George B. Dresbach

George Betz Dresbach, Jr., was born April 18, 1857, in Onalaska, Wisconsin.

The 1860 United States census showed George Dresback (age 3, born in Wisconsin) living with his parents George (age 34, born in Ohio, farmer) and Mary C. (age 25, born in New York) in Dresbach, Minnesota. A sister, Minnesota (age 1, born in Minnesota), also lived with the family.

The 1870 United States census showed George Dresback (age 13, born in Wisconsin) living with his parents George B. (age 40, born in Ohio, dry goods merchant) and Mary (age 25, born in New York) in Dresbach, Minnesota. His other siblings were Minnie (age 11, born in Minnesota), Charles (age 9, born in Minnesota), Jessie (age 5, born in Minnesota), Nellie (age 3, born in Minnesota), and Maud (age 1, born in Minnesota).

The 1875 Minnesota census showed George Junior Dresbach (age 18, born in Wisconsin) living with his parents Geo. B. (age 48, born in Ohio) and Mary C. (age 40, born in New York) in Dresbach, Minnesota. His other siblings were Minnie (age 16, born in Minnesota), Charles (age 13, born in Minnesota), Jessie (age 10, born in Minnesota), and Nellie (age 8, born in Minnesota).

GEORGE B., Jr., son of George B. and Mary C. Dresbach, was born in Wisconsin, April 18, 1857, at Onalaska, La Crosse county. His father emigrated from Pickaway county, Ohio, to Wisconsin in 1855, thence to the Territory of Minnesota in 1858. His mother was born in Albany, New York. George B., the subject of this biography, moved to Dresbach, Minnesota, with his father’s family before he was a year old. He attended the village school part of each year for several years. His education, in so far as a perfect knowledge of text books is concerned, is somewhat limited, but being a close student and observer he has acquired a great deal of information, and is conversant with the leading topics of the day. In the fall of 1879 he became editor of the "Winona Democrat" and was editor of that paper for two years. He sold out to F. W. Flint in 1881. The name of the paper has been changed to the "Winona Tribune." Mr. Dresbach returned to the village of that name in 1881 and began the manufacture of brick. He, with John H. Moss, organized the Northwestern Brick Co., under the firm name of Moss & Dresbach, reference to which is made in the article on the manufactories of Dresbach. Mr. Dresbach takes an active interest in the local affairs of his village and township, and is laboring earnestly to develop the valuable resources of his village. He is yet free from the burden of domestic responsibility, and can devote all his time to active business. (The History of Winona County, Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., A. T. Andreas, H. H. Hill and Company, Chicago, 1883, Page 716)

Page 715. George B. (father), son of George and Catharine Dresbach, was born August 27, 1827, in Pickaway county, Ohio. His father emigrated from Pennsylvania to Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1802, where he bought 1,100 acres of land of the government at $2.50 per acre. His father remained on his farm until his death, which occurred at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His mother, Catharine (Betz) Dresbach, died also in Ohio on the old farm at the age of seventy-five years. George B., the subject of this biography, was brought up on the farm, accustomed to all kinds of hard physical labor so necessary to the development of true manhood. He attended district school part of each year, until the age of twenty when he entered Greenfield Academy, of Ohio. Learning of the great advantages offered to the young in the west, he emigrated to Wisconsin in 1855 and to the Territory of Minnesota in 1857, where he founded the village of Dresbach in 1857, which bears his name. The township was named Dresbach under the "Township Organization" act of 1858. Mr. Dresbach has always taken a very active part in the development and building of the village and township. He has held various offices in both town and county. He was elected by the democratic party a member of the Minnesota legislature in 1868. Was again elected to the state legislature in 1878, by his party. Mr. Dresbach was married to Mary C. Nichols, daughter of Col. C. M. Nichols, Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Dresbach have five children, all living. George B., Jr., whose biography appears under the head of this township, resides in Dresbach. Minnie M., now Mrs. Moss, resides in Dresback. Mr. John H. Moss, of Dane county, Wisconsin, her husband, is engaged in the manufacture of brick. Charles L. is now telegraph operator and agent on the Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad. The two youngest, Jessie and Nellie, are at home. Mr. Dresbach has had a great deal of experience in various businesses of life. He is now the owner of over one thousand acres of land, including a part of the village where he now resides. He has done a great deal to the building up of the village of Dresbach,

Page 716. and is now endeavoring, with others, to rush the valuable stone-quarries in operation in Dresbach. (History of Winona County, Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., H. H. Hill and Company, Publishers, Chicago, 1883)

George was married to Elizabeth Marie "Lizzie" Porter in 1884 in Winona, Minnesota.

The 1885 Minnesota census showed George Dresbach Jr. (age 28, born in Wisconsin) married to Elizabeth M. (age 22, born in New York) and living in Dresbach, Minnesota. A son, George Edward Dresbach (age 4 months, born in Minnesota), also lived with the couple.

The 1900 United States census showed G. B. Dresbach (age 43, born in April 1857 in Wisconsin, farmer) married to Elizabeth M. (age 38, born in September 1861 in New York) and living in Branciforte Township, Santa Cruz County, California. Children George E. (age 14, born in December 1885 in Minnesota), Lourance E. (age 10, born in May 1889 in Iowa), and Vera M. (age 5, born in October 1894 in California) also lived with the couple.

The 1910 United States census showed George B. Dresbach (age 53, born in Wisconsin, farmer) married to Winifred (age 29, born in California) and living in Branciforte Township, Santa Cruz County, California. Children Vera M. (age 15, born in California), Elsa E. (age 3, born in California), and David W. (age 2, born in California) also lived with the couple. Marciana A. Wood (age 63, born in Illinois, widowed, mother-in-law) also lived with the family.

WOMAN AGED 65 YEARS SLAYS HER SON-IN-LAW. Declares Physician Struck Her and Beat Wife. SANTA CRUZ, July 23. – During a quarrel between Mrs. Mary Wood and her son-in-law, Dr. George Dresbach, at Vine Hill, near here, today, the woman shot and killed the physician. Her defense is that Dr. Dresbach had struck her and had beaten his wife. Mrs. Wood, who is 65 years old, told the police the trouble started when Dr. Dresbach became very angry over a trifling matter. When attacked, she said, she backed into a bedroom, obtained a revolver from a grip and then shot her assailant. Dr. Dresbach fell with the first shot, which penetrated his lungs. As he lay on the floor Mrs. Wood shot him a second time. Mrs. Wood exhibited an injured eye to the police. She asserted it was caused by the physician striking her while she was wearing her glasses. Dr. Dresbach, who was an osteopath, had practiced in Seattle and Palo Alto. He was married in Palo Alto four years ago and had two children. His wife and mother-in-law believe he was slightly demented. Mrs. Dresbach witnessed the shooting. (Los Angeles Herald, Sunday Morning, July 24, 1910, Volume XXXVII, Number 296, Part II, Page 5)

DRESBACH, GEORGE B., JR, b. in Onalaska, Wis., April 18, 1857; when an infant came with his parents to Minnesota; was editor of the Winona Democrat, 1879-81; later engaged in the manufacture of brick in Dresbach, Winona county. [76.] (Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, Volume XIV, Minnesota Biographies 1655-1912, Warren Upham and Rose Dunlap, Published by the Society, St. Paul MN, June 1912, Page 187)