USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 51
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Edward J. Butler, a successful farmer of Martinsburg town- ship, was born in Erin township, Rice county, July 20, 1861, son of James and Catherine (Cunningham) Butler. James Butler was born in Meath county. Ireland, a son of Nicholas and Mary (Riley) Butler, who lived and died in Ireland as farmers. They had five children : James, Nicholas, Thomas. Margaret and Cath- erine. James and Margaret were the only ones to come to the United States. James left Ireland as a young man of eighteen and eame to Massachusetts, where he remained five or six years. There he married Catherine Cunningham, of Ireland, and they left for Rice county, Minnesota. going by rail as far as La Crosse. Wiseonsin, and driving the rest of the way. He located in 1860 a homestead of 160 aeres in Erin township, made a dugout in the side of a ravine. 14 by 16 feet. and began farming with one cow and a yoke of oxen. The nearest market was at Hastings. In 1870 he came to Nicollet county and secured a tract of 160 acres of railroad land in West Newton township. It was all wild land and here he built a cabin out of poles banked with sod cov- ered with hay. Here he lived until the fall of 1884. when he moved to Renville county and located 160 acres in Wellington township, securing state land. Here he built a good house and . made this his home until his death in March, 1903. Ilis wife died in 1901 at the age of seventy-three years. While in Wellington township he held the office of chairman of the board of super- visors and served as treasurer of the school district for a mumber of years. He was a member of the Catholic church and served as a trustee for many years of St. Andrew's parish, which he helped to establish. Mr. and Mrs. Butler reared the following children : Margaret, Eugene, Edward, Katie. Thomas. John. Mary and Frank. Margaret and Eugene were children of a former marriage of the mother to lohn Lynch and were born in Massachusetts. The rest of the children were born in Rice county, except Frank, who was born in Nicollet county. Edward was born in the dug- out in Rice county and attended the log school of his locality. When he grew to manhood he engaged in farming in Cairo town- ship, where he rented a piece of land, boarding at home. Next he purchased his present place in section 22, Martinsburg town-
MR. AND MRS. E. J. BUTLER
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ship, where he secured 160 acres of wild land. He located this homestead in 1885 and built a frame house 14 by 16 and began farming with a team of horses and two cows. Ile now owns 560 acres and keeps a good grade of stock, having Shorthorn cattle. Percheron horses and Red Duroe hogs. Mr. Butler is a member of the Co-operative Elevator Company, of Hector, and has been the vice-president since its organization. He has served as super- visor and chairman of the township board. is an ardent believer in education and has done good service on the school board. He was a member of the county board for two terms and as county commissioner helped move the county seat from Beaver Falls to Olivia. He also helped adjust the school districts. He took great interest in the old-time conventions and in the early days was a member of the Populist party, but later became an adherent of the Democratic party. He is a member of the Catholic church of Hector and is one of its trustees. Mr. Butler was married Feb- ruary 26. 1886, to Elizabeth Tompkins, born in August, 1865, in Wabasha county. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have the following ehil- dren : James (deceased) ; John, living at Hector; Edward, who is in the lumber business at Walker, Iowa: Robert, at the Mar- quette Vineent school at Milwaukee ; Mildred, at the St. Catherine College at St. Paul: Lester. at home: James, at home. and Michael Tompkins, a nephew of Mr. Butler, whom he has adopted.
Charles Marquardt, a well-to-do- farmer of Martinsburg town- ship. was born January 24, 1862, in Wisconsin. Ile grew to boy- hood in Wisconsin, receiving his education in the district school. When he was thirteen the family came to Renville county in 1875 and here he grew up to manhood and engaged in farming. Ile purchased 160 acres in section 23. Martinsburg township, it being all wild prairie land, and erected a granary and shed, which was used for a barn. He has improved the place and built good build- mgs. He raises good stock, having Durham and Shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Marquardt is a member of the Buffalo Lake Farmers' Co- operative Elevator Company. His faith is that of the Methodist church. Ile was married June 25, 1896, to Myrtle B. Armstrong, daughter of James HI. Armstrong. They have had the following children : Lester, born August 29, 1897; Blanche, born December 18. 1899: Myrtle, born October 17, 1902; Charlotte, born October 15. 1905, and died in infancy : and Charles, born January 12, 1915. The children are all at home.
