USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 54
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Arthur Claude Withington was the only child of his parents and was about 212 years old when brought to the United States, so that almost his entire life was passed within the limits of Sauk County. He was reared on the farm and passed his school days at Baraboo, where he attended the graded and high schools. When he began his business
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career he became a traveling salesman, and the greater part of his busi- ness life was devoted to that occupation, in which he met with a full measure of success, being the representative of a number of leading houses. In 1885 Mr. Withington was married to Mary Sterling Slye, who was born at Baraboo in 1857, a daughter of Col. A. L. and Anna M. (Yard) Slye, natives of Vermont, the former born May 23, 1825, and the latter December 2, 1829. They came to Baraboo in 1856, Colonel Slye assisting, with Mr. McGlaughlin of Chicago, in the organization of a bank, with which he was connected for a number of years. Later his energies were devoted to farming and he became successful as an agriculturist. A stanch and unswerving republican, he was greatly interested in politics and from 1875 until 1883 served as county treas- urer of Sauk County. Mrs. Slye still survives and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Withington.
Mr. Withington was a republican, but did not seek public honors, preferring to devote his energies to other fields of endeavor. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and was also well known in local Masonic circles, belonging to Baraboo Lodge, Chapter and Com- mandery of that order. As a devout Episcopalian, he was senior warden of the Baraboo church of that denomination, an office which had also been held by his father, and sang as a member of the choir for many years. From its inception the Baraboo Public Library, of which he was one of the organizers, held his interest, and he remained a member of the library board up to the time of his death. The beautiful grounds surrounding this institution are largely a result of his work and much of their beauty must be accredited to his artistic taste and sense of har- monious arrangement. A tablet to his memory is found in the library at this time.
Mr. Withington died at Baraboo August 11, 1912, leaving a widow and three children, the latter being: Arthur Harding, born May 23, 1888, a graduate of the Baraboo High School and of the University of Wisconsin, class of 1913, and now located at Centerville, Iowa, where he holds the office of county engineer; Frances Eleanor, born February 8, 1891, a graduate of the Baraboo High School and of the University of Wisconsin, class of 1913, who, after teaching for two years in the high school at Wausau, Wisconsin, was married in September, 1916, to Dr. W. W. Bissell, who is connected with the eminent Mayo brothers of Rochester, Minnesota; and James Sterling, born October 7, 1893, a graduate of Baraboo High School and of the University of Wisconsin, class of 1917.
WILLIAM CUMMINGS. One of the oldest families located in Bear Creek Township is that of Cummings, established here nearly sixty years ago. The old homestead now owned by William Cummings reflects what the family has done in the way of material improvement, and as a name it has always stood for the better things of community life.
The family was established here by Dennis and Mary Cummings, who were settlers in Sauk County in the year 1858. They acquired 160 acres, and the father, with the assistance of his children, did much to improve and beautify that particular location. The father died here in August, 1910, and the mother is still living. Their children were Mary,
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Thomas, Maria, William, Esther, Ellen, Annie and Dennis. Thomas and Maria are now deceased. Mary is the wife of Frank Tenant, of Bear Creek Township. Ellen married Andrew Anderson and lives in Colo- rado. Annie is the wife of Fred Scholl, of Bear Creek. Dennis married Annie Diamond and is also a resident of Bear Creek.
William Cummings, who acquired his father's old farm, is now the owner of 360 acres. He was born in Bear Creek Township April 21, 1863. He has always lived in this locality, had the advantages of the local schools while growing up, and is one of the most prominent and successful farmers. He is unmarried and gives all his time and atten- tion to the successful prosecution of his business as a farmer and stock‹ raiser. He runs a dairy of eighteen cows. Mr. Cummings is a repub- lican and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
GEORGE T. THUERER, D. D. S. The professional fraternity of the City of Baraboo has a worthy representative in the person of Dr. George T. Thuerer, who has been engaged in the practice of dentistry at this place for more than a quarter of a century and is one of the city's dependable and substantial citizens. Not alone as a professional man but as an official is Doctor Thuerer known to the people of the county seat, for he is now serving in his third term as mayor, an office in which he has been able to accomplish much for the advancement of his city.
