USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 55
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HENRY FEHR AND FAMILY
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AUTO LEPOX IND AINDAIIOK
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
1878; Henry E., born March 21, 1880; John F., born September 6, 1883; Estella, born April 3, 1890; George, born February 7, 1893; Aaron D., born December 21, 1898. Conrad Fehr, born in Switzer- land in 1814, was a miller who lost his life in the mill in 1849 as the result of an accident. He married Susana Hug, born in 1816 in Switzerland.
George Poetschat, the noted marksman of Bird Island, was born July 24, 1880, in East Prussia, Germany, the son of August and Elsie Poetschat. He left home at the age of eighteen and worked in a factory until he entered the army in 1900, he being a member of Kaiser Alexander Garde Grenadier Regiment No. 1 of Berlin. Here he made a record as a sharpshooter and was dis- charged in 1902, coming to America September 5, 1904. He located in St. Paul, where he worked for the German eonsul, Herr Grunow, for three years. He then moved to Winthrop, Minnesota, where he rented the Hotel Seiter, which he ran for two years, coming to Bird Island in 1910. Here he bought the VanDyke Hotel. He has a new brick building that is modern in every sense of the word. It is steam heated, has running water and is lighted by electricity. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Poetschat was married April 14, 1908, in St. Paul to Bertha Timer, born in Switzerland, the daughter of Ulrich and Katherine Tinner. They have four children: Elsie, born January 4, 1910; George, born February 28, 1911 : Bertha, born March 26, 1912: Frida, born March 21, 1915. August Poet- schat, who was born in Germany, where he pursued farming until his death in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years, was married Janu- ary 1, 1872, to Elsie Werkies, born May 18. 1847. At last accounts she was living in the war zone of Germany. Ulrich Tinner mar- ried Katherine Timer in Switzerland, where both were born. Mr. Tinner was engaged in the manufacture of hand embroidery until the time of his death. Mrs. Tinner is still living. The daughter Bertha eame to this country with her brother in 1903 and settled at St. Paul, where she met and married Mr. Poetschat.
Henry W. Hanschen, the popular and efficient young butter- maker of the Melville Co-operative Creamery Company, located in Melville township, was born in New Uhn, August 28, 1894. The father. Henry W. Hansehen, Sr., a contractor of New Ulm, died in 1897 at the age of sixty-four, and the mother, Emelie (Bischoff) Hansehen, was married in December, 1900, to August Muske, a railroad man of New Ulm. Henry W. Hansehen attended the school of New Ulm, early became interested in dairying, entered the dairy school of the University of Minnesota, graduated in November. 1911, worked in New Ulm two weeks, then in the Clover Leaf Creamery, in Osceola township, this county, seven months, and then assumed the duties of his present position. He
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is a good buttermaker and is held in high esteem by all the patrons of the creamery.
Edwin B. Wolff, a farmer of Melville township, was born in llopedale, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1854, son of Paul and Frederica (Stronb) Wolff. Pant Wolff was born in Saxony, Germany, came to America at the age of twelve, locating in Hopedale. In 1855 he took up his residence in Dahlgren town- ship, Carver county, this state, where he lived until 1882, when he came to Hector township, this county, and bought a farm of 160 acres. Later he sold this place and retired to Olivia, where he died in 1899. His wife was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, and died in October, 1911, at the age of eighty. Edwin B. Wolff remained with his parents until the age of twenty-two years, when, in 1876, he came to Melville township, and settled on eighty aeres in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 32, where he still remains. At first he ereeted a shack, 12 by 14 feet. In 1889 he erected a barn, 28 by 46 feet. In 1899 he built a house, 16 by 28 feet, with a wing, 14 by 20 feet, the whole building con- taining eight rooms. Mr. Wolff is a prominent man in the com- munity, has been road supervisor three years, director of the school board three years, and treasurer of the school board two years. He was married September 30, 1879, to Maria Groth, who was born in Germany October 9, 1858, and came to America in 1874 with her sister Charlotte. The father, Ferdinand Groth, was born in Germany, came to America in 1866, and lived in Carver county, this state, until 1910, when he moved to Carlton county, this state, where he died in 1911. He was married to Maria Herzog, who was born in Germany and died in Minneapolis in 1900 at the age of sixty-nine. Mr. and Mrs. Wolff have had five children : Charlotte, born July 10, 1880 ; Beno A .. born December 18, 1881, died May 2, 1905; John F., born May 6, 1884, and died in the service of the United States Navy December 12. 1904; Minna M .. born February 6, 1892, and August G., born July S. 1895. Charlotte married Henry Schulze. They live at Fairmont, Minnesota, and have one child, Edna Mary, born November 5. 1914.
