USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
Mr. Rose was married November 6, 1887, to Miss Emma Halbers- leben, who was born in Reedsburg Township, June 6, 1868, a daughter of August Halbersleben. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have been the parents of eleven children. Amanda, who is the wife of Edward Schafer, and has two children, Wilbert and Gerhardt; Hilda, the wife of Camiel Van Bas- selaere, of Reedsburg; Martin, a soldier at Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois ; Teona; Arnold and Reinhold, deceased; Agnes, at home; Bern- hard, deceased ; and Adeline, Norma and Rubina, at home.
William Halbersleben, a brother of Mrs. Rose, was born in Germany, October 9, 1860, being a son of August and Christina (Miller) Halbers- leben, natives of Germany, the former born in 1827 and the latter in 1829. In 1863 they came with their children to the United States, lo- cating at Reedsburg, and in 1872 located on the farm now owned by their son, on which not a tree had been cut at that time. Here they con- tinued to be engaged in farming until 1898, when they retired to Reeds- burg, the father dying there in 1902 and the mother in 1913. They succeeded in developing a good farm and in establishing themselves as useful members of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Halbersleben were members of the Lutheran Church, and the parents of six children : Elizabeth, August, William, August (2), Emma and Louis. William Halbersleben was educated in the Lutheran parochial schools and in
951
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
1877 went to Madison, Wisconsin, where he was at the experiment station for five years and on other farms for about seven years, return- ing to the home farm in 1888. When he bought the homestead it con- sisted of 120 acres, and this he has made into one of the model general and stock farms of the Township of Reedsburg, with fine improvements of every kind. He has long been prominent in official life in the locality, having been chairman of the township board for some years and now a member of the state road and bridge committee and treasurer of the school district, which latter position he has held for twenty-seven con- secutive years. He is a supporter of the principles of the republican party.
Mr. Halbersleben was married in 1888 to Miss Mary Stroebel, who was born in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, in 1859, daughter, of Rev. Frederick Stroebel, a pioneer minister of Sauk County, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Halbersleben have one child, Esther, who is the wife of August Henrichs and the mother of two children, Robert and Irma. By a former marriage, in 1884, to Miss Mary Kempf, of Madison, Wis- consin, who died in 1886, Mr. Halbersleben had one daughter, Emma.
DAVID J. BENNETT has made his life's efforts count for a great deal as a farmer and citizen in Sauk County, and for many years his work has been identified with the management of a fine farm in Winfield Township, where he is prosperously situated and has a family of capable and bright children growing up around him.
Mr. Bennett was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, December 18, 1869, a son of William J. and Mary (McKnight) Bennett. His father, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1833, died in 1904. The mother was born at Albany, New York, in 1836, and passed away in 1880. Their eight children were named William, Sarah, Andrew, Hugh, Isabel, Anna, David J. and Jack, all of whom are still living except Hugh and William.
David J. Bennett came to Sauk County in early life and has steadily identified himself with the basic industry of agriculture. He is now proprietor of a farm of 220 acres in Winfield Township, and besides general farming he makes something of a specialty of Durham cattle. In politics he is independent.
On February 3, 1897, he married Effie Mills. Mrs. Bennett is a cordial and genial lady and well educated. She has ably and faithfully performed her part as wife and mother in the building up of their happy home. She is a native of Juneau County, Wisconsin, born April 17, 1873, a daughter of Orson and Lodema (Luke) Mills. Her father was one of the brave men of Wisconsin who offered his services to the Government during the Civil war and was a member of the Second Wisconsin Cavalry. He faithfully performed his part as a soldier as well as a good citizen and he died in 1913. The mother of Mrs. Bennett is still living and is a resident of Kendall, Wisconsin. She is a faithful member of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Bennett received a good common school education and also attended the graded schools of Lavalle. She was a successful teacher for five years, two years in Juneau County and three years in Sauk County. Their children, Arthur J., Clyde E., Vol. II-23
952
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
Frank A., Daisy and Helen, are all being accorded the best advantages of the local public schools. The son Clyde was a member of the Reeds- burg High School, in the third year, but is now a soldier and a member of Company A, which was organized in Texas, where he is located at the present time, at Waco. Mr. Bennett has been a useful man as a citizen of his township, having served as township assessor for four years and as director and treasurer of his school district for fifteen years.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are citizens who are held in the highest estcem by all who know them.
