USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
Mr. Spratt has been married twice and by his first wife, who passed away in 1893, he had three children: Frederick F. P., who is the Chicago represen-
prix
つ
57
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
tative of the Osborne Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio; Horace B., assistant paymaster of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company; and Frideswide, a teacher in Oak Park, Illinois. For his second wife he chose Miss Fannie Foster Hall, a daughter of John W. Hall, an old resident of Ripon and a former judge of the municipal court.
Mr. Spratt is a devoted member of the Episcopal church at Ripon and takes an active and helpful part in its affairs. He has ever been a broad reader, a deep thinker and is much interested in the cause of education, serving at the present time as a trustee of Ripon College and also taking an active part in the affairs of the library board. His opinion on educational matters carries great weight and his work as a member of the library board has been marked by an intelligent and understanding knowledge of the needs and wishes of the public in this line. Mr. Spratt has many friends in Ripon where his well known qualities of strict integrity, enterprise and public-spirited citizenship have brought him success and prominence.
CHARLES A. BLOOHM.
Charles A. Bloohm is one of the thrifty and enterprising citizens of Byron township, where he owns a farm of one hundred and nine acres and engages in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. Although the greater part of his life has been passed in this vicinity he is a native of Germany, his birth having there occurred on October 13, 1867. He is a son of William F. and Louisa (Milke) Bloohm, who were born, reared and married in Germany, the father's natal day having been the 2d of September, 1844. The parents with their chil- dren emigrated to the United States in 1871, first locating in the state of New York, where they resided for two years. Afterward they continued their journey westward to the city of Fond du Lac, the father being employed in one of the lumber mills there for several years. By reason of the thrift which he had inherited from a long line of German ancestors, his frugal habits and also the mother's capable management of the household affairs, during that period he managed to save enough from his meagre earnings to enable him to buy a farm in Oakfield township. The improvement and cultivation of this property engaged his attention until 1908, when he retired from active life. To Mr. and Mrs. William F. Bloohm were born nine children of whom our subject is the eldest. In order of birth the other members of the family are as follows: William, a farmer, who married Amelia Zinke; Herman, also farming, who married Anna Zinke and has one child; Lizzie, the wife of Herman Westphal, a farmer, by whom she has three children; Edward, a farmer, who married Anna Collen and has three children ; Albert and Fred, who engage in farm labor ; Emma, the wife of Fred Gesthardt, a farmer; and Oscar, who engages in farm work.
The first few years in the life of Charles A. Bloohm were passed in the land of his nativity. He pursued his education in the district schools of Byron town- ship until he was fifteen years of age. Being the eldest of the children, his services were required on the farm and laying aside his text-books he assisted his father for four years. At the expiration of that period he left the parental roof and started out to make his own way in the world, working out by the month until he was married. He then began farming for himself as a renter in Illinois, where he continued his agricultural career for thirteen years. Re- turning to Fond du Lac county he located in Byron township, where, in 1903, he bought his present land holding. Since that time he has directed the development of his farm with the intelligence and foresight which invariably brings success and as a result he has one of the attractive and valuable properties of the com- Vol. IT-4
58
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
munity. In connection with diversified farming he engages in dairying and stock-raising and has sixteen head of cattle and four horses.
In Kendall county, Illinois, on the 20th of January, 1891, Mr. Bloohm was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Miller, a daughter of Fred and Mary Miller. Her parents were natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to America in early life. They first located in the state of New York, the father being at that time twenty years of age and the mother eighteen, and there they were subse- quently married. In the early period of their domestic life they removed to Illi- nois, where for many years Mr. Miller was actively engaged in farming. He is deceased, his death occurring in 1909, at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother, who has passed the eighty-third anniversary of her birth is still living and is a resident of Millington, Illinois. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bloohm, as follows: Mary L., who was born in 1892; Charles M., whose birth occurred in 1894; Jessie E., whose natal year was 1895; and Minnie E., who was born in 1902.
