Trails-to-the-Past-Minnesota-Jackson-biographies

The Date in the ( ) is the date that the person became a resident of Jackson County

CHARLES M. GAGE (1885). deceased, the oldest son of Solomon Gage, was born on his father’s farm in Kane county, Illinois, on the 25th day of December, in the year 1862. He attended a country school that was located near his home and finished his education at the seminary at Elgin, Illinois.

He was a very industrious and model young man and the old farm remained his home until 1885, when be married Estella McClelland and moved to Jackson county, Minnesota, where he purchased the south half of section 31 in the township of Belmont and developed it into one of the best stock farms in the county. While living in Belmont township he served several terms as chairman of the town board and clerk of his school district. Mr. Gage was the father of seven children. T. Ernest Gage, born November 3, 1885; Fern Gage, born January 18, 1887: Florence M. Gage, born February 2, 1890; Bertie Marie Gage, born April 18, 1894: Elmer Gage, born October, 1896, were born on the above named farm. Harold W. Gage, born October 5, 1899, and Sylvia S. Gage, born May 10, 1903, were born after Mr. Gage had moved his family into their new home he had built in Lakefield, Minnesota, in 1897. Fern Gage died of diphtheria in the winter of 1894 and Elmer Gage only lived to be ten or twelve days old. Mr. Gage left his farm and made his home in Lakefield in order that his children might attend the high school.

He entered into the farm implement business in partnership with John Frederickson at Lakefield, which partnership continued until 1901, when E. A. Gage bought out Mr. Frederickson’s interest in the business, and the firm became known as Gage Brothers. Mr. Gage died at his home in Lakefield, Minnesota, on July 10, 1908, after an illness of some ten days. He left a wife, five children and a great many friends to mourn his death. Mr. Gage was a thoughtful, loving husband, a generous father and a loyal citizen. He was a member of the A. O. U. W. and the M. W. A. lodges of Lakefield and also a member of the Lakefield Lodge No. 2.50, A. F. & A. M., Jackson Chapter No. 73, R. A. M., Jackson, Minnesota, and Fairmont Commandery K. T. No. 27, Fairmont, Minnesota.

ERNEST A. GAGE (1884), ex-president of the First National Bank of Lakefield is engaged in the insurance business in that village.

He is the son of the late Solomon and Marion (King) Gage and descends from colonial stock, one distinguished member of the family being Lyman J. Gage. former secretary of the United States treasury.

Our subject’s grandfather Solomon Gage, Sr. was born in New Hampshire in 1788 and immigrated to Kane county, Illinois, in 1846. Our subject’s father, Solomon Gage, Jr., was born in Arcade, New York, June 15, 1827 and accompanied his father to Rutland township, Kane county, in 1846. There he grew to manhood, bought property and spent practically all the rest of his life. In the fifties he made two trips overland to California, driving ox teams. From the first trip he returned in 1852 by way of Cape Horn; the second return trip was made by way of, the Isthmus of Panama. He came to Jackson County in 1884, bought a section of land in Belmont and Hunter townships, but did not make his home here. Solomon Gage was married three times. His first wife, Susan Hogeboom, died in California March 15, 1857. His second wife and the mother of our subject was Mary E. King, whom he married July 1, 1858. She was born in New Haven, Connecticut, October 4, 1840, and died January 4, 1871. She was the daughter of Madison King and was of English descent. Nine children were born to them, of whom the subject of this biography and John G. Gage, of Lakefield, are the only surviving ones. Solomon Gage was married the third time in 1872 to Mrs. Sylvia Brisbin, a native of Canada. Mr. Gage died in Kane County Illinois, November 7, 1886.

Ernest A. Gage was born in Ruthland township, Kane county, Illinois, February 1, 1866 and grew to young manhood there, attending the district schools and working on his father’s farm. His education was completed with one term in the preparatory department of Beloit college in 1888. As before mentioned, the elder Gage came to Jackson county in 1884 and purchased land. One of these tracts was the south half of section ,31, Belmont township, and upon that farm our subject located in January, 1884. He conducted the farm two years and then returned to his old home. He bought the old homestead and engaged in farming until the year 1901. Then he sold out and again came to Jackson county. Locating in Lakefield, he engaged in the implement business four years, selling out March 6, 1905, to his brother, John G. Gage. On the first day of the year 1903 he bought out the interests of N. J. Scott in the First National Bank of Lakefield, became president of the bank, conducted it until the next year, and then sold out to J. W. Daubney. After his retirement from the bank Mr. Gage lived a retired life until January, 1908; then he opened an insurance business, in which he has since been engaged. He writes policies in the New York Life, the Connecticut and the Williamsburg City Insurance company.

Mr. Gage owns a half interest in the implement buildings occupied by his brother and has his own home in the village. He takes an active interest in lodge matters and holds membership in many worthy orders. Of the Masonic orders he is a charter member of Lakefield Lodge No. 250, A. F. & A. M., and was master in 1905; he is a charter member of lodge No. 73, R. A. M., of Jackson; of the Fairmont Commandry No. 27; and of Osman Temple of St. Paul. He holds membership in the Lakefield lodge No. 178; I. 0. 0. F.; in the Lakefield chapter No. 185, 0. E. S., and in the Knights of the Globe at Hampshire, Illinois.

