Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/768

 668 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY life position in the government schools. He taught until 1853, when he came to the United States with Hans Mattson and set- tled in Vasa. The story of the early life of these two gentlemen is told in their own words in other parts of this volume. In 1860, he became deputy auditor and in 1864 succeeded to the position of county auditor, an office he held for twenty-four years. Hav- ing in the meantime taken up his residence in Red Wing, he was appointed clerk of the water board three years after the works were erected, and retained the position until within three years of his death. At the time of his death, .March 18, 1903, it was written: '"Mr. Willard's valuable services as a conscientious, accurate and painstaking public servanl are well known, it being the current report that while serving as county auditor lie never made a clerical error. His long life in this city and his assistance in the early development of Goodhue county will long remain in the minds and hearts of the people of Red Wing." In 1851 he married Anna Mattson, who died January 3, 1870. The oldest child died in infancy. The remaining four are .Mrs. Zelma A. Christensen, II. A. Willard. Amelie E. Willard and Mrs. C. H. Ashton. !n is?.") he married Julia II. Sargent. John Hack, a retired merchant of Red Wing, was horn in Aus- tria. December 1!). 1825. one of the eighl children of Matthew and Annie (Bueehler) Hack. John Hack received his education in the public schools and in a convent, and then learned the carving trade. Upon coming to America in 1853 he worked two years at his trade in New York, and in 1855 came to Red Wing, landing here Augusl 12 of that year. He built two of the early hotels, the Franklin house and the Hack' house. The latter was sold to Henry Hickman, was rebuilt in brick in 1872, and became the Hickman house, one of the popular hostelries of the early days. Subsequently he vent to Hay Greek and erected a hotel. In 1866, in company with John M. Friederich, he started in the grocery business under the firm name of Friederich & Hack, the concern being later sold to G. E. Friederich & Go. In the meantime Mr. Hack had opened a branch store in Crookston, Minn., under the name of Hack & Gallasch. After retiring from the grocery business in 1882, he took up the general real estate business, which he continued until 1894. when failing eyesight compelled his retirement from business. During his active days he was interested in tin 1 business progress of Red Wing and at- tended the now famous meeting held at Centennial hall to con- sider ways ami means of starting the pottery industry here. He is still interested in the Red Wing Sewer Pipe Company, the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company, the Red Wing Shoe Company, the Red Wing Furniture Company, the Red Wing Linseed Oil Company, the Med Wing Brick Company, and the Red Wing Ce-