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 15
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 15
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 15
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During his long business career Mr. Aus- tin has been too closely occupied to give much attention to politics, but he served as Mayor of La Crosse in 1887 and 1888. IIe is at this time a member of the School Board of the city, and is deeply interested in the pros- perity of our educational system. He is a member of the Nineteenth Century Club, a literary association, and of the La Crosse Club. a social organization of the business men of the city. Since coming to the county he has system of Western Norway. Here he ad- been a conspicuous figure in all those enter- vanced to the position of station agent, which 12
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is a very responsible office in the railway small beginning to be the foremost Nor- service of that country.
wegian newspaper in Wisconsin, and its present position and worth in the newspaper world are too well known to require further mention.
The opportunities for progress and finan- eial improvement were, however. small in his native land, and he determined to emigrate to America, this grand country where the Mr. Evensen is a stanch Republican, and Tarden is a valuable organ in the service of that party. mind as well as the purse have greater op- portunities for growth. In 1977 he landed on these shores, and was forced to take hold of whatever employment first came to hand. as thonsands have done both before and since. Ile began with the hotel business at La OHIN A. SALZER, deceased. late presi- dent of the John A. Salzer Seed Com- pany, was a native of Dettinger, Wür- temburg, Germany, born December 8, 1823. fle emigrated to America in 1546, first set- tling at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later removing to Galena. Illinois. He entered the ministry of the German Methodist Church and was stationed at Des Moines. Iowa. and subsequently at Iowa City, lowa; Manitowoe, West Bend and Baraboo, Wisconsin; Peru, Illinois, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, at each place remaining the full length of time per- mitted by the church rules. He was every- where snecesstul as a pastor. not only in marked additions to the membership, but in each of the above points he either built and paid for either a parsonage or church. In La Crosse under his pastorate, from 1566 to 1869. he purchased the present site of the First German Methodist Church, and re- moved the old church thereon, which has now given way to the new. Crosse, Wisconsin. in 1890. and carried it on successfully until ill health compelled him to give it up. Ile was of too active tempera- ment, however, to remain idle long, and soon began casting about for a different occupa- tion. Every cloud has its silver lining. they say, and so it was with Mr. Evensen's career at this time. In looking over the situation in search of a more congenial employment he thought of the newspaper publishing busi- ness. No time in the history of La Crosse could have been more opportune for the launching of such an enterprise, although it might appear upon first thought that to start a Norwegian paper in that place was to in- vite certain ruin and defeat. Two weekly newspapers in the Norwegian language had already filled " a long-felt want " in La Crosse, but had been forced to give up existence: Still there was room and opportunity for the right kind of paper, and Mr. Evensen cor- rectly interpreted the situation, as the result shows. It required a great courage, especially In 1969. on account of ill health, he with- drew from the active ministry and devoted his full time to the greenhouse business, which to-day has assumed such mammoth proportions that it is looked upon by seeds- men as the largest mail order business of the kind in America. In 1866 he came to La as the capital was limited, to undertake such an enterprise in the face of past experiences: but Mr. Evensen. nevertheless, issued the first number of Farden on the 19th of Sep tember. 1958. The paper struck the popular chord and gave evidence, alnost from the beginning, of future success. Careful and Crosse and established the La Crosse Floral shrewd management has brought it from a Gardens. From a small beginning the busi-
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ness has grown to mammoth proportions. Ile built several greenhouses and conducted a general plant trade. He owned and con- trolled several thousand acres devoted ex- clusively to the growth of seeds and plants, this land being located in Wiseonsin, Min- nesota, Dakota and other States.
Mr. Salzer's system of saving only the best seed and testing the same carefully be- tore placing upon the market, created a large demand for his northern-grown seeds. For years he made a specialty of farm seeds, and in this line he led all American dealers. He was known as introducing many choice, new varieties of potatoes, wheat, oats, barley and corn, and won a reputation which extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast.
In his annual catalogne he thus described his early love for flowers: "From early childhood I have been passionately fond of flowers. The summer days were always spent in my parents' garden. Great beds of phlox, pansies, verbenas, portulaca, stock, sweet William, four-o'clocks, candytuft, bal- sam, etc., etc., were my daily delight. My boyhood was spent in the garden. My father being a nurseryman and gardener, my young manhood found me there; indeed, there is no place I feel so completely at home as when surrounded with plants and flowers."
