History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 33

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 33
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the third in order of birth, and is the only one now living. William Max- well (the second of the name) attended school in Canada, where he re- mained until he was 15 years old. Then, like many Canadian youth, he was attracted by the opportunities afforded in the states, and, leaving home, went to Vermont, where he found employment. Until he was 21 he sent a part of his earnings to his parents, and remained in Vermont subsequently until 1865. Then he felt the lure of the West and turned his steps in this direction. After halting a few months in Illinois, he pro- ceeded north to Eau Galle, Dunn county, Wis., where he found employ- ment during the winter of 1865-66 working in the woods for Carson & Rand, lumbermen. The following harvest season he spent in Minnesota, after which he joined a bridge crew on Zumbro River and was thus occu- pied until November. His next move was to Superior and thence to Fond du Lac, where he worked in a slate mine until 1867. In that year-a notable one for him-he came to Pepin, and on the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, 1867, was married to Ann Jane Thompson, a native of this county and daughter of Samuel and Kate (Baskin) Thompson. Her father was born in an eastern state and her mother in Ireland, and they were among the earliest settlers in Pepin county. Both are now deceased. After his marriage Mr. Maxwell settled on a farm, two miles above the village of Eau Galle. There he resided until 1876, improving his farm, which he then sold, removing to Waterville township, Pepin county. Here he purchased an unimproved tract, consisting of 160 acres of timber land, on which he resided for 22 years, during which time he cleared the land, erected good buildings and developed the property into a good farm. In October, 1898, he sold it to his two sons, William S., and Forest F., and moved to his present location, adjoining the village of Arkansaw, where he has ten acres of land, which he cultivates merely in order to have something to do. At that time also he built the nice modern residence in which he now lives, and became the owner of three different farms. He was one of the first men to take stock in the Waterville Creamery, and is still a stock- holder in it. For a number of years he served on the township board and was a member of the school board 15 years. In politics he is independent. Mr. Maxwell's first wife, Mrs. Ann Jane Maxwell, died Jan. 21, 1889. She had borne him five children: William S., now residing on the old Maxwell farm near Arkansaw, who married Rose Leisinger and has five children: Franklin James, who is engaged in the stock business on a ranch in Mon- tana; Walter I., also in the stock business in Montana, who married Pearl Miller, and has two children; Katie Belle, wife of John Larson, a Montana ranchman, and the mother of one child, and Forrest, a farmer of Water- ville township, Pepin county, who married Vida Tulip, of this township, and has two children. On May 20, 1890, Mr. Maxwell married for his sec- ond wife, Nellie Curtiss, who was born in Ohio, daughter of Lowell E. and Julia A. (Pollard) Curtiss. Her father was a native of Granville, Mass., who came in 1858 to this part of Pepin county and was employed for some time in a grist mill. He also took land and improved a farm, his first home being a small board shanty. On the property he developed, which was located in Waterville township, he resided until his death, Feb.

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CHARLES LONGSDORF AND FAMILY

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22, 1893. His wife, Julia, who was a native of Connecticut, survived him some ten years or more, passing away Sept. 8, 1903. During early days Mr. Curtiss held various town offices, including that of assessor, but de- clined other opportunities for political advancement. He and his wife had five children, of whom their daughter, Nellie (Mrs. Maxwell), was the second in order of birth. She acquired a good education, attending school in Pepin county, and at River Falls, Normal, then in Minneapolis for one term, and subsequently Gale University (now Gale College), at Galesville, Wis. For a number of years she taught school efficiently in Pepin, Pierce and Dunn counties.

