Cottonwood County, Minnesota Biographies R & S

Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota
Their People, Industries and Institutions
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families
John A. Brown
Volume II : 1916: B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.

Transcribed by Vicki Hartman

Radtke, John F. Page 240-241 John F. Radtke, one of the best-known and most progressive young farmers in Germantown township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in that township, besides being the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Norman county; president of the Farmers Elevator Company at Sanborn and a stockholder in the Farmers Bank and the farmers co-operative store at Sanborn, is a native son of Cottonwood county and has lived there all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Germantown township, April 30, 1883, son of Fred and Ellen Radtke, early settlers in that township, who are now living comfortably retired at Sanborn. Fred Radtke was one of the pioneers of Germantown township, having settled there even before the town of Sanborn was laid out. He home- steaded a farm there and early became one of the substantial farmers of that section of the county, influential in early affairs thereabout. He helped build the road from New Ulm to Watertown, South Dakota, and in other ways did his part in the development of this section of the state. To Fred Radtke and wife four children were born, the subject of this sketch having one brother, Edward Radtke, of Bowden. North Dakota, and twin sisters, Grace, of Sanborn, and Gertrude, of Minneapolis. John F. Radtke grew up on the old homestead farm in Germantown township, receiving his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood, and from boyhood was an able assistant in the labors of developing the home farm. He became an up-to-date, progressive farmer and is now the owner of the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on which he makes his home, besides being the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Norman county. His home place is well improved and he and his family are very well situated. He has a complete set of concrete buildings on his place and the farm is beautified by more than one thousand evergreen trees. Mr. Radtke has brought his farm up to a high state of cultivation and it is looked upon as one of the best farms in Cottonwood county. Not only has Mr. Radtke been diligent about the affairs of his farm, but he has given considerable attention to outside business interests, is president of the Farmers Elevator Company at Sanborn and a stockholder in the Farmers Bank and the co-operative store at that place, in the affairs of all of which concerns he takes a warm interest. He also has given his thoughtful attention to local political affairs and is helpful in all movements having to do with the advancement of the best interests of this section of the state. In the fall of 1904 John F. Radtke was united in marriage to Amelia Gumto, of Charlestown township, in the neighboring county of Redwood, and to this union three children have been born, Wayne, Nioma and Lowell. Mr. and Mrs. Radtke take a proper part in the general social and cultural activities of the community in which they live and are accounted among the leaders in all progressive movements thereabout. Rand, Alvin Page 312-314 Alvin Rand, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers in Cottonwood county, proprietor of beautiful ""Valley Dale Stock Farm,"" a fine place of two hundred and forty acres in section 35, Dale township, situated on rural route No. 5, out of Windom, is a native son of Minnesota, born on a homestead farm in Faribault county, February 6, 1871, son of John and Ada Rand, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Vermont, who were married in Wisconsin, later coming to this state, where their last days were spent, influential and substantial residents of Cottonwood county. John Rand was reared on a farm in New York and when a young man came into the Northwest, settling in Wisconsin, where he married. After a few years spent there he came to Minnesota and homesteaded a tract of forty acres in Faribault county, at the same time buying a quarter of a section of wild land adjoining. He improved that place and made his home there until 1884, when he sold the same to advantage and moved to Arkansas, but after farming for one season in that state, returned to Minnesota and spent a year in Dodge county, after which he returned to Nebraska and for two years was engaged in farming in the neighborhood of Norfolk, that state. He then moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he lived for about nine months, at the end of which time he returned to Minnesota and for four years lived on a rented farm in Rock county. He then moved up into Cottonwood county and bought a quarter of a section of wild land in Dale township, where he established his home and where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in February, 1908, he then being past sixty-six years of age, and hers, in September, 1909, she then being fifty-six years of age. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born. Alvin Rand was about thirteen years old when his parents left the old homestead farm in Faribault county, where he was born and where he had received his early schooling. During their later moves he was a constant aid to his father in the work of the farm and became an excellent farmer. He was twenty-one years of age when the family finally located in Cottonwood county in the early nineties and he continued assisting his father on the farm until his marriage in 1897, after which he rented a farm of six hundred and forty acres and started farming on his own account. Shortly afterward he bought a quarter section of wild land in section 35, Dale township, and there he established his home and has continued to live there ever since. Mr. Rand has done well in his farming operations and now is the owner of two hundred and forty acres and has long been recognized as one of the most substantial and progressive farmers in his neighborhood. Upon taking possession of his place, Mr. Rand, planted a large grove and has continually improved his farm until ""Valley Dale Stock Farm"" has come to be known as one of the most attractive places thereabout. He early built a nice two-story frame house, later erected a large bank barn, forty by sixty- four feet, and in 1914 erected a concrete-block silo. Upon beginning his farming operations, Mr. Rand engaged in the live stock business in a small way, and has gradually added to his herd until now he has a herd of forty- five purebred Shorthorn cattle and twenty head of horses. Mr. Rand is an “Independent"" Republican and has held the offices of township clerk and township supervisor. He is a stockholder in the Carson Farmers Elevator Company at Delft and in the Farmers Elevator Company at Windom. He owns a livery barn and two residence properties in Mountain Lake and a couple of lots in Jeffers. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen and with the Royal Neighbors, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest. Alvin Rand has been married twice. It was on February 26, 1897, that he was united in marriage to Bertha Miller. To that union six children were born, Effie, who married Archie Carr and now lives at Lake City, Iowa ; Ada, Edith, Sadie, Pearl and Alice, all of whom are living save Pearl. The mother of these children died on February 23, 1905, and on July 15, 1908, Mr. Rand married Mrs. Otto Hotzler. The Rands have a very pleasant home and take an earnest interest in the general social activities of their neighborhood, contributing to all movements designed to advance the general welfare thereabout. Randall, John S. Page 258-259 John S. Randall, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Storden township, Cottonwood county, and proprietor of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Storden, is a native of Vermont, born at New- berry, in Orange county, that state, February 4, 1852, son of Benjamin Franklin and Julia Ann (Cross) Randall, both natives of that same county, the former born in 1825 and the latter in 1826. Benjamin F. Randall was the son of John Randall, a native of Vermont, who was a large farmer and stockbuyer. Julia Ann Cross was the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Sandburn) Cross, also natives of Vermont, the former of whom was a well-to-do farmer and tanner. Benjamin F. Randall, who was a blacksmith and wagon-maker, with a well-established shop at Groton, Vermont, died before reaching middle age. He was a deacon in the Methodist church and active in good works. He and his wife were the parents of three children, of whom John S. was the second in order of birth, the others being Sylvester, who died young, and Josephine, who married George Downs. The Widow Randall married, secondly, Chauncey E. O'Dell and to that union there was born one child, a son, Edwin. Mr. Randall had a half-brother named William Bell. John S. Randall was but a boy when his father died. Not long afterward the family came West and located at Ripon, Wisconsin, where he had his first schooling. His mother had taught him to read and before he started to school he had read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation. During his boyhood John S. Randall was a diligent worker, doing anything that his hand found to do, in an effort to assist in the family support. Not long after locating at Ripon the family moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and there he labored for some time with the fishing crews in the Cedar river. When he was nine years old, in 1861, the family came to Minnesota and settled at St Peter, where he grew to manhood. He presently became the owner of a stone quarry at Ottawa, LeSueur county, and did well in that line, selling large quantities of building stone throughout LeSueur and Nicollet counties. In 1878 he came over into this part of the state and settled in Cottonwood county, where he has lived ever since. Upon his arrival here he home- steaded a quarter of a section in Storden township and upon his marriage a year or two later established his home there. Mr. Randall is a good farmer and has prospered in his undertakings. He has gradually added to his holdings until now he is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, well improved and profitably cultivated. He and his family have a pleasant home and are quite comfortably situated. Mr. Randall has been twice married. On January 6, 1880, he was united in marriage to Adaline V. Herrick, daughter of Elijah and Frances ( Barger) Herrick, and to that union six children were born, Belle, Iva May, Frank A., Florence (deceased), Grace and Mabel (deceased). The mother of these children died on December 13, 1893, and Mr. Randall married Fannie E. (Farmer) Arnold, to which union five children have been born, Harry, Margaret, Viola, Ethel and Ada. Viola died in infancy. Mrs. Randall had a son, Franklin Leslie Arnold, by a former marriage; he is now known as Leslie Randall. Mr. Randall is an ""independent"" in his political views and is a Spiritualist in his religious persuasion. Rank, Elmer E. Page 175-176 Scattered here and there among Minnesota's population are men and women who claim, with a degree of pride, as well they may, the state of Indiana as the place of their nativity, for the Hoosiers have always been noted for their good citizenship, being, as a rule, thrifty and intelligent. Of this number is Elmer E. Rank, farmer of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county. He was born near Rochester, Indiana, November 11, 1861. He is a son of Amos and Sarah H. (Meek) Rank, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. Each came with their parents, when young, to Indiana, in which state they met and married and continued to make their home until 1866, when they removed to Minnesota, locating in Rice county, the father buying land near Faribault, and there resided until 1869, when he sold out and in 1870 moved to Cottonwood county, and took up the homestead where his son, Elmer E. Rank, now resides. This place he reclaimed from the wild prairie. It consisted of eighty acres, to which he later added another eighty. Here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in 1885, she surviving until 1914, reaching the advanced age of ninety years. Their family consisted of seven children, namely: John W., Catherine, Jennie, Elizabeth, Amos Minor (deceased), Samuel L. and Elmer E. The subject of this sketch grew up on the home farm and assisted his father to improve the place on which buildings had to be erected, fences built and the wild growth on the fields subdued. He received his education in the district schools. He has remained on the homestead and is now owner of three hundred and twenty acres here, which he has placed under a high state of improvement and cultivation. He built one of the finest residences in the county in 1910, and everything about his place denotes thrift and good management. In connection with general farming he raises various kinds of live stock, especially hogs in large numbers, specializing in Poland- Chinas. Mr. Rank was married on May 20, 1897, to Caroline Larson, who was born in Christiana, Norway, in 1869. She is a daughter of Segar and Inger Larson, natives of Norway, from which country they came to America in 1869, when their eldest child, Caroline, was four years old. Their other children were Lewis, John, Ludwig and Anna, who is now the wife of Carl Herg. The Larson family located in Walworth county, Wisconsin, near the town of Sharon, where they remained two years. In October, 1871, they removed to Weiner township, Jackson county, Minnesota, the father taking up a homestead there, where he spent the rest of his life, dying on October 27, 1910, his wife having preceded him to the grave on May 8, 1906. Politically, Mr. Rank is a Republican. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and attends the Presbyterian church. Rasche, Gustav T. Page 162-164 Gustav T. Rasche, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers of Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the Westbrook neighborhood, one-half of which farm lies in West- brook township and the other half in Rose Hill township, his home being in the latter township, and who for years has been recognized by the agricultural department of the United States government as one of the leading alfalfa experts of the country, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of St. Peter, county seat of Nicollet county, April 9, 1878, son of Henry F. and Caroline (Campe) Rasche, both natives of Hanover, Germany, who became pioneers of Cotton- wood county, where their last days were spent. It was in 1873 tnat Henry F. Rasche and wife and their young children came to this country from Germany. Upon landing at the port of New York they lost little time in proceeding to Minnesota, this state having been their destination when they started 'from their native land. They located at St. Peter, where Henry F. Rasche was engaged in the lumber business until 1878, when he came to this section of the state and located in Cottonwood county, where he homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in Rose Hill township, on which he threw up a sod house and there established his home, that sod house serving as a home for the family for six years, or until supplanted by the substantial house in which the subject of this sketch now lives. Henry Rasche and his wife were earnest and energetic pioneers and took an active part in the work of developing that part of the county. Mr. Rasche was an excellent farmer and as his farming operations prospered he added to his land holdings until he became a very well-to-do man. He first pre-empted a timber claim of a quarter of a section in Westbrook township, then bought eighty acres of railroad land in Westbrook township, just across the road from his homestead farm, and then bought another quarter section in Rose Hill township, becoming very well established. His wife died on the homestead farm in 1902 and he later retired to the village of Westbrook, where he died in 1910. They were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow: Henry C, of Regan, North Dakota; Ernest A., of St. Peter, this state, head nurse in the men's department of the state hospital for the insane at that place, a work in which he has been engaged for twenty-five years; Caroline D., wife of E. A. Watschke, of Lake Wilson, this state; Christine, now deceased, who was the wife of the Rev. H. Flathmann; Charles J., a farmer of Westbrook township, and Louis A., of Rose Hill township. Gustav T. Rasche was but an infant in arms when his parents moved from St. Peter to Cottonwood county and he therefore has spent practically his whole life on the old homestead farm on which he still resides. He supplemented the schooling received in the local school in the neighborhood of his home by close home reading and early was attracted to the possibilities of scientific farming. In 1893 a peck of Grimm alfalfa seed was obtained from Henry Peterman, of Waconia, in Carver county, and he started in on a series of experiments with that variety, the result of which experiments has caused his name to be konwn among thoughtful agriculturists from ocean to ocean. So satisfactory were the results of his original experiments that Mr. Rasche