USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 84
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WILLIAM E. KNOCKE.
William E. Knocke, manager of the local office of the Cudahy Company of Milwaukee, has been identified with the business interests of Fond du Lac for the past sixteen years. He was born in Sheboygan county, this state, on the 19th of October, 1872, and is a son of Charles and Sophia Knocke. The parents are both natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1848, locating in Sheboygan county, where the father engaged in farming. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Knocke numbered eight, our subject being the third in order of birth. The others are as follows: Henry, who died in She- boygan in 1902, and left a widow, whose maiden name was Anna Hertz, and two sons, Robert and Carl; Emma, the wife of Ernest Fricke of Sheboygan by whom she has had two sons, Herbert and Carl; Louis, who married Anna Serus, also of Sheboygan, and has two children, Dorothy and Carl; Charles ; Lulu, who mar- ried Henry Flicker, of Sheboygan and has two children; Meta, the wife of Albert Myers of Sheboygan, by whom she has had two children; and Harry.
William E. Knocke attended the public and high schools of his native city until he was a youth of about fourteen years, when he began earning his own living. In order to better qualify himself for the practical duties of a business
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career for two years thereafter he attended the night classes of the commercial college at Sheboygan, while he worked in a meat market during the day. He left home in 1889, and very soon thereafter became identified with the Cudahy Company of Milwaukee, and sixteen years ago they made him manager of their branch at Fond du Lac. As he is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business and is diligent and systematic in his methods he is well qualified for the duties involved in this position and has given excellent satisfaction as is mani- fested by the length of his period of service.
Mr. Knocke married Miss Ethel O'Brien of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they have one daughter, Gertrude. He is a member of the Congregational church and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen of America. His political views accord with the principles of the republican party and he served as a member of the school board for two years and was alderman from the second ward for one term. Mr. Knocke possesses many admirable qualities and is held in high regard in local business circles where he has won many stanch friends.
THOMAS SEAMAN.
Thomas Seaman has been identified with the agricultural development of Eden township, where he has owned a farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres for forty- five years, and is numbered among the pioneers of Fond du Lac county. He is a native of England, his birth having there occurred on the 16th of February, 1837, and a son of William and Martha Seaman, the former a native of Norfolk. The parents passed their entire lives in the mother country, where our subject received his early education.
In 1856 Thomas Seaman came to America and for several years thereafter made his home in the state of New York. The first year of his residence in this country was spent on a farm, where he worked for his board and attended school during the winter months. He subsequently entered the employ of another farmer, with whom he remained until 1860, and here he was likewise granted the privilege of attending school during the winter. It was his desire to become a teacher and in order to achieve his ambition his evenings and spare hours were devoted to study. He excelled in writing and diligently applied himself to perfecting this art and for a time held classes in the evenings in the village school. In 1860 he came to Wisconsin and took up his residence with two uncles who were residing in Eden. He remained with them until after the opening of the war in 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He acted as regimental clerk during the greater period of his enlistment and he spent eight months in the recruiting service. He was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Missionary Ridge, and Lookout Mountain. At the battle of Stone River he was struck in the chest by a piece of shell, the force of the blow causing a severe hemorrhage. He became unconscious and for twenty-four hours lay on the battlefield among the dead. When they were preparing the bodies of his com- rades for burial, it was observed that he moved, so he was hurried to the hospital. where he was confined for two months. At the end of that time he rejoined his regiment and remained at the front until honorably discharged in November. 1865, with the rank of sergeant. He subsequently became second lieutenant of Company I, Forty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, and was later transferred to the Fifty-second regiment. In 1866, he served as quartermaster of the post at Madison, this state, and the year following he bought his farm, and leaving the army turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Very few improvements had been made on the place when Mr. Seaman purchased it, but during the long
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS SEAMAN
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period of his ownership he has erected a modern house and barns, and brought the land under high cultivation, and it is now one of the attractive and valuable properties of the township.
