USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 45
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
Blarcom. Mary L. became the wife of Henry Schroten, at that time a farmer in Iowa. Ralph is a farmer of South Dakota. Benjamin married Mary Hughes of Osceola township. Marie married Frank Delger, a farmer of this county. Frank, a traveling man residing at Marshfield, this state, married Mary Bing- ham, of Washington county.
George W. Tice began his education in the public schools of Prospect and completed it by a two-term course in Mann's Commercial College at Fond du Lac, terminating his student days at the age of twenty. He then left home and went west for a year, but at the expiration of that time he returned to Fond du Lac county and engaged in the cheese business. He withdrew from this industry sixteen years later and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, with which he was already familiar, having been reared on a farm. The subsequent two years were devoted to diversified farming in Byron township, but commercial activities proving more attractive to him he later disposed of his land and, coming to Byron in 1902, bought out the general mercantile store he is now conducting. His stock, which invoices four thousand dollars, has been selected with careful consideration to meet the various needs and circumstances of his patrons. He is very accommodating, his goods are honestly represented, and his prices moderate. As a result he has won the confidence of the people and is building up a large trade.
At Osceola on the 16th of April, 1890,. Mr. Tice was married to Miss Mary M. Morgan, a daughter of Roger and Mellisa Morgan, farming people of that township. The father, who was born in Vermont in 1838, was one of Fond du Lac county's pioneers. "He and the mother, who passed away in 1900, at the age of fifty-four years, were compelled to endure many of the hardships and priva- tions incident to frontier life and for six weeks on one occasion were compelled to grind all of their wheat, barley and corn in a coffee mill. Mr. and Mrs. Tice have had one child, Mary Mellisa, who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Tice are members of the Roman Catholic church and politically he is a republican. He takes an active interest in all local affairs and for ten years served as postmaster of Byron, while he was township treasurer for eight and school clerk for two. Mr. Tice has prospered in his business and is num- bered among the substantial citizens of the village. He is manager of the Mani- towoc Malting Company's elevator at Byron and he also owns and operates a cheese factory in Clark county, annually realizing from both a substantial income.
CARL HENRY BRUGGER.
The industrial interests of Fond du Lac find a worthy representative in Carl Henry Brugger, a member of the Longdin-Brugger Company, manufacturers of automobile tops, with plant and factory at the corner of West Second and Mary streets. At the outset of his career he fully recognized the fact that energy, determination and honorable dealing are indispensable elements to success and has ever utilized those qualities in winning advancement in the business world. He is a native of Fond du Lac, born November 27, 1875, his parents being Max and Mary (Esh) Brugger. In the paternal line he comes from German ancestry. His grandparents both spent their entire lives in Germany, and in Saxony Max Brugger was born and reared, also acquiring his education there. In early man- hood he came to the United States and made his way to Wisconsin. Prior to the Civil war he enlisted as a member of the regular army and was engaged in fight- ing Indians on the frontier for five years. He afterward took up the work of a wood turner, which he followed for many years in Fond du Lac. He was killed in North Fond du Lac, September 30, 1901, in a street-car accident, when sixty- two years of age, passing away in the faith of the Catholic church. His widow,
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who survives him, was a daughter of one of Wisconsin's early settlers. Her father was a cabinet-maker, who took up his abode at Beaver Dam when that section was largely unsettled. Both he and his wife died at a ripe old age after rearing a family of seven children, namely : Frances, Anna, Rosa, Dillie, Mary, John and Joseph. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Max Brugger there were born four chil- dren : Rosa, of Fond du Lac; Francis A., who is engaged in teaching in Milwau- kee; George M., a real-estate dealer of Fond du Lac; and Carl H., of this re- view.
