USA > Wisconsin > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Wisconsin, past and present : including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county [microform] > Part 55
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
Rudolph has always lived on the home farm and limited his school days to his fourteenth year. devoting all his time and strength to the farm work. and in 1898 he came into possession of the farm and was married on June 6, 1899. in Ridgeville, to Miss Emma Zellmer, daughter of Fred and Amelia Zeller, who were among the first settlers of Ridgeville township. Mr. and
-
585
BIOGRAPHY
Mrs. Affeldt have two children, Orville II .. born June 19, 1904, and Raymond A., born June 25, 1912.
Mr. Affeldt is a Republican in his political views, and is con- sidered an all 'round good man.
Alexander Allen*, a native son of Wisconsin, was born Jan- mary 1. 1874. on the family homestead in Wells township, Mon- roe connty. the son and youngest child in a family of ten chil- dren, five of whom are now, 1912, living. born to Alexander and Elizabeth (Shepard) Allen. When fourteen years of age, in 1857, the father emigrated from Ireland to the United States and loca- ted in New York City. where he learned the tinsmith's trade. He later came west to Wisconsin, and located at Sparta, where for fifteen years he worked as a laborer. He was thrifty and economical and by frugality accumulated sufficient means with which to purchase the "Barker Farm" of 150 acres in the town of Wells. He engaged in general farming and was generally successful, and there lived until his death in 1904. His wife. mother of our subject. survived nntil 1908 when she passed away mourned by her family and a large circle of friends. They were hind hearted christian people, and members of the Catholic church. He was a Democrat in polities, and took an active interest in the affairs of his party.
Mr. Allen, subject of this sketch, received his education in the common schools of his home town, and remained on his father's farm until he reached the age of twenty years. He then entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany, remaining in this position until the death of his father in 1904, when he returned to the homestead and assumed active management of the farm. He employs up-to-date methods and is successful in his operations of the farm. being known as one of the most prosperous farmers of his town. Like his father before him Mr. Allen is a Democrat in polities.
Edward Allendorf*, who resides on his farm of 226 acres of well- improved land in section thirty Lafayette township. where he was born December 16. 1870. is a son and the second child in a family of four children born to Peter and Tena (Stark) Allen- dorf. both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to the United States in the fifties and first located in New York City. They later came to Wisconsin and settled in Monroe county where the father found employment on the Canfield farm in Angelo township; here he remained for a time, then purchased the farm in Lafayette township where Edward now resides and
586
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
started in to improve the place and establish the family home, but the Civil War then being in progress he entered the service in company D. nineteenth regiment. Wisconsin Volunteers in Sep- tember 19. 1864, and at the battle of Fair Oaks. May 16, 1865. was taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison, but soon there- after was transferred to Salisbury Prison. After the close of the war he returned home and continued operations on his farm which he continued to improve: he cleared additional land. erected new buildings, and there made his home until his death in 1890. at the age of sixty years. His widow. mother of our subject. survived until 1905, when she passed away at the age of sixty years. Besides Edward, the other members of the family are. Fred. Frank and Albert. of Little Falls township.
Our subjeet was reared on his father's farm. attended the common schools and assisted in the farm work until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he assumed full management of the affairs, which he continued until 1904. when he became owner of the farm. In 1900 he erected a new residence equipped with many modern improvements, such as hot and cold water. gas, etc .. he has also built a new silo and made other improvements. In polities he is a Republican, and takes an interest in the live issues of the day.
On September 26. 1900. Mr. Allendorf was married to Miss Lulu Mary Rhodes, daughter of Henry and Emogene (Brackett) Rhodes, pioneer settlers of Lafayette township. Mrs. Allendorf is one of a family of four children. The others are. Harry. mail carrier on rural route No. two. Eva, a teacher at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Arthur L .. who died February 5, 1911. at the age of forty-one years. To Mr. and Mrs. Allendorf have been born two children: Spencer B .. born August 5, 1904, and Arthur E .. born December 29. 1906.
