USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 68
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The last named attended district school No. 2 in his native township until fourteen years of age and was subsequently employed as a farm hand until 1897. He then started out as an agriculturist on his own account, renting a farm, which he operated for eight years. On the expiration of that period he purchased an interest in the coal and lumber business of his father-in-law, who passed away two years later. In 1907 a stock company was formed which on the 4th of March, of that year, was incorporated as the Oak Center Lumber & Fuel Company of Oak Center and was capitalized for fifteen thousand dollars. Of this concern Mr. Kaufman has since been manager, supervising its opera- tions in a manner that has insured its continued growth and success. The pros- perity which he now enjoys is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it is directly attributable to his own efforts, for he started out in life empty- handed, dependent entirely upon his own resources for whatever success he might hope to achieve.
On the 14th of January, 1903, at Oak Center, Mr. Kaufman was united in marriage to Miss Helen Wells, a daughter of L. R. and Etta Wells, of Oak Center. They have three children: Fay E., Velma A. and Irene M. At the polls Mr. Kaufman casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He is a Catholic in religious faith and fraternally is iden- tified with the Equitable Fraternal Union and the National Fraternal League. High and manly principles have characterized his entire life, winning for him of Fond du Lac county from his birth to the present time and enjoys an exten- a creditable position in the regard of his fellowmen. He has remained a resident sive acquaintance within its borders.
PETER RICHTER.
The cultivation of a farm of eighty acres located on sections 28 and 29, Tay- cheedah township, largely occupies the attention of Peter Richter, who in connec- tion with his general agricultural pursuits also engages in the sand business. He is a representative of one of Fond du Lac county's pioneer families and is a native of Marshfield township, his birth there occurring in 1857. He is a son of Mathew and Elizabeth (Hennes) Richter, natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to America in early life; the father locating in this county in the '50s. Here they were married soon after and are now residing in Fond du Lac, having passed the entire period of their domestic life in this county.
Peter Richter has always lived in this immediate section. He was educated in the common schools, passing his boyhood in the same way as the average youth of that period. When he first started out for himself he engaged in the saloon business, owning and operating an enterprise of this nature for five or six years. At the expiration of that period, he disposed of his establishment and accepted a position in a brewery, where he was employed for several years. Agricultural pursuits; of which he had a thorough practical knowledge, then attracted him and he purchased forty acres of land in Empire. The further cultivation and improve- ment of this farm engaged his entire attention for some time, but he subsequently sold his holding and invested the proceeds in his present place. Here he has
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continued his general farming and stock-raising, meeting with a fair degree of suc- cess, and he is also engaging in the sand business.
In 1881, Mr. Richter was married to Miss Mary Maraga, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Maraga. The parents were both born in Ireland but were married in this country. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richter ; Alfred, who is twenty-five years of age; and Frances, who is twenty-four, and who is the wife of Nickols Halfman.
The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, the parents being affiliated with St. Joseph's parish. Fraternally Mr. Richter is a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin and of St. Joseph's Society. His allegiance in matters politic is stanchly given to the democratic party, the principles of which he deems best adapted to subserve the highest interests of the majority. He is a man of honest business methods and good principles and is accorded the respect by his neighbors and acquaintances he justly merits by reason of his manner of conducting his transactions. He is widely known in this community and takes much pride in the fact that his family have for more than sixty years contributed toward the progress and development of Fond du Lac county, where he expects to pass the remainder of his life.
JOHN ENGEL.
John Engel is now farming eighty acres of land in Empire township, having been the owner of this property since he was twenty-one years of age. Every year of his activity has seen his success increase and his acreage become notice- ably more developed. He was born in Taycheedah, Wisconsin, February 24, 1871, and comes of German ancestry, his father, John Engel, having been born in the fatherland in 1852. The latter came to the United States with his father, Peter Engel, the grandfather of our subject, when he was ten years of age, and settled in Fond du Lac county, where his early youth was spent in working in minor capacities on the neighboring farms. He was engaged in the cultivation of eighty acres of land near Taycheedah where he resided until 1906. In that year he retired and bought property in the city of Fond du Lac, where he now maintains his home. His wife in her maidenhood was Miss Barbara Will, and to their union were born nine children, eight of whom are still living: Barbara; John, the subject of this sketch; Annie ; Herman ; Bertha ; Katherine ; William ; Emma ; and Frank.
