USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 68
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fruitful, his mission a success. During his pastorate the member- ship of the church has increased by about 300 Families, embracing approximately 1,500 souls and 700 converts have come into the fold from other denominations. As a reclaimer of men Father Dunne's record is so wonderful that no less an authority than The Literary Digest has referred to him as the premier convert maker of the West. As rose trees in a garden send out their fragrance to wayfarers on all sides, so his piety, zeal and person- ality attract wandering souls to his vineyard. He loves humanity and even the stranger feels instantly the warmth of his brotherly interest.
The temporal affairs of his parish have prospered commensu- rate with the spiritual. Under his supervision a new three-story brick school building, 112x96 feet, was dedicated in 1907 at a cost of $40,000; a Benedictine convent was completed in 1909 at a cost of $15,000, and in 1914 a parochial residence was erected at an outlay of another $15,000.
Father Dunne is beloved by his own people and greatly re- spected by the public at large. Devout, spiritual and zealous, he is a great moral force in his community. The charm of his per- sonality impresses all who meet him, and the warmth of his charity is a reflection of the divine compassion. Yet he never hesitates to attack error and wrong, but always with the dignity of a high purpose.
He is widely noted for his eloquence and has attained distine- tion on the platform. His lectures: "The Human Violin," "The Average Man" and "Woman's Debt to Christianity," have drawn the highest eulogies from people and the press, but the "call" of his church restricts his activities in this secular line of work. which, from a worldly view, is to be regretted, for there is a touch of divine fire in his oratory.
Chris Ehrhard,* president and treasurer of the Eau Claire Cornice & Heating Company. is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Erig) Ehrhard, natives of Frankfort, Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 1868 and settled at Menomonie, Wis., where Chris, our subject, was born October 15, 1875. Upon arrival in Menomonie the father, who was a cooper by trade, found employment with the Knapp-Stout Lumber Company, with whom he remained until his death, which occurred January 24, 1890. at the age of 51 years. He left a family of five children, as fol- lows: William; Anna, wife of O. G. Losby; Louis: Mary, and Chris.
Reared to manhood in Menomonie, Chris received his educa-
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tion in the public schools and served an apprenticeship of three years at the sheet metal workers' trade and afterwards worked six years as a journeyman. He came to Eau Claire in 1892 and in 1905 embarked in business for himself as president of the Eau Claire Cornice & Heating Company, in which he still continues, his company being the only concern of its kind in the city of Eau Claire.
On October 22, 1895, he married Miss Mary Ward, daughter of John and Anna (Harron) Ward, of Eau Claire. Mr. and Mrs. Ehrhard are the parents of one son, Elmer. Fraternally, Mr. Ehrhard is a member of Ean Claire Lodge, No. 112, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons: Germania Lodge, No. 49, Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 261, of Menomonie.
Jared W. Elliott, sales manager of the Kaiser Lumber Com- pany, was born in the city of Ean Claire, September 5, 1873, and is the son of Hugh M. and Olivia (Curtis) Elliott. Hugh M. Elliott, father of Jared, was born in West Almond, Allegany county, New York, June 13, 1847. His education was obtained in the public schools and commercial college at Binghamton, N. Y. In 1865 he came west to Rock Island, Ill., where for two years he was engaged in farming, thenee in 1867 he came to Eau Claire and was in the employ of the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company for two years and was then engaged in general merchandising for two years. He was next employed as bookkeeper for Esterbrooks three years, and for the next fifteen years up to 1900 he was with the Valley Lumber Company, filling various positions up to super- intendent, an office he held when he left their employ in 1900 to go to Nevada, where for two years he was engaged in develop- ing copper mines. Ile returned to Eau Claire and for a time was with the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company. He was engaged in the clothing business for two years at Owen, Eau Claire county, and was employed four years by Kimberly & Clark at log scaling on the Fox river. After many years of hard work in the lumber- ing industry he retired from that line of business and entered the insurance field, to which he is now (1914) devoting his time, representing some of the best companies.
He married Olivia Curtis, daughter of William and Isabell Curtis, and five children have been born to them: Jared; Joseph- ine, married T. H. Wylie, of Eau Claire; Claire, who is employed on the Soo railroad, and who married Cressie Carter; Laura, married Earl Kidd, of Owen, Wis., and Byron, the youngest, is
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unmarried and is employed by the Central Warehouse Lumber Company. of Minneapolis, Minn.
