History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 35

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 35
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 35

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Arthur J. Maher, who is actively participating in the industrial life of the busy little city of Durand as proprietor of a woodworking shop, was born in Eau Galle township, Dunn county, Wisconsin, June 20, 1885. His parents were Edward and Clara (Delong) Maher, the father born in Galena,

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Ill., in 1859, and the mother in Eau Galle township, Dunn county, Wisconsin, in 1863. The former has always been a farmer and is still engaged in that avocation in Waterville township, Pepin county. Mrs. Clara Maher died in 1902. Of their nine children, Arthur J. was the second in order of birth. His education was acquired in the district school in Eau Galle township. Dunn county. At the age of 20 years he began working out and was three years in the logging camps of northern Wisconsin. He then took up the car- penter's trade and later went into a woodworking factory at Ellsworth, St. Croix county, where he remained for five years. After that he worked for the Oscillating Sleigh Company at Menominee, Wis. Coming to Durand. Pepin county, in 1911, he entered the employ of Bowman & McMahon and continued with them until he opened his present shop in May, 1916. This he is operating on a profitable basis and is also engaged in contracting and house building. He is a member of the Catholic church in Durand and is independent in politics. Mr. Maher was united in marriage with Minnie Meixner, daughter of Frank and Theresa Meixner. Her parents were born in Germany, the father in 1839 and the mother in 1843. They came to this country while children and with their parents settled on farms in Water- ville township, this county. Mrs. Maher was graduated from the Arkansaw graded school. She and her husband are the parents of two children-Cleo and Carol.

John H. Auth, a prosperous general farmer and stock breeder, operat- ing a good farm of 200 acres in section 16, Waterville township, was born on the farm where he now resides, Jan. 31, 1886, son of Garrett and Augusta (Haag) Auth. He acquired his education in the district schools of this town- ship, and has always resided on the parental homestead, the management of which he took over on coming of age. Here, besides raising the usual crops, he is successfully engaged in breeding Holstein cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, with other good stock, and is also financially interested in the cream- ery and telephone companies. His farm is admirably managed and yields good returns, and Mr. Auth is numbered among the well-to-do and promi- nent men of his township. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church at Arkansaw, and in politics is independent. Mr. Auth was married, June 8, 1915, to Mary Drier, who was born in Waterville township, daughter of George and Rose (Pomasl) Drier. Her father, who was born in this town- ship, Dec. 28, 1867, is a farmer still in active life here. His wife, Mrs. Auth's mother, was born in Austria, Sept. 2, 1864, and is now living in Waterville township. Mrs. Auth was educated in Waterville township, at- tending district school. She and her husband are the parents of two children-Edith Mary and Evalyn Esther.

Garrett Auth, who founded the Auth farm in section 16, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 6, 1842. In early manhood he worked in lumber mills, being an expert sawyer. He was also a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting as a private in Company D, 10th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and seeing active service from 1861 to 1864, or until the end of his term, when he was honorably discharged and returned home, without having been either wounded or captured. Immediately after- wards he came to Pepin county, Wisconsin, entering the employ of Knapp,

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EMIL ROETTER AND FAMILY

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Stout & Co., at Waubeek, and remaining with them until their mill was burned. His employment being thus terminated for the time being, he resolved to take up farming, and accordingly bought the land in section 16, Waterville township, on which his son, John H. Auth, now lives. This was a wild tract, necessitating pioneer work to clear and develop, and his first task was to build a small log house. He then pursued the even tenor of his way, clearing the land and extending his acreage of cultivation until his death, on Feb. 27, 1889, as the result of injuries received from a falling tree. His death was much regretted, as he was a well-liked citizen and for a num- ber of years had been one of the leading men of his township, serving as chairman of the township board and also as treasurer. He had accumulated land to the amount of 240 acres. Garrett Auth married Augusta Haag, who was born in Prussia, Germany, July 22, 1848, and who is now residing with her son, John H. Auth, on the old homestead. Their children, six in number, were as follows: Margaret Josephine is the wife of James Liddy, a farmer of Waterville township. Joseph P. is operating a farm adjoining the old homestead. Mary is now a widow, residing in Valley City, N. D. Her husband, Louis Bardwell, was president of the Bank of Litchville. Edward, residing at Mohall, N. D., is engaged in the elevator business. John H., as previously stated, is now proprietor of the home farm. Evalyn is the wife of Nicholas Herman, a newspaper publisher and editor of Marion, N. D.

