USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 42
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William Schraven remained in Germany until he was eleven years of age. He came to America with his parents and after they established their residence in Dodge county he attended the district school until he was sixteen years old. During his childhood he worked for his father in the minor labors of the farm and as he grew in years he was given more responsible duties. He remained at home until he was thirty years of age and then purchased eighty acres of land on section 21, Lamartine township, and began its cultivation. He has been very successful and owes his prosperity to his industry and progressive methods. He has put his farm in an excellent state of cultivation and owns a fine herd of cattle comprising thirteen head of high-grade stock. He keeps three horses. He spent much time and money in bringing his property to its present prosper- ous condition. By scientific methods he has made his land productive to its highest point and by well directed business acumen has made his enterprise remunerative. He is one of the successful agriculturists of his section and has many friends in the district.
Mr. Schraven was married on November 15, 1882, at Clyman, Dodge county, to Miss Anna Heiling, a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Schneider) Heiling, natives of Germany. Mrs. Schraven's father was a farmer and was successful in agriculture after he came to America and settled in Wisconsin. To our sub- ject and his wife have been born nine children: Charles, a farmer, who married Elizabeth Weinreis of Johnsburg, by whom he has one child, Charles, Jr .; Bertha, who became the wife of Dr. Louis J. Simon, of Harrison, Wisconsin ; William, Jr., who follows agriculture, and who married Miss Clara Dewey of
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Fond du Lac; Theodore, who resides at Stockbridge, Wisconsin; Frank, who lives at home; Mamie, who is teaching school; and Margaret, Wendell and Paul, all of whom live with their parents.
Mr. Schraven is a stockholder in the Lamartine Creamery Company and takes an active interest in the welfare of his community. In politics he is in- dependent in his convictions and not influenced by party lines. He has served with great ability as road superintendent for three years and was for eighteen years director of the school board. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church. His farm is one of the most intelligently developed in the county and he is constantly successful because he is consistently systematic in its operation and leaves nothing to chance. His energy, open-mindedness and his business in- stinct have made his success and his broad sympathies and upright life have won for him many friends.
EWART G. HEATH.
Ewart G. Heath, secretary and treasurer of the Fond du Lac Steam Laun- dry Company, is one of this city's many enterprising and highly capable native sons. His birth occurred on the 30th of August, 1883, and he is the eldest of three children born of the marriage of Nathan R. and Eliza L. (Wild) Heath.
The education of Ewart G. Heath was completed upon his graduation front the high school in 1902, following which he began his business career. Imme- diately after leaving school he entered the Fond du Lac Steam Laundry and subsequently became manager of this enterprise. Although he was very young when he assumed the duties of this position he was a young man of earnest pur- pose and clear judgment and was fully competent to carry the responsibility. Later with the organization of the Fond du Lac Steam Laundry Company he was elected to the office of secretary and treasurer of the new company. The business has developed in a highly satisfactory manner under his direction and is one of the best patronized laundries in the city. The plant is fully equipped with all modern machinery and appliances needed in an establishment of this kind and their work is of a very superior quality.
Mr. Heath was married to Miss Bertha Birge, daughter of George A. Birge on the 20th of June, 1906. Mrs. Heath passed away July 1, 1911. Mr. Heath is a member of the Episcopal church and also belongs to the Business Men's Association, while his political support he gives to the democratic party. He has passed his entire life in this city, where he is held in high esteem and is num- bered among the progressive business men.
CHRISTIAN PATT.
Christian Patt is improving eighty acres of productive land on section 14 in Eldorado township, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and has gained recog- nition as a successful and practical farmer. He was born on February 24, 1844, and is of German parentage. His father, Herman Patt, and his mother, Anna Eva (Graffin) Patt, were born in the fatherland. They crossed the Atlantic in 1857 and came immediately to Wisconsin, settling first in Oshkosh, where they main- tained their residence for two months before they settled on one hundred and sixty acres of undeveloped land in Eldorado township. Herman Patt imme- diately began to clear and improve his holdings and from the timber which he cut built for himself and his family a rude log house in which he lived for many years. He soon had one hundred acres cleared and cultivated and by intelli-
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gent activity for many years made his property rich and productive. He made extensive improvements from time to time and never allowed his methods of agriculture to become obsolete. He represented the most progressive and mod- ern features of soil cultivation and was an enterprising and useful citizen.
