History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 24

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

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 24

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).

Dr. Lyman C. Draper, distinguished antiquarian and collector of historical materials. for thirty-three years secretary of the Wis- consin State Historical society and one of the leading spirits in its. work, was born at Hamburg, Erie county, N. Y., September 4, 1815, the son of Luke and Harriet (Hoisington) Draper. The . pioneer of the family was James Draper, who settled at Roxbury, Mass., about 1650. His paternal grandfather Jonathan Draper, was a sold'er in the Revolutionary War, and his maternal grand- father, Job Hoisington, fell in the defense of Buffalo, during the War of 1812; and, during the latter struggle, his father was twice taken prisoner on the Niagara frontier. His early education was obtained in the best schools of the day at Lockport, N. Y., where his father had moved with his family in 1821. Libraries in west- ern New York were then unknown, but young Draper was able to procure and read some works dealing with border adventure and Indian warfare, books, which gave direction to his subsequent tastes and studies. His first school composition was on General La Fayette, whom he saw during his visit to the United States in 1825; and his first contribution to the press was on Charles Car- roll of Carrollton, in 1833, whose death had recently occurred. This was published in the Rochester Gem, a literary paper. He journeyed to Mobile, Ala., in 1833, at the invitation of Peter Rem- sen, a cotton factor then, who had married his cousin, returning north in the summer of 1834 by way of New Orleans, and the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Granville. O., where he remained two years. He then visited his parents at Toledo, where they had moved. Th's was a vacation trip in the late summer of 1835, and while in Toledo, he participated in the "battle of Mud Creek," in

239

BIOGRAPHICAL.

the env rons of Toledo. one of the episodes of the Ohio and Michi- gan boundary difficulties of that day. In 1836-37 Mr. Draper spent a year at Hudson River Seminary, Columbia county, N. Y., and then resided in the family of his patron and friend, Mr. Rem- sen, near Alexander, Genesee county. N. Y., where he pursued his studies and an extensive course of reading. While in Mobile he had begun the collection of unpublished facts and traditions con- nected with border history and biography, and the habit thus es- tablished became his life work. In the collection of his materials he journeyed tens of thousands of miles, by public conveyances, on horseback, and on foot, with knapsack and note books, obtain- ing many original diaries and manuscripts, and forming a unique and unrivalled collection of historical data, filling two hundred and fifty manuscript volumes, covering the Anglo-American settle- ments, the border warfare in the west from the first settlements in Virginia, down to the death of Tecumseh, in 1813, and the defeat of Weatherford and the Creek Indians in 1814. In 1840 Mr. Draper went to Pontotoc, Miss., where he edited a weekly newspaper for a time, and later engaged in rough farming fifteen miles from a postoffice, serving also as justice of the peace. In 1842, he went to Buffalo as clerk in the canal superintendent's office, and then returned to Pontotoc once more. After this, in 1844, he again resided with Mr. Remsen, then living near Balt - more, and subsequently, near Philadelphia. continuing his collec- tion of unique historical materials, and making frequent journeys through the western and southwestern states. Mr. Remsen died in 1852, and Dr. Draper came with his friend's family to Madison, Wis., in the fall of that year ; he subsequently married Mrs. Rem- sen, and made Madison his home from this time on. In 1853, on the re-organization of the Wisconsin State Historical society, Mr. Lyman was chosen its first secretary and executive officer. He served in this capacity from January, 1854, to January. 1887, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Reuben Gold Thwaites. During the years 1858 and 1859 he served the state as superintendent of public instruction, and performed a splendid work in organizing and systematizing the work of his department, and rendering the public schools of the state efficient and useful. He inaugurated the system of conducting teachers' institutes, and procured the passage of a law for establishing town school-li- braries throughout the state. As a result of this law a library fund of $88.784 was raised in 1860, but the Civil War coming on, this

