USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 11
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Matthias E. Theisen received his education in the district school and attended the high school in Fond du Lac. He later spent one year at the Oshkosh State Normal School and for three years following his graduation engaged in teaching. When he was twenty-two years of age he entered his father's employ, working upon the home farm until he was twenty-nine. He then purchased eighty acres of land, constituting a part of the homestead, and has been engaged in general agriculture upon this property since that time. He also is treasurer of the Town Line Cheese Company and is one of the organizers and founders of that insti- tution. He is ready to give his support to any movement looking toward the further advancement and progress of his county and township, and is in all things public-spirited, energetic and straightforward.
In 1910 Mr. Theisen was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Schuh, a daughter of Joseph Schuh, of Hartford. They have one son, Leo John, born September 16, 1910. The family belong to St. Matthew's Catholic church of Campbellsport and Mr. Theisen is serving as its trustee. He gives his allegiance to the republican party and is intelligently interested in local affairs, although he never seeks public office. He is recognized as one of the most successful and promising of the younger generation of farmers in Ashford township. The family to which he belongs has been prominent and well known in the dis- trict for over half a century and Matthias Theisen upholds the traditions of a highly honored family name and has added to it by a life spent honorably and usefully in a worthy occupation.
JOHN W. WRIGHT.
John W. Wright is an extensive stockholder in the Ripon Knitting Company and has been actively identified with the industrial life of Fond du Lac county for many years. He was born in Rosendale, Wisconsin, February 13, 1868, and is a son of Wells and Margaret (Tuttle) Wright, the former a native of White- hall. Vermont, and the latter of Rome, New York. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch came with his family to Wisconsin at an early date and located in Rosendale where he bought government land which he farmed until his death. His son, Wells Wright, the father of the subject of this review, was also a farmer during his active career and now makes his home with his son in Ripon, Wisconsin. His wife died in 1904. Both Wells Wright and his wife were members of the Congregational church. They had only one child, John W., our subject.
He was educated in the public schools of Rosendale, attended the high school in Ripon and spent some time in the Ripon College. He later attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1891 with the degree of B. A. Immediately after his return to Ripon he opened a drug store which he conducted successfully until 1895. In a previous year he had bought stock in the Ripon Knitting Company and in 1895 he deter- mined to devote his entire attention to his affairs in connection with that institu- tion. He has since been active in its development and in its progress along in- dustrial lines. It was in a flourishing condition at the time he became connected
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with it and through his efforts it has increased its output and extended its markets to a remarkable degree. It is now one of the largest manufacturing concerns in the state of Wisconsin. It has recently built a large and modernly equipped plant with all the most improved machinery and scientific methods. It employs over three hundred people continually and its market is limited only by the boundaries of North America. In this success Mr. Wright has been an im- portant contributing factor.
In 1895 Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Annie Haseltine, a daughter of C. P. Haseltine of Ripon. Mr. Wright gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but beyond fulfilling his duties as a citizen he has not taken an active part in public affairs. He prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and upon the duties incident to his position as director of the First National Bank and trustee of the Ripon College. He is a prominent Mason and belongs to Ripon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and to the Berlin commandery, Knights Templar. He is one of the prominent business men of Ripon, is well known, and widely popular among his many friends in this city.
LOUIS AVERBECK.
Germany has given to Fond du Lac county many upright, sturdy and honor- able men whose lives and activities have raised and broadened the quality of its citizens. Louis Averbeck, who is now engaged in agriculture on an extensive scale in Empire township is of German parentage. In his successful career he has carried on the honorable traditions which are his personal and natural in- heritance.
