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 91
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 91
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 91
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1879. He was born at Louisville, St. Law- rence county, New York, in 1848. a son of John Richmond, who was born in the city of York, England, in 1811, and came to America at the age of sixteen years. Ile settled at Madrid, New York, and later at Louisville, in the same State. He was marriel at the former place to Margaret Hoy, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1813, and who came to America when fourteen years of age. The father died in 1867, and the mother is still living. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, eight sons and one daughter, and seven of the former and the daughter are still living, viz .: Francis is the eldest surviving brother of the family; William IL. was Second Lieu- tenant in the war of the Rebellion, in the One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry; John also served in the war of the Rebellion, in the same regiment; P. E. Richmond, M. D., graduated at the Magill College, Montreal, and now resides at Mount Pleasant, Michi- gan, as do all the brothers mentioned above; Henry is a merchant tailor at the same place; Hannah, the wife of Charles Rutherford, re- sides at the okl home in St. Lawrence county, New York; and the youngest, Dr. James Richmond, graduated at the College of Phy- sieians and Surgeons, Chicago. and is now a practicing physician of Black River Falls.
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Stephen Richmond, our subject, received his early education at the public schools, and his later literary instruction was obtained at Waddington high school, at Lawrence Academy, Potsdam, New York, and at the Normal School at the same place. He taught several terms of school in the State of New York, and in September, 1870, he came to Trempealean county. Ile was for a number of years engaged in the same occupation in Steele county, Minnesota, but afterward ro- turned to Wisconsin and taught a select
school on Trempealeau Prairie. From 1873 to 1878 he was Principal of the Galesville public school, and in the latter year he came to Arcadia and engaged in the same capacity. Mr. Richmond had begun the study of law in 1871, which he pursued at intervals during his teaching career, and in 1879 he was ad- mitted to the bar, and in September of that year began practice. The schools of Areadia being at that time without a principal, Mr. Richmond was induced to resume that po- sition, and in November, 1879, he was elected Superintendent of the Schools in Trempealean county, but two years later he resumed the practice of law.
Ile was married at Centerville in 1871, to Miss Ida Merwin, a sister of William, George and James Merwin of Trempealeau county, and they have three sons and two daughters. Mr. Richmond is a prominent member of the bar, and his career as an educator, School Superintendent and lawyer have rendered him well known throughout Trempealeau and other counties. Politically, he is a Demo- crat, and is the present Chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee, a position he has filled since 1882, and has also been a member of the State Central Committee for a number of years, and is Chairman of the Congres- sional Committee of the Seventh district. IIe is well known in political circles, and in the fall of 1890 he visited various parts of the State in the interests of the party that he represents. Mr. Richmond has an extensive and increasing professional practice.
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JUSTIN O. WHITE, of Alma, and at present Registrar of Deeds, was born in Modena township, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, January 6, 1861, and is the son of David and Mary (Ettle) White. His
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father was born in Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, August 15, 1820, and his mother was a native of Germany, born Jannary 1, 1827. When a child she eame to the United States with her parents. David White is a farmer by occupation, and is still living at the old homestead in Modena township. To this worthy couple were born fourteen chil- dren, viz .: George, Mary Ann, who was the wife of John De Bois, and is now deceased; Martha, now Mrs. Von Wald, of Dakota; Matilda, now Mrs. Ephraim Butler; Samuel, William M., John H., Richard M., Austin O., Charles, Ettie, now Mrs. Malcom MeGil- . frey; Marcellus, Daniel, and David, Jr. All are living except George, Mary Ann, Samuel and Charles. George was a member of the Twenty-fitth Wisconsin Infantry.
Austin O. was the second white ehild born in Modena township. He was reared on the farm, assisting his father and attending the publie schools, His father is a Republican in politics and an influential citizen of his township, though he has never songht public places. After he was twenty-one years of age Mr. White began to learn the carpenter's trade, and worked at that trade two years. He was subsequently engaged as agent for Rockwell & Hutling in selling agricultural machinery for one season. He then returned to farming, which business he continued up in the fall of 1890, by the Democratie con- vention, as a candidate for Registrar of Deeds, and was elected, being installed Janu- ary 5, 1891. Previous to this he was Clerk of his township for three years, and was clerk of the school board for seven years.
to the spring of 1891. He was nominated , State. The sisters are Jane, Mary, Nancy
Ile was married June 10, 1883, at Alma, to Miss Ida, daughter of Oren and Mary E. (Benedict) Rockwell. They are of New England stock, coming to Wisconsin from Massachusetts some time in the '60s and
locating at Modena, where they now live. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been given two children, Ilarry B. and Hugh. The latter died in infancy.
