In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1850
From History of Goodhue County, Minnesota (1909), History of Dakota and Goodhue counties, Minnesota / (1910)
Herman Pirius, a prosperous, progressive and hard-working farmer of Minneola township, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 3, 1850, and came to America in the fall of 1869, locating in Minneola township, where he rented land and engaged in farming. In 1875 he had prospered sufficiently to purchase 160 acres in section 12. This land he developed, erected a house and outbuildings, and improved in various ways. He carries on general farming, and is said to have one of the finest quarter-section farms in the county. Mr. Pirius came to America as a poor boy, and has never had financial assistance, acquiring all he possesses by his own hard work. Although he had but little chances for acquiring an education himself, he is a thorough believe in the public school system, and has ably served district No. 94 as treasurer for many years. In addition to his farm property he is a stockholder in the Farmers' elevator, of Zumbrota. By his wife, Mary Theada, whom he married in April, 1873, Mr. Pirius has seven children — Tillie, Mary, Martha and Alvina, who are married, and Theresa. Clara and Herman, who are single. The family worships at the Lutheran Church.
Carl 0. Ring", of Minneola township, son of Andrew and Christina King, was born in Sweden. January 8, 1866. His parents were natives of Sweden, and followed farming until the death of the father. August 12, 1901. The mother still lives in Sweden at the age of eighty-seven years. Carl 0. King received his education in the common schools of the country, and worked at farming until May, 1885. when he emigrated to America. coming direct to Minnesota., and settling in Minneola township, where he was employed with the farmers until in 1891. He then rented 290 acres of land and engaged in farming for himself, carrying on general farming and stock raising. In 1899 he purchased 290 acres of this farm, which is all under cultivation. He was married December 8, 1891, to Louisa Swenson, daughter of John and Christina Swenson. natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1852. locating in Rockford, Ill., where they remained until 1855. Then they came to Minnesota and took up a claim, consisting of 160 acres of wild land in Minneola township, which they broke and prepared for cultivation, carrying on a general and diversified line of farming. He retired from farming in 1891, and died May 4. 1909. The mother died August 14, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. King have three children— Mabel E., born October 25, 1892; John R. A., born August 14. 1895, and Melvin L., born April 21, 1905.
John Starz was born in Minneola, in which township he still lives. August 22. 1864, son of Jacob J. Starz. He attended the public schools of Minneola and Zumbrota, and after finishing his education purchased 160 acres of land, on which he erected a house and built a good barn and outbuildings. He also made many other improvements, carrying on a general line of farming and raising horses and cattle. April 17. isss. Mr. Starz was married to Amelia Kalass, daughter of Christian and Sophia (Grondwold) Kalass. natives of Germany, who emigrated to America and settled in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Starz have three children— Rosina A., born January 23, 1889; Luella M., born May 20, 1893, and Harry, born June 30, 1895. The subject of this sketch is Republican in politics, and a representative man, taking great interest in the local affairs of his town. He has served as town treasurer, for the past thirteen years, as clerk of the school board for the past seven years, and also as road master and road overseer.
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.
Herman Pirius, a prosperous, progressive and hard-working farmer of Minneola toavnship, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 3, 1850, and came to America in the fall of 1869, locating in Minneola township, where he rented land and engaged in farming. In 1875 he had prospered sufficiently to purchase 160 acres in section 12. This land lie developed, erected a house and outbuildings, and improved in various ways. He carries on general farming, and is said to haA7e one of the finest quarter-section farms in the county. Mr. Pirius came to America as a poor boy, and has never had financial assistance, acquiring all he possesses by his own hard work. Although he had but little chances for acquiring an education himself, he is a thorough belieA7er in the public school system, and lias ably served district No. 94 as treasurer for many years. In addition to his farm property he is a stockholder in the Farmers’ elevator, of Zumbrota. By his wife, Mary Theada, whom he married in April, 1873, Mr. Pirius has seven children — Tillie, Mary, Martha and Alvina, who are married, and Theresa, Glara and Herman, who are single. The family Avorships at the Lutheran Church.
Carl 0. Ring, of Minneola township, son of Andrew and Christina Ring, was born in Sweden, January 8, 1866. His parents were natives of Sweden, and followed farming until the death of the father, August 12, 1904. The mother still lives in Sweden at the age of eighty-seven years. Carl 0. Ring received his education in the common schools of the country, and worked at farming until May, 1885, when he emigrated to America, coming direct to Minnesota, and settling in Minneola township, where he was employed with the farmers until in 1891. He then rented 290 acres of land and engaged in farming for himself, carrying on general farming and stock raising. In 1899 he purchased 290 acres of this farm, which is all under cultivation. He was married December 8, 1891, to Louisa Swenson, daughter of John and Christina Swenson, natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1852, locating in Rockford, Ill., where they remained until 1855. Then they came to Minnesota and took up a claim, consisting of 160 acres of wild land in Minneola township, which they broke and prepared for cultivation, carrying on a general and diversified line of farming. He retired from farming in 1891, and died May 4, 1909. The mother died August 14, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Ring have three children — Mabel E., born October 25, 1892; John R. A., born August 14, 1895, and Melvin L., born April 21, 1905.
As printed in History of Dakota and Goodhue counties, Minnesota / (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John Starz (b. 1864)
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.