The parents are members of the Lutheran church in the faith of which they are rearing their family. The political allegiance of Mr. Bloohm is accorded the republican party and on several occasions he has been called to public office, having served as township supervisor for two years, and as road supervisor for five years. Diligent and enterprising in whatever he undertakes he is leading a life of intelligently directed activity as is evidenced by the appearance of his farm and the condition of his stock. The success which he enjoys is the result of his own efforts and is highly merited, as he is energetic and has applied him- self with painstaking industry to the achievement of his purpose.
WILLIAM H. KEYS.
Modern agriculture finds a worthy representative in William H. Keys whose energies are directed to the cultivation of his flourishing farm and to the opera- tion of the threshing outfit which he runs in conjunction with it. He was born on his father's farm in Empire township on June 25, 1857. His parents were Christopher and Katherine (Mullen) Keys, both natives of Ireland. The father was born in that country on April 14, 1815, came to the United States in 1840 and remained in this country for a short time. He returned to Ireland and in 1852 made his second journey to America which has been his home since that time. He was married in 1856 and had one son, William, the subject of this sketch. He is living in Empire township and is an intelligent and active man in the ninety-seventh year of his age.
William H. Keys received his education in the neighboring district schools. He followed the usual course of study and in his leisure time was active in assisting his father in the work of developing and tilling the soil. He remained at home until 1896 when he removed to his present farm in Empire township and has been successful and prosperous as an agriculturist along scientific and modern lines since that time. In 1879 he bought, with Herman Schroeder as a partner, a threshing outfit, and for many years was active in this line and met with a gratifying degree of success. He eventually bought Mr. Schroeder's interest and has been running the threshing outfit on his own account for some time. His agriculture has always been carried on in a practical way and has been productive of good results. His harvests are abundant and the products of his fields and dairy are of fine quality. His success as an agriculturist is as- sured and rests upon the firm foundation of thorough methods and instinctive talent for soil cultivation. Mr. Keys was also one of the founders of the Fond du Lac Telephone Company, of which he was the first general manager.
In 1884 Mr. Keys was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mack, by whom he
59
- HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
had one child who died in infancy. In 1896 he wedded Miss Rose Smith, a daughter of John Smith of Empire township. To this union were born four children, the youngest of whom died two days after birth. Those living are Ruth, Frank and Emma, all of whom reside upon the home farm.
Mr. Keys affiliates with the democratic party, but beyond casting his vote at each election he is not active in political affairs. His wife was actively identi- fied with the Presbyterian church until her death on February 16, 1910, and his children are members of this organization. Mr. Keys is one of the prominent and progressive farmers of Fond du Lac county. His influence is important in the agricultural community in which he lives and his activities are factors in making the state of Wisconsin wealthy in natural resources.
MARTIN HAESSLY.
One of the finest farms in Fond du Lac county is owned and managed by Martin Haessly, who operates the farm upon which he was born and follows the traditions and examples of his father, who is one of the most able, progressive and public-spirited citizens of his district and an example of the finest type of pioneer Wisconsin settler. Martin Haessly was born December 24, 1863, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Fitzpatrick) Haessly. The father is a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he was born March 2, 1824. His parents were Philip and Anna Mary Haessly, the former a farmer in Pennsylvania, who in 1839 moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he died in 1891, when he was ninety-five years of age. He had survived his wife by one year, her death occur- ring when she was ninety-one. In 1847 Jacob Haessly, the father of our subject, came from his native state to Wisconsin, where he purchased wild land. He did not, however, take up his residence in Fond du Lac county until 1851, when he and his brother Jonathan settled upon the tract which he had purchased and began its cultivation. Since that time he has been a leading figure in every movement looking toward the progress and development of the section in which he settled. In 1894 he retired from active life and definitely abandoned agriculture, turn- ing over his farm to his son Martin, who now operates it. What education he received was acquired in two months' attendance in the public schools of Penn- sylvania, but in spite of limited early advantages he is today one of the best edu- cated and most highly cultured citizens in Ashford township. He remained at home, working out his mathematics by himself. He learned surveying and broadened his knowledge in every direction by constant and wise reading. For many years he has been a prominent figure in local politics, beginning his public career in 1853, when he was elected town clerk and served for one term. He was afterward elected chairman of the township, acting in this capacity for two terms. In 1870 he was again elected to this position and subsequently served four years as county surveyor. He was out of office the following two years and was then reelected, serving continuously with ability and efficiency for eighteen years. For thirty-five years he was justice of the peace in Ashford, bringing to his duties conscientiousness and high ideals. In 1846 Jacob Haessly was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Fitzpatrick, who was born in Ohio, June 9, 1826. To this union were born the following children: William Frederick, Anna Mary and George, all of whom were born in Ohio; Sarah Jane; Jacob; Katherine; Matilda; Jona- than; Martin ; Theresa; Nathan and Cecilia, twins; and Abraham, who died in infancy. Jacob Haessly is one of the most widely known and generally beloved men of his section and is still active and energetic at the age of eighty-eight. He planned and brought about his own success unaided by early education and train- ing and hampered by the lack of even the most common advantages. He is self- taught and is one of the best mathematicians in the state. He is often called upon
60
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
by his neighbors to aid them in the transaction of their business and is well and favorably known throughout the county as a public-spirited, thoroughly honest and able man whose life has been a factor in local agricultural expansion and whose undoubted talents have aided materially in general progress and upbuilding.
