Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 54

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738

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WILLIS J. GILLETT.

The Springvale Stock Farm, known throughout Fond du Lac county and the state of Wisconsin as "The Home of the Johannas," is the most important, mod- ern and thoroughly equipped enterprise of its kind in the country and its pro- prietor, Willis J. Gillett, is one of the best known breeders of Holstein-Friesian cattle in America. He has won his prominence by actual attainment and has based it upon long personal experience, careful work and scientific efficiency. He has devoted his entire life to stock-breeding and has achieved a national reputa- tion as a remarkably successful and able man. He is well known in American stock associations and has held national offices for many years, thus making his knowledge and experience generally effective. He stands at the head of his busi- ness today, thoroughly versed in its details and scientifically efficient-one of the greatest forces in the development of the stock-breeding industry in America. He is a native of Fond du Lac county and was born in Fond du Lac township on July 26, 1864. His parents were Timothy K. and Lydia S. (Cowden) Gillett, natives of New York state. They were married in that state and came to Fond du Lac county in the early '50s, locating in Fond du Lac township, being among the earliest settlers. They lived upon a farm there until 1866, when they came to Springvale township, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which his son is now living. Here Timothy K. Gillett carried on farming and stock-raising and was conspicuously successful in both these lines of endeavor until 1889, when he was elected clerk of the circuit court and moved to the city of Fond du Lac, where he entered upon his public duties. He lived there until 1900, moving to Rosendale, where his death occurred on July 6, 1904. His wife survived him until December 27, 1907, also passing away at Rosendale.

Willis J. Gillett attended school in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and remained with his parents until 1894. The father began breeding registered Holstein-

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Freisian cattle in 1878, when he made some purchases from Smith & Powell of Syracuse and added to his herd by purchase from Garrett S. Miller, of Peterboro, New York, and from the Unadilla Valley Stock Breeders' Association of Ed- mundson, New York. Thus it was that Willis J. Gillett gained his first knowl- edge of the details of stock-breeding and his early activities along this line gave a definite bent to his ambitions. In 1894 he took charge of the Springvale Stock Farm and has carried on his business upon this property since that time. He has specialized in the same breeds of stock in which his father was interested and to- day has a herd of from forty to fifty head of the best cattle in the world. For eighteen consecutive years they had exhibited at all the important fairs and stock shows but in 1895 discontinued this practice because of the danger of injury and disease. He breeds for quality and not for quantity and has some of the finest registered stock in America. The head of his herd is a son of the world's cham- pion, which was developed by Mr. Gillett. Colantha Johanna Champion is a son of the noted Colantha 4th's Johanna, the only cow of any breed that ever held all the world's records for the production of butter at one time. She gave twenty- seven thousand, four hundred and thirty-two and five-tenths pounds of milk in one year and twelve hundred and forty-seven and eight-tenths pounds of butter in the same time. The sire of the present head of Mr. Gillett's herd, Sir Fayne Concordia, was a full brother of the first cow of the breed to surpass Colantha 4th's Johanna in weekly production of butter. The brother of this animal was sold for eight thousand dollars cash. Willis J. Gillett anticipates that Colantha Johanna Champion will be one of the greatest sires of the Holstein-Friesian breed. He bases his belief upon the fact that his first fourteen daughters gave three hundred and eighty and six-tenths pounds of milk and sixteen and five-tenths pounds of butter in seven days and showed a daily average of fifty-four and four- tenths pounds of milk at the age of two years. He has recently purchased at a large price a registered bull, King Pieter Lyons, No. 94224 from H. A. Moyer, of Syracuse, New York, which he intends to cross with the daughters of the world's champion.

