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 86
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Mr. Storkel is a member of the park board of Tomah, and the flowers, evergreens and shrubbery growing along the boulevards have been planted, managed and superintended solely by him. He takes an active interest in publie affairs, and is always ready to lend his moral influence and financial aid to any worthy enter- prise tending to the betterment of his community, and withal he is a high-minded, public spirited citizen. Ile contributes largely to the leading magazines published in the interest of his line of business.
On March 9, 1884, Mr. Storkel was married to Miss Minnie Man. Their six children are Herman, Lena, Anna, Louis, Adolph and Louisa, all of whom are living.
Charles Stratman, a well-to-do farmer of Wellington township. Monroe county, came here in 1890 and bought his farm of 240 acres in seetions ten and fifteen. which he has since made one of the ideal homesteads in the county. His residence, barns and other outbuildings lend a prosperous appearance to his farm, and his water is supplied by a hydraulie engine from natural springs on the place. His methods of farming are thoroughly up to date- and, in short, he is a progressive farmer. He is the son of Arnt and Louisa (Neadfelt) Stratman, both natives of Germany. who came to America sometime in the forties, with a family of four children, and located in West Salem. La Crosse county, Wis., where they bought 160 acres of land in 1867. The father started in life with no means save his native ability to earn a livelihood by the sweat of his brow, and he worked for a long time as a day
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laborer, and by his close application and economical management, he saved sufficient money to purchase his farm, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1909, was a successful farmer with a comfortable home and many friends. They were members of the Lutheran church, and Mrs. Stratman is still living at West Salem at the age of seventy-eight years. They had a family of seven children, five of whom are now (1912) living.
Charles was the youngest of the family, and was born on March 28, 1876, in West Salem, Wis. He attended the district schools until he was fourteen years old and lived at home until he was twenty-one. His first venture on his own resources was on a rented farm, which he worked for one year, and on December 15, 1898, he was married at West Salem to Miss Dora Wehrs, one of a family of five children. Her father was a stone mason by trade and came from Germany to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, in an early day.
Mr. and Mrs. Stratman have a family of four children : Edna P., Harry C., Walter W. and Ethel A.
Will F. Strozinsky is a native of Wilton township, Monroe county, Wisconsin, and was born June 9, 1870, the second child in order of birth in a family of nine children. born to Charles and Anna (Rainsaur) Strozinsky. The father was born in Prussia and the mother in Austria. The father came to America while yet a young man, in the early fifties, and located in Dorset Ridge, town of Wilton, where he worked as a day laborer until his marriage. He homesteaded a farm of 160 acres, where he lived three years, then moved to Cold Spring valley, where he purchased 120 acres in section fourteen, and there lived until he died in 1891. When he first settled on his farms they were in a wild state, which required much energy and labor to subdue, and in connection with his farming operations, he operated a thrashing machine for eighteen years. He was a kind hearted, genial and public spirited and had a wide acquaintance over the county. He was jovial and a great lover of song, but rather unfortunate in business, leaving at the time of his death many obligations, which were assumed and paid in full by his sons. The mother of our subject is now living in Tomah at the age of sixty-seven years, and is a member of the Lutheran church, as was her husband.
Will F. attended the public school until he was eighteen, and early began life for himself. At the beginning of his career he worked seven months during the first summer for one man, receiv- ing for the full time $115. He worked five more summers, and since that time has been an aggressive and hard working man,
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whose efforts have been erowned with success. In 1897 he bought a farm of 120 acres in section twenty-three. town of Wilton, where he now resides. successfully engaged in general farming and breeding and raising full blooded Holstein cattle. He operates an extensive dairy and sells his cream to the Wilton Co-operative Creamery Association.
Mr. Strozinsky has been twice married. first to Miss Bertha Wolkow, who died without issue in 1905. On April 28, 1907, he married his second wife at Dorset Ridge, in Wilton township, Miss Minnie Bukatz, by whom he has three children, Clarence II., born November 20. 1908: Edwin E .. born December 27, 1909. and Earl A .. born December 19, 1911. In religious affiliations, Mr. and Mrs. Strozinsky are members of the Lutheran church, while in politics he is active in the affairs of the Republican party.
John J. Sullivan*, freight agent. Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. is a native of Norfolk, Conn., where he was born on December 25. 1861, and is the oldest of a family of six children, viz. : John J .. Kate (deceased). Mary, Murt, Nellie and Daniel (deceased), who were born to Daniel and Mary (Stack) Sullivan, who emigrated from Ireland to the United States when young, settling first in Connecticut, where the father found employment in a foundry. . After remaining here for a short time, he came to Sparta, where he found employment with the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company as seetion fore- man, which position he retained for the balance of his active life. Ilis death ocenrred in January, 1907. at the age of seventy-six years. His widow. mother of our subject. is still a resident of Sparta, and enjoys the affection and esteem of her large circle of friends.
