History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 65

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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Gilbert G. Moen, of the township of Christiania, Dane county, Wis., is of Norwegian birth and came to the United States with his parents when he was but three years old. His father, Gul- brand Moen, was a native of Nummedahl, Norway, where he was a farmer. With his wife, Bertha (Oleson) Moen, and two little children, he made the long and dangerous journey on a sailing craft and landed in New York city in 1852. Their first home in Wisconsin was in Christiania but after one year they moved to Pleasant Springs where they purchased an improved farm of eighty acres .. This was their home until 1866, when they sold it and located near Rockdale, then Clinton. Mr. Mocn died in 1893 and his wife in 1897. They were members of the Synode church of East Koshoknong. Two children made up their family. Ole G., the oldest son, lived at home until the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry and died at Milliken Bend, La. Gilbert G. was born in Nummedahl, Norway, January 27, 1849, attended the home schools and the Albion academy and lived with his parents until his marriage. Septem- ber 5, 1874, he married Miss Julia Hendrickson, daughter of Ole and Guri (Olson) Hendrickson, who came from Norway and lo- cated at Oakland, Jefferson county, Wis. Mr. Hendrickson was a farmer and blacksmith and lived at Oakland until his death in April. 1904. Mrs. Hendrickson died in 1902. Eleven children were born to them, of whom five are now living; Henry lives in Chicago; Lena resides at Oakland at the old home; Julia is Mrs Moen ; Martin is a resident of Lincoln, S. D., and Mary lives in Oakland. To Mr. and Mrs. Moen were born eight children ;

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Bertha, who has taught for some years at Toronto, S. D .; George, Herman, Dora, Emma, William, Ellen and Orlow. All were edu- cated in the schools of Albion and Cambridge and Bertha attended the Whitewater normal school. For a few years prior to his mar- riage Gilbert Moen taught school at Rockdale and then began farming about half a mile east of Rockdale. After seven years upon this farm he purchased another in section 26, township of Christiania which has since been the home of the family and upon which an extensive general farming business is carried on. Mr. Moen is a loyal adherent to the principles of the Republican party and has served as town clerk. The family attends the Synode church of East Koshkonong.

Ole Hermanson Moen is a native of Bergenstift, Norway, and has been a resident of Dane county since 1857. He owns a farm of eighty acres in section 31, town of Christiania, of which sixty-five acres are under cultivation. When Mr. Mocn first obtained the pro- perty, in 1871, it was covered with timber and the labor of clearing it, erecting farm buildings, etc. has all been accomplished by his energy. He carries on a general farming business, raises considerable tobacco. grain and hay as well as some stock. His father, Herman Moen, was a native of Bergenstift and there owned a farm and spent his entire life. . He married Elsie Vettie of the same place and four children were born to them, of whom three came to the United States. Ma- lena lived at Buffalo, Wis., and died there ; Ole H. is the oldest living son : Hendrick is a farmer of St. Croix, Wis. Herman Moen and his wife both died in Norway. Ole Hermanson was born December 26, 1835, attended school in Norway and with his sister Malena took pas- sage on a sailing vessel bound for America in 1857. After a six weeks voyage they landed in. Quebec and proceeded to Milwaukee by boat, and thence to Stoughton. For fourteen years Ole lived in Albion and in 1871 purchased his present home. In September, 1871, he married Betsy Kaase, who was born in Telemarken, Nor- way, and came to America with her parents in 1845 and located in Albion. Mrs. Moen died in July, 1881. Two children made up the family : Ella M. and Nettie M. Ella has always lived at home. Nettie married in April, 1897, Oscar Johnson of Utica and has four children : Obert, born July, 1898, Adolph, born November 13, 1899. Joachim born February, 1901, and Beatrice, born June 22. 1903. The family all live at the old home and since 1898 Mr. Johnson has man- aged the farm. They are prominent members of the west church of Christiania. Mr. Moen has always been independent in political mat- ters, voting for the candidate who in his judgment would give the best

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service in office. He served on the school board and is interested in the welfare of the community.

