USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 70
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Mr. Brandt was born in Washington Township October 28, 1881, a son of Fred and Dora (Wiese) Brandt and grew up in his home locality. He acquired and wisely made use of the advantages afforded by the common schools, and is now proprietor of the home farm of 120 acres. Everything about this farm indicates his intelligent and careful manage- ment, and one feature alone that indicates his progressiveness is two silos. He runs his farm as a general stock and dairy proposition, keep- ing about twenty-five head of cattle and milking about twenty cows. Mr. Brandt is a republican in politics.
February 5, 1907, he married Miss Anna Hanko, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Fassel) Hanko of Westford, Richland County, Wiscon- sin. Mr. and Mrs. Brandt have four bright young children, the older ones already learning their lessons in the common schools. Their names in order of birth are Donald, Maynard, Willard and John. Mrs. Brandt's brothers and sisters are named Edward, Anthony, Francis, Clara and Josephine. Anthony and Francis are still single. Her brother Edward married Florence Sweeney. Clara is the wife of Ferdinand Wilman. Josephine married Albert Kruse.
PATRICK DALY. The best and greatest wealth of Sauk County has always consisted in its men and women and especially those whose char- acter has been exalted above the ordinary levels of existence and whose lives have made better and purer the community around about them.
There was no finer example of lofty public character than that af- forded by the late Patrick Daly, who when in the prime of his years but after much suffering from persistent disease died at the home of his brother, Dr. Frank P. Daly, on April 19, 1911. He was a son of Patrick and Jane (Moran) Daly, and was born in County Mayo, Ireland, January 10, 1860, being brought to Sauk County when not quite two years of age.
The early life of Patrick Daly was the usual routine of a child grow- ing up in a pioneer home. His parents had come to this country to enjoy its freedom and secure advantages they had not before enjoyed and they strove to give their children the best educational opportunities afforded. Accordingly the boy attended the district school during the winter months when school was in session, and later attended the high school at Reedsburg. But it was not destined that his early life should be free from struggle and unusual responsibility. In the spring of 1879 both parents died within a few months of each other, leaving him the oldest son at the age of nineteen the head of a family of five children, face to face with the struggle of securing a livelihood for himself and them, a task which in those days was indeed hard. Perhaps it was those early
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responsibilities, coupled with the strength he inherited from his sturdy ancestry, that gave him the remarkable degree of endurance and self sacrifice which showed in his character in later years. For a time he worked at the carpenter trade and became a skillful mechanic. There was no such thing as compromise with duty in the life of Patrick Daly. To whatever he attempted he gave his whole energy and aspired to a high standard of success.
After he felt that he could be spared at the old homestead and do more for those near him in another vocation he entered the Whitewater Normal, finishing the course in 1887. For several years he was a teacher in the country schools of Sauk County. Possessing a fine intellect and a great love for knowledge, he was perhaps naturally led to take up the study of law. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with the law class of 1896 and at once opened practice in his home city of Reeds- burg, where from that time until his death nearly fifteen years later he was known as an able lawyer and as a citizen took a part in the every- day life of the community and was a strong moral influence and a foe to every form of social and civic corruption ..
One who had long known him and appreciated the elements of his character wrote the following tribute :
"He was a man whose life was never touched by the desire for fame or honor, who hated sham and deception and whose personal wishes were completely submerged in his devotion to principle. He lived up to ideals in his profession which, if followed by every lawyer, would im- measurably elevate the standard of the bar. He gave every power of his intellect to see the right and to find a way to remedy the evils on every hand and then uncompromisingly lived up to his belief.
"He had a keen appreciation and a great love for the beautiful in nature and was a deep student of history and literature. He took a great interest in the schools and in young people entering on life's career and no doubt his influence helped to guide many young people in choos- ing their life work.
"When death sets the seal of insignificance on worldly fame and honor and the petty schemes of men, it is a glorious thing to leave a record of a life unsullied by any form of vice, a life of unselfish devotion to principle and to every cause that is righteous. Such is the unstained record left by Patrick Daly, an example that may well be emulated in its integrity and purity by every young man and which, if followed, will help to right the social and political wrongs that he so much deplored and to remedy which he gave the best years of his life."
