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 93
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 93
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 93
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chased the same. His first work was to put up a log cabin to shelter his family. This being done he began the improvement of his farm. The early settlers near him were Mr. Runkle, and the Von Walds and Powells who came with him. He was an energetic man and a good farmer, and success crowned his efforts here. He continued to add to his possessions until he had 360 acres, which formed one of the finest farms of the county. His first frame house was the one that stands near the Danuser valley creek. He subse- quently built the one adjoining it, which is now the residence of the subject of this sketch, and where he lived and died. He was much respected, and was active in the public affairs of the county. He was Super- visor two terms, and in politics was an enthusiastic Republican. He left his sons a large property. To the Evangelical Church, of which he was an earnest and active mem- ber, he gave the ground on which their par- sonage and honse of worship are built. He died September 9, 1883, and his widow passed away January 8, 1885. They were the parents of four children: Lney, now Mrs. John Durisch, of Arcadia: John C .; Jacob and George.
Jacob Kindschy was reared on the home farm, where he became well versed in the business of farming, and secured some edu- cation in the public schools. When his father became advanced in years he and his brother John leased the farm and operated it together for four years. Then John moved to Alma and he conducted the farm alone. In 1888 he purchased 210 acres of the home- stead in sections 25 and 30, Montana town- ship, which he has since cultivated. It is principally a grain farm, though Mr. Kind- schy is giving some attention to stock, breed- ing the mixed Jersey cattle. He has about 140 acres under cultivation.
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Mr. Kindschy was united in marriage in | his brother, Christian, which he operated Wanmandee. April 2, 1881, to Sarah, daughter of Ernest and Christiana Koch, who were natives of Germany. They emigrated to this country and settled in Buffalo county, where they died. By this union there were two children born, Elinora E. and Lillie C. Sarah Kindschy died Jannary 23. 1885. April 8, 1886, he wedded his present com- panion, Mary, daughter of Fred and Mary Kirschner, who were born in Germany and are now living in Seattle, Washington. By his second wife Mr. Kindschy has three chil- dren. Odilia S., Lester J. and Fred.
Mr. Kindschy has taken an active part in the affairs of his township. For eight years he was Constable, and he held the office of Supervisor four years, being chairman one term. Ile is a member of the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 13, of Fountain City. In politics he is a Republican; is also a member of the Farmers' Alliance.
EORGE KINDSCHIY is a native of Montana township, Buffalo county, Wis- consin, and was born Angust 2, 1856, he being the first white child born in the Waumandee valley. His parents were Chris- tian and Elizabeth (Runker) Kindschy. (For more partienlar mention of his parents see the sketch of Jacob Kindschy on another page of this work.)
Mr. Kindschy spent his early years at home, assisting his father on the farm, and during the winters was sent to the township schools. At the age of nineteen he left the parental roof and started ont to do for him- self and see a little of the world. lle first located in Clayton City, Iowa, where he re- mained about a year. He then returned home. and three years later rented a farm of
about two years. At the end of that time he purchased a farm of 220 acres in the Dannser valley, known as the Dursch farm. On this lic lived three years and then leased it for three years; moved to La Crosse and worked at blacksmithing for awhile. Returning to the old valley, he opened a shop and feed mill where his present shop is located. After carrying on the milling business for two years he discontinued it. but has sirce kept up the smithing. In 1886 he sold his farm in the Dannser valley. In the settlement of his father's estate he received 120 acres, which he is now cultivating, giving his attention principally to hay and grain. lle is also breeding Jersey eattle and the half Clydes- ‹lale horses.
He was married, in Montana township. March 14. 1878, to Katherine, daughter of Florian and Cecilia (Bruhler) Dann-er. This union has been blessed with five children: Benjamin G., Alice C., Clara G., lda, Amelia and Florina II.
Mr. Kindschy has an elegant farm. This he keeps under a high state of cultivation and at the same time does a thriving business at his trade. In publie matters he takes an active part ; is now holding his ninth term as Justice of the Peace. Ile is a member of the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 13, of Fountain City. In polities he is a Republican. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Evangelical Church.
FOIIN RAICHLE, who resides on section 17, Gale township, is a pioneer and an honored soldier of the war of the Rebel- lion. Ile was born in Württemburg, Ger- many, in 1336, the son of Frederick Raichle. who remained in Germany until his death.
