History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 6

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 6
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Edward Miller, a member of the firm of Miller & Mattausch, operating a general store at Praag, in Lincoln township, Buffalo county, and who is the present town chairman, was born in Greenwood, Clark county, Wis., Aug. 26, 1880, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Herbel) Mueller. He was one of nine children: William F., George, Albert, Louisa (now deceased), Edward, Emelia, Theodore, Arthur and Calvin. The mother of this fam- ily died when between 40 and 50 years of age, but the father is still living

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and is now in his seventieth year. For six years he has been retired, but was formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits in Warner township, Clark county. Edward Mueller, who, in ordinary business matters has adopted the anglicised form of his family name and writes it "Miller," acquired his education in the district school, and after completing his studies therein, took a dairy course at Madison, Wis. After that and until 1906 he was engaged in cheese manufacture, subsequently entering into his present business in partnership with Henry Mattausch. In their store at Praag, which has a saloon connected with it, they carry a $10,000 stock of general merchandise, and since establishing themselves here have built up a good business by enterprise and honest dealing. On June 28, 1913, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Augusta Mattausch, who was born in Lincoln township, Aug. 1, 1885, daughter of William and Gertrude (Tillmann) Mattausch, she being one of six children: Henry, Joseph, Augusta, a girl who died in infancy, Nicholas and Ella. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one child, Oliver Edward Oswald, who was born Jan. 9, 1917.

Albert O. Johnson, who is engaged in operating the old Johnson farm in section 30, Canton township, Buffalo county, was born in Nelson town- ship, this county, May 20, 1884, son of John M. and Anna (Espen) Johnson. He was 12 years old when his parents moved from Canton to Nelson town- ship, and since then he has always lived on the farm which they estab- lished here and which has an area of 160 acres. Among the buildings which the father erected are a good barn, granary, sheepshed, chicken coop and a residence. This farm the subject of this sketch took over in 1907 and has since operated it on his own account with profitable results. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Johnson married Ella Heltne, daughter of Louis and Inger Heltne, of Modena township, her parents being natives of Norway. He and his wife have one child, John Marvin, who was born July 31, 1914.

Thomas Ottesen, well known in Nelson township, Buffalo county, where he resides, as a successful agriculturist and business man, being connected with various local interests, was born in the log house built by his father, in section 14, this township, June 5, 1861. His parents, Arne and Mary Ottesen, were pioneer settlers of the township, locating here in 1855, on their arrival from Norway. Thomas Ottesen was brought up on the home farm and in his youth became acquainted with pioneer methods of agri- culture. His education was acquired in the district school, a log structure and his working hours were spent in helping to develop the homestead, which is a good-sized farm of 354 acres. The property came into his pos- session in 1886, and since then he has improved it in various ways, among other things, building a good frame house, and a barn, 60 by 34 feet in size. As a general farmer, keeping good stock, he has a successful record and has taken his place among the substantial citizens of Nelson township. He is a director of the First National Bank of Nelson, also of the Telephone company, and is treasurer of the Burnside creamery, in all of which posi- tions he has shown good business ability. As a public official he has held several offices, including that of town treasurer, in which he served most of the time for five years. He has also been clerk of the district school

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MR. AND MRS. JOHN JENSEN WILLIAM JENSEN AND FAMILY

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board. His religious affiliations are with the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he is treasurer. In 1904 Mr. Ottesen made a pleasure trip to the home of his ancestors in Norway, remaining abroad six months. While he found the trip very enjoyable the inferior conditions he found in Nor- way made him realize the wisdom of his father's course in seeking a new home in the United States.

