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 70
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Frank C. received his education in the public schools and the Shafer & Stohl College, where he took a course in Latin and algebra classics. He was first employed as office boy by Dr. Barker; was employed as elevator boy by the Pioneer Furniture Company, and then for seven years was salesman for the Grand Union Tea Company. Ile then served three years as assistant civil engineer for the Omaha railroad, and for ten years was employed in a store at Chicago, where he learned the art of window dress- ing. He beeame proficient in that line and is well known among the business concerns in Chicago as one of the best window dress- ers in the business and has received many attractive offers to return to that field, but prefers to reside in the city of his birth. In September, 1912, he gave up his Chicago position and returned to Eau Claire. He rented a spacious store at 305 North Barstow street and embarked in the confectionery business and the manu- facture of ice cream. ITis business has been a success from the start, and he now practically controls the ice cream trade of the city. His store is one of the best furnished, with up-to-date fix- tures and extra fine soda fountain. He caters to the best trade and gives employment to nine people.
Mr. Gruber is one of the hustling young business men of Eau Claire and is well known for his honorable and upright dealings. IIe is a member of the Maceabees, the German Catholic Church
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and the I. T. I. Company. He is independent in politics and takes an active part in the eity's affairs. He has represented the first ward in the eity council five years, having been three times elected alderman without opposition.
On January 13, 1910, he married Emma Erlandson, daughter of Samuel and Clara (Johnson) Erlandson, of Ean Claire.
William Guthrie, retail sales manager of the John H. Kaiser Lumber Company, was born September 10, 1842, in Derry county, Ireland, the son of Samuel and Wray Guthrie, of Scotch-Irish descent, who spent their whole lives in Ireland, where the father followed the occupation of farming. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: William; Elizabeth; Nancy; Jane; Margarett, Sarah : Robert, who lives on the home farm; Samuel, of Union township, this county, and Isaac, who lives in New Zealand.
William grew to manhood in Ireland, was educated in the com- mon schools and worked on the farm with his parents. He mar- ried in 1867 and then for a number of years was employed in a lumber yard at Colerain, Ireland. The first Mrs. Guthrie died and he married the second time in Ireland, where he lived until 1880, when he went to Canada and there spent one year. In 1881 he came to Eau Claire and was first employed by the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company as retail salesman until 1912 and now is retail salesman for the John H. Kaiser Lumber Company, successors to the Daniel Shaw Company, having been connected with the one Inmber vard for thirty-three years in both the wholesale and retail branches.
The first Mrs. Guthrie was Sarah Ann Dougherty, who died in Ireland, leaving besides her husband four children, as follows : Catherine, who married Christ Rasmusen, a real estate dealer in Montana : Elizabeth, in Montana ; Samnel, a prosperous farmer of Union township, and John, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Superior, Wis. His second marriage was to Martha Baird, of Ireland, and they are the parents of two children- Marion Mabel and William B.
C. W. Hale,* who is another native born citizen of Eau Claire county, comes from Scotch and English stock, and is descended from old and prominent New England aneestors. His father, Charles H. Hale, was a son of Ebah Hale, grandfather of our subject, and was of English aneestry. He was born June 16, 1830, and died June 26, 1896, and was 66 years of age at the time of his death. During the Civil War, he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and served three years as a soldier in the Union Army. He had two brothers and two sisters, John, William, Esther and
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Eliza. John was also a soldier in the Civil War. and lost his life in the defense of his country. William Hale still survives and lives in the city of Eau Claire. The mother of C. W. Hale, whose maiden name was Mary Brown, daughter of Thadeus and Cenith (Nourse) Brown, and of Scotch descent, survives her hus- band and makes her home with her son, our subject, her only heir. The parents of Mr. Hale came from Waterford, Maine, to Wisconsin in 1855, and were among the honored pioneers of Eau Claire county, having settled here in 1856. The father who was a man of intelligence and highly respected in his community, took an active part in the transformation of Eau Claire county, and served at one time as a member of the town board.
C. W. Hale was born September 22, 1857. He was raised on the farm and educated in the country schools; has always lived in Eau Claire county and is one of its most highly respected citizens. He resides on his farm of 120 acres of highly cultivated and well improved land in section 7, Otto Creek township where he is successfully engaged in general farming. He married Miss Alice Richards, daughter of David Richards, of Augusta, and they have three daughters, Mary, Esther and Ruth.
