Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 14

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 938

USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 14
USA > Wisconsin > La Crosse County > Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 14
USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > Biographical history of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each; engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 14

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1855, to Miss Sarah Masterson, daughter of John and Sarah Masterson, of La Crosse, the former of whom died in 1569 when about fifty years of age. The widow is still living, an honored resident of La Crosse. They were the oldest residents of Vernon county from Ohio, in which State Mr. Masterson was a snecessful and wealthy farmer. In the early history of this State he carried the mail on horseback from Rising Sun to La Crosse for three years. Ile was an intimate friend of ex-Governor Rusk, and was familiarly known as "I'nele John " by the many who knew and loved him.

Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Lyons, was twice married, her first husband being Michael Morrison. He was frozen to death within one-half mile of his home. with others, in the winter of 1865. Ile was the father of the following children : Mary, now Mrs. Hugh Donahoe; Anna, wife of P. K. Mann: Mar- garet, who died at the age of sixteen years. To Mr. Masterson and his wife three daugh- ters were born : Ella, a milliner of La Crosse; Dora, wife of J. P. Rogers, of Glasgow, Mon- tana, and Mrs. Kavenaugh, who is the young- est of the family. One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kavenangh: Ilelen, who is a bright little girl now three years of age. Ilis residence is a pleasant and attractive one. an air of refinement and taste pervades all its surroundings; and the generous and true-hearted hospitality displayed there is the delight of the many friends who gather be- neath its roof.

ILLIAM R. SILL, of La Crosse, is a native of Windsor, Connecticut, born in 1822. He is of English descent, of the seventh generation in this country, dat- ing back to 1638. Mr, Sill spent the early

He was married in La Crosse. October 21, days of his business life in the practice of

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civil engineering on railroads, and came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1853 to take charge of the construction of the La Crosse & Mil- waukee Railroad, and retained connection with that road under its varions titles (with the exception of two years) until 1866.

Hle came to La Crosse in 1856, and with others platted the village of North La Crosse, he owning one-fourth of same and acting as agent for the other owners. ]Ie also became interested in the lumber business in 1856, and aided in building one of the four sawmills constructed during that year in North La Crosse, and operated the same up to 1880. He was one of the company (and manager) to build the wagon road between La Crosse and North La Crosse, which road was made passable early in 1857, and was afterwards turned over to the city. and is to-day probably the greatest thoroughfare in Western Wis- consin.

In May, 1858, he was married to Mary G. Edgar, of St. Louis, Missouri, started house- keeping on the corner of State and Tenth streets, La Crosse, and has occupied the same premises as resident to this date.

UNCAN D. McMILLAN, banker, La Crosse, Wisconsin .- Mr. MeMillan, who has been identified with the best inter- ests of La Crosse for many years, and who is president of the State Bank of this city, was born in Stormont county, Ontario, Canada, June 20, 1837, and is of Scotch descent. his parents, D. B. and Mary (McMillan) McMillan, both being natives of Scotland. (See sketch of Alexander McMillan.) Duncan McMillan received a thorough education in the public schools of Canada, and first started out for himself by engaging in the lumber business in his native country. Ile eame to

La Crosse, Wisconsin, November 13, 1856, and was with his brothers. John and Alex- ander, in the lumber trade for some time. Ile subsequently studied law with his brother, E. II. MeMillan, was admitted to the bar but never practiced that profession, as other pur- suits engaged his attention. In August, 1863, he was in the ordnance department with Captain J. II. Burdick for several months after the fall of Vicksburg, and later he was in the Quartermaster's department for a year with Captain A. R. Eddy, who was after- wards promoted to the rank of Colonel. Mr. McMillan engaged permanently in the lumber business in 1864, and has followed that until the present time. Hle and his brother owned the gas works in La Crosse, but the former sold out in 1832. The following year he was elected president of the State Bank of La Crosse, which position he has held ever since. Ile was elected president of the Black River Improvement Company, and has been a director in the same for eighteen years. He was Alderman of the city in 1878-'79, also a member of the Board of Supervisors, served seven years in the City Council, and served on the Board of Education for two terms. Ile was also one of the members of the Bridge Committee that built the bridge across the Mississippi river. It will thus be seen that Mr. MeMillan is a man possessed of extraordinary executive ability, good judgment and dignity. and to these qualities thie able and efficient discharge of his official duties may be attributed. Ilis official relations have proven his sympathy for the city's best interests, and his fellow- townsmen have expressed their appreciation of his services by several re-elections to the same office. Mr. MeMillan was married in 1866 to Miss Mary J. MeCrea, daughter of Stephen McCrea, of Canada. They have six children now living, namely: Mary I., wife

