# William Pfaender *German-American politician and businessman (1826–1905)* William Pfaender Sr. (born Jakob Wilhelm Pfänder; July 6, 1826 – August 11, 1905) was a German-American politician and businessman. In 1856 he organized the relocation of a Cincinnati Turner group to New Ulm in the [[Minnesota Territory]]. He was the father of [[Albert Pfaender]].[^1] Pfaender left the German states in 1848 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he founded a Turner society. In 1855 he published a letter urging a German American colony, and a settlement association grew out of it. In 1856 he led the move to New Ulm.[^2] In Minnesota he worked in real estate, insurance and lumber. He also helped found the New Ulm Turner Society in 1856, a year before the town was incorporated in 1857.[^3] The available source does not establish which political offices he held, and no primary, court or agency record about him is in the record for this entry.[^1] ## Biography ### Early life Pfaender was born in Heilbronn, in the Kingdom of Württemberg. His father was a cooper, and the family used his middle name, Wilhelm. He grew up in Heilbronn and Ulm. There he was shaped by the Turner movement, which paired gymnastics and physical exercise with advocacy of nationalism, political and religious freedom, education and equality.[^4] ### Emigration and Cincinnati He left for the United States in 1848, during the upheaval of that year's revolution. His route ran first through England, where he met Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, and then through New York. He reached Cincinnati, Ohio, the same year. In Cincinnati he established a Turner Society and became its first president.[^5] In 1851 he married Catherine Pfau, whose family belonged to the Turner movement. The couple had fifteen children.[^5] ### Founding of New Ulm In 1855 Pfaender wrote *Practical Turnerism* for *Die Turnzeitung*, the national Turner newspaper. The letter called for a German American colony where Germans could keep their customs and escape harassment by nativists. The Settlement Association of the Socialist Turner Society was formed as a result.[^6] The Chicago Land Association had already begun a town for German Americans on the banks of the [[Minnesota River]] in 1854. The Cincinnati group joined that effort and helped buy additional land.[^6] According to the article, Know Nothings attacked Pfaender's family and other German immigrant families at a picnic, and that attack preceded his 1856 move. Pfaender then organized the relocation to New Ulm.[^6] He helped establish the New Ulm Turner Society that same year. New Ulm was incorporated in 1857, and the German Land Association built a mill there.[^7] ### Business Pfaender had interests in real estate and insurance, and he also traded in lumber.[^7] ## Family The Wikipedia article states that Victoria Beckham, the British entertainer and fashion designer, is Pfaender's great-great-great-grandniece.[^8] His son Fred Pfaender served as Brown County register of deeds in 1896.[^8] His youngest son, Herman, inherited the farm and raised corn, wheat and Hereford cattle there. Herman was also Milford Township town clerk and sat on several local boards. Willis Runck, a great-great grandchild of Pfaender, now owns the farm where Pfaender lived.[^8] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — name, birth and death dates, occupation, son Albert Pfaender. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 1848 emigration, Cincinnati Turner society, 1855 letter, 1856 move to New Ulm. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — business lines, New Ulm Turner Society (1856), incorporation of New Ulm (1857). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — birthplace, father's trade, upbringing in Heilbronn and Ulm, Turner movement aims. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — route through England and New York, Cincinnati Turner Society presidency, 1851 marriage, fifteen children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 1855 *Die Turnzeitung* letter, Settlement Association, Chicago Land Association town (1854), Know Nothing attack and 1856 move. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — New Ulm Turner Society (1856), incorporation (1857), German Land Association mill, lumber business. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *William Pfaender* (revid 1349849660, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Family section: Beckham relationship, Fred Pfaender as register of deeds (1896), Herman Pfaender, Runck farm. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pfaender