Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 63

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

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TITUS C. WILSIE.

Scientific efficiency is the watchword of progress today. Knowledge to be productive must be detailed and specialized, must take into consideration mod- ern methods and must expand and develop along progressive lines. A man who brings to the cultivation of his fine tract of three hundred and ten acres in Springvale township all the most modern ideas in agriculture is Titus C. Wilsie, owner of the Maple Lawn Stock Farm, and one of the most prominent agricul- turists and stock-breeders in Fond du Lac county. Mr. Wilsie is a native of Wisconsin, born in Metomen township, July 13, 1864. He is a son of Reuben M. and Bethia C. (Hobbie) Wilsie. The father was born in Newberg, now Cleveland, Ohio, April 4, 1822, the son of Peter and Phoebe (Titus) Wilsie. He spent his early boyhood in his native section and when he started in inde- pendent life, became a manufacturer of dental tools. After his marriage he took up farming, and in 1856 came to Wisconsin, where he acquired possession of forty acres of government land in Metomen township and began its cultiva- tion. He was gradually successful and added to his holdings from time to time until he owned a valuable and well managed property. He also operated a threshing outfit for several years. He lived upon his original tract until a short time before his death, when he came to make his home with our subject. He died at the home of a son in Green Bay, February 18, 1902. He was a devout Quaker, having been reared in this religious belief. His wife, of Ger- man and New England stock, was born January 29, 1844, in Dutchess county, New York. She died at her son's home on June 8, 1904. · Mr. and Mrs. Reuben M. Wilsie were the parents of five children : George H., who is connected with a railroad at El Centro, California; Willis Emmett, a farmer living near that city ; Clara J., who married William Siebert in 1898, and who died on December 22d of the same year; Titus C., of this review; and Josephine A., a graduate of Trinity College for Trained Nurses, in Milwaukee, and who is now following her profession in Spokane, Washington. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Caleb Knapp Hobbie, who was born in Pack's Slip, New York city, October 5, 1785, and was the only son of Caleb Hobbie, of Horseneck, Connecticut. Caleb Knapp Hobbie married Clarissa Clark, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Clock) Clark, of Bedford, New York, by whom he had eleven children. The parents of our subject were among the early settlers of Wiscon- sin and helped to organize the Grange at Brandon, taking an active interest in its success during their lives.

Titus C. Wilsie attended the district schools of Metomen township and was graduated from the Brandon high school. He fitted himself for teaching and followed this occupation for two years near his home. At the end of that time he took up farming upon the property where he now lives and where he has maintained his residence continuously, with the exception of three years spent on his orange farm in the Imperial valley, California. This tract of land he

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

still owns. Mr. Wilsie is the proprietor of three hundred and ten acres of finely improved and highly developed land on section 33, Springvale township. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising, his labors being always of a progressive and constructive kind. He has made substantial improvements upon his place and has added greatly to the value of his property. His stock- raising, which constitutes an important branch of his enterprise, is carried on expertly and scientifically. For years he owned a large Holstein herd which he kept for dairy purposes, operating a cheese factory upon his farm. He is an able financier and an enterprising business man, his keen sagacity and industry constituting the basis of his present well deserved prosperity and he is also known as an experimenter in different fields of agriculture. In 1911 he raised the first hemp in this section of the country, planting ten acres, which yielded a fine crop. In 1912 he planted forty acres and is contemplating enlarging this branch of his activities. Mr. Wilsie is interested in scientific agriculture, not only as it affects his individual success, but also in a broader way, believing that new methods and modern ideas will soon make the occupation a systematic science. He is one of the organizers of and stockholders in the Farmers' Ele- vator Company of Brandon and in the Waupun Creamery Company of Waupun township. His farm is known as the Maple Lawn Stock Farm and presents an attractive picture of well cultivated fields with suitable barns, granaries and other outbuildings. It is one of the model and flourishing enterprises of its kind in Fond du Lac county.

