History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 146

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > Wisconsin > Green County > History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 146

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The third cemetery is located on the same road, about half a mile from the village, and belongs to the German Evangelical Society. It is neatly arranged.

CHEESE FACTORIES.

The town of New Glarus is noted through- out southern Wisconsin for its dairy products. Especially is it noted for its manufacture of cheese, including almost every variety of cheese known to the trade. Eighteen factories are in operation here, and each year notes new enter- prises of this kind.

'The village cheese factory in 1884 was oper- ated by Henry Holdrich. This establishment uses the milk of abont 435 cows. It is owned by a stock company, the officers of which are: Fred Kundert, president; Mathias Stuessy, sec- retary; Jacob Streiff, treasurer. The product is American and Limburger cheese. This is the largest factory in the town. It was built in 1873.

The Fred Luchsinger factory, located on sec_ tion 1, was built in 1882. The milk of about

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

100 cows is used in the manufacture of Lim- burger and brick cheese.

The Spring Valley cheese manufacturing company built a factory on section 2 in 1876. The company hire the workmen and use the milk of about 200 cows in producing Limburger cheese.

On section 6 a factory was built by the farm- ers in 1877, called E. Erickson factory. Jacob Blom was operating the factory in 1884, buying the milk of 100 cows and making Limburger and brick cheese.

The Fred Streiff factory, also on section 6, owned by a stock company, with Nicalans Zent- ner, president. This factory is one of the larg- est in the town. It uses the milk of about 300 cows in making Limburger cheese.

On section 10 a stock company with Fred Becker, president; Adam Schmid, secretary; and Jacob Ott, treasurer, are manufacturing the milk of 300 cows into Limburger cheese. This company have one of the most conveniently ar- ranged factories in the town.

A stock company own a factory on section 13, near the residence of Conrad Zimmerman. This factory was built in 1875. During the first five years it made Limburger cheese. The past four ycars they have manufactured American cheese, selling their milk to Thomas Hauser, manufac- turer.

Paul Kundert, living on section 18, keeps forty to fifty cows, and has a small factory for his own use. He makes Swiss cheese.

On section 19 Joseph Schindler for the man- ufacture of Swiss cheese from the milk of his own farm, has erected a factory. He has thirty-five cows.

In 1877 a stock company built a factory on section 20. The managers in 1884 were: John Marty and Julius Eichelkraut. This establish- ment makes Limburger cheese, and uses the milk of abont 130 cows.

There was built in 1881 ou section 21 by five farmers (neighbors) a factory for making Swiss cheese, Fred and John Legler are managers.

Fred Luder buys the milk and operates the fac- tory.

Mathias Elmer, who lives on section 22, owns a private factory, and makes up the milk of his own cows, about forty in number, into Swiss cheese.

On section 25 Melchoir & Jacob Stnessy own a factory, built for their own use in 1875. They make Limburger cheese.

Dietrich Stauffacher, living on section 35, for his own use in manufacturing of Swiss cheese, has built a factory. He uses the milk of sixty- five cows.

A stock company own a factory on section 29, which was built in 1879. Jacob Bloom operates this factory, buying the milk of about 120 cows. It makes brick and Limburger cheese.

On section 32 Peter Klassy lives and owns a factory. He uses the milk of his own cows and buys some of neighbors. He manufactures Swiss cheese.

David Hefty built a cheese factory in 1881 on section 33, for the manufacture of Limburger and brick cheese. He uses the milk of about eighty cows.

The Legler factory is also on section 33. Jacob Regetz operates this factory and buys the milk of 200 cows from the stockholders. This company was formed in 1877. They make Limburger cheese.

SAW MILLS.

