Brown County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches, 1916 (part 1 of 9)

Martin Mueller

Martin Mueller, of the well-known firm of Mueller & Aab, dealers in automobiles and proprietors of an extensive garage at New Ulm, is a native of that city and is said to have been the first white male child born in that now populous and flourishing little city. He was born there on November 10, 1855, son of Henry C. and Henrietta (Losemann) Mueller, natives of Germany, who were among the very earliest of this county and for many years prominent residents thereof, both of whom spent their last days here.

Herman C. Mueller was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin and was early orphaned, both his parents dying of cholera when he was a child. He was reared by kinsfolk and received an excellent education in the schools of his native land. He married Henrietta Losemann and in 1853 came to the United States. Upon their arrival in this country Henry C. Mueller and wife located in Chicago, where they remained for about two years, at the end of which time, in the summer of 1855, the year Brown county was erected as a civic unit, they came to Minnesota and settled in this county. Upon locating here Henry C. Mueller pre-empted a tract of land at the edge of the New Ulm town site and began clearing and farming the same. Later he disposed ( 3 a) of that place and moved across the river into Courtland township, where he established his family on a quarter of a section of land and where he became a prosperous and substantial farmer. During the Indian uprising in 1862 he enlisted for service against the savage redskins and served as a soldier through that troublous period. He took an active interest in community affairs and for years was an efficient member of the school board. About the year 1900 Henry C. Mueller retired from the active labors of the farm and shortly afterward he and his wife moved to New Ulm, where their last days were spent, his death occurring in 1904, he then being seventy-four years of age. His widow survived 'him for several years, she having been seventysix years of age at the time of her death in 1907. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Martin, the subject of this biographical sketch ; Mary, wife of Charles A. Johnson, of St. Peter, in the neighboring county of Nicollet; Henry and Herman, twins, who are residents of Courtland township; Frank, a farmer, living near Gary, in Norman county, this state ; William, of New Ulm ; Louis, deceased, and Dr. Emil Mueller, of New Ulm.

Martin Mueller received his education in the public schools and remained on the home farm until he was well grown. He then began his business career as a clerk in the store of John F. Neumann and Michael Mullen, with whom he remained for several years, at the end of which time he began working for Bingham Brothers, in the grain and lumber business, after awhile being sent to Essig, this county, where for twenty years he acted as manager of the Bingham Brothers hardware and lumber business at that place. He then returned to New Ulm and for four years had charge of his father's place, after which he formed a partnership with William Aab in the general automobile and garage business at New Ulm and has ever since been thus engaged, the firm being one of the best-known dealers in that line in this section of the state.

On November 17, 1881, Martin Mueller was united in marriage to Amanda Nagel, daughter of August Nagel and wife, who died in October of the year following, and in 1883 Mr. Mueller married, secondly, Amelia Toberer, who was born in New Ulm, daughter of John C. and Louisa (Nagel) Toberer, natives of Germany, the former of whom died in New Ulm in 1911. John C. Toberer and wife were the parents of five children, two of whom, Anna and Alfreda, are still living. To Martin and Amelia (Toberer) Mueller four children were born, as follow: Louisa, who married Daniel L. Williams, of Cambria, this state, and has one child, a son, David M. ; Hertha, who married J ohn Hauenstein, of New Ulm, and has three children, Richard, Laura and Margaret; Max, who, following his graduation from the New Ulm high school took a course in the technical side of the automobile business, married Hannah Alex and is now conducting a garage at Elysian, in LeSueur county, this state, and Esther, who married Fred Dower, a farmer of Cottonwood township, this county, and has three children, Walter, Melvin and Thelma.

Mrs. Amelia Mueller died in 1908, at the age of fortyfive years, and on September 29, 1912, Mr. Mueller married, thirdly, Anna Schaeffer, who was born in St. Paul, this state, daughter of Christian Shaeffer and wife, natives of Germany, both now dead, the former of whom was born in Hessen and the latter in Prussia, and the parents of five children, two of whom are now living, Mrs. Mueller and Helena. Mr. Mueller is a member of the New Ulm Lutheran Society, taking an active interest in the affairs of that popular organization, and is held in high regard by his many friends. Mr. Mueller also is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of the Sons of Hermann and of the Modern Woodmen and takes a warm interest in the affairs of all these organizations.

Judge Ernst Brandt

Judge Ernst Brandt, former judge of probate for Brown county, former county commissioner and for twentytwo years editor of the newspaper Fortschritt, at New Ulm, now living retired from the more active duties of life in that city, is a native of Germany, having been born in Roga, by Friedland, Mecklenberg-Strelitz, October 1, 1838, son of Carl Christian and Wilhelmina (Plath) Brandt, both natives of Friedland, who were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others having been Charles C, Fritz and Wilhelmina.

Carl Christian Brandt was the youngest of the four children born to his parents, Julius Brandt and wife, the others having been August, Eda and Theresa. Julius Brandt was a school master and took an active part in local church work in his native land. Both he and his wife died in Germany. Carl C. Brandt was carefully reared and received an excellent education, for some time in his young manhood having been a school teacher in his native land. He was trained to the millwright's craft and became a very proficient artisan in that form of industry. He married in the Fatherland Wilhelmina Plath, youngest of the three children born to her parents, the others having been Hans, who died in New Ulm, this county, and Herman, who is now living, at the age of eighty-four years, in Yakima, Washington.

the United States, locating at Cleveland, Ohio, where they remained until 1856, in which year they came to Minnesota, locating in Brown county, thus being among the pioneers of this county. Carl C. Brandt homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Sigel township and there established his home, quickly becoming recognized as one of the leading pioneers of the county. He had brought a complete set of millwright's tools with him from Cleveland and shortly after settling here erected on his farm the first grist-mill ever constructed in the state of Minnesota s This mill was operated by wind power and its great wings for many years were familiar objects in the landscape there. The stone for the buhrs of the mill was taken from the bed of Cottonwood river and for years this substantial old mill faithfully performed its office of grinding the corn of the neighbors for miles about in that vicinity. In addition to his extensive farming and milling operations Carl C. Brandt was active in promoting the general interests of the new community and took a prominent part in civic affairs. He was for years a member of the school board in Sigel township and served the county for some time in the capacity of county commissioner. When well past middle age he and his wife moved from the farm and located in New Ulm, where they spent the remainder of their lives in the comfortable frame house they erected on the site now occupied by the residence of Doctor Fritsche. Mrs. Brandt died at the age of sixtyeight, her husband surviving for some years, he being eighty-one years of age at the time of his death.

Ernst Brandt was about nineteen years old when he came to Brown county with his parents in 1856 and he at once entered actively into the pioneer life of the community.

At that time the section of the county in which the family settled had not been organized as a township and he was later largely instrumental in setting up a proper township organization. In the fall of 1860 he married, continuing to make his home on his father's farm, and was living there when the Indian insurrection broke out in 1862. When it came time to organize the township the privilege of giving a name to the new civic unit was accorded him and he promptly named it Sigel, in honor of Gen. Franz Sigel, of Civil War fame. In 1870 he and his family left the farm and moved into New Ulm, in order to gain better educational facilities for the children. For five years after locating in New Ulm Mr. Brandt was the editor and publisher of the New Ulm Review. He then took charge of the New Ulm Fortschritt and for twenty-two years was the editor and publisher of that paper. In the meantime he had been elected judge of probate for Brown county and for twelve years served very efficiently in that important capacity. He then was elected justice of the peace and was continuously re-elected to that office until he declined longer to accept the nomination after a service of twenty-five years, since which time he has been living quietly retired from the more active duties of life, he and his wife enjoying, in their tranquil old age many evidences of the esteem and affection in which they are held by the entire community, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all contributing to make enjoyable the pleasant and quiet 1 6 evening time" of their lives.

On September 16, 1860, in Jefferson county, Missouri, Ernst Brandt was united in marriage to Eliza Vendlandt, who was born in Carlf erde, Braunschweich, Germany, Janu- ary 23, 1840, daughter of William and Caroline (Lipke) Vendlandt, who came to the United States in 1853 and for a time made their home in Cleveland, Ohio, later moving to St. Louis, later moving onto a farm in Jefferson county, Missouri, whither Mr. Brandt went to claim the bride whose heart he had won during the time they both lived in Cleveland. Later William Vendlandt and his wife moved back to St. Louis, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the former being above seventy years of age at the time of his death and the latter seventy-three. They were the parents of eight children who grew to maturity, those besides Mrs. Brandt having been William, Mary, August, Lena, Priedericka, Antonia and Wilhelmina. The elder William Vendlandt was the youngest of the three sons born to his parents, Christopher Vendlandt and wife, the others having been Priederich and August, and his wife was the youngest of the four children born to her parents, the others having been Dorothea, Conrad and Alvena.

