"History of Freeborn County", 1882
Pickerel Lake Twp. Biographies
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F. D. BABCOCK, is a native of Iowa, born in Bradford, Chickasaw county. He attended school there until eighteen years old, then removed to Herseyville, Wisconsin, and completed his education, residing with his grandparents for a year and a half. He returned to his native State, but in a year returned to Wisconsin and remained six years. He then came to Minnesota, resided in Hokah, Houston county, Hayward, and Armstrong, in this county, returned to Whalen, Houston county, and in July, 1882, came again to Armstrong, where he now resides. He is station agent and telegraph operator, having learned telegraphy in Wisconsin. He was married in the latter State, in Herseyville, in December, 1880, to Miss Frankie C. Palmer, a native of Virginia, in
that State. Her father was killed in the army and her mother still resides in Wisconsin. Mr. Babcock's father died in South Carolina in 1881, aged fifty years, and his mother resides in Wisconsin, aged forty-nine. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.
B. A. CADY, was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1849, and removed from his native State when two years old. coming to Ornro, Wisconsin.
He attended school in the latter State and finished his education in Minnesota, having come to Pickerel Lake in 1861. He was married in Albert Lea on the 7th of February, 1875, to Mary A. Richards, a native of New York. When a child she came with her parents to Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and resided until 1872, then moved to Albert Lea, and remained until her marriage. She is a member of the Catholic church. Her parents still live in the latter place. Mr. Cady's father is a native of New York, and now lives in Kansas. His mother was born in Vermont, and died in Pickerel Lake in 1878, aged fifty-nine years. He has a brother living in Albert Lea, who has been employed in the Post-office there for several years.
BARBARA EBERHARDT is a native of Germany, born in 1838, and emigrated with her parents to
America when seven years old. They located in Wisconsin where Barbara received a common school education, and at the age of twenty-two years was married to Henry Eberhardt. He was born in Germany in 1838, and came with his parents to America when ten years old. At the age of nineteen vears he entered the ministry, preaching for three years in a German Methodist church in Wisconsin. He was then married and moved to Des Moines county, Iowa, where he preached five years and in 1865, returned to Wisconsin; but two years later, his health failing, he came to Pickerel Lake, in section twenty-three, and engaged in farming. After a time his health was restored and he returned to the ministry, removed to Hokah and was pastor of the M. E. church three years when his health again became impaired and he returned to his farm where he died in 1875, aged thirty-seven years, and is buried in the cemetery near his home. He left a widow and five children; Annie K., twenty-one years of age; Edward H., eighteen years; Emma E., fifteen; Amelia, twelve; and Alfred, aged seven years. Mrs. Eberhardt has kept her children all together,
educated them and carried on the farm. She is a member of the M. E. church in this place.
ANSON HANF, one of the old settlers of the county and the first to open a blacksmith shop in Albert Lea, was born in Germany on the 5th of June, 1833. When ten years old he came with his parents to America and first resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a short time, then moved to Racine county, and in 1848, to Dodge county. He was married there on the 17th of June, 1856, to Miss Verletti Ferry, and in September following they went to Kansas. That
State not suiting them for a home they returned to Dodge county, and in May, 1858, came to Minnesota, locating in Mower county, but in less than a year moved to Oakland in this county. In March, 1860, Mr. Hanf removed to Albert Lea, and as previously stated opened a blacksmith shop where he continued to hammer until 1864, then purchased a farm in section eleven, Pickerel Lake township, moved to it and has since made it his home. In 1870, he was Chairman of the board of Supervisors, but since that has taken no part in politics. He is the father of six children, three boys and three girls.
ROBERT HASF was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 22d of March, 1852. He resided with his parents until March, 1874, when he made a trip to Nebraska; remained during the summer, and in October came to this township, buying land in section seven. For several years he spent the summers on his farm and in the fall returned to his home in Wisconsin, where, on the 18th of July, 1879, he married Amelia Suenther. They have since made this place their home, and have been blessed with one child, Minnie. Mr. Hanf is Clerk of his school district.
EUMENES JENNINGS was born in Jefferson county, New York, on the 6th of July, 1819. He grew to manhood and was married in his native State to Miss L. C. Haskins, the ceremony dating the 24th of October, 1842. In July, 1858, they removed to Illinois, locating in Antioch, Lake county, where they remained until coming to Minnesota in the spring of 1861. They first lived in Olmsted county one year, then came to Pickerel Lake and settled in section two. The following September they returned to Illinois, but in the spring of 1865 again sought a home in this township where they have since remained. Of a family of nine children, seven are living. Mr. Jennings was elected Town Treasurer at the first town meeting, which, was in the fall of 1865, and re-elected the following year. He now devotes his entire time to the improvement of his home.
G. H. KENERSON was born in New Hampshire in 1841, and lived in his native State, attending school until seven years old. He then removed with his parents to Troy, New York, and six years after to Galesville, Washington county, in both of which places he attended school. In 1859, he came to Fall River, Columbia county. Wisconsin, and completed his education. In the fall of 1860 he removed to Mower county. Minnesota, and followed farming until 1875, then engaged in the grain business, buying and shipping. He was married on the 1st of January, 1868, to Martha Williams. She was born in Branch county, Michigan, and when fourteen years of age removed with her parents to Mower county, where she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Kenerson have had five children, of whom three are living: Era A., aged thirteen years: Roy and Ray, twins, aged seven years; Jessie died in infancy, and Daniel at the age of two years and five months. Mr. Kenerson's mother died in Troy, New York, at the age of thirty, and his father in Rochester, in this State, in 1878, when seventy-five vears old. Mrs
Kenerson's parents reside in Dexter, Mower county, and she is the eldest of their ten children. Mr. Kenerson came to Armstrong in the fall of 1881, and is engaged in the grain business, and also owns a grocery store. He was appointed Postmaster in June. 1882.