September 27, 1888, Mr. Wilsie was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Skinner, who was born August 30, 1866, and who is a daughter of Levi F. and Philinda (Whiting) Skinner. The father was born near Buffalo, in the Boston valley, New York, in 1832, and the mother was also a native of the Empire state. They came to Wisconsin at an early date, settling during the Civil war on the farm where Mr. Wilsie now resides. Mr. Skinner was a prosperous farmer and stockman and grew to be a large landowner. He died in 1897. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilsie were born five children, of whom the eldest son died in infancy. Those who survive are: Frank Levi, born November 10, 1895, and now attending the Brandon high school; Walter Whiting, who was born March 27, 1900, and is attending district school No. 5; Carroll Paton, who was born October 13, 1902, and is also attending district school No. 5; and Perry At- wood, who was born November 23, 1905, and is attending the same school.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilsie are members of the Congregational church of Spring- vale township. For twenty-three years our subject was superintendent of the Sunday school and is now serving as church trustee. He is a member of the Equitable Fraternal Union of Brandon, Wisconsin, and is numbered among the substantial and prosperous farmers of the section in which he resides. Agricultural development in Fond du Lac county owes a distinct advance in its progress to Titus C. Wilsie, who has developed a thoroughly modern enter- prise along the most progressive lines. In this way his life has been more than individually successful; it has been broadly useful and valuable.

JOHN C. CODY.

The excellent improvements upon the two hundred and thirty-two acre farm owned by John C. Cody make it one of the valuable properties of the dis- trict. Upon this place John C. Cody was born in 1855, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Fond du Lac county. His father, Kieran Cody, mar- ried Rose Anna Whalen, a daughter of Martin Whalen. Both the father and mother of our subject were natives of Ireland, the latter being about fifteen years of age when she came to the new world. The former, reared and edu-

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

cated in his native land, secured employment in his early manhood at Liverpool. He was a ship carpenter by trade and on coming to the United States settled first in New York city. He arrived in Fond du Lac county about 1853, settling first in the city of Fond du Lac but later taking up his abode upon a farm in Taycheedah township. The remainder of his life was devoted to general agri- cultural pursuits, his labors being ended in death in 1896. His wife has also passed away.

John C. Cody spent his boyhood and youth in the usual manner of farm lads in a community which still showed many evidences of pioneer life. The work of development and improvement had been carried forward only to a limited extent during the period of his early youth, so that he has witnessed many of the changes that have occurred, bringing the county to its present prosperous and advanced condition. He attended the country schools and when not busy with his text-books worked in the fields.

In 1891 John C. Cody was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Manning, and to them have been born nine children, John K., William F., Rose A., Marie, Tessie, Edwin, Florence, Gertrude and Elizabeth. The family home is an at- tractive one built in the midst of two hundred and thirty-two fertile acres. In the rear of the residence stand good barns and outbuildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock, and these in turn are surrounded by well tilled fields devoted to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. The work of improvement has been carried steadily forward until his is one of the most attractive farms of the section. Mr. Cody has sought to enter no other line of business for he has found agriculture congenial and his energy and enterprise have brought him substantial success. The family are communicants of the Catholic church. John C. Cody is chairman of the board of supervisors which position he has filled for twelve years, his reelec- tion to office indicating how capably he has discharged his duties. He served as a member of the school board from 1888 until 1900 and has done much to further the interests of public education in his locality. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and at all times he stands for that which is progressive, being actuated ever by a public-spirited devotion to the general good.

JOHN E. PEEBLES.

John E. Peebles, who is well entitled to a place among the worthy native sons and substantial agriculturists of Fond du Lac county, has resided on his present farm in Taycheedah township for the past thirty-three years. His birth oc- curred in the town of Taycheedah in the year 1855, his parents being Ezra and Marguerite (Van Valkenberg) Peebles, who were natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. The town of Peebles in this county is named in honor of Ezra Peebles, who at one time owned most of the land in that locality. The house in which Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Peebles married still stands by the old woolen mills but is deserted.

