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

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

GEORGE B. PADDOCK (1883) a businessman of Jackson, has been a resident of Jackson county over a quarter of a century and his life’s history is an interesting one. He is of Welsh and English descent and descends from two of the old American families. His great-great grandfather (Paddock) came from Wales in an early day of the country’s history and settled on the Connecticut river below Middletown. His maternal great-great grandfather (Hall) was the first representative of the town of Meriden, Connecticut. The parents of our subject. Samuel C. and Jennett (Hall) Paddock, were both born in Meriden, Connecticut. Samuel Paddock engaged in farming in Connecticut in his early days, but before the war moved to Alabama and engaged in the mercantile business in several different towns of that state. Upon the breaking out of the civil war he was forced to leave the south on account of his anti-slavery views, and his property was confiscated. Returning to Meriden, Connecticut, he engaged in business, and there he lived until his death, which occurred in 1903 at the age of 86 years.

George B. Paddock was born to these parents in Meriden, Connecticut, February 18, 1843, During the first sixteen years of his life he lived on his father’s farm, and during the next two years clerked in a grocery store in his native city. On September 6, 1861, when less than nineteen years of age, he enlisted in company C, Seventh Connecticut infantry, and served a little over three years in the civil war. His first service was with the expedition to Port Royal, South Carolina. He took part in the siege of Fort Alaska, at the mouth of the Savannah river, and was present at the capture of the fort. For some time he was stationed at St. Augustine, Florida, and was wounded at the battle of Oulu tee, Florida, After some time spent in the hospital, he returned to duty. He took part in the siege of Fort Sumpter and was present at the capture of Fort Wagner.

After this event he came north with the forces under General Bulter to Bermuda Hundreds, James river, and was a participant in the siege of Richmond. Mr. Paddock was taken prisoner on the picket line in front of the fortifications at Bermuda Hundreds and was confined in Andersonville prison three months. He was removed from that famous prison when General Sherman took Atlanta and was removed to Florence, South Carolina. He escaped from the latter place and made his way to the north up through North Carolina. He was recaptured but was rescued the next morning by a New York cavalry troop at Newburn, North Carolina. He was then transferred to the hospital at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He was mustered out of the service at Hartford, Connecticut, November 23, 1864.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Paddock engaged in business in Meriden, and was so employed until his arrival to Jackson county. In the early eighties George Paddock, accompanied by his father, made several trips to Mower and Jackson counties on hunting expeditions, one of his uncles living in Mower county. He liked the looks of the country and finally decided to locate here permanently. It was on April 7, 1883, that he became a permanent resident of the county. He purchased a farm in Middletown township and engaged in farming five years. He then moved to Jackson and that village has been his home ever since. During these years he has been engaged in the stock, real estate and farm machinery business and looking after his land interests. He owns a farm in Belmont township and lands in Texas. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Grand Army orders and for a time was commander of the John A. Myers Post, No. 60.

Mr. Paddock was married in Meriden, Connecticut May 21, 1873, to Julia L. Beach, a native of that state and a daughter of Henry B. Beach, who came to Minnesota in an early day and located at Oak Park, now Stillwater. To Mr. and Mrs. Paddock have been born three children. The eldest of these, Julia, died at Meriden, Connecticut, when three years of age. The living children are Blanch J. (Mrs. H. L. Arzt), of Jackson, and Georgia A. Paddock, of Carleton college.

EDWARD G. PAGE (1887), of Jackson, was born in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 15, 1876, the son of John M. and Mary J. Page, both of whom are dead. When he was two years old the family moved to Mantorville, Minnesota, and there he lived until his mother died when he was six and one-half years of age. Upon the death of his mother Edward was taken into the family of M. B. Hutchinson, and for several years lived with that family on the farm near Spring Valley, Minnesota. In 1886 he accompanied the Hutchinson’s to Chester, Iowa, and one year later came with them to Jackson.

Edward attended the Jackson schools and grew to manhood in that village. After his school days he worked on a farm for several years and later for John Muir in the village. He went to Wyoming in 1899 and worked in Laramie until October 20 of that year, when he enlisted in the United States volunteer infantry and was sent to the Philippines. He served in the army twenty and one-half months, during the greater part of which time he was stationed in the islands of Luzon, Samar and Layte and rose to the position of corporal. He returned to the United States and was honorably discharged at San Francisco July 5, 1901. Mr. Page returned to Jackson and for several years was engaged in various occupations, during the summer of 1905 working in Wyoming on a cattle ranch owned by John Whitaker and was made foreman of the ranch. In 1907 he took a position as manager of Otis Ashley’s barn.

Mr. Page is unmarried. He is the youngest of a family of four children, of whom three are living. He owns the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20. Enterprise township, which he bought in June. 1908. He holds membership in the K. P. and M. W. A. lodges.

JAMES E. PALMER (1858) deceased, was one of the very early settlers of Jackson county, having settled in the county nearly fifty-two years ago. He was born in the state of Connecticut July 27, 1832, and in an early day moved with his parents to Pecatonica, Illinois, later moving to Freeport, Illinois. In the fifties Mr. Palmer took up his residence at Newton, Iowa, and in the spring of 1858 came to the new Jackson county country. He settled upon land upon which a part of the village of Jackson is now built and continuously lived in that village until his death on May 1, 1896. This was with the exception of two years spent in Spirit Lake during the Indian troubles of the early sixties. Mr. Palmer served as surveyor of Jackson county twenty-five years.

Mr. Palmer was married in Freeport, Illinois, to Minda Thomas, daughter of the late Joseph and Jane Thomas.

CAPTAIN JAREB PALMER, (1856). of Lakefield, belongs the honor of being the oldest settler of Jackson county now living in the county. It was only a few months after the first white man established a home here fifty-three years ago that Jareb Palmer came and took part in the stirring events that marked the efforts of a little band of pioneers to establish a settlement along the Des Moines river near the spot where the village of Jackson now stands. In the annals of frontier settlement and Indian warfare there are few instances of intense suffering and thrilling events as characterized the attempt of the little band of men, women and children to obtain a foothold in the Indian country along the upper Des Moines river, and Jareb Palmer was one of the principal actors in these events. When the Indians swooped down on the settlement in the early spring of 1857 and enacted the terrible butchery of the Springfield massacre—Minnesota’s first Indian massacre—it was Jareb Palmer who rallied the terror stricken settlers and directed the fighting that prevented the total annihilation of the settlement as was the case at Spirit Lake—and it was Jareb Palmer who led the refugees to safety after the massacre.

Not only did this pioneer play such an important part in the early days of Jackson county’s history, he preserved the details of the massacre and the less tragic events for future generations. He has written much concerning the early days of Jackson county and he has been referred to as the “historian of Jackson county.” To him the author of this volume is under many obligations for data The date in parenthesis following the name of each subject is the year of arrival to Jackson county used in its preparation. Had it not been for his writings this history of Jackson county must have lacked many of its most interesting features. The life story of Captain Jareb Palmer is one of interest. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1828, descending from old American stock. His parents were Nathan and Matilda (Griffin) Palmer. Nathan Palmer was born in Vermont June 12, 1800, and moved with his parents to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, at the age of thirteen years. In 1836 he located in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming, trapping and hunting. He died in Tioga county in April, 1885. Matilda (Griffin) Palmer was born and married in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and died in Tioga county in 1858. They were the parents of eleven children, Jareb being the third in line of age and the eldest of the four now living. The living children are: Eber, of Clear Lake, Iowa; David, of Jenny Lind, Arkansas; Jareb, of this sketch; Mrs. Anna Thomas, of Tioga county, Pennsylvania. The father of our subject was married again in the early sixties to Elizabeth Grey, who was born in Delaware, county, New York, and who died in 1907. Two children were born as a result of this marriage: U. G. Palmer, a state senator of Maryland: Jessie, deceased.