Martin Haessly attended the public and parochial schools of Campbellsport and has always worked upon his father's farm. In early life he became familiar with modern agriculture and the best and most efficient methods of cultivating the soil. He remained at home and aided his father in the work of the farm and in 1893 rented the land which he now operates. In 1904 he purchased the west eighty acres of the homestead and since that time has made many improvements thereon. In 1905 he built a new barn and three years afterward erected his present modern home which is one of the most attractive and comfortable resi- dences in Ashford township and is equipped with modern conveniences and accessories. Mr. Haessly operates the entire tract which originally belonged to his father although he holds the title to only eighty acres.
On January 27, 1891, Martin Haessly was united in marriage to Miss Char- lotte Andrew, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a daughter of Frederick and Philipina Andrew. Her parents were born in Meinz, Germany, and came to Ashford township in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Haessly have three children : Alfred, born December 20, 1891 ; Charlotte, whose birth occurred on the Ioth of May, [894; and Victor, born November 9, 1898. The family belong to the Roman Catholic church of Campbellsport. Mr. Haessly gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has never desired public office. In his farming he is able, modern and systematic and, following the standards and methods of his father. has made his business career successful and his life upright.
DANIEL E. MAHONEY.
Daniel E. Mahoney has always lived on a farm and is now active in the culti- vation of one hundred and sixty-one acres of land near Eden in Fond du Lac county. He is a son of James Mahoney, one of the pioneer farmers of Fond du Lac county. He was educated in the district schools and at the age of fifteen went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he attended the State Normal School for two years. He later engaged in teaching at Eden and Ashford for four winters and then returned to his father's farm, where he remained until 1900. In that year he purchased 'the family homestead with its ninety-one acres and his father removed to the village of Eden, where he built a modern and convenient home for himself, in which he now lives, at the age of ninety years.
Daniel E. Mahoney has managed his farm property independently for twelve years and during that period has improved and developed it to a remarkable extent. He recently added seventy acres to his holdings and there, in 1909, built one of the finest barns in Fond du Lac county. He has acquired, at various periods, some of the best and most up-to-date farm equipment on the market. He carries on his agricultural activities on scientific principles. He has specialized in recent years in the breeding of thoroughbred horses and his stock finds a ready sale in the Wisconsin markets. He is known as an expert judge of horse flesh and his services as such are often sought. He has developed the horse-breeding feature of his business and gives his personal supervision to the care of his stock.
Daniel E. Mahoney votes the democratic ticket on national issues but keeps himself independent of party lines in local affairs. He votes for the man whom he considers best fitted for the position without regard to political affiliations. He was elected town clerk of Eden at the age of twenty-four and served with marked ability and success for two years. He is interested in the educational development of Fond du Lac county and has been clerk of the school district
61
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
in which he lives for seven years. His work in this capacity has been marked by an intelligent understanding of the conditions surrounding him and by an eager desire to enlarge and develop school facilities. He has kept himself in the front ranks of modern agriculturists and in an age when farming is developing and advancing along systematic and scientific lines. Mr. Mahoney is known throughout his township and county as a worthy representative of this branch of activity.
