USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 17
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James Christiansen, of Waunakee, is a native of Denmark, son of Andrew and Margaret Christiansen. His father came to the United States in 1868, and being satisfied after a two years residence that the conditions of life were promising, returned to Denmark for his family, with whom he settled in the town of Leeds, Columbia county ; three years later he came to Vienna township, in Dane. Later with all of the family with the exception of the son, James, he moved to Nebraska, where he resides at the present time. He is a considerable land owner there but has retired from the active management of his farming property. He is independent in politics, and is a member of the Lutheran church; his wife, who belonged to the same church, died in Nebraska in 1900. James Christiansen was born in Denmark, December 29, 1861, and at- tended the public schools of Leeds, Columbia county, and Vienna, Dane county. He farms in a large way and owns in the towns of Springfield and Vienna over a thousand acres of land. He began life by working, for the long period of fourteen years, by the month, and has acquired his property by his own industry coupled with good business ability. He has made all the improvements on his home farm, including the buildings which are all new. He is an extensive raiser of tobacco, having, in 1905, forty acres. His farm is stocked with short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Christensen is independent in politics and a prohibitionist in sentiment ; his church affiliations are with the Catholics. He was married in 1886 to Miss Susie Diederick, born in Germany, of German parentage. Peter Diederick, Sr., her father, was a citizen
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of Dane township from 1872 until 1905 when he moved to Spring- field township. Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen have no children of their own but have adopted three, Alvie, Hazel and Lillian.
Morten Christensen, a successful contractor and builder of the city of Stoughton, is another of the honored citizens of Scandina- vian birth who have assisted in the upbuilding of Dane county. He was born near the city of Copehagen, Denmark, December 5, 1854, and is a son of Christian Anderson and Kavian (Mortenson) Anderson. He was reared in his native land, where he received a common-school education and where he served an apprenticeship of ten years to the carpenter's trade. In 1882 he immigrated to America, making his way directly to Stoughton, where he worked at his trade as a journeyman for one year. In 1883 he went for a trip through various sections of the west, finally locating in Nebraska, where he remained three years, at the expiration of which he returned to Denmark. In 1890 he came again to the United States and resumed his residence in Stoughton, and for the past fifteen years he has done a very prosperous business as a con- tractor and builder, having a high reputation for reliability and high-grade workmanship and having erected a number of churches in this section of the county, besides business blocks and many fine private residences in the city of Stoughton. In politics he accords a stanch allegience to the Republican party, and in a frater- nal way he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife and daughter are members of Our Saviour's Lutheran church. In 1891 Mr. Christensen was united in marriage to Miss Karian Mortensen, who was born in Denmark, being a daughter of Ole and Johanna (Nielson) Mortenson, and the only living child of this union is the one daughter, Viola.
Christen Christenson is the head of the well known jewelry firm of C. Christenson & Son, of Stoughton. and is one of the leading business men and highly honored citizens of Dane county's at- tractive second city. Mr. Christensen is a native of Norway, in which fair land of the north he was born May 23, 1845, being a son of Christen Hanson and Ann Marie (Ravn) Hanson. He was reared to maturity in Norway, in whose schools he received his early educational training. At the age of fifteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade, serving five years with one firm and becoming a thoroughly skilled workman. At the age of twenty years he engaged in business for himself, in Hollen, where he met with due success under the conditions which surrounded him. He there continued in business seventeen years,
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at the expiration of which, being convinced that superior opportu- nities were to be had in America, he immigrated to this country with his family. He took up his residence in Stoughton, where he has since maintained his home and where he has gained success and prominence as a business man, so that it is needless to say that he has no regret for the decision which led him to leave his native land and cast in his lot with that of Stoughton. Soon after his arrival in this city he established himself in the jewelry bus- iness, in which he has since continued, and he now has one of the most attractive and finely equipped establishment of the sort in the city, catering to a large and representative trade and having the unqualified esteem of the community. It may be said without fear of justified contradiction that he has one of the handsomest retail jewelry stores to be found in this section of the state. In February, 1893, Mr. Christenson admitted his eldest son, Trace, to partnership, and the enterprise has since been conducted under the firm name of C. Christenson & Son. In July, 1870, Mr. Christen- son was united in marriage to Miss Liv Halverson, who was born in the same district of Norway as was he himself, and to them have been born six children: Hilda, who became the wife of Torlif Berge, is now deceased; Anna is the wife of John Edson ; George is deceased ; Trace is associated with his father in business, as already noted ; and the two younger children are Louisa and Halvor. Mr. Christenson, in company with his wife, went to Norway in May, 1905, passing nearly a year in the land of his nativity and renewing old acquaintances and associations; they returned to Stoughton in June, 1906, and here an equally cordial greeting was given them by their many friends. In politics Mr. Christenson is independent. His children are members of the First Norwegian Lutheran church of Stoughton.
