The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 83

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

USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 83

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This union has resulted in ten children: Gustie married William Grimm, of Swink, Colo .; Ida married August Badger, a farmer of Olmsted county; Frank married Musette Drake, and lives in Pleasant Valley; Carl married Ella Hatfield and lives in North Dakota; Lizzie married Charles Drake, of Pleasant Valley town- ship; August married Manda Wagner, of Frankford township; Annie married William Beiderbick, of Racine township; Walter lives in Colorado; Otto and Albert are at home and the latter attends school. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.

John B. Hoff, a well-known citizen of Pleasant Valley town- ship, was born in Norway, July 24, 1849, son of Bjorn S. and Car- rie Hoff, who came to America in 1866, bringing their family with them. The voyage was made in an old sailing boat and two months were spent on the water. After reaching America, they settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, and there father and son worked out three months, after which they rented land for a year. Subsequently they came to Mower county, Minnesota, in 1869, making the trip in an old-fashioned prairie schooner. Björn S. Hoff passed away in 1891, and his wife in 1880. Soon after coming here, John B. purchased eighty acres in section 35, Pleas- ant Valley township, and on this he still resides, now owning 160 acres, which he has improved and developed, planting trees and erecting buildings. His comfortable home was built in 1881 and has been kept in a state of good repair. Three years ago he retired and rented his farm to his son, Bennie, who is a hard- working young man, well thought of in the community. In 1875 John B. Hoff married Annie Lestrude and they have one son,. Bennie, already mentioned. Bennie married Olena Simonson, June 6, 1906.

Hans P. Johnson, for five years chairman of the town of Pleas- ant Valley, was born in Norway, September 23, 1866, son of Peter A. and Karend M. Johnson, both natives of Norway. The family came to America in 1876, lived two years in Alamakee county, Iowa, then removed to Olmsted county, this state, where they lived four years. Later Peter A. purchased land in section 29, Pleasant Valley, and followed farming until his death in 1896. His widow still lives on the old homestead. Hans P. Johnson was educated in Norway and followed the fortunes of his family, assisting his father in establishing a home and working the home farm. As his father grew older, Hans P. assumed the burden of the family and farm. He has since continued to carry on gen- eral farming. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and in addition to serving the town as mentioned above has been clerk of the school board of district 47. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the M. W. A. The subject of this sketch was married January

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2, 1892, to Carrie Wold, of Grand Meadow, daughter of A. II. Wold, and this union has resulted in ten children : Alfred, Hanna, Helen, Clara, Alma, Harold, Ruth, Inga, John and Arthur.

William Z. Clayton, for whom the town of Clayton is named, is still living, now making his home in Maine. IIe helped in the organization of the town, was its first chairman, and assisted in its progress in various ways. He was born in Freeman, Maine, in 1837, was educated in his native state, and when nineteen years of age went to Wisconsin. Later he lived in Freeborn and Winona counties, Minnesota. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Minnesota Light Artillery, was in the battles of Shiloh, Atlanta, Chatta- nooga, etc., and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was elected captain of the First Minnesota Light Artillery and inspector of artillery, with the rank of brevet major. At the close of the war he returned to Winona county, and later came to what is now the township of Clayton. Here he acquired some 2,200 acres of land. He devoted his time to real estate deals and grain raising, spending his summers here and his winters in Maine. He now makes his home in Maine with his wife, who was Laura Knowles, also a native of that state. Mr. Clayton is a thirty-second degree Mason, a compatriot of the Loyal Legion and a member of the Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. In Bangor he has been prominent in business circles and has served as a member of the board of alderman and of the Board of Trade in that city.

Charles Clayton, a popular resident of the township named for his father, was born in Bangor, Maine, December 6, 1872, son of William Z. and Laura (Knowles) Clayton. He received his early education in the common schools of Maine, and graduated from the University of Maine, afterward taking a post-graduate course in chemistry. Then he worked about two years in the mail serv- ice in Bangor, Maine, and subsequently came to Mower county, where he has since looked after his father's interests. In addition to this he has been in the meat business two years in Wright county and in the mercantile business four years in Taopi, this county. On the farm he occupied he raises Shorthorn and Black Poll cattle and carries on general farming operations. Charles Clayton has been town clerk of the town of Clayton six years and was one year mayor of Taopi. He is a Republican, belongs to the Masonic order and attends the Congregational church. The subject of this sketch was married in June, 1898, to Ida C. Clay- ton, of Hartford, Conn., and they have seven children : Lawrence, Collamore, William Z., Russell, Dorathy, Ethel and Everett.

