Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Bentzin, John ************************************************ 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 22, 2014, 9:59 pm Source: See Below Author: L. A. Fritsche JOHN BENTZIN. John Bentzin, veteran flour miller, of New Ulm, this county, and still head of the John Bentzin Milling Company, though he has been practically retired from the active duties of management for several years past, having turned the mill over to his sons, William F. and Charles, in 1913, after nearly thirty-five years as an operative miller in the picturesque Cottonwood roller mills, is a native of Germany, having been born in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, fourth in order of birth of the five children born to his parents, the others having been Christian, Carl, Christina and William. John Bentzin grew to manhood in his native land and completed a thorough apprenticeship in a flour-mill there. Upon completing his army service he married Mary Wolter, a neighbor girl, and with his bride came to the United States, proceeding from their port of landing directly to New Ulm, where they have resided ever since. Upon his arrival here, John Bentzin secured employment in the old Globe mill, then a saw-mill, and was there engaged for several years, after which for a time he was employed at the Eagle saw-mill and later at the old City flour-mill, in which latter mill he worked for five years. In the meantime he had renewed the acquaintance of a boyhood chum, William Frank, who had been a miller's apprentice at the same time he was learning his trade in the old country and who had located in New Ulm in 1856, and in 1879 Mr. Bentzin and Mr. Frank erected and established the Cottonwood mill on the banks of the stream bearing that name, about two miles distant from the center of the town, which mill has ever since been performing an excellent and valuable service in this community. At first the mill was operated by water power, but the uncertainty of the source of this power caused the proprietors later to put in an engine and it has since been operated by steam. The old buhrs were supplanted by rollers in 1882, the buhrs being retained for the milling of rye flour, and other alterations have been made from time to time, conforming to the advances of the milling industry, the old Cottonwood mill ever keeping abreast of the times, and for five years it has been recognized as one of the best custom mills in this part of the state. In 1893 William Frank retired from the partnership which had so long continued, he having come to the conclusion to "take things easy" in his later days, and Mr. Bentzin then became sole owner of the mill, continuing to be ably aided in its operation by his sons, William F. and Charles. In 1895 the mill was completely remodeled, in further conformance with modern requirements, and in that year the present popular brand of flour, "Bentzin's Best," was established. It has always been the aim and pride of the proprietors to turn out a clean, pure article, unadulterated mechanically or artificially, as good as the best that can be made from the grain grown in this vicinity and incorporated in the finished produce which goes under the name of "Bentzin's Best" for the wheat flour and "Bentzin's German Rye Flour" for the rye product. The latter is still made in the old style, on mill stones, as is done in the old country, this process giving the flour and the bread made of it that fine nutty flavor and smell, so much desired by all lovers of old-fashioned rye bread. In 1913 Mr. Bentzin retired from the active management of the mill, turning the same over to the management of his sons, though he still continues to take an active interest in the business as the senior and advisory partner of the firm, which at that time was changed to the John Bentzin Milling Company. Upon retiring, Mr. and Mrs. Bentzin moved into the city and built a home on South State street, right alongside that of Mr. Bentzin's old partner, William Frank, and thus the two old cronies are inseparable in their declining years as they were in all the busy years of their earlier lives. Mr. and Mrs. Bentzin are members of the Evangelical church, in the beneficences of which they ever have taken a warm interest, and they are held in the very highest regard throughout the entire community. Three children were born to them, the sons above mentioned, and a daughter, Emily, who died when she was eight years of age. Both the Bentzin brothers were born at New Ulm and have been associated with their father in the mill ever since boyhood, thus being thoroughly familiar with all departments of the business. William F. Bentzin looks after the business and general management of the mill, while Charles Bentzin has charge of the mechanical and engineering work. The capacity of the mill is seventy-five barrels of wheat flour and twenty-five barrels of rye flour a day, besides two hundred sacks of feed a day. This report may appear small in comparison with those of the great milling plants of the city, which is a milling center, but, as William Bentzin smilingly remarked: "Our mill has capacity enough to supply the largest family with the staff of life." On June 19, 1900, William F. Bentzin was united in marriage to Rose Guth, daughter of George and Catherin (Scheible) Gnth, and to this union two children have been born, Alfred and Elfrieda. 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. 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