USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 80
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
arriving in this country at Manitowoc, this state, where they remained for some years, eventually moving to Fond du Lac, where they have since continued to live. Mr. Knueppel was for many years employed as teamster for the C. J. L. Meyers company. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Knueppel six children were born, two of whom are now living: Anna L. and Ernst. The father of this family died March 22, 1890. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Dick was John Knueppel. His wife died in the early years of their married life, when Charles Knueppel, the father of Mrs. Dick, was but an infant. The mother of Mrs. Dick later was united in marriage to John Sonnenberg, and to this union one son, George Sonnenberg, was born.
J. George Dick is the president of the Dick Jens Cough Drop Company of this city and one of its up-to-date, successful merchants, making a specialty of general and fancy groceries. He is affiliated with the republican party and at present is the chairman of the city republican committee. He has served four terms in the office of supervisor for his county during the years intervening between 1905 and 1910, inclusive. He is one of the enthusiastic, public-spirited men of his county and one of the leaders of the political party to which he ascribes allegi- ance, being a well known and progressive citizen of Fond du Lac.
PETER ABLER.
Peter Abler is one of the enterprising and capable agriculturists of Taychee- dah township, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, in the cul- tivation of which he has been engaged for eighteen years. He is a native of Fond du Lac county, his birth having occurred in the township where he now resides, in 1867. His parents, Nicholas and Anna (Freund) Abler, were born in Germany, whence they emigrated to America in early life, locating in Fond du Lac county in 1845. Here the father passed away some three years ago, but the mother is still living and now resides with a son in Marshfield township.
The greater part of Peter Abler's life has been passed in the immediate vicinity of his present residence. He was reared in very much the same manner as other lads living in the rural sections of Wisconsin at that period. His early education was acquired in the district schools, which he attended until he was thirteen years of age. He later supplemented this course by one or two years' study in a local college, thus better qualifying himself for the practical duties of life. In common with other country lads, he early began assisting with the work of the fields and care of the stock, his energies always having been de- voted to agricultural pursuits. After leaving home he worked out for a year as a farm hand in Bristol, South Dakota, but at the expiration of that period he returned to Wisconsin, settling on the place he now owns, in 1894. His holding comprises one hundred and twenty acres, about ten of which he has cleared during the period of his ownership. He is enterprising and energetic in whatever he undertakes and since acquiring this property has wrought vari- ous changes, which have enhanced the value and added to the appearance of the place.
In 1898 Mr. Abler was united in marriage to Miss Katie Halfman, a daugh- ter of John and Mary K. Halfman, residents of this county, and to them have been born eight children. In order of birth they are as follows: Edward Nich- olas, who is thirteen years of age; Dora Catherine, who has passed the eleventh anniversary of her birth; Cecelia Margaret, who is ten years of age; Aloysius Chrysanth, who is anticipating his ninth birthday; August Joseph, who is six years old; Herman Joseph, who will soon be five; Bernard Jacob, who has passed the second anniversary of his birth; and Agnes Anna, who is three months old. The older children are all attending the district school.
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Mr. Abler is a democrat in his political views and he and his family are communicants of St. Peter's Catholic church. Mr. Abler is hard-working and persevering and such success as has come to him is well merited and highly deserved. He is one of the respected residents of his community, where he is known to be thoroughly trustworthy and reliable, always having conducted his transactions in an honest and upright manner.
DEFOREST D. SMITH.
DeForest D. Smith is the proprietor of an up-to-date wholesale and retail ice cream business. His factory is located at No. 33-35 West Johnson street, Fond du Lac. He is a native son of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Amherst on September 15, 1877. He is the son of George W. and Sarah E. (Wilson) Smith. His father was a native of Germany, his birth having oc- curred in that country in 1849. He is one of the well known and successful merchants at Amherst, of which place he is serving as postmaster. To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Smith four children have been born those beside our sub- ject being: Clifford, who married Lydia Wilmot of Amherst, and has three children, George W., Isabella, and one not named; Alfred; and Willard.
