USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 79
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He was born in Lamartine township February 17, 1866, and is a son of Joseph and Mary Agnes (Henschemacher) Schaefer, natives of Germany, who came to Wisconsin in 1846. The father learned the trade of cabinet-making in his native country and followed it for some time in Fond du Lac county. He eventually bought land in Calumet county and was successful in its cultivation and operation until his death in 1904. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children : Mary, who became the wife of John Schnur, a farmer of Lamartine township, by whom she has three children; Daniel, who is now a farmer and married Miss Tina Lichtenberg of Dodge county, by whom he has one child; Katie, who married Casper Hoffman, a blacksmith, by whom she has nine chil- dren; Joseph, who married Margaret Stegar and is now the father of four children; Elizabeth, the wife of Casper Jagdfeld, proprietor of a hotel in Fond du Lac, by whom she has four children ; John, a farmer of Fond du Lac county who married Elizabeth Faber by whom he has two children; Michael, engaged in agricultural pursuits in Fond du Lac county, who married Rose Powers, by whom he has three children; Frederika, who became the wife of Matthew Mo- litor, a wagon maker of Fond du Lac by whom she has five children; Mathias, deceased, who married Anna Simms, and was the father of two children; Frank, the subject of this sketch; and Anna, who married Edward Boehmer, a molder, by whom she has one child.
Frank Schaefer was educated in the Lamartine district schools and pursued his studies until he was nineteen years of age. He worked upon the home farm during his early boyhood and youth and has always been identified with agricul- ture with the exception of three years which he spent as a traveling salesman in the employ of the Huber Manufacturing Company and four years as local
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representative of the same concern in Fond du Lac. He began his independent agricultural career in 1903 when he bought his present farm in Lamartine town- ship and commenced its development. He believes in crop rotation and in mod- ern methods of farm sanitation and is one of the representative men of his dis- trict whose lives and activities are doing so much to promote the welfare of the sections in which they reside along systematic and efficient lines. He has been active in gaining for Lamartine township improved public roads and efficient drainage. He is rapidly making his mark in agricultural circles and by reason of his energy, activity and careful methods of farming has gained a gratifying degree of prosperity and the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
On February 12, 1895, Mr. Schaefer was united in marriage to Miss Emma Weiss, a daughter of Seraph and Lina (Pohlman) Weiss of Eden. The father was a substantial and prosperous farmer in this section for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer are the parents of four children, Edward J., Marie E., Earl F. and Norbert W. In his politics Mr. Schaefer is an independent democrat and has served his fellow citizens in many different capacities. He has been town treasurer for two years and held the same position on the school board. He gave twelve years of active and efficient service as road superintendent and the public thoroughfares of Fond du Lac county have profited by this ability and enter- prise. He belongs to the Mystic Circle and is active in the affairs of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He affiliates with St. John's Catholic church of Lamartine, holds membership in St. Michael's Society, an organization connected with that institution, and his religion is an influential force in his life and he is well known as a prominent factor in church affairs. He has been treasurer of the business organization of St. John's church for some time. He gives most of his attention to farming but does not allow it to absorb his energies to the exclusion of his interest in public affairs or his connection with business enter- prises. He is one of the organizers of the Woodhull Telephone Company and is now a director of the Rosendale Insurance Company. He is distinguished by that quality of public spirit which makes him an eager supporter of any move- ment looking to the further development of scientific agriculture and to the uni- versal adoption of modern farming methods.
ALBERT L. WILLIAMS.
Albert L. Williams is one of the prominent farmers and stock-raisers in Lamartine township, where he owns an excellent tract of three hundred acres and gives his time to its general cultivation and improvement and to the work of raising pure-bred cattle and horses. He was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, July II, 1861, and is the son of Thomas and Catherine (Williams) Williams, natives of Wales. The father was born February 26, 1830, and when he was nineteen years of age came to America. He settled in New York state, where he remained for six years, coming to Watertown when he was twenty-five years of age. He purchased land and at the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1912, owned four hundred acres of highly improved and developed land in Dodge county. He and his wife were the parents of four children: William J., who married Miss Anna Jones, of Watertown, by whom he has two children, Thomas and Catherine; Lizzie A., who became the wife of David Owen, of Jef- ferson county, by whom she has five children, Bessie, Catherine, Margaret, Walter and David, Jr .; Albert L., the subject of this sketch; Winfield, who is a real-estate dealer in Lowell, Wisconsin, and who married Miss Mary Mulcha, by whom he has two children, Lester and Catherine.