Mr. Gage was married March 31, 1890, to Emma C. Hemrick, a native of Kane county, Illinois, and a daughter of Philip H. and Caroline M. (Maupton) Hemrick, both born in Kane county, Illinois. The former was born September 25, 1848, and now resides in Flagler, Colorado; the latter was born July 1, 1850, and died January 8, 1898.

JOHN G. GAGE (1905), dealer in implements and heavy hardware in the village of Lakefield, is a native of Kane county, Illinois, where he was born February 26, 1870. His parents were Solomon and Marion (King) Gage, descendants of colonial stock, and natives of New York and Connecticut, respectively. His father was born June 15, 1827 and died November 7, 1880. His mother was born October 4, 1840 and died January 4, 1871.

Our subject’s younger days were spent on his father’s farm in Kane county, Illinois, where he received his primary education in the district schools. At the age of seventeen he became a student at the Elgin academy, Elgin, Illinois, and later was a student at Drew’s Business college of Elgin and the Parker college of Winnebago City, Minnesota. In 1890 he took up the study of pharmacy in the Northwestern School of Pharmacy, of Chicago. Later he entered the Chicago College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1893. From the date of his graduation until 1897 Mr. Gage was employed as a pharmacist in Chicago. He then embarked in the drug business at Hamshire, Illinois. Selling out two years later, he moved to Chicago and worked as a pharmacist and prescription clerk until 1901. That year he was appointed an instructor of dispensing in the Northwestern Medical school. Later he became a salesman and prescription clerk, and was so employed until 1905.

When a boy fifteen years of age Mr. Gage first came to Jackson county and resided for a period of six months on his father’s farm four miles east of Lakefield. In 1905, on account of ill health, he was obliged to give up his profession, and then it was he came to Jackson county to reside permanently. He located in Lakefield and entered into the implement and heavy hardware business in partnership with his brother, C. M. Gage, and Lakefield has since been his home. Mr. Gage owns the southeast quarter of section 1. Hunter township, and residence property in Lakefield. He is a member of the Methodist church and a prominent lodge man. holding membership in the A. F. & A. M., at Lakefield, Chapter, at Jackson, Commandery. at Fairmont Osman Temple at St. Paul, Eastern Star and Odd Fellows, at Lakefield.

Mr. Gage was married in Chicago September 8, 1898 to Clara T. Burke, who was born in Nevada county, Ohio, November 8, 1873. She is the daughter of Charles W. Burke, who died in Chicago in December, l908 and Henrietta Burke, who now resides in Chicago. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gage, Bernice Marie Gage, born November 27, 1899.

THEODORE E. GAGE (1884), one of the members of the firm of Gage Brothers, dealers in implements at Lakefield, has resided in Jackson county all his life. He is the son of the late Charles M. and Estella (McClellan) Gage.

Charles Gage, the father, was born in Elgin, Kane county, Illinois, in 1863, and he lived on his father’s farm near that city until 1884. He then married and moved to Jackson county. He bought a farm in Belmont township, upon which he lived until 1897. He then moved to Lakefield and engaged in the implement business with John Frederickson. One year later Mr. Frederickson sold to E. A. Gage and the firm became Gage Brothers, which it still continues to be, although there have been changes in the ownership since the firm was named. In 1905 E. A. Gage sold his interests to his brother, John Gage. Charles Gage continued in the business until his death, which occurred July 19, 1908. Charles M. Gage was the father of five children, as follows: Theodore E., Florence M., Bertie M., Harold and Sylvia S.

Theodore E. Gage, the eldest of these children and the subject of this biography, was born on the farm in Belmont township November 3, 1884. He received his primary education in the district schools of Belmont township and then attended the graded and high schools of Lakefield, having been graduated from till latter institution in 1902. He completed his education in Hamline university. In the spring of 1905 Mr. Gage took a position as bookkeeper in the Jackson County State Bank, and in 1907 became assistant cashier. He held that position until his father’s death ill 1908, when he took his father’s interest in the implement business, and he has since been an active member of the firm.

Mr. Gage was married in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 17, 1908, to Grace Belle Adair, who was born in Minneapolis May 20, 1884, and who is the daughter of F. D. Adair, a former merchant of Lakefield, They are the parents of a son, Charles Adair, born April 6, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Gage are members of the Methodist Church and he belongs to the Masonic, Eastern Star and Woodmen lodges.

CHARLES GEISSEL (1905) is one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of Middletown township. He owns and farms the north half of section 28. In addition to his general farming he makes a specialty of breeding Shropshire sheep and Duroc-Jersey hogs. Another specialty is the raising of popcorn, which he finds to be a very profitable crop. Each year he raises about eighty acres of that cereal.

Mr. Geissel was born in Benton county, Iowa, November 22. 1866, the eldest of a family of two sons born to Fred and Catherine (Quitzow) Geissel. At the age of nine years he moved with the family to Sac county, Iowa, where he spent the greater part of his life. He was educated in the public schools of Sac county and in the state agricultural college at Ames, where he was a student four years. Until he reached his majority Mr. Geissel resided with his parents. Then he took the management of the Cook ranch in Sac county, one of the largest individual farms in the state of Iowa and comprising an area of twelve sections. That his management was satisfactory is attested by the fact that he remained in charge eighteen years. He came to Jackson county in 1905 and located upon his present farm, which he had bought in 1900. Since coming to Jackson county Mr. Geissel has interested himself in several enterprises. He was largely instrumental in the organization of the Middletown Farmers Telephone company and is secretary of the company. Largely through his interest in the matter the county ditch, intending to drain 15,000 acres of land is being constructed, bonds to the amount of $68,000 having been sold for the purpose. He is a director of school district No. 60 and is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges.