. splendid law was unfortunately repealed by the legislature. Hor-

240

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

ace Mann, the apostle of free schools, thus characterized Mr. Draper's report of 1858: "It presents the most persuasive and effective argument in favor of education that has ever been offered to the world." While holding this office he was c.v-officio a mem- ber of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin, and was ever profoundly interested in the work and development of that noble institution. In 1850, Granville College, Ohio, con- ferred on him the degree of A. M., and, in 1871, the University of Wisconsin that of LL. D., in recognition of his services as a col- lector of the historical literature of the country, and in building up the great historical library of Wisconsin for the benefit of scholars and investigators. While Mr. Draper was perhaps the most remarkable literary antiquary in the United States, and by his indefatigable industry was able to gather together a rich mine of books, manuscripts, letters, diaries, newspaper files, etc., cov- ering the border settlements and warfare in the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi valleys, together with much of the bor- der Revolutionary history of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, he published very little; he seemed to take a much livelier interest in collecting than in editing. His love of accuracy and completeness was a passion with him, and he deferred, until too late, the publication of works which he, of all men, was best qualified to write. Said the historian Bancroft: "I look forward with eager and impatient curiosity for the appear- ance of your lives of Boone, of Clark, and of James Robertson, and so many others. Time is short, I wish to read them before I go hence. Pray do not delay, the country expects of you this ser- vice." This is but one of many hundred expressions by eminent historians, scholars and publicists, urging him to productive effort. He edited the society's publications, chiefly consisting of the bi- ennial Wisconsin historical collections, portrait gallery catalogue (tr'ennial), and the annual reports ; several pamphlets, two school reports, "The Helping Hand," and also published "King's Moun- tain and its Heroes," "Madison, the Capital of Wisconsin," and left behind him a large number of unpublished manuscripts. Of his rich collections of historical materials, he gave freely and- un- selfishly during his life for the use of others, and he has left the whole to the State Historical society, a munificent bequest, and an enduring monument to his genius as a collector. Both in pub- lic and in private life, he was affable, and unostentatious, devoting his best efforts to the study of American history and the interests

241

BIOGRAPHICAL.

of the society. He retired from the society, January, 1887, and died August 27, 1891.

Simon Dreher, of Oregon, is of Pennsylvania stock. He was born in Evansville, Rock county, April 15. 1853. His parents were Simon and Mary Ann (Widows) Dreher, both born in North- hampton county, Pa. Simon, Jr., has spent all his life in Dane, and all except eight years in the town of Oregon; the exception was a time that he lived in the town of Primrose. He was edu- cated in the district schools of the township, and lived at home until he was twenty-four, when he began life on his own account, hulling clover, and doing other kinds of work, as opportunity offered or necessity demanded. for twelve years. Sixteen years ago he bought a farm of eighty acres situated one and three-fourths miles from the village of Oregon, which has since been his home. He has greatly improved the place since becoming the owner, putting up all the buildings, and runs it as a farm for general purposes. He is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Modern Woodmen, belonging to the lodge at Oregon. He was married on April 18, 1880, to Miss Alma Blanche Chandler, daughter of Rich- ard B. and Mary (Cross) Chandler, the former of whom was born in Oxford county, Maine, and the latter in the state of Vermont. They have three children, Mary and Warren, born in Primrose, and Richard. born in Oregon. In the fifty-three years since his birth, Mr. Dreher has seen many changes take place in his native state. and has especially observed those in the vicinity of his home, where wild land has been transformed into flourishing farms, and towns and villages built up with all the modern conveniences of life and transportation.

Edward H. Drews, D. D. S., one of the rising young practition- ers of dentistry in the city of Madison, was born February 7, 1876, in the city where he now makes his home. He is a son of William and Dora (R'eder) Drews, the former a native of Mecklenburg and the latter of Hanover, Germany, who came to the United States some time before the War of Secession. The father, who is still living and conducts a hardware store at 939 Williamson street, was a soldier in the army of the German emperor. His wife died May 9, 1901. The subject of this sketch is the younger of the two sons, the only children, of the family. The brother, Fred C., is employed by the father. Dr. Drews received his preparatory ed- ucation in the schools of Madison. His technical training was acquired at the dental department of Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill., he being graduated with the class of 1897. The first

16-iii

242

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

. year and a half following his graduation he practiced his profes- sion in Chicago and since that time has conducted an office in Madison. He is a skillful workman in his line, and a courteous and thorough gentleman. On May 1, 1902, Dr. Drews was united in marriage to Edith A., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Bennett, the wedding occurring in Madison. Mr. Bennett is assistant su- perintendent of public property of the state of Wisconsin. His home is at 30 East Johnson street, Madison. The home of Dr. Drews is at 10 North Butler street. In religious affairs the doctor is inclined to the German Lutheran faith, in which belief he re- ceived his early training.

