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



It seems that the Swiss have a natural bent for the jewelry business. Everybody knows that there are no better watches and clocks than those of Swiss manufacture, and never has been. A theory as to why this is true would be merely speculative, but the fact remains irrefutable. Emil F. Minder, a highly skilled workman and a widely known jeweler of St. James, Watonwan county, is one of this number, he having been born in Switzerland, February 16, 1861. He is a son of John Wilhelm and Elizabeth (Voegeli) Minder, both of whom spent their lives in Switzerland, both dying in middle life, the father in 1879 at the age of forty-six years, and the mother in 1877, when forty-eight years old. They were the parents of the following children: Emma is the wife of Nicholas Zoderelle of Toledo, Ohio; Emil F., the subject of this sketch; and Louise who married in Russia, Dr. Sokolouk, whose death occurred in that country, after which she carne to Illinois, and later to St. James, Minnesota, where her death occurred in 1913, leaving one child, a daughter, Lola Sokolouk, who makes her home in St. Paul.

Emil F. Minder spent his boyhood in Switzerland, where he received his education. In 1886 he came to Rockford, Illinois, where he worked in a watch manufacturing establishment until 1894, when he came to St. James, Minnesota, where he has since been engaged in the jewelry business with pronounced success. For six months he was at the stand where the Boston store is now located, but he has since occupied convenient and neat quarters on Main street. He is a highly skilled workman, having learned his trade in Switzerland and his work has always given satisfaction in every respect.

Politically, Mr. Minder is a Republican. He is a member of Watonwan Lodge, No. 207 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modem Woodmen of America, Mutual Benefit Association and the Equitable Fraternal Union.

Mr. Minder was married in Switzerland in 1882 to Emma Sophia Hentzi, who was born in Switzerland, June 6, 1860. To this union four children have been born, namely: Emil George, born in Switzerland; Georgine Blanche, born in Switzerland; Helen Louise, born in Switzerland; and Paul Louis, born in Rockford, Illinois. They all survive at this writing. Emil George Minder, who is located at Slayton, Minnesota, is chief engineer of the southern district of the state. Paul Louis, also of Slayton is now state's highway engineer.

Mrs. Mary Minder, Emil's grandmother, died in Switzerland in 1912 at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. Arnold Minder, his uncle, who was an engineer in Switzerland, had charge of the railroads there for some time. He built the famous Rega railway, a feat that was formerly deemed impossible. The ancestors on both sides of the house have been educators, many of them. Mr. Minder is, himself, a man of much learning, being well versed in modern and ancient history. He has remained a student and is familiar with the world's best literature along many lines.



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