Charles Leslie Longsdorf, proprietor of a good paying stock farm in section 3, Frankfort township, Pepin county, and the owner of other agri- cultural property, was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, May 17, 1871, son of George W. and Anna M. (Fair) Longsdorf. His parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, the father born in 1841 and the mother in 1847, removed to Wabasha county, Minnesota, in 1867, later coming from that locality to Frankfort township, Pepin county, Wisconsin, where they are still residing on a farm. Charles Leslie Longsdorf was educated in this township, attending district school. He remained with his parents until 20 years of age and then engaged in farming for himself, being thus occupied in Frankfort township for 15 years. At the end of that time he went to Perkins county, South Dakota, where he took a homestead and remained four years, his wife and family holding down the homestead while he was engaged in construction work in both North and South Dakota; and it is worthy of note that Mrs. Longsdorf was away from the claim but one night during the proving up period, which was 18 months. While residing in Perkins county Mr. Longsdorf took an active interest in public affairs, being chairman of the committee that organized and named Rockford township, and at different times holding practically all of the various town offices. In 1912 he returned to Frankfort township, Pepin county, Wisconsin, and resumed agricultural operations here. He now has a good farm of 90 acres, on which he is carrying on general farming and stock raising, and he also still owns his 280-acre farm in Perkins county, South Dakota. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Telephone Company, and is a man ever ready to take his part as a good citizen in any project calculated to benefit the community in which he lives. In poli- tics Mr. Longsdorf is a Republican, and is chairman of the town board and a member of the county board. Imbued with the spirit of modern enter- prise, he is a strong advocate of good roads, and is rendering useful service as a member of the road and bridge committee working in conjunction with the state highway commission. On March 11, 1897, Mr. Longsdorf was united in marriage with Emma Carpenter, who was born in Stock- holm township, this county, Feb. 20, 1874, daughter of Charles and Martha (Quiner) Carpenter. Her father was a native of New York State and her mother of Connecticut. They settled at an early date in Stockholm town- ship, Pepin county, Wisconsin, where their daughter Emma attended school. Later she pursued her studies in the high school at Fountain City, Wis., and for several years taught school in Pepin county. Mr. and Mrs.

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Longsdorf are the parents of two children, Elithe and Lisle L. Elithe, born June 9, 1898, was graduated from the Durand high school with the class of 1916, and in September of the same year entered the Winona General Hospital, where she is training for a nurse. Lisle L., born Jan. 1, 1901, is now a senior in the Durand high school, and after his graduation will enter the State University at Madison to take up civil engineering. The family are affiliated, through attendance, with the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Longsdorf are members of the Beaver lodge at Arkansaw, Mr. Longsdorf also belonging to the Modern Woodmen of America at Frankfort.

Alexander Risler, an enterprising and successful farmer of Albany township, Pepin county, where he is operating a good farm of 200 acres, was born in Lima township, this county, Feb. 26, 1879, son of Michael and Mary Risler. His parents were early settlers in Lima township, locating there about 50 years ago, on coming to this country from Austria. They were farmers by occupation and had eleven children, of whom Alex was the youngest. In his boyhood he attended rural school in Lima township and resided on the home farm until he was 21 years old. After that he worked for neighboring farmers until 1901, when he bought his present place and engaged in agriculture on his own account. His 200 acres of fertile land is provided with good buildings which he has erected, and he is carrying on general farming on a profitable basis, giving his whole attention to his business. Mr. Risler is independent in politics and is a member of the Catholic church at Lima. September 16, 1902, he was married to Mary Weisinger, daughter of Sylvester and Mary Weisinger, natives of Austria, who came to the United States 36 years ago, but are now deceased. They were both born in 1854, and after coming to this country settled in Waterville township, this county, where they spent the rest of their lives, and where their daughter Mary attended rural school. Mr. and Mrs. Risler are the parents of five children: Henry, Josie, Frank, Leopold and Charles, all of whom are residing at home. Mr. Risler is a man of industrious habits and progressive ideas, and has attained to a prosperous condition in life through his own exertions. He and his family are well known and respected throughout this part of Pepin county.

Ed M. Bardill, who with his brother, Emil Bardill, for several years published the Pepin County Courier, at Durand, was born at Alma, Buffalo county, Wis., Feb. 9, 1891, son of John and Catherine (Roffler) Bardill. His parents were natives of Switzerland, but were married in Alma, Wis. John Bardill came to the United States when a young man and worked at lumbering in the woods for a number of years. He was following the voca- tion of a cook at the time of his death, which occurred when the subject of this sketch was a boy of four years. His wife died about six years later. They had three children: John, now engaged in business as a barber at Glasgow, Mont., and Ed M. and Emil. Ed M. Bardill acquired his educa- tion mainly in the schools of Alma, but has supplemented his school studies by judicious reading. By the time he was 19 he had learned the printer's trade and subsequently followed it in La Crosse for a year. After that he spent a year in a printing office at St. Charles, Minn., going from

