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 31
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 31
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 31
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ARSHALL CONANT, a highly re- spected citizen of La Crosse, Wis- consin, was born at Malone, Frank- lin county, New York, and is the youngest son of Leonard and Eunice (Bates) Conant. Ilis parents were natives of Windsor county, Vermont, and removed to New York about 1820, where they were married, at Fort Cov- ington. The paternal grandfather was born at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Jannary 28, 1758; the maternal grandfather, Josephi Bates, was born at Middleboro, Massachu- setts, March 10, 1762, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; he married Miss Lucy Lee, who was born in Windsor county, Vermont, October 28, 1764; she died at Ma- lone, New York, July 13, 1862, in her ninety-eighth year. The mother of our sub- ject was born November 24, 1795, and died
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at Malone, New York. February 6. 1980. sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ilis father was twice married; his first wife Railroad Company. when he embarked in the real-estate business on his own account. was Miss Laney Cleveland. a native of Pom- fret. Vermont, and one child was born of the union, Lney, who married Henry P. Jud- son. There were two children of the second marriage: Azro B .. now a resident of Ma- lone. New York, and the subject of this notice.
Marshall Conant was educated in the public schools and at Franklin Academy. Malone, New York. At the early age of sixteen years he began teaching school, and followed the profession until 1549; during these years his leisure time was devoted to the study of law. In his youth he was a music pupil of Lowell Mason, of Boston, and sang one season in his choir. He was present at the noted celebration on Bunker Hill, June 17, 1>43, when Daniel Webster delivered his memorable oration on the completion of the Bunker Hill monument. He taught both ! vocal and instrumental music until 1545, when he was admitted to practice as an at- torney at a general term of the Supreme Court at Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York. He was engaged in legal work at Malone, New York, until October, 1551. when he was appointed to a position in the general offices of what is now known as the Vermont Central Railway system. He was promoted from one position to another until he was made chief clerk, having charge of all the books of the company. In December, 1566, he came West as land commissioner For the Southern Minnesota Railroad Com- pany. and served in that capacity until Au- gust. 1972. with headquarters at La Crosse. Wisconsin. Subsequently the offices were removed to Wells, Minnesota, but wore re- turned to La Crosse in 1975, when he again entered the employ of the company. At the end of three years the entire business was
Mr. Conant was married JJune 6. 1849. to Miss Caroline F. Man, a native of West Constable. New York, and a daughter of Ebenezer and Caroline Man, natives of New Haven, Addison county. Vermont. Her mother was born August 23. 1502. her maiden name being Hoyt; the father was born April 26. 179; they were married April 25, 1922, and six children were born to them, two of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Conant are the parents of two chil- dren: Eben Leonard was born February 12. 1951. and May C., May 22, 1866. The son is employed in his father's office; both chil- dren are unmarried. Mr. Conant has all his life been a close student; he takes a deep in- terest in the study of astronomy, and is ex- ceptionally well informed upon this science, while his musical education is worthy of more than passing notice. Ile is identified with the Republican party, with which he has voted since its organization. Mrs. Conant is a consistent member of the Congregational Church.
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TOIN JAY COLE. The subject of this biographical sketch is a descendant of the early settlers of Connectient, but almost the opposite of a Puritan. Whether this is from degeneration of stock or from modern ideas, is for the Puritan and Agnostic to answer. His grandfather, following the "westward course of empire," removed to the State of New York, and John Jay Cole was born in Albany, the capital of that State, Angust 29. 1521; there he lived until the age of thirty-two years. He received a thor- ough literary education, and after pursuing
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a course in the study of the law and some experience as manager of a law firm, he was admitted to the bar of the old Supreme Court of New York, and separately to the Court of Chancery, in 1846. Ile was Assistant Dis- triet Attorney at Albany, and practiced his profession in that city until his removal to Wisconsin. Ile settled in La Crosse in August, 1859, and has practiced law there from that time to the present. Ile has been a candidate for several offices, such as Dis- triet Attorney, City Attorney, Member of the Assembly and State Senator. He would not accept a nomination for any office ex- cepting of the kind indicated, but he has been for many years, and is now, United States Commissioner and State Court Commissioner. He is a good Latin and Greek scholar, reads both the German and French langnages, and speaks German fluently; he is self-taught in the latter language, and as to general in- formation he has been called a walking encyclopædia.