Carl Henry Brugger was reared in Fond du Lac and attended the public schools there. He afterward began learning the carriage trimmer's trade, which he followed for nine years and then put aside business cares in order to espouse the cause of his country, enlisting for service as a member of Company E, Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in the Spanish-American war. He held the rank of sergeant and served until the close of the war, being on active duty in Porto Rico under General Nelson Miles. After receiving an honorable dis- charge he joined S. H. Longdin in the manufacture of carriage tops and from the beginning the enterprise has proven profitable. From time to time the busi- ness has been enlarged in its scope and in 1907 was incorporated, since which time they have manufactured automobile tops. They employ thirty-two people and sell the output of their factory in nearly every state in the Union. It is renowned for its excellence in workmanship and finish and the house sustains an unassailable reputation for promptness in delivery and for thorough reliabil- ity in all dealings.
On the 20th of May, 1902, Mr. Brugger was married to Miss Harriet M. Rogers, a daughter of James L. and Augusta Rogers, and they have two children, Max Curtis and Carl Lester. Mrs. Brugger is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Socially both Mr. and Mrs. Brugger are well known and have many friends in this city. Mr. Brugger has made continuous advancement since starting out in the business world, but the secret of his success is not hard to find. He early realized that there is no royal road to wealth and that there is no excellence without labor. He has therefore persistently and energetically con- ducted his business affairs, displaying sound judgment in managing his interests and thus in the course of years.he has won a position among the prominent busi- ness men of his native city.
GUSTAVE TREPTO.
Gustave Trepto is the owner of a valuable farm on section 34, Springvale township, comprising an excellent tract of one hundred and twenty acres, highly improved and cultivated. He was born in Kewaunee county, December 12, 1870, and is a son of Martin and Caroline (Nimmer) Trepto. The father was a native of Trepto, Germany, and came to the United States when he was a young man. For several years he worked as a laborer upon different farms but after his marriage, which occurred at Cedarburg, he located on an eighty acre farm near Montpelier, where he lived during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1908. His wife passed away on the home farm in 1910. They were the par- ents of eleven children: Fred and Fred, the second of the name, both of whom are deceased; Albert, who is engaged in farming in Kewaunee county ; Gustave, the subject of this review ; Emma, the wife of Michael Lucas, who is employed in a foundry in Milwaukee; John, deceased; Frank, who is following agricultural pursuits in Fond du Lac township; Herman, who is operating the home farm in Kewaunee county; Ada, the wife of Adolph Middlestaad, who is employed in a foundry in Milwaukee; Reynold, deceased; and a child who died in infancy.
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Gustave Trepto attended the district schools of his native county until he was twelve years of age. He helped his father in the operation of his farm until he was sixteen years and then started in life for himself as a laborer in Fond du Lac county. He worked in this capacity until he was twenty-four years of age, gaining during this time valuable experience in the details and methods of modern agriculture, which were an important asset to him in his later life. As soon as he was able he rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Waupun town- ship and this he cultivated and improved for two years. At the end of that time he took up his residence on the Pallister property in the same section and for six years was successful in general farming upon the land. In 1902 he purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 34, Springvale township, and upon this he has since lived. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and keeps a herd of twelve high-grade cows for dairy purposes. The soil is rich and the land productive, owing to the care and labor which he bestows upon his en- terprise, and his progressive and systematic methods have resulted in undeniable prosperity.
On December 13, 1893, Mr. Trepto was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Raube, a daughter of August Raube, of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. To their union were born the following children : Mary, who was born January 21, 1895, and who is residing at home with her parents ; Ida, who was born September 24, 1898, and who is attending school in joint district No. 10, Springvale township; a twin brother of Ida, who died in infancy ; Herbert, who was born February 27, 1901, and who is also attending district school No. 10; and Harold, who was born May 20, 1905, and who is likewise a student in district school No. 10.
Mr. Trepto and his family are members of the German Lutheran church of Brandon. He is a republican in his political views, being a firm believer in the principles and policies for which that party stands, and he always votes the ticket upon national and local questions. He is, however, not an office seeker, preferring to devote his energies to the management of his agricultural enter- prise. He is a member of Equity Union and a stockholder in the Farmers Ele- vator Companies of Waupun and Brandon. His life record illustrates the power of honesty and diligence in ensuring success. His labors have always been actively constructive and intelligently carried forward and have resulted in plac- ing him at an early age in the front ranks of progressive farmers.