Mr. Hale is a man of fine social qualities, generous, kind hearted, genial and popular in the circles in which he moves. He is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. and in polities is a Republican.
August Hansen, ** upholsterer and dealer in fine furniture in Eau Claire, was born at Neestved, Denmark, August 31, 1879, and is one of a family of ten children born to Christian and Marie Hansen, the latter now deceased. The father, who was born in Denmark, is now (1914) at the age of seventy years, successfully engaged in truck farming.
August received his education in the common schools of his home town and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to learn the upholsterer's trade. Becoming proficient in this line, he worked at upholstery in his native town until the fall of 1905, when he sailed for America on the steamship "Hellig Olaf." After landing in New York City he went direct to St. Panl, Minn., where he had two brothers, and there entered the employ of William French & Company, and later was associated with the firm of Youngbaner & Company, two of the largest furniture and upholstering houses in the Northwest. Severing his connection: with these concerns, he came to Eau Claire and for one year worked for George W. Turner. In the fall of 1908 he embarked in the upholstery business for himself at 91 Grand avenue west.
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Starting with a limited capital and being practically a stranger, it was nearly three months before he received his first order, upon which he made a small profit. From that time his business commenced to grow and finding more commodious quarters neces- sary, he, in 1911, moved to his present location at +13 Barstow street, where he carries a full line of draperies, tapestries, fine and unique pieces of furniture, and is now well known as one of Eau .Claire's successful business men, whose work in his line is the best to be obtained in the eity, catering to the best class of trade, and is considered one of the most progressive Danish people in Eau Claire. He is a member of Germania Lodge, No. 49. Knights of Pythias, the Danish Brotherhood of St. Paul and the Lutheran Church. He married Sigrid Braudrup, of Denmark, and they have three children-Erna, Margaret and Mildred Eleanor.
Louis John Hanson,* the well known hardware dealer of Eau Claire, was born in Cambridge, Dane county, this state, Novem- ber 5, 1860, of Norwegian parents. His father, who was born in Norway, eame to the United States when twenty-five years of age and first located at Edgerton, where he followed the business of merchant tailor, going thence to Cambridge. Augusta, Black River Falls, Merrillan Junction and to Menomonie, following his trade in each of these places, living retired at Menomonie for two years prior to his death. He married in Norway and they were the parents of three children : Jacob, a cigarmaker at Me- nomonie ; Martin, who is postmaster at Menomonie, and Louis J.
Educated in the public schools, Mr. Hanson went to work when fourteen years of age as chore boy in a hotel at Neilsville, after which he learned the tailor's trade of his father, remaining with him three years. This was not his chosen vocation, how- ever, and he went to work in the general store of Knapp, Stout & Company, as elerk, in Menomonie, remaining there two years, when he entered the employ of II. T. Cassity, as clerk, where he spent seven years. He then clerked for A. H. Johnson, of Me- nomonie, for sixteen years, and in 1902 came to Eau Claire and started in the hardware business, in which he is progressive and successful. He owns a small farm in the limits of Eau Claire, is a member of the Lutheran Church, the Odd Fellows, Masons, the Elks and Norsmen.
On February 27, 1882, Mr. Hanson married Mary E. Olson, daughter of Andrew Olson, of Wausau, Wis., and they are the parents of four children, viz. : Louis J., Jr., a high school graduate, in the store with his father, married Iva Bradshaw ; Ruth, Carlile and Agnes.
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The hardware store of L. J. Hanson was started in 1902 by Mr. Ilanson at his present location-442 Water street. He owns the building, 22x122 feet, and earries a general line of hardware, stoves, ranges, oils, varnish, tools and entlery.
James Harden,* the popular assessor and well-to-do farmer of Bridge Creek township, was born on a farm in St. Lawrence county, New York, December 2, 1852, the son of Daniel Harden, a representative and highly respected citizen of that county. Mr. Harden spent his boyhood days on the farm in New York state, attended the district schools and assisted in the farm work. At the age of fifteen years in 1867, he came to Wiseonsin and Eau Claire county, where he has since made his home. In 1880 he was married to Miss Caroline Noble, a daughter of one of the pioneer families of Eau Claire, and they have two sons, Ralph and Alton.