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of Dr. Rowles, a prominent physician of La first ever invented in the country -- a part of Crosse: John 11 .. at Fort Worth, Texas. engaged in the grain trade; he was for three years messenger in the State Bank. after which he spent two years in the grain busi ness at Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the firm of Osborn & McMillan. William D. is with his brother John; he was a student at Lake Forest College for two years. Dan is also at Fort Worth, and JJennie and Bessie are pupils of the La Crosse public schools. Mr. Me. Millan and wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, of which the former is trustee: are leading and popular members of society, and possess social qualities of a high order. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and Royal Arcanum. He was for- merly a Republican in his political views, but since 1972 has acted with the Democratic party. Mr. McMillan deservedly enjoys an enviable reputation in his official and busi- ness relations, and a generous appreciation as a good citizen.

B OTT, SR., is the proprietor of the West Wisconsin Iron Works, located at La rosse, and has associated with him in business his three sons: B., Jr., who is vice- president ; Fred. A., who is treasurer and book- keeper, and John, who is general superintend. ent. This is one of the most noteworthy and representative houses engaged in the iron foundry business in the city, and the founda. tion of this enterprise dates from 1879, when it was established by Mr. Ott. The shop is equipped with the best and latest improve- ments in machinery and tools for the success- ful prosecution of this important business. and steady employment is given to eleven skilled mechanic -. In 1567 Mr. Ott and Joseph Barter invented the twine binder the M. Leech in the Pioneer foundry, and after

which is used at the present time. They sold the patent to McCormick and the Deer- ing Manufacturing Company, but it has now run ont and the machines are in general use. The members of this firm are machinists, mill furnishers, engine builders and are the agents for pumps, engines, governors. etc. Mr. Ott invented the bark shaving mill, a machine for cutting the bark for tanners, and this they patented in 1ss5, taking out three patents. B. Ott, Sr., was born in Bavaria. June 3, 1836, and came with his parents. John and Magdalena (Wiesman) Ott. to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1541, where the father followed the ealling of a stone- cutter. The father died December 17, 1573, when sixty seven years old. the mother's death occurring December 13, 1575, at the age of seventy three. Both were members of the Catholic Church. B. Ott was the second of their nine children, three of whom are now living, and began life for himself by peddling matches in Buffalo, New York, and later in Milwaukee. Ilie next business was in strip- ping and packing tobacco. and this he fol- lowed until he obtained a position at mixing clay with his feet in a tile factory, in which ocenpation many other boys were engaged. Following this he was engaged in putting up stoves for a stove factory of Milwaukee, after which he was put to grinding and polishing flat irons with the firm of Decker & Saville (now E. P. Ellis) and later became an ap- prentice in a machine shop with Turken & Cireums. In the fall of 1554, he went to Dubuque, Iowa, wher he worked at his trade in the foundry and machine shop of Ruggles Walter until 1556, when he came to La Crosse. Ile first secured employment with Thomas & Stanfield, on threshing-machines, after which he served in the saine enpacity with George

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Mr. Leech sold ont to C. (. and E. G. Smith he remained with these gentlemen until they sold to Thornely & lames, when he established his present business. He has been Chief of the Fire Department of La Crosse one season, and has served as city Allerman one term. He has been and is now a director of one of the building and loan associations of the eity,-the La Crosse Building and Loan Association, -- and has otherwise inter- ested himself in the affairs of the eity.

February 14, 1857, Theresa Ulrich of Mil- wankee became his wife, and is the mother of his nine children: Benedict, married to Lina Richter, by whom he has one child; Gusta, John. George, who married Lizzie Tulens; Teresa, wife of Arnold Roemer; Willie, a bookkeeper for Segelke & Kaul- house, and married to Lena Blumstrib; Fred, a bookkeeper in his father's factory; Ida, Gustave and Matilda, Mr. Ott is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., and in his political views is independent Ile is a skillful and excellent workman, and is held in high esteem for his sterling worth and many admirable qualities.