Willis J. Gillett's remarkable success as a stock-breeder has gained him promi- nence in many breeding associations. In 1902 he served as president of the Hol- stein-Friesian Association of America, the largest society of its kind in the world, and for fourteen years was a member of the board of directors of that organiza- tion and for three years chairman of its executive committee. He served for two years as president of the Wisconsin State Dairymen's Association and is at the present time president of the Wisconsin State Holstein-Friesian Breeders' As- sociation, serving his first term. All the honors which he has been given by his associates in his line of business and all the offices which he has held in breeding associations have come to him unsolicited and as a result of unqualified success as a scientific breeder of high-grade stock. He is one of the best known men in Fond du Lac county and although much of his time and attention is given to the operation of his stock farm he is nevertheless interested in various local enter- prises, being president of the Rosendale State Bank and a member of the board of directors of the Citizens State Bank of Fond du Lac.

In 1886 Mr. Gillett was united in marriage to Miss Ernestine V. Samuels, a daughter of David and Emma (Carlton) Samuels. The father was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to Wisconsin at an early date. He was a veteran of the Civil war and died in Beaver Dam. His wife was born near the latter city and is now living in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Gillett are the parents of two children. Their eldest son, Elton S., was born October 4. 1891. and attended the public schools of Rosendale, graduating from the high school in 1909. He is associated with his father in business under the firm name of W. J. Gillett & Son. Forrest W. was born January 1, 1895, and was graduated from the Rosendale high school in 1911. He is now a student at Ripon College.

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Willis J. Gillett is a democrat "by breeding and precept" and has always been a stanch adherent to the party's doctrines. When he was a young man he served two terms as treasurer of Springvale township. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church of Beaver Dam. Fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. III, F. & A. M., of Rosendale and served for three years as worshipful master in that organization. He and his wife belong to Rosendale Lodge, No. 68, Order of the Eastern Star, and he has served as worthy patron and she as worthy matron. Mr. Gillett is a successful man and one of the best known citi- zens of the state of Wisconsin. He has in the course of years become the pro- prietor of an enterprise based on scientifically efficient methods of operation and built up along lines of system and progress. He is more than merely a prosper- ous business man. His success has gone beyond private aspects and has influ- enced the development of one of the greatest of our national industries.

WILLIAM JAEGER.

One of the most progressive and enterprising young farmers of Springvale township is William Jaeger, a native of Fond du Lac county, who is successful in the cultivation of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 9 and 12. His methods are practical and consequently productive of good results and he has gained prosperity and prominence among his fellow citizens. He was born in Rosendale township, October 26, 1870, and is a son of Frederick and Mary (Kentopp) Jaeger, natives of Germany. The father was a farmer and came to the United States at an early date, settling near Ripon, where he worked in the employ of others for some time. After his marriage he began an independent agricultural career and purchased land in Rosendale township. He intended to move upon his holdings in the fall of 1905 but died on July 2 of that year before he had accomplished his purpose. His wife survives him and is living upon the farm in Rosendale township. They were the parents of ten children: William, of this review ; Freda, the wife of Fred Ferch, of Rosendale; Ida, at home ; Mary, the wife of Gustave Tank, of Springvale township; Tilly, who married Rhine Wagner, of Springvale township; Emma, the wife of William Hempel, of La- martine township; Amel and Minnie, twins, both of whom reside in Rosendale township, the latter acting as housekeeper for her brother ; Elsie, the wife of Au- gust Arndt, of Rosendale township; and Lana, who resides on the home place with her mother.

William Jaeger was reared at home and educated in the public schools of Ripon. When he was twenty-four years of age he married and began active life for himself, renting a farm in Springvale township. Here he remained for eleven years, sometimes changing his farm location but always remaining in Springvale township. It was in 1905 that he purchased his present holdings comprising one hundred and twenty acres of fertile and productive land on sections 9 and 12. He is accounted one of the representative and substantial agriculturists of this part of the county. His land is crossed from east to west by an old Indian trail, a reminder of earlier and less progressive times. The property is highly im- proved and in excellent condition, the buildings being modern and sanitary and the fields planted in the most suitable grains. Mr. Jaeger is interested in the rais- ing of high-grade cattle and has a dairy herd of twelve Durham cows but is gradually breeding into the Holstein strain. In all his farming operations he is active and energetic, his past labor resulting in the gratifying prosperity which he is now enjoying.

