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 59
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Ile was an honorable, upright man and held the confidence and respect of all who knew him. Ile and his devoted wife were members of the Catholic church.
Our subjeet attended the common schools and remained on the homestead farm with his parents. He purchased forty acres from his father, which he carried on on his own account. and at the death of his parents he acquired the balance of the home- stead and is now the owner of 200 acres of highly cultivated land. well improved with a good class of buildings. He is successfully engaged in general farming and dairying and breeds and deals in Percheron horses. Holstein cattle and Poland China hogs. Hle is a stockholder and director in the Melvina Creamery Company and a stockholder in the Sparta Fair Association. He has been a member of the board of supervisors for three years and is now school clerk for the town of Wells.
Mr. Burke was married February 10. 1880, at Tomah. Wis., to Miss Helen Sullivan, daughter of Dennis Sullivan. They have a family of ten children, viz: Daniel P .. born January 21. 1881 : Dennis J., born February 21, 1882; Mary E., born May 15, 1884; Delia AA .. born April 1. 1885: Margaret. born May 17. 1886; Timothy H .. born January 24. 1887: John J., born February 12, 1890: Florence. born March 29, 1891: Cornelius, born February 22. 1892, and William L., born May 10. 1893. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Burke are members of the St. Mary's Catholic church.
Lee Canfield, president of the Sparta Iron Works. There are men of such broad minds, wide information and wonderful taet that by husbanding their forces and planning their various enter- prises with something like military precision they are enabled to accomplish splendid results in different walks of life. Gifted with natural ability. Mr. Canfield has devoted his talent to the iron business. in which he has gained a prominent place. Ile is a product of Sparta, Wis., born June 15, 1873, and the son of Edward and Abigail (Goodwin) Canfield. natives of Connecticut. In the late forties they came to Monroe county and first located at Angelo, where the father farmed and later run a grist mill. and still later conducted a store. He became one of the most prominent and influential men of the county and did much for its advancement. and was at one time a director in the Bank of Sparta. He was born in 1822 and died at Sparta in 1903. Mrs. Canfield was born in 1831 and died in 1909, aged seventy-eight years.
The subject of this sketch bears the name of his grandfather,
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Lee Canfield, who was also a native of Connecticut and a promi- nent iron manufacturer in New England, and it was he who built the first car wheels for the Housatonic railway. Mr. Canfield received his editeation in the public schools of Sparta and early became interested in the iron business. In 1872 the Sparta Iron Works was originated by L. M. Newbury and conducted by him for a number of years, when in 1894 a stock company was formed and the business incorporated. The ownership and man- agement was taken over by the Canfield brothers and others in 1897: the corporation now has a cash capital of $40,000. They manufacture well-drilling machinery, which is sold throughout the United States and Canada and points in South America. This is the largest manufacturing institution in Sparta, and the pres- ent officers are : Lee Canfield, president; George D. Dun, viee- president ; Robert Canfield, secretary and treasurer.
In September, 1894, Mr. Canfield was married to Miss Sadie, daughter of John L. Mather, of Sparta. They have two children -Josephine and John Canfield.
Fraternally Mr. Canfield is a member of the Knights of Pythias order.
Robert Canfield was born at Sparta. May 22, 1875, and was edneated in the public schools and Beloit College. He became a member of the Sparta Iron Works in 1896. and is its present sec- retary and treasurer. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias order and the Modern Woodmen of America. In June, 1899, he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Lee. daughter of W. F. Lee, of Sparta. Their children are Lee Goodwin, Robert Raymond and William Frederick Canfield.
Andrew J. Carnahan, retired. is descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry and was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, January 7. 1842, the sixth child in order of birth in a family of twelve children; those besides our subject who are now living are: Eliza- beth. wife of Charles Madison, of Newell. S. D .; Naney, widow of DeLos Henry. of Fingle. N. D .: James M .. who makes his home in California : Joseph H .. of Black River Falls, Wis., and William, who lives at Wittenberg, Wis. Those deceased are: Archibald, Adam II., Maggie, formerly the wife of Charles Trumley; Jane, former wife of Adam Ringer, and two who died in infancy. James and Rosanah (McCormick) Carnahan, parents of our sub- jeet, who were natives of Pennsylvania. came to Wisconsin in 1856 and were among the pioneer settlers of Little Falls town- ship, Monroe county, where he spent the balance of his life. He was one of the sturdy and well to do citizens of the county and
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a kind and obliging neighbor. In politics he was known as a war Democrat. He was the son of Andrew Carnahan, also a native of the Keystone state. He lived to the age of sixty-nine years and died in 1876. His widow, mother of our subject, survived until 1881. when she passed away at the age of seventy-one years. Our subject's maternal grandfather was Archibald McCormick, a native of Pennsylvania and an influential citizen of Sandy Lake.
