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 59

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 59
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 59
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 59

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Mr. McIntosh has always given a liberal support to those educational and religions movements which have for their object the uplifting and upbuilding of the entire com- munity. He adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and his sons vote the same ticket.

ACOB PFAFF is one of the progressive agriculturists of Farmington township. La Crosse county, and is a loyal citizen of his adopted country. He is a native of Saxony, Germany, born September 14, 1544,

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and is a son of William and Margaret (Stor- andt) Pfaff, natives of the same country. It was during his childhood that his parents emigrated to America and settled in Walworth county, Wisconsin. The mother died a few months later, and the father was married a second time; by the first wife five children were born, two of whom are living; by the second marriage there were eight children born, five of whom survive. William Pfaff was a farmer by occupation and followed that calling during his residence in Wisconsin. Politically he adhered to the principles of the Democratic party, and in his religions faith he was a Lutheran.

Jacob Pfaff was reared in Walworth county, near Lake Geneva, and received his education in the common schools. In 1863 he came to La Crosse county and settled near Burr Oak, where he engaged in farming; he spent sev- eral winters in the pine woods and three seasons on the drive.

Before the civil war was ended he enlisted in Company G. Fifty-first Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, and was stationed for a time at Fort Leavenworth; he served until Angust, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Madison, Wisconsin. He then returned to La Crosse county, taking up his old vocation, which he followed here until 1872; in that year he went to Jackson county and improved a farm near Melrose; at the end of five years he came back to La Crosse county and lo- cated on his present farm. This consists of 160 acres, and is well improved with all the necessary buildings for systematic agricul- ture. Mr. Pfaff carries on a general farming business, giving special attention to dairying: he has a stone milk-house and is well equip- ped for this branch of business.

On July 2, 1572, he was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Tepeck, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Kesler) Tepeek. Mrs. Pfaff

was born at Bedford, Westchester county, New York, and was but four years of age when her parents removed to Wisconsin and settled in Walworth county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. Her par- ents removed to this county in 1871 and settled in Lewis valley.

In his political opinions Mr. Pfaff is a Democrat, but at times casts his vote for the man who is best fitted, in his estimation, to fill the office regardless of politics. He has been supervisor of the township, and was an efficient officer. Ile is a member of Nelson Quiggle Post, No. 233, G. A. R., and takes an active interest in the organization.

In addition to his agricultural interests, Mr. Pfaff has for eleven seasons run a thresh- ing-machine, and has been very successful in this industry.

OSEPH RICHMOND, farmer. Onalaska, Wiseonsin .- There is probably no man within the limits of La Crosse county. Wisconsin, who is more extensively engaged in farming than Mr. Richmond, and through- ont a residence of nearly forty years here he has become well known as a man of progress- ive spirit, energy and clear perception. Ile is the son of John James Richmond, a native of Canada, and the grandson of James Rich- mond who was an Englishman. The grand- mother, Miss - - Savard, was a native of Canada. John James Richmond was married in his native country to Miss Ufroi- sine Boivert, also a native of Canada, and their union was blessed by the birth of four children: John, who is now a prominent old settler of La Crosse: Mrs. Matilda Marco, died in Campbell township, La Crosse county, in 1888; Mrs. Orrilla Martel, wife of Cam- mell Martell, and Joseph, the subject of this

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sketch. The parents of these children came to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1837, and the mother died in this State, December 11, 1874, at the age of sixty four. She was a devout member of the Catholic Church. After her death, the father married again. He is now living on French Island and is eighty-seven years of age. Our subject's maternal grand- father, Mitchell Boivert, was also a native of Canada. Joseph Richmond was born in Three Rivers county, the Province of Quebec, October 22, 1836, and received his education in the common schools of his native country. He became familiar with the duties of the farm at an early age, and in 1854 came to La Crosse county, where he worked on the river for six years. He saved his money and subsequently bought 147 acres of land where he now resides, paying $10 per acre for the same. He is now the owner of 600 acres, and has one of the best farms in La Crosse county. . This is situated two miles from La Crosse and the fine, two-story residence and the comfortable and substantial out-buildings add much to the appearance of the place. Ile is a prominent stock-raiser also and has some fine Jersey cattle, good horses, and sheep.