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MR. AND MRS. CHARLES MYERS

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there to Plainview, Minn., where he was similarly occupied for three years. He then spent six months in Langford, South Dakota, coming to Durand June 1, 1914. Here, in company with his brother Emil, he purchased the Pepin County Courier, a weekly newspaper, from Mrs. J. D. Eldridge, whose husband was the oldest newspaper man in the county. Ed M. took charge of the editorial end of the work, while Emil looked after the mechan- ical department. They made many improvements in the office, and were on the high road to prosperity, when in April, 1918, they entered the service of their country. At that time they sold the Courier to Barton & Crippen, of the Entering Wedge, who have consolidated the paper as the Courier- Wedge. Ed M. Bardill, while in Durand, was a member of the Commercial Club and of the Durand Benefit Society. He is affiliated with the Masonic order.

George W. Myers, a well known dairy and stock farmer of Waterville township, Pepin county, having a good farm of 160 acres in section 7, was born at Porcupine, Frankfort township, this county, Oct. 27, 1868, being the first white child born in that township. His parents were Charles and Adelaide (Bennett) Myers. The father, born at Ithaca, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1830, came to Pepin county in 1861, settling on what has since been known as the Myers homestead in Frankfort township, which was afterwards his home until his death. In the Civil War he served nine months in a heavy artillery company, and lost his hearing in the service. This misfortune was the cause of his death more than 40 years later, as in 1906 he was Killed by a train, while walking on the track at Stockholm. His wife is now a resident of Arkansaw, this county. They had a family of seven children, of whom George W. was the third born. The latter attended district school at Porcupine and lived at home until 18 years of age, when he went to work for loggers on the Mississippi river, being thus occupied during six spring drives. In the fall he worked at threshing in North Dakota and in the winter was employed in the woods. These were his regular occupations until he reached the age of 27 years, and were suffi- ciently varied and active to suit a young man of adventurous spirit. In the fall of 1887, he with his brother, Ben.C., rode on horseback from Park River, N. D., to Grand Forks, that state, thence to Fargo, from there to St. Paul, and from the last mentioned place to Porcupine, Pepin county. Finally, having made up his mind to give up rambling and engage in farm- ing for himself, with a view to future independence, as a desirable pre- liminary he married, on July 27, 1893, Mina Brown, daughter of Green and Ann (Lyons) Brown, and a native of Waterville township. During the first two years of their married life they lived on a rented farm on Dead Lake Prairie, and at the end of that time moved to their present place. Here Mr. Myers built a comfortable log house, to which he subse- quently made additions, and which has been the family home for many years. He has recently, however, completed a new modern residence of seven rooms, with bath and furnace heat, arrangements having also been made for a modern lighting plant. He is operating his place profitably as a dairy and stock farm, raising pure-blooded Belgian horses and other good stock, and is also financially interested in the Waterville Creamery,

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the Telephone Company and the Woodman Hall Company at Arkansaw. His fraternal connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America and in politics he is a Republican. To him and his wife six children have been born: Blanche Fern, wife of James Sweeny, Jr .; Gale Finley, who is assist- ing his father on the home farm; Anna Marie and Laverne Edward, resid- ing at home; Lindon L., who died at the age of 17 months and four days, and Elwood Roscoe, who lives at home.

Green Brown, a former well known resident of Waterville township, was born in England, and in early life was a sea-faring man, sailing on the Atlantic Ocean for 21 years. He continued his adventurous career by enlisting as a soldier in the Civil War, and served during its entire period. After being honorably discharged from the army, he came to Mondovi, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and from there to Waterville township, Pepin county, locating on a homestead in section 6. There he remained engaged in farming until 1891, in which year he retired and moved to Arkansaw, where he died, in 1897. His wife survived him eleven years. They were the parents of six children, of whom their daughter, Mina, who was educa- ted in the Knight District School, No. 7, is now the wife of Geo. W. Myers.

