USA > Wisconsin > Biographical sketches of old settlers and prominent people of Wisconsin > Part 11
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Daniel Kusel, Sr., was married in Germany in 1837 to Miss Doris Klappenbach, who was born in Germany November 9, 1809, and died in Watertown, Wisconsin, December 20, 1876, aged 67 years, 1 month and 11 days. They had four children, all born in Germany, consisting of three sons and one daughter, namely: Daniel H., born February 28, 1838; Frederick, born November 1, 1839; Sophia, born March 7, 1841, and August F., born March 29, 1843.
It was a great undertaking for Mr. Kusel to leave his native coun- try, and many warm, personal friends, to come to a new country among strangers; but results have proven that it was a wise move for a man possessing the courage and industry which would enable him to sur- mount and overcome the many difficulties and obstructions. But he had the energy and capacity for hard work, coupled with honesty, integrity,
DANIEL KUSEL, SR.
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economy, good health, good morals and a sound business judgment. These fit a man for almost anything, and as they were inborn in Mr. Kusel, it is not strange that a successful life should be the result, and that in the evening of his life he should have a competency and be re- spected and loved by all who know him, and be in the enjoyment of the full confidence of his fellow townsmen.
Mr. Kusel was one of the founders of the first Luthern Church in Watertown in 1850, and was active in the promotion of the Northwestern University, of which he was President and one of the Trustees until the encroachment of age made it necessary for him to retire from a work which always had a warm place in his heart.
DANIEL H. KUSEL.
Daniel H. Kusel, the eldest son of Daniel and Doris Kusel, was married in September, 1864, to Miss Sophia Thiessenhusen, who was born May 1, 1837, and died January 8, 1872. They had five children born to them, all in Watertown, Wisconsin, namely: Louis, born Sep- tember 28, 1866; Metha, born October 1, 1868, and died in 1871; H. Dan- iel, born July 12, 1870; Ernest, born October 26, 1871, and Sophia L., born January 8, 1872, and died April 4, 1886.
Mr. Kusel married for his second wife Mrs. Christiana Oestreich, November 29, 1874. She was the daughter of J. G. Huether, and was born in Germany May 16, 1842. Two children were the result of this union, Jennie L., born December 14, 1875, and George H., born March 22, 1878. Mr. Kuseladopted the son of his second wife. Max G. Kusel, who was born at Juneau, Wis., September 12, 1869, and married Amanda Schempf June 25, 1896.
In the spring of 1862 Mr. Kusel was elected Alderman of the Fifth ward of Watertown, but has been too busy a man since to take any very active part in politics. Aside from assisting in the management of the large and increasing business of the D. and F. Kusel Company, he is largely interested in several manufacturing concerns, and is the Cashier of the Merchants' Bank of Watertown. But with all these varied business interests, he manages to find time to assist enterprises of public utility and is ever ready to lend a helping hand to anything which has a ten- dency to promote the welfare of his city. He is a man of keen sense of honor, scrupulously avoiding mean actions, and his standard of probity in word and act has always been high, and with a fixed determination and a firm resolution to make a way, if no way is open.
CAPTAIN FREDERICK KUSEL.
Captain Fred Kusel, the second son of Daniel and Doris Kusel, was married March 4, 1864, to Miss Marie Bodin, who was born in Germany April 27, 1845, and was the daughter of Peter Bodin, who was born February 24, 1806, and died March 20, 1877, and Doris Johanna (Han- sen) Bodin, who was born July 1, 1806, and died December 27, 1893, both born in Germany, where Mr. Bodin was a lawyer, but after coming to this country he abandoned the law and contributed to the Herold Re- publican in Milwaukee.
Six children were born to Captain and Mrs. Kusel, all born in Water- town, namely: Theodore D., born January 31, 1865, married Cora Sehrt of Waukesha, January 12, 1895, who was born in Waukesha June 23, 1868;
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Bertha Jean, born August 9, 1868, married Paul Valerius June 14, 1888, and two children were born to them, Doris Marie, born February 21, 1891, and Paul Kusel, born June 20, 1893; Frederick Jr., born Septem- ber 12, 1870, and died in May, 1879; Edward J., born September 17, 1872, and died November 27, 1896; Arthur H., born November, 17, 1874, and Walter H., born February 18, 1882.
Captain Kusel came to Watertown with his parents when about ten years old, attended school for a time when he entered his father's store to learn the tin and hardware business, remaining there until he at- tained his majority, when he went to Galveston, Texas, where he was employed in the hardware business.
