USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 66
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
494
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
In politics Mr. Chapleau has ever been a stalwart democrat, recognized as one of the local leaders of the party. In 1911 he was elected alderman from the fourth ward, in which capacity he is still serving with marked efficiency. He and his wife are faithful members of the Roman Catholic church and he belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, of which he has served as secre- tary. He is also connected with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, in which he has filled all of the local chairs and has been state secretary for five years, state treasurer for two years and state trustee two years. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Order of Buffaloes and the Business Men's Association. His social qualities render him popular wherever known and he has a wide acquaintance. His business ability is evidenced in the success which attends his efforts. He possesses determination, enterprise and progressiveness that enables him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes. His views of life are broad and he ranks with the wide-awake and alert business men and citizens whose efforts are forceful factors not only in the attainment of individual prosperity but in the advancement of the welfare of the community in which they reside. .
CHARLES WILLIAM HIRTH.
Charles William Hirth, the proprietor of the Hirth Hardware Company, re- sides at No. 393 South Main street, while his place of business is at No. 142 South Main street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. His birth occurred at Horicon, Wisconsin, on the 16th of November, 1871, his parents being William and Jo- hanna (Mueller) Hirth, natives of Germany. His paternal grandparents made their home in Mayville, Wisconsin, where they passed away many years ago, Fred Hirth dying at the age of sixty-two and his wife preceding him at an ear- lier period in life. They had a large family of children, including Frederick, Albert, Ernest, William and Bertha. Matthews and Friedericka (Redle) Mueller, the maternal grandparents of our subject, were residents of the town of Herman in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where they passed away at an ad- vanced age. Their children were six in number, namely: Christina, Frieder- icka, Johanna, Mary, Carolina and John.
William Hirth, the father of Charles W. Hirth, was six years of age when brought to America by his parents, who settled on a farm near Mayville, Wis- consin, where he grew to manhood and where he received his education in the district schools. He left the farm and was engaged in the occupation of a car- penter for a number of years, after which he moved to Marshfield, Wisconsin, in 1881 and there died in June, 1904, at the age of sixty. He is survived by his wife, who still lives at the old home in Marshfield. At one time he served in the capacity of municipal judge of Marshfield, holding that office for a period of fifteen years. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. They had two children: Charles William; and Emma, who is the widow of Julius Wendt and resides in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Charles William Hirth was reared at Huilsburg, Wisconsin, and at ten years of age moved with his parents to Marshfield, where he lived until his majority. He was educated in the public schools at Marshfield, graduating from the high school with the class of 1887. He began his business career as a clerk in a store at Marshfield, Wisconsin, after which he was employed in the railway mail service of the United States, in which he spent a period of four years. Retir- ing from this branch of activity, he became a traveling salesman for a furniture house but after two years of service in this branch of the company's business
495
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
he retired and became manager of the furniture department in a store at Reeds- burg, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1903. Severing his connection with this firm, he came to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, entering into partnership with Henry Rusch. They purchased the retail hardware business of the firm of Roble, Thompson & King, conducting the establishment under the firm name of Rusch & Hirth. In June, 1910, Mr. Rusch retired from the business, selling his interest therein to Mr. Hirth, who has since conducted the enterprise as the Hirth Hardware Company.
On the 29th of December, 1896, Mr. Hirth was married to Miss Minnie Linetta Mitchell, a native of Omro, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Newton and Cornelia (Olin) Mitchell, who were born in New York and took up their abode among the early settlers of Omro, this state. Mr. Mitchell still survives and is now living in Alberta, Canada, but has lost his wife, whose demise occurred on the 4th of February, 1912, when she had attained the age of sixty-seven years. Their children were as follows: Cornelia, Frank, Edward, William, Nellie, Minnie, Catharine and Matie. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hirth have been born five children, namely: Jeannette, Helen, Harold, William and Catharine.