His father, Detrich Averbeck, was among the earliest pioneers of Fond du Lac county and his life is a record of sturdy struggle against almost overwhelm- ing obstacles. He was born in Hanover, Germany, and spent his early youth in that country and received his education there. At the age of twenty-two years he came to America and lived for five years in the vicinity of New York city. When he landed in the United States and reached New York he was penniless and was obliged to at once find work by which to gain a livelihood. He was employed as a gardener and then as a farmer receiving for his labors in the latter capacity eight dollars per month. He worked for one year on this salary and at the end of that time was taken with typhoid fever. His ill health compelled him to go to a hospital and there he remained for one year before he had finally completely recuperated. When he had regained his health he went back to his former employer and worked in his service for four years. He saved every penny which he made beyond his bare expenses and was enabled eventually to work his way to Wisconsin. He was actuated in making this move by many favorable reports which reached New York of the fertility and productiveness of the soil of Wisconsin and the many opportunities for advancement which that state offered. He landed first in Milwaukee and there worked for two years in various capacities. He had, however, definitely decided to make agriculture his life career and hearing that a new section of the country was at that time being opened he made the journey from Milwaukee on foot. He met with many hardships and his only sustenance during his travel were the animals which he hunted and killed for food. In the first year of his residence in Fond du Lac Detrich Averbeck worked by the month but was soon able to buy eighty acres in Eldorado township. Here he built a log shanty and spent many years in this dwelling. His success, however, was continuous and fairly rapid and he was eventually able to build a modern house upon his holdings where he lived until his death in 1898 at the age of seventy-six years. His marriage occurred while he was still a resident of Germany. His wife in her maidenhood was Miss
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Anna Maria Mechler, whose birth occurred in Baden-Baden, Germany. She came to Milwaukee and later to Fond du Lac with her husband and made the journey between these two places by boat and stage coach. She survived her husband until 1910 in which year her death occurred in the seventy-seventh year of her life. Mr. Detrich Averbeck was prominent and active in many lines. He served his country for ten months as a member of a Wisconsin regiment in the Federal army and his military service was marked by bravery and intelligent activity.
Louis Averbeck was one of a family of twelve children, eight of whom are still living. He was born on the farm in Eldorado township in 1854 and his early youth was spent amid agricultural scenes and incidents. He received his education in the district schools of his native section and was always active in the work of his father's farm until he was twenty-seven years of age. At that time his father gave him eighty acres of land in Empire township and this forms part of his present holdings. He has been active in agricultural pursuits during all his life and has developed his property along scientific lines. He has added to his holdings at different periods and his farm now comprises one hundred and twenty acres of the most fertile soil in Fond du Lac county. He has re- modeled the house, built the barns and in every way has developed and improved his property.
In 1881 Mr. Averbeck was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Gathman and to their union were born three children: John, Annie, who is now deceased; and Ida. Mr. Averbeck's wife died in 1903 and in October, 1905, he was again married. His second union was with Miss Caroline Ladewig, a native of New York.
Mr. Averbeck is independent politically and votes for man or measure regard- less of party affiliation. He has never sought public office, preferring to devote his attention to his agricultural enterprises. His life has been a progressive force in the development of Fond du Lac county and his energies have met with the natural reward of concentrated and well directed intelligence.
EDWARD A. F. ZOELLNER.
Edward A. F. Zoellner is one of the well known and successful business men of Fond du Lac, where he is engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of building cement material. He was born in Fond du Lac, February 17, 1873, and is a son of William and Sophia (Schroeder) Zoellner, both of whom are natives of Germany. The father's birth occurred in 1838. He emigrated to America at a very early period in his life, settling in Wisconsin. In 1896 he en- gaged in the manufacture of brooms and continued to give his attention to that business until 1903, at which time he was succeeded in business by his sons and he retired to private life. He maintains his residence at No. 145 Linden street. The mother as a young girl started with her parents for America and while on the way here her mother died and was buried at sea. Her father with the remaining members of his family on reaching the shores of the new world es- tablished his home in Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. William Zoellner seven children were born, of whom six are living. Edward A. F., the subject of this review, is the oldest member of the family. William, who is conducting a saloon and bowling alley in Fond du Lac, married Nellie Sheron, of this city, by whom he has one child, Jeannette. Louisa became the wife of Guy Waton, who is engaged in the insurance business. Otto is engaged in business in partnership with his brother William. Ida married Arthur Swartz, a wood carver of Fond du Lac, and they have one child, Sidney, who is living in this city. Anna, the youngest member of the family, makes her home with her parents.
