History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 14

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885

USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 14
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Clayton W. Kees, a well known and respected citizen of Maxville town- ship, Buffalo county, is a native of this county, having been born in Canton township, October 21, 1887, son of George W. Kees. His education was acquired in the district school and in Durand, Pepin county, where he re- sided from the age of seven to that of 22 years. Having learned the butcher's trade, he followed it for six or seven years in Durand. At the end of that time he took his present farm in sections 1, 2 and 11, Maxville township, a tract of 200 acres, partly improved but in poor condition, the buildings being poor and the fences few and broken. A great deal of work had to be done to change the place into a profitable farm, but that work has been accomplished, Mr. Kees having built a nice house and a barn 34 by 64 feet in size; and also planted the yard with mountain poplars, which make a picturesque appearance besides affording good shade in summer. He is raising a good quality of Durham cattle, Poland-China hogs and Per- cheron horses and is well advanced on the road to fortune. Mr. Kees has served as school clerk for fourteen years and is a member of the Methodist church. He married Mary Johnson, daughter of John M. Johnson. Nine children have been born to him and his wife, one of whom, William Clayton, is deceased. The survivors are Gladys, Agnes, Raymond, John, Hubert, Bessie, Caroline and Walter.

Fred Dabelstein, a progressive farmer of Glencoe township, Buffalo county, is a good example of the self-made man, having risen to a prosper- ous condition without any advantages save those which come from a reso- lute will, industrious and steady habits and good health. He was born in a cottage or shanty at the foot of Sugar Loaf Bluff, in the southeastern outskirts of Winona, Minn., October 18, 1866, son of Adam and Elizabeth (Honas) Dabelstein. The father, a native of Holstein, Germany, came to the United States when a young man, landing after a voyage of thirteen weeks on a sailing vessel. After arriving in this country he tried his for- tune in various places, at first in the South, getting as far west as Texas. He then wandered north, arriving in Winona, Minn., when that. now flour-

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MR. AND MRS. ARNE OTTESON MATTSON WALKER AND FAMILY

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ishing city was a very small place. There he and Elizabeth Honas were married, and, having learned the blacksmith's trade in Germany, he, to- gether with an uncle, Henry Dabelstein, set up a shop near the river, begin- ning work with tools brought from Germany. After a while Adam Dabelstein sold out his interest in the shop and started the first lime quarry in Winona, which was located at the foot of Sugar Loaf bluff. Later he sold the quarry to Myron Thoms, and with a Mr. Rebault, moved into a frame building that stood on the site of the present Schellhas brewery, in the immediate vicinity of the bluff. While there he worked for a man named Knifer for some eight or ten years. The rest of his life was spent in farming in Pleasant Valley, Winona county, where he died at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife died at the age of 62. They were the parents of eleven children. Their religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. Fred Dabelstein began industrial life with the serious handicap of a lack of education, as he attended school not more than three or four days in his life, and had nothing but hard work before him, with apparently little chance of rising in the world. He spent about a year at the butcher's trade and then became employed at farming at Stockton, Minn., where he remained four years. Then he farmed for a like period at Wiscoy, Winona county, Minnesota. On April 13, 1898, he came to Glencoe township, Clark county, and rented a farm, which he operated for thirteen years. They were years of hard labor, as much had to be done to make the farm profitable, but he made gradual progress, so that at the end of that period he was able to purchase his present farm of 232 acres in Glencoe township. There was an old log house on the place, which had been built about 1865, and in that, after making repairs, he took up his abode. About the only other building of consequence was a log barn of equal antiquity with the house. In the latter he resided for three years and then built a good brick residence. He also erected a substantial barn, and has since made various other improvements. He now has a productive farm, is raising a good grade of stock, including Percheron horses, and is classed among the pros- perous citizens of his township. He is one of the stockholders in the Ar- cadia creamery. Mr. Dabelstein married Mary Ammann, who was born in Bohri Valley, daughter of George Ammann. Her parents, pioneer set- tlers in that valley, came from Switzerland at an early date, Mr. Ammann serving subsequently as a soldier in the American Civil War. To Mr. and Mrs. Dabelstein ten children have been born: Emma (now living in Idaho), William, Edward, Helen, Lizzie, Fredie (deceased), Minnie, Adam (de- ceased), Henry and Dora. Mr. Dabelstein and his family are members of the Lutheran church.

