USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 27
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Edward Erickson, one of the progressive and popular business men of the city of Stoughton, where his interests are varied and important, was born in Christiania, Norway, March 21, 1860. being a son of Elias and Gunwild (Andusdatter) Erickson. The father immigrated to America in 1869, making his way directly to Wisconsin and locating in Perry township, Dane county, where he worked at farming two years, at the expiration of which, in 1871, his family joined him. They took up their residence in the village of DeForest, and for several years thereafter he was in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. In 1880 he purchased a farm of sixty-five acres, in Cottage Grove town- ship, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death there occurring in 1884, at which time he was sixty-five years of age. His wife survived him by several years. They reared a family of six children, namely: Edward, Valborg, Caroline Inga, August Cornelius, Andrew and John. Caroline I. is now the wife of Wil- liam Huntley. The subject of this review secured his rudimentary education in his native land, having been eleven years of age at the time of the family immigration to the United States. He was reared to maturity in Dane county, where he attended the common schools and effectively supplemented his previous training. In 1882 he located in Stoughton, where he was employed in the T. G. Mandt Wagon Works for the ensuing years. He has, since 1887, conducted one of the most popular buffets in the city. He has also dealt extensively in real estate and has made many judicious in- vestments in local realty as well as buying and selling property in Minnesota. In 1891 he built his present place of business, and in 1902 he erected his handsome residence, at a cost of eight thousand dollars. In 1905 he erected what is admitted to be the finest busi- ness block in the city, the same being utilized for store and office purposes and representing an outlay of sixteen thousand dollars. He is enterprising as a business man and public-spirited as a citi- zen. In politics his support is given to the Republican party and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. April 25, 1885, Mr. Erickson was united in marriage to Miss Gjertrud. daughter of Ole Amundson, of Liberty Prairie, this county, and they have two daughters,-Alma and Amy.
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Edward Erickson, a farmer of Rutland, is of Norwegian birth and . ancestry. His father, Erick, married Inger Tulfson and of their eight children, three are now living in America; Rebecca, who re- sides in Pleasant Springs, Edward and Inger in Rutland. Edward Erickson was born in Christiansen, Norway, August 3, 1846, re- ceived his education in the common schools in Norway,and re- mained with his parents until 1882, when he embarked for America. The first three years of the new life were spent at Pleasant Springs, the next period at Dunkirk, in both of which places he rented farms. Finally Mr. Erickson purchased an eighty-acre farm in Rutland which is his present home and of which he has made a valuable property. In October, 1874, he married Miss Carrie Knutson, daughter of Capt. Knute Osuldson and Pauline (Paulson) Osuld- son, whose home was in Norway. Capt. Knute Osuldson was a sea-captain of many voyages but his home was always in Norway, although four of his children came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Erick- son have four children ; Emil, a painter of Madison, Wis .; Peter, Christina and Edward, who live with their parents. Mr. Erickson is a member of the school board and a Republican, though he has never been an active politician. He is a member of the Lutheran church. One of our Norwegian-American citizens, who came to America with no fortune but his energy and thrift, Mr. Erickson succeeded in winning from the west a substantial and comfortable livelihood.
Truls T. Erickson, deceased, was the son of pioneers of Dane. His parents came in a very early day to Vienna township, where the subject of this sketch was born, one of a family of fifteen child- ren, only three of whom are now living. The home was maintained here for many years, and here Mrs. Erickson died in 1887. In 1885, Mr. Erickson moved to Minnesota, where he resided until his death, September 24, 1890. He was a Republican, and all of the family were connected with the Hauges Lutheran church. Truls T. Erickson, Jr., received a good practical education at the common schools, the Marshall academy and the Northwestern Business college of Madison. After leaving school he turned his attention to farming. He owned a good farm of one hundred and fifty acres, upon which he had made most of the improvements, at the time of his death. His affairs were left in such order that with the aid of her children, Mrs Erickson has been able to add to the homestead and has now a fine property of two hundred acres. On November 8, 1877, Mr. Truls Erickson, Jr., was married to Miss Randie Samp- -
son, daughter of Lars Sampson, who is mentioned in this work.
