MN AHGP Archives-Sibley Co. 1882 Bios
Sibley County biographies from the 1882 History of the Minnesota Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota
Village of Henderson
Lieutenant John S. Allanson, son of J. S. Allanson, one of the first graduates of West Point in 1813, was born in Farmington, Massachusetts. He was educated at Cambridge and afterwards became tutor of mathematics and drawing in Boston. For several years he was employed by the government in surveying and engineering. Was an officer in the navy about three years, and then became lieutenant in the Second Massachusetts heavy artillery, also served, with the same rank, in the First New York engineers. After being mustered out in June, 1865, he became assistant engineer for the Union Pacific railroad company. From April, 1867, until November, 1870, he was first lieutenant of the Twelfth United States infantry. He resigned and entered a piece of land near Brown's Valley: then, after passing one year in Georgia, he located in Henderson. Since living here, Mr. Allanson has served one term as county surveyor. Married in December, 1869, Ellen Brown. Their children are George G.. Henry G. and Mary E.
F. J. Altnow was born April 28, 1851, in Germany. The family came to the United States when he was a child and located at Dryden, Sibley county; he lived on a farm until twenty-seven years of age, then traveled three years selling agricultural implements. In December, 1880, he opened the Merchants Hotel in company with Charles Uecker, who was born January, 1860, at Faribault, and in 1877 came to Henderson: since April, 1881, Mr. Altnow has been sole proprietor, with H. J. Altnow, his brother, as manager.
S. W. Bennett was born in 1842 in New York. In 1865 he went to St. Paul and taught school five years; removed to Henderson in the autumn of 1870 and after teaching two years, was elected county superintendent which position he filled until the fall of 1879: since January, 1875 he has been postmaster. Mr. Bennett enlisted in 1864, in
the Fifth Wisconsin and served one year.
Camille Bisson was born in 1856, on the island of Jersey. He accompanied the family to America in 1858 and lived in Jessenland, Sibley county until 1865, when they returned to Europe, but in 1876 he came again to the United States and settled in Henderson, where he has since resided. Mr. Bisson is a machinist by trade.
H. Bisson, a native of France, was born in 1841, in Paris. In 1856 he immigrated to Henderson, and for thirteen years was steamboat engineer on the river. During the Sioux war he served under General Sibley. In 1869 he went back to the old country, but returned seven years later and has since been engineer in the Eclipse mill.
A. F. Biasing was born in 1838, and learned the tailors' trade which he followed three years in Germany, his birth place. In 1855 he came to America, pre-empted 160 acres of land in Henderson, and for two years worked at farming. Since 1865 he has been in business for himself at his present location. Mr. Biasing was married in 1865, to Frances Goebel. Seven of their eight children are living.
E. Bolink, a native of Holland, was born in 1845 and since 1872 has been a resident of the United States. After one year passed in St. Paul, he came, in 1873, to Henderson, and until 1879 was employed as clerk in a drug store: since that time he has been engaged in the drug business for himself.
Patrick Bray, a native of Ireland, was born in 1830, and in 1847 came to America; he located in Binghamton, New York; migrated to Faxon, Sibley county, and worked at farming until 1862, at which time he went to Montana, where he engaged in mining and dealing in cattle. Returned to Faxon in 1867 and since March, 1869, has been sheriff of the county.
Adam Buck was born October 12,1830, in Germany ; after leaving common school he attended college two years and graduated. He followed painting five years and then served three years in the German army. In 1851 he came to Minnesota and after painting one year in St. Paul he preempted 160 acres of land in Sibley county, and farmed five years. He was elected to the state legislature in 1861, and in 1862 assisted in organizing a company to put down the Indian outbreak; he afterward resigned his position as first lieutenant, and coming to Henderson, opened a drug store. In August, 1864, he raised Company A, of the 11th Minnesota, and served through the remainder of the war as their captain. Returned to Henderson and opened a hotel which he ran two years. In 1865 he was elected to the senate; in 1868 was chosen as a member of the house, and was re-elected in 1870; during this time he was also civil engineer and county surveyor, which position he held until 1879. Married in 1854 to Eliza Koehler, who has borne him eight children; five are living.