O. A. Huntley, one of the foremost farmers of Lodi township, was born in Spring Valley, January 18, 1854, son of P. F. Hunt- ley, a native of New York state, who settled in Wisconsin in 1847,

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in Iowa in 1849, later in Spring Valley, and in 1856 in Le Roy, where he homesteaded a farm and died October 27, 1893. O. A. Huntley remained with his parents on the home farm until thirty- six years of age, at which time he purchased 160 acres in sections 22 and 23, where he now owns 262 acres of good land. Like the other farmers of this vicinity, he raised grain at first, and later turned his attention to diversified farming, making a specialty of Hereford cattle for beef and dairy purposes. Mr. Huntley has erected all the buildings which now stand on his farm. He is an independent voter, and is treasurer of school district 67. He has served on the board of supervisors for the past three years. The subject of this sketch was married December 25, 1891, to Emma Caroline Erickson, daughter of Jens Erickson, and this union has been blessed with four children : Nels Elmer, born in 1892, died at the age of sixteen; Jens Oliver, born June 19, 1893; Elsie Minnie, born August 30, 1894, and Lila Marie, born June 3, 1900; all live at home. The family is well thought of in the community. P. F. Huntley settled in Spring Valley in the spring of 1853, on the land where Spring Valley now stands, and O. A. was the first white baby born in Spring Valley.

P. J. Peterson is one of the leading and substantial citizens of Lodi. He is upright, hardworking and generous, has a well- educated family, and in general stands for that which is good and admirable in the community. He was born in September, 1854, in Wisconsin, son of John and Isabel Peterson, who were born in Norway, came to America in the middle fifties, located in Wis- consin, then came to Adams township, took a homestead of 160 acres, lived three years and went to Le Roy, there bought a quar- ter section and remained four years, subsequently buying a farm m Iowa and living there until their death, John Peterson dying m 1867. When P. J. Peterson was twenty-one years of age, he began life on his own responsibility, and purchased 160 acres of land in section 2, Lodi township, where he still lives. In addi- tion to this he is an extensive owner of lands elsewhere, owning, in addition to 440 acres in Lodi, 320 acres in Becker county, 160 acres in Marshall township, 80 acres in Sherburne county, 120 acres in Mille Lacs county, 100 acres of timber in Aitkin county and five aeres and a residence in Princeton, all in Minnesota, as well as eighty acres in Polk county, Wisconsin, and 160 acres in Clark county, North Dakota. He works all the land in Lodi himself, but rents his land outside of this county. In the early days he raised grain, but he now devotes his attention largely to live stoek raising, owning eighty-three head of Hereford cattle, which he raises for beef and dairy purposes, and from thirty to seventy- five Poland-China hogs. Mr. Peterson was president of the Taopi Bank, and has served three years. He has been treasurer of the

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town and of his school district for many years. The subject of this sketch was married in 1877 to Mary Reierson, and this union has resulted in eleven children: Josephine, Emma, Nettic, John, Alfred, Minnie, Eddie, Elmer, Ruth, Roy and Pearl. All are at home except Minnie, who is in Minneapolis, and John, who attends the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, Ind. Ruth died in infancy.

George A. Stillwell, restaurant keeper of Le Roy, was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, December 23, 1857, son of T. V. Still- well. When ten years of age he was brought by his parents to Mitehell, Mitchell county, Iowa, and there received his education and grew to manhood. When twenty-one years old he moved to Howard county, Iowa, engaging in farming until 1900, when he came to Le Roy township, purchased forty acres of land, and farmed until March, 1907, when he moved to the village of Le Roy. In June, 1909, he opened a first-class restaurant, which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. Stillwell has served as road overseer and as a school director. He was married March 26, 1892, to Ceola Hopkin Stillwell, born in Howard county, Iowa, November 11, 1870, daughter of Ezra and Patience (King) Hop- kin. This union has been blessed with two children: Gyrdy, who lives at home, and William, who died in infancy; they have one adopted son, Van Tyle Stillwell. Mr. Stillwell votes the Repub- liean ticket and affiliates with the M. W. A. The family attends the Baptist church.

Ezra Hopkin was one of the first settlers of Howard county, just over the line in Iowa. One of his sons, Charles Hopkin, now of Oregon, helped to build the first house erected in Le Roy. Ezra Hopkin was an extensive farmer, taught school, kept a store and served as postmaster, being a sturdy and honored old pioneer in every respect.

