Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Backer, Fred J. 1870 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 23, 2014, 1:47 am

Source: See Below
Author: L. A. Fritsche

FRED J. BACKER.

    Fred J. Backer, well-known merchant of New Ulm, this county, doing an
extensive business in harness and leather goods generally, also an extensive
manufacturer of harness, is a native of the kingdom of Bavaria, having been born
there on June 3, 1870, son of John and Martha (Weis) Backer, natives of that
same country, who later became well-known and influential residents of this
section of Minnesota, their last days having been spent on their big farm in
Milford township, this county.

    John Backer was the youngest of the four children born to his parents, the
others having been George, Mrs. Gareis, deceased, and one who died in the old
country. His parents, who were well-to-do farming people, spent all their lives
in their native land. John Backer was reared to the life of the farm and became
a brick and tile manufacturer in Seibelsdorf, Bavaria. There he married Martha
Weis, only child of Frederick and Margaret Weis, the former of whom died in his
native land. His widow accompanied her daughter when the Backers came to
Minnesota and she died in old age at the Backer home in Milford township. It was
in 1872 that John Backer and his family came to the United States. They
proceeded directly to Minnesota upon landing and settled in Milford township,
this county, where Mr. Backer bought a fine farm of four hundred acres. There he
established his home and reared his family and there he and his wife spent their
last days, long having been regarded as among the most substantial residents of
that neighborhood.

John Backer died in 1881 and his widow survived until August 24, 1902, making
her home with her son, Fred J., for about four years before her death, she being
nearly seventy years of age at the time of her death. Both she and her husband
were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in
that faith. There were twelve of these children, namely: Fredricka, deceased,
who was the wife of Gustav Lueck; Johanna, wife of Henry Horstkorta, of
Minneapolis, this state; Kunigunda, wife of Bernhardt Knees, of Milford
township, this county; Martha, wife of William Dehn, also of Milford township;
Christian, of New Ulm; Andrew, who lived on the old homestead farm in Milford
township until the spring of 1916 when he retired and moved to New Ulm; Fred J.,
the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; David, deceased; August, of
Essig, this county; Anna, wife of Herman Meyer, of New Ulm, and two who died in
early youth in the old country.

     Fred J. Backer was about two years old when his family settled in this
county and he grew up on the home farm in Milford township, receiving his
education in the public schools. He remained at home until he was eighteen years
old and then went to New Ulm, where he learned the harness-maker's trade, which
he has followed ever since, having been in business for himself since 1892. Mr.
Backer carries an extensive stock of light and heavy harness and all kinds of
horse goods, as well as a full and complete line of trunks, valises, robes and
leather goods generally and does a flourishing business, being regarded as one
of the leading merchants in his line in this part of the state. He takes an
active interest in the general commercial life of the community and is one of
the directors of the State Bank of New Ulm. During the terrific cyclone which
swept this section in 1881 Mr. Backer, then an active boy of eleven, received a
serious injury and he has always regarded it as a little less than a miracle
that he was not killed. A good-sized piece of board was driven by the force of
the wind clear through his right leg, but fortunately careful nursing brought
him through without the loss of his leg.

     On January 13, 1898, Fred J. Backer was united in marriage to Emma Buenger,
who was born in New Ulm, daughter of Louis and Henrietta (Ipps) Buenger,
well-known residents of this community, a detailed history of which interesting
family in this county is set out in a biographical sketch relating to Emil
Buenger, presented elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children have
been born, Martha and Alfa. Mr. and Mrs. Backer are members of the Lutheran
church and are warmly interested in the various beneficences of that
organization, being held in high esteem by their many friends hereabout. Mr.
Backer is a member of the famous Second Regiment band at New Ulm and is a
musician of considerable ability. He is "independent" in his political views,
regarding the man as of importance than the mere party emblem, when it comes to
local elections, and tries to do his full part as a citizen and as a neighbor.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/brown/bios/backer362gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/

File size: 5.5 Kb