Charles F. Burger was born in 1846 in Baden, Germany. He attended common school and then entered college, from which he graduated with honor. After clerking for some time he spent over four years in the study of pharmacy, and then clerked in a drug store six years. Came to America in 1876 and was in the drug business at Milwaukee until 1880; passed a short time in St. Paul, and since March, 1881, has had charge of Sigler's drug store, at Henderson. Married in 1881 Amelia Knaus.
Jesse Cameraud was born August 17,1824. He attended school, worked at farming and the carpenter's trade in Canada, his native country, until 1846 when he moved to Saratoga Springs, and eighteen months later to Providence, Rhode Island; subsequently he was for a short time in New York, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Dubuque and Chicago. In 1851 he migrated to St. Paul, and in May of the following year came to Henderson; he pre-empted 160 acres of land. He is the oldest settler in Sibley county. Mr. Cameraud married in 1858 Hannah Gabriel. Of their five children three are living.
Christ. Didra, a native of Germany, was born August 3, 1827; he learned the trade of clock-maker at which he worked until twenty-one years of age. In 1854 he came to America; lived at Dubuque one year, then came to Henderson and claimed 160 acres of land which he afterward sold and engaged in the butcher's business. He enlisted in Company H, First Minnesota artillery, and in 1865 was mustered out as first lieutenant. Returned and continued the butcher trade until 1871. He has served as postmaster, county auditor four years, and United States collector the same length of time. March 21, 1860 he married Eliza Buck. They have lost two children and have seven living.
William Dodge, M. D., was born April 24,1857, in Grant county, Wisconsin. In 1877 he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, and the year following graduated at Keokuk, Iowa, after which he practiced in his profession three years at St. James, Minnesota; in March, 1881, he located in Henderson with a view of making this his permanent home. He was united in marriage in 1877 with Rosa A., daughter of Richard J. Simpson, of Yorkshire, England. They have two children, William and Laura J. Dr. Dodge is a member of a family whose father, grandfather and great grandfather were eminent physicians; his father graduated at Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and was one of the early settlers of Grant county, Wisconsin.
William Dretchko was born November 2, 1849, in Prussia, and when young came with his parents to Henderson. He attended school and worked at farming; during the Indian outbreak he had charge of cattle, and then for twelve years was employed on the plains herding. Afterward he learned the tinsmith's trade, which he followed three years; also went up the Red River surveying with Adam Buck, and for a number of years sold farm machinery. In 1879 he began the tin and hardware business at Henderson. He served one year as marshal and was afterward under Mr. Frankenfield as United States custom inspector. Married in 1873 Louisa Korth. They have two living children. His father, Andrew Dretchko, enlisted in 1861 and was killed in 1863 at the battle of Mill Spring.
G. D. Emery, born at Northfield, Minnesota, December 26. 1855, was the first white child born in Rice county. September, 1869, he entered the Shattuck Military Institute at Faribault, but ill-health compelled him to discontinue his studies in February, 1873; the following May he went to Minneapolis, and for nine months worked in a grocery store. From the spring of 1874 until 1876 he read law at Northfield, and in September, 1877, was admitted to the bar at Le Sueur Centre; he was county attorney of Le Sueur county from 1879 until 1881, when he opened his law-office at Henderson. His father came from New York to Northfield in 1855.
Christian Enes was born in 1855, and lived in Milwaukee, his native city, until 1879, at which date he came to Henderson and erected the Milwaukee brewery, which has a capacity of twenty-five barrels per day. Mr. Enes' father was in the brewing business at Milwaukee twenty-seven years.
D. Feldmann, a native of Missouri, was born December 17, 1850, in Benton county. In 1861 he moved with his parents to Sibley county, Minn., and was employed in farming six years; afterward came to Henderson and learned the wagon-makers trade, at which he worked until 1879, and since that date has been iu the lumber business; the firm name is Feldmann Brothers. Mr. Feldmann's marriage occurred June 10, 1877, with Miss E. Mader. They have two children.
Patrick Flinn was born in 1815, the 17th of March. After leaving school he spent seven years learning carriage-making, and then continued working at the trade five years in Ireland, his native country; also followed that business in London for five years. In 1840 he came to America, but shortly after returned to Ireland, and at the expiration of one year immigrated to Wisconsin, where he took 160 acres of land: after farming there seven years he came to Minnesota and took a farm in Sibley county: for the past ten years he has not been actively engaged in business. In 1851 he married, but in 1870 his wife died; Miss Kehoe became his second wife. He is the father of twelve children, of whom nine are living.
