Brown County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1916 (part 8 of 9)

July 31, 1874. Carrie married Siver Hanson, and to them six children were born, Gilbert, Richard, Silver, Hazel, Jessie and Carl. Her death occurred on December 25, 1912. Mrs. Rena Thordson passed away on March 7, 1876. On August 10, 1878, in Madelia, Waterman county, Minnesota, Mr. Thordson married Julia Paulson, who was born on October 22, 1860, in Norway, and was a daughter of Paul and Pernile Olson, who immigrated to the United States in 1874. Ten children were born to this union, nine of whom are still living: Lewis died when twenty-two years old; Petra married Peter Bakhen and has four children, Gilbert, Joseph, Leonard and Adeline; Thomas married Bertha Thorson, a native of Stavanger, Norway, has two children, Joseph and John M.; Paul married Emma Bjertsen and they have one child, Gilmore; Carl, Iver, Rena, Gilbert, J ohn and Annie all live at home, however, the last named is now away at school.

Guttorm Thordson had four brothers: Tidemond Thordson, born on May 27, 1842 ; Levord Thordson, May 26, 1840; Iver Thordson, January 7, 1850; Ole Thordson, already mentioned.

Mr. Thordson has been a successful farmer, and he has added one hundred and twenty acres to his original place, the latter being railroad land, and he also pre-empted forty acres of government land. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, he having been a charter member of the first church of this denomination established in Brown county, the first services of which were held under a large tree in the woods owned by him. He was formerly a Republican, but has supported the Democratic ticket since 1903. He has held some minor public offices in his community.

Ole C. Lilleodden

One of the enterprising farmers of Lake Hanska township, Brown county, is Ole C. Lilleodden, who was born on September 12, 1852, in Gulbranddalen, Norway, a son of Christian J. and Ingleborg Lilleodden. The father was a carpenter by trade, being known as a timber man, because of the class of work he did. His death occurred when Ole C. was four years old. Ole C. Lilleodden attended school until he was confirmed. He then did railway construction work. He immigrated to the United States in 1880, arriving in New Ulm, Minnesota, April 15, of that year. He soon went to work as a farm hand in Stark township and continued the same for some time, in fact, worked out for eight years. Having saved his earnings he then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of railroad land, for which he paid ten dollars per acre. He soon erected a small log cabin on this land and began improving it, living for twelve years in this shack, then having prospered by close application and good management, he erected his present comfortable home, to which he later added another apartment or two. He has also erected a large barn and substantial outbuildings and has done some tiling. He was the first settler to build a modern residence south of the Little Cottonwood river in Brown county. He is a general farmer and keeps good stock.

On February 12, 1880, before setting sail for the new world, Ole C. Lilleodden was united in marriage to Carrie Hanson, a native of the same locality in Norway in which he was born, their families having lived about fourteen miles apart, he being born at Lom and she at Vaage. She did not come to America for a year after her husband sailed. To their union six children have been born, five of whom survive, namely: Emma, born on October 27, 1880, married John Hanson and lives in White Earth, North Dakota, and they have five children, Harry, Oscar, Gilbert, Raymond and Clifford; Christena, born on March 16, 1883, being a twin to Gena, who died in infancy ; Hans, born on November 3, 1885; Gusta, born on November 20, 1888, married Matt Botheim and they live in Midway, North Dakota; Oscar, born on February 7, 1892, attended the Minnesota State Agricultural College one term and is now assisting his father on the home farm. Ole C. Lilleodden and family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Clement Halvorson

Clement Halvorson, former county commissioner of Brown county and for the past thirty-five years clerk of Linden township, one of the best-known farmers of that township and a man whose interest in education has done much to advance the standards of the schools in his neighborhood, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, having been born in Lower Telemarken, about two Norwegian miles from the city of Skien, December 10, 1853, son of Ole and Johanna Marie (Johnson) Halvorson, also natives of Norway and early settlers of Brown county.

Ole Halvorson was the supervisor of a large estate in Norway and in 1855 he and his family came to America, landing at Quebec, whence they proceeded to Wisconsin. They had kinsfolk in Waukesha county, that state, and there they settled, remaining there until 1869, in the spring of which year they came to Minnesota, settling in Brown county. Here Ole Halvorson established his home and here he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch is next to the youngest.

Clement Halvorson was about one and one-half years old when he came to this country with his parents and was about sixteen when he came to this county with the family. He had received excellent schooling in Wisconsin and upon coming here entered the Normal School at Mankato. He presently was licensed to teach school and in 1874 taught his first term, the same being in district 20. For seven succes- sive terms he presided over that school and then taught three years in Freeborn county, two terms a year. In 1878 he bought a quarter of a section of railroad land in Linden township, his present home farm, paying for the same from seven dollars to eight dollars an acre, according to quality, and the next year married and established his home on that farm, where he ever since has lived and where he has reared his family. In addition to the farm thus owned by Mr. Halvorson, his wife is the owner of a fine farm in the same township and the family is thus very well circumstanced.

On May 21, 1879, Clement Halvorson was united in marriage to Anna J ohanni, who was born on a farm in section 14, of Linden township, this county, April 26, 1859, daughter of Johannes and Christina (Darnutzer) Johanni, natives of Switzerland, who came to the United States in 1854, locating in Wisconsin, where they lived until 1858, in which year they came to Minnesota, locating in Brown county, where they homesteaded a tract of land in Linden township and thus became numbered among the very earliest settlers of that township. Johannes Johanni enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Cavalry for service during the Civil War and did valiant service during the Indian uprising, receiving his honorable discharge at Ft. Snelling.

To Clement and Anna (Johanni) Halvorson ten children have been born, namely : John O., born on J anuary 17, 1880, now an instructor at Queens University, Kingston, Canada, married Emma Evenson and has one child, a daughter, Edna M. ; Christina J., September 24, 1881, who married Theodore Laingen, a Linden township farmer and has four children, Rudolph, Hulmer, Arnold and Richard ; Alfred E., September 24, 1884, also of Linden township, who married Emma Olsen and has one child, a son, daughter, clare; Ella M., October 8, 1887, who married Samuel J. Harbo, of Linden township and has four children, Chesly, Adel, Sylva and Myrtle ; Lillian, September 7, 1889, a graduate of the University of Minnesota and of the University of Missouri, and a former teacher in the schools of Brown county, who married Vern E. Lewis, of Antrim, this state, and has one child, a son, J ames Clement ; Edward M., October 11, 1891, who is assisting his father in the management of the home farm; Cora A., January 22, 1895, a graduate of the Madelia high school, who also attended the University of Minnesota and is now a teacher in the public schools of the neighboring county of Watonwan; Willard H., June 24, 1897, a student in the Medalia high school ; Lucile M., July 14, 1899, also a student in the Medalia high school, and Verna F., October 31, 1902. Dr. John O. Halvorson, first born of the above children and one of the most distinguished scholars ever reared in Brown county, was graduated from the Medalia high school, after which he entered Minnesota University, from which he was graduated with high honors, receiving the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science at that institution. He then took a course at the Missouri State University, following the same by a course in the University of Chicago, after which he spent a year in post-graduate work at Yale and now has the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. For some time he was an instructor in the Missouri State University, occupying a chair there under the auspices of the United States government, and for four years served as deputy dairy commissioner for the state of Missouri ; now a member of the faculty of Queens (3 2a )

Mr. Halvorson was one of the organizers of the Linden Creamery Company and has been manager of that concern since the plant was installed in 1894. He also has taken an active part in local political affairs and was elected a member of the board of county commissioners in 1892, serving during the period 1893-97. In 1881 he was elected clerk of Linden township and has held that office continuously ever since.

Julius Melzer

Julius Melzer, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers in Brown county, proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and sixty-two acres in Linden township, is a native son of Brown county, having been born in Cottonwood township, October 26, 1858, second son of John and Wilhelmine (Tohm) Melzer, both natives of Germany and among the very earliest settlers of Brown county, who came to the United States immediately after their marriage and located at Chicago. They were among the members of the party of German colonists who left Chicago in 1855 and came to Minnesota, establishing the New Ulm settlement. Upon arriving here John Melzer homesteaded a tract of land in Cottonwood township and was living there with his family at the time of the Indian uprising in 1862. The family sought refuge in New Ulm and later went to St. Peter, where they remained until the uprising had been put down, after which they returned to their homestead farm, but shortly afterward sold that place and moved over into Nicollet county, where their permanent home was established and where John Melzer died in 1913.

Julius Melzer received little schooling in his childhood, the pioneer home in which he was reared having been three miles from a school house, and his time from boyhood was given to the labors incident to the development of a pioneer farm, in which development he assisted very materially, becoming an excellent farmer. Following his marriage in 1882 he bought three hundred and sixty-two acres in Linden township, this county, and there has made his home ever since. The home plat on this place was partially improved at the time Mr. Melzer bought it, but the remainder was wholly unimproved and he has brought it all up to an excellent state of cultivation, the only one of the old buildings now standing being the old dwelling, which Mr. Melzer now utilizes as a general purpose building. His barn, which is the second largest barn in the county, has steel stanchions and concrete floor and mangers, being thoroughly modern in every detail.

