Houston County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (8 of 9 so headed), 1882

T. B. Barber is a native of Clarion county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish parentage, bora on 21st of February, 1835, about three miles east of the present county seat which was, in 1839, located in a wilderness. His parents moved to the latter place in 1841. He attended private and pub- . lie schools until the age of twelve years, when he entered the t4Clarion Democrat" printing office. After serving an apprenticeship of eighteen months, and having learned all that the limited office was capable of teaching, he was given a situation in his father's drug and general store, remaining until 1851. In the latter year he was sent to the Saltsburg Academy, where he took a strictly mathematical course, to fit him for civil engineering, the vocation he had chosen, and remained until 1853. At that time he was given a position in an engineer corps on the New Portage railroad, where he had charge of the construction of a road over the Alleghany mountains in Pennsylvania. In 1856, the road being nearly completed, he tendered his resignation with the intention of pursuing civil engineering and surveying in the West, having letters of introduction to the Governor and other officials of the then territory of Minnesota. While on a visit home, before starting west, he was offered the situation of clerk in the Commissioner's office, and also a special clerkship in the Register and Recorder's office, which he accepted. He was married on the 5th of November, 1857, to Miss Jennie C. Alexander, of Clarion. Beside the first mentioned clerkship, he was in the Prothonotary, Treasurer, and Sheriff's office until 1863, when he was elected Register and Recorder and Clerk of the Orphan's Court, but still retained his clerkship in the Commissioner's office. At the expiration of his two terms of office (in 1869) he resumed his former clerkships and held the same until 1871. In the latter year a Discount and Deposit Bank was organized in Clarion, in which Mr. Barber was offered and accepted the position of cashier. In 1874, he resigned his position to take charge of his property in Houston county, having previously purchased (in 1869) a flouring mill and farm. He arrived at his place in Winnebago on the 2d of October, 1874, and proceeded to enlarge and improve his mill and farm, building a store-house, dwelling, barn, etc., his property now comprising nearly six hundred acres. He has filled the office of Justice of the Peace two terms and has held some of the minor town offices. Mr and Mrs Barber have been blessed with two children, one of whom is living, William R, now a resident of Fairfield, Iowa.

John Burmester is a native of Hanover where his birth occurred the 5th of September, 1827. He has been a resident of Winnebago since 1862, first working a farm on shares, but in 1867, purchased the farm on which he now lives. He entered the army on the 3d of November, 1864, and served in Company K, of the Jgifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, until the close of the war.

Christian Bunge, Jr., is a native of Germany, born in the province of Hanover on the 10th of April, 1846. His parents came to America when he was about eleven years of age, locating in Cook county, Illinois. They remained there several years and came to Winnebago, Christian going to Chicago, where he found employment and remained until 1865, when he enlisted in the One hundred and twenty-first N«w York Volunteer Infantry. He was soon, however, transferred to the Sixty-fifth New York, serving till the close of the war. He then returned to Chicago and was employed as clerk in a store till 1867, when he came to this place and opened a store, in which business he is still engaged. In April, 1868, he was appointed Postmaster, the office being located at his store; has also been Town Clerk, and is now Town Treasurer. Miss Dorothy Wunneke became his

William Cass is a native of Smithfield, Rhode Island, where his birth occurred on the 2d of March, 1809. The family removed to what is now the town of Blackstone, when William was but an infant. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, at which he was engaged there and at Waterford for about twenty-eight years. In 1858, he came to Wilmington, and six months later to his present farm. Mr. Cass has filled the office of Supervisor three years.

Barney Deters dates his birth the 4th of April, 1838, in Prussia, where he was reared on a farm, and remained until twenty-one years of age. He then came to America, locating in Addison, Illinois, where he was employed in an oil factory. In 1862, he came to Iowa and resided with his uncle, who lives just south of the State line. Mr. Deters has been a resident of this place since 1863. Miss Margaret Rober became his wife on the 22d of November, 1866, and died in 1878, leaving seven children. His present wife was Mrs. Mary Andres, who had two of her own and five step-children. The result of this union has been two children, one of whom, a daughter Hosine, was killed by a falling shot-gun on the 9th of February, 1880. Mr. Deters has filled the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years.

