USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 72
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ANTON EDWARD LEONARD.
Anton E. Leonard stands today as a representative of all that is progressive, efficient and systematic in modern agriculture. His farm of three hundred acres in Forest township is intelligently managed, thoroughly equipped with modern machinery and operated along the most up-to-date lines of expansion, his meth- ods having won their natural success. He is justly entitled to the prosperity which has come to him and has taken his place among the men who are rais- ing the standards of agriculture in Wisconsin. Mr. Leonard was born Feb- ruary 8, 1860, upon his father's farm, and is the son of Anton and Rosa (Shenkel) Leonard, natives of Germany. The father remained in that coun- try until he was thirty years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Pennsylvania. Here his marriage occurred, his wife having come to the United States at an early date from Germany, where she was born August 8, 1835. In the early '50s the father of our subject came to Forest township, Fond du Lac county, and was among the first settlers in that region. He joined his uncle, L. D. Leonard, and worked in the latter's sawmill on the Sheboygan river for a few years. At the end of that time he purchased eighty acres of timber land unimproved and undeveloped. He cultivated it along intelligent and systematic lines, adding to his holdings at various periods, and had one of the finest tracts of land in the county when he died in 1896, at the age of seventy-one years. Previous to his death he had made his home in Forest and lived retired for a short time. His wife still survives him and is residing with her son Alexander upon the home farm, being now in the seventy-eighth year of her age. She and her husband became the parents of eleven children, of whom Victoria passed away at the age of one and one-half years. Those who survive are Rosa, Anton, Dena, Lena, Sophia, Theresa, Christina, Alexander, Charles and Annie.
Anton E. Leonard spent his childhood and early youth upon his father's farm, with the exception of two winters, during which he worked in the north- ern Wisconsin pine woods. At the age of twenty-six he began independent farming, purchasing forty acres on the section where he now resides, this tract forming a part of his present farm. From the time he acquired his first land Mr. Leonard has pursued a policy of expansion and progress. He has built a fine residence, barn, outbuildings and granaries, has added to his holdings from time to time, has studied the newest and best agricultural methods and has built a substantial success upon detailed efficiency. In 1886 he erected a fine modern house upon his land, installing in it all possible comforts and conven- iences, and in this he now makes his home. In the same year he built a barn thirty-four feet long by fifty feet wide but this has now given place to three larger and more commodious structures, one seventy-eight by thirty-six feet, another seventy-two by thirty-four feet and another eighty-two by thirty-six feet. These buildings have been erected to stable a fine herd of Percheron horses, of the breeding of which Mr. Leonard makes a specialty. He also raises high-grade Durham cattle, selling his animals in the Wisconsin markets.
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He owns three hundred acres of the finest and best improved land in Fond du Lac county and is in all things progressive, upright and representative of the most modern ideas and standards.
Mr. Leonard has been twice married. In 1886 he wedded Miss Gertrude Fox, a daughter of Peter Fox, and they became the parents of four children, Edward, Rose, Clara and Frederick. The mother of these children died in November, 1894, and three years later Mr. Leonard was again married. His second union was with Miss Barbara Meyer, a daughter of Joseph Meyer, and they have a daughter, Barbara.
In his political belief Mr. Leonard is a consistent republican and never seeks to evade the obligations of his citizenship. He served with ability and effi- ciency for three years as township assessor and for fifteen years was clerk of the school board. In 1896 he was elected clerk of the circuit court and held this position until 1900. He is now serving as jury commissioner. He brings to the more public aspects of his life the same conscientiousness, high moral standards and progressive ideas which have marked his agricultural pursuits and has gained success as a public official because he has done useful and valuable work in a modern way. The success which he enjoys is the natural result of his efficiency and his long-continued and well directed activity, aided by personal experience in the details of farming and stock-raising and supple- mented by business sagacity and integrity of a high order. His career has been a distinct influence in the gradual advancement which is making agriculture every day more progressive and scientific.
FRANK E. LALLIER.
