USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 75
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DERRICK J. LOOMANS.
Derrick J. Loomans is one of the well-known business men of Waupun, where he is successfully engaged in the conduct of a lumberyard and also in the lime, coal and wood business. He was born in Alto, Fond du Lac county, Wis- consin, August 7, 1864, and is the son of John and Katherine (Lammers) Loo- mans, both of whom were natives of Winterswijk, Holland. The paternal grandfather, John Loomans, emigrated with his family to America from Hol- land, settling at Waterville, Wisconsin, in 1838. In 1845 he established his home in Fond du Lac county, of which he was one of the early pioneers, and was engaged in farming during the active years of his life. His wife died March 26, 1872. The maternal grandfather was Derrick Lammers, a native of Holland, who emigrated to America in the early '40s, settling first at Amster- dam, where he lived for many years, and later established his home in Fond du Lac county, being one of its early pioneers. He continued to live upon the farm on which he settled in Fond du Lac county until the time of his death, which occurred March 19, 1870. His wife passed away on December 25th of the same year.
The father, John Loomans, was born December 27, 1829, and established his home in Alto township, Fond du Lac county, at an early period and was engaged in farming during all his life. In the early pioneer days of the county he hauled all the products of his farm with ox teams to Milwaukee, which at that time was his nearest market. His wife, as a pioneer bride and mother, made with the loom the clothing used in the family and the father made in his pioneer workshop the wagons and other necessary farm equipment used in the operation and development of his farm. On November 26, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Lammers, whose birth occurred February 8, 1833. The mother passed away January 29. 1879, at the age of about forty-six and the father's death occurred January 30, 1897, when he was nearly sixty-eight years of age. He is one of the well-known and highly respected citizens of Fond du Lac and among the prominent men in this county interested in the educational interests of the community. He and his wife were members of the Dutch Reformed church. They were the parents of eleven children. John William, the eldest member of the family, was born March 22, 1853, and died December 26, 1888. . Mena, born May 27. 1854, is the wife of William Stelsel, a retired farmer of Waupun. Jane, born December 26. 1855, is the wife of Albert Donk- ersgood, who is engaged in farming in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and to them twelve children have been born. Hendrick, born May 25, 1857, is deceased. Johanna, born November 17, 1858, married William Meenk, who is engaged in farming in Alto township and is now serving as township clerk. Mary, born July 24, 1861, is the wife of J. H. Redeker, a farmer of Alto township. Albert was born July 24, 1863, and died August 17, 1864. Derrick J. is the subject of
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this review. Hendrick, born February 11, 1866, married Hannah Giebink, and they reside on the old home place. Anna, born April 7, 1867, married Cornelius Bruins, who is engaged in farming in Alto township. Elizabeth, who completes the family, was born June 4, 1872, and is the wife of Andrew Bruins, a retired farmer of Waupun.
Derrick J. Loomans was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in the public schools of Wisconsin. At the age of fifteen he set- tled in Waupun and there secured employment in a livery barn, continuing in that work for one and one-half years. He later learned the cigarmaker's trade, in which he continued for six years, during which time he saved one thousand dollars, with which he later paid his expenses as a student for two years in a business college at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After graduating from that institution he held the position of assistant teacher for six months, after which he was employed in the lumberyard of W. E. Caldwell from 1888 until 1890, when he purchased an interest in the business and continued to devote his attention to its interests as a partner until 1895, at which time he bought out Mr. Cald- well's interest and has since conducted the business. He has since added to his lumberyard a lime yard and also a coal and wood business, his coal business being the only one in Waupun equipped with a hard coal elevator. He employs in his yards a force of seven to ten men and often more during the busy part of the season, which occurs in the spring and fall months of each year.
October 24, 1895, Mr. Loomans was united in marriage to Miss S. Blanche Cross, a daughter of Truman and Marinda (Mitchell) Cross, in whose family were four children. Mr. Loomans is one of the well-known and highly respected business men of his section and enjoys the distinction of being the largest dealer in lumber, lime, coal and fuel in Waupun. He made a trip to Europe, visiting the birth place of his parents, several years ago. He is a man always interested in every public measure intended to improve the conditions of the people of his county and state.
