A History of Cairo, Renville Co., MN Bios Included ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher Submitted: Janusry 2005 ========================================================================= Excerpted from: "HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA" BY REV. EDWARD D. NEILL, -AND — "HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE" BY CHARLES S. BRYANT. MINNEAPOLIS: NORTH STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1882. RENVILLE COUNTY. CHAPTER LXXXIII. CAIRO This was one of the earliest settled towns in Renville county. It was organized April 7,1868; at that time twenty-nine votes were cast, and the officers elected were: William Emmick, chairman, August Rieke and J. H. Phelps, supervisors; J. H. Phelps, clerk; M. J. Haines, assessor; Geo. Rieke, treasurer; E. Barton and Joseph Labarron, justices; S. Turner and H. W. Dodge, constables. The town was.called Mud Lake until July 8, 1869 when the name was changed to Cairo. John Buehro was the first settler; he located on the east side of Mud lake in June, 1859, and was killed by the Indians in 1862. George and Victor Rieke came in 1859, and in 1860 their father, J. Frederick Rieke. The Rieke family returned to their claims and resumed farming two months after the Indian outbreak. William Rieke came in 1864 and Joseph Labarron in 1865. The German Methodists, under the leadership of Rev. H. Siugenstrue, began holding meetings in 1860; services are now held occasionally by Rev. G. Raihle. The Catholics began services in 1872, and in 1877 bought the Grange hall in Ridgely and moved it to section 5 in this town, and fitted it up as a church; services are held monthly by Father Andreas. The first school was taught in 1868 by Helen Nixen; there are now four school buildings in the town, three log and one frame. Henry, son of John Buehro, born March 27,1861, was the first birth. John H. C. Rieke died in December, 1862, the first death. The cyclone of 1881 did considerable damage in this town. Joseph Halloway, wife and three children, were killed; one of his boys escaped death, but had both arms broken. John Finley, a boy aged fourteen, was killed while herding cattle; many of the cattle were killed outright or died from injuries received. In addition to loss of life, a large amount of property was destroyed. BIRD Charles Bird was born in 1839, in Oneida county, New York, and removed at the age of seventeen to Dodge county, Minnesota; worked on a farm about two years. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Ninth Minnesota, and served through the war. Then lived ten years in Rochester, Minnesota, and farmed near there until May, 1869, when he located in Cairo. Mr. Bird married Louisa Christman, July 10. 1860; their children are William H., Zoella, Zelro D. and Delmer. CAVEN Walter Caven, native of New York, was born in 1843 in Allegany county, but when three years old accompanied his parents to Washington county, Wisconsin. Came in 1869 to Minnesota, and the next year took a homestead in Cairo; owns 128 acres on section 6; Mr. Caven has held the office of town treasurer several terms. Miss Mary Knaley was married to Mr. Caven in Wisconsin; the living children are Thomas, James, John, Henry and Mary. CRAWFORD John Crawford was born in Bronson, Huron county, Ohio, in 1836. At the age of sixteen he went with his parents to Wisconsin, where for three and one-half years he lived on a farm and attended school. From 1865 to the spring of 1878 he was employed in farming in Kalmar, Olmsted county, Minnesota; in that town he was chairman of the board one term and assessor five years. Came to his present home in Cario in 1878 and has held some offices here. Married in Wisconsin in 1856, Julia A. Hammon; their son Hiram died September 26, 1881; the living children are Effie, Ernest, John, Ralph and William. CRISTMAN Adam S. Cristman, native of New York, was born July 20, 1838 in Herkimer county. When eighteen years old he went with the family to Wisconsin, and two and one-half years later removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota. Enlisted August 15, 1862 in Company F, Ninth Minnesota and served three years after which he continued farming at his former home, for five years, but in the spring of 1870, came to Cario where he has filled town offices. He was married September 11, 1859 to Martha M. Crawford; the living children are Edwin, Adam and Charles. CRISTMAN Nicholas Cristman was born in 1836 in Herkimer county, New York, and after leaving school he learned coopering. In 1856 he moved to Wisconsin, where he worked at farming; from 1859 until 1870, his home was in Olmsted county, this state; farmed there two years and afterwards conducted a cooper shop in Rochester. Came to Cairo in 1870; owns 160 acres of land here. Married in 1869 Mrs. Mary Williams, who had two children, John E. and Gertrude. She has