The first. and only saw mill in this town was built in 1851, on the branch of Sugar river which passes through the town, a little east of New Glarus village. This mill site is but a short distance north of the village, the water power was used by the flour mill; the saw mill was built by Joshua Wild. Three years later he sold to David Klassy, who, in 1860 built the grist mill which now (1884) is owned by Fred Kundert. This mill has four run of stone, two for flour and two for feed. The building is 26x36 feet in size, two and one-half stories high, with small wing for office. The stream fur- nishes eight head of water here. David Klassy

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

sold the property in 1864 to S. and H. Hoesly, who sold in 1868 to Mathias Schmid. One year later he sold a half interest to Rudolph Kun- dert. In 1873, upon the death of the latter, his son, Fred, inherited his interest, and later bought the interest of Mr. Schmid. Mr. Kun- dert rents the property. The saw mill has for long years been among the things that were. The grist mill is now (1884) rented to A. N. Beeny, an English miller of twenty-five years experience-a thoroughly practical man.

Fredolin Kundert, one of the solid men of New Glarus financially, lives about one-half mile north of the village. He owns the mill property and a fine farm of about 500 acres. He is a son of the late Rudolph Kundert, and was born Jan. 28, 1854. His father and mother, Elizabeth, were born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, and came to this town in 1848, first settling on section 11, but sold there in 1850 and bought on section 14, the place now owned by Fredolin. Of the family, one child was brought from Switzerland-Elizabeth, wife of John Klassy. Three were born here-Barbara, now the wife of Thomas Hefty; Fredolin and Adam, who died when six years old. The father, Rudolph Kundert, died April 8, 1871; his widow was married to J. U. Summer, of Monroe, and was living in 1884. Fredolin Kundert, the sub- ject of this sketch, was married to Maria, daughter of Joshua Wild, March 19, 1873. They have six children-Fred, born in 1874; Barbara, born in 1876; Ellen, born in 1878; John H., born in 1879; Edwin, born in 1881, and Rudolph, born in 1883. Mrs. Kundert's father, Joshua Wild, came from Switzerland in 1845 with his family, and lived five years in Syracuse, N. Y., where he was employed in the machine shops of a railroad company. In 1850 he came to New Glarus, and built the only saw mill the town ever owned. In 1854 he bought the gen- eral store in the village and continued in trade a few years, then moved to Paoli, Dane county, but after a short residence there, returned to this town, and being out of health, retired from

active business life. He died Sept. 24, 1878 His widow still resides in the village. Five of his children are living-Mrs. Catharine Eichel Kraut, Mrs. Barbara Streiff, Mrs. Mary Kundert, John, and Mrs. Ellen Hoesly. Fredolin Kun- dert is the present chairman of the town board of supervisors.

Albert N. Beeny was born in Herstmonceux, Sussex Co., England, April 21, 1847. His father was a miller and a grain dealer, following this business for about forty years before his death. He was also a manufacturer of brick and orna- mental tile. He did an extensive business in both industries. He died in England in 1872, aged sixty-nine years. His wife died many years before him. There were twelve children who lived until the youngest was over thirty years of age before a death occurred among them. The youngest son, Albert N., was edu- cated to the milling business, commencing work at twelve years of age, and under the thorough system of his father, he became proficient in the business. After his father's death, he con- ducted an extensive business on his own account for five years. . He came to the United States in February, 1878. He engaged in the State of New York for two years or more in adjusting buhr's in a flouring mill. He then came west and operated a mill at Pittsburg, Van Buren Co., Iowa, part of one season. He was a short time after in Nebraska. From there he went to Rushford, Minn., and rented and operated a mill eighteen months. He came to New Glarus in the spring of 1884 and rented the mill owned by Fred Kundert. Mr. Beeny is a thorough master of his trade, and is also engaged in the manfacture of yeast-cakes, which are a great favorite with the house-wives.

FIRST EVENTS.

Death is never welcome, but very sad it is when striking one out of a family. After hav- ing passed the privations and hardships under- gone by the colonists on their journey from Switzerland here, almost in sight of the land of their adoption, between Wiota and the end of

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

their journey, a young son of Mathias and Katrina Schmid was called to the eternal home. Sadly the parents carried the mortal remains of their boy to the end of the journey, and buried him tenderly -- their first sacrificial offering to God in "New Glarus."

