USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 54
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Henry O. Tinnes, the popular manager of the Stearns Lumber Company, of Hector, was born in Palmyra county, Wisconsin, October 13. 1868, the son of Lafe and Maggie (Hogxtl) Tinnes. He attended school in the country and remained at home helping his father on the farm until he was twenty-three years old, when he went to Bird Island, where he spent a year buying wheat for a local elevator company. He then entered the employ of a local hardware company, where he spent seventeen years, leaving to go to Hector in 1908 as manager of the Stearns Lumber Company. He is a Republican, belongs to the Modern Brotherhood and is a charter member of Bird Island lodge, which was organized in 1900. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Between the age of seventeen and twenty-three years he owned and operated two threshing machines. He now has a third inter- est in the Knndtson & Tinnes Grain Company, of Bird Island, and the Rush Lake Grain Company. of Saskatchewan, Canada. June 20, 1891, Henry O. Tinnes was married to Carrie Knudtson, born Inly 24, 1869, at Lyndon, Brown county. Minnesota, the daughter of Amond and Carrie (Eckley) Knudtson. They have six children : Mable, born in 1892: Howard, born in 1896; Amy, born in 1899: Earl, born in 1900: Clinton, born in 1904: Leland, born in 1910. Mrs. Carrie Knudtson died in June. 1915. Lafe Tinnes, born in 1847 in Palmyra county, Wisconsin, died in Ren- ville county in 1871. He married Maggie Hogxtl. born in 1850 in the same county as her husband, the wedding taking place in the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Lafe Tinnes had six children : Henry O .: Lillian, who married H. E. Summeyer. of Minneapolis ; Albert, who resides at Willow City, North Dakota : Hattie, who died in 1913: Emma, now Mrs. C. Eck. of Painville : George A., of
MR. AND MRS. LAFE TINNES, HENRY O. TINNES
ASTOR. LENOX IND TILDEN YOUNDATIONU
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
North Dakota. After the death of Lafe Tinnes the widow married Ole Hanson, who died six years later. In 1883 she married Christ Gulliekson, with whom she now resides in Bird Island. Christ Gulliekson was born in Norway in 1858 and eame to America in 1884. For four months he lived in Kandiyohi county, this state, and then came to Renville county, where he now follows his trade as carpenter and contractor. Amond Knudtson was a prosperous farmer and died at Renville county in 1890. His wife survived him and is now living at St. Paul with her children. Three of the eleven children she brought into the world are dead, eight are living : Knudt, of Bird Island; Mary, now Mrs. Holverson, of Lyndon, Minnesota ; Carrie, now Mrs. H. O. Tinnes, of Hector; John, of Wieblen, South Dakota; Bessie, of St. Paul; Regina, the wife of C. F. Neitzel, of Bird Island : Clara, now Mrs. M. Meilke, of Bird Island : Marie, Grace. Rena, Bessie and Emma, of St. Paul ; Ross, of Bird Island.
Fred J. Fischer, an enterprising farmer of Preston Lake town- ship. was born in Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, August 2, 1869, son of Christ and Henrietta (Gulke), both natives of Pomerania, Germany, where they were married. They left for America with their three children, Theodore, Richard and Albert, by sailing vessel in 1867, being many weeks on the water, before landing at New York harbor. From there they went to Wisconsin, toeat- ing near Milwaukee, where the father worked in a brickyard. After six years they moved to Michigan, where he cleared forty acres of land in Montealm county. Six years after they moved to North Dakota, Pembina county, and secured a homestead and tree claim, bought the right, paid the filing and built a shanty, which was later replaced by a log house, which is still standing. Christ Fischer was a member of the German Evangelical church and donated the land on which the church building of this denom- ination was erected and also acted as one of its officers. He died in 1899 at the age of seventy years and his wife died in 1913 at the age of eighty-one years. Six children were born to them : Fred J., Emma and Henry, and three died in infancy. Fred J. Fischer received his early education in Michigan and Dakota, attending the district school in the log school house with its home made benches. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-six years of age, when he received a tree claim from his father and built a granary and loan-to, where he lived alone for a time. Then he built a small frame house. into which he moved after his marriage. He added a quarter section more to his farm and moved the house. Here he lived for three years and in 1900 moved to Renville county, where he located his present place in Preston Lake township on the township line of Hector. owning land in both townships, amounting to 240 acres. The next year he bought another eighty-acre tract. Five years later he
