Indus on Rainy River: Paul Bernhard "Ben" Abelman came to the United States from Germany in 1894. During the early years, he worked at learning to farm in Carver County, MN, as a woodsman in Michigan & Wisconsin, & as a farmer in Wisconsin. He eventually owned 3 farms in Wisconsin.
In 1905, Ben met & married Hedwig Mai in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. He then sold the farms in Wisconsin & filed on a homestead in Indus, MN 2 miles south of the Rainy River. After improving the homestead & buying more land, Ben & Hedwig built a home on the highway near the river.
Ben & Hedwig had one son, Gustav "Gus". Hedwig passed away in 1949 after a long illness.
Ben & Gus farmed together raising livestock, grains, & seed & also cut timber. In later years they specialized in certified seed potatoes & well-bred beef cattle. The grandchildren tell how they had to go up & down the potato rows dusting for potato bugs. The potatoes had to be bug-free when the state inspector came.
The family recalls that when Ben was in his 70s, he decided to go to the Roseau Fair. He did not want to bother the family who would gladly have taken him. Instead he hitchhiked to Roseau & then got a ride home.
In 1905, Ben met & married Hedwig Mai in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. He then sold the farms in Wisconsin & filed on a homestead in Indus, MN 2 miles south of the Rainy River. After improving the homestead & buying more land, Ben & Hedwig built a home on the highway near the river.
Ben & Hedwig had one son, Gustav "Gus". Hedwig passed away in 1949 after a long illness.
Ben & Gus farmed together raising livestock, grains, & seed & also cut timber. In later years they specialized in certified seed potatoes & well-bred beef cattle. The grandchildren tell how they had to go up & down the potato rows dusting for potato bugs. The potatoes had to be bug-free when the state inspector came.
The family recalls that when Ben was in his 70s, he decided to go to the Roseau Fair. He did not want to bother the family who would gladly have taken him. Instead he hitchhiked to Roseau & then got a ride home.
Indus on Rainy River: Paul Bernhard "Ben" Abelman came to the United States from Germany in 1894. During the early years, he worked at learning to farm in Carver County, MN, as a woodsman in Michigan & Wisconsin, & as a farmer in Wisconsin. He eventually owned 3 farms in Wisconsin.
In 1905, Ben met & married Hedwig Mai in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. He then sold the farms in Wisconsin & filed on a homestead in Indus, MN 2 miles south of the Rainy River. After improving the homestead & buying more land, Ben & Hedwig built a home on the highway near the river.
Ben & Hedwig had one son, Gustav "Gus". Hedwig passed away in 1949 after a long illness.
Ben & Gus farmed together raising livestock, grains, & seed & also cut timber. In later years they specialized in certified seed potatoes & well-bred beef cattle. The grandchildren tell how they had to go up & down the potato rows dusting for potato bugs. The potatoes had to be bug-free when the state inspector came.
The family recalls that when Ben was in his 70s, he decided to go to the Roseau Fair. He did not want to bother the family who would gladly have taken him. Instead he hitchhiked to Roseau & then got a ride home.
In 1905, Ben met & married Hedwig Mai in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. He then sold the farms in Wisconsin & filed on a homestead in Indus, MN 2 miles south of the Rainy River. After improving the homestead & buying more land, Ben & Hedwig built a home on the highway near the river.
Ben & Hedwig had one son, Gustav "Gus". Hedwig passed away in 1949 after a long illness.
Ben & Gus farmed together raising livestock, grains, & seed & also cut timber. In later years they specialized in certified seed potatoes & well-bred beef cattle. The grandchildren tell how they had to go up & down the potato rows dusting for potato bugs. The potatoes had to be bug-free when the state inspector came.
The family recalls that when Ben was in his 70s, he decided to go to the Roseau Fair. He did not want to bother the family who would gladly have taken him. Instead he hitchhiked to Roseau & then got a ride home.
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