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 69
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Merle W. Hill,* manager of the F. P. Mooney farm in La Grange township, was born in Tomah, Wis., December 22, 1888, the son of Oliver Mason and Sophia (Sprague) Hill, natives of Cortland county. New York, and who were married in Illinois. Ile was a pioneer settler in Wisconsin, and came to Monroe county and Tomah township more than forty years ago, where he settled on 200 acres of wild land, which he improved and where he con- tinned to live until his death in 1910, at the age of seventy-three years. lle was one of Monroe county's thrifty and progressive farmers, a man of prominence and influence in his township. The mother of our subject, a woman of rare attainments and domestic virtues, died in October, 1909, at the age of seventy years, loved and esteemed by all who knew her. They had a family of nine children, as follows: Ira, Ernest, both of Tomah; Emma, wife of Edwin Eaton, of Waukesha, Wis .; Caddie C., of Tomah township; Ella, wife of F. J. Mooney, superintendent of the Monroe County Asylum, and Merle W. Those deceased are William, Oscar and Jessie.
Merle W. Hill attended the district school of his neighborhood and remained at home assisting in the farm work until 1911, when he became manager of the Mooney farm. where he carries on general farming and dairying, conducting a milk route in the
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city of Tomah. He is a member of the Mystic Workers, and on June 28, 1911. was married to Miss Blanche Dana. daughter of Edward and Ella Dana, of Tomah. They have one child-Bulah S. Hill.
Oliver Mason Hill, deceased. who was a pioneer settler of Wisconsin and was among that class of sturdy, thrifty and pro- gressive farmers to whom Monroe county is so largely indebted for the high place it holds among the banner counties of the state. He was born April 14. 1837. in Cortland county, New York. a son of Samuel II. Hill, who was born March 12, 1794. When Oliver was but three years of age his parents came west to Illinois and located in Kane county, where they made their home until they came to Monroe county in 1865. Here the father purchased 200 acres of land and established the family home, and here they lived the balance of their lives-his death occurring in Colorado March 12, 1870, whither he had gone in search of health. His wife, grandmother of our subject, survived him thirteen years, and died in Monroe county in August, 1883. He was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, and ever after was a staunch supporter of this party, and in religious belief a Universalist.
Oliver Mason Hill was educated in the public schools of Kane county, Illinois, which he attended up to his eighteenth year, remaining at home. At the death of his parents he inherited the family homestead and continued to carry on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of high bred Jersey and Durham cattle, which he often entered in competition with others for first prize at stock exhibitions. He was a successful farmer, a man of sterling character. faithful in all his undertakings and no one in the community was more highly respected than he. In politics a Republican, he was a strong advocate in the cause of temperance and was formerly a member of the Grange organization and sec- retary and treasurer of the Eastern Monroe County Agricultural Society.
Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Sprague, October 13, 1861. Nine children were born to them. six of whom are now living. viz. : Ina. born December 10. 1862; Ella. born November 10. 1864; Ernest. born August 26, 1876: Emma, born December 10. 1878; Caddie C .. born February 12. 1881. and Merle, born December 22. 1888, and survive the father whose death occurred in 1910 at the age of seventy-three years. Those deceased are William H .. Oscar S. and Jesse P. Hill. William was drowned in the Lemonweir river in 1881.
Caddie C. Hill was raised on his father's farm and attended
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OLLIVER M. HILL AND FAMILY
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the district school until he was seventeen years old, and helped with the farm work. At the death of his father, he came into possession of the home farm of 200 acres, which he has success- fully carried on, and since added 170 acres more. He is among the younger class of Monroe county's prominent and progressive citizens. A Republican in politieal sentiment, he has never sought nor held publie office. He has been secretary of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Tomah, and for one year served as presi- dent of the Monroe County Fair Association, and is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants' Bank, of Tomah. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hill being unmarried, the household duties are looked after by his annt, Mrs. Mary Amidon. She was married June 1, 1862. to Llwellen Amidon, a prominent citizen, civil engineer and county surveyor of Monroe county and locator of Government and school lands, and in poli- ties a Republican. At the time of his death in 1898 he was the owner of an eighty-acre farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Amidon were born four children, two of whom are now (1912) living.