On the 15th of November, 1894, William Jaeger was united in marriage to Miss Lena Duehring, a daughter of Fred and Reka (Staple) Duehring, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany. They came to the United States in 1882 and located

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

in Ripon, where for some time the father worked at any occupation which would bring him an income. Eventually he took up railroad work and was successful in this line of activity. In 1909 he left Ripon and moved to. Oshkosh, where he is now employed in a sawmill. To Mr. and Mrs. Fred Duehring six children have been born: Lena, the wife of our subject; William, a resident of West Rosen- dale; John, of Oshkosh; Martha, the wife of Erwin Endthoff, of Ripon; Bertha, residing in Ripon; and Dora, the wife of Louis Schultz, of Ripon. Mrs. Jaeger was born in Germany, January 30, 1874, and came to the United States with her parents when she was eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger have four chil- dren. Leon, born July 12, 1897, was graduated from district school No. 2 of Springvale township in June, 1912. He now attends the high school at Rosen- dale and assists his father in the work of the farm. Elmer, born January 12, 1899, is attending district school No. 2 of Springvale township. Edwin, born June 7, 1900, is also attending district school No. 2. Leona, who completes the family, was born August 8, 1902, and is attending school in the same district. The family belong to the German Lutheran church.

In his political views William Jaeger is democratic, but never seeks public office. He has devoted practically all his time since the beginning of his active career to farming and by upright methods and honorable principles has gained that prosperity which results from earnest and well directed efforts.

WILLIAM F. KETTLER.

William F. Kettler is the owner of a hundred and sixty-five acres of highly productive land located on section 17 of Byron township, where he successfully engages in general farming and stock-raising. His birth occurred on the place he now owns on the 3d of November, 1872, his parents being Antone and Maria Theresa (Gaertner) Kettler, natives of Germany. The father, whose natal year was 1829, emigrated to the United States in 1852, after having spent the usual period of service in the German army. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kettler, as follows: Fred J., who is a traveling salesman ; Frances E., the wife of P. T. Kaufman, a farmer, by whom she has had three children ; Louis A., who married Almeda Simmons, of Byron township; William F., our subject; Emma, who married Ernest Orvis, of Oakfield, and has one child; Meta, who became the wife of J. B. Steen, a farmer of South Dakota, and has one child ; Louisa, who is residing in Fond du Lac; and Mary and Otto, both of whom are deceased, as is also the father, his death having occurred on April 21, 1904.

William F. Kettler was reared at home and educated in the district schools of Byron township, which he attended until he was a youth of seventeen years. As he had been assisting his father with the tilling of the fields and care of the crops from boyhood, he was quite familiar with the duties and responsibilities of an agriculturist, and thereafter gave his undivided attention to the operation of the home farm. After the death of his father, he bought the interest of the other heirs in the property, in the development of which he has met with suc- cess. His place is well improved and cared for, manifesting by its general appear- ance the exercise of capable management and competent supervision in its culti- vation. Mr. Kettler also engages in stock-raising and now has twenty-five head of cattle and five horses.

At Oakfield, this state, on the 18th of October, 1904, Mr. Kettler was united in marriage to Miss Alma E. Smith, a daughter of Edward F. and Clara J. Smith, well known farming people of that vicinity. The father was born in this county in 1851 and died in Byron township in 1910, while the mother was a native of Wisconsin. Three children were born to them: Mrs. Kettler; Laura E., who is

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

a dressmaker; and George M., who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Kettler there have been born two daughters, Gladys S. and Dorothy M.

In matters of faith Mr. and Mrs. Kettler are Episcopalians, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a republican in his political views and gives his stanch support to the men and measures of that party. The farm Mr. Kettler now owns was formerly the property of his grandfather, who replaced the log cabin he built when he first located here by the frame resi- dence now occupied by his grandson. The family is widely known and highly respected in this vicinity, as they are thrifty and diligent as well as enterprising and are in every way most desirable citizens, their energies contributing toward the development of the community, while forwarding their personal interests.

WILLIAM IRWIN.