The first birth in the new colony made the family number full again, for Dec. 12, 1845, Thomas, son of Mathias and Katrina Schmid, was born.

. Among the first (if not the first) marriages in this town was that of Henry Albly and Mary Becker, which was celebrated in the Swiss style, Oct. 26, 1847.

VILLAGE OF NEW GLARUS.

Not after the manner of buying and platting of a village site so usual in our west was new Glarus village started. The colonists, after the fashion at home, clustered here, their lands more or less remote. Next came their church building and school house, and soon the wants of the new colony demanded trade and ex- change. A store was opened here in 1850 by three brothers, James, George and Conrad Ott. The building which they erected is now occu- pied by Hefty & Kundert. They sold not long after to J. J. Tschudy (now of Monroe), who sold to F. Egger. He was succeeded in trade by F. E. Legler, who continued in trade until 1882, and then sold to the present proprietors, Hefty & Kundert.

Fritz Tschudy opened a store in 1866, in a building erected by him in that year. He has occupied this building, with some additions, and conducted the business of general merchan- dising from that time to this date (1884). He was born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, March 1, 1832. At the age of sixteen years he came to the United States, and directly to Green county, by the way of Buffalo and the lakes, to Milwaukee. He was accompanied by Barbara Ilottenger, the betrothed wife of J. J. Tschudy, who met them at Milwaukee and was there married to Miss Hottenger. The trio then proceeded to New Glarus. Fritz Tschudy, in

1854, returned to Switzerland, and was married in the church where he was christened, to Amalia Blumer, on the twenty-third anniversary of his birth, and returned to America in 1855. They have four children-Joshua, who is married and living in New Glarus village; Fredolin, Catha- rine, wife of Henry Luchsinger, and John Jacob. Mr. Tschudy has been in trade at his present location since 1866. He is an enterprising and public spirited citizen. He has served many terms as justice of the peace, and many years upon the school board.

Thomas Hoesly, Jr., erected for trade and residence a building in 1880, and opened a stock of general merchandise. He has continued to this date. He was born in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 9, 1851. Mr. Hoesly is of Swiss descent. His father died while he was a babe. His mother married again, and died in Spain in 1864. Thomas left his mother when he was but nine years of age and went to Switzerland. After living there three years he came to the United States with a party of emigrants. In the year of 1864 he came to this town. Several years after coming here he lived with his uncle, An- drew Hoesly, on a farm. After he became of age he learned the harness maker's trade, with Henry Munchean, of Evansville, and in the year 1875 he opened a harness shop in New Glarus, and followed this business until 1880, when failing health compelled him to change his avocation. He then erected a building for a residence and store, and opened a general mer- chandise store, and yet continues in that busi- ness, having built up by honesty and energy a good trade. Mr. Hoesly married Ellen Kun- dert Nov. 23, 1876. She is a daughter of Thomas Kundert, and was born in this town June 21, 1857. They have had four children- Amalia, born November, 1877, died at two years of age; Louisa, born in April, 1879, died in infancy; Amalia C., born in June, 1882; and Thomas A., born in March, 1884.

Mrs. Gabriel Schindler, at the residence of her husband, keeps the millinery store of the

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

1035

village; also a dress making department, a gen- eral assortment of goods common to the trade in stock.

Yost Hoesly, Jr., opened a stock of heavy and shelf hardware in 1879, and still continues in this trade.

Peter Streiff, formerly of Monroe, opened a stock of general and shelf hardware early in the spring of 1884.

The first hotel was called the New Glarus House. It was built in 1854, by M. & R. Baum- gartner, who sold to Joe Genal, who now keeps the William Tell House at Madison. After several changes it came into the hands of S. Luchsinger, who kept it many years. It is now (1884) kept by Henry Marty.

The Wisconsin House was built for a store, about 1862, by Gustavus Alder, who traded about two years, when Henry Marty bought the building and added to it, and opened a hotel, which he kept about fourteen years. Henry Hoesly and Ulrich Kubly have been landlords. It is now well kept by Henry Albly, Jr.

