USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
G. H. WHITNEY is also a native of Brooklyn, Hennepin county, Minnesota, born in November, 1856. His biography is identical with that of his brother as given above, until his arrival at Far- mington. From the latter place, G. H. took a trip through Wisconsin, but returning to Farmington in 1874, and worked on a farm for a few months, then in a tlouring mill two years, and again on a farm for one year, since which time he has been a partner with his brother, in the insurance business. Their headquarters is at Sauk Centre.
H. WUTTKE, carriage manufacturer and black- smith, was born in Germany, on the 30th of March, 1845. He learned the blacksmith trade in his native country and afterwards served in the Prussian army from 1864 to 1870. He then came to America, and worked in St. Panl and Minne- apolis until 1872, after which he was engaged for a time on a surveying expedition. In 1874, he came to Sank Centre and worked at his trade and farming until 1875, when he erected his present manufacturing establishment. An average of five men are employed in those shops. Mr. Wnttke was married in 1876, to Miss Minnie Fritze, of Wisconsin. They have one child, named Adolph. SAUK CENTRE TOWNSHIP.
FERDINAND BORGMANN, one of the pioneers of the western part of Stearns county, was born in Westphalia, Prussia, on the 24th of May, 1825. He worked on a farm, when not attending school, until twenty-one years of age. In 1846, became a soldier in the Prussian army, serving through the war in Germany in 1848, by which Prussia beeame a constitutional State. In 1851, came to the United
States, loeating at Toledo, Ohio. After a few months, moved to Iowa, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits for four years. In 1855, he vis- ited Kansas and Nebraska with a desire to find a future home, but returned only to look in another direction. In 1856, he removed to Minnesota, locating in Lake George township, Stearns county, which was his home for eight years. In 1865, he came to his present farm in Sauk Centre township, where he now lives, having a well furnished farm and a comfortable home. He has another farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Ashley town- ship. He has tilied the office of Supervisor for seven terms. He was married to Miss Antoinette E. Sherman in 1854. They have eight living children.
S. G. BARNARD was born in Oxford county, Maine, on the 23d of July, 1836. His father was one of the pioneers of Oxford connty, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His grandfather was in the naval service during the Revolutionary war, and was captured six times by the British. At the age of eighteen years, Mr. Barnard left home and became an apprentice in a printing office in the city of Portland. Maine. Alter serving one year, he went into a printing office at Natick, Massachu- setts, and the following year eommeneed the study of book-keeping in Boston, completing a full eourse at the Business College, after which he was employed as book-keeper for some time. In 1858, he eame west, and located in Otsego, Wright county, Minnesota, where he taught school and farmed till 1862, when he came to his present farm in Sauk Centre, where he has lived since, with the excep- tion of two years. When the Indians drove the people from their homes in 1862, he, with his tam- ily, went to Anoka, remaining two years, then re- turned to his larm. Mr. Barnard married Miss Sarah Jane Barnard, on the 3d of February, 1860 They have three children.
HENRY Borz was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, on the 30th of December, 1810. He learned the weaving business in his native country, emi- grated to the United States in 1852, and located in Ozankee county, Wiseonsin, and after some time, to Brown county. In 1870, came to Stearns county, Minnesota, and located on his present farm in Sauk Centre, and still resides on the same. He was married to Miss Catherine Dorrweiler, on the 13th of November, 1836. They have seven living children.
CONRAD BOTZ was born in Ozankee county, Wis-
1
476
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
eonsin, on the 4th of June, 1854. He is the eighth child in his father's family, and lives on the home- stend, carrying on his father's farm. Married Miss Annie M. Zapf, on the 6th of July, 1876. They have had four children, but two of whom are living.
DANIEL BUCKLEY was born in Canada, on the 15th of January, 1844. During his youth, he worked on a farm and in the pineries until 1870, when he came on a prospecting trip through Min- nesota to the Red River Valley, returning to Canada the same season. The next year he again visited Minnesota, and located on a farm in section thirty-four, Sank Centre township, on which he has lived ever since, although employed in the pine- ries several winters. He was married on the 3d of January, 1881.
A. CLEVELAND, (deceased) a native of Vermont, was born in the year 1800. He lived for a time in the state of New York, but moved to the state of Ohio in 1840, thence to Michigan, and in 1867, came to Minnesota, and located on a farm in Sauk Centre, on which he lived till his death in 1875. He married Miss Susan Sill in 1823, who died in 1840. In March, 1841, he married Miss E. Jud- son, and his widow still makes her home on the farm. Two of their sons, Addison and George, con- duct the farming interests, and live with their mot her.