pursued his labors in that direction with even greater care and for twenty-two years or more has kept that particular strain of seed isolated from the rest of the stock and has produced a distinctive variety of alfalfa, which government bulletins declare to be one of the hardiest strains grown in the Northwest. It would appear that when the agricultural department is asked for information regarding this seed inquirers are directed to Mr. Rasche for the desired information, for he has received letters bearing on the subject from all parts of the country, from the state of Washington to the state of Maine, and one inquirer even wrote from Madison Square Garden, all stating that they had been referred to him by the department at Washington. In 1913 Mr. Rasche took the short course in agriculture at the University of Minnesota farm and in 1914 was appointed a delegate from Minnesota to the sixth national corn exposition, held at Dallas, Texas, February 1024, his appointment coming from Hon. Adolph O. Eberhart, then governor of Minnesota. Mr. Rasche is one of the most active members of the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association and for several years past has given most of his attention to the breeding of seeds, especially of that particular strain of alfalfa seed which he has produced, all the seed he raises being eagerly bought by the government for distribution. Among the prizes he has taken on the Rasche strain of Grimm alfalfa may be mentioned the following: First premium, Minnesota state fair; first premium, Minnesota seed fair; first premium, Northwestern corn and grain show, and fourth premium, world's class, national corn exposition. Mr. Rasche has also been successful in breeding what is now known as the Rasche ""sixty-day"" oats, a variety that has attracted widespread attention, and he is widely recognized, not only in Minnesota, but throughout the Northwest generally, as one of the most advanced farmers and seed experts in the country. Ratzlaff, Benjamin J. Page 420-421 In the Russian settlement in Mountain Lake township, Cottonwood county, one sees evidence of progressiveness on every hand, well-kept farms, modern homes and prosperous, contented people. One of these careful fanners who own a valuable place and comfortable home is Benjamin J. Ratzlaff. He was born in Russia, January 10, 1865. He is a son of John and Anna ( Buller) Ratzlaff, both natives of Russia, where they' resided until August, 1876, when they brought their family to Minnesota, renting land for one year northeast of the village of Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county. In 1878 they moved to the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, the father buying eighty acres of school land, later adding to his holdings until he owned one hundred and sixty acres. He made all the improvements on this land, which was covered with tall prairie grass when he came here. He turned the sod, planted crops and erected all his buildings, and here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of ten children, namely: Henry J., Peter, Anna, Helena, Abraham, Maria, Benjamin J., and John, and two others who died in Russia. The parents of these children were members of the Mennonite church. Benjamin J. Ratzlaff received his education in the common schools of Russia and Mountain Lake township, this county, also attended school in the village of Mountain Lake. He has remained on the home place, having bought out the other heirs and also the various parties to whom some of the heirs had sold. He has kept the place well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He has enlarged the barn and erected other buildings. He keeps a large herd of Shorthorn cattle. He has shares in the Farmers' elevator and creamery at Mountain Lake. He also engages to some extent in threshing each autumn, but not so extensively as formerly. Mr. Ratzlaff was married in 1891, to Helena Bese, a native of Russia, a daughter of John Bese, also a native of Russia, who brought his family to South Dakota in an early day, later moving to Saskatchewan, Canada, where he became well-to-do, and there he spent the rest of his life. To Mr. Ratzlaff and his first wife three children were born, namely: Benjamin, John, and Anna. The wife and mother passed away in 1895, and in that year he married for his second wife, Anna Pankratz, a native of Russia, and a daughter of Peter Pankratz, who brought his family to the village of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, where he spent the rest of his life. To Mr. Ratzlaff's second union five children have been born, namely: Lena, Peter, Mary, Nettie, and Lizzie (deceased). Politically, Mr. Ratzlaff is a Republican. He has been clerk of the local school board during the past eighteen years, up to the recent meeting of the board, when he resigned, or declined to hold the office longer. He has also served as road overseer. He is a member of the Mennonite church. Reinert, Ole Page 303-304 Ole Reinert, one of the pioneer residents of this section of Minnesota, was born in Lom Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, on May 7, 1838, a son of Ole R. and Ingre Staurustdgaard, both natives of Norway. Mr. Reinert spent the first fifteen years of .his life at home, after which he was employed in various ways, and while still in Norway, learned the tailor trade. He received only a limited education, the average school term being but three months of the year, and the teacher would go from one farm to another, teaching one day to a week at each place. In 1859 he started for America. A trip across the ocean at that time was an undertaking, nothing but sail- ships being employed. After five weeks and two days, they arrived at Quebec, Canada, and were inspected by a doctor, who found all in a healthy condition. Mr. Reinert then proceeded on his journey, but stopped off at Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he resided for five years. From there he went to California, and, after one year's stay there, purchased a small farm, where he made his home for four years, after which he returned to Wisconsin. In 1869 Mr. Reinert started for Minnesota, going to Goodhue county, where he spent one year. From there he came to Mountain Lake township, Cottonwood county, took a timber claim in 1870 and built a home. Through this section there was nothing but sod shacks and sod cellars, which were the only safe shelter from the terrible prairie fires that frequently swept the country. In 1873 the grasshoppers made their appearance, and during four years in succession, they took clean down to the ground what little crops there were. The next hardships were the blizzards, when people were snowed in for three days at a time, so that they did not see daylight, nor could they get to the barns to feed their stock. The air was so thick with snow and dirt, driven by the strong wind, that a person could not see his hand two feet away. Contrast the meager crops of those days with the bountiful harvests of today. Forty years ago there was nothing but oxen, and a distance of forty miles to mill to get wheat ground into flour was nothing unusual ; and furthermore, there were no roads nor bridges, so a trip of this kind with oxen was indeed no pleasure trip. Today the average farmer drives an automobile, with which he accomplishes much at a minimum loss of time. Mr. Reinert speaks of one of these trips to mill in particular, when four of his neighbors, Thorsten Kjestad, Paul Daingen, Peter Hun- stad and Halvor Byre, went to Winnebago mill. As the roads were almost impassable, it took about a week to make the trip. They were obliged to unload several times and carry the sacks of grain across to where the wagon would carry the load. On their return, when within sight of their homes, they came to a creek which it was impossible to cross on account of high water, so they were obliged to camp out. Mr. Reinert was one of the leaders of the community at that time, and carries the honor of presenting the first road petition in Mountain Lake township. In 1880 Mr. Reinert moved to Odin township, Cotton wood county, where he farmed a quarter section of land for a number of years. Later he sold that and bought an eighty-acre farm, where he resided until 1915, when he moved to the village of Odin. In 1873 Ole Reinert was married to Lena Odden, daughter of Errick Odden and wife, and to this union have been born seven children, William, Torger, Inga, Anna, Charles, Edward and Richard, the last named being deceased. Mr. Reinert has always been a member of the St. Olaf Norwegian Lutheran church. The first church of this denomination in this community was situated on the southeast quarter of section 20, Odin township, and was scarcely completed when a tornado swept it out of existence. Mr. Reinert has always been a booster for his community and a fighter for all kinds of improvements. One element he has always fought is the liquor business. He has held various minor township offices. Reisdorph, John A. Page 372-374 John A. Reisdorph, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres on rural roue No. 3, out of Windom, is a native of the great Keystone state, born on a farm in McKean county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1861, son of Silas and Betsy (Hoag) Reisdorph, both of whom were born in the state of New York, and the former of whom later became one of the pioneers of this part of Minnesota and spent his last days at Windom. Silas Reisdorph was reared on a farm in New York state, where he married and later moved to McKean county, Pennsylvania, where he became a farmer, later moving to Michigan, in which state he lived until he came to Minnesota in 1866. Upon coming to this state, Silas Reisdorph settled in LeSueur county, where he made his home for five or six years, at the end of which time he moved to Hennepin county, where, in Bloomington township, he bought a farm and there made his home until 1878, in which year he came to this part of the state and bought a quarter of a section of land in Cottonwood county, where he established his home and where he lived until his retirement from the farm in 1908 and removed to Windom, where he died in 1913. Silas Reisdorph had been twice married. His first wife died when their only son, John A., was a small boy. Two children were born to that union, John A. Reisdorph having a sister, Carrie, who married W. D. Seeley. Silas Reisdorph's second wife, who was Frances Button, bore him seven children, of whom two, Lloyd and Robert D. Reisdorph, are residents of Cottonwood county. John A. Reisdorph was little more than five years of age when his father came to Minnesota and was about seventeen when the family settled in Cottonwood county in 1878, hence he may properly be regarded as one of the pioneers of this section of the state. He received his schooling in the schools of LeSueur and Hennepin counties and grew up to the life of the farm. He remained with his father, a valuable assistant in the work of developing the latter's homestead place, until he had reached his majority and then bought a quarter of a section of his own in Springfield township, the place where he is now living, and proceeded to improve and develop the same. Mr. Reisdorph is a good farmer and as he prospered in his farming operations added to his holdings until now he is the owner of an excellent farm of four hundred and eighty acres, on which he has spent about five thousand dollars in improvements. In addition to his general farming Mr. Reisdorph has gone in somewhat extensively for cattle raising and has done very well. He has one hundred or more beef cattle on his place, besides a fine herd of about forty dairy cattle and fourteen or fifteen horses. He raises about one hundred and fifty acres of corn and about the same acreage of small grain annually, the rest of his place being devoted to pasture. Mr. Reisdorph is a Prohibitionist and for years has done what he could do for the advancement of that party's principles hereabout. On September 22, John A. Reisdorph was united in marriage to Inez Vought, daughter of James C. and Mary A. (Goudy) Vought, prominent pioneer residents of Cottonwood county, and sister of Andrew P. Vought, chairman of the board of supervisors of Springfield township, a well-known farmer of that township, whose activities in that community are further set out in a sketch relating to him presented elsewhere in this volume, and to this union three children have been born, Frances, Delbert and Helen, all of whom are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Reisdorph have a very pleasant home and have ever taken a proper part in the general social and cultural activities of the community. Mr. Reisdorph is a member of the Woodmen of the World and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization. Reisdorph, Robert Page 141-142 Robert Reisdorph, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, now living very comfortably situated at Windom, is a native son of Minnesota, born on a pioneer farm in LeSueur county, this state, July 19, 1865, son of Silas E. and Fannie (Gait) Reisdorph, who later became pioneers of this part of the state, spending their last days in Cottonwood county. Silas E. Reisdorph was reared on a farm in New York state, where he married and later moved to McKean county, Pennsylvania, where he became a farmer, later moving to Michigan, in which state he lived until he came to Minnesota, in 1866. Upon coming to this state, Silas E. Reisdorph settled in LeSueur county, where he made his home for five or six years, at the end of which time he moved to Hennepin county, where, in Bloomington township, he bought a farm and there made his home until 1878, in which year he came to this part of the state and bought a quarter of a section of land in Cottonwood county, where he established his home and where he lived until his retirement from the farm in 1912 and removed to Windom, where he died the next year, in 1913. Silas E. Reisdorph had been twice married. His first wife, who was Betsy Hoag, died in the early sixties, leaving two children, John A. Reisdorph, a well-known farmer of Springfield township, Cottonwood county, and Carrie, who married W. D. Seeley. Silas Reisdorph's second wife, Fannie Gait, bore him seven children, of whom but two, Lloyd and the subject of this sketch, are residents of Cotton wood county. Robert Reisdorph was about thirteen years of age when his parents came to this part of the state in 1878, settling in Cottonwood county, and here he has lived ever since. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-six years of age, a valuable assistant to his father in the development of the same, and then he bought a quarter of a section of land in Springfield township and began farming for himself. He was successful from the very beginning of his operations and as he prospered increased his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he still owns and on which he has expended about twenty-five hundred dollars in improvements. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Reisdorph gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and did very well. In 1901 he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Windom, where he and his family are very pleasantly situated. It was on February 19, 1901, that Robert Reisdorph was united in marriage to Carrie Widman, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Haag) Widman, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Neil. Mr. and Mrs. Reisdorph are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Windom, in the general beneficences of which they for years have taken an active part, Mr. Reisdorph being a member of the official board of the church, and they also give proper attention to the general good works of the community. Mr. Reisdorph is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of that organization takes a warm interest. Rossing, Anton Page 165-166 Anton Rossing, one of the big and progressive farmers of Cottonwood county and one of the best-known citizens of that county, owner of a fine farm of eight hundred acres in the Walnut Grove neighborhood in West- brook and Ann townships, with his home situated on the edge of the latter township, is a native of Wisconsin, born on a farm in Lafayette county, that state, June 6, 1866, son of Andrew and Inger (Lund) Rossing, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to this country in 1850 and located in Wisconsin, settling on a farm in Lafayette county, that state, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were four of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being W. L., Catherine and Emilia. Anton Rossing was reared on the paternal farm in Wisconsin and received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home. As a young man he started farming on his own account in his native county and lived there until 1890, when he moved to Humboldt county, that same state, locating at Bode, where he was engaged in the hay, grain and elevator business until he came to Minnesota in 1900. Upon coming to this state, Mr. Rossing bought a tract of eight hundred acres of land on the line between Westbrook and Ann townships, in Cottonwood county, and proceeded to improve the same and bring it under cultivation. He adopted modern methods of farming and has prospered from the very beginning of his operations, long having been recognized as one of the leading farmers of Cottonwood county. Mr. Rossing's farm is one of the extensive farms hereabout and the new county ditch traverses the entire tract of land. Following his marriage, in 1908, Mr. Rossing established his home on his farm and he and his family are very pleasantly situated there. Mr. Rossing is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to the political affairs of the county, but has not been included in the office-seeking class. It was in 1908, about eight years after coming to Minnesota, that Anton Rossing was united in marriage to Amelia Olson, and to this union three children have been born, Alton H., Sherman E. and Daphne. Mr. and Mrs. Rossing are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a proper interest in the various good works of their community, ever being interested in such measures as are designed to advance the common welfare hereabout. Rossing, William L. Page 255-256 William L. Rossing, a well-to-do farmer of Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of ""Brook Mount Farm,"" a fine place of three hundred and twenty acres in the Westbrook neighborhood, and one of the most progressive agriculturists in that part of the county, was born on a farm in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, November 17, 1863, son of Andrew and Inger (Lund) Rossing, natives of Norway, who came to this country in 1850 and located in Wisconsin, settling on a farm in Lafayette county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were four of these children, of whom William L. was the first-born, the others being Anton, a well-known farmer of the Walnut Grove neighborhood in Cottonwood county, Catherine and Emilia. Andrew Rossing was a substantial and well-to-do pioneer farmer and his eldest son, William L. Rossing, was given every advantage in the way of schooling in his youth. Upon completing the course in the district school in his home neighborhood he attended Augsberg Seminary at Minneapolis for some time and then entered Milton College in his home state, where he completed his studies and then, in 1881, began clerking in a store at Bode, Iowa. A year later he bought that store and continued in the mercantile business there for ten years, at the end of which time he engaged in the breeding and training of race horses at that place and was thus engaged for about twelve years, during which time he became one of the best-known horsemen in Iowa. In 1907 Mr. Rossing disposed of his interests in Iowa and came to Minnesota, his brother, Anton, having come out here about seven years before, and located in Cottonwood county, where he ever since has made his home and where he long has been recognized as one of the most substantial farmers. Mr. Rossing bought a half section of land in Westbrook township and proceeded to develop the same, soon having one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farms in that locality. He has given his place the name of ""Brook Mount Farm"" and there he and his family are very pleasantly situated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Rossing gives attention to the raising of high-grade live stock and has done very well. He is a Republican and gives proper attention to local civic affairs, having served for some time as clerk of the school board. Mr. Rossing has been twice married. By his marriage to Gena Williams he had three children, Diodata, Avalon and Wilmeth. The mother of these children died in 1893 and Mr. Rossing married, secondly, Dr. Anna Marie Kirkberg, to which union three children have been born, Eunice Eleanora, Olaf Ingval and Erling William. Mr. and Mrs. Rossing are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works. Ruhberg, Carl H. Page 404-405 The Danes have always been regarded as good citizens of the United States, being industrious, law-abiding and loyal. Many of them have selected Cottonwood and adjoining counties as the arena of their activities, and among these who deserve special mention in a work of the nature of the one in hand, is Carl H. Ruhberg, banker of Storden. Mr. Rhuberg was born in Denmark, October 19, 1865, and is a son of Peter A. and Mettie (Nelson) Ruhberg, natives of Germany and Denmark, respectively. These parents were reared and married in Europe, removing to America in 1868, locating in Iowa, but later came to Storden, Minnesota, where the father became a well-to-do and prominent citizen and where he is still living, now retired from active life. A complete sketch of these parents will be found on another page of this volume. Carl H. Rhuberg was the second of a family of nine children, the others being named as follow : Adolph, Rosa, who died, and the next child was also named Rosa as was also the third, the second to bear the name also dying in infancy; Mary, Albert, Elmer E., and Iva May. The subject of this sketch was three years old when he was brought to America, and here he grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools of Windom. He assisted his father with his farm work when he became old enough, continuing agricultural pursuits until he entered the general mercantile business at Windom. Subsequently, he was a salesman for a harvester company for some time, then clerked in the Hutton store in Windom. In 1904 he organized the First State Bank of Storden and became cashier of the same, which position he still holds to the entire satisfaction of the stockholders and the patrons of the bank; in fact, the success of this institution has been due in no small measure to his efforts. Mr. Ruhberg was married in October, 1890, to Caroline C. Jenson, of Storden, and to their union seven children have been born, namely: Mettie M., Maude I., Bessie H., Mary D., George D., Pearl G., and Willis C. Mr. Ruhberg is a member of the Baptist church. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Bankers Life Association and also the M. B. A. Politically, he is independent. Ruhberg, Peter A. Page 212-213 Peter A. Ruhberg, now living in retirement in Storden, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, October 14, 1839, and is a son of Christian Adolph and Marie (Vogt) Ruhberg, both born in the year 1803, in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein. There they grew up, were married and established their home, but removed in 1846 to Denmark, where the mother died in 1871, the father dying in 1883 on a farm near Windom, Minnesota, having come to America about 1871, soon after the death of his wife. He spent his last years in retirement, living among his children, dying on the farm owned by the subject of this sketch. His family consisted of eight children, namely: John (deceased), Henry, Christian, Dorothy Henrietta, Louise, Peter, Sophia and John. This family have always been adherents of the Lutheran faith. Peter A. Ruhberg received his education in Denmark. He learned the blacksmith's trade under his father, who devoted his active life to that vocation. He served in the Danish army from 1862 to 1865, and took part in the war between Prussia and Denmark, being in the Twelfth Battery and Second Regiment, and although in many engagements was never wounded. He now receives one hundred crowns annually until death as a gift of honor or pension. He immigrated to America in the spring of 1868, locating at Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, working at various things, being for a time in the manufacturing business, then worked at his trade of blacksmith. Later he went to Olmstead county where he continued his trade about three years. In 1872 he came to Windom, arriving here in August, but he had taken up a claim in Westbrook township in June of that year, and preempted one hundred and sixty acres. He put up a blacksmith shop at Windom which he conducted seven years. In 1878 he bought eighty acres of railroad land, one mile north of Windom, and in 1879 moved thereto, improved the place and carried on general farming successfully until in March, 1913. He added to his original purchase as he prospered until he with his son had a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres. The son, Adolph, bought eighty acres in 1883; the rest belongs to the father. He paid seven hundred dollars for the first land he bought here, and nine hundred dollars for what the son bought, and nineteen dollars per acre for the last he purchased. They sold out the last at one hundred and twenty- five dollars per acre. In 1913 Mr. Ruhberg and his son, Adolph, removed to Storden where the father has since lived retired. Mr. Ruhberg was married in 1860, to Mattie Nelson, who was born in Udland, Denmark, and is a daughter of Christian Nelson. These parents both died when Mrs. Ruhberg was young. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruhberg the following children have been born : Adolph is a retired farmer ; Carl H. is a banker at Storden ; three daughters were named Rosa in succession, all deceased; Mary, who married Walter Larson, died in the fall of 1897, her husband died the previous year ; Albert is deceased ; Elmer E. is a tinner and lives at Crookston, Minnesota; Eva May, the youngest, married Herbert Erickson, a preacher at Joyce Chapel, Anoka county, Minnesota, who also engages in farming. Politically, Mr. Ruhberg is independent. He served as treasurer of Great Bend township for two years. He is a member of the Baptist church. The death of Mrs. Ruhberg occurred on November 3, 1910, on the home farm near Windom. She was a member of the Baptist church and was buried near Windom. Rupp, Jacob Page 229-231 Jacob Rupp, one of the best-known young merchants in Cottonwood county, proprietor of a well-stocked store of general merchandise at Delft, and otherwise actively interested in the general affairs of that part of the county, is a native of Austria, but has been a resident of Minnesota since early childhood and has thus grown into the life and works of the great Northwest. He was born in the province of Galicia, Austria, April 11, 1880, son of John and Christina (Mueller) Rupp, Galicians, who were married on February 13, 1870, and who came to the United States in 1882. John Rupp was born on November 22, 1844, and grew up on a farm, becoming a farmer, as well as a blacksmith and stone-mason. In 1882, twelve years after his marriage, he and his family came to this country, proceeding at once to Minnesota and locating at Mankato, where he took up work in a blacksmith shop and for six years was there engaged with heavy labor, also, during the building seasons, contracting in masonry work. Mr. Rupp was an active Christian member of the Mennonite denomination and a strong leader in church in his earlier days. In 1888 he moved his family to this part of the state and bought a quarter of a section of land one mile from the village of Butterfield. in Watonwan county, where he established his home on the prairie. From a magnificent log he had secured at Mankato he had sawed sufficient lumber for the erection of a small house on his prairie farm and there he began his profitable farming operations. For the first few years his crops were confined to flax, until the land became sufficiently mellow for wheat. His flax he cut with a reaper and the first wheat crop he cut with a cradle, and in the early years he used oxen on his farm. He prospered in his farming operations and gradually enlarged his land holdings until he became the owner of three hundred acres, and there he made his home for twenty-four years, at the end of which time he retired from the farm and moved to Butterfield, where his last days were spent, his death occurring about six years later, March n, 1916. His widow is still living at Butterfield. To John Rupp and wife were born eight children, all of whom are living, as follow : Tillie, of Butterfield, widow of Arnold Kintzi; Mollie, who is at home with her mother; Edward, who married Mary Hubin and is farming about two and one-half miles southwest of Butterfield; Agnes, wife of Rudolph Linschied, a farmer living three miles northwest of Butterfield; Jacob, the subject of this sketch; Kate, wife of Gust Miller, a well-known merchant of Butterfield; John, a merchant, of Delft, and Sadie, who makes her home with her mother at Butterfield and is employed in the store of her brother-in-law, Gust Miller, in that village. Jacob Rupp was a little more than two years old when his parents came to this country in 1882 and settled in Mankato. His early childhood was spent in that city and he had about two years of schooling there before the family moved to the Butterfield neighborhood, his schooling therefore being completed in the Butterfield schools. He grew up on the home farm and after completing the course in the public schools taught school for one term four miles northeast of Butterfield. He then went into the confectionery business at Butterfield, in partnership with Gust Miller, his brother-in-law, and was thus engaged for a year, at the end of which time he sold his interest in the store and moved to Delft, where he rented a store room and opened a general merchandise store. Two years later he built his present store building, a substantial structure, twenty-six by thirty-eight, with a warehouse, eighteen by thirty-two, together with other additions; has gradually increased his stock in trade and is recognized as one of the leading merchants of that progressive village. He carries general merchandise, groceries, dry-goods and boots and shoes and has done very well. Mr. Rupp owns a farm of forty-nine acres north of Delft, which he rents out; five lots in Delft, besides a couple of residence lots there, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of that part of the county. He is secretary- treasurer of the Delft Rural Telephone Company and in other ways takes an active interest in the general affairs of the business community. He is "" independent"" in his political views and he and his wife are members of the Mennonite church, in the affairs of which they take a warm interest. On May 20, 1906, Jacob Rupp was united in marriage to Emily Schweitzer, also a native of Austria, born on March 8, 1884, who came to this country with a cousin in the summer of 1903, coming directly to Butterfield, Minnesota. For six months after her arrival here she worked at Westbrook, then for two months at Mountain Lake, after which she spent a term in school at Darfur and then went to Minneapolis, where she was working until the time of her marriage to Mr. Rupp. To this union three daughters have been born, Hilda, Mabel and Edna. Rupp, John E. Page 241-242 John E. Rupp, a well-known and well-to-do farmer and stock raiser of Rose Hill township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the Westbrook neighborhood, supervisor of Rose Hill township, school treasurer, president of the New Home Mennonite church and for years actively interested in the affairs of the western section of his home county, is a native of Austria, born on September 30, 1870, son of Jacob and Katie (Rupp) Rupp, both natives of that same country, who were the parents of ten children, six of whom died in their native land and the other four of whom came to this country, those beside the subject of this sketch being Amalia, now deceased, who was the wife of Rudolph Hubin; Emilia, who married Jacob F. Rupp, and Jacob J. The father of these children died in Austria and the Widow Rupp presently married Henry P. Rupp, to which union were born three children, Henry H., Edward J. and Gustav A. In the year 1882 the Rupp family came to the United States, proceeding to Minnesota and locating in Des Moines township, Murray county, where Henry P. Rupp homesteaded a tract of forty acres and established his home. He prospered in his farming operations and eventually became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He and his wife retired from the active labors of the farm some years ago and are now living at Westbrook, where they are pleasantly situated in their declining years. John E. Rupp was about twelve years of age when he came to this country and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm in Murray county, completing his schooling in the schools of his home neighborhood. Being the eldest son, he was a valuable aid to his stepfather in the labors of developing the homestead and grew up to be an excellent farmer. In 1894 he married and in that same year entered upon possession of the farm on which he now lives and which he has brought to a high state of development. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres is on the dividing line between Cottonwood and Murray counties, forty acres lying in the latter county, just across the road from his home in Cottonwood county. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Rupp has given considerable attention to the raising of pure-bred cattle and his Shorthorns show evidences of his skill as a stockman. He has made all the improvements on his place and has a good residence and barn, with other farm buildings in keeping with the same, his place being regarded as one of the best-kept farms in that neighborhood. Mr. Rupp has found time to give a good citizen's attention to local political affairs and is now serving the public in the capacity of township supervisor, an office he has held for some years. He also has been serving for some years as school treasurer and in other ways has contributed of his time and energies to the public service. In religious circles he also has been quite active and has ever been an influence for good thereabout. He was one of the organizers of the New Home Mennonite church and for about twenty years has been president of that congregation. In 1894 John E. Rupp was united in marriage to Matilda Hubin, who also was born in Austria, daughter of John Hubin, Sr., who came to America with his family in the latter eighties, proceeding to Minnesota and locating at Mountain Lake, Cottonwood county, whence, about 1891, he moved to a farm in Rose Hill township, where he lived until his retirement from the farm and removal to Westbrook, where he and his wife are now living, comfortably situated in their declining years. Mrs. Hubin before her marriage was Katie Muller. To Mr. and Mrs. Rupp five children have been born, Bertha M., Emma T., Albert R., John H. and Ella A., all of whom are living. Bertha M. is married to Henry Rupp, a farmer of Murray county. Rydeen, John Page 253-254 John Rydeen, an enterprising building contractor and carpenter at Jeffers, who also is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of that town, is a native of Sweden, born on June II, 1868, son of John and Fredericka (Johnson) Rydeen, both natives of that country, the former of whom died in 1915 and the latter of whom is still living in her native land, who were the parents of seven children, those besides John being Charles, Andrew, Annie, Samuel, Mattie and Peter, all of whom are living save Samuel and Mattie. John Rydeen was reared on a farm and received his education in the public schools. He early learned the carpenter trade and in 1888, when twenty years of age, came to the United States and located at St. Peter, this state, where he remained for a couple of years, at the end of wtiich time he came to this part of the state and for seven years worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of Windom. In 1897 ne bought a farm of eighty acres in Amo township and began farming for himself. The next year he bought one-half of section 35 in Storden township and after improving and farming that until 1910, sold out and bought his present well-improved place of two hundred and forty acres in section 25 of that same township. Mr. Rydeen has erected fine buildings on his farm, which he rents out, devoting his time chiefly to his carpenter work, in which he has been very successful, being one of the best-known builders in that part of the county. He is an energetic, public-spirited citizen and has done much for the community in which he lives. Sartorius, William Page 124-125 One of the farmers of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, who has been a close observer of modern methods af tilling the soil and is a student of whatever pertains to his chosen life work, is William Sartorius, and he has therefore met with encouraging success all along the line. He was born in Germany, March 11, 1850, and is a son of John and Kate (Sueshen) Sartorius, both natives of Germany, where they grew up, were married, spent their active lives on a farm and died there. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Amel, Katherina, Jennie, John are all deceased; Fannie is living; William, the subject of this sketch; Margaret is deceased. William Sartorius grew to manhood in his native land and there attended the public schools, working on his father's farm during crop seasons. sons. He served over three years in the German army, and was with his regiment in France in 1871 during the Franco-German War, but saw no active service. He came to America in 1882 and located near Freeport, Illinois, where he remained twenty years, working out for wages eleven years and engaged in farming for himself nine years on rented land. He then removed to O'Brien county, Iowa, and rented a farm for five years, buying one hundred and fifty-nine acres in the fall of 1906, in Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, the place on which he now lives, moving here on January 10, 1907. He has added many important improvements, especially to the buildings and has a good farm. In connection with general farming he raises various kinds of live stock, making a specialty of Chester White hogs and mixed Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Sartorius was married in 1876, to Johanna Gertges, a native of Germany and a daughter of Frederick and Gertie (Meyer) Gertges, both natives of Germany where they spent their lives on a farm. To these parents seven children were born, namely: A son, who died in infancy; Helna, Anna, Gertie, Katherina, Gertrude, and Johanna, who married the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Sartorius the following children were born : John and Fred both were born in Germany and died in Illinois; Kate is living; Dina died in Illinois, as did also Katherine; John is living; Fred is at home; William and Edward are the two youngest. Mr. Sartorius and family belong to the Lutheran church. Savage, Donald Robertson Page 139-140 Donald Robertson Savage, manager of the Tri-State Telephone Company at Windom, former superintendent of schools of Cottonwood county, a district engineer for the Minnesota state highway commission and for years actively identified with the rapidly developing interests of his home county, was born on August 8, 1871. Upon completing the course in the public schools at Windom he began teaching school, at the age of twenty years, and for nine years was thus engaged during the winters, spending his summers farming and threshing. In 1901 he was elected county superintendent of schools for Cottonwood county and for eight years filled that important and responsible office very acceptably. He then was appointed superintendent of schools at Heron Lake, in Jackson county, in the meantime engaging in surveying, he having become a very competent civil engineer, and on May 20, 1912, was appointed an engineer for the Minnesota state highway commission, which position he still occupies. In 1914 he was appointed manager of the Tri-State Telephone Company, with headquarters at Windom and has since then been actively engaged in administering the affairs of that progressive and rapidly growing concern. In 1903 Donald R. Savage was united in marriage to Winifred Robison, daughter of George F. and Mary (Smith) Robison, of Windom, pioneers of Cottonwood county, and to this union three daughters have been born, Margaret, Mary and Edith. Mr. Savage is a Republican, a Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Royal Arcanum. Savage, Edward Page 115-116 The family of the late Rev. Edward Savage, for many years one of the best-known clergymen in this part of the state, is of French Huguenot stock, the first of that line in America having been Capt. John Savage, who crossed the water and established his family in the English colonies in America in 1690. Rev. Edward Savage was a native of New York state, but had lived in the West since his boyhood and was a resident of Windom and the neighborhood of that city almost from the day of the beginning of a social order hereabout. He founded the Presbyterian church at Windom and was widely influential in the missionary movement in this section of Minnesota in early days, continuing active in the ministry hereabout until his death on January 4, 1910. Edward Savage was born at Ogdenburg, New York, September 16, 1841, son of the Rev. John A. and Eliza (Turner) Savage, both natives of that state, the former born in 1799 and the latter in 1802. The Rev. John A. Savage was a minister of note in the Presbyterian church and upon his election as president of Carroll College at Waukesha, Wisconsin, removed to that city in 1850 and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1866. His widow survived him many years, her last days being spent at Waukesha, where she died in 1883. Edward Savage was graduated from Carroll College in 1860 and on September 13, 1862, enlisted as a private in Company B, Twenty-eighth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged on March 26, 1863. In 1865 he entered the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1868. Following his ordination to the ministry of the Presbyterian church, the Rev. Edward Savage returned to Waukesha and in that same year was installed as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Jackson, Minnesota. In 1870 he married and the year following, in 1871, he came to this part of the state and located at the then growing village of Windom, where he organized the Presbyterian church, the date of organization being October n, 1871. For some years he remained as pastor of the church at Windom and after a number of years as an independent missionary he accepted a call to Bingham Lake, where he remained for several years. In the meantime he had homesteaded a tract of eighty acres near Windom, to which he presently added an adjoining ""eighty,"" and there established his permanent home. From the beginning of his pastoral service in this state, Mr. Savage ever was active in missionary work and his travels in that connection took him to points widely separated throughout this section of the state. In 1881 he temporarily retired from the pulpit and returned to Waukesha, but shortly afterward was made pastor of the Cottage Grove Presbyterian church there, remaining there until after his mother's death in 1883, after which for a time he was pastor of the church at Weyauwega, Wisconsin, but in 1886 he returned to Windom and resumed his residence on his homestead, where he remained the rest of his life, filling meanwhile the pulpits at Red Rock and Bingham Lake, having been, with the exception of the five years spent in Wisconsin, continuously engaged in the gospel ministry in Jackson and Cottonwood counties from the time of his ordination until the day of his death. Politically, Mr. Savage was a Prohibitionist and was ever active in the cause of temperance and righteousness. The Rev. Edward Savage was twice married. On October 13, 1870, at Delafield, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, he was united in marriage to Margaret A. Robertson, to which union were born four children, Donald R., John A., Eliza Turner and Edward W., all of whom are living. The mother of these children died on July 3, 1903, and on July 16, 1907, Mr. Savage married Nora A. Schofield, for years one of Windom's best-known school teachers, who survives him. Schaffer, Arthur Lawrence Page 376-377 The permanent prosperity of a nation must rest upon its agriculture. The greatness of the United States rests very largely on its boundless possibilities in this direction. One of the leading farmers of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, is Arthur Lawrence Schaffer, who was born on the farm on which he now lives, in 1883. He is a son of Joseph and Matilda (Mathisen) Schaffer, natives of Germany and of Wisconsin, respectively. The father was thirteen years old when he came to America with his parents, the family locating in Wisconsin, the parents spending the rest of their lives there on a farm. The father of Matilda Mathisen was a native of Norway, and her mother was a native of Germany. They located in Wisconsin and spent the rest of their lives there. The parents of the subject of this sketch were married in Cottonwood county, Minnesota, but went back to Wisconsin, where they continued to reside until 1880, when they returned to Cottonwood county and took up a homestead in Great Bend township, which has been the family farm ever since, the mother still living on the place, but the father passed away in October, 1909. He became owner of a good farm of two hundred and eighty acres. He was active in the affairs of his community, and served as township assessor for twelve or fifteen years, also held the office of school clerk. His widow belongs to the Lutheran church. To these parents six children were born, namely: Arthur Lawrence, the subject of this sketch; Ada, wife of Fred Earlewine; George, Clyde, Mabel, who is the wife of Charles Van Horsen, and Clarence. Arthur L. Schaffer grew up on the home farm and he received a common school education. He has remained on the home place and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He keeps the place well improved in every respect. He was married in July, 1915, to Gertrude Huntress, of Great Bend township, and a daughter of William Huntress and wife. Mr. Schaffer is the present assessor of Great Bend township and is also treasurer of his school district. William Harvey Huntress, mentioned above, was a native of New York state and a son of William Huntress and wife. He grew up in his native state and was educated there. He came to Minnesota in the eighties, locating at Windom, Cottonwood county, where he married Eleanor Jones, a native of Steele county, this state, from which locality she came with her parents to Cottonwood county. D. B. Jones, the father, was a native of the state of New York, his birth occurring on April 7, 1844, and there he grew up and was educated. When thirteen years old he came with his parents to Steele county, Minnesota, where he resided until May i, 1870, when he moved to Rice county, this state, remaining there one year, then, in 1871, came to Cottonwood county, taking up a homestead in Great Bend township, on which he lived until the spring of 1916, when he retired and moved to Windom. He is a member of the Methodist church. He has held township offices. William H. Huntress followed carpentering all his active life, being a highly skilled workman. His death occurred at Windom in 1901. His family consisted of four children, namely: Gertrude, Ruby, Bernice and Muriel. After his death, Mrs. 'Huntress re-married, her last husband being John McKeegan, and they now make their home in northern Minnesota. She is a member of the Methodist church. Schmotzer, Edward F. Page 352-353 Edward F. Schmotzer was born in Dale township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, November 27, 1884. He is a son of John and Rose (Muller) Schmotzer. His father was born in Germany in 1843 and his mother in Switzerland. The father came to America in 1866 and located first in Indiana. In 1870 he came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Dale township. With the exception of four years he lived on this land and made this his home until his death, which occurred on February 16, 1910. His first wife died in 1889. The children of this family were: Henry, who died young; Rose, who died at the age of six; Edward F., and Louis, who died young. His second wife was Dora Gundel. She was the mother of four children: Minnie, Louis, Harry, Walter. The family were members of the Lutheran church. Edward F. Schmotzer was educated in the public schools of Dale township. In 1901 he started to farming for himself on a farm in Dale township. He continued to farm there until the spring of 1911, when he sold out and moved to Jeffers, where he lived for about two years; then lived in Comfrey, Minnesota, for a year. In October, 1913, he bought the Jeffers Review newspaper plant, and moved back to Jeffers and assumed charge of the paper. He has since been the publisher of this paper. Mr. Schrnotzer was married on October I, 1899, to Emma Whiteman, daughter of George Whiteman, of Hampton, Iowa. To this union seven children have been born : Wilbert, Alice, Orval, Beryl, Leonard and Leona ( twins) and Erma. Leona died on March 19, 1915. Mr. Schrnotzer is independent in political faith and votes for the candidate whom he considers the best man for the place, and not because he belongs to this or that political party. His fraternal association is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He conducts his paper on strictly non-partisan lines, advocating the interests of the public first and always. He uses his publication for the common interests of the people in this community, fearlessly upholding the common cause, and never lending its columns to the sordid ambition of any man or set of men. He owns three hundred and forty acres of unimproved land in northern Minnesota. Schroeder, Frank Page 106-107 The grain business has been one of the principal industries of Cotton- wood and adjoining counties for a number of decades, and a number of elevators have been erected to care properly for the great harvests of wheat. The one located at Mountain Lake is operated with success by Frank Schroeder, an enterprising gentleman who came to us from far across the sea. Mr. Schroeder was born in the southern part of Russia, February 5, 1862. He is a son of David and Katherine (Neufeld) Schroeder, both natives of the southern part of Russia, where they grew up, were married and established their home, but in 1873 removed with their family to the United States, locating at Mountain Lake, Minnesota, two miles south of which village the father purchased a section of land. He was among the first colony of Russians to settle in Cottonwood county. He devoted his earlier life principally to the ministry, but followed farming after coming here, although he preached occasionally. He and his wife died on the home place in this county. He assisted in organizing the first church in his vicinity. His family consisted of thirteen children, eleven sons and two daughters. Frank Schroeder spent his boyhood in Russia and there attended school for four years, finishing his .education after coming to Mountain Lake. He assisted his father to develop the home place here, on which he remained until his marriage, after which he operated the farm of' his mother-in-law for two years. He then worked for twelve years for B. Rempel at Butter- field, Minnesota, in the lumber and elevator business. Upon leaving the employ of