USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 53
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
515
BIOGRAPHICAL.
cessories and he controls an excellent trade. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and fra- ternaly he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church. May 16, 1900, Mr. Kjolseth was united in marriage to Miss Alice Wormlie, daughter of Bernt O. and Tomine (Paulson) Wormlie, and of this union has been born one daughter, Karine. Mr. Kjolseth owns and occupies a hand- some residence on Johnson Street, which he purchased April 1, 1906.
Samuel Klauber was a pioneer merchant and capitalist of Madi- son, Wis., born December 10, 1823, at Muttersdorf, Bohemia, son of Simon and Barbara Klauber. His father was a produce merchant in his native town and trained the son for a business career. On leav- ing school Samuel was employed in buying goods for his father for a time, but decided to come to America, landing at New York, October 28, 1847. Like many of his nationality, he gained his first start in business as an itinerant pack-peddler. He located at Lake Mills, Wis., in 1848, where he was associated in the grocery business until 1851, with a Mr. Brill. He then decided to go to California during the height of the gold-fever, but was dissuaded by Mr. Michelbacher, who wanted him to take a stock of goods to the thriving young capi- tal of the state,-Madison. This he did, and was ever after a resident there. With a small capital of $300 he embarked in the merchantile business, in a small frame store, sixteen by forty feet, employing two clerks, and sold some $23,000 worth of goods the first year. His business rapidly expanded, and during the seventies demanded two large stores, employing scores of hands and transacting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of sales annually. In 1872 he formed a partnership in Milwaukee under the firm name of Levi, Klauber, Adler & Co., as dealers in dry-goods. He acquired an unquestioning reputation for honesty and fair dealing, and has been uniformly suc- cessful in business. In religion he was a Hebrew of the most liberal kind; in politics he was a Whig and afterwards a Republican. He was for a time interested in the Park Hotel of Madison. He traveled much in Europe, was a patriotic, kindly citizen, and a genial gentle- man. He married Miss Caroline Springer, September 10, 1854, and the union was blessed with four children. The eldest, Moses, is the business successor of his father, and now the president of the M. S. Klauber Co., merchant tailors, clothiers and men's furnishers. With a sister, Sophie, he still makes his home at the old homestead on West
516
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Wilson street. Mr. Klauber, Sr. died at his home in Madison, March 26, 1887.
Adelbert Klecker, who for many years was a blacksmith in Mar- shall, is now the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres, commonly known as the old Hart home, where lie has lived since 1902. He is of German origin ; his parents, John and Jose- phine (Worst) Klecker, were born in Hartensdorf, Germany, early in the nineteenth century and came to America in 1853, locating first in Jefferson county, Wis. In 1861, they came to Dane county and obtained a farm in the town of Medina, section 35. Seven children were born to them and are all living. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church. Adelbert Klecker was born in Waterloo, Jefferson county, Wis., Octaber 10, 1859, at- tended school in Dane county and learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked for eighteen years in Marshall. He then pur- chased his present home and carries on a general farming business raising considerable stock and also grain, hay, etc. May 17, 1883, he married Miss Anna J. Johnson, daughter of Frank and Theresa Johnson, natives of Germany. Mrs. Klecker was born in Ger- many, May 15, 1865, and came to America with her parents in 1867, locating at Watertown, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson now reside in River Falls, Wis. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Klecker ; John J. is the eldest son; Agatha is the wife of Emil Worst of Medina; Ida, Martha, Lewis and Dora are at home. All were educated in the home schools and attend the German Catho- lic church. Mr. Klecker is a Democrat and has been prominent in school affairs, serving on the school board. He is a member of the E. F. U.
Rev. Ignatius A. Klein, pastor of St. Joseph church of East Bris- tol, was born in Germany September 1, 1863. His father was Frank Klein who, with his young family came to Dane county, where the father died August 10, 1905. The widow at present resides with her son. Of the large family of children but three survive, these being Rev. B. Klien of Fifield, Wis., Mrs. Hallmair of Butternut, Wis., and Rev. Ignaties A. Klien. The last named is the subject of our sketc!i. He was educated in Germany, graduating from St. Francis seminary in 1886. His first mission was with the Pine Bluff congregation where he was given the pastorate of St. Mary's church. During his service a stone structure was built, being completed in 1889, largely through his personal efforts. He remained here for eight years and during that time built the church at Mt. Horeb and organized the congregation. In 1895 he was transferred to East Bristol and has since been the
517
BIOGRAPHICAL.
pastor of the St. Joseph church of that place. The church has recent- ly erected a fine school building at an expenditure of $15,000. At present there are nearly two hundred families in his flourishing con- gregation.