H. Mattson Walker, proprietor of an up to date garage in Nelson, Buf- falo county, and a citizen of local prominence, was born in the town of Maxville, this county, February 15, 1879, son of Martin P. and Ida (Bab- cock) Walker. On the paternal side he is a grandson of Mattson and Catherine Walker, while his maternal grandfather was Benjamin Babcock. The father, Martin P. Walker, was born in Huntington county, Pennsyl- vania, and settled on a farm at Burnside in the town of Nelson, this county. He farmed here for a few years, then moved to Durand, subsequently

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becoming sheriff of Pepin county. He is now living at Bayfield, Wis. The mother, Mrs. Ida (Babcock) Walker, who was born in the town of Modena, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, died thirty-five years ago, in the fall of 1883. M. Mattson Walker in his boyhood attended school in Nelson township and also at Durand, Pepin county. His first business experience was gained as clerk for Jacob Bros., in their store at Durand, he remaining with them for four years. He then engaged in farming in Nelson township on the farm on which Arne Otteson lived for twenty-seven years, and continued in that occupation up to six years ago, when he entered into his present busi- ness in Nelson. In this he has made gratifying progress, his garage being well built and completely equipped, and his trade having increased to good proportions, and yielding profitable returns. Mr. Walker was one of the first commission shippers of live stock for the American Society of Equity in this part of Wisconsin. He is affiliated fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Foresters. He was married in the town of Nelson, February 27, 1900, to Inger Otteson, daughter of Arne and Maria Otteson, who were among the first Norwegian settlers in Norwegian valley, Nelson township. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have had three children: Elwood Murville, born July 18, 1902; Marie Ida, born February 27, 1904; and Arne, who died at the age of 18 months.

John Martin, proprietor of the hotel known as the Farmers' Home, in Fountain City, Buffalo county, was born in a frame house in this city, oppo- site his present place of business, March 6, 1862, son of John and Theresa (Schmidt) Martin. The parents were natives of Baden, Germany, and came separately to the United States by sailing vessel, each having a long voyage, and John arriving in this country in 1852 or 1853. They were married later in Fountain City, Wis. The father of the subject of this sketch was a mason by trade and also a farmer, and being among the early arrivals here, he helped to erect some of the first buildings. When he set- tled on land he selected Bohri's valley, where he bought a wild tract; but later he bought a place close to Fountain City, where he followed his trade and farmed 160 acres. His first dwelling on the place was of logs, but he later framed it over. He was a Catholic in religion and helped to build the first Catholic church in Fountain City. He died on his homestead at the age of 73 years and his wife at that of 70. They had four children: Mary and Grace, both of whom died young; John, of Fountain City, and Theresa, who is now Mrs. Louis Storn of Winona, Minn. John Martin was educated in the school of Fountain City and grew up on his parents' farm, which he later operated on his own account until five years ago, making his home in Fountain City. He still owns the old homestead, but in March, 1917, he started in his present business as proprietor of the Farmers' Home, which is a popular resort for the farmers of the vicinity, and his prospects are good for a successful career in his new line of endeavor. Mr. Martin married Frances Schulte, who was born in Buffalo township, this county, daughter of Martin Schulte, her father being an old pioneer of Winona, where he is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children: Emil, who is associated in business with his father, and Christina, who is the wife of Roscoe Stohl, and has one child, William.

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MR. AND MRS. HERMAN GUND

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Bernard Gustave Schulze, a well to do resident of Fountain City, Buffalo county, where for a number of years past he has been engaged in business as a baker, was born in Saxony, Germany, January 12, 1859, son of Fred and Wilhelmina Schulze, the parents being weavers by trade. There were six children in the family, Bernhard, Emil, Robert, Paul, Ernest and Anna. Robert and Ernest were the first to come to the United States, landing at Baltimore, from which city they made their way to La Crosse, Wis., where the rest of the family joined them eventually. The parents are still living and are now nearly eighty years old, the father having been born October 18, 1838, and the mother September 7, the same year. Ber- nard G. Schulze, the subject of this sketch, had married in Germany, Mary Weidel, who was born March 30, 1852, daughter of Henry and Johanna Weidel. He had learned both the miller's and baker's trades, but preferred the latter, which he has since followed. In 1890 he came to the United States, accompanied by his wife and four children, Bernard, Martha, Paul and Freda. He settled first in La Crosse, where he followed his trade for seven years. At the end of that time he came to Fountain City and pur- chased a bakery, which he conducted himself for seventeen years. Then his son Paul, who had learned the trade, became his partner and continued as such for some five years. Paul then sold his interest in the business and opened a saloon with William Knaub, and Bernard G. Schulze became the baker for the new firm, since known as Schulze & Knaub, which has built up a good trade. The son Paul married Sadie Schroeder, daughter of Herman Schroeder of Fountain City, and they have two children, Hazel and Dolores. He is a member of Steuben Lodge, No. 280, I. O. O. F .; of Fountain City.