James Drake, one of the pioneer farmers of Minnesota, was born in Kent, England, May 14, 1843, the son of Samuel and Sarah Drake, farmers in England, where they died, the father in 1871 at the age of sixty-eight and the mother in 1893 at the age of eighty-six. James Drake came to Ameriea in 1860, the stormy voyage from Liverpool to New York city taking eight weeks, a second class ticket from Dover, England, to Milwaukee, Wis- consin, costing $45. He went to a brother at Ripon, Wisconsin. remaining there two weeks. Then he began farm work and con- tinned at that place for five years, next renting a farm at Roches- ter, Minnesota, where he remained for two years. November 7,
MR. AND MRS. JAMES DRAKE, CHARLES F. DRAKE LETTIE (DRAKE) GILOMEN, HAROLD GILOMEN
15> PUBLIC MORAM:
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN SOUNDATIONS
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
1867, he came to Renville county and secured a homestead of 160 acres in seetion 14, in Cairo township. There were only fourteen families in the township at that time. Here he built a log house 14 by 18 feet with a shed roof and started farming upon a small scale with one team, one wagon, one plow and one cow, remain- ing there until 1892. During his first winter in Minnesota he trapped muskrats and sold the skins at twenty-one cents cach, earning enough money in this way to pay for his first seed wheat. He cut the first erop with a eradle seythe. In 1892 he moved to Fairfax, where he built a comfortable home. He has made a hobby of raising fruit and berries. Ile was the first one in the township to raise raspberries and currants for sale and received twenty-five eents per quart. In 1913 he sold $51 worth of rasp- berries from his city lot. Mr. Drake was clerk of the School Dis- triet No. 29 for four years. April 23, 1865, Mr. Drake was mar- ried to Amy L. Collins, born August 21, 1843. Her father, Frank- lin Collins, was a farmer in Wisconsin, formerly a native of New York. Ile died in 1891 at the age of sixty-nine. Ilis wife, Louisa (Norman) Collins, died in 1886 at the age of sixty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have had six children, five of whom are still living. Charles F., born April 12, 1866, is a farmer in Nobles county, Minnesota. Alice L., born June 24, 1867, is married to Engene Dieters, a civil engineer of Glencoe, Minnesota. William E., born March 22, 1869, is a farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada. Albert .J., born July 6, 1877, edits the "Standard" at Westhope, North Dakota. Earnest J., born January 5, 1879, died May 28, 1898. Edith M., born February 11, 1883, is the wife of Thomas Doheny, a carpenter of Great Falls, Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have twenty-nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church. About ten years ago Mrs. Drake had the misfortune to break her leg and has since been an invalid, being able only to move about in a wheel chair. In spite of this she has not given up her house work. and has continued to do all the lighter work, though some one else has to do the heavier work. A notable event in the life of Mr. and Mrs. Drake was the celebration of their golden wedding anniversary on April 23. 1915. Nearly all the children and grand- children were present. The honored conple received many pretty gifts, among which were a silver, gold-lined tea service from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Doheny and $30 in gold from the other children.