William Jensen, a prosperous agriculturist of Modena township, Buf- falo county, president of the Farmers' State Bank of Modena, chairman of the town board, and member of the county board, was born in section 34, this township, March 31, 1872, son of John and Margaret Jensen. The parents were natives of Germany, but were married in this country. The father, John, came to the United States in the fifties by sailing vessel, and after residing for a year in Iowa, came up the river to Alma, Buffalo county. Enlisting as a soldier in the Civil War, he served until its close, and was wounded in the arm at Gettysburg, and in the abdomen in another battle. It was on his return home that he married and settled on a farm in Modena township, where he remained until 1878. He then moved to Eau Claire county, where he is now living, retired from active work. He was formerly a member of the G. A. R. post at Eleva. His wife died in 1917, at the age of 69 years. They had seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth. William Jensen acquired his education in district schools in Buffalo and Eau Claire counties. Leaving home at the age of 16 years, he worked seven summers in Buffalo county, and then in 1896, was united in marriage with Anna Nelson, daughter of Christopher Nelson, a pioneer settler, of Modena township, Buffalo county. For three years after his marriage Mr. Jensen was engaged in farming in Eau Claire county, after which he bought 80 acres of land in section 28, Buffalo county, which he improved by the erection of a house and in other ways, residing there for 14 years. In 1916 he bought and moved to his present place, an improved farm of 120 acres in section 23, on which he is raising good stock. In addition to his farming interests, he was one of the organizers of the Farmers' State Bank of Modena, of which he has since been presi- dent. For a number of years Mr. Jensen served as a member of the school board of his district, and for several years was a justice of the peace. His service on the town board as supervisor covers seven years, and for five years he has been a member of the county board, and . for five years chairman of the town board. As a public spirited citizen, he is inter- ested in everything that concerns the welfare and progress of the general community. He and his wife have three children: Leo, Esther and Elmer, the two sons residing at home. Leo married Gertrude Thalacker, and has one son, Laverne. Esther is the wife of William Bloom, of Modena town- ship, and has a daughter, Wilma.

Adolph Pfund, a prosperous farmer of Modena township, Buffalo county, his farm in secs. 1 and 12, containing 230 acres, has been a resident of this township for more than half a century and is one of its best known and most highly respected citizens. He was born in Switzerland, July 15, 1839, son of Conrad and Margaret Pfund, whose other children were: Jacob, Herman, Johanna, Julia, Eliza and Margaret. In 1856 Adolph and Jacob

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came to the United States, landing on American soil, after a voyage of 40 days in the emigrant ship Saratoga. Locating in La Crosse, Wis., they were joined in the following year by the other members of the family. The father had been a school teacher and principal in Switzerland, but having friends in La Crosse county who were engaged in farming, he, himself, took up that occupation, at first renting for a while. In 1863 he left the farm and opened a German school in La Crosse City, conducting it for many years subsequently until he retired. There he died at the age of 76 years. He was a member of the Lutheran church. His wife subsequently died at the home of her son, Adolph, at the age of 84. Adolph Pfund, in his native land, had learned the trade of machinist, but after lo- cating in La Crosse county, Wis., worked for seven dollars a month and his board. In 1864 he came to his present location, in Modena township, Buf- falo county, taking 80 acres of land of which one and a half acres had been broken, but there were no buildings. He had an ox team with which he had driven from La Crosse, his conveyance being a long sled. In the same year he was married to Matilda Linse, who had come, with her brother, from La Crosse to Buffalo City, in much the same manner. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Pfund built a log house in which he and his wife lived for ten years, after which he erected a frame residence. Their only stock for the first year or two, in addition to the oxen, was a single cow. For the first few years Mr. Pfund rented a farm a mile and a half away, on which to raise crops, while he was engaged in breaking more of his land. After he had 20 acres broken he ceased renting, and gave his whole attention to his own farm, which he subsequently developed into a fine piece of property, and is still engaged in cultivating, raising both crops and stock with profit- able results. His cattle are of the Jersey breed, while of hogs he raises the Poland-China, Berkshire and Duroc varieties, as well as Morgan and Percheron horses. A member of the German Lutheran church, he has served it as an official and has also held various offices of a more public nature, having been town supervisor, chairman of the town board for one term and a member and treasurer of the school board. He and his wife are the parents of eight children, and have 51 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. The children are: Rudolph, Matilda, Emelia, Caroline and Fred, Eugene and Ida (twins), and Theresa. Rudolph is now a farmer in Gilmanton township; Matilda is the wife of A. R. Heck, of Mondovi township; Ida is the wife of Herman Heck; Emelia is the wife of Adolph Marten; Caroline is the wife of J. F. Heck; Fred, residing on the home farm, married Pauline Heck. Eugene, also on the home farm, was for 20 years pastor of the German Lutheran Bethel church, in Chicago, residing in that city for 20 years, during which time he organized a mis- sion field on the West Side, and with no initial funds built a church costing $40,000. His congregation contained 120 communicant members and 1,100 souls. Theresa is now Mrs. Henry Lauterbach, of Modena township. Mrs. Matilda Pfund died April 19, 1917.

