USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 21
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CHARLES AND HENRY MITCHELL.
The brothers, Charles and Henry Mitchell, are numbered among the repre- sentative agriculturists of Osceola township, where they own a farm of eighty acres located on section 16. They were both born on the place where they now reside, Charles on the 10th of August, 1875, and Henry on October 17, 1882.
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Their father, George Mitchell, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland on November 10, 1818, and there he passed his boyhood and youth. At about the age of twenty years he emigrated to the United States, first locating in Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the coal mines. He continued to follow this occu- pation, with which he was also identified in the old country, until he came to Wisconsin several years later. He settled at Kenosha, and there he subsequently met and married Miss Margaret Paul, likewise a native of Scotland and born in Glasgow on October 20, 1832, who came to America with her mother, the father being deceased. They passed the early period of their domestic life in that city, where Mr. Mitchell worked for the Mitchell Wagon Works. When this company removed to Racine, he accompanied them, but he later came to Fond du Lac county and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He had a brother, William Mitchell, who was already living here, and undoubtedly it was at his solicitation that George became one of the pioneers of Osceola town- ship. He first purchased a tract of land on section 21, and after erecting a few crude buildings to shelter his family and stock, began clearing and preparing the soil for cultivation. About four years later he sold this place and invested the proceeds in the eighty acres of section 16, now owned by his sons. Here he continued to reside until he passed away February 10, 1898, at the age of eighty years. He was long survived by the mother, who was seventy-two when she died July 11, 1909. Their family numbered twelve, as follows: Annie; Nellie, who died June 10, 1912; George; Nettie; Mary; Eliza; Belle; David; Charles and Henry, our subjects; and two who died in infancy. The father enjoyed the full rights of citizenship, giving his political support to the republican party, and although he took an active interest in local affairs he would never accept an office. Both he and the mother were members of the Presbyterian church.
Charles and Henry Mitchell were reared at home and educated in the dis- trict school. With the exception of eleven months spent by the former on a ranch in South Dakota, they have always resided on the farm they now own. They received their training along agricultural lines from their father, from whom they purchased the homestead several years prior to his death. They are both men of marked energy and enterprise, and during the period of their ownership have made many improvements in the place, including the erection of the barn and the introduction of various modern conveniences. They en- gage in general farming and stock-raising and do some dairying, meeting with success in each of these lines.
As neither of the Mitchell brothers have ever married, their sister Nettie is keeping house for them. They both vote the republican ticket but have al- ways refused to be candidates for office. They are not remiss in their duties as citizens, however, but are at all times ready and willing to indorse any move- ment they feel will forward the welfare of the community.
OSCAR HENRY ECKE.
The law firm of Ecke & Hughes is a prominent one in Fond du Lac, the volume and importance of their business at once establishing their position. The senior partner was born at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, February 5, 1868, his parents being Louis and Louise (Reinhardt) Ecke, the former a native of Saxony, Germany, and the latter of Racine, Wisconsin. The paternal grand- father was Carl Ecke, a shoemaker by trade. He left Germany when his son Louis was but ten years of age, arriving in the United States in 1854. He made his way to Sheboygan county, settling near Plymouth, where he cleared wild and unimproved land. There he engaged in farming and in addition,
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worked at his trade. His last days were spent at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where he died when about eighty-two years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Fredericka Neidhold, died at Stevens Point when about sixty- nine years of age. They had several children including Fred, Gottlieb, Louis and Theresa, the wife of Albert Schmidt. The maternal grandparents of Oscar H. Ecke were Frederick and Christiana Reinhardt, natives of Germany and early settlers of Racine county, Wisconsin. They also became pioneers in the town of New Hope, Portage county, and Mrs. Reinhardt died on the old homestead farm there when about seventy years of age. Her husband after- ward retired from business life and went to Stevens Point to live with the Ecke family. Their children were Rudolph, Louise, Malina and two who died
in childhood. One of the children was born in an immigrant wagon, which was then the family home. At that time the Indians were numerous all around them and all the conditions of pioneer life were theirs. Mr. Reinhardt took quite an active interest in community affairs and at different times held various local offices, including that of postmaster. He was a man of liberal education, having had excellent school advantages in Germany, and this with his other sterling characteristics and qualities made him a citizen of worth in the com- munity. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church.
