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 97

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 97
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 97
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 97

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term of five years, and is now stationed at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After a considerable space of time had elapsed he was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Angust A. Birsuer, who came in August, 1890. Father Birs- ner's congregation numbers about fifty fami- lies, and the church building is ample for the accommodation of the assembly, and the priest's residence is a comfortable and pleas- ant one. The church ground-at least a portion of the same-was donated by Mr. Elwood, a worthy and esteemed gentleman.

Father Birsner, the worthy pastor of this church, is still a young man, having been born in Southern Germany, but was brought to this country when an infant, and is essen- tially an American as far as the spirit per- vading the country is concerned. On coming to this country the parents of Father Birs- ner settled in La Crosse, which is still the home of the family. Our subject attended the then flourishing Sacred Heart College at Prairie du Chien, completing his education at St. Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee. Ile was ordained in June, 1889, after which he was for a time pastor at Seneca, Crawford county, Wisconsin, and later and immedi- ately preceding his coming to Ettrick, was assistant priest at Marshfield, Wood county, Wisconsin.

ROLLINS BISHOP of Arcadia. a pioneer of Western Wisconsin, was born in the town of Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, January 9, 1822. His father was Ebenezer Bishop, of Cornwall, Litehfield county, Con- neetient. The latter belonged to an early Connectieut family. He married Anner B. Norton. Soon after marriage he removed to Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, and there died, about 1834. Collins Bishop is one of a

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family of seven children, which comprised four sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to mature years and all but two of whom were at one time residents of Trempea- leau valley. In 1854 Collins Bishop, James Broughton, George Shelley, George Dewey and Noah D. Comstock made settlements in what is now the town of Arcadia, and were the first five settlers in this town. Mr. Bishop, however, sojourned for a time aeross the line in Buffalo county, but made his loea- tion in Arcadia with the other pioneers meu- tioned. He is the only one of these five early settlers now residing in the town. Messrs. Broughton and Comstock are de- ceased. Mr. Dewey resides in North Dakota and Mr. Shelley in Kingston, Missouri. The intention of these tive pioneers, when they made their locations, was to erect a gristmill on the Trempealeau river, and they purchased the mill site where Masnere & Co. later built a mill, these settlers donating the site and five acres of ground on the condition that a mill be thereon erected.

Mr. Bishop has resided where he now lives for about thirty-five years. Ile enlisted in the Thirtieth Regiment, Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, in the war of the Rebellion, but owing to disability was transferred soon after his enlistment to Company A, Veteran Re- serve Corps. He is one of the well-known pioneers of Arcadia, where he has lived so long.

ACOB J. BLUE is the proprietor of the Ettrick Woolen Mills, in the village of Ettriek, which he owns and operates. This is a very important manufacturing industry, and the only woolen mill in Trem- pealean county. The principal artieles manu - faetured at these mills are flannels, blankets

and yarns, and Mr. Blue also does custom carding. The principal machinery consists of one set of cards and one double roll eard, one jaek of 180 spindles, one broad and two narrow looms, and thus far Mr. Blue has manufactured about 5,000 pounds of yarn and about 2,500 yards of flannel per annum. The business is a growing and prosperous one, and Mr. Blue is increasing the capacity of his mills to correspond with the demands of his business.

Hle was born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1844, a son of John Blue, a native of Penn- sylvania and a millwright by trade. He died when our subjeet was but three years old, and at the age of twelve years Jacob began learn- ing the business of woolen manufacture under the instruction of his brother-in-law, John Mickle, and this has been his principal busi- ness through life. He served the last year of the war of the Rebellion as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was actively engaged with his regiment in the front of the conflict, participating in the siege of Peters- burg under General Butler. At the elose of his army service Mr. Blue returned to Ohio and worked in a woolen mill at Kenton, in that State, where he had been employed be- fore going to the army. Here he remained, however, but a short time, when he went to Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, and worked at his trade for one season. His health then failed to some extent, and he was engaged in other occupations for a time. In 1867 the party for whom he worked in Lincoln re- moved to La Crescent, Minnesota, and Mr. Blue was indueed to again enter the service of his old employer, and he accordingly went to that eity, where for many years, or in fact until he came to Ettrick, he was a employé of the Toledo Woolen Mills Company, of La Crescent. But during the greater part of

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twelve years of this time he worked as travel- ing salesman for this company.