Doctor Thuerer was born at Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin, Sep- tember 23, 1869, being a son of Christian and Anna (Tarmetzer) Thuerer, natives of Graubunden, Switzerland. His parents came to the United States as young people and were married at Sauk City, Wiscon- sin, from whence they came to Baraboo in 1868, Mr. Thuerer having resided liere ever since, while the mother passed away about twenty years ago. In his young manhood, in his native land, Christian Thuerer had learned the trades of blacksmith and carriage builder, vocations which he followed first at Sauk City and later, for many years, at Bara- boo. During a long period he was associated in business with Henry Miller, under the firm style of Miller & Thuerer, but the partnership has been dissolved for some years and both partners have retired from business affairs. While he has now reached an age when most men feel that they have earned a rest from their labors, Mr. Thuerer's energetic and industrious spirits of a lifetime will not allow him to remain inactive and he is constantly busy in a number of ways, keeping alive a keen interest in all that appertains to the life of his city. He is serving in the capacity of city weigher, in addition to which he has heretofore been the incumbent of other official offices. In political views he has always been a republican, and is considered one of the influential men of his party in this section. With his family, he belongs to the German Evan- gelical Church, in which Mrs. Thuerer was active up to the time of her death. Of the ten children born to Christian and Anna Thuerer, three died in infancy, the others being: Dr. George T., of this notice; Dr. C. L., a practicing dentist of Baraboo, associated with his brother ; Margaret, who is a trained nurse of Janesville, Wisconsin; Dr. Edward, a successful physician and surgeon of Billings, Montana; Jessie L., who is the wife of Lawrence B. Shei, of Sacramento, California; Albert, who is assistant superintendent of the woolen mills at Appleton, Wisconsin ; Vol. II-27
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and Nellie, who is a trained nurse and a resident of Long Beach, Cali- fornia. Christian Thuerer reared his children to lives of honesty and industry and those who have reached maturity have all attained posi- tions of comfort and usefulness in the world. Mr. Thuerer's reputation in business circles is of the best, and throughout Baraboo he is an object of respect and esteem, rewards of a well spent life.
George T. Thuerer has passed his entire life at Baraboo. He re- ceived his early education in the graded schools here, and after his graduation from the high school secured employment in the office of Dr. A. H. Gilette, a dental practitioner, with whom he remained for one and one-half years. With this preparation he entered the dental de- partment of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, being graduated therefrom with his degree in 1890, immediately after which he returned to Baraboo and entered practice. By diligent attention to his work Doctor Thuerer has acquired a profitable patronage, while by reason of his marked ability he has secured prestige in his profession. Dentistry may be said to be almost unique among the various occupations of man- kind, being at once a profession, a trade and a business. Such being the case it follows that in order to attain the highest success in it one must be thoroughly conversant with the theory of the art, must be expert in the use of the many instruments and appliances incidental to modern dentistry and must possess business qualifications adequate to dealing with the financial side of the profession. In none of these requirements is Doctor Thuerer lacking; on the contrary,, close study has given him a broad understanding of the science of dentistry, and his practical ex- perience is demonstrated by his extensive patronage, which at once indi- cates his high standing in the profession. He is a valued member of the Wisconsin State Dental Society and of the American Dental Association. Doctor Thuerer has long been prominent in civic affairs and as a leader of the forces of the republican party. After serving for four years as alderman of Baraboo, he succeeded Mayor Bender as chief executive of the city, and is now acting in that office for the third consecutive time. He has been faithful to the interests of the city and its people, and through his energetic and businesslike handling of Baraboo's affairs has: put the city on a sound financial basis. He is a member of the German Evangelical Church, in the faith of which he was reared. Doctor Thuerer is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is well known in Masonry, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, in which he has filled various chairs. His amiable disposition and genial deportment have attracted to him many stanch friends.