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Edward A. F. Zoellner was reared in his parents' home and received his edu- cation in the German-English Academy, of which he was a pupil until he at- tained the age of thirteen. He then took up work in a sash and door factory of Fond du Lac and there continued for two and one-half years, after which he was employed as a painter in a furniture factory and gave his attention to that work for one year. He later found employment in a sash factory at Fond du Lac for eight months and then worked as an apprenticed typesetter for the purpose of learning that trade. He continued in that occupation for one year, after which time he was employed as delivery man for a china store for a period of one year. He then engaged in work in a broom factory, where he learned the business of manufacturing brooms, and after acquiring a thorough knowledge of that business, in company with his father and brother, he opened a broom factory in Fond du Lac in 1896 under the firm name of Zoellner & Sons. The Zoellner & Sons Broom Company manufactured brooms for a period of six years, after which time Edward A. F. Zoellner took up work in a cement plant and there obtained a proficient knowledge of the cement business at which he worked for others for a period of two years. At the end of that time, in company with Mr. Kopf, he opened a cement plant under the firm name of Zoellner & Kopf, which business was continued for three years. In 1910 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Zoellner established a cement factory of his own which he has since operated with gratifying success. His plant is one of the best equipped of its kind in Fond du Lac and his business has steadily increased in volume until his is now one of the largest manufacturing plants in that line of business in Fond du Lac county. In addition to his cement business he also owns property located at No. 15 West Eleventh street.
Mr. Zoellner was united in marriage to Miss Matie Kobs, of Fond du Lac, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kobs. Mr. Zoellner is affiliated with the re- publican party and is a member of the Eagles. He was a member of Company E, Second Wisconsin National Guard, from 1907 to 1910.
WILLIAM NAST, SR.
William Nast, Sr., who enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the most enter- prising and reliable business men of Fond du Lac county, is at the head of the Nast Brothers Lime & Stone Company of Eden, which was incorporated in 1904. He is a prominent factor in financial circles as president of the Bank of Eden. His birth occurred in Germany in the year 1852, his parents being William and Wilhelmina (Bucholtz) Nast, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of August Nast, a brother of our subject.
William Nast, of this review, was a youth of ten years when his parents crossed the Atlantic to the United States and took up their abode in this county. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Eden township and assisted in the operation of the stone quarry which his father had opened thereon. In 1880 his father opened the quarry which our subject now operates in association with his brother August under the firm name of Nast Brothers Lime & Stone Com- pany. William Nast, of this review, is at the head of the concern and his efforts have contributed substantially to its growth. He is likewise interested in the Wisconsin Lime & Cement Company of Chicago as a director, acts as president of the bank at Eden, an institution of which he has every reason to be proud, and is also a director of the Commercial National Bank of Fond du Lac. Mr. Nast resides on his beautiful farm near the quarries and has long been num- bered among the leading and prosperous citizens of this county.
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In 1882 Mr. Nast was united in marriage to Miss Christina Smith, a lady highly accomplished and of many fine traits of character and heart, in whom he has found an able helpmate. Mr. and Mrs. Nast have three sons: Herman, William and Edwin. Mr. Nast's friends entertain for him high regard by reason of his fidelity to the trust reposed in him, his devotion to his business and his faithful performance of the duties of citizenship.
EDMUND H. KORRER.
Edmund H. Korrer, a native of Fond du Lac and a well known business man of this city, has served as superintendent of the Fond du Lac Brick Com- pany since 1910. His birth occurred on the 29th of January, 1875, his parents being Edmund N. and Eliza (Haas) Korrer. The father was born in Lucher- berg, Germany, on the 19th of November, 1838, while the mother's birth occurred at Worms, on the Rhine, July 15, 1842. The paternal great-grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Maria Franziska (Schroeder) Korrer, of Lamersdorf, Germany, the former born in 1776. The paternal grandparents of Edmund H. Korrer were John Hubert and Maria Katharina (Radermacher) Korrer, the former born at Lamersdorf, Germany, on the 3d of May, 1803, and the latter on the 29th of December, 1805. Their marriage was celebrated at Lamersdorf in 1830 and immediately afterward they removed to Lucherberg, Germany, which was the birthplace of Edmund N. Korrer. The family emigrated to America in 1850, purchasing and locating on a farm at Ashford, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Edmund N. Korrer and Eliza Haas, the parents of the subject of this review, were married at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on the 15th of August, 1864. The latter was called to her final rest on the 9th of April, 1911.
