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 94

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 94
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 94
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 94

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Roesch was married in June, 1861, at Glencoe, to Ursula Gartmann, daughter of Joshua Gartmann. Six children were given to them, whose names are as follows: Fred- ericka, wife of John Florin; Mary, wife of Christian Florin; John, Caroline, wife of David Angst; Rosa and Anton. After a happy married life of thirty years, Mrs. Roesch died, June 25, 1891, leaving a large eircle of mourning friends.

Recently Mr. Roesch has turned the man- agement of his farm over to his son John.

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This is among the best improved farms in the county and is admirably laid out. He has taken great pains to have all the eon- veniences possible and to make farm work a pleasure. From a cool, inexhaustible spring, located on an elevated part of his farm, he has the water conducted to his dwelling, dairy-house and barn.

Mr. Roesch has been very popular, and is a man highly respected by the community in which he has so long dwelt. Ile has been honored by several responsible positions, among which were those of Supervisor and town Treasurer. Ile has affiliated with the Republican party up to the last election for Governor, when he supported the Democratie nominee.

parents, and was twenty-one years of age when he came to Trempealean county, in 1857. He worked the first year for Mr. Brandenburg, of Trempealeau, and the fol- lowing summer was engaged in running logs on Black river. With the first $50 that he saved he bought forty acres of land in Trem- pealeau township, and at once began the im- provement of the same, and gradually, by industry and economy, added to his posses- sions. He finally sold his property at an advanced price and bought the farm where he now lives.

Mr. Gladson was married June 13, 1865, to Mercy A. Wilcox, a daughter of Ephraim Wilcox, of La Crosse. She died February 21, 1868, and October 5, 1869, Mr. Gladson married Belle Scott, of Hobart, Delaware county, New York. Her father, James Scott, died in 1864, and her mother, Christie (Thompson) Seott, survived her husband many years. Mr. Gladson had two children by his first wife, one of whom is living, An- drew B., at Dennison, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Gladson have three children: James T., May Belle, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Gladson has a brother and four sisters, all of whom reside in the State of New York. She is a finely educated lady, having gradnated at Roxbury Academy, Delaware county, New York, in 1854. the Principal at that time being Professor J. W. MeLaury, later of La Crosse, and still later President of Galesville University. After her graduation she was preceptress of the academy for three years, the first year of which the institution was still under the principalship of Professor Mclaury. Mrs. Gladson was a successful

AMES GLADSON, who resides on sec- tion 1. Trempealeau county, was born in Scotland, December 13. 1836, a son of Walter Gladson, who emigrated with his family to the United States in 1837, settling in Delaware county, New York. When our subject had nearly attained to manhood the family removed to Fond du Lac county, Wis- eonsin, and several years later to Trempealeau county. The father died at Winona, Minne- sota, a number of years ago, and the mother, now deceased, survived her husband for many years. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, who grew to mature years, five sons and three daughters, and five of the family, three sons and two daughters, are now living. The subject of this sketch is the second son of the family; John, whose farm joins that of his brother James. is the fourth in order of birth; , teacher for a period of fourteen years. They George resides in Nevada; Christian, now have a pleasant home and are surrounded by the comforts of life, which have been seeured by industry, frugality and good management. Mrs. Edmond Nash, lives in Nebraska: Vio- let is the wife of Andrew Wilcox, of Kansas. James Gladson eame to Wisconsin with his | In their religious affiliations they are mem-

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bers of the Congregational Church, and take a commendable interest in promoting the moral and religious growth of the community in which they live.

HIRISTIAN EVERSON, one of the well- known citizens of Lincoln township, Trempealeau county, resides on section 24, where he settled April 1, 1875. He pur- chased his land of Milo Campbell, though the original owner was Harry Proctor. Mr. Everson has made nearly all the improve- ments on his place, having a fine farm of 164 acres. He was born in Norway, May 11, 1849, and 1853, when but four years of age, his father emigrated with his family to the United States, locating in Vermont township, Dane county, Wisconsin, where the father died in April, 1882. The homestead farm is still in possession of the family, the mother residing there with her son, John Everson. Mr. Everson, Sr., was one of the pioneers of Dane county, and was a well-known, indus- trious and worthy citizen. He came to this country a poor man, but in course of time and by virtue of those elements already men- tioned became possessed of a valuable farm, and surrounded himself and family with the comforts of life. His family consisted of nine sons and one daughter, the eldest of whom enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, as a member of Company B, Eleventh Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and died at St. Louis in 1862; Thomas served in the same company with his brother, and died at Iron- ton, Missouri, the same year; John, who lives at the homestead, was also a soldier in the war of the Rebellion; Knnt, the next in order of birth, resides in Arcadia township; Amos is a resident of Nevada, and Peter resides in Colorado. The eldest of the family, also