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bought eighty acres more, which have since been sold. He now owns 775 acres, cultivating one-half seetion and renting the rest of the land. He has made many improvements since coming into possession of this land. Mr. Fischer keeps a fine grade of stoek and raises Shropshire sheep, Durham cattle, Poland-China hogs and Percheron horses. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Buffalo Lake and has interest in the bank at Buffalo Lake. He has served as secretary of the creamery at Buffalo Lake and is a member of the Swine Breeders' Association. He is clerk of the school board and a member of the Evangelical church. which he helped organize, and is also the Sunday school superin- tendent and a leading missionary worker. February 13, 1895, Mr. Fischer was united in marriage to Matilda Kleas, born in Faribault county, Minnesota. September 19, 1874, daughter of John and Emelia (Rekow) Klueas, natives of Germany. Mr. Klueas came to America at the age of fourteen, coming all alone by sailing vessel. being thirteen weeks on the water. His brother Christoph had come to the United States before and John joined him in Wisconsin. John grew to manhood in Wisconsin and mar- ried Emelia Rekow, who had come at the age of seventeen with her parents. John left for Minnesota by ox team and covered wagon and came to Faribault county, where he located a home- stead of 160 acres of wild prairie land. Here he built a dugout. which was later replaced by a house. Ile built better buildings and died in 1887 at the age of fifty-two years. His wife is still living at Buffalo Lake at the age of seventy-five years. He was a member of the Evangelical church and held office in it. He had nine children: Emma (deceased), Augusta, Pauline, Herman, John, Matilda, Anna, Albert and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have had eight children: Elsie, Esther, Alvin, Walton, Arnold. Orville, Clifford and Walter (deceased).
Peter Lenander was born in Sweden August 13, 1852. He received his education in Sweden and at the age of twenty-one years entered military service, serving in the Wenden company for three years. After his time of service had expired he came to Ameriea in 1876 and settled in Nieollet eounty, this state, where his parents and brother Nels had already located. He bought a farm in partnership with his brother Nels, later buying his brother's share, and farmed a traet of eighty aeres, forty of which were homestead land and the rest railroad land HIe built a log house 12 by 16 feet and farmed here for about twelve years. when he moved to Renville county and rented a farm at Boon Lake township for six years. Then he moved to Preston Lake township and secured 160 acres of prairie land in section 25. He improved the place, set out trees, built good, substantial build- ings and developed the land. In the fall of 1909 he sold that farm and purchased a farm of 137 acres in sections 5 and 6,
MR. AND MRS. PETER LENANDER
THỊ NA PUBLIC LI .AKY
ASTOR, LEMOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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HISTORY OF RENVIELE COUNTY
Preston Lake township. In the fall of 1914 he sold eighty aeres of this farm and kept the balance, on which he has erected a new residence and outbuildings and carries on general diversified farming. Mr. Lenander has seen many days of hardship and trial. He had the misfortune to break his leg the first year he came to Renville county and has been lame ever sinee. In the early days of his farming he sold butter at five eents a pound and eggs at five eents per dozen, hogs at two dollars per hundred pounds and wheat at thirty cents a bushel. Ten years ago a hail- storm destroyed all that he had and he was forced to borrow straw from his neighbors. In spite of all he has prospered. Mr. Lenander was married March 25, 1876, to Johanna Jenson, who came from Sweden at the same time that he did, and by this mar- riage there were five children : Selma, Robert, Nellie, Tillie and Emma. Mrs. Johanna (Jenson) Lenander died four years ago at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. Lenander was married April 13, 1912, to Emma Buerkman, born in Sweden February 2, 1865. Her father died in Sweden and her mother is still living in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Joseph H. Feeter, a leading citizen of Bird Island, was born March 3, 1846, in Baden, Germany, son of Edgar and Clara (Richard) Feeter, who brought the family to the United States in 1852, coming to the state of New York and settling at Verona, New York. There were nine children : David, Caroline, Elizabeth, by a former marriage, and John, Benjamin, Joseph, Mary, Han- nah, and Caroline by the second marriage. The father died there in 1867 and the mother died in Renville county. Benjamin and Joseph came to Renville county in 1872. Joseph Hf. had enlisted in Company A, 148th New York Volunteer Infantry, in 1863, had been assigned to the Eighteenth Army Corps and served till August 28, 1865, when he was nmstered ont at Albany, New York. He took part in such important engagements : Ft. Darling, Cold Harbor and Appomattox, with the Army of the Potomac, being wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Mr. Feeter farmed in Michigan for a time and in 1872 eame to Renville county, where he secured a homestead of 160 aeres of wild prairie land in see- tion 14, Bird Island township, with no roads near, and built a small frame house. Here his wife joined him and he began breaking the land with his ox team. He lived there until fifteen years ago, added forty aeres more to the farm and freeted new buildings. Then he moved to Bird Island, where he opened a eol- lection ageney. He was one of the first supervisors of his town- ship, a position he held for a number of years. He was also assessor for seven years and justice of the peace and constable. He was one of the first treasurers of the first school district No. 64 and was instrumental in getting a school house built. He has also been village reeorder for a number of years at Bird Island.
