Olmsted-Dodge County MINNESOTA Biographies.....William L. Brakke 
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File contributed for Minnesota Biographies Project by:
Mike Oiseth MOISETH@mn.rr.com March 10, 2005, 11:35 am

Author: Joseph Leonard, History of Olmsted County, Minnesota

WILLIAM L. BRAKKE was born in the city of Chicago, February 18, 1858.
(See elsewhere for sketch of his parents.) He spent his youth in
attending the local schools and in assisting his parents on the farm. He
became familiar with the full routine of farm work and management, and
upon reaching manhood was prepared for the active duties of life. Though
his education was limited, he made the lack up largely by reading and
observation. At the time of his marriage he bought a tract of forty
acres in Vernon township, Dodge county, and there made his home. He
worked hard and intelligently and steadily added to his landed
possessions until he owned a total of 200 acres of well improved land.
He did farming on a large scale, handling live stock and large
quantities of hay and grain. In 1892 he sold out and moved to Salem
township, Olmsted county, where he now owns 230 acres in section 33,
upon which are good and substantial improvements. Here he has since
continued his farming operations and is making money. He is up-to-date
in all his farm management and has one of the best farms in this section
of the county. He is prominent and popular and is always ready to
forward any movement that will likely advance the interests of the
community. At present he is devoting much of his time to bee culture, in
which be has been unusually successful. His married children assist him
to manage the farm. He owns stock in the Creamery, Lumber, Telephone
and Insurance Companies. He is a member of St. Olaf Church, of which
for many years he has been sexton. He is a Republican and takes deep
interest in the success of his party. In 1876 he married Miss Martha L.
Brackhouse [Brekhus], who was born in 1861, and whose parents were Norwegian
pioneers of Wisconsin. Their children are as follows: Lewis W., born
August 12, 1877, farmer, married, has four children; Bertha L., born
April 23, 1881, married John Trysted, a farmer of Salem township, has
three children; Nora A., born September 21, 1886, married Mr. Brothen, a
farmer, has two children; Julia I., born December 2, 1888, married Mr.
Brothen, a farmer, has one child; William M., born May 13, 1891; Mabel,
born January 9, 1893; Henry 0., born January 1, 1899; Gustave N., born
1884, died 1888.

Additional Comments:
Joseph Leonard, History of Olmsted County, Minnesota: together with sketches of many
of its pioneers, 
citizens, families, and institutions. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association,
1910.

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