named Peter, died in Illinois the first year after the family came to America. He, like other young men in the early pioneer days in Sonthern Wisconsin, went to Illinois to se- eure work, and was engaged in wood chop- ping when taken sick. Another brother, Ever Everson, went to Nevada, where he died at about the age of twenty-one years. The only sister. now Mrs. Hans Knutson Spaugrud, resides in Iowa county, Wisconsin.

Christian Everson was reared on the home- stead farm in Dane county, and in 1575 became a resident of Lincoln township. lle was married to Miss Ellen Hanson, a dangh- ter of Gilbert Hanson Smisrude, an early settler of Preston township, Trempealean county, who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Everson have six children, four daugh- ters and two sons, viz : Millie E., Clara T., Edward J., Claudius E., Helen S. and Flor- ence J. Mrs. Everson was first married to T. Riee, by whom she has one child, Gilbert S. Mr. Everson is one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of Lincoln township, and takes a commendable interest in what- ever tends to promote the growth and pros- perity of the community in which he resides. Hle is a gentleman of much general informa- tion, and is respected by his fellow citizens for his upright character and progressive spirit.

JACOB ANGST, Jr., deceased. of Wau- mandre township, and one of the promi- nent pioneers of Buffalo county, Wis- consin, was born in the canton of Znrich, Switzerland, December 27, 1836. Ilis father, Jacob Angst, son of Henry, was born in Switzerland, April 15. 1810, and his mother. nec Barbara Meier, was also a native of that country. She died March 20, 1592, of la

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grippe. The two children born to them were Jacob and David. The latter enlisted in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry, in April, 1861, and in October, 1864, died in hospital from chronic diarrhea. The family emigrated to this country in 1854, landed at New York and from there came to Sauk county, Wis- eonsin, where, for a time, they lived on a farm.

In April, 1855, the subject of our sketch came to Buffalo county to look up a location, and pre-empted 160 acres of land in his father's name. He broke a portion of the soil and cut some logs for a cabin, and remained there through the summer. The weather was so severe that fall and winter that they did not get moved, so lie went to Baraboo and worked with a man who was engaged in the logging business. The latter sold out and went to Mis- souri, and persuaded Mr. Angst to go with him. During several years which followed his time was employed in chopping wood in Missouri, and a portion of the time he was overseer in a wood-yard. The death of his brother brought him home to Waumandee, where his father had been improving the homestead. Ile continued to work with his father until 1868, when he purchased the farm, then comprising 320 acres. He subse. quently added to it 120 acres more. In 1855 he erected his fine brick house, and the fol- lowing year his large barn and other out- buildings. When he first came to this place the country was full of Indians, and the only road to Fountain City from here was an In- dian trail. Ilis nearest neighbor was Mr. Runckel, who lived a mile and a half north of Bach's Hotel, and with whom he boarded. On the homestead there are now under culti- vation about 200 acres.

Mr. Angst was married June 30, 1864, at Canton, Missouri, to Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander and Lydia (Little) Goodwin. They

had ten children: David, Clara Matilda, wife of William Hohman; Mollie, wife of Otto Hohman; Walter, Dudley, Della, Turilla, Os- ear, Birgie and Cora.

Mr. Angst at different times held the posi- tion of Supervisor and Assessor. He was a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and in politics affiliated with the Democratic party. He died April 8, 1892, of paralytic stroke, caused by la grippe. In religion he was a Freethinker, while Mrs. Angst is a member of the Baptist Church.

The elder Mr. Angst died September 6, 1871, and his widow is now living in Iowa.

