The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 33

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 986

USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 33

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William A. Loock was born Jan. 23, 1875, and received his early education in Wisconsin, being twelve years of age when the family came to Crooks township. As he grew to manhood he took charge of the old home tract farm of 240 acres. He remod- eled the house and built a new barn 40 by 60 feet with a base- ment. He raises a good grade of stock, and also some fruit. He is a members of the Farmers' Elevator Company of Danube. Ile has also held several township offices, having been a member of the school board and township supervisor for twelve years. Mr. Looek was married in 1899 to Louisa Bade, born in Waseca county, daughter of Frederick and Josephine (Wiekworth) Bade, both natives of Germany. Iler l'ather was brought to this country when an infant and his parents settled in Wisconsin. He was born in Germany Oct. 24, 1858, and his wife was born Dec. 13, 1861. They had four children, Mr. and Mrs. Loock have five children : Regina, Anthony, Gerald, Adelheid and one child who died in infancy.

Herman Lindeman, For many years a resident of Renville county and later of Redwood county, was born in Le Sueur county. this state, Nov. 26, 1862, and came to Renville county with his parents in 1868. loeating in Beaver Falls township. In 1885 he purchased a farm in Henryville township, and to the original 160 aeres added until he owned 320 aeres. In 1892 he moved to North Redwood, as agent for Nelson Tenny & Co. Later he became interested in the Inmber and grain business at Danube. He died Aug. 1, 1901. His widow later returned to North Red- wood, where she owns a pleasant home which she built in 1904.

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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY

Mr. Lindeman was married March 19, 1885, to Martha Shoe- maker, who was born May 18, 1863. They had eight ehildren : Otto, Esther, Ella, August, Arthur, Paul, Dewey and Minnie. Otto was born March 11. 1886, and now lives in New Avon town- ship, Redwood county. He married JJulia Ash. Esther was born June 15, 1888, and married Lonis Garttner, a baker of Pueblo, Colorado. Ella was born Sept. 27, 1889, and is now principal of the Olivia High school. August was born April 26. 1890, and lives in Danube, this eounty. Arthur was born Sept. 29, 1893, and is now a student in the University of Minnesota. Paul, born Jan. 28. 1895; Dewey, born June 26, 1897. and Minnie, born Dec. 1, 1900, are at home. The family faith is that of the Evangelical Association.

Leo Claude Vader, a well-known Civil Engineer of Olivia, was born Dec. 13. 1881. in Seranton. Iowa, the son of John Wesley and Cynthia (Clopton) Vader. He received his early education in the schools of his loeality and later graduated from the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, having taken a course in eivil engineering. He had seven years' experience in drainage work in Iowa, both as contraetor and engineer. In the fall of 1913, he was appointed as assistant drainage engineer by the United States Department of Agriculture, but did not report for duty, after considering the unsanitary conditions of drainage engineering work in the South Atlantic States, where they ex- peeted to send him. In February, 1915. he located in Olivia, having been engaged in county drainage engineering work in Renville county sinee that time. Mr. Vader was married August 16. 1911, to Lizzie Harmon, born Sept. 9, 1882, in Tama, Iowa, daughter of Alphens B. and Lillie (Jacobs) Harmon.

John Wesley Vader was born in Illinoi in 1859 and is now living in Towa. IIe is a Republican in polities and took active interest in the affairs of that party, being county recorder of Greene county Iowa, for two terms. In 1879 he was married to Cynthia Clopton, born Jan. 29, 1856, in Jefferson, lowa, the wedding taking place at that place. Five children were born to this union : Leo Claude ; John, a farmer in lowa : Clara B., now Mrs. M. A. Cox, of Iowa ; Asenath and Adelbert, who are at home.

Louis A. Matzdorf, hardware dealer, of Olivia, was born June 20, 1870, in Newton township, Marquette county, Wis., the son of William J. and Augusta (Kluens) Matzdorf. In 1888 he pur- chased 120 acres in the southeast quarter of section 19, and 160 aeres in the northwest quarter of section 18, Preston Lake town- ship, where he remained until 1904, when he entered the hard- ware business at Buffalo Lake. Five years later he sold this business and removed to Olivia in 1909, working in Heins & Byers hardware store three years. In 1912 he purchased an in- terest in the Olivia Hardware Company and is now devoting his

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IHISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY

time to this business. He was village treasurer of Buffalo Lake four years and constable six years. On Sept. 3, 1896, Mr. Matz- dorf was married to Mrs. Mary A. (Wallner) Brigger, born Nov. 15. 1871. at Minnesota Lake, Faribault county, the daughter of John and Anna (Tutz) Wallner. They have two children : Esther, born April 20, 1897; Irene, born Ang. 26, 1903. John Wallner was born in Austria, came to this country and died Nov. 11. 1896, at the age of 54 years. Ile married Anna Tutz, who is now 70 years old. She lives at Buffalo Lake.

