USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 93
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Frederick M. Conklin, cashier of the First State Bank of Dexter, was born in Deer Creek, Otter Tail county, Minn., Sep- tember 13, 1884, son of Robert C. and Minnie (Pulver) Conklin. He received his early education at Chester, in Howard county, Iowa, and then worked in a store six years. Subsequently. he entered the German Savings Bank at Chester and worked three years. He was the moving faetor, in 1907, in organizing the bank of which he is now cashier. This institution, although young, is conducted along sound financial lines and is already demonstrating its worth and importance in the community. Mr. Conklin has allied himself with the Dexter Lodge, 263, A. F. & A. M., and before coming here joined the M. W. A. at Chester, Iowa. He married Eliza Nichols, daughter of H. B. and Emma (Pillsbury) Nichols, the former of whom is a prominent grain dealer.
John Cotter, retired farmer, now living in Austin, was born in Ireland, January 14, 1843, son of John and Johanna (Meade) Cotter, and came to this country in 1852, accompanied by his mother and two sisters. The trip was made on a sailing vessel, and all who took that particular voyage remember the long eleven months spent on the way. The Cotter party landed at Boston and from there went to Manchester, N. H., where they remained six years. During that time the subject of this sketch worked in the woolen mills. Afterward the family came west, locating in Adams, Wis., where John Cotter spent his time in farming. In 1865 he eame to Freeborn county, and from then until 1908 earried on farming operations, acquiring three fine farms in Oakland township. He now lives in retirement in Austin. John Cotter married Katherine Keneven, daughter of Cornelius and Katherine (Collins) Keneven, and to this union ten children have been born: Arthur (deceased), John, Albert, Frank A., Leo J., Theresa, Maurice C., Esther and Roy J.
William M. Catherwood, one of the pioneers of southern Min- nesota, came west in 1857, and located in the village of Sumner, in Freeborn county. He took up a claim and farmed for many years, coming to Austin in 1880. He died in 1890. Mr. Cather- wood was a man of more than usual intelligence and was a
F. M. CONKLIN.
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mathematician of prominenee, being considered an authority in several of the more advanced branches of this science. Ile was also a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Second Minnesota Cavalry. William M. Catherwood married Elizabeth Lowry, and to this union were born two sons, Thomas L. and Samuel D. Mrs. Catherwood, nee Elizabeth Lowry, was born near Indianapolis, Ind., daughter of Rev. Samuel G. Lowry, D. D., and Marguerite J. Hannah, his wife. Dr. Lowry spent the years of his active ministry in Indiana, but in his declining years lived in Freeborn county, this state. He settled in Indiana in 1825, and there raised a family of eleven children, four by his first wife and seven by his second. The latter mentioned are Ehuira, Elizabeth, Felicia, Alfred, Esther (deceased), Annie and Lean- der. Dr. Thomas Catherwood, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Will- iam M. Catherwood, married Jennie De Wolf, and they have three children : Baird, Dorothy and Virginia. Samuel D. Catherwood, seeond son of Mr. and Mrs. William M. Catherwood, married Gertrude Sherwood, and they have three children: Josephine, Catherine and Roger. The revolutionary ancestor of the Lowry family was Rev. Samuel Doak, the first president of Washing- ton College, Tennessee.
Charles M. Colby, a substantial farmer of Waltham township, is the scion of a distinguished family, being a descendant of Anthony Colby, who came to America in 1628-29 with Sir Rob- ert Winthrop, and settled in Massachusetts. Charles M. was born in Waltham township, September 24, 1873, son of Amos and Mary E. (Stephens) Colby, both of whom came from Bow, N. H., settled in Wisconsin in 1856, in Red Roek township, this county, in 1857 and in the northwest quarter of seetion 35, Waltham, a few years later, remaining until his death, May 13, 1907. Charles M. attended the distriet school and also studied one season in the Owatonna sehools. His early manhood was spent on the farm and he now has charge of the place. His quarter section is under good cultivation and Mr. Colby has been most successful in his endeavors. The subject of this sketeh married Clara Belle Nichols, daughter of Charles E. and Clara (Hill) Nichols, descended from a pioneer Maine family. Mr. and Mrs. Colby are the happy parents of twin boys, born August 7, 1908.
Lewis G. Church, one of the successful farmers of Waltham township, is a native of this eounty, having been born in the township, where he still resides, September 14, 1868, son of George and Susan Church. George came from Ulster county, New York, when a child and lived there until 1866, when the family came to Waltham township. Lewis G. was reared on his father's farm and received his education in distriet 61. When
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a young man he purchased the home farm and his father moved in to the village of Waltham, where he still resides. The farm now consists of 120 acres and on this Lewis Church carries on general farming and raises the usual crops. He is well liked among his fellow citizens and is a popular member of the M. W. A.