His father's name was John O. Cole, who was a Police Judge of Albany, New York, for almost forty years, being elected regard- less of politics by large majorities and through many fluctuations of the party ma- jority in Albany. After his voluntary retirement from that office, he accepted the office of Superintendent of Public Schools of Albany, and died while serving in that capa- city, at the age of eighty-four years. His son, Charles W. Cole, succeeded him in that office, which he has since held.
John J. Cole was married October 13, 1846, to Mary A. P. Lee, at Albany, New York; she was a daughter of Thomas Lee, a well-known citizen of Albany. The fruit of this marriage was one son, Thomas L. Cole, who died in childhood, and Theodore L. Cole, of Washington, District of Columbia; he married Kate Dunn Dewey, a daughter of
ex-Governor Dewey, of Wisconsin, and granddaughter of Charles Dunn, first Chief Justice of Wisconsin, and of this union one child has been born, named Felix. After the death of Mary A P. Cole, in 1865, an interval of several years elapsed before Mr. Cole was married to Louisa E. L. Smith, at La Crosse.
They are the parents of two sons: Lucins J., born November 14, 1875, and Herbert Spencer Cole, born February 7, 1881.
Mr. Cole's branch of the somewhat unmer- ous Cole family has not traced its genealogy to the ancestor or ancestors who emigrated to America. They came from England, or perhaps Ireland, although of English stock. The Earl of Enniskillen (Ireland) is a Cole.
The first ancestors in this country must have come prior to the Revolutionary war, probably over 200 years ago.
Mr. Cole's nearest relatives live at Albany, New York, so that he is somewhat isolated from his kith and kin in his Wisconsin home.
During the war of the Rebellion, he was a War Democrat, a phrase known in that time as a Northern Democrat, adhering to the organization of the Northern Democratic party, but standing strongly for the Union in all the issues of the war, hoping for the early success of the Northern armies against the South.
ENDELL L. A. ANDERSON, M. D., who for nearly twenty years was actively engaged in the practice of medicine in La Crosse, is deserving of the space that has been accorded him in this re- cord of the leading men of the county of La Crosse. Ile was born in the town of Gray, Maine, September 9, 1840, and received his preparatory education in the common schools
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
of that place. In 1858 he entered the Gor- he retired from active practice. He has been ham Academy, Gorham. Maine, and was a a close student of the science of medicine, student there four years. He then entered and during the years of his practice kept fully abreast of the times in all the latest discov- eries and most approved methods of treat- ment. the Freshman class of Bowdoin College. but did not complete the course there. Having chosen the profession of medicine, in the summer of 1959 he began the study of the Dr. Anderson was president of the Board "of Education trom 1973 to 1577, and was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1875 and 1576. In September. 1881, he was nominated by the Democratic party for the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Wisconsin, and was at the time again made chairman of the Democratic State Committee; he served in the latter capacity until June, 1585. when he resigned the position, having been appointed by President Cleveland, Consul General to Montreal. He discharged the duties of this office until July, 1889, when he returned to his home. science under the preceptorship of his father. who was then a prominent physician of Gray. Maine. In the winter of 1860-'61 he attended medical lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. and afterwards continued his studies at the Portland School for Medical Instruction until the autumn of 1861. when he entered the regular army of the United States as a medical eadet. Ile was assigned to duty at Annapolis, Maryland, and remained there until the fall of 1562. when he again attended lectures at the C'ol- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city; he was graduated from this well-known institution in March, 1563, and in April of the same year he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Third Maryland Volunteer Infantry ; he served with this regiment in the field at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and in all its subsequent engagements with the Army of the Potomac from the wilderness to Lee's surrender. In March, 1564, he was commissioned Surgeon of his regiment with the rank of Major.
After the war was ended, and he resmined his professional labors. he attended another course of lectures in New York city, and eame to La Crosse in February. 1866. and entered into active practice. From 1569 to 1873 he was United States Examining Sur- geon for pensions in this city, his territory including La Crosse, La Crosse county, and the adjacent country. He was city physician of La Crosse from 1970 to 1575, and again from 1877 to 1831. He was a member of the Wis consin State Medical Society from 1971 until
Dr. Anderson was married in March, 1864, to Miss Susie M., daughter of John G. Small, of Boston, Massachusetts. Of this union six children have been born, three of whom sur- vive: John W., the eldest, was edneated in the publie schools of this city, spent one year at Cornell College, and entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan: he was graduated from this school in 1890, and is now practicing law in Detroit, Michigan; Greeley S. is employed in the La Crosse Na- tional Bank, and Spencer E. is in school; the other three children died in infaney.
