USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 43
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James Hogan, of Waunakee, was born at Freshford, Killkenny County, Ireland, September, 1883. His ancestors, on both sides of the family, were natives and residents of Ireland, and there they all died. His paternal grandfather was Columbus Hogan, who married a Miss Butler ; his maternal grandfather was Timothy Hickey who married a Miss Dunn. His parents, Michael and Annastatia (Hickey) Hogan, were both natives of Freshford, Ireland; they had a family of seven children, of whom all that remain are Mrs. Kennedy, widow of Martin Kennedy, and James, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Hogan was a young man when he came to the United States (1857), but he supple- mented the instruction which he had received in his native country by attendance at the Northwestern Business college, sharing the instruc- tion of Prof. Tulley with two distinguished citizens of Madison, Dr. Jackson and Col. Vilas. Mr. Hogan's first stop was in New York, but the same year came on to Madison, and first found employment on a farm ; then he turned his attention to the educational line and taught school for several years, and assisted in garden work, D. J. Powers, of Madison, when he was secretary of the agricultural society. He is musical in his tastes and during his residence in Madison belonged to
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the Madison band. In 1864 Mr. Hogan bought the farm known as the Louis Montandon farm, of one hundred and sixty acres. His sons, Dominic and Joseph, who are now operating the farm in partner- ship with their father, have added another hundred and sixty acres to the original homestead, and now work it under the firm name of Jas. Hogan & Sons, breeders of Poland China swine, Cottswold sheep and short-horn cattle. Mr. Hogan is a supporter of the Democratic party and has filled the office of clerk of the township for thirteen years ; he has also served as justice of the peace, and was chairman of the board of Westport for two years; he and his family are members of St. Mary's Church of the Lake, (Catholic). On November 26, 1864 he was married to Miss Hannah O'Malley, born in Ireland, 1836, daughter of Michael O'Malley and Mary (O'Neal) Malley, who is mentioned in this work; their children are, Mary, born October 4, 1866: Michael, born January 16, 1868, a farmer of West Bend ; James C., born August 6, 1869, a Catholic priest of Oshkosh; Joseph, born July 30, 1878, and Dominic P., born November 8, 1872, partners of their father in the home farm; Annastatia, born October 19, 1876, John M., born July 21, 1878, a physician of Rhinelander, Oneida county.
Captain William Hogbin is one of the well-known residents of the city of Madison. He carries on the business of repairing, dye- ing and tailoring for the university battalion, at Madison, and in addition to this occupation is a practical carpenter, mechanic and harnessmaker. The present business was established about thirty year ago and is now located at No. 414 West Gilman street. Mr. Hogbin spent seven years on the tailors' bench in London, and there learned the details of his business, and for the past thirty-five years has carried it on with the greatest success winning the high regard of, not only his customers, but also of the people of the city generally. Our subject was born in Dover. England, September 24, 1834, coming of good old Anglo-Saxon stock, and is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Monday) Hogbin, natives of Kent, Dover county, England, where they lived near neighbors to the parents of the great temperance lecturer, Gough. Robert Hogbin grew up in his native county and passed many years on the English race- course as a successful jockey, and was one of the most daring riders of either England or Wales in his day. Many times he was the driver selected by the Duke of Wellington, and was a driver for the late Queen Victoria in her youthful days, as his skill with a horse was widely known. Later in life he became a reserve soldier under Wellington, serving some time, but later, in 1853, with his
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wife and family, removed to America. They left London on the sailing vessel, the "Prince Albert," landing in New York city in June, going from there to Utica, N. Y. After the children had grown. the parents came as far west as Dubuque, Iowa, where they both died, the father at the age of eighty-nine and the mother at the age of eighty-one years. The father was born in 1792, the mother in 1791, and for many years they had been worthy members of the Methodist church. Captain Hogbin is the youngest of a family of eleven children, of whom two are yet living. He was a young man when his parents came to this country, and had learned his trade with his brother George in West London, serving an ap- prenticeship