USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 76
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
Lars O. Quam, a substantial farmer of the town of Dunn, was born in Stoughton, Wis .. November 26, 1860. He is one of three sons of Ole and Gertrude (Larson) Quam, natives of Norway, the other sons being George, living in O'Brien county. Iowa, and Hans, an employe of the postal department at Madison. Ole Quam came to Wisconsin in 1856. For several years he worked as a farm hand, and in 1862 he bought eighty acres of land in the town of Dunn; later he traded this for eighty acres in the town of Pleasant Springs. where he continued to reside until 1864: he then bought another farm in the town of Dunn on the shore of Lake Kegonsa, where he lived until his death in 1892. Lars O. Quam received his educa- tion in district school No. 2, town of Dunn. Until he was thirty- four years old he lived with his father. In 1894 he rented the father's farm and operated it until after his father's death. Then he purchased the interest which the other heirs had in the place and has since worked it. The lake shore property he platted and sold the lots to cottagers. Some fifty odd lots are now occupied
.
736
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
every summer by pleasure seekers. In politics Mr. Quam is a stalwart Republican, but has never aspired to office. His religious life is connected with that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. On August 1, 1894, he married Amelia, daughter of Anton and Mary (Olson) Nelson, natives of Norway. Mrs. Quam was born in Nor- way, June 8, 1874, and received her education in the public schools of that country. By her union with Lars Quam she is the mother of three children, Gertrude Otely, born May 5, 1896; Alvira Miller, born March 18, 1902; and Lawrence Arnold, born November 14, 1904. The home of the Quams is one of the neatest and most tasteful in the community.
Nicholas Quinn, a successful contractor of Madison, was born in the city where he now makes his home, on May 19, 1855. He is a son of James and Margaret (Kiernan) Quinn, both natives of Ireland. The father was a laborer who came to the United States in 1846, settling in Madison half a dozen years later. At the time of his death, in the early nineties, he was foreman at Forest Hill cemetery, which position he held for thirty years. His wife died in 188%. in her fifty-seventh year. They were married July 4, 1852. in New York city by Father Hughes, later an archbishop of the Catholic church. Nicholas was the second of their five children. Of the others Margaret died when a year and a half old ; Charles is a traveling salesman with headquarters in Madison; James is a printer living in Janesville, Wis .; William is the sexton of Calvary cemetery, Madison. Nicholas received his education in the Madi- son public and parochial schools, and upon the completion of his studies labored for some years. As a Democrat he was elected a member of the city council in 1886 from the fifth ward, and served one term. He was re-elected but resigned to become superintend- ent of streets, which position he held three years. In 1891 he went into the contracting business and has an extensive trade. He has built many miles of sewers, and paved many miles of streets. Since the concrete block has come into general use he lias laid many foundations. On May 6, 1879, Mr. Quinn was united in mar- riage to Rose, a daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Kinney) Lynch, both deceased. Mrs. Quinn is the third of four children, three of whom are living. Mrs. Lynch was one of the early set- tlers of Dane county, coming in 1840 from Montreal, Canada. She and her sister, Mrs. Margaret Sheridan, were the only members of the family. Mr. Lynch died in 1864 and his widow married Wil- liam Halpin. by whom she had one child, Catherine, and removed to North Dakota. dying February 2, 1906. in her seventy-third year.
737
BIOGRAPHICAL. .
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Quinn has been blessed with ten children. Mary S. is the wife of John D. Rupp of Madison. James R., who married Josephine Amoth, is interested with his father. Margaret, born December 31, 1884, died January 18, 1893. Thomas W. is attending school in Chicago. Charles, born August 6, 1889, died May 1, 1901. Catherine is a pupil in the Madison high school. The other children in the order of their ages are Lucile R., Robert N., Varonica R. and Raymond. The family are all mem- bers and devout attendants of St. Raphael's Catholic church. The father is a Knight of Columbus, a Catholic Forester and a Catholic Knight. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn are fully entitled to the esteem in which they are held by their neighbors and friends. A more beau- tiful home life that that of the Quinns it would be difficult to find.