FRANK P. DALY, M. D. Holding prestige in the ranks of his profes- sion by reason of superior natural ability, combined with a thorough training, wide experience, an acute comprehension of human nature and a broad sympathy, Dr. Frank P. Daly is firmly established in the confi- dence of the people of Reedsburg. A practitioner of this city for more than twenty years, this thorough master of his calling has built up an excellent professional business and standing, while as a citizen he has always shown himself ready to do at all times at least his full share in behalf of the public weal.
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Frank P. Daly belongs to the class of men who have distinguished themselves in the county of their birth. He was born on a farm in Win- field Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin, June 24, 1869, being a son of Patrick and Jane (Moran) Daly. His father was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1807, and his mother in the same locality in 1820, and their marriage took place in their native land, where they resided until 1862. In that year they emigrated to the United States and located on a farm in Winfield Township, Sauk County, a tract of 160 acres, which they proceeded to clear and improve. . Industrious and hard-working people, they succeeded in developing a handsome and valuable farm, on which they spent the remaining years of their lives, the mother dying there in 1880 and the father not long thereafter. The farm is now occupied by Patrick Croal, who married Maria, the sister of Doctor Daly. In politics a democrat, Patrick Daly was content to confine his political activities to the casting of his vote, and never allowed small local matters to dis- tract his attention from his business affairs, although always willing to support good movements and to work in behalf of worthy men and meas- ures. A student and exceptionally well informed, he was a prolific reader and was well acquainted with the classics. Both he and Mrs. Daly were devout members of the Catholic Church, in which faith they reared their family. Their children were as follows: Michael, who died in Ireland as an infant; Maria and Jane, who also died in infancy; Catherine, who is the wife of John Loughney, of Ironton; Maria, who is the wife of Patrick Croal and resides on the homestead farm in Winfield Township; Patrick whose career is reviewed on other pages; John, who died in infancy ; John (2), who is single and engaged in agricultural operations on a farm near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Frank P., of this review; and Martin, who died in infancy.
The boyhood of Dr. Frank P. Daly was passed on his father's farm in Winfield Township, and he was given the advantage of good educa- tional opportunities. After completing his primary training in the country schools, he went to the high school at Reedsburg, and then con- tinued his preparation by taking the course at the Whitewater Normal School. His first several years of independent work found him acting as a country school teacher in Sauk County, but during this time he had been preparing himself for the profession which he intended to make his life work, and in 1894 he matriculated at Rush Medical College, the famous Chicago institution of medical learning. Upon his graduation therefrom, in 1897, he returned to Reedsburg and opened an office, and here he has continued in the enjoyment of a constantly increasing prac- tice. Doctor Daly has not ceased to be a student. On the contrary, much of his time is spent in investigation and research, and in keeping in touch with the discoveries of his calling. He is a member of the Sauk County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and his fraternal connection is with the Knights of Columbus. The doctor has maintained an independent stand in regard to politics, exercising his prerogative of voting for the man he has deemed best qualified for the office, regardless of party ties. For himself, he has never been an aspirant for the honors accruing from holding public position.
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Doctor Daly was married in 1900, at Reedsburg, to Miss Anna Joyce, who was born in Winfield Township, Sauk County, October 2, 1874, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Byrne) Joyce, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, the father born March 17, 1825, and the mother May 15, 1831. They were married in Ireland, and in 1863 emigrated to the United States, landing at New York City, where they remained for several weeks. They then made their way overland to Wisconsin and located in Winfield Township, whre Mr. Joyce, then in modest circumstances, found employment as a farm hand during the summer months, while in the winter he worked for Smith and Tower in the iron industry at Ironton. Thus he succeeded in accumulating sufficient means with which to pur- chase a farm; which he continued to cultivate during the remainder of his life. He lived in Winfield Township until 1913, in which year he removed to Reedsburg, and here his death occurred January 12, 1915, Mrs. Joyce having passed away on the farm January 8, 1910. Mr. Joyce was one of the substantial and highly respected men of his com- munity, and active in the ranks of the democratic party in his locality. He and Mrs. Joyce were faithful members of the Catholic Church. Be- fore coming to the United States, Mr. Joyce, who was well educated in the Gaelic and English languages, spent much of his time in England during the harvest seasons, and to the time of his death retained a vivid recollection of the birthplace of William Shakespeare, which he had visited. Patrick and Mary Joyce had two children : Anna, now Mrs. Daly, and Martin Edward, now a resident of Reedsburg, but for some years the operator of the old homestead in Winfield Township, which is still in the family name, married Mary Conway, who died April 9, 1900, leaving two children ; Martin Edward, Jr., and Mary Ellen.
