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 78
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Fred J. Mooney, superintendent of the Monroe County Insane Asyhun and Poor Farm, is a prodnet of Wisconsin, having been born at Tomah JJune 10, 1867. Hlis parents, Edward and Amn (Fuller) Mooney, were natives of New York state. and early in 1865 they came to Wisconsin and settled at Tomah. He followed the occupation of millwright and head sawer in the mill. and in 1871 turned his attention to farming at a settlement called Limerick. He was a successful, high minded. publie spirited gen- tleman. and took an active interest in the affairs of the county. He served as chairman of the Tomah township board for five years, and in polities was a Demoerat. While a resident of Cole's valley he was appointed superintendent of the poor. a position he filled from 1881 to 1888. He later retired from active
FRED J. MOONEY
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duties, and made his home at Tomah, where he died in 1896 at the age of sixty-four years. ITis widow and our subject alone survive. Fred Mooney had one brother, Frank, and a sister, Gertrude by name, both of whom were older than he, and are both deceased. Ambros Fuller, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was at one time keeper of the New York State Prison at Auburn. The Mooney family came originally from Ireland, while the Fullers were from New York state.
Mr. Fred Mooney was raised on his father's farm and received his education in the public schools of Tomah. IIe went to the city of Chicago, where he was engaged in the milk business from 1892 to 1897. At the end of that time he returned to Tomah and engaged in the grocery trade until 1903, when he retired from business, and was soon thereafter appointed overseer of the poor, under Superintendent C. B. Chamberlain, and held that position for a period of fourteen months, when he was appointed superin- tendent of the Monroe County Insane Asylum and Poor Farm in 1904, and has been reappointed each year since, and is now serving his ninth term, which is sufficient evidence of his fitness for the position. The farm originally contained but 160 acres, but in 1909 an additional 120 acres was purchased, making the county farm now 280 acres, with the finest water system of any institution in the state. Under Mr. Mooney's careful manage- ment this institution has been made self-sustaining. and for the first time during its existence, the year 1911 showed a balance in the treasury from the proceeds of the farm amounting to $2,300. A complete chapter showing the progress of the institution under Mr. Mooney's incumbency, will be found elsewhere in this work. It is but fitting to say, that Mr. Mooney, while occupying a posi- tion of prominence in the county, is possessed of a cheerful dis- position, is broad minded and liberal in his views, and these traits have endeared him to those with whom he has come in contact. His splendid record as the head of the greatest institu- tion in the county, aside from all other considerations. will cause him to long be remembered as one of the most useful citizens of Monroe county.
On November 3, 1889, Mr. Mooney was united in marriage with Miss Ella P. Hill, daughter of Oliver M. and Sophia (Sprague) Hill, of Tomah. Mr. Hill was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in Tomah township, and was one of the most prominent and representative citizens of the county. He held the office of trustee and chairman of the township board, was treasurer of this town and for several years was president of the
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Monroe County Agricultural Society. He was born in Cortland county, New York. April 14. 1837, and died July 12, 1911, at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Hill, mother of Mrs. Mooney, whose maiden name was Sophia M. Sprague, lived to the age of seventy years and died October 18, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were both natives of New York state, and resided on the same farm in Tomah township for forty-three years. The paternal grand- parents of Mrs. Mooney were Samuel and Rebecca (Mason) Hill, natives of New York and Vermont, respectively. The Mason family were among the early pioneers of New England, while Grandfather Hill was a veteran of the War of 1812. They came early to Illinois and settled near Elgin, and in the sixties came to Wisconsin. He died March 12, 1870, aged seventy-six years. His widow survived until 1883, when she passed away at the age of eighty-three years.
Samue! Sprague, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Mooney, was also a native of New England, and died in 1844. His wife, Rachael Sprague, died in 1893 at the age of ninety-one years.