Peter Monroe Hetrick, one of the active and successful farmers of Nelson township, Buffalo county, was born in this township, March 20, 1881, son of Peter and Polly (Lindy) Hetrick. Both parents were natives

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ADOLPH PFUND AND FAMILY

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ADOLPH MARTEN AND FAMILY

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of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, the father born April 14, 1829, and the mother, May 14, 1841. They were married in Pennsylvania, she being then the widow of Robert Lewis, who was killed in the Civil War. By Mr. Lewis she had two children, Catherine, who married John Harney Hetrick, and William. A year or two after his marriage, Peter Hetrick came to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, with his wife, her two children, Catherine and William. He himself had served 18 months in the Civil War as a member of Company C, 103d Pennsylvania Regiment. Taking a homestead tract of 80 acres in Nelson township, he built a log house and with an ox team began to clear his land. His market was Alma, to which he often walked on foot, carrying home flour on his back. He was a member of the G. A. R. post at that place, but later joined the post at Nelson. After spending many years on their farm, he and his wife moved to a little place of four acres near the present farm of his son, Peter M., where he died April 14, 1909. His wife survived him some years, passing away Jan. 17, 1915. In addition to the children above mentioned, they had nine others, who were born in Nelson township, namely: Margaret, Christine, Blanche, Malissa, George, John, Frank, Peter and Josephine. The family were affiliated religiously with the Methodist church. Peter Monroe Hetrick grew up on his parents' farm and has always remained a resident of Nelson town- ship. In 1915 he purchased his present farm of 55 acres-an improved place-on which he has made other valuable improvements. Among them is a barn, 24 by 44 feet, with 18-foot posts, cement floor and patent stanchions. He breeds a good grade of stock and has gained a reputation as a practical and successful farmer, and an agreeable neighbor. Mr. Hetrick was married in 1908 to Julia Moskey, daughter of Samuel and Martha Moskey, her father being a pioneer of Buffalo county. Three chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hetrick-Ralph, Wilfred and Blanche.

Adolph Carl Marten, a progressive farmer and stock raiser of section 26, Modena township, was born at Fall Creek, in Lincoln township, Eau Claire county, Wis., Jan. 7, 1869. His parents were Fred and Wilhelmina (Zamzow) Marten, both natives of Posen, Germany, the father born Jan. 16, 1835. They were married in Eau Claire county, this state, both having come to America in the late fifties by sailing vessel. Fred Marten served in the Civil War, leaving behind, his wife and two children, Emma and Mary. On his return, he took up farming in Eau Claire county, living at first in a log house and in time clearing a farm from the woods. He still resides on his farm, an active and industrious citizen, and is a member of the German Lutheran church. His wife, who was born April 30, 1833, died about 1904. In addition to the two daughters mentioned, they had two sons, Herman and Adolph C., who were born after the war, making a family of four children. Adolph C. Marten attended district and parochial school in Eau Claire county. When about 23 or 24 years of age he became a partner in a general store at Fall Creek, the business being carried on under the name of Charles Heohn & Co., and he was thus occupied for four years. Then coming to Buffalo county, he bought a tract of 150 acres of land in section 26, Modena township, on which there stood a part of the present house, a granary covered with straw, and a log barn. He had a

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team and a cow and with this stock he began the improvement of his place. He had already been married March 17, 1893, to Emelia Pfund, daughter of Adolph and Matilda (Linse) Pfund, and had two children, Hilda and Edwin. Since then Mr. Marten has bought 65 more acres of land, has improved his residence, and built a good basement barn of cement blocks, with patent stanchions. This barn is constructed in two parts or sections, one of which measures 32 by 66 feet, and the other 34 by 50 feet. Mr. Marten raises Jersey cattle, Percheron horses and Poland-China hogs, all good stock. He is also a shareholder in the creamery, and has served as one of its directors for much of the time since he came here. He also holds shares in the Modena Bank, was one of its first directors and a mem- ber of the building committee. As a member of the German Lutheran church he has served as trustee for many years, and has also held office on the district school board. In addition to the two children already men- tioned, Mr. and Mrs. Marten have had seven others born on the farm, namely : Theresa, Hilmer, Fritz, Oscar, Rudolph, Esther and Francis. All are now living. Edwin married Luella Justin, daughter of Albert Justin, of Shelby township, La Crosse county, and has one son, Harold. They reside on their farm in the village of Modena.