In 1870, in La Crosse, Mr. Blue married Miss Dora B. Ketchum, and they have six children, three boys and three girls. The two eldest sons, Harry J. and Francis A., are | Pederson, with whom he continued as clerk assisting their father in his manufacturing | and book-keeper until 1856, when he became business. The other children are Inez, Guy, associated with him in the mercantile busi- ness. This trade is an extensive one, they having one of the most extensive mercantile establishments in the county. Mr. Ringlee is also secretary of the Ettrick Creamery Association. Annettie and Amy. They lost two children by death: Effie, the eldest child, died at the age of one year; and Herbert, the second, at the age of nine years. To Mr. Blue is due much credit for establishing a fine manufac- turing business in Ettrick, and his long ex- perience in woolen manufacturing has given him a thorough knowledge of the business. As a citizen he is esteemed for his integrity and publie spirit.

HRISTIAN F. RINGLEE, of the vil- lage of Ettrick, is associated with Iver Pederson in the mercantile business. He was born in Norway in 1853, and came to the United States at the age of seventeen years. His parents also came to America in 1882, but, being somewhat advanced in life, it was more difficult for them to become accustomed to the habits and customs of the New World; so after living here a few days they decided to go back to their native land, returning to Norway in 1888. They were the parents of five children who grew to mature years, two of whom are now deceased, and only the subject of this sketch and two sisters are now living. One of the latter lives in Ettriek with her brother, and the other is still in Norway. The parents are now somewhat advanced in life, the father having been born in 1824, and the mother in 1817.

The subject of this sketch came to America

in 1871, coming directly to Ettrick, where he was engaged as a laborer for about two years. Hle went to La Crosse in 1873, and pursued a business course in that city. Ile then engaged as clerk for his present partner, Mr.

He was united in marriage to Martha Nelson, a native of Norway, who came to this country with her parents in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Ringlee have four children, two sons and two daughters: Clara W., Florence A., Albert W. and Etnil F. Mr. Ringlee is an intelligent and courteous gentleman, and and an accurate and successful business man. To his integrity and business ability is due in no small degree the success to which the merchandise firm of Pederson & Ringlee has attained. Politically Mr. Ringlee is a Repub- lican, socially is esteemed by all who know him, and is a most worthy and enterprising citizen.

DMUND GIEBEL is the popular gen- eral merchant, lumber and grain dealer at Nelson, Buffalo county. He was born at Fulda, Prussia, April 5, 1834, and there his boyhood was passed. He received a good education in his native land, and his father being the owner of a large book-store he became familiar with that business. Ilis parents never came to this country but con- tinned to live in their native Prussia until their decease. In 1852. when but eighteen years of age, Mr. Giebel came to the United

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States. Landing in New York he entered into an engagement at once with the well- known publishing house of Appleton & Co., and by his skill in the art of book-binding soon stood at the head of the employés of that honse. He remained in New York city about two and one-half years and then went to Chicago to work in the book-bindery of Burleigh & Co., where he remained for three years and a half. He came on one or two hunting excursions to Buffalo county, tlie first of which was in 1855, spending about three weeks in this vicinity and thus obtained some knowledge of the country. Believing it a good place for permanent settlement, he came to West, Wisconsin in 1856 and en- gaged in general merchandising at Belvidere. He next went to Buffalo City and bought wheat for one year for John Robinson, of Winona, one of the early grain buyers of this part of Wisconsin. From Buffalo City he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he en- gaged in book-binding for about three years. Ile enlisted in the spring of 1861 in Com- pany K, Third Missouri Regiment, and served about five months, although his term of enlistment was but for three months. The seasons of 1862-'63 found him again buying wheat in Wisconsin, this time at Wabasha. In a hunting expedition with his employer, Mr. W. II. Robinson, on the east side of the river along Beef Slough, it occurred to him that it would be a good place for business, and with Mr. Robinson he engaged in the general merchandising, grain and lumber business. This partnership continued about one and a half years, when Mr. Giebel purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business alone until the building of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Northern Railroad, and the location of a station at Nelson, when he decided to remove his business to that point,

where he has since carried on a large general merchandise business and lumber trade.