Robert Wolff, an estimable farmer of Melville township, was born in Chaska, this state. November 12, 1874. son of Ferdinand E. and Pauline (Hedtke) Wolff. The father was born January 25. 1840. in Pennsylvania, came to Melville township in 1871 and homesteaded eighty aeres in section 20. where he died November 4. 1901. The mother now lives in Bird Island. Robert Wolff was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools. In
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IHISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
1898 he rented a farm nearby, but still continued to live with his father. He bought a place of 160 aeres in 1902. There he now carries on general l'arming and makes a specialty of Jersey cattle and Poland-China swine. He has made many improvements, including the rebuilding of the barn in 1910, and the erection of a modern house in the spring of 1915. Mr. Wolff is a prominent citizen, and has been a member of the town board some four years. He is a trustee of the Moravian church in Melville township. Mr. Wolff was married January 27, 1903, to Lydia Huebner, who was born February 20, 1881, daughter of William and Mary ( Wodtke) Huebner, of Montevideo, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Wolff have one son, Clinton Le Roy, born April 5, 1906.
William F. Lammers, one of the energetic citizens of Bird Island, was born in Nicollet county, July 1, 1873, son of Fred and Mary (Hanson) Lammers, early settlers. Ile attended the schools of his neighborhood and remained at home until twenty- seven years of age. Then he engaged in the implement business at Gibbon, Minnesota, where he remained for five years. At the end of this period he became interested in grain, a line to which he has since devoted his attention. For three years he continued in the business at Gibbon. On April 30. 1908, he came to Bird Island and bought an interest in the Bird Island Roller Mills. of which he is now secretary. His knowledge of grain condi- tions. his striet integrity and his wide acquaintance among the growers have been important factors in the success of this con- cern. While in Gibbon, Mr. Lammers served as a member of the village council and on the school board. He is a member of the M. W. A. The family faith is that of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Lammers was married March 10. 1903. to Sarah Overbeek, born October 6. 1871. daughter of Herman and Mary (Rieke) Overbeek, and to this union have been born two children ; Claude, born September 26. 1907: Stella, born March 13, 1910. Fred Lammers was born July 5, 1849, and married Mary Hanson, who was born December 20. 1852. He came to Minnesota from Cincinnati, and lived in Nicollet county until 1902 when he moved to Le Sueur where he now resides. Her- man Overbeek was a tailor. He died at the age of seventy-five in Toledo, Ohio. His wife, Mary Rieke, died at the age of sev- enty in 1902.
Andrew J. Anderson, one of the prominent farmers of Camp township, was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, April 24, 1860. His father, John Anderson, was born in Sweden and came to America in 1854, engaged in farming in Winneshiek county, Iowa, for a period of six years. Then he moved to Goodhne county, Minn., and engaged in farming in Wannamingo township for four years, next setting ont for Renville county, overland, but when they reached Sibley county, the Indian seare was so great that
MR. AND MRS. A. J. ANDERSON
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
they camped in Sibley county for nearly a year. In 1865 they proceeded to Renville county, where Mr. Anderson homesteaded in the southwest quarter of section 18, Camp township. He lived there until his death September 25, 1869, at the age of forty-six years. Hle was one of the organizers of Camp township and of school distriet No. 1, Andrew Anderson, being one of the first boys to attend school in that district. His mother, Martha An- derson, was born March 22, 1826, and died October 12, 1914. Andrew Anderson worked out from the time he was seventeen. During the winters of 1883-84-85 he attended the Mankato State Normal school. At the age of twenty-five took up teaching and taught three years. In 1887 he purchased 200 acres of land in seetion 8, Camp township. Owing to Mrs. Anderson's poor health, Mr. Anderson decided to rent his farm and move to California. Mrs. Anderson left in February, 1901, and Mr. Anderson followed in the fall of 1901 with his family and joined his wife and mother in California, where they located in Sonoma county. Here Mr. Anderson purchased a five-aere poultry ranch fully equipped with 600 young hens of the White Leghorn variety, hen house, breed- ing pens, a good residence, barn, horse, cow, and wagon, to- gether with household furniture. This