G. E. DAVIS, one of the pioneers of the town, and a native of Merrimack county, New Hampshire, was born on the 26th of February, 1839. He learned the trade of machinist, and worked at that business for a number of years. In 1856, he came to Illi- nois, making that State his home for two years, then in the month of June, 1858, came to Sauk Centre township, and was employed for some time on the mill-dam which was constructed at the pres- ent site of Sauk Centre. In 1859, he took a claim on seetions fifteen and twenty-two, in the township of Sauk Centre. In 1862, he enlisted in the See- ond Minnesota Battery, serving three years. Du- ring the time of his soldier life, he was confined in the hospitals at Nashville and Murfreesboro' for six months, and has never fully recovered from injuries received while in the army. On being dis charged, he visited his friends in the East but soon returned to Minnesota. Ile worked a number of years at the carpenter business, and in 1868, came to his present farm in Sauk Centre township, where he has lived ever since. He married Miss Mary Bradley, July 20th, 1868. They have one child, Eva May.
TOBIAS ENGEL, a native of Switzerland, was born on the 17th of Jannary, 1847. His parents emi- grated to America when Tobias was but an infant, locating in the county of Dubuque, Iowa, on a farm. After nine years, the family removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota. His father was one of the early settlers of that county. Mr Engel lived with his parents till 1879, when he came to the town of Sank Centre and located on section twelve. He married Miss Elizabeth Schuyler, on the 5th of March, 1869. They have four living children.
PARKER C. HARDER, a native of Steuben county, New York, was born on the 25th of December, 1837. He spent his boyhood under the parental roof, but after attaining his majority, moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he remained till 1861, when he moved to Webster City, Iowa, and thence to Minnesota in 1878, stopping for some time near Minneapolis, and then to his farm in section eighteen, Sank Centre township. He served for three years during the Rebellion, in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry. He married Miss Eliza Seely, of Webster City, Iowa, September 29th, 1862. Their children are, Harriet E., Harry C., Everton B., Lillie G., Daniel P., Frederick, Clara, and Mand.
PETER KLEIN was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, on the 18th of December, 1835. The family emigrated to the United States when the subjeet of our sketch was but seven years old, and located in Outagamie county, Wisconsin. He lived with his parents till 1862, when he began to farm for himself on an adjacent farm. In 1866, he moved to Stearns county, Minnesota, and lo- cated on a farm in the township of St. Martin for about two years, and then removed to his present farm in the township of Sank Centre. He mar- ried Miss Anna M. Miller in 1862, who died on the 27th of Jume, 1877. His present wife was Miss Dora Fredrich, to whom he was married on the 16th of July, 1878. Mr. Klein is the father of eight children, of whom two are living.
J. D. PANGBURN was born in Albany county, New York, on the 3d of October, 1802. His grandfather settled in the county of his nativity before the revolutionary war, and his father was also born and raised there. Mr. Pangburn worked on his father's farm till he was about thirty years of age, when he moved to Saratoga county, and commeneed farming for himself. He next re- moved to Illinois, and thence, after two years, to Monroe county, Wisconsin, where he lived nine
f
477
BIOGRAPHICAL.
years. In 1866, he removed to the farm in Sauk Centre township where he still resides. Despite the weight of more than three score and ten years, Mr. Pangburn continues to manage his own farm. He was married to Miss Polly Houek, on the 8th of May, 1825. They have eight ehildren.
JOHN RUE, a native of Mereer county, Pennsyl- vania, was born on the 6th of February, 1834. While Mr. Rue was a small boy the family moved to Ohio, where they lived until 1855, and eame to Olmsted connty, Minnesota. In 1866, Mr. Rue eame to Stearns county, and took a elaim in see- tion twenty-four, which, by good management and industry, now affords himself and family a com- fortable home. He being among the early set- tlers of Stearns county, suffered many privations, but, having a pioneer spirit, overeame all. He married Miss Mary Jane Schuyler, on the 23d of April, 1863. They have two children living.
