USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 59
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George Forsyth, agricultorist, contraetor and man of affairs, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, October 28, 1865, son of John and Mary (Cruikshank) Forsyth, who spent the span of their years in that country. The father devoted his life to milling and farming, was an active worker in the Episcopal church, and died in December, 1886, at the age of eighty-four. The mother died in 1895 at the age of sixty-five. George Forsyth came to Ameriea in 1886 and reached Franklin, this eounty, August 16, of that year. He at once started working for his brother, John
? VELIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LEMOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
MR. AND MRS. CHRISTIAN P. LUND
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Forsyth, who owned the old Rieke mill, two and a half miles southeast of Franklin. In 1888 the Franklin Milling Co. was organized by George Forsyth, John Forsyth, C. W. Woodbury, Peter llenry and J. A. Bergley, a mill was erected and equipment installed. This was the first roller mill in Renville county. George Forsyth was engineer for four years and then became miller and manager. In the winter of 1902 he disposed of his milling interests and engaged in the contracting and building business, in which he has since successfully continued. In 1904 he bought 102 aeres in the village limits of Franklin. In 1906 he erected a sightly home, in 1908 a commodions barn and in 1904 a large silo, one of the first in the county. A thorough believer in modern methods and bringing to the work of his farm those qualities that made him a success as a contractor, he car- ries on agriculture on an extensive scale and in a seientifie way. llis farm is all fenced with woven wire. Each year he feeds and sells a earload of eattle and swine. Ile is now experimenting with the five-year rotation plan, after the following schedule : First year, clover and timothy hay ; second year, pasture; third year, eorn : fourth year, small grain; fifth year, small grain and seeded to timothy and clover. Aside from the home place, Mr. Forsyth owns a half interest in 323 aeres more in Bireh Cooley township and 160 acres in Camp township. He is secretary of the Farmers' Elevator of Franklin and treasurer of the Citizens' Milling Co. of Franklin, a director and one of the organizers of the State Bank of Franklin. He has been on the city eouneil continuously since 1894 with the exception of two years, and has been its president two years. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church ; he and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Forsyth was married June 23, 1894, to Bertha Bundy, of Franklin, and they have had six chil- dren : Isabel, James, Alda Marie, Jane, William and John. Alda Marie died in February, 1911, at the age of eight years.
Christian P. Lund, a very successful farmer of Birch Cooley township, was born in Norway August 17, 1850, son of Peter Lund, a farmer and blacksmith, who died in Norway in 1900. aged seventy years, and Karen (Tedman) Lund, who died in Norway in 1905 at the age of sixty-eight years. They had five boys and four girls, Christian being the second child. Christian Lund eame to America in 1879 and worked on the farms in Fill- more county, Minnesota, for three years. Then he came to Ren- ville eounty and worked in Camp township for a year. In 1883 he bought 160 acres in section 36, where he still resides. In 1910 he built a large barn 32 by 72 feet, with sixteen-foot posts, and a silo 14 by 34 feet. with a capacity of one hundred tons. In 1914 he built a modern house, 24 by 30 feet, with eighteen-foot posts. having eight rooms and a full basement. The farm is in the
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
southwest quarter of the section and the house and buildings are on the southwest corner of the same, on a small knoll facing south, and can be seen from a long distance. There is also a large grove near the buildings, also large yard and fine lawns, making it an ideal farm home. Mr. Lund feeds cattle and hogs for the market and ships a carload of cattle and hogs every year. Hle is a stockholder in the Citizens' Milling Co., the Farmers' Elevator Co. and the New Creamery at Franklin. He is a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church. On October 10, 1883, Mr. Lund was married to Karen Nelson, born June 1, 1863. Her father, Christian Nelson, worked on the railroad in Norway and died in 1902 at the age of seventy years. His wife, Sarena (Olson) Nelson, died in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years. MIr. and Mrs. Lund have the following children: Carl, born Decem- ber 28, 1884: Clara, born December 28, 1887, a teacher ; Palmer, born July 30, 1889; Jolin, born October 13, 1890, and died May 2, 1892: Hjelmar, born June 30, 1892, and died October 18. 1903; William, born July 28, 1893; Raymond, born July 15, 1895; Robert, born October 31, 1896; Arthur, born December 1, 1898; (Hadys, born August 16, 1901; Evelyn, born April 17. 1904, and Lillian, born September 26, 1908.
