hanna M., Eliza- beth, Lester B. and Samnel W.

Charles L. Rice, who has prominently identified himself with the movement for the bettering of farm conditions in Minnesota, was born in Windom township, this county, May 23, 1865, the closing year of the Civil war. He received his education in the district and graded schools and in the Austin high school, after which he took up farming on the home place, which now consists of 215 aeres in sections 11 and 12, Austin township. Here he still continues to carry on agricultural operations, raising diversified crops and breeding pure blooded Hereford eattle, Percheron horses and registered Chester white hogs. He is the owner of Lapolian Prince, one of the greatest sires in the state. Ile is a modern farmer in every respect, has a remodeled, well furnished home ; water supply in house, barn and hog house; a large silo; commodious barns, and an engine house, as well as a full equip-

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

ment of modern machinery. Mr. Rice was married June 20, 1888, to Rose E. Grimshaw, and this union has been blessed with two children : George W., who lives near Round Up, Montana, and Charles R., who died in infancy. Mr. Rice is a prominent officer of Grange No. 604, Patrons of Husbandry, and for twenty years has been a member of the Mower County Agricultural Association, serving as its president two years. He is a Republican in politics, and has served in various capacities on the town and school board.

Samuel Schutz, a pioneer of Fillmore county, was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, and there married Elizabeth Hane, also a native of Switzerland. He brought his family to America in 1852, and purchased eighty acres in Will county, Illinois, remaining on that farm until 1856, when he sold out and came overland by ox team to Fillmore county, where he took a home- stead of 160 acres in Beaver township. He first erected a log cabin and in this he and his family lived until 1869, when he erected a fine brick house in which he lived until 1873, when he sold his farm and moved to Kasson, Dodge county, where he purchased a home and lived until his death, February 13, 1892, his good wife preceding him to the grave, in August, 1876. They were the parents of seven children. Four died in early life. Three grew to manhood and womanhood. Of these three, Samuel H. and Rudolph A. are living and Elizabeth is dead. Samuel H. served in Company K, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and is now a pensioned soldier living in retirement at Naperville, Ill. He has nine children : Sarah, Albert, Anna, Lena, Lilly, Frank, Nettie, Elmer and Birdie. Elizabeth married Jacob Leut- hold, a native of Zurich, Switzerland, and died April 12, 1910, leaving seven children: Carrie, Jake, John, Henry, Charles, Rudolph and Anna, the latter being the wife of Philip Hines, who is connected with the Drs. Mayo, of Rochester, as a druggist. The sons constitute the firm of Leuthold Brothers, the well-known clothiers, who own a chain of stores throughout the Northwest. Rudolph A. is a resident of LeRoy township.

Rudolph A. Schutz, of LeRoy township, agriculturist, horti- culturist and lecturer on the preceding subjects, with the State Farmers' Institute, was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, May 22, 1850, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hane) Schutz, the pio- neers. He came to America with his parents in 1852, lived with them in Will county, Illinois, and with them came to Beaver township, Fillmore county, in 1856. There he received his earlier education, and later attended a school taught in the old town of LeRoy, by the Hon. John Williams, who was afterward burned to death in the postoffice fire at LeRoy. Rudolph A. also attended the Evangelical College, at Plainfield, Ill. Thus equipped he returned home and farmed with his father until 1872, in which

