History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 7

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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Daniel Bechtel, one of the extensive farmers and progressive citi- zens of Blooming Grove township, is a native of the old Keystone state of the Union, having been born in Larry's Creek, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1845, and being a son of John and Catherine (Eyer) Bechtel, the former of whom was born near Reading, Burks county, that state, while the latter was born in Dry Valley, Union county, Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, Peter Bechtel, was likewise born in Burks county, of stanch Ger- man ancestry, the family having been one of the first to settle in Pennsylvania. John Bechtel was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, but when a young man he turned his attention to freight- ing on the canal, later engaging in the lumber business; for some

BIOGRAPHICAL.

time he operated two saw mills and a grist mill in Pennsylvania. In 1850 he traded his grist mill for a tract of land in Pleasant Springs township, Dane county, Wisconsin, and in the autumn of the same year he came with his family to this county, making the journey via the canal and great lakes to Milwaukee, whence they completed their journey to Madison with team and wagon, this be- ing before the advent of railroads in this section. On his arrival Mr. Bechtel found that he had been egregiously swindled, in that the land which he had secured in exchange for his mill was a marsh, and, under the conditions which then existed, entirely unavailable for development into farming land. He therefore purchased forty acres of land, and in a log house which had been previously erected on the place he and his family spent the first winter. In the fol- lowing spring he purchased the farm-now owned and operated by his son Daniel, subject of this review,-and moved on the place in 1853. Here he made the best of improvements, including the erec- tion of a substantial and commodious brick residence, becoming one of the prominent and influential citizens of the township and continuing to reside on the homestead until his death, which oc- curred on February 5, 1876. His wife long survived him, continu- ing to remain on the home farm until she too was summoned into the life eternal, her death occurring in 1900, at the venerable age of eighty-one years. Daniel Bechtel was a child of five years at the time of his parents' removal to Dane county, and he has resided on the old homestead farm for more than half a century, while he has identified himself with the best interests of the community and is a successful farmer and popular citizen. After attending the dis- trict schools he supplemented the discipline by a course of study in a business college in Madison,-the institution now known as the Northwestern Business College. He remained with his parents, with utmost filial devotion, until both were called to the world be- yond, and since the death of his father he has had the supervision of the farm, of which he is now the owner, having greatly improved the place, making it one of the best in the township, while he has added to the area of the original homestead until he is now the owner of two hundred and eighty-five acres. Mr. Bechtel is one of the prominent representatives of the Democratic party in the county, and has been called upon to serve in various offices of public trust and responsibility. He served three terms as township clerk, and for a period of twenty years he represented his township on the board of supervisors of the county. In November, 1882, he was elected sheriff of the county, serving one term, of two years,

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

while in 1896 he was elected a member of the assembly of the state legislature, retaining the office one term. For six years Mr. Bech- tel was president of the Cottage Grove Fire Insurance Company, of which he has been secretary since 1900. He is a member of the lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks in Madison. He has two brothers and one sister, one of the brothers residing in Howard county, Iowa, and the other in Clark county, Wisconsin, while the sister, Mary A., is the wife of Fred Lohff, of Madison. Mr. Bechtel has never married.

Frank Joseph Beck, deceased, was for years a trusted employe of the Chi. & N. W. Ry Company in the city of Madison, and during his residence in that city won the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. He was a native of the kingdom of Austria and was born on March 19, 1844. His parents were Frank and Anna Beck, who were also natives of Austria, and the father during life was a man of considerable prominence, holding the position of mayor of the city in which he lived. In the Beck family there were five children, three of whom are now living: Joseph, who is a very wealthy man, resides in Italy ; Ferdinand is a resident of Virginia City, Nevada ; and a sister still remains in Austria. The subject of this review received his education in his native country and in Italy, and in his youth prepared himself for the occupation of a machine- est. He migrated to America in 1874, and coming directly to Wis- consin first worked at his trade in the Chi. & N. W. Railway shops in Baraboo and also at Kendalls, where he was foreman of the round house, remaining thus employed for about nine years. He was then promoted to foreman of the Chi. & N. W. Railway round house at Madison, and he then established his home in the capital city, where he resided until the occurance of the unfortu- nate accident which resulted in his death, in January, 1898, he being killed by the explosion of an engine. He had purchased a home at 1130 Jenifer street, in Madison, which his widow still owns. Mr. Beck was married on August 10, 1874, to Miss Louisa Ann Magerl, who is also a native of Austria, born May 1, 1855, the daughter of Wenzel and Ann (Ploner) Magerl. Mr. and Mrs. Beck became the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, the former of whom, Joseph F., married Elizabeth Purcell and resides in Madi- son. and the daughter, Frances C., resides at home with her mother. Mrs. Beck received an excellent education in Switzerland and is a woman of high intellectuality and an energetic disposition. She is an experienced masseur, of exceptionable ability in that line; is highly respected, and takes a great interest in her children. Her

