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 77
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 77
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 77
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AMES IMRIE is another pioneer of Buffalo county. He resides on the northeast quarter of section 4, in the township of Nelson, where he settled in 1864,
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at which time no improvements whatever had |elected, discharging the duties of that office been made upon the place. Ile was born in in a most efficient and satisfactory manner for a term of four years. Since that time he has devoted his attention exclusively to the improvement of his farm, with the exception of four years, when he was engaged in mer- chandising. He is a gentleman of culture and refinement, and has ever taken a promin- ent part in promoting the moral and educa- tional growth of the community in which he lives. In the earlier times he affiliated with the Republican party, but is now independent of any party in his political news. In his religious opinions he is liberal and progres- sive. Mrs. Imrie's parents were John and Marion Gowans. Her father died in Scot- land. Her mother re-married, her second husband being James Davidson, with whom she came to America in 1852, settling in Waukesha county, where they made their home until death. Mrs. Imrie has been twice married; she came to America with her husband in 1850, settling in Waukesha county, and later moving to Dodge county, where her husband died. She is the mother of six children by her first marriage, and of two by her marriage to Mr. Imrie, both sons, named David and John, who are classed amongst the enterprising young farmers of Buffalo county. the city of Perth, Scotland, February 23, 1833, son of David Imrie, a native of the same city. David Imrie was married in Scotland, to Miss Elizabeth Hay, and they continued to make that country their home, there rearing their family of fourteen chil- dren, six sons and eight daughters. Of. this once large family only four are now living, three sisters, who live in Scotland, and the subject of this sketch. James Imrie and his sister Margaret are the only members of the family who emigrated to America. The lat- ter was married in Scotland to Mr. James Rodgers, with whom she came to America in 1841, settling in the town of Lisbon, Waukesha county, where she has since died. James Imrie received a good common-school education in his native land, but after coming to the United States in 1853. wishing to be- come still better fitted by education for the business of life, he entered Carroll College, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he re- mained a student for a considerable length of time. He then engaged in teaching, which was his principal occupation for a number of years, chiefly in the villages of Sussex and Merton, Waukesha county. Ile was married in that county to Mrs. Agnes Turner, a native of Scotland, and soon after decided to locate in a newer country, where land was cheaper, and consequently improved an opportunity to change his land in Waukesha county for HOMAS A. SIMPSON, of Arcadia, settled in Trempealeau county Sep- . tember 12, 1856. ITe located on sec- tions 10 and 15, township 20, range 10 west, where he broke the first land, fenced the first field, dug the first well and set out the first shade trees on those two sections, also built the first bridge in the vicinity, and the first one across the Trempealeau river on the Fountain City & Winona Road. Mr. Simp- 200 acres of land in Buffalo county, on which he located in 1864. Ilis place was then wholly unimproved, but he has since brought it to a high state of cultivation, having one of the finest farms in the county. During the winter of 1864-'65 Mr. Inrie taught school in Mondovi, Buffalo county. The fol- lowing autumn he was elected County Super- intendent of Schools, and two years later re-
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son was born in Leicestershire, England, in 1833, a son of James Simpson. In 1845 the family emigrated to America, settling on Cross Plains, Dane county, Wisconsin, where the father purchased a farm of Government land, on which he lived until his death, in 1867; his wife survived him many years. James Simpson was a farmer and stock-raiser before he came to this country, having been especially engaged in sheep-raising in Eng- land. In Dane county he also engaged in stoek farming, in which he was very success- ful. He was an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, a Republican in politics, and an esteemed citizen. He and wife were the parents of ten children, two sons and eight daughters, and the only brother of our subject, James W., is the youngest son of his parents. He occupied the old homestead in Dane county for many years after the parents' death, but is now living in the village of Black Earth. Six of the eight daughters are now living, three of whom are residents of Wisconsin, one of California one of Kansas and one of Alabama.
The subject of this sketch lived on the old home farm for a number of years after the family settled in Dane county, and worked out by the month at tarm labor, in Madison township, and also for a time near White- water, Walworth county. The first land he owned was located in this county, a portion of which he obtained from the Government, and a part from the State. He cleared and improved two fine farms and continued act- ively engaged in farming and stock-raising, until 1884, when he practically retired from business and removed to the village of Area- dia.
