Pipestone County Minnesota Biographies

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Pipestone County Minnesota
Biographies

Frederick Dock is another one of the prosperous and well to do farmers of southern Minnesota who dates his birth in the fatheland but who has spent the most of his life in America, having accompanied his parents on their emigration to this country when a boy of fourteen years. He furnishes an excellent illustration of the self made man, and to a succinct review of his life we would at this point turn.
Frederick Dock was born in Alsace, Germany, March 16, 1833, son of John G. and Magdaline (Dornberger) Dock, people of industrious habits and honest worth, Alsace being their native place also. In 1847 the Dock family bade adieu to the only home they had ever known and the land where their ancestors had lived for generation after generation, and in a sailing vessel started from Havre on the voyage to America. After thirty five days at sea they landed in safety in the New York harbor, whence they directly made their way to Erie county, New York, where they lived for ten years. Theri next move was to Iowa. In their old age the parents lived with their son Frederick in Clayton county, that state, the father dying there at the age of ninety three years and the mother being eighty four when she passed away. Of their five children, all except our subject and possibly one other, have joined them in the other world. As far back as their history is traced the Docks have been a family of farmers.
From the time he was fourteen until he was twenty seven years old the subject of our sketch followed the trade of carpenter, entering upon an apprenticeship at that trade in Buffalo soon after his arrival in this country. After coming west to Iowa he worked at his trade in Dubuque four years. Following his marraige, which important event in his life occurred late in 1859, he settled down to farming in Clayton county, Iowa, where he cleared away the heavy growth of timber from his land and where he carried on agricultural pursuits for some twenty five years, selling out at the end of that time and removing to Benton county, Iowa, where he rented land until 1889. That year he came up to Minnesota and in Pipestone county purchased on hundred and sixty acres of land, to which by subsequent purchase he added an adjoining one hundred and sixty acres, making a tract of three hundred and twenty acres, to the improvement and cultivation of which his efforts have since been directed and with most gratifying results. He raises a diversity of crops and gives some attention to stock.
In November, 1859, Mr. Dock was joined in bonds of wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Buch, like himself, a native of Germany, the date of her birth having been March, 1843. She is a daughter of German parents, Conrad and Mary (Olei) Buch, who emigrated to the United States in 1855, sailing from Bremen and landing at New Orleans after an ocean voyage of forty days.
From New Orleans they came up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, and thence to Iowa, making settlement in Clayton county, where Mrs. Buch died at the age of forty two years. Mr. Buch lived to be seventy nine or eighty and died in Benton county, Iowa. Four of their five children are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Dock have been given a large family of children, seven sons and four daughters, and all are living with one exception, a little daughter that died in Iowa at the age of one year and four months. The names of those living in order of birth are as follows; John, Charlie J., Frederick F., Willaim, George, Albert, Frank, Caroline, Amelia and Ella. Two are married, John and Caroline, and the former has four children and the latter five.
Mr. and Mrs. Dock are active and consistent members of the Lutheran church. It was largely through his efforts that this local organization secured their house of worship. He contributed of his means to the enterprise, served as a member of the building commitee, and for threee years has been one of the trustees of the church. His political predilections are for the Republican party.
[Source: "Memorial Record of S.W. Minnesota" - Submitted by Gary Boomgaarden]

John W. Wehrman.
On the highway leading north from Jasper and one mile out from the town are found the pleasant home and broad acres of one of the most enterprising farmers and respected citizens of Pipestone county, Minnesota,-- John W. Wehrman. As his name indicates, he is of German origin, and he possesses, to a marked degree, many of the commendable traits of character which are found in the German people. He was born in Iowa county, Iowa, October 2, 1862, son of Henry and Sarah (Elder) Wehrman. Henry Wehrman is a German by birth. He spent the first thirteen years of his life in the old country, then set sail for the alluring shores of America, located in Iowa, and is still a resident of that state, engaged in farming. The mother of our subject died in Iowa.

On his father's farm in the "Hawkeye state" John W. Wehrman spent his boyhood days and passed into manhood, remaining there until he was twenty three. His educational advantages were limited to the district schools, but close observation, home study and actual business experience have broadened the knowledge gained there, and up with the times, especially in his line of occupation. After leaving home he was for a few years employed in farm work in Iowa before coming to Minnesota. It was in 1888 that he came up into Minnesota and located in Pipestone county. On his arrival here he purchased two hundred and forty acres of his present farm, built a house upon it, sixteen by twenty four feet in dimensions, and went earnestly and persistently to work to make a home and farm. For two years he kept "bach" here and then he returned to Iowa, married and brought his bride to his new home, and aided and encouraged by a loving companion, he has since continued to prosper. He built his barn in 1888, enlarged and remodeled his house in the fall of 1895, and in the meantime added eighty acres to his farm, making his present holdings three hundred and twenty acres in extent, the same being regarded as one of the finest farms in Pipestone county. Like the majority of agriculturalists in this part of the state, he raises a diversity of crops.
December 31, 1889, Mr. Wehrman was united in marriage to Miss Anna Schild, a native of Benton county, Iowa, born March 24, 1868, daughter of John and Dorothea (Budy) Schild, both of German birth and ancestry, their home being on their farm in Benton county, where they settled a number of years ago. Mrs. Schild was only nine years old at the time she came to this country. Mr. and Mrs. Wehrman have been blessed in the birth of three children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Irene M., born May 16, 1891; Iona M., September 11, 1892; and Ruth C., September 18, 1894.
As a citizen of influence and on of high moral and financial standing in his community, the subject of our sketch occupies an enviable position. He has at heart the best interests of his town and county, is always willing and ready to support any measure or movement intended to promote their welfare, and that he is popular among his fellows goes without saying. He was among those who took the initial steps in securing a house of worship for the Lutheran congregation in Jasper, of which organization he is an official member, and it was largely through his personal efforts that the building was pushed to completion. Politically he is a Populist. He has served efficiently in several of the township offices, being commissioner two terms, assessor two terms, and is at present serving his first term as treasurer.
[Source: "Memorial Record of S.W. Minnesota" - Submitted by Gary Boomgaarden]