DeForest D. Smith was reared in his parents' home and educated in the public schools, passing through all the lower grades and completing his educa- tion in the high school of Amherst. At the age of seventeen he started in life for himself as a traveling salesman and in that occupation continued to be en- gaged for nine years. In 1906 he established himself in the general manufac- ture and sale of ice cream and in that business he has since continued and has met with well deserved and gratifying success. His factory is modern and up- to-date in all its appointments and is located at 33-35 West Johnson street, in Fond du Lac. A very considerable proportion of the product of his factory is shipped to various cities throughout the state.
Mr. Smith chose as his partner in life, Miss Emma L. Gormican of Fond du Lac, to whom he was united in wedlock in June, 1906. He is affiliated with the democratic party and he and Mrs. Smith are members of St. Patrick's Catholic church of this city. Mr. Smith is known as a reliable and successful business man and is highly respected throughout the county and always inter- ested in the advancement and improvement of the people of the city in which he lives.
FREDERICK F. POPE.
Frederick F. Pope, of the Pope Boat Company, one of the more recently organized industries of Fond du Lac, was born in Kent county, England, on the 2d of July, 1887. He is a son of Frederick and Sarah Pope, who emigrated to Canada during the boyhood of our subject and there both parents passed away, the father in 1910 and the mother in 1906. They were the parents of eight children: George F. has been married twice. Horace W. married Annie Woodcock of Coburg, Ontario. Clara became the wife of George A. Willis, also of Coburg. Amie is the wife of William H. Hopper, of Coburg. Frederick F., our subject, is the next in order of birth. John W. is married, and Percy E., who is a member of the Pope Boat Company, married Maud Salliday of Fond du Lac. Edward, who is the youngest member of the family, is unmarried.
Frederick F. Pope, who was only a boy when he accompanied his parents on their removal to America, pursued his education in the public schools of
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
Coburg, Ontario, until he was a lad of thirteen years. Soon after laying aside his text-books he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade, which he followed until 1905. In the latter year he and his brother Percy organized the Pope Boat Company and have ever since devoted their united efforts to the develop- ment of this enterprise with a gratifying measure of success. They have become widely known through the manufacture of the Pope motor boats, which are of very superior quality, and give excellent service, and they are favored with orders from all parts of the world. Both members of the firm are skilled me- chanics and have worked tirelessly and persistently in striving to perfect their boats and that they are achieving their aim is proven beyond question by the large orders which they receive.
For his wife and helpmate Mr. Pope chose Miss Lottie A. Deal, of Apple- ton, Wisconsin, and to them have been born three children: Edith, Fred L. and Amelia. Mrs. Pope's parents were for many years residents of Neenah, Wisconsin, where the father followed the shoemaker's trade until his health began to fail. He subsequently removed to a farm in North Dakota and there he passed away in 1889 at the age of seventy years.
Mr. and Mrs. Pope are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his polit- ical support he accords to the republican party. He is a public-spirited man and takes an active interest in all local affairs and is affiliated with both the Business Men's Club and Business Men's Association. Mr. Pope has won many friends during the period of his residence in Fond du Lac and is generally recog- nized as a young man of most excellent promise and capability.
JAMES HOBBS.
James Hobbs, a successful farmer of Lamartine township, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he is cultivating eighty acres of land, was born in Byron township, in the county in which he is now residing, on September 16, 1865. He is a son of James and Elizabeth Hobbs, natives of England. His father followed agriculture and was among the earliest settlers in Fond du Lac county, where he died on February 11, 1882, when he was fifty-one years of age. His wife survived him for many years, dying on the 2d of June, 1902, when she was seventy-eight years old. To their union were born eight children : Lydia; Clara; Lavinda; John; Martha; Monroe; George; and James, the sub- ject of this sketch.
The last named was educated in the district schools of Byron township and pursued his studies until he was fifteen years of age. He was familiar from his childhood with the details connected with the operation of a progressive agri- cultural enterprise and aided his father in the work of the farm until his mar- riage in 1894. At that time he purchased seventy acres of land in his native section and for seven years made a steady advance in prosperity. At the end of that time he bought eighty acres in Lamartine township and has since been successful as a general farmer. By hard work, honesty and good business ability he has been steadily prosperous in all branches of his enterprise, while his stock- raising interests are growing gradually. He now has nine head of cattle and two horses but is contemplating extending his phase of his business. In all his affairs he is alert and enteprising, meeting with the degree of success which is always the reward of labor when combined with personal efficiency.
