GULDEN

Nachrichten: Source: History of Brown Co., MN, author: Fritsche, Vol. 1, p. 311. States that Nichols Gulden was one of the first officers of the newly formed Cottonwood Twp. in Brown Co, Oct 24, 1858.On Oct 15, 1856, Nicholas purchased farmland under the "Proof of Right of Pre-emption". This was under the Military Bounty Land Act of March 3, 1855 and his was land warrant #9135. This land had been issued to Moses Delaney, a private in Captain Howell's Company Ohio Militia in the War of 1812. Delaney sold this land to Nicholas. Nicholas declared his Intention to become a naturalized citizen on Sep 10, 1856. he filed his papers for his land on the Cottonwood River in Brown Co., MN on June 22, 1857. he settled on his land on Oct 15, 1856 and built a 16x18 dwelling which was 10 feet high. It had one window and one door and remained his home. He also brought land from his brother Daniel on Dec 13, 1858 for $1.00, under land warrant #62182, originally issued to a John Wilkin. Nicholas sold his first parcel of land (#9135) to his mother on Dec 13, 1858 for the sum of $1.00.Source: New Ulm Review, dated Dec 3, 1913:" With the exception of Mrs. Frank Schmelz who lives in St. Cloud, all of the children and the many grandchildren of Nick Gulden congregated at his home, corner of 5th North and Jefferson Street, last Sunday to help him celebrate his 85th birthday. The celebration is an annual event that has been religiously observed by the family for many years. The children prepared all the eatables at home and then gather at their father's home to spend the day with him. In spite of his four score years and five, Mr. Gulden is physically and mentally well preserved. Age, of course, begins to tell on him, but he is well able to take care of himself and has consequently not yet become a burden to himself and the members of the family. Mr. Gulden was born Nov 30, 1828 in Eicheim, Oberamt Speicbingen in the Black Forest, Wurtemburg. he was still in his teens when he came to America, first locating in Milwaukee. After a brief sojourn there, he came to Rubicon, WI where he made his home until the year 1857 when he moved on to New Ulm, MN. He settled there in the township of Cottonwood. On Aug 24, 1859 he married Gertrude Hillesheim who passed away in 1866. Two years later, he remarried to Elisabeth Schaefer who has shard with him the pleasures and also the hardships which life had in store for them. The children of the first marriage who survive are Arnold Gulden, who is at the present, overseer of the Porr Home of Brown County, Mrs. John Reinhart of Cottonwood and Mrs. John Shneider of New Ulm. The issue of the second marriage are Gerhard Gulden of the Town of Cottonwood and Mrs. Frank Schmelz of St. Cloud. There are 48 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. At the time of the Indian Massacre, the subject of this sketch was on his farm in the town of Cottonwood and his family formed a part of the Cottonwood contingency that was cut off from New Ulm. Under the command of Captain Rotering the entrenched themselves in a distillery on the John Briebel farm about seven miles form New Ulm. It became a necessary at one time to get provisions for the garrison and Mr. Gulden was dispatched to South Bend to get some. He started out with a team of oxen and for safety's sake, he took a horse along which was attached to the rear of the conveyance. He got the provisions, and started back. Some miles out of South Bend, he noticed Indians who were bearing down on him, and he cut the oxen loose, mounted the horse and started back to South Bend. Here he was supplied with a military escort and made the return trip to safety. The Indians had opened the flour sacks and strewn the provisions all over the ground where he had left them. Mr. Gulden has at all times taken an active interest in the affairs of this town and was school trustee of his district as long as he lived on the farm. For fourteen years he was Chairman of the Board of Town Supervisors and for four years, during the time of the County seat fight, he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners. About 20 years ago, he gave up active farm life and moved to New Ulm where he has since resided. He takes life philosophically and can look back upon a strenuous, useful life without regrets. Thru his straight-forwardness and his desire to be of service to his fellow men, he has won the respect and esteem of friends and neighbors who wish him many more years of pleasure and happiness." (Copy of this obit is in my Gulden File)Source: New Ulm Review, dated Jan 31, 1917: "Another Brown County pioneer of more than half a century passed to the great beyond Friday afternoon, January 26, 1917 when the Angel of Death summoned Nicholas Gulden at his home on North Jefferson St. this city. Old age is given as the immediate cause of Gulden's death. he had been sick the past four months, two of which he had been confined to his bed. Mr. Gulden was born in Schwarzwald, Schwaben, Germany Nov 30, 1828, and came to America in 1845, settling first in Wisconsin. In 1856 he came to Brown County, locating on a farm in Cottonwood Twp. where he resided until 1894, when he retired and removed to this city where he has since resided. Mr. Gulden has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Gertrude Hillesheim to whom he was joined in wedlock in New Ulm in 1859. His first wife died in 1865. In 1867 he was married to miss Lizzie Schefer of St. Peter who survives her husband. Mr. Gulden was the father of eight children, four by each marriage. Two of each marriage are still living. They are: Mrs. John Reinhart of Cottonwood; Mrs. John Schneider of Springfield; Gerhard Gulden or Cottonwood; and Mrs. Frank Schulz of St. Cloud. One brother, Leonhard Gulden of Osakis, MN also survives him. He is survived by 50 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Mr. Gulden has long been active in church affairs being a member of the Catholic Church of this city and also a member of St. Joseph's Society. He is one of the founders of that society,a and the last survivor of the founders of the organization. he was a supervisor of Cottonwood Twp. and for many years treasurer of the school district in that Twp. he also fought in the Indian outbreak here in 1862, taking part in both battles in Aug of that year. The funeral was held Monday morning at 9:30 from the Catholic Chruch in this city. Robert Schlinkert officiated. Burial was in the Catholic Cemetery.

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