USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 43
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To Mr. Oliver by his first marriage was born one son, Elmer R., who is an employe of the government and resides in Spokane, Washington. There were no children by the second marriage. Mr. Oliver is a member of the republican party and for seven years was the city clerk of Waupun. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for the past thirty years has been treas- urer of the lodge and has filled all the chairs. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Oliver is one of the well known and influential citizens of his state and county. His long service in connection with the Waupun Leader and later in his monument business has brought him in contact with varied business interests of the state, and among all his friends and associates his integrity has been above suspicion while the influence of his life has always been upon the side of every moral and political issue of public interest intended to improve the condition of the people in the community in which he lives.
ROBERT T. MELLIS.
Robert T. Mellis, of the Mellis-Briggs Company, is one of the younger but none the less enterprising and capable business men of Fond du Lac, whose fu- ture gives every assurance of being most promising. He was born in Empire. Wisconsin, on the 4th of August, 1884, and is of Scottish extraction. His ยท father, James T. Mellis was born in Scotland in 1851 and there passed the first
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twenty-seven years of his life. In 1878, he emigrated to the United States, lo- cating in Fond du Lac county, where he met and subsequently married Miss Lydia Ferguson, the mother of our subject, who is also a native of Empire. Mr. Mellis devoted his energies to farming in which he was actively engaged until his death. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mellis, the elder being James, who is living on a farm at Empire.
Robert T. Mellis attended the graded and high schools of Fond du Lac in the acquirement of an education until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. He then laid aside his text-books and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Not finding the work congenial, however, he left the farm at the ex- piration of three years and applied himself to the study of electricity. He possesses unusual mechanical skill and here found ample opportunity to exercise his inherent ability along lines that not only afforded him pleasure and joy in working but also proved to be lucrative. Together with others he subsequently organized the Briggs Electrical Company, of which he was president for some time. This enterprise was sold two years ago, and very soon thereafter Mr. Mellis and Leland Briggs founded the Mellis-Briggs Company. They are en- gaged in various lines of electrical work but make a specialty of installing storage battery lighting plants, and are meeting with excellent success. The firm has become well known in this vicinity, during the brief period of its ex- istence, and as their work is highly satisfactory and is in every way equal to representations, they are being favored with constantly increasing orders.
Mr. Mellis chose for his wife and helpmate Miss Helen Powrie, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Powrie of this city, and they have become the parents of two children, Marjorie and Helen.
The family attend the Presbyterian church of which the parents are mem- bers, and the fraternal relations of Mr. Mellis are confined to his connection with the Modern Woodmen of America. He takes an active interest in all matters per- taining to the progress or development of the community and is a member of the Business Men's Club, while in politics he is a republican. The success that has attended the efforts of Mr. Mellis must be largely attributed to the fact that he found the work to which he was adapted and then concentrated his entire ener- gies upon a definite achievement. .
PAUL SEEFELD.
Paul Seefeld is successfully engaging in general farming and stock-raising in Osceola township, where he owns a hundred and sixty acres of well culti- vated land. His place of birth was Germany and his natal day May 30, 1861. He is a son of Gottlieb and Johannah (Engel) Seefeld, likewise natives of Ger- many, where the mother passed away when our subject was a child of six years. The father, who subsequently married Johannah Rackow, together with his wife and family, consisting of nine children, emigrated to the United States in 1868, locating in Washington county, Wisconsin. There he bought a tract of par- tially improved land and continued his agricultural pursuits. He has now at- tained the venerable age of eighty-two years and still makes his home on his farm, where he lives practically retired.
Paul Seefeld was about seven years of age when his family left the old coun- try, so he has been practically reared in Wisconsin, and is indebted to the dis- trict schools of Washington county for his education. He early began assist- ing with the work of the home farm, and when his school days were over gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. He worked out by the month for his father and other agriculturists until he was thirty-three years of age, when he rented a place in Osceola township, which he cultivated for five years. His
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efforts in this direction proved so lucrative that he was subsequently able to purchase the place he now owns. He has met with success in its development and holds the title to a hundred and sixty acres of well improved and culti- vated land.
On the 15th of April, 1888, Mr. Seefeld was married to Miss Emma Lang- ner, a daughter of Carl and Christina Langner, pioneer settlers of Sheboygan county, where their daughter was born. Seven children have been born of this marriage in the following order: Malinda, whose natal day was March 16, 1890; Arthur, who was born on the 25th of February, 1891 ; Delia, whose birth occurred January 19, 1892; Mollie, who was born on Christmas day, 1894; Er- vin, whose natal day was the 15th of January, 1897; Loella, who was born on the 18th of April, 1899; and Paul, whose birth occurred on February 6, 1902.
The family have been reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church, in which the parents hold membership. Mr. Seefeld is one of the hard work- ing, capable citizens of Osceola township, where his honest and upright meth- ods of conducting his business dealings has won him the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen.
