USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
In politics John L. Scott is independent, voting for men and measures rather than party. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to several positions of public trust. He served as clerk of Metomen town- ship for nine years and is now acting in the capacity of township treasurer for the fifth year. The cause of education has always found in him a stanch cham< pion and for a number of years he served as director and clerk in joint school district No. 8. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Lodge No. 144 at Brandon. His wife is a devoted member of the Congregational church at Brandon. He is ever true to any trust reposed in him and his up- right life merits the high regard which is uniformly tendered him.
FRED E. GAUGER.
Progressive and systematic agriculture finds a worthy representative in Fred E. Gauger, operating a fine tract of land of three hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Springvale township, upon which he carries on general farming, stock-raising and dairying. He is one of the men who by scientific, efficient and thoroughly modern methods are raising agricultural standards in this section of the state and his prosperity has had its influence upon the resources of his dis- trict. He is a native son of Wisconsin, having been born in Manitowoc .county on October 15, 1874, and is a son of William and Wilhelmina (Volbrecht) Gau- ger, natives of Germany. His father came to America with his parents in 1852, when he was only two and a half years old and he was reared and educated in Milwaukee where the family settled. When he had attained his majority he went to Manitowoc county and followed general agriculture in that section for a number of years. His residence in Fond du Lac county dates from 1879, in which year he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land on section 36, Metomen township. At different times during his life he added to this property and owned over five hundred acres at the time of his death, which occurred on August 2, 1902. His wife remained upon the homestead until 1908 when she rented the farm and moved to the village of Brandon, where she now resides. Mr. and Mrs. William Gauger were the parents of six children : Charles A., a prominent sheep-raiser of Metomen township; Fred E., the subject of this sketch; Ida, the wife of Herman Koehler, of Brandon; Bertha, who married August Toll, a farmer of Metomen township; Amelia, the wife of Fred Dorn- brock, of Milwaukee; and Tillie, who married Louis Enz, a resident of Alto township.
Fred E. Gauger attended school in district No. 8, Metomen township and from his early childhood has been identified with agricultural pursuits. He aided his father in the minor duties of farming when he was a child and as he grew up became connected with all the departments of general agriculture. He remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of age and then took up his residence
299
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
upon the Pleasant Hill farm, a tract of one hundred and ninety-eight acres which he acquired from his father's estate. This he improved and operated for three years, finally renting the land and moving to Brandon, where he purchased town property. He lived in the village for six years and then bought his present farm of three hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Springvale township, from Joseph H. Dixon. Here he carries on general farming, stock-raising and dairying, keep- ing a herd of sixteen milch cows for the latter purpose. He rents his other farm of one hundred and ninety-eight acres on section 21 and devotes his entire time and attention to making his farm productive and remunerative. The land which he is cultivating is one of the valuable properties in the district in which he re- sides and is equipped in all its appointments for the careful and scientific conduct of a modern agricultural enterprise. He is one of the best known German farmers in Springvale township, successful and thoroughly progressive and has gained his enviable position by hard work and unwavering industry, combined with practical business methods and integrity of a high order.
On October 13, 1901, Mr. Gauger was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Wendlandt, a daughter of Julius and Wilhelmina (Kruger) Wendlandt, natives of Germany. Her father was born March 20, 1839, and her mother on January 17, 1843, in Bromberg, Posen. They came to the United States and were mar- ried in 1886, at Manchester, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, whither the father had removed after four years' residence in Fond du Lac county. After his mar- riage he purchased a farm in Randolph township, Columbia county, and this he operated and improved for nine years before moving to Fox Lake township in Dodge county. After eight years spent in general agricultural pursuits in that section he went to Manchester township, Green Lake county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and seventy-six acres upon which he resided until his death, which occurred on March 20, 1899. His wife survives him and is living upon the homestead with her son Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Wendlandt had two children : Edward G., who is operating the old homestead; and Hulda, the wife of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Gauger have been born two children: Ella, whose birth occurred on January 25, 1903, and who is a pupil in district school, No. 8, Metomen township ; and Edwin, who was born on October 22, 1904, and who is attending the same school.
