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 79

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 79
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 79
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 79

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wildness to its present importance. He has

HIMANN HELGESON was born in Norway, March 20, 1551, son of Helge Iverson, who died when his son was but six months old. When sixteen years of age, in 1967, he came to America, accompanied by an older sister, Aaste, who died in Dane county about three weeks after their arrival. Mr. Helgeson remained in Perry, Dane county, for about six years, and was married there to Miss Astri O. Bakken, a native of the town of Perry, Dane county, and to them were born ten children, six of whom are still living, viz .: Anton A., Emma Lena IT., Heury ()., Osear Edward, Anna T., and Tine A. They lost three children by death. In 1873 they came to Trempealeau county, loeating on section >, in the town of Albion, but later removed to their farm on section 18, which they still own. Their home farm consists of 120 acres of nieely located land.

Mr. Helgeson was formerly identified with the Republican party, but is not now identi- fied with any political party, but believes in supporting men for office on the ground of principle, not from any political organization to which he may chance to belong. lle is has been called by his fellow citizens to serve in various positions, the duties of which he las discharged with ability and fidelity. Hle is the present town clerk and is serving his eighth term in that capacity. For a number of years he was a member of the Board of

born to their marriage, Helen is the wife of , one of the representative men of Albion, and

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Supervisors, being twice elected to the chair- manship of that body, and was a Justice of the Peace for many years. Religiously he is connected with the United Lutheran Church, and is secretary for the congregation to which he belongs, and has ever been identified with the building up and support of the church. In fact, he has ever been prominently identified with whatever tends to promote the moral and religious growth of the com- munity in which he lives.

FREDERICK RICHTER. one of the pioneers of Buffalo county, Wisconsin, was born at Blankstadt, Baden. Germany, October 23. 1527. His parents, Jacob and Susanna (Slump) Richter, were both natives of Germany, the former born in 1800 and the latter in 1803. His father was a cooper by trade. They both passed their lives and died in Baden, the father dying in 1876, and the mother in ISS2. Their nine children were: Peter, George, Frederick. Lena, Eva, Louisa, Susanna, Elizabeth and Margaret. Frederick .. George, Susanna and Margaret emigrated to the United States. George went to Des Moines, lowa, and died there. Margaret was in Freeport, Illinois, and died a number of years ago.

business. In 1856 he came to Fountain City, and, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Valentine Eder, ereeted a brewery known as the Eagle Brewery, the second one in the county. He operated this establishment un- til 1861. when he sold out. In 1860, having great trouble with his eyes, he made a trip to Europe, accompanied by his wife. Returning the following year, he took up his abode in Freeport, where he remained two years, after which he again came to Fountain City, and for nineteen months was foreman of his old brewery. In 1871, in company with Philip Eder, he erected a brewery and continued in business there until 1873, then selling his interest in the establishment, on account of his eyes again. Moving to the old county seat near Sandy Hook, he occupied the old courthouse for three years. In 1873 he made another trip to his native land, and after a sojourn of four months there came back to Sandy Hook and opened his present saloon. He owns 250 acres of land, has built a fine brick house and made other improvements. His location is a good one, being on the Chi- cago, Burlington & Northern Railroad, and overlooking the Waumandee bay.

Mr. Richter was married at Fountain City November 23, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jolin and Margaret Eder. Ilis politicial affiliations are with the Democratic party.

Frederick Richter came to this country in 1853, and landed in New York. In his na- tive land he had learned the cooper's trade, and also that of a brewer, and after his ar- TOHN G. FAULDS & ALLAN J. COWIE are the proprietors and publishers of The Leader of Arcadia, one of the oldest newspapers of Trempealeau country, it hav- ing been established about twenty years ago. It was formerly the leading Republican paper of Trempealean county, but when Mr. Faulds took control he changed its political com- rival in New York went to Williamsburg, that State, and obtained employment with a brewing company. From there he went to Sandusky, Ohio, thence to Freeport, Illinois, next to St. Louis, from there to New Orleans, then to Dubuque, Iowa, thence to Stillwater, Minnesota, and again back to Freeport, much of the time being engaged in the brewing plexion entirely, making it strongly Demo-

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eratic. It is now the recognized organ of the and one of its prominent and well-known Democratic party in the county.