To Ernst and Eliza (Vendlandt) Brandt seven children have been born, as follow : Charles, who died in infancy at St. Paul, whither his parents had fled at the time of the Indian outbreak in 1862; Ernst, who died unmarried in 1908; August, who died unmarried in 1901; Robert, who married Olga Schleuder and died in 1912, leaving a daughter, Elvira, who, after her graduation from the Springfield high school, took a course in the State Normal School and is now teaching; Agnes, who died at the age of fourteen; Eliza, who died at the age of twelve, and Wilhelmina, who married Hugo O. Schleuder, a jeweler and optician of New Ulm, and has seven children, Victor, Walter, Ernst, Lessing, Hugo, Lorna and Altha. Judge Brandt is the only surviv- ing charter member of the New Ulm Turnverein, in the affairs of which he ever has taken a warm interest. He is a member of Charity Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has occupied every chair in the blue lodge and been a representative of his local lodge in the Minnesota grand lodge a number of times. He formerly was a Republican, but voted for the Democratic electors during Mr. Bryan's races for the presidency. In addition to his service on the probate bench and in the office of justice of the peace, Judge Brandt also has served the county as a county commissioner and in former days was very active in extending the benefits of education hereabout by his efforts in behalf of the general elevation of educational standards throughout this part of the state.

William E. Huevelman

William E. Huevelman, general manager and treasurer of the Minnesota Seed Company, of New Ulm, this county, and who also is one of the directors of that enterprising and thriving concern, is a native of Germany, having been born in Westphalia, the northwestern province of Prussia, February 28, 1861, son of Rudolph and Minnie Gerhart (VonderMark) Huevelman, natives of that same province, farming people, who spent all their lives there, the latter dying in 1869 and the former in 1875. They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are still living, but of these the subject of this sketch is the only one living in Brown county.

William E. Huevelman went to school until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he began working as a farm hand and was thus engaged in his native province until he was twenty years of age. He then came to the United States, proceeding almost directly to Minnesota and locating at New Ulm, where he found employment in the Aufterheide brick yard. After a year of that employment he was engaged as a clerk in a drug store, where he remained for a year, at the end of which time he was engaged as a clerk in the general store of John F. Neuman, where he remained for nine years. He then went into business for himself, in partnership with C. F. Ruemke, and was thus engaged for about six years, at the end of which time failing health compelled him to sell his interest in the store and get out into the open. For nine years thereafter he spent his summers as a driver of a sprinkling wagon on the streets of New Ulm.

In the meantime he had become interested in the Minnesota Seed Company at New Ulm, being a stockholder in the same, and since then has given his undivided attention to the company, he also being one of the directors of the company, and since them has given his undivided attention to the growing interests of the company. The Minnesota Seed Company handles all kinds of field and garden seeds, its trade covering all parts of the Northwest.

On October 28, 1885, William E. Huevelman was united in marriage to Caroline Weddindorf , daughter of Herman and Margaret Weddindorf, and to this union two children have been born, Herbert H., who is with the Milwaukee Electric Light and Street Railway Company at Milwaukee, and Waldemar, who is connected with the Citizens State Bank at New Ulm, Minnesota. Mr. Huevelman is a Republican and has long given his close attention to local political affairs, but has never been included in the office-seeking class.

Dr. Ora C. Strickler, for more than a quarter of a century a practicing physician at New Ulm, this county, and one of the best-known and most influential men in the county, is a native of the British dominion across the border to the north, having been born in the town of Markham, in Ontario, Canada, January 7, 1863, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Henderson) Strickler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Canada, both of whom spent their last days in the state of Michigan.

Daniel Strickler was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, son of Abram and Elizabeth (Earner) Strickler, natives of that same county, farming people, both of German descent and holding to the Mennonite faith, the former of whom died there, his widow spending her last days in Canada. They were the parents of four children, Daniel Strickler having had two brothers and a sister, John, Abram and Elizabeth. Daniel Strickler was reared on the paternal farm in Pennsylvania and as a young man emigrated to Canada with a Mennonite colony which left Pennsylvania and settled in the Markham neighborhood in Ontario, and there he lived for fifty years. He married Elizabeth Henderson, who was born in Canada, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Lucas) Henderson, natives of the Dominion, farming people, the former of whom lived to the age of sixty-five and the latter of whom died before middle age. Andrew Henderson and wife were the parents of six children, William, Andrew, Joseph, Mrs. Jane Dresser, Mrs.

Mary Ann Wilson and Elizabeth. In their declining years Daniel Strickler and wife moved from Canada to Michigan, living for awhile at Ann Arbor and later at Lansing, in which latter city Mr. Strickler died in 1904, at the age of eighty-four. His widow survived him for three years, her death occurring in 1907, she then being sixty-seven years of age. They were earnest members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, namely : Anna, deceased, who was the wife of Meno Nighswander ; Susan, wife of Elijah Wismer, of Markham, Ontario ; John D., deceased ; Christina, widow of B. S. Chilcott, of Lansing, Michigan ; Dr. Ora C, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and Dr. Abram Franklin Strickler, of Sleepy Eye, this county.

Following his graduation from the high school at Markham, Ontario, Ora C. Strickler entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from the medical department of that excellent old institution on June 25, 1885. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his noble profession, Doctor Strickler straightway came to Minnesota and located at New Ulm, where he opened an office and where he ever since has been engaged in practice, during that time becoming one of the best-known physicians in this section of the state. He took a post-graduate course of one year in the medical department of Berlin University in 1888-89. Doctor Strickler keeps fully abreast of the latest advances in the practice of his profession and is a member of the Brown County Medical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest. In the midst of an active and arduous practice he has found time to devote a good citizen's attention to the public service and for years served as a member of the board of education in New Ulm, his service in that connection proving of large value in elevating the standard of education in that city. Doctor Strickler stands high in his profession in this state and in 1898 was president of the Minnesota state board of medical examiners, and for six years, 1900-06, was a member of the state board of regents. He is a Republican and ever since locating in this county has given his most thoughtful and intelligent attention to local political affairs, long having been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this section of the state. Doctor Strickler also takes an active interest in the more material affairs of the community and is a director of the State Bank of New Ulm and vice-president of the State Bank of Courtland in the neighboring comity of Nicollet.

On December 5, 1887, Dr. Ora C. Strickler was united in marriage to Emily Doehne, who was born in Brown county, daughter of George and Anna (Roeck) Doehne, both natives of Germany the former of whom was born in Waldeck and the latter in Munich, and early settlers of Brown county, they having located at New Ulm in the days before the Indian outbreak, George Doehne, who is still living at New Ulm, is an honored veteran of the Civil War and an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife were the parents of five children, William, George, Emily, Clara and Louise, all of whom are living save the first-born.

To Dr. Ora C. and Emily (Doehne) Strickler two children have been born, daughters both, Vera E., a graduate of the University of Minnesota, who is now a teacher of

German in the high school at New Ulm, and Leola M., a senior in the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The Stricklers are recognized as among the leaders in the social and cultural activities of their home city and are held in the highest esteem throughout this whole community. Doctor Strickler is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Charity Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at New Ulm; New Ulm Chapter No. 57, Royal Arch Masons; DeMolay Commandery No. 26, Knights Templar; Minneapolis Consistory, Ancient Scottish Rite Masons, and Zurah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Minneapolis, in the affairs of all of which several branches of Masonry he takes a warm interest.

Nicholas Manderfeld

Nicholas Manderf eld, of New Ulm, was born in Prussia, Germany, October 18, 1848, and is a son of John H. and Gertrude Manderf eld, both natives of Germany, where they grew up, were married and established their home. The father was a teamster, also followed farming in a small way in his native land until in May, 1857, when he came to America, locating in New Ulm, Minnesota. Soon thereafter he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 1, four miles south of New Ulm. He turned the virgin sod, put up a small shack and planted his crops. By hard work and persistence he developed a good farm. Later he purchased forty acres of timber land and continued fanning until he retired and moved to New Ulm. He was among the early settlers of Brown county. He took an interest in public affairs, and became township supervisor. He was living here during the Indian massacre. His family consisted of nine children, five of whom are still living, namely : J ohn, Kate, Peter, Nicholas and Eva.

The subject of this review grew up on his father's farm, he having been but nine years old when he was brought to America. He worked hard when a boy and received a meager education in the public schools in Sigel township. He continued to work with his father on the homestead until his marriage, then purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Sigel township and started farming for himself in a small way, but he persevered and after adding many improvements on his farm sold out and bought two hundred and sixty acres in Milf ord township, where he farmed until he retired from active life, moving to New Ulm in 1906. He had at one time four hundred and twenty acres, and was very successful as a general farmer. He was working near New Ulm when the Indian massacre took place. When the alarm was given he ran to his home in Sigel township and warned his parents and many of their neighbors and thereby saved their lives. They all hastened to New Ulm for protection. When he reached town one of his duties was to herd the oxen which the people had driven into town.

