Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 3

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738

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FRANCIS FEE DUFFY.

Since 1884 the law firm of Duffy & McCrory, of which Francis Fee Duffy is senior partner, has been accounted one of the foremost at the Fond du Lac bar. Their liberal clientage is evidence of their ability and their standing in the profession. Francis Fee Duffy was born February 2, 1851, near Castle- blaney, in County Monaghan, Ireland, his parents being Michael and Margaret (Fee) Duffy, who were residents of that county. The father, a son of Terance and Mary (McElroy) Duffy, was born in 1802 and came to the United States in 1823, settling in that part of what was at that time Virginia

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

which is now Greenbrier county, West Virginia. He became a citizen of his adopted country and remained for ten years in the United States, after which he returned to the land of his birth. In 1840 he married Margaret Fee, a daughter of Michael and Mary (Thornton) Fee, and to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Duffy were born eight children: Owen A., who is a resident of Fond d . Lac; Patrick F., who was state auditor of West Virginia for eight years and who died at Webster Springs, that state, on the 31st of March, 1905; Rev. Terance J., of Wheeling, West Virginia; M. F., who died in infancy; John, who died near San Antonio, Texas, in 1869; Francis F., of this review; and Michael C. and James B., who are engaged in farming at Summersville, West Virginia. Michael Duffy returned to the United States with his family in 1855 and set- tled upon a farm near Summersville, West Virginia, where he made his home until his death in 1891. His wife survived him until 1898, when she passed away on the old homestead. The family was represented in the Civil war by two sons, Owen A. and Patrick F., who enlisted in the Confederate army, and by John, who was a member of the Union army.

Francis Fee Duffy was in his early teens at the time of the conflict between the north and the south. He remained at home with his parents until 1869 and acquired his early education in the public schools of West Virginia, which, however, were of a very poor character during the war and for several years thereafter. In 1869 he went to work on a railroad in order to earn money to complete his education. Subsequently he took up the profession of teaching and only partially completed his academic course. On the Ist of January, 1873, he came to Wisconsin, where he engaged in teaching for a time and then entered upon the study of law, being admitted to practice in 1877. The fol- lowing year he was elected city attorney by a democratic council. He was re- elected in 1879 by a republican council. In 1880 popular suffrage called him to the office of district attorney of Fond du Lac county and he was reelected in 1882 and 1884, continuing in the position for three terms. In 1886 he was the democratic nominee for county judge but his hearing began to fail and he had to retire from active connection with political interests. In 1884 he had en- tered into partnership for the practice of law with John H. McCrory, of Fond du Lac, and under the firm name of Duffy & McCrory this partnership still continues, the firm having always been accorded a liberal clientage which con- nected them with much of the important litigation which has come before the courts of this district.

On the 22d of June, 1887, Mr. Duffy was united in marriage to Miss Hattie E. Ryan, a daughter of Kiern and Mary (Keys) Ryan, of Shields, Dodge county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Duffy had three children, namely: Francis Ryan, who was born on the 23d of June, 1888; Lina N., whose birth occurred on the 3d of October, 1890; and Marguerite G., whose natal day was October 6, 1892. The wife and mother passed away on the 21st of November, 1901, when forty- three years of age. Francis Fee Duffy is widely known in Fond du Lac and this part of the state, where he has made his home continuously for thirty- nine years. His traits of character as well as professional ability have estab- lished him high in public regard and in legal circles.

MAURICE McKENNA.