Leonard C. Morse, who passed away January 12, 1909, was a leading and central figure in the business and social activities of the city of Sparta, and one of the representative and progressive men of Monroe county. He was one of a family of six children and was born in Hanover, N. H., December 8, 1832. He came west first to Ohio, where he taught school in Bloomington for about two years, and later came to Wisconsin, arriving at Sparta in 1854. Of his early business ventures here, the one most con- spicuously remembered, is his association with the Letson Brothers in the sash and door factory, now owned by J. W. Evans. Hle was a young man then, strong, alert and vigorous, and early in the sixties he turned again to the west and pushed ont into far Idaho, engaging in mining. then in stock raising along with a partner. In this business he achieved success, and though he and his associates sustained great losses by prodigious storms. in which most of their cattle perished. they eventually came out with considerable money. He was some thirteen years in this occupa- tion, with headquarters at Salmon City. Idaho. In the spring of 1884 he sold ont to his partner and returned to Sparta. Here he purchased the estate then called the Steere farm. just north- west of the city, and built up the Chalange Stock Farm. as he named it, making it the pioneer and leading dairy and stock farm of Monroe county. He chose the Holstein-Friesian breed of dairy cattle and developed a herd second to very few. if any. in Wis- consin. It was his pride and ambition to have the best. and he
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LEONARD C. MORSE
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realized it to a marked degree. Mr. Morse was twice married, in 1861 to Alvira Crosby, who died two years later, they having no children ; on November 25, 1884, he was again married to Miss Mary Carmichael, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Brower) Carmichael, natives of Brodalbin, N. Y. He was a farmer by occupation, and in 1856 came west to Sparta, where both father and mother died. Mrs. Morse had one brother, William II. Carmichael, who died near Chattanooga, Tenn., during the Civil War. He was postmaster for his regiment, and died from an acei- dent received on the ears. The Carmichaels were of Scotch ancestry, while the Browers were of Holland descent. Mrs. Morse has resided on her present farm since the fall of 1884. During her early life she taught school near Cateract, in Monroe county, and was engaged in this work at the time of the big Indian seare. She also taught at Tomah and Leon. She was employed in the office of register of deeds in Monroe county, under M. A. Thayer, in the old courthouse, and held that position for thirteen years. She was afterward employed at clerical work in the office of Tyler & Dickinson for six years. She is a charater member of the Good Templars lodge at Sparta. and the Eastern Star. She was a devoted wife and a worthy companion and helpmeet of her noble husband. and is universally loved and honored for her noble womanly qualities of mind and heart.
Mr. Morse's kindly and genial temperment made him friends with all, and he had the publie spirit and enterprise which gave him leadership in all circles and activities in which he engaged. He was a loyal Mason. a charter member of Valley Lodge and a prominent member of all four of the Masonic bodies of this city- Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and Eastern Star. Though not a church member, he was identified with the Congregational church in work and spirit. and ever its loyal and generous sup- porter. He was an enthusiast in musie, and a stanneh member and at one time president of the Crescent Glee Club.
The largely attended funeral services were held at his late residence Friday, January 15, 1909. Rev. Pugh conducting the service of the Congregational church, and the Masonic burial service in charge of Valley Lodge, No. 60. Interment being made in Woodlawn cemetery.
James H. Morton, a progressive farmer of Wellington town- ship, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, son of James H. and Alice Morton, both natives of Canada. In 1869 our sub- ject came to the United States, and for one winter worked in the lumber woods near Grand Rapids, Wis. He then went to Merrill,
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this state, and was employed eight years in the woods, and was considered an export at logging. He came to Monroe county in 1892, and on September 26 of that year was married at Wilton to Miss Margaret Welch, daughter of Patrick Welch, an influential citizen of that town. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morton, three of whom are now living, viz .: William P., born April 15, 1896; Bernard E., born November 16, 1902, and Lizzie, born September 2, 1904.
In the year 1900 Mr. Morton purchased 120 acres of land in section eight, town of Wellington, and has since been successfully engaged in general farming and dairying. Since purchasing his farm he has added many improvements ; he built a large and com- modious barn in 1907, and has improved his residence and brought the land to a higher state of cultivation. Ile keeps his place well equipped with modern labor saving machinery and well stocked with a good grade of horses and cattle. In politics Mr. Morton is a progressive Republican and takes an active interest in the affairs of the party.
