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 41
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 41
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 41
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slow processes of assimilation, and too often has not reached the development for which the conditions were favorable.
In the rare cases where most of the desir- able influences have been combined-educa- tion and culture, robust physique, eonrage and a temperate habit of life-the West has produced men of note in the community who have acquired property. fulfilled important trusts and rightly enjoyed the best gifts of life.
Of this elass Hon. Gysbert Van Steenwyk, President of the Batavian Bank of La Crosse, desired; it was not a life to satisfy his mind is a fit representative. A native of Holland, ; or employ his talents. He took up the law his great mistake was in not having com- meneed his American life ten years earlier. Not that the time spent in the cultivated society of his native city, Utrecht, was wasted, but because so much more might have been added to his busy and useful career as an American citizen at a time when one year counted as two in a man's lifetime, and in the opportunities afforded by the developing nation.
Mr. Van Steenwyk was one of a family of ! six children. His father was a gentleman farmer, owning lands within ten miles of the city of Utrecht, and accounted a man of considerable means. The children had the benefits of a good and thorough education, opportunities for culture and means sufficient For maintenance in the manner to which they were accustomed, or establishment in any business or profession they might select. The subject of this sketch was the youngest but one, a sister, now living in their native city. He was born January 30, 1811, and is, therefore, at this time, nearly seventy- eight years of age. The first half of his life was passed in his native land. The Univer- sity of Utrecht offered educational opportuni- ties as good as any in Europe, and he was a student in that institution until the age of
twenty-seven, although his degree in philoso- phy and philology was taken at the age of twenty-two. At sixteen, at the time of the Belgian Revolution, he was enrolled as a vol- unteer in the army of the Netherlands, serving two years. From 1838 to 1549, when he departed for America, he was a commissioned officer in the Netherlands National Guards. During the time he resided in Utrecht he lived the social life of the well-to-do of his native city.
But it was not the life Mr. Van Steenwyk
as a study, but the profession was distasteful to him. He could speak French and German fluently and read English. America had been an object of much study and inquiry. on account of its form of government and also because of its opportunities. Finally, in the winter of 1548, while visiting a friend in a neighboring city, he announced his intention of going to the United States. The friend, who was a teacher of Greek and Roman liter- ature in a Latin school, was of the same mind, and they fully determined to start for the Western land the following spring. Another friend desired to join them, and on their embarkation in May, 1549, a fourth Hol- lander of some means became one of the party. Passage was taken in an American sailing vessel expressly for the purpose of acquiring that familiarity with the language which would result from hearing nothing else spoken during a voyage of some six weeks. This was of inestimable advantage to all, especially to Mr. Van Steenwyck, whose studies, rein- forced by practice, enabled him to converse readily with the people.
The party of four spent the summer in New Tork and Newark, learning what they could about the country and the advantages offered by different sections. It was agreed,
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in their councils, that they should seek a Western State, and further, that the autumn months should be spent in exploring Michi- gan, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Early in September they started West. Michigan took up but little of their time. Riding through the heavily timbered country, where the houses found seanty room among the stumps, and fire had run through the woods, they found little to please the eye or hold out promises to the imagination.
Illinois was hardly more satisfactory. Chicago, then a town of 30,000 people, was attraeting notice, but to the Hollanders it was dreary and depressing. They made a tour among the Northern Illinois towns and found much that was promising; but every- where they were warned not to settle anywhere else except where they were just then visiting unless they were prepared to die of fever and ague! So, conelnding that a country where malaria was absent only from the immediate point of inquiry was hardly a sanitarium, they returned to Chicago and took a steamer to Milwaukee.
Here the life and career of Gysbert Van Steenwyk began; all the years preceding had been preparatory, and only important for their influence upon those that followed. Milwaukee and surroundings, lying somewhat elevated, were pleasing to the eye, and the impression was not dispelled by a closer view. Nevertheless, the party desired to see the new towns springing up through the State. and as soon as possible joined in the pur- chase of a team and carriage, by means of which Raeine, Kenosha, Janesville, Madison, Oshkosh and intermediate places were visited, the trip occupying six weeks in October and November. It is not strange that the unani- mous verdiet of the home-seeking quartette was in favor of the larger town, and thither
they returned, each to pursue his appointed way in life.
