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 85
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On June 11, 1887, Mr. Sorlie was married to Hannah, daughter of Anton and Marie Hanson of his native city, who came to Eau Claire iu 1882. To this union two children were born, Martha, deceased and Mahala Otelie. In religious belief Mr. Sorlie is a Lutheran, but is an attendant and supporter of the United Con- ference Church, of Eau Claire. He is a member of the W. A. W. of A., and the I. S. W. A. In 1912, under the new commission form of government, he was elected as councilman of Eau Claire by special election to fill an unexpired term to April 21, 1914. This office he filled with credit to himself and the citizens gen- erally. Politically he is a Republican.
Joseph Berton Spaulding was born on the farm in the town of Koshkonong, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, September 18, 1868, of New England ancestry, the family dating back to early colonial days. His grandfather served in the war of 1812. Lyman Spaulding and Olive Mellicia (Beach) Spaulding, parents of J. B., were both born in Madison county, New York. The father settled in Jefferson county in the early forties and followed
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farming all his life. Hle enlisted in Company HI, 49th Wiseon- sin infantry during the Civil War. He moved to Nebraska in 1880 and took up a homestead, where he died at the age of 56 years. The mother died April 17, 1896. They had a family of six ehildren, as follows: John, county superintendent of schools at Alexander, Neb .; Medora, married Irving Spitzer and resides at Fort Atkinson; Ira Ulyssis, killed in a storm in eastern Colo- rado; Margaret, married Lee Hake, of the state of Washington ; Martha, died at the age of three years, and Joseph B.
Raised on the farm, Joseph received his education in the com- mon schools and the high school of Fort Atkinson. He learned the printers' trade in the office of the W. D. Hloard Company at Fort Atkinson, publishers of "Iloard's Dairyman," remaining with that firm ten years, afterwards superintendent of the West- ern Advent Publishing Association, Mendota, Ill., for three years. In 1903 he purchased a 200-acre farm near Augusta and carried on general farming and dairying until 1909, when he sold his farm and returned to the printer's trade, taking a position with the "Daily Telegram," and still remains with that paper. Ile was a charter member of the Diamond Valley Society of Equity, of which he was at one time purchasing agent. Ile is a charter member of Eau Claire Typographical Union, No. 558, and a mem- ber of the United Order of Foresters. lle enlisted as a musician in Company B, 1st regiment, Wisconsin National Guards in 1890 and served eight years as bugler. In 1909 he re-enlisted in Company E, 3d regiment as a private, and has risen to the rank of corporal. During the Spanish-American war in 1898 he was mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Harvey and served seven months in the 7th army corps.
Mr. Spaulding married Anna Margaret Christianson, dangh- ter of Peter and Elsie (Peterson) Christianson, of Grant, Mich., and to them seven children have been born: Dorothy Viola, died in 1913: Anna Margaret; Joseph Berton; Jonathan Michael ; Elsie; Ernest Edward, and Clara June Spaulding.
Guy Speirs, president of the Wiseonsin Creamery Owners' and Managers' Association, and prominently identified with the successful business men of Eau Claire, was born in Glasgow, Seotland, April 16, 1862, the son of Gavin, of Strabungo, and Ellerslie, Elizabeth (Stuart) Speirs, of Argyleshire, Seotland. The father was a prominent lumberman and manufacturer of paeking boxes, while the mother was one of the old-time Stuarts. The men on both his father's and mother's side had a leaning
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toward the military, and at the time of Mr. Speirs' removal to this country, five or six of his uneles were officers of the British army.
In February, 1873, Mr. Spiers landed in New York and re- mained in and about New York City until he came west to Eau Claire county in 1876. He first settled near Augusta, where he was engaged in farming for several years. He then moved to the town of Washington and there divided his time between farming and lumbering, and for some years was a confidential and trusted employe of the Anderson Brothers, John and Wil- liam, who were extensively engaged in logging. During this period, Mr. Speirs, not only familiarized himself with the logging business, but developed a model farm in the township and during his residenee there, he served several years as a member of the county board of supervisors, and in 1901 was appointed by the circuit court a member of the Clark county tax commission. In 1904 Mr. Speirs moved to the city of Eau Claire and engaged in the implement business, and shortly thereafter beeame interested in the creamery. Ile soon disposed of his other interests and de- voted his entire time to building up the business of what is now known as The Ean Claire Creamery Company, of which he is president. In addition to Eau Claire, this company has branch creameries at Chippewa Falls, Greenwood, Cadott and Cameron, New Auburn and Bruce, and besides making butter, they manu- facture cheese and iee eream. Mr. Speirs has also been treasurer of the Wisconsin Buttermakers' Association and is a direetor for the state of Wisconsin in the National Dairy Association.