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Their children are,-Charles Ebenezer, a farmer ; he attended school at Mt. Horeb three years and Decorah college one year; Simon Lewis, educated at De Forest high school and Northwestern Busi- ness college, Madison ; Theodore Martin, educated in De Forest high school ; as was also the daughter, Sadie Rosina ; the youngest, John Carl, followed his high school work by academic study, being at the present writing a student of Red Wing seminary. Mr. Erickson appreciated the value of a thorough equipment for the young man in these days of eager competition in business life, and provided all of his children with that practical intellectual training which fits them for positions of trust and profit.
Hon. N. C. Evans, M. D., is one of the prominent physicians of Dane county and a very skillful and successful surgeon, maintaning a private hospital in the village of Mt. Horeb, which place has been his residence throughout all of his useful professional career. He is a son of Christian Evanson, who was born in the province of Christiania, Norway, December 24, 1819. While in his native country the father was engaged as a drover and dealer in live stock, but later he learned the tinners' trade, and in 1854 he came to America. Mr. Evanson was married in Norway to Rachel (or Rag- nild) Nielson Brekke, a native of that country, and who came to America with her brother, Lars Nelson, in 1848, preceding her husband by about five years. They came by sailing vessel and were sixteen weeks on the voyage, having been grounded on a rock near England and obliged to wait for repairs. After landing in New York they came by the Erie canal and the lakes to Milwaukee, then to near Stoughton and later to Madison, where her husband joined her when he arrived in America. The father was then with- out money, having failed on account of Modum's nickel mine shut- ting down, his customers being miners and not able to meet their obligations. But by hard work the mother had saved about $350, and they first engaged in keeping a boarding-house in Madison, one year, and then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 14, in the town of Perry, paying three dollars per acre for the same. They lived about four years in a "dug-out," covered with sod, etc., after which they erected a more commodious residence, in which they lived until the death of the mother in 1892, at the age of seventy-three years. Some time after the death of his wife the father removed to Mt. Horeb, and there died at the residence of his son on April 2, 1897, at the age of seventy-eight years, botlı father and mother being laid to rest in the cemetery at Mt. Horeb. The father added to his original purchase until he owned two hun-
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
dred and forty acres of the finest land in the town of Perry, and in addition to his farming interests he engaged in the mercantile bus- iness for several years. In 1872 he was appointed postmaster of Forward. Dane county, and although not a politician he served as a member of the board of supervisors and as assessor and treasurer of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Evanson were the parents of four child- ren : Christian, deceased, was buried in Rochester, N. Y .; Annette is the wife of Peter A. Tyvan and resides in Mt. Horeb; Niels C. is the subject of this review; and Matilda, who died at the age of three and one half years, was buried in the old Perry cemetery. Niels C. Evans, the immediate subject of this review, was born on the old homestead in the town of Perry, July 10, 1857. His peo- ple were strongly opposed to the common schools, and he therefore studied the catechism and learned what he could under adverse circumstances until twelve years of age. He was then permitted to attend the public schools during the winter terms the follow- ing four years, after which. in company with another boy, he started for Postville, Green county, where they attended school three
months. Mr. Evans returned home every Saturday, walking the entire distance of ten miles, and on Monday morning took provis- ions to last through the week. After leaving this school he at- tended the Worthington Business College, at Madison, three months, after which he continued his studies at home. He was. then in poor health, and consequently had much time for study. In 1881 Mr. Evans began the study of medicine, under Dr. A. J. Ward, of Madison, with whom he remained from September until the fol- lowing April. He was an apt student and made rapid progress. The following autumn he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Chicago, from which he was graduated on March 4, 1884, and then began the practice of his chosen profession at Mt. Horeb. His practice has been of a general nature. A few years. after his arrival in Mt. Horeb, on April 8, 1888, he established a drugstore in the village, and he still continues it, with a competent apothecary in charge of affairs. Dr. Evans was married October 9, 1879, to Miss Lena C. Lewis, a native of Norway, and whose parents were prominent citizens in the town of Perry, the father being Lewis Lewis, who migrated to America with his family when the future Mrs. Evans was but a child. To this union have been born four children: Carl Milo has charge of his father's drugstore ; Nora Lydia is a clerk in the state bank at Mt. Horeb ; Belle Rosetta, and Walter Clarence are in school. The doctor is prominent man in his community, and although he has tried to hold aloof from poli-