Frank E. Lallier is one of the proprietors of the French Gardens of Fond du Lac, where he has spent all the years of his life, having devoted his en- tire time and attention after completing his education to the business in which he is now engaged. He was born in Fond du Lac, October 13, 1861, and is the son of Leon J. and Charlotte (Cholet) Lallier. The father is a native of France, his birth having occurred in 1834. In 1851 he emigrated to America and established his home in Fond du Lac, where he purchased ten acres of desirable land suitable for truck gardening and at once engaged in its culti- vation, making a specialty of all kinds of garden truck. He was successful in his business but removed with his family in 1884, to Denison, Texas, leav- ing his sons, Frank E. and Leon in charge of the undertaking, which they acquired on his departure. He now owns and cultivates one hundred and forty acres in Texas. He wedded Miss Charlotte Cholet. a native of New York state, in 1861, and to them nine children were born, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Frank E., the subject of this review; Louis, a railroad man of Denison, Texas, and a widower with a family of four children, Ralph, Ethlyn, Lois and Charlotte; Leonie M., who married B. S. Clark, a railroad man of Denison, Texas, by whom she has five children, Gladys, Leon, Frank, Kenneth and Esther; Leon, of Fond du Lac, who married Maude Annas, of De Pere, by whom he has two children, Kenneth and Eugene; Charles, of Milwaukee, who married Lulu Woodward, of Denison, Texas, by whom he has three children, Wesley, Paul and Halycon; Esther, who is the wife of Charles Wynne, a traveling auditor of Fort Worth, Texas; Herbert, who married a Miss Pearl Horton, of Quano, Texas, and is now engaged as a civil engineer in Denver, Colorado; and René, who resides with Herbert in Denver.
Frank E. Lallier was reared in his father's home and educated in the public schools of Fond du Lac, where he completed his high-school course at the age of fourteen. He immediately thereafter became identified with his father
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in the cultivation of the truck farm and has since continued to devote his at- tention to that business. He and his brother Leon are now joint owners of eighty-six and one-half acres of rich truck garden land which nets them a gratifying income.
Frank E. Lallier is loyal to the democratic party but has never sought polit- ical preferment of any kind. Fraternally he is a member of the Equitable Fraternal Union of Fond du Lac. He is known throughout the city and county of Fond du Lac as one of the most industrious and successful agriculturists in the county. His entire life has been devoted to the business in which he is now engaged and in that business he and his brother Leon have been successful. The French Gardens have a reputation which extends far beyond the limits of Fond du Lac and in every place where they are known the name of Lallier is a guarantee to the public that courteous treatment and honorable business methods are assured in all business transactions.
GUDEX BROTHERS.
The five Gudex brothers are not only connected through the ties of blood but also in their business relations as representatives of agricultural interests in Fond du Lac county. They are partners in the ownership and conduct of the old homestead farm, which they purchased from their father. These brothers are Leonard L., John A., Samuel S., George W. and William J. B. Gudex, all of whom were born and reared in the town of Eden, where they still reside. The daughters in the family are Anna M., Charlotte E., Jemima M. and Hazel R. Their grandfather, Leonard Gudex, came to America from Germany in 1848 and after living in the state of New York for about two years came to Wisconsin, settling in the town of Eden, Fond du Lac county, where he endured the hardships of early pioneer life. His family consisted of his wife, Mrs. Anna Gudex, and one son, John L. Gudex, who was born on the old homestead farm in 1857. The death of Leonard Gudex occurred on the 30th of March, 1882, while his wife, surviving him for a decade, passed away on the 21st of April, 1892.
John L. Gudex was reared on the home farm and pursued his education in the schools of the neighborhood. He was trained for the agricultural voca- tion and as the years went by he adopted modern processes to further promote the work of the farm and render it a productive tract. On the 19th of Feb- ruary, 1882, he married Miss Martha Hutchins, of the town of Auburn, and they became the parents of eleven sons and five daughters, of whom nine are yet living. The father, John L. Gudex, has been a prominent figure in local polit- ical circles and has twice been nominated by the democratic party for the office of assembly man. He was made his party's candidate in 1906 and again in 1908, receiving the largest vote of any candidate for the office up to that time. John L. Gudex was elected justice of the peace in 1882 and served as such of- ficer up to 1903. He is regarded as one of the most representative and ex- emplary citizens of this section, always active in any pursuits which promise to promote the progress, prosperity and welfare of the district. His worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged and has gained for him the high re- gard and good-will of all with whom he has come in contact.