William H. Raman, one of the leading business men of the vil- rage of Marshall, was born in Prussia, February 29, 1852, the son of Prussian parents, Charles and Sophia (Ludwick) Raman, born In 1824 and 1827 respectively. The parents came to Wisconsin and settled in Watertown in 1857. In 1885 they went to Nebraska but subsequently returned and now live in Marshall. They have eight children all of whom are living and all married. The fam- ily belongs to the Lutheran church. Mr. Raman served as chair- man of the board of supervisors of the town of Watertown, during his residence there, and also as treasurer. William Raman was ed- ucated in the schools of Watertown, and as a young man began working for W. H. Porter with whom he remained for sixteen years. In 1894 he went into business for himself, in Marshall, in furniture and undertaking and as licensed embalmer, and has car- ried the enterprise on in a very successful manner. He has twice been elected treasurer of the town of Medina and is one of the trustees of the village of Marshall; he belongs to the Democratic party. He was married December, 29, 18:1, to Mrs. Carrie (Mil- ler) Rogers, a native of Ohio. Mr. Raman is a man of enterprise and energy, having, unaided, made his own way in the world. He owns the building in which his business is carried on, as well as his fine residence. He was elected vice president of the Marshall bank and also one of the directors and is a member of the finance committee.
Nils K. Ranum is a retired farmer of the town of Perry and a native of Válders, Norway, where he was born August 22, 1829, son of Knudt and Julia ( Nelson) Hageseth, who were natives of Norway and spent their entire lives there. In 1852 Nils K. came 42-iii
738
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
to the United States and settled in Perry township, then in its in- fancy. For some time he worked out as a laborer and after a year or more bought forty acres of land in the southern part of Perry. which was his home for a little over a year. This farm was sold and eighty aeres in Iowa county purchased, which was the home of Mr. Ranum for ten years. He added to it forty acres and cleared and improved the farm. He then moved to Grant county, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres and resided there a quarter of a century. Fondness for his original home in Perry caused him to sell his home in Grant county and return to Perry. where he bought a small farm and managed it until 1903 when he sold it to his son Gilbert and now lives retired with his son. In 1850 Mr. Ranum married Miss Betsey Olson, who was born in Norway, daughter of Ole and Susanna Halstenson. Five children blessed the marriage : Julia is Mrs. T. O. Smesrud of Joyce. Iowa ; Sena married Sever Munson of Livingston, Wis .; Knudt was acci- dentally killed at eighteen years of age: Ole married Mary Brazee and resides in Dodgeville : Andrew married Julia Paulson and lives in Primrose. Mrs. Ranum died in 1865 and in 1866 Mr. Ranum was again married. his wife being Miss Marit Gilberson, born in Norway. November 9, 1841, daughter of Gilbert and Anna Olson of Iowa county, Wis. Eight children were born to the second mar- riage. Mary Ann married Knudt Knudtson of Livingston, Wis .; Edward O. married Mary Beek and resides in Iowa : Gilbert M. mar- ried Miss Alice Lunn and lives in Perry: Peter married Miss Myrtle McKay and resides in Eldon, Mo. ; Cari W., married Emma Eidsmore and makes his home in N. Dak. He served three years in the United States army, Seventh Cavalry, Company G. having previous to his enlistment been a member of the state militia. He served two years in Cuba after the close of the Spanish-American War. Benjamin married Anna Hanna and lives in Primrose : Sherman A. married Josie Mellum and lives in Iowa county ; Martha, the wife of Peter Hilden, resides in Monticello, Wis. An- drew, brother of Nils K., served in the army during the Civil War and died while in service at Memphis. Tenn. Gilbert, a brother of Mrs. N. K. Ranum, also served in the Civil War. Mr. Ranum and his wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr Ranum is allied with the Republican party.
Byron Rapp, of Lodi, was born in Dane township, on the old homestead. His paternal grandfather was Peter Rapp, born in Northhampton. Pa .. in 1804, and who married Miss Susan Marsh, born 1802. His maternal grandfather was James Steele, men-
739
BIOGRAPHICAL.
tioned in this work. His father, William Rapp, was born in Penn- sylvania. January 9. 1822, and came to Wisconsin in 1844, where he took up eighty acres of land in the town of Dane. He married Miss Eliza Steele who was born in Delaware county, N. Y., Novem- ber 23. 1830. Both of them were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Rapp increased his original claim until it amounted to five hundred and sixty acres. At the present time he is living, although his wife passed away on December 27, 1899. Both he and his son, Byron, are Democrats and have both served as supervisors. Of the five children in the family four are living; Eliza Jane, (deceased), was wife of Peter Doane; Isabella, is the wife of William Fellows of Dane county: Howard resides in Dane township: Byron is the subject of this sketch; Eva is the wife of Charles Chrislaw, of Lodi. Byron Rapp spent the years of his boy- hood in the common schools of Dane, and in assisting his father in the work of the farm to whose management he succeeded when he later assumed the work of a man. The two hundred and twenty acres which he now owns is farmed for general purposes and for the breeding of shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. In ad- dition to the office of supervisor, already noted, Mr. Rapp has been chairman of the board for six years, and has also served on the school board.