William J. Matzdorf, born in Germany, Dec. 25, 1826, came to America in 1848, settling in Wisconsin, where he bought eighty acres. Hle married Angusta Klmens, born in Germany, Sept. 11, 1831, the ceremony being performed in 1860. Mrs. Matzdorf came to America in 1855 with two brothers and is now living in Buffalo Lake at the ripe old age of 84 years. In 1861 Mr. Matzdorf en- listed in the Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, from which he received an honorable discharge after serving four years and nine months. Ini 1872 he settled at Howard Lake, Wright county, Minn., where he bought 80 acres of land, remain- ing there until 1874, when he went to Preston Lake township, Renville county, where he homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 20, on which he remained until his death Dee. 23, 1910, at. the age of 84 years.

John W. Wordes was born in Holland Jan. 15. 1820, and was there reared. In 1847, both his parents being dead. he boarded a sailing vessel for America. landing in the new world after a long and tiresome voyage of seventy-two days. At Albany. New York, May 19. 1849, he was married to Johana Bloomers, who was born in Holland July 20, 1827, daughter of Gerrit W. and Johanna Bloomers, who brought her, and the other five children in the family, Grace, Tobias. Gerrit. Cynthia and lane, to America on the same sailing vessel that her husband came on. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wordes lived for some two years on a farm near Albany. N. Y. There their home burned. entailing a heavy loss. But they had enough money to buy from the gov- erment at $2 an aere forty acres of timberland in section 36. Lima township, Sheboygan county. Wisconsin, to which tract they moved with their two children Jane and Sena. A large enough space was cleared to erect a cabin and in addition to developing this place, Mr. Wordes worked out among the Farmers for about two years. to earn money with which to get a start on his farm. Hle cleared up the 40 acres and added more till he had 100 acres. In time he built a modern house. For a few years he served on the school board. Ile helped to organize the Baptist church in Lima township and was one of its officers. the early services of that denomination being held in his cabin. One of the many happy events in the life of Mr. and Mrs. Wordes was the cele-

THE NEW PUBLIC LILA

ANTAL, LENOX AN' TIDEN YOUNOATI

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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY

bration of their golden wedding anniversary, May 19, 1899. They were the parents of nine children : Jane, born March 1, 1850, and died at the age of twelve years; Sena, born April 26, 1852; llenry W., born Jan. 31, 1855; Johanna, born April 18, 1857, and died Nov. 8. 1888; John, born Nov. 6, 1861 : Lena, born Oct. 31, 1863; Jennie, born Sept. 10, 1865: Minnie. born May 27, 1867, and died Sept. 1. 1913; and William, born March 31. 1873. lohn W. Wordes died Feb. 6, 1900. Mrs. Johanna (Bloomers) Wordes lives in Sheboygan county, Wis., with one of her daughters.

John George Wordes, a thrifty farmer of Crooks township, was born Nov. 6. 1861, in Lima township, Sheboygan county, Wis- cousin, son of John W. and Johanna (Bloomers) Wordes. He was reared on the home farm and attended a primitive school in a small frame building with home-made seats in district 11 in his native township. In 1887. he left his father's farm and came to Minnesota, locating on section 7. Crooks township, where he had the previous year obtained 160 acres of railroad land at $9 an acre. On this wild prairie land he constructed a rude dugout and began farming with a team of oxen and a team of horses. He broke the land, gradually developed the place, in time erected snitable buiklings, and added eighty acres more. Later, how- ever, he sold this farm of 240 acres and moved to his present place in section 29. (rooks township, where he purchased 160 acres of partly improved land to which he has since added 160 aeres more. This place he has brought to a high stage of enltivation. He has built a modern home and commodious barns and outbuildings, has installed numerous improvements. and has beantified the place with trees and shrubbery. He successfully carried on gen- eral farming, raises a good grade of stock and specializes in Hol- stein cattle. He also has attained good results in fruit culture. Hle is a prominent man in his township and carries on farming along the latest improved modern methods. Mr. Wordes has held the office of township elerk for twenty-six years and has been a member of the school board for twenty years. He is a director of the Farmers' Elevator Company of Renville. He is also a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church at Renville.