Mr. Simpson was married in Trempealeau county, in 1858, to Miss Helen Gardner, a native of Buffalo, New York, and daughter of Henry Gardner. The latter removed from
the State of New York to Indiana in 1848, thence to Trempealeau county in 1857, later to Kansas, where the father died in 1872, and the mother afterward returned to this county, where she died in December, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have four children: IIerman E., the eldest son, resides on the old homestead farm; Charles G. is a printer by trade; Delphine M. is the wife of Arthur Gordon, of Owatonna, Minnesota; Mabel G. at home. They lost four children, viz .: Edith H., who died at the age of sixteen years; Myron A., at the age of nine years; Clara, at the age of eighteen months; and Albert E., in early infancy. When Mr. Simpson retired from farming he purchased three lots on the table land in East Arcadia, where he erected a dwelling, and here he and his wife now reside in their pleasant home. During the summer Mr. Simpson indulges his taste for gardening, and his three lots afford him ample space for that pastime, and the fine vegetables and small fruits that he produces each year proves him to be an adept at horticulture. Mr. Simpson has long been a representative man of his township, has served as a member of the town board many years, and as chairman of that body for three years. Politically he is a Republican, and has voted with that party ever since its organi- zation. He and his wife are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
UNCAN JAMES MCKENZIE. Mayor and Postmaster of Alma, Wisconsin, was born in Glengarry connty, Ontario, July 4, 1848, son of James and Anna Bella (McLaren) Mckenzie.
James Mckenzie was born near Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrated to Canada in 1828, where he was subsequently married, his wife
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being a native of the Province of Ontario, born in 1819. Ile was reared a lumberman and afterward gave his attention to farming and stock-raising. To him and his wife were given eight children, namely: William .I., Duncan J., Mary, now Mrs. Norman MeRae, of Ontario; Anna Bella, now Mrs. Daniel Ross, of Ontario; Elizabeth, who wedded Neil MeCrimmon, of Ontario; James R., of Alma; Jessie, now Mrs. Alexander Robert- son, of Hamilton, Montana; Donald J., living at Buckingham, Province of Quebec. The parents reside at Alexandria, Ontario.
The subject of our sketch spent his early life at home, assisting his father in his busi- ness and attending the public schools. At the age of twenty he left home and started out in the world to make his own fortune. His first place of location was at Au Sauble, Michigan, where he engaged in the lumber business. After remaining there two years he moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where he lived till the spring of 1875. At that time he came to Buffalo county, located at Alma, and engaged as a log sealer for the Mississippi River Logging Company, in which position he served until he was ap- pointed Lumber Inspector by the State. The latter position he held from the spring of 1878 till 1859. Sinee then he has carried on a logging business and has also been en- gaged in steamboating on the river, towing logs and lumber.
Sinee coming to Buffalo county Mr. Mc- Kenzie has held many important loeal posi- tions. Ile served as a trustee of Alma when it was a village, and was one of the first Aldermen after it became a city. Ile was chairman of the Republican County Commit- tee in 1888-89, and was the only chairman in the history of Buffalo county that carried the entire Republican tieket through in an eleetion. This was in the fall of 188s. Ile
was nominated by the Republican party in the spring of 1891 for Mayor, was elected, and is now filling that important position.
Ile was married in 1575. at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of David and Cornelia (Babcock) Horton. Her parents, descendants of New England ancestry, came from Binghamton, New York, to Wisconsin, some time in the 60s. They are residents of Chippewa county, where the father is engaged in farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie five children have been born, viz .: Anna Bella, who died in October, 1879, at the age of eighteen months; Luverne, Jessie, Mabel and Maud Jean.
Mr. Mckenzie is a man of great business activity, shrewd and foresighted in his finan- eial operations. Ile is a man of warm and generous impulses and is noted for his benevo- lent aets. He is a member of the Alma blue Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & A. M .; Eau Claire Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M .; Chippewa Com- mandery. K. T., No. 8; and Wisconsin Consistory; is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, No. 45, of Alma; was Chancellor Commander in 1991. lle was a candidate for member of Assembly before the Republi- can Convention in 1886, and after a hot con- test was defeated by one vote.
