USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 73
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
Peter H. Peterson is recognized as one of the leading tobacco growers of the town of Oregon, where he has lived during the past forty years. He is a native of Denmark and the date of his birth is November 7, 1845, his parents being Peter Mortenson and Dorothea Hanson, both of whom were born in Denmark and died there. Peter H. Peterson received his education in the schools of his native land, and upon reaching man's estate, in 1866, he migrated to America, coming directly to Dane county, where he worked as a farm hand for about three years. He then purchased two hundred eight acres of land in the town of Oregon, a very small portion of which was under cultivation, and began general farming. In the beginning he raised a very little corn, cultivating it with one horse and the old-fashioned "double-shovel plow," and the greater part of his arable land was de- voted to the raising of small grain. He then had never seen any to- bacco grown, but he soon turned his attention to that particular fea- ture of the agricultural indusry and became one of the most extensive producers of the leaf in that section of the county. Success has
.
708
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
crowned his efforts in every venture, and his present independent pos :- tion is due entirely to an unflagging industry, coupled with a policy of integrity and square dealing. He has had no financial assistance from any source, arriving as he did in America without a cent, and even be- ing in debt for his passage over the ocean. He has given his un- divided attention to his business and has never wandered after myths in other fields of endeavor. The desire for official position has never possessed him, although he has taken the interest of a good citizen in public affairs. His allegiance, politically, has been given to the men and measures of the Republican party, and his religious faith is ex- pressed by membership in the Lutheran church. He has never mar- ried. Of the Peterson family there were six children, the names and other information concerning whom are appended: Elizabeth resides in her native land, Denmark : Martin A. is given a more extended men- tion on another page of this volume; Peter H. is the subject of this re- view; Martin resides in Kansas City, Mo .; and1 Hans Clauson and Jorgen are both deceased.
Samuel Alex. Peterson, a leading blacksmith and prominent of- ficial of the village of Stoughton, where he has made his home the greater part of his life, was born in the city of Madison, October 6, . 1860. He is one of four sons born to Andrew and Torena (Nende) Peterson, both of the parents being natives of Norway. Andrew Pet- erson came to the city of Madison in 1860, and when he arrived a five- dollar gold piece represented the sum total of his wealth, aside from the wearing apparel of the family. But being a skilled workman at the blacksmith trade he soon obtained employment, and for the ensuing ten years he followed that occupation, for a time in Madison and then in the village of Stoughton. In 1870 he moved from Stoughton to Whitewater, in Walworth county, Wis., and there followed the occupa- tion of a farmer until his death, December 24, 1904. In agricultural pursuits he was very prosperous and succeeded in accumulating con- siderable wealth. The mother still lives at Whitewater in the enjoy- ment of a comfortable old age. Before leaving Norway Andrew Peterson served by compulsion for a time as a private in the Norwe- gian army. Samuel A. Peterson, to whom this review is especially dedicated, was educated in the public schools of Stoughton and White- water, and upon reaching manhood learned the trade of blacksmith- ing under the tutorship of his father and C. L. Haw of Stoughton. TTe has followed his chosen profession unintermittently. and as a re- sult of his close application to business now owns and conducts one of the leading establishments of the kind in Stoughton, employing from five to seven men all the time, and doing all kinds of new and repair
.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 709
work in his line. Mr. Peterson is a Republican in his political affili- ations, and his sterling worth as a citizen has been recognized by his being called to fill various positions of trust. He served as president of the village council for four years, as alderman nine years, and is now serving in the highest office of the village-that of mayor, to which he was elected in 1904 for a term of two years. In religious matters he is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Peterson was married on July 14, 1880, to Miss Anna Thompson, daughter of Torb- jorn and Engebore Thompson, both of whom were natives of Norway. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson there have been born two children, son and daughter, who already give much promise of future standing in life. Alfred Theodore, the eldest, born, January 10, 1882, was educated in the academy at Stoughton, and Irene Juliett, born August 5, 1885, is a graduate of the high school and is at present a student in the Wiscon- sin Business College at Janesville. As an unusual instance in the mat- ter of longevity it should be stated in connection with the ancestral history of Mr. Peterson that his maternal grandfather died in Norway, in June, 1905, at the advanced age of one hundred two years.