In his political views Mr. Gauger is a consistent republican and is now serving as treasurer of school district No. 3 of Springvale township. He has always been interested in education and is doing much constructive and progressive work along this line. He is a loyal promoter of local enterprises and is always anxious to hasten the progress and development of the section in which he resides. He is a stockholder in the Waupun Dairy Company of Waupun township and he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church. In his systematic labors and their adequate results, in his straightforward and honorable business policy, and in the high standards of attainment by which he directs his activities Mr. Gauger is worthy of the high esteem in which he is held and deserves the place which he has gained among substantial and representative citizens of Fond du Lac county.
JOHN HAVEY.
John Havey, who died upon his farm on section 13 of Springvale township in 1893, was one of the progressive, well known and highly respected agricultural- ists of this district and for many years operated and improved the tract of land upon which he settled when he first came to America. During that time he gained recognition among his many friends in Fond du Lac county as a conscientious, energetic and thoroughly reliable agriculturist and as a man who by an honorable,
300
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
upright and worthy life was a distinct addition to the qualities of citizenship in his district. He was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1834 and was a son of James and Mary Havey, who came to America in 1848 and after a short period of residence in Illinois located in Springvale township on a farm.
Here John Havey grew to manhood. He began his education in Ireland and spent his youth since coming to America in aiding his father in the work of the farm. When he began his agricultural career he purchased forty acres, to which he added from time to time until he owned two hundred acres, highly improved and productive. He kept abreast of the steady advancement in the methods and details of farm operation, erected modern and up-to-date buildings and planted his acres always in the most suitable grains. He was active until the time of his death, which occurred in 1893. After he passed away his sons, John L. and William, entered into partnership and managed the homestead for their mother. In 1902 John L. Havey purchased the farm of eighty acres and operated this in conjunction with his father's property until his mother's death. After that event William Havey purchased one hundred and twenty acres of the homestead and added this to his brother's holdings, making a two hundred acre property, in the development and operation of which they have been associated since that time. They rent eighty acres adjoining and in 1912 the brothers added ninety- five acres which they bought from the Grant estate, just west of their holdings. Upon this fine tract of land they carry on general farming and stock-raising and operate a modern dairy, keeping a herd of forty high-grade Holsteins for this purpose, the head of the herd being a registered animal. They have won pros- perity and success and have built up upon the same conservative foundation as their father.
At Bloomington, Illinois, John Havey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kelley, a native of County Leitrim, Ireland, who died in February, 1909, at the home of her sons, John and William. Mr. and Mrs. Havey became the parents of four children. Margaret A. is living with her brothers on the home farm. James K. married Margaret Pettit and is engaged in farming in Springvale town- ship. John L. was born upon the home farm on July 2, 1874, and attended school in district No. 2. He worked at home until his father died and then formed a partnership with his brother William in the conduct of the homestead. William was born upon his father's farm on November 22, 1876, and also attended dis- trict school No. 2. He supplemented his primary education by one year in the Rosendale high school and remained at home until 1902, when he began his pres- ent activities in association with his brother. He owns the old homestead of one hundred and twenty acres and lives with his sister Margaret and his brother John L.
John Havey gave his support to the democratic party but never sought po- litical preferment. He gave his allegiance to the Roman Catholic church, of which religion his wife and children are devout adherents. He was one of the sterling and substantial citizens of Fond du Lac county, who sought his success in a field of labor which repaid his practical methods and his unflagging industry by prosperity and success. The condition of his farm at the time of his death was a credit to his progressive agricultural methods and to his business judgment and the property is today a valuable addition to the resources of his section.
EDWARD H. BRAATZ.