Mr. Harden resides on his well improved farm of 160 aeres which is located in section 28, Bridge Creek township, where he, assisted by his son Ralph, carries on general farming and stock raising. Ile is one of the high minded, prosperous farmers of his town, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his county. A Republican in politics, he is active in the councils of his party and has been honored by the citizens of his town with election to the office of assessor, a position he has held for four years. Fraternally, he is prominent in the circles of Masonry and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
William P. Hart, member of the Wisconsin Athletic Commis- sion, the first in the state, was born in Eau Claire, January 11, 1874, the son of Peter and Mary (Hogan) Hart, natives of St. Lawrence county, New York, and New Castle, England, respect- ively. They were married in Iowa and came to Eau Claire in the early '60s, where for several years he acted as pilot on lumber . rafts. Ile later embarked in the hotel business with Simon Ran- dall, they together condueting the American House, which stood on the present site of the Y. M. C. A. building, until it was de- stroyed by fire in the late '70s. Ile then engaged in the fuel busi- ness and held the office of deupty sheriff two terms, and sheriff of the county one term, after which he erected the Hart House, also on the present site of the Y. M. C. A. building, which he eon- ducted successfully until his death, which occurred April 11, 1900, at the age of 59 years. llis wife, mother of our subject, survived him ten years, and died in April, 1910, also aged 59 years. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Jennie, Peter F., Charles. William P., Jessie, wife of Ray Boyington, and George.
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Mr. Hart, the subject of this sketeh, was reared in the city of Eau Claire, receiving his education in the publie schools. He began life as a clerk, which voeation he has sinee followed, being associated with one coneern since 1906. He married, July 6, 1898. Miss Lillian, daughter of William and Lney (Carden) Eldridge, natives of London, England, and pioneer settlers of Eau Claire. Mr. Ilart is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Sinee boyhood Mr. Hart has been active in athleties and for a good many years interested in promoting all kinds of athletic sports. In Angust, 1913, he was appointed a member of the State Athletic Commission, under the Hedding boxing bill. He was the promoter of the first field day ever staged in Eau Claire; also the first World's Championship Log Rolling Tournament ever held in Eau Claire, which took place Labor Day, September 7, 1914. It was the greatest log rolling tournament ever staged. He served one term as city alderman from the Ninth Ward.
Thomas G. Haygard, D. C.,* the pioneer chiropractor of Ean Claire, the new method of analyzing the symptoms of and adjust- ing the physical eause of disease without medicine, surgery or osteopathy. Ile was born in Norway, January 27, 1891, the son of Lars and Karoline (Tonnessen) Torkildson. He was reared in Norway, receiving his edueation in the public schools. Ile took the family name of Haygard and taught for a time in the sehools of Christianson, and in May, 1910, eame to the United States and commenced the study of the English language in Brooklyn, N. Y. In December, 1911, he entered the Palmer School of Chiropraetic at Davenport, Iowa, the chiropractic fountain head, and after two years of study was graduated March 28, 1913, and in May of the same year began the practice of his profession at Spring Valley, Minn., where he remained until February 1, 1914, when he eame to Eau Claire. He is now, 1914, building up a good practice and has one assistant, J. C. Knudson, who has charge of the office while the doctor looks after his many outside patients.
E. Walter Heiss,* secretary and manager of the Chippewa Val- ley Casualty Company, was born in Aurora, Ill., September 15, 1862. His parents were Elam W. and Margaret (Seneenbaugh) Heiss, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneer settlers of Indiana. His father, who was a school and music teacher by profession, enlisted in the 54th Indiana Volunteer infantry for service during the Civil War, died at Corinth, Miss., while marching south with his regiment in 1862. Ilis family consisted of four sons : John W .; Albert ; Samuel, and E. Walter, the subject of this brief sketeh, who was reared in Illinois, receiving his education in the common
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HISTORY OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
schools. He began life on a farm, was later clerk in a dry goods store in Aurora, Ill., and from that to the wholesale dry goods business in Chicago, where he was connected with the well known firm of Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company for nineteen years, fif- teen years of which time were spent on the road as traveling salesman. Eau Claire being one of his central points, he made that city his headquarters in 1891 and has since made it his home. In 1902 he became secretary and manager of the Chippewa Valley Casualty Company, a position he has since filled.