Jared P. Elliott, grandfather of our subject, was born in Connecticut, and at an early age moved to Alna, N. Y., and later to Allegany county, where he followed farming all his life. Ile married Mary Smith and they became the parents of ten chil- dren, as follows: Henry ; Jared ; Luman ; Frank ; Lafayette, who is chief of poliee of Eau Claire; Ilugh; Hannah, who married Enoch Hanks and is deceased; Rebecca, married Siles Wileox, and two that died in infancy. The great grandfather, Itiah Elliott, was a resident and farmer of Connecticut.
Jared W. was educated in the public schools of Eau Claire and the Dixon college of Dixon, Ill., where he spent two years, after which he went to Duluth, Minn., and for a time was connected with the Alger & Smith Lumber Company. Returning to Eau Claire, he became associated with the Daniel Shaw Lumber Com- pany, filling various positions, and became thoroughly versed in all lines of the lumber industry, remaining with this eoneern ten years. In the spring of 1913 he became connected with the Kaiser Lumber Company as sales manager, which position he still re- tains. Mr. Elliott is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Germania Lodge, No. 49, the Red Men. He married Sarah Gillies, daughter of Archibald and Euphemia (McInnis) Gillies, and has one son-Hugh Gillies Elliott.
Albert F. Faast," who for many years was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Eau Claire, and one of the popular Germans of the city, was a native of Germany, and was born at Komads, April 16, 1840. When a child, he came with his parents to the United States and located on a farm in Dane county, Wiseonsin, and after remaining there for some time, the family moved to Peppin county, this state, settling on a farm near Durand, where they became successful farmers.
In 1869 Albert F. moved to Eau Claire and engaged in the shoe business, owning and conducting the shop where he con- tinuously employed from three to four hands and engaged in manufacturing a high grade of boots and shoes. Ile also manu- factured lumbermen and drivers' boots, which became known far and wide among the lumber jacks. His last store and shop was located in the block where the government building now stands.
For thirty-eight years he was a respected resident of Eau Claire, and during that time occupied a prominent place in busi- ness and social circles. In his death which occurred November
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10, 1907, the city lost a progressive citizen, and his large circle of acquaintances a true friend. He was married December 1, 1872, at Durand, to Miss Frances Unser.
Rufus Farr,* deceased, attained to a position of prominence with the traveling public as proprietor of the Chapin Hall House at IIndson, Wisconsin. Coming of an old New England family, he inherited the thrift, sagacity and broad common sense char- acteristic of the people of that region, and although he had many disadvantages to contend with in early life, and obstacles to overcome in later life, he achieved to a far greater success than falls to the lot of the average man, and had long been one of the honored citizens of Hudson and St. Croix county. He was born in Vermont, August 16, 1823. His boyhood was spent in his home state until he reached the age of sixteen, when in 1839, he went to Pennsylvania, where he was employed for some time at lumbering. He later engaged in the hotel business and for more than thirty years did he conduct some of the noted hotels in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. His first venture as hotel pro- prietor was at Wellsville, Pa., where he remained some six years. He then went to Blassburg, Pa., and for fourteen years conducted a hotel at that place. In 1879 he came to Wisconsin, locating first in Eau Claire. In 1881 he went to Menomonie, Dunn county, where he became proprietor of the Menomonie House which he successfully conducted for several years, then purchased the Merchants' hotel of the same place. After the destruction by fire of this well known hostelry, his second experience of the kind while a resident of Menomonie, he went to Hudson and St. Croix county, and was there proprietor of the Chapin Hall House until 1895 when he retired from active business and returned to Ean Claire and made his home with his son, Frank R. Farr until his death which occurred October 20, 1902.
Mr. Farr was married in Tioga county, Pa., in 1861 to Miss Eleanor O. Thomas, to whom two children were born, Frank R., an attorney, and John F., a practicing physician, both of whom are prominent in their respective professions in Eau Claire. Mr. Farr was prominent in Masonic circles, was a Knights Templar and also a member of the Odd Fellows. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Farr, who is a member of the Rebeckah Lodge, has made her home with her son, Frank R., and enjoys the friendship and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances.