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OSHUA D. SOUTHWORTHI, of Coral City, was born in the town of Loeke. Cayuga county, New York, but when a child removed with his parents to Cattaraugus county, in the same State. His father was Edward Southworth. His mother, Huldal (Stearns) Southworth, died in Cattaraugus county. Later the father removed to Me- Henry county, Illinois, where he lived till death. The subject of this sketeh was one of sixteen children. many of whom are now
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deceased. Ile was married, in Cattaraugus county, to Catherine Wheeler, daughter of Ashbel and Mary Webster Wheeler. Mrs. Southworth was one of twelve children. In 1858 Mr. Joshua D. Southworth removed with his family to Waukesha county, Wis- consin, and in 1860 to Trempealeau county. He owns about 230 acres of land. His farm includes the greater part of the plat of the former village known as Coral City. Mr. and Mrs. Southworth have two sons and a dangh- ter. The latter, Frances, is the wife of P. A. Williams, an attorney and counselor at law, residing at Whitehall, Trempealeau county; Edward is now proprietor of the hotel at Whitehall; Charles, the youngest of the family, is at the homestead. They lost a daughter in infancy. The children were all born in Cattaraugus county, New York.
ON. RICHARD R. KEMPTER, a prominent citizen of Alma, Wisconsin, was born in Rottweil, Württemburg, Germany, February 7, 1837, and is the son of Francis Joseph and Anna (Uhl) Kempter. They emigrated to the United States in 1850, and located at Cincinnati, Ohio. The elder Kempter was a jeweler by trade. He and his wife were the parents of four children, viz .: Julia, now Mrs. Charles Schaettle, of Alma, Wisconsin; Cordula, now Mrs. C. W. Ackermann, of Streator, Illinois; Richard R., Elconana, widow of Charles A. Boehme. In 1851 the family moved to Davenport, Iowa, where the father died in the spring of 1852. The mother is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Schaettle.
watchmaker and jeweler; remained there four years and completed his trade. Then he worked at his trade two years in Ottawa, Illinois, at the end of which time he moved to Buffalo city, Wisconsin, and entered the store of Charles Schaettle. He remained there until the opening of the war, when he volunteered his services for the protection of his adopted country, enlisting in Company F, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, October 16, 1861, at Camp Siegel. He left Milwaukee in January, 1862, for Leavenworth, Kansas, where he, with his command, remained about three months; thence to Fort Scott. This command was guarding the frontier, moving about that section of the country. Mr. Kempter participated in the engagement at Pea Ridge. November 1, 1862, he was appointed Second Lieutenant of Company E, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry. flis next engage- ment was at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Decem- ber 7, 1862. This was a hot fight and Com- pany E was in the midst of it with the Ninth Regiment. They returned to Fort Scott, and from there were ordered to Rolla, Missouri. On this march he was accidentally injured, which unfitted him for the service. He was discharged on account of disability, May 21, 1863, and returned home to Buffalo city, arriving June 20. HIe then formed a part- nership with Charles A. Boehme in the mer- cantile business. This partnership continued until 1874, when it was dissolved and Mr. Kempter entered into a partnership with Charles Schaettle in the same business, and continued thus engaged until 1878. That year Mr. Kempter turned his attention to the sale of agricultural machinery and to dealing in grain, which business he still continues. Ile erected for his nse a grain elevator on . Main street, Alma, near the Chicago, Burling- ton & Northern railroad, and on the bank of
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Richard R. received his primary education in Germany, and also attended the Rottweil high school three years. In 1852 he went to Rock Island, Illinois, as an apprentice to a | the Mississippi river. Ile has built up an
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extensive business, and has been prosperous to a large degree.
Mr. Kempter has taken a prominent and active part in public affairs here. He was Clerk of the Circuit Court from 1865 to 1867, after which he was deputy for about eight or ten years. Ile was Town Clerk of Alma two years, 1866 and '67; was President of the vil- lage of Alma for three terms; was a member of the County Board of Buffalo county seven or eight years; and was Clerk and Treasurer of the school district for about fifteen years. He was nominated for the Assembly by the Republican convention in 1880; was elected and served one term, with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constitu- ents.