In politics Mr. Hirth is a stanch republican, while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church of Fond du Lac. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, belong- ing to Fidelity Lodge, No. 19. On coming to Fond du Lac, Mr. Hirth found himself to be a most welcome citizen and the conduct of his business has re- flected constant credit upon him. He is one of the prosperous, substantial and reliable members of the community in which he lives.
RICHARD S. SALTER.
Richard S. Salter is one of the highly respected and successful agriculturists of Fond du Lac county, where he is engaged in the cultivation of his farm of two hundred and four acres. He was born in the town of Byron, April 28, 1872, and is a son of Michael and Eliza (Cole) Salter, both of whom were na- tives of Ireland. The father was born in 1828 and at the age of thirty years emigrated in America, settling in Washington county, Wisconsin, on a farm and there continued to reside until the time of his death. The mother came to Wisconsin at the age of twenty, and later celebrated her marriage in Washing- ton county, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Michael Salter ten children were born, six of whom are living. Thomas, an agriculturist, married Miss Anna Hansen, of the town of Byron, and they have six children, Arthur, Annie, Minnie, Frieda, Roy and Myrtle. Robert is proprietor of a hotel at Eden and married Miss May Botzen, by whom he had five children, Cora, Maude, Mabel, Lillie and Robert. Frank, an agriculturist of Germantown, Washington county, married Miss Mattie Connell, and they now have five children, Loverne, Ivan, Lee, Floyd and Claude. Richard S. is the fourth in order of birth. John, who is following the occupation of farming in the town of Byron, married Miss Gussie Flood, of Eden, and they have two sons and two daughters, Raymond, Gladys, Ralph and Eugene. Anna, the youngest, is at present making her home with her brother Richard.
Richard S. Salter was reared in his parents' home and received his educa- tion in the public schools of Wisconsin, and after passing through the lower grades he was for two years a pupil in the high school. After completing his studies he remained under the parental roof and was engaged in work on his father's farm until the death of the latter in 1900. In that year the old home- stead was equally divided between himself and his brother John, giving to each a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Richard Salter devoted the next five
.
496
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
years to the improvement and cultivation of his farm and at the expiration of that time disposed of the property, after which he purchased the Kramer farm, upon which he moved and was there engaged in general farming for seven con- secutive years. He then sold that farm and bought one hundred and seventy acres in Empire township, which he traded for the farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres, of which he took possession in March, 1912. He gives his attention to diversified farming and dairying. In addition to his farming inter- ests he is also a dealer in farm lands and has, during the past few years, bought and sold several farms in various portions of Wisconsin.
On the 14th of November, 1900, Mr. Salter was united in marriage to Miss Edna Baker, of Calumet county, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Baker. To Mr. and Mrs. Salter five children have been born, Fern, Cecil, Ruby, Glenn and Lyle.
Mr. Salter is a member of the independent wing of the democratic party and has served as district clerk of the school board for the past eight years. He has his fraternal relations with the Masonic lodge of Fond du Lac. He is also a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Salter is one of the respected and well known citizens of Fond du Lac county and a man who always gives his influence to the advancement of every public measure intended to improve the conditions of the people in the community in which he lives.
SEYMOUR HOWARD CHENEY.
Seymour Howard Cheney, conducting business at No. 26 East First street in Fond du Lac, is well known as a tinsmith and also as a dealer in stoves and furnaces. His birth occurred in the town of Fort Covington, Franklin county, New York, on the 27th of June, 1832, his parents being George A. and Susan (Richardson) Cheney, both natives of Vermont. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Sarah (Allen) Cheney, the former of whom followed farm- ing at Brandon, Vermont, for many years. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, six sons and two daughters, namely: Samuel, Uriah, John, George, Seth, Joseph Walter, Sarah Maria and Sarah Lavinia. David Richard- son, the maternal grandfather of our subject, followed farming in Barry, Ver- mont. He was twice married, his first wife's maiden name being Rhoda Gale. He had children by each of his wives. These were as follows: Susan, who became the wife of George A. Cheney ; Mrs. Polly Spooner; Mrs. Rhoda Nich- ols; Mary; Lyman ; Lemuel; and David.
