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 42

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 42
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 42
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 42

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and in religion he was an Episcopalian, having been brought up in the Church of England. Ile was also a member of the Masonic order, a charter member of West Salem Lodge and a member of La Crosse Chapter. At his death he left a widow and five sons and three daughters, namely: Sarah Jane Cox, John J., a business man of La Crosse; Mary Alice, Joshua R., William Thomas, James Edward, Rebecca and George Henry.

Mrs. Hartley owns one of the best farms in the county. a portion of which was form- erly a part of her father's estate; he settled here forty-two years ago. The farm contains 534 acres, well fenced and partitioned into plowed lands, pastures, meadows, etc., and a large briek house, surrounded with orna- mental trees, etc., and large barns-one 44 x 75 feet, and one 46 x 80, with twenty- two-foot posts. Mrs. Hartley exhibits great practical business ability in the conduet of the farm, rearing stock, ete. She has traveled extensively, and has resided for some time in Europe. She is also a good converser, being well informed and entertaining.

In 1892 she rented her farm, and is now living in Onalaska, where her facilities for rest from care and the enjoyment of life gen- erally are much enhaneed, and where her children have better school advantages.

EROY BUNN, a valued employé of the Sawyer & Austin Lumber Company, and one of the highly respected pioneers of La Crosse county, was born at Dix, New York, in 1843. He is a son of Samuel D. and Sarah (Griswold) Bunn, who were also natives of the Empire State. The father was a carpenter by trade, and in the year of the birth of our subject emigrated to Dane county, Wisconsin; there he purchased land

which he cultivated and improved for a period of twelve years; at the end of that time he sold his property and removed to Riehland county where he purchased another farm. He resided on this land until 1861, when he again sold out, moving thence to Monroe county; there he bought land, which he held until 1868, when he sold the farm and homesteaded 160 acres on Buffalo river in Trempealeau county; there he lived the remainder of his days, his death occurring when he had attained the good old age of eighty-six years. The mother sold the farm in 1889, and with a son and daughter moved to Seattle, Washington; she is now seventy-two years old. They reared a family of four children, of whom Leroy is the oldest; the second, Emeline, is the wife of Samuel Cox, a resident of Wash- ington. They have five children: Ida mar- ried C. C. Chamberlin, Mayor of Augusta, Wisconsin, and has one daughter; Ora J., the fourth of the family, married Miss Maggie Hislop, and they are the parents of two children.

Leroy Bunn attended the common schools a short season each year until he was eighteen, when he enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Bat- tery. His father objected and took him home, putting him at farm work, which he continued to do until February 24, 1564, when he again enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Ile was in the engagements at Kenesaw mountain, At- lanta, Dallas, Dalton, and Peachtree Creek ; he marched through the Carolinas and on to Washington, where he took part in the Grand Review in June, 1865; the men of his regi- inent who enlisted in 1864 were transferred to the Twelfth Wisconsin Veteran Reserve, and this reserve was mustered out at Louis- ville, Kentucky, in July, 1565. After the eessation of hostilities he returned to Wis-

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consin and engaged in agricultural pursuits States, landing at New York city January 1, in Trempealean county, which he followed until he entered the employ of the Sawyer and Austin Lumber Company.

Mr. Buun was married in 1570 to Miss Sarah C. Streeton, a daughter of William and Sarah Streeton, old and valued residents of Burns township. Mr. Streeton is now seventy-six years of age and his wife is seventy-two. They are the parents of five children, Mrs. Bunn being the oldest. Jabez married Miss Lillie Hulbert of Burn- Valley, and they have two children; Jacob lives with his parents; Anaa, deceased. was the wife of William Mack, and died in 1851, leaving one daughter: Enos married Miss Lillie Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Bunu are the parents of one son, Irving J., who is a member of Robert Hughes Camp, No. 42, Sons of Veterans; a member of John Flynn Post, No. 77. G. A. R., and his wife belongs to the Relief Corps. No. 25, attached to the above post. lle is a life- long and earnest Republican. The family belong to the Baptist Church.