JOHN G. SEELIG.
Manufacturing interests in Ripon are well represented by the great concern of the Barlow & Seelig Manufacturing Company, makers of all kinds of patented washing machines. The industry is one of the largest of its kind in Fond du Lac county and its output is increasing every year. At the head of the company influencing its policy and a dominating factor in its prosperity is John G. Seelig, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the company, which offices he has held since its incorporation in 1908. Mr. Seelig is a native of Germany, in which country he was born in 1865. He is a son of John G. and Louise (Drager) Seelig, who came to the United States in 1868 and located at Winneconne, Wis- consin, where they remained but a short time. They later removed to Waupaca county, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in farming until his death.
John G. Seelig was the fourth of a family of seven children. He was reared at home and received his early education in the common schools of Waupaca county. He attended the Waupaca high school and in 1884 laid aside his books to enter the marble business. He remained in this connection in Ripon for eight years and then resigned his position to go into partnership with J. B. Barlow in the hardware business on a small scale. The enterprise was first conducted as a copartnership and was operated along the lines of a general hardware business. In 1908 they entered the washing machine manufacturing business, which has since grown to be one of the largest industrial concerns in Fond du Lac county and makes a specialty of the manufacture of many different kinds of washing machines. Their products are all made with the most improved manufacturing equipment. The machines are of many different varieties and are known in the markets of Wisconsin and the United States under the name of the Big 3 Vacuum Washers. They are operated by hand, by gasoline engines and by electricity ac- cording to their make and variety, and have gained a reputation throughout the state of Wisconsin for the high quality of their construction and the efficiency of their work. The officers of the present Barlow & Seelig Manufacturing Com- pany are : J. B. Barlow, president; Ione Barlow, vice president; and J. G. Seelig, secretary, treasurer and manager. The plant which the company is now erecting is being built along the most modern lines of scientific factory construction. Its first story will occupy a floor space of sixty-four by three hundred feet and the second floor will be eighty feet long by eighty feet wide.
JOSEPH J. POLZEAN.
Joseph J. Polzean, who engages in general farming and stock-raising in Osceola township, was born on the place where he now resides on the 10th of March, 1871. He is a son of Jacob and Frances Polzean, natives of Germany, the father's birth there occurring in 1825. They were married in the old country and soon thereafter, in 1856, emigrated to the United States, making their home in New York for two years. At the end of that time they came to Wis-
62
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
consin, settling in Elm Grove, whence they removed five years later to Osceola township. Here the father purchased eighty acres of wild land, and after erecting thereon a small log cabin, which served for some years as the family residence, began his career as a pioneer. Later he built a larger log house nearer the road, in which the family lived until 1893 when he purchased and removed to the farm on the opposite side of the road. There he passed away in 1898, at the age of seventy-three years. He was survived until 1900 by the mother, who was sixty-seven at the time of her death. They were the parents of eleven children, Michael, Rosa, Elizabeth, Paulina, Jacob, Joseph, Frank, William, Mary, Tillie and John.
There was no unusual circumstance or event in the early life of Joseph J. Polzean to distinguish it from that of the average youth reared in the rural sections of Wisconsin at that period. He attended the district school in the acquirement of an education and when not engaged with his studies assisted his father. After laying aside his text-books he gave his undivided attention to the cultivation of the home farm, assuming more and more of the responsibili- ty connected with its operation. In 1895, he took over the management of the place, which he subsequently inherited as his portion of the estate upon the death of his father. He has here continued his agricultural pursuits and is meeting with success. Since coming into the ownership of the property he has made many improvements, including the erection of a modern residence in 1908, and the introduction of various conveniences consistent with the spirit of progress he manifests in his work. He is diligent and enterprising and is numbered among the efficient agriculturists and capable business men of the community.