John R. Redman, a retired farmer. living in the village of Deer -: field, was born in Lincolnshire, England, April 13, 1855, his par- ents, John and Eliza (Spencely) Redman, both being natives of that county. They had three children. but the other two died in infancy. In 1872 the family came to America and located in the town of Deerfield, where for several years they rented land on the shares. They then bought one hundred and seventeen acres, which they still own. The mother of Mr. Redman died in 1890 and in the year 1903 the father suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he never recovered sufficiently to help himself. In the spring of 1905 the son rented out the farm and took up his residence in the village of Deerfield, where he has a modern home, well equipped with the comforts and conveniences necessary to make a home enjoyable. On October 20. 1889, Mr. Redman was married to Miss Lizzie Nel- lins, born August 1. 1856. Her parents reside in Ireland. To this union were born three daughters, viz: Eliza J., born September 1}, 1890 ; Minnie, born August 16, 1893: and Martha, born May 22. 1898. The mother of these children died in April, 1905. Few men have been as devoted to their domestic interests as John R. Red- man. He has always lived with his parents, and from the time
740
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
he was thirty years of age was their sole support. Since the death of his mother and his wife he has been constantly in attendance up- on his father's wants, as well as providing for his own children, who all show the influence of the kind and loving father's training. Although not a member of any church he rather inclines to the Presbyterian faith, and he has certainly obeyed the Scriptural in- junction to "Honor thy father and mother." In political matters he is independent, and with that self-reliant spirit so characteristic of the English people he forms his own opinions and backs his judgment by his vote. In the community he has many friends, who appreciate his sturdy honesty, as well as his other sterling qualities which go to make the model man and trustworthy citizen.
Frederick Reed, deceased, for many years the "village black- smith" of McFarland, was born in the state of Pennsylvania on March 7, 1833. His father was John Reed, a native of Vermont. Frederick Reed received a limited education in the common schools of Ohio. In 1853 he came to Wisconsin and after three years' labor as a farm hand, he went into the blacksmithing trade with John Shetter. On March 1, 1855, he married Susan, daughter of John and Mary (Stewart) Shetter of Pennsylvania. John Shetter had come to Wisconsin in 1845 and pre-empted a piece of govern- ment land; two years later he opened a blacksmith shop in Cot- tage Grove township at what was then known as the Buckeye post- office (near the present postoffice of Nora), working land on shares at the same time. After four years of this labor he closed out his business and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the town of Pleasant Springs; but the call of the forge was too strong and the following year found him established in a black- smith shop in the village of McFarland. After eighteen years he retired, and lived in comfort until his death, which occurred Sep- tember 12, 1901. His wife passed away April 2, 1902. Mr. Reed contined in business with his father-in-law until 1869, when he went to Iowa. For ten years he plied his trade in the Hawkeye state and then returned to McFarland, where he and his father-in -. law again entered business together. For nearly a quarter of a century he seldom missed a day from his labors. In November, 1903. he was stricken with apoplexy and from the following March to the time of his death, November 22, 1905, he was completely paralyzed. The devoted ministrations of his wife were a great comfort in the last days. In politics Mr. Reed was a member of the Republican party and in the early days he was elected justice of the peace of McFariand. He was not a member of any church, but
741
BIOGRAPHICAL.
his Scotch ancestry made him incline to the Presbyterian faith. Mrs. Reed is a member of the Christian church. Mr. and Mrs. Reed had ten children. Sarah Ellen (Mrs. John Manson of Madison), born November 28. 1855 ; Mary Elizabeth, born Decem- ber 25, 1856, died June 6, 1880; John Wesley, born November 9, 1858 ; lives at home; he served in Company L, Forty-sixth Regi- ment, during the Spanish-American War. He was in Florida and later went to the Philippines with his regiment and remained there over two years. He was discharged in 1901 on account of dis- ability after having served nearly three years. Rosa Belle, (Mrs. John Bearbower of McFarland). born November 23, 1860; Eliza Jane (widow of John Sanderson, now Mrs. James Buchanan of Okee. Wis.), born December 11, 1862; Fred Ellsworth. born July 24. 1864, married Cora Hines of Mt. Auburn, Ia., where he now lives : William H .. born November 8, 1861, married Amelia Shafer of Iowa. and now lives in McFarland : and James E. born February 19, 18:0, married Elinda Vinje, and now lives in McFarland ; Della Aletha, married Martin Vinje, of McFarland; Alvan Ira, married Helen Gensky, and they reside in Madison.
