USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 50
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FRANKLIN L. WILSON WAS born in Iroquois con- ty, Illinois, on the 2d of October, 1851. When he was three years old, his parents removed to Bremer county, Iowa, where his father died in Jan- mary, 1866. In March, 1881, Mr. Wilson cume to this place with his mother, now Mrs. I. W. Shaffer,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
and was for a time engaged at carpenter work. In the fall of 1881, he built and opened a barber-shop, the first and only one in the place. Miss Susie E. Taylor, of Indiana, became his wife on the 9th of December, 1875.
FRANK WESTON, hend sawyer in Morrison's mill, was born in Somerset county, Maine, on the 13th of April, 1841. At the age of sixteen years, he removed to. Pierce county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming till the Ist of August, 1862. He then enlisted in Comaany A, of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving till the 21st of October, 1865. Was with General Sully's ex- pedition in Dakota in the summer of 1864, then in Kentucky till the close of the war. In November, 1877, Mr. Weston enme to Motley, and the follow- ing spring entered the employ of H. B. Morrison. Was married on the 26th of November, 1865, to Miss Catharine Thurston, of Pierce county, Wiscon- sin, and a native of the same State and county as himself. They have a family of four children.
OAKWOOD.
This town was originally included in Buckman, from which it was detached in the spring of 1881, and a meeting held at the schoolhouse on section twenty-nine, on the 11th of April, at which the following officers were elected: Supervisors, T. D. Miller, Chairman, A. T. Sandy, and C. D. Hunter; Clerk, John F. Hunter; Assessor, J. Miller; Treas- urer, George Ferguson; Justice of the Peace, Henry MeNeal; Constable, A. Miller.
The first settler here was John Roach, who came in September, 1874. and settled on section thirty. He was of Irish extraction, and born in Canada. llis stay was brief, and he made but little in- provement. F. C. Miller, a native of New York, came in the spring of 1876, and located on section thir- ty-two, where he remained till the spring of 1881, when he removed to his present home, at Rice's Station, Benton county. H. Sondie, of Pennsyl- vania, settled on section thirty-two, in 1876, and is still a resident of the town. Other early set- tlers were, 'T. D. Miller, C. D. Hunter, J. Miller, L. and J. Sondie.
The first school district was organized in Au- gust, 1877, and a term taught in J. Sondie's honse. The next year a school-honse was built
on the southwest corner of section twenty-nine. A Sabbath school was organized in September, 1879, by J. Stewart.
The first child born in the town was Grace Sou- die, on the 13th of September, 1876.
The first death was Mand Racliff, July 7th, 1881.
The first marriage occurred May 22d, 1881, the parties being Jolm Hunter and Lnella Sondie.
The town is but sparsely settled, and no extensive improvements are yet noted. The surface is rol- ling, and covered with an abundant growth of ocak, basswood, poplar, birch, piue, tamarack, sprice, and maple timber. It is well watered, and has a rich soil of black loam, with clay subsoil.
PARKER.
This is one of the extreme western towns of Morrison county, and formed part of the town of Green Prairie until detached in 1880.
The surface is gently rolling, and covered with a dense growth of timber, chiefly hardwood, but not wholly destitute of pine. The soil is clay and black loam, and only awaits the labor of the hus- bandman to produce the most abundant harvest. It is watered by the South Fork of Little Elk river, and its affluents, along which are found ex- .tensive tracts of fine marsh land or wild meadow. Several small lakes are found in the town, most of which are well stocked with tish.
About thirty homesteads have already been taken, but no extensive improvements are yet made.
The town was named for its first settler, G. F. Purker, who located on section twelve in 1879. His arrival dates April 17th of that year.
In the spring of 1880, a town organization wns etfeeted, the meeting being held at the cabin of J. W. Manbeck, in section twenty-six, at which the following officers were elected: Supervisors, R. W. Jones, Chairman, H. A. MeCrary, and Snow; Clerk, J. W. Manbeck; Assessor. J. W. Jones; Treasurer, G. F. Purker.
In the spring of 1881, a school district was organized, and in a small building erected in see- tion twenty-two, Mrs. Aaron Boyce condueted the first school.
The establishment of n Post-otlice has just been
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PARKER TOWNSHIP.
secured, located in scetion fourteen, with D. M. Brooks Postmaster. No post route is estab- lished, but Little Falls is named as the place where mail is to be obtained and delivered.