Mrs. Daly attended the Reedsburg High School and the LeMars (Iowa) Normal School, and in 1893 to 1896 taught school in Iowa. Re- turning to the county of her birth she continued as a teacher here until 1900, the year of her marriage. Doctor and Mrs. Daly are the parents of five children : Francis Matthew, born May 28, 1902; Jane Claire, born April 22, 1904; Zita Joyce, born August 28, 1908; Mary Agnes, born October 18, 1909; and Patrick Joseph, born March 17, 1912.
WALTER GOETSCH of Washington Township is owner of one of the largest and best equipped farms of that township, and is a representative member of that great body of industrious and thinking producers who earn every cent they get by adding honestly to the wealth of the world.
Mr. Goetsch was born in Washington Township of Sauk County June 10, 1885. He represents the second generation of a hardy family that has had much to do with the clearing and development of the lands of Wisconsin. His parents Otto and Anna (Krueger) Goetsch, who now live at Reedsburg retired, were both born in Germany and on coming to America settled in Dodge County in 1861 and five years later moved to a new tract of land in Washington Township, clearing up and develop- ing a farm for the use of their sons and daughters. Their children were : Walter, Esther, Elsie, William, Arthur and Otto. All except Arthur and Otto are married and established in homes of their own. Esther is
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the wife of Ernest Soltwedel. Elsie married William Harms of West- field Township. William married Alma Wieslow.
Walter Goetsch grew up and received his education in Washington Township, and on May 8, 1912, married Marie Harms, daughter of Henry and Louise Harms. Mr. and Mrs. Goetsch have one small daughter, Margaretta, now four years old.
The Goetsch farm comprises 200 acres, including some of the best soil in Washington Township. It has a notable group of building im- provements, and most of the buildings were constructed out of the native stone. One special feature of the farm is a large stone silo, and that gives tone and character to the quality of farming carried on by Mr. Goetsch. Mr. Goetsch besides growing the staple crops keeps about sixty head of cattle and runs a large dairy of about forty-three cows. In politics he is independent and is a member of the Lutheran Church.
WILLIAM JOHNSON. In a volume devoted to the carcers of represen- tative citizens of Sauk County, Wisconsin, it is a pleasure to insert a brief history of William Johnson, who has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the general welfare and who has served his community in various official positions of trust and responsibility.
A native of the Bluegrass state, William Johnson was born in Elliott County, Kentucky, November 16, 1866. He is a son of James and Re- becca Jane (Porter) Johnson, the former of whom was born in Kentucky, October 11, 1833, and the latter in Virginia, January 27, 1839. The parents were married in Kentucky and there resided until 1883, when they came to Sauk County and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Iron- ton Township, subsequently adding an additional forty acres to that tract. They erected good buildings on their land and here Mr. Johnson was engaged in general farming and stock raising until his demise, in 1908, aged seventy-five years. His widow survives him and to them were born the following children: Ellen (deceased), Sarah, Emaline, William, Sherman, Olpha, John E. (deceased), Lillie, Minerva and James. In politics James Johnson was a stalwart republican and during the Civil war was a strong supporter of the Union, although he was a member of an old southern family. Four of his brothers enlisted as soldiers in the Confederate army but he joined the Fortieth Kentucky Mounted In- fantry of the Union forces, serving with distinction for a period of two years.