Mr. Wordes was united in marriage to Jane Christina Brum- mels, born in Holland, Nov. 15, 1867, daughter of Jolm A. and Elizabeth (Ongena) Brummels. This family came to America in 1869, coming to Sheboygan county. Wisconsin, bringing with them their children. Jane and William. The father died about three years after they came to this country and the mother mar- ried Henry Steen. To this union were born the following chil- dren : Alzene (deceased). Elizabeth, Hattie and Mary. The mother died April 3. 1912. at the age of sixty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. John Wordes have the following children: William Albert, born Feb. 4, 1888, is a farmer in section 27, Crooks town-

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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY

ship. He was married to Hattie L. Jacobs. George, born Jan. 14, 1890, is farming in Emmet township. He married Winnifred Mc- Broom, and has two children Gordon E., born June 1, 1911, and Jane A., born April 29, 1913. Elizabeth J. was born Nov. 20, 1894; Arthur H., born May 16, 1897 ; Lester J., Oct. 17, 1901; and John T., born June 5, 1905.

Oliver T. Sunde, the efficient and popular sheriff of Renville county, was born in Albion township. Brown county, Minnesota, Dee. 23, 1879, son of Torkel T. and Ragnhild (Hyne) Sunde. He attended the district schools, completed his studies at the St. Anthony school and in early life learned the buttermaking trade at Grandburg, Wis. For a time he was at the Albion Creamery in Brown county, but in 1892 he came to Renville county and became manager of the Renville Creamery Company. He next interested himself in the hardware business at Renville, the firm being known as Sanders & Company. Five years later he sold his interests. In 1912 he was elected sheriff of Renville eounty and succeeded himself in 1914 for a four-year term. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Olivia. Sheriff Sunde has made a most admirable officer and his methods have won the highest commendation. Affable and approachable to his friends, sympathetic with all who are in trouble, and a courageous, active and busy officer, his popularity grows con- tinually. Mr. Sunde was married Feb. 23, 1904, to Laura Barber, of Yellow Medicine county. daughter of Thomas C. and Sarah Barber, early settlers of Echo, Yellow Medieine county. Mr. and Mrs. Sunde have one child, Myron, born Dec. 13, 1906.

Torkel Sunde, born March 1, 1837. and Ragnhild (Hyne) Sunde, born Sept. I, 1845, parents of Sheriff O. T. Sunde, were natives of Norway, where they were married. They came to America with two children, Thora and Anna, in 1868. and set- tled in Albion township. Brown county, where they engaged in farming. Their nearest market was Mankato from which place the father carried home heavy flour sacks on his back. He en- dured all the hardships of the early pioneer and became a lead- ing spirit in the community. Ile died Aug. 29. 1889, and his wife died Feb. 8. 1886. Their children were Thora, who died Jan. 3, 1915: Anna, who died in 1882, Oliver. Theodore, Alfred, Thalia, Clara, and Karn, who died at the age of four years.

Warren H. Heins, a well-known business man of Olivia, was born in Olivia May 2, 1885, the son of Peter W. and Margaret Patterson Heins. He graduated from the Olivia High school and in 1909 from Hamline university, at llamline, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. The next year he spent at Columbia uni- versity in New York City, where he received the degree of Bach- elor of Science. The next year, he assumed management of Heins & Byers hardware business, of which firm he was a member.

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During this time he was also viee president of the Peoples' First National bank of Olivia. He was eashier of this bank during the year 1914. The next year he sold his holdings in this bank and purchased C. A. Heins' interest in the hardware business and in the two large farms owned by Heins & Byers. Mr. Heins also owns a hardware business and buildings in Renville. He and his brother C. A. Heins own a 560-acre farm just west of Olivia, where they specialize in Shorthorn cattle. In polities Mr. Heins is a Republican. His fraternal affiliation is with Olivia lodge, No. 220, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Heins was married Oet. 5, 1911, to Myrtle M. Prosser, a resident of Spring Valley, Minn., the daugh- ter of L. Hobart Prosser and Emmeretta (Case) Prosser. They have one ehild, Hugh Prosser Heins, born Aug. 19, 1913. Both Mr. and Mrs. Heins are members of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh.

James Hurley, a pioneer resident of Bandon township, was born in Ireland in 1833. He eame to America in 1841, settling in New York state. Twenty-five years later he came to Minne- sota and settled at Rochester and in 1872 eame to Renville county. He still owns his farm in Bandon but for several years past he has resided in Bird Island, where three of his sons reside.