Both of these gentlemen are representatives of pioneer families of Buffalo county. Mr. Faulds was born in Glencoe township, Buffalo county, November 24, 1867, a son of John Faulds, who settled in that township in 1855. James Faulds, the father of the latter, was born in Scotland and emigrated to America about 1848, settling in Pennsylvania, and in 1855 came to Buffalo. llere James Faulds resided until his death. John Faukls, the father of our subject, is now a resident of Areadia. John G. Faulds was educated at the publie schools of his native town and also in the graded schools of Arcadia. In 1882 he entered the office of The Leader, to learn the trade of printing, Charles A. Leith being the editor of the paper. Here Mr. Faulds continued about thirteen months. when he re-entered the high school at Arca- dia. In November, 1885, he became con-

ON. ISAAC CLARK, president of the Bank of Galesville, has been closely identified with the history of the village nected with the La Crosse County Record, bof Galesville and of Trempealean county published at Onalaska, and January 1, 1557, was employed on the La Crosse Republican and Leader. June 1, 1887, he became con- nected with the Buffalo County Journal, published at Alma, where he remained three years, and in February, 1890, he purchased a one-half interest in The Leader of Mr. George Mathys. During the session of the Legislature for 1891, Mr. Faulds was enrolling elerk of the State Senate.

In June. 1890, he wedded Miss Julia | In 1855, in company with his brother-in- Protz, of Alma, Buffalo county, a daughter of Rudolph Protz, a prominent pioneer set- tler of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Faulds have one child, a daughter, Wanda.

Allan J. Cowie, who purchased the half interest in The Leader of Mr. Faulds' part- ner July 17, 1891, was born in Glencoe, Buffalo county, August 25, 1865, a son of Ilon. George Cowie, a pioneer of that county

citizens. Mr. Cowie received a good English education in the public schools of his native town, and also in the high school of Arcadia. lle began teaching at the age of sixteen, at which he worked during the winter season and on his father's farm in the summers for several years. In 1857-'S8 he was principal of the schools at Independence, this eounty, and for the three years following was engaged as agent for the Northwestern Elevator Com- pany in Minnesota. Messrs. Faulds & Cowie are young men of great energy and ability, and The Leader under their management has become largely increased in circulation and influence.

since 1855. lle is a native of Franklin county, Maine, where he grew to manhood. His father, Isaae Clark, also a native of the l'ine Tree State, was descended from an old New England family, and continued to live in his native State until his death. Mr. Clark, our subjeet, was married at the age of twenty- three years, to Miss Emily French, and in the fall of 1854 they came to Wisconsin and spent the first winter in Green Lake county. law, John C. French, he came to Trempealeau : county and purchased over a section of land. Mr. Clark has now a fine farm and beautiful home just outside the limits of Galesville. Ile lost his first wife by death in 1867. and his second wife, Julia Webb, died in 1877. His present wife was Fra F. Viles, a native of Maine. He has three children by the first marriage: Eugene, Florence and Genevieve,

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and two sons by the second: William and Leslie.

Mr. Clark has been prominently connected with the banking interests of Galesville since the organization of the first bank at this place, in 1883. With W. C. Brooks he es- tablished a banking house with a capital of $10,000, which they conducted as a private bank for some time, and then organized under the banking laws of the State. IIe erected his present fine building in 1886, which is of a solid brick, 80 x 44 feet, the en- tire eost being about $20,000. Mr. Clark has been president of the bank since its first organization ; C. M. Kellogg is the present cashier, and the directors are Isaac Clark, Wilson Davis, Daniel Kennedy, William B. Thompson, E. M. Towbridge, Edgar Palmer and C. M. Kellogg. This is the most im- portant banking institution of Trempealeau county, its directors and stock-holders are all substantial citizens, and its business is con- dueted on a most careful and judicious plan. Few men are better or more favorably known throughout Trempealeau and adjoining counties than Mr. Clark. As a business man he has ever been enterprising and successful, and in a special manner is Galesville indebted to him for mnehi of its growth and prosperity. In his politieal affiliations he is a Republican. and in his earlier voting days belonged to the Whig party. Ile has been called upon by his fellow citizens to till a number of local offiees, and in 1869 was elected to the Legis- lature of the State, and served in that capac- ity in an acceptable manner.

