USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 65
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EDWARD FREDERICK BUCHEN, Sheriff of Langlade County, was born in the town of Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, March 21, 1877, the son of Elizabeth (Hanke) Buchen and Goodhart Buchen. He attended the rural schools of Lyndon township after which he engaged as a farmer on his father's farm until he attained the age of nineteen years. He then engaged in the cheese and dairy business at Adell, Sheboygan County, for five years, selling his interests then to his brother, George Bu- chen. November 20, 1901, he moved to Antigo town- ship, Langlade County, and started a cheese factory and creamery on Highway No. 47, what is commonly known as the "Howe Cheese Factory" site. This was the second factory in Langlade County at that time. For three years Mr. Buchen operated this in- dustry successfully and then sold out. He then be- came the proprietor of the Star Creamery, a co-opera- tive organization in Rolling township, which he was associated with for two years. He then moved into the city of Antigo, opening the Buchen Creamery on Fifth avenue, which he conducted until 1915 when he sold out to Andrew Anderson. Mr. Buchen then con- ducted a cheese factory at Kramer's corner in Antigo township for two years until his election for the first time to the office of Sheriff. Mr. Buchen's adminis- tration of that office was so satisfactory to the general public that he was re-elected in 1920 by an overwhelm- ing vote. The office of Sheriff has been faithfully administered by him since and with his announcement for re-election in 1922 Mr. Buchen merely yielded to the requests of numerous friends.
Mr. Buchen was married to Ella Ferk, of the town of Sherman, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Novem- ber 18, 1900. Three children, two of whom are de- ceased-Clarence Edward and Violet-and Hilda, a
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daughter, now a student at the Whitewater Normal School, were born to this union.
During the war Mr. Buchen was active, serving as Chairman of the Langlade County Board of Exemp- tion. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. and Beavers fraternities. The Buchen family attend the Lutheran church.
PETER J. ROUMAN. Among the younger citizens of Antigo and Langlade County are many industrious and ambitious men who have ably demonstrated their fitness to carry on worthy commercial enterprises. Peter J. Rouman, who is, comparatively speaking, a new resident, can be classed with this group. Mr. Rouman is a native of Greece, the son of Helen and Gregory Rouman. He was born November 23, 1894. As a boy he attended the public schools of his birth- place and then entered high school. He was a post- office clerk in Greece. When seventeen years old he sailed for America where he planned to settle. He went to Marquette, Michigan, and three months later came to Antigo to enter the employ of Peter Papa- dakis, an uncle, then conducting a confectionery in this city. Two years later he entered the popcorn and confectionery business for himself. At the out- break of the World War he entered the U. S. National Army and served with the 86th Division for nine months at Camp Hospital No. 21, overseas. Return- ing to the U. S. he was honorably discharged at Camp Grant on June 12, 1919. He had enlisted June 17, 1918. He then returned to his business at Antigo. May 1, 1921, he sold his popcorn interests and pur- chased the Helmbrecht Cafe, changing the name to the Antigo Cafe. This cafe is located at 827 Fifth avenue and enjoys a fine local and a splendid summer tourist patronage. Mr. Rouman was united in mar- riage in Antigo to Miss Esther Saunders on August 24, 1920. To this union one child, Dafney Helen, was born. Mr. and Mrs. Rouman reside at 82712 Fifth avenue. The subject of this sketch is a mem- ber of the Loyal Order of Moose.
ANTON J. NOWOTNY. Among the pioneer citi- zens of Antigo and Langlade County is no more con- spicuous a figure than Anton J. Nowotny, the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Anton J. Nowotny came to Antigo in the winter of 1878-79 with his widowed mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Nowotny. With his mother the young lad lived in Ackley township for six months on a homestead. Mr. Nowotny moved to this wilderness from Manitowoc County with his mother, his father having passed away in Manitowoc County in 1873. The subject of this sketch was born November 15, 1865.