The first child born in the town was Hattie Jones, on the 14th of April, 1880.
The first marriage was in February, 1881, unit- ing the destinies of Frank Bailey and Miss - Ireland.
No death is reported in the town unless it is the as yet mysterious disappearance of Joseph Hol- stcad, who has been missing since July, 1880. Holstead was a single man, and had a claim near Mr. Parker, with whom he was on terms of inti- maey. In July, 1881, he visited Little Falls, and is said to have started back to his claim, sinec which no trace of him has been discovered.
The founder of this town, George F. Parker, is a native of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where he was born December 26th, 1846. He served one year in the Forty-second Massachusetts Infantry, und nineteen months in the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, five months of which were spent in the Rebel prison at Andersonville. Miss Edith Muir, of Boston, Massachusetts, became his wife in January, 1871. Their infant daughter, Edith, is the third child born in this town.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WINDSOR L. BOYCE was born near Saratoga Springs, New York, on the 23d of August, 1854. When he was but five years old, his mother died and he lived with different families till nine years old, after which time he was dependent upon his own resources. At the age of twelve years hc en- gaged as eabin boy on the ship "Thomas Pope," visited London, Liverpool, and Paris, and returned to America after three years. He was employed on the Erie Canal and on the Lakes till the spring of 1874, when he came to Wright county, Minne- sota. The following year he joined Company K, in the Third United States Regular Service, and was sent South during the trouble of 1875, after which he was transferred to Company C, Fourth Cavalry, and sent to the frontier, where he was in several skirmishes with the Indians, and mustered out in February, 1879. He then returned to Wright county, and resided till April, 1881, when he enme to his present farm in Parker township. In November, 1879, he was married to Miss Eva I. Travis, a native of New York City. They had one child who died in infancy.
D. M. BROOKS, a native of Grant county, Ken- theky, was born ou the 2d of April, 1828. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in 1862, moved to Indiana, and two years later, to Mimic- sota. He first located in Hennepin county, about five miles east of Watertown; then, in 1866, pur- chased a farm in Vietor, Wright county, on which he lived till 1880, when he opened a stock farm in Parker township. Mr. Brooks is the present As- sessor of this town. Was married in 1858 to Ellen Jane Huff, who has borne nine children, six of whom are living.
JAMES W. MANBECK, one of the organizers of the town of Parker, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the 9th of February, 1839. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and attended school in his native place. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, of the One hundred and twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Was in the Army of the Potomac, and on the 1st of June, 1864, wounded at Cold Harbor, for which he re- ceives a pension. After his discharge, in January, 1865, he returned to his native place and engaged in various occupations until his removal to this State. In 1875, he camo to Howard Lake, Wright county, and kept a hotel for four years. Then came to Parker township and located a farm on section six. Miss Elizabeth Tope, a native of Ohio, became his wife in 1865. They have two children, a boy and a girl.
HENRY A. MCCRARY, a native of Gibson county, Indiana, was born on the 14th of May, 1828. IIe remained with his parents, attending school and assisting on the farm, till twenty-one years of age. Then moved to Illinois, where he resided on a farm till 1857, when he came to Minneapolis, Minne- sota, and rented a farm near the present fair grounds. 'In the fall of the same year, he came to Vietor, Wright county, and the following year, returned to Minneapolis, where he was employed in a butcher shop and in the mills, till 1864. Then returned to his native place, and in 1868, to Vic- tor, remaining nine years. Since 1879, he has been a resident of Parker township, and has held the offices of Treasurer and Supervisor. In 1850, he was married to Miss Ameida Hoblitt, who was born in Illinois on the 4th of July, 1831. They have had four children, three of whom are living.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
PIERZ.
CHAPTER CXLVII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION- EARLY SETTLEMENT -OR- GANIZATION - RELIGIOUS - SCHOOLS-AGRICULT- URAL STATISTIOS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Pierz lies in the eastern part of the county, and contains 162 square miles, or 102,400 aeres, of which 4,022 are uuder cultivation. This town is named in honor of Father Pierz, who was mainly instrumental in indueing the present thrifty Ger- man settlers to locate here.
The spot presenting the greatest attraction was what has since been known as Rich Prairie. This Prairie lies in the southwest portion of the town, is about three iniles wide from west to east, and from seven to eight miles long. The soil is a rich dark loam and very productive. The balance of the town is mostly covered with timber, a portion being heavy pine forests, and as yet, unimproved.
