USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 28
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Grant M. Thomas attended the public schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation and completed the high-school course by graduation in 1892. From 1893 until 1897 he was employed as a stationary engineer by the United States gov- ernment and had charge of dredging machinery. In 1897 he opened a factory for the manufacture of overalls at Fond du Lac and has conducted the same continuously since. In 1906 the enterprise was incorporated with the following officers : Mrs. Alice E. Thomas, president; Grant M. Thomas, secretary and treasurer; Walter Pooch, vice president and manager. The concern employs twenty people at Fond du Lac and also conducts a plant in Princeton, where forty people are employed. The success which has attended the enterprise from the beginning is attributable in no small degree to the excellent business ability and sound judgment of Grant M. Thomas.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Thomas chose Miss Alice E. Koerner, a daughter of George B. Koerner, of Fond du Lac. Unto them has been born one child, Louise Elizabeth. The family residence, which Mr. Thomas owns, is at No. 52 Seventh street.
In politics Mr. Thomas is a stanch republican, and attends the Congregational
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church. He is a valued member of the Business Men's Association. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business, and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.
LOUIE PETRI.
Louie Petri was born on the farm which he now operates in Ashford town- ship, on May 19, 1879, and has lived there all his life. He engages in cultivating and improving an excellent tract of land, following agriculture along the newest and most progressive methods. He is a son of Jacob and Katherine (Diehls) Petri, natives of Germany. His father came to the United States with his par- ents when he was a child and the family settled in Dodge county where he grew to manhood. In the early '6os he purchased land in Ashford township where his son is now living and where he resided until his death in 1892.
Louie Petri is one of ten children born to his parents. He received his educa- tion in the district schools of Ashford township and spent his youth assisting his father in the work of the farm. After the latter's death he took charge of the farm and managed the same for his mother until 1908, when he rented the homestead from her and is now carrying on general farming on his own account upon this property. A substantial barn, which was built by his father, gives shelter to stock and store room for grain, while the residence which he also erected, is now the family home. Mr. Petri gives his entire time and attention to the development of his property and has made it a model farm, modern and up-to-date in every particular. He makes his home with his mother and sister Mary and the family is well known and highly respected in the community.
MURT MALONE.
Murt Malone owns a grocery store at the corner of North Main and Scott streets which he has conducted for the past three years. He is a native of Fond du Lac, his birth having occurred on the 17th of September, 1857, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Whalen) Malone. The parents were both natives of Ire- land, whence the father, who was a laborer, emigrated to the United States dur- ing his early manhood. The mother came to this country in 1846 and was mar- ried in New York city to Mr. Malone. Four years later, in 1850, they came to Fond du Lac and thereafter made this city their home. The father is deceased having passed away in 1895, at the age of seventy years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Malone numbered five, as follows: Murt, our subject; Peter ; Denis ; Edward and Elizabeth. The three eldest are unmarried, but the youngest son, Edward, married Tillie Orey of this city and they have three children: Edward, Jr., John and Kathryne. Elizabeth, the only daughter, became the wife of Eb- enezer Lord of Neenah, this state, and to them have been born seven children: Bessie, Francis, Harry, Edward, Murt, Mabel, and Elvia. They are residing in Oshkosh.
Practically the entire life of Murt Malone has been passed in this city. He attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education until he was fifteen years of age, and then learned the butcher's trade. After following this occupation for twelve years he engaged in railroading, and for six years there- after was employed on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad in the capacity of bridge man. He then was for four years a mail carrier and was one of the first to be appointed in Fond du Lac. At the end of that time he resigned his position
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and became foreman in a laundry, retaining his place until 1909, when he with- drew from the service of others and established the grocery store he is now con- ducting. As he keeps a well assorted stock of staple and fancy groceries which he offers at moderate prices and is accommodating and considerate of his patrons he has succeeded in building up a very good trade.
Mr. Malone is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, in the faith of which he was reared, and in politics he is a republican.
LEO AUGUSTUS WILLIAMS.