Herman Gund, a progressive and well to do farmer, residing in section 36, Gilmanton township, Buffalo county, was born in Prussia, Germany, October 31, 1865, son of Charles and Augusta (Borgwardt) Gund. He ac- quired a common school education in his native land, and was 14 years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States, his father renting a farm in Waumandee township, this county. Young Herman remained at home for several years, but about 1884 he began to travel about, making a trip through the West and being located for a time at Duluth and Superior, Wis., in the latter place being engaged in business. Then, selling out his interests in the city, he moved to a farm near Superior and operated it for two years. In 1899 his father bought the Geo. L. Krampeter farm at the head of Little Waumandee valley, in section 36, Gilmanton township, and in 1910 Herman bought this farm, containing 436 acres, of which 250 acres were under the plow. There was also a good frame house and a two-story frame barn on the place. He has since improved both house and barn, built a granary 18 by 28 feet, with tool-sheds adjoining, 12 by 28 and 12 by 52 feet, a poultry-house 10 by 20 feet, a pump-house 12 by 16 feet, a garage 12 by 20 feet, and a stone silo 16 by 30 feet. The farm is very productive, the soil being a good silt loam and in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Gund carries on general farming and dairying, keeping from thirty to fifty milch cows-graded Durham and Holstein cattle-with twenty or twenty-five young cattle, and is improving his herd, having two full-blooded

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Holstein bulls. He also has a herd of Poland-China and Duroc-Jersey hogs and a fine flock of Shropshire sheep. In addition to these immediate interests he is one of the stockholders of the Dover & Gilmanton Telephone Company. For three years he has served as treasurer of the Joint School District No. 5, Gilmanton township, and in politics is a Republican. His prosperity has been self-acquired through persevering industry, backed by good judgment and a thorough knowledge of all branches of agriculture. His fraternal society affiliations are with the Gilmanton Colony of Beavers. Mr. Gund began domestic life December 10, 1890, when he was united in marriage with Theresa, daughter of Sebastian and Mary Paulus of Superior, Wis. He and his wife have nine children: Mary, born January 18, 1892, who is now Mrs. John Paulus of Eagle Point, Wis .; Barbara, born July 18, 1894, now Mrs. Adam Bohlinger of Harlingen, Texas; Peter William, born March 9, 1897; Charles, born May 31, 1899; Albert, born September 25, 1904; Douglas, born September 8, 1907; Evelyn, born August 18, 1909; Howard, born March 15, 1912, and Winnefred, born November 6, 1916. Mr. Gund was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church.

Matsen Walker, a pioneer of Nelson township, Buffalo county, was a native of the central part of Pennsylvania, and was married in that state to Catherine Orlady, who was also born there. Shortly before the breaking out of the Civil War he set out for Wisconsin, accompanied by his wife and their six children, Martin, Mary, Frank, Samuel M., John and Callie. Their first settlement in Buffalo county was on a homestead tract of forty acres at Burnside, but from that location they later removed to a tract of eighty acres in section 3, Nelson township, which Mr. Walker bought from his uncle, Dr. Orlady, who was an early settler here. Their first dwelling on this latter place was a log house without either windows or doors. There were no roads and it was a two days' trip to walk the fifteen miles which separated them from the mills beyond Durand. Mr. Walker had practically nothing but his hands with which to make a start, but in spite of that he · managed to make progress. His first barn was a straw shed and he used an ox team for the early work on his farm. He sided and improved the old house, which is still standing, and built good barns, in time becoming pros- perous. As one of the leading men in the township, he served as super- visor and as a member of the school board, and he was also one of the most earnest and active members of the Methodist church. At the age of 61 he passed to his final rest, his wife surviving him and living to the age of 78. Their remains now repose in Burnside cemetery. In addition to the six children who accompanied them from Pennsylvania, they had three others, who were born in Nelson township-Mattie, Addie and Jessie.