William J. Petherick, deputy clerk of the state supreme court, and one of Dane county's substantial pioneer citizens, was born in London, England, June 7, 1843. His parents were William and Rosina Ann (Atchley) Petherick. The father. who was an attor- ney of London, was born March 4, 1803, and came to the United States in 1849. His arrival in Madison was on December 6, of the same year. He located on a farm in the northwestern part of the town of Sun Prairie, where he resided until 1853, when he pur- chased forty acres on section sixteen in the town of Madison. Here he remained until his death, which occurred August 12, 1873. He obtained a license to practice law in the state and Federal courts and was a man of broad culture. His wife, born June 23, 1808, died March 23, 1888. Both were members of the church of England. The subject of this sketch was the fifth of the six chil- dren in the family. Jane, the eldest, now Mrs. William Welch, resides in Minneapolis, Minn. Rosina B., now the wife of Cyrus C. Labore, for many years a resident of Sun Prairie, now makes her home in Webster, Kas. Miss Ada Emma makes her home with Mrs. Welch in Minneapolis. Susannah Louisa is the widow of William T. Marchant, and resides in London, Eng. Edward R., the youngest, resides in Madison. William J. Petherick was edu- cated in the district schools of Dane county. After completing his scholastic work he went into the office of the State Journal
1
710
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Printing Company to learn the trade and for nearly twenty-five years was connected with that publication. Because of ill health he was at one time obliged to give up his labors and took a trip to his native land and spent a few months in the law office of Welch & Botkin. In 1889 he was appointed to his present position as deputy clerk of the supreme court. During the centennial cele- bration in 1876 Mr. Petherick attended for three weeks, going thence on his visit to England. Although he was gone thirteen months. He is unmarried. Although not a member of any re- ligious organization he is a regular attendant at the services of the Unitarian church of Madison. Mr. Petherick is a gentleman of the old school, intelligent and cultured. He is much esteemed by all who know him.
John Pflaum, Sr., is one of the honored German-American citi- zens of Dane county, where he has maintained his home for nearly sixty years. He came to this section as a young man and has won success through his well directed efforts in connection with the development of the agricultural resources of Dane county, his fine farm being located in section 15, Blooming Grove town- ship. He has attained the age of four score years and is now liv- ing practically retired from active labor, though his characteristic vigor and his well preserved energies enable him to enjoy the general supervision of his farming interests. Mr. Pflaum was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, where his parents. Jacob and Katie (Cromer) Pflaum, passed their entire lives, the father having been a soldier in the command of the great Napoleon. Mr. Pflaum was afforded the advantages of the excellent schools of his father- land during his boyhood and early youth, and he then learned the weaver's trade, to which he there devoted his attention from 1840 to 1845, while in 1847 he immigrated to America, believing that in the United States were afforded better advantages for the young man dependent upon his own resources. He came at once to Dane county and began farming in the vicinity of his present nome- stead, having ever since continued his residence in the township. He assisted in reclaiming much land from the virgin wilds and has well played his part as a pioneer, as has he also in the later days of opulent prosperity and advancement. His farm comprises sixty-five acres, and the place is improved with substantial build- ings and is under effective cultivation. His two sons own adjoin- ing tracts, which were originally a part of his estate. Mr. Pflaum maintains an independent attitude in political matters, supporting men and measures rather than being restrained by close partisan
-
711
BIOGRAPHICAL.
lines. He and his family are communicants of the German Catho- lic church. In 1850 Mr. Pflaum was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Sheets, daughter of George Sheets, a native of Germany, and they have four children, Katie, who is now the wife of Thomas Kirschener and resides in the state of Michigan; Louisa, who is the wife of Henry Hinsey of Madison; John, Jr., whose farm adjoins that of his father ; and Peter, who is likewise a farmer of this town- ship, his place lying contiguous to that of his father. Peter is mar- ried and has one child.