In 1886 Mr. Salzer founded the John A. Salzer Seed Company, of which he was presi- dent. This is one of the leading enterprises of La Crosse, and its founder was well worthy of the success that attended his under- takings. He died January 22, 1892.
He was a liberal, unostentatious benefac- tor. Many a needy family, where his quiet though substantial assistance was known, will miss him. In his chureh, that is under the German Methodists of America, he is known as benevolent Father Salzer, and his gifts to the orphan asylums, the widows, the aged He came to America for his health, and in
people, the needy preachers, the educational cause, and for mission work among the Ger- mans, though quietly given, run into thou- sands of dollars.
From the effect of the death of Mrs. Salzer, which occurred the 27th of June, 1886, Mr. Salzer never fully rallied. Theirs had always been an exceptionally happy mar- ried life, and his death is but the fulfillment of his fondest wish, to be reunited with her whom he so tenderly loved.
Ile leaves in addition to his children, George. Henry A., John P., Ben. F., Mrs. Anna Ran, Bertha and Emma, all grown up and living here, except Ben. F., who is in the Jumber business in Denver, Colorado, one aged brother and sister, the former living in Freeport, Illinois, the latter in Centralia, Washington.
EV. WILLIAM DAVY THOMAS, Ph. D., was born in the Principality of Wales, January 5, 1845, and was reared to maturity in the city of Glasgow, Scot- land. His parents, Dary and Elizabeth (Da- vies) Thomas, were also natives of Wales, and the families were Celts for many generations back. The father and mother both died in 1856, the former in May, and the latter in September, so that in early years he was de- prived of that tender parental care which means so much to childhood. At the age of thirteen years he was apprenticed to Messrs. Shoalbred, merchants of London, whom he served two years. A deposit of two hun- dred pounds sterling were required for this instruction. At the end of his apprentice- ship, he entered the Glasgow University, where he studied three years, although an accident prevented his finishing the course,
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1866 became a stadent at Prineeton College. Jones: these two reside in Liverpool. Mr. from which institution he was graduated in Thomas is the only representative of his 1870, with the degrees of A. B. and A. M., family in America. His father was a builder in 1973. taking a fellow-hip in mental and and contractor, and passed his life in Wales. moral philosophy, valued at 81,000. Ile Thirteen years of the life of our subjeet have been spent in college. His library, which numbers 5,000 volumes, is valued at 813,000. Politically he adheres to the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He is a member of Frontier Lodge. No. 45, A. F. & A. M., of Smith Chapter. No. 13. R. A. M., and of La Crosse Commandry, No. 9. K. T. studied one year after his graduation, under Dr. MeCosh, and then entered the Theologi- cal Department of Princeton. He was gradu- ated from Union Theological Seminary, in 1878, and matrienlated at the University of Leipsie, where he remained one year; he then went to Berlin, and in 1875 he re- ceived the degree of Ph. D. He returned to The First Presbyterian Church of La Crosse was organized August 23, 1866, by Rev. J. Irwin Smith, D. D., with twenty-one mem- bers. Ten years Dr. Smith was elected to the pastorate of this church. and in June. 1850, Mr. Thomas succeeded him. The pres- ent beautiful building. the result of the zeal of Mr. Thomas, was dedicated to the worship of God November 25, 1553, the Rev. Dr. Herrick Johnson of Chicago preaching the sermon. The society has had a steady and prosperons growth, and numbers among its members over 100 families. America in 1876, and became pastor of West- minster Presbyterian Church. Leavenworth, Kansas. After eighteen months spent in this work he was obliged to resign on account of ill health. He was afterward called to Winona, Minnesota, and had been there three years and a half when he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church at La Crosse, coming to this city in December, 1880, and serving this church eight and a half years; during this time the present fine editiee was ereeted. In May, 1SS9. he accepted a call to the Board of Missions of the Wisconsin Synod, and has been a most zealous servant in this canse. In 1890 he delivered 150 regular sermons, and lectured to 100 audi- enee-, traveling 66,000 miles. le is super- intendent of the Board of Home Missions. Synod of Wisconsin. with permanent head- quarters at La Crosse. lle i- a gentleman of rare mental attainments, gifted with elo- quence and strong persuasive powers. Ilis leisure hours are spent with the companions of his lifetime, books, of which he bas sev. eral thousand carefully selected volumes.
