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 83
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HERMAN SCHLEGELMILCH
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the supervisors when the community was a little village. He died in the year 1903, and his name will always hold an honored place in the archives of the Old Settlers' Association of Eau Claire, an organization that is of the highest credit to the people of the city and county.
Herman F. Schlegelmilch, son of Herman and Augusta (Krueger) Schlegelmilch, was born in the city of Eau Claire, September 28, 1867, and has lived in this city all his life. He received his early education in the local schools and then be- came associated in business with his father, who was for many years the leading hardware merchant of Eau Claire. Subse- quently Herman F. Schlegelmilch went into the hardware busi- ness for himself and was engaged in that line for about twenty twenty years altogether.
In 1909 he became interested in the Union Mortgage Loan Company, of which he is president and a member of the board of directors. He is one of the property owners of the city.
Mr. Schlegelmilch has never taken any active part in politics and is no partisan, believing that the selection of good men for public office shows better citizenship than blind adherence to any party. Ile is thoroughly a business man and a most suc- cessful one, enjoying the confidence of the substantial men of the city and respected by all. He takes a warm interest in the wel- fare of the city of Eau Claire and for five years held a seat on the board of education. He also served for some time as a mem- ber of the associated charities board. He is spoken of as a broad- minded man, liberal not only in his views but in his support of all worthy enterprises, and is regarded as one of the most capa- ble business men of the city. His fraternal organization is the Masonic.
Mr. Schlegelmilch married Miss Kate Chadwick and they have two daughters, Catherine and Edith.
John Schneider, a prominent and substantial German farmer of Union township, Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, was born in Sarbruch, Germany, June 20, 1843. His parents, Nick and Cath- erine (Leich) Schneider, emigrated to the United States in 1853 and settled in Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, on a farm which the father cleared and improved and where he lived until his death at the age of 58 years. His wife, mother of John, also died there at the age of 60 years.
Arriving in Ozaukee county with his parents when ten years of age, John was reared on the farm, attended the district schools and assisted in the farm work, and has ever since followed the
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occupation of a farmer. In 1894 he came to Eau Claire county and purchased the farm of 160 acres in the town of Union, 120 acres of which he still owns and has under a good state of cultiva- tion, well improved with a substantial residence and outbuild- ings, all put there by Mr. Schneider, who in his farming opera- tions uses the latest methods and keeps his place well stocked with up-to-date machinery, good horses, cattle and hogs.
Mr. Schneider married, February 11, 1864, Miss Susan. daugh- ter of Nicholas and Catherine (Wolf) Watry, pioneer settlers of Belgium, Ozaukee county, Wis., and natives of Luxemburg, Ger- many, and are the parents of sixteen children. Their children are: Nicholas; John, who lost his life at the age of twelve years in a threshing machine; Lizzie, wife of E. P. Neuens; Mary, the wife of Otto Schmid; Thomas; William; Peter; Margaret, wife of Carl Schmid; Daisy, deceased wife of Carl Schmid; John P .; John; Joseph; Rosa; Susan, wife of Frank Bowers; Aloysius, and George. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are devoted members of the Sacred Heart Catholic church of Eau Claire.
Mr. Schneider was a soldier in the civil war, having enlisted in the Fifty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served about four months, and was honorably dis- charged at the close of the war. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Schneider has never sought office, but takes a lively interest in the affairs of his county and state.
On February 11, 1914, Mr. and Mrs. Schneider celebrated their golden wedding at the Sacred Heart church and school of Eau Claire, at which event all of their fourteen living children were present with their families. There were twenty grand- children, of which two are twins, sons of Susan Bowers, and one great grandchild, Miss Harriet Schneider, aged two years, daugh- ter of Thomas Schneider, Jr., of Milwaukee.
William H. Schulz. If one were called upon to name the half- dozen school men in Wisconsin who have the clearest insight into the philosophy and the pedagogy of education as they apply to the elementary and high school, he would name as one of the six Superintendent William H. Schulz, of Eau Claire. Mr. Schulz' type of mind qualifies him for painstaking and systematie study. With this ability he combines the practical skill which applies theoretical conclusions to everyday problems of school life.
The courses of study which are in operation in Eau Claire are unsurpassed in the state. In addition to his practical work as educator Mr. Schulz is the author of a number of essays, stories
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and poems. He also ranks among the authorities of the state on Indian myths and legends.