Anders Moldstad was for twenty-six years one of the leading business men and most public-spirited citizen of the village of De For- est, Wis. He was born in Norway, August 24, 1843, was educated in Norway and came to the United States in 1869, residing for a time in Iowa. His parents, John and Corinne (Dyste) Molstad, never left Norway. Mrs. Moldstad is still living, having attained the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years and Mr. Moldstad died in Norway. Anders Moldstad left Iowa to come to Lodi, Wis., where he lived until 1843, when he moved to De Forest, which he ever after made his home. He carried on a prosperous mercantile business until his death in 1899 and was of sterling worth as a citizen. Always active in local affairs he was not a party man in politics but never- theless held various offices of trust in the community. He was prominent in the First Lutheran church of the village and one of its leading supporters. In 1873, he married Miss Johanna Corinne Berg, who was born in Norway, daughter of Christian and Inge- borg (Presterud) Berg, both of whom spent their entire lives in Norway. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moldstad. John, the oldest son, was graduated from Luther College of Decorah, Iowa, and from the University of Wisconsin and Concordia Theological Seminary at St. Louis, and has a call to a Chicago church. Ingeborg, the oldest daughter, is a gradu- ate of the Lutheran Ladies' Seminary at Red Wing of the class of 1897. Edla graduated in the same class with her sis- ter. Nellie attended the University of Wisconsin, was graduated in the class of 1902 and is teaching in Shullsburg, Wis. Christian, the youngest son, was graduated from the Luther College of Decorah, Iowa, and is now a student at the Luther Seminary of St. Paul Minn. Mrs. Moldstad and her family occupy the charming home in De For- est, which was built by Mr. Moldstad.

James N. Monson, a thrifty Norwegian farmer of the town of Dunn, was born in Adams county, Wis., April 16, 1860. He was one of eight children of Nels Monson, four of whom beside the subject are living, Ole, Julia, James N., and Henry, residents of Columbia county, except the subject of this memoir, and Gertrude, now Mrs. Thomas Olson of Madison. Nels Monson came to Wis- consin in 1852. For some six months he worked at common labor in Stoughton and then purchased a farm in Adams county. Here Mrs. Monson died in giving birth to a son, and the father soon after sold the farm and purchased a place in Columbia county,

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where he remained until his death in 1891. James N. Monson re- ceived a very limited education in the district schools of Columbia county. When a mere boy he started out on life's journey. His first labor as a farm hand brought him four dollars a month. For several years he "worked out" and by frugal habits managed to ac- cumulate enough to purchase a splendidly equipped farm in the town of Dunn shortly after his marriage on September 25, 1884, to Anna, only child of Torbin and Batilda (Nelson) Nelson of the town of Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson came to this country at an early date; Mr. Nelson died in 1884 and his wife in 1897. To Mr. and Mrs. Monson have been born six children, Martin Theo- dore, October 18, 1886; Betsy, June 8, 1888, died in infancy ; Beatta Nelena, July 26, 1889; Josie Marguerite, May 26, 1892; Nelgen Joseph, September 27, 1894; and Jean Adeline, August 29, 1898, died in infancy. Mr. Monson is distinctively a self-made man. Although his education has been extremely limited, he is a copious reader and is probably as well posted as any man in the vicinity. Though nominally a Republican his judgment dictates how he shall exercise his right of franchise. In religious matters he is associated with the Norwegian Lutheran church.

William B. Morehead is a highly respected farmer and dairyman of the town of Montrose, where he has resided all the years of his life. He is the son and only child of William M. Morehead, who was one of the pioneer settlers in that part of Dane county. The father was born in Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio, November 16, 1819, and was a farmer during all of his long and active life. He resided a few years in both Coshocton and Licking counties, Ohio, and in 1845 came to Wisconsin. In November of the same year he purchased of "Uncle Sam" eighty acres of land, which became the family home- stead, and he built thereon a log house, which stood a few fect north of the spot where the more elegant residence of later years stands. During the years succeeding his settlement in the town of Montrose · Mr. Morchead did pioneer work among the openings on the Sugar river bottoms, and h's success was such that he became the owner of two hundred twenty-four acres in one body in section twenty-two, besides twenty acres in section twenty of the same township. In 1850 he was married to Miss Sarah Southard, a native of Addison county, Vermont, who had taken up her residence in the town of Montrose with relatives about a year previous to her marriage. She died on May 7, 1880, leaving but one child. William B., whose name intro- duces this memoir. The father, an old-line Whig-Republican, filled the position of justice of the peace in 1849-50 and, subsequently, was

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also assessor many years in succession and chairman of the town board in 1870. William B. Morehead, the immediate subject of this review, was born on the old homestead in the town of Montrose, De - cember 7, 1851. He received his education in the district and select schools of that vicinity, and upon reaching manhood followed in the footsteps of his honored sire and selected the occupation of a farmer as his life's vocation. He still resides on the land that was preempted by his father from the national government, and under his careful and intelligent management the acres have increased until they now num- ber three hundred, all under an excellent state of cultivation, or used for the purpose of grazing. His farming interests are very exten- sive, but he divides his attention between that and dairying, in each of which he has met with gratifying success. Mr. Morehead has been twice marriedi. first to Miss Mina Chrisler, a native of the state of New York, and to this union two sons were born: Willard William, who resides in Belleville, and Orlo Chrisler, who resides at home. After the death of his first wife Mr. Morehead married Miss Jessie Boning but to this union there have been no children. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and is also a member of the M. W. of A.