Hiram E. Tanner, a pioneer, was born in New York state November 26, 1817, and when a young man went with his par- ents to Pennsylvania. In July, 1841, he married Eliza V. Mecker, a native of New York. In November, 1856, they came west, stop- ping at Winona for the winter, and in the spring of the same year came to Red Rock township, Mower county, and settled in sec- tion 1. where he pre-empted land and where he lived until his death. June 8, 1880. His wife departed this life April 2, 1872. Mr. Tanner was a man of strong personality and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. A strong Republican, he held many public offices in the county, including service as county commissioner in 1871, 1873, 1874 and 1875.

De Los Tanner was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 26, 1847, son of Iliram E. and Eliza V. (Meeker) Tanner. HI received his education in the schools of his township and has

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devoted his life to farming, now owning a fine place of 360 acres, which includes the farm which his father pre-empted in the carly days. He has been county commissioner four years and has served in other positions of public and private trust and honor. He is a prominent member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 116, F. & A. M., of Brownsdale. The subject of this sketch was married October 17, 1874, to Emma C. Langworthy, who was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, October 5, 1850, daughter of B. F. and Sarah M. Langworthy. To Mr. and Mrs. Tanner have been born three children : Forrest O., Alice V. and Eliza M. Alice V. is the wife of John Day.

Michael Goulden was born in Ireland, and came to America in 1850, locating in Watertown, N. Y., where he was married, and where he remained until 1881, when he came to Mower county, and settled in section 19, Lodi township, where he purchased 160 acres and carried on farming until his death in 1902. His widow still lives on the home place with her son, but is in poor health. In the family were four daughters and one son. The oldest daughter is dead. Thomas lives on the home farm; Mollie is the wife of Michael Kelley, a builder in St. Paul; Winnie is the wife of a Mr. Reifnard, a molder in St. Paul; and Julia is the wife of Tony Human, a farmer in Clayton township.

Thomas Goulden, a modern farmer of Lodi township, was born in Watertown, New York, February 7, 1870, son of Michael and Margaret Goulden, natives of Ireland. He was educated in the city schools of his native place, and was brought to Lodi township by his parents as a boy of eleven years. As his father grew older he gradually took the burden of the farm work from his shoul- ders, and at his death took entire charge. He has added eighty acres to the original homestead, now owning 240 acres of good land in section 19, Lodi township. He is chiefly interested in diversified farming and cattle raising, breeding Hereford cattle for beef and dairy purposes, and selling cream to the Adams Co- operative Creamery, in which he is a stockholder. Mr. Goulden is a Republican, and has served as road overseer as well as school- director of district 96.

Jacob Nagele has a well cared for farm in Lodi township, with excellent buildings thereon, a pleasant feature of the place being the tree-lined evergreen lane which leads to his house. Jacob Nagele was born in Germany in 1855, son of David Nagele, now deceased. Jacob came to America in 1880, landed in New York. and then located in Youngstown, Ohio, where he worked in a blast furnace for two years. Then he came to Le Roy, in this county, and after working out for three years, purchased his present place in Lodi township, on which he has erected his house, barns and other buildings. On this place he now conducts

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general farming, making a specialty of his Black Poll cattle, of which he owns a herd of twenty-five head. Mr. Nagele was mar- ried in 1883 to Louise Geiger, and they have five children: Will- iam, Arthur, Katherine, Louise and Gustave. William, Arthur and Louise are at home. Katherine married Albert Bhend and lives at Corinth, Wis. Gustave died at the age of sixteen years.

George Nicolay, one of the leading farmers of Lodi township, was born in Germany in 1857, son of John Nicolay, and came to America in 1881. After landing in New York, he went to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and there worked four years, after which he came to Mower county and worked for John Frank, of Le Roy, one year. Then he purchased land in sections 13 and 24, Lodi township, and started life as a farmer for himself. He has greatly improved the place, and a pleasant home, built in 1898, as well as numerous buildings of various descriptions, stand on the spot where he found a small dwelling when he first came here. He carried on diversi- fied farming and breeds Poll Angus and Poland-China hogs. Mr. Nicolay attends the Presbyterian church, and votes the Republican ticket. March 15, 1885, Mr. Nicolay married Minnie Kesel, of Wisconsin, a daughter of Charles Kesel, who in 1853 came to Wisconsin from Germany, where he died eight years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Nicolay have one daughter, Lania, who married Alfred Weise, manager of the Northwestern Telephone Company, at Min- neapolis. They have two children : Rollie and Nova. Mrs. Nico- lay has one daughter, Daisy, by a former marriage. Daisy was married March 15, 1896, to Christ Karlen, a farmer of Lodi town- ship. Then have two children, Leo and Arno.