Superintendent Schulz has reached his present eminenee in education in Wisconsin by slow degrees. He is a native of Wis- consin and of Sank county, where he was born July 22, 1858. He got his education in the rural schools of his native county, the high school at Baraboo and the University of Wisconsin.
He began his career as teacher in the rural schools of Sank eounty. He was successively assistant principal in the high school at Spring Green, principal of the high school at Argyle, county superintendent of Sauk county, principal of a state graded sehool at Ableman, principal of high school at Spring Green, principal of the high sehool at Sauk City, superintendent of eity sehools at Merrill, and he is at present superintendent of schools at Eau Claire. Under his supervision are 12 schools, 130 teachers and about 4.000 pupils.
He is a member of the Northwestern Wiseonsin Teachers' As- sociation, the Wisconsin Teachers' Association and of the Na- tional Education Association. He was married in 1885 to Miss Emeline 11. Nold. He has two children, Alvina and Henry. Alvina is in her senior year at normal sehool, and Henry is a graduate of the Stevens Point Normal and the University of Florida.
Charles W. Scott,* one of the pioneers of Ean Claire county and a resident of Seott's Valley, to which place he came over half a century ago, and still remains, one of its most active, en- terprising, highly respected and altogether valuable citizens. Mr. Scott was born in Jefferson county, this state, June 17, 1849, the son of Robert E. and Helen (Moore) Seott, natives of Scotland. The parents eame to the United States from near Edinburgh, Scot- land, and first located in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, from whence they came to Eau Claire eounty, and settled five miles west of where the city of Augusta is now located, in what has become known as Seott's Valley. the same having been named after the Scott family. Robert E. Scott, our subject's father, was by occu- pation a farmer, and by reputation a good, loyal citizen, and a man of most exemplary habits. He was well educated and before coming to the United States was eashier of a bank at Roxbury- shire, Scotland. He held numerous local offices, and took a com- mendable interest in all publie matters. Ile was a member of the Baptist church, and at the time of his death. which oeeurred on June 9, 1895, at the age of 75 years, Eau Claire county lost one of her most substantial and representative men. Helen. Moore
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Seott, mother of our subject, who was a lady of rare womanly graces and domestie virtues, passed away October 1, 1875, at the age of 75 years.
Charles W. Seott received a limited education in the distriet schools, was reared on the homestead farm, has spent his whole life in farming, and belongs to that elass of men who have had part in transforming the county from its wild state to a populous community of rich, fertile and beautiful farms. Ile owns 690 acres of land under a good state of cultivation and well improved with substantial buildings, and is one of the most progressive and publie spirited farmers in the county. A Republican in polities, he takes an active interest in the affairs of his party, and has held many local offices. IIe has one brother, John M. Seott.
In 1871 Mr. Seott married Miss Emily Shephard, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Fowler) Shephard, of Debonshire, Eng- land. Her parents came from New York state and settled at Sagett's Harbor about 1846. There were four children in the family. Those besides Mrs. Scott are Frank A., W. R. and Isa- bella, wife of Webster Smith, of Eau Claire county.
Martin Severson, who for thirty-one years was in the employ of the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, of Ean Claire, eighteen years of which time he acted as foreman, was born in Frederiek- stad, Norway, April 20, 1859, son of Sever and Helen (Janson) Anderson. The father eame to the United States in 1888 and lo- eated at Eau Claire, where he died in 1889, at the age of about 52 years. He was twice married, first to Helen Janson, and they had five children, viz: Martin; Hannah, who is the wife of Oluf Olson ; Genne, wife of Anton Johnson; Axel, and Helga, who was the wife of Barland. ITis second wife was Anna Berg- strom, and they had three sons, John, Gust and Anton.
Martin Severson, our subject, grew to manhood in Norway, receiving his education in the public schools. Upon reaching his majority in 1880 he emigrated to the United States and soon after his arrival in this country located at Eau Claire and entered the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company, with whom he remained for three years. He went from there to the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, with whom he remained for thirty-one years, as above stated.