Upon the foundation of broad general knowledge Leo Augustus Williams has builded his professional success as a member of the Fond du Lac bar, before which he is practicing as senior partner of the firm of Williams & Foster. He became connected with the legal fraternity in 1894, although he did not at once enter upon active practice and has made continuous advancement in his profes- sion until he now occupies a prominent position among the leading lawyers of the county. He was born in Whitewater, Walworth county, Wisconsin, April 27, 1858, and is a representative of old New England families. His paternal grandfather was Captain Asad Williams, of Connecticut, who married Miss Jennie McGee, of Colerain, Massachusetts. In early manhood Captain Williams was a school teacher and also a music teacher and was prominent in local mili- itary circles. He was well advanced in years when he came to Wisconsin, set- tling in Walworth county, where he died at the age of eighty-three. His wife lived to the remarkable old age of ninety-eight years and six months and died February 13, 1880. They were the parents of eight children, Asad Dean, Eliza Jane, Lansing G., Jonathan McGee, Nathan Denison, Thomas Wilson and two who died in infancy. Of this family, Jonathan Williams, father of our subject, was born in New York and was reared as a farmer boy in Madison county, that state. On his removal westward to Wisconsin he settled in Walworth county, where he took up his abode in 1839, his father securing a large tract of govern- ment land there which was afterward divided among the children. Jonathan Williams purchased the interest of some of the other heirs in the property and improved a farm, upon which he reared his family. The tract was covered with a dense growth of forest trees when it came into possession of the Williams family. It was the haunt of Indians and wild animals and it seemed that the seed of civilization had scarcely been planted there but within a few years the labors of such enterprising men as Mr. Williams wrought a marked change and the forest lands were converted into productive fields. He cleared all of his land himself and made nearly all of the rails used to fence his place. He married Miss Sarah Hamilton, also a native of New York, daughter of Dr. Thomas Ham- ilton, a physician, who was likewise born in the Empire state and whose wife was Mrs. Sarah Armstrong Hamilton, who removed to the west with her chil- dren after the death of her husband, and settled in Whitewater where she spent her remaining days, passing away at the age of seventy-seven years. Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton had two children, Oscar Thomas and Sarah Minerva. The latter arrived in Wisconsin a little later than Jonathan Williams, whom she afterward married, coming from the vicinity of Ithaca, New York. She was a school teacher and taught in the first school in her neighborhood in Walworth county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Williams established their home in that county and there spent their remaining days, the home farm being located just on the edge of the town of Whitewater. Mr. Williams died in 1897, when seventy-seven years of age, and his wife survived him for a year or two, being about seventy years old at the time of her death. In their family were three children: Frank, of Whitewater, who is living on the old home farm which has been in posses-
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sion of the family for four generations ; Leo Augustus; and Charles McGee who is a practicing lawyer of Whitewater.
Leo A. Williams was reared in the usual manner of farm lads in Walworth county and attended the district and the state normal schools, being graduated from the latter with the class of 1883. Prior to that time he had engaged in teaching for two years in the district schools and following his graduation he be- came principal of the high school at Columbus, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1886 he was appointed county superintendent of schools of Walworth county and filled that position for six and a half years, having been elected for three terms. He was also register in probate in Walworth county for two terms and in the meantime he read law, thinking to make its practice his life work. Accordingly he later became a student in the law department of the University of Wiscon- sin, completed the course in 1894 and was admitted to the bar the same year. Following his graduation, however, he did not at once enter upon law practice but continued in the educational field, being elected principal of the high school at Fond du Lac, in which capacity he served for four years. He was also city superintendent of schools for seven years and was recognized as one of the mnost capable and successful educators connected with the public school system of Wisconsin. However, his determination to engage in the practice of law led him to take up the active work of the profession. He entered into a partnership with W. E. Griswold, with whom he was connected for ten years. About six years of that time Franklin W. Chadbourn was also associated with the firm, which conducted its business under the style of Williams, Griswold & Chadbourn. The last named was then elected district attorney and the firm was dissolved. In November, 1910, Mr. Williams formed a partnership with Frederick A. Foster, which still continues under the firm name of Williams & Foster. From the out- set of his professional career he has made continuous advancement, giving evi- dence of his comprehensive knowledge of the law, his accuracy in applying its principles and his fidelity to the interests of his clients. In addition to his law practice Mr. Williams is well known in business circles as president of the Fond du Lac County Abstract Company, as a director of the Badger Sewing Company and as a director of the Myra Land Company.
