USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 47
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 47
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the wife of Ed Canthrell, of Eau Galle, and left one child, Luella Belle. The others are: Lee, now a soldier in the United States Army; Roy, who is residing at home; Glenn, a farmer in Pepin township, who married Daisy Hill, and has one child, Velma; and Eva, who is the wife of Adolph Erikson, a farmer of Plum Creek, Frankfort township, and has two children, Ethel and Gertrude.
Walter P. Ruggles, who is now living retired on his farm of 190 acres in section 23, Pepin township, Pepin county, after a successful career as an agriculturist, was born in Byron, Ogle county, Ill., March 6, 1854. His parents were Liberty and Katherine (Ripley) Ruggles, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Massachusetts. Coming west, they settled in Faribault, Minn., where Liberty Ruggles followed the carpenter's trade for a number of years. Both he and 'his wife are now deceased. Walter P. Ruggles was educated in the public and high schools of Faribault, Minn. He began working out for farmers at the age of 18 years, and on attaining his majority took a homestead in Minnesota, where he remained until 1900, in which year he came to Pepin township and settled on his present farm of 190 acres. Here he is now living retired, other men doing the work on the place. He is a shareholder in the Pepin Co-operative Creamery. While a resident of Faribault he was engaged in farm work and carpentry. He served on the town board of Sidesvold township, Lyon county, identifying himself closely with public affairs and doing his full duty as a public- spirited citizen. In politics he is an adherent of the Prohibition party. Mr. Ruggles was married, May 24, 1881, to Sarah Ballard, daughter of Asiel and Nancy (Newcomb) Ballard, who came from the eastern states and settled in Pepin township, this county. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles are the parents of eight children: Alice, who home- steaded land and taught school at Rainybutte, N. D., but is now deceased ; Arthur, employed in an auto-truck factory at Clintonville, Wis., who mar- ried Bernice Sheard, and has one daughter, Ruth; Anna, wife of Peter Davis, who is an engineer in a coal mine at Dickinson, N. D .; Isaac, a farmer of Rainybutte, N. D., who married Iris Evans, of Pierce, N. D .; Katherine, who is the wife of Everett Lewis, of Calgary, Canada, and has two children, George and Donald; Lou, a farmer of Rainybutte, N. D .; Louise, a twin sister of Lou, who is engaged in teaching near Steele, N. D .; and Bessie, who is at home.
Ernest Seyffer, who is successfully engaged in the dairy business in Pepin township, Pepin county, having a farm of 175 acres in section 9, was born in Germany, Aug. 31, 1860, son of Michael and Lizzie Seyffer. The parents, who were farmers, died in Germany, their native land. The father was a man of local importance, serving for a number of years as a mem- ber of the village board. Ernest Seyffer acquired his education in a graded school in Germany and worked on his father's farm until he came to America in 1881. Locating in Pepin township, this county, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, first operating a farm on the Bottoms near the vil- lage, and later, in 1901, coming to his present location in the northern part of Pepin township. Here he has developed a fine modern dairy farm, breed- ing the dairy type of Shorthorn cattle and also raising Poland-China hogs.
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WALTER P. RUGGLES AND FAMILY
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He is a shareholder in the Creamery at Pepin and also in the Farmers' Telephone Company. A man of reliable character and one of the pros- perous citizens of his township, he is held in high esteem. Independent in politics, his religious affiliations are with the German Lutheran church at Pepin. In 1892 Mr. Seyffer was united in marriage with Katherine Glasbrenner, a native of Germany, where she attended the graded village school. Her father died in that country, after which her mother came to the United States, locating in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Seyffer are the parents of four children: Henry, who is engaged in farming in Pepin county, and Hulda, Rose and Louis, who are residing at home.