With an older son he came to this county with his mother. The embryo town was then a place that gave little promise of reaching its present population of close to ten thousand inhabitants. Anton J. Nowot- ny was then thirteen years old and he roughed it through the years of his youth and early manhood. He performed all manner of manual labor as a boy,
serving as the janitor of the first Antigo school. Here he built fires and cut wood for the sum of six dollars a month. It should be stated that he went to school a part of the time, later attended night school and then entered St. Francis Academy at Milwaukee. He was variously employed at saw mill work, and at one time was active in contracting for the delivery of logs on the river. He also learned the cigar maker's trade and for a time ran a cigar factory, which, owing to the hard times then, he was compelled to close. He then took up a homestead in the town of Elcho on which he lived for about four years, and it was then that he was first elected Clerk of the Circuit Court for Langlade County, which office he has been hon- ored with at each successive election since. This fact is a splendid testimonial of the esteem and con- fidence the public holds in Mr. Nowotny as a public servant, tried and found to be true.
In 1892 he was united in marriage to Theresa Boll of Antigo, Wis. To them were born eight children : Irwin, Clarence, Mary, Esther, Lester, Lloyd, Glen and Dorothy. Esther and Lester are twins. Irwin and Clarence were members of the 107th Trench Mor- tar Battery which served during the World War.
Anton J. Nowotny is a member of St. John's Cath- olic church and is fraternally a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is one of the substantial property owners of the com- munity and, with his family, he holds a high place among the respected citizens.
ARTHUR J. KINGSBURY. One who has consid- ered the pursuits of private life as abundantly worthy of his best efforts, and who has concentrated his in- terests, energies and attention upon his home county, has labored for its advancement and growth and at the same time has promoted his private interests so that he had attained a position of prestige among his fellow citizens is Arthur J. Kingsbury, the son of Alice (Paige) and John Jerome Kingsbury, pioneer Antigo residents. Mr. Kingsbury was born September 23, 1876, in Stevens Point, Portage County, Wisconsin. When ten years old he moved with his parents to Ash- land, Wisconsin, and a year later to Cornell, Wiscon- sin, from where the Kingsbury family moved to An- tigo in 1890. Here Mr. Kingsbury attended public school and the high school, which was then located on the site of the Second Ward school. He then en- tered the Michigan Agricultural College, East Lan- sing, Michigan, and after completing his course re- turned to Langlade County engaging in farming. He then moved to Boulder, Colorado, and worked in the oil fields, and the following years was at Bay City, Michigan, thence to the state of Kansas for two years; thence a year he spent in Oklahoma in the oil fields. He then returned to Antigo and opened up a field photography and kodak business, which he has since developed into an extensive enterprise.
Arthur J. Kingsbury was united in marriage on Feb- ruary 16, 1897, to Miss Myrtle Cunningham, of An- tigo. To this union three children were born, as fol-
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
lows : Claire, now engaged in the oil business at Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wayne, who passed away at the age of five; and Doris, a student in the Antigo public schools. Arthur J. Kingsbury is accounted one of the substantial and dependable business men of the city and county.
WALTER J. GALLON. Among the citizens of Langlade County who are rendering their community signal services both in a public and a commercial nature none stands in higher esteem than Walter J. Gallon, the alert President of the Antigo Association
department of the Wisconsin Telephone Company in Milwaukee. He later became manager of the Janes- ville (Wis.) telephone industry, was then transferred to Chicago for a short duration following which he was promoted to the position of chief inspector of the Central Union Telephone Company, Dixon, Ill. He returned to Wisconsin later to become the chief con- tract agent for the Wisconsin Telephone Company from where he was called to Sheboygan to become manager of the Sheboygan Telephone Company. In 1916 Mr. Gallon assumed the active management of the Antigo Telephone Corporation, which he still holds.
WALTER J. GALLON
The President of the Association of Commerce of Antigo, General- Manager of the Antigo Telephone Corporation, and leader in community advancement played a prominent part in local activities during the late World War.
of Commerce and General Manager of the Antigo Tel- ephone Corporation. Through marked ability and con- scientious devotion to duty he has climbed from ob- scurity to a position of prominence in the telephone world.
Walter J. Gallon was born in England in 1873, the son of John Gallon. He received an elementary gram- mar school education and when a youth started out in life on his own merits. He came to the United States in 1896 and in the fall of that year came to Wisconsin. For three years he worked in various vo- cations until 1899 when he began in the construction
He has been active in all civic and commercial wel- fare movements in Antigo and it is to his credit that the present Antigo Association of Commerce was or- ganized. He has been President of the Association of Commerce since its organization in 1916.
During the World War Mr. Gallon took an active part in all local activities, including the Liberty Loan, Red Cross, Victory Fund, and other drives.