Andrew J. Carnahan was reared on the family homestead. receiving a common school education. After leaving home his first undertaking on his own account was at Iumbering in the woods of Wisconsin. where he remained two years prior to his enlistment on August 26. 1862. as private in Company G. Tenth Regiment. Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into the service August 28 and served with his regiment until 1864, when he was transferred to Company C. Twenty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers. and served thusly until the close of the war in 1865. He saw much service and was in many of the san- guine engagements of the war. among them being the battles of Stone River. Chickamauga. Missionary Ridge. and was with Sherman in his campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta and north through the Carolinas. After being mustered out of the service he returned to Wisconsin and again became engaged in Inmber- ing on the Black river. Morrison creek. and for four years on the Embarrass river. He had three brothers who also took an active part in the Civil War. Adam served in Company C. Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, and was wounded at Cold Harbor; Archibald served in Company G. Tenth Regiment. and was wounded at Perryville. Ky .. and James served in the Third Wis- consin Cavalry. In 1876 Mr. Carnahan located in seetion 29. Little Falls township. and engaged in farming, which he success- fully followed until 1892. when he moved into Sparta. where he has since made his home. He is an active worker in the Repub- lican party and has been called upon to fill many official positions. He was assessor of Little Falls township two years, served as member of the board of supervisors for many years. and for six years was chairman of the board. As deputy sheriff he served for two years under D. M. Fulmer and two years under Henry C'oomes. In the fall of 1899 he was elected sheriff of the county and filled the office during the years 1900 and 1901 and has served as alderman from the second ward for six years.
Mr. Carnahan was first married in 1869 to Miss Frances Du- ham. of West Salem. Wis .. who died in 1873. He was married for the second time on April 1. 1876. to Miss Axa Wilson. daughter
1
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of Charles and Adeline (Bartlett) Wilson, natives of New Hamp- shire. of French and German origin. They came to Monroe county in 1856 and located in Little Falls township, where they were considered among the best class of pioneer settlers. Mrs. Wilson died in 1886 at the age of fifty-four years, and he is still living and active at the age of eighty-three. Mr. and Mrs. Carna- han have one son, Charles C., who is cashier of the First National Bank of Fingle, N. D. Those deceased are Irving, who died in 1893 at the age of seven years, and Estella May, who was the wife of George Hewitt. of Sparta. Her age was twenty-six. She died April 7. 1903. She left one daughter, Estella Berneice Hewitt. Mr. Carnahan is a member of John W. Lynn Post, G. A. R., a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Anton Chapiewsky, who lives on his farm of 217 aeres in section 17. Portland township, where he was born October 9, 1875, is one of the prosperons and wideawake farmers of Monroe county. He is the son of Albert and Mary (Mashak) Chapiew- sky. natives of Poland, who came to the United States over fifty years ago and settled in Portland township, Monroe county, on the farm now occupied by our subjeet, which at that time was all wild, timbered land. This he cleared, erected buildings and engaged in general farming and raising of standard-bred stock.
Bartle Mashak, maternal grandfather of Anton, came to the United States many years ago and was one of the pioneer settlers of La Crosse county, where he spent his life. Joseph Chapiew- sky, paternal grandfather of our subject, also came to La Crosse county in an early day and spent the remainder of his life there.
Our subject is the fourth child of a family of nine children ; the others are John, Josephine, wife of Louis Peplinsky. both residents of Portland township: Frank, of Cashton: Katherine, wife of August Michel, of Portland township: Mary, wife of Joseph Wunsch; Albert ; Louis and Clara, wife of Otto Kumm. all reside in La Crosse county.