Mr. Richmond was married October 13, 1861, in La Crosse county, to Miss Delimas Morin, a native of Quebec, and the daughter of Frank and J. (Martell) Morin. Mr. and Mrs. Morin were the parents of the following living children: Frank, Pertetna, Julia, Ed. ward, Leonard. Delimas and Emma. Mr. Morin died in 1872 and his wife received her final summons in May, 1876. To Mr. and Mrs. Richmond have been born seven chil- dren, four now living: Emma, wife of George Perus of Onalaska; Matilda, wife of Charles Asselin of Campbell township; Alvina, wife of Frank Kiezer of Onalaska; and John D., attending the St. John University at College-

ville, Minnesota. The three children de- ceased were: Leo died at eight years of age; George died at the age of six years, and Davie died at the age of six years. Mr. Richmond advocates the principles of the Republican party, and has served as Super- visor in the town board for twenty years. He is a member of the Catholic Church and one of its liberal supporters. le came on the island when there were but three log houses, and is one of the pioneers. He is progressive and enterprising and takes a de- cided interest in religious and educational matters.

ON. JOHN DAWSON .- Among the representative and esteemed citizens of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, there is probably no one more deserving of mention than Mr. Dawson, whose residence within its borders has extended over a period of forty years. During this time he has served in various official capacities and always with such satisfactory results that naught but words of commendation has been bestowed upon him. He was born in Lancashire, Eng- land, May 20, 1832, to Joseph and Lydia (Brook) Dawson, and with them emigrated to America in 1840, and settled in the wilds of Wisconsin Territory. They entered Govern- ment land near Raymond Center, Racine county, and there the father and mother re- sided until their respective deaths, at the age of seventy-two and sixty-tive years. Joseph Dawson was a merchant in England, but de- voted his attention to agriculture after settling in Wisconsin. Ile and his wife united with the Methodist Church and reared their eight children to honest and useful manhood and womanhood.

John is the only one of these children liv-

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ing in La Crosse county. Ile was eight years of age when his parents located in Ra- cine county, and his boyhood days were spent in clearing the home farm, his school days being very few and far between. They com- prised a period of only a few weeks and were spent in the typical log schoolhouse of early times. He was, however, very observing and quick to embrace new ideas, and in the thor- ough, if hard, school of experience he imbibed ; lessons of honesty, industry and frugality which have been of material benefit to him in his later career. Upon coming to La Crosse county, he obtained some Government land upon which he chopped, and sold wood for a number of years, then disposed of his prop- erty, and in 1864 purchased the farm on which he is now residing, which consists of 300 acres,-one of the best farms in La Crosse county. His residence is a very comfortable and pleasant one, well furnished in modern style, is surrounded by beautiful shade trees, and in summer the lawn is dotted with beds of beautiful flowers. Ilis outbuildings are of the most substantial and modern descrip- tion: he has a fine building location and every- thing about the place shows that Mr. Dawson is a man of discrimination, practical views and thrift.

He was married April 26, 1863, in this county, to Miss Christina Stumphf, who has been to her husband a help mate indeed. She was born in the Keystone State, to Michael and Mary (Stark) Stumphf, both native Ger- mans, who settled in Pennsylvania when young, and were there married. The father died in that State, when Mrs. Dawson was a child, succeeding which the widowed mother came with her daughter to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, in 1856, and was here called from life at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Dawson was reared and educated in Pennsylvania, un- til twelve years of age. She has borne Mr.

Dawson four children: Wesley John, born February 8, 1869, assists his father on the home farm; Lydia C. was born October 31, 1870; Sidney Joseph was born December 7, 1878; and one child, Arthur, died in infancy.

Mr. Dawson is an enthusiastic Democrat and has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Town Treasurer and Clerk, Chairman of the Town Board for twelve years and has also been a member of the School Board for a number of years. It was through his influ- ence and labor that the asylum was located at West Salem, and he was largely instru- mental in securing the erection of the jail on its present site. He has long been recog- nized as one of the wheel horses of his party and in 1883 his numerous friends and ad- mirers elected him to the State Legislature by a majority of 1,300 over Dan Shane, the Republican nominee. He was honored by a re-election in 1890, with a majority of forty- six over William Smith, Republican.