Mr. Hobbs was married on December 23, 1894, at Waupun, Wisconsin, to Miss Geneva Hannor, a daughter of William and Mary Hannor, of Byron town- ship. Her father was a farmer and carried on an extensive enterprise along this line until his death on February 8, 1912, when he was eighty-four years of
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
age. His wife is still living and makes her home in Waupun, Wisconsin. She is seventy-seven years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs have been born three chil- dren: . Archie, Cecil and Lillian.
In his political beliefs Mr. Hobbs is a stanch republican and has served as road superintendent of Byron township for three years. He did able and ef- fective work as constable of Byron township for two years and as school direc- tor in the same section for one term. He is interested in every phase of busi- ness and agricultural development in the section in which he resides and as a stockholder in the Lamartine Creamery Company has influenced the success of that enterprise. He affiliates with the Methodist church. Mr. Hobbs works for his personal advancement and by promoting his own success along worthy and progressive lines has made his influence felt upon the agricultural develop- ment of his state.
HENRY FRIDAY.
Henry Friday is one of the well known and honored pioneers of Friend- ship township, Fond du Lac county, where he is engaged in general farming. He was born in Switzerland in 1832 and is the son of Henry and Barbara (Elmer) Friday, who emigrated to America in 1853. He was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in his native land. On reach- ing the shores of the new world he located in Friendship township, Fond du Lac county, at a time when there were no railroads in this part of the state. As a young man he was employed for some time at farm work, for which he received the small sum of eight dollars per month, at that time the current scale of wages paid for farm labor. He later purchased a farm and has since de- voted his time to general farming, in which he has met with gratifying success.
Mr. Friday was united in marriage in New London, Wisconsin, to Miss Louise Schroeder, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Schroeder. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Friday four children were born, as follows: William, who is now forty-nine years of age; Jacob, forty-seven years old; and Henry and Albert, who are thirty-five and thirty-three years of age respectively.
Mr. Friday is affiliated with the democratic party and is a member of the Reformed church. He is one of the oldest living pioneers of Friendship town- ship and is a man who has always been successful as a farmer and is one of the most respected and esteemed citizens of his part of the state.
GEORGE F. HARDGROVE.
George F. Hardgrove is one of the well known citizens of Fond du Lac, where he is successfully engaged in the undertaking business. He was born October 8, 1873, and is the son of Timothy and Bridget O. (Lockland) Hard- grove, both natives of County Clare, Ireland. The father was born in 1838 and emigrated to America in his early years. He settled in Wisconsin at a very early period in the history of this state and is justly entitled to be numbered among its pioneers. In his family were six children: Joseph, George F., Tim- othy, John G., Mary and Ella.
George. F. Hardgrove was reared in his parents' home and educated in the public schools of the district in which he lived. At the age of fourteen he started in life for himself, engaging in the cooperage business, in which he continued for six years, after which he followed blacksmithing from 1903 until 1908. He then was employed in the undertaking establishment of L. G. Zacherl, with
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
whom he remained for one year, at the end of which time he engaged in the undertaking business in partnership with G. H. Gordon, both partners having graduated from the Philadelphia Embalming School in the class of 1909. Their establishment is well located on one of the business streets of the city of Fond du Lac and the firm is conducting a very successful business.
Mr. Hardgrove was united in marriage to Miss Alice Burns, of Eden, and to them two children have been born, Alice and Lucille. He is affiliated with the democratic party and is a loyal member of that great political organization. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and also of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is likewise a member of the Funeral Directors Asso- ciation of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Hardgrove are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church of Fond du Lac. Our subject is well known in this part of the state and is characterized in business for prompt attention and efficient service. He is universally regarded as a man of strict integrity in business matters and is always to be relied upon to give his influence and assistance to the furtherance of any public measure seeking the advancement of the community in which he lives.
JOSEPH B. BARLOW, JR.