Through letters of introduction and ac- quaintanee speedily made with the leading men of the town, Mr. Van Steenwyk was not long without opportunities for employ- ment. MeGregor & Tenner, lawyers, advised him to enter their office, but the profession was no more to his taste in America than in his native land. Mr. MeGregor, who had an insurance agency, then proposed increasing the list of companies and forming a partner- ship in this branch, to promote the business among the foreign population. This received favorable consideration, but did not develop to any great extent. It became expedient, however, that Mr. Van Steenwyk should have some official authority, and he soon received his first appointment as Notary Public from Governor Nelson Dewey, the first Governor of the State.
The Hollanders, of whom there were about 800 in Milwaukee, were not long in learning that one of their countrymen was able to assist them in their business affairs, and their calts upon him were so frequent, especially for correspondence with the old country, where many of them retained some property interests, that the securing of some represent- ative authority became a matter of conven- ience, if not of necessity. Accordingly, a letter was dispatched toa friend in the Hague and in due time Mr. Van Steenwyk received his commission from the Hague as Consul of the Netherlands for Wisconsin. There- upon a second sign was hung beside the office door, and to this an addition was made the following year, when he was commissioned Consul for Michigan and Minnesota. Ile now had plenty of business, was doing well and heartily enjoyed lite.
The Legislature of 1852 created the office of Commissioner of Immigration, the incum-
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bent to reside in New York, and his duties to Kilbonrn City. Thither most of the New- be the promotion of immigration to Wiseon- sin. Mr. Van Steenwyk's Milwaukee friends advised him to accept this appointment in case it was offered him. He declined, be- canse he had other plans mapped out and did not want an office of that nature anyway. ITis friends became more urgent. represent- ing that his command of several languages would be of great value, and he could do more for the benefit of his adopted State in that manner than in any other way. While the matter was under disenssion Governor Far- ' well telegraphed him to come to Madison. Ile obeyed, was the Governor's guest during the visit, was tendered the appointment and finally accepted it, though not without re- Inetance.
During most of the years 1-52 and 1853, Mr. Van Steenwyk resided in New York. His labor in securing for Wisconsin a thrifty, industrious and temperate class of settlers among the foreigners then flocking to Amer- ica. has exerted an influence upon the welfare of the State which cannot be estimated.
The Legislature of 1553 took the power of appointing to this office from the Governor, and, being a Democratie body, while the in- . cumbent had united with the Whig party, his successor was named, and he returned to Milwaukee.
Having become interested in lands in the interior of the State, especially along the line of the La Cross & Milwaukee Railroad. i business. then in process of construction. Mr. Van
port settlers moved, Mr. Van Steenwyk with them. in 1858. In 1557 he was commis- sioned Brigadier-General of State troops. obtaining a title which serves his friends in familiar intercourse to the present day. In 1559 he was elected to the State Assembly from Columbia county, after a contest which was a history in itself, receiving a majority of 200 over a Democrat in a Democratic dis- triet. He resigned his consular office, not deeming it proper that a legislator in the United States should be the representative of a foreign government. The following year he was a delegate to the Republican State Conven- tion, and received the nomination for Bank Comptroller, to which office he was elected. In this period of great political and military events, the finances of the country were in such chaos as no person living at that time can ever forget, and General Van Steenwyk's duties equaled in importance those of any office of the State. Ilis own choice would have been to enter the army, and he conld have had a regiment, but it was urged upon him that his official duties could not be com- mitted to other hands. and the welfare of his fellow citizens could in no way be so well promoted as by getting what salvage was possible out of the financial wrecks all about the State. In one year the comptroller wound np forty banks, having occasion to visit La Crosse several times in the way of
The knowledge gained while in office de- Steenwyk moved to Newport, on the Wis- cided his future course, and the outlook of consin river, where it was expected the La Crosse decided the location. Accord- railroad would cross. The village rose to ingly, upon the expiration of his official term. in 1562, the Batavian Bank was opened in La Crosse, and for thirty prosperous years it has been a landmark in the business fields. General Van Steenwyk at once took a place considerable prominence upon this expecta- tion, but declined and almost went out of existence when the railroad company fixed the crossing point a mile and a half above. where a new town was laid out and called : in the first business circles of the community,
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but held no public office until 1873, when he ! gacious management of Mr. Van Steenwyk served the city one term as Mayor, being and his co-exeentors, Charles Payson and Charles J. Partin, the heirs and beneficiaries under the will are very much indebted. nominated as a Republican and almost unani- mously supported by the Democrats. In 1879 he was called upon to represent the Thirty-first district, composed of the city and county of La Crosse, in the Senate of the State, receiving a considerable majority over the Democratic and Greenback candidates.