Jareb Palmer lived with his parents in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, until he was eight years of age and then moved with them to Union township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. Upon his father’s farm in that township he was brought up. making his home with his parents until 1851. From 1851 to 1854 Mr. Palmer engaged in farming and teaching school near his old home. In April, 1854, he came west, lived with an uncle at Cedar Falls, Iowa, one year, and then located at Webster City, Iowa, where he made his home until November, 1856.

In company with Nathaniel Frost and Bartholomew McCarthy, Mr. Palmer drove to the little settlement that had just been founded and named Springfield in the southern part of Brown county, territory of Minnesota, arriving during the month of November, 1856 The headquarters of this settlement was at a point within the present corporate limits of the village of Jackson. Although the land was then un-surveyed and no provision had been made to secure title to the lands, Mr. Palmer took a claim by “squatter’s right” on what is now section 1. of Middletown township, and erected a little cabin thereon. He did not live on the claim during the following winter, but made his home with a neighboring family, engaged in working for the Wood brothers and other settlers. It is not necessary to repeat here the story of the memorable massacre of March 20, 1857. that led to the abandonment of Jackson county. Mr. Palmer left with the others and sought safety in the older settled portions of the country to the south. For a few months after the massacre Mr. Palmer lived in Hardin county, Iowa, with the family of the uncle who had formerly lived at Cedar Falls, and then again pushed out to the frontier, locating at Spirit Lake.

On November 11, 1857 Mr. Palmer took a contract from a sub-contractor to carry the United States mail between Spirit Lake and Sioux City. He made the first three trips on foot, using that mode of travel because of the snow blockades; each trip took about ten days’ time. On the third trip, while passing through Clay county, Iowa, a small band of Indians was encountered, and Mr. Palmer became one of a company of eleven men, who set out with the determination of driving the redskins from the country. The whites had an unsuccessful encounter with the Indians and were forced to retreat. After this interesting divergence from his official duties Mr. Palmer continued on his way. He served in the capacity of mail carrier until the following spring.

The encounter with the Indians referred to above caused the white settlers of Spirit Lake and other exposed settlements great uneasiness and there was fear that the Indian troubles of the year before were to be repeated. They accordingly drew up a petition to present to the Iowa legislature asking for the enlistment of state troops to protect the frontier. Jareb Palmer was chosen to take this petition to the Iowa law making body, and through his presentation of the case the necessary law was passed and Mr. Palmer was authorized to recruit a company of thirty mounted men. This he did, enlisting himself as one of the number of the “Frontier Guard.” The command was divided into three squads and stationed in Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. The guards were in active service until July, I858, and were then temporarily out of service until that fall. Then they were again called into active duty and served until May. 1859.

After the discharge of the Frontier Guards Mr. Palmer organized another small cavalry company upon the order of the governor of Iowa and was elected and commissioned captain. He led his little command of soldiers on several scouting expeditions and made possible the settlement of the frontier regions. They did no fighting and served without pay until their discharge in 1861.

Owing to the massacre of two citizens of Sioux City by Sioux Indians in July, 1861, a scare was created throughout the whole northwest. Sioux City was then a little village of 300 or 400 people, and for its protection and the other exposed settlements the war department at Washington authorized the organization of a special company of United States soldiers. Mr. Palmer went to Sioux City and enlisted as a private in this company November 14, 1861, and served a three years’ enlistment. This special company was first known as the Sioux City cavalry, later it was made company I, of the Seventh Iowa cavalry. It served as a frontier guard to the exposed settlements of Iowa and was in a several months’ campaign against the Indians along the Missouri river, going as far north as nearly to Bismarck. Mr. Palmer took part with his company in the battle of White Stone Hill, where the savages suffered a loss of twenty or thirty killed and all their camp’ equipment. The company served as Brigadier General Sully’s body guard in this battle, Mr. Palmer received his discharge November 26, 1864. After his army service Jareb Palmer located in Spirit Lake, where he resided until 1871. That year he again became a resident of Jackson county, taking a preemption claim to the northeast quarter of section 12, Sioux Valley township. He engaged in farming that land until the spring of 1882, when he moved to Rost township and bought the northeast quarter of section 26. He continued his farming operations in Rost until 1895, when he retired from active pursuits and located in the village of Lakefield.

During his residence in Iowa Captain Palmer served as county superintendent of schools, prosecuting attorney, clerk of court and chairman of the county board of supervisors. He was also assistant internal revenue collector from 1866 to 1870. After moving to Jackson county he served as township clerk and justice of the peace. He has served as village justice in Lakefield for the last eleven years. In 1892 he received the republican nomination for register of deeds, but was defeated by John Baldwin. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Grand Army post at Jackson. Jareb Palmer has been twice married and he is the father of seven living children, as follows: Mrs. Louise Strait, of Tennessee; Nathan J., Herbert C. and Bennie C, all of Glenburn, North Dakota; Mrs. Minerva B. Ware, of Bismarck, North Dakota; John G., of Echo, Minnesota; Francis L., of Lakefield.

JESSE A. PATTERSON (1866), deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of Jackson county and resided in Petersburg township for forty years. He was born in Grant county. Indiana, October 30, 1848.

He joined the army when less than fourteen years of age, enlisting as a member of company C, of the 89^th Indiana infantry, on August 8, 1862, and serving until his discharge at Mobile, Alabama July 19, 1865. Six months after leaving the army Mr. Patterson moved from Indiana to Chatfield, Minnesota, and during the summer of 1866 he located in Jackson county. For several years he worked at different occupations. He worked out during the summer seasons, the first year in Fillmore county; he chopped wood at Jackson for Major H. S. Bailey, and he hauled groceries to the new settlement from Winnebago City, which was then the nearest railroad point. For several years he operated a stage between Spirit Lake and Jackson and between Fairmont and Jackson. Mr. Patterson secured a quarter section of land, by homestead, in Petersburg township in 1866 and engaged in farming for many years, his widowed mother and five sisters residing with him. He suffered many hardships incident to the grasshopper period and pioneer days. On one occasion he lost his barn and livestock from the ever dreaded prairie fire. Mr. Patterson died at his home in Petersburg township January 4, 1900.

On August 8. 1875, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage to Maggie Jungbauer, who survives her husband and makes her home on the farm in Petersburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Patterson were born two children, as follows: Martin Henry, who died at the age of two years, and Ida May.

HENRY PAULSON, Kimball township farmer, has spent his entire life in Jackson county. He was born in Kimball township, the son of John and Betsy Paulson. These parents were born in Norway, came to the United States in 1867, and homesteaded on section 30, Kimball township, in 1871. Mr. Paulson still lives on the homestead; his wife died in 1895. There are three sons in the family, Fred, Henry and John.

Henry scoured a district school education and lived on the home place until he was of age. Then he located upon his present farm. the Southwest quarter of section 30, and that has ever since been his home. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Paulson was married November 7, 1901, in Kimball township, to Ida Berge, a native of Jackson county and a daughter of Ole Berge, deceased. To them have been born four children, as follows: Oscar, Mamie, Bertha, Perry.

PAUL H. PAULSON (1871) is one of the early day settlers of Belmont township, where he has spent nearly forty years of his life. He is a native of Norway and was born on the last day of the year 1845, one of a family of eight children born to Andrew and Mary (Jones) Paulson. His parents came to America in 1852 and in that early day located in Clayton county Iowa, engaging in farming. They moved to Mitchell county, Iowa, in 1866 and resided there the rest of their lives. His father died in 1878 aged 60 years; his mother died several years later. Of their eight children the following named five are living: Paul, Jane, Harry, Alex and Ole.