Mr. Severson has been married three times. Ile first married Sine Torgeson, of Eau Claire, and they were the parents of three children, viz: Minnie, who is the wife of IIerman Voss, Elmer and Carl. He married for his second wife Mrs. Thora Erickson, and his last marriage was to Mrs. Tena Johnson. Mr. Severson
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is prominently identified in social circles, being a member of Odin Lodge, No. 43, Knights of Pythias; the Equitable Fraternal Union, Sons of Norway and the A. O. F. He has always taken a commendable interest in publie matters and for fifteen years, up to the time of the new commission form of government was established in Eau Claire, he represented the fourth ward in the City Council, was president of the Couneil one term, and has the honor of holding the longest eonseentive term of any alder- man in Eau Claire.
Arthur Mott Sherman, retired lumberman and farmer of Eau Claire, Wis., was born in Wirt, Allegany county, N. Y., May 30, 1834, the son of Samuel and Malinda (Stanton) Sherman. His paternal grandfather, Peleg Sherman, a native of Washington eounty, New York, was a pioneer of Allegany county, that state, where he followed the vocation of farmer and miller. He died in Wirt, that county, at the age of 86 years. Ile was a soldier in the war of 1812 and fought in the battle of Plattsburg. IIe mar- ried Hannah Willett, who lived to the ripe old age of 90 years. Of their family five children grew to maturity, Samuel. Ruth, Eliza, Harriet and Ann Maria. Benjamin Stanton, maternal grandfather of Captain Sherman, was a pioneer farmer of Onon- dago county, New York. Samuel Sherman, father of our sub- jeet, was born in Washington county, New York, in 1804. He was among the early settlers of Allegany county and one of its foremost citizens. Ile built the first oil mill and ashery there, wooded the first plow in Wirt, brought the first cook stove to the town, built eight saw mills in the county, the last one being erected at the headwaters of the Allegheny river. The machinery nsed in this mill was later shipped to Eau Claire, Wis., on a raft constructed of lumber of its own sawing, by way of the Allegheny and Ohio to Cairo, thence up the Mississippi and Chippewa rivers in 1860 by boat to Eau Claire. The eivil war broke out and the machinery remained on the banks of the Chippewa until 1863, when it was brought to the Dells and set up by him and his son, Sidney, who sold his interest in 1865 to Elam Burdick. After the elose of the war Samnel Sherman lived for twelve years at Peters- burg, Va., and then returned to Eau Claire, where he resided until his death in 1897. The children of Samuel Sherman were Hannah, who married Thomas Baner; Huldah married Thomas Kenyon; Arthur M., Sidney, Mark H. and Stanton.
Captain Sherman was edneated at Alfred and Riehburgh academies in New York, learned the trade of locomotive engineer at Dunkirk, N. Y., and followed that vocation in various sec-
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tions of the country until 1854. In 1855 he went to California via Panama and engaged in gold mining in Calveras county, and there erected quartz machinery. In June, 1857, he eame to Eau Claire, and with his brother, Sidney, engaged in the lumber busi- ness. When the civil war broke out he was engineer on the steamboat Stella Whipple. Resigning this position, he raised a company and went to Milwaukee and was there made captain of Company L, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, under Colonel C. C. Washburn. This company was raised in the fall of 1861 and took part in the battles of Ozark Mountain, Batesville, Bayou ('ach, Helena, Clarendon and other skirmishes around Memphis. It also participated in the Grearson raid and in the capture of Vicksburg. Captain Sherman was mustered out of the service at Vicksburg in the fall of 1864 and returned to Eau Claire and purchased his father's interest in the saw mill which he later sold to O. H. Ingram, after which he engaged in logging and farming for twenty years. IIe eleared and improved three farms, the Oak Grove farm of 80 aeres in the town of Union, the Clover- dale farm of 360 acres in the Town of Union, and Lake View farm of 240 acres, the latter being located in Dunn county. He was extensively engaged in breeding heavy draft horses and trotters (he raised Bell Ure and Stet Brino), Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs.
In public affairs Captain Sherman is no less active and in- fluential than as a business man in advancing the interests of the city and county. Believing it to be the duty of every citizen to contribute to the extent of his ability to the good government of the county in which he lives, and believing also that good government is a matter of the greatest importance, he has taken the time from his personal affairs to serve one term as sheriff of the county and also one term as undersheriff. Ile served as chief of police and chief of the fire department of Eau Claire and was instrumental in uniforming the police department.