James B. Morehouse, a prominent farmer of the town of Sun Prairie, has resided in that township since he was a boy twelve years old. With his parents, William I. and Margaret (Mac- Comber) Morehouse, he came to Wisconsin from New York in 1854. William I. Morehouse was born in Essex county, N. Y., in 1806, and educated in the home schools and came west in 1854, locating on a farm in the town of Sun Prairie. Here he lived until his death in 1876. Margaret MacComber was born in Clinton county, N. Y., in 1812, and came to Wisconsin after her marriage to Mr. Morehouse. Ten children were born to the marriage. of whom seven are now living. Michael Morehouse, father of Wil- liam I., lived and died in New York. He served his country in the War of 1812 and married Diadema Stafford, also a native of New York. Mrs. William I. Morehouse had a Scotch father and German mother, who spent the later part of their lives in New York. Her son, James B., was born in Essex county, New York. March 20, 1842, attended school both in Essex county, N. Y., and in Dane county, and served three years in the Civil War. Octo- ber 14, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company G. First Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at Chickamauga September 20, 1863, and imprisoned for one hundred and twenty- seven days in Libby prison. Rejoining his regiment June 20, 1864, he served with his comrades until the muster out of the regiment

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October 14, 1864. Mr. Morehouse is a member of the G. A. R. His sympathy in political matters is with the Republican party but he is not an office-seeker. December 28, 1869, he married Miss Mary A. Negus, who was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., daugh. ter of Abel C. and Eliza A. (Holenbeck) Negus, who were natives of New York and came to Lake Mills, Jefferson county, Wis., to reside. Later they moved to the township of Sun Prairie, Dane county, and there spent the remainder of their lives. Three chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morehouse; George A., who mar- ried Miss Lettie Hart and has two children, James Everett and Thomas Obert; Clarence A., the second son, died in infancy and the youngest son is Frank E. Morehouse. The family is identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Silas Morey, (deceased) was one of the early settlers of Dane, coming with his wife in 1845, then a young man of twenty-five, and set- tling on the farm where he died in 1890, after over half a century of continuous residence, having seen the country develop from a forest wilderness to its present state of cultivation and affluence. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born June 16, 1820. His father Stephen Morey, was a native of Rhode Island, but his mother, Cath- erine (Miller) Morey, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. They also came to Medina township in 1845, with a family of two sons and two daughters, and settled on a farm one and one-half miles east of Marshall, but changed to the farm now owned by the Morey estate. They have both passed away, Mr. Morey in 1881. The subject of this sketch received his educational training in the common schools of Pennsylvania; he and his wife, Adeline (Skinner) Morey, were mem- bers of the Baptist church. They took up first a tract of eighty acres, but afterward added to it forty acres, which, with the exception of a small tract of three acres, still remains the possession of Mrs. Morey, who is eighty years of age. Their children were Harriet (deceased); Matilda (deceased); Henry, a carpenter of Sibley, Iowa; he was in the Civil War, in Company H, Forty-ninth Regiment Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, one year : Amelia, wife of M. S. Smith of Waterloo; Anna, wife of Herman Kuether, who was born in Germany in 1855, came to Jefferson county in 1870, and to Dane in 1875, where they were married in 1878, and have five children, Jesse, Orin, Walter (de- ceased), Alta, Ferne ; they have charge of the homestead and have lived there for eighteen years; in religious belief they are associated with the Christian Scientists ; Mr. Kuether is a member of M. W. A. ; Nelson of Stanbaugh. Mich. ; Hiram, of Madison. Mrs. Adeline (Skinner) Morey was a native of Cattaraugus, N. Y., born in 1825;

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she is the daughter of David and Phoebe (Heurdcks) Skinner, both natives of New York. Mrs. Skinner died in Pennsylvania in 1843; her husband came to Dane among the early settlers, but he returned east to Erie county Pa. where he died.