Maurice McKenna, who is now and has been for ten years president of the Fond du Lac County Bar Association and was for four years vice president of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, May 31, 1846. He is the son of Maurice and Mary (Mullane) McKenna, both of whom were natives of County Kerry, Ireland, and came to the United States

Maurice M : Kenna;

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

in the spring of 1832, settling first in Boston. Later they removed to Spring- field, Massachusetts, and afterward to Niagara county, New York, locating near the city of Lockport, where the father was engaged in farming. In 1854 they came from Buffalo by way of the Great Lakes to Wisconsin, where they settled on a farm in the township of Eldorado, Fond du Lac county, arriving there on October 10th, of that year. The land at that time was all in timber, and, clearing a small tract, they erected a small cabin from the trees that were cut down. On this farm they reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1866, at the age of fifty-seven, and the mother in 1886, at the age of seventy-three. They were the parents of six children: Mary, who be- came the wife of James McGowan and is deceased; Maurice, the supervising editor of this volume; Daniel, an attorney at Charles City, Iowa; Honora, who died in 1865, at the age of seventeen ; Dennis W., an attorney residing at Aurora, Illinois; and Thomas, who was graduated from the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan and died soon after his graduation.

Maurice McKenna grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended school in an old fashioned log schoolhouse, later becoming a student in the high school at Fond du Lac. On May 21, 1864, when he was eighteen years of age, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company I, Thirty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry, and served as a private until his term expired, which was in 1865, just before the close of the war. He then reenlisted and was all dressed in uniform, ready to go back to the field, when the news came that peace had been declared. After the close of the war he taught school for several years, having earned the money that paid his way through school by working on a farm. Subsequently he took up the study of law with the firm of Coleman & Blair, and in June, 1876, was admitted to the bar and has practiced in Fond du Lac county continuously since that date, with the exception of one year which he spent in Iowa. His work has extended to many important cases in the supreme court of the state, in which court he was admitted to practice in 1886, as well as in the courts of other states. Mr. McKenna was connected with the Fond du Lac Water Com- pany for twenty-five years and was its secretary, treasurer and manager for over fifteen years. When the city of Fond du Lac took over the property of the Fond du Lac waterworks, it elected a commission of three citizens outside of the public officials, of whom Mr. McKenna was one, and he is still serving on that commission. He is a stockholder in the Fond du Lac National Bank and also in the Commercial National Bank.

On the 19th of August, 1874, Mr. McKenna married Miss Nellie Fagan, who was a daughter of John and Mary (Cody) Fagan. To Mr. and Mrs. McKenna have been born two daughters: Minnie V., who is the wife of Dr. T. A. Hard- grove, and Nora E., the wife of Dr. F. M. McGauley, both of Fond du Lac. Mr. McKenna and his family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church. In politics he is a republican and he was a member of the Fond du Lac county board of supervisors for about twenty years and chairman of the board for about twelve years, receiving the votes of the board regardless of politics. He was clerk of the courts from the first Monday in January, 1871, to the first Monday in Janu- ary, 1877. The prominence Mr. McKenna has won in the legal profession is indicated by the position to which he has been elected in the county and state bar associations. His readiness to respond to the call for service in the Civil war is typical of the interest he has always taken in the public welfare. He has given much attention to school work and has been a member of the board of education of Fond du Lac for two years. He is the author of a volume en- titled "Elva Lee and Other Poems;" and a second volume, which was published in 1890, entitled, "Poems, Rhymes and Verses." His productions were given a place in "Poets of America" and have appeared in other standard works. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, with the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being one of Vol. II-2

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

the directors who erected the Elks' building in Fond du Lac. He is also a mem- ber of E. A. Brown Post, No. 130, G. A. R., department of Wisconsin, and a member of the Academy of Science, Arts and Letters of the state of Wisconsin and of the State Historical Society.

WILLIAM S. CROWTHER.

A steadfast perseverance and an unwavering integrity are characteristics which have molded the career of William S. Crowther. He was actively identi- fied with industrial circles of Ripon for twenty-eight years as owner of one of the largest flour mills in this section of the country. He made one fortune and lost it in a fire which swept his magnificent plant out of existence ; he returned to his labors undaunted and has now amassed another comfortable fortune, upon which he has retired. He was born in Manchester, England, April 10, 1843, and is a son of James and Beda (Bate) Crowther. His parents left their native country in 1845 and settled in Wisconsin, in Dane county. The father had been obliged to make this journey on account of failing health. He had followed the occupation of bookkeeper in England but was engaged in farming in Wisconsin until his death in 1848. His wife survived him until 1896. She was a school teacher in England and for eight years was principal of a young ladies' seminary in that country. She passed away in her ninety-ninth year, highly esteemed and respected by all.

