USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 9
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
Digitized by Google
574
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
1857 they sold their farm and came to Alma, where Joseph Berni was engaged in the brick and lime burning industry for a number of years, later on doing some teaming. There he died in 1878, at the age of about 67 years. His wife Margaret (or Margaretha) survived him many years, passing away April 14, 1911, at the age of 75. In religious faith he was a Catholic, while she belonged to the Reformed church. They were the parents of a large family of children, several of whom died in infancy. Those who reached maturity were: Jacob, now a retired farmer living in Alma; John, who lives in St. Paul, Minn .; Lizzie, the wife of Hamelton Eckert, of Ayr, N. D .; Josephine, now Mrs. William Fresheim, of St. Paul, Minn .; Ida, wife of W. B. Grieve; Mary, who never married; Julia, de- ceased, who was the wife of George Stodart, of North Dakota; and William, who died in Alma, Wis.
Jacob Berni, a respected citizen of Alma, Buffalo county, where he is now living retired after a successful career as lumberman and agricul- turist, was born in this place, October 19, 1857, son of Joseph and Mar- garetha (Neukomme) Berni. His parents were pioneer settlers of Belvi- dere township, this county, locating there about two years before his birth, and as he grew up his surroundings were of a somewhat primitive kind. The dense forest, through which wild animals roamed, was on all sides, and a few miles to the west and southwest rolled the great river, the mighty Mississippi. The Indians were also numerous in the vicinity and were occasional visitors to the Berni homestead. Amid such scenes young Jacob grew up. His educational opportunities were limited, as he had to begin work at an early age, but for a short time he attended a little school- house, where he acquired some elementary knowledge. Beginning work as a common laborer, he soon became connected with the lumber industry, and, being energetic and attentive to his duties, he soon rose to be foreman of logging and rafting gangs, a position he held for twenty-three years. About 1897 Mr. Berni began his agricultural career, buying an improved farm in Nelson township. The improvements were by no means modern, however, as the buildings consisted chiefly of a log house and log barn. Mr. Berni made that place his home for some ten or eleven years, erecting better buildings and following general farming with profitable results. Finally he sold it to his son Ottmar, and in 1908 came to Alma, where he is now living retired. While on the farm he was president of the local cheese factory, and served six years as treasurer of the school board. During his younger days he was a great sportsman and hunter, and his rifle often supplied the family table with venison or other game. Mr. Berni was married in Alma, September 22, 1883, to Emma Furrer, who was born in a log house in Belvidere township, this county, May 22, 1856, daughter of Charles and Barbara (Schaedt) Furrer. He and his wife have had three children, one of whom, Leo, died in infancy. The two living are: Ottmar, who married Lydia Markey, and Julia, who is the wife of H. T. Kruse of Alma, and has five children, Malvia, Neoma, Clifford, Fern and Vivian.
Charles Furrer, a Buffalo county pioneer, and in former years one of the prominent citizens of Alma, was a native of Switzerland, in which
Digitized by Google
575
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
country he was married to Barbara Schaedt. In 1852 he came alone to the United States and with pioneer instinct made his way directly to Buf- falo county, Wisconsin, where he found work as a lime burner. After a short time here he left and for a while wandered through the South, in- specting the country. Not favorably impressed with what he saw there, in 1853 he returned to Alma, where he built a lime kiln and resumed his former occupation. About 1855 he returned to Switzerland after his family, whom he brought back with him to Buffalo county in 1856. In addition to his wife, there were three children, Victoria, Leo and Otto. For some time after arriving here with them the family lived a truly primitive life among the Indians on an island in the Mississippi river, and there a daugh- ter, Emma, was born to them, who is now Mrs. Jacob Berni, of Alma. After a while, tired of his island existence, Mr. Furrer with his family moved to the main shore, at the place called Belvidere, where he put up a modest residence and worked at anything he could find to do. He also owned forty acres of land where his lime kiln was located. At some time in 1863 he moved with his family to Alma, where he subsequently operated a lime kiln until his death in 1905 at the age of 87 years. Mr. Furrer was a good scholar and could speak several languages. A Catholic in religion, he helped to build the church of that faith in Alma. His wife died in 1887. In addition to the children already mentioned they had four others, born in Buffalo county, Minnie, Emil, Rosa and Ida.