Frederick Jensen, son of Jens Frederieksen and Margaret (Nelson) Jensen, was born in Denmark December 7, 1853. HIe came to America in 1873 and worked in the pineries in Manistee, Mich., for ten years. Then he purchased the northeast quarter, section 34, Birch Cooley township, in 1883, paying $1,700. He now owns 520 acres. He began with a small log house 16 by 16 feet, a team and a eow, and has prospered and improved his farm and buildings. He has built a fine ten-room house and has a good barn. His stoek consists of about forty cattle, some Duroc- Jersey hogs and Belgian horses. Mr. Jensen is now a stockholder in the Mill Creamery and in the Farmers' Elevator at Franklin. He is also a shareholder in the State Bank of Franklin. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and is a member of the board of directors. He has served as a member of the township board for four years and of the school board for six- teen years. Mr. Jensen was married June 16, 1883, to Christina Nelson, born October 18, 1862, in Denmark. Her father, Nels Olson, a farmer in Denmark, died at the age of fifty years. Her mother Kersten (Nelson) is still living in Birch Cooley township at the age of seventy-five years. As was the enstom in many homes. Christina derived her surname from her father's given name Nels, adding son to it. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen have had eight children: Anton, born March 15. 1884, a farmer of Birch Cooley township: Olga, born March 14, 1886; Osear, born Deeem- ber 27, 1888; Minnie, born August 11, 1890: William, born August 7, 1892; Esbern, born February 18, 1895: Louie, born
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LEA { . . TILDEN SUNCA'UN.
MR. AND MRS. HANS JENSEN
مجم .
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
May 24, 1898; Joseph, born June 18, 1904, and died JJuly 22, 1904.
Hans Jensen, a prosperous farmer of Birch Cooley township, was born in Denmark, October 13, 1862, son of Jens Frederiek- sen, a farmer who died in Denmark in 1895 at the age of seventy- five years, and Margaret Nelson, who died in 1897 at the age of seventy-five years. Hans came to America in 1880 and worked in the pineries in Michigan for three years. Then he went to Bireh Cooley township, where he worked until 1886. Then he rented a farm for abont two years. Next he bought 160 aeres of land in section 36, Norfolk township, southeast quarter, where he remained for six years. He sold this and bought his present farm in section 35, the southeast quarter, Birch Cooley township. Ile raises Shorthorn cattle, his eream eheek averaging $1 per day all the year around, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Belgian and Percheron horses. Mr. Jensen has been a successful farmer and has improved his land and buildings as time passed. Ile owns 428 acres of land and a very fine ten-room two-story house with a full basement, and equipped with electric lights. He has also built a large barn and a silo with a capacity of one hundred tons. He is a stockholder in the State Bank of Franklin, in the cream- ery and mill, the Franklin Telephone Co. and in the Farmers' Elevator Co. Mr. Jensen was married July 9, 1887, to Angusta Johnson, born July 22, 1860, in Sweden, daughter of Ole, a pioneer farmer of Renville county, who died in 1895 at the age of seventy-six years, and Christina (Anderson), who died in 1909 at the age of eighty-one years. They have had the following children: Annie, born April 14, 1888, a teacher, who married Rudolph Deikmeir September 15, 1915; Mary, born October 22, 1889, and died June 13, 1896; Julius, born Jannary 9, 1892, a farmer and teacher of Palmyra township: Hannah A., born May 13, 1894, a teacher; Olaf, born March 6, 1898; Carl Wilhelm, born July 22, 1900, and Alfred, born .Inne 4, 1903.
