The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 48

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 48

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Mr. Patten was married Nov. 14, 1870, to Mary E. Griffin, a native of New York, and their union has been an ideal one of trust and happiness. They have two children, Florence A. and Floyd J., both engaged in newspaper and magazine work in New York City. Florence A. is the wife of W. P. MeGuire and has two young daughters.

Henry W. Homeier was born Dee. 28. 1874, on section 24, Beaver Falls township, son of Henry and Augustina (Scheffler) Homeier. Henry Homeier was born in Germany and came to Renville county in 1863, seeuring a homestead in section 24, where he remained until his death, in 1885, aged sixty-six years. His wife, aged sixty-eight years, is still living in Morton. Henry W. Homeier remained on his father's farm, at first helping his father. in 1900 renting the farm and operating it for himself, and in 1913 becoming owner of it. He is a stockholder in the Farm- ers' Co-operative Grain Company at Morton and a member of the German Lutheran church at Morton. Mr. Homeier was united in marriage April 17, 1902, to Mathilda Thiem, born in Germany, March 20, 1877. daughter of Christ Thiem, born in 1834, and Rosa Brummond, born Feb. 16, 1842. They were married in Germany and came to Sibley county in 1878, where they settled on a farm. Mr. Thiem died in 1900 at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife is still living in Gibbon. Mr. and Mrs. Homeier have four children : Gertrude, born April 29, 1903: Harry, born Sept. 20, 1904; Mable, born Feb. 3. 1908 ; and Elvira, born July 15, 1910.

George M. Berry, a leading citizen of Hector, and a member of a family prominently identified with Minnesota milling, was born in Jordan, Scott county. Minnesota, lan. 10, 1873, son of Gustav and Mareh C. (Anderson) Berry. He spent his youth much as the other boys of his time and neighborhood, and gradu- ated from the high school at Dundas, in Rice county, Minnesota, a point then widely known as a milling center. For some years he devoted his life to Farming, as his father's manager. It was in 1899 that he came to Hector and engaged in the milling busi- ness. He and his brothers acquired a number of milling inter- ests, and in 1909 the Berry Brothers' Milling Co. was incor- porated, with Alfred Berry as president ; Henry E. Berry as vice- president ; and George M. Berry as secretary and treasurer. Oscar S. Berry is also a member of the firm. The company has

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a plant at St. Paul, and its mills are located at Hector, Norwood and Buffalo Lake. George M. Berry has remained in direct charge of the Hector mill, and has identified himself closely with village life here. While in Riee county he was treasurer of Forest Lake township and of his school district, as well as of the Swedish Lutheran church there. In Hector he has been presi- dent of the village council and is now president of the school board. Busy though he is with his milling interests, he takes his greatest delight in church, Sunday school and uplift work. Ile is a thorough believer in temperance and helped to close the saloons, first in Hector and then throughout Renville county. Ife is superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school of Hector, as he has been for some thirteen years past, and he is also president of the Renville County Sunday School Asso- ciation.

George M. Berry was married June 17, 1894, to Gertrude M. Larson, born June 22, 1872, in Goodhne county, this state, dangh- ter of Simon and Christina Larson. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have six children : Myrtle V., a teacher, born May 29, 1895: Frances Il., born April 14, 1898; Lester L., born Nov. 3, 1899; Norman II., born April 2, 1903; Eveline M., born July 10, 1905; Charles M., horn Oet. 8, 1911.

Gustaf Berry, a pioneer, was born in Sweden. May 21. 1832. and came to America as a youth. In St. Paul he met and mar- ried Mary C. Anderson, who was born in Sweden, Aug. 15, 1833. From 1858 to 1867, Mr. Berry lived in Carver county, this state. Then moving to Scott county he purchased 120 aeres. In 1884 he sold this and bought 211 acres in Forest township, Rice county, where he farmed for several years. In 1899 he and his good wife came to flector, where he died Oct. 8, 1900, and where she is still living. In the family there were seven children: Charles J .: William, of St. Paul; Alfred, of Hector: Oscar S., of Norwood ; George M., of Hector; Henry E., of St. Paul, and Amanda C., of Hector.