James M. Farrell, who has lived in Eau Claire county for thirty-one years, was born in the Dominion of Canada, where he
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received his education, and came to Eau Claire in 1883. Ile is the son of James and Mary Farrell. Soon after his arrival in Wis- consin, he engaged in general farming near Eau Claire, for a time, and later opened a meat market, which he successfully carried on for many years. In 1884 he married Miss Lillian M. Kempton, daughter of George and Sarah (Rollins) Kempton, of Eau Claire. They have two children : Sadie E., who was born in Montana, and Ora G., born in Eau Claire. Sadie married Paul M. Elder, of this eity, and they now reside in Idaho. Ora G. lives on a farm on Truax Prairie, where he is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.
The father of Mrs. Farrell, George Kempton, was born in Canada, where he married Sarah Rollins, to whom seven chil- dren were born, viz. : Orvilla M .. Edwin A., William A., Washing- ton I., Emily J., Lillian N. and Archie C. They were among the first settlers of Eau Claire county, loeating on Truax Prairie, where they followed farming. Mrs. Farrell has one brother, William A., now living on Truax Prairie, and also a farmer. He married Alice Ness, daughter of William Ness, of Eau Claire, and they have three children : Roy A .. Ila and Fred. Roy A. is mar- ried to Miss Frances M. Cole, of Truax Prairie.
Thomas F. Fennessy, well known as one of the substantial gro- cerymen of Eau Claire, was born in Ireland and when a young man in 1869 came to the United States and settled in Eau Claire, where he engaged in lumbering, a business he followed until 1887, when he opened a retail grocery store, in which line he has sinee followed with unusual success. Mr. Fennessy is a man who enjoys the confidence and esteen of all with whom he comes in contact, both in a business way and socially. He is unassuming in manner, but has a quiet consciousness of his own strength of character and latent force that has carried him past all diffi- eulties which he has encountered during his lifetime. He is a member of the Catholic Church and also of the Catholic Knights.
Mr. Fennessy was married in Eau Claire to Ellen Dwyer, by whom he has four children, viz .: Joseph F., who is married and lives at Great Falls, Montana ; Thomas F., of Chilliwack, B. C .; William F., married and living in Eau Claire, and Catherine, living at home with her parents.
Free N. Ferguson,* proprietor of the Fairchild Motor Com- pany garage and dealer in all kinds of automobiles, was born in the town of Otter Creek, Eau Claire county, November 23, 1878, and is the son of Charles W. and Jane (MeCoubry) Ferguson, natives of Canada and Ireland, respectively, and is descended
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from Scotch and Irish ancestry. The father came to Eau Claire county in the late fifties and was the first millwright employed by the Eau Claire Milling Company. He was a member of the logging firm of Ferguson & Waterbury for seven years, and then engaged in farming in the town of Otter Creek, having purchased 120 acres of land, on which he resided until his death in 1901 at the age of 65 years. Of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fer- guson, Lnella, the wife of Benjamin Dighton, Free N. and Roy C. are living. Ethel, who married E. II. Bennington, and Avis are both deceased.
Free N. Ferguson was raised on the farm and attended the country schools and remained on the farm until 1905, when he located at Fairchild and engaged in the farm implement business, which he carried on about two years, when he became road sales- man for gas engines and power equipment, in which he continued for five years, and since 1912 he has been engaged in his present business, and up to August 1, 1913 (when this sketch was ob- tained), he had disposed of twenty cars.
On November 18, 1905, he married Miss Ellen Johnson, daugh- ter of Sever Johnson, a native of Norway, and they have one son- Charles Wesley. Mr. Ferguson is a member of Osseo Lodge, No. 213, A. F. and A. M., and the United Commereial Men's Associa- tion. He was elected to the office of village clerk of Fairchild on the Republican ticket, and has since been re-elected and is one of the hustling young business men of Fairchild.
Roy C. Ferguson, D. D. S.,* a prominent dentist of Eau Claire county, with offices at Fairchild and Osseo, was born in Otter Creek township, Eau Claire county, October 23, 1880, the son of Charles W. and Jane (McConbry) Ferguson, the father a native of Canada and the mother of Ireland. In the late fifties the father came to Eau Claire county and was the first millwright employed by the Eau Claire Milling Company. Ile later engaged in logging on the Eau Claire river for seven years, as a member of the firm of Ferguson & Waterbury. He then settled on a farm in Otter Creek township, purchasing 120 acres of land, which he cultivated and improved and there made his home until his death in 1901, aged 65 years. His children were: Lnella, who married Benjamin Dighton; Ethel, deceased wife of E. H. Remington; Avis, de- ceased ; Free N. and Roy C.
