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 72

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 72
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 72
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 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

market, by reason of its proximity to the most important sources of supply. Among the most active and enterprising firins in the manufacture of lumber is the Goddard Lum- ber Mill Company, of which Hiram Goddard is the efficient proprietor and head.

He was born in Worcester connty, Massa- chusetts, March 8, 1836, to David and Sallie (Goddard) Goddard, also natives of the Bay State, the former of whom was a farmer and contractor, and lived and died in the State of his birth. Hle was called from life in 1873, at the age of seventy-two years, his career throughout life having been a useful and honorable one. His widow still survives him, and resides in the State of her birth. She bore her husband six children, of whom Hiram was the third in order of birth. He was brought up to the monotonous duties of farm life, but, this calling not being congenial to his tastes, he decided to turn his attention to some other business, and in August, 1857, came to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and embarked in the milling business, which with river work has engaged his attention ever since. Ile possesses business ability of a high order, and that persevering and enterprising spirit that overcomes all obstacles, and lias met with the success commensurate with the abilities he has displayed and the high principles and - IRAM GODDARD, proprietor of the Goddard Lumber Mill of North La Crosse, Wisconsin .- In the commercial centers of the country the manufacture of Inmber is the most important in volume and moral business methods which have formed the corner-stone of his business career. In addition to his sawmill he owns a farm of 500 acres; abont 400 acres of this is rich bottom land, on which he ent over 700 tons of hay in 1891. His mill is located in North La Crosse, and has a capacity of about 12,- value, next to the manufacture of iron; and 000,000 feet of lumber annually. He has as La Crosse is in easy reach by rail of the about 1,000,000 feet at his yards at the pineries of Wisconsin and Michigan, and as present time. He rafts most of his lumber down the river as far as St. Louis, and gets his logs from the Black river pineries of large quantities are sent down the Mississippi river annually from Northern Wisconsin the eity of La Crosse is recognized as a leading | Wisconsin. He has quite a cattle ranch and

577

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

farm, supplied with water by a fine artesian well; a three-fourths-inch pipe supplies his entire farin and house-the Goddard House.

Mr. Goddard is one of a large class of citi- zens who came West with little means, but with indomitable push and perseverance he bent the force of circumstances to his will, and his efforts have resulted in the accumn- lation of a handsome fortune. He is a reli- able and influential citizen, and among his fellow-citizens he bears a high reputation for uprightness and integrity of character. Ile is a representative man in every sense of the word, and has always been ready to aid any undertaking tending to redound to the gen- eral good of the city and county, and has identified himself with many of the leading enterprises. He is a director in the State Bank of La Crosse, and owns stock in the Building Association and in the Black River Improvement Company, to each and all of which he has added prestige and stability.

In 1868 Miss Maryett, daughter of Henry Harlow, of Vermont, became his wife, and eventually the mother of his two children: Myrtie Mildred, aged eleven years, and Roland If., aged eight. Mr. and Mrs. God- dard are members of the Congregational Church, in which he is a trustee, and politi- cally he supports the men and measures of the Republican party.

LE NYHUS has been a resident of ha Crosse since 1866, and has rendered that city such service as to entitle him to the following space in the history of La Crosse county. He is a native of Norway, born at Lille-hammer, July 5, 1834, and is a son of Peter Nyhus by his marriage to Carrie Alsberg. In 1848 the father emigrated to America and settled in Madison, Wisconsin,

where he died in 1852; the mother passed from this life in her native country. Ole Nyhus learned the trade of plasterer an l briekmason in his native land, and worked a- a journeyman in different parts of Norway until 1866. During this time he also did four years of military service for his country. Believing that America would afford him better opportunities than the crowded Euro pean continent he bade farewell to the scenes of childhood, and sailed away to the United States. Ile located in La Crosse, and was soon actively engaged in the building and contracting business. He has been connected with the erection of many of the largest and most expensive buildings in the city, includ- ing the county jail, many of the churches and some of the handsomest private resi- dences in the place.

Mr. Nyhus was married in Lille-hammer, Norway, to Miss Tonetta II. Hostmellingen, a daughter of H. Hostmellingen. One son has been born of this union, Edward II. Ny- hus, who has been well reared and educated; he is now a traveling salesman of excep- tional ability. He married Miss Louisa Pe- tersen, a native of La Crosse, and they have had born to them one daughter, IFelen. Mrs. Nyhus is a daughter of Alexander Petersen.