The five Gudex brothers since taking charge of the home farm have made substantial improvements upon the place and have added greatly to the value of the property through the introduction of modern equipments and up-to-date methods. They raise the grains best adapted to soil and climate and they utilize the latest improved machinery in caring for their crops. Their ambi- tion and energy are usually rewarded by fine harvests and their prosperity is
JOHN L. GUDEX
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increasing annually. None of the brothers are married. They give allegiance to the Reformed party but they do not seek public office, preferring to devote their entire time and attention to their agricultural interests. The harmony of their relations is a large factor in their success. They are enterprising, alert and thoroughly progressive and upon these qualities they have builded a sub- stantial success, combining practical experience in farm work with business sagacity of a high order.
JACOB L. FISHER.
Jacob L. Fisher is one of the enterprising and representative merchants of Lamartine township, Fond du Lac county. In his career he has been engaged in various lines of activity and was identified with farming and industrial pur- suits for many years. His interests are now extensive and well controlled and he owes his prosperity to his sound principles of commercial integrity and energy. He was born in Alto township, March 20, 1866, and is the son of Paul and Sophie (Moerke) Fisher, natives of Germany. The father came to Wisconsin in June, 1852, and settled on a sixty-two acre farm in Alto town- ship, where he was successful as an agriculturist for twelve years. After his marriage he removed to Springvale township and continued his farming operations, cultivating eighty acres of fertile and productive land. He died June II, 1893. In his family were thirteen children: Peter, who passed away February 19, 1910; August, deceased; May, whose death occurred December 25, 1881; John, residing in Lamartine, who married Louisa Fisher, by whom he has one child; Jacob L., of this review; Rose, who is the wife of G. W. Fisher, of Lamartine, and the mother of six children; Joseph, who married Miss Lina Smith and has four children; Paul, who married Miss Tina Morris and was a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, but is now deceased; Katie, now Mrs. John McMann, of Lamartine; Anna, who is the wife of Charles Mc- Gregor, a farmer in Lamartine township; Lina, who is now a Franciscan nun at Appleton, Wisconsin; and two children who died in infancy.
Jacob L. Fisher was educated in the public schools of Rosendale. He fol- lowed the usual course of study until he was fourteen years of age and at that time laid aside his books. He assisted in the work of the home farm for four years but when he was eighteen he gave up agriculture in favor of the railroad business. He was active in this line and in mill work until he was twenty- seven years of age and gained a familiarity at this time with the methods of the modern business world. He later resumed farming and was prosperous and successful as an agriculturist for four years. At the end of that time he bought a general store at Woodhull, in the township of Lamartine, which he has since conducted. His store has increased in patronage and become more widely known with every year of its existence. He developed his business along progressive lines of expansion and his life has been marked by steady advance and continued prosperity. Besides his connection with the general store at Woodhull Mr. Fisher is the proprietor of the Woodhull cheese fac- tory and this concern forms an important factor in his commercial career. It is one of the largest institutions of its kind in Lamartine township and is equipped with facilities for making seven thousand pounds of cheese per day. An enterprise of this kind requires for its upbuilding and development efficient and capable direction and constant supervision. Mr. Fisher has managed his cheese factory in a systematic and modern way and has brought it to a gratify- ing degree of prosperity during the years of his connection with it. His two concerns in Woodhull are valued additions to the municipal progress and have been distinct forces in the upbuilding and development of the city. Mr. Fisher Vol. II-31
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is also the owner of thirty-nine acres of land in Lamartine township and is interested in Woodhull city property. He maintains his residence in that com- munity and is well known as a liberal and enterprising citizen.