Mr. Thomas is the only son of a family of five children: Sarah married J. W. Thomas, and Mary married Walter Samnel, both resid- ing in Cardiff, Wales; Margaretta married J. life, and completed his education at Lawrence- E. Davis, and Charlotte is the wife of W. E.
AMES B. MURRAY, of the firm of Miller & Murray, general grocers in La Crosse, was born at Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence county, New York, September 3. 1858, a son of John and Julia ( Lynch) Mur- ray, natives of the city of Dunmanway, county Cork, Ireland. His father came to America when a young man, locating in St. Lawrence county, New York, and died in 1881. The widow still survives residing with her youngest son, Dennis, on the old homestead in St. Lawrence county.
James B., our subject, was reared to farm ville and Amsterdam Academies, graduating
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MC Millan
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at the latter June 26, 1876, in a class of thirteen. He then followed teaching and read law in the office. of L C. Lang, since then District Attorney of St. Lawrence county. It was in 1883 that Mr. Murray ca.ne to La Crosse. His first position was that of foreman for a year on the Chicago, Burlington & Northern railway, and after- ward was superintendent of construction for the firm of Willis & Rappa. In 1858 he left that position, and formed his present re- lation in business. Ile has always taken an active part in public matters. He is at pres- ent Alderman for the First Ward, and as a member of the City Council he is serving on the committees on Light, Fire, Police, Rail- roads, Sewers and Public Buildings, being Chairman of the Committees on Fire and Lighting. He has served as President of Division No. 1, A. O. II. ever since its or- ganization.
He was married in New York, to Elizabeth A. Connolly, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and a daughter of John and Ellen (Desmond) Connolly, natives of county Cork, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Murray are members of the congregation of St. Mary's Church (Roman Catholic).
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RANK BROWN, general blacksmith and carriage and wagon-maker, La Crosse, was born in Whitewater, Wal- worth county, Wisconsin, December 27, 1857, a son of Joseph and Dorcas (Chappel) Brown. His father, a cooper by occupation, was a native of New York State, and his father was a native of Ireland, who early settled in New York State. Joseph Brown served as a soldier about three and a half years in the war of the rebellion, as a private in a Wisconsin regiment, enlisting at White-
water. llis wife was of Massachusetts an- cestry.
Mr. Frank Brown grew to manhood in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and began to assume his own responsibilities when a mere lad, learning blacksmithing at Farmington, Warren county, Pennsylvania. He came to La Crosse county in 1579, and has ever since carried on his trade here continuously. Pre- vious to 1879 he was seven years at Middle Ridge, engaged at his trade, and also served two years as Postmaster, and as Constable and Township Treasurer, each one term. He returned to La Crosse in 1987, and for the first two years was Constable; he is now Alderman for the Twentieth Ward. .
He was married at Middle Ridge, No- vember 2, 1880, to Miss Maggie Brecht, a native of Germany, and they have one son, Herbert, who was born August 10, 1882.
AON. ALEXANDER MCMILLAN, who has for many years been a conspicuous figure in one of Wisconsin's greatest in- dustries, was born in the township of Finch, Stormont county, Province of Ontario, Can- ada, October 23, 1825, and is a son of Duncan B. and Mary (McMillan) McMillan. His parents were born in Lochaber, Inverness- shire, Scotland. The father was a merchant in Glasgow for some years previous to his emigration to America. IIe left his native land in 1815, and settled in Canada, where he engaged in farming. Soon after his arrival in that country he was united in mar- riage with Mary McMillan, who, though a native of the same part of Scotland and of the same name, was not related to him. They had eleven children: Daniel, John, Christian, Mary, Alexander, Angus, D. B., Catherine, Margaret, Ewen II., Duncan D. and Allan.
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The father was an elder of the Presbyterian of these mills became widely known for its Church, and trained his children strictly ac- cording to the doctrines of that faith.
