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

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

MARTIN QUAIL (1907) is a farmer and landowner of Des Moines township, residing upon the old Simon Olson farm a few miles up the river from Jackson. He is a native of Union county South Dakota, where he was born October 3, 1880. He is the son of Ole and Mary (Ofstad) Quail, who were born in Norway and came to America before their marriage. They resided in Michigan several years, and then located in South Dakota, where they still reside. Martin is one of a family of eight children, all living. They are Annie, Mary, Ella, Elias, Knute, Martin, Peter and Ole.

Martin received his education in South Dakota and resided with his parents until he came to Jackson county in 1907. At that time he bought the Simon Olson farm on section 3, Des Moines township, famous as the location of part of the old townsite of Belmont, founded in 1858. Mr. Quail is not married, but makes his home with a family employed by him on the farm. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

JOHN QUALEY (1888), wagon maker of Jackson, was born in Norway May 31, 1866, one of a family of four children born to Svend and Martha (Larson) Qualey, who still make their home in their native land.

John Qualey was brought up in the home of his grandparents, was educated in the schools of Norway and emigrated to the United States in 1888, coming direct to Jackson. For three years he worked at odd jobs. He took a position in 0. A. Sathe’s wagon shop in 1891 and continued in that gentleman’s employ, with the exception of one year, until October, 1907. Then he purchased the shop and has since conducted it. In addition to this business he is secretary of the Jackson Building and Loan association. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the A. O. U. W. and Sons of Norway lodges.

Mr. Qualey was married in Jackson January 17, 1897, to Anna Lee, who was born in Norway and who came to the United States in 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Qualey have been born three children: Martha J., Albert C. and Thorina B.

JENS QUINBY (1890) is the manager of and one of the largest stockholders in the Gilbert Mercantile company’s store at Petersburg. He is a native of Norway and was born November 1, 1868, the son of Isaac and Dorothy (Holden) Quinby. His father is living; his mother died June 13, 1903.

Jens secured a common school education in his native country and lived there until he reached his majority. He came to the United States and to Jackson county May 10, 1890, and for fifteen years engaged in farming in Petersburg township. He then sold his farm and engaged in the general merchandise and machine business in the little hamlet of Petersburg, buying a controlling interest in the Gilbert Mercantile company. Besides this business he has stock in the Petersburg Creamery company and in the Jackson Telephone company. He owns a house and lots in Petersburg and forty acres on section 27. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the Sons of Norway lodge.

Mr. Quinby was married September 24, 1896, to Esther Gilbert, who was born September 24, 1872, To this union have been born the following named children: Dena M., born September 4, 1899; Mina L., born October 25, 1901: Harry E., born August 28, 1906.

JOHN F. RAASCH (1887), in partnership with his brother Louis Raasch, farms the east half of section 12, Des Moines township. He is the son of the late Carl Raasch and Albertina (Wilke) Raasch.

Carl Raasch was born in Germany in the year 1855, came to the United States when sixteen years of age, and first located at Toleston, Indiana, where he resided until 1885. Albertina Wilke was also born in Germany in 1857, came to the new world when nine years old and was married to Mr. Raasch at Toleston, Indiana. Mr. Raasch died at his home in Des Moines township March 3, 1907; Mrs. Raasch still lives on the home farm. Nine children were born to this union, namely: Amanda, born January 8, 1882; Lydia, born June 23, 1883; Alice, born August 11, 1885; John F.. born April 11, 1887; Louis, born November 11, 1888; Carl, born October 8, 1890; Emma, born September 1, 1892; Hilda, born June 3, 1896; Alma, born October 23, 1899.

Our subject was born on the Des Moines township farm April 11, 1887, and has spent his entire life on that farm. He attended the district school and during his father’s lifetime assisted with the farm work. After the death of his father he assumed the management of the place and has been very successful. In November, 1909, Louis added the northeast quarter of section 12 to the home farm, and he and his brother farm the whole half section. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred O. I. C. swine. Mr. Raasch Is a director of school district No. 13, having been elected in July, 1909. He has stock in the Farmers elevator of Jackson.

SAMUEL L. RANK (1896), postmaster of Wilder and proprietor of a general merchandise store in that village, is a native of Fulton county Indiana, and was born April 4, 1859. His father was Amos Rank, a native of Pennsylvania, who died twenty years ago. His mother Sarah H. (Meek) Rank, a native of Virginia, resides in Cottonwood county and is 87 years of age.

Our subject moved from Fulton county, Indiana, with his parents in 1870, to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and made his home on the farm there until he was twenty-six years of age. During the years 1882 and 1883 he was an engineer on a Lake Superior lighter owned by Alex McDougal, the inventor of whaleback freight vessels. During this time his headquarters were at Duluth. In 1885 Mr. Rank left the home farm, rented a farm in Cottonwood county, and engaged in farming it eleven years.