Herman C. Becker, popular and successful Olivia druggist, was born in Montgomery, Minn., Aug. 27, 1874, son of Frank and Josephine (Richter) Becker. He became thoroughly familiar in the dispensing of drugs while employed by his brother in his native town, and at the age of twenty-three came to Olivia, and engaged in his present business. He carries a good stoek of goods and is widely known for his honorable dealing. A Re- publican in polities, he did good service as a member of the village eouneil of Olivia in 1905-06. His fraternal affiliations are with A. O. U. W. All in all, Mr. Beeker is a useful eitizen and has had an important part in the upbuilding of the village. On July 3, 1901, Mr. Becker married Blanche Rocek, of Olivia, born Feb. 20, 1875, in New Prague, Minn., the daughter of Anton and Katherine (Petriehka) Roeek. They have one chill, Katherine, born in July, 1905, now attending school at Olivia.

Frank Becker, born in 1845 in Germany, came to America with his parents in 1852 and went to Chicago, leaving there in a short time for Montgomery, Min., where he opened a general store which he conducted for thirty-five years, retiring in 1912. IIe is still living in the town where the best years of his life were spent. He was married at Montgomery, in 1866, to Josephine Richter who was born in Germany in 1844, and came to Ameriea at an early age with her parents who settled on a farm in Le- Sueur county, this state. She died in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Becker had four children, all living; William, druggist, of Montgomery ; Herman, druggist, of Olivia: Frank, druggist of Parker, South

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Dakota : Lena, now Mrs. Henry Perron, of Timber Lake South Dakota.

Anton Rocek married Katherine Petrichka at New Prague, Min. Both were born in Bohemia and came to America when quite young. Mr. Rocek spent some years farming and moved to Olivia in 1895 where he engaged in business, retiring in 1905. Mrs. Rocek died in the same year that he ended his business career. There were five children: Fred. John and Bessie, of Olivia : Henry, who is dead; Blanche, the wife of Herman C. Beeker.

John E. Dennstedt, a popular retired farmer of Olivia. was born in Germany in 1825. In 1847 he sailed for Canada, where he purchased land and lived until 1859 when he came to this country and settled in Fillmore county, Minn. There he bought 240 acres of land which he greatly improved. This property he sold in 1873, when he came to Renville county and bought 320 acres of raw land in Winfield township. This he improved, build- ing barns and a six-room house. He added to his original hold- ings until he had 440 aeres. He was a leading stock raiser and always possessed several fine mules. In 1908 he sold the farm and retired, moving to Olivia where he bought 32 acres on which he erected a fine nine-room house. Great improvements were made on the grounds and the place is now one of the finest in Olivia-in fact, it is in every sense of the word a little paradise. Mr. Dennstedt has always been very active and now at the age of 90 years is constantly busy around his home in which he and his wife take a keen interest. He is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in political work so far as the holding of office is concerned, although he has had many opportunities had he chosen to take advantage of them. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Dennstedt has been twice married. ITis first wife he wedded in Canada. She was Minnie Krush and bore six children: Charles, now living in Fill- more county : John, of Spring Valley, Minn. : George, of Norwood; Eliza, the wife of Henry Felir, of Olivia; Caroline, now Mrs. Isaac Wickerman, of Fillmore county : Kate, the wife of Gotlieb Beck, of Olivia. Mrs. Minnie Dennstedt died in 1866 at Jasper, Pipestone county, Minn. Mr. Dennstedt married again on Oct. 14, 1868, his second wife being Johanna Kleimenhagen of Fillmore county. She was born in Germany, Feb. 8, 1847, and came to this country in 1866, her father, brothers and sisters eoming later, her mother having died in Germany. She bore twelve children : William. who lives in North Dakota : Amelia, now Mrs. Ole Em- men, of Minneapolis; Otto, of Albert Lea; Henry (deceased) ; Henrietta, who is dead; Chester, of North Dakota; Martha, now Mrs. Arthur O. Hilster. of St. Paul: Sarah. the wife of J. Me- Corquodale, of Olivia: Adaline, now Mrs. Otto Gerde, of Minne-

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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY

apolis; Albert, who lives at Albert Lea; Aaron, who lives in North Dakota ; Lucile, who is teaching school at Minneapolis.