B. Frank, born August 6, 1830, is a native of Prussia. In July, 1867, he came to the United States, and lived at St. Peter until the autumn of the year following, when he removed to Henderson. While living in the old country he learned blacksmithing, and has continued in that business since coming to America: in 1871 he erected the shop where he now carries on his trade.
John Gerken was born November 11, 1842, in Germany. Immigrated to St. Louis with his parents in 1848, and one year later removed to Ben-ton county, Missouri. Left school at the age of fourteen and learned wagon-making, at which he worked there until 1859, and afterward in Sibley county, this state. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, Seventh Minnesota; after serving three years was honorably discharged and returned to Henderson. He worked at his trade in St. Paul three years, and one year in St. Cloud. In 1873 he was elected mayor of Henderson, and filled that office five years: also served four years as county treasurer: since1880 he has been bookkeeper for Meara and Whitford. Married in 1867 Ernestine Griesbach. Louis, William, Clara and Ida are their children. Albert, born November 21, 1868. died May 16, 1870.
Otto Goebel, son of Henry Goebel, was born in 1844 in Germany, and when a child accompanied his parents to the United States. They located in Chicago in 1854. and in the fall of the year following removed to Henderson; he was in the shoe-making business with his father the greater part of the time until 1870. then was employed in different boot an'l shoe manufactories of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago and St. Louis: in 1878 he returned to Henderson and entered business with his father.
Charles Groshong, born in 1851, is a native of Illinois, but while a child came with his parents to Minnesota and located at Sand Creek, Scott county. In 1866 he removed to Dryden, Sibley county, and engaged in farming until the fall of 1880, when he opened a saloon in Henderson.
E. B. Haney. a native of New Brunswick, was born November 8, 1841, at St. Johns. In October, 1856, he came to Henderson, and was freighting oh the plains in the employ of the government until 1867; from that date until 1870 he followed that business on the Missouri and Red rivers: in 1872 he began in the livery and freight business at Henderson; since February, 1874, he has been an agent for the American Express Company. Mr. Haney participated in the expeditions against the Indians with Generals Sibley and Sully.
Charles S. Harris was born February 1, 1857, in Iowa. When but two years of age he went with his parents to Kansas, where his father took a farm, and he attended school until sixteen years old. He returned to Iowa and learned the business of an engineer; after buying wheat for the Minneapolis millers about one and one-half years, he had charge of an elevator at Sioux City four months; since that time he has superintended the elevator at Henderson for the St. Paul & Sioux City railroad company. In 1880 Lydia Dell became the wife of Mr. Harris.
Stanislaus Heberle is a native of Germany, where he was born November 11, 1826, and since June, 1851, he has been a resident of the United States. After living in New York about six months he removed to Goshen, Indiana, and four years later came to Henderson; he took a homestead on section 6, which he still owns, but since 1865 has been a resident of the city of Henderson, engaged at wagon-making. While living on his farm a tornado unroofed his house.
August Hedtke was born in 1847, and learned blacksmithing in Prussia, his native land. ln 1860 he came to America and lived at Dalgren, Carver county, Minnesota, until removing to Arlington, Sibley county, in 1872; since April, 1876, he has been a resident of Henderson. Mr. Hedtke has worked at the trade of blacksmith since he has lived in this country.
Charles Hemberle, deceased, was born in 1830, in Baden, Germany, and in 1853 emigrated to America. Until 1868 he lived in Indiana: at that time he came to Henderson and built the McClellan House, which in 1872 was enlarged and refitted. He practiced as a veterinary surgeon both in the old country and since coming to the United States. In the summer of 1881 Mr. Hemberle was killed by the cars in St. Paul.
John H. Henneberg was born December 29, 1804, and for twenty-four years worked in Germany, his birthplace, in the hardware business. In 1812 he immigrated to Missouri, where he worked ten years at blacksmithing. then removed to St. Paul and pre-empted a farm; three years later he came to Henderson: for a number of years he was in the real estate business here, then went to Montana and farmed three years, but returned to his home in Henderson. Mr. Henneberg was elected county treasurer in 1856 and served four years. His first wife died in 1867, and he married Albertin Knies. They have one child living.
