History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 56

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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their establishment is the leading mercantile establishment of the place. He was married on July 4, 1898, to Mrs. Frances (DeBower) McChesney, daughter of Fred and Mary (Buffmyer) McChesney, of the town of Vienna. She died on May 31, 1899, leaving no ch'l- dren. Mr. Lappley then married, on April 17, 1901, Miss Adelia M. Schwenn, a native of the town of Dane, whose parents-Frank and Susan (Zimmerman) Schwenn-were born in Germany, but now live in the town of Middleton, Dane county. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lappley-Albert William and Lurene Alice. Mr. Lappley is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is filling very acceptably the positions of justice of the peace and clerk of the village school board. also notary public, and has been postmaster at Fitchburg since 1903. The society relations of both John and William F. Lappley are marked by membership in the I. O. O. F. and the Modern Woodmen of America.

George Larkin, a farmer of the town of Madison, was born on February 8, 1844, in the neighborhood where he now resides. His parents, Jonathan and Cynthia (Newcomb) Larkin, were both na- tives of the state of New York, but came to Wisconsin soon after their marriage, settling in Dane county in 1843. Jonathan Larkin bought two hundred and one acres of wild land, erected a log cabin, and began the life of a pioneer. The cabin was soon replaced by a better one, which in turn gave way to a stone house of more pre- tentious character. He helped to lay out and construct the first roads in the county, driving an ox team to haul the materials for bridges, etc. At that time bear, deer and other game was abund- ant, and Indians were frequent visitors to the settlements. He also operated the first dairy about the capital city and run the first milk wagon in Madison. He is still remembered by some of the old settlers as a man of high moral character and great influence in the community. The children of Jonathan and Cynthia Larkin were Helen, Louise, Lucina, Edwin N., George, Catherine and Frank J. Helen is the widow of Samuel Chase ; Louise, Catherine and Frank live together in the town of Madison; Lucina is the wife of J. H. Terry, also of the town of Madison; Edwin N. is a farmer in the town of Verona, and George is the subject of this sketch. In his youth Mr. Larkin had meager opportunities to attend school, but by reading he has managed to keep about as well informed as most men of his day and generation. Always a great lover of horses he spent considerable time in his early life in breaking them to the saddle and to harness. He also broke a good many oxen. He con- tinued to live at home until he was about twenty-eight years old.

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when he married Miss Addie Sweet. a daughter of William Sweet, who came from New York at an early date and settled in Dane county, where he followed the life of a farmer the rest of his life. George and Addie Larkin have an adopted son, Danford W., now a farmer in the town of Fitchburg. He married Emma Johnson and they have one son, George J. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Larkin bought the farm of one hundred acres where he now lives. Since that time he has made all the improvements on the place and car- ries on a general farming business. He devotes considerable at- tention to breeding fine horses and Shetland ponies, especially the latter, of which he has sold a large number. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for public office, pre- ferring the less pretentious but more congenial life of a farmer. He and his family are widely known and highly esteemed.

Rasmus Larson, a well-known and successful farmer of the town of Rutland. is a native of Denmark. Lars and Anna Larson, his parents, were born in Rudkjöbing, Denmark, where they were edu- cated and married and spent their I'ves upon a farm in the neigh- borhood. Their oldest son, Christian, died ; the two younger ones, Lars and Rasmus, came to America and both settled in Rutland. Rasmus was born near Rudkjobing, May 2. 1832, attended school in Denmark until he was fifteen years of age and then worked out. In 1866, he came to Rock county, Wis., where he worked out for four years. He then located in Rutland, where he obtained sev- enty acres of land, which he worked for eight years. This was sold and the farm known as the Cooper farm purchased, which has since been the home of the family. Mr. Larson is a Republican but has never interested himself actively in politics or desired to hold office. In October, 1866, he married Miss Caroline Christenson,

daughter of Christ an and Maria Christianson, natives of Denmark. Mrs. Larson's father died in Denmark and his widow joined her children in America. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have five sons and daughters. Anna, the oldest, is the wife of John Anderson of Ore- gon, Wis., Augusta married Andrew Christianson of Stoughton, Hannah is Mrs. Paul Nelson and resides in the town of Rutland. William and Mary remain at home. All have been well-educated and the family is prominent in the Danish Lutheran church of Rutland.