On February 17, 1882, Julius Melzer was united in marriage, in Nicollet county to Wilhelmine Luedtke, who was born in Germany and who came to this country with her widowed mother about 1880. To this union seven children were born, one of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow: Emma, who married Albert Olson and has one child ; Henry, who lives at home and is a competent assistant to his father on the farm ; Albert, who owns a barber shop in South Dakota; John, who also lives in South Dakota; Arthur, at home, and Ella, also at home. Mrs. Melzer died on June 7, 1900. Mr. Melzer is a member of the Lutheran church at New Ulm and his children are also adherents of that faith.

Iver K. Stone

A painstaking farmer of Lake Hanska township, Brown county, is Iver K. Stone, who was born in Voge, Norway, March 26, 1850, a son of Knute and Gunhild (Enersdatter) Stone. The father devoted his active life to farming. He rented land in Norway but owned his place after coming to the United States in 1867, arriving in Brown county, Minnesota, in June of that year. Here he took up a homestead of eighty acres, which he proved up and developed, but finally moved to a farm belonging to his son, in another part of Brown county, where Iver K. Stone now lives. The father resided with his son here the rest of his life.

Iver K. Stone received most of his education in his native land. After coming to America he worked out by the month, receiving only eight dollars a month for his labor at first. But he saved his earnings and in a few years bought eighty acres for which he paid five dollars per acre. Later he added to his original holdings, paying seven dollars and fifty cents and eight dollars per acre for land and finally twenty dollars per acre. Any of it is now worth one hundred dollars per acre. He has been very successful as a general farmer, but retired from active work in 1911 and now rents his land. He was one of the organizers of the Security State Bank of Hanska, since which time he has been its president, and his able, honest and conservative management has resulted in building up a strong and popular institution which is well patronized.

On December 12, 1878, Iver L. Stone was married in Brown county, to Anna Olsen Joramo, who was born in Lesher, Norway, and is a daughter of Ole Joramo. She came to the United States with her parents in the spring of 1873, the family locating in Brown county, Minnesota. To this union one child has been born, Carl I. Stone, whose birth occurred on September 28, 1879. He received a good practical education, and married Julia Brude. They live in New Ulm, and have two children, Ivan and Lloyd.

Iver E. Stone is a member of the Lake Hanska Lutheran church, being among the first to affiliate with the same after its organization. He also contributed to the founding of the church in Hanska. Politically he is a Republican, and he has been township trustee, constable, and also has held other minor offices, always in a faithful and satisfactory manner.

On January 7, 1872, Iver K. Stone and his father were out.in a terrific snow storm which they faced for five miles, leading their horses the last two miles. Part of the time they were on their hands and knees looking for the road. The horses finally came up against a post and the younger Stone then recognized his surroundings. He groped his way blindly to where he believed their home stood, but could not see ahead of him three feet. However, he was right, and he and his father reached shelter none too soon. It was one of the worst snow storms ever known in this country.

J. W. Koester, proprietor of " Grand View Stock Farm" in Linden township, this county, and head of the firm of J. W. Koester & Sons, well-known breeders of registered Shorthorn cattle and Poland China swine, whose place four miles east of Hanska and five miles north of Madelia is the scene of frequent stock sales, attracting buyers from all parts of southern Minnesota, is a native of Illinois, though he has been a resident of Brown county since pioneer days hereabout, having been brought here when two or three years old by his parents, who were among the early settlers of this county. He was born on a farm in Cook county, Illinois, not far from the then unpretentious city of Chicago, November 17, 1856, son of Henry and Sophia Koester, natives of Germany, the former of whom was born on November 2, 1825, and the latter, December 11, 1824, who later became prominent pioneers of this section of Minnesota.

Henry Koester was a brick-mason in his native land. He married when twenty-seven years of age and two or three years later, in 1855, he and his wife came to the United States, locating on a farm in Cook county, Illinois, in the neighborhood of Chicago, where he followed both farming and brick-masonry. In 1858 he and his family drove through by ox-team and joined the considerable German colony that was then gathering about the New Ulm settlement, and homesteaded eighty acres of land in section 1, Linden township, this county. Erecting a log cabin, he and his family established their home there and lived there until the time of the Indian uprising, when they were compelled to flee to Mankato for protection. On November 18, 1862, Henry Koester enlisted in Company L, First Regiment, Minnesota Mounted Rangers, and served until the close of the campaign against the Sioux Indians, being mustered out on December 2, 1863. He then sold his land in Brown county and moved to Nicollet county, where he farmed and made his home until 1878, in which year he and his wife returned to Brown county and spent the rest of their days with their son, the subject of this sketch. Henry Koester died on June 6, 1896, and his widow died on December 5, 1897. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth in order of birth.

J. W. Koester was little more than an infant when his parents came to Brown county, hence his active years have been spent in this section of the state. He received his education in the public schools of Nicollet county and in 1875 went to Rochester, this state, in the neighborhood of which he worked on farms for three years, at the end of which time he returned to Brown county and rented a farm, which he operated for five years. He then bought from John C. Rudolph a quarter of a section of land in section 27, Linden township, paying for the same twenty-one dollars an acre, which at that time was regarded as a top price. As he prospered in his operations he added to the place by the purchase of an adjoining quarter section and now has a very well-kept and profitably operated farm of three hundred and twenty acres, itoproved with excellent modern buildings and registered as "Grand View Stock Farm." Mr. Koester early went in for fine stock, with particular refer- ence to fine hogs, and in 1895 began the breeding of fullblood Poland China swine, being the first breeder in that line in Brown county. In 1905 he became a member of the Poland China Record Association and holds sales of his high-class stock at frequent intervals, these sales being largely attended by farmers and stockmen from all parts of southern Minnesota.

On May 13, 1887, J. W. Koester was united in marriage to Agnes Wilbrecht, who was born near Hutchinson, this state, January 21, 1869, daughter of Fred and Louise (Perdun) Wilbrecht, natives of Germany, who came to the United States about 1865, first locating in Pennsylvania, where Fred Wilbrecht worked for awhile in the mines, later coming to Minnesota. To this union five children have been born, namely: Henry, born on January 11, 1889; John, October 27, 1890) Martha, September 21, 1892; Bertha, March 11, 1897, and Albert, March 9, 1900. The Koesters have a very pleasant home at " Grand View Stock Farm" and are quite comfortably situated.

Carl Olstad

No more progressive farmer and stock raiser is to be found within the borders of Brown county than Carl Olstad, of Lake Hanska township. He was born on February 10, 1875, in the vicinity where he now resides, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Olstad) Olstad. They are not related ?n blood, but were bearing the same name when they were married, in view of the fact that they took their names from a group of farms, and each came from the same group. These parents immigrated to the United States in 1868 and 1869, respectively, were married in Chicago and lived there six years, being residents of that city during the great fire of October 9, 1871. The father was a carpenter by trade and he worked on the reconstruction of the city after the conflagration. In the autumn of 1874 they came to Brown county, where the father had bought eighty acres in section 36, Lake Hanska township. The father is still living on the old home place. He was one of the settlers that passed through the memorable grasshopper years from 1875 to 1877, inclusive, when three successive crops were destroyed by the insects, but fortunately he was still following his trade of carpenter during that period, and did not lose as heavily as the farmers. He helped organize school district No. 67, but he never sought or held public office. Before this school was organized some of the pupils were compelled to go long distances, and it was customary for the teacher to live in the school house, setting up his bed in one corner of

Carl Olstad attended school six months in the year when a boy, and in 1897 he was graduated from the State Agricultural College. He lived at home until his marriage at which time he moved to the farm of his uncle, Knute Olstad, operating his place for four years, and finally bought him out in 1904. He has since greatly improved the land. There were only two small buildings on the place when he came here, but now he has one of the largest barns in Brown county, twenty-six by ninety-six feet, and twenty-eight feet to the comb, also a large silo, the first clay-brick silo to be built in the state, A. C. Ochs, of Springfield, erecting the same for experimental purposes, and it proved a decided success. It will hold over one hundred and fifty tons. He has also erected other convenient and substantial buildings, including a large residence, which is of excellent construction and design, set back some distance from the road, surrounded by a grove of choice trees of various kinds. The farm is named and registered as the " Cedar Lodge Farm," and it is one of the best-kept and most productive farms in the locality. Mr. Olstad also has other business interests, being at present manager of the Hanska-Linden Creamery Company, and he has been a member of the board of directors of the same for several years. He was secretary of the Hanska-Linden Store Company for seven years. He helped organize the Hanska Rural Telephone Company and has been a member of the board of directors since its organization, serving as vice-president of the board until 1913 when he was elected president. He has been very successful in a

Carl Olstad was married on May 30, 1900, in Brown county, to Lena Brude, who was born on February 16, 1876, in Albin township, this county, and is a daughter of Lars and Ingeborg (Bjorneberg) Brude, natives of Norway, from which country they came to the United States in 1872, first settling in Albin township, Brown county, Minnesota, where the father homesjeaded eighty acres of land which is now owned by John Nessit and is located in section 28. Later the family moved to Lake Hanska township, where the parents spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. Lena Olstad was a student in the State Normal, lacking only a few months of graduation. She taught school for five years in the rural schools of Lake Hanska township. To Mr. and Mrs. Olstad three children have been born, namely : Porter, born on January 13, 1902; Freda, December 8, 1905; Ida, July 18, 1907, died on May 7, 1912, when five years old. Mrs. Olstad and family are members of the Lake Hanska Lutheran church. He is independent in politics. He is at present clerk of the school district, and has been a member of the school board since coming of age, with the exception of one year. He has done much to encourage better schools in his home district.

