Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 91

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738

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Charles W. Keys was born upon the farm which he operates, his natal day being August 23, 1865. He is of Irish ancestry, and his father, George Keys, was a native of County Fermanagh, where his birth occurred on March 17, 1821. The grandparents of our subject were Andrew and Hannah (Crooks) Keys, who lived and died in Ireland. The family was established in America by their six sons, George, the father of our subject and his five brothers who left their native country at an early date and came direct to Wisconsin where they rented farms which. they operated for some time. George, who crossed the Atlantic in 1848 opened in 1850 a general store in Fond du Lac and was success- ful in the mercantile line for five years. He was however, keenly interested in agricultural pursuits and soon gave up his commercial enterprise in favor of farming. In 1855 George W. Keys bought a tract of wild land in Empire town- ship and with true Irish buoyancy and determination set about to transform it into one of the highly improved and substantial properties in the district. Be- fore his death his ambition was accomplished. He built a comfortable and com- modious frame house upon his property which is the family homestead today and is one of the most beautifully situated and quiet dwellings in Fond du Lac county. He made extensive and suitable improvements in his equipment from time to time and added to his holdings at different periods. At the time of his death on July 24, 1889, he represented all that was scientific and progressive in agricultural life. George Keys had married before he left Ireland in 1848. His wife in her maidenhood was Miss Jane Moffat, who came to America with her husband and died in Fond du Lac county in October, 1879, in the fifty-first year of her age. To their union were born eight children: Jane; Katherine, who died in 1900; Mary, who died in infancy; Hugh Crooks, who died in New York city in 1891 ; Hannah C .; George, who died in infancy ; George, the second of the

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name, who is now residing in St. Paul; and Charles Wesley, the subject of this sketch.

Charles W. Keys attended the country schools of Empire township and took a course in the Oshkosh State Normal School, with the intention of becoming a teacher; however, he never followed this profession. After completing his course at the State Normal School he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was active in commercial lines, in partnership with his brother George for one year. He then returned to the home farm and has since continuously resided in Empire township. When his father died Charles Keys took entire charge of the farm and under his control the land which in his father's time had been well developed and highly improved has constantly increased in productiveness and fertility until it is now one of the model farms of Empire township. Mr. Keys has greatly enlarged his barns and outhouses, has remodeled the old struc- tures and built new ones and has closely followed in his father's footsteps in improved and scientific methods of agricultural development.

On January 21, 1892, Mr. Keys was united in marriage to Miss May Belle Margaret Averill, a daughter of Veranus Averill of New York state, who left the east to settle in Eden township, Fond du Lac county, where his daughter was born. Veranus Averill was a native of Plattsburg, New York, where his birth occurred on June 7, 1829. His wife was born in the same town May 8, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Keys are the parents of seven children, George W., Harry Potter, Hugh C., Averill, Margaret, H. Clementina and Wesley.

Mr. Keys gives his allegiance to the democratic party and is a prominent and representative factor in local public affairs. He is now town clerk and served for several years as chairman of Empire township, doing efficient and conspicuously successful work in this capacity. From 1899 to 1900 he was sheriff and has served his fellow citizens with honor and distinction in many different capacities. His public life has always been marked by liberal views, perfect honesty and trustworthiness. He has never been known to give his influence to a cause which he believed to be unjust, and regard for the interest of the people has always been a vital force in his public career. He is a member of the Epis- copal church, and with this denomination his sister Jane, who makes her home with him, also affiliates. As one of the progressive and scientific agriculturists of Fond du Lac county Mr. Keys has done his most important work in life. He is a successful farmer, stock-raiser and an extensive breeder of thoroughbred horses. Fond du Lac county is richer by many acres of well cultivated land, improved and developed along scientific principles as a result of his activities. The good work which his father began Charles W. Keys has carried on along progressive lines to his present degree of success.

GEORGE T. FRENCH.