Thomas Sloan Hewerdine, A. B., S. B., C. E., now located in Olivia, has been actively identified with many important engi- neering projects in North and South America. He was born in Champaign county, Illinois, July 16, 1870, only son of Thomas and Catherine (Miller) Hewerdine. After studying at the high school at Fisher, Ilinois, he attended the Northern Illinois Nor- mal College at Dixon, Ill., for six months, going from there to the Western Normal College at Bushnell, Ill., where he remained two terms. Next he attended Austin College at Effingham, Il- linois, where he received the degree of A. B. He then entered the University of Illinois, where he received the degrees of S. B. in C. E. In the meantime, he had paid his way through college by working and teaching. He was superintendent of the Toledo,

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Illinois, publie schools one year. He then went to Austin College as instructor in mathematics, remaining there a year, when he. became professor of natural seienee at the Southern Indiana Normal School, of Mitchell, Indiana, remaining there one term. For a year and a half he taught chemistry and physics at the high school of Battle Creek, Michigan. Next he went to MeKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois, as professor of mathematics and astronomy, remaining there a year. For two years he was pro- fessor at the Nova Scotia Technical College, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he organized and equipped the department of civil engineering. This new government institution is one of the highest elassed schools of engineering in America. Next he was professor of civil engineering at the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, resigning in 1913 and coming to Minnesota. He was elected county surveyor of Renville county in 1914. While using his store of knowledge for practical purposes, Mr. Hewerdine has been chief engineer of the S. J. & S. C. Railway and Union Traction Company, of California, has worked on elec- trie power development propositions in Canada, and Oregon ; has worked on drainage and irrigation: has also been consulting engineer for numerous cities in the United States and Canada, and has visited Peru, Chili, U. S. of Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, and Mexico, as well as Canada, in connection with his work. Dur- ing the Spanish-American war, Mr. Hewerdine served in the First Illinois Cavalry. His standing is shown by the fact that he is a member of the Western Society of Engineers, associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, associate member of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, member of Society for Promotion of Engineering Education, member of American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science, member American Chem- iral Society, member American Society for Psychical Research, and many other scientific and edneational organizations. Mr. Ilewerdine devotes much time to philosophical and scientific study and investigation, and has written and lectured npon these subjeets.

Mr. Hewerdine is now a consulting Civil, Hydraulie, Munici- pal and Sanitary Engineer; and his office is in the Heins Block. in Olivia. At present he is engaged on extensive drainage prop- ositions in this portion of the state.

Mr. Hewerdine was married Feb. 15, 1915, to Lillian Zum- winkle, the daughter of Henry and Martha Zumwinkle of Beaver Falls, Minnesota.

Mr. Hewerdine's father, Thomas Hewerdine, was born May 28. 1826, in Lineolshire, England, came to America in 185] and spent four years in Indiana, removing to Ilinois in 1855. He was a farmer, stock raiser and stock buyer. He made a success of his business. He died Aug. 30, 1915, at Fisher, Ilinois.

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Mr. Hlewerdine's aneestors on his mother's side were among the earliest settlers in America, having landed in Virginia nearly 300 years ago. Later they were in Kentucky with Daniel Boone, and still later generations were among the earliest settlers in Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Mr. Ilewerdine's mother, Catherine Miller, was born in Mercer county, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1832, daughter of Sloan and Mary Miller. She died in 1873.

J. M. Bowler was born in Lee, Maine, July 10, 1838. Edu- cated in common schools, Lee Academy and Westbrook Seminary. Worked on his father's farm, in his store and lumber eamps. Taught country school in Lee in 1855 and Falmouth in 1856. Came west in March. 1857. Taught school in Hales Corners and Lynn, Wisconsin, and MeGregor, lowa. Came to St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota, in April, 1858. Worked in Croffnt and Clark's printing office. Beginning in December, 1859, taught school sev- eral times in Nininger and Grey Cloud. Carried a Torch in the Wide Awakes, and voted for Abraham Lincoln for President in 1860. Enlisted in Company E, First Minn. Vol. Inf., in April, 1861, and was discharged upon the re-organization of the regi- ment for the three years service. Enlisted as private in Com- pany F, Third Regiment Minnesota, Inf. Vols., Sept. 23, 1861; was promoted to corporal and sergeant, and in October, 1862, was commissioned Second Lieutenant and December I, 1862, cap- tain of the company and served as such until April 1, 1865; was commissioner Major of 113th U. S. C. T. and was mustered out with the regiment April 9, 1866. Was on detached service at different times as member of the General Court Martial, Military Commission and Post Adjutant on the staff of General C. C. Andrews at Little Rock, Ark. In the summer of 1865 was Post Commander at mouth of White River, Ark .; September, 1865, was assigned to command of a sub-district with headquarters at Jacksonport. Ark., and was also appointed assistant general superintendent of Freedman's Bureau for the same district. Major General Reynolds offered to recommend him for a see- ond lieutenant's commission in the regular army. He declined the offer, preferring to return to his home in Minnesota. No- vember 30, 1862, married Lizzie S. Caleff at Nininger, Minnesota. She and their daughter, Victoria, were with him during his stay at Jacksonport, Ark. After leaving the army, he taught school several terms at Nininger and Hampton and followed farming until he moved to Minneapolis, October, 1901. Besides he was in the farm machinery business at Bird Island for a short time and for a few years traveling collection agent for the Northwestern Manufacturing and Car Company of Stillwater and Minneapolis. Harvester Company, Minneapolis.