Jens Larum is an old resident of the town of Rutland, having farmed there since 1844. Iver and Bertha Larum, his parents, were born in Sogan, Norway, and there spent their entire I'ves. Of their family of five children but two are living. Iver, in North Dakota 35-iii

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and Jens in Rutland. Jens Larum was born in Sogan, November 25, 1832, received his early education in Norway and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age. He then went to sea and with a partner owned a boat with which they carried on a trade in farm produce along the coast of Norway and also fished in season. In 1873 he came to America and for a year worked out near Stoughton. He then decided to locate in Rutland and pur- chased eighty acres of wild land in sections 23 and 24, which he farmed and improved in every way. A successful farming business is now carried on by him at the same place. While still a resident of Sogan, Norway, Mr. Larum was married to Miss Dora Tufton, in May, 1867. Her parents. John and Carrie Tufton lived on a farm in Sogan, where their daughter was born, and they never left Nor- way. Mr. and Mrs. Larum's first daughter, Bertha, was born in Norway, in 1869, and came with her parents to Rutland, where she married Henry Matson, a farmer of Rutland. The younger chil- dren, Carrie and Eddie, were born in Rutland, and have always lived with their father and mother. All have received good educa- tions and with their parents are members of the Norwegian Luth- cran church. Mr. Larum is a Republican in his political sympa- th'es but has never been an active politician.

John Cuthbert Latham, a progressive farmer of the town of Fitchburg, where he has won an evitable position by dint of honest effort and superior mental qualifications, was born in Lancashire, England, on February 17, 1860, and is one of five children born to John and Mary Ann (Whaley) Latham, also natives of England, where the father died in 1878, aged seventy-seven years. He was an eminent physician and was twice married, five children being born to each of the unions, making a total of ten in the family, and it is proper to incorporate in this review interesting facts concern- ing them. Dr. P. W. Latham of Cambridge, England, a son of the first marriage and a half-brother of our subject, is the father of the wife of James Avon Clyde, Scotland's present solicitor general. Mr. Clyde is the second son of Dr. James Clyde, formerly rector of Edinburgh academy, and he was born in 1863, was called to the bar in 1887 and became king's counsel in 1901. His success as an advocate has been remarkable and it is said that he has acquired one of the largest practices of modern times. He is a unionist in British politics. Of the five children born to the second marriage of Dr. John Latham, Adah Anne is deceased ; Mary Zilla Eva Linda is unmarried and resides in the city of Madison ; Helen married Thomas William Oldham (deceased), and is given a more extended

BIOGRAPHICAL. 547

mention on another page in a review dedicated to her husband; Vida Annette is unmarried and resides in Chicago; and John C. is he whose name introduces this memoir. Miss Vida Annette Latham, mentioned above is a lady of much prominence, and was elected one of the vice presidents of the American Microscopic soci- ety at its recent meeting in Buffalo, where she took a prominent part. At the time of the meeting the Buffalo Courier gave her the following complimentary notice: "It is to be expected that a gathering of scientists from all over the United States would not fail to bring together some interesting characters, and the American Microscopical Society convening here this week brought to the city a number of people prominent in the world of science. One of the most distinguished and interesting scientists at the conven- tion proves to be a woman. Dr. Vida Latham of Chicago, who was one of the most interested observers at yesterday's sessions, is a woman with an unusual history. Born in England at a time when women had not yet invaded the professional field, Dr. La- tham became imbued with the idea that she would like to study medicine. She met with manifold difficulties, the strongest of which was the traditional prejudice against 'woman out of her sphere.' She however entered the doors of one of London's medical colleges and made a specialty of tuberculosis. Coming to America, she entered college at Ann Arobor, where she was graduated. On leaving college Dr. Latham went to Chicago, where she has since lived. She is considered by authorities to be one of the cleverest teachers of histology and pathology in the medical world. She occupies the chair of professor of histology in the Northwestern University ; she is a member of the American Medical Association and chairman of one of its sections ; a member of the Chicago medi- cal societies, and has a large practice. Dr. Latham is a striking example of grit and perseverance, and for one who meets her, a woman of delicate appearance and modest manners, it is difficult to believe that she has overcome almost colossal difficulties to attain such a degree of proficiency in her chosen profession. Dr. Latham has visited England several times since making her home in America." John Cuthbert Latham, who is the immediate subject of this review first attended the Wiggins grammar school at Lan- caster, England, in which he received a very good education, and in 1882, at the age of twenty-two years, he migrated to America. Comng directly to Wisconsin, he worked as a farm hand in the town of Sun Prairie, Dane county, about one year, after which he purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land in the town of

