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 74
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Anton Kroeger received his education in the district schools
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and assisted his father with the farm work. living at home during their lifetime. In 1902 he purchased a farm of eighty acres in section eight. Ridgeville township, and has since been successfully engaged in general farming on his own place. He takes pride in keeping his place well improved and stocked, employing only the most up-to-date methods in his operations. In politics he is a Democrat and takes active interest in the affairs of his party. He has held minor local offices and is now (1912) assessor for the town of Ridgeville. He was married June 8. 1892, at Sparta, to Miss Kate Doll. daughter of John Doll. a pioneer of Monroe county. To this union has been born eight children, four sons and four daughters, viz. : Gertie L .. Joseph A .. Grace K .. Walter B., Helen H .. Alex. P .. Ruth and James J.
George P. Kronberg, one of the industrious tillers of the soil in Monroe county. and a man of sound judgment and good prac- tical sense, is the owner and proprietor of the Kronberg farm in section twenty-nine. Angelo township, consisting of eighty-four acres. He was born in Denmark. January 18. 1866. the son of N. J. and Christiana Kronberg. The father eame to the United States in 1885. and is now (1912) living at West Salem. La Crosse county. Wisconsin. The mother, who was born in Denmark, spent her entire life in that country, where she died. George P. Kronberg. the subject of this sketch, attended the common sehools of his native country, and was reared on the farm. where he re- mained until 1884, when he set sail for America. Upon his arrival in this country he came to Bangor, La Crosse county. Wisconsin, where he found he had but 5 cents in his pocket. He immediately found employment with the Chicago. Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, and later with the Northwestern Railroad. and still later he hired out as a farm laborer, and continued at this occupa- tion until 1891. when he came to Angelo township and purchased his present farm and immediately moved hither with his family. Since removing to his present place. Mr. Kronberg has remodeled and improved his residence, built a large and commodions barn, silo and other ontbuildings, and has brought the soil to a high state of cultivation. Sixty-five acres of this farm is so highly improved that each year it produces a bountiful harvest. He is a practical, systematie and progressive farmer and gives particu- lar attention to the fertilization of the land. the rotation of crops and other means of deriving the best results from his farm opera- tions. Ile takes an active interest in the affairs of his town and county, and is now serving his fourth term as member of the town board. He has been interested in the construction of bridges
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on the highways and in other improvements of his township, and is known as a high-minded, publie-spirited and successful citizen.
On July 1, 1888, Mr. Kronberg was united in marriage, at West Salem, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, to Miss Roberta Miller, daughter of Robert F. and Nancy D. (Washburn) Miller, natives of Ohio, and who came to La Crosse county in 1849, being among the early pioneers of that section, the towns of Burns and Bangor. He was a veteran of the Civil War and died soon after his return from the army. at the age of thirty-seven years. Mrs. Miller, mother of Mrs. Kronberg, is also deceased, her death having oe- curred in 1897. Abel Washburn, grandfather of Mrs. Kronberg, came from Ohio to Wisconsin in 1848, and was one of the most highly respected pioneers of Burns township, LaCrosse county, where he died at the age of eighty-six years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kronberg have been born four children : Rob- ert P .. born in July, 1889: Ruddie R., born June 11, 1892; Tressie C., born December 30, 1899, and Levi M., born August 11, 1903.
Irvin A. Krotzman, of Wells township, Monroe county, was born July 21, 1861; his parents were John E. and Fredarica (Woelflin) Krotzman, both natives of Germany. The father came to America before his marriage, and first located in Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade of shoemaker for ten years. He then spent a short time in New York and in 1858 came to Wis- vonsin, loeating at Sparta, but later moved to Walworth county, continuing at his trade until he purchased 160 acres of govern- ment land. to which he added until. at the time of his death, he owned 360 aeres in Monroe county. where he lived for thirty-four years. then moved to Salem. La Crosse county, and resided with our subjeet. The father was born in 1824 and the mother in 1827. They toiled hard in the honest endeavor to build them a home, and suffered many privations at first, but in the end were successful, passing away at the elose of a busy and well spent life, honored and respected by all who knew them. Mr. Krotzman died in 1895 and Mrs. Krotzman in 1901. They had a family of seven children, all of whom are living.