Mr. Giebel was married in Chicago, in 1856, to Miss Catherine Eckstein, a native of the same place as her husband, and their union was blessed with nine children, but five of whom, one son and four daughters are living. The son, who bears the same name as his father, is located in business at Boone, Iowa.

In his political views Mr. Giebel was a Republican from the time he became a voter until 1882, but as new issues arose he be- lieved he saw his duty elsewhere and now affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not a partisan in the strict sense of the word and believes in supporting principles not men. For a period of twenty years, from 1864 to 1884, Mr. Giebel held the position of Post- master at Nelson. He is a man of much intelligence and excellent business capacity, and is numbered among the substantial eiti- zens of Buffalo county.

M ICHAEL G. WARNER resides on section 33, in the town of Hale, where he settled in 1866. He is one of the earliest settlers of this town, as not more than a half dozen families were residing within its limits when he made his settlement. From records in the possession of Mr. War- ner it is shown that at the fall election in 1864, the year the town was organized, but seven votes were cast, two of which were for Abraham Lincoln and live for General Mc- Clellan. The political character of the town, however, had much changed in 1880, when Garfield received 140 votes for President, and General Hancock but five. Again a change had occurred in 1884, when James G. Blaine received ninety-nine votes and Mr. Cleveland 140. At the Presidential election

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of 1888, Mr. Cleveland received 162 votes and Mr. Harrison 148. In 1890 the State tieket gave Governor Peck 121 votes and Mr. Hoard sixty-eight.

Mr. Warner was born in county Cork, Ire- land. February 15, 1843. His father was William J. Warner. The first of the family who came to America, was Robert Warner, a brother of the subject of this sketch. IIe enlisted in the United States regular army, served several years, and is now a resident of this town. Sometime later the father and his son William came. The latter enlisted in the United States army in the same eom- pany with his brother, and died in hospital on the Isthmus of Panama while en route to California with his regiment. Later, the father died in Illinois; and still later the mother and remainder of the family emi- grated to this country, which included four sons and four daughters. All of the brothers served in the United States army. The youngest brother, Thomas, served in the war of the Rebellion and died in hospital at St. Louis, in January, 1864. The sisters are all residents of the town of Lincolu.

Mr. Michael Warner came to America with his mother in 1856, going to Adams county, Wisconsin, and settling near Friendship. He enlisted at that place, August 15, 1862, in Company K, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, and was discharged on Sur- geon's certificate for disability, August 30, 1863. Returning to Adams county, he worked as his health would permit, being engaged for considerable time in hanling supplies from Neeedah to a logging camp on the west branch of the Yellow river.

In 1866, as already stated. he settled, where he now lives. He has been prom- inently identified with his town and county, having been called upon to serve in vari- ons official positions. Served as chairman , continued until January 10, 1891, when the

of his town for a number of years, also as Town Clerk, and held other local offices. Was elected to the Assembly branch of the Legislature in 1890. Ile east his first vote for Lincoln in 1864, and affiliated with the Republican party for many years, but is now a Democrat.

Ile married in November, 1868, Sarah Risk, who was born in Dane county, but for many years a resident of Adams county. They have four boys: Thomas, William, David and George.

AURITZ SOLSRUD engaged in genera! merchandising at Whitehall September 7, 1881, under the firm name of Solsrud & Murchard, his partner having been John A. Murchard. This association continued over four years, when Mr. Solsrud bought his partner's interest in the business and continued alone for about two months. after which he became associated with Even Ekern, and this partnership continued until January 28, 1889, when he again sold his interest to his partner. In the spring of 1890 he made a visit to the Pacific coast, and after visiting various parts of the State of Washington and along the coast of British America. he made a purchase of some property in the city of New Whatcom, a thriving and prosperous town on the coast of Washington. He was well pleased with the country, had a delight- ful trip, and his health was inneh benefited by his journey. In view, however, of the fact that his interests were still in Trempea- leau county, he was not prepared to make a settlement in the far Northwest, and after returning to Whitehall again engaged in business in July, 1890, under the firm name of L. L. Solsrud & Bro. This partnership

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brother sold his interest to Walter Kidder, the firm name then being Solsrud & Kidder.