William Drews, who conducts an up-to-date hardware store at 939 Williamson street, was born in Germany on Christmas day, 1842. H's father and mother, Henry and Elizabeth (Becker) Drews, also natives of Germany, came to the United States in 1871 and settled in the town of Middleton. The father was a farmer. and followed that vocation until his death in 1883 at the age of sixty-two. His widow is still living, making her home with a son in Middleton and is in her eighty-sixth year. Of a family of five daughters and five sons all but one survive. The subject of this sketch has lived in Madison since 1868. Before his immigration to Wisconsin he was a brickmaker by vocation, but after his ar- rival he engaged in the hardware business which has furnished him a lucrative means of livelihood ever since. His place of business. is one of the best equipped and most conveniently located in the city. In 1871 Mr. Drews married Miss Dora Rieder, born in Ger- many, and by this union is the father of two sons. Fred C. assists h's father in the conduct of the hardware business. A sketch of Dr. E. H. Drews. the younger, appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Drews died May 9, 1901, at her home in this city. She was a kindly, genial, wholesome woman whose loss was deeply felt by all who knew her. Like her husband she was a communicant of the German Lutheran church and a devout worker in the society. Mr. Drews is well fixed in a financial way and owns several pieces of valuable city property. Since coming to Madison he has seen many changes in the town, but all the while has kept abreast of the advance. He is an enterprising, thrifty and substantial cit zen.

August Duckert, a prosperous farmer of the town of Cottage Grove, was born in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, No- vember 13, 1848. His parents were William and Gusta (Grep) Duckert, natives of the same place. The father still makes his: home in the old country with a daughter. Another daughter is a

243

BIOGRAPHICAL.

resident of Jefferson county, Wis. From the time he was six years old until he was fourteen he attended the public schools of Germany. In 1870 he entered the army of the emperor and served throughout the Franco-Prussian War. He was a participant in the battle of Metz and many other engagements. His service in the army continued until 1883, when he received an honorable d'scharge and immediately started for America. His first home was in Oakland, Jefferson county, where he found employment as a farm hand, the wife also being employed on the same farm. They continued to reside in this vicinity for twelve years and then purchased a house and lot in London, Jefferson county, Mr. Duck- ert going to work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad com- pany. After a three years' residence there he sold his home and moved to the town of Cottage Grove, where he owns and man- ages a farm of two hundred and forty acres. This place is said to be one of the finest places in the county, although when Mr. Duck- ert bought it it was wholly unimproved. In politics Mr. Duckert is a Democrat, but has never sought official preferment. In re- ligious matters he is allied with the German Lutheran church. On November 28, 1874, he married Gusta, daughter of Charles and Gusta (Wendland) Rothneck. Mrs. Duckert is a native of Ger- many, where she was born May 4, 1854. By her marriage to Mr. · Duckert she is the mother of ten children. Theodore H., born March 11, 1875, married Anna Puncel, who died shortly afterward, leaving two small children, who now make their home with their grandparents. Their father is an employe of the Chicago & North- western Ry. Co. William Fred, the second son, born January 29, 1877, is in the employe of the same company as a carpenter. He married a Miss Cunningham of Cottage Grove, where he makes his. home. Charles Fred, born July 20, 1881, makes his home in Los. Angeles, Cal. Gustaf A., born November 6, 1879, is a blacksmith at Cottage Grove; he married a Miss Nettie Holland of the same village. Richard H., born September 18, 1883, is a student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Henry Fred, born August 26, 1886; Eddie Fred, born August 6, 1888; Artie, born May 6, 1890; Dorothy Mary, born July. 16, 1893; and Gertrude, born Aug- ust 9, 1895, all reside at home. The mother was herself one of nine children, eight of whom are living. Mr. Duckert is essentially a self-made man. All that he possesses he owes to his own efforts, and those of his wife, who has indeed been a helpmate.

Edward G. Dunlap, of Madison, is a native of Oneida, N. Y., born October 3, 1846. His parents, Sylvester Dunlap, born January 26,.