Nicholas Manderf eld was married on October 19, 1871, to Isabelle Richards, a daughter of Theodore and Elizabeth (Kauf enbach) Richards, and to this union fourteen children have been born, only six of whom are now living, namely: Kate is the wife of Louis Adam and they have six children, Isabelle, Louis, Katherine, Loretta, Charles and Theodore ; William; Theodore married Clara Dorn, and they have two children, Jerome and Adaline; Edward married Maggie Dorn, and they have two children, Deloris and Bernedett ; Charles married Anna Dietz, and they have two children, Isabelle and Manella ; Henry married Elizabeth Arnold, and they have seven children, Nicholas, Michael, Anthony, Edward, Carrie, Gertrude and Florenda.

Mrs. Manderfeld was born in Germany. Her parents were natives of Prussia. The father died in 1900 and the mother in 1889. Mr. Richards devoted his life to farming, came to America in 1855, two years in Albany, New York, and then located near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1867, when he removed to Brown county and bought a farm of two hundred acres and engaged in farming here until his death. His family consisted of twelve children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Gertrude, Anthony, Joe, Maggie, Theodore, Angeline and Isabelle. The eldest boy in the Manderfeld family was killed during the Indian outbreak at Big Stone lake where he was working for the government. Mr. Manderfeld is a member of the Catholic church.

William J. Julius

William J. Julius, sheriff of Brown county and one of the best-known citizens of this county, having formerly been a member of the police force at New Ulm, is a native son of Brown county, having been born on a farm in Milf ord township, May 15, 1869, son of Fred and Mary (Kalb) Julius, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Switzerland, pioneers of this section of Minnesota, the latter of whom is still living.

Fred Julius was but a boy when he came to America from his native home in Mecklenburg-Schwerin with his parents, Fred Julius and wife, the family proceeding almost immediately after their arrival in the United States to Minnesota, settling on a farm in Nicollet county at a very early day in the settlement of this section of the state. The elder Fred Julius became a prominent pioneer of that section, even before the days of the Indian massacre, and spent the rest of his life there, both he and his wife dying on the homestead farm, well along in years. They were the parents of four children, Fred, Joseph, Mary and Louise. Fred Julius, the elder of the above children, grew to manhood on the homestead farm in Nicollet county and engaged in farming on his own account after his marriage, being the owner of a quarter of a section of fine land there. He married Mary Kalb, daughter of Ferdinand and Katherina (Ochs) Kalb, natives of Germany and early settlers in Brown county, who were the parents of nine children, Sophia, John, Anton, Berthold, Bertha, Herman, Amelia, Helena and Ferdinand.

During the Civil War Fred Julius served the Union cause as a member of the Mounted Rangers. Some time later he left the farm and moved to New Ulm, where he engaged in the mercantile and livery business and died there at the age of thirty-nine years. His widow still survives him. She is an earnest member of the Catholic church, as was her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, four of whom survive, as follow : William J., the subject of this biographical sketch ; Bertha, wife of Henry Vedder, of New Ulm; Mary, widow of Charles Boeder, of New Ulm, and Roas, wife of Emil Hoffmann, of Maquoketa, Iowa.

William J. Julius received his education in the public and parochial schools of New Ulm and early learned the printer's trade, which he followed for some years in his home town, having been foreman of the New Ulm Volksblatt when that paper was first issued and also foreman of the New Ulm Fortschritt. Presently he went to Minneapolis, where he for some time was employed in the office of the Freie-Press Herold and then went to Fremont, Ohio, where he was employed for a few months, at the end of which time he returned to New Ulm, where he temporarily abandoned the printing trade and became a painter, which vocation he followed for about five years. He married in the fall of 1891 and afterward resinned his place at the printer's case and was thus engaged up to 1897, in which year he was appointed a member of the police force at New Ulm and served in that public capacity until the time of his election on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1902 to the office of sheriff of Brown county, which office he ever since has held, having been re-elected at each successive election since then,

On November 23, 1891, William J. Julius was united in marriage to Charlotte May Blass, who was born in Nicollet county, daughter of William and Mary Blass, early settlers of Nicollet county, whose last days were spent in New Ulm, the parents of nine children, Sophia, Louise, Henry, Anna, Christina, Minnie, Caroline, Fred and Charlotte. To Mr. and Mrs. Julius six children were born, Hildegard, Louise, Henry, Florence, William and Walter. Hildegard Julius is a well-known teacher in Brown county; Louise married Herman F. Jahnke, deputy sheriff of Brown county, and has one child; Henry died in infancy and the others of the above named children are at home. The mother of these children died in the fall of 1908, at the are of thirty-eight years.

Sheriff Julius is a member of the Catholic church and is associated with the Knights of Columbus, the St. Joseph Society and the Catholic Order of Foresters, in the affairs of all of which organizations he is warmly interested. He occupies a high place in the regard of his official associates about the court house, among all of whom he is deservedly popular, and is held in high esteem throughout the entire county.

John Bentzin

John Bentzin, veteran flour miller, of New XJlm, this county, and still head of the John Bentzin Milling Company, though he has been practically retired from the active duties of management for several years past, having turned the mill over to his sons, William F. and Charles, in 1913, after nearly thirty-five years as an operative miller in the picturesque Cottonwood roller mills, is a native of Germany, having been born in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, fourth in order of birth of the five children born to his parents, the others having been Christian, Carl, Christina and William.

John Bentzin grew to manhood in his native land and completed a thorough apprenticeship in a flour-mill there. Upon completing his army service he married Mary Wolter, a neighbor girl, and with his bride came to the United States, proceeding from their port of landing directly to New Ulm, where they have resided ever since. Upon his arrival here, John Bentzin secured employment in the old Globe mill, then a saw-mill, and was there engaged for several years, after which for a time he was employed at the Eagle saw-mill and later at the old City flour-mill, in which latter mill he worked for five years. In the meantime he had renewed the acquaintance of a boyhood chum, William Frank, who had been a miller's apprentice at the same time he was learning his trade in the old country and who had located in New Ulm in 1856, and in 1879 Mr. Bentzin and

Mr. Frank erected and established the Cottonwood mill on the banks of the stream bearing that name, about two miles distant from the center of the town, which mill has ever since been performing an excellent and valuable service in this community. At first the mill was operated by water power, but the uncertainty of the source of this power caused the proprietors later to put in an engine and it has since been operated by steam. The old buhrs were supplanted by rollers in 1882, the buhrs being retained for the milling of rye flour, and other alterations have been made from time to time, conforming to the advances of the milling industry, the old Cottonwood mill ever keeping abreast of the times, and for five years it has been recognized as one of the best custom mills in this part of the state.

In 1893 William Frank retired from the partnership which had so long continued, he having come to the conclusion to "take things easy" in his later days, and Mr. Bentzin then became sole owner of the mill, continuing to be ably aided in its operation by his sons, William F. and Charles. In 1895 the mill was completely remodeled, in further conformance with modern requirements, and in that year the present popular brand of flour, " Bentzin 's Best," was established. It has always been the aim and pride of the proprietors to turn out a clean, pure article, unadulterated mechanically or artificially, as good as the best that can be made from the grain grown in this vicinity and incorporated in the finished produce which goes under the name of " Bentzin 's Best" for the wheat flour and " Bentzin 's German Rye Flour" for the rye product. The latter is still made in the old style, on mill stones, as is done in the old country, this process giving the flour and the bread made of it that fine nutty flavor and smell, so much desired by all lovers of old-fashioned rye bread. In 1913 Mr. Bentzin retired from the active management of the mill, turning the same over to the management of his sons, though he still continues to take an active interest in the business as the senior and advisory partner of the firm, which at that time was changed to the John Bentzin Milling Company. Upon retiring, Mr. and Mrs. Bentzin moved into the city and built a home on South State street, right alongside that of Mr. Bentzin 's old partner, William Frank, and thus the two old cronies are inseparable in their declining years as they were in all the busy years of their earlier lives. Mr. and Mrs. Bentzin are members of the Evangelical church, in the beneficences of which they ever have taken a warm interest, and they are held in the very highest regard throughout the entire community. Three children were born to them, the sons above mentioned, and a daughter, Emily, who died when she was eight years of age.

Both the Bentzin brothers were born at New Ulm and have been associated with their father in the mill ever since boyhood, thus being thoroughly familiar with all departments of the business. William F. Bentzin looks after the business and general management of the mill, while Charles Bentzin has charge of the mechanical and engineering work. The capacity of the mill is seventy-five barrels of wheat flour and twenty-five barrels of rye flour a day, besides two hundred sacks of feed a day. This report may appear small in comparison with those of the great milling plants of the city, which is a milling center, but, as William Bentzin smilingly remarked: "Our mill has capacity enough to supply the largest family with the staff of life."