Busily occupied in the development and improvement of his farm, George T. French is the owner of a valuable property, situated on section 20, Oakfield town- ship, and in addition is interested in other business enterprises. He was born in the town of Oakfield, May 25, 1858. His father, Harmon J. French, a native of Massachusetts, was born in 1817 and died in 1883, after devoting his entire life to agricultural pursuits. He was one of Wisconsin's pioneer settlers, coming to the state in 1848, at which time he took up his abode in Oakfield township, Fond du Lac county. In his farming operations he won success as the years passed by. He married Eliza Stoddard, who was born in Massachusetts in 1826 and passed away in 1871. The old family homestead which the parents purchased many years ago is now in possession of their son, George, who was thereon reared and pursued his education in the district

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

schools of Oakfield township until he reached the age of nineteen years. He was the second in a family of five children. Harmon, the eldest, died at the age of eight years. William, a farmer of Oakfield township, is mar- ried and has two children, Anna and Marjorie, the former the wife of John Hodge, of LeRoy, Dodge county, and the mother of one son, William. Eliza, the fourth member of the family, died at the age of eleven years. Edward, the youngest, is a carpenter of Idaho.

As previously stated, George T. French was reared on the old home place, where he now resides, and attended the public schools. The summer months were devoted to farm work and after leaving school his entire time and atten- tion were given to the further improvement of the old homestead. When his father died he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the property, which has been his since 1894. It comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land, five of which is woodland. The remainder is tillable and has been brought under a high state of cultivation through the energy and diligence of the owner. Upon the place are twenty-five head of cattle and six horses. He' makes a specialty of the dairy business, finding in it a profitable source of income. He also raises hay, barley, oats and corn and disposes of his crops in the local market. He has good improvements upon his place and an air of neatness and thrift pervades the farm, while the spirit of industry is ever manifest. Moreover, in other business con- nections Mr. French is well known, being a stockholder in the Oak Center Co- operative Dairy Company of Oak Center, Wisconsin, and in the Oak Center and Lagonda Telephone Company of Oakfield township.

On the 18th of November, 1896, in Oakfield, Mr. French was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Lizzie Schuler, a widow .. Mr. French belongs to the Equitable Fraternal Union and also to the Green Bay Fraternal Union. In his political views he is a republican and has held some local offices, serving as road superin- tendent for fifteen years, while for six years he was clerk of the school board. He is interested in all matters relating to the public welfare and his cooperation can be counted upon to further movements for the general good. He has been a lifelong resident of the county, covering a period of fifty-four years, and has ever been an interested witness of its growth and development.

JOHN MOFFAT.

The flourishing and highly improved farm which John Moffat is operating in Empire township descended to him from his father. Mr. Moffat has never left the old homestead nor relinquished the occupation in which he was reared, and his years of enterprising and concentrated efforts have gained- him a representative and prominent place among his fellow agriculturists. He is a native of Fond du Lac county where his birth occurred in the crude log cabin which his father erected in the early days of the pioneer settlement of the district. He is a son of William and Elizabeth Murray (Thom) Moffat, who came from their native coun- try of Scotland to Wisconsin in 1850, settling in Fond du Lac county and even- tually becoming prominent and widely esteemed. William Moffat worked in the mills at Taycheedah and was successful in this capacity for two years. He also engaged in working as a farm laborer for several years and thus fostered an ambi- tion to become a property owner which had a direct influence upon his later career. He was enabled by much economy and strict attention to business to purchase in 1851 an eighty acre farm in Empire township. He was obliged to clear the land and built for himself a little log cabin upon his holdings. Here he resided for a number of years and in this house his children. John and Mary, were born. In 1871 William Moffat built a commodious and convenient house upon his farm and equipped it with every modern convenience. It was here that he lived from 1871

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM MOFFAT

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until his death in 1904 at the age of eighty-six years. His wife survived him until December, 1905, when she passed away in her eighty-eighth year.