John B. Meyer, who in his day was one of the prominent and most respected citizens of Modena township, Buffalo county, was a native of Switzerland, born in Schleitheim, Canton Schaffausen, February 14, 1839. He became a farmer and followed that occupation in his native land until his emigration to the United States in 1856, after which he continued in it in the vicinity of Sharpsburg, Pa., where he settled on arriving in this country. His industrial activities were interrupted, however, by the Civil War, as he enlisted in a Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment and served in it for four years, taking part in the battle of Bull Run, the battle at Red Oak and others. After two years' service he was wounded in the left arm, but soon returned to his company and regiment. Returning home with- out any other misadventure, he was married, May 5, 1866, to Elizabeth Stamm, who was a native of the same place in Switzerland as himself, the date of her birth being March 4, 1840. She had not been long in the United States, having arrived with her parents in 1865, they settling in Sharps- burg, Pa. After his marriage Mr. Meyer continued farming near Sharps- burg until March, 1871, when he came to Modena township, Buffalo county, being accompanied by his wife and family. They arrived on the eleventh of the month and took possession of a tract of 175 acres in section 11, which was in fact already a farm, as between ninety and 100 acres of the land were broken, and there was a log house and barn on the place. Mr. Meyer's stock consisted of a team of horses and a cow, but he was a man of enterprise, and with these resources he had enough for a beginning. The rest of his life was spent in the development of his farm, the size of which he increased to 215 acres, also building on it a good frame house, barn and granary. He was also one of the founders of the Modena Co-operative
Digitized by Google
576
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Creamery and was its manager and secretary for fifteen years. This was an industry in which he was much interested, at an early date foreseeing that it would some day attain considerable dimensions and prove an impor- tant source of revenue to the farmers throughout this region. Conse- quently he did all in his power to promote it generally, though receiving little pay; and besides his connection with the creamery at Modena he organized a creamery company in Pleasant Valley township, Eau Claire county, and also one at Eleva, Trempealeau county, of both of which he was secretary and general manager. He was also one of the first farmers in this locality to raise Jersey cattle, helping to introduce them and make their merits known, and he was an extensive breeder of Percheron and Norman horses. Among his other activities on the farm was the setting out of a fine orchard and garden, in which he took great pride. He served as town supervisor and justice of the peace, and his fraternal affiliations were with the Grand Army post at Alma. Mr. Meyer died in Dover town- ship, Buffalo county, March 7, 1911, his wife having previously passed away on the same day and month of the year 1907. She was buried just forty-two years to the day after her arrival in this country, and had at- tained the age of 67 years. Their children, of whom they had twelve, were: Christian, now the Rev. Christian Meyer, of Theresa, Wis .; Barbara, wife of Samuel Bollinger, of Eleva, Wis .; John C., of Eleva; Samuel, now farm- ing on the old homestead; Adolph, residing at Snohomish, Wash .; Eliza- beth, wife of Fred Heiland of Blue Creek, Wash .; Anna, now Mrs. Henry Linse of Modena, Wis .; Marie, wife of Otto Reich of Modena township; Julia, wife of Albert Linse, of Dover township, Buffalo county; George, now the Rev. George Myer of Schumm, Ohio; and Matilda, who is residing at Everett, Wash.
Samuel Meyer, one of the leading representatives of the agricultural interests of Modena township, Buffalo county, who is, moreover, a man of action and influence in public affairs, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., June 13, 1870, son of John B. and Elizabeth (Stamm) Meyer. He was a babe of about nine months when he came with his parents to this township and county. His education, acquired partly in the local schools, was largely supplemented by home study, especially of the science of bookkeeping. Brought up on his parents' farm, his regular occupation has been that of agriculture, in which he has achieved marked success. Coming into pos- session of the parental homestead, he has since, by an additional land purchase, increased the size of the farm from 215 to 255 acres, and is operating it along the general lines laid down by his father, raising Jersey cattle, besides other good stock. He also keeps up the orchard that his father planted, and prides himself upon raising the Peerless watermelons, which command a ready market, and nutmeg muskmelons. His house is installed with a hot and cold coil water system, and his buildings are well improved and in good condition. Mr. Meyer has succeeded his father as secretary and manager of the Modena Co-operative Creamery, and for three years has been treasurer of the Buffalo County Agricultural Society. He was also one of the incorporators of the Farmers' State Bank of Mo- dena, being a director and as a member of the examining board. Mr.
Digitized by Google
MR. AND MRS. JOHN B. MEYER SAMUEL MEYER AND FAMILY
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
577
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Meyer has rendered good service as a public official both to his township and county. He was chairman of the township board ' ur years, town clerk five years and justice of the peace for eight years, in all these posi- tions showing efficiency and fidelity to the public interests. He was mar- ried, August 31, 1904, to Wilhelmina Steinke, who was born in Canton township, Buffalo county, daughter of Carl Steinke, now a resident of Modena. Of this union three children have been born: Eugene Armin, Alma Marie and Walter Edwin. He and his family are affiliated relig- iously with the German Lutheran church.
