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A study of the merchant, the professional man, the artist, the preacher, statesman or inventor reveals the fact
that their lives are no more excellent than the lives of farmers. Fred Solete. now living in retirement in Windoni,
found life good and successful on a farm in Cottonwood county, as have many others.
Mr. Solete was born in Germany, September 14, 1860, and is a son of Anton and Christena Solete, both natives of
Germany, where they grew up and were married, and there spent their lives on a farm, both dying many years ago.
The father was a soldier in the German army and fought in the wars against Austria, Denmark, Prussia and France.
His family consisted of six children, namely: Fred, William, August, Walter, Mary and Christena.
Fred Solete grew up on his father's farm in Germany, and there he received a common school education. After leaving
school he served four years in the German army, then worked as a farm hand in his native land until he immjgrated
to the United States in 1893, locating at Windsor, Minnesota. He worked on the Omaha railroad for two years, then
rented a farm in Great Bend township. Cottonwood county, for five years; then bought a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres. He prospered through hard work, the exercise of sound judgment and careful management and added to
his original holdings until he became owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable and well improved land
on which he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale until 1915, when, having accumulated
a handsome competency, he retired from active life, moved to Windom where he purchased two acres on which stands
a commodious home and is now living quietly, surrounded by all the comforts of life, as a result of his former
years of activity along legitimate and welldefined lines.
Mr. Solete was married in 1888, to Anna Polzen, to which union three children have been born, namely: Fred, who
married Louise Dahi, has one child, Violet; Walter married Anna Beber, and William, who is unmarried. These children
were given good educational advantages.
Politically, Mr. Solete is an independent Republican. He has never sought political office, and has only served
on the school board. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for
what he has accomplished unaided, having come to a strange land with very little capital, and by sheer courage
and perseverance forged to the front over many obstacles.
From:
History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties
Minnesota
Their People, Industries and Institutions
John A. Brown, Editor in Chief
B. F. Bowen and Company, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana
1916.
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Also see Railway Officials in America 1906
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