John Moffat was reared at home and received his education in the district schools of Empire township. He was brought up amid the scenes and labors of the farm and at an early age showed a decided inclination to make agriculture his life work. In pursuance of this ambition he eagerly applied himself to the labors which fell to his lot and gained a practical and thorough knowledge of the details connected with the cultivation of the soil. His farm is fertile and highly developed and owes its flourishing condition to his continued and concentrated energy.

Politically Mr. Moffat gives his allegiance to the republican party in national issues but never allows this affiliation to influence his personal convictions in matters of local import. He has never sought office but is widely known in Fond du Lac county as a man interested in every movement tending to the promotion of the moral, intellectual and material welfare of this section of the country. His father and mother were devout adherents of the Presbyterian faith but Mr. Moffat does not affiliate with any denomination and entertains a liberal view in regard to religious matters. He is widely recognized as a man who leads an exemplary life in private as well as in public and the quality of his citizenship is evidenced by his continuous and unremitting activity in an honorable career.

JAMES H. BEIRNE.

James H. Beirne, a well known and successful agriculturist residing on sec- tion 22, Oakfield township, is the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of rich and productive land. His birth occurred on the 12th of February, 1853, at a place along the line of the railroad between Chester and Burnett in Dodge county, for his father at that time had a grading contract with the Northwestern Rail- road and he and his wife were necessarily living in the railroad camp. His father, John Beirne, was born in County Longford, Ireland, on the 30th of December, 1815, and when a young man of twenty-one years crossed the Atlan- tic to the United States, settling in New York, where he spent five years. On the expiration of that period, in 1842, he came to Fond du Lac county, Wiscon- sin, settling on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Oakfield township, for which he paid a dollar and a quarter an acre. As his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable man- agement, he augmented his landed holdings by additional purchases until at the time of his death he owned five hundred and twenty-five acres. His demise occurred on the 22d of June, 1903, after a residence of more than six decades in this county. For one year he carried mail between Fond du Lac and Mil- waukee, walking the entire distance and carrying the mail on his back. He fol- lowed an Indian trail which led across streams and rivers, which he was obliged to swim. The Indians became his friends and he therefore encountered no hos- tility even at that early period. It was about 1845 that he wedded Miss Lucy Randall, who was born in the state of New York on the 4th of February, 1827. The record of their children is as follows : Mary Jane, who died at the age of five years; Clarissa, whose demise occurred in 1881; Lucy A .; James H., of this review ; Thomas F .; John E .; Ella L., who died in infancy ; Ella L., the second of the name; Eliza J .; and Mary E.

James H. Beirne attended the district schools of Oakfield township until eighteen years of age and after putting aside his text-books assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until twenty-five years old. Subsequently he operated the place on shares for his father until the latter's death in 1903. At that time he bought the interest of the other heirs in the original old homestead Vol. II-39

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and later extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it now embraces four hundred and fifty acres. In connection with the cultivation of cereals he also raises stock and in both branches of his business has met with a gratifying measure of success. At the present time he has ninety head of registered, pure-bred Guernsey cattle and sixteen head of horses. He is widely recognized as a man of keen discernment and excellent executive ability and his cooperation has been sought in the management and control of several local interests. He was president of the County Fair Association, president of the Oakfield Telephone Company, president of the Oakfield Elevator Company and a stockholder in the Bank of Oakfield.

On the 3d of September, 1877, Mr. Beirne was united in marriage to Miss Lodema Hubbard, of Oakfield, by whom he had four children, as follows: Charles, who passed away on the Ioth of September, 1897; George I., who married Regina Withieu, by whom he had three children, Alice and two who died in infancy; Edith, whose demise occurred on the 17th of February, 1912; and Evaline, who is the wife of Abel Bristol, of Oakfield. On the 16th of Sep- tember, 1892, at Fox Lake, Wisconsin, Mr. Beirne wedded Miss Ernestine Parduhn, a daughter of Carl and Eva R. (Erdmann) Parduhn, who were born in Germany in the years 1838 and 1837 respectively. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1895, Mr. Parduhn was living on a farm in Lomira, Dodge county. His wife was called to her final rest in 1908. To James H. and Ernes- tine (Parduhn) Beirne have been born three children: Edward J., Elsie E. and Agnes R.