Louis Ecke, father of O. H. Ecke, was ten years of age when brought to America in 1854. He was reared to manhood on the old home farm in She- boygan county in the vicinity of Plymouth and after attaining adult age he and his brother Gottlieb were associated in the butchering business for several years. Louis Ecke then removed to Stevens Point in the early '6os and Gott- lieb went to Oshkosh. The former continued in the butchering business on his own account until his establishment was destroyed by fire, after which he conducted a saloon for a number of years. He was a blacksmith by trade and in his later life he worked in a railway blacksmith shop at Stevens Point. Subsequently, however, he again opened a meat market and still later a saloon but retired from the latter business about 1885. It was subsequent to this time that he became a shoe merchant on the south side in Stevens Point. He was always busily engaged in some line of commercial or industrial activity and the success he achieved was attributable entirely to his own efforts. His wife died in Stevens Point in April, 1890, when forty years of age. She had been baptized in the Lutheran faith in early girlhood but reared her children
in the faith of the Episcopal church. After her death Mr. Ecke traded his
properties at Stevens Point and went to the town of Bergen, Marathon county, twenty-six miles north of Stevens Point, there engaging in farming. He now lives retired in Auburndale. Several of his children, however, are residents of Fond du Lac. As the years passed there were added to the family sons and daughters to the number of nine: Oscar H., of this review; Selma, who died at the age of six years; Laura, a resident of Fond du Lac; Arnim G., a practicing physician of Chicago; Leda, the wife of John Thomsen, of Fond du Lac; Sadie, the wife of Lewis Haight, who is principal of the schools at Blue Mound, Illinois; Florenz, who died in Chicago, June 7, 1910; Edwin A., who is connected with the law department of the La Salle Extension Univer- sity in Chicago; and Dodo H., a resident of Glenn, California.
Oscar H. Ecke was reared at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and early manifested special aptitude in his school work, being graduated from the high school at the age of fifteen years. He immediately entered the University of Wisconsin and completed the classical course, being numbered among the alumni of 1887, in which year he had but reached the age of nineteen. He borrowed the money with which to pay the expenses of his college course and then by teaching discharged his indebtedness. He also earned a sum sufficient to enable him to pursue a law course in the University of Wisconsin and following his grad- uation in 1894 he was admitted to the bar. For six years after completing
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his classical course in the university, he engaged in teaching. For one year he was principal of the grammar department at West Bend, Wisconsin, after which he was called to the university to teach rhetoric and elocution. While there he received a call to become principal and superintendent of the Ryan high school at Appleton, Wisconsin, where he remained for three years. In 1893 he resigned his position there and in the following year mastered two years' work of the regular law course. In January, 1894, he received an ap- pointment from Governor Peck to the position of assistant librarian of the state law library at Madison, and afterward made arrangements to come to Fond du Lac. In the spring of 1895 he arrived in this city and formed a part- nership with H. E. Swett, with whom he was associated for about ten years. He was afterward alone in practice for a year and next became associated with W. W. Hughes in a partnership that still continues under the firm style of Ecke & Hughes. The senior partner served for two years as city attorney and in 1901 he was a candidate for the office of county judge. He was appointed assistant district attorney by Judge Fowler and served for a short time in connection with the grand jury in their investigations. He has a large and dis- tinctively representative clientage and is justly accounted one of the leading lawyers of his adopted city. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care, presents his cause clearly and logically and as the years passed on has been connected with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of this district.
