USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 68
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Frederick Groat was one of the valuable pioneers and influential men of his day. In politics he was a Republican and a loyal defender of his country from disunion in the Civil War, in which he served three years and eleven months as a member of Company B, Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. For some years he served in Sauk County in the office of justice of the peace. He was reared a Wesleyan Methodist but later was an ordained minister of the Adventist religious body.
Francis Marion Groat attended the district schools in boyhood and later took courses in Ripon College and at Madison, and then went into educational work and taught school for twenty years, during eleven of these teaching at La Valle, and all over the county may be found men and women active and useful in their various stations, who recall Mr. Groat with sentiments of high regard because of his helpful influence in their student days.
In 1885 Mr. Groat purchased a farm of 160 acres in La Valle Town- ship and spared no expense to substantially improve it. He built the first silo in this township and during his active life on the farm, investi- gated and accepted other methods of feeding along modern lines and scientific reforms in general. For twenty years he was a breeder of Poland China hogs. In 1912 he sold his farm to his son, Frank Groat, and since then has not been a permanent resident of Sauk County. The family spent three winters in Florida and two in California before choos- ing California for a permanent home.
In politics Mr. Groat was reared a Republican and continued as such until the Progressive party became a factor in public affairs, when he united with that organization, believing in the truth of its principles and sincerity of its leaders. He has served his fellow citizens in numer- ous capacities in the township, chairman of the board of supervisors and township treasurer and was township clerk of Ironton for some years. He has always been an advocate of good schools and of good roads and has tried to encourage those things which assist good government, good feeling and neighborly interest and social comfort and contentment.
He remembers with some satisfaction, that he was well enough thought of to be allowed to teach the children of his neighbors for eighteen years in three schools within two and a half miles of his old home; that he changed an old run-down farm to one of the most productive in the com-
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munity and that he helped develop co-operation among the farmers of the community.
Mr. Groat was married September 22, 1878, to Miss Jennie Butman, who was born in Richland County, Wisconsin, January 12, 1856, and died August 18, 1896. She was a daughter of Volney and Lucretia (Benja- min) Butman, who spent much of their lives in Ironton. Mr. Butman was a molder by trade and was the boss in a furnace at Ironton. Later he went into the bee business at La Valle and still later went to Whittier, California, and died there in 1912 at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Butman died in 1915, aged eighty-four years.
Mr. Groat in 1898 married Miss Jane Tordoff, who died April 26, 1917, in Whittier, California, at the age of fifty-six years and was buried in Ironton, Wisconsin. She was a daughter of Edmund and Harriet Tordoff, English-born pioneers. The children born to Mr. Groat's first marriage were: William Henry, who was born in 1880 and died in 1898 from an accidental gun-shot wound by the hand of a neighbor boy. Francis Marion, who was born in 1882; Mary, who was born in 1884, and became the wife of Thomas Tibbitt of Chippewa Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Tib- bitt have two children, Eleanor and Nellie, made fatherless by the drown- ing of their father with two other fathers of young families October 14, 1917. Two children were born to Mr. Groat's second marriage, namely : Edmund Tordoff, who was born February 2, 1900, and is a graduate of the high school at Whittier, California; and Frederick Jeremiah, who was born February 26, 1902, and is a high school student in the third year.
Francis Marion Groat, Jr., his father's namesake and successor on the farm, was educated in the public schools and is one of Sauk County's enterprising agriculturists who has conducted his activities with excellent results. In 1912 he bought his father's farm of 160 acres and has con- tinued the industries and undertakings that have made this farm for many years noted for its products. His herd of dairy cows are good producers, and his returns from them make him the heaviest patron of the local co-operative creamery. Mr. Groat married Miss Alma Cors- cadden, who was born in La Valle Township, Sauk County, and they have one son, William Henry.
JOHN MEARS for more than a generation has represented much of the solid business enterprise and substantial citizenship of Bear Creek Township.
He was born in Canada in October, 1852, but when he was three years of age, in 1855, his parents, Andrew and Margaret (Howard) Mears, came to the United States and settled on eighty acres of land in Franklin Township of Sauk County. To the clearing and developing of this land his father gave the best of his subsequent years. Both parents are now deceased. Their children were: John, Mary (now deceased), Martin, Nellie, Michael, James, Johanna, Margaret (deceased) and Andrew.
