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 68
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Besides David, the other members of his family are Elizabeth. now the wife of N. V. Jewett, of Monroe county, Wisconsin ; Fannie, the wife of F. A. Hubbard, of Barron ; Sarah (deceased), wife of David Jones: William A., of Sparta . Mary Ellen, wife of Lemuel Jones. of Arkansas: Lillie. wife of John Bowen, of Barron : Ethel and George E., who reside in Sparta, and Gertrude, wife of Chris Thompson, who resides at Ladysmith, Wis.
David was reared on his father's farm, where he remained helping with the farm work until he was twenty-five years of age.
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and then took up farming on his own account in Burns township, La Crosse county. Nine years later he moved to Sparta. and in 1894 purchased, with his brother. William. the dray business of Hoffman & Fich, which they successfully conducted under the firm name of Hemstock Brothers for some five years, when David purchased the interest of his brother and has since conducted the business on his own account. He is a wide awake, prosperous and energetic business man, thoroughly up to date. He takes an active part in the fraternal orders to which he belongs. being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Rebecahs.
Mr. Hemstock was married in December, 1893. to Miss Clara E. IIulbert. daughter of Ira Hulbert. of Sparta. They have one child. Vena Ray Hemstock.
William A. Hemstock, liveryman and popular business man of Sparta. is a native of Wisconsin. He was born in Burns valley, La Crosse county, and is the youngest of a family of ten children, three boys and seven girls born to William and Elizabeth (Stead- man) Hemstock. both natives of Canada, who came to the United States in an early day and settled first at Milwaukee. From there they moved to West Salem, and nearly fifty years ago they came to Burns valley, La Crosse county, and located on a farm. They were among the early pioneers of this section and were considered substantial and successful farmers. Here they reared their family and lived until 1899. when the father passed away at the age of seventy-three. Mrs. Hemstock still survives and makes her home at Sparta.
William attended the district schools while living on the farm. and at the age of twenty-three he married Miss Maude Skelton, of Lewis valley. Wisconsin, on November 24, 1892. He then rented a farm, which he worked on his own account for two years. In 1894 he gave up farming and moved to Sparta, where he engaged with his brother, David, in the dravage business, under the firm name of Hemstock Brothers, continuing for about five years: he then sold his interests to his brother and purchased the livery business of J. C. Hewitt. on Oak street, which he carried on for five years before moving to his present quarters on North Water street, and now conducts the largest livery business in Monroe county. Begin- ning with nine horses, he now has a stock of thirty and other equipment in proportion, and is recognized as one of the leading men of Sparta. He is active in fraternal organizations, being identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Modern
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Woodmen of America and the Equitable Fraternal Union, and is prominent in social circles.
Mr. and Mrs. Hemstock have one daughter-Lila Belle.
George A. Henry, ex-sheriff of Monroe county, was born at Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y., March 18, 1859, to John and Hannah (Steanson) Henry, both of whom were born in Ireland. In 1850, while still a young man, he came to America and located at Kingston, where he served an apprenticeship for three years at the trade of currier. and after working with Neas & Teller for nearly twelve years. he came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1861 and purchased a farm of 120 acres four and one-half miles south- west of Tomah. Possessed with that thrift and energy common to his race, he brought his farm to a high state of enltivation, and there made his home until 1875, when he disposed of his land and returned to Kingston. N. Y. He remained there but a short time. and in 1877 came back to Monroe county, and on May 1 of that year purchased another farm of 120 acres near Jacksonville, and engaged in general farming and stock raising for about eighteen years, whence, in 1895, they moved to the city of Tomah, where Mrs. Henry died May 30. 1910, and where he still lives at the age of seventy-eight years. They had a family of two sons. George A. and William C., and both stood high in their community. Ile is a member of the Presbyterian church and the mother was a member of the Episcopal church.
George A. Henry was raised on his father's farm and his experience was the same as that of most farmer boys. He attended the district schools and helped with the farm work until he was twenty-three years old, and for five years after his marriage, con- tinned to reside on the home farm, then moved to the city of Tomah and engaged in the milling business for some four years, and from 1892 to 1908 was engaged in the dray business, and for fourteen years was a local agent for the Standard Oil Company. Mr. Henry is a Republican in political views, and is active in the councils of his party, and has been called upon to fill many publie offices. He was school treasurer in the town of Adrian for two years and supervisor for one year : he was elected alderman of the city of Tomah from the second ward and served two years, and for four years was treasurer of the fire department. In 1908 he was eleeted sheriff of his county and served with distinction until 1911. Fraternally Mr. Henry is a member of the Knights of Pythias. the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World.