Doctor Thuerer was married July 3, 1895, to Miss Emma M. Royck, a native of Sauk County, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Charles E. Royck. They are the parents of two children : Margaret L. and George Royck.
MILES H. KEYSAR. The life of the late Miles H. Keysar at Prairie du Sac embraced a period of fifty-three years, from the time of his ar- rival, in 1848, until his death, in 1901, and covered the era of the phenomenal growth of the county of his adoption. From the time of his immediate arrival until his retirement, some twelve years prior to his demise, he was engaged in a variety of pursuits, principally connected.
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with the rising commercial and mercantile interests of the community, with the growth of which he was intimately related and with the pros- perity of which he himself prospered. At different times he associated himself with others in bringing strength and maturity to incipient in- stitutions, and his organizing and executive powers were accounted as of high value by those who were fortunate enough to be identified with him in the important affairs which attracted his attention. Although sixteen years have passed since his death, his influence and progress and enlargement is still felt in business circles of the city in which his home was made for so many years.
Miles H. Keysar was born at Canterbury, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, in 1823, and was a son of Edmund and Becky (Young) Keysar, natives and lifelong residents of the old Granite State. His father was an agriculturist and tilled the soil throughout the period of his active career, and the son was brought up in the atmosphere of the farm and early learned the lessons of hard work and strict honesty. His early educational training was secured in the common schools, and this was supplemented by an academic course in his native state, in an institution at Colebrook, Coos County. With this preparation he entered upon the serious business of life as teacher of a country school, and this vocation he followed for two terms, although his summers were passed on the home farm, to which he eventually returned when he had finished his school teaching experience.
Mr. Keysar remained on the home farm until he had reached the age of twenty-five years. He was at that time an ambitious, industrious young man, and seeing no particular future for him in his native state he decided to try his fortunes in the newly opened West, which was sending out urgent calls for virile and willing manhood. In 1848 he arrived in the little community of Prairie du Sac, after a long and arduous trip, and soon found employment as a carpenter, having mas- tered that trade in his youth. This and other honorable occupations occupied him for three years, at the end of which time he had accumu- lated sufficient capital to encourage him to enter the lumber business. He started in a small way, but soon transferred his interests and his activities to the mercantile business, a field in which he remained for some three years. At this time, in 1857, he sold his holdings and made his first trip to his boyhood home, but after a short stay came once more to Wisconsin and again entered actively into the life of the growing little community of Prairie du Sac. His first accomplishment upon his return was the erection of the building which is now known as the Congress Store, and upon its completion he again entered the mercantile trade. This occupied his attention until 1861, when he sold out to embark in the stock and grain business, with which he continued to be identified until his retirement in 1889. While the greater part of his attention was given to this business during the closing years of his business career, Mr. Keysar was identified with a number of other enterprises which were important factors in establishing Prairie du Sac's prestige among the cities of this region. He was one of the principal owners of the main steamer, Ellen Haidy, which plied between Prairie du Sac and Portage, and it was largely through his efforts that the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad was induced to build its road to
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Prairie du Sac. He was pre-eminently and primarily a business man, yet the needs of his community ever held a foremost place in his heart, and he gave, unreservedly, of his energies, his abilities and means to the furtherance of any movements whose objects were the betterment of conditions, whether commercial, industrial, civic, religious or social. It was part and parcel of his belief that the city should share in the individual's prosperity, and that the best results could be attained when said individual and community were working each for the other's interests. Mr. Keysar was not a politician, yet he was well informed upon the subjects of the day and took an interest in the success of the democratic party, with which he voted throughout his life. When the split came in that party on the question of gold and silver he lined up with the supporters of solid money. He was a lifelong Universalist, and while not over-ostentatious in advertising his belief to the world, lived his faith every day. When he died, in 1901, church as well as com- munity lost a good and generous friend.
