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 73
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In 1858 Mr. Kenyon was united in marriage with Miss Anna Caroline Pahner, daughter of Kernetus and Harriet Pahner, of Fabins, Onondago county. New York. Mrs. Kenyon was born in Cortland county, New York. in 1839, and was a faithful helpmeet to her husband in the struggles of pioneer life. A few years after her marriage her father came to La Crosse county. where he was employed for a time. Her mother continued to reside in New York state until 1888, when she came to Wisconsin. making her home with her daughter until her death in 1898, at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Kenyon is the third child in a family of five children. as follows : Harriet, of Syracuse. N. Y. : Amelia C., wife of Homer D. Call. Those deceased are William O. and Harriet, who died while young. Mrs. Kenyon's paternal grandfather was Titus Palmer, who came from Connecticut to Cattaraugus county. Now York. thence to Onondago county, where he engaged in farming. and there died. Her maternal grandmother was Arvilla Wheat. who came from Connecticut to New York state on horseback at the age of sixteen years to join her parents, who had preceded her to Courtland county, being among the pioneers of that locality. Miss Wheat married Job Whitmarsh when seventeen years old and they raised a family of fifteen children, and he was an exten- sive farmer and cattle drover of that day and frequently took large herds of cattle overland on foot to New York city. Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon have two children, Willis O .. on the home farm, and Alice A., wife of C. E. Miller, of Viroqua, Wis. In politics Mr. Kenyon has been a life long Democrat.
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BIOGRAPHY
Webster Kenyon,* who was one of the public spirited and sub- stantial citizens of Tomah, Wis., attained to success by patient and persistent efforts in the line of an honest calling and held the confidence and esteem of all who knew him by reason of the honorable. npright and manly character of his dealings. He was born November 18, 1830, at Hartland, Niagara county, New York, a son of Daniel and Elma Kenyon, both natives of that state, of English-Scotch ancestry on the father's side, and Holland an- cestry on the mother's side. They came to Wisconsin with a family of six children in 1848, and settled in the town of Honey Creek. Walworth county, remaining there for three years, whence they removed to Hartford. Washington county, and here passed the remainder of their lives. The death of the father occurred in 1855 and that of the mother in 1856. They were farmers by occupation. thrifty and enterprising, and enjoyed the friendship of all with whom they came in contact. He was brought up in the Quaker faith and was a man of excellent habits and devoted much of his time to the buying and selling of stock. When en- gaged in farming he paid much attention to the raising of thoroughbred cattle, which he took pride in exhibiting at fairs, and often received the highest premium. Upon coming to Wis- consin he sold his farm in Niagara county containing 182 acres. He had a good common school education, and in later years was an active member of the Universalist church. He was an old-time Whig and a strong anti-slavery man, and often gave assistance to slaves in escaping from their masters.
Mr. Webster Kenyon attended the common schools of Niagara county and the select school taught by the Aldrich children, Quaker instructors. After coming to Wisconsin he attended the high school in Walworth county, which was supplemented by a special university course in engineering and surveying, and thereby acquired a thorough knowledge of civil engineering.
When he first came to Wisconsin Mr. Kenyon worked as a farm hand during the summer months while attending the com- mon schools in winter, and for the first two years thus employed he received the munificent salary of $8.00 per month, and for the next three years he received $11.00 per month. After receiving so small a salary on the farm he was induced by a friend to go into the lumber regions of Michigan, and there obtained employ- ment at $18.00 per month, but after a short time he joined a party of surveyors as chainman at a salary of $20.00 per month, and so apt was he and so faithful did he perform his duties his salary was soon raised to $60.00 per month. He afterward spent one
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vear in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad on their line between Milwaukee and Fox Lake, Wis. In the fall of 1854 he decided to go to Kansas, but on his way visited Monroe county and becoming so impressed with the advantages that this county offered he located in the town of Adrian and at once en- gaged in surveying, a business he followed part of the time in connection with his lumber interests near Tomah. During the civil war Mr. Kenyon was drafted for service and assigned to the Twenty-second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged.