On November 18, 1882, Mr. Henry was united in marriage with Miss Mary Schultz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Schultz, pio-
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neers of Monroe county. having come here in 1850. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry have been born five children, four of whom are now living. viz .: Robert W., born July 8. 1883: Arthur JJ., born Feb- ruary 7. 1887; Fay IL .. born December 26, 1889: Carl R., born November 12, 1891. and Earle H .. born September 24. 1894. is now deceased.
George L. Herbst, a prominent merchant of Sparta, was born here on May 7. 1868. the son of Fidel and Elizabeth (Stauss) Herbst. He attended the public schools in Sparta, and early started in life as a clerk in the store of J. J. Mason & Co .: he remained with this firm for some five years, then went to Water- town. S. D., where he remained for a short time, returning to Wisconsin he found employment with the Foster Lumber Com- pany. of Fairchild. Wis. So well did he fulfill his duties here that he remained in their employ for twelve years. He next engaged with the firm of Kepler & Co., of Eauclaire. Wis .. where he remained for about two years, and moved to Sparta again and took a position as clerk with the firm of Dodge & Davis in the dry goods business. During all these years, the one desire upper- most in the mind of Mr. Herbst was the ownership of a store: he had been attentive to business. and with his natural energy and economical taet, at the end of two years with Dodge & Davis. he had accumulated sufficient funds, so that in 1902, associated with his brother. Edward, he embarked in the dry goods business on his own account. which they successfully carried on for a short time, when Mr. Herbst purchased the interest of his brother and became sole proprietor. On February 8. 1905. the business was incorporated under the name of the Herbst Dry Goods Company. which it still retains. and with their new and up-to-date stock of goods. is one of Sparta's busiest and well known business establishments.
In June, 1898. Mr. Herbst married Miss Winnie Kyle, daughter of II. Il. Kyle, of Augusta. Wis. Three children have been born to them, viz .: H. Robert. George F. and Elizabeth Herbst.
Fraternally Mr. Herbst is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees.
Fidel Herbst. father of our subject. was a native of Preussen, Germany, born April 24, 1838. In 1854, when but sixteen years of age. he emigrated to the United States, stopping first at Syracuse. N. Y., where he was employed at the blacksmith trade: he remained there until 1866, when he came to Sparta, and was actively engaged at his trade until a little more than a year prior to his death. which occurred October 3. 1901. A Republican in his
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political opinions, he was interested in the affairs of his party and held numerous positions of trust. He was for a time chief engi- neer of the Sparta fire department : held the office of city treasurer and alderman from his ward, was in the city council and was a member of the Congregation church. He was the son of John Herbst, a native of Sigmaringen, Germany, who was a forester and spent his life in Germany. His wife's maiden name was Katherine Knittel. Fidel Herbst was married November 30, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Stauss, danghter of Hartman and Katherine Elizabeth Stanss, natives of Germany. He was a merchant tailor in his home country, where he died in 1866, aged sixty-nine years. Mrs. Herbst. mother of our subject. was born September 28. 1841. and was the youngest of a family of seven girls and three boys. Shortly after the death of her father, when but ten years of age, accompanied by her older sister, Sophia, and two others, she came to this country and located at Hazel Green. Wis. She soon after went to Galena. Ill., where she was married to Mr. Herbst. They had a family of six children, viz. : Fred W., of Fairchild. Wis. : Carl C .. of Minneapolis: Anna Marie Elizabeth. wife of Congressman John J. Esch. of La Crosse. Wis. : George h .. John L. and Edward. all of whom reside at Sparta. where also the mother resides.