Joseph B. Barlow, Jr., who is living retired in a pleasant home in Ripon, has at various times been prominently identified with the upbuilding of his native city. While he has put aside active management of business affairs he is still a member of the Barlow & Seelig Manufacturing Company, makers of washing machines, and is also associated with Mr. Seelig in the conduct of a hardware store in Ripon. He has long maintained a place among the leading and valued merchants and manufacturers of the city and the secret of his suc- cess is found in the close application which he has always given his business affairs, combined with enterprise and progressive methods.
Mr. Barlow was born in Ripon in 1859, and is a son of Joseph B. Barlow, Sr., a native of Delaware county, New York, and a son of Samuel and Mary (Mapes) Barlow, representatives of a family founded in Connecticut in colonial days. The Mapes family was of English origin and at an early period in the settlement of the new world was established on this side of the water, Timothy Mapes, the great-grandfather of Joseph B. Barlow, Jr., having been a resident of Delaware county, New York. It was Captain David P. Mapes, a brother of Mary (Mapes) Barlow, who founded and organized the city of Ripon in 1849. He conducted a hotel, operated a gristmill and was one of the prominent pioneer residents of this section.
Joseph B. Barlow, Sr., was born in Roxbury, New York, September 30, 1818, and was the first of his family to come to Ripon, where he took up his abode about 1855. He had visited the district, however, in 1846, spending ten days here, during which period he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of government land in three tracts near the present site of Ripon, which at that time, however, was covered with hazel brush. On his first trip to the west he walked to Fond du Lac county from Milwaukee to see Captain Mapes, after which he returned to New York, where he remained until 1855, engaged in mer- chandising. At that date he returned to Wisconsin and established a perma- nent home in Fond du Lac county. While living in the east he saw one of the first railroads in America. It was built in 1834 and was sixteen miles long, ex- tending from Carbondale to Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Following his removal to the west Joseph B. Barlow, Sr., turned his atten- tion to the lumber business, in which he engaged for twenty years. He was at one time alderman of the city of Ripon to which office he was elected on the
J. B. Ludlow
J. B. Barlow, Sr.
Bedford Ludlow
Mrs. H. J. Ludlow
Jean Elizabeth Ludlow
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
republican ticket. The Baptist church numbered him among its devoted mem- bers and he at all times lived the life of a consistent Christian. In 1847 he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Quackenboss, of New York, who died in 1856, leaving a son and daughter; Gust, now a commercial traveler with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri; and Mary E., the wife of Horace Ludlow, of Worthington, Minne- sota. Another daughter, Josephine, had died in infancy. In 1858 Mr. Barlow was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary J. Quackenboss, by whom he had one son, Joseph B.
Joseph B. Barlow, Jr., received his early education in the common schools of Ripon and entered the Ripon College from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen. When his education was completed he went to Minnesota where he entered the employ of his brother as a clerk and remained in this connection until he had attained his majority. In that year he removed to Edgerton, Minnesota, and started in the mercantile business for himself. He built up a flourishing trade along this line and was successful from the year 1877 to 1893. At the latter date he returned to Ripon where in partnership with Mr. Osbourn he opened a hardware store under the name of Osbourn & Barlow. This asso- ciation continued for one year and at the end of that time Mr. Barlow became associated with Mr. Seelig in the conduct of a hardware business. He was also for many years of his active life identified with the Barlow-Seelig Manu- facturing Company, makers of all kinds of improved and patented washing machines. This concern is one of the largest industrial enterprises in the state of Wisconsin. Its product is known all over the United States as the "Big Three" washing machine. These machines are manufactured in various grades and run by hand power, by water or by electricity, according to their make and variety. The market for the product of the Barlow-Seelig Manufacturing Company is limited only by the boundaries of the United States. The firm employ a large number of traveling salesmen besides the staff at the home office, and is growing and increasing every year. Mr. Barlow has now retired from active management of his two enterprises and is living with his family in Ripon.
