USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 85
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The boyhood and youth of David Gratton did not differ in particular from that of the average lad reared in the rural sections of Wisconsin during the pioneer period. In the acquirement of his education he attended the district schools of Friendship township until he was fourteen. Laying aside his text- books, he then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, with which he was already familiar, having for some years been assisting with the work of the fields and care of the stock. He remained at home, and aided his father in the cultivation of the farm until the latter's death, following which he went to Fond du Lac, where he remained for five years. Subsequently he resumed his con- nection with agricultural interests and in 1908 bought forty acres of land in Fond du Lac township, which he diligently cultivated until the spring of 1912, when he sold twenty acres of his holdings.
On the 9th of June, 1890, Mr. Gratton was married to Miss Melvina M. Shotte, a daughter of Daniel Shotte, farming people of Friendship township. To them have been born six children: Velic, Edward, Olive, Corinne, Blanche and one who died in infancy.
In matters of religious faith the family are Roman Catholics and polit- ically Mr. Gratton is a democrat. Having passed his entire life in this county he enjoys a wide acquaintance among its citizens and has many friends, the ma- jority of whom were comrades of his boyhood.
MICHAEL J. BECKER.
Michael J. Becker is one of the well known and respected citizens of Fond du Lac county where he is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, August 9, 1870, and is a son of Anton and Theresa (Beck) Becker, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was by trade a mason and by occupation a farmer. He was also engaged in school teaching during the winter months. He emigrated from his native country to the United States in 1820, settling in Wisconsin where he continued to reside
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until the time of his death which occurred in 1874. The mother came to America with her parents at the age of eight years and they also settled in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Anton Becker became the parents of five children, two of whom are living: Michael J., of this review ; and Anna.
Michael J. Becker was reared in his parents' home in Dodge county where he completed his elementary education at the age of twelve years. He remained under the parental roof until he was fourteen years of age at which time he started out in life for himself as a farm laborer and continued in that occupa- tion without interruption for a period of twenty years. In 1910 he purchased eleven acres of land in the town of Fond du Lac and has since given his entire attention to the cultivation of his highly developed piece of property. After having gained a complete knowledge of the farming industry during his long period of service as a farm laborer he is now utilizing his understanding of the business as the owner and proprietor of his farm, in the conduct of which he is numbered among the successful agriculturists of Fond du Lac county.
Mr. Becker was united in marriage in 1908 to Miss Ella Guell, of Fond du Lac, a daughter of William and Bertha Guell, the former of whom has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Becker one child, Ruth, has been born. Mr. Becker is affiliated with the democratic party and he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. The family reside four miles west of Fond du Lac on the Fond du Lac and Brandon road. He is one of the respected and well known citizens of the township in which he lives and enjoys the good-will and esteem of all his friends and associates.
CHARLES HENRY McMILLAN.