Edward H. Braatz owns and operates one hundred and thirty acres of land on section 26, Springvale township, and upon this property carries on general farming and stock-raising, operating also a fine dairy. In his cultivation of the soil he shows himself familiar with the best and most modern methods of ag-
301
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
riculture. He has lived in Wisconsin all his life and upon his present farm since 1885. He was born in Ashippun township, Dodge county, January 13, 1883, and is a son of William Braatz, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
Edward Braatz attended the district schools of his native county and re- mained with his parents until he established his own home by his marriage. He rented land from his father and continued to carry on general farming upon that property for two years, finally buying one hundred and thirty acres upon which he still resides. This place has all the equipments of a model farm, al- though Mr. Braatz engages in agricultural pursuits only in order to obtain feed for the stock which he breeds and raises. He sells direct to the shipper and has built up an important enterprise by upright methods and honorable dealings. He also operates a dairy, keeping a fine herd of graded Holstein cows for this purpose. His industry and activity are aiding and hastening his success. He is practical in his methods and his expert knowledge united with his well di- rected efforts is the basis of a gratifying prosperity.
On August 31, 1904, Mr. Braatz was united in marriage to Miss Harriett Tourtellotte, a daughter of Ara and Rebecca (Wilkinson) Tourtellotte. Her father was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on July 7, 1845, and is of English and Yankee stock. He came to Waupun with his parents when he was only five years of age and attended the district schools of that section. After his marriage he took up farming, buying eighty acres of land two miles south of Ladoga, to which he added from time to time until he now owns two hundred and twelve acres. After the death of his wife, which occurred on May 29, 1901, he retired from active farm work and rented his property to his son George, with whom he makes his home. He is a stockholder in the Rosendale State Bank and also in the Farmers Elevator Company of Waupun and is in all respects an able, enterprising and progressive man. His wife was born in Springvale township on January 6, 1851, and was of English descent. They had seven children: Frederic and Jennie, both of whom have passed away ; Lydia, the wife of Arthur Jaques of Springvale township; George, who is en- gaged in the operation of the home farm; Lula, who married Levi Pinkerton, a farmer of Ladoga; Harriett, the wife of our subject, who was born Decem- ber 3, 1885, in Waupun township; and Grover C., who is engaged in farming in Waupun. Mr. and Mrs. Braatz are the parents of one son, Glen Edward, who was born on the 2d of July, 1905.
In his political beliefs our subject is a consistent republican but gives his entire time and attention to promoting his stock-raising interests and never seeks public office. He and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church of Ladoga. In all his business dealings Mr. Braatz has been thoroughly reliable and straightforward and has manifested that progressive spirit which is making modern farming a different and more scientific occupation.
JACOB WELLHOUSE.
Jacob Wellhouse for over half of a century has been identified with the agri- cultural development of Fond du Lac county and has added to the progress and growth of his section but is now living retired in Brandon. He was born in Holland, January I, 1834, and is a son of John and Henrietta (Leafling) Well- house, both natives of that country, where their marriage occurred. They came to the United States in December, 1847, locating immediately in Fond du Lac county, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Alto town- ship. He was numbered among the earliest settlers in this region and re-
302
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
mained upon his original tract of land until his death in 1865. His wife sur- vived him two years, dying in 1867.
Jacob Wellhouse came to America with his parents when he was but a boy. He attended school in Holland until he was nine years old and com- pleted his education after he arrived in Fond du Lac county. He stayed with his parents until 1855 and aided his father in the work of carrying on his large agricultural enterprise. Following his marriage he built a house upon a portion of the homestead and there remained for nineteen years. At the end of that time he purchased one hundred and sixty-two and one-half acres on section 1, Alto township, and improved and cultivated the soil on that prop- erty for many years. He made agriculture a systematic study, his methods were modern, his equipment up to date and his knowledge of farm economics brought his property to a high state of productive efficiency. He retired from active life in 1897, renting his farm and removing to the village of Brandon, where he now resides.