of nearly seven years, and after coming to the United States he followed his trade one year in Utica and then engaged as a clerk in a market store for a term of two years, during which time he was married. This important alliance was with Mrs. Catherine Knott, née Tiffany, the widow of Joseph M. Knott, a native of Eng- land and a harness-maker who died in the prime of life at Utica, N. Y., leaving his widow with three children. Walter S. and Al- bert W. Knott are both deceased. The former served in the Civil War in Company D, Ninth Illinois volunteer cavalry, came home, married and died about fifteen years ago. The daughter of Mrs. Knott was Mary, now the widow of Stedman B. Farrier, of Michi- gan. She now lives in Chicago, with her two daughters and one son. Mr. Farrier served through the Civil War with Company D,
Fifth Michigan volunteer infantry, and entered the service as a student from the University of Wisconsin. Captain Hogbin en- listed from Chicago, Ill .. in 1862, in Company E, Eighty-eighth Illi- nois volunteer infantry, as a tailor, being, however, soon put upon detached duty as regimental tailor, in what was well known as the the Second Board of Trade Regiment of Chicago. He took part in the battles of Perryville and Stone's River and was in many other engagements, remaining in the service nearly three years, and be- ing mustered out July 5, 1865, at Indianapolis, Ind. A full record of the military career of our valiant subject can be found in the "Soldiers' and Citizens' Album of the State of Wisconsin." Since the war he has been a devoted citizen of the Union, a lover of the old flag for which he fought, and he is a prominent member of the Lucius Fairchild post, No. 11. of Madison, in which he held the office of chaplain three and one half years, and has also been offi- cer of the day for three years, commander of post one year and is now trustee of the post, inspector general. assistant surgeon, and also past commander. He served as aide de camp on the staff of Gen-
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eral Shaws, who was commander-in-chief. In his political opinions our subject is one of the strongest of Republicans. Mr. Hogbin has been member of Good Templars for years and has been in all the chairs in this organization and also in the Sons of Temperance. He was also organizer of five Sunday school classes in Dubuque, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Hogbin attend the Congrega- tional church, are honest, upright people, and have many warm friends in the capital city. Their only daughter, Elizabeth Jane, is the wife of Edwin M. Dorn, a retired liveryman of Chicago.
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Rev. Peter Holfeltz, the popular pastor of St. Norbert's Catholic church, in Roxbury township, is a native of Germany, having been born at Remerschen, Luxemburg, September 8, 1856. His parents were John and Susan (Kieffer) Holfeltz, both of whom were born in Germany, the former on June 9, 1818, and the latter in 1820. The mother of Father Holfeltz died when the latter was but ten years old, and his father migrated to America, in 1875, and died in Manitowoc county, Wis., in 1893. Five children were born to John Holfeltz and wife, and four of them are living, as follows: Matthias resides with his brother, the Rev. Peter Holfeltz, in Dane county; John resides on the home farm in Manitowoc county ; Susan is a resident of Marinette, Wis., and Peter is he to whom this review is especially dedicated. Father Holfeltz received his preliminary education in the excellent common schools of his native land, and after coming to America entered the Mt. Calvary school in Fond du Lac, county, Wis., in which he took a classical course, and was graduated from the St. Francis seminary, in philosophy and theology, with the class of 1887. After thus completing his education he occupied the position of as- sistant in St. Michael's church at Milwaukee for a time, and then be- came pastor at Caledonia of the St. Louis congregation. He filled the latter position for nine years, was then stationed at Saukville, Wis., for two years, at Alverno, Wis., for four years, and was forced to leave the last-named charge on account of illness. In 1902 he came to Roxbury as pastor of St. Norbert's Catholic church, and under his direction. during the past four years the church has prospered exceed- ingly. Among the material improvements should be mentioned the house in which Father Holfeltz resides, and which was built under his direction and he is now remodeling the church at an expense of $18,000.
Nels Holman, editor of the News, at Deerfield, Wis .. was born in that town May 3, 1861. His parents, Sjur and Ragnhild (Aase) Holman, were both natives of Norway, the former born at Valestrand, February 19, 1819, and the latter at Sogn, August 19, 1832. The
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REV. PETER HOLFELTZ.