HENRY SPRAGUE was born in Chenango county, New York, on the 22d of September, 1808. The following year the family moved to Ontario county, and in 1823, eame to Oakland county, Michigan. When Mr. Sprague was about nineteen years of age, he left home and commenced to work at the carpenter business. He followed his trade in Michigan till 1838, when he went to Iroquois county, Illinois, following the same business. In 1854, he came to Dakota county, Minnesota, mak- ing his home there until 1865, when he moved to liis present farm on seetion eleven, in Sauk Centre township, where he still resides. He married Miss L. C. Walker, a native of Maine, on the 14th of March, 1833. They have four children.
MARTIN H. SMITHI was born in the town of Jef- ferson, Schohaire county, New York, on the 24th of Jammary, 1820. In 1832, the family moved to Geauga county, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch attended the public schools of the neigh- borhood, and the Academy at Concord and Lenox, Ohio, making his father's houso his home until 1814, when he left the parental roof, and went to Michigan Central College, from which institution he graduated, and soon began to preach the gos- pel, holding protracted meetings in different parts of the State until 1849. Mr. Smith was identified with the Free Will Baptist Church. Then he went to the state of New York, being pastor in different churches till 1856, when he came to Min- nesota, and located in the town of Eyofa, Olmsted connty. He lived in various parts of the State, organizing churches and preaching the gospel for
five years. In 1861, he eame to his present farm, but in a short time, because of the Indian ontbreak, moved to the southern part of the State, and thenco to Wiseonsin. In 1875, he returned to his farm on which he has lived sinee that time. His home is located on section thirty-four. He married Miss Mary A. Holmes on the 28th of March, 1849. They have five eliildren.
L. M. THOMASON, a native of Roanoke county, Virginia, was born on the 30th of November, 1828. In 1843, the family removed to Putnam county, Indiana. After helping his father till he was eigh- teen years of age, he served an apprenticeship of two years in Ladoga, Montgomery county, learning the blacksmith trade. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he formed a partnership with his former master. This eopartnership continued for two years, when he opened a shop of his own in the same town, and controlled it for four years, then engaged in the mereantile business for two years. Then moved on a farm, and after eight years, removed to Boone county, Indiana, where he kept a store until 1865. He then made a tour through Minnesota, but soon returned to Indiana. In 1867, he returned to Minnesota, and the follow- ing year bought his present farm, and has lived on it ever sinee. He is one of the most extensive farmers in the county, and has his farm in a good state of enltivation. He married Miss Eveline Wilson in 1848, who died January 20th, 1851. He married for a second wife, Miss H. Spencer, in August, 1853. Mr. Thomason is the father of eight children, five of whom are living.
ODDY TRUAX was born in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 3d of January, 1833. While young, he worked with his father at the carpenter business. After becoming of age, Mr. Truax went to Indiana, where he engaged in farming pursuits till 1863, when he came to Minnesota, locating in Seoft county. He enlisted in Company A, of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving till the elose of the war. After receiving his dis- charge, returned to his former home, but in 1866, moved to Sauk Centre, and the following spring took a homestead in section thirty-four, which has sineo been his home, with the exception of two years that he lived on a rented farm in Todd county. He married Miss Elizabeth Sal- mond, on the 2d of June, 1860. They have three children.
JOSIAH WOOD, a native of New York, was born on the 2:1 of September, 1828. When he wns
478
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
twelve years old, the family moved to Jefferson county, and in 1844, to Wisconsin. The follow- ing year, Mr. Wood left home, and spent seven years in roaming over the States. In about 1856, located in New York, and learned the wagon makers' trade, and after spending three years in that shop, returned to his father's home in Wisconsin, where he worked at his trade and taught school .- In 1861, he eame to Minnesota and located in Blue Earth county, on a farm. In 1863, enlisted in Company E, of the Second Minnesota Cavalry, serving about two years. On receiving his dis- charge, returned to Blue Earth county, but soon after, sold his farm and came to Sauk Centre township. In a short time, he went to Fort Wadsworth in the employ of the Government, bnt in about ciglit years, returned to his farm, which has been his home ever since. He mar- ried Miss Naomi S. Cooper on the 5th of May, 1861. They have two children.
SPRING HILL.
CHAPTER CXV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-FIRST THINGS - RELIGIOUS-ORGANIZATION-AGRICUL- TURAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
This town lies in the southwestern portion of the county, and has an area of 23,040 acres, of which 5,398 are under cutivation. The surface is chiefly a high rolling prairie, except along the Sauk river, which waters a few sections in the eastern part, and is bordered by a narrow belt of timber. Stony brook rises in the northwest part of the town, flows in a southeasterly direction, and enters the Sauk river on section twenty-four. This, and several other small streams which rise in the town, are ted by fine largo springs, usually found on the high lands, and from which fact the town derives its name. The soil is a heavy clay loam with a clay subsoil, except along the Sauk river, where it is more sandy.
