The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 45

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 45

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Otto E. Schroeder, of Danube, was born July 23, 1888, near New Ulm, Minn., son of Julius and Annie ( Wilde) Schroeder. On graduating from the school at Danube he entered the National Business College at Minneapolis, from which he graduated in 1909. Returning to Danube he entered the employ of Otto Schmidt, dealer in hardware. II. F. Bruss later purchased this business and in 1913 Mr. Schroeder bought a third interest in it,

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his partners being Elmer Fisher and H. F. Bruss. He is a Repub- lican and a member of the Evangelical church. Mr. Schroeder was married June 18, 1913, to Cora Reek, born May 30, 1891, daughter of Herman Zaske, her birthplace being Renville county and her home at the time of her marriage Dannbe.

Julus Schroeder was born in Wisconsin and married Annie Wilde, born in 1867 in Germany, having come to America with her parents and settled in Wisconsin. Both of these people were farmers' children. Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder settled in Renville county on 160 acres of land in Flora towuship. Selling the farm in 1900 Mr. Schroeder opened a country store which he operated for three years, selling it in 1904, when he moved to Dannbe and entered the hardware business. This business he sold three years later to Otto Schmidt, when he retired from active business. He still resides in Danube with his family. Seven children came to the home, three of whom, Alice, Elda and Viola, living with their parents ; Ida, now Mrs. F. W. Prodehl, of Renville county; Fred and Matha (deceased), and Otto E., of Danube.

Herman Zaske was born in Germany. He and his wife both came to America at an early age and are now living at Danube. Mr. Zaske pursued farming in Renville eounty for many years and now owns 320 acres in Troy township. He was the father of ten children, all of whom are living. Stella. Sarah. Pearl, Oscar, Gertrude and Lilah are living at home. George and Ed- ward are on the farm; Walter is a farmer; Cora is now Mrs. Otto E. Schroeder.

Frederick A. Bade, the efficient secretary and manager of the Danube Mercantile Co., was born in Germany, Oct. 24, 1858, son of August and Ernestine (Montei) Bade. The father was born in Germany, June 4, 1829, brought his family to America in 1858, lived in Green Lake county, Wis., a few years and in 1867 eame to Freedom, Minn., where he bought eighty acres of land, to which he added from time to time until he owned 200 acres, and became a very successful farmer. He died on his birthday, June 4, 1888. His wife was born Oct. 4, 1834, and died on her birth- day, Oct. 4, 1898. Aside from Frederick A. there was in the fam- ily a daughter, Amelia, born Ang. 4, 1864, in Green Lake, Wis., now the wife of C. F. Karth, of Duluth. Frederick A. Bade re- ceived a good education and remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when he left home to carve his fortunes in the world. He was employed in mercantile establishments in Du- luth and other places until the death of his father in 1888. when he returned home to look after his mother's interests. In 1890 he came to Renville, in this county, and opened a general store. Three years later he sold out and engaged in the drygoods and show business in Duluth, where he remained until 1905, when he came to Danube and established the Danube Cash store. Two

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years later he purchased a building and moved to the new loca- tion. Five years later he lost everything in a fire. However, he at onee erected a new building and opened for business onee more. In 1912 he consolidated with Beek & Mackledt, under the firm name of the Danube Mercantile Co., Inc., with Mr. Bade in his present position. The store has made good progress and has a large trade from both village and country. Mr. Bade is well known throughout the community, and has been mayor of Dan- ube. He is especially prominent in the work of the German Lutheran church. Ile has held various offices in this church, has been active in its progress, and is now the Bible class teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. Bade was married March 3, 1882, to Josephine Weskworth, who was born in Waseca county, Min., Dec. 7. 1861, and this union has been blessed with three children : Elizabeth, August and William. Elizabeth was born April 7, 1883, married Lilliam Loock, lives in Crooks township, this county, and has four children. August was born April 7, 1887. He married Anna Heach, and has one child, Ruby. William was born Aug. 2, 1904, and is attending school in Duluth.

Mrs. Bade's father was born in Germany, married there, brought his family to America in 1856. His wife died in Janu- ary, 1898. There were five children in the family. Josephine, the fourth child, now Mrs. Frederick A. Bade is the only one living. Minnied died in 1897, Fred in 1914, Martin in 1907 and August in 1878.