He worked two summers as right-of-way agent for Chicago, Great Western Railroad Company. At different times hell vari-

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ous town and school district offices: was representative in the legislature of 1878, speaker's clerk during the session of 1891, and State Dairy and Food commissioner two years under Gov- ernor Lind. Was nominee for Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket with Governor Lind in 1896 and 1898: also for Railroad Commis- sioner on Democratie State ticket in 1902. As an earnest friend of good government-government of, for and by the people- has always taken a lively interest in polities and never missed an opportunity to vote at elections. Since coming to Minneapolis in 1901 has done some business in real estate and insurance. In 1881 and 1882 was editor of newspaper, the Bird Island Blizzard.

Herman Zumwinkle, an estimable pioneer, was born in Ger- many, Jan. 16, 1835, and was there reared. He was a youth of but sixteen years when he came to America and located in Ohio. From there he went to Rock Island, Illinois. In that state, on Sept. 2, 1857, he married Elizabeth Nelson, who was born in Norway, hume 6, 1832, and died Jan. 16, 1911. In 1862 he came to Minnesota, and located in Le Sneur county where he remained for two years. Subsequently he lived in Shakopee and St. Peter, working in these places as a harness maker. In 1870 he came to Renville county and purchased a farm in Flora township. In 1871 he bought 120 aeres in section 22. Beaver Falls township, where he successfully carried on general farming until 1897 when he sold his farm to his son, Frank E., and moved to Beaver Falls village. He was a prominent man, served on the town- ship board for many years and had his part in the upbuilding of the community.

Henry O. Zumwinkle was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, July 23, 1860, son of Herman and Elizabeth Zumwinkle. He was brought to Beaver Falls township by his parents, was here reared, and here attended the district schools. He also attended the Mankato Normal school for a year. In 1882 he purchased from his father the 80 acres in section 22, Beaver Falls, where he now successfully carries on general farming. Like the other members of his family, he has attained considerable prominence in the community.

He has held several township offices, having been assessor for two years, constable for twenty years, deputy sheriff for twelve years and a member of the school board for twelve years. Hle is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Morton and has held all the chairs. Mr. Zumwinkle was married Sept. 17, 1882, to Martha Ann Carruth, born June 1, 1864, daughter of James and Mary (Cosens) Carruth. James Carruth was born June 16, 1832, in Belfast, Ireland, and came to America in 1848 and lived in Can- ada until 1872, when he moved to Renville eounty and seeured a homestead in section 2, Beaver Falls township. Here he re- mained until 1897 and then moved to Le Sneur county where he

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lived eight years, next coming to Beaver Falls village where he still lives. His wife was born April 20, 1838, and they were married Jan. 5, 1859. There were fourteen children in the family, ten of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Zumwinkle have nine children : Mary E., born Aug. 5, 1883, married to B. G. Brown, a farmer of Beaver Falls township; Carrie B., born Dee. 22, 1884, now Mrs. II. M. Bale of Beaver Falls township; Eva- lena. born Jan. 29, 1887, married to William Sehablin, a farmer of Beaver Falls township; Edward IL., born March 24, 1889, as- sistant county surveyor of Renville county; William J., born June 16. 1891 ; Lillian, born July 3, 1893; Maude A., born Feb. 14, 1898; Theodore A., born Dec. 27, 1890; and Blanche L., born Nov. 18, 1903.