Fred B. Herrman, who has been a resident of Monroe county since 1888, is a prosperous and influential farmer of Sparta town- ship. He was born in the town of farmington, La Crosse county, February 9. 1862, and is one of a family of thirteen children. born to William and Katherine ( Williams) Herrman. Those besides our subjeet are: Amelia, now the wife of Frank Huber. resides in La Crosse county; Lucas B. is deceased ; Frank A .; Anna, widow of Phillip Corelett: Bessie is the wife of John Rhyme, of Sparta township; Mary is the wife of William Knhen. of Dodge county, Wisconsin; Matilda is the wife of Kirt C. Squires and lives at Gladstone, N. D .; William resides in Sparta, where he is engaged in the grocery business: Henry resides in Indiana, Robert in La Crosse. and Amos lives in La Crosse county. and Lillian Herrman in La Crosse. The parents were natives of Germany, and after coming to the United States in the early forties. located first in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and later by ox team made their way to La Crosse county, where the father acquired a farm of 200 aeres, and successfully engaged in farming, and there made his home until his death in 1900, at the age of seventy-three years. Mrs. Herrman, mother of our subject. passed away in 1901, at the age of sixty-three years.
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They were high minded and progressive, and enjoyed the friend- ship and esteem of all who knew them. The grandfather of Mr. Fred Herrman was Bartle Herrman, also a native of Ger- many. He came to America and settled in Dodge county, Wis- consin, where he lived for many years, and died on a farm near Waupun.
Fred B. Herrman attended the district school at Farmington. La Crosse county, and remained on the home farm until he arrived at the age of seventeen. He was then employed at farm work by William Storandt, of La Crosse county, and later entered the employ of Sawyer & Austin, in the Inmber business, where he remained for three years. Hle next located on a farm in Burns township, La Crosse county, and there remained two years. He then. in 1888. purchased his present farm of 160 acres. of which forty acres lie in La Crosse county, and 120 acres in Sparta township, in section nineteen, from Martin Flood. Mr. Herrman is one of the thrifty and well-to-do farmers of the county, and his farm is equipped with the latest and modern labor saving machinery, and in 1897 he erected a large barn. to which during the year 1912 will be added an addition of 42 by 60 feet. In 1902. a new and up-to-date residence was erected. and this with his ninety-ton silo and other improvements, makes his one of the ideal country homes in Monroe county. Hle is engaged in general farming and dairying. and makes a specialty of raising Jersey cattle.
On April 14, 1885. Mr. Herrman was united in marriage with Miss Ida J. Flood, danghter of Martin and Mary (Hammond) Flood, natives of Vermont and Canada respectively. Early in the fifties they came to Ridgeville township, in Monroe county. and located on what is known as the Shulte farm. In 1865. when Mrs. Herrman was four years of age, they removed to the farm in Sparta township where Mr. and Mrs. Herrman now reside. At that time the farm was in a wild state covered with a growth of timber, which Mr. Flood by hard work, thrift and perseverance, succeeded in clearing, and the land was brought- to a good state of cultivation, and there made his home until 1902, when he died at the age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Flood. mother of Mrs. Herrman, died October 24, 1890, aged seventy-one years. Bernard Flood, who resides in the city of Sparta, is the only brother of Mrs. Herrman. To Mr. and Mrs. Herrman has been born three children. Harry F., born May 11. 1888: Harriet. born December 7. 1892, is now a student at the State University. and Robert A., born August 11. 1902.
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Mr. Herrman adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and while he has never sought or cared for office, he has been a member of the township board for several years, and was at one time a director and manager of the Rockland creamery.