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father came to America in 1849, worked for awhile at Smith's tavern, near Sun Prairie and then went to work on the old Dane county court-house. About this time the mother arrived in this country, they were married and bought a farm near Deerfield, where they lived until they retired from the active labors of life and took up their residence in the village of Deerfield, where they still live, having cel- ebrated their golden wedding on July 5, 1905. Of their children eight are now living and three are deceased. Martha is the wife of Edward Sterricker, of Omaha, Neb .; Andrew is located at Copper Center, Alaska; Nels is the subject of this sketch ; Louis lives at Okonagan mission, British Columbia ; Gerina and Ella live at home with the parents ; John is at Yankton, S. D .; and Edward is at Pine River, Minn. Four of Mrs. Holman's brothers and sisters are living. Fred lives at Groton, S. D .; Emelia is single and lives in Minneapolis, Minn .; Marie, also single, lives in Chicago; and Olga is Mrs. A. R. Mather, of Groton, S. D. Nicolina, now deceased, was the wife of T. G. Reed, of Minneapolis, Minn. Nels Holman was educated at the Marshall academy and the Red Wing seminary, after which he at- tended the law department of the University of Wisconsin. For a time he was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Lakota, N. D., and was for about seventeen years in the lumber business at Deerfield, from 1885 to 1902. He served as president of the Wisconsin Retail Lum- ber Dealers' Association for two years. In 1895 he became the pub- lisher of the Deerfield Enterprise, which he published until the fol- lowing year. Since 1899 he has been the publisher and proprietor of the Deerfield News, one of the live and influential journals of the county. In politics Mr. Holman is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party. From 1888 to 1890, inclusive. he was town clerk ; was then chairman of the town board for one year ; from 1891 to 1905 was a member of the Dane county board of supervisors, and was one year chairman of the board. He served for five years on the Deerfield school board, and also served in 1893 as a member of the Wisconsin legislature. In all these positions of trust and re- sponsibility he has acquitted himself in such a way as to merit the esteem and confidence of his constituents. He is a member of the Lutheran church and is a consistent practitioner of the precepts of his faith. One of his brothers enlisted in the South Dakota in- fantry as a private in the Civil War, and for gallant conduct in crossing a burning bridge in the face of a heavy fire, was made a second lieutenant. In fraternal circles Nels Holman is well known and deservedly popular. He belongs to Perry Lodge, No. 269. Free and Accepted Masons, to No. 1413 of the Woodmen, and is a mem-
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ber of the Order of Beavers. On May 17, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Oleson, who was born September 14, 1862, and is a daughter of Soren and Inger Oleson, of Brown county, S. D. To this marriage have been born three children: Earle Staf- ford, December 31, 1888; Evalyn Constance, January 13, 1890. and Luther Leslie, January 7, 1898.
Joseph W. Holmes is another of the native sons of Dane county who has here found ample scope for successful accomplishment in connection with the great basic industry of agriculture, and he is the owner of a most productive and well improved farm, in section 2, Cottage Grove township. He was born on the old homestead farm of his father, in the township mentioned, the date of his nativity standing recorded as March 2, 1850. He is a son of Jacob and Jennett (Black) Holmes, the former of whom was born in the dominion of Canada, and the latter near the city of Belfast, Ireland. They were numbered among the sterling pioneers of Dane county, having taken up their residence in Cottage Grove township in 1844, when this section was scarcely more than an unreclaimed forest. Here the father purchased eighty acres of government land, entirely unim- proved, and he continued to reside on the same about two years, at the expiration of which he disposed of the property and purchased another farm, in the southern part of the same township. He re- claimed a considerable portion of that place and there continued to reside about twelve years, when he sold the farm and bought that which now constitutes the homestead of his son Joseph W., sub- ject of this review. On this place the parents continued to reside until their death. Of their eight children only four are living, name- ly : Margaret, who is the wife of Albert H. Higday, now resident of the state of Iowa; Joseph W., whose name initiates this sketch ; Jacob G., who is a resident of the city of Madison and Robert H., who resides in Pittsville, Wood county, Wis. Joseph W. Holmes is indebted to the district schools of his native township for his early educational training, and he continued to remain with his par- ents until their death, except for a period of three years passed in the state of Iowa. He started his independent business career when seventeen years of age, associating himself with his brother- in-law in the purchase of a threshing machine, which they success- fully operated in partnership for a period of three years. Mr. Holmes soon afterward took up his residence in the state of Iowa, where he resided three years, engaged in farming and also in the operation of a threshing outfit. He then returned to Cottage Grove township and purchased of his father his present homestead
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farm, upon which he has made numerous improvements, while he is known as one of the energetic and substantial farmers of the county and as a citizen loyal and public-spirited in his attitude. Mr. Holmes is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Demo- cratic party, and he has served one term as a member of the board of supervisors of his township. On July 4, 1875, Mr. Holmes was united in marriage to Miss Carolina Parker, who was born in the state of Illinois, April 22, 1857, being one of the seven children of Samuel and Mary (Rinehart) Parker, who passed the closing years of their lives in Plymouth county, Iowa. Mrs. Holmes is the eldest of the five living children, the others being: Margaret Ann, wife of Orrin Sager, of Plymouth county, Iowa; Joseph R., a resident of Cherokee county, that state; Stella V., wife of Perry Sager, of Plymouth county, Iowa; and Keturah, the wife of Frederick Kar- ken of Sioux City, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have two children,-Margaret Jane, born April 2, 1876; and Irwin Everett, born June 5, 1891.