Although one of the younger business men of Fond du Lac, Charles Henry McMillan has gained for. himself a creditable and enviable position in indus- trial circles here, being now secretary, treasurer and manager of the Winnebago Manufacturing Company. He was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, July 19, 1882, and is a representative of one of the early families of this state. His pa- ternal grandfather was at one time a manufacturer of pants at Malone, New York, and through his business connections became known all over the coun- try. Removing westward he became one of the early settlers of Stevens Point, where he died at an advanced age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Barber, reached the remarkable old age of ninety-six years. They were the parents of twelve children, including Charles V. McMillan, who was born at Fort Carvington, New York, and married Kate Prentice, a daughter of J. L. and Sarah (Van Dusen) Prentice, both of whom reached advanced years. Her father was a soldier of the Civil war for four years and was one of the honored pioneer residents of Wisconsin, where he engaged in surveying a large amount of land for the government before the days of railroads. Unto him and his wife were born four children: Frankie, deceased; Kate, who became Mrs. McMillan; Jennie, the wife of Charles Conlisk; and Eugene. Both Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. McMillan were reared in the Empire state. Throughout his entire life he was engaged in the lumber business and following his arrival in Wisconsin, about 1855, he settled at Stevens Point. Subsequently he removed to McMillan, of which town he and his brother, E. F., were the founders. There he resided until 1890, when he came to Fond du Lac and purchased the plant which was formerly operated by C. J. L. Meyer. Since then he has continued in the business of manufacturing bedroom, office and dining-room furniture. He is at the head of one of the important enterprises of the city, employing about one hun- dred and fifty workmen in the production of a high grade of goods which finds a ready and profitable sale on the market. The business was incorporated in 1890 un-
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der the name of the Winnebago Manufacturing Company, with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars. Their output is sold in all parts of the United States and they also do a large export business. Mr. McMillan, as head of this estab- lishment, ranks with the foremost business men of Fond du Lac and his interests are of a character which contribute to public prosperity as well as to individual success. He and his wife occupy an attractive home at the corner of Park avenue and Second street. They are members of the Episcopal church and are held in high esteem by all who know them. Their family numbers four children : Anna, the wife of T. A. Green, of Ontonagon, Michigan; Charles H .; Marguerite, the wife of Dr. H. E. Clark, of Flint, Michigan; and Catharine, a student in Chicago.
Charles Henry McMillan was only about eight years of age when his par- ents removed from the town of McMillan to Fond du Lac and here in the public schools he continued his education which was later supplemented by study in the Lake Forest Academy at Lake Forest, Illinois. He then went into the pine woods of Northern Michigan, where he was employed for seven years, and on the expiration of that period he went abroad for a pleasure trip around the world. Upon his return he once more spent a year in the woods and then entered the employ of the government as harbor inspector at Duluth. On his retirement from that position he returned to Fond du Lac and entered the factory of the Winnebago Furniture Manufacturing Company, of which he is now secretary, treasurer and general manager. His previous experience in con- nection with the lumber industry well qualifies him for his present duties and responsibilities and he is justly accounted one of the enterprising young business men of Fond du Lac, his enterprise and energy carrying him into important relations.
On the 25th of July, 1908, Mr. McMillan was united in marriage to Miss Nina Courtney, a daughter of George E. and Minnie (Leight) Courtney. the former a native of Sarine, Ontario, and the latter of Michigan. Mrs. McMillan, their only child, was born at Lake Linden, Michigan, and by her marriage has become the mother of a little son, Charles C. Both Mr. and Mrs. McMillan hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and are well known socially. their home being a most hospitable one and the center of a cultivated society circle.
HENRY HUCK.
Henry Huck, a young and enterprising agriculturist of Eden township. is the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred acres and in its operation has won a creditable measure of success. It was on this farm that his birth occurred, his natal day being April 20, 1886. His parents, Charles and Kath- erine (Reikley) Huck, were both natives of Germany, the former born in 1835 and the latter in 1841. Mrs. Katherine Huck was brought to this country when but ten years of age. It was in 1856 that Charles Huck crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling in Empire township, Fond du Lac county, Wiscon- sin, where he purchased a farm. A few years later he bought the land which has since remained the old Huck homestead and where his demise occurred in March, 1912. He was one of the most prominent among the old German set- tlers here and for many years held the office of supervisor. He was a leading and valued member of St. Mary's Catholic church and also belonged .to the Foresters. His widow, who still survives him, resides on the home place with her son Henry. One of the most notable events of pioneer days was the double wedding of the brothers, John and Charles Huck, who were married on the 16th of December, 1861, to Anna Heid and Katherine Reikley, respec-
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES HUCK
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tively, at the Catholic church in Dotyville, Fond du Lac county, by Father Joseph, a Capuchin monk from the monastery at Mount Calvary. He had walked from the monastery to the church, a distance of eight miles, to perform this ceremony, and neighbors came from twenty miles around, it being a gala day in what was then a wilderness. On the 16th of December, 1911, these couples, together with their descendants, celebrated their golden wedding, members of the two families then numbering over one hundred. On that day John Huck was seventy-seven years of age, while his wife was seventy-two; Charles Huck was in his seventy-sixth year and his wife was seventy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Charles Huck were born eight children, as follows: John, who died in in- fancy ; Amelia; Frank; George; Charles; Henry, of this review; John, the sec- ond of the name; and Mary. In 1907 the last named give her hand in marriage to Eugene Bannon, a son of James Bannon, of Campbellsport. Mr. and Mrs. Bannon have one child, Iolene Katherine, who was born on the 24th of January, 1909.
