USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 46
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ARTHUR D. CHESLEY.
Arthur D. Chesley is one of the most progressive agriculturists in the state of Wisconsin and his well developed and improved farm is an epitome of the progressive spirit of the state. His family is of English origin and was founded in America at an early date by Phillip Chesley, who left his native country and settled in the New England states. Representatives of the family were later prominent in New Hampshire and went from that state to Nova Scotia. Here Israel Chesley, the father of our subject, was born and here he spent his early boyhood. At the age of fourteen he left Nova Scotia for Canada and remained in that country until he was twenty-three years of age. He then came to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and bought the land upon which he resides. He greatly improved his holdings and built upon his property the beautiful residence in which his family make their home. He was married in 1854 to Miss Jemima Hendricks, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in Fond du Lac county in July, 1900, in the sixty-seventh year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Israel Chesley were the parents of four children: Minerva, who died in infancy ; Walter W .; Oscar B .; and Arthur D., the subject of this sketch.
Arthur D. Chesley was born upon his father's farm in Fond du Lac county, March 25, 1869. He received his education in the district schools of Eden township and in the public schools of Fond du Lac. He supplemented this study by a course in a commercial college and when he laid aside his books returned immediately to the home farm to assist his father in the labors in- cident to the carrying on of his large agricultural enterprise. When Arthur Chesley was twenty-one years of age he purchased the homestead and the sur-
A. D. CHESLEY AND FAMILY
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rounding acres from his father and has since that time been active in its opera- tion. He has made most of the improvements upon his land and his barns and outbuildings are models for similar structures throughout the county. He is a firm believer in the modern agricultural idea of the economy of labor-saving farm machinery and has installed a full equipment upon his holdings. He specializes in the raising of high-grade stock and is known throughout Fond du Lac county as an expert judge of thoroughbred horses and cattle. He is one of the most progressive farmers in the state of Wisconsin and has con- tributed his full share to advancing development in agricultural lines. He is just completing the erection of the largest and most up-to-date barn in Fond du Lac county and is contemplating many other new improvements. Aside from his agricultural work, Mr. Chesley has found time for other interests. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Town Line cheese factory, was elected its first president and has continuously filled the office since that time. He was also one of the first stockholders in the First State Bank of Campbellsport and likewise holds stock in the Theresa Union Tele- phone Company.
On January 13, 1892, Arthur D. Chesley was united in marriage to Miss Anna Barnes, a daughter of William J. and Fidelia Barnes of Rosendale, Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Chesley have been born six children: Mary, Hazel, Paul, Minnie, Marshal, and Amy. The family are regular attendants of the Metho- dist church of Campbellsport. Mr. Chesley is a charter member and served as president of the Farmers Progressive League at Campbellsport, and is also a charter member of Camp No. 5971, M. W. A., at Campbellsport.
Politically Mr. Chesley is independent. He has served as town clerk, which office he held for two years, and has been prominent in the affairs of the local board of education for eighteen years. He is progressive and energetic and upon these qualities he has founded his success. The great state of Wisconsin is growing more rapidly as its farms become more efficient and more scien- tifically operated.
DANIEL L. BOYLE.
Daniel L. Boyle is one of the well known successful business men of Waupun where he has been engaged in the undertaking business since 1909. He was born in Chester township, Dodge county, Wisconsin, December 23, 1863, and is a son of Thomas and Julia (Sullivan) Boyle, both of whom were natives of Ireland, being born in County Kerry, near the lakes of Killarney. As young people they emigrated to the United States at a very early date, and later cele- brated their marriage in Worcester, Massachuetts. In 1850 they removed to Wisconsin, settling first in Milwaukee and later removed with ox teams to Dodge county, this state, where they established their home on government land and there continued to live during the remaining years of the father's life, which closed March 9, 1881. The mother is still living at the age of eighty-six. They became the parents of five children: Elizabeth and Mary, who reside at the old home; John, who has charge of the old homestead; Thomas J., who resides in Green Bay ; and Daniel L., who is the subject of this review. Thomas Boyle was a loyal member of the democratic party and a faithful communicant of the Cath- olic church, as is also his surviving widow.