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Our subject is one of a family of eight chil- dren, six sons and two daughters, all of whom are living except the eldest. Frederick, who is deceased. The eldest surviving member of the family, George, still resides in Germany; William is a resident of Gale township; Catherine is married and lives in Germany; John, the subject of our sketeb; Christian also lives in Gale township, as does a sister, Barbara; Carl resides in Germany.
The subject of sketch and his brother, William, came to this country in 1854, and after a residence of two years in New York John came to Trempealean county. He spent one summer in the town of Trempealeau, and since then Gale township has been his home. He has resided on his present farm of 230 acres since 1870, which is under a good state of eultivation. William Raichle remained in New York two years longer than John, but he is now also a prominent farmer of Gale township and a neighbor of his brother. In August, 1862, John enlisted in Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin Regiment Volunteer Infantry, which went into service and re- turned under command of Captain A. A. Arnokl. The regiment did duty in Wisconsin until early in 1864, when they went to Dakota and engaged in the erection of Fort Rice. In the fall of the same year they descended the Missouri river on flat-boats, and going to Lonisville, Kentucky, remained there for a time, and went thence to Bowling Green, same State, but returned again to Louisville, where they were mustered out of service.
In 1880 Mr. Raichle was united in mar- riage with Miss Bertha Jahn, who was born in Germany in June, 1856, and came to America with her parents in 1872. The latter are now residents of Caledonia, Trempealean county, and are the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, viz. : Bertha, Richard, Ottielea. Helmuth and Edwin. The latter
was born in this county, all the others being natives of Germany. Another daughter, Lena, born in Germany, died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Raiehle have three children: Frederiek, Lena and John.
ANDREW R. AND NATIIAN H. CAR- HART, who are among the well-known representative citizens of Trempealeau county, are sons of Isaae D. Carhart, who emigrated with his family to Wisconsin in 1834. He was descended directly from Thomas Carhart, the first American aneestor of the family, and the first record of whom dates from 1691, at which time he resided in Richmond county, New York. Isaac D. Car- hart was born in Coeymans township, Albany county, New York, July 31, 1802, a son of | Daniel Carhart. He married Naney Agnes Bangs, who was born in Kortright township, Delaware county, New York, August 19, 1809. Mr. Carhart was reared to the oeeu- pation of farming, but learned the trade of a tanner and harness-maker, and for a time during his early married life was engaged in merchandising. He continued to live in the State of New York until he emigrated to Dodge county in 1854, and in 1861 the family came to Trempealeau county, settling on section 36, Trempealean township, where the father resided until his death, September 1, 1885; the mother died May 7, 1889. Mr. Carhart was prominently identified with the religious and moral growth of the community in which he lived, and was in all respeets a most worthy and estimable citizen. Ile was a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which he was elass-leader for many years, and also assisted to organize and maintain a Sunday-school in his town. Politically he was a Republican, and in the
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earlier days possessed strong anti-slavery mining in Jasper county, Missouri, which is an important enterprise and gives promise of still greater development>. Ile has been chairman of the town of Trempealean and member of its board for two terms; also treasurer of Trempealean County Agricult- ural Society now for the third year. sentiments. He and his wife were the par- ents of five sons and five daughters, all of whom are now living but one son, John MI., who enlisted in Company A, Seeond Regi- ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the first battle of Bull Run, July 19, 1861, having been one of the first Wis- Ile was married in 1864, to Miss Jennie Hope Gillies, a daughter of John Gillies, of Trempealean, and they have had four chil- who died in early infancy; AHen R., the third in order of birth; and Mark G., the youngest. Mr. Carhart is a Republican politi- cally, and both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Churel. consin troops killed in battle. He was the fourth child and second son, and was abont twenty-three years of age at the time of his . dren: Edward A., the eldest; George W., death. The eldest of the family, Mrs. Mary L. Manley, resides at Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri; L. H., a Methodist clergyman, now resides at Brooklyn, New York; Mrs. Delia E. Huntley is a resident of Winona; Andrew R. is the next in order of birth; Isaac W.