William Hoard, one of the progressive and enterprising citi- zens of Wilton, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. April 13, 1859, the son of Philander and Naney (Reed) Hoard, both natives of the Buckeye state. They reared a family of three children, William, the subject of this sketch, being the only surviving mem- ber of the family. They were farmers by occupation and were among the prominent and most highly respected citizens of their locality. The father died in 1862 and the mother passed away in 1874.
William received his education in the common schools, and was thrown on his own resources at the early age of thirteen years. He worked eight months on a farm at small wages, and was later employed by one man for eight years. the highest wages received during this time being $12 per month. Ile came to Wisconsin with his mother and brother from Michigan, and located in Wilton township, Monroe county, where, on March 15. 1882. he purchased 120 acres of land in section twenty-eight, where he lived. engaging in general farming until 1911, when he removed to the village of Wilton. In addition to his successful general farming. he has car- ried on an extensive dairy business, having a herd of twenty-eight Jersey milch cows. He is an extensive breeder and owner of Jersey cattle and Poland-China hogs, and is kept busy managing his farm. He is one of the influential and public spirited men of his town, and has always taken an active interest in all matters for the betterment of his town and county. He is now president
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of the Farmers' Livestock Association, and in politics he is a Democrat and takes an active interest in the councils of his party.
Ile was married March 15, 1882, to Miss LaRne, daughter of S. B. LaRue. a prominent citizen of Wilton township. Mrs. Hoard is one of a family of seven children. Her parents were also natives of Ohio and emigrated to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Wilton in 1858. and were among the early settlers of that town. The father purchased 280 acres of wild land in section twenty- eight, where the family lived for ten years in a log house of one room. They then built a small frame house, where they lived for thirty-eight years, and then erected a fine residence. The large and well constructed barns and silo have recently been added to the improvements. all of which go to make it an ideal up-to-date country home. The father died in 1911 and the mother passed away in 1897. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoard. viz .: Mildred. born March 24, 1883: Glenn, born June 18, 1886. and Ray. born April 28. 1889.
Reuben Hohn is another one of the native sons of Monroe county and was born in the town of Wells. April 17. 1864. the son of Cyrus Hohn and Sarah (Sherwood) Hohn, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Wisconsin. The father came to Wisconsin when a young man and worked on a farm and in a sawmill and later at the carpenter's trade, which he had previously mastered. He lived in Wisconsin until his children became grown. where he died in 1906. Ile was twice married, first to Miss Sarah Sherwood, by whom he had nine children. After her death he married for his second wife Miss Sarah Miller. Samuel Hohn. grandfather of our subject. also came to Wisconsin. Reuben attended the common schools during his boyhood and after the death of his mother lived nine years with Mr. Al. Fulton. Ile then found employment on a farm at $10 per month. At the age of twenty-four years. in 1888. he was married to Miss Cornelia May Hudson, daughter of William, from England, and Lizzie Hudson, whose family came originally from Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Hohn have two children, Ellis, born December 8. 1890. and Della, born March 18. 1892. In 1912 Mr. Hohn purchased 160 acres of choice land in Leon township. adjoining Wells, where he is well and favorably known as one of the progressive men of the connty.
Hans C. Hoitomt, who is the son of Adolph and Maren (Skulerud) Hoitomt. was born in Norway. November 14. 1873, and when seven years of age came to America with his uncle and aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Gunder Olson, who located in the town of Portland.
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BIOGRAPHY
Monroe county, Wis., where our subject was reared. The uncle died in 1902. his aunt is still living at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. Hoitomt started out in life for himself and was engaged in running a thrashing machine, and also operated a sawmill for a time in Vernon county, and afterwards came to Monroe county and located at Melvina, and with others engaged in the humber business. dealing extensively in pine and hemlock lumber. Out- side of the lumber business, he owns considerable property, among which may be mentioned several ice houses in Vernon and Monroe counties. He also deals extensively in cord wood, shipping many carloads to eastern markets each year. Ile also controls and operates the transfer line at Melvina. Besides his many business ventures. Mr. Hoitomt takes an active interest in the affairs of his town and county. and is treasurer of the Melvina Creamery Association. Ile is the owner of the largest private fish pond in the state, which covers an area of five acres, and which was con- verted from a mill pond by Captain Ilunt in his lifetime, and is plentifully stocked with thousands of black bass and bull heads, weighing up to five pounds each. Mr. Hoitomt is figuring on marketing this product in the near future and will ship to eastern markets.