Captain Sherman was married in Memphis, Tenn., June 1, 1863, to Antoinette Stetson, daughter of Samuel and Almira (Maxon) Stetson, of Allegany county New York, and by special order of General IIulburt, his wife was allowed to accompany him on the Vicksburg campaign. Captain and Mrs. Sherman have three children living: Arthur S. enlisted and got his death knell in the Spanish war at Porto Rico; Hallie, wife of Arthur Miller; Belle, wife of John Ure, and Fannie, wife of James G. Radebaugh.
Captain Sherman takes a lively interest in Grand Army mat-
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ters and is a member of Eagle Post, No. 52, G. A. R .. of Eau Claire.
Oluf Sherman, one of the wideawake and popular jewelers of Eau Claire, was born in Waupaca, this state, July 4, 1869. His parents, Oluf and Juliane (Hasler) Sherman, who were born re- spectively in Solor and Skein, Norway, emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1869. After arriving in this country they came to Wisconsin and settled at Waupaca, where the father, a shoemaker by trade, followed that vocation until 1874, when he brought his family to Eau Claire and for fourteen years was en- gaged in business for himself. In 1888 he entered the employ of the A. A. Cutter Shoe Manufacturing Company, in whose em- ploy he has since remained. Mr. and Mrs, Sherman raised a fam- ily of four children, as follows: Maurice, Oluf, Adolph and Julia, who is now deceased.
Oluf Sherman came to Eau Claire with his parents when he was 5 years old and has grown up with the city, receiving his edneation in the third ward publie school. In 1885 he began his apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade with G. F. Duncan, of this city, serving altogether five years. He later entered the employ of John Holt, with whom he remained for nine years. In 1898 he embarked in business for himself on South Barstow street, in which he has sinee suceessfully continued.
On December 20, 1890, Mr. Sherman married Miss Matilda, daughter of Berger and Maria Semmingsen, of Strum, Trem- pealeau county, Wis., and formerly of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have an interesting family of eight living children, viz: Oliver, Irvin, Bert, Vietor, Irma, Hazel, Gordon and Sylvia. Mr. Sherman is a member of Grace Lutheran church, the Mystic Workers of the World and the I. S. W. A., and politically is a Republican.
Richard D. Shipman,* a prominent man of business in Fair- child, was born at Neillsville, in Clark county, Wisconsin. June 3, 1872, a son of Shulan and Lydia (Savage) Shipman, the father was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Nova Scotia, who settled in Trempealeau county, this state, about 1879, on a farm of 80 acres, in the town of Sumner, which they eleared and im- proved, and where they still reside. They reared a family of three children: Franees, wife of Bert Wilson; Richard D. and Monroe J.
Richard D. was raised in this state and educated in the com- mon schools. He hegan early in life as a laborer in the lumber eamps, and later was a section hand on the Mondovi branch of
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the Omaha Railroad. In 1894 he embarked in the butcher busi- ness at Osseo, Wisconsin, and conducted a thriving meat market there for about ten years. In 1905 he moved to Fairebild and associated himself with Mr. A. Smith in the meat business under the firm name of Smith & Shipman, in which he has since success- fully continued. Ile conducts an up-to-date market, and also is an extensive buyer and shipper of live stock for the Chicago market, in addition to which he makes a specialty of dealing in milch cows.
On May 15, 1892, Mr. Shipman was married to Miss Eliza Jennie, daughter of James and Mary (Wood) Curry, of Postville, Iowa, and they have two children, Cleo O. and Richard D. Jr.
Mr. Shipman is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 213, and the Modern Woodmen of America, both of Osseo. He is a Re- publican in politics, and has served six years as a member of the board of trustees of the village of Fairchild. He is a man of good judgment and well liked for his business ability and square dealing.
Frank A. Shute, a popular merchant of Altoona, Wis., was born in Monroe county, January 17, 1864. His father, Benjamin Shute, was a native of Nuneton county, Warwickshire, England. while his mother, Jane (Gillan) Shute, came from the North of Ireland. They were pioneers of this state and lived in LaCrosse. Monroe and Eau Claire counties. He was a railroad man by oc- enpation and superintended the construction of all bridges and buildings for the Omaha division of the Chicago, St. Paul, Min- neapolis & Omaha railroad. In 1882 he located in Eau Claire, where he resided until his death in 1896, at the age of 72 years. Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shute, Sophia married George B. Robinson; John; Sarah and Edgar are deceased; Marion married A. D. Brewer; Emily married E. W. Pond, and Frank A .. the subject of this sketch.