JON. ADELBERT E. BLEEKMAN, of the law firm of Bleekman & Blooming- dale, La Crosse, was born in Salisbury, Ilerkimer county, New York, March 26, 1846. On the paternal side he is of Holland ancestry, and on the maternal side he is of German extraction. His great-grandfather, Daniel Bleekman, a Hollander, located near Stratford, Connecticut, prior to the Revolu- tionary war, and belonged to a community of colonists. He was one of a party who erected a liberty pole, and protected it from the British ax by forging nails and driving them into the pole.

Ile was a soldier all through the Revolu- tionary war. and was with Ethan Allen when he demanded the surrender of Ticonderoga "in the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." Ebenezer Bleekman, a son of Daniel, and grandfather of our sub- ject, served in the war of 1812, and partici- pated in the historic battle of Sackett's Harbor.

Warren Bleekman, the father of Adelbert E., was born at Stratford, Fulton county, New York, December 14, 1816, and died at La Fayette, Ohio, September 2, 1865. Ilis wife, Amanda Jacobs, was born in Salisbury, New York, February 26, 1526, and died at the same place as her husband, March 7, 1857. Three children were born to them: Adelbert E., Herbert E. and Ernest L. After the death of Mrs. Bleekman, Mr. B. married again, and had one child, Mary A.

In 1850 the family removed to Ohio, where our subject attended schools of va- rious grades until his enlistment in the army, which occurred February 24, 1864, being assigned to Company A, Second Ohio Cav- alry. The company was organized at Akron. From the time of his enlistment until he re- ceived a disabling injury, he participated in all of the engagements of his regiment; took part in the Wilderness campaign, being with the Ninth Army Corps on the right during the terrible fighting of May 5, 1864. He was in the engagement of Spottsylvania, Han- over Courthonse, Ashland Station and Mal- vern Hill; he was with the Wilson raiding party, which destroyed the Danville and Wel- don Railroad. He received a severe injury to his leg, and was sent to the City Point Ilospital. and thence to Washington, where he obtained a furlough, remaining at home forty five days during the presidential eam- paign of 1864. He was mustered out of service June 30, 1865. Returning home he

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again entered school; he was a student at the Republican in polities, and socially is a mem- academy at Little Falls, New York, and after- ber of the G. A. R., I. O. O. F. & AA. F. & A. M. ward at Albert College. Belleville, Ontario. In March. 1569. he located at Tomah. Wis- consin, and taught school two years, mean- 2 while devoting his leisure hours to the study of law. In September, 1570, he was admitted to practice, and in July of the following year he opened an office for the practice of his profession in Tomah. He was elected to the Assembly of Wisconsin in the fall of 1972. and in the following year he was chosen to represent his party in the State Senate. At the close of the senatorial term he removed to Sparta, where he continued in the prac- tice of his profession until 1586. the date of his removal to La Crosse. In 1976 he was elected District Attorney of Monroe county, in which position he served one term. Since letting in La Crosse Mr. Bleekman has devoted himself assiduously to his profes. sional work, and has declined any honors not connected with his legal interests. A close student, with ample facilities for self-improve- ment. a fine professional library, a highly developed literary taste, and a fluent speaker. it is not strange that he soon received recog- bition as a trial lawyer among the most able anl successful attorneys in the city. He is closely devoted to his profession, and makes that paramount to all other considerations. A large and increasing practice is the legiti- mate ontgrowth of elose attention to busi- ness in all it- details.

Mr. Bleckman has been twice married. llis first wife, Eliza. daughter of Timothy and Tirzah Farnham, of Belleville, Ontario, died in April, 1975, leaving one child, Will- iam E. August 24, 1976, Mr. B. was mar- ried to Alice, daughter of Harvey and Maria ( Whiton) Bush, of Tomah. Wisconsin. Three children have blessed this union: Katie (de- ceased). Adelbert E. and Ruth. Mr. B. is a

