JULIUS HENRY ACKERMANN is deputy treasurer of the state of Minnesota. He resides temporarily in St. Paul, but his home is at Young America, Carver County. Mr. Ackermann is a native of Thuringia, where he was born at Muehlhausen, January 9, 1844. His father, Henry G. Ackermann, was a successful miller and land owner, who, when merely a boy of twelve, was compelled, on account of his father’s illness, to take active management of the mill.  In the year 1813, when the Russians drove back Napoleon across Germany, large crowds of Russians passed the mill at intervals for a period of several months. The mill being in an isolated situation was chosen as headquarters by the Russian officers, while the rest of the army were camped around the mill. These Russian soldiers appropriated every kind of personal property and provisions, and practically left the young miller destitute. But, being of a resolute disposition, he conducted the business with great diligence and perseverance, and for a period of fifty years was successful in his business operations. After losing his first wife he married Henrietta Henneberg, the mother of Julius Henry.

The subject of this sketch was the youngest of a family of nine. He received a common school education and at the same time received a business education from private tutors. In 1858, at the age of fourteen, he went into business as a clerk in a large wholesale and retail store in his native city. In 1862 he emigrated to the United States and first settled on a farm in Benton township, Carver County, Minnesota. In 1864, in company with his brother, Christ, he engaged in mercantile business in the village of Young America. The following year he put up a steam flouring and sawmill. The next year, 1866, another brother, William, came over from Germany and entered into the partnership, under the firm name of Ackermann Bros. This firm continued in business until 1875, when it was dissolved and Julius formed a partnership with John Truwe, under the firm name of Ackermann & Co. They continued in the mercantile business until 1893, taking in as partners in the meantime, August F. Truwe and A. O. Malmgren. In 1893 the firm was changed to Truwe & Co., the milling business being continued under the old name of Ackermann Bros., who, in 1876, had established a branch in New York City. In 1893 the mill was rebuilt and incorporated under the name of Ackermann Bros, Milling Co., who still continue the business. In 1895 Mr. Ackermann disposed of his interest in the store business, but continued his connection with the mill. 

Julius has been an active Republican ever since he came of age, and has always supported the Republican ticket with the exception of 1872, when he voted for Horace Greeley for president. In 1871 he was appointed postmaster of Young America and held that office until 1893. He was elected town clerk in 1870, and was re-elected each year until 1892.  In 1895 he was appointed to the office of deputy state treasurer under August F. Koerner, state treasurer. Mr. Ackermann has been a member of the Pioneer Singing Society of Young America since 1862, and joined the Masonic order in 1870. In 1883 to 1885 he served his district as a member of the state senate, and was again sent to the lower house in 1889. He is now a member of the Republican state central committee and was sent as a delegate from Carver County to the Republican state convention in 1881, and has represented his county in that capacity in every Republican state convention since. He was married in 1886 to Paulini Goetze.  They have three children, two sons and one daughter, all grown, the daughter married and the sons engaged in mercantile business.