In 1867, Mr. Seaman was married to Miss Hannah Carr, a native of Nor- folk, England, and to them has been born one daughter, Hattie, who is living at home with her parents.
Mr. Seaman cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and still gives his support to the candidates of the republican party. He has never held an official position, having declined to serve in any public capacity, although he takes an active interest in all matters affecting the welfare or progress of the com- munity, particularly those bearing upon the schools and educational system. Mr. Seaman is not affiliated with any religious denomination, but he is a strong advocate of churches and upholds and assists in advancing the Christian faith by contributing toward the maintenance of various orders and churches. He is a man of sterling worth and possesses many estimable qualities, and in his private life manifests the same loyalty and fidelity of purpose that characterized him as a soldier when in the camp and on the battlefields of the south.
NICHOLAS J. KLOTZ, JR.
One of the sterling citizens of Austrian descent residing near Eden in Fond du Lac county, who is doing much in a quiet way to make the soil of this locality productive and its commercial enterprises successful, is Nicholas J. Klotz, Jr. His family is now in the third generation of its residence in Wisconsin and the record of its representatives is a story of hard and unwearying work along de- veloping lines. The family was founded in Wisconsin by Ignatius Klotz, the grandfather of our subject, who left his native country -- Austria-in 1851 and crossed the Atlantic to America, accompanied by his wife, Katherine Klotz, and his son Nicholas J., Sr., the father of our subject. In the township of Eden he bought land which he improved and developed to a remarkable extent. He built a log cabin upon his place from the timber cut upon the land and in this the family resided for many years. A short time before his death Ignatius Klotz built a fine stone dwelling upon the old homestead, the material being hauled from the Eden quarries with ox teams, and the house in its completed state is one of the most beautiful and comfortable homes in the township. Ignatius Klotz remained upon his original farm until his death.
His son, Nicholas J. Klotz, Sr., was born in Austria, August 8, 1843, and came to Wisconsin with his parents when he was eight years of age. He was reared upon his father's farm and early in life became acquainted with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the grain and stock. He received a splendid education for those times as his father was a firm believer in an efficient schooling. After he had completed his studies in the common schools of Fond du Lac county he entered college at Brooklyn, New York, and remained there for two years. When he laid aside his books he returned to his father's farm and assisted in its labors until 1862, when he journeyed west on a prospecting tour. He remained away about a year but not being particularly successful he returned home and in 1867 bought land in the township of Eden, where he made his home. He afterward added more land to his farm, purchasing adjoining acres at various times. He built new barns and outbuildings, greatly improved the place and added new and efficient machinery. He was one of the enterprising and repre- sentative men of his district and was at different times elected upon the demo- cratic ticket to serve the people. He was sheriff of Fond du Lac county in 1874 and during the term of his service lived with his family in the city of Fond du Lac. He was assemblyman for two years and chairman of the town council Vol. II-36
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for a like period of time. He is still prominent in democratic politics and is in- telligently and actively interested in the welfare of his community. He is a member of St. Matthew's Catholic church of Campbellsport and is still living upon his home farm.
In July, 1869, Nicholas J. Klotz, Sr., married Miss Hannah Mahoney, a daughter of Michael Mahoney, one of the pioneer settlers of Fond du Lac county. By their union were born nine children.
Nicholas Klotz, Jr., was born September 1, 1876, upon the home farm. He received his education in the district schools near Eden, spent four years in the parochial school in Campbellsport and was for four months a pupil in a parochial school in Fond du Lac. He took advantage of every educational opportunity and when he laid aside his books had an efficient equipment with which to start his active life. He returned to his father's farm and assisted in the labors inci- dent to the cultivation of the soil until July 21, 1897. In that year he went to Milwaukee to accept a position as fireman on the Northwestern railroad in which connection he continued for four years and six months. He was ambi- tious, energetic and faithful in the performance of his duties and he soon gained promotion to the position of engineer. He worked in this capacity for five years, always in the employ of the Northwestern Railroad Company. His runs were out of Milwaukee, Chicago, Janesville and Green Bay, and afforded him oppor- tunities of studying commercial and agricultural conditions in the states of Illi- nois and Wisconsin. He was called home by the death of his brother, George I. Klotz, which occurred in a hospital in Chicago. After this event the entire charge of the estate in Fond du Lac county devolved upon Nicholas Klotz, and he has been active and successful as an agriculturist since that time.