ranch was thirty-five miles north of San Francisco and here he remained for one year. Then he sold out and moved fifty miles farther north and purchased fifty-three aeres in the same county. This was a fruit and wine- grape farm. They remained on this farm for one year and then sold and moved fifty miles still farther north into Mendocino county and there purchased 520 acres and engaged in farming and stock raising, remaining there for nearly five years. Then he sold and returned to his old farm in Camp township. Mrs. Anderson, however, though greatly improved in health did not return with the family but went to Arizona and spent the win- ter there and returned home in the spring. She still continues to spend her winters in either Arizona or California. In 1911 Mr. Anderson built a nine-room honse and has a nice barn and silo. He has made many improvements and has set out a fine grove. He carries on diversified farming. Mr. Anderson has served on the township board eight years, has been justice of peace two years, and clerk of the school board twelve years. From 1895 to 1899 he did efficient service as county commissioner. He is treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Company at Franklin and also stockholder in the mill and ereamery at that place. Mr. Anderson was married June 23, 1888, to Amelia Haack, born .Tannary 22. 1861, daughter of Max and Elizabeth (Knopf) Haack. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have four children : Florence, born April 23, 1889, attended the common schools of Camp township, the grammar and high schools of Willits, California, spent two years at the State Normal School. at Mankato, graduated in the class
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of 1910, and is now teaching at Gaylord, Minn. Linnie and Lily, twins, were born July 6, 1892, and both completed their studies at the grammar school at Willits, Calif. Linie entered the Eitel Hospital, Minneapolis, graduated there in 1913 and is now a nurse. Lily is at home. Irving Spencer, born November 22, 1894, is a student at the Agricultural Department of the Uni- versity of Minnesota. Max Haack was a native of Germany and learned the profession of a physician and druggist. He came to Nicollet county, Minnesota, in 1858 where he engaged in farm- ing and was killed by the Indians east of New Uhm in 1862. at the age of thirty-two. Mrs. Haaek was afterward married to Henry Graf, who was accidentally killed in 1867 by falling off of a wagon. Her third husband was Andrew Schott. a pioneer of Camp township, who died in 1898 at the age of seventy-five years. She died October 9, 1912, at the age of eighty-three years.
Peter J. Wepplo was born in Finland December 17, 1868. son of John and Amanda (Frisco) Wepplo. His father came to America in 1871. For three and one-half years he did surface labor in Michigan; two years were spent in South Dakota and four in Camp township, this county. Later he bought eighty aeres in section sixteen, castern half of the northwest quarter of Bandon township where he lived until 1909 when he moved to Minneapolis and died there, in 1911, at the age of sixty-seven. Ilis wife died in 1910 at the age of sixty-five. In 1896 Peter Wepplo went to the Black Hills where he engaged in mining for five years. In 1897 he bought eighty aeres in section sixteen, Bandon township, and then rented it for five years to his brother. Oscar. In December, 1897, he went to the Black Hills and re- mained for five years, half of the time engaged in mining, and the other half in other labor. In 1899 he bought a honse and lot. In 1902 he returned to Bandon township where he has sinee been engaged in farming. He has a splendid farm, has taken a deep interest in agricultural affairs, and is one of the leading men of his vieinity. He is a stockholder in the elevator at Frank- lin and Fairfax, the Creamery at Franklin, and also in the Fair- fax Co-operative Store. He is a trustee and treasurer of the Fin- nish Lutheran church. Peter Wepplo was married October 29, 1898, in Lead. S. Dak., to Josephine Hunsko, born September 5, 1878, danghter of John and Mary (Kangas) Hunsko. Her father came to America in 1887, lived at Cloquet, Minn .. for three years and then moved to Redlodge, Mont., where he engaged in mining abont ten years, and later in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Wepplo have six children : Mary Lydia, born December 20, 1900; Eunice Esther, born December 23, 1903: Henry Raymond Walter, born Mareh 27, 1906: Effie Amanda. born March 30, 1910: Eino Adolph, born Angust 30, 1912: and Elsie Sophia Elizabeth, born August 7,
THE NEW PUBLIC LIEMARY
ASTOR. LAKOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
MR. AND MRS. FREDERICK J. FOX, SR.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
