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 78

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 78
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 78
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 78

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John Dettinger came to America in 1852, being the first of his father's family who ever came to this country. He first lived for a time in Erie county, New York, after which he went to Evansville, Rock county, Wiscon- sin, and worked one summer for a Mr. Phil- lips, and in 1855 came to Trempealeau coun- ty. Ile was married, January 27, 1857, to Miss Margaret Mathern, who was born in Rhine, Prussia, in 1838. Her father died in that country, after which, in the spring of 1855, she came with her mother to America. She is the only child of her parents, and her mother now resides with her. In August, 1862, Mr. Dettinger enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment until the close of the war. His health was much broken while in the army, and he has never fully recovered. Ile and his wife are the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters, namely: Jacob, John, Elizabeth,

wife of Frank MeClary; Christiana, William, George, Christian and Carl. Mr. and Mrs. Dettinger are among the well-known citizens of Gale township, where they have lived so many years. Their farm contains 160 acres of land, which is under a good state of cul- tivation, and where they are surrounded with the comforts of life. Mr. Dettinger was a faithful soldier in the cause of the Union, and is now a worthy and respected citizen. He is a Republican in his political views, and both he and his family are members of the Lutheran Church.

EVI L. ODELL, who was appointed Postmaster at Galesville in September, 1889, has been a resident of Trempealean county since 1864. He was born in Essex county, New York, in 1834, a son of Robert Ferris Odell. Our subject is a brother of Judge Robert Odell, of Trempealean county, and in a sketch of whom, found elsewhere in this work, is an interesting genealogy of the Odell family.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, and came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1855, locating in what is now Marinette county. There he was engaged in lumbering until 1861, when he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, in Company F, Twelfth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, and served until February, 1565. Ile was elected First Lieutenant on the organiza- tion of his company, which position he held during nearly the whole of his term of ser- vice. Ile passed the winter of 1861-'62 in Missouri and Kansas, and in May, 1862, they went to Kentucky and remained there during the summer, accompanying General Grant's army to Vicksburg. He was in fact with the army of General Grant most of the time until

OAstrqq.

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that General was transferred to the army of America, settling in Dane county, Wisconsin. In 1872 the mother and stepfather removed to Osage county, lowa, where the mother subsequently died, and where the father still lives. the Potomae. After the siege of Vicksburg and the surrender of that rebel stronghold, he remained with his command at that place for a time, spending the winter of 1863-'64 at Natchez. With his command he rejoined May 17, 1861, the subject of this sketch enlisted in Company K, Third Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was Sherman's army at Dalton, marching all the way from Cairo, and took an important part in the siege and capture of Atlanta. Mr. commanded by Colonel, afterward General, Odell's health was very much broken in the C. S. Hamilton. Mr. Hegg served in the army, and he has never regained his former strength.

Soon after his return from the army he came to Galesville and purchased a farm near this place, on which he resided for the long period of twenty-six years. He still owns this place of 160 acres, which is under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Odell was married, in 1863, while at home on a furlough, to Miss Elmina M. Fisher, a native of Ver- mont, but at the time of their marriage re- siding in Minnesota. They have one son, Harlan B., born in 1865, and now a resident of New York city. Mr. Odell is a member of Wilson Colwell Post, at La Crosse, and also of Decorah Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He was a faithful soldier in the cause of the Union, and is a worthy and respected citizen.

army of the Union until July 18, 1865. He left Wiseonsin with his regiment July 12, 1561, arriving at Harper's Ferry July 22, and the regiment did picket duty on the Potomac during the summer of 1861. He was present and assisted in the capture of the bogus Legislature in the fall of 1861, and also took part in the battle of Bolivar's Height, Virginia, which was his first engagement. With his regiment he went up the Shenandoah valley, in February, 1562, under Banks, and pene- trated that valley to Harrisburg, Virginia. Butler's forces were defeated and driven back by the Confederates, under Stonewall Jackson, and on the retreat the battle of Winchester was tonght. The Union forees subsequently rested on the Potomac River, at Williams- burg, and the main forees were ordered back to Winchester, crossing over to Luray valley, Virginia. and engaging Stonewall Jackson's forces in battle at Cedar Mountain. Then, under General Pope, they retreated to Wash- ington, fighting the second battle of Manassas on the way, and joining Mcclellan's forces in Washington. They were in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and then took part under Hooker in the battle of the Wilderness, in May, 1863, and under Meade at Gettysburg July 1, 2 and 3 of the same