Our subjeet was born in Norway, October 26, 1844, and lived in his native country until twenty-two years of age, when he came to America. His father died in Norway in 1863. He was a farmer by occupation, and his sons were also reared to agricultural pur- suits. There were eleven children in the family, but only six are now living, four sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketeh was the first of the family to come to Amer- ica, but since then two brothers and a sister have followed him to the New World, and also a son of his brother John. ITis name is Ludwig Bolsrud, and he is now in the em- ploy of his unele as clerk. The two brothers who came to this country are Ole L., who lives in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and Ilans, who resides at Whitehall; a sister lives near her brother in Minnesota, and a brother and sister still continue to live in Norway. The mother came to America with her son Ole, and died at his home in Minne- sota, in March, 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

It was in the year 1866 that the subject of this sketch came to America. lle eame directly to Wisconsin and to Coon Prairie, Vernon county, but soon afterwards to Black River Falls, and for eleven years was engaged in logging and lumbering. He was also engaged in the mercantile business in the town of Northfield, Jackson county, under the firm name of L. L. Solsrud & Co. This partnership continued two years, when Mr. Solsrud removed to Hixton, same county, and engaged in business with .J. R. Longsburg. and two years later sold his interest and re- n:oved to Whitehall. In August, 1876, Mr. Solsrud was united in marriage, at Black River Falls, to Miss Caroline S. Gollard, a native of Vernon county, Wisconsin. Janu-

ary 4. 1887, Mr. Solsrud was bereft of his wife by death, and this was the greatest afflietion of his life; and a child, born the day of its mother's death, also died the next day. Thus has Mr. Solsrud had his full measure of trouble. He is the father of four living ehil- dren, a son and three daughters, viz .: Louisa, Emma, Olga and Hilman. The son that died after its mother's death was given the name of Sophus. Mr. Solsrud is a worthy and re- speeted citizen, and bears the esteem of his fellow-eitizens.

DWIN F. GANZ, of Alma, Wisconsin, editor and proprietor of the Buffalo County Journal, was born June 13, 1859, at Waumandee, Buffalo county, Wis- consin. His parents, Jolin Casper and Louisa (Kuederli) Ganz, were born in Switzerland, emigrated to the United States in 1857, and settled at the above named place. The father was a farmer by occupation. He purchased land in seetion 2, range 11, township 21, and at onee began its improvement. He was among the first settlers in that part of the township, and lived there until his death, which occurred June 4, 1875. His widow still survives. There were in this family eleven children, as follows: Arnold R., who died at Fort Seott, Kansas, of disease con- traeted in the army; he served in the Forty- eighth Wisconsin Infantry; Anna, now Mrs. Joel Doenier; Paulina, wife of John Farner; Alfred, Louisa, now Mrs. John Schmitz, of Fountain City; Edwin F., Alwina, now Mrs. Conrad Farner; J. Casper, Lydia, Arnoldina and Adolph.

The early life of the subject of our sketch was spent on the farm, assisting his father in farm work and attending the public schools. At the age of seventeen years he went to the

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State Normal School at Platteville. He sub- sequently engaged in teaching school in this county. and taught four years in his home district and ten years in the town of Alma. As an instructor he was successful and popu- lar. He purchased the Journal September 1, 1890, and has continued to conduct it since that time. This paper was established in 1861, by Brackett & Rockwell. and is now one of the leading publications of the county. It is an eight-column folio, is issued on Thursday of each week, is Republican in politics, and is devoted to the interests of the county and particularly the city of Alma. Mr. Ganz also does a jobbing business, doing all kinds of work, both in English and Ger- man, and in this department has a good patronage and a reputation for doing elegant and artistic work.

Mr. Ganz was married at Wanmandee, September 1, 1887, to Miss Kunigunda Wald, daughter of Ulrich and Agnes Wald, of Alına. By this union two children have been born, Rosalie A. and.Olga L.