1914. The children are known as Lydia, Esther, Walter, Effie, Eino and Elsie.
Frederick J. Fox, Sr., a retired farmer of Olivia, was born in Baden, Germany, November 20, 1848, son of Jacob and Cather- ine (Werner) Fox, natives of Baden. Jacob Fox was born in the spring of 1804, and his wife was born December 24, 1817. They left Germany in 1851, coming to New York, the voyage taking six weeks. For four years they lived in New York state among the Catskill mountains. He was a mason by trade and followed that trade in the new country. Next they moved to what is now Raeine, Wisconsin, then in a great wilderness. Here he worked at his trade helping pave the first streets and erecting one of the first buildings, his wages being seventy-five eents per day in payment of which he had to take city orders. Ile bought forty aeres in Caledonia township, Racine county, Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Michigan, known as Wind Point, where he built a log house and eleared the land. By his first marriage he had the following children : Conrad, Jacob, Michael, Catherine, Evelyn and Mary. By this marriage to Catherine Werner there were the following children: George, Frederick J., Christina, Elizabeth and Andrew. Mr. Fox died December 22, 1868, and Mrs. Fox died January 12, 1884.
Frederick J. Fox. Sr., was a small boy when the family came to the United States. He received his education in Wisconsin and learned his trade of his father. Then he went as a sailor on the Great Lakes, continued in that work for about fifteen years. At the end of that time he became shipping elerk for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co., at Raeine, Wisconsin. Here he re- mained for twelve years. Then he returned to work upon the waterways, this time working on the river until 1892, when he located in Winfield township, Renville county, securing 190 aeres in section 13. This was all wild prairie land with no fences nor buildings. He had bought the land in 1885 but did not move until 1892. Ile hauled huuber from Wisconsin and built a frame house and barn. Later he built a good basement barn, 40 by 50 feet, and numerous other buildings and also feneed all of his land. In 1911 he moved to Olivia and rented his farm. Mr. Fox is a shareholder in the Olivia Creamery and in the Farm- ers' Elevator at Olivia. He has served as township elerk for six years, has been the chairman of the board of supervisors for four years, and has been the director of the school board for district No. 121 for two terms. He is a member of the Olivia Lodge, No. 175, M. B. A.
October 7, 1874, Frederick J. Fox. Sr .. was married at Raeine to Anna Sehelling, born in Caledonia township, May 7, 1854. daughter of Adam and Josephine (Klofenda) Schelling. Her father was born in Germany and her mother in Bohemia. They
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
were married in Racine. He was a cooper by trade and fol- lowed that trade in the winter and was a farmer in the sum- mer, having a small farm of forty acres in Caledonia town- ship. He used two cows for a team. llis house and barn were made of logs. Later he moved to Rochester, Wisconsin, where he followed his trade of cooper, but soon returned to Racine. Mr. and Mrs. Schelling had seven children: Anna, Christ, Frank, John, Elizabeth, Caroline and Matilda. Mr. Schell- ing died at the age of eighty-two in 1903, and his wife died in 1902, at the age of seventy. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have had twelve children, five of whom are living: Walter, born July 17, 1883; Caroline, born May 3, 1886; Clara, born January 29, 1888; Thomas, born January 15, 1891; and Christ, born September 19, 1893. Seven children died in their infancy: Alton, born August 17, 1875; Frederick, born September 15, 1876; Henry, born De- cember 3, 1877; Charlotte, born July 20, 1879; Frank, born Jan- 'mary 3, 1882; Clarence, born JJuly 17, 1883, and Frederick, born in 1890. Walter is proprietor of the tonsorial parlor at Elbow Lake, Min. Ile married llannah Fitzpatrick. Caroline is now Mrs. Walter Carr, of St. Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Carr have two children. Clara is now Mrs. Thomas Donavan, of Hopkins, and has three children. Thomas conduets a tonsorial parlor at Spirit- wood, North Dakota. Christ is a barber in South Dakota.