William Freiberg is a native of Germany, born on the 23d of February, 1849. He was reared to farming pursuits and attended school until 1865, when he came to Minnesota and entered the blacksmith shop of his brother at Brownsville, remaining three years. He afterward worked at his trade at Winona, Minnesota, and Trempeleau, Wisconsin, then returned to Brownsville, for a short time. After residing in Chicago for some time, he again returned to Brownsville and took charge of his brother's shop. In 1874, Mr. Freiberg came to Eitzen and opened a blacksmith shop, to which he has since added a wagon manufactory. On the 24th of November, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bunge, who has borne him one child, Edmund H.

Freeman Graves, the first white settler of Winnebago, is a son of Simeon Graves, who served in the Revolutionary war, taking part in many of the principal battles. The subject of this sketch was born in Underhill, Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 10th of July, 1809. When a youth of about six summers he removed to Franklin county, New York, and at the age of twenty-two to St Lawrence county, where he was employed in various occupations. On the 6th of February, 1833, he was married to Miss Betsy Billings, of St. Lawrence county. They came to Wisconsin in 1846, remained until 1851, when Mr. Graves came to this place, and the following year brought his family here. Ten children have been born to him, only four of whom are living.

William Jones was born in Franklin county, New York, on the 11th of March, 1817. His father died when William was about fifteen years of age, leaving him dependent upon himself for support, after which he found employment in different parts of the State. In 1844, he married Miss Clara Billings, the event dating the 10th of March. In 1854, they moved to Illinois, where Mr. Jones was engaged on the canal for about two years; then came to this place and pre-empted the land on which he now lives. He afterward lived in Lansing, Iowa, two years, engaged in supplying the Mississippi steamers with wood. In 1859, he returned to his farm, which he has since made his home. Of five children bora to him, three are living.^

Rev. John Jahn, pastor of the Union Evangelical Church, is a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, where his birth occurred on the 7th of September, 1834. He was reared on a farm, and when seven years of age went to Esslingen, and attended school six years, then pursued his studies at St. Chris-chona, Switzerland, four years. He afterward assisted his father on the farm for a time, then resumed his studies in Basel, Switzerland. After leaving the latter place Mr. Jahn went to Russia as a missionary, remaining four years. In 1865, he came to America, locating in Osseo, Hennepin county, where he was pastor of a church; then to Watertown, Carver county, one year, and in August, 1871, to Houston county, settling in Brownsville. Since 1878, he has been a resident of this place, first as pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and in January, 1881, took his present charge. Miss Mary Van Osten Saoken became the wife of Mr. Jahn. She is a native of Russia. Of six children born to them, four are living.

parents moved to America when he was twelve years old, arriving in Chicago on the 13th of August, 1854, and remained in the State until coming to this place in 1857. His father served in the Fifth Minnesota Infantry, and when recovering from sickness wandered from the hospital at Richmond and has never been found. The subject of this sketch enlisted in the Fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company K, participating in the battles of Iuka, Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, and others. He resided in Lansing, Iowa, for a time after his discharge, then returned to the old farm which has since been his home. In 1869, he married Miss Catharine Burmester, the ceremony taking place the 13th of March. This union has been blessed with seven boys. Mr. Kohlmeier has filled several local offices, and in 1880, was chosen as a member of the House of Representaves, which position he now holds.

Conbad Laufeb is a native of Baden, Germany, born on the 26th of November, 1832. He was employed at farming, in a flour- mill, and afterward in a hotel, coming to America in 1857. He located in Dorchester, Iowa, where he was employed in a flour-mill. Miss Mary Schott became his wife, the marriage occurring at Dorchester on the 20th of August, 1861. In 1865, they came to this place and located their present farm. The house being situated on the main road was a convenient stopping place for travelers, and finally Mr. Laufer erected a hotel which he has since continued. Of eleven children born to them, six are living.