John Mears was reared and educated in Sauk County, attended the public schools, and in 1880 he located on the farm of 160 acres which he still owns and manages as a general farming and stock-raising enter- prise. Besides farming he has also long been active as a builder and
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contractor. A capable man in the management of his own affairs, Mr. Mears has again and again been sought for public duty, and is now and for a number of years has been chairman of the town board and has also filled various school offices. He is a democrat in politics and a mem- ber of the Catholic Church.
November 25, 1880, he married Miss Helen Farrell, daughter of Pat- rick and Julia (Harrington) Farrell, of Bear Creek Township. Mr. and Mrs. Mears have five children: James, who married Molly Purcell ; Thomas, who married Stella Mears; Mary, wife of M. T. Drea; Margaret, unmarried; and William, who married Clara Fargen. The daughter Mary has six children, named: Willie, Catherine, Margaret, Joseph, Jane and Lawrence. William and wife have two children: Henry and Julia, twins, born in 1917.
CHARLES PEARSON. One of the oldest families in Sauk County bears the name of Pearson and members of this family still own the land that their grandparents secured almost seventy years ago. A worthy repre- sentative of this sturdy old pioneering family is found in Charles Pear- son, one of the substantial and prominent citizens of Ironton Township, who has been an extensive breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses for some years.
Charles Pearson was born on his father's farm in Ironton Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin, May 2, 1867. His parents were Charles and Martha (Harrison) Pearson, natives of England and born in 1834 and 1832, respectively. The father came to Sauk County, Wisconsin, in 1848, with his parents, Manlius and Amy (Rowe) Pearson. They located in what is now La Valle Township, and their farm of 160 acres is still in the family. Their youngest child, Mary Ann, was the first white child born in the township. Their other children were: Charles; Isaac, who died in 1894; Thomas; Christopher Columbus, who lives at Whittier, California; and Martha.
Charles Pearson, the elder, was fourteen years of age when his parents settled in Sauk County and here he spent his after life. He was a general farmer and raised stock for his own use, carrying on his agri- cultural industries on 160 acres that he purchased in Ironton Township. When he took possession of this land it was wild and uncleared and he, like other pioneers had to go through the laborious task of clearing it, a work of magnitude when it is remembered the lack of tools and machin- ery that at the present day are put to use in like circumstances. It speaks well for the courage and perseverance of our ancestors that they were not disheartened in those early days. Mr. Pearson not only cleared his land but improved it and gained a competency through his industry, making it possible to retire when age came upon him and his death occurred after he had removed to Ironton. His widow survives and makes her home with her children. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was Mr. Pearson. They had a family of eight children, namely : Eleaser; Azilla, who is the wife of William Rabuck, of Reedsburg; Jacob, who lives in Ironton Township; Sarah, who is the wife of Harry Thornton, of La Valle; Salina, who is the wife of George Stowe, of Reedsburg; Charles; Ida, who is the wife of Daniel Williams, of Glasgow, Montana; and Mina, who is the wife of Doctor Booher, of Richland Center, Wisconsin.
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Charles Pearson was reared on the home farm and obtained his edu- cation in the public schools of Ironton. Afterward he worked for five years in a gristmill at La Valle and thoroughly learned the business under Harry Thornton, but for some time has devoted all his attention. to farm pursuits. He owns the old homestead in Ironton Township to which he has added forty acres, and in 1915 he bought a farm of eighty acres in La Valle Township, on which he resides, and additionally he owns 150 acres in Ironton Township that he secured from Frank Byrne. For some years past Mr. Pearson has given close attention to raising fine horses and cattle and has been very successful.