On November 23, 1910, Mr. Klotz was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Campbell, a daughter of William and Martha Campbell, whose family is one of the oldest in Fond du Lac county. By their union has been born one child, Gertrude Monica, whose birth occurred July 29, 1911.
Politically Mr. Klotz gives his allegiance to the democratic party in national affairs but keeps his judgment free and opinions liberal on local issues. He served as clerk of the school district for three years and did able and efficient work in this line. By his enterprise and energy along political lines and by his scientific and modern methods of agriculture Mr. Klotz has earned the high esteem of his fellow citizens and the place in the community to which he is entitled has never been denied him.
IRVING PRAY.
Irving Pray is the owner of a creamery located on East Thirteenth street, Fond du Lac, which he has been successfully conducting for the past thirteen years. He is a native of this county, his birth having occurred on the 26th of September, 1864, and a son of Caleb and Elmira (Collier) Pray. The mother, who had been previously married, had two children by her first union, Mortimer P. and Louisa A. Thayer. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pray there were born two sons, the elder of whom, Perry, died at the age of three years.
Irving Pray was reared on the farm where he was born, and while pursuing. his studies in the public school assisted his father with the work of the fields and care of the stock. At the age of seventeen years he laid aside his text-books, and thereafter gave his undivided attention to the work of the farm, in the opera- tion of which he assisted his father until 1902. In the latter year he withdrew from agricultural pursuits and coming to Fond du Lac opened the business he is now conducting. Mr. Pray owns the property where he has established his
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business and also his residence at 146 East Thirteenth street, as well as eighty acres of farm land.
Mr. Pray married Miss Maggie J. Bradley, a daughter of George Bradley, a farmer of Eden, this county, and to them were born three children: Perry S., the eldest, who married Ruby La Board of this city; and Bessie and Percy, who are living at home with their father. The wife and mother passed away on the 4th of December, 1894.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally Mr. Pray belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and also the Equitable Fra- ternal Union, while he accords his political support to the republican party. He has always led an active life and applies himself diligently and capably to any- thing he undertakes, to which fact can be attributed the success he is meeting with in the development of his business.
RICHARD STRELOW.
Richard Strelow has an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres on section 13, Springvale township, and is well and favorably known in the district as general agriculturist, dairy man and stock-raiser. He dates his resi- dence in this section from 1882 and his active life has been spent upon the farm which he is now operating. He was born in Germany, June 19, 1875, the som of William and Wilhelmina Strelow, natives of that country. The parents came to the United States in 1882, locating near Brandon, where the father followed farming. His first purchase of land consisted of forty acres, to which he later added an equal amount, and upon this farm he and his wife are residing at the present time. To them were born ten children: Charles, who is engaged in farming in Metomen township; Augusta, the wife of William Gaulke, a farmer residing near Fair Water; Bertha, the wife of Rudolph Kurenka, who is engaged in farming in Minnesota; Amelia, the wife of Albert Erkman, who is operating a farm near Fair Water, Wisconsin; August, deceased; Herman, who is en- gaged in farming near Fair Water; Annie, the wife of John Gevelenske, a farmer residing near Rosendale; Richard, the subject of this sketch; Otto, at home; and William, of Fair Water.
Richard Strelow attended school at Brandon and worked upon the home farm until he was sixteen years of age. At that time he began earning his own liveli- hood, working out by the month upon neighboring properties. This he continued until he was twenty-two years of age and then located on the farm where he now resides. He first rented the property but later purchased the one hundred , and sixty-two acres, buying from the estate of his wife's first husband. He carried on the work of development and improvement along progressive lines, later add- ing stock-raising to his activities until he is now one of the substantial citizens of his district and his farm a model agricultural enterprise. His dairy is one of the important branches of his work and he keeps fourteen high-grade cows for this purpose, selling the dairy products in the neighboring markets and in this way adding materially to his income.
