USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 44
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DEE MORROW, D. M. D.
Dr. Morrow, who has been engaged in the practice of dentistry in Fond du Lac for five years, was born at Carrollton, Illinois, on the 13th of September, 1872. His parents, James P. and Harriet (Hinton) Morrow, still reside in Car- rollton, where for many years the father has engaged in the hardware business. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow are the parents of three sons and one daughter, our sub- ject being the second in order of birth. The others are as follows: Porter, who married Bella Brown of Carrollton and has one daughter, Portia; Mabel, who is deceased; and John, who married Effie Ferguson of Canton, Illinois, and has two sons, Charles and Robert.
The preliminary education of Dr. Morrow was acquired in the graded and high schools of his native town, after which he matriculated in the dental de- partment of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1894 with the degree of D. M. D. Immediately there- after he opened an office at Girard, Illinois, but after engaging in practice there for a year he removed to Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He remained in the latter place until 1905, when he spent a year in Chicago, coming from there to Fond du Lac in 1907. Dr. Morrow has been associated in practice with Dr. Hildreth during the greater part of his residence here, but on the Ist of February, 1912, he bought out the latter and is now practicing alone. He is a very able rep- resentative of his profession and does his work in a thorough and scientific manner.
Dr. Morrow married Miss Irene Armstrong of Girard, Illinois, a daughter of C. C. Armstrong, a well known druggist of that city, and to them have been born three children, James L., Lum Armstrong, and Dorothea Dee.
Fraternally Dr. Morrow belongs to Poplar Bluff Lodge, No. 209, A. F. & A. M., Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and both he and Mrs. Morrow are members of the Congregational church of this city. He is affiliated with the Business Men's Association and in politics he is independent. Dr. Morrow is held in favorable regard by both his fellow practitioners and those who have engaged his services, as he maintains a high standard of professional ethics and is most conscientious and efficient in the discharge of his duties.
REV. STEPHEN ZOHLEN.
Rev. Stephen Zohlen, pastor of the German Roman Catholic church in Byron township, was born in Germany on the 16th of August, 1878. He is a son of John and Josephine (Schroers) Zohlen, also natives of Germany. The father, who was an organist, emigrated to the United States with his family in the early 'gos, first locating in California. After three years' residence there he came to Wisconsin, settling in Sheboygan county, where he passed away in 1898. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Zohlen numbered ten, our subject being the second in order of birth and the eldest son. The other members are as follows: Eliza-
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beth, who died at the age of ten years; Mary and Hannah, living; Gertrude, Rosalia and Gertrude, who died in infancy ; August; John; and Josephine. The mother, who is still living, keeps house for our subject.
The first thirteen years in the life of Father Zohlen were passed in the land of his birth, where he began his education. While residing in California he attended the parochial schools, but after coming to Wisconsin he entered St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, where he continued his studies for ten years. Subsequently he was for two years assistant at St. Anthony's church in Milwau- kee, Wisconsin. In 1907 the Bishop assigned him to the church at Byron, where he has since been located. During the period of his pastorate here he has greatly endeared himself to the members of his parish as well as the citizens of the community generally, as he is a man of high standards and excellent principles. He is well qualified for the duties of his calling by reason of his inherent quali- ties, possessing one of those kindly, helpful natures, which prompts him to take an active interest in all matters pertaining to either the physical or spiritual wel- fare of his people. He has done most creditable work during the period of his connection here, the parish having made marked progress and development under his capable ministrations. Father Zohlen takes a laudable interest in township affairs and accords his political support to the democratic party.
JOHN M. CROSSMAN.