John E. Foss, a thrifty farmer of Birch Cooley township, was born in Norway September 26, 1851, son of Elling, born July 17, 1816, a farmer and blacksmith, of Norway, and Ingeborg (.Johnson), aged eighty-eight years. The father died in 1915 at the age of ninety-eight years. John Foss eame to America in 1872 and lived in Stoughton, Wis., for two years. Then he spent seven years in Goodhue county, Minnesota. In 1881 he pur- chased 1271% acres in the southeast quarter of seetion 1, on the south side of Birch Cooley township, where he still resides. He built a small log house and now has a fine eight-room house. He has also built a good substantial barn and a silo with a eapaeity of a hundred tons. He has a thoroughly modern and up-to-date farm of 2071% aeres and his son Edward helps his father run the farm. They feed eattle for the market and raise Duroe-Jersey
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hogs and Percheron horses. Mr. Foss is a stockholder in the mill and creamery in Franklin. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. May 12, 1881, Mr. Foss was married to Cecelia Ugland, born August 21, 1862, daughter of Lars. a farmer and pioneer of Goodhue county, Minnesota, who was born in Norway and died in 1886 at the age of sixty-nine years, and Martha (Wiekwmn), who died in 1901 at the age of seventy-two. They have had nine children: Ingeborg, born July 17, 1882, married to Oscar Olson, D.D., a minister of the Norwegian Lutheran church in South Dakota: Martha E., born October 8. 1884. a nurse at the Bethesda Hospital at St. Paul; Edward S., born March 11, 1887, who is at home and helps his father operate the farm: Jennie S., born September 28, 1889, a teacher in South Dakota: George L .. born May 10, 1892. a teacher in South Dakota : Joseph O., born September 24. 1895 : Edith, born Novem- ber 29. 1899; Arnold M .. born August 22, 1902. and one Arnold, who died in infancy.
Otto W. Kiecker, extensive land owner and estimable citizen of Wellington township, was born in Germany. October 29. 1866, son of Fritz W. and Caroline (Dittman) Kiecker, likewise natives of that country, who came to America in 1872. homesteaded eighty aeres in the northwest quarter ot section 10, this town- ship ; lived here until 1911 and then moved to Minneapolis, where they now reside. Otto W. Kiecker remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age. Then he began farming in see- tion 4. in the same township. By frugality. hard work and intel- ligence he has increased his farm holdings to 400 acres, on which he conducts general farming and stock raising. He has a sightly home and commodious barns, and believes in progress along all lines. He is president of the Farmers' Co-operative Co. store at Fairfax. and owns the building in which the store is located. HIe is a director in the First National Bank of Fairfax, and in the Farmers' Elevator of Fairfax, as well as a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery of Fairfax. Mr. Kiecker was married July 3. 1891. to Mary Lnedtke, who was born January 5. 1868. daughter of Daniel B. and Henrietta (Mueller) Lnedtke, natives of Germany. The father was born in Germany October 29, 1841. came to America in 1866, lived for two years in Ontario, Canada, worked on the railroad ont of Winona, Minn .. nine years, and out of New Uhin one year, and then in 1878 came to Renville county and bought 160 acres of land in section 11. Wellington township, where he now lives. His wife was born June 6. 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Kieeker have seven children : Hattie, Elsie, John, Ernest, Esther. Kenneth and Harold.
Frank A. Kretsch, a snecessful yonng doctor of Fairfax, was born in Now Ulm. Minn., August 15. 1887. His father, John Kretsch, came to America in 1859 with his parents, who took a
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
homestead in Siegel township, Brown county, Minnesota. Later he was in the implement business in New Uhn for many years. He died October 27, 1898. The mother, Barbara Egl, is still living in New UIm at the age of sixty-five years. Frank A. Kretsch graduated from the New Uhn High school in 1906 and then served as messenger for the American Express Co., running between Mankato and New Ulm. After two years of this work he took a course in the Chicago Veterinary College, graduating April 15, 1911. May 1, 1911, he located at Fairfax and has built up a very fine practice at that place. He is a member of the Minnesota State Veterinary Medical Association, and has been appointed by the state to administer serum virus treatment for the prevention of hog cholera in Renville county. At college he was a member of the A. U. and was treasurer of the society for two years. While at New Uhn he was a member of the Minne- sota National Guards for five years, being corporal. He is also a member of the St. Joseph's Society and financial secretary for the Knights of Columbus, holding the fourth degree. Mr. Kretsch is a member of the Catholic church and is unmarried.