LIVER A. HEGG, the present Clerk of of the Circuit Court of Trempealeau county, who also makes loans and con- veyances, was appointed to serve the un- expired term of E. Bratberg, April 4. 1858. and in the fall of the same year was elected for a full term, and re-elected in 1890. Ile was born in Norway, March 1, 1842. Itis year. Soon after the last named battle the father died when he was a child, after which Third Wisconsin was united with the Eleventh the mother remarried, and when he was but Army Corp-, and went West as the Twentieth ten years of age the family emigrated to Corps. 41

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December 23, 1863, Mr. Hegg re-en- listed and went home on a furlough of twenty-three days. Ile rejoined his regi- ment at Tullahoma, Tennessee, in February, 1864, and took part in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, being actively engaged in all the battles incident to that noted campaign and marched with Sherman to the sea. He fought in the battles of Bentonville and Averysborough, thence to Goldsborough and Raleigh, and was present at the surrender of Johnston's army. Mr. legg entered the army as a private, and was promoted Corporal Oe- tober 10, 1861, as Sergeant in April, 1862, as Quartermaster Sergeant April 15, 1863, and as First Lientenant September 30, 1864. After participating in the Grand Re- view at Washington his regiment was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mus- tered out July 18, 1865. Lieutenant Hegg was with his regiment during its whole term of service, and on his return from the army he settled in Dane county. Ile was married in 1863, when at home on his furlongh, to Miss Jane M. Anderson, a native of Norway. September 13, 1869, Mr. Hegg removed with his family to Trempealeau county, and settled in Areadia township, where he was engaged in farming until 1883, and in that year en- gaged at merchandising at Independence. and later at White Hall. Ile retired from that business to assume his present official dnties in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Hegg have three children: Maud, Amanda and Lula.

Mr. legg was one of the prominent eiti- zens of his town before coming to White Hall, and while living in Arcadia he was a member of the County Board for three years, and chairman of that board one year. He has been a student all his life, and is now a well educated gentleman. Ile began teaching in early life, his first school being in Dane county, in 1560-'61, and has taught altogether

about twenty terms, much of this time in Trempealean eounty. and nine terms in one distriet. IIe is enterprising and progressive, and takes a commendable interest in all good enterprises. Ile was a gallant soldier in the war for the Union, being one of the first to respond to the call of his country, nor did he retire from his service until the last armed Rebel had surrendered, and the Union flag waved triumphantly over the entire country.

ANIEL GILMAN, of the town of Gil- mantown, is one of the pioneeers of Buffalo county. He was born in the town of Woodbury, Washington county, Ver- mont, in 1833, son of Samuel Gihnan, a native of Maine. The Gilman family were among the early settlers of the New England colonies. Several brothers emigrated from England, one of whom settled in Maine and another in New Hampshire, Daniel Gilman being descended from the Maine branch. In 1816, Samuel Gilman, the father of Daniel, went to Lebanon. New Hampshire, where he was married to Miss Nancy Clark, a native of that State. In 1829 he removed to Woodbury, Vermont, thence to Hyde Park, same State, and still later to Burlington, Vermont, where they lived until 1851, when they came to Wisconsin, settling in Lafayette county. They continued here but a short time and then removed to La Crosse county, where they remained but one season and then located in Buffalo county in 1555. The male members of the family consisted of Samuel Gilman and his four sons, all of whom took np Government land, and they all became prominently identified with the development of this portion of the county, the town of Gilmantown being named in honor of this family of pioneers. Here the father died in