JULIUS F. BRAATZ.
Julius F. Braatz is farming one hundred and eighty acres of well improved land on section 27, Springvale township, and is well acquainted with the de- tails connected with the management and operation of a large agricultural en- terprise. He is one of the most successful farmers in the district and has spent practically all his life in agricultural pursuits and has that expert knowledge of his business which can come only through long personal experience. Mr. Braatz was born in Clyman township, Dodge county, Wisconsin, January 9, 1867, and is the son of August William and Johanna (Penn) Braatz, both natives of Ger- many.
Julius F. Braatz was educated in the district schools and his early life was spent in aiding his father in the work of the farm. When he was twenty-three years of age he rented his father's place and for three years was the sole man- ager, bringing the property to an excellent condition and carrying on systemat- ically the work of improvement. In 1893 he came to Fond du Lac county, where he purchased from John Stockley one hundred and ten acres of land on section 27, Springvale township, and began its cultivation. During the nineteen years in which he has been the proprietor of this farm he has carried on its operation along the most modern and progressive lines, has adhered to the policy of expansion, built suitable barns and outbuildings and improved his property by persistent labor and intelligent application, and he now has one of the most valuable tracts of land in the district. He has added seventy acres to his original purchase and now owns one hundred and eighty acres all under culti- vation. He has an attractive and pleasant home upon his farm and carries on general farming and stock-raising. He has a large dairy and keeps a herd of twenty high-grade Holstein cows for this purpose, at the head of which is a registered animal.
On March 25, 1891, Mr. Braatz was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Schultz, a daughter of August and Augusta (Dunning) Schultz, both natives of Germany. The father was a farmer and came to the United States when he was fifteen years of age, locating near Wausau, Wisconsin, whence he later re- moved to Green Lake county, just west of the Fond du Lac county line. Here he bought land and farmed until 1902, when he retired from active life and moved to the village of Ripon, where he and his wife now reside. To them were born four children: Albert, of Fairbanks, Alaska; Alvena, the wife of John
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Plagens, of Garden City, South Dakota; Agnes, now Mrs. J. F. Braatz; and Alexander, of Ripon, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Braatz are the parents of four children : Hazel, born May II, 1896, is now a student in the Brandon high school, a member of the class of 1915, and lives at home; Esther, born August 12, 1898, is also pursuing her studies in the Brandon high school; Edgar, born October, 22, 1900, attends school in joint district No. 10 of Springvale town- ship; and Forrest, born July 6, 1906, is attending the same school.
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In his political affiliations Mr. Braatz is a republican and is now serving his second term as director in joint school district No. 10 of Springvale township. He is one of the organizers and a stockholder in the Brick Cheese Factory Com- pany of Springvale township and is also interested in the Farmers Elevator Company of Brandon. Fond du Lac county is a fertile and productive region and has been a source of much wealth and prosperity. No man has done more toward its development and improvement than has Julius F. Braatz and his success is the just reward of his intelligent labors.
JOHN DORNBROOK.
For almost a quarter of a century John Dornbrook has been progressively active in scientific agriculture in Springvale township and is now operating a fine farm of one hundred and forty-one acres on section 21, where he has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising for eighteen years. His intelligent activity has brought his property to a high state of cultivation and has ranked him among expert breeders of high-grade cattle. He is prosperous and success- ful, and has brought about this happy result by unflagging industry and efficient promotion of his interests. He was born in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany, on April 20, 1840, and is a son of Christopher and Reka (Dornbrook) Dornbrook, natives of that country. His parents' marriage occurred in the fatherland, and in 1869 they came to the United States locating in Ripon, Wisconsin, where the father obtained work on a farm. In 1873 while hauling cornstalks from Rosen- dale he met with an accident, falling off his wagon and being instantly killed. His wife survived him for a few years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Stints in Rosendale, at the age of eighty-five years.
John Dornbrook spent his early life in Germany and was educated in the schools of that country. He helped his father with the work of the farm until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he crossed the Atlantic to Amer- ica, making the journey alone. He landed in Buffalo with but twenty-five cents in his pocket and this capital has formed the foundation of a long, active and important career. He immediately obtained a position chopping wood at twenty -. five cents per cord and for some time met with many hardships and difficulties. He was very poor and even by laboring early and late was not able to make more than a bare living. In 1861 he went to Canada and worked upon a farm near St. Thomas, being in the employ of one man for five years. He later went to Bay City, Michigan, and worked in a sawmill in that community for three years. One of his letters from home made mention of a cousin who was living in Ripon, Wisconsin, and Mr. Dornbrook immediately joined his relative in that city. He took up farming some time afterward, renting on shares for several years and by strict economy and thrift was able to save enough money to pur- chase his present farm of one hundred and forty-one acres on section 21, Spring- vale township. For eighteen years John Dornbrook has been active and success- ful as a general agriculturist and stock-raiser. He has improved his farm and made it productive to its highest extent, operating it along scientific and practical lines. He has remodeled the buildings and made them up to date and sanitary in every respect. He has planted his fields in the grains most suitable to the
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soil and climate and rich harvests reward his systematic efforts. In 1908 he built an attractive home upon his property, equipped it with all the comforts and luxuries of a modern dwelling and in this he now resides. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and has a dairy herd of twenty-four graded Holstein cows. He owns also one full blooded Holstein bull, registered in Vermont, which he purchased of Mr. Mullen of Watertown, Wisconsin. He is one of the representative men of the section in which he resides, prosperous and successful and he owes his advancement in life entirely to his own efforts and indefatigable labors. He started out almost penniless and with no assets beyond his deter- mination and ability.