Edward H. Brown, a prominent business man of Fairfax, was born February 18, 1875, in Norfolk township, Renville county. His father, James Brown, was a farmer of Quebec, Canada, who came to Renville connty abont 1864 and died at the age of fifty in 1884. Ilis mother. Mary Ann (Goggin) is still living at the age of seventy-two in the village of Franklin. At the age of twenty-four Mr. Brown began working in a hardware store and lumber yard in Franklin, where he remained for five years. Then he bought a half interest in a hardware store in Belleview, Minn., in 1904. Hle remained there for six months and then soll out and came to Fairfax, where he bought half interest in the Fair- fax Hardware Co. and is still in this business. The business has more than doubled in the past ten years, and about January 1, 1915. the firm will move into a new building, which has been erected for them by JJolm Biehl. It is 40 by 125 feet with a full basement. one story high and is thoroughly modern, with steam heat and electric lights. Mr. Brown has served on the village conneil for the past five years. Ile is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, of which society he is the treasurer, and a member of the C. O. F. He is also a member of the Catholic church. Jannary 15, 1907, Mr. Brown married Mae Rowe. Her parents died when she was very young. Two children were born to this union : Grace, born April 20, 1908, and John Everett, born April 18, 1910.
Herman J. Voeks, successful dairyman of Camp township. was born in the southeast quarter of section 10, Wellington town- ship, this county. November 12. 1882, son of August and Hulda (Kiecker) Vorks. He was reared on the home farm, and in
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1906 purchased his present place of 160 acres, embracing the southeast quarter of section 12, Camp township. He has a good set of buildings, carries on general farming and makes a spe- cialty of dairying. Mr. Voeks was married March 20, 1906, to Hattie Hinderman, who was born October 23, 1883, the daughter of Ernest and Hulda (Kuelbach) Hinderman. Mr. and Mrs. Voeks have had four children: Marsella, born December 28, 1906. was burned to death, August 27, 1910; Alba was born May 14. 1910: Silva was born July 3, 1911, and Ardell was born April 25, 1914. August Voeks was born in Germany, April 28, 1848, came to America in 1865, farmed in Blue Earth county, this state. for twelve years, came to Wellington township, this county, in 1877, secured the southeast quarter of section 10, increased this to 680 acres, became a leading dairyman, and in 1912 retired and moved to Fairfax. He was a member of the town board nine years and of the school board three years. His wife, ITulda Kiecker, was born February 20, 1858. Ernest Hin- derman was born in Nicollet county, this state. May 12, 1859, came to Wellington township, this county, in 1890, and in 1910 retired to Fairfax. where he now lives. He was supervisor of Wellington township for twelve years and foreman on the state road for three years. His wife, Hulda Kuelbaeh, was born July 24, 1861.
William S. Ruona was born in Calumet, Mich., July 28, 1876, son of Solomon and Ana Carolina (Ostala) Rnona. His father was born in Sweden July 16. 1850, and came to America in 1871. and worked on Sault St. Marie canal one and a half years, then engaged in mining at Calumet. Mich., working in the copper mines there for eight years. Then he bought 160 acres of land" in seetion 34, Camp township, and lived there until 1910, when he moved to Minneapolis and died there April 8. 1911. His wife is still living in Minneapolis. William Ruona remained at home until his marriage in 1900, when he bought 160 acres in section 21. northeast quarter, Bandon township, and has since increased and developed this farm so that now he owns 280 acres. In 1903 he homesteaded 160 acres in Marshall county, Minnesota, and lived there until 1905, when he came back to the first place. He raises full-blooded Hereford cattle, of which eighteen are regis- tered, and makes a specialty of feeding cattle for the market. Once a year he has a publie sale. He also raises Poland-China swine. Mr. Ruona served on the township board for three years and is director of the Franklin creamery. He is also stockholder in the elevators at Franklin and Fairfax and also in the Co-opera- tive Store at Fairfax. He is a member of the Finnish Lutheran church. Mr. Ruona was united in marriage November 1, 1900. to Siama Lasala, born December 14. 1880, daughter of John and Augustava Vaara. Her father is a native of Finland and eame
WM. S. RUONA AND FAMILY
f 30
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to America in 1881. For four years he was a miner in Mich- igan and then spent four years in Wisconsin. Two years were spent in Bandon township and in 1892 he came to Camp town- ship, where he has engaged in farming ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Ruona have nine children: Viola, born August 30, 1901; Roose- velt, born October 16, 1902; Agnes, born March 30, 1904; Winni- fred, born January 28, 1906; Elaine, born October 22, 1907; Kermit, born July 9, 1909; Rufus, born September 17, 1911; Clifford, born May 25, 1913, and Delbert Hayward, born April 6, 1915. Mr. Ruona has sold his land in Marshall county and purchased a section of land in Bayfield county, Wisconsin.