In 1886 Mr. Speirs married Lodema M. Smith, of Augusta, who died in the late '90's, and on September 18, 1901, he married a second time and chose as his wife Laura Hobbs, daughter of .Jos. Hobbs, one of the pioneer settlers of this county. Four ehil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Speirs: Riehard, Donald, Jennie and Doris. Fraternally Mr. Speirs is a member of the Masonie Order, while he is a Republican in polities. In addition to his many business enterprises which consume mneh of his time and attention, he finds great pleasure in working among his flowers and beautifying his home.
Clarence George Sprague, is another one of the well known farmers and dairymen of Brunswiek township, and is the son of George Asa and Alma Ann (Amidon) Sprague. His father, George Asa Sprague, was born at Bordino, Oneida county, New York, September 11, 1824, and during his younger days was for many years engaged in railroad eontraeting and building, and
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he superintended the construction of many miles of railroad, both in New York and Indiana. Ile eame to Eau Claire, Wis., in 1834, and it was he who built the first ferry over the Chippewa river, in about 1856. He at one time owned and operated for a number of years a blacksmith shop, and also conducted a livery stable for two years. In 1875 he purchased a farm of 120 acres in Brunswick township, and from that time on until his death, which occurred on December 1, 1904, carried on general farming. Ile was twiee married, first to Lydia Rich, to whom one child was born and died in infancy. He took for his second wife Alma Ann Amidon, who was born at Marshfield, Vt., November 6, 1841. the daughter of William Harrison and Louisa (Mann) Amidon. They had three children, viz .: Benjamin Clayton, born May 26, 1861, died September 28, 1867: Clarence G., the subject of this sketch and Mary Alma, born June 3, 1873, married C. P. Moses and resides in Eau Claire. Mrs. Sprague. the mother. still sur- vives and makes her home with Mrs. Moses.
Clarence G. was born on the old homestead in Brunswiek township, June 21, 1868, where he now resides, 120 aeres of well improved land and carries on general farming and dairying. Reared on the farm, his boyhood days were spent about the same as that of most country boys, attending the common school and assisting with the farm work, and lumbering and logging. For two years he worked at Inmbering on the famous Beef Slew. In 1900 he took charge of and operated the home farm of 120 aeres until the death of his father, and since 1904 he has condueted the ยท same farm on his own account. where he now resides. In addi- tion to his general farming he does an extensive dairy business, shipping his cream to the Roek Falls Creamery, and besides, he is an extensive breeder of Guernsey cattle and Pereheron horses.
Mr. Sprague is a progressive and publie spirited man and has held many offices in the town and county. Ile is now presi- dent of the board of trustees of the county insane asylum and poor farm, and also the tuberculosis sanitarium at Mt. Washing- ton. He has been chairman of the Brunswick town board, served as assessor three years, was school treasurer one year. school clerk for many years and a member of the county board for several years. In fraternal matters Mr. Sprague is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter Council and Commandery.
Mr. Sprague married, June 13, 1900, Miss Marie Olson, daughter of Ole and Mary (Olson) Olson, natives of Trumsenrev,
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Norway. Two children have been born to them, Helen Maria, born May 16, 1901, and George Clinton Sprague, born August 17, 1904.
H. E. Steinbring,* the popular postmaster of Fall Creek. Eau Claire county, was born at Menomonie, Dunn county, March 26, 1891, and is a son of Gottlieb Steinbring. He was reared in his home county, receiving his primary education in the common schools, which was supplemented with a course of study at the Northwestern University at Watertown, and at the Dr. Martin Luther College, of New Ulm, Minn. He came to Fall Creek in 1908, and was variously employed as bookkeeper and clerk in the stores of the village, and while thus employed, showed such su- perior ability that he easily formed a wide acquaintance among the business men and citizens generally. He was appointed post- master of the village, a position he has since filled with honor to himself and credit to his constituents.
In 1911 Mr. Steinbring married Miss Laura Kopplin, of Eau Claire, and they have one child, Lorain.