BIOGRAPHICAL.

religious faith is that of the Methodist church, her husband hav- ing also been a member of that denomination, and the latter also had membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a Republican in his political affiliations.

Joseph D. Beck, commissioner of labor and industrial statistics, was born in Vernon county, near the village of Avalanche, March 14, 1866. His father, Mitchell Beck, was born in Pennsylvania, March 3, 1838, saw service for three months in the Civil War in Company A, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin infantry with Gen. Jeremiah Rusk, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea, receiving an injury to his right arm while driving an artilery wagon, which crippled him for life. He died May 19, 1897, at the age of sixty- nine. Mitchell Beck's father, Josiah Beck, was a farmer of Penn- sylvania and Ohio, who in 1848 removed to that part of Crawford county, Wis., which later became Bad Ax county, and still later Vernon county, where he died at the age of sixty-two. His wife was Mary Mitchell, who lived to be eighty-six years of age. Of the'r eight children but two are living .- Eva, Mrs. W. C. Snod- grass of Pacific Grove, Cal., and Armilda, Mrs. J. P. Melvin, who lives on the Beck homestead in Vernon county. Josiah Beck's father, John Beck, in the early part of the nineteenth century, owned the only mill in what is now the city of Johnstown, Pa., and which was carried away by the great flood. Mitchell Beck mar- ried Susanna A., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Showen) Snod- grass, natives of Virginia, who removed to Indiana and later, in 1853, to what is now Vernon county, Wis., where they died. The daugh- ter mentioned was born October 27, 1846, and died July 6, 1890. She was one of twelve children, of whom three are living. Mitch- ell and Susanna A. Beck were the parents of fourteen children,- Joseph D., of Madison, being the oldest. He received his education in the common schools of Vernon and Richland counties, and had one term in the Richland Center high school. From 1886 to 1889 he taught in the country schools of Vernon county, and for the fol- lowing five years was principal of and taught in the graded schools of Cashton, Wis., and held the office of village clerk of Cashton in 1895. He then entered the Stevens Point Normal School, receiv- ing his diploma from that institution in 1897. The school year of 1897-1898 he was principal of the Westby school and the next three years was at the head of the Cashton high school .. In the fall of 1901 he entered the University of Wisconsin as a junior and received his degree in 1903. On Jan. 1, 1903, he was made deputy commis- sioner of labor and industrial statistics by Commissioner Halford

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Erickson. Upon the appointment of Mr. Erickson to the railway rate commission by Governor La Follette in 1905, Mr. Beck was pro- moted to the head of the labor bureau, and still occupies that posi- tion. On November 24, 1888, he married S. Jane, daughter of I. W. and Sally Peavy, of Vernon county. Mrs. Peavy died while Mrs. Beck was still a child; Mr. Peavy died in 1905 at the age of eighty- six. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have had two children,-A. Lori, born April 11, 1890, died April 17, 1893 ; and Maud Ethel, born in August, 1891, and died three months later. Politically Mr. Beck is a Repub- lican, a strong and influential member of the La Follette wing of the party. Fraternally he is a Mason, a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which order he has held all the offices in the subordinate lodge, and all the offices except grand master in the grand lodge, and is at present the incumbent of the office of deputy grand master.