The first settler iu this town was T. Elwell, now of Minneapolis, who undertook to build a eity near the southwest corner of township forty-one north, range twenty-nine west, on the banks of Skunk river, in 1858. He built a saw-mill and a large and commodious hotel, and sold a large number of town lots. Granite roek is profusely seattered about in this vicinity, and as Mr. Elwell intended the town to be built of this material, he named it "Granite City." His expectations have not been realized, and not a vestige of mill or house remains to mark the spot. Many elaims were taken at that time, and settlers commeneed laying the foundation for future homes, as the lands were rich and the eoun- try beautiful; but the war came, and the people went away, never to return.
In the fall of 1865, Herman J. Billing, a Ger- man, went in with his family and spent the winter in the Granite City Hotel. The following spring he took a elaim on seetion eight, township 40, range 30, but did not remain long and is now in Otter Tail county. He was followed to Pierz du- ring that and the following summer, by Christ Vir- ning, William Bergenhausen, Frank Yeager, John Roch, Nicholas Meyer, Reinhart Stumpf, Frank Konen, and others, all settling on Rich Prairie. Since then this portion of the town has been rap- idly developed, and the population of Pierz in 1880, was 924 persons.
This town was organized in 1868, and embraced
townships 40 and 41, range 30, but in 1874, town- ships 40 and 41, range 29, were added, which comprises the present area. The first election was held at the house of Nicholas Meyer, and the fol- lowing officers ehosen: Supervisors, Herman J. Billings, Chairman, John Roch, and Frank Yea- ger; Clerk, Frank Konen; Treasurer, Christ Vir- ning; Assessor, R. Stumpf; Constable, William Bergenhausen; and Justices of the Peace, Nieho- las Meyer and Frank Konen.
The first religious serviees were held by Father Pierz soon after the first settlers arrived, and he has been followed by Fathers Bueh, Paulin, Sehnei- der, Sehenek, and the present priest, Father Ig- natius.
In 1868, a small church was ereeted on seetion eight, which has sinee given place to a more eom- modious house of worship. In 1874, a large two- story convent was built' near the church. It is the home of eight or ten Sisters, who are employed in teaching the publie school, which is also situ- ated near the church. A fine parsonage is also in process of construction.
The first school in the town was taught by Frank Konen in 1868, in the church, then just completed. The distriet was organized the same year, and the schoolhouse ereeted in 1870.
Distriet number nineteen was organized in 1877, and a schoolhouse built the same year.
Distriet number twenty-eight was organized in 1880. A good frame school house had been pre- viously built, in which the first school after the organization, was held.
There are two general stores in the township. One is conducted by Blake & Bentfelt, and the other by Frank Yeager.
A saw-mill was built by T. Capser in 1874, on the Skunk river, with a capacity of about two thousand feet per day. Peter H. Berg beeame a partuer in 1876, and a run of stones was added. Mr. Capser has again obtained control of the mill, which has been much improved, and a fifteen horse-power engine recently put in.
Pierz Post-office was established in 1873, at the house of Frank Konen. Mr. Konen held the office for three years when James Hall was ap- pointed. He was sneeceded by George Whitney in 1876, and the name changed to Rich Prairie. Since the 30th of December, 1878, Peter W. Blake has been Postmaster, with the office at his store on section eight.
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PIERZ TOWNSHIP.
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
WILLIAM H. BARNHART was born on the 8th of April, 1837. At the age of seventeen years, he visited Michigan, but a few months later located in Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the lumber business on the Alleghany river. In 1862, he enlisted in the One hundred and forty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, was engaged in the battles of The Wilderness, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and many others, serving till the elose of the war. In 1868, he visited Minnesota, and in 1870, brought his family and located at Little Falls. Three years later he came to the town of Pierz, where he has since lived. Mr. Barnhart was mar- ried on the 4th of July, 1867, to Miss Effie L. Cripen, who has borne him three children.
LORENZO BARNHART was born in Greenbush, Rensselaer county, New York, on the 10th of April, 1840. Hc resided for a time in Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming and also in the lumber business on the Alleghany river. He came to Min- nesota in 1873, located at Belle Prairie, Morrison county, and was engaged in the pinery and on the farm for a few seasons. He came to his present farm in 1875, and on the 11th of December, 1878, was married to Miss Sarah A. Stivers. They have two children.
