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 80
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He was married July 4. 1890. to Miss Agnes Flog. whose parents came from Germany. Three children have been born to this union, viz. : Emma Maggie. Dorotha K .. a graduate of the Sparta High School in the class of 1911. is a teacher, and George. who is living at home with his parents.
Nicholas F. Palen, one of the leading men of Sparta in his line of business, that of a plumber. is a native of Caledonia, Minn .. where he was born December 13. 1873. His parents. Leopold and Mary (Hlupert) Palen were born in Luxemburg, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in the early sixties. Their first stopping place after reaching this country was at Dubuque. Iowa. where they remained for only a short time and moved on to Minnesota, where Mr. Palen entered land and engaged in farm- ing, which he followed until about four years previous to his death, which occurred in the fall of 1909, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a thrifty, progressive and successful farmer an : considered among the best class of pioneers of his community. Mrs. Palen, his widow. still survives and makes her home at Caledonia. Leopold Palen was one of a family of nine children. all of whom came from Germany. the only surviving member of that family being Mrs. Frances Burkhart. wife of Julius Burk- hart. of La Crosse. Wis. Frank Hupert, the maternal grand- father of our subject. emigrated to this country at about the same time of the Palens, and settled at Dubnque. Iowa. where he also engaged in farming. Nicholas is the fifth child of a family of fourteen children. eleven of whom are now (1912) living. They are Frank J .. of Dubuque, Iowa : Anna. the wife of Mat Molitor. of Adrian, Minn. : Mary, the wife of IT. A. Hengel. of Winona. Minn .: Frances. widow of P. M. Fous. of Caladonia. Minn .: Nicholas F .. the subject of this sketch: Jennie, wife of J. P.
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Gaspard, of Caladonia: Henry, who resides on the home farm; Josephine, wife of Mr. Ascott, of St. Paul, Minn .: Emil, who resides at La Crosse, Wis. : Eney, wife of Nicholas Koel, of Cala- donia : Joseph, of the same place, and three who died in infancy.
Nicholas Palen was raised on his father's farm, attending the district schools in winter and working on the farm in summer, until 1892. when he began work at the plumbers' trade at Winona. Minn .. with the firm of II. A. Hengel & Co. Having thoroughly mastered the trade, in 1898 he came to Sparta and formed a co-partnership with J. Il. Hengel. the style of the firm being Hengel & Palen. This business arrangement was successfully carried on for five years, when Mr. Palen purchased his partner's interest and has since continued under his own name the plumbing and heating business, in which he has been eminently successful. He has been at his present location for nine years: is the leader in his line. and has placed the plumbing and heating apparatus in all the best residences in the city, as well as in several public buildings, and also the buildings at the state farm.
Mr. Palen was married September 2. 1901. to Miss Gertrude Walser, of Winona. Minn .. and they have one child, Vernon Wal- ser Palen. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Maccabees, and takes an active interest in all matters that pertain to the betterment of the locality in which he resides.
Irvin Nelson Palmer, who has been identified with the busi- ness life of Tomah since 1876, is a native of Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, born December 22, 1848, son of Nelson HI. and Almira (Taylor) Palmer. The father was born in Connecticut and raised a family of eleven children, two of whom are now living. He came to Wisconsin in 1840 and settled on a farm in Fond du Lac county, but afterwards moved to Adams county, later going to Michigan, where he died in 1863, his wife. mother of Nelson, having passed away in 1849.
Our subject spent his early manhood on a farm, receiving his education in the schools of Michigan. He taught school during the winter months and followed farming until he was twenty- eight years of age, when in 1876 he came to Tomah, and pur- chasing the store of J. II. Stewart, he entered upon the career of a merchant, which he has followed with marked success up to the present time. His stock now consists of books, stationery. toys. and everything found in a first class up-to-date variety. store. In connection he has a large news stand, and has exclusive sale of all the Chicago, Milwaukee and La Crosse daily papers.
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Mr. Palmer is a man who stands high in the business and social life of Tomah ; he is an active member in the Masonie order and has filled all the chairs of the Blue Lodge and Chapter. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebeccas. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and the Modern Woodmen of America; has been clerk of the latter for twenty-four years and of the former for twenty years. In polities he takes a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the Republican party.