Christian Patt was educated in the public schools of Eldorado township and spent his boyhood upon his father's farm. The Civil war broke out when he was seventeen years of age and he enlisted in the Seventeenth Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry but did not serve on account of his youth. He has done general farming all during his active career and is now the owner of eighty acres of fertile and productive soil on section 14, Eldorado township. To the develop- ment and improvement of this tract of land Mr. Patt is bringing a practical knowledge of agricultural details and an intelligent and open mind. He is one of the representative citizens of his section and is a man identified in a con- structive and expanding way with one of the principal industries of his section. He has many friends in Eldorado township and is held in high regard and es- teem.
On November 9, 1873, Mr. Patt was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Rosenthal, a daughter of Charles and Justina Rosenthal, and they are the par- ents of ten children. In his political affiliations Mr. Patt is independent and has served his fellow citizens as township treasurer for some time. This posi- tion is now occupied by his son Charles, who is carrying out the useful and worthy traditions of his father in the conduct of the office. Mr. Patt affiliates with the Evangelical church. His agriculture, based as it is upon personal ex- perience in the details of planting, cultivating and harvesting, has been produc- tive of good results. His farm is one of the model and attractive features of the development of Fond du Lac county.
EDWARD H. KOEHN.
Edward H. Koehn, one of the most promising and progressive young farmers in Fond du Lac county, is a native of Wisconsin and the son of one of the pio- neers in the settlement of that state. The land which he cultivates constitutes his father's original purchase in Osceola township and under Mr. Koehn's care has become one of the finest properties in the district.
Edward Koehn was born on his father's farm in Sheboygan county, April 23, 1881, and is the son of Albert and Amelia (Suemnecht) Koehn, natives of Germany. His father was born in that country, October 16, 1842, the son of Michael and Christina Koehn, who lived and died in the fatherland. He came to America in 1869, settling in Mitchell township, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. where he purchased unimproved land. This he cleared and cultivated, building for himself a log shanty upon his holdings, in which he resided for some time. He was identified with early development and did able work in promoting it. He afterward purchased land in Osceola and in 1881 moved into that section, where he lived until 1908, when he retired from active life and erected a beau- tiful residence in the village of Dundee, where he now resides. During his resi- dence in Germany he served in the Prussian army during the Austrian-Prussian war and since coming to America has never sought to evade the duties of citi- zenship. For four years he was township supervisor and served one year as assessor and for a similar period as treasurer, doing able, conscientious and pro- gressive work in all of these offices. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. His marriage occurred in 1869, when he wedded Miss Amelia Suem- necht, by whom he had eleven children: Charles, Edward, Albert, Richard, William, August, Anna, Emily, Tillie, Mamie and Emma.
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
Edward Koehn received his education in the public schools of Dundee and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1902 he joined the Eleventh Regiment, United States Regular Infantry, and served for six months, during which time he was stationed for one month in San Francisco. He went to the Philippine Islands with his regiment and joined the Coast Artillery. Upon his return to the United States he was stationed at Fort Casey, Washington, and after three years was honorably discharged. He returned immediately to Wis- consin, where he remained for seven months, going at the end of that time to northern Michigan, where he worked in the woods, mines and lumber camps for one winter. He then returned home and has since lived in Fond du Lac county and operated the farm on which he was born. For a short time he and his brother Albert in partnership conducted the farm but after one season Albert sold his interest to our subject. Albert now lives in Chicago, where he located after his graduation from college, and is engaged in the automobile business in that city.
In September, 1907, Mr. Koehn was united in marriage to Miss Emma Bart- elt, a daughter of August Bartelt, of Auburn township. They have two chil- dren: Edward, born August 20, 1908; and Alvin, born June 4, 191I.
Mr. Koehn belongs to the German Lutheran church of Dundee. His politics are independent but he has never sought public office, preferring to devote his time to the cultivation of his fields, which have repaid his labor by abundant harvests. Energy and ambition are leading elements in his character, making him successful at an early age and well equipped for future efforts.
HENRY A. BUSH.
The dual occupation of farming and court reporting is seldom combined, but for fourteen years Henry A. Bush personally managed his farm in the town of Byron and attended to the exacting duties of official stenographer for the fourth judicial circuit. of Wisconsin. He now gives his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, and finds pleasure in getting back to the soil as a specialty. Mr. and Mrs. Bush believe country life to be best for their sons in minority, and all the members of the family are contended and happy at Old Oaks farm.