When Fort Sumpter was fired uponand the Civil War was opened, he was waited upon by a delegation of the citizens of Galveston and urged to enlist in the cause of the South, but he told them that not being a citizen of Texas he would return to his home (?) in Memphis, not daring to let them know he was a Northern man. He secured passage on the freight boat "Alexander Scott, " which stopped at Baton Rouge and took possession of the equipment and stores of the United States Arsenal, which booty they left at Memphis, and the boat was decorated with the "Stars and Bars, " and treasonable speeches were made, which caused the loyal blood of our subject to boil, but recognizing the danger, he said nothing and made his way on to St. Louis. He arrived there about the time General Lyon took possession of Camp Jackson. Mr. Kusel then returned to Watertown, and again went to work in his father's store. As the war progressed his German blood grew hotter, and his love for and loyalty to his adopted country grew stronger and stronger, until the summer of 1862, when, with C. A. Mengis, he began recruit- ing a company, having been commissioned August 11 by Governor Salo- mon as a recruiting officer, and in three days he reported 103 men for duty, and was assigned as Company E to the Twentieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and commissioned as First Lieutenant of the Com- pany August 18, 1862, and his comrade Mengis was commissioned Sec- ond Lieutenant. His command was assigned to the Western Department, and on a long march in Missouri many were overcome by the heat and fatigue. Reaching Springfield, Missouri, an exchange of their heavy Russian guns was made for the lighter Austrian rifle. Forced marches were the order, and after several of them, they finally reached Fayette- ville, Arkansas, where the troops were mobilized for battle, in which en- gagement they were at once active participants, without rest, after a hard march without rations. This battle was hotly contested. but the Twen- tieth Wisconsin made a lasting record. Lieutenant Kusel, while charging a battery, received a flesh wound in the hip, and his clothing was riddled with rebel bullets. The regiment lost 300 brave men. At the battle of Prairie Grove, later. his regiment won laurels which made every loyal son of Wisconsin proud of its "Twentieth."
Six days' rations were issued to them on the 27th of December and they began a forced march to Van Buren, on the Arkansas River, and when within about ten miles of that place they captured several hundred prisoners, a ferry boat and two steamboats loaded with supplies. Later they went into camp at Lake Spring, Missouri, and afterwards were or-
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DANIEL H. KUSEL.
CAPTAIN FRED KUSEL.
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dered to Vicksburg and took part in the siege of that place, and where, as Captain of Company E, Mr. Kusel celebrated the Fourth of July protected by the "Stars and Stripes."
The Twentieth Wisconsin did effective work on the Yazoo River, capturing several hundred prisoners, whom they paroled, and then re- turned to Vicksburg. From there they went to Port Hudson, then to New Orleans, thence to camp at Carrolton, where Captain Kusel was taken sick and sent home on furlough, and later reported at Madison for medical examination, when being informed by the medical staff that his recovery was doubtful, he resigned October 2, 1863.
In January, 1864, the Captain formed the partnership with his brother Daniel, which is referred to in this sketch.
In politics Captain Kusel is a Democrat, but not of the offensive stripe. He has been honored several times by his fellow townsmen by his election to the office of Mayor of Watertown, first in 1872, and the last time in 1892. He was elected to the State Senate in 1884, but owing to his rapidly in - creasing business he was compelled to decline any further honors in that line. He had previously served as a member of the City Council for twelve years, and as Supervisor for four years, and it is said of him that in all positions of trust to which he was called he always served the people well and honestly.
These are, of course, elementary conditions which underlie success in every walk of life, conditions which involve forethought and consid- eration in order to shape a man's course and shape his end. The ele- mentary conditions in Captain Kusel were persevering and patient en- ergy, stimulating him always to renewed efforts, evoking his best pow- ers and carrying him onward in self-culture, self-control and growth in knowledge and wisdom.
Captain Kusel is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and, with his estimable wife, a communicant of the Lutheran Church; a pub- lic spirited and loyal citizen, and one worthy of all the praise that may be bestowed upon him.
AUGUST F. KUSEL.
August F., the third son of Daniel Kusel, Sr., married Margaretha Heller March 2, 1866. She was born in Saxton, Germany, February 19, 1847. They had eight children, namely: Augusta S., born December 2, 1866, died December 29, 1869; Dorathea E., born September 16, 1868; Daniel J., born January 20, 1871, died November 2, 1892; Will M. F., born February 23, 1873; Eliza S., born April 2, 1875, died September 28, 1895; Osker H., born August 28, 1877; Clara C., born February 22, 1880, and Mary A., born June 19, 1887.
August F. enlisted in Captain Kusel's company as a private and was promoted to Sergeant.
SOPHIA KUSEL WINKENWERDER.