On January 10, 1903, Mr. Strelow was united in marriage to Mrs. Augusta Scheurs, a daughter of Ferdinand and Ernestina Genrich and the widow of Garrett Scheurs. The latter was a well known farmer in Springvale township and carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on May 17, 1902. Mrs. Strelow is of German parentage, her father and mother having come from that country to the United States in 1882. They located in Princeton, Wisconsin, where they remained for one year, later removing to Ripon, where the father worked upon a farm for several years before he pur- chased land two and one-half miles southwest of Brandon. Upon this he resided
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for five years, after which the property was sold and the family moved to the vicinity of Rosendale. In 1909 Mr. Genrich retired and moved into the village, where he and his wife now reside. They had ten children: August, deceased ; Amelia, the wife of Charles Strelow, a farmer residing in Metomen township; Elizabeth, deceased; Augusta, the wife of our subject; Mary, the wife of Wil- liam Wittchow, who is engaged in farming in Springvale township; Herman, who is operating the old home place near Rosendale; George, at home; Emil, deceased; William, who is engaged in farming in Byron township; and Robert, at home. By her former marriage Mrs. Strelow had three children : Emma, who was born April 1, 1896; Eddie, born June 22, 1899; and Robert, born January 3, 1901. All are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Strelow are the parents of five children : Harold, born in 1903; Laura, born February 5, 1905; Lawrence, born April 13, 1906; Lester, born October 7, 1910; and Lisle, born November 27, 1911. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Rosendale.
Mr. Strelow gives his allegiance to the republican party but has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to devote his entire attention to the intelli- gent operation of his excellent farm. His success up to the present time has been the outcome of progressive, systematic and scientific methods and the reward of hard and persevering work. He has directed and managed his career so intelligently that he is today classed among the prominent agriculturists of Fond du Lac county.
DWIGHT W. MERRILL.
The career of Dwight W. Merrill has been a credit to Fond du Lac county, of which section he is a native son, and his agricultural activities have been a force in the development of the district. He is one of the thrifty, enterprising and progressively liberal farmers of Lamartine township, where he is cultivating two hundred and four acres of land, and his increasing success is evidence of his skill and industry. Mr. Merrill was born in the section where he is now active on April 29, 1861, and is the son of Harry and Esther (Waterman) Merrill. The father was born in New York state in 1831 and came to Lamartine township, where he farmed until his death, which occurred in 1909. The mother is a native of Michigan and is still living in Fond du Lac township in the eightieth year of her age. To their union were born six children: Nellie, who married J. E. Treleven, a retired farmer of Fond du Lac township, by whom she has one child, Lee; Louis, a resident of Virginia, who married Lydia Roberts and after her death wedded Mary Hartman, by whom he has six children; Dwight W., of this review ; Eva, who became the wife of Alfred Morgan, a laborer of Fond du Lac, by whom she has four children, Myrtle, Merrill, Nellie and Jessie; Harry, who married Tillie Maxwell, of Nebraska, by whom he has two children; and Calvin, who is engaged in farming and who married Miss Edith Wookey, of Oakfield.
Mr. Merrill was educated in the district schools of Lamartine township and pursued his studies until he was twenty years of age. From early childhood he was familiar with farm life and was an able assistant to his father in his agricultural work. He remained at home until he was twenty-one and then rented land for two years. He was successful and at the end of that time was able to purchase a farm in Nebraska, which he cultivated for some years and then traded for Wisconsin land. This property he afterward sold in order to purchase his present farm, upon which he is now residing. He is one of the prosperous agriculturists and stock-raisers of Lamartine township and is num- bered among the representative and enterprising citizens of that district. He makes a specialty of raising pure-bred Holstein cattle, of which he has a herd
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of fifty head, and is also interested in raising high-grade Duroc Jersey hogs. His land is located on section 32 and in its improved and developed state is one of the features of the agricultural development of this section. He is also a stockholder in the Lamartine Creamery Company and a director and stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Oakfield. A man of resourceful business ability, he has directed his labors intelligently and systematically and his keen discernment and enterprise constitute the basis of a most substantial success.
