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 84
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
On February 17. 1903. Mr. Otto Schlaver married Miss Eliza- beth Rhyme. daughter of August Rhyme. of Burr Oak. La Crosse rounty : they have three children. Edna E .. Clarence O. and Lester A. The parents of Mrs. Sehlaver were among the pioneer settlers of La Crosse county, and in these early days there were no means
.
867
BIOGRAPHY
of travel except by the overland route, and the Rhyme family made their way to La Crosse county by ox team. Since Mr. Schlaver became owner of his present farm he has made many improvements, remodeled his ontbuildings, added an up-to-date windmill. improved his dairy stables by adding new stanchions and cow stalls. In 1907 he built a modern residence. equipped with up-to-date appliances, and during the year 1912 a cement silo was erected. Mr. Schlaver is thoroughly progressive in his farming methods, publie-spirited, and takes a lively interest in public affairs. A Democrat in political view, a member of the school board. and the Lutheran church. and from 1900 to 1906 was a member of Company L. Wisconsin National Guard.
Henry F. Schroeder, county surveyor of Monroe county, Wis- consin, ranks among the younger class of enterprising. energetic and progressive business men of the county. He was born in Iroquois county. Illinois. January 1, 1873. the son of Albert and Mary (Bakker) Schroeder. natives of Germany and Holland re- spectively. The parents came to the United States in 1861 and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where the father was employed for three years in the Austin gunpowder mill; they afterwards moved to Monroe county, and in 1867 settled on a farm in section eight- een. Oakdale township, which the father homesteaded. and where he lived until his father's death, which occurred in 1880. His father was the father of four boys and one daughter-Albert. Robert and a sister being the only survivors.
Henry F. Schroeder received his preliminary education in the common schools, which was supplemented by a course of study at the Dixon. Ill .. Normal School. After completing his course in engineering and surveying. he returned to Monroe county. and in 1896 became deputy surveyor of the county, which position he held for six years. In 1910 he was elected county surveyor, with headquarters at Tomah. He takes a commendable interest in the affairs of his community. and, besides being thorough in the arts of his profession. he is the owner of a good farm five miles south- west of Tomah.
Robert F. Schroeder, the popular and well known coal dealer of Tomah. Wis., is the youngest child of a family of seven chil- dren, three of whom are now (1912) living. The others are Emily and Albert. Robert F. was born in Germany, April 10, 1854, and came with his parents to Ottawa, Canada, where they resided for about three years. and then moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, with a family of four sons. On account of failing health of the father. it was necessary for the boys to assist in supporting the
868
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
family and they all secured employment with the Austin Powder Company at Cleveland. Here they remained for some four years and then moved to Wisconsin, settling on a farm in the town of Oakdale, which the father homesteaded and with the aid of his sons soon subdued and made into a model farm. Here the parents passed the remainder of their lives, the death of the father occur- ring in 1879 and that of the mother in 1904. They were thrifty, energetie people and prominent in their community. He was con- sidered one of Monroe county's substantial citizens, and while engaged in farming paid a great deal of attention to the raising of sheep, at which he was successful. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran church and contributed liberally of his means to its support.
Robert F. received a limited education in the common schools of Ohio, and at the age of eighteen started to learn the black- smith's trade, and after coming to Tomah was apprenticed to David Jones for three years. Mastering the trade in all its branches, he was employed by others on a salary for a short time. and then engaged in business on his own account. By close appli- cation and by honorable and fair dealing, he soon acquired the reputation of turning out the best work of any blacksmith in that locality. He gained a large patronage and successfully carried on this line of business until 1906, when he embarked in the coal and wood trade, in which he has been equally successful ; he handles all kinds of hard and soft coal and his business has steadily in- creased until his sales amount to something more than sixty cars . per year.
Fraternally Mr. Schroeder is an active member of the Masonic order and has filled all the chairs in the Blue Lodge and Chapter. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Polit- ically he formerly was an adherent to the principles of the Demo- cratie party, but now is independent in thought and action. He has always taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to his city and county and has filled numerous public offices. He served as alderman for five terms and was mayor of the city of Tomah for two terms.
On January 19, 1877. Mr. Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss Hulda W. Ziebell, of Watertown, Wis. Of three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder, two-Osar R. and Grace M .- are living.