Mr. Sullivan. the subject of this sketch received a thorough education in the public and high schools of Sparta, and while still a boy drove the delivery wagon for the American Express Company. His first experience in railroad work was obtained in the freight and baggage department at the local sta- tion in Sparta. Mr. Sullivan bears the distinction of being one of the employees in the freight department of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Sparta who has seen continual service in this line since 1881. being the longest in the employ of any man connected with the road at this place.
In company with Mr. D. C. Hope. Mr. Sullivan established the first cold storage plant at Sparta, and after four years' successful operation, purchased the interests of Mr. Hope, and has since con- tinned the business successfully. making a specialty of buying and
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wholesaling eggs. Equipped with a modern cold storage ware- house, he is in the market at all times, and in season buys all the eggs to be had in his locality, paying the highest cash price for them.
Mr. Sullivan is a man of sterling character, exemplary in his habits and a leading spirit in matters that come within the scope of his influence, and takes an active interest in all questions per- taining to the betterment of his city and county. Ile is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin and the Fraternal Union. He has been alderman of the third ward for two years.
On June 21. 1893, Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage with Miss Louise Miller, daughter of Casper Miller, a pioneer and prominent citizen of La Crosse. Their children are Samnel Casper ; Charles B. and John J .. Jr.
Thomas Sullivan, soldier and farmer, was born in 1848 in Michigan, the son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Friley ) Sullivan, both natives of Ireland. The father came to America in an early day. and to Wisconsin when Thomas was two years old. He enlisted in Jumeau county, in Company C. Nineteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. William Il. Blyton's regiment. and served until honor- ably discharged for disability. Returning to Wisconsin, he pur- chased 160 acres of land in section twenty-two, Sheldon township. where he lived until his death in 1864. His wife, mother of our subject. passed away during the same year. They experienced the privations and hardships of pioneer life in the then new country. but by hard work and perseverance subdued the soil. and became known as one of the well-to-do and most highly respected farmers of their township.
Thomas was edneated in the common schools, and while yet a young man. at the age of sixteen. enlisted in Company D. Forty- fourth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. and served until the close of the war. His regiment was in the Army of the Cum- berland. under General Thomas. and participated in the battles of Johnsonville. Dnek River. Franklin, Tenn., and Nashville. He was honorably discharged at Paducah. Ky .. July 2. 1865. Return- ing to Wisconsin, he acquired a quarter section of land in Sheldon township. Monroe county. where he now resides, engaged in gen- eral farming. He is one of the representative men of his town. and enjoys the confidence and respect of the community in which he resides.
Hle was married in June, 1867, at St. Mary's, to Miss Catherine Onalphy, daughter of a prominent Monroe county family. In
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politics, Mr. Sullivan is a staunch believer in the principles of the Democratic party.
Levings N. Sweet, a prominent early settler of Lincon town- ship, Monroe county, Wisconsin, a resident of section twenty- nine, is a native of Vermont, and was born at Hinesburg, Chittenden county, in that state, May 13, 1837. His parents, Ezekiel and Cleora (Mack) Sweet were also natives of Vermont of English extraction. They later settled in Madrid township, St. Lawrence county, New York, where they spent the balance of their lives. Our subject is the seventh child of a family of nine children and the only surviving member. The others were James M., Henry O., Sarah, who was the wife of D. A. Olan; Charles. Emery A., Mary A., Augustus, and Norman E. Sweet. Mr. Sweet, our subject, was educated in the common schools and Potsdam Academy, and remained at home until twenty years of age, when he came to Wisconsin, first stopping at Milwaukee, where he was in the employ of the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railroad. At the end of eight months he went to Iowa and engaged in teaching school. After two seasons he returned to Wisconsin, and for one year farmed in Waukesha county. In July, 1860, he came to Monroe county, and opened a farm for his brother near Tomah, in Lincoln, now LaGrange township. He cultivated the soil and improved the place continuously for twelve years. at the end of which time he came to his present location and bought three forties, which was for the most part wild land. He took possession in 1871, and erected suitable buildings and has since engaged in general farming and raising of live stock. Mr. Sweet has been prominently identified with the early organization of his township, and has represented the people officially on several occasions, and was the first to aid in the erection of the Kirby Union church. He has been a member of Tomah Lodge, No. 132. A. F. and A. M., since the early sixties.
January 28, 1862, Mr. Sweet was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Howard, a native of Milwauke, Wis., where she was born April 5, 1845. She is a daughter of Harry B. and Avilla (Webber) Howard, natives of Ohio. Four children were born to this union, viz. : Emory A., who died June 28, 1910, at the age of forty-eight years; Warren H .. of Portland, Ore .; Arthur L., of Lincoln township, and Lottie C., wife of Mett Rose, of Lincoln township.