OTTO BOLSTER was born in Bavaria on the 18th of April, 1828. He learned the wood-turner's trade at which he worked until coming to America, in abont 1856. For four years he resided in Iowa county, Wisconsin, then, until 1869, was engaged in farming in Dane county. In the latter year he came to his present farm, and at the second elec- tion held in the town, was elected Treasurer and Supervisor, which offices he held two terms each. On the 5th of February, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary Honor; they have had seven children, five of whom are living.
LEWIS BERG was born in the Rhine province, Prussia, on the 15th of July, 1849. When he was an infant, his parents came to America, locat- ing in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1868. Then, coming to this town, he lived with his parents, who had previously settled here, and was a portion of the time engaged in the woods. In 1872, he enme to his present farm, and in De- cember of the following year, was married to Miss B. Roch. They have six children, five of whom are living.
PETER W. BLAKE, a native of McHenry county, Illinois, was born on the 18th of January, 1846. He
learned the shocmaker's trade, and in 1871, opened a boot and shoe store in his native place. In 1876, the firm of Blake & Bentfelt was formed, and the following year came to Pierz and opened a general merchandise store. Mr. Blake has since given his entire attention to their largely increasing busi- ness. On the 14th of Jannary, 1867, he was mar- ried to Miss Christiana Miller. Of seven children born to them, six are living.
WILHELM BERG was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, on the 27th of December, 1823. For five years he was engaged at the potter's trade, and also served in the army five years. He eame to America in 1853, located in Dane county, Wisconsin, and in 1869, came to this town, pur- chased his present farm and has since made it his home. Was elected Supervisor and held the office three years. Miss Mary Fierneg became his wife on the 14th of February, 1849. They have had nine children, and eight are living.
J. M. CLARK was born in Warren county, Penn- sylvania, on the 5th of March, 1834. ITe resided in that State, and was engaged in different oeen- pations until 1870. Then, coming to Minnesota he located on a farm in Morrison county, remained two years, and in 1873, came to his present farm. On the 26th of Angust, 1858, he was married to Miss Rebecca L. Hess. They have had six chil- dren, and five are living.
N. DAMMEN, SEN. was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, on the 23d of February, 1824. He was employed in the iron works in his native country, working principally at building, pudd- ling, and heating furnaces. Was in the Prussian army from 1842 to 1844, and eame to America, locating in Danville, Pennsylvania, in 1849. Soon after, moving to Greensborongh, he was employed as a mmson, and engaged in building railroad bridges. In about 1858, he came to Stearns county, Minnesota, and ten years later, to his present farm. He is Chairman of the board of Supervisors. In April, 1853, he was married to Miss H. Setzberger, They have had eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living.
NICOLAS DAHMEN, JR. was born in Greensbor- ough, Pennsylvania, in 1853. When he was four years of age, his parents came to Stearns county, Minnesota, where he attended school till 1868. Then the family came to this town, and Nieolas purchased his present farm in 1874, and has since made it his home. He was married on the 4th of February, 1874, to Miss Mary Stumpf. They
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
have had three children, two of whom are living.
WILLIAM GRELL, a native of Prussia, was born on the 4th of November, 1836. When sixteen years of age, he came with his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1868. Then, came to his present farm, and has been Town Clerk four years, Justice of the Peace six years, and held sev- eral other town offices. Miss Gertrude Virning became his wife on the 31st of January, 1861. They have seven children.
JOHN GROSS, a native of Prussia, was born in November, 1817. He came to America in 1845, spent one year in Chicago, and came to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged on a farm for twenty years. Then coming to Minne- sota, he lived in Stearns county until 1878, and came to his present farm fa this town. He mar- ried on the 2d of February, 1841, Miss Anna Pa- tars. They have had ten children, eight of whom are living.
GEORGE HOFMANN, one of the early settlers of this town, was born on the 30th of May, 1827, in Germany. He came to New York City in 1852, and was employed in a factory for a time, then opened a grocery store, and in 1868, came to his present farm. He was married in 1851, to Miss Mary Dillinger. They have had five children, three of whom are living.
GEORGE F. HOFFMAN was born in New York City, on the 12th of November, 1854. He was employed in his native city, in a mustard factory, and also at the moulder's trade. In 1869, lie came to this town, resided with his parents until 1875, when he took a claim, but soon gave it up and purchased his present farm. Was married in 1875, to Miss Frances Roch, who has borne him three children, two of whom are living.
