USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 20
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Charles H. Lee had the advantage of good ancestry and good family connections as a start in life, and through his individual exertions he has made the best of his opportunities. He spent his early life on the farm in Webster Prairie, leaving it when past twenty years of age and arriving in Baraboo as a place of residence on April 1, 1881. Here he learned the trade of tinner in the building where his hardware store is now located. This building was then occupied by the firm of Gattiker Brothers. In February, 1893, Mr. Lee engaged in business for himself, setting up his tin shop on Fourth Street, but a year later occupied what is now the Jorg Grocery Store, but was then conducted by Frank Avery. On January 1, 1898, Mr. Lee came to the building he now occupies. His business has prospered and his facilities have likewise been increased to accommodate the growing patronage. The building, when he first occupied it, was 30 by 80 feet, and he has since increased it to 30 by 132 feet. The firm is now known as the Lee, Radtke Hardware Company. Mr. Lee has devoted special attention to warm air heating, and in this line has been very successful. He has been called upon to go to other states and towns and is consulted by heating men from all parts of the country. He does principally all the installing of plants himself.
Mr. Lee has taken an active part in democratic party affairs without the seeking for office. He is affiliated with Baraboo Lodge No. 51, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Independent Order of Foresters. In 1884 he married Miss Ida M. Hoadley, of Baraboo, who died August 26, 1917, and a sketch of whom follows this. Mrs. Lee was a daughter of Elias Hoadley, one of the early settlers in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Lee had four children : Mary Esther, Lois Ruth, Ida Marjorie and Robert E., all of whom are living.
IDA HOADLEY LEE, whose mortal journey came to a close August 26, 1917, but the spirit of whose character and devotion still finds indwell-
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ing with family and friends in Sauk County, was the wife of Mr. Charles H. Lee of Baraboo. One of her former pastors wrote for publication in a local paper the following tribute :
"A beautiful complete life has closed. A more beautiful, more con- plete life has begun in that land to which we all journey. No sermon, no eulogy, could express the beauty and joy of living a good life so well as the simple narrative of Ida M. Hoadley, daughter of Elias and Mary Hoadley.
"She was born in Vermont September 11, 1856. She had lived on the place where the Lee home now stands since about 1860, and was mar- ried in the old home April 10, 1884.
"Her character, made up of a kindness which embraced the whole world and sustained by a calm, unflinching courage, was a rare combina- tion. Her husband, who was a great student of history and an ardent admirer of General Grant, often said that her wonderful courage and fortitude was like that of the great General.
"She made such a home that her husband found no other place so attractive, and in his spare time was always to be found there. And when business called him away she often accompanied him. She was wife and comrade to him. To her children she was all that a mother could be. The world will be better because her daughters grew up with the example of her quiet, dignified well doing. And how well we all remember her pride and joy in her little son. And when he became grievously afflicted by sickness and all others gave up hope, she maintained her same calm courage and nursed him back to health.
"Those who watched her go through such trials came to realize that indeed 'They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.' Verily 'her children rise up to call her blessed and her husband also he praiseth her.'
"She was a charter member of the South Side church. It was her hope and prayer that a church might be maintained in that part of the city. To say that she was a faithful member, a hard worker and a regular attendant expresses but part of the real influence she had upon that church. Her very attitude spoke encouragement to the work and workers. Her pastors look back today and remember that there never was any- thing but good cheer and helpfulness in her work in the church, and many a friend who worked with her remembers that there was no sting in her friendship. She somehow always found time to help the needy and comfort the sorrowing. Many remember when she stood by the open grave where someone had laid their heart's dearest hopes, and quietly spoke words of cheer and encouragement that were sorely needed. Some- one whose life was saved from wreck, explained it by saying, 'I had a friend.' More than one whose life was uplifted by the influence of Mrs. Lee may well say, 'I also had a friend.'