Irvin A. was the fifth child in the family and received a good education, and, after spending two years in the Sparta high school, he spent ten winters in teaching and working at the stone masons' trade during the summer months. He then embarked in the mer- eantile business, carrying on a general store at Clifton, Wis .. for five years. Disposing of this business, he moved to Salem, La Crosse county, and engaged in the hotel business from 1893 to 1895, and then purchased the old homestead in section fourteen,
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Wells township. where he has since resided and has been con- stantly adding to the improvements of the place. His house and barns are well built and of modern construction, and, in addition to his general farming, he carries on a paying dairy business, and his elegant fish pond near his residence is bountifully supplied with the finny tribe.
Mr. Krotzman is a man of thrift and ability and has made a grand success of the farming business since he began, as well as gaining the good will of his fellowmen. He is a Republican in politics and has served as chairman of the town board and also as clerk of the board. He was married, February 3, 1889, at Tomah, Wis., to Miss Carrie Frohmader. Four children have been born . to them, three of whom are living, viz. : Celia, born April 1, 1891; John, born January 19, 1893, and Alma, born July 7, 1904. In religious affiliations, Mr. and Mrs. Krotzman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Sparta.
George F. Kuckuck owns one of the best 150-acre farms in Monroe county : it is located in sections seventeen and twenty. in Oakdale township, where he has lived since 1910. He is a car- penter by trade, but has followed the occupation of farming most of his life. Hle was born on January 30, 1888, in Oakdale town- ship. the son of George and Rose (Gabower) Kuckuck, who were both natives of Germany. He lived at home and attended school until he was eighteen years of age and then learned the carpen- ters' trade and worked at that for about four years, after which he purchased his father's farm. On June 24. 1909. he was wedded. in Monroe county, to Miss Charlotte Avery, whose parents are early settlers here and highly respected people.
Mr. Kuckuck is one of the hustling young farmers of this local- ity, and is thoroughly up-to-date on all issues of public interest. At the present time he is secretary of the Oakdale Co-operative Butter Association and is a man of good business judgment. He is a Democrat in polities, and takes great interest in the move- ments of that party. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Lawrence A. Lane, of Cashton, Monroe county, Wisconsin. is a native of New York State. and was born at Plattsburg, August 10, 1851. His father, Dyer Lane, was born in Ottawa, Canada. October 21. 1828, and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Fitzpatrick, was born in England in 1830. They were married at St. Andrews, Canada, in 1846, where they resided until 1848, and removed in that year to Plattsburg. N. Y .. where they made their home for nine years. thence in 1857 eame west to Wisconsin and
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first settled at Horicon. They remained here one year, and in 1858 went to Mauston, Juneau county, where they made their per- manent home. The father followed the occupation of farming and lumbering, and, being thrifty and progressive, met with much success. He is still living (1912) at Mauston at the age of eighty- four years. The mother died in 1902. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, viz .: Mrs. Emery Root, who resides at Mauston; Lawrence A., our subject; Mrs. Thomas Dowd, of Omaha. Neb .; Alex. Lane, Rapid City, S. D .; Albert resides in western Nebraska; Mrs. Peter Comer, of Maus- ton ; J. D. Lane lives at Mansfield, S. D. Those deceased are Mrs. Emery Newkirk, and Phoebe, who died at the age of twenty-seven years, and two children died in infancy.
Lawrence A. Lane was seven years old when his parents lo- cated at Mauston, attended the common schools at this place, after which he attended the Cashel & Rogers Business College at La Crosse, which is now known as the Wisconsin Business University. Here he received a thorough business training, and after com- pleting the course was engaged as a school teacher, which voca- tion he followed for about twelve years. In 1882 he entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad as ware- house man at New Lisbon. He remained thus employed for eight years, and so well did he perform the duties assigned him he was transferred in 1890 to Cashton and given entire charge of the company's business at that place, in which capacity he is still engaged.
On October 20, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Meredith, who was born at Racine, Wis .. October 10, 1853, daughter of Thomas and Ann Meredith, both natives of Wales. There were nine children born to them. viz .: Thomas, who en- listed and served in the Wisconsin Regiment in the Civil War, died while in the service; Mrs. Ernest Jewett, of Wheaton, Ill .; Mrs. Rachel Demeroe. of Grand Rapids. Wis .; George is deceased ; Mrs. Lawrence A. Lane, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Lonie and Mrs. Robert Marshall, deceased; Edwin lives at New Lisbon, and Mrs. Maggie Rourke resides at Grand Rapids, Wis. One daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lane on December 21, 1881, and is now Mrs. Carl C. Coe.