Rev. Amandus Norman

Contented to be an humble follower of the lowly Nazarene, Rev. Amandus Norman, of Brown county, has accomplished much good as a minister of the Gospel. He was born on January 5, 1865, in Hamar, Norway, and is a son of Erick and Anna Marie (Fjedre) Norman. The father was a farmer. His family consisted of six children, five sons and one daughter, Amandus being the youngest child. Amandus attended school in Norway until he was about fourteen years old, then immigrated to the United States, with a relative, and located in Fargo, North Dakota, where he worked on a farm for over a year, then was employed as clerk and in time became a partner in a general store in Reynolds, North Dakota. While there he was given the privilege of attending school during the winter months, and eventually by hard study he managed to master the English language, and was graduated from the high school in the spring of 1885. He then went to Minneapolis where he studied privately with the poet-preacher, Krintofer Janson. In the fall of 1886 he entered the Unitarian College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1891. He made an excellent record and received the Kraft scholarship to Harvard University, where he spent the next two years, after which he began his work as minister, having charge of the church of his denomination in Minneapolis, Hanska and Underwood, this state. He resided in Minneapolis until 1906 when he removed to Hanska, where he has since made his home, although he still fills the pulpit at Underwood occasionally. In 1907 he helped organize the Norse Unitarian Association of America and was elected president of the same, and still holds this responsible position and has been the prime motive force in the same from the first. Since coming to Hanska he was active in the organization and building of the Liberal Union Association and hall in Hanska, and is president of the association. He is also an active and influential temperance worker.

Reverend Norman was married on June 15, 1895, in Minneapolis, to Corrine Kvam, who was born in Toten, Norway, and is a daughter of Auders Paulseth. This union has been without issue, but they have taken two children into their home to raise. He is a diligent student and owns a large and well-selected library, containing about two thousand and five hundred volumes, and he spends a great deal of time among them ; but he is not selfish and likes to loan his books to those who appreciate them. He is interested in astronomy and has a small observatory on the roof of his dwelling in which he has some very fine instruments. He is an earnest, logical and forceful pulpit orator and a prolific writer, especially on religious and social subjects.

Albert O. Amundson

Albert O. Amundson, a farmer of Lake Hanska township, Brown county, was born on March 20, 1866, in Dane county, Wisconsin, and is a son of Ole B. and Julia (Olson) Amundson, both natives of Numdahl, Norway, where the paternal grandparents engaged in farming, until they came to the United States in 1849, when Ole B. Amundson was seven years old. They located in Dane county, Wisconsin, among the earliest settlers, being among the first Scandinavians to locate there, and where the father of the subject of this sketch grew to manhood and bought a farm, which he sold in 1883 and removed to Brown county, Minnesota, buying forty acres of railroad land, for which he paid six dollars per acre. It was located in section 17, Lake Hanska township. He added to this until he owned about three hundred acres at the time of his death in 1906. He helped organize the present school district and was one of the first members of the school board here. He was a member of the Koshkonong Norwegian Lutheran church, which he helped to build, and it was one of the first of its kind in the United States. His family consisted of seven children, Albert O. being the eldest.

Albert O. Amundson received his education in the common schools, and he began working on the home farm when a small boy. Back in the eighties he bought forty acres of railroad land, for which he paid seven dollars per acre. This he improved and put under cultivation, later added to it until he owned one hundred and twenty acres. He also purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lake Hanska township in 1898. This land was also unimproved, but he has since placed it under a high state of cultivation and now makes his home there, renting his other farm.

On July 2, 1894, Albert O. Amundson was married to Pauline Ahlness, who was born on August 21, 1872, in Lake Hanska township, this county, a daughter of Christian and Tonetta (Nelson) Ahlness. The father was born on a farm in Norway, December 23, 1843, some distance north of the city of Christiana, on the shores of Mjosen, an inland lake. He left his native land when twenty-one years of age and came to the United States, arriving in Chicago in June,

1865, remaining there four years. In 1866 he married Tonnette Nelson, who had very recently come to this country from the same locality in Norway where he was born. In the spring of 1869 they continued their journey westward, in a prairie schooner, drawn by a pair of oxen, finally arriving in Brown county, Minnesota, and located on an eighty-acre homestead in Lake Hanska township, in June, 1869. The township was not then organized and had as yet no name, but by a natural instinct for organization a community was created out of the wilderness. School districts and churches were organized and later on the Hanska and Linden Creamery and Store Association were the results of that instinct. Mr. Ahlness served the community in almost every capacity, including the offices of justice of the peace, chairman of the board of supervision, assessor, town clerk, county commissioner, president of the Brown County Farmers Alliance, and finally, in 1890, he was elected to represent his county in the state Legislature ; and last, but not least, he served his fellow farmers for a period of more than twenty years as secretary and manager of the Hanska- Linden Creamery Association. He succeeded as a general farmer, established a comfortable home and enjoys the esteem of all who knew him. His family of nine children were reared and educated so as to form the nucleus of Christian homes, which today he considers the greatest of worldly achievements. After forty years of married life, the faithful helpmeet and kind mother passed to her eternal rest in 1906. Since his wife's death Mr. Ahlness has retired from active life and is now living in a cozy home in the village of Hanska.

To Mr. and Mrs. Amundson two children have been born, namely: Oliver, whose birth occurred on February 6, 1898, is a student in St. Olaf College ; Theressa was born in November, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Amundson are also rearing two orphan girls, having taken the eldest at the age of nine years and the other when seven years old, the latter being his niece ; they are Ida B. Rono, the eldest, who was born in 1889, a daughter of Silver and Anna Rono; and Utilda Braley, who was born on October 7, 1901. The former was graduated from the Madison Normal School at Madison, Minnesota, and is now engaged in teaching in the Brown county schools.

Politically, Mr. Amundson is an independent voter. He is now chairman of the township board of supervisors. He was township clerk for several years. He is a director in the Hanska-Linden Creamery Association, of which he has been treasurer for about twenty years. He is a stockholder (33a) in the Hanska-Linden Store Company, but has held no offices in the latter. He is also a stockholder and director in the Hanska State Bank, having been a director in the same since its organization. He has been successful in a business way. His farm is one of the best in the county, his buildings are all substantial, painted and comfortable, and they are surrounded by a beautiful grove. He was one of the first farmers in Lake Hanska township to use a gasoline traction engine to do his plowing and breaking. He is an advocate of advanced methods of agriculture and has done much to encourage better farming in Brown county. He and his family are members of the Lake Hanska Lutheran church. He has four brothers living in this township, namely: John, Martin, Ole and Theo; Julius, another brother, lives near Silverton, Oregon; and a sister, Betsy, who became the wife of Tyler Braley, died when forty-one years old, leaving a daughter, Utilda, who lives with Mr. Amundson.