William C. Zumwinkle, a thrifty farmer and substantial citi- zen of Beaver Falls, was born in Le Sueur county, Minnesota, March 24, 1862, son of Iterman and Elizabeth (Nelson) Zum- winkle. At the age of twenty-three William C. Zumwinkle started in the harness business at Beaver Falls, where he re- mained two years. Then he passed the next three years in farm- ing in section 2, in Flora township. In 1888 he bought 80 aeres in section 10, Beaver Falls township, where he still lives, and where he owns 240 aeres of land. He has a well improved farm and has erected all the buildings since he came upon the place. Mr. Zumwinkle is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Morton and has filled all the chairs of that lodge. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Cooperative Grain Company of Morton, a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company at North Redwood, and also a stockholder of the New State Bank at Morton. He has held several public positions at Beaver Falls, having been the assessor for ten years, clerk for ten years, justice of peace for ten years, and also treasurer of school district No. 4. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Beaver Falls. Nov. 20, 1882, Mr. Zumwinkle was married to Catherine Smith, born Nov. 29, 1861. of the parents John Smith, a farmer, who came to Flora township in 1866, and Julia A. (Falkal) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Zumwinkle have three children, Harry J., born Aug. 21, 1883, who is a farmer in Beaver Falls township, Charles G., born Feb. 27, 1886, who is at home, and Vernon F., born Dee. 17, 1888, who is also at home.

John Smith, one of the earliest pioneers, came to Flora town- ship in 1866, and located in seetion 2, Flora township. In 1868 he moved to section 12. In 1876 he went to Texas. But in 1880 he came back and settled on the old farm in section 12. He died Sept. 24, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven. His wife, Julia A. Falkal, died June 27, 1895, at the age of fifty. Mr. Smith was a hard- working, reliable man, and was well liked wherever he was known.

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George E. Zumwinkle, a leading citizen of Beaver Falls town- ship, was born in St. Peter, this state, Aug. 6, 1867, son of Her- man and Elizabeth (Nelson) Zumwinkle. He was brought to Beaver Falls township as an infant and was here reared, secur- ing his early education in the district schools. During the win- ters of 1887-88 he attended the Curtis Business College at Minne- apolis. Ile was only seventeen years of age when he became a clerk in the dry goods store of King Brothers at Redwood Falls. Subsequently he elerked in a grocery store at Minneapolis for five years. Next he engaged in the grocery business for himself in Minneapolis for about two years. For four years he was yard clerk of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. at Minneapolis. Then he went to St. Paul where he held the same position for the Great Northern for two years. During the next two years he was the chief clerk of the same railroad at Como Station, then becoming cashier, which offiee he held four years. For two years he was the correspondence clerk of the G. N. R. R. & G. W. R. R. at the Minnesota Transfer. During the next two years he rented his father's farm at Beaver Falls township, but at the end of that time went back to elerking, remaining for two and a half years with R. B. Henton of Morton. Then he bought 80 acres of the home farm in section 22, receiving the western half of the north- eastern quarter, where he still is. Mr. Zumwinkle is a member of the M. W. A. of St. Paul and is Vice Grand of the I. O. O. F. at Morton. While living at Merriam Park the family were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church and attend the Methodist Epis- copal church at Morton. He was united in marriage May 6, 1891, to Edith Elliott, born Oet. 12, 1867, daughter of Alonzo Elliott, born April 22, 1833, and died Sept. 12. 1901. a farmer and pioneer of Dodge county, and Lucy (Leach), born March 14, 1839, who now lives with her daughter, Mrs. George Post, in Santa Ana, California. Before her marriage Mrs. Zumwinkle attended the Wesleyan Methodist Seminary at Wasioja, Minne- sota, and also the Northwestern Conservatory of Musie at Minne- apolis in 1888-89. Mr. and Mrs. Zumwinkle have two children, Lyle Edwin, born Oet. 6, 1893, now a law student at the Uni- versity of Minnesota, and Gladys Elizabeth, born May 21, 1895, who is at home.

Frank E. Zumwinkle was born in St. Peter, Minnesota, March 4, 1870, son of Herman and Elizabeth (Nelson) Zumwinkle. He was reared on his father's farm and at the age of twenty-two de- cided to have a farm of his own, buying 80 acres in section 10, Beaver Falls township, where he farmed for four years. Then he sold this land and bought the home farm from his father in see- tion 22, which he has increased to 200 acres and where he farmed until Oct. 1, 1915, when he retired to Morton village. He has held several township offices. He has been the clerk of the sehool

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distriet No. 5 for one year and a member of the school board for four years, township assessor for two years, and is now secre- tary of the Farmers' Cooperative Grain Company of Morton. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Zumwinkle was married April 24. 1891, to Margaret Carruth, born Oet. 25, 1871, daughter of James and Mary (Cosens) Carruth. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Zumwinkle have three children : Bert, born Nov. 20, 1892; Bessie, born Nov. 14, 1895; and Helen, born July 24, 1901.