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Fitchburg and began general farming on a somewhat extensive scale. He remained on that farm about two years, and then sold it and purchased the farm where he now resides, near Syene in the same town. He has made many necessary improvements on his present homestead, which comprises one hundred and eighty acres of exceptionally fertile land, and the progress which he has made and is making is a striking example of what can be accomplished by singleness of purpose and intelligent effort. Mr. Latham was married on October 24, 1884, to Miss Theresa Hasler, born near Birmingham, England, July 22, 1867, daughter of William Fred- erick and Frances (Slater) Hasler, also natives of England, where they still reside, as do also their children with the single exception of Mrs. Latham. In the Hasler family there were nine children, five of whom are living. Theresa, who is now Mrs. Latham, is the only one residing in America, the others, Ida, Winifred, Blanche and Gwendoline, remaining in England. To Mr. and Mrs. Latham there have been born four children: Gladys, Garnet, Nellie and Gwendoline. In politics our subject gives an unswerving allegiance to the tenets of the Democratic party, and his worth has been ap- preciated by his fellow citizens. Although he has never been an aspirant for public office he has served four terms as town assessor and for ten years as treasurer of the school district in which he re- sides. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church.

August C. Laue has conducted a high grade merchant tailoring establishment at Middleton since February, 1904. A native of Ebstorf. Hanover, Germany, he came to America when a boy with his parents, Heinrich and Dora (Marvade) Laue. They were both born in Hanover and lived there until after their marriage, when with their young family they set out for America and soon located at Reedsburg, Wis., which was their home until 1874. At that time they moved to Madison, Wis., where Mr. Laue died in 1902. Mrs. Laue still makes Madison her home and one of her daughters. Sophia (Mrs. George Schneider) resides there also. Henry, the second son, died in July, 1884, and Mary, Mrs. Henry Niebuhr, in April, 1891. August C. was born August 3, 1865, and went to school in Germany for two years before his departure and sub- sequently attended Dane county schools until he arrived at the age of fourteen years. After some six years spent at home he spent two years in the west visiting Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, hoping to find improvement in health. Mr. Laue learned the tailor's trade in 1879 and worked at various places along the Pacific coast. In 1887 he came back to Madison, working at

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his trade until 1893, when he went into business for himself. For a time connected with Charles G. Swanson at Madison he closed out his business in Madison in May, 1901, and went into business at Deerfield. The business outlook at Middleton seemed to offer him more inducements so in 1902 the store in Deerfield was dis- posed of and one opened at Middleton. August C. Laue was mar- ried October 1, 1887. to M'ss Catherine Noonon, daughter of John Noonan of Limerick, Ireland. They have three children, Robert H .. Maria and Roy. Mr. Laue is a Democrat and in March, 1905. was elected marshal. Mrs. Laue died October 19, 1905, aged thirty- eight years.

Allen R. Law, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Madi- son, was born in Port Dover, Canada, June 17, 1846. H's parents were Samuel and Catherine (Hodgkins) Law, both natives of Canada, where the father was a farmer. The father, co-operating with his neighbors, bought one of the early threshing machines of the vicinity. While feeding it one night about dusk his hands be- came entangled in the machinery and both arms were taken off, one at the wrist and one near the elbow. Undaunted, the father set about making preparations to engage in some other business and upon his recovery embarked in the grocery business wholesale and reta'l, overseeing and managing it himself. In the fall of 1846, in his twenty-sixth year, he passed away, leaving a widow and one son, the subject of this sketch. The widow married James Howey, of Nanticoke. Canada. By this marriage she was the mother of eight children, all living and two of whom are married. Allen R. Law was educated in the common and grammar schools of Port Dover. His medical studies were pursued under Drs. Eastman of Platteville, Wis., and William Howell of Jarvis, Ontario. and for three years he was a student at Rush Medical College. Chicago. Upon his graduation in 1870 with the degree of M. D., he located in Belmont, Wis., and started the practice of his profession. In 1884-5 he took a full course in the New York Polyclinic of New York city, and soon after his return to Belmont he performed on Oscar J. Blakley of Darlington, Lafayette Co., Wis., the first suc- cessful bloodless hip-joint amputation ever performed in the world. In 1892 he removed to Madison and furnished the capital for a hardwood lumber and planing mill business and devoted part of his time to it for a year, and then went to Chicago for a time for ad- vanced study in medicine taking a course in the Chicago Polyclinic. Dr. Law's specialty is surgery and the d'seases of women. For a number of years he has been an examiner for the leading insur-

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ance companies. The doctor is a member of the Blue Lodge Chap ter and Commandery of Madison F. & A. M. He is a member of the State and Central Wisconsin Medical Associations and of the Methodist church. On December 2, 1885, he married Sarah, daugh- ter of Dedrick and Maria (Melvin) Harms, and to this marriage five children have been born, William Allen, married, and con- nected with C. H. Canby in the banking and brokerage business in Chicago ; Blossom M., a student of the University of Wisconsin ; Emily, died in infancy, and Robert M., a student in the high school, and Jack died at age of eight years.