Mr. Rank moved to Wilder in 1896 and built the creamery at that point. This he conducted a number of years and then sold to the Farmers Cooperative Creamery company. After selling the creamery he engaged in the general merchandise business in Wilder and has since conducted the store. He was appointed postmaster of the village May 1, 1902, and still holds the office. He is president of the village council and has served as village treasurer. He holds membership in the A. F. & A. M. and the M. W. A. lodges.

The marriage of Mr. Rank occurred in Cottonwood County May 21, 1885 when he wedded Miss Alice Marie Smith, a native of Mankato. To this union have been born the following named children: Maud E., Ruth M., Clarence E., Robert S., Marie and Spencer. Mr. Rank is one of a family of seven children, of whom the five named are living: John W., Catherine, Elizabeth, Samuel L. and Elmer.

BARBARA READLE (1873), proprietor of the hotel at Miloma and postmistress of that office, was born in Baden, Germany, June 21, 1851, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Cook) Readle.

Joseph Readle and family came to America in 1852, landing at Baltimore in February of that year. He located at Cincinnati, Ohio, lived there one year, spent the next year in Kentucky, and then returned to the Ohio city, where he was engaged in the wood and coal business until 1872. That year he moved to Jackson county and homesteaded in Alba township, where he lived until his death, April 14, 1896, aged 79 years. His wife, the mother of our subject, died April 7, 1893, aged 68 years. Ten children were born to these parents, of whom the following five are living: Lawrence, Stephen, Joseph, Mrs. Anna Snyder and Miss Barbara Readle.

Miss Readle made her home with her parents in Alba township until her mother’s death in 1893. Then she rented the hotel at Prairie Junction (now Miloma) and engaged in the hotel and restaurant business. One year later she bought the property, and in March, 1894, she was appointed postmistress of Prairie Junction, and has resided there ever since. She is assisted by her brother, Joseph Readle, who is deputy postmaster.

Joseph J. Readle was born in Cincinnati March 23, 1856. He left home when sixteen years of age and learned the glazier trade, which he followed five years in Sioux City, Iowa. The next five years he was shipping clerk for the firm with whom he had been employed. Thereafter he was employed at various occupations in different parts of the United States. In January, 1908, he located at Miloma and has since been deputy postmaster. Mr. Readle was married at Sioux City to Nellie Noonan, a native of Marshalltown, Iowa. She died in September, 1901. One child. Ralph, was born to this union.

JOHN H. REE (1872) owns 240 acres of land on sections 26 and 25, Belmont township, and is an extensive grain farmer. He has lived on that farm ever since he was a baby five months old. His parents are the late Hans J. Ree and Bergetta (Kyllo) Ree, who came from Norway in 1872 and made their home in Belmont township. The father died there in 1900 at the age of 70 years; the mother lives with her son and is 72 years of age. There are five living children of these parents: Mrs. N. P. Alness, of Clark, South Dakota; Mrs. P. A. Olson, John H., Mrs. 0. Lillevik and Mrs. Ole Haugen, all of Jackson county.

John H. Ree was born in Norway December 4, 1871, and when five months of age arrived in Jackson county with his parents and has ever since made his home on section 26, Belmont. He worked for his father until the latter’s death in 1900; then bought the farm and has since conducted it. He holds the office of school treasurer of district No. 79. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Ree was married at Farmington, Minnesota, June 20, 1908, to Miss Matilda Strate, a native of Rice County, Minnesota, and a daughter of the late Ebrahat and Karen Strate.

ISAAC G. REED (1870), a farmer who resides in the village of Wilder, is an early day settler of the county and a pioneer of the west. He is a descendant of colonial stock, a history of the Reed family being the authority for the statement that the founder of the American branch of this family came over from England in the Mayflower and settled in Massachusetts. Bezer and Nancy (Lilly) Reed were the parents of our subject and were natives of Massachusetts. They came west in 1852 and from that time until their demise they resided in Dane county, Wisconsin.

To these parents Isaac G. Reed was born in Otsego county New York, on the 22^nd day of August, 1835. He was brought up on a farm in his native county and in 1851 came west with a married sister and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin. At the time there were no railroads west of Buffalo and he made the trip to his new home by way of the Erie canal and the great lakes to Racine, Wisconsin, and from thence to Dane county overland. His parents came to the same county two years later and with them Isaac lived until he became of age.

In 1870 Mr. Reed came to Jackson county and took as a homestead claim the southwest quarter of section 30, Hunter township. Upon that farm he lived until 1898. Then in order to secure better school privileges for his children he moved to Wilder. There he bought land and has since been engaged in farming. While living in Hunter Township Mr. Reed held various township offices and since becoming a resident of Wilder he has served as councilman and member of the school board several terms, having been elected a member of the council upon the incorporation of the village. Mr. Reed affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church.

At Spirit Lake, Iowa, on May 18, 1879, Mr. Reed was married to Sarah A. Tuttle, a native of Iowa. To them have been born the following six children: Linton T., Iva, Isaac G., Rolla T., Harry T. and Verne.