The first settler in this town was Jesse B. Getchell, who made a claim on the east side of Sank river in 1857. He is still living there, but has been absent a portion of the time since.
West of the river, but in the eastern part of the town, the following settlers made claims in 1860: Peter Gan, Jolm F. Unger, Jolm A. Schoenborn,
Zeno Och, George Ranch, and Joseph Ranchi. The first three are deceased, but the others are now living here. Since then, the population has steadily increased until in 1880, there were 548 persons residing in the town.
The first child born was Mary Och, in July, 1860. She is now the wife of Joseph Metzger, and resides in Oak township.
The first death was John A. Schoenborn, in 1863.
The first marriage also took place in 1863, the parties being Frank Aegner and Miss Anna Petre.
The first school was held in the summer of 1867, by Henry Durr, in a frame schoolhouse on section twenty-seven; it was removed about eight years ago to section twenty-two, where it is still in use. Besides this, there are two other buildings in the township, one situated on section thirteen, and the other on section twenty-eight.
The first church was a log building, erected on section twenty-two about 1864. It was burned about ten years ago, and in its stead has been erected a commodious frame church, adjoining which is a brick parsonage, erected in 1881.
This territory had been included in some town- ship organization since 1858, but in 1871, Spring Hilt was organized with its present boundaries. The first election was held at the residence of F. W. Lenz, on the 10th of July, at which the fol- lowing officers were chosen: Supervisors, Nicholas Hennen, Chairman, John Gross, and Gerhard Stal- berger; Clerk, F. W. Lenz; Assessor, Andrew Stalberger; and Treasurer, Conrad Kerkhof.
The report for 1880 shows the following pro- ducts: wheat, 64, r30 bushels; oats, 15,438 busbels; corn, 3,030 bushels; barley, 610 bushels; potatoes, 3,264 bushels; wild hay, 1,904 tons; apples, 7 bushels; wool, 406 pounds; and butter, 14,430 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
.REV. AMBROSIUS LETRERT WAS born in Germany, on the 30th of October, 1854. He emigrated to the United States in 1870, remaining four years in Pennsylvania, then came to Minnesota and entered St. John's College, from which he graduated and was ordained a priest on the 1st of November, 1879. In the month of January, 1880, he was stationed at Spring Hill in charge of St. Michael's church. He has a fine residence just completed, near the church. His charge includes the towns of Spring Hill, Lake George, and part of Lake Henry.
FREDERICK W. LENZ dates his birth in Prussia, on the 22d of November, 1841. lle came to
479
WAKEFIELD TOWNSIIIP.
America with his parents, who located in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, in 1850. In 1860, they re- moved to Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota, and the following year, to St. Peter. Here Fred- erick taught in the public schools for three years, after which he came to Stearns county, and was engaged in teaching one year at Richmond, and the same length of time in Spring Hill, then St. Martin township. At the latter place he met and married Miss Mary Schoenborn, and soon after, re- moved to his present residence on section twenty- two. In 1871, Mr. Lenz drafted and circulated a petition for the organization of Spring Hill. He was the first Town Clerk, and gave the town its name. He has filled several official positions since, and during his residence in St. Martin, was elected to a seat on the Board of County Commissioners. In 1868, he secured the establishment of the Post- office and mail route, and was the first Postmaster in the town. On the 17th of January, 1876, his wife died, leaving four children; Mary, Christian, Peter W., and John; another, Elizabeth, died in infancy. Mr. Lenz chose his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Brown, nec Unger, the marriage tak- ing place on the 6th of November, 1878. They have two children; Theresa and Joseph.
JOSEPH ODERMANN, a native of Prussia, was born in the year 1851. He emigrated to the United States in 1867, stopping for a few weeks in Wis- eonsin. Then came to Minnesota, first to Cold Spring City, then to Richmond for several years, and in 1870, removed to Spring Hill, and still re- sides in this town. He learned the blacksmith trade in the old country, and has followed it through life. He built a shop on section twenty- two, and in 1875, moved it to his present location in section twenty-one. He has been Town Clerk for the last five years, and School district Clerk since the organization of district number thirty- eight. In 1875, a fire destroyed his residenee with most of its contents, but by his energy, he soon regained his former comfortable condition. Ho married Miss Mary Flesch on the 10th of Novem- ber, 1875, who was born in Fond-du-Lae county, Wisconsin. Their children are, Margaret, John, aud Barney.
