History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 32

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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his death (June 20, 1875) was in the employ of the government as postmaster at Sun Prairie. His widow survived him until the late nineties. Both parents were life long and ardent members of the Baptist church. Robert B. Gibbons was but nine years old when he came with his parents to Wisconsin. He received a some- what meager education in the district schools and spent his early life on the farm. In June, 1861, he left his home at Sun Prairie and came to Madison, where he attempted to enlist in the Second Wis- consin Infantry, but his father suspected where he was gone and sent another son to bring him home. With his brother John he went

to Knowlton, Marathon county, Wis., and worked in the pineries until November, 1861. Then, although but sixteen years old, he en- listed in the Eighth Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillery. The fol- lowing winter was spent in Camp Utley at Racine and in March, 1862, the battery was taken to St. Louis, where the allotment of horses and cannon was made. After six weeks of drill at Fort Leavenworth the battery went by boat to Columbus, Ky., where it was disembarked and joined an expedition through Kentucky and Tennessee into Mississippi. At Jacinto, Miss., Mr. Gibbons was invalided to the field hospital with typhoid fever, and was subse- quently removed to the hospital at Iuka, Miss. Shortly afterward Iuka was threatened by the Confederates and the sick and wounded were removed to Jackson, Tenn. The enemy occupied Iuka the night after the incapacitated troops had been removed. At Jack- son Mr. Gibbons was honorably discharged because of physical disability and his father brought him back to Sun Prairie on a cot. After his recovery he attended the seminary of his home town for a few months and on June 26, 1863, he re-enlisted in the Federal ser- vice, this time in the Thirteenth Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillary. The place of enrollment was at Whitewater, whence it went into camp at Camp Washburn in Milwaukee. In March, 1864, the bat- tery was sent to Cairo, Ills., and then by boat to New Orleans, only to be ordered to return before disembarking to Baton Rouge. At Camp Williams near Baton Rouge the battery remained until hos- tilities had ceased, making frequent reconnaissances into the sur- rounding country. On July 20, 1865, Mr. Gibbons received an hon- orable discharge in Milwaukee and the following fall and winter he spent in Sun Prairie. In the spring of 1866 he went to Minnesota where he spent the summer as an employe in a brickyard and in the fall made a trip on foot to Knowlton, Wis. This was his home until 1885. During the winter months he worked in the woods and in

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the summer rafted his lumber down the Wisconsin river to the Miss- issippi. During the last five years of his residence in Knowlton he was pilot of lumber rafts on the Wisconsin river. It was in 1885 that he came to Cottage Grove to engage in retail lumber business. For seven years that industry furnished him means of livelihood and in 1892 he sold out his interest. From that time he worked at carpentering until his appointment on July 11, 1897. as postmaster at Cottage Grove. He has held that position continuously since, even through the various changes in the congressional representa- tives from this district. Mr. Gibbons is identified with the Lucius Fairchild Post of Madison, of the Grand Army of the Republic and with the Madison lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. In Octo- ber, 1871, he was united in marriage to Ida Brown, born and brought up in Cottage Grove, and daughter of Orvin Brown. Ros- well Brown, father of Orvin Brown, was one of the famous charac- ters of early days in Wisconsin and his portrait hangs in state historical library in Madison. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons. Ruth became the wife of L. C. Graves, agent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Co. in Cottage Grove. Josie Belle died at the age of twenty-two months. Robert O. is a graduate of the Universty of Wisconsin with the class of 1903 and is now a teacher in Carroll College, Waukesha, Wis. His wife was Agnes Pratt. Bret H., the youngest, died in infancy

Dr. George Lewis Gibbs is a prominent practicing physician of Marshall, Wis., and is the descendant of quite a remarkable family. His grandfather, Daniel Gibbs, was a native of England whose wife was Miss Whitehall of German descent. He came to Jefferson county, N. Y., and thence to Dodge county, Wis., in 1852. He there lived to the great age of ninety-nine years and nearly four months. The mother of Daniel Gibbs was one hundred and fourteen years of age at the time of her death. The son of Daniel Gibbs, John Fletcher Gibbs, was born in Otsego county, N. Y .. in 1820, and was a merchant and fur buyer for the American Fur Co. He married Miss Adelia M. Crossman, who was born in New York in 1838. John F. Gibbs was active in politics in New York, where he was elected sheriff of Jefferson county. In 1852 he came to Dodge county, Wis., and for some time carried on an extensive trade in furs and also obtained about seven hundred acres of land. In 1860, he began to study for the ministry and in 1861 received his license. continuing his work under the local pastor in Dodge county. Or- dained a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal church in 1868, he was

