USA > Wisconsin > Brown County > History of Brown County, Wisconsin, past and present, Volume II > Part 24
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Aside from the conduct of his barber shop, Mr. Morrell is interested in a new cancer cure which he discovered and with which he has obtained some remarkable results, having treated many serious cases successfully He first became interested in medicine by watching his father work. The latter was in his early years a licensed physician and chemist in Switzerland and he taught the profession to his son, who has made effective application of his knowledge in his new treatment for cancer.
Mr. Morrell married Miss Mathilda Emily Mars, who was born in Paris, France, January 17, 1867. They have five children. William H. was born in 1867 and is an engineer in Los Angeles, California. Emma is the wife
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of William H. Dundas, who is associated with the Allis-Chalmers Company, of Milwaukee. They have three children. Fred, who is an engineer in Green Bay, is married and has one child. Julia is the wife of William E. Blankenship, of Green Bay and has four children. Josie, the youngest of this family, married William H. Burns, manager of the Valley Iron Works, of Appleton, and they have five children.
Mr. Morrell was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church and is a devout adherent of this religion, and for fourteen years has done able work as Sunday-school superintendent. He is a member of the local, barber's union and has held several offices in this organization. He is one of the early settlers in Green Bay and has witnessed much of the develop- ment of the city during the forty-three years in which he has conducted his shop. His friends are numerous and have been attracted to him by his many fine qualities of mind and heart.
DESIRE BREDAEL.
Desire Bredael, living upon a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Denmark, improved and operated along the most practical and sys- tematic lines is accounted one of the most successful and representative farmers of this section of Brown county. Although he has owned his present place only a short time he has it in excellent condition, the land being well developed and improved and highly productive. He was born at Martinville, in 1860, a son of Michael Bredael, one of the early settlers in Wisconsin, who came to Brown county in the early '50s and settled upon forty acres of land which he began to cultivate. It was covered with a dense growth of pine trees which he was obliged to cut down before begin- ning the work of tilling the soil. From the lumber cut down he erected a crude log cabin in which he lived for a number of years. He was truly a pioneer, coming to this section when the timber growth was so thick that even the sun could not penetrate it in places and when a great many herds of deer and bear lived in the dense forests. The roads at that time were nothing but foot trails and provisions had to be carried eighteen miles from the nearest settlement. The father of our subject gave his entire time and attention to clearing and developing his farm and eventually achieved success.
Desire Bredael was reared at home and from early youth was active in the work of his father's farm. He received no schooling whatsoever, his early life being filled with hardships and almost uninterrupted labor. When he grew to maturity he went to Green Bay and for some time was engaged in the cement-contracting business. He followed this line of occupation for a number of years, eventually coming to Denmark where he now owns one of the finest farms in this section. He has one hundred and twenty acres of land, improved and developed along the most modern lines, and upon this he does general farming, gaining a gratifying success by practical methods.
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Mr. Bredael married Miss Anna Von Beaver, and they have three children : Michael, twenty-five years of age, who married Miss Hattie Hoffman; Vick, who is twenty-three years old, and who married Miss Adele Charnier ; and Mary, who is eighteen years of age, and lives at home. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
GUNDER GUNDERSON.
Gunder Gunderson was a farmer and ship builder of De Pere, and was long connected with shipping interests at various points along the Great Lakes and no phase of navigation in this part of the world was unfamiliar to him. He passed away October 27, 1912, and found his last resting place in Fort Howard cemetery. He had passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey, at the time of his death, his birth occurring in Norway, April 2, 1834. His father, Gunder Gutormson, was also a son of the land of the midnight sun, and in 1855 sailed for the United States accompanied by his wife and son. He was a ship builder by trade and followed that pursuit for four years after becoming a resident of Green Bay. He died in 1893, his wife having passed away a few years before.