He gained distinction as a patriot during the war for his scathing denunciation of all things un-Ameri- can. Mr. Gallon is a member of the Executive Com- mittee, Antigo Chapter, American Red Cross.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Mr. Gallon was married on November 10, 1910, to Clara Lea. They reside at 615 Second avenue, Antigo.
Fraternally he is a member of all Masonic orders, including the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and he is also a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.
JOHN SIPEK. The name of John Sipek has been associated with activities in Langlade County since 1881. The father of the subject of this sketch, John Sipek, Jr., was born in Centerville township, Manito- woc County, Wisconsin, on June 19, 1860, the son of Joseph and Anna (Rine) Sipek. He settled in Neva township, Langlade County, resided there some nine years, clearing about sixty acres. On February 8, 1885, he was married to Emma Skarivoda, a native of Manitowoc County, who was the daughter of Anton and Elizabeth (Krache) Skarivoda, who were among the pioneer settlers of Manitowoc County. During the spring of 1890 Mr. Sipek retired from his farm and purchased property in Antigo, where he kept a hotel, now known as Martiny's Hotel, Edison street.
Mr. and Mrs. Sipek had four children, Matilda, Alvina and John, living, and Joseph, who died when two years of age.
John Sipek, Jr., was born in Antigo on July 5, 1893. He attended the public schools of Antigo and grad- uated from the Antigo High School with the class of 1912. He then started in the plumbing business and for nine months was associated with Joseph Hoefer. He then began as a journeyman plumber with Louis Peters and has since been with Mr. Peters in that business.
Mr. Sipek was united in marriage on September 2, 1916, to Anna Fischer.
He resides at 600 Badger avenue, Antigo. Fra- ternally he is a member of Charter Oak Lodge, No. 150, Knights of Pythias.
The Sipek family is regarded as one of the oldest Langlade County families, having been in the county four years before the city of Antigo was incorporated.
ENDRE NOREM. Among the pioneer families of Langlade County whose members have contributed materially to the progress and development of the county, none is more highly esteemed than that of Norem, whose history is commensurate with that of Price township. Endre Norem, the subject of this sketch, was born in Christiansand, Norway, on Aug- ust 7, 1864. Like the Viking of old, young Norem wanted to sail the seas. He made three trips to the United States, the last one which he decided to lo- cate in this country. Previously he had visited the West Indies and New Orleans. He settled in Brown County, at Ft. Howard, to where he came direct from New York. From there Mr. Norem went to Angelica, Shawano County, Wisconsin, and secured employment in the woods. He settled in Price town- ship, Langlade County, in September, 1889. He was employed for a time by N. C. Bruce at Kent as a bookkeeper. Mr. Bruce was then manager of the
Henry Sherry interests at that place. For eight years he followed this employment, until 1897. Mr. Norem then moved to Bryant and engaged in real estate, merchandise and a general logging business, which has, during the time since, flourished and ex- panded.
Mr. Norem was married in 1901 to Edna Mildred Mills, of Brown County, Wisconsin, to which union seven children-four boys and three girls-were born Two of his sons served during the World War in the United States Navy, and Mr. Norem took an active part in all patriotic drives and campaigns in the county during the conflict. One son served on the battleship Nevada and the other in the U. S. N. aviation.
Endre Norem has served as postmaster of Bryant for a quarter of a century, longer than any other postmaster in Langlade County, and there are few who can equal this period of service. He was origin- ally appointed by President William Mckinley. He has been Township Treasurer and has held other po- sitions of public trust.
In 1895 Mr. Norem became associated with F. H. Van Ostrand. His brother, Ernest Norem, became a member of the concern in 1898. Mr. Van Ostrand sold his interests to Norem Brothers in 1905. The con- cern was incorporated to do a mercantile, real estate and forest and farm produce business in 1904.
Fraternally Endre Norem is a member of the Ma- sonic orders, the Elks and M. W. A. lodges. He is a typical example of what thrift, ambition, integrity and good character can do toward a successful career.
WILLIAM F. INGS, Superintendent of The Antigo Gas Company, was born in Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, on June 6, 1884, the son of Henry and Ella (Fletcher) Ings. He was the first of three children. When he was six weeks old he moved with his parents to the city of Antigo. Here he at- tended the public schools and the Antigo High School. Following his school days he began working on his father's farm in Antigo township and stayed there un- til 1907. He then began employment with the Antigo Gas Company, rising to the important position of Superintendent, which he now holds. It was managed by Oliver B. Kohl when Mr. Ings first started with the utility fifteen years ago.
William F. Ings was married to Bessie Horn, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Horn, on June 6, 1906, and to this union three children, Marvel, Max- ine and John, have been born. The Ings residence is at 114 Field street, Antigo, Wisconsin.
When off duty Mr. Ings likes nothing better than rambling off to a sparkling trout stream or to spend a week in the timber during deer hunting season.
Henry Ings, pioneer Antigo township resident, was for many years a public official and served with credit as County Treasurer of Langlade County. The Ings family has a wide acquaintance in and about the county.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHARLES E. HENSHAW. In the earlier history of this country, there are many notable accounts of the trials and brave sacrifices of those who are num- bered among the industrial pioneers of certain dis- tricts. The tide of civilization was then ever moving westward, and as soon as a section of country was fairly developed, there would always be some venture- some and hardy souls eager to pass still farther to- ward the frontier, making new boundary lines for the outposts of civilization. Without these rugged peo- ple the United States would not today stretch from
age. He sacrificed his life for the cause of the North, being killed in action in 1865. Wharton Henshaw lies at rest in Franklin, Indiana.
Charles E. Henshaw was but a boy when, with his parents, he left his place of nativity in the Pan-Handle state, settling in Wooster, Ohio. The family moved successively from Ohio to Missouri, thence to Indiana and from there to Kansas, which was then in the throes of the great contest over organization precipi- tated by the Kansas-Nebraska bill. Returning to In- diana, the family located at Franklin, and it was here
CHARLES E. HENSILAW
Pioneer Antigo manufacturer, who with John J. Kingsbury, started in business in Antigo in 1590.
Mr. Henshaw, besides his local commercial activities, is a Director of the American Founders' Security Company, Vice-President of the Talge Mahogany Company of Indianapolis and an associate Director in the Old Line Life Insurance Company of America.
coast to coast, from the Canadian boundary to the gulf, but would be clustered along the seaboard of the Atlantic. Among those who faced the perils of the west in this early period was the Henshaw family. Charles E. Henshaw, pioneer Antigo manufacturer, was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on September 14, 1849, the son of Anderson F. and Margaret (Busey) Henshaw. He was the second of two children, both of whom were boys.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Wharton, the other son, joined the Union Army, enlisting in Wilder's Mounted Infantry of Indiana when but fifteen years of
that Charles received his education, consisting of the common school curriculum of that day, supplemented only by the fact that youths were largely dependent upon their own resourcefulness then.
At the age of fifteen, in the year 1864, he began work in the Premium Flour Mills of Franklin, being there employed for four years, during which time he thoroughly familiarized himself with the flour and grist business. From 1868 until he became proprietor of his first flour mill, at Trafalgar, Indiana, Mr. Henshaw was employed in the flour business at various places in Indiana. In 1882, having closed his business at
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Trafalgar, he began operations at Marcus, Iowa, and he was there until 1885. The Henshaw family then moved northward to Medford, Wisconsin, where the subject of this sketch entered the employ of the A. J. Perkins & Son flour mill. Mr. Henshaw had previous- ly lost his entire business at Marcus, Iowa, in a disas- trous fire.
His task of rehabilitation was difficult and for five years he stayed at Medford with the same concern. Becoming acquainted with John J. Kingsbury, a lum- berman, the matter of a partnership was discussed and an organization effected prior to July, 1890, when the Henshaw family moved from Medford to Antigo. John J. Kingsbury and Charles E. Henshaw erected a grist mill in Antigo then. The firm was known as the Antigo Roller Mills. About seven years later the Kingsbury & Henshaw Lumber Company was organ- ized and a sawmill, one of the substantial manufactur- ing institutions of Langlade County, was erected. The Company thrived and prospered, giving employment to many Antigo people, during the long span of years which was broken on August 2, 1917, by the untimely death of Mr. Kingsbury. The firm is now known as the Henshaw Lumber Company. For about two years after Mr. Kingsbury's death it was known as the Hen- shaw-Worden Lumber Company. The roller mills dis- continued operations sometime previously.