Rudolf Herrmann was born March 17, 1851, in Baden, Germany. His father, Joseph Herrmann. came to the United States in 1854, and in 1858 the family came; they located in Henderson. and the father built a saw-mill, which he operated until his death in 1874; since then the son has run it, and in 1876 added furniture manufacturing, but discontinued it one year later.
H. Jorgenson, a native of Denmark, was born in 1841. Upon coming to this country they located at Neenah, Wisconsin, but in 1869 removed to Henderson. In 1877 he built a feed-mill, which contains one run of stone and one corn-sheller; also has machinery for manufacturing furniture. The greater part of the time since coming to America Mr. Jorgenson has been in the furniture business.
Charles Keller was born in 1834 in Germany, and in 1854 emigrated to the United States. He lived in St. Paul, where he was employed as clerk in a store until 1859, at which date he came to Henderson, and for three years kept boarding-house. In 1862 he opened a general store, and in connection with this business is engaged in buying and selling wheat.
Michael Kelly, born in 1840, is a native of Ireland. He came to America in 1852, and lived at Bennington, Vermont, until removing to St. Paul in 1864; he then worked ten years as traveling salesman. In 1874 he went to Blakely, and after being employed by the railroad company about four years he came to Henderson, where he is in the hotel and livery business; is the proprietor of the Kelly House.
E. A. Kiene was born February 20, 1836. in Germany. After leaving school he was in the hotel business five years, and then came to America; he passed a short time in New Orleans, in Texas and in Cairo, Illinois; afterward went to Missouri and learned the wheelwright's trade, at which he worked two years. In 1860 he enlisted in the Fourth Missouri, and afterward served one year as orderly sergeant in the independent reserve corps. After working one year at St. Louis he went to St. Paul and thence to Osseo: since 1869 he has worked at his trade in Henderson. He has held town offices for a number of years: justice of the peace, alderman, town treasurer and a member of the school board. Married in 1864, Miss M. Behning. They have nine living children.
Louis Kill was born August 22, 1822, in Germany. In 1852 he came to America; after traveling through Wisconsin and Illinois he went to Oregon and California: lived sixteen years in the latter state engaged in mining; also made a trip to Europe, lasting about six months: since 1870 he has been in Henderson, where he has a saloon and billiard hall. In 1874 he was united in rnarriage with Emma Hanft, who has borne him two children.
Sylvester Kipp was born in 1845 at Bovina, New York. In 1868 he removed to Frontenac, Minnesota, where he taught school one term, and in December of the same year came to Henderson. Mr. Kipp graduated in 1863 from the Delaware Academy at Delhi, New York, and in 1868 was admitted to the bar at Binghamton, New York.
Orin Kipp, attorney at law, is a native of New York, born in 1848 at Bovina, Delaware county. He graduated at the Deposit Academy, and in 1868 was admitted to practice.
J. P. Kirby was born August 6, 1838, in Ireland, but when a child he came to America with his parents. Lived in Pennsylvania until 1856, then made a claim in New Auburn, Sibley county, and lived there until the late rebellion; he enlisted in Company I, Third Minnesota; was commissioned second lieutenant and transferred to Company K; he served four years, being for a time in the Indian war; at the battle of Wood Lake he received wounds from which he still suffers. Mr. Kirby returned to his farm and lived until 1875, when he was elected judge of probate, which position he still holds.
Friedrich Korth was born May 25, 1824, in Prussia, and in 1844 came with his parents to
America. After staying a short time at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he removed to Watertown, where, July 6,1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wiegand. In 1855 he came to Henderson. Mr. Korth was in the employ of the government in 1862 at Fort Ridgely. and during the Indian troubles of that year was badly wounded; after his recovery he served a year longer and then became proprietor of the Minnesota House, of this place, and continued in the hotel business eight vears. He has since been engaged as agent for the Sprague firm. Mr. and Mrs. Korth have eleven children.