HUBERT J. FREUND.
Hubert J. Freund, who owns and cultivates eighty-eight acres of land in Taycheedah township, was born on the farm where he is now living in 1868. He is of German extraction, his parents, Nicholas and Katie (Koenig) Freund, were born and reared in the fatherland whence they emigrated to the United States in 1847. Here they were subsequently married and later became identi- fied with the agricultural interests of Fond du Lac county, where the father acquired a tract of timber land which he cleared and cultivated during the remainder of his active life.
Reared in a pioneer home of limited circumstances the early advantages of Hubert J. Freund were very meager. He attended the district school and while still in his boyhood began assisting his father about the farm, becoming profi- cient in the tilling of the fields and care of the crops long before he had attained his majority. Subsequently he acquired the title to the old family homestead, where he has continued his agricultural pursuits. Since becoming owner of the place he has wrought extensive improvements in it, having installed about the premises many modern conveniences. Mr. Freund devotes his fields to diver- sified farming in connection with which he also raises stock, and is meeting with a fair measure of success in his undertaking.
In this township in 1905 Mr. Freund was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Wirtz, a daughter of Jacob Wirtz, one of the pioneers of Fond du Lac county. Four children have been born of this marriage, Ludvina, Francis, Leo and Gregory.
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Mr. and Mrs. Freund are members of St. Peter's church and in politics he is a democrat. Having always resided in this vicinity he enjoys a wide acquain- tance in the community, numbering among its citizens many close friends who were comrades of his boyhood.
RODNEY W. SOPER.
During the years of an active business career Rodney W. Soper was closely connected with lumber and agricultural interests in Fond du Lac county and his carefully managed affairs brought him a measure of success that enabled him to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances. He was usually termed "Doc" among his friends, this being an expression of close companionship and a recognition of his own ready sympathy and interest in others. He was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, July 22, 1846, and was only a year old when brought to Fond du Lac county. He was educated in the district schools and at De Land's Business College. His business training was of a practical character, received under the direction of his father, Orville J. Soper, who was of New England birth and parentage. The father was a native of Bristol, Addison county, Vermont, born February 26, 1807. After living in Brown county, Wisconsin, for a time he removed to Fond du Lac county and was the first gristmill owner of this section. He settled here in pioneer times and his mill became one of the old landmarks of the district.
Rodney W. Soper learned the millwright's trade under the direction of his father and acquainted himself with all the practical phases of the milling busi- ness, becoming head miller in his father's mill and occupying that position for many years. He was also interested in general agricultural pursuits and at his death left a good farm upon which substantial improvements had been made, thereby greatly increasing its value.
It was on the 26th of November, 1879, that Mr. Soper was united in mar- riage to Miss Iola Mitchell, of Sheboygan county, who was born in this state in 1857 and was brought to Fond du Lac county by her parents when but six years of age. Both her father and mother were natives of New York and on removing westward settled on a farm in Sheboygan county, where in his agricul- tural pursuits the father prospered. In their family were four children, Martha, Addison, Mrs. Soper and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Soper adopted one child, Dean, who was married at Fond du Lac, on the 22d of December, 1908, to Miss Helen Duerr, of that city, a daughter of William and Minnie (Lindee) Duerr, both of whom were natives of Germany. On coming to Wisconsin they settled in Le Roy, Dodge county, and there they reared their family of ten children : Bertha, who is the wife of Charles Talbert, a carpenter living at Fond du Lac; Elvira, who is the wife of Herbert Burnett, a farmer of Oakfield township, by whom she has three children, Archie, Roy and Luella ; William ; Helen ; Gustave : Amanda ; Charles ; Emma; Verna; and Roselia. Unto the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Soper has been born a son, Vernon. Dean Soper now has charge of his mother's farm of one hundred acres, known as the Elm farm. This he is carefully and systematically cultivating and upon the place he has fourteen head of cattle and four horses. He is an enterprising young business man and his wise direction of farming interests is bringing prosperity to both his mother and himself. He is also well known as a prominent and influential citizen of his community and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. For the past three years he has served as road supervisor of his township and is putting forth resultant efforts in the improvement of the highways of his part of the county. Mrs. Soper resides on section 23, Lamartine township, in an at- tractive home that stands in the midst of a well developed farm. She and her
R. W. SOPER
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
son and daughter-in-law are all members of the Baptist church and in the com- munity they have many friends, who hold them in high regard because of their sterling traits of character. Mr. Soper passed away March 21, 19II, and his demise was the occasion of deep regret to many friends, for during his long residence in the county he had become widely known, his social qualities and many attractive traits of character gaining him the warm regard of those with whom he came in contact.