JOHN L. REEVES (1894) is a Weimer township farmer and resides two miles southeast of Heron Lake, his 210 acre farm being located on the bank of Heron lake. On his farm is located one of the club houses conducted by hunters who come to the lake during the shooting season.

Mr. Reeves was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, February 23, 1854. At the age of two years he accompanied his parents to Tazewell county, Illinois, and there spent his boyhood days. At the age of seventeen he accompanied the family to Champaign county, of the same state, and there he made his home on his father’s farm until 1877. That year he moved to Primghar, Iowa, where he learned the carpenter’s trade and where he resided, working at his trade, until the year 1894. Mr. Reeves came to Jackson county in 1894, bought eighty acres of his present farm, and has ever since been engaged in farming. He added to his holdings later by the purchase of the fractional 130 acres on the bank of the lake.

Our subject is the oldest of a family of four children. His parents, Horace E. and Harriett N. (Sill) Reeves, were both natives of Jefferson county, New York. They moved to Ohio when children and were married in that state. In 1856 they moved to Illinois and lived in that commonwealth until 1902, when they also came to Jackson county. The father died in Jackson county September 25, 1904, aged 77 years; the mother now lives with a daughter in St. Paul.

Mr. Reeves is a man of family, having been married in Weimer township October 31, 1892, to Emma E. Wood, a native of Mechanicsville, New York, and a daughter of L. C. Wood, an early Jackson county settler. Two children have been born to this union: Helen L. and Elizabeth. Mr. Reeves is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge.

STEPHEN REHNELT (1871). Weimer Township farmer owning the east half of the southeast quarter of section 25, upon which place he has lived since he was one year of age. He was born in the state of Wisconsin May 31, 1870, the son of Stephen and Theresa (Lawrence) Rehnelt. His father died January 6, 1908; his mother lives with another son in Delafield township.

In the spring of 1871 Stephen accompanied his parents to Jackson county. The father took a homestead claim of eighty acres where the son now lives, and upon that homestead our subject grew to manhood. He was educated in the district schools and worked for his father until 1899. That year he located at Westbrook, where he conducted a pool and billiard hall one year. He then returned to the farm, which was given him by his father, and has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Rehnelt was married in Delafield township May 31, 1899, to Julia Hrdena. a native of Austria. To them have been born the following named children: Hilda, born September 17, 1905; Annie, born May 23, 1907: Leona, born April 12, 1909. The family are members of the Catholic church of Heron Lake.

FRED REIMERS (1891) is a Sioux Valley township farmer. He was born in Tama County, Iowa, May 31, 1880, and when seven years of age accompanied his parents to Lake Park. The family lived in that village a year and a half and then moved onto a farm near the town, where our subject resided until 1891 working on the farm and attending the school. In 1891 the family moved to Sioux Valley township and leased the west half of the southwest quarter of section 26. Fred worked for his father on the farm until 1902. Then he rented the farm and has since conducted it for himself. He is unmarried and makes his home with his parents. He is a member of the M. W. A. and A. O. U. W. lodges.

The parents of our subject are Peter and Christina (Brest) Reimers. The former was born in Germany and came to America when twenty-one years of age, locating at Davenport, Iowa. He was married at Elkhart, Illinois. Mrs. Reimers was born in Ohio. There are eight children in the family, as follows: Henry, Kate, John, Will, Phoebe, George, Fred and Lucy.

E. RICE (1897). a farmer residing in Jack-son. was born May 23, 1853, in Steuben county, New York, the son of Warren and Amy (Kent) Rice. When our subject was five years of age the family moved from New York state to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and there the subject of this biography resided sixteen years, receiving an education in the schools of Orleans township.

When he reached his majority, in 1874, Mr. Rice moved to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, took a homestead, and engaged in farming it twenty-one years. He sold out in 1893 and moved west, locating in Yakima county, Washington.

He came to Jackson in September, 1897, and has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Rice was married at Ridgeway, Iowa, September 4, 1877, to Miss Ida May Clough. To this union have been born the following named children: Warren M., born June 15, 1878; Carlton B., born September 17, 1881, died October 3, 1897; Mattie P. and Minnie M. (twins), born April 23, 1888; Nellie B., born July 19, 1892. Mr. Rice owns 112 acres of land in Des Moines and Wisconsin townships. He and family are members of the Methodist church.

Mrs. Rice is one of the pioneers of Jackson county. She is the daughter of those pioneer settlers, Marcellus Clough and Mary (Young) Clough, and was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, May 28, 1858. At the age of three years, in the spring of 1861, she accompanied her parents to the wild and sparsely settled Jackson county country. In January, 1862, the family moved to Mankato, resided there one year, and then returned to the former home in Winneshiek county. In the spring of 1865 the family again returned to Jackson county and Marcellus Clough took a preemption and homestead near the spot where Jackson was built. He and John Young each built frame houses on their claims, the first erected in Jackson county. The Clough home burned down a few years later, but the Young home still stands. In 1872 Ida May Clough accompanied her parents back to Winneshiek county, and there in 1877 she was married to Mr. Rice.

