USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 76
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Charles W. Kuehn obtained his early education in the district schools and later spent three years in the high school at Horicon, Wisconsin. After put- ting aside his text-books he opened a grain elevator at Horicon, successfully
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conducting the same for eleven years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and came to Fair Water, Fond du Lac county, here embarking in the same business. As proprietor of a grain elevator he has won a measure of suc- cess which has established his position among the leading business men of the town, and his reputation for integrity and straightforward dealing is an enviable one.
In 1893 Mr. Kuehn was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Frei, a daugh- ter of Ferdinand and Augusta (Laper) Frei, the former a retired agriculturist of Fair Water, this county. Ferdinand Frei was born in Germany on the 8th of September, 1830, while the birth of his wife occurred in Prussia on the 21st of June, 1837. He emigrated to America when twenty years of age, making his way first to Chicago and a month later going to Peoria, Illinois. Subsequently he came to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, there learned the shoemaker's trade and then embarked in business on his own account at Ripon. He was married at that place in 1857 and a few years later removed to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, first buying a tract of eighty acres and later extending the boundaries of his farm by an addi- tional purchase of thirty acres. The operation of that place claimed his time and energies for several years or until 1910, when he came to Fair Water to spend the evening of life in retirement. His wife accompanied her parents on their emigration to the new world in the early '50s, locating near Fair Water, this county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Frei are as follows: John, who fol- lows farming in Green Lake county, Wisconsin; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Ellis Connard, a farmer of South Dakota; Ferdinand, an agriculturist of Green Lake county, Wisconsin; Julia, who is the wife of William P. Sauer, a farmer of Green Lake county, this state; Mrs. Hattie Kuehn, wife of our subject, who was born on the 18th of June, 1872; Henry, who died when but one year old ; Katie, twin of Henry, who is the wife of Emil Simon, superintendent of the Van Brunt Manufacturing Company of Horicon, Wisconsin; and Emma, the wife of Henry Weichbradt, a painter of Horicon, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Kuehn have three children, namely: Edna, who was born on the 27th of September, 1894, and is a high school student; Everett, whose birth occurred on the 3Ist of July, 1900; and Ruth, whose natal day was November 12, 1903.
Charles W. Kuehn gives his political allegiance to the republican party and during his residence in Horicon served for some time as alderman. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church of Fair Water, to which his wife and children also belong. He commands the warm friendship and esteem of all who know him by reason of his high ideals of citi- zenship and honorable dealings in all business relations.
LUCIAN CLOSE.
Lucian Close is identified with the general agricultural interests of Lamartine township, where he owns and cultivates sixty acres of well improved land. De- scended from one of Fond du Lac county's pioneer families, he was born in the township where he now resides on the 26th of October, 1875, and is a son of Jeremiah and Julia (Bryant) Close. The father, who makes his home with our subject, was born in the village of Lamartine, or Seven Mile Creek, June 6, 1842, and here he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1907, when he withdrew from active work and has since lived retired. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having gone to the front as a member of Company D, Third Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the service for eighteen months. He was wounded at the battle of Cedar Mountain and was subsequently discharged on account of disability. The mother is likewise a native of this state, having been
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born in Walworth county, but when she was four months old her family removed to this county, where she was reared to womanhood and on the 26th of April, 1867, became the wife of Mr. Close. They became the parents of four chil- dren, as follows : Lucian and Loren, twins, the former our subject and the latter the station agent at Rosendale; Winnie, who married Frank Sutliff, an engineer at the capitol building at Madison, by whom she has had four children; and Nellie, who became the wife of Fred Sass and has one child.
The entire life of Lucian Close has been passed amid the scenes with which he is now familiar. In the acquirement of his education he regularly attended the district schools of Lamartine township until he was fifteen. He subsequently continued his studies there during two winter terms, and then laid aside his text-books and gave his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits. He was associated with his father until the latter's retirement in 1907, when he pur- chased the home place, which he is now cultivating in connection with a tract of land which he had previously bought. His homestead comprises sixty acres of fertile soil, and there he engages in diversified farming, stock-raising and dairying. He has met with a fair measure of success and is numbered among the substantial citizens of his community. A man of practical ideas and good judgment he conducts his work in a systematic and methodical manner, as is evidenced by the appearance of his place. The buildings are kept in repair and he owns sixteen head of cattle and two horses.