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made an elder at Whitewater in 1873 and in 1814 came to Oconomo- woc, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a Republi- can. Since Mr. Gibbs' death in 1902, Mrs. Gibbs has lived in Mil- waukee. George Lewis Gibbs was born in Dodge county, Wis. March 28, 1867, the son of Rev. and Mrs. John F. Gibbs. He at- tended school in Dodge county and the high school at Oconomo -. woc. In 1890 he was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical Col- lege and began the practice of his profession in Palmyra, Jefferson county, Wis. In 1895 he located at Marshall where he soon took the front rank in his profession and established a large practice. He is interested in real estate in the western states and owns a delightful home in Marshall. Dr. Gibbs is a Republican in his political affiliations and a member of the village board and actively promotes the interests of the village. June 19, 1891, he married Miss Perle Martin, who was born in Menominee Falls. in 1873, daughter of Nelson D. and Lettie (Mapes) Martin, whose home has been in Milwaukee for a number of years. Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs have two children, Darrell Dean and Verrene Lillian. The family is associated with the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Gibbs is a member of the Waterloo Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M., a Royal Arch Mason and also, belongs to the M. W. A. and E. F .U. The medical societies with which he is affiliated are the Dane County Medical Society, the Wisconsin State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Central Wisconsin Medical Association and the State Homeopathic Medical Society.

Peter C. Gilberson, physician and surgeon at Mt. Horeb, was born in Hachland, Norway, August 1, 1864, and came to America with his parents in 1869. He was the only son of Christian and Gulbjar (Holman) Gilberson, whose farm home in Norway was Amensrude. Both of them were natives of Norway who migrated to America and settled on a farm near Fennimore, Grant county, Wis., where the mother now resides at the age of seventy-six years The father made farming his occupation during all of his life, and died in 1902, at the age of seventy-four years. The subject of this review is one of three children, Anna, his eldest sister, being the wife of Ola T. Oleson, of Fennimore, Grant county, and Gena is married to B. N. Berry and resides on the old family homestead. Dr. Gilberson was reared on the parental farm and received his preliminary education in the public schools. Having decided upon the medical profession as his life's vocation he entered the Keokuk Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, and then completed his medical

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course at the Milwaukee Medical College, graduating with the class of 1895. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession in Iowa county, Wis., and remained there until June, 1898, when he removed to Mt. Horeb, where he has since been located, engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery. He was married on November 9, 1887, to Miss Emma Gillies, of Grant county, Wis., daughter of Malcolm Gillies, one of the pioneer settlers in · that part of the state and a very prominent citizen. The father and mother were both natives of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1888 and the mother now resides at Bloomington, Wis. Dr. and Mrs. Gilberson are the parents of four children: Mildred Cecil, Ethel Genevieve, Clarence Peter and Margaret Grace. The doctor is a member of the county, state, and American medical societies, and keeps thoroughly up to date in his profession by being a subscriber to and student of the best current literature pertaining to the Es- culapian science. His religious faith is expressed by membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically he is a Republi- can with decidedly independent proclivities ..

John Gilbert has but recently taken up his residence in the vil- lage of Oregon, and is now living in comparative retirement, after years of arduous and fruitful toil upon the farm, which is located but a few miles from the place of his present abode. He is a son of Schuyler Gilbert, one of the pioneer citizens of Dane county, and it is but proper that in this review more than a passing mention should be given the latter. Schuyler Gilbert was born October 11, 1819, in Tully, Onondaga county, N. Y., and his early life was spent there as a farmer. He came west in 1845, and located in the town of Oregon, Dane county, where he first purchased forty acres of land, to which he soon added forty acres by purchase and forty of government land, and afterward purchased an additional forty-five acres, thus making his farm to consist of one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, which he improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. About the first necessity after locating here in the woods was a place of habitation, and Mr. Gilbert built a log shanty, with puncheon floor, an oak door and a "six-light" window, without glass, the latter being made from the cover of a dry-goods box. The cabin was roofed with shingles sawed out by himself and wife, and this was the family abode during the first sum- mer following the advent of Mr. Gilbert into the wilds of this -west- ern country. But in November, 1846, they were able to move into a good log house, the lumber used being sawed from timber "bor-