WILLIAM F. RIDGEWAY (1869), of Des Moines township, is one of the early settlers of Jackson county, having resided here since he was eleven years of age. He owns twenty two and one-half acres of land on the Des Moines river a short distance up from Jackson. He does very little general farming but he is a successful chicken raiser and deals in wood. The father of our subject is Francis J. Ridgeway, who lives in Jackson and is 75 years of age. He was born in Ohio and moved to Indiana when young, where he was married and lived until 1857. That year he settled in Goodhue county, Minnesota. He enlisted in company F, of the Second Minnesota volunteer infantry, served two years in the army and was discharged on account of disability. Later he reenlisted and fought the Sioux Indians in the Black Hills country one year. During one of the Indian campaigns Francis Ridgeway camped at the Joseph Thomas home where Jackson is now located. After his discharge from the army he lived in Goodhue county until 1860. Then he and family came to Jackson county, took a homestead on section 14, Wisconsin township, and a tree claim on section 10, of the same township, and resided on the farm until 1880. Since then he has resided in Jackson. Francis Ridgeway’s first wife, the mother of our subject, was Martha Jane Druley, who was born in Ohio. She died several years ago at the age of 70 years. Francis Ridgeway later married Mrs. Anna Ridgeway, his brother’s widow.

William Ridgeway was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, November 12, 1858. He accompanied the family to Jackson county in 1869, and until he was twenty-one years of age lived on the farm on section 14, Wisconsin township. After his marriage, which occurred in 1879, he farmed four years in Wisconsin township and then moved to Jackson. In 1896 Mr. Ridgeway bought the land he now owns on sections 10 and 11, Des Moines, and that has since been his home. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Mercantile company of Jackson. For three years he was treasurer of his school district.

Our subject was married at Mankato, Minnesota, February 15, 1879, to Cora L. Fancher. She was born in Indiana and died February 20, 1884. One child, Cora, was born to this union. She was married to William H. Blakeley and died January 22, 1904. Mr. Ridgeway was married the second time to Mary R. Goodwin, who was born in McKean county, Pennsylvania, and came to Jackson in 1868, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Goodwin, of Wilder, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Ridgeway are members of the Modern Brotherhood of America, and Mrs. Ridgeway is also a member of the W. R. C. and R. N. A. orders.

CLAUS E. RIEKEN (1892) owns and farms 320 acres of Wisconsin township land, his property being on sections 21 and 10. He is of German parentage, his father and mother, George A. and Cassie (Saathoff) Rieken, having immigrated from the fatherland in the fall of 1857. They located in Livingston county, Illinois, and later in Iroquois county of the same state. There the elder Rieken bought land and there both he and his wife died. Out of a family of eleven children the following six are living: Nancy, John, Claus, Seve, Rachael and George.

Claus Rieken, of this sketch, was born in Livingston county, Illinois, March 6, 1859. He secured an education and helped with the farm work until he was twenty-five years old. Then he married and rented a farm in Illinois, upon which he lived eight years. He moved to Jackson county in 1892 and bought a part of his present farm. He is a firm believer in tiling and has added greatly to the value of his land by a thorough system of tiling. The farm upon which Mr. Rieken now resides was homesteaded by John M. Utter, one of the county’s early settlers, and upon the land was built one of the early day school houses—a log shanty. Mr. Rieken was treasurer of his township several terms. He has also held the office of director of school district No. 100 and is at the present time school treasurer. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

CAPTAIN DANIEL L. RILEY (1893), deceased. One whose life’s history is entitled to a place in this history of Jackson county is the late Captain Daniel L. Riley, who for fifteen years resided at Lakefield, taking an active and prominent part in business, political, social and religious matters.

Captain Riley was born at Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence county, New York, January 8, 1837. His parents came from Ireland in childhood and located in New York state. His mother died when our subject was eight years of age and from that date he battled with the world alone. He moved west in 1854 and located at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he worked at the carpenter trade until 1861.

On the 21st day of August, 1861, Daniel Riley joined the army at Ripon, Wisconsin, becoming an enlisted soldier in the First Wisconsin cavalry. For some time he was engaged in the recruiting service near his old home and was later assigned to the Second Wisconsin cavalry, under the command of Colonel C. C. Washburn. After serving in the ranks several months he was commissioned second lieutenant, was later made first lieutenant and was mustered out as a captain, in command of company C, after having seen three year’s service. He saw service in the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas and fought in the battles of Cascke, Oakland, Cold Water, Vicksburg, Clinton, Jackson, Woodstock and Yazoo City.

Captain Riley returned to Wisconsin after the war and located at Bloomington. In 1872 he went to the new town of Sibley, Iowa, where he engaged in the lumber business. He moved to Spirit Lake in 1882, engaged in the lumber business in that town until 1893, and then took up his residence in Lakefield. There he also was in the lumber business and was actively engaged until two years before his death, which occurred December 14, 1908. The life of Captain Riley was such as to leave an unsoiled record, both in public and private life. He was a republican of prominence and a speaker of ability and his services as a public official were frequently in demand. He served as mayor of Sibley and was Chairman of the board of supervisors of Osceola county.