Through his own exertions and by the faithful discharge of the duties intrusted to him, Mr. White has won his way to the front. He is thoroughly qualified for the honorable position he holds among the peo- ple of his native county, and is highly re- garded by them. IJe is one of the rising young men of the county, whose future is assured.
ILLIAM J. FARBER, of Arcadia, was born in Clinton county, New York, February 17, 1834. His father, John Farber, a native of Nova Scotia, moved to New York when a boy, and there he grew to manhood and married Mary Buck, a native of Connecticut. He died in 1590, but the mother is still living. William J. Farber is one of a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, and is the eldest of the family. The second in order of birth, John L. Farber, was at one time president of Gales- ville University, but is now in the ministry, being located at Renvilie, Minnesota. Well- ington Farber is a resident of the Empire and Lydia. The subject of this biographical sketch received a good education in his native State, and at the age of seventeen years com- menced to teach, following that occupation in the winter season. For six years previous to the breaking out of the war he was engaged in a starch factory, which he assisted in build- ing, but when the war broke out he left his | home and occupation and enlisted, August 31, 1862, in Company C, Second New York Cavalry, then in command of Colonel Kil-
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patrick, who afterwards became the famous General Kilpatrick. Mr. Farber acted as Chaplain for about six weeks, owing to the death of the regular chaplain, and was fol- lowed in that capacity by the celebrated writer E. P. Roc, and soon after was appointed to the dangerous and responsible position of dis- patch-bearer. Near the old Arlington Place in Virginia, while conveying dispatches. Mr. Farber was so severely injured by a fall of his horse, which, becoming scared, reared and fell over upon him, that he was totally in- capaeitated for further service and received his discharge, soon after which he came to Trempealean county, where he had friends living, and as soon as sufficiently recovered he engaged in teaching, which occupation he followed very snecessfully for twenty-one years. Ile discontinued teaching in 1886, after having spent the greater part of his life as student and teacher. He has ever taken a deep interest in the cause of education and progress of schools in this part of the State, and they owe much of their excellence to him who spent the best years of his life as an educator. Ile is a well-educated and refined gentleman, and merits the esteem of all.
T ANS ALFRED ANDERSON, of White- ! attention exclusively to law.
leisure hours succeeded in obtaining a very limited knowledge, and at the age of twenty- one years obtained a certificate to teach. This privilege was granted by the superin- tendent of schools without an examination. the official basing his opinion of the ability of the young man to teach on a general con- versation he had with him. Mr. Anderson at this time had never studied English gram- mar, and was very deficient in other branches taught in the schools, but he now set about studying in earnest and for seven years was both teacher and student. In the meantime, however, he had visited other portions of the country, having spent two summers in Ne- braska and one in Dakota.
Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Oline Frestad, a native of Norway, who came to | America at the age of eighteen years with 1 her parents.