Joseph A. Stilp, secretary and treasurer of the Dells Paper & Pulp Company, one of the largest industrial concerns in Eau Claire, is one of the public spirited and substantial citizens of the city, who has attained to success by patient and persistent efforts in the line of an honest calling, and who holds the con- fidence and esteem of his acquaintances by reason of the honor- able, upright and manly character of his dealings. Ile was born in Neenah, Winnebago county, Wisconsin, April 23, 1870, the son of John Stilp, who was born in Prussia, where he learned the trade of shoemaker. When a young man, he came to the United States and for a time followed shoemaking at Milwaukee. He later moved to Neenah. continuing at his trade there, which he followed until his death in 1899, at the age of 82 years, and became well and favorably known as one of the best boot and shoe makers in Winnebago connty. Ile married Josephine Bir- ling, who died in 1905, aged 74 years, and was laid to rest be- side her husband in the cemetery at Neenah. They were both prominent members of the Catholic church, and the parents of six children, as follows: Mary C., married Thomas Cavenaugh ; John is a merchant at Neenah ; Margaret, who died in 1911, mar- ried F. J. Sensubrenner, of Neenah: Josephine is the wife of W. H. Fieweger, of Oshkosh; Joseph A., the subject of this sketch, and Stephen R., who is engaged in the paper business at Kim- berly, Wis.
Peter Stilp, grandfather of Joseph, who was also a shoemaker
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by trade, came from Prussia to America in about 1840. After his arrival in this country, he came west to Milwaukee, and there made his home, engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. Hle reared an interesting family of children, among whom may be mentioned, Jacob, Matthew, John and Barbara.
Joseph A. was raised in Neenah, receiving his education in the parochial schools of that place, finishing with a commercial course at Pionona College, at St. Francis. Wis. After finishing this course. he secured employment with MeGregor Brothers Lumber Company, at Menasha, Wis., as bookkeeper. Later sever- ing his connection with this firm, he entered the postoffice at Neenah and Menasha as postal clerk. He afterwards became associated with the J. R. Davis Lumber Company, at Phillips, Wis., and his next employment was with the Spokane Hardware Company, of Spokane, Wash., remaining there three years. Ile then purchased a half interest in the company of King & Smith, in Spokane, the firm name changing at that time to King. Stilp & Company, manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds. After being engaged in this business for several years, he returned to Neenah and spent one year with the Kimberly & Clark Company. mann- facturers of paper. In 1900 he came to Eau Claire and became associated with the Dells Paper & Pulp Company, as bookkeeper, later assuming the position of cashier. He later acquired an interest in the concern, of which he is now secretary.
Mr. Stilp is a thorough business man, well versed in all branches of paper making. Ile is a man of generous impulses, social and domestic in his tastes and habits, a lover of good fel- lowship and alive to all that is best in life. He has been con- nected with various organizations, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the St. Patrick's Church. In April, 1891, he married Miss Nina B. Snyder, daughter of John R. and Elizabeth (Cleveland) Sny- der, of Spokane, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Stilp are the parents of two children : John Henry, who fills a position in the sulfite de- partment of the paper mill, and Arthur Roland Stilp.
Hans S. Strandness, vice president of the Union Savings Bank, of Eau Claire, was born in Kenyon, Minn., July 28. 1882. His father, Jacob O. Strandness, was born in Norway, and while yet a young man, emigrated to the United States. Soon after his arrival in this country, he came west to Goodhue county, Minne- sota, via prairie schooner and located at Kenyon, that state, where for many years he was engaged in the mercantile business. He was a member of the Lutheran church. and at the time of his
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death, in 1887, was one of the substantial and influential men of his town. He was married to Anna Westermo, a native of Wis- consin, who after the death of Mr. Strandness, married Nelson Nordby, and resides at Kenyon, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Strandness were the parents of seven children, viz .: Inga, who married Lars Helverson, a farmer of IIettinger, N. D .; Matilda, married A. Finsterm, an attorney in Kenyon, Minn .; Christian, is a farmer at Bowman, N. D .; Hannah, married G. A. Flom, a banker of Kenyon; Jacob, is engaged in the butcher business in Minne- apolis; Hans S., the subject of this sketch, and one child who died in infancy.