Arthur G. Moseley, one of the substantial and influential farm- ers of New Lyme township, Monroe county, was born in Sparta on what is now known as the county poor farm or alms house, September 17. 1864. His parents, Alonzo and Eunice (Hunt) Moseley were natives of Franklinville, Cattaraugus county. N. Y. They were married March 26, 1850, and came to Monroe county in 1852. locating in Sparta when it was a log hut village, where they lived for two years until they got a log house built and land cleared and broken, upon which to raise some crops, the father teaming and hauling merchandise in the meantime. The parents sold the farm to Peter Webster in April. 1867. and moved to Sparta, where they lived until the fall of 1873, when they bought a farm in the Hill settlement in New Lyme township, where the father died on December 4, 1892. The mother. Mrs. Eunice (Hunt) Moseley is now. August 24, 1912, still living and enjoys excellent health at the age of eighty-one years, having lived in Monroe county over sixty years, longer than any other woman now living in this county.
Arthur G. was educated in the district schools and has spent his entire life on the homestead farm of 560 acres, which he now owns. Ile is one of the successful, public spirited men of his township, every ready to lend a helping hand to every worthy cause for the interest or betterment of his town and county. He was married on January 5. 1893. to Miss Myrtle Parmenter, daughter of Ethan and Eva (Phelps) Parmenter, of La Crosse
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county. They have been blessed with nine children, viz. : Eunice. born December 4, 1893; Jennie M., born November 14, 1895; Gladys, born January 17. 1898; Nina J., born April 29, 1900; Emma, born January 4, 1902; Rose L., born June 11. 1904; Lila C., born June 14, 1906; Jolm H., born June 8, 1908. and Helen K., born August 4, 1911.
Winand Mullenberg, a successful German farmer of Jefferson township, Monroe county, was born in Stommel, Germany, on November 30, 1857, the son of Benedict and Anna Mary (Schmitz) Mullenberg, who came with him to America in 1861, when Winand was four years of age, and settled on a farm in Jefferson town- ship. The father was born in 1829 and died in 1910; the mother was born in 1828 and died in 1890.
Benedict Mullenberg worked for a time as a farm laborer during and after his school days, and then purchased a forty-acre tract of wild land to which he added from time to time until at the time of his death he owned about 160 acres, which by hard work and perseverance, he subdued and converted into a highly productive and valuable farm. They were members of the St. Mary's Catholic church and well respected in their neighborhood.
Winand attended the public and parochial schools until he was sixteen and obtained a good education. He worked on a farm and was steady and economical ; on June 26, 1883. he was married to Miss Mary Kreuser, daughter of Theodore and Margaret Kreuser, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mullenberg have had six children, viz: Benedict, Theodore. Anna, Katie, John and Lizzie. Mrs. Mullenberg died on February 12, 1898, and two years later, in May, Mr. Mullenberg was married in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, to Miss Susie Andres, and they have had three children, Matt, Margaret and Mary.
After his first marriage, Mr. Mullenberg bought 160 acres of land in Jefferson township, and later added to this until he now owns about 350 acres. He keeps it well stocked with a good grade of horses, cattle, hogs, etc., and uses the latest methods in conducting it. He is a public spirited man and always ready to assist in furthering the development of his town and county. He served eleven terms as assessor for Jefferson township and also as supervisor. He has been president of the Farmers' German Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1898, with head offices in Norwalk, and is a Democrat in his politics.
Dennis M. Murphy*, who resides in Lyons valley, Wells township, Monroe county, was born in the town of Wells. April 24, 1880, and is the youngest of a family of nine children-eight
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of whom are living, born to John and Julia (Burke) Murphy, both natives of Ireland. The father came to America in 1854, and in 1855 located in Lyons valley. Monroe county, where he home- steaded 120 acres of land in section twenty-one, Wells township. Here he established the family home and successfully engaged in general farming. and at the time of his death. in 1896. owned a farm of 200 acres. Ile was thrifty and enterprising and was well thought of in his community. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religions faith himself and Mrs. Murphy were members of the Catholic church. His wife, mother of our subject, was a lady of many domestic virtues and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of her friends and neighbors. Her death occurred in 1884.
Dennis M. spent his boyhood on the home farm and received his preliminary education in the district schools, which was sup- plemented with a three years' course at the Tomah high school. After completing his education, he taught two years in Sheldon and Wells townships, then purchased a half interest in 200 acres of land in sections sixteen and twenty-one. Wells township, and still later purchased a farm of 182 acres. twenty-five acres of which are in Leon township and the balance in Wells. He is a prosperous general farmer and one of the progressive citizens of the town. Ile takes a keen interest in all publie matters and any movement for the betterment of his town and county receives his support. hi polities he believes in the principles of the Democratic party, and since 1911 has been clerk of his town. He being still unmarried, makes his home with a brother in Lyons valley.