244

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

1821, and Elinma (Cottrell) Dunlap, born February 16, 1824, were natives of the same place. They were married in New York and came to the town of Burke, Dane county, in 1844, and bought government land; they returned to New York, but in 1846 came back to Burke and located there, where they lived until their death, his occurring in December 8, 1902, and hers July 4, 1904. They had four children, of whom three are living. They kept a store in Burke for about four years. Mr. Dunlap was one of the large farmers of the county, owning about four hundred acres of land. He was allied with the Democratic party and filled the office of assessor for eleven successive years. H s son, Edward, was reared in Burke and educated in the public schools of the township; he is a farmer by vocation and owns two hundred and forty-five acres of land in the town of Burke, about three and one-half miles from the city of Madison. He is a general farmer and stock raiser, and a breeder of Galoway cattle. He was married May 9, 1880, to Miss Ervilla Ranney, born in Burk, April 3. 1858, daughter of Nathaniel and Harriet (Davis) Ranney, both natives of Vermont, the former born in 1834 and his wife in 1838. They came to Dane county about 1850, and there he died in 1880; his widow lives in Minne- sota. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have one son, Edward Gardner, born August 14, 1884; he was educated in Burke, follows the occupation of a farmer, and lives with his parents. He married December 21, 1904, Miss Nelly Loomis, daughter of William Loomis of Wind- sor, Dane county. Wis. Mr. Dunlap's maternal grandparents were Gardner and Irene (Gardner) Cottrell, natives of New York, who came to Burke in 1842. In 1848 Mr. Cottrell, following the tide of immigration which made the years of '48 and '49 an epoch in the history of that state, went to California, but returned to Burke in 1850, and two years later went to Minnesota, in which state both he and his wife died.

Walter R. Dunphy, of the firm of Dunphy & Stone, publishers of the Sun Prairie Countryman, one of the representative news- papers of Dane county, is one of the most progressive and loyal young business men of the village of Sun Pra rie, while he is a scion of one of the pioneer families of the county. He was born in Bristol township. Dane county, Wisconsin. on July 10, 1875, and is a son of Martin and Alice (Croak) Dunphy, both of whom were born in Ireland, where they were reared and educated, while their marriage was solemnized in Sun Prairie, where they still maintain their home. The father is the owner of a valuable farm in the immediate vicinity, in Sun Prairie adjoining village, and is

245

BIOGRAPHICAL.

one of the honored citizens of that community, having served sev- eral terms as one of the board of village trustees. He is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are communicants of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Roman Catholic. They have two sons and two daughters. Martin Dunphy came to America in 1852, and located in Dane county in 1856, having been identified with the development and upbuilding of the county and having always commanded the esteem and confidence of the com- munity in which he has so long made his home. His wife is a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Shea) Croak, who immigrated to the United States from the Emerald Isle, in 1855, settling in what is now the city of Janesville, Rock county, Wisconsin, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Walter R. Dunphy was afforded the advantage of the public and parochial schools of Sun Prairie, and at the age of fifteen years entered upon an apprentice- ship at the printers' trade, becoming a competent workman. In 1896 he purchased a half interest in the Sun Prairie Countryman, with which paper he had previously been connected for some time, and he has since been editor and manager of the same. The paper is published on Thursday of each week, is a six-column quarto and is well edited and well printed, while the plant of the concern is well equipped, the job department having a good patronage, while the paper circulates in the best homes of this part of the county. In politics Mr. Dunphy is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and he has served as secretary of the board of education and as a member of the village board, res gning the latter position in August, 1905; while he was president of the board of trustees of the Sun Prairie public library from the time of its organization until August. 1905, when he resigned the office. He is a communi- cant of the Church of the Sacred Heart, and is affiliated with the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus.

William Durkopp, a well known farmer of Middleton, occupies and owns the farm commonly called the Whittlesey place, on which he has lived since 1898 and carries on a general farming and stock- raising business. He is a Democrat in his political sympathies and takes considerable interest in politics, being one of the village trustees. His father John Durkopp, was a farmer of Mecklenburg- Schwerin, Germany, and there married Miss Frederika Watlee of the same place. They came to America in 1855 and landed in New York city after a perilous voyage of eight weeks. Mrs. Durkopp's parents accompanied them and together they commenced to clear forty acres of wild land in section 15. A log cabin was built which