OHN C. TOWNER, who resides on see- tion 30, Caledonia township, Trempealeau county, was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1830, a son of Aaron Towner, also a native of New York, but of New England parentage. The father emigrated with his family from the Empire State to the then Territory of Michigan, in 1835, and in 1856 the family came to Trempealean county, Wis- consin, and settled in Caledonia township, where the father died in the spring of 1548, at the age of fifty-eight years. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Susan Colliar, sur- vived her husband a number of years. Aaron Towner was a well-known citizen, and he and his wife were members of the Christian Church before coming to Wisconsin, but here they united with the Baptist Church. They were the parents of seven children who grew to mature years, three sons and four daugh- ters, viz .: Mary Jane, now Mrs. Straight, did not aecompany the family to Trempealeau county, but remained in Michigan until her death: Tamar A. is the wife of William P. Tokes, of Trempealean; Margaret is the wife of Edward Barnard, of Watertown, Dakota;

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

John C. is the next in order of birth; Am- anda is the wife of James Adams, of this township; Richard, who resides in the village of Trempealeau ; Henry A. a resides at Eliza- bethtown, New Jersey. The latter was for many years a resident of the village of Trem- pealeau, where he served as Postmaster. IIe was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, as a member of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry. Two members of the family, the eldest and the youngest, died when young.

Jolin C., the subject of this sketch, lived at his father's homestead until after he had attained his majority.

He was married at the age of twenty-five years, to Margaret B. Carleton, a native of Big Flat township, Chemung county, New York, and a daughter of Martin C. Carleton. She came West with her parents in 1835, and the family settled in Wayne county, Michigan, where the father died in 1882, and the mother afterward came to Trempealeau county, and lived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Towner, and at a daughter's, Mrs. J. S. Pierson, until her death, in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Towner have eight children, four sons and four daughters, and all but the eldest was born in Trempealeau county, viz .: Mary A., Emma, Elmer E .. Clara, Milton HI., Lena, John and Willie K. Mr. Towner has a fine farm of 120 acres under a fine state of culti- vation. He is one of the representative citizens of his township, where he has lived so many years. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

NTON EKERN, a member of a well- known family of Pigeon township, is a brother of Peter Ekern, of this town- ship, and of E. Ekern, of Whitehall. Ile re- sides on section 26, and was born in Norway,

October 14, 1843. In 1862 he came with his brother Mark to America, landing at Quebec. He went at once to La Crosse, Wiseonsin, where he resided four years, and thence to Trempealeau county. Mr. Ekern has 120 acres of land in his home farm, and on section 12 has a farm of 160 aeres, both of these being under a good state of cultiva- tion, though they were in a wild state when he purchased them. Ile has a pleasant home, where he and his wife reside with their family.

Mr. Ekern was married in Trempealean county, to Miss Louisa Anderson, who came to this country with her parents when an in- fant. They settled in La Crosse county, where the mother died two years later, and the father in 1887. Ile was three times married and the father of fourteen children, though a number of them have now passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Ekern have nine ehil- dren, seven daughters and two sons, viz .: Johanna Mathilda, who was born February 14, 1869; Gina Petrine, born November 8, 1870; Julia Ann, January 1, 1875; Helena, October 13, 1874; Laura, July 2, 1877; Amanda, January 19, 1880; Emma, Septem- ber 7, 1882; Alfred, May 1, 1885, and Willie, November 17, 1887. Mr. Ekern is one of the substantial citizens of Pigeon township, and by good management and in- dustry he has secured for himself a pleasant home, and is surrounded by the comforts of life.

ON. GEORGE GALE was born at Bur- lington, Vermont. November 30, 1816. His, father, Peter Gale, moved his family to Waterbury, Vermont, in June, 1824, and commenced a farm on the eastern slope of the Green Mountains. There George

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found plenty of hard work and the meager facilities of acquiring an education common at that time in the rural districts of Ver- mont. At the age of sixteen he began to read history and biography, which awoke in him a latent ambition which could only be gratified by patient and persistent effort. He obtained books on history, biography, natural science and mathematics, devoting all his spare moments to their study, and at the age of twenty-one had obtained a fair knowledge of mathematics and natural history.