On June 19, 1900, William F. Bentzin was united in marriage to Rose Guth, daughter of George and Catherin (Scheible) Guth, and to this union two children have been born, Alfred and Elf rieda.

William G. Alwin

William G. Alwin, well-known druggist and pharmacist, of New Ulm, this county, is a native son of that city, having been born there on May 24, 1865, son of William and Wilhelmina (Gruening) Alwin, natives of Germany and early settlers of Brown county, the latter of whom is still living here, being now more than ninety years of age. Her husband died in 1910, for some years previous to that date having been living retired in the city of New Ulm.

William Alwin was born and reared in the province of Posen, fifth in order of birth of the six children born to his parents, the others having been Mrs. Katie Klingbeil, Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. Sief ert, Mina and Michael, all of whom came to America save the last named. William Alwin married Wilhelmina Gruening, who was also born in Posen, eldest of the four children born to her parents, she having had three brothers, Gottlieb, Herman and Edward, and in 1853, shortly after their marriage, he and his wife came to the United States. For about a year after coming to this side they were located in Milwaukee and then, in 1854, came with a small party of others of their nationality to Minnesota, settling in the New Ulm neighborhood, then practically all wilderness, being thus among the very earliest pioneers of this section of the state.

Upon locating here William Alwin pre-empted a tract of land on the Big Cottonwood river, at the edge of New Ulm, and there established his home, quickly becoming rec- ognized as among the most substantial residents of that neighborhood. During the time of the Indian uprising in 1862, he served as one of the defenders of New Ulm and in many ways during his long and useful life displayed his interest in the general welfare. Both William Alwin and his wife were reared as Lutherans, but later transferred their connection to the German Methodists and were among the charter members of the church of that faith in New Ulm, in which church Mr. Alwin served as a trustee until his death. He made his home on the Cottonwood river homestead until 1885, in which year he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to New Ulm, where Mr. Alwin died in 1910. His widow still survives him, being now past ninety years of age. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are still living, as follow : Fred, of Sleepy Eye, this county ; Herman, of St. Paul, this state; Adolph, of New Ulm ; Rudolph, of the same city ; Emil, of Milnor, North Dakota; Albert, of Mound, this state; Edward, of New Ulm; William G., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and Elvina, who married Herman Breitkreutz, of Arlington, in the neighboring county of Sibley.

William G. Alwin was reared on the home farm on the outskirts of New Ulm, receiving his education in the public schools of that city, and at the age of fourteen went to St. Paul, where he entered the Adolph Stieile pharmacy, with which he remained until he had acquired a thorough acquaintance with the drug business. He then returned home and in 1892 bought the "City" drug store at New Ulm, which he conducted until 1905, in which year he became connected with the "Pioneer" drug store, his present popular

On November 29, 1899, William G. Alwin was united in marriage to Meta Seiter, who was born in New TJlm, daughter of Adolph and Helen (Erd) Seiter, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Cincinnati, Ohio, both now deceased, who were the parents of thirteen children, Adolph, William, Otto, Albert, Alma, Oscar, Ella, Fred, Emma, Meta and three who died in youth. To William G. and Meta (Seiter) Alwin four children have been born, Howard Lind, who died at the age of eighteen months; LaMyra, Norman and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Alwin are members of the New Ulm Turners Society, in the affairs of which they take an active interest, and are held in high esteem by their many friends hereabout. Mr. Alwin is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the affairs of those popular organizations. He has long been recognized as one of the leading business men of the city and occupies a prominent place in commercial circles in New Ulm and throughout the county.

P. H. Furth, well-known general insurance agent at New Ulm, this county, and until a few years ago a progressive farmer and stockman of Milf ord township, is a native of Germany. He was born on September 4, 1870, son of M. J. and Barbara D. (Stotfelt) Furth, both natives of the Fatherland. His mother died in 1879. She was the mother of thirteen children, of whom six are still living, M. J., John A., Joseph, P. H., Mrs. Christina Golb and Mrs. Barbara Phillips. In the early eighties the elder M. J. Furth came to the United States with his children. He located in Chicago, where he became employed with the Chicago Free Press and continued thus engaged for years, or until his retirement from active service. He is still living in Chicago, aged ninety-three years.

P. H. Furth was about twelve years old when he came to this country with his father and the schooling which was interrupted upon leaving Germany was resumed in Chicago schools. Upon leaving school he took service with the Rascher Map Company of Chicago and later became associated with the Sanborn Map Company, with which concern he was actively connected for twenty-five years, his work in that connection taking him to all parts of the country, with the exception of the Pacific coast, drawing maps of cities for the special information of insurance companies, with particular reference to the data upon which rates are based. During his travels through this part of Minnesota Mr. Furth had become much impressed with conditions here- about and in 1908 he came to Brown county and located on a farm in Milford township, where he engaged in general farming and stock raising, paying special attention to the raising of Holstein cattle, having some of the best graded cattle in the county. He put about three thousand dollars worth of improvements on his place and farmed there until 1913, in which year he left the farm and moved to New Ulm, where he entered the general fire- and life-insurance business, in which he ever since has been quite successfully engaged. He also continues his connection with the Sanborn Map Company and in addition to looking after his extensive affairs gives his earnest attention to the general interests of the city. Mr. Furth is a Republican and during his residence in Milford township served as justice of the peace. He also served for two years as assessor and clerk of school district No. 50.

In 1900 P. H. Furth was united in marriage to Mary Dorothy (Metzen) Richartz, daughter of George and Katherine (Schroeder) Metzen. To this union no children have been born, but Mrs. Furth has a son by her former marriage to William Richartz, Theodore Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Furth are devoted members of the Catholic church and are warmly interested in parish affairs. Mr. Furth is a member of the Knights of Columbus and takes an active interest in the affairs of that organization.

George and Katherine (Schroeder) Metzen, parents of Mrs. P. H. Furth, were both born and reared in Prussia, Germany. They were married in their native land and two years later, in 1854, they came to America and located first at Detroit, Michigan, where they lived one year. They then went to Hudson, Wisconsin, where they stayed two years, then moved to LeSeuer, and three years later came to Brown county and located on a farm in Sigel township during the summer of 1862, just prior to the Sioux Indian outbreak. During the uprising Mr. and Mrs. Metzen and their children sought safety in New Ulm, and after the danger was over they moved to a homestead in Cottonwood township, where they lived until the death of Mr. Metzen in 1898. Mrs. Metzen then made her home with her sons Joseph and William in Milf ord township and later lived with a daughter in Chicago until 1913, when she came to live with her daughter in New Ulm. Here Mrs. Katherine (Schroeder) Metzen died on November 20, 1915, at the age of eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Metzen were the parents of eight children, namely: Mrs. John Wehye, who died in 1880; Nick, Joseph, William and Mrs. P. H. Furth, who reside in New Ulm ; Mrs. Paul J. Nuessle, of Minneapolis ; Mrs. Kate Ball, of Livingston, Montana, and Mrs. A. J. Furth, of Chicago.

Herman Beussmann

Herman Beussmann, farmer of Milford township, Brown county, Minnesota, was born in West Newton township, Nicollet county, this state, on November 2, 1869, being a son of Diederich and Mary (Rosmann) Brussmann, both natives of Germany. Diederich was a farmer in his native land and when a young man emigrated to America. He located in Cincinnati among people of his nationality, where he worked for a few years and then returned to his native land and was married. Together he and his wife made the trip to America and this time he came to this section of the country, living in Milwaukee for a time. They then came on to Nicollet county, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Brown county, locating on the land where Herman, the immediate subject of this sketch, now resides. They reached Brown county but a short time before the first of the Indian outbreaks in the early sixties, and at that time lost all their possessions, home and all being burned. They were glad to find safety in New Ulm and to the defense of that town Mr. Beussmann gave his best efforts. They then went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and remained there a few years. Then the family returned to Nicollet county and farmed there a few years, eventually returning to their land here, where Diederich passed his remaining years. His farm at first contained one hundred and twenty acres, but at the time of his death in 1897, he was fanning two hundred acres. His widow still survives, making her home in New Ulm. His farm at first contained one hundred and twenty acres, but at the time of his death in 1897, he was farming two hundred acres. His widow still survives, making her home in New Ulm. There were six children in the family of Diederich Beussmann, all of whom are living. These are: Henry, Minnie, Emma, Carrie, Augusta and Herman.

Herman Beussmann was born after the family had returned to Nicollet county and was but a small boy when they moved again to Brown county. His education, therefore, was gained from the early schools near his home in Milford township and he continued to make his home with his parents, aiding the father in the management of the homestead, until the time of the latter 's death. He then took entire charge of the farm and has one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation, renting out eighty acres. He is an industrious farmer and succeeds well in his chosen line.