Henry Huck, like the other members of his father's family, obtained his education in the public school of his home locality. When not busy with his text-books he assisted in the work of the home farm, thus early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After his father's demise he purchased the home place of one hundred acres and has since operated the same with success, for he is thoroughly conversant with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for crops. In the community where he has always resided the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
FRANK E. SCHAEFER.
Frank E. Schaefer has been engaged in the saloon business at Fond du Lac for the past quarter of a century and since 1900 has been in partnership with his brother Daniel. The establishment of Schaefer Brothers is recognized as the best of its kind in the city and is patronized by the most desirable class of people. Frank E. Schaefer was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on the 9th of February, 1863, his parents being Daniel and Margaret (Earling) Schaefer, both of whom were natives of Prussia, Germany, the former born in 1821 and the latter in 1832. Daniel Schaefer, a carpenter contractor, came to this state in 1848-and passed away in 1907 when eighty-six years of age. It was in 1850 that he wedded Miss Margaret Earling, who had come to Fond du Lac the previous year. In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Schaefer celebrated their golden wedding. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom still survive. Michael wedded Miss Mary King, of Fond du Lac, by whom he has five children : Wil- liam, Frank, George, Marie and Beatrice. Frank E., of this review, was the next in order of birth. Mary gave her hand in marriage to Henry Schryer, a native of Germany and a carpenter by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Schryer now reside on a farm in Oregon and have one child, Margaret. Daniel, who wedded Miss Olga Tesch, of Oshkosh, is engaged in the saloon business in association with his brother Frank. Jennie is the wife of Emil Haas, a coal dealer of Fond du Lac.
Frank E. Schaefer attended a German parochial school until a youth of thir- teen and then began contracting for lathing, furnishing employment to ten or more boys when but fourteen or fifteen years of age. At the end of three years he abandoned that line of work and when seventeen years old became yard master for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company at Neenah and Appleton, remaining in the service of that corporation until twenty years of age. Subse- quently he spent about five years as an employe in a paper mill and in 1887 came to Fond du Lac here embarking in the saloon business. He remained sole proprie- tor until 1900, when his brother Daniel became his partner and since that time
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the enterprise has been conducted under the name of Schaefer Brothers at No. 14 West First street. Financial success has come to him with the passing years and he not only owns his business property but also an attractive residence at No. 462 South Main street and several other pieces of real estate in Fond du Lac.
Mr. Schaefer was united in marriage to Miss Stella Solomon of Eden, her father being Fred Solomon, a cooper by trade. They have two children, Harold and Francis. Mr. Schaefer is a stalwart democrat in politics and served in the capacity of alderman for eight years or from 1895 until 1903. He belongs to the Business Men's Association and the Fraternal Order of Eagles and is a com- municant of St. Joseph's church.
HENRY DE GROOT.
In an attractive home in Alto resides Henry De Groot, one of Fond du Lac county's native sons, who is now living retired. At different periods in his life he has been closely associated with agricultural and commercial interests but is now enjoying a well earned rest, his former labors having placed him in a finan- cial condition that renders this course possible. He was born in Alto township on the IIth of June, 1852, and is a son of John and Angeline ( Wellhouse) De Groot, both of whom were natives of Holland, the former born June 14, 1823. They came to the United States in 1846, settling in Alto township, where they were married. The mother died in 1863 and the father afterward wedded Jane Fonstein, also a native of Holland. Upon his arrival in Wisconsin John De Groot purchased eighty acres of land in Alto township at the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. This entire region was then wild and un- improved and gave little promise of rapid and substantial development, but he recognized the fact that the land was rich and arable and kept adding to his pos- sessions as his financial resources permitted until at the time of his death he owned about four hundred acres. Year by year he added to the improvements upon his place and brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, continuing to reside thereon until 1877, when he retired and removed to Waupun. There his death occurred in 1896, while his second wife survived him until 1897.