"When the time came that she succumbed to illness she displayed the same unwavering courage that had marked her care of others. All that medical science could do was done, all that loving hearts could conceive and willing hands do was done, but to no avail-her life's mission was accomplished. And as one preparing for a journey she told her sorrow- ing husband that 'all was well,' and calmly made all plans for her
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departure, remembering in detail the comfort of every one. And so a beautiful life ended early on Sunday morning, August 26. As her spirit took its flight to the triumphant life the sun broke forth in all its glory- a fitting emblem of the glorious ending of a life of which we must all say, 'well done.' "'
There were many other tributes expressed at the time of the funeral that reveal as well as human expression can the appreciation of a beautiful and loving nature. It is only appropriate that some of these expressions should be here gathered together as a permanent memorial.
In the closing words of his address Rev. Mr. Irish said: "I would like to say, but I need not, to those who mourn especially today, some word of comfort, but I am sure that the very character of this dear heart is sufficient; that the life she led will bring them peace in the day time, peace in the night time and in their various trials and cares as they go out and go on they shall realize somehow that she still helps them, that she still loves them, and that love can never, never die. May God bless each of the members of this home and help the children to emulate the dear woman they loved so long and so well."
Rev. Mr. Jones, whose published sketch has already been quoted, was also one of the speakers at the final services and his address in part is as follows :
"I deem it a privilege to have the opportunity of saying just a word in these rites, near the body of one whom we all love. I have learned this in my experience; that a few beautiful families make a beautiful church-a beautiful church in all its societies-and without a few beau- tiful families I have found it impossible to have a beautiful church society.
"I learned very early in my pastorate here of a very few very beau- tiful families, and one was here, and the center of this family, I soon found, was Mrs. Lee, and I found that the beauty that radiated from Mrs. Lee centered and concentered in her life and radiated from her life.
"I will never forget the first one to call upon us when we came, lonely, in a strange town. A little girl came with a basket of red apples that smiled they were so red, and that little girl's face was so radiant and beautiful that the sun seemed to have risen in its glory on that little face of that beautiful girl. And she came to Mrs. Jones and she said : 'Mama sent these to you,' and she answered her, 'But who is your mama ?' 'Why,' she said, 'Mrs. Lee.' And I have found in the four years' pas- torate that the same token was present. When a word of cheer was needed she was always there ready to cheer. She seemed to know just how and just when, and all through those four years instead of being less, always more. And so today we have only beautiful things to think about Mrs. Lee. Why I could not think anything but beautiful things about her beautiful life that I had four years of acquaintance with and the blessed privilege of working with her in the Kingdom of our God. They told me among the first things they said about Mrs. Lee that she was the most beautiful woman in Baraboo, but I learned the more I knew her, how much more true it was than I believed, and I have learned more and more that the beautiful woman is the beautiful soul, and I learned that she had a beautiful soul, and of course she could not but do and say beautiful
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things and compel us to say : 'What a beautiful life,' and I think we are all saying that today and how nice it is to say that, and I wish we would always repeat down through the years 'How beautiful was her life.' 1 believe we will be compelled to say as we shall remember her from time to time, 'What a beautiful life she lived.'
"She could not do an unkind thing; she never learned how, for some reason or other, but she learned so well to do those kind things; those things that would make you feel happy and comfortable and glad; glad you are living; made you feel that life is really worth living. I am so glad that my life means more to me because I had her acquaintance for those few years while we labored in the work of our Master.
"Sir Galahad it was that said these words. I think we ought to say them today. He said : 'I had the strength of ten because my heart was pure.' I wondered how she could stand so much, how she could do so much, and yet be lovely and Sir Galahad had the secret. 'My strength was as the strength of ten because my heart was pure.' Then that other poetical line :
'The night has a thousand eyes ; The day but one Yet the light of the whole world dies, At set of sun. The mind has a thousand eyes; The heart has but one Yet the light of a whole life dies When love is done.'
"I am so glad that with her love was never done. So now we say today that her life will shine right on more and more.''