Ile is plain and unpretentious in manners, and while not aggressive in opinion, nor dis- posed to be disputatious, yet he has most emphatically a "mind of his own," with the moral courage to express it when occasion so demands. Such men as Mr. Dawson make model American citizens, for he is of that moral and personal integrity, and clear, well- balanced, active intelligence, which adorn the private station and make and keep the public service pure.

P. SMITH is numbered among the solid business men of La Crosse, Wis- @ consin, and is one of the proprietors of the Cameron House, the firm being Fox & Smith. Ile was born in Wayne county, Ohio, near Wooster, April 16, 1829, and his parents,

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Asa and Lanra Smith, were both natives of the Green Mountain State. They came to Ohio in 1812, resided in Wayne county for a number of years, and in 1850 eame to Fond- du Lae, Wisconsin. The father was a man of good business qualifications, and was in every way a worthy citizen. He was origin- ally a farmer, but the latter part of his life dealt in real estate and loaned money. Ilis death occurred in St. Paul, Minnesota. D. P. Smith, the eldest of seven children, four of whom are still living, was reared in his na- tive State and learned the trade of silversmith in Mansfield, Ohio. Ile has been in the hotel business for over thirty years, first in Faribault, Minnesota, where he remained many years, going there in 1856. In 1881 he came to La Crosse, and has been engaged in the hotel business with Mr. Fox since that time. They do the leading business in the city, and are pleasant, agreeable gentlemen. Mr. Smith was County Treasurer of Riee county, Minnesota, for four years (two terins) and his official record was very satisfactory. Ile could have had the office another term had he remained. Mr. Smith selected as his companion in life Miss Adalaide S. Beane, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Beane, whose bus- band died when Adalaide was but twelve years of age, and their union was celebrated in 1857. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children: Laura B., Mary A. and Fredrick B., all of whom have received a thor- ough education. Laura B. resides in La Crosse, and is the wife of Daniel Cunning- ham, who is Superintendent of the Burlington & Northern Railroad. Mary A. resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the wife of W. B. Chandler, who is traveling passenger agent for the "Soo " Railroad. They have two children: Malcolm D. and Gertrude B. Fredriek B. Smith resides in St. Paul, and is book-keeper for the firm of Baupre, Keough

& Co. He is a graduate of the Military Academy at Faribault. In polities Mr. Smith is a Republican and an ardent one. Ener- getie in his business, amiable in disposition and courteous in manner, Mr. Smith is one of the popular men of the county, and has won a host of warm friends.

OIIN M. BECK, one of the prominent business men of North La Crosse, is a Seandinavian by birth, but a loyal eiti- zen of the United States. He was born in Norway, June 24, 1854, and there acquired his education. When he went into business he embarked in the grocery trade which he carried on until he came to the United States in 1881. After arriving in this country he eame to the West, and after a year's residence in Minnesota, bought a farm in that State which he cultivated one year, selling it at the end of that time. lle then removed to Dakota and purchased a farm there on which he lived three years. Disposing of this prop- erty he removed to La Crosse, and for one year was variously employed. He began dealing in real estate, and in this he has been very successful; he has also done some build- ing, and owns a number of houses, which he rents. Ile is agent for the Hamburg & Brem- en Insurance Company, is Notary Public, and does a large conveyance business. He is one of the most enterprising and progressive men of the city, and is recognized in business cireles as one of the telling forces in any move- ment or cause which he espouses.

Mr. Beck was united in marriage in 1850 to Miss Chonradine Petersen, whose parents lived and died in the old country. To Mr. and Mrs. Beck have been born six children, three of whom are living: Alfon, Cathinska and Henning. In the year 1886 three of the

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children died within a short space of time of the dread diphtheria; this was a sad loss to the fond father and mother, requiring all the fortitude and courage of their natures to endure. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are possessed of many excellent traits, and are among the most popular residents of North La Crosse.

THAN ROBERTS, an intelligent farmer and dairyman of Farmington township. has resided here since 1855. He was born in Erie county, New York, April 24, 1824, and is the son of Elisha and Cynthia (Lapham) Roberts, who were also born in the Empire State. Elisha Roberts was a son of Noah Roberts, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Elisha Roberts died in Oakland county, Michigan, October 13, 1891, at the age of ninety five years.

