Albert George Scherf

As printed in 1909

Albert George Scherf, a progressive and prosperous jeweler of Red Wing, is a native of this county, born December 20, 1862. in Hay Creek township. His father was Anton Scherf, and his mother, Elizabeth E. Kattergrolin, whose brother and a Mr. Barnes were the first men to make brick in the city of Red Wing. The father was a native of the Black Forest district, in Germany, and the mother was born in "Westphalia. Germany. Anton Scherf came to this country in 1852, and for a time worked with his brother on the famous first suspension bridge across the Niagara, coming to Wacoota in 1851, where he engaged in steamboating and rating on the Mississippi river, continuing for several years. In 1860, he pre-empted 160 acres at Hay Creek, and to this added from time to time until he was the proud possessor of 593 acres of rich land, all in one farm and mostly under cultivation. There he continued farming until 1903, when he moved to Red Wing, where he and Mrs. Scherf are living, but still owning the old homestead in Hay Creek. They were married at Red Wing, November 2, 1861. Albert G. attended the district schools of Hay Creek, and after one year at the high school of Red Wing, took a four months course at the Curtiss Business College of Minneapolis, after which he entered Wesleyan University of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, graduating in 1890. Thus equipped, with an excellent education, he taught school twro years in his native town, and for a time acted as agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company. His next occupation was as representatnre of the "Human World," of St. Paul, for which he was manager one year. He subsequently worked on his father's farm eight years. In 1901, while on the farm, he was sent to the legislature from the Red Wing district, and at about the same time, in partnership with his brother, Fred A., opened a hardware and farming implement tablishment on Bush street, which was sold to Augustine >.v "Wilson in 1907. 3Ir. Scherf moved his family to Red Wing in 1904. In June, 1905, he launched in the jewelry business on Third street, where he has;i large business. He also owns 200 acres of land in Hay Creek township adjoining his lather's farm. Mr. Scherf was one of the many called upon to mourn after tin- Lake Pepin disaster, July 13, 1890. His brother Martin (born in 1867). and his aunt,.Mary Scherf, together with the matter's daughter, losl their lives in that catastrophe. A sister..Matilda (' horn December 2. 1864, -lied in 1897. While at college, Mr. Scherf was captain of one of the University Cadel Corps, and a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, lie belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the United Workmen, the Royal Arcanum, the Elks, Red Men. and the Red Wink_: Commercial Club. He is an independent voter, for two years served as justice of the peace in Hay Creek, ami is at present connected with the Red Wing Telephone Company. Tiefamily religion is thai of the Methoilisi,1ml English Lutheran churches The subjed of this sketch was married in Hay Creek township May 6, 1897, to Emily Saupe, horn September <i. L872, daughter of Frederick Saupe, a native of Germany, ami an early settler of Hay Creek. To Mr. and Mrs. Scherf have been horn four children: Horace p.. horn March li. L898; Eugene P.. horn April 18, 1900; Jerome P.. horn May 2, 1903, and Ruth I) born April:i7. 1905. The children arc all a1 home.

Hon. John W. Peterson, one of the county's distinguished citizens, has been active in political, church, military ami agricultural circles. He was born March 30, 1838, in Gardsby, Sweden. the second child of his parents, who were natives of Smoland, Sweden. The father brought his family to America in l>."fi. making Ins first settlement in Chisago county, this state, two miles from Chisago City. There he established his home and raised his family on a farm of eighty acres, which he purchased soon after his arrival. In his family wenfive children. John W. attended the schools of his native land, and worked on the farm with his father, coming to America with the family at the age of eighteen years. In August, L862, he enlisted in Company I. Sixth. Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, subsequently was promoted to corporal and still later to sergeant, lie was sent from Ft. Snelling against the Sioux Indians, and was one of that heroic hand which attacked 1,500 Indians at Birch Cooley. rescuing 150 brave men who for days had been holding out against that howling mass of savages. Sergeant Peterson was with the soldiers who followed the Indians to Yellow Medicine county, -where General Sibley released 170 white women and children. The pur-

HISTOKY OF GOODHUE ( nl'N TV 1035 suit continued the dexl spring to Big Bend on the Missouri river. On December 26, L862, Sergeanl Peterson was among the soldiers who witnessed the hanging of thirty-nine of the ringleaders of tlir murderous Sioux al Mankato. Afterward he was;it Helena, Ark., as a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps, having been in the hospital several weeks. He was discharged May 1". L865. hi the spring of L865 he came to Vasa, where he and his brother-inlaw had purchased a quarter see, ion of land. Today his farm is excelled by hut few in 1 he township, his well tilled acres and fine buildings being models of their kind. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and since thai time has continued a consistent Republican, lie has been town clerk and justice of the peace as Avell as a school officer. In 1872 he was elected to the state senate and served two terms with distinction. In 1885 he was sent to the house of representatives, and in 1890 was again elected to a term in the senate. In addition to farming, he has been an auctioneer for forty years, there being few men in the state more gifted in this line than he. It is worthy of note that he recently celebrated his seventy-first birthday by holding an auction sale. For many years he was treasurer of the Swedish Lutheran church at Vasa, and as is mentioned in the history of the township which appears in this volume, took an active part in the collecting of the money to complete the splendid edifice now occupied by the congregation of that church. He has also been an active member in the G. A. R. John W. Peterson, in 1868, took as his life-partner, Carrie Johnson, daughter of Eric Johnson, of Vasa township. Five children have resulted from this union. Lizzie is the wife of William Tilderquist, a civil engineer. Arthur has been town clerk of Vasa for ten years. Edith lives at home. Elmer G. is a dentist in Duluth, this state, and Mollie married 0. F. PeQhl, who lives in Vasa. Mr. Peterson has 200 acres of land, upon which he carries on general farming and stock raising. Although past his three score and ten years, he is still in the prime of his activities, and is a fine type of the men of Swedish birth who, while honoring the traditions of their noble race, have become true American gentlemen in every sense of the word.

Seber R. Greseth is a native born son of Roscoe, wdiere he still resides, having first seen the light of day September 7, 1871. He received his education in the district schools and finished with a short course in the Red Wing Seminary. He also studied electricity for several months. In 1897 he worked for a time as a miller in Wisconsin. The greater part of his life, however, has been spent on the home farm, and for twenty-one years he has operated a threshing machine. In 1901 he took charge of the homestead, which he still manager carrying on general farming and stock raising. The farm is well under cultivation, and the crops raised are of the best. Mr. Greseth is a Republican in politics ami has been assessor of the township for the past eight years. He was married, May 15, 1902, to Thonine Thompson, daughter of Thosten and Runda (Boraas) Thompson, who came from Norway and located in AVanamingo township, where the father is still living, the mother having died in February, 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Greseth has been born one child, Regnar Theodore, December 20. 1903. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Rollof F. and Margaret (.Rolfseng) Greseth, parents <>r Seber R., were natives of Norway. The father, after coming to America, located in Roscoe township, and purchased eighty acres. This he afterward sold and purchased 280 acres in the same township, still later selling eighty acres, having a line farm of 200 acres, where the family still resides. He and his wife Mill live ou the home farm, being highly respected by their neighbors and friends

As printed in History of Goodhue County, Minnesota (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.