Isaac Christopher Knapton, of the town of Medina, is one of the leading citizens of that village and actively interested in all that per- tains to the success and well-being of the community. He is Eng- lish by birth and the paternal line is as follows: (I.) John Knapton. (2.) William Knapton, born 1768, died January 25, 1845; married Grace Huddlestone, who was born 1876 and died August 29, 1845. (3.) William Knapton, born in Wisco Hill, West Riding, Yorkshire, in 1797, died in Medina township, Dane, in 1858; he married Jane Carnelley, daughter of John and Margaret (Joy) Carnelley, born in England; in 1824 he died and his wife in 1838. Jane (Carnelley) Knapton was born in Owlerton, on a farm two miles from Sheffield, in 1801, died in Medina 1884. (4.) Isaac C. Knapton, the subject of this sketch. William Knapton, of the third generation recorded, came to Dane county in 1848, and settled in Medina township, on forty acres in section 7; he also owned one hundred sixty acres in section 17. He was a Whig in politics and afterward a Republican. He and his wife had twelve children, of whom three died in England and nine came to the United States; those who died in this country are Mary Ann, July 21, 1901; John, February 8, 1903; Sarah, March, 1903. Of the five sons and one sister who remain the subject of this sketch is one. He was born December 26, 1836, near Bramhope, Yorkshire; came to Dane with his parents in June, 1848; he received his first schooling in the village of Otley, England, and later in the common school of Medina township. He shared in the hardships of the pioneer life, and for fourteen years drove a breaking team through the virgin soil of Dane county, and has probably turned over more of the original sod than any other man in the county. March 1. 1858, he married Miss Mary Agnew, born November 1, 1840, in Parish Donaghdee, County Down, Ireland, the daughter of Robert and Ann (Perry) Agnew, who came to the United States in 1853 and the fol- lowing year settled in Medina township; he died, from the bite of a rattle-snake, in 1860; his wife died in 1883. After his marriage Mr. I. C. Knapton rented land, and later purchased. He owns at the present time two hundred and fifteen acres as the result of his own toil and industry .- one hundred acres in one farm, and the remainder in the other. He is a Republican and has always been actively inter- ested in politics; has been a delegate to many conventions, among
518
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
them the two first state conventions that nominated R. M. La Fol- lette for governor; he has served as town treasurer, and has been assessor for ten years, and chairman of the board of supervisors from 1894-1896. He was one of the organizers of the Farmer's Mutual Protective Fire Insurance Co., in 1875, and has since that time been the agent for Medina. He belonged to the Grange for twenty years and also to the Temple of Honor. He is an attendant of the Method- ist Episcopal church. The children born to himself and wife are Ann Priscilla, born December 14, 1858 and died July 19,1861 ; Edward Rob- ert, born April 28, 1861, married Annie Cripps, born in York, February 3, 1871; John, born January 20, 1867, married Annie Orton; Edith Perry, born August 20, 1869, died September 6, 1887, aged eighteen years and seventeen days; she had taught three terms of school; Pris- cilla Ellen, born January 1, 1874; she taught school for five terms before her marriage to J. A. Wood, April 6, 1895. Of the other two brothers, one, Joshua C., has never married and lives on and owns the old homestead. He was born in England, November 7, 1844; he was a private in Company A, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, enlisting January, 1864, and serving until the close of the war. He is a Democrat, was chairman of the town board for two years and is now assessor. The other brother, William, owns a farm of one hund- red and forty acres, but has retired from active work upon it and lives in the village of Marshall. He is a Republican, has been supervisor of Medina and served on the school board; he is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. October 16, 1853, he married Anna Fallows, daughter of Thos. and Anne (Ashworth) Fallows, and sister of Bishop Fallows of the Reformed Episcopal church. They have had seven children, William Thomas; Samuel F .; Anna Jane, (deceased); Emma; George H .; Lillie May; Eva Ashworth. Mrs. Knapton was born in Manchester, England, in 1827 and died January 12, 1902.