The subject of this notice, Ole Nyhus, is an honored member of the Norden Society, and of the I. O. O. F. Ile is a man of ex- cellent business qualifications, and enjoys the respect of the entire community.

22222# 22200

IERISTIAN FREDERICK KLEIN, merchant and proprietor of The Market, of La Crosse, was born in Württemburg. Germany, September 14, 1844. His parents, Johan Heinrich and Mary Magdalena ( Kelle) Klein, were of old Württemburg families, and

578

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

both the paternal and maternal ancestors of fine, robust constitutions and were generally long-lived; they were for two or three gen- erations just preceding the present one an agricultural people, and the records beyond that time show them to be proficient in the profession of medieine, and skillful military men. In 1856, Johan II. Klein emigrated with his family to America and settled in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he still re- sides; the family consists of three sons: Christof Gottlieb, a resident of Cross, Buf- falo county; Gottfried, of Belvidere, Buffalo county and Christian Frederick, the subject of this briet biography. Ile passed his boy- hood in Buffalo county, and at the age of nineteen years secured a position as elerk in a general mereantile establishment in Buffalo city, Wisconsin; there he spent six months, coming at the end of that time to La Crosse, as a general salesman for a mercantile house.

In 1866 he purchased the store of Charles Schaettle, of Buffalo city, his first employer. and condueted a thriving business there until 1869. Hle then returned to La Crosse, and joined Jacob Rau in business, the firm name being Ran and Klein; this relationship eon- tinued until 1878, when they dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Klein continuing the business. In 1886 the firm of Klein and Lennning was established and continued an- til September 15, 1891, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and Mr. Klein moved his business into his newly erected three-story brick building on the eor- ner of Fourth and Jay streets, where he has won a large patronage from La Crosse and the surrounding country, and is deserving of the confidence he has won.

Mr. Klein was married in Buffalo city, Wisconsin, to Miss Carolina Lachemaier, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Gott- fried and Frederika (Klein) Lachenmaier,

who crossed the sea to America and settled in Cross, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, in 1861. To Mr. and Mrs. Klein have been born four sons and two daughters: John Frederick, Charles Henry, Herman Otto, Bertha, Louisa and Arthur Cleveland.

During Mr. Klein's residence in Buffalo city, he served that municipality as Postmas- ter, as Police Judge and as School Director; since coming to La Crosse he has represented his ward in the City Conneil for two terms, in 1876 and in 1885. Ile is a member of the Masonie order, of the I. O. O. F., of the Sons of Hermann, the Deutsche Verein, and of the Liederkranz. IIe has served as presi- dent of the Board of Trade from 1888 to 1891, and is a most efficient officer; he has been a member of the board since 1870. He was one of the active promoters of the Inter- State Fair Association, and aided in its or- ganization. He is a stock-holder of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association, and holds several official positions in the different societies to which he belongs. Ile is a man of broad, publie spirit, and has given eneonragement and liberal financial support to those enter- prises which have had for their object the elevation of the moral and intellectual stand- ard of the community.

RVIN W. CHAMBERLAIN, eashier of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company at La Crosse, Wis- consin, was born in Foxeroft, Maine, June 9, 1844. His parents were Timothy Hardin, born in Foxcroft, May 17, 1811, and Maria, nee Wentworth, born in South Berwick, Maine, April 29, 1816. The father was a contractor and builder, well and favorably known; was a member of the Legislature for some years, and held various offices of trust.

579

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Ile was one of the best known men of his day in his portion of the State. Although not a member of any church, he was a con- stant attendant at public worship. Ilis death occurred September 7, 1559, when he was aged forty-eight years. Ilis wife died Octo- ber 25, 1857, at the age of forty-one years. They were married Jannary 6, 1839, at South Berwick, Maine, and lived an exemplary life. They had eight children, namely: Emma F., Ann D., Ervin W., Oscar, Samuel W., Fred A., Charles E. and Frank S. Ervin W. is the only one now living. The eldest daugh- ter, Emma F., eame to Chieago in 1860, where she was a prominent teacher in the Washington School, and in 1862 married the principal, Benjamin R. Cutter, who was a leading edueator of that city and continued to be the principal of that school until his death in 1875. Mrs. Cutter died in Chicago. March 14, 1864, at the age of twenty-four years.