After moving to Lakefield he served two terms as a member of the Minnesota legislature, representing Jackson county. He was a delegate to the republican national convention which nominated William H. Taft for the presidency in 1908 and was prominent in the councils of his party. Captain Riley served as president of the Lakefield village council and was a member of the board of education. He was a member of the Methodist church and was active in church work, having held several offices of trust in the church organization. As a lodge man Captain Riley was also prominent. He was a member of the Lakefield lodge A. F. & A. M., of the chapter at Jackson and of the commandry at Fairmont. He held his membership in the L. G. Ireland Post of the G. A. R. at Sibley.

On June 5, 1867, Captain Riley was united in marriage at Patch Grove, Wisconsin, to Emma Grant, who survives her husband and now resides at Lakefield. She was born in Grant County, Wisconsin, the daughter of James M. Grant, who died in Grant county Wisconsin, in 1875, aged 57 years, and Sarah M. (Hickox) Grant, who was born in Vermont and who died in Grant county, Wisconsin, at the age of 82 years. To Captain and Mrs. Riley were born eight children, of whom the four named are living: Cora (Mrs. W. D. Cole), of Cincinnati, Ohio; William P., of Port Arthur, Canada; Mabel (Mrs. H. P. Beckwith, of Fargo, North Dakota; Alice L. (Mrs. J. Levenick), of Lakefield. Of the four deceased children Charles and Catherine died in infancy. Frank and Fred (twins) died in recent years, Frank on August 30, 1907, Fred June 24, 1900.

DR. OSCAR E. ROBERTS (1900), dentist, of Jackson, was born in Cottage Grove, Washington county Minnesota, on the eighth day of September, 1870. He is of Dutch-Irish-Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather came from Holland when a child and fought in the war of 1812. His father, Richard Roberts, was born in New York state, came to the territory of Minnesota in 1855, and ever since that date has lived at Cottage Grove, being now eighty years of age. The mother of our subject is Anna (McChesney) Roberts, who is now about seventy years of age. Oscar E. Roberts made his home with his parents until after he had finished his education in 1900. He attended the common schools of Cottage Grove studied two years in the Hastings high school, two years in Carleton College of Northfield and then entered the state university from the dental department of which institution he was graduated after taking a four years’ course. Dr. Roberts located in Jackson in July 1900 and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the A. F. & A. M. lodge.

Dr. Roberts was married at Jackson January 15, 1903, to Ethel Raub, a native of Iroquois county, Illinois, and a daughter of George and Sarah (Coleman) Raub. She came to Jackson County in the spring of 1898. To Dr. and Mrs. Roberts have been born two children: Dorothea, born March 20, 1904, and Murial, born January 10, 1907.

R. S. ROBERTSON (1884) resides at Jackson, where he is engaged in the lumber and implement business. He is a native of New York city and was born February 28, 1851, his parents being R. S. and Mary (Matthews) Robertson. Until he was twenty years of age Mr. Robertson attended school in the city of his birth and was graduated from the Columbia Mining school in 1871. After graduation he went to Pittsburg and took a position as mining engineer with Carnegie Bros. & Co., with which firm he was associated until 1884. In the spring of that year he came to Jackson county, bought a farm in Des Moines township, one and one-half miles west of Jackson, and for the next sixteen years engaged in farming. He then moved to Jackson and engaged in the lumber, fuel and implement business, in which he has since been engaged. Mr. Robertson owns 346 acres of land in Des Moines township and property in the village. During his residence in the county he served for a number of years as a member of the board of supervisors. He is a member of the Masonic order.

On June 10, 1880, at Pittsburg Mr. Robertson was married to Alice L. McKaig. To them have been born four children, as follows: William B., born October 14, 1882; Clement M., born September 14, 1884; John G., born November 14, 1880; Alice, born August 14, 1888.

HENRY W. ROBSON (1878), hardware merchant of Heron Lake, has spent his entire life of thirty-one years in Jackson county, having been born in Heron Lake township, three miles northwest of Lakefield, on November 14, 1878. His parents were John and Anna (Foss) Robson.

John Robson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, coming to America when about nineteen years of age. He located first in New York and later in Chicago and other points in Illinois. During the late fifties and early sixties he followed hunting and trapping for a living and led a frontiersman’s life. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in company G, 5th Minnesota, on January 5, 1862; was discharged for disability January 15, 1863. He moved to Jackson county in the seventies, took a homestead in Heron Lake township and lived on the farm until about 1881. Then he moved to Heron Lake and conducted a blacksmith and gunsmith shop until his death, which occurred in 1893 at the age of seventy years. His wife also died in Heron Lake.

Henry W. Robson accompanied his parents when they moved from the farm to Heron Lake, being two years of age at the time. He lived with his father until the latter’s death, and then he started out in life for himself, working at whatever he could find to do, first on a farm, then in a restaurant and during later years as a clerk in a general store.