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1573, at the age of seventy-six years, the the growth and development of thirty five mother having died in 1862, at the age of years. Ile is in all respects a worthy and esteemed citizen, and is justly entitled to prominent mention in this biographical work. sixty-six years. Edson died in 1862, leaving a family; Franklin died December 1, 1880. He was one of the representative men of Buffalo county, and a member of the Legisla- ture of Wisconsin, to which position he was elected in 1879. He also held at various JOSEPHI DENSMORE has been a resi- dent of Trempealean county since 1863, and of the town of Preston since 1866. he having settled on section 21, in May. 1566, and is still living there. lle was born in Pittsfield, Rutland county, Vermont, in 1818. His parents removed with their family from the Green Mountain State to Spring Prairie, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They had a family of four children, who grew to mature years. Josiah M., the eldest, who died at St. Charles, Minnesota, in the spring of 1891; Rebecca, the only daughter, died in Walworth county, in 1883. The subject of this sketch was the next in age. The youngest of the family is John Duane Densmore, a resident of Augusta, Eau Claire county, Wisconsin. Joseph W. Densmore was married at Elkhorn, Walworth county, Wisconsin, August 15, 1846, to Maria Louise Wilson, daughter of Alexander and Abegail (Bishop) Wilson. The parents of Mrs. Densmore removed from the East to Wayne county, Ohio, when she was a child, and a few years later emigrated farther West and settled in the town of La Fayette, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where they lived till death. times the principal township office, and was chairman of the first town board of Gilman- town in 1857, which position he held for not less than fifteen terms. Ile was president of Buffalo County Agricultural Society for three years, and was in all respects a representative man. Daniel was the third of the sons in order of birth, and Andrew was the youngest. Andrew is now a resident of Brown county, Minnesota, so that of the four brothers only two are living, and Daniel is the only one who continues to reside in Buffalo county. Daniel and Andrew Gilman came West in 1850. They went directly to Lafayette county, coming to Buffalo county in 1555, when the remainder of the family came. Daniel Gilman was married to Miss Olive Hatch, a native of Roxbury, Vermont, who died in 1878, leaving three children, viz .: Ida, wife of Matthew Tracy, of Ironwood, Michigan; Elsworth and Hale, both of whom are residents of the town of Gilmantown. Mrs. Gilman was the first teacher of Gilmantown, and was in all respects a worthy and estim- able woman and an affectionate wife and mother. Franklin and Mary Hatch, the parents of Mrs. Gilman, came to Buffalo county from Roxbury, Vermont, in 1556, The father died many years ago; the mother survived her husband till February, 1953. passing away at the old homestead in Wal- worth county, at eighty-seven years of age. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Densmore is the old- est. Five of the family are now living, four daughters and one son, a brother of and resided here for a number of years, but in 1864 they removed to Leavenworth, Brown county, Minnesota, where they made their home until their death. Daniel Gilman is one of the few remaining pioneers of this part of Buffalo county. Ile came here when the country was new and wild, and has witnessed

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Mrs. Densmore dying in the army during the war of the Rebellion. Ife was a member of Company K, Tenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The surviving members of the family after Mrs. Densmore are Catherine, Lydia, Iliram and Rosanna. The only brother lives in Sac county, Iowa, and Rosanna lives at the old home in Wal- worth county, Wisconsin. The deceased are: James, Caroline and William Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Densmore continued to live in Walworth county until they came to Tremp- ealean county. in 1863. In March, 1865, Mr. Densmore entered the army as a member of Company A, Fifty-third Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, and served until the war elosed. Mr. and Mrs. Densmore have three children : George. Charles and Caroline. They lost a son, William Henry, at the age of thirteen years. Mr. Densmore and wife have a pleas- ant home and possess all the comforts of life, as the result of their industry. The home farm contains 120 acres, but Mr. Dens- more has another farm in this town, of 157 aeres. Mr. Densmore cast his first presiden- tial vote for General William II. Ilarrison in 1840, and is to-day a stanch Republican, numbered among the well-known and re- spected cititizens of the town and county.

was erected. Since the dissolution of the last partnership Mr. Wohlgenant has con- ducted the business alone, in addition to which he has added the Inmber trade.

He was born in Austria, in 1849, a son of Joseph Wohlgenant, who died in his native conntry when his son was eight years of age. Our subject learned the trade of cabinet- maker and came to the United States in 1871, and after some time spent in Dubuque, Iowa, in work at his trade, he went to Wabasha, Minnesota, where he remained about two years and then came to Arcadia. Mr. Wohl- genant was married in this city to Miss Mag- gie Ley, a daughter of his former partner, and they have four daughters: Rosa, May, Katherine and Anna. Mr. Wohlgenant's family accompanied him to the United States, and he now has a brother, Martin, three years younger than himself, residing in Brooklyn, New York. Our subject is the only furni- ture dealer and cabinet-maker in Arcadia. He has been quite successful in trade, and is numbered among the successful business men of Arcadia.