Anton Chapiewsky attended the common schools of his native town, was reared on the farm, where he assisted his father until he was thirty-one years old, when he leased the farm in 1906 and commenced operations on his own account. Ile was successful and in 1910 purchased the homestead where he is now engaged in up-to-date farming and stock raising. His residence. barns and other outbuildings are well constructed and commodious, and with his other improvements he has a model farm home.
On September 13, 1905, he was married to Miss Minnie Kumm,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
daughter of Carl Kumm. of La Crosse county. They have one child. Esther A .. born June 2. 1909.
In religions belief Mr. and Mrs. Chapiewsky are members of St. Peter's Catholic church of Middle Ridge.
David D. Cheney. While not one of the earliest residents of the city of Sparta, David D. Cheney came here early enough to be unseparably connected with the growth and development in all lines of industry which marked the period from the Civil War on. Mr. Cheney was born in Scioto valley, Ohio, January 19, 1822; his father was a native of New Hampshire and the family one of the oldest in the state. his mother being a native of Ver- mont. The family moved to Scioto valley. Ohio, and from there returned to western New York, from which they later moved to Girard. Erie county. Pa .. in 1835: subsequently the father and David D. started west in a one-horse wagon, arriving in Frank- lin, Milwaukee county. Wis .. April 1, 1837, which was the earliest of the pioneer days in Wisconsin. At this time David D. was fifteen years of age. and as no schools had as yet been established in this state his father determined to send him back to New York to get an education. He supplied David with $10 and the latter started his return trip: upon arriving in Chicago, from which place he intended to take a steamer to Buffalo, he found that. owing to the lateness of the season. no boats were running; he had but two alternatives, to continne on foot or to return to his father in Wisconsin: he chose the former and went to Adrian. Mich .. where he had an unele: his entire capital when he left home being only $10. it was necessary for him to work his way. which he did, as it was the season of husking corn and he found plenty to do on the route and in that way paid his expenses. Arriving at Adrian he went by rail to Toledo, where he engaged to work his passage on the steamer George Washington, but owing to an unfavorable wind they could not make. the landing until they reached Dunkirk: from the latter place he continued to Girard. Pa .. on foot. Ile attended school the following winter. The entire Cheney family eventually located in Waukesha county, where the father made a homestead and where he lived until his death, which occurred in Angust. 1869, at an age of nearly ninety years.
The father was a "Free Will" Baptist and one of the pioneer ministers for over seventy years, yet received no salary for his services. There were ten children in the family, of whom six sons and two daughters arrived to mature years.
David D. Cheney was married to Miss Martha Ryan, of Mil-
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waukee, February 22, 1842. In 1847 he went to Milwaukee and from there to the town of Chester, Dodge county, from which place he removed to St. Marie, Marquette county. thence to Stevens Point and later on to Fox Lake, in Dodge county in 1853. The following year he removed to Black River Falls, returning three years later to Fox Lake: later in 1850 he traced his way back to Black River Falls and three years afterward located at Sparta; his wife died on March 16, 1869, and two years after- ward, January 1. 1871, he was married to Mrs. George Darringer. He had four children by his first marriage- Emily, who died in infancy; Marvin II., who died at the age of ten years; Lydia Am, wife of N. J. Kemp, now of Minneapolis, Minn., and David W., of Sparta.
Mr. Cheney was one of the most successful business men in the City of Sparta, at various times engaging in different enter- prises. at one time being employed in the mercantile business and also as a grain dealer and lumber merchant. Later he became interested in banking. Ile built two large warehouses and a number of dwellings and was one of the most enterprising citi- zens in the city. In earlier days Mr. Cheney voted with the Abolitionists and subsequently became a Republican. but as issues changed he voted for the party whose principals seemed to him right. He was opposed to the saloon in all its forms. He held various official positions in the gift of the people and in 1870 was elected to the legislature of the state of Wisconsin on the Republican ticket. He served as chairman of the county board for several terms and also as president of the village and village treasurer before Sparta became a city, besides serving on the school board.
David D. Cheney was one of the best known and highly respected citizens of Sparta. and socially was one of the most genial and companionable of men. firm in his convictions and positive in his character. yet he was a man of broad and tender sympathies. over extending aid to the needy and encouraging deserving enterprises. he was generous yet unostentatious. A man of sterling character, right principles. clear headed and progressive. he was a man among that great body of men who have done so much to make the state of Wisconsin what it is.
