USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 4
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Mr. Koehne was married October 18, 1885, to Miss Elizabeth Poppendick, a daughter of Andrew and Caroline (Fellmann) Poppendick. Mrs. Koehne was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where her parents who were natives of Germany, settled at an early date. There she grew to womanhood and in that city her father and mother passed away when well advanced in years. They had five children, Charles, Elizabeth, Josephine, Henry and Fred.
Mr. Koehne gives his political support to the democratic party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but has never sought nor desired public office. He belongs to Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 140, F. & A. M., also to the Atlas Lodge, No. 271, of Odd Fellows in Chicago. His fellow members of those organizations recognize the fact that he is loyal thereto, and that he exemplifies in his life the splendid principles which they inculcate. He is alert and resourceful, knowing that success depends upon the individual and his ability to recognize and utilize opportunities.
WILLIAM E. COLE.
For more than a quarter of a century William E. Cole was identified with banking interests in Fond du Lac, and made for himself a prominent position in the business circles of the city, his efforts being of a character that contrib- uted to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success. Moreover, his salient traits of character commended him to the confidence and high regard of all who knew him, so that his death, which occurred on the 4th of April, 1909, was deeply regretted throughout the community in which he had so long resided. He was born at Florida, New York, September 19, 1844, a son of Israel and Louisa (Brown) Cole, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The latter was a daughter of Joshua Brown, who was born in Vernon, New York. Israel Cole became a thrifty and enterprising farmer of Orange county, New York, and after cultivating his fields for many years until his labors had brought him substantial returns, he retired and removed to Middletown, New York, where he passed away at the venerable age of ninety-three years. His wife died when eighty-two years of age. Both were numbered among the highly respected residents of their community and it was a recognized fact that their lives were factors for good in the district in which they lived. They had a family of three children: William E .; Frances E., the wife of William B. Ben- nett, of Middletown ; and Elizabeth, who died in childhood.
William E. Cole was reared to manhood at Middletown and acquired a com- mon-school education there, after which he attended a business college in Bing- hamton, New York. He entered business circles as a bookkeeper in New York city and subsequently engaged in business on his own account in Middletown, dealing in men's furnishing goods. The year 1868 witnessed his arrival in Fond du Lac, where he established a similar store, becoming the junior partner of the firm of Hoyt & Cole. This relation was maintained for a few years, during
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
which period Mr. Cole became well established as an enterprising, progressive and reliable business man. He next opened a private bank and railroad and steamship ticket office under the First National Bank, where he remained for twenty years. On the expiration of that period he removed to what is now known as Cole Savings Bank, at 32 South Main street, where he continued throughout the remainder of his life. He was engaged in the banking business for more than a quarter of a century, winning success and an honored name by his enterprising and reliable methods. He was also the founder of the Title & Abstract Company and was the treasurer of the Eastern Wisconsin Railway & Light Company. He displayed keen sagacity in his business affairs and his capable conduct of his business brought him substantial success as the years passed by.