Daniel L. Boyle was reared in his parents' home and received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Dodge county. At the age of seventeen he started out in life for himself as a telegraph operator and station agent, obtaining his first position at that work at Chester, Wisconsin, where for a period of thirty years he continued as an employe of the Northwestern Railroad Company, during Vol. II -- 20
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which time five years were spent in service as an operator at various other points on that company's lines in Wisconsin. He then took up the undertaking busi- ness, studying under Dr. Barnes of Chicago and in July, 1909, he purchased the undertaking establishment of Coon & Son of Waupun, and conducted that busi- ness while he was still in charge of the railroad office at Chester until January, 1912, at which time he resigned as an employe of the railroad company and has since devoted his entire attention to his undertaking business, which he conducts with great tact and circumspection.
Daniel L. Boyle was united in marriage on October 20, 1903, to Miss Cath- erine Donovan, of Waupun, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Brown) Donovan, natives of Ireland, who came from County Cork to America at a very early day. All their children were born in Fond du Lac county and they are Frances, Julia, Helen, Louis Thomas and David John. Mr. Boyle is affiliated with the demo- cratic party but liberal in the use of his franchise. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus of Green Bay, also of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Equitable Fraternal Union and the Royal Arcanum. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Boyle is one of the well known citizens of Fond du Lac county and a man highly respected by his friends and associates.
CHARLES DUNN.
Charles Dunn is numbered among Fond du Lac county's native sons, his birth having occurred here in 1878. He makes his home on section 29, Eldorado township and devotes his time and attention to general agricultural pursuits. He comes of Irish and German ancestry, his parents being John and Mary (Henning) Dunn, the former a native of Ireland and the latter a native of Germany. The father resided in Ireland until the early '50s when he crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Wisconsin. The mother came to this country from Germany when sixteen years of age. In their family were seven sons, all of whom are yet living and are residents of Fond du Lac county.
Charles Dunn, one of this number, spent his youthful days under the paren- tal roof and acquired his education in the district schools of Eldorado town- ship, his time being divided between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and such tasks as were assigned to him by his father in connection with the cultivation of the fields. He early gained practical expe- rience therefore in the occupation which he has made his life work. He is the owner of twenty-six acres of land which are well improved, and the work he does annually brings him good harvests. He is yet a young man but is mak- ing continuous progress in business.
In 1908 Mr. Dunn was united in marriage to Miss Edith Burgraff, a daugh- ter of William Burgraff. They attend the Lutheran church. Mr. Dunn gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, but aside from voting he is not active in politics, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his busi- ness affairs.
CHARLES F. DOLL.
Charles F. Doll, chief fire marshal of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, resides at No. 193 North Main street. His birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 13th of June, 1865, his parents being John George and Minnie (Krueger) Doll. His paternal grandparents had two children: John George; and Lena, who is the wife of Henry Grafferman, a well known resident of St. Louis. Peter
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Krueger, the maternal grandfather of our subject, died at the advanced age of eighty-nine, leaving the following children: Julius, Minnie and Alvina. John George Doll, the father of Charles F. Doll, was reared in St. Louis, Mis- souri, and followed the business of a butcher. At one time he owned a large butcher supply house at Glasgow, Missouri, where he had the contract for sup- plying all the river boats with meats. On retiring from this business he re- turned to St. Louis, Missouri. In 1865 he was a member of the Home Guards. He died at his home in St. Louis on the 10th of July, 1893, passing away in the faith of the Catholic church. His wife still survives and makes her home with her son Charles. They were the parents of four children, namely: Minnie, the deceased wife of Otto Becker; George and Julius, who have also passed away; and Charles F., of this review.