John Herring, who is justly ranked among the substantial and progressive farmers of Sparta township, is a native son of Monroe county, Wiseonsin, and was born on section thirty-six, Sparta township, May 2, 1867, son of Peter and Mary (Smith) Herring, both natives of Germany. The father when yet a young man, left his native land for the United States, and upon arriving in this country, eame to Wisconsin and settled first in Leon township, Monroe county, where he found employment as a farm hand. Imbued with the determination to succeed, he went to work with a will, and by strict economy aceumulated means with which he purchased a farm of 160 acres in section thirty-six, Sparta township, and commenced farming on his own account. He fought manly the hardships incident to pioneer life, and by hard work, thrift, and judicious management, he mastered all obstacles, improved the farm with a large and com- modious dwelling, and outbuildings, and brought the land to a state of cultivation where it produced enormous erops, and at the time of his death, which occurred January 7, 1887, he was considered one of the most influential and substantial farmers of his township, highly respected by all who knew him. His wife, mother of our subject, was a lady of many womanly virtues, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of her large circle of friends. Her death ocenrred November 2, 1902. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living. Emma is the wife of Archie Doane and resides in Little Falls township; John, the subject of this sketch; Lillie, the wife of George Merrow, of Sparta; Hattie, the wife of Fayette Baldwin, lives at Sparta; William is deceased, having met his death in a dynimite explosion in December, 1903, at the age of twenty-five years; Mary is the wife of Roy Francis, and Frank, both of whom live in Sparta township. Mr. John Herring attended the district schools of his town, assisting in the farm work on the homestead, where he remained until 1900. In the meantime he had purchased a farm of 160 acres in section thirty-five, opposite the old home farm, which he continued to operate until his marriage, when he moved to his present home. Since residing on his present place he has changed and remodeled the buildings erected a new silo, and made other improvements, while bringing the land to a high state of cultivation. He is engaged in general
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farming. stock raising and dairying, with the cultivation and raising of berries a specialty. In social matters he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
On April 12. 1900. Mr. Herring was united in marriage with Miss Anna L. Guy, daughter of William N. and Isabella (Nicol) Guy, and granddaughter of Alexander and Anna (Denwoody) Nicol, whose sketches appear elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Herring have been born four sons. Leo Nelson, John Peter, Spencer and William.
Fred Heser, a prosperous farmer of section one. Greenfield township. is the son of Fred and Barbara (Silverhorn) Heser. both natives of Germany, who came to America carly in life. settling first at Cleveland, Ohio, where they married ; they after- ward came to Wisconsin and located at Hartford. remaining there but one year, when in 1856 they moved to Neilsville, in ('lark county: they remained there seven years, then in 1863 moved to Monroe county and settled on eighty acres in the town of Eaton, a farm of and a part of the 160 acres now owned by our subject, eighty acres of which is in Greenfield township and eighty acres in the original town of Eaton but which is now Grant township: they first resided on the eighty lying in Eaton, but in 1868 moved to the eighty in Greenfield, where our subject now resides. He was energetic and thrifty. and by hard work subdued his wild land and brought it under cultivation. Hle was prominent in the affairs of his town and at one time was chairman of the town board. When the Civil War broke out. he enlisted and served in the Wisconsin regiment until dis- charged. He died in 1875 at the age of fifty years, honored and respected by all who knew him. His widow, mother of our subject. still survives and resides at La Crosse. The maternal grandmother. Barbara Silverhorn, came to Wisconsin from Ger- many, died in Greenfield township and was buried in Tunnel ('ity.
Fred Heser was born in Clark county, Wisconsin. November 8, 1856, and came with his parents to Monroe county when seven years of age, and is the second child in a family of eight children. five of whom are now living, viz: Fred. the subject of this sketch: William, a resident of Greenfield township: Laura. married John Snowberry, and lives in LaGrange township: George, also of LaGrange, and Barbara, who is the wife of C. II. Wickland. resides at Tomah. Those deceased are Helen. Henry and Wallace. Mr. Heser's education was obtained in the district schools, and with the exception of three years spent in
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the lumber woods of Clark county, he has resided on the home. farm since boyhood. After the death of his father, he, in 1881, came into possession of the place and has since made many improvements. While the original house built by his father still stands in a fair state of repairs, it was replaced in 1911 by a modern residence, equipped with up-to-date appliances. A large and substantial barn was built in 1907. The place is now under a high state of cultivation and well supplied with everything that goes to make a model farm. Mr. Heser is a thorough and practical farmer and occupies a prominent place in his town and county. He has been a member of the side board for two terms and is still a member; he has been treasurer of the school district for six years and in fraternal matters is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
He was married July 2. 1882, to Miss Emma Purdy, danghter of Daniel and Susan (Savage) Purdy, of Greenfield township. To this union has been born Celia, wife of Albert Woodard, of Tunnel City : Earl E., of Greenfield township: Edna, wife of Paul Rosenaw. of LaGrange township ; Myrtle E .. Verna F .. and Fred D. are at home ; Robert is deceased. Earl E. Ileser married Edith Schuler, daughter of August Schuler, of Tomah. in September, 1909, and has one child, Kenneth R. Celia was the wife of the late Carr Johnson, and has three children, viz: Georgie, Ortis and Thelma. the latter is now the wife of Albert Woodard, by whom she has had two children. Alice and Margaurite: Edna J. married Paul Rosenaw and has one daughter, Luceil.