Paul crossed to the new world with his parents in 1852, being then a small boy. From that time until he came to Jackson county in 1871 he resided in Clayton county, Iowa, securing an education and making his home with his parents. Arriving in Jackson county, he look as a homestead the north half of the southwest quarter on section 30, Belmont township, a part of his present farm, and on that place he has ever since made his home. Hard times came upon him during the grasshopper scourge and in order to make a living he was obliged to go to Mitchell county, Iowa, to work in the harvest fields. He encountered many hardships during the pioneer days—hardships to which many succumbed but he remained with his country and weathered the storms of adversity. Today he has a fine farm of 200 acres and is in prosperous circumstances. During his long residence in Jackson county Mr. Paulson has held many offices of trust within the gift of his neighbors. He was chosen clerk of school district No. 18 in 1874 and served for thirty years. He has held the office of chairman of the township board, has been justice of the peace and constable. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of West Belmont.

Mr. Paulson was married in Clayton county, Iowa. November 18, 1868, to Elizabeth Knutson, who was born in Norway March 1, 1844, and came to America when sixteen years old. She is a daughter of Ole and Ingebor (Tollefson) Knutson. Eight children have been born to this union, as follows: Andrew, of St. Ansgar, Iowa; Mary, deceased; Theodore, of Redwood county, Minnesota; Edward, of Belmont; Peter, living at home; Nellie (Mrs. John A. Williams), of Little Cedar, Iowa; Belle and Ida, who reside at home.

ERNEST E. PEARSON (1882) is a Middletown township farmer and has lived in the county since he was two years of age. He is a native of Hardin county, Iowa, and was horn May 11, 1880, the son of Jess G. and Samantha (Campbell) Pearson. The parents of our subject were born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Hands county, Iowa, respectively, and were married in the latter place. They came from Hardin county, Iowa, to Jackson county in 1882, bought a farm upon which their son now lives, engaged in farming there until November, 1900, when they moved to the state of Washington, where they now reside. They are the parents of nine children: Olive (Mrs. L. S. Allen), Robert A., Ernest E., Martin E., James E., Lizzie D. (Mrs. E. C. Armstead), William A., Jess L., Benton W. and Florence.

Ernest was only two years of age when he accompanied his parents to Jackson county, and he was brought up on the farm he now conducts. Until he reached his majority he worked on his father’s farm; then for a few years he worked for neighboring farmers. In 1904 he went to Washington, remained there about six months and returned to Jackson county. He rented a farm near his father’s place, conducted it until 1900, when he married and rented his father’s place, which he has since conducted.

Mr. Pearson was married December 26, 1906, to Ella Kephart, who was born in Middletown township March 21, 1886, and who is the daughter of Brunee and Mary (Myers) Kephart, of Lakefield.

ANTON PEDERSON (1873), deceased, was one of the wealthy and successful farmers of Heron Lake township. He was born in Norway February 9, 1863, the son of Hans Pederson, who still lives in Heron Lake township. Anton came to America with his parents in 1871 and for a year and a half lived in Red Wing, Minnesota. The family then moved to Jackson county and located on the northwest quarter of section 28 Heron Lake township, which was homesteaded by Hans Pederson.

Anton grew to manhood in Jackson county and after reaching mature years engaged in farming. He became the owner of the original homestead and several other pieces of property, his widow now owning, in addition to the home place, the east half of section 29 and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 22 Heron Lake township, and a quarter section in Cottonwood county. Mr. Pederson was one of the organizers of the First National Rank of Lakefield and was vice president of that institution at the time of his death. He was township treasurer several years. Mr. Pederson died February 14, 1907.

Mr. Pederson was married July 20, 1892 to Emma Swenson who was born in Delafield township July 28, 1872, and who has spent her entire life in Jackson county. She is one of a family of ten children born to John and Tillie (Weberg) Swenson, natives of Sweden and early day residents of Jackson county. They came from their native country, lived two years in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and then located on section 10, Delafield Township. where they resided until 1907, when they moved to Windom where they now live. To Mr. and Mrs. Pederson were born four children: Cora, born March 4, 1894: Hilda born July 10, 1897: Alvin, born December 1, 1903; Rosella born November 24, 1905. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mrs. Pederson lives upon the Heron Lake township farm, but has the farm rented.

Since the death of Mr. Pederson, Mrs. Pederson has purchased and now owns one of the best residences in the village of Lakefield, Minnesota.

CHARLES E. PERRY (1898) carries the United States mail on rural route No. 1 out of Heron Lake. He was born at Owego, Tioga county New York, December 2, 1859, the eldest of a family of eight children born to Oscar and Frances (Granger) Perry, both natives of the Empire state. The family came west in 1861 and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa. In that county Mr. Perry lived until his death, which occurred in April, 1909, at the age of 70 years. His widow still lives in Winneshiek county and is 67 years of age.

Charles Perry lived in his native county less than two years. In 1861 the family drove through by team from New York state to Winneshiek county, Iowa, the trip being made in thirty-one days. There the head of the family bought land at $6.00 per acre, and on that farm Mr. Perry of this sketch grew to manhood, making his home with his parents until twenty-five years of age. He then engaged in farming for himself in Winneshiek and Fayette counties, Iowa, for several years, later engaging in the same business in North Dakota. He located in Heron Lake in 1898 and for several years worked at the carpenter trade. In 1902 he received the appointment of mail carrier on the first route established out of Heron Lake and has since been engaged in that capacity.

At West Union, Iowa, on December 22, 1901, Mr. Perry was united in marriage to Caroline A. Brooks. She was born in Lyons, New York, and is the daughter of Charles and Mary Brooks. Four children have been born to this union, of which the eldest Henry C, died when nineteen months old. The others are Bertha, born July 1904: Francis, born March 20, 1906: Oscar, born February 22, 1908. Mr. Perry is a member of the A. O. U W. and Degree of Honor lodges.

WILLIAM PETER (1870) is a homesteader of Weimer township and one of the oldest settlers of that precinct, having resided on his present farm continuously for nearly forty years.

He is a German by birth, having been born in the fatherland April 25, 1848, the son of August and Catherine (Matthews) Peter. At the age of five years William accompanied his parents to the new world and grew to manhood in Fond du Lac county Wisconsin, which was his home until he came to Jackson county in 1870.

In 1866 at the age of eighteen years, Mr. Peter enlisted in the regular army for frontier service and served an enlistment of three years and six months. The first year of this service was in Arkansas, where troops were stationed to preserve order during the turbulent times following the civil war. The next year was spent in Kansas and Colorado, seeing as a detail to escort mail stages over the plains and protect them from the Indians, Nine months were spent in the command of General Brooks, who subjugated the roving bands of Navajo Indians, captured seven thousand of them and placed them on reservations in Mexico and Arizona, After his service in the army Mr. Peter was for a time employed as a government mail carrier on the plains of eastern Arizona and New Mexico, between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Returning to his old Wisconsin home from the western frontier.

Mr. Peter soon decided to make a home for himself in some new country, and being then of age decided to take up government land and engage in farming. In 1870 he arrived in Jackson county and at once filed a homestead claim to the northwest quarter of section 20 Weimer township, where he has ever since resided. The land at the time was, of course, raw prairie and he has made all the improvements on the place. He encountered many hardships in the early days, but successfully weathered the terrible times, and is today in prosperous circumstances. He owns an eighty acre tract adjoining his homestead, and he and his son John own 400 acres of land in Aitkin county, Minnesota.

Mr. Peter was married in Jackson county in February, 1875, to Kate Dobriner, who was born in Germany in 1857. To this union have been born nine children, of whom the following eight are living: John, William, Eddie, Arthur, Katie, Minnie, Etta and Bertie.

Mr. Peter is one of the members of Weimer township’s board of supervisors. He has also served as a director of school district No. 30 and as road overseer. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Wilder and of the Farmers Elevator company of Heron Lake. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Heron Lake and of the M. W. A. and Degree of Honor lodges.

EMIL PETERS (1889) is a farmer of Sioux Valley township, where he farms 280 acres of land. He is the son of Nicholas and Vaten Peters, now residents of Lake Park, Iowa, for many years residents of Jackson county. The father came from Germany in 1882, where he had been a shoemaker. After living in Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois, a few years he came to Jackson county and engaged in farming. He prospered and became one of the heavy land owners of his neighborhood, now owning an even thousand acres of land in Sioux Valley and Rost townships.