Charles H. Schulte was born in the town of Wells, Monroe county, January 16, 1872, and is a son of Anton and Elizabeth (Stute) Schulte, both of whom are natives of Germany. The
869
BIOGRAPHY
father came to America in 1850, and the mother, accompanied by her parents and one brother, came in 1854. Upon arriving in this country, they located and remained for a time in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where the father of our subject had pur- chased fifty-one acres of land, and where he resided for four- teen years. The family afterwards moved to Monroe county and for five years resided in the town of Ridgeville, whence they moved to Wells township, where the father purchased 240 acres of land in sections one, two and eleven, and here they have sinee resided. Both the father and mother were born in 1831, and are now retired from active labor and make their home with our sub- jeet. Charles II. The paternal grandfather died in 1874 and the grandmother in 1876. The parents have been residents of Mon- roe county for many years, and during this time they have been considered among the most progressive and influential citizens of the township. Mr. Schulte is a Democrat in politics and has always taken an active interest in matters pertaining to his town and county. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Com- pany A, Seventeenth Wisconsin Infantry, in 1861, and after serv- ing ten months, was honorably discharged on account of dis- ability, returned home and resumed his farming operations.
Charles II. is one of a family of nine children, four of whom are now (1912) living. Ile acquired his education in the dis- triet schools, attending until he was fourteen years old, and has always lived on the home farm, which he now owns, and carries on general farming and dairying. He uses the most up-to-date methods in his operations and is one of the wide-awake and progressive men in his township. Although formerly a staunch Democrat in political views, he is now independent and supports whatever appeals to his best judgment in matters of public importance. Hle occupies a prominent place in the affairs of his town and county, and for five years has been chairman of the town board and supervisor for two years; he has been a director of the German Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Norwalk for many years, and was one of the organizers of the Norwalk Tele- phone Company, of Norwalk, which was incorporated on June 11, 1907, and is now its secretary.
Ile was married on May 28, 1907, in Richland county, Wis- eonsin, to Miss Ellen Cruise, daughter of Bernard Cruise, early settlers and prominent citizens of Richland county.
Adolph H. Schultz, prominent alike as a farmer and citizen of Monroe county, resides in section fourteen, Adrian township, where he was born July 18, 1871, and is the fifth child of a family
870
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
of seven children born to Carl and Mary (Baumgarten) Schultz, both natives of Germany. Of the others, George resides in Tomah; Fred lives in Minneapolis, Minn; Otto lives at Winona, Minn .: Dena, who is deceased, married Edward Baumgarten; Herman also resides in Minneapolis, and Mary is the wife of William Lenz. of Tomah. The parents came to Wisconsin in an early day and were married at Columbus, this state, fifty-three Years ago. They came to Monroe county and settled on eighty acres of wild land in Adrian township, where they established the family home, and to which they subsequently added another eighty acres, making the farm contain 160 acres. Here they built a log house and barn and set to work to subdue and improve the land, and by hard work and perseverance succeeded in trans- forming it from a practical wilderness to one of the choicest farms in the county for productiveness. In 1878 a new and commodious frame residence was erected and other valuable improvements were made. and Mr. Schultz was considered one of the most successful farmers of his township, and was always ready to assist in any movement towards the general development of the county. He was genial, kind-hearted, and was held in the highest esteem. On April 19. 1909. he passed away, at the age of seventy-nine years. His widow, mother of our subject. still survives (1912) and resides in the city of Tomah.
Adolph HI. was reared on the home farm and received his education in the common schools, and since boyhood has devoted his entire attention to farming, beginning on his own resources at the age of fifteen years. He rented and carried on the home farm for five years previous to its purchase in 1902. since which time he has continued to make improvements and has brought the land to its present high state of cultivation, taking great pride in making his one of the most attractive farm homes in Adrian township. In 1908 he built a modern residence with up-to-date fittings and furnishings, and in 1912 constructed a large and com- modious barn, which contains all the late appliances used in carrying on a model dairy business: it has patent stanchions. concrete floors. the latest feed devices. waterworks system. silo. Other buildings are granary, sheep barns, etc .. etc. Ilis farm is well stocked with good horses. Holstein cattle and Oxford sheep.
