Excerpted from Rekindling A Century -- Darfur, MN, 1902 - 2003

Chapter 6

Families

Willow Spring Century Farm

Christian ANACKER, and his wife, Antonia (SALZMAN) were born in Germany, he in 1847 and she in 1858. He came here from Portage, Wisconsin in 1872, to homestead 160 acres of land located in Section, 24 Selma Township, Cottonwood County, just across the Watonwan county line. The papers were recorded at the land office in Tracy and signed by President Grover Cleveland January 9, 1886. The name chosen for the farm was Willow-Spring Farm. Typically of the time, they had a variety of animals including a milk cow, pigs, sheep, horses, calves, ducks, rabbits and a flock of laying hens. At one time, they raised alfalfa, oats, corn, soybeans, and flax. Christian died in 1934 and Antonia died in 1947.

Richard Charles ANACKER was born on this acreage. His wife, Cyrenna (HAESKA) came to the Darfur area from Belle Plaine, Iowa. Richard C. was born in 1882 and died in 1951. Cyrenna was born in 1889 and died in 1964. They had six children: twins, Edward (1912 - 1912), Albert (1912 - 1941), Christian (1914 - 1927), Alfred (1923 - ), Irene (1926 - 1926) and George (1929 - ). Richard C. Farmed until 1947 when they retired to Darfur. They are both buried in the Congregational Cemetery, Comfrey.

Alfred ANACKER was born on this farm in 1923. His wife, Wilma, was born in 1925 on a sheep ranch west of Truman to Henry and Eva WOLLE. They both attended school in District 40. They were married December 6, 1948. The wedding was planned for Sunday, but due to a bad snowstorm, it was delayed until Monday. Alfred continued to live and farm the land until 1972 when they moved to a farm just east of Darfur. Henry and Ricka JOHNSON had purchased the land, located north and south of Highway 30 (old Highway 47), in 1948 from the Albert UHLHORN Estate. ANACKERs bouth it in 1966, with the exception of the old house, garage and orchard. In 1972, Vincent KAMOLZ built a new house on it and in 1975, Ricka sold the rest of the dwelling. When they moved, the game bird farm moved too! Alfred retired in 1998. Peter WATKINS rents the cropland.

Our children are Richard A., Wesley (deceased), Linda, twins, Gale and Dale (deceased), and twins, Marlene and Miles. The ANACKERs celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary 1999. Wilma is into crafts and is presently working on her 53rd full size quilt...all hand stitched.

William (Bill) and Selma ANACKER were residents of Darfur for over fifty years. Bill was the son of Christian and Antonia (SALZMAN) ANACKER and was born on the ANACKER homestead west of Darfur in Section 24, Selma Township, Cottonwood County in the year of 1899.

Selma was the daughter of Oscar and Carrie (LARSON) WALLIN and was born on their farm north of Darfur in Section 7, Adrian Township in the year 1906.

Bill attended St. James High School, Mankato Commercial College and worked for a short time in Charles City, Iowa. He became a resident of Darfur in the early 1920's. He married Selma WALLIN in 1921. In 1926, he bought into the Darfur Implement Company and was owner until mid 1960's when he retired. He built the implement building in 1947.

For twenty-one years they lived in various rented houses and in 1948 they built a new home on the north edge of Darfur, Trajan Avenue. Bill died in 1977 and Selma continued to live there until 1997 when she entered the Eventide Home in Mountain Lake. The house in Darfur was sold to Bill�s niece and her husband, LuVerne and Dick SIEFKES in August 1997. Selma died in 1999.

The ANACKERs had one daughter, Marian, who married James FREDIN. They live on a farm four miles west of Darfur. The FREDINs are the parents of three sons, Brian, Todd and Tracy.