On November 9, 1903, Mrs. Lane died. She was most highly esteemed by all who knew her. was a good wife and mother, and a lady of many womanly virtues.
A Democrat in political opinion, Mr. Lane takes an active part in the affairs of his party, and is interested in all matters per-
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taining to the welfare of his community. He has served eleven years as clerk of the village of Cashton. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Cashton Camp. No. 2671. Modern Woodmen of America, and in religious matters is a member of the St. Peter and Paul's Catholic church. Mr. Lane was a member of Company D. Third Regiment Wisconsin National Gnards, and spent five years in that service.
Joseph J. Lee, a prominent farmer of Portland township, is a native of lesvold, Norway, where he was born June 29, 1847. HIe remained in the land of his nativity until he became twenty-two years of age and then came to the United States, landing at Sparta, Wis., May 17. 1869. The first three years after his arrival he made his home with his uncle, Lars Peterson. In 1872 he purchased a farm of 120 acres in section twenty-one, Portland township. The land was in a raw state and he immediately set to work to subdue, cultivate and improve it, and by hard work and per- severance he succeeded and now has one of the best cultivated and most productive farms of the township. His first house and also his barns were built out of logs, and so wild was the land that he found it necessary to grab the stumps in order to build the foundation for his house. To replace the old log house he has recently completed a modern twelve-room residence. finished in quartered oak, with a steam plant in the basement for heating and other up-to-date appliances, and his is now one of the finest homes in Monroe county. Ilis barn, which is 34x86 feet, is one of the most modern barns in that section. It has 9-foot ceilings below, with a basement under the whole. with cement floor. and contains stable room for fifty head of cattle and six horses: also a modern silo, built in 1912.
On March 7, 1876. Mr. Lee was married to Miss Olive P. Ben- rud, who is also a native of Norway, and was born in the same town as Mr. Lee on April 12. 1856. They have a family of nine children, viz .: Leonard J .. Mrs. Peter Peterson. Ole R., Mrs. Henry Peterson, Lenora, John A .. Louis V., Albert and Estella.
Mr. Lee's whole life has been spent in farming and dairying. He was one of the original incorporators of the Farmers' dairy of Portland, and one of its directors, and for some time its secre- tary. He is a Republican in politics and has served several terms on the township board, and is a member of the Norwegian church. He came to America with limited means to start with, but as a result of his ambition and thrift, hard work and economy, he has added to his original purchase from time to time until he now owns 280 acres of fertile and highly cultivated land, and with his
JOSEPH J. LEE'S RESIDENCE
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fine country home, is surrounded by a wide circle of friends, who regard him as one of the prosperous and influential citizens of the county.
J. B. Leis is a native of Cole's valley, Jefferson township, Monroe county, where he was born February 7, 1869. His parents, Bernard and Catherine Leis, who were both natives of Germany, came to America in the early fifties, and in 1857 located on the ridge in the town of Jefferson. They had a family of five chil- dren, our subject being the fourth. When the family first settled in Jefferson the father purchased a small tract of land and there lived until 1863, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War and with his regiment served in the Army of Tennessee until the close of the war, and after receiving his honorable discharge he returned to the old homestead and purchased 200 acres of wild land, and with his own hands cleared and grubbed 100 acres and converted it from a wild state to a highly productive farm. In those early days settlers were few and wild game, bear and deer, were plentiful, with Indians roaming over the country. Mr. Leis was a hard working man and always sociable and good natured, and held the confidence and esteem of his acquaintances. His word was considered as good as his bond. Ile and his wife were both members of the Catholic church and Mr. Leis assisted in building a little church at the cemetery where they worshiped, but which has since been destroyed by cyclone. Ile was an advo- cate of pure democracy and was a loyal supporter of this party all his life. He died in 1904. The mother passed away in 1907.
J. B. Leis, our subject, lived on the home farm until he was twenty-five years old, attending the district schools until his fifteenth year. After his marriage he moved on to his father-in- law's farm, which he rented for two years, and then engaged in the saloon business in Pine Hollow and operated that together with his farm. Hle purchased eighty acres of land in sections twenty-eight and twenty-nine and erected thereon a modern resi- dence of ten rooms and a good, substantial barn. His farm is well stocked with good horses, cattle and hogs and the cream from his dairy is sold to the Farmers' Enterprise Creamery, at Cashton, of which he became president in 1909, a position he still holds. He is independent in politics and has held several minor offices. He has been supervisor for three years, and for a long time overseer of highways, and takes a deep interest in all matters of general importance, and is one of the public spirited men of his town.
