USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 40
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 40
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Sylvester A. Goodrich, who is engaged in operating the old Goodrich homestead in section 16, Waubeek township, Pepin county, was born in Jackson county, Iowa, April 26, 1856, son of Chauncey S. and Amy (Wil- liams) Goodrich, who brought him to his present farm in 1857. He was reared to farm pursuits, received his education in the district schools, and has spent his whole life thus far on the homestead of which he is now pro- prietor. He has added to the improvements made by his father, and has a good place of 130 well-tilled acres, fully equipped with buildings, imple- ments, machinery and stock, and successfully carries on general farming.
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FRANK PITTMAN AND FAMILY
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For many years a Republican, he has in recent years been more independent on political questions and has voted for men and measures which he has thought would be for the best interests of the most people, regardless of party. He has been a supervisor of his town, town clerk and for several years town treasurer, and has also served on the school board of his district, rendering efficient service in all these positions. The Baptist church num- bers him among its consistent and earnest members. Mr. Goodrich was married, Aug. 1, 1893, to Blanche McGee, born Aug. 1, 1872, second of the six children of John and Adeline (Beebe) McGee, natives of Young town- ship, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, who came to Wisconsin in 1856 and settled on a farm near Lakeport, in Pepin county, developed a pleasant home and reared their family, Mrs. McGee dying in April, 1915, and Mr. McGee now making his home with the Goodrich family. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich have two daughters, Helen and Ruth. Ruth is a proficient school teacher. Two children died in infancy, and a son, Chauncey, a bright, promising boy, died at the age of 16.
August Louis Schober, who as a general farmer is operating 80 acres of land in section 3, Waterville township, was born in Eau Galle township, Dunn county, Wisconsin, Aug. 28, 1890, son of Fred and Josephine (Wilson) Schober. His parents were natives of Austria, and after their marriage came to America in 1880, locating on a farm in Dunn county, this state, but coming about 1890 to Waterville township, where the mother died June 7, 1916, and the father July 28, 1917. Their children, nine in number, were: Rufus, who is engaged in agriculture, on Farm Hill, Dunn county ; Matt, who resides in Dunn county, just across the line from Pepin county ; John, who lives at Exile, Pierce county ; Fannie, unmarried and residing on the farm with her brother, August L .; Bertha, wife of Joseph J. Baier, a farmer of Dunn county ; and three who died in infancy. August L. Schober has always lived on the home farm established by his father, and which is a highly improved piece of agricultural property, provided with a fine modern resi- dence and good, substantial farm buildings, a tribute to the industry both of father and son. Mr. Schober operates the farm in a general way, rais- ing both crops and stock, and is also financially interested in the Arkansaw Creamery and Telephone Company. He devotes his entire time to the farm, having never had any political aspirations, and is one of the enterprising and prosperous citizens of his township. The Roman Catholic church at Eau Galle numbers him among its members.