September 14, 1863, he was married, at Buffalo city, to Julianna Huebsch, by whom he had eight children, namely: Richard Anton, Frank Joseph, George Washington, Julia, Anna, Amelia, Robert, Anton Raymond, all
In July, 1890, Mr. Hardie was married to Mrs. Harriet Gilbert, her maiden name being Harriet Greenwood. She was born in Wind- ham county, Vermont, the daughter of Harvey now living except Anna and Robert. His and Beulah (French) Greenwood. Mrs. wife died June 30, 1880. For his second | Hardie lost her mother when she was twelve companion he wedded Caroline Gaab, and this union has been blessed by the birth of five children: Elenora, Norman, Estella, Else and Cora. Elenora and Norman are dead.
Mr. Kempter is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is Past Master of his lodge. He is the present commander of the Fimian Post, No. 196, G. A. R.
AMES HARDIE, of Gale township, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 15. 1828, the son of Andrew and Mary (Jarvie) Ilardie, both of whom died when James was a boy. They left a family of six children, viz .: Andrew, Alexander, Janet, James, Robert and William. Two others died about the time the parents passed away,
the family having been victims of a prevail- ing fever. After the death of his parents James went into the country and was em- ployed as a herd boy and farmer until he attained to manhood, when he was married to Miss Margaret Bibby, a sister of Richard and James Bibby, of Gale township. In 1852 Mr. Ilardie and family, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Richard Bibby and family, came to America, and after landing at Balti- more they engaged in mining in Maryland. In 1854 Mr. Hardie came to Trempealeau county and settled on a new farm on section 27, Gale township. The land was then cov- ered with timber, but he has sinee cleared up a fine farm, and there his wife died Decem- ber 6, 1888. She left nine children, five sons and four daughters.
years of age, and after the death of the wife and mother the father moved to the State of Massachusetts, and later Mrs. Hardie followed him to that State. There she attended school for a year, and was married at the age of eighteen years to Nathaniel Gilbert. In 1855, a few months after their marriage, they came West and settled on a new farm in Winona county, Minnesota. In 1858 they removed to Galesville and bought a farm near that place, but continued to live in the vil- lage. In 1879 they removed to Moody county, in the present State of South Dakota, and settled on a farm, where Mr. Gilbert died, May 5, 1882. In the autumn of 1564 Mrs. Gilbert returned to Galesville. She had nine children by her first husband seven sons and two daughters.
After their marriage in July, 1890. Mr.
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and Mrs. Hardie settled where they now live, their home being about a mile south of Galesville, where they are enjoying the fruits of their industry. Mr. Hardie still owns his original farin. He is one of the well-known and substantial citizens of Trempealeau county. Left an orphan in early life and thrown upon his own resources he has by in- dustry and economy seeured a competency.
IMON OLSON, Register of Deeds of Trempealean county, is now serving the first year of his third term, having been first elected at the fall election of 1886. and was re-elected in the fall of 1SSS. He sue- ceeded John O. Melby, the present banker of Whitehall. Mr. Olson has been a resident of Trempealean county since July, 1869. Ile is a native of Norway, born June 20, 1844, where he was reared and educated. His father, Ole Swenson, was a miller by oeeupa- tion, and in 1866 emigrated with his family to the United States, settling at Coon Prairie, Wisconsin. In 1869 the family removed to | Trempealean county and settled in what is now Unity township, seetion 10. There the father lived until his death, which occurred in May, 1887, and the mother is still living. The subject of this sketch is one of ten chil- dren, three sons and seven daughters, and one of the former and two of the latter are now deceased. The only brother of Simon Olson, Ole C., resides at Phinney, in the State of Washington.
The subject of this sketch resided on the , and during every winter since that time has home farm in Unity township until elected to his present office. IIe was also Assessor four years and Town Clerk seven years. Ile | was married in this county April 10, 1882. to Miss Johanne Engebretson, and they have one daughter, Clara Mathilde, born January
16, 1583. Mr. Olson is a representative eiti- zen and possesses the confidence and esteem of his fellow eitizens. In polities he affili- ates with the Republican party.
ENRY C. SHEPHARD .- As a promi- nent resident of his county and one who has always taken a deep interest in its welfare, he whose name heads this sketeh deserves a place in this work. Mr. Shephard was born in Canada. Ilis father, H. C. Shephard, Sr., was born in England, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Jane Collins, and soon after the event emigrated to Canada. Not long after the birth of Henry C. his parents removed from Canada to the town of Mansville, Jefferson county, New York, and later to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where they lived until death. Of their ten children, seven sons and three daughters, who grew to mature years, all have now passed away but three sons and one daughter, viz .: Franeis J., who lives on the old homestead in Jefferson county, Wiscon- sin; George A., a resident of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin: and Eliza, the only surviving sister, who lives in Jefferson county, Wis- consin.