ARL BRANDT. - Perhaps it is not to be wondered at that Mr. Brandt pos- " sesses such progressive ideas and ten- dencies regarding the management and con- duet of his farm when it is known that he was brought up to the life by his father, who was a substantial farmer of Germany. Carl was born September 25, 1543. in the prov- ince of llanover, Germany, a son of Anton and Dorothea (Kullenkamp) Brandt, the former of whom died in the land of his birth in 1-70, and the latter in 1985. He received a thorough education in the common schools of his native land, and until 1566 was his father's mainstay on the home farm. Decem. ber 25, that year, he emigrated to the United

1567. and immediately made his way to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and began working for the farmers in the vicinity of Bostwick Valley and La Crosse Valley; but at the end of four years, with the usual thrift of the German, he had acquired sufficient means to enable him to purchase 223 acres of land in sections 10 and 15, to which he has since added by purchase eighty acres at one time and seventy-three at another, making him an excellent farm of 376 acres, the most of which is in the valley and very fertile. His farming operations have been conducted according to the most advanced and progress- ive ideas, and have resulted in his own good and the benefit of those with whom he has come in contact. He has long since gained the reputation of being a successful tiller of the soil, and he always has been among the first in the use of new and improved machinery for the saving of labor. He has a fine wind pump on his place, and can draw water in his house and barns by simply turn- ing a fanect. llis farm is also well watered by a spring brook running through it, and he keeps constantly on hand about sixty-five head of graded cattle and from sixty to 100 head of hogs. The barns and sheds for their shelter during the winter months are of a most substantial kind. llis horse barns, in a basement, are especially commodious. Hle keeps six work horses, eight head of young horses and colts and about eighty head of sheep. His residence is a two-story briek building, a pleasant and comfortable home.

Mr. Brandt was married in 1574 to Miss Anna Wehrs, daughter of Dederich and Mar- guerite (Dunkirk) Wehrs, who was born December 11, 1854. in the province of Han- over, and left there in April, 1870, and came to the United States. Until her marriage in this country, she was in the employ of Mrs.

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W. L. Dudley. Following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Brandt: Rosa, born Feb- ruary 21, 1875; Minnie, July 24, 1576; Carl January 20, 1878; Jennie, May 11, 1880; Lillie, December 15, 1881; Wilhehn, May 15, 1883; Mary, March 23, 1SS5; Alfred, April 9, 1888; Anna, December 27, 1890. All the children are still with their parents.

Mr. Brandt has the satisfaction of knowing that his present property has been acquired through his own efforts, and that he is now in independent circumstances and owes no man a dollar. Ilis career is but another evi- dence of the possibilities young men have for advancement in the world when supported by strong resolution to rise. He keeps fully apace with the progress of his calling in every partienlar, and his present place is one of the neatest and most comfortable homesteads of the county.

Politically Mr. Brandt is a Democrat, is a patron of worthy causes, and has given his children a good education.

poser of music, teacher of piano, organ and harmony, at 922 State street.

Born in Germany, June 19, 1822, he re- ceived a thorough literary education, and later, or in 1846, graduated in music. Ile began teaching music and followed this suc- cessfully until 1850, when he crossed the ocean to the United States and located in Waukesha county, Wisconsin. In 1855 he came to La Crosse and has made his home here ever since, teaching musie as a business and meeting with flattering success. Ife is a popular composer of music and has over 240 pages, some of which are among the best now before the public. Ile composes both humorous and sacred pieces, among which are the following: "The Cradle Song," "Evergreen Grand Waltz," "Sweet Memo- ries," "Grand Concert Paraphrase," "Home Pleasures," "Morning Glory Grand March," "Welcome Overture " (piano duet), "The Fast Mail," "Bird Polka," "Old Water Mill," "At Home" (companion to "Sweet Home"), "Capriccio" (for piano and violin), " For- ward Grand March," and "Dreams of the Past" (for piano and violin). Prot. Hoffman has all the pupils he can accommodate and has made his start in that way. Ile clerked in the store one-half the time for a few years. Ile is a good composer of music and an efficient teacher, as thousands of his pupils can testify. HIe has recommendations from such well known sources as The Welcome Musical and Home Journal, Philadelphia; O. J. Church & Co., Musical Visitor, Cincinnati, Ohio; The Musical Review, New York, and Oliver Ditson & Co., Boston, Massachusetts. Ilis pupils are to be found in every family.