Nathan II., who owns and occupies the old resides at Hot Springs, Arkansas; Mrs. Emma ' homestead, was born November 20, 1848, Allen resides in Boone, lowa; Mrs. Charlotte , having been but a lad when he came to White resides in Clarendon, Donley county, Texas; Nathan H. is at the old homestead in Trempealeau township; and the youngest of the family, Mrs. Josie Mulligan, resides in Tacoma, Washington. Trempealean county with his parents. Ile was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Brownsell. a native of Fond du Lac, Wiscon- sin. who died February 18, 1859, leaving three children: Thomas, born October 2, 1884; Clarenee W. and Clara E., August 18. 1858. Mr. Carhart is prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal Chureli, as was also his wife.
As has been seen above, the two brothers mentioned at the beginning of this sketch are the only members of the family who now reside in Trempealeau eounty. Andrew R., who resides on section 6, was born in Seho- harie county, New York, December 13, 1841. 2222222221 In 1865 he engaged in farming for himself, and from 1868 to 1870 he was engaged in pork-packing and general business in the vil- lage of Trempealeau, and during that time he was a member of the village Board. Ile has also been president of the Trempealean Agricultural Society for two years. Besides his farming interests in this county Mr. Car- hart has been quite extensively engaged in ranching eattle in Texas, in partnership with B. B. Healy, of La Crosse. Mr. Carhart has "ous to the war of the Revolution. . William also been extensively engaged in buying and shipping cattle, and is now interested in zinc
HARLES W. FARRAND, attorney and counselor at law, Onalaska, has been a member of the bar of Trempealean eounty since 1874. Ile was born at Lindleytown. Steuben county, New York. in September. 1839, the son of William Farrand, a native of Vermont. The Farrands are descended from an early New England family, the orig- inal aneestor having come to Ameriea previ- Farrand married Ruby Kaple, a native of New York, and of New England ancestry.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Our subjeet was one of five children, the eldest of whom, James C., was Captain of a company in the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Reg- iment, in the war of the Rebellion, and died in Kansas City several years ago; Esther, the eldest daughter, became the wife of William Thayer, and died at Onalaska, Wis- consin: Charles W. was the next in order of birth; Helen M. is the wife of Charles H. Nichols, of Onalaska; and the youngest, Ira, is engaged in the lumber business at Gales- ville.
James C. Farrand was the first of the family to come West, and was soon followed by Charles. In 1856 he went to Illinois, and to La Crosse, Wisconsin, the same year, after which he went to Melrose, where he joined his older brother, James C. There he passed the winter of 1856-57, and the following spring went to Onalaska, where he worked at lumbering and also attended school for a time. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. and served until May, 1864, when he was discharged on account of a wound received at the battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1863. The regiment to which he belonged formed a part of the famous Iron Brigade, with whom he fought in many of the most noted battles of the war including first Bull Run, Gaines- ville, second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam, and was also at Fredericksburg under Burnside, and at Chancellorsville under Hooker. He was wounded on the first day of the Gettysburg battle, his regiment form- ing a part of the first corps, commanded by the gallant General Reynolds, who fell on that bloody field, Mr. Farrand receiving a gun-shot wound through the right foot. Ile was sent at once to larvis' General Hospital. where he remained until the spring of 1864, when he was sent to David's Island, New
York, and there discharged in May of the same year.
After he had recovered from his wounds Mr. Farrand was varionsly engaged in lum- bering, studying and teaching, attending school mnuch of the time at Galesville. In 1871, having determined to adopt the legal profession, and having already given considerable attention to the study of law, he entered the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, where he continued two terms. Ile then entered the office of Lyndes & Burroungs, at La Crosse, and in 1874 located in Galesville and opened an office. From there he removed to Arcadia, where he continued practice until 1878. He next went South and spent considerable time traveling, and in 1884 returned to Gales- ville, where he resumed practice. Owing to the death of Charles II. Nichols, his sister Helen's husband, Mr. Farrand has recently moved to Onalaska, to make his home with his mother and sister. The family of Mr. Farrand all eventually came West. The father died at Onalaska in 1869, and the mother still resides there with her danghter, Mrs. Nichols. Mr. Farrand is a gentleman of fine attainments and a lawyer of ability. Ile was a gallant soldier in the war for the Union, and both professionally and socially is esteemed.
TOHIN TURTON, of Waumnandee, Wis- consin, by virtue of his long residence here, is justly entitled to appropriate biographieal mention in this work.