In conclusion should be quoted also the words of the pastor, Rev. Mr. Weed :
"While I cannot speak of the days of her activity, I can speak of the hours of her suffering. We get new ideas of values, the purposes of life become more clear, more definite when we come into contact with a life. and death like this. Why need we suffer? Why need we serve? But as we look at the life of Mrs. Lee we know that these beautiful things which have been truly said have been compelled by the inner service that this character has been able to perform. I think that is the secret of her beauty, the beauty of her life; that everywhere she somehow saw an opportunity to serve somebody in some way. I think that has been the remarkable testimony that has come to me as I have visited among people and they have inquired how Mrs. Lee was. Then the comment on her life : 'She was such a good woman ; so thoughtful of other people.'
"How prone we are to rebel when life's struggles are upon us, when the hard things of life come to us; and yet it is only when these hours of trial and testing come that we find the opportunity for the develop- ment of character that makes life worth while after all. And just this word to the family that has, during these months, yes, years, been suffer- ing the anguish of an expectancy ; that expectancy of the time that now is. Helpless, she has needed care-much care. Could anything be more
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lovingly bestowed than that was bestowed ? I think not. And after all, the greatest privilege that has come to the lives of these children of hers, the greatest blessing is the chance to pay back a little bit of the care and affection that had been expended upon them in their childhood. It is a blessed thing, this matter of service, this ability to serve one another ; to take the burdens that we bear and share them together. It's a won- derful thing-this matter of trial and distress and anguish when the spirit of the Master comes into it all. It somehow is like an unfolding bud, that, when it has burst into its full beauty, is full of the glory of the sunshine. Just as God has kissed into light it has blushed in its beauty to express His affection. So our lives have the possibility of blos- soming in the time of testing and trial. This life went out, I think, the most beautifully that I ever beheld. I have been at many death beds and seen many pass out into the other life but the sweetness of Sister Lee's faith was a very precious thing.
"Just a few days ago in calling, before she had lost her power of speech, after a few moments of prayer in which her heart seemed to rejoice, I asked her how she was and she said: 'The love of Jesus can make a dying bed as soft as a downy pillow.' Characteristic. She loved the words of Tennyson, and I am glad to fulfill the request that these be read. They coincide with the spirit of this departed life and somehow seem to express just as she would like to express the desire in the journey home.
'Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me, And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea. But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home.
'Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For, though from out our bourne of time and place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar.'
"And she did. If anybody doubts the reality of the power of Jesus Christ to reveal Himself, if I could bring you into the life of this woman as she made the transition from carth to heaven, you could not longer doubt, for she saw Him-she knew Him. He was with her and she went home. She made one last request. It's a request that I'd like to send home. I think only its repetition will send it home. 'Tell my friends to sell all and buy the pearl of great priee.' That was her message, and it has eternal truth wrapped up in it."
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FERDINAND KELLER, a resident of Honey Creek Township and a veteran of the Civil war, has been a resident of Sauk County more than sixty years, and with his own eyes witnessed the transformation of the woods and prairies of that section into a broad landscape of fertile farms.
Mr. Keller was born in Switzerland in 1843, a son of Ferd and Rosena (Stulke) Keller. He was twelve years of age when the parents left their native land and, seeking the better opportunities of America, arrived in Sauk City and afterward established a home in Honey Creek Township. At that time they acquired the farm where Ferdinand Keller now resides. It was nearly all wild lands and the father went through many years of hard labor in redeeming his share of the wilderness and in establishing a home. The parents spent the rest of their days on the farm, where the father died in 1881 and the mother in 1888. They had a very large family, fifteen children, eight of whom are still living. A brief record of the family is as follows: Lena, a widow, living in Colorado; Ferdi- nand; Henry, who died in Italy when young; Herman, who died at the age of eighteen; Albert, who died in 1887, at the age of thirty-nine; Emma, Mrs. F. A. Harter, a widow, living in Chicago, where her husband died two years ago; Emilia, unmarried and living with her brother Ferdinand; Emil, who died young; Edward, unmarried and living at Amboy, New Jersey ; Alfred, single, and a resident of Colorado; Minnie, Mrs. F. A. Fetz, living in Colorado; Mark, who died at the age of two years ; Otto, who died at the age of twenty ; Richard, who is married and lives in Colorado; and the fifteenth child died in infancy. Ten of these children were natives of Switzerland, while five were born in Sauk County. All the children grew up on the old homestead.