A. A. Lawson, a native of New York, was born in the year 1849, at Massena. In 1869 he came to Minnesota; lived three months at Dundas, eight months at Oxford, and then made Kasota his home for about four years; after living in St.Peter one year he removed in 1877 to Henderson and commenced work in the Eclipse mill where he has, since D33ember, 1873, occupied the position of head miller.
H. C. Leonard, M. D., was born in the year 1849 in North Carolina. In 1860 came to Minnesota and lived at Sumner, Fillmore county; entered the State University at Minneapolis in 1869, and in 1875 he graduated; then studied medicine at the Hahnemann College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in March, 1878; commenced practice at St. Paul in July of the same year, but in November removed to Henderson. Dr. Leonard was the first homeopathic physician in the place.
B. G. Lesher was born in Dauphin, Pennsylvania, in 1828. He came to Henderson in 1854 and kept the Valley Hotel for the next two years. He then ran a ferry between Henderson and East Henderson. In 1857 started a ferry between Henderson and Le Sueur, which he ran five years, then rented it; the ferry was run under Mr. Leshers charter for five years after he rented it. He then went to Tennessee and to Kansas; returned in 1864, and has since been engaged in contracting and building. Mr. Lesher was a member of the first board of commissioners for Sibley county.
Fred Manuel was born in Lower Canada, December 21, 1846. Came to Henderson in 1856, and lived on a farm. In 1862 enlisted in Tenth Minnesota infantry and served three years. In 1866 went to Montana and engaged in mining until 1878 when he returned to Henderson and has since resided there. His business is dealing in real estate and loaning money.
Herman Matthei. a native of Prussia, was born November 22, 1833. In 1856 he came to Wisconsin and two years later made a trip to Pike's Peak. Visited various cities, and while coming north from New Orleans was detained for a time as a prisoner
by the rebels. He came to Henderson in 1863; was foreman of a brickyard at Minneapolis and then started a brickyard at Henderson. Married in 1867 Miss Hoskorden, and has four children living.
William Maurer was born in Germany in 1824. Served three vears at the blacksmith's trade and traveled for two years; served six years in the German army, during which he received several wounds. In 1855 came to Chicago and one year later to Henderson; made a claim of 160 acres in Dryden township. In 1858 went among the Indians at Yellow Medicine, and remained three years. In 1862 helped to raise a company for service against Indians, and later enlisted in the Seventh infantry, Company H. Received his discharge in 1865 and for eleven years engaged in farming. He has held numerous town offices in Dryden; has been county commissioner, register of deeds, and is now clerk for the borough of Henderson. Married in 1856, Miss Wilhelmine who has borne him five children, three of whom are living.
Peter Mergens, a native of Germany, was born in 1848; came to the United States in 1867 and for two years lived in Chicago; made Madison, Wisconsin, his home for two years, then came to Shakopee, Minnesota, where he worked at blacksmithing until 1872. Was in Belle Plaine one year, then came to Henderson and has since carried on blacksmith business.
John Mintkiewitz was born in Prussia, May 1, 1843. Attended school, and farmed six years; served in the German army three years; came to America in 1867 and to Henderson the same year. In 1875 he engaged in general merchandising for himself and has since continued. Married in 1867 Miss Protriky; of eight children six are living.
Edward Moore was born in Queen's county, Ireland in 1811. He learned weaving, serving seven years at the trade. Resided in England fifteen years and came to America in 1843; was in the saloon business in Philadelphia for ten years. In 1858 came to Henderson and opened a grocery and saloon; he had previously pre-empted eighty acres of land in Green Isle. In 1862 he lost a leg, a timber falling on it. Mr. Moore married Mary Cocklin in 1832, by whom he had nine children, five of whom are living. She died in 1867 and in 1868 he married Mary O'Toole.
Lawrence Oberst, a native of Germany, was born in 1819 and since 1850 has been a resident
of America; he lived in the states of New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin until 1854; from that time to 1863 he was on his claim in Jessenland, Sibley county; has since resided in Henderson. He is proprietor of a saloon and also is engaged in buying cattle which he sells at the copper mines of Lake Superior.