borne Mr. Cristman three children: Mary, George and Sylvia. DICKMEIER Frederick Dickmeier was born in 1830 and reared on a farm in Germany, the land of his birth. His marriage also occurred in that country in 1852 with Miss Ingle Dyer. Immigrated to Ohio in 1858, but removed in 1867 to Minnesota and located permanently at his farm of 160 acres on section 34. Cairo. Mr. and Mrs. Dickmeier have seven children: Mary, Frederick, Henry. William, Louis. John and Amelia. DODGE Ralph K. Dodge, deceased, was born in 1827 in Massachusetts, where he learned the trade of carpenter. On the 27th of December, 1848 he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Jane Cook and they migrated in 1857 to Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he conducted a farm and worked at his trade. In 1869 the family removed to Cairo and took 160 acres of land. Mr. Dodge died here on the 28th day of February, 1872. Of their family seven boys and two girls are living, and Mrs. Dodge and son Philo, who was born in 1849, in New York, carry on the farm. DRAKE James Drake, native of England, was born in 1843, and when sixteen years old came to the United States. Worked at farming five years in Fond du Lac county. Wisconsin, and two years in Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he located in 1865; then in the spring of 1867 came to his present home in Cairo; his farm is on section 14 and contains 160 acres. Emma Collins was married to him April 23, 1865; Charles F., Alice L., William E., Albert J. and Joseph E. are their children. EIDSVOLD Engebret Eidsvold was born in 1853 in Norway, and in 1872 emigrated to America. He was employed on a farm near St. Paul two years and attended school the same length of time in the city; then passed one year with a brother previous to coming in 1877 to Cairo, which has since been his home; owns 160 acres on section 29. Mr. Eidsvold married in this town in 1878, Miss Mary Grasmon; Henry is their only child. FINLEY Matthew Finley, native of Ireland, was born in 1827. At the age of twenty he immigrated to Rockland county, New York, and four years later removed to Minnesota. Lived two years in Dakota county, eight years in Rice county, and from 1865 to '77 in Nicollet county; then came to his home of 200 acres in Cairo. Married in 1862, Catherine Mulhall, who has borne him ten children: the living are James, Mary, Simon, William, Ann Catherine arid Matthew. Mr. Finley's buildings and farm machinery were totally destroyed in the tornado of July 15, 1881. Their son John, aged twelve, who was herding cattle a short distance from the house was found on the prairie, dead; the remainder of the family escaped in an almost miraculous manner. FULLERTON James Fullerton was born in 1823, in Illinois; passed his youth in that state and Indiana. In 1854 he began farming in Winona county. Minnesota. Enlisted in 1863 in Company K. 4th Minnesota and served until honorably discharged,when he returned to Winona county, but since 1871, his home has been in Cairo. Mr. Fullerton is the father of six children; three by his first wife whom he married in Illinois and three by second. GRASMON Even H. Grasmon, native of Norway, was born in 1852 and when sixteen years old, immigrated with his parents to Renville county, Minnesota. In June, 1877, he removed to the farm on which he now lives, consisting of 160 acres on section 19, of Cairo. He was married March 11, 1877; his wife, Beta Hanson, was born in I860, in Wisconsin; Alethe M. and Louis H. are their children. HOPKINS C. H. Hopkins was born in Norwich, Chenango county, New York, but moved, when sixteen years old, to Wisconsin. In November, 1863, he enlisted in the 13th Wisconsin light artillery, and was discharged June 20, 1865. Returned to Wisconsin, where he resumed farming; afterward clerked one year, and was then in the dairy business until 1869, when he came to Minnesota. His home is in Cairo, and he has served this town as justice and clerk. Married Susan Cristman, in November, 1872, and has two children: Hayward V. and Frank H. KIEHN William Kiehn, native of Germany, was born in 1864 in Hanover. He came to the United States in 1871; lived two years in Wabasha county, Minnesota, then came to Renville county, where his parents now reside. Mr. Kiehn has two brothers and two sisters living; one brother and one sister are deceased. His father, who owns 80 acres on section 19, of Cairo, was born in 1822, in Germany. KNAPP Dr. C. S. Knapp was born in 1826, in Connecticut, and when twelve years old moved with his parents to the state of Now York. He was given an academical education and then followed the drug business four years. Began the study of medicine at the age of eighteen, and in 1851 graduated from the Syracuse Medical College; practiced in that city five years and then continued in the work of his profession in Columbia county, Wisconsin, until 