William Johnson passed his boyhood in Kentucky and in 1883 ac- companied his parents to Sauk County, Wisconsin, where he has since resided. He attended school for one year after his arrival here and after reaching manhood engaged in the saw-mill and threshing business, with which lines of enterprise he was identified for twenty years. He has also dealt in farm lands, buying and selling various parcels and in 1910 he located on a farm of forty acres near Limeridge, in Ironton Township. He now devotes the major portion of his time and attention to farming and stock raising. A republican in politics, he was assessor of Ironton Township for one year, was supervisor in 1912 and for five years Vol. II -- 35
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was chairman of the board of trustees of Ironton Township. He and his family attend the United Brethren Church.
August 3, 1897, occurred the marriage of Mr. Johnson to Miss Rhoda Hineman, who was born in Ironton Township, May 13, 1877, and who is a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Frye) Hineman. Daniel Hineman was a native of Richland County, Wisconsin, where his birth occurred November 16, 1856. His father was Daniel Hineman, a native of Penn- sylvania and an early pioneer in Richland County. Mary Frye Hineman was born in Indiana, in 1860, and she and her husband now reside on their farm of 140 acres in Washington and Ironton townships. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of a daughter, Blanche Lucile, born February 5, 1902, and died in December, 1908.
Mr. Johnson is a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always courteous, kindly and affable and those who know him personally accord him the highest esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson's lives have been exemplary in all respects and they have ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while their own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.
JOHN BISER is a native of Switzerland, but was brought to America in early infancy, and for many years has been enrolled among Sauk County's progressive and capable farmers and stock raisers. His home is in Bear Creek Township.
Mr. Biser was born at Basel, Switzerland, December 10, 1868, a son of Gotthilf and Anna Susana (Brunner) Biser. The father died before the birth of John, and in the following year, 1869, the widowed mother brought her son John to America and located at St. Paul, Minnesota, where she died in 1874. Herman Biser, elder brother of John was taken to Germany by his grandparents and grew to manhood there and in 1912 he and his family were brought to this country by John Biser. .
John Biser grew up an orphan from the age of six and had many adversities to contend with in order to acquire an education and fit him- self for an independent career. In January, 1901, he came to his present farm in Bear Creek Township, where he now owns 245 acres. By his own hands he cleared thirty of these acres, has erected fine barns and put in many other improvements, and enjoys prosperity. He keeps about forty-two head of livestock and has a dairy herd of twenty-five cows.
April 20, 1898, Mr. Biser married Miss Anna Carberry, daughter of Joseph and Bridget Carberry. Her parents came from County Mon- aghan, Ireland, to America in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Biser have a fine. family of children, named Mary, John, Thomas, James, Anna and Vincent.
Mr. Biser has been honored in a public way, having been a member of the Town Board and also a school officer. He is a democrat, he and his family worship in the Catholic faith and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
JOHN BODENDEIN. Education and financial assistance are very im- portant factors in achieving success in the business world of today, where
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every faculty must be brought into play, but they are not the main ele- ments. Persistency and determination figure much more prominently and a man possessed of these qualities is bound to win a fair amount of success. John Bodendein, whose name forms the caption for this article, is practically self educated and during recent years has climbed to a high place on the ladder of achievement. He is one of Sauk County's promi- nent citizens and at the present time is the owner of a finely improved farm in Ironton Township, in addition to which he is president of the Carr Valley cheese factory.
John Bodendein was born in Richland County, Wisconsin, January 10, 1870, and he is a son of Joseph and Barbara (Kutzer) Bodendein, both natives of Germany, where he was born in 1832 and she in 1840. The paternal grandparents of John Bodendein came to Wisconsin in an early day and settled in Fond du Lac, where both died. Anton Kutzer and wife, maternal grandparents, were likewise natives of Germany and Mr. Kutzer died in Fond du Lac at the age of ninety years and Mrs. Kutzer at the age of eighty years. Joseph and Barbara Bodendein settled in Richland County, Wisconsin, in 1860, there clearing and improving a farm of 400 acres, on which he died June 22, 1909. Mrs. Bodendein survives her beloved husband and is now living on a farm she owns in Ironton Township, Sauk County. Mr. Bodendein was a democrat and for a number of years gave efficient service as township supervisor and as member of the school board. He was a Catholic in religious belief and to him and his wife were born the following children : Gertrude, Andrew, Paul, Peter, Mary, Frank, Annie, John, Lena, Barbara, Lucy, Phillip and an infant son deceased.