Cornelius Metcalf, Sr., is a native of Worcester county, Massachusetts, born on the 10th of December, 1806. His father died when Cornelius was but eighteen months old, and at tlie age of fourteen years he commenced life for himself, engaged in farming until twenty, when he learned the machinist trade in Rhode Island. In 1858, be came to Winnebago, which has since been his home.

D. G. Metcalf, a son of the subject of our last sketch, is also a native of Worcester county, born at Blackstone on the 10th of March, 1847. He has always resided with his parents, and since 1869, has had charge of the farm. He was married on the 30th of April, 1869, to Miss Florence M. Yeaton. She died on the 14th of May, 1877, leaving two children.

Germany, where he attended school from the age of fourteen to twenty years. He then taught until twenty -five, when he went to Egypt as a missionary teacher, remaining two years and visiting the holy land and many places of interest in and near Jerusalem. Mr. Niedergesass has traveled extensively through the Old World, having visited Spain, France, Italy, and other countries. He came to America in the steamer which brought Cleopatra's needle, and soon after entered the seminary of the Evangelical Synod of North America, located in Missouri. Since June, 1881, he has been a resident of this place, in charge of the Evangelical church.

R. E. Shumway was born at Oxford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 1st of June, 1833. He moved with his pareuts to Burrillville, Rhode Island, when ten years old; was there employed in the woolen mills and also attended school. In 1854, he entered a store as clerk; two years later came to Wilmington, and in 1868, to his present farm. Miss Hannah E. Metcalf became his wife on the 4th of March, 1860. Mr. Shumway served in Company A, of the Fifth Minnesota Infantry. Since 1863, he has been Postmaster of the Wilmington Post-office. Five children have been born to them, three of whom are living.

Edmund Stevens, one of the prominent pioneers of Houston county, is a native of England, being born in Grandborough, Bucks county, fifty miles northwest of London, on the 30th of March, 1829. When Edmund was ten years old he began working on a farm, attending school during the winter months for three or four years. When seventeen years old he became employed as carpenter on railroad work, continuing that occupation for three or four years, but afterwards returned to the farm. In the spring of 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Tompkins, who died in September of the same year. In October, 1851, Miss Elizabeth Brinklow became his wife, and the following spring the young couple sailed for America, arriving in New York on the 13th of March, 1852. Two days later, they started for Buffalo, New York, where they remained about a month, arriving in Jackson, Jackson county, Michigan, on the 3d of May. There he was employed as carpenter and joiner, and remained in that State five years. On the 30th of March, 1857, he left Michigan for the West, landing in Brownsville, in the then territory of Minnesota, on the 3d of April. The next morn- ing Mr. Stevens set oat on foot in search of an old friend, named Littleford, residing in Crooked Greek Valley. After traveling some hours, he stopped at a log oabin to make inquiries, when a tall, stout man, dressed in a suit of buckskin, appeared at the door and directed him to Mr. Littleford's residence. This worthy pioneer was named Anthony Huyck, now a well-known and esteemed citizen of Houston county. Mr. Littleford then resided on a farm now owned by Anthony Noel,near Freeburg mills, and from him Mr. Stevens rented a few acres, to which place he removed his family from Michigan in June of the same year. In November following, he removed to Winnebago Valley, settling on the farm of Wyman Trask, on section twenty-three in the present town of Winnebago, and has been a resident of the Valley ever since.

On the 1st of December, 1876, Mrs. Stevens was removed by death, leaving six daughters and one son, the youngest a boy of nine years. Mr. Stevens was again married on the 4th of September, 1878, the lady of his choice being Miss Josephine 0. Jones, a daughter of William Jones, one of the pioneers who settled in Winnebago township in 1855. Two children are the fruits of this union. The subject of our sketch has been prominently identified with the progressive element of the town for the last twenty -four years. He has been Town Clerk twenty-one years, Justice of the Peace eighteen years, Assessor fourteen years, and Postmaster seven years; and in addition to these already mentioned, now holds the position of Notary Public, and also carries on a general real estate and insurance business.