Samuel Miller Walker, a retired farmer residing in Nelson township, was born in the central part of Pennsylvania, August 24, 1858, son of Matsen and Catherine (Orlady) Walker. He was very young when he accompanied his parents to Buffalo county, and it was some years after he arrived here before he began to attend school, where he sat on a long bench and labored at his spelling-book. As he grew older he took an active part in the work of the home farm, on which he remained until his marriage, at the age of 30 years, to Mary Perry, of North Bank, Wis., whose father,

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JOSEPH D. HARVEY

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Custer Perry, was a pioneer in that locality. Mr. Walker then located with his wife in section 3, Nelson township, and operated the old home farm in addition to his own tract of land. On the latter was an old log house in which he and his family lived for twenty years, and there was also an old frame horse barn. Mr. Walker subsequently put up a good house, that burned down, after which the present residence was erected. He finally retired from active work and built a comfortable house in the vicinity of his farm, where he is now taking his ease and enjoying the fruits of his former labors, his son Eben operating the old homestead of 120 acres. He is a shareholder in the Burnside creamery, of which he was a director for one term, owns shares in a packing plant at St. Paul, and is interested in the local telephone company. He formerly started a co-operative store at Durand, which enterprise, however, proved a failure. For twelve years he was a member of the district school board. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have had four children, of whom Eben is the only one now living. Those who died were Cassie, Harry and Russell, the two latter being twins.

Joseph David Harvey, a Buffalo county pioneer and Civil War veteran, who passed many years of his life on a farm in section 10, Mondovi town- ship, was born in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia, August 13, 1836, son of Robert and Eunice (Duncanson) Harvey. The scene of his birth was a spot made famous by Longfellow in his beautiful poem of Evangeline. There he re- sided until 1848, receiving a limited education, and then coming with his parents to the New West, the family settling at Lake Emily in Dodge county, Wisconsin, not far from the LeGores and Farringtons and other families who were later to form the nucleus of a settlement at Mondovi. In the spring of 1855 Joseph D. Harvey, then a lad of 18 years, with Harvey, Dow and Perry Farrington and others, came with ox teams to Buffalo county, making their way through the Beef River valley by following Indian trails, as there were as yet no roads in this region. Bear and deer and other wild game were abundant. During the summer of that year they lived in their covered wagons. They had brought with them two breaking outfits, with nine yoke of oxen to each, so were prepared to begin breaking operations on any land they might select. Mr. Harvey pre-empted 160 acres for his father, the tract being the northeast quarter of section 10, township 24, range 11, west. In the winter of 1855-56 he went back to Dodge county for supplies and seed wheat, having suffered great priva- tions, especially from not having sufficient clothing. In the spring follow- ing, his father and the other members of the family came to Buffalo county and began the work of clearing, he, himself, however, remaining in Dodge county, to take care of the farm there. He was the eldest of the children, the others being Ellen, Thomas, Mary (Mrs. M. B. Gibson), William, Alex- ander, Alfred, Charles and Maggie (Mrs. D. P. Gibson), twins, and James, all of whom were born at the old home in Grand Pre, except James, who was born at Lake Emily in Dodge county, Wisconsin. Of sturdy Scotch- Irish stock, the sons were especially noticeable for their size and fine phy- sique. In September, 1856, Joseph D. returned with supplies for the coming winter, but as they ran short before spring came, the family had to grind

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buckwheat in the coffee-mill to make flour on which to sustain life. From 1856 to 1862 they lived in a log shanty, after which they built a farm house. Their wheat market for years was Alma and their pork and feed market Eau Claire. During the first five years they made many trips to both of these places with ox team.