John Christianson, well-known farmer and business man of Christ- iania, has owned his present home in the town of Christiania since 1883. Besides his general farming occupations he is extensively interested in dairying and is secretary and treasurer of the Prairie Queen creamery. He is also the local representative for several steamship line. In 1899 he organized the Prairie Queen Telephone Co .. the first rural telephone of Dane county and is still its manager and superintendent. Christian Paulson, his father, was born in Nas Hedemarken, Norway, and there married Miss Olava Isaacs- dotter. Mr. Paulson was a farmer and a brush-maker and spent his entire life in Norway. 'After his death in 1856 Mrs. Paulson mar- ried Mathias Jardsberg, with whom she came to the United States
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in 1881. six children were born to the first marriage and three to the second. Randina, the oldest, lives in Christiania; John is the oldest son; Paul resides in Edgerton; Johanna in Christiania ; Agnes in North Dakota; Christian at Sumner, Wis .; Martin in Christiania ; Ole in Cambrdge and Julia in Chippewa county, Wis. John was born in Nas Hedemarken, Norway, January 10, 1848, attended school in Norway and left home when he was eight years old. Until he was eighteen he worked out and then he came to America. For a time he worked for Halvor Kravick of Christ- iania, raised tobacco and farmed on shares. In 1881 he sent to Nor- way for his mother, step-father and the younger children and in 1883 was able to purchase his home in section 10. All of the improve- ments on the farm have been made by Mr. Christianson, whose active and industrious life has been rewarded by success. He is a Republican in political affiliations and has served as justice of the peace for a number of years and as assessor. October 1, 1880, he married Miss Susan Johnson of Voss, Norway, and nine children were born to the marriage. Caius and Oscar, the older sons, are engaged in the creamery business in Rutland township. Sarah re- sides in Madison, Wis. Julia lives in Cambridge. Ruth, Stella, Alvin, Herbert and Arthur are at home. Mrs. Christianson died in 1902 and Mr. Christianson married Marie Monson of Nas, Norway, in August, 1904. One son of this marriage, Marion Harold, was born in 1905. The family attend the Lutheran church of Cam- bridge.
Darwin Clark .- The history of a community, of a state, of a na- tion, is chiefly the chronicles of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society, whether in the broad sphere of public labors or in the more circumscribed but not less worthy and valuable realm of individual activity through which the public good is promoted. The name borne by the sub- ject of this memoir is one which has stood exponent of the most sterling personal characteristics, the deepest appreciation of the rights and privileges of citizenship in our great republic, and is one which hs been connected with the annals of the city of Mad- ison from the practical inception of its history. A strong man and true was Darwin Clark, and he left upon the history of the capital city the definite impress of exalted integrity and worthy accom- plishment, having resided here continuously for a period of sixty- two years, and up to the time when he was summoned into eternal life, February 11, 1899. Mr. Clark was born in Otego, Oswego county, New York, May 12, 1812, being a son of Isaac and Eunice
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(Davis) Clark. the former of whom was born in Sturbridge, Worcester county, Massachusetts, September 12, 1783, and the lat- ter in Schrewsbury, Rutland county, Vermont, February 22, 1790. The respective families were founded in New England in the early colonial epoch, and authentic records show that both the paternal and maternal grandfathers of Mr. Clark were loyal soldiers in the Continental line during the War of the Revolution. His parents were persons of intelligence and sterling character, and his child- hood and youth were thus compassed by beneficent home influences; he was reared to be God-fearing, honest and honorable, self-reliant and industrious, tolerant and kindly, and throughout his long and useful life he never swerved in the least from the dominating prin- ciples which were thus early instilled into his receptive and appre- ciative mind. After being afforded the advantages of the common schools of his native town he put his scholastic requirements to practical test and utilization, teaching three successive winters in country schools and then entering upon an apprenticeship at the trade of cabinet-making at which he became a skilled artisan. He continued to follow his trade as a vocation until he had attained his legal majority, when his aggressive spirit prompted him to move to the wonderful west and cast in his lot with its pioneers. It may safely be said that he never regretted the choice which led him to establish his home in Madison, as one of the first settlers of the beautiful lake-ensconced city. The long and weary journey was made by sailing vessel on the Great Lakes and by means of the other primitive conveyances