William S. Crowther was the only son born to James and Beda Crowther. After his father's death he and his mother lived for some time on the farm, eighteen miles west of Madison, Wisconsin. Here William Crowther improved and cultivated the land and was fairly successful until 1877, when he sold his holdings and bought a flour mill in Staceyville, Iowa. This was the beginning of his career in the milling business. He remained in Staceyville for four years, coming to Ripon in 1881, where, in partnership with J. B. Duclus, he bought the Ceresco Mills from H. B. Bateman. His success was immediate. He had a mill of two hundred barrels of flour a day and his plant grew and prospered exceedingly. Mr. Crowther has always been progressive in his business methods, looking for or installing the latest machinery or equip- ment. He had been operating the mill barely one year when he installed the roller system at an expense of fourteen thousand dollars. Ceresco Mills were operated by water and steam and the products were shipped all over the United States. The flour is sold under the name of the White Lilly brand and gained almost a national reputation for purity and wholesomeness. In 1884 F. J. Elver was taken into the partnership buying a third interest in the enterprise. In the following year Mr. Duclus died and his interest was purchased by our subject. The firm was entirely reorganized and from that time did business under the name of W. S. Crowther & Company. The partner- ship with Mr. Elver continued until 1890, when William Crowther bought out the former's interest in the business and operated the mill under the same name until November 1, 1891. In that year the plant and entire equipment were destroyed by fire at a complete loss of twenty thousand dollars above the insur- ance. Mr. Crowther's native perseverance and dominating ambition were well exemplified at this time. His plant was practically destroyed and his fortune impaired to a great degree, yet he did not allow himself to become in any way discouraged. His only asset after the fire was the small plant of the Ripon feed mill which he had purchased for an investment in 1887. After his plant was destroyed he operated the Ripon mills, built an addition and gradually built up an extensive business. He was producing one hundred barrels of flour a day at the time he sold out to T. G. Genge & Company on May 15, 1909.

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

Mr. Crowther has retired from active business life and gives his attention mainly to study and research. He is keenly interested in history and is a deep scholar in this branch of learning. He is a member of the Ripon Historical So- ciety and the Wisconsin State Historical Society and is also a member of the Iowa State Historical Society. He has one of the best Lincoln libraries in the United States west of Chicago and is actively interested in everything pertain- ing to historical research. He is also prominent on the local library board, of which he has been president for many years.

On September 26, 1870, Mr. Crowther was united in marriage to Miss Mary McCord, a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin. She is a daughter of Daniel and Oliva (Foote) McCord, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Scot- land. They were both pioneers in the early settlement of the state of Wisconsin. Mrs. Crowther died on the 24th of November, 1886, leaving a family of three daughters : Maude, who is the wife of H. N. Akin, of Ripon, by whom she had four children, three of whom are now deceased; Clara, who married H. O. Nash. now in the real-estate business in Ripon; and Edith Lillian, a teacher of history at Juneau, Wisconsin. Mr. Crowther gives his allegiance to the Methodist faith, while his daughters are active workers in the Congregational church. He is in his sixty-ninth year, living retired after an active and eventful life. Seeking diversion and finding pleasure in history and research, he has a well trained and active mind which makes his studies a constantly growing delight.

CHARLES COWAN.

There is no other profession in which native ability and strict honesty gain such instant recognition as that of banking. Integrity is a necessary asset in any walk of life but financial institutions are entirely dependent upon it. The standing of a city in commercial circles is a direct result of the policy and prin- ciples upon which its banks are founded and the reputation of a bank is de- pendent upon the integrity and the honor of its officials. Charles Cowan, presi- dent of the German National Bank of Ripon, Wisconsin, is a splendid example along this line and the institution of which he is the head is growing and expand- ing under his able management.