Arthur L. Sweet, one of the progressive farmers of Monroe county, who resides in section twenty-nine, Lincoln township. was born near Tomah, in LaGrange township, June 9, 1868. He
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is a son of Levings N. and Sarah (Howard) Sweet, of Lincoln township,. Mr. Sweet attended the district school and remained on the homestead farm until he reached the age of twenty-four, when he purchased his present farm of 120 acres, which at that time was only partly improved. He erected a comfortable resi- dence, large and commodious barns and outbuildings, and made other improvements, besides bringing the soil to a high state of cultivation. In addition to general farming he carries on an extensive dairy business, and has a fine herd of Holstein cattle. In fraternal matters, Mr. Sweet is a member of Tomah Lodge, No. 132, A. F. and A. M., Modern Woodmen of America, and the Woodmen of the World. He is also a member of the Union church.
On December 14, 1892, he was married to Miss Mabel A. Payne, daughter of H. S. and Beulah E. (Bisbee) Payne, of Sparta. Mrs. Sweet is the oldest of a family of three children. The others are Clarence H., who resides in the state of Washington, and Leo HI., of North Dakota.
Norman E. Sweet, one of the early settlers and highly respected citizens of LaGrange township, was born in Hinesburg, Vt. His parents, Ezekiel and Cleora (Maek) Sweet, were natives of Vermont, from whence they moved to St. Lawrence county, New York, when our subject was two years old, and there died. Norman E. was the youngest of a family of eight boys and three girls, all of whom are now deceased excepting Levings N. Sweet, of Lincoln township, this county. Mr. Sweet came to Monroe county with his two brothers; Emery J. purchased 300 acres of land from the government, in LaGrange township, which at that time formed a part of Lincoln, and L. N. and N. E. Sweet pur- chased an interest later. In 1874 our subject sold his interest in this land and moved to section nine, LaGrange township, and purchased a farm of 120 aeres; the residence having been burned in February of that year, a new one was immediately erected, which is still in use by his widow and son, Edgar C. Sweet. In 1904 a modern barn was built and many valuable and lasting improvements have been made. A pioneer in that section, Mr. Sweet took an active part in transforming Monroe county from a wild state to one of the highly cultivated farms and good homes. Hle took an active interest in local matters and was known as one of Monroe county's publie spirited and high minded citizens, and his death, which occurred December 27, 1893, was mourned as a great publie loss.
On April 15, 1864, Mr. Sweet was united in marriage with Miss Diana Barkley, a native of Upper Canada, and a daughter of
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Henry P. and Catherine (Shaver) Barkley, also natives of Canada, where they spent their lives. Mrs. Sweet is the sixth child in order of birth in a family of nine children: those living are: Gordon, who lives in Ontario; Margaret. Winchester, Ontario : George, of Waddington. N. Y .. and Elizabeth, who resides in Manitoba. Those deceased are Amos and Laney, Eliza and Almira. Mrs. Sweet is a lady of noble character, possessed of womanly virtues and a factor for good in her community. To Mr. and Mrs. Sweet were born three children. viz. : Carrie married Edwin J. Vandervort, and resides in the town of Tomah: Edgar Charles lives on the home farm, and Jessie Irene is the wife of D. C. Purdy. of LaGrange township.
John Peter Barkley. paternal grandfather of Mrs. Sweet, was a native of Schoharie county, New York, and lived to the age of seventy-five years ; his widow. Delliah (Sperbeck) Barkley, who lived to he 107 years of age. died in 1867. John P. Barkley. his sister, and two children were once captured by the Indians and held for ransom; one child, born while in captivity, was never returned to its parents by the Indians, they claiming they would make "heap big chief" of him some day. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Sweet was Michael Shaver, a native of Canada ; he married Miss Jane Baker, and both lived to be eighty years old. The first spring after Mr. and Mrs. Sweet took up their residence on the present homestead, they had some annoying experiences with the Indians: Red Eagle came to the house one day and demanded admittance. and when refused on account of his intoxicated condition, immediately took his hatchet and proceeded to batter down the door. He was captured and taken to Tomah, where he was fined $11 and made to pay for the door. While Mr. Sweet and others were at the trial, Mrs. Sweet remained at home, and very soon after their departure. the house was surrounded by Indians making search for the unruly one: among them was Artichoke. Good Bear and others. and after being made to understand the situation. and where the other Indian was, they withdrew. An Indian trail ran across this farm and it was no uncommon thing to see as many as twenty- five Indians at one time, and three are now buried near the barn.