John Engel attended the district schools of his native county and also the Cal- vary Catholic school, where he pursued the usual course of studies, while he spent his leisure time in assisting his father with the work of the farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then in partnership with his brother Frank, bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Empire town- ship and was active in its cultivation for five years. The two brothers continued business together until the subject was twenty-six years of age; when the farm was divided, John taking possession of the east eighty acres and Frank retaining title to the west eighty acres. In his independent agricultural career John Engel has met with a gratifying degree of success. He remodeled and repaired the house and outbuildings, purchased modern farm machinery and carried on his farm work along progressive and scientific lines. His place is now one of the model properties of Fond du Lac county and is an indication of his progressive principles of modern agriculture. Mr. Engel has been breeding thoroughbred Holstein cattle for the past seven years and has met with success in this work.
In 1897 Mr. Engel married Miss Katherine Konon, a daughter of Joseph and Katherine Konon, prominent residents of Forest township. Mr. and Mrs. Engel are the parents of two children: Odella, born February 1, 1902; and Alfred, whose birth occurred on the 24th of April, 1908. Mr. Engel gives his allegiance to
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the Roman Catholic faith, holding membership in St. Michael's Cathedral of Dotyville, Wisconsin. In national politics he is a democrat but has an independ- ent mind on local public issues. He has met with success by reason of his own untiring energies and efforts and by his custom of regarding agriculture as a sys- tematic science which, like any other, shows definite results from definite causes.
FREMONT J. BRISTOL.
Fremont J. Bristol is one of the best known and most deservedly successful breeders of high-grade stock in Fond du Lac county. He is president of the F. J. Bristol & Sons Company, operators of one of the largest stock farms in Oak- field township. He started for himself in a small way and by steadily pursuing a straightforward policy, by industry, perseverance and good business ability, has made his enterprise expand and develop into a modern and prosperous institu- tion. He is a native of the section in which he now resides and was born February 24, 1864. His parents were Abel and Abigail (Thompson) Bristol, natives of Vermont. His father was born in that state on the 13th of December, 1829, and came to Wisconsin in 1853, settling on a farm in Oakfield township, where he resided until he retired and moved to Oakfield. His death occurred in 1891. His wife is still living and makes her home at Oakfield, and has reached the age of eighty years. They were the parents of six children, Clarence A., Jennie I., Nettie A., Fremont J., Flora A., and Watson E.
Fremont J. Bristol was educated in the public schools of his native section and pursued the usual course of studies until he was fourteen years of age. He assisted his father upon the farm and also in the general merchandise store which the latter had established in partnership with Aaron Worthing under the name of Bristol & Worthing. He worked in this way until 1888 when he became a member of the firm, which was then operated under the name of the Bristol- Morgan Company, C. G. Morgan and F. J. Bristol having purchased the interest of Mr. Worthing. During this time Mr. Bristol was also identified with the management of a cheese factory which was conducted by his father and thus gained an experience which is very valuable to him at the present time. After the death of his father our subject, in partnership with his brother Watson and C. G. Morgan, carried on this latter enterprise, later making it into a butter fac- tory. They had the only creamery in the village of Oakfield and were very successful. In 1901 Mr. Bristol sold out his interest in the creamery and devoted his entire time to the farm. . In 1910 he sold his interest in the general merchan- dise store. He worked upon his farm of eighty-six acres in Oakfield township which he had purchased in 1893. He added to his holdings two hundred and twenty-six acres and now has one of the finest stock farms in the section in which he resides. He carried on the business for some time alone, but in 1907 he incor- porated the enterprise with a capital stock of forty thousand dollars, under the name of the F. J. Bristol & Sons Company. In 1911 he increased the capitaliza- tion to one hundred thousand dollars, a move justified by his rapid and substantial success. The officers of the company are: F. J. Bristol, president ; A. C. Bristol, vice president ; W. A. Bristol, secretary ; and W. E. Bristol, treasurer. They are expert breeders of pure-blooded registered Holstein cattle, having at the present time a herd of one hundred and forty head. They also specialize in thorough- bred hogs. The business is rapidly growing, owing to the able management and the careful and conservative policy of F. J. Bristol, who in his activities is repre- sentative of one of the principal industries of Wisconsin. His career has been distinguished by an intelligent grasp of local conditions and an expert knowledge of stock-breeding, controlled and directed by good business ability.