Nels K. Reindahl is numbered among the representative farmers of Dunkirk township, where he owns a well improved farm, which stands in evidence of his thrift and energy, since he came to America without financial means and has won success through his own efforts. Mr. Reindahl is a native of Norway, where he was born April 25, 1849. a son of Kittel and Inger Reindahl. He was reared to maturity in his native land, in whose schools he received his educational training. In 1868, at the age of nineteen years, he immigrated to the United States, being accompanied by his widowed mother. He came at once to Dane county, and estab- lished a modest home for his mother. He worked by the day dur. ing the first summer, on the farm now owned by Senator La Fol- lette, and in the following winter chopped two hundred and eighty cords of wood for a farmer in the same vicinity. For several years thereafter he gave his attention to tobacco-growing, on shares, in Pleasant Springs township, being the first person to cultivate the Spanish tobacco in that township. He carefully husbanded his earnings and in 1825 he purchased eighty acres of his present farm. in Dunkirk, subseqeuntly adding an adjacent tract of twenty-eight acres, so that he now has a farm of one hundred and eighty acres. He has made all the improvements in matter of buildings and lias developed one of the productive and valuable farms of the county. He has lived continuously on this homestead for thirty years and
742
1
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
is one of the substantial and popular citizens of the community. He is a man of intelligence and progressive ideas, and his ambi- tion as a youth may be understood when it is noted that two years after his arrival in America he determined to broaden his knowl- edge of the English language. He accordingly worked for his board for three successive winters, in order that he might attend the common schools in the meanwhile. It is needless to say that he made the most of his opportunities and profited largely from the instruction thus received. Mr. Reindahl is influential in public af- fairs of a local nature and has served in various positions of trust and responsibility. He has been clerk of the Dunkirk school board for twenty years, served as township assessor two years, as side- supervisor ten years, and at the present time is serving his fifth year as chairman of the township board, thus being ex-officio mem- ber of the county board of superivsors. In politics he gives an un- wavering support to the Republican party and both he and his wife are zealous members of the First United Norwegian Lutheran church of Stoughton, of whose board of trustees he is a valued member. Mr. Reindahl has been twice married, the maiden name of his first wife having been Gunil Felland, after whose death he married his present wife, whose maiden name was Elsa Ondahl and who is a daughter of Ole Ondahl, who came to Wisconsin from Norway. Mr. Reindahl has four children, Kittel. Ole, Nora and Enoch.
Thrond K. Reindahl, of Madison, was born in Norway, Novem- ber 21. 1844. His father, Kittil Reindahl, was a Norwegian farmer, and died in his native country, in 1867. Two years later, his widow, Ingerid (Nilson) Reindahl, came to America and made her home in the town of Burke. Dane county, until her death. There were seven children in the family, all of whom are living. Thrond was educated in Norway and came to Burke in 1866, a young man of twenty-two, with his own way to make in the world. He located on a farm where he remained thirteen years, and later moved to the farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres. located three and one-half miles from Madison, where he now lives and of which he is the owner. He has a large acreage of tobacco, and is also an extensive producer of hay, having been one of the large local supplies for the city of Madison; he is also a breeder of horses. He married, in 1866, Miss Ingebor Mosle, a native of Nor- way, daughter of Amund and Ture (Halverson) Mosle, both de- ceased. They have eight children living. Armund, Ingerid, Thea, Sadie. Ingebor, Thilda, Caroline and Charles; two more died in
743
BIOGRAPHICAL.
infancy. Mr. Reindahl and his family are all members of the Luth- eran church; he is a Republican, and has been treasurer of the school board for eighteen years. Amund, the oldest son, has been for two terms register of deeds for Dane county, and is serving in that office as deputy at the present time. Mr. Reindahl owns, in the town of Burke, two hundred and thirty acres of land, and is a well- to-do farmer, having attained his prosperity through his own thrift and economy.