Harmon R. Learnard, the respected village and town clerk of Mazomanie, was born in Fairfax, Franklin county, Vt., August 1, 1841. His parents, Franklin Learnard and Clarinda (Walker) Learnard, were both natives of Vermont and came west in 1852. The father worked at the carpenter's trade for a time after coming to Mazomanie and then bought a farm of eighty acres, to which he added seventy acres soon after. The subject's mother died in Mazomanie in 1879. In the spring of 1884 the father went to Fort Collins, Colo., where he died in 1900 aged ninety-three. Beside Harmon there were five children in the family, Horace, who died in Colorado; Henry, a member of Company A, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, died in Montgomery, Ala., 1865; Heber, died in Colo- rado, 1890; and Porter and Perry, twins, the former station agent and postmaster at Chicosa, Colo., the latter engaged in the insur- ance and real estate business in Fort Collins, Colo. Harmon R. Learnard's education was confined to district schools but his appli- cation was such that he became a teacher himself and offic ated in that capacity for five terms, in the counties of Dane and Richland. On September 2, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A (Capt. D. E. Hough) Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry (Col. C. L. Harris). The regiment was under General Curtis in Missouri and Arkansas, then under General Grant at the siege of Vicksburg and later transferred to the Army of the Gulf, participating in the skirmishes incident to the siege and capture of Mobile. On Sep- tember 4. 1865, he was mustered out, having served just two days over four years. His brothers, Perry and Porter, were members of the Twenty-third Wisconsin infantry. Mr. Learnard is a zeal- ous Republican and since 1879 has served the community as village and town clerk and has served on the county board. He is also a notary public and does some insurance business. He is not a member of any church but his wife belongs to the Episcopal church. On November ?, 1868, he married Mary G., daughter of Eben and

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Sallie (Goodwin) Howard of Fairfax, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Howard had six children, four daughters and two sons. The sons were members of Company K, Eleventh Vermont infantry; both were captured and Keyes died in Andersonville prison. John survived and returned to Vermont after the war. Mr. and Mrs. Learnard have had three children, Pearly, died at age of ten years, Iva is the wife of Dr. H. A. Ellis of Mazomanie and Merton H. is the chief clerk in the office of the Southern Colorado Railroad Company in Denver. The esteem in which Mr. Learnard's neighbors hold him is evidenced in his continued election to an office of trust. He is a member of the A. R. McDonald post, No. 56, Grand Army of the Republic, Crescent Lodge, No. 97, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Order of the Eastern Star and Unity Lodge, No. 22, A. O. U. W., all of Mazomanie.

John O. Lee is an able representative of the agricultural industry in Dunkirk township, where he has a well improved farm of sixty- eight acres. Mr. Lee was born in Norway Ocotber 11, 1849, and is a son of Ole and Ingoleb Lee. In his native land he was reared to years of maturity and there was afforded a common school educa- tion. In 1870 he immigrated to America and came at once to Dane county, locating near Rockdale, where he continued to reside for the ensuing eleven years. In 1880 he purchased his present farm of sixty-eight acres, on which he has made excellent improve- ments, having erected the various buildings and being known as an energetic and successful farmer. He makes a specialty of raising tobacco, having devoted nineteen acres to the same in 1905. In politics he is a stanch Republican and he and his wife hold mem- bership in the Norwegian Lutheran church. In 1880 Mr. Lee was united in marriage to M'ss Gunil Berthena Olson, daughter of Tolef and Emma (Meikelsdatter) Olson, honored pioneers of Dane county, whither they immigrated from Norway in 1844, settling in Dunkirk township, where Mr. Olson secured government land, a portion of which is the farm now owned by Mr. Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have eight children. namely: Ella, Mary, Thea. Gertrude. Josie, Ole, Melvin and Sigurd. Ella is now the wife of George Erickson. Sigurd died in March. 1906, at age of two years.