Mr. Kenyon was three times married. the last time in 1886 to Miss Mary Gott, by whom there was no issue, but by his former marriages there were born four children. all of whom are now (1912) living. viz .: Ahna Eloise, Schuyler Colfax. Henry Wilson and Kathleena. A Republican in political faith. he took an active interest in the affairs of his party, and any public movement towards the betterment of the community always received his sanction and support. He served the county as surveyor for fif- teen years. He was an active member in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the Grand Army of the Republic. He moved to the city of Tomah in 1911. where he resided until his death, enjoying the fruits of his hard work which the years of conscientious endeavor brought.
George A. King, who resides in section thirty-five. Adrian township. is a descendant of one of the early settlers of Wiscon- sin. In the forties his parents, Robert and Harriet (Tobner) King, natives of Cambridgeshire, England, came to the United States and settled at Whitewater. Wis .. where our subject. George A., was born April 9. 1856. In June of the following year the family moved from Whitewater to Monroe county, and located on the farm now owned and occupied by our subject. A short time after locating on this farm the parents went to Jacksonville. Adrian township, but soon returned to the homestead perma- nently, where they lived and experienced the hardships and trials of the pioneer. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as a member of the Twenty-fifth Regiment. Wisconsin Volunteers. and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was one of the representative citizens of Monroe county. a man of high ideas. a kind and generous neighbor. and one of the useful citi- zens of the county. His death occurred July 5. 1895. at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, mother of our subjeet, who was a woman of many domestie virtues. a good wife and kind and
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loving mother, passed away in November, 1879, at the age of fifty-four years, loved and respected by all who knew her.
George A. King is the second youngest of a family of three children ; of the others, John J. is deceased, and Oscar R. resides in Tomah. Mr. King was reared on the home farm and attended the public school. He early started in life for himself and as a result of his thrift and ambition he acquired a farm of eighty acres adjoining the old homestead at the age of twenty-five years. The original farm was wild land, fully one-half of which has been improved by Mr. King, until now it contains 120 aeres and is considered one of the finest homes in the county. The road pass- ing the homestead farm was originally an Indian trail from Kick- apoo to Gray Pines, and Indians could be seen flocking with baskets of blueberries to and from Tunnel City at nearly all times of the day. The view from this home is one of the most pictur- esque of any in Monroe county, and one can view the landscape for miles to the north and east from one of the highest altitudes of the township. Here Mr. King is successfully engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising, and keeps a fine herd of Durham cattle in his dairy. In all publie matters he takes a keen interest and any movement for the betterment of his community receives his loyal support. He has been chairman of the town board for five years and for a period of fourteen years has been one of the jury commissioners. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World.
In December, 1880, he was married to Miss Kate Seibold. daughter of George and Armenia (Knapp) Seibold, natives of Germany and Canada, respectively. In 1850 the father came to Baraboo, Wis., and from there came to La Grange township in Monroe county, and in 1869 moved to Ridgeville township, where they remained until 1887, when they moved to Tomah, where the father now resides, the mother having passed away in 1905 at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. King is the eldest of a family of six children. The others are : Emma, wife of Truman R. Tal- bot, of Sparta ; Ira Seibold, Tunnel City; Etta, wife of Bert Hoag, of Tomah; Olive, wife of Henry Skinner, of Tomah ; Myrtle, wife of William Young, Spokane, Wash. Those deceased are George, Mary and Laura. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. King are Maude A., Una M., and Vyrgil M.
Thomas H. King, of Sparta, Wis., is a native of Monroe county, and was born in Wells township October 26, 1871. Among the pioneers of Wells township were George E. and Helen E. (Nichols) King, parents of Thomas HI., who came from Cattarau-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
gus county. New York, to Monroe county and entered a home- stead of government land. They were thrifty and enterprising people and represented the best class of pioneer citizens, who devoted their lives to building up the country and adding to its taxable wealth. They reared a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters, viz .: Mina. wife of Robert Allen. of Wells township: Ida, wife of Thomas J. Taylor, of Sparta : Thomas II., the subject of this sketch; Millie M .. wife of Charles Blake, of Sparta ; George W .; Blanche, wife of Ernest Gerscheske. deceased, and Winnie, wife of Russell Catley, of Sparta.