OHIN OCHSNER .- No name is more intimately or favorably associated with the history of Buffalo county than that of John Ochsner; and without a biography of him this work would be incomplete.

Mr. Ochsner was born in Zurich, Switzer- land. February 26, 1832, son of Henry and Barbara (Morf) Ochsner. His father, a farmer by occupation, was born in that country in the year 1798. Ile emigrated with his family to the United States in 1851, landed in New York and came from there to Wisconsin. Settling in Sauk county he engaged in agri- eultural pursuits and continued there until his death, which occurred in 1854. The mother survived him until 1877, her death oeeurring in Waumandee. They were the parents of nine children, viz .: Henry, Ru- dolph, John, Dora, wife of John H. Menz, of Waumandee; Conrad, Barbara, wife of Henry Wealty, of Waumandee; Lizzie, wife of God- frey Wealty, of Oregon; Ann, wife of Otto Barner, also of Oregon; and Edward, who enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and was killed in 1863.

John was reared at home, receiving a common-school education and assisting his father on the farm. In 1855 he bought some land on Beef river, Buffalo county, and returned soon afterward to Sauk county. The following year he came again to Buffalo county, and not liking his loeation he pur- chased 280 acres of land in sections 16 and 21, where his present home is situated. He at once began the work of improvement by breaking ground and erecting buildings, and as the years rolled by the work was continued until his present highly eultivated farm is the result. His brick residence was built in 1886. Some time after settling here he bought eighty aeres of land in order to com- mand a better water course. A portion of his first farm he sold to his brother Conrad. Ile now owns 400 acres in one body. Ile has another farm of 280 acres in Lincoln township and one of 160 acres in Montana township, which he leases. In his agricult- ural pursuits he has not confined himself to

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any special prodnet, but has given his atten- tion to general farming and stock-raising.

The Wamnandee river runs through his farm and furnishes an excellent water power. In 1863 Mr. Ochsner ereeted a gristmill, at first having two pair of millstones and using the turbine wheel. From time to time he made improvements in his mill, and in 1586 rebuilt it and put in the roller system, using eight rollers. He also had two buhrstones for grinding feed. In the fall of 1887 his mill was burned down, supposed to have been the work of an ineendiary. He was insured for $4,000, and his loss was estimated at 88,000. The following year he rebuilt, put in the same number of rollers for flour and two additional ones for feed, and his mill now has the capacity of sixty-five barrels per day. Ilis brand is the "White Rose," and for all the prodnet of his mill he has a ready sale.

Mr. Ochsner was married at Zurich, Switz- erland, in February, 1861, to Lonise, daughter of John and Doratha (Staub) Wealby. The following named children have been born to them: Adolph, Lena, wife of George Schmidt, of Alma; Rudolph, Henry, lledwig and Ilenry, the two latter being now deceased.

Besides attending to his personal interests, Mr. Ochsner has found time for public duty. always discharging the same earefully and eonseientiously. He has held the position of Town Assessor, has been chairman of the town board of Supervisors, and has also served as one of the County Commissioners. He takes an active part in local politics, nsually sup- porting the Republican party.

Mr. Ochsner has won his own way in the workl, and the signal suecess he has attained in life may be attributed to his industrions habits, his good judgment and his strict in- tegrity. Hle is a gentleman of pleasing ad- dress, warm and genial in nature, benevolent

in act and charitable in thought. llis re- ligion is that of the golden rule, and by following it through life he has won hosts of friends. His career is, indeed, one worthy of emulation.

BETER UHL, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Trempealean county, resides on seetion 14, Gale township. He is a son of Michael Uhl, who was born on the river Rhine, Germany, and was married to Mary Schrodes. In April, 1849, the family emigrated to America, land- ing in New York, after which they went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence to Washington county, same State, where they purchased a farm. In 1554 they came to Trempealean county and settled in Gale township, where the father, Michael Uhl, lived until his death, which occurred Sep- tember 30, 1585, at the age of eighty-six years and eleven months. His wife, Anna Uhl, was born October 18, 1803, and died at the homestead in Gale township, March 21, 1886. They both lie buried in the beautiful cemetery at Galesville. Peter Uhl. the sub- ject of this sketel, is the eldest of a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. all of whom are living but a daughter, Mary, who died after attaining womanhood. George is the second of the family in order of birth; Mollie, the eldest danghter, is married and lives in Winona, Minnesota; Christena lives in La Crosse, and Barbara in Arcadia. On coming to this county the family at once seenred a tract of land, but all was then new, and it seemed to them that the country would never sufficiently develop to render their land of material valne.