Mr. Merrill has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Laura Roberts, who died in 1905, leaving four children, Bessie, Albert, Louis and Hazel. On January 26, 1911, Mr. Merrill wedded Miss Eva Gray and to their union has been born a daughter, Antoinette. He is a republican in his political beliefs and has served his fellow citizens as supervisor, which office he held for three years, and as clerk of the school board, in which capacity he was active for a similar period. He well merits the success which has come to him, for it has been gained by industry and honorable and straightforward dealings, high standards and tried methods.
WILLIAM PIEHL.
For three generations members of the Piehl family have farmed in Ashford township where their upright, energetic and honorable methods have become recognized. The present representative is William Piehl, who is carrying on general agricultural pursuits upon the homestead, having never left his father's farm. His methods are new, modern and progressive but his standards and ideals have been handed down to him from sturdy and upright German ancestors. The family was founded in America by the grandfather of our subject, John Piehl, who came with his wife, Dorothy, to America in 1856, settling upon a wild tract of land in Ashford township. Upon this he built a crude log cabin and here he lived until his death which occurred in 1877. He was succeeded by his son, Gottlieb Piehl, who was born in Germany in 1849 and came to the United States with his parents when he was only seven years of age. He re- mained upon his father's farm until his marriage which occurred in 1876 and then moved to the property which his son is now operating upon which he lived until his death which occurred in 1909. He made extensive improvements upon the place and built a fine brick house which is today the family residence. He erected barns, granaries and other outbuildings and was in all respects a modern and representative agriculturist. He affiliated with the republican party but never cared for public office. He married in 1876 Miss Augusta Buettener, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Carl Buettener, who was also born in that country. The mother of our subject came to America when she was six years of age. She and her husband had three children: Helen, who married Bartel Jaeger of Ashford township; Emma, who married John Damm and who died in 1903; and William, the subject of this sketch.
William Piehl received his education in the public schools of Campbellsport and from an early age was identified with the work of his father's farm. After the latter's death he took entire charge of its management and has since carried on general agriculture upon this property. His mother is still living and makes her home with our subject.
In 1910 Mr. Piehl was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Guntly a daughter of Matthias and Annie Guntly, and they became the parents of two children : Walter, who was born on February 25, 1911; and Lewis, who was born on the 9th of March, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Piehl belong to the German Reformed church, holding membership in Campbellsport.
Mr. Piehl is a republican in his political beliefs, as were his father and grandfather before him, but although he takes an intelligent interest in public
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affairs he never seeks office. He is carrying on in agriculture the upright tradi- tions which have been handed down to him from two generations of honorable and worthy cultivators of the soil and has gained success while he is a young man. He is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of his com- munity and while he is too young to have by any means completed his success yet his present prosperity and the methods by which it has been attained are a pleasant prophecy.
DAVID GRATTON.
David Gratton is identified with the agricultural interests of Fond du Lac township, where he owns and cultivates twenty acres of land. He is a member of one of the pioneer families of Friendship township, where his birth occurred on the 7th of April, 1866. The father, Vetal Gratton, was a native of Canada, his birth there occurring in 1833. He came to Fond du Lac county in 1857, and engaged in farming until he passed away in 1900. The mother is likewise a native of Canada, but at the age of six years she removed to Fond du Lac county with her parents, and here she was reared to womanhood and married. To them were born ten children, of whom our subject is the youngest. In order of birth the others are as follows: Sophia, Albina, Julia, Della, Fannie, Mary, Moses, Joseph and Eugene.
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