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rowed" from speculators' lands in Green county, and this answered the need of a comfortable home until 1869, when Mr. Gilbert erected a good frame house on his farm, in which he and his good wife spent the remainder of their lives. The hard times exper- ienced by the early pioneers and the difficulties with which they had to contend will never be fully appreciated by those of a later gen- eration. Mr. Gilbert converted all of his first crop of wheat into seed for the following year, and then split rails at fifty cents per hundred to obtain money with which to buy wheat at fifty cents per bushel for bread. He was compelled to walk more than two miles each day, to and from his work. The first wheat he mar- keted was drawn to Milwaukee by oxen, three weeks being con- sumed in making the round trip. Mr. Gilbert was married, in De- cember, 1844, to Miss Hancy Hills, of Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y., and together they endured the trials of a pioneer lite, not un- mixed, however, with happiness. They both lived to enjoy the abundant fruits of their early toil and privations, the wife dying on January 26, 1889, and the father on April 1, 1894. Five children were the result of their union, four of whom survive. Frank is a resident of the state of Kansas; Mary E., became the wife of John Draher, of the town of Oregon, and is now deceased; John is the immediate subject of this review; and Josephine (now Mrs. Faulkes) and Alice (now Mrs. Marshall) both reside in the village of Oregon. All of these children were born on the old homestead, and all were educated in the district schools. John Gilbert was born on March 31, 1861, and remained with his parents on the old homestead until he had attained to his majority. He then began farming for himself and has successfully followed that honorable calling for nearly twenty-five years, only recently retiring and taking up his residence in the village of Oregon. He owns two hundred and five acres of well-improved land, which stands as a high testimonial to his energy and indus- trious habits. He was married on December 23, 1888, taking as his partner for life Miss Flora B. Lockwood, daughter of Henry D. and Emma Toles) Lockwood, of Beloit, Wis., the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are the parents of two promis- ing children, Henry S. and Cora E., both of whom are now stu- dents in the Oregon village schools. In politics Mr. Gilbert gives an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party, although he has never entered the lists as an office seeker, and he holds a member- ship in the lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America at Oregon.

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Leigh B. Gilbert, the efficient mason contractor of Madison, was born in Rockingham county, N. H., November 4. 1860. His parents were W. T. and Sarah H. (Bartlett) Gilbert, one of whom died in 1901. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Auburn, N. H., where they made their home. The father was a shoemaker by vocation. The four children of the family are in the order of their. ages Frank H., Leigh B., Harry S. and Kate A. The eldest makes his home in Auburn, N. H., where he is chief of police. Harry S., is a mason at Rogers Park, a suburb of Chicago, Ill. Kate is the wife of Melvin Hall and makes her home in Au- burn, N. H. Leigh B. received his education in the Auburn schools. He served his apprenticeship as a mason at Evanston, Ill., and worked at it for ten years, entering business for himself in 1891 at Evanston. He remained in the Illinois city until 1900, when he came to Madison to do the mason work on the engineering building of the University of Wisconsin. He also built the North- ern Electrical Company's plant, the Carnegie library, the Gisholt foundry and the additions to the main shop, the new street car barns, the Amercan Plow Company's factory, the American Shred- der Company's plant, the new Schlitz hotel, the O. D. Brandenburg residence, one of the finest in the city, Mrs. Frawley's and the Gal- lagher flats, the addition to the hospital for the insane at Mendota, the new Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul depot at West Madison, the Wisconsin building, the Vroman block and the mason work on the A. Cohn tobacco warehouse. These are but a few of the many buildings Mr. Gilbert has had a hand in erecting, and their struct- ural beauty are ample evidence of the skill and ingenuity of the builder. On September 8, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Nellie C. Campbell of Evanston. Mr. Gilbert is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks and the National Union. He is a much re- spected citizen of the community where he has so recently made his home.