Mr. Palmer has been twice married; his first marriage was in 1874 with Miss Sallie Talbot, and to this union was born one daughter, Imlu M., who is now the wife of Paul Austin. After the death of Mrs. Palmer, in 1887, Mr. Palmer was again married, this time to Miss Elizabeth Mieumber, of Angusta. Wis. She is also now deceased.
William Potter Palmer, a retired business man of Sparta. has been identified with the business life of Sparta for half a century. He was born in Johnstown. N. Y., on August 13. 1842. and when fourteen years of age, in 1856. he came to Sparta with his parents. who were Hagerman and Mary (Potter) Palmer. natives of New York and England respectively. Hagerman Palmer, father of William, was born in the town of Watervliet, Albany county, New York. November 14, 1815, and his father. David Palmer, was a native of Dutchess county. On November 28. 1839. Ilager- man Palmer married Miss Mary Potter, who died August 27, 1894, mother of William. The earliest American ancestors of Mr. Palmer came from England to America in the Sixteenth century. Three brothers emigrated from that country and settled in the colony of Connecticut. Numerous descendants of these brothers are now scattered throughout the Union, many of whom have become men of note, among them the late and well known Potter Pahner, of Chicago, who was the third cousin of our subject. The maiden name of Hagerman Palmer's mother was Catherine Hager- man, a native of Saratoga county. New York. The parents of Hagerman Palmer continued to reside in Albany county. New York, until their death. He was the last surviving member of a family of thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters. In early life Mr. Pahner was engaged in farming, and after his mar- riage seenred employment as an agent for James Roy & Company, of West Troy. N. Y., manufacturers of broadeloth and shawls. and later he engaged in merchandising. In 1855 he came to Sparta and with a company of capitalists entered on land war- rants about 6.000 acres of land, the greater part of which was
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in Monroe county. In this enterprise Mr. Palmer had one-fourth interest. In April of the following year (1856) Mrs. Palmer, with the rest of the family, joined her husband in their new home. For fourteen years Mr. Palmer was engaged in the drug business in Sparta, and also made a business of buying and selling hops for some years, with headquarters for this in St. Louis; his prin- cipal line in Sparta, however, has been real estate.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer celebrated their golden wedding at their beautiful home, entertaining on the occasion about 360 guests.
As a progressive and enterprising business man, Mr. Palmer was a success ; he was a man of marked individuality, independent in thought and action; a man among men, whose presence was missed by his wide circle of friends and associates. His death occurred on September 12, 1905.
William Potter Palmer, the subject of this sketch, is the second child of a family of eleven children ; the others are : Carrie P. Lee, of Oregon ; David H., of Oregon; George II., of Sparta; Emma W. Dodge, of Sparta; Henry W., of La Crosse; Mary, wife of E. H. Canfield, resides in Sparta ; John V., who died July 11, 1911, and Charles E., Ellen J. and Minnie E., deceased.
William received his education in the public schools of his native place, and at the age of sixteen years he entered as clerk the drug store of his father, which business finally became his chief occupation in life. At that time the firm name was Condit & Palmer, later Palmer & Rogers, and afterward changed to Palmer & Gage, with whom he was employed until 1875, when he embarked in the drug business on his own account, which he suc- cessfully conducted until 1896; at this time Mr. Fred Gross pur- ehased a half interest, who afterwards, associated with Mr. Shaller, purchased the other half interest. Mr. Palmer later pur- chased a bankrupt stock of drugs and, as a member of the Taylor Drug Company, continned in this line of business until February 19, 1907. when he retired from all active business.
During his long and busy career, Mr. Palmer has- filled many positions of trust and honor. From 1891 to 1898 he was vice- president of the Bank of Sparta : he early served as village treas- urer and assessor and was for two years county clerk. He is recognized as one of the foremost citizens of Sparta. highly esteemed by a host of friends whom he has gathered around him by his thorough business habits and social qualities. He is free from all ostentatious pride, is genial and affable in his manner, always ready to bestow a favor, to speak a kind word or do a
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kind act. and. being enterprising to an eminent degree, he takes a lively interest in all measures tending to the welfare and pros- perity of his city and county.