Mrs. Winkenwerder, the only daughter of Daniel Kusel, Sr., mar- ried Henry Winkenwerder March 4, 1864, and he was born in Germany August 31, 1831. Six children blessed the union, all born in Water- town, as follows: Dora, born January 7, 1865; Henry D., born March 16, 1878; Mary, February 13, 1866, died in 1868; Ida, born September
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17, 1873, and died in 1877; Ella, born December 24, 1870, and Otto D., born July 17, 1871.
That the lives of some men should be perpetuated in history as an example for coming generations there is not the least doubt. The be- ginning and accomplishment of some men act as a stimulant to those who are starting out in life to gain fame and fortune. To such the career of the Kusels is certainly worthy of emulation, and we feel impelled, from a sense of duty, to call special attention to them, as it should serve as an object lesson to the young men of the future. Probity is one of the finest attributes in the character of man, and there is no doubt but that the Kusels possess it in an eminent degree.
D.Blumenfeld
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DAVID BLUMENFELD.
NERGY of will may be defined to be the very central power of character in man; it gives impulse to his every action and soul to every effort, and the hope is based on it that gives the real per- fume of life. This energy of will was well developed in our subject, and as he grew older new faculties developed, his mind broadened, and he took on enlarged views of life. He did not let the thorns which ap- pear in every vocation shake his purpose, and he grew from an humble station to a position of usefulness by honesty, industry, punctuality, good business judgment and self-denial.
David Blumenfeld was born in Creglingen, Kingdom of Wuertten- berg, Germany, February 13, 1828, where he acquired his early education in the public schools. In 1841, when but thirteen years of age, being a poor boy and compelled to hustle for himself, he went to Stuttgart and entered as an apprentice in a printing office, where he remained until February, 1848, when he took work at the case, first in the city of Neu- wied, and afterwards in Dusseldorf and Schwerin. In the summer of 1850, after having been discharged from military duty, he bade adieu to the Fatherland and sailed to America, landing in New York City Au- gust 15, when, after spending a few weeks in that city and Philadel- phia, he came to Wisconsin and located at Racine. He set the first Ger- man type ever set in that city. Remaining in Racine until April, 1851, he accepted a position as foreman of the DAILY BANNER in Mil- waukee, published at that time by Moritz Schoeffler, who was well known among all the printers in Germany, having been the foreman of the world-renowned printing establishment of Baron von Cotta of Stuttgart. In August, 1853, in company with John Kopp, he went to Watertown, Wisconsin, where they founded a weekly German paper called the WATERTOWN ANZEIGER, issuing the first number August 27, 1853. Mr. Blumenfeld has been in the editorial chair ever since, and since 1859 has been the sole proprietor of the WATERTOWN WELTBURGER, except that some ten years ago, feeling that he was growing old, he needed assistance in his arduous work, he took his son, Moritz F., into partnership. The WELTBURGER is now in its forty-seventh volume, and has grown from a very small beginning to one of the most influential Democratic German papers in the West.
Returning to New York September 11, 1852, Mr. Blumenfeld was united in marriage to Miss Nanny Levensen, who was born in the city of Schwerin, Mecklenburg, Germany, January 29, 1833. Seven children, five boys and two girls, were the result of this union, namely: Franklin Pierce, born in Milwaukee June 16, 1853, married Miss Bertha Faustmann of Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1876, and they have two children, Clara and Nanny; Emma, born in Watertown February 21, 1855, mar-
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ried in 1878 to Julius W. Wiggenhorn at Watertown, and they have three children, one daughter, Elsa, and two sons, Constanz and Ralph; Bertha, born September 27, 1857, married in 1885 to Prof. Max H. Gaebler of Watertown, and they have one son, Hans; Moritz F., born November 10, 1859, married in 1889 to Mary Buchheit at Watertown, and they have one son, Franklin. Moritz was. Collector of Internal Revenue for the Western District of Wisconsin by appointment of President Cleveland; Charles R., born at Watertown February 18, 1861, and is a lawyer; Ralph D., born April 7, 1864, married in 1892 to Daisie Blumfeld at Lon- don, England, and they have two sons, Dave and Geo. Elliott; Max, born February 27, 1869, married in 1893 to Minnie White at Madison, Wisconsin. They have one son, Charles. It is a matter of record that of Mr. Blumenfeld's children and grandchildren all are living.
Although Mr. Blumenfeld is nearly seventy-two years of age, he is still in active business, and may be found in his sanctum hard at work every day, feeling "that 'tis better to wear out than rust out." Whilst he has never been known as an officeseeker, yet his fellow townsmen have placed him in the School Board, and also as a member of the City Coun- cil, in both of which positions he served faithfully and well.