Besides his farming operations, Mr. Schultz is kept busy look- ing after his other business interests throughout the county. He is a director of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Tomah. a director of the Tomah Co-operative Creamery Company. a director
871
BIOGRAPHY
of the Tomah Mutual Town Farm Insurance Company, and has served both as treasurer and assessor of his town.
On November 17, 1897, he was married to Miss Emma Bickel, daughter of John and Mary (Bartel) Bickel, of Tomah. Mrs. Bickel died in 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have been born four children, viz. : Lucile Violet, Mildred Dorothy, Carl John and Helen Marie Schultz.
Henry W. Schultz, who was born on the farm where he resides. in section thirteen, Adrian township, June 13, 1867, is a son and one of a family of eight children born to John and Mary (Bartels) Schultz. Of the others, John F. is deceased in 1908; William H. lives in Tomah; Dr. C. L. lives in Clark county, Wis- consin ; Mary is the wife of George Henry, of Tomah; Carrie is the wife of William Henry, Taylor, N. D .; George died in 1910, and Ida is the wife of William Schultz, of Adrian township. The parents emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1858, and were among the early settlers of Adrian township, where they lived on seetion thirteen; the original farm contained 120 acres. Their first residence and barn was made of logs, which were afterwards replaced with more pretentious buildings, as circumstances demanded. Mr. Schultz was a sturdy and ambi- tious man, and won his way to success through the pioneer strug- gle, and at the time of his death, which occurred on June 1, 1898, in his eighty-first year, held the confidence and esteem of the community. His wife, mother of our subject, who died in 1894, at the age of sixty-three years, was highly respected and beloved by all who knew her.
Henry W. spent his boyhood on the homestead farm, of which he came into possession in 1898, sinee which time he has made many improvements; the farm residence, which was built forty- nine years ago, has been remodeled and the land brought to a high state of productiveness. He attended the district school when a boy, and is now counted among the industrious and worthy citizens of his township.
On February 2, 1898, Mr. Schultz was married to Miss Agnes Rehberg, daughter of E -- and Agnes (Zastoupil) Rehberg, of Adrian township. Seven children have been born to them, viz. : Eunice, Kenneth, Leonard, Clarence and Allen, twins, and Claude and Arthur, twins, both deceased.
Lewis J. Schultz, one of the representative and influential farmers of Adrian township, Monroe county, lives on section twenty-seven, and is the owner of 400 aeres in Cole's Valley. He
1
872
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
is a native of Monroe county, born in Adrian, February 15, 1865, and is the eldest of a family of nine children born to Lewis J. and Reka (Jense) Schultz, both natives of Germany. When a young man, the father came to this country and first located on a tract of wild land in Ridgeville township, and soon after locating here he took up a homestead claim in the eastern part of that township, which he afterwards sold and purchased one forty and home- steaded another forty in section ten, which he improved and there made his home for twenty years, then moved to Tomah, where he resided until his death in 1909. at the age of seventy- seven years. He was enterprising and thrifty and generally made a success of his undertakings and enjoyed the confidence and respect of his community. His widow, mother of our subject, who still (1912) survives, makes her home in the city of Tomah. esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Of their other children living. Albert resides in Outagamio county, Wisconsin : Emil lives at Russell. this state, and Frank is in Adrian township. Those deceased are Dora. Adolph. Matic, Gustaf and Emma.
Lewis J .. subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and received his education in the district schools: he remained at home until he reached his majority. and then rented a farm in Adrian township and began farming for himself. He was a success at it from the start. and later purchased his father's farm in section ten, which he carried on for two years, then turned it over to a renter and went to Chicago. Ill .. and remained one year : came back to his farm and conducted it himself until 1896. then moved to Tomah and rented the William Lee farm, and at the end of four years. in 1900. he purchased what was known as the Tal- hot farm. in Adrian township. and two years later bought the Herman Westphal farm. which he has since conducted, and where he now resides. He has recently built a large modern barn with the latest modern devices and a silo, and has also added one thousand rods of woven wire fencing. He is one of the most progressive and up-to-date farmers of his town, and nses the most modern methods in his farming operations.
