Early Richfield Settlers:
ADAM DOERFLER, a native of Bramburg, Bavaria, followed Peter Christian from Waverly. He obtained 160 acres north of the present 78th Street on both sides of Nicollet Avenue. Of his 12 children, two became priests and three became sisters.
The original St. Boniface church was located on the boundary line between Bloomington and Richfield, at an equal distance from the eastern and western line. A piece of land of 4 acres had been bought by Valentine Haeg and Adam Doerfler and John Adelmann from Hiram Layman and Eliza Layman, who had it as a claim, for the sum of $200 on Oct 24, 1874. The following year the church was finished at a cost of $3,000. It was blessed June, 1876 by the Rev. Bishop Thomas Grace, O.P.
The first trustees were Valentine Haeg, John Adelmann, and Michael Boeser. Father Meinulph Stukenkemper the first pastor, was succeeded by Father Anthony Kasper, O.S.B. on April 17, 1877. For the year 1878 an agrement was made with Rev. Abbot Edelbrock, O.S.B., according to which the parish was to pay $350 a year for services on two Sundays a month and on the days of obligation. The trustees for 1878 were ADAM DOERFLER and John Adelmann. Father Anthony left in February, 1878. His successor was Father Alphonese Kuisle. On Dec. 2, 1878 he blessed the first bell of the church. It had been purchased from Stuckstede of St. Louis, MO., for $358.
One of the oldest baptismal records at St. Boniface Church is that of Charles Henry Christian. he was born Sept. 20, 1859 and baptized Dec. 15, 1859 by Rev. Demetrius Gahr. The oldest Richfield marriage record found at St. Boniface is of Adam Doerfler and Sophia Knaeble, married by Fr. Thomas Tomazevic in November, 1865. The baptism of their first child George Charles Doerfler, who was born Dec. 29, 1866, was on Mar. 17, 1867.
Children of Adam Doerfler and Sophia Knaeble were: George, Mary, Ludwig (Louis), Anna, Ida, Elizabeth, Henry, Phillip, Phillip, Barbara, Francis, Julius, and Elizabeth.