John Allingham was born January 15. 1845. in Ulster county. New York, is a son of Hugh and Mary (Thompson) Allingham. His father was a native of Ireland and in an early day moved to St. Johns, New Brunswick, and afterward moved to the United States, locating in Ulster county, New York, where he resided until the fall of 1865, when he came to Wisconsin, and located in the town of Tomah, Monroe county. where he had previously bought 320 acres of land in section twenty-one. He continued to re- side here until his death which occurred in 1891. He was the father of six children. four of whom are now living. His wife, mother of our subject. died in 1858. Hugh Allingham was a successful general farmer during his lifetime. He began life without means
587
BIOGRAPHY
and had accumulated an ample fortune by hard labor and indus- try: he first worked in the lumber woods of New Brunswick, previous to his moving to New York state, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until he came to Wisconsin. Ile built his residence in 1865, and his connodions barn later. Some sey- eral years before he died he became disabled with rheumatism. Ile and his wife were members of the Episcopal church and in polities he was a Democrat.
Our subject during his early boyhood was engaged in assist- ing his father with the work on the farm, hence the education he received was limited. In 1868 in the City of Tomah he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wilson. danghter of John and Jane Wilson, who came early from New York to Monroe county. Mrs. Allingham is the eldest of a family of six children. John Wil- son. father of Mrs. Allingham, died in 1884. Mrs. Wilson passed away in 1909. In religious belief Mr. Wilson was a Presbyterian, but afterwards joined the Congregational church, of which he was a faithful and consistent member up to the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Allingham have six children, viz. : Margret. Hugh. John Hamilton, Jane Grace and Bertha. After Mr. and Mrs. Alling- ham married they lived on the old homestead, and after the death of his father. he acquired by inheritance eighty-two acres of land on which they have since lived. Our subject has made valuable and lasting improvements on the land he acquired, and has on his farm a good. comfortable residence and a commodious barn built in 1902. He is a successful general farmer, and from his dairy business receives a profitable income, and his farm is well stocked with a fine grade of cattle. Mr. Allingham has been treas- urer of the town of Tomah for two terms, director of the school board for six years and he and his wife are members of the Con- gregational church, and in politics Independent.
Andrew Anderson is another good farmer of Ridgeville town- ship, Monroe county, who came to America from Norway, where he was born August 6. 1860. His parents were Salve and Kristna (Nelson) Anderson. who emigrated to this country in 1870 with a family of four children, and located first in the village of Wil- ton in this county, where the father worked for about four years as a farm laborer and then purchased a tract of eighty acres in the town of Wellington. Monroe county. Wis. Here Mr. Anderson and his faithful wife are spending their last days in comfort and ease, as the result of their early labors. They are eighty-four and eighty years of age respectively. They had a
588
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY .
family of eight children, only three of whom are now-1912- living.
Andrew is what we may call a self-made man : his chances for education were limited when he was young. having attended only the district schools of Monroe county, which prompted him to exercise his best efforts in obtaining a practical knowledge of affairs in general, to which he applied himself diligently and is now considered among the leading citizens of his township. He lived at home on the farm until he was thirty-six years old, and in 1896 was married to Miss Henryetta Willgrub, and their chil- dren were Hurbert H .. born July 6. 1897. and Edwin HI .. born June 28. 1898. Mrs. Anderson died in 1899. Just before their marriage. Mr. Anderson inherited from his aunt a farm of eighty acres in section fourteen, town of Ridgeville, which has ever since been the family homestead, where Mr. Anderson lives with one son, since the death of his wife. He is a public spirited man, full of ambition and takes an active interest in the affairs of his town. He is a Republican in politics and has served two terms as justice of the peace of Ridgeville. He is fair and square in all his dealings, and well liked by his neighbors.
Thomas E. Anderson is another native son of Monroe county. Wisconsin, and was born March 2, 1871, to Thomas N. and Mary (Davis) Anderson. The former came from County Wexford. Ire- land, to the United States in 1850. and found employment in New York state as a farm hand, where he remained for a time and then came to Wisconsin, where he met and married Miss Mary Davis, of Fox Lake. this state; she was a native of County Wick- low. Ireland. To this union was born five children-three of whom are living. While living at Fox Lake, he purchased a farm of 120 acres in Monroe county. Wisconsin, and in 1850 moved his family to the farm where he made his home up to the time of his death which occurred in 1905. He was a thrifty, energetic man, and in later years achieved a fair measure of success as a farmer ; was widely known in his community and highly respected by all who knew him. He was a Democrat in polities and took an active interest in the affairs of his party. In religious faith he was a devoted member of the Catholic church.