Edward C. Pierce, the present incumbent of the office of clerk in the town of Primrose, was born in Ridgefield, Huron county, Ohio, January 6, 1855. He is a son of Joseph L. and Clarissa (Prentiss) Pierce, the former a native of Massillon, Ohio, and the latter of Erie county in the same state. The parents' marriage occurred in Ohio and after a few years they removed to Warren, Ill., where the father owned and managed a drug store having charge of the express and post offices at the same time. Their residence in Illinois extended from 1855 to the fall of 1868. It was from here that the father enlisted as private in Company H, of the Nnety-sixth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry and served three years to the close of the war, during which time he was promoted to the position of captain. In December, 1868, Joseph L. Pierce brought his family to Dane county, locating on a farm through which passed the dividing line of Springdale and Prim- rose townships. His place contained one hundred and forty eight acres and he lived on it until his death on January 8, 1895. His widow died April 2. 1898. The family contained two other sons; Byron W., is now a resident of Montana; and George H. lives in New Glarus, Green county, Wis. The subject of this sketch, the eldest son, took advantage of what educational opportunities the graded schools of Warren and Mt. Vernon offered, and then went to farming. His father's property reverted to him and he is the present owner of it. He has made it one of the most renumerative properties in the county. In political matters he upholds the principles of the Republican party and as the representative of that body is now town clerk. He is also serving as school clerk. As a boy he was brought up in the Method- ist faith, but has never become a member of any denominational so- ciety. Mr. Pierce is unmarried. He is actvely identified with Mount Vernon camp, No. 3018, Modern Woodmen of America. Throughout the neighborhood he is recognized as a skillful farmer and a mian well equipped to hold public office.
712 -
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
G. F. Pierce, of Verona, was born on the farm where he now re- sides, September 12, 1846. His parents were J. H. and Providence (Vroman) Pierce, the former a native of Connecticut and belonging to one of the old New England families, and the latter born in New York, of a family originally belonging to New Jersey and of Dutch extraction. J. H. Pierce was, in early life, a carpenter and joiner. and on coming to Wisconsin in 1844, he located first in Milwaukee and worked at his trade; in 1845, he came to Dane county and settled in Verona township, bought the farm on which his son now resides, and followed that occupation until his death, September 24, 1873, at the age of seventy-five years. He held a number of local offices and was an old-time Whig and Republican. His wife survived him over twenty years, dying July 2, 1894, aged eighty-one years. They had five children. Only one, the subject of this cketch, is living ; he was the fourth child. The others were Mary, Wakeman, George, who enlisted in Company A, Twenty-third Wisconsin infantry, and died during the Civil War, from fever, near Vicksburg, Miss .; and War- ren W. G. F. Pierce was reared on the farm and educated in the district school; his farm is run for general farming, datrying and stock-raising. He has served on the town board and on the school board for nineteen years; he cast his first vote for Lincoln and has consistently voted that ticket ever since. He was married December 2, 1870. to Emily E. Williams, a native of Verona, Oneida county, N. Y., and a resident of Verona, Wis. She is the daughter of Abraham and Clarissa (Cook) Williams, both natives of New York: the father died in New York before the rest of the family came west in 1861. To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have been born four children, Flor- ence Mary, a teacher at home ; Nellie, died. aged eight years ; Blanche, married Charles Adams, of Fitchburg; Alice, a teacher at home.
William F. Pierstorff, president of the bank of Middleton, is of German origin, his parents, Carl Pierstorff and Catherine Puretortt, ncc Bramer, being natives of Mecklenburg, Germany. There their son William was born June 30, 1849, one of a family of four- teen children. In 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Pierstorff brought their family to America and located at Middleton, where they purchased a farm. Mr. Pierstorff was a blacksmith by trade but devoted a great deal of his time to his farms. He owned and farmed a fine tract at Springdale, where he lived five years, and subsequently one at Verona. Returning to Middleton in 1887, he died in 1889, aged seventy-nine. his wife having entered into rest in 1868, aged fifty-six. Mr. Wm. Pierstorff has always been a public-spirited man and prominent in civic affairs in the communi-
713
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ties in which he lived, in politics a Democrat. He received his education in the public schools of Dane county, remained at home until 1871, when he went on a prospecting trip through Montana, Idaho, Utah and Nebraska, but returning to the home farm at Verona, he worked it for about a year. Finding a business career more to his taste than farming he opened a hotel at Verona and afterward kept a general store. In 1884 he was elected sheriff of Dane county and came to Middleton to live, engaging in the lumber business, to which he has added that of dealer in coal, wood, lime and cement. The village of Middleton owed much to Mr. Pierstorff's services as president, chairman of the town ten years, supervisor of assessments of Dane county three years, and super- visor of village school directors seventeen years. He is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, No. 180; of Chapter No. 2177 of the Modern Woodmen and of the I. O. O. F. and Mrs. Pierstorff is a valued member of the Eastern Star. The county board in 1905 appointed him to correct the records of Dane county of vacating the streets in village highways in the county. In September, 1876, Mr. Pierstorff was married to Miss Mary Prien, daughter of John Prien. Both have been constant and loyal supporters of the Lutheran church. Their five children are all living. The first son, William H., is cashier of the Middleton bank. His wife be- fore her marriage was Miss Alice Loppley of Middleton, and they have one child, a daughter, Velva. The next two sons, George B. and Frank L., are with their father in the lumber business at Mid- dleton and the two youngest children, Marie and Aldro, remain at home. All the children were educated in the Middleton grade and high schools and the sons attended business college.