Mr. Beussmann was married in 1901 to Louise Spelbrink, a daughter of Chris Spelbrink, a sketch of whose life will be found on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Beussmann have one child, Alvin. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, and politically Mr. Buessmann is an independent voter. He is honest and industrious, a man among men, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

Charles Vogtel

Charles Vogtel, secretary and general manager of the Eagle Roller Mill Company at New Ulm, this county, one of the greatest flour-mills in the United States, is a native of Germany, having been born near the important fortified town of Erfurt, on the Gera, in Prussian Saxony, May 4, 1867, son of Charles and Amalia Vogtel, natives of that same state, who later came to the United States and settled in New Ulm, where their last days were spent.

The elder Charles Vogtel was a sheep-herder in his native land and in 1870, attracted by the good reports sent back by the German colonists who had settled in this part of Minnesota, he and his family came to America, proceeding directly to New Ulm, where they established their new home. Mr. Vogtel engaged in teaming and became an active and useful citizen. He died in 1886, being then sixty-two years of age, and his widow survived until 1901, she being sixtysix years of age at the time of her death. Both were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There are five of these children, all still living, as follows : Herman, of New Ulm ; Amalia, who married J ohn Hoffman, of Lafayette township, in the neighboring county of Nicollet; Mary, wife of Charles Stoll, of New Ulm; Charles, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and Emma, wife of Herman Kiesling, of Minneapolis, this state.

Upon completing the course in the local schools he took a comprehensive course in a business college at St. Paul, after which he was for a year engaged as a clerk in a store at New Ulm. He then went to St. Paul and for five years was employed as a mercantile clerk there. At the end of that time he was employed as a bookkeeper by the Swan Lake Milling Company at Nicollet and was thus engaged for four years, or until that mill was destroyed by fire. He then returned to New Ulm and entered the employ of the Eagle Roller Mill Company as a bookkeeper and has been connected with that great industrial concern ever since. In 1894 Mr. Vogtel was promoted to the position of assistant secretary of the Eagle Roller Mill Company, and in 1900 was advanced to the position of secretary of the company, to which responsible duties were added in 1912 those of general manager of the company's enormous interests, which important position he has since held, being thus one of the most influential men of affairs in Minnesota. Mr. Vogtel is one of the best-known millers in the United States and is held in the very highest regard among the leaders of the milling business all over the country. He is one of the directors of the American Millers' National Federation and his sagacious counsels in the deliberations of that body possess much weight. Mr. Vogtel is also president of the Marshall Milling Company of Marshall, this state; vice-president of the Citizens State Bank of New Ulm and vice-president of the State Bond and Mortgage Company of the same city. Politically, he gives allegiance to the Republican party and is a valuable member of the New Ulm city park board.

pioneer days. During the siege of 1862 the original mill was destroyed by the Indians, whose incendiary torches caused the destruction of so much valuable property hereabout. After the close of the Indian war the mill was rebuilt and has gradually grown, with the passing of the years, until it now has a daily capacity of six thousand barrels of flour, with a storage capacity of two million six hundred thousand bushels of grain, including the country branch houses. The product of the mill is shipped to all parts of the United States and Europe, the superior quality of the flour causing it to be in great demand. Three hundred and fifty persons are employed by the Eagle Roller Mill Company and the huge establishment is by long odds the chief industry of New Ulm.

On December 18, 1890, Charles Vogtel was united in marriage to Ida Freitag, who was born at Nicollet, in the neighboring county of Nicollet, daughter of Albert Freitag and wife, the latter of whom was a Meyer, natives of the province of Posen, in Germany, and early settlers in this section of Minnesota. To Albert Freitag and wife four children were born, Albert, Paul, Anna and Ida. The mother of these children died at Nicollet in 1874 and Mr. Freitag married again, to which second union four children were born, Emil, Bertha, Otto and William. Mr. Freitag is now living in Max, North Dakota.

To Charles and Ida (Freitag) Vogtel two children have been born, sons both, Melvin, who is a student in a medical college at Chicago, and Harold, who is a student in Chicago University. Mr. and Mrs. Vogtel take an active part in the various social and cultural activities of their home town and are held in high esteem throughout the whole com- munity. Mr. Vogtel is a member of Charity Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at New Ulm ; of New XJlm Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and of DeMolay Commandery No. 26, Knights Templar, in the affairs of which several important departments of Freemasonry he takes a warm interest. By virtue of his extensive business connections he naturally occupies a high position in the general commercial life of this section and is held in very high regard by his business associates generally.

George Marti

George Marti, president of the Schell Brewing Company, of New Ulm, and one of the most enterprising and energetic citizens of that city, is a native of the great Empire state, having been born at Seneca Falls, New York, May 1, 1854, son of Rudolph and Barbara (Buchhauser) Marti, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Bavaria, who later became pioneers in this section of Minnesota.

Rudolph Marti was born in the canton of Berne, in the republic of Switzerland and was reared to the trade of a machinist. When a boy he came to the United States and for some years worked in the East at his trade. He married there and for some time was located at Seneca Falls, New York. In 1858 he became attracted by the reports of the golden opportunities which awaited the settlers in this part of Minnesota and came here, locating in the neighborhood of West Newton, across the river in Nicollet county. There he homesteaded eighty acres of land, to which he presently added by the purchase of an adjoining "eighty" and on this quarter section established his home and reared his family. During the Indian uprising in 1862 he served valiantly as one of the home defenders and ever took a good citizen's part in the development of the community in the neighborhood of his home, for years having been a member of the school board in West Newton township. Rudolph Marti died in 1885, aged about forty-five years. His widow is still surviving, at the age of eighty-three. He was a member of the Lutheran church and she is a Catholic. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch is the eldest, the others being as follow: Charles, of New Ulm; Rudolph, of New Ulm; John, of St. Paul ; Theresa, wife of Mathias Walser, of West Newton ; Anna, wife of Andrew Webber, of Tower, this state ; Sarah, wife of George Walter, living near Traverse, this state, and two who died in early youth. The mother of these children, who is still living, is one of the three children born to her parents in Bavaria. Her father died in his native land, after which his widow married a Mr. Inhoffer and came to America, later locating in West Newton, up the river from New Ulm, where the rest of their lives were spent.

George Marti was about four years of age when he came to this section of Minnesota with his parents and he grew up on the home farm near West Newton, receiving his education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and in the high school at New Ulm. He then entered the Chicago College of Pharmacy at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1879, after which for a year he was employed in a drug store at New Ulm. In that same year he married a daughter of August Schell and then went to St. Paul and started a drug store of his own and was thus engaged there for twenty years, at the end of which time he returned to New Ulm and entered the office of his father-inlaw, head of the Schell Brewing Company, and had charge of the books of that company and was thus engaged until 1911, in which year he was elected president of the company, in which capacity he has since been serving. The Schell brewery was established in New Ulm about 1860 in a small way and has grown to large proportions, being now one of the leading industries of its kind in this section of the state, having a capacity of from eighteen thousand to twenty thousand barrels a year. The plant occupies a plot of forty acres, the grounds being beautifully kept and the buildings first-class and modern.

In 1879, George Marti was united in marriage to Emma Schell, who was born in Cincinnati, daughter of August and Theresa Schell, who came to this county as members of the original colony of the Cincinnati Land Company in 1856. August Schell f ounded the Schell Brewing Company at New Ulm and remained the head of the same until his death. His widow survived him for some years, her death occurring in 1912, she then being eighty-three years of age. They were the parents of six children, Emily, Emma, Anna, Adolph, Otto and Augusta.

To George and Emma (Schell) Marti five children have been born, namely: Hertha, who married E. A. Hagberg, of New Ulm, and has two children, Helen and Theodore ; Alma, who is a music teacher; Alfred, bookkeeper in the. office of the Schell Brewing Company, who married Hertha Grege and has one child, a son, Frank ; Elsie, who teaches music in the New Ulm public schools, and Edward, who is a student at Washburn College, Topeka, Kansas. The Martis long have been prominent figures in the social and cultural life of the community and are held in high esteem by their many friends. Mr. Marti is a member of Charity Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; of the New Ulm Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; DeMolay Commandery, Knights Templar, and of Zurah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Minneapolis.

He also is affiliated with the Arbieter Freund Society of New Ulm and the Sons of Hermann at New Ulm, and in the affairs of all these several organizations takes a warm interest.

Otto F. Oswald

Otto F. Oswald, well-known member of the firm of Oswald & Rice, proprietors of the steam laundry at New Ulm, the only establishment of the kind in the city, is a native son of New Ulm, having been born in that city on February 14, 1883, son of Gottlieb C. and Wilhelmina (Wolf) Oswald, well-known residents of New Ulm, a further history of which family is set out in a biographical sketch relating to Gottlieb C. Oswald, presented elsewhere in this volume.

