History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 2

Author: Keyes, Elisha W. (Elisha Williams), 1828-1910
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Madison, Wi. : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 998

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Hans J. Allberg, foreman of the Amerika Publishing Company, was born near Trondheim, Norway, Angust 12, 1866. His par- ents were Anders Peterson and Hannah (Peterson) Allberg, both natives of Norway, where the father was a mechanic. They never came to America, the father dying in the old country at the age of

BIOGRAPHICAL.

sixty-four years and the mother when she was fifty-three years of age. Of their five children Hans J. was the youngest. The others are Peter A., a mechanic, now living in Madison; Paul, a farmer living near Walcott, N. D .; Martin, now and for several years county surveyor of Ottertail county, Minn., living in Henning ; and Helmar B., living in Norway. Hans J. Allberg received his educa- tion in the public schools of Norway, and after coming to this country in 1884 attended the schools here. His trade of printer he learned in Minneapolis, Minn., where he worked three years. In the fall of 1887 he came to Madison and was employed on dif- ferent papers until 1896 when the "Amerika" a Norwegian paper of which Prof. R. B. Anderson is the editor-in-chief, was moved to this city, since which time he has been with that paper. For some six years he edited and managed a Norwegian paper in Stoughton, called "The Normannen," which he later sold. The paper was removed. to Madison and consolidated with "Amerika." On October 15, 1892, Mr. Allberg married Betsey, a daughter of Erick E. and Martha Hovland of Pleasant Springs and to this union three children have been born, Arthur Herman, Elmer Mar- tin and Hazel Lenora. Mr. and Mrs. Allberg are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. For some years Mr. Allberg was secretary of the church board. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Professor William Francis Allen, one of the distinguished scholars and educators of the state and nation, was born in North- boro, Mass., September 5, 1830. His father was Joseph Allen, a minister of the old church of that town. His preparatory school- ing was obtained partly at home and partly at Leicester Academy and Roxbury Latin school. In 1851 he was graduated from Har- vard and spent the next three years as a private instructor in New York city. The years 1854 -- 56 were spent in European study and travel, chiefly at Berlin, Goettingen and Rome. In Rome he de- voted his attention for several months to a study of the topo- graphy of the ancient city ; he also visited Naples and Greece be- fore returning to the United States in 1856. These were the years of his specialized effort wherein he laid the foundations for h's life work in Latin, history and Roman antiquities. Prof. Allen next taught for seven years in the English and classical school in West Newton, Mass. He was married July 2, 1862, to Mary T. Lam- bert of the latter town, who died in 1865, leaving one child, Kath- arine. During the last two years of the Civil War he served in the south as an agent of the freedmen's and sanitary commissions.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

ministering to the cause of education among the blacks. While in this employment he gathered materials for a collection of negro. songs, published in 1867, under the title of "Slave Songs." After the close of the war he was for one year professor of ancient lan- guages at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and one year at Eagleswood Military Academy, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, While here he accepted a call to the chair of ancient languages and history in the University of Wisconsin, with which institution he was associated during the remainder of his life; in 1870 his chair was changed to that of Latin and history, and in 1886 to that of history alone. June 30. 1868, he married Margaret L. Andrews of Newburyport. Mass., and three children were born of this union, Andrews, William W. (deceased) and Philip. Professor Allen died in Madison, Wis., December 8, 1889, after a brief illness, from pneumonia. He gained an international reputation in the literary world for his labors and publications in the field of Roman history and antiquities. He is also the author of numerous Latin text- books of standard merit ; numerous review articles in The Nation, North American Review, and other leading critical journals ; has- published a large number of well known monographs of marked excellence. Among his best known works are his "Annals of Taci- tus," and "History of the Roman People" (Ginn, 1890). In the midst of his busy life as educator and writer, he found time for numerous outside activities, and was a director of the Madison free library. aad a trustee of the Unitarian church. He was be- loved by students, associates and all who knew him, and has left the impress of his scholarly personality on many generations of students. No one man has added more to the splendid reputation of the great university with which he was so long and intimately associated.