John M. Crossman, one of the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Springvale, his native township, is the owner of eighty acres of land and devotes his attention to the pursuits of general farming and stock-raising. His birth occurred on the 4th of May, 1861, his parents being Stephen and Harriet (Lewis) Crossman. The father, a farmer by occupation, was born at Crown Point, Essex county, New York, on the 21st of August, 1822, while the mother, of Welsh descent, was born at Tupperstown, Vermont, in the foothills of the Green Moun- tains, on the 5th of December, 1828. They were married at Crown Point, New York, in 1845, came west the same year and located in Rosendale township, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Stephen Crossman took up a quarter section of land and resided thereon for two years, at the expiration of which period he disposed of the farm and returned to New York. At the end of two years' resi- dence in the Empire state they again came to Rosendale, Wisconsin, Mr. Cross- man arriving here with but ten cents in his pocket. He took up his abode in a log house owned by Henry Wheeler in the village of Rosendale and imme- diately set out to find work, scorning no employment that would yield him an honest dollar. He worked at butchering for a time and operated the Wheeler farm for two years. Subsequently he purchased eighty acres of land on section I, Springvale township, making his home thereon until 1889, when he disposed of the property and took up his abode in the village of Rosendale. Later he removed to a farm near Manchester, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he resided for two years, at the end of which time he went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and subsequently to Waupun, this state. He finally located in Fair Water, this . county, passing away in the spring of 1906. His remains were interred in the Rosendale cemetery, as were also those of his wife, who died in the following fall. The record of their children is as follows: Julian, who is deceased; Har- riet, the wife of V. A. Curtis, a retired agriculturist of Rosendale, Wisconsin ; William H., who is living retired at Milwaukee; Emma M., the wife of J. W. Sizer, of Lamartine township; John M., of this review; and Frank Lewis, who follows farming in Springvale township.
John M. Crossman attended school in the village of Rosendale and assisted his father in the work of the fields until twenty-eight years of age or until the
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time of his marriage. Following that important event in his life he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, operating a rented farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Lamartine township for one year. In 1890 he purchased the farm of eighty acres in Springvale township, on which he has resided continuously since. He raises stock in connection with the cultivation of cereals, breeding full-blooded Shropshire sheep for the market, and he also has a dairy herd of ten graded Holsteins. Everything about his place is indicative of the supervision of a practical and progressive owner and he is widely recognized as one of the substantial and representative citizens of the community.
On the 16th of October, 1889, John M. Crossman was united in marriage to Miss Lucy I. Harmer, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Relph) Harmer, both of whom were natives of England. The father was a thatcher by trade. In 1848 Mr. and Mrs. Harmer emigrated to the United States and located on the farm which is now in possession of our subject, being among the very earliest settlers of Springvale township. They later removed to Jackson county, Wis- consin, but eventually returned to Springvale township, this county, passing away, on the old homestead on which Mr. Crossman resides. This farm was purchased by the grandfather of Mrs. Crossman in 1848, the year of his arrival in Amer- ica. The death of William Harmer occurred in May, 1887, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1878. Their remains were interred in the Rogersville cemetery. To them were born seven children, as follows: Harriet, who is the wife of John Slosser, an agriculturist of Jackson county, Wisconsin; Phoebe, the widow of Bernard Walker, who was a farmer residing in Santa Ana, Cali- fornia; Emma, who is the wife of Henry Hosford, a ranchman of Glasgow, Montana ; Hannah, who gave her hand in marriage to William Potter, a farmer of Melrose, Wisconsin; Mrs. Lucy Crossman; William, an agriculturist residing at Schaller, North Dakota; and James, who conducts a meat market at Rosen- dale, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Crossman also have seven children, namely : Wayne Stephen, born February 25, 1891, who resides with his parents and is employed as a farm hand in Metomen township; John William, whose birth occurred on the IIth of November, 1892, and who is also employed as a farm hand; Frank Lewis, born April 30, 1894, who lives at home with his par- ents ; Harriet Elizabeth, whose natal day was June 22, 1895, and who expects to complete the course of study in the Rosendale high school in 1913; Lucy Belle, born February 17, 1897; Dean Harold, whose birth occurred on the 16th of March, 1899; and Lynwood Julian, who was born on the 6th of May, 1901. The three last named are at home and are students in district school No. I of Spring- vale township.
In politics Mr. Crossman is a republican, having supported the men and measures of that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Mrs. Crossman belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Rogersville, Wis- consin. Their lives have been such as to gain for them the esteem and friendship of those with whom they come in contact.
ANDREW SEFFERN.