Henry J. Stange, Danube, was born Sept. 6, 1889, in this county, the son of John and Ulrieka (Brown) Stange. He at- tended school at Renville, and on finishing the course there went to work for Mayer Wolpert & Co., storekeepers at Renville, with whom he remained seven years. Leaving there he went to Minne- apolis where he entered the National Business College. Coming to Danube in 1912 he purchased an interest in the Danube Mer- cantile Company of which he became secretary and treasurer. Later he was made vice president. This company owns the Dan- ube Meat Market and the Danube Produce Company, Mr. Stange being manager of the latter concern. A Republican in politics, he is now serving his community as recorder. ITis faith is that of the Evangelical church. Mr. Stange was married Sept. 3, 1913, to Martha H. Summerfield of Renville county, born at Danube. the daughter of August and Otellia Summerfield. One child, LeRoy Edmund, has been the result of this union.

John Stange was born in Germany in 1844. Ile came to Amer- iea in 1869, settled in Wisconsin and was married there, in 1870, to Ulrieka Brown, removing to Renville county soon after where he homesteaded eighty acres in Troy township. Ile became quite well off and at one time owned 800 acres of land, the most of which he has divided among his children. Ile began life in Ren-

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ville county with so little of this world's goods that it was neees- sary for him to do his plowing and hauling with a horse and a cow hitched together. Ile has property at Danube and is a stock holder in the Danube Mercantile Company. He and Mrs. Stange reside in Danube, two of his sons, William and Christ, residing on the farm which they are working. There were seven children in the family : Ernest, dead; William, on the farm; John. who lives at Havelock, North Dakota; Christ, on the farm; Frank, of Havelock, North Dakota; David, who resides at home and Henry J.

August Summerfield was born in Germany. He married Otel- lia Breitkrutz. They are now living at Renville, Minn. Mr. Sum- merfield came to Renville county and at one time was owner of the land on which Danube now stands. As a farmer he was emi- nently successful and now owns a farm of 320 aeres which is worked by two of his sons. There were eight children in the Summerfield family, and three of the daughters married three of the John Stange sons. Emma is now Mrs. John Stange; Robert is a farmer in Renville county. William and Henry are on their father's farm. Lydia married Frank Stange. Otto lives in Mon- tana. Martha is now Mrs. Henry Stange. Esther is at home with her parents.

Gunder Sorenson was born in Norway, Feb. 5, 1847, son of For and Carrie (Olson) Sorenson, who were married in Norway and came to America in 1867, bringing with them four children, Ole, Gunder, Anna and Carrie. They were five weeks on the water and seven weeks from Christiania to Milwaukee. Soren, one of the children, bad come to Milwaukee in 1866. The family stayed in Dodge county for two years and then moved to Mime- sota in 1869, coming to Mankato and later to Renville county, where Gunder obtained a homestead in seetion 2, Sacred Heart township, and the father secured one in the same section. It was all wild prairie land and located on the old government road. Gunder Sorenson made a dugout where the family lived and later built a small log house, part of the present house. Tor Soren- son lived here until his death thirty-five years ago at the age of sixty-five years and his wife died seven years ago at the age of ninety-five years. They were members of the Norwegian Luth- eran church and helped organize the first church of that denomi- nation. Gunder and his three brothers owned a team of oxen to- gether and had one wagon. They began breaking up the land, hiring a man to help them and then they broke up land for the neighbors. It was four years before each of them could afford to have a team of oxen. The father and son together owned 208 aeres of land, and raised good stock and improved their land. Mr. Sorenson is a shareholder in the Renville Farmers' Elevator Company. Ile is also a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church

GUNDER SORENSON AND FAMILY

THIS YORK Virgil LIBRARY

ASTOR LENOX AND TILDEN SUNDATIONS

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and has been its president for many years. He has helped build three churches, one at Renville, one at Saered Heart and one at Updahl. Mr. Sorenson was married in 1872 to Mary Rice of Norway. born in 1846 and died in 1878, leaving three children, Clara. now Mrs. Ole Peterson, Tillie, and Mary (deceased). Mr. Sorenson married again to Serena Severson, of Norway, born Sept. 22, 1833, and came to America in 1879.