He died at Biloxi, Miss .. where he was spending the winter with his family on February 16, 1904, from paralysis.
Milliam Christopherson, for many years a resident of Monroe county, was born in Norway, October 1, 1845, a son of Gilbert and Carolina Christopherson, natives of Norway. They emi-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
grated to America with a family of four children and settled in the Cannon valley. Monroe county. Wisconsin. where the father worked as a farm laborer for some time and in 1872 homesteaded 120 aeres of land in Pleasant valley, where he established the family home and still resides. The mother. a devoted wife and an indulgent mother. died in 1911. honored and respected by her wide circle of friends.
Milliam Christopherson is the second child in a family of eleven children born to his parents; he attended the district school up to his fourteenth year and assisted in the farm work. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-three, when he and his brother Peter purchased 240 acres. Three years later they divided this farm, subjeet taking eighty acres for his por- tion in Pleasant valley, where he and his family reside. In 1910 he purchased forty-six acres additional. Ile carries on general farming, stock raising and dairying, and keeps his farm well stocked with a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs. He is an enterprising, energetic and progressive man, and takes pride in keeping his farm up-to-date and well supplied with modern labor- saving devices.
He was married May 6. 1890. to Miss Sophia Oleson. by whom he has had six children, viz: Inga, a student in Sparta High School, Glenn, Mable. Arthur, Clarence and Everett. Mr. Christopherson with his estimable wife are members of the Luth- eran church and he affiliates with the Republican party.
John Clements*, a progressive farmer of Portland township. is a son of John P. and Rosenia (Hise) Clements, who were natives of France and Holland. respectively. His father came to America with his parents when he was nine years old and settled at that time near Milwaukee, Wis. The mother came to the United States with her parents when she was thirteen years of age. and they also settled near Milwaukee. When a boy the father. John P .. was employed at farm work and later came to La Crosse county, where his brother Nicholas was located. Hle afterward went to Rock county. Wisconsin, making the trip on foot : there he secured employment and saved sufficient means for a start in life. and returning to La Crosse county. purchased a farm, which he afterward sold. and purchased another, which he partly cleared, and again sold out and moved for a time to Chippewa Falls, Wis., where he was engaged in toting on the Thornapple river for several winters. Some time in the sixties he moved to Portland township and purchased a farm of 160 acres in section S. now owned and ocenpied by our subject. At the time he pur-
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chased this tract there was but fifteen acres under cultivation. He erected nearly all the buildings now standing, including a solid stone house; only two others of a similar kind were built in this township. He cleared ninety acres, and here with his wife. whom he married near Milwaukee, made their home and reared their family and followed the busy life of farming until the death of the father, which occurred December 26. 1910, in his seventy- third year. The death of the mother occurred in 1903 at the age of sixty-four years. He was a member of the town board and the school board for several years, was a successful farmer, a liberal and broad-minded citizen. Eight children were born to them, viz: Henry, who lives in the town of Leon; Mary is the widow of John Gother, of Jefferson township; Kate, formerly the wife of John Algray, of Leon, is deceased; Rosa, wife of John Taylor, of Ladysmith, Wis .; our subject; Peter, of Cashton; Lonisa. and Anna, who is a teacher, are residents of Portland township.
John Clements attended the district schools of the neighbor- hood and was reared on the home farm. He began farming on his own account with his brother, Peter, and together they ran a threshing machine and lumber-saw for ten years. Disposing of his interests to his brother, John took up the management of the home farm in 1907 and has since cleared ten more acres and is conducting successful farming operations.
In November, 1905, Mr. Clements was united in marriage with Miss Kate Smenk, daughter of Albert Smenk. of Monroe county. They have a family of four children, viz: Sylvester A., Rosenia M., Clarence P. and Clement F. With their family Mr. and Mrs. Clements attend St. Peter's Catholic church of Middle Ridge.