Andrew Seffern has for many years been successfully engaged in farming in Friendship township. He was born in Germany in 1857 and is a son of Peter and Mary (Schweisthal) Seffern, both of whom were natives of Ger- many and in their native land spent all the years of their lives. Andrew Sef- fern was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in his native country. On reaching American shores he engaged in farming and has since continued to give his attention to that occupation as a means for obtaining a livelihood.
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Andrew Seffern was united in marriage in the township of Friendship to Miss Anna Katie Freitag, who is a daughter of Beat and Elizabeth (Miller) Freitag. Her parents were among the early settlers in Friendship township, hav- ing established their home there in the early '50s. Mr. and Mrs. Seffern are the parents of five children, as follows : John Beat, a young man of twenty-five years ; Elizabeth Carey, who is twenty-four years old ; William Edward, Rosina Anna and Oscar Andrew, who are twenty-one, twenty and sixteen years of age respectively. Mr. Seffern belongs to the republican party and is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the enterprising citizens of Friend- ship township and a man who is well and favorably known throughout the county of Fond du Lac, in which he has spent the major portion of his in- dustrious life.
. PHILIP J. LERCH.
A history of the agricultural development of Byron township would not be complete which did not contain the record of Philip J. Lerch, who was one of the pioneer settlers. He has been living retired since 1895, but for many years he was actively engaged in farming in which he met with success, becoming the owner of four hundred acres of fertile land. His life record began in Ger- many on the 22d of March, 1840, his parents being Jacob and Katheryn (Kra- mer) Lerch. The parents were likewise natives of Germany, the father's birth having occurred in 1815 and that of the mother in 1819. They were married in 1838 and made their home in their native country until 1855, when they emigrated to the United States, first settling in Milwaukee. A year later they came to Fond du Lac county and here the father purchased forty acres of land for five hundred dollars. He diligently applied himself to the improvement and cultivation of his farm, and as his circumstances enabled him increased his hold- ings until his landed possessions aggregated two hundred acres. He passed away in 1894 and the mother in 1897. To them were born four children, of whom our subject is the eldest. In order of birth the other members of the family are, Margaret, Peter and Elizabeth.
Philip J. Lerch was reared in his native land to the age of fourteen years, and there he received his schooling. For two years after the family came to America he was employed in the city of Milwaukee, but he subsequently came to Fond du Lac county and assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm until his marriage in 1863. He then purchased forty acres of land and engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. The thrift and diligence he acquired from a long line of Teutonic ancestors have constituted dominant factors in the success which attended his efforts, numbering him among the efficient and capable citizens of Byron township. As time passed he added to his holdings until he owned four hundred acres of well improved and cultivated land when he retired in 1895. It had been acquired through his individual ef- forts, as he had made his own way from the time he arrived in America, and such success as came to him was the result of his intelligently and capably di- rected energies. He is now residing on the farm, enjoying in the evening of life the ease and comfort denied him in youth, and without doubt finds his greatest satisfaction in the thought that he has utilized to the best of his advan- tage every opportunity afforded him.
At Fond du Lac on the 12th of February, 1863, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lerch and Miss Paulina Bodamer, a daughter of Philip F. and Johanna (Markle) Bodamer. The parents were natives of Indiana, whence they came to Wisconsin in 1846, and thereafter made this state their home, the father's death occurring in 1880 and that of the mother in 1879. The family of Mr. and
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Mrs. Bodamer numbered seven: Sophia, the wife of Peter Smith, by whom she has had seven children; Matilda, who married Mathias Smith and has four chil- dren; Louisa, who became the wife of John Smith and the mother of seven children ; Henrietta, who married Charles Kasdorff, by whom she has had seven children; Mrs. Lerch; Minnie, who passed away in 1892, at the age of forty- six years; and Caroline, the wife of Henry Bates of Byron township and the mother of five children. The first four named are residing in the state of Cali- fornia.
Mr. and Mrs. Lerch became the parents of three children: Louisa K., who died at the age of eighteen months in 1865; Ernest F., who married Emma Kim- mel of Lomira, Dodge county, and has two sons, Walter and Ernest F. Jr .; and Philip J., Jr., who married Helena Kimmel, also of Lomira, and has be- come the father of three children, Truman M., Lena and Irvin.