James H. Armstrong, son of William and Christian (Doran) Armstrong, was born in Clinton county, New York, December 27. 1848. William Armstrong and his wife were natives of Ireland and came to the United States as young people, where they were married. William Armstrong became a farmer in Clinton county, New York, coming to Minnesota in 1867 and settling at Glencoe. where he died the same year at the age of sixty-eight years. Ilis
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wife died November 7, 1877, at the age of sixty-six years. They had the following children: John Armstrong, born May 2, 1836, and died March 7, 1876: William Armstrong, born September 31, 1841; . Joseph, born October 28. 1843; Ann Jane, born December 7. 1845. and died March 10. 1872, and James Il., born December 27, 1848. The son William came in 1866, but returned to New York for a while. In 1867 all the family came except John, who had died in New York. William, Joseph and James settled at Gleneoe. William, who is a veteran of the One Hundred and Eighteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years, is still living in Glencoe. Joseph came from Glencoe in the spring of 1878 and obtained a homestead in section 12, Martinsburg town- ship, here he made extensive improvements and sold the place in June, 1911, moving to Buffalo Lake village, where he died. Ile held office on the township board and school board. Ile was a veteran of Company 1. Ninety-sixth New York Volunteers, hay- ing served two years. James H. Armstrong worked at whatever he could get when he came to Minesota and later settled in Spink county, South Dakota. Next he took a pre-emption claim and a homestead in Faulk county. After ten years he came to Martins- burg township. Renville county, where he is now. He has been a carpenter for the past twenty-five years, but has now retired from active work. Ile married Eunice Thompson, of Illinois, born April 27, 1853. Her father was a native of Ohio and her mother of New York. Mr. and Mrs. James II. Armstrong had the following children : Olla Dell (deceased), Myrtle B. and Mabel C.
Lorrin Dodge, a well-to-do farmer of Martinsburg township, was born May 26, 1859. in Olmsted county, son of Ralph K. and Susan J. (Cook) Dodge. Ralph Dodge was born in Massachusetts, June 16, 1826. and his wife was born March 21, 1829, at New York City. They were married December 27, 1848, in Massa- chusetts and had eleven children. Lorrin attended school in the frame building in Olmsted county and later in Renville county and grew to manhood, engaging in farming. In 1889 he pur- chased 160 acres of land and built a small shanty and here he and his family lived for many years. Ile now has a fine home and outbuildings and at this writing is erecting a large modern barn. He was a member of the school board for fifteen or sixteen years. lle is an old settler, a good farmer and a highly respected citizen. Mr. Dodge was married May 12, 1891, to Mary Ellen Lane, born Angust 10, 1871, in Nicollet county, danghter of John and Phoebe Overbough Lane. John Lane was born in Ireland and came as a young man of twenty years to America. He took part in the Civil war. After the war he located a homestead in Nicollet county and lived there for thirty-three years. He began with an ox team and built a frame house. Ilis market was at New
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Ulm. Next he moved to Fairfax, where he lived for twenty-five years, and then he moved to St. Paul, where he now lives. llis wife was born in Belmont county, Ohio, daughter of Joseph and Delilalı (Hage) Overbough, who came to Minnesota and located in Nicollet county in 1859. Their old log house is still standing. During the Indian outbreak they took shelter at Fort Ridgely. They had eight children: Mary Ellen, Eliza, Josephine, John, Joseph, William, Phoebe, and an unnamed infant. Mr. and Mrs. Dodge have three children: Oliver, Ella and John, all living at home.
Ernest Hertel, son of Gotlieb and Henrietta (Locker) Hertel, was born in Germany, November 13, 1866. Ilis parents were both born in Germany and engaged in farming. In 1885 they left Germany and with their five children: Robert. Ernest, Richard, Edward and Caroline, came to Chicago. Three months later they went to South Dakota, settling in Spink county, where they purchased 160 acres of land, improved the place and built a small house. Later they sold this and moved to a farm in Iowa, near Charles City. Mr. Hertel died in 1904 at the home of his daughter in South Dakota at the age of seventy-one years. Ilis wife is still living with her daughter in South Dakota at the age of seventy-one years. While in Germany they were members of the German Lutheran church, in South Dakota became mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ernest Hertel was edneated in Germany and received but very little schooling after coming to America. Hle engaged in farming and purchased a homestead right in Spink county, South Dakota, which he sold before proving up. Then he moved to Waseca county, Minne- sota, and rented a farm for two years, after which he rented another for four years. In 1903 he came to Renville county and purchased 200 acres of land in section 22, Martinsburg township. He has improved the place and built fine barns and a comfortable house. Hle raises good stock; at first he kept Durham cattle. but now is specializing in Holstein cattle and has a full blooded Holstein sire. Mr. Hertel is a member of the Hector Co-opera- tive Farmers' Exchange. Ile has held the position of township clerk of Martinsburg for the past three three years and has served as township treasurer for four years. While in Waseea county he served on the school board. Mr. Hertel was married August 20, 1896, to Helen Mueller, born in Alton township. Waseca county, April 2, 1875, daughter of Michael and Caroline (Zerling) Mueller. Mr. and Mrs. Hertel have had six children : Milton, born April 2, 1898; Ruth, born May 7, 1901, and died in infancy : Wellington, born April 7, 1902; Freda, born July 31. 1905: Rollin, born March 28, 1909, and bneille, born April 2. 1914. Michael Mueller was born October 18, 1830, in Germany and emigrated to Wisconsin. He eame to Minnesota in 1861. In
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1855 he was married to Caroline Zerling. He died August 2. 1900.