Alfred H. Lawrence, for a number of years one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens of Modena township, Buffalo county, but now deceased, was a native of New York State, but came of a well-known Mas- sachusetts family. His grandfather on the Lawrence side married a Lowell, and the close union of the two prominent families was further evi- denced in the founding of the Lawrence-Lowell Sheeting Factory at Lowell, Mass. George Lawrence, father of Alfred H., came with his family by way of the Lakes to Rock county, Wisconsin, and later moved to Fond du Lac county, where his wife died. Subsequently he removed to Iowa, in which state he spent his last yaers. Alfred H. Lawrence was married in Wisconsin to Louisa Odell, daughter of Austin and granddaughter of Will- iam Odell, the Odells being among the very first settlers in the vicinity of
odena, Buffalo county. It was in Modena township that Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence settled in 1872, with two children, Fred Henry and Lillian. Four years later they bought the farm now owned and operated by their son Fred, which they improved in various ways, particularly by the erection of new buildings. Here Mr. Lawrence died at the age of 57 years, and his wife at that of 62. They were affiliated religiously with the Methodist church. Mrs. Louisa (Odell) Lawrence, daughter of Austin and Rhoda Ann (Rouse) Odell, was the third born of her parents' thirteen children. The two eldest in the family, Willmar and Caroline, died at the ages of 9 and 7 years respectively. Cassius, the next eldest boy, enlisted for service in the Civil War at the age of 16 years, in Company I, 36th Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in action June 3, 1864. When he went to the war he left his father to battle with the work of clearing and cultivating the homestead, with only small boys to help, which broke the father down in health and was probably the cause of his death at the age of 55 years. His wife had preceded him to the grave by only three weeks, dying at the age of 51. Coming to Wisconsin in the early forties from New York State, they had settled at a place called Rising Sun, but moved from there to Columbia county, whence they later came with a team by way of La Crosse to Buffalo county. Only one wagon track then marked the trail along the Mississippi river and Beef river to where the little village of Modena now stands. Austin Odell built a log hut on his homestead, where he lived and reared his family of nine children up to the time of his death, one more boy, Henry, dying in infancy in Modena. The daughter, Louisa, succeeded in keeping the three smaller children in the old home, adjoining the present farm of Fred Henry Lawrence, with the aid of Abner Odell. Adeline Odell Thomas was the first white girl married in Buffalo
Digitized by Google
578
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
county. She died at Lodi, where she had lived all her married life. There are now seven of the children living, among those not already mentioned being: Mrs. Chloe Parr, Augusta, Mrs. Harriet Bowen of Bangor, Mrs. Eudora Moats of Eau Claire, and Mrs. Ida M. Hanan of Mondovi, all in Wisconsin. The latter named was the first white girl born in Buffalo county. The ancestors of the Odell family came from Ireland, and accord- ing to family tradition, were soldiers for many generations in their native land. Their descendants have served their adopted country, the United States, in the War of the Revolution, the War of 1812-15, the Civil War, and in the present war with Germany, in which several of the great nephews and three great grandchildren are taking part, one grandson, Lawrence L. Hanan, of Mondovi, being now in France. The three great grandchildren are Merton Odell, of Lodi, Roy Miller, of Augusta, Wis., and Karl Miller. The grandchildren are Lawrence L. Hanan, a member of the 86th Division, 33d Infantry, called the Black Hawks; Raymond Bowen, of Bangor, and Giles Odell of Eleva, Wis., now in the cantonments awaiting their call for oversea.
Fred Henry Lawrence, engaged in agriculture in section 23, Modena township, Buffalo county, where he is operating the old homestead of his parents, Alfred H. and Louisa (Odell) Lawrence, was born in the town of Oakfield, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, June 13, 1859, and has resided since 1876 on the old homestead, which he assisted his father to improve and develop. His educational opportunities were limited, but he attended the district school for a while and acquired the rudiments of knowledge sufficient for the ordinary purposes of life. After his parents' death the home farm came into his possession and he has since cultivated it on a profitable basis. Mr. Lawrence was married, June 8, 1892, to Elizabeth Steele, who was born in Mondovi township, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, June 25, 1868, daughter of Jonathan and Mahala (Hummer) Steele, the house in which she first saw the light being a log structure erected by her father and her grandfather, Elisha Hummer, and at the time of her birth the flooring had not yet been laid. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are the parents of one child, Glenn, who was born January 21, 1894, and who is residing at home. Jonathan Steele, the father of Mrs. Fred H. Lawrence, was a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and was married in that state to Mahala Hummer, who was born at High Bridge, New Jersey. Mr. Steele was a farmer by occupation, and on coming to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, about 1867, he purchased 160 acres of land in Mondovi township, buying the right of another man who had homesteaded it. Ten acres were broken, but there being no buildings, he had to erect them himself. With the help of oxen he developed his land into a good farm. His market was at Mondovi village, seven miles away, the journey both ways being made by him on foot. On that farm he died at the age of 69 years, after a life of useful industry. He was a son of John and Elizabeth Steele, his father being a native of Ireland and his mother of Scotch origin. His wife, Mahala, died July 20, 1918. She was a daughter of Elisha Hummer of New Jersey, her mother, whose family name was Diltz, being of German descent. Elisha
Digitized by Google
-
Digitized by Google
LORENCE BRENNER AND FAMILY
Digitized by Google
579
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Hummer was a Revolutionary soldier and was with the army under Wash- ington at Valley Forge, during the memorable winter of 1777-78.