Asa John Howard, who is now living retired in the village of Pepin county, after a long career of agricultural activity, was born in Pepin township, this county, Dec. 19, 1861, son of Thomas and Mahala (Kephart) Howard. The parents were both born in Pennsylvania, the father in 1827. It is a long way back to the year 1848, and the memory of the oldest settler living today can but faintly recall that almost forgotten period-when gold had not yet been discovered in California or Australia, when there was no railroad across the American continent, when the woods and forests of Wisconsin and the other northwestern states were inhabited almost en- tirely by Indians and wild game, and white settlers were few and far between-yet it was in that year that Thomas Howard made his appear- ance in Pepin county, taking a homestead in Frankfort township, near the dividing line between that township and Pepin. The tract of land he cleared was on or near that prominent elevation that has since been known as Howard Hill, it having been named in his honor. The hill, however, lies in Pepin township on the road to Durand. In that locality he resided for a number of years, developing a farm, and taking active part in public affairs as a member of the town and school boards. Subsequently he sold that farm and moved to Hicks Valley, in Pepin township, and later to Sand Prairie, near the village of Pepin, where he spent his last years, dying in 1894. His wife, Mahala, passed away the same year. They had a family of nine children, as follows: David D., born May 13, 1852, who died Oct. 16, 1871; Fannie J., born March 7, 1860; Asa John, the direct subject of this sketch, born Dec. 19, 1861; Maggie C., born March 31, 1864; William T., born April 1, 1867; Mary M., born July 4, 1869, who died March 3, 1871; Theodore C., born April 12, 1871, who died March 28, 1877; James P., born Oct. 6, 1873, who died in May, 1917; and Charles Crosby, born June 30, 1876. Asa John Howard in his boyhood attended school in the Hicks Valley district, Pepin township, and his early industrial years were spent on his father's farm, which he helped to improve. He was thus occupied until the time of his marriage, in 1884, and then bought the farm on Big Hill, in Pepin township, a farm of 89 acres, which he cleared and on which he erected good modern buildings. There he was successfully engaged in agriculture until 1913, in which year he sold the farm and moved to Pepin village, where he has since lived retired, in the enjoyment of a competency. He is a shareholder in the Pepin Creamery, the Farmers' Telephone Com- pany and the Pepin pickle factory. Formerly Mr. Howard was a member of the school board of his district, being independent in politics. He belongs
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to the Methodist Episcopal church, and also to the Modern Woodmen Camp at Pepin. On Dec. 19, 1884, Asa J. Howard was united in marriage with Amelia Feddern, who. was born in Pepin village, Feb. 12, 1863, daughter of Fred and Appalonia Kuebler. When she was a babe but three days old she had the misfortune to lose her mother, and her father being drafted into the army for service in the Civil War, she was adopted by Fred Fed- dern, a farmer of Frankfort township. Her father, Fred Kuebler, who served in a Wisconsin infantry regiment, was proprietor of a bakery and confectionery store in Pepin. Mr. and Mrs. Asa J. Howard are the parents of three children: Glenn Roy, born Feb. 24, 1887; Reba May, born June 28, 1893, and Lowell Asa, born March 11, 1901, of whom Lowell Asa is the only one residing at home. Glenn Roy, who married Vera Stevens, lives at Stockholm, Wis., being an employe of the C., B. & Q. railroad. Reba May is the wife of Hiram McClarey, of Maiden Rock township, Pierce county, Wis., and has one child, whose name is Howard.
James P. Howard, who passed away at his home in the village of Maiden Rock, Wis., was born at Pepin, Wis., Oct. 6, 1873, son of Thomas and Mahala (Kephart) Howard. He acquired his education in the common schools of Hicks Valley and Big Hill, and shortly after completing his studies learned telegraphy and went to work for the Burlington railroad. Advancement came rapidly as reward for efficient service and he was soon awarded an agent's position, being the agent at Maiden Rock for sixteen years previous to his death. His remains were brought to Pepin for in- terment in the Oakwood cemetery, where the ceremonies were conducted by the Masonic brethren. Mr. Howard was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity for many years, having first joined Pepin Lodge and later trans- ferred his membership to Maiden Rock Lodge, of which he had been Master Mason for a number of years. He was united in marriage, Dec. 16, 1896, with Roena O'Hara, by whom he had two sons, Raymond and Walter, now residing with their widowed mother. Mr. Howard was also survived by two sisters and three brothers: Fannie (Mrs. Charles Lincoln, Sr.) ; Asa J. and Maggie (Mrs. H. McCain), of Pepin, Wis .; William T., of Atlee, Alta, Canada ; and Crosby C., of Prairie du Chien, Wis.