Ole Blager, Jr., one of the thriving members of the agricultural com- munity in Modena township, Buffalo county, where, until recently, he operated a farm of 200 acres, was born in Norway, Feb. 20, 1864, son of Tjostel and Thora Blager. The parents, who spent their lives in Norway, had nine children, one of whom died in infancy, and six coming to the United States. Of these six one subsequently returned to Norway. Ole, the subject of this sketch, came to this country in 1883, when 19 years of age. He had received his schooling in his native land, but attended school for a few weeks after arriving in Buffalo county, Wisconsin. His first employment was at grubbing, at which he continued for several years. The year 1888 was spent by him in Minneapolis as a street car driver. In the following year, 1889, he was married, Sept. 25, to Mary Oleson, daugh- ter of Ole Oleson, of Modena, and he and his wife took up their residence on the Ole Oleson farm in Modena township. In the same year Mr. Blager grubbed out the road from his farm to the main road to Nelson, the route being across three "forties" of land, for which considerable labor he re- ceived $15. In 1895 Mr. Blager came to his present location, buying 160 acres of land. There was an old log house on it, which had been erected in 1870, but which was later replaced by him with a good modern brick house. He also added 62 acres more land to the farm and put up several other buildings, including a hog house, 20 by 42 feet, and a barn, 34 by 86 feet. For a number of years he successfully raised Holstein cattle, Norman and Percheron horses, and a good grade of hogs, and was thus engaged until Jan. 1, 1918, when he sold his farm to his son Toni, who is now operat- ing it and living with his parents, Mr. Blager retaining a life lease on 30 acres. For 18 years he served as an officer of his school district. He is a stockholder in the Mondovi Exchange and the Farmers' State Bank of Modena. To Mr. and Mrs. Ole Blager, Jr., ten children have been born, namely: Tom, Olof, Albert, Theodore, Minnie, Martin, Henry, Anna,

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OLE BLAGER AND FAMILY

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Arthur and Myrtle, the last mentioned of whom is now deceased. Olof, who was a mail clerk in Minneapolis, is now a member of the U. S. Naval Aviation Corps, serving in France, with the rank of first class quarter- master. Albert and Theodore are also in the United States service. Albert, who is taking a mechanical course at Madison, was married, Aug. 9, 1918, to Jessie Larson of Maxville township. Theodore is in Camp Grant, train- ing in the infantry service. Minnie was married, Aug. 3, 1918, to A. E. Hilstad, of Modena.

Arne Otteson, one of the oldest pioneer settlers of Buffalo county now living, was born on a farm in Norway, known as Serum, by which name he himself is often called by his old friends, in accordance with an old Norwegian custom. The date of his birth was Aug. 18, 1835, and his parents were Otto and Margaretta Serum, who lived and died in Norway, rearing two children, Arne and Metta, the latter of whom is now Mrs. Hans Lerum. Arne Otteson was a youth of 18 years, when in 1854, he left his native land and set out for the United States. Landing from a sailing vessel after a five weeks' voyage, he made his way to Madison, Wis., arriving on the first train of cars to reach that place after the open- ing of the railroad. In the vicinity of that place he worked until 1856. Then, with a party including Erik Alme and others, he came by ox team to Nelson township, Buffalo county, the elder members of the party walking and driving the cattle. Locating on land in Norwegian Valley, he there led the strenuous life of the pioneer settlers, living in a log house with a sod roof which he built, using an ox team for his farming operations, and making his journeys to and from market on foot through the wilderness. Persevering and industrious, in time he rose to a prosperous condition in life and instead of the original log dwelling, occupied a good frame resi- dence. For six years he served as town treasurer of Nelson township and was school clerk all the time that he lived in that township. In 1901 he retired from active work and took up his residence in Nelson with his daughter, Mrs. Matson Walker, at whose home he is now living. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which he formerly held office. Mr. Otteson was married, in 1856, to Marie Alme, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Alme. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Arne Otteson were: Otto, Margaret Christie, Thomas, Susan, Engre and Hans, the last mentioned of whom is now proprietor of a general mercantile store in Modena.