On February 29, 1864, Joseph D. Harvey enlisted for service in the Civil War in Company K, 36th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, being mus- tered in at Eau Claire and sworn into the service at Madison, Wis., March 17. Though he took part in such hard fought battles as Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Reams Station, Hatcher's Run, Jerusalem Plank Road and Deep Bottom, he escaped without a wound. He was, however, captured by the enemy, November 5, 1864, while on the picket lines near Petersburg, and for five months was confined in Libby prison, where he suffered the hardships which meant death to many of the soldiers, but which his strong constitution enabled him to endure. While there he per- formed an act of generosity and self-sacrifice of which few similar in- stances can be found. When his name appeared on the list of prisoners to be exchanged, he willingly gave his place to a neighbor, Samuel C. Hans- come, of the town of Naples, who had a wife and family at home. When Lee evacuated Richmond, he was moved, and soon after received a pris- oner's furlough, being mustered out at Jeffersonville, Ind. On July 17, 1865, he reached his home in Mondovi, and the next day found wheat on the old home farm, where he took up his abode and resumed agricultural work, following that vocation for the remainder of his active life, first at his parents' home above mentioned, and after 1874 at his home farm adjoining, where he has lived for the last twenty years with his niece, Mrs. Charles Seyforth, and her family. In early days he also worked at the carpenter's trade and at logging during the winters. In 1913 Mr. Harvey suffered a stroke of paralysis of the left side, but otherwise was in good health until within six weeks of his death, which occurred June 6, 1918. He was always a Republican in politics and was a member of the Congregational church at Mondovi. His fraternal society affiliations were with the Blue Lodge of Masons, No. 252, at Mondovi, and John W. Christian Post, G. A. R., of the same place. For many years he was a prominent and highly esteemed member of the community. Of a jovial and friendly nature, an excellent conversationalist, with a vivid imagination and won- derful memory of the events and people of the early days, his company was eagerly sought, and it was one of the sorrows of his latter days that ill health would not permit him to come "over town" and visit the friends he longed to see. His good neighborly qualities and kind charitable dis- position were known to all, and in early years he did much useful and needed work in burying the dead and caring for the suffering and dying. With no fear of the future, he passed the evening of life in quiet content- ment, ready at any time for his Master's call. It was fitting that his last resting place should be in the "old cemetery," whose beauty and attractive- ness are due mostly to his initiative and persevering efforts in organizing the Cemetery Association and putting it into effective operation.

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Martin Riedi, who is numbered among the prosperous farmers of Mon- tana township, Buffalo county, his farm lying in section 26, was born in Switzerland, February 10, 1870, son of Thomas and Katherine (Buchli) Riedi. The parents never came to this country and are both now de- ceased. Of their five children-Peter, Thomas, John, Bankratz and Martin -Thomas is now dead and Martin was the only one of the family who came to America, which he did in 1891, when 21 years old. He had received a common school education in his native land, and had had fair industrial experience. Locating in Sauk county, Wisconsin, he worked out for a year and then came to Buffalo county, finding employment here with the farmers. In 1897 Mr. Riedi took a trip to Switzerland, remaining there three months and returning shortly before his father's death. On his marriage in 1898 he rented a farm, which he operated for one year, at the end of that time buying the farm on which he now lives. Its area is 160 acres, of which about eighty acres are cleared, the rest being in woods and bluff. Mr. Riedi does general farming, mainly dairying and hog raising. He has im- proved his buildings by making additions to the house and barn and is enjoying a prosperous career, finding a ready market for all his products. He is also a shareholder in the Garden Valley Creamery. Mr. Riedi was married October 17, 1898, to Mrs. Caroline Joeger, whose maiden name was Caroline Florin. She was born October 30, 1872, daughter of Andrew and Susan (Schmang) Florin, her parents being natives of Switzerland who came to the United States half a century ago. They were engaged in farm- ing, but both are now deceased. Their children were: Joseph, Peter, Mar- garet, Mary, who married August Hitt, Louisa, who married M. Buchli, Lewis, Caroline and Anna. The last mentioned is now deceased. Caroline, now the wife of Martin Riedi, was first married to John Joeger, and of that union two children were born: Clara, September 29, 1893, who is the wife of Mike Dasher, and Leola, January 17, 1897, who is unmarried. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin Riedi are: Esther, born August 1, 1899; Irwin, March 27, 1892; Susan, December 5, 1903; Clarence, January 29, 1906; and Elvin, April 18, 1908. Clarence died in the year of his birth. The others are residing on the home farm and all are attending school except Esther. The family attend the Methodist church at Montana.

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History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 14

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Number of Pages: 885

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885