In the spring of 1834 he came to White- hall for the purpose of studying law, but by an interruption he was variously engaged for abont three years. He graduated, however, at the State University at Madison, in June, 1858. In the fall of that year he was elected District Attorney of that county, in which position he served very acceptably for two years, when he was succeeded by G. T. Free- man, of (talesville. He now devotes his
There were also three children by the sec- ond marriage of the mother, when the family
hall. attorney and counselor at law, came to Trempealean county in 1868. Ile was born in Norway, March 4, 1855. came to America. There are now five of the Ilis father. Andrew Olsen, died when his ' latter. son. the subject of this sketch, was young. In his political affiliations Mr. Anderson The mother remarried and in 1868 came to is a Prohibitionist, being an enemy to the saloon system in all its forms. He takes a deep interest in educational matters, is an extensive and varied reader and has one of the finest private libraries in Trempealeau county. The family of Mr. Anderson, while America with her husband and children. The family eame at once to the town of Pigeon, Trempealean county, but soon after moved to Jackson county. Being of a studi- ons turn of mind and ambitions to obtain a knowledge of English studies, he had in his residents of Norway, were in very poor cir-
Respey Tong Char Behn am
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cumstanees financially, but the mother was a educated in Fountain City. In 1872 he woman of much energy and force of charae- was apprenticed to G. G. Oppliger to learn the drug business, remaining with him until 1876. He then went to Chicago and entered the Chicago College of Pharmacy, where he graduated in 1879. After completing his course of study he spent two years in that eity, the first with Professor Garrison, and the other with Professor Bartlett, having charge of the latter's store. He then re- turned home, and, in partnership with his father, purchased the drug business of G. G. Oppliger, which he still conducts. Ile served one year as village clerk, and has the distinc- tion of having been the first Mayor of Fountain City. Ile was again nominated for Mayor in the spring of 1892, contrary to his wishes, and was elected without opposition. Ile is a member of the Wisconsin State Board of Pharmacy, and ocenpies the honor- able position of president of the same. ter, and was desirous of taking her children to America where better advantages might be secured. She had no money to consummate this object, but succeeded in borrowing enough of a relative to pay the passage of the family to the United States. When they ar- rived at Milwaukee the money was entirely exhausted and they were strangers in a strange land. Their destination was Trempealeau, and they succeeded, by leaving their goods as security, to seeure passage to Trempealeau. The family were accordingly forwarded to La Crosse, where they took the steamer War Eagle to Winona. They were entirely desti- tnte of food, but a colored man on the boat learned of their condition and furnished them with food. They should have stopped at Trempealean, but by mistake were taken on to Winona. There they received food and several dollars in money from the citizens and finally reached their destination. There was one man in Trempealean county whom the family knew and he resided in the town of Pigeon. and to that place they went on foot, two of the children being so young that they were carried by older members of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have six children, two boys and four girls: Lillie, Rosa, George, Myrtle. Olive and William. They lost two children: Willie at four and a half years, and another boy in early infancy.
HARLES RICHARD BECHMANN, a member of the firm of Bechmann & Son. Fountain City, Wisconsin, was born in Weltwitz, Saxony, February 17, 1857. eldest son of Henry and Wilhelmina Bechmann. He was quite young when he came to this country, and was reared and 47
Mr. Bechmann was married at Fountain City, April 15, 1882, to Ottilia, daughter of Fred and Sophia Hepp, pioneers of this place. To them were born three children: Leonora A., Flora W. and Charles F. Mrs. Bech- mann died November 22, 1890. She was a consistent member of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Beehmann is a member of the Lutheran Church.
AON. GEORGE HI. MARKHAM, of Independence, was born in Yorkshire. England, in 1837, a son of John Mark- ham. The latter was a commander in the English navy for many years, from which he retired, on half pay. in 1883, on account of declining health. He was a Lieutenant in the navy when Napoleon was confined at St. HIelena, and his vessel was stationed there, guarding the island, when that famous pris-
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oner was confined there. Ile was born in 1797, and entered the navy at the age of thirteen years as a eadet, rising gradually to the position of Commodore. Abont 1838 the family removed to France, thence to the island of Guernsey in 1846, and ten years later to the United States, coming directly to Columbia, Wisconsin, where they remained while George H. came to Trempealeau connty and located land, on which the family settled in 1857. The family that came to this county consisted of the parents and two sons. The father's health was poor, and after coming to Wisconsin he lived a retired life until his death, which occurred in October, 1870. In his earlier life he was a man of great energy and ability, and as has already been seen rose to a high rank in the British navy. About 1832 he received a sunstroke while at Vera ('ruz, Mexico, and was never afterward able to do active duty. The children of Commo- dore Markham and wife consisted of four brothers who grew to mature years: John. the eldest, was in the consular service in Eng- land for many years, and died at Shanghai, China, while consul in that place, in 1871; George II. is the next in order of birth; Arthur A., whose farin adjoins that of his brother, was the next in order of age; and the youngest, Albert Hastings, is in the Brit- ish navy. He entered the navy at the age of thirteen years, and has risen by virtue of ability and faithfulness to duty to his present high position. He has seen innch important service, and had the honor of being com- mander of the Alert in the famous Sir George Nares' expedition to the Arctic regions in 1875 '76. In that famous exploration he commanded the sledge expedition which penetrated the latitude 83. 20', 26", or within 3998 miles of the North Pole, the farthest point North which at that time had ever been attained, and has never
been exceeded except by Lockwood, of the Greely expedition. Previous to this time Admiral Markham accompanied a whaling expedition on the Artic, commanded by Cap- tain Adams, his objeet being to study ice and navigation. In this expedition he discovered and rescued the erew of the Polaris. He has made many other important voyages, and has written books descriptive of them. They include the following: "Cruise of the Rosa- rio;" "A Whaling Cruise to Baffin's Bay and the Gulf of Boothia, and an Account of the Rescue of the Crew of the Polaris;" "The Great Frozen Sea;" "Northward, Ho!" "A Polar Reeonnoissanee." His last and one of his most important works is the " Life of Sir John Franklin."
