USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical > Part 94
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Fred Timmerman, who died on his fine homestead farm in sec- .tion 27, Blooming Grove township. April 17, 1888, was one of the energetic and successful men of this section of the state and was a man who commanded the confidence and esteem of all who knew him, living a life signally sincere and true in all its relations. Mr. Tim- merman was a native of Germany, where he was born March 19, 1838, being a son of Fred and Christina ( Meier) Timmerman, who passed their entire lives in the fatherland, coming of old and stanch German stock. The subject of this memoir was accorded the advan- tages of the excellent schools of his native land, where he was reared to maturity. He immigrated to America, remaining for a time in the east and taking up his residence in Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1857. For ten years he resided upon and operated what is now known as the Hoyt farm, in Blooming Grove township, after which he purchased the homestead of one hundred acres upon which his widow now maintains her home and upon which he continued to re- side continuously until his death. He made excellent improvements on the place and was known as a man of thrift and progressive ideas. He was possessed of sterling characteristics and was a useful and worthy citizen. He was a man of strong personality and was well fortified in his views and convictions, taking a loyal interest in public affairs but never seeking the honors or emoluments of public office. He was a Democrat in his political proclivities, and was a member of the German Lutheran church, with which his family also is iden- tified. August 20, 1855. Mr. Timmerman was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Merlioff. daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth ( Meier) Merhoff. Concerning the children of this union the following brief record is entered : Anna Christina Carrie, born December 21, 1857. is the wife of Henry Sieveking, and they reside in the state of Iowa : Anna Caroline, born October 23. 1859, died when about six years of age : William Fred. born July 15, 1861, married Miss Mary Bolk. of
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Iowa, in which state they now reside; Louisa, born in November, 1863, died when about two years of age; Louisa Martha, born No- vember 15, 1864, died July 17, 1865; Ykastena Martha, born June 22, 1867, is the wife of Louis Gerfon, and they reside in Oklahoma ; Henry died in childhood; Ernest Gottlieb Henry, born April 17, 1870, married Miss Sophia Holcher, of Burke township, and they re- side on the homestead farm with his mother; Henry Christian, born April 20, 1873, died March 16, 1893.
Ever E. Tjugum, who is extensively engaged in agricultural pur- suits at Sun Prairie, Wis., is a native of Norway, where he was born September 16, 1852. His parents were Ever Olson and Carrie (Suphamer) Tjugum, both being born in Norway, the former March 25, 1820. His mother died in Norway in 1859. The father is still living at the age of eighty-six years. Of their seven chil- dren three are living. His father's second wife was Anna Soride and of the four children which blessed this union two are now alive. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Ole Roisum Tjugum who died in Norway at the age of ninety-two years. His wife was Anna Vesterim and she also passed away in Norway. The maternal grandfather of Ever E. Tjugum was Helge Suphamer, who with his wife Tarbegor, lived and died in Norway. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Norway and in the schools of Bristol, and early took up the career of a farmer. He now owns two hundred and fifty-five acres of land, all of which is thoroughly cultivated. Short-horned cattle, Poland China hogs, and Shropshire sheep are his specialties. He is also largely engaged in the tobacco raising industry. All of this tract of farming land Mr. Tjugum has acquired by the most untir- ing efforts. He came to Dane county, May 26, 1883, and worked by the month. In 1886 he commenced farming and purchased seventy-five acres of land, soon after adding eighty acres. All of this he has improved until it is in a fine state of cultivation at the present time. He was married April 8. 1886, to Miss Christiana Carolina Dahle, daughter of Christian Anderson Dahle, mentioned in this work. To them have been born six children as follows : Charles Edwin, May 25, 1882, educated in the common schools and in the college of agriculture of the University of Wisconsin ; Carrie Amanda. August 21, 1888, educated in the common schools and a student in DeForest high school ; Oscar Anders, Angust 10, 1890, a student in DeForest high school; Annie Louise, January 18, 1894; Ever Harold, August 22. 1896; Raymond Ernest, September 21, 1899. Mr. Tjugum and his family are members of the Lutheran
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church. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has held offices of treasurer for two years, side supervisor for three years, treas- urer of the school district for three years, clerk for nine years. His long public service and the honors which have come to him un- sought bespeak the respect in which the community holds him. Mr. Tjugum is a firm believer in a liberal education for the rising generation.