Edmund H. Korrer obtained his early education in the public schools of his native city and also pursued a course of study in the German-English Academy there. After putting aside his text-books he was employed as bookkeeper and credit man by The Zinke Company, wholesale grocers, remaining in that position from 1894 until 1910. In the latter year he became superintendent of the Fond du Lac Brick Company and has since ably discharged the duties devolving upon him in this connection, manifesting sound judgment and excellent business ability.
On the 7th of October, 1903, at Fond du Lac, Mr. Korrer was united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Bechaud, a daughter of F. H. and Annie (Abel) Bechaud, of Fond du Lac. In politics Mr. Korrer is a democrat. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus, and shows his progressive spirit by his active membership in the Business Men's Association. In his religious faith he is a devout communicant of the Roman Catholic church. In the city where his entire life has been spent he enjoys an enviable reputation in both business and social circles.
JOHN A. HENDRICKS.
John A. Hendricks is a well known and successful farmer and business man of Ashford township, and is a son of a pioneer in the settlement of the district. He is operating his farm along systematic and progressive lines, making it one of the model properties in Fond du Lac county, modern and up-to-date in every particular.
John Hendricks was born in Pennsylvania on November 20, 1840, and is a son of Andrew and Margaret (Glass) Hendricks, natives of that state, where their marriage occurred. The father was a tanner by trade but abandoned this
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occupation in favor of farming. In 1847 he went to Granville, Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, where he spent five years, coming in 1852 to Fond du Lac county, among the early settlers. He located in Ashford township on a tract of wild land which he improved and cultivated. He built a log house upon his holdings in which he lived for many years, and was the first man to build a basement barn in the township. He was one of the representative and substantial citizens of this district. Andrew Hendricks died upon his farm in 1874 at the age of sixty- three years and was survived by his wife until 1878, her death occurring when she was sixty-eight years of age.
John Hendricks was educated in the district schools of Milwaukee and Fond du Lac counties and was reared upon his father's farm. Even in his early child- hood he assisted in the minor duties incident to the operation of a growing agricultural enterprise and at the age of twenty-eight assumed entire charge of its management and direction. He. acted in this capacity until 1878 when he moved to his farm which he had purchased previous to this, in Ashford township upon which he has since lived. He has carried on the work of its development and cultivation along active, modern and progressive lines. He has built barns and outbuildings, has fenced and drained his fields and erected upon his property a modern and comfortable home. He is numbered among the representative gen- eral farmers in his section and is known in business circles as secretary of the Ashford Fire Insurance Company which he organized.
In 1868 Mr. Hendricks was united in marriage to Miss Betsy Barnett, a daughter of Henry Barnett of Ashford. They became the parents of four children, Stratton A., Wallace E., Lewis E., and John H. Mrs. Hendricks be- longs to the Baptist church.
In his political views Mr. Hendricks is a consistent republican and for several years served as chairman of the town council. He is widely recognized as one of the representative citizens of Ashford township and has attained a place of prominence in agricultural and business circles of Fond du Lac county.
ANDREW J. AMEND.
