Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1045

 IMSTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNT! 903 locating in Belle Creek, where he boughl a farm of eighty acres later purchasing L20 acres in Section 2, Featherstone. This he improved, erected all the oecessary buildings, and has since ear ried on general farming, dairying and stock raising. December, L875, he was married to Aletha Chandler, daughter of Samuel P. and Martha (Miller) Chandler, both natives of Maine, who in 1846 came to Illinois, where they remained eight years, after which they removed to Minnesota, coming' to Red Wing in 1854. Later they went to Belle Creek township, where I hey lived on a farm. The father, who was a clergyman of the Episcopal church, was the first supervisor of Belle Creek township, and died in 1902. He is mentioned in various places in this history. The mother died when Aletha was small. Mr. and Mrs. James had three children: Fannie P., a teacher; Thomas W., of Red Wing, employed by the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company; and Margaret 'deceased). Mr. James is a Democrat in his politics, and he and his family are members of the Episcopal church. Otto H. Bang, a prosperous farmer living on Section 14, Featherstone township, is a native born son, having made his appearance in life's arena March 12, 1857, only a short time after the first settlement of Featherstone. His parents, Henry and Fredericka (Horstmeyer) Bang, were natives of Germany and came to America at an early age. The father settled first in Illi- nois, worked on farms for a while, then located near St. Paul. In 1856 he came to Featherstone, took up 160 acres on Section 24, and there lived until his death at the age of seventy years, May 29, 1894. His wife survived until August, 1906. Otto H. was one of eleven children, six of whom are still living. He received his education in the district schools and worked on the home farm until 1891, also running a steam threshing machine. He then rented a farm in Goodhue township two years, after which he returned to Featherstone and purchased his present farm of 160 acres, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. For the past two years he has been an assessor of the township. He is a Republican in politics and belongs to the Modern Woodmen. The faith of the Methodist church is the family religion. Mr. Bang was married in 1891 to Minnie S. Kress, who died leaving two children, Maynard, a pupil in the Red "Wing high school, and Walter, who died in infancy. Later Mr. Bang married Mary Bluhm. nee Mary Hoist, the daughter of Claus and Mary Hoist, early settlers of Belvidere township, but now living, at Fair Oaks, Cal. " The first husband of Mrs. Bangs was John G. Bluhm, a native of Germany, who came to America at the age of seventeen and remained with his parents in Feather- stone township until his marriage. At the time of his death he owned 160 acres of well improved land in this township. He