Henry A. Bush was born in the township of Byron on March 18, 1859, upon the farm where he now resides, and is a son of Henry and Mary A. (Phelps) Bush. His father was a native of Lowville, Lewis county, New York. He es- tablished his residence in Wisconsin in 1844 and was one of the earliest settlers to take up a homestead claim in this section. His wife was a native of Massa- chusetts. Their marriage took place in 1849. Three children were born to them. Sedate A., wife of Dr. E. B. Beeson of Chicago, by whom she has two children ; Alice J., of Chicago, the widow of R. A. Smith, who has one son ; and Henry A., the subject of this sketch.
Henry A. Bush was graduated from the Fond du Lac high school in 1877, and shortly afterward, supplementary to two years of phonographic study, took a two months' course in shorthand at Graham's Phonographic Academy in New York city in order to better prepare himself for a stenographic career. His first practical work at shorthand was for M. M. Pomeroy of LaCrosse, in the office of Pomeroy's Democrat, where his duties consisted of taking dictation of letters and editorials and doing generai reporting. In the early 'Sos he was associated with Edward Beeson, one of the veteran Wisconsin journalists, in the publica- tion of the Fond du Lac Journal, and during that time was also official reporter of the Fond du Lac county court. In 1883 he disposed of his interests in the Journal and formed a partnership with J. A. Philbrick, at Quincy, Illinois, doing court reporting for the different circuits in and about Quincy. He was success-
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ful in this line of activity and gained a high degree of speed and accuracy. He finally withdrew from the firm and returned to Fond du Lac where he resumed reporting in the county court. He was also at this time prominent in journalistic circles, acting as correspondent for the Evening Wisconsin, the Chicago Tribune, and as city editor of the Daily Reporter, which made him well and favorably known in his community. He quit newspaper work in the autumn of 1889. In that year he accepted the position of official stenographer for the fourth judicial circuit of Wisconsin under appointment by Judge Gilson, and gained a gratify- ing degree of success in this capacity until his resignation on March 14, 1912. In that year he definitely abandoned his stenographic and journalistic career and devoted his entire attention to Old Oaks farm in the township of Byron. He is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land in Fond du Lac county which have been brought to a high state of improvement and cultivation. For some time he made Red Polled cattle an important branch of his agricultural life, but is now particularly interested in sugar-beet culture. He uses a gas tractor for much of the work formerly done by horses, and also for all the belt work of the farm.
On January II, 1893, Mr. Bush was united in marriage to Miss Annette M. Sibree, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Vreeland) Sibree, at Manitowoc, Wis- consin. Mr. and Mrs. Bush have three children, George E., Henry and Law- rence S.
Politically Mr. Bush was affiliated with the democratic party for many years, but now classes himself as an independent, especially in local politics. He has never been an office seeker, although he takes a proper interest in local affairs. He has served on the educational boards of Fond du Lac and Byron. His life has been distinguished in various capacities by earnest endeavor and intelligent activity, and these qualities have been the basis of his success.
CHARLES O'NEIL.
Charles O'Neil is cultivating and developing the farm upon which he was born on section 13, Springvale township and is ranked among the progressive, substantial and representative agriculturists of Fond du Lac county. He has had charge of the property since 1884 and has operated it in a progressive and systematic manner since that time. He owns eighty acres and is associated with his son in the conduct of a modern farming, stock-raising and dairying enter- prise. He was born upon his father's farm, January 9, 1859, a son of John and Hulda (Beggs) O'Neil. His father was a native of New York state of Irish ancestry and his mother was born in Vermont and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Their marriage occurred in Plainfield, Wisconsin, the father having come to this state when he was twenty-one years of age. He settled in Fond du Lac county upon the farm where his son now lives and cultivated one hundred and sixty acres of land with gratifying success until his retirement from active life in 1884. In that year he moved to Rosendale where his death occurred in 1905. His wife survives him and at eighty-four years of age is an active and highly respected woman. She and her husband had five children: Charles, the sub- ject of this sketch; Ida, deceased; Louise, who resides with her mother in Rosen- dale; Albert, who married Miss Hannah Sweet, and who, is principal of the Oshkosh high school; and Mina, the wife of Charles Hill, a farmer and stock- man of Rosendale.