Frank Pittman, proprietor of a good-sized farm of 360 acres in section 3, Waterville township, where he is giving special attention to dairying, was born in Bohemia, Feb. 26, 1859, son of Joseph and Hannah (Cease) Pittman. The parents were also Bohemians, the father being a native of the same place. He was a farmer by occupation, and was for three years a soldier in the army, serving in the war of 1848. He and his wife came to the United States in 1864, landing at Baltimore and coming directly from that place to Watertown, Wis. There Joseph Pittman bought land and farmed for two years. In 1866 he came to Durand, Pepin county, and bought land that now forms a part of the farm of his son, Frank, his tract consisting of 80 acres. This he worked on and operated until 1888, making
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many improvements, and then turned it over to his son, with whom he re- sided a few years subsequently. After that, being now retired, he took up his residence in Durand, where he subsequently died at the age of 72 years. His wife died some years later. They had a family of four children, Frank being the third in order of birth. Frank Pittman was educated in district schoolhouse No. 3, Waterville township. He worked with his father on the home farm until he was 24 years old and then went to South Dakota, where he took a homestead in Clark county, residing there two years. While there he worked in the pineries during the winter. Then coming back to Pepin county, he took charge of the home farm, which he has since operated. The entire farm of 360 acres lies in Waterville township. In the spring of 1917 Mr. Pittman deeded 120 acres of his farm to his son, Edward. He is doing a good dairy business, breeding Holstein cattle, registered, and at the pres- ent time is milking 21 cows, being a stockholder in the creamery. He also raises Poland-China hogs and registered Oxford sheep. His other financial interests include those as a shareholder in the Telephone Company, Wood- man Hall and the New Richmond Packing Company. In politics Mr. Pitt- man is independent. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church at Arkansaw. He has served as school director two years, but has not other- wise been active in local affairs. On Jan. 31, 1887, Mr. Pittman was united in marriage with Anna Lashinger, who was born in Bohemia, not far from the birthplace of her husband. Her parents were Frank and Theresa (Cease) Lashinger, natives of the same locality, who settled in Waterville township, where they died. She was one of six children and was educated in her native land. Mr. and Mrs. Pittman are the parents of eight children: Joseph, Thomas, Hannah, Edward, Jacob, Martha, Frank, Jr., and Laura. Joseph, who is a farmer in Eau Galle township, Dunn county, married Mary Pfeiffer, of Waterville township, Pepin county. Thomas, who was a manual training teacher residing in La Crosse, Wis., and is now in the United States service, married Lucile Spearse. Edward married Margaret Bates, of Waterville township. Martha is a teacher in the public schools of Pepin county. The others, as well as Edward, are residing on the home farm. Mr. Pittman belongs to the camp of Modern Woodmen of America. He has taken high rank among the farmers of his township for his industry, care- ful management of his farm and the successful results he has achieved.
Fred Francis Pittman, one of the leading citizens of Waterville town- ship, which he has served repeatedly in official position and where for a number of years he has been engaged in farming in section 3, was born in the canton of Chrudim, Bohemia, Nov. 11, 1851. The parents, Joseph F. and Johanna (Suss) Pittman, were natives of the same country and locality, the father born Aug. 21, 1822, the mother June 16, 1823. Coming to the United States in September, 1864, they located first in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where they remained about 18 months. The month of May, 1866, found them settled on the farm where their son, Fred F., now lives, and here Joseph F. Pittman lived and worked until about five years before his death, the last five years being spent in retirement at Durand, where he and his wife passed away. Of their four children the eldest was Fred Francis, the direct subject of this sketch.
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Fred F. Pittman attended school in Rudelsdorf, Bohemia, and also one term in district No. 3, Waterville township. He began working for others at the age of about 13 years and was employed for 11 winters in the pineries and on log drives and lumber rafts, acting most of the time as cook. In the harvest season he also worked on farms, and these were his customary em- ployments until he reached the age of 30 years, at which time he married and settled on his present farm. Starting with 120 acres, he improved the land and later bought 40 acres more, which latter tract, however, he has since deeded to one of his sons. He now owns a farm, therefore, equal in size to his original tract-a farm that is well improved and which he is operating in a general way, raising chiefly barley, wheat and oats, and breeding Durham and Jersey cattle, with good financial results. He is a stockholder in the Eau Galle Creamery Company and was secretary for four years of the Arkansaw Telephone Company, which he helped to organ- ize. At various times Mr. Pittman has taken an active part in the affairs of local government. He was chairman of the township board for six years, finally resigning from that board, was chairman of the county board one term and assessor for two years. He also served one term on the school board and for 25 years held the position of statistical agent. For a number of years Mr. Pittman has been closely interested in important public im- provements in Pepin county. He was chain bearer with the party of sur- veyors who surveyed Shell Lake, and helped to cut the road from Glidden to White Bear Lake. While serving as chairman of the county board he assisted in building more than 20 concrete bridges, besides putting through other useful work, with all of which his name is honorably associated. In politics he is independent. In religion a Catholic, he attends the church of that faith at Arkansaw. On April 13, 1881, Mr. Pittman was married to Anna Bauer, who was born in Austria, daughter of John and Theresa (Statelman) Bauer. Her parents came to America with their family about 1872, locating in Waterville township, this county, on a farm, which they made their permanent home. The mother was the first to die, passing away in 1909, Mr. Bauer's death occurring in 1914. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pittman has been blessed by the birth of seven children: John F., Ida B., Anna T., Margaret, Mary, William H. and Charles A. John F., who is a farmer in Waterville township, married Anna Hofaker, of this township, and they have a family of three children, Raymond, Martin and John. Ida B. is the wife of Louis Stellar, of Waterville township, and has two children, Ralph and Ronald. Anna T., now Mrs. Peter Riley, residing in Lima town- ship, has two children, Ethel and Thomas. Margaret, who married Reuben Grumprey, resides at Rock Elm, Pierce county, and has two children, Harold and Walter. Mary, wife of Harold Smith, a carpenter, is at present living with her parents. She has one child, Paul. William H. and Charles A. are unmarried and living at home.