HARRY LEON GRAY, well known to Sauk County as a banker at Spring Green, was born at Mazomanie, Dane County, Wisconsin, August 26, 1885. His parents were Harry and Elizabeth (Linley) Gray, of Iowa County, Wisconsin. His mother died December 17, 1906, and his father died September 9, 1917.
Harry Leon Gray married, September 24, 1910, Miss Josephine Jost, daughter of Herman and Anna Jost, of Presto, North Dakota. Mrs. Gray died January 23, 1916, leaving one child, John William, who was born September 9, 1911.
JAMES P. HART. A pioneer citizen of Sauk County who did his life work well and honorably and left a name deserving of kindly remem- brance was the late James P. Hart.
Mr. Hart was born in County Sligo, Ireland, crossed the ocean to New York City in 1848, and in 1851 arrived in Sauk County and joined the earliest settlers of Winfield Township. He was successfully iden- tified with farming there and provided liberally for his family, who still enjoy some of the competence he won by hard effort.
James P. Hart married January 31, 1854, Mary Conway. Both of them are now deceased, James P. Hart passing away August 15, 1898, and his wife on September 12, 1895. Their children were named Mary, Michael, Martin, Bridget, Honor, James Peter, Patrick Henry, Ellen, Catherine, John and Sarah. John and Ellen are now deceased. None of the sons ever married. The daughter Mary married Mr. Heiner, who died May 7, 1891, leaving a son, Eugene. The daughter Bridget married Richard J. Brennan, of Chicago. The daughter Honor mar- ried, November 26, 1884, Henry Diener. Mr. Diener died July 14, 1913. Mrs. Diener and her youngest child, Honor Margaret, now fifteen years of age, are living in Baraboo, and her oldest son, John V. Diener, is a successful attorney at Green Bay, Wisconsin. Her daughter Mary Magdalene is a school teacher in Baraboo, and her son Charles Norman Diener is now enlisted for service in the new National army.
The Hart family own jointly 200 acres of land in Winfield Town- ship, and it is devoted to general farming and the raising of Durham cattle. Two children of the late James P. Hart live at Baraboo, Mrs. Catherine Kaseman and Mrs. August Rathman.
EDWIN GREEN is clerk of Fairfield Township, has spent practically all his life on one tract of land there, and represents a family of early settlers.
953
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
He was born in the township January 6, 1863, a son of Richard and Martha (Felt) Green. His parents were both natives of England, the father born in 1823 and the mother in 1831. They were married and soon afterwards came to America and settled in Sauk County. The father homesteaded forty acres near where the son Edwin now lives and gradually increased his holdings until his estate consisted of 131 acres. He spent a very useful and industrious life and died on the old farm in 1885. His wife passed away in 1883. Politically he was a republican. They were the parents of twelve children. Two of them received the name John and both are now deceased. Two died in early infancy. The others were named James, Sarah Ann, Mary Jane, Wil- liam, Fred, Edwin, Louis and Walter.
Edwin Green grew up on the home farm and attended the local schools. In time he acquired the ownership of the old homestead and in time added to that until his present fine place consists of 220 acres. It is devoted to general farming and stockraising and for a number of years Mr. Green has been a successful breeder of Shorthorn cattle. He has also taken a conspicuous part in the affairs of his home township and served as treasurer four years, two years as supervisor, and for the past ten years has been clerk of the township. Politically he is a pro- hibitionist.
Mr. Green was married in 1895 to Miss Mary Cameron, who was born in Sauk County in 1875, daughter of Thomas and Addie (Fuller) Cameron. Her parents came to Sauk County during the '60s. Her widowed mother is still living with Mr. and Mrs. Green. The latter have four children, all living, and named Paul, Edith, Burr and Louis. Edith is now a student in the Baraboo High School.
NORRIS WILCOX. Of the substantial old families of Fairfield Town- ship, one that has been longest identified with that community and in a most progressive way in its development is that of Wilcox, represented by Mr. Norris Wilcox, who owns and occupies part of the homestead which has been in the ownership and management of the family con- tinuously since it was acquired from the Government.