Mr. and Mrs. Lerch were both raised in the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. Lerch votes the republican ticket and for nine years he served as supervisor of Byron township and was chairman for two. He is now treasurer of the Byron Cemetery Association. Both he and Mrs. Lerch are widely and favor- ably known in this vicinity where they have many friends, being people of most estimable qualities, the worth of which has been thoroughly tested during the long period of their residence in this section. Mr. Lerch has always maintained that his success is very largely attributable to the help rendered him by his wife, who is known as a most efficient manager and housewife. Her opinion and advice were often sought in matters of business and frequently her judg- ment and foresight strongly influenced his final decisions in transactions of vital importance.
GEORGE W. CASE.
George W. Case, who is successfully identified with the agricultural devel- opment of Byron township, has been residing on the farm he now owns on sec- tion 36 for forty-six years. His birth occurred in Springport, New York, on the 25th of March, 1860, his parents being Gilbert and Josephine (Myers) Case. The father was born in New Jersey in 1836, but the mother was a native of the Empire state. They passed the early years of their married life in New York, whence they removed with their family to Wisconsin in 1866, settling on the farm now owned by their son George. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children, of whom our subject is the eldest; Ida; Jennie; Charles, a resi- dent of Seattle, Washington; Austin, a farmer of Byron township; Justin ; Marie ; Maud, who passed away in 1903; Mabel; and Cora. Austin and Justin are twins.
George Case was about six years of age when his parents removed to Wis- consin, so that he was largely reared in Fond du Lac county, obtaining his edu- cation in the district schools of Byron township. He terminated his student days when he was a youth of sixteen and thereafter assisted his father, until qualified to begin farming for himself. He is a man of good judgment and foresight, practical ideas and systematic methods, which qualities have consti- tuted strong factors in his success. That he had led a life of activity and enter- prise is substantially evidenced by the appearance of his farm, which stands as a monument to his energies and well entitles him to be numbered among the township's representative agriculturists.
At Oakfield, this state, on the 15th of February, 1894, Mr. Case was married to Miss Emma G. Hayes, a daughter of Ellis and Mary Ann Hayes. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother of Vermont, but they were early Fond du Lac county pioneers and were married in Byron on the 16th of September, 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Case have one son, Oscar.
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The family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church. In matters politic Mr. Case is a democrat and served as school clerk in his district for twelve years. He is a man of energy and determination of purpose, and such success as has come to him is the result of constant effort and application, rather than favorable circumstances.
GEORGE W. COLE.
When George W. Cole died on his farm in Springvale township on April 8, 1912, a pioneer in Fond du Lac county's settlement and an organizer and pro- moter of its development, an able agriculturist, an upright, straightforward and honorable gentleman passed away. He had seen the development of the village of Brandon and had witnessed its evolution from an unsettled tract of land to a well managed and prosperous village. George W. Cole was born in Broad Alban, Fulton county, New York, on February 1, 1833, and is of English an- cestry. On his mother's side he is a descendant of the Chase family of England. His father died when he was ten years of age and his mother with eight children came to Wisconsin in 1852, locating on the farm where the daughter of our sub- ject, Mrs. Cairns, now lives on section 31, Springvale township. In possession of the family is a government deed for this property which cost at the time it was purchased four dollars per acre.
George W. Cole was educated in the public schools of New York and after he had attained his majority worked upon farms in that section for several years. He came to Wisconsin at an early date and was among the first settlers in Springvale township. On his first arrival in the city of Fond du Lac it was a village poorly managed and with mud knee deep in the streets. He purchased a pair of rubber boots and started out to obtain employment. He waded through the mud to the site of the present village of Brandon, decided to stop in that vicinity and there spent the remaining years of his life. He purchased land in Springvale township, buying sixty acres from the government, to which he later added ninety acres and was active in the cultivation and development of the soil . for many years. Later the failing health of his wife obliged them to go to Bran- don, where they remained for some time until her more severe illness compelled them to return to the farm, where they made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Cairns, on the old homestead. Mrs. Cole passed away on February 23, 1912, and our subject died seven weeks later, on April 8, of the same year. His farm work was always of the progressive and capable kind which is a valuable asset in any community and his acres were productive because they were intelli- gently cultivated. His death was not only a loss to his many friends but had a broader effect since it deprived Springvale township of a man who from pioneer times had developed its resources.