On the 15th of October, 1908, William Irwin passed away upon his farm on section 30, Springvale township, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and his passing marked the end of a long and useful career. He was among the earliest Wisconsin pioneers and was identified for almost a quarter of a century with the agricultural development of Fond du Lac county. He was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, on January 28, 1835, and was a son of Samuel and Esther Irwin, both natives of Canada. His mother died in Quebec upon the farm which her husband was operating at that time. Samuel Irwin came with his children to the United States in 1847 and located in Fond du Lac county, buying a farm in Metomen township where he lived until three years before his death. At that time he retired and moved into the village of Brandon where he died. He was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Fond du Lac county and was one of the representative and substantial citizens of that dis- trict.

William Irwin was of Scotch-Irish descent upon his father's side and of New England lineage upon the maternal side. He was the youngest child in a family of six children and he spent his early life upon his father's farm. He attended the district schools in Metomen township and spent the time when he was not pursuing his studies in assisting his father in his agricultural labors. He married in 1859 and remained with his parents for six years after his mar- riage. In 1865 he removed to Springvale township where he purchased a farm of forty-four acres which he cultivated and operated along the most modern and scientific lines until his death. He improved his property in every way, fenced his land, built barns and outbuildings and made his enterprise one of the flour- ishing and substantial farms in the county. His death ocurred on October 15, 1908, and was a distinct loss to agricultural development.

Mr. Irwin was married on August 21, 1859, to Miss Harriet Lockin, a daughter of John and Mary (Cooper) Lockin, both natives of England. They came to the United States in 1845, and were among the pioneers in the settle- ment of Wisconsin. They located in Watertown where the father followed farming and also worked in the timber woods for a number of years. In 1849 he removed to Metomen township, purchased land one mile east of Brandon and developed and improved his property until he retired from active life. He then removed to Brandon and in that village his death occurred in 1872. His wife's death followed his two years later and occurred in Brandon.

Mrs. Irwin's memory dates back to pioneer times in Wisconsin. She saw the first train come into Brandon and was one of the crowd of people who came from the outlying districts for miles around to witness the entrance of the first locomotive and to give the train a welcome into the village. Her eldest brother, William Lockin, who is now deceased, owned the land where the vil-

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

lage of Brandon now stands. When the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road came through the community they asked Mr. Lockin to name the new town. He consulted with his mother who advised him to name the village Brandon after the town in England where she was born. Later William ' Lockin met Mrs. Alva Knapp on Round Prairie, and after he had told her his ideas regarding the naming of the village she added her encouragement to that of Mrs. Lockin, as her birth had occurred in a town of the same name in Vermont.

To Mr. and Mrs. Irwin were born six children: Edgar Henry, who is now a rural mail carrier in Herreid, South Dakota, and who married Miss Mary Artus, of Clear Lake, South Dakota, by whom he has four children, Ethel, Elva, Ruth and Helen; Louisa E., the wife of Arthur D. Prouty, a farmer of Pollock, South Dakota, by whom she has two children, Clement and Arlouine, the latter a graduate of the Brandon high school in the class of 1912; William, a prominent banker of Linton, North Dakota, who married Ellen Gilman of Denver, Colorado; Flora E., the wife of John J. Fenelon, a banker and farmer of Pollock, South Dakota, by whom she has four children, Irwin, Katherine, William and John; Ethel M., the wife of Michael E. Kaufman, a harness- maker of St. Paul, Minnesota ; and Harriford C., who took charge of the home farm upon his father's death and who is now carrying on agriculture and making his home with his mother.

Mr. Irwin was, during his life, one of the substantial and representative citizens of Fond du Lac county. He affiliated with the republican party, and, although he took an intelligent interest in public affairs he was never personally active. He belonged to the Masonic order, holding membership in Brandon Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Brandon and now lives upon the farm which her husband left. Mr. Irwin's life was closely connected with the upbuilding and growth of the village of Brandon and of Springvale township, and upon his death Fond du Lac county lost a representative and able citizen and a pioneer in its settlement, who, in all the phases of his life was without fear and without reproach.

EDWARD L. MALONEY.