Mr. Wilcox was born on the old homestead August 20, 1859, a son of Norris Case and Charlotte Augusta (Oldes) Wilcox. His father was born near Syracuse, New York, June 25, 1824. His mother was born in Ohio in 1822. When the family first came to Wisconsin in territorial times they located near Clinton Junction on a tract of forty acres. In 1847 they removed to Sauk County and in 1848, the year Wisconsin was admitted to the Union, Norris C. Wilcox bought 120 acres of Government land, including the present farm of his son Norris. He went industriously to work clearing up, removing the trees and brush and gradually getting the land under cultivation. On this farm he was engaged busily the rest of his active life and died there March 6, 1893. His wife passed away in September, 1878. He was a demo- crat in politics and a man of notable influence in the community. He served as assessor of Fairfield Township, for many years was on the school board, and he assisted in laying out the State Road from Portage to Prairie du Chien. There were five children: Norris; Henry, who
954
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
died in infancy ; Mary, wife of Miner E. Brown, who lives on part of the old homestead; Ulysses G., living near Kilbourn, Wisconsin; and Minnie A.
Norris Wilcox attended the local schools, and in his mature years he has become owner and farmer of eighty acres of his father's land. This land has responded to his capable management in generous crops and he has put on it excellent buildings. He follows both general farm- ing and stockraising. Mr. Wilcox is a stockholder in the Excelsior Co- operative Creamery Company at Baraboo.
Politically he is a prohibitionist. He has served as treasurer of Fair- field Township and also as a member of the township board. He and his wife are active in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On March 22, 1883, he married Sarah E. Smith, who was born August 14, 1858. Her parents, Chase and Dorcas A. (Hatch) Smith, came to Sauk County in 1867 and later bought a farm in Fairfield Township. They spent their last years in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox has two daughters. Anna May was educated in the public schools and the high school at Baraboo and is still at home. Flora A. was married on Thanksgiving Day in November, 1916, to E. P. Good. Mr. Good is now assisting in the cultivation of the Wilcox farm.
EDGAR STANLEY POWELL, the present supervisor of Winfield Town- ship, is a native of that locality and has made his enterprise count for a liberal success in farming and in his influence as a citizen.
Mr. Powell was born in Winfield Township, a son of Thomas H. and Elizabeth (Fish) Powell. His parents were natives of Albany County, New York, and were pioneers in Winfield Township in the year 1855. The father lived until 1914, while the mother passed away in 1903. Their children were Ida M., Charles D., Frederick J., Alden T., Edgar Stanley, Clarence S. and Bessie R.
Mr. Powell is busied with the management of a large farm of 267 acres, and is one of the leading stockraisers of the township, keeping about twenty-five head of Holstein cattle. He has filled the office of supervisor for several years and is an active democrat. He and his wife have five children, Virgil H., Florence E., Lulu E., Lyman, now de- ceased, and Vesta May.
JOHN TERRY, JR., now occupies the old homestead which his father, John Terry, Sr., developed from a portion of the wilderness of Sauk County. John Terry, the son, has never married and he and his sister Nellie keep the old home and preserve its associations and attractions for the family, several of whom live in Baraboo Township and vicinity.
On the old farm where he now resides John Terry, Jr., was born in Baraboo Township June 15, 1876. He grew up in that environment. attended the public schools, and always lived at home and has succeeded to the ownership of 120 acres of the old homestead. He has introduced many improvements and new methods and is one of the leading general farmers and stockraisers of the township. He is also a stockholder in the Excelsior Co-operative Creamery Company in Baraboo. Mr. Terry
955
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
is independent in politics, but has never sought any office. He and his sister are active members of the Catholic Church.
GEORGE C. ASTLE. Among the representative men of Sauk County no one stands higher in public esteem than does George C. Astle, who is president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Baraboo and for many years was one of the county's most extensive and progressive agriculturists. Mr. Astle was born in Sumpter Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin, September 25, 1848. His parents were William and Sarah (Moscow) Astle .. They were born, reared and married in Derbyshire, England, and when they came to the United States, about 1843, brought with them their family of seven children: Mary, Sarah, Hannah, Eliza- beth, Eliza, William and Harriet. Two more children were born to them in Wisconsin: John H. and George C.