Thomas E. was raised on his father's farm and his early life was about the same as the ordinary farmer boy ; he attended the district schools in winter and helped with the farm work in sum- mer. By hard work, economy and good judgment. he early laid the foundation for a successful career. He saved his earnings and soon purchased in his own right a twenty aere tract to which
589
BIOGRAPHY
he added from time to time until he is now rated as one of the largest land owners in Monroe county. IIe also deals exten- sively in live stock, and his extensive herds of thoroughbred cat- tle, has caused him to be branded "The Cattle Man of Monroe county." Mr Anderson is careful, conservative and methodical in his affairs, and in all his business dealings is known for his uprightness and fairness. Ile is a man of fine personal qualities, social and companionable, affable and eongenial, loves good eoni- radeship and good cheer, and is loyal to his friends. He is a Dem- ocrat in his political opinions, and active in the councils of his party. He is a member of the Catholic church and president of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Tomah.
Warren A. Aney*, a native of Monroe county. Wisconsin, is one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of Cole's Valley, Adrian township, where he is the owner of a 360-acre farm in sec- tion thirty-four. He was born April 3, 1870, and is the son of Samuel and Ruth (Gibbs) Aney, natives of central New York, who left the Empire state in the late fifties and came west to Wisconsin, first locating in Racine county, and a short time there- after came to what is known as the Ridge in Ridgeville town- ship, returning again to Racine county, and after seven years came to Adrian township, Monroe county, where Mr. Aney bought 160 acres of land in section thirty-four, where with the excep- tion of three years spent in Sparta, he has resided for forty-five years. The land at that time was only partially cleared, and the buildings inadequate. In 1870 a modern briek residence was built which has since been kept in a fine state of preservation. A large barn was built the year previous, and as time demanded other out-buildings have been erected. Choice stock is always to be found on this farm, which has been enlarged by our subject by additions until he now has 360 acres of land. Mr. Aney makes a specialty of choice Jersey cattle, Sherock sheep and Durock Jersey hogs.
Samuel Aney, the father of our subject, was born in New York state, January 12, 1828, and still resides with his son on the homestead farm. His wife. mother of subject, died at Sparta, in 1895, at the age of sixty-five years. Samuel Aney is the son of Michael Aney, of German lineage, who came early from New York state, and settled in Ridgeville township and spent his last days in Adrian township, where he died at the age of eighty-two years. Samuel, the father of Warren, has been three times mar- ried, and is the father of four children, viz .: Warren T. Herman, who resides in Adrian township; Mary, wife of A. II. Edminster,
590
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
of Sparta, and Sarah deceased, who was the wife of O. F. Sias. Samuel Aney had five brothers and one sister who came to Mon- roe county and settled in Ridgeville township in the late fifties: they were John. George. Jack. Daniel. Jesse JJ .. and Nancy, wife of James Johnson.
January 13. 1892. Mr. Aney was united in marriage with Miss Anna Bredlow, daughter of Lonis Bredlow, of Sheldon township. but now resident of Norwalk.
William H. Ascott*, a substantial farmer and land owner in Angelo township. Monroe county. Wisconsin, was born in this county. July 18. 1869. His parents, William and Jane (McCreary) scott, were natives of England and Ireland, respectively. and wie to the United States in about 1850, and located first at Schenectady. New York, and later removed to Pennsylvania. where they remained until 1854. when they came to Wisconsin. and were among the pioneer settlers of Monroe county. He had eleven brothers and sisters, only one of whom are now living. namely. Mordica, who resides at Winona, Minn. In 1870. Mr. Ascott moved to the farm in Angelo township, which is now owned by our subject, which then contained 120 acres, with only a small clearing. Hle made many improvements and brought the iand to a good state of cultivation and there made his home until his death, which occurred August 30. 1904. at the age of sixty- nine years. His wife. mother of our subject, passed away Feb- ruary 22. 1904. aged seventy-two years. They were kindhearted and generous, prosperous in their undertakings. and were held in high esteem by all who knew them.