T. C. F. Ehmke, a modern farmer of Waltham, came to the township in 1877 and settled on section 9, which is now within the corporation limits of the village. He carries on general farming on the home place of 162 acres and also has a tract of eighty acres in the township. He is a hard-working man and well thought of in the community. T. C. F. Ehmke was born near the city of Woline, in Germany, January 17, 1844, son of Christian and Johanna (Strage) Ehmke. Christian Ehmke brought his family to America in 1845, made a short stay in Milwaukee, and then went to Jackson, Washington county, Wis- consin, where he took up farming on an eighty-acre tract. There he lived until his death at the age of eighty-two, his wife pass- ing away at the age of eighty. T. C. F. was reared on the farm in Wisconsin, and as above related, came to Mower county as a young man. His first wife was Augusta Rahm. Of the two chil- dren by this marriage, one, Julius, is living, making his home in Nebraska. His children are Marie, John, Ella (deceased) and Minnie. For his second wife, Mr. Ehmke married Dorothy Ams- pach and they are the parents of the following children: Theo- dore W., who lives in the village of Waltham; Johanna, Louis J. F., Margaret, Carl F. A., and John A. H. The family wor- ship at the St. Michael German Lutheran church.
Charles Faber is one of the industrious farmers of Waltham township, and has done his share toward its development. His record, indeed, is a most honorable one and includes service on the board of supervisors eighteen years and on the school board fifteen years. At the present time he is treasurer of the Wal- tham Co-operative Creamery, a position he has filled ten years. He has also served in a similar capacity for a similar period in his church. Charles Faber was born near the Rhine, at Pferds- feld, R. B. Coblenz, Germany, January 26, 1863. His parents, Got- lieb and Elizabeth (Kuntz) Faber, brought him to America in 1868, and they lived in Rochester, Minn., two years. Then they came to Waltham township, and located in section 20, where they remained the rest of their days, the father passing away in 1893 and the mother April 20, 1910. Charles Faber attended school in Olmsted county and in Waltham township. When he was twenty-three years of age, July 13, 1886, he married Martha, daughter of Henry Baumgartner, who was born in Kirchhayn, Washington county, Wisconsin. This union has been blessed with
HENRY GRIMM AND FAMILY.
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six children : Eda, Clara, Carl, Louis, Lona and Magdalena. Eda is the wife of Herman Frohriech. When the family first came to Waltham township they built a house and broke a few acres of land. The Faber home is now a comfortable one and is sur- rounded hy suitable buildings. The farm consists of 160 acres of well-tilled land, upon which Mr. Faber conducts general farming.
John Gjernes, one of the leading citizens of Sargeant town- ship, was born in Norway, September 18, 1849, son of Torges Gjernes. with whom he came to America in 1868. After a year in Kasson, Dodge county, and six years in Iowa, the family came to Mower county, and located in section 11, Sargeant town- ship. A few years later the parents moved to Crow Wing county, this state, where the father died. John Gjernes came from Dodge county to Sargeant in 1874, and settled in section 2. His original home was in an old pioneer log cabin, but this in 1897 he replaced with a fine modern dwelling. He owns a quarter section of land and has the usual complement of machinery and tools. The subject of this sketeh has taken an active part in polities. He was sergeant-at-arms in the Minnesota state sen- ate for four years, and in 1910 was the nominee. for representa- tive against Ralph Crane, the successful candidate. He has also been supervisor of the township, and for eighteen years treas- urer of the school board. Mr. Gjernes married Gertrude K. Ol- son, a native of Norway, who came to America with her parents in 1862, settling first in Olmsted county and then in Dodge county. Mr. and Mrs. Gjernes are the parents of eight chil- dren : Jacob; Agnes, wife of Ole Rognaldson; Theodore; Clara, wife of John Jacobson; Mary, wife of August Wagner; Ida, wife of Myron Johnson; Louisa, wife of Frank Bridwell, and Bina, who lives at home.