Gen. Joseph Bobleter

In the memorial annals of Brown county no name stands out more distinctly than that of the late Gen. Joseph Bobleter, of New TJlm, an honored veteran of the Civil War, colonel of the Twelfth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, brigadier-general of the Minnesota National Guard, merchant, editor, banker, treasurer of state and at the time of his death serving the people of New Ulm as mayor of that city. An appreciation of General Bobleter written by Maj. L. A. Fritsche and read before the thirtieth annual convention of the National Guard Association of the state of Minnesota at New Ulm on October 8, 1909, concludes as follows: "It often happens that men with specific proclivities are apt to be one-sided in their ideas of life, but not so with the late General Bobleter. He was highly public spirited ; always ready to do favors and assist his fellow citizens in whatever walk of life. A true friend, he probably placed more trust in mankind than he should have done. He was jovial and always ready and willing to assist others in having a good time. He was hospitable and his house was ever open to his friends. He was a good man, a good citizen, indulgent father, a good and kind husband, and no higher compliment can be paid anyone. Tracing his life from childhood to the time of his death, there is one noticeable trait of character which may serve as a worthy example to all young men. His will power, his determination, his consistency in all his undertakings were conspicuous and predominant features, overcoming all obstacles and thus leading up to the desired end. All in all, it can be truthfully said that the late General Bobleter was a man who not only understood the need of his times, but was always ready to offer his services, his strength and his knowledge to meet the demands of the commonwealth as a man, a citizen, a public servant and, above all, as a soldier.' '

The story of the life of General Bobleter reads like a romance and is all the more interesting, because it is true. He was born at Dornbirn, a village in the Austrian Tyrol, April 19, 1846. His mother died when he was an infant and he was reared by kinsfolk. In 1852 his father and uncle came to the United States, seeking new homes, and located near Dubuque, Iowa. The uncle homesteaded a place there and the father after awhile came to Minnesota, locating at New Ulm in 1856. Two years later, in 1858, the uncle returned to Austria to bring his family to the new home in this country and with them came the lad, Joseph Bobleter, then twelve years of age. Upon his arrival here, Joseph Bobleter began working on farms during the summers and continued his schooling during the winters, quickly acquiring a thorough and accurate knowledge of the English language. Though but sixteen years of age at the time, in September, 1862, he enlisted in the Thirteenth United States Infantry for service during the Civil War and served with that command until honorably discharged nine months later. In December, 1863, he enlisted for service in the United States navy and was stationed on the "Blackhawk," Admiral Porter's flagship. He participated in the Red River expedition and after General Bank's defeat at Pleasant Hill was one of a detachment to carry dispatches to Admiral Porter, who had preceded the land forces toward Shreveport, about eighty miles distant. The dispatch boat came near being captured before Porter's fleet was reached, seven men of the detachment being killed and twelve wounded, among the latter being young Bobleter, who was severely wounded in the left leg by a fragment of a shell. In December, 1864, he was honorably discharged and in the following month enlisted, for a third time, this time as a private in the Second Iowa Cavalry, with which he served until mustered out in the following September. In the following December Joseph Bobleter for the fourth time offered his services to the government, re-enlisting in his old regiment, the Thirteenth United States Infantry, with which he served on the frontier for three years, being mustered out at Ft. Abercrombie in November, 1868.

Upon the completion of his military service, Joseph Bobleter located at New Ulm, which place his father had helped to found and had later helped to defend during the Sioux uprising, and there he spent the rest of his life, one of the most useful and energetic citizens of that place. Upon locating there he became engaged as a clerk in Doctor Weschcke's drug store and soon after established a drug store of his own. In 1878 he established the New Ulm Review, a Republican newspaper, which he edited until 1887. In the meantime, in 1883, he was elected representative from this district to the state Legislature and served one term as a member of the House. In 1886 he was elected state treasurer and showed such ability in the administration of the affairs of that office that he was successively re-elected in the years 1888, 1890 and 1892.

Upon his retirement from public office he became financially interested in the Columbia National Bank of Minneapolis and for a time served as cashier of the same. Subsequently he became associated with the Brown County Bank of New Ulm, serving that institution for some time as cashier and later as president. In 1885 and in 1886 General Bobleter served his home town as a member of the city council and in the spring of 1908 was elected mayor of New Ulm and was serving as the city's chief executive at the time of his death in the summer of that same year.

General Bobleter 's military spirit did not rest upon his retirement from the army in 1868 and in 1871 he perfected a local organization known as the New Ulm Military Company, which was mustered into the service of the state as an unassigned company of the Minnesota National Guard on May 25, 1871, and in August of that same year became Company E of the Second Regiment. When the Third Battalion was formed in July, 1873, Company E, of the Second Regiment, Captain Bobleter, became Company A of the Third Battalion and Captain Bobleter was promoted to the command of the battalion, with the rank of major. In the following winter, owing to the refusal of the Legislature to continue the appropriation for the National Guard, the militia organization went to pieces; but, nothing disheartened, Major Bobleter reorganized his New Ulm company in 1874 and in September, 1875, secured its formal recognition by the state, under the name of the Governor's Guard, the same being maintained up to 1878 as the only military company in Minnesota. In 1882 when the militia was formally reorganized, Major Bobleter was made major of the Second Battalion and four months later was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment. In the spring of 1898, upon the breaking out of the Spanish- American War he was commissioned colonel of the Twelfth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served in that capacity until the regiment was mustered out at New Ulm on November 5, 1898. In 1903 Colonel Bobleter was elected brigadier-general of the Minnesota National Guard and was thus serving at the time of his death, July 2, 1909, having only thirteen days before reviewed the Third Regiment at its annual encampment.

General Bobleter was twice married. On September 5, 1869, the year following his location at New Ulm, he was united in marriage to Mary Schneider, who died in 1907. In the year 1908 General Bobleter married, secondly, Mrs. Ida Schoregge, who survives, together with three children of the first union.

Frank H. Retzlaff

Frank H. Retzlaff, well-known hardware merchant of New Ulm, president of the city council at that place, one of the directors of the Citizens State Bank of the same city and a member of the board of trustees of the Dr. Martin Luther College at New Ulm, is a native of Germany, though a resident of Brown, county since he was three or four years of age. He was born near the city of Stettin, capital of the province of Pomerania, December 30, 1863, son of Gottfried and Wilhelmina (Grosse) Retzlaff, natives of the same district and sturdy farmers.

Gottfried Retzlaff was a soldier in his country's army during the war against Austria in 1866, and the next year 1867, emigrated with his family to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling in Brown county. He bought an eighty-acre farm in Cottonwood township and there established his family. He prospered from the very start and quickly became recognized as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood, gradually adding to his land holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and sixty acres. About 1899 he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to New Ulm, where they have since resided and where they are very comfortably located. They are members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. Gottfried Retzlaff is the fourth of the five children born to his parents, the others having been Frederick, William, Wilhelmina and Sophia. His wife is the second of the two children born to her parents (Wilhelm who died here in Cottonwood township), and Wilhelmina Grosse (who died in Germany), she having a brother, Wilhelm, who owns a large coffee plantation near Rio Janeiro, Brazil.

To Gottfried and Wilhelmina (Grosse) Retzlaff ten children have been born, namely: Prank H., the immediate subject of this review; Auguste, deceased, who was the wife of Ernest Thiede ; Bertha, who married Albert Guth, of New Ulm ; Anna, widow of C. A. Spalding, of Lamberton, this state; Emma, wife of Frank Guth, who occupies the old Retzlaff homestead in Cottonwood township; Ida, wife of Albert Spalding, of Wanda, this state; Henry, deceased; Martha, wife of George Kastner, of Lamberton; Henry, the second, deceased, and Herman, deceased.

Prank H. Retzlaff, eldest of the above children, was four years old when his parents came to America and settled in this county and he has lived here ever since except from 1884 to 1887 lived in Little Falls, Minnesota. He was reared on the homestead farm in Cottonwood township, received his education in district school No. 3, and remained at home until grown. For a year he worked in the employ of the Minneapolis Harvester Company and then went to Little Falls, where he engaged in the Agricultural business in 1884, remaining there two years, at the end of which time, in 1887, he located in New Ulm, where he established his present business. At first Mr. Retzlaff engaged only in the sale of agricultural implements, but after two years added a general stock of hardware to his line of implements, and has thus been engaged, long having been recognized as one of the leading merchants of the city and of this section of the state. Upon the development of the automobile business he secured the agency for a popular make of car and has since made much of the automobile department of his extensive establishment. Not only has he been diligent in his own business, but he has f ound time to devote proper attention to the public service and for four years has been a member of the city council at New Ulm, being the president of that body one year. His financial interests are not confined solely to his hardware business, and for more than eighteen years he has been one of the directors of the Citizens State Bank of New Ulm. He has also given proper attention to the general cultural development of the community and for twenty-five years has been a member of the board of trustees of the Dr. Martin Luther College.

On October 28, 1884, Frank H. Retzlaff was married to Minnie Fritsche, who was born on a homestead farm in Cottonwood township, daughter of Ernest and Christina (Schumacher) Fritsche, natives of Germany, the former born in Saxony, and the latter in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, who were among the early settlers of Cottonwood township. Ernest Fritsche, who is still living, is the eldest of seven children born to his parents, who emigrated with their family from Saxony and came to the United States, becoming early settlers in this county, where they spent the rest of their lives, his brothers and sisters having been, Friederick, Mrs. Victor, Mrs. Hauenstein, Mrs. Koehne, Mrs. Strasser, Louis and Carl, all of whom are living with the exception of Mrs. Victor and Carl. His wife, who died in 1886, at the age of forty-three, was one of six children born to John Schumacher and wife, who came to this country about the same time the Fritsche family came, and were also among the pioneer families of Brown county. Her brothers and sisters were John, Henry Sophia, Mrs. Walker and Jerome. To Ernest Fritsche and wife nine children were born, of whom Mrs. Retzlaff is the eldest, her brothers and sisters being Louis, Herman, Robert, Emil, John, Emma, Louise and Alfred, the three last named being deceased.