Mr. Chamberlain was educated in the com- mon schools of his native State, and after the war completed a seientific course at Foxcroft (Maine) Academy. After school days he taught in Maine, then came West, arriving at La Crosse April 5, 1869, and began as clerk in the same office where he now is, and where he has served in various capacities: he has been the cashier since 1885. He lias been Alderman of the Eighth Ward of the city one term-1881-'83.

July 15, 1862. is the date of his enlist- ment in Company E, Eighteenth Maine Vol- unteer Infantry, which regiment was after- ward changed to the First Maine Heavy Artillery, and he served until January 20, 1865, when he was discharged on account of wounds. This regiment sustained the great- est loss of all in the Union army: out of a total enrollment of 2,002, 400 enlisted men and twenty-three officers were killed or died are members of the First Baptist Church.

of wounds, and 860 men besides were wounded, many of them several times! Ont of a total enrollment of 184 in Company E, forty-two were killed outright and died of wounds. seventy-seven were wounded, four were missing in battle, fifteen died of disease, and one in a rebel prison: total deaths, fifty - eight! It is probable that this record is without a parallel in the whole United States service. Mr. Chamberlain himself was wounded twice, one time in the flesh of the thigh, and one time in his left wrist, the marks of which he will carry to his grave. These were received at the battle of Spottsyl- vania, Virginia, and at the same battle lie received five other bullet-holes through his clothing. The Union army lost about 18,000 men in this battle! Mr. Chamberlain was never taken prisoner, but had some narrow escapes. He remained as private all through the war. He had a furlough of twenty days in Mareh, 1864, the only time he was absent from his command. He was never absent on account of sickness except when he was confined in the hospital on account of his wound,-from May 19, 1864, to January 20, 1865.

February 9, 1868, Mr. Chamberlain was married to Miss Martha R. Hammond, daughter of Elias and Jane (Clark) Han- mond, of Garland, Maine, and they have had six children, namely: Frank O., now a prac- tical bookkeeper, who, June 3, 1891, married Alice M. Symons, daughter of Alderman Symons, president of the City Council; and he is a graduate of the commercial college under the late Professor Wallace. The next child is Eugene II., now clerking in the rail- road office of the Chieago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. The remaining children are Emma E., Hattie M., Abby M. and Edith M. Both parents and the three eldest children

530

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Mr. Chamberlain is also a member of the and worked at it for a number of years in Grand Army of the Republie and the Union Germany. In 1858 he came to America and Veteran League. located in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, set-

Mr. Chamberlain comes from a family of 'tling at Bangor, July 16, 1858. Ile was en- New England stock. Nathaniel Chamber- gaged in farming until the war broke out. lain, born in Dudley, Massachusetts, May 19, In 1861 he enlisted in the Second Wisconsin 1786, the grandfather of Ervin W., was a| Infantry Volunteers, Light Guards, at La Crosse, and remained in the service four years and seven months. Hle was in some of the hotly contested battles of the war, among which were both battles of Bull Run. The flash from a cannon injured his face so that he had to be contined in a hospital for some time, and was at Fort Schuyler, New York. Later he was assigned to the invalid corps, and was stationed at Washington, District of Columbia, and at Albany, New York. He was honorably discharged November 18, 1865, and returned to La Crosse county, Wis- consin. While in the army he contracted disease, is now considerably broken in health, and receives a small pension from the Gov- ernment. He came to his present farm (120 acres) in 1883, and has since resided here. noted man for his time among the earliest settlers. lle built the first house in Dover, Maine; was a very prominent mechanie, being a master hand in wood and iron. He died in 1866, aged eighty years; and his wife, whose maiden name was Martha Street- er, died some years before. Their family consisted of Timothy H .. Chester, Caroline, Anna, Martha, Ruth and Nathaniel. Mr. Chamberlain's mother's father, Samuel Went worth, was a farmer of South Berwick, Maine, born May 24, 1773; was for many years a Justice of the Peace, and January 18, 1796, married Sally Yeaton, and their large family comprised Thomas, Jacob, Lavina, Phebe, Edmund H., Nancy E., Bartholomew, Sam- uel, Sarah, Maria and Timothy.

OTTHELF WENZEL, a resident of Farmington township, La Crosse coun- ty, Wisconsin, a German by birth, has proved himself true to the country of his adoption, and is regarded as one of the best citizens of the community in which he re- sides.