At the place where he now resides Ferdinand Keller had most of the associations of his youth from the age of twelve, and he acquired some education in the local schools. At the age of eighteen he enlisted for service in the Union army with Company D of the Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, and spent three years with his regiment, doing his duty faith- fully, participating in many hard fought battles, and returning home at the age of twenty-one with a well-earned meed of glory as one who had fought for the preservation of the Union.
After his war serviee he settled down to work on his father's farm, and was part of the family household until the age of forty, when he married Miss Fredericka Bloek. Mrs. Keller died seventeen years ago. She was the mother of one child, Herman, now twenty-one years of age, and has assumed most of the responsibilities of managing the home place.
Mr. Keller's farm comprises 220 acres and it is devoted to general farming and stock raising. Most of the land was eleared during the active years his father lived here, though Mr. Keller himself shared in that hard labor and knows the toils and vicissitudes of pioneering. In the early days oxen were used almost exclusively to do the plowing and even the hauling of produce and six oxen made a team for drawing a plow through the stubborn soil. Mr. Keller also recalls the old time agricultural implements used in harvesting grain, the siekle and the cradle. He has swung these implements himself many hot and weary days in the field and has bound up the grain by hand. Mr. Keller's father served as elerk of the local school board in the early times and the son
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has also been school clerk for two years. He is a member of the church at Black Hawk.
ELIAS D. KING has spent practically every day of his life in Sank County. It is his birthplace and was the environment in which he grew up, and in which the best efforts of his life have been expressed.
He was born on a farm in the Township of Sumpter in 1851. His birthplace is only an eighth of a mile from his present residence. He is a son of Solomon and Ursula S. (Buck) King. His father was born in Ohio in 1818 and his mother was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, in 1819. Grandfather King was twice married. By his first wife he had nine children, and he then married a widow, Polly Fox, who also had nine children. Of this second marriage there was another child born, Reuben F.
Solomon King came to Sauk County with his father and mother in 1843. In the same year Ursula S. Buek had come to Madison, Wisconsin, with her sister, and on March 19, 1846, she came to Sauk County and in the same year was married to Mr. King. He then located at King's Corners in Sumpter Township, and in connection with their farm they conducted a hotel or wayside inn for about eight years. That was before railroads were built and when all transportation and traffie went over- land. Their house was the headquarters for the stage coaches and many' travelers were entertained there. They also furnished lodging and board to the teamsters in the pineries. For their crops they were paid only twenty-five cents a bushel for wheat after hauling it over the rough roads, with ox teams, to Milwaukee. The grain was eut with eradles and was threshed out with flails. Gradually various improvements came into use and the King family has always kept up with this advance and gradually substituted horses for oxen and power machinery for the old hand methods. When the Kings located at King's Corners Indians still lived about in the county and nearly all the country was new and unbroken. Solomon King spent years in clearing up his land. Besides farming and keeping tavern he also followed his trades as a gunsmith and carpenter and had a shop on his farm, where he was busily employed during the winter seasons. In 1857 he built a new home, where his son Elias now resides. Solomon King had sawed most of the timbers that went into the construction of that building, including boards and shingles. Within this more comfortable shelter he passed his remaining years and died in 1869. His widow lived there until February, 1893. She was appointed the first postmistress of the postoffice of King's Corners, and subsequently Elias D. King served as postmaster for six years, from 1888 to 1894.
Mr. Elias D. King was married in 1893 to Mrs. Ella (Brooks) Haynes. Mrs. King by her former husband had three children: Raymond Earl Haynes, who died in 1889; Myrta E., wife of Fred Zantow; and Mabel A., Mrs. Charles Watkins, both of which families live on farms in Sumpter Township.