AUGUST E. ZANK.
August E. Zank, who owns eighty acres of land in Ripon township, where he engages in general farming and stock-raising, was born in the vicinity of Ripon on March 6, 1875. His parents, August and Mary (Lambert) Zank, were born, reared and married in Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States during the early period of their domestic life, locating near Ripon. There for several years the father worked out by the month as a farm hand, thus acquiring the means to make the first payment on eighty acres of land near the home of our subject. He continued his agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1902, at the age of sixty-four years. The mother, who is now seventy-seven, makes her home in Ripon. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, five sons and two daughters.
August E. Zank was reared at home and educated in the common schools of Ripon. He early began assisting his father about the farm, and under his ca- pable supervision and direction, became familiar with the practical methods of tilling the fields and caring for the crops. He subsequently rented the old Thayer farm, comprising four hundred and forty acres, which he cultivated for
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
ten years. In 1907, he invested the proceeds of his labor in his present farm, and is meeting with very good success in its development.
On the 6th of October, 1899, Mr. Zank was married to Miss Augusta Arndt, a daughter of John and Dorothy (Bendler) Arndt, natives of Germany, where they were also married. They came to America in early life, and in 1868 located on a farm in Green Lake county, this state, later coming to Fond du Lac county. The father passed away on the 14th of June, 1901, at the age of sixty-three years. The mother, whose natal day was August 30, 1836, is still living and now resides with our subject. They reared a family of ten children. To Mr. and Mrs. Zank have been born three children: Rosetta, who is twelve years of age ; Leonard, who is eleven ; and Wesley J., who is still in his infancy.
'Mr. Zank votes the republican ticket and he and his family are members of the Evangelical church at Ripon. He has been very diligent and enterprising in his undertakings and is meeting with a corresponding degree of prosperity. He owns a fine herd of dairy cattle and one of the well improved and cultivated farms of the community, which have been acquired through his own diligence and perseverance.
LYLE A. BURGESS.
In the year 1880 Jedediah Bowen organized a little industry in Fond du Lac county, which he called the Ripon Knitting Works, and which had a precarious existence on a small scale for five years. In 1884 L. A. Burgess joined the com- pany as salesman, and two years later he, in company with H. P. Cody, George C. Duffy and H. C. Eversz, bought all the stock, reorganized the company and put the institution on a solid and paying basis. Mr. Burgess is a true type of American business man, active, energetic and swift in his decisions. Today it is the largest manufacturing concern of Ripon.
Lyle A. Burgess was born on a farm in Rosendale, Wisconsin, March 16, 1859, and is a son of Thomas G. and Mary E. (Parson) Burgess. The father was a native of England and came to America with his parents when two years of age. He was a merchant in Oshkosh for several years but in 1857 sold out his business in that city and bought a farm in Rosendale where he died in 1867. His wife is still living with her son, L. A., at the age of eighty-eight years.
L. A. Burgess is the eighth in a family of twelve children, five of whom are still living. He had a public-school education and was a student at Lawrence University. When he put aside his books he farmed for some time and at the age of twenty-five came to Ripon to take a position as salesman in the Ripon Knitting Works. This company, in 1890, built a new plant with a frontage of eighty feet and a depth of a city block. It is the largest institution of its kind in the city and manufactures all kinds of knit hosiery, gloves and mittens and also a complete line of leather gloves and mittens. In 1894 Mr. Cody sold stock in the concern to J. W. Wright who is the present secretary. H. C. Eversz retired from the business in 1895 and in the same year Mr. Cody resumed his identification with the enterprise. The officers of the firm are now as follows: H. P. Cody, president ; Lyle A. Burgess, vice president ; and J. W. Wright, sec- retary and treasurer. The three owners of the enterprise work together in the greatest harmony and have built up a flourishing and prosperous institution from small beginnings. They are thoroughly agreed in their financial principles and the foundations of their success are their strict honesty and high-minded business methods. The firm now occupies a building three stories high, with a basement which is used as a store room. They also rent a large building on the opposite corner and are already feeling the need of more spacious quarters. The entire first floor of their plant is occupied by the offices of the company and the
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
stock and shipping rooms. The basement is used as a store room and the other two floors are given over to the active operation of the enterprise. The com- pany does all its own dyeing and operates an engine and dye room which is en- tirely detached from the main building. The factory is operated by steam and equipped with all the latest and most approved machinery. The firm employs over three hundred people in its various departments and does a business of over five hundred thousand dollars a year. Its markets extend all over the United States and active business is done in every large city in the United States through its traveling salesmen. The company sells its goods to retailers and jobbers and has built up an extensive business along this line.