April 5, 1866, Mr. Wenzel married Jane Darling, who was born in Madison, Wiscon- sin, daughter of Chester and Hester (Cooley) Darling. Her father resides near Bangor. Mr. and Mrs. Wenzel have twelve children. viz .: Grace, Ilester, Ada, Maggie, Ida, Will- iam. Emil, Albert, Clande, George, Irene and Charley. Mr. Wenzel is a stanch Republi- can, and a member of Nelson Quygle Post, No. 233, G. A. R., of Mindoro. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, while his wife was brought up in a Baptist family.

IFe was born in Germany, December 30, 1825, son of Henry Nicholas and Madaline (Knower) Wenzel, both natives of the same town in which the subject of this sketch was born. Many years ago they went to Brazil, South America, where they died. Gotthelf HIOMAS JOHNSON, who has been prominently identified with the best interests of La Crosse county for a was reared in his native land and attended school there until he was fourteen years of age. He then learned the trade of weaver | number of years, has resided here since 1859.

581

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

lle dates his birth in Norway, March 16, Her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Hanson, 1854, and was five years old when he came Were among the pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children, namely : Julins P., Amelia, Marvin and Tilda with his parents to this country. His father's name was John Michelson, and his mother's given name was Malinda. She died in the | Mabel. town of Onalaska, November 26, 1891. They had a family of five sons and five danghters. One of the former, Michael, was a soldier in the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, the Eagle Regiment. He subsequently died in Hamil- ton township, this county. One daughter, Martha, died in Iowa. Eight of the children are still living. John, a resident of Salem, is secretary and treasurer of the Scandinavian Mutual Insurance Company; J. K. is a merchant of Salem, and Alexander is the Postmaster of that place. The father died in Hamilton township, this county, Deceni- ber 30, 1888. Ile was a shoemaker by trade, but for a number of years had been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a. Republi- can in politics and a Lutheran in religion.

Thomas Johnson spent his youth in assist- ing his father in the farm work and in attend- ing the district schools of the neighborhood. Ilis early education has been supplemented by study and reading at home and by prac- tical business experience. The winter of 1873-74 he spent in working in the woods. From his youth up he has been industrious and enterprising, and he is now in good cir- eumstanees. He owns a farm of 228 acres of land, has it well improved with good buildings, ete., and divided into fields of con- venient size for eultivation and for stoek pur- poses. At this writing he has thirteen cows and eighty-five sheep. Ilis residence is 16 x 24, two stories, with an L 18 x 20 feet, a story and a half, and is beautifully located on a natural building site.

Mr. Johnson was married February 15, 1882, to Maria P. Hanson, who was born, reared and educated in La Crosse county.

Mr. Johnson's political views are in har- mony with Republican principles. He is al- ways found identified with the best elements of his party, and is one of its wheel horses in this county. Ile served as Assessor fonr years; has been chairman of the Board of Supervisors for nine years; has been Clerk of the school board for six years; and has been a member of the finance committee of the connty board for several years. He is presi- dent of the Farmers' Alliance organization here. Religiously, he is a member of the Lutheran church; Mr. Johnson is well posted on all matters of public interest, and is broad and progressive in his views. He favors all movements that have for their object the advancement of educational, moral and re- ligious interests. Few men of this vicinity are more popular or are held in higher es- teem than he.

AVID NEEDHAM, of the town of Ilolland, is one of the well-known pio- neers and respected citizens of La Crosse county. Ile was born in Erie county, New York, June 26, 1828, the fourth in a family of five sons, born to Oliver and Lodica (Green) Needham, both of whom were natives of Wales, Hampden county, Massachusetts.

The Needhams are descendants of English ancestors, who settled in Massachusetts in early colonial days, a number of whom took part in the Revolutionary war. Oliver Need- ham and his wife came to Erie county, New- York. in 1819, and resided there the remainder of their lives. He was a school teacher for

582

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

some years, and later became a successful farmer. His sons all received a good educa- tion, and three of them were popular teachers.

David Needham was early taught the duties of farm life, and also learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he employed his time during the winters. He first came to Wis- consin in September, 1848, stopping at White Water, Walworth county, where he worked at his trade until the following spring.

He then, in company with his brother, A. G. Needham, bought land in Dane county, where his brother engaged in improving the land. In July of that year, our subject re- turned to Erie county New York, and assisted his father on the farm in summer and worked at his trade during the winter months.

On the 27th of Febuary, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Field, an edu- cated and refined woman, who is also a native of Erie county, New York. She comes of a good old family, and was a popular teacher for some years in her native county. She was a daughter of William Field, and the grand- daughter of Solomon Field, who was a promi- nent man, and one of the first settlers of Concord, Erie county, New York. Mrs. Needham's mother, whose maiden name was Elvira Briggs, was the daughter of Captain Allen Briggs.