Francis M. Ames is a native-born son of Dane county, and dur- ing all of his long and active career he has resided within her con- fines. He was born in the town of Oregon, March 23, 1847, and is the son of John N. and Mary Ann (Ball) Ames, pioneer settlers of the county, who are deserving of more than a passing mention in a volume devoted to the history of worthy citizens, past and present. John N. Ames was born July 2, 1822, in Steuben, Oneida county, N. Y., and is descended from noble Revolutionary ances- try. His grandfather, Nathaniel Ames (born April 25, 1761, in New Hampshire) was a farmer and a Protestant Methodist preacher, who served under Washington and experienced the mis- eries of that winter camp at Valley Forge. In 1800 he settled in

BIOGRAPHICAL.

the wilderness near the headwaters of the Mohawk river, and there built him a home in which he resided for a number of years. He was married to Miss Sarah Hall, a native of Albany county, N. Y., who became the mother of eleven children, one of whom, David H., was the grandfather of the subject of this review. Al- though eighty-four years of age, in the summer of 1845, Nathaniel Ames, the old Revolutionary veteran, with his wife and five of his children, (Frances, Jonathan, Naomi, Perymus and Ira), migrated to the wilds of the then territory of Wisconsin and settled on sec- tion 22 of what is now the town of Oregon, in Dane county. There his wife died, in July, 1851, at the age of eighty-four, and nine years later the old gentleman moved to the village of Oregon, where he died in August, 1863, aged one hundred and two years, doubtless the oldest white man who ever lived and died in Dane county. He was a Mason and was buried under the auspices of that order. David H. Ames, son of the venerable patriot, was born near Albany, N. Y., served through the war of 1812, and died but comparatively a few years ago, near Trenton Falls, N. Y., aged one hundred and one years, nine months and twenty-seven days. He married Miss Betsy Norton, who was a native of Herkimer county, N. Y., and a granddaughter of General Norton of the Rev- olutionary War. She also lived to be very old. John N. Ames. father of our subject. and son of David H. and Betsy (Norton) Ames, came with his grandfather to Wisconsin, in 1845, and was the only one of the eleven children born to his parents who made his home in this state. He lived on the original half-section en- tered by his grandfather until 1870, and then purchased two hun- dred and forty-four acres, lying on both sides of the track of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad, two miles south of Oregon vil- lage, and in the heart of the best farming land in that section of Wisconsin. On this farm he built a large two-story farm house, a substantial basement barn and other buildings, and although he began his independent career with $100 which he had earned as monthly wages, few men made greater or more constant progress. Mr. Ames married, in his and her native town, Miss Mary A. Ball. daughter of Eusevius and Keturah (Weld) Ball, her father being a native of Massachusetts and of Revolutionary ancestry, as was also her mother, who was born in Orange county. N. J. Mr. Ames still lives at the old homestead, enjoying the fruits of his early endeavors. Mrs. Ames died February 4, 1893. Five chil- dren were born to them, all on the old Oregon farm: Francis M., John F., Sarah A., William L. and Florence A. Francis M. Ames

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

is the eldest of these children and is the one to whom this sketch is especially dedicated. He received his primary education in the district schools of Oregon, and supplemented the knowledge thus. gained by taking a course at the University of Wisconsin at Madi- son. He resided at the home of his parents until 1876, when he- was married and located on the farm where he still resides, in sec- tion 32 of the town of Rutland, the place being known as the old. Axtell farm. It comprises two hundred and fifty acres, and since taking possession of it Mr. Ames has made many needed improve- ments, including a beautiful residence which he built in 1893. In addition to this homestead he owns two hundred and eighty acres. in Brooklyn, Green county, which tract is known as the Willis. Hazeltine place. Mr. Ames has always followed farming of a general nature, raising oats, corn, hay and wheat, and in live stock, and breeds hogs, horses and cattle quite extensively. In politics he- gives an unwavering allegiance to the principles of the Prohibition party, but has never aspired to official position. In 1904 the Far- mers' Mutual Banking & Trust Company of Brooklyn was organ- ized, and Mr. Ames was elected as the first president of the organi- zation, serving in that capacity for two years, and he is now secre- tary of the same. Our subject was married on August 15, 1876, to Miss Alice C. Main, daughter of R. P. and Cordelia A. (Dakin) Main, who are given extended mention on another page of this. volume, in the sketch of their son, Edwin D. Main. Mrs. Ames. was a school teacher in her early life, and is a lady of culture and refinement. She is the mother of seven children, the names and other facts concerning whom are here incorporated: F. Marion attended school at Evansville, graduated in the commercial college. at Madison, and is now the book keeper at the chair factory at Brooklyn. J. Quincey is at present attending Yale college, being a member of the class of 1907. and is assistant secretary of the- college Y. M. C. A. He has also been a student at the University of Wisconsin and he was in St. Louis two years and in Manila for the same length of time, being in the civil service of the govern- ment. He has also made a trip around the world, visiting Shanghai, London. Rome, Paris, and other notable places. He is now preparing himself for the practice of law. Hallie, the third child, is assistant cashier and book keeper in the bank of Evans- ville. She is a graduate of the Evansville Seminary and the com- mercial college at Madison and taught several years. Tressa at- tended the Whitewater Normal school for two years, and has been teaching for the past three years, being the teacher in the primary

BIOGRAPHICAL.

department of the high school at Brooklyn. Robert P. took a com- mercial course in the Madison Business College, then went to Mon- tana for a while and was book keeper for a time at Canastota. S. D. He is now at home engaged in the management of his father's farm. Paul Main and Sadie Minnie (twins) are graduates of the high school at Evansville, of the class of 1906. In 1893 all of these children attended the World's Fair at Chicago, and in 1904 they visited the St. Louis exposition.