Elling Gilbertsen (Guttormson) is a prominent farmer of the town of Dunkirk and a native of Norway. His parents, Guttorm- son and Guri Oleson, resided in Buskkerud, Hallingdal, Norway and there their son Elling was born November 21, 1860. He at- tended the common schools of his native city and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age when he determined to cross the seas and live in the United States. His first home in the west was in Greene county, Ill., and here he worked out by the

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month for the farmers of the neighborhood until 1883. At that time he came to the town of Dunkirk and spent eight years raising tobacco on shares. He succeeded in saving enough money to pur- chase a farm of ninety acres and upon this he made all the improve- ments and continued the culture of tobacco, with which he was always very successful, besides other kinds of farm produce. Each year he raised from ten to twelve acres of tobacco. May 5, 1885, he married Miss Mary Peterson of Dunkirk, daughter of Amund and Agnes (Bovre) Peterson, who were natives of Norway and early settlers of Dane county. Six children blessed the mar- riage ; Ada, Gustave, Emma, Clarence, Morris and Rudolph. Mr. Gilbertsen and his wife are devoted members of Christ Lutheran church of Stoughton. Mr Gilbertsen is a Republican in his politi- cal affiliations.

Ed. Gilbertson, a successful farmer, owns one of Rutland's hand- somest homes. His parents, Gilbert Wethal and Bertha (Bjornt- sen) Wethal were natives of Christiania, Norway, where their early married life was spent. Mr. Wethal was a carpenter in America, where he came in 1879. Ed. Gilbertson has one sister, Annie, the wife of Hans Hansen of Minneapolis, and two brothers, Hans, a carpenter in Minneapolis, Minn., and Anton, a physician of Minneapolis, and a graduate of the University of Minnesota. Ed was born in Christiania, December 10, 1853, attended the com- mon schools in Norway and worked on a farm as a boy. After he came to Stoughton he worked in different, places on farms and purchased his present home in Rutland in 1892. His farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres in section 15 with many substantial improvements. In 1905 a new and modern house containing ten rooms, was built at a cost of $2,200. Mr. Gilbert- son is a Republican and takes an active interest in local politics. For six years he was supervisor and has been school clerk and held other local offices. In April, 1882, he married Miss Thea Johnson, daughter of John and Nicalina Hansen who came to America from Norway, in 1882, to live with Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson. Eight children have been born to them; John, Minnie, Nora, Emma, Esther, Bertha, May and Agnes. All have attended the district and Stoughton schools and the family attend the First Lutheran church.

Gilbert L. Gilson resides on a farm in section 7, Albion. He is the son of Lewis and Gertrude (Ramsey), both natives of Norway. Lewis Gilson came to the United States with his parents from IIade- land in 1851, when he was thirteen years of age, and lived in Wau-

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paca county in the town of Scandinavia, of which his father Gilbert was one of the very early settlers. In 1860 Lewis left Waupaca county and came to Dane county, where he worked out for the farm- ers until 1869, when he was able to purchase an eighty-acre farm in section 7. This he improved, erected suitable buildings upon it and made it his home the remainder of his life. Here his three chil- dren were born and here Mrs. Gilson died in 1891. Martha, the old- er daughter, married Peter Murkve of Albion; Hannah, the young- er, is the wife of Ole Westby, a farmer of the town of Burke; Gilbert L. was born in Albion, August 5, 1865, attended the home schools and has always lived at the old family home. At the age of seventeen he engaged in tobacco raising in which he was very suc- cessful and since 1890 has been the sole manager of the farm owned by his father. In 1897 he purchased the homestead and upon it carries on a general farming business. He raises considerable stock and grain, hay, tobacco, etc. He has made many improve- ments upon the place and has a nice property. April 11, 1906, he married Miss Ida Reindahl, who was born in the town of Burke, Dane county, daughter of Thomas and Ingebog (Mosley) Reindahl, who were farmers of Burke and natives of Telemarken, Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Gilson are loyal members of the West Koshkonong Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Gilson is a Dem- ocrat in his political sympathies but does not desire to participate actively in political matters.