James Henry Maxwell, son of Thomas and Ella (MeDermot) Maxwell, was born in Lake county. Illinois. October 16. 1865. Thomas Maxwell was born in Illinois, son of Thomas Maxwell, native of Ireland. Ella MeDermot was born in Ireland and calle to the United States with an unele. She was married to Mr. Maxwell in Illinois. For eight years he was a cook on the lakes and his wife lived in Waukegan, Illinois. Then he took the family to MeGregor, lowa, in 1862, going by horse team. They later came to West Newton, where they secured a homestead. In 1878 he came to Renville county and pre-empted a tract of 160 acres of wild land in section 28, Martinsburg township, where he built a log house with a thatched roof and ground floor. There they lived until 1881, when he moved to John Tompkins's homestead, where he lived until his death, June 3, 1909, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife is still living at Fairfax at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell had ten children : Lizzie, John, James, Mary, William. Amy, Lucy, Nellie, Frank and Joseph (deceased). James Maxwell received his education in Renville county schools and grow to manhood there. lle engaged in farming and obtained eighty acres of railroad land in section 33. This was all wild land and here he built a frame honse and has lived here ever since. He has increased the farm to 440 acres and keeps a good grade of stock, having Short- horn cattle. Mr. Maxwell is a member of the board of super- visors and a member of the Catholic church, being a member of the building committee of the church at Hector. Mr. Maxwell was married November 28, 1893, to Anna Garrahy. born in Wellington township, Renville county, daughter of John and Bridget (Keirn) Garrahy. Mr. Garrahy was born in Clare county, Ireland, and his wife was also a native of the same country. They were married in England. Three children, Michael, John and Kate, were born there. Mary, Patrick, Anna and James were born in Renville county. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have nine children: Henry, John, William, Mildred, Everet, Arnold. Alice, Olive and Valine, all of whom are living at home.
James H. Tompkins, a farmer of Martinsburg township, was born December 7, 1856, at Fulton, New York, in the county of Oswego, son of James and Eliza (Stanton) Tompkins. James was a native of Wicklow county, Ireland, born March 16, 1818, and came to Canada with his parents at the age of fourteen years. He came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Oswego county, New York, where he set up a shoe shop at Fulton. He married there in 1850. In 1857 he set ont for Minnesota and settled at Lake City, Wabasha county, where he set up his shoe shop and worked at that trade for a year. Then he moved out
MR. AND MRS. JAMES H. TOMPKINS
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into the country and settled on a traet of 160 acres of wild land in Lake township, where he built a rude frame house 16 by 20 feet. He worked at his trade until he could afford to buy a yoke of cattle and a cow or two. He had a straw shed. which he used for a barn. Later he built a better house. In 1872 he moved to Renville county and homesteaded 160 aeres wild land in section 30. Martinsburg township, where he built a log house 16 by 22 feet with a board floor. Hle used a team of horses to break up and improve the land. In 1881 the eyelone of July 14 blew away the log buildings and it was replaced by a frame building. He held the office of supervisor and chairman of supervisors for several years. He was of the Catholic faith and was one of the first members of the church organized at Fairfax. He was married in 1850 to Eliza Stanton, who was born in County Mayo. Ireland, in 1825, daughter of John and Ann (Acton) Stanton. She came to join an unele in New York state when she was about twenty-one years old, and died July 2. 1877. at the age of fifty-two years. Mr. Tompkins died July 9. 1914. They had the following children: James, Mary, John, Ann, Michael, Elizabeth (deceased). Joseph, Elizabeth and Clara. James H. received his education in Lake City, Minnesota, his first school being a claim shanty. When his father moved to Ron- ville county he also secured a homestead of eighty acres in section 22, Martinsburg township, where he built a small frame house 14 by 16 feet and a straw roof barn, and used a horse team to break up the land. Here he lived the rest of his days except four years, which were spent in Heetor, where he rented a farm. He now farms 200 acres. He has been a member of the Co-opera- tive Creamery and Elevator of Buffalo Lake. Ile has held all of the township offices and has also been the clerk of school dis- triet No. 71. which he helped to organize. He is a member of the Catholic