Mr. Elias D. King was reared and edneated in Sauk County, and at the age of twenty-one began farming as a renter. He rented the liome place five years and then spent some time in Nebraska. On returning to
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Sauk County in 1888 he again began farming the home place and also conducted the operation of a threshing outfit in the harvest time and in winter operated a saw mill. He was well known as a thresherman and went about over the country district during the harvest seasons for nine years. He also conducted a saw mill for about seven years. In later years Mr. King has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has about eighty-seven acres of land and does nearly all the work himself.
Besides his position as postmaster he served as path master two years and as justice of the peace for two terms. His parents were active mem- bers of the Methodist Church. His mother had three brothers who became Methodist ministers in New York, and the oldest brother had a son who is now preaching in California.
GEORGE P. HANSON has for many years been identified with those solid activities that make up the agricultural and business resources of Sauk County. He is now living retired in the City of Baraboo, though he still keeps an active interest in business and other affairs.
Mr. Hanson was born in Delton Township of Sauk County April 15, 1866, and is a son of Asa and Jane (Morey) Hanson. His father was born in Vermont in 1820 and his mother in New Hampshire May 15, 1837. They were married in the East, and settled in Sauk County during the latter '50s, locating in Delton Township. Asa Hanson left the farm to assist in the construction of one of the railroads through Sauk County, and while in that work contracted smallpox, which brought about his death. All the children were afflicted with the same disease. He and his wife had five children : Albert, Olin, Wilbur, Laura Jane and George P.
George P. Hanson grew up on a farin, attended the common schools and eventually acquired a farm of 200 acres in Fairfield Township, and also one of 100 acres. He owned and operated that large place until 1916, when he sold out. Since January, 1913, he has lived in Baraboo and in 1914 he bought his present residence at 321 Fifth Street. Mr. Hanson supports the prohibition party in polities. He is a member of the Good Templars and the Beavers Society and is an active member of the Baptist Church. He and his wife for over twenty years sang in the choir of the old Baptist Church in their country community, close to their farm.
Mr. Hanson assisted in organizing the Farmer's Co-operative Cream- ery Company of Fairfield. This was a small plant and has since been consolidated with the Excelsior Co-operative Creamery Company located at Baraboo, the largest creamery industry in the county, with about six hundred patrons. Mr. Hanson was also one of the organizers of the first telephone company in the county.
On March 16, 1887, he married Miss Elizabeth Dustin, who was born in Fairfield Township September 20, 1867. She is a daughter of Miles and Sylvia (Holden) Dustin. Her father was born in New York State in 1841 and came to Sauk County with his parents in the early days. His people lived in Webster Prairie, but his parents died in Northern Wis- consin, near the center of the cranberry industry. Miles Dustin was a. miller, merchant and farmer, also drove stage in the early days, and at
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one time was identified with the pioneer hop growing industry of Sauk County. He died in 1900. His wife, Sylvia Holden, was born in Ohio in 1849, a daughter of Henry S. and Elizabeth (Cowles) Holden. Eliza- beth Cowles was a daughter of Alpheus Cowles, who came to Sauk County with his daughter and spent his last years here. Henry S. Holden served three years as a Union soldier and located at Baraboo while the war was still in progress. Later he moved to a farm in Fairfield Township, and his last days were spent in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, where he died January 25, 1913, at the age of eighty-seven. At the time of his death Henry S. Holden was the head of five generations, having a great- great-grandehild. His wife had died many years before him. He out- lived all his own children, and Mrs. Hanson was the oldest of his grand- children. Mrs. Hanson had only one brother, Charles Edgar, now living at Stratford in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Mrs. Hanson's mother died in 1870.
Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have five children. Grace is the wife of Richard Herwig, a farmer near Kilbourn, Wisconsin, and their children are Gordon, Kenneth, Phyllis, Edith, Meta and Chester. Miles, the second child, died in 1902, at the age of fifteen. Clinton lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Homer is a senior in the Baraboo High School, and the youngest of the family is Claude, a junior in the high school.
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