John Dornbrook married Miss Hattie Schultz. Her parents were natives of Germany and her father was a laborer in that country where he died. His wife, whose maiden name was Wilhelmina Felt, married again, her second husband being August Leek, and in 1866 they came to the United States, locating in Buffalo. One year later they came to Ripon, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and Mr. Leek died in that county. His wife passed away in Ripon at the home' of her daughter, Mrs. Annette Coleman. Mrs. Dornbrook was born in Ger- many on January 10, 1843, and came to America when she was twenty-three years of age. Her marriage to the subject of this review occurred in this coun- try and to them were born eight children: William, whose birth occurred on July 28, 1873, and who has been chief engineer on the Great Lakes for seven- teen years; Frederic, born April 4, 1875, who is chief engineer for an electrical plant in Milwaukee; John, who passed away at the age of thirty-three years; Frank, born January 21, 1878, and who is following agriculture in Rogersville, Fond du Lac county ; Henry, born March 4, 1880, acting as foreman of a ma- chine shop in Milwaukee; Elsie, born April 14, 1883, who is at home; Herman, born October 5, 1885, who is now chief engineer of an electric lighting plant in Milwaukee; and Albert, born September 6, 1887, who is assisting his father with the work of the farm.
Politically Mr. Dornbrook is a democrat and has served as supervisor of his township for two years. He is interested in every phase of the development of his community and gives his active support to any measure which has for its object the promotion of the general welfare. He is a stockholder in the Brick Cheese Company of Springvale township. He has shown ability in public service which is only equalled by his agricultural talents. He is a member of the Lutheran church in Ripon, Wisconsin, to which faith his wife also gives her allegiance. His career has been upright and honorable and in its activities he has been actuated by the high standards taught him in his youth. He realizes that the development of his section is directly dependent upon the success of individuals and he welcomes his personal prosperity as a factor in county and state expansion.
BERTRAM THELEN.
One of the most progressive, enterprising and successful farmers in Fond du Lac county is Bertram Thelen, a native son of the district, who is operating the farm upon which he was born and is associated with his father in the conduct of a prosperous and well managed enterprise. He is the son of Michael and Francesca (Beisler) Thelen, natives of Germany, and is the third of the name to farm in Fond du Lac county. The grandfather purchased fifty acres of land in this section upon coming from his native country to America and he cultivated the soil successfully until his death, which occurred in 1869.
The father of our subject was born in Germany in 1834 and came to America, with his parents, Matthias and Annie Helena Thelen, in 1850, and to Fond du
MR. AND MRS. MICHAEL THELEN
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Lac county May 1, 1855. He settled in Ashford township, where nine years later his marriage occurred. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Francesca Beisler, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her parents, George and Katherine Beisler, when she was four years of age. Michael Thelen is today one of the prominent and successful agriculturists in the township in which he resides. He began his career as farmer in 1864, when he purchased forty acres in Ashford township, to which he has added from time to time until he is now the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres. He is widely known and has many friends in this district, where his public spirit has gained him recognition. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the local insane asylum for twenty years and has done able and progressive work along this line. He was also appointed a member of the tax commission of Brown county in 1886 by Judge Hastings of Green Bay to equalize the assessment of Brown county. In 1887 he was appointed by Judge Meyers, now deceased, of Outagamie county, to serve in the same capacity in Outagamie county, and in 1903 was appointed by Judge Goodland of the same county to serve the second time. He was a member of the building committee to build the county courthouse and continued on this committee to build the insane asylum. He served for fourteen years as town chairman. He and his wife became the parents of nine children, two of whom, Matthias and Regina, are now deceased. Those who survive are, Isabella, Katherine, Frank, Johannah, Bertram, Mary and Annie.