The subject of this sketch, Roy C. Ferguson, was raised ou the home farm in Otter Creek, where he attended the district schools and assisted in the farm work. He subsequently attended the graded schools at Osseo and later entered the dental depart-
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ment of the Milwaukee College, from which institution he was graduated with honors in the class of 1907. The same year lie commenced the practice of his profession at Fairchild and later opened a branch office at Osseo. The doctor is thoroughly up to date in all lines of dental work, and has built up a lucrative prac- tice, which is constantly increasing. He married, November 27, 1910, Miss Blanche, daughter of Dr. Ever A. and Elizabeth (Ballon) Olson, of Osseo, Wis., and has one son, Marlin Nevil. The doctor is a prominent member of Osseo Lodge, No. 213, Free and Accepted Masons, and in polities affiliates with the Repub- liean party.
Charles W. Fiske, business manager of the Eau Claire Press Company, publishers of the Eau Claire Leader and The Daily Telegram, was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, February 23, 1863, the son of Wilbur F. and Myra A. (Shaw) Fiske, natives of Otsego county, New York, and pioneers of the state of lowa. During the Civil War the father enlisted and served as a member of Company D in the 26th regiment of lowa volunteer infantry. He was wounded in the siege of Vicksburg and died in the hospital in 1863 from the effects of disease and wounds.
Charles W. grew to manhood in Iowa and after finishing in the public schools spent two years in the University of Wiscon- sin and then attended the I'nion College of Law, from which he graduated with the class of 1886. Hle came to Eau Claire in 1887 and entered the office of Judge William F. Bailey, serving four years as student and clerk. In 1892 he was appointed court re- porter by Judge Bailey and served in that capacity under Judges Bailey and O'Neil for fifteen years. He resigned the position in 1907 to become manager of The Daily Telegram, and in January, 1912, when the Telegram Publishing Company and the Leader Publishing Company were consolidated under the name of the Eau Claire Press Company he became business manager of the organization.
On November 22, 1894, Mr. Fiske married Miss Thekla, daugh- ter of Otto and Mary (Webster) von Schrader, of Ottumwa, Iowa, and they are the parents of one daughter-Dorothy.
Patrick Ignatius Fitzpatrick, the well-known and prosperous farmer of Brunswick township, is the son of John and Ellen (Maher) Fitzpatrick, and was born in the town of Brunswick, Eau Claire county, August 17, 1879. His father was born in County Tipperary. Ireland, in 1852, and came to the United States, landing in Boston, Mass., in the fall of 1868. For a short time he was employed at Portsmouth. N. H .. going from there to
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New York City, where he worked as a laborer in Central Park and later as a special policeman, remaining there until 1875, when he came West to Eau Claire county and located in Brunswick township, and for a few years was employed by Thomas Pendi- gast. In 1878 he purchased a farm of 80 acres and commenced farming on his own account. He has been successful, and by hard work and economy he has added to his original purchase until now his farm contains 240 acres of well improved land. IIe followed general farming and dairying up to a few years ago, when he retired, and the farm is now carried on by his son, Patrick.
For thirty-five years Mr. Fitzpatrick took an active interest, in all the affairs of his town; he served as school treasurer and held other minor school offices for thirty-five years; was overseer of roads and a member of the town board. Ile is a Democrat in politics and belongs to the Catholic church. In 1878 he married in Ean Claire Miss Ellen Maher, daughter of John Maher, of Tip- perary, Ireland, who was steward for William P. Perry, a justice of the peace and landlord of Dublin. Their children are: Patrick I .; Mary married James Kellogg, now deceased; Margaret, a teacher in the schools of Eau Claire; John is at home on the farm; Grace, and Ellen, a stenographer of Eau Claire.
Patrick Fitzpatrick, grandfather of our subject, married Mary Haden, and resided in Tipperary, where they followed farming. They were the parents of eleven children.