In 1898 Mr. Hoitomt was married to Miss Dora Olson, by whom he has five children. viz. : James. Morris, Viola. Harold and Gordon Hoitomt. In political sentiment Mr. Hoitomt was formerly a Republican, but now is independent in thought and action, while in fraternal matters he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Fred A. Holden, deputy register of deeds of Monroe county, is a native of New York State, having been born at Ellicottville, June 19, 1849, the son of Amos B. and Mary L. (Lynes) Holden, who were also natives of that state. In 1855, when Fred A. was six years of age, his parents came to Sparta ; soon after arriving at what was to be the future home, his father engaged in business with D. R. Wheeler and W. S. Newton as contractors and builders. Mr. Holden, Sr., had the honor of building the first hardware store erected in Sparta, but which was later destroyed by fire. He continued this business for some years and then engaged in farming. Among the many buildings erected by him besides the hardware store was the Congregational church, of which he was a devoted member. In 1905 he passed from this life to his well- earned reward at the age of eighty years. Not only did he stand high in the community as a citizen, but also in his home and domestic relations, and among his friends he was greatly beloved
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and esteemed for his loyalty and devotion to those near and dear to him. His wife, mother of our subject, preceded her husband to the grave, having passed away in 1897, at the age of seventy years. She was a woman of charming disposition and many womanly virtues. Amos B. Holden was the son of Arnold Holden, a native of Massachusetts, who settled in Western New York in an early day, and there lived to the age of ninety-six years. His wife was Patience Tanner, who lived to the age of ninety-eight years. The paternal great grandfather of our sub- jeet was a native of Ireland, who came to this country and settled on Nantucket Island, where he made cloth after the plan of those early times.
Fred A. Holden was raised on a farm and received his edu- eation in the publie schools of Sparta. IIe remained on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age, and then for eleven years was engaged as traveling salesman for a wholesale imple- ment house. Ile afterwards purchased a farm of his own and besides farming, he worked at various times with his father at the carpenters' trade, and later took up civil engineering, which he followed for twenty-five years, twelve years of which time he was county surveyor, and during this period he became familiar with all parts of Monroe county. Since the fall of 1910 he has been deputy register of deeds under his son, William A., and has prepared a valuable map of the county.
Mr. Holden is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On January 14, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Samuel Miller, of Milwaukee. Their children are William A. and Mabel.
William A. Holden, register of decds of Monroe county, was born in Sparta township, Monroe county, February 6, 1887. His parents, Fred A. and Mary M. (Miller) Holden, are natives of New York state and Switzerland respectively, the former being born at Ellicottville, and the latter at Argon. His paternal grand- parents also were natives of New York state, came to Sparta in 1855, where they lived until their decease; his death occurred in 1905, at the age of eighty years, and hers in 1897, at the age of seventy years.
William A. was reared on the home farm, receiving his education at the Angelo district school. He followed farming pursuits until 1905, when he became rural mail carrier on Route Number Three, from Sparta, which occupation he followed until the fall of 1910, when he was elected on the Republican ticket
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by a majority of 1200 to the office of register of deeds, which position he is filling to the satisfaction of his many friends, and the citizens of the community generally. His term of office will expire in 1913.
Mr. Holden has been a member of company L, third regiment Wisconsin national guards since April, 1903, and is now, 1912, first lieutenant of his company. Also a member of Sparta lodge No. 94, I. O. O. F. On November 22, 1910, he was married to Miss Anna K. Axelson, daughter of Asmus Axelson, a popular and prosperous citizen of Sparta township.