Mr. Geissel was married in Sac county, Iowa, January 15, 1888, to Emma Griesse, a native of Benton county, Iowa. Five children have been born to this union, named as follows: Catherine, Elenora, Minnie, Elmer and Herbert.

A. FRANK GERLACH (1868). For over forty years the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who now lives in Jackson, has been a resident of the county, having come here as a baby two and one-half years old. He was born in Columbus, Dane county Wisconsin, March 1, 1866, the son of John and Lizzie Gerlach.

In November, 1868, the family arrived in Jackson county, having made the trip by team. The father took a homestead in Petersburg township and there our subject spent his boyhood days. He received a country school education and at the age of seventeen years left the home farm. For the next five years he was employed at farm work, and then in 1888 moved to Jackson. For two years he worked on a dray line and then bought a half interest in the business, which he conducted three years. He was appointed village marshal in 1893 and served seven years. He then retired from active pursuits and has since been engaged in looking after his farm property. He owns 120 acres of land in Middletown township and 120 acres partly in Wisconsin and partly in Petersburg townships. For two years he served as chief of the Jack-son fire department. Mr. Gerlach was married in Jackson county November 23, 1890 to Miss Barbara Miller.

MICHAEL J. GERLACH (1868), of Middletown township, has been a resident of Jackson county almost his entire life, coming here with his parents when less than one year old. He is the son of John and Lizzie Gerlach now residents of Jackson village. They were born in Germany and came to Jackson county with the pioneers, first taking a homestead in Petersburg township and later locating in Wisconsin township.

Michael was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, February 21, 1868, and when an infant in arms came to this county with his parents. He lived respectively in Petersburg, Wisconsin and Middletown townships on farms owned by his father, making his home with his parents until twenty-four years of age. At that age he started out for himself, working out and engaging in farming. In 1902 he rented the southeast quarter of section 14, Middletown, from his brother Frank and has since made his home there.

Mr. Gerlach was married in Jackson county March 6, 1902, to Louisa Buchsen, a native of the state of Iowa. To these parents have been born the following named children: Morris H., born December 1, 1902; Vera A. born December 8, 1903; Emily, born December 10, 1904: Grace G., born December 11, 1906; Eva M., born December 21, 1908. Mr. Gerlach is a member of the M. W. A. lodge.

There were five children in his father’s family, as follows: Andrew F., Michael, John R., Annie (Mrs. E. A. Cole), Minnie (deceased).

ALBERT H. GILBERT (1869), of Petersburg township, was born in that precinct and has spent his entire life of forty years there. The date of his birth was August 22, 1869, and his parents were Hogan and Mary (Olson) Gilbert. Until he was twenty-four years of age Albert resided with his parents on the farm. Then he bought his present farm in section 30 and has since been engaged in business for himself. As a boy he endured many of the hardships incident to pioneer life and painfully remembers the incidents connected with the grasshopper invasions of the early seventies. In his farming operations he has prospered. He owns 320 acres of land on sections 36 and 35. In addition to farming and raising stock he has other business interests, owning stock in the Petersburg Creamery company, the Jackson Telephone company and the Petersburg Threshing company. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Mr. Gilbert was married November 25, 1892, to Miss Bertha Herbrandson, who was born November 20, 1872. To them have been born , children as follows: Henry, born October 25, 1893; Herman, born February 8, 1895; Mary, born August 21, 1890; Alfred, born March 1, 1898; Bert, born May 11, 1901; Lloyd, born July 23, 1900.

GILBERT H. GILBERT (1869) farmer and thresher of Petersburg township, is a native of the county, having been born in Petersburg township August 22, 1860, the son of Hogan and Mary (Olson) Gilbert, Gilbert lived on the home farm until the summer of 1892, when he located in Estherville, Iowa. The next summer he went to Sherburn, Minnesota, and took a position as clerk in a general merchandise store. In 1894 he went back to Estherville, remained there about a year, and then went back to Sherburn. After spending eight months in the latter place he returned to Jackson county and for three years made his home on his father’s farm.

Then in 1898 he bought his present farm of eighty acres in section 35 and has since lived there. During the last twelve seasons he has been engaged in the threshing business as well as conducting his farm. The first three seasons he operated with horse power; since that time he has had steam power. Mr. Gilbert owns stock in the Petersburg Creamery company and was a member of the board of directors for three years. He also is interested in the store at Petersburg. He was assessor of his township for six years and justice of the peace two years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

On July 6, 1898, Mr. Gilbert was married to Randena Mickelson, of Wallingford, Iowa. To these parents have been born five children: Howard M. born May 11, 1899; Olof B., born July 31, 1902; Mabel A., born December 24, 1904; Gilmore R. born October 1, 1906; Clarence J. born February 28, 1909.

HOGAN GILBERT (1864). There are very few residents of Jackson county whose arrival antedates that of Hogan Gilbert, of Petersburg township, and perhaps none has lived upon his original land claim for a greater length of time. For over forty-five years he has lived upon the northeast quarter of section 34 which he took as a homestead claim during the civil war. He has witnessed the development of Jackson County as few other men have had an opportunity to.