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Fremont J. Bristol has been twice married. On March 5, 1884, he wedded Miss Carrie E. Gordon, a daughter of C. Z. and Mary (Thompson) Gordon, of Oakfield, and they became the parents of ten children; four of whom are living : Abel C., who married Evaline Beirne, of Oakfield; Hazel, who became the wife of C. M. King, of Oakfield, by whom she has one daughter, Dorothy; William A .; and F. Gordon. Mr. Bristol's second wife was Mrs. Mary E. Pratt, of Oak- field, and to this union was born one child, Montie A.
In his political views Mr. Bristol is a consistent republican and served as town clerk for nine years and as chairman of his township for one year. He belongs to the Masonic order and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Holstein Breeders Association of the State of Wis- consin, being at the present time treasurer of that organization. He is interested in local enterprises and always does his utmost to promote the growth and devel- opment of his native section. He is president of the Bank of Oakfield and vice president of the Oakfield Elevator Company. He is a devout believer in the Spiritualist religion. The success which he enjoys is the natural result of his well directed labor along progressive lines, aided by personal experience in the details of stock-breeding and supplemented by business sagacity and integrity of a high order.
JOHN M. STACK.
No state in the Union can present to the traveler a more beautiful prospect of fertile acres stretching out for miles in well cultivated productiveness with modern barns and farm buildings and the most improved and efficient equipment than can Wisconsin, and scarcely a state in the middle west, in proportion to the amount of soil under cultivation, is more productive. Among the men whose indi- vidual efforts have contributed toward this great prosperity, none have done more active development work than John M. Stack, now proprietor of one hundred and forty acres of land in Osceola township where he carries on general farming and is well known as a successful breeder and dealer in blooded cattle. Mr. Stack is of Irish ancestry and his father, Michael Stack, was the first representative of the family to come to America. He was one of the representative citizens and agriculturists of Fond du Lac county for many years and also prominent in local political circles. He was born in County Kerry and came to the United States when still a young man. His first residence was in the state of Vermont where he worked at farming in the employ of one man for six years. In 1852 he left Vermont for Wisconsin with his wife who was in her maidenhood Miss Hannah Fuller and whom he had married in Vermont. Mrs. Stack, the mother of our subject, was also a native of County Kerry and came alone from Ireland to the United States in 1849. When Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stack settled in Wisconsin, the father bought eighty acres of land in Forest township, which was in a wild and undeveloped state. With his own hands he built the log cabin in which he and his wife resided for many years and where their son, John M., was born. Michael Stack was an enterprising and ambitious man and soon had part of his land cleared and in a state of comparative development. He then disposed of his acres in Forest township and purchased a large farm in Osceola where he lived until his death at the age of sixty-eight years in 1896. He had been an active force in the educational development of Fond du Lac county and has served on the school board for over thirty years. He acted as super- visor of Osceola township and did efficient work for twenty years as justice of the peace. He was a democrat and his public life was always molded by his party's principles. His wife passed away in Fond du Lac county in 1909 when she was seventy-three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stack were
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the parents of ten children, nine of whom are still living. Their eldest son was John M., the subject of this sketch. William H., is prominent in the automobile business in Milwaukee and is rapidly gaining success in this line of activity. The first daughter born to their union was Maria, who is the widow of Professor Barnard Grogan. Mrs. Grogan makes her home in Washington, D. C., with her son Stephen who graduated from law school and is now a practicing attorney in that city. Stephen S., is a prominent physician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received an efficient education in the grammar and high schools of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and later received his medical degree from Rush Medical College, Chicago. He practiced his profession in Campbellsport, Fond du Lac county, for five years. He took a course in surgery at Baden-Baden, Germany, and upon his return located in the city of Fond du Lac where he practiced for four or five years before he removed to Milwaukee where he is now head of the Sacred Heart