Mrs. Ludovica H. Engels of Ghent, Minnesota
Ludovica H. Engels (Ludovica Angelica van Maer), of Westerheim Township, became one of the most notable early settlers of Lyon County, Minnesota. Widowed young, she continued to manage an expanding agricultural enterprise and was recognized as the largest real-estate owner of her precinct — a remarkable story of migration, perseverance, and prosperity.
Mrs. Engels was born in Groede, Holland on October 21, 1859. She married Vincentius Engels on February 19th, 1880 in Groede, and the day after their marriage they sailed for America aboard the SS Zeeland. Their first home in the United States was Atkinson, Henry County, Illinois (see Atkinson entry, line 37–38), where they farmed for three and a half years.
In 1883 they moved to Lyon County, Minnesota, purchasing the northwest quarter of section 26 in Westerheim Township, then “bare of improvements.” Over time, the property became one of the best improved farms in the area. With later additions, it grew into the largest farm in the township.
Vincentius Engels prospered greatly and, before his death, owned 1,160 acres in Lyon County: 920 acres in Westerheim and 240 acres in Fairview. He played a prominent role in local affairs, helped organize school district No. 44, donated land for the schoolhouse, and served as district treasurer until his death. He was also a member of the Board of Supervisors of Westerheim, later township treasurer, and a stockholder/director of the Ghent State Bank.
Vincentius was born in Caprycke (Kaprijke), Belgium on July 26, 1850, one of twelve children of Dominico and Johanna C. (Van Hyfte) Engels. Only two siblings were reported living at the time: Frank (Illinois) and John (Belgium). He came to America in 1880 and to Lyon County in 1883.
While visiting Belgium for health reasons, he died at Eecloo (Eeklo), Belgium on February 13, 1910, and was buried in the cemetery at Ghent, Minnesota. He was remembered as a universally esteemed citizen and a generous helper to the needy and the poor.
There were nine children in the Engels family: Amelia (Mrs. Mathew Hennen), Henry, Levi, John, August, Elizabeth, Joseph, Aloysius, and Vincent. The eldest child, August, died in Illinois at the age of eight months. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Engels — assisted by her sons — continued managing and enlarging the property, bringing the total holdings reported to 1,560 acres. They farmed 880 acres and rented the rest, and engaged extensively in stock raising, shipping three to five carloads per year. In 1912 the family had 450 acres in small grain and about 200 acres in corn.
Westerheim Township:
1) W 1/2 of the SW 1/4, Section 23 — 80 acres
2) NW 1/4, Section 23 — 160 acres (Total in Sec. 23: 240 acres)
3) W 1/2, Section 26 — 320 acres
4) S 1/2 of the NE 1/4, Section 27 — 80 acres
5) NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4, Section 27 — 40 acres (Total in Sec. 27: 120 acres)
6) E 1/2 of the NW 1/4, Section 35 — 80 acres
Total Westerheim: 240 + 320 + 120 + 80 = 760 acres
Fairview:
NE 1/4, Section 29 — 160 acres
N 1/2 of the NW 1/4, Section 29 — 80 acres
Total Fairview: 240 acres
Westerheim + Fairview: 760 + 240 = 1,000 acres