Mr. Henshaw was married to Jennie Roberts, a daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Nelson) Roberts, of Carlisle, Indiana, on May 27, 1872, and to this union four children were born, namely: Louise, born on October 11, 1875. She was married to A. M. Arveson on September 11, 1901, and they had five children, all of whom are living. On October 18, 1920, Mrs. Arve- son passed away in the prime of life. She is at rest in the Elmwood Cemetery, Antigo.
Jessie, the second child, was born on April 1, 1877, and on September 22, 1897, married C .W. Talge. They reside at Los Angeles, California.
Mabelle, born on March 20, 1890, was united in mar- riage to C. T. Te Selle, of Antigo, on October 11, 1916, and they have two children, Janette and Clarence John.
Nellie Henshaw, another daughter, died in infancy and is buried at Marcus, Iowa.
Anderson F. Henshaw passed away on October 11, 1888, and is buried at Medford, Wisconsin, where he died. Over a quarter of a century later his wife fol- lowed him in death, she passing away at Antigo on November 14, 1914. She is buried at Medford also. Charles E. Henshaw, besides his local business con- nections, is Vice President of the Talge Mahogany Company, of Indianapolis, Indiana; is a Director of the American Founders' Security Company and an Asso- ciate Director in the Old Line Life Insurance Company of America, the latter two organizations having head- quarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mr. Henshaw finds no time to enter politics as a seeker after personal preferment but in 1901-02 he was inducted into service as an Alderman, being thereupon selected as Chairman of the City Finance Committee. In him good government and ideal citizenship have al-
ways found a staunch friend and supporter as do move- ments tending to advance the cause of education, civic enterprises, morality and general progress.
As an avocation he finds keen delight in spending a few days at his cottage on the shores of Post Lake, Wisconsin, or in whiling away an hour or two in some clear, sparkling trout stream, of which Langlade Coun- ty has many.
ARCHIE SPENCER, a pioneer Antigo citizen, was born at Fremont, Waupaca County, Wisconsin, on September 3, 1874, the son of Benjamin and Pricilla Spencer. He moved to the village of Antigo when a youth, his parents being among the first settlers in Antigo. This was in the fall of 1881 when the Milwau- kee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad pierced north to Aniwa and thence to Antigo. At that time James Quinn and a man by the name of Mr. Hahn hauled the worldly belongings of the Spencer family with two yokes of cattle to the place where the J. H. Weed mill was erected just south of the city of Antigo. Ben Spencer, the father of Archie Spencer, was fore- man in the woods for various lumber concerns in Langlade County and Mrs. Ben Spencer cooked for the lumber concerns. In the year 1882 Ben Spencer bought two corner lots where the Hill building now stands (at the intersection of Fifth avenue and Edison street) from F. A. Deleglise, paying $33 apiece for the lots. Ben Spencer started the Spencer House, one of the leading Antigo hotels for many years, which was operated until 1895, when the Spencers sold to George W. Hill. Archie Spencer used to cut wood on the lots now the site of the Antigo postoffice.
As a youth Archie Spencer attended the public schools and the Antigo High School. He also at- tended Daggett's Business College, Oshkosh, Wiscon- sin. Leaving school he followed the call of the woods, becoming an expert woodsman and river driv- er. He took part in many of the picturesque river drives of pioneer days when the great pineries were being slashed by the lumber barons of Wisconsin, many of whom in their greed for gold and pine left the country in a desolate state.
Archie Spencer was married to Mary Harvey of Shawano, Wisconsin, on July 12, 1895, and to this union ten children were born, namely: John, Har- vey, Clyde, Clara, Pricilla, Wesley, Odean, Loean, Ida, May and William H.
Archie Spencer has found time to participate in public affairs besides attending to the arduous task of caring for a family. He was School Clerk in an Ainsworth township district, and while a resident of that township was once a town Supervisor. He was once a candidate for Sheriff on the Democratic ticket and secured that party's nomination for that office. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. During 1922 he was en- gaged in farming on two hundred acres in Elton town- ship on sections 7 and 8.
He has been a resident of Langlade County since 1881. The Spencers now reside in Antigo.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
THOMAS W. LESLIE, whose name in Langlade County is the synonym of progressiveness. liberality and honesty of purpose, has been a resident of this county for over forty years during which time he has built himself up an honored reputation and a good name.
Mr. Leslie is a native of Hortonville, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, where he was born on August 24, 1856, the son of Hugh and Dorothy (McComb) Leslie, who were the parents of eight children.
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