Emil Roetter, who is engaged in general farming in section 29, Albany township, Pepin county, having 280 acres of land, is one of the most suc- cessful and thriving agriculturists of this township. He was born near Arfard, Germany, Sept. 1, 1863, son of Ernest and Louise Roetter. The family came to the United States in 1864, settling first near Red Wing, Minn., where they remained one year, subsequently removing to Albany township. Here he settled on a tract of wild land, which had a small log cabin on it, and went to work to clear a farm. Later he took an adjoining homestead and continued farming there until his death, about 1883, during the earlier years using an ox team. His wife passed away some five years before him. They had eight children, of whom Emil was the fourth in order of birth. Emil Roetter had very limited opportunities for obtaining an education, attending school but a short time. He was a lad of 18 when he began working in the sawmill. at old Meriden, and was thus employed for three summers. He then spent a summer in Washington and afterwards settled on his present farm, starting with 80 acres of land, which he cleared and improved. While doing this he worked at intervals for others. In time by additional purchases he brought his farm up to its present dimensions of 280 acres. He is breeding up in Durham cattle, and is also a stockholder in the Mondovi Creamery and elevator, and in the La Crosse Packing Company. In the fall of 1917 he bought a farm of 200 acres in Albany township, known as the William Dreyssee farm. He also owns 400 acres of land in Hale county, Texas, which, however, he is not operating. Mr. Roetter has a creditable industrial career, as he has attained his present prosperity solely through hard work and perseverance, having nothing when he started. He is a member of the Lutheran church and a Republican in

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politics. Mr. Roetter was married, July 24, 1890, to Maggie Breiter, who was born near Heidelberg, Germany, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Axel) Breiter, both natives of the same locality. Coming to America about 1868, they settled in this township on a farm. Here they resided many years, Mr. Breiter dying about 1910 and his wife about six months later. They had a family of twelve children, of whom Maggie was the fourth born. She was educated in Albany township, attending district school here. Mr. and Mrs. Roetter have had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The six living are: Heinrich, Mary, Ernest, Emelia, Ottilie and Hilga.

Louis Branshaw, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in section 25, Waterville township, Pepin county, where he has an excellent farm of 90 acres, is one of this township's progressive and prosperous citizens and belongs to the type of "self-made men." He was born at Center Chute, near Wolf river, Montreal, Canada, March 26, 1866, son of Louis and Demichiel (Gane) Branshaw, his parents being natives of the same lo- cality. The father, a farmer by occupation, came to this part of Wisconsin about 1880. After working four years for Carson & Rand he returned to Canada, where he remained three years. Then coming back to Pepin county,

he resided here for three years and then went to Detroit, where he had a son, with whom he lived for a number of years. At the end of that time he returned again to Pepin county and for nine or ten years subsequently resided with his son Louis. The rest of his life was spent with a son in Walla Walla, Wash., where he died about 1906. His wife died in Canada. Of their large family, numbering twelve children, Louis, Jr., was the second in order of birth. Louis Branshaw, Jr., attended school for a short time in Canada, but became industrially active at a very early age, going to work for a farmer there when only nine years old, and receiving three dollars a month for his services, in addition to his board. He continued working for others and at the age of 14 came to the States, finding employment as lum- berman and logger with Carson & Rand, of Eau Galle, with whom he remained fourteen years. He then bought a farm in Weston township, Dunn county, and operated it until 1903, when he sold it and came to his present farm. Here he has 90 acres of valuable land, on which he is car- rying on general farming, his investment and labor yielding good financial returns. His prosperity has been self-achieved and is the result of his early acquired habits of industry, in which he has persevered. Mr. Bran- shaw is a Democrat in politics and is at present serving as treasurer of his school district. He was married, in January, 1877, to Katherine Gordon, who was born in Canada, daughter of William John and Ellen (Davison) Gordon. Her parents were natives of County Down, Ireland, the father born Dec. 11, 1814, and the mother Oct. 29, 1824. Coming to America when children, they lived for a number of years in Canada, where they were married, and in 1867 settled in Eau Galle, Wis. Thence they later came to Waterville township, Pepin county, locating on a farm in section 2, where William J. Gordon died in 1908 and his wife in 1915. The former, while living at Eau Galle, worked for Carson & Rand, well-known lumber- men of those days. Mr. and Mrs. Branshaw have no children. They are popular among a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