The Doctor, with a few other gentlemen of philanthropie spirit, was instrumental in organizing the La Crosse Library Association in 1978; the association is still in existenee, although under another name. The Doctor was chairman of the lecture committee for several years, and devoted himself earnestly to the success of the enterprises. To all those persons who have interested themselves in supplying standard literature to the youth
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of La Crosse, a lasting debt of gratitude is due, and the service cannot be too highly ap- preeiated. Dr. Anderson belongs to the Masonic fraternity, though he is not in active membership.
LBERT BELLERUE, one of the leading pharmacists of La Crosse, is an Ameri ean citizen by adoption. Ile was born in Norway, at Kongsberg, June 18, 1849, and is a son of Halvar and Elizabeth (Bryhn) Bellerue. The father was a merchant by oc- eupation, and when Albert was fifteen years of age removed with his family to Chris- tiania. In this city our subject grew to man- hood, and received a thorough education in the public schools; this excellent instruction was supplemented by a literary and classical course of study in the high school of Kongs- berg. Having chosen the profession of Phar- macy for his life work, he entered the Uni- versity of Christiania, where he completed a very exhaustive course of study, and was graduated from the pharmaceutical depart- ment.
In 1876, he crossed the sea to America, and located in La Crosse, where he secured em- ployment as a elerk for a time. Ile next spent six months in Chicago, returning at the end of that period to La Crosse. In 1875, he went to Blair, Wisconsin, and there estab- lished a business which he has since condueted ; he remained there, himself, but two years, coming back to La Crosse in 1880. He then purchased the business of Mr. Ileyerdahl, and in this enterprise he has met with marked success.
Mr. Bellerue was united in marriage in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Miss Clara Jackwitz, a native of Norway, and a daughter of C. R. Jackwitz, a native of Christiania. Two sons
and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bellerue: Vietor, Helen and Albert.
Mr. Bellerue is a member of the Norden Society, of the Norwegian Workingmen's Society, and of the Wisconsin Pharmacenti- cal Association. He is a man of intelligence, thoroughly well posted in his business, and in every way worthy of the confidence which he enjoys.
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AMES A. TRANE, plumber and con- traetor for steam and hot-water heating apparatus, is a native of Norway, born at Tromsoe, on the shores of the Baltic sea, April 29, 1857. Ile is a son of Rasmus and Christiana (Hegelund) Trane, who emigrated to America in 1864, going directly to the city of La Crosse after arriving in New York city. The father was a printer by occupation, and followed this ealling for many years; his death occurred March 14, 1888, and his re- mains were interred with the religious cere- monies of the Lutheran Church. flis widow still survives. Of their family, three sous are living: James A., the subject of this notice; Nicholas II., an engineer residing in St. Paul; and Ernest A., associated with James A. in business.
When Mr. Trane was a lad of fourteen years he began to serve an apprenticeship in the shop of W. A. Roosevelt, and when he had completed his trade he worked as a jour- neyman in this city until 1885, when he embarked in business on his own account. Ile has conducted a very successful and well- ordered establishment, and has won a place in the front ranks of the eraft.
Ile was married to Miss Mary Miller, a native of Brownsville, Minnesota, a daughter of William and Mary (Gaab) Miller, natives of Germany. Of this union one son and
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three daughters have been born: Susie. Jessie, lives in Bangor, and has two children, Edwin Reuben and Stella. Both Mr. and Mrs. and Eugene. Christian married Mary Myers, reside, in Minor county, South Dakota, and has three children: Louise, Reinhold and Christian. The father died May 9, 1567, and the mother now lives with the subject of this sketch. Trane are members of the Colman Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee and steward. lle is one of the zealous members of the Builder.' Exchange of La Crosse; be- longs to the Norwegian Workingmen's So- ciety, to the Board of Trade, and is a stock- holder of the State Fair Association.