of the day, and he arrived in what is now the city of Milwaukee, May 26, 183 ?. Madison had been se- lected as the capital of the newly organized territory of Wisconsin. the site of the city having then been marked by a solitary log cabin. Soon after his arrival in Milwaukee, Mr. Clark was engaged with the little party of pioneers who came to Madison to erect the first capitol building, arriving at his destination at ten o'clock in the morning of June 10, 1837. Another publication has gracefully spoken of this journey and Mr. Clark's identification with the same, in the following words: "The weather had been very unfavorable for this band of pioneers, but when Madison was but a few miles distant the sun burst forth in splendor and Mr. Clark named the spot his party had just reached 'Sun Prairie," which has since been a familiar name." From that time forward until his death Mr. Clark knew no other home than Madison, and he witnessed the development of the beau- tiful "City of the Lakes" from the unbroken wilderness, contribu-
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ting his full share to the civic and material upbuilding of the place in which his pride and his affection centered. A kindly, Christian gentleman, who believed in doing good to the community in which he lived, his steady determination never to be a drone in the civic hive made him a beneficent force in many directions. If his exam- ple were followed generally by men of wealth and business stand- ing there would be no lack of power behind any public movement leading in the direction of advancement and better government based on better citizenship. Mr. Clark was in close touch with the community through all its early years and struggles, holding many offices, public and private. He was instrumental in laying out and beautifying Forest Hill cemetery, which name he suggested, and in this consecrated spot he now rests. Mr. Clark was a distinct individual and was in many ways a remarkable man. No shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil ever rested upon his reputation in any of the relations of life; kindness and tolerance dwelt with him as constant guests, equivocation or compromise with conscientious conviction were innately impossible with him. In his life and char- acter lie lessons of inspiration and incentive, and his name merits a high place on the roster of the honored pioneers of the city, the county and the state. About 1846 he embarked in the furniture business. In that year he went to Chicago and bought a load of chairs, which was his first stock of furniture not made in his own shop. Through legitimate business enterprise he accumulated a competency and was ever ready to lend his aid and influence in support of all measures tending to conserve the general welfare. He was a Democrat in his political allegience, and he was called to many offices of public trust and responsibility, having ever com- manded the unqualified confidence and esteem of the comunity. He was a member of the board of aldermen for four years, was presi- dent of the city council one year, was for some time an active and valued member of the board of education, and in 1860 was acting mayor of the capital city. He was an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and aided liberally in the upbuilding of the par- ish and the edifice of Grace church. On August 31, 1848, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Clark to Miss Sarah L. Goodnow, who was born in Webster, Monroe county, N. Y., and who died in Madison, March 5, 1854. The only child of this union was Edward, who was born on May 1, 1850, and who died on August 19. of the following year.On May 20, 1858, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Frances Ann Adams, who was born in Akron, Ohio. Iar mary 16, 1833, being a daughter of Harry and Julia Ann (Newell)
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Adams, the former of whom was born in Panton, Addison county, Vt., December 6. 1806, and the latter in Elizabethtown, Essex county, N. Y., July 21, 1813. The father died April 18, 1868, at Vergennes, Vt., and his wife survived him by many years, her death occurring in Madison, Wis., August 2, 1904. at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Mr. Clark lived over fifty years in the old homestead on Webster street; several years after his death Mrs. Clark built the beautiful home at 105 East Wilson street, where she expects to spend the rest of her life. Mr. Clark built the block at the corner of Webster and Main streets in 1879, and many years previous to that date he built the store at 118 East Main street, in which he engaged in the furniture business for more than forty years. The two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Clark are still living. The elder, Frances Louise, married Paul Holmes Wood of New Jer- ssey, and is the mother of two children, Harold Paul and Henrietta Holmes. The younger daughter, Grace, is the wife of Frederic King Conover, of Madison, the official reporter of the Wisconsin supreme court, and they have four children,-Frederic LeRoy, Marion Clark, Julian Darst and Daphne Grace.