Charles E. Morgan, deceased, for many years a dry goods mer- chant of the city of Madison, was born in New Haven, Conn., May 19, 1816, and died at Madison, Wisconsin, May 20, 1904. His ed- ucation was received chiefly in the public schools of New Haven. At the age of fourteen he started life for himself as a dry goods clerk and for some years following was in a wholesale store in New York city. He later engaged in the retail business in west- ern New York. In 1852 he married Miss Naomi Seymour, who died in 1862 leaving one son, William E., now a practicing surgeon in Chicago. Mr. Morgan's arrival in Dane county was in 1854. For six years he remained on a farm for the benefit of his health. From 1860 to 1867 he was county bookkeeper, resuming the mer- cantile business in the summer of 1867. He continued in this successfully for several years. In 1864 he married Miss Sophia Hotchkiss of New Haven. Mr. Morgan was for several terms jus- tice of the peace in the town of Madison.

Henry H. Morgan, a son of Charles E. and Sophia (Hotchkiss) Morgan, was born in Madison, September 28, 1870. His education was received in the public and high schools of Madison, and in the University of Wisconsin, from the law department of which institution he received the degree of LL. B. From the time of his admittance to the bar in June, 1893, to 1905 he practiced his pro- fession in Madison. In the latter year he was appointed assistant United States district attorney for the western district of Wiscon- sin. Mr. Morgan is a member of the Sigma Chi (college) and Phi Delta Phi (law) fraternities. He is also an Elk and a Mason.

Thomas Morgan is now living retired at No. 141 South Butler street, in the city of Madison, after a life of considerable activity in America, as well as during the years of residence in his native country before migrating here. He was born in Leamington, county of Warwickshire, England, on May 15, 1841, and is the son of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Haywood) Morgan, the parents spending their lives in the mother country, where the father followed the trade of shoe-making. Two brothers of our subject came to the United States prior to the Civil War, and during that conflict both served as soldiers in the Federal army. Neither of them are living. Anotlier brother and also a sister has migrated to America within recent years, the former, Harry Morgan, being a resident of Milwaukee, and the

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latter, Mrs. Harriet Hoggins, resides in the same city. Thomas Morgan received his education in the common schools of his native land, and in February, 1873, sailed for the United States. Coming directly to Wisconsin he located in Madison, and after remaining in the employ of others for a few years, in 1878 he began business for himself. He conducted the restaurant at the corner of Main and Pinckney continuously until 1892, when he disposed of it and has since been practically retired, although he has given some attention to real-estate dealing. He owns the comfortable residence which he oc- cupies on South Butler street and other property in the city; also some small farms in the country. Mr. Morgan married his first wife in England, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Franklin, a native of that country, and the date of the marriage was May 24, 1861. She died in the city of Madison in 1883, and on April 5, 1884, Mr. Mor- gan was married in Milwaukee at the residence of the Episcopal minister to Miss Katie McGonegal, daughter of Alexander McGon- egal, a former well-known citizen of Madison. Mrs. Morgan was born in New York city, but her parents afterward removed to Mil- waukee, where her father was engaged in the wholesale tobacco busi- ness. The father and mother are both deccased, and Mrs. Morgan has no relatives living, other than the members of her immediate home circle. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are the parents of three children, all born and educated in Madison, and their names are: Alexander Wil- liam, Sarah Blanche, and Thomas, Jr. Mr. Morgan gives his support to the men and measures of the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for political position.

Edward W. Morhoff, an enterprising tinsmith of 454 West Washington avenue, Madison, was born in Middleton, Dane county, April 12, 1863. His parents, Christopher and Mary Morhoff, were. both natives of Germany and were married in that country, coming to the United States about the middle of the nineteenth century. The father owned and operated a small farm near Middleton from the time of his arrival until his death, at the age of sixty-eight, in 1898. His widow is still a resident of Middleton. Both were members of the Lutheran church. Of their seven children John, a farmer, died in 1892 at the age of thirty-one; Lizzie married Frank Lawrence, a car- penter and contractor; Edward W., the subject of this sketch, is a tin- smith; Julia is the wife of Charles Daggett, a mail carrier of Madison; Henry is a tinsmith in Madison; Tillie married Charles Durkopp, a farmer residing near Middleton: Willie works for his brother, Ed- ward W. After the completion of his academic education in Middle- ton and Madison Edward W. Morhoff learned his trade with John N.