Henry Albly, Jr., son of Henry and Mary Albly, was born June 7, 1850. His father was a farmer, and to this avocation the son was reared. He lived with his father, in his employ, after becoming of age, until he was married, Jan. 14, 1874, to Mary, daughter of Samuel and Barbara Durot. They came from Switzerland in 1855. Three years after the marriage they lived in the family of Henry Albly, Sr. Then he bought 108 acres of land of his father, on section 18, town of Exeter. In the fall of 1883 he sold his land and bought the Wisconsin House in New Glarus, which he now keeps- and very satisfactorily to his guests-making it a traveler's home. Mr. and Mrs. Albly have four children-Ann Mary, born in 1875; Henry N., born in 1877; Barbara E., born in 1878; and Magdalina I., born in 1881.

In 1872 Marcus Hoesly bought the store and saloon business of Peter Zweifel, and added largely to the building, and now does a hotel business and also keeps a meat market. He

was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Feb. 14, 1844. His father, Matthew Hoesly, with his wife and two sons, Yost and Marcus, were among the first colonists, who came to New Glarus in 1845. Matthew Hoesly was a farmer, and Marcus was reared upon a farm. Yost enlisted early in the year 1863, in the 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and died in the service, Nov. 3, 1864, at Madison, Wis. He had been home on a furlough, granted on account of sickness, and was returning to his regiment when he was again prostrated by sickness from which he never recovered. Marcus Hoesly was married Oct. 13, 1864, to Anna, daughter of Thomas Kundert, who came from Schweitzer- land in 1847, and died here in May 1882. Mrs. Kundert (his widow) and her mother, Mrs. Anna Schindler, are living in New Glarus. The latter is eighty-five years of age. Marcus Hoesly, at the time of his marriage was work- ing at his father's farm, which he continued until the fall of 1872, when he bought the busi- ness of Peter Zweifel, store and saloon. The grocery store he kept up about two years. He then abandoned that business and opened a meat market. He has. made large additions to his building in the past few years, and as be- fore stated, keeps hotel, also a saloon and meat market. Mr. and Mrs. Hoesly have had seven children-Matthew, born in 1865; Thomas, born in 1866; Marcus, born in 1867; Barbara, born in 1869; Amalia, born in 1870, and died in in- fancy; Amalia, born in 1872, and John M. born in 1879. Mr. Hoesly has served six years as assessor of New Glarus, and two terms on the town board.

Fred Schindler keeps boarding house, meat market and saloon, (the only saloon aside from the hotels). Mr. Schindler has been in the busi- ness since 1880. He was born in canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Aug. 20, 1844. His father, Fred Schindler, Sr., came to Wisconsin in 1858. He was a blacksmith. The first year he worked at Monroe, and came to this town in 1854. In 1855 he sent to Switzerland for his family to

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

come to him, and his wife, Elizabeth E., and five children came. The children were-Regula, Barbara, wife of George Legler, now deceased; Kate, wife of Thomas Mitchell, of Monticello; Fred, the subject of this sketch, and Abraham. One sister, and her husband, Leonard Ham- merly, came from Switzerland in 1853. They live near Mound Sterling, in Crawford county. Another sister, Dorothea, and her husband Casper Knobel, came 1860. He enlisted in the 31st Wisconsin Volunteers, and died in the hos- pital in 1864. His widow married a brother of her first husband, Abram Knobel. Fred Schin- dler, subject of this sketch, married Rosina, a danghter of John J. Durst, in 1866. She was born in Switzerland in 1842. Her father was one of the colonists of New Glarus. He died in 1876. Her mother died in Switzerland. Fred Schindler, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch, died in 1872, his widow survived him and lives with Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler have five children-Elizabeth, Rosa, Barbara. Kate and Fred. They commenced married life on a farm of 200 acres which Fred owned on section 34. He sold this farm to his brother Abram in 1882. Fred bought his property in the village and occupied it in 1880, where he keeps a boarding house, saloon and meat mar- ket. He has served two terms on the town board, and is one of the prominent men of the village.