He commenced the study of law in 1939, under ex-Governor Dillingham, of Water- bury, Vermont, was admitted to the bar in 1541, emigrated West and settled at Elk- horn, Walworth county, Wisconsin, opened a law office and entered into successtul prae- tice. He still continued his law studies with great diligence for four years. He held various town and county offices, and in the fall of 1847 was elected member of the convention called to form the present State constitution of Wisconsin, serving on the judiciary committee. In the fall of the same year he was elected District Attorney, and in the fall of 1849 State Senator for two years. In the fall of 1851 he removed to the Upper Mississippi, settled in La Crosse, and was elected County Judge for the term of four years. Ile resigned this office January 1, 1854, and April 1, 1856, was elected Circuit Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit for the term of six years.

While at La Crosse Judge Gale conceived the idea of starting a college, and in 1853 purchased about 2,000 acres of land, including the present location of Galesville. Hle procured from the Legislature of Wis- consin the organization of the new county of Trempealeau with the location of the county seat at Galesville, and a university charter with the same location. In June of the same

year he laid out a small village plat and let the contract for the erection of a saw and flouring mill, which was completed in 1856.

The Board of Trustees of the Galesville University was organized in 1855, the college building commenced in 1858, the prepara- tory department opened in May 1859, and the first class graduated July 13. 1865.

After the gradnation of the first class Judge Gale resigned the presidency of the university, having held the office of president of the board for over ten years, and the pres- ident of faculty for over seven years.

Judge Gale moved from La Crosse to his farm near Galesville in May, 1857, where he resided until the time of his death, April 8, 1868.

Though not a college graduate the Ver- mont University conferred on Judge Gale the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1857, and the Galesville University the title LL. D., in 1863.

Judge Gale married at Elk Horn, Wal- worth county. Wisconsin. December 5, 1844, Miss Gertrude Young. He has three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter. George and William both studied law and went into practice in Winona, Minnesota. George some years since quit the practice, and is re- siding with his mother on the home farm near Galesville. William is still in practice in Winona, where he has won the reputation of an able lawyer. Helen, the daughter, married Hamilton Arnold, brother of Captain Arnold, of Galesville. All of the children graduated at the institution which their father founded.

During the war Judge Gale was much of the time in the service of the Sanitary and Christian commissions. For some time he had charge of the United States Sanitary commission on Morris Island for the siege of Charleston.

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As a journalist Judge Gale started the Western Star, at Elk Horn, the first paper in Walworth county, and was correspondent of the Galesrille Transcript for five years.

His literary works are the " Wisconsin Form Book, 1856," which was revised and passed through three editions; the "Gale Family Record," 254 pages, 1866; " The Upper Mississippi," 460 pages, 1867.

Judge Gale was tall and straight (being 6 ,farm of 120 acres of railroad land in the town- feet 4 inches), possessing a personality that would distinguish him among an assemblage of men. In manners he was genial, social and courteons; in politics he was a Demo- on rented land in Eagle valley. Three years crat, and if he left enemies behind at his later he moved to Fountain City and bought death they were political only.

LBERT KIRCHNER, the principal dry-goods merchant of Fountain City, Wisconsin, was born at Bangor, Maine, January 1, 1848. His parents, Charles and Augusta (Dehring) Kirchner, were natives of Prussia, the former born November 8, 1810. In 1879 Mr. Kirchner, in company with Jacob Reichtman and Frank Mathausch, opened the stone quarry in this city, which they have since operated, employing during the season as high as fifty men. It is located on the bluff just above the river, and from this place have been taken large quantities of fine limestone, used for building purposes throughout the county. Mr. Kirchner now Charles Kirchner was a shoemaker by occupa- tion; emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1846, located at Bangor, and re- mained there, engaged in farming, for eight years. In the fall of 1854 he came West and took up his abode in Waumandee, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he pre-empted 160 acres of land, and began making improve- ments. Ile was the third settler here, the has a large contract with the United States other two being John Bringolf and a Mr. | Government for furnishing the stone for dam Runkle. From time to time he added to his . and shore protection in the Mississippi river.

farm until he owned 240 aeres, a fine, well- improved grain farm, regarded as the best in the county. In 1879 he sold it to his son, Charles. Ile. however, still resides on the farm and lives with his son, his wife having died in March, 1877. They had six children, two boys and four girls, whose names are as

follows: Wilhelmina, now Mrs. Charles Hah- man, of Waumandee; Charles, Jr .; Albert, Maria, wife of Fred Kochendorfer; Panlina, wife of Charles Prussing, of Fountain City; Emma, now Mrs. August Franz.

