The Stiever Family

<b>John Walch</b>, vice president of the First State Bank of Elgin, and a b usiness man of high standing and wide reputation, was born in Mt Vernon T ownship, Winona County, Minn., July 13, 1876. His parents were Nicholas a nd Clara (Kemp) Walch, the father born in Luxembourg and the mother in O hio. Nicholas Walch came to America in 1858, and his marriage to Clara K emp occurred in Dubuque, Ia., where for several years he was engaged in t he livery business. In 1864, he moved to Mt Vernon Township, Winona Cou nty, and bought 240 acres of government land at $1.25 an acre. The trac t was covered with heavy timber, which took a considerable time and ple nty of hard work to clear, but the task was finally accomplished and a f ine farm developed, the size of which Mr. Walch increased to 1,400 acre s by additional land purchases. There he resided, continuing the work o f improvement until his death in 1899. His widow is a resident of Winon a. They had thirteen children, some of whom are now deceased, the survi vors being Henry and Nicholas (twins), Roman, John, Francis, Laura, Kat e, Aloysious and Cecil. John Walch acquired his elementary education in t he school of his district, Winona County, and later attended public sch ool in Winona City. In 1898, in partnership with J. Schlingerman, of Wi nona, he engaged in the dry goods business there under the firm name of S chlingerman &Walch, and continued as a member of the concern until 1902 . In that year Mr. Walch entered the Merchants Bank at Winona and remai ned there until 1904, when he came to Elgin and accepted the position o f cashier of the First State Bank, which he held until 1920, when he wa s elected vice president. He is also a director in the First State Bank o f Rollingstone and is financially interested in farm land in Olmsted Co unty. His business career has been progressive and has broadened out, w ith still greater promise for the future. For 15 years Mr. Walch has be en a member of the village council and has served as its President. Fra ternally he belongs to Rochester Lodge, No. 1091, B.P.O. E. A man dos s ound judgment, and upright in all his transactions, he is highly respec ted in the community. On October 25, 1904, Mr. Walch was united in marr iage to Leona Steichen, who was born at Northwood, Ia., March 25, 1879. T hey have an adopted child, Jean, who was born February 22, 1918. Mr. an d Mrs. Walch are members of the Catholic church. <b><u>History of Wabasha County, Minnesota </u>Compiled Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, 1920 p. 420</b>