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


                     William Maier

     William Maier was born in Scharnhausen,
Wuerttemberg, Germany, April 14, 1838. At the age of fifteen
he came to America, and worked in the city of New York until
the Civil War broke out. On Nov. 17, 1861, he enlisted in the
Thirty-second Independent New York Battery, and served till
Nov. 17, 1864. He served in the Army of the Potomac, taking
part in the battles of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and
a number of other battles and smaller engagements. On April 6,
1865, he re-enlisted, this time in Company C, Sixth Regiment
of U.S. Veteran Volunteers. He was mustered out at
Alexandria, VA, on April 5, 1866. Immediately afterwards he
came to this county and took a homestead claim in town of
Arctander, but soon after sold this claim and went to town of
Harrison. Here he married Mrs. Amelia Augusta Rieff, widow
of a soldier, and settled down on her claim, which became the
family homestead. From time to time additional tracts were
purchased until now the farm includes 563 acres, situated in
sections 14, 15, 21, 23 and 28, Harrison. In 1876 he built the
first large barn in that neighborhood, and in 1884 erected a
large brick residence. The farm is four and a half miles from
Atwater and a quarter of a mile from the school house in
District No. 3. It is connected with the Harrison Telephone
Line.
     Mr. Maier served a term as county commissioner, and
held several local offices. He was clerk of his school district for
a number of years.
     Although Mr. Maier went through the war without any
more serious injury than a slight cut in the forehead from a bit
of an exploding shell, his constitution had been undermined by
the exposures and privations of camp life, and this later
developed a constitutional malady that finally ended his life.
Speaking of this about seven years before his death, Mr. Maier
said to the writer: "I could undoubtedly get a pension, but I
don't need it for my support, and no amount of money can give
me back my health. Let the pension money go to those who
need it for their daily bread." He died June 18, 1891, and was
buried in the German Lutheran cemetery, having been a member
of the St. John's German Lutheran congregation for a number of
years.
     Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Maier:
William C., living at the old home; Anna, now Mrs. W. F.
Gratz of Willmar; Henrietta, now Mrs. Fred Wolf, of Fort
Wayne, Ind.; August and Mathilda, living at home; Joseph,
living on the old Gottlieb Rieff farm; Albert and Bertha, living
at home. The farm is now managed by the three brothers,
William, August and Albert. (There were also two daughters,
Catherina and Scharlotte, who died young.)


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