Frank H. Retzlaff and wife are the parents of seven children, as follows: Minnie, who married Rev. W. C. Albrecht, who is pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, now living at Sleepy Eye, this county, has four children, Ruth, Gilbert, Armin and Philip ; Alma, who died in early childhood; Selma, who also died young; Armin, who is actively connected with the work of his father's store; Waldemar, who is a student in the Northwestern College at Watertown, Wisconsin; Elsie, a student in the Bethany College, a ladies' finishing school at Mankato, this state, and Victor, who died in early childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Retzlaff have long occupied a prominent place in the social and cultural life of the community and are held in high esteem hereabout. They are earnest members of the Lutheran church, in the general beneficences of which they take a warm interest, and Mr. Retzlaff is president of the board of trustees of that church. He is also a member of the Board of Regents of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm. Mr. Retzlaff is secretary of the New Ulm Rural Telephone Company, of New Ulm, an office which he has held for ten years.

Albert Behnke

No history of Brown county would be complete without fitting and appreciative mention of the life and the works of Albert Behnke, venerable retired merchant of New Ulm, who perhaps has a wider personal acquaintance than any man in the county and who certainly is more widely and accurately acquainted with the history of New Ulm than any man now living there, for he witnessed the erection of the first building constructed in the town and has noted the progress of the community from the day of its inception to the present day. Though now past eightyfive years of age, Mr. Behnke is physically well preserved and mentally alert, his retentive memory being as clear on questions pertaining to pioneer days as ever it was.

Albert Behnke is a native of Germany, having been born in the city of Marlow, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, August 28, 1830, son of Prederich and Sophia (Dietz) Behnke, who, with their two sons and two daughters, came to the United States in 1853, locating in the neighborhood of Elgin, Illinois, where they bought a farm and there made their home for about two years. Then hearing the good reports that were proceeding from this section of Minnesota, they sold their Illinois farm and drove through with oxteams and horses (Mr. Behnke had the first team of horses in New Ulm), bringing with them about thirty head of cattle, arriving at the present site of New Ulm on June 26, 1855. They entered homestead claims there, the parents and the two sons, Albert and Henry, each entering a quar- ter of a section, and at once proceeded to erect claim shanties and establish their home. Not long afterward they erected a substantial hewed-log house, at that time the best and most commodious in the county, and there made their home, the family remaining together for some time. After the village had become well established, Fritz Behnke and his wife retired from the farm and moved into town, where their last days were spent, both living to advanced ages. As noted above they were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest, the others being Amelia, who was the wife of Fritz Struckmann; Henry, who died in middle life and who was one of the most prominent figures in the civic life of this community in pioneer days, having served the public as a justice of the peace, register of deeds, clerk of the court and in other public capacities, and Caroline, who was the wife of a Mr. Prichnitz.

Albert Behnke was twenty-four years old when he came to this country. In the fall of 1857 he married Mrs. Bertha Mueller, a young widow, who also was born in Germany and who had one son by her first marriage. After his marriage Mr. Behnke continued making his home on the farm until the Indian outbreak in 1862, after which he moved into New Ulm and engaged in merchandising with his brother. After the death of his brother he continued in business with his son and was thus engaged until his retirement in 1905. He and his wife lived together happily for fifty-two years, their golden wedding having been celebrated in 1907, a gathering of their family and oldest friends marking the occasion. Mrs. Behnke died on December 19, 1909, at the age of eighty years, and Mr. Behnke

Both Mr. and Mrs. Behnke were reared as Lutherans in the old country, but after arriving here were not actively identified with any religious denomination, although helpful to all in the way of material contributions. Mr. Behnke for years was a member of the New Ulm city council and was ever foremost in promoting movements designed to advance the good of the city.

To Albert and Bertha Behnke seven children were born, namely : Henry and Annie, who died in the prime of life; Mrs. Ida Bobleter, Fred Behnke, Mrs. Bertha Hartman, Albert Behnke, and Mrs. Meda Vogel. There are six grandchildren living.

Major Louis G. Vogel

Major Louis G. Vogel, of the Minnesota National Guard, for over twenty years auditor of Brown county, and one of the best-known and most influential citizens of New Ulm, is a native son of that city and has lived there all his life. He was born on May 24, 1867, son of Joseph P. and Margeretha (Serr) Vogel, natives of Germany and early settlers of New Ulm, where they are still living.

Joseph P. Vogel was trained to the trade of a wagonmaker and worked at that trade in his native land until he came to America with his parents at the age of ten years, the latter having joined the colony of German settlers in and about New Ulm. He followed the wagon-making trade until about 1883, when he engaged in the lumber business, in which he remained until about 1910. He is a Catholic and his wife is a member of the Lutheran church. They are the parents of five children, namely : Louis G., the subject of this biographical review; Alfred J., Dr. Joseph H., Alma, wife of Louis B. Krook, of New Ulm, and Bertha, deceased, who was the wife of Louis J. Buenger. Joseph P. Vogel is the son of Simon Vogel and wife, who also were pioneers of Brown county, and who lived to advanced ages. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Joseph P., George, Christopher, Mrs. Anna Flor, Mrs. Dorotho Schieffler, Mrs. Caroline Schramm, and Josephine, deceased. Mrs. Vogel 's father, Gabriel S. Serr, also was one of the pioneers of the New Ulm settlement. He and his

Louis G. Vogel was reared at New Ulm and received his education in the public schools of that city. Upon completing the school course he was employed as a bookkeeper in the office of the Empire mill at New Ulm, and was thus engaged until the time of his selection to the office of auditor of Brown county in 1896. So satisfactory to the general public did his services in that important public capacity prove that he has remained in the office ever since, having been re-elected at each succeeding election since his first incumbency. From the days of his boyhood Major Vogel has taken a deep interest in the Minnesota National Guard. On March 5, 1885, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Second Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, and has ever since been connected with the service of the state militia. On November .22, 1891, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant in Company A; July 27, 1896, commissary sergeant of the Second Regiment; July 6, 1897, battalion sergeant of the Second Regiment; January 29, 1898, serving as regimental adjutant. During the Spanish-American War, he served in the Twelfth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and on April 29, 1898, was recommended as adjutant, and in 1902 was made assistant adjutant-general of the brigade, continuing so until the death of General Bobleter. On July 29, 1912, Major Vogel organized the Machine Gun Company, and on July 6, 1913, was again promoted to the rank of regimental adjutant, which position he still occupies.

son, Willard. Mrs. Vogel was born in New Ulm, her parents, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, having been pioneers of this section. Her father was for years a prominent merchant of New Ulm, and still resides in that city. His wife died in 1912. They were the parents of seven childred, Henry, Fritz, Albert, Anna, Ida, Bertha and Meta. Major Vogel is a Republican and a member of the Lutheran church, while Mrs. Vogel is a member of the Congregational church.

Halvor Halvorson

Halvor Halvorson, well-known farmer of Linden township, this county, and one of the pioneers of that section of the county, was born near the city of Skien, Norway, March 8, 1846, son of Ole Halvorson and Johanna Marie Johnson, farming people, who came to America in 1855, landing at Quebec after an ocean voyage of seven or eight weeks. After remaining in Quebec for a few hours, they went on to Buffalo, New York, from there to Niagara, New York, by rail, then to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by boat, remaining there but a few hours. Upon leaving Milwaukee they went by rail about sixteen miles, and owing to the railroad not extending any farther, had to walk ten miles to the home of Tolef Waller, a cousin of Ole Halvorson, who lived in Waukesha county, Wisconsin.

The family lost little time in becoming settled in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where kinsfolk had preceded them, and for fourteen years they made their home there, Halvor in 1868, coming to Brown county, Minnesota. The next year, 1869, Ole Halvorson and the others of the family also came to Brown county and the father bought two hundred acres of railroad land in section 11, Linden township, paying seven dollars an acre for the same, and there he established his home and spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1879.

Halvor Halvorson was about nine years old when he came to this country, and he grew to manhood on the farm in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where his parents had set- tied. In 1868, he came over into Minnesota and located in Brown county, for some time thereafter working at various occupations until presently he became connected with a bridge-building crew and for some time was thus employed in southern Minnesota and Iowa. In 1876 he married and purchased the homestead rights to eighty acres of land in section 20, Linden township, this county, and a "forty" adjoining, and lived there until 1882, in which year he moved over to his father's estate and finished paying for all of it, with the exception of eighty acres that his brother, John, had bought, and there has lived ever since, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Halvorson has erected all new buildings on the place, which is well improved. The original homestead house was destroyed by fire in 1891, together with almost all of its contents. Mr. Halvorson takes an active interest in neighborhood affairs, and was one of the organizers of the Linden Creamery Company. He has served in the public capacity of constable and township supervisor, and in other ways has done his part as a citizen in the service of the public.