On the 13th of January, 1874, Mr. Cole was married to Miss Annie E. Hurd, a daughter of Hubert and Eliza (Mason) Hurd. Mrs. Cole was born in Fond du Lac, March 17, 1851. Her parents were eastern people, her father having been born in Lempster, New Hampshire, and her mother in Vermont. Her paternal grandfather was Collins Hurd, who was everywhere known as Deacon Hurd. He married a Miss Way and both lived to old age. In their family were fourteen children, of whom ten reached years of maturity. The maternal grand- father of Mrs. Cole was the Rev. Samuel Mason, a Congregational minister, who was a native of Vermont. He married Abigail Sawyer Whitcomb, and both died in middle life. Their family numbered six or seven children, one of whom, Abigail Maria, was the wife of Dr. E. L. Griffin, one of the pioneer physicians of this city. Another daughter, Eliza A., became the wife of Hubert Hurd. The latter was reared in Lempster, New Hampshire, and was a mechanic. The par- ents came to Fond du Lac in 1848, when Indians were still living in this neigh- borhood, and shared in all of the hardships and privations which constituted fea- tures of pioneer life. On arriving here Mr. Hurd worked in the old Northwest- ern car shops in the wood-working department and subsequently he operated a sawmill at Luco and at Muscatine, Iowa, for a number of years. To that place he removed with his family but afterward returned to Fond du Lac, where both he and his wife spent their last days, Mrs. Hurd passing away at the age of sixty- two years. They were the parents of four children: Annie E .; Alice M., the wife of Herbert Yapp; Hubert Waldo; and Samuel M. Mrs. Cole attended the public schools of this city and was graduated from the high school in 1868, when seventeen years of age. In September of that year she began teaching, which profession she followed for three years. She holds membership with the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, to which she is entitled from the fact that she is a descendant of Colonel Asa Whitcomb, who commanded a regiment of Amer- ican troops in the Revolutionary war. In that organization she has become very prominent, being now state treasurer of the society. She is also recording secre- tary of the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs and is not only very widely and prominently known in club circles, but is also recognized as a business woman of marked capability, serving at the present time as president of the Cole Savings Bank.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cole were born two sons, William I. and Hubert W. The former is cashier of the Cole Savings Bank, and married N. Mabelle Kelsey, by whom he has two children, Jeanette Kathryn and Margaret Louise. Hubert W. Cole is a photographer of Green Bay, Wisconsin. He married Edna Sweet and they have two children, Annie Marie and Hubert Capron. The family circle was broken by the hand of death, when on the 4th of April, 1909, Mr. Cole passed away, being then sixty-four years and seven months of age. Both he and his wife held membership in the Congregational church, taking active and help- ful part in its work and for many years Mr. Cole served as one of the church trustees. In 1900 Mr. Cole was largely instrumental in getting the Soo Line to locate its shops here and with a pay roll which averages about seventy-five thou-
.
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
sand dollars per month it is the biggest plant in the county and of great benefit to the community. His was a well spent life, active, useful and honorable, and he left his impress for good upon the business development and moral progress of the community. Mrs. Cole is a lady of broad culture and refinement, whose tact and graciousness well fit her for the positions of leadership to which she has been called in social and club circles.
PROFESSOR OLIVER MARSTON.
Marston is the English of Marsius (Latin), Marson (German) and signifies warrior, being derived from Mars, the mythological god of war. In ancient times the term was applied by the Romans to a fierce, warlike tribe, which dwelt in Italy. This tribe, the Marsii, allied themselves with the Romans when they first subdued the petty tribes which surrounded them.
The title was first applied to a personal character about the ninth century, in France, in the following manner: the king was hard pressed on all sides by the petty sovereigns contiguous to his kingdom, but was finally relieved by the skill and valor of the prince or duke who had command of his army, for which service the king conferred on him this martial title, Marsius.
At this time people had but one name, and were distinguished one from another by their titles or vocations, which titles or vocations after a time were adopted as their surnames. Consequently, this title became the surname of the Marsius family.
The name "Marsius" has undergone many changes during the centuries that have elapsed and has become one of the prominent names in England and America under its present form of Marston. A member of this family, and of noble descent, came from Normandy to England, in 1066, with William the Con- queror as commander of an army corps. In return for the military services which he rendered William in his conquest of England, the king granted him large estates in Yorkshire county. These estates became known in history as "Marston Moor" made famous by the memorable battle between the Royalists commanded by Prince Rupert, and the Parliament troops under Lord Fairfax and Cromwell, July 2, 1644, and known as the battle of Marston Moor.
Representatives of the name left England for America in 1634 and located in Salem, Massachusetts, and later in New Hampshire. The family was promi- nent for its brilliant services during the Revolutionary war.
The early history of the Marston family in America shows that the greater number of them led sea-faring lives; but as they migrated with the early settlers to the borders of western civilization they seem to have turned their attention to the law and the ministry.