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year he took charge of the home farm. Two years later he pur- chased eighty acres of wild land in section 13, LeRoy town- ship, and built a home. The following year, after breaking the land, he set out trees which have now developed into a fine grove of maples, willows and cottonwoods. At the same time he set out many evergreen trees such as fir, balsam, spruce and European larches. He also entered into fruit growing, and started an abundant supply of apple, plum, cherry and other fruit trees, as well as a variety of small fruits and berries. He soon added another eighty acres to his farm, making a quarter sec- tion in all. On this farm he worked until 1891, when he pur- chased a farm in section 22, to which he moved. That fall he rented his first farm, and two years later sold it. To his new farm he has added from time to time until he now owns 250 acres, all under the highest cultivation. His buildings are also in good condition. In 1891 he began planting apple trees on this farm, and now has two large orchards in bearing condition. In 1904 he was awarded the silver medal in the Minnesota fruit exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, being the only one to receive that prize from Mower county. Mr. Schutz is a Republican in politics, and his family are all members of the First Presbyterian church at LeRoy. Aside from serving his township as supervisor for five years, he has been greatly inter- ested in horticulture all his life, and for the past six years has been connected with the Farmers' State Institute. During the first three years of this time his lectures were confined solely to horticulture, but since that time he has lectured on all the prin- cipal farm pursuits as well. He also gives evening lectures on "Model Home Life on the Farm, Its Beauties and Attractions." In 1909 he was sent as a delegate to the Horticultural and Agri- cultural Convention, held at Winnipeg, and covering the prov- inces of Canada. In June, 1910, he was promoted to conductor, having charge of a corps of lecturers, for the State Farmers' Institute, which position he now occupies. In 1910 he was chosen as a delegate to the Williamsburg State Convention of Iowa. Rudolph A. Schutz was married July 20, 1872, to Minnie A. Klampe, born in Germany, July 5, 1852. This union has been blessed with six children: Matilda E., died May 25, 1879; Eliza A. is the wife of George J. Malcombson, of LeRoy township; Alice F. graduated from the LeRoy high school, and is now teaching, being the holder of a first grade certificate; Ralph F. assists his father on the home farm; Walter Valentine is teller of the First National Bank, of Mott, North Dakota; Irene S. is a student at the state school in Faribault, having been stricken deaf and dumb as the result of brain fever at the age of five months. The parents of Mrs. Rudolph A. Schutz were John and

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Mary (Las) Klampe. They came to America from Germany in 1858, and after living a time in Dodge county, Minnesota, moved to Sibley, Iowa, where they took a homestead. Mrs. Klampe died December 10, 1899, and her husband moved to Jefferson, Oregon, where he died April 5, 1908.

Hon. John Frank. Few men in southern Minnesota, now alive, have accorded them a greater meed of love and appreciation than has been earned by John Frank, of LeRoy township. Possessing, as he does, one of those rare characters which instinctively attract sterling friendships, he has unostentatiously pursued his way, radiating encouragement and cheer, and instilling new ambitions and happiness in the hearts of all with whom he comes in contact. Already well past the allotted three score years and ten, he is now one of the patriarchal figures of the county, respected and held in highest regard by the older people, and venerated and held in affection by the younger. Such a life as his, standing as it does for industry, progress and decency, cannot fail to have a lasting and salutary effect upon the character of the county. The youngest of the seven children of Jacob F. and Frederika (Geds) Frank, well-to-do middle-class German farmers, he was born Feb- ruary 13, 1834, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and in that kingdom was reared to manhood, losing his mother when he was twelve years of age, and his father three years later. June 4, 1854, he landed in New York city, and thus began his honorable career as a resident of this country. After spending several months in New York, he resolved to seek a newer country, and accordingly came westward, spending the summer of 1855 as a clerk in a store at Rockford, Illinois. In September, 1855, he continued his westward journey, and located for the winter in Howard county, Iowa. In the spring of 1856 he came to Mower county, and pre-empted a quarter section of wild land in section 30, LeRoy township. Since that date, he has continued to reside in this county, gaining in- creasing honors with increasing years. Upon his arrival here, he erected a log cabin, and for a time kept house for himself. The country so strongly appealed to his sense of beauty and utility that he resolved here to establish his rooftree. Accordingly he returned to Rockford, Illinois, and was there married to Catherine E. Lachele, thus consummating a most delightful romance. Cath- erine E. Lachele was born in Geisingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, October 30, 1833, in a home of wealth and comfort. In 1854, after her mother's death and the coming of a step-mother to the home, Catherine E. and her sister left the old country, came to America, and located in Forest City, Ohio. In Cleveland she met the young countryman of hers who was designed afterward to become the life-long companion of her joys and sorrows. After their mar- riage, the young people set up housekeeping in the wilderness.