Emil Peters was born in Germany February 22, 1876, and came to America with his parents when six years of age. The first year of his life in the new world was spent in Davenport, Iowa, and then the family home was made in Rock Island, Illinois. There Emil attended school and worked in a lumber yard, carrying water and driving a team. He came to Sioux Valley township with his parents in 1889 and immediately began working out for neighboring farmers. After being so employed five years he again took up his residence with his parents and lived with them until he was twenty-seven years old assisting with the farm work. He was married in 1902 rented his father’s half section farm in Rost township and started in life for himself. In 1906 his father retired from the farm and Emil rented the home place, where he has since lived. He farms 280 acres of his father’s land and raises lots of cattle, horses and hogs. He is a member of the Sons of Hermann lodge.

Mr. Peters was married in Sioux Valley township March 4, 1902, to Ella Brockman. She is the daughter of Hans and Annie Brockman, of Lakefield, and was born in Tama county, Iowa, March 23, 1875. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peters, as follows: Luverna Luella, born February 12, 1903; Leonard Roy, born October 19, 1909.

HERMAN H. PETERS (1889), farmer and land owner of Sioux Valley township, was born in Germany November 11, 1873, the son of Nicholas and Weipke Peters, now residents of Lake Park, Iowa, they having retired from the farm in the spring of 1900. Nicholas Peters is one of the county’s large land owners, having 1,000 acres in Sioux Valley and Rost townships. Herman is the second child of a family of eight.

Our subject accompanied his parents from Germany to the new world when he was eight years of age. The family lived in Davenport, Iowa, one year and then located in Rock Island, Illinois. Herman attended school in the latter city and at the age of ten years began working as a water boy, carrying water to the lumbermen. After being so employed two years he took a position hauling lumber and was so engaged three years. He came to Jackson county with the family in 1889 and until he was twenty-six years of age worked for his father on the farm in Sioux Valley township. Then he married and moved to his own farm, the northwest quarter of section 8, where he has since lived. He has made all the improvements on the place and has an elegant home and an up-to-date farm. He has been engaged in business for the past fourteen years and has a threshing machine of his own.

Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Louisa Schwager in Sioux Valley township February 28, 1900. She was born in Scott county, Iowa, November 15, 1875, and is the daughter of Jurgen Schwager, one of the prosperous farmers of the township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peters, as follows: Elva, born October 12, 1902; Sadie, born April 3, 1905; Mabel, born March 20, 1907. Another child named Sophia died in infancy. The family are German Lutherans and Mr. Peters belongs to the Hermannson lodge. He has served as clerk of school district No. 46 and is a stockholder in the creamery company of Sioux Valley.

LAURITZ P. PETERSEN (1887) is a Petersburg farmer and stock raiser. He owns and resides upon the northwest quarter of section 25 and owns the southeast quarter of section 16. He was born in Kolding, Denmark, July 19, 1848, the son of Hans P. and Anna M. (Bryda) Petersen.

Mr. Petersen first came to the United States in 1871 at the age of twenty-three years and spent two years in the new world. During this time he resided in various parts of the country—three months in Connecticut, five months in Chicago, three months in Clinton, Iowa, and one year in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He returned to Denmark in 1873, spent seven months there and on the ocean, and then, in 1874, again located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. One year later he went to Boston, where he resided six years. In 1883 Mr. Petersen moved to Salem, Massachusetts, and six months later came west and located in Omaha. He remained there only two months, moving in July, 1883, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he lived four years. It was in April, 1887, that Mr. Petersen first came to Jackson county. After spending seven months there he returned to Milwaukee. Three and one-half years later he came to the county to reside permanently, and he has ever since been engaged in farming his Petersburg township farm. Besides his farming operations, he is interested in the Petersburg Creamery association and the Jackson Telephone company. He served ten years as treasurer of his township and nine years as a member of the school board of the district in which he lives. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the D. B. S. lodge, of Jackson.

Mr. Petersen was married May 15, 1883, to Miss Hansina Sorenson. They are the parents of three children, as follows: Henry P., born February 19, 1884; Annie M., born August 28, 1886; Arthur, born October 28, 1888.

ALBERT PETERSON (1891). who is a farmer and landowner of Kimball township, was born in Sweden December 4, 1857, one of a family of seven children born to Peter and Mary (Johnson) Peterson. Until he was fifteen years of age he lived at home; then he started in life for himself, working out in Sweden until he was of age.

When he reached his majority Mr. Peterson came to America and located at Manistee, Michigan, where he worked in the timber and on the river until 1888. He then made a visit to his old home in Sweden. Returning, he lived a few months at Moosehead Lake, Maine, and then went to Gardner, of the same state, where he worked on the docks for a while. Again coming west, he worked in the woods about Manistee, Michigan, until 1891. That is the date of his arrival in Jackson county. So early as 1885 Mr. Peterson had bought a farm on section 26, Kimball township, and when he came to the county to reside permanently he located upon that farm, which has ever since been his home.

Mr. Peterson was married in Kimball township July 9, 1892, to Augusta Johnson, who was born in Sweden in September, 1862. To them have been born the following named seven children: Alfred, Gustaf, Harry, Elmer, Albert, Marie and Beda. The family are members of the Swedish Mission church.

ANDREW PETERSON (1870), who now lives a retired life in Heron Lake, is one of the first settlers of Weimer township and has been a resident of Jackson county for nearly forty years. He was born in Norway September 19, 1833, the second eldest of a family of five children. His parents were Peter and Bertha Peterson. The former was born in 1798, came to the United States and to Iowa in 1868, and located in Spring Valley, Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1874. He died at that place aged 84 years. His wife died in Norway in 1866.

Andrew was educated in Norway and learned the shoemaker’s trade. He came to the United States in 1866 and located in Fayette county, Iowa. There he resided four years, conducting a farm and working at his trade. In 1870 Mr. Peterson sold his farm and moved to Jackson county, taking as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 22, Weimer township, when the only other permanent residents of the township were Charles Winzer and Nels Moe. During the first summer of their residence in Jackson county Mr. Peterson and his family lived in a stable. Then he built a little log house, 12x10 feet, in which the family used two years, after which he erected a residence which still stands on the farm.

Mr. Peterson lived on his homestead a quarter of a century. In 1890 he moved to Heron Lake, where he bought fourteen acres in the north part of town and where he has lived ever since. During his long period of residence in Weimer township Mr. Peterson served in various official capacities. He was chairman of the board of supervisors four years, was assessor sixteen years and was a director and clerk of the school district for several years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

In Norway on the second day of January, 1862, Mr. Peterson was married lo Betsy Gulekson, who was born January 12, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson now live a retired life in Heron Lake, after having spent nearly a half century of married life together. They are the parents of seven living children: Adolph, born March 29, 1863; Amel; Olof, born May 10, 1872; Julia (Mrs. Oscar Benson), born June 3, 1868: Clara (Mrs. Albert Robson), born May 23, 1877: Ella, born June 9, 1880; Lena (Mrs. Charles Weiland), born March 24, 1883.

CHARLIE PETERSON (1880), who is engaged in the restaurant business at Jackson, is a Jackson county boy, having resided here since he was a boy five years of age. He is the son of the late John Peterson and Sophia Peterson. The former died in 1906 at the age of 67 years; the latter lives in Jackson. To these parents, in Christiania, Norway, Charlie Peterson was born October 29, 1875.

In 1880 the family emigrated to America and came direct to Jackson county, locating in Enterprise township. One year later the family home was made in Jackson and our subject has been a resident of that village ever since. He was educated in the Jackson schools and then began clerking. In 1898 he and his brother, Julius, went into the general merchandise business at Lakefield, which they continued one year.