Ben Cole, the genial and popular proprietor of the Park hotel, of Sparta, is a native son of Wisconsin. He was born in Vernon county on June 3. 1861, to Benjamin and Elsie (Wyman) Cole, both natives of New York state, where they were married in 1858. and the same year came to Wisconsin and located on a farm near Baraboo. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was among the first to offer his services in defense of his country and in 1861 enlisted as a private in Company F. Sixteenth Regi- ment. Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. and after serving with dis- tinction the term of his enlistment he re-enlisted and participated in many important engagements, receiving wounds at Pittsburg Landing and in other battles, from the effects of which he died on his way home. He was a brave soldier. a loyal citizen and
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enjoyed the friendship and esteem of his community. The maternal grandfather of our subject. Ezra Wyman, was a native of the empire state and came to Wisconsin in an early day, loeat- ing in Sank county. where he followed the trade of a shoemaker. He was a prominent citizen, and with his wife, whose maiden name was Emily Seymour, daughter of a prominent New York family, was highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends.
Ben Cole is the second child and only surviving member of a family of three children. Of the others Rosa and Edgar W. are both deceased. the latter meeting his death in a railroad accident October 1. 1888. in his twenty-second year. Our subject received his education in the common schools and at the age of nineteen began. railroading. which occupation he followed for ten years. He then engaged in the pump business, selling his wares through- out the counties of Adams, Washara and Portage, meeting with universal success. His next venture was at farming in Lincom township. Monroe county. and remained thus engaged for two years and then became proprietor of the Hotel Warren at War- ren. Continuing there for three years, he sold his interests and moved to Black River Falls, where he took charge of the Mer- chants' hotel and remained for the next three years. He then returned to Sparta and in the fall of 1910 became the proprietor of the llotel Sparta. conducting the last named hotel until Decem- ber, 1911, when he opened the boxball alley on North Water street. Disposing of this enterprise in 1912. he again embarked in the hotel business, this time as proprietor of the Park hotel at Sparta. March 20, 1912. Mr. Cole is a thorough hotel man and popular with the traveling publie.
On April 22. 1885. Mr. Cole was united in marriage with Miss Enna J. Townsend. daughter of Louis and Helen (Benton) Townsend, of Union Center. Wis. They have six children. viz : Archie B .. Ruby I .. Elwin R .. Lum. Glenn and Lester.
Mr. Cole has taken a lively interest in fraternal matters-was president of the local lodge of C. M. B. A. at Valley Junction. leading officer in the local lodge M. W. of A. and Venerable Council. While a resident of Union Center and while at Warren he was local president of the M. B. A. and also a leading officer in the Beavers. He was local president of the Eternal Reserve Association at Ashland while he was a resident of Black River Falls.
Edward C. Cole*, who resides on his farm in sections 28 and 33. Adrian township, is the son of Charles Cooper and Celista (Sawyer) Cole natives of Ohio, and New Hampshire, respectively.
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Charles Cooper Cole was born July 9. 1829, and died September 20. 1876. He was the son of David Cole, a native of the Mohawk valley in New York state, who came to Wisconsin and was one of the first settlers in Adrian township. Monroe county, for whom Cole's valley was named. He was one of the most prominent and well-to-do citizens of Adrian township, and took an active inter- est in the local affairs of the town. Ile built what was known as the Yankee tavern, which he ran for several years, and was an experienced and well-known eve specialist. He was an exten- sive land owner, and sold five forties of land to the county for the Monroe county poor farm, which was located in Adrian town- ship prior to its removal to the town of Sparta. He was honora- ble and upright in all his dealings and held an enviable position in his community, and was highly respected by all who knew him. After a residence in this county for many years, he in later life removed to Eau Claire county, where he died. Charles Cole, father of our subject, came to Wisconsin in 1866, locating in Adrian township on the farm where our subject now resides, and was married in 1867 to Miss Celistia Sawyer. They were among the prominent settlers of the town, and died honored and respected by the whole community.
Edward C. Cole was born on the farm where he now resides, September 18, 1869. Ile had one brother, Elmer, who is now deceased. His education was received in the district school of the neighborhood. and after the death of his father he removed with his mother to the city of Tomah, and when a young man was employed in the Central hardware store for a period of ten years, and afterward became a member of the drug firm of Banks & Cole. In 1893 he went to San Antonio, Texas, and remained there until 1898. when he went to Chicago, Ill., and spent two years. In 1903 he returned to Monroe county and the homestead farm. consisting of six forties in Adrian township, where he has since resided, engaged in general farming. He is considered one of the progressive, up-to-date farmers of the town, and besides his farming operations he takes an active interest in the affairs of the town and has been a member of the township board.
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