May 12, 1896, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stratz, a daughter of Martin and Mary Stratz, of the village of Woodhull, Lamartine township. The father is one of the pioneer settlers of Fond du Lac county and his history has been intimately connected with the upbuilding and growth of the section. He is one of the most widely popular citizens in Woodhull and after a career filled with many hardships and difficulties he has attained a promi- nent place among his fellowmen.
Mr. Fisher gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and keeps himself well informed on national and local issues. He has never sought office, his attention being entirely absorbed in the arduous labors connected with the development and upbuilding of his two commercial enterprises. He belongs to the Catholic church and is a devout adherent of its doctrines. In a life al- most entirely devoted to business affairs Mr. Fisher has always been distin- guished by integrity and well directed energy and his prosperity is increasing year by year.
THEODORE E. MENGE.
Theodore E. Menge is one of the prosperous business men of Fond du Lac where he is successfully engaged in the wholesale liquor business in part- nership with Mr. Kummerow. He is a native of Germany and was born May 13, 1858, and is a son of Edward and Caroline (Von Kommorowski) Menge, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born December 6, 1816, and followed for a livelihood the business of a carpenter and contractor. He died on the 13th of March, 1886, in his native land. The mother was born November 2, 1815, and to them seven children were born. Mary is the wife of Charles Olm, a native of Germany, now residing in Fond du Lac. Mr. Olm is a machinist by trade and the father of five children: Helen, Max, Oscar, Carl and Paul. Anastasia married Ernest Glascka, a molder of Posen, Ger- many, and they have four children: Anna, Max, Martha and Helen. Alfonzo died by accident, May 11, 1863. Anna is the wife of John Lewalski, a black- smith of Germany, and they are the parents of five children: Tadeus, Anton, John and two not named. Paulina married Unufrey Ucklejewski, who follows the occupation of a chef in Germany, and they have three children: Valerian, Stephen and Tadeus. Clementina is the wife of Albert Noskiewisz, a locomo- tive engineer of Germany, and the father of one child who died in infancy. Theodore is the subject of this review.
Theodore Menge was reared at home and received his elementary education in the German schools. After passing through the lower grades he was grad- uated from a grammar school at the age of fifteen years. Immediately after his graduation he engaged as an apprenticed stone mason and continued in the pursuit of that craft for a period of six years, after which he emigrated to America and located in Fond du Lac on the 27th day of September, 1880. He at once secured work in one of the lumber mills of that city and continued to devote himself to that employment for five successive years and then was employed for five years in the Rueping tannery. On retiring from work in the tannery he was employed in a wholesale liquor store from 1890 until 1903. He then formed a copartnership with Mr. Kummerow and opened a wholesale liquor business to which he has since devoted his entire attention and has been very successful. He is also very extensively interested in Fond du Lac real estate, being the owner of the property at No. 389 East First street and at No.
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271 Linden street. He also owns his residence property located at No. 381 East First street, and is a part owner of the business block at No. 89 South Main street.
Mr. Menge was united in wedlock to Miss Josephine Wuertzburger of Fond du Lac, on August 14, 1881, and to them three children have been born, Edward, Leo and Joseph. He is a member of St. Joseph's Society, of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, and of the Business Men's Association of Fond du Lac.
Theodore Menge is one of the successful and progressive men of Fond du Lac. He is a man of strict integrity in all his business transactions and is vitally interested in every movement having for its purpose the advancement and welfare of the people of Fond du Lac
WILFRED A. SANBORN.
