History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 25

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

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Christopher Vradenburg, an early settler in Pepin county, Wis., long since deceased, was born in New York State, June 12, 1812, and was brought up to farming. He married Maria Benner, who was born in Ohio, Septem- ber 8, 1823, and about 18- they emigrated to Illinois, whence they came later to Columbia county, Wisconsin. Then they removed to Minnesota, from which state they came in 1857 to Pepin county, Wisconsin, locating near Durand, where they resided three years. At the end of that time Mr. Vradenburg took a farm in Waubeek township, where he spent the last twenty years of his life, dying October 15, 1880. He had been a widower for nearly three years before his death, his wife having passed away De- cember 25, 1877. Mr. Vradenburg was a Democrat in politics, but never aspired to office, giving his whole attention to his farm and the rearing and support of his family of eleven children.

William John Soden, who died in Durand, Pepin county, Wisconsin, July 31, 1916, was for many years one of the best known and respected citizens of Canton township, Buffalo county. He was born in Highland, Mich., April 25, 1848, son of James and Hannah (Ostrander) Soden, both natives of Michigan, who never came farther west. The father was a farmer by occupation. William John Soden was reared in his native state and there attended school. After reaching the age of 12 years he earned his own living, working for others, and was thus occupied until after the

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breaking out of the Civil War. He then enlisted as a private in a Michigan regiment and served three years as a soldier. Returning home sound in body, he resumed industrial life in Michigan. In 1870 he came to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where for a while he worked for others. Then taking a homestead in section 18, Canton township, Buffalo county, he devoted himself to farming on his own account, and in time added to his original acreage until he owned 280 acres of land. There he resided for thirty- seven years, or until three years prior to his death, these last three years being spent in Durand. He was a stockholder in the Tarrant Creamery and in the Inter-County Telephone Company, and through his own industry had acquired a fair competency. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army Post at Durand, and in politics was a Republican. Mr. Soden was married July 2, 1876, to Cornelia B. Chase, who was born at Ravenna, Ohio, daughter of Timothy C. and Harriet L. (McCreary) Chase. Her father was a native of Massachusetts, born July 25, 1829; her mother was born in New York State, October 11, 1829. Mr. Chase was in early life a carpenter, but after he came with his family to Durand, Wis., in 1876, he bought land and engaged in farming. Later he moved to Eau Claire, where he died in May, 1916, his wife having passed away in November, 1910. He served through the entire Civil war as a private in an Ohio regiment and was never wounded. Mrs. Soden, who was the second born of four chil- dren, was educated in Durand, where she now resides. She and her hus- band had seven children-Lula C., Mary E., William J., George M., Maggie L., John L., and Victor-whose record in brief is as follows: Lula C. is the wife of A. W. Rand of Mondovi, a carpenter. Mary E. is the wife of James Thompson of Waubeek, a farmer, and has one child, Warren. William J. resides in Cornell, Wis., being connected with the paper mill industry. He married Mrs. Eva (Isham) Howland, of which union there is one child, William, Jr. By her former marriage to Harry Howland, Mrs. William J. Soden has four other children, Harold, Lyman, Frank and Alice. George M. Soden, who is a mason residing in Durand, married Hazel Cowels and has one child, Mildred. Maggie L. is the wife of Owen Thompson, a farmer of Eau Claire, and has two children, Marion and Elwyn. John L., who mar- ried Millie Isham, is a farmer of Canton township, Buffalo county, and has two children, Milo and Ezra. Victor, who resides on his mother's farm, married Muriel Throne and has one child, John L.

William V. Dorwin, proprietor of Dorwin's Mill at Durand, Pepin county, which he has operated for over forty years, was born in Oxford township, Adams county, Wisconsin, May 15, 1855, son of Vivus W. and Helen Marriette (Van Hoesen) Dorwin. He was a babe of 12 months when he accompanied his parents to Durand, his father driving in with an ox team. His first home here was a log structure and his boyhood and youth were passed amid pioneer surroundings. The country was full of large game, including bear, wolf and deer, venison being a very common food among the early settlers. The Indians also were near neighbors and fre- quent visitors. Young Dorwin acquired the elements of knowledge in the district school, afterwards attending Gale University at Galesville, Trem-