On August 21, 1893, Mr. Leis was married to Miss Eva Han-
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sen, daughter of P. J. Hansen, and they have five children, viz. : Henry B., born March 3. 1895; Katie E., born October 11, 1896; Lawrence H., born September 10, 1898; Celia M., born February 26, 1900, and Adella C., born December 24, 1902.
Capt. M. E. Leonard, Civil War veteran and an industrious citizen of Sparta, was born at Fort Ann., Washington county, New York. September 27, 1832, his parents being Jarvis and Eliza Leonard. both natives of New York state. Jarvis Leonard was the son of Elisha and Clara Leonard, natives of Massachusetts and Connectient. respectively. The early Leonard family were strong believers in the Baptist faith.
The subject of this sketch was the second of a family of three children, the first being Eliza JJane, wife of Rev. Robert A. Adams. She is now deceased, her death occurring in Boston, Mass .. and Philetus A., who died at Odell, Ill., in February. 1912. Jarvis Leonard, father of ont subjeet, was twice married. His second marriage was with Elizabeth Pierce, by whom he had one son, Mason Leonard, who lives at Chicora, Pa.
Captain Leonard was married December 10, 1869, to Miss Olive A. Damon, daughter of Seth and Mary Damon. She lived to the age of sixty-eight years and died in May, 1909. There were five children born to Captain and Mrs. Leonard, viz. : Eliza, mar- ried George Hasty and lived at Aberdeen, S. D .. where she died ; Frederick J. married Miss Lettie Burnham, of Cambridge, Mass. They have one child named Leona, and reside at La Crosse. Wis .; William T. lives at Watertown, S. D .: Arthur M., of Chicago, and Minnie B. Leonard, who resides at Sparta. Mr. Leonard was reared on the home farm, going with his family to Cattaraugus county, New York, whither they moved from Washington county in 1837. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Leonard began farming on his own account, which he followed until 1856. In early life he had made the acquaintance of the late Judge Morrow, of Sparta, and they became fast friends. In the year 1856 they decided to accept Horace Greeley's advice. "Go west. young man," and came to Wisconsin together in the fall of that year. It was with great difficulty, however, owing to Judge Morrow's ill health that they were able to reach Sparta. The first occupa- tion accepted by Mr. Leonard after reaching this, the then new country, was that of elerk in the Hotel Monroe, where he remained until this hotel was destroyed by fire two. years later. He then became clerk of the Denny House, which stood where the Warner House now stands. There were no railroads in those early days and the only means of travel was by stage coach, which was slow
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and tedious. The line of coaches between Portage and St. Paul were run in relays and the duty of caring for the men in Sparta fell to Mr. Leonard. His experience as hotel clerk was varied and his duties strenuous in that he had to manage many a rough gang of men. This work was followed by varied experiences in other lines of business, and later he ventured into hop raising for two years. He then took up the trade of carpenter and joiner and built several of the early buildings of Sparta and many of the large barns in and about Sparta township, as well as the first silos and bridge were constructed by him. He continued at this trade until 1909, when he retired.
In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fifth Regi- ment, Wisconsin Volunteers, and the first service he performed was as a recruiting officer, a position he held for several months. The governor, appreciating his fitness to command, commissioned him captain of his regiment. Captain Leonard is one of the stal- wart figures of Sparta and a man of strong physique. ITis experiences during the Civil War will be found among the reminiscenees of this work. All through his service as captain of the Twenty-fifth Regiment his motto was, "Simply do your duty and fear nothing."
Gothern Liddle, who resides in section ten. Sparta township, was born at Herseyville, Monroe county, Wisconsin. August 24, 1874, and is the youngest of a family of seven children born to William and Mary ( Aherne) Liddle, natives of England and Ire- land, respectively. Of the others, Kate is now Mrs. John McVay, of Hardin, Mont .; William is deceased; Mary, wife of Charles Jarvis and resides at Culbertson, Mont .; Sarah, wife of Richard Barrett, Merrill, Wis. ; Isabelle, Mrs. Charles Hubner, of Culbert- son, Mont., and Mantille, wife of Jefferson Butterfield, who resides at Beach, N. D. In 1846 Mary Aherne, with money furnished by her mother, came to Canada and for two years made her home with William Tate, who at that time was engaged in surveying the Grand Trunk railway. In 1850 William Liddle came from England to Canada and while there met and married Mary Aberne. With money saved while a girl Mrs. Liddle bought a home of James Aherne near Saginaw, Mich., which she later traded with Stephen Wilbur for an eighty-acre farm at Hersey- ville, Monroe county, whither they went in 1861. Some nine years later disposing of the farm at Herseyville, they purchased what is known as the Putnam farm in Sparta township, where they re- moved in 1872, and afterwards bought the present home farm. Here Mr. Liddle died on February 3, 1909, at the age of seventy-
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three years. He had been actively engaged in farming and railroading during his lifetime, was a man of genial tempera- ment. kind-hearted and generous, and esteemed by all who knew him.