Otto F. Oswald received his education in the New Ulm schools and upon leaving school took employment with the Burg Cigar Company, with which he was connected for fifteen years, the last five years of which he acted as a traveling salesman for the company. He then engaged in the saloon business at Cobden, this county, and was thus engaged for about a year, at the end of which time he returned to New Ulm and bought a half interest in a saloon there. Two years later he sold his interest in that place and on January 1, 1915, bought an interest in the New Ulm steam laundry, with which he ever since has been connected and in which business he is doing well. Oswald & Rice have established agencies for their laundry in about forty towns in southern Minnesota and South Dakota and have an extensive business. In connection with their establishment they also operate a modern dry-cleaning plant, and have worked up a fine business in that line.

ence Gilley, daughter of Joseph Gilley and wife, and to this union five children have been born, Lena, Laura, Delbert, Arnold and Melvin. Mr. Oswald is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office. He is a member of the New Ulm Turnverein, of which he is the vice-president, and is one of the most active members of the local branch of the Sons of Hermann, which he has served in the capacity of president and takes a warm interest in its affairs. Mr. Oswald is second lieutenant of Burg's Battery, a local battery which has been in existence for fifty years.

Christian Boock

Christian Boock, the well-known florist at New Ulm, proprietor of the oldest green-houses in that city, is a native of Germany, having been born in Schleswig, February 6, 1841, son of Josiah and Wilhelmina (Theede) Boock, both natives of that same province. Josiah Boock was trained as a cooper, but later took up farming and became the owner of a farm of forty acres, which he cultivated until he retired. He was twice married, his first wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, by whom he had eight children, four of whom are still living, dying in 1856. He then married again and moved over the border into Denmark with his family, remaining there for four years, after which he returned to Schleswig, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring at the age of eighty-eight years.

Christian Boock received his education in the German schools and was trained to the trade of a cooper. He was living in Denmark when the Danish-Prussian War broke out in 1863 and he enlisted in behalf of the Danish cause, serving in the army of Denmark until the close of the war. He then resumed work at his trade and was thus engaged until 1866, in which year he came to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and arrived at New Ulm on Christmas day of that year with twenty dollars in his pocket. Shortly afterward he went over to St. Peter, where he remained for two years, working in a cooper shop during the winters and on farms during the summers. He then entered a homestead claim and " proved up" the same, at the same time continuing his cooperage work and in 1873 was engaged as foreman of the cooper shop of the Eagle Roller Mill Company at New Ulm, a position he held until 1906. During the meantime Mr. Boock had given considerable attention to the cultivation of roses for his own pleasure and that of his family and friends and the fame of his roses became widely known. The demands of his friends for roses and other flowers of his raising presently became so insistent that he resigned his position at the mill and in 1906 began to devote his whole time to his green-house, which from a small affair, sixteen by twelve in dimension, has now reached extensive proportions, Mr. Boock doing a large business as a general florist.

On April 16, 1870, Christian Boock was united in marriage to Elise Bolke and to this union five children have been born, three of whom, Fred, Alfred and Otto, are still living. Alfred Boock married Pauline Schuetz and has four children, Alfred J., Darwin, Meta and Elsa. Otto Boock married Loretta Koester and has two children, Alice and Walter. Mr. Boock is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a past noble grand of the local lodge. He also is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and for four years was master of the local lodge of that order. In his political views he is "independent," reserving his right to vote as he thinks best, regardless of party affiliation.

August C. Dahl

August C. Dahl, secretary-treasurer of the New Ulm Roller Mill Company and one of the most active and energetic young business men of that city, is a native son of Brown county, having been born on a pioneer farm in Cottonwood township, February 20, 1877, son of Christian and Ernestine (Krueger) Dahl, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Brown county.

Christian Dahl was but four years old when his parents came to the United States, the family settling near Watertown, Wisconsin, where he remained until he was nineteen years old, at which time he came to Minnesota seeking land and bought a tract in Cottonwood township, this county. That was before the days of the Indian uprising and when defense measures became necessary Mr. Dahl enlisted in the United States army and for three years served as one of the protectors of the settlers in these parts. At the conclusion of this service Mr. Dahl returned to his homestead farm and proceeded to develop the same. His affairs proved prosperous and he gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of wellimproved land in Cottonwood township. He was active in local public affairs and served his township well in various offices of a public character. His death occurred in 1910. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living, Henry, Benjamin, Robert, August C, Louis, Arthur and Chris.

ceived his elementary education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, supplementing the same by a course in the Mankato Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1900. For two years thereafter he taught school at Money Creek, in Houston county, and in 1902 became engaged as a clerk and bookkeeper in the offices of the New Ulm Milling Company at New Ulm. The interest he manifested in the affairs of the company from the very beginning of his connection therewith was rewarded by his election in 1911 to the important and responsible position of secretary-treasurer of the company, which position he still holds, being one of the best-known flour-mill men in this part of the state.

In 1903 August C. Dahl was united in marriage to Louise Backer, daughter of August Backer and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Verna. Mr. Dahl is a member of the Commercial Club of New Ulm and takes an active interest in the extension of the city's commercial and industrial life. He is a director of the Brown County Bank of New Ulm and a director of the State Bank of Essig. He is a Republican and is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Knights Templar, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

Louis Spelbrink

Louis Spelbrink, successful farmer and stockman of Milford township, Brown county, Minnesota, was born in the same township where he has passed his entire life, on September 1, 1859, being a son of Christian and Marie Louise Spelbrink, both natives of Hanover, Germany. Christian Spelbrink was a merchant in his native city in a small way and emigrated to America in 1856. He located near Lafayette, Indiana, where for about a year he worked out as a farm hand. In 1857 he came to Minnesota with the Cincinnati colony and located in Milford township on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land which he entered from the government. He remained thereon for three years and then disposed of it, purchasing instead the land on which Louis, the immediate subject of this sketch, now resides. Christian Spelbrink lived and labored on this farm until the time of his death, passing through many hardships common to pioneers in this section at that time. During the time of the Indian massacre he lost all his grain and live stock and most of his household furniture and with his family had to flee to New Ulm for safety and later on they were forced to go to St. Peter for a short time.

Louis Spelbrink was^one of a family of six children, of whom but three are now living, the other two being Chris, of New Ulm, and Gust, residing at Ivanhoe, Minnesota. Louis Spelbrink received his education in his native township, making the most of the meager opportunities offered at that time, and became his father's assistant in the management of the home place. He was thus associated with him at the time of his death, when he took over the farm and has increased his holdings to two hundred and seventy-six acres. Louis Spelbrink has greatly improved this farm until it is one of the best in the community and carries on diversified farming along the most approved lines. He puts in an average of ninety acres to wheat, twenty acres to oats, forty acres to corn and ten acres to clover and prepares for the market from forty to fifty hogs per annum. He keeps an average of ten milk cows, disposing of their product to a nearby creamery. Since owning this land, Mr. Spelbrink has spent about four thousand dollars in improving it and has brought it up to a high standard of perfection.

On January 18, 1888, Louis Spelbrink was united in marriage with Dora Sophia Goede, a daughter of William Goede, born on October 18, 1864, and to their union has been born a family of five children: Erwin E., Erne, Lydia, Jessie and Esther, all at home with the parents with the exception of Erwin E., who married Mate Knees. Mr. Spelbrink holds his fraternal affiliation with the Modern Woodmen of America and gives his political support to the Republican party. He is at the present time chairman of the town board of Milf ord and for eight years served as clerk of the town board. He has also been township assessor, discharging his duties along all lines with satisfaction to all concerned. Mr. Spelbrink is one of the representative citizens of Milf ord township and as such is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the character of the one in hand.

George Doehne

George Doehne, a well-known and venerable retired business man of New Ulm, pioneer resident of Brown county, a veteran of the old Mounted Ranger service who rendered valuable aid to the state during the time of the Indian uprising in the summer of 1862, a former partner in the old Eagle mills at New Ulm and for many years one of the most highly respected residents of that city, is a native of Germany, having been born in the principality of Waldeck, September 14, 1834, only child of Wilhelm and Carolina (Mueller) Doehne, the former of whom was a Hessian, born near the castle of Hesse, and the latter of whom was born in Waldeck. Wilhelm Doehne was a tanner and operated a tannery in the city of Mangeringhausen, Waldeck. He died when his only son was five years old and his widow survived him but seven years.