Besides his identification with the Ripon Knitting Works Mr. Burgess is ex- tensively interested in irrigated fruit lands in Idaho and timber lands in Wash- ington. He is also financing the development of a large tract of land in Da- kota.
In 1886 Mr. Burgess was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Pickard, a daughter of P. K. and C. R. Pickard of Ripon. Mr. Burgess and his wife are the parents of one child, Carlton L., now in the eleventh year of his age. Fra- ternally Mr. Burgess holds membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic order. He gives his political support to the republican party but has never taken an active interest in pub- lic affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies upon the development of his business. Industrial America is calling for men, and Mr. Burgess is among the fortunate few whose ability and power enable them to respond to the call.
HERMAN WEGNER.
Herman Wegner, one of the respected citizens and substantial agriculturists of Springvale township, is the owner of a tract of land embracing one hundred and ninety acres on sections 34 and 27 and devotes his attention to the pursuits of farming and stock-raising with excellent results. His birth occurred in Ger- many on the 15th of September, 1864, his parents being Ferdinand and Jo- hanna (Goetch) Wegner, who were born, reared and married in that country. In 1881 they emigrated to America with their six children, coming direct to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and locating at Reed's Corners in Metomen township. Ferdinand Wegner worked as a farm hand for a time but subse- quently purchased a tract of land near Reed's Corners and started out as an agriculturist on his own account. On that place he and his wife continued to reside for twenty years. They met death together in a tragic manner, being killed at Dewell's Crossing, a half mile north of Brandon, on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1907, while en route to spend the day with our subject. The train crew took the bodies to Brandon, where they were interred. Herman Wegner was the first born in a family of six children, the others being as follows: Anna, the wife of Charles Koehler, a carpenter of Brandon; Emma, who gave her hand in marriage to Charles Guenther, an agriculturist of Rock River, Wisconsin ; Bernhard, who follows farming in Springvale township; Albert, an agriculturist of Pickett, Wisconsin; and Otto, who is employed in a factory at Milwaukee.
Herman Wegner obtained his early education in the German schools of his native land and after coming to the United States spent one term in the dis- trict school at Reed's Corners. He remained under the parental roof and as- sisted in the operation of the home place until seventeen years of age, when he began working as a farm hand for others, being thus employed near Reed's Corners for four years. On the expiration of that period he went to Milwaukee and there spent three years at work in the shipyards. Subsequently he embarked in the dairy business at a point just outside the city of Milwaukee, near the
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Soldiers' Home. He sold milk by routes in Milwaukee until the year 1897 and always had on hand from fifty to one hundred milch cows. In 1897 he purchased a farm near Cedarburg, Wisconsin, but at the end of three years sold the prop- erty and during the following six years was again engaged in the dairy busi- ness near Milwaukee. Disposing of his dairy farm and herd, he came to Fond du Lac county in 1906 and bought one hundred and ninety acres of land on sections 34 and 27, Springvale township, where he has resided to the present time. He cultivates the entire tract with the assistance of his sons and de- votes his attention to general farming and stock-raising, having a herd of twenty- two good cows. His farm is well improved in every particular and his home is a beautiful country residence. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of Brandon and well deserves recognition among the representative and prosperous citizens of his community.