Alexander passed his boyhood and youth in his native place, attending the common schools and doing the lighter work on his father's farm. Attaining his majority, he removed to the State of New York, where he spent about four years in various occupations. In the spring of 1850 he took passage on a steamboat at French Creek, New York, bound for the West, and settled in Madison, Wis- consin, and was there employed as a elerk for three months. During a part of the time he also taught a night school.
At the end of that period he went to Port- age, Wiseonsin, where he remained until 1852, when he formed a partnership with his brother, John, for the purpose of conducting a business in the great lumber district. They established their headquarters at La Crosse, and their firm constituted the first Black River Logging Company, and took the first log raft that ever went down the Mississippi to St. Louis, in the spring of 1953. The en- terprise grew to mammoth proportions, and in 1964 a younger brother, Duncan D .. was admitted to the firm, the name then being changed to J., A. & D. D. MeMillan. 1 year later, on the death of the senior brother, it became A. & D. D. McMillan, and the business was so conducted for many years. In 1864 the Black River Improvement Com- pany was organized, with one of this firm as president.
Upon the organization of the La Crosse Gas Light Company, Mr. Me Millan became its president, and after the formation of the Electric Light Company in 1955 the interest was sold to that corporation. In October, 1>75, he became by purchase sole owner of the Neshonve mills at West Salem, Wiseon- sin, and under his management the prodnets
superior merit. In 1>31 the mills were en- tirely remodeled under the personal super- vision of Mr. Me Millan, and now possess one of the best water powers in the State. At West Salem he also owned the Neshonoe stock farm to which he devoted much time and attention, giving especial care to the breeding and raising of live-stock, and his stables showed some of the best standard- bred Hambletonians of recorded speed, and a fine herd of Alderney cattle. The stock farm and mill have recently passed into the hands of his son, Samnel D., who, in 1991, had the mill entirely rebuilt, and supplied with the latest and most approved machinery.
Although not a politician in any sense, Mr. McMillan has frequently been honored with public office and positions of trust and responsibility. Ile has served several years as a member of the City Council, for several years was County Supervisor, and for two years was chairman of the County Board. Ile was Mayor of La Crosse in 1871, and chairman of the Board of Trade in 1876. In 1872 he was elected a member of the State Legislature on the Republican ticket, and in 1873, the year of the great financial crisis. he was chosen president of the First National Bank of La Crosse. Ile is an ardent tem- perance advocate, and was president of the La Crosse Temperance Leagne in 1$73.
In October, 1858, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah L., a daughter of Her- rick and Mary E. (Sherwood) Parker. They had born to them four children: Mary, Angie, Samnel D. and Jesse. Of these only Samuel D. romains, the others having died in infancy or early childhood. Samuel D. was married to Miss May, daughter of John Clark, a merchant of West Salem; they are the parents of three children: Clark, Parker and Ilarry. He was a partner and manager
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of the business house of MeMillan & Son in course of study, he was ordained a priest of La Crosse, which was discontinued in 1890.
In 1883 onr subjeet and his wife made a trip to Europe, visiting the old homestead in Scotland, Ireland, England and the Conti- nent, and making a voyage of the Mediter- ranean. All the principal European cities were touched, and thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. Me Millan was inneh gratified that he was able to converse in the old Gaelic language which he had neither heard nor spoken, ex cept occasionally, since his childhood. He and his wife are members of the Congrega- tional Church, and he belongs to the Ma- sonie order. Mrs. MeMillan is a lady of rare mental endowments and artistie attainments. She is an artist of no small merit, and while abroad she improved the excellent oppor. tunities afforded for study and observation. These worthy people have accumulated ample means for the gratification of cultivated tastes, and are surrounded with every comfort which modern invention ean suggest. In addition to the property already mentioned, Mr. McMillan owns several business houses and dwellings, the MeMillan Building on the corner of Main and Fourth streets being one of the finest in the city. IIe is a man of broad publie spirit, and has always eneour- aged by his means and personal influence those enterprises which have had for their object the best interests of the community.