Charlie enlisted in company H (Worthington), of the Fifteenth Minnesota Volunteer infantry, on July 5, 1898, at the time of the Spanish-American war, and served in the army until the muster out of the regiment on March 27, 1899. He was stationed with his regiment at Camps Ramsey and Snelling (St. Paul, Minnesota), Camp Meade (Harrisburg. Pa.), and Camp McKenzie (Augusta, Ga.) The regiment did not see service at the front.

In 1908 Mr. Peterson formed a partnership with James Shay and purchased the restaurant of Albert Jackson, which the partners conducted until the spring of 1909. At that time Mr. Peterson purchased his partner’s interests and has since conducted the business alone. He has built up an excellent trade and is doing a prosperous business.

Mr. Peterson was married at Sherburn, Minnesota, May 4, 1908, to Minnie Schwager, a native of Martin county. To this union has been born one child, Ronald. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are members of the Lutheran church.

JOHN PETERSON (1872) is one of the pioneer settlers of LaCrosse township, in which precinct he owns a quarter section farm. Mr. Peterson is a native of Modum, Norway, and the date of his birth was March 10, 1837. He is the son of Peter Johanson Hugsted and Christie Hugsted both of whom died in their native land.

John Peterson, after securing a common school education, early began to earn his own living. From the age of twelve until he was seventeen he worked in a cobalt factory in his native town, and was then employed four years as a clerk in a grocery store at Westfossen. At the age of twenty-one years he moved to Drammen, Norway, where for the next twelve years he clerked in a grocery store.

In June, 1870, Mr. Peterson came to America, landing in the city of Quebec. He located at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where he resided one year, employed as a shoemaker. From Dodgeville he went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he worked on a railway a few months, and then in a sawmill at Oconto, Wisconsin, where he was until March 1, 1872. In June of that year Mr. Peterson arrived in Jackson county and this has ever since been his home. He took as a homestead claim the south half of the southeast quarter of section 26, LaCrosse township, which is still his home. He has since added to his farm by the purchase of an eighty acre tract adjoining.

When he located on his claim there were only a few settlers in the township and Mr. Peterson has seen his township develop from almost a wilderness to the fine farming country it is today. He built a little board shanty, which he covered with sods, and in that he made his home for a number of years. The grasshoppers took five crops in succession and the first few years were indeed hard ones, he having practically nothing when he came. He has prospered and has a fine home and well improved farm. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Heron Lake. Tor several years he served as treasurer of his school district.

Mr. Peterson was married in Dodge county, Wisconsin, March 1, 1877, to Jane Holgriem. who was born in Norway and came to America when one year old. They have children as follows: Peter Olof and Carl Henrick, of Des Moines, Iowa: Clara Soneva, of Albert Lea, Minnesota: Helmer Orville and Reuben, who reside at home.

GUIDO E. PIETSCH (1878) is a farmer and stock raiser of LaCrosse township, his 240 acre farm being only a short distance from Miloma. He is an early day settler of northwestern Jackson county and has lived on his present place ever since he was seven years of age.

Our subject was born in Austria November 19, 1871, the son of Joseph and Rosalia (Klapka) Pietsch. The former was born February 6, 1830, came to the United States and to Jackson county in 1878, and died April 14, 1898. The latter was born in 1829 and is now living in Jackson county.

Our subject is one of a family of eleven children born to these parents, the other children being: Franz, who resides in Austria, born November 5, 1851; Josef, of Mankato, born January 24, 1854; Alois, born January 12, 1856, died February 12, 1856; Aloisia, of Murray county, born January 18, 1857; Alois, of Madison Lake, Minnesota, born December 14, 1858: Marie, of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, born September 5, 1860: .Johann of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, born September 20, 1862; Francisca, of Nobles county, born June 17, 1865; Edward, born February 12, 1868 died March 20, 1868; Adolph, of Aberdeen, Washington, born January 19, 1869.

Guido accompanied the family from their Austrian home to America in June, 1878, and has ever since made his home on the farm he now owns. The head of the family bought the land upon arrival, it being then without a building of any description on it and only five or six acres had been broken. The Pietschs put up buildings and at once started to make their fortune in the new world. The grasshoppers and a series of wet seasons brought hard times to the family, who were poor when they arrived, having only enough money to pay half of the purchase price of the land, and during the first five years of their residence in Jackson county they suffered many hardships.

Our subject was educated in the district school of the neighborhood and until he was twenty-six years of age worked for his father. At that age he bought the home farm and has since conducted it to his own account. He has since added to the farm by the purchase of eighty acres adjoining and has developed the place to a well improved farm. He diversifies his farming, raising considerable stock and engaging quite extensively in dairying. Mr. Pietsch was elected clerk of school district No. 97 in 1899 and served in that capacity during the next five years. Thereafter he was chosen a director of his district and filled the office four years. Again in 1909 he was elected clerk and now holds the office. He was chosen road overseer when he was twenty-one years of age and held the office four years. He and his family are members of the Catholic church of Heron Lake.

The marriage of Mr. Pietsch occurred at Heron Lake July 20, 1897 when he wedded Ceacilia Winkler, who was born on section 28, Lacrosse township, June 19, 1878. She is a daughter of Frank and Marie (Jones) Winkler who came to Jackson county in 1876 and who are now living at Currie, Minnesota. Mr. Winkler was born in Austria October 18, 1855 and came to America when seventeen years of age lived in Chicago, in Wisconsin, and came to Jackson county in 1876. At the age of twenty-one years he took as a homestead claim the land upon which Mrs. Pietsch was born. Mrs. Winkler was born in Austria March 22, 1857, came to the United States in 1876 and was married in Jackson county in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Pietsch have four children, named as follows: Adela, born June 10, 1898; Laura, born August 24, 1900; Alfons, born September 7, 1903; Orlando, born November 11, 1905.

WALTER L. PIGMAN (1893) is a Ewington township farmer and stock raiser, farming the north half of section 28. He is a native of Montgomery county, Iowa, and was born October 8, 1875. His parents, Alonzo D. and Helen (Chambers) Pigman, are living in the state of South Dakota, aged 66 and 55 years, respectively. His father is a native of Indiana and his mother of Wisconsin.

When Walter was three years of age the family moved from Montgomery county, Iowa, to Webster county of the same state, and here he lived the next twelve years. He was educated in the district schools and was brought up on the farm, moving to Cherokee county, Iowa, in 1890. In 1893 Walter came to Jackson county with his parents. He lived in Lakefield four years, working by the day as a thresher man and in other occupations. He began farming in Ewington township in 1897 and has since been so engaged, having been on the present place—the William Barton farm—for the past four years.

Mr. Pigman was married at Worthington December 29, 1904, to Martha Hoffmeister, a daughter of George and Annie Elizabeth (Schaffner) Hoffmeister. She was born in Boone county, Iowa, October 20, 1886. They are the parents of three children: Leon, born April 19, 1905; Clarence, born January 28, 1906, died August 22, 1907; Lloyd, born March 22, 1908.

FERDINAND PLAGMAN (1893), farmer and stock raiser of Sioux Valley township, was born in Propststei, Holstein, Germany, November 6, 1848, the son of Hans and Catherine Plagman.

Ferdinand’s parents died before he was six months old and he was taken into the family of an uncle and aunt, with whom he lived until he was ten years of age. Then he went to live with a family in the country and made his home there until a man grown.

In 1874 he came to America and located in Scott county Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand until 1881. He spent the next year working on a farm in Crawford county Iowa, and in 1882 moved to the vicinity of Holstein, Ida county, where he leased an eighty acre tract of land and engaged in farming one season. We next find Mr. Plagman in Lyon county Iowa, where he bought a 120 acre farm and farmed until 1893.

In the fall of 1893 Mr. Plagman came to Jackson county and bought his farm, the southwest quarter of section 1, Sioux Valley township, then only slightly improved. He did not at once begin farming the place, but rented it to Herman Frodermann for a number of years. In 1895 Mr. Flagman returned to his old home in Germany, where he spent fourteen months visiting. Returning, he bought forty acres of land in the southern part of Sioux Valley township and farmed it ten years. A few years ago Mr. Plagman took possession of his farm on section 1, where he has since resided. He is quite an extensive stock raiser and is a successful farmer. Mr. Plagman served as treasurer of school district No. 72 for six years. He belongs to the Sons of Hermann lodge.