William Il. Ascott is the only surviving member of a family of three children. the others were Mary, who married George Dumbar, and George, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Ascott was but nine years of age when his parents moved to his present farm, and here William grew to manhood. He attended the dis- triet school and assisted in the farm work, until 1902, when he purchased the home farm and started on his own account. To the original 120 acres he has added from time to time, until now he has 320 acres. The first barn on the place was built of logs. which was replaced by our subject in 1905. with a frame structure forty by eighty feet. Many other improvements have been made. including a silo with a capacity of 175 tons, which was erected in 1910. Mr. Ascott is engaged in general farming. and sinee 1910 has made a specialty of raising Holstein cattle, and he also is extensively engaged in raising small fruits. He is recognized as
591
BIOGRAPHY
one of the progressive men of the county. and as a farmer he is thoroughly systematic and up to date in his methods.
On September 19. 1899, Mr. Ascott was united in marriage with Miss Nellie N. Hutson, youngest daughter in a family of nine children born to John and Mary ( Mann) IIntson. both of whom were born in Lincolnshire. England. They came early to Wis- consin, and were among the pioneers of Big Creek Valley, hav- ing located on the farm now owned by W. F. Parsons. and at the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1907. he was con- sidered one of the well-to-do farmers of Big Creek, popular in his community and beloved by all who knew him. His widow. mother of Mrs. Ascott. survives. and makes her home in the City of Sparta.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ascott have been born three children. Mary N., born Angust 17, 1900. John W., born May 14, 1904, and Ruth J .. born July 26, 1907.
Clifford R. Austin, a native of Monroe county, Wisconsin, was born in Leon township. October 20. 1853. Ilis parents were William J. and Maria E. (Sanford) Austin (notice of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume). He received a good educa- tion in the common school, and lived with his parents on the farm until 1880, when he went to South Dakota and purchased a farm of 453 acres. After spending three years there, he sold his land and returned to the old homestead in Leon township and assumed the management of the farm, which he continued to carry on until 1903. Hle then moved to the traet of land left to him at the death of his father, and remained there two years. In 1905 he purchased the Robert Smith farm of 520 acres which he improved with a handsome residence. substantial barns and outbuildings, and made other improvements which makes his farm one of the model, up-to-date country homes of Monroe county. He is en- gaged in general farming, dairying and stock raising and is a sue- cessful breeder of light and heavy draft horses and short-horned cattle. Ile was one of the organizers of the Co-operative Creamery Company and for five years has been its president and treasurer ; he is also one of the organizers and treasurer of the Sparta Driv- ing and Agricultural Association, which will have its annual ex- hibit of fine stock early in September of the year 1912.
Mrs. Austin, whose maiden name was Jennie Matteson, was born Angust 10, 1861, in the town of Leon. Monroe county, where she obtained a good common school education, which was sup- plemented by one year in the Sparta high school. She is a mem-
592
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
ber of the W. C. T. U., and president of her society, which has always been a liberal contributor to the National Lodge at Mil- waukee. She is also a member of the Royal Neighbors. Her paternal grandfather. Nathaniel Matteson, was born in Vermont in 1796, and in 1805 went to New York with a family of five children and lived there until the winter of 1858, when they came to Wisconsin, then practically a wilderness sparsely inhabited, and settled in Leon, Monroe county. Alonzo H. Matteson, father of Mrs. Austin, who was born June 24, 1830, preceded his parents to Monroe county one year. and purchased 120 acres of land which, on the death of his father fell to him, and there he reared his family of four children, Mrs. Austin being the second child. He is still living, and for the past few years has lived in retire- ment, a believer in the principles of the Republican party and a strong advocate of temperance. The grandmother died in 1866, and the great-grandfather of Mrs. Austin, who was one of the minute men under Washington, and who also served in the War of 1812, died August 11. 1875.
On May 5. 1881. Mr. Austin was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Matteson. Seven children have been born to this union, six of whom are now living, viz : Loren E., Winfield W., Clifford R. Jr .. Truman A., Kenneth II. and Ruth T. Austin.