In his political views Mr. Beirne is independent, supporting the men and measures that he deems will best conserve the general welfare without regard to party affiliation. He has been road superintendent for five years and has acted as clerk of the school board for two years. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In the community where his entire life has been spent he enjoys the regard and esteem of an extensive circle of friends. Earnest effort and intelligently directed labor have ever constituted the salient features of his business career, while his life has been governed by high prin- ciples that have gained for him the respect and good-will of his fellowmen.

BARTHOL P. JAEGER.

Germany has given to Fond du Lac county many sturdy, intelligent and en- terprising citizens who are closely connected with the development of agricul- tural interests in this region. Prominent among these is Barthol P. Jaeger, whose industry, careful direction and perseverance have made him one of the prosperous farmers of this section. The family was founded in America by Barthol P. Jaeger, the grandfather, who with his wife, Helen (Kraemer) Jaeger, and four children, came to the United States from Germany in 1848. He immediately settled in the town of Ashford, Fond du Lac county, where he purchased a tract of timber land. He cut down the trees and built a little log cabin which he and his family occupied for many years. He became extensively engaged in farming, which occupation claimed his attention and energies until his death on April 20, 1890 at the age of eighty-two. His wife survived him until 1908 and passed away in Fond du Lac at the age of ninety-four.

Berthram Jaeger, the father of Barthol P. Jaeger, was one of the four small children brought by their parents to America in 1848. He was born at Koeln near the Rhine, in Germany, in 1844, and was the third of a family of seven children, three of whom were born in America. He became an active assistant to his father in the early development of the Jaeger homestead farm and later

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY

engaged in farming on his own account. He was married January 15, 1867, to Miss Susanna Hilbert, a daughter of Nicholas and Katherina (Zimet) Hil- bert. Mrs. Jaeger was born in the town of Ashford, in 1848. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Berthram Jaeger located upon part of the old home- stead farm and his attention was given to general agricultural pursuits until 1863, when he enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was wounded twice and after participating in many of the most prominent engagements of the regiment was honorably discharged in 1865. He again resumed farm life in Fond du Lac county and became recognized as one of the prominent and representative men of his district. He was deeply interested in education and served as clerk of the school board for eighteen years, doing conspicuously able work in that connection. He and his wife still reside upon the old homestead and are num- bered among the most worthy and valued residents of the community. In their family were eight children : Barthol, who died in infancy ; Barthol P., the second of the name and the subject of this sketch; Lena; Katherine; William; Adam ; Peter ; and Anna.

Barthol P. Jaeger was born in the primitive log cabin which his grandfather built upon first settling in Fond du Lac county. He spent his childhood with his parents and from early youth was familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His father was a firm believer in the value of education and gave his children the best advantages in that direction which the county afforded. Barthol Jaeger, therefore, was a pupil in the "little red schoolhouse" near the home farm and pursued his studies until twenty-two years of age, using every opportunity afforded him for his ambition in that di- rection was stimulated by his father. His studies were pursued with char- acteristic determination and vigor throughout the winter months while in the summer seasons he worked in the fields. The experience gained at that time has been a valuable asset to him in his later life and is one of the secrets of his success. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm until his mar- riage, when his father gave him eighty acres of land in Ashford township. Barthol Jaeger then left the old homestead and took up his residence upon his own place. For seventeen years he improved his land, which is situated near Ashford, and fifteen years ago he purchased a second farm near Eden. He carries on his work along thoroughly modern and scientific lines and is progres- sive in all that he undertakes. He has personal knowledge of every detail of farm life and has bent his energies toward making his properties model farms of Fond du Lac county. In addition to his agricultural interests he is connected with the Town Line Cheese Factory, which he aided in estab- lishing in 1911, being in fact the prime mover in instituting this enterprise. He is now acting as secretary of the company and his identification with the busi- ness has been one of the strong features in its continued success.