John Frank

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Mrs. Frank proved herself a true and noble helpmeet, ever a lov- ing. sympathetic and faithful wife and mother, and a shrewd, frugal, capable and hardworking housewife. These two souls were well mated. Their quarter section has been enlarged until they now own 1,580 acres, and their log cabin has been re- placed by a modern home, known far and wide for its hospitality. While accumulating so goodly a store of this world's goods, the Franks have not forgotten the needy, and have distributed to the poor and deserving with liberal hand. In October, 1861, the peace of the home was shattered by the call for soldiers to defend the Union, and for many years these loving souls were apart. Mr. Frank enlisted in Company K, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, for three years, and at the close of that period re-enlisted until the close of the war, serving until the summer of 1865, when he was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and discharged at Fort Snelling. having in the meantime followed all the fortunes of his regiment. After his discharge he served as sutler's clerk for two years, and was then appointed sutler, serving in this capacity until 1877, when he returned to the farm, where he has since re- sided. In 1899 he retired from active life, but still lives on the old homestead. Mr. Frank has always been a Democrat. He is a mem- ber of the German Lutheran Church, a Knight Templar and a mem- ber of the G. A. R. He served in the legislature of 1882, has been school clerk twenty-five years, and has given his services to the town in various other capacities, such as those of supervisor and road overseer. He was candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 1886, and for presidential elector in 1884. In the Frank family are three children: Louisa, wife of John LeBorius, a farmer of Hennepin county; William Monroe, cashier of the First National Bank of LeRoy; and Irene M., wife of W. D. Bassler, a leading Austin haberdasher and clothier. The parents of Mrs. Frank were Christopher and Barbara (Graff) La- chele.

John R. Roberts, for over twenty-five years a member of the board of supervisors of Bennington township, and for a greater part of the time chairman of that body, was born in Portage county, Ohio, January 11, 1841, son of Edward and Ann (Thomas) Roberts. He was reared .on the farm, educated in the country schools of Wisconsin, and there grew to manhood, remaining on the home farm until 1870, when he came to Mower county and two years later, in 1872, purchased eighty aeres in section 26, Bennington township. This land he broke and improved, ereet- ing a good lot of frame buildings and later adding another eighty, making in all 160 acres, all in section 26. On this tract he conducts general farming, a vocation in which he has been most successful. The subject of this sketch was married

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

November 11, 1872, to Mary J. Perry, who was born at Albany, Missouri, November 12, 1858, and died July 6, 1899, leaving seven children : Albert O., Glenn and Stanley B. are residents respec- tively of Bennington township, Minneapolis, and the state of Washington. Edna lives in Minneapolis and is the wife of Ed- ward M. Sly. . Maude is the wife of William Biel, and they have two children : Alleen and Loyce. The Biel family lives with Mr. Roberts. Edward Roberts lives in the state of Washington. Bessie is the wife of Carl Watt, of Richland county, Wisconsin. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Edward Roberts, father of John R. Roberts, was born in Wales and came to America at the age of fourteen years. His wife was born in the same country and came to America when sixteen years of age. They were married at Cleveland, Ohio, and settled at Akron, Ohio, where Edward engaged in farming and stone cutting until 1848, when they came to Wisconsin, locating in Rock county. Here they acquired 160 acres of land by paying a settler $40 for his claim, and then paying the government $1.25 an acre. On this tract Edward Roberts prospered and lived until April 6, 1852. His wife died in Spring Valley, this state, January 9, 1897. Their children are: Elizabeth, William, John R., Sarah A., Kate A., Edward and Albert.

Rev. Christian A. Affeldt is pastor of three German Evangel- ical churches in Mower county and is doing a noble work. Well fitted for his work by natural abilities and by acquired training, he has already seen much fruit of his ten years' service in Mower county. Rev. Affeldt was born near Wykoff, Fillmore county, December 15, 1876, son of Julius and Wilhelmina (Kolberg) Af- feldt. Julius Affeldt was born in Greifenhagen, Pomerania, Germany, came to America in 1865, and located near Watertown, Wisconsin, a short time, afterward taking up his residence near Portage until the spring of 1875, when he came to Minnesota, purchased a farm in Fillmore township, Fillmore county, and there carried on agricultural operations until his death, October 16, 1902. His mother is still alive. Christian A. attended the district schools in his native county, and then went to the paro- chial school of his at Wykoff. In the fall of 1892 he entered the Concordia Seminary at Springfield, Illinois, from which he graduated in June, 1899. After serving a short time at Litch- field, Custer county, Nebraska, he came to Mower county and took charge of the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church, located in section 29, Waltham township. In connection with this church a parochial school is conducted, where, in addition to the usual branches, German is taught and religious instruction given. In addition to this, Rev. Affeldt also has charge of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church in Austin and the St. John German

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Evangelical Lutheran church in Sargeant. The subject of this sketch was married, May 17, 1900, to Martha Asche, daughter of Werner and Caroline (Brennicke) Asche, and their children are: Panlus, Phoebe, Erna, Edna, Timothy, Flora, Theodora and Arnold.

Albert F. Lewis is a modern farmer of LeRoy township, and has introduced to this vicinity intensive methods of farming which are meeting with wide favor. He was born in Barry county, Michigan, October 24, 1867, son of Franklin R. and Adeliza M. (Ilubbard) Lewis, natives of New York state. In 1846, the par- ents of Franklin Lewis went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and en- gaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry and served until the end of the war. In 1866 he took up his residence in Middleville, Barry county, in the same state, and farmed there until shot by his hired man, September 22, 1877, at the age of thirty-five years. His widow, with her family, then re- moved to Galesburg, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and there lived until her death, December 9, 1887. Albert F. received his education in his native state, there grew to manhood, and for several years worked at various work at different places. In 1892 he located in North Dakota, and there attained prominence as a leading citizen, carrying on general stock raising and serving as a justice of the peace. In the spring of 1906 he came to LeRoy and purchased forty acres of land in section 22, which he has im- proved and developed, erecting a fine frame house, henneries, bec · sheds, etc. He now successfully devotes himself to the raising of fruits, poultry and bees. He has an orchard of 500 apple trees, and in addition to this raises various kinds of berries and small fruits. He has Italian bees and Barred Plymouth Rock fowls. Recently he has also taken up truck gardening for local trade. The subject of this sketch was married September 20, 1905, to Jennie E. Fairbanks, born in Fillmore county, January 1, 1870, . daughter of David Il. Fairbanks, now of Howard county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have one daughter, Irene, born June 29, 1906.

Edward Shay, a substantial farmer of Bennington township, was born at Gilbert Station, Illinois, March 18, 1863, son of Michael and Ann (Doraty) Shay. At five years of age, after his father's death, he was brought by his mother to Olmsted county, and here he was reared, receiving his education in the public schools of Mower and Olmsted counties. After leaving school he worked out for a few years, and then in partnership with his brother John, purchased 240 acres in section 25, Bennington town- ship. The brothers farmed together until 1892, when they divided up the land, and Edward began for himself. He has added to this land until he has 400 acres located in sections 25 and 23, Bennington township. He has erected suitable buildings, and

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

here he follows general farming, raising the usual crops and breeding to Dunham cattle and Poland China hogs. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery of Ostrander, a Democrat in politics, and a Catholic in religion. The parents of Edward Shay came to America from Ireland as children. They settled in Gilbert Station, Illinois, married there, and there Mich- ael, the father, died in 1866, leaving six children. They are: Patrick, now deceased; Bridget, of Elkton; Johannah, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Mary, of Spring Valley, and Edward and John. Mrs. Ann Shay, after the death of her husband, came to Minne- sota with her family in 1868 and located in Olmsted county, where she married Daniel Shay, who died in 1895, she following him to the grave, January 27, 1909. This union was blessed with one daughter, Alice. She received an excellent education, taught school a number of years, and was married, June 29, 1910, to Will- iam Beach, grandson of William Beach, a Mower county pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Beach make their home with Edward Shay.