The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Lyford Marston, emigrated from New Hampshire to Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1835, where he, although educated for the ministry, entered the profession of law and became an editorial writer on the Lexington Enquirer, a Henry Clay organ. He became a constant contributor to the New York Tribune for the anti-slavery cause and at the open- ing of the war carried on a debate with Mr. Greeley through the columns of the Tribune based upon the latter's crochet that the "erring sisters should be per- mitted to depart in peace." These facts, together with the fact that he stumped New England in 1856 for Fremont, was a delegate to the Chicago convention which nominated Lincoln in 1860 and was an elector that year on the republican ticket for Kentucky, aroused the violent opposition and personal animosity of the sympathizers of the southern cause in Bourbon county. When the opposi- tion took the form of personal violence and an unsuccessful attempt was made upon the life of Mr. Marston, he was spirited away by his Masonic brethren.
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These were the causes which led the Marston family, in 1863, to emigrate to Vermilion county, Illinois, where in a few years we find the elder Marston again active in political and literary fields.
Oliver J. Marston, the subject of this sketch, and now professor of political economy and sociology in Ripon College, has been connected with that institu- tion since 1902. He was born in Hoopeston, Illinois, February 3, 1874, and is a son of Oliver N. and Hannah (Webb) Marston, both early pioneers of Vermilion county. His father was the son of Hon. Lyford Marston and was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, in 1846, became an officer in the Federal troops of that state at the early age of sixteen, and in 1863 came to Illinois with his parents where he engaged in farming. He was the father of four children: Hattie, now Mrs. Hattie Marston McGrew, of Hoopeston, Illinois; Lyford, who is deceased; Oliver J., the subject of this sketch; and Carl M., who holds the position of telegraph editor on the Chicago Record Herald.
Oliver J. Marston received his early education in the public schools of Hoopeston, Illinois. He entered Johns Hopkins University as a graduate student in the fall of 1899 and the following year went to the University of Wisconsin where he continued his studies and researches for nearly three years along the lines of history, economics, sociology, and political science. He received his degrees of B. S., A. B. and A. M. from Greer College, which institution he at- tended from 1894 to 1899, these studies being preceded by a course in short- hand and bookkeeping. In 1902 he accepted the position of instructor in Ripon College and held this position until the following year, when he was made profes- sor of political economy and sociology in the same institution and in this office he is still active. For some time the departments of history and economics were united in one chair, occupied by Professor Marston until 1911, when the two departments were separated and our subject given the professorship in econo- mics. His work as a historian has always been remarkable for the depth of its research and its detailed and systematic thoroughness. The same qualities which made Professor Marston successful in the chair of history have marked his work in political economy and sociology. He has gained an enviable reputation along these lines and has traveled and lectured extensively. During the summers of 1907 and 1908, he was connected with the Bureau of University Travel of Boston, conducting parties through Europe and lecturing on the social and eco- nomic conditions of the peoples they visited. In his preparation for these lectures lie visited the slum districts of the principal cities of Europe and Egypt, besides many of the larger cities of eastern and central United States. He has been prominently connected with the Chautauqua tours of Chicago since 1910 and has added to his European lectures, courses on painting, sculpture, and architecture as well as lectures on the history of the people. His travels take him through all the countries of Europe and northern Africa where he has taken many photo- graphs of the scenes of his journeys, which he has incorporated into his lectures in stereopticon views. Mr. Marston is keenly interested in the social problems of his time. The depth of his knowledge is remarkable and he carries on his studies in an exhaustive and scientific manner.
In 1899 Professor Marston was united in marriage to Miss Olive Johnston, of Hoopeston, Illinois, a daughter of Lieutenant A. N. and Paradine (Martin) Johnston. Her family were pioneer settlers of Missouri and came to Illinois at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Marston are the parents of two children, Albert O. and Ida H., both of whom are living at home. The family hold membership in the Universalist church. Professor Marston is a member of the Ripon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is prominent in the Masonic order. When the Wisconsin Civil law was passed Professor Marston became the chief examiner of his dis- trict. He has been a member of the United States Historical Society, the State Historical Association of Wisconsin, the Tour Conductors' Association, and was one of the organizers of the State Social Club. He is the author of various
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
articles on historical, economic and sociological subjects. He possesses one of the largest private libraries in the northwest and one of its interesting features is a collection of eighteen thousand valuable clippings carefully catalogued and constantly growing. He is deeply interested in sociology and is urged on in his labors in this field by his overpowering sense of the universal brotherhood of man. He is a deep student, a logical thinker and is endowed with a keenly discriminating intelligence. He has that keen sense of our inter- dependence upon one another and our eager need of human fellowship which makes him regard every person with whom he comes in contact as a man and a brother.