In Dennison Crawford county, Iowa, on August 20, 1896, Mr. Plagman was married to Mary Fenern, who was born in Holstein, Germany, January 21, 1860. To them has been born one child, Harry, born November 3, 1897. By a former marriage Mrs. Plagman is the mother of one child Otto Fenern.

AUGUST POHLMAN (1884) is one of the successful farmers of Weimer township and he has been a resident of Jackson county a quarter of a century—ever since he was a boy thirteen years of age. He owns the southeast quarter of section 36 and a half interest in 177 acres of land in section 6 Heron Lake township. In addition to his own land Mr. Pohlman farms 240 acres of rented land. August Pohlman is a native of Hausbergen, Westfallen, Germany, and was born May 6, 1871. His father was Carl Pohlman, who came from Germany in 1884 and who was a resident of Jackson county until his death, which occurred in 1901. Our subject’s mother is Christina (Gieselman) Pohlman who makes her home with her son, Herman Pohlman, near the eastern shore of Heron Lake.

August was brought up in a little village where he was born and began his schooling in his native land. When thirteen years of age he accompanied his parents to America and the family came direct to Jackson county, arriving on the 6th day of April, 1884. The head of the family bought an eighty acre farm on section 8, Heron Lake township, and engaged in farming. On this farm August lived seven years, completing his education in the district schools and assisting with the farm work. When his father located on section 2, West Heron Lake township, in 1891 August accompanied him and continued to make his home with his parents until 1895.

Mr. Pohlman bought and located upon his present farm in Weimer township in 1895, where he has ever since resided. The farm was unimproved when he took up his residence there, and the improvements the place now has are the results of Mr. Pohlman’s labors. He set out the grove and erected all the buildings and has brought the place up to its present standard. In addition to his general farming Mr. Pohlman engages extensively in raising stock and has large herds, including a fine flock of sheep. He also has other business interests. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Lakefield and has stock in the Farmers Bank of Wilder. He is a director of the Sontag Lumber company of Heron Lake, and has stock in the Jackson County Cooperative company’s store of Lakefield, in the Farmers Elevator company of Lakefield and in the Wilder Creamery company. For seven years Mr. Pohlman was clerk of school district No. 30 and he served as a supervisor of Weimer township two years.

Mr. Pohlman was married in West Heron Lake township February 15, 1894, to Amanda Hoger, who was born in Rolasin, Germany, October 13, 1875, and who came to the United States and to Jackson county in 1893, arriving on July 3. She is the stepdaughter of August Lietzow. and her mother is Bertha (Hoger) Lietzow. To Mr. and Mrs. Pohlman have been born two children, as follows: Emma, born April 18, 1896; Zelma, born February 28, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Pohlman are members of the German Lutheran church of Heron Lake township, and Mr. Pohlman has served as one of the trustees of the church for the last six years.

CARL W POHLMAN (1884) is one of the big land owners and extensive farmers of Heron Lake township. He owns the southwest quarter and the north half of the southeast quarter of section 16, the northeast quarter of section 21, and a half interest in the southeast quarter of and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 5, all in Heron Lake township. He farms 400 acres of this land.

Mr. Pohlman was born in Germany February 14, 1865, the son of Carl and Christina (Geiselman) Pohlman, the second of a family of five sons. His father died in 1902, aged 66 years. His mother, who is now 73 years of age, resides in the county. Carl spent the first seventeen years of his life in the fatherland, securing an education and working out. The family came to America and located in Lakefield in 1884, and there Carl completed his education with a course in English. He worked in Lakefield one year, for his father one year, on the farm of Hugh Paul four years, and then began farming for himself on the farm upon which he has ever since resided. The home place was originally bought by his father, but Carl later acquired the land and has since added his other holdings.

In Jackson county on May 21, 1891, Mr. Pohlman was married to Augusta Sturmer, daughter of the late Fred Sturmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Pohlman have been born four children, as follows: Elsie, aged 15; Georgia, aged 13; Bennie, aged 9; Erwin, aged 8. The family are members of the German Lutheran church.

HENRY F. POHLMAN (1884) is one of Jackson county’s successful farmers, having a fine home on the east shore of Heron lake in Heron Lake and Weimer townships, where he owns 166 acres. He was born April 29, 1873, in Kreis Minden, Holtzhausen, Westfallen, Germany, son of the late Carl Pohlman and Christina (Gieselman) Pohlman.

Until he was eleven years of age Henry lived in his native land. In 1884 he accompanied the family to America, arriving in the little village of Lakefield on March 24. The head of the family bought a farm on section 8 Heron Lake township, and that was the home of our subject seven years. Thereafter until his marriage in 1897 he lived with his parents on section 2, West Heron Lake township. He received an education in the district schools and in the German school of Delafield township. After his marriage in 1897 Mr. Pohlman moved onto his present farm, which he had bought two years before, and upon that farm he has ever since made his home. He has made all the improvements on the farm.

In addition to his farming operations Mr. Pohlman has other business interests. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator company of Lakefield. in the First National Bank of Lakefield, in the Jackson County Cooperative company’s store at Lakefield and in the Sontag Lumber company of Heron Lake. Resides his home farm Mr. Pohlman owns a half interest in a half section farm in Griggs county North Dakota. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

Mr. Pohlman was married in Heron Lake township June 7, 1897, to Alvina Malchow, who was born in Heron Lake township April 11, 1877, and who is the daughter of C. F. W. and Augusta (Kietzer) Malchow. of Lakefield. To Mr. and Mrs. Pohlman have been born the following named four children: Louisa, born May 7, 1898; Emil, born July 15, 1902; Arnold, born May 5, 1904; Esther, born September 13, 1906.

HERMAN POHLMAN (1884), who owns a fine farm in the northwest corner of Heron Lake township—in that part of the township which was formerly a part of West Heron Lake township—came to Jackson county when he was nine years of age and has spent the rest of his life as a resident of this political division. His farm consists of 253 acres on section 2.

Our subject is a German by birth and was born August 15, 1875. His father, Carl Pohlman, died in 1902; his mother. Christina (Gieselman) Pohlman, resides with her son. Herman crossed the water with his parents in the spring of 1884, and on the 24th day of March, 1884, the family arrived in Lakefield. Our subject was brought up on a farm on section 8, Heron Lake township, and received his education in the Jackson county district schools. In 1891 Carl Pohlman bought the farm which is now owned by Herman. The latter worked for his father until 1898; then he bought the home farm and has ever since conducted it. Mr. Pohlman is one of the stockholders of the First National Bank of Lakefield. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

Mr. Pohlman was married in Heron Lake township July 4, 1897, to Annie Daberkow, who was born in Germany and who came to the United States in 1893. To them have been born the following named five children: William, born May 30, 1899: Helen, born September 8, 1901; August and Herman (twins), born September 4, 1903; Arthur, born February 20, 1907.

WILLIAM POHLMAN (1882). of Weimer township, is one of the successful farmers of that precinct. He was born in Germany July 22, 1863, the son of Karl and Christina (Geiselman) Pohlman. He is the eldest of five sons, all of whom are living in Jackson county. His father died in September, 1902 aged 63 years; his mother lives in Heron Lake township.

William received his education and grew to manhood in his native land. He accompanied his parents to the new world in 1882 and with them came to Jackson County. He worked on the farm one year and then located in Cottonwood county, where he worked as a farm laborer nine years. He spent the next year working in Windom and then again became a resident of Jackson county. For a time he lived with his parents in Heron Lake township and in 1898 married and located on the southwest quarter of section 30. Weimer township, which he had previously bought. He has made all the improvements on the farm and has a nice home. He farms 280 acres of land in Weimer and Heron Lake townships.