Peter, being the eldest son, became the i leader of the family, and upon him devolved

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quite a responsibility, but he was young and strong and did not shrink from the duty that devolved upon him. They had brought some money with them, but the question was to get something to live upon till a crop could be raised. In the fall of 1854 Peter started out alone with three ox teams and a wagon, determined to seeure provisions for the fam- ily if such were to be found. He went first to Trempealean, where he had been promised flour, but was disappointed and went on to La Crosse. There he bought twelve barrels of flour, and loading them on his wagon started for home. The difficulties attending this trip may be conceived when it is known that there was not a bridge at this time be- tween the present village of Galesville and La Crosse. In returning with his load of flour he forded the La Crosse river three times, and before crossing he would remove all his load but four barrels, that he might not risk too much, thus making three trips at each crossing. He sneceeded in reaching home atter a week's absence, without material damage, and thus the family were supplied with flour for quite a long period of time. At another time his father accompanied him on a trip to La Crosse, and as the river was somewhat flooded by recent rains the opera- tion of erossing was a very hazardous one. While fording the river the box of the wagon containing the father was carried away by the stream, and Peter, with great presence of mind, sprang into the water at the head of the oxen. caught hold of the bow of the yoke and succeeded in leading them ashore, and then returned and poled the box containing his father to the shore. The old gentleman, though much frightened, was not injured, but received a severe wetting. These were some of the experiences of the first year of their pioneer life. They raised a fair crop the first year, and thereafter had no special

trouble in getting enough to live on. But they were in no hurry to improve the land, being still in doubt whether the country would ever be settled. Peter then left home for a time, and worked at whatever he could find to do, but it was not long before other settlers came in, and it became certain that the country would eventually be settled. Then Peter and his brother George went to work in earnest, and helped the father clear the farm and make a home for the family. They built roads and bridges, and gradually the country put on the appearance of civilized life.

Peter Uhl was married, in March, 1857, to Miss Abbie Hardt, and they have eight chil- dren, viz .: Michael, Peter, Abbie, Rosa, Anna, Philip, Lizzie and Jennie. The father has always been a hard-working and industrious farmer of this county, and has been very suc- eessful. He had at one time 1,200 acres of land, some of which he has given to his sons, but his home farm now consists of 480 acres, and he also has 200 acres west of this place. He has a fine brick residence and a beautiful home. Ile has been very successful in the raising of stock, both horses and cattle, making a specialty of the Devonshire breed of cattle, and keeps a large number of cows for dairy purposes.

EV. NELSON COOK, of Trempealean, is a pioneer of this State, having been a resident of Wisconsin during the whole time of its existence as a State, and for four years previous to its admission into the Union. He was born in Genesee county, New York, March 5, 1817, the son of Jesse and Nancy (Lozier) Cook. Mr. Cook, on his father's side, is descended from an early Welsh family of Puritan religious belief.

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The grandfather of our subjeet, Miles Cook, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and a native of Conneetieut. After the colonies had seeured their independence he settled in Jefferson county, New York, and later re- moved to St. Lawrence county, where he lived until death. They were the parents of eight children, tive sons and three daughters, who grew to mature years, but all have now passed away exeept a son and daughter. The former, Gideon Cook, was born July 23. 1803, and now resides with his son George in Independence, Wisconsin; the surviving sister, Ruth, was never married, and is now a resident of Michigan. The mother of our subjeet was born in New York, the daughter of Peter Lozier, a native of France, and de- seended from the nobility of that country. The mother of Peter Lozier was the youngest sister of Marquis La Fayette, the eminent soldier and patriot who assisted Washington in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Lozier emigrated to America in early lite, settling in Sehoharie county, where he lived until death. Jesse Cook, the father of Rev. Nel- son Cook, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his father before him, so that the subject of this sketch would seem to have inherited a disposition to preach the gospel. When Mr. Cook was a mere child his father removed from Genesee county to Jefferson county, New York, and in the spring of 1844 Jesse Cook emigrated, and his fam- ' ily came in the summer of 1545, to the then Territory of Wisconsin, where he and his wife lived until death. He was born July 30, 1793, and died January 10, 1867. Ilis wife, Nancy Lozier, was born May 23, 1796, and died August 27, 1845. Jesse Cook re- married after the death of his first wife, and was the father of eleven chi dren by his first marriage, six sons and five daughters, eight of whom grew to mature years and four are

now living. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of the family; Sarah is the widow of Nelson B. Schram; Alvin W. and Esquire. There is one surviving daughter of the second marriage.