He is a native of Ohio, in which state his birth occurred on June 6, 1846. His parents were Ira and Mary (Gilman) Cowan, both natives of Canada. The family on the paternal side is of Irish lineage and representatives of it came to the United States in colonial times. The family was founded in Canada in 1812 and Ira Cowan pursued the occu- pation of shoemaking in that country until he was twenty-four years old. At that age he removed to Ohio and worked at his trade for some time in that state. He came to Wisconsin in 1845 and settled in Watertown and in the following year sent for his family to join him. They made the journey from Ohio in a covered wagon and were attended by all the hardships and perils in- cident to pioneer traveling. Charles Cowan was only three months old at that time and spent his early youth in Watertown, Wisconsin. Here the father built up a flourishing business and invested extensively in Wisconsin lands. He later lost his holdings and was obliged to take up his trade, by which he sup- ported himself until his death. His wife was a sister of Colonel John C. Gil- man. Her father was among the first settlers in Watertown and engaged in farming near that city for some years. The Gilman brothers, John, Harris and Edward, all joined the gold seekers in the California boom of 1849 but met with little success in their mining enterprises and returned to Watertown. They made the trip west three or four times after this and finally located in Helena, Montana, where they remained until their deaths. Ira Cowan and his wife were the parents of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

others are Melissa, who is deceased; Sarah, who has also passed away; George, engaged in the general practice of law at Spokane, Washington; Laura, who is the widow of A. G. Turner and is living with her brother; Charles, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Emma, the wife of J. A. Collins, of Florence, South Carolina.

Charles Cowan received his early education in the public schools of Green Lake county, Wisconsin, and came to Ripon at the age of thirteen. He started on his career at that early age as a clerk in the store of James C. Catlin and remained in this connection until the latter closed business. He then worked as a clerk in the employ of various firms in Ripon until the age of seventeen, when he enlisted in Company B, Forty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served with distinction during the war. When he was mustered out he returned to Ripon and continued his occupation as a clerk until 1877, when he bought out the hardware store of J. Bower and in partnership with O. J. Clarke conducted that enterprise for nine years. At the end of that time Mr. Cowan purchased his partner's interest in the enterprise and operated the store himself until 1910. During this time he built up by his energy, activity and in- telligent business methods one of the largest hardware institutions in the city of Ripon. His trade increased each year and the number of clients became greater as the quality of his stock became known throughout the city. In 1910 Mr. Cowan severed his connection with the hardware business to devote his entire attention to banking. He had previously, in 1892, purchased stock in the German National Bank of Ripon and had served as a director in that institution since that time. In 1906 he bought control of the bank and was elected president, which office he has held continuously ever since. He was active in both the banking and the hardware lines for three years but in 1910 . the growing importance of his banking affairs obliged him to sell out his pros- perous hardware store and he has been active only in the financial world since that time.

The German. National Bank has been in existence in Ripon since 1890, in which year it was founded with L. D. Moses as president. The first vice presi- dent of the German National Bank was George W. Carter, with I. M. Dakin as cashier. In 1892 this latter position was given to A. J. Schloerb, of Osh- kosh, and the official organization remained in this condition until 1906, when Mr. Moses and Mr. Schloerb retired. When that event took place Charles Cowan was elected president, with James L. Stone as cashier and H. J. Faust- man as vice president. The bank was organized in the beginning for fifty thousand dollars. This capitalization has been increased since that time to one hundred thousand dollars. The building which the bank now occupies was erected in 1892 and was at that time one of the most imposing and modernly equipped institutions of its kind in Ripon. The bank has, however, outgrown its quarters and is now engaged in rebuilding. When the improvements which are now under way are completed the German National Bank will occupy one of the largest buildings in the city, thoroughly equipped with the most modern banking fixtures and up-to-date and beautiful in all respects. It is now one of the most important financial institutions in Ripon and has gained a reputa- tion in that city for the solid foundation of integrity and upright business meth- ods upon which its business existence rests. Much of its success during the past few years is due to the dominating energy and ability of its president, Charles Cowan and the cashier, James L. Stone.

