Jacob Happel, one of the pioneer settlers of Mound Prairie township, long since deceased, was born near Marens, in Hesse, Germany. Until the age of thirty years he resided in his native land, and while there served eleven years in the German army, during a part of that time as substitute for another man.
With the money thus earned he paid his passage to the United States. After arriving here he made his home for a short time with his brother, who lived near Hartford, Wis. He then became engaged in railroad work and while thus occupied visited various localities, going as far as North Carolina.
About 1858 or 1859 he came to Houston county, Minnesota, and secured forty acres of wild land in what is now section 20, Mound Prairie township, his residence being a small log house. On that land, which he developed into a good farm, he resided until his death in 1884.
Mr. Happel married Martha Lena Siegler, who was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, their marriage taking place in this country. She survived him ten years, dying in 1894. They had a family of eight children : Barbara, William, Louis, Charles, Henry, Caroline, John and Peter.
~~~
Stella Evans Happel wrote about Jacob and Magdalena in a Family History she published in 1979. Her dedication reads, "To our ANCESTORS, who have been decent, kind, and hard-working people; and to OUR decendents, who we hope will work to uphold those traditions." Jacob was born near Marens, in Hesse, Germany, until the age of thirty. He spent eleven years serving in the German army, a part of that time being a substitute for another man. The information given in the 1919 History of Houston County seems to be in error. Stella writes that her husband has papers showing the farm on section 20 was put into Jacob's name in 1856."
With the money thus earned he paid his passage to the United States. After arriving here he made his home for a short time with his brother, who lived near Hartford, Wis. He then became engaged in railroad work and while thus occupied visited various localities, going as far as North Carolina.
About 1858 or 1859 he came to Houston county, Minnesota, and secured forty acres of wild land in what is now section 20, Mound Prairie township, his residence being a small log house. On that land, which he developed into a good farm, he resided until his death in 1884.
Mr. Happel married Martha Lena Siegler, who was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, their marriage taking place in this country. She survived him ten years, dying in 1894. They had a family of eight children : Barbara, William, Louis, Charles, Henry, Caroline, John and Peter.
~~~
Stella Evans Happel wrote about Jacob and Magdalena in a Family History she published in 1979. Her dedication reads, "To our ANCESTORS, who have been decent, kind, and hard-working people; and to OUR decendents, who we hope will work to uphold those traditions." Jacob was born near Marens, in Hesse, Germany, until the age of thirty. He spent eleven years serving in the German army, a part of that time being a substitute for another man. The information given in the 1919 History of Houston County seems to be in error. Stella writes that her husband has papers showing the farm on section 20 was put into Jacob's name in 1856."
Jacob Happel, one of the pioneer settlers of Mound Prairie township, long since deceased, was born near Marens, in Hesse, Germany. Until the age of thirty years he resided in his native land, and while there served eleven years in the German army, during a part of that time as substitute for another man.
With the money thus earned he paid his passage to the United States. After arriving here he made his home for a short time with his brother, who lived near Hartford, Wis. He then became engaged in railroad work and while thus occupied visited various localities, going as far as North Carolina.
About 1858 or 1859 he came to Houston county, Minnesota, and secured forty acres of wild land in what is now section 20, Mound Prairie township, his residence being a small log house. On that land, which he developed into a good farm, he resided until his death in 1884.
Mr. Happel married Martha Lena Siegler, who was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, their marriage taking place in this country. She survived him ten years, dying in 1894. They had a family of eight children : Barbara, William, Louis, Charles, Henry, Caroline, John and Peter.
~~~
Stella Evans Happel wrote about Jacob and Magdalena in a Family History she published in 1979. Her dedication reads, "To our ANCESTORS, who have been decent, kind, and hard-working people; and to OUR decendents, who we hope will work to uphold those traditions." Jacob was born near Marens, in Hesse, Germany, until the age of thirty. He spent eleven years serving in the German army, a part of that time being a substitute for another man. The information given in the 1919 History of Houston County seems to be in error. Stella writes that her husband has papers showing the farm on section 20 was put into Jacob's name in 1856."
With the money thus earned he paid his passage to the United States. After arriving here he made his home for a short time with his brother, who lived near Hartford, Wis. He then became engaged in railroad work and while thus occupied visited various localities, going as far as North Carolina.
About 1858 or 1859 he came to Houston county, Minnesota, and secured forty acres of wild land in what is now section 20, Mound Prairie township, his residence being a small log house. On that land, which he developed into a good farm, he resided until his death in 1884.
Mr. Happel married Martha Lena Siegler, who was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, their marriage taking place in this country. She survived him ten years, dying in 1894. They had a family of eight children : Barbara, William, Louis, Charles, Henry, Caroline, John and Peter.
~~~
Stella Evans Happel wrote about Jacob and Magdalena in a Family History she published in 1979. Her dedication reads, "To our ANCESTORS, who have been decent, kind, and hard-working people; and to OUR decendents, who we hope will work to uphold those traditions." Jacob was born near Marens, in Hesse, Germany, until the age of thirty. He spent eleven years serving in the German army, a part of that time being a substitute for another man. The information given in the 1919 History of Houston County seems to be in error. Stella writes that her husband has papers showing the farm on section 20 was put into Jacob's name in 1856."
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