John E. Johnson Lee, who was one of the very early settlers of Dane county was sixteen years of age when he came from Norway with his parents and brothers and sisters. His father, Erick John- son Lee, and his mother, Martha Larsdotter (Ottnernes) Lee, brought their family of eight children to the United States in 1845 and settled in the township of Christiania when the community was

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in its infancy. They purchased a farm of two hundred acres of wild land and kind neighbors sheltered the family until a dwelling of logs could be constructed. Mr. Lee was a farmer in his native land and undaunted by the magnitude of his task, set to work to gain a living for his family from the new farm. He converted it into a profitable property and made it his home until his death in 1892. Mrs. Lee died in 1873. Eight children were born to them. Breta. the oldest, died. Magnilda is the wife of James Berquam of Column- bia county. John E. lives upon the old homestead. Ingobar died in 1866. Haaken served in Co. C. Second California Cavalry. Anna is the widow of John Onstad of Christian a. Thomas served in the Third California Volunteer Infantry and died in 1897. John E. was born in County Bergen, Norway, March 16, 1829, re- ce'ved his early education in the common schools of Norway and helped his father in the work of clearing the new farm when they settled in Wisconsin. He has always been a farmer and succeeded his father in the management of the home farm. In 1900 he was obliged by ill-health to retire from active work and the farm is. now under the care of his son. Lars J., who is particularly successful in ra sing fine cattle for which his farm is noted. Mr. Lee is a Republican in political sympathy and has served as chairman of the town board for many terms. In 1868-9 he represented his district in the legislature. In May, 1851. he married Miss Caroline Simon- son, daughter of Atli and Assi Simonson of County Bergen, Nor- way, who came to Christiania in 1849. Six children were born to John and Caroline Lee; Erick, who is a truck farmer of Edgewater. Col .; Atle, a minister of the Lutheran church of Lake Mills, Iowa ; Martha, who lives at home: Louisa, Mrs. O. K. Lee, of Parkland, Wash. : Annie, the wife of M. J. Soberg and Lars J., who lives on the home farm. After the death of the first Mrs. Lee. John Lee married again, his wife being Martha Veenan, who died in 1883. Three children blessed this marriage : Gisle, a physician of Thomp- son, Iowa; John, a machinist at Madison, and Hannah. All are members of the Lutheran church, of which the family were adher- ents in Norway.

Nels A. Lee, a substantial farmer of the town of Deerfield, was born at Voss, Norway. April 26, 1841. His parents were Andrew Nelson and Gunvor S. (Gielderhuus) Lee, natives of Voss, Norway. The father was born October 14, 1814, and is still living, making his home with his son in Deerfield. The mother, born in 1806. passed away in 1872. In 1841 Andrew N. Lee brought his family to Dane county from Norway. The first winter they lived in a dug-

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out, with Mrs. Lec's uncle, in the town of Christiana ; the next winter they lived with an aunt of Mrs. Lee's, also in the town of Christiana, and March 28, 1843, he started on foot to the land office in Milwaukee and there bought forty acres in the town of Pleasant Springs, being the NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of section 1. On his return from Milwaukee he carried an ox-chain, scythe and snath and two large cowbells. Early in the same spring he built a log cabin and moved into it, being the first Norwegian that settled in that town. In the fall of 1844 he sold out and bought eighty acres in the town of Deerfield, being the E 1/2 of MW 1/4 section 32, to which he gradually added until the place con- tained one hundred sixty acres. The first two years he worked for others, as he had only enough money left when he reached this coun- try, to buy a cow, and the highest wages at that time was fifty cents a day through the harvest time. Andrew Nelson was the father of four children: Martha, deceased, wife of Helge Helgeson ; Sever, a veteran of the Civil War, who was captured and kept a prisoner in Andersonville prison for some time, is married and has eight children. He lives four miles west of Grafton, N. D. Andrew ( Andres) is married and lives in Wells county. N. D. All the education in Eng- lish which Nels A. Lee, ever had was received in the district school of the town of Deerfield ; but he attended a Norwegian school. His grandchildren speak both English and their mother tongue. In his boyhood he helped to thresh with oxen in a very primitive fashion. They laid the bundles in a ring about four feet wide and drove the oxen around on it, until the wheat was threshed out. At the age of seventeen he started to thresh as a business, and followed it for twenty years. At the age of twenty, in 1861, in company with Lars Iverson, he began working with a breaking team and followed that work for four years in succession. Mr. Lee was married Jan. 22, 1865, to Mari S. Reqve, and the same year bought eighty acres of the old homestead, which he still owns. In 1867 he moved onto the farm where he now resides, working it on shares until 1882, when he was enabled to buy three hundred acres of it. In politics he has always been a Republican, he has served as town treasurer for six years, and is holding the office of justice of the peace at the present time. He has also been insurance agent in the Farmers' Insurance Company for ten years, and is director and treasurer in the Deerfield Creamery company. During the war Mr. Lee was drafted but being unable to leave, employed a substitute, paying him $300. In religion he is a Norwegian Lutheran. Mrs. Lee was born in March, 1839, and re- ceived her education in the district school of the town of Deerfield. She is the daughter of Sjur Styrkson Reqve and Anna Pedersdatter Gjermo, natives of Norway, who immigrated to this country in 1845.

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History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 56

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