George A. Cheney, the father of Seymour H. Cheney, was born and reared in Brandon, Vermont, where he was educated and lived until his majority. In early manhood he moved to Fort Covington, Franklin county, New York, where he engaged in the business of wool carding and the manufacturing of woolen cloth. He was a man prosperous in business and the later years of his life were spent in retirement in his home at Fort Covington. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith and his wife belonged to the Universalist church at the time of her marriage but later became a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Cheney passed away at Fort Covington, New York, when eighty-six years of age, while his wife was eighty years old when called to her final rest. Their children were eight in number, as follows: Seymour Howard, of this review ; Susan Abbie, the wife of John Brown; Mary Jane, deceased; George Wain- wright, who enlisted in the Civil war from New York; William Harrison, who was also a volunteer in the Civil war, enlisting from Vermont; Richardson ; George Lyman; and Henry Harrison, who died in infancy.
Seymour H. Cheney was reared at Fort Covington, New York, where he was educated in the common schools. Between school terms he was engaged in
497
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
his father's business and at the age of eighteen he commenced his business career. Going to Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, he was employed as an ap- prentice in the business of a tinsmith and remained in this position until he had learned his trade. Having completed the necessary term of years required and having become familiar with the details of the business, he left Potsdam and for three years traveled through the eastern and southern portions of the United States and settled in Kansas in 1857, where he remained. until 1862, at which date he removed to Chicago, where he continued to live until 1868. He then came to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he opened a tinshop and engaged in the business of repairing and the manufacturing of all articles belonging to this branch of activity.
In 1866 Mr. Cheney was married to Miss Mary Adelaide Grennell, a native of Dowagiac, Michigan, and a daughter of Waterhouse and Elizabeth (Williams) Grennell, of that place. Five children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Cheney, the first having died in infancy. The remaining four of the family are still living. Henry W., a practicing physician of Chicago, married Flora Sylvester of Fond du Lac county, by whom he has two children, Kathryn and Harold. Charles Allen, who wedded Miss Eunice Susan, is a dentist by profession and resides in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Bessie gave her hand in marriage to George Wright Watson, the postmaster of Fond du Lac. Seymour J., living at Madi- son, Wisconsin, is a mechanical engineer in the employ of the railroad commis- sion. He married Miss Elsie Dillon and has one child, Seymour Jerome Cheney. Mrs. Mary A. Cheney, the mother of this family, is a member of the Baptist church of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
In politics Mr. Cheney is and has always been a republican. He has served as member of the board of supervisors of Fond du Lac county and has a con- tinuous record of forty-three years of business life in the city in which he now resides. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Fountain Lodge, No. 26, F. & A. M., of which he has been worshipful master several times. He is past grand senior warden of the grand lodge of the state of Wis- consin and has the unique distinction of having made annual visits to the grand lodge of the state for the past twenty years. He is one of the best known citi- zens of Fond du Lac county and during his long business career he has main- tained the highest standard of integrity in all his dealings. For many years he has been a prosperous business man and enjoys in the declining years of his life the satisfaction of having been able to give to his family all of the necessary advantages to establish them in their business careers and provide for them such opportunities as are required to advance and maintain their social stand- ing. He is a man of business and political influence in his county, honored and highly respected by all who know him. His residence is at No. 200 Military street, Fond du Lac.
ANTON BIRSCHBACH.