Eighth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children, John Boden- dein grew to maturity on his father's farm in Richland County and he received a smattering of education in the neighboring schools. In 1893. he located in Ironton Township and purchased eighty acres of land, later selling half that tract. He then added 120 acres to his estate and in 1913 bought an additional 130 acres, of which he eventually disposed. He then bought five acres and his farm now comprises 165 acres of highly culti- vated land, on which he recently erected a fine barn 34 by 90 feet. As a stock raiser he handles Holstein cattle, owning thirty-five head, in 1913, and at times feeding as many as 100 head. In addition to his farming interests he is president of the Carr Valley cheese factory, a business that is becoming one of marked importance in this community. Mr. Bodendein is a democrat, is township supervisor and a member of the school board. He is one of the trustees of the Catholic Church at Limeridge and he is looked upon as a man of importance in every walk of life. He is a self-made man and as such is deserving of much credit, having already laid the foundation for a big success in life.
Mr. Bodendein has been twice married. In 1894 he married Miss Clara Tourdot, who was born in Green County, Wisconsin, in 1868. August and Mary (Fleuria) Tourdot, parents of Mrs. Bodendein, were both born in Paris, France, the former in 1827 and the latter in 1837. Mr. Tourdot was a mere child when he accompanied his parents from Paris to New York. In 1839 the family located in Green County, this state, remaining there until 1855, when they came to Sauk County and
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settled on a forty-acre farm two and a half miles from Limeridge. One year later, however, they returned to Green County and bought 120 acres of land, on which they resided until their respective deaths. This parcel of land was retained by the family until July 30, 1917. Mr. Tourdot died in 1892 and his wife passed away December 28, 1915. They were capable, industrious people and were gracious and hospitable to everyone. Eleven children were born to them and following are their names in respective order of birth: John, Mary (deceased), Sophia, Gilbert (deceased), Joseph, Olamp, Clara and Martha (both deceased), Albert, Charles (deceased), and Charley. Mr. and Mrs. Bodendein had five children, as follows: A son who died in infancy, Mary, Charles, Betsey and Clara. Mrs. Bodendein died in 1904 and was laid at rest in the cemetery near La Valle. In 1907 Mr. Bodendein was united in marriage to Miss Martha Tourdot, a sister of his first wife, she died July. 31, 1915, without issue.
Olamp Tourdot, sixth child of August and Mary (Fleuria) Tourdot and a brother-in-law of Mr. Bodendein, was born in Green County. He located in Sauk County in 1893 and is an extensive farmer in Ironton Township, where he is the owner of a finely improved estate of 335 acres. In 1891 he married Miss Anna Bodendein, of Richland County, a sister of the subject of this sketch. They have ten children: John, deceased, August, William, George, Celia, Leo, Ruth, Frank, James and Olamp, all of whom are at the parental home.
ANTON BETHKE has been a resident of Sauk County since 1882, in which year he came here and purchased a farm of 100 acres. He is a shrewd farmer and is known throughout the county as an honest and reliable business man. A native of Germany, he was born in January, 1848, and is a son of Gotlieb and Mary Bethke. The parents were born, reared and married in the fatherland and immigrated to America in the year 1853. They were engaged in farming operations in the old coun- try and on their arrival here located on a farm in the vicinity of Mil- waukee, where the father died, in 1862, aged sixty-five years, and the mother in 1911 at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. They reared a large family of children, of whom but three were living in 1917, namely : Michael, Anton and Mary. They were a kindly, hospitable couple and were held in high esteem by their neighbors and numerous friends.
As he was but five years of age when he arrived in America, Anton Bethke was reared to maturity under the sturdy discipline of the old home farm near Milwaukee and his education was completed with attend- ance in the parochial schools of that city. As a young man he learned the trade of cooper and he followed that line of business for a number of years. In 1882 he came to Sauk County and purchased a farm of 100 acres, later adding an additional plot of twenty acres. He has cleared most of his land and has improved it with a couple of splendid up-to-date buildings. In addition to farming and stock raising he is interested in the production of honey. He is known throughout Sauk County as the "Bee Man" and his apiary is one of the largest and finest in this section of the state.
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