John E. Peebles has made his home on the farm where he now lives, in Taycheedah township, for the past thirty-three years. During that period he has made many substantial improvements thereon, has erected a barn and also remodeled the house. About forty acres of the place were cleared by him. The property is devoted principally to dairy farming and is now operated by Clarence E. Peebles, the son of our subject. John E. Peebles is numbered among the successful and enterprising agriculturists of the community.

In 1880 Mr. Peebles was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Charles, her parents being John and Marinda Charles, of Fond du Lac county. Mr. and

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

Mrs. Peebles have two children: Lila M., at home; and Clarence Ezra. Both are still under the parental roof. In politics John E. Peebles is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He has always lived in Fond du Lac county and the sterling traits of his character are well known to his fellow townsmen, the great majority of whom number him as a friend.

MARCUS D. KLOTZ.

Marcus D. Klotz, who owns and operates a valuable farm of eighty acres in Eden township, is one of the worthy native sons of Fond du Lac county, having been born on the home farm here on the 17th of May, 1881. His father, Ignatius Klotz, whose birth occurred in Austria in 1842, accompanied his par- ents on their emigration to the United States in 1848, the family home being established in Eden township, this county. There Ignatius Klotz continued to reside until 1889, when he took up his abode in Campbellsport, Wisconsin. In 1880 he was elected to represent his district in the general assembly and four years later was chosen state senator, making an enviable record in both capaci- ties. He was a prominent factor in business circles, serving as president of the Campbellsport Mutual Fire Insurance Company from the time of its organiza- tion in 1895 until his death in 1911. The period of his residence in this county covered more than six decades and he was long numbered among its leading and prosperous citizens. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Maria Wenzel is now living in Campbellsport. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Klotz were born five chil- dren, namely : Marcus D., of this review ; Estella ; Ignatius ; Olive; and Irene.

Marcus D. Klotz obtained his education in the parochial and district schools of Campbellsport and remained on the home farm assisting in its operation, until he purchased a tract of land of his own. It was in 1912 that he bought the farm of eighty acres in Eden township on which he now resides and in the further cultivation and improvement of which he is engaged. He is thor- oughly familiar with the most modern methods of agriculture and is well en- titled to recognition among the substantial and enterprising young farmers of the community.

In 1906, Marcus D. Klotz was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Meade, a daughter of Thomas Meade. He is a devout communicant of St. James church at Eden. Having always lived in this county, he is well known, and that he has ever merited the esteem and good-will of his fellow townsmen is indicated by his popularity, for he has a large circle of warm friends.

JOHN HEATH.

John Heath is accounted one of the progressive, enterprising and highly valued citizens of Fond du Lac because of his close association with commercial affairs and his activity in public interests. He is president of the O'Brien Dry Goods Company; has been president of the city council, president of the board of education, and is now president of the library board. On every hand are found tangible evidences of his loyalty to the best interests of the community and his resultant labors in behalf of public progress and improvement.

John Heath is a native of England. He was born in Over, Cheshire, June 13, 1847, his parents being Samuel and Martha (Bowden) Heath. The former

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

was a son of John Heath, an English farmer, who spent his entire life in his native land. He and his wife had a large family and both lived to old age.

Although Samuel Heath spent his boyhood on his father's farm, he became a contractor of Cheshire and there died in 1882, when sixty-seven years of age. His wife was a comparatively young woman when called to her final rest. Both were faithful members of the Methodist church and Samuel Heath was prominent in public affairs. He served as the first president of the local board of Crewe, England, and held several other government offices but lived retired for a quarter of a century before his demise. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Heath were born five children who reached adult age: Samuel, who is living in Man- chester, England; John; Thomas Henry, deceased; Nathan Richard, who passed away in Fond du Lac; and Mary Alice, who is the wife of Rev. Thomas Powell, of Timaru, New Zealand.