Albert J. Palmer, one of the energetic citizens of Fairfax, was born in Cairo township, March 30, 1888, son of Lonis F. and Anna (Kokesch) Palmer, well known farmers of that township. On March 1, 1913, Albert J. Pahner came to Fairfax and opened a motoreyele garage, where he dealt in the Harley-Davidson and the Henderson-Thien machines. He sold twenty-seven machines the first summer and nine the next. February 15, 1914, he put in a vulcan welding machine of the oxyacetylene process pattern, which greatly increased his business. He is now doing tire repairing by the steam vulcanizing process, and also general repairing. He carries in stock various lines of accessories, and has the agency for gasoline engines and gas and electric light- ing plants. He is one of the rising young men of the village and a popular member of the Knights of Columbus. Albert J. Palmer is the oldest of nine children. The others in the family are: Rose, wife of Arthur Schaeffer, of New Ulm; Ella, Hattie, Ervin, Louis and Anna (twins), and Edmund and Leonard.
Ferdinand Lenz, blacksmith of Fairfax, was born in Germany, August 8. 1861, son of August and Wilhelmina (Klat) Lenz. August Lenz, likewise a blacksmith, eame to America in 1883, located in Waconia, in Carver county, this state, and farmed in Sibley county until his death in 1900 at the age of sixty-five. His wife died in 1902 at the age of sixty. Ferdinand Lenz learned the blacksmith trade with his father in Germany and came to America with his parents. He worked at his trade in Gibbon, Sibley county, this state, until 1888, and then spent a year with his father on the farm. He came to Fairfax and worked at his trade as a helper until 1900, when he purchased the shop of H. L. Hlinderman, which he now condnets. In addi- tion to this he owns other property in Fairfax, and also a farm in Cairo township. Mr. Lenz was married November 10, 1892. to Bertha Bubolz, who was born March 4, 1868, danghter of Carl and Theresa (Grenel) Bubolz. The father came to America in 1888, and bought eighty acres in section 3, Wellington township, where he lived until his death in 1897 at the age of sixty-six. Mr. and Mrs. Lenz have three children : Wilhelm, born .July 28.
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HISTORY OF RENNVIELE COUNTY
1894: Ilildegaard, born January 28, 1899, and Immanuel, born .July 17, 1903.
