Winslow Teloken and Teresia Maas

Winslow Teloken was born May 1, 1824, in Prussia and as a child attended school according to the laws of his native country. Until the age of twenty-two he assisted his father in farming. At this time he came to Erie County, New York. Here he farmed and worked in the lumber woods. On April 30, 1853 he married Theresa Maas who was born April 28, 1828 in Prussia. The couple continued to live in Erie County, New York where their first child, Mary, was born on February 7, 1854. On April 30, 1855, the family took up residence in Elba Township, Winona County, Minnesota on Section Thirteen. There they continued to farm and raise their family. The two children born while they resided here were Joseph on December 15, 1856 and Josephine on February 29, 1859. In 1860 the farm was sold and another purchase made of 80 acres on Section Sixteen, also in Elba Township. This farm was added to through the years, eventually making Winslow a very independent and prosperous farmer of the late 1800's. It was on this farm that the family continued to increase in size as well as wealth. Five more children were born here. Of theses Antony was the first. He was born December 13, 1860, not long after the new farm was purchased. On May 26, 1864 twins, Elizabeth and Sophia, joined the family. These children were followed several years later by Louis on November 21, 1867 and Theresa on June 20, 1871. The family was saddened by the death of Theresa on August 7, 1883 and son Louis on August 15 1883 due to Diptheria and it's complications. The family's strong Roman Catholic faith sustained them through this difficult time, and again on March 30, 1892 when Theresa, Winslow's wife, was to die. The family continued to grow up, marry and leave the home except for Antony who assisted his father on the farm. His father sold him the farm on June 8, 1900, for "consideration of love and affection and the sum of one dollar." Winslow died of old age at 77yrs old, November 22, 1900, on the farm one mile west of Elba that he settled in 1860. He was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends. He was known to be a Democrat in political views and a follower of the Roman Catholic faith. It is also to be noted that he was one of the oldest settlers of Elba Township and learned to speak the language of the Dakota Sioux.