John Shay was born in Gilbert Station, Illinois, in April, 1865. He came to Minnesota with his mother, located in Mower county later, and continued farming as a partner of his brother Edward until 1892, when they divided their property. He now has 480 acres of his own, all under cultivation and adorned with new buildings which he has erected. Mr. Shay was married November 25, 1891, to Mary M. Meehan, daughter of John Meehan, a pio- neer of Bennington township. Four children have crowned this union : Edward M., Lawrence, Kate and May.

John M. Huber, scientific farmer and stock breeder of LeRoy township, is an excellent representative of the modern type of farmer. He believes that farm life should be the most attractive life there is, and accordingly he has his residence equipped with all the latest conveniences and has purchased machinery which greatly simplifies his work. John M. Huber was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1863, son of Joseph and Maria (Schnit- zer) Huber, natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. They came to America in 1848, lived two years in New Jersey, went to Pitts- burg, where they remained until 1880, then located near Madison, Wisconsin, and farmed, Joseph dying in December, 1884, and Maria now being a resident of Stoughton, Wisconsin. The sub- ject of this sketch received his education in Pennsylvania and grew to manhood on the farm, being reared to agricultural pur- suits. For many years he farmed with his father near Madison, but after his father's death went to Nebraska, where he farmed until 1886, in which year he returned to Wisconsin. Two years later he again went to Nebraska, and farmed in Lancaster county until 1899, when he sold his farm of 120 acres and purchased 100 acres near Brooklyn, Dane county, Wisconsin. In 1909 he came

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to Mower county and purchased, with his brother Fred, the old Leach farm of 860 aeres in LeRoy township. He has erected the finest residence in LeRoy township, at a cost of over $5,000, and has all the latest modern improvements throughont, including running hot and cold water, hot water furnace, bath room and sanitary conveniences. He has also erected a roomy barn, 40x84 feet. The farm is in a high stage of cultivation, 640 acres being tilled, 200 acres pasture and twenty acres timber. Mr. Huber makes a specialty of Hereford cattle for beef purposes, having about 200 head. He also breeds Percheron horses and Chester White hogs, exclusively, and pays much attention to corn and oats, having planted over 200 acres of corn this year. Mr. Huber is a Democrat. The subject of this sketch was married March 3, 1887, at Blooming Grove, Wisconsin, to Anna Kleine, daughter of Karl and Mary (Schantz) Kleine. Mrs. Huber was born at Cot- tage Grove, Wisconsin, September 20, 1859. Her mother came to this country at ten years of age and her father at eighteen. They were married at Cottage Grove, and there spent their days farm- ing, the father dying in November, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Huber are the parents of seven children, as follows: Gertrude A. was born in Blooming Grove, Wisconsin, February 21, 1888, lives at home and is a teacher. Francis M. was born in Emerald, Ne- braska, September 29, 1889, and is the wife of Christ Bolk, a farmer of Sheffield, Iowa. Dora E. was born January 1, 1891, Matthew J., April 19, 1892, Carl J., October 5, 1893, Henry A., August 15, 1896, all at Emerald, Nebraska. Lizzie W. was born in Oregon, Wisconsin, November 24, 1900. All the children, ex- cept the married daughter, are at home.

F. C. Garbish is one of the prosperous men of Waltham. He was one of the first aldermen of the village and faithfully served in the position until 1908. In addition to this he has been eleven years treasurer of the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery, and nine years treasurer of St. Michael's German Lutheran church. Also director of the German Lutheran Hospital at St. Paul. F. C. Garbish was born in Washington county, Wisconsin, July 10, 1855, son of George and Elizabeth (Gierach) Garbish. George Garbish was born in Kosel, Germany, in 1825 and came to Amer- ica in 1839 at the age of fourteen years. After a year in Albany and three years in Buffalo, he took up his residence in Milwau- kee in 1843, but after a short stay there, went to Kirchhayn, Washington county, Wisconsin, where he farmed until his death in 1861, having in the meantime, April 20, 1847, married Eliz- abeth Gierach. After his death his wife and oldest son, August, operated the farm for a time, after which Mrs. Garbish sold the farm to her son-in-law. The subject of this sketch remained at home until fifteen years of age, and then worked out in Wisconsin

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 80

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. Number of Pages: 1246

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246