Hamilton G. Clark, one of the successful and popular farmers of Cottage Grove township, is a representative of one of the hon- ored pioneer families of this section of the county. He was born on the homestead farm. in section 9, Cottage Grove township, April 10, 1852, being a son of James and Margaret (Clark) Clark, both of whom were natives of County Down, Ireland, where the former was born in 1819, and the latter in 1818. Their marriage was solem- nized in Ireland, whence they immigrated to the United States in 1847, landing in New York city, where they resided some time. In 1849 they came to Dane county, where the father was employed at farm work until 1852, when he secured a tract of school land, in section 16, Cottage Grove township. He developed the property into a good farm and there passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1888, at which time he owned one hundred and ninety-two acres. He achieved a competency through earnest and honest endeavor, and he ever retained the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. His devoted wife survived him by more than a decade, her death occurring in 1901. Both were zealous members of the Presbyterian church. Concerning their children the follow- ing brief data are entered: John died at the age of twenty-two years; Hamilton G., subject of this review, was the next in order of birth ; Mary A. is the wife of D. W. Houston, of Cottage Grove township; Martha J. is the wife of J. D. Van Arnam and they re- 12-iii
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side in the village of Cottage Grove ; James died at the age of three years; William R. resides on the old homestead farm, in Cottage Grove township; Maggie and Nancy were twins, the former being the wife of James E. Showers, of Cottage Grove township, and the latter, who died in 1890, was the wife of R. J. Arthur. Hamil- ton G. Clark was reared on the home farm and his early educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools of the local- ity. He remained with his parents until he had attained to the age of twenty-four years, when he married. He then rented land in Cottage Grove township and began his independent career as a farmer, in 1875. He farmed on rented land about four years and then purchased his present well-improved homestead of one hun- dred and seventeen acres, in section 10, Cottage Grove township. the place having formerly been known as the Thomas Dailey farm. Mr. Clark erected the present buildings, including the modern two- story frame residence, a barn thirty-six by eighty-four feet in di- mensions, a tobacco shed twenty-six by seventy feet and other excellent farm buildings. He gives his attention to diversified farming and stock-growing, making a specialty of raising tobacco and also raising hogs somewhat extensively. Since 1895 Mr. Clark has devoted considerable of his time and attention to the buying of grain and live stock, being at the present time associated with his brother. William R. in this line of enterprise. He now resides in the village of Cottage Grove, having turned the active man- agement of the farm over to his younger son. Mr. Clark has long been influential in public affairs in his township and has been called upon to serve in offices of local trust, his preferment indicat- ing the esteem in which he is held in the community. He was in- cumbent of the office of township treasurer two terms, was town- ship clerk one term, and four terms he served as chairman of the township board, being thus ex officio member of the county board of supervisors. In politics he is a stanch adherent of the Demo- cratic party. December 10, 1874, Mr. Clark was united in mar- riage to Miss Eliza Dailey, who was born in Cottage Grove town- ship. July 1, 1853, being a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Lemon) Dailey, sterling pioneers of the township. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Clark it may be recorded that Mabel, who was born Feb- ruary 8, 1877, is the wife of Henry M. Derleth, of Cottage Grove township, and they have one child, Clark F .; James H., who was born September 4. 1879, remains at the parental home; and Wayne J., who was born June 22, 1884, has charge of the home farm ; he married Miss Gheah Rinden.
