The 1860 United States census showed Otto Vill (age 27, born in Bavaria, brick maker) married to Kunigunda (age 21, born in Bavaria) and living in New Ulm, Minnesota.
Otto Vill was a member of the Brown County Militia on November 10, 1862. He was discharged on January 10, 1863.
Otto Vill (age 31, born in Bavaria, brick maker) registered for the Civil War in June 1863, in New Ulm, Minnesota.
The 1865 Minnesota census showed Otto Vill married to Cornelia and living in Rollingstone, Minnesota. Children Emily and Mary also lived with the couple.
The 1870 United States census showed Otto Vill (age 37, born in Bavaria, brewer) married to Cornelia (age 31, born in Bavaria) and living in Rollingstone, Minnesota. Children Amelia (age 6, born in Minnesota) and Oswald (age 9 months, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Real Estate. Otto Vill to Charles Pottle, certain tract of land in Rollingstone…$100. (The Winona Daily Republican, Tuesday, May 18, 1875, Page 3)
The 1880 United States census showed Otto Vill (age 47, born in Bavaria, brewer) married to Kunigunda (age 40, born in Bavaria) and living in Minnesota City, Minnesota. Son Oswald (age 10, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Accident at Vills’ Brewery, Minnesota City. Minnesota City, Feb. 27. The boiler in Mr. Otto Vill’s fine brick brewery here blew up on Thursday forenoon entirely demolishing the engine house. The boiler shot endwise through a brick wall on an adjoining room, causing much damage. The proprietor says his damage will reach about $2,000. Very fortunately, no one was hurt. It seems Mr. Vill was his own engineer. He says he cannot give any positive cause of the accident. Some say the boiler has been considered unsafe for some time past. (The Winona Daily Republican, Friday, February 27, 1885, Page 2)
The 1885 United States census showed Otto Ville (age 52, born in Bavaria) married to Kunagunda (age 46, born in Bavaria) and living in Rollingstone, Minnesota. Son Oswald (age 16, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
The 1895 Minnesota census showed Otto Vill (age 62, born in Bavaria, brewer) living in Minnesota City, Minnesota. Son Oswald (age 25, born in Minnesota, brewer) and Oswald’s wife Amanda (age 28, born in Minnesota) also lived with Otto.
Mr. Otto Vill has been granted a patent on his metallic railway tie and is now looking for a buyer. Mr. Vill is confident that there is millions in it for the individual or corporation who will first take hold of it. No doubt that some of the roads at least will have to come to the metallic tie at now very distant day, and the man who has the best is the one who will reap the fortune. Mr. Vill thinks he has it and we hope he has. (The Winona Daily Republican, Friday, April 6, 1900, Page 4)
The 1900 United States census showed Otto Vill (age 67, born in February 1833 in Germany, brewer) living in Minnesota City, Minnesota. Son Oswald (age 30, born in October 1869 in Minnesota, brewer) and Oswald’s wife Amanda (age 32, born in January 1868 in Minnesota) also lived with Otto.
The 1910 United States census showed Otto Vill (age 77, born in Germany, brewer) living in Minnesota City, Minnesota. Son Oswald (age 40, born in Minnesota, brewer) and Oswald’s wife Amanda (age 40, born in Minnesota) also lived with Otto.
Old Pioneer Brewer Dies. Otto Vill Passes Suddenly at Minnesota City Early Sunday after a Brief Illness. Built Brewery in 1863. This Plant at Minnesota City One of the First Established in the Northwest. Came to This Country from Bavaria. Otto Vill, seventy-one years old, founder of what is said to have been the first brewery in the Northwest at Minnesota City in 1863, died at 5 o’clock Sunday morning at his home in Minnesota City after a brief illness. The deceased came to Minnesota City with his wife after the famous Indian massacre at New Ulm where he served as one of the defenders against the Sioux. For several years past Mr. Vill received a pension for this service. During the massacre two of his children died. Two more children were born, of whom Oswald Vill of Minnesota City survives. His wife predeceased him in 1889. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon from the residence at Minnesota City, and interment will be made at Woodlawn cemetery, Rev. G. S. Keller will officiate. Came from Bavaria. Mr. Vill came to New York from Glingerberg, Bavaria in 1851 and moved to Cincinnati in 1852. From there he moved in 1854 to New Ulm, Minn., where he married Kunigunda Magnus in May, 1860. Three years later he moved to Minnesota City and established a brewery and brickyard there. The brewery is still conducted by his son. The deceased was taken suddenly ill Saturday night. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Monday, May 4, 1914, Page 8)