John J. Broatch, a well-to-do general farmer living in section 7, Pepin township, Pepin county, was born in this township, July 22, 1885, son of John R. and Martha (Johnson) Broatch. The parents were natives of Scot- land, the father coming to this country in the sixties and locating in Pepin township, where his son John J. now lives. It was he who cleared the land and improved it, developing it into the present farm. He is still residing here, though now retired from active work. The mother died in 1894. John J. Broatch attended district school in Pepin township and as soon as he was through with his school books began working on the home farm, of which he took full charge in 1909. It contains 160 acres of land, and is equipped with good substantial buildings and machinery. Mr. Broatch follows mixed farming and breeds Guernsey cattle, Poland-China hogs and Shropshire sheep. He has a large new dairy barn of modern construction, with a large tile silo adjoining it. He is a member of the co-operative creamery at Pepin, and his farming and dairying operations are being con-
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ducted on a profitable basis. The Woodmen's Camp at Pepin numbers him among its members. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Broatch was united in marriage, June 24, 1908, to Amelia Ehman, who was born in Pepin township, this county, Aug. 24, 1884, daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Trautman) Ehman. Her parents were born in Germany and came to this country and to Pepin township when quite young. The father is now deceased, the mother being a resident of Pepin village. Mr. and Mrs. Broatch are young and active and are popular among a wide circle of friends. They have established a good home and may reasonably look forward to many years of prosperity and domestic companionship. They have one child, Bernice, born Feb. 7, 1918.
Lawrence Dorwin, who is engaged in agricultural operations on a farm of 120 acres in section 10, Pepin township, is a young man who, although but in his third year as an independent farmer, has already made a good beginning and is doing a profitable business. He was born in Durand township, Pepin county, Sept. 29, 1893, son of Marcellus and Mary Ellen (Fox) Dorwin, and is a grandson of V. W. Dorwin, a very early settler in Buffalo county. Marcellus Dorwin was born in Durand township, Pepin county, and was given a college and normal school education. He is now the owner of a fine farm of 400 acres in Durand township, on which he is largely engaged in dairying. He is also a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Durand, and a prominent member of the town and county government, having been chairman of the county board six years and is now a member of the road and bridge committee. Lawrence Dorwin acquired his early literary education in the rural school at Wood's Corners, Durand township, and was a high school student from 1909 to 1912: After that he worked on his father's farm until 1916, when he bought his present place in Pepin township. Besides raising the usual crops, he is breeding Jersey cattle and Poland-China hogs, finding a ready and profitable market for his stock and grain, and is a shareholder in the Farmers' Telephone Company. The marriage of Mr. Dorwin took place Dec. 22, 1915, to Ethel Walker, who was born in Pepin county, Wisconsin, daughter of Henry and Ione (Farrington) Walker. Her father was marshal of the city of Durand for a number of years, but is now living with his children in Maxville town- ship, Buffalo county. Mr. and Mrs. Dorwin are members of the Congre- gational church. In politics he is Republican, voting for good candidates of the respective parties.
Frank B. Wilson, for many years a resident of Stockholm township, Pepin county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, was born in Sweden, Aug. 23, 1854, and died at his home in this township, April 25, 1911. His parents, Joseph and Matilda Olsen, natives of Sweden, came to this country about 1865, settling on a farm, or a tract of land, in Stock- holm township, this county. Almost immediately the family was bereaved by the death of the mother, which occurred only three weeks after she had landed in this country. The father survived her a number of years, passing away about 1884. Frank B. Wilson was a boy of eleven years when he came to this country. He began industrial life on his father's farm and afterwards worked for his brother, Isaac Newman, with whom he continued
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until 1873, when, at the age of 19, he bought the place in section 6, Stock- holm township, on which his wife and children now reside. This place he cleared and improved, working on it until the last four years of his life, which he spent as an invalid. Previous to that he was an industrious farmer, a progressive citizen and a good provider for his family. Mr. Wilson was married, July 6, 1879, to Anna Louisa Peterson, who was born in Sweden, June 26, 1860, daughter of Lars E. and Christina Peterson, also natives of Sweden. Her family came to this country in 1867, Mr. Peterson taking a homestead of 200 acres in Pierce county, Wisconsin, which he developed into a good farm, and where his daughter, Anna Louisa, attended district school. He also became the owner of 80 acres in Stockholm town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been the parents of nine children, of whom three died : Emelia, Oct. 3, 1882; Edmund, Sept. 2, 1889, and Eleanor, June 13, 1898. The others are: Daisy, Esther, Arthur, Elsie, Evald and Theo- dore. Daisy is the wife of Nels Nelson, a carpenter of Minneapolis, and has three children, Ferdinand, Emmerst and Wendell. Esther married William Carlson, a farmer of Deering, N. D., and also has three children, Rosalie, Winfield and Elliot. Arthur, who married Alice Edlin, is a farmer in Pepin county and has one son, Edgar. Elsie is the wife of Clarence Borman, who is employed in a foundry at Minneapolis, Minn. Her children are Dalmar, Lucille and Maynard. Evald, who was recently in the United States army, being stationed at Camp Humphrey, Virginia, was honorably discharged Jan. 8, 1919. Theodore resides at home with his mother.