A. O. Amondson is a retired farmer of Cambridge, of Norwegian birth and ancestry. With his parents, Ole and Ingobar (Larson) Amondson, he came to the United States when he was twelve years old and located at Christiana, Dane county, Wis., after one winter spent at Jefferson Prairie. Eleven children were born to Ole Amondson and his wife, of whom A. O. is the oldest living son. Rhoda, the oldest daughter, is married and lives in Iowa; Betsy is Mrs. O. D. Olson of Grand Forks, N. D .; Martha is the wife of I. Isaacson of Rock county, Wis .; Christie married Nicholi Anderson of Rockdale. Ole Amondson was a blacksmith and a skilled worker in metals but when he came to Wisconsin he en- gaged in farming. The voyage was made in a sailing vessel and the family was twelve weeks upon the ocean. They landed at New York, in July, 1844, and came to Wisconsin by way of the Great Lakes, the common route at that time. The farm upon which they lived comprised one hundred and sixty acres and upon it a dug-out was soon constructed to be followed later by a sub- stantial home. Besides the work of the farm Mr. Amondson was the blacksmith for the young community, made plows, tinkered guns, etc. He died at the old homestead in January, 1861, and his wife in May, 1881. Mr. Amondson was a member of the Luth- eran church and in political sympathy a Democrat, though he was never active in politics. A. O. Amondson, better known as Ed .. was born in Voss, Norway, September 26, 1832, attended the home schools and assisted his parents with the work of the farm. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California and after a difficult and dangerous journey of four months arrived at Placeville, Cal., where he worked in mines and in a store. Returning to Dane county after several years in California he bought one hundred and twenty acres of the old home farm and there he carried on a prosperous general farming business for thirty years. In 1898 he retired and since then has made his home in the village of Cambridge. A member of the Republican party Mr. Amondson has always been an active worker for the advancement of the community and has

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

served as a supervisor and as a member of the town board of Chris- tiania.

Ed. Amundson, a prominent farmer of Rutland, was born in Nor- way and came to America with his brother and sister, in 1871. Of a family of eight children but three left their native land, Ole, who lives with his brother, Anna, whose home is in Pierce county, Wis .. and Ed. The other members of the family remained with the parents. Amund and Martha (Olson) Larson, in Christiania. Ed Amundson was born Feb. 15, 1845, at Christiania, attended the common schools and worked on the farm until he was twenty-six years old. when he sailed for America and located at Pleasant Springs. Here he remained for a number of years and in 1896 purchased one hundred and forty-two acres of farm land in the town of Rutland, which is his present home. Many improvements have been made by him upon the farm, until it is now very com- pletely equipped. Mr. Amundson is a Republican in his political affiliations but has never taken an active part in politics. He is a member of the Stoughton Lutheran church. October 9, 1873, he married Miss Inga Erickson, daughter of Eric Erickson and Lena (Olson) Erickson, natives of Norway. Mrs. Amundson has a sister, Rebecca, and a brother, Edward, living in Dane county, but the remainder of the family never came to America. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Amundson, all of whom have attended the schools of Rutland and Stoughton. They live in Rutland ; Alfred and Oscar are farmers ; Sophia is a dressmaker ; Hannah, Edwin, Josephine, Idella and Alf. Theodore remain at home.

Christian Anderson, a merchant of Deerfield, was born in the town of Christiana, Dane county, March 26, 1853. His parents were Andrew and Cary (Nelson) Anderson, both natives of Nor- way. They came to Wisconsin about 1847, bought forty acres of school land in the town of Christiana, but later traded that farm for another in the same neighborhood and there lived the remainder of their lives. The mother died in October, 1860, and the father in the following January. When the war broke out the two older brothers rented out the farm and entered the army. At that time Christian was only eight years old. He was taken by a neighbor, with whom he remained for a year. He then worked for different persons until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to work in a wagon factory at Cambridge. He was there but a short time when his arm was seriously injured by a circular saw, disabling him for a year. This accident still affects the use of his arm. He next worked in hotels at different places for about five years, at the end