The last named was born and reared in St. Louis, where he attended the public schools, receiving a common-school education. Following in the foot- steps of his father, he learned the butcher's trade, which he followed for some time. It was discovered by himself and others interested that he had special adaptability and skill as a baseball player and the financial inducements to engage in this sport were sufficient to attract him from the business of a butcher, from which he retired and became a member of the league, playing his last league game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1886. After retiring from the diamond he became a member of the Milwaukee fire department and remained in this occupation for a period of twenty-three years, gaining the rank of captain of the department. Upon his retirement from service in the fire department of Milwaukee, Wis- consin, he came to Fond du Lac on the Ist of October, 1909, and was appointed marshal of the fire department of this city. This department consists of four companies, composed in all of twenty-five men. The Holly high pressure sys- tem is in use in the department.
On the 27th of September, 1887, Mr. Doll married Miss Louisa Truss, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Adam and Friedricka (Mush- dauch) Truss, both of whom were born in Germany and became early settlers of Milwaukee. They are now deceased. Their children were five in number, as follows: Louisa; Lena; Jacob and Sophia, twins; and Arthur. Mrs. Louisa Doll was called to her final rest on the 12th of May, 1909, at the age of forty-one years, passing away in the faith of the Lutheran church. She was the mother of eight children, four sons and four daughters, namely: Charles and Adelia, twins; George Adam; Walter Willie; May Manilla; Arthur H. M .; Olive; and Blanche, who died at the age of two years. Charles, the eldest son, is a machin- ist and resides in Milwaukee with his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mae Barth.
In politics Mr. Doll is independent. He belongs to Wisconsin Lodge, No. I. K. of P., of Milwaukee, and is also a member of Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 30, I. O. O. F., Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 57, B. P. O. E. and the In- dependent Order of Foresters of Fond du Lac. He is the deputy supreme dictator of the Moose lodge. The faithful service rendered the city of Fond du Lac by Mr. Doll as its chief fire marshal is in itself an evidence of the high esteem in which he is held in the place of his residence.
JAMES P. LINER.
James P. Liner is a native of Fond du Lac county and the son of an old set- tler in Waupun township. He has spent a busy, useful and active life as an agriculturist, being numbered among the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of his district. He owns one hundred and forty-three acres of well improved land on section 31, of Springvale township, upon which he lives in an attractive
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and modern home and is one of the substantial farmers and progressive citizens of the county. James P. Liner was born in Waupun township upon his father's homestead, March 28, 1859, and is the son of Patrick and Bridget (Riley) Liner, natives of County West Meath, Ireland. The father was a farmer and fol- lowed that occupation in the country in which he was born until he came to the United States in the early '50s, locating first in Connecticut, where he and his wife were married. They lived in that state for two years, coming at the end of that time to Fond du Lac county, where Patrick Liner purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land in Waupun township. He immediately began its im- provement and development, adding to his holdings from time to time until he had acquired four hundred acres of valuable land. He lived upon this property during the remaining of his life and died in Waupun township in 1906, having survived his wife since 1900. He was one of the well known and substantial citizens of the district of which he had been a resident since pioneer times. He was numbered among the earliest settlers and took an active part in the up- building and development of Fond du Lac county. He had a wide circle of friends in the city of Fond du Lac, where he did his trading and where his genuine personal worth and unusual qualities of mind gained him wide-spread regard and esteem. To Mr. and Mrs. Liner were born six children: Catharine, the wife of John Moran, who is engaged in farming in Springvale township; Thomas, a farmer residing in Springvale township; James P., the subject of this sketch; Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Fallon, of Ripon, and whose death occurred on December 28, 1911 ; John, who is engaged in farming in Spring- vale township; and Henry J., a farmer residing in Waupun township.