Ethan Roberts was seven years of age when his parents removed to Wayne county, Michigan. He received his education in the common and select schools, and was engaged in teaching for several years in Michigan, after which he traveled quite extensively in the Northwest, and visited his brother-in- law, Luther Downer and family, in Lewis valley, La Crosse county, in the spring of 1852.

July 27, 1553, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah W. Dana, at Milford. Michi- gan. Mrs. Roberts was born at Amherst, Massachusetts, March 14, 1828, and is a daughter of Joseph and Clara (Benton) Dana. Her paternal grandfather was Ama- riah Dana, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, who rendered gallant service in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Her maternal grandfather was Timothy Benton, who was also a soldier in the Revolution. Mrs. Rob-

erts was a successful teacher for many terms, both in Massachusetts and in Michigan, and is a well-informed and practical woman.

Mr. Roberts first settled on section 22, range 5, but is now living on section 24, range 7. He has 159 acres of choice, well- watered land. Ilis cheese is of very fine quality, and commands the highest market price. He has held many town offices, among which was that of chairman of the Board.

Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have three sons: F. Dana, born in 1854: George C., born in 1857; and Fred L., born in 1862.

They have a very comfortable, convenient and pleasant home, in a quiet, peaceable neighborhood.

JEORGE E. BRIGGS, an intelligent and enterprising man of Holland township, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, is a native of the Empire State, his birth occurring in Erie county on the 22d of June, 1858. He is the son of George W. Briggs, the grand- son of Thomas M. Briggs, and the great grandson of Captain Ethan Allen Briggs, who was a whaler and a man of prominence. Thomas M. Briggs was a native of the Green Mountain State, and his wife, whose maiden name was Phobe Church, was also born in that State. Their children, seven in number, and tive of whom are living, are named in the order of their births as follows: Allen, George W, Morris, Delia and Chauncey. Thomas M. Briggs died when seventy-five years of age, but his wife, who is now seventy-five years of age, resides in Arcadia, Wisconsin, and enjoys comparatively good health. Their son, Goorge W., was born in Erie county, New York, July 13, 1837, and is now an esteemed citizen of Onalaska township, this county. He was parly trained to the duties

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of the farm, and his scholastic advantages were obtained in the common schools. In 1864 he came to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and here he has since made his home. Ile has lived on his present farm since 1870.

He was married November 22, 1857, to Miss Mary Jane Peabody, an intelligent lady, born November 22, 1834, in Erie county, New York, and the daughter of John Peabody, a Vermonter, whose father, Phineas Peabody, was also a native of that State, born in Man- chester. John Peabody married Miss Louisa Colburn, a native of New York State, and both died in Indiana. They were the parents of eleven children, and two sons, Stephen and Monroe, were soldiers in the civil war, in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. To George W. Briggs and wife were born eight children, who are named in the order of their births as follows: George E., Alice, wife of Albert Bartholo- mew; Charlie, Lorena, wife of Peter Hansen, of Minnesota; Clarence, Winifred, Lnella and Bertha.

George E. Briggs was a boy of six when he came with his parents to La Crosse county, and here he has since made his home. His boyhood days were passed in assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools, where he received a good practical education. He came on his present farm in 1890, and is now the owner of eighty acres of good land. He has a good house, his barns and out- buildings are roomy and substantial, and everything about the place indicates a thrifty and enterprising owner. Mr. Briggs was married January 22, 1885, to Miss Kate Mulder, who was born and reared in New Amsterdam, and who is the daughter of John and Kate (Brons) Mulder. IIer parents eamne to this county in 1853, and are now residing at New Amsterdam. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have been born three children: Katie Jane,

George Wallis and Walter Eugene. Mr. Briggs owns a threshing-machine, in partner- ship with Elbert Bartholomew, and they are doing a good business. Mr. Briggs has fol- lowed this for eleven years, and is expert at it. He is a good eitizen and a popular man.

EV. HENRY ANDREAS, pastor of the German Reformed Church, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born in Highland Park, Cook county, Illinois, in 1857, his parents, Jost and Catherine (Schiller) Andreas, being worthy residents of that place. Henry was educated in the public schools of Chicago and Waukegan, after which he spent six years in an academy and college of Sheboygan, Wis- consin, graduating in 1882. His first labors as a minister of the gospel was in Waukegan, where he remained about six months, but in Jannary, 1883, accepted a call to La Crosse, where he remained until April, 1889. He then accepted a call to his present charge, where he is doing good and acceptable ser- vice for his church. He is enthusiastie and untiring in his work and has been the means of bringing many souls to the feet of Christ.