Mr. Cowan was twice married. On September 9, 1869, he wedded Miss Allice M. Ayer, by whom he had two children, both of whom are deceased. The first Mrs. Cowan's death occurred in 1883 and in the following year Mr. Cowan was again united in marriage. His second union was with Mary Alice Gillette, a daughter of William L. Gillette, of Ripon. This family has been identified with the hide and leather business in this city since 1871. By his sec-

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

ond wife Mr. Cowan is the father of two children : Imogene, a graduate of the Ripon high school, who is now pursuing her musical studies at home; and Wil- liam Prescott, who married Miss Louise Slanson and who is interested in the bond, loan and mortgage business in Milwaukee.

Politically Mr. Cowan gives his allegiance to the republican party and votes that ticket on national and local issues, He takes no very active part in public affairs and has never sought office for himself. He holds membership in the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and is prominent in the affairs of that organization. Both he and his wife are members of St. Peter's Episcopal church. The qualities and talents which go into the upbuilding of a successful financial institution are the influences which are making our American life progressive and successful and which are giving the United States a high place among industrial nations. Mr. Cowan in his career has exemplified the power of these qualities in the molding of a successful life and his prosperity at the present time is a direct result of his high-minded business dealings and his con- spicuous ability.

RUDOLPH KOEHNE.

Rudolph Koehne is the secretary of the Dallmann-Cooper Supply Company, being thus associated with an enterprise that is classed with the leading business concerns of Fond du Lac. Since starting out in the business world he has gradually worked his way upward, overcoming difficulties and obstacles and winning his success through determination and merit. Fond du Lac claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred May 4, 1857. He is one of a family of twelve children and is of German descent. His father, William Koehne, was born in Braunschweig, Germany, was there reared and became a furrier in his native land. In 1846 he sailed for the new world and for two or three years, thereafter, was a resident of New York. He then came to Fond du Lac where he engaged in the hotel business, conducting the Fond du Lac House until 1874, when he took up his abode upon a farm just outside of the city limits. His remaining years were devoted to general agricultural pursuits there, his death occurring in 1878 when he was fifty-five years of age. He was a worthy and valued citizen of Fond du Lac city and county, and his labors for the general welfare of the community were far-reaching and beneficial. In the early days when Fond du Lac was flooded each year, conditions were highly undesirable and William Koehne devoted himself to the task of preparing a remedy. He forced a measure through the city council for the building of a waterway from the west line of Calvary cemetery to the east side of the East Branch. The measure was desperately opposed at the time but its value has proven very great, as is today acknowledged by everybody. The waterway was designated, Dutch Gap, a name that is still retained and to William Koehne is given the credit for this valuable public improvement. Throughout the community he was recog- nized as a shrewd business man, thrifty, energetic, resourceful, popular and influential. He was one of the early settlers and had a large acquaintance among the prominent pioneer families. His public spirit found tangible expres- sion in his support of many improvements, yet while laboring for the welfare and development of the city he also gave a helping hand to many individuals and became noted for his charity. He not only served as a member of the county board but was also alderman of the first ward for many years and at one time was a candidate for the state legislature. His wife survived him until 1905 and passed away at the age of seventy-nine years. Nine of their twelve children reached majority: Louisa, the wife of Rudolph Boege; Amelia, the wife of William Nietman; Doretta, who married Fritz Dumpke; Amalia, the

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

wife of Edward Schaeper ; Rudolph ; Emma, the wife of A. C. Dallmann; Rosa ; Clara, the wife of John F. Wiles; and Leona, who is a principal of one of the Chicago schools.

Rudolph Koehne spent his youth in Fond du Lac and passed through the consecutive grades in the public schools. He was afterward employed for sev- eral years by the Chicago Tribune and was later with the National Wall Paper Company for a number of years, having charge of the freight department. In 1901 he returned to Fond du Lac and became associated with the Dallmann- Cooper Supply Company of which he is the secretary. He has contributed in no small measure to the success of this institution, his executive force and well formulated plans being elements in its growth and prosperity.

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Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 3

Author: McKenna, Maurice Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : Clarke Number of Pages: 738

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738