On October 1, 1876, Halvor Halvorson was married to Caroline Olson, who was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, daughter of Thor and Betsy Olson, natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 1853, settling in Rock county, Wisconsin, where they lived until 1856, in which year they moved to Minnesota, locating in Brown county, thus being among the very earliest settlers of this county. During the time of the Indian troubles the Olsons were forced to flee for their lives, their crops were destroyed, but their home was not burned.

born, two of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow : Oscar T., a farmer of Linden township, who married Lena Larson, and has one child, Edna ; Bessie J., who married Nels L. Lien, of Superior, Wisconsin, and has three children, two daughters, Stella L. and Mildred C, and a son, Chesley H. B. ; Lawrence S., who lives at home ; Emma L., of Superior, Wisconsin; Ella M., the wife of Clifton Hepworth, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Henry Clarence, at home; Albert, at home, and Lula L., also living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Halvorson and family are earnest members of the Lutheran church at Linden.

Siver Hanson

Siver Hanson, well-known farmer of Brown county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 10, Linden township, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, having been born in Gulbraudsdalen, December 31, 1864, son of Hans Siverson and Anna Jacobdater, natives of that same country, who spent all their lives there. Hans Siverson was a miller and he and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the sixth in order of birth and all of whom are now residents of the United States.

Siver Hanson received his education in his native land, attending school for three months in the year until his confirmation. In 1880, he then being sixteen years of age, he came to the United States and joined one of his brothers and a sister, who had preceded him some time before, in Brown county. He began working as a farm laborer and saved his money, with a view to being one day a farmer in his own right. He married in 1889 and then rented the farm on which he is now living and which he now owns. For twenty years he operated that farm as a tenant farmer and then, in 1909, bought the same, since which time he has made numerous important improvements to the place, having a good house, a good barn and other buildings in keeping. Mr. Hanson has ever taken a proper part in local civic affairs and for some time served his township as school clerk of the township.

Mrs. Ellen (Olson) Halverson, widow of Jacob Halverson and mother of two children, Ole and Tilda, by her first marriage, and to this union three children have been born, Jacob, Henry and Gertee, all of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson and their children are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Linden and take an active part in the affairs of that congregation. Mr. Hanson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, associated with the lodge of that order at New Ulm, and a member of the lodge of the Mutual Benefit Association at Linden and in the affairs of both of these organizations takes a warm interest.

Benjamin Schultz

Among the progressive and hard-working agriculturists of Home township, Brown county, is Benjamin Schultz, who was born at Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, November 25, 1882. He is a son of Gustav and Caroline Schultz, both natives of Germany. The father spent his boyhood in his native land and there attended school, but immigrated to America when a young man and located in Wisconsin where he worked until he removed to Minnesota, locating near Hutchinson, where he was married. There he engaged in general farming until 1873 when he removed to Brown county, locating in Home township, where he bought one hundred and fifty-five acres, which he later added to until he had a good farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres. Here he continued farming until 1913 when he rented his place and removed to Sleepy Eye, where he has since lived in retirement. His family consisted of seven children, namely: John J., Amelia, Lydia, Emma, Benjamin, Ella and Lawrence.

Benjamin Schultz grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked during the summer months and in the winter time he attended the public schools in Home township. He assisted his father on the farm until the latter retired, then rented the home place which he has been operating ever since. He has been very successful as a general farmer. He has about thirty acres of corn and eightyfive acres of small grain.

Ella Berkner, a daughter of William and Augusta (Lueck) Berkner, and to this union one child has been born, Verla. Ella Berkner was born in Lac qui Parle county, Minnesota, and is of German descent. The father spent his young manhood in Wisconsin, finally removing to Minnesota, locating in Lac qui Parle county, where he was a farmer for ten years, then removed to South Dakota, where he now resides. His family consisted of nine children, namely : Clara, Ella, Mertie, Walter, Esther, Melvin, Bernice, Carl and Samuel.

Dr. Frank William Pfisterer, well-known and progressive young physician and surgeon, of New Ulm, this county, is a native son of Brown county, having been born on a farm in Cottonwood township, July 20, 1887, son of Henry and Caroline (Waibel) Pfisterer, the former of whom was born in the state of Wisconsin and the latter in this county, both of whom are still living, now making their home in New Ulm, where they have lived for the past fifteen years or more.

Henry Pfisterer is the youngest of the five children born to his parents, Philip and Dorothea (Fricker) Pfisterer, the others having been Martha, Louise, Philip and William. The elder Philip Pfisterer and his wife, natives of the Alsace-Lorraine country, came to the United States after their marriage and settled in Wisconsin, later coming over into Minnesota and settling in Brown county, thus becoming pioneers of this county. Grandfather Pfisterer was killed in a runaway accident and his widow survived for years, she having been well advanced in years at the time of her death. Henry Pfisterer, their youngest son, was well grown when he came to this county with the family and he helped his father develop the farm in Cottonwood township which the latter had bought upon locating here. He married Caroline Waibel, who was born in this county, daughter of Alexander Waibel and wife, natives of Germany, who had settled here in the days before the Indian massacre and developed a valuable farm property in Cottonwood township, where they reared a large family, those besides Mrs. Pfisterer who grew to maturity having been John, Alexander, Henry, Theodore, Benjamin, Bernhard, Edward and Margaret. After his marriage Henry Pfisterer began farming in Cottonwood township on his own account and finally became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres, which he sold in 1900 and since then has made his home in New Ulm. They have but two children, Doctor Pfisterer, the subject of this biographical sketch, and Minnie.

Frank W. Pfisterer was reared on the paternal farm in Cottonwood township, receiving his early education in district school No. 4 and in the New Ulm high school, from which latter he was graduated in 1908. He then took a two-year course in the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, supplementing the same by a medical and scientific course at Marquette in 1913, after which he began the practice of his profession at Milwaukee, where he remained until 1915, in which year he returned to New Ulm, where he opened an office and where he is now very successfully engaged in practice.

On November 30, 1911, Dr. Frank W. Pfisterer was united in marriage at Milwaukee to Elsie Staumn, who was born in that city, only daughter of Reinholt Staumn and wife, natives of Germany, who still reside in Milwaukee and who have two sons, Hugo and Max. To Doctor and Mrs. Pfisterer one child has been born, a son, William Henry. Mrs. Pfisterer is a member of the Lutheran church. Both she and the Doctor take a warm interest in the general social and cultural activities of their home town and are held in high esteem by their many friends in New Ulm and throughout the county.

Dr. Joseph H. Vogel, well-known and popular physician at New Ulm, this county, is a native son of that city, having been born there on March 28, 1879, son of Joseph P. and Margaret (Sear) Vogel, the former a native of Austria and the latter of Bavaria, who had settled in this part of Minnesota, with their respective parents, in the days of their youth, during the early days of the settlement hereabout, and who were thus pioneers of this section.

Joseph P. Vogel was born in Austria, son of Simon and Barbara (Biemichael) Vogel, both natives of that country, and was seventeen years old when he accompanied his parents to this country, the family coming straightway to Minnesota and settling in this county in June, 1856. Simon Vogel homesteaded a tract of land in Siegel township, where he established his home and long was regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of that section, being one of the most substantial farmers of that neighborhood. In their declining years Simon Vogel and wife retired from the farm and thereafter made their home in New Ulm, where both died, the former being ninety-seven years of age at the time of his death and the latter eighty-seven. They were the parents of five children, George, Mrs. SchaefPer, Mrs. Joseph Flor, Mrs. Schumm and Joseph P. The latter grew to manhood on the homestead place in Sigel township, assisting in the arduous labors of developing the farm from its wilderness state to a tillable condition and in 1861 when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the local regiment and served in the cause of the Union, in 1862 participating in the defense of New Ulm against the Indian uprising. Later he engaged in the retail liquor business in that city, but after a short experience in such a vocation abandoned it and turned his attention to the lumber business, in which he was successfully engaged for twenty years or more, during which time he became one of the best-known lumbermen in this section. He is now living retired in New Ulm, both he and his good wife enjoying many evidences of the high esteem in which they are held throughout that entire community. Mr. Vogel is approaching his eightieth year and Mrs. Vogel is ten years younger. They were married not long after the close of the Civil War, Mrs. Vogel also having been one of the pioneers of this county, she having come from Bavaria with her parents, Gabriel and Marie Sear, when a girl, the family settling in Milf ord township, this county, being among the very earliest settlers of that part of the county. In their declining years Gabriel Sear and his wife retired from the farm and moved to New Ulm, where their last days were spent, both living to be more than eighty years of age. They were the parents of five children, Mrs. Maiy Aherns, Conrad, Mrs. Catherine Dernbach, Mrs. Elizabeth Schilling and Elizabeth, who married Joseph P. Vogel. To this latter union five children were born, as follow : Louis G., of New Ulm; Alfred J., also of New Ulm; Bertha, deceased, who was the wife of L. J. Buenger; Alma, wife of L. B. Krook, of New Ulm, and Joseph N., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch. Joseph P. Vogel and wife are earnest members of the Lutheran church, for many years stanch