Anton Nelson resides in section twenty. Greenfield township. successfully engaged in farming. He was born September 22. 1849, in Denmark, and is the son of Nels and Dorothy Nelson. both natives of Denmark. Ilis father was a farmer by occupation and a mason by trade in his native country, where they spent their lives.
Anton is the second child of a family of two sons and two daughters. He attended the common schools of his native land during his boyhood and served the usual period in the Danish army, but the opportunities for advancement there seemed limited for one of his ambitious temperament and he decided to come to America, landing here in the spring of 1881. He came direct to Tomah where he immediately secured employment with the Goodyear Company in a sawmill, which lasted for four years, after which he was likewise employed at Waterbury: he then returned to Tomah and was employed for four years in the car
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shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and at the end of this time, in 1890, he purchased his present farm of 160 acres of wild land, for which he paid $800. At that time no cultivating had been done and very little of the land had been cleared, and by constant hard work and persistent efforts, he succeeded in transforming what was a wilderness into one of the most productive farms of that section ; he erected a comfortable residence, a fine barn and made other improvements, and besides carrying on general farming, he makes a specialty of raising Holstein cattle. Ile is alive to the issues of the day and is deeply interested in the affairs of his town and county, and for seventeen years past has been a member of the school board.
In April, 1882, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Minnie Hastrup, a native of Germany. They have three children, viz: Anna, who lives in Arizona : Minnie is the wife of AAmil Pokrand, of Angelo, and Sarah, who lives at home.
J -- C. Nelson is another one of the enterprising farmers of Monroe county. a native of Wisconsin, was born at Omro, on April 28. 1851, the son of John and Diena (Mendel) Nelson, natives of New York and Canada respectively. John Nelson, father of our subject, moved from the Empire state to Watertown, Wis., in 18 -. After remaining here for a time, he, in 1855 moved to Monroe county with his family and settled at Jacksonville, where he engaged in the milling business, operating a grist mill for some three years. He then turned his attention to farming on a piece of rented land, and soon afterward purchased a sixty-acre tract, where the family made their home for fifteen years. Disposing of this farm. he purchased forty acres in Adrian township and there lived until his death, which occurred in 1896. Ile was a thrifty. hard-working man and upright citizen, and no one stood higher in his community than he. In political sentiment a Republican, he held numerous local offices. He served as town clerk for two years and was also treasurer of his township, and for many years was a member of the school board, and for three years justice of the peace. Ilis wife, mother of our subject, was a woman of many domestic virtues and whose fine mental endowments made her a favorite among her large circle of friends. She died in 1875.
J -- (. Nelson attended the district schools until he was eighteen years of age and worked on a farm until his marriage, October 18, 1873, at Tomah, to Miss Alma Durhee, daughter of Andrew and Emeline Durhee, one of Monroe county's most respected pioneer families, they having come to Wisconsin as
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early as 1856. Two children, Lefa and Burr, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Nelson purchased eighty acres of land from his father-in-law, which he has since added to until now he owns 120 acres of choice land, well improved with a commodions dwelling and out- buildings. His barn. 30 by 67 feet, with a wing 16 by 60 feet, has a capacity of seventy tons of hay, seven horses and forty head of cattle, and is considered among the best in the county. He carries on general farming, dairying and stock raising and is a public spirited, successful and enterprising citizen, extremely popular with his large circle of friends in the county.
Peter E. Nelson, ex-mayor and successful business man of C'ashton. and a highly esteemed citizen of Monroe county, was born in Norway September 23. 1856. He remained with his parents until his sixteenth year, obtaining his preliminary edu- cation in the schools of his native home, and being enthused with the glowing accounts of the possibilities for young men in America, he turned towards the land of the setting sun and arrived in the United States June 16, 1873, and went direct to La Crosse, Wis. After remaining there for a short time, he moved to Chaseburg, in Vernon county, and for the next three years attended school during the winter months and worked during the summer in the store of J. W. Hoyt. In 1876 he returned to La Crosse and entered the Wallace Business College, taking a commercial course of one year, upon the completion of which he went to Viroqua and entered the mercantile establishment of J. Henry Tate as clerk, where he received a thorough knowledge of the business. He was thrifty and economical in his habits, and with the money saved from his earnings, he, in 1879, went to Cashton and opened a general store on his own account, which he successfully managed until 1883, when a Mr. Campbell purchased an interest and the firm name became Nelson & Campbell. The business was carried on under this arrangement until 1904, when Mr. Nelson sold his remaining interest to his partner and retired from the business. During the year 1899 to meet the demands of their constantly increasing trade, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Campbell built a modern two-story brick store building in which their business was carried on.