Norman J. Dunlap, a prominent business man of Pepin, Wis., where he is engaged in the real estate business, being also interested in agriculture, was born in Pepin, Feb. 8, 1873, son of William and Irene (Taxis) Dunlap. The father, a native of Allegheny, Pa., came to Pepin county about 1856. He was connected for a number of years with the Pepin postoffice, at first carrying the mail and later becoming postmaster. Finally he turned the office over to his daughter and retired. During his active period he was intimately connected with the business life of the place, supporting every enterprise, and at different times held local office. His death occurred in Pepin, Jan. 1, 1901. His wife is still living and resides with her son, Nor- man J., being now (1917) 82 years old. They had two children: Anna J. and Norman J., the latter being the younger. Anna is now deceased. Nor- man J. Dunlap in his boyhood attended the common school and the Pepin High School, from which latter institution he went to the Winona Commer- cial College. Subsequently, after taking a course at the River Falls Normal School, he took up the profession of a teacher, which he followed first at Smithfield, Minn., then for a number of years in Pepin county, and sub- sequently in the high school at Maddock, N. D., where he remained three years. Returning to Pepin, he filled the position of clerk in the postoffice for a short time, and after his sister's death took charge of the office for about six months. He then entered into his present business as a real estate dealer, opening an office in Pepin. Though, as such, he does an extensive business, he does not confine his attentions to this alone, but in connection therewith conducts a collection and exchange business, in which he occupies an important place in the financial transactions of the village
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and community. In his real estate business he handles his own property exclusively, of which he now has on hand about 1,200 acres. About 500 acres of this land he farms, hiring help to do the work. He is an enthusiastic promotor and has done much to place the farming of the inferior lands in the neighborhood on a paying basis by experimenting with crops and with methods before thought impossible. He also owns a large amount of city property, both of a residential and business character, including the local opera house, of which he is sole manager. Mr. Dunlap is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Pepin, the Chapter at Durand, and the Commandery at Eau Claire. He is also a member of the Pepin Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Pepin Assembly of the Equitable Fraternal Union. In politics he is a Re- publican, but has never aspired to public office. For a number of years past, however, he has served as treasurer of the Pepin High School district.
On Aug. 14, 1906, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage with Melissa J. Hankins, who was born in Avena, Ill., daughter of George W. and Nancy (Johanson) Hankins. Her parents, both of whom are now living in Avena, were from the eastern states, the father being a farmer. Mrs. Dunlap was educated in Illinois and for ten years or more was a teacher in primary department work. The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Dunlap has been enlarged by the birth of four children: Harold Albert, Caroline Anna, Donald Hugh and Dorothy Irene.
Rev. Alexander Peterson, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran church at Lund, Pepin township, Pepin county, Wis., was born in Vasterbotten, Sweden, Feb. 17, 1867. His parents were Per and Carolina (Johnsdotter) Pearson, natives of the same locality, the father born in 1839 and the mother in 1840. The latter is now dead, but the former, Per Pearson, is still living in Sweden. The subject of this sketch acquired his elementary education in the public schools of his native land. There he learned and followed the trades of painter and woodworker until he came to the United States in 1893. Locating in Duluth, he worked for awhile on the roads there, then on farms in the vicinity and later in the iron docks of Duluth. He also did some painting and carpenter work, and, having resolved to enter the ministry, saved as much of his money as possible, so that in 1899 he was able to enter the Gustavus Adolphus College at St. Peter, Minn. From that institution he was graduated in 1904, and in the same year was ordained a minister of the gospel by the Swedish Lutheran church, under the auspices of the Augustana Synod. His first pastorate was at Grantsburg, Wis., and his sec- ond at Minot, N. D. In the latter place he built a large church and a large, modern parsonage. His next charge was in Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, from which locality he came to his present congregation at Lund, Pepin county, on March 18, 1915. Here also he has done earnest and efficient work and has made a good impression on the people, by whom he is well liked. His congregation numbers 398 souls. In political opinion he is independent. On Dec. 8, 1904, Mr. Peterson was married to Ingrid Swenson, who was born in Hallery, Kronoberds Lan Smaland, Sweden, her parents, Sven and Petronila (Peterson) Swenson, being natives of the same place. Her father, who is now deceased, was a merchant tailor. Her mother is still living in
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Sweden. She herself came to the United States in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been the parents of six children: Alice, Ingeborg, Reuben, Hanna, Lennea, Edith and Merjan. Reuben is now deceased, but the others are living, all residing at home.