Daniel Pickit was born November 22, 1839 in St. Lawrence county, New York. He graduated from William college, Massachusetts with the class of 1863 and also from the Albany law school in the spring of 1865. The year following he was admitted to practice in Massachusetts; came to Henderson the same year, was admitted to the bar of this state and commenced practice here. He has served as county attorney of Sibley county several terms, also as county superintendent of schools; since January, 1877 he has been register of deeds, and is editor and proprietor of the Sibley county Independent,which was first issued in April, 1873. Mr. Pickit has prepared and owns a full set of abstracts of which the county has free use.
H. Rahing was born in 1846 in Germany where he attended school and for two years worked in a hotel. In 1864 he came to America and the same year enlisted in Company E, First Minnesota heavy artillery; at the close of the war he was honorably discharged. After farming a time he worked in a hotel four years and then in a store; since 1879 he has been in charge of Mr. Oberst's saloon. Miss Meyert became his wife in 1870. Four of the five children born to them are living.
Hon. Henry Poehler was born in 1833, in Germany. In 1848 he accompanied an uncle to Burlington, Iowa, and worked on a farm four and one-half years. In May, 1853 he migrated to St. Paul and the next year to Henderson; until April 1855 he was employed as a clerk at a trading post, then commenced business in general merchandise. He first erected a frame building, then one of brick, which he was afterwards compelled to enlarge, and is now having an increasing and prosperous trade. In 1857 he was chosen by McLeod and Sibley counties to the first state legislature; in 1856 was elected from Sibley and Nicollet counties, and and in 1871 went to the state senate, and served two years; in 1875 he was re-elected and again served two years; the Second district of Minnesota chose him in 1878. as a representative to the United States congress and he served until March, 1881. Married in 1861 Miss Frankenfield, of
Pennsylvania. They have had six children, five are living.
Fidel Schafer was born in 1835 and while living in his native land, Germany, learned the business of a cooper. In the year 1868 he emigrated to the United States and located at Henderson; since i coming to this country he has worked at his trade and now manufactures the barrels used at the Milwaukee brewery of this place.
H. J. Seigneuret, M. D., was born at Fontaine-bleau, France, March 7, 1819, practicing physician and surgeon at Henderson, Sibley county, Minnesota. Dr. H. J. Seigneuret has evidently had so far a very eventful life. Having begun his classic studies in a Catholic institution at his birth place, he went to Paris at the age of thirteen, and at the College Charlemagne completed his collegiate education, graduating at the age of seventeen for the collegiate course. He matriculated immediately for the five years course of medical lectures of the Academy of Paris, passed successfully the first grade at the age of twenty-two, received his diploma from the professors of the Academy of Paris and University of France in 1841, the same countersigned by Professor Orfila, then dean of the faculty of medicine of Paris. This was subsequently confirmed in this country by the American University, of Philadelphia, who on January 7, 1868, granted also to H. J. Seigneuret the diploma of M. D.) During his student life he got acquainted with ardent republicans, was a fellow of the secret society of Eights of Man, participated in two aborted republican insurrections against King Louis Philippe, and pushed by ambitious aspirations to become a politician concluded to set aside the practice of medicine and matriculated at the school of law of Paris for the course of three years, and graduated at that school in March, 1846. In the same time he attended steadily all workingmen and popular meetings, public or secret, was often a speaker in these reunions, and was appointed professor of sociology of the Workingmen's Polytechnic Association, of Paris. In the revolution of February, 1848, he was with his republican friends in the barricades of the insurgents, and after the overthrow of Louis Philippe he was a redactor of the daily newspaper, the "Commune," of Paris, in copartnership with Marc Caussidiere and Sobrier. On the 14th of May, 1848, he suggested in an article of that paper that political clubs of Paris ought tc sign a petition to the national assembly in favor of oppresssed Poland, and that the presidents of the various clubs meet at the place of La Bastille and start from there to present the petition. On the l0th of May, at the appointed time and place, he found not only the presidents of clubs, but over 300,000 of the clubbists crowd marching toward the assembly national, fifty men front and about three miles long. Vainly the sober leader tried to stop this avalanche of enthusiastic men, they were singing the Marseillaise hymn and marching along like a torrent of burning lava coming from a volcano. They forced the guards, invaded the assembly, whose members losing control of their high character and probably afraid of popular violence, ran away from their seats and seemed to abandon their offices to this exalted mass of men. One Hubert then pronounced the national assembly dissolved and adjourned the crowd to the Hotel de Ville for the formation of a provisionally government. The people went home mostly, the national guard rallied; they surrounded the Hotel de Ville and captured there the new government with the doctor as one of the secretaries. The doctor escaped though by the collusion of Caussidiere, the prefect of police in the