Henry De Groot attended the district school and remained with his parents to the time of his marriage. He then removed to a part of his father's farm and carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1881, when he established his home in the village of Alto and opened a general store, which he capably and successfully conducted until 1906, when he sold out to his son and retired from active business. He is still the owner of two hundred and forty-six acres of land which he inherited from his father, situated on sections 32 and 33, Alto township. His home is one of the nicest residences in the village and he is now most comfortably situated in life, his former toil and business activity having brought to him a substantial competence. In addition to his other interests he is a stockholder in the National Bank of Waupun, Wisconsin.
In 1873 Henry De Groot was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Landaal, a daughter of John and Bertha (Mensink) Landaal. Her father, who for many years was a well known farmer of Alto township, was born in Holland in 1822 and in the early '50s came to the United States, settling in Alto township, where he secured a tract of land, adding thereto until at the time of his death he was the owner of three hundred and forty-five acres, constituting one of the rich, pro- ductive and well improved farms of the district. Bertha Mensink came to the United States with her parents about the same time as her future husband and the Mensink family also settled in Alto township. Here she gave her hand in marriage to John Landaal and both resided upon the home farm until death
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called them, Mr. Landaal passing away in 1895 and his wife in 1904. In 1906 Mr. De Groot was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the IIth of February of that year, leaving two children: John E., who is a merchant of Alto; and Berdina Johanna. Mr. De Groot was married again July 25, 1907, when Mrs. Landaal, the widow of Cornelius Landaal, became his wife. She was a daughter of Aarand John and Dina (Scovenaugh) Nyland, both of whom were natives of Holland, the former born November 9, 1828, and the latter October 2, 1831. Mr. Nyland came to the United States when eighteen years of age, settling in Rochester, New York, and his wife took up her abode in the same region when she crossed the Atlantic. They were married in the Empire state and removed to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where the birth of Mrs. De Groot occurred in 1855. Her parents remained at Kalamazoo throughout the residue of their days, the father passing away in 1898 and the mother January 24, 1908. By her first marriage Mrs. De Groot had three children : Arthur John, who was born April 7, 1879, and is now in Otsego, Michigan; Allie, who was born February 19, 1881, and is assistant postmaster at Waupun; and Henry, who was born March II, 1883, and is an electrician of Horicon, Wisconsin.
In politics Mr. De Groot is a democrat and has filled a number of local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. For fourteen years he has served as postmaster of Alto and for several years was supervisor and treasurer, while for three years he acted as clerk of the school board. He holds membership with the Modern Woodmen camp at Brandon and he and his family are members of the Reformed church of Alto. A residence of sixty years in Fond du Lac county has made Henry De Groot widely acquainted with its history and well known to its citizens. He has been an interested witness of the changes that have occurred as the work of development and progress has been carried forward and at all times he has borne his part in the work of general improvement as a public-spirited citizen.
ALBERT W. PROCHNOW.
Albert W. Prochnow is one of the successful business men of Fond du Lac, where he is engaged in the cement contracting business. He was born March 13, 1881, and is a son of August and Augusta (Remus) Prochnow, both of whom were natives of Germany and in that country in 1864 celebrated their marriage. The father was born in 1837 and with his wife emigrated to America in 1872, settling first in Pennsylvania, where he lived for one year and then removed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he established his home and continued to reside until 1886. He then removed to Stevens Point, at which place he died in 1891. The mother's birth occurred in 1839, and she was a daughter of Fred Remus. To Mr. and Mrs. August Prochnow two children were born: Herman, who died at the age of one year and three months; and Albert W., of this review.