Charles O'Neil attended district school No. 9, Springvale township and his childhood was spent upon his fathers' farm. At an early date he became ac- quainted with the best and most modern methods of agriculture and upon his personal experience and his early familiarity has based a distinct success in this
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line of work. In 1884 he assumed entire charge of the farm and has operated it intelligently and along the most progressive lines since that time. When his father retired our subject purchased eighty acres of the homestead-productive and fertile land. Upon this in association with his son he carries on general farming and stock-raising and operates a sanitary dairy, keeping thirteen high- grade Holstein cows. He has valuable and well developed property equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences. He has made extensive improve- ments and uses the most modern machinery to facilitate his labors, his early training and his interest in his work constituting elements in his success.
In 1884 Mr. O'Neil was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sloey, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Murry) Sloey, natives of Ireland. They came to the United States at different times and their marriage occurred in New York. They were among the early settlers in Wisconsin, locating finally in Eldorado town- ship where the mother died in 1864 and the father in 1886. They had five chil- dren : Ellen, who married I. L. Gault, a plumber of Fond du Lac; Mary, the wife of our subject ; Belle, who became the wife of Louis Earle, a bookkeeper of New Richmond; Thomas, who has passed away; and William, who married Mary Higbee and is engaged in farming in Eldorado township. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil became the parents of four children. Dale H., whose birth occurred September 13, 1885, attended district school No. 9, Springvale township and was graduated from the Rosendale high school with the class of 1904. He is now associated with his father in the operation of the home farm. Josie and Jessie are twins, their birth having occurred February 18, 1889. They attended district school No. 9 and were graduated from the Rosendale high school with the class of 1907. Ella Mae, the youngest member of the family, was born July 9, 1894, and is now a student in the Rosendale high school. The family attend the Congregational church.
In his political affiliations Mr. O'Neil is a consistent republican, actively and usefully interested in public affairs. He is well known in educational circles having served for six years as clerk of school district No. 9, resigning this of- fice in 1911. Since he attained his majority he has been prominent in promot- ing the cause of education and has been either a director or clerk in his home school district. He manages his farm in an expert way, supplementing his ag- ricultural skill by business ability of a high order, his methods being based upon the strictest principles of integrity. He is a representative citizen of the county where he is accorded universal respect and esteeni as a native son whose career is a credit to the community in which he was born.
HENRY W. KRAEMER.
Henry W. Kraemer is the well known and popular proprietor of the Com- mercial Hotel at Van Dyne, Fond du Lac county. He was born in Marsh- field township, Fond du Lac county, in 1871, and is a son of Mathias and Mary Anna (Thome) Kraemer, both of whom were born in Germany and who emi- grated to America and settled in Fond du Lac county in 1867. Henry W. Krae- mer was reared in his parents' home and received his elementary education in the public schools of Marshfield township. He was for five years the proprie- tor of a well known hostelry in Fond du Lac and after closing out his interests in that property he removed to Van Dyne, where he engaged in the hotel busi- ness, to which he has given his undivided attention for the past nine years.
Mr. Kraemer was united in marriage, in St. Joseph's church in Marshfield township, to Miss Anna Hau, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hau. The father was one of the old settlers of Russel township, Sheboygan county. Mr. and Mrs. Kraemer are the parents of three children: Eleanora, who is twelve
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years of age; and Melvin C. and Lucile, who are ten and six years of age, respectively. Mr. Kraemer is affiliated with the democratic party, was justice of the peace at Van Dyne from 1909 to 1911 and served in the office of con- stable during the years 1908 and 1909. He was elected town clerk in the year of IQII for one year and was reelected in 1912 but resigned on account of ill health and pressing private business matters. His fraternal relations are with the Catholic Foresters and he and his family are members of the Roman Cath- olic church at Fond du Lac. Mr. Kraemer is a man who is in every respect adapted to the hotel business and his popular hotel at Van Dyne is known to be one of the most frequented hostelries in this part of Wisconsin. He is a man who is held in high esteem by a large circle of acquaintances and is always to be relied upon to advance in every way within his power any public measure intended to improve the condition of the people in the community in which he resides.
RUFUS H. OLIVER.