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tics he has given an unswerving allegiance to the basic principles of the Democratic party. In recognition of his ability and personal worth he has been frequently urged by his friends to accept posi- tions of trust. During the autumn of the year 1892 he received the nomination for member of the assembly on the Democratic ticket in the fourth district of Dane county, and at the ensuing election received a majority of 117 votes over all other candidates and a plurality of 385 over the next highest. In his home town he re- ceived forty-three Republican votes and lost but five of his own party. Besides this legislative position he has held several local positions : president of the village of Mt. Horeb, two years ; chair- man of the town board one term, and he is the present supervisor of the village. Professionally he is a member of the county, state and national medical societies, and of the international congress on tuberculosis, having attended the meeting of the same at St. Louis. Dr. Evans is president of the state bank at Mt. Horeb, was one of its promoters, and has been identified with it since its organization. He is a member of the firm of Hessig. Grinde & Evans, hardware dealers, and is also president of the Mt. Horeb Independent Telephone Company. His fraternal relations are with the A. F. and A. M., lodge No. 227, at Mt. Horeb, the Robert McCoy commandery. No. 3, of Madison; and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Woodmen of the World.
Knudt Evenson, a farmer near Deerfield, was born at Lourdal, Norway, April 8, 1849, his parents being Evan Holton and Gunneld Hamsatvet. In 1860 the family came to Stoughton, but soon after- ward went to the town of Cottage Grove, where for about two years they lived on different farms, the father working as a hired man or a tenant. They then bought a farm in the town of Deerfield, where they continued to live until the death of both parents. Knute Evenson received a limited education in the district schools of the town of Cottage Grove and at the age of fourteen years began life for himself as a farm hand at the wages of seven dollars a month. He worked for various employers, continually bettering his posi- tion until the year 1869. One year he was in the employ of ex- Governor Taylor, receiving for that year $200. In 1869 he bought twenty-eight acres of land from Mr. Taylor and began farming on his own account. Three years later he bought fifty-five acres more, and in 1876 erected a house on the farm and lived there until 1894, having in the mean time added to his farm until he owned one hundred and five acres. He then traded this farm to his father-in-law for the one on which he now lives, and which con-
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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
tains two hundred and eighty-four acres. His father came to Amer- ica about a year before the rest of the family and Knudt borrowed money from his sister to pay the passage of himself and mother, and this debt was paid from his first earnings. On February 10, 1875, he married Anna Johnson, who was born on March 3, 1855, the daughter of Elling and Dorotha Johnson, of Deerfield. To this marriage have been born the following children: Dena, born Jan- uary 16, 1876, now the wife of Lars Nesthus, living near her pa- rents; Hilda born November 5, 1878, stenographer for the Boston Construction Company, of Seattle, Wash., Elling, born March 16, 1862; Emma, born March 5, 1884; Louisa, born March 3, 1889; Clara, born March 2, 1891. The four younger children are at home with their parents. Mr. Evenson is independent in his political opinions. From 1874 to 1876 he was deputy sheriff of the county ; for ten years was a member of the town board; was district clerk for twenty-five years, and is now serving his fifth year as district treasurer. He is president and manager of the Oak Park Creamery Association. and was for four years constable. He is a member of Deerfield camp, No. 1413, Woodmen of America, in which he has held the office of consul, and he and his wife belong to the Nor- wegian Lutheran church.