Hon. George W. Becker, mayor of Stoughton and a prom- inent grocer of that city, was born in Frankfort, Germany, April 13, 1851, a son of Valentine and Elizabeth Becker. The pa- rents immigrated to America in 1854, locating in Jefferson county, where the father purchased a tract of land at Fort Atkinson and lived the rest of his days. He was a mason-contractor by vocation. His three children are John, Catherine, (now the wife of Jacob West- erfield) and George W., the subject of this sketch. The latter was but three years of age when the family settled in Fort Atkinson, where his scholastic training was acquired. When he had completed his studies he served his apprenticeship as a mason and bricklayer under his brother John, and at the age of twenty-two launched out as a contractor. In 1882 he removed to Stoughton to engage in the same business and followed it continually up to 1889. Many of the business blocks and fine residences of Stoughton are monuments to his sk'll and artistic ability. The last building which he erected before retiring from the business was the Erickson block, one of the principal business blocks of the city. In 1889 Mr. Becker em- barked in the grocery business and has been successfully engaged in it since that time. In politics he is a staunch Republican and as. the representative of his party has several times been selected to. offices of public trust. In 1885-1886 he was a member of the city council and in 1893 served on the county board of supervisors. In April, 1906, he was chosen by a large majority to be the executive head of the municipality for a term of two years. In 1873 Mr. Becker married Miss Libbie Keat, daughter of Philip and Mary Keat of Jefferson county, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Becker have no chil-

BIOGRAPHICAL.

dren. The mayor is a member of Kegonsa Lodge, No. 73, Free and Accepted Masons. He in a genial, courteous and hearty,-a man well equipped to fill any position of public trust.

Warner Becker, (deceased), was for over thirty years a well- known stone mason and contractor in the city of Mad son, and many of the stately buildings of the capital city were erected under his supervision. Mr. Becker was born in Germany, February 14, 1840, and was one of six children born to Frank and Catherine Becker, the parents being also natives of the Fatherland. Our subject was the only one of his family that ever came to America. He received a fair education in the excellent common schools of his native land, and served for a time in the regular army of Germany, but in 1860, at the age of twenty years, he severed all relations with the institutions of that country and turned his face toward the land of freedom and better opportunities. Coming directly to Wisconsin he first worked as a common laborer and mason-helper, being thus employed about seven years and in the meantime gaining a good knowledge of contracting and building. He then began an independ- ent career as a contractor and followed the same very successfully until his death, which occurred about ten or twelve years ago. He became a property owner in the city of Madison, and a few years prior to his death purchased two full building lots on East Main street, where he erected two houses, in one of which his widow still resides. He was an honest and industrious citizen, and his success was due entirely to his enterprise and intelligence, assisted by the wise counsel of his faithful wife. The subject of this re- view was married on April 11, 1874, to Miss Barbara Schneider, born in Germany, August 12, 1843, daughter of John and Barbara (Wonderly) Schneider, who migrated to America and were respected citizens of Sauk City, Wis. In the Schneider family there were seven children, and five of these are living: Clara married John Vaner and resides in Dubuque, Iowa ; Barbara is the widow of the subject of this memoir; Nicholas married Ave Veda, and his wife is now deceased; Andrew married Anna Williams and resides in Dane county ; John married Anna Williams (not a relative of his brother's wife) and resides at Baraboo, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Becker became the parents of four children, the names and other facts con- cerning whom are here given: Bernard is a practicing physician in St. Louis; John married Carrie Hauk and resides in the city of Madison ; Katie resides at home with her mother ; and Clara married Matthew Schmitz and is deceased. Warner Becker, whose name

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

introduces th's review, was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and his religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church.

