Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 1

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738

USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 1

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Gc 977.501 F73m v.2 1271401

M. L.

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01052 8161

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Fond du Lac County,

Wisconsin Past and Present

MAURICE McKENNA EDITOR

VOLUME II

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

social - 15,00 5/28/64

1271401

Mr. Minahaw

Biographical

WILLIAM EDWARD MINAHAN.

Faith in the nobility of man is renewed when such heroic figures as Dr. Wil- liam Edward Minahan meet death calmly, quietly and without fear, a man who had himself so often staid the hand of death as it reached out to others. His character was as clear as the sunlight. No man came to know him but appre- ciated him at his true worth, recognizing the fact that he not only cherished a high ideal of duty but lived up to it. He constantly labored for the right and in the avenue of his profession devoted a large portion of his time to the service of others. He was not an idle sentimentalist but a worker and, recognizing the field in which he might render efficient aid to his fellowmen, he labored therein. A man of high professional attainments and of high character, his loss is felt wherever he was known and most of all where he was best known. A native of Chilton., Calumet county, Wisconsin, he there spent his youthful days in the home of his parents, William B. and Mary (Shanasy) Minahan, both of whom were natives of Ireland and became early settlers of Calumet county. Upon their removal from the New England states in the early '40s they located first in the town of Russell, Sheboygan county, but removed to Chilton before the Civil war. The father engaged in both farming and teaching and became one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of Calumet county. He was a. man of exceptional education and culture and aside from his work as an in- structor was for many years county superintendent of schools. He reared a large family of children, who enjoyed excellent educational advantages and who became a credit to their parents. Mrs. William B. Minahan died about eight years ago, survived for two years by her husband. In the family were six sons and four daughters, the brothers of Dr. Minahan being: Robert, a surgeon of Green Bay; John R., also engaged in the practice of surgery there; Victor I., an attorney of Green Bay ; Hugh, living in San Francisco, California ; and James, deceased. The daughters of the family are: Ella, living in Milwaukee, Wis- consin; Mary, the wife of John McCormick, of Green Bay; Grace, the wife of Dean Philleo, of Grand Rapids; and Daisy, of Green Bay.

At the usual age Dr. Minahan entered the public schools of his native town, wherein he pursued his education until graduated from the high school. He was also for a time a student in the normal school at Oshkosh but in the mean- time had entered the newspaper field, working for some time as a printer and in other capacities on the Chilton Times, one of the oldest papers of the state. His normal course was pursued with a thought of taking up the teacher's profession but serious consideration of the subject of a life work led to his adoption of the medical profession and with this end in view he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated with high honors in the class of 1891. He then located for practice in Calumetville, succeeding to the practice of his brother, Dr. R. E. Minahan, who had removed to Green Bay. He came to Fond du Lac in 1899. His practice here was large and of an important character and. it was characteristic of Dr. Minahan that he would respond as readily to the call of one from whom he could expect no pecuniary reward as to those who were. well able to pay him a large fee. It was well known that he did a great amount of charity practice. He was particularly skilful in surgery and specialized in that field. His time was largely concentrated upon his professional duties and his careful preparation for the responsibilities of his chosen life work. He did

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

not consider his duties ended with his graduation from college but carried his researches and investigations far and wide into the realms of the medical science, gleaning therefrom many valuable truths directly bearing upon the laws of health. He also kept in touch with the advanced work of the profession through his membership in the county and state medical societies. He was also a member of the Business Men's Association of Fond du Lac but otherwise held aloof from membership connections, preferring to give his undivided thought and attention to his home and to his professional duties.