DSON RIIODES, M. D., of Galesville, is a son of John Rhodes, a pioneer of Trempealeau county. The latter was born at Keighley, Yorkshire, England, in 1818, where he lived until the age of twenty- one years. He was the oldest of ten children, and learned the trade of a weaver. In 1839 he emigrated to the State of New York, and resided for a number of years in the vicinity of Niagara Falls, and during this time he worked at his trade and was also engaged in the construction of the Welland Canal. About 1842 he came to Wisconsin, where he resided in the southern part of the State for a nmin- ber of years, and in the meantime the re- mainder of his father's family came to this

State. In 1854 Mr. Rhodes disposed of his landed interests there to his brother, and re- moved to Trempealean county, having pre- viously located land here. In a wagon drawn by oxen, he transferred his wife and only child to his new possessions, and also brought with him some stock. His object in coming to this county was to enlarge his landed pos- sessions, having obtained from the Govern- ment about 1,000 acres of land. His enterprise and efforts proved successful, and he remained on this farm until his death, which occurred May 16, 1867. He became well known throughout this part of the State as an indus- trious and enterprising citizen, was an exten- sive reader, and, though not connected with any church, was well informed on bible subjects, and always endeavored to govern his daily walk by the teachings of that book. In his political affiliations he was in early life a Whig, and later a Republican. His wife, Mary Wiltse, was a native of New York, and was descended from an early Holland Dutch family. She was born in 1824, and died May 24, 1891, at the house of her son in Galesville. They were the parents of six children, five of whom grew to mature years, and three are still living, viz .: Martin, the eldest, resides on a part of the original homestead in Trem- pealeau county; Kate is the wife of Judge David Roberts, of Superior. Wisconsin; and Dr. Rhodes, the subject of this sketch. The deceased who grew to mature years were Frances and Adeline, and a daughter who died in early life.

Dr. Rhodes was born in Trempealean county, in 1862, and received his literary education in the public schools and graded schools at Galesville, and graduated at the Normal School at Winona, Minnesota. in 1880. During his years at school he pur- sued the studies that woukl best tend to prepare him for the medical profession, which

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he had in view from early life. He taught one year at Hancock, Minnesota, after gradu- ating, and in the meantime pursued his medical studies as opportunities afforded. Ile went to Ann Arbor. Michigan, and spent one year in the Medical Department of the Michigan State University, and went thence to the Rush Medieal College, Chicago, where he gradnated in 1883. For one year after his graduation in medicine, Dr. Rhodes practiced in the Cook County Infirmary, and then en- tered into medieal practice with Dr. D. A. Stewart, of Winona, where he continued until after the death of his father, when it became necessary to return to the farm. He spent one year in adjusting his father's business, and in the meantime practiced as time and opportunity afforded. In December, 1890, Dr. Rhodes located in the village of Gales- ville. He has about 400 acres of land, which is a part of the old homestead farm, and is considerably interested in the raising of good stock.

Dr. Rhodes was married in Milwaukee, in 1888, to Miss Jennie A. Williamson, of that city. Their entire family of five children were graduates of the State Normal School at Winona, and the sister, Frances, a young lady of mueh ability and promise, also gradu- ated in architecture at Cornell University in 1884. She died in 1SSS. Kate took a liter- ary course at Cornell, and taught successfully for a number of years. Dr. Rhodes has an extensive practice, and is esteemed as a suc- eesstul physician and public-spirited citizen.

UNTLEY AND VANDERVORT, pro- prietors of the Independent, published at Galesville. Trempealean county, took charge of the paper March 27, 1891. They purchased the interest of L. F. Ball, who had

condueted the paper since September, 1889. This paper has a circulation of abont 600.

Frank W. Huntley was born at Trempea- lean in 1867, a son of L. G. Huntley, now a practical printer of Winona. Herman L. Vandervort was born at Fairhaven, Minne- sota, in 1869, and learned the trade of print- ing at St. Cloud, his native State. His father. J. B. Vandervort, is also a resident of Wi- nona, Minnesota. Messrs. Huntley & Van- dervort are wide-awake, energetic young men, and the Independent under their man- agement has made much progress as an entertaining and valuable paper.

EORGE UHL, who resides on section 23, Gale township, is a brother of Peter Uhl, and a son of Michael Uhl. He was born in October, 1833, and when the family came to Trempealeau county, in 1854, he had nearly attained his majority. Ile and his brother Peter helped to develop the home- stead of 200 acres, which he now owns. Later he added 120 acres, and still later sixty-seven and a half aeres, so that his home farm con- sists of nearly 400 acres. He also has 100 acres elsewhere in the township, besides which he has given his son a quarter section of land. His farm adjoins that of his brother Peter, where he has a pleasant home and a substantial brick residence.

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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