J. S. Bell, of Brooklyn, a veteran of the Civil War, comes of a soldierly linc. He was born in Sussex county, N. J., February 9, 1842. His parents, Almond and Mary (Sutton) Bell, were na- tives of the same state, the former born in 1800 and the latter in 1821. Mr. Bell's paternal grandfather, Josiah Bell, was in the Revolution- ary War, and took part in that famous crossing of the Delaware, leaving his blood-stained tracks upon the ice and snow. That he was no weakling is shown by the fact that he not only survived the incredible hardships of the war but lived to the extreme old age of ninety-eight years. Mr. Bell's parents were married in New Jersey and resided there a number of years before coming west in 1848. They came to Dane county, staying for a few weeks in Cookville. and then setled in Rutland township, buying one hundred and twenty acres of land of Rogers & Cummings; this Mr. Bell im- proved, and made his home continuously until the time of his death, April 28, 1900, except one year that he spent in California. His widow is still living upon the old homestead. Mr. J. S. Bell was a child of six years when he came with his parents to Wisconsin. He received his education in the public school of district number five, and was a young man of nineteen at the breaking out of the Civil War. He promptly enlisted as a private soldier in Company D, Second Wisconsin Infantry, and served four years, two months and nine days. He enlisted May 19, 1861, was sworn into the U. S. service June 19, and mustered out July 1865, following the close of the war. He took part in a number of battles and was appointed captain in the battle of the Wilderness, by General Grant. In one engagement he was wounded in the head and left for dead on the field where he was captured by the Confederates. His wound was neglected, for the first ten days not even washed, and he suffered the privations of three rebel prisons, Libby first, for four months, then Tuscaloosa, where he first saw the black flag raised, and then four months in Salisbury prison. Mr. Bell belongs to the Repub- lican party, has been treasurer of the town of Rutland for four years, and postmaster in the village of Brooklyn for eight years. He was was a charter member of the Masonic and Modern Woodmen's lodges in Brooklyn, and Master for first five years after organiza- tion ; was a charter member of the Evansville chapter of I. Q. O. F., to which he belongs ; he is also a member of G. A. R. Post, No. 41, of Evansville. He was married, November 4, to Miss Elnora V. Colburn, daughter of Hobart and Katherine

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(Prouty) Colburn, who came from Vermont and settled in Rutland, where the father died two years ago, and where the mother is still living. They have five children, Bertha M., (Mrs. Albert Wink- ler), of Iowa; Dr. Hugh R. Bell, of Ft. Atkinson; Harvey H. ,who is in the west; Leslie H., of Iowa; LeGrand L., at home. All were born in Rutland and educated in Brooklyn and Madison. Mr. Bell has lived in Brooklyn for twenty-five years ; he has an interest in one hundred acres of land now in the probate court, and owns property in the village. He still has many interests although he has retired from some or his more active labors.

Charles W. Bennett, a respected merchant of Black Earth village, was born at Hemyock, Devonshire county, England, August 3, 1854. His father, Frederick Bennett, was born in Comstock, England, in 1816. The maiden name of the subject's mother was Betty Lutley, born in Hemyock, England in 1816. In 1867 Frederick Bennett brought his family to America, settling in the town of Black Earth on one hundred seven and a half acres of section 23. For several years the family home was on this farm, and then Mr. Bennett re- tired and removed to Black Earth village ; he acted as local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. He died in 1899, and his wife died in the same year; both at the ripe old age of eighty-three. They had six children, Frederick M., a farmer and miller of Black Earth; Agnes M., wife of Jas. Holway of London. Ohio; John, who died in infancy; Samuel, a retired farmer living in Black Earth; Charles W., and Edward, who died October 16, 1904. Charles W. Bennett was educated in the common schools of England and those of Black Earth. At the age of twenty he left home and went with his brother Frederick, into the meat business in Black Earth village. In 1902 he and his brother bought an interest in the Black Earth Roller Mills, the firm name being Bennett Bros. & Ward. Beside their milling busi- ness the Bennett brothers own six hundred acres of the best farm- ing land in the township. Politically Mr. Bennett is a Prohibition- ist, and has twice, in 1902 and 1904, been elected as the member of the town board of supervisors. Mr. Bennett is not a member of any church, but attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. He has been married twice. In October, 1884, he was wedded to Nora Haseltine, who died in 1892. His second wife was Mertie B. Hewitt of Mt. Sterling, Ohio. He has no living children by his first wife; by his second marriage he had three sons, Hewitt F. and Donald and an infant son. Mr. Bennett 6-iii

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

is an active member of the Black Earth Camp of the Modern Wood- inen of America.