Gunder Gunderson, their only child, took up ship building in Chicago and followed that pursuit in Milwaukee and other lake towns. Finally he came to Green Bay and subsequently engaged in farming near De Pere. In 1858, however, he and a partner built a small sloop at De Pere which was his first start in a work that eventually brought him a goodly measure of success. He walked from Manitowoc to De Pere to obtain this job, carrying with him a few slices of bread to appease his hunger while his cash capital consisted of but fifty cents. He was after- ward employed at boat repairing and subsequently sailed a boat on Fox lake for which he received a wage of but fourteen dollars per month, making trips between De Pere and Berlin. At different times he assisted in building many of the old sailing vessels, among them the "Mary Nau" and other large ships. Carefully saving his earnings he at length regarded his capital sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm. For a considerable period he was actively engaged in the cultivation and further development of this place but in 1907 he retired from active work. He at one time owned three hundred acres of land and other property besides. He lived for the rest of his life in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, having worked earnestly and diligently to acquire a competence.
In 1866 Mr. Gunderson was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Ander- son, who was born in Norway in 1847 and in 1864 was brought by her parents to the United States, the family home being established at Fort Howard, Wisconsin. Her father was an old sailor and afterward followed ship building, thus devoting his entire life to marine interests. To Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson were born thirteen children: George, who died in infancy ; Emilia and Peter, who have also passed away; Augusta, the wife of Henry Janssen, a ship builder, by whom she has one son, Evans ; Herman,
GUNDER GUNDERSON
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who is chief engineer of a lake vessel and married Minnie Kreblin; Con- stance, who married Charles Johnson, now deceased; Albert, who is also a chief engineer on a lake vessel; Paul, who is married and lives at Iron Mountain; Raymond, who is in the mail service; Benjamin, who is on a lake steamer ; and Esther, who is attending the normal school in Milwaukee. The others died in infancy.
Mr. Gunderson was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church. He was not an office seeker nor did he take an active part in politics. He started out in the world to earn his own living when a young lad and early realized the fact that industry is the surest foundation upon which to build success. There were few leisure hours in his life up to the time of his retirement. The opportunity for work is open to all who desire it and he had no difficulty in obtaining employment for he was both faithful and capable. Gradually he advanced until his labors placed him on the high road to prosperity. His demise occasioned deep mourning and wide-spread regret not only in the family but among the many friends he had made during a long and honor- able life, who admired him for his true and manly qualities, his kind- liness and his warm-heartedness.
HERMAN E. GETZLOFF.
Herman E. Getzloff, a native of Green Bay and the son of a pioneer in its settlement, was born November 28, 1866. His father, John Getzloff, was a native of southern Prussia and came with his wife to America in 1853, settling in Green Bay, where he was employed in a sawmill for a number of years. He later became a watchman and was thus employed at the time of his death in 1897, when he was seventy-four years of age. He married Miss Martha Greenwold, who was also born in Germany and who died in 1893, when she was sixty-eight years of age. Both were devout adherents of the Lutheran church. They had two children: Her- man E., of this review; and Albert, who has passed away.
After completing his education in the public schools Herman E. Getzloff obtained a position as call boy with the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad and remained in the employ of that corporation until he was seventeen. He then became identified with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road and for twenty-one years served as switchman and yardmaster, gain- ing during that time the confidence and esteem of his employers as a thor- oughly reliable, trustworthy and capable man. In 1906 he embarked in the saloon business, in which he has met with success.
Mr. Getzloff married Miss Amanda Koskey, who was born in Pittsfield, Wisconsin, May 2, 1875, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Koskey, the former a prominent farmer in that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Getzloff have seven children: John, aged fourteen years; George, twelve; Margaret, ten ; Edward, eight; Alma, six; William, four ; and Amanda, who is two years old. The family belong to the Lutheran church.
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Mr. Getzloff is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also holds membership in the Order of Moose and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is now serving his second term as alderman from the eighth ward, discharging his duties capably and efficiently and with con- stant consideration for the public welfare.
WILLIAM NELSON.
William Nelson is operating a fine farm of one hundred and eight acres in New Denmark and has improved the property greatly since he became identified with its management. He was born in De Pere, in 1874, a son of Rasmus and Sena Nelson, natives of Denmark. His father came to this country in 1852 and for some time resided in Michigan, coming from that state to Oconto county, where he remained until after a fire which devastated his place. He spent two years after this in Chicago and at the end of that time came to Brown county, where he purchased land near New Denmark which he cleared and cultivated. The land was covered with stumps and brush which had to be removed before planting could begin. Gradually, however, the father got his property into excellent con- dition and made it one of the finest farms in the section.