FREDERICK F. ZIMMERMANN.
Frederick F. Zimmermann is the founder of the well known firm of F. F. Zimmermann & Sons located at Waupun, where the company of which he is the senior member successfully engages in the manufacture of auto bodies, wagons, cutters and sleighs. Mr. Zimmermann is a native of Saxony, Germany, his birth having occurred near Leipsic, October 13, 1838, and is a son of Ludwig and Veronica (Oelschlaegel) Zimmermann. The father with his wife and family emigrated to America, settling on a farm twelve miles north of Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, in 1841, where he continued to engage in general farm- ing for many years afterward. To Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Zimmermann eight children were born: one who died in infancy; William F., who passed away in Chicago; Ernest F., who is a harnessmaker living in Chicago; Frederick F., the subject of this review ; Edward, who was buried at sea at the age of six months ; and Edward, Amelia and Agnes, all of whom have passed away, aged respec- tively seventeen, two and twenty-eight years. The mother met with a severe accident and sustained a broken limb, the result of which later caused her death at the extreme age of ninety-two years.
Frederick F. Zimmermann was reared in his parents' home and completed his elementary education in the public schools at twelve years. He later worked on farms in the neighborhood during the early days of his manhood. At the age of sixteen he began an apprenticeship in a wagon and machine shop and continued in that employment for a number of years. In 1866 he established the F. F. Zimmermann & Sons Company and has since been engaged in the manufacture of auto bodies, wagons, cutters and sleighs. They employ from twenty-eight to thirty men the year round and their business is steadily increas- ing. In 19LI the company did a business of fifty thousand dollars, a fact which places it in the front rank of the manufacturing concerns of its class in central eastern Wisconsin.
Mr. Zimmermann was united in marriage August 10, 1862, to Miss Ernestine Geidel, who was born in 1846 and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Geidel. Her parents emigrated to America in 1839, settling on a farm in Wisconsin, where the father died later at the age of sixty-seven. In his family were eigh- teen children. To Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann eight children have been born. Ida V., born March 29, 1863, married August Grebel and lives at Beaver Dam. Emma, born in 1865, is now the wife of Oscar Hanisch. Flora, whose birth occurred in 1868, became the wife of Otto Amthor, of Waupun. Louis E., born in 1871, is a member of the firm of Zimmermann & Sons and makes his home at Streator, Illinois. Alfred A., who was born in 1874 and is also a partner in the business, married Ida H. Schlegel in 1900 and has two children. Clara, whose birth occurred in 1876, is the wife of Ferdinand E. Grebe and resides at Waupun. Oscar E. was born in 1879 and makes his home with his parents. Richard A., the youngest member of the family, was born in 1886. All of the sons. are graduates of the Spencerian Business College of Milwau- kee. On August 10, 1912, Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann celebrated their golden wedding and their eight children were all present with their families.
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Mr. Zimmermann is one of the well known and useful citizens of the county of Fond du Lac. He is a man of strict integrity in all his business transactions and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all with whom he is affiliated through- out the state of Wisconsin.
DANIEL A. SULLIVAN.