Patrick Ignatius was educated in the schools of Brunswick township and worked at home on the farm with his parents nearly all his life, and is now carrying on his father's farm of 240 acres, besides 80 acres of his own, and is one of the leading farmers and dairymen of the county. In all public affairs he takes a deep interest, and as a member of the State Highway Commission for Eau Claire is interested in the subject of good roads. He has served as town clerk of Brunswick for five years, has been chair- man of the town board for five years and a member of the county board. As one of the highway commissioners for the past two years he has been instrumental in having concrete bridges built in Brunswick, personally superintending their construction. He is an independent Democrat, a member of the Catholic church and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is also a Modern Wood- man and a Knight of Columbus. He also, with four others, started and incorporated in Eau Claire the Farmers' Co-operative Products Company, being its first trustee and president and a member of its board of directors for three years.
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John H. Fleming, senior member of the firm of Fleming & Son, funeral directors and embalmers, was born at Ballylanders, County Limerick, Ireland, March 27, 1850, and came to America in 1867, landing at New York City. From there he went to Port Huron, Mich., and took a position as clerk in a general store for his sister. In the fall of 1869 he came to Ean Claire and made it his permanent home. Here he entered the employ of the Northwestern Lumber Company and worked for them in the woods and river for twenty-one years, during the last ten of which he held the position of foreman.
Mr. Fleming has always taken a keen interest in public affairs and in 1890 he was nominated for sheriff of Ean Claire county on the Democratie ticket and his election followed. He proved himself a most capable sheriff and at the expiration of his term of office he entered into business as a funeral director. He took a practical course in embalming in Chicago and opened his busi- ness in 1893 at 409 Wisconsin street. Subsequently he associated his son, Thomas F., with him, and in the spring of 1912 they moved to their present location, 305 South Farwell street. Their establishment is the handsomest and most finely appointed and thoroughly equipped in Eau Claire county and is not surpassed anywhere. They have everything complete and np-to-date and carry a large stock of caskets and all accessories to their busi- ness. Both members of the firm are experts in their business, and they are recognized as the leading undertaking firm in Eau Claire and do the largest business.
Mr. Fleming has been an active Democrat all his life and has long been closely associated with the publie life of Eau Claire. Many times he has been honored with public trust, which he has discharged faithfully and well. In addition to the office of sheriff he has served as alderman fifteen years, is now chairman of the county board and supervisor for the second ward. No man in Eau Claire has given more of his time and energies to the public welfare than Mr. Fleming, and all good measures meet with his endorsement and support. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church, the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, the B. P. O. E. and the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Fleming has been twice married. His first wife was Libby Flattery, who died, leaving three children-Grace, Helen and Thomas F. Later he married Ellen Stevens, daughter of Thomas Stevens, of Erin Prairie, St. Croix county, Wis. Their children are: Irene and Eugene; Grace is the wife of William La Salle, a conductor on the Northern Pacific railway. They live
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in Duluth. All the others are single. Thomas F. is associated with his father in the firm of Fleming & Son, and is a courteous and capable business man, who gives his entire attention to their undertaking establishment.
Nathaniel C. Foster, one of the well-known business men of northwestern Wisconsin, a resident of Fairchild, Eau Claire county, was born in Owego, Tioga county, N. Y., June 6, 1834, and is descended from prominent New England ancestors, the son of Willard and Lovicea (Pickering) Foster. He attended the common schools of his native county and in 1854 came to Wis- consin and located at Fort Howard, now Green Bay. After his arrival there he worked for a short time in a saw mill, then pur- chased an interest in the mill and engaged in the lumber business on his own account, remaining there for some twenty-five years. In 1876 he moved to Fairchild and purchased large tracts of tim- ber land in Eau Claire and Clarke counties, the timber from this land furnishing the supply for his large mills at Fairchild. which were erected in 1877 at an outlay of $100,000. The plant had a capacity of 125,000 feet of timber daily, besides 14,000,000 shingles and 6,000,000 lath per season, and employed a force of 250 men. In July, 1891, his various interests were incorporated under the name of the N. C. Foster Lumber Company, with a fully paid-up capital of $500,000, N. C. Foster, president, and his two sons, E. J. Foster and G. A. Foster, vice-president, secretary and treas- urer, and continued in this business until 1906. The company also carried on a general merchandise business, which was later sold to the Farmers' Mutual Trading Company and which was in- corporated in 1903 with Mr. Foster president. He is also presi- dent of the Farmers' Co-operative Supply Company, located at Greenwood, Clark county, which has been in operation since 1898. He is also president of the First National Bank of Fair- child, of which he is the founder. This institution was estab- lished with a capital of $25,000; its assets are now $227,000 and its deposits #183,455, surplus $5,000.
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