Ernest J Poehls

Ernest Poehls, proprietor of a well-kept farm of two hundred and sixty acres just north of the Village of Sabin, in Elmwood township, Clay countv. former constable for that township and former supervisor of highways in his district, was born in Scott county, Iowa, November 23, 1876, He was the son of Chris and Elizabeth ( Krabbenhoft) Poehls,Ernest Poehls was but se\en years of age when he came to Minnesota from Iowa with his parents in 1883, and he completed his schooling in the Sabin schools. From the days of his boyhood, he was an active assistant to his father and brothers in the labors of developing and improving the place in Elmwood township, and he remained at home, thus engaged, until his marriage, in the fall of 1904. He then engaged in farming on his own account, establishing his home on the farm , in that same township, just north of Sabin. Mr. Poehls was the owner of a well- developed farm of two hundred and sixty acres. Upon taking possession of that farm, he planted a good-sized grove which is now well developed, a very attractive feature of his farm. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Poehls gave considerable attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle and was successful in this enterprise. He gave close attention to local civic affairs and has served his community in the capacity of constable and as "road boss."

In the fall of 1904 Ernest Poehls was united in marriage to Mary Mickelsen, who was born in Elmwood township, daughter of Jens and Sophia (Wright) Mickelsen, early settlers in that neighborhood, the former of whom spent his last days there. Jens Mickelsen was born in Denmark and came to this country in the days of his young manhood. He came on out into the Northwest and for some time was engaged on a freighter out of Fargo, hauling to points along the then frontier as far north as one hundred and twenty miles and more. He married, after coming to this country, and in 1879 homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Elmwood township. Clay county, where he established his home and where he spent the remainder of his life, one of the sub stantial and influential pioneers of that neighborhood. His widow is now living at Sabin. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Poehls was the first-born: the others being: \\'illiam, Andrew, Martin. Matilda and George.

To Ernest and Mary (Mickelsen ) Poehls five children were born; Argan, Calvin, Harold, Ethel and Vivian. Mr. and Mrs. Poehls were members of the Lutheran church and took a proper interest in church work, as well as in other local good works and the general social activities of the community, of which they had been residents since the days of their childhood, and which they saw develop from its pioneer state to its present high stage of development and cultivation.