William Nelson has now sole charge of the one hundred and eight acres which his father purchased on coming to Brown county and is direct- ing his labors along progressive and systematic lines. He has put up all the improvements and has the land under high cultivation. He makes his home with his parents who still reside upon the farm.
Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Jensen, and they are the parents of six children, Verna, Howard, Lucilla, Norma. Ruth and Hilbert, all of whom live at home. The family are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Nelson is a representative of modern agricultural standards, who by hard work, directed along systematic lines, by energy, efficiency, and industry has brought his farm to a high state of development. making it one of the fine properties in New Denmark.
JULES PARMENTIER.
The city of Green Bay for more than forty years profited by the coop- eration of Jules Parmentier in its public projects and by his activity in its business circles. He was indeed a prominent and successful resident here and his labors were an important element in the upbuilding of the city. A record such as his, a record of unfaltering energy. of unbounded enterprise and of marked perseverance, resulting in success, never fails to elicit attention. interest and admiration, showing what may be accom- plished when an individual has the will to dare and to do.
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Mr. Parmentier was born in Henre, in the province of Namure, Bel- gium, April 15, 1853, and came to America with his father and other members of the family in 1872, when a youth of nineteen years. The family home was established in Green Bay, where he first engaged in merchandising, laying the foundation for his success in his careful man- agement of that enterprise. Subsequently he turned his attention to real- estate dealing, in which he continued until his death, handling much valuable property and negotiating many important realty transfers. He contributed to the material development of the city as the builder of the Parmentier block, a fine brick structure three stories in height, and also the Douglas block. These stand as monuments to his enterprise. his industry and his progressiveness.
In early manhood Mr. Parmentier was married to Miss Margaret Merrill, whose father was the last commandant of Fort Howard. They became the parents of two sons, Jules and Douglas M. The death of the husband and father ocurred in May, 1911, when he had reached the age of fifty-nine years, and his remains were interred in Woodlawn ceme- tery.
Mr. Parmentier held membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He did not seek to figure prominently in public affairs outside of business circles yet his influence was beneficial and far-reaching. Like many a man of foreign birth he found among conditions in the new world the business opportunity which he sought and in its utilization worked his way steadily upward, achieving individual success but at the same time through the nature of his interests contributing to public prosperity.
DIEDRICH J. WITTIG.
Diedrich J. Wittig is the proprietor of the Bay City Hotel, the oldest enterprise of its kind in Green Bay, and has been identified with its management since 1907. He is a native of Brown county, having been born in New Denmark, June 28, 1882, a son of Carl Ferdinand and Catherina (Buckmann) Wittig, the former a native of Denmark and the latter of Delmenhorst, Oldenburg, Germany. The father was born on the 20th of October, 1851, and came to America at an early date, settling in New Denmark, Wisconsin, where he operated a store for a number of years. He was prominent in local republican politics and served in the state legislature as representative from the first district in 1908. dying while still a member of that body, April 17, 1909. His wife's birth occurred June 28, 1844, and her parents were Ahrend and Henrietta S. Buckmann. She was twice married, her first husband being August Lange, by whom she had five children. Her second marriage was with the father of our subject and by this union three children were born: Henry F., president of the Condensed Milk Company and a director of the Bank of Denmark; Martha, the wife of L. H. Hebel, of Green Bay; and Diedrich J., the subject of this sketch.
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Diedrich J. Wittig was educated in the public schools of New Denmark, Wisconsin, and the Green Bay Business College, and when he laid aside his books clerked for his father for a number of years. After he attained his majority he spent one year in the south and then settled in Green Bay, acting as deputy county treasurer under his father, who served for two terms. During that time he became identified with the hotel business, leasing the Bay City Hotel, and he has since been active in its manage- ment. The hotel is the oldest in the city but Mr. Wittig has kept it modern and up-to-date in every particular, being progressive in his ideas and able in his business administration. The constant attention which he pays to the comfort and convenience of his guests and the systematic management of the various departments, combined with his business dis- crimination, have been factors in the success which has made him one of the leading hotel men in Green Bay.