Mr. Gilbert is a Norwegian by birth and was born February 6, 1838, in Hallingdal, aals Prestegeld, the son of Gilbert and Bertha (Olson) Gilbert. He came to America in the spring of 1852 at the age of fourteen years and after spending one year in Wisconsin, he moved west and became one of the very earliest pioneers of southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. He located in Martin county in 1853 and made his home there three years. He then located at Estherville, Iowa, where for some time he was a member of the Iowa home guards. He enlisted in the fall of 1862, immediately after the Belmont massacre, which occurred late in August, and for some time was with the Iowa guards scouting the country up to the Minnesota line. His headquarters during this time was at Fort Defiance, at Estherville, Iowa. On the first day of June, 1864, Mr. Gilbert became a resident of Jackson county, taking a homestead claim on section 34, Petersburg, and on that farm he has ever since resided.

Mr. Gilbert owns 440 acres of land. He has stock in the Jackson Telephone company and in the Petersburg Creamery company. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. On September 27, 1869, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Mary Olson and to them have been born five children: Gilbert H., Albert, Bertha, deceased: Esther and Louis.

H. B. GILLESPIE (1891), member of the firm of W. B. Gillespie & Sons, proprietor of a Jackson hardware store, is a native of Osage, Iowa, and was born December 26, 1871, the son of William B. and Alice (Batts) Gillespie. Two years after the birth of our subject the family moved to Traer, Iowa, and at that place H. B. Gillespie was raised. He was educated in the Traer high school.

In 1889 our subject accompanied his parents to Forest City, Iowa, and for two years was engaged in the hardware business. He came to Jackson in December, 1891, and in partnership with his father bought the Fiddes hardware store, in which he has since had an interest. Besides his interest in the store Mr. Gillespie owns stock in, and is a director of, the Jackson National Bank. He owns property in the village and was a member of the village council from 1905 to 1907. He holds membership in the K. P., A. O. U. W. and M. W. A. lodges.

Mr. Gillespie was married September 6, 1899, to Miss Bella G. Hunter, and to them have been born three children, as follows: Margaret H., born August 12, 1902, Helen H., born September 8, 1904; Hunter R., born January 16, 1909.

HANS O. GILLIE (1878) is one of the well known farmers of Belmont township, his farm consisting of 220 acres on the west half of section 16, where he has resided for the past thirty-two years. He is a native of Norway and was born July 23, 1843 the son of Ole Halverson and Sarah (Thorstenson) Halverson. The former died in Norway at the age of 96 years; the latter aged 50 years. Hans has three brothers and one sister living. Until he was twenty-four years of age Hans Gillie lived with his parents, working on the farm and at the carpenter’s trade and serving one year in the army. He came to the United States in 1867, landing in Minneapolis on the nation’s birthday. Minneapolis was his home eleven years, during seven years of which time he was employed in a, sawmill and during four years of which he was employed as a teamster in a paper mill.

Mr. Gillie gave up city life in 1878 and came to Jackson county. At that time he bought forty acres of his present farm in Belmont and engaged in farming. He built a typical “dug-out” in which he lived several years and which is still on the farm. After having lived in this pioneer abode seventeen years, he erected his present fine home. Prosperous times came upon Mr. Gillie and he has added to the dimensions of his farm until he has today a place of 220 acres, all well improved. Besides his farming operations Mr. Gillie has other business interests. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Mercantile company’s store of Jackson, of the Belmont Creamery company and of the new elevator company and a telephone line. He has been assessor of his township for twenty-three years and has held several other offices. He was one of those instrumental in the formation of school district No. 89, known as the Gillie school, and for seven or eight years was clerk of the district. Mr. Gillie is a republican and is active in political affairs of his township. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Mr. Gillie has been married twice. His first marriage occurred in Minneapolis in 1869, when he wedded Annie Thompson, a native of Norway. She died in June, 1876, after having borne him three children, named as follows: Sarah (Mrs. Louis Anderson), Oscar and Henry, the last named being killed by lightning April 28, 1896, aged 22 years. The second marriage of Mr. Gillie occurred in Jackson county May 1, 1880, when he wedded Louisa Grimsrud who was born in Norway and who died December 17, 1908, aged 71 years.

JOE GOGOLINSKI (1901), Des Moines township farmer and breeder of Percheron horses, is a native of Germany, where he was born February 6, 1878. He is the son of the late John Gogolinski and Annie (Pekorski) Gogolinski, of Dutch-Poland stock but natives of Germany. They came to America in 1880 and the former died in this country, the latter lives in Chicago.

Joe accompanied his parents to America when two years of age and until he was twelve years old resided with his parents in Chicago. At that age he went to Wisconsin, lived there a short time and then returned to Chicago, where he lived several years. He learned the machinist’s trade, at which he worked until his health failed. In 1901 he left the city and located in Jackson county, engaging in farming the Des Moines township farm of his father-in-law. He is a well known horse breeder and several of his brood mares and colts have been awarded the first premiums at the Jackson County fairs.

Mr. Gogolinski was married in the city of Chicago October 9, 1900, to Emma Tousek, who was born in the city in which she was married. To these parents have been born three children: Alfonso, born in Chicago; Mary and Helen (twins), born in Des Moines township.

