WABASHA COUNTY, MINNESOTA ***************************************************************************** Biography transcribed & donated to Wabasha County, MN Bios by Barbara Koska Timm. For more information, please check out her site "Biographies and Historical Sketches of Wabasha County, Minnesota" at . ***************************************************************************** HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL MATTER, STATISTICS, ETC. GATHERED FROM MATTER FURNISHED BY INTERVIEWS WITH OLD SETTLERS, COUNTY, TOWNSHIP AND OTHER RECORDS, AND EXTRACTS FROM FILES OF PAPERS, PAMPHLETS, AND SUCH OTHER SOURCES AS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE. ALSO A HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY CHICAGO: H. H. HILL & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 1884 Behrns, John (not listed in book's index) Millville's enterprising landlord, and agent for the "Plano" reapers and mowers, was born in Germany, in 1830, the third son of Gabriel Behrns. An eighteen-year-old lad, Mr. Behrns spent four years in Chicago as his first struggle with the world. Four years after he left Chicago he came to Wabasha county, and became one of Oakwood's first settlers. About 1870 he founded Bremen. From this time on he was buying, selling and trading in land until 1878, when he came to Millville and started his present hotel. It is nicely situated near the depot, and was one of the earliest business places in Millville. In 1882 he took the agency for the "Plano" twine binder. He has always been one of the leading men of the township, and held its principal offices, of which mention was made in the general history. He kept one of Millville's early stores. He has been a member of the Odd-Fellows. He married Ludiwika Koping, a native of Germany, in 1856. They have five children.