Silas U. Pinney, belonged to that brilliant coterie of pioneer law- yers which rendered the early Madison bar among the most famous in the country. His childhood advantages were few,-simply those afforded by the primitive conditions surrounding frontier farm life. Judge Pinney was born at Rockdale, Crawford county, Pa., March 3, 1833, son of Justin C. and Polly (Miller) Pinney. He could trace his ancestry back to the English Pinneys who emigrated from Somerset- shire, in 1642, and settled in Ellington, Connecticut. Members of the family later moved to Massachusetts, and the father of this sketch was born in Becket, that state. Aaron Pinney, the paternal grandfather, moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1815. The mother of Judge Pinney was of German descent, daughter of a prominent clergy- man who had settled in Crawford county, in 1792. In 1846 his father
714
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
brought the family to Dane county, Wis., settling in Windsor town- ship, where he followed the occupation of farming until his death in 1863. Young Pinney received a good common school education, and also some private instruction, besides devoting what leisure he could snatch from his arduous labors on his father's farm to individual study. Fortunately he had plenty of books, which enabled him to develop his early fondness for study and reading. He was endowed with a vigor- ous mind, and had a wonderfully retentive memory. All his associ- ates in after life recall the ease with which he could make citations by volume and page without reference to notes or brief. He began teach- ing school at the age of sixteen, and taught for three winters, mean- while, devoting his spare time to the study of law which he had de- cided to make his profession. He read law in the office of Vilas & Remington, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1854. He formed a partnership with L. B. Vilas and Samuel H. Roys under the firm name of Vilas, Roys & Pinney. Judge Vilas retired from the firm in 1856 and Mr. Roys died in 1857. In 1858 was formed the partnership of Gregory & Pinney, which endured for more than twenty-one years, Chauncey Abbott and James M. Flower being also associated with the firm for brief periods in the early "60's." In 1880 was formed the partnership of Pinney and Sanborn (Mr. A. L. Sanborn being the pres- ent United States district judge for the western district of Wisconsin). In 1892 Mr. Pinney was elected a member of the state supreme court, and continued to fill that important position with marked ability until the time of his death. Judge Pinney was a lifelong Democrat, but sel- dom sought political preferment. He did however serve his home city and county in several positions of trust. He was city attorney in 1858; a member of the city council in 1865 ; in 1869 an unsuccessful candi- date for attorney-general on the Democratic ticket : was mayor of Mad- ison for two terms,-1874-76; member of the legislature during the session of 1825. In all positions he rendered able and efficient ser -. vice. Mr. Pinney, in 1865, compiled the sixteenth volume of Wis- consin Reports, and, as special reporter by appointment of the su- preme court, reported and published in 1870 the decisions of the terri- torial supreme court and of the first supreme court of the state, cover- ing the period 1836-53. embraced in volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Wiscon- sin Reports. During the years 1876-83 Judge Pinney was a professor in the University law school, where his lectures were marked by un- usual lucidity and learning. He married Mary M. Mulliken, a native of Farmersville, Cattaraugas county, N. Y., March 3, 1856. Their one son, Clarence died at the age of twenty. An adopted daughter,
.