Henry Grimm, an honored figure in the life of Sargeant, was born in Branerdam township, Wisconsin, July 7, 1847, son of John F. and Barbara (Graessle) Grimm, both natives of Ger- many. John F. Grimm came to America about 1831, lived in Pennsylvania for a time, went to Ohio and was there married, after which he went to Illinois and stayed a year, later taking up his residence in Wisconsin. In 1862 he came to Minnesota with his family of eleven children and settled in Rochester. Henry was taken to Rochester by his father when fifteen years of age, and there spent his young manhood. In 1885 he came to Sar- geant township, purchased a farm in section 16, and followed farming some twenty-five years. In 1900 he moved to the vil- lage, where he now lives, having practically retired from aetive life. He occupied many township offices during his residence on the farm and was a prominent man in many ways. He mar- ried Caroline Martin and they have four children. Frank mar-
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ried Louisa Paterson and has a daughter Leora. Leroy A. mar- ried Ulma Peterson. The other two are Ralph M. and Hilda C.
Edmond Hill is one of the scientific and modern farmers of Mower county, and his farm of 480 acres in section 33, Red Rock, is one of the model places of the township. He was born in Red Rock township, September 24, 1872, son of Orrin J. and Frances (Ransom) Hill, pioneers. He received his schooling in the "Pioneer" schoolhouse in his native township, and his early manhood was spent on his father's farm, where he still con- tinues to reside. He married Emma Bassett, daughter of Charles D. and Nellie A. (Smith) Bassett. Mrs. Hill was born in Udol- pho township, Mower county, but her parents moved to Dundas, in Rice county, this state, when she was one year old. Charles D. Bassett came from Carroll county, New Hampshire, and he and his wife still reside in Dundas. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have four bright children: Lorna, aged 12; Ruth, aged 10; Esther, aged 7, and Robert, aged 4.
Henry Theo Hagen is one of the estimable citizens of Dexter township. He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, June 2, 1871, son of D. and Elizabeth Hagen. D. Hagen was born in Germany, came to America about 1869, settled in Dane county, and there remained one year. After coming to Minnesota he lived in Owatonna three years, and then in Grand Meadow township, this county, eight or nine years. Later he took up his residence in Marshall township, where he and his wife now reside. Henry Theo Hagen came to Minnesota with his parents and with them lived in Owatonna, Grand Meadow and Marshall townships. After his marriage to Sophia Spreckels, he pur- chased land in section 35, Dexter township, and there he now continues to live. He has 160 acres, which he has occupied and developed for sixteen years, and has a pleasant home, good out- buildings and excellent tools and machinery. He is chairman of the board of supervisors, has been on the town board ten years and on the school board twelve years. He has also been treasurer of the German Lutheran church for nine years. In his family are four bright children: Oliver D., fourteen; Theo- dore H., ten ; Oscar C., nine, and Harold D. M., six. Mrs. Sophia (Spreckels) Hagen, is the daughter of Dedrich and Anna (Tiede- mann) Spreckels, and was born in Goodhue county, this state. When but a child, she came with her parents to this county and located with them in Red Rock township. After working hard for many years, Dedrich Spreckels determined to take a trip to Germany. On his return there was a collision at sea and his vessel sank with all on board.
Gustav L. Hanson, a substantial resident of Clayton town- ship, is a native of this county, born in Frankford township,
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June 27, 1874, son of Lewis and Sarah Hanson, natives of Nor- way, who came to America in 1856, and settled in Frankford township, where they purchased land and where they still live. Gustav L. was educated in the county schools of Mower county, and when twenty-one years of age started in life for himself by renting land for several years in his native township. In 1896, he purchased land in seetion 7, Clayton township, and on this traet he conduets general farming, having about thirty-five head of dairy cattle, twenty-five Poland-China hogs and eight horses, as well as the usual equipment of tools and machinery. He is a Republican in polities, has been road overseer ten years and director of school district 127 for seven years. The subject of this sketeh was married, November 6, 1899, to Lena Ander- son, daughter of Tom Anderson, of this county, and they have five children : Leonard, Alfred, Ernest, Clifford and Glenn. The three oldest are at school.
Glenn W. Vail, a skilled dentist of Lyle, was born in Hia- watha, Kans., April 18, 1877, son of Benjamin H. and Emily O. (Hutchinson) Vail, natives of New York, who came to Henry county, Illinois, in the early days, and after living there and in La Salle county for a time, went to Hiawatha, Kans., where they remained until 1882. Up to this time, Benjamin H. had been engaged as a wagon maker. Upon moving to Auburn, Neb., in 1882, he engaged in the retailing of windmills, pumps and other farm machinery. Eight years afterward, in 1890, he went to Omaha, Neb., where he still lives. His wife, Emily O., died at Hiawatha, Kans., in January, 1881. Glenn W. received his education in the public and high schools, and in 1900 entered the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, graduating from the dental department in 1905. For one year he practiced at Panora, Iowa, and then came to LeRoy, where he has since been located, maintaining an office well equipped with the most mod- ern applianees. Dr. Vail belongs to the Minnesota State Dental Association and to the Southern Minnesota Dental Association. Ile is an active worker in the Commercial Club, a popular mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and an attendant of the Congre- gational church. He was married, June 10, 1905, at Iowa City, to Lena R. Wood, of Mankato, Minn., who died November 1, 1906, leaving a son, Dana F., born October 31, 1906. January 26, 1910, he was married at Winona to Dena L. Hedemark, daughter of B. D. Hedemark, a former Lyle shoe merchant, who died in June, 1909, Mrs. Hedemark still making her home in Lyle.