On the 15th of September, 1890, Mr. Wegner was united in marriage to Miss Emma Rahn, a daughter of William and Wilhelmina (Goetch) Rahn, who were born, reared and married in Germany. They reached the shores of the United States on the 13th of April, 1883, and located in Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin. William Rahn subsequently turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. In 1909 he took up his abode in Brandon, where both he and his wife have since lived in honorable retirement, spending the evening of life in well earned ease. Unto them were born six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom have passed away except Mrs. Wagner. Our subject and his wife have eight children, as follows: Alma, born November 21, 1891, who gave her hand in marriage to Otto Mathwig and resides in Ripon; Reinhard, who was born on the IIth of March, 1894, and lives with his parents on the home farm ; Hattie, whose birth occurred on the 3d of February, 1896; Erwin, who was born on the 24th of April, 1898, and was graduated from district school No. IO, of Springvale township, in 1912; Louise, whose natal day was February 14, 1900; Amanda, who was born on the 9th of July, 1902; Erna, whose birth oc- curred on the 5th of September, 1904; and Herbert, born October 26, 1906. The four last named attend district school No. IO.
Mr. Wegner is a republican in politics but has never sought office as a re- ward for his party fealty. His wife and children are members of the German Lutheran church at Brandon. His has been an active, busy and useful life, which at all times has conformed to the highest principles of manhood and cit- izenship.
ROBERT L. OLIVER.
Robert L. Oliver is a battle-scarred veteran of the Civil war and one of the highly esteemed citizens of Waupun, where he is successfully engaged in the general practice of law. He was born in Scotland, May 4, 1834, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Glendinning) Oliver, both of whom were natives of Scotland, the father's birth having occurred in 1812 and that of the mother in 1814. They emigrated to America in 1834, settling first in Delaware county, New York, and later establishing their abode in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1843, where they continued to live for a period of three years. In 1846 they removed to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and settled upon a farm in the township of Alto, where the family remained for two years, and in 1848 removed to Wau- pun, at which place Thomas Oliver was engaged in the manufacture of plows for eleven consecutive years. In 1859 he embarked in the retail hardware busi- ness, in which he continued until 1868. In that year he built the well known Oliver block, where the Waupun postoffice is now located. Thomas Oliver and his wife were married in Scotland and became the parents of five children :
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Robert L., the subject of this sketch; William, who resides at Waupun; and Effie, Andrew and James, all of whom are deceased. The father of this fam- ily passed away in 1868 and the mother in 1850.
Robert L. Oliver was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in the public schools of his native land. He emigrated with his par- ents to America and continued under the parental roof until the opening of the Civil war. On the 22d of April, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Third Regi- ment of Wisconsin Volunteers, and followed his command for three years. He was engaged with his regiment in the battles of Antietam, Bull Run, the Wilder- ness, Slaughter Mountain and Gettysburg. The regiment of which his com- pany was a part belonged to the Twentieth Army Corps and was continuously engaged in service at the front during the entire period in which Mr. Oliver served his country as a soldier. He was severely wounded at Antietam but after many weeks wholly recovered and at the close of the war returned to his home in Waupun. Some time afterward he took up the study of law in the of- fice of H. E. Conant of Waupun and was later admitted to the bar and in 1873 engaged in the general practice of law in Waupun and has since that time con- tinued to devote his attention to his chosen profession.
Mr. Oliver was united in marriage on the 4th of July, 1866, to Miss Grace Sampey, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Sampey, both of whom were na- tives of England and on emigrating to America settled in Waupun, Wisconsin, in 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Oliver three children have been born: Ada B., at home; Gertrude, who died at the age of thirty-four years; and Grace A., also at home.
Mr. Oliver is affiliated with the democratic party and he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. He is one of the distinguished and success- ful lawyers of Fond du Lac county and a man whose strict attention to his busi- ness interests has resulted in gratifying success to himself and his clientele.
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