General Van Steenwyk is also vice- president (the mayor being president ex- officio) of the permanent board of trustees of the public library established in La Crosse by a provision of Governor Washburn's will, and takes great interest in the institution.
In 1874 Mr. Van Steenwyk went abroad and spent a year and a half traveling in Europe. While there he made the acquaint- ance of Miss Marietta Nicholls, a native of Danbury, Connecticut, and daughter of Hon. David P. Nicholls, for many years Treasurer of that State, who was traveling with her sister. The acquaintance led to a matri- monial engagement, and in May, 1575, they were united in marriage at Berne, Switzer- land, under the auspices of the General's personal friend, Hon. Horace Rubler, Minis- ter of the United States in that country, and now editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel. Three charming children have blessed this union, but one, a lovely boy, bright of eye and mind, the emblem of every goodpromise, has gone somewhat in advance along the dark road whither all journey to make the way lighter, though the earth be darker to those soon following after. General Van Steen- wyck's most important recent work has been as one of the executors of the late Governor C. C. Washburn's will. He was the intimate friend of the late Governor, was with him several weeks at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, shortly before his death, and well acquainted with all his business affairs. The vast prop- erty in mills, elevators, water-powers, railroads, lumber and farming lands, aggregating nearly 82,000,000, has been so managed that every industry has been profitably employed during the course of settlement, and the estate has increased very largely in value. To the sa
To enumerate al! the business enterprises with which he has been connected would be difficult even for himself, perhaps, without some thought. Among the more important recent ones are the Victor Flouring Mill, the La Crosse Linseed Oil Mill, the La Crosse Street Railway Company, the Edison and Brush Electric Light and Power Companies, the La Crosse Tannery and the East Fork Improvement Company-the latter a lumber organization. In all but the two first named and some other local companies he is now a stockholder. It is, however, as a banker that Mr. Van Steenwyk is and will be best known. For more than thirty years the Ba- tavian Bank has been a pillar of strength in the community. It has upheld the weak until they became strong, and carried the strong in their hours of weakness. It has always been steadfast, reliable, conservative without timidity, and to-day occupying one of the finest buildings in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee, and offices that cannot be sur- passed for elegance and comfort, it stands in the front rank of the strong financial institu- tions of the Northwest.
Notwithstanding his years, Mr. Van Steen- wyk is in the enjoyment of mental and bodily vigor. His office hours are regularly kept, his duties as trustee or director in the various institutions never neglected, and in his elegant home, surrounded by the best books and many works of art, happy in the
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companionship of his wife, whose natural gifts have been developed by travel, study and the best social advantages, interested in the education of his children. with leisure for occasional travel, he enjoys the gifts of life as one who has earned its privileges and its im- munities.