Thomas Olson, early pioneer and one of the thrifty and pros- perous farmers of Sacred Heart township, was born in Norway, April 8. 1840, son of Ole and Gurine Kolien. There were eight children in the family: Margaret, Thomas, Helliek. Gulliek. Peter, Sven and Stein, who were twins, and Sigrid. The family left Norway in 1858 on a sailing vessel and after thirteen weeks came to America. They had intended to come to lowa, but meet- ing some friends on the boat who were going to Houston county they decided to go with them. They left Quebee by way of the St. Lawrence river and the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes and came to Milwaukee. From there they went by rail to, Prairie du Chien. going from there by steamboat to La Crosse. When they came to Houston they farmed on shares the first two years ; then the father bought some railroad land in the valley near Houston and built a log house. Ife had a team of oxen and began farm- ing, remaining here until 1866, when they came to Renville county. Thomas pre-empted a claim of 160 aeres in section 5, in Sacred Heart. The parents took up a claim adjoining. A sod dugout was built on the father's place and Thomas stayed with them while his place was getting started. He built a log house with a sod roof on his own place, using split logs for the floor. He hewed tables and bedsteads and shelves ont of split logs. The nearest markets were Redwood Falls and New Ulm, which were reached by ox team. The first wheat was thrashed by flail on the ground and part of it was stamped by the oxen, the crop being about 200 bushels in all. He took this to Redwood Falls and the miller said there was ice in it and gave him barely 100 pounds of flour for it. He was a very ambitious man and im- proved his place and gradually increased it till now he has 680 acres of land where he lives and over 2,000 acres of land in vari- ous places. The log cabin has been replaced by better houses. the last house being a very fine modern building. He started out with a yoke of oxen, a cow, a breaking plow and one wagon and now he has fine modern machinery and raises a fine breed of stock, specializing in Red Duroe hogs. He is regarded as the most prosperous farmer in the county. Mr. Olson has been a member of the school board and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and was one of its first trustees. He is a member of the Farmers' Elevator at Sacred Heart. Mr. Olson has never as- pired to public offices but is well liked and is well known for his

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hospitality. In 1872 Mr. Olson was married to Gorra Knudson, who died in 1877 at the age of thirty-five. There were three children one of whom died in infancy. Those living are Jose- phine, who is a teacher, and Ingeborg, who married Bernt Olson and lives at Sacred Heart. Five years later he married Anna Larson, of Norway, who came to America in 1881. She was born Nov. 22, 1852, and was the daughter of Lars and Ingeborg (Leer- ing). Six children were born to this second marriage: Louis, Olena, Tim, a bookkeeper in St. Paul; Marie, a teacher; Ililda and Henry.

Gustav P. Mangerud, a leading citizen of Sacred Heart, was born in Sacred Heart township, this county, Feb. 14, 1872, son of Peter Martinson and Anna (Dalager) Martinson, the sturdy pioneers. Gustav P. Mangernd was reared on the home farm, and remained on the home farm until the age of twenty-three. In the meantime, by attending the district schools and by much reading of worthy books he had acquired a good education, and to further perfect this mental training he then entered the Will- mar Seminary at Willmar, Minnesota, graduating in 1895. He then entered the furniture business at Granite Falls for three years. He found, however, that he needed outdoor life, and accordingly purchased a farm of 160 aeres in llawk Creek town- ship. Ile also purchased 200 acres in seetion 24, Hawk Creek township, and seetion 19, Saered Heart township. These farms he still owns and rents. On them he has made many improvements and successfully carried on general farming for many years. In 1910 he came to Saered Heart village and engaged in the land, loan and insurance business. He has built up a big business and enjoys the confidence and high respeet of all who know him. There being no attorney in Sacred Heart, and Mr. Mangerud being well versed in the law, his services are much in demand in giving legal advice and in drawing legal papers. Mr. Man- gerud is doing efficient work as clerk of the village of Sacred Heart. He served as clerk of the school board for several years, and for several years was superintendent of the Sunday school of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Sacred Ileart. lle has also served in many other positions of private trust and publie honor. Mr. Mangerud was married July 13, 1898, to Emma Edman, born in East Granite Falls, Min., Aug. 18, 1873, daughter of Edward and Lena Edman, natives of Sweden. The father was killed on the railroad and the mother still lives in East Granite Falls.

Peter Martinson (Mangerud), a worthy pioneer farmer and blacksmith of Sacred Heart township, was born in Norway, in 1840, and came to America in 1866. After living in St. Peter, Minn., one year he came to Renville county and homesteaded 160 acres in section 9, Sacred Heart township. He built a black- smith shop, and did smithing work for the pioneers, at the same

THE NEW PUBLIC LIL : 1

ASTOR. LENTI TILDEN FOL ".