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MRS. WILLIAM V. DORWIN-MRS. VIVES W. DORWIN-MRS. SAMUEL S. LUCE WILLIAM V. DORWIN-VIVUS W. DORWIN-SAMUEL S. LUCE

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pealeau county, and later a commercial school at St. Paul, Minn. His father had established the present mill and was also engaged in farming, and William V. worked for him until reaching the age of 19 years, when his father gave him his time. In the following spring he left home and for the next eight months resided in Iowa and Nebraska. Then returning to Durand, he became associated with his father in the farming and mill- ing industries and so continued until 1885, in which year he took sole charge of the mill, which he has since operated, devoting to it his whole time. It is situated in one of the most beautiful spots in northern Wisconsin, known as Dorwin's Tunnel-a place admirably adapted to camping and picnicking purposes, and known both for the mill and in that connection over a wide area, both in Wisconsin and Minnesota. As a miller for so many years in one locality, Mr. Dorwin has had a successful career, manufacturing the "Peerless flour" and all mill feeds, and is a man widely and favorably known throughout Pepin and neighboring counties. During most of his life, since attaining maturity, he has held public office, having served as township treasurer twenty years, as treasurer of his school district thirty years, and in nearly all the county offices. He belongs to the Blue Lodge of Masons at Durand and to the camp of Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Dorwin was married September 8, 1877, to Flora F. Luce, of Galesville, Wis., daugh- ter of S. S. and Hannah (Gale) Luce, her mother being a sister of Judge Gale, who founded that city. Both her father and mother, however, were born in Vermont. Mrs. Dorwin, who was a member of the national chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, passed away September 18, 1918.

Vivus W. Dorwin, a notable pioneer of Durand township, Pepin county, was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1832. In early life he acquired a knowledge of farming, which occupation he followed in New York State until his marriage at the age of 22 years to Marriette Van Hoesen, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York. Then, with his young wife, he came west to Wisconsin, locating first in Adams county, where he remained a year, at the end of that time coming to Durand township, Pepin county. Here, although he knew nothing about milling, he erected the first mill between River Falls and La Crosse, which he operated for many years, being connected with it until his death. Other notable achievements of his were the establishment of the first dairy farm and the first cheese fac- tory in the valley. At first he carried on both cheese and butter making on his farm, his wife being the maker, and so continued until he built a factory at the mill, where the business was continued. He was thus the original pioneer dairyman and cheese maker in this section. But his pro- gressive and enterprising nature was not satisfied with these achievements. He conceived the idea of building a woolen mill, though there were no sheep in this part of the country at that time. He, however, brought in a large drove and placed them on shares with the farmers, and in this way he ob- tained the material for his mill, which he operated with the roll carding machinery for about fifteen years, when the market conditions no longer rendered it profitable. In all matters of a public nature Mr. Dorwin took a leading part. Being chairman of the board of supervisors when the rail-

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road was built, and not believing in bonding, he refused to sign the papers in connection with the transaction; but when the right of way was donated he gave his proportionate share, thereby obtaining the right of way for a smaller sum. He was chairman of the county board for a number of terms, served also on his township board and was a member of the legis- lature for four terms. He also helped to organize what is now the First National Bank of Durand. In time he became the owner of more than a section of land and did an extensive business in buying and selling land. In 1862 he enlisted in the 25th Wisconsin regiment, becoming captain of Com- pany G and doing frontier service against the Indians. Being attacked by fever, however, he resigned his commission at the end of the first year and returned home afflicted by fever sores in each leg, which he carried with him to his grave. Mr. Dorwin died in September, 1904, being survived by his wife, whose death took place August 12, 1911. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine are now living (1917).