ALBERT GOHR (1891) owns a 240 acre farm in Kimball township and has been engaged in farming it for the last nineteen years. He was born in Germany July 14, 1855, the youngest of a family of five children. His father, William Gohr, died when our subject was nine months old, and his mother, Caroline (Jaffke) Gohr, died when he was thirteen years of age.

Thrown upon his own resources at a tender age, Albert Gohr early learned to take care of himself. He lived in Germany seventeen years, working at odd jobs and spending the last year of his residence in the old world working at the brick layer’s trade. He came to America at the age of seventeen, and for eight months worked on a farm near the city of Chicago. Then he took a position with Henry Batsford & Company, packers, of Chicago, and was in their employ twenty years. In July 1883 he had paid a visit to Jackson county and had bought the east half of the southwest quarter of section 10, Kimball township, and in 1891 he gave up his position in Chicago and moved to the county, where he has since been engaged in farming. He bought the southwest quarter of section 23, Kimball, four years after his arrival, and he farms all his land.

Mr. Gohr was married in Chicago March 26, 1876, to Minnie Stenke who was born in Germany in 1858 and who came to the United States when nine years of age. She is the daughter of Anton and Minnie Stenke both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Gohr have been born twelve children, of whom the following ten are living: Lena (Mrs. Mens Hansen), Albert A., .Minnie, (Mrs. Charles Waswo). Dora (Mrs. Theodore Schoewe). Hattie, Olga, George, Leo, Esther and Clara. The five children first named was born in Chicago, the others in Minnesota. The family are members of the German Lu thcrn church. Mr. Gohr was a member of the Kimball township board from 1893 to 1908 with the exception of one year and be was a member of the school board of his district for the same length of time.

JOSEPH F. GOLITKO (1892) conducts a general merchandise store at Lakefield. He is a native of Austria Hungary, and was born March 19, 1871, the son of John and Mary (Plenzner) Golitko.

At the age of ten years Joseph came to America with his parents, and after a stay of six weeks in Fort Scott, Kansas, located permanently at Bonneterre, Missouri. One year Later, in 1882, the family home was made at Carbon, Clay county, Indiana, and that was the home of our subject until 1891, excepting a stay of three months in Cleveland, Ohio. In Indiana Joseph completed his education, which had been begun in his native land. For a short time in 1891 Mr. Golitko was at Citra, Florida, and on March 31, 1892, he came to Jackson county for the first time. For several years he engaged in farming in Minneota township, where he still owns a quarter section of land, and later moved to Lakefield, where he engaged in business. He holds membership in the M. W. A. and Catholic Union orders and is a member of the Catholic church.

Mr. Golitko was married in Jackson August 16, 1898, to Miss Anna Navara. To them have born the following named children: Emma, Mary, Margaret, Laura, Elizabeth, Anna and Frank.

THOMAS GOODWIN (1866) and wife, who now reside in Wilder, have lived in Jackson county for the last forty-three years and are among the few surviving pioneers who came as early as 1866. Mr. Goodwin was born in Liverpool. England, November 12, 1830 the son of Thomas and Mary (Bowin) Goodwin. These parents came to America in 1840, lived in Elmira, New York, four years, in Williamsville.

Pennsylvania, four years and then in Farmers Valley. McKean county, Pennsylvania, in all of which places they were engaged in the hotel business. The mother died in Farmers Valley January 12, 1807, aged 81 years; the father in August, 1906, aged 89 years. When his parents came to America in 1840 our subject did not accompany them but was brought up in the family of his grandfather, at New Town, Wales. At the age of fifteen years he left the home of his grandparents and crossed the Atlantic. He joined his parents in McKean county, Pennsylvania, and until his twenty-fifth year, in 1864, he was employed on a farm owned by his father. Mr. Goodwin was married May 3, 1864, at Portville, New York, to Betsy Elizabeth Barrett, who is the daughter of Thornton and Rebecca (Brewer) Barrett, and who was born in McKean county, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1843. They are the parents of the following named children: Mary (Mrs. W. F. Ridgeway), of Jackson, born January 25, 1866: Lewis L., of Mosier, Oregon, born June 28, 1868: Cora A., born December 3, 1860, died November 27, 1897; Elmira A., born May 14, 1873, died September 10, 1874; Fred L., of Leland, Washington, born October 3, 1877; Laura E., of Parkston, South Dakota, born August 16, 1880.

In October, 1866, Mr. Goodwin came to Jackson county and took as a homestead claim the northwest quarter of section 6, Middletown township, and the next year moved onto the place with his family. At the time the nearest railroad point was Owatonna, 120 miles away, and neighbors were scarce. There were only three families between his place and the present site of Luverne, in Rock county. The first three years of the residence of this family in Jackson county were spent living in a “dugout,” and thereafter for several years in a log cabin. Incredible were the hardships endured in this frontier country during the “starvation period” and the terrible grasshopper scourge. Mr. Goodwin remained on the claim and weathered the storms of adversity. He lived on the farm until 1890, when he retired from active pursuits and moved with his family to Wilder.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Goodwin served as a member of the school board in Middletown township several years, and has served as a member of the Wilder village council several terms.

