Wilhelm Pfänder

William Pfaender Sr. (born Jakob Wilhelm Pfänder, July 6, 1826 – August 11, 1905) was a German-American politician and businessman. His son was Albert Pfaender.

Biography Pfaender was born in Heilbronn, Kingdom of Württemberg . His father was a craftsman who made barrels so the family called the younger Pfaender by his middle name. Growing up in Heilbronn and Ulm, Pfaender was influenced by the Turner movement which encouraged gymnastics and exercise while promoting nationalism, political and religious freedom, education, and equality.

Pfaender emigrated to the United States in 1848 amid the turmoil of the 1848 revolution. He first travelled to England, where he met Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

The Chicago Land Association had already started to build a new town for German Americans in 1854 on the banks of the Minnesota River. Turner and the Cincinnati group joined and helped to purchase more land. He moved in 1856 as being due to an attack by Know Nothings on Pfaender's family and other German immigrant families at a picnic. Because of this, Pfaender organized a move to New Ulm, Minnesota Territory. Pfaender was in the real estate and insurance business; he was also in the lumber business. He was in charge of Fort Ridgely until 1865.

Family British entertainer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham is Pfaender's great-great-great-grandniece.

Pfaender's son, Fred Pfaender, was the Brown County register of deeds in 1896.