In 1908 Mr. Wittig was united in marriage to Miss Marie Kraynick, a native of Eaton township and a daughter of Stephen and Marie Kraynick, of Prague, Austria. Mr. and Mrs. Wittig are the parents of three children : Theodore F. A., aged four years; Viola C. M., aged two; and Homer R. F., who is a year old.
Mr. Wittig is a member of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the Green Bay Turn Verein and the Danish Brotherhood, being prominent in the affairs of both organizations. He is still too young to have achieved his final success but he has already accomplished much by his industry, energy and business acumen, qualities which promise well for greater future success.
CHARLES PETERSON.
Charles Peterson is operating a fine farm of sixty acres in New Denmark, his native section, and since his childhood has been engaged in agricultural pursuits upon this property, first as assistant to his father and then as owner. He has it now in excellent condition, well improved and productive. His birth occurred in 1876 and he is a son of Albert and Mary (Nelson) Peter- son. The father came to America in 1865 and settled upon a farm in Brown county. He cleared the heavy growth of timber and built a log cabin in which he resided for a number of years. He and his wife had five children beside the subject of this review : Peter, who married Hilda Eggen ; Ole, whose wife was in her maidenhood Miss Petra Peterson; John; and Katie, who married Charles Johnson; and Anna, deceased.
Charles Peterson attended the district schools of his native section and from his early childhood assisted his father in the work of improving and developing the farm. He is now the proprietor of the homestead and has been identified with much of the work of clearing the land and erected most of the buildings. The sixty acres constitute one of the most productive farms in the district and the owner is one of New Denmark's most enter- prising native sons.
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Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Anderson, a daughter of Otto Anderson, and they have one son, Autlin, who is three years of age. The family are members of the Danish Lutheran church.
Mr. Peterson is independent in his political beliefs, voting for the man whom he considers best fitted for the position without regard to party affilia- tions. He has many friends in the section where he was born and although he devotes most of his time to farming is interested and active in the promo- tion of its growth and welfare.
MATHIAS NOOYEN.
One of the most progressive and able agriculturists of Brown county is Mathias Nooyen, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred acres in Humboldt township. He is a native of this section and a son of a pioneer in its settlement, and since the beginning of his independent career has become widely known as an industrious and energetic man, who keeps in touch with the spirit of progress that has been manifest along agricultural lines, and by his systematic methods and business ability has gained a high place in agricultural circles of the community. He was born in the district where he now resides on the 25th of December, 1866. His father, Anton Nooyen. came from his native country of Holland to the United States when he was twenty-four years of age and settled immediately in Green Bay, where for four years he worked in the lumber camps operated by Senator Isaac Stephenson. During this time he married Miss Annie Schraw, a native of Germany, and immediately afterward purchased forty acres of land in Humboldt township. This was a tract of undeveloped land, covered with dense timber. With resolute energy Mr. Nooyen applied himself to the task of clearing and cultivating the farm. From the first trees which he cut down he built a log cabin, in which Mathias Nooyen of this review was born. Little by little the entire tract was brought under the plow and later the father added to his holdings until at the time of his retirement in 1901 he was an extensive landowner. When he gave up active identification with agricultural pursuits he bought a small piece of land in New Franklin and upon this he resided until his death in 1904, when he was seventy-five years of age. His wife passed away three weeks later, at the age of sixty- six.
Mathias Nooyen is one of a family of ten children. He attended the district schools of Humboldt township and from an early age assisted his father with the work of the farm. After laying aside his books he spent nine winters in the northern Wisconsin lumber camps. but at the age of twenty-eight returned to Brown county and purchased a farm of sixty acres, upon which he has since resided. He remodeled the house and built a fine barn and installed all the necessary equipments for the operation of a model agricultural enterprise. His property is intelligently conducted by a man who by training and instinct is an able and progressive farmer and it shows the result of his care and supervision in its excellent condition. He
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has since acquired an additional forty acres and his holdings now comprise one hundred acres.