Ilans S. spent his boyhood in Kenyon and was educated in the common and high schools. After his graduation from the latter, he spent one year as clerk at Kenyon, Minn., and three years as bookkeeper in the Bristol National Bank, and for the next eight years was in the bank at Courtney, N. D .. serving three years of the time as assistant cashier. Ile next went to the Stutsman County Bank, purchased an interest in that institu- tion and was one of the officials until 1914. At this time he moved to Eau Claire and connected himself with the Union Savings Bank, of which he is vice president. In 1911, associated with others, he organized the Kenyon State Bank, of which institu- tion he is still a stockholder and director. In addition to his banking affiliations, Mr. Strandness is secretary of the Union Mortgage & Loan Company, of Eau Claire.
On June 3, 1906, he married Miss Lulu A. Wolf, daughter of John C. and Julia (Brekke) Wolf, of Eau Claire, and grand- daughter of the late Victor Wolf, of military fame. Besides the important positions Mr. Strandness occupies in the financial eireles of Eau Claire, he is prominently connected with the Ma- sonie Order.
August Strauch, a prominent resident of Bridge Creek town- ship, and one of the foremost German farmers of Eau Claire county, is a native of Prussia, Germany, and was born February 18, 1852. Ilis father, who was also born in Germany, died when August was a child, and his mother married for her second husband, John Luetke. By her first marriage there were two sons, Edward and August. To the second union one daughter, named Tena, who became the wife of August Sinskie, was born.
August attended the common schools in Prussia and came to the United States with the other members of his family. In 1866, when Angust was fourteen years of age, the family came to Wisconsin and located in Green Lake county, where they re-
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mained five years, then in 1871 came to Eau Claire county, where August has since made his home.
Mr. Strauch owns 400 acres of fine land. highly improved by cultivation, substantial and commodious buildings, and has one of the finest country homes in the community, well indicative of the thrift and ambition of its owner. In addition to his general farming, he carries on stock raising and does a successful dairy business. In 1879 he was married to Miss Minnie Burndt. daugh- ter of Frank Burndt. a native of Germany, and they have raised a family of seven children, viz .: William married Ida Bedke. August married Emma Warmbier, Edward married Dora Zank. Tena is the wife of William Clark, Rudolph Gust married Miss Elma Reetz and Emil. Rudolph and Emil live at home and assist in operating the farm.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Strauch has never aspired to po- litical fame, but is always ready to sanction any movement on foot tending to improve his community and the county at large. lle is rated as one of our best citizens and a man worthy of prominent mention in the history of Eau Claire county.
John Strasburg, a lifelong resident of Eau Claire county, is the son of Joiehim and Christiana Strasburg, who were born in the Province of Pommerain. Germany, where they lived until 1858, when they emigrated to the United States. Upon their arrival in this country, they came west to Wisconsin, stopping first in Jefferson county, where they remained one year, and in 1859 came to Eau Claire county, and here spent the balance of their lives engaged in farming. They were among the energetic and thrifty pioneers and were held in the highest esteem by the citizens of their community. The father died at the advanced age of 84 years, and the mother at the age of 72. They reared a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, the latter are now Mrs. Louise Steinke and Mrs. Caroline Krause. The sons are Angust. Frederick. Ilerman, Henry and John.
John Strasburg was born in Eau Claire county, August 20, 1869. Ile was raised on the home farm, and his boyhood was spent in about the same manner as most farmer boys, attending the district schools in winter and assisting on the farm during the summer months. His whole life has been spent in this county where he is now successfully engaged in farming. Hle is asso- ciated with his brother. Angust. the eldest of the boys, who was born August 19. 1858. They are carrying on prosperous and extensive farming operations on a fine farm of 190 acres. located in sections 14 and 23, Lincoln township. four miles southwest
0
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from the village of Fall Creek. This farm, which is owned by Angust Strasburg, is under a high state of cultivation and well improved with a modern residence and barn, the place being well equipped with many of the latest labor-saving devices and up- to-date appurtenances, which go to make a model and attractive farm home.
In 1893 Mr. John Strasburg was married to Miss Tillie Schacht, daughter of John Schacht, by whom he has two children, Edward and Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Strasburg and family are devoted members of the Lutheran church.
Robert H. Stokes, who ranks among the successful business men of Eau Claire, is a native of Blenheim, Kent county, On- tario, Canada, where he was born July 16, 1870. His parents, Joseph and Mary Ellen Stokes, were born in Grantham, England, and Morpeth, Kent county, Ontario, respectively. The father came from England to Canada in 1852, and engaged in farming, and there married.