Rufus H. Oliver is one of the well known and respected citizens of Waupun, Wisconsin, where he is successfully engaged in the stone and monument business with which he has been identified since 1908. He was born in Salem, Franklin county, Maine, March 21, 1845, and is a son of Rufus C. and Cordelia (Webster) Oliver. The maternal grandfather was Joseph Webster, who was the nephew of Daniel Webster's grandfather. The parents of Rufus H. Oliver settled in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, at a very early date where they continued to live during their remaining years. They became the parents of seven children: James, who is a resident of Spencer, Iowa; Joseph W., who died in 1901, was a veteran of the Civil war and belonged to the Masonic lodge; Rufus H., the subject of this sketch; Susan, residing in Spencer, Iowa, who is the widow of Alfred Goodell; Clara, who also resides in Spencer ; and Mrs. Stockwell and Mrs. S. F. Trickey, both of whom are deceased.
Rufus H. Oliver was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools. He later for a time was a student in Ripon College. In 1869 he settled in Waupun, where he took up work as an apprenticed printer in the office of the Waupun Leader which at that time was owned and published by his brother, J. W. Oliver and his partner, M. C. Short. Two years later he pur- chased Mr. Short's interest in the paper, and then as joint owner with his brother continued the publication of that journal until 1901. In that year J. W. Oliver died and the subject of this review as owner continued the publication of the Leader until 1908, at which time he disposed of the paper. At the time he sold the Waupun Leader he had been with its publication as employe, joint owner and sole proprietor, continuously for a period of thirty-nine years. After dis- posing of the paper he at once engaged in the monument business, to which he has since given his undivided attention.
Mr. Oliver was twice married, his first union being on December 16, 1870, to Catherine L. Scofield, who died in 1872. He married the second time on May 19, 1874, Miss Ella E. Gee, a daughter of John S. and Lucy Ann (Whiting) Gee. John S. Gee, the father, was born in the town of Virgil, Cortland county, New York, January 17, 1816. He was a son of Samuel Gee, a farmer and carpenter, and his paternal grandfather was John Gee, who served as body guard to General Washington during the Revolutionary war. At the age of twelve years John S. Gee became an apprenticed stone-cutter and mason at Ithaca, New York, in which work he continued until he had mastered the art of his craft. He worked at his trade at different places until 1853, coming to Wisconsin and Waupun in 1846. In 1853 he crossed the great plains to California, where he was for a
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brief time engaged in mining. In the fall of 1855 he returned to Waupun and later established himself in the monument business, which at that time was the third of its kind in Wisconsin. In that business he was successfully and contin- uously engaged for nearly a half century, after which time he retired from the active conduct of his business, which has later been carried on by his daughter, Mrs. Oliver, who is the wife of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Gee celebrated his golden wedding in 1885, and on January 17, 1906, he celebrated the ninetieth anniversary of his birthday. He passed away on March 21, 1906. The fu- neral services were held Friday afternoon, March 23, from the Congrega- tional church and the Rev. T. A. Williams, assisted by Rev. E. C. Potter, officiated. The bearers were selected from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which order Mr. Gee was an old and valued member, and among the beautiful floral offerings were several from the fraternal orders to which he be- longed. The burial was at Forest Mound. Mr. Gee was a loyal member of the democratic party and at the time of his death was the oldest living member of the Independent Order of Good Templars. He also held membership in many other fraternal organizations. He was one of the oldest and most respected of Waupun's pioneers and his death removed from Wisconsin one of its most widely known and highly esteemed citizens. He was united in marriage Decem- ber 25, 1835, to Miss Lucy Ann Whiting, a native of Springfield, New York, at which place her birth occurred April 12, 1816. Her life record covered seventy- three years, her death occurring in 1889. She was a daughter of the Rev. Caleb and Phoebe (Crumb) Whiting, both of whom were natives of New York. The father, during life, was one of the most prominent among the pioneer Methodist preachers of the eastern states. Mr. and Mrs. Gee became the parents of six children : Oscar F., who was a soldier in the Civil war and died shortly after his return from exposure during the service; Vestalina, who after the death of her first husband, Edward Robbins, married Frank Sikes; Truman, a veteran of the Civil war, now residing in Denver, Colorado; J. Edward, who served in the Civil war, now deceased; John Wesley, who lost his life in the Civil conflict from a wound at Antietam; and Ella E., the wife of the subject of this review. Mr. Gee left upon his death as descendants eight grandchildren and fourteen great- grandchildren.
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