On July 26, 1863, George W. Cole was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Paine, a daughter of James T. and Sarah (Kimball) Paine. Mrs. Cole was a native of Greenwood, Maine. To Mr. and Mrs. Cole were born four children. The eldest is Willis, who follows carpentering in Linden, Washington, and who married Miss Nellie Brown. He has eight children, seven of whom are living : Lloyd; George, deceased; Fred; Ray; Harry; Marion; Nellie; and Lester. Ida May is the wife of David Cairns, one of the well known young farmers in Springvale township, who operates the Cole homestead. David Cairns was born in Fintry, Stirlingshire, Scotland, on January 28, 1866, and is a son of Peter and Isabella (Shearer) Cairns. He came to the United States when he was fif- teen years of age and settled in Brandon, where for several years he worked in a cooper shop. After his marriage he followed farming and moved upon the prop- erty where he is now residing. The two other children born to Mr. and Mrs.
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Cole were: Susan, who passed away when she was twenty-three years of age; and Elizabeth, who died in childhood.
George W. Cole was a stanch prohibitionist and was justice of the peace in Brandon for many years. He was interested in education and served for a long period as clerk and director of school district No. 8. He was one of the repre- sentative and successful citizens of his district and his prosperity was evidenced by the excellent condition of his farm and his popularity was proved by the respect and esteem in which he was held by his friends. His memorial notice says: "Mr. Cole was a man of public spirit and was on the side of the better life of the community. His was a rugged, honest character and he always tried to do his duty and was respected for his adherence to his convictions. Hard work was his joy, and he would not give up till his strength completely failed. He never allied himself with the church but those who knew him best know how God drew him closer to himself in his later years."
WILLIAM MARQUARDT.
William Marquardt, who devotes his attention to general agricultural pur- suits in Fond du Lac, his native county, is the owner of a farm of thirty-three acres on section 10, Eldorado township. His birth occurred in Eldorado in the year 1884, his parents being Ferdinand and Bertha (Totts) Marquardt. The father came to this county about 1881 and settled on the place where our subject now lives, clearing the land and bringing it under cultivation. Here he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in 1908.
William Marquardt attended school at Eldorado in his youthful years, ac- quiring an education that qualified him for the practical and responsible duties of later life. Since putting aside his text-books he has been steadily engaged in farming, acquiring thirty-three acres of the old homestead by purchase. His principal crops are corn, barley and hay, for which he finds a ready sale and thus has a good annual income. He has won a creditable measure of prosperity for one of his years and is widely recognized in his native township as a substantial and progressive agriculturist.
In 1908 William Marquardt was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Yanke, by whom he has a son, Harry, who is three years of age. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, the teachings of which he exemplifies in his daily life.
GEORGE W. TICE.
George W. Tice, who for ten years has been engaged in the general mercantile business at Byron, was born in Auburn, Fond du Lac county, on the 5th of No- vember, 1861. He is a son of Ralph and Mary Ann (McGee) Tice, both natives of New Jersey, the father's birth having there occurred in 1826. Farming al- ways engaged the energies of Ralph Tice, who came west in 1848, and subse- quently settled in Auburn township, where he passed away in 1911. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Tice is given below, our subject being the seventh in order of birth. Sarah, who is the eldest, married Jonathan Van Blarcom, a farmer of Prospect township, where he passed away in 1874. Later she became the wife of Louis B. Reed, a farmer of Mitchell, Sheboygan county, this state, at that time, but they now reside in Texas. By her first marriage she had one son, John P. John H., who is engaged in farming in South Dakota, married Amelia Bell of El Dorado. William N., a coal dealer of Fond du Lac, married Hannah Van
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