E. Glenn Hesselgrave, editor and publisher of the Norwalk Star. was born at Westport. Columbia county, Wisconsin. August 10. 1876. Son of David and Hannah (Armour) Hesselgrave, natives of St. Lawrence county, New York, and Baltimore Md., respectively. They came to Wisconsin in 1854, and located at Lodi, where the father followed blacksmithing, and where they remained for twenty years. He died September 19. 1911, in his ninetieth year. He was an ordained clergyman of the Uni- versalist church, and was also well posted in law. His wife. the mother of our subject. survives at the age of seventy-four years.
E. Glenn was the eighth child in a family of ten children ; the others are: Mary, wife of Niles Fellows of Madison: Clar- ence, of Lodi: Isabella, wife of Scott Nutting, Eldorado, Iowa : Miles, Long Prairie, Minn .; Florence, wife of W. J. Harriman, Baraboo: Blanche. wife of Hon. C. L. Pearson. of Baraboo; Alfred. St. Cloud, Minn .; Claude, Prairie Du Sac. Wis .: and Leroy, of Lodi. Our subject was educated in the public schools
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of Lodi, and early began the printers trade at Eldorado, Iowa ; was then employed at Lodi, Baraboo, and various papers, and in November, 1907, purchased the Norwalk Star of W. J. Robinson, which he has since continued to publish as a non-partisan paper. changing the size from a quarto to a folio. He was married October 17, 1910, to Miss Anna MeGary, daughter of Eugene MeGary of Norwalk.
Ira A. Hill was born in Belknap county, New Hampshire. on November 26. 1841. and died at Pasadena, Calif .. where he was spending the winter, on March 20, 1904.
He received his education at Gilmanton Academy. in his native state, and later tanght school. In 1862 he recruited for the Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers. enlisted therein and was appointed third sergeant. His regiment being sent to New York. he was detached and detailed as commissary sergeant on board transport of General Banks' expedition to New Orleans, and after reaching there. continued in the commissary department until. stricken with fever .he was sent to the hospital. Upon conva- leseence he rejoined his regiment at Carrollton, La., and was employed in the regimental adjutant's office. In the fall of 1863 he was mustered out from the military service, returned to his native state and spent an invalid year.
In 1864 Mr. Hill managed the business department of the Galena (Ill.) Gazette. the editorial charge of the paper falling under a former New Hampshire acquaintance. After two years. meantime making the acquaintance of U. S. Grant and his brother. Orville. he was employed for one year with Grant & Burke in the leather and saddlery hardware business at Chicago. Entering the firm of Davis, Medary & Hill. who acquired the La Crosse. Wis .. branch of the Grant & Burke business, Mr. Hill spent two years. during which time he was married to Mary E. Tyler, only daugh- ter of Thomas B. Tyler, of Sparta. Wis .. their marriage occurring December 8. 1868.
Disposing of his interests at La Crosse in 1871. he removed to Sparta and engaged in the wholesale grocery business, later enter- ing the drug business. In 1874 he united with Thomas B. Tyler. under the firm name of Tyler & Hill. in the real estate and loan business. which. together with banking. occupied Mr. Hill during the rest of his life. In 1879 he became a director in the Bank of Sparta. was vice president in 1883 and president from 1886 until his death in 1904.
Mr. Hill was a representative citizen and snecessful business man. taking an interest in whatever tended to promote the moral
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and intellectual growth of the community. He served for ten consecutive years on the school board of Sparta, was in the city council and the board of supervisors.
In 1891 he was appointed regent of the normal schools of Wisconsin by Governor Peck, of which board he was president, 1894-5. As a Democrat in politics, he was a delegate and again was alternate delegate to national conventions. Ile was a member and past commander of John W. Lynn Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
As a Mason he took an active part in the lower bodies, being past high priest of the chapter and past eminent commander of the commandery. He was grand king of Wisconsin grand chapter and grand representative of North Carolina, near the grand chap- ter of Wisconsin. He was a member of Wisconsin Consistory and of the shrine at Milwaukee.
He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and other orders.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill had two children. Louis T., who is a resident of Sparta and vice president of the Bank of Sparta, and Kittie, who is the wife of A. W. Barney, also vice president of the Bank of Sparta.
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