On the 3d of February, 1903, in Arkansas City, Kansas, Dr. Minahan was married to Miss Lillian Thorpe, a daughter of S. and Frances Thorpe, of that city. Early in the year 1912 Dr. Minahan went abroad, accompanied by his wife and his sister Daisy. At various places along the line of their travel he sent a friendly greeting to the many friends remaining at home and spoke with eager anticipations of his return, to which he looked forward with equal pleasure. Fate interposed, however, for passage was engaged on the steamship Titanic and Dr. Minahan was numbered among the dead of the greatest marine disaster in his- tory. His wife and sister were among those placed in the lifeboats, while Dr. Minahan remained with that heroic band of men that calmly and courageously faced death. Such an act on his part was characteristic of his entire life and when the crisis came he was ready for the emergency. One of the local papers said at the time of the awful disaster: "Those who knew him best are confident that even if Dr. Minahan had been given the opportunity to escape in the life- boats from the Titanic he would have preferred to remain on the liner himself rather than take the place of some one else who might be saved. It is easy to picture him walking about among the frenzied people who were facing their doom as the giant liner sank lower and lower, striving to give the same aid and comfort that characterized his work here. The loss caused by his demise is one which cannot be estimated, for during his many years of residence here his worth to the community was far greater than the monetary returns he received for the service his efficiency as a physician and surgeon enabled him to give. There are hundreds of homes in this vicinity where he has brought comfort and relief to sufferers without any thought on his part of financial gain." His fellow practi- tioners spoke of him in terms of highest regard. One said: "Dr. Minahan was an untiring student, a clever diagnostician, a kind physician and a wonderfully pleasing man socially." Another said: "As a physician and surgeon he attained a high degree of efficiency and as a citizen he was a credit to the city." "Dr. Minahan was an able physician," said another. "His cheerful disposition won him friends and his manner inspired confidence." Another's voiced sentiment was: "In the death of Dr. Minahan the community loses one of its truly great men. As a citizen he stood for all that was best; and as a physician he was eminent. His loss is felt by all who knew the man, but it is upon his former patients that the blow falls most severely. To them, in the hour of sickness, his coming was like a ray of sunshine, due to a personality which was a strong at- tribute of the man." His friends will miss him but his life, strong and purpose- ful, characterized by noble thoughts, and his manner, by sincerity and simplicity, will not be forgotten. He reached the supreme point of greatness in the hour of his death but the beauty of his better self lives on.

LEONARD T. BAKER.

The history of Leonard T. Baker, told in detail, would be very largely a history of Fond du Lac county. Arriving here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abner Baker, when he was himself a boy of only fourteen years, and at a period which antedated the founding of the city of Fond du Lac by four years, he may

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

justly lay claim to charter membership in the class of earliest pioneers. His boyhood and young manhood were spent in this vicinity, all his life in fact ex- cept a period of some fifteen years, two years of which were spent on the Pacific coast and thirteen in Minnesota. Thus through personal identification with the earliest pioneer work of the county and by an actual residence of more than half a century, Leonard T. Baker has had a potent part in the development of the county, while his successful business career and the high esteem in which he is held bear witness, as nothing else could, to his real worth as a citizen.

Leonard T. Baker, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Abner Baker, was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washington county, New York, June, 2, 1834, and was a lad of fourteen years at the time of the removal of the family to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Landing at Sheboygan from which port the elder Baker had been told he could more easily reach the land in Fond du Lac county which he had selected as his pioneer home, the party found it necessary to actually "hew their way" across the country to their destination, there being no road and scarcely so much as a trail. For this, however, they were fairly well prepared as Abner Baker had brought with him men to help clear and place under culti- vation his lands. Journeying slowly by day and camping out in the dense woods by night, the women sleeping in the wagons and the men on bunks of boughs, except the sentinel who kept a bright fire burning to protect the travelers from the wolves, these pioneers proceeded steadily to their new home.

Arriving at their destination in what is now the town of Empire and some seven miles east of the city of Fond du Lac, they set about the task of home building and farm developing amid virgin timber and on soil that is still famous for its fertility. That young Baker did his full part in that work which was indeed a man's work, and bore his full share of the hardships incident to pioneer life is well known. Industrious, alert, aggressive he was an invaluable aid from the beginning and it was there amid those trying scenes that he developed. that sturdiness of character and determination which have been such factors in his success throughout life. In those days Indians were numerous, deer and other kinds of wild game were to be had in abundance and wolves were always lurk- ing near, ready to raid the farm yard and carry off poultry and young stock. One winter the wolves had been especially annoying and had all but annihilated the Baker flock of chickens. A visit to the Gov. Doty home one day was re- warded by the gift of a whole "brood" and the chicks were cherished with such care that when an unusually cold spell came on, Mary, young Baker's sister, and later Mrs. T. F. Mayham, knit stockings for the birds and brought them all safely through.