E. HORNE is a member of the firm of Miller & Horne, whose fine wholesale and retail crockery establishment is located at 322 Pearl street. La Crosse. Wis- consin. This flourishing concern was founded in December, 1890, and they have secured for their stock in trade the enviable reputa- tion of being the best and most comprehen- sive in its line of all in the city. Their commercial career has been one highly eredit- able in every respect, and they have already gained the confidence of leading mercantile and financial circles, and are merchants of the highest standing and soundest judgment, whose success has been developed upon the sure basis of efficiency and integrity. The business now is 300 per cent. greater than it was in the same building before the present partnership was formed, and but few of the people of La Crosse know the vast amount of goods handled by this firm. In addition to their store they have several large storage rooms, with a capacity equal to five times that of their retail store, and their freight bills are perhaps the largest of all in the mercantile line in the city. Mr. Horne was born in Towa, March 13, 1563, to H. B. and J. K. (Baird) Ilorne, the former of whom was born in Northumberland. England, and the latter in Canada. The father's trade was cabinet- making, but for the past twenty years he has been a market gardener. Both parents are still living and reared a family of seven chil. dren, five of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the family. Ile obtained his education in the public schools, and after working in a fruit and

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faney grocery house at McGregor, Iowa, for some time, he began traveling for the firm, continuing in their employ for four years, following which he was with a La Crosse wholesale grocery honse for six years. He was a shrewd, yet perfeetly honorable sales- man, and his services were highly valned by his employers. In 1888 Miss Ellen Bowen, of Marysville, California, became his wife, and their union has been blessed in the birth of a bright little daughter of two summers, Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Horne are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in polities he affiliates with the Republican party. Mr. Horne and Mr. Miller have paved their own way to success, and are reaping the reward of industry and integrity.

AVID LAW, who is now retired from active business, was formerly connected with some of the leading enterprises of La Crosse, and is fully entitled to the follow- ing space in the history of La Crosse county. He was born September 17, 1833, at James- town, Chautauqua county, New York, and is a son of Hiram and Johanna (Arnold) Law. The mother was a daughter of David Arnold, who was one of the first white settlers of Chantanqua county, New York. Our subject lived at Jamestown until he was twenty-two years of age, receiving a common-school edu- cation. In the spring of 1855 he came West and located at La Crosse. Ilis first business venture was in entting and storing ice and furnishing supplies to steamboats. Ile car- ried on this enterprise four or five years,

branches until 1861, when he disposed of the entire business.

Upon the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in the service, and had been on duty two years when his health failed him, and he was obliged to return to his home. In 1865 he bought his old transfer line, and built up an enormous business. In 1874 he engaged in the Inmber business, forming for this purpose the firm of Iaekett, Law & Mosher. Mr. Haekett retiring in 1879, the firm became Law & Mosher, and this relationship existed until 1886.

Mr. Law was united in marriage, Decem- ber 25, 1864, to Miss Emma Smith, a dangh- ter of Samuel Smith. To them have been born five children: Lillie M., Charles, Archie, Josie and Sydney.

Politically Mr. Law is identified with the Democratic party. He has served as Mar- shal of La Crosse for three years, as Alderman nine years, and as Mayor three years. Ile has filled these various positions with much credit to himself, and has made a most ethi- cient officer. IIe has always taken a deep interest in his party, and has been a promi- nent member of its conseils. He is now retired from active business pursuits, as he- fore stated, but the commerce of the county for many years felt the strong impetus of his toneh, and was greatly profited thereby.

ENRY C. HEATII, the present Grand Reeorder in the Jurisdiction of Wiscon- & sin, Ancient Order of United Workinen, was born in the city of New York, May 31. and then purchased the omnibus line of Mr. 1831. When a lad of eight years his par- Blossom. Later he bought an interest in the ents removed to Plattsburg, New York, and there the father engaged in the business of marble-cutting. In his early youth our sub- livery business from Thomas Davis, and af- terwards added the transfer line of Mr. Met- calf, continuing the management of the three ject was employed in those occupations which

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assured him a robust physical development. a possession that has been of the greatest value to him. He received an academie edu- cation, and at the age of eighteen years he went to learn the carriagemaker's trade. This he rapidly acquired, and in 1852 he embarked in the business on his own account ; he operated a factory at Randolph, New York, for three years, meeting with marked success. Desirous of seeing something of the West. he sold this business and came to La Crosse, Wisconsin. Here he estab- lished himself in the same trade, and in con- nection with the manufacture of carriages, did building and contracting in partnership with his brother, W. F. Heath. Their busi. ness increased to sneh an extent that they found it to their advantage to admit another partner, and in 1859 Mr. R. C. Tift joined them: the old firm of Heath & Tift will long be remembered by the pioneer citizens of La Crosse. At the end of two years Mr. Tift bought the entire business.