At Lamartine on the 27th of June, 1900, Mr. Close was married to Miss Nettie Frederick, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Frederick, farming people of that township. She passed away February 12, 1908, leaving two young daugh- ters, Ada and Edna.
Mr. Close is a member of the Congregational church, as was also his wife. In politics he is a republican and has commendably served as school treasurer for five years. As a citizen Mr. Close is public-spirited and takes great pride in the fact that for practically seventy-five years his family has contributed toward the progress and development of Fond du Lac county. He enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance among the residents of his community, where he has a large circle of friends, many of whom have known him from boyhood.
T. M. WELCH, D. D. S.
Dr. T. M. Welch is one of the well known citizens of Waupun, where he is successfully engaged in the practice of the dental profession. He was born on the 15th of May, 1868, in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and is a son of Martin and Hannah (Hennigan) Welch, both of whom are natives of Ireland, the father's birth having occurred in County Kilkenny and that of the mother in County Mayo. Martin Welch emigrated to America in 1857 and settled on a farm in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. In his family were three children : Dr. P. H. Welch, who is engaged in practice in Chicago; W. J., also of Chi- cago; and T. M.
The last named was reared in the parents' home and received his early edu- cation in the public schools, being later graduated from the high school of Waupun. He then took up the study of dentistry and after completing the required course in the Chicago College of Dental Surgery was graduated from that institution with the degree of D. D. S. in the class of 1889. Immediately following his graduation he opened his offices in Waupun and has since been continuously and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. He has also maintained a branch office at Brandon for the past twenty-two years. He was secretary of the Wisconsin State Dental Society in 1897; in 1898 was elected vice president of the society ; and was made president of the society in
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1900. Dr. Welch is affiliated with the democratic party and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and also the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Waupun. In religious faith he is a Catholic.
Dr. Welch was united in marriage on the 27th of November, 1902, to Miss Jessie Smith Roberts, who was born August 12, 1872, and is a daughter of J. J. and Jennie (Smith) Roberts, of Waupun, the father being one of the well known bankers of that city, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Welch is one of the most successful and well known dentists in Fond du Lac county and during his entire professional career has met with gratifying success in his business. He is connected by marriage with one of the first families of Waupun and is a man who is always identified with every public enterprise intended to advance and improve the condition of the people of his county and state.
AUGUST F. STREBLOW.
August F. Streblow owns and operates a farm of two hundred and twenty- five acres in Lamartine township, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and his business qualifications and his genuine personal worth entitle him to a place among the enterprising and representative citizens of this section. He was born in Brandenburg, Germany, on November 15, 1854, and is a son of John and Amelia (Kroll) Streblow, natives of the fatherland. His father was a farmer and followed that occupation in Germany until 1869, in which year he came to America, settling in Fond du Lac county on August I. He bought eighty acres of land and was successful as an agriculturist until his death in 1884. His wife, whose birth occurred on July 29, 1830, is living in Lamartine township and has reached the age of nearly eighty-three years. To their union were born four children, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of the subject of this sketch.
August F. Streblow was educated in the public schools of Germany until he had reached the age of fourteen years. He came with his parents to Wis- sonsin in 1869 and with them settled in the township of Lamartine. He worked in his father's employ and was identified with every branch of agriculture from his early childhood. In 1882 his independent agricultural career commenced. His father gave him, in recognition of his able services in the past, a tract of forty acres of the finest farm land in Fond du Lac county and this Mr. Streblow immediately began to cultivate. He operated his holdings along the most mod- ern and progressive lines, improving, expanding and developing continuously. He planted his acres to the grains most suitable to the soil and climate and his agriculture was productive because it was intelligent and practical. He added to his holdings from time to time and is now the owner of two hundred and twenty-five acres which in their improved and developed state constitute one of the most valuable farms of the county.