Albert L. Williams was reared at home and was educated in the common schools of Dodge county. He later attended the University at Watertown, leav-
A. L. WILLIAMS
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ing this institution when he was twenty years of age. He made a wise use of every opportunity along this line and fitted himself for teaching, which occupa- tion he followed for twelve years. In 1893 he became an independent agricul- turalist, buying land on section 30 of Lamartine township, to which he has added at various times until he now owns three hundred acres in a high state of culti- vation. One hundred and fifty head of pure-bred Holstein cattle and ten horses are kept upon the farm and his success has gained for him recognition as an expert judge and a successful stock-raiser. He is a stockholder and director in the Wisconsin Mutual Life Insurance Company of Oshkosh and is treasurer of the local cheese and butter factory, with which he has been identified for five years. In his business life he has shown a comprehension of modern condi- tions and a grasp of present-day methods which is only equalled by his agri- cultural efficiency.
Mr. Williams was married on October 29, 1892, to Miss Nettie Ramsey, a daughter of A. A. and Jeannette Ramsey, of Watertown, and to their union have been born two children, Chester A. and Walter W. Mr. Williams is a republican in his political belief and for fifteen years did able and conscientious work as clerk of the school board. He served for twelve years as road super- intendent and has never been known to shirk public duty although he has never sought an office. He belongs to the Methodist church. He has always been hon- ored in his community for his business integrity and has gained wide recognition for honesty and directness of purpose. He has spent most of his life in farming and has expanded his knowledge and experience constantly to meet modern conditions.
CHARLES ARTHUR BEEBE, M. D.
In the choice of the medical profession as a life work Dr. Beebe seems to have selected a calling for which he was especially fitted. He has deep interest in the work from a scientific and humanitarian standpoint and his studies have covered a wide range. In visits to some of the leading hospitals of the old world he has broadened his knowledge and promoted his efficiency, coming in touch with the advanced methods of some of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of Europe. He has practiced continuously in Fond du Lac since the Ist of November, 1899, and in the intervening years has gained a liberal pat- ronage. He was born in Portland, New York, December 25, 1853, a son of Warren Sylvester Beebe. The family was founded in Connecticut at an early day and the grandfather of the Doctor removed from New England to New York, both he and his wife spending their last days in Orleans county, that state, each being between sixty and seventy years of age at the time of death. They had a family of nine children, including Aaron, Orvin, Chester, Horace, War- ren, Clarissa, Sarah and others whose names are not remembered. Of this family Warren S. Beebe became the father of Dr. Beebe. He was reared in Orleans county, New York, and for a time engaged in newspaper publication but afterward owned and cultivated a farm in Chautauqua county, New York. Later he became a traveling salesman and to that work devoted his energies throughout his remaining days. He held various township offices and was well known and prominent in the community in which he resided. He died in 1905 at the age of seventy-seven years and his wife passed away in Hamlet, New York, on June 5, 1912. Both were members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Beebe bore the maiden name of Mary Hulburt. Her father settled on a farm at Port- land, Chautauqua county, New York, when about eighteen years of age and con- tinued to make that place his home until he departed this life at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife was about eighty-seven years of age at the time
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of her demise. She was a daughter of a Revolutionary war hero. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hulburt were nine children, Lydia Ann, David, Jane, Mary, Harvey, Franklin, Clark, Ellen and Bradley. Of these Mary became the wife of Warren S. Beebe and the mother of five children: Charles A .; Clark H., who is living near Forestville, New York; Ella, the wife of Smith Ruten- berg, residing near Hamlet, New York; Elsie, the wife of Lee Butler of Pains- ville, Ohio; and Warren, who died at the age of twenty-two years.