JOHN G. GRADY (1889) owns and farms the northeast quarter of section 18, Ewington township, upon which farm he has lived over twenty years. Mr. Grady is a native of Freeport, Illinois, and was. born July 4, 1850. At the age of eight years he accompanied his parents to Grundy county, Iowa, and when twelve years of age started in life for himself. Until his marriage in 1884 Mr. Grady worked on farms and at other occupations in different counties of Iowa. Then he engaged in farming in Blackhawk county, where he resided five years, he came to Jackson county in 1889 and rented the farm he now owns. Five years later he bought the place and has ever since made his home there.

The parents of our subject were Michael and Rosa Grady, who were born in Ireland and who came to America soon after their marriage. They lived in Chicago a short time and then moved to Freeport, Illinois, where our subject was born and where Mrs. Grady died. Mr. Grady moved to Iowa and later to Chicago, where he died. John is the youngest of five children who are living. The other members of the family are Rose (Mrs. Thomas Cannon), who now lives in Chicago and whose husband, a merchant police, was killed in the Haymarket riots; Peter, of Chicago; Winnifred (Mrs. W. Trost), of Chicago; Katie (Mrs. John Bradshaw), of Chicago.

John Grady was married at Independence, Iowa, February 25, 1884, to Julia Ellen Stevens, who was born at Meriden, Connecticut, March 8, 1854. She is of English descent, her grandparents having come from England. She is the daughter of Lucian and Julia R. (Hill) Stevens, natives of Waterford, Vermont. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Grady, as follows: Julia R., born April 2, 1885; William A., born November 28, 1886; Jesse A., born July 1, 1888; Lulu E., born September 13, 1890; Royal J., born January 28, 1892: Edna G., born November 22, 1894; Ralph G., born May 1, 1898, died October 1, 1905.

Mr. Grady is a member of the Catholic church; his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Grady served a little over two years as a director of school district No. 119.

BARNEY GRAVE (1909), proprietor of a saloon at Heron Lake, was born in Aurich, Germany, July 21, 1877, the son of Bergart and Tena (Voght) Grave. He came to America with his parents in 1880 and settled in Carroll county, Iowa.

Barney lived on the farm with his parents until his mother’s death when he was ten years of age. Then he began to battle with the world on his own account. For a few years he worked on farms in the vicinity of his home, doing what little a boy of that age could. From 1892 to 1901 he was employed in hotels in Sioux City and Sibley, Iowa. He then took a position as bartender in a saloon at Sibley, Iowa, and was so engaged until February 18, 1909, where he moved to Heron Lake and bought the saloon of Frank Appel. Mr. Grave is a member of the German Reformed church. He owns village property at Sibley, Iowa.

Mr. Grave was married at Sibley March 25, 1902, to Delia Beck, who was born in Germany and came to America when a child. She is the daughter of B. Beck, of George, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Grave have been born two children. Jesse and Delbert.

JOSEPH H. GRAVES (1899) owns and farms the northeast quarter of section 31 Des Moines township. He is a native of Stark county Illinois, and was born March 22, 1875. His parents, James and Caroline (Fling) Graves, were born in Ohio, came to Illinois in the early days, and now reside in Iroquois county of that state, aged 68 and 64 years, respectively. They are the parents of six children, as follows: Ida, Isaac, Laura, Anna, Joseph and Leroy.

Joseph, the next to the youngest of this family, accompanied his parents from Stark county, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, when four years of age, and later he located with them in Iroquois county, Illinois, where he received his education and grew to manhood. He came to Jackson county in 1899, and until the fall of 1908 farmed rented farms in Des Moines and Middletown townships. He then bought his present quarter section and took possession in the spring of 1909. He is a director of the Jackson Cooperative association and is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge.

The marriage of our subject occurred in Iroquois county, Illinois, May 5, 1896, when he wedded Mary Purviance, a native of Union county Iowa, and a daughter of Mark and Katherine Purviance. Seven children have been born to this union, namely: Mary Frances, Harry Purviance, Katherine Matilda, Charles Henry, Bruce Edward, Walter Howard, Joseph Leroy.

CLARENCE W. GREENWOOD (1872). proprietor of a plumbing shop in Jackson and dealer in heating and electric lighting supplies, has spent the thirty-seven years of his life in Jackson county. He is the son of the late I. B. and Cynthia (Scott) Greenwood, pioneer settlers of the county. Both parents were natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Jackson county in 1867 and homesteaded on the west bank of Loon lake. They resided on that place until 1878, spent two years in Dakota, and then took up their residence in Jack son. The father died September 5, 1892, aged 70 years: the mother died June 7, 1904, aged 72 years.

Clarence is the youngest of a family of seven children born to these parents, the other children being Grace, who died April 17, 1908; Calistia, Thomas, Wilbur, who died November of 1871: Charles and Frank. Our subject was born on the farm in Minncota township February 28, 1872. Until his father’s death Clarence resided at home, securing his education, and at the age of twenty years started out for himself. For several years he was a Western Union lineman, for three and one-half years he served as the Jackson village marshal, and then he took up the work of an electrician, engaging in the work in Jackson three years. Before giving up that work he had established a plumbing shop on Third avenue and he has been engaged in that business ever since. He owns his home and place of business. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic and Woodmen orders.