charge of whom he was trusted. The doctor went direct to the Faubourg St. Denis, one place of red republicanism, and was elected brigadier of the national work shop of La Chapelle St. Denis by the workingmen, and no police officer dared to arrest him in this stronghold, though his name was called before the high court of ; Bourges under the accusation of high treason. He stood there until the insurrection of June, 1848, when he threw himself and all the men of his brigade into the barricades of the Faubourg St. Denis, and those of the Clos St. Lazarre where raged a furious fight for four days and five nights. At last being very nearly overpowered by the continually increasing assailants and the unrepaired losses by death, wounds and desertions, the commanders of the barricades after a council of war broke their command and evacuated their fortified position on the night of the 27th of June. The troops entered the barricades on the 28th at noon, and captured only a few wounded who could not be removed before evacuation. The doctor succeeded in escaping from France and went on the Island of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, wherein the month of April, 1849, he heard of his condemnation by the high political court to the penalty of deportation, a queer French punishment by which a man during his natural life is considered as really dead, his property distributed among his heirs, his marriage ties dissolved as by death, and in fact acted upon as if he were a corpse, though chained in a dungeon if he could be caught. In Jersey the doctor resumed the practice of medicine, and started also a printing office for revolutionary propaganda. He founded the "Jersey Press,"' a weekly paper, for the natives of the island, and wrote for them and published the history of that remarkable little republic since the time it was a college of Druids, whose Celtic monuments were by him discovered in quite a number. The revolutionary committee, of which the doctor was president, started also a political French paper, the sentinel of the people, which was distributed in Paris and in the western part of France, to the live republicans. This last publication continued until the coup d'etat of Bonaparte, on December 2, 1851, when it ended by a call to arms to resist the usurpation of Bonaparte. The committee landed in France and were the bearers and distributors of the call though their heads had a set price if they could be captured or shot. This call and risk proved a failure; the people paralyzed by the audacity of Bonaparte, remained quiet and acquiesced by vote to the doing of Bonaparte. This somnolence compelled the committee to return in disgust to Jersey, and the doctor after a couple of years more of waiting for a reveille, thought best to let the French people sleep as long as they would and went to the live country of the United States, and landed at Henderson, Sibley county, Minnesota, on September 21,1854, where he continued the practice of medicine; he was at the organization of the county in November, 1854.
In 1862, when the Sioux Indian outbreak took place in Minnesota, he was appointed brigade surgeon of the expedition with General Sibley, and went through all that campaign until its close, by the capture of the Indians and the rescue of the white captives. After the engagement, and particularly after the battle of Wood Lake, the doctor received flattering praise from his general on the field, re-echoed by general order No. 10, of General Pope, commanding at headquarters. Out of the 400 male Indians, thirty-eight were selected by President Lincoln, from court martial records, for execution. Here is a literal copy of the certificate of the doctor, addressed to General Sibley. and by this last officer sent to President Lincoln:
Indian Expedition Headquarters at Mankato. Minnesota. Dec. 26, 1862.
The undersigned this day witnessed the execution by hanging of the above named Indians and half-breeds, and after due examination of the bodies certifies that they are severally dead.
H. J. SEIGNEURET M. D.,
Brigade Surgeon, Indian Expedition.
The doctor remained with the command guarding the balance of the prisoners until-May, 1863, at which time they were incarcerated in the United States prison at Davenport. He then resigned and received an honorable discharge. Two years after, in June, 1865, being offered a position in the medical service of the North-west frontier, he passed medical examination by the state military board of surgeons, and was enlisted in the Independent Battalion of Minnesota volunteer cavalry, then garrisoning the various forts and stockades of the West, and at the time of his second discharge, June 27, 1866, he was probably the only surgeon in the volunteer service, having in his charge at that time all the frontier posts and hospital property from Fort Wadsworth, Dakota, to Sauk Centre stockade, Minnesota. Then the doctor returned to his home in Henderson, where he resumed his civil practice, though his health was considerably impaired by exposure in visiting his posts during the winter of 1865-6. He is now sixty-three years old, considerably broken down in health by aggravation of his injuries in the service, and will be compelled by infirmities to give up country practice and attend only to office or city business. He has since been twelve years United States surgeon for soldiers' pensions; examining surgeon for most of the stock life insurance companies of the United States. He occupies- the same office for various brotherly associations having life insurance in their institutions, such as Free Masons. Sons of Hermann, firemen, etc. He is a full citizen of the United States, and a member of the Historical Society of Minnesota.