On May 10. 1866, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage at Sparta with Miss Esther M .. danghter of Guy and Emily ( Richmond) Shaw, natives of Genesee county. New York, who came to Sparta when Mrs. Palmer was but twelve years of age. The parents of Mrs. Palmer enjoyed over sixty years of happy married life. Mrs. Shaw was born February 12. 1812. and died April 28. 1896. Mr. Shaw was born May 3, 1812, and died March 9, 1896. Of four children. Mrs. Palmer is the youngest ; the others are: Cath- erine R .. wife of W. E. Graves, of Sparta ; Horace. died May 12, 1876. and Daniel. who died January 27. 1876. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are Lelia Roselle, born JJanuary 28. 1870. married W. W. Taylor, of Stevens Point, Wis .. and has two chil- dren. Palmer W. Taylor. born September 17. 1900, and Gage Me- Pherson Taylor, born January 10. 1904. The other child. Guy II. Palmer, was born May 1. 1883. is superintendent and an electrical engineer of Mammoth Springs, Ark. He was married. January 25. 1912. to Florence Burnell. of Medford. Ore.
William F. Parsons, a progressive and prosperous farmer. re- siding in the Big Creek Valley, on section seven. Sparta township. is a native son of Monroe county and was born at Tomah. the son of William Barlow and Lucy (Lockwood) Parsons.
William Barlow Parsons was born at Randolph. Vt .. May 3. 1824, the seventh descendant from Deacon C. Bengem Parsons of the Mayflower. one of the three brothers who came over at that time (1620). Ile attended school in Massachusetts, taught in the East. came to Baraboo, Wis., about 1854, where he met his wife and was married in 1855. Mr. Parson having already pre-empted land in LaGrange township, near Tomah, being the first to pre- empt land in that part of the county, and moved to the farm in the spring of 1855. Mrs. Parson's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles David Lockwood. came from Kingston. Canada, in 1854. settled in Baraboo, where Mr. Lockwood bought a townsite, but the town not materializing. they located in Tunnel City, where they ran the Lockwood House for several years. afterwards settling on a little farm in Hopeville, which was a portion of the Parsons land. Mr. Parsons was school township superintendent until the county of Monroe was organized and county officers elected. He was for many years town clerk and justice of the peace, and united in marriage several of the now old people of the community. Ile was always interested in all improvements for the good of the
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county, a faithful home friend to many. During the war he did his duty for the country at home, aiding those in need by loaning money. The Parson's home was always a hospitable center, where many people on their westward journey in the early days were given assistance and good cheer; he also aided in the upbuilding of the county by locating many in that section. He taught school for several terms, many of those who came under his instruction remembering him as one who inspired them to greater effort and ambition for a place of usefulness in life. He was one of the few in the neighborhood who took active part in Sunday school and church work, and was a leader in literary societies, spelling schools, etc.
Mr. and Mrs. Parsons lived in a log house, the first one built in the locality, until 1866, where six of their children were born. Lucinda Parsons, the eldest, being the first white child born in that locality. They moved to Clear Lake. S. D .. in 1883-1884, and were pioneers of that section. They settled on a homestead near town, where they lived until a short time before their demise. They were always, honored and respected, and lived without re- proach, his motto being "to owe no man aught but love and char- ity." Of Mrs. Parsons could truly be said : "Her children grew up calling her blessed." Mr. Parsons survived his wife one year.
William F. Spent his early life on the homestead farm of 160 acres which his father took up in LaGrange township when he came to Monroe county in 1854. He attended the public school and at the age of twenty-one went to the pineries of northern Michigan and was foreman of a lumber camp for some time, when he went to western Minnesota and purchased 160 acres of land, thence to Dakota, where he homesteaded 160 acres. After proving up on this, he returned to the Michigan pineries and five years later disposed of his Minnesota land and returned to Monroe county and to his present location in Sparta township, where, in 1902, he bought his farm of 175 acres from John Hutson, which he has since improved by the addition of a barn 40x90 feet, silo 14x35 feet. milk house 14x14 feet, and a sorghum mill. His dairy grades are the Jerseys, Holsteins and Duroe Jersey Red. and, besides his stock raising and dairying, he is engaged in diversified farming and has one of the finest farms in Big Creek Valley.