Young Baker continued his education in one of the old-time log school- houses, and while he endured all the hardships incident to the life of a pioneer, enjoyed his share of the pleasures of those days. Whole-souled and congenial these early settlers were much given to social gatherings whenever it was pos- sible to assemble at the home of one or the other.

When twenty-two years of age Leonard T. Baker concluded he would set out on his own account, and, accordingly, went to California, by way of the isthmus. He spent two years in mining on the Pacific coast and then returned to Wisconsin, after which he homesteaded a farm in Claremont, Dodge county, Minnesota. He remained in Minnesota for thirteen years at the end of which time he returned to Fond du Lac and engaged in the nursery business, which he continued without interruption, till 1910, having developed a large and profit- able business. He then retired from active business, feeling that he was well entitled to a period of rest and an opportunity to spend the evening of his life in the full enjoyment of the fruits of his industry. Mr. Baker has passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey, and his mind is keen, alert and active.

On the 19th of November, 1862, occurred the marriage of Leonard T. Baker and Miss Catherine Marcella McGauley, who was born at Greenville, Greene

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

county, New York, June 30, 1839, and is a daughter of Peter and Lucinda (O'Hara) McGauley. Ten children have blessed their union, of whom four died in childhood. Alexander P., who is engaged in the collection and insur- ance business in Fond du Lac, married Emma Becker, and after her death, Ella Bellach. Harry Jerome, a nurseryman, of Fond du Lac, married Verena Huck and they have five children: Leonard J., Verena Marcella, Calista Anas- tasia, Mary Elizabeth and Monica Lucile. Francis M., who was the third of the children of the Baker family that reached adult age, was a practicing physi- cian of Fond du Lac, where he died December 30, 1911. He had married Rosina Buerger and they had two children, one of whom is living, Royal J. Baker. Mary A. Baker joined the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky, and is now Sister Rose Regina of St. Catherine's Academy at Lexington, Ken- tucky. Nellie Baker is numbered among the sales people employed by the Nursery company. Lucinda M., who was engaged in teaching in the public schools of Fond du Lac for a few years, is now traveling, selling nursery stock. Mrs. Baker is a devout Catholic. Mr. Baker, though a republican in politics. and always taking a keen interest in public affairs, has never consented to the use of his name as a candidate for office. His energies have been centered in his business affairs and with such success that he is now able to live a retired life. His business transactions have always been straightforward and he has richly earned his reputation for high integrity and honor, a reputation more to be desired than great riches.

The Baker family in America is descended from Edward Baker, an Eng- lishman and farmer, who crossed the Atlantic to the new world in 1630, set- tling at Segus, then Lynn, Massachusetts. It is probable that he came to the new world as a passenger on one of the boats of the large fleet of Governor Winthrop, which sailed from England in April and arrived at Boston and at Salem in June and July 1630. This fleet constituted eleven vessels and brought over seventeen hundred colonists to America. Since that time representatives of the Baker family have been loyal and progressive citizens of this country.

The great-grandparents of Leonard T. Baker, were Enoch and Hulda (Ing- ham) Baker. Their son, Alexander Baker, was born December 16, 1780, and on the 3rd of October, 1805, at Cape Ann, Massachusetts, he married Polly Lis- comb, who was born at that place on the IIth of December, 1788. In the spring of 1790 or 1791 she had removed to Fort Ann, New York, with her aunt, Mrs. Polly (Liscomb) Goodell. the wife of Asa Goodell, as their adopted daughter. The death of Alexander Baker occurred May 24, 1828.

Abner Baker, the father of Leonard T. Baker, was born in Washington county, New York, and there spent his boyhood, after which he became a lum- berman of that locality. The forests of Wisconsin offered splendid opportuni- ties to a man possessing knowledge in that line of business at that time, and in 1848 he removed to this state, but after arriving here turned his attention to farming, settling in what is now the town of Empire, seven miles east of the city of Fond du Lac. There he cleared, developed and improved a farm of five hundred and twenty acres, which he sold soon after the close of the Civil war. He then removed to Minnesota where he lived for about fifteen months. Owing to the attractive inducements being offered to settlers who would locate in Vir- ginia, he removed to Herndon, that state, and bought two hundred and twenty- five acres of land in Fairfax county, upon which he spent his remaining days, * his death occurring when he was in his eightieth year.