Frank A. was raised on a farm in Monroe county until he reached the age of 18, and was educated in the common schools and Tomah high school. In 1882 he entered the employ of the Omaha Railroad Company as bridge builder, and was later in the grocery business for two years in Eau Claire, then again took a position with the same railroad company, with whom he re- mained until 1901, employed as carpenter, fireman, round-house despatcher, etc. Ile has been a resident of Altoona since 1896, and has been engaged in his present business since 1901.
In 1896, on June 17, he married Miss Mabel, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Stallard, of Humbird. Wis.
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Mr. and Mrs. Shute are attendants and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Shute is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Foresters, and has served as alderman and treasurer of Altoona. He is a well-informed man and highly es- teemed by a host of friends.
Charles A. Singel, treasurer of Eau Claire county, was born in the eity of Eau Claire, March 17, 1884, the son of Charles B. and Eva Singel, both natives of Germany, and who eame to the United States early in the 50's, going first to St. Louis. After a short sojourn there they moved to Durand, in Pepin county, from whence they moved to Eau Claire, where they have since re- sided. The grandfather of our subject was Carl B. Zengle, the name being changed to Singel by our subject.
Charles A. received his education in the German Catholie schools of Eau Claire. After leaving school he was first em- ployed for six and one-half years by the Pioneer Furniture Company. Hle then entered the employ of the Chicago. St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha railway, now a part of the Northwestern system. as brakeman. After five years' service, while making a coupling he was accidentally injured, losing his left arm on Sep- tember 5. 1908. After his recovery from the accident he was employed for four years as collector for the law firm of W. II. & T. F. Frawley, and on November 4, 1912, he was elected treas- urer of the county, succeeding Hans Lund, and in the primary election September 1, 1914, he was renominated for the same office.
Mr. Singel is a man of genial, social temperament, and enjoys the friendship and confidenee of the residents of Eau Claire. and is filling his responsible position to the satisfaction of the community in general.
Erick Skamser," one of the old settlers of Eau Claire. where he has resided for nearly half a century, thirty-three years of which time he has devoted to the hotel business, is a native of Norway, and was born February 11. 1857. When twelve years of age, in 1869, he came to Eau Claire, and while still quite young he started in the Inmbering business, which he followed for about eleven years. After severing his connection with the lumbering industry he entered the employ of the Phoenix Manufacturing Company, remaining with them for two years. He then em- barked in the hotel business, in which he has since continued and is still successfully engaged.
Ilis parents, both of whom are now deceased, were Eriek and Bract (Saker) Skamser, who were the parents of twelve ehildren,
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as follows: Sever, Loss, Louis, Christ, Edward, Alif, Erick (the subject of this sketch), George, Leona, Thayer, Thomas and Otto. Mr. Skamser is a thrifty, progressive and up-to-date hotel man. and is one of the prosperous citizens of the city who is in sympa- thy with any movement tending to the betterment of his com- munity. He is a member of the Sons of Norway and of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church.
Ile was married to Miss Sarah Olson, daughter of Abraham Olson, of Eau Claire, and they are the parents of four children, viz: Erick, Archie, Leonard and Esta Skamser.
John M. Slagsvol, successful business man of Eau Claire and son of Thorvol Slagsvol, is a native son of Eau Claire and was born February 13, 1882. He has spent his entire life in this city, receiving his education in the public schools. He embarked in the mercantile business in early life, and for thirteen years has been connected with the Samuelson store, one of the finest and up-to-date dry goods stores in northwestern Wisconsin. of which he is now vice-president and treasurer.
Mr. Slagsvol married Miss Margaret Kelley, daughter of Capt. John Kelley, of Eau Claire, in 1908. He is prominent in business as well as in social circles and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Thorvol Slagsvol is one of the wideawake, popular and pro- gressive business men of Eau Claire, where he has been a resi- dent for forty-three years. A son of Norway, he was born in Modum, Christiania Stift, October 12, 1843, and came to Eau Claire in 1871 and for a time was employed by Knap, Stout & Co., and for twenty years following his arrival in Eau Claire he was engaged in the timber business, and in 1891 he started in the buy- ing and selling of real estate, a business which he still continues, and at this time is an extensive dealer in western Canada lands. The success he has attained in his business ventures is the result of his straightforward, npright and manly methods and his per- severing industry.
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