In 1901 he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Hutson, daughter of John Hutson, one of the early settlers of Sparta town- ship. To this union has been born three children, viz .: William Lloyd, Wallace Earl and Cecil Paul. Mr. Parsons is a member of the Sparta Fruit Growers' Association. Sparta Fair Association,
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the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his family affiliate with the Big Creek Methodist Episcopal church.
Erick Peterson, one of the very first settlers of Portland town- ship, a man of progressive ideas and a substantial citizen, was born in Norway. February 18, 1829. the son of Peter and Martha Erickson. both natives of Norway. Our subject remained in his native country until 1851, when, with his wife and one child, he came to America, and for a time was located at Rochester, Racine county. Wisconsin. where he was employed in a fanning mill fac- tory. His father, who always lived in Norway, was a millwright, and worked at this trade as well as that of carpenter. He was a man of excellent judgment and the father of eight children, our subject being the second child; seven of this family are still (1912) living. The parents were members of the Lutheran church and prominent in their community.
In 1858 Erick Peterson located in the town of Portland, and for a time followed the trade of carpenter and builder. In 1859 he purchased 240 acres of land in sections six and twenty-five, and afterwards added forty acres in section thirty-six. After a residence here of nine years, he moved to the town of Jefferson. Mr. Peterson relates that when he first located in the town of Portland there were but few settlers, and no settlement from which to procure supplies. La Crosse being the nearest trading point : flour at that time was ten dollars per barrel, and other things in proportion ; the country was but a wilderness inhabited by wild game and Indians: bear and deer were plentiful. and Mr. Peterson being an excellent marksman, he had no trouble in supplying his family with venison, which was their chief means of subsistence: he has killed many bear and deer on the old homestead, and relates a little thrilling experience of a day's hunt for deer in a strip of timber. when, after sighting the game. he was attracted by a noise in the tree tops. and upon looking up saw a large panther making ready to spring upon him; he quickly fired a lucky shot which brought the panther dead at his feet. It was the only animal of this kind he ever saw in Portland, and the hide was purchased by a man from Milwaukee, at a fancy price. This incident merely touches on the volume of interesting experiences which Mr. Peterson relates, but lack of space pro- vents us from going further into details.
Mr. Peterson, possessed with that energy and thrift com- mon to his people, by hard work and persistent energy. cleared his land and soon brought to a good state of cultivation and pro- ductiveness, and now values it at one hundred dollars per acre.
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after experiencing the privations and hardships of pioneer life for many years, and now holds a prominent place in his com- munity. He has been active in the affairs of the Republican party and for years has served his town in various capacities, being supervisor for one year, assessor for three years, and many other offices. Ile now lives in practical retirement at his fine home on the farm near Cashton.
He was married in Norway. in 1851. to Miss Olena Oleson, daughter of Chris and Alena Oleson, she being one of a family of three children. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have had a family of twelve children, six of whom are now (1912) living, viz .: Peter, born February 7, 1853: Martha, born February 9, 1855: Edward, born May 9, 1859: Elizabeth. born April 17. 1861: Ellsworth, born June 12, 1864, and Oscar, born January 13, 1868.
Ellsworth Peterson, who was his father's mainstay on the farm, where he resided until he was twenty-two years old, was then employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for ten years, after which he returned to the home farm and remained for twelve years. On March 20, 1886. he was married, in the town of Portland, to Miss Martha Christian, whose parents are both deceased. Mrs. Peterson being the only living member of a family of three children. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Peterson have been born nine children, viz. : Edwin, Cleuse, Emma. Clara, Lewie, Willia, Amanda. Clarence and Tellman.