Mr. Pohlman was married in Jackson July 2, 1898, to Elsie Peter, daughter of August Peter, a pioneer settler of the county. She was born in Weimer township February 14, 1881. They have three children: Christina, Paulina and Harold. Mr. Pohlman and family are members of the German Lutheran church.

FRANK L. POPE (1886) is a Christiania township farmer who owns 400 acres of Jackson county land and 160 acres of Cottonwood county land. He is a native of England, having been born February 18, 1870.

The parents of our subject are Dr. Alfred Pope and Isabella (Hoagraves) Pope, who reside in England. Dr. Pope is a noted physician and lecturer. Thirty years ago he lectured in America before various medical colleges, and later returned to his native land.

Frank received a common school education in England and when sixteen years of age left home and came to the United States. It was in 1886 that he located in the village of Windom where he resided for a number of years. In 1901 he bought his present farm in Christiania township and has since been engaged in its care. He owns stock in the telephone company and in the Farmers Elevator company of Windom. He is a member of the Episcopal church.

Mr. Pope was married May 6, 1903, to Pauline Hohenstein, of Lakefield. To them have been born two children: Frances, born February 1, 1904; Henry, born February 20, 1908.

BRUNO POPPITZ (1887), proprietor of a furniture and racket store at Heron Lake, has spent all except the first six months of his life in Minnesota, having resided here before the state was admitted to the union. He is the son of the late Ernest Poppitz and Augu. sta (Henschel) Poppitz. Both parents were born in Germany, where they resided until after their marriage in 1849. Then they came to America and settled in Wisconsin, removing to Carver county Minnesota, in 1857. In that county Ernest Poppitz acquired land and made his home until his death in January, 1900, at the age of 77 years. Mrs. Poppitz still lives in Carver county and is 81 years old.

Bruno is one of a family of nine children, the eldest of the five now living. Our subject was born in Wisconsin February 10, 1857, and when six months old was taken with the family to Carver county, Minnesota, he resided on the farm in that county until twenty-one years of age, attending the local schools and studying in the St. Paul Business college. It 1878 he moved to Nobles county and took a homestead claim in Hersey township, upon which he lived five years. After proving up on his land Mr. Poppitz returned to his old home in Carver county. He worked on the railroad one and one-half years and bought grain two years, and then, in 1887, located in the village of Heron Lake.

Heron Lake has been the home of Mr. Poppitz ever since, and during these years he has been engaged in various business enterprises. He served as postmaster a little over five Years after he had conducted the office a little over a year it was raised to the third class. In 1901 he formed a partnership with his son, E. H. Poppitz, and opened a furniture and rachet store, which they still conduct. Mr. Poppitz owns two farms, one in this and one in Murray county, and city property, including four business blocks and his residence. He has served as president and as vice president of the Heron Lake State Bank and has been a director of the same a number of years. He was a member of the village council four years and a member of the board of education the same length of time. Fraternally, he is associated with the I. 0. 0. F., M. W. A., M. B. A., Royal Neighbors and Yeomen lodges.

Mr. Poppitz was married in Nobles county March 27, 1879, to Antonio Berreau, a native of Carver county. Mr. and Mrs. Poppitz are the parents of two children: Ernest H. and Lillian L. One son, the first born, named Edward, died at the age of six years.

DR. WILLIAM C. PORTAMANN (1886), practicing physician of Jackson, is a native of Switzerland, where he was born June 7, 1858. He is one of a family of ten children born to Urs Victor and Anna Moore (Von Steinmen) Portmann. His father was a contracting and civil engineer and died in 1871. His mother died in 1905 at the age of 83 years.

A brother of our subject, Dr. E. O. Portmann, is practicing medicine at Canton, Ohio. He was President McKinley’s home physician and after the death of the president was Mrs. McKinley’s physician. When William C Portmann was ten years old he accompanied his parents to America and grew to manhood in the city of Canton, Ohio. In the common schools of that city he received his early education. His father dying when our subject was thirteen years of age, he was compelled at that early age to turn his attention to the support of the mother and family. However, he did not give up his studies but completed his general education in public and private night schools. At the age of twenty-two years he entered the Western Reserve Medical school, of Cleveland, Ohio, and three years later was graduated as a physician. For the first two years after graduation Dr. Portmann practiced in his home city and then, in 1883, located at Mandan, North Dakota, where he practiced three years. Dr. Portmann located at Jackson in the spring of 1886 and has since devoted his time to the practice of his profession in that village.

Dr. Portmann owns his home in the village and two Jackson county farms. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the Chapter and Knights Templar of the same order, as well as holding membership in the M. W. A. For twelve years Dr. Portmann served as coroner of Jackson county. He was a member of the school board eighteen years and was president of the village council one year.

In Canton, Ohio, on September 13, 1883, Dr. Portmann was united in marriage to Emma Ball, a native of Canton and a daughter of Ephraim E. and Levina Ball. Three sons have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Portmann, Urs Victor. Milton C and Arthur B.

HARM POST (1892) owns and farms the south half of section 21, Rost township, and is one of the successful farmers of the precinct. He was born in Kreis Aurich, Ostfreesland, Germany, July 30, 1864, the son of Arend and Christina (Schmidt) Post. Both his parents died in Germany, his father in 1905 and his mother in 1908.

Our subject was raised on a farm and after becoming of sufficient age worked out. In 1885, at the age of twenty-one years, he came to America and located in Champaign county, Illinois, where he resided seven years. The first six years of this time were spent as a laborer, the last year as a farmer on rented land. In 1892 he came to Jackson county and has ever since lived on his present farm in Rost township. His wife owned the southwest quarter of the section, and Mr. Post later bought the other quarter adjoining. The land was prairie, without improvements, when he first located on the farm, and all the buildings and other improvements have been made by Mr. Post.

Mr. Post raises considerable stock. He is interested in the Rost creamery, the farmers store and elevator at Lakefield and the First National Bank of the same village. Mr. Post and family are members of the German Lutheran church and he is treasurer of school district No. 88.

Mr. Post’s first marriage occurred in Champaign county, Illinois, on the last day of the year 1892, when he wedded Tutter Kuhlmann, a native of Germany. She died in 1900. To them were born two children: Albert, born September 28, 1893; John, born November 17, 1896. The second marriage of Mr. Post occurred in Rost township August 25, 1900, when he wedded Mary Lubben, who was also born in Germany and who came to America when a child. To this union have been born three children, as follows: Freda, born December 6, 1901; Eddie, born August 1, 1904; Louie, born December 22, 1907.

JESSE P. PRESCOTT (1868), of Heron Lake, is one of Jackson county’s pioneers, having resided here nearly forty-two years. He was born in Penobscot county Maine, June 7, 1840, the son of Jeremiah and Mary (Miles) Prescott. The mother of our subject was born at Newport, Maine December 3, 1804, and was married to Mr. Prescott December 16, 1823. The family moved to Illinois in 1847 and seven years later to Allamakee county Iowa. There, with the exception of two years spent in California and Oregon, the parents of our subject spent the rest of their lives.

Jesse P. Prescott accompanied his parents from Maine to the west when seven years of age, and he resided with them until the early sixties. In 1861 he engaged in farming, having previously bought land in Allamakee county, Iowa, but a year and a half later enlisted as a member of company A, Thirteenth Iowa infantry, and served until the close of the war. He farmed two years after the war, and in the spring of 1868 moved to Jackson county, taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 30 Des Moines township. Mr. Prescott engaged in farming his homestead five years and then located in the village of Heron Lake, where he has since resided, engaged in various occupations.