Mr. Wellhouse has been twice married. His first union occurred in 1855, when he wedded Miss Johanna Terhorst, whose parents lived and died in Hol- land, in which country their daughter was born on April 19, 1836. She came to the United States and to Fond du Lac county with her brothers. To this union were born five children: John, who was born October 5, 1856. in Fond du Lac county, and is now following farming in Alto township; Henry, whose birth occurred on the 9th of April, 1858, in Fond du Lac county, and who is now engaged in agriculture in Alto township; Eliza, born April 19, 1861, who makes her home with her brother Henry; Gerrit, whose birth occurred on the 2Ist of April, 1864, and who also lives with Henry Wellhouse; and Jacob, born in 1866, who is now following farming in Metomen township. Mrs. Wellhouse passed away in 1893 and in 1897 our subject was again married. His second wife was Mrs. Dena Stelsole, who was born in Holland and came to the United States with her parents, locating on a farm in Alto township.
In his political views Mr. Wellhouse is a consistent democrat and served for four years as treasurer of his township and for the same length of time as assessor. He was also school clerk for four years, being interested in educa- tion. He belongs to the Congregational church of Brandon. He is now living in comparative retirement in that city, where he enjoys the warm regard and personal esteem of his many friends.
EMIL HOLLANDER.
Emil Hollander, a well known agriculturist residing on section 26, Springvale township, is the owner of a tract of land comprising one hundred and twenty acres and devotes his attention to the pursuits of general farming and stock- raising. His birth occurred in Germany, on the 8th of May, 1865, his parents being Henry and Rosa (Greenwald) Hollander, who were likewise natives of that country. The father owned and operated a brickyard in Germany. In 1885 he brought his family to America, locating in Waupun township, 'Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he took up farming after working for a time in a brickyard in the city of Fond du Lac. After a year, however, he removed to Oak Center, where he resided for twelve months. In 1888 he purchased and located on the farm in Springvale township which is now the home of his son Otto. This was his place of abode throughout the remainder of his life, his demise occurring on the 17th of November, 1900. His widow survives and makes her home with her children who are eleven in number, as follows: Emil, of this review; Fred- erica, the wife of Albert Raube, of Waupun, Wisconsin ; Charles, of Omro, Wis- consin ; Max, who lives in the city of Fond du Lac; Albert, a resident of Clark
303
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
county, Wisconsin ; William, of Woodhull, Wisconsin; Annie, the wife of Frank Trepto, of Woodhull, Wisconsin; Frank, who makes his home in Milwaukee; Lizzie, the wife of Frank Schultz, of Woodhull, this state; Otto, who resides on the home farm in Springvale township; and Henry, of Rogersville, Wisconsin.
Emil Hollander attended the schools of his native land in the acquirement of an education and in December, 1885, accompanied his parents on their emigra- tion to the new world. He was here employed as a farm hand for three years and then spent a similar period in the table factory at Fond du Lac. Subse- quently he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land in Dodge county for six years. During the following three years he operated a rented farm five miles north of the village of Waupun and in 1902 bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 26, Springvale township, in the cultivation and improvement of which he has since been continuously engaged. In addition to the production of cereals he devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock and has a dairy herd of seventeen cows, which are good grades crossed with registered Holsteins. In 1910 he built a handsome new residence, modern and up to date in every respect. He is a stockholder in the Brick Cheese Company of Springvale township and has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the substantial and representative citizens of his community.
In 1892 Mr. Hollander was united in marriage to Miss Emma Zelmar, who passed away on the farm in Dodge county in 1899. She was the mother of the following children: William, who died when but five weeks old; Arthur, twin brother to William, who assists his father in the operation of the home farm; and Alfred, who also assists in the work on the home place. In 1902 Mr. Hol- lander was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Anna (Gensmer) Kaler, a daughter of August and Albertine (Ganica) Gensmer, both of whom were natives of Germany. August Gensmer came to the United States when ten years of age and settled at Horicon, Wisconsin. He followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and passed away at Friendship, Wisconsin. His widow makes her home with her children. Mrs. Anna Hol- lander was one of a family of three children, the others being as follows: Au- gust, who is deceased; and Alvina, the wife of William Hollander, a brother of our subject, who is an agriculturist residing at Woodhull, Wisconsin. It was in 1892 that Anna Gensmer gave her hand in marriage to Benjamin F. Kaler, who was a native of Fond du Lac and of German descent. He was skilled in the photographic art and was also well known as a musician. His demise occurred in 1897. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaler was born one son, Roland, who works on a farm near the city of Fond du Lac. Mr. and Mrs. Hollander have three chil- dren, as follows: Herbert, who is attending school; and Lawrence and Elmer.