Peter Faber, contractor and builder, carpenter and joiner, whose residence is at 302 South Park street and whose place of business is at 808 Chandler street, was born in the town of Badem, Kr. Bit- bury R. P., Trier, Germany on the Rhine, December 21, 1854, His parents were Michael and Elizabeth (Herber) Faber, both natives of Germany. The father was a farmer in the Fatherland, but after coming to Madison in 1887 he lived a retired life. He died at the age of seventy and his wife at the age of eighty-one. They were both communicants or the German Catholic church and their final resting place is Calvary ,Cemetary, Madison. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of five children. Mary, Mrs. Jacob Seifer, the eldest, died in Chicago at the age of thirty-five. John is a carpenter in the state of Washington. Gerhardt lives in Olympia, Wash., William is a mason making Madison his home. Peter Faber went to farming after the completion of his scholastic work in Germany. In 1880 he sailed for the United States, and upon his arrival here settled in Chicago. It was there that he served his apprenticeship as a carpenter and followed his trade for six years. In 1886 he came to Madison and for the following six years was employed at his vocation. Subsequently, in 1892, he entered the contracting field. That he has been successful is evidenced by his amount of patron-
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age and the quantity of work he has on hand. He employs from ten to twenty men the year around. Many of the churches and schools in the immediate vicinity of Madison were built by Mr. Faber and the quality of his workmanship is such that he is known all over the country. On Thanksgiving day, November 30, 1882. Mr. Faber led to the altar Miss Catherine Michaels, born in Ger- many, and a daughter of Nicholas and Anna (Wickart) Michaels. The mother is still a resident of Emperor William's kingdom. Her husband died about the time of his daughter's marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Faber are the parents of nine children. Mary and Anna are dressmakers in Madison. Michael is employed by his father. The other children are Margaret, Peter I .. (died at nine years of age), Gerhart, Cathrina. Peter II., and Elizabeth. The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Faber is promi- nently identified with the Catholic Foresters. He is a splendid workman, and a. worthy, reliable citizen.
Hendrick O. Fadnes, a well-known and successful farmer of the town of Christiania, is a native of Voss, Norway, where he was born July 24, 1833. His father, Ole H. Fadnes, was born in Voss, educated there and owned a good farm property which he sold in 1846 in order to try his fortunes in the United States. He married Miss Susan Berstad, in Norway, and two children were there born to them,-Hendrick O., and Nels. Their daughter Carrie, who is the widow of Hendrick Bringberg, was born in Wisconsin. The voyage from Norway to New York occupied over six weeks and was followed by the long journey to Milwaukee on the lakes. At Milwaukee Mr. Fadnes purchased an ox team and a wagon, which carried the family to Dane county, and in the vicinity of Deerfield, where a brother and cousin also settled, he obtained a farm. One hundred and twenty acres belonged to the original homestead but a tract of eighty acres was soon added to it and later sixty-five acres more. In 1892. Mr. Fadnes died and his wife in 1895. They were devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church to which their son Hendrick also belongs. Hendrick at- tended school in the new home. He assisted his father in clearing and improving the farm and has always made farming his business. Many improvements on the old homestead are due to his thrift and energy and he there carries on an extensive business, raising stock as well as hay, corn, grain, etc. A Republican in his political sym- pathies, Mr. Fadnes is always interested in local affairs and has served the community as supervisor and member of the school
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board. In May, 1855, he married Miss Annie Knutson, daughter of Andrew Knutson, a farmer of Cambridge, who came from Nor- way in 1855. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fadnes. The oldest son, Ole, died. The next son, also named Ole, lives at Rio, Wis. Usher resides in Columbia county. Andrew H. is a farmer of Christiania, Susan and Knute make their home in Colum- bia county. Martin is a citizen of Cambridge and the youngest child died in infancy.