Dr. Beebe was reared in Chautauqua county, New York, remaining upon the home farm until fourteen years of age. He supplemented his country school education by study in the academy at Forestville, and then took up the study of medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, being graduated from the Cleveland Medical Col- lege, now known as the Western Reserve College, with the class of 1882. He located for practice at Marshall, Dane county, Wisconsin, as successor to his uncle, one of the pioneer physicians of that place in which he had located in 1848. Dr. C. A. Beebe continued there for seventeen years and then went abroad for further study, spending a year in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he devoted his time to post-graduate work. He also visited London, Dublin, Berlin and Paris, and in those cities investigated the methods and teachings of the leading medical colleges, so he was splendidly equipped for his professional duties upon his return to the United States. He has always read broadly along medical and surgical lines and his investigations and researches have given him efficiency that places him with the most successful members of the profession in this part of the state. On the Ist of November, 1899, Dr. Beebe came to Fond du Lac where he has since practiced, and in his work here has been very successful.
On the 19th of February, 1874, Dr. Charles A. Beebe was united in marriage to Miss Ella S. Martin, a daughter of George W. and Sophronia (Thompson) Martin. Mrs. Beebe was born in Arkright, Chautauqua county, New York, and her parents were also natives of the Empire state, in fact her father was born upon the farm where her birth occurred. Both he and his wife died at an ad- vanced age while residing in the east. They were parents of ten children, Edgar W., Charles H., George L., Ella S., Durell C., James E., Anna G., Frank E., Hattie E., and Otis J. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beebe have been born two sons, the elder of whom, Dr. Pearl Arthur Beebe, is a practicing physician of Glen- wood, Wisconsin, who married Miss Jessie Carver and has one daughter, Mar- jorie. Horace Merle, the younger son, is a civil engineer of Chicago.
Dr. and Mrs. Beebe hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in all those forces and agencies which work for reform, improve- ment and righteousness. Politically Dr. Beebe has always been a republican and for two terms served as president of the Fond du Lac city council. He was also president of the school board for two terms and is interested in every- thing that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community, yet his activi- ties center upon his professional duties. He is a member of the Fond du Lac County and Wisconsin State Medical Societies and the American Medical Asso- ciation.
CHARLES CHAPMAN GRAFTON.
Charles Chapman Grafton, bishop of Fond du Lac and regarded as the leading high churchman in the United States, was a man whose gigantic intellect and in- domitable force found even balance in a heart whose sympathies were broad. He was Fond du Lac's most honored citizen, but a man of his caliber was too great to designate as a citizen of a community. He belonged to the people at large and his influence reached out to every region in which the Episcopal form
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of service is followed and, indeed, to many others, for his words of wisdom, written and spoken, sank deep into many hearts and in time bore rich fruit.
Charles Chapman Grafton was born at Boston, April 12, 1830, and passed away in Fond du Lac, on the 30th of August, 1912, having thus passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey. His parents were, Joseph and Anna Maria (Gurley) Grafton. He pursued his studies in the Boston Latin School, and afterward entered Harvard, completing a course in the law department. Having determined to prepare for holy orders, he pursued his divinity studies under Bishop Whittingham, of Maryland, and became a deacon of the Episco- pal church, December 23, 1855. He was ordained priest May 30, 1858, and his first official service in connection with the church was as assistant at Reisters- town, Maryland. He afterward became missionary at Baltimore and later was assistant minister of St. Paul's church in that city and chaplain to the Mary- land Deaconesses. Nature seemed to have fitted him for his chosen life work as well as the earnest desire that led to his complete consecration to his calling. His activities were of a constantly broadening scope and his in- fluence a constantly increasing force. In England, in 1865, in connection with the Rev. R. M. Benson, he organized the Society of St. John the Evan- gelist, a religious brotherhood, known as "The Cowley 'Fathers." Following his return to the new world he acted as rector of the Church of the Advent in Boston from 1872 until 1888, and his sixteen years' ministry there resulted in great growth in the church and its kindred interests. While in Boston he es- tablished an affiliated house of the St. Margaret's Sisterhood of England, and in 1882 he organized the Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity. His influence and ef- forts extended to every field wherein the intellectual and moral advancement of the people is concerned. He was the founder of Grafton Hall, a high-class seminary for young ladies at Fond du Lac. He revived for the American church the Ancient Order of St. Benedict.