JOSEPH HENNEN was born in Germany on the 29th of July, 1847. His parents came to America, locating at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, when he was but a child. At the age of sixteen, he commenced learning the carpenter trade, working until 1871. Then coming to Stearns county, Minnesota, he was engaged on n farm and ut his trade for two yours. For about eighteen months he resided 'in Minneapolis, and in 1875, came to this town, pur- chased a farm, and has since made it his home, Married, on the 10th of June, 1872, Miss Catha- rine Gross. Of four children, which they have had, but two are living.
FRANK KONEN was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, on the 27th of October, 1829. He at-
tended school at Dusseldorf until nineteen years old, then served eighteen months in the Prussian Infantry. He came to America, loeating in Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1852, where he was engaged in teaching school, and also filled the office of Town Clerk for several terms. Ho came to his present farm in 1868, taught the first school in the town, was first Postmaster, and also first Town Clerk, holding the latter office nearly every year since. On the 24th of July, 1853, he was married to Miss Barbara Stumpf. They have had eleven children, and nine are living.
JACOB KINGEN, deceased, was a native of the prov- inee of Rhine, Prussia, his nativity dating the 7th of April, 1823. He learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at it in the old country until coming to America in 1858. For eleven years he resided in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged at his trade, then came to this town and located on the farm where his family are now living. He opened the first blacksmith shop in the town, and was engaged in that business at the time of his death, on the 16th of January, 1880. On the 2d of February, 1852, he was married to Miss Catharine Brayer, who has had eight children, six of whom are living.
JOHN MCGREGOR was born in the parish of St. Martin, Scotland, on the 17th of August, 1835. He served an apprenticeship of seven years at the blacksmith trade, and came to America in 1854. He was engaged at his trade in Madison, Wiscon- sin, until 1877, then came to this town and opened his present shop. Mr. MeGregor has had the con- truet for carrying the mail from Rice's station to this place since 1878, but employs a carrier. On the 11th of March, 1854, he was married to Miss Margaret Kneeland. They have had nine chil- dren, and eight are living.
NICHOLAS MEYER, one of the old settlers of this town, was born in Prussia, on the 12th of Febru- ary, 1838. For a short time he was employed in a flonring mill in his native eonntry. In 1860, he came to America, located in Dane county, Wis- consin, and seven years later, eame to his present farm in this town. Mr. Meyer has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, and County Commissioner, each for several terms. Was mar- ried on the 14th of November, 1861, to Miss Cath- arine Koch. Of eight children born to them, six are living.
P. H. NEUMAN, a native of Troy, New York, was born on the 25th of April, 1845. When he
629
BIOGRAPHICAL.
was young his parents moved to Madison, Wis- consin, where he lived until twenty-one years of age, then was employed on farms in that vicinity until 1874. In the latter year he came to this town, purchased his present farm, and has since made it his home. Was married to Miss Gertrude Dip- pen on the 9th of August, 1881. They have six children.
PETER NEUMAN, one of the early settlers on the cast side of Skunk river, is a native of the pro- vince of Rhine, Prussia, his nativity dating the 9th of January, 1820. He learned the mill- wright trade of his father in the old country, at which he was employed until coming to America in 1842. After working at his trade, and also farming, in Rensselaer county, New York, he came, in 1853, to Madison, Wisconsin, where he held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years, and Deputy Sheriff eight years. He came to this town in 1874, has been Probate Judge one term, and is at present Justice of the Peace. Mr. Neu- man is a man greatly respected by all who know him. He was married on the 16th of November, 1838, to Miss Margaret Clemens. Of eleven chil- dren born to them, but five are living.
JOHN NEUMAN, a native of Rensselaer county, New York, was born on the 23d of November, 1845. He learned the carpenter's trade, and lived with his parents until twenty-one years of age. Then was employed at his trade in the vicinity of Madison, Wisconsin, until coming to this town in 1874. During the first two years of his residence here he was employed at his trade, and also car- ried on his farm. On the 25th of September, 1863, he was married to Miss Mary Lambarty. Six children have been born, and five are living.
JOHN PREIMESBERGER, a native of Germany, was born on the 28th of May, 1856. In 1870, he came to this town with his parents. He lias a farm on section fourteen, but as yet, resides be- neath the parental roof. On the 28th of Novem- ber, 1876, he was married to Miss Mary Pedner, who has borne him four children.
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