Edward L. Maloney, who for forty years has been local representative of several of the old line life and fire insurance companies is one of the best known and most prominent underwriters in the city of Fond du Lac. He was born in Troy, New York, on the 3Ist of March, 1838, and is, as his name would suggest, of Irish extraction. His parents James and Anna (Hanley) Maloney were both born in the Emerald isle, the father's natal year being 1807 and that of the mother 1808. There they were likewise reared and married, emigrating to the United States in 1836. Upon their arrival in this country they first located in Troy, New York, but they subsequently became citizens of Fond du Lac county, where the father, who was a farmer, engaged in agri- cultural pursuits during the remainder of his active life. Eight children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Maloney, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of our subject and one daughter, Mrs. Anna Southwick, of this city.

Practically the entire life of Edward L. Maloney has been passed in Fond du Lac, which was little more than a village when he first came here and gave little promise of developing into the enterprising thriving city it is today. His education was obtained in the graded and high schools which he attended until he was a youth of nineteen years. He then became self-supporting, carning his first money at school teaching. He was identified with this profession for

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

eight terms, but as it did not prove to be very lucrative and gave little promise for the future, he subsequently sought other employment. He enlisted in the quartermaster's department in 1864 and was assigned duty in the quartermaster's department, as quartermaster's clerk, which position he held during the entire period of his enlistment. Immediately after receiving his discharge in 1865 he returned to Fond du Lac. During the succeeding seven years he followed various lines of employment, but at the expiration of that time, in 1872, he opened an office and engaged in the general insurance business. As he is a man of pleasing address and convincing manner he is well adapted to the busi- ness and has made a success of it, and without question is one of the best known representatives of the insurance interests in the city. When he became better established he extended the scope of his activities by adding both an abstract and real-estate department. He has been equally successful in both of these, and is the owner of a valuable set of abstract books, while he has handled many of the city's important realty transfers.

The lady who is known as Mrs. Maloney, during her maidenhood was Miss Laura E. Cole of Waupaca, this state. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maloney, Laura E., a school girl of ten years. Nina, a daughter by his first wife, became the wife of Dr. H. J. Richardson of Colorado Springs, by whom she has had one son, Horace E.

The political support of Mr. Maloney is given to such men and measures as he deems best qualified to serve the highest interests of the public. He is enterprising and progressive in matters of citizenship as well as in business affairs and is accorded the esteem and regard of a large circle of acquaintances many of whom are comrades of his boyhood days.

JUSTIN D. ROOT, M. D.

Dr. Justin D. Root is one of the leading physicians in Fond du Lac county where he has been practicing for twenty-two years and his prosperity is the result of his knowledge of the underlying principles of medicine and his prac- tical application. His success is exemplified in the fact that his practice has made a rapid growth during the years and has attained gratifying proportions at the present time. Dr. Root was born in Dodge county, near Beaver Dam on the 13th of November, 1857, and is a son of Lyman and Mary Jane (Reed) Root. His father was born in Portage, Allegany county, New York, on Sep- tember 10, 1827, and for some time followed music teaching. He abandoned this occupation in order to take up farming and came to Wisconsin in the early '40s. Here he took up a homestead claim, paying one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. His property was located near Beaver Dam where he lived until he moved to Fox Lake. He later rented out his farm and retired, making Fox Lake his home until his death, which occurred March 20, 1895. He was of New England stock and was the son of Israel Root who was born in Greenbush, Rensselaer county, on December 22, 1800, and who followed farming all during his life. Lyman Root's wife was also a native of New York state, having been born at Pillar Point. She accompanied her husband to Wisconsin and died at the home of her son in 1908 when she was seventy-eight years of age.

Dr. Root has one brother, Albert E., who is residing on the old homestead near Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and two half-sisters, Mrs. Emma J. Miller of Fargo, North Dakota, and Mrs. Julia M. Baker, also of Fargo, North Dakota. He was educated in the public schools of Fox Lake and was graduated from the high school in that district. He attended Downer College and after he decided to make the practice of medicine his life work he entered the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, receiving his degree of M. D. in 1884. He located for

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Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 54

Author: McKenna, Maurice Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : Clarke Number of Pages: 738

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738