IIenry C. Shephard, the subject of this sketchi, was about ten years of age when he came to Wiseonsin with his father's family. Ile continued in Jefferson county during his early youth and at the age of twenty years went to Black River Falls, Jackson county, been engaged in logging, and for ten seasons was engaged in running the river on rafts, which occupation he still follows in the winter season. Mr. Shephard became one of the best known men in the lumber regions of the Black River. In 1856 he began
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breaking on his present farm. He has a fine farm of 360 acres and is quite largely en- gaged in stock-raising, for which his farm is well adapted, it being well watered and in all other respects a superior stock-farm. Ile has excellent buildings, and, without doubt, his is one of the most desirable places for general farming, or as an extensive stock farm, to be found anywhere. and resided on until the spring of 1890, when he removed to the village of Eleva, where he now lives, although he still owns his Naples farm, which is occupied by his son. Mr. Cleasby as a pioneer of West Wis- eonsin underwent all the privations incident to pioneer life. Deer and elk in those days were abundant, but neighbors were few and far between. As an incident of his early Mr. Shephard was married to Miss Philena Sterling, a daughter of C. I. Sterling, an early settler of Jackson county, and eight children have been born to them, three sons and five daughters: Lettie, Nellie, Guy, Ray, Frank, Maggie, Mabel, and Sadie. The parents of Mrs. Shephard make their home with their daughter. life in Eau Claire county. the following is related: Soon after the family settled in that county, the cattle which they had brought with them started back for their old home in La Fayette county, and William, then a boy, followed them to induce them to return. He followed the tracks of the cattle for about three miles when he suddenly came in full sight of a herd of fine elk. They presented a magnificent sight, of which Mr. Cleasby has never lost the impression. The five he described appeared as large as horses, and with them was a young one beside its mother. Ife now concluded that he had followed the tracks of the elk instead of those of the eattle and was consequently upon the wrong track. Therefore he returned home without having accomplished the object of his search. The next day the search for the cattle was resumed and it was found that he had really been on the right track the previous day, but had been deceived by the appearance of the lived until his death, which oceured many | elk. But this species of game has long sinee disappeared.
M ILLIAM CLEASBY, of Eleva, is one of the pioneers of West Wis- consin. llis father, David Cleasby, was born in Yorkshire, England, where he grew to manhood, and married Miss Sarah Bainbridge, and in 1346 the family emigrated to America. They went to Hamilton county, Ohio, and thence to Wisconsin in 1845, locating in La Fayette county, and in 1858 settled in Pleasant valley, Eau Claire county. There David Cleasby cleared up a farm and years ago. The wife and mother passed away before her husband. They were the parents of three sons and six daughters, and all but one son and a daughter are still living.
William Cleasby. our subject, assisted his father in clearing up his farm in Eau Claire county, and later purchased a farm of his own in the same county, which he afterwards sold and purchased a new farm of 240 acres in the town of Naples, Buffalo county, on which he located. This farm he improved , years after his return from the army he was
William Cleasby's first wife was Mary Jane Robbins, whom he married November 1, 1560, and who died October 1, 1583. For his second wife he married Adella Ball, daughter of Frank and Eunice (Harmon) Ball, the former of Welsh and the latter of English ancestry. They were early settlers of Mondovi, from which place Mr. Ball on- tered the army in the late war, Several
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accidentally killed while engaged in the erec- tion of a mill at Fairchild. The mother afterward died in Buffalo county, and is buried by the side of her husband in the town of Mondovi. There were four daugh- ters in the family of Mr. Ball, but no sons. Mr. Cleasby has one child living, Elroy Ro- selle, and lost one child in infancy.
OHN DETTINGER, who resides on sec- tion 8, Gale township, has been a resid- ent of Trempealean county since the fall of 1855. He was born in Württemberg, Ger- many, May 13, 1826, the son of Jacob Det- tinger, who remained in Germany until his death. The subject of this sketch was the youngest of twelve children, only six of whom grew to maturity, five sons and one danghter.
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