Bio of BORNGESSER, Andrew (b.1831), Wright Co., MN
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540           HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY 

  Andrew Borngesser, one of the pioneers of Rockford township, was born 
in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, November 22, 1831, son of Valantine and 
Elizabeth Borngesser.  There was also a daughter, Elizabeth, in the family.  
Valentine Borngesser died, and his widow married George Grevema.  By this 
union there were born four children, Anna, Margaret, Christina and George.  
Andrew Borngesser was reared in his native land, attended the schools of 
his neighborhood and there grew to manhood. February 3, 1856, he married 
Anna, and on June 6, of the same year, arrived in New York city. From 
there they came to Milwaukee, Wis., and by September 1, 1856, he was in 
Wright county, his wife remaining in Milwaukee until fall. He had reached 
this county by coming by boat to St. Paul, and then walking the remainder 
of the distance. He located in the wild woods, on section 3, in range 24, 
Rockford township. Some twenty rods east of the present residence he 
erected a log cabin, and there they started housekeeping. The first crops 
were planted with a "grub" hoe, in the virgin sod. He secured two good 
cows soon after his arrival, but it was the second year before they were 
able to buy a yoke of oxen. For a vehicle they used a sled. To make corn
bread they ground corn in the coffee-mill, and for coffee they used roasted 
barley, rye and wheat. Times were hard, provisions were scarce, 
difficulties were many. Fortunately the sale of ginseng brought the family 
a little ready cash, and the acreage of the crops increased from year to 
year. When news came of the Indian uprising, the whole family, consisting 
of Andrew Borngesser and his three children, Andrew, Anna and Kate, walked 
to Minneapolis, where they found shelter until the danger was past. In 
religion, Mr. Borngesser adhered to the German Evangelical church, and 
he was one of those who assisted in building the church near St. Michael. 
His prosperity increased with the years, and it was not long before he 
became a leading citizen. His wife, Anna Ruppelius, who was born April 21, 
1836, died in 1880. Their children were: Andrew (deceased), Anna (deceased), 
Kate (deceased), Christina, Fred, Elizabeth, Andrew E. and George (deceased). 
For his second wife he married Anna Marie Wettreau, a widow, who died 
June 11, 1913, at the age of eighty-two.