246

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

the family occupied for a time. This farm was sold and another near Springfield purchased, which was partly improved. Mr. Durkopp was a Democrat but never an office-seeker. He and his wife were loyal members of the German Lutheran church. Seven children were born to them: Dora, the wife of Henry Rickman of Hungerford, Mich .; Charles, a farmer of Middleton; Mary, who married John Lubcke of Middleton; William, the subject of this sketch; Frank, a furniture dealer and photographer in Middleton; Caroline, the wife of Louis Russ of Middleton; Augusta, the youngest daughter, married Charles Wessenberg of Middleton. William was born in Middleton, February 13, 1859, was educated in the district school and worked on the parental farm until he was twenty-seven years of age. May 18, 1888, he married Miss Carrie Wessenberg, daughter of William and Frederika Wessenberg, natives of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They have two children, Elsie and John.

Henry L. Duxstad is the owner and manager of a fine farm of one hundred acres in section 1, town of Christiania, where he has resided since 1881. The property was purchased by Mr. Duxstad soon after his marriage and since the death of his wife he has lived there with his children. Considerable tobacco is raised upon his farm, also grain, hay, etc., but dairying is Mr. Duxstad's main in- terest and to his stock he devotes much of his time and care. Lars O. Duxstad, father of Henry, was a native of Voss, Norway, and came to the United States when he was a young man. For a time he worked out upon farms in Illinois and later bought for himself a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Dane county, Wis., near Albion. He was one of the earliest settlers of the neighborhood and his new purchase was wild and unimproved. A dug-out sheltered him for the first few months and the game he could shoot added to his support. By patient labor the land was cleared and a more comfortable dwelling erected, where Mr. Dux- stad spent the rest of his life. He died in 1865 and his wife in 1902. Mrs. Duxstad was also born in Voss, Norway, and was Miss Isabelle Halloway. She spent three years in Chicago before her marriage to Mr. Duxstad. Both were devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. whose organization in the township they helped to establish. Six children were born to them. Ole, the oldest son, resides in Nebraska on a farm; Charlie is with his older brother; Annie, married Andrew Ellison of Christiania ; Henry L., is the subject of this sketch; Betsey (deceased) ; Lewis. is a ranchman of Sweetwater county, Wyoming. Henry L. was

247

BIOGRAPHICAL.

born in Albion, February 14, 1859, attended the home schools and with the exception of a few months' work for the neighboring far- mers, remained with his father until his marriage. In 1881, he married Miss Margaret T. Nory, who was born in Jefferson county, Wis., daughter of Ole Nory. The marriage was blessed with four children. Lawrence is a telegraph operator of Alliance, Neb., on the C., B. & Q. R. R .; Isabella, George and Joseph are with their father at the old home. Mr. Duxstad is an independent voter in political matters and not allied with any political party.

Frank Hynard Edsal, M. D., is comparatively a new comer in Madison, but has in the few years that he has practiced in the city, established in his specialty as an oculist, a reputation for careful, conscientious and skillful work, not only in the city but through- out southern Wisconsin. He was born in Hamburg, New Jersey, August 12, 1862. His early education was received in the schools of Stamford, Connecticut and his medical training at the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. Before coming to Madison, Dr. Edsall prac- ticed for seventeen years in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and held honorable positions among the medical fraternity of that state ; he was president of the Pittsburg Academy of Medicine and secretary of the Alleghany County Medical Society. He has inter- ested himself in matters of public welfare since coming to Madison in 1898, and especially in connection with the Carnagie Library building. To his personal efforts more than to those of any other person is due the fact that the Madison free library is housed in the beautiful and commodious building on the corner of Carroll and Dayton streets erected by the gift of $75,000 from Mr. Andrew Carnagie. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Madison free library, and is intensely interested in its service and development. Dr. Edsall is also interested in athletics and belongs to the Country Club, having been one of the twenty charter mein- bers ; he is now secretary of a society numbering two hundred, with a waiting list. The club owns a beautiful club house and grounds near Maple Bluff and a short distance east of Lake Mendota. The doctor has been a member and a vestryman of Grace Episcopal church and owns a commodious and pleasant home on the corner of Langdon and Henry streets. He is also a man of good literary ability, is a member of the Madison Literary Club and is the asso- ciate editor of the Wisconsin Medical Journal. He married .Miss Anna E. Warner, of Wilmington, Del., who has, since coming to Madison, entered actively into the social life of the city; she is at present secretary of the Madison Woman's Club.

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.

History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 24

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