Mr. Nooyen married, in 1895, Miss Sophia Bins, a daughter of Michael Bins, of Humboldt township. They became the parents of eight children : Albert and Agnes, both of whom died in infancy: Anton; Frank ; Kather- ine; Edward; Walter; and Alvina. The family are devout adherents of the Roman Catholic religion and attend St. Killian's church in Scott township.
Mr. Nooyen gives his allegiance to the democratic party and is active in public affairs of his native district. For three years he served as township supervisor and was then elected to the office of assessor. In 1906 he was made township treasurer and is still serving, bringing to the dis- charge of his official duties the same steady perseverance, conscientious- ness and progressive spirit, which have influenced and hastened his pros- perity.
ANTON G. OLDENBURG.
Anton G. Oldenburg was fifty-two years of age when called to his final rest. Almost his entire life had been passed in Green Bay and he had ever enjoyed the confidence and good will of his fellow townsmen, his warmest friends being among those who had known him from his youth. He was born on the west side of Green Bay, June IS, 1856, and repre- sented one of the pioneer families of the state, his parents being Gerald and Margaret Oldenburg. His father was born in Germany in 1816 and came to the United States in 1849, taking up his residence in Green Bay, where he became prominent in public affairs. For some years he served as supervisor and it was he who planted the trees about the old courthouse. He and a Mr. Blesch were the founders of the Green Bay Turner Hall and the Turner Society. After a useful and well spent life he passed away June 8, 1890, and his wife, who survived him about ten years, died in 1900, at the age of sixty-two. In their family were two sons and two daughters, who are still living, namely: Henry, a successful attorney of Carlton, Minnesota ; Louis, a member of the Oldenburg-Krippner Furni- ture Company of Green Bay; Sophia, the wife of Rev. August Kopplin, a Methodist minister of Green Bay ; and Miss Emelia Oldenburg, who lives at the old homestead on Third street.
At the usual age Anton G. Oldenburg began his education in the public schools and as the years passed by he continually added to his knowledge, for he learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. With the exception of a few years spent in Crystal Falls and in Fond du Lac he remained a lifelong resident of Green Bay and won for himself a creditable and honorable position in business circles, being widely known as a prominent business man on the west side. From his boyhood he was con- nected with the undertaking business, being his father's chief helper for many years, and after the latter's death became the prime factor in both the furniture and undertaking business, in which he engaged in partnership
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with his brother. In 1892, however, he erected the building near the bridge on West Walnut street where now is conducted a hardware store and, removing into it, he carried on business as an undertaker. He sold out in 1895 and removed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he became connected with the Nehrbass Casket Company, now called the Northern Casket Com- pany. In 1907, however, he returned with his family to Green Bay and resumed the undertaking business. Ile gave close and undivided attention to his interests, was always carefully considerate of those whom he employed and as the years went by built up a business of large proportions.
On the 25th of February, 1880, Mr. Oldenburg was united in marriage to Miss Ida Williams, who was born on the east side of Green Bay, a daughter of George and Blanch (De Laruelle) Williams. On the paternal side her ancestors were of English origin and the line included Roger Wil- liams, of Puritan fame. The father of George Williams was one of a family of thirteen children, most of whom made their home in New York state. He died in Buffalo but his wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Mccullough, passed away some years later in Milwaukee, Wis- consin. Of their family only two sons, Isaac and George, came to Brown county. It was at a very early day that George Williams came to Green Bay from Buffalo and for a time engaged in driving a stage from this city to Fond du Lac. He was also superintendent of a furnace and had other business connections, remaining here up to the time of his death in 1879. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry. In his family were five children, all of whom are still living, namely : Charles, the oldest mail carrier in Green Bay; Henry, also a resident of this city; Ida, now Mrs. Oldenburg; Florence, the wife of Charles Kaufman; and George, a resident of the state of Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Oldenburg were born five children: Edith F., who died at the age of twenty-three years; Raymond, who married Annie Foerster, of Green Bay, and is conducting the business established by his father ; Natalie; George; and Gerald.
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