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MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH PABST GEORGE HENRY PABST AND FAMILY

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George Henry Pabst, who owns and operates a fine 200-acre farm in section 28, Albany township, Pepin county, was born in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, Dec. 5, 1891, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Schreiner) Pabst. Both parents were natives of this part of Wisconsin, the father having been born in Buffalo county and the mother in Albany township, Pepin county, on her parents' homestead. Joseph Pabst was born June 28, 1860, and died in 1913. He served as chairman of the township board, besides holding school office for a number of years. His wife, who was a few years younger, is now living with her daughter, Inez Borgwardt, in Buffalo county. George Henry Pabst was one of the older children in a family of five. He attended school in Albany township, and resided with his parents, helping his father, until he married. He then settled on his present farm of 200 acres, which he is operating with good financial results, doing gen- eral farming. He is a member of the Lutheran church and in politics is independent. On April 29, 1914, he was married to Floy Black, daughter of Nathan and Hattie (Kruger) Black, natives of this locality, where for a number of years the father was engaged in farming, but is now residing at Harshaw, Wis., being still active industrially. His wife died in Buffalo county about 1904. Their daughter, Floy, was educated in the schools of that county and at Stanley, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Pabst are the parents of three children: Wilbur Harold, Virginia Dare and George H., Jr.

William B. Coburn, a successful general farmer of Waterville town- ship, Pepin county, was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, Aug. 30, 1859, son of Adam Wellington and Abigail (Murray) Coburn. The father, who was born in Scotland in 1815, in his youth learned the trade of watch and clock maker. He worked at that trade but little, however, spending nearly all his life as a farmer. His wife, Abigail, was born at Plattsburg, N. Y., in 1831. They were married and in 1865 came to Pepin county, Wis- consin, arriving in Durand May 11. Settling on a tract of land in Little Arkansaw Valley, Adam W. Coburn began farming, in which occupation he continued until his death in 1880. His wife survived him more than twenty years, dying at the home of her son, William B., in the fall of 1900. They were well known and well liked people, and had some prominence in the township, Mr. Coburn serving at times on the school board and in other minor offices, though never ambitious of public distinction. William B. Coburn, who was the seventh son in a family of eight children, in his boy- hood attended district school in Waterville township, and was reared amid pioneer surroundings. He made acquaintance with hard work at an early age, and though it was not always pleasant it did him no harm, but rather fitted him for the successful career he has since led as a practical farmer. His work in early manhood was not all farming, however, as, in common with most of the able-bodied male settlers, he spent some time in the lum- ber industry, which was then flourishing and which afforded the pioneer settlers the readiest and at times the only means of obtaining much- needed cash for living expenses before their newly broken farms became productive. In this work he spent much of his time for five years, being employed on the river in summer by Knapp, Stout & Co., and in the woods in winter by the Valley Lumber Company. Mr. Coburn then went to South

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Dakota, where he took a homestead and resided for three or four years. This homestead he afterwards traded in on a deal for 80 acres in Water- ville township, this county. On the latter place he resided for a number of years, engaged in its improvement. Of this wild land by 1911 he had cleared 70 acres. He then removed to the village of Arkansaw, where he resided three years, at the end of that time buying his present farm in section 7, Waterville township. It consists of 160 acres of valuable land, and was in reality bought by him for his son, who assists him in operating it. They carry on general farming, having a good equipment of buildings and machinery, and are realizing good financial returns. Mr. Coburn is also a stockholder in the Modern Woodmen's Hall at Arkansaw, and is a member of the fraternal society to which it belongs. As one of the enter- prising and substantial citizens of his township, he has been called upon to take part in public affairs, and has served five terms on the town board and three years as school clerk. Mr. Coburn's domestic establishment be- gan in 1888, when on February 13 he was united in marriage to Esther B. Mehan. She was born near Cedar Falls, Wis., being the eldest of the five children of William and Mary Ann (Parker) Mehan. Her father and mother were natives respectively of Canada and Illinois. Coming to Pepin county when a young man, William Mehan worked out for a while and then settled on a farm in Big Arkansaw Valley, where he died. His widow subsequently married Thomas Duklaw, and is now living in Arkansaw, having survived her second husband also. Mrs. Esther B. Coburn died Nov. 23, 1901, after thirteen years or more of happy married life. She left three children: Lillian H., who is the wife of David Ogden, a car- penter and builder, residing in Arkansaw; Clinton Edward, living on the home farm, and Jessie Isabelle, who attended the normal school at Menom- inie, and is now teaching in Dunn county, Wisconsin.