Clinton B. Taylor, proprietor of a good 60-acre farm in section 14, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born in this township, Sept. 10, 1879, son of Peter J. and Rosella (Martin) Taylor. Both parents were born in Vermont, the father Dec. 15, 1847, and the mother Aug. 6, 1850, the former at North Hero, Grand Isle county, situated in Lake Champlain.
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Peter J. Taylor came to Pepin county, Wisconsin, with his parents, they being among the first settlers. He was a year too young to enter the army at the outbreak of the Civil War, and grew to maturity in Waterville town- ship, finally buying land and engaging in farming. After operating his farm until 1913 he turned it over to his son, Clinton, and subsequently re- sided here retired from active work until his death, Jan. 20, 1917. He was clerk of the school district for 21 years and served a number of times on the township board. His wife passed away Feb. 26, 1917. Clinton B. Taylor, who was the fourth born in a family of six children, attended school in his home district and at Arkansaw, this county. Residing with his parents until reaching the age of 21 years, he then worked out for others, and on several occasions spent the harvest and threshing season far away from home, on one occasion in North Dakota and on another in Lethbridge, Canada. In the spring of 1913 he settled on the parental homestead, where he has 60 acres of valuable land, and is carrying on general farming suc- cessfully and with profitable results. He is also a stockholder in the Tele- phone Company. His fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellow Lodge at Arkansaw, of which he is the present chaplain, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is the present clerk of the school board, having succeeded his father in that office.
Stephen P. Thalen, who is engaged in operating a good stock farm of 80 acres in section 11, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born on the farm where he now lives, Sept. 16, 1869, son of Peter and Sarah (Cooper) Thalen. The father, a native of Germany, came to America when a young man, locating first in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and from there going to Eau Galle, Dunn county, where he bought land and resided for a number of years. About 1868 he settled on the farm now owned by his son, Stephen, and daughter, Aves E., in Waterville township, Pepin county, and here he spent the latter part of his life, lying in 1889. His wife survived him a number of years, passing away in 1901. Peter Thalen was a man of activ- ity and influence in his township, especially in regard to school affairs. He assisted in organizing the school district, got the timber for the school- house, and served as school treasurer for a number of years. A part of his time was devoted to well digging and in early days mining. Stephen P. Thalen was the eldest of his parents' two children, the other being his sis- ter, Aves Elizabeth. She married Mathew H. Gibson, of New York State, who died, and she now resides with her brother. Stephen P. Thalen resided on the home farm, of which he assumed the management when 19 years of age. Here he has always resided and, as already stated, is now operating it as a general stock farm, in which line of business he has had good success. His place is well equipped with modern buildings and all other necessary conveniences, and is managed with satisfactory financial results. Mr. Thalen is also a stockholder in the Telephone Company. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Arkansaw and of the Modern Wood- men Accident Insurance Company. He has never married, but some of his sister's children reside with him on the farm. Her eldest son, Edward Gib- son, was a teacher in Detroit, Mich., but is now a lieutenant in the U. S. infantry at Little Rock, Ark. Another, John, who is a carpenter by trade,
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MRS. PETER THALEN-S. P. THALEN-MRS. AVES ELIZABETH GIBSON
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is now a cook in the United States service at Camp Grant. The others are: Irwin, who is in the rural mail service on route 1, connected with the Arkansaw, Wis., postoffice; Wilbur, a pupil in the high school at Arkansaw, and Galen.