JOSEPHI RUTH, cashier of the Bank of Arcadia, was born in Baltimore, Mary- land, in 1861, the son of Joseph Ruth, who died when our subject was but thirteen years of age. Joseph was edneated in his native eity, graduating at Bryant, Stratton & Saddler's Business College in May, 1880, and the following year he came to Arcadia. He was engaged as book-keeper a few months for Fugina Bros. & Fertig, and afterward was assistant cashier of the Trempealean County Bank several months, or until that institution with the present bank since its organization, in 1853.

ASPER WOHLGENAANT, a furniture dealer, undertaker and Inmber merchant of Arcadia, engaged in the furniture business in this village in the fall of 1875, under the firm name of E. J. Tracy & Co. After a eo- partnership of one year Mr. Wohl- genant bought the interest of his partner, and was alone in business for about six months, when he formed a company with | was discontinued. He has been connected Peter Ley, which continued about one year. In the meantime the present store building

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Mr. Ruth is the only representative of his | she lived until death. Our subjeet was one father's family residing in Wisconsin. Ilis of a family of nine children, tive sons and four daughters, of whom he was the fourth in order of birth. All lived to have families of their own, and there are now three brothers and one sister living. William is the eldest of those living; James, the sixth in order of birth, is a resident of this county, as is John, the youngest of the three; the sister resides

only brother, Frank, two years younger than himself, resides in Washington, Distriet of Columbia; and two sisters are also residents of the same city,-Theresa, widow of Henry Ruth, and Anna, wife of T. Leekert. Mr. Ruth was married in Areadia, to Miss Antoi- nette Ilengall, of Winona, and they have three children: Helen K., Frank J. and Ray- , at Antigo, Wisconsin. mond M. Mr. Ruth is a careful and efficient sition with credit and ability. IIe is respected and esteemed by his fellow citizens. .

William Gibson grew to manhood in cashier, and discharges the duties of his po- Canada, and was there married to Jane Mc-

- ILLIAM GIBSON is a well-known eitizen of Trempealeau county, where he has resided since January, 1863. He bought his present farm of Charles T. Mowi, whose father purchased the land of the Government. Very little improvements had been made on this place when purchased by Mr. Gibson; no buildings had been ereeted, and but forty aeres had been broken.

Gregor, a native of Scotland, but who emi- grated to Canada from her native country with her parents when a child. Mr. Gibson moved from Canada to Outagamie county, Wiseonsin, in 1855, but the rest of the family removed from that country to Michigan. In Outagamnie county he improved a farm, on which he continued to reside until he came to Trempealeau county, in 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have six children, three boys and three girls: Thomas, Eliza, Iluldah Ann, Janet, Daniel and Robert. Mr. Gibson is one of the representative men of the town of Trempealean, where he has lived for nearly thirty years. His reputation is that of a man of publie spirit and integrity, and is respected and esteemed by his fellow citizens. In his

He was born in what is now the Provinee of Quebec, in 1827, the son of Thomas Gib- son, a native of county Derry, Ireland, but who emigrated to Canada when a youth. Ile | politieal affiliations he is a Republican, having married Huldah Brayton, a native of that voted for the first presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, in 1856. province, and daughter of Matthew Brayton, a native of Rhode Island. His wife was a native of Connecticut, and henee Mr. Gibson, on his mother's side, is descended from early New England aneestry. The maternal ances- tory of our subjeet emigrated to Canada HOMAS HENRY .- This gentleman is another one of the prosperons farmers of Buffalo county. lle was born in New York eity. September 24, 1844, son of Robert and Isabel (St. Clair) Henry. Ilis father was a son of Thomas Henry, and was born in Boswell, Scotland, June 10, 1515. many years after the Revolutionary war, and though they and their immediate descendants beeame Canadian subjeets, they ever main- tained a loyal affection for the Union. Thomas Gibson died in Canada, and later the mother removed with her family to Michigan, where

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Grandfather Peter St. Clair was a native of the Orkney Islands.