Mr. Pearson was married September 23, 1891, to Miss Emeline L. Tordoff, who was born November 8, 1864, at La Valle, Wisconsin, and is a daughter of Edmund and Harriet (Pickles) Tordoff. The father was born in England in 1827 and the mother in 1828 and they were married in England. They came to Sauk County, Wisconsin, in 1858, and bought 160 acres in La Valle Township and lived on that farm. The mother of Mrs. Pearson died in 1889 and the father died at La Valle in March, 1911. By trade he was a carpenter and put his knowledge to good account in erecting his own buildings. In politics he was a repub- lican and stood well with his party and fellow citizens, as was evidenced by his being elected to the responsible office of township treasurer. Both he and wife belonged to the Unitarian Church. They had the following children: Jane Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Emeline Ledger, Hattie Olive, and Charles Colfax, Jane and Hattie being deceased. When the parents of Mrs. Pearson came to Sauk County, the grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Tordoff, accompanied them and she died here in 1865.
Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have four children : Harriet Ruby, Louie Tor- doff, Cecil Lee and Charles Edmund, all of whom reside at home. Louie Tordoff, the eldest son, married Miss Marie Thomas, who is a daughter of Charles Thomas of Ironton Township.
In politics Mr. Pearson is a republican, as was his father, and he is quite active in township affairs, for some years being chairman of the township board and at present is treasurer of Ironton Township and a member of the township school board. In many ways he has been one of the useful and most enterprising citizens, always being ready to encourage movements that, in his judgment, will be of general benefit. He was one of the promoters of the Little Baraboo Valley Agricultural Society that existed for eighteen years and was very helpful to this whole section during that time, and served as secretary of the association. For many years he has been an Odd Fellow and belongs to the lodge at Ironton.
THOMAS J. HOLTON, a retired farmer of Dellona Township, has lived in several of the great states of the Union and throughout the greater part of his career, covering three-quarters of a century, has been a prac- tical and progressive farmer.
Mr. Holton was born in Ohio in February, 1842, son of William H. and Mandy (Combs) Holton. His father died in 1875 and his mother in 1902. Their children were: Simon S., who married Electa Hall ; Thomas J .; William Wallace, who married Cordelia Gardner; Heil M.,
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who married Helen Cracker; Dexter B .; and Hattie, who married John Rabuck.
Thomas J. Holton married, January 1, 1866, Susan Luce, daughter of L. Luce, of Minnesota. To their marriage were born two children : William, born in January, 1868; and Clarence, born October 27, 1872.
Mr. Holton was formerly a successful farmer in Minnesota and owned considerable land there, but has disposed of that and is now retired. Politically he is a republican.
WILLIAM LUCHT. Among the names that have been longest identi- fied with the clearing of the wilderness and the successful cultivation of the soil and the management of its resources that of Lucht is promi- nent. Mr. William Lucht is a native son of Sauk County, grew up here, and for years has maintained an enviable position as a successful farmer and citizen in La Valle Township.
His birth occurred in Reedsburg Township in 1868. His parents John and Minnie (Stelter) Lucht came to this county from Germany and were pioneers. The Lucht family has lived in La Valle Township since 1872. William was the younger of two sons, his older brother being Herman.
William Lucht grew up in La Valle Township, had the advantages of the local schools and since attaining manhood has applied himself steadily and progressively to the business of farming. On September 28, 1888, he married Augusta Radtke, daughter of William and Hannah Radtke of Sauk County. Four children were born to their marriage: John, now deceased; Hannah; Mary; and August. The daughter Han- nah married August Sefkar, who died quite recently. Mary is the wife of Albert Roloff. The son August married Elsie Pfaff September 14, 1917, and is numbered among the progressive young farmers of the county and is now serving as school clerk for the district.
Many years ago Mr. William Lucht acquired the 102 acres constitut- ing his present farm, and much of the clearing was done by his strong right arm. He has placed many good improvements on the farm and it is now well adapted to the business of general farming and stock raising. He breeds some Holstein cattle and his place shows the fruit of good management. Mr. Lucht and family are active Lutherans and for years he has held some church office. In matters of politics he is independent.
CARL RADTKE has been numbered among the progressive farmers of La Valle Township for the past thirty years, and the fruits of his in- dustry are represented in a well cultivated farm and those influences that emanate from a family of public spirit and of kindly neighbor- liness.
Mr. Radtke is a native of Germany, born November 7, 1869, a son of William and Hannah Radtke. When he was twelve years of age in 1881 his parents came to America and settled in La Valle Township of Sauk County. They brought little capital with them from Germany, and for several years rented a farm. In 1885 the father located on land that is now owned by his son Carl, and cleared up much of it and Vol. II-34
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put it in cultivation for the first time. The father lived an industrious and honorable career until his death June 2, 1910, at the age of seventy- three. His wife passed away on November 1st of the same year at the age of sixty-eight. They had the following children: Augusta, wife of William Lucht, of a well known La Valle Township family; Carl; Bertha, wife of William Krueger; William, deceased; and Albert, a resident of La Valle Township.
The education of Carl Radtke was begun in Germany but from the age of twelve he attended the public schools of Sauk County. He learned farming by practical experience when a youth and a number of years ago he bought seventy acres adjoining the old homestead. His pros- perity finally enabled him to acquire the fifty acres of the home farm, and on that place he still resides and has 120 acres devoted to general farming and stock raising. He has done much to improve the value of his land. Politically Mr. Radtke is a democrat but independent in local affairs.
In 1898 he married Miss Maria Ripke, who was born in Woodland Township in 1878, a daughter of Judson and Dora (Bearman) Ripke. Her parents lived for a number of years in Woodland Township but are now residents of Wonewoc, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Radtke have six children, all living, and constituting a lively household. Their names are Paul, Herman, Elma, Walter, Carl and Regina.
GEORGE BORCHERS. For thirty-three years the name of Borchers has been held in esteem in Sauk County because of the dependable men who have honorably borne it. It was in 1884 that Herman Borchers, one of La Valle's most respected retired citizens, came to this section of Wisconsin, married here and reared a family and long since gained financial independence.
George Borchers, the youngest son of Herman and Marie (Bearman) Borchers, is one of the enterprising and successful farmers and stock- raisers of La Valle Township. He was born in the City of Chicago, Illinois, October 25, 1891. Both parents were born in Germany, the father on July 11, 1859, and the mother on February 21, 1863. They came as young people to Sauk County and were married here and had the following children, namely : Hedwig, who was born March 17, 1885, was educated in Chicago for the profession of trained nursing; Hugo, who was born October 6, 1886, attended the public schools of La Valle Township and also of Chicago, and is now an employe of the Foley Nursery Company of Baraboo, Wisconsin, and married Edna Jacobansen.
Herman Borchers was twenty-five years old when he came to Sauk County. He had little capital at that time except health and the deter- mination to get on in life that so often is the great factor in making progress. He was married soon after coming here and for five years worked in different kinds of business, both in Sauk County and in Chicago, Illinois. In 1900 he purchased a farm of eighty acres, the one on which he yet lives, situated in La Valle Township. The buildings on the place were in poor condition but this he soon remedied by remodeling and later erecting a fine new barn. Sheds and a garage have since been built. He has been a general farmer, has engaged to some extent in
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dairying and has raised a good grade of stock. Mr. Borchers and his family are members of the Lutheran Church. He has never taken any very active part in politics but in local matters his neighbors have al- ways been sure of his co-operating in affairs of general importance.
George Borchers obtained his education in the township schools and the La Valle High School. He has always lived at home and from the age of fourteen years has given his father's agricultural industries close attention and since taking entire charge has displayed excellent judg- ment and proved one of the best farmers in this section. He owns a fine Buick automobile, which may be taken as satisfactory evidence that Mr. Borchers belongs to the modern type of farmer. He is well known both in business and social life in this section and is considered an honor- able, upright and intelligent citizen.
JULIUS PROCHNOW is the example of a man who came to Sauk County twenty years or so ago with an exceedingly modest amount of capital, and out of his own efforts and enterprise has builded well for himself and the community not only from the standpoint of material prosperity but in the degree of community esteem paid him.
Mr. Prochnow was born in Germany in 1867, a son of Herman and Henrietta Prochnow. His father died in the old country in 1881. Julius Prochnow grew up in his native land, and in 1893 he and his widowed mother came to Sauk County and settled on the farm in La Valle Town- ship. His mother is still living.
Julius Prochnow has applied himself to farming as a practical busi- ness with the judgment acquired by long experience and is now the proprietor of eighty-six acres of land devoted to general farming and stock raising.