Sanitarium under a twenty year contract. He is recognized as one of the able and leading physicians of Milwaukee and is one of the prominent representatives of the profession in that city. He married Miss Mary O'Connor and is the father of four children. The fifth child born to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stack is James, who has followed the advertising business in Chicago for fifteen years. He made various removals before finally locating in the latter city and worked for seven years in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is head of one of the largest adver- tising concerns in the country and is prominent in financial and social circles of Chicago. His wife in her maidenhood was Miss Del Ross, a daughter of John Ross of Waupun, Wisconsin. Eliza became the wife of Mart Hanover of Chi- cago, Illinois, by whom she has two children. The four youngest children of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stack are: Jennie, now Mrs. William Reilly of Empire town- ship; Alice, who is married and resides in Arizona; Edward, who farms on the old homestead in Fond du Lac county ; and Thomas, who passed away when he was six years of age.
John M. Stack is the eldest of ten children and was born April 27, 1852. His birth occurred in Fond du Lac county and his education was received in the dis- trict schools of that section. He was acquainted with the details of agriculture from his early childhood and always aided in the labor of his father's farm. He worked on the homestead until he was twenty-seven years of age when he bought sixty acres of unimproved land in Osceola township and began an independent agricultural career. He labored early and late in the cultivation and development of his land and as a result soon became prosperous and successful. He built a modern house upon his holdings in 1893 and it stands today as an example of modern residential architecture in Fond du Lac county. It is lighted by gas and the plumbing equipment is sanitary and modern in all its departments. Mr. Stack has also made important improvements in his barns and silos and carries on his agriculture along scientific and progressive lines. He was soon able to pur- chase eighty acres adjoining his original sixty and his farm aggregates one hun- dred and forty acres of the most improved and productive soil in Fond du Lac county. Mr. Stack engages in general farming but gives special attention to the breeding of high-grade stock. In this enterprise he is associated with his son George and their united efforts have resulted in a flourishing and constantly increasing business along this line. He breeds full-blooded and high-grade Hol- stein cattle and makes their buying and selling an extensive branch of his industry.
In 1884 Mr. Stack was united in marriage to Miss Mary O'Connell of She- boygan county, a daughter of John and Margaret O'Connell, who were among the oldest settlers in that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Stack have been born three chil- dren. George was born on the 9th of February, 1885, and was educated at the Oshkosh Normal School. He taught school for four terms in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, with much success, but having decided to adopt farming as his career in life attended the agricultural department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Upon leaving school he returned home and is now active with his father in the operation of the home farm. Florence was born on the IIth of
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March, 1889, and was graduated from the State Normal School at Oshkosh. She later taught school in Marion, Waupaca county, Wisconsin, and is now a teacher in the district schools of Osceola township. Her position is in one of the best schools in the state and she is carrying on its duties ably and admirably. The youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stack is Stella whose birth occurred in 1893 and who attended the Normal School of Oshkosh and St. Mary's Academy.
Mr. Stack is one of the representative and prosperous men of his state and county. He does not allow farming to monopolize his entire attention but is a well known and influential factor in business and political circles. He has for thirty-five years been actively identified as an auctioneer in this county, and has been agent and director of the Marshfield Fire Insurance Company for twenty years, and his business discrimination has influenced its success. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has been active in promoting the public welfare of his county in public office for many years. He was town treas- urer for five years and town chairman for ten years and served as representative from Fond du Lac county to the Wisconsin state legislature for two years. His public service has always been distinguished by energy, conscientiousness and in- dividual force, qualities which have also distinguished his private enterprise and made him a prosperous and influential man.
JOHN F. RIEMER.