James P. Liner attended school in district No. 8, Metomen township, and from his early childhood assisted his father in the work of the farm. He thus gained a detailed familiarity with the methods of operation and became thor- oughly acquainted with the most important elements of agricultural activity. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age and then began his independent life, settling on a farm on section 31, Springvale township, where he is still residing. He owns one hundred and forty-three acres of land, all of which is under cultivation and in excellent condition. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, keeping a fine herd of Holstein cattle and a dairy herd of eleven cows, the head of which is a registered animal. On August 7, 1910, fire destroyed one of the finest barns upon Mr. Liner's property. In it were seventy-five tons of hay, all of the farm machinery, a valuable span of horses, cattle, wagons and buggies. Sixteen grain stacks were standing near the building and these also were destroyed, together with the granary containing the harvested crops of the year before. The fire spread to the neighboring build- ings and when it was conquered after a short fight by three hundred men from Brandon and the surrounding country there was left standing only the house in which Mr. Liner resided. What was a few hours before a flourishing, pros- perous and highly developed farm equipped with all conveniences for carrying on progressive agriculture became a desolate waste. Mr. Liner, however, was undeterred by this misfortune and in the same year rebuilt his barn and gran- aries and bought new machinery and within a remarkably short time had his es- tablishment again in working order and in a fair way to be more successful than it was before. He has one of the most pleasant and attractive country homes in Springvale township and is numbered among the substantial and rep- resentative farmers of the section.
On July 1, 1885, Mr. Liner was united in marriage to Miss May McDonald, a daughter of Daniel and Anna (McLaughlin) McDonald, natives of Ireland. The father was a farmer in the country in which he was born and followed the same occupation when he came to Wisconsin. He died before the year 1885 but his wife survived him for many years and made her home in Markesan for some time. She died in 1906 in Pardeeville, Columbia county, Wisconsin. Daniel and Anna McDonald were the parents of seven children : Anna, the widow
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of William Egan, of Buffalo township, Portage county; May, now Mrs. James P. Liner; Alexander, who is engaged in the stock and real-estate business in Markesan ; John, a retired farmer of Pardeeville; Ella, the wife of Henry Liner, who is engaged in farming in Waupun township; Daniel, a district attorney, whose home is in Winnebago county ; and Charles, who is an attorney in Witten- burg, Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Liner have been born four children. Eu- gene, born June 10, 1886, is residing at Waterloo, Iowa, where he is employed as bookkeeper by the Illinois Central Railroad. James, born June 16, 1888, is residing on the home farm with his parents. Ella May, born December 12, 1890, is a graduate of the Brandon high school in the class of 1906 and of the Oshkosh Normal School in the class of 1910. In 1911 and 1912 she taught the fifth and sixth grades in the Brandon schools and resigned to accept her present position as teacher in the public schools of Waupun. Charles, born May 25, 1902, is now attending the Union Prairie school, in Metomen township.
Mr. Liner and his family are devout adherents of the Roman Catholic faith. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party but beyond casting his vote at each election he takes no very active part in public affairs, preferring to give his entire attention to the duties incident to the operation of his large farm. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Creamery Company and in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Brandon and is always eager to do his best to promote the success of local enterprises. He belongs to Ripon Branch, No. 58, Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, his only fraternal affiliation. He has been successful because he keeps in touch with the trend of modern agricultural development, while his record of systematic and well directed activity, resulting as it has in a high degree of prosperity, is proof of what may be accomplished by deter- mination and enterprise, combined with constructive business talent and un- wavering diligence.
JOHN S. FOAT, M. D.
Dr. John S. Foat, engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery in Ripon for ten years, during which period he has demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the many intricate problems of the profession, was born in Hebron, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, September 29, 1872, a son of William J. and Olive L. (Elmendorf) Foat. The father was born September 24, 1842, and in 1871 was married. Unto him and his wife were born two sons: John S., of this review ; and Emery S., living in Adams county, Wisconsin, where he fol- lows farming.