FREDERICK LEONHARDI is a native of Illinois, born in Palos, Cook county, in 1856. When he was three years old his parents removed to Chicago, and ten years after, a short distance from there, to Lake View, where Frederick attended school six years, then clerked in the Post-office two years, and afterwards in a grocery store. In 1876. the family came to this county and settled in Nunda. The subject of this sketch was joined in marriage on the 16th of July, 1882, to Henrietta Eikhorst. She was born in Wheaton, Du Page county, Illinois, in 1864, and resided in her native place until twelve years of age. then came with her parents to Mansfield where the marriage ceremony took place. She attended school in Illinois and also in Minnesota. Mr. Leonhardi moved to Pickerel Lake and settled on a farm in the spring of 1882. His mother died in Nunda in February. 1877, and his father still lives in the latter place. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
W. C. NORTON was born in Chicago in 1834, and when four years of age removed with his family to Burlington, Wisconsin, where he was reared and educated. He was also married there to Bell Bradshaw, a native of Vermont. In the fall of 1858, they removed to Pickerel Lake, and located a farm in section thirteen which is now their home. They returned to Wisconsin after living here four years, and remained six years, since which time this piaca has claimed them as residents. They have had four children, three of whom are living: Eva C., twenty-three years of age: Cora A., eighteen; Willie A., thirteen; and Mattie C., died at the age of one year and and eight months. Mr. .Norton has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors for several terms, Town Assessor, and a member of the school board several terms.
JOHN RUBLE is one of the early settlers of the county, and a pioneer of this township, having come in the spring of 1856, and is now one of the most extensive farmers in the county. He is a native of Mirflin county, Pennsylvania, born on the 15th of September, 1827. When he was an infant his parents moved to Ohio where his father died and the sons carried on the farm for many years. Mr. Ruble was married on the 20th of August. 1849, to Miss Harrietta Fleck, and the same year came to Rock county, Wisconsin, where they resided on a farm until coming to Pickerel Lake. He first took one hundred and sixty acres about three miles from Albert Lea. and it has since been his home, but is at this period greatly (•hanged. The homestead now contains six hundred acres with fine buildings and a beautiful yard; our subject also owns a farm and milling interests in Martin county. In an early day Mr. Ruble commenced the sale of agricultural implements, in which business he has been quite successful, having an office and warerooms in Albert Lea. He has a family of ten children.
CHARLES H. RUBLE, a son of John Ruble, was born in Wisconsin on the 13th of July. 1852. He came with his parents to this township when four years old and has since made it his home. He was elected Town Clerk in 1879. and is school Director in District No. 39. He was united in marriage on the 29th of of November, 1881, with Miss Eliza Heising. Their farm is in section two and is one of the finest in the township.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER was born in Germany in 1833, received a common school education and learned the cabinet maker's trade in his native country. In 1853 he came to America and worked at his trade for two years at Batavia, New York, then came to Farmington, Iowa, and resided six years. He was married in 1860 to Julia Bruman, who was born in New Orleans, where her father was the first German Methodist preacher. She came to Iowa when young, and there received her education. Her father died when she was three years old, and her mother now lives in this State. In 1861, Mr. Schneider enlisted in Company B, of the Third Iowa Cavalry, and served sixteen months; was then discharged in Memphis, Tennessee, for disability, and returned to his home in Iowa. After a short time he removed to Pickerel Lake, and located in section seven, where he now resides. He owns three hundred and sixty-five acres of land, with two hundred improved, and has a new large brick house and a good barn. He has held every local office except constable, and is now clerk of his school district. He organized the first Sabbath school in this part of the town, himself and wife being members of the German Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider have had nine children, seven of whom are living; Emma H., aged twenty years; George A., eighteen; Matilda, twelve; Sarah C., ten; Willie K., eight; Walter S., six; and Edward H., four. Annie J. died at
the age of one year, and William F. at the age of one year and four months, and both are buried in the cemetery near their home. Emma, the oldest child became deaf from the effects of scarlet fever, and when ten years old entered the Faribault institute, and in seven years graduated.
JOHN GEORGE WIDMAN, is a native of Germany, born in 1844 and reared on a farm. He emigrated to America in 1863, located in Wisconsin and engaged in farming there nine years. He was married in 1869, to Annie Lampert, a native of that State. They came to this township in 1872, and settled in section twenty-three, which is still their home, having a farm of two hundred and ten acres. They have seven children; Margaret, aged twelve years: Katie, ten; George, eight; Annie, six; Lizzie, four; Frank, two; and Lida, an infant. Mr. Widman has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors, and a member of the school board six years. He and his wife are members of the German Methodist church.
AUGUST YOST, a native of Germany, was born on 11th of February, 1849. He emigrated to America when seventeen years old, and directly to Minnesota, locating in this township. He was employed on farms, and made his home with Christian Pestorius, until buying his present place in 1876. He was married on the 1st of December, 1869, to Mary, daughter of C. Pestorius, and they have a family of five children. Mr. Yost's farm contains two hundred acres, situated in section nineteen, and has a good frame house and barn. He is Clerk of school district No. 69.
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