In 1850 Mr. Keysar was united in marriage with Miss Barbara Stevens, who died without issue three years later. In 1860 occurred his second marriage, when he was united with Miss Stella Lawrence, who bore him two children, Lawrence and Miles, both of whom are now de- ceased. His second wife died in October, 1878, and in 1880 Mr. Keysar was married to Mrs. Jeannette (Lyon) Lay, who was born March 9, 1840, at West Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont, a daughter of William and Betsy (Mann) Lyon. Mrs. Keysar still survives her husband and resides in a comfortable residence, being one of the best known and most highly esteemed ladies of Prairie du Sac.
JOHN J. MCDERMOTT is one of the enterprising business men of Bear Creek Township, being a merchant and closely associated with the agri- cultural enterprise of the district as a manufacturer of cheese.
Mr. McDermott was born in Door County, Wisconsin, August 10, 1881, a son of Patrick and Nora (Malloney) McDermott. His father was born in Ireland, March 17, 1842, and the mother in Canada, Decem- ber 13, 1854. Both parents are still living. They were married at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, June 17, 1880.
John J. McDermott grew up in the country and has been a resident of Sauk County since March 6, 1911. He owns a high class mercantile establishment, stocked with general merchandise and located in the cen- ter of a fine agricultural district. By fair dealing and enterprising methods he has built up a large patronage, and though still a young man his success is practically assured.
For some time Mr. McDermott was employed by the Gruber Cheese Company of Bear Creek Township. December 9, 1911, he bought a cheese factory in Big Hollow of that township, and besides that he owns two other factories in the county, these three factories handling a total of about twenty thousand pounds of milk every day. Thus his enterprise is contributing to Sauk County's preeminence as a dairy center.
Mr. McDermott is a democrat in politics and a member of the Catholic Church. On June 19, 1912, he married Miss Nellie Carmody, daughter of John and Ellen (Lawton) Carmody, of Iowa County, Wis- consin. They have one child, Leo Francis.
QChristensen
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
CHRISTIAN CHRISTENSEN. There is occasionally found an individual who in the performance of his public duties works to achieve something more than the things covered by a strict interpretation these duties mean, and in this category is found Christian Christensen, of Reeds- burg, superintendent of the Sauk County Farm. Since becoming the incumbent of his present position, nine years ago, Mr. Christensen has labored continuously and successfully to improve his surroundings, to better conditions and to add to the comfort of his charges. He has taken an honest pride in his work and has not been afraid to introduce innovations. For these reasons Sauk County may consider itself for- tunate in possessing his services, for under his management the institu- tion has become one of the best ordered in the state. This institution be- came the pioneer among Wisconsin institutions, in what is known as in- dustrial occupation for inmates. This course is especially of untold benefit to those among the inmates whose mental condition is such as to unfit them for any ordinary occupation. The result of this innovation is that today the institution boasts of one expert carpet weaver, several bas- ket makers, two men who are expert shoe-repair men. Fancy work in brass is an accomplishment of several inmates. Several women have be- come expert needle-workers. While these industries were begun primar- ily to find occupation for a large number of the most disturbed inmates with the idea of awakening an interest in their surroundings, and as a pastime, it has also become a source of income to the institution, the net profits last year amounting to $217.57. This work has since been adopted in nearly every other institution in Wisconsin and in several other states.
