End Comes to Jacob Voelker, Winona Pioneer. Veteran Member of County Board Succumbs After 6 Weeks’ Illness – Lived Here Most of Life. Was One of First Dairymen in County, Early Farmer and Manufacturer. Jacob E. Voelker, pioneer dairyman, farmer and manufacturer, and former county commissioner, died at 10:15 p. m. Friday (March 22, 1929) after an illness of six weeks. He was 70 years of age. Operated on two weeks ago at the Winona General hospital he appeared well on the road to recovery when another operation was found necessary. This was performed on Wednesday. A cerebral hemorrhage precipitated the end. Funeral services will be held Monday at 9 a. m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic church with the Rev. George Jaegen officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s cemetery. Members of St. Joseph’s society and of the Knights of Columbus will attend the services.
As chairman of the Winona county board of commissioners, as one of the proprietors of the Winona Brick Yards in West Burns valley, and through his dairying and farming activities, Mr. Voelker was one of the most widely known persons in this county. His work during 16 years on the county board, 12 of which he served as chairman, in indelibly written into one of the most active periods of the board of commissioners in the history of the county. Practically all of the early improved highways in the county were built during his term of office. He was also active in other fields of construction work in this county. The county jail, one of the finest in the northwest, is a monument to his work. The county poor farm was also built under the direction of the board of which Mr. Voelker was chairman.
Lived Here Most of Life. During the World war Mr. Voelker devoted a large amount of his time to war work. He was identified with the Liberty Loan drives as well as in the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., and Knights of Columbus campaigns. Mr. Voelker had lived most of his life in this county. Born in Germany on the Rhine Oct. 21, 1858, son of Carl and Mary (Bauer) Voelker, he was brought to America when a child of two years by his parents, who located in Winona county and bought land in section 34, Winona township. He received his early education in the schools of the county, but left school early in life to become engaged in business. When a young man he moved to Hankinson, N. D., in the days when trips of 100 miles or so with ox cart were not uncommon. He was one of the early settlers who built up the community around Hankinson.
Returned to Winona. After about five years in North Dakota he came back to Winona county and started in the dairy business with his brother Matthias Voelker, and engaged in this occupation about 10 years, first with his brother and then later with John Groff Sr. Through this partnership Mr. Voelker joined with the elder Groff in the manufacture of brick. In this business he continued until he died, developing the plant from one of horse power operation to steam, and then to electricity. When John Groff Sr., retired, his son, Louis E. Groff purchased the interests of his father. For almost half a century now the Winona Brick yards has furnished material for many of the leading buildings of this city and shipments of their product has gone through the entire northwest. Besides his business and political affiliations Mr. Voelker occupied many responsible positions in the county during his life time. He was on the town board for a considerable period of time, was chairman of the farm labor committee of the Association of Commerce at one time and head of the county committee working in co-operation with the farm bureau, member of the child welfare bureau and a leader in lodge and church circles.
Twelve Children Survive. Mr. Voelker was married June 20, 1881 to Julia Groff who died Feb. 24, 1887. To this union five children were born. Anna died in childhood. Henry M., John C., Ed. L., and Jacob M., all of Winona survive. On September 10, 1889 Mr. Voelker married Josephine Groff who survives, and this union was blessed with nine children, all but one of whom are living. Isabelle died in early womanhood. They are Mrs. George DeWolf of La Crosse (Laura); Mrs. John Meier of Winona (Florence); Margaret, school supervisor at Lewiston; Thomas V. at home; Eugene J. at Milwaukee; Marcellus F. of Chicago, who is Brother Theodore in the Christian Brother order; Gerald B. of Chicago and Paul J. at home. There are 25 grandchildren. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Saturday Evening, March 23, 1929, Page 1)
Hundreds Pay Final Tribute to J. E. Voelker. Leader in Affairs of County Buried Today With Solemn Church Rites. Last rites were held today for Jacob E. Voelker, pioneer resident and leader in the affairs of Winona county who died Friday night (March 22, 1929). The Rt. Rev. Francis M. Kelly, D. D., bishop of the diocese of Winona, attired in the crimson robes of his office, was present in the sanctuary of St. Joseph’s Catholic church during the solemn requiem mass, and administered the last absolution. The Rev. George Jaegen, pastor, was celebrant of the high mass, assisted by the Rev. Louis O’Day, pastor of St. Thomas church, and the Rev. J. H. Peschges, rector of St. Mary’s college. Father Jaegen delivered the funeral sermon. The church was filled with people. The pallbearers were John Schreiber, Charles P. Schuler, Frank Schneider, George Mertes, Michael Goergen and J. A. Gernes. Members of St. Joseph’s society of which Mr. Voelker was a member, attended the services in a body. The funeral cortege to St. Mary’s cemetery was composed of more than 30 cars. During the day and evening Sunday the Voelker home in West Burns valley was thronged with people come to pay silent tribute to their friend who through his business and political activities was one of the most widely known persons in the county. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Monday Evening, March 25, 1929, Page 6)
Mrs. Voelker Dead at 78. Mrs. Josephine Voelker, 78, 214 ½ Market street, died Wednesday noon at the St. Francis hospital, La Crosse, Wis., where she had been a patient since October. Mrs. Voelker, the former Josephine Groff, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Groff, was born in East Burns valley February 26, 1872. She was married to Jacob Voelker who died in 1929. Mr. Voelker owned and operated the Voelker-Groff brickyards in West Burns valley where Mrs. Voelker lived until moving to Winona in 1931. He served as county commissioner for 20 years. Mrs. Voelker was a member of St. Joseph’s church, St. Anne’s society and the Third Order of St. Francis of St. Joseph’s church, the Women’s branch of the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Cotter Mothers club and the Winona County Old Settlers association. She served as first president of the Cotter Mothers club. Mr. and Mrs. Voelker had 13 children, eight of whom are living. They are Henry, John, Edward, Mrs. Laura DeWolf and Margaret, Winona; Eugene, Milwaukee; Brother Theodore, on the staff of Cretin High school, St. Paul, and Paul, La Crosse. Five children, Jacob M., Mrs. Florence Meier, Mrs. Isabelle Meier, Thomas and Gerald, are dead. Survivors include 41 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and one sister, Miss Anna Groff, Winona. Funeral services will be Saturday at 9 a. m. at St. Joseph’s church. The Rt. Rev. Joseph Hale will be celebrant at the solemn requiem mass, assisted by the Rev. Harold Dittman, a nephew of Mrs. Voelker, and the Rev. Gores. Preliminary services will be at the Kelly funeral home at 8:30 a. m. Brothers of St. Mary’s college will form the choir at the services and will act as pallbearers. Burial will be in St. Mary’s cemetery. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Thursday, May 18, 1950, Page 3)