On June 20, 1894, Mr. Heiss was united in marriage with Miss Margaret, daughter of Pierce and Mary (Galvin) Joyce, of Eau Claire, and natives of Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs. Heiss have been born two children-Dorothy and Margaret. Mr. Heiss is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and enjoys the friendship of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Herman G. Helstrom, secretary of the Eau Claire Cornice & lleating Company, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, August 1, 1881, the only son of Herman O. and Stella ( Wendla) Helstrom. When our subject was seven years of age, in 1888, his parents came to the United States and located in Eau Claire, where the father, a moulder by trade, found employment. He followed that occupation until 1902, when he engaged as a contractor in the cement and concrete business, in which he still continues.
Herman G. was reared in Eau Claire, obtaining his education in the public schools. He began his business career as bookkeeper and collector for the firm of the Madison Street Manufacturing Company, general contractors, and the Eau Claire Cornice & Heating Company, becoming a member of the last named firm in 1905, and has since been its secretary.
On June 28, 1910, he married Miss Grace, daughter of David De Mars, of Chippewa Falls, and has one son, Robert Wayne, and one daughter, Dorothy Ann. Mr. Helstrom is a member of Ger- mania Lodge, No. 49, Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Eau Claire Lodge, No. 407, the Independent Order of Foresters, No. 907, and is a lieutenant on the staff of Col. R. A. Richards, of the Third Regiment, Wisconsin National Guards, and is president of the State Association of Master Plumbers.
Thomas J. Hill,* veteran of the Civil War and one of the old time settlers of Eau Claire, was born in New Brunswick, August 21, 1840. When eighteen years of age, in 1858, he came to Eau Claire and soon thereafter engaged in lumbering, a business he has since followed nearly all his life. During the Civil War he
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enlisted and served two years and two months and claims to have had the honor of carrying "Old Abe," the famous war eagle, which went out with the Eau Claire Badgers, the first company formed in this county. Mr. Hill has always been active in public affairs and at one time served the city of Eau Claire as street com- missioner for three years.
John IIill, father of Thomas J. and former resident of this city, married Ann Brunswiek and they were the parents of the following children : Thomas J., W. A., John F., and Ann J. Mr. Hill enlisted during the Civil War in Company K, 36th Wiscon- sin Volunteer infantry, and was killed at the battle of Cold Ilarbor, June 16, 1864. His wife, mother of our subject, survived until 1872, when she too passed away in the town of Badger's Mills. Thomas J. Hill has been twiee married. Ilis first wife was Lue Barton, of Eau Claire, by whom he had two children, named Elenor M. and John M. For his second wife, Mr. Hill married Kate M. Shaw, and to this union one daughter, Cora L., who is now deceased, was born. Mr. Hill is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which he joined in 1881. He is also a mem- ber of the Sons of Veterans and a regular attendant of the Pres- byterian Church, and makes his home at the Hotel Burkhart.
Edward B. Hilsteadt,* electrician and stationary engineer of Eau Claire, is the son of Olaas and Gertrude (Yelmo) Hilsteadt, natives of Christiania and Bergen, Norway. They were married in the state of New York in the middle fifties and came to Wisconsin, locating in St. Croix county. and were numbered among the pioneers of that section. He followed milling and farming there until 1870, then moved with his family to Clay county, Minnesota, where he farmed until his death, January 7, 1873. During the last year of the civil war he enlisted for service in the Union army, but after reaching St. Louis the war was de- elared over and he returned home without seeing service. IIe was the father of five children, as follows: Betsey married James W. Hill; Edward B .; Caroline married Andrew Vogland; Chris- tiana married Thomas Conlon, and Louis, deceased.
Edward B. Hilsteadt was born in St. Croix county. Wiscon- sin, October 8, 1863; he was reared in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Dakota, and attended the publie schools; served four years' ap- prenticeship as machinist and mechanical engineer in Minne- apolis, Minn., and has since followed that vocation in various shops of the country, and since 1909 has been electrician and engineer for the Eau Claire high school. Previous to this he spent three years in the employ of the MeDonough Manufactur-
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HISTORY OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
ing Company and one year with the Northwestern Steel & Iron Company, and has been a resident of Eau Claire since 1904.