Carl E. Johnson, a modern farmer of Bennington township, has performed work which will have its effeet for countless gen- erations to come. Ile has set out a thousand apple trees which
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are beginning to bear fruit; he is about to plant 200 Dutchess apple trees, and is well under way with the planting of 4,000 hardy trees, which will beautify the landscape for decades, if not for a century, to come. He was born in Sweden, April 12, 1871, son of Niek Larson and Christina L. Peterson, his wife, both of whom died in Sweden. Carl received a good education in Sweden, and was there reared to manhood, coming to America in 1891, and locating in Illinois. After working as a farm hand three years he rented a farm for four years, and then pur- chased 130 acres in Victor township, DeKalb county, Illinois. There he remained until 1902, when he sold and came to this county. Here he purchased 240 acres in section 20 and eighty acres in seetion 19, Bennington township, remodeling the build- ings, and making many improvements, ineluding the putting up of 900 rods of woven wire fencing. Mr. Johnson now carries on general farming and breeds Durham grade cattle and Chester White hogs. He is a Republican in politics, and has done jury duty in Austin. The subject of this sketch was married Febru- ary 26, 1896, to Anna M. Marcus, a native of Norway, and they have six children: Christina, Esther, Albert, Clara, Julia and Emma.
L. O. Axnas, a successful farmer of Frankford township, was born in Norway, August 2, 1841, son of Ole Olson and Bertha Skjeie, who spent the span of their years in Norway. L. O. received his education in his native land, and there spent his early manhood. At the age of twenty-nine years, in 1870, he came to Ameriea and located at Rushford, Fillmore county, where he worked out by the month for two years. Then he came to Mower county and purchased eighty acres of land in section 16, Frankford township. This land he broke and improved, built a home and outbuildings and added land from time to time until he owned 200 aeres of rich land. He has recently sold forty acres to his son, leaving 160 acres, all in section 16. Here he now follows general farming. He is a Republican in politics, but has never sought public office. The subject of this sketch was married November 9, 1872, at Rushford, to Christie Leland, who was born in Norway, July 16, 1846, and came to America in 1872. She has proven a most able helpmate in all Mr. Axnas' un- dertakings. They have five living children: Severt, who lives at home, owns eighty acres and works the home place; Christina, wife of George A. Wright, banker of Grand Meadow; Hannah, wife of Leander T. Jester, real estate broker of St. Paul; Martin, who is manager of the . Home Telephone Company at Grand Meadow, and Julia, who is a student at Hamline University. One son, Olaf, died at the age of four years. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
WILLIAM BROWN AND FAMILY.
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William Brown is one of the staunch old pioneers of Mower county, and is greatly honored throughout the community. Ile and his good wife, though reared amid the tranquillity of an older part of the country, left the comforts and advantages of an established community and with courage turned their faces toward the West to hew out for themselves a home in the wil- derness. With energy and intelligence they established their household, and their names will be respected for generations to come for the good that they have accomplished. Of them it may truly be said that their lives have assisted in the advance- ment of all that is good and admirable. Mr. Brown has been a member of the town board twenty years, was assessor four years, and clerk of school district 32 for fifteen years. He did the county good service for twelve years as county commissioner and during that period always stood staunchly for the benefit of the county at large. For a period of thirty years his voice has been heard in the various county and state conventions. of his party. His wife is still the active, strong, sympathetic and intelligent helpmate that she has always been, and the in- fluence of their home on the community has ever been a salutary one. In fraternal eireles Mr. Brown has been no less prominent, being a member of the Blue lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masons, as well as of the M. W. A. and the Royal Neigh- bors. William Brown was born in Scotland, New Year's day, 1843, son of Alexander and Margaret Brown, who brought their family to America in 1846 and settled in Brooklyn, N. Y., where Alexander followed his trade as a rope maker three years, thus saving enough money to purchase a farm in Dane county, Wis- consin, where he and his wife ended their days, Alexander at the age of seventy and Margaret at the age of ninety. William left Wisconsin when twenty-four years of age, and lived a short time in Cresco, Iowa, after which he came to Mower county, and on March 29, 1868, acquired 160 acres of land in section 8, Pleasant Valley township. He remained there two years and then came to his present location in section 24, now owning 400 aeres in sections 23, 24 and 25. He also owns ten acres of tim- ber land in High Forest, Olmsted county, and a fine city residence with three acres of ground in Stewartsville. Since the failure of the wheat crop in 1878 he has followed diversified farming and stock raising. He has about sixty head of cattle of the Short- horn variety and for many years has made a specialty of Poland- China hogs, of which he has 125 head. Mr. Brown was married, July 30, 1865, to Marion MeCoy, a native of Scotland and daugh- ter of James and Marion McCoy. This union has been blessed with seven children: Alexander W. is married and lives in St. Paul, where he is engaged in the grain commission business.