A building was erected in 1867, by Jacob Hefty and Samuel Blumer, intended for a dis- tillery, but never used in that business. The ownership passed into the hands of Jacob Hefty, in 1871, who converted it into a brewery. In 1879 he added to the building largely and con- tinnes in the business, manufacturing from 600 to 700 barrels per annum.

J. Jacob Hefty was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, May 8, 1834. His father and family were part of the first colony, coming here in 1845. His father's name was Frido- lin Hefty. His mother, Rosina Hefty, died in Switzerland in 1841, His father was married to

his second wife when he came to New Glarus. He died in 1854. His widow survived until 1872. The subject of this sketch was married in Switzerland, June 28, 1850, to Margaret Ortle, who was born Jan. 20, 1842. They have five children-Fred, born in 1861; Margaret, born in 1862; Rosa, born in 1864; Casper, born in 1867, and Jacob, born in 1878. Mr. Hefty, in the early, colony days, did a great deal of land breaking with five and six yoke of oxen. The price for breaking was $2.50 per acre. He was was afterwards engaged in drawing farm pro- duce to the markets of Janesville and Madison, but has for many years devoted his time entirely to his brewery. Mr. Hefty's recollections of the journey here, made when he was eleven years of age, are vivid. He says, "I had much trouble in biting the 'hard-tack', our regular food. I remember the slow climbing of hills, while canal boats were passed through the lock in Pennsylvania, how we were lodged in a cellar in St. Louis, for weeks, while waiting for the agents to come and pilot ns to New Glarus, the tired worn out condition in which we reached our new home, the passing of our first night under a tree, and the next day how father put up a hnt covered with boughs, in which we lived for months. Fortunately we had umbrellas, brought with us from our old home, and we used them in our new home every time it rained. Father made a log house before it was very cold and many of the other settlers would come to us daily to get warm, during the following. winter. Pumpkins and corn mush comprised our daily food. When I look about now and see the abundance of everything and the comfort- able houses everywhere, I almost doubt my own memory."

SHOPS OF NEW GLARUS.

The cemeteries of this town are adorned by marble work, the manufacturer of which is John Peter Schmid, who learned his trade while young in Switzerland.

John Peter Schmid came to New Glarus in the summer of 1875, He was born in canton

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Glarus, Switzerland, Aug. 11, 1846. When thirteen years old he began learning the marble cutter's trade and at sixteen years of age, was earning wages at that work. He came to the United States in 1877, worked a few months in Philadelphia, and from there went to St. Louis, where he was employed a short time, then spent a short time in Ohio, after which he came to New Glarus, where he has since re- sided. He opened a marble cutter's shop the first year of his residence here, and still con- tinnes that business, doing all the marble cut- ting for New Glarus and surrounding towns. Mr. Schmid was married in Switzerland, Feb. 16, 1867, to Mary Kundert. They have six chil- dren-Maggie, now the wife of John Rieder; Melchior, Anna and Mary, who were born in Switzerland; John Peter and Albert Rudolf, born in the United States. Mr. Schmid is an excellent workman and strictly honest and con- scientious in all of his dealings.

Gabriel Schindler, proprietor of the wagon and blacksmith shop in New Glarus, commenced in a small way in 1876. His business increas- ing, he rebuilt in 1881, making a two story building, 22x36 feet in size, and in 1883, added to this of the same height, 22x24 feet, renting the upper room to the United Workmen's lodge. Mr. Schindler is doing a prosperons business. He is a son of Abraham and Anna Schindler, and was born in New Glarus, Jan. 24, 1847. Abraham Schindler, with his wife and three sons, came to New Glarus with the colony of 1845. They were natives of the canton of Glarus, in Switzerland. The three sons were -Andrew, Abraham and Fred. The father and two of the sons, Andrew and Abraham, died with the cholera in 1854. Fred had died previous to that time. The mother died in 1861. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schindler in New Glarus-Gabriel, subject of this sketch, Jacob, who lives in Ohio,and Anna, widow of Oswald Elmer, living in the village of New Glarus. Gabriel Schindler was mar- ried April 15, 1869, to Barbara Hefty, daughter

