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



One of the farmers of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, who has been a close observer of modern methods of tilling the soil and is a student of whatever pertains to his chosen life work, is William Sartorius, and he has therefore met with encouraging success all along the line. He was born in Germany, March 11, 1850, and is a son of John and Kate (Sucshen) Sartorius, both natives of Germany, where they grew up, were married, spent their active lives on a farm and died there. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Amel, Katherina, Jennie, John are all deceased; Fannie is living; William, the subject of this sketch; Margaret is deceased.

William Sartorius grew to manhood in his native land and there attended the public schools, working on his father's farm during crop seasons. He served over three years in the German army, and was with his regiment in France in 1871 during the Franco-German War, but saw no active service. He came to America in 1882 and located near Freeport, Illinois, where he remained twenty years, working out for wages eleven years and engaged in farming for himself nine years on rented land. He then removed to O'Brien county, Iowa, and rented a farm for five years, buying one hundred and fifty-nine acres in the fall of 1906, in Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, the place on which he now lives, moving here on January 10. 1907. He has added many improvements, especially to the buildings and has a good farm. In connection with general farming he raises various kinds of live stock, making a specialty of Chester White hogs and mixed Shorthorn cattle.

Mr. Sartorius was married in 1876, to Johanna Gertges, a native of Germany and a daughter of Frederick and Gertie (Meyer) Gertges, both natives of Germany where they spent their lives on a farm. To these parents seven children were born, namely: A son, who died in infancy; Helna, Anna, Gertie, Katherina, Gertrude, and Johanna, who married the subject of this sketch.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sartorius the following children were born: John and Fred both were born in Germany and died in Illinois; Kate is living; Dina died in Illinois, as did also Katherine; John is living; Fred is at home; William and Edward are the two youngest.

Mr. Sartorius and family belong to the Lutheran church.