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MRS. LUDOVICA H. ENGELS of Ghent, Minnesota

MRS. LUDOVICA H. ENGELS (Ludovica Angelica van Maer), of Westerheim township, is the widow of Vincentius Engels. She is an early settler of Lyon county and the largest real estate owner of her precinct.
Mrs. Engels was born in Groede, Holland. October 21, 1859. She married Mr. Engels feb 19th 1880 at Groede, NL and the day after their marriage they sailed for America on board the SS Zeeland. Their first home was in Atkinson (line37-38), Henry county, Illinois, where they engaged in farming three and one half years. They came to Lyon county in 1883 and bought the northwest quarter of section 26, Westerheim township, then bare of improvements. Today the farm is one of the best improved in the vicinity and with additions purchased later is the largest farm in the township.

Mr. Engels prospered exceedingly and before his death was the owner of 1160 acres of Lyon county soil, 920 acres in Westerheim and 240 in Fairview. He became one of the big farmers and substantial men of the township and was prominent in local affairs. He was one of the organizers of school district No. 44, gave the land upon which the school house is located, and was treasurer of the district until his death. He served as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Westerheim and was later township treasurer. He was a stockholder and a director of the Ghent State Bank.
Vincentius Engels was born in Caprycke, Belgium, July 26, 1850, one of a family of twelve children born to Dominico and Johanna C. (Van Hyfte) Engels. Only two of the children are now living: Frank of Illinois, and John of Belgium. Mr. Engels came to America in 1880 and to Lyon county in 1883. He died at Eecloo, Belgium, February 13, 1910, while in the old country for the benefit of his health, and he was buried in the cemetery at Ghent, Minnesota. He was a universally esteemed citizen. All good works found in him a generous helper and he was a father to the needy and the poor. There are nine children in the Engels family, as follows: Amelia (Mrs. Mathew Hennen), of Westerheim township; Henry, who conducts his mother's farm on section 29; Levi, John and August, who assist in the management of the home farm; Elizabeth, Joseph, Aloysius and Vincent. The eldest child, August, died in Illinois at the age of eight months.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Engels, with the help of her sons, has managed the property. They have added to the farming lands until they now have 1560 acres. The family farms 880 acres of the farm and rent out the balance. They engage in stock raising extensively, feeding and shipping from three to five car loads per year. In 1912 they have 450 acres in small grain and about 200 acres in corn.

WESTERHEIM
Vincent was the owner in 1902 of:
1-the W 1/2 in the SW 1/4 in section 23 in Westerheim, MN containing 80 acres
2-the NW 1/4 in section 23 in Westerheim, MN containing 160 acres making a total of 240 acres in section 23
3-the W 1/2 in section 26 in Westerheim, MN, containing 320 acres
4-the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 in section 27 in Westerheim, MN containing 80 acres
5-the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 in section 27 in Westerheim, MN containing 40 acres making a total of 120 acres in section 27
6-the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 in section 35 in Westerheim, MN containing 80 acres in section 35
total for Westerheim is 240+320+120+80=760 acres
FAIRVIEW
the NE 1/4 in section 29 in Fairview, MN containing 160 acres
The N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 in section 29 in Fairview, MN containing 80 acres : in one block 240 acres.

Westerheim and Fairview 760+240=1000 acres

Source:An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota