USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 69
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
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are named, Helen, Ernest, John, Marcella and Myrtle, twins. These children have received the advantages of the schools of their locality and all of them are still at home, except Helen, the wife of Frank Luce.
THOMAS PEARSON. For almost seventy years the name of Pearson has been known in Sauk County, where it yet is held in great esteem representing as it does, some of the most dependable and substantial people in this section of Wisconsin. The pioneer of the family was Manlius Pearson, who was the father of Thomas Pearson, one of the leading citizens of La Valle Township, who owns the old Pearson home- stead.
Thomas Pearson was born on the farm on which he lives, February 24, 1853. His parents were Manlius and Sarah Ann (Rowe) Pearson, both of whom were born in England. The father came to Wisconsin in 1846, two years before this state was admitted into the union of states, and before he returned to England he bought a tract of eighty acres but never settled on that land. He was well pleased with the country and climate and as a man of good judgment, foresaw the opportunities awaiting men of enterprise and energy. Within two years, in 1848, Manlius Pearson and his wife and family came to Sauk County. His first purchase of land had been near Lime Ridge but after coming here the second time, he took up a government claim of 160 acres in La Valle Township and eighty acres of this pioneer farm now belongs to his son, Thomas Pearson. Manlius Pearson and family encountered many hardships for some years and at first lived in an Indian wigwam while their log cabin was being constructed. The father died on this farm, a man respected by all his neighbors, and the mother passed away on one near by. They had the following children: Charles, who is de- ceased; Isaac, who died in 1894; Thomas; Christopher Columbus, who is a resident of Whittier, California; Martha; and Mary Ann, who was the first white child born in La Valle Township, Sauk County. During all these intervening years since their first settlement, the Pearsons have been people of substantial character and today are among the most pro- gressive and successful agriculturists in Sauk County, and have been identified with progress along other lines.
Thomas Pearson was reared on the home farm and has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. In his boyhood the schools did not offer the advantages that they now do and he had far less opportunity to take what they offered, but he attended when he could be spared from the farm and thereby laid a sound foundation. He remembers the time when oxen were used , to do the heavy farm work and when a cradle
1100
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
scythe was used to cut the grain. The wonder working machinery that he now uses was not then on the market and much of it had not yet been invented. He is a modern farmer in the full sense of the term. He has 235 acres, all in one tract and raises grain and high grade live stock making a specialty of Holstein cattle and operates his dairying industry with thirty head of the same.
Mr. Pearson was married in 1874 to Miss Martha Greenhalgeth, who was born in Ironton Township, a daughter of Peter Greenhalgeth, who. is one of the oldest surviving pioneers of Sauk County, being now in his ninety-fourth year. With his wife he now lives in California but for- merly owned a farm in La Valle Township. Two children were born to Mr. Pearson's first marriage: Robert, who died in infancy; and Carrie, who resides in California. The mother of these children died in 1889. Mr. Pearson's second marriage was to Miss Julia Tavor, who was born in Ironton Township, Sauk County, a daughter of Eugene and Agnes Tavor, early settlers, Mrs. Tavor still living on the old home place in Ironton Township. Mrs. Pearson died in 1903, leaving four children, namely: Eva, who resides at home; Thomas Arvin, who as- sists his father; Susan, who is a school teacher; and Robert, who is at home.
In 1904 Mr. Pearson was married to Mrs. Anna (Stott) Tomlinson. She was born in Ironton Township, Sauk County, and was then a widow with two sons, William Tomlinson and George, and one daughter, Eliza- beth, who is the wife of Byron Barnette, of La Valle, Wisconsin. The elder son is an employe of the Ford Manufacturing Company at Detroit, Michigan, and the younger is at home.
In politics Mr. Pearson has always been a democrat. On numerous occasions he has been elected to important township offices and has served for years as supervisor and for five years has been chairman of the board. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Some years ago Mr. Pearson made a trip to England and had the satisfaction of visiting the old home of the Pearsons that has been owned by the family for 125 years.
MICHAEL E. CROAL. The Croal family belongs among the old timers of Washington Township, where they established their home in pioneer times and where a large amount of land was cleared and made pro- ductive through their efforts.
The founders of the family here were John and Catherine (Daily) Croal, the former a native of County Leitrim and the latter of County Roscommon, Ireland. They came to Sauk County in 1856 and located on forty acres of raw land in Bear Creek Township. Later the father acquired another forty acres in Washington Township, partly cleared and improved, and though a blacksmith by trade and conducting a shop for a number of years, he managed to get his land under cultivation and was one of the well known citizens of that community. John Croal died in 1874, his widow surviving him until May 27, 1911. They were the parents of eight children: John; Andrew, now deceased; Thomas; Joseph ; Mary ; Katherine; Jennie, now deceased ; and Michael E.
Michael E. Croal was born on his father's farm in Washington
1101
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
Township August 23, 1871. He has never married and his sisters Kath- erine and Mary keep house for him, while he gives his attention to a large and well managed farm and also to numerous public duties.
The Croal farm consists of 200 acres, and Mr. Croal for a number of years has specialized in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle. He has served as town clerk for three years and is an active democrat. He is a trustee of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Columbus.
HENRY KRUSE represents the second generation of sturdy and thrifty farmers in Sauk County, where his father was a pioneer, and where some of his sons now bear a notable part in agricultural and business affairs.
Henry Kruse was born in Westfield Township of this county October 21, 1863, a son of George and Dorothy (Ratzman) Kruse. His parents both came from Germany in 1861 and were married in Wisconsin in the same year. Their children were: Anna, deceased; Henry; Doris and Herman, both deceased in early life; William, Amelia; Bertha, deceased; Herman, deceased; and Bertha. The son William married Annie Licht, daughter of Fred Licht. Amelia is the wife of John Heistend. Bertha married Albert Neistedt.
Henry Kruse grew up in Sauk County, was educated in the local schools, took up farming as a vocation, and on November 16, 1888, at the age of twenty-five married Dorothy Hahn, daughter of Henry and Dorothy Hahn of Westfield Township. Mr. and Mrs. Kruse have a large family of children named Henry, Albert, William, Hilda, Dora, Edward, Meta, Emma, Arthur, Marie and Clara. Of these the son Albert married Josie Hanko and has one son. Hilda is the wife of Wil- liam Hammermester and is the mother of two boys. The son William married Meta Struck.
Henry Kruse is now substantially fixed and located as a practical farmer of Washington Township, and owns a well developed estate of eighty acres. He conducts it largely as a dairy farm, keeping about fifteen head of cattle, and his dairy herd comprises nine cows. Mr. Kruse is a republican in politics and he and his family are all Lutherans.
ERNEST SCHUETTE. A progressive farmer and representative citizen, whose civic attitude has ever been of the most public-spirited order, Ernest Schuette is the owner of a well improved farm of 160 acres in Ironton Township, near Reedsburg. A native of Germany, he was born February 4, 1865, and he is a son of John and Elizabeth Schuette, who immigrated to America in 1889 and located in Sauk County, where the former died, in 1908, aged eighty years, and the latter in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Schuette had three children: Ernest, Dora and August, and by a former marriage Mr. Schuette had four sons: Henry, John, Frederick and William, all living.
Ernest Schuette received a good common school education in Ger- many and in 1881, when sixteen years, he came to America and began to work on a farm in Sauk County by the month. Subsequently he pur- chased a farm of cighty acres east of Reedsburg and after having the place for two years sold it and located in the city of Madison where he
1102
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
worked in the iron foundry of Fuller & Johnson for a period of eighteen years. In 1902 he returned to this section and bought a farm of 160 acres, which he has cleared and improved with good, modern buildings and on which he is most successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising.
On November 24, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Schuette to Miss Bertha Gade, a native of Reedsburg Township, this county, where her birth occurred October 14, 1871, and who is a daughter of Frederick and Louisa (Winkleman) Gade, early settlers in Reedsburg Township. Mr. Gade died at Reedsburg in 1909 and his widow, who is sixty-seven years of age, is now living in that town. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schuette: Laura, John, Raymond, Reinhard, Edna and Arnold, all of whom are at the parental home ex- cept Arnold who is deceased.
In his political proclivities Mr. Schuette is an independent democrat and while he has always manifested a deep interest in civic matters his public service has been confined to membership on the school board. He is a member of the Lutheran Church of Reedsburg and he and his wife are popular in the social affairs of their home community.
FREDERICK W. KOHLMEYER has been a resident of Sauk County forty-four years and has had a very successful career, being now in the machinery and automobile business at Loganville.
Mr. Kohlmeyer was born in Germany April 11, 1869, son of Henry and Margaret (Hagelberg) Kohlmeyer. When he was four years of age his parents came to the United States and located in Sauk County. His father died here November 2, 1894, and the mother on August 5, 1908. Their children were: Henry, Dora, William, August, Kate and Frederick W. Henry married Dora Harms. Dora is the wife of Henry Feltman. William married Dora Burmeister. August is married, and Kate is the wife of George Nickols.
Frederick W. Kohlmeyer grew up in Sauk County, attended the public schools, and in early life was associated in the threshing business. He is of a decided mechanical turn of mind, and has found in mechanical lines the best avenue of his business career. He owns a beautiful home in the. Village of Loganville, and is rated as one of its most prosperous citizens.
On April 13, 1891, Mr. Kohlmeyer married Mary. Hase, daughter of Fred and Caroline Hase of Loganville. They had two children, Ed- ward, and Frederick, now deceased. The son Edward married April 8, 1917, Lena Westedt, daughter of Henry Westedt of Loganville.
AUGUST KRUEGER. One of the richest and best improved farming districts of Sauk County is in Washington Township. Many good farms may be found there and improvements are generally of a high class. One of the best of them is owned by August Krueger, located in the vicinity known as Lime Ridge. Mr. Krueger is an old timer of Sauk County and has been a resident of Wisconsin more than half a century.
He was born in Germany May 23, 1847, a son of Carl and Dora Krueger. August Krueger was reared and educated in Germany and
1103
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
in the spring of 1863 came to Wisconsin with his parents and settled in Herman Township of Dodge County. Ten years later in 1873 he removed to Washington Township of Sauk County and since that time has been identified with the business of farming.
On April 22, 1873, the same year he came to Sauk County, Mr. Krueger married Anna Goetsch. Her parents, Carl and Fredericka Goetsch, are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Krueger have eight children named William A., Frank O., Albert F., Ernest F., Lydia M., Helena T., Emma D. and Herbert. Three of them are already married and established in homes of their own. Frank O. married Anna Hahn; Albert F. married Bernice Prouty ; and Ernest F. married Emma Wer- thien.
Mr. August Krueger has again and again been honored with posi- tions of trust and responsibility in his home township. He was town treasurer eleven years, chairman of the town board three years, and supervisor ten years. His oldest son William has been town clerk for the past four years and for seven years has been treasurer of the school board in District No. 1.
Mr. Krueger owns a farm of ninety acres, and most of the land was cleared by the work of his own hands and under his supervision. He conducts a model dairy of fourteen cows, and keeps about twenty head of good livestock. Mr. Krueger is a republican in politics and he and all his family worship in the Lutheran Church.
WILLIAM C. SCHLUTER is a citizen of Washington Township whose education as a farmer began with the fundamentals while he was a boy on his father's place and who with increasing experience has made him- self master of the business and enjoys the possession of one of the best farms in his section of the county.
Mr. Schluter was born in Washington Township May 15, 1881, a son of Charles and Catherine (Schurman) Schluter. His father was born February 2, 1844, and his mother, a native of Richland County, Wisconsin, was born March 5, 1850. They were married in October, 1868, at that time located in Washington Township, where the father owned 200 acres of land and from it acquired the prosperity which en- abled him to rear and educate a capable family of children and also the competence which he and his wife now enjoy in their good home at Reeds- burg. Their children are Annie, wife of Herman Felske; Lydia, wife of John Alexander; Henry, who married Lizzie Reuter; Clara and Martha, still unmarried; William C .; Orra, who married Maud Pearson ; and George, who is serving in the Field Artillery, U. S. Army.
William C. Schluter was educated in the public schools of Washington Township, and in March, 1906, at the age of twenty-five located on his present place. He is the owner of 240 acres, and is both a crop raiser and a stockman. He is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and is working rapidly towards a competence. At the same time he has given liberally to every movement intended for the advancement of community welfare, and for two years has been treasurer of his home township. He is a republican and an active supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Schluter married August 30, 1911, Minnie Stoll, daughter of Henry
1104
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
and Mary Stoll of Lime Ridge, Sauk County. Three children have been born to their marriage named Carroll, Robert and Marie, the oldest four .years old and the youngest about twelve months. Mrs. Schluter has two sisters, Ida and Edna, the latter the wife of Bradford Hineman.
JOHN RICHARTZ. The business of farming has been the occupation by which John Richartz has accomplished a substantial success. He is an old resident of Sauk County and many years ago he went on to a farm in Bear Creek Township which with its improvements now stands a monument to his industry and intelligent husbandry.
Mr. Richartz was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, September 16, 1860, a son of Martin and Mary (Weber) Richartz. His parents were both born in Germany and came to Wisconsin in 1851, locating at Fond du Lac. Later they entered a homestead of forty acres in Fond du Lac County, and while the industrious wife remained at home looking after the interests both in and outside the house, including the management . of the farm, the husband worked several years in the copper mines around Lake Superior. In the course of time they had their land cleared and improved, then bought another forty acres which was also developed by them, in 1867 they sold out at Fond du Lac County and then located in Sauk County. These good people lived worthy and useful lives, and in death they were not long separated, since the father passed away March 31, and the mother on May 9 of the year 1897. Their children were: Joseph J., Celia, Peter, Mary and John, all living except Mary.
John Richartz grew up and received his education largely in Sauk County and though he started out with limited capital he has made more than an ordinary success. In 1890, the same year that he married, he located on his present farm, where he now has 390 acres. Most of this land was cleared by his own efforts, and he has invested much of the surplus profits in new improvements. He is one of the largest stock farmers of Bear Creek Township, keeping about ninety head of livestock and has a dairy of twenty-three cows. Mr. Richartz is a democrat and a member of the Catholic Church, has filled church offices and for many years has been clerk of the school board.
His home school is District No. 3 and he himself attended that school when he was a boy and his own children derived their early advantages from the same place. On September 23, 1890, Mr. Richartz married Kate Brucker, daughter of Peter and Clara Brucker of Richland County, Wisconsin. Their children are Martin, Mary, Cornelius, Gertrude and Clara. Clara attended high school at Richland Center, Richland County.
WILLIAM HASSE'S enterprise since he reached manhood has been directed to the management and cultivation of the thrifty farm in Wash- ington Township which was also the scene of his birth and early child- hood days.
Mr. Hasse was born on that farm May 22, 1870, son of William and Wilhelmina (Schultz) Hasse. His parents were both natives of Ger- many, and in 1867, seeking the advantages of an American home and `opportunity they crossed the ocean and settled in Dodge County, Wis- consin, but three years later removed to Washington Township. With
1105
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
them on their trip from Germany came George Schultz, father of Mrs. Wilhelmina Hasse. He was born about 1816 and he lived as a member of his daughter's household till his death in February, 1904. The land in the fields now cultivated by William Hasse was largely cleared of its wilderness growth by his father. William Hasse, Sr., was the father of three children, Ferdinand, William and August. Ferdinand married Mary Brandt, daughter of Fred Brandt, while August married Lena Lophan.
William Hasse grew up and received his education in Sauk County and has always lived on the old home place. He owns 120 acres of land, and besides raising the standard crops of Sauk County he keeps about thirty head of cattle and has a first class dairy of twenty cows. In politics he is a republican and a member of the Lutheran Church.
On March 17, 1899, he married Miss Bertha Ruehlow, daughter of William and Wilhelmina Ruehlow. To their marriage have been born eight children, all still living except one. These children in order of age are named Walter, born December 10, 1899; Emma, July 18, 1901; Emilie, August 28, 1903; Lorinda, February 20, 1906, died December 9, 1906; Adela, born October 8, 1907; Lydia, November 16, 1910; Rosina, April 22, 1913; and Alvina, October 13, 1915.
PETER J. HORKAN has long been identified with the agricultural and civic prosperity of Winfield Township, and is one of the leading farmers and stock raisers there.
He was born in that township in 1875, a son of James and Mary (Gallagher) Horkan. His father was born in Toronto, Canada, and his mother in Ireland. The mother is still living. Peter was one of a family of children named John, James, Peter, Patrick, William and Mina. Of these William and Mina are now deceased.