E. M. Shephard, treasurer of Le Roy township, was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, January 23, 1858, son of Levi M. and Elizabeth (Mead) Shephard, natives of New York state. He received his early education in the district school of Fillmore county and worked on the farm. At the age of twenty-one he rented a farm for a year, near Mankato, Minn., and then went to Howard, Miner county, South Dakota, where he took a homestead of 160 acres, proved up his claim, creeted a home and other neces- sary buildings, and there remained until 1891, when he returned to Mower county and purchased a farm of 160 acres, together with ten acres of timber land, the farm lying in sections 8 and 17. He repaired the buildings, and has developed the land, making a great success of general farming. He also makes a specialty of dairying and breeds Hereford cattle. Mr. Shephard is a Republican in politics, has been treasurer of Le Roy township several years, was supervisor fourteen years, and was continuously a member of the school board of his distriet from the early nineties until 1908. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Le Roy. Mr. Shephard married Julia C. Wirth, born at Cleveland, Ohio, Feb-

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ruary 23, 1859, daughter of Andrew and Wilhelmina (Lechele) Wirth, natives of Germany. This union has been blessed with five children : Wilhelmina A., born August 31, 1882, now wife of C. B. Hall, of Mitchell county, Iowa; Elroy E., born November 1, 1884, cashier of the First State Bank at Spring Valley, Minn .; Harvey R., born July 18, 1888, now in the men's furnishing busi- ness in Montana ; Howard J., born October 29, 1890, and Elizabeth J., born November 30, 1897, the latter two being at home. The family faith is that of the Baptist church.

Levi M. Shephard came west in 1856, and after farming for a period in Fillmore county, engaged in the livery business. Later he moved to Mankato, and after spending a short time in Man- kato, moved to South Dakota, where he engaged in farming. He died there in July, 1898, and his wife in March of the same year. In the family were seven children: Esther is now Mrs. L. F. Means, of Carthage, S. D .; Albert A. lives in Wenachee, Wash .; E. M. lives in Le Roy township; Alma, wife of F. W. Tuttle, died in October, 1905; Emma, wife of D. D. Smith, lives in San Diego, Cal .; Carrie, wife of A. Burlison, lives in Mankato; J. E. lives in Davenport, Wash.

Conrad Hambrecht was born in Sanhoffan, Wurtemburg, Ger- many, February 19, 1831. He attended school until he was four- teen years old, and was then apprenticed to a wagonmaker to learn the trade. He served at this trade until he was twenty-one years of age. He worked with his parents one year and then came to America. He landed in New York in 1853, went directly to Philadelphia, worked near that city two years, and then moved to Chicago, where he remained for some time. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and pre-empted some land near the present site of Stacey- ville, in Mitchell county .. After proving up his claim, he worked for a time in Chicago, Bloomington and Decatur, Ill., and in Mis- souri. In 1857 he again took up his residence on his farm and remained until 1860, when he started for Pike's Peak, but instead of going to that place he secured work in Missouri, and worked there a year, afterward returning to his farm. In 1865 he came to Mower county, and purchased land in section 17, to which he added from time to time until he now owns 740 acres. On this tract he carried on farming operations until 1905, when he retired from active life. He now spends his summers on his farm, and his winters in California. Conrad Hambrecht married the widow Wirth, whose maiden name was Wilhelmina Lachele. This union has been blessed with two children: Frank E. and Louise, the latter of whom, now Mrs. Thompson, lives in Escondido, Cal. By a previous marriage, Mrs. Hambrecht had two daughters: Minnie, who lives at home, and Julia, the wife of E. M. Shephard, of Le Roy. When Mr. Hambrecht first came to Mower county he

CONRAD HAMBRECHT

HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

moved into a log cabin and experienced all the rigors of pioneer life and endeavor. His wife died June 7, 1902. Mr. Hambrecht is president of the Le Roy State Bank.