Dr. Foat pursued his early education in the public schools of Adams county and later attended Ripon College, of which he graduated in 1899 with the degree of A. B. Having resolved to make the practice of medicine his life work he entered Rush Medical College at Chicago and was graduated therefrom with the class of June, 1902. His course of training was thorough and comprehensive and well qualified for his onerous professional duties, he entered upon his chosen life work. For ten years he has been a resident of Ripon, devoting his attention to the general practice of medicine and surgery, in which connection he has made for himself a creditable reputation, while his labors have been of value and benefit to his many patients. He is a member of the county and state medical societies and through their proceedings keeps in touch with the advanced work that is being done by the profession. Moreover, his close conformity to a high standard of professional ethics has won for him the high regard of his fellow practitioners.
On the 30th of November, 1899, Dr. Foat was united in marriage to Miss Grace E. Cate, who was born in Auroraville, Wisconsin, on the 10th of April, 1872, a daughter of Daniel W. and Jessie (Daniels) Cate, who were married
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in 1871. Her father died in Auroraville, Wisconsin, in September, 1911, at the age of sixty-seven years, leaving three daughters, the sisters of Mrs. Foat being : Bessie, the wife of Frank E. Seaver, of Symco, Wisconsin; and Johana, now Mrs. Brenneman, of Richland, Washington. Dr. and Mrs. Foat have one child, Olive L., who on the 10th of April, 1912, was eleven years of age and is a pupil in the public schools of Ripon. The parents hold membership in the Congrega- tional church and are interested in its work and progress. Dr. Foat also belongs to the Woodmen camp and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a veteran of the Spanish-American war, having served during the Porto Rican campaign as sergeant of Company D, Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was with the army for six months, when he was honorably discharged. He was department commander of the state of Wisconsin of the United Spanish War Veterans in 1909 and 1910. His has been an active and well spent life and, never fearing to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way, he has made con- tinuous advancement. He holds to high professional standards, is constantly studying in order to increase his usefulness, and his professional labors, followed by good results, have won for him high regard in the community.
WILLIAM KUHNZ.
For nine years William Kuhnz has resided upon a farm on section 4, Eldo- rado township, which is still his place of residence, and during this period he has wrought many changes in the appearance of the place by reason of the progressive methods he has followed and the improvements he has introduced. He has been a lifelong resident of Fond du Lac county, his birth having occurred in Eldorado township, February 20, 1872. As the family name indicates, he comes of Ger- man ancestry, his parents being John F. and Elizabeth (Miller) Kuhnz, both of whom were natives of the fatherland, where they resided until 1868, when they crossed the Atlantic to the United States, hoping to find here verification for the favorable stories which they had heard concerning the opportunities of the new world and the high wages paid for labor. They made their way westward to Wisconsin and have since been residents of Fond du Lac county.
In his boyhood days William Kuhnz entered the district schools near his father's home and therein mastered the elementary branches of learning. He afterward lived in Oshkosh and worked at the carpenter's trade for a time. He also spent two years working in the northern part of North Dakota but at length returned to the occupation to which he had been reared, and for nine years he has lived upon his present farm on section 4, Eldorado township. With characteristic energy he began its further development and improvement, con- verting the land into productive fields from which he annually gathers good harvests. The soil is rich and his progressive methods of handling his crops have brought him substantial success. He has made many improvements here with the result that he now has one of the excellent farms of the locality, com- prising sixty-five acres. Mr. Kuhnz also engages in threshing, being a practical engineer and has followed this line for twenty years.
In Fond du Lac Mr. Kuhnz was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Luebke, a daughter of Herman and Carolina Luebke, and they have become the parents of five children: Irving, sixteen years of age; Leona, thirteen; Laura, ten ; Sylvia, six; and Arnie, one year old. The parents attend the Lutheran church and are interested in the moral as well as the material progress of the com- inunity. Mr. Kuhnz is a warm friend of the cause of education, a fact indi- cated by his five years' service on the school board. He gives his aid to many movements for the public welfare and at the same time carefully manages his farm work so that he obtains a good annual income for the support of his fam-
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ily and the further development of his property. He has made many good im- provements on his land, has substantial buildings there and the neat and flour- ishing appearance of his place renders it one of the attractive features of the landscape.
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