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He has been the postmaster for the past eight years. lle is a member of Bird Island Lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M., of Bird Island, and of Meade Post No. 53, G. A. R., of Bird Island. Mr. Feeter married in South Haven, Michigan, Naney J. Rhodes, of Indiana, second child of G. W. and Mary E. Rhodes. They have the following children : G. W. (deceased), Mamie, Della and Edith and Edna (twins).
Theodore Houck, a prominent farmer of Preston Lake town- ship, was born in Indiana, January 23, 1851, son of Allison and Charlotte (Christ) Houck, the former of whom was born Angust 28, 1817, and died July 5, 1887, and the latter of whom was born October 12, 1822, and died May 13, 1898. Allison Ilouck was born in Pennsylvania and there married. He and his wife came to Indiana as a young couple and there four children were born to them : Elijah, Mary, Alfred and Theodore. The family drove by horse team from Indiana to a place near St. Paul in 1852, being territorial pioneers of Minnesota. In a few years he went to Riee county and farmed and later moved to Dakota county and farmed near Lakeville. In 1867 he came to Renville county. In the meantime the Civil War and the Indian trouble broke out and the oldest son, Elijah, enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Vohin- trer Infantry, serving three years. On reaching Renville county Mr. Honck located a homestead in section 14, Preston Lake town- ship, on the south shore of Preston Lake, where he obtained eighty acres. Here he erected a log cabin 16 by 16 and farmed with a team of oxen. The family were members of the Methodist church. Before the congregation had any church building of their own the services were held in the cabin of Mr. Houck, as were also the law suits of the section. The children who were born in Minnesota were : Floyd, Ellen. Anna, Frank. William and Carrie. Theodore received his early education in Minnesota and grew to manhood, engaging in farming. Ile rented a farm in Preston Lake township for one year and after a short time spent in town he located his present place, obtaining one of the few remaining claims in the seetion. It consisted of 160 acres of land, a granary and a milk house, Mr. and Mrs. Honek making their home in the latter until a house could be built. A frame house 16 by 16 was built to which additions have been made from time to time until now they have a neat substantial home. Good farm buildings have also been built. Mr. Honek is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America of Stewart lodge. Mr. Honek was united in marriage November 17, 1882, to Elsie Chase, born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, November 25, 1860, daughter of William Dell and Roxanna (Wilson) Chase. They have had eleven children : Floyd, Leo, Nora, Edwill, Norman, Doris, Mona, Theodora, Gretchen, Bessie (deceased) and Roxie (deceased). The Chase family dates back to the time of Henry VIII of
MR. AND MRS. THEODORE HOUCK
TH+ PUBLIC UN ARY
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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England. The Richard Chase who came to America married the only daughter of Lord Townley, who was exceuted at the time of the "Restoration," having fought under Cromwell. Walter Chase, a grandson, had five sons, and one of these, Ebenezer, a sailor and soldier during the Revolutionary war, married Sarah Snow. They had eight children. By a second marriage he had four children. A son, Leonard, married Jane Dell in 1823, and William Dell Chase was one of their eight children. He was born in Clyde, Wayne county, New York. March 7, 1824, and died October 4, 1874. Ile homesteaded in McLeod county in 1864, and had seven daughters, Elsie Chase becoming the wife of Mr. Honek. Mrs. Honek's mother was born December 28. 1828, daughter of Ezra Wilson, born April 1, 1789, and Edith (Porter) Wilson, born June 22. 1796, both of New York. Mrs. Wilson's grandfather settled in New York in 1775 and took part in the Revolutionary war.