Eugene F. Austin, a successful farmer and representative citi- zen of Leon township, where he was born July 16, 1852. is the son of the late William J. and Maria (Sanford) Austin, who were both natives of Ohio. Eugene F. is the second eldest in a family of five children; he attended the common school and La Crosse Business College, graduating in the commercial course, and re- sided on the home farm until 1882, assuming the management of the farm. In 1883 he embarked in the mercantile business. open- ing at that time a general store in the village of Leon, which he successfully carried on until 1907. when the large land interests he had acquired demanded his time and attention, and he dis- posed of the business. He owns 800 acres in Billings and Bowman counties, North Dakota, and 360 acres of choice Leon valley land. besides several buildings in the village of Leon, including the store building adjoining his residence. For many years Mr. Austin was the manager of his father's lumber business at Black River Falls, and was also manager of the Leon mill. He is now engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying, and his farm is well improved with a good class of outbuildings which, with his modern eleven-room residence and the up-to-date equip- ment. makes an ideal country home. In polities Mr. Austin is a
EUGENE F. AUSTIN
593
BIOGRAPHY
Republican, but is an independent thinker on all subjects, and believes in putting only the most capable men in office. While he has never sought nor cared for public office, he has served as town clerk.
On November 8, 1882, Mr. Austin was married to Miss Sallie Ann De Witt, daughter of Richard De Witt, one of the early set- tlers of Leon valley, and Sallie Ann (Thompson) De Witt. Her ancestors on her father's side are traced to France, while on the mother's side they are traced to the Puritanic stock of Vermont. Mrs. Austin was born at Florence, Erie county, Ohio, March 31, 1846, and is one of a family of four daughters and two sons, all of whom are now living. Her parents settled in Wells township, Monroe county, in 1856, and were among the well-to-do and in- fluential citizens of that town, and held the confidence and esteem of all who knew them. The father died November 17, 1901, and the mother passed away in 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Austin has been born one daughter, Edith Estella, who, after graduating from high school, took a commercial course at a La Crosse business college, is now proficient in bookkeeping and stenography, and for some time was in the employ of a large department store at La Crosse. She is a talented musician, having had the advantage of some of the best musical instructors in the country, and she is now instructing a class in instrumental music at her home in Leon. In addition Miss Austin has received thorough instruction in the art of hair dressing and has opened a hair dressing parlor at her home, where she serves her many friends and patrons.
Fred R. Austin, progressive farmer, was born in Leon, Monroe county, Wisconsin, December 21, 1873, and is a son of Henry and Isabella (Reed) Austin. He received his edueation in the district schools of his county, which was supplemented by a four-year course in the Sparta high school. He then served an apprentice- ship in a flouring mill at Leon, and for R. M. DeLong, who at that time was operating the mill under lease, from 1897 to 1902, and from 1903 to 1906 had full charge of the mill. He then purchased the old homestead of sixty-five acres from his father in section ten, Leon township, and has since made this his home. He carries on general farming and is specially engaged in the dairy business and supplies a large amount of milk and cream for the town and creamery. He is a busy man of affairs, a director of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of the town of Leon; has held the office of town clerk for eleven years and is now school treas. urer. He is a director of the Leon Creamery, and from 1907 to 1909 was its secretary and manager. Ile is a member of the
594
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
Modern Woodmen of America and the B. A. Y. In politics he is a Republican and takes an active interest in the affairs of his party.
On August 4, 1900. Mr. Austin was married to Miss Nora Al- derson. of Hillsboro. N. D. Of three children born to them. two. Earl, born March 7, 1901, and Erma, born September 15, 1903, are living.
Henry Austin. father of our subject, was born July 27, 1834. in Medina county, Ohio. In 1848 he emigrated with his parents to Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, where his father lived and died. In 1853, Mr. Henry Austin left Sheboygan county on foot for Monroe county. where he explored the Leon valley and returned to Sheboygan county, but soon came back to the Leon valley, and for three years worked on the farm of his brother, W. J. Austin. He then purchased sixty-five acres of land which he afterwards sold to his son, the subject of this sketch. He was twice married. first to Miss Lauressa Reed, and by this union there is one dangh- ter. Eleanor, living. Mrs. Austin died in 1871, and he married for the second wife, Isabella Reed, sister of his first wife. She was born December 24. 1850. and by this union there are three living children, viz: Fred R., our subject : Roy and Allyn; the latter two residing in Chicago, Il. Mr. Austin is a highly re- speeted citizen of his community. and all his life has been a hard working man. By incessant hard toil. he became physically dis- abled, causing him to retire from active business. Although in feeble health, his mental faculties are unimpaired. and he relates many interesting incidents of his pioneer life in Wisconsin.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.