Mr. Turton was born in Laneashire. Eng- land, May 13, 1837, son of Peter and Martha ( Wakefield) Turton, both natives of the same place. His father was a son of John Turton. and was born April 4, 1807, and his mother
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was born March 17, 1811. Peter Turton, a silk-weaver by ocenpation, emigrated to the United States in 1882, and settled with his daughters in Connecticut, where his death occurred in 1884. By his first wife he had two children, the subject of our sketch and James. Her death ocenrred in England, January 4, 1849. In 1862 he took to him- self a second wife, the issne from that mar- riage being two daughters, Jane and Lillie, who now reside in Connecticut.
John Turton remained with his father until he was eighteen, learning his father's trade. that of silk-weaving. and attending school when opportunity offered. At the age of eighteen he concluded to strike out for the new world, and accordingly landed in New York, in June, 1855. At once coming West. he stopped for a time in Racine, and subse- quently engaged in farm work. In 1859 he came to Wanmandee township, Buffalo county, pre-empted eighty aeres of land in section 19, and immediately commenced making improvements. This country was then in its wild state, there were no roads to guide the traveler, and Indians and deer were plentiful. In the spring he built a honse, and in 1861 erected his present dwelling. Re- cently, in 1888, he built a fine barn. Abont sixty-five acres of his land are under improve- ment. Formerly his chief prodnet was grain, but of later years he has turned his attention to the dairy business and is raising stock.
Mr. Turton was married in Racine, Wis- consin, April 29, 1862, to Mrs. Demiah Col- lier. By her former husband she has one child, Joseph, born November 23, 1858, who is now residing near her. Her union with Mr. Turton has been blessed with eight chil- dren, viz .: Martha Jane, born May 1, 1863; Demiah Lillie, November 27, 1864; Peter Alfred, January 27, 1868; James Henry, June 11, 1870; John J., March 8, 1873; George 48
Walter, April 16. 1876; Ann Elizabeth, Angust 4, 1875; Alice Mary, April 22, 1551. Mrs. Turton is a daughter of John and Jane (Adamson) Hodgkinson, natives of Yorkshire, England. They came to America in 1554. located in Quebec, Canada, and from there removed to Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Hodg- kinson died in Missouri, in 1861. Ilis widow now resides in London, Nebraska. Of the twelve children born to them. only four lived to adult age, namely: George, Demiah, Jane and Mary. Jane wedded Drury Conltard, and lives in California, and Mary is the wife of William Lighthill, of lowa.
Politically, Mr. Turton affiliates with the Democratic party. He has held the office of School Treasurer and School Director. Ile favors any movement that has for its object the advancement of the best interests of the community; and for his many estimable qualities he is held in high esteem by his numerous friends and acquaintances.
+E
EORGE N. HIDERSHIDE, M. D., of Arcadia, located in this village in 1875, the second graduate to establish himself at this place, and with one exception has been in continnons practice longer than any phy- sician in the connty.
lle is a native of Luxembourg. Germany. and the son of Nicholas and Anna M. (Sa- lentiny) lidershide, who emigrated with their family to the United States in 1557. landing at Minneiska, Minnesota. Nicho- las Hidershide purchased and improved a fine farm in Mount Vernon, Winona county, that State, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in the spring of 1875. The mother died at the home of our subject in 1859, having resided with him some time previous to her death. They were
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the parents of seven children, five of whom grew to maturity and are still living: two died in infancy. Those living are Pierre, who is farming on the old homestead; Mary Jane, the wife of John Rodenbour, a resident of Brown's valley, Minnesota; George N., of this sketch; Mary, who wedded Henry Ste- vens, a resident of Dover, Minnesota; and Lonisa, wife of Joseph Meyer, also of Dover, Minnesota.
The earlier life of Dr. Ilidershide was spent on a farm and in attending the district schools. Ile graduated at the State Normal School at Winona in 1870, and having the determina- tion to pursue a professional career he at once began the labor for its accomplishment. It was necessary that he should do manual labor to secure the means required for this purpose, but he never shrank from the diffi- culties in the way, and labored faithfully and earnestly until his objeet was attained. He was engaged for a considerable time in selling farm machinery in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illi- nois, and was very successful in this branch of business.