Frank E. Hambrecht, county commissioner, farmer and banker, was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, September 16, 1864, son of Conrad and Welhelmina (Lachele) Hambrecht. He received his edneation in the schools of Le Roy township, to which vicinity he was brought by his parents in 1865, at the age of one year. Here he grew to manhood and at an early age began to take his part in the work of the farm. It is worthy of note that the Hambrechts, father and son, were the first to introduce thoroughbred Hereford cattle in this state, having at the present time a fine herd of 200. In 1905, Frank E. rented the farm from his father, and has set a pace and maintained a standard in agriculture that is a credit to the township. The farm is one of the most beautiful in this part of the country and one of the picturesque spots of the county. having private, well-kept roads winding through heavy groves and amid well-cultivated fields, thus forming a haunt for automobilists and pleasure-seekers. Mr. Hambrecht is one of the most pro- gressive men in the county, and his services for fifteen years as county commissioner have been highly valued by his fellow citi- zens. Being of a sociable nature, he has allied himself with the I. O. O. F., and his interest in the business development of the vicinity is shown by the fact that he is vice-president of the First National Bank of Le Roy, of which his father is president.

Ole K. Hegge, a prosperous and well thought of farmer of Lodi township, was born in Valders, Norway, in 1857, son of Knute Hegge, who came to America in 1872, bringing his family, and landing at Quebec. He then went directly to Decorah, Iowa, and two years later came to Mower county. When the family first came here, Ole K. Hegge purchased forty acres in section 6, Lodi township, with his father. He now owns a fine farm of 280 aeres in section 6, in the same township. When he first came here he raised wheat almost exelusively, but now follows mixed farming, and makes a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle for beef and dairy purposes, selling eream to the Co-operative Creamery, of Adams, in which he is a stockholder. He also keeps Chester White hogs. His farm, which today presents such a pleasing appearance, was originally wild land, which he has broken, and on which he has erected some excellent buildings. Mr. Hegge is a Republican in politics, has been supervisor four years, assessor fifteen years, treasurer of school district 100 thirty-three years. He was at one time president of the Adams Co-operative Company, has been a trustee some years, and has also served as its treasurer. Ole K. Hegge was married in 1886 to Bertha Hovey, of Ridgeway, Iowa. daughter of Ole Hovey. This union has been blessed with

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ten children : Clement is married to Rachael Hippe, and farms in Clayton township. Alfred, Mabel, Oscar and Gertrude work at home. Bernie, Ruby and Stella attend the local schools. The first Palmer died in infancy, and his namesake is now the baby and pet of the family. The family belong to the Norwegian Lutheran Synod church. The congregation was organized in 1876. The present pastor is L. Larson, from Cresco, Iowa.

Simon S. Knutson, a popular farmer of Lodi township, was born in Minnesota in 1857, son of Simon Knutson the elder, who was born in Norway, located in Wisconsin in 1851, and several years later came to Mower county, where he pre-empted 160 acres. Simon S., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the county schools, and at the age of twenty-two started in life for himself, working as a farm hand several years in Minnesota and the Dakotas. At the age of thirty-two he purchased eighty acres in section 6, Lodi township, and in addition to this has since rented some two or three hundred acres. On this place he con- ducts general farming and raises Hereford cattle for beef and dairy purposes, selling cream to the Adams Co-operative Cream- ery, in which he is one of the stockholders. He has erected a comfortable home, barns and other buildings, and is well equipped for farm work. When twenty-two years of age, Simon S. Knutson married Nellie Anderson, and they have two daughters and two sons.

Peter J. Engelsen has been a prominent man in Le Roy town- ship since he first came here in 1864, and his services in various town offices have been duly appreciated. He has been supervisor a number of terms, chairman three years, town treasurer two years, assessor two years and a member of the school board many years. The subject of this sketch was born in Norway, October 10, 1839, there received his education, and at the age of twenty years came to America, living in Illinois four years. In 1864 he came to Mower county, located in Le Roy, and a year later pur- chased eighty acres of land, which he has since increased to 240 acres, all in section 15. This land he broke and tilled, and erected such buildings as he could best afford. His work has prospered, and he now has a well tilled farm, commodious and well kept barns, modern machinery and tools, and a comfortable house, all of which reflect much credit on his skill, ability, taste, thrift and industry. Mr. Engelsen was married November 11, 1876, to Sarah A. Nelson, born in Newburg, Fillmore county, November 11, 1854. This union has been blessed with eight children; Bertha Anette, now Mrs. Johannes Orke, of Le Roy; Ella, deceased; Arthur, deceased; Sarah, a teacher in California; Lilly, a teacher in St. Paul; Emma Cordelia graduated from Carleton College, North- field, in 1911; Florence, deceased; Noah R., a student in the

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 83

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