Daniel A. Sullivan engages in general farming and stock-raising in Lamar- tine township, where he owns forty acres of land, which he has been cultivating for the past ten years. He was born in Clyman, Dodge county, on the Ist of November, 1877, and is a son of Daniel 1. and Margaret (Lynch) Sullivan. The father was also a native of Wisconsin, having been born in Milwaukee in 1848, but the mother's birth occurred in Massachusetts in 1858. In his early manhood, Mr. Sullivan removed to Dodge county, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until 1894, when he settled on a farm in Lamartine township, which he successfully cultivated until his death on the 9th of February, 1912. The mother is still living and continues to make her home in Lamartine town- ship. To them were born four children: Dennis J., a representative of Swift & Company of Chicago, who married Miss Grace Sullivan of Charleston, Iowa; Frank E., who is living on the home farm with his mother; Daniel A., our subject; and Margaret, who is also living at home.
The education of Daniel A. Sullivan was begun in the district schools of his native county, and continued in the graded school at Richwood and the Water- town high school, which he attended for a year. After the family removed to this county he continued his studies until graduated from the high school in 1897. For two years thereafter he remained at home and assisted his father with the cultivation of the farm, but he subsequently went to Milwaukee. He served for two and a half years on the police force of that city, but in 1902 he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing the place he now owns. He has met with a fair measure of success in his undertakings and his farm has been improved with good, substantially constructed buildings, while he has in- creased his equipment and has installed about his premises many modern con- veniences. In connection with the cultivation of his fields, which are in cereals best adapted to the soil, he engages in stock-raising. At the present time he has ten head of cattle and two horses, and also engages in dairying to some extent.
At Fond du Lac, on the 14th of November, 1911, Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Thurk, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Metz) Thurk, at St. Joseph's church, by Reverend Father Collins, of that city. The parents came to Fond du Lac township ten years ago, where the father has ever since been successfully engaged in farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, attending services at Woodhull. His political support he gives to the democratic party, and he has served as road supervisor for four years and as school clerk for five, giving competent and efficient service in both capacities.
FRANK FINNEGAN.
Frank Finnegan cultivates a flourishing farm in Empire township and is rapidly rising to a place of prominence in agricultural circles. He was born June 20, 1862, in the township of Wayne, Washington county, Wisconsin, and was one of a family of nine children. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Nugent) Finnegan, both natives of Ireland. They came to the United States
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with their eldest son, Patrick Finnegan, and were among the pioneer settlers of Fond du Lac county. The father bought land in Empire township after a few years' residence in Washington county and lived upon his original property until his death in 1899, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife still survives him and is living with her daughter, Mrs. Timothy Maher, in Empire.
Frank Finnegan received his early education in district school No. 2, Em- pire township, and pursued his studies through the usual branches of learning. He worked upon his father's farm in his early youth and spent two winters in the northern pine woods. He remained at home until his marriage in 1898 and in that year bought his present farm in Empire township. He is now active in agricultural circles and is an enterprising and representative citizen of his dis- trict. He has made all of the improvements upon his land, built the house in which he resides and erected finely equipped and convenient barns. He is entirely responsible for the present improved state of his holdings and his hard work and industry have developed his property into a valuable tract.
Mr. Finnegan has been twice married. In 1898. he wedded Miss Agnes Hayes, a daughter of Henry Hayes, a pioneer settler of Eden township, and to this union were born three children: Luverne, and James Bernard and Julia Agnes, twins. July 6, 1908, Mr. Finnegan's first wife died and in 19II he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Campbell, a daughter of Peter Campbell, of Stockbridge, Wisconsin, and a charming and hospitable woman. Mr. Finne- gan is a believer in the Roman Catholic faith and is a member of St. Mary's church of Eden. Politically he is a democrat although he sometimes votes inde- pendently. He has done but one thing in his life and he-has done that thing well. His farming is conducted along scientific and progressive lines and Fond du Lac county is richer in its resources by his life and activities.
GEORGE A. FISHER.