ROF. C. F. HOFFMAN, La Crosse, Wisconsin .- Europe was the birthplace of Handel and Mozart, of Beethoven and Mendelssohn and of other great com- posers. The musical instruments which held the professional world by a kind of involun- tary fascination were made there, and the most eminent critics of musical productions were nursed amid the inspirations of "Vater- land." La Crosse is a well known musical center, and among its inhabitants are to be found many whose tastes are at once correct and refined. There is, therefore, a tempting Prof. Hoffman was married January S. 1870, to Miss Joanna Grieser, and has two interesting children: Julia and Edwin. Miss Julia is an accomplished musician, plays field here for the musical composer or in- structor whose reputation as an authority cannot be questioned. Such a one is found in the person of Prof. C. F. Hoffman, com- equally well on the piano and organ, and ex-

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ventes the most difficult pieces of classic music. She has had no other teacher than her father. For several years she has been in Loomis' music store as elerk and player. Edwin is an artist of great ability in paint- ing, and his work is most beautiful and attractive. It is doubtful if he has a superior as an artist of his age-sixteen years-in the State. Also he is a great poultry fancier and breeder, taking premiums at the poultry fair here and at other places. Keeps first-class stock of white Leghorns and Cochins. Both children are extraordinary specialists in their line. Prof. Iloffman and wife are members of the German Lutheran Church, and are' citizens of whom La Crosse may justly be proud. The Professor is a member of the 1. (). O. F., and takes little interest in politics.

is a son of llenry and Matilda (Menn) Esch, the father a native of Westphalia, Germany, and the mother of St. Charles, Missouri, though of German parentage. The father was formerly a groceryman, but is now re- ! tired. He is a good, honorable and reliable citizen, being in every way worthy of the esteem in which he is held. He is now sixty-five years of age and the mother is fifty-four. They reared five children, four sons and one daughter, of whom John J. is second in order of birth. One son, Dr. S. Il. Esch, is a practicing physician in Neillsville, Clark county, Wisconsin; another son, Will- jam A., is clerk in a grocery store at Sparta. and the other two, George and Ella, are attending school.

Wisconsin, March 20, 1861, and he received his earlier education in Sparta high school. Later he entered the State University, elassi- cal course, class of 1982, and afterward entered the law department of the same in- stitution, graduating in 1557. In July of that year he began practicing at La Crosse and has remained here ever since. The firm name is Winter, Esch & Winter, and they have been doing a very satisfactory business. lle was City Treasurer of Sparta for one term, was Captain of the State Militia there for three years, and he has just resigned the office of Captain of the Gateway City Guards of La Crosse.

Mr. Esch was married December 24, 1889, to Miss Anna Herbst, the third of six chil- (Iren, all of whom are living, born to the marriage of Fred Herbst of Sparta. She was a pupil of the high school at Sparta, but did not finish her course. Her parents are still living and are honored residents of Sparta. One child, Panl Il., has blessed Mr. and

FROIIN J. ESCHI, attorney. La Crosse, Wisconsin .- Of the many prominent names that make up the strength of the Mrs. Esch's union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eseh Wisconsin bar is that of John J. Esch, who , are members of the Congregational Church.

Mr. Esch, like all the members of the Esch family, is a stanch Republican and takes a decided interest in political matters. Ile is a publie-spirited citizen, is a man of decided views, and not only stands deservedly high in his profession, but is held high in the es- timation of his associates. Ile forms warm personal attachments and has many sincere friends.

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h ON. J. J. HOGAN has for many years been so closely connected with the lead- ing business interests of La Crosse that a history of the county would be incomplete without an extended account of his career.

John J. Esch was born in Monroe county, ' Ile is a son of James and Honora B. (Bur-

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rows) Hogan, the father being a native of St. Johns, Newfoundland, and the mother hav- ing lived there since her childhood. James Ilogan was captain of a vessel and followed the sea for forty years; he commanded the the flag-ship of the first flour fleet that went around Cape Horn in 1849 to the gokl " diggins " of California; he was an employé of the large shipping house of Toban & Co., London He came West with his family in 1847 and settled them in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, and then returned to the water; he was born in 1805 and died in 1882; his wife died in 1873, at the age of fifty-five years. They had born to them a family of thirteen children, only three of whom are living at the present time: Stephen B., an agrieulturist of Ashiland county, Wisconsin : J. J., the subject of this notice, and Mrs. N. B. Holway, whose husband's biography appears on another page of this volume.