On the 19th of November, 1890, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Laura Bassett, a daughter of Daniel and Caroline Bassett. In his political views Mr. Williams has always been an earnest republican, working for the success of his party, yet never seeking nor desiring office as a reward for party fealty. He be- longs to Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 140, F. & A. M., Fond du Lac Commandery No. 5, K. T., Wisconsin Consistory S. P. R. S. and Tripoli Temple of the No- bles of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 19, K. P., and is always loyal to the teachings of these organizations. Laudable am- bition has actuated Mr. Williams at every step in his career. He held to high ideals in his educational work and also in his professional service and is now re- garded as an able and conscientious practitioner.
JAMES E. CORCORAN.
James E. Corcoran has been engaged in the occupation of farming during all his career. His father was one of the pioneer settlers of Fond du Lac county and was prominently identified with the agricultural development of the region for many years. He had handed down to his son the traditions of agriculture along scientific and modern lines and their holdings were known throughout the county as model farms. James E. Corcoran is a native son of Wisconsin. He was born in Washington county, that state, July 8, 1864. His parents were Michael and Ann (Murphy) Corcoran. both natives of Ireland. The father
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came to this country at an early day and settled in Wisconsin in the pioneer days. He bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, cleared the timber, built a log cabin and engaged in the improvement and cultivation of his holdings. He lived on the old homestead until the birth of his son James in 1864. In that year he sold his holdings and moved to the town of Byron, Fond du Lac county, where he bought another farm of one hundred and eighty acres on section I.
The father's entire career was given over to the development of his holdings. He died in April, 1888, and his wife in 1898, when she was seventy-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Corcoran were the parents of nine children: Mary A., who married Edward Ryan and who is the mother of three children, Ella, Frank and Edward; Francis L., who married in California and lives at San Jose, that state; Thomas H., who wedded Margaret McCarty, by whom he has five children, Clarence, Blanch, Irene, Marie and Margaret; Hannah, the wife of John Kelly, by whom she has three children, Anna, William and Minnie; John, who married Miss Emma Bastain and is the father of two children, Leola and Bernice; Elizabeth, who is the widow of the late Alexander Gray and is the mother of one child, Nellie; Michael, who married Miss Emma Smith, of Eden ; Ella, now Mrs. John Bowen and the mother of five children, of whom three are living ; and James E., our subject.
James E. Corcoran was born in Washington county during his father's resi- dence there and received his early education in the district schools of Fond du Lac county and later attended high school for some time. He laid aside his books at the age of eighteen years and entered immediately upon his life's occu- pation of agriculture. He farmed upon the tract in section I, Byron township, which he had acquired through inheritance. He has been remarkably successful in the improvement and development of the land and his holdings have in- creased every year in value. He has made during the years of his occupancy many valuable improvements. He has added to his sheds and outbuildings and has laid off his land into convenient fields. He has installed modern machinery . and has done everything in his power to make his property one of the model farms of the district.
On May 8, 1889, Mr. Corcoran was united in marriage at St. John's Catholic church in Byron, to Miss Altine Divers, a daughter of a pioneer farmer of Fond du Lac county. Mr. and Mrs. Corcoran are the parents of two children, Hazel and Arlyn, both of whom are living with their parents on the home farm. Po- litically Mr. Corcoran gives his allegiance to the democratic party and as a farmer is interested in legislation looking to the improvement of the country districts. He and his family are devoted members of the Roman Catholic church, in which faith Mr. Corcoran was reared and in which he is bringing up his children. He is one of the many active, able and energetic men in Fond du Lac county who by their individual efforts along progressive agricultural lines are doing so much to insure and promote growth and prosperity.