Alois Gmeinder is a leading citizen of Sun Prairie. He comes of a long established and well-to-do family of the kingdom of Wurt- emburg, Germany. His paternal grandparents were Alois and Susie (Hinkle) Gmeinder. Mr. Gmeinder followed the two occupa- tions of butcher and veterinary surgeon. His parents, Frank and Geneveve (Wild) Gmeinder, were comfortably established in a good home in Wurtemburg, but moved by an honorable ambition for even better things, they disposed of their property to the extent of about five thousand dollars, and in 1861 came to Dane county ; this continued to be their home until their death, his occurring in 1883 and hers in 1886. The subject of this sketch was the oldest of a family of five and the only one living at the present time ; one brother, Bennet, took part in the Civil War. He enlisted in Com- pany. K. Second Wisconsin Infantry, and died in 1862. He is bur- ied at Arlington Heights. Mr. Gmeinder was born July 11, 1836, and received his education in Germany, coming to America as a young man of eighteen, (1854). For several years he worked by

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the month at Green Lake, Marquette county, and in Dane county ; in 1861 he settled on a farm as an independent farmer and followed that occupation for over forty years, retiring in 1902. He owned at one time four hundred acres of land, but upon his retirement reserved only one hundred and sixty. He bought property in Sun Prairie, and has a pleasant home there for his declining years. He is a man who has won for himself the respect of the community as a good citizen. In his earlier life he was a Democrat in his poli- tics, but later adopted the principles of government as set forth by the Republican party. The family are all connected with the Catholic church. He married, in February 1868, Miss Lena Enders, a native of Germany. Her parents, Matthew and Kate (Cline) Enders came from Germany and settled in the town of Springfield where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Gmeinder have had ten children, three of whom died in in- fancy ; those living are. Kate, Joseph E., Robert, Louis M., Rose, Lena and Mary.

Lawrence A. Goebel of the town of Perry has always been a farmer and a very successful one. His parents, Michael and Mary Anna (Bower) Goebel, were natives of Germany and Switzerland, respectively. Michael Goebel served his term in the German army and came to the United States in 1845. He worked for three years in the lead mines in the vicinity of Galena, Ill. and crossed the plains to California in 1848, at the beginning of the great western movement to the gold mines. After a few years in the mines in California he returned to New York, where he landed after an ocean voyage of six months duration. At this time he was married and brought his wife to Wisconsin, purchasing, with the gold brought from California, a farm of eighty acres. To this more was added until Mr. Goebel had a splendid property of six hundred acres. From unimproved property it was slowly converted into a valuable farm, well-equipped with buildings and machinery. This became the permanent home of Mr. and Mrs. Goebel and here Mr. Goebel died in 1876 and his wife in 1905. Thirteen children were born to them; John, who lives at Burlington, N. Dak .; Gregor, a Roman Catholic priest of St. Cloud, Minn .; Michael, who lives in Sioux City, Iowa; Mary, Mrs. Fred Turk of Waloutchee, Washington ; Catherine, Mrs. Robert Gorst of Mazomanie; Emerentia, who lives with her brother Frank in the town of Perry; Joseph, who lives in Perry ; Lawrence A. ; Anna (deceased) ; Alois and Frank, who live in Perry ; Teresa, Mrs. Ed Arneson of Taylor, Jackson county, Wis.

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Pauline, Mrs. Jacob Gerber of Neilsville, Clark county, Wis .; Lawrence A. was born in the town of Perry, Dane county, April 21, 1865, married May 24, 1886, and began his married life on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he purchased from his father. His wife was Miss Julia Olmer, born in Vermont township, daughter of John and Fredricka (Degenhardt) Olmer, natives of Germany. Six children blessed the marriage; Matilda Pauline, Edward, Anna Irene, Amelia Cecilia, Julia Maria and Lauretta Teresa. The family are members of the German Catholic church. Mr. Goebel votes the Democratic ticket on national issues but is independent in his opinions on local government. He has never desired to hold office. Mrs. Goebel was one of a family of four children. Her brother, Richard Olmer, married Mary Fifer and lives in Humphrey, Platt county, Nebraska. Amelia is the wife of Sam Caldwell of Humphrey. Maria married Albert Bohn of Toronda, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Olmer came to Wisconsin in 1851, obtained a farm of two hundred and forty acres in the town of Vermont, Dane county, and spent the residue of their lives there. Mr. Olmer died in 1891 and his wife in 1895. After her husband's death Mrs. Olmer lived for a short time in Mazomanie. Both the Goebel and Olmer families became prominent in the community and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Goebel are worthy successors of their parents, always active in every worthy cause. Mr. Goebel is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

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History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 32

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