Charles I. Togstad, superintendent of the American Plow Com- pany of Madison, was born in Norway (near Christiana) April 7, 1851. He is a son of Iver and Anna (Johnson) Iverson. For a re- view of the faimly see the sketch of Ole I. Togstad elsewhere in this volume. Charles Togstad attended the common schools of Norway and when in the spring. of 1873 he determined to come to this coun- try, was engaged in farming. On his arrival in the United States he was employed by the railroads in St. Paul for three months and then went to Beloit where he farmcd for a time and afterward entered the employ of the John Thompson & Company plow works. When he severed his connection with that company he was one of its forc- men. For a year he worked a farm in Redwood county. Minnesota, and in 1882 came to Madison to enter the employ of the Fuller & John- son Manufacturing Company. He remained with this concern twen- ty-two years, the last twelve of which he held the position of assistant superintendent. In 1904 he assumed the active charge of the Ameri- can Plow Company's works and has since held that position. In May, 1878. Mr. Togstad was united in marriage to Miss Rena Weidemann, a native of Norway, who came to the United States with her parents, Andrew and Christina Weidemann, in 1872. Mr. Weideman is de- ceased, but his widow is still living, a resident of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Togstad have eight children. Clara, the eldest. is the wife of Sjur Eken. They have one child, Ruth. Ida married Walter Fluent and now lives in Charles City, Ia. She is the mother of one child, Wayne. John Peter is a machinist for the Gisholt Machine company of Madison. By his marriage to Belle Hartdy he is the father of one child. John. Alfred is a clerk in a clothing store in an Idaho city. Edna is employed by the Dane County Telephone company. Eddie and Cecelia are students in the high school. The youngest is Raymond. The family are all devout members of the United Lutheran church. Mrs. Togstad is a member of the Beaver Queens' organization in Madison and her husband is one of the Mod- ern Woodmen. Mr. Togstad is one of the best representatives of Madison's citizens of Norwegian birth. He is the prime of a vigor- ous manhood. is a skilled and thorough workman and an exceptionally good executive.
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Ole I. Togstad, manuafacturer of cement blocks, whose place of business in Madison is at 514 South Baldwin street, was born in east- ern Norway, September 18, 1854. He is the son of Iver and Anna Iverson. The father was a carpenter and farmer, and followed these two vocations all his active life. He died in 1890 at the age of sixty- eight. His wife passed away in 1862. They had eight children, two of whom died before the subject of this sketch was born. Of the other six. Charles is superintendent of the American Plow works in Madi- son: Ole I. is the next in the order of birth; Carrie is the wife of Christian Peterson, a carpenter residing at 925 East Johnson street; Jacob is a policeman of the city force of Madison; Anton and Anna still live in their native country. Ole I. Togstad received his education in the Norwegian common schools and for a time after the completion of his studies worked on a farm in Norway. In 1876 he came to the United States, locating in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand. and then went to Beloit to enter the employ of John Thompson. He had been there but six months when the concern burned out and he was obliged to return to farming for a livelihood. The following year he was ill with rheumatism and unable to labor, but upon his recovery returned to Thompson's employ. His labors for the next few years were in varied fields, employment being found at different times in the J. I. Case plow works of Racine, the pineries of Michigan, in Beloit, the J. I. Case Company again, a carriage shop at Racine Junction, a plow manufacturing concern at South Bend, Ind., a harvester company in Beloit, in Dubuque, with the David Bradley plow company of Chicago. the Link-belt Machine Company, in Chicago for a year, with Thompson for a third time, in La Crosse with a plow company, and returned to Madison, where he has been since. The Fuller & Johnson company gave him employment and. during the Peck administration, he did various duties in the state capital. In August 1904, he started with a partner, in the business 'of making cement blocks, the firm name being Togstad & Kleiner. This partnership was dissolved in the spring of 1906 and Mr. Togstad became the sole owner of the plant. The daily output is about five hundred blocks. The factory is one hundred and twenty by forty feet and four men are employed. A new process of making building ce- ment brick and blocks is used which is proving highly satisfactory. In 1884. Mr. Togstad married Miss Mena Eastdal. a native of Norway, (born April 12, 1864) who came to the United States in 1882. They have four children, Anna, Harold, Clarence and Maurice. The relig- ious affiliations of the family are with the Lutheran church. The
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father is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is con- sidered one of Madison's most enterprising and worthy citizens.