Bertram Thelen was born July 22, 1871, and received his education in the district schools of Ashford township. He spent his childhood and early youth upon his father's farm and is still active in its management and operation. On November 28, 1899, he married Miss Elizabeth Fleischmann, a daughter of Adam and Mary Fleischmann, of Lomira, and in that section Mrs. Thelen was born January 1I, 1881. She and her husband became the parents of five chil- dren : Matthias, born December 10, 1900; Max, who is deceased; Leo, born Jan- uary 22, 1905; Alexander, born June 23, 1908; and Frank, born November 16, 19II. The family belong to St. Martin's Catholic church and are well and favorably known throughout Fond du Lac county.
Mr. Thelen is following out the agricultural methods learned. in his youth and has met with gratifying but natural success. He is a worthy son of his father both as an agriculturist, which entitles him to rank among the valued citizens of his community, and in his personal standards and qualifications, which make him an honest and upright man.
DANIEL SULLIVAN.
Daniel Sullivan, extensively engaged in farming in Osceola township, Wis- consin, is the third of the name in the ancestral line and also the third represen- tative of his family in America. He was born on May 22, 1880, and has gained success and esteem as an agriculturist. His family was founded in America by his grandparents, Daniel and Katherine Sullivan, who came to the United States with their family at an early date. The first Daniel Sullivan settled in Milwau- kee and from there removed to the city of Fond du Lac where he resided for a short time. He eventually bought unbroken land in Osceola township and transformed it into a rich and fertile farm. He cleared the land with his own hands, and from the lumber which he felled built for himself a rude log shanty in which he lived for some time. His son, Daniel Sullivan, the second of the name, lived on the home place until he married Miss Margaret Cavanaugh. She was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1855. The Cavanaugh family settled in Massachusetts where Mrs. Sullivan's father died. Her mother eventually came to the town of Osceola where she passed away in 1887. When Vol. II-19
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the second Daniel Sullivan was married his father gave him a portion of his holdings in Osceola township, and on this land he built a new and modernly equipped house and improved and cultivated the land for many years before his death, in 1901, when he was sixty-five years of age. On his holdings his son, Daniel Sullivan III, was born and at an early age began his agricultural career. He was one of four children, and had one brother, John, and two sisters, Grace and Carrie.
Daniel Sullivan's early education was received in the district schools of Osceola township. He was familiar from an early date with the best methods of cultivating the soil, early gaining an extensive knowledge of land values and agricultural economic conditions. The familiarity with farming and his per- sonal experience in the labors peculiar to the carrying on of a large agricultural enterprise have been valuable assets to him all during his life and are the domi- nating factors in his success. He is living upon the land which descended to him from his father and is rapidly becoming known as a progressive and scien- tific farmer. His mother and sister Carrie make their home with our subject and are active aids in the cultivation of the farm. He has never taken an active part in political affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies upon the work in connection with his farm. He holds membership in the Roman Catholic church, and his religion dominates and influences his life and adds to his qual- ities of intelligence and honorable activity.
CHARLES S. LARGE.
Charles S. Large owns one hundred and sixty acres of well cultivated land located on section 6, Oakfield township, where he is successfully engaging in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Fond du Lac county, his birth having occurred in the township where he now resides on the 15th of May, 1864. His parents, Levy and Nancy (Kenedy) Large, were born, reared and married in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, the father's birth having there oc- curred in 1821. He located here about 1854 and engaged in farming during the remainder of his active life, his death occurring in 1891, at the age of seventy years. Our subject is the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight, the others being as follows: Cyrus W., Samuel L., Josephine N., Mattie J., Sarah E., Emma M., and Francis, who died in infancy.
Practically the entire life of Charles S. Large has been passed in the vicinity of his present home. His boyhood and youth were very much the same as those of other lads who were reared in the rural sections of Wisconsin during the pioneer period. He began his education in the district schools and com- pleted it in the Oakfield public schools, terminating his student days at the age of seventeen years. In common with the majority of country youths he was already familiar with the various operations connected with the tilling of the fields and care of the crops, and for seven years thereafter assisted his father with the cultivation of the home farm. Owing to the state of his health the succeeding two years were spent in travel, and at the expiration of that time he returned to Fond du Lac county, and purchased the place where he now lives. He took possession of the property in 1892, and has ever since diligently ap- plied himself to its further improvement and cultivation with excellent suc- cess. The entire tract is being operated and a large portion of it is in a high state of productivity. In connection with general farming, Mr. Large is en- gaged in stock-raising and now has thirty head of cattle and five horses.
At Oakfield, Wisconsin, on the 4th of May, 1892, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Large and Miss Alice M. Briggs, a daughter of Jeremiah and Har- riet Briggs, well known farming people in the vicinity of Oakfield, and to them
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has been born one son, Ward B., whose natal day was October 31, 1893. He is now a student in the Oakfield high school.
The political allegiance of Mr. Large is accorded to the republican party and he served as road supervisor. He is one of the foremost business men in his community, where he is held in high regard by reason of his honorable methods of conducting his transactions and also because of the interest he mani- fests in all matters of citizenship.
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