KLUVER & Co. is one of the most reliable and popular houses of La Crosse and has been established since 1587. They first opened business on State deer and walrus hunt to Spitzbergen and street, but in the spring of 1891 moved to Nova Zembla, and has often seen as many as 500 walrus in one flock, floating on their
their present place at 117 North Eighth street. where they are doing a prosperous ; baeks with only their heads and tusks above business. Careful attention is bestowed on the water. This voyage was successful and the repairing department, in which some of | they returned home with many skins of all the most difficult jobs have been executed in a neat and satisfactory manner. Mr. Kluver has been a resident of La Crosse since 1987. and has always evinced the greatest interest in every measure calculated to promote its welfare, accelerate its progress, or enhance its highest prosperity. Ile was born in Soholt. Norway. March 9, 1848, to Captain 1 .. and Eliza ( Doscher) Kluver. the former of whom was a soldier throughout lite and was Captain of the standing army to Norway and Sweden For forty-five years, and was born Feb- ruary 15. 1509. at Copenhagen, Denmark. Hle died March 27, 1875. and his wife was born July 3, 1>16, at Hamburg, Germany, and died January 17, 1SS1.
Mr. 1. Klaver was the fifth of his parents. seven children, all of whom, with the excep- tion of himself, reside in Norway. A sis- ter is deceased. At the age of thirteen years L. Kluver became a deek boy on board a ship at $3 per month, his duties being to keep the deck clean and all things in order. His first trip to Russia occupied
about eight months. and on his second trip, which was also to Russia and occupied fifteen months, he was promoted to eabin boy, his work being to keep the cabin in order. On a trip to Quebec, occupying fifteen months, he was promoted to light deck hand, which necessitated the handling of ropes, oiling, tarring, -erubbing and sweeping. His fourth trip was to the Black sea, the voyage taking eighteen months, during which time he was promoted to deck man to see after the tackle. all the ropes and the masts when necessary. Succeeding this he went on a seal. bear. rein-
these animals. His next voyage was to France and Spain, and although he was pro- moted to first deckman his duties were inneh the same as before. From France and Spain he went to St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1864, and his last voyage was to the Aretie regions for the same purpose as before, during which time he received $15 per month for his services. They were wrecked be- tween Spitzbergen and North Cape, the ves- sel going to the bottom. The most of the erew took refuge in the life-boat, and after fighting the waves for three days and three nights they landed in the wilderness in the Northern part of Russia called Carabella. The three days and three nights they had water to drink but nothing to eat, with the exception of a little hard taek which was eanght up by the steward as he was making his way to the life-boat, and this was impar- tially divided by the Captain among the crew and kept body and soul together for five days. They then found the body of a dead reindeer, which they roasted on coals, and later they
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killed a reindeer, on which they lived for six days. They were then sighted by a Nor- wegian steamer and were taken to a small village in Northern Norway called Vardo- huus. A few days later they were trans- ported back to England. During his entire service as a sailor he was with an English crew and sailed from Liverpool. Soon after reaching England he was taken sick and re- turned home, and the next year (1867) in order to avoid the regular army regulation, he made application for immigration and came to America, landing in May of that year. Ile soon after seeured employment with the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine Mann- facturing Company at Bridgport, Conneeti- cut, but five years later went on the road for the same company, in which capacity he served five more years. Two years were then spent in Chicago in the adjustment de- partment of the same company, at the end of which time he came to La Crosse, and here has resided ever since.
He was married in 1871, to Miss Anna Jerman, daughter of S. Jerman of Norway, their union being celebrated at West Prairie, Wisconsin, and the following are their chil- dren: Eliza D .; Adolphine K. and Ida J. Mr. and Mrs. Kliver are members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran Church but attend the Episcopal Church. Although he takes but little interest in politics, Mr. Kluver nsnally votes the Democratic ticket. He has seen much of the world and the ups and downs of life, but through it all he has maintained his honor and is eminently deserving the respect and patronage of the community of which he is an honored and useful member
RANK STORANDT, one of the promin- ent farmers living near Burr Oak, Wis- consin, is a native of this State, born in
Walworth county, six miles from Geneva, August 12, 1854. Ilis parents, George and Anna Elizabeth ( Pfaff) Storandt, were born, reared, edueated and married in Saxony, Germany. In 1847 they came to America, their family at that time consisting of four children. One has since died, and three others were born to them. Their names are: August, William, Sophia, Ambern, John, Emma Young and Frank. The family lived in Walworth county until 1856, when they came to Farmington township, La Crosse county, and settled on the same land where the subject of this sketeh now lives. The father died here in 1863, and the mother sur- vived him some years, hier death occurring in 1882. George Storandt passed his life in agricultural pursuits; affiliated with the Democratic party, and worshiped with the Lutheran Church. He was a man of much force of character, and was zealous and active in his Christian life. He helped to organize the Lutheran congregation here, and was a deacon in the church.