JOHN H. PAAS.
John H. Paas has for twenty-eight years been actively identified with the commercial interests of Campbellsport, where he is engaged in the drug business. A member of one of Fond du Lac county's worthy pioneer families, his birth here occurred on November 26, 1855, his parents being John and Katherine (Uerlings) Paas. They were both natives of Prussia, the father's birth having occurred in Treves in 1824, and that of the mother in Cologne in April, 1826. Hoping to better his circumstances, John Paas, who followed farming in the old country, emigrated to the United States, in 1850 coming direct to Wiscon- sin, and landing at Sheboygan. The next year, in 1851, he came to Fond du Lac county and purchased eighty acres of wild land in Lamartine township. He was married the same year and his wife made her home on the farm, although much of Mr. Paas' time was spent in Fond du Lac, where he conducted a hotel first for Mr. Heleman and later for Rudolph Koehne, remaining in the latter's employ for seventeen years. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Paas, of whom our subject is the eldest. Margaret, whose birth occurred on October I, 1857, passed away in 1879. Jennie, who was born on the 2d of June, 1860, resides in Fond du Lac. The parents attained a ripe old age, the mother being seventy-five years when she passed away on the 6th of September, 1901, while the father's death occurred at the age of eighty-one on August 13, 1905.
The early advantages of John H. Paas were not better than those of the average lad reared in Wisconsin during the pioneer days. He began his educa- tion in the parochial schools of Fond du Lac, subsequently continuing his studies in the public school for a year or two, after which he took a fifteen months' course in a business college. Upon the termination of his student days he was well equipped educationally for the practical duties of life. He began his inde- pendent career as a teacher, following this vocation from 1874 to 1886. During that time he accumulated sufficient money to enable him to identify himself with commercial activities, and together with Platt Durand he engaged in the drug business at Campbellsport. They were associated for sixteen years. Mr. Durand then sold his interest in the enterprise to W. E. Hendrichs, and two years later Mr. Paas bought out Mr. Hendrichs. He conducted the business alone there- after until 1909, when he took his son Herman J. into partnership. They carry a good assortment of drugs, patent medicines, toilet articles, paints and such sundries as are usually to be found in a store of this kind, and as their prices are reasonable and their method of conducting business honorable they have a well established trade.
On the 14th of September, 1886, John H. Paas and Miss Elizabeth M. Dun- kel were married. Miss Dunkel is a daughter of Carl Dunkel, who came to America on the same boat with John Paas. He located in Oshkosh, this state, and there Mrs. Paas was born and reared. Five children have been born to Mr.
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
and Mrs. John H. Paas: Herman J., who is associated in business with his father ; Margaret C .; Leona A .; Estelle M .; and Germaine R.
The family are members of St. Matthew's Roman Catholic church. In his political views Mr. Paas is independent, never having identified himself with any party, but according his support to such men and principles as he considers best adapted to serve the country's interests. He has efficiently served as presi- dent of the village, having discharged the duties of that office for three years, while for six years he was treasurer of the high-school district and for two years township clerk. He also has acted for seventeen years as treasurer of the Campbellsport Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In whatever capacity he serves, Mr. Paas proves efficient, discharging his duties in a manner which commends him to the confidence of his fellow townsmen, who hold him in high regard, both by reason of his personal qualities and the efficient service he has rendered the community.
CHESTER E. TRIPP.