1871, at which time he came to Cairo. He now conducts a farm, also continues his practice. Married in 1848, Miss E. M. Imson; the children are W. E., Frank S., B. A., Ida May and William H. LIEBL John B. Liebl, who is a native of Austria, was born in 1856. At the age of thirteen he accompanied his parents to the United States; they located in Nicollet county, where he attended the district schools. In the spring of 1878 he came to Cairo, which town is still his home. Mr. John Liebl and Miss Maria Tynor were married in 1879 in West Newton. They are the parents of one child: George. O'HARA Edmond O'Hara was born in December, 1834, in Ireland. Came with his father's family to America, when fourteen years old; lived three years in Kentucky, then for a time in Missouri. Worked on a railroad as assistant freight agent, then farmed in Iowa, until coming, in 1869, to Cairo. Mr. O'Hara has held town offices; has been county commissioner and state legislator. Mary Bourke became his wife in 1861; eight children: the living are: James, Catherine, Bridget, Mary, Eliza and Margaret. O'HARA James O'Hara, born December, 1836, in Ireland, immigrated to Kentucky with his parents when he was thirteen years old. Passed three years in that state, two in Missouri, and then was employed in farming in Iowa until 1869, at which date he removed to Minnesota, located in Cairo, and soon after brought his family here. Married Johanna Guiney, July 17, 1863. Margaret A., Johanna, James, Bridget, David, Mary, Honora and Elizabeth are their children. PETERSON Nels Peterson, native of Sweden, was born in 1841, and at the of sixteen began the life of a sailor. He was in the United States navy from October, 1864 until November, 1867. In December of the latter year he returned to Sweden, where, the following March, he married Miss Beata Leiberg, and in the autumn of 1868 they settled in Cairo; seven children: Stephen, Ellen, Emma, Minnie, Mary, Elizabeth and Oscar. RECTOR Datis Rector, native of New York, was born in 1S33. in Schenectady county. He migrated to Wisconsin when seventeen years old, and was chiefly employed in farming there until the spring of 1866, when he located permanently in Cairo, where he has 160 acres. Mr. Sector, was a member of the first town board, and has since held other offices. Miss Ellen Babbet was married to him, March 29, 1859. They have an adopted child, Mary Jacobus. RIEKE Adam Rieke was born June 1, 1840, in Prussia, and in 1856 immigrated with his parents to Ohio, where they lived until coming in 1860 to Cairo: has been town treasurer and supervisor. For a number of years the Riekes were the only settlers in the town. Adam Rieke and Miss A. Sander were married March 15, 1871: Louis, Edward and Annie are their children. RIEKE August Rieke, native of Prussia, was born in 1846. At the age of nine years he accompanied his father's family to America, and in 1860 migrated to Cairo; they were among the early settlers of this county, and one boy. Herman, died at Fort Ridgely during the siege by Indians in 1862. Mr. Rieke was married in 1880 to Miss Melia Grounke. Frederick Rieke, Sr., born in 1796 in Prussia, died here in 1879. RIEKE George Rieke was born March 1, 1834, in Hanover. Came to Ohio in 1855. and worked there at mining and manufacturing iron until coming in 1859 to his present home in Cairo: there was but one settler here when he arrived, a man who was killed by Indians in 1862; Mr. Rieke was the first treasurer of this town. He married, September 26, 1864, Mrs. Sophia Lammers, whose husband was killed in the Sioux massacre; she and her children were held prisoners about six weeks; she had three children by first marriage and seven by second. RIEKE William Rieke, native of Hanover, was born December 23, 1831, and emigrated from that country in 1856. Until 1864 he resided in the state of Ohio, then migrated to Minnesota and located at his present home in Cairo, where he owns 160 acres. Miss Louisa Vollmer became his wife in 1836; seven children; the living are William, Louisa, Mary, Victor, Adam and Katie. THANE George F. Thane was born in 1839 in Germany, and when thirteen years old accompanied his parents to America; for twenty years they were farming in Illinois; since 1872 has lived in Cairo, where he owns 160 acres. Held the office of town clerk five years and justice three years. Married in 1865 Frederica Lenkering; of their nine children eight are living. Mr. Thane was a heavy loser by the great cyclone of July 15, 1881. VOGT Christian Vogt, born in 1830, is a native of Germany came to America at the age of seventeen; with his parents he settled in Illinois, where they were farming twenty-three years. In 1871 he came to Cairo and took 160 acres of land. He married in 1862 in Illinois, and his wife died there: she had borne him two children. In 1868 he remarried, and has four children by his present wife.