John J. Holmstad, of Stoughton, received through training in the work of the carperter trade, and is now numbered among the suc- cessful contractors and builders of Dane county. Like many other representative citizens Dane county he is a native of the fair Norse- land, having been born in Norway, August 2, 1857, and being a son of Jens and Mary (Johanson) Peterson. On attaining to maturity the subject of this sketch adopted the family name, the nomenclature of Norway providing, as is well known, a peculiar system in the applying of surnames from the Christian names of the fathers. Mr. Holmstad was reared and educated in his native land, and for a num- ber of years was there associated in work with his father, who was a timberman. In 1879, at the age of twenty-two years, he immigrated to America and took up his residence in Stoughton. He began his apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade under the direction of Jens England, of Cambridge, this county, but his principle work in this preliminary way was done with A. E. Ovren, of Stoughton. He continued work as a journeyman until 1888, when he showed his self-reliance and courage by engaging in business for himself, as a contractor and builder. His success has been most gratifying and he has built up a very profitable business, giving employment to fifteen men and making a specialty of the erection of fine residences. Many of the handsomest homes in Stoughton stand as evidences of his skill and reliability. Mr. Holmstad is a loyal citizen and com- mands unqualified esteem in the community. He is a Prohibitionist in his political affiliation, and is now serving his third year as alder-
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man from the third ward of Stoughton. He and his wife hold mem- bership in the Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. March 20, 1886, Mr. Holmstad was married to Miss Katrina Pederson, formerly of Christiania, Norway, and they have three sons,-Parker, Miner and Norval. Parker is now bookkeeper for Brittingham & Hixon, a large lumbering concern of Sparta, Wis- consin.
John H. Holtan, manager of the Stoughton branch of the Ameri- can Cigar Company, is a native of Pleasant Springs, Dane county, Wis., sons of Hans and Randie (Lunde) Holtan. Anfin Holtan was the first representative of the family in Wisconsin and located in Pleasant Springs in 1846, where he purchased a farm of two hun- dred acres. He has twice married and had eight children, two by the first marriage, Ragnel and Hans, and six by the second mar- riage, Ole; Breta, the wife of Gunder Halverson ; Anna (deceased), the wife of Ole Aase; Anna, Mrs. Anton Linn ; Gunder ; Gertrude. Mrs. John B. Haven. Hans, father of John H. owned a farm of one hundred acres in Pleasant Springs where he carried on a general farming business until 1890, when he retired from active work but continued to reside on the farm until 1906 when he removed to Stoughton. Mrs. Hans Holtan died January 23, 1906. Nine children were born to them; Anfin, Austin, John H., Gertrude, the wife of Louis Severson, George, Ole, Andrew, Josie, the wife of Albert Asleson and Richard. John H. attended the district school in Pleasant Springs and later the Albion Academy and worked upon the farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years when he went to Stoughton and was employed as a clerk until 1891, when he engaged in the tobacco business with his brother Austin. This business was carried on by the brothers until 1900, when John H., accepted the position of manager for the American Cigar Company, which he still holds. The company employs in Stoughton, during the packing season, fully two hundred and fifty people and owns large storage and packing buildings. June 4, 1891, Mr. Holtan was married to Miss Hattie Bell Severson, daughter of Sever H. and Gurena (Iverberg) Severson of Stoughton. Three children blessed the marriage ; Gurena Ruth, Sigurd Harold and Clarice Joan. The family is identified with the Norwegian Lutheran church of Stoughton. Mr. Holtan is a member of the Republican party and takes an active interest in politics. He has served as a member of the county board of supervisors for six years and as alderman for the first ward of Stoughton two years.