Flora Felicia Luce Dorwin, one of the notable women of Pepin county, who died at her home in the vicinity of Durand, September 18, 1918, though of New England birth and antecedents, was in most essential respects- in home training, education and matured experience-a product of western Wisconsin. She was born in Waterbury, Vt., October 4, 1848, daughter of Samuel S. and Hannah (Gale) Luce. On both the paternal and maternal sides she had a fine lineage, among her ancestors being early settlers of note in Stowe and Barre, Vt., and three who fought for American independ- ence in the war of the Revolution, while her grandfather, Peter Gale (sec- ond), was one of the "minute-men" of Barre in the War of 1812. In the spring of 1857, Flora F. Luce, then a child in her ninth year, came with her parents to Galesville, Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, which town, together with the university later known as Gale College, had been founded by her uncle, the Hon. George Gale. It was on the latter's invitation, and to su- perintend the erection of the first building of the university, that her father, an architect and builder, had left his eastern home. The family took up their residence in Galesville, and Flora early became a student in the uni- versity, where she completed the classical course in 1868, having helped herself along, as many students did, by teaching in the country schools near by. She was but 15 years old when she taught her first school, which, according to the best recollection, was somewhere on Decorah Prairie. After her graduation she took the chair of Greek, Latin and Botany under President Gilliland. As a teacher Miss Luce was very successful and greatly beloved. In the words of one of her friends, Ella L. Willey, "To the girls she was the ideal woman, and if half of the young men fell in love with her, nobody blamed them." Leaving Galesville in 1876, she was connected for a year with a seminary in Lewisburg, Pa., where she taught English literature, botany and painting. On September 4, 1877, she was married at her home in Galesville, in the presence of a few close friends, to William V. Dorwin, of Durand, Wis., who survives her. For a time they lived in the village of Durand, Mr. Dorwin having charge of a feed store there. But the Dorwins, father and sons, conducted numerous lines of business, and in 1885, William V. Dorwin took charge of the mill, four miles

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out of town. There they built the beautiful home in which they were still living at the time of Mrs. Dorwin's death. The business necessitated a large household, and Mrs. Dorwin was a busy woman; but in spite of her many prosaic duties, to which she faithfully and conscientiously attended, she still found time to cultivate her mind and indulge her taste for the beautiful things of life. Flora Felicia-the goddesses of "flowers" and "happiness"-was a name most appropriate for her. Botany was her fa- vorite recreation, and her garden was an ornament to the country side. Her talent for landscape painting was improved by frequent practice to a point of skill seldom attained save by those who devote their lives to that branch of art, and her home was adorned by some beautiful products of her brush. Notwithstanding these varied occupations, she identified her- self as far as possible with the life of the community, and was drawn upon for many and various special functions in town. Mrs. Dorwin's nature was gentle, affectionate, sympathetic and tactful. Her convictions were strong but she never intruded them. She had a rare understanding of human nature, and was devoted to her friends, idealizing their virtues and ignor- ing their failings. Her sense of humor-her "funny-bone," as she called it-saved many a trying occasion. She had a brilliant mind, and had she chosen an independent career, might have achieved distinction in more than one direction ; but she was domestic in her tastes and found the home her most congenial sphere. Her married life was happy, though checkered with more than the usual allotment of sickness and misfortune. Though for so many years a resident of Pepin county, she never lost her interest in her early home. She was a regular reader of the Galesville paper, and so long as her parents lived she managed to pay them a two-weeks' visit once or twice a year, on such occasions renewing old friendships and making new ones. After the death of her father in February, 1908, following the death of her mother by only eight weeks, these visits were less frequent. She leaves to mourn her, her husband and her brother Walter-the latter now the only survivor of the Luce family-together with a host of friends, by whom she is not likely to be forgotten.

Samuel S. Luce, a pioneer of Trempealeau county, where he resided for more than half a century, his activities as architect, journalist and edu- cator, bringing him into close contact with most of the leading citizens of that county, was born at Stowe, La Moille county, Vermont, in 1819, a son of Chester Luce. His paternal grandfather was Zimri Luce, a native of Martha's Vineyard and an early settler of Stow. Samuel S. was reared to the occupation of farming, but in early life learned the trade of architect and builder, which he followed for many years, superintending the con- struction of many important buildings, both in the East and the West. On December 7, 1847, he was united in marriage with Hannah, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Tottingham) Gale. She was of good American an- cestry. Her paternal grandfather, also named Peter Gale, was an early settler of Barre, Vt., and served in the Continental army. Her father was one of the "minute-men" of Barre in the War of 1812, while her mother was of genuine Puritan stock. She was a sister of the Hon. George Gale, the founder of Galesville and of Gale University, later known as Gale College,