At Lansing, Allamakee county Iowa Mr. Prescott was married in 1861 to Sophronia Topliff. To them were born four children, as follows: Edah M. born July 5, 1863 died August 1888: Iva H., born November 10, 1867 married Henry Conrad, died April 3, 1909: Alvah P., born September 20, 1872 married Lillie Long; Lelah H. born December 14, 1881 married C. A. Kellam June 1907. The second marriage of Mr. Prescott occurred at Sibley, Iowa October 7, 1889. to Mary McNair a native of Ulster county New York. One child has been born to this union Harvey H., born October 14, 1890, a graduate of Mankato college, and now a clerk in the First National Bank of Heron Lake.

FRANK J. PRIBYL (1886) farms the southeast quarter of section 20, Hunter township, which he rents from his father. He was born on that farm June 4, 1886, and has always made his home there. He is the son of Albert and Mary (Koranda) Pribyl, now residents of Jackson. They were born in Bohemia and after their arrival to America resided in the city of Chicago and a little later came to Jackson county. The head of the family bought the farm in Hunter township where his son now lives, and that was his home until he moved to Jackson.

Frank attended the district schools and grew to manhood on the farm. Until he was twenty-three years of age he worked for his father then his parents took up their residence in town, and since that time Frank has conducted the home farm. He is unmarried and makes his home with his sister, Mary Pribyl. His brothers and sisters are Mary, Aggie, Bessie, Jerry, Wesley, August, Charlie and Joseph.

JOSEPH J. PRIBYL (1884) is the assistant cashier of the Brown National Bank of Jackson and has been a resident of the county since he was five years of age. He is a native of Budweiss, Bohemia, and was born May 19, 1879. His parents are Albert and Mary (Koranda) Pribyl, now living in Jackson, aged 66 and 58 years, respectively.

Joseph Pribyl came to America with his parents in 1883. After ten months spent in Chicago the family came to Jackson county, arriving in March, 1884. The head of the family bought a farm on section 16, Hunter township, and twelve years later one on section 20. Joseph lived on the farm with his parents until 1895, receiving an education in the country schools and in the Jackson high school. Coming to Jackson village, he clerked in Peter Hansen’s store eight months and then accepted a position in the Bank of Jackson (now the Brown National Bank), and has been with that institution ever since, for the last eight years as assistant cashier.

Mr. Pribyl is a member of the Catholic church and of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is one of a family of eight children: Charles, Joseph J., August, Wesley, Frank, Jerry, Mary, Agnes and Bessie.

The marriage of Mr. Pribyl occurred in Jackson May 27, 1901, when he wedded Laura Betlech, a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Emil and Sarah (Cerhan) Betlech. Mr. and Mrs. Pribyl are the parents of three children: Marie T., Helen F. and Josephine K.

JOSEPH N. PROKES (1892) is a Des Moines township farmer owning land on section 16, known as the Hillmount farm. He is the son of Jacob and Rosa (Kautnar) Prokes, residents of the same township.

Our subject’s parents were born in Bohemia and came to America in 1885. Jacob Prokes followed his trade, brick and stone mason, in the city of Chicago from the time of his arrival to America until 1892. That year he and his family moved to Jackson county and located upon the southwest quarter of section 16, Des Moines township, land which he bought while yet a resident of Chicago. There he resided until 1908, when he retired and moved onto a farm on section 21, where he still lives at the age of 73 years. Besides carrying on his farming operations Jacob Prokes worked at his trade, having erected the following buildings in the village of Jackson: Lindsley-Anderson block, the Bartosch-Kiesel-Matteson block, the smoke stack of the Livengood mill and other minor buildings. He is the father of three sons and two daughters, all living, as follows: John, of Jackson county; Frank, of Chicago; Marie, of Jackson; Anna (Mrs. Frank Koranda), of Des Moines township; Joseph, of this sketch.

Joseph N. Prokes was born in Bohemia December 29, 1882. He came to America with his parents in 1885, was educated in the public schools of Chicago, and in 1892 came to Jackson county with the family. He worked for his father on the farm until twenty-four years of age; then he bought the farm and has since conducted it.

The marriage of our subject occurred in Jackson February 11, 1908, when he wedded Anna Olivia Cihak, of Alpha, a native of Bohemia, who came to the United States when three years of age. Her parents are Frank and Catherina Cihak, now residents of Wisconsin township. To Mr. and Mrs. Prokes has been born one child, Elenora, born February 20, 1909. Both Mr. and Mrs. Prokes are members of the Catholic church and he is a member of the Catholic Order of Workmen.

D. W. PULVER (1871) is an implement dealer of Jackson and carries one of the largest lines of implements in Jackson county. He is a pioneer of the county and has lived here since he was ten years of age. He is the son of Martin V. Pulver, who died in 1884, and Sarah (Wolcott) Pulver, who died at her home in Lakefield, May 28, 1909, aged 80 years.

D. W. Pulver was born to these parents in Jackson, Michigan, May 14, 1861. In 1865 the family moved to Oakfield, Wisconsin, and one year later to Martin county, Minnesota. Two miles east of the village of Fairmont the family located on a preemption claim and resided there until July, 1871. At that time the father of our subject located a homestead claim on section 2, Hunter township, two miles east of the present village of Lakefield, and in a sod shanty on that claim D. W. Pulver began life in Jackson county. In 1884 he left the farm and moved to Jackson, taking a position as local and traveling salesman for the Huber Manufacturing company, in which capacity he served four years. The next four years he held a like position with the Dowagnic Drill company. He severed his connection with that company in 1892 and for several years following was engaged in buying, selling and operating threshing machinery. In 1901 he opened a store of general implements and has built up an excellent business. Mr. Pulver owns 200 acres of land in Hunter township and property in Jackson. He is a member of the M. W. A. lodge.

Mr. Pulver was married August 7, 1887, to Carolina M. Arnesen. To them were born four children, only one of whom is living, Grace L., born January 11, 1889. The second marriage of Mr. Pulver occurred February 15, 1900, when he wedded Bedina Volden.

J. M. PUTMAN (1901). president of the Jackson County State Bank of Lakefield was born in Mount Sterling, Illinois, March 30, 1851, the son of James and Letha Ann (Darnell) Putman, natives of Brown county and Hancock county, Illinois, respectively.

Left an orphan when a baby—his father dying when he was four months old and his mother when he was two and one-half years old—he was brought up in the home of his grandfather Darnell. His early education was secured in the village schools before he was seventeen years of age and the year prior to reaching his majority, he again studied one year in the schools of Atlantic, Iowa. At the age of sixteen years young Putman left his grandfather’s home and started out in life for himself with a capital of $5.05. He worked at different occupations for a few years and then went into the drug business, first at Holland and then at Gladbrook, Iowa, in which he was engaged seventeen years.

In 1890 Mr. Putman sold out his drug business and went into the banking business, investing his money in the Tama County State Bank, of Gladbrook, an institution which was later organized into the First National Bank. Two years after becoming interested in the bank Mr. Putman was elected president. He still has interests in the bank. In 1809 he moved to Grinnell, Iowa, because of the more advantageous school privileges, and in that city he remained until he came to Jackson county in 1901.

In July, 1901, Mr. Putman moved to Lakefield and in partnership with H. L. Bond bought the interests of M. H. Evans, the majority owner of the Jackson County State Bank, and they have since been the managers of that financial institution, Mr. Putman being president and Mr. Bond cashier. The subject of this biography is a staunch democrat and was one of Mr. Bryan’s warmest supporters during the campaign of 1908. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge.

Mr. Putman was married at Braintree, Vermont, November 10, 1881, to Hattie Maud White, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Julian and Harriett (Burgess) White, both natives of the Empire state. Mrs. Putman died November 21, 1904, being 47 years of age at the time of her death. One child was born to this union, J. Mabel, now the wife of Hugo E. Meilicke, son of Honorable E. J. Meilicke, formerly of Windom. Mr. and Mrs. Meilicke now reside at Dundurn, Canada. Mr. Putman owns a fine residence in Lakefield, and since the death of his wife his mother makes her home with him that she may have the care of her son in her old age. Above is a photo of Mr. Putman holding his grand daughter Henrietta Wilhelmine Meilicke.

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