Frank Storandt grew up on the farm, and has lived on the same place for thirty five years. IIe received a fair education in both the English and German languages. lIe owns a farm of 200 acres that is substantially improved. His commodions and attractive home is built on a rock foundation, as also are his barn and other buildings. Indeed, the general appearance of his entire premises indicates that the proprietor is a man of thritt and enterprise and that prosperity has attended his efforts.
Deeember 14, 1875, Mr. Storandt was united in marriage, in Dodge county, Wis- consin, with Matilda Williams, a lady of edu- cation and eulture and a member of a highly respected family, a daughter of Henry Will- iams. She was born at Fox Lake, Dodge connty, and was reared and educated there.
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Henry Williams, a native of He-sen. Ger- this country first settled in Lockport, New many, came in 194> direet to Dodge county, Wisconsin. locating on a farm near Burnett Station. He continued farming there until about fifteen years ago, when he retired from active business pursuits. They have a family of six children now living, viz .: Frederick, a farmer of Dodge county: Catharine, who is the wife of William Harman. a farmer of Farmington township; Barney, a farmer of Dodge county : Christiana, the wife of William Storandt. of Farmington: Amelia, who wedded August Berendt. a butcher of Burnett: and Matilda, the wife of Frank Storandt. Mr. Williams has always lived the life of an in- dustrious farmer. Heand his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church, and in the evening of their lives are enjoying the fruits of their honest toil. He married Mary Rocken- bein, who also was a native of Hessen, Ger- many. He is now eighty-six years old, and she eighty-seven, and are both living in Dodge county.
Mr. Storandt and his wife are the parents of three children: Clara C., Lizzie A. and Ida Alta. Their second-horn, Emma 1 .. died when eight months old.
Mr. Storandt i a Democrat, and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
York. where he lived two years: then he was at the South for a time: was pressman in the office of the Louisville Courier-Journal, and was also in Memphis and in Mississippi: in 1sås he was foreman of a brick-yard on what is now Center and Main streets in Kansas City, Missouri.
February 1. 1560. he married Miss Mary Ridgley, a lady of -uperior intelligence and of a good family, born in Bedford county. Pennsylvania. a daughter of Joshua Ridgley, deceased, who was a well-known and promin- ent citizen of this county. He was born at Fredericktown, Maryland, July 10, 1514. The Ridgleys were prominent early settlers of that State, comprising at first seven brothers and one sister from England. Later several of the family became prominent in commerce and political affairs. Joshma Ridgley married Rebecca Radebaugh, a good companion, who was the daughter of Jacob and Mary Radebaugh, of Dutch or German ancestry. She inherited from them an in- dustrious and economical disposition.
The family first came to La Crosse county in 1850, when the village of La Crosse had but four cabins, and there was no house be- tween that point and Portage. After camp- ing for six weeks Mr. Ridgley had a log house completed. In 1864 he went to Idaho, where he died in December, 1576, leaving a widow and one child, Mary, now Mrs. Hart- ley. In polities Mr. Ridgley was a Demorat, but never desired office. Ile was a member of Frontier Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; previously he had also been a member of the Odd Fel- lows' order. Some years later the widow of Mr. Ridgley married Robert Smith, an old settler of La Crosse, now deceased, and she still resides in that city.
RS. MARY HARTLEY, Onalaska, is the widow of William Hartley, deceased, who was an intelligent and prominent citizen of Campbell township. Hle first came to this country in 1856, and in 1959 settled here, where he remained until death. He was born in Cambridgeshire, England, June 23, 1929. the son of John and Sarah ( West) Hartley; was reared and edu- William Hartley died January 24. 1898. cated in his native land, and on arrival in He was a conservative Democrat in politics.
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