Anton Birschbach, a well known and esteemed resident of Taycheedah town- ship, devotes his attention to general farming and is the owner of a productive tract of land comprising one hundred acres. He was born in Germany in the year 1842, his parents being Christian and Elizabeth (Burkhoff) Birschbach. He was brought to the United States when but four years of age and remained with a cousin in Ohio until 1847, when he was taken into the home of his par- ents in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. For a period of nineteen years he resided on section 24, Taycheedah township, and then took up his abode in the township of Forest. At the age of twenty-nine years he was married and took up his abode on the farm of one hundred acres, in Taycheedah township, on
498
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
which he has maintained his home to the present time. The land was cleared except a tract of about ten acres, from which he cut the timber. As the years have gone by he has brought the place into a high state of cultivation and im- provement, neglecting to use none of the equipments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. His time and energies are devoted to general farming, and the well tilled fields annually yield golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
In 1871, in Taycheedah, Mr. Birschbach was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Frohman, her parents being John and Lena Frohman, residents of Marshfield, Wisconsin. Our subject and his wife have nine children, Peter, John, Henry, John P., Nicholas, William, Mary, Katie and Anna. Anton Birsch- bach gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has served in the capacity of school treasurer for ten years-from 1873 to 1883. The period of his residence in this county covers almost two-thirds of a century and he well deserves recognition among its representatives citizens and progressive agricul- turists. He is a self-made man in the best sense of the term and in both busi- ness and social circles is held in high regard.
TIMBLIN BROTHERS.
Thomas and William Timblin have been associated in the breeding of registered and high-grade Shorthorn cattle in Fond du Lac county all during their active lives and are well known in this district. They have every reason to be proud of their success in this line of activity, and their prosperity is founded upon energetic and assiduous labor combined with a thorough knowledge of the details of the occupation in which they are prominent. They have always been associated in the conduct of their farm and much of their present degree of success is due to their harmonious relations. The family is of Irish ancestry and was founded in America by Michael Timblin, a native of County Mayo, who came to the United States in 1848 and located immediately in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he worked upon the farms of the district as a monthly laborer. He was also a charcoal burner and was connected with this line of activity for some years. He married in Dodge county Miss Mary Webb, a native of County Cork, and after his three children, Sarah, Thomas and Margaret, were born, he immediately removed to Fond du Lac county where the family resided for about eight years. In 1866 Michael Timblin bought the farm, which his two sons, Thomas and Wil- liam, are now operating, and carried on the work of improvement and develop- ment. He eventually built a comfortable and commodious house upon his holdings and here lived until his death in 1887 when he was sixty-seven years of age. His wife survived him until the 25th of May, 1910, dying on that date on the home farm in the eighty-fourth year of her age.
Thomas Timblin was the eldest son born to his parents, his birth occurring in Dodge county, October 27, 1857. He and his brother were active in the labors incident to agriculture from an carly period and spent every summer learning the details of farming and the best methods of tilling and cultivating the soil. During the winters they worked in the northern pine woods of Wisconsin where Thomas spent five years and where William was active for two winters. When their father died they returned to the home farm and permanently located there. They formed a partnership in its operation and took entire charge of the manage- ment and direction of the enterprise. The two brothers labored in harmonious relations in the endeavor to make their farm one of the model properties of Fond du Lac county, and this ambition they have achieved. They added to their hold- ings at various times, buying their land judiciously and always with a view to its fertility and productiveness. They now own three hundred acres in Fond du Lac
499
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
county and have improved their land along progressive and scientific lines. In 1909 they remodeled the house which their father had built and erected a substan- tial and well equipped barn. They make the breeding of Shorthorn cattle a special branch of their industry and are known throughout Fond du Lac county for their success in this enterprise. Their herd includes thirty or more head of registered stock and they had at one time in their barns Prince of Pilsen, which had won second prize at the St. Louis Exposition. The present bull of their herd is Clariss Prince, a registered Shorthorn which is well known to cattle dealers throughout Fond du Lac county. Thomas and William Timblin bring to their stock-raising an intelligent and scientific knowledge of its details. They have been successful by reason of their energetic activities and are known in Osceola township as promi- nent and influential men.
On February II, 1888, William Timblin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ryan, a daughter of Patrick Ryan of Eden. They are the parents of seven chil- dren, Margarette, Sarah, Loretta, Esther, Florence, Michael and George. Both brothers affiliate with the republican party, and William served for four years as township treasurer and made an able and efficient public officer. Both William and Thomas Timblin take an intelligent interest in public affairs but have never sought recognition for their services in any political way. They belong to the Catholic church of Osceola township, Wisconsin, and hold their membership under Father Heisler. The energy and labor they have bestowed upon their farm make it a well improved and valuable property while their stock-raising interests are every year growing to be more important. They have attained that success which always crowns united effort along worthy and useful lines, and their lives and activities have been valuable additions to the citizenship of Fond du Lac county and to the state of Wisconsin.