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Levi G. Holton is a retired farmer of Stoughton, where he has . lived since June, 1904, and owns a handsome home. He was born in Christiania, Norway, September 19, 1830, son of Gullick and Anna (Levi) Holton, who embarked for the United States in 1846 and came west as far as Dane county, Wis., where they obtained a farm of eighty acres in the town of Albion. Another tract of forty acres was soon added and this was the home of Mr. Holton and his family from that time. Three children were born to Gullick and Anna Holton ; Halvor (deceased), Levi G. and Betsey (deceased), the wife of John Kittleson of Iowa. Levi G. was sixteen years of age when he came to America and received his early education in Norway. He has always been a farmer, worked out for a few years and made his home with his parents, assisting them with the work of improving their new property, until his marriage July 23, 1853. Mrs. Holton was before her marriage Miss Susan Julson, daughter of Christopher and Mary (Olson) Julson of Norway, who came to Christiania in 1843. Eight children were born to the marriage, of whom seven are living. Gullick resides in Grand Forks county, N. D .; Anna is Mrs. Ole Hellickson ; Christian owns one of the old farms; Mary is Mrs. Christian Olstad; Betsey is Mrs. Henry Thronson ; Julius is a practis- ing dentist of Edgerton and is married to Lora Dickenson ; Emma is Mrs. Gullick Gullickson living on one of the old farms. In 1852 Mr. Holton purchased eighty acres of land in the town of Christiania and made all of the improvements upon it. To this he added forty acres and in 1890 another tract containing eighty acres. The first eighty acres, the homestead, is still owned by Mr. Holton as is also one other farm of eighty acres; the remainder he sold to his son Christian. Mr. Holton carried on an extensive general farming business but for twenty years made a specialty of raising tobacco, in which he was very successful. He is a Democrat and active in local affairs, having served several times on the town board of Christiania. The family attends the Norwegian Lutheran church of Stoughton.
Ole S. Holum, was one of the most public-spirited and liberal business men of De Forest, in whose death the village lost a man who was always ready to work for her advancement in every possible way. He was born in the township of Windsor, near De Forest, August 21, 1847, son of Stephen O. and Carrie (Linde) Holum, both natives of Norway. Stephen Holum came to the United States in 1845, located at Rock Prairie, Rock county, Wis., but after two years in that vicinity, came to Windsor and engaged in farming. He owned a splendid farm of about six hundred acres, which was his home until his death. He and his wife had four sons and four daughters of
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whom only two daughters are now living. Ole S. attended the home schools at Windsor and was then sent to Luther college at Decorali, Iowa. For two years he was a student at the University of Wiscon- sin and also attended the Lutheran seminary and the Northwestern Business college at Madison. For a year he read law in the office of Rufus B. Smith at Madison and on his return to De Forest carried on a large farming business. A member of the Democratic party, Mr. Holum was always active in political matters, was elected township clerk in 1872, held the office for eighteen years and was for one year chairman of the town and one year supervisor. In 1876, he was elected register of deeds and reelected in 1880, holding office for four years. Nominated for insurance commissioner in 1890 he suffered defeat and was also nominated for the assembly on the Democratic ticket. In 1891, he was appointed to a post in the office of the state adjutant-general, which he held for two years. Mr. Holum did a great deal for the educational advancement of De Forest, donated the site for the high school building and was clerk of the high school until his death. In 1893, Mr. Holum opened a general store in De Forest and in 1896 established the Park Hotel and livery. When the village of De Forest was incorporated he was elected clerk and reelected in 1904. September 4, 1884, he married Miss Harriet Lettitia Trevoy, who was born in Madison, Wis. June 14, 1855, daughter of William A. J. and Ruth (Starks) Trevoy, who were carly residents of Dane county. Mr. Trevoy was born in Boston in 1815, was a highly edu- cated and cultured man and a well-known teacher. Mrs. Trevoy was born in Otsego county, N. Y. in 1815, daughter of Jonathan and Try- phosa (Greeman) Starks. Mrs. Starks was one of the first residents of Madison, Wis. and her daughter, Mrs. Trevoy, built the block where the Sherlock House now stands. Mrs. Trevoy spent the last years of her life with her daughter, Mrs. Holum, in De Forest, where she died in 1891. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holum; Ruth, who attends the University of Wisconsin, Lois, Ella, Stephen and Fay. The family are leaders in the first Lutheran church, of which Mr. Holum was a substitute member of the church council from 1895 until his death.
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