Such is a brief outline of the career of one whose life affords an il- lustration of the force of courage and industry which enabled him to surmount and overcome the difficulties and obstructions found on the pathway of life.
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JOHN W. AMES.
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JOHN W AMES. [DECEASED. ]
UMAN knowledge is but the accumulation of small facts; and the practical is the question that meets all conditions of a life. Our subject was not like a mere straw thrown upon the water to mark the current, but deliberately considered the practicability of a thing before entering upon it. He was a man who saw much of the world, and the knowledge thus gained served him well through his life.
John W. Ames was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on the 17th day of July, 1817. He was a son of Sylvanus Ames, who lived in Boston and afterwards removed to New Bedford, where he was the pro- prietor of a hat factory. The mother of John W. Ames was Sally Pope, a native of New Bedford. When a boy of 16 years John W. Ames went to sea on a whaling voyage, and cruised all over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in quest of whales. He afterwards made another voyage, spend- ing about three years on the water. He visited many ports and various islands, and had many thrilling exploits and adventures. In 1834 he visited Cape Town, South Africa, and also the Island of Madagascar. He was always fond of relating his experiences as a seaman, and en- joyed the company of young men, of whose company he never grew tired.
Upon his return from sea in 1839 or '40, he found that his father and family, consisting of his mother, brother Francis, and sisters Mary Ann, Lucy, Kate, Sarah and Naby, had removed to the State of New York, which was considered at that time to be the "Far West," which in fact it was, as they had to travel via Long Island Sound and Hud- son River. He helped his father clear up a farm, and afterwards mar- ried Phoebe Ketchum of Batavia, New York. The result of this union was Charles W. Ames, who was born December 10, 1839, married Oc- tober 18, 1862 to Adelaide Weston, and died at Leadville, Colorado, April 18, 1879. They had one daughter Kate, born July 5, 1866. His wife now lives in Iowa and his daughter in Madison, Wisconsin.
John W. Ames' first wife died when quite young, and September 12, 1847, when he was united in marriage to Mrs. Eleanor W. Wheeler of Rock- ford, Illinois, who was born December 8, 1819, and was the widow of Hiram N. Wheeler, and the daughter of Jesse and Buckbee, she having two children at the time of her marriage to Mr. Ames, namely: John B. Wheeler, born March 6, 1838, married Mary A. Struble, May 17, 1865, and have one daughter, now Mrs. Ella C. H. Sager, who re- sides in the town of Cottage Grove, Dane County, Wisconsin, and Frank A. Wheeler, born April 18, 1840, married Jennie Hartwell September 7, 1862 and died October 29, 1864; they had one son, Frank, who now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. His widow now lives in Illinois.
To John W. Ames and wife six sons were given, namely: Allen
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Russell, born April 9, 1849, at Rockford, Illinois, married Alice Andres October 24, 1883, living at Madison, Wis., and has an adopted son, Edwin. He graduated at Albion Academy, and was engaged in teaching school until 1875, when he was elected Superintendent of Schools of the Eastern District of Dane County for two terms. Afterwards engaged in the mercantile business for ten years, when he removed to Colorado, where he followed the joint occupation of running a ranch and editing a coun- try newspaper, later returning to Madison, Wisconsin, and is now a. prominent real estate dealer in that city. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and a Republican; Sylvanus, born October 4, 1851, married Cora A. Downs December 25, 1884, living in Stoughton, Wisconsin. and have four children, Mary, Ruth Pope, John Burton and Alice. Was a teacher for many years, and is now a traveling salesman. Is an enthu- siastic member of the Masonic fraternity, and his family are connected with the Baptist Church. He is a Republican; Jesse Buckbee, born October 27, 1853, now living in the old homestead, which has always been his home, and where the last five children of John W. Ames were born; George Quinby, born January 30, 1857, married October 20, 1887, Emma J. Little, and have two daughters, Irene and Mildred. He was formerly a teacher, then employed in the Stoughton State Bank for eight years, then moved to Waterloo, Wisconsin, in 1890, where he has been employed in a bank, and where he has resided ever since: Fred. W., born August 21, 1859, married December 1, 1896, to Annie Orwin, and have one son, Worth. He was a teacher a number of years, and has always lived in the old homestead; Henry Tabor, born April 26, 1862, married June 4, 1887, to Anna McCulloch of Deerfield, Wisconsin. They have two children, John Frances, born May 12, 1889, at Deerfield, Wisconsin, and Mabel Eleanor, born March 14, 1891, in Waterloo, Wis- consin. He like his brothers began life as a teacher, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1890, and has practiced his profession in Waterloo ever since. John W. Ames, the subject of this sketch, died at the old homestead on Liberty Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin, Febru- ary 4, 1895, where he had resided continuously since 1849, being one of the pioneers and earliest settlers of the town of Pleasant Springs, Dane County, Wisconsin.