In 1851 Mr. Needham came to Wisconsin, Jocating in Dane county, where he resided three years, and again returned to the Empire State, where he remained until 1856. In Septem- ber of that year (1856) he and his wife started from Concord, Erie county, with a horse and buggy, and drove through to Wisconsin, arriv- ing in La Crosse county after a journey of six weeks; and since that time they have resided continuously in this county. For about five years after his arrival he kept a boot and shoe shop in New Amsterdam, and Mrs. Needham taught the district school during the summer

months for several years. He pre-empted 160 acres of his present farm soon after coming to the county, and subsequently bought forty- four acres more. In the fall of 1862 he made a permanent settlement on his farin, which consists of 204 acres of splendid land, all im- proved. In 1863 he was appointed Post- master, and kept the New Amsterdam post office for three years.

In politics he was formerly a member of the Know-nothing party, but is now a Prohibi- tionist. He has never sought nor desired public preterment, but has served as chairman of the town board for two years and as side Supervisor one year, and as a member of the school board. He is a man of intelligence, broad and liberal in his views, and keeps himself well informed on the public questions of the day. Ile and his wife are both zealous workers in the cause of temperance, and take a lively interest in educational matters. They are honest, industrious, frugal people, and now live in the enjoyment of a competence. To them has been born two children: Ella Lodiea, who died in 1864, when not quite four years of age; and Oliver, who was born October 15, 1867, and is a school-teacher.

IMOTHY JARVIS, who for many years has followed the life of mate and pilot on the Mississippi river, although born in America, is a citizen of the United States by adoption, the Dominion of Canada being his birth-place: the date, October, 1855. His parents, Charles and Aggie Jarvis, were also natives of Canada, of Irish extraction ; the father was a farmer by ocenpa- tion, and in early days emigrated to the United States, settling near Dubuque, Iowa. Twenty-eight years ago he removed to La Crosse, where he became identified with the

583

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

best elements of the business portion of the community; he is now in feeble health, having reached the advanced age of eighty- nine years; his wife died in 1887. To them were born twelve children, nine sons and three daughters: Charles, a blacksmith by trade, died from the effects of a kiek received from a fraetious horse that he was shoeing: Matilda, John, Frank, deceased; George, Louis, Joseph, Isaiah, Timothy, Julia, Valory and Emma.

Mr. Jarvis learned the trade of a painter in his youth, and became master of this voeation in many of its branches; for a long period of his life he was engaged in painting houses, carriages and signs, each of which requires a special skill and training.

The river offering many indueements, he gave up his business, and now for many years he has been engaged either as pilot or mate on the boats plying the Mississippi. In this eapaeity he has labored with the same zeal and energy that characterized his efforts in younger days, and has rendered a service that will always refleet honor upon his name.

Mr. Jarvis was united in marriage in October, 1891, to Miss Anna Moore, a daughter of Jolin Moore, who was formerly a resident of Minnesota. Our subject and all his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

RANK P. ROBERTS, of section 7, Bangor township, was born in Bost- wiek valley, Barry township, this coun- ty, April 24, 1866, a son of Evan R. Roberts. whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject was reared to farm life, and educated in the common schools of Bangor Village, and when but, fourteen years of age ran the engine in his father's

elevator and transacted all the business con- nected with the elevator, stock-buying, ete., for three years. When seventeen years of age he took charge of the farm for three years, after which he bought it for $5,600, going in debt for the whole, but he now has it over half paid and stoek enough to pay the remainder. He is now engaged in dairy- ing and stock-raising, and his fine farm is known as the Hillside Stock Farm. Ile also owns a hay-press, which he runs during the winter, and during the winter of 1890-'91 he bonght over $2,000 worth of hay, which he shipped mostly to LaCrosse on contract. He has forty-one head of cattle, twenty of which are mileh eows, graded Durhams, Holstein, and also two imported stallions, one a ('lyde and the other a French coach. Ile has also two fine brood mares, a Norman and a Clyde. In March, 1892, he purchased a Pereheron of Leonard Johnson, of Northfield, Minnesota, and also in October, 1891, bought the "Mor- ris farm," at $3,160. Henry Anderson is now in his fifth year in the employ of Mr. Roberts. During the winter of 1891-92 Mr. Roberts baled 250 tons of hay.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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