On the 7th of June, 1899, Mr. Ecke was married to Miss Edith Evans, a native of Cambria, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Enoch and Eleanor (Wil- liams) Evans, who were natives of Wales. Her father died in 1901, when about seventy years of age, having for several years survived his wife. They were the parents of two daughters, who reached adult age, the younger being Ruby M., who is the wife of the Rev. Clinton J. Billig, a minister of the Con- gregational church. Mrs. Ecke, the elder daughter, is a graduate of Ripon College of the class of 1896 and won several prizes in oratorical contests. From 1896 until 1898 she was assistant teacher of Latin, English and elocution at Portage, Wisconsin. By her marriage she has become the mother of three sons, Rollin E., Lester E. and Milton E. The parents are members of the First Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Ecke is serving as an elder. They take a very active part in church activities and all religious work and Mr. Ecke was the prime mover in the organization of the Young Men's Christian Association, which was formed in Fond du Lac in 1906. He served as its first president and has always been deeply interested in its work. His influence is always given on the side of righteousness and truth, progress and improve- ment, and in every relation of life he advocates high standards nor deviates from a course which he believes to be for the benefit of the individual or the community.
CHARLES H. GRAHAM.
Throughout much of his life Charles H. Graham has been connected with public service, both civil and military. He is one of the veterans of the Span- ish-American war and almost continuously since his return from the front has held public office in which connection he has made a creditable record by reason of his unfaltering fidelity to duty. He was born in this county, Sep- tember I0, 1865, and is a representative of one of its old pioneer families, his father John C. Graham, settling here in 1846. His grandfather, John Gra- ham, was born in Scotland and on emigrating to the new world took up his abode in Canada where he followed farming. He died near Montreal at the
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very venerable age of ninety-seven years, having long survived his wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Gordon, and who passed away in middle life. They were the parents of five children-Mary, John, Jane, David and Andrew. The last named died while serving as a soldier in the Civil war.
John C. Graham was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1818, and after the family arrived in Canada he was bound out to learn the harness makers' trade. He grew to manhood in that country, not far from Montreal and for some years he continued to provide for his own support as a harness maker. At length, with the hope of having better business opportunities in the States, he made his way to Waupun, Fond du Lac county, in 1846 and took up land in Alto township. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but with characteristic energy he cleared and developed the land which he converted into a fine farm, thereon rearing his family. Eventually he sold that property and in 1867 removed to Brandon, where he resumed work at his trade, by conducting a harness making shop in company with Jacob Warner. In 1870 he went to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he engaged in carpenter- ing for a brief period, but soon turned his attention to farming, purchasing land near that city. About 1886 he again took up his abode in Ripon where he con- tinued to make his home until his death, which occurred March 23, 1896, when he was seventy-eight years of age. In early manhood he had married Ruth Maria Look, who was born in Connecticut, in 1831. She came of a family which originally spelled the name Locke, and representatives of the family crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower. Her father was one of the early farm- ers of Wisconsin, but removed to California where both he and his wife died when well advanced in years. They were the parents of nine children: Ruth Maria, Selah, Hester, Hezekiah, Albert, Phoebe, and three others-sons. As previously stated, Ruth Maria Look became the wife of John C. Graham and, surviving her husband for about three years, died in June, 1899, when about sixty-eight years of age. Both were constant members of the Methodist church. In their family were seven children, of whom three are now living: Ruby, the wife of A. L. Maudlin, secretary and treasurer of the Ripon (Wisconsin) Produce Company ; Charles H., of Fond du Lac; and Alice, the wife of E. F. Butler, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
Charles H. Graham was reared in Ripon from the age of five years and attended its public schools. He learned the trade of wallpapering and paint- ing and was engaged in business there for several years, but his patriotic spirit rose paramount at the time of the Spanish-American war and he joined Com- pany D, Second Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, of which he was a corporal. When the war was over he was forced to spend some time in the government hospital at Brooklyn, New York, on account of fever contracted in the army. He afterward returned to Ripon and was called to public office, being elected alderman of the first ward. In 1902 he was elected chief of police there, and again in 1904 but resigned, to become under-sheriff under J. C. Harcum. He filled that position for two years and in 1906 became candidate for the office of sheriff against George P. Dana, but failed of election. He was in the em- ploy of the Elmer Milling Company until appointed under-sheriff by William J. Seeve in 1909. The following year he was again his party's candidate for sheriff against his former opponent and this time was elected and is the pres- ent incumbent in the office, the duties of which he is discharging in a prompt and able manner.