On October 1, 1906, Mr. Robson bought out the hardware and harness stock of J. F. Humiston, and has since conducted that business. Mr. Robson was married at Heron Lake April 19, 1903, to Miss Alma Tuberg, a native of Mankato and a daughter of Gus. Tuberg, of that city. Mr. Robson is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the Eastern Star, the M. W. A. and the Yeomen lodges.

ANDERS ROE (1868), ex sheriff and ex judge of probate of Jackson county, now engaged in farming in Enterprise township, is one of the county’s very early settlers and a man who has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his county.

Mr. Roe was born in Norway September 13, 1844, the son of Osborn and Ragnilda (Roe) Roe. In 1852, at the age of eight years, he came to America with his parents and for short periods of time lived in Dane county, Jefferson county and Columbia county, all in Wisconsin. He then located in Portage county, Wisconsin, where he took up government land and where he lived until coming to Jackson county.

Our subject served one year in the union army during the closing days of the war, being a member of the Fifth Wisconsin volunteers, having been mustered in at Madison, Wisconsin, in September, 1864. With his regiment he took part in the battle of Petersburg, Virginia, on April 2, 1865, and on April 6 he participated in the battle on Sailors creek. In this latter engagement he was slightly wounded but did not leave the ranks. He also assisted in the closing days at Appomattox court house, when General Lee and his army of twenty-five thousand men surrendered. He was mustered out at Hall’s Hill, near Washington, June 20, 1865.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Roe returned to his old Wisconsin home, and in the spring of 1868 came to Jackson county. The trip was made by ox team and took four weeks time. Mr. and Mrs. Roe journeyed with three other families as far as St. Charles, Minnesota, when the party divided, all going in different directions. At the time there were on the route taken only two houses between Fairmont and Jackson. One of these was between Fairmont and the present location of Sherburn and the other was near the present location of Sherburn. This point was twelve miles and forty rods east of the old Thomas cabin and was known as Lone Cedar post office. On one occasion the team mired in Ten-mile creek and the only way Mr. Roe could get out of the mire was by unloading. They lost their way and had traveled as far south as the present town of Tenhassen before they realized they were off the proper course. They arrived in Jackson county on the 28th day of June, 1808.

Mr. Roe on July 9, 1868, took as a homestead claim the west half of the northwest quarter of section 30, Enterprise township, land which he still owns and upon which he now resides. He engaged in farming there for a number of years. During the latter part of the grasshopper scourge he worked for the John Paul Lumber company at their yard in Jackson. In the fall of 1879, when the railroad extended and the town of Lakefield was founded, Mr. Roe moved there and took charge of the John Paul lumber yard, which he conducted until the office there was discontinued. He then went to Sherburn, where he conducted the company’s yard three years. Mr. Roe again located on his farm, where he has since resided. In the early days of the county’s history Mr. Roe served as sheriff of the county and he was also judge of probate two years. He is a member of the Lutheran church of Jackson.

On November 27, 1866, Mr. Roe was united in marriage to Elsie Frederickson. To them were born five children, as follows: Julian, born August 15, 1868, died September, 1887; Alfred, born February 2, 1871; Emma, born December 15, 1872; Albert, born November 8, 1876; Richard H., born January 24, 1884.

CARL F. ROSSOW (1877) is one of the prosperous farmers of Heron Lake township, having a fine home on his 240 acre farm on section 15. He was born in Germany May 24, 1868, the son of Carl and Fredericka (Berlin) Rossow. His father is now a resident of Heron Lake township; his mother died in 1886.

Carl came to the United States and to Jackson county with his parents in 1877 and until he was twenty-two years of age resided on the farm with his parents on section 8, Heron Lake township. He attended the district school and grew to manhood working on his father’s farm. At the age of twenty-two he married and bought his present farm. There were no buildings on the place at that time nor was the land broken, all the improvements on the farm having been made by him. Mr. Rossow has served as a member of the Heron Lake township board of supervisors for the past sixteen years. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

In Heron Lake township, December 10, 1889, Mr. Rossow was united in marriage to Rosa Miller, who was born in Cook county, Illinois. She is the daughter of Fred and Frances Miller, residents of Heron Lake township. To Mr. and Mrs. Rossow have been born the following children: Arthur, born January 7, 1894; Richard, born January 14, 1890; Harry, born February 14, 1898; Paul, born March 16, 1900; Arnold, born June 27, 1904; Rosalia, born March 25, 1902; Lilly, born May 17, 1906; Alma, born January 12, 1909.

HENRY ROSSOW (1874) is a stock raiser and farmer of Delafield township, owning 320 acres of land on section 35. He is a native of the county, having been born in Heron Lake township November 8, 1874, the son of William and Alvina (Pietz) Rossow. His father, a native of Germany, died in Jackson county when Henry was five years of age. His mother, now Mrs. Dan Kolander, lives in Heron Lake township.