On May 8, 1890. Mr. Schultz was married to Miss Dora Seflow. daughter of Henry and Mary (Zahrite) Seflow. prominent citi- zens of Kirby. Lincoln township, where they now reside. Mrs. Schultz is the third child of a family of ten children: the others are : Henry, of Lincoln township: Mary is the wife of Alexander Randall, of Marshfield. Wis .: Anna married George Warnke and resides in Chicago: Emma is the wife of William Schick : Min-
LEWIS J. SCHULTZ
1
873
BIOGRAPIIY
nie the wife of Christ Boek, of Chicago; Augusta married Rich- ard Erickson, of Chicago, and Julia is now Mrs. John Clay, of Lincoln township. Those deceased are Elizabeth and William.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schultz. Those living are: Elva L., Ernest F., and Dorothy L. Schultz. Three are deceased, viz. : Raymond W., Clarence F. and one who died in infancy.
William H. Schultz, dealer in flour, feed and millstuff at Tomah, Wis., was born at Hotsvelt, Germany, August 6, 1853, the son of John and Mary (Bartels) Schultz, and came to Amer- ica with his parents and two brothers-John F. and Charles-in 1858: they located at Jacksonville, Wis., and purchased 120 acres of wild land and immediately set to work to establish the family home, subdue and cultivate the land. By hard work, thrift and economy, his farm was brought to a high state of enltivation and productiveness with substantial buildings and other improve- ments. and here they lived the balance of their lives. Mr. Schultz made a specialty of raising the best grades of grain for the market and was a recognized leader of his community. He died in 1906, and the death of his wife, mother of our subject, occurred in 1903. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living. The father was a devoted member of the Lutheran church, and contributed liberally to its support.
William H. was raised on the farm and acquired his education in the district schools up to his eighteenth year. He left the home of his parents when he was twenty, and for the three succeeding years was employed at farm work. He then went to Humbird, Clark county, and here served an appreticeship of three years as a millwright, and after acquiring a good knowledge of the mill- ing business, he went to Red Wing, Minn., and secured employ- ment in the La Grange flour mill. In 1874 he came to Tomah. and taking charge of the Barnes-Doxtader flouring mills, success- fully managed the business for eleven years, when he leased the property from that firm and conducted the business on his own account with gratifying success until 1888, when he purchased the Blackman feed mill, which he remodeled and made into a modern flour mill, and has since done a flourishing business in retailing flour and feed.
On Jannary 1, 1877, Mr. Schultz was mited in marriage with Miss Dena Nelson, daughter of one of Monroe county's most respected pioneer citizens. Mrs. Schultz' parents were of Eng- lish ancestry, and located in this county in 1854. They had a family of four children. Of three children born to Mr. and Mrs.
874
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
Schultz, two are now living, viz .: Fred D., born July 2, 1878, and Goldie M., born July 30, 1892.
A Republican in his political views, Mr. Schultz has been honored with the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and has on many occasions been nominated and elected to offices of trust and responsibility. He was elected and served as alderman of the city council, has held the office of mayor of the city, and for two years was city treasurer. He is a man of pleasing social qualities, genial, kind and broad-minded, and takes the keenest interest in whatever relates to the material and moral betterment of his city. Ile is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Woodmen of the World.
Melchor Schwarz is another one of the younger class of wide- awake and successful farmers in Monroe county. A native of Wisconsin, he was born in Dane county, May 26. 1884, son of Anton and Helen (Mack) Schwarz. The father was born in Bavaria. Germany, and the mother was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin. His father came to America in 1852 and located in Dane county, where he rented a farm, married and reared a family. In 1892 he moved his family to Monroe county and pur- chased 200 acres of land on Summit ridge, Wells township, which he afterwards sold to a son, who in turn sold to our subject. the third child in a family of five boys and three girls. After dis- posing of the home farm, the father moved to Sauk City, Wis., where he now lives in retirement.
Melchor spent his boyhood on his father's farm. attending the district school and assisting in the farm work until he reached his majority. He took a commercial course in the busi- ness college at Madison, and becoming efficient in bookkeeping. he was in the employ of the Schlitz Brewing Company from 1906 to 1908. His health failing by too close confinement. he went to Colorado, but after a short time he returned to Monroe county and purchased the farm where he now resides. He has made many improvements, including a large cement silo, and has the land under a good state of cultivation. He is largely interested in stock, raising alfalfa, and is a successful breeder and raiser of pure-bred Guernsey cattle and Percheron horses, which he raises for the market. He recently sold two Guernsey calves for $125 each. and in addition to these, he keeps a good Hamiltonian driving team.