BIOGRAPHICAL.

of which time he went to Chicago and found employment in an organ and furniture factory . Mr. Anderson has now an organ and several ornamental pieces of furniture of his own construction, having become an expert cabinet maker in spite of his injured arm. While in Chicago he attended the evening schools, adding to the elementary education he had obtained in the public schools in the town of Christiana. On New Year's day, 1880, he married Anna Hendrickson, who was born in Norway, Dec. 10, 1849. Her par- ents, Hendrie and Sarah (Arandt) Hendrickson, were both natives of Trondhjem, Norway, but came to the United States in 1865, settling first in Michigan, but a year later they located at Oxford- ville, Rock county, Wis., where they bought a farm and there passed the remainder of their lives. They had three children, Mrs. Anderson being the only one now living. In 1885 they removed to Deerfield, where Mr. Anderson erected the building in which his store is established, and where he has ever since been engaged in the mercantile business. Mrs. Anderson is an accomplished mil- liner, having had several years experience in some of the leading milliner stores of Chicago, and she is engaged in that business in connection with her husband's store. They have a large patronage and conduct a store that would be a credit to a much larger town. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have had two children, but both died in infancy. In political matters Mr. Anderson is a Republican and takes an interest in public matters, both general and local, and has served two terms on the village board. He and his wife belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church and take considerable interest in church work.

Iver Anderson, a farmer in the town of Pleasant Springs, was born at Bergen, Norway, February 22, 1836. He is a son of An- drew and Christine (Quam) Ellingson, both natives of the stift in which Bergen is located. They were married in their native land and in 1848 embarked in a sailing vessel for America. After a voyage of seven weeks and two days they landed in the city of New York, from which point they came directly to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Dunkirk, in Dane county. He bought one hundred and eighty acres of unimproved land, opened it to culti- vation and lived on that farm until his death. He was a Democrat in his political views, and both he and his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. Their children were as follows: Elling, now living in Dodge county, Minn .; Iver, the subject of this sketch ; Andrew, deceased ; Nels, a farmer in Dodge county, Minn .; Susan, living in the town of Dunkirk; Annie, also living in Dunkirk; 3-iii

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Martha; Jacob, and Christine. deceased. Iver Anderson re- ceived a primary education in Norway, but after coming to America the requirements of the new country made it neces- sary for him to assist his father in the clearing and cultivation of the farm. He lived with parents until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he bought one hundred acres of land where he now lives. This farm, which he bought from his father, had a log cabin on it and about thirty acres were cleared. He now owns two hundred and sixty acres and has one of the best improved farms in the neighborhood. He does a general farming business, raises a good deal of tobacco, and devotes some attention to raising stock. Politically he is independent. though he takes a worthy interest in town affairs and has held the office of school clerk and treasurer for thirty years. He is a deacon in the Christ church, Lutheran, of Stoughton, and is somewhat active in church work. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Adeline Alderman, by whom he had three children, viz: Kate, now the wife of An- drew Beck. of the town of Pleasant Springs; Caroline, wife of Samuel Brickson, a farmer of Pleasant Springs; and Mileda, now deceased. The mother of these children died in 1874, and Mr. Anderson married Inger Erickson, a native of Norway. By the second wife he has the following chlidren. Arthur, Edward, Bes- sie, Clarence. Mary, Ida, Christine and Andrew, all living but Ar- thur. Mr. Anderson has been an industrious man all his life, and whatever degree of success he has attained has been entirely due to his own energy and good judgment. He is well known and generally respected in the community where he lives.

John N. Anderson, a well-known carpenter of Stoughton, was born at Endresogn, Norway, Feb. 12, 1858. He is a son of Nels and Ela (Oldstatter) Anderson and until he was sixteen years of age his training was obtained in the Norwegian schools. At that age he immigrated to the United States and located in Dane county. and the city of Stoughton has since been his home. For several years he "hired out" to the farmers of the vicinity but in 1880 started in to do carpentering work. Since that time he has been continuously at it and is known today as one of the best men in his line in the city. He has also done some contracting, but has generally preferred to do the mechanical part of the work. On February 27. 1888, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Carrie (or Kara), daughter of Halvor Burthe and Olive (Quale) Torgeson, natives of Norway who were pioneers of both Jefferson and Dane counties. The issue of this union is two daughters,

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Ella A. and Geneva M. All of the family are members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran synod and communicants of Christ church. Stoughton. In his political relations Mr. Anderson is a stanch Republican.