Hans Otteson, proprietor of a flourishing general mercantile business at Modena, Buffalo county, was born in Nelson township, Aug. 1, 1872, son of Arne and Marie (Alme) Otteson. He was reared on his parents' farm and acquired his literary education in the district school. In 1888 he bought a farm from Jacob Kuhn, which he sold Nov. 15, 1902, to Caspar Roadnizer, and went to Minneapolis, where he took a course in business college. In 1901 he bought a farm from Olander Brown, which he sold to his brother-in-law, and in 1903 opened his present general store in Modena, which is in all essential respects a well-stocked department store. Through industry and fair dealing he has built up a profitable trade and is also a director in the local bank and a stockholder in the creamery. Mr.

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Otteson married Elizabeth Meyer, who was born in Modena township, daughter of Christ Meyer, a former resident of Eleva, Trempealeau county. He and his wife have five children: Norma, Wilma, Paul, Helen and Schuyler.

Henry Bernhard Rotering, an enterprising farmer, residing in section 27, Waumandee township, Buffalo county, was born in Glencoe township, Jan. 9, 1881, son of Henry and Barbara (Kudscheid) Rotering. The father, who was a native of Germany, came to America in 1868, being then 18 years of age. After working out some time as a farm hand he engaged in farming for himself in Glencoe township, Buffalo county. Subsequently he resided in Arcadia, Wis., for twelve years, and then bought the farm in Waumandee township, Buffalo county, on which his son, Henry B., now lives, remaining here two years. He is now living retired in Buffalo City. His first wife, Barbara, to whom he was married in this country, died in 1885. She had borne him five children: Anton, now a resident of Mon- tana township, this county; Mary, wife of John Heinz, of Montana town- ship; Henry Bernhard, the subject of this memoir; Anna, wife of Frank Schaefer, of Montana township, and John, a resident of Marshfield. After his first wife's death Henry Rotering married Mary Rotering, by whom he has had seven children: Emil, who married Iza Faulds, and is living in Arcadia; Minnie, who is the wife of Bert Bloomenscheid, and resides at Gridley ; George, a resident of North Dakota; Aggie, residing at home; Elnora, also at home; Oliva, who died at the age of 18 years, and Philip, who resides at home. Henry Bernhard Rotering attended district school until he was 14 years of age, and remained with his father until he had attained his majority. For twelve years subsequently he worked out and at the end of that time purchased his father's farm, which he is now operat- ing. It has an area of 280 acres, of which about 100 acres are cleared, the rest being in bluff, woodland and pasture. The barn, provided with a stone basement, measures 28 by 60 feet, while the house is a good frame build- ing of seven rooms. Mr. Rotering does general farming, the main part of his business, however, being dairying and the raising of swine. He is also a shareholder in the Farmers' Telephone Company of Cochrane. One of the progressive and substantial citizens of his township, he is widely known and respected. Mr. Rotering was married, Aug. 18, 1914, to Lena Muench, who was born in Waumandee, April 24, 1892, daughter of Anton and Johanna (Aruerbeck) Muench, her father being a native of Germany and her mother was born in America. Her father came to the United States when a boy and when he grew up engaged in farming in Wau- mandee. He and his wife had six children: Anna, wife of Vince Rother and residing in North Dakota; Lena, now Mrs. Henry B. Rotering; Wil- liam, who married Anna Knospe; Ferdinand, who is residing at home; Linda and Alvina, also living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rotering have one child, Gaylord Anton, who was born June 4, 1915. .

Ole S. Hansen. The township of Modena, Buffalo county, contains a number of well-improved and flourishing farms, some of large and some of small acreage. One of these is the farm of 280 acres belonging to the subject of this sketch, by whom it is personally operated. Like many of

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MR. AND MRS. HENRY ROTERING

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History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 6

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

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