Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/943

 BISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 807 dren : Blanche, who married V. E. Parker, of Pine Island; Caryl and Ruth, who live at home; Basil and Hilda (deceased). In politics Mr. Irish is Republican. Fraternally he affiliates with the I. 0. 0. F. and M. W. A. He and his family attend Grace church. John Ihrke. a prosperous farmer of Pine Island township, was horn in Fond du Lac comity, Wisconsin, July 28, 1864, son of John and Richie (Miller) Ihrke, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1864 and located in Wisconsin. In 1875 they came to Minnesota, located in the township of Pine Island, and engaged in farming, until the death of the father, February 9, 1901, the mother having passed away in 1867. John attended the common schools and worked with his father. In 1885 he came to the farm, •where he still resides. Of his 340 acres of land, eighty acres is well timbered, the remainder being devoted to a general line of farming and stock raising. All the improvements on the place, which include a fine home, have been made by himself. In addi- tion to this he has shown his modern spirit by purchasing a sub- stantial touring car. Mr. Ihrke is a good citizen and has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his community. He is town treasurer and has been supervisor for a number of years. The family are members of the German Lutheran church. George R. West, of Pine Island village, was born in New York state, July 6, 1850, son of Lyman and Emeline (Rinehart) West, who in 1852 came to Iowa, where they rented land for two years. In 1855 they came to Pine Island, remaining over the summer, go- ing in 1856 to Roscoe township, where they resided for the re- mainder of their lives, the father dying May 8, 1875, and the mother December 25, 1904. George received his education in the common schools of the township, and also in the Pine Island schools, remaining on the farm with his father until he was twenty-three years of age. He then bought a farm in the same township and engaged in farming for himself. In 1872 he was married to Anna (Page), daughter of Robert and Sara (Cole) Page, who were old settlers of this county, coming in 1861, and engaging in farming. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. West had seven children : Libbey, Lunie, Nettie, Lyman, Sadie. Earl and Lynn. In 1883 the family moved to Dakota, where they spent fourteen years, after which they sold their farm and went to Pope county, Minnesota, remaining for four years. There Mrs. West died in 1899. Mr. West then returned to Roscoe township with his family and took charge of the homestead, his mother living with him until her death, after which he farmed for several years. In 1907 he went to Wyoming, Minn., wdiere he bought a farm, remaining until 1909, when he sold out and entered into business in Pine Island, which he has since conducted. In 1905