Bishop Grafton was recognized as one of the most earnest, forceful and elo- quent speakers that have ever represented the Episcopal' ministry. Added to this, he had great executive power and in systematizing the various branches of church work he added greatly to its efficiency. His written words, too, car- ried weight and his writings include a volume entitled "Vocation," or "Call of the Divine Master to a Sister's Life;" "Plain Suggestions for a Reverent Celebration of the Holy Communion ;" "Christian and Catholic;" "An Atlas of Theology ;" "The Lineage of the American Church;" "A Journey Godward" (being his autobiography), and "Fond du Lac Tracts." His native ability, his liberal education and most of all his unfaltering zeal in behalf of the cause which he preached brought him to a foremost place as a representative of the Episcopal church in America and made him as well widely known abroad. He passed away after an illness of several months; but who can say where his in- fluence shall cease. A philosopher has said: "Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success." How great, therefore, was the success of Bishop Charles Chapman Grafton.
JAMES WHOOLEY.
James Whooley is one of the well known and successful farmers of Fond du Lac county. He is a native of that county, his birth having occurred Febru- ary 12, 1863, and is a son of James and Ellen (Halley) Whooley, both of whom were natives of Ireland, who as young people emigrated to America, settling in Massachusetts, where they later celebrated their wedding. The father emigrated to America in company with two brothers and on reaching the new world was for some time engaged in railroad work in Massachusetts. He invested the Vol. II-34
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first of his savings in a team which shortly after was destroyed by fire and he thereby suffered the entire loss of his first hard-earned American money. How- ever, he did not become discouraged and again returned to work as a common laborer and after having saved a small sum of money he removed to Wiscon- sin, settling at Waupun at the time when the railroad was being built into that city. For two years he was engaged as a laborer on the construction of that road and at the same time successfully conducted a boarding house in Waupun. The railroad company later went into the hands of a receiver and he sustained a loss in wages earned of seven hundred dollars. He continued, however, at various kinds of employment for two years after the failure of the railroad and then purchased a farm of forty acres, to which he continued to add by addi- tional purchase until he was the owner in fee simple of four hundred and forty acres of valuable Wisconsin land. In 1877 he was seriously injured in a run- away accident and was never afterward able to devote himself to active work. After that unfortunate occurrence the sons conducted the operation of the farm for their father and met with gratifying success. Mr. Whooley continued to reside upon his large farm until the time of his death, which occurred February 7, 1907, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a member of the Catholic church as is also his widow, who has reached the age of seventy-eight years. He was affiliated with the democratic party but was independent of party ties in regard to local political matters. To Mr. and Mrs. James Whooley, Sr., nine children were born: Mary, the wife of Dennis Cane; Margaret, deceased ; Michael, who is an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; James, of this review ; John, who resides on the home farm; Daniel, who died at the age of five years; Agnes, at home; William, deceased; and Anna, at home. All of the children received their education in the public schools.
James Whooley, Jr., is one of the surviving heirs to his father's estate. He and his brothers own five hundred acres of highly developed farm lands in Wisconsin, to the operation of which they give their attention, and are among the prominent and successful farmers of Fond du Lac county.
EDWARD C. PRINSEN.