John Heath was reared in England, largely spending his boyhood and youth in Crewe, to which place his parents removed during his early childhood. His education, however, was obtained at Over, where he was born. and attended a private school. He afterward served an apprenticeship in the machinists' trade, but on account of ill health gave up that pursuit, and on the advice of his family physician came to the United States, settling at Fond du Lac, Wis- consin, in 1867, where he secured a clerkship in the store of the late B. Wild with whom he remained as a salesman for two years. At the end of that time he was admitted to partnership in the business which was afterward operated under the firm style of B. Wild & Company. This was in 1869 and they were associated as partners for about twenty-two years, or until they sold out to the American Biscuit Company in 1891. John Heath then became assistant manager for that company in Fond du Lac and remained in that position until the business was merged with the National Biscuit Company. He was after- ward engaged as assistant manager for the latter company at this point until he became a member of the O'Brien Dry Goods Company, of which he is now the president. They do an extensive business, employing a large force of sales people and theirs is an up-to-date and well appointed establishment to which the public accords a large patronage. Mr. Heath is recognized as a man of sound business judgment and unfaltering energy and his well formulated plans find their justification in the success which follows their execution. In addition to his commercial interests he is known in financial circles as a stockholder in the Fond du Lac National Bank.

On the 8th of June, 1869, occurred the marriage of John Heath and Miss Sarah J. Wild, a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza (Bonell) Wild Mr. and Mrs. John Heath have become the parents of four children. William Henry, the eldest, was married twice. He first wedded May Vivian Richie and they had six children, Sarah Vivian, John R., Marion Curson, William Bayard, George and Edward. For his second wife he chose Hattie Kayser and by their marriage he has two children, Samuel Richard and Catharine Elizabeth. He is manager of the advertising department of the Wood County Reporter at Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. Frank Howarth, the second son of our subject, is city editor of the Daily Com- monwealth, of Fond du Lac. He married Hazel E. Weil and they have two children, Sarah Eleanor and Dorothy Frances. Samuel Wild, the third son, is connected with the American Radiator Company of Milwaukee, as an archi- tect salesman. The fourth child of John Heath died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Heath are both members of the Episcopal church and are much interested in the moral progress of the community. Fraternally John Heath is connected with Fidelity Lodge, No. 19, K. of P., and is a charter member of Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 57, B. P. O. E. Politically he is a democrat. He is prominent in public affairs having served as alderman of the old second ward and also as president of the city council in which connection he exercised his official prerogatives in support of many public measures. He has been president of the board of education and is now president of the library board.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

It was through his influence and under his administration that the Union, Lin- coln and Washington school buildings were erected and various other improve- ments made to school property while the system of instruction was greatly en- hanced by the adoption of modern progressive methods. As a business man he is notably prompt, energetic and reliable yet individual interests by no means comprise the extent of his activities as the public has benefited by his labors in large measure.

ALBERT SANDER.

Albert Sander is one of the proprietors of the Sander Brothers Brewing Company of Fond du Lac. He was born November 24, 1859, at Plymouth, this state, and is a son of Adam and Gertrude (Gaubenheimer) Sander, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born on the 10th of March, 1832, and in the early days of his manhood he emigrated to America, making his first settlement in Baltimore, Maryland, whence he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained for some time and later removed to Plymouth and from that place to Fond du Lac in 1864. Shortly after reaching that city he established himself in the brewing business late in the year 1864 and con- tinued to give his undivided attention to that business for a period of thirty- four years thereafter. He began in the brewing business in a very modest way but by careful attention to that industry he succeeded in developing a very large and prosperous enterprise, which for many years has been one of the sub- stantial manufacturing concerns of Fond du Lac. In 1898, owing to his very advanced age, he placed the operation of the Sander Brothers Brewing Com- pany in the hands of his sons and retired from the active management of the concern. To Mr. and Mrs. Sander five children were born, Christina, Albert, Lena, Clara and Edwin. The last named married Minnie Jenz, of Fond du Lac, a daughter of John Jenz. To Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Sander three children have been born, Gertrude, Edwin, Jr., and Esther. Adam Sander passed away on the 8th of July, 1901.