Henry grew to manhood on his stepfather’s farm in Heron Lake township and was educated in the district schools and in the Breck school at Wilder. After growing up he engaged in farming the old home place in his native township in partnership with his stepfather, Dan Kolander, and this arrangement continued until the year 1900. Then he moved onto his present farm, which he and Mr. Kolander had purchased in 1897. In 1900 Mr. Rossow bought Mr. Kolander’s interest in the farm and has since been the sole owner. Mr. Rossow is interested in many lines of business in addition to his farming and stock raising.

He has stock in the First National Bank, the Farmers Elevator company and the Jackson County Cooperative company, all of Lakefield, in the Farmers Elevator company of Windom, in the East Heron Lake Creamery company, of which he is secretary, and in a threshing company. One year he served as treasurer of the Delafield Fire Insurance company. In local polities he has also taken an active part. He was chairman of the Delafield township board of supervisors five or six years and served as a member of the board two years in addition. He was assessor of Heron Lake township in 1897 and 1898, and he is now a director of school district No. 70. He is a member of the German Lutheran church of Heron Lake township. In the township of Delafield, in 1899, Mr. Rossow was united in marriage to Annie Hohenstein, who was born in Delafield township and who is a daughter of Henry Hohenstein. To this union have been born seven children, named as follows: Alfred, born September 2, 1899; Krwiii and Walter (twins), born October 29, 1901; Ella, born April 27, 1903; Esther, born January 27, 1905; Delbert, born January 9, 1907; Leona, born September 21, 1909.

CHARLES W. ROST (1870), of Petersburg township, is one of the early settlers of Jackson county and one of the very first in Post township, which was named after the family. He is of German birth and first saw the light of day October 18,1844. His parents, Frederick and Rika (Reitz) Rost, are both deceased. Charles Rost came to America with his parents when a child, and until the year 1860 lived with them in Dodge county, Wisconsin, forty miles west of Milwaukee. From the age of sixteen years until he was twenty-six lie engaged in farming. In the early summer of 1870 Charles accompanied his parents on their overland trip to Minnesota and arrived in the county of Jackson in June. They passed through the county and camped one night on the banks of Okabena lake at a point which is now the center of the village of Worthington. There they decided to turn back and locate at a point on the Little Sioux river which they had passed on their way west, and this they did, taking a claim in what is now Rost township. The nearest neighbor the family had lived seven miles away.

During these pioneer days Mr. Rost suffered all the trials of the pioneer settlers. Dining grasshopper times he suffered severely. He would buy grain each year, plant it, and then would come the grasshoppers and take everything. On season he had a fine ten acre field of barley which he inspected one Sunday. By Monday noon it had entirely disappeared, having been eaten by the ravaging pests. Many stories of the doings of these pests are told by Mr. Rost—how they would dull the edges of scythes and other sharp instruments left exposed, eat holes in the women’s dresses while making a trip to the neighbors, and make the dogs and chickens seek shelter from their onslaughts.

Mr. Rost made his home in Rost township until 1903. He then moved to Martin county, but after a residence there of three years returned and located in Petersburg township, where he has since lived. He now lives a retired life, leaving the working of the farm to his sons. During his residence in Rost he served on the township board twenty years. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

Mr. Rost was married March 29, 1869, to Miss Mina Wagnuf. Thirteen children have been born to these parents, as follows: Eva, born December 31, 1871; Lizzie, born May 27, 1873: Jeanette, born December 14, 1874; Mollie, born November 18, 1876; Henry, born April 30, 1878; Carl, born September 11, 1879; Alvina, born April 6, 1881; John, born November 7, 1882; William, born January 30, 1884; Etta, born December 24, 1885; Clara, born April 30, 1887; Stella, born May 14, 1889, died May 4, 1904; Eddy, born April 3, 1892.

JAMES R. ROST (1871). blacksmith and dealer in farm machinery at Lakefield, comes from one of the well known and pioneer families of western Jackson county and is himself a native of the county, having been born in Rost township December 26, 1871. He is the son of Herman and Augusta (Newman) Rost. Herman Rost and family came to Jackson county in 1869 and homesteaded the southwest quarter of section 22 in what is now known as Rost township.

Frederick Rost, the father of Herman Rost, also came at that early date and homesteaded on section 26, of the same township, and it was in his honor the township was named. The father of our subject was born in Germany and came to America when nine years of age. He still lives on the homestead he took forty years ago. James is one of a family of five children, named as follows: Mary, James R., Herman A., Reinhart R. and Clara M.

Until he was nineteen years of age James Rost attended the district school and worked on his father’s farm. He then moved to Lakefield and for four years worked in the blacksmith shop of R. D. Pietz. In 1896 he bought the blacksmith shop of Ernest Tank, and in the fall of the same year moved to the present site, erecting a building, which has since been enlarged until now it covers an area of 42x50 feet. He does a general blacksmithing and repair business and conducts a wagon and machine shop. In 1900 Mr. Rost started in the farm machinery business in connection with his blacksmith shop and handling a full line of farm machinery, threshing machinery, gasoline and steam engines and automobiles.