Mr. Hogan had only the advantages afforded by the common schools of his day ; he came to La Crosse in 1857, and the follow- ing year laid the foundation of his present prosperous business; the village was a small one, quite in proposition to his capital; by wise management and the exercise of a naturally good judgment, he has extended his business enterprises until he is now one of the leading merchants of this section of the State. He owns a wholesale grocery and in connection with this operates the La Crosse coffee and spice mills, manufacturing also baking-powder and extracts; he is vice- president of the La Crosse Soap Company, president of the La Crosse Manufacturers' and Jobbers' Union, and deals largely in hard- wood and agricultural lands. Hle was elected Mayor of the city of La Crosse in 1875 and again in 1876; he was a member of the As- sembly in 1888, and was re-elected in 1890; during the term of 1891 he was elected

Speaker of the House; his vote in his distriet was 2,396 against Alfred Harrison, Repub. lican, who received 1,693 votes; II. G. Miller, Prohibitionist, received 180 votes. In his official career the same earnestness and candor have been exercised that have marked his private business transactions, and he has re- flected great credit upon himself, as well as upon his constituency.

Mr. Hogan was married, December 24, 1863, to Miss Amanda Cook, a daughter of E. Fox Cook, of Milwaukee, a prominent Democrat and a lawyer; he was a member of the Legislatures of Michigan and also of New York and Wisconsin; he died in La Crosse, at the age of eighty-two years; his wife is still living; they had a family of seven children, fonr of whom grew to maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Hogan are the parents of four children : Gertrude M. is a graduate of Smith College, Massachusetts; Lulu M. has completed a four years' course in music at Smith's College; John D. is a student at Canisius College, Buffalo, New York; James C. has always attended private school, and is now a pupil of Prof. Reynolds, one of the most prominent educators of the State.

OBERT CONEY, who has the honor to be numbered among the early settlers of La Crosse county, was born in Athenry, county Galway, Ireland, in 1823. Ilis parents, John and Elizabeth (Alexander) Coney, were also natives of Ireland, and lived and died there. Robert attended school until he was thirteen years old. Although a mere lad he determined to try his fortune in the New World, and accordingly emigrated to America, locating in New Brunswick, where his uncle-in-law, Mr. French. had a lucrative contract for furnishing supplies to the British

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army of the province, assisting him in his Fisher, of La Crosse, and the mother of one business until he was twenty-one. There he child, Robert: Emma keeps house for her father and brother. They are all members of the Catholic Church. was variously employed, earning his living, but availed himself of every opportunity that offered to gain an education. He continued there until he was twenty-one years of age. returning to Ireland in 1544. There he em- barked in the mercantile trade, which he con- tinued until 1851. The attractions of Amer- iva again became too strong for family ties or native land, so he once more crossed the sea. and after this arrival here he settled in New York city. He entered the employ of Whitlock. Nichols & Whitlock, wholesale grocers, 54 Front street, and was with this firm three years: and was with Hews. Jenkins & Chandler, 308 Broadway, two years. The following three years were spent in Boston. Massachusetts, where he was purchasing agent for a New Brunswick house.

In 1556 he joined the great earavan then moving to the West, and stopping in Wis. consin located in Milwaukee. He seeured a situation in the shops of the Chicago, Mil- wankce & St. Paul Railroad, and for three years followed this business. In 1961 he re- moved to La Crosse, and was employed in the that time he has not been actively engaged in

shops of the same company until 1sss. Since , went to Heart Prairie and took charge of the any business. For the past four years he has been Justice of the Peace, and for one term he was Assessor of Campbell township. In all the walks of life he has conducted himself with uprightness, and has won an enviable reputation in every community in which he has lived.