Mr. Greenwood was married in Jackson in November, 1899, to Augusta Seager who was born in Germany and who came to the United States when twelve yens of age. Both her parents died in Milwaukee. To Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood have been born the following; named children: Ethel, born July 26, 1901: William C, born April 8, 1904: Louis C, born August 24, 1907.

JOHN GREIN (1891) is the manager of the Lakefield Tile and Drainage company. He was born in Hessen, Germany March 10, 1869, the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Lapp) Grein, both of whom died in their native country. John was educated in his native country and made his home with his parents until 1886. That year he came to the United States and located in LaSalle county Illinois. One year later he took up his residence in Iroquois county Illinois, when for four years he was employed as a farm hand.

During the time he was working in Illinois, in 1889 Mr. Grein came to Jackson county and bought an eighty acre tract of land in Rost township. In 1891 he became a resident of the county and has ever since made his home here.

During the first year he worked at farm work then he married and engaged in farming in Rost. having added to his real estate holdings by the purchase of another eighty acre tract. He farmed four years and then engaged in the threshing business four years. Moving to Lakefield, he conducted a butcher shop one year, and then sold out and made a visit to Germany. Returning, he engaged in the butcher business a short time, and for two years prior to 1908 engaged in the dredging business.

During the month of July, 1908, Mr. Grein in partnership with John Frederickson and A. C. Quivili organized the Lakefield Tile and Drainage company, and in October of the same year the company was incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000. Mr. Quivili is president of the company, Mr. Frederickson secretary and Mr. Grein is treasurer and manager. It is the largest plant of the kind in Jackson county and employs ten men. The plant was started in July, 1908, and now manufactures cement drain tile, building blocks, etc. It covers an area of 60x150 feet and has a daily capacity of from 2,000 to 4,000 tile, the sizes manufactured ranging from four to twenty-two inch. There is a ready sale for the product and the company is meeting with success. A ditching machine is also owned by the company, utilized to cut trenches and lay the tile. It has a capacity of from 500 to 800 feet per day according to the size of the tile and the depth of the ditch.

Mr. Grein was married in Rost township January 11, 1892, to Miss Anna Schultz, a native of Wisconsin. To this union have been born seven children, as follows: Henry, Willie, Herman, Lizzie, Alonia, Lilly and Mabel. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, of which Mr. Grein is treasurer and one of the elders. He is now serving his second term as a member of the village council.

THOMAS H. GRINAGER (1889) deceased was a resident of Delafield township nineteen years, having made his home during that time on his farm two and one-half miles south of Wilder. He was born in Westre Toten, Norway, May 3, 1824, the son of Hans Hanson and Helen (Peterson) Hanson.

Early in life Mr. Grinager engaged in farming, later becoming a blacksmith and engaging in that business for several years. He came to America in the fall of 1888 and located at Stoughton, Wisconsin. The next spring he came to Jackson county, and from that time until his death he engaged in farming in Delafield township. Upon his arrival he bought the north half of the northeast quarter of section 30—a farm which is now owned by his widow and conducted by his son, Hans Grinager. Our subject was a member of the United Lutheran church. He died June 16, 1908.

Thomas Grinager was married in Norway April 27, 1859 to Andrena Hanson, who survives her husband. To this union were born the following named children: Hanna (Mrs. John Aker), of Janesville, Wisconsin, born August 21, 1860; Petra (Mrs. Mike Johnson), of Weimar township, born January 20, 1863, died May 3, 1908; John, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, born March 9, 1865; Thea (Mrs. Jacob T. Ullsnes), of Norway, born June 8, 1868: Augusta (Mrs. John Johnson), of Cottonwood county, born February 15, 1871; Helen (Mrs. John Larson), of Delafield Township, born November 14, 1874: Hans, who resides at home, born February 20, 1878: Albert, born April 3, 1882, died July 6, 1908.

Hans Grinager has conducted the farm since his father’s death and farms in addition the southwest quarter of section 19, which he rents. He is unmarried.

ALBERT A. GRUHLKE (1869), cement worker of Jackson, has lived in the county since he was a boy eight years old. He was born in Princeton, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, February 6, 1861, the son of August and Wilhelmina (Reisler) Gruhlke. When Albert was a few months old the family moved to Waseca county, Minnesota, and there they remained until 1869. On June 20 of that year Albert accompanied his parents to Jackson county, and from that time until 1891 he lived on the farm in Petersburg township. Moving to Jackson, he engaged in the implement business four years and in the plumbing business nine years. Since then he has been engaged in the cement manufacturing business. During 1907-08 he was superintendent of construction of the Jackson county courthouse. Mr. Gruhlke owns property in Jackson. He is a member of the M. B. A. lodge.

Mr. Gruhlke was married in Petersburg township November 24, 1887, to Miss Ricke Helmke. Four children have been born to this union, as follows: Elvin A., born February 17, 1889; Nellie D., born June 17, 1892; Daisy M., born March 9, 1896; Milton C, born July 21, 1900.

ROBERT A. GRUHLKE (1869), stock buyer and shipper of Jackson, has spent forty years of his life as a resident of Jackson county. He was born in Marquette county, Wisconsin, October 4, 1858. He is the son of the late August Gruhlke and Wilhelmina C. (Roesler) Gruhlke, who resides in Jackson and is 77 years of age.