Egbert Bennett, one of the pioneers of Dane county, now living retired in the town of Dunn, was born in Albany, N. Y., June 4, 1819. His father, William C. Bennett was born in Stephenson, Rensselaer county, N. Y., and his grandfather, whose name was also William C. Bennett, was a native of Connecticut from whence he came to Stephenson, N. Y., purchased land, engaged in farming, and there spent the remainder of his days. The father of the sub -. ject of this sketch enlisted as a volunteer for the War of 1812, but was never called into the service. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier, and went to Albany, N. Y., as a young man, where he conducted the business until 1821. In the latter year he removed to Coblesk 11. Schoharie county, and continued the same business there until 1837, when he moved to Chenango county, purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He resided in Chen- ango county until 1848, and then came to Wisconsin and spent the remainder of his days in Dane county, dying in 1854. He chose as his helpmate in life Miss Laura Mygatt, who was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., the daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Smith) Mygatt. After her husband's death Mrs. Bennett returned to New York for the purpose of visiting friends and she died in Albany county of that state. Two children were reared by this couple. Egbert and Isaac M. Egbert Bennett was reared to manhood in his native state and educated in the public schools, which, though limited, were better than the average existing in that day. He resided with his parents until 1848, and during the last few years of that time was in charge of their farm. In 1846 he made his first visit to the territory of Wisconsin and purchased a tract of land at where is now situated the village of Oregon in Dane county. After a short stay there he returned to his Eastern home and remained until 1848, when he again came to Wisconsin, this time for the purpose of mak- ing a permanent settlement in Dane county. His first employment in the embryo Badger state was cradling wheat for a neighbor, and he continued to work as a farm hand for a short time. Dane county was then but sparsely settled, Stoughton was a village of about 300 inhabitants, Madison had about 2,000, with two hotels and a bank, and much of the land on all sides of the new state capital was still owned by the government. Deer and other wild animals roamed at will over the unpreempted soil with a freedom born of a common and undisputed possession. Home-made wagons were in general use, oxen were used almost exclusively as beasts

BIOGRAPHICAL.

of burden, and in the absence of railroads the farmers' grain was hauled to Milwaukee. Mr. Bennett says that in those days families who lived two miles west of his residence would come to a spring on his farm every day and get their water supply. A short time subsequent to the date of his permanent settlement in Dane county, Mr. Bennett purchased ten acres of land, upon which now stands the principal part of the village of Oregon, erected a home, and while residing there improved the first tract of land which he had purchased. The bank building in Oregon occupies the site of the residence then erected by Mr. Bennett, and it was the first frame building to appear in the village. In 1857 Mr. Bennett disposed of the ten acres mentioned and purchased a tract of eighty acres in section 31 of the town of Dunn, having at the time a frame house and forty acres broken. * He began at once to make further im- provements on the place and was soon the owner of two hundred and ten acres, with good buildings, which has been his homestead for years. Aside from this he accumulated one hundred and twenty acres more. part of which he sold and the remainder he gave away. Mr. Bennett was married, February 9, 1840, to Miss Margaret Mir- anda Holmes, who was born in Albany, N. Y., the daughter of John and Alma (Robbins) Holmes. Mrs. Bennett died October 16, 1884, having become the mother of two children, the names of whom and other facts concerning them are as follows: Huldah Celestia, the eldest, was born December 1, 1840, and is the wife of Mason M. Green, of Estilene, S. D., and the mother of two children, George and Hattie. William C., the second child, was born on March 4, 1843, married Louisa Griffin, a native of Albany county, N. Y., and died October 5, 1877, having become the father of five children, two of whom are now living-William C. and Lewis J., both of whom are practicing physicians in the village of Oregon. Mr. Bennett was formerly a Whig and cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, but he has been a Republican since the formation of that party. He was the first postmaster of Oregon, receiving his appointment from President Pierce, and was chair- man of the town of Dunn in 1864 and has served on the side board four terms. He joined the Masonic lodge at Evansville, Wis., in 1854. Although eighty-seven years of age, he is in full possession of his faculties, congenial, generous, exceedingly sociable and hos- pitable, and is ever endeavoring to please others.

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History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical, Part 7

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