Born on a farm, Robert H. there spent his early boyhood, at- tending the common schools and assisting in the farm work until he was sixteen years of age, when he worked as clerk in a gro- cery store, remaining thus employed for two years. Ile next learned the tailor's trade, which he followed but a short time, when he entered Albert College, at Belleville, Ont., where he pre- pared for the university. Completing his education, he came to Wisconsin in 1895 and entered the Methodist ministry. After six years of labor in his chosen profession, his health failed and at the conference held in Miller, S. D., May 1, 1901, he resigned his pastorate. Ile later came to Eau Claire, and on October 1. 1905, he embarked in the undertaking and picture business, which occupation he has since followed with marked success.
Mr. Stokes has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and while he is in no sense a politician, he has served as justice of the peace of the 7th ward of Eau Claire for four years. He has been elected and is now serving his third term as coroner of the county. Mr. Stokes is careful, conservative and method- ical in his affairs, and in all his business dealings, is known for his uprightness and fairness. Ile is a man of fine personal qual- ities, social and companionable and a lover of good comradeship. On August 4, 1897, Mr. Stokes married Miss Jennie' M. Cash, of New Lisbon, Wis., and they are the parents of three children, viz .: Robert B., E. Wallace and Vernon C. Stokes.
Andrew Sutherland was born in St. George, N. B .. Dec. 5, 1820. His father was Alexander Sutherland, of Sutherland Shire,
ANDREW SUTHERLAND
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Scotland, and his mother, Flora MacInnis, of Mull, Scotland. Ile was married to Catherine MacVicar, daughter of George and Christina MacVicar, pioneer residents of Waukesha, Wis. He came to Waukesha, Wis .. with his young family, in the fall of 1854, and during the winter of 1855, visited Eau Claire as a land- seeker. In June, 1856, he moved from the southern part of Wis- consin in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and made a permanent settlement in the town of Union, in Eau Claire county. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland were an active force in the social and religious life of their community. They were noted for their genial hos- pitality, and both friend and stranger received from them a kindly welcome. Through their whole life they were both ardent advo- cates of temperance reforms. They were two of the six con- stituent members of the First Baptist Church, of Eau Claire. In politics Mr. Sutherland was of the Republican party. He is sur- vived by his aged wife, six sons, three daughters, thirty-four grandchildren, and nineteen great grandchildren.
Richard B. Swarthout,* publisher of "The Fairchild Observer" and dealer in real estate and life insurance, of Fairchild, Wis., was born in Lee county, Illinois, December 2, 1862, to Elijah and Elizabeth (Brown) Swarthout, natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers of Lee county, where the father purchased a farm of 160 acres, upon which he made all the improvements. He retired to Paw Paw, Lee county, in 1876, where he built a residence, and there resided until his death. He was a successful farmer, and owned besides the homestead two other farms. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Joshua Swarthout, also a native of Pennsylvania, whose father emigrated to the United States from Germany. The maternal grandfather, Solomon Brown, was a prominent and successful hotel keeper, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., where he was the proprietor for many years of the White Horse Tavern.
Richard B. was raised on the home farm in Lee county, Illi- nois, attending the common schools and assisting in the farm work. In 1876 he began his apprenticeship at the printers' trade. at Paw Paw, Il !. , serving three years. He then started out to see some of the world. He spent six months in Bloomington. Ill., landed in Chicago in 1879, and in 1880 again went on the road. In 1884 he located at Caldwell, Kan., where he published the "Caldwell Journal" until 1891. He then returned to Chicago and was employed on the Chicago Tribune and other papers until 1905 when he went to Rockford, Ill., and was there engaged in newspaper work for two years, and in 1907 came to Eau Claire
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eounty. loeating at Fairehild, where he has since owned and successfully published the "Fairehild Observer," which is a wide- awake and up-to-date eountry newspaper. He is also engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
On February 16, 1887, he married Henrietta, daughter of John and Henrietta (Houghton) Dawson, of Caldwell, Kan., and they are the parents of two children, Elizabeth, wife of W. A. Butler, and Orville R. Mr. Swarthout is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, has served as a member of the board of supervisors of Eau Claire county three years and is one of the influential Re- publieans of his town.
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