ERNEST SCHUMACHER AND FAMILY, 1897

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time attending to the work of developing his farm. He and his family underwent all the privations and hardships of pioneer life and had their part in the general upbuilding of the eom- munity. He was killed in a runaway accident Sept. 22, 1886. Peter Martinson (Mangerud) was married at St. Peter, in 1867. to Anna Dalager, who was born in Norway, May 9, 1842, eame to America in 1866, and now lives in Sacred Heart village. Their children are: Lena, Gustav, Hannah, Alfred. Marie and Peter. all of whom are living.

Ernst Schumacher, now deceased, was born in Germany, Oct. 7, 1846, sou of Gustav and Marie Schumacher, likewise natives of Germany. He attended the public schools of his fatherland. underwent a course of military training, grew to manhood and learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1872 he came to America and located in Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade as a cobbler. Nov. 7, 1874, he married Johanna Radiske, who was born in Ger- many, Sept. 20, 1853, danghter of Frederick and Charlotte (Wilke) Radiske, natives of Germany. A son, Ernest, was born Oct. 13, 1876; a daughter, Ilelen, June 16, 1878; and another daughter, Emma, April 4, 1880. In 1881, Mr. Schumacher bronght his family to Minnesota. After living six weeks in New Uhm. in Brown county, they moved to the village of Courtland, in Nicollet county, and there he conducted a shoestore for some eighteen months. While there, a daughter, Lonisa, was born March 1, 1883. In 1883 he purchased 160 aeres of land in see- tion 27, Cairo township, Renville county. A few acres of this land had been broken and a log cabin had been built, into which Mr. Schumacher and his family moved. He proceeded to break and develop his land, planted a grove and shade trees and, in time, developed a fine farm, and there followed general diversi- fied farming until his death, Nov. 10. 1902. He was a kind and loving husband and father and a considerate and helpful neigh- bor. The farm is known and registered as "Ideal Stock Farm, " and since the death of Mr. Schumacher the farm has been most successfully managed by Mrs. Schumacher and her sons. In 1903 a fine modern home was ereeted, 18 by 26, with an ell, 18 by 20, and a kitchen, 10 by 20 feet. It is a two-story house with full basement, seven rooms and hot air heat. In 1890 the large barn was built, 40 by 72, for the housing of stock and hay, ac- eommodating about fifty head of stoek and having a capacity of fifty tons of hay. The family raise Holstein cattle, Chester White swine, Barred Rock chickens, Bronze turkeys and Pearl guineas. The large silo, 14 by 40 feet, has a capacity of 140 tons of en- silage. In 1914, at the Benson eorn show, they were awarded first prize for Renville county on a single ear of corn. They have also a good orehard containing apples of several varieties, of plums and compass eherries. and an abundance of small fruit

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and berries. In 1911, Mrs. Schumacher purchased a 1912 model, five-passenger Studebaker automobile, one of the first automo- biles in the community. This adds much to the comfort and pleasure of the family, as well as to the usefulness of the farm. The younger children were all born on the farm. The complete list of children is as follows: Ernest, born Oet. 13, 1876, now a carpenter at Effington, South Dakota ; Helen, born June 16, 1878, now Mrs. Carl Sehirrmeister, of Closter, New Jersey ; Emma, born April 4, 1880. at home: Louisa, born March 1, 1883, Mrs. Wm. Becherer, of Colby, Wis .; Pauline, born Oet. 17, 1884, wife of Theodore Kaegbein, a contractor of Fairfax ; Otto W., born April 14, 1886. a farmer near Ft. Ridgely; G. Adolph, born June 9, 1890, and Albert, born July 28, 1894, who are on the home farm. The family are all members of and contributors to the German Lutheran church of Fairfax.

Gilbert S. Weaver, V. S., connected with the Bureau of Ani- mal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, as in- spector in charge, of the llog Cholera Demonstration Station at Olivia, was born near London, in Madison county, Ohio, March 31, 1886, son of Joseph and Luemma (Smith) Weaver, and grand- son of Abram Weaver and Joseph Smith, who came respectively from Virginia and Maryland, and settled in Ohio in the early days. After passing through the common schools he attended the Wittenberg Academy at Springfield, Ohio, two years and Nelson's Business College, in the same city, one year. Then he entered the College of Veterinary Medicine of the Ohio State University and graduated June 25, 1908. He entered the gov- ernment service on Aug. 10, 1908, was stationed in Chicago, Ill., until 1913, was then in Crawfordsville, Ind., for eight months, and came to Olivia in 1914. Dr. Weaver was married Oet. 17, 1909, at Newport, Kentucky, to Jessie Goodfellow, daughter of Seott and Annabelle (Smith) Goodfellow, of the state of Ohio.