John F. Riemer is specializing in the raising of chickens in Fairwater and has achieved a gratifying success in this line of occupation during the seven years of his connection therewith. His entire life has been spent in Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Marathon county, April 30, 1864. He is the son of Charles and Albertina (Bublitz) Riemer, natives of Germany, his father having been born in that country, December 8, 1826, and his mother on January 15, 1837. Charles Riemer's mother died when he was only a year old and si :: years later his father passed away. His early life was spent in the care of his stepmother and when he was old enough to work he found employment at various occupations. His marriage occurred in Germany in 1854 and immediately afterward he came to the United States, locating in New York, where his wife died. In the year 1857 he came to Marathon county and took up one hundred and sixty acres of govern- ment land, being among the early settlers in that district. In 1863 he enlisted in the Federal army, joining the Seventeenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He received his honorable discharge at the close of the war and immediately after- ward returned to Marathon county, where he operated his farm until 1868. He then sold his property and came to Green Lake county, where he purchased one hundred and fifty acres which he brought to a high state of improvement and development. In 1888 he retired from active farm life and came to the village of Fairwater, where he is now residing. His second marriage occurred in 1857, when he wedded Albertina Bublitz, a daughter of Christian and Dorothy Marie (Fretchenhener) Bublitz, natives of Germany. Her father died in that country and her mother came to the United States in 1857, locating with her daughter in Marathon county. Mrs. Riemer is still living and makes her home in Fairwater. She and her husband had thirteen children. Anna, born June 20, 1858, became the wife of August Heuer, a farmer of Washington county, and died on the 13th of June, 1895. Will, the second in order of birth, is also deceased. August, born July 14, 1861, is engaged in farming in Alto township. Fred, born December 9, 1862, is employed as a laborer in Fairwater. John F. is the subject of this review. Mary, born April 6, 1866, is the wife of Will Hannemann, a farmer in Marquette county. Charles was born May 17, 1867, and died in 1912. Henry, born July 5,
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1869, is also deceased. Alvina born March 9, 1871, is the wife of George Stelter, a farmer in Metomen township, Fond du Lac county. Augusta, born March 8, 1874, married Otto Loechelt, who is engaged in farming in Alto township. Wil- liam, who was born April 17, 1876, is a farmer in Green Lake county. Ida, born October 22, 1878, is the wife of August Bade, a farmer in Lincoln county. Mollie the youngest member of the family, was born November 4, 1882, and is the wife of Henry Schure, of Green Lake county.
John F. Riemer attended the district schools in Metomen township and after he laid aside his books he learned the blacksmith's trade. After his marriage, which occurred in 1890, he purchased his father's farm in Green Lake county and for fifteen years carried on general agricultural pursuits upon this property, bringing it in the interval to a highly developed and improved state. He even- tually sold the land and came to Fairwater, where he engaged in raising chickens. He is at present specializing in White Plymouth Rocks and Buff Leghorns and recently made a record sale, obtaining thirty dollars for a White Plymouth Rock cockerel. He has been successful both in farming and in chicken raising and has acquired a comfortable fortune. He owns besides his town property in Fair- water three hundred and twenty acres of good farm land in North Dakota.
In 1890 Mr. Riemer was united in marriage to Miss Martha Stelter, a daugh- .er of Gottlieb and Henrietta (Quinn) Stelter, natives of Germany. Their mar- riage occurred in that country and they came to the United States in the early '50s, locating near Picketts, Green Lake county, where the father followed farm- ing for a number of years. He later sold his property and settled in Metomen township, where he purchased three hundred and fifty acres upon which he resided until his death. He and his wife had six children: Gustave, who resides with his brother George, a farmer in Metomen township; Theodore, who is a car- penter by trade and resides in Marquette, Wisconsin; George, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Metomen township; Katie, the wife of August Riemer, a farmer in Alto township; Martha, now Mrs. John F. Riemer, whose birth occurred on September 23, 1870, in Green Lake county ; and Charles, who died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Riemer are the parents of a daughter, Laura, whose natal day was November 6, 1894, and who is living with her parents. The family belong to the Lutheran church of Fairwater.
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