In 1892 he married Miss Amelia Reinholtz, daughter of H. Reinholtz. They have five children, Anna, Herman, Marie, Alwine and Martha. These children were given the advantages of the La Valle Lutheran School and two of the daughters are now married. Anna married H. Lucht of La Valle Township, while Marie was married January 15, 1917, to Henry Daugs.
The family take a very active part in the La Valle Lutheran Church, Mr. Prochnow being church president. In politics he is a democrat. Besides his general farming interests he runs a dairy and keeps about twelve high grade cows.
WILLIAM SOSINSKY. One of the hard-working farmers and respected citizens of Sauk County, is William Sosinsky, who owns valuable land in La Valle Township and is a producer of grain and raises high grade Jersey cattle. He has been a resident of Sauk County since he was fifteen years of age and during a large part of this time has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits.
William Sosinsky was born in Germany, December 25, 1853. His parents were Andrus and Julia Sosinsky. They were natives of Germany and came to Sauk County in 1870. At first they lived on rented land in La Valle Township, near the village of that name, but the father was a good business man and later moved to Ironton and bought town
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lots there which later increased in value. He died there in 1889, when aged seventy-five years, the mother living until 1898. She was then eighty-two years old. They had five children, namely : Thomas, Martin, Jacob, William and Julia, Martin and Julia being deceased.
After William Sosinsky reached Sauk County, he went to work for an iron company at Ironton and as his wages were paid him a part was always saved for the buying of the farm on which.he had determined. Finally it came to pass and he was the owner of sixty-nine acres of land situated in La Valle Township. He cleared his land and improved it and lived on it for five years. In 1901 he sold that property and bought another farm in the same township, this being his present homestead. It contains seventy-four acres of valuable land which each year, through Mr. Sosinsky's good farming and practical improving is becoming still more valuable. He has suitable farm buildings and has his property all enclosed with wire fencing.
Mr. Sosinsky was married October 12, 1886, to Miss Mary Laufen- berg, who was born in Monroe County, Wisconsin, February 22, 1864, and is a daughter of Henry and Katherine Laufenberg. . When Mrs. Sosinsky's parents came first to the United States they stopped in Chi- cago, Illinois, and from there went to Sterling in the same state and then to Monroe County, Wisconsin. There the mother died in 1903, when aged eighty-two years. The father fell ill and was taken to Chicago and died in a hospital in that city in 1906, being then aged eighty years. They had the following children: Matthew, Catherine and Cecelia, all of whom are deceased; Anthony, Matilda, Henry, Mary and Peter, the last named being deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Sosinsky have had the following children : Katherine; an infant son who died; Mary Theresa, who is deceased; Frances; Mary Caroline; and Methilda and Fidelia, twins. Mr. Sosinsky and family are members of the Roman Catholic Church and stand well in the parish as they do in the entire neighborhood. Mr. Sosinsky takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs and casts his vote with the democratic party.
C. D. JOHNSON is one of the men who have contributed to the im- provement and development of Bear Creek Township. He has lived here for about a quarter of a century and his work is now manifest in the splendid farm of which he is proprietor. This farm is located in the Lone Rock community.
Mr. Johnson was born in Denmark October 29, 1872, a son of Martin and Caroline Johnson: His father died in Denmark while his mother is still living there. Their children were Peter, Jennie, Carl, Helen and John M.
C. D. Johnson secured his education in the schools of Denmark and was nineteen years of age when he came alone to America and sought his fortune in this world of opportunity. While he had no capital, he possessed a pair of willing hands, and working steadily the good things of life have come to him one by one until he is now one of the substantial citizens of his home county. In March, 1902 he located on his present farm, and owns now 200 acres. Some of this land was cleared by his own labors, and the splendid buildings represent a large investment of
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his personal means and labors. He is doing general farming and stock raising, and one of the features of the farm that indicates his progres- siveness is a large silo near the barn. He keeps forty head of livestock and has a dairy of seventeen cows. Mr. Johnson is a republican in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church.
He married Miss Mary Sophia Nelson, daughter of N. J. Nelson of Bear Creek. Mrs. Johnson has a brother Fred and two sisters, Amelia and Erlrena.
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