Albert Torgerson is a well known farmer of Pleasant, Springs. Wis. His parents, Halvor and Olive (Evans) Torgerson, were natives of Christiania, Norway, and came to America while quite young, in company with their parents. Halvor came in 1845 on a sailing craft, which experienced rough weather and scarcity of pro- visions during its sixteen weeks voyage. The father of the family died while on ship-board and the mother landed in Quebec with her family of fourteen, fatherless children. They came on to Jefferson county, where Halvor and his brother obtained some land and took care of the family. Halvor married the daughter of Evan Evans of Pleasant Springs, who came from Norway in 1844, and purchased the Evans Homestead on which he and his wife lived until their death in 1813. Halvor To gerson also operated the first brick-yard in Stoughton. Four children of Halvor Torgerson are living: Albert and Thomas, of Pleasant Springs; Carrie, the wife of John Anderson of Stoughton and George, who owns a farm in Dunkirk. The two youngest children died in infancy. Albert was born at Oakland, Jefferson county, Wis., January 23. 1855, and was obliged to help his father on the farm which they purchased at Pleasant Springs, so he had little opportunity to go to school. He farmed the old home farm for a t'me and after his parents' death, bought seventy acres of the old homestead. This he worked for five years. sold it and farmed in Cottage Grove and Dunn. For five years he operated a meat market and a hotel at Stoughton and in 1890 purchased the farm which he now occupies, in section 9. Many improvements have recently been made upon the farm and Mr. Torgerson carries on a general farming business. In politics he is an Independent, has been clerk of the school board for seven years and held other local offices. October 1, 1877, he married Miss Christina Quale of Dunkirk, daughter of Andrew Quale, a native of Norway. Mrs. Torgerson died in 1887, leaving three children ; Alfred C., who is cashier of the state bank of Deslace, North Dakota : Clara, the wife of Otto Otterson of North Dakota; Mabel, who resides in Portland, North Dakota : Annie and another child, the youngest, died in infancy. In April, 1889, Mr. Torgerson married Miss Trena Olson of Dunkirk, daughter of Torgen Olson. Three children have been born to them; Charles Ole, Homer T .. who died in infancy. and Arnold T., the youngest. The family are loyal supporters of the Western Lutheran church.
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Chester Torgerson died January 28, 1906, in the village of Mount Horeb, after four years of retirement following a life of industry and usefulness, not the least among his deeds being the loyal service which he gave to the government during the dark days of the Civil War. He was born in Norway, on June 7, 1834, and is a son of Torger Chesterson and Bertha Nelson Ramelo, who were also natives of Nor- way. The father was a farmer in his native country and he came with his family to America in 1853. Coming directly to Wisconsin he settled in the town of Springdale, Dane county, and there pur- chased a tract of government land in section 31, where he followed farming until his death, March 14, 1899, aged nearly eighty-eight years. His wife died in 1856, at the age of forty-five. The subject of this review is one of three children who were born to the above mentioned parents, and of these only one survives. Gunhild, the wife of Hans Veggum of Springdale, and twin sister of Chester. Our subject received his education in the schools of Norway, and after ac- companying his parents to America remained with his father on the farm until 1859, when he went to California. He drove across the plains with oxen and by this mode of travel the journey consumed six months of time. The route followed was by the way of Salt Lake City and passed through the country then infested with Indians. He remained in California, engaged in mining two years, and then made the return trip by riding on a pony, coming by the way of Pike's Peak and Denver. He again located in the town of Springdale and fol- lowed farming there until 1864. On September 5, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-third regiment Wisconsin volunteer infantry and served with that command until June 24. 1865, when, peace being es- tablished, he was mustered out with the regiment. The regiment left the state on October 10, 1864. for Nashville, Tenn., from whence it proceeded to Johnsonville on the Tennessee river, where Mr. Tor- gerson participated in an engagement with the enemy. The greater part of the term of service was devoted to guard duty at various places. After receiving his discharge our subject returned to the town of Springdale and shortly afterward purchased land and engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until 1902, when he removed to Mount Horeb and lived retired until his death. Mr. Torgerson was married on November 15, 1877. to Miss Nora R. Odegoord, of Chi- cago, Ill .. daughter of Rolf and Roynano (Overlie) Odegoord, bothi of whom were natives of Norway. The parents never came to Amer- ica, Mrs. Torgerson making the journey alone when she was twenty- one years old. She returned to Norway, after having been in this country six years, and remained eight months in the land of her birth,
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then returning to America. She has two sisters living in the United Staes. Mr. Torgerson was a member of the G. A. R., and he was, as is his wife, a regular attendant and member of the Lutheran church.