Mr. Rempel, he launched out for himself in the lumber, elevator and farm implement business, but two years later sold out and removed to Mountain Lake and for a period of eight years worked for Schaffer Brothers, who owned an elevator here, which he purchased of them on July i, 1914, and has continued to operate the elevator with pronounced success. Some years ago he also dealt in real estate. Mr. Schroeder was married in 1886 to Katherine Rempel, a native of Russia and a daughter of Peter and Anna (Penner) Rempel. To this union six children have been born, named as follow : Cornelius and Frank, twins, the former deceased; Peter, William, Bernhardt and Martha Marie. Politically, Mr. Schroeder is a Republican and a member of the Mennonite church. Schroeder, Heinrich Page 416-417 A type of the better class of farmers in Cottonwood county is Heinrich Schroeder, of Midway township. He is a man who uses brain as well as brawn in operating his place, and he has been successful in the various departments of his general work as a husbandman. Mr. Schoeder was born at Paulsheim, southern Russia, May n, 1856, and is a son of David and Katherina (Newfeld) Schroeder. The father was born while his parents were moving from Germany to Russia. The mother wa's born in Lectfeld, Russia^ The birth of the father occurred on February 27, 1821, and he died in 1885, at the age of sixty-four years. His father devoted his life to farming in Russia and there he farmed until he immigrated with a colony to Elkhart, Indiana, in July, 1873. The elder men of the party left their families at Elkhart for seven weeks, while they traveled in the West, hunting a suitable location. They decided upon Yankton, South Dakota, and thither they brought their families. About this time another colony from the same locality in which they had resided in southern Russia had determined to locate at Mountain Lake, Minnesota. The father of the subject of this sketch remained at Yankton, South Dakota, until December, 1873, when he came to Mountain Lake, where he had a number of friends. He purchased land in section 9, Mountain Lake township, Cottonwood county, paying four dollars per acre. The land had a small house on it, and here he and his family were soon located and here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. He was a Mennonite preacher. The denomination had but one church, known as Bethel, which was organized in 1877, in the granary of the father of the subject of this sketch. To David Schroeder and wife the following children were born: David, Jr., John, Heinrich, Jacob, Peter, Frank, George, and William. It was to better rear his sons that the father of these children came to America, and it was also largely due to militarism that they left the church. Heinrich Schroeder grew up on the home farm and received a common school education in Russia, learning the German language, also some Russian. He has devoted his active life to general farming and the threshing business. Upon his marriage he purchased a part of his father's home place on which he resided from 1880 to 1895, then moved to the farm on which he now resides in the edge of the village of Mountain Lake, his place containing one hundred and sixty acres in section 32. He has rebuilt all the buildings on his land and has a well-improved and valuable farm. In connection with general farming he breeds full-blooded Percheron horses. He has been engaged in threshing since 1876, operating a machine each autumn, and is one of the best known men in this line in the county. Mr. Schroeder was married in 1877 to Anna Regier, who was born in 1855 at Rudnerweid, southern Russia. She came with her parents to Mountain Lake, Minnesota, in 1876. To this union seven children have been born, namely: Anna, David, John, Henry, Katherina, Helena and Elizabeth. Besides their own. they have reared another child, Samuel, a son of George Schroeder, brother of the subject of this sketch, the lad being six years old when he came to their home. Heinrich Schroeder was for a period of fifteen years a trustee of Bethel church, and was also a Sunday school teacher many years. He is now not a member of any church, being somewhat broad in his religious views, but his family affiliate with the Mennonite church. Politically, he is independent. He was for eleven years assessor of Mountain Lake township, and for seven years was chairman of the Midway township board. He was president of the German school at the time the present school building was erected, remaining in that position for seven years. He has been a prominent man in his community and has done much for the general public welfare. Schroeder, Louis E. Page 484-485 It is now becoming generally understood that the life of the man who lives closest to nature is the best life, and no class of men are in better position to receive the benefits which are thus to be derived than farmers. The life of Louis E. Schroecler, a retired farmer of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, now living in Windom, has been pleasant and remunerative. Mr. Schroeder was born in Winona county, Minnesota, February 22, 1863, and he is a son of Martin and Henrietta (Meilicke) Schroeder, both natives of Brandenberg, Germany. He was about nineteen years old when he immigrated to the United States with his parents, the family locating on a farm on the Rock river, near Theresa, Wisconsin. He remained there, assisting his father with the work of the farm, five or six years, then came to Winona county, Minnesota, and bought one hundred and twenty acres, which he farmed for a number of years. He then moved to Blue Earth county and bought one hundred and sixty acres south of Mankato, which place he improved and continued to operate until a short time before his death. Although he remained on the farm, he spent his last days in retirement. It was in his house that the first meeting of the township officials of Lyon township was held, in Blue Earth county. His death occurred on May 18, 1881. His widow is still living, being now advanced in years, and makes her home with the subject of this sketch. To these parents nine children were born, all still living but one. namely : August M., Carl G., Louis E., Oscar H., Ottilia H., Clara C, Bertha, Ida L., and William, who died in 1902. Louis E. Schroeder grew up on the home farm, where he worked when a boy, and he received a common school education. Upon the death of his father he took charge of the homestead, on which he remained until 1895, when he removed to Cottonwood county, locating in Great Bend township, where he bought a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, which he improved and operated with his usual success until 1913, when he retired from active life and located in Windom, where he purchased three and one-half acres within the city limits, on which ground he has a pleasant home. Politically, Mr. Schroeder is an independent voter. He attends the Baptist church. Schultz, David D. Page 324-326 David D. Schultz, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Midway township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Mountain Lake and identified with the general interests of that part of the county, is a native of Cottonwood county and has lived there all his life. He was born on a homestead farm in Mountain Lake township, May 9, 1880, son of David and Susie (Vought) Schultz, natives of southern Russia and pioneers of this part of Minnesota, who are now living comfortably retired in the village of Mountain Lake. David Schultz, who was born in southern Russia on March 24, 1841, is the son of Henry Schultz and wife, who came to Minnesota from southern Russia in 1875 and with their family settled in Cottonwood county, on a homestead farm in Mountain Lake township, being among the earliest settlers in that part of the county. They were members of the Mennonite church and were regarded as among the leaders in the considerable colony of persons of that faith who began to settle hereabout in the early days. Henry Schultz was a native of Germany, but had located in southern Russia in his young manhood and had lived in the latter place until he came to America. Three times after locating in Minnesota he returned to his old home in Russia and on his last visit there was taken ill and died. His wife's last days were spent on the homestead farm in Mountain Lake township. David Schultz received his education in the common schools of the German colony in Russia. On coming to America he first went to South Dakota, but in 1875 he located in this section of Minnesota. He took an active part in the work of developing and improving his father's homestead and later began farming on his own account, homesteading a farm in the vicinity of that of his father in Mountain Lake township. Some time after his marriage he moved into Midway township, where he established his home on a farm in section 27 and became a very successful farmer, long having been regarded as one of the leading agriculturists in that part of the county. Some time ago he and his wife retired from the labors of the farm and moved to Mountain Lake, where they have a pleasant home and where they are comfortably situated. Mr. Schultz is a Republican and for many years has taken a warm interest in local political affairs. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite church and long have been actively interested in its beneficences. David Schultz was married in 1871 to Susanna Voth, and to them were born the following children : John D., Isaac, Helena, Maria, David D., Hy D., Peter D. and Jacob S. David D. Schultz was eight years old when his parents moved from the homestead farm in Mountain Lake township to Midway township and he was reared on the home farm in the latter township, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and there he remained, a valued assistant to his father in the work of developing and improving the home place, until 1905, the year of his marriage, when he bought the quarter section on which he ever since has made his home, in section 26 of that same township. Mr. Schultz has applied modern methods to the cultivation of his place and has improved the same in admirable fashion. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock. He is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in local politics, but has not been included in the office-seeking class. In 1905 David D. Schultz was united in marriage to Anna Eitzen, who was born in the neighboring county of Watonwan in 1886, daughter of Peter Eitzen and wife, early settlers of that part of the state, and to this union five children have been born, Hilda, Ferdinand, Alvin (deceased), Susie and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are members of the Mennonite church and take an active interest in the affairs of that congregation, as well as in all neighborhood good works. Schultz, Isaac D. Page 402-403 Isaac D. Schultz, a substantial farmer of Midway township, Cotton- wood county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Mountain Lake, is a native of Russia, but has been a resident of this country since he was a small child and has witnessed the development of this section of Minnesota since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in southern Russia on April 16, 1872, son of David Schultz and wife, who, with their children, came to the United States in 1874, proceeding to South Dakota, whence, the next year they came over the line into Minnesota and settled in Cottonwood county, where they established their home and became useful and influential pioneers. In a sketch relating to David Schultz, presented elsewhere in this volume, there are set out additional details regarding this pioneer family. Isaac D. Schultz was about two years old when his parents came to this country and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm of his father in Midway township, Cottonwood county. He attended both the public schools and the Mennonite school and early began farming on his own account. In 1900 he bought the southeast quarter of section 22 in Midway township and began to develop the same along up-to-date lines. Two years later he married and established his home on that place and there he has lived ever since, he and his family being very pleasantly and comfortably situated. He has a fine residence, a good barn and other farm buildings in keeping with the same and is looked upon as one of the progressive farmers of that neighborhood. Mr. Schultz is a Republican, but has never been a seeker after public office. He takes a warm interest, however, in the civic affairs of his community and is found among the promoters of such movements as are designed to advance the cause of good government hereabout. On January 23, 1902, Isaac D. Schultz was united in marriage to Cornelia Peters, who was born in Cottonwood county on February 3, 1878, daughter of Cornelius and Lena Peters, both natives of southern Russia, who came to this country in 1873 and settled in Cottonwood county, becoming useful and influential pioneers of this section of Minnesota. Cornelius died in 1898 and his widow is still living . To Mr. and Mrs. Schultz four children have been born, namely: David, born on January 7, 1903; Lena, August 5, 1905; Albert, April 30, 1907, and Williard, February 21, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are earnest members of the Mennonite church and take a warm interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good work of their home community. Schwandt, George Page 248-249 George Schwandt, member of the board of supervisors of Germantown township, Cottonwood county, one of the best-known and most progressive young farmers of that township, owner of a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres, secretary of the Sanborn Co-operative Company, vice-president of the Sanborn Co-operative Elevator Company and otherwise actively identified with the rapidly developing interests of the northern part of the county, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Nicollet township, Nicollet county, May 3, 1881, son of Julius and Albertina (Otto) Schwandt, natives of Germany, who later became residents of Cottonwood county and the former of whom is still living on his farm in Germantown township. It was in 1860 that Julius Schwandt came to the United States. He proceeded immediately to Minnesota and settled in Nicollet county. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in behalf of the Union cause in the Fourteenth Minnesota Artillery. He was one of the defenders of New Ulm during the Indian uprising in 1862 and took part in the pursuit of the Indians after the massacre. Upon the conclusion of his military service he resumed his farming operations in Nicollet county, where he continued to live until 1891, in which year he disposed of his interests there and moved over into Cottonwood county, settling on a farm in Germantown township, where he has ever since made his home. His wife died in August, 1912. She was a member of the German Lutheran church, as is her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, who grew to maturity, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Otto, Julius, Henry, William, Albertina. Martha and Marie, and three who died, Frank, Albert and Bertha. George Schwandt was seven years old when his parents moved to Cottonwood county and he grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Germantown township, an able assistant in the labors of developing the same. He completed his schooling in the schools at Springfield and early began farming on his own account, in 1908, taking charge of the place on which he now lives. In 1910 he bought that place and since then has greatly improved the same, at the same time bringing it up to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Schwandt has two hundred and eighty acres and in addition to his general farming has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock. He but recently has gone into the dairy business on a somewhat extensive scale and for the past ten years has operated a threshing-rig during the seasons. Not only has he been diligent in his own business, but he has found time to devote considerable attention to other interests and is vice- president of the Co-operative Elevator Company at Sanborn and secretary of the company controlling the co-operative store at that place. Mr. Schwandt is a Republican and for years has given thoughtful attention to local governmental affairs, at present being a member of the board of supervisors of his home township. On June 20, 1904, George Schwandt was united in marriage to Lydia Mattke and to this union four children have been born, Herbert and Margaret and one that died when eight months old named Eleanor and another named Ruth, died when three weeks old. Mr. and Mrs. Schwandt are members of the German Lutheran church and take an active interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in all local good works, ever being willing promoters of such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare in their home community. Seely, Whalen Durland Page 56-57 The late Whalen Durland Seely, former county commissioner and for years one of Cottonwood county's best-known and most substantial citizens, was a pioneer of that county and lived to see it develop from the condition of a practical wilderness to its present well-established state. He was a young man when he came to this part of Minnesota and his energy and enterprise