of Sebastian Hefty. She was born in Switzer- land, where her parents died. She came to New Glarus in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler have two children-S. Albert, born in 1871, and Anna, born in 1873. Mr. Schindler is one of the active business men of the town. Mrs. Schindler keeps a millinery store in the village and is a woman of much energy and business capacity.

Melchoir Schmid, one of the mechanics of the village, has been in the blacksmith business since 1874. He is a son of Mathias and Catha- rina Schmid, who settled in New Glarus with the colony. in 1845, and was born in this town Feb. 10, 1850. His parents were both born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland. Their first location here was upon a piece of land one- half mile south of the present village. Mathias Schmid died in 1854 and his wife in 1877. Four of their children, who came with them from Switzerland, are now living-Mathias lives in Dakota; Henry, Adam and Catharine, who is married to Caspar Heuser, reside in this town. Two children were born in New Glarus- Thomas, born Dec. 12, 1845, was the first born child of the New Glarus colonists and Melchoir, the subject of this sketch. Thomas resides in Exeter. Melchoir Schmid was united in mar- riage with Rosa Durst, Nov. 13, 1873. She is a daughter of Mathias and Verena Durst, also colonists of 1845, Rosa was born May 28, 1854, Mathias Durst died in 1857. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Durst who came with them from Switzerland, two are living-Sebastian and Fanny, wife of Henry Marty. Of those born here two are living-Rosa and Nicholas. The first death among the colonists after their arrival in Wisconsin, was a young son of Ma- thias and Catharina Schmid, who died after leaving Galena and before they reached their destination. Melchoir Schmid is in the black- smith business, having owned a shop since 1874.

Constantine Haegele has been running a blacksmith shop since 1861.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

N. C. Durst has been in the harness business since 1872.

Henry Luchsinger established the furniture business in 1883.

Joshua Tschudy, boot and shoe maker, keeps a confectionery and notion stand. He has been in this business about two years.

New Glarus postoffice was established in 1850. The first postmaster was a Frenchman named Panchouz. He was succeeded by Joshua Wild, and he in turn by J. J. Tschudy; then F. Egger, F.E. Legler and Thomas C. Hefty, who is the present postmaster. The office is in Hefty & Kundert's store.

Thomas C. Hefty, of the firm of Hefty & Kundert, was born in this town, and is a son of Caspar and Elizabeth Hefty. Caspar Hefty was born in Switzerland, and came to Green county and settled in the town of Washington, about 1847. Elizabeth Hefty, also a native of Switz- erland, came to this county one year previous to her husband. They were married in the town of Washington, and a few years later came to New Glarus to reside, locating on sec- tion 28, where Mr. Hefty bought 250 acres of land. Caspar Hefty died in April, 1876. His widow now lives with a married daughter, Mrs. Jacob Elmer, in Mount Pleasant. They had ten children-Marcus, deceased; Henry, living in Washington; Caspar, living at the homestead; Peter, living in Jefferson Co., Kansas; Mel- choir, living in the same county, where they own a large farm of 500 acres; Thomas C., sub- ject of this sketch; Barbara, wife of Anton Richards, of Jefferson Co., Kansas; John and Elizabeth, deceased. Thomas C. Hefty was born March 2, 1859, and was married April 8, 1880, to Elizabeth, daughter of Paulus Kundert. She was born Dec. 30, 1861. They have two children-Lillian E., born in 1881, and Estha S., born in 1883. Mr. Hefty is postmaster of New Glarus. The firm are doing a prosperous busi- ness. Although young, Mr. Hefty has the qual- ifications necessary for a successful business career.

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History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 146

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168