Frank Meixner, Jr., a well-known and successful farmer in Section 11, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born in Austria, Dec. 12, 1874, son of Frank, Sr., and Hannah (Andel) Meixner. The parents, natives of Austria, came to America in 1881, settling in Pepin county, Wisconisn, on the present farm of their son, Frank, which was partially improved. To the standing improvements the father added, cultivating and developing the land. and residing here until about 1905, when he moved to another farm in the neighborhood. He is now retired and resides with his son, Henry. His wife died in 1892. Frank Meixner, Jr., was the seventh born in a family of eight children. He was educated in the Liddy school at Waterville town- ship, and when old enough assisted his father, for whom he subsequently operated the farm. At the time of his marriage he became its owner and has since operated it on his own account. It contains 80 acres and is well equipped with modern buildings, and Mr. Meixner is carrying on general farming with good financial returns. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church at Arkansaw and is independent in his political views. In addition to his immediate farming interests he is financially interested in the Water- ville Creamery and the Telephone Company. Mr. Meixner was married in February, 1904, to Miss Mary Behnke, who was born at Exile, Dunn county, Wis., daughter of Gottfried and Wilhelmina Behnke. Her parents, natives of Germany, were early settlers in Dodge county, Wisconsin, later removing to Dunn county, where Mr. Behnke became a farmer and land owner and a highly respected citizen. Both he and his wife died in that county, his death taking place in 1905 and hers in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Meixner have a family of four children: Mildred Frances, Willard Henry, Donald and Howard Benjamin.
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Joseph Bauer, proprietor of a general and stock farm of 160 acres in section 4, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born in Austria, Nov. 11, 1862, son of John and Theresa (Statelman) Bauer. The parents, also natives of Austria, came to the United States about 1870, and proceeding at once to the Northwest, made their first American home in Durand, this county. The father worked for awhile among relations in Lima township, and later for Carson & Rand at Eau Galle. Finally settling on a tract of rail- road land in Waterville township, he engaged in farming and he and his wife resided on their farm here until they died, the former in 1914 and the latter in 1909. Joseph Bauer's schooling was acquired solely in Austria, though he was only eight or nine years old when he came to this country. As the son of a pioneer farmer he had to make himself useful at an early age and his work was not always easy or pleasant. But it was good training for his future career and taught him habits of industry and perseverance. . "Early to bed and early to rise" was the motto on the farm, and few moments of daylight were wasted. Besides assisting his father, young Joseph worked at intervals for others, all the while learning more about his future vocation. Like most other sturdy youth in those days, he also had experience in lum-
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bering, working in the pineries for 14 winters and at times on the river, and in these diversified occupations he continued until his marriage. That event took place in September, 1889, his bride being Miss Anna Rumhadder. She, like himself, was a native of Austria, as were also her parents, Michael and Frances Rumhadder, who had come to this country about three years before the Bauers, locating near Mondovi, Buffalo county, Wis., where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm. Their daughter, Anna, was the eldest of their five children and attended school both in Buffalo and Pepin counties. It was at the time of his marriage that Mr. Bauer settled on his present farm, though it was then covered with timber. This, however, was . a problem that he knew how to handle and it did not take him long to make a clearing, on which a small log house-his first humble dwelling, which is still standing-soon made its appearance. Other pioneer work followed in the clearing, breaking and cultivating of the land, and the erection of barns and other necessary buildings. The timber that he cut on his land he used to haul with an ox team to Durand, where he traded it for produce, and in this way he continued until he had cleared his present acreage. In 1913 the present modern house was erected and occupied, and the old log farm buildings in general have also given place to larger and more substantial structures. Here Mr. Bauer is carrying on general farming and stock raising, breeding up in Durham cattle, and his operations are yielding good financial returns. He is also a stockholder in the Creamery Company and the Telephone Company. In politics he is independent, but his public service has been confined to the school board. A Catholic in religion, he attends the church of that faith at Eau Galle. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Bauer has been broadened and perfected by the birth of seven children: Herman, un- married and now in military service; Albert, Mamie and Richard, residing at home; Louise, who was educated here and at Menomonie and is now a teacher in the Pierce county schools; and Clara and Ida, living at home. None of the children are as yet married.