In early manhood Abner Baker married Betsy Thompson, also a native of Washington county, New York, and she survived him for fourteen years, pass- ing away when in her eighty-third year. She was a member of the Baptist church and a woman of many excellent traits of character. Mr. Baker was well known as a man who took an active interest in the affairs of his community. In the early days he was a member of the state militia and held various local offices.

COL. GEORGE W. CARTER

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

Unto nim and his wife were born seven children, three sons and four daugh- ters, five of whom reached manhood and womanhood as follows: Leonard T .; Mary, who became the wife of Dr. T. F. Mayham, now deceased; Asa G., de- ceased; Calista Ann, who died unmarried, and Nettie, who is a teacher for mute children in Chicago.

The maternal grandfather of Leonard T. Baker was Judah Thompson, who was born March 25, 1767, and who married Miss Mary Harris, born January 10, 1774, the wedding taking place in Hammerton, Pine Plains, New York. The Thompson family traces its lineage back to Anthony Thompson, who came to this country with his wife and two children from Coventry, England, landing at Boston on the 16th of June, 1637.

Peter McGauley, the father of Mrs. Leonard T. Baker, was born in County Meath, Ireland, June 4, 1803, and was a son of Patrick and Catherine (Mur- phy) McGauley, whose children were Michael, Thomas, Mary, Peter and Patrick. Peter McGauley, father of Mrs. Baker, was a miller by trade and resided in New York until 1854. In the meantime he wedded Lucinda O'Hara, who was born in Beekmantown, Dutchess county, New York, December 25, 1814, and was a daughter of Peter O'Hara, who died in 1855, at the venerable age of eighty years. Mr. O'Hara was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, born in 1775. He served in the Irish rebellion of 1798 and fled from his country to escape political persecution. He went first to France and about 1803 came to America, settling in Dutchess county, New York, where he worked at any em- ployment which he could secure. Later he established his home in Rockland, Sullivan county, where he engaged in weaving for a time and then went to Greene county, New York, where he purchased land and engaged in farming. His death there occurred when he had reached the age of eighty years, while his wife, whose maiden name was Lucretia Darbee, died two years later at the age of sixty years. Peter O'Hara enlisted for service in the War of 1812 but hostilities had ceased before he was called to the front. To Peter and Lucretia O'Hara thirteen children were born who reached mature years. They were: Eliza Ann, Lucinda, Bernard, Hannah, Samuel, Mary, Peter, Lucretia, George, Catherine, Charles, Ellen and Levi. As already stated Lucinda O'Hara became the wife of Peter McGauley and they resided in the Empire state till 1854 when they removed to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, settling in the town of Em- pire. Mr. McGauley died October 12, 1854, of malarial fever, leaving a wife and nine children : Michael Jerome, Catherine, Marcella, Thomas Urban, Fran- cis Patrick, Stephen A., Mary Lucretia, Lucinda Ann and Veronica.

FRANK J. WOLFF.

Fond du Lac has seen fit to honor Frank J. Wolff with the office of mayor, and that he well merits the confidence reposed in him is evident in his faithful and capable discharge of the duties of this office. His administration is a busi- nesslike one, characterized by needed reform and by progress, and he has thus added to the enviable reputation which he had already gained as a business man and citizen. He has long been well known in real-estate and insurance circles and also as a representative of the banking interests of the city, and is vice president of the Citizens State Bank. He was born in Fond du Lac, November II, 1873, and is a son of Joseph and Barbara (Hochrein) Wolff, both natives of Luxemburg. In that country the father was reared and learned the cigar- maker's trade. Coming to America, he established his home in Fond du Lac in the '50s and followed his trade here until his death, which occurred in 1891, when he was sixty-one years of age. He was poor-commissioner for a num- ber of terms and was interested in all matters of progressive citizenship. His

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

sterling traits of character won him high regard, so that his death was the occasion of deep regret by his many friends. His widow, who survives, is a member of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of ten children who reached maturity : Katharine; Emma; John P .; Ida, the wife of Henry Ruep- ing; Julia; Anna; Sarah, who married C. F. Ehlers; Frank J .; Carl R .; and Josephine.