Politically Mr. Nelson is a Republican and takes an active interest in the affairs of his party. In the fall of 1905 he was appointed by President Roosevelt postmaster of Cashton, sue- feeding Mr. Barth, and at this time (1912) is still holding that position.
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Mr. Nelson was united in marriage JJanuary 1, 1881, with Miss Caroline JJohnson, who was born in Wisconsin of Norwegian parents. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson reside in their modern home, which they built in 1884. They are both devoted members of the United Lutheran church and contribute liberally to its support. Mr. Nelson stands high with the citizens of Monroe county, and his excellent judgment has given him the well deserved position of confidence in the council of business men. while in the com- munity in which he dwells no man commands higher esteem.
George M. Newton, member of the firm of O. I. Newton's Sons' Company, of Sparta, was born here on August 21, 1870, the son of Orin I. and Emma H. (Mather) Newton. His father, who was a native of Vermont state, came to Monroe county in 1859, when he was seventeen years of age, and early became identified with the paper manufacturing interests throughout the state, and he established the Sparta paper mills, which was a flourishing industry for many years. He also became largely interested in the lumber trade, and was considered one of the most enterprising and prosperous citizens that Sparta ever had. His death, which occurred in 1895, while yet a comparatively young man, his age being but fifty-three, was mourned by the people of his community as a public loss. His wife. the mother of our subject, was a woman of noble Christian character and domestic virtues. being a descendant in a direet line of the renowned Cotton Mather. Her death occurred at her home in Sparta in 1872.
George M. received his education in the schools of Sparta and at the Wisconsin State University at Madison, graduating with the class in engineering of 1894. He early became associated with his father in the Sparta paper mills. and in 1893 the firm became known as the O. I. Newton's Son's Company. This industry continued until 1901, and during the latter years of its existence was under the personal management of Mr. Newton. The firm name of O. I. Newton's Sons' Company is still continued in other lines of business, however, and since 1901 Mr. Newton has been manager of the Electric Light & Power Company, with two plants in Sparta and one at Angelo. Mr. Newton stands high in social circles of Sparta, and is a member of the Masonie order. a Knight Templar, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a man who enjoys the confidence and esteem of a wide cirele of friends, both in a business way and socially. He was married in October, 1895, to Miss May Sage, daughter of Mr. E. E. Sage, Sioux Falls, S. D.
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Harry M. Newton, vice president of the Citizens' State Bank of Sparta, a native of this city, was born May 23, 1868. His parents were Orin I. and Emma HI. (Mather) Newton, whose biographies appear elsewhere in this work. Raised in Sparta, he attended the public schools and high school. After this he entered the Wayland Academy, from which he graduated four years later with the class of 1890, and immediately thereafter entered the employ of his father in the clerical department of the O. I. Newton paper mill, and after serving in this position for four years, he became a partner in the business and the firm name changed to O. 1. Newton's Sons' Company, at which time. in 1894. he was made president of the company and thus continued until the plant was destroyed by fire in 1901. The company had taken over and consolidated the paper industry, the electric lighting plant, the flour and feed mill at Angelo and the Sparta hunber yard. Mr. Newton acted as president of the consolidated com- pany until 1901. and upon disposing of his interest to his brother. George M. Newton, he went to Enid, Okla., in 1902. and purchased the Enid electric lighting plant of that place and immediately reorganized the compnay and changed its name to the Enid Electric Light & Gas Company, which was operated under his direction for about one year. He then returned to Sparta, where he has since resided. He has been a stockholder and director in the Citizens' Bank of Sparta since 1907, and the same year was chosen as vice president. in which capacity he is still acting with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his associates.
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