Andrew P. Bengtson, proprietor of a good eighty-acre farm in section 5, Pepin township, Pepin county, was born in Sweden, Dec. 25, 1851, son of John and Johanna Bengtson, who were natives of that country and farmers by occupation. The father was born in 1824 and the mother in 1826. The latter died in Sweden, and the former came to the United States in 1881, following his son Andrew, but died three weeks after his arrival in Pepin township. Andrew P. Bengtson was educated in his native land, attending school in the province of Nariki. At the age of 18 he began to work out for neighboring farmers. Later he found employment on the railroad, for a few years acting as senior boss. In 1880 he came to the United States, locating first in Lake City, Minn. After working on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway for a few years, he came to his present location, where he has since been engaged in general farming, having eighty acres of good land, well improved, with substantial buildings and full equipment. He is also a shareholder in the Pepin Co-operative Creamery and the Farmers' Telephone Company. Mr. Bengtson is a Republican in politics, and has acted as postmaster in his district of Pepin township for the last fifteen years. He is a member of the Free Mission church in this township. In February, 1876, Andrew P. Bengtson was united in marriage with Matilda Beckstrom, a native of the province of Varmland, Sweden, her father being a blacksmith. Neither of her parents ever came to America, and both are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bengtson have been born twelve children, all of whom are living, namely: Andrew Phillip, farmer and railroad man, now in Canada ; Helma, residing in St. Paul; Hilda, wife of Joseph Paulson, who works for the Adams Express Company in St. Paul; George, residing at Lund; Jenny, wife of Philip Bergmark, an employe of a fuel and lumber company of Min- neapolis ; Elmer, a farmer of Pepin township; Clarence, who is now a soldier in the army ; Annie, of Florida; Esther, wife of Elmer Johnson, a farmer of Frankfort; and Ethel, Hazel and Glenn, who are residing at home. All the children in this large family have received a good home training of the kind to make them useful men and women and all are doing credit to the family name.
Benjamin A. Jahnke, a successful dairy farmer residing in section 18, Pepin township, Pepin county, was born in this township, Feb. 3, 1876, son of William and Silke (Voege) Jahnke, who were natives of Germany. Wil- liam Jahnke came to the United States in 1848, settling in Pepin village, where he worked as a carpenter. Later he bought land which he cleared and improved, becoming a farmer. While the Civil War was in progress he enlisted in a Minnesota company of heavy artillery, with which he served until the close of the war. The remainder of his life was spent on his farm, where he died in 1896. His wife is still living and resides on the home farm. Benjamin A. Jahnke acquired the elements of knowledge in the district school in Pepin township and later attended the Pepin High School. Until he was 21 years old he worked on his father's farm, and then began his inde-
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM JAHNKE B. A. JAHNKE AND FAMILY MR. AND MRS. PETER STOLTENBERG
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pendent career. He now has 232 acres of land, which he is operating as a modern dairy farm, keeping Holstein cattle, and also raising Duroc-Jersey hogs. He is realizing good financial returns from his business, and is also a stockholder in the Co-operative Creamery at Pepin. As a member of the town board of Pepin township he has rendered useful service, being inde- pendent in politics. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Pepin, and of the Woodmen's Lodge in the same village. Mr. Jahnke was married, Oct. 29, 1914, to Louisa Stoltenberg, who was born in Pepin township, this county, where she attended district school, afterwards graduating from the Pepin High School. Her parents, Peter and Lena (Sinjen) Stoltenberg, were among the early settlers of this township, coming here from Germany. They are still living here on a farm, but are now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Jahnke have had two children: Howard, who was born Oct. 20, 1915, and died Jan. 30, 1918, and Lawrence, born July 17, 1918.
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