LOUIS POKET.
Louis Poket, who has been successfully engaged in general agricultural pur- suits in Eden township throughout his entire business career, is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of his community. His birth occurred in Canada on the 24th of May, 1848, his parents being Louis and Genevieve (Arndt) Poket. The maternal grandfather of our subject had gone to Canada with the French army and remained in that country. Louis Poket, Sr., a native of On- tario, came to the United States with his family and settled in the town of Em- pire, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, removing after two years to Eden, where he purchased land that was wild and covered with timber. The log shanty which
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he erected thereon remained the home of the family for fourteen years. On the expiration of that period he purchased another farm south of Eden, improved the same and continued its operation throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1887, at the age of eighty-three years, and thus the community lost one of its most respected and worthy pioneer settlers. His wife was called to her final rest in 1881, when seventy-six years of age. Their four children were as follows: Mary Jane, who is now deceased ; Louis, of this review ; Israel ; and Emery.
Louis Poket, who was but eight years of age when his parents came to this county, had but few educational opportunities in his youth owing to the sparsely settled and undeveloped condition of this region at that time. He is largely self- educated, having constantly augmented his knowledge by reading and investiga- tion. Throughout his entire career he has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and owns a splendid farm in Eden township, which annually yields golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon it.
Mr. Poket is a devout communicant of St. Louis Catholic church and has probably done more than any other man to help build and support the same. His deeds of kindness and charity are innumerable and are always performed in a quiet, unostentatious manner. In the community where he has resided con- tinuously for almost two-thirds of a century he enjoys the kindly regard and friendship of all who know him, for his life has ever been beyond reproach.
QUICK & BRAYTON.
The well known firm of Quick & Brayton, general dealers in farm implements, is among the substantial and successful business institutions of Fond du Lac. The warehouse and salesroom of this firm are located at No. 21-23 East Second street. William W. Quick, senior member of the firm, was born in the state of New York on December 17, 1861, and is the son of Alonzo T. and Jeanette (Ladd) Quick, both of whom were natives of New York. To them three chil- dren were born: John, of Fond du Lac, who married Mary Nash, of Lamartine, by whom he has two children, Jessie and Lillian; Elwood A., who married Nettie Gilbert of Fond du Lac and has one daughter, Ethel, who married Percy Chad- burn, formerly of Fond du Lac and now of Washington, D. C .; and William W., the subject of this review.
William W. Quick received his early education in the public schools of Lamar- tine. At the age of eighteen years he started in life for himself and for some time was engaged in farming. He later purchased a place of his own which he successfully operated until 1902. In that year he purchased a one half interest in the Northwestern Cold Storage Company and to the interests of that business he gave his attention for a period of eight years. In 1910 he purchased the entire interest of Mr. Rodgers in the firm of the Rodgers, Schwartz & Brayton Farm Implement Company, of Fond du Lac, and since that time he has been con- stantly devoting his attention to the interests of that business.
Mr. Quick was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brayton of Lamartine, and to them two children have been born, Alma and Alonzo. William W. Quick is a loyal and consistent member of the republican party but has never at any time sought political preferment. He and his family are members of the Congrega- tional church of Fond du Lac. He is a man highly esteemed among the busi- ness men of Fond du Lac for his careful attention to business and his unques- tioned integrity in all his business transactions. He is always deeply interested in any public measure seeking the moral, educational and business improvement of the people in his state and county.
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John Brayton, the junior partner in the firm of Quick & Brayton, is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Lamartine, Wisconsin, on April 7th, 1868. He is a son of Charles and Eliza J. (Brown) Brayton. The father was a native of Washington county, New York, and the mother of Waukesha, Wis- consin. They were united in wedlock in Lamartine, this state, and to them eight children were born, of whom six are living. Fred married Maggie Hassy, of Nebraska, where Mr. Brayton is engaged in ranching. Frank married Minnie D. Woody, also of Nebraska and to them two children have been born, Donald and John Douglas. The family reside in Nebraska where Mr. Brayton is en- gaged in the general merchandizing business. Mary married William W. Quick, senior partner in the firm of Quick & Brayton, of Fond du Lac. John is the junior member of the firm of Quick & Brayton. Klista married Robert Meickel- john, of Waupun, where he is engaged in farming. Samuel married Della O'Neal, of Rosendale and has three children, Hazel, Gladys and Fern. He is en- gaged in farming. The mother of this family passed away in 1904 and later Mr. Brayton was united in marriage to Miss Inez Roblee, of Fond du Lac, on April 9, 1907. To this union one child has been born, Marian.