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and one of the framers of the Wisconsin constitution. In the fall of 1857, at the solicitation of his brother-in-law, Judge George Gale, Mr. Luce came to Galesville to superintend the erection of the first building of the newly chartered university, and was followed by his family to the same place in the fall of the same year. For a considerable length of time he followed the occupation of architect and builder, completing his work on the univer- sity, and erecting the residence of Judge Gale and other notable buildings. In 1860 he established the Galesville Transcript-one of the first and best newspapers published in Trempealeau county-which he conducted till 1865. This paper contained many historical and literary contributions of high quality. An important feature was the department of "Law Intelligence," giving in full the proceedings of the Circuit Court of the district. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Luce was elected county superintendent of schools, a posi- tion in which he served efficiently for four years. He was also for a long time connected with the Galesville Independent, at first in an editorial capacity only, and subsequently-from May, 1881, to 1889-as proprietor in association with his son, Walter S. A man of high moral standard, with clear perceptions, and a close familiarity with local needs and conditions, he made his influence felt on the side of right and progress. Though pre- eminently a practical man and no dreamer, Mr. Luce had a strong poetic nature, which found happy expression through his literary ability in several volumes of poems which attracted wide attention and received favorable notice from able critics. One of these he published, in connection with his wife, in 1876; another, called "Echoes of the Past," appeared in 1881, and six years later appeared "The Woodman," one of his most pretentious and successful efforts. Mr. Luce continued an honored resident of Galesville until his death. in February, 1908, when in his eighty-ninth year. He had survived his wife but eight weeks. Their family consisted of two sons and a daughter: Flora F., who married William V. Dorwin, of Durand, and died September 18, 1918; George S., a publisher, now deceased; and Walter S., for several years publisher and proprietor of the La Crosse Daily Press.

Marcellus Dorwin, a prominent agriculturist operating a good farm in section 25, Durand township, Pepin county, was born in this township, February 14, 1861, son of V. W. and Helen (Van Hoesen) Dorwin. He was the fourth born of his parents' eleven children. His education, begun in the school at Wood's Corner, Durand township, was continued at Gale University, where he spent one winter, and at the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Ind., where also he spent a winter. For six or seven years from the time he was 21 years old he worked for his father, and then, after his marriage in 1888, bought a farm in Durand township, lo- cated north of his father's mill, where he remained for five years. He then purchased his father's farm, on which he now resides, and which now con- tains 400 acres of valuable land. This he operates chiefly as a dairy farm, and is engaged in breeding Jersey cattle, for which he has a preference. He also raises horses, swine and Shropshire sheep. Mr. Dorwin has achieved a pronounced success in his farming operations, having a well equipped place, with good buildings and machinery, which he conducts

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MARCELLUS DORWIN AND FAMILY

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FRANK G. PFEIFFER

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according to the most modern methods. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Durand, and one of its directors, and a stockholder in the Inter-County Telephone Company. In politics a Republican, he served as township chairman for a number of years, and as chairman of the county board six years, and is now serving on the county road and bridge committee. During the war with Germany he has taken a promi- nent part in patriotic work, having organized and served as chairman of the Council of Defense of Pepin county, also as chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee of Durand township, and has been active in war saving stamp drives. Mr. Dorwin was married, October 27, 1888, to Mary Ellen Fox, who was born in Lima township, Pepin county, October 11, 1869, daughter of John L. and Elizabeth (Stringer) Fox. Her father, who was born in Canada, died September 12, 1909. Her mother, a native of Illinois, is now living in Eau Claire. They were the parents of four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Dorwin six children have been born, as follows: Helen Eliza- beth, who married Clyde Maynard of Ellsworth, Wis., where she and her husband reside; Vivus W., who lives at home and is assisting his father on the farm; Lawrence M., a farmer in Pepin township, who married Ethel Walker; William E. and Bessie, who reside at home, and Inez, who died at the age of two years. Mr. Dorwin belongs to the camp of Modern Wood- men of America at Durand and also to the lodge of Beavers.