EV. FATHER KILIAN G. BEYER, chaplain of St. Rose Convent, is a na- tive of the State of Wisconsin, born near the city of Milwaukee, April 21, 1856. He received his earlier education at Pio Nono College, near Milwaukee, and subsequently entered St. Francis Seminary, at St. Francis, Wisconsin. After completing the preseribed ; dating about one hundred.
the Roman Catholic Church. This most im- portant event of his career occurred in June, 1885, immediately after which he was as- signed to duty as pastor in charge of a con- gregation at Big River, Pierce county, Wis- consin. He remained there three years, and sinee 1888 he has been chaplain of St. Rose Convent.
By virtue of this office, Father Beyer is Secretary of the Diocese School Board, as well as of the Orphans' Asylum, and gives religious instruction to those in training in the convent, and also to the children of the orphan schools. These schools stand in the same relation to him that the parochial schools of the congregation sustain to their respective priests in charge, that is, principal. Father Beyer has been a faithful servant in the cause he has esponsed, and those persons to whom he has ministered, either in the capacity of priest or instructor, hold him in the highest esteem and the kindest regard.
THE ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL,
under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, was erected by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1883; in 1887 an addition, known as the west wing, was ereeted, and in 1890 the chapel or east wing was erected. It is a mammoth struc- ture of briek, built by the Francisean Sisters of Perpetual Adoration without other aid. It is of a modern architectural design, and arranged with all modern appliances for com- fort and convenience; it is heated by steam, lighted by electricity, and has ample sewer- age and water supply. There are six wards to accommodate about fifty patients; thirty- five private rooms for about fifty patients: in addition to this there are the dormitories for the Sisters in charge, capable of accommo-
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For the care of patients atHieted with con- tagious diseases. a building somewhat distant from the main hospital has been purchased, the Sisters. Attending physicians are se- having its own morgue and other appliances, thus entirely separating contagion from the the main hospital. A morgue with base- ment for post-mortem work has been erected adjacent to the main hospital. The main building is 120 feet in length and 24 feet wide. four stories high besides the basement ; in the latter are the kitchen, dining-rooms, bakery, laundry, etc. The west addition is 40 x 80 feet, and the same height as the main building. The east wing is used mainly for a chapel, though there are several rooms for hospital purposes. It is 40 x 36 feet, four stories high. All the cooking, making and mending of clothes, ete., is done on the premises. Groceries, dry-goods and pro- visions are purchased at wholesale in La ('rosse.
Sister Rose has been at the head of the institution since it was opened for patients in December. 1853. The formal opening and dedication, which were public. occurred in January, 1854. About $1,500 have been re- ceived from citizens of La Crosse; this was to aid in furnishing the building. The hos- pital was dedicated by Right Rev. Bishop Flasch, now deceased. Sister Matilda has charge of the dispensary and of the books of the institution, and attends to the corre- spondenec and financial affairs. She has as an assistant in the dispensary, Sister Theodora. Both are regularly licensed under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
During the past year over 400 patients re- eeived treatment. and For six years previous an annual average of over 300 have been treated. The present year, 1891, about 400 have been enrolled to September. Six reg. ular nurses have been on duty all the time. besides others connected with different
branches of the institution, who render aid when needed. One male nurse is hired by
lected from among the city physicians as the patients themselves may desire. No inter- ference is made with these selections. The United States provides a physician for the Marine Hospital, and the city, for the treat- ment for the patients treated at the ex- pense of the city. The Marine Hospital of the United States has one ward under charge of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Ador- ation. The expenses of the institution are provided for by those who receive treatment. though no one is turned away because unable to pay. Usually there are from twelve to fif- teen charity patients. There are two sisters employed in the laundry department, four in the kitchen, two in the dining-rooms these jointly attending to the housekeeping. The entire building is kept scrupulously neat and elean, and perfect order reigns in every de- partinent.
ST. MICHAEL'S BOYS' ORPHAN ASYLUM
was opened in 1575, the Right Rev. Arch- bishop Michael Heiss officiating. The school was opened with six boys, and the girls were also taught in the same school. Up to the present time (1891) 309 boys have been cared for in the institution. Eleven inmates, boys, have died since the opening of the school. Two have been sent to the State Industrial School because unmanageable. One of these boys was received at the orphanage by ex- press, being fastened in a box, on the top of which was the usual inscription, "This side np." Three infants have been found at the door of the institution. Being found on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, though not in the same year. they were surnamed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. In a few instances children have been brought by
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