General Lucius Fairchild, soldier statesman, was born in what is now Kent, Portage county, Ohio. He was the son of Jairus Cassius and Sallie (Blair) Fairchild, the former of whom was a na- tive of New York, born December 24, 1801. The General's mother was from New England and of Scotch-Irish descent,-a woman of vigorous personality, and noted for her kind and hospitable nature. The parents were married in Ohio and made their residence in Cleveland in 1834, coming to Madison, the territorial capital of Wisconsin in 1846 when Lucius was fourteen. He obtained his education in the common schools of Cleveland, Twinsburg academy in that state, and in the academy of Waukesha, Wis. When a lad of only seventeen he made the trip across the plains to California by ox-team, and spent six years in the Golden State, accumulating some gold and much practical experience. Speaking of his life there he said: "I was forced to depend upon my own energy to attain anything, and there was no alternative but incessant labor. Since that period I have always been fond of work and glad to have plenty of it." While in the mountains of California he had his first political experience, as a delegate to the convention which nominated Governor Bigler, and by reason of an accident en route, sat in the convention without a coat, or a cent in his pocket. Soon after his return to Madison he was elected on the Democratic ticket, circuit court clerk for Dane county, and made a business-like and courteous official. He was admitted to the bar in 1860. The Civil War interrupted his legal-career, just beginning, as he was one of the first to respond to the first call for volunteers, enlisting as a private. He was made captain of his company, the "Governor's Guard," which was assigned as Company K, First Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment. He was tendered the position of lieutenant- colonel of his regiment by Governor Randall, but declined it on the ground that he was not qualified. His military career was brilliant in the extreme and and he saw much hard service, most of it as colonel of the Second Wisconsin, which formed a part of the fa- mous Iron Brigade commanded at first by Gen. Rufus King, of Wis-
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consin, and assigned to the first division of the first army corps. General Fairchild participated in the battles of Gainesville, second Manasses, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancell- orsville and Gettysburg, besides innumerable skirmishes. His left arm was shattered at Gettysburg, so that amputation was necessary, and he was forced to return to Madison to recruit his health, and while home received the appointment of brigadier-general of vol- unteers. In August, 1861, President Lincoln had appointed him captain in the Sixteenth Regiment of the regular army. While convalescing, much to his surprise, the Union convention of Wis- consin made him its candidate for seeretary of state, and influen- tial friends pursuaded him, much against his own wishes, that in his enfeebled condition he could better serve his country by accepting the nomination, than by returning to the front. He is said after- wards to have much regretted that he did not follow his own im- impulses and remain in the army ; and this, too, despite his great success in office. Said one who knew him well: "Thus closed a military career, than which there were few more brilliant and val- uable. He passed from private to brigadier-general in a little over two years, and every step of the progress was earned. He was an indefatigable worker, and gave all his time and best judgment to the service and aimed to improve every detail which came within his province. He was but thirty-two years of age when disabled by his wound. Such a rise, at such an age, and in so short a time, demonstrates conclusively his value as a soldier and his possession of rare qualities of organization and leadership." After resigning his rank in both the regular and the volunteer service, General Fairchild was elected secretary of state, and on the expiration of his term was three times elected governor of the state on the Re- publican ticket, each time by a handsome majority. He brought much executive ability, and a high order of zeal, and fidelity to the public interests, to the discharge of his public duties, being espec- ially active in promoting the educational interests of the state. One year after his retirement to private life, in December, 1872, he was appointed by President Grant, United States consul to Liv- erpool, England. In 1878 he was promoted to the position of con- sul-general at Paris and then to the office of minister-plenipoten- tiary at the court of Madrid. In England, France and Spain he evoked high commendation from those to whom he was sent. Said Liverpool journal years after his departure, "No American consul ever made more friends at this port," and said another journal, "While in Europe he made shipping and international commerce
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the subject of complete study." In March 1881, he resigned his post at Madrid, and returned to America to educate his children, in part, at home. On his arrival in Madison, March 2, 1882, he re- ceived an ovation. He was ever loyal to his military comrades and they loved him. He was made senior vice-commander in chief of the G. A. R., from May, 13, 1869, to May 12, 1870 ; state department commander from February 4, 1886, and commander-in-chief of the G. A. R., August 4, 1886 ; also, commander of the Wisconsin com- mandery of the military order of the Loyal Legion from May 7, 1884, to May, 1887; and the commander-in-chief of the order of the Loyal Legion on October 11. 1893.
As a private citizen he was of the highest usefulness, and a splendid example of high thinking and doing, and took great inter- est in all the affairs of the day affecting country, state, town and neighborhood. He was especially active in the work of building the state historical library. He was married in 1864 and had three children, two of whom, with the widow, survive him. He had a remarkably strong face, indicative of kindness, decision and frank- ness; in person he was of medium size, with a well knit frame, active and powerful; he was direct and positive in speech, some- times with a soldier's bluntness which men do not dislike, and he was destitute of all cant or affectation. His death took place May 23, 1896.
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