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Jones. For fifteen years he was employed by Sumner & Morris and then in 1899 started his own business. That he has been successful is evidenced by the amount of work he has to do and the number of men he employs. His furnace and sheet metal work is second to none. His establishment is fully equipped and is up-to-date. In 1892, Mr. Morhoff married Mrs. Jessie (Parrott) Ennis, a daughter of Alfred and Eliza Parrott, now residents of Greenbush, a suburb of Madison. Mrs. Morhoff by her first marriage was the mother of three daughters, -- Lizzie, the wife of Bernard Erickson, Nellie and May, the latter two at home. Mrs. Morhoff died May 20, 1903. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an estimable woman. Mr. Morhoff is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a splendid workman, honest, intelligent and enterprising.

James Morrison, a native of Scotland, is one of the prominent farmers of Morrisonville. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Hill) Morrison came from Scotland to New York city in 1842, and shortly after came to Milwaukee, where they resided for two years. The farm which they purchased in Dane county is the site of the present village of Morrisonville. Mr. Morrison's farm consisted of three hundred acres and he also owned property in Columbia county. Mr. Morrison, Sr., took a prominent part in the organization of the village, which was named in his honor and he presented the right of way and forty acres of land to promote it. A Republican in his sympathies, Mr. Morrison held various offices in the community, among them being justice of the peace and treasurer of Windsor township. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. With his wife and family he at- tended the Congregational church. Of the five children who were. born to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison, four are living. Their father died in 1875 and his wife in 1892. James Morrison, their son, was born in Scotland, August 23, 1836, came to the United States with his parents. when he was a boy of six years and attended school in Windsor and at the academy of Evansville, Rock county. He has always been a far- mer and has a fine farm property of two hundred and sixty acres, be- ing especially interested in the breeding of Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Morrison is allied with the Republican party. as was his father, but is independent in his vote upon local matters. Jan- uary 13, 1862, he married Miss Jane Mckinnon, who was born in Scotland in 1837, daughter of Collin and Jane (Ross) Mckinnon, who were natives of Scotland and came to Wisconsin about 1855. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison; Alexander C., the old- est, is a successful farmer; James Hill and Collin M. are hardware

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merchants of Morrisonville; George B. is a mechanic in Morrison- ville and Rowland H. is a mechanical engineer in the employ of the C. M. & St. P. Both the daughters are married; Elizabeth is Mrs. John R. Caldwell of Vienna and Jesse E. is Mrs. T. A. Caldwell.

Rev. Albert John Mueller, the popular pastor of St. Ignatius church at Mt. Horeb, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, and was born in Barton, Washington county, on October 11, 1873. He is the son of Nicholas Peter and Katharine (Clames) Mueller, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a wagon- maker and skilled blacksmith, serving a rigid apprenticeship at the trade in the Fatherland, and at the age of eighteen years he mi- grated to America, the land of better opportunities. He first located in Milwaukee, but in 1848, in the very beginning of the excitement over the discovery of gold in California, he made the trip across the plains to the Pacific coast. He remained but a short time in the Golden state and then returned east, but later he made the journey to California again, going by boat "around the Horn," as it was commonly spoken in those days. Mr. Mueller traveled a great deal during the early years of his life, but finally settled permanently in the city of Milwaukee. where he followed the business of contracting and building. He was a very fine workman and mechanic, met with a fair share of prosperity and by good management achieved a competence. During the Civil War he was drafted into the service, but owing to his business affairs demanding his attention he secured a substitute. Later he was drafted a second time, and, responding to that call he entered the army and served throughout the remainder of the war, after which he returned to Milwaukee. Some time later he removed to Wash- ington county and established his residence at Barton, where he continued to live during the remainder of his life, and where the mother still makes her home. Mr. Mueller was a Democrat in his political affiliations, but never entered public life in the role of an office seeker. Rev. A. J. Mueller is one of eight children who were born to the parents above mentioned, and the family circle is un- broken, excepting by the death of the father. Margaret, the eldest. married Matthew Thull and resides in Washington county ; Frank is a resident of Barton ; Joseph resides in Minneapolis, and has the position of chief expert with the Buffalo Pitts machinery company ; Susan married Joseph Thull; Elizabeth married Theo. Thull and resides in Chippewa county ; Matthew is a resident of Washington county ; Albert John is the subject of this review; Rosina married Andrew Kapfer and resides at Barton. Rev. A. J. Mueller received

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History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 65

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