Christian Christensen was born at Sjelland, Denmark, May 16, 1869, a son of Nels and Anna Christensen, who never left that country, the mother dying there in 1902, at the age of sixty-six years, and the father still making his home there at eighty-two years of age. They were the parents of five children : Hans Christian, a resident of California ; James Peter, who lives in the State of Washington ; Kara; Christian, and Anna Sophia. Christian Christensen received his education in the public schools of his native land and in 1883, at the age of fourteen years, came to the United States, locating in Ohio, in November of that year. He re- mained in the Buckeye State for only a short time, however, and March 1, 1884, came to Wisconsin and located near Neenah. He had no capital at that time, but was willing to work and secured employment on a farm, where for a time he did chores for his board. Later he clerked for Hans Gram, at Neenah, and then secured the position of attendant at the Northern State Hospital at Winnebago, a position in which he remained six years. Later he returned to Ohio, where for four years he was an attendant in the Toledo State Hospital, then coming back to Wisconsin as an attendant at the Wisconsin State Hospital, at Mendota, for ten years. He resigned from that position April 15, 1908, and in the following month took his present position as superintendent of the Sauk County Farm. Since taking charge here Mr. Christensen has added several buildings to the institution, and has beautified the farm by in- stalling grape arbors and ornamental trees and in numerous other ways. That he is a skilled and thoroughly informed agriculturist as well as a good business man is shown in the value which he attains from the
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products and the volume of the cash sales. He also understands thor- oughly the breeding of livestock, now having a fine herd of Holstein cattle, and his success with swine has been remarkable, he having for the year 1917 approximately 140 Duroe spring pigs. No doubt some of the farmers of the county could secure some valuable advice from Mr. Christensen, who has made a close and careful study of conditions and has done a large amount of practical experimenting with very gratifying results. As an executive he is kindly and large-hearted, but a strict disciplinarian, and while he never neglects his multitudinous duties, he always seems to find time to explain his methods and to dispense hos- pitality to visitors. In this matter he is ably seconded by his wife, a woman of many accomplishments, who has been his chief assistant in all that he has undertaken and who has been of the greatest help to him in the accomplishment of what he has set out to do. Mr. Christensen is independent in politics, and was reared in the faith of the Danish Lutheran Church. He is prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree, and is a member of Madison Lodge No. 5, Madison, which he joined in 1908; Reedsburg Chapter, No. 56, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Council No. 21; Milwaukee Consistory, and Saint John's Com- mandery No. 21, Knights Templar, of which he has been commander for the past three years. He was a member of the Golden Jubilee Class in the fall of 1913. Mr. Christensen also belongs to Reedsburg Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, at Reedsburg, of which he is worthy patron.
Mr. Christensen was married April 15, 1896, to Miss Fannie Hoose- man, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, daughter of George and Mary Hooseman, who came from England and located at Oshkosh, where Mrs. Hooseman still resides. her husband having died there in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen had one danghter, who died in infancy.
PETER M. DIETL, a prosperous farmer of Bear Creek Township, be- longs to an old and prominent family in this section of Sauk County.
He was born in Austria September 28, 1871, son of Andrew and Teresa (Weiss) Dietl. Peter Dietl received most of his education in his native land and was fifteen years of age when his parents came in 1886 and settled in Bear Creek Township of Sauk County. The father acquired eighty aeres as a beginning, cleared and improved it, and had a good farm before his death, which occurred April 23, 1892. The widowed mother is still living. Their children were: Peter; Joseph ; Teresa, unmarried; Frank, who is married; Barbara, still single; and Andrew, who married Genevieve Moussan.
Peter M. Dietl, who has never married, has applied himself to the business of farming and stock husbandry very successfully and since 1898 has lived on his present farm of 112 acres. He is quite well known locally as a breeder of Holstein cattle. He has about thirty-two head of those fine animals and runs a dairy of eighteen cows. Mr. Dietl is a democrat and a member of the Catholic Church.
JOSEPH DIETL, a son of Andrew Dietl and a brother of Peter M. Dietl, was born in Austria but has spent the greater part of his life in Sauk County, where he now owns the old homestead farm of his father
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of 120 acres, and has directed its operations independently since 1905. A part of the land was cleared under his management, and he is giving a very creditable account of himself as a general farmer and also as a breeder of Holstein cattle. Mr. Joseph Dietl is a democrat in politics and a member of the Catholic Church.
November 8, 1905, he married Miss Mary Schwartz, daughter of Babtist and Walburga (Hutter) Schwartz. Her parents came from Austria. Mr. and Mrs. Dietl have five children, named Hubert, Mary, Gertrude, Alfons and Bertha.
PATRICK H. HURLEY is numbered among the independent and pro- gressive farmers of Winfield Township, where he has spent practically all his life.
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