John W. Anderson, retired, of Mazomanie village, was born in Union county, Ohio, Sept. 26, 1836. He was a son of William and Mary (Argo) Anderson. William Anderson was born in Rich- mond, Va., and his wife first saw the light of day near Pittsburg, Pa. The subject's paternal grandfather, John Anderson, was a wealthy planter and slave owner of Virginia. William Anderson remained in Virginia until he was about twenty-one years of age and then removed with his wife to Union county, Ohio, about 1833. In 1846 they moved again, this time to Platteville, Wis .. where they remained one year. Iowa county was their next place of lo- cation and there Mrs. Anderson died. Shortly after Mr. Ander- son went to Iowa to live with a daughter, at whose home he passed away. Both he and his wife were members of the Advent- ist church. Seven children were born to them. The father and two sons enlisted in the Union army ; the father was in Company K, Fiftieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and saw a year's serv- ice. Benjamin, a son, was in Company H, Eighth Wisconsin Infan- try, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. John W. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, enlisted in Company G, Elev- enth Wisconsin Infantry, in October, 1861. His regiment was in the battle of Bayou Cache, in General Steele's division. Ill health kept him in the hospital at Mound City, Ill., for a time, and on his release he was discharged from the army. Up to the time of his , enlistment, from the age of seventeen, he had worked out, and after h's discharge from the army he went to Cottage Grove, in this. county, where he farmed for four years. For the following thirty- five years he farmed in the town of Arena, Iowa county ; the next few years he spent in the village of Arena and in October, 1904, he retired and located in the village of Mazomanie. Mr. Anderson is- a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been twice married. His first wife was Annie, daughter of John and Martha (Johnson) Gallagher, to whom he was married in March, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher were both natives of Ire- land. Four of the ten children who blessed this first union are still living. They are Addie, the wife of James Gorst of Arena; Winnie, the wife of James Ray, a farmer near Arena : Ralph J., a merchant at Arena, married to Addie Dodge; and Nettie, the wife of Torrence Hughes, a merchant of Astoria, Oregon. Mrs. An-

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

derson died October 1, 1899. On July 14, 1901, Mr. Anderson was married to Mrs. Lizzie Good, widow of Thomas Good, a farmer of the town of Cottage Grove, who was murdered August 27, 1899. She was a daughter of Jesse and Ann (Wilcox) Augh, natives of England, who came to this country in 1840 and settled in Long Island, N. Y. From Long Island Mr. Augh moved to Sun Prairie, this county, and later to Richland county, where he died. Mr. Anderson is a member of A. R. McDonald post, No. 52, of Mazo- manie, Grand Army of the Republic.

Ole O. Anderson (deceased) was a successful and well-known farmer of Albion, son of Ole O. Quale and Susan (Gornan) Quale of Norway. With his brothers, Nels and Andrew, Ole O. Ander- son came to Wisconsin and settled at Albion. Nels obtained a farm in section 4 and made it his home until his death in 1856. Andrew sold his farm in section 5 and went to Winnebago county, Iowa. Ole O. was born June 19, 1825, in Sogendahl, Norway. learned tailoring in Norway and worked at that trade until he came to the United States, after which he has always engaged in farm- ing. His land was located in different parts of Albion and he lived in section 4. His property consisted altogether of three hun- dred and sixty acres. During the first years of his residence in Dane county, Mr. Anderson was employed in various different tasks but soon found it all he could do to manage his rapidly im- proving property, which has become very valuable. He was a member of the Republican party but took no active part in county affairs. He was however very prominent in the work of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church, for whose welfare he was always ready" to labor. In October, 1851, he married Miss Gurie Peterson, who was born in Sogen. Norway, March 28, 1832, daughter of Peder and Caroline (Beck). Another daughter, Caroline, married Tosten Thronson of Sogn, Norway, and came to Albion in 1844. Four children were born to them ; Thomas, who lives at Albion ; Andrew, of Cambridge ; Christopher (deceased) and Christiana, (deceased) who married A. Larson of Clear Lake, Iowa. Twelve sons and daughters blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. Susan, the oldest daughter, is the widow of Ole Barsness of Minnesota. Caroline is Mrs. Martin Mason of Albion. Nicholas, who lives on the old homestead, was for a time engaged in tobacco dealing in Stoughton and also owned a store. He takes an active inter- est in politics and was elected to the assembly in 1898 by the Re- publican party. He has also served in local offices, as chairman, supervisor, etc. For twelve years he has been a member of the

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History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 2

Author: Keyes, Elisha W. (Elisha Williams), 1828-1910 Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Madison, Wi. : Western Historical Association Number of Pages: 998

Author: Keyes, Elisha W. (Elisha Williams), 1828-1910
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Madison, Wi. : Western Historical Association
Number of Pages: 998