did much in the way of helping to promote the best interests of the pioneer community with which he had cast his lot back in the seventies. He was born in the state of Pennsylvania on February 2, 1850, and was but a child when his parents, Francis Tuttle and Mary (Durland) Seely, moved West and settled in Iowa, where he grew to manhood. In the early seventies the Seelys came to Minnesota and Francis T. Seely homsteaded a farm in Amo township, Cottonwood county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, substantial pioneer residents of that section. Upon locating in Cottonwood county, Whalen D. Seely homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Rose Hill township and also took a timber claim of a quarter of a section and proceeded to improve and develop the same. He married in 1882 and established his home on his homestead tract and there lived until his retirement from the farm and removal to Windom in 1908. Mr. Seely was one of the active, energetic men of the community and from the beginning of his residence here took an influential part in local civic affairs. He was a Republican and for some time served as a. member of the township board and as clerk of his school district. For twelve years he was retained on the board of county commissioners and it was during his tenure in that important office that the present court house of Cotton- wood county was erected. Upon moving to Windom Mr. Seely bought a comfortable residence, which carried with it a fruit orchard of more than five hundred trees, and there he spent his last days, his death occurring on April 17, 1912. On April 9, 1882, Whalen D. Seely was united in marriage to Carrie M. Reisdorph, who was born in McKean county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1857, daughter of Silas and Betsy (Hoag) Reisdorph, the former a native of the state of New York, born in Cattaragus county on April 3, 1828, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Silas Reisdorph and family moved from Pennsylvania to Monroe county, Michigan, and there Mrs. Reisdorph died in 1863, leaving two children, Carrie M. and John A., the latter of whom is a well-known farmer of Springfield township, Cottonwood county. Silas Reisdorph married, secondly, Frances Button and later came with his family to Minnesota, settling in LeSueur county, whence, in 1873, they moved to Hennepin county and thence, in 1878, to Cottonwood county, where he home- steaded a quarter of a section of land, which is still owned by the family, and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1914. His widow is now living at Mason City, Iowa. They were the parents of seven children, Robert, William T., Mary I., George H., Lloyd, Elvie and Edith, all of whom are living. To Whalen D. and Carrie M. (Reisdorph) Seely four children were born, as follow : Mary Frances, who married Harold M. Tripp and is now living at Center, North Dakota; Grace G. ; Madge M., now the wife of Eden G. Lund, a real-estate dealer at Spokane, Washington, and Elizabeth June, who is still at home. Mrs. Seely is very comfortably situated in her pleasant home at Windom. Seines, O. E. Page 83-85 Life has been worth the living to O. E. Seines, now living in honorable retirement in Windom, Cottonwood county, for he has had the wisdom to make the most of it in all its relations. He was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, August 15, 1860, and is a son of Ole and Sophia (Lerbeck) Seines, both natives of Norway, where they grew to maturity and were married. In the spring of 1860 they crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Racine county, Wisconsin, where they spent one year, then moved to Allamakee county, Iowa, where the father bought a farm of forty acres, to which he added forty acres, and later another eighty, all of which he sold in 1871, and moved to Jackson county, Minnesota, and purchased a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres and homesteaded eighty acres, and there he lived many years, adding to his farm until he owned four hundred acres. He finally returned to Norway, where his death occurred on October 16, 1911, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife died in Jackson county, Minnesota, in 1902 at the age of seventy-eight. Their family consisted of six children, namely: Lena, deceased; O. E., the subject of this sketch; Lena, the second, died in 1896; Mary died in 1914 at the age of forty-eight years; John died in infancy; Minnie, was born in 1870 and is living. O. E. Seines grew up on the farm, and was educated in the public schools in Iowa and Minnesota. He remained at home until he was nearly twenty-one years old, coming to Windom in 1881 and secured a position as clerk with Paul Seger, remaining with him for three years, then clerked for John Hutton many years. In 1903 he bought out Mr. Hutton and engaged in general merchandising, where the Foss Mercantile Company is now located, selling out to this concern in 1911, after a very successful career as merchant, and since then he has lived retired from active life. He made a trip to Germany, Sweden, Holland, Norway and England in 1911. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial men of Windom. He owns valuable farming lands in Cotton- wood county, also in Jackson county, and has a fine modern residence in Windom. Politically, he is a Republican. He has been a member of the city council of Windom. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He belongs to the Lutheran church. Mr. Seines was married May 17, 1884, to Mary Blixseth, who was born in Norway, April 15, 1863. She is a daughter of Martin and Berte Karine (Aandcrud) Blixseth, both natives of Norway, the father's birth occuring on March 29, 1837, and the mother's in 1841. They grew up in their native land and were married there, coming to Huston county, Minnesota, in 1868 and to Jackson county in 1870, where Mr. Blixseth took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and there he bought and sold land. He spent his last days in the home of the subject of this sketch, dying on April 7, 1908. His wife died on the farm in Jackson county, April 24, 1890. He was a Republican, and belonged to the Lutheran church. His family consisted of the following children : Mary M., wife of Mr. Seines; Anna Margrete, an infant, deceased; Anna, who married Frank Anton, is deceased; Oscar A. lives in Windom. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Seines has been without issue. Mrs. Seines owns her father's old homestead, and Mr. Seines has one hundred and sixty acres adjoining, and other lands, all amounting to nearly a section, besides other property. Oscar A. Blixseth, a brother of Mrs. Seines, is manager of the Tuthill Lumber Company of Windom. He was born in Jackson county, Minnesota, January 8, 1881. He received his education in the public and high schools of Windom, later attending a business college in Mankato. He began life as a delivery boy in a store in Windom, but was promoted to clerk and finally to bookkeeper. In December, 1902, he was employed by the Tuthill Lumber Company, and became manager of the same in 1905, which position he has still held to the eminent satisfaction of the firm and its patrons. He is a Republican, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1904 he married Ida M. Miller of Windom, and to their union three children have been born, namely: Myrtle Helen, is the eldest; Blanche Lurene is deceased; and Lorene Mildred is the youngest. Mr. Blixseth owns a farm in Jackson county, Minnesota, and a good home in Windom. Senst, Herman A. Page 457-458 Herman A. Senst, a substantial farmer of Highwater township, Cotton- wood county, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in that township besides land in Clay county, member of the board of supervisors of his home township, treasurer of the Highwater Telephone Company, a director of the Farmers State Bank of Jeffers and of the elevator company at that place and otherwise identified with the general interests of that community, is a native of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Wabasha county, this state, August 27, 1871, son of Gottfried and Henrietta (Pultz) Senst, natives of Germany, who became early settlers in Minnesota, where they spent their last days. Gottfried Senst was a weaver in his native land and in the early sixties came to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling in Goodhue county. Five years later he moved with his family to Wabasha county, where he established his home and spent the rest of his active life. Upon his retirement from the active labors of the farm he moved over into Cottonwood county and there his last days were spent. He and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Henrietta Fredericka, Maria, Otto and Siegmund. Herman A. Senst was reared on the paternal farm in Wabasha county and received his schooling in the neighborhood of his home. As a young man he moved into Cottonwood county and began farming in Highwater township. In 1895 he married and in 1898 he bought the quarter section in Highwater township on which he now lives and which he has developed in fine shape, his farm being well improved and profitably cultivated, all the improvements on the same having been made by himself. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Senst has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well. For ten years past he has given particular attention to the breeding of Duroc-Jersey hogs. In addition to his home farm Mr. Senst is the owner of a one-half interest in two hundred and forty acres in Clay county, is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers State Bank of Jeffers, a director of the Farmers Elevator Company at Jeffers and treasurer of the Highwater Telephone Company, in the affairs of all of which concerns he takes an active interest. Mr. Senst also has given close attention to local governmental affairs and is a member of the board of supervisors of Highwater township and treasurer of his home school district. On March 14, 1895, Herman A. Senst was united in marriage to Marie Krause and to this union five children have been born, Albert R., Clara E., Gilbert M., Arthur L. and Florence L. Mr. and Mrs. Senst are members of the German Lutheran church, in the various beneficences of which they take an active interest and Mr. Senst has been a member of the board of trustees of the church for many years. They have a pleasant home and the general attractiveness of their home place is enhanced by a well-kept grove. Senst, Otto Page 223-224 Otto Senst, a well-known and substantial farmer of Amboy township, Cottonwood county, who is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres surrounding his home in that township and three hundred and twenty acres in Storden township, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the near vicinity of Red Wing, in Goodhue county, April n, 1868, son of Gottfried and Henrietta ( Pultz) Senst, both now deceased, natives of Germany, the former of whom was a weaver in his native land, who came to the United States in the early sixties, proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling in Goodhue county, where Gottfried Senst farmed for about five years, at the end of which time he moved with his family to Wabasha county, where he spent the rest of his active life, upon his retirement making his home with his son, Otto, in Cottonwood county, where he died. He and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom Otto was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Henrietta, Fredericka, Maria, Anna, Herman and Siegmund. Otto Senst was but four years old when his parents moved from Good- hue county to Wabasha county and on the paternal farm in the latter county he grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood school and becoming a very proficient farmer, remaining there until 1891, in which year he moved to Cottonwood county, locating on his present place in Amboy township, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Senst has been quite successful in his farming operations and in addition to the quarter section surrounding his home, where he and his family are very pleasantly situated, he is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Storden township. His farm is well improved and he is looked upon as one of the progressive farmers of his neighborhood. Mr. Senst is a Republican and has served on the local school board. Mr. Senst married Wilhelmine Uebe and to this union five children have been born, Walter, Carl, Paul, Alfred and Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Senst are members of the German Lutheran church and take a proper interest in parish affairs as well as in all movements having to do with the advancement of the common interests of their home neighborhood. Shaner, Charles H. Page 199-200 The grand old state of Pennsylvania has sent out thousands of her sons in the founding and upbuilding of communities in the West. Many of these have served their adopted states long and well, and have left the imprint of their character upon the history of their times, carving their . names and fame upon the very foundation stones of many of the great commonwealths. Charles H. Shaner, of Storden, Cottonwood county, is a native of the old Keystone state, and while he has not been a leader in great affairs of business or state, has been a good citizen in his humble sphere. Mr. Shaner was born in Rockland county, Pennsylvania, in 1860, and is a son of M. and Jane (Stewart) Shaner. It is very probable that these parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they at least spent most of their lives on a farm and died there. Mr. Shaner's family consisted of eight children, six sons and two daughters, namely: John, David, Daniel, Emma, Charles H., Ella, Floyd and Ambrose. Charles H. Shaner grew to manhood on the home farm in his native state and he received a good education in the public schools of Rockland county, after which he taught school awhile. In 1886 he came west to Wisconsin where he remained two years, then located in Windom, Minnesota, and was superintendent of the poor farm of Cottonwood county for about two years. While in Wisconsin he worked on farms during the summer months and taught school in the winter time. In 1892 he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Storden township, improved it and lived on it until the village of Storden was started, when he turned from agricultural pursuits to general merchandising, opening the first store in the new town, which 'he conducted with pronounced success until 1912, when he sold out and purchased the local hotel which he conducted about one year, then sold it and bought the building which he now occupies, and since 1914 he has conducted a cream station here, buying and shipping large quantities regularly. Mr. Shaner was married in 1887, to Jessie I. Stewart, daughter of John and Floella (Mclntosh) Stewart. To this union seven children have been born, named as follow : Clyde, Claude W., Percy, Erma, Cecil (a daughter), Earl, Devire. Politically, Mr. Shaner is a Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran church. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has for some time been active in local politics. Sivertson, George P. Page 127-128 Among the Norwegians who have come to Minnesota, and there have been many thousands, and have, through their industry and good management acquired a comfortable competency so that they are enabled to spend their old age in peace and plenty is George P. Sivertson, now living in honorable retirement in Westbrook, Cottonwood county. Mr. Sivertson was born in Norway, April 3, 1849, and is a son of Sivert and Ellen (Pederson) Sivertson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, were married and established their home. TThe paternal grandparents, Sigval and Elizabeth (Total) Sivertson lived and died in Norway on a farm, as did also the maternal grandparents, Benjamin Pederson and wife, and also the parents of G. P. Sivertson lived in the same community as the grandparents, spending their lives on a farm. They had three sons and two daughters, namely: George P., Conrad, Simon, Abel are all three living in Norway; Sarah died in that country. Simon is an officer in the Norwegian army. George P. Sivertson was educated in his native land, and when twenty- one years of age came to the United States, in 1867, and located in Alamakee county, Iowa, where he remained until 1871 when he came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, taking up a homestead in Highwater township, which he developed into a fine farm and carried on general farming successfully, until he retired from active life and moved to the village of Westbrook in the year 1902. During the two years of the grasshopper plague which destroyed his crops he was compelled to leave his farm and work out. He homesteaded eighty acres, later buying eighty acres of railroad land. Mr. Sivertson was married on April 12, 1876, to Martha Langland, who was born in Norway, November 6, 1854, daughter of Knute and Anna ( Bjargo) Langland, from which country she came to America in early life with her parents, the family locating in Madison, Wisconsin ; then to Winne- shiek county, Iowa, one year; then moved to Jackson county, Minnesota; later went to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and in 1871 came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, where they remained to the end of their lives. The mother, two sons and two daughters were massacred by the savages, the father and two daughters, Julia and Martha, escaping. Mr. Langland bought railroad land, in Westbrook township. During the massacre, Martha was a little girl and was hid in a cornfield, escaping notice, but her sister Julia, who was tomahawked, survived. Mr. Langland died on his. farm in Westbrook township some years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Sivertson seven children have been born, namely: Knute, John, Peter, Gertrude, Anna, and Mabel. They are all living at this writing except Josephine, the youngest, who died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Sivertson is a Democrat. While living on the farm he served as school director for some time, and also was road boss occasionally. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Smestad, Edward E. Page 191-192 Edward E. Smestad was born in Norway, July 16, 1863, son of Enver and Elena (Nestrude) Smestad, both natives of Norway, where they spent their lives, the mother dying in early life, in 1865. The father was a blacksmith and farmer, and his death occurred in January, 1915. To these parents three children were born, namely : John Helmer, a farmer and blacksmith, lives on the old homestead in Norway; Hans Peter is a blacksmith and lives at Windom, Minnesota; Edward E., the subject of this sketch, who is the youngest of the family, spent his boyhood in Norway, and received a limited education in the public schools. He partly learned his trade under his father. He came to America in 1884 and located in Houston county, Minnesota, where he worked awhile on a farm, then went to Albert Lea, hiring to a blacksmith. In 1887 he came to Windom, Cot- tonwood county, and started in the blacksmith business for himself, remaining there until the fall of 1899, having been in partnership with his brother Hans all that period except the first few months after he came to Windom. After leaving Windom he went to Odin and ran a shop one year, then moved to Murray county, this state, opened a shop at Clayton where he remained four years, then returned to Windom and was alone in the business about a year. In the fall of 1905 he located in Storden, buying the shop of Ray Ager, which he has since conducted with his usual success. He has enlarged the building and does general blacksmithing and wagon making. He put in the local waterworks in 1911. He has all modern equipment in his shop for turning out high-grade work promptly. He still owns and operates the waterworks. Mr. Smestad was married, in the fall of 1884, to Gusta Mathison, who was born in Norway, from which country she came alone to America in 1883, locating in Houston county, Minnesota. To this union the following children were born : Even, a farmer and butter maker, lives in Miller county, Minnesota; Anna Julia is the wife of Wood Anderson, a banker of Froyd, Montana; Helge is farming and lives at home; Roy Vincent is a barber and lives at home. Mr. Smestad is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church. Smestad, Hans P. Page 98-99 Hans P. Smestad, well-known blacksmith at Windom, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota since 1881 and a resident of Windom since 1886, being now the oldest blacksmith in continuous service in that city. He was born in February, 1862, son of Evan and Helen Smestad, both natives of Norway, who spent all their lives in their native land, the latter dying in 1911, at the age of eighty-two years and the former in 1915, at the age of eighty. Evan Smestad's parents, Hans and Johanna Smestad, carne to America years ago, proceeding to Minnesota and settling at Lakefield, Jackson county, where they spent their last days, the latter dying in 1893, at the age of ninety-one years, and the former in 1898, at the age of ninety-three years. When he was nineteen years old, in 1881, Hans P. Smestad came to the United States and proceeded at once to this state. He spent a couple of weeks with his grandparents at Lakefield and the nlocated at Albert Lea, where he spent five years working at his trade as a blacksmith and where he married. In 1886, the year after his marriage, he moved to Windom, where he opened a blacksmith shop and where he has been engaged in that business ever since. Mr. Smestad has done very well at his trade and is the owner of his shop and a good residence in Windom. No other smith in town has been engaged in business there so long as he and he has long been regarded as one of the substantial residents of the town. Mr. Smestad is a Republican. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest. It was in 1885, at Albert Lea, that Hans P. Smestad was united in marriage to Johanna Arveson, who was born in Norway, daughter of John and Martha Arveson, who later located at Windom, where both died, and to this union four children have been born, Inger, Emor, Mattie and Palma, all of whom are living. Smith, Willard C. Page 454-455 Willard C. Smith, a substantial farmer of Lakeside township, Cotton- wood county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and ten acres in the vicinity of Bingham Lake, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in St. Charles township, Winona county, March 10, 1870, son of C. D. and Jane (Pringle) Smith, who came to this state from Wisconsin about the year 1865 and settled in Winona county. They homesteaded a farm in St. Charles township, that county, and there spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Willard C. was the second in order of birth, the others being Charles, Irving, Lottie, Walter, Grant, Lillie, Lucas and Benjamin. Willard C. Smith was reared on the paternal farm in Winona county, obtaining his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and as a young man began farming for himself in that same neighborhood. He was married in 1893 an<^ m 1900 he disposed of his interests in Winona county and came to this part of the state, settling in Cottonwood county. Upon arriving here he located on a farm in Carson township, but three years later moved to Lakeside township, where he ever since has made his home. In 1909 he bought a farm of eighty acres, the place on which he has since made his home and where he is now living, and proceeded to improve the same, all the present improvements on the place having been made by him. As he prospered in his farming operations, Mr. Smith has added to his land holdings and now owns a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock and has done well with his Holstein cattle and his Chester White hogs. Mr. Smith is a Republican and since locating in Cottonwood county has given close attention to local civic affairs. For four years he was chairman of the township board and he also has served as a member of the school board for six or seven years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Modern Brotherhood of America, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest. On March 8, 1893, Willard C. Smith was united in marriage to Bertha Persons, daughter of George Persons, and to this union nine children have been born, Goldie M., Sylvia, Pearl, Willard, Ruby, Chauncey, Bertha, Beatrice and one, the fourth in order of birth, who died in infancy. The Smiths have a very pleasant farm home and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the neighborhood in which they live. Solete, Fred Page 435-436 A study of the merchant, the professional man, the artist, the preacher, statesman or inventor reveals the fact that their lives are no more excellent than the lives of farmers. Fred Solete. now living in retirement in Win- doni, found life good and successful on a farm in Cottonwood county, as have many others. Mr. Solete was born in Germany, September 14, 1860, and is a son of Anton and Christena Solete, both natives of Germany, where they grew up and were married, and there spent their lives on a farm, both dying many years ago. The father was a soldier in the German army and fought in the wars against Austria, Denmark, Prussia and France. His family consisted of six children, namely: Fred, William, August, Walter, Mary and Christena. Fred Solete grew up on his father's farm in Germany, and there he received a common-school education. After leaving school he served four years in the German army, then worked as a farm hand in his native land until he immigrated to the United States in 1893, locating at Windsor, Minnesota. He worked on the Omaha railroad for two years, then rented a farm in Great Bend township. Cottonwood county, for five years; then bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He prospered through hard work, the exercise of sound judgment and careful management and added to his original holdings until he became owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable and well improved land on which he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale until 1915, when, having accumulated a handsome competency, he retired from active life, moved to Windom where he purchased two acres on which stands a commodious home and is now living quietly, surrounded by all the comforts of life, as a result of his former years of activity along legitimate and well- defined lines. Mr. Solete was married in 1888, to Anna Polzen, to which union three children have been born, namely : Fred, who married Louise Dahl, has one child, Violet: Walter married Anna Beber, and William, who is unmarried. These children were given good educational advantages. Politically, Mr. Solete is an independent Republican. He has never sought political office, and has only served on the school board. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished unaided, having come to a strange land with very little capital, and by sheer courage and perseverance forged to the front over many obstacles. Stark, Arthur O. Page 261-262 Arthur O. Stark, a well-to-do farmer of Amo township, proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres in the neighborhood of Storden, former chairman of the township board, a director of the Farmers Bank of Storden, one of the organizers of the companies controlling the farmers' elevator and the co-operative store at Storden and for years actively interested in the promotion of the best interests of that section of the county, is a native son of Minnesota, born on a farm in the vicinity of Amherst, in Fillmore county, May II, 1865, son of S. S. and Miranda (Able) Stark, natives of the state of New York, who became pioneers of Minnesota in the early sixties and were living in Fillmore county during the time of the Sioux outbreak. S. S. Stark was one of eight children born to his parents, the others being Richard, Charles, David, Andrew, Prucia, Josephine and Mary. Andrew Stark also came West and served through the Civil War as a member of a Wisconsin regiment. S. S. Stark became a well-to-do farmer in Fillmore county and he and his wife spent the remainder of their"" lives there. They were the parents of six children, as follow: Flora, William A., Arthur O., Ida S., Josephine and Edgar. Edgar and Flora are deceased. Arthur O. Stark was reared on the paternal farm in Fillmore county and received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood. Reared to farming, he early began farming on his own account and for about ten years after his marriage lived on a farm in his native county, after which, in 1900, he came to this part of the state and bought the farm of four hundred and eighty acres on which he since has made his home in Amo township and where he and his family are comfortably situated. In addition to his extensive general farming, Mr. Stark has given considerable attention to stock raising and makes a specialty of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. Mr. Stark has for years given his intelligent attention to the promotion of the best interests of his home community and is recognized as one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers in the Storden neighborhood. For eleven years he has been a member of the township board, a part of which time he served as chairman of the board, and for fifteen years has been a member of the school board. He helped in the organization of the Farmers Elevator Company and of the Farmers Co-operative Company at Storden, is a stockholder in both these organizations and for some time served as a member of the board of directors of the same. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Bank at Storden and in other ways is connected with the business and general interests of his home community. In 1890 Arthur O. Stark was united in marriage in Fillmore county, this state, to Delia Griffith, who was born in that county, daughter of Edward and Clarissa (Burbank) Griffith, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in this country, of German descent, who were early settlers in Fillmore county, where their last days were spent, both being buried in the same cemetery in Fillmore county in which rest the remains of Mr. Stark's parents, the two families having been close neighbors. To Mr. and Mrs. Stark have been born five children, Elsie, Leroy, Vivian, Donald and Alice. Donald is deceased. The Starks are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works, being accounted among the leaders in the various social activities of their home community. Mr. Stark is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest. Stoess, Dietrich Page 270-271 Dietrich Stoess, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Midway township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of an excellent farm of six hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Mountain Lake, is a native of Russia, born at Schoenthal, March 14, 1866, son of John and Mary (Hepner) Stoess, both natives of that same district in the Czar's domain, who came to the United States in 1877 and proceeded to Minnesota, settling in Waton- wan county. There John Stoess bought a quarter of a section of land in the western part of the county and established his home. He was an excellent farmer and prospered in his operations, eventually becoming the owner of a full section of land, where he made his home until his retirement from the farm in 1903 and removed to the village of Mountain Lake, where his death occurred in the following year, 1904, he then being sixty-five years of age. His widow survived for a little more than ten years, her death occurring on August 8, 1914. They were earnest members of the Mennon- ite church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, of whom Dietrich was the second in order of birth, the others being Mary (deceased), Jacob, John, Cornelius, Peter, David (deceased) and Erdman. Dietrich Stoess was about eleven years of age when he came to Minnesota with his parents in 1877 and he has lived in the neighborhood in which the family settled in Watonwan county ever since. Upon coming here he entered the public schools and supplemented the course there by later attendance in a private Mennonite school. He early took his place as an assistant to his father and brothers in the development of the home farm and became an excellent practical farmer. He was married in 1890, and in 1896 bought the northeast quarter of section 25, in Midway township, Cottonwood county, where he established his home and where he has lived ever since. As he prospered in his farming operations Mr. Stoess added to. his land holdings until now he is the owner of almost a full section of land, part of it being over the line in Watonwan county. He has improved his place in admirable fashion, has a substantial and comfortable residence, excellent barns and other fine buildings and has long been regarded as one of the leading farmers of the Mountain Lake neighborhood. Mr. Stoess also is the owner of a threshing rig, which is in wide demand during the threshing season. Mr. Stoess is a Republican and takes an active interest in local political affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office. On January 17, 1890, Dietrich Stoess was united in marriage to Helena Harder, of Watonwan county, and to this union have been born eleven children, all of whom are living save two, John and Wilhelm, the others being John, Abraham, Jacob, Mary, Dietrich, Peter, Erdman, Cornelius and Aaron, the first named of whom is occupying the farm his father owns in Watonwan county. Mr. and Mrs. Stoess are active members of the Mennonite church, in the affairs of which they have ever taken a deep interest, and Mr. Stoess is treasurer of the school maintained by that church at Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Story, Lincoln L. Page 341-342 Lincoln L. Story, a well-known and substantial farmer of Amboy township, Cottonwood county, and former member of the board of supervisors of that township, is a native of Iowa, born on a farm in Winneshiek county, that state, July 2, 1861, son of William A. and Eliza (Brod) Story, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Indiana, who for years were residents of Cottonwood county. Both are now dead. William A. Story moved from New York state to Ohio when a young man and in the latter state engaged in farming. He married there and shortly afterward moved to Iowa, settling in Winneshiek county, where he was engaged in farming until 1879, in which year he came to Minnesota and located at Sleepy Eye, in Brown county, where he remained until 1881, when he moved to Cottonwood county and located on a farm of eighty acres in Amboy township, where he lived until his death. For some years, during the early part of his residence in Amboy township, Mr. Story was the local postmaster in that neighborhood, keeping the postoffice in his house on the farm. He was a Republican and took an active part in local political affairs, long having been one of the leaders of his party in that part of the county. To him and his wife seven children were born, of whom Lincoln L. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Martha, Ella, Andrew, William, Rose and Liona. Lincoln L. Story's early life was spent on the farm on which he was born in Iowa. He received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and was about eighteen years old when he came with the family to Minnesota. As a young man he worked with his father on the farm and was thus engaged until after his marriage, in 1883, after which he began farming on his own account. He now has one hundred and sixty acres. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Story has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well. He is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, having for three years served as a member of the board of township supervisors. He is a Mason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Mutual Benefit Association, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest. In 1883 Mr. Story was united in marriage to Almira Marcott, daughter of David Marcott, of Amboy township, and to this union six children have been born, Altha, who married Harry Graff and lives in North Dakota; Hazel, Addie, who married Ivan Hoff and lives in Ironton, Minnesota; Lloyd, Floyd and Gertrude. The Storys take a proper interest in the general social activities of their home neighborhood and are helpful in promoting all movements designed to advance the common interest thereabout. Strunk, Arthur F. Page 93-94 Lumbering has been one of the principal industries in Minnesota, but the great forests have been depleted to such an extent that other industries have superseded it. Among those who are still successfully engaged in this line of endeavor is Arthur F. Strunk, of Windom, Cottonwood county. He was born at Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1862, and is a son of Daniel and Eliza A. (Fish) Strunk, both natives of the state of New York, where they spent their earlier years, but later came to Wisconsin, where they lived for some time. They are both now deceased, her death occuring at Windom, Minnesota, and he died in California. The father was a highly skilled machinist and was an inventor of note, especially as an inventor of devices for improving farming machinery. Only two of his children grew to maturity, Arthur F. and a daughter, Nettie, now deceased. Arthur F. Strunk received his education at Janesville, Wisconsin, later spending one winter in the University of Minnesota. He came to Windom in 1883 and soon thereafter launched out in the lumber business for himself, just across the street from his present location. He remained alone for many years, then took in a Mr. Sherwin as partner. The firm name is now Strunk-Sherwin & Company, which erected its present commodious and convenient quarters in 1895. Mr. Strunk has been very successful in this field of endeavor, and he is also interested in the F. Strunk Lumber Company at Lake Crystal, Minnesota, which was established by his uncle in 1882. He is also interested in the Thomas Halverson Lumber Company at St. James, Minnesota. He understands thoroughly every phase of the business and is energetic, prompt and honorable in his dealings. Mr. Strunk was married in 1893 to Agatha Grimes of Windom, a daughter of Michael Grimes, and to this union one child has been born: Arthur Rudolph (known as Dolph). Politically, Mr. Strunk is a Republican. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Swain, W. S. Page 349-350 W. S. Swain, one of Cottonwood county's most extensive farmers and the assessor of Amboy township, is a native of Canada, was reared in the state of New York and has been a resident of Minnesota since he was twenty years of age. He was born on a farm in the province of Ontario on September 13, 1865, son of Norman and Catherine (Garlough) Swain, who moved from Canada to the state of New York in 1866, settling on a farm, where Norman Swain died in 1869, leaving four sons, of whom W. S. was the second in order of birth, the others being James, Herbert and Bert, the latter two are twins. Mrs. Swain later married Silas Bump, but none of the children of that union are now living. After the death of his father, W. S. Swain went to live with his maternal uncle, James Garlough, in St. Lawrence county, New York state, and there he lived until he was twenty years old, receiving his schooling in the public schools and growing up to the life of the farm, becoming a very competent farmer. In March, 1886, he came to Minnesota, locating at Windom. Shortly afterward he was engaged as superintendent of a big farm in Great Bend township and was thus engaged for four years, at the end of which time he started farming for himself in Dale township. Four years later he was employed in the real-estate business and was quite successfully engaged in that line for two years, at the end of which time he returned to New York, where he remained a year, returning then to Cottonwood county, where for a year he was engaged in farming in Lakeside township. After that, for a couple of years, he was employed in the livery business at Windom and then engaged in the milk business at the same place, being thus engaged for a year, after which he resumed farming and for a year farmed in Dale township and a year in Storden township, after which, in 1909, he rented his present tract of one thousand acres in Amboy township and has ever since been operating that great place, long having been regarded as one of the most extensive farmers and stockmen in this part of the state. Mr. Swain is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local affairs, at present serving as township assessor. In November, 1890, W. S. Swain was united in marriage to Sarah Williams, daughter of W. B. and Jane (Allen) Williams, of Windom, and to this union five children have been born, Herbert, Leon, Grace, Lester and Lucy. The Swain family attends the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in all movements having to do with the promotion of the common welfare hereabout. Mr. Swain is a member of the Windom lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Mutual Benefit Association and of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the affairs of all these organizations. Swartz, Arthur L. Page 164-165 Arthur L. Swartz, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Amo township, Cottonwood county, is a native of Iowa, born in Clinton county, that state, October 25, 1863, son of Henry and Eliza (Koch) Swartz, natives of the state of Pennsylvania, who came West about 1852 and settled in Clinton county, Iowa. Henry Swartz was a carpenter by trade, but the most of his life he spent farming. During the Civil War he served as a private in Company F, Tenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, attached to the Fifteenth Army Corps, and during all the period of his service was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. In 1868 he and his family moved from Clinton county to Cedar county, Iowa, and established their home there. In that latter county Mrs. Swartz died in 1883. Henry Swartz spent his last days in Ida county, same state, where his death occurred in 1906. He and his wife were members of the German Reform church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth and the first two of whom died in infancy, the others being Ella F., who died in 1915, George Peter, William J. and Burdette. Reared on the paternal farm, Arthur L. Swartz early began farming for himself and after awhile located on a farm in Cherokee county. He married in 1890 and in 1895 disposed of his farming interests in Iowa and came to Minnesota, locating in Cottonwood county. He bought the farm of one hundred and fifty acres on which he now resides, in Amo township, and there he and his family have made their home ever since, being very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Mr. Schwartz is an excellent farmer and his place is well improved and profitably cultivated, he long having been recognized as one of the substantial farmers in that section of the county. It was in 1890 that Arthur L. Swartz was united in marriage to Lizzie Springer, who was born in Pennsylvania, daughter of Harry Springer and wife, natives of that same state, who came West and settled in Ida county, Iowa, where they spent the rest of their lives. Harry Springer was a veteran of the Civil War and a substantial farmer in the community in which he lived in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Swartz eight children have been born, Earl H., Mabel A., Ethel M., Bessie A., Lewis M., Willis C, Coral and Angie Iris Zaida. Swenson, Gilbert Page 236-237 Gilbert Swenson, a well-known and progressive young farmer of High- water township, Cotonwood county, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on March 8, 1881, son of Syver and Ingeborg (Olson) Swenson, natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota, becoming pioneers of Cottonwood county, where their last days were spent. Syver Swenson was born on November 17, 1841, and was reared on a farm in his native land. He married Mrs. Ingeborg (Olson) Erickson, who was born in 1849, widow of Ole Erickson, who, by her first marriage, was the mother of one child, a daughter, Randi. and in 1869 came to Minnesota, settling in Olmsted county, whence, the next year, in 1870, he moved over into Cottonwood county and homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in High- water township, established his home there and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1912. His wife had preceded him to the grave about three years, her death having occurred in 1909. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Ole, Mary, Ruth, Swen, Emma, Lena, Enga and Helen. Gilbert Swenson grew up on the homestead farm on which he was born in Highwater township, a valuable assistant to his father in the work of developing the same. He received his elementary education in the schools of his home township and supplemented the same by a course in the Minnesota State College of Agriculture, from which he was graduated in 1903. Upon completing his agricultural studies, Mr. Swenson rented the place on which he is now living and in 1910 bought the same. He married in 1912 and has since made his home there, he and his family being very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Mr. Swenson has improved his farm in strictly up-to-date fashion and has one of the best-kept places in that part of the county, the buildings and other improvements being of an approved and substantial character and the farm cultivated according to modern methods. It was in 1912 that Gilbert Swenson was united in marriage to Gertrude Sabin, daughter of Andrew Sabin, and to this union two children have been born, Hazel and Stanford. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an active interest in the affairs of the same, Mr. Swenson being a member of the board of trustees of the church. They also are properly interested in other local good works and are helpful in promoting all agencies for the betterment of local conditions in their home community. Swenson, Henning L. Page 263-264 Henning L. Swenson, one of the most substantial farmers of Highwater township, Cottonwood county, is a native son of that township, born on the old homestead farm where he has lived all his life. He was born on May 5, 1879, son of Lars and Birgit (Ophiem) Swenson, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to Minnesota in 1870 and later became pioneer settlers in Cottonwood county, where the latter is still living. Lars Swenson was born on April 2, 1845, and was reared on a farm in his native land. In 1870 he came to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and located in Olmsted county. In 1871, he came to Cottonwood county and homesteaded a quarter of a section in Highwater township, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on November 10, 1902. Lars Swenson for years was one of the leading citizens of Cottonwood county, taking a prominent part not only in civic affairs, but in the general life of the community in pioneer days, and proved a strong and helpful factor in the development of the new country hereabout. He served his community in numerous minor official capacities and in 1890 was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and continued serving in that important public capacity until his death. He was successful in his farming operations and became one of the largest landowners in the northern part of the county, this land now being owned and operated by his children, all of whom are doing well their respective parts in the community. His widow is still living on the old homestead place, that portion of the farm now being owned and operated by Henning L. Swenson, the subject of this sketch. Lars Swenson was an earnest member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as is his wicfow, and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, of whom Henning L. was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Swen L., Halvor and Olena, who died in infancy; Halvor, Orin, Theodore, Olene, Hannah and Laura. Henning L. Swenson was reared on the old homestead farm on which he was born, receiving his elementary education in the schools of High- water township, and later took a course in the State Agricultural School, after which he began farming on his own account on the home farm. After his father's death he became the owner of two hundred acres of the estate, including the old homestead tract, and is now living there with his aged mother. Mr. Swenson is carrying on his farming operations according to modern methods and has his place in fine shape. In addition to his general farming, he has given considerable attention to raising live stock, with particular reference to Holstein cattle, and has done very well. He gives thoughtful attention to the civic affairs of his home county and does a good citizen's part in the promotion of all agencies having to do with the betterment of local conditions. Swenson, Swen L. Page 466-467 Swen L. Swenson, a well-to-do farmer of Highwater township, Cot- tonwood county, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on a homestead farm on June 8, 1882, son of Lars and Birgit (Opsata) Swenson, natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota in 1870 and later became pioneer settlers in Cottonwood county, where the latter is still living. Lars Swenson was born in 1845 and was reared on a farm in his native land. In 1870 he came to Minnesota and located in Olmsted county, but remained there only about a year, at the end of which time he moved over into Cottonwood county, which at that time was attracting much attention among homeseekers in the Northwest, and homesteaded a quarter of a section in Highwater township, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life. Lars Swenson became very successful in his farming operations and as he prospered added to his holdings until he became recognized as one of the largest landowners in that part of the county. Not only was he diligent in his own business, but he ever gave a good citizen's attention to public affairs and from the beginning of his residence here proved a potent factor in the great task of developing the civic and other interests of the new country. He was a Democrat and served the public in numerous official capacities, being a member of the board of county commissioners at the time of his death, a position which he had held for years. His widow is still living on the old home place. She is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as was her husband, and they took a prominent part in the organization of that church in their home community in the early days. They were the parents of eight children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Henning L. Halvor, Orin, Theodore, Olena, Hannah and Laura. After the death of Lars Swenson his estate was divided among his children and all are doing well their respective parts in the community, the family long having been one of the representative and influential families of Cottonwood county. Swen L. Swenson was reared on the homestead farm on which he was born and became a very capable and practical farmer. He received his schooling in his home township and at Wilder and from boyhood was a valuable assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm and in carrying on the extensive agricultural operations undertaken by his father. Upon the death of his father he came into possession of the fine farm of two hunderd acres in Highwater township, where he is now living, and which he has improved in excellent shape and brought to a high state of cultivation. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. Mr. Swenson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and gives his earnest support to the same, as well as to all agencies for good hereabout. He is inclined to be independent in his political views, preferring to reserve his support for the best men in politics irrespective of party.

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