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New Avon Township Biographies |
Jacob Louis Balmer was born in 1821. He grew to manhood and
learned weaving in Switzerland, his birthplace. In 1864 he came to
this country; after living seven years in Brown county Minnesota, he
removed to Nicollet county, and in 1874 to New Avon, Redwood county.
Miss Mary Lei was married to Mr. Balmer in Switzerland. There are
six living children; Paul, Mary, Jacob, Louis, John and Louisa.
Paul Balmer, who is a native of Switzerland, was born June
26, 1852. He came with his parents to the United States in 1864;
lived in Brown county, Minnesota, seven years and afterwards in
Nicollet county three years; from there he came to New Avon, which
has since been his home. The marriage of Mr. Balmer with Miss Clara
Scriven took place in 1880, at Beaver Falls. They have one child,
Harry.
Valentin Bott was born in 1836 in Prussia. After leaving
school he learned the trade of moulder; immigrated to Minnesota in
1857 and worked in different parts of the state until 1861, at which
date he took a farm, in Redwood county but the Indians compelled him
to leave and he settled in Brown county. In 1872 he removed to
Redwood county, and eight years after, purchased his present farm in
Germantown, Cottonwood county; he has 480 acres. Married in 1864,
Miss Louisa Frorip. Their children are Lena, Frederick, Louisa,
Bertha, William, Valentin, Jennie, Eda, August and Edward H.
George J. Davis was born in Ohio, in 1848, and at the age of
four years accompanied his parents to Stillwater. Enlisted in 1864
in Company K, Second Minnesota cavalry and served until May 1867. In
1870 he took a claim in Avon, which has since been his home, when
there was but one house in the town. He has been supervisor,
assessor and justice. December 24, 1872, the first marriage in the
town occurred; it was that of George J. Davis and Ellen Winslow.
Their children are Cora B., Betsy, Bennie and Nettie. The father and
mother of Mr. Davis reside with him.
James C. Duncan, native of Tennessee, was born in 1832 in
Blount county. Removed to Illinois in 1850 and worked at farming
there twenty years. Since June, 1870 his home has been in New Avon,
and he has held various town offices here. In 1853 he married and
his wife died March 2, 1878. Mary S., Martha J., Sarah L., Robert
A., Eva A., John H., Dorcas I., and Charles E. are their children.
April 22, 1879 he married Mrs. Julia Blanchard, whose maiden name
was Barber. Her children were William B., Emilie E., Orpha A. Joseph
H., Rachel I., and George G.
Gottlieb Baupli, who is a native of Switzerland was born in
1847 and reared on a farm. In the year 1873 he emigrated for the
United States, and located permanently in New Avon; his farm
contains 120 acres. Mr. Hauplf’s marriage with Miss Rosina Hoffman
occurred in 1869, in Switzerland. They are the parents of five
children, whose names are Rosina, Louisa, Frederick, John and Mary.
Daniel McPhee was born in Scotland in 1848, and when he was
only one year old the family emigrated to Canada. In 1870 he removed
to Minnesota, and in June of that year he located a homestead in New
Avon, where he now own 320 acres of land. He was among the early
settlers of the town and has served in several different offices.
Mr. McPhee married in 1877, Miss A. Barnum. Two children have been
born to them: Anna M. and Elizabeth.
John W. Simning was born in Canada, in 1825 and was married
there in 1848. His wife was Miss Mary A. Crump. In 1872 he emigrated
to Minnesota and worked at farming in Goodhue county six years, then
came to New Avon and bought 160 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Simning
have nine living children: William, Shedrick, James, Levi, Ellen,
Sarah, Peter, Hannah and George.
J. S. Towle was born in Avon, Franklin county, Maine. He went
to Green Lake county, Wisconsin in 1862 and was employed in farming
there seven years; removed to Olmsted county. Minnesota, in 1869,
but the next year located at his present home in New Avon and in
1871 brought his family. Mr. Towle has held numerous town offices
and is now postmaster here. In 1857 he was united in marriage with
Miss B. Horn, who has borne him four children; they have lost one,
Minnie J. The living are: Emma, William L. and Ada M.
J. J. Werder, a native of Switzerland, was born in 1840, and
brought up on a farm; he also, for a number of years, conducted a
hotel and flouring mill. In 1869 he came to this state; lived three
years near Redwood Falls then, in 1872, came to New Avon, where he
owns a farm of 160 acres. His wife was Miss Annie Haupli who was
born in 1843: they were married in 1864 in Switzerland. Louisa,
Herman G., John E. and Julia A are their children.
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