Thomas S. King, paternal grandfather of our subject. was also among the early settlers of the same locality. Here he cleared up and brought to a high state of cultivation 120 acres and there spent his life. His death occurred in December. 1897. at the age of eighty-eight years.
Henry Nichols, the maternal grandfather of Mr. King, left the Empire state and came to Wisconsin early in 1854, and also entered a government claim of 160 acres, and later added to this claim additional land by purchase, which he owned at the time of his death about twenty-five years ago. His wife, the maternal grandmother of our subject, was Mary O. Stearns, who is still living at the age of eighty-one years, and her superior qualities of mind and heart attract to her the admiration of her many friends.
Thomas attended the district schools of his native township until he was fourteen years of age, when he entered the Sparta city schools, and upon completing his studies he entered the em- ploy of E. E. Oliver, who was engaged in the general merchandise business at that time and later in the timber business in northern Wisconsin. Ile afterward spent two years as traveling salesman for a wholesale implement house in Milwaukee. In 1902 he opened an office at Sparta and embarked in the real estate bnsi- ness, in which he has heen eminently successful. not only in his . immediate locality, but in the sale of Monroe county improved farms and city property and southwestern lands.
On July 4. 1894, he married Miss Melila P. Lochington, of Crawford county, Wisconsin, and they have three children, viz. : M. Marie. Thomas R. and ITelen I.
Mr. King is a man of fine social qualities, generous, kind- hearted and popular in the circles in which he moves.
Albinus Kirst, who for more than half a century has been a resident of Monroe county and an active citizen in developing the material resources of the county and aiding in its transformation
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BIOGRAPHY
from a wilderness to its present place among the rich and fruitful counties of the state, is a native of Germany, and was born De- eember 21, 1849. When he was six years old his parents, Gottlieb and Sophia (Weidmann) Kirst, came to this country from Ger- many, arriving in 1855, and after spending two years in the vicinity of Chicago they came to Wisconsin and first located in Greenfield township, this county, where they made their home until 1866, when they moved to Adrian township and settled on a farm of wild land in section twenty-three, eleared and cultivated it and made it their home, and here our subject now resides. The father, who attained the age of eighty-seven years and eight months, passed away in 1897. His wife, mother of our subject, died in 1871 at the early age of forty-nine years. They were hard-working, faithful and highly respected people. and the farm, which at the time of settlement contained but sixteen acres of cleared land, now consists of 120 acres of highly cultivated and productive soil.
Albinus Kirst is one of a family of six children. Of the others Louis is deceased : Ernestine is the wife of Bernard Drowatzky, of Tomah; Ida, widow of the late John F. Schultz. of Tomah ; Emil is deceased, and Emma is now Mrs. James Ebert and lives in Tomah. Our subject coming to Monroe county with his parents, was reared on the home farm amid the struggles of pioneer life, and has always been a successful farmer. He is energetic, enterprising and progressive and a man of strict in- tegrity. Ile takes pride in making his farm one of the best in the county. In 1891 he built a large and commodious barn and in 1908 a modern residence was erected on an elevation, backed by a beautiful oak grove, and is made picturesque to the observer. and in front of this is a sparkling spring of pure water, the pride of the owner of this ideal farm home. Mr. Kirst has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of his town, has been treasurer of the school district, and himself and wife are members of the German Lutheran church, of Tomalı.
On March 31, 1874, Mr. Kirst was married to Miss Fredrecka Matzka, also a native of Germany. The fruits of this union has been seven children. Those living are: Anna ; Leonard, who is pastor of the German Lutheran church at Cambria. Wis. : Lydia and Arthur. Louis, Otto and Rinold are deceased.
William C. Kirst, who condnets the farm of 165 acres in sec- tion twenty-two. Adrian township, the estate of his father. which has been his home all his life. is the son of Emil and Margratha (Wagner) Kirst. both natives of Germany. The father eame with
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his parents to America when he was two years of age, and they settled on this homestead when but few acres of it were cleared. They immediately set to work to improve the land and soon brought it to a good state of cultivation, built a residence and outbuildings, which have since been remodeled and improved by our subjeet, and is now one of the best farm homes in the county. Emil. our subject's father, was the son of Gottlieb Kirst. and died in 1907 at the age of fifty-two years. His widow, mother of William C., was born in 1857. the daughter of William and Sarah (Iluth) Wagner, also natives of Germany, who came first to Mil- wankee and six years later to Ridgeville township. Monroe county, more than fifty years ago. Her father was the founder of the St. John's German Lutheran church of Ridgeville, of which Mrs. Kirst is a devoted member. and makes her home with our subjeet.