church of Hector. Mr. Tompkins was married at Birch Cooley August 3, 1885, to Julia Maxwell, born in Wau- kegan, Illinois, December 25, 1860, daughter of James and Mary (Winn) Maxwell. Her parents were both born in Sligo county. Island. James Maxwell was three weeks old when the family loft Ireland. His parents, Thomas and Sarah Maxwell, first located in Chicago and then moved to a farm seven miles from Waukegan. The following children were born to them in the United States: Thomas, Mathew, John, Mary, Margaret, Bridget and Sarah, James became a farmer and in 1868 moved to Minne- sota and settled on a farm in Camp township, near Fort Ridgely, where he and his wife spent the rest of their days. Mr. Maxwell died March, 1913. at the age of eighty-two years and his wife died November, 1906, at the age of seventy-three years. They had the following children: Sarah, John, Julia, Thomas, James (deceased), Jane. James (deceased), and an infant (deceased).
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Mr. and Mrs. James Tompkins have the following children : Fred, born June 12, 1886: Frank, born February 23, 1888; John, born February 11, 1890; William, born November 30, 1892 : James, born Jime 12. 1895; Robert, born December 14. 1897; Mary, born June 4, 1900: Walter and Julia. twins, born April 18, 1904, and Sabien, born May 18, 1908.
Mathias Schnichels, a prominent and progressive farmer of Martinsburg township, was born in Scott county, Minnesota, March 12, 1875, son of Mathias and Appalonia (Bertram) Sehnichels, both natives of Germany, who came with their family to Scott county. They moved to Renville county when Mathias was a small child and secured eighty acres in section 11, Mar- tinsburg township. Mr. Sehnichels erected fine buildings and improved the place, making additions from time to time until he had 280 acres of land. lle served on the school board and was a trustee of the Catholic church at Hector. He died about twenty years ago at the age of sixty-six years. Their children were Jacob, Joe, Gertrude and Mathias. John was a son of a former marriage of the father. Mathias Sehnichels received his early education in the district school and as a young man engaged in farming in section 10, locating in 1902 on a tract of 160 acres, where he now lives. He has improved and developed the place and erected suitable buildings. Mr. Selmichels has held town- ship offices and has been supervisor on the township board and also school officer. Ile is a member of the Farmers' Grain Exchange of Hector. His faith is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Schnichels was married in 1901 to Eva Froembger, a native of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Schnichels have been blessed with eight children : William, Leo, Lonis, Helen, Lney, Mathias. Leonard and Agnes.
C. F. Neitzel, progressive citizen and active business man of Bird Island, was born in MeLeod county, Minnesota, June 6, 1872, son of Angust F. and Wiepka (Meyer) Neitzel. C. F. Neitzel was reared at home, attended the Brownton High school and in 1883 engaged in the harness business in Brownton. Then he worked for a time in the grocery at J. A. Karson, at Glencoe, and later in the general store of lames Bohn at Brownton. It was in 1896 that he came to Bird Island, and entered the employ of J. Richardson & Co., with whom he remained seven years. His popularity grew, and by reason of his ability, industry and good judgment he was enabled in February, 1903, to purchase the general store of H. L. Miller, which he has since successfully con- ducted. In 1908 he took his brother, Oscar A., as a partner, and the firm is now known as Neitzel Brothers. They have the largest store in Bird Island, their splendid business methods, their fair treatment of customers is constantly increasing the volume of trade, and the firm is as well known as any in the
C. F. NEITZEL
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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county. The store occupies a sightly double building erected for this purpose by H. L. Miller in November, 1904. C. F. Neitzel has taken an active interest in publie affairs and is one of the enthusiastie "boosters" of the village. In 1902 he ran for the position of register of deeds and in 1912 for a seat in the lower house of the Minnesota legislature. In 1914 he was elected to the latter position and served with credit in the session of 1915. Hle was one of the organizers and is a director of the Bird Island Commercial Club, and since 1903 has been a director and ener- getie worker in the Renville County Fair Association. In poli- ties Mr. Neitzel is a Democrat. His family faith is that of the Lutheran church. He married August 27, 1903, Regina Kmitson, who was born March 14, 1872.
