Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Gaetke, John 1861 - ************************************************ 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, 7:49 pm Source: See Below Author: L. A. Fritsche JOHN GAETKE. John Gaetke. well-known farmer and stockman of Cottonwood township, this county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres situated eight miles from New Ulm, and one and one-half miles from Searles, on the main highway, is a native son of Brown county, having been born on the homestead farm where he now makes his home and where he has lived most all his life, September 15, 1861, son of Christian and Sophia (Ballou) Gaetke, natives of Germany and early settlers in Brown county. Christian Gaetke came to the United States in 1855, landing at the port of New York, whence he came West without delay, to Watertown, Wisconsin, and worked at different work for about two years, and then came to Minnesota, locating in Brown county, thus having been among the earliest settlers of this county. He homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Cottonwood township, married a daughter of one of the pioneers of that section and there established his home, spending the rest of his life on that homestead farm, his death occurring in 1895. To him and his wife three children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest, the others being Louis and Caroline. John Gaetke grew to manhood on the homestead farm on which he still lives and assisted very materially in the development of the same. He quit school when thirteen years of age and thereafter devoted himself to the assistance of his father. After his father's death he assumed the management of the farm and remained there until 1897, in which year he moved to New Ulm, where he remained for six years. He then bought the interests of the other heirs in the home farm and returned there and has made that place his home ever since. Mr. Gaetke has added about three thousand dollars worth of improvements to the place and in 1911 erected a new brick house, which is equipped with a hot-water heating plant and many conveniences for comfortable housekeeping. He has given considerable attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle and has done well in that line of agriculture. He has an excellent automobile, a great convenience to himself and family, and is looked upon as one of the most energetic and progressive farmers in his neighborhood. In 1891 John Gaetke was united in marriage to Ida Scholtz, who was born in Sigel township, this county, daughter of Christian and Mary Scholtz, natives of Germany and pioneers of Brown county, substantial farming people of Sigel township and the parents of thirteen children, three sons and ten daughters, and to this union three children have been born, Elmer John, Armin Henry and Lucila Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Gaetke attend the Methodist church at New Ulm and are properly interested in community good works. Mr. Gaetke is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization. He has for years taken an active interest in local civic affairs and for nine years served as treasurer of his school district. He is an "independent" voter. 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/gaetke392gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb