"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



William Juhnke, a well-known and progressive farmer of Germantown township, Cottonwood county, member of the board of supervisors of that township and otherwise actively identified with the civic life of his home community, is a native of Germany, but has lived in Minnesota since he was about a year old. He was born, on October 5, 1869, son of Fred and Augusta (Bader) Juhnke, natives of Germany, pioneers of Cottonwood county. Fred Juhnke is still living on his homestead farm in Germantown township, but his wife is dead.

Fred Juhnke was a tailor in his native land. In 1870 he and his family came to the United States and proceeded directly to the Northwest. For a year or two they made their home in Wisconsin and then came to Minnesota and settled in Cottonwood county. Fred Juhnke homesteaded eighty acres of land in Germantown township and there established his home, early becoming recognized as one of the substantial and influential farmers of that section of the county. He is still living on the old homestead farm. They were members of the German Evangelical church and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, of whom William was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Charles, Minnie, Flora, Fred, Emil, Anna, Edward, Herman and Mary.

William Juhnke was but a baby when his parents came to this country and his youth and early manhood were spent on the old homestead farm in Germantown township. He received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home there and grew up to the life of the farm, becoming an excellent farmer. As a young man he started farming on the place on which he now lives and in 1891, when twenty-two years old, bought the place, a full quarter of a section, and proceeded to improve the same. After his marriage, in 1897, he established his home on that farm and has ever since lived there, he and his family being pleasantly situated. Mr. Juhnke has made all the improvements on the place and his farm is looked upon as one of the best-kept places in that part of the county. In addition to general farming, he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well. Mr. Juhnke has for years given close attention to local political affairs and has been a member of the board of supervisors of Germantown township since the year 1900. He also has served for some years as a member of the school board.

On July 23, 1897, William Juhnke was united in marriage to Martha Utecht, and to this union four children have been born, Levi, Fred, Everett and Adell. Mr. and Mrs. Juhnke are members of the German Evangelical church and take a proper interest in the general beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works.