Henry Hoffman, who is prosperously engaged in agriculture on a farm of 140 acres in section 18, Waterville township, was born in Berlin town- ship, Rensselaer county, New York, Aug. 15, 1850. His parents, Peter and Magdalene (Miller) Hoffman, were natives of Bavaria, Germany. The father coming to this country when 26 years of age, located in Rensselaer county, New York. For some time he followed the occupation of charcoal burner, but later bought land and engaged in farming in that county, where he spent the rest of his life, dying Aug. 5, 1898. His wife had passed away some ten years previously. Henry Hoffman was one of the elder children in a family of seven. He attended district school in New York State, and also went one winter to a private school. Until his mar- riage at the age of 21, he resided with his parents, working on the home farm, and also at a later period for others, until October, 1875, when he came west, and settled on his present farm in Waterville township, Pepin county, Wisconsin. It was then unimproved, and his first task was to build a log shanty, 10 by 18 feet in size, which was furnished with a flat roof. As soon as this was accomplished he set to work to develop his 80 acres of land, the clearing and breaking of which he effected with the aid of oxen. From the first he was able to make a living from his land, and he has since added to his farm until it now contains 140 acres of

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HENRY HOFFMAN AND FAMILY

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valuable land. The improvements are up to date and are adequate to all the purposes of general farming. Mr. Hoffman is also a stockholder in the Waterville creamery. In politics he is a socialist. He served one year as chairman of the town board, was assessor for two years, and a member of the side board for two terms. Mr. Hoffman was first married in Decem- ber, 1871, to Katherine Kline, who was born in Sand Lake township, Rensselaer county, New York, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kline. Her parents, who were natives of Germany, arrived in New York State before the Hoffmans. Like Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Kline was in early life a charcoal burner and later a farmer. He and his wife, however, never came west, and both are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman five children were born: Louise, Anna, Charlotte, Marshall and George. Louise is the wife of Richard Buchanan, a farmer of Arkansaw, this county, and has five children : Earl, Floyd, Katherine, Henry and Bessie. Anna, who is the wife of Rollin Doughty, a farmer of Waterville township, has had eight chil- dren: Wilford, Herbert, Lottie, Belle, Katie, Fern, Melvina and Ruth, of whom Katie is now deceased. Charlotte, better known as "Lottie," is the wife of Emery La Pean, a farmer of Frankfort township, and has had five children, two of whom died in infancy. The survivors are Lena, Roy and George. Marshall, who is a farmer in Union township, Pierce county, Wisconsin, married Lizzie Dohr and has three children: Miles, Gladys and Verona. George, who is single, is residing on the farm with his father. Mrs. Katherine Kline Hoffman died Oct. 16, 1886. On April 26, 1887, Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage with his present wife, whose maiden name was Adelia Shimcusky. She was born in Waterville township, this county, Sept. 10, 1867, daughter of Joseph and Mary Shimcusky. Her parents, both of whom are now deceased, were farmers. Of Mr. Hoffman's second marriage four children have been born: Raymond, Avalyn, Ellis and Dale. Raymond, who was a railroad agent at Strum, Wis., married Vivian Brown. He died Nov. 9, 1918, leaving his wife and one child, Katherine. Avalyn is the wife of Clinton Israelson, now in the United States service, and has one child, Ione. Ellis and Dale are residing on the home farm with their parents. Mr. Hoffman is a charter member of the Odd Fellows' lodge, at Arkansaw, also belonging to the Rebeckahs and to the Durand Encamp- ment of the I. O. O. F.