Oscar Peterson, the son of O- J. and Christina (Oleson) Peterson, was born in Norway, September 30. 1867. He emigrated to America, preceding his parents, who also came to this coun- try in 1892. They reared a family of seven children, six of whom are now living. The father, at the age of seventy years, and his mother, at the age of seventy-four years, are both living in Monroe county. Our subject began his career as a cook in a restaurant, and by thrift, industry and economy accumulated his earnings, and then embarked in the mercantile business. In 1892 he opened a general store at Melvina. John E. Fremstad after- ward entered into copartnership with him, and for four years the business was conducted under the firm name of Peterson and Fremstad. Mr. Peterson purchased his partner's interest, and since that time has conducted the business by himself. and now has one of the largest general stores in Monroe county. He car- ries a good class of merchandise, and has a large and growing patronage, and by his honorable and . upright dealing has won the confidenee of his patrons, which he justly merits. In 1911 Mr. Peterson purchased the old Hunt Mill, which for more than
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forty years has been successfully run, being first operated by water power, then steam, which has finally given way to the pop- ular gasoline engine. The mill is well equipped with modern machinery and is operated in connection with his store. The mill has recently been remodeled and has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour daily and three hundred sacks of feed, and Mr. Peterson is kept busy in supplying the demands of his customers.
During the administration of President MeKinley, Mr. Peter- son was appointed postmaster at Melvina, a position. with the exception of a brief time, he has since continued to fill. IIe is Republican in politics. and for over thirty years has been a director on the school board, and for two years has served as justice of the peace. In fraternal matters he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1892 Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Matilda Anderson, daughter of John Anderson, of Leon. To this union has been born nine children, viz .: Elmer R., born January 16, 1894: Oscar M., born February 12, 1896; Mabel C., born May 2, 1897; Ernest J., born February 23. 1900; Evelyn C., born January 27, 1903: Joseph L., born October 5, 1905; Clarence A., born December 24, 1907; Alice R., born January 23, 1910, and Julia H., born March 20, 1912.
Frank Pier, who was born on section twelve, Greenfield town- ship. Monroe county, where he now resides, is a son of Peter and Mary (Schlichter) Pier, both natives of Germany. They came to America in early life, and were married at East Troy. Wis. Coming west to Wisconsin, they first settled in Clark county. near Neilsville, and from there to Monroe county. fully a half century ago. Arriving here and finding it one of the best agri- cultural fields in the West, they located in Greenfield township. on a tract of 120 acres of wild land, forty of which was pre- empted from the Government, and here he established a home for himself and family; clearing seventy acres. he erected build- ings and brought the land to a high state of cultivation, improving as the years passed. Here the parents spent their lives, the father died in 1904, at the age of eighty years. and the mother passed away in 1910, at the age of seventy-six. They were both devoted members of St. Mary's Catholic church.
Frank first saw the light of day July 14, 1870, and is the youngest of a family of seven children, of whom three are now living, viz .: John resides on a farm in Greenfield township. adjoining that of our subject: Mary married J. J. Kiefer and lives in the town of Greenfield : and Frank, our subject. Those
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deceased are Michael, Anna, Maggie and Peter. Frank was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools, assist- ing with the farm work. In 1897 he came into possession of the homestead, where he now lives, successfully engaged in general farming. He is one of the progressive and popular men of his town, is active in its interests, and served his town as assessor for the term of 1911 and 1912.
He was married October 18, 1898, to Miss Lena Burkart, daughter of Milo Burkart, of Fairchild, Wis.
Carl N. Pierce,* farmer and dairyman, who resides on section fifteen, Sparta township, is a native son of Wisconsin, and was born in Green Lake county, near Randolph Center, January 2, 1879, the second child of a family of five children born to W. HI. and Minnie (Ruh) Pierce. Of the others, William is deceased; Ilarry lives in Oregon; Alonzo resides in Sparta, and Marie is the wife of Thomas Brown, of Sparta township. The parents emigrated from Germany to the United States and first settled on a farm in Green Lake county, but subsequently moved to Monroe county.
Carl N. was raised on the farm in Adams county, Wisconsin, and attended the common schools. He came to Monroe county with his parents in 1893, where he engaged in the farm work and assisted his father in operating the Testor Mill. At the age of twenty-two he began farming on his own account on the Lawson farm in Sparta township; at the end of four years he purchased 110 acres in Leon township, which he sold one year later and returned to the Lawson farm, which he continued to operate until 1909, when he purchased the Kenyon farm of 119 acres, which he has since conducted, and on February 1, 1912, he began operations in the dairy business, conducting the same from the W. E. Davis farm.
In 1901 Mr. Pierce was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Guy, daughter of William N. and Isabella (Nichol) Guy, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have two children, viz .: Earl Guy and Agnes Ethel Pierce.
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