John L. Johnson, the efficient auditor of Renville county, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, Christmas day, 1866, son of P. L. and Wendla (Hjalm) Johnson, who brought him to St. Paul in June, 1869, and to Willmar, in this state, in 1872. Ile started in life for himself at the age of thirteen years as a clerk in the Great Northern station at Willmar, and either in that capacity or as an assistant in the office of the division superintendent, remained with the company some five years. For five or six years more he was bookkeeper in the Bank of Willmar. In 1890 he became cashier of the New London State Bank. It was in 1892 that he came to Renville village and became eashier of the Security Bank, now the First National Bank, a position he held until 1895, when he went with the Renville State Bank for about seven years. He filed for county auditor in 1902, but failing to get the office he worked some nine months as cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Sacred Heart and then returned to the Renville State Bank as assistant cashier. In September. 1908, he resigned and filed for the office of county auditor once more. He was elected in Novem- ber of that year, and took office January 1, 1909, sinee which time he has succeeded himself at each eleetion, his present term expiring Jannary 1, 1919. He still maintains his home in Ren- ville village, where he has lived since he first located in this county. Aside from occupying county office he has served on the village couneils of New London and Renville. His religions faith is that of the Norwegian Synod. Mr. Johnson was married .June 24, 1890, to Caroline R. Carlson, of Renville, and to this union have been born eleven children: Marion C. was born in 1891. graduated from the Johnson School of Music, Minneapolis. and is now a musie teacher ; Alfred P. L., born in 1893, and John C. E .. horn in 1895, conduet the homestead farm of their grand- father. Carl Carlson, in Emmet township: Inez C. was born in
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1897 ; Stella E. was born in 1900; Victor E. was born in 1902; Joel L. was born in 1904: Carl R. was born in 1906: Adrian R. was born in 1908; Maxwell C. was born in 1910; William J. was born in 1913. P. L. Johnson, a cabinetmaker by trade, was born in Carls- krona, Sweden, and married Wendla Hjahn, born in Stockhohn, Sweden. They came to America in June, 1869, and located in St. Paul, where he worked at his trade. In 1872 they moved to Willmar, Minnesota, where he became car foreman for the Great Northern. About thirty years later he retired and is now living in that city. His wife died April 1, 1913. In the family there were six children : John L., of Renville county: Charles H., of Fargo, North Dakota: George W., of Crookston, Minnesota : Edward A., of Fargo, North Dakota: Henry L .. also of Fargo, and Arthur J .. of Crookston, Minnesota. All are prosperous busi- ness men.
Levi A. Raitz, an energetic agriculturist of Melville township, was born in the northwest quarter of section 25. in the township where he still resides, April 14, 1888. The father, Charles R. Raitz, was born at Chaska. this state, JJune 22, 1855, arrived in Melville township in 1878, homesteaded eighty acres in section 25, later purchased another eighty acres, added to this until he had 320 aeres, became a prominent dairyman, served as super- visor of the township for three years, moved to Heetor village, served there on the school board for six years and died January 12, 1915. The mother, Angusta (Jacobs) Raitz, died December 3, 1914, at the age of fifty-three. Levi A. Raitz was reared on the home farm, attended the neighborhood school and learned farming from his father. In 1911 he rented the home farm and is there carrying on general farming and stock raising, now own- ing and operating 180 acres. He is a member of the Grain Exchange at Hector. Mr. Raitz was married August 24, 1914, to Alice Schwartz, who was born .Jannary 5. 1893, daughter of William and Thaoline (Tollefson) Schwartz, who live on a farm in Martinsburg township. Mr. and Mrs. Raitz have one son, Floyd, born April 10. 1915.