Eugene O. Kney, cashier of the state bank of Madison, whose beautiful home is at 128 East Johnson street, was born in the old province of Palatinate, Germany, December 13, 1851. Paternally he is of French descent, his father, J. P. Kney, having been born in Nancy, France. His mother, neé Elizabeth Kuntz, was a native of the old Palatinate province, and of the best German stock. J. P. Kney immigrated to Germany with his parents when but six years of age and grew to maturity and old age in that country, where he pursued the vocation of teacher. He was a graduate from the college of Kaiserlautern, Germany. Both parents spent all their lives in Germany. Engene O. Kney was an attendant of the col-
519
BIOGRAPHICAL.
lege at Landau, Germany, and after his arrival in Madison he was graduated from a commercial course at the business college. In .1866 he came to the United States, locating in Sauk City, Wis., where for four years he did clerical work in a store. On May 15, 1870, he arrived in Madison to accept a position as bookkeeper in the state bank. He was retained in the came capacity until 1895, and since that year has been the cashier of the bank. Politically Mr. Kney is exceedingly independent, exercising his right of fran- chise as his conscience and good judgment dictate. Aside from becoming a member of the library board, of which office he is now the incumbent, he has never allowed his name to be even men- tioned in connection with a position of public trust. On June 20, 1873, Mr. Kney was united in marriage to Miss Clara Hinrichs, born in Madison of German parentage, and a daughter of Christian and Frederica (Miller) Hinrichs. To this union have been born four children, Bertha', the wife of Herman J. Minch of Madison ; Paul. teller in the state bank: Ena, at home; and Otto, the adver- tiging manager for the Northern Electrical Manufacturing Com- pany. All the children were born in Madison and received their education in the same city, all being graduates of the high school. Mr. Kney is intensely interested in music and all that pertains to the musical development of the community. For the past twenty- five years he has been president of the Madison Mennerchor, a society composed of German citizens of the community interested in music, and is now serving his thirteenth year as president of the Choral Union. Ever since his residence in Madison he has been identified with the Turnverein, and at present is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. When Mr. Kney first located in Madison it was a city of some 11,000 population and he has been one of the most influential of its citizens in help- ing to bring it among the foremost of municipalities of the Badger commonwealth. Modest and retiring, but efficient and thorough in all that he does. he is the type of citizen who adds materially to the refinement and culture of his home community.
Henry Knudson of the town of Perry is the owner of a valuable and well-equipped farm .of two hundred twenty-five acres. With his father, Knudt Enderson, and mother, Marit (Helgerson) Enderson, he came to the United States when he was a boy of nine years. Knudt and his wife were natives of Norway and came to Wisconsin with their family in 1867. At first Mr. Enderson worked out as a farm- hand but soon bought eighty acres in Perry township which he set to work to clear and improve. Here he lived for several years but
:
520
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
in the meantime his son Henry had purchased a tract of land which also had to be cleared and cultivated and as it was the more promising farm of the two, Mr. Enderson sold his property and made his home with his son. Together they improved the property and here Mr. Enderson died in 1899 and his wife in 1891. Five children were born to them; Henry; Inger, who is Mrs. Hagan of St. Croix county; Eric, who lives in Minnesota; Anton who lives in the town of Perry : John, who lives in Minnesota. Henry was born in Valders, Norway, May 12, 1858, attended school for a few years after the family came to Perry but began to earn his own living when he was fourteen years of age. In 1883 he bought one hundred sixty acres adjoining his present home and has added more and more until he now has a fine large farm. He was married Oct. 20, 1888, to Miss Bertha Syverud, who was born in Norway in March, 1863, daughter of Ole Syverud. Four children were born to the marriage; Rose Mabel and Ida Amelia reside with their parents; Albert and an infant child are deceased. Mrs. Knudson has three younger sisters and a brother. Anna is Mrs. Torger Dakken of Perry; Nels resides in Mount Horeb; Mary mar- ried Hans Biornstad of Perry ; Tonita is also married and lives in Nor- way. The family is identified with the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Knudson is a Republican in his political sympathies.