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Samuel Clarke is a well-known farmer of Albion, son of John G. and Harriet Clarke, who came to Wisconsin in 1842 from York- shire, England. A brother of John G. Clarke, Samuel, had pre- ceded them two years before and obtained a farm in section 15, town of Albion, where he was joined in 1842 by his brother, John, and his parents, James and Judith Ann (Hobson) Clarke. James Clarke landed in New York city with his family after a perilous voyage of many weeks on an old sailing vessel. came by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee and thence with ox teams to Albion. A farm of two hundred and forty acres was purchased by James Clarke, and father and sons set bravely to work to clear and im- prove their property. In England James was employed as head book-keeper in a cotton factory where John also worked and no one of the family had ever been a farmer. The difficulties of the new country were many even to experienced farmers, but thrift and energy triumphed over obstacles which would have discouraged less persevering men, and the Clarkes were successful from the beginning of their life in America. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John G. Clarke: Judeth Ann Craig; Hannah Croft ; James, a farmer in Rock county, Wis .; Matilda, who is married and lives in Rock county, Wis .; Samuel, the subject of this sketch and Clara, who is Mrs. Thomas Pierce of Albion. Samuel was born in Albion, attended the district schools and the Albion academy and early interested himself in farming. The farm origi- nally obtained by James Clarke was purchased by his son John and its management succeeded to his son Samuel, who now owns it and has added to it another eighty acre tract which he bought in 1897. About one hundred acres are under 'cultivation and an extensive general farming business is carried on. Mr. Clarke is interested in stock-raising, has a fine herd of cattle, a considerable number of horses and pure-bred hogs. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade but has always preferred to give most of his attention to farming and keeps well posted on up-to-date farming methods. Mr. Clarke is a school director and has held other local offices. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Repub- lican party. Mr. Clarke has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Louisa Dickinson. In 1895 he married Mrs. Clara L. Stronse, widow of Samuel Stronse. Five children blessed the sec- ond marriage; Beulah Leora, Ruth Eveline, Violet Gertrude, Edna Louise and John Warren. Three children were born to Mrs. Clarke by her former marriage; Ethel May, Norman and Lyman. The family attend the Primitive Methodist church of Albion of
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which John G. Clarke and his brother, Samuel, were among the first members.
J. Frank and Charles E. Cleary are the men, who under the firm name of Cleary Bros. conduct one of the large farming interests of the county, at Sun Prairie, Wis. They are sons of Patrick and Mary (Nolan) Cleary. Both parents were born in Ireland, the former, November 15, 1833, and the latter August 5, 1835. The paternal grandfather, James Cleary, was born in Ireland and in 1851 came to America, settling in Onondago county, New York. In 1854 he removed to Dane county. Wis., where he died in 1876. His wife was Mary Kennedy, who died in Ireland previous to his removal to this country. Their son, Patrick, the father of Frank and Charles was educated in Ireland and came to this country with his father about the time of his majority. For several years he was employed in Sun Prairie by Col. W. H. Angel, but in 1863 he removed (to Bristol, where he purchased eighty acres of land, adding to his holdings until he possessed three hundred and thirty acres. He was married October 29, 1863, and died at his home in Dane county, December 14. 1894. In politics he was an independ- ent. He and his family were members of the Sacred Heart church of Sun Prairie. The old homestead formed the nucleus of the fine farm of three hundred and thirty acres now owned and operated by Cleary brothers. As boys they were educated in the common schools of this district and at Sacred Heart college in Watertown. In addition to the possession of a large number of short-horned cattle the Cleary brothers are interested in dairying and are also extensive feeders of cattle. Charles is treasurer of the North Bris- tol creamery association. In politics both belong to the Demo- cratic party. Frank has served as justice of the peace, was town clerk for six years, and is now serving his second term as chairman of the town. Like their parents their church affiliations are Cath- olic. Members of the family of Patrick Cleary are as follows: J. Frank was born June 19, 1868, and is a member of the firm of Cleary Bros .; Dr. B. L. was born August 10, 1870, educated in Stoughton college, and graduated from Rush Medical college in 1900, and now practices his profession at Edgerton, Wis .; Nettie, born November 5, 1873, is now Mrs. George Schernecker of Madi- son, Wis .; George, born August 10, 1875, is a farmer of Bloomer, Wis .; Charles E., born March 2, 1878, belongs to the firm of Cleary Bros. Frank is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. The firm of Cleary brothers is recognized as a standard trade-mark of
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