BIOGRAPHIES: Surnames Beginning With "U"
From the book about Wabasha Co. Minnesota
"HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY"
Compiled by Dr. L. H. Bunnell
Published Chicago by H. H. Hill, Publishers, 1884
Republished Currently by Higginson Books
War of Rebellion (Civil War)
Umbreit, Christian, (page 1104), one of Highland's prosperous farmers, was born in Germany, September 29, 1840. His parents were Henry Jacob and Henrietta (Beck) Umbreit. Christian's parents came to America with their family, consisting of eight children, when he was about the age of eleven. His father, being acquainted with agricultural pursuits, at once secured a small farm in Farmington township, Washington county, Wisconsin, and made it the family home. In the spring of 1862 Christian and Emil, his brother, bade farewell to the paternal home and came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, where Christian located a homestead on section 4, in Highland township; here he continued to reside for twelve years, when he disposed of this place and bought one hundred and eighty of Mrs. Humblin, of section 25, on which he now resides. October 3, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 1st Minn. Heavy Art., and was discharged September 27, 1865. He is independent in political matters, and a member of the Dutch Reform church, of Highland. In the autumn of 1863 he was married to Miss Eve Rheingans, also a native of Germany, where she was born in 1844. They have a family of five children, viz: Anna, born October 23, 1866; Bertha, October 24, 1868; Laura, August 28, 1870; Henry, April 1, 1876, and Erbert, August 12, 1880.
Underwood, Joseph Merritt, (page 1230), of the Jewell Nursery Co., was born in Wayne county, New York, November 10, 1845, and is a son of Daniel and Chloe (Durfee) Underwood, natives of the State of New York. In 1854 his parents removed to Illinois, and settled on a farm near Morris in Grundy county, where he passed from childhood to manhood under the influences of good educational as well industrial advantages. He came to Lake City in 1868 with his brother-in-law, Dr. P. A. Jewell, who about that time started in the nursery business, which was superintended by Mr. Underwood up to the time of the doctor's death, in 1878, when it became the property of the superintendent. In this business enterprise Mr. Underwood has demonstrated a higher order of intelligence and executive ability than is usually found among the business men of the time. To him is largely due the credit of building up to its present prosperous standing the "Jewell Nursery," and to his strict business principles and honest integrity is due his high standing among his fellow men. He was married May 4, 1871, at Winona, Minnesota, to Miss Anna B. Sargeant, a daughter of M. Wheeler Sargeant, prominently connected with and well known in the early settlement of Winona. She was born in Hampton, New York, December 9, 1847. They have but one child living, Roy, born August 15, 1867 (?). Mr. Underwood's parents sold their farm in Illinois in 1873, and came to Lake City, where the former died in 1881, aged seventy-nine years. The latter, though feeble in health, is in the seventy-sixth year of her age, and is tenderly cared for by her son above named.
Back
Return to List of Names