Anton Knudtson is a well known and prosperous farmer of the town of Perry, son of Knudt and Mary Anderson, natives of Nor- way, who came to the United States in 1866. Their first home was in Blue Mounds and Mr. Anderson worked as a farm-hand for a short time. As soon as he was able Mr. Anderson purchased a farm of eighty acres in the town of Perry and lived there ten years, finally selling it to hi's oldest son Henry. Mr. Anderson died in 1892. Anton was born in Blue Mounds February 21, 1870, attended the district school in Perry and after his father's death lived with his brother Henry until 1897. For some years he was employed as a farm hand and then bought one hundred and sixty acres of farm land in the town of Perry, where he lived but two years. This property he sold and for nine years rented another farm. In the autumn of 1905 Mr. Knudtson bought his present homestead, a farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, and there carries on a successful farming business. Mr. Knudtson's oldest brother Henry lives on the old homestead; Eric resides in Minne- · sota ; Ona married Mr. Hagan ; John also lives in Minnesota. De- cember 4, 1894, Mr. Knudtson married Miss Alena Desrud, born in Blue Mounds, January 12, 1875, daughter of Ole N. and Andrea Desrud. There were eight children in the Desrud family. Mrs.
521
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Desrud died in 1901 and the family live in Rice Lake, Wis. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Knudtson; Minnie Alberta, Julia Elinore, Olin Clifford, Edwin Norman, James Alford and Agnes Americe. The family are members of the Norwegian Lu- theran church. Mr. Knudtson is allied with the Republican party in his political sympathies.
Ole Knudtson of the town of Perry has been a farmer ever since he was a boy. He was born in Telemarken, Norway, April 23, 1852, son of Knudt and Margit Olson. Knudt Olson died when his son Ole was but a little lad and Ole began to help his mother when he was eight years old. He had no opportunity to attend school and was employed first as a shepherd boy and later at gen- eral farm work. In 1862, Mrs. Olson brought her young family to the United States and located on a farm in the town of Pleasant Springs which was their home until 1882 when they came to Perry, where Mrs. Olson now lives with her son Ole. During the first years of his life in America Ole worked out for the farmers of his neighborhood and after a long period of hard work, most of it in the interests of his mother and sisters and brothers, he was able to purchase a farm of two hundred acres. which lies in the town of Perry. Ole is the only survivor of the family of four children. May 8, 1875, he married Miss Helena Knudtson; who was born in the town of Pleasant Springs, March 4, 1850, daughter of Knudt Knudtson and Rachel (Brount) Knudtson, who were both born in Norway. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Knudtson : Carrie Maria, widow of Victor Jensen ; Richard; Clara Matilda ; Carl ; and James Alfred. Mr. Knudtson sold one hundred acres of his farm and retains the remaining one hundred acres for his homestead. He has been successful in his business and has made his way in spite of early hardships and poverty, by means of his own determination and pluck. He is associated with the Republican party and attends the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Theodore Koch is one of the prosperous farmers and dairymen of Cross Plains township, and his success is the more gratifying to re- cord from the fact that he is a native son of Dane county, where he has been identified with agricultural pursuits from his boyhood to the present. He was born in Berry township, this county, August 18, 1860, and is a son of Matthew and Mary Ann (Schmoll) Koch, both native of Germany, where they were reared and educated and where their marriage was solemnized, the father having learned the trade of wagonmaking when a young man. They came to America in 1849, forthwith making their way to Dane county, Wisconsin.
522
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Matthew Koch secured two hundred acres of wild land, in Berry township, a small clearing having been made and a rude log house erected. He reclaimed the place into one of the valuable farms of the county and was one of the reliable and substantial citizens of the township, continuing to reside on his homestead until his death, Jan- uary 6, 1898, his devoted wife having been called to the life eternal on March 20, 1880. Both were communicants of the St. Francis Catholic church. In politics he was a Democrat. They became the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living, namely: William, John and Henry (twins), Frederick, Kate, Theodore, Frank and Jo- seph. Theodore Koch attended the district schools in a somewhat ir- regular way during his boyhood and youth and early began to aid in the work of the home farm, with whose improvement and manage- ment he was identified until he was about thirty years of age, having continued to reside on the home farm about nine years after he had married. He then purchased his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres, in section 7; Cross Plains township, buying the property of Joachim Schultz. Here he has a well im- proved and well kept farmstead, and his attention is given to diver- sified agriculture, to the dairy business and to such raising of various kinds of livestock as is consistent with other departments of the farm enterprise. He is a Democrat in politics but has never sought or held office and both he and his wife are communicants of the St. Francis Catholic church, holding membership in the parish at Cross Plains village. Mr. Koch has been industrious and progressive and has met with well merited success, while he has never failed to gain the respect of those with whom he has had dealings. October 14, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Michaels, daughter of John and Gertrude (Smith) Michaels, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in the state of New York, while they now reside in the village of Pine Bluff, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Koch have five children: Gertrude M., Anna M., Margaret M., Henritte M. and Frederick T.