Robert Henry was by ocenpation a ship carpenter, and for many years pursued that business on the Clyde. In June, 1844, he emigrated to the United States with his family, and landed in New York. Locating in that city, he began work at his trade and remained there about one year, after which he came West, settled at Raeine, Wisconsin, and continued the came business. He made his home there for eleven years, then removed to Buffalo county and took up his abode on section 30, Wanmandee township, where he had previously purchased 240 acres of land. This was in 1855. Ile subsequently added forty acres to his farm. At that time there were few settlers here. Mr. Henry's nearest neighbor was John Kirchner, who lived three miles northeast of him. At first he built a cabin, which served for a home until 1864, when the present tarm dwelling was com- pleted. From time to time Mr. Henry con- tinned to make improvements until 1890, when he sold out to his son Thomas. During the early settlement of Buffalo county he was prominent in local affairs, and in 1869 was elected by the Republican party for the State Assembly, and served one term. lle is now a resident of Winona, Minnesota. To him and his wife ten children were born, as fol- lows: Margaret, Thomas, Sarah, wife of S. M. Meyers, of Independence, Wisconsin ; Jenet, wife of V. Morgan, of Chippewa Falls; Isabel, who married J. F. Stewart, is now deceased; Margaret, Jane, Robert, John, Agnes, wife of Henry Goodrich, of Chicago. All are living except the two Margarets, John, Isabel and Jane.

Thomas Henry was reared on the farm and received his education chiefly in the public schools. February 3. 1865, he enlisted at Fountain City, in Company K, Forty-eighth

Wisconsin Infantry. Captain John D. Lewis, and went into camp at Milwaukee. When the regiment was ordered West for Indian service, Mr. Henry, being sick with typhoid fever, was left behind. Before he recovered the war ended, and he received his discharge from the service, June 16, 1865. He then returned home and engaged in farming. In 1874-'75 he attended the commercial school at La Crosse. January 18, 1890, he pur- chased his father's farm and is now conduct- ing the same; has about 150 acres under cultivation, and among his stock are found short-horn cattle and Clydesdale horses.

In 1880 Mr. Henry was Town Assessor. In 1888 he was chairman of the Board of Supervisors for the county, and was re- elected to the same position in 1891. IIe is also Clerk of the School Board. April 15 1890, he was appointed Postmaster of An- chorage, and now fills that office. In 1890 he supported the Republican ticket; is, how- ever, independent in his political views.

Mr. llenry was married February 16, 1880, at Arcadia, Wisconsin, to Grace C., daughter of William and Grace (Muir) Robertson, of Arcadia. They have one child. Robert Roy.

02222-22222

ULLECK OLSON is the first settler of the town of Preston, having located there in July, 1854. His nearest neighbor was Mr. George Smith, now of Galesville, who lived where is now the town of Gale. Mr. Olson was born in Nor- way. February 24. 1830, and about twelve years later the family emigrated from Norway to America, landing in Milwaukee when that city of nearly a quarter of a million people was but a small, uninviting place, and settled in what is now the town of Norway, Racine county, five years before this country became

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

a State. The mother died soon after coming to this country, leaving a husband and five chil- . held many offices of trust and honor; has dren, of which Gulleck was the oldest, being served as chairman of the Board, Town at the time of her death thirteen years of . Treasurer and School Treasurer for many age. The family settled on some land in years. Politically he is a Republican, and religiously he and family are members of the . Lutheran Church. Racine county and lived there for many years, where some of the family still reside. The father lived at his old home in Racine county until his death, which occurred in lannary, 1891, leaving a widow who still survives, he having re-married. Of the five children by the first marriage, Gulleek is the eldest; Knut, the second in order of birth, is a resi- dent of the town of Preston, as is also Bur- chard, the third. Anna is the wife of Frank Immell, of Blair, an inventor. Ole resides at Burlington, Wisconsin. The eldest daughter married Frank Overson, and died in Racine county. A son, Abraham, and a daughter, Andrina, live on the old homestead.

November 25, 1850, the Rev. II A. Stub united in the bonds of matrimony Mr. Gul- leek Olson and Miss Bertha Olson, a native of Norway who came to this country the same year as her husband, and two years later they removed to what was then Bad Axe, now Vernon county, Wisconsin, where they lived for a short time, then sold their farm and came to this country. They first settled on the northeast quarter of section 13, township 21, range 7 west, but a few years later moved to seetion 18, which has since been their home. As the result of their industry and good management they now have a pleasant and comfortable home, and a fine farm of 227 acres of good land. Of the five children Ole Lee, of Brookings, Dakota: Ebert is a resident of Tomahawk, Wisconsin; Henry and Thomas are at home, and Isabel is the wife of Olaus P. Strum. Mr. Olson has lived here for a period of thirty eight years and has seen the country grow from a state of

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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