Peter J. Horkan is a very busy man, owner of 140 acres, devoted to general farming and stock raising. He has also been called upon to serve the public as a member of the town board, and has filled that posi- tion for about ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Horkan have the following chil- dren : Francis, Leo, Mary, Patrick, Henry, James and Bernard.
AMOS ALONZO CARR. At this point it is proper to pay tribute to the memory and works and family of the late Amos Alonzo Carr, long a prominent resident of Ironton Township, where the best work of his life was accomplished. Mr. Carr died at the old homestead where Mrs. Carr now resides on June 12, 1909, in his sixty-fourth year.
He was born at Niles, Michigan, July 29, 1845, a son of Melancthon and Rebecca (King) Carr. When he was a small child his parents re- moved to Dane County, Wisconsin, and about 1863 located in the Town- ship of Ironton in Sauk County. On coming to Sauk County they first rented a farm and later bought school lands. The father was a Union soldier and died in September, 1865. His widow survived him many years and passed away at Independence, Iowa, in 1910.
Amos A. Carr was about eighteen years of age when he came to Sauk County. He married for his first wife Hattie Dearholt. There were six
1106
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
children of that marriage: Henry, Addie, Bertha, Edith, Alice and Myrtle, all living except Alice. Their mother died in 1882.
In 1883 Mr. Carr married. Libbie Selden. She was born in Madison County, New York, December 19, 1852, a daughter of George and Hannah (Petley) Selden. Her parents were both natives of England, her father born in 1827 and her mother in 1832. George Selden came to New York when seventeen years of age, locating in Madison County, and his wife was four years of age when her parents John and Hannah Petley arrived in this country. Her parents died in Madison County, New York. George and Hannah Selden were married in Madison County, New York, and from there he enlisted early in the Civil war in the One Hundred Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers. He served a period of three years and fought in many of the engagements of his regiment including Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg, where he was taken prisoner. He spent a number of months in Libby prison and Belle Isle. After the war he returned to New York and in September, 1865, turned his face westward and came to Sauk County. He established his home on a farm in Iron- ton Township adjoining the place where his daughter Mrs. Carr now resides. George Selden had a farm of eighty acres. His wife died in April, 1887, and he passed away at Superior, Wisconsin, in July, 1916, his remains being now at rest in the cemetery at Reedsburg.
The late Mr. Carr after his first marriage located on a farm in Iron- ton Township and that farm is now occupied by the present Mrs. Carr. He began with eighty acres and subsequently added another twenty acres and left the place splendidly improved before his death. Mr. Carr was a man of public spirit, served as clerk of the school district for thirty years, and was always willing to sacrifice his own time and interests to serve the public. Mrs. Carr is an active member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Before her marriage Mrs. Carr taught school in Sauk County. She is the mother of five children. Vern, born December 27, 1884, is unmarried and lives at home and has a farm in Ironton Town- ship. Ethel Hannah, born November 8, 1886, is the wife of Benjamin Templin of Washington Township. Walter Amos, born January 7, 1889, with his brother Floyd and their mother own and operate the homestead farm. Marian Ruth, born May 26, 1891, is the wife of Cloyd Porter of St. Lawrence, South Dakota. The youngest child Floyd Selden was born November 4, 1893.
HENRY W. KRUSE is one of the active members of that live and enter- prising corporation known as the Hill Point Auto and Milling Company at Hill Point in Washington Township. This firm has a large and well equipped garage, handles automobiles and also does an extensive milling business. The firm was incorporated under the state laws of Wisconsin on June 20, 1916. The building is a fireproof structure, completed in September, 1916, and has a very desirable location. The firm enjoy a large patronage and have the complete confidence of all who are fortunate enough to have dealings with them.
Mr. Kruse was born in Westfield Township of Sauk County Sep- tember 30, 1889, a son of Henry and Dorothy Kruse. He belongs to an old and well known family of the county elsewhere mentioned in
:
1107
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY
these pages. Mr. Henry W. Kruse is still unmarried, and in his business is associated with his brother Albert and his brother-in-law Anthony Hanko.
BENJAMIN S. BRANDT. In Washington Township the name Brandt has long been associated with the most capable efforts of farm husbandry and management, and in this connection it should be here noted that Benjamin S. Brandt, of this family, has one of the carefully cultivated homes and farms of the Lime Ridge community.
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.