Left an orphan at the early age of twelve, George Doehne 's early life was one of struggle, but he bravely faced each new situation as it presented and with a stout heart ever pressed forward. He followed his father's calling as a youth and learned the tanner's trade under a most competent master, becoming a thoroughly skilled worker in leather. At the age of twenty Mr. Doehne decided to try his fortune in the promising land across the sea and in 1854 came to America, landing at Philadelphia, the sailing vessel in which he crossed being forty-nine days in making the trip. Mr. Doehne found his first employment in this coun- try at Meyer's mills, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where for a year he worked at his trade. He then walked to Cumberland, Maryland, and in Gilpintown, Allegheny county, that state, on the old National road, f ound employment. He was there nine months, at the end of which time he went to Philadelphia, where he was employed until the financial crash of 1857 caused a general closing of the mills and he found himself out of work. He then went to Harrisburg and thence into the Allegheny mountains, where he spent the winter chopping wood. Later he found employment in a tannery at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and was there employed until 1861, in which year, attracted by the fine reports received in the East regarding the promising conditions in the great Northwest, came to Minnesota, his "good star" guiding him to the New Ulm settlement. He was so much impressed with conditions then existing in Brown county that he bought a farm in Cottonwood township and proceeded to develop the same. When the Indian massacre occurred on August 18, 1862, he responded at once to the call to arms and enlisted in the volunteer militia service, later transfering his services to the Mounted Rangers with which he served until the Indian uprising was most effectually put down. Upon receiving his honorable discharge at Ft. Snelling he returned East and for some time rendered efficient aid in the tannery of his former employer, Samuel Steele, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania. While thus employed he met a Bavarian girl, Anna Roeck, who not Jong before had come to this country with her parents from Munich, and it was a case of "love at first sight" for both. On May 5, 1865, Mr. Doehne and Miss Roeck were united in marriage and immediately thereafter started West, Mr.

Doehne bringing his bride to Brown county and establishing his home on the Cottonwood township farm which he had bought a few years ago, and there he and his wife prospered from the very beginning, laying there the foundation for their later very substantial material success. That pioneer farm Mr. Doehne retained until a few years ago, when he sold it.

From the beginning of Mr. Doehne 's permanent residence in this county he took an active part in the common life of the community and was soon not only regarded as one of the substantial men of his neighborhood, but one of the most useful and influential. He was one of the early supervisors of Cottonwood township ; was later a valued member of the board of county commissioners, and after his location in New Ulm was for years one of the most influential members of the city council. It was in 1874 that Mr. Doehne left the farm and moved with his family to New Ulm, where he engaged in the lumber business and also established a planing-mill. After being thus engaged for about two years he formed a partnership with Jacob Pfaenninger and Werner Boesch in the operation of the old Eagle roller flour-mill and was thus engaged until that enterprising trio sold the mill to Charles Silverson, since which time Mr. Doehne and his former partners have lived retired. In 1884 Mr. Doehne erected a beautiful and commodious residence at 124 South German street, in New Ulm, and there he ever since has made his home, very comfortably situated. He has an extensive and carefully selected library and in the genial "evening time ,, of his life finds much comfort and pleasure in his favorite books. He has ever been a lover of good books, a great reader, and still, though living in the eighth decade of his life, retains the liveliest interest in current affairs, though his chief pleasure, in reading, is found in those noble works of literature that have stood the test of the years. Mr. Doehne is one of that all too rapidly passing type of manhood lovingly referred to as "a gentleman of the old school,' ' and has ever stood for those things that are true of good report. Having no patience with the shams and weakness of mankind, and despising all in life that is mean and debased, his aspirations ever have been of a lofty character and his life in this community has for many years exerted a most wholesome influence for good.

On August 17, 1910, Mr. Doehne was bereaved by death of the gentle and loving companion of his married life, Mrs. Anna Doehene dying on that date, at the age of sixty-one years and eight months, she having been born on December 22, 1848. Mr. Doehne suffered a great loss in the death of his wife, who was a loving and faithful companion, a competent helpmeet and an able and sympathetic counsellor to her husband. Mrs. Doehene was a woman of much refinement and in her gentle way did much to elevate the standards of social life in this community, while her life was ever abounding in good works. She was devoted to her husband and her children and ever sought to make her home the pleasantest place in the world for them. There were five of these children, as follow: William, a graduate of the University of Michigan and a young man of brilliant accomplishments and a most promising future, who died at the age of twenty-one years ; Amelia, who married Dr. O. C. Strickler, of New Ulm, and has two daughters, Vera and Leola : Clara, who married Dr. C. J. Rothenberg, of Springfield, this county, and has three children, Robert, Norma and

Marion ; George, who was graduated from the pharmaceutical department of the University of Michigan and now lives at Spokane, Washington, and Louise, who is at home with her father.

Rev. Robert Schlinkert

The Rev. Robert Schlinkert, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic church at New Ulm, this county, is a native of Germany, having been born in the town of Warstein, in Westphalia, July 21, 1868, son of Frank and Wilhelmina (Spanke) Schlinkert, both natives of Westphalia. Frank Schlinkert was a village merchant, a calling he followed until his death. He was born on November 1, 1822, and died on March 31, 1897. His widow survived him a little more than four years, her death occurring on April 14, 1901. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living, the subject of this sketch being the only one, however, who has ever been a resident of Brown county.

Robert Schlinkert received his elementary education in the public schools of his native town, where he also attended the high school or gymnasium for two years. Soon after coming to the United States he entered St. Thomas College at St. Paul, this state, where he studied for five years in preparation for the seminary. After the prescribed sixyears course in the seminary he was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1899 and on December 17 of that year celebrated his first mass at the Church of the Assumption at St. Paul.

After his college and seminary career the authorities retained him at St. Thomas College as an instructor in German, Latin and ancient history. After four years of valuable service in that capacity, Father Schlinkert was assigned to a parish at Hampton, this state, and for six years re- mained at that place as pastor of St. Matthew's church during which period of service he did much toward extending the general interests of the parish, improving the same largely both in a spiritual and a material way. In 1910 Father Slinkert was transferred to the more important parish of Holy Trinity at New Ulm and has ever since been serving as pastor of that church, the interests of which also have been largely advanced under his intelligent and efficient direction.

Father Schlinkert is chaplain of the New Ulm branch of the Knights of Columbus and serves in the same capacity in the local branch of the Catholic Order of Foresters, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

John H. Siegel

John H. Siegel, first vice-president of the Eagle Roller Mills at New Ulm, this county, and one of the best-known flour-mill men in the Northwest, was literally born to the milling business, his father having been a pioneer miller in Indiana, and he has been connected with the flour-milling industry all the active years of his life.

Born at Newburg, Indiana, in 1858, John H. Siegel received his education in the schools of that thriving little town and early took a place in his father's flour-mill. When nineteen years of age he went to Elizabethtown, Illinois, where he remained until 1879, in which year he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was placed in charge of the W. B. Lowery mill. Two years later his services were engaged by the Jewell Milling Company, at Brooklyn, New York, and he had been connected with that mill four years when a more attractive proposition took him to Milwaukee, where, in 1885, he became second miller in the Daisy Roller Mills, and he remained there until 1891, in which year he came to Minnesota and started the Eagle Roller Mills at New Ulm for the Allis-Chalmers Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the following year he became the superintendent of the Daisy Roller Mill Company and was thus connected with that concern for four years, at the end of which time, in 1896, his services again were secured by the Eagle Roller Mill Company and he was installed as superintendent of that company's great plant at New Ulm. Mr. Siegel gradually became the owner of a considerable block of stock in the company and in 1904 was elected first vicepresident of the company, a position which he still holds and by virtue of which he is recognized as one of the most commanding figures in the great flour-milling industry of the Northwest.

Fred J. Backer

Fred J. Backer, well-known merchant of New Ulm, this county, doing an extensive business in harness and leather goods generally, also an extensive manufacturer of harness, is a native of the kingdom of Bavaria, having been born there on June 3, 1870, son of John and Martha (Weis) Backer, natives of that same country, who later became well-known and influential residents of this section of Minnesota, their last days having been spent on their big farm in Milf ord township, this county.

J ohn Backer was the youngest of the four children born to his parents, the others having been George, Mrs. Gareis, deceased, and one who died in the old country. His parents, who were well-to-do farming people, spent all their lives in their native land. John Backer was reared to the life of the farm and became a brick and tile manufacturer in Seibelsdorf , Bavaria. There he married Martha Weis, only child of Frederick and Margaret Weis, the former of whom died in his native land. His widow accompanied her daughter when the Backers came to Minnesota and she died in old age at the Backer home in Milf ord township. It was in 1872 that John Backer and his family came to the United States. They proceeded directly to Minnesota upon landing and settled in Milford township, this county, where Mr. Backer bought a fine farm of four hundred acres. There he established his home and reared his family and there he and his wife spent their last days, long having been regarded as among the most substantial residents of that neighborhood.

John Backer died in 1881 and his widow survived until August 24, 1902, making her home with her son, Fred J., for about four years before her death, she being nearly seventy years of age at the time of her death. Both she and her husband were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were twelve of these children, namely: Fredricka, deceased, who was the wife of Gustav Lueck ; Johanna, wife of Henry Horstkorta, of Minneapolis, this state; Kunigunda, wife of Bernhardt Knees, of Milf ord township, this county ; Martha, wife of William Dehn, also of Milf ord township ; Christian, of New Ulm ; Andrew, who lived on the old homestead farm in Milf ord township until the spring of 1916 when he retired and moved to New Ulm; Fred J., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; David, deceased; August, of Essig, this county; Anna, wife of Herman Meyer, of New Ulm, and two who died in early youth in the old country.

