Addie an Abigail Sawyer 

Addie Truhn nee Sawyer

George D Wilcox with first wife Adeline Dixon Wilcox

Silas A Wilcox

Mabel Wilcox nee Truhn

Written by Chester Truhn

William Truhn (1818 - 1888) and Wilhelmina (Bleifus) Truhn (1823 - 1871) and their family of three daughters and four sons emigrated from Stettin, Prussia in 1864.

The family first located in Wisconsin with two brothers of William's that had emigrated earlier.

In 1868 the family moved to Olmsted County, Minnesota.

By 1884 the family was living on a farm in Section 29, Otto Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, about 2 miles north of Ottertail City, although their mother had died in Olmstead Co in 1871.

The oldest son, Frank Truhn, came to the United States before the rest of the family, stayed with his two uncles in Wisconsin for a short while, moved with the family to Olmsted county, then to Fergus Falls, and then to Park Rapids, Minnesota, where he died and is buried.

The second son, Henry Martin Truhn, married Mary Laging of Spring Valley, Fillmore County, Minnesota and spent his life farming in Rush Lake township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. He died in 1920.

The third child, Bertha Truhn, married John Schroeder, spent her life in Mower county, died in 1976.

The fourth child, William Jr., married Anne Wick, and spent his life in Fergus Falls area.

The fifth child, Ida Truhn, married William F. Schultz and lived in Leaf Lake and later in Rush Lake townships in Otter Tail Co,MN.

The sixth child, Gustav Truhn, married Ada Sawyer of New York Mills, and lived on a farm in Rush Lake Township. Their son, Alfred Truhn, had a barbershop and lived in Perham in the 1930s.

The seventh child, Martha Truhn, marfied William Kempf, and lived on farms in Rush Lake township.

The Truhns originally belonged to the Lutheran church, but because of the restrictive rules set down by the minister, Reverend Eifert, on the congregation, a number of members broke away and started another church.

My grandfather, Henry Martin Truhn, his brother Gustav Truhn, and their father, William Truhn and their families were some of the charter members of the Ottertail Immanuel Church of the Evangelical Association of North America. The church was established 11/ 12 / 1890. Other charter members of the church were Joseph Boehl, William and Rueben Kempf, Henry Brandt and William Rieman and their families, plus a single man, H. Eickhart.

First officers of the church were Joseph Boehl, William Kempf and Henry Truhn.

The first baptism in the church was John Arthur Truhn, son of illiam and Anna Truhn, born 8/3/1893 and baptized 9/9/1893.

First marriage in the church was Peter Wick and Sophia Truhn 11/4/1897. Sophia Truhn was the daughter of Henry Martin Truhn.

First death in the church was Arthur Kempf, Jr. born 7/9/1885, died 8/15/1893. He was the son of William Kempf and Martha Truhn.

The second son, Henry Martin Truhn's family, consisted of five sons and three daughters, all of whom spent their early lives in the vicinity of Ottertail City.

The oldest son, Frank, married Bevena Dressier and moved to Detroit Lakes and later to Warren, Minnesota.

The second child, Sophia, as noted in the church records, married Peter Wick and lived the major portion of their lives in Fergus Falls.

The third child, Lydia, married Albert Rieman and spent most of their lives in Pelican Rapids.

Fred Truhn married Lillian Barker and farmed in Henning area, but later moved to Duluth.

John Truhn married Alice Van Vleet and lived in Minneapolis, Seattle and finally Detroit Lakes.

Clara Truhn married James Schipper and have been life long residents of Pelican Rapids and Dent area, and now live in Pelican Rapids.

George Truhn lived most of his life in Minneapolis.

My father Henry Truhn, Jr. married Louise Kahler, daughter of John and Sophia Kahler, and they spent their short lives in Fergus Falls and Ottertail City. Henry and Louise Truhn had three children. A son, Clifford, and twins, Hazel and Chester. Due to illness, this whole family, with the exception of myself, Chester, died in 1912. I was taken by my material Grandmother, Sophia Ewald Kahler Provost, at the age of 2 years, and brought to manhood under her skillful care and guidance. I have always been amazed and moved by the courage, love, and sacrifice of my Grandmother, who at 62 years of age, took upon herself the burden of raising a two-year old child.

Grandma Sawyer, Grandpa Sawyer, and Great Grandpa Barr.

OK, so Algermon Sidney Barr was Abigail's dad.

Abigail married Sewell Frank Sawyer.  They had Minnie Adaline

Minnie married Gustave Truhn and had Mable.  Minnie was murdered by her husband (along with Mable's baby sibling).

Mable had my grandpa Everett.

Everett married Daphne who had had my mom.

I had to write that out to keep it straight.  This means that the Sawyers were my great, great, great grandparents.  Great x 4 grandpa barr looks like a terrifying ghost to me.

Now here's the story of Mable's family and their tragedy:

Gustave Truhn was born in Germany in 1861.  He and Minnie had four children: Alfred born 1887, Mable 1890, Lenora 1892 and baby Clarence 1893 who was only four months old when he was murdered.  They also adopted a son named Grennert who was eleven years old when Gustave killed his wife and child.

Apparently, Minnie was pretty worn out and one Sunday, she wanted to stay home with the baby instead of go to church.  Gustave was enraged, and threw her out of a second story, or loft or something similar.  She was holding the baby and both died.  Grennert hid the three other children and went for help.

Lenora grew up to be one of the first female pharmacists. 

A rundown of some relatives:

Gustave Truhn born 1861, died in Wadena, Minn 5/08/1932

Minnie Adaline Sawyer-Truhn born in Stockbridge, Vermont 1896, died 11/23/1893 in Leaf Lake, Minn

Grandma and Grandpa Sawyer and aunt Zilpha Sawyer Ziebell. Taken 1889

Miss Zilpha Sawyer, Mr Henry Ziebell, taken 1889

G.A.R lodge of NY Mills of 1900. top row: Mrs Pendergast, Mrs Murphy, Grandma Sawyer, Mrs Williams.  Second row: Mrs Keefe, Mrs Winslow, Mrs Robbin, Lucy Winslow Peters. Third: Pearl Robbin - Alice Turner

Henry Ziebell's blacksmith shop. Tomah, WI

Grandpa Sawyer-leader, Uncle Hentry and boys played, Clyde and Vernon Ziebell

Vintage Matchbook La Central Mexican Railroad "Caja Taurina" Bull Fighter

Vintage Lusterware Sugar Bowl made in Japan

Vintage Fire King Milk Glass Ring-Necked Pheasant Ashtray

Vintage Sterling Pocket Voltmeter in box

Vintage Lusterware Sugar bowl made in Japan

Vintage, possibly Victorian, Crochet Purse

Vintage White Cloverine Salve, 1oz