Mr. Coney was married, in 1852, in New York city, to Miss Mary Creden, and of this union four children have been born: John E. is train despatcher for the Chicago, Burling- ton & Northern Railroad at La Crosse; Robert is a machinist, residing at Sumas city. Washington: Anna is the wife of George

B. CALAHAN. one of the pioneers of 1851, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Montgomery county, December 30, 1>19. His parents, John and Sarah Calahan. were natives of the same State: the father was a wheelwright by trade; he served as a soldier in the war of 1912, and the paternal grand- father, IIngh Calahan, fought in the Revolu- tionary struggle. In his youth our subjeet had but few educational advantages, and it was through his own efforts that he gained sufficient knowledge to fit him for the duties of life. At the age of sixteen years he went to learn the earpenter's trade, and followed this occupation during his residence in Penn- sylvania. In 1844 hecame West to Walworth county. Wiseonsin, and worked at his trade for one year; at the end of twelve months he determined to engage in agrienltual pursuits, which he continued three years. In 1548 he manufacturing business of Rubler & Whit- ney: this he conducted successfully for two years. In 1851. as before stated, he came to La Crosse; this was in June, and after a month's sojourn he returned to Heart Prai- ric; in the fall. however, he came again to La Crosse and located permanently; until 1>59 he was engaged in general building, but he then turned his attention to the construc- tian of railway bridges, and for many years was employed by the railroad companies hav- ing lines traversing the Mississippi valley; he built all the bridges of the Turkey River Railroad. the Chippewa Valley Railroad, the Narrow Gauge road from the Mis-

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sissippi to Preston, Minnesota, and did a large amount of work for the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul road, and assisted in the building of the dock at Ashland on the Lake Shore road. For the last ten years he lias practically retired from this line of work. In 1890, however, he superintended the con- struction of the driving bridge across the Mississippi at La Crosse.

Mr. Calahan has not confined his interests to business alone, but has given much thought to the political questions of the day. In early days he was a Whig. and cast his first presi- dential vote for Harrison; since the formation of the Republican party he has zealously supported its measures. Hle is a man of sterling traits of character, and enjoys the highest regard of the people among whom he has lived so many years. ITis business trans- actions have been of unquestionable fairness, and won him a patronage as truly apprecia- tive as it was wide-spread.

RANCIS M. SISSON, a resident of La Crosse county from early infancy, is numbered among the reliable agricult- urists of Farmington township. Hle was born in Walworth county, this State, March 27, 1852, the youngest in the family of George Sisson, one of the earliest pioneers of the county, arriving here in December, 1851, and in May the next year removing his fain- ily to their new home on the frontier. The father was born in Hampden county, Massa- chusetts, at Witbraham, July 14, 1804, the son of Augustus Sisson; and the latter was born at Stonington, Connecticut, witnessed in early boyhood the battle fought there during the Revolutionary war, and died at Willoughby, Ohio, about 1848. George Sisson was reared as a farmer, remaining

in New England until he was eighteen years of age, when he moved to Geauga county, Ohio, where he lived until 1846. In that year he came to Walworth county, Wis- consin, and in 1852 settled in Lewis valley, obtaining the last claim in the settlement. Here he lived for forty years, witnessing the wonderful development of the natural re- sources of the country, bearing the privations and hardship of a pioneer settler, and at last reaping the reward of an industrious and honorable life. lle was married in Ohio, at the age of twenty-two years, to Lucia Ema- line Bartholomew, a native of Goshen, C'on- necticut, and a daughter of John and Abby Bartholomew. Nine children were born of this union: Oscar O., Margaret M., wife of A. G. Welch; Oree A., Olen G., Selena S., Olonzo S., Francis M., the subject of this notice, and two who died in infancy. In the late war four of the sons went out in defense of their country, as follows: Oscar O., who served two years in Company I, Eighth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and five years in Company F, Second United States Artillery ; Olen G. and Oree A., members of Company B, Second Wisconsin Cavalry for two years; and Olonzo S. belonged to the same company four years.

The mother of the above family passed from this life in 1871, leaving her husband, who survived her, until February 22, 1892, when he died, at the age of eighty seven years and a little more, upon the homestead where he had lived continously for forty years. The remains were interred in the Farmington cemetery, beside those of his wife, there to await the morning of the resurrection of the just. He was a strong Republican; was chairman of the first Republican committee of Farmington township. For many years he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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Francis M. Sisson was reared to the life of in life at the age of nineteen years as a school a farmer in this county, receiving his educa- tion in the common schools. He spent teu winters in the woods and on the drive, where he was a capable and valued hand. At the age of twenty-eight years he married Miss Marian MePherson, a native of Trempealean eonuty. Wisconsin, and a daughter of Edward and Polly ( Hillaker) MePherson. Two brothers of Mrs. Sisson were soldiers in the late war, and lost their lives in the service of their country: their names were Napoleon and Peter.

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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