Henry Kuester, one of the farmers of Wellington township, who by his own efforts has achieved more than ordinary success and prosperity, is a native of Germany, born May 25, 1852, son of Henry Knester, Sr., who died in 1883 at the age of eighty-one, and of Fredrika (Klokmann) Kuester, who was born in 1812 and died in 1875. Henry Kuester came to America in 1892 and for four years rented farms in Wellington township. In 1896 he bought the south half of the northwest quarter, and the south half of the northeast quarter of section 5, in that township. This land he has since increased to 203 acres. He has a well-improved place, and his house, barns, other buildings and general equip- ment are of the best. For twelve years Mr. Kuester was a director in the old Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Fairfax, and he now owns stock in the present Fairfax Creamery Associa- tion. lle likewise owns stock in the Farmers' Elevator Co. at Fairfax, in the Farmers' Co-operative Store at Fairfax, and in the Buffalo Lake Mutual Fire Insurance Co. For twelve years he has served in his present position as clerk of school distriet 109, and for a similar period he was a member of the township board. For two years he has been clerk of the German Lutheran church in Wellington township. Mr. Knester was married November 20. 1876, in Germany, to Caroline Kahl, who was born May 21, 1857, daughter of John Il. Kahl, a German miner, who was born in 1829 and died in 1867, and of Johanna Leiter, who died in 1901 at the age of seventy-one. Mr. and Mrs. Knester are the parents of ten children : Edmund, Herman, Annie, Wil- hehn. Ida, Hedwig, Gustav, Carl, Otto and Fritz. Edmund was born October 30. 1877, and farms in Wellington township. He has five children : Olga, Arthur, Helmuth, Edgar and Wilbur. Herman is likewise a farmer in the same township, He was born September 28. 1879, and has four children: Robert, Meta. Agnes and a baby. Annie was born January 2, 1882, was married February 16, 1900, to Henry Hardrath. of Unity Wis., and they have six children : Arthur, Roy, Elsie, Alvin, Fred and Bertha. Wilhelm was born April 9. 1884, and Farms in Sibley county, Minnesota. He has two children: Mabel and Ehner. Ida was born September 21, 1886, married Fred Halford, of Minneapolis, and has three children : Russell, Henry and Grace, Hedwig was born December 25, 1888, married Car] Ewert, of Unity, Wis., and has three children: Maynard, Louis and Violet. Gustav was born March 30, 1891. farms in Unity, Wis. He has a son, Herman, and a stepson, Alfred. Carl, born December 13, 1894; Otto, born March 3, 1897, and Fritz, born December 1, 1899, are at home.
William S. Pierce, Sr., at one time a well known farmer of Renville county, was born in Quondago county. New York,
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
February 8, 1841, son of Chandler and Rowena (Handy) Pierce, natives and farmers of New York state. They came to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1856, being carly pioneers of that county, and engaged in farming until 1867, when they retired from farm- ing and located in the village of Sun Prairie, Wis., to spend the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of three children: Emily, a widow of Warren Rockwood, now living in Chicago : William S., of Canada, and Walter, who died in infancy. William S. Pieree attended the district schools of Onondago county and moved with his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he attended the district school and also the high school of Sun Prairie. He attended school in the winter and worked with his father on the farm in the summer until twenty-one years of age. August 5, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Twentieth Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, served three years and took part in all battles and skirmishes, and is proud to state that during his time of service he was never wounded, captured or in prison and never missed a meal. lle was discharged July 15, 1865, at Galveston, Tex., with the rank · of corporal, after which he returned to Dane county, and engaged in farming with his father until 1867, when his father retired from active work on the farm. From 1867 until the fall of 1870 he rented and conducted his father's farm. In the spring of 1871 he moved to Renville county, Minnesota, and May 18 took a homestead of 160 acres of wild prairie land in section 30, Boon Lake township. Here he built a small frame house, broke the land and engaged in farming until 1880, when he entered the employ of the St. Paul Harvester & Machine Works as an expert. He then rented his farm and moved to Hutchinson with his family, building a home on his property which he had previously purchased. He worked in the machine shop during the winter and traveled during the summer. In 1882, while doing expert work for his company up near the Canadian line, he accepted a position with the Crosby Machine Co., with whom he remained two years. Hle then took charge of the John Elliott's machine business at Manitou, in the province of Manitoba, which position he held for seven years. The next year he entered the machine business for himself. The following two years were spent with Patterson Bros .. and then he went to Hartney, where he and his son, H. C., built a factory and engaged in the manufacture of wood and poreclain pumps until 1897, when he returned to Intehinson. AAfter being there two years he entered the employ of the United States government and for two and a half years drove the rural route ont of Hutchinson. He then traded part of his farm and his Hutchinson property for land in southern Mani- toba. In 1906 they all moved to Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada, where they remained until 1911, when they sold their property,
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