Oscar A. Neitzel, of the firm of Neitzel Brothers, general mer- chants of Bird Island township, was born in Meheod county, August 8, 1888, son of August F. and Wiepka (Meyer) Neitzel, both native of Germany. August F. Neitzel was born in Ger- many and came to America in 1863. Ile was married in Minne- sota to Wiepka Meyer, who was also born in Germany, and after living one year in St. Paul they moved to MeLeod county in 1864, where Mr. Neitzel took a homestead in Sumpter township and became an extensive stock buyer and farmer. He remained on the farm until 1880, when he sold out and engaged in the gen- eral merchandise and implement business at Brownton until his death in 1897, at the age of fifty-one years. He was a Democrat in politics and did good service as sheriff of MeLeod county from 1892 to 1894. Ile also held many local offices of the town- ship and served on the school board. Mrs. Wiepka (Meyer) Neitzel, his widow, is now living at the age of sixty-three years. Their six children were: C. F., Minnie, Oscar A., Alma, Edward (deceased) and Ella. Oscar A. was educated at Glencoe and received his commercial training in his father's store. Ile engaged in the mercantile business for himself at Winsted, where he remained seven years. In 1908 he came to Bird Island and entered into partnership with his brother, who had estab- lished the business years before. They have a store 60 by 112 feet with a basement and carry a full line of everything found in a general store, such as groceries, dry goods, clothing and so forth. Osear A. Neitzel was married to Itelena Werner, of Winsted, and they have two children : Noreen and Donald.
August E. Jung, a progressive farmer of Hector township, was born in the town of Hartford, Dodge county, Wisconsin, Novem- ber 30, 1882. He attended the district schools at Randolph, Wis- consin, and took a course in the agricultural department at the State University at Madison, Wisconsin. He then became man- ager of the Dr. Meacher farms at Portage, Wis., for one year, and spent the next year traveling through the western states, after
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which, in 1908, he came to Renville county and purchased his present farm of 200 aeres in section 19, Hector township. He has since added eighty aeres more adjoining. He has now under construction an up-to-date barn, 36 by 80 Feet. with cement basement. modern in every way. He follows general diversified farming and feeds cattle for the market. lle is one of the super- visors of Heetor township and is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator at Hector. Mr. Jung was united in marriage April 26. 1910, to Ella Mahn. of Hector. They have two children: Madeline and Ruth.
Amund Dahl, one of the best known publie men in the county. was born September 12, 1859. in Odalen, Norway, son of Amund and Carrie (Blaadamen: Dahl. The parents came to the United States in 1869 with their four children, Peter. Carrie, Dena and Amund, and located at Red Wing, where they lived for two years. Then they moved to Durand. Wisconsin. Here the father died at the age of forty years. The mother died there two years later. Mr. Dahl grew to manhood there, receiving his education in the district and village school. For two years he was clerk at Lake City in a mercantile business. In 1878 he came to Renville county and located at Beaver Falls, where he remained for one year, then he went to Hector, where he remained for three years. Ile was also in the hardware business at Fairfax for a short time. During the next few years he was traveling salesman for the Champion Harvester Company. In 1891 he located at Bird Island and engaged in the hardware business until 1902. For the next four years he was postmaster of Bird Island and at the same time was the cashier and later became president of the Renville County State Bank at Bird Island. For the past fifteen years Mr. Dahl has been a member of the school board of Bird Island. In 1912 he was elected county treasurer of Renville county on the Re- publican ticket. He is also a member of several fraternal orders. Mr. Dahl was united in marriage to Cora Donohne, daughter of Mathew and Olive (Stanford) Donohue. Mr. Donohue was born in Clare county, Ireland, and came to Minnesota in 1854. He is a well known merchant and held several county offices. He came to Renville county in 1877 and was one of the organizers of the Donohue & Paine Bank at Beaver Falls, now the Renville County State Bank of Bird Island. His wife was born in Ohio and is of English parentage. There were ten children in the Family : Anna. Mary, Cora, Edna. Emma, Olive. Ada, John, Ellen and Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl have four children, Mildred, Bel .n. Leland and Robert.
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