LORIAN WOLF, a farmer and stock- raiser of section 5, Bangor township, was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin. March 28, 1848, a son of Andrew Wolf. now deceased. The latter was born in Switzer- land June 6, 1819, and came to the United States in 1540, settling at Highland, Illinois. Three years later he removed to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where, May 15, 1545. he married Christine Ruedy, a daughter of Florian and Anna Ruedy, who came to this county in 1851, settling in Dutch Valley, this township. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf came to this county in 1552, settling where our subject now lives, which was then a wild country, inhabited by Indians and wild animals. At one time a drunken Indian came to their home and at- tacked Mrs. Wolf, who dodged his strokes until another Indian came along and per- suaded him to leave her. The parents had seven children, only three of whom survive, namely: Florian, our subject; Andrew, who lives in Bangor, and Christian, a resident of Iroquois, South Dakota. One son, Cas- per, died March S. 1852, at the age of twenty- seven years; and a danghter. Anna. died January 12. 1556. She was the wife of John Schiedt, and at her death left five children. four of whom are now living: Christine, Lizzie, Annie and Mary. Our subject's brother, Andrew, married Minnie Buol.
Florian Wolf, our subject, owns a one- fourth interest in the Bangor Cheese Factory, which manufactures 500 pounds of cheese daily, and which they sell mainly in La Crosse, but also ship to Winona and St. Paul. They make a specialty of briek and Swiss cheese, both of which took first premium at the Inter-State fair at La Crosse, in 1590. Their American cheese also took first premium at the same time and place. Politically Mr. wolf is a Democrat. but takes little interest in politieal matters, and, socially, he is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W. He has been a member of the Side Board several years, and has also held school offices.
Hle was married November 23, 1567, to Eliza, daughter of George Scheidt, a native of Switzerland. Her father lived in this county several years, and established the woolen millon Dutch Creek. The children of Florian and Eliza Wolf are: Andrew, Lizzie, George and Christina.
J. PAMMEL, general agent for the Union Central Life Insurance Com- pany of Cincinnati, Ohio, for the Western District of Wisconsin, was born in La Crosse in the first briek store building ever erected in the city, February 2, 1562, his parents being Louis and Sophia (Freise) Pammel, who were born, reared and married in Germany. In 1552 they came to the United States, and after two years' residence in Mil- wankee they settled in La Crosse, the father's
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business at that time being that of a buteher. He is now residing on a farm in La Crosse county, which is under the management of a son, Ilerman A. It is one of the largest and best farms in the county, and a large portion of it is given to stock-raising, which has proven a profitable industry. The father was County Commissioner for about fifteen years, and although somewhat advanced in years is still interested in the welfare of this section. He is thoroughly conversant with the hard- ships and deprivations ineident to the Wis- consin pioneer, and thoroughly sympathizes with those who have to fight the battle of life with limited means. IIe and his worthy wife thoroughly enjoy their comfortable home, and the knowledge that it has been honestly earned by their own efforts, is sweet to them. Mr. Pammel is sixty-two years of age, and his wife is fifty-eight. They reared the fol- lowing family of children: Matilda, wife of Louis Koeh, a market gardener and the owner of a small farm; Professor Lonis II., who is Professor of Botany in the Iowa State Agri- eultural College, his wife being Gnssie Emmel of Chicago; G. J .; Herman H., who is the manager of his father's stoek farm; Dora, a graduate of the La Crosse high school, and Emma, attending the Iowa Agrienltural Col- lege.
G. J. Pammel was educated in La Crosse, and for four years traveled for the dry-goods firm of Emil Freise & Co., Chicago, of which firm he was junior member for five years. On January 15, 1891, he entered upon his present business, his distriet containing the eounties of La Crosse, Trempealean, Buffalo, Jackson, Monroe. Vernon, Richland, Craw- ford, and Juneau. He is succeeding admira bly in this new enterprise and has every promise of a bright future before him.
June 3, 1884, he was married to Miss Emma Burmeister, daughter of Henry Bur-
meister of Chicago, a retired merchant who is still living. They have one child. Henry Louis, a bright and promising little lad. Mr. Pammel is a member of the Knights of Pythias, was a member of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, for two years; the order of the Iron fall; the Deutscher Verein, and the La Crosse Turngemeinde. Ile is secretary of the Fire Department of the city. IIe takes little interest in polities, but usually votes for whomsoever he considers the best inan. In business he has been eminently successful, is thoroughly efficient in the discharge of his duties, and uniformly courteons and obliging in his methods. a seeret doubtless of his suecess.