William Astle and family came first to Merton in Waukesha County, but soon secured a homestead in Sumpter, then called Kingston Town- ship, in Sauk County, buying a tract of 160 acres of timber land. This he cleared and improved, and resided on the place until his death. He was one of the pioneers of this section and the family saw much early hardships, as was inevitable. They lived at first in a log house put up by Mr. Astle, but in 1861 he replaced it with a substantial stone house that yet stands. His wife survived him many years, living into old age, seeing her ninetieth birthday. She and her husband were among the organizers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they were most worthy members. William Astle became a naturalized citizen and at first was affiliated in politics with the whig party and later became a republican, voting that ticket as long as he lived and always remember- ing with pleasure that he had assisted in the election of Abraham Lin- coln to the presidency on two occasions.
George C. Astle was reared on the home farm and in his boyhood attended the country schools as opportunity offered, but, like ' many other men who have become prominent and successful, he had no such educational opportunities as are not only offered but are actually forced upon the boyhood and youth in every section of the country at the pres- ent time. He remained on the old homestead, which became his, and in 1885 traded that farm for the Thomas Stone place, consisting of 360 acres, lying one mile east, and resided there until he sold that farm. He low owns 160 acres in Greenfield Township, situated one and three- quarter miles from the City of Baraboo. At different times he has owned and sold many other tracts of land, having had numerous trans- actions along this line, and has dealt heavily in lands in both South Dakota and Colorado. He always entertained progressive ideas as to his agricultural operations and believed in keeping his property in fine condition and in handling only fine stock. He had pure-bred Polled Angus cattle, Percheron horses and did a large business in raising Ken- tucky-bred standard road horses, at one time having seventy-five head. He shipped to Chicago, New York and also Colorado. At present he specializes in dairying. Mr. Astle was one of the enterprising men of his township and always was first in the field with new ideas. He con- tinually held an office of trust in his own township, serving as super-
.
956
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
visor, chairman, treasurer, assessor, etc. He was earnestly interested in the education of the children and served on the district school board for over twenty years, as treasurer, his aim being to hire the best avail- able teachers regardless of expense. His daughters graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. ' He was one of the organizers of the Sumpter Creamery, and continued one of the directors of that suc- cessful industrial plant until he left the neighborhood and came to Baraboo in 1908.
In 1869 Mr. Astle was united in marriage with Miss Alice Dean, who was born in Green County, Wisconsin, and died in 1903. Five children were born to them, namely : Herbert, Cora, Celia, Jessie and Winifred, Herbert and Jessie being deceased. The family home at No. 138 Eighth Avenue is one of the fine residences of Baraboo.
After coming to this city Mr. Astle entered the financial field, as- sisting in the organization of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which has central location on the corner of Oak Street and Fourth Avenue. It is a solidly financed institution, its officials are all capitalists, and it has the support and confidence of this whole section, Mr. Astle's name as president being a very valuable asset in itself.
In politics Mr. Astle has long been an important factor in the repub- lican party in township and city, and is also a strong temperance advocate. He is president of the Sauk County Agricultural Society and has been for the past eight years. On June 11, 1914, Mr. Astle was married to Miss Daisy Beecroft, of Madison, Wisconsin.
ROBERT F. TAYLOR. One of the citizens now gone to his final rest who, while he visited numerous foreign lands and practically every state in the Union, preferred to make his home in Sauk County for many years, was the late Robert F. Taylor, of Baraboo, who during a long, interesting and eventful life was identified with several of the leading circuses of this country and at the time of his demise was one of the most valued men in the great army that made up the famous Ringling Brothers organization.