William C. is the oldest of a family of six children : the others are : Rev. Ewald Kirst, who. after completing a ten years' course of study, is now pastor of the German Lutheran church at Ellens- burg. Wash. : Ernest is a student of the agricultural department of the Wisconsin University at Madison: Alfred. of Adrian town- ship, has also completed a thorough course in agriculture at the same university : Fred L. and Robert C., who are at home.
On June 27. 1912, Mr. Kirst was married to Miss Lillie Maizke. of Tomah. Hle lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age. obtained a good education in the schools of his neighborhood. and then learned the carpenters' trade, at which he has worked in connection with his farming operations for several years: he built many fine barns and other buildings in his community, and, besides conducting his home farm, he works the W. L. Rehberg place in the same township, and is considered one of the most prosperous and enterprising young farmers in the county. lle is a man of ability and push and has served his town in various offices. being treasurer for three years, and is now filling the office of assessor, being elected in 1911.
Mathias Knorst, a native of Germany, is the son of Jacob and Mary (Iloff) Knorst and was born August 14. 1848. He came to America with his parents and four brothers and two sisters. Hle first located in Mercer county. Pennsylvania. where they ro- sided until 1876, when the father purchased a farm of 160 acres of land. known as the Thompson farm. in section fifteen. Jefferson township. Monroe county, Wisconsin, and moved thither and there made his home until his death. which occurred in 1893. The mother died in 1895. He was an industrions and hard working man, and cleared, grabbed and transformed his farm from its
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BIOGRAPHY
wild condition to a state of cultivation and productiveness. Ile was honorable and upright in all his dealings, and a man of influ- ence in his town, and he and his wife worshiped at the Catholic church.
Mathias received his education in the parochial school, which he attended up to his thirteenth year, and remained at home with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-four. Ile came to Monroe county ten years after his father and located on a rented farm in Jefferson township, which he carried on for a time, and after the death of his father he acquired the old homestead, to which he has since made many and valuable improvements. Along the banks of the stream which runs through his place are found specimens of blue and white clay that resemble matrix stone taken out of the Rocky mountains in Colorado, and a rich red clay of metal appearance is found in large quantities and is believed by many to be valuable for manufacturing purposes. The farm also contains a good quality of limestone, and it is believed that the farm contains valuable minerals. Mr. Knorst is a progressive farmer. using the latest up-to-date methods in his operations, and is one of the influential public-spirited men of his town. Ilis son J. J., who is an accomplished watchmaker and jeweler, has re- ceived a liberal education, resides at home and devotes much time in assisting his father in the farming operations.
On September 9. 1873. Mr. Knorst was married. in Mercer county. Pennsylvania. to Miss Barbara Franz. danghter of John and Catherine Franz, who were also natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Knorst have been born five children, four of whom are now living, viz. : Anna M .. born March 5, 1875. married George Weiner and is the mother of six children : Catherine A .. born July 12, 1877 : Jacob J .. born April 29. 1879. and Mary A .. born May 13. 1881. In polities Mr. Knorst is a Democrat. and in religious affiliations he and his family are members of the Catholic church.
Nicolaus Koopman resides on section twenty-nine. LaGrange township and is one of the thrifty farmers of that section. He was born in the Province of Holstein, Germany, March 9. 1849; his father, Johan Koopman, never left the fatherland, preferring to spend his life in the country where he lived and died. Ile was the father of seven children: of the others. Johan lives at Bram- stadt, Germany: Margarete is deceased; Henri. deceased: Anna, of Germany : John, of Tomah, and Kathrina, who lives in Germany.