Vinz Komro, a well known land owner and agriculturist, whose fine farm of 200 acres is located in section 18, Lima township, Pepin county, was born in Austria, Jan. 2, 1863. His parents, Joseph Komro and Johanna Shabel, were also natives of Austria, the father being a farmer. Coming to the United States in 1872, they located on a farm in Lima township, this county, where Mrs. Johanna Komro died in 1911, her husband sur- viving her until 1913. Vinz, who was the fourth born of their five chil- dren, attended school in Lima township for a while, but soon began working out. Residing at home until 21 years old, he then married and engaged in farming in this township. He did not, however, remain at his first loca- tion, but later bought a farm near Lima church, which he operated for ten years. At the end of that time he sold it and bought his present place, containing at the present time 200 acres of good tillable land, where he is carrying on general farming with profitable results. He also owns 39 acres of timberland and 20 acres of meadow, seven miles from his farm. Independent in politics, he has never aspired to public office. In religion he is a Catholic, attending church at Lima. Mr. Komro was married April 28, 1884, to Katherine Lachner, a native of Austria. Her parents dying when she was a young child, she came to America with relatives, locating in Lima township, this county, where she has resided both before and since her marriage. Her education was obtained in Austria. Mr. and Mrs. Komro are the parents of five children: John, a farmer of Albany town- ship, who married Dora A. Bauer, and has seven children; Frank, who is now serving in the army; Racy, who married Frank Hayden, a farmer of Lima township, and has had four children, three of whom are now living; Alex, a farmer in section 5, Lima township, who married Anna Pheifer, and has two children, and Charles, who lives at home and is assisting his father. The Komro family is a prominent one in Lima township and its members are respected for their persevering industry and successful careers.

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Theodore Buehler, Jr., postmaster and publisher, Alma, was born in Alma, Sept. 26, 1884, son of Theodore and Julia (Kneer) Buehler. He received his education in the public schools of Alma, and graduated from the Alma high school in 1902. After graduation he was employed at various times in railroad and agricultural work, and was at one time a clerk for the Mississippi River Logging Co., at West Newton, Minn., but for the most part up to 1906 his employment was as a clerk in his father's law office. From 1906 to 1913 he had charge of the office of the clerk of court as deputy, and for a short time filled the position of county clerk, appointed by the board to fill a vacancy. During the same period, 1906 to 1913, he helped to compile a set of abstract books for the Buffalo County Abstract Company. July 1, 1913, he became editor and publisher of the Buffalo County Journal, in partnership with Frank F. Stroebel, under the firm name of Stroebel & Buehler, having purchased the printing office and newspaper from Edwin F. Ganz. On Aug. 2, 1913, he took charge of the postoffice as postmaster, succeeding Edwin F. Ganz, resigned. January 24, 1918, he was reappointed for a term of four years. A few days pre- vious, on Jan. 1, 1918, on account of President Woodrow Wilson's order, placing the Third Class postmasters under Civil Service rules, as well as on account of the increase in the postoffice business, he placed his brother, Edmund, in charge of the editorial work of the Journal, and now devotes his time almost exclusively to his official duties, finding a little time each week, however, for editorial and other newspaper work. Taking an active interest in the progress of the city, he has been for a number of years president of the Alma Entertainment Association, and is a member of the executive committee of the Alma Civic Club. He has been prominent in war work, and on Jan. 28, 1918, was appointed secretary of the Buffalo County Council of Defense, in which position he is still serving. He is also a member of the executive committee, of the War Savings Committee for Buffalo County. In politics, Mr. Buehler is a life-long Democrat.

Frank F. Stroebel, printer and publisher of Alma, was born in Alma, July 13, 1877, son of Leonhard and Katherine (Herman) Stroebel, who came to America in 1869, and after stopping a short time at Jefferson, Wis., came the same year to Alma, where Leonhard Stroebel conducted a shoe business for some twenty-five years, afterward moving to Barron, Wis., where he continued in the same business some ten years until his death, his wife still making her home there. Frank F. Stroebel attended the pub- lic schools of Alma, and at the age of fifteen entered the office of the Buffalo County Journal as an apprentice. He was employed by Edwin F. Ganz for about twenty-two years, after which he bought out the business in partnership with Theodore Buehler, Jr., under the firm name of Stroebel & Buehler, on July 1, 1913.