James H. Townsend is a prominent business man and well known citizen of Cambridge. Besides his many business interests he has always been occupied to a considerable extent with farm affairs and property. A native of Westchester county, N. Y., as were . both his parents. James L. and Sarah (Dederer) Townsend, he came with them to Wisconsin in 1850. The Townsend family were prominent in their native county, where the Hon. John Town- send was a farmer, sheriff and later state senator. He became en- gaged in banking in New York city, a business followed by his oldest son Daniel Ward. James L. the second son came to Wis- consin. James L. was born August 31, 1801, and his wife May 20, 1802. They obtained a farm in Dane county which now lies in the village of Cambridge. This they cleared and improved and made their home until the death of Mr. Townsend in 1887 and that of his wife in 1876. Eight children were born to them; four are de- ceased. Charles H. is chief clerk in the quartermaster's depart- ment of Omaha, Neb .; Daniel W. resides in Stoughton; Mary is Mrs. E. N. Potter of Halliday, N. D .; James H., the subject of this sketch, is the youngest son. James H. was born in Pelham, N. Y., September 16, 1841, attended the home schools, came to Wisconsin when he was nine years old and when he was nineteen went to Cali- fornia overland. Upon his return to Wisconsin he lived at the old homestead which was soon purchased by James and his brother. Daniel W. James then sold his share to his brother and later pur- chased the entire property, of which he still retains a portion, the remainder having been sold for village lots. For ten years Mr. Townsend engaged in milling business in Stoughton and since that time has resided in Cambridge. With J. W. Porter he bought the George Dow home and he has extensive farming interests both in Dane county and at Eau Caire. Mr. Townsend also owns a beat- tiful home in Cambridge. September 9, 1868, he married Miss Janet Dow, daughter of George and Janet Dow of Cambridge, both of whom were natives of Scotland and pioneers of Dane county. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Townsend; Joan, the wife of Fred Jensen of Stoughton; A. Gavina, the wife of Major Edgar J. Hill. of Cambridge, who has one daughter, Joan T .; George Dow. the youngest, resides with her parents. Mr. Town- send is a Democrat in political affiliations but has never been an .active politician. The family attend the Congregational church.
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Mrs. Townsend's parents. Mr. and Mrs. Dow, came west from New York city in 1842, and settled on a farm lying along the shore of Lake Ripley, originally called Dow's lake. There they built a log cabin and subsequently a stone house which is still to be seen on the old homestead. Mr. Dow owned a mill and store at Cam- bridge and was engaged in banking for some years at Stoughton. He was a prominent Democrat, was the first probate judge in Jef- ferson county and held many offices of trust in the community. The relations between Mr. Dow and the native Pottawattomie Indians of the lake country were very friendly and after their re- moval farther west he received many a visit from wandering mem- bers of the tribe, besides one from its chief. Mrs. Dow was, before her marriage. Miss Janet Black and came from Scotland with her parents to New York city. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dow, of whom five are living; George resides in Madison, Wis .: Robe is a banker of Stoughton: Janet is Mrs. Townsen 1; Mary J. is Mrs. Royal Doolittle of Cambridge ; Isabel is Mrs. A. J. Allen and has two daughters, Marian and Jessie. Mrs. Dow died in February, 1898, aged eighty-seven years, and her husband lived until August 2, 1904, having attained the great age of ninety-six years.