On the 22d of June, 1880, Mr. Barlow was united in marriage to Miss Ione Grant, a daughter of Henry and Emily (Durkee) Grant, of Minnesota, and they became the parents of two daughters: Mrs. W. B. Murray, of Ashland, Wis- consin, who is the mother of one child; and Mrs. F. J. Griffith, of Fairwater, Wisconsin. Mr. Barlow is prominent in the Masonic order and belongs to Ripon Lodge, F. & A. M. He also holds membership in Berlin Commandery, K. T., and is active in the affairs of that organization. He has been a conspicuous fig- ure in the industrial development of the city of Ripon and is now enjoying a well earned rest.
JOHN P. KALT.
John P. Kalt is a native of Fond du Lac, his birth having here occurred on the 25th of April, 1885, and is a son of Michael and Louisa (Loehr) Kalt. The parents were both natives of Johnsburg, this state, the father's birth having there occurred on the 25th of April, 1854, while the mother was born in 1859. Michael Kalt was reared on a farm and for thirty years successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. At the expiration of that time, however, he withdrew from that work and opened a café in Fond du Lac that he conducted for ten years. He is now deceased, having passed away in 1909. Three children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kalt: Dora, who married Michael J. Zimmers, president of the Kalt-Zimmers Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, in which city they reside; Edwin, who is unmarried; and John P., our subject.
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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY
After attending the graded and high schools of the city, John P. Kalt took a course in a commercial college, thus qualifying himself to assume the duties of a business career. At the age of nineteen years he accepted his first position, which was that of bookkeeper for the Winnebago Lumber Company, remain- ing in their service for four years. At the expiration of that time he secured a similar position in the insurance office of S. D. Wyatt. He resigned this a year later, however, to become cashier of the First Wisconsin Bank of North Fond du Lac. After serving in this capacity for two and a half years he ac- cepted the position of cashier with the Citizens State Bank, of Fond du Lac, which was organized in May, 1911, and has ever since been identified with this institution. Mr. Kalt is a very ambitious young man of earnest purpose and unremitting diligence, who has manifested keen foresight and sagacity in the direction of his forces and is meeting with a corresponding degree of success. He is a stockholder in the Sand Rock Water Company and the First Wisconsin Bank of North Fond du Lac, and treasurer of the Adjustable Steel Centering Company of this city.
Mr. Kalt married Miss Lottie Bechand, a daughter of A. G. Bechand and a representative of one of Fond du Lac's pioneer families. They are communi- cants of the Roman Catholic church, and fraternally Mr. Kalt is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He is public spirited and progressive in matters of citizenship and is one of the active members of the Business Men's Club, while his political support he accords to the democratic party. The success that has come to him in the pursuit of his business career must be attributed to his close concentration and conscien- tious discharge of his duties, by means of which he has established a reputa- tion for trustworthiness and reliability that will prove an invaluable asset to him and be a dominant factor in promoting his prosperity.
EDWARD HALFMANN.
Edward Halfmann is one of the well known business men of Fond du Lac where he is successfully engaged in the conduct of a café located at 218 South Main street. He was born in Taycheedah, Wisconsin, December 22, 1890, and is a son of John and Mary Halfmann. The father was a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred at Taycheedah in 1846, at which place he was engaged in the cultivation of his farm of eighty-eight acres until 1900. He then retired from active life and now resides in Peebles, Wisconsin. The mother was born in Calumet county, this state, in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. John Halfmann became the parents of twelve children: Christ, a boilermaker of Fond du Lac; Maggie, who is now the wife of Nicholas Gilenbach, a farmer living on the old homestead, by whom she has five children; Katie, who is the wife of Peter Abler and the mother of seven children; Joseph, a boilermaker, who married Susie Snyder of Peebles and has three children; Peter, a boilermaker by trade, who married Lina Kline, by whom he had two children; Nicholas, a boilermaker, who mar- ried Fannie Richter of Taycheedah, and has two children; Edward, the sub- ject of this review ; August, a boilermaker who married Dora Simmons of Fond du Lac, by whom he had two children; Hubert, who is in partnership with his brother Edward in the café business; Henry, who is a blacksmith in Calumet county ; Tony, who is a boilermaker and resides in Fond du Lac; and Francis who is at home with his parents at Peebles.
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