Albert, the subject of this biography, was reared at home, attending the public schools and assisting his father with the farm work. In 1869 he went to Missouri and purchased a ship of St. Catharine, Linn county. This he improved and cultivated until 1875, when he sold out and returned to Wisconsin, locating

out Andrew Ilenery, a partner of Reichtman, in the general merchandise business, which was carried on under the firm name of Reicht- man & Kirchner. This partnership continued up to 1885, when Mr. Kirchner bought the entire interest and became sole proprietor. Since his connection with the business it has gradually increased, and is now the largest house in Fountain City.

He was married, June 2, 1870, in St. Catharine, Missouri, to Anna, daughter of Conrad and Anna (Langhart) Ulrich, and has three children: Charles, Edward and Hilda. Mrs. Kirchner is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Kirchner is a public-spirited and en-

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terprising citizen, has held various positions of local prominence, and always discharged his duty faithfully and conscientiously. He is treasurer of the Fountain City Brewing Company, and a director and stockholder in the same. In politics he has always affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No. 754, Fountain City; has been Venerable Counsel, and is now Clerk; has represented the order in the Grand Lodge on two occa- sions, once at Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1890 at Springfield. Illinois.

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AVID WOOD, of the town of Lincoln, Trempealean county, is a representative of a pioneer family of this county. He is the son of Alvah Wood, who was born in Rensselaer county, New York, in IS09, and removed thence to Western New York. In 1848 the family emigrated to Wisconsin and settled in the town of York, Dane county. Mr. Alvah Wood was married in Rensselaer county, to Amanda Porter. Mr. Wood eon- tinned to reside in Dane county until 1856, when he came to Trempealeau county and settled on section 25, town 22, range 8 west, and here resided until his death, which occurred in June, 1873. Mr. Wood lost his first wife in Dane county, and was there married to Mrs. Maria Parsons, who now re- sides with the subject of this sketeh. Mr. David Wood is one of a family of ten chil- dren, six of whom, two sons and four daugh- ters, are living. Mr. Alvah Wood was one of the well-known pioneers of Trempealeau county. He was an industrious, frugal citi. zen, and made for himself and family a pleasant, comfortable home. He was quite active in the advancement of the religious and moral interests of the community in

which he lived, and was from early life a member of the Baptist Church. In the days before the war of the Rebellion he was an Abolitionist in principle, and was in all re- speets a worthy, upright citizen.

David Wood, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was born in 1839, having been but a small lad when the family emi- grated to Wisconsin. He has been a resi- dent of Trempealeau county since the fall of 1856. He was married in 1862 to Mary Parsons.

He served in the army during the latter part of the war of the Rebellion, entering the army as a member of the Fifty-first Regi- ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was afterward consolidated with the Fifty- third.

On his return from the army he resumed the occupation of farming. He has, how- ever, been extensively engaged in other branches of business; has bought and shipped grain from Whitehall for many years, and is now president of the Whitehall and Pigeon Trading Association.

Mr. Wood has been chairman of the Town Board of Lincoln for many years, and is one of the leading business men of Trempealeau county. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have three sons: Archie E., James L. and Ralph. They lost two danghters, Sarah and Kippie. at the age of seven and two years respectively.

HRISTOPHER E. SCOTT, the present Postmaster of Whitehall, having suc- ceeded George H. Oles, May 31, 1889, was born in Jefferson county, New York, July 10, 1831, a son of Sewell Scott, a native of Massachusetts. The family are of Scotch origin, and were among the . early New England settlers. The paternal grandfather

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

of our subjeet, Reuben Scott, emigrated from Massachusetts to Jefferson county, New York, when his son Sewell was a youth. The latter, on the death of his father, succeeded to the homestead, and, like his father, continued to reside there until his death. His wife, nee Olive Carpenter, was a native of New York. They were the parents of six children who grew to mature years, four sons and two daughters, and only the subject of this sketeh and his sister, Mrs. Lucy Harlow, are resi- dents of Wisconsin, the latter residing at Coral City, Trempealeau county. The eldest brother, Reuben Byron, resides in Jefferson county, New York, as does another brother, Clark; the youngest, Eugene, resides in South Dakota, and one sister is deceased.

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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