Joseph Proue, who is now living retired on a farm in section 21, Water- ville township, Pepin county, is a man who has had a long and active career as farmer and lumberman. His birth took place in Quebec, Canada, in 1846, and at the age of 14 he went to New York State, where he remained about six years. He then came to Wisconsin, locating at Chippewa Falls, and as lumbering was then the most thriving industry in this section, and he was a. strong and able-bodied youth, he easily found employment and followed that avocation, working at various places between Chippewa Falls and La Crosse, until his marriage in 1880. At intervals also, between the logging seasons, he conducted a broom factory at La Crosse, having previously learned that trade. At the time he married he was in the employ of the Knapp-Stout Company, for whom he worked two years as foreman. He then took up his residence at Arkansaw, Pepin county, but continued in the lumber business for seven years subseqently, at the end of which period he came to the farm in section 21, Waterville township, where he now lives and which is now operated by his son, Earl W. The place was then unim- proved and a heavy task faced him in developing it into a good farm. After his many years of lumbering, however, hard work was a thing to which
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he was accustomed and had no terrors for him, so he pitched in stoutly and in time the results of his efforts were apparent in smiling fields of grain and modest but substantial buildings. After a career of agricultural activ- ity, lasting many years, he gave up work, but still resides on his farm, where he is enjoying the fruits of his former industry. He has always taken an earnest interest in educational matters and all other enterprises of public utility, and has been from the first one of the progressive men of his township. In 1880 Joseph Proue was married to Clara Anna Diehm, who was born at Plainview, Minn., in 1859. They have been the parents of three children: Clyde A., who is now engaged in ranching at Bruce, Mont .; Earl W., who is farming the old homestead, and Paul J., born Aug. 10, 1895, who assisted Earl in carrying on the home farm. Paul enlisted in the service of the United States as a mechanic in March, 1918, and was stationed on Long Island, New York. He is now in the Aviation Signal Corps.
Earl W. Proue, who is operating the old Proue homestead in section 21, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born at Millville, Minn., Dec. 15, 1883, son of Joseph and Clara Anna Diehm Proue. He was brought up on the home farm and attended the school of his district. After graduating there he went to Huron, S. D., where he pursued further studies, residing with a maternal aunt. From the time he was 16 years of age until the year 1914 he has spent every winter in the northern woods, engaged in logging, and he has also made three different trips to Canada, visiting Alberta and Saskatchewan, but has always returned to the home place, which he regards as the most desirable location he has yet seen. Up to the present time he has been engaged in general farming, but has just recently engaged in the stock business and is breeding up in Shornhorn Durham cattle, besides raising a good. grade of hogs. He is also a stockholder in the Waterville Creamery and the Farmers' Telephone Company. Mr. Proue has thor- oughly modernized his farm, having a first-class equipment for general stock raising, and in view of present national conditions he can scarcely fail to attain a high degree of prosperity. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge at Arkansaw, being its present noble grand, and is serving as di- rector of his school district. In politics he is a Republican.
Peter Heit, a retired farmer residing in section 14, Waterville town- ship, was born in Austria, in February, 1843, son of Joseph Heit, the par- ents, who never came to this country, being also natives of Austria. Peter Heit attended school in his native land and resided with his parents until 1867. In that year he married Theresa Enttler, and with his young wife set out for the United States, her parents also remaining behind. Making no stop in any of the eastern states, he came directly on to Wisconsin, locat- ing at Eau Galle, where he found employment with the Carson & Rand Company. After remaining there for some years he came to Waterville township, Pepin county, and settled on a farm adjoining the one on which he now lives with his son, Peter. There he erected a small log building, 12 by 16 feet in size, and set to work to improve his place. After a residence there of 14 years, during which time he accomplished a large amount of work, he moved to the farm on which he now lives-a farm of 92 acres of valuable land, which he has supplied with all modern improvements, in-
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