Nieolaus received a common school education in his native town and at the age of fifteen years his father gave him one dollar and told him that he would have to make his own living. At the
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
age of twenty-one he entered the German army and served three years. In 1884 he came to America. and. upon his arrival in this country, came direct to Monroe county. landing at Tomah July 5 of that year. Ile spent a few days at Jacksonville, Wis., and on July 22. 1884. he entered the employ of the C. A. Goodyear Com- pany, where he remained until April. 1912. During the period of from 1884 to 1897 he was a resident of the city of Tomah, but in the latter year he came to his present farm, which he has since carried on in addition to his business with the Goodyear Company. The residence on this place having been destroyed by fire. Mr. Koopman erected a small structure. which was replaced in 1911 by his present modern and commodious home. In addition to his residence. he has a fine barn. granary and hog house. The place is well improved by cultivation. and modern conveniences and appliances which go to make a model. up-to-date country home. In all his business ventures. Mr. Koopman has scored a grand suc- cess as a result of his thrift. ambition and fair dealing. and now abides at his ease in one of the best country homes in his township.
Ile was married. November 8. 1874. in his native country, to Miss Geeshen Sandkamp. daughter of Clans and Katherina Sand- kamp. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Koopman, Marcus is deceased: Eliza married Carl Wagner. of Tomah: Emma is deceased. and Edward resides at home. In religious affiliations, Mr. and Mrs. Koopman are members of the German Lutheran church.
Carl Kortbein, a wealthy farmer and one of the leading men of this section of Monroe county. was born in the town of Ridge- ville. this county. on June 30. 1865. His parents were David and Lonisa (Kube) Kortbein. both natives of Germany. David came to America with his parents in 1856. and the family first located on a farm near Watertown. Wis., where they lived among the wilds for about five years, with the Indians for neighbors, and then moved to Monroe county in 1861. Christian Korthein, his father, and grandfather of Carl. was an ambitious and thrifty farmer and labored hard against the difficulties of those pioneer days : he died in 1873. and his wife passed away two years previ- ous. They were both devoted members of the Lutheran church. David acquired a good education in Germany, and was a close student in all matters of general importance in his native country. and. after coming to America. applied himself diligently to the task of obtaining a home for himself and family. He was married in Watertown. Wis .. in 1862. and had a family of three children. two of whom are now (1912) living. viz. : Carl and a twin brother.
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Albert Kortbein. In 1895 they purchased the farm where our subject now resides, in sections twenty-four and thirteen in Ridge- ville township. He was hard-working, energetic and persevering, and a man of excellent judgment in matters of public interest, as well as in his farming methods, and was considered a valuable citizen to his community. He was born in 1826 and died in 1912. His widow, mother of Carl, still lives at the homestead with her son, at the age of seventy years, and is held in the highest estecm by her many friends.
Carl has always lived on the home farm and until he was fif- teen years old attended the district schools, where he acquired a good substantial education, considering the limited course, and after his school days were over he made a special effort to obtain the practical knowledge of matters in general which now ranks him among the foremost men of his township. He was married at the age of thirty-one, on June 23, 1896, to Miss Adelhaide Roscovins, daughter of Rudolph and Augusta Roscovius, in Adrian township, and they have had a family of five children, four of whom are now living, viz. : Edwin J., born July 4, 1897 ; Agnes, born April 10, 1899; IIilda, born December 15, 1901; Arnold, born October 4, 1902, and Ethel, born August 4, 1912.
Mrs. Kortbein is the second child of a family of ten children, nine of whom are now (1912) living. Her father was a railroad contractor and bridge builder and came to America from Germany with his family in 1872, and settled in Tomah, Monroe county, where he worked at his trade until he retired-twenty-seven years ago.
Anton Kroeger,# who was born in Waukesha county, Wiscon- sin, September 6, 1859, is the youngest of a family of three chil- dren-two of whom are now (1912) living-born to Henry and Anna Kroeger, both natives of Germany. They emigrated to America in 1852 and located first in New Jersey. from whence they came to Waukesha county, where the father worked for a time as a laborer. In 1860 he moved with his family to Monroe county and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Ridgeville township and added later eighty acres more, and here established the family home, where he lived until his death in 1907. His wife, mother of our subject, died in 1884. The father was an energetic. hard- working man and was a successful farmer and was considered authority on many points of agriculture. His first vote for presi- dent was cast for Franklin Pierce. Both he and Mrs. Kroeger were members of the Catholic church.
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