On the 18th .of June, 1896, Barthol P. Jaeger was united in marriage to Miss Margaretha Kumba, a native of Columbia county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Philip and Phoebe Kumba. Her father, Philip Kumba, was born April 29, 1821, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and was twenty-one years of age when he came to the United Sates in 1842. He resided near Sing Sing, in Winchester county, New York, until the year 1850, and then came westward to Wisconsin, settling in the town of Manchester, Green Lake county. He resided in that district until 1858, when he removed to the town of Randolph, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he resided to the time of his death, in 1896. He had two brothers and four sisters. After coming to Wisconsin he served as supervisor of Randolph township for two years and was also elected to the office of justice. of the peace. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. Columbia county had but a small population when he and his wife arrived in Wisconsin and they had to do their trading in Portage, Watertown and Mil-

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waukee, driving to those towns with ox teams for there were no railroad ac- commodations at that period. It was on the 30th of November, 1845, in New York city, that he was married to Phoebe Blochwitz, a daughter of Jacob Bloch- witz, who was born in Loahnfeldt, Bavaria, Germany, November 21, 1826, and was nineteen years of age when, in 1845, she came to this country. She lived at Sing Sing, Winchester county, New York, until 1850, when she accompanied her husband to Wisconsin. The parents of Mrs. Jaeger were both natives of Germany, and became early residents of Wisconsin. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger were born two children, Susanna and Phoebe, twins whose birth oc- curred October 20, 1898.

Politically Mr. Jaeger gives his support to the republican party. He has never been an office seeker but like his father has ever manifested a keen in- terest in educational development. He has been clerk of the school board for four years and in this connection has done important service for the educational in- terests of the town of Eden. He holds membership in the Roman Catholic church at Campbellsport and is an active worker for its upbuilding and growth. His business sense is well developed. His broadening experience and his en- terprise have enabled him to pass in the journey of life many who started out before him. Gradually he has advanced to the goal of success and he is now one of the prosperous, enterprising and representative agriculturists of Fond du Lac county.

HUGH GAFFNEY.

Hugh Gaffney is numbered among the successful farmers of Eldorado town- ship, in which he resides. He was born in Eldorado in 1860 and is the son of Thomas and Julia (Duffy) Gaffney, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Hugh Gaffney is by trade a carpenter and is employed in that capacity with the North- western Railway Company.

At Fond du Lac, January 28, 1883, Mr. Gaffney was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Mackin, a daughter of Patrick and Ann (Burns) Mackin. The father of Mrs. Gaffney settled in Eldorado township before the railroad was built through that part of the county, being one of the pioneers of Eldorado. The farm owned by Mrs. Gaffney was the original homestead of her parents and is now operated by her son John. Mr. and Mrs. Gaffney have three children : John, who is married and is now twenty-seven years of age; Julia, who is twenty-five years of age; and May, aged twenty-three. Mr. Gaffney is a mem- ber of the Catholic church and is numbered among the substantial citizens of Fond du Lac county.

OTTO W. HOFFMAN.

Otto W. Hoffman is the well known and popular proprietor of the National Hotel of Waupun. He was born in Fond du Lac, September 1, 1865, and is a son of Robert K. and Henrietta (Gerhard) Hoffman, both of whom were natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1858, settling in Fond du Lac. The father was by occupation a locomotive engineer and followed that occupa- tion during his entire life. He was one of the first of his class of engineers in Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman two children were born: Robert C., who is a locomotive engineer and lives in Minneapolis; and Otto W., of this review.

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Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II, Part 91

Author: McKenna, Maurice Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : Clarke Number of Pages: 738

Author: McKenna, Maurice
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 738