Frank J. Wolff has been a lifelong resident of Fond du Lac and in the public schools and the German-English Academy pursued his education. When it became time for him to start out in the business world he looked carefully over the situation to find a line which he believed would prove congenial and profitable. He decided upon the insurance and real-estate field, in which he still operates, and in both departments has secured a good clientage, writing a large number of policies each year and handling many important realty trans- fers. As success has crowned his efforts he has extended his activities into still other fields and is now vice president of the Citizens State Bank.

Personal business affairs, however, by no means claim the entire attention of Frank J. Wolff, who has long been recognized as a public-spirited and pro- gressive citizen and one whose aid could ever be counted upon to further the public welfare. For two terms he served as city treasurer and in April, 1911, he was elected mayor, entering upon the duties of the office in the following May. For more than a year he has been the incumbent in this position and his record is one which reflects credit and honor upon himself and is highly satisfactory to his constituents. He has been secretary of the park board and is a member of the board of education. His political allegiance has ever been given to the democratic party and he keeps thoroughly informed on ques- tions and issues of the day.

On the IIth of January, 1899, Frank J. Wolff was married to Miss Addie Lewis, a daughter of Alanson H. and Martha (Barber) Lewis. Mrs. Wolff was born in Juneau, Dodge county, Wisconsin, while her parents were natives of Vermont. They became pioneer settlers of Dodge county and subsequently for many years lived in Fond du Lac. Her father was a soldier of the Civil war in the cavalry service. Mr. and Mrs. Wolff have two children, Frank L. and Carlton J. The parents are prominent socially and their attractive home is renowned for its warm-hearted hospitality. Mrs. Wolff is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Wolff is identified with Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 140, F. & A. M .; Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 30, I. O. O. F .; Fidelity Lodge, No. 19, K. P .; the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; and the Turners and several other societies. He is a man of social proclivities, of genial manner and kindly spirit and these qualities, taken in connection with his enterprise in business and his progressiveness in citizenship, have made him one of the valued residents of his native city.

CHARLES ALFRED GALLOWAY.

After demonstrating his ability to successfully inaugurate and control im- portant industrial and commercial interests Charles Alfred Galloway entered the field of banking and is now president of the Fond du Lac National Bank as well as treasurer of the Moore & Galloway Lumber Company. Both con- stitute important factors in the business development, progress and prosperity of this section of the state and Mr. Galloway is one to whom is accorded high respect and warm regard, not only by reason of what he has accomplished but owing to the methods he has followed in the attainment of his success. He was born in Harrisburgh, Lewis county, New York, May 5, 1845. His pa- ternal grandparents were natives of England, in which country they spent their

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

lives. Their family numbered two sons and three daughters including Charles Galloway, whose birth occurred in Yorkshire, England, where he was reared to manhood and pursued his education. Having reached adult age he wedded Ann Moore, who was likewise a native of Yorkshire and was one of a family of four daughters. Her parents also passed away in England. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Galloway continued to reside in that country until after the birth of two of their children and he served for a time as a soldier in the British army. In early life he learned the shoemakers trade which he followed for a number. of years, but the opportunities of the new world proved attractive to him and in 1819 he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Lewis county, New York, at which time his capital consisted of but eighteen dollars. There he worked at his trade for a time and afterward purchased a small tract of land to which he added as opportunity offered until he became the owner of a farm of good size and value. Upon that place he reared his family and made his home until his death, which occurred in 1864 when he was seventy-four years of age. His wife survived him for a decade and was also seventy-four years of age at the time of her death. They belonged to the Free Will Baptist church, in the work of which both took an active and helpful interest, Mr. Galloway serving as church clerk. In their family were the following children: James, who died in infancy; Mrs. Harriet Waters, deceased; Jane, who became the wife of Dennis Johnson; Valentine; Edward; Edwin Henry; George Franklin; Alice, who died in early womanhood; Christopher Cornelius; Eliza, who passed away at the age of eleven years; and Charles Alfred. All are now deceased with the exception of the last named.

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Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 1

Author: McKenna, Maurice Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : Clarke Number of Pages: 738

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738