Chester E. Tripp is the owner of a well improved and cultivated farm in Eden township, where he engages in general farming and stock-raising. His birth occurred in Oneida county, New York, on the 15th of February, 1847, his parents being Ephraim and Sarah (Bartlett) Tripp. The father, who was also a native of Oneida county, and a farmer, removed to Wisconsin with his wife and family in 1854, locating in Walworth county. He remained there until the spring of 1862, when he came to this county and for two years there- after resided in Fond du Lac township. At the expiration of that time he purchased one hundred and eighty-seven acres of partly improved land in Eden township, which was thereafter the family home. Ephraim Tripp and his son Chester applied themselves with energy and diligence to the further develop- ment of this property, and through their united efforts brought the fields under cultivation and made extensive general improvements on their farm. There was a log cabin on the place when it came into their possession and for some years the family lived in it, but as time passed their circumstances improved and they built a substantial frame house. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Tripp, all natives of the state of New York, with the exception of the two youngest who were born in Wisconsin. Those beside our subject, who was the fourth in order of birth, are as follows : . Sarah Patience; John B., who served in the Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war; Mary, who married E. C. Airhart, of Osceola township; Margarete, who married Dr. H. H. Hanners of Eden; Eugene; Hannah, who married Joseph Storms of Marshalltown, Iowa; Jennie, who is the wife of Adam Spen- cer ; and Albert. The mother, who passed away in 1863, at the age of forty- three years, was survived by the father, who was sixty at the time of his death, in 1876.
Chester E. Tripp, who was a lad of seven years, when his parents left New York, began his education in the public schools of his native state and com- pleted it in a select school in Fond du Lac. The son of a farmer, he early became familiar with the work connected with the tilling of soil and care of crops, remaining at home and assisting his father until he had attained his maturity. He then began working for himself and for two or three years engaged in buying and shipping stock. This venture proved to be fairly lucrative, and by 1870 he had acquired sufficient money to purchase sixty-three acres of the old homestead. He placed upon this land the necessary improvements and located there immediately after his marriage, which occurred the same year. Mr. Tripp has wrought great changes in his property during the intervening
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
years, having brought it from practically a wild state to a state of high cultiva- tion. He has improved it with a large, comfortable residence, commodious barns and substantial outbuildings, while his fields are well fenced and his equipment is fully adequate for his needs.
In 1870, Chester E. Tripp was married to Miss Hannah J. Keys, a daughter of William and Margaret (Wiley) Keys, natives of Ireland. Mrs. Tripp was born in Ireland on the 30th of April, 1850, and the same year her parents emi- grated to the United States, coming direct to Fond du Lac. In 1853, the father bought a farm in Osceola township, which he cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1883, at the age of seventy-three years. He was survived by the mother, who had passed the eighty-sixth anniversary of her birth when she passed away in 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Tripp were born four children. In order of birth they are as follows: Herbert Ephraim, who lives at home and assists his father in the operation of the farm; Rose Belle, the wife of William Titus, of Fond du Lac; Jennie Lind, the wife of Fred Sievers, a bridge foreman who travels and makes his headquarters at Chicago; and Thomas Delbert, who died at the age of thirteen years. Mrs. Rose Belle Titus is the mother of four children, Alberta, Winifred, Arthur and Marjorie. Mrs. Jennie Sievers has one son, Gordon Keith.
Mr. Tripp has pronounced views on the temperance question and gives his political support to the prohibition party. He has been a delegate to their national convention on several occasions. For two years he served his town- ship as assessor and he has been a member of the board of supervisors. Mr. Tripp is the nominee for sheriff of the county on the prohibition ticket. Both he and Mrs. Tripp are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and num- ber among its congregation many stanch friends of long years standing. They are of high principles and noble standards, and their influence is ever exercised for the betterment of the community.
HENRY HARM.
Henry Harm, who owns a farm in Rosendale township, where he is largely engaged in the breeding and raising of high-grade stock, was born on the 6th of November, 1864, three miles east of Ripon on the Fond du Lac road. He is a son of Christian and Frederick (Wallace) Harm, who were born, reared and married in Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States during the Civil war. They came direct to Ripon and here the father, who had early been trained to agricultural pursuits worked for various farmers in the community. He thus acquired sufficient means to purchase twenty acres of land, which he operated for several years and then sold. He later bought other places, which he likewise disposed of, and also farmed as a renter. Subsequently he pur- chased eighty acres of land near Fairwater, which he cultivated for nine years, and then selling it removed to South Dakota. After one year's residence in the latter state he returned to Fond du Lac county, and for six or seven years there- after rented the old Barlow farm. The mother passed away in 1906, at the age of seventy-eight and the father is living retired at the age of eighty-three, mak- ing his home with one of his sons in Green Lake county.
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