Mr. Polzean married Miss Josephine Hebert, a native of this township and a daughter of Anthony and Julia Hebert. Her parents were born, reared and married in France, whence they emigrated to America, becoming pioneers of Osceola township. Mr. and Mrs. Polzean have two children: Laurene, who was born on the 18th of October, 1904; and Eola, whose birth occurred on May 7, 1906. They are communicants of the Roman Catholic church of Camp- bellsport.
HORACE S. HAZEN.
Horace S. Hazen lives retired in the village of Brandon, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, after many years' identification with agricultural interests in Springvale township, where he owns one of the most highly improved farms in the district. During his active life he brought this tract of land to an ideal state of improvement and development. He was for many years an influential factor in the agricultural progress of this section. Mr. Hazen is a native of Wisconsin, born in Springvale township, Fond du Lac county, September 7, 1847. He is a son of John and Malissa ( Moore) Hazen, natives of New York state. The father was born in Jefferson county, New York, February 19, 1819, and was of Scotch ancestry. The mother was born in the Empire state, on October 28, 1818, and traced her descent from an English family. They were married in New York and one year later in company with the father's brothers came to Oakfield, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where John Hazen took up forty acres of land and improved and developed it for two years. At the end of that time he disposed of his holdings and with his brothers came to Ridges Prairie in the spring of 1846. There they each took up one hundred and sixty ' acres of government land. They were among the earliest pioneers of that section. The father remained upon his holdings until his death, September 14, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. John Hazen were the parents of two children, the sister
63
HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
of our subject being Delia, who was born in 1845, in Oakfield, Wisconsin, and who married Edwin Sherwin, a bridge builder of Brandon, Wisconsin.
Horace S. Hazen was educated in the public schools of Fond du Lac county and from early childhood has been familiar with the details of agriculture. He aided his father in the work of the farm and when he was twenty-one years old took personal charge of the operation of the homestead. He now owns this homestead which comprises one hundred and sixty acres of highly improved and developed land, located on section 34, Springvale township, and in addition owns thirty acres adjoining it. Mr. Hazen for many years carried on general farming upon this property, feeding a large herd of thoroughbred stock with the products which he raised. He was one of the substantial farmers of his district and his is one of the most valuable and developed tracts of land in Springvale township. In 1902, he rented his place and with his mother re- moved to the village of Brandon, Wisconsin, where he is now living retired. His mother made her home in that village until her death, August 25, 1904.
Mr. Hazen is a republican and has served for several terms as postmaster in Springvale township. He is numbered among the men whose intelligent and successful cultivation of the soil has promoted the efficiency of the farms in the middle west and has raised the agricultural standards throughout the county.
FRANK E. STEELE.
Frank E. Steele who is identified with the real-estate and insurance business in Ripon, is one of the town's native sons, his birth having occurred on the 19th of June, 1874. He is descended from one of the well known pioneer families of Fond du Lac county, and is a son of Sumner Athern and Mattie (Sterling) Steele. The paternal grandfather came to Wisconsin with his family in 1846, locating at Storm's Landing, now Berlin, which was then in the very heart of the timber district. Very little of the land had been cleared, and most of the roads were only blazed trails. Mr. Steele bought land which he cleared and cultivated, becoming at various times one of the prosperous agriculturists of Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Green Lake counties. Frank E. Steele was reared to manhood on the home farm, and when old enough to begin his inde- pendent career directed his energies along agricultural lines. He subsequently purchased a farm two miles from Ripon and in connection with the cultivation of his land engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. He was successful and in order to devote more time to the development of the latter business, later located at Ripon. The mother is a daughter of James Sterling, a tailor by trade, who came to Wisconsin during the pioneer days and located in Berlin. He enlisted and went to the front as an officer of a Wisconsin regiment during the Civil war and died in the service. Mr. and Mrs. Steele were the parents of five children: George M., who died in 1893; Frank E., our subject; Fred W., who is also deceased; Sterling K., who is a resident of Fond du Lac; and Mildred, who is residing at home. The father passed away on the 5th of July, 1902, and the mother subsequently married John Rosa, a pioneer of Winnebago county, and they reside on the old Steele homestead.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.