MICHAEL A. JACOBS.
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MICHAEL ANSELM JACOBS.
S in plant growth every leaf and bud is seen to have an ideal to- wards which it tends, so in man each individual has this ideal self. Our subject in early life, though a farmer boy and early inured to work, set his standard high, and always sought to put his heart in whatever he undertook. As a result, today he is among the most prominent and successful young men in the state. He early learned that one of the most effective helps toward realizing an object proposed, was the conviction that it could and would be accomplished.
The "Blue Book of Wisconsin " in its biographical sketches says:
"Michael Anselm Jacobs (Dem.) of Beaver Dam, was born March 26, 1860, in Lomira, Dodge County, Wisconsin, removing to the town of Beaver Dam with his parents March 20, 1868. He was educated in the district schools of Lomira and Beaver Dam and St. Mary's school of the latter city, completing his studies with one term at Mt. Calvary College. He acquired most of his education after leaving school, possessing a private library of over six hundred volumes. He resided with his parents, working upon the farm, until February 26, 1887, when he re- moved to the city of Beaver Dam, and engaged in the retail lumber and coal business, in which he continued for four and one-half years, when in company with a few others he organized the German National Bank of Beaver Dam, which opened for business August 5, 1891, Mr. Jacobs being chosen assistant cashier and one of the directors. He was elected Clerk of the town of Beaver Dam in the spring of 1884, and re- elected in 1885 and 1886, resigning in February, 1887, on account of re- moving from the town to the city; was elected County Clerk of Dodge County in November, 1888, and re-elected in November, 1890, holding the office two full terms. Mr. Jacobs was appointed Chief Clerk of the General Land office at Washington, D. C., April 6, 1893, and continued in that position until December 20, 1893, when he resigned on account of urgent personal business at home. While Chief Clerk he was appointed World's Fair Commissioner for the Interior Department to the World's Fair at Chicago, and had charge of the opening of the Cherokee outlet in Oklahoma in September, 1893, by special appointment from Hoke Smith, Secretary of the Interior; was Delegate to Second Congressional Demo- cratic Convention in 1892 and Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee from 1892 to 1894; was Delegate to the Thirteenth Judicial District Convention held at Waukesha in 1896, which nominated J. J. Dick for Circuit Judge. Is at present actively engaged in the lumber and coal business at Beaver Dam. He was elected to the State Senate in 1898, receiving 4,874 votes, against 4,043 for David P. Doty, Republican." He represented the Fourth Ward of the City of Beaver Dam on the County Board of Supervisors for the years 1898 and 1899.
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Michael Anselm Jacobs is the grandson, on the paternal side, of Michael and Cathrine (Braun) Jacobs, both of whom were born in Witzerath, Kreis Montjoie, Prussia. He was born in 1793 and died in 1829, and his wife was born in 1792 and died in 1862. On the maternal side he is the grandson of Henry and Gertrude Hartzheim, both of Kreis Montjoie, Prussia, and were married in 1818. He was born in 1798 and died at Theresa, Dodge County, Wisconsin, in 1864, and his wife was born in 1800, and died in Mayville, Wisconsin, in 1894. They came from Germany to Wisconsin in 1846.
Mr. Jacobs, our subject, is the son of Michael Jacobs, who was born at Witzerath, near Aachen, Rheinish Prussia, November 2, 1823, and Cathrina (Hartzheim) Jacobs, who was born at Bickerath, Kreis Montjoie, Rheinish Prussia, January 14, 1829, and died at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, January 5, 1874, aged 44 years, 11 months and 21 days. They were married December 16, 1856 and seven children was the re- sult of the union, four daughters and three sons, namely: Mary, born October 26, 1858, married Thomas Ott, Calvary, Wisconsin; Michael Anselm; Kate Helen, born June 16, 1864, married Henry Fuesing, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; Paulina, born July 27, 1867, single, living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; John Conrad, born March 8, 1870, married Anna Murray, Chicago; Joseph Henry, born May 8, 1872, died October 18, 1872; Anna, born April, 1866, died December, 1866. Mr. Jacobs went to Beaver Dam in 1848 and later moved to Muskegon, Michigan where he remained for six years, when he removed to a farm in Lomira. Dodge County, where he lived until March 20, 1868, when he went to Beaver Dam, where he now lives.
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