Edward C. Prinsen, manager of the Royal Theatre, has been identified with the business interests of Fond du Lac for two years. As he is an earnest, enter- prising young man and has manifested a high sense of commercial integrity in his transactions, he has made a very favorable impression during the brief pe- riod of his residence here and has made many friends. He was born in Wau- pun, this county, on the 17th of August, 1890, and is a son of John A. and Dena (Ter Beest) Prinsen. The father was born in Holland in 1863, but the mother is a native of Wisconsin, her birth having occurred in Alto. When a lad of ten years John A. Prinsen emigrated to the United States, locating in Sheboygan county, where he subsequently obtained employment in a shoe factory. He has ever since been identified with this industry and is now the superintendent of a large shoe factory in Sheboygan. Mr. and Mrs. Prinsen became the parents of the following children: George, Edward C., Dorothea, Bernice, Evelyn and Emily.
In the acquirement of his education Edward C. Prinsen first attended the graded schools of Waupun, completing his course in the high school at Water- town, this state. At the age of eighteen years he laid aside his text-books and became self-supporting. His first position was in a shoe factory, where he was employed for two years. At the expiration of that time he came to Fond du Lac to assume the management of the Royal Theatre, which had been pre- viously purchased for him by his father. He has used very good judgment in
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the conduct of this place and it is now recognized as one of the best and most popular places of amusement in the city.
Mr. Prinsen is a member of the Baptist church, and fraternally he is identi- fied with the Equitable Fraternal Union and he also belongs to the Young Men's Christian Association. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Prinsen is a young man of fine traits of character and excellent habits and these united with his energy and practical methods should win him success in his undertakings.
J. GEORGE DICK.
J. George Dick is one of the enterprising, successful business men of the city of Fond du Lac. He is the president of the Dick-Jens Cough Drop Company, also chairman of the city republican committee and at present is engaged in the grocery business, his store being located at No. 68 East Ninth street, in this city. He was born in Fond du Lac, December 27, 1873, and is the son of John Adam and Christina (Rook) Dick, both of whom were natives of Germany.
John Adam Dick, the father of the subject of this review, was born December 31, 1825, at Fuerstenthum, Reufs Ebersdorf, and his wife's birth occurred July 22, 1833, at Babenhausen, Hessen, Darmstadt. The latter emigrated to America at the age of fourteen and shortly after reaching this country established her home with her sister in Utica, New York. At this place she became acquainted with her future husband, Mr. Dick, who had also emigrated to America in the year 1849. They were united in wedlock April 2, 1851. For the immediate five years following, they maintained their residence in the state of New York and then removed to Kenosha, in this state, at which place they lived for the following fourteen years. In 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Dick removed to Fond du Lac, where they continued to live during the remainder of their days. When Mr. Dick reached America he was without knowledge of the English language and was poor in purse. During the first few years of life in this country he was employed as a farm laborer, and at that early period the compensation for such service was ex- tremely low. For many years he worked in the potato fields of this state, receiv- ing for his services the small sum of fifty cents per day and as a hand in the har- vest fields he received the very low wage of eight dollars per month. Notwith- standing the hard struggle for life in his early days, however, he was enabled later to accumulate a competency for his old age. Mr. and Mrs. Dick celebrated their golden wedding, April 2, 1901, and on August 17, 1902, at the age of nearly seventy- seven Mr. Dick passed away, while his wife died November 12, 1910, aged seventy- seven years. They were both members of the Lutheran church and to them six children were born: Andrew, and Peter, deceased; Katharine, now the wife of William Jahn, of Fond du Lac; Charles F., of St. Paul, Minnesota ; Anna, the wife of D. J. Althaus of Fond du Lac; and J. George Dick, the subject of this review.
J. George Dick was reared in his father's home and was educated in the parochial Lutheran schools and in the night schools of that city. After laying aside the text books of his elementary education, he learned the painter's trade and this he followed for several years. Retiring from this vocation he secured a clerkship in a general store and in 1901 established himself in the grocery busi- ness, in which he has since continued.
Mr. Dick was united in wedlock to Miss Anna L. Knueppel, December 16, 1897. Mrs. Dick is the daughter of Charles and Wilhelmina ( Hellmann) Knuep- pel, and to this union one child has been born-W. Erwin Dick. Mrs. Dick was born in Fond du Lac. Her parents, natives of Schwerin, Germany, emigrated to this country from their native land in 1872, the journey being made immediately following the celebration of their marriage. They established their home on
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