Bio of Andrew ZACHARIAS (b.1835), Yellow Medicine Co., MN 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. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: LaNaye Hennen ANDREW ZACHARIAS (1879) Andrew Zacharias is one of the successful farmers of Oshkosh township and one who has resided in the township since he was eight years of age. He has taken a prominent part in local affairs and for several years has been at the head of the township government. Mr. Zacharias owns the southeast quarter of section 14 and conducts an up-to-date farm. Mr. Zacharias is of Swedish parentage and a native son of Minnesota. John Zacharias, his father, was born in Sweden July 15, 1835, and was brought up on a farm at Malma, in Ous Ian. In the old country he worked seven years as a miller and four years in a brewery. Coming to America in 1869, he resided in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, ten years, working on the railroad all of that time. Then he came to Yellow Medicine county and took a homestead claim on section 10, Oshkosh township. At the time there was only one other house between his home and Canby, and the roads meandered over the prairie, dodging sloughs and hills and paying no attention to section lines. When the family came they possessed $50 in money and eight head of cattle. The money was invested in lumber with which to erect a home, and when that was done there was not five cents in exchequer. This first home was a little frame shanty, sodded over, and that now constitutes of room of the present home. John Zacharias still lives on the old homestead. He was married at Judson, in Blue Earth county, Minnesota in July, 1870, to Matilda Furstman, who was born in Sweden July 22, 1840, and who came to America in 1870. Andrew Zacharias is the eldest of the five children of this family. He as born in Blue Earth county July 27, 1871. He accompanied the family to Yellow Medicine county in 1879, when he was eight years of age, and he has ever since lived here. As a boy he fought prairie fires and had many pioneer experiences--experiences that are unknown in the country today. He spent his boyhood days on the homestead and was educated in the district school. Prior to 1904 he lived at home and worked for his father. Then he improved and located on his own farm, which he had purchased in 1899, and that has since been his home. In 1913 he erected a new house and now has one of the fine farm homes of the neighborhood. Besides his farm Mr. Zacharias owns two lots in Canby and has stock in the Farmers Elevator Company of Canby. His is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church of Providence township, Lac qui Parle county, and of the Modern Woodmen lodge of Canby. He has been chairman of the Oshkosh township board for the past four years and was a member of the board two years before. For the past twenty years Mr. Zacharias has been clerk of school district No. 37. Mr. Zacharias is a man of family.. He was married November 23, 1903, in Providence township to Esther Othilie Ferm, daughter of John and Annie Ferm, natives of Sweden and now residents of Bowbells, North Dakota. Mrs. Zacharias was born in Sweden August 20, 1885, and came to America in the spring of 1902. They have five children, named as follows: Annie, born May 29, 1904; Elvin, born July 12, 1905; Ella, born March 22, 1907; Gehard, born October 23, 1909; and Raymond, born May 23, 1913. Source: "A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose Published 1914