On the 3d of January, 1893, Charles H. Graham was married to Miss Emma Schliepp, a daughter of Carl and Wilhelmina (Krause) Schliepp, both of whom were natives of Germany and became early settlers of Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where they lived for a short time and then removed to Winnebago county. Subsequently they took up their abode in Ripon, Fond du Lac county, where the mother died, December 21, 191I, at the age of seventy-
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two years. Mr. Schliepp is still living and is a resident of Fond du Lac. Mr. and Mrs. Schliepp were the parents of three sons and three daughters, Herman, Charles, Emma, Clara, Ida and Albert. Mrs. Schliepp had been formerly married in Germany to a Mr. Dahlman and they had two children, a son who died in childhood and a daughter, Amelia, who is still living. Mrs. Charles H. Graham was born in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Florence Ruth, Manilla Grace, Eugene and Gordon. Both Mr. and Mrs. Graham are widely and favor- ably known in Fond du Lac and throughout the county. Mrs. Graham be- longs to the Lutheran church. Mr. Graham has several fraternal relations, being a member of Ripon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Ripon Lodge, No. 144, I. O. O. F., the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Curtis J. Dillon Camp of the United Spanish War Veterans of Ripon, while Mrs. Graham is connected with its auxiliary. In politics he is a republi- can and vigorously espouses the cause in which he believes. His position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one and in office he is faithful and fearless in the discharge of his duties, manifesting the same courageous spirit that he showed when he defended his country's honor in the war with Spain.
FRANK MORTON ERICKSON, A. M.
To spend many years in a successful search after the truest knowledge; to love learning for its own sake and for the sake of its influence upon the prog- ress of the world; to acquire conspicuous attainment along classical lines and to put the result of study and labor at the disposal of others in the high office of a teacher-to have done these things is to have lived a useful and inspiring life. Frank Morton Erickson, now dean and Wilcox professor of classics at Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin, is recognized in the city in which he is doing his work as a true and cultured scholar. He has degrees from the most promi- nent universities in America and is an authority on the classic languages and on archeology.
Frank M. Erickson was born in Kendallville, Indiana, on September 21, 1870, and is a son of Gunder and Mary L. (Sharp) Erickson, the former a native of Norway who came to the United States in 1837 with the first ship- load of his countrymen that ever came to the United States. They settled in Kendallville, Indiana, where the father followed his profession of medicine until his death in 1877. He was a skilled physician and surgeon and had taken his medical degree in America from Rush Medical College and was later a stu- dent in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Mr. Erickson's mother was a daughter of Henry Sharp, son of John and Mary (Loring) Sharp of Albany, New York, one of the early pioneers of the state of Indiana and a prominent figure in its public affairs for many years. He held the position of mayor of Fort Wayne, where he had a large manufacturing concern and en- gaged in the fur-trading business for some time. His wife was Louisa Olds, a daughter of Elias and Abigail (Orcutt) Olds of Swanton, Vermont. The grandfather, Samuel of the same name, served in a Massachusetts regiment during the Revolutionary war, and Louisa Olds' ancestry. goes back to the Mayflower. Mrs. Erickson, the mother of our subject, passed away in 1901 in Kendallville, Indiana.
Frank M. Erickson is the youngest of a family of eight children, three of whom are still living. He went to school in Kendallville and later attended Wabash College, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1892. He took his Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1895. He spent the years from 1902 to 1904 as teacher of Greek and Latin
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in Highland University and in 1900 traveled extensively in Greece as a student of archeology. He was a member of the Graduate School of Harvard Uni- versity, from which he was graduated in 1907 after a year of deep study and brilliant success. He has been connected with Ripon College in his capacity as professor of the classic languages since 1895 and has done able and exhaustive work in this office. He was made dean of the college in recognition of his services in 1908 and during that year was acting president. He is one of the most popular and well known professors in Ripon.