Christian Schwedes, until recently the oldest living resident of Alma, Buffalo county, and a veteran of the great Civil War, was born in Hessen, Germany, March 14, 1826. In 1857 he came to the United States on a sailing vessel, and first settled in Wheeling, W. Va., where he was married to Nettie Michael. It was there also that he enlisted as a soldier, becoming a member of the Second Virginia Volunteer Regiment. Later he was transferred to the cavalry service. At Baldwin's Camp, Va., he was wounded by a ball that passed in through the side of his nose and out on the right side of his head, impairing his hearing and causing him to lose the sight of his right eye. On account of this wound he was mustered out March 12, 1862, and was sent home. Soon after he moved to Cincinnati, from which city he came to Alma in 1865, making the last part of the journey by boat from La Crosse. After his arrival here he worked for a while at anything he could find to do, but being a tailor by trade, he was occupied as such for most of the time. He also erected a saloon building on Main street, near the old landing at the north end of Alma, which was a good substantial structure. He also founded the G. A. R. post in Alma, the first meetings of which were held in the old jail building. Mrs. Nettie Schwedes died in 1880, leaving two children, Emma and Henry. Emma died in 1870, and Henry is now a prominent merchant of Wabasha, Minn. Mr. Schwedes was married, secondly, in 1884, to Louisa Neumann, of which union one child was born, Emily M., born in 1885, who was gradu- ated from Cobb Hospital at St. Paul, as a nurse, and died in 1913. Mr. Schwedes died February 22, 1918, when in his ninety-third year, being mentally bright up to the end of his life. He was universally respected as one of the oldest citizens of Alma and one of the few then remaining pioneers who had helped to lay the foundation for the present prosperity of the city.
Lorence Brenner, one of the influential citizens of Canton township, Buffalo county, proprietor of a fine farm of 215 acres in section 16, was born in this township in the log house of his parents, Anthony and Agatha Brenner, August 4, 1860. The parents were natives of Germany, the father coming to the United States in 1858 while still a single man. They located on a tract of 160 acres in section 15, Canton township, this county. There was then no road and the land Mr. Brenner had was covered with timber, so strenuous work had to be done to develop a farm, his first task being to erect a log house. Oxen were used in the work of clearing, and long trips were made on foot to and from town, carrying in produce and bringing home supplies. In time good farm buildings were erected and the family became fairly prosperous. Anthony died on that farm at the age of 84 years and his wife at that of 83. They were Catholics in religious faith. Lorance Brenner was the third-born child in a family of seven. In his youth he attended country school and when not occupied with his studies was usually engaged in making himself useful on the parental homestead. In time he began farming for himself on eighty acres of land in sections 21 and 22, Canton township, the tract being provided with a log house and
Digitized by Google
580
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
barn. Subsequently he bought eighty acres more land and built a brick house and other buildings. There he remained until 1912, when he re- moved to his present farm of 215 acres in section 16, a well improved place, which he is conducting with satisfactory financial results, raising both grain and stock. He is also one of the shareholders in the creamery, in which he has been a director for five or six years, and in the Farmers' Telephone Company. Mr. Brenner has long taken rank among the leading men of his township and has aided in the administration of local affairs, having served in the office of supervisor for seven or eight years and as town treasurer for seven years. He has also been for thirteen years a member of the school board of this district. Mr. Brenner was married. in 1884, to Jane Nothom, who was born in Canton township, this county, daughter of Peter and Catherine Nothom. Of this union ten children have been born: Edward, John, Agnes, Andrew, Frank, Peter, Mary, Catherine, Lizzie and Louis, of whom Edward and Frank are now deceased.