On October 9, 1879, Mr. Streblow was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Sasse, a daughter of Frederick and Henrietta Sasse. Mrs. Streblow was born on November 9, 1857, in Germany, and came to Lomira, Dodge county, with her parents in 1867. Her father followed farming for a number of years and died in 1900 when he was seventy-two years of age, having long survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1873, when she was forty-two years old. To their union were born five children of whom Mrs. Streblow was the eldest, the others being Louis, Mary, Fred and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Streblow became the parents of eight children, as follows: Edwin F., engaged in farming at Ru- dolph, Wisconsin, who married Bertha Ellis, of Howe, by whom he has six children, Vernon, Alvin, Irene, Mabel, Leslie and Emmett; John W. a farmer
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
of Fond du Lac, who married Minnie Pripke, of Lamartine, by whom he has two children, Glenn and Bernice; William A., who is a farmer of Fond du Lac and who married Erna Abraham, of Black Wolf, Wisconsin; George H., an agriculturist of Lisbon, North Dakota, who married Myrtle Wells, of that city, and who has one child, Grace; Frank W., who resides at home; Benjamin L., living at Black Wolf, Wisconsin; and Fred J. and Carl A.
In his political beliefs Mr. Streblow is a consistent republican and while he has never been an office seeker has served with ability and efficiency for six years as director of the school board. He affiliates with the Evangelical church. He has that talent for organization and management which is a necessary fac- tor where constructive work in agriculture is to be done. He has set himself a high standard of business and personal honor and during the many years of his life in Fond du Lac county has never deviated from this code.
GAINES A. KNAPP.
Gaines A. Knapp, the cashier of the Fond du Lac National Bank, was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, May 31, 1848, and is one of a family of six children whose parents were William A. and Lucinda A. (Gilbert) Knapp. He was reared in Oshkosh and attended the public schools. His initial step in the business world was made as a messenger boy in the First National Bank of that city and following his removal to Fond du Lac in 1867 he entered the hardware trade in connection with his father, the business relation between them being maintained until 1872. Mr. Knapp then again became connected with banking interests as an officer of the Savings Bank of Fond du Lac, which he closed out in 1886. The following year the Fond du Lac National Bank was organized and throughout the entire period of its existence he has been its cashier, his comprehensive knowledge of banking and his unfaltering enter- prise being salient features in the success of the institution.
On the 12th of September, 1871, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Miss Florence L. Galloway, a daughter of Edwin H. and Maria H. (Adams) Galloway. Mrs. Knapp was born in Fond du Lac and her parents were natives of the state of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have one daughter, Anah G., who is the wife of George E. Kent, of Beloit, Kansas. . Mr. Knapp gives his political allegiance to the republican party and upon its ticket he has twice been elected city treasurer and in 1886-7 represented his district in the general assembly. He also was a delegate to the republican national convention in 1898 and 1904. There has been manifested in his entire career in business life and politics, in fraternal and social relations, a fidelity to duty combined with capa- bility that has established him as a representative and respected citizen of Fond du Lac.
ELMER H. PAVEY.
An excellent farm of one hundred acres, situated on section 20, Oakfield township, is the property of Elmer H. Pavey and yields to him abundant harvests in reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. The place is neat in appearance and gives every indication of progressive man- agement. Mr. Pavey was born in Dodge county, August 29, 1873, and on the paternal side is of English ancestry. His father, William Pavey, was born in England and was but nine years of age when he was brought to America by his parents, who, making their way into the interior of the country, settled
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in the town of Burnett, Dodge county, where they secured a homestead claim, being pioneers of that region. Having arrived at years of maturity, William Pavey was united in marriage to Miss Edith Ayers, who was born in Berlin, Wisconsin, August 5, 1848, and died in 1912 in Beaver Dam, this state. Her husband, passed away in 1906. They were the parents of two sons and a daughter : Elmer of this review; Addie, who died in 1894; and Mark, a farmer of the town of Trenton, Dodge county, who married May Kellom, of Beaver Dam, and has two children, Addie and Beatrice.