Upon completing the course in the local schools at New Ulm, Joseph H. Vogel entered the Minneapolis Academy, from which institution he was graduated in 1899, after which he entered the medical department of the University of Minnesota. After a year of faithful study there he entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, from which latter institution he was graduated in June, 1903. Upon receiving his diploma, Doctor Vogel returned to his home in New Ulm and at once opened an office for the practice of his profession, and has been thus quite successfully engaged ever since, during which time he has taken high rank in the medical profession in this part of the state. Doctor Vogel is a modern, up-to-date physician, well versed in all the latest lore of his profession and takes an active interest in the affairs of the Brown County Medical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, of which several organizations he is a member. Not long after entering the practice at New Ulm he was appointed health officer and for several years served very efficiently in that important office. Doctor Vogel is a Republican and ever takes a good citizen's interest in local political affairs, being an ardent advocate of the principles of good government. While primarily devoted to the alleviation of the ills of humanity, he has not been unmindful of the material side of things and is a stockholder in the Brown County Bank and in the State Bond and Mortgage Company.

elder of the two children born to Carl and Anna (Meyer) Crone, she having a brother, Carl. The elder Carl Crone and his wife, who are still living at New Ulm,. are both natives of that city, their respective parents having been among the earliest settlers of this region. Carl Crone is the eldest of the seven children born to his parents, Theodore Crone and wife, who came from Friesland, Germany, and settled at New Ulm soon after the establishment of that settlement, their other children being Henry, Anton, Theodore, Ferdinand, Able and Jeanette. The Meyers also were a well-known family in the early settlement of New Ulm and Mrs. Crone had a brother, Albert.

To Dr. Joseph H. and Antonia (Crone) Vogel one child has been born, a son, Joseph C. Mrs. Vogel is an earnest member of the Lutheran church and she and the Doctor are recognized as among the leaders in the social and cultural life of the community, being held in high regard by their many friends throughout the county.

George Berkner

Home township, Brown county, has many progressive tillers of the soil who are to be commended for their up-todate methods. Among these, George Berkner should be mentioned, as only a cursory glance over his well-kept farm will convince one. He was born near Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 20, 3866, and is a son of William and Henrietta Berkner, both natives of Germany. The father spent his boyhood in the Fatherland, coming to the United States when seventeen years of age, locating in Wisconsin, his parents having accompanied him. They engaged in farming and he remained under his parental roof -tree until his marriage, which took place in 1875. Soon thereafter he removed to Dodge county. Wisconsin, and bought a farm of one hundred and eighty-two acres, which he improved and farmed successfully until 1903, when he sold out and came to Brown county, Minnesota, where he has since resided, now living in Sleepy Eye. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, serving three and onehalf years, during which he took part in many important engagements, seeing much hard service. His family consisted of seven children, five of whom are now living, namely: Edward, Alfred, Henry, Ezra and George.

The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools, and during the crop seasons when he was a boy he assisted his father with the general work on the farm, remaining at home until his marriage when he moved to Fond du Lac comity, Wisconsin, where he pur- chased one hundred acres of land which he farmed until he came to Brown county, Minnesota, in 1903, locating in Home township, where he bought two hundred and sixty acres, and here he is successfully engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying, making a success of all departments. He has on an average of forty-five acres of corn and one hundred acres of small grain, about all of which he feeds to his live stock, of which there are at this writing about sixty head of cattle, all good grades. He feeds from fifteen to twenty head of cattle each year, and milks on an average of twelve cows the year round. He has a silo with a capacity of one hundred and sixty tons, and without a doubt has one of the most modern barns in the county. He has spent about eight thousand dollars in improvements on his place, which is one of the best in the township in every respect.

Mr. Berkner was married in 1890 to Gertrude Bernd, a daughter of J. M. Bernd, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Milton, Lester, Selma and Gomer, the last named being deceased.

Politically, Mr. Berkner is a Republican. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Club, of which he is now vice-president. He is an advocate of modern methods in agriculture and has done much to encourage better farming in Brown county. He was chairman of his township when he lived in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin.

William Lange

William Lange, living on his well-improved farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Home township, Brown county, Minnesota, is a native of Germany, born on May 20, 1864, a son of Frederick and Rose Lange, both natives of that land. There were six children in their family, namely: Anna, John, Emil, Meina, William and August.

Frederick Lange was early trained to farming and to that vocation gave his attention all his life. Upon coming to this country with his family he came directly to this county and state, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Home township. There were but few improvements on the place at the time, but in the course of years he made of it a comfortable home and well ordered farm. His death occurred in 1895.

William Lange was a small boy when brought to this country by his parents and owing to conditions in this section at that time, received but a limited education in his youth. He attended the early township schools of Home township, but his school days were over by the time he was ten years of age. From that time on he was kept busy on the home place and in this connection remained with his father until the time of the latter 's death. William then took over the home farm, purchasing an adjoining tract of ninety acres, making his total holdings at the present time, two hundred and fifty acres. He divides his attention between the raising of grains and live stock, feeding all of (35a) his corn on the place and preparing for the market on an average of twenty-five hogs annually. His trading point is Sleepy Eye, a distance of four miles with good roads, conditions immeasurably removed from those under which his father so earnestly labored.

William Lange was united in marriage in 1895 with Hannah Wanderze. Mrs. Lange was born in Germany and came to this country with a brother, her parents never leaving their native land. Mr. and Mrs. Lange have the following children, Helen, Frieda, Sadie, Edna, Bernard, Jacob. Mr. Lange and family are members of the German Lutheran church at Sleepy Eye and take a commendable interest in the welfare of that society. He is Republican in his political convictions and for two years was a member of the township board.

George Guggisberg

George Guggisberg, of Brown county, Minnesota, was born in the same township (Siegel) where he now has his farm home, on December 25, 1864, being a son of Gottlieb and Mary Ann Guggisberg, both natives of Switzerland. Both came to this country when young, locating in the state of Illinois and it was there they were married. Gottlieb had been a dairyman in his native land up to the time of his emigration to America in 1854 and after coming here he worked for a short time in Illinois as a farm hand, later renting a tract of land which he farmed until he came to this state in 1858. Upon coming here he entered one hundred and sixty acres from the government, broke the sod and put up his little cabin home. He bravely undertook the improvement of his land and so well did he succeed in his labors that at the time of his death he was the owner of five hundred acres. Coming here at that early date, they were here at the time of the Indian troubles when all sought safety in New Ulm. There Gottlieb Guggisberg and his family remained until all trouble was over before going back to their farm, where they had suffered heavy losses in the meantime. There were originally eight children in their family, six of whom are now living, Fritz and George being the only ones to remain in this county.

When a boy, George Guggisberg attended the early township schools near his home, making the best of the meager opportunities offered at that time and remained on the home farm helping his father, until twenty-five years of age. At that time he purchased one hundred and eighty acres,, which is now a part of his present farm, for which he paid twenty-five dollars per acre. His farm today contains two hundred and eighty-six acres and he has put fully eight thousand dollars worth of improvements on it, bringing it up to a high standard of production. Mr. Guggisberg also owns two hundred and forty acres in Nicollet county, this state, as well as a tract of four hundred and eighty acres in Canada. He puts in on an average of one hundred and fifty acres to grains each year, selling most of it.

George Guggisberg married Emma Vollmer in 1889. She is a daughter of George Vollmer and is the mother of three children, namely: Walter, Isabelle and Caroline. The Guggisberg family are members of the German Lutheran church at New Ulm and stand high in the estimation of their friends in the community. Mr. Guggisberg is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party and as evidence of his interest in local matters of this nature, he has served as school treasurer.

John G. Gronau

John G. Gronau, who is conceded to be the largest building contractor in Brown county, Minnesota, residing at New Ulna, was born in West Prussia, Germany, July 1, 1869, being a son of John and Elizabeth Gronau of that same place. John Gronau was a stone mason and worked exclusively at that trade until the time he emigrated to this country in 1880. He located in Kansas where in addition to following his trade, he also farmed the one hundred and twenty acres which he purchased upon locating there. He has succeeded well in his combined efforts and is still living on one of his Kansas farms, having increased his holdings to eight hundred acres. There were originally five children in the family of J ohn and Elizabeth Gronau, one now being deceased, and John G., the immediate subject of this sketch, being the only one residing in this county.