Mr. Taylor was born at Mill Grove, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1857, and was given a graded and high school education. As a young man he engaged in railroad work, being for some years with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and thus became familiar with transportation matters. His love of adventure, as well as his knowledge of the country, took him into circus life and for a number of years he traveled with the Walter L. Main Shows and later with Sells & Forepaugh, and in his subsequent travels he visited nearly all the civilized countries of the globe, including Australia. The Ringling Brothers, always alert to secure good material for their organization, induced him to come to Baraboo in 1893, and here he was made manager of transportation, one of the most important departments in a traveling institution of this kind, requiring intimate knowledge of conditions, stupendous executive ability and a voluminous amount of labor. He became one of the most valued and dependable of the men who helped to make this great circus famous throughout the world, and continued to be connected therewith until his death in 1913. Just as he was one of the best known men in his line in the country, so
PINE GROVE PARK
--
ROBERT F. TAYLOR
957
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
was he also one of the most popular. He proved his mettle and worth on innumerable occasions when disaster threatened and his personal courage was as unquestioned as his ability was proved. Mr. Taylor was a member of Baraboo Lodge of Masons and a Knight Templar, and be- longed also to the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. He was a republican in politics, but the nature of his business forbade that he enter actively into political affairs.
Mr. Taylor was married March 20, 1898, to Miss Alvena Boltzman, who was born near Spring Green, Sauk County, Wisconsin, April 11, 1880, a daughter of Fred and Christina (Penning) Boltzman. Her parents were natives of Germany, where they were married, and came to the United States about 1875, first settling in New York, but soon coming to Sauk County and locating on a farm in Reedsburg Township, where Mr. Boltzman still lives, aged eighty-three years. Mrs. Boltzman died in 1885, and Alvena, then a child of five years, was taken to rear by her sister, Mrs. Charles Westfall, of Reedsburg Township, who af- fectionately performed the duties of both sister and mother. Mrs. Taylor was educated in the public schools of Reedsburg Township, and since her husband's death has been the proprietress of the picturesque spot located about one-half mile north of Reedsburg, a twenty-acre tract of land in Reedsburg Township known as Pine Grove Park. This is a summer resort and picnic grounds, with many attractive features, and is greatly patronized, not only by Reedsburg people and those of the surrounding country, but by many who come from far-distant points. Mrs. Taylor is one of the popular ladies of her locality and a valued mem- ber of the Order of the Eastern Star. While she has traveled exten- sively in many states of the Union, she, like her husband, believes that Sauk County is one of the finest spots in the country and is satisfied to make her home among its hospitable people. She has beautified and adorned her pretty summer resort home with neat cottages, an artificial lake and boats. Her "Pine Grove Park" is one of the beauty spots of the vicinity of Reedsburg. Mrs. Taylor is a lady of pleasing personality and cordiality of manner and her extensive travel over the United States has made her conversant with all parts of the country, so that she is a pleasing conversationalist, and her guests and friends always receive cordial greeting at her home. Mrs. Taylor was one of six children born to her parents : Fred, a resident of Spooner, Wisconsin ; Dora, now Mrs. Charles Westfall, of Reedsburg Township; William and Freda, deceased ; Anna, also deceased ; and Alvena.
Mrs. Dora (Boltzman) Westfall was born January 28, 1861, in Germany, and was about fourteen years of age when the parents, Fred and Christina (Penning) Boltzman, came to the United States. She com- pleted her education in the public schools and was married in 1885 to Charles Westfall, who was born May 3, 1863, in New York, a son of John and Louisa (Prange) Westfall, natives of Germany. His parents were married in that country and about the year 1860 came to New York, five years later moving to Sauk County and settling in Freedom Township, where they purchased forty acres of land and made it their home for seven years. At the end of that time they came to Reedsburg Township, where they remained two years, then returning to Freedom
958
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
Township, where they rented land during the remaining period of their active careers. Mrs. Westfall died in 1905, at Reedsburg, her husband passing away in 1910, aged seventy-two years. They were the parents of eight children : Minnie, Charles, John, Lena, Lizzie, Augusta, Sophia and Emma.
Charles Westfall entered upon his career with little more for his capital than a public school education, but his industry was great and his ambition strong, and after renting land for some years, in 1908 he bought 122 acres located one mile north of Reedsburg, where he has developed a handsome property. He has been the architect of his own fortunes and is well-to-do, now enjoying all the rewards that are to be obtained through a life of industry and integrity. He engages in general farming and keeps a good grade of Holstein cattle, and his buildings and improvements, most of them of his own construction, are modern and attractive. He is a republican and as a citizen is highly thought of in his community. Mr. and Mrs. Westfall have had four children : William, deceased, born in 1886; Edward, born September 19, 1888; Carrie, deceased, and Madeline, born August 6, 1903, and now attending the Reedsburg High School.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.