John Miller, a retired farmer of Olivia, was born in Sweden. April 24, 1858, son of John and Anestina ( Anders) Anderson. His father came to the United States in 1867 and his family joined him the next year at La Crosse, Wisconsin. After coming to United States he changed his name to Miller, taking the name of Miller from the farm on which he was born. June 30, 1832, in Mokulla, the province of Halland. Sweden. As soon as his family eame he moved to Houston in Houston county, Minnesota. Then he rented a farm for a year. In 1873 he moved to Cottonwood county and rented a farm until 1875, when he secured a home- stead in Renville county, in Winfield township. It was a traet of 160 aeres of wild prairie land and here he brought his family in
MR. AND MRS. LEVI A. RAITZ
YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
A. LOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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the spring of 1876, and began improving his land. He built a small frame house, put up a straw shed for a barn, and broke the land with his ox team. Here he lived for twelve years. Then he rented this farm and moved to Olivia in the fall of 1888, where he spent the remainder of his days. Mr. Miller served on the township school board for many years and was a member of the Lutheran church. There were three children in the family : Anna, John and Andrew. Mr. Miller died March 15, 1913, at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife died September 14, 1904. at the age of sixty-five years. The son John lived with his father until the time of his marriage. He had obtained a homestead of eighty acres in Winfield township in 1879 and had worked the place for a time, also helping his father on his farm. In 1885 he moved on this homestead and added sixty acres of railroad land. After four years he moved to Olivia where, for the next six years, he operated the Hotel Merchant. Then he engaged in the livery business for a period of twelve years, when he sold out his interests in Olivia and intended to locate elsewhere. After travel- ing about for a year he decided to return to Olivia and purchased seventy-five acres on the outskirts of the village in Troy township. Here he tore down the old dwelling and built a modern house. Mr. Miller owns farms in Bird Island, Winfield and Troy town- ships, all of which are rented ont. He keeps a good grade of stock. Mr. Miller is a member of the Farmers' Elevator Com- pany, and has also been a member of the township school board in Winfield. He belongs to several fraternities, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. both of Olivia. Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Angusta Johnson, born in Smaaland, Sweden, June 7, 1859. She was the daughter of Gustave and Johanna (Rund- quist) JJohnson. She was the first of her family to come to America, coming in 1883, the rest of the family coming in 1884. There six children besides Augusta : Anna, Louise, Hulda, Charles. John R., Ellen E. Her father located in the township of Win- field. seeuring a farm of 120 aeres of wild prairie land. He began breaking land with his ox team, built a frame house and made a dugout, which was used for a barn. He lived here until he moved to Olivia, where he died in 1902 at the age of seventy- two years. His wife is still living at the age of eighty years. making her home at Olivia. They were both members of the Imtheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had two children : Ida Ehnira, born June 13. 1885. and died July 12, 1898, and Andrew Edward, born April 19, 1899, who resides at home.
James Brown was born in the Province of Quebee, Canada, July 25, 1862, son of James and Mary Ann (Goggin) Brown. The father came to Minnesota in 1868 and took a homestead in the southeast quarter of seetion 28, Norfolk township, this eounty.
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where he lived until his death in 1881 at the age of forty-five. The mother was born in 1843 and now makes her home with her son Patrick in Franklin township. James Brown remained on the home farm until 1893 and then went to Beltrami county, this state, where he homesteaded a farm, remaining there for six years and dividing his time between farming and working in the pineries. In 1899 he sold out and came to Norfolk, where he located on 160 aeres in the northeast quarter of section 20, which he had purchased in 1891. It was in 1910 that he disposed of this and bought 320 acres in the east half of section 18. Melville township, where he now lives. Mr. Brown was treasurer of school district 28 for seven years and justice of the peace in Norfolk township for four years. He is a stoekholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Bird Island. and a member of the Swine Breeders' Association and of the Farmers' Mutual Shipping Association of Bird Island. Mr. Brown was married Jannary 24, 1904, to Nellie Lanigan, born in 1879, daughter of Michael and Mary (Bohan) Lanigan, of Birch Cooley township, the first named of whom died in 1900. The mother died some years before. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of three children : James T .. November 8, 1905: Rose Eileen, born August 31, 1907, and Mary Theresa, born April 30, 1915.
Henry Fehr, a retired farmer of Olivia, was born October 16, 1845, in Switzerland, the son of Conrad and Susanah (Hug) Fehr. He came to America August 18, 1868. settling in Toledo, Ohio, where he remained a year. Going to Burr Oak, Michigan, he worked in a brick yard for two years, leaving there for Lansing, Iowa, where he spent two years on railroad construction work. During the years that followed he visited the states of Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Illinois, going to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he spent thirteen years as a farm hand and renter. Finally he bought eighty aeres in Winfield township, purchasing 120 acres in Bird Island township and removing there after having spent three years on his first farm. Later he bought another 240 acres, selling the farm and retiring to Olivia in the spring of 1911. He attends the German Evangelieal ehureh. He served as a member of the township board three years and for two years was chairman. For three years he was a director of the board of edneation. He is also secretary of the Farmers' Elevator Company and has held that position for six years He has been secretary and manager of the Central Creamery Asso- ciation fourteen years, a position in which he is now serving. Mr. Fehr was married December 2, 1877, to Eliza Dennstedt, born .Tuly 24, 1859, in Canada, the daughter of John E. and Willimena (Crusp) Dennstedt. They had seven children, all of whom are alive with the exception of Esther, who died June 7, 1893, she having been born June 7. 1886; Ernest K. was born December 3.
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