Hans Jepson, one of the prosperous farmers of Sacred Heart township, was born Nov. 4, 1855, in Schleswig, Holstein, Germany, son of Peter and Marie (Hausen) Jepson. There were five chil- dren : Christina, Anna, Mary, Zelia and Hans. Hans was the first of the family to come to the United States, coming in 1873 and landing at New York. Then he traveled on to St. Peter, Minnesota, where he joined an uncle, Fred Schroeder, who brought him to Renville county. For five and a half years he worked on the farm of his unele, then he bought 40 aeres of land in Sacred Heart township and began farming for himself. He built a frame house and had a horse team and two cows. After two years he bought 80 aeres in section 14, in the same township, and has lived there ever since. Ile has improved the farm and increased it so that now he owns 160 aeres. He keeps a good grade of stock.

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Mr. Jepson is a stockholder in the Renville Farmers' Ele- vator. He has served on the school board and is a member of the Norwegian lutheran church at Renville, and is a trustee of that church.

Ilis brothers and sisters all came to America and the parents were ready to come when the father died in 1877 at the age of fifty-seven years. The mother came over alone and died in Ren- ville county in 1891 at the age of seventy-five years.

In January, 1879. Mr. Jepson was married to Ingeborg Berger, born April 1, 1861, in Nebraska, daughter of Berger S. and Martha (Ingebretson) Berger. Mr. and Mrs. Jepson have had twelve children, of whom eleven are living: Peter, Benjamin, Matilda. Edward, Mary, Ida (deceased). Emma, Henry, Amma, Tena and Elmira (twins) and Sadie.

Berger S. Berger was born in Norway and there married Martha Ingebretson. In the early fifties they started for Amer- ica, and after a long and tiresome voyage of fourteen weeks reached Quebec. They were then childless, two of their children having died in Norway and one on the ocean. From Quebec. Mr. and Mrs. Berger started by way of the lakes and canals and came to Muskegon, Michigan. Here they became siek with the cholera. When they were well they left for lowa and then went to Nebraska. There they found the Indians very hostile and they were soon back in lowa, having driven 300 miles in six weeks, in many places over corduroy roads. in an uncovered wagon, whose wheels were round disks of wood ent from trees. They left Iowa in 1872 and came to Sacred Ileart township, Ren- ville county, where they homesteaded in section 14 and also oh- tained a tree claim. A log house was built, 14 by 14 feet, with board floor and sod roof. Once it caught fire and water had to be carried to put it ont and even all the milk on hand was used. The nearest market was at Willmar, which was reached by ox team. Oftentimes the corn was ground in the coffee mill. Mr. Berger was the first thresher in the county and began with a horse power machine. lle developed and improved his farm, erecting modern buildings and increasing the farm to 320 aeres. There were six children in the family: Edward, Benjamin, Ingeborg. Sever, Matilda and Hans. The family were members of the Lutheran church and the early services of the church were held in his log cabin. He helped organize this church. He died in 1902 at the age of seventy-eight years and his wife died in 1901 at the age of seventy-four years.

Halver Christiansen Aarnes, a well-known farmer of Sacred Heart township, was born in Norway, Jan. 26, 1839, son of Chris- tian and Johannah (Halverson) Aarnes. There were eight chil- dren in the family: Ilalver, Christian, Martin, Andrene, Gunne, Karen, Eli and Gulbrand. Halver Aarnes was the first of the

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children to come to the United States, coming in 1869. He landed at New York and traveled on to Racine, Wisconsin, where he remained for seventeen months, working as a blacksmith in the Mitchell Wagon Factory. In 1871 he moved to Renville county, where he secured a homestead of 80 acres in section 8, in Sacred Heart township, now a suburb of Sacred Heart village. He filed on his land and began work on it. There were then no improve- ments on the place. He made a dugout, where he and his wife lived for a time. He also worked on the St. Peter & Winona Rail- road for a time to earn some money, as he had not a thing to start with. The second spring he bought a team of oxen and two cows. By dint of hard work Mr. Aarnes has improved his farm and now has fine groves of trees, a modern house and build- ings. Hle raises a good grade of stock and has added 40 acres of railroad land to his farm.

Mr. Aarnes has held several township offices and has been a member of the school board. He has been a member and di- rector of the Sacred Heart Creamery. IIe is also a faithful mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church and has been an active worker there since its first days. At first there was no church building and the meetings were held in the varions homes. Mr. Aarnes was a member of the building committee and helped build the church. He has been a trustee and also has been the sec- retary of this church for many years.

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The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 45

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