Edmund Kiecker, a progressive farmer of Wellington town- ship, was born in section 22, in the township where he still re- sides, November 21, 1883, son of Albert L. and Amanda Kiecker. who came to America in 1878, reached this county and home- steaded a farm in section 22, Wellington township, where they still reside. Edmund Kiecker remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age. Then he bought the southwest quarter of section 2, in the same township. He has a well improved farm, and makes a specialty of raising Holstein cattle and Duroe-Jersey swine. Mr. Kiecker was married May 2, 1907. to Minnie Mahlke. born March 14, 1886, daughter of Gustav and Minnie (Miller) Mahlke, of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Kiecker have three chil- dren : Erwin, born February 6, 1908; Irene, born April 7. 1911 : Ermin, born April 18, 1912.
Gustav Malılke, a well-known farmer of Wellington township. was born in Germany, in 1850. At the age of fourteen he came to Minnesota with his parents and settled in Winona. It was in 1877 that he eame to Wellington township, and settled, where he now lives. He has served in a number of local offices includ- ing that of justice of the peace. Mr. Mahlke was married April 24, 1877. to Mrs. Wilhelmina Splettstear, who. by her former husband had five children : Lena, Emma, Johanna, Herman and Ottillia Splettstear. She bore Mr. Mahlke five children : Adelia. Minnie. Mary, Eddie and Gustave.
THE NEW Y . PUSLIC WE
ATTAR, LENNI SILDEN YOUNDA
HENRY MIHM AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Henry Mihm, a prominent farmer of Melville township, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 1, 1849, son of Con- stantine and Margaret (Shenhoven), who were born in Ger- many, came to the United States in 1847, and were married in Milwaukee in 1848. Constantine Mihm was a farmer and dairy- man, selling milk to the citizens of Milwaukee. He began with only one eow but gradually increased his herd. For about a year he served in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry. He died at the age of seventy-six years and his wife died at the age of fifty-two years. They were members of the Catholic church. Twelve chil- dren were born to them, of whom nine grew to manhood and womanhood : Henry, Mary, Kate (deceased), Jacob (deecased), Lucy, Hannah, Kate, John, Anna, Josephine, and unnamed in- fant (deceased), and John (deceased). Henry grew to manhood in Wisconsin and attended the Milwaukee public schools. In 1873 he came to Sibley county, Minnesota, and farmed on a rented place for seven years. Then he moved to Renville county and set- tled on a farm of eighty aeres in section 31, Hector township. He also worked 160 aeres more. The family moved into a 14 by 20 one-story building and here lived for eleven Years. A straw barn had already been crected. For the next fifteen months he was the county overseer of the Poor Farm of Renville county. Then at the expiration of his term in 1893, he moved to his present place, securing a half of section 12. Melville township. He has sold some of this land so that now he owns a quarter section and raises good graded Percheron, Belgian and Hamiltonian horses, and Jersey Red swine. Mr. Mihm is a member of the Farmers' Co-operative Grain Exchange of Hector and for the past two or three years has been a director of the Bird Island Farmers' Insurance Com- pany. He has also been a member of the township board and has served on the school board for twenty years. He is a member of the Catholic church and has been trustee for twelve years of the Hector parish. Mr. Mihm was united in marriage at Mil- wankee. September 23, 1873, to Mary Schwartz, born in Aus- tria. July 20, 1854. daughter of Joseph and Julia (Mitzh) Schwartz, both natives of Austria. Joseph Schwartz was a miller by trade. owning a mill in Austria, and died soon after acquiring the mill at about the age of thirty-two years, leaving two ehil- dren, Mary and Emelia. In 1866 the mother and the two chil- dren set out for the United States by sailing vessel, being seven weeks on the water, coming to the port of Quebec. Then they went to Baltimore and later to Milwaukee, where the mother died at the age of sixty-two years. In Milwaukee she had mar- ried Frank Mitzhke. a native of Germany, who died a week after his wife's death. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Wiseonsin regiment, and was a tailor by trade. Four
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