George H. Markham and his brother Arthur improved the land that the former located in 1856, and continued to reside together at the homestead until quite re- eently, when the land was divided, and they are now living separately. George II. has a fine farm of 480 acres, his home is beautifully sitnated, and he and his wife are surrounded by the comforts and blessings of life, the fruit of their own industry. Mr. Markham has ever taken an active part in the growth and prosperity of Trempealean county, has served in the Legislature of Wisconsin in 1879, during which time he was Chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills, was the first Clerk of Burnside township, has been Chair- man of the township a number of times, was Town Treasurer fourteen consecutive years. and has been Village Treasurer since Inde- pendence was incorporated. Politically he is a Republican, and has voted for every Repub- lican candidate since the organization of that party.
Mr. Markham was married, October 8, 1862, to Miss Fannie M. Bishop, a daughter of Dr. Edmund Bishop, who was born in
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Ohio, January 9, 1818. Ile removed to In- diana early in life, and in 1840 was married to Miss Minerva Shelby. From Indiana he went to Fond dn Lae county, Wisconsin, in 1854, thence to Fountain City, where he was one of the first settlers, and then to Portage City. IIe practiced medicine in early life, but subsequently left the profession and engaged in other business. Deciding to again enter the profession he went from Fountain City to Chicago, took a course of lectures at the Rush Medical College, and then located at Portage City, where he resumed practice. That place was his home until his death, although he died at Galva, Illinois, while on a visit, September 20, 1865. Mrs. Markham's mother died when she was but eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mark- ham have one son, George A., who was born May. 7, 1865. He was educated at the State Normal School at Winona and at Galesville University, and is now editor of the li.depend- ence News and The Ware. Mr. Markham is one of the representative citizens of Trem- pealeau county, has ever taken a deep interest in promoting the growth and prosperity of of the community in which he lives, and is esteemed as an enterprising citizen.
EBA ATWOOD is an early settler of the town of Trempealean, the date of his arrival being June 3, 1856. Ile entered 120 acres of land. His present farm is located on sections 1, 18 and 10. Mr. Atwood is a native of Vermont, being born in the town of Leicester, Addison connty, in 1829. His father, Seba Atwood, Sr., was a native of Warwick, Franklin county, Massa- chusetts. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his father, Isaac Atwood, the pa- ternal grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, fought for the independence of the colonies in the war of the Revolution. The mother of Mr. Atwood was Eliza ( Benjamin) Atwood. In 1852 Seba Atwood, Sr., re- moved from the State of New York to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where the wife and mother died, and later the father removed to Fond du Lac county, where he spent the remainder of his life. They were the parents of seven children who grew to mature years, six sons and a daughter. All are living except the daughter. The subject of this notice resided in Dodge county for about two years, then went to Marquette county, coming to Trem- pealean county as stated in 1856. He married in the State of New York, Caroline Bugbee. They have a daughter, Carrie M., and an adopted son, George Edward.