JACOB SCHNEIDER.
Jacob Schneider is identified with the general agricultural and dairying inter- ests of Taycheedah township, where he owns a well improved farm of one hun- dred and forty-eight acres. His birth occurred in Calumet township, in 1860, his parents being Mathew and Lizzie (Schumacher) Schneider, natives of Germany. They emigrated to America about 1847, and subsequently located in Fond du Lac county, where they were later married and passed the remainder of their lives. The father passed away in 1872, and the mother in 1880 ..
Jacob Schneider, who was a youth of only twelve years when his father died, obtained his education in the public schools of Calumet. He has always followed farming, and has met with a fair measure of success in his undertakings. He has made all of the improvements, including the erection of the buildings, on his present farm, a portion of which he has also cleared. Formerly he owned a place two and a half miles from his present homestead, but he sold it about twelve years ago and has since given his undivided attention to the further improvement and cultivation of the farm on which he is now living. In connection with his general agricultural pursuits he engages in the raising of stock and also does some dairy- ing. He leads a life of intelligently directed activity as is evidenced by the appear- ance of his property and the condition of his stock, and is meeting with well de- served prosperity.
In 1884, Mr. Schneider was united in marriage to Miss Katie Schmitz, a native of this county and a daughter of Servatius and Gertie (Lauby) Schmitz. The parents were born in Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States in the early '40s, their marriage being celebrated in Fond du Lac county. Sixteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schneider in the following order: Ger- trude, who is twenty-seven years of age, and is the wife of Joseph Wirtz, of Tay-
500
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
cheedah ; Mary, who has passed her twenty-sixth birthday; Lizzie, who is twenty- four years of age; Otillie, who is twenty-three; Victor, who has recently at- tained his majority ; Euwald, who is twenty ; Joseph, who is nineteen years of age ; Emanuel, who is eighteen; Bruno, who has passed the seventeenth anniversary of his birth; Clara, who is entering her sixteenth year; Clement, who is fourteen ; Bertha, who is thirteen years of age; Martha, who has passed her eleventh birth- day ; Margaret, who is now ten years old; Lydia, who will soon be nine ; and Aloy- sius, who is in his fifth year.
The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and his political allegiance Mr. Schneider gives to the democratic party. He has never figured prominently in local political activities, but he at one time served as road super- visor. He leads rather an unobtrusive life, but fulfills his duty from day to day as he sees it, meeting his responsibilities in such a manner as to win him the re- spect and esteem of his fellow townsmen.
AMIL H. WARNKE.
Amil H. Warnke has an excellent farm in Fond du Lac township and has been cultivating the soil in that section since 1899. He owns one hundred and sixty- two acres upon which he has put the needed improvements and his progressive work has gained him substantial success. He was born in Wolf River township, Winnebago county, July 5, 1866, and is the son of William and Augusta L. (Schmidt) Warnke, both natives of Germany. The father was born on March 9, 1830, and farmed in his native country until 1854, when he came to Wisconsin, settling in Wolf River, where he purchased land. It was undeveloped and in a raw condition and he was obliged to clear the timber and make all the improve- ments. From the lumber which he cut down he built a log cabin, in which he lived for many years and in which his son was born. He died in 1903 and his death was widely regretted because it deprived the section in which he resided of a substantial and representative citizen. His wife was born June 4, 1833, and died in 1890. To their union were born five children: Julius, who is now farming in Fremont, Wisconsin, and who married Miss Minnie Bohren, of Wolf River, by whom he has one child, William; Bertha, who passed away at the age of two years ; William, who died when he was nine years old ; Amil H., the subject of this sketch; and Albert, who follows farming and who married Miss Amelia Dorow, by whom he has ten children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.