William Alexander Liddle, paternal grandfather of our sub- ject. a native of Scotland, moved to Newcastle. England, in an carly day, where he died when his son William was a boy. His wife, grandmother of our subject. was Isabelle (Donohne) Liddle, who died prior to her husband. Michael and Kate (Harden) Aherne, maternal grandparents, were born in Shandon and Lim- erick, Ireland. He died in Ireland and she at Saginaw, Mich., where she. came after the death of her husband. He was a sailor on the deep seas and during the Crimean war sailed from England under the American flag. They had a family of three children. Mrs. Liddle being the only surviving member. Those deceased are Sarah, wife of Moses Kahoe, who was at one time foreman on the Evening Post. at Brooklyn, N. Y .. and Katherine, who was the wife of Lewis Anger. On April 10. 1912. Mrs. Liddle celebrated her seventy-ninth birthday by entertaining a large number of her friends and neighbors.
Gothern Liddle received his preliminary education at the dis- triet schools of his home town, which was supplemented by a thorough course in the Sparta high school. With the exception of one year spent on the road as salesman for a farm machinery concern. Mr. Liddle's whole life has been spent on the farm, which, since reaching the age of twenty-two years. he has man- aged and conducted. The original farm, which consisted of eighty acres, has been added to from time to time until it now contains 200 acres of highly cultivated land. He has been lavish in his expenditures of time, energy and money in improving the farm, erecting a commodious and substantial residence, barns and silo, and supplying modern appliances and equipments, so that this is in reality one of the most desirable homes in Sparta township. Mr. Liddle has always carried on general farming and dairying and for many years has been counted one of the thrifty and pros- perous farmers of his section, and an influential and wide-awake citizen. Hle has taken an active interest in township affairs and in 1912 was elected assessor. In religious belief he and his family are members of St. Patrick's church. of Sparta.
On October 26. 1910. Mr. Liddle was married to Miss Julia Madden, daughter of John and Julia (Crowley) Madden, natives of Limerick, Ireland. The father emigrated to America when sixteen years of age, and settled on a farm in Lemonweir town-
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ship, Juneau county, near Mauston, where he was engaged in farming and railroading for forty years. He died February 15, 1904, at the age of eighty-two years, beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. His wife, mother of Mrs. Liddle, who was a woman of many domestie virtues. held the confidence and respect of her wide circle of friends, survived until September 25, 1905, when she passed away. They raised a family of nine children, as follows: Anna, wife of James McCarty, of Iron River, Wis .; John, resides at Minneapolis and is conductor on the Great West- tern railroad ; P. II. is roadmaster on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road from Portage to La Crosse ; Maggie married JJohn Hurey, of Mauston ; James lives on the old homestead; David is deceased ; Julia, wife of our subject ; Dennis, of Chisholm, Minn., and Beatrice, wife of John Maloney, a farmer in Juneau county.
George F. Lillie comes of Scotch ancestors. Ilis parents, Wil- liam and Isabella (Young) Lillie, left Scotland in 1858 and upon their arrival in this country settled at Lake Champlain, N. Y., where they remained but a short time. They again moved west- ward, settling in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where our subject, George F., was born on October 6, 1860. In the spring of the fol- lowing year they came to Monroe county and settled on a farm in Wellington township. They followed agricultural pursuits for several years in this township, then moved to the village of Ken- dall, in Monroe county, where he followed the trade of carpenter and builder. Ile held the office of township treasurer for several terms, was a member of the school board and filled other minor offices. Mr. and Mrs. Lillie were among the early and most re- spected pioneers of their section, and after a long and busy life Mr. Lillie died in October, 1903, at the age of seventy-eight, and Mrs. Lillie passed away in 1871 at the age of forty-one years, respected and esteemed by all who knew them.
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