John G. Gronau received excellent schooling in his native land when a small boy, but never attended the schools of this country, giving his entire time to assisting his father in the work of the farm home, although his first months in this country were spent as a cattle ranger. When twentyone years of age, he decided to apply his efforts to the carpenter and mason trade and was so employed in Kansas until 1892 when he came to this state, locating in Springfield. There, however, he first worked as a harvest hand, but later at the carpenter trade and when a short time afterward, he came to New TJlm, he was employed by a Mr. Tappe as foreman. He remained with Mr. Tappe four years and in the spring of 1898 he entered the contracting field in his own behalf and has since confined his efforts to that line with the exception of one year when he acted as manager for the Nagle Company. Several of the most prominent buildings of the county are his work, among them being the Brown county jail and the addition to the Turner hall in New Ulm, as well as other public and private buildings too numerous to mention. He often has as high as twenty-five men working for him at a time and through his work has done much to enhance the appearance of various town and country districts.

John G. Gronau was united in marriage in 1893, with Elizabeth Baumgart, daughter of Christopher Baumgart, and five children have been born to this union. They are John G., Alfred, Rudolph, Elf red and Frank, the latter being deceased. Mr. Gronau is a past master workman in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political support is given no particular party, he being an independent voter.

Albert Knees

Albert Knees, a farmer of Milford township, Brown county, Minnesota, was born in the same township in which he now resides, on October 8, 1863, being a son of William and Mary Knees, both natives of Germany.

William Knees was but a boy when he came to this country with his parents and the family located in Illinois, where William grew to manhood. He remained in that state until 1857 when he came to Minnesota and located in this county, at a date early in the history of this section. He entered from the government a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Milford township and set about improving his holdings. He erected a log cabin and in spite of many drawbacks and inconveniences, slowly won a pleasing degree of success. He farmed here all his life and came to own two hundred and forty acres of Brown county 's good farming lands.

William Knees went through the trying time of the Indian outbreak, fleeing to New Ulm for protection with his family, and also giving his services to protect the town. He was one of the substantial citizens of this section and is well remembered by many friends who still survive. He departed this life in 1902, his wife having preceded him in 1885. They were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living, Philip, Lena, Bernard, Henry, Albert, Emma, Bertha and Mary.

parental roof assisting his father, until twenty-seven years of age. He then started out in life for himself, his first venture being the renting of a farm of two hundred and forty acres, where he remained for six years. Then for the next nine years he farmed a rented place of one hundred and thirty acres, at the end of which time he purchased one hundred and and eighty acres in Milford township, which is now his present home and joins the city of New Ulm. Since purchasing this place he has added improvements to the extent of over three thousand dollars and is bringing it up to a high standard. He carries on general farming such as practiced in this section and still has five acres of heavy timber lands. He milks on an average of fifteen cows the year round, disposing of their product to a nearby creamery.

Albert Knees was married in 1892 to Emma Wiedermann, a daughter of J ohn Wiedermann, and to their union one child has been born, a daughter, Edna. Politically, Mr. Knees is a Democrat, giving earnest support to his party, while he holds fraternal affiliation with the Modern Woodmen of America.

Ole C. Peterson

Ole C. Peterson, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Linden township, this county, and one of the pioneers of that section of the county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, having been born in Gulbraudsdalen, February 2, 1848, son of Peter and Tora (Olesdatter) Olson, farming people, to whom two sons were born, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Ole. Peter Olson died when his son was an infant and the widow Olson married, secondly, O. C. Christianson, who, with his wife and the latter 's two sons, came to the United States in the summer of 1861, proceeding directly from their port of entry to Wisconsin, where they remained until September of that year and then came to Minnesota, settling in Brown county. Mr. Christianson homesteaded one-half of the southwest quarter of section 24, in Linden township, and there established his home. In the summer of 1862 the family was driven out by the Indians and f ound refuge at St. Peter.

On December 23, 1863, Ole 0. Peterson enlisted at New Ulm in Company G, Second Minnesota Cavalry, and served until the Indian uprising was effectually put down, receiving his discharge on December 29, 1865. He homesteaded the other half of the quarter section adjoining that of his stepfather and put up a log cabin on the same, which he occupied while " proving up" his claim, after which he resumed his residence with the family and there made his home until his marriage in 1870, when he established his (36a) home on his present farm. He prospered in his farming operations and has added to his place until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and sixty acres in section 24 and eighty acres adjoining in section 25, all of which is under excellent cultivation. Mr. Peterson cast his first vote after becoming a citizen of the United States for the Republican party and ever since has remained faithful to his political allegiance, but has never been included in the office-seeking class.

In September, 1870, Ole C. Peterson was united in marriage to Rena Johnsdatter, who was born at Gulbraudsdalen, Norway, February 23, 1845, daughter of John and Karie (Haugen) Storvig, who came to the United States in 1866 and settled in Brown county, and to this union five children were born, as follow : Peter C, who lives at home, a valuable assistant to his father in the management of the farm; Caroline, who married Peter A. Knutson, of Mankato, and has two children, Rose Gertrude and Alvin Audley; John F., who lives at home; Gena, who married Louis Jacobson and died, leaving one child, a daughter, Rosa A., and Ola, also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Linden and their children were reared in that faith. Mr. Peterson's stepfather, O. C. Christianson, was one of the organizers of the church at Linden and was for years active in the good works of the same.

Christian C. Johnson

It would be difficult to find a farm better tilled or better kept than that of Christian C. J ohnson, of Linden township, Brown county, for its owner has always taken great pleasure in keeping everything in ship-shape. Mr. Johnson was born on March 25, 1843, in Feen, Denmark. His father died before he was born, and his mother was married again. When eight years old he left home and was reared by strangers. He received a good common school education, and early in life took up farm work and has continued in agricultural pursuits to the present time. In 1865 he came to America, landing in Quebec, Canada, but later moved to Wisconsin, where his grandmother lived. In 1867 he located in Brown county, Minnesota, and here worked out at various things and in different places. He went to the eastern part of the state and worked on the river part of the time on boats and log rafts. In 1875 he bought some railroad land in section 3, Linden township, Brown county, which land he later sold, having lost his crops during the grasshopper plague which lasted three years in succession. He says these insects even ate holes in his log house. The year following the hail destroyed his crops and badly damaged his buildings. In the face of such misfortune he was forced to sell because he could not meet his payments. But he went to work again with a will and by saving his earnings was enabled to buy one hundred and sixty acres in 1885. This land joined forty acres owned by his wife, in section 26, Linden township, Brown county, and here he has since resided. This was all new land and he placed all the improvements on it, his latest improvement being a large barn, thirty by sixty-six feet, with a capacity for twenty tons of hay.

Mr. Johnson was married in this county, June 27, 1873, to Gunnell Ellefson, who was born on October 8, 1852, in Fillmore county, Wisconsin. She is a daughter of Elerf and Ellen Ellefson, both natives of Norway. The family located in Brown county when Mrs. Johnson was a small child; in fact, they were among the earliest settlers here. The Indians drove them out and they fled to Mankato until the red men were subdued. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, six of whom are living, namely: Charley, married Inga Strum, a daughter of Christ Strum, and they have four children, Cora, Helena, Ida, Carl; and Lina, died when eighteen years old; Theodore married Nellie Eyedrum and they have three children, Chester, Arthur and another; Christena is living at home; Albert is at home ; Oscar lives in Canada ; Leonard resides in North Dakota.

Peter Mickelson

Among the well-kept and productive farmsteads of Linden township, Brown county, is that owned by Peter Mickelson, who is known as a very careful farmer. He was born on January 7, 1857, in Norway, and is a son of Michael and Julia (Peterson) Jacobson. The father was a peddler in his early life. He owned a small sailing vessel in which he plied up and down the coast, selling his wares in different towns, continuing thus until 1858, when he came to the United States, bringing his family, which consisted of his wife and seven children. They made what was considered at that time a quick trip across the Atlantic, the voyage occupying only three weeks. They landed at Quebec, Canada, and went direct to Wisconsin, where they spent six years, coming to Brown county, Minnesota, in 1864, making the trip with oxen and a covered wagon or prairie schooner, the time required being, about six weeks. The father homesteaded land on the Watonwan and Brown county line, and this he developed and lived on until his death.

Peter Mickelson received only a limited education, attending school but a few days, for the family was poor and he had to go to work when but a small boy to help support it. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-eight years old, at which time he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 25, Linden township, Brown county. It was railroad land and cost ten dollars per acre. It was on the prairie. His first home was <a log hut, eleven by twelve feet, with a shanty lean-to, in which he lived until

1887, when, having prospered by hard work and good management, he built a comfortable frame house which has since been added to and is now a good residence. He bought more land until he now owns two hundred acres, all in section 25, Linden township.

Mr. Mickelson was married in Watonwan county, July 11, 1875, to Marie Lumberg, who was born on April 12, 1855, in Christiania, Norway. She is a daughter of Erick and Martha (Lumberg) Lumberg. The father was a farmer and he came to America when Marie was six years old, in 1861. He at once established his home in Brown county, Minnesota, taking up a homestead. They lived here during the Indian troubles and were driven from their home on several occasions by the savages, fleeing to Mankato for protection. Their farm was located in section 26, Linden township, and here the parents spent the rest of their lives. Theirs was one of the first farms in this township.