ZENO OcH. The subject of this sketch, a native of Hessian, Germany, was born on the 12th of April, 1834. His father, Michael Och, was a far- mer and carpenter by trade. Zeno was left an orphau at an early age, his mother dying when he was abont one year old, and his father, when
he was but ten years of age. In 1846, Michacl Kempf, an old friend of the family, brought him to America. Mr. Kempf located on a farm in the state of New York, where for eight years, Zeno toiled faithfully, when he determined to make his own fortune by personal effort. With the small amount of money he had saved, and a scanty sup- ply of clothing, he proceeded to Fond-du-Lac county, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1860, when he came to Minnesota, and seleeted his pres- ent pleasant location in section fifteen, Spring Hill township. He was among the early settlers of this town, and faeed the privations incident to a pioneer life. The first wheat he had for the mar- ket, he sold in St. Cloud in 1862, for forty-nine cents per bushel. He was instrumental in securing the organization of the township, and has served several terms as Supervisor, and is a friend to all matters looking to the public good. He married Miss Walberga Spath, in 1859. They have nine children; John, Mary, Joseph, Cillea, Magdalin, Mathias, Anna, Zeno, and Michael.
WAKEFIELD.
CHAPTER CXVI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT COLD SPRING CITY-ORGANIZATION -- SCHOOLS CHURCHIES - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - BIO- GRAPHICAL.
This town lies in the southeast portion of the eounty. It contains an area of 23,040 neres, of which 3,235 are under cultivation, and embraces the whole of township 123 north, range 30 west. The surface is undulating, and in places, quite broken, with here and there a patch of open prai- rie. The greater portion of the town is covered with brush and poplar groves, except where re- moved for purposes of improvement. The soil is variable, but ehietly a dark loam, and very pro- ductive. The Sank river enters the town on see- tion thirty, and crosses in an easterly direction, forming an excellent water-power at Cold Spring City.
In the fall of 1852, Ashley C. Riggs, now of Monticello, opened an Tudian trading post at this place. He conveyed his goods up the Sank river from Sauk Rapids, in a baltean. It does not ap-
480
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
pear, however, that he remained more than one season.
In 1853, William Bnelianan, being directed by Gen. Lowry, then residing near St. Cloud, mado a claim near the present site of Cold Spring City. He was accompanied by u number of Winnebago Indians, who assisted him in the ercetion of a log cabin, but only remained a few weeks.
In the spring of 1855, a party of Germans set- tled in the eastern portion of the town, near the river. Their names and location of claims, as near as can be ascertained, were as follows: Nicholas Jacoby settled on section fourteen, and still resides there; J. Maselter settled on the same section, and also remains on the homestead; Nicholas Hansen located on section twelve, and is still there; Jolm Theis and Jolm Fuels settled on section fourteen, but both have been dead for some time. Nicholas Kirsch made a claim on section thirteen; he is also dead. John Batice Arcenault and Samuel Wake- field made claims on the present site of Cold Spring City in 1856. Mr. Areenault seems to have included the greater portion of the town site in his claim; he built the first house within the present limits of the village, it being located on the creek, abont eighty rods from the river.
COLD SPRING CITY .- In the fall of 1856, Z. Gordon, Joseph Gibson, Seth Turner, and a Mr. Strout, purchased the greater portion of Mr. Arce- nault's claim, and had this village surveyed and platted. They began the improvement of the water power, and built a saw mill during the winter of 1856-57.
. In 1862, John Fumade started a small store, and the following year, Turner and Buss also opened a general store. They were followed by the Maurin Brothers in 1863, who opened a mer- canfile establishment, nud have gradually in- creased their business until they have now one of the largest business honses in this part of the State. Soon after coming here, they purchased the water-power, but disposed of it in 1865, to Thompson, Clarke, and Waite, who erected a flour- ing mill, which was burned after running a little over a year. It was re-built in 1868, by Clarke and Waite, but the latter purchased the property in 1870, and still owns it. It is three and a half stories high, including the basement, and has seven run of stones, one set of corrugated, and three sets of smooth rolls, and a capacity of two hundred and twenty-five barrels per day. It is now being remodeled to a full roller mill. Al-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.