Albert Sander was reared in his parents' home and received his education in the public schools of Fond du Lac and later in the German English Academy. At the age of fourteen he became an employe in his father's brewery and as such and later as owner he has continued to devote his entire time to the inter- ests of that business. In 1898, on account of the extreme age of their father and the increasing business interests of the brewing plant, the sons assumed the control and management of that establishment and continued to operate the business until 1901, at which time Mr. Sander and his brother Edwin became owners of the property, which they have since continued to sucessfully operate. The plant now has a capacity of six thousand barrels per annum and is rapidly increasing its output with each year. Since taking over the plant various im- provements have been made, which have contributed largely to the convenience and facility of its operation, and recently they have installed a new and up-to- date bottling establishment and a modern ice plant. The Sander Brothers brewing establishment is located on eleven acres of land south of Fond du Lac, with a frontage on the Fond du Lac & Milwaukee road, and their postoffice address is R. F. D. No. 5.

Mr. Sander was united in marriage in 1886 to Miss Minnie Doese, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Doese. To Mr. and Mrs. Sander two children have been born, Alfred and Edith. Mr. Sander is a member of the National Union also the Turners' Association. In politics he is affiliated with the democratic party, and he and his wife are both members of the Lutheran church. He is one of the well known men of Fond du Lac county and in all his business transactions

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

is known to be a man of strict integrity, and is distinguished among his friends and associates for his industrious habits and business abilty.

CHARLES HENDRICKSON ANDERSON.

Charles Hendrickson Anderson is the vice president and treasurer of the Fond du Lac Lumber Company and has made his home in Wisconsin since 1871, and the city of Fond du Lac since 1902. Close application and unfaltering energy in commercial and industrial pursuits have brought him to his present prominent position, wherein his labors are being crowned by a gratifying meas- ure of success. He is a native of New Jersey, his birth having occurred in Springfield, July 25, 1851. His parents were Robert C. and Ellen Louise (Hendrickson) Anderson, who were likewise natives of New Jersey. The paternal grandfather, Andrew P. Anderson, died in that state at an old age after rearing a large family that included Andrew, Robert C., James and Edward Anderson. The maternal grandfather of Charles H. Anderson was a farmer by occupation and both he and his wife, who were natives of Pennsylvania, spent their last years at Freehold, New Jersey.

Robert C. Anderson was reared in Springfield, New Jersey, there learned the tailor's trade and afterward became a clothier of that city. Subsequently he carried on a similar business at Columbia, South Carolina, and at Nashville, Tennessee, and in his later years he and his wife came to Fond du Lac county to make their home with their son, Charles H., at Rosendale. The father died in the 'gos when eighty-six years of age, having for three years survived his wife who passed away at the age of seventy-three. Both held membership in the Presbyterian church and were devout Christian people, loyal to their faith and exemplified in their lives their Christian belief. In their family were seven children, of whom four reached adult age as follows: William, who died in 1873; Sarah, the wife of Alfred A. English of Jersey City; Henry M., who makes his home in Kansas City, Missouri; and Charles H.

The last named spent his youthful days in Springfield, New Jersey, and was a pupil in the public school there. After the removal of the family to Jersey City he secured employment in New York city, where he continued until 1871, when he came to Wisconsin, settling in Rosendale. For five years he was employed in a cheese factory there and later secured a position in a general mercantile store, with which he remained until 1878, when he came to Fond du Lac and entered the employ of the J. C. Whittelsey Dry Goods Com- pany. Three years were thus passed, after which he returned to Rosendale and engaged in general merchandising on his own account until 1902. In that year he again came to Fond du Lac, where he still makes his home, and in 1903 he bought an interest in the Fond du Lac Lumber Company, of which he is now vice president, treasurer and manager. He is recognized as a man of keen business discernment, of sound judgment and of unfaltering enterprise. He has thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of the lumber trade, has studied the market and has thus been able to promote the interests of the company until the business is now one of large and gratifying proportions.

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Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 63

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