Ile married in 1889 Miss Nettie Green, daughter of Erastus and Antoinette (Eads) Green, of Minneapolis, and they had three children : Jennie ; Clara married Rufus Hall : and Benjamin. Ilis present wife, whom he married at Downsville, Dunn county. Wis .. was Nellie Stultz, daughter of Jacob Stultz, and they have three children, viz: Elizabeth, Dorothy and Mary. Mr. Ililsteadt is a member of the Episcopal church, and fraternally is a member of Eau Claire Lodge, No. 112, A. F. & A. M., the Beavers and the Fraternal Reserves.
George Hilts, a progressive and successful business man of Augusta, whose forefathers were originally residents of Penn- sylvania. was born in Canada, November 16, 1832, the son of Joseph P. and Sarah (Johnson) Hilts, who were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are now deceased except Mr. Ililts and two sisters. The father died at the age of 70 years, and the mother passed away at the age of 64.
Mr. Hilts received his education in the common schools of his native town and remained in Canada until 1866. He came direct to Eau Claire county in that year and entered the employ of the Porter & Moon Lumber Company, of which concern . he was manager for four years. He next engaged with the Eau Claire Lumber Company. He was in Eau Claire seven years, from 1867 to 1874, when he went on his farm and remained there until 1883, when he eame to Augusta and purchased the plan- ing mill then owned by J. L. Ball, and has since been in the con- stant and snecessful operation of this, one of Angusta's largest in- dustrial institutions. Of late years his son, George, Jr., has been associated with him, and they are now doing a large and pros- perons business. He retired from business February 2. 1914.
In 1862 Mr. Ililts was married to Miss Louise Headly, a native of Canada, and they are the parents of five children, two of whom are living, Frank and George; the latter is engaged in business with his father. Those deceased are Archie, who died at the age of 3 years: Anna Louise, deceased wife of S. E. Bennett, now of Idaho, and Ella, the deceased wife of N. Marte, who resides in Chicago. A Republican in political views, Mr. Hilts has taken an active interest in the affairs of his party ; has been a member of the eonnty board, and has filled many other local offices. He is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Methodist church, and is an influential and public-spirited citizen.
Joseph Hobbs, one of the early and substantial settlers of
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Eau Claire, is a native of England and was born at St. Peters, East Kent, July 9, 1836. His parents, Henry A. and Mary Ann (Hills) Hobbs died when our subject was but six years of age. Thrown upon his own resources early in life, he attended the Dover school until he reached the age of thirteen, when he be- came fascinated with the life of a sailor and went to sea. His first voyage was from London to Calcutta. India, and on his re- turn trip the vessel touched at Cape Town and the Island of St. Helena. His second voyage was to Calcutta, touching at the Island of Maderia and Cape Town. He sailed from Caleutta to Madrid, along the coast of Malibora, through the China sea where the ship was wrecked. After being on the water in open boat for three days, he, with a few others, was picked up by a passing ship and taken to Hong Kong. China. From there he sailed to India with a cargo of bullion in company with a man- of-war. The vessel and convoy were attacked by pirates in the Straits of Malacca, but they arrived safely at Calentta. He sailed from there to Boston, Massachusetts, thence around Cape Horn to San Francisco, California, and along the coast to the mouth of the Columbia river to Puget Sound. He returned to San Francisco and sailed southward touching at Peru, Bolivia and Valparaiso, Chili, and around the Horn to Liverpool, Eng- land, where he arrived in 1855. Remaining here a short time, he again sailed, going this time to Melbourne, Australia. Return- ing to England, he visited his native village where he found his brother and family about to sail for America, and decided to accompany them. They arrived safely in New York and having spent six years on the water, Mr. Hobbs decided to come west with his brother.
He came to Wisconsin and first located in Green Lake county where he lived until the Spring of 1861, when he came to Eau Claire county and purchased a farm of 120 acres of land in Wash- ington township, to which he subsequently added until he owned 320 acres. Here he successfully engaged in farming. and for many years has been numbered among the most influential and highly respected citizens of the community.
On December 25, 1860. Mr. Ilobbs married Jane Wilson, daughter of Peter and Tabitha Wilson. To this union were born eight children, as follows : Henry A., Tabitha E., Frank W .. Mary E., Ann M., Daniel N., Edwin A. and Laura. While Mr. Hobbs has never held nor sought political office, he has affiliated with the Republican party and in religions matters, both he and Mrs. IIobbs are members of the Baptist church of Eau Claire.
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