George A. Fisher engages in general farming and stock-raising in Lamartine township, Fond du Lac county, where he owns a hundred and twenty acres of highly improved and cultivated land. He is a native of this county, his birth having occurred in the township, where he now resides on the 4th of December, 1866. His father, George Fisher, was born in Germany, where he passed his boyhood and youth. In 1851 he emigrated to the United States, spending the first year of his residence in this country in New York. At the end of that time he continued his journey westward to Wisconsin, purchasing eighty acres of land in Lamartine township, this county, where he engaged in farming during the remainder of his active life. He passed away in 1908. His wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Worley, was also a native of Germany, whence she came to America over fifty years ago. They were married in Lamartine and there were born their four children, of whom our subject is the youngest. In order of birth the others are as follows: William H., a farmer of Lamartine township, who married Mary Kaufman and has become the father of five chil- dren; Louisa, who became the wife of John Fisher, a farmer of Lamartine, and they have two children; and Charles, who passed away in 1867.
The life of George A. Fisher has not been in any way remarkable. He was born in a home where money was not plentiful, and each member of the family from the eldest to the youngest upon attaining a responsible age was assigned regular duties about the farm, in the cultivation of which they all assisted. Thus long before he had reached his majority he was qualified to undertake the operation of a farm, being thoroughly familiar with the practical methods of cultivating the fields and caring for the crops. He attended school until he was seventeen, following which he assisted his father until 1891, when he
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account as a renter. Two years later he purchased the place he now owns, on which he has wrought many and exten- sive improvements during the intervening years, making it one of the valuable and attractive properties of the township. In connection with his diversified farming he engages in stock-raising, and has met with a good measure of suc- cess in both lines of his business. He owns twenty head of full blooded and high grade Holstein cattle and five horses, while he has an equipment which is fully adequate to his needs. The buildings on his place are all substantially con- structed and in good repair, while his well tilled fields annually produce rich harvests, as a reward for his systematic and painstaking labor expended in their cultivation. That Mr. Fisher has led a life of well directed energy and activity is substantially evidenced by the general appearance and conditions of his farm, which is a tribute to his enterprise and diligence.
At Lamartine on the 5th of October, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fisher to Miss Rosella Fisher, a daughter of Paul and Sophia Fisher, well known farming people of Springvale, who were among the early pioneers of Fond du Lac county, locating in Alto township, where for many years the father successfully followed farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been born seven children : Frederick, Athalia, Iona, Florence, Claude, Amelia and Harold.
The family are members of the Roman Catholic church. In his political views, Mr. Fisher is a democrat, but at local elections he often casts an inde- pendent ballot. He takes an active interest in local affairs and served for eight years as a member of the school board; for three years was road supervisor ; and is now discharging the duties of township treasurer. He has prospered in his undertakings, but his success is highly merited, as he has worked tirelessly, overcoming adverse conditions by his determination and undaunted persever- ance.
CHARLES W. KUEHN.
Charles W. Kuehn, one of the representative and leading business men of Fair Water, has for many years conducted a grain elevator here and has won a gratifying measure of prosperity in this connection. His birth occurred in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 5th of June, 1866, his parents being William and Louise (Schwanke) Kuehn, both of whom were natives of Germany. Wil- liam Kuehn assisted his father in the operation of the home farm in that coun- try and when twenty years of age crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling in Dodge county, Wisconsin. He worked on the prairie during the summer months and in the winter seasons worked in the pine woods in the northern part of the state. A few years after his arrival in this country he was married and purchased a farm of two hundred acres in Dodge county, continuing to reside thereon until called to his final rest in 1909. His wife came to America in company with her parents, the family home being established in Green Lake county, Wisconsin. She is still living on the old home farm in Dodge county, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. William Kuehn were born nine children, as fol- lows: John, an agriculturist residing at Burnett, Dodge county, Wisconsin ; Amelia, the wife of John Albert, a farmer of Dodge county, this state; Charles W., of this review; William, a hardware merchant of Fair Water, Fond du Lac county ; Augusta and Carey, both at home; Theodore and Ernest, both of whom follow farming in Dodge county, this state, and Edward, who died at the age of twenty years.
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