John Brayton was reared at home and educated in the public schools and later pursued a two years' course in Mann's Business College of Fond du Lac. After completing his education he was successfully engaged in farming for fif- teen years and after the death of his mother he spent three or four years travel- ing throughout the western portion of this country after which he settled in Fond du Lac, where he opened a farm implement store, in association with Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Schwartz, both of Fond du Lac. The business was conducted under the firm name of Rodgers, Schwartz & Brayton and continued to be very successful. After a period of two years Mr. Brayton purchased the entire in- terest of Mr. Schwartz in the business and the name of the firm was changed to Rodgers & Brayton. That copartnership was maintained for three years, at the end of which time the interest of Mr. Rodgers was purchased by Mr. Quick, the present senior member of the firm of Quick & Brayton. The warehouse and salesroom of the firm of Quick & Brayton are located at No. 21-23 East Second street, Fond du Lac. The firm is engaged in the general farm implement busi- ness and is one of the well known and highly creditable business establishments in the county of Fond du Lac.
Mr. Brayton was united in marriage to Miss Alice May Roblee, of Fond du Lac, in 1894. To them two children have been born, Leon and Vernice. Mr. Brayton is affiliated with the republican party and is a loyal member of that political organization. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and both he and Mrs. Brayton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Bray- ton's name in the business circles of Fond du Lac county is a synonym for indus- try in all matters of business transactions. He readily gives his influence and assistance to the advancement of matters of public interest, affecting the well- being of his community.
WILLIAM WALTER WILD.
William Walter Wild, retired manufacturer and lumberman of Fond du Lac, is one upon the pages of whose life history the record of success is written. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 19th of November, 1853, the son of Benjamin and Eliza (Bonell) Wild, both natives of England. The maternal grandfather, James Bonell, came from that country and established a home at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in which grew up the following sons and daughters: James, William, Frederick, Arthur, Thomas, Eliza and Fanny. He followed agricultural pursuits, and he and his wife led long and useful lives. The paternal
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grandfather was likewise English and by occupation was a baker. There were four children in his family, Benjamin, Henry, Lucy and Mary. His son Benj- amin, the father of William Walter Wild, at the completion of his school days learned the designer's profession but for a time followed the baker's trade. When he had reached man's estate he turned to the new world and the prospects of rapid advancement which it offered to ambitious young men. All of the novel and ofttimes trying experiences of the pioneer awaited him. He first made his home at what is now the city of Milwaukee, but in 1859 removed to Fond du Lac, where he sought a business opening in the line which he had followed as a youth in England. He bought the business already established by a Mr. Barnes, a cracker and confectionery manufactory, which he developed and which he con- ducted successfully for many years, until the dawn of a new era in industrial affairs when individual factories and commercial enterprises merged into greater combines for the more economical prosecution of business. When that time came Mr. Wild was alert to see the strength of the new system and sold his manufactory and trade to a syndicate. After 1900 he lived a retired life, his death occurring on September 25, 1904, at the age of seventy-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Wild were born eight children, six of whom are still living, as follows : Sarah J., wife of John Heath; William Walter, of this review; Benjamin; Eliza L., wife of N. R. Heath ; Fanny L., wife of C. H. Beers, of Eustis, Florida ; and Edward B. All reside in Fond du Lac except Mrs. Beers. Mrs. Wild passed away on the 25th of January, 1901, in her seventy-first year Mr. and Mrs. Wild were members of St. Paul's cathedral, in which he held the honored post of junior warden.
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