Frank G. Pfeiffer, proprietor of the Pfeiffer Grain & Seed Company, of Durand, who has also other important business interests, was born in Wabasha, Minn., Nov. 18, 1864, son of Anton and Karolina (Kaiser) Pfeiffer. The father, Anton Pfeiffer, was a native of Germany, born in Dusseldorf in 1827. He came to the United States alone when a young man of 19 years, locating at St. Paul, Minn., and for several years worked on the river all the way from St. Paul to New Orleans. Those were the romantic days of steamboat navigation on the Mississippi, there being few railroads, and he doubtless had many interesting experiences. At the end of the time mentioned, however, he gave up the river, probably not finding the work profitable, and located at Wabasha, Minn., where he engaged in stone quarry work and well drilling. He remained in that occupation for a few years and then engaged in the transfer business, which he carried on there for thirty-five years or more. At the end of that time, having rounded out a long career of industry, he retired, and five years later he died, in the spring of 1897, being then in his seventieth year. His wife Karolina, who was born in Switzerland, January 2, 1841, is still living in Wabasha, being now in her seventy-sixth year. They had a family of nine children: Bertha, Frank, Charles, Ottilia, Anna, Joe, Caroline, Fred and Clara. Frank G. Pfeiffer was the second born of his parents' children. He attended school in Wabasha and also took a short course in a business college there. At the age of 16 years he engaged in the grain business at Wabasha, Minn., employed as corporation manager, in which occupation he continued for about three years. He was then transferred to the man- agement of a grain house at Maxwell, where he remained one year, then going to an elevator at Downsville, where he worked until February, 1884, when he was transferred to Durand. About 1909 he bought out the cor-

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poration known as the Pfeiffer Grain & Seed Company and has since con- ducted the business independently, giving to it the greater part of his time. He also is co-partner in a general retail lumber business, under name of Pfeiffer Lumber Co., at Durand, he himself holding the office of vice presi- dent of the company. Aside from these interests Mr. Pfeiffer is a director of the First National Bank of Durand. He is now serving in his fourth year as mayor of Durand. In politics he is a Republican and in religion a Catholic. Mr. Pfeiffer was married April 12, 1898, to Anna May Meehan, who was born in Waterville township, Pepin county, daughter of William and Marian (Berry) Meehan. Her father was a farmer who became an early resident of Pepin county and a land owner here. He died about 1904, and his wife now resides at Arkansaw, this county. Their daughter Anna May, who was the third born in a family of five children, was educated in the schools of Pepin county. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer have been the parents of six children: Marion, Frank, Jr., Karleen Otilla, Elvin Anita, Robert Joseph and Dorothy, the last mentioned of whom died in infancy. The others are all residing at home.

Joseph St. Martin, now living retired on his old homestead in section 26, Waterville township, Pepin county, is a man who has had a long and adventurous career, abounding during the early years in stirring experi- ences, and who has well earned the rest and comfortable prosperity that he now enjoys. He was born in Lower Canada, February 16, 1837, son of Louis and Margaret St. Martin, the father being a native of France and the mother of Canada. Emigrating to Vermont, they later removed to New York State, then at a subsequent date returned to Vermont, where Mrs. Margaret St. Martin died. Her husband afterwards went back to Canada, where his death occurred. They had four children, of whom Joseph was the youngest. The latter was but a small boy when he began to earn his own living, or at least, to contribute to his own support. He had worked two years on the railroad before he weighed 100 pounds, and was thus occupied for about five years. The next two years were spent in the freight service as a sailor on Lake Champlain. After that he worked in the stone quarries in Vermont for about three years. Then going to New York State, he bought land which he cleared and engaged in farming. Two years later he gave up that occupation and, the Civil War having now broken out, returned to Vermont, where he enlisted in Company I, Seventh Vermont regiment, and served one year as a private. After a short stay in New York, he resumed military service, going to New Orleans and thence to Texas, being subsequently mustered out at Brownsville, that state. Coming to Pepin county, Wisconsin, in 1866, he took forty acres of land in section 26, Waterville township, which original tract forms a part of his present farm, and for a number of years subsequently his life was that of a pioneer farmer, with plenty of hard work and at times some privation, but on the whole not unconducive to a healthful and contented existence. At times he worked in sawmills, and after the introduction of threshing ma- chines into the county, operated them for some time during the threshing season. In time also he added to the size of his farm by additional pur- chases of land until he owned about 300 acres. Now, after a long and

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History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 25

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

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