Mr. Rost was married in the township which bears his name on December 6, 1893, to Ida G. Webber, a native of Rost township and a daughter of August Webber, a pioneer settler. From 1902 to 1907 Mr. Rost was a member of the Lakefield village council. He has been a member of the Lakefield fire department since December 5, 1902. He was chief for four years and has held the office of treasurer for the past five years. He is a member of the Lutheran church.

HALECK K. RUE (1871) is treasurer of Jackson county and resides at the county seat. He is a native of Norway and was born June 21, 1847, the son of Knute and Beckie Rue. At the age of nine years, in 1850, Mr. Rue emigrated to America with his parents and located with them in Allamakee county, Iowa. There he resided on his father’s farm, attending the country schools and assisting with the farm work, until 1871.

That year he started out in life for himself and came to Jackson county, taking as a homestead claim the northeast quarter of section 30, Hunter township. There he resided, engaged in farming, until the beginning of the year 1901, when he moved to Jackson to accept the position of county treasurer, to which office he was elected the preceding fall, and in which capacity he has since served.

In an official capacity Mr. Rue has served many years. He was a member of the board of county commissioners eight years, was chairman of the board of supervisors of Hunter township a number of years, was postmaster at Orr eighteen years, was clerk of school district No. 52 during the entire time of his residence in the district, and has served as country treasurer nine years. He owns 640 acres of land in Hunter township.

Mr. Rue was married in Allamakee county, Iowa, November 18, 1870, to Isabelle Smaby, a native of Wisconsin. To this union were born the following named children: Hiram C, Benton O., Lensing W., Elmer B., Edith, Milo, Lottie, Mabel, May and Irvin.

HIRAM C. RUE (1873), deputy county auditor, is a Jackson county boy, having been born and brought up and having spent his entire life in the county. He is the son of County Treasurer H. K. Rue and Isabella (Smaley) Rue, natives of Norway and Allamakee county, Iowa, respectively. Hiram was born on the Hunter township farm March 27, 1873. He grew to manhood on the farm, receiving an education in the district schools and in the Breck school at Wilder, which he attended two years.

After reaching manhood Mr. Rue engaged in school teaching, being so engaged in Hunter and Sioux Valley townships five years, during which time he made his home with his parents on the farm. In 1896 he took a position as clerk in a store at Lakefield and was so engaged until the first of January, 1901. He then moved to Jackson and took a position as deputy county treasurer under his father’s administration. One and one-half years later he was appointed deputy county auditor by P. D. McKellar and has since held the position.

Mr. Rue was married at Lakefield June 17, 1903, to Minnie Moe, a native of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and a daughter of S. J. and Isabella Moe, of Lakefield. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rue as follows: Maynard, born February 7, 1905; Isabella, born June 24, 1907.

Mr. Rue is an active lodge man, holding membership in the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic orders, in the M. B. A., the M. W. A. and the I. O. O. F.

PERRY L. RUSSELL (1875), of Jackson, was born in a log cabin in Petersburg township September 2, 1875, the eldest of a family of eleven children born to Thomas J. and Emma (Lee) Russell, who still reside in Petersburg. The other children of the family are Lafayette F., Richard, Thomas, Carrie, Maud, Retta, Julia, Ruby, George, Myra and Grace.

Perry lived on the home farm in Petersburg township until he was of age. Then he engaged in the threshing business, which he followed about twelve years—four seasons in South Dakota, the rest of the time in Jackson county. Since giving up the threshing business Mr. Russell has been engaged in farming, writing insurance and other occupations. He owns the northeast quarter of section 20, Middletown township. In the spring of 1909 he filed upon a homestead claim in Fergus county. Montana. He holds membership in the Odd Fellows and Modern Workmen lodges.

THOMAS J. RUSSELL (1869) is one of the pioneer settlers of Petersburg township, where he has resided forty years, he owns 200 acres of land and is one of the county’s successful farmers.

Our subject was born in Dubuque county, Iowa April 20, 1848, the son of Thomas and Elesebeth (White) Russell. He resided in his native county until twenty-one years of age, and then came to Jackson county, arriving on the first day of October, 1869. He bought a homestead relinquishment in Petersburg town ship, on section 18, and engaged in farming, and that has ever since been his home. He encountered many hardships during the grasshopper days, losing four successive crops, but he stayed with the country and has come upon prosperous times.

Mr. Russell has taken an active part in local affairs during his long residence in the county. He was town supervisor eight years, school clerk 21 years and assessor five years. He has been census enumerator of his precinct three times. He holds stock in the Middletown Telephone company.

On October 26, 1874, Mr. Russell was married to Emma Lee, who was born March 12, 1856. They have a large family of children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Perry L., born September 2, 1875; Lafayette F., born July 16, 1877; Richard E., born March 22, 1880; Thomas J. Jr., born February 11, 1882; Maud C, born July 10, 1884; Retta, born October 29, 1888; Julia, born May 5, 1889; Ruby, born March 2, 1891; George P., born September 14, 1894; Mara, born January 12, 1897; Grace B., born March 26, 1900.

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