Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 9, 1905

About the first day of July that first summer, just after sunrise, while near the cabin door and looking south across the prairie toward the headwaters of Big Boot creek, I saw what appeared to be, at first sight, a lone Indian coming towards me. Living alone, as I did that summer, I always watched the approach of strangers with some curiosity. I soon discovered that the man was not an Indian, but an unarmed white man. It was half an hour or more from the time the man was first seen to the time when he arrived at the cabin. In the meantime breakfast had been prepared for two. As the traveler stepped to the open door, he politely lifted his hat and said, in excellent German, ' ' Guten morgen, ' ' and asked me if I could speak German ? Finding that he could make himself understood, he went on to say that he left Owatonna two days before, expecting to reach this settlement the first day. He lost the trail soon after leaving Owatonna, and wandered off in a southwesterly direction. As nearly as could be made out, he must have reached Beaver lake, where the first night overtook him. The next day, he traveled in a westerly direction, and night overtook him on the bank of Big Boot creek, on section 1'2, town of Byron. He had not partaken of any food after leaving Owatonna. The mosquitoes and flies had bled him on his face and neck, which wore covered M'ith blotches, and he looked as though he had been sick. That morning, about daylight, he had heard the cow and sheep bells, on the Sutlief ranch, and, as the morning sun lifted the curtain of night, he Avas overjoyed to see smolie issuing from the cabin stovepipe, and again to hear the sound of bells in the stock yards. He ate sparingly of bread and new milk for breakfast and then lay down to sleep. At noon he awoke, much refreshed, and during the afternoon helped about the work until evening, when I went with him to the house of Mr. Greening, three miles distant. He was Mr. Heinrich P. Bierman. He directly made a claim in sections 13, in Wilton, and 18, in Otisco, where he made his home the remainder of his life. He Avas a most excellent citizen. His death was accidental, being caused by a fall from a wagon, December 22, 1882.

His widow at this writing resides in Waseca, and his children, five in number, are all residents of this state. Very soon after Mr. Bierman 's arrival, one of those odd characters ofttimes found in communities, made his appearance, and with him came his brother and brother's family. John Jenkins, the odd genius, was a bachelor from Herkimer county, "Old York State," as any one would learn on the very shortest acquaintance with him. David J. Jenkins, his brother, had a fine family. "Uncle John," it was given out, had some money, while David was blessed with wife and children, but no money to speak of. "Uncle John" bought a part of the Scott and Plummer claims, on sections 24 and 13, in Wilton. David made no claim at first and lived with his family on John's claim, each having a cabin, although all ate at the same table. More will be said of these people further on, but here suffice it to say that, at the present writing, David J. Jenkins' family are living near Janesville, while "Uncle John" enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Infantry and died at luka. Miss., August 21st, 1862.

In July of the same year, Michael Anderson, a native of Norway, made a claim in sections 28 and 33 of Otisco. He was a first-class man, of native ability, and had the confidence of his countrymen to a marked degree. He accumulated a large farm property in that town, but wishing more land for his children, as they should attain manhood and womanhood, he removed to Norman county, in this state, some years ago, where he shortly afterward died.

where he resided until the time of his death. He was born in Norway, February 28, 1828, and came to America in ilay, 1851. He first settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he married Julia Anderson, September 16, 1855. ilrs. Oleson was born in Norway March 14, 1837. They at once came to this country, thus showing what sensible young people they were. They have been the parents of twelve children, four of whom died in infancy.

Early the same fall, Hugh and Robert ]\lcDougall, two brothers from Canada, natives of Scotland, settled on section 6, Otisco. Hugh, after remaining two years, secured his land and returned to Canada, where he still resides at this writing. Robert afterwards married and settled on his land, where he lived until his death, which occurred January 15, 1S87. (For particulars of his life, see Biographical. Sketches.)

G. Goetzenberger and family settled on section 21, Otisco, in November of 1855, where they remained until their removal to "Waseca. Here j\Ir. Goetzenberger died some j^ears ago. His son Edward now resides in Minneapolis.

Bernard Bundschu and family, now living on the Pacific coast, settled on section 8, Otisco, late in the fall. ilr. Bundschu died in the early part of 1894 in Oregon.