Louis P. Mahler, the popular jeweler of Olivia, was born March 5, 1876, at Le Suenr, Minn., son of Dedrich and Charlotte (Wagner) Mahler. Ile received his education in the schools of Le Sueur and at the age of sixteen began learning the business in which he later engaged for himself. When eighteen years of age he entered the employ of E. R. Smith, a jeweler of Le Sueur, with whom he remained for two years. Then he worked with T. G. Mahler for five years. In 1899 he came to Olivia and began the jewelry business in which he has been engaged ever since. His venture was a success from the start and from a small begin- ning he has progressed steadily toward a prosperous business until he now conducts one of the leading jewelry stores in the county, carrying a full line of good goods. In 1914 he remodeled his store. It is now equipped with mahogany-finished wall cases, shelves and showeases with French plate mirrors, and every faeil- ity for showing the stock to the best advantages. An artistic cut- glass room finished in mahogany faeing with white enameled back ground, and heavy glass shelving with large mirrors in the sides and back, is found in the rear of the store for the display of the fine line of eut glass. He does all kinds of watch, elock and jew- elry repairing and engraving, and is also a fine optieian having a special department for this work. Mr. Mahler is a Republican in politics and is actively interested in the affairs of the com- munity. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonie and the I. O. O. F. lodges of Olivia and has held all the chairs of the latter lodge. June 6, 1906, Mr. Mahler was married to Anna Me- Corquodale, of Olivia, born Jan. 15, 1882. daughter of Augustus and Helen (Ross) McCorquodale.

Dedrich Mahler was born in Germany in 1841 and eame to America in 1857, locating at Le Sueur, Minn., where he became very successful as a builder and contraetor. He was revered and respected, and died in 1913, sincerely mourned. He was married in 1867 to Charlotte Wagner, born in 1847 at Cincinnati, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Mary Wagner. She died April 16, 1892, at Le Sueur. There were ten children in the family : Henry, who represents one of New York's business houses in Minneapolis; Theodore, who conducts a jewelry business at Le Sueur ; William, who is engaged in newspaper work in Springfield, Minn .; Louis, an Olivia jeweler; Emma, now Mrs. G. HI. Probett, of St. Paul; Charles, of Paseo, Wash., who is in the lumber business ; Ida, now Mrs. F. J. Linn, whose husband is associated with the Minne- apolis Bedding Co .; Rollin, who is in the Jewelry business at Belle Plaine, Minn .; Laura, a Minneapolis milliner ; and Osear, of Pen- dleton, Oregon, who is in the lumber business.

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William H. Cheney, for many years a prominent farmer of Beaver Falls township, was born in Attica, New York, Dec. 28, 1834, son of John and Analiza (Gray) Cheney. John Cheney was born in Vermont. in 1807, moved as a young man to New York state, and in 1842 located near Prospeet, Wisconsin, where he lived on one place for more than sixty years. He devoted his life to farming but was also a financier to a considerable extent, loaning money to his neighbors to help develop their farms. He died in 1904 at the age of eighty-seven years. Analiza (Gray) Cheney was born in eastern New York state, in pioneer days, having first seen the light of day in 1809. She lived through many stirring seenes and witnessed many interesting sights, in- chiding the Jannehing of the first steamboat on the Great Lakes, at Black Rock, now a part of Buffalo, New York. Her aunt, Mrs. Lovejoy, perished when Buffalo was burned in 1812. Analiza (Gray) Cheney died Dec. 28, 1842. In the family there were four children: Francis M., who died in 1907; Teressa C., who died in 1893: William Il .. the subject of this sketch ; and Cynthia M., the widow of Henry W. Draper, of Warsaw, Minn. William Il. Cheney attended the publie schools of Prospect, Wis .. and re- mained at home until twenty-one years of age, devoting his time for several years to buying grain and milling. In 1855 he came to Minnesota, located at Faribault, and farmed in Warsaw town- ships. During the war he was in the Quartermaster's department, engaged in detail work and carpentry. After the war he again took up farming in Warsaw township. In 1885 he came to Beaver Falls township, this county, and secured a farm of 592 acres bor- dering on the village of Beaver Falls. He improved and developed this place and built up a fine farm. Here he successfully carried on general farming until 1900, when he turned the place over to his son John and moved to Olivia, where he purchased five aeres of land and erected a home. This home he still retains though he now lives at Boise, Idaho. While in the township he was a promi- nent citizen, and served on the township board as supervisor and as chairman. At one time he was vice president of the Farmers' State Bank of Sacred Heart, in which he is still a stockholder. In addition to his property in Olivia, he owns 72 acres in Beaver Falls township and 160 acres in Wright county.

Mr. Cheney was married lan. 1, 1866, to Isabelle Wood, who bore him three children. Mattie, John and Cynthia. Mattie is now Mrs. F. B. Kinyon, of Boise, Idaho. She and her husband have an adopted daughter. Margaret. John operates the farm in Beaver Falls township. Cynthia died at the age of twenty- one. On May 16, 1887, Mr. Cheney married Margaret W. Clem- ents, who died April 21, 1911.

Julius Heinecke, now retired and living at Olivia, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Jan. 9, 1852, son of John Adolph

MR. AND MRS. JULIUS HEINECKE

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The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 33

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. Number of Pages: 986

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Renville County Pioneer Association
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 986