Soon after his graduation at Winona he began the study of medicine at Lyons, Iowa, and after two years' study under a preceptor at that place he entered the Louisville ( Kentucky) Medical College, from which he was gradu- ated with honor in 1875, and soon afterward located at Arcadia. The Doctor has ever been a most industrious student, and besides his medical education he possesses fine literary attainments. Ile was but a lad when he came to America with his father's family; and, having no knowledge of the English language. he went to live with Dr. G. F. Childs, a native-born Englishman, in Minnesota and an early settler of Winona. thinking that he would there learn the language in its native purity. According to his own statement he soon learned to pronounce the letter "h"
where he should have omitted it, in the most approved English style! He soon, however, learned his error, and afterward became more American in his pronunciation, and the most careful critic of the language would now be more likely to believe him a native of the central or eastern part of our Union than of a foreign land.
Dr. Hidershide believes in the permanency of our American institutions, and rejoices in the freedom of our beloved country. He is a fine linguist in the German and American languages, and also possesses a fair knowledge of several other languages. As a surgeon and physician he stands in the front rank of the profession in Wisconsin, and deservedly enjoys a very large and lucrative practice; and as a citizen he is esteemed for his integ- rity and progressive principles.
He is a member of the Northwestern Wis- consin Medical Association; in 1881 he was elected a delegate to represent that body at the American Medical Association held at Richmond, Virginia, and in 1889 was its President. He is also a member of the State Medical Association, and is at present Sur- geon of the Green Bay Railroad.
In politics he is an ardent Republican, but has never sought political preferment for himself, though he has been called upon to serve as President of the village board of Arcadia. He was chosen a delegate to the Congressional Convention of his district in 1890, and is at present Chairman of the County Congressional Committee; but it is to his profession that he devotes his life work, and improves all opportunities to become familiar with advanced methods and views in surgery and medicine.
The Doctor was brought up under the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, though he is not a member nor adherent of any of the religious denominations, but rather
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favors the broad liberalism of the advanced thinkers of the past and present. lle is logi- cal in all his methods, and has no convictions that have not been reached by a process of reasoning. Ile is fearless and ontspoken in the advocacy of any cause he may esponse. Having a higher regard for principle than for pelf, he would seorn the idea of receiving pecuniary advantages by the practice of hy- pocrisy. Ile is not wanting in public spirit. as he is ever ready to eneourage any enter- prise for the publie good. His many acts of kindness and generosity to kindred and friends are the spontaneous outgrowth of a kind and sympathetic nature.
Socially the Doctor is a Mason, being a member of Areadia Lodge, No. 201, A. F. & A. M., of Arcadia; of Smith Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M., at La Crosse; of La Crosse Commandery, No. 9, K. T .; of the Wisconsin Consistory, and of the Tripoli Temple, N. M. S., Wisconsin.
IIRISTOPHER ROESCH, of Glencoe township, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, was born in Württemburg, Germany, July 12, 1827. His parents, John and Fred- ericka (Keitzler) Roesch, were both natives of that place and passed their lives there, the mother dying in 1846 and the father in 1858. They were the parents of three children, the subject of our sketch and Christina and Fred- ericka. Ilis father being a farmer by oeen- pation, Christopher was reared on the farm, assisting his father and attending the sehools of that place.
Mr. Roesch emigrated to this country in the spring of 1854, landing in New York, and from there going direct to Cincinnati, where he remained three years, working in a packing-honse in winter and on a farm in
summer. In 1557 he came to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and located a farm of 120 acres in section 19, Glencoe township, which he purehased of a new settler. Hle engaged in farming about the valley until 1860, when, having built a cabin, he settled down on his farm and began improving it. The work of improvement went on gradually, however, as his means were limited. At first he used an ox team. He had to make his own roads be- fore he could market his produce. By dili- gence and good management he was soon comfortably situated, and ere long fortune smiled on him. He erected his fine dwell- ing in 1871, and his new barn in 1875. His first addition to his original purehase was three forties, which he bought in 1864. These are in sections 17 and 20. The same year he added another forty, located in sec- tion 19, and in 1875 he bought two more forty-acre traets in section 19. In 1873 he bought forty acres of Government land in seetion 18. The present year (1890) he bought ninety aeres of land in Glencoe town- ship, which he leases. He has in one body 400 acres, 120 acres of which are under cul- tivation, and forty aeres of hay land. Be- sides carrying on general farming, he is also engaged in stoek-raising. He has a dairy and milks about twenty eows; is raising half Clydesdale horses.
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