Miles Durand Prindle, the founder of Durand, and for 47 years one of the prominent business men of the Chippewa Valley, was born in Derby, Conn. In 1855 he came west and after a sojourn in Iowa and Illinois, moved to Wisconsin. On June 27, 1856, he came to Durand, purchased land, platted the town, and on July 4 named it Durand. Mr. Prindle engaged in various lines of business, and, in fact, was identified with nearly every

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enterprising movement in the early history of the town, including the platting of several additions. For a number of years he was in business partnership with his brother-in-law, Rollin Smith. He had a general store, and purchased grain from the farmers, and at one time owned considerable property. In the sixties he had a steamboat built which plied in the river traffic for a number of years between Eau Claire and La Crosse. It was named the Idell Prindle, after his only child, who died of pneumonia on her fifth birthday. He owned several stage lines, branching out in every direc- tion from Durand, and including a freight stage to La Crosse and Sparta, which was operated in the winter until the coming of the railroad. In 1882, just after the big fire in Durand, he and Mrs. Prindle opened to the public Prindle's Inn, a hostelry known far and wide, and over whose des- tinies Mrs. Prindle still presides. It was in this hotel in 1882 that the builders of the branch railroad leading up the Chippewa valley sold it to the Milwaukee road, in which system it has been incorporated ever since. The president of the Milwaukee presented Mr. and Mrs. Prindle with free passes to Milwaukee and return. It was Mr. Prindle who graded the first mile of roadbed constructed in Pepin county. He filled several village and city offices, and was a supervisor at the time of his death, which occurred May 25, 1903, when he was in his sixty-ninth year. He was then the oldest Mason in Durand, a member of both the Blue Lodge and Chapter, and of the Commandery at Eau Claire.

Gustaf Peterson, proprietor of the old Peterson homestead in section 28, Frankfort township, Pepin county, was born in this township, Jan. 24, 1892, son of Charles and Sophia Anderson. The father, born in Sweden, in 1845, on coming to the United States in 1867, settled on this farm. which he cleared and improved. His original tract consisted of 80 acres. After residing on the place for many years he died in 1916. His wife, who was born in Sweden, in 1848, is now living with her sons on the farm. Gustaf Peterson attended school at Little Plum, Pepin county. From early youth he was associated with his father in the work of the farm and at the latter's death purchased the property and began operating it on his own account. The war with Germany caused an interruption in his work, as in 1918 he entered the service of the United States, being one of the infantry who were stationed at Camp Hancock, Georgia. On November 15 he was honorably discharged and returned home. He owns 80 acres of land, and his brothers, Phillip, John and Hugo, reside with him, but are operating adjoining farms. Another brother, Gene, is living at Dakota, Minn. All are older than himself, he being the youngest member of his parents' family. In politics he is independent and he is a member of the Methodist church in Frankfort township.

Shirley B. Tarrant was born in Durand, March 1, 1874, and grew up to manhood here. He was educated in the home school and at the State University. After graduation he entered his father's store and later he became one of the part owners of the business, now the George Tarrant & Sons Co., of which the subject is secretary and general manager. The summer of 1918 found him ready and willing to serve his country in one of its most useful branches of work. He entered the civil service as a

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) PEPIN COUNTIES

ory of the town, including the per of years he was in busines Smith. He had a general ster, at one time owned consideratle it built which plied in the river Claire and La Crosse. It m: who died of pneumonia on ber , branching out in every dire· tage to La Crosse and Sparta : coming of the railroad. L: nd Mrs. Prindle opened to the id wide, and over whose des this hotel in 1882 that De le Chippewa valley sold it to Deen incorporated ever since. . and Mrs. Prindle with fre [r. Prindle who graded the ty. He filled several vilage : time of his death, whit sixty-ninth year. He mi f both the Blue Lodge and

erson homestead in sectic i in this township, Jan. 24 le father, born in Sweden. 367, settled on this farr 'act consisted of 80 acres ed in 1916. His wife, wb: h her sons on the fans n, Pepin county. Frez the work of the farm and Jegan operating it on bis interruption in his work. States, being one of the Georgia. On November me. He owns 80 acres ), reside with him, bst ene, is living at Dakota oungest member of his he is a member of the

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History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 33

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

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