A. KREBAUM, contractor for plumb- ing and steam heating apparatus, is the president of the Builders' Ex- change of La Crosse, and is a prominent member of the commercial circles in La Crosse county. He is a native of the State of Illinois, born in Lewistown, Fulton county, in 1860. His parents are Fred and Sybil Krebanın, some of whose ancestors came from Germany. His father was a farmer by veeu- pation and emigrated to America in 1835, sailing from Bremen.
Mr. Krebaum passed his youth at Havana, Illinois, and at the age of nineteen years began to serve an apprenticeship to the busi- ness which he has since followed. For this purpose he went to Peoria, Illinois, and at the expiration of his apprenticeship he worked for one year as a journeyman. He afterward spent a short time in Lincoln, Nebraska, and from that city went to Chicago, where he re- mained two and a half years; there he was engaged in the plumbing business until 1885, when he accepted a position with W.
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A. Roosevelt and came to La Crosse. In the February following he became one of the in- eorporators of the Roosevelt Company, and remained with this organization for one year. Ile then withdrew to enter into business re lations with D. J. Slattery, the firm name being Krebaum & Slattery. At the end of five months Mr. Krebaum purchased his partner's interest and since then has eon- ducted the business alone. Among the many buildings he has furnished with heating ap- paratus may be mentioned St. Ann's Orphan- most elegant residences of the city. He has recently purchased the City Steam Laundry, and is about to enlarge it and move it to Main street.
Upon the organization of the Builders' Exchange Mr. Krebanm gave that enterprise a very cordial support. and assisted materially in perfeeting its incorporation. Ile had the honor to be elected its first president, an office he still holds.
MIL ERNEST KOWALKE, Alderman for the seventeenth ward of La Crosse, - Wisconsin, has been a resident of the city since his childhood. Ile was born at Dantzig, Prussia, August 23, 1861, and is a son of Lonis and Carolina (Gillmeister) Ko walke. Ilis parents emigrated to America in 1567, landing in the city of New York. Thence they continued their journey to La Crosse, where they resided twenty-two years; they then went to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The father is a carpenter and contractor. The family consists of three children: Frank, the eldest, is a brick mason by trade; Mary is the wife of Frank Padecky, a ma- chinist of La Crosse; John Joseph, the sub- ject of this notice, grew to maturity in La The family consists of four sons and two daughters, two sons and a daughter having been born in Prussia. Emil Ernest passed his youth in this city, and when he left school went to learn the trade of a millwright. Crosse, and here learned the trade of marble
Ile followed this oveupation throughout the Western part of this country. returning to La Crosse in 1983, when he engaged in the grocery trade. Ile has won a fair patronage, and has every prospect of the most satisfaet- ory results.
Our subjeet is serving his first term as Alderman for his ward and has discharged the duties which have devolved upon him in a manner reflecting great eredit upon him and upon his constitueney. He is a member of the Sons of Hermann, of the Third Ward
age, St. Francis' Hospital, and many of the ' Aid Society, of which he is treasurer, and of the Governor's Guard.
Mr. Kowalke was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Baner of this eity, a daughter of George and Theresa (Neumeister) Baner, natives of Bavaria and Austria respectively.
OIIN JOSEPHI STANEK, marble and granite worker, La Crosse, is interested in one of the most important industries of the city. Ile was born in Rimau, Austria, October 24, 1559, and is a son of Joseph and Catherine (Sehanfler) Stanek. His parents bade farewell to their native land, erossed the sea to America in 1865, and after their ar- rival here settled at Winona, Minnesota. There they lived four years and then went to Chicago, remaining in that city two years. At the end of that period they came to La Crosse, where the father has followed his trade of stone mason; he is also a plasterer, and has carried on a prosperous business in his adopted country.
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culture, and the latter years of his life retired to his home in Cincinnati ; he there gave some attention tothe manufacture of musical instru- ments, such as violins and other stringed pieces. Ile and his wife both died in the full faith of the Baptist Church. William Harrison, son of the above, grew to maturity in Cincinnati, and there served an apprentice- ship as a painter and furniture finisher. In 1854 he made a trip to La Crosse, and after- ward removed to the place and located per- manently. He was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Eliza Looker, a native of Har- rison county, Ohio, born about the year 1510; she was a daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Irwin) Looker, and her paternal grandfather was Judge Orthwell Looker of Ohio. Mrs. Harrison was a faithful and consistent mem- ber of the Baptist Church. July 26, 1850, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at their resid- ence, corner of Cameron avenue and Fourth street.
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