William Rieck, whose name is closely associated with the pioneer his- tory of Buffalo county, was born in Claushagen, Prussia, February 28, 1829, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Rieck. The parents emigrated with their family to the United States, being eighty days on the ocean in a sailing vessel. William Rieck was married in Iowa in 1860 to Mary Weber, who was born in Germany, July 21, 1840, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kaller) Weber, she having come to this country with her parents in 1846. It was not long after his arrival in Buffalo county, in 1861, that William located on land of his own, purchasing eighty acres in section 12, Modena township. It was not a particularly favorable location, as the tract was quite marshy, though there had been trees on it and it had to be grubbed. It was, moreover, difficult of access, being surrounded with brush and not approached by any road, so that he had to cut his way in with an axe and grub-hoe. Before taking possession of the property William had made arrangements for the construction of a house, but when he and his wife arrived there, driving in with an ox team in the midst of a big storm, they found that the house was not ready, and they had to take refuge in the home of Mr. Shane, where they remained two weeks. They then took up their residence in their own dwelling, though it was not yet completed, and they had hardly been installed there when their first child was born, there being neither doctor nor nurse within call to render assistance. Under such inauspicious conditions did Mr. and Mrs. William Rieck begin domestic life on their Modena township farm, but the future had better things in store for them. Though their early progress was slow, owing to the wild surroundings and their lack of adequate resources, it was nevertheless steady and gradually gained momentum as the township became more civilized. To that development in civilization they contributed their share. After clearing a considerable part of his original eighty-acre tract Mr. Rieck bought eighty acres more, and later another tract of forty acres, most of which had to be grubbed. In time also he built a good frame house, the one now used as a residence by his son, Otto G., the present proprietor of the homestead. Though he never cared for public office, in deference to the wishes of his fellow townsmen he served for a while as a
Digitized by Google
-
581
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
member of the town side board, and also on the school board. Religiously he was affiliated with the German Lutheran church, and in early days services were often held in his log house. Mr. Rieck was spared to the advanced age of 83 years, his death occurring January 23, 1912. His wife is still living on the farm. They had four children: Louisa, Matilda, Otto and Addie, all now living but Addie.
Otto G. Rieck, a well-known farmer and stockraiser of Modena town- ship, Buffalo, proprietor of the old Rieck homestead of 160 acres in section 12, has resided on this farm since his birth, February 1, 1866. His parents were William and Mary (Weber) Rieck, natives of Germany and pioneers of Modena township. His childhood was passed amidst primitive scenes, one feature of which was the little log schoolhouse to and from which he trudged schoolbooks in hand in the youthful pursuit of knowledge; and as he grew older and stronger he was gradually initiated into all the processes of pioneer farming, in which he became expert, as he did later in the more advanced methods of modern agriculture. As he was the only son in the family his father depended upon him largely for assistance in the hard work of the farm, and it was natural, therefore, that in time he should succeed to its ownership. Since then he has operated it on his own account and has taken rank among the successful and prosperous farmers of Mo- dena township. An important part of his business is the raising of stock. His cattle are of the Jersey breed, while he raises Percheron horses and Chester-White hogs, having changed to the latter breed of hogs from the Poland China variety, to which he formerly gave his attention. Mr. Rieck has kept well in the van of modern progress, his career since he began industrial life having ever been onward and upward. As a boy he drove the oxen on his parents' farm and trudged on foot to the nearest market town, but now makes the journey in a fine automobile. The fine barn on the farm was erected by him and his buildings and machinery are of mod- ern type and kept in excellent condition. His present prosperity is the natural result of his enterprise and thrift, but in his upward progress he has had the valuable assistance of a faithful and industrious wife. His marriage to Marie Meyer, daughter of John B. and Elizabeth (Stamm) Meyer, took place August 29, 1900, and resulted in the birth of eight chil- dren, Cecelia, Louise, Arno, Anita, Alvera, Elmer, Leonard and Irma. Of these children, however, Louisa is now deceased. . Christ C. Serum, a retired farmer residing at Urne, was for many years one of the leading representatives of the agricultural class in Mo- dena township, Buffalo county. He was born in Norway, November 28, 1858, son of Christ and Ellen (Hanson) Serum. In 1860 his parents emi- grated to this country, bringing with them their four children: Anna, Christiana, Sarah and Christ. The voyage across the Atlantic was made in a sailing vessel and it was three months after they embarked before they reached port. Striking out for the Northwest, they settled first in Dane county, Wisconsin, but remained there only a short time before they resumed their journey northwestward until they came to a halt in Buffalo county and established themselves in Norwegian valley, where they re- mained three years. The father died when the subject of this sketch was
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.