Elmer H. Pavey pursued his education in the public schools of Berlin, Wis- consin, until he reached the age of sixteen years, after which he worked for his father until 1894, when, having attained his majority, he started in the business world on his own account, investing in one hundred acres of land on section 20, Oakfield township, all of which is under cultivation except twelve acres of timber land. As the years have gone by he has converted his place into a fine and valuable farm, upon which he has fifteen head of cattle and four horses. He makes a specialty of the dairy business and he also raises hay, barley, oats and corn, which he sells in the local market. His farm presents a most neat and attractive appearance and the methods which he employs are entirely in keeping with the progressive spirit of the twentieth century.
On the 4th of November, 1901, Mr. Pavey was married, in Burnett town- ship, Dodge county, Wisconsin, to Mrs. Emma King, a widow residing in Waupun. Her parents were Minnesota people. By her first marriage she had three children, Rose, Vera and Clifford.
The cause of education finds in Mr. Pavey a warm and stalwart friend, who regards the public-school system as the bulwark of the nation and, therefore, does what he can to further its interests. For three years he served as school clerk but otherwise has not held public office. His political support is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. His life has been well spent, in harmony with his professions, and in every relation he has been honorable and upright, winning for himself the warm regard of his fellow citizens.
AUGUST KUEHN.
August Kuehn is one of the many sturdy and reliable natives of Germany whose labors in the cultivation of excellent farms in Fond du Lac county have influenced the agricultural development of the section. He is carrying on gen- eral farming and stock-raising upon one hundred and ten acres on section 35, and by practical methods and well directed energy is bringing his enterprise to a gratifying degree of success. He is well known in this section where he has resided since his youth and where he has been identified with farming pursuits for many years. He was born in Germany on December 3, 1849, and is a son of Gottlieb and Rosanna (Stark) Kuehn, both of whom lived and died in the fatherland. Gottlieb Kuehn was born September 10, 1822, and his active career was identified with agricultural life until his death which occurred in 1908. His wife was also born in 1822 and passed away in her native country in 1887.
August Kuehn was educated in the public schools of Germany and when he was seventeen years of age with friends crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling in Ripon, Wisconsin, where he worked out on a farm for sev- eral years. When he removed to Fond du Lac county he settled in Brandon where he farmed in the employ of others until his marriage in 1878. In that year he rented a tract of land and after two years purchased sixty acres in Metomen township. This he improved and developed for a short time selling
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
it eventually in order to buy his present farm of one hundred and ten acres on section 35, where he has since resided. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and is commencing the breeding and raising of thoroughbred Hol- stein cattle having as head of his herd Sir Johanna De Kol, the Eighteenth, bred by C. W. Schrader of Racine. He has made substantial improvements upon his place and has added greatly to the value of his property, keeping his equipment modern and his fields in grains best adapted to the soil. Mr. Kuehn keeps a herd of twelve cows and his dairy constitutes a valuable addition to his income and is thoroughly modern and sanitary. He is an able financier and an enterprising business man, his keen sagacity and industry constituting the basis of his present prosperity.
In 1878 Mr. Kuehn was united in marriage to Miss Mary Norris, a native of Metomen township, born September 11, 1851, and a daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Andrews) Norris. Mr. and Mrs. Kuehn became the parents of four children: Cora, born August 27, 1879, who is a graduate of the Brandon high school, and who is residing at home; Charles, whose birth occurred De- cember 2, 1882, and is engaged in association with his father in the operation of the home farm; Adeline, who was born May 30, 1886, and who is also a graduate of the Brandon high school; and Bernice, born December 15, 1895, who is attending high school.
Mr. Kuehn gives his allegiance to the republican party but has never been politically active. He is interested in local enterprises and is a shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Brandon and in the Wilkes Creamery Com- pany. He and his family are members of the Methodist church. Viewed from every standpoint his life may be termed successful because he has made his agricultural enterprise prosperous and his private life useful and worth while.
OSCAR PEEBLES.