AMUEL BARR, who resides on section 32, Trempealeau county, was born in Madison county, New York, in 1818, a son of James Barr, who died when Samuel was but four years of age. The mother sur- vived her husband many years, dying when her son was twenty years old. There are but two surviving members of the family, Mr. Barr having an elder brother, James, who re- sides in Eau Claire county, Wisconsin. In 1842 the subject of this sketch came to Wis- consin via the lakes, the intention being to land at Milwaukee, but owing to rough weather, which rendered an attempt to make a landing at that place quite dangerous, the boat continued to Chicago. At that time that now famous eity was in its earliest in- faney, and gave no promise that it would in less than fifty years become the second city on the Western Continent. At Chicago two teams were purchased, and the party con- tinued to Fort Atkinson. Mr. Barr soon
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afterward purchased land in Walworth county. but later removed to Dodge county, where he also improved his farm and worked at his trade. From there he emigrated with his family to Trempealeau county.
While in Dodge county Mr. Barr was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Lilly, a native of Binghamton, New York, and daugh- ter of flenry and Anna (Robinson) Lilly. The father was a native of Massachusetts, was married in the State of New York, re- moved with his family to Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1846, later to Crawford county, where the father died, and after his death the mother lived with Mr. and Mrs. Barr until her decease. The family consisted of two sons and four daughters: Cyrns, who resides in Crawford county; George, in Worth eounty, Iowa; Mrs. Martha Adams, of Sa- betha. Kansas, and Mrs. Barr, are the only surviving children. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have had eight children, two sons and six daugh- ters, four of whom are living. The eldest of the former, Ira Adelbert, is a master mechanic. and is now a member of the Northwestern Contracting Company of Chicago. He is a natural mechanic, and has attained distinc- tion in his business. Irwin Roscoe, the younger son, is a builder by occupation, and now resides in Chicago. The eklest daugh- ter, Della E., is a skillful artist, and is a most popular and successful teacher of her art. She is now at. Pomona, California. The other daughters are Clara, Bessie and Ella. The daughters all possess a natural talent as artists, and the home of Mr. and Mrs. Barr is beautifully decorated with specimens of their handiwork. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have a beautiful home, and are surrounded by the comforts of life, the result of their own in- AInstry, and here they have lived for the long period of thirty-five years. Here their chil- dren have grown to manhood and woman-
| hood. several of whom have already gone out into the world to assume a more active part in the duties of life. Mr. and Mrs. Barr are numbered among the well-known and esteemed citizens of Trempealeau county.
WOHN WINGAD, one of the well-known citizens of the town of Unity. Trempea- leau county, and a veteran soldier of the late war, was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 2, 1829, a son of llezekiah and Elizabeth (Fatchitt) Wingad. Of the six children born to them, one (Mary) is de- eeased. One son and two daughters are resi- dents of England, and John and David both live in America. John Wingad came to Ameriea in 1852. and went at once to Arena, lowa county, Wisconsin, where his brother David then was, the latter having come to Ameriea in 1847. Here he engaged as a farm hand for some time and then purchased a farm in Arena. He was married in Iowa county. to Miss Fanny Porter, also a native of England.
In Angust, 1862, Mr. Wingad enlisted in Company A, and afterwards transferred to Company K. Thirty-third Regiment Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the elose of the war, most of the time in the Western army. Hle took part in the siege and capture of Vieksburg, the battle of Tupelo, and was in the Red River expedition under Banks, and after that ill-starred expe- dition went up White river to Brownsville, Arkansas, near Little Rock, and marched thence to Cape Girardeau, thenee by way of the Mississippi river to St. Louis, and then up the Mississippi river to Jefferson City. and by rail and by marching to Warrens- burg, where his regiment conducted, as a guard. 620 Confederate prisoners back to St.
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Louis. There the regiment was paid and re- clothed, and went thence to Nashville by river and took an active part in the fight be- tween the Union General Thomas and the Rebel General Hood, in which the Confeder- ate forces were practically destroyed. They followed the retreating forces of the Rebels, and then encamped at Eastport, on the Ten- nessee river, where the regiment remained abont a month, and in the meantime made a raid to Corinth and scattered the Rebel forces there. In February, 1865, they went by boat to New Orleans, and camped below the city for a few days, and erossed Lake Ponchartrain to Danphine Island, and after about a week ascended Fish river to Mobile and took part in the attack on Spanish Fort, charging by moonlight. They marched then to Mont- gomery, and on this march heard of the surrender of Lee and the assassination of Lincoln. From Montgomery they went to Tuskegee, where they staid until they re- turned home by way of Vieksburg. and Mr. Wingad was discharged at Madison in 1865, after a long and honorable career.
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