Ile was married in April, 1882, to Miss Bertha Schilling, of Kiel, Wisconsin, daugh- ter of Ilenry and Caroline Schilling, who were born in South Germany, on the Rhine river. They came to America about 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Andreas are the parents of three sons: Arthur. Reuben and Roland, all of whom are at home attending school. Mr. Andreas has charge of the school connected with his church, and the session lasts five month throughout the year. Ile and his entire congregation are warm advocates of the publie school system, their children attend- ing the church school only in order to learn the German language. Mr. Andreas' services

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for so long a time in each of his charges, is an indication that his labors have been appre- ciated, and that he has done noble and able work is acknowledged by all. He is an ideal minister of the gospel, and both by precept and example leads his flock in the right way. His heart is open toward all humanity and he is ever ready with words of sympathy and open purse to aid the needy and distressed. His character is noble and faithful, his dispo- sition earnest and sincere, and in the pulpit his eloquence and his clear and lucid manner of explaining difficult scriptural passages, have made their meaning clear and have brought his congregation into closer touch and sym- pathy with him who died on the cross.

- ON. SUEL BRIGGS, New Amsterdam, 'La Crosse county, Wisconsin, is one of the prominent early settlers of this place. He dates his birth in Erie county, near Buffalo, New York, April 7, 1821. His father, Ephraim A. Briggs, was born in the town of Orange, Massachusetts, a son of Cap- tain Samuel Briggs, a sea captain and a man of prominence in his native village, where he owned a mill and was known far and wide. He was drowned while removing logs from the the mill pond on the stream near his mill. Suel Briggs was the seventh-born in a family of seven sons and four daughters. His father was among the pioneers of Erie county, New York, and on what was then the frontier of civilization he developed a fine farm and reared his large family of children. He passed all his life in agricultural pursuits, and died at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years. He was strong and active, and walked twelve miles over a rough country the day before he died. In polities he was a Whig. Although frequently urged to accept office,

he always refused, preferring the quiet life of a farmer. In his religious views he was a Free-Thinker. Mr. Suel Briggs' mother, whose maiden name was Sally Townsend, came West and lived in La Crosse county several years. She died in Minnesota, at the age of eighty-four. She was a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church.

The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and received his early education in the common-schools. He studied early and late in the chimney corner, has continued his reading all through life, and much of his ed- ucation has been obtained by actual business experience. In 1842 he took a trip West and was in Janesville, Wisconsin, when that city contained only a half dozen cabins. He returned East, and in the spring of 1856 again came to Wisconsin, and spent the sum- mer in Dodge county, selling goods, and in the fall settled in La Crosse county. After his arrival he taught a district school for two terms, and taught a private school in his own house four terms. In 1859 he entered the law office of Cobb & Messmore, of La Crosse, as a student, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. In 1863 he located on his pres- ent farm and has since made this place his home. He has 160 acres of fine farming land, all kept in first-class order. He has a two-story residence, good barn and fences, and every thing about the premises bespeak prosperity.

In connection with his agricultural pur- suits, he has transacted considerable legal business, and has always been regarded as a consciencious and safe counselor. In carly life he was a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party, he became, and has continued a strong advocate of its principles. He has filled nearly all the offices in his town, was chairman of the Board of Supervisors for twelve years, was one of the county Commis-

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sioners, before the change in the law, and for thirty-four years has served as Justice of the Peace, having served as long if not longer, in that capacity, than any man in the county. He was elected to the Legislature in 1877, and for two years filled that honorable po- sition, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. Ile is still fond of books and study, and is almost as much of a student as at any time during his life. In 1890 he read the Bible and the works of Josephus both through, comparing them. He has never been a member of any church, nor is he a believer in any of the religions ereeds of the present times. His religion is to do good, and is an essential part of his every day life. He is of a robust constitution, and is remarkably well preserved, and young- looking for his years, and appears to have many years of active life before him. Free and easy in manners, jovial in disposition, with a kind word for all, he is held in high esteem by a limitless circle of friends.

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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