In politics Emil Hollander is a stanch republican, loyally supporting the men, and measures of that party. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church of Lamartine township, to which his wife and. children also belong. Both he and his wife have a host of warm friends through- out the community and justly merit the regard and esteem which is uniformly accorded them.
CORNELIUS, MICHAEL AND JAMES WHALON.
Cornelius, Michael and James Whalon are well known and highly respected citizens of Eden township where they are successfully engaged in the cultivation of the old homestead of eighty acres originally purchased by their father in 1876. They are the sons of James and Bridget (Hogan) Whalon, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father was born in County Clare, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1848 with his three brothers, Thomas,
304
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
Patrick and John, and one sister, Bridget. He and his brothers upon reach- ing the American shores settled first in Connecticut, where they remained for a few years, and later removed to Wisconsin, James Whalon locating in the city of Fond du Lac, which at that time was a small village. He later removed to Byron township and was there engaged in the cultivation of a rented farm, which he worked on shares. In 1876 he purchased a farm of eighty acres in the town of Eden and there established his home. The land at the time he purchased it was without improvements and covered with hardwood timber. He built a log house which was the family domicile until 1892, at which time he was able to build a more modern and commodious residence, which now adorns the place. Here he continued to reside until 1897, at which time he took up his abode with his children, with whom he now, lives retired in the enjoyment of an honored and well earned rest at the extreme age of eighty-five years.
James Whalon was united in marriage to, Miss Bridget Hogan, and they be- came the parents of ten children, five of whom are still living: Margaret, Cor- nelius, Michael, Hannah and James. The father was for three years the treas- urer of Eden township and he and his family are members of St. Mary's Cath- olic church. The mother passed away in the year 1892.
The three sons, Cornelius, Michael and James, Jr., are residents of Eden township where they are engaged in the successful conduct of the old homestead on which they reside with their sister Hannah. They are numbered among the most influential and highly respected citizens of Fond du Lac county.
MATTHEW FLAHERTY.
Among the native sons of Wisconsin who are successfully devoting their energies to agricultural pursuits is numbered Matthew Flaherty, whose birth occurred in Washington county in 1858. As the name indicates, he is of Irish descent, his father, Bernard Flaherty, having been born on the Emerald isle in 1825. In early manhood he came to the United States, first settling in Albany, New York, where he remained for several years. While a resident of that city he met and married Miss Mary McCarty, who had come to this country alone, and there two children were born to them. In 1855 Mr. ,Flaherty brought his family west to Wisconsin, establishing his home in Washington county, near the town of Wayne, on land which he entered from the government. At the time of their settlement here the country was for the most part wild and unbroken and the district was sparsely settled, there being no neighbors living within sev- eral miles. Mr. Flaherty built a log shanty upon that place and at once began its cultivation, and that farm.remained his home until 1861, when he came to Fond du Lac county, purchasing a farm in Eden township, near the town of Eden, which property has since come into the possession of his son Matthew. To the development of that place he gave his attention throughout his remaining days, introducing many improvements and bringing it under a good state of cultivation, and there he passed away in 1881, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife's death occurred three years later, in 1884, when she was fifty-four years of age. Ber- nard Flaherty was a man of good intellect who in early life had mastered the usual branches taught in the common schools. By private study, however, he greatly extended his fund of information and fitted himself for the profession of teaching, which he followed in Washington county, Wisconsin, for a number of years prior to his arrival in this county, sessions being held in an old log schoolhouse. He ever remained a stanch champion of the cause of education and after taking up his abode in Eden township served for many years as school director. He also acted as town treasurer and served as assessor for many years. besides filling many other important offices, his election to which indicated his
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.