Andrew J. Amend, who conducts a grocery store in Ripon, has been identified with the business interests of Fond du Lac county for twenty-nine years. He was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, on the 30th of March, 1858, and is a son of Sebastian and Margaret (Wastrich) Amend, natives of Germany. The father emigrated to the United States in 1836, spending the first five years of his residence in this country in the east. He was married in Ohio and in 1841 he and his wife came to Wisconsin, first locating in Milwaukee, which at that period gave little promise of developing into a city of its present magnitude. He could have purchased land there very cheap, having been offered a tract of four acres on what is now West Water street for four hundred dollars. Instead of locating there, he went on to Walworth county, however, where he took up a hundred and twenty acres and the mother forty acres of government land, which he diligently cultivated and improved for many years. The tract on which the mother filed is still owned by the son Andrew J., who sold the remainder of the old homestead in 1910. Both parents have long since passed away, the mother's death having occurred on the farm, but the father died at the home of our subject in Ripon, where he had been living since 1890.
Andrew J. Amend is the thirteenth in a family of fourteen children, of whom four are living. His education was obtained in the common schools of Racine county, this state, and such times as he was not engaged with his lessons he de- voted to the work of the farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-six years, when he decided upon a commercial career. In 1883 he came to Ripon and
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bought a grocery store, which he conducted for sixteen years. He subsequently went into the oil and later the creamery business, but on the 28th of June, 1908, he once more identified himself with the grocery trade. As he is thoroughly familiar with the business, carries a good selection of staple and fancy groceries and takes infinite pains to satisfy his customers, he is accorded an excellent pat- ronage.
Mr. Amend was married on the 19th of November, 1884, to Miss Adeline Walters of Dubuque, Iowa, and they have become the parents of eight children : William, who is a resident of South Dakota; Alma, who is a teacher ; Raymond, who is living at home; Marie, who is also at home; Leo, who is assisting his father in the store; and Margaret, Walter and Lorretta.
Mr. Amend takes an active interest in local politics and is now serving his third term as treasurer and he was formerly a member of the town council while he served as postmaster during Cleveland's administration. He is one of the progressive citizens and enterprising business men, and actively cooperates in promoting the development of the community.
WILLARD C. İNGALLS.
One hundred and seventy acres of land in Empire township, improved and sci- entifically developed, is the contribution which Willard C. Ingalls and his brother Fred M. Ingalls have made to the prosperity and resources of Fond du Lac county. Mr. Ingalls is a representative and substantial agriculturist of this section and the beauty and productiveness of his farm is the most convincing proof of his suc- cess. The first representative of the family to come to Wisconsin was Simeon Martin Ingalls, the father of our subject. He was born at Keene, Essex county, New York, in 1834, and with his brother, George E. Ingalls, settled in Fond du Lac county, near Ripon, when he was twenty-one years of age. After some years of residence in that section he removed to the township of Fond du Lac, where he bought eighty acres of land on section 26, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. before he gave up agriculture as an occupation. He afterward re- moved to the city of Fond du Lac and maintained his residence there until his death in 1912. His wife was Cynthia A. Brown, of Perrysburg, New York, who came to Fond du Lac county with her father, John Brown, and his wife, Mercy. Mrs. Simeon Ingalls was born in 1837 and her death occurred on November 25, 1896: : Mr. and Mrs. Simeon M. Ingalls were the parents of four children, Elmer Brown, Edith M., Fred M. and Willard C., of this review. Simeon Ingalls was a substantial and widely known citizen of Fond du Lac township, where he took an active part in public affairs. He was treasurer of his township for one term and held a similar position on the school board for many years .. The latter office after his retirement devolved upon his son Willard, who in his activities in this capacity carried out the honorable traditions of his father.
Willard C. Ingalls was born February 22, 1873, in the township of Fond du Lac, and acquired his education in the district schools of that section. He fol- lowed the usual course of study until he had prepared himself for high school and spent about six years as a student in the city of Fond du Lac. From early childhood he was familiar with the labors incident to farm life and after leaving school gave valuable assistance to his father in the conduct of his agricultural enterprise. When Simeon Ingalls retired in 1910 his sons Willard and Fred took upon themselves the management of his property and successfully farmed it for . two years. They later traded the land in Fond du Lac township for the McLeod farm of one hundred and seventy acres located near Empire. This property Mr. Ingalls has been actively developing since that time and his flourishing acres im- proved and developed along progressive lines are an evidence of his success.
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