In 1893 Mr. Erickson was united in marriage to Miss Harriet S. Shulze, a daughter of Emanuel H. and Marilla A. (Weston) Shulze. The father's family was of German origin. Emanuel H. Shulze was a descendant of Andrew Shulze, who was governor of Pennsylvania about 1800. In the maternal line he can trace his descent from the Melchior family who settled in New Jersey' in colonial times and was active in the founding of the German Lutheran church in America. Mrs. Erickson's mother, Marilla A. Weston, was a daugh- ter of John of the same name, who served as a lieutenant of cavalry and in the commissary department of the Federal army during the Civil war. The Weston family has been in America for many generations. Its representatives came from England to Massachusetts in 1639. Members of the family served in the Revolutionary war and the line of descent is clear from that time. Mrs. Erickson is of Irish lineage on her father's side. Her grandmother was named Elliott and was born in Dublin, Ireland. Mrs. Erickson is herself a well edu- cated woman and able to keep abreast with her husband in his studies and reading. She is a graduate of the Westminster Seminary, where she made a record for ability and brilliancy. She is the mother of three children: Frank M., aged eleven, Herbert S. and Mary M., all of whom are living with their parents at 529 Woodside avenue. The family hold membership in the Con- gregational church of Ripon, in which Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are active figures.
Mr. Erickson votes the republican ticket but beyond this takes no active part in politics. He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and is well known in that organization. He brings to his duties as professor of classics in Ripon College a thorough and exhaustive knowledge of his subject, an instinct for teaching and the splendid preparation of many years of hard study. Behind his imposing array of degrees and his depth of learning he keeps a kindly and gentle heart and a genial and social nature. He is unassuming in manner and his many lovable qualities of mind and heart make each of his pupils a friend and a follower.
ALBERT WAGNER.
Albert Wagner is a native of Fond du Lac county and a man whose agricul- tural career is a credit to the section in which he resides. In 1895 he bought his father's farm in Marshfield township, comprising seven hundred and twenty acres, of which the greater part was marsh land. He was born in the section where he now resides, in 1872. His parents were Joseph and Catherine (Died- rich) Wagner, natives of Germany. The father left that country in 1834 and for some time after his arrival in the new world taught school in New York, where he resided nine years. Afterward he came to Fond du Lac county and settled upon a farm in the section where his son is now active. He dealt in land, buying warrants from the soldiers, and made a comfortable income in this way. He died in 1896 but his wife survives and lives in Marshfield with her daugh- ter Lottie.
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Albert Wagner was educated in the parochial and district schools of Marsh- field township and has been a resident of this section all his life. He grew up on his father's farm and now operates a part of it, having sold the balance in 1902. He has one hundred and ten acres, all of which is used in raising live stock and for dairying purposes. His agricultural methods have always been recognized as standards by his neighbors and success rewards his systematic work. He has purchased prosperity with application to duties, concentration of mind, energy and industry. He made many improvements upon his farm, building necessary barns and outbuildings and fencing and draining his fields. He has a large and well equipped dairy and keeps a herd of high-grade cows. He sells his products readily in the Fond du Lac county markets.
In 1895 Albert Wagner was united in marriage to Miss Flora Dreifurst, a daughter of Adrian Dreifurst, who engaged in farming near the boundary line between Sheboygan and Fond du Lac counties. To Mr. and Mrs. Wagner were born six children, Viola, Leo, Laura, Joseph, Norma and Ray- mond. In politics Mr. Wagner is a consistent democrat and has served for three years as assistant supervisor of his township. For three years he has been president of the Marshfield Fire Insurance Company and in this relation has become known as a man of ability, wisdom and force of character. He holds membership in the Roman Catholic church of Mount Calvary. He has many friends and acquaintances all of whom regard him as a man of exemplary char- acter and high standards. His methods are progressive and his thorough knowledge of agriculture together with his business ability have been respon- sible for the attainment of the success which he now enjoys. He understands the elements of farming and upon his efficiency is built his prosperity.
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