Rev. Nelson Cook, our subject, was reared in Jefferson county, and learned the trade of shoemaking with his father, who followed that occupation. His opportunities for ac- quiring an education in early life were limited, and he never attended school after the age of twelve years. Ile was married October 5, 1835, to Miss Lydia Wilcox, a native of New York. In the autumn of 1544 he came to the Territory of Wisconsin with his family, and settled in the town of La Grange, Wal- worth county, where he lived until 1859, when he came to Trempealean county and settled on seetion 3, Trempealean township, where he now lives. The land comprising his home farm was located by his father on a soldier's land warrant, he having served in the war of 1812, as did two of his brothers. All was wild and new when Mr. Cook came to this county, and here he has made a fine farm and has a beautiful home. He lost his first wife by death March 27. 1579, and .July 16 of the same year he was married to Mrs. Cynthia Chase, widow of Joseph Chase. She died May 8, 1582. His present wife was a daughter of Samuel and Merey (Spauld- ing) Smith, both of whom died when Mrs. Cook was a child. At the age of sixteen years she went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she married Frederick Booher, who died there in 1572. After the death of her husband she went to Ottawa, Illinois, where she lived seven years and then came to Trem- pealean county. Mr. Cook is the father of three children by his first marriage, viz .: Minerva Jane, wife of James Cox, of Trem- pealean; Harriet M., the wife of Harlow Rood, of Portage county, Wisconsin ; Lester,

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the only son, is a resident of Trempealeau county. He lost three children by his first marriage,-Adelia, Sarah and Esther, the latter having been a twin sister of Lester. Mrs. Cook has two daughters by her first marriage,-Anna M. and Emma Mabel. The latter is the wife of George Lee, of Trem- pealeau.

Rev. Nelson Cook was converted at the age of ten years, and joined the church at the age of fifteen, having been a church member for nearly sixty years. Ile began preaching in 1842, and was ordained an elder in 1853. He came to Trempealeau county as a missionary of the United Breth- ren Church, but two years later united with the Methodist Church, in which connection he has since labored. In the discharge of his duties as a preacher of the gospel he has ever been prompt and faithful, and in the early days traveled many thousand miles, having often walked twenty-five miles a day, preaching three times in the meantime, and has been called forty miles to preach a funeral sermon. He continued actively in the min- istry nntil the autumn of 1890, when failing health compelled him to discontinue regular preaching, though still a member of the West Wisconsin Conference. Mr. Cook is well known throughout Trempealeau and adjoin- ing counties, and is esteemed by all as a worthy eitizen and a Christian gentleman.

- ACOB STOLL, one of the leading hard- ware merchants of Buffalo county, Wis- consin, was born in the Canton of Sehaffhausen. Switzerland, November 2. 1831. His parents, Jacob and Ursula (Muel- ler) Stoll, were natives of Switzerland, and lived and died there, the former's death ocenrring at the age of fifty-seven, and the

latter's at sixty-four. His father was by occupation a farmer and cattle dealer. Grandfather Stoll was also named Jacob.

The subject of our sketch lived at home until 1850, assisting his father on the farm and attending the common sehools. He has one brother and three sisters, John, Mar- garet, Elizabeth and Ursula, all living in Switzerland. Mr. Stoll emigrated to the United States, landing in New York, in August, 1850, and from there came to Madison, Wisconsin. At that place he apprenticed himself to the blacksmith trade, and remained there until January, 1852, when he went to New Glarus, Green county, and worked at his trade. Leaving there in 1853, he went to Monroe county, Ohio, where he engaged in blacksmithing till the spring of 1854; thence to Galena, Illinois, still eontinning in the same business. In August, 1855, he came to Fountain City and opened his shop on the corner back of the Republican printing-office. He was the third blacksmith in the county, and continued work at that trade until 1872.

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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