Albert E. Hollister*, a well-known and popular citizen of Tomah, where he has lived for more than forty years, was born in Lima, Livingston county, New York, May 26, 1845. His father, John Ilollister, was a native of Osnabruck, Ontario, where he was born in 1819. Ile served as a soldier in the English army in the Patriot War. When eighteen years of age, he went to the town of Lima, N. Y., and while a resident of that place, married Miss Mercy S. Irish, a native of Livingston county, and daughter of David Irish, a soldier in the American army in the War of 1812, and died of wounds received while in that war. When our subject was three years of age, he removed with his parents to Cass county, Michigan, where they settled on a farm and where the father died in 1887. His wife, mother of our subject, made her home on the homestead until her demise. They were of sterling character, influential in their community and universally esteemed and beloved.
Albert E. Hollister is the eldest of a family of eight children -five sons and three daughters. The second in order of birth is Mary E., who married G. M. Wilson ; Charles R., second son and third child in order of birth, was killed by an accident when seven years of age; Bennett L .; Wilber W .; Ellen M., married Perry Osborne and died in Barton county Missouri, in 1875 : Gordon L., and Elvene M., married to J. II. Long and resides in Michigan. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and trained in that occupation. He received a common school education in the district schools of his neighborhood, and at the age of seventeen in August, 1862, he enlisted in company A .. nineteenth regiment Michigan volunteer infantry, but being of under age, he was released on demand of his father, and hired out as a farm laborer, which he followed but a few days and again enlisted, but with the same results. After remaining at home one year, he again enlisted and this time "stuck." (A detailed account of Mr. Hollister's military career will be found
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in another chapter of this volume.) At the close of the war Mr. Hollister returned to his former home in Michigan, and on September 10, 1865, married Miss Charlotte A. Powell, daughter of Jason and Mary A. Powell. In 1866 he came to Wisconsin but remained only a short time and returned to Michigan. In 1868 he came again to Wisconsin and was for two years engaged in lumbering in the woods. He then came to Monroe county and settled on a farm in the township of Tomah, but his health failing on account of wounds received in the army. he was com- pelled to retire from active farm work and moved to the city of Tomah and engaged in the sale of musical instruments, and has since here made his home. Mr. and Mrs. Hollister have two children-Mary Bell, born May 9. 1870. married Walter S. Mason, head bookkeeper for G. F. Swift & Sons, of Omaha, Nebr., and John R., born September 2. 1873. Mr. Hollister is a Republican in political sentiments, and a strong supporter of Robert M. LaFollette. Ile is a man of fine personal qualities and social standing, courteous in manner. of generous impulses and a lover of good cheer.
Sylvanus Holmes. The late Judge Holmes, of Sparta, was a native of the Empire state, and was born in 1816. Sylvanus Holmes had a marked and interesting personality, and had passed through many striking and romantic adventures in the course of his long life. Ilis youth, up to the age of nineteen, was passed upon his father's farm at the suburban village of Aurora near Buffalo, N. Y. He was kept hard at work for most of the year, picking up such education as he could in the winter months at the district school. In 1834, he took boat for Detroit. where he made a brief stay. He worked at Niles, Michigan, that winter, and then went by foot to Racine, where he found a very small village, among a good many stumps. Hle spent the summer with a party of government surveyors. returned to Racine for the winter, and in the spring of 1836, went with a large party of Indians, by way of Chicago, to Council Bluffs, having a position in the commissary department. The country was almost wholly without roads or inhabitants. The journey occupied six months. About the first of January. 1837, he and a friend bought a canoe. and with a small stock of provisions. started on the Missouri river, not knowing how far it was to the first settlement. After five days provisions gave out, but Holmes, who was a good shot. brought down a fine deer. and with the supply of venison the young men renewed their journey. Once they were followed and shot at by Indians, but got away under cover of night.