Both parents were born in Hamburg, Prussia, came to the United States in the early fifties and located in Marquette county, Wisconsin. August Gruhlke engaged in teaching school in the fatherland, and after coming to America engaged in agricultural pursuits and ministerial work, being a German Lutheran minister of the gospel. About 1860 the family moved to Waseca county, Minnesota, and located upon land upon which the town of Waseca was afterwards built. In 1869 they came to Jackson county and the head of the family took as a homestead claim the southwest quarter of section 30, Petersburg township, upon which they lived until 1892. August Gruhlke died in Jackson in 1895 at the age of 76 years. Robert is one of a family of five living children.

The subject of this biography lived with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age. At that age he married and engaged in farming the home farm six years. He acquired one hundred acres of the home place and later added to the farm by the purchase of 120 acres adjoining. Later still he bought an interest in his wife’s father’s farm on section 2, Middletown. In 1891 Mr. Gruhlke left the farm and went into the butcher business in Jackson. He conducted a meat market three years, and since that time has been engaged in buying and shipping stock.

Mr. Gruhlke was married in Middletown township on Christmas eve, 1885, to Fannie M. Withers, daughter of the late Walter and Jane E. (Allen) Withers. She was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, January 28, 1862. To these parents one child has been born, Evelyn Mae, born July 22, 1902. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gruhlke are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Eastern Star lodge. Mr. Gruhlke is a Mason.

WILLIAM H. GRUHLKE (1869), Petersburg township farmer, is one of the early day settlers of that precinct. He was born in Waseca, Minnesota March 21, 1866, the son of August Gruhlke, who died January 8, 1895, and Wilhelmina (Roesler) Gruhlke.

William accompanied his parents to Jackson county in 1869 at the age of three years. His father took as a homestead claim the southwest quarter of section 30, Petersburg township, and our subject has lived upon that land ever since—a period of continuous residence of forty years. When the family located there Mankato was the nearest railroad point and to that point they hauled what grain they had to sell. William received a common school education and assisted with the farm work. After growing to manhood he engaged in farming for himself.

Mr. Gruhlke owns 100 acres of land in Jackson county and a quarter section in Dakota. He has stock in the Petersburg creamery, the Jackson Telephone company, the Middletown Telephone company and in the Jackson Fair association. He served as treasurer of his school district for nine years and is a member of the M. W. A. lodge.

On June 8, 1893, Mr. Gruhlke was married to Hattie Wolff. They are the parents of four children, born as follows: Claron, born August 27, 1894; Gordon, born February 20, 1898; Roy, born December 23, 1901; Kermit, born November 3, 1903.

JOHN GRUNST (1890), farmer and stock raiser of Enterprise township, was born in Germany June 22, 1874, the son of Carl and Gustie (Schultz) Grunst both of whom reside in Enterprise, His father served three years in the German army and has been engaged in farming all his life, John lived in the fatherland until he was six years of age. He came to America with his parents in 1880 lived in Cook county, Illinois, ten years, and then, in March 1890 came to Jackson county. He resided with his parents until 1902 and then began farming for himself. He farmed the southwest quarter of section 2 Enterprise, for three years, and then moved to his present location, the northwest quarter of section 3. Besides general farming he breeds Shorthorn cattle, Poland China swine and Belgian and Percheron horses. He owns stock in the Farmers Elevator company of Alpha.

Mr. Grunst was married October 23. 1901 to Miss Bertha Wolff who was born January 12, 1883. To them have been born the following named children: George, born in 1902; Willie, born 1903; Earl, born 1905, died 1908; Elsie, born 1907. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Kimball.

HERMAN GURITZ (1888) is one of the big farmers of Middletown Township. He owns the east half of section 17 and 120 acres of the southwest quarter of section 10, all of which he farms. He is a native of Will County, Illinois, and was born November 16, 1863. His parents, William and Christina Guritz, were born and married in Germany, emigrating to the United States soon after the latter event, and died in this country. They were the parents of eighteen children, all living. Herman attended the public schools of his native county and resided with his parents until 1888, working on his father’s farm and those of neighboring farmers. He came to Jackson county in 1888 and located upon the land in Middletown township where he has ever since lived. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

Mr. Guritz was married in Chicago in 1890 to Emma Foshaga, a native of Will county, Illinois. The following named six children have been born to them: Minnie, Henry, Amel, Herman, Tillie and Manda.

JOHN H. GURITZ (1902) is a Middletown township farmer. He was born in Washington township, Will county, Illinois, June 20, 1876, and spent his early years in his native county. His parents. Will and Mary (Schaffer) Guritz, were born in Germany but came to America in an early day. The former worked in a mill in Chicago for a number of years and engaged in farming in Will county, to which place he moved in the early seventies. He died there in 1905, aged 72 years. Our subject’s mother now lives in Beecher, Illinois.

John Guritz attended the district schools of Will county and with the exception of one year spent in Iowa, he resided there, working on his father’s farm, until 1902. That year he married and came to Jackson county. He rented the farm upon which he has ever since lived—the southwest quarter of section 25—and has made his home there since. He bought the property in the year 1908. Mr. Guritz has held the office of treasurer of school district No. 23 for the last seven years.

At Northfield, Illinois, on February 2, 1902, Mr. Guritz was united in marriage to Martha Tate, a native of the city in which she was married and a daughter of Will and Sophia (Holste) Tate. One child has been born to this union, Harvey, born January 26, 1903.

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