"Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota 
containing a history of the State of Minnesota."   1904 


                     Gottlieb Ryf
(This sketch is about a brother of Jacob Ryf. Jacob was the first
husband of Amelia Foerster/Foster. They were the parents of
Minnie Ryf Fradenburg. I've put a few notes here and there and
have made a few corrections.)

                 ********************

     Gottlieb Ryf, a retired farmer of Kandiyohi county,
resides in the village of Atwater, and is classed among the
substantial and worthy citizens of his community.

     Mr. Ryf was born in the Canton of Basil, Switzerland,
December 25, 1830. His parents were Eusebius (pronounced:
you say bee us) and Anna Maria (Heinemann) Ryf, to whom
were born sixteen children. Eusebius Ryf was a prominent
business man in Bern, Switzerland, owning and operating a
sawmill, gristmill, and works for the manufacture of plaster of
paris. He lost his wealth rapidly by becoming security for
relatives and acquaintances.

     To recover his fortune speedily he thought the United
States of America offered the best opportunity and therefore, in
1845 (this record had incorrectly stated 1855), he started to New
York, accompanied by his wife and twelve children, leaving
four children buried in their native land. The wife died and was
buried at sea and after a long and perilous passage on the sailing
ship Hercules, the family landed at New York. They proceeded
direct to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the father settled down to
farming.

     Most of the children scattered and sought employment
among the neighboring farmers, our subject, Gottlieb, working
for eight dollars per month, clearing brush and driving an ox
team. He was married in 1864 and a short time afterward,
accompanied by his wife, he went to Meeker county,
Minnesota, and there pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of
land near Forest City.

     Soon afterward the Indian outbreak occurred in that
locality and the farm for a time was deserted and all hands
assisted in the erection of a stockade at Forest City, which
protected them from the "redskins." Mr. Ryf assisted valiantly
in the defense and had some narrow escapes, and has a fund of
anecdotes bearing on the subject wherein he took an active part.
Peace was at last secured by aid of soldiery.

     Within three months Mr. Ryf sold the pre-emption right
to his farm for one hundred dollars and moved to Kandiyohi
county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of farming
land on section 14, Harrison township, and fifteen acres of
timber land on the border of Diamond Lake.

     He and his wife lived contentedly and happily on their
farm for more than thirty years and in 1896 disposed of the
property for upwards of $6,000 and removed to the village of
Atwater, where Mr. Ryf purchased a pleasantly located home.  

     Mrs. Ryf has been an invalid for some years and died
soon after settling in their new home, her death occurring
November 3, 1898. She was regarded as a good neighbor and a
kind and loving wife. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ryf
occurred in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, in 1864. Mrs. Ryf
bore the maiden name of Feronica Steckel. She was a native of
Bavaria, and had emigrated, as did her husband, to America
some years previous with her parents. She left no children at her
death.

     Mr. Ryf was married to Augusta Kuhn October 17,
1900. Mrs. Ryf is a daughter of Ulrich and Henrietta (Foster)
Kuhn. Her father was a carpenter and a resident of Watertown,
Wisconsin, in which city Mrs. Ryf was born. Mr. Ryf is an
active, hearty man, despite his seventy years and over. He is a
Republican in politics.


Submitted by: Patricia McKee Bauer
<patbauer@pacifier.com>