James Carruth was born in Belfast, Ireland, June 16, 1832, and came to America in 1848. He lived in Canada until 1872, and then came to Renville county and seenred a homestead in section 2, Beaver Falls township. Here he remained until 1897, when be removed to be Sueur county. Eight years later, how- ever, he took up his home in Beaver Falls village. He was mar- ried Jan. 5, 1859, to Mary Cosens, who was born April 20, 1838. Of the fourteen children in their family, teu are still living.

Morris Bishop Foster, a very successful farmer of Heetor town- ship, was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, Jan. 15, 1843, son of Ira and Catherine (Bishop) Foster. Ira Foster was born in Madison county, New York state, of English parents. Cath- erine Bishop was born in Oneida county, New York. They were married in New York and Ira Foster engaged in farming in Madison county, New York. He left for Michigan about 1840 and engaged in farming in Van Buren county and cleared np a farm in Keelerville township. He held various offices of the township and was also a school officer and a member of the Moth- odist church, which he helped organize. There were nine chil- dren in the family : Newton, Riley, Dwight, Dean, Morris, Irene, Josephine, Olive and Ida.

Morris B. Foster received his education in the early district school of his section and enlisted, in 1861, with Company D. Sixty-sixth Hlinois Volunteer Infantry, at Keelerville, Michigan. He took part in the following battles: Ft. Donaldson. Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, battle of Inka, and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. Ile was mustered out September, 1864, at Jonesboro, Georgia. He then began preparing himself for college at Decatur, Michigan, and graduated Ime 3, 1867. Then he entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and gradu- ated in 1870. He was a member of the Adelphi and Philomathean societies. After graduation he was superintendent of schools at Benton Harbor and Saginaw, spending one year at each place. From there he went to Minnesota in 1872 and became superin- tendent at Wabasha for four years. While there he homesteaded 160 acres in section 26, Hector township, in 1874. It was all wild land, and he erected the first shanty in Hector township. It was 10 by 12 feet. le next became superintendent of schools at Glencoe, and then located permanently on his homestead with

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his family. Here he built a good house and began farming with a team of horses. His first erop of wheat brought $1.00 per bushel, being hauled to Glencoe. Hle now owns 380 aeres, has erected good buildings, and raises Shorthorn cattle and Duroc- Jersey hogs. He is connected with the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator at Buffalo Lake, and was one of the directors of the original Farmers' Elevator as long as it was operated. Mr. Fos- ter has held several township positions, having been supervisor, assessor and elerk. He also served as member of the school board, and helped organize District No. 102. Mr. Foster was married at Saginaw to Katherine Lonise Folwell, of Kendaia, Sencea county, New York, a graduate of Mount Holyoke Col- lege, born May 2, 1841, daughter of Thomas and Johanna (Bain- bridge ) Folwell, of English parentage. Mr. Folwell was a farmer of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have the following children : William B., Adela J., Thomas and Robert, William B. is a prae- ticing physician in Texas. He married Grace La Selle and they have two children, Morris and Jean. Adela J. is the wife of Dr. E. (. Gaines, of Buffalo Lake, this county, and they have two children, William Folwell and Catherine. Thomas I. and Robert M. are editors of the Buffalo Lake News, Robert M. being the managing editor, while Thomas I. devotes his time largely to looking after the home farm. The mother, Mrs. Katherine (Fol- well) Foster, died Dee. 19, 1915.

Ristvedt Brothers, general merchants, Sacred Heart. Thore II. and Hans H. Ristvedt were born in Norway, July 17, 1859, and Nov. 2, 1866, respectively, sons of Halvor T. and Marte T. (Vettestad) Ristvedt. Thore Il. came to America in 1880 and located in Waseca county, Minnesota, working on a farm the first summer. Hans II. came to America in 1886. The two brothers opened a drug and stationery store at Milan, Chippewa county, this state, which they operated for four years. In 1889 they came to Sacred Heart and engaged in the restaurant busi- ness for two years. They then soll ont their business at Milan and Thore went to St. Panl, where he bought a grocery store on Arlington Ilill in company with Christ Skaar, while Hans en- gaged as typesetter in Minneapolis. Later Thore sold out his business in St. Paul and went to Minneapolis. Together the brothers bought a stock of groceries, and for two years operated a store at Twentieth avenue and Third street, south. After sev- era! other ventures in varions places, including a newspaper in Sacred Heart, they opened their present establishment in 1900. They have been successful and enjoy a well-deserved patronage. Both are Republicans and both attend the Hauge Lutheran church Hans HI. Ristvedt was married Oct. 2, 1899, to Rachel Johnson, born in Dane county, Wisconsin, Sept. 5, 1863, daughter of Even and Johanna Johnson, natives of Norway, who came to America

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The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 48

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