Mr. Heath's next investment was in a pho- tograph gallery, which he bought of J. S. Pat- ten. This enterprise claimed his attention until 1867. when he sold out and embarked in the wholesale and retail grocery business with (). Il. Smith as a partner, the firm name being Heath & Smith. In 1570 he pur- chased Mr. Smith's interest in the concern. and conducted it alone until 1571, when he elosed out and returned to the photographie art. He bought the gallery of J. 1. Ray- mond, and by close attention soon became an expert operator. There is scarcely a coller- tion of photographs in La Crosse that does not contain a specimen of his work.

In September, 1876, he became a member of the Ancient Order of United Workinen, and February 2. 1577, he was elected Grand Recorder. He brought to this office the same business methods, good judgment and taet

which he had always exercised in his private affairs. He has so completely won the confidence and good will of the order that he has been elected to the office to succeed himself since 1977 to the present time. His last election was at Milwaukee, in May, 1591. Ile has several times represented this juris- diction in the Supreme Lodge of the order, filling the position with great credit to him- self and to the advantage of the entire order.

In Iss5 the work of the office of the Grand Recorder had reached such proportions as to require the entire time of Mr. Heath. Ile disposed of his private interests and has since been devoting his time exclusively to the business of the order. Hle has been a most efficient officer, courteous and obliging, and has won a wide circle of friends through- ont the State.

AVID AUSTIN, a member of the Saw- yer & Austin Lumber Company, is a native of Scotland, but came with his parents to America in 1935, at the age of nine years. The family settled in Cattarangus county, New York, where he received his education in the common schools. In the fall of 1848 he embarked in the lumber business on the Alleghany river, at Alleghany, New York, where he remained sixteen or eighteen years. He then elosed up his busi- ness and removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he conducted a Inmber business for four years. The tide of emigrationwas sweeping strongly to the frontier, which was not then removed far from the banks of the Mississippi river, and drifting with the current he came to La Crosse, where he formed a partnership with A. E. Sawyer, of Black River Falls, Wis- consin, under the firm name of Sawyer & Anstin, for the purpose of carrying on a

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general logging and lumber business on Black , prises which advance the general welfare, and river, with headquarters at La Crosse. In he has won a reputation for honorable and the spring of 1572 Mr. Austin removed to upright dealing which has characterized the operations of his corporation. La Crosse, the firm continuing in business until the death of Mr. Sawyer. His widow and son, William E., still held an interest in 22222 22222 the establishment until the business was incorporated under the name of the Sawyer & Anstin Lumber Company. They have their offices and sawmills located at La Crosse, and are doing a large business; their logs come from the Black and Chippewa rivers, where they own large tracts of land.

Although Mr. Austin lacks but five years of the allotted three score and ten years, he is still actively engaged in commercial enter- prises, confining the most of his time to the lumber trade, which he has steadily followed since 1845.

He has been twice married: his first union was in 1851, to Miss Lovina Crosby, of Franklinville, New York. She died October 1, 1864, leaving two children, one of whom, Ora G., is still living; he is a member of the Sawyer & Austin Lumber Company. The second marriage was in 1866, to Miss Millie Baillet, of Ellieottville, New York, a daughter of Francis E. Baillet, who was County Clerk of Cattaraugus county, New York, for nine years, and Deputy Clerk for three years or more.

EDER OLAN'S EVENSEN, editor and publisher of Jorden, a weekly news- paper in the Norwegian language, issued ! at La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born near the historical town of Eidsvold, Norway, nearly forty-nine years ago, namely, on the 24th of November, 1843. Ilis father was a farmer at this place, and here the son remained until his seventeenth year, assisting his parents in their work, and obtaining such education as the locality afforded.

At the age of seventeen he left the okl homestead, with his mind made up to learn more of the world. The transactions of mercantile business appeared especially at- tractive to him, and he succeeded in obtain- ing a situation with a large wholesale mill- ing establishment at Moss, Norway. Be- sides acquiring a practical education in office work. he took advantage of the spare time allowed him to further improve his mind by attending a private school of higher instruc- tion. The house with which he was em- ployed advanced him later to the position of traveling salesman, in which employment he eontinned for five years, from 1863 to 1868. It was while engaged in this employment that he laid the foundation for those careful and sound business methods which have stood him in so good stead in later life. IIis next residence was in Fredrikstad, where he carried on a grocery business of his own until 1874. When he abandoned this occupation it was to accept a situation on the railway

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 938

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 938