Wilfred A. Sanborn is the well known editor of the Waupun Leader, of Waupun, Wisconsin, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Alden Sanborn. His father was a native of Vermont and settled in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, in 1838. He was from early life engaged in newspaper work, and upon taking up his home in Wisconsin he became the owner and editor of the Jefferson Banner, which he successfully conducted for some time, and later was the founder of the first newspaper published in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Wilfred A. Sanborn was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in the public schools of Jefferson county. He was reared in Jeffer- son and worked in a printing office where he learned the printer's trade, at which he worked in Jefferson until 1886. He was then identified with the Juneau Telephone, at Juneau, Wisconsin, for fifteen continuous years. In the fall of 1901 he purchased a half interest in the Democrat at Waupun, and to the interests of that paper he gave his attention for the seven succeeding years. He then sold his interest in that paper and purchased the Waupun Leader, to which he has since devoted his attention. The Waupun Leader was established by M. C. Short and J. W. Oliver in the month of August, 1866, and was continued under their management until 1872, at which time Mr. Short sold his interest to R. H. Oliver. R. H. and J. W. Oliver as the Oliver Broth- ers continued the publication of the paper until 1901, at which time occurred the death of J. W. Oliver. R. H. Oliver, after the death of his brother, con- tinued the publication of the paper until 1908, when he sold his entire interest to Mr. Sanborn. The Waupun Leader is well known throughout central east- ern Wisconsin as one of the most up-to-date and best edited papers of its kind in the central northwest, and under the management of Mr. Sanborn it has not only retained the popularity it enjoyed under the efficient management of Oliver Brothers but has enlarged and extended the scope of its influence until public opinion places it among the most influential of the independent newspapers published in Wisconsin.
Not a little of the success and popularity attained by the Waupun Leader is due to the efficient service of Miss Mary L. C. Stemler, who has been on the Leader's staff as reporter, writer and typesetter since October II, 1866, and to her belongs the distinction of maintaining the longest unbroken period of service in newspaper work of any woman in the state of Wisconsin.
Mr. Sanborn was united in marriage in October, 1892, to Miss Lorena Pettibone, a daughter of Charles A. and Emily (Brown) Pettibone, of Juneau, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn are the parents of three children. Mrs. Sanborn is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Sanborn is inde- pendent in politics and his fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias
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and also with the Woodmen of Juneau. He is one of the best and most favor- ably known citizens of his portion of the state. . As the editor of one of the popular, high-grade newspapers of Wisconsin he exercises his influence for good throughout the entire commonwealth and is a man who always opens the columns of his paper for the advancement of any public measure in any way intended to improve the condition of the people in his county and state.
WALLACE P. SMITH, M. D.
Dr. Wallace P. Smith is a native son of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Fond du Lac county, February 26, 1868. He is a graduate of the medical department of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, where he received his degree of M. D., and shortly after located in Waupun, Wisconsin, where he has been engaged since 1893 in the successful practice of his pro- fession. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith. The father, a native of England, was born in London, October 15, 1836, and at the age of thirteen came to America with his parents, who settled in Fond du Lac. The paternal grandfather, James Smith, emigrated to America in 1849, settling in Fond du Lac, where he engaged in farming. He was the first man to raise celery in Fond du Lac county. At the time he established his home in this county there were but few settlers and all the buildings in the town were made of logs, taken from the native forests. The maternal grandmother was Sophia Perry who was a first cousin of Commodore Perry. The grandparents witnessed the battle of Sacket's Harbor, and for a short time they were engaged in the con- duct of a hotel at Oswego, New York. They resided in Fond du Lac until the death of William Smith, which occurred in 1885. The father of our sub- ject, William Smith, worked at home on the farm and taught school in early life. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in the Third Regiment, Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, following his command for a period of three years, after which he was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Fond du Lac. To Mr. and Mrs. William Smith nine children were born: Ada, now Mrs. Worthing; Wallace P. of this review; Florence and Bell, both deceased ; Irving, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits; William, operating a farm at Byron; Mary, who is following the profession of teaching; Nellie, at home ; and Dr. H. J. Smith of Rock Island. Mr. Smith was affiliated with the repub- lican party and was a member of the Masonic lodge. He and his wife were members of the Episcopal church.
Dr. Wallace P. Smith was reared in his father's home and received his elementary education in the public schools of Fond du Lac. He later pursued his medical studies at the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, and after completing the required course was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. Following his graduation he located in Waupun in 1893, where he has since successfully engaged in the general practice of medicine.
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