The last named was reared in his parents' home and was a pupil in the public schools at Stevens Point until he was fifteen years of age. He completed his elementary education at the age of seventeen in the schools of Fond du Lac. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, after which time he was first employed for a period of three years in a flour mill and then took up work in the cement contracting business for various people and con- tinued to be so engaged for a period of six or seven years, during which time he was employed as foreman. In 1912, in company with C. Woerden, of Green Bay, he engaged in the concrete contracting business, taking contracts for all kinds of construction work in which concrete was used as part or in whole for building material.
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Mr. Prochnow was united in marriage to Miss Ida Bloedorn, of Fond du Lac, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Bloedorn .. Mr. and Mrs. Prochnow are the parents of one child, Anna. Mr. Prochnow is a member of the republican party and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church of Fond du Lac. The family residence is at No. 262 East Arndt street. Mr. Prochnow is one of the well known and reliable business men of Fond du Lac and his firm enjoys a high reputation.
HON. LYMAN W. THAYER.
The name of Lyman W. Thayer is a familiar one in connection with the politi- cal history of Wisconsin and is moreover well known in agricultural circles. His farming has been carried on along modern and scientific lines in the develop- ment of four hundred acres of land in Fond du Lac county ; but while business interests have made large demand upon his time and energies, he has yet found opportunity for the discharge of those duties of citizenship which devolve upon every individual and for further active service in office whereby the welfare of the state at large has been promoted. Wisconsin numbers him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Wausau, October 30, 1854. His parents were Lyman W. and Catherine (Davis) Thayer, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Wales. The ancestry of the family is traced back to Thomas Thayer, who was born in England and on emigrating to America, about 1630, settled in Braintree, Massachusetts, in company with his wife, Margery, and their three sons : Thomas, Ferdinando and Shadrach. The second son, Ferdinando Thayer, was married January 14, 1652, to Hulda Hayward, of Braintree, where they resided until after his father's death, when he removed, with a colony from Braintree and Weymouth, to Mendon, Massachusetts, where many of his descendants now live. He was one of the largest landed proprietors in his township and his homestead was a little south of the present center of the town of Mendon. He was a man of wealth in his day and gave farms to each of his sons, several of whom became extensive land dealers. Many of their descendants still occupy those farms, which have been in possession of the family for over two hundred years. Ferdinando Thayer died at Mendon, September 1, 1690.
Captain Thomas Thayer, the sixth child of Ferdinando and Hulda Thayer, was born in 1664 and married Ruth Darling, of Dedham, Massachusetts, on the 5th of January, 1715. They settled in Mendon, where Thomas Thayer followed farming. His wife died in 1728 and on the 16th of July, 1729, he married Han- nah Holbrook.
Stephen Thayer, the eighth child of Captain Thomas and Hannah (Hol- brook) Thayer, was born December 31, 1732, was married October 5, 1762, to Rachel Davis and settled in Mendon, Massachusetts. Their third child, Stephen Thayer, Jr., was born March 14, 1767, and was married March 12, 1789, to Anna Thayer. They settled at Stratham, Franklin county, Vermont, where Stephen Thayer followed farming but subsequently removed to Sunderland, Vermont, and later to Fairfield, that state, while still later he became a resident of Rome, New York. This was in 1810, and in 1819 he was awarded a large contract on the canal.
His first child, Lyman E. Thayer, was born at Stratham, Vermont, June 7, 1790, and married Fanny Butler, daughter of Deacon Isaac Butler, of Fairfield, Vermont, on the 8th of December, 1810. He settled at Middlesex, Ontario county, New York, where he followed farming until 1823, when he removed to Pendleton, Niagara county, New York. In 1845 he became a resident of Portage, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and in 1850 went to Dayton, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he remained until his death, February 12, 1864.
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His ninth child was Lyman Wellington Thayer, who was born at Pendleton New York, April 21, 1830. He married Catherine Davis in 1850 and settled at Princeton, Wisconsin. Following his graduation from the Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor he continued in the practice of his profession until his death.
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