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James E. is married and is now engaged in machinery and im- plement dealing in Stewartsville, where he owns the Farmers Supply Company. He was reared in this county, taught school here nine years, and was subsequently salesman for the Fair- banks-Morse Company, seven years before starting in business for himself. George F. is married and lives on an eighty-acre farm of his own and operates his father's farm in Pleasant Val- ley. Maggie is the wife of E. H. Englehart, of Pleasant Valley. Della May died at the age of thirty-three. She was the wife of Frank Reese. At the age of thirty her health failed; local physicians were unable to diagnose her ailments, and she was treated by leading medical men of Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapo- lis, Omaha and Denver without relief. Finally, in Denver, real- izing that the end was near, she started for home. When she reached Omaha she was too greatly exhausted to continue the journey, and her parents accordingly joined her there and were at her bedside when she died two months later. . William is married and farms in Racine township. The youngest died in infancy.
James R. Brownell, a veteran of the Civil War, is one of the honored and esteemed residents of Racine township, and is a member of the G. A. R. The subject of this sketch was born in Michigan, April 1, 1839, son of Sands and Hannah M. Brown- cll. In 1853, the family came to Decorah, Iowa, and a few months later came to Fillmore county and staked their claim for a home, the land not then being surveyed. The parents lived in that county until the fall of 1869, when they moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, some years later moving to Waukee, where the mother died. After some years the father went to Oregon, and died in 1904 at the age of ninety-three. James R., better known as Russell, received his education in the district schools, and continued to work on the home farm until 1861, when he went to Michigan and engaged in nursery work. In 1863, he enlisted in Co. I, Mounted Rangers, and afterward served in Co. D, Brackett's Battalion, in North and South Dakota and Montana, the troops being sent to settle the Indian troubles. He received his honorable discharge at Ft. Snelling in 1866. Then he returned to Fillmore county and in 1868 pur- chased 160 acres of land in section 29, Racine township, afterwards buying 160 acres joining, where he farmed six years. Subsequently he sold out, but in 1882 had to take the farm back again. He now owns a fine farm of 320 acres. On this place he carries on general farming. James R. Brownell married, March 23, 1887, Anna E. Gove, daughter of Dennis and Sally B. Gove, whose mother was one of the early school teachers in Mower and Fillmore counties. This
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union has been blessed with five children: Howard is at home; Florence is teaching; Perey is a student in Grinnell college, in Iowa; Tracy is a student in the University of Minnesota and Fred a student at Grinnell college.
Henry O. Basford was born at Guilford, Me., April 22, 1838. At the age of fourteen he commenced learning the printing busi- ness in the Jeffersonian office of W. E. Quiner. After learning the business he entered the Watertown academical and prepara- tory school, and there studied two years. Soon after he became connected with the Argus and Democrat office at Madison, Wis. He then went to St. Paul in 1836 and was engaged on the Minne- sotian. From there he went to St. Joseph, Mo. He was engaged on the Daily West, and just before the breaking out of the war he was one of the pioneers who carried the art of printing across the plains of the West, and was connected with the Rocky Moun- tain News, of Denver, Colo. He was one of the large number who lost their accumulation of years when that office was destroyed by floods. For eight years afterward he was a miner of gold, and a claim holder in the famous California gulch, where Lead- ville, Colo., now stands. After leaving Colorado, he was em- ployed upon the Chicago Tribune, where he remained until he came to Austin in 1867, and soon thereafter became connected with the Austin Register, which he conducted for many years. Mr. Basford was married, September 28, 1876, to Mary E. Miller, of Winona, Minn. He was appointed postmaster at Austin July 2, 1884. Mr. Basford has now retired from active life and devotes his time to general literary work. He was the most con- spicuous figure in the publication of a former history of this bounty.
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