John Reis, (deceased), was a native of Germany. His parents, Matthias and Gertrude (Mauerer) Reis, came to Dane county in 1854, settling in Springfield township, their son, born April 15, 1847, being at the time seven years of age. His educational ad- vantages were somewhat limited, being restricted to the district school of Springfield, and some instruction in the German Catholic school at Cross Plains, the family being affiliated with that church. He began his independent life as a farmer, first in Springfield town- ship with his father, and later, shortly before his marriage, he moved to the town of Westport, where he owned a farm of two hundred and forty acres. About ten years ago, he moved to the city of Madison, sold his farm and invested in city property. His widow owns, not only her residence at 30 N. Basset St., but six other houses in the city. She was Miss Margaretha Marx, daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Endres) Marx, now residing at 324 Doty St. They were old settlers of the town of Berry, and the postoffice of Marxville, was named after him. He is somewhat of an exception to the usual type of home-keeping farmers, for he has crossed the ocean five times. About sixteen years ago he moved into Madison. His daughter, Mrs. Reis, was born in the town of Berry. Mr. Reis was. in politics, a Democrat, and had served for several years as treasurer of the town of Westport, and also upon the board of supervisors. He belonged to the German Catholic church and to the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin. He died very suddenly February 14, 1906 ; he is survived by his wife and three children, John M. Reis, a merchant of Madison, corner of Bassett and Mifflin streets; Nicholas, and a young daughter, Mary T .: also by a brother, Henry and three sisters, Mrs. Eva La Cross, of Waunakee. Mrs. Mary Brausen, of Westport, and Mrs. Margaret Sitzman, of Minnesota.
Lars Davidson Rekve, a retired farmer of the town of Deerfield, was born at Rekve, Norway, June 4, 1818. His parents were David Ericson and Carrie Larstheter, natives of Norway. Lars Davidson Rekve had such educational advantages as the schools
744
HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.
of Norway afforded. When twenty-one years old he determined to seek his fortune in the new world. On his arrival in New York he had rather a queer experience. It so happened that he was put ashore on July 4, 1839, and the city was celebrating the national holiday in the usual style. Lars was very much alarmed at first, but as no bullets struck him or near him he concluded that his new countrymen were very poor marksmen. From New York he went to Chicago where he got work on the canal. After a few weeks he was taken ill and was obliged to remain in a hospital for nearly a year. When he recovered he found that his treatment had taken all his savings and he was cast out into the world without a penny. With an admirable determination he worked at any thing that offered, for a time, including sailing on the lakes, and then went .to the Wisconsin lead mines. In 1844 he quit mining and started farming on an eighty acre farm which he purchased from the government. This farm was his home for forty-one years. leaving it in 1885 to build a home in the village of Deerfield. His farm, to which he had added until it contained three hundred acres, he has deeded to his children and expects to pass the remainder of his days in his Deerfield home. Mr. Rekve is a Republican and as such has served three years as town treasurer, six years as assessor and several terms as supervisor. He is a member of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church. In 1844 he married Engiborg Olstather, daughter of Ole Barago and Anna Essoxdaughter, natives of Nor- way. Mrs. Rekve was born May 19, 1826, and passed away April 4, 1877. She bore Mr. Rekve four children .- Carrie (Mrs. Andrew Anderson of Stoughton), born February 18, 1846 ; Anna (Mrs. Nels Bau of Iowa), born April 27, 1849, died in May, 1887; Johanna (Mrs. Hans Mathison of Watertown, S. D.), born March 3, 1853; and Engiborg (Mrs. J. O. Brictson of Deerfield ), born July 28, 1854. After the death of his first wife he married Sijmmara. daughter of Helga and Breta (Olson) Understather, natives of Norway. Mr. Rekve has two sisters living in Chicago, Julia, the widow of Stephen Brown, and Mrs. Goodna Nelson, a widow. A sister and a brother in Norway, Mrs. Armond Tiegend and Eric Rekve. passed away a few years ago. Although he has lived more than the allotted num- ber of years, he is hale and hearty and possesses a most remark- able memory.
Henry J. Renk, of Sun Prairie, is a native of Bristol, Dane county, and is the elder son of Nicholas Renk, mentioned in this work in connection with Wm. F. Renk. He attended the common schools and was graduated from the agricultural college of the Uni-
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.