Mr. Schwarz was married at Madison. Wis .. November 3. 1909. to Miss Martha Baumbach, daughter of Henry Baumbach, whose parents are now both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Schwarz have
875
BIOGRAPHY
been born two children, viz. : Norbert, born December 16, 1910, and Margaret, born April 23, 1912.
Theodore A. Serrurier, of Wilton, was born at Melbourne, Ans- tralia. April 5. 1858. a son of Theodore and Johanna (Schmidt) Serrurier, natives of France and Germany respectively. The par- ents came to the United States in 1867, with a family of eight children, and located first in Chicago, where he engaged in the lumber and banking business, and at the end of seven years re- moved to New Lisbon, Wis .. and embarked in the hotel business. conducting what was known as the Commercial House. This business the father continued until 1896, at which time he died. The mother died in 1906. They had a family of sixteen children. eight of whom are living. The father received a liberal education in his native country and previous to coming to America spent eleven years in Australia. in gold mining and the hotel business. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. and polit- ieally a Republican, but later in life a Democrat.
Theodore attended the public schools until he was eighteen years of age, and for three years was a clerk in a general store at New Lisbon, and from 1877 to 1880 was in the employ of H. Shultz & Son at Tomah: from 1880 to 1883 he engaged in mer- chandising at Tomah, and in the last named year came to Wilton and purchased 160 acres of land in Wilton township and engaged in farming until 1887: disposing of his farm he moved to the village of Wilton and managed a general store for T. L. Martin. He was appointed postmaster at Wilton by President Cleveland in 1893. which position he resigned in 1895. He then engaged in the hardware business for C. Hett, where he remained until he retired from active business.
In politics he is a Democrat and in 1908 was the unsuccessful candidate for clerk of the Circuit Court. Ile is now (1912) Demo- cratic candidate for the General Assembly. Fraternally Mr. Ser- rurier is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.
He was married November 4. 1883, in Wilton, to Miss Helen Platner. Three children have been born to this union: Richard S., born August 14, 1884: Kate L., born October 30, 1885, and Edith A .. born September 1. 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Serrurier reside in their fine modern residence erected in the village of Wilton in 1899.
Charles Sholes, a native son of Wisconsin, was born in JJack- son county. February 23, 1863, and is a son of William A. and Ellen (Marvin) Sholes, both natives of New York. When a young
.
876
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
man, the father came to JJackson county and for a time worked in the lumber woods; he later purchased 160 acres of wild land, which by hard work and industry he improved and brought to a good state of cultivation. After a residence of twenty years on this place. he disposed of the land and bought a farm of 200 acres near Melrose. in Jackson county, where he resided for fifteen years, then moved into the town and has sinee lived in retirement. Of a family of eleven children born to them, nine are now (1912) living. viz. : Cassius. William, Arba and Harley, all married in Min- nesota : Ella. now Mrs. E. J. Hiff. in Minneapolis ; bibbie (Mrs. G. Thiele), of Minnesota : May Bell (Mrs. Peter Simpson) and Stella, in Melrose, and Charles, the subject of this sketch. near Sparta. Mr. Sholes. Sr .. was a successful farmer and a man of influence in his community and is now enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil. The ancestors of both father and mother are traced to England.
Charles was brought up on the home farm and, until he was eighteen. attended the district schools and assisted in the farm work. After he became twenty-two he was employed in the hmm- ber woods and on the river until he was married, then moved to Black River Falls, this state, and lived there for twelve years. when he assumed the management of the Spaulding stock farm near Black River Falls and remained for seven years. In 1901 they moved to Melrose and. after a residence there for two years. moved to Monroe county and purchased the Kilts farm in Sparta township. three miles from the city of Sparta, and here they still reside. The farm is improved with good buildings and cultivation. and Mr. Sholes is considered one of the successful farmers of the township, and employs the most up-to-date methods in his farm- ing operations. He is a Republican in political sentiment and at this time supports the principles advocated by Senator LaFollette. Hle is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.