H. A. Seigneuret, son of H. J. Seigneuret, was born October 11, 1855, in Jessenland, Sibley county. When he was a child the family moved to Henderson, and during his early manhood he assisted his father in a drug store; he taught school in the winter of 1875-6, then was assistant county auditor until July, 1879; since which date he has been auditor.
Albert Schumacher was born December 15, 1839, in Germany. After leaving school he learned the business of confectioner, and fallowed the trade twelve years. In 1864 he came to the United States and located in Henderson; he worked in different lines of business for a time, and was a number of years in the employ of Henry Poehler; since 1878 he has kept a saloon and billiard hall. He married in 1864 Henrietta Maeder, who has borne him six children: two are deceased. William Sheridan, a native of Ohio, was born October 11, 1855, in Brown county. When he was a child the family came to Minnesota and lived on a farm in Sibley county. Since 1875 his home has been at Henderson. and he has been engaged as clerk in different county offices.
A. Stecher was born December 19, 1845, in Austria. He graduated from, high school and also from college; in 1870, came to America, entered St. Francis College, near Milwaukee, from which he graduated, and after being ordained by Arch Bishop Henni. went to Faribault where he assisted Father Sheye one and one-half years. In 1874 he came to Henderson as pastor of St. Joseph's parish. The churches of Le Sueur and Arlington have also been in his charge.
Erich Stoemach was born June 3, 1842 in Dresden, Germany, and spent the first 19 years of his life in his native land, He first came to New York and thence to Minnesota in 1870, farming in section 16 of this township. Married Sussi Truesser in 1872; five children.
John C. Stoever was born at Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1824. At the age of sixteen he entered the office of the Germantown "Telegraph'' and at twenty-three went to Chicopee, Massachusetts and edited the "Telegraph" for eight years: in 1854 he came to Minnesota and for one year edited the St. Peter Courier: in 1855 he came to Henderson and was publisher, but not editor, of the Democrat one year; since then he has been in the real estate business. During the rebellion he was paymaster of the army with headquarters at Cairo. He was appointed collector of customs at Pernbina, Dakota, by president Grant; in 1869 represented Sibly county in the state legislature. Mr. Stoever married Lucella Ludington at West Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1845; she died at Henderson in 1855, leaving one child. Elizabeth. April 15. 1856 he married Louisa E. Hirnes, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
M. B. Wilcox, a native of Monroe county, New York, was born in 1826. At the age of eight-years he removed to Ohio, where he attended school, studied medicine and graduated. After practicing there two years, he went to Kentucky and three years later to Michigan, where, in connection with his profession, he kept a drug store. In 1857 he came to Henderson; was elected clerk of the court the same year, and for twenty-three years he has faithfully discharged the duties of that office. He was united in marriage in 1854 with Susan M. Greenfield. They are the parents of thirteen children; eleven are living.
Benjamin Willson a native of New York, was born August 25, 1817, at Louisville, St. Lawrence county. He was engaged in farming until 1877, at which date he removed to Henderson and opened the Union House; he has since enlarged, refurnished and greatly improved this hotel which is 34x45 feet in size and three stories high.
Anton Witte was born in 1827 in Germany; until twenty-one years of age he lived on a farm, then served two years in the German army and afterwards worked the same length of time in a brick yard. In 1854 he came to America; lived eight months in Red Wing, a short time in St. Paul and in 1855 came to Henderson where he took 160 acres of land. He enlisted in the Seventh Minnesota; went south in 1863, and served until August, 1865; has since resided at Henderson. Married in 1855, Miss C. Hemmeberg. They have had three children and lost one.
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