Trachte Brothers, an enterprising Madison firm of tinsmiths and manufacturers of hot-air furnaces, are natives of Dodge county, Wis- consin. George A., the senior member, was born in Watertown, on October 8, 1878, and Arthur Fred on April 28, 1880. Their parents, Henry and Flora (Weiseman) Trachte, now honored residents of Watertown at the ages of sixty-five and sixty-two respectively, are natives of Germany, who settled in Jefferson county the year of their immigration to this country, 1861. They had four sons and four daughters. Bertha the eldest child, is the wife of Rev. O. E. Heise of the German Moravian church at Green Bay. Wis .; Paulina is the wife of Rev. William Engelke, pastor of the German Presbyterian church of Waukon, Ia. ; Henry, a piano tuner, makes his home at Lake Mills: Flora is the wife of Rev. Amel Suempher, a German Moravian minister in the Alberta province, Canada ; George A. and Arthur are the subjects of this sketch; Clara, the wife of Max Witte, lives on a farm in Jefferson county; and Arnold is attending school. George and Arthur attended the public schools of Watertown. George at the age of fourteen and Arthur at the age of sixteen started in to learn the trade of tinner. They have both made that their life business and have been highly successful. In 1901 they entered business for them- selves at Madison. At the time they were the youngest business men
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in the capital city. From year to year their patronage has increased until now their firm is not only one of the busiest but also one of the representative partnerships of a growing city. . During the summer months it employs six or seven men. Good service and cour- teous treatment have given the Trachte brothers considerable prestige with contractors and others with whom they deal. Their place of business is at 233 and 235 King street. Both brothers are members of the German Methodist church.
James C. Trotter, who is now living in well-earned retirement in the village of Oregon, Dane county, is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born at Deerfield, Ohio, September 9, 1838. His parents were John and Mary ( Martin) Trotter, both natives of Deer- field, Ohio, who migrated to Wisconsin in 1846 and became highly respected citizens of the town of Oregon, Dane county. The father was a blacksmith and for the first two years after taking up his res- idence in the Badger state he conducted a shop at Monroe, the me- tropolis of Green county. He then came to the town of Oregon and purchased the old William Dubois farm, located about four miles from the village of Oregon-paying six dollars per acre therefor- and the family remained on this farm until the father's death. James C. Trotter began to care for himself at the early age of twelve years. He worked by the month in the summer, and during the winter worked for his board and attended school, managing in this way to secure a limited education, clothe himself and save $100 each year. Of course as he grew older his savings grew larger. and this sort of a life continued for him until the breaking out of the Civil War. He enlisted on August 12, 1862, as a private in Company A, Twenty- third Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry, and served with that com- mand until August 8, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on ac- count of disability. With his regiment his took part in the attack on Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas river, during which engagement his company lost one killed and three wounded. Mr. Trotter was also engaged in the fight a Milliken's Bend, and throughout the siege of Vicksburg, but owing to the effects of severe camp life and the ex- posure to malaria in the swampy country where the regiment had been operating. his health was greatly impaired, and as stated above, he was honorably discharged. Upon his return home his attending physician advised him to go to the oil regions for recuperation, which advice he followed, and four years later he returned to Dane county and purchased one hundred acres of land near Story postoffice in the town of Oregon, Dane county. There he was soon afterward mar- ried, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Shepherd, of an old Dane
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county family, her parents being prominent citizens of the town of Oregon. His wife died without issue, and Mr. Trotter later disposed of his farm. His marriage to his present wife, (who was Mrs. Jeanette M. Gray, daughter of Cyrus and Marie ( Crane) Paddock ) took place October 17, 1885 ; and as Mrs. Trotter owned a farm of two hundred acres in Green county, they remained thereon and did an extensive dairy business for eight years. Then they sold the farm and bought a home in the village of Oregon, consisting of a large and well appointed house and three and one-half acres of ground, and there Mr. and Mrs. Trotter have since lived in retirement. No chil- dren have been born of their union, but by her former marriage Mrs. Trotter became the mother of two children: Arthur Gray, who mar- ried Miss Julia Southwick and resides at Watertown. S .D .; and Willis, who married Miss Alice Hook and resides in the town of Ore- gon. Mr. Trotter is a Republican in his political affiliations and has filled the office of supervisor for six terms. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Masonic lodge at Or- egon. and Mrs. Trotter is a member of the Eastern Star and the Woman's Relief Corps.
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