715
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Bessie, also died when twenty-one years of age. As a lawyer Judge Pinney built up a large and lucrative practice, and actively participated in the important litigation of the state for a period of, nearly forty years. His name appears as counsel in some eighty volumes of the state reports, in addition to an extensive practice in the lower, state, and in the Federal courts. His wonderful memory and his intense powers of application and industry marked him for success. He was especially strong in litigation involving real estate, corporation and constitutional questions. On the bench, his trained legal mind, ex- cellent judgement, powers of keen analysis and ability to marshal facts have given his opinions great weight. Judge Pinney was of a kindly and sociable temperment, and made a large circle of friends which extended far beyond the limits of commonwealth. In every way his character as a man and citizen was above reproach. He died at Madison April 1, 1899, and is survived by Mrs. Pinney.
David N. Piper, retired, of the town of Madison, was born near Buffalo, N. Y., April 10, 1834. He was a son of Benjamin and Sallie (Gault ) Piper, both natives of New Hampshire who went to New York early. Benjamin Piper came to Wisconsin in territorial times, settling first at Milwaukee and two years later rioved to Pipersville, Jefferson county. In 1855 he came to Dane county, taking up half a section of absolutely wild land. Here he put up a shanty and later a frame house, in which he I'ved until his death at the age of ninety. He was married twice, his second wife be'ng Sarah Burns, who died in Pipersville. Benjamin Piper was a Republican and was postmaster of Pipersville for a number of years. He was affiliated with the Uni- versalist church. By his two marriages he was the father of eight children, William, who kept a store and manufactured saleratus at Pipersville ; Samuel and Benjamin who I'ved in the same vicinty; Sarah, the wife of Samuel Gordon: Betsy, who married Ira Louns- bury; Harriet, who married William Farm'ter ; David N., the subject of this sketch, and the only one living, and Dollie who d'ed in infancy. David N. Piper was educated in the district schools of Jefferson and Dane counties. Unt'l a few years ago he lived on the farm his father bought on coming here in 1855, taking charge of the place for him un- til his death. From that time until his retirement in 1895 Mr. Piper carried on diversified farming, giving most of his attention to the rais- ing of stock. Politically he is a Republican, and though never an aspir- ant for office, was for one term assessor of his town. In 1864 Mr. Piper married Augusta, daughter of Godfrey and Hannah Webber, and to this marriage have been born five children. Charles E., Samuel A., and Howard D., in the grocery business in Madison,
716
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
Annie, at home, and Alfred t ller in the bank of Wisconsin in Madi- son. All the children are well educated, having attended the Madison high school and the University of Wisconsin. In . 1895 Mr. Piper leased his farm and moved to Madison. He retains but one hundred and ninety acres of the original three hundred and twenty settled by his father in 1855.
Captain William G. Pitman has been manager of the New York store since 1879 and may properly be designated as one of the pio- neer business men of the city of Madison, where he has made his home for more than half a century, and as an ever standing ex- ponent of loyal and public-spirited citizenship. He was one of those who went forth to honor Wisconsin through effective serv- ice as a soldier in the Civil War, in which he rose to the command of his company; and in all the relations of civic life his influence has ever been cast in support of those measures and undertakings which make for the well-being of the community. It is but con- sistent to ascribe to him precedence as one of the best known and most popular business men of the capital city, with whose growth and development he has been closely identified as a citizen and as a man of affairs. Captain Pitman comes of sturdy Puritan stock and is a native son of the old Bay state, having been born in New Bedford, Bristol county, Mass., October 15, 1834, and being a son of William R. and Esther M. Pitman, the father having been a jeweler by vocation. Captain Pitman is indebted to the common schools of his native state for his early educational training, which was adequate to fortify him for the active duties and responsibili- ties of life. When but fifteen years of age he gave inception to his mercantile career, securing a position as shop boy in an estab- lishment at New Bedford, Mass., gaining a thorough knowledge of business methods and of the values of goods handled and being advanced to positions of increasing responsibility from time to time. In 1854 he set forth to try his fortunes in the west, making Madison his destination and here securing employment in a dry- goods store. In 1859 he entered the employ of the firm of Samuel Klauber & Company, Mr. Klauber having been practically the founder of the present New York store, since he came to Madison from Lake Mills in 1851, and established himself in the dry-goods . business, having been one of the honored pioneer merchants of the capital city. With the upbuilding of the business of the New York store Captain Pitman has been closely identified, having been connected with the concern, under the various proprietorships, from the year 1859 to the present, and having been general mana-
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.