Joseph H. Koltes, a prominent lumber dealer and the vice-presi- dent of the Waunakee state bank, at Waunakee. is one of the stanch German citizens of Westport township. He was born in Springfield township, Dane county, November 26, 1862, and is the son of Michael and Helen (Fischer) Koltes both of whom were born in Germany, the former on April 2, 1828, and the latter in May, 1827. The parental grandfather was Peter Koltes and the maternal ancester of the same degree was William Fischer, both of whom spent their lives in the Fatherland, the latter dying in
523
BIOGRAPHICAL.
1834. The wife of William Fischer was Adalhaeide Klosterhalfer, who was born at Kerben, Prussia, December 31, 1790, and died October 14, 1889, at Waunakee, Wis,, having lived fifty-five years a widow. She came to Dane county in 1852 and settled in Spring- field township, making the trip from Milwaukee with oxen. Michael Koltes, father of the subject of this review, grew to man- hood in Germany, and received his education in the excellent schools of that country. Realizing the greater opportunities to be enjoyed in the western hemisphere he migrated to America, and in March, 1853, came to Springfield township, Dane county, where he took up his abode on a farm and continued to reside there until 1866. In that year he located on a farm in Westport township, and continued the occupation of a farmer until 1879, when he changed his residence to the village of Waunakee and for three years conducted a butcher shop. In 1881 he also engaged in the lumber business and was so employed until 1886, when he re- tired from active participation in affairs. He is an extensive land owner, possessing about six hundred acres, and also owns consid- erable village property in Waunakee, where he lives, enjoying the fruits of a well spent and industrious life. He was married, Janu- ary 4, 1855, to Miss Helen Fischer, of Springfield township, and more than fifty years of happy wedded life has been the good fortune of this honored and respected couple. On January 4, 1905. they had the comparatively rare pleasure of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage in a happy golden wedding. They are the parents of four children, viz: Mrs. Jos. Dorn of Westport township; Mrs. John Miller, of Springfield township; Joseph H .. who is the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. P. R. Riphahan of Waunakee. In political faith Michael Koltes is a Democrat, has served as supervisor, and was school district treasurer for a num- ber of years. Joseph H. Koltes, our immediate subject, was edu- cated in the common schools of Springfield township and in the Waunakee graded schools; and in the Catholic parochial schools of Madison. After leaving school he worked in the butcher shop for his father about two years, and then for one year was in the meat business for himself. In 1883 he engaged in the lumber busi- ness at Waunakee, with his father, meeting with good success, and although other interests demand a portion of his time and atten- tion, he has been closely identified with the lumber industry for a period of twenty years. He was also an extensive buyer and shipper of horses for about two years. In 1887 he engaged in the mercantile business with P. R. Riphahan, and in 1890 the latter
524
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
became a partner of Mr. Koltes in the lumber business. In March, 1905, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Riphahan taking the mer- cantile business and Mr. Koltes the lumber interests of the firm. From 1890 to 1892 Lawrence Freney was also connected in busi- ness with Messrs. Koltes and Riphahan, during which time the firm name was Koltes, Riphahan & Freney. Besides other bus :- ness interests, Mr. Koltes owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota. He was one of the organizers of the Waunakee state bank, and at present holds the position of vice president of the same. In politics he is a Democrat, and that his personal worth and efficiency have been recognized is proven by the positions of trust which he has held. He has been one of the trustees of the village of Waunakee for two years, and for seven years a member of the county board of supervisors, representing the village in which he resides. He has been treasurer of the school board for ten years, at present being the incumbent of that position, and for one year he also held the office of treasurer of Westport township. He and his family are members of the Cath- olic church, which is also true of Mr. Koltes' parents, mentioned above. On February 11. 1885, Mr. Koltes was married to Miss Mary Josephine Tierney, who was born in Westport, December 4, 1862. She is the daughter of John H. and Bridget (Malone) Tierney, both natives of Ireland, who came to Dane county and settled on the farm where they now reside, in Westport township. Mr. Tierney is a very prominent and worthy citizen, in politics a Democrat, has been for thirteen years chairman of the township board, and a few years ago was a member of the Wisconsin leg's- lature. He and family are also members of the Catholic church. Joseph H. Koltes and wife are the parents of the following chil- dren: Edward M., Harry J., Ida A., Raphael P., Grace D., Cath- arine C. (died at the age of three months), Florence J., and Eleanor M.
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.