Oscar Peebles is the owner of a valuable farm in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, comprising forty-six acres of cultivated land. He was born in Peebles, this county, in 1857, and is a son of Ezra and Margaret Peebles. His father was born in New York state and came to Wisconsin in the early '40s. He settled first on the town line between Marshfield and Taycheedah and operated a farm in this vicinity for a number of years. He brought his land to a high state of development and eventually sold it at a good profit. He then moved to the farm, a portion of which is now occupied by the subject of this sketch. He carried on his agricultural work intelligently and progressively, added to his holdings at various times and at his death had one hundred and seventy acres of fertile and productive soil. He was one of the earliest settlers in Fond du Lac county and at one time owned most of the land in Taycheedah township. The city where his son was born was named after him, as he was one of the pioneers in its settlement and was instrumental in having the rail- way station moved to that point. He passed away on his farm in 1899. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, the latter being: Ella, who died in 1887; Emma, now Mrs. Nels Anderson; and Sarah, who married Frank Pinkham.
Oscar Peebles was reared upon his father's farm and received a limited education in the district schools of Taycheedah township. He has followed agriculture throughout his life and his present efficiency in this line of occupa- tion is the result of his early personal experience in the details of planting, cul- tivating and harvesting. He is now located upon forty-six acres of land, which constitutes a part of his father's holdings, the soil of which is rich and pro- ductive, owing to the care and labor which he bestowes upon it.
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In 1900 Mr. Peebles was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Chapman, a daughter of William and Ella (Dawn) Chapman, of Watertown, New York. He is a republican in his political belief and a member of the Methodist church. His life record illustrates the power of honesty and diligence in insuring suc- cess. His labors have always been actively constructive and intelligently car- ried forward and have resulted in placing him in the front rank of progressive farmers.
CARL WIESE.
When the enterprising spirit of the fatherland finds scope in the business opportunities of the new world success is certain. This fact finds exemplifica- tion in the life record of Carl Wiese, engaged in general farming on section 21, Oakfield township. He was born in Germany, December 27, 1856, and his par- ents, Carl and Mary (Swepkie) Wiese, were also natives of that country. The father was a farmer by occupation and remained in Germany until 1888, when he crossed the Atlantic and made his home with his son and namesake in Eldo- rado township, Fond du Lac county, where he passed away at the age of eighty years. His widow survived him until 1895 and was seventy-two years of age at the time of her demise. The son Carl was one of a family of six children and also had a stepsister, Ricke. His brothers and sisters were Sophia, Johan- nah, Ricke, May and Christina. Of these Sophia became the wife of Joseph Kamps and they also reside in Germany. Johannah is the wife of Moritz Baltz, also of Germany, and they have seven children. Ricke is the wife of William Puls, of Rosendale, Wisconsin, and their children are Caroline, May, Fred, Ida, Minnie, Charles, Bertha, Lizzie and Henry. May became the wife of Julius Hoffman, a farmer of Empire, this county, and they have nine chil- dren, Arthur, August, Minnie, Hattie, Ernie, Fred, Julius, May and Alvin. Ricke, the stepsister, is the wife of Fred Henning, a salesman living in Eldorado, and they have six children, William, Fred, May, Annie, Ernie and Charles. Chris- tina is the wife of Christ Henning, a farmer of Eldorado, and they have five children, Annie, Minnie, Henry, Theodore and Rose.
Carl Wiese was a pupil in the schools of his native country until fourteen years of age, after which he was employed as a farm hand until nineteen years of age. He was afterward a soldier in the German army for three years, after which he spent a year on a farm in the fatherland ere emigrating to the new world, prompted by a desire to enjoy better business opportunities and privileges than he could secure in his native land. That he found the oppor- tunities which he sought is indicated in the fact that he is now one of the sub- stantial and prosperous farmers of his township. He is the owner of one hun- dred and fifty acres of good land on section 21, Oakfield township, and the place is well improved with good buildings and modern equipments. It is also well stocked, for he keeps on an average three horses, twenty-four hogs and twenty-five head of cattle, making the dairy business a feature. The care- ful management which he displays in conducting his farm is evidenced in its attractive and well kept appearance, and that his methods are progressive is shown in the excellent results which follow his labors. In addition to his farm- ing interests he is a stockholder in the Oak Center Cooperative Dairy Company.
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