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After eleven days they came to a cabin occupied by two white men, and thence they started on foot for St. Joseph, then a mere trading post, being forced to stop for one night on the cold prairie with the wolves howling around them. The winter they spent at Plattsburgh, Missouri, and thence Holmes went by boat and stage to Peoria, III., where he was persuaded by a contractor to accompany another band of Indians to Council Bluffs. serving out provisions and keeping accounts. In the spring of 1837, he commenced trade for himself a few miles below Council Bluffs, and the fall of that year he built the first hewed log house on the site where Omaha now stands. Being prostrated by a severe, persistent fever and ague he was com- pelled to leave the country and returned to his early home. In 1840 he went to Hume, N. Y., where he lived for several years, filling various public offices. In 1842 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Stone, at Varysburg, N. Y. Mrs. Holmes died at the age of sixty-five years. In 1846 he removed to Bradford, Pa., where he lived for twenty years. While there he served as justice of the peace, as county commissioner for three years, and associate judge of the county for five years. In 1861 he enlisted for the war, raised a company of volunteers and received a com- mission as first sergeant. He was subsequently promoted to be adjutant in the fifty-eighth regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers. but was compelled to resign on account of ill health. From 1863 to the close of the war he was provost marshal of his con- gressional district.
In 1865 he came to Sparta and became a merchant here, as he had been at Bradford. In 1869 he removed to Wilmar, Minn., and was judge of probate of the county for five years. He then returned to Sparta, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred January 23, 1895.
Judge Holmes was emphatically a good man, who commanded the respect of all. IFe was an honored member of the Congrega- tional church, having been one of the deacons from 1883 until his death. In politics he was a radical prohibitionist, expressing his opinion with positiveness and frequency but with courtesy. Ilis height was over six feet and his size in proportion, and with his ereet bearing and firm step he was, perhaps, the most mili- tary figure in Sparta, at least since Major Davidson passed away. Ile was a member of the Masonic order and the Grand Army post. His three children are: Mrs. E. M. Calhoun (deceased). Mrs. Robie Lee, of Sparta, and Eugene S. Holmes, of Billings, Montana.
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Mathias Hoveland, a native of Norway, was born in 1853 and died in Angelo township in 1909. It was in 1869 that he came to the United States, and in Vernon county, Wisconsin, the subject of this sketch began the active duties of his farm life and first located on a farm near Westby. where he remained for two years. At the end of that time he removed to Viroqua, and twenty-one years later to eastern Monroe county, and there resided until 1901, when he located on the farm in section five, Angelo town- ship, where his widow and family now reside. This farm of 220 acres is among the best in the township and Mr. Hoveland did much to improve and bring the land to its present high state of cultivation. The residence, barns and outbuildings are large, commodious and well constructed, and the place is well supplied with up-to-date appliances used in modern farming methods.
Mr. Hoveland had one brother, Andrew, and three sisters. viz .: Matie, Christina and Bertha. He was a good citizen, a prominent and useful man in his community, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Beavers.
On September 23, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Van Dyke, daughter of Abraham Van Dyke, of Ohio. To this union was born five children. as follows: Ethel, wife of Eli Sutherland, of Tunnel City; Christina, wife of Ray Webster, of Sparta ; Asa, who conducts the home farm : Hazel, wife of Chester Green, of Sparta, and Harold, who resides at home.
George A. Hoffman is a native of Monroe county. and repre- sents one of the pioneer German families who came to the county in the early fifties and located in Jefferson township, where George A. was born August 25, 1857. His parents were John E .. who met an untimely death by being thrown from a horse in 1867 -he was at that time forty-five years of age-and Elizabeth (Seymour) Hoffman, who died in 1882 at the age of fifty-nine years. They followed the occupation of farming and until George A. was nineteen years old he lived with his parents on the home- stead, attending school and assisting in the farm work.
Upon leaving home our subject's first employment was with O. D. Stevens. and later with the firm of Myer & Youngman in the butcher business at Sparta, where he remained about three years altogether, and then engaged with his brother, William C .. in the same business. This partnership continued until he pur- chased a half interest with William Potter in a meat market on Oak street, and this lasted for several years. He next sold his interests to his brother William, and in 1905 opened his present market on Water street by purchasing Lyon Conger's half
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interest, and the firm name beeame Doxrud & Hoffman, continu- ing until 1911, when he purchased his partner's interest and thus assumed entire control, where he now reigns both successfully and independently. He was also, in the meantime, for a short while connected with his two brothers, William C. and J. H. Hoffman.
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