Fred J. Backer was about two years old when his family settled in this county and he grew up on the home farm in Milford township, receiving his education in the public schools. He remained at home until he was eighteen years old and then went to New Ulm, where he learned the harnessmaker's trade, which he has followed ever since, having been in business for himself since 1892. Mr. Backer carries an extensive stock of light and heavy harness and all kinds of horse goods, as well as a full and complete line of trunks, valises, robes and leather goods generally and does a flourishing business, being regarded as one of the leading merchants in his line in this part of the state. He takes an active interest in the general commercial life of the community and is one of the directors of the State Bank of New

Ulm. During the terrific cyclone which swept this section in 1881 Mr. Backer, then an active boy of eleven, received a serious injury and he has always regarded it as a little less than a miracle that he was not killed. A good-sized piece of board was driven by the force of the wind clear through his right leg, but fortunately careful nursing brought him through without the loss of his leg.

On January 13, 1898, Fred J. Backer was united in marriage to Emma Buenger, who was born in New Ulm, daughter of Louis and Henrietta (Ipps) Buenger, wellknown residents of this community, a detailed history of which interesting family in this county is set out in a biographical sketch relating to Emil Buenger, presented elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children have been born, Martha and Alfa. Mr. and Mrs. Backer are members of the Lutheran church and are warmly interested in the various beneficences of that organization, being held in high esteem by their many friends hereabout. Mr. Backer is a member of the famous Second Regiment band at New Ulm and is a musician of considerable ability. He is "independent" in his political views, regarding the man as of importance than the mere party emblem, when it comes to local elections, and tries to do his full part as a citizen and as a neighbor.

John F. Neumann

For many years John F. Neumann now living in retirement at New Ulm, was one of the most enterprising merchants of Brown county. He was born in East PrussiLa, Germany, February 21, 1840, and is a son of Carl and Louisa Neumann. The father was a farmer in the old country. His family consisted of nine children, of whom John F. was the second in order of birth. John F. Neumann spent his boyhood in Germany and there attended school until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to work in a dry goods store. He was for some time a soldier in the light cavalry and took part in the war against Hanover in 1866, being promoted to a corporal for good conduct. He immigrated to the United States in 1868 and worked a year on the Union Pacific railroad, laying ties from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Ogden, Utah. He then came to Rochester, Minnesota, and worked on a farm six months, then secured employment in a store, in which he spent six months. In February, 1870, he came to New Ulm and peddled dry goods and notions around the country, starting a store the following year in partnership with Frank Friedman, selling out to his partner a year later and started a saloon and store in combination, finally giving up the saloon and continued in general merchandising. By good management and close application he prospered with advancing years, building up the largest department store in New Ulm and doing an extesive business which extended over a wide territory. He continued in this line for over forty years, then, in 1910, sold out and retired from active life, having accumulated a handsome competency for his declining years. He still owns his business block in Minnesota street, New Ulm.

John F. Neumann was married in October, 1870, to Theresa Rosskopf, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Zavier Rosskopf. To this union eight children were born, five of whom are still living, namely: Louisa, who married Fred Pfender, the present postmaster of New Ulm, and they have four children, Walter, Armen, J ames and Theresa ; Prof. J ohn Achs, single, is a teacher in the University of Wisconsin at Madison; Mamie is the wife of Albert Pfender and they have two children, Hans A. and Marion ; Anna married Frank Rinher and two children were born to them, Grace and Thelma; Aurora is the wife of Louis Quast and has one child, Lois.

After the death of his first wife, in May, 1888, Mr. Neumann was united in marriage, on October 1, of that year, to Amelia Kuhnel, a native of Nicollet county, Minnesota, and a daughter of Gotleib Kuhnel, and four children have been born to this union, namely: Victor took up a homestead in North Dakota where he now lives ; Rolland is a physical culture instructor in the high school in St. Louis, Missouri ; Lawrence is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin ; Phyllis is a student in the New Ulm high school.

Mr. Neumann is a member of the Turnverein. He is a man of public spirit and has always been one of New Ulm's most enthusiastic boosters, having done much for the general welfare of the city and community.

John Schlumpberger

After a successful, honorable and varied career, John Schlumpberger, who has also a reputation as a soldier, is living in retirement in his cozy home in New Ulm. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, October 28, 1836, where he spent his earlier years and attended school, coming to the United States in 1861. He was a son of John and Ursula (Semmerman) Schlumpberger, who spent their lives on a farm, and whose family consisted of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the ninth in order of birth. Upon leaving school at the age of fourteen John Schlumpberger served an apprenticeship as a mechanic for eight years, then worked in a factory in Rolfinger, which was owned by the state of Wurtemberg, and locomotives and railroad equipment were manufactured. He could not secure employment at his trade when he reached America, the Civil War being then in full blast, so he turned his attention to farming in Brown county, Minnesota, which was then a new country. After working out for one year near the town of Milf ord, he secured a position as bartender, in 1862, at the Dakota hotel bar, and worked there for six months, then proved his loyalty to his adopted country by enlisting in Company L, First Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, for the purpose of fighting the Indians, and served in the regiment one year. He had previously been a member of the state militia, in which he enlisted on August 18, 1862, and the same day had his first skirmish with the Indians. Later he took part in the battle of New Ulm, and on November 1,

1862, he enlisted in the army as before mentioned. He did scout duty, most of the time at South Branch, near Fairmount, and was honorably discharged in November, 1863, later receiving a pension from the government. After leaving the army he secured employment in the plant of the Schell & Bankard Brewing Company where he worked nine months, then bought a piece of land and got married, June 15, 1864. His land was located three and one-half miles from New Ulm, and there he resided until 1902, in April of which year he retired and moved to New Ulm. He was married in Mankato, Blue Earth county, to Mary Rohner, who was born in Austria, November 14, 1843, and was a daughter of Jacob and Anna Rohner. Her father was a carpenter by trade ; her mother died when she was very young and she was then taken into her uncle's home - that of Frank Beltstein - where she lived until her marriage with the subject. The Beltstein family came to the United States in 1854, locating in Ohio, where they spent one year, then removed to Iowa, where they spent twelve months, then came to Brown county, Minnesota, in 1856, where they bought land of the government three miles of New Ulm, and there the uncle and aunt of the subject's wife spent the rest of their lives.

Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schlumpberger, only one of whom is deceased; they are named as follow : Frank, who married Chrisenca Weissensee, has five children, John, Florence, Ameil, Frank and Lucy ; Mary, who married Anton Springer, has six children, Amelia, Hugo, Otto, Bruno, Terry and Egatha ; Amelia, who married Max Reinhart, has three children, Alfred, Jenette and Martha; Alfred, who married Jennie Small, has three (7a) children, Alvin, Bessie and Leander ; Hermonie, who married Joe Bruner, has nine children, Oscar, Lucile, Albert, J osie, Mamie, Edgar, Grace, Cora and Dora (twins) ; Ludwig, who married Ada Backer, has four children, Eleanor, Ray, Clifford and Charlotte ; Gustav, who died on March 19, 1913, married Theresa Schneider, and they had two children, Arthur and Martha ; Albert has remained unmarried ; Caroline, who married Joseph Portner, has four children, Armen, Elvira, Adeline and Leola ; Magdelen, who married Adolph Schneider, has three children, Clarence, Matthew and Alfonse; Antonia is not married and lives at home; Amanda married J ohn Nehls and has two children, Norman and Elmer. Mr. Schlumpberger has two great-grandchildren, Melvin, who is a son of Amelia, who is a daughter of Mary and Anton Springer, Amelia having married Valentine Zeller; Hugo Springer also has a child named Elmora.

Mr. Schlumpberger was a member of the Evangelical church in Germany, but has not joined any denomination here. His wife is a member of the Catholic church. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, also Hager Post No. 48, Grand Army of the Republic. He votes independently, and he was a member of the school board in Cottonwood township for several years, representing district No. 3. He was on the board of supervisors in Cottonwood township for four years.

Frank P. Zschunke

Frank P. Zschunke, well-known clothing merchant at New Ulm and head of a chain of five clothing stores in Minnesota and the Dakotas, one of the most enterprising and energetic business men in this section of the state, is a native of Germany, having been born in the town of Alstedt, Thueringen, June 29, 1873, son of Louis and Mina (Mueller) Zschunke, both natives of that same state, who later became residents of New Ulm, where the former died in 1891, at the age of forty-six years, and where the latter still lives, in her sixty-fifth year.