Archie A. Dunbar, who is engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing in section 21, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born in this town- ship, April 23, 1870, son of Albert and Harriet (Mosher) Dunbar. Albert Dunbar was born in the state of New York and was always a farmer by occupation. Early in the Civil War he enlisted in a Wisconsin cavalry regiment and served three years and three months, until its close. Then returning home he resumed farming in this township and continued it practically until the time of his death at the age of 76 years in August, 1911. He was a man of conservative character and a first class farmer. His wife, who survived him, is now residing at Arkansaw. They had six children: Alfretta, who died in childhood; Carrie, who was educated in this county, taught school for a number of years, and is now drawing a teacher's pension, and who resides with her mother; Archie A., direct

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subject of this sketch; Bert, a resident of Waterville township; Hattie, wife of E. F. Wondersee, a contractor and builder, residing in Minneapolis, and Clyde, who is postmaster at Arkansaw. Archie A. Dunbar, in his boyhood, attended district school on Dead Lake Prairie, Waterville town- ship. He resided at home until reaching the age of 22 years, and was then married, June 24, 1892, to Rosabel Tawya, daughter of Joseph and Rosabel (Demo) Tawya, well known and respected people of Waterville township, Pepin county. He then bought his present farm of 92 acres, which he has since operated, paying particular attention to the raising of stock, including Guernsey cattle, Shropshire sheep, Poland-China hogs and Percheron horses, in all of which he is breeding up so as to raise the grade. In this line of work he is meeting with good financial returns and is num- bered among the prosperous farmers and stock raisers of his township. His political principles are those of the Republican party, but he reserves the right to cast an independent vote. The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar has been rounded out by the birth of four children: Ferol, wife of Omer G. Sandow, a high school teacher, of Grafton, Wis., who has two children, Hope Ruth and Douglas G .; Austin Humphrey, residing at home; Laurel Bernice and Winifred Rosabel, also at home. Mrs. Dunbar is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society of Arkansaw, and the family occupy a respected place in the community of which they are members.

Charles Nothom, who is engaged in operating a profitable stock farm of 80 acres in section 12, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born in the state of New York, Nov. 27, 1865, son of Peter and Kathrine (Leif- fring) Nothom. His father was a native of Belgium and his mother of Holland, their marriage taking place in New York State. Peter Nothom came to America about 1860 and resided for about five years in New York. Then coming to Wisconsin, he bought land in Canton township, Buffalo county, and improved it into a good farm, residing on it for about 26 years. Retiring at the end of that time he took up his residence in Durand, Pepin county, where he died in 1906. Before coming to this coun- try he had served in the regular army of Belgium. Charles Nothom, who was the fifth born in a family of nine children, attended school in Buffalo county and remained at home until 23 years old, after which for about three years he worked for others in the vicinity of Durand. He then bought a farm in Union township, Pierce county, which he operated for 16 years, and then sold, purchasing his present farm in Waterville town- ship, Pepin county. It consists of 80 acres of valuable land, which he operates as a general stock farm, breeding Holstein cattle and Percheron horses. He is also a stockholder in the Waterville Creamery and in the Arkansaw Telephone Company, and formerly for 30 years operated a threshing outfit. He has served as clerk of his school district for 12 years and in politics is a Democrat. He is a member of the Roman Cath- olic church at Arkansaw. Mr. Nothom was married in November, 1893, to Margaret Keller, who was born in Waterville township, this county, daugh- ter of Carl and Elizabeth (Sattler) Keller, both natives of Germany. Mr. Keller, who was a pioneer of this township, was in the employ of Carson & Rand for a number of years, engaged in lumbering and rafting. Later

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CHARLES NOTHOM AND FAMILY

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he became a land owner and farmer in Pepin county. He died in 1890. His wife is still living and resides with her son, Henry, in Waterville town- ship. Of their nine children Margaret was the eighth in order of birth, and in her girlhood attended school in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Nothom are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living. They are re- spectively : Kathrine, who is unmarried, and is a milliner by occupation; Ida, wife of Clarence Pomasl, who is employed in a lumber yard at Knapp, Wis .; Mary, who attended normal school at Menominee and is a teacher in Lima township, and Anna, Lucy, Henry, John and Paul, residing at home. Mr. Nothom is a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin. A successful farmer and good citizen, he takes rank among the prominent men of his township.

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History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 35

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

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