Edgar C. Sweet. proprietor of East View farm, in section nine. LaGrange township, where he was born June 18. 1876, and has always lived, is a believer in up-to-date methods in dairying and general farming. He received his education in the district school, and after the death of his father, assumed the active management of the farm, and besides general farming and dairy-
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ing, he is successful breeder of Guernsey cattle, Percheron horses, Poland China hogs and Brown Leghorn chickens. Mr. Sweet takes a commendable interest in the affairs of his township, and has held the office of treasurer. In December, 1897, he was married to Miss Jennie Carter, daughter of Arnold and Jane (Wilson) Carter. natives of New York. They have one child, Doris M. Sweet, born June 13, 1906.
Truman R. Talbot, county clerk of Monroe county, is a native of the "Badger state" and was born of English ancestry, on a farm near Whitewater, Wis., January 14, 1857, son of Robert A. and Ann (King) Talbot, natives of Cambridgeshire, England. They came to Rock county, this state, after marriage in 1849, where they engaged in farming until the spring of 1863, when they located in section thirty-four. Adrian township. Monroe county, on a 160-acre traet of wild land, the only building being a small log house, which was used for a home, and as time and circumstances demanded. log stables were built and later modern buildings were constructed and the land brought to a high state of cultivation. It was here that they made their home until 1888, when they removed to Tomah, where they resided until their death. He passed away in 1891, and his wife, the mother of our subject, survived until 1905, when she died at the age of eighty-one years. Mr. Talbot, the father of our subject, was a veteran of the Civil War, serving near the close as a private in Company A. Fifty-second Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers. He was counted among the prominent pioneers of Adrian township, and a man whose moral influence counted for much in his com- munity. He was prominent in religions and church work, being one of the organizers of the Ridgeville Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Talbot, the subject, is the fifth child of a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. The others are: Emma, wife of Francis Burroughs, of Beloit, Wis .: Sallie, wife of I. N. Palmer, of Tomah-she is now deceased : Fred K., of Tomah ; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of the late L. R. Cole; Lottie, deceased ; J. E., of Sioux City, Iowa ; and Millie, wife of Harry Euckhausen, of Sparta.
Mr. Talbot attended the public schools of Adrian township, and the Tomah graded schools, and began for himself on the homestead farm in 1880, and was a resident of Adrian township until his election to his present office. He taught school for several terms in his home neighborhood during the winter season. attending to his farm duties during the summer season. and
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during his residence there served as treasurer of his township for two years. Politically Mr. Talbot is a Republican staunch and true. He was first considered as the most available member of the party as a candidate for county clerk in 1906, and was elected to that office by a large majority. His efficiency was again demonstrated in 1908, by his renomination and election, and again in 1910 by a large and popular vote, reflecting great credit upon himself and giving entire satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Talbot is one of the most progressive citizens, a man of strict integrity of character, a supporter of all worthy enterprises, and makes every effort to advance the best interests of Monroe county. Socially Mr. Talbot is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1881 the subject was united in marriage with Miss Emma Seibold, daughter of George and Armenia (Knapp) Seibold, of Ridgeville township. They have three children : Harry R., con- ductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, with headquarters at Sioux City, Iowa; Ray G., mechanical engineer with Fairbanks & Morse at Beloit, Wis., and Mabel A. Talbot, Sparta.
Robert John Taylor, the well-known and popular druggist of Sparta, comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was born at Coleraine, Ireland, April 10, 1874, and came to America with his parents who first settled in Jackson county, Wisconsin, and later, about twenty-five years ago, moved to Sparta, where Robert received his education in the public and high schools. His first venture in business life was a position as clerk in the drug store of Edward Crane, when he was eighteen years of age, and after two years' service with Mr. Crane, he entered the store of F. N. Newton, and remained in his employ for eight years, where he mastered pharmacy in all its branches. In 1907 Mr. Taylor pur- chased the drug business of John W. Palmer, and has since, under the firm name of the Taylor Drug Company, success- fully conducted the business, increasing the stock and otherwise enlarging the facilities to meet the growing demands. A leader in his line, he conducts a modern and up-to-date drug store, as his many friends will attest.
Fraternally Mr. Taylor is a member of the Masonic order, a Knight Templar, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and Modern Woodmen of America. He was married on May 19, 1909, to Miss Lenna Waring, daughter of E. I. Waring, of Sparta.
Mr. Taylor is the son of William and Margaret (MePherson) Taylor, who were married at Belrugh, Ireland, over half a
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century ago, where a family of seven children were born as follows : Anna Jane, wife of Thomas Hunter, of Superior, Wis .; Martha P., wife of Edward Moe, of same place; Samuel Semple, a lumberman of Missoula, Mont .; William W., druggist, of Stevens Point; Dr. David A., of Bangor; Robert John, our sub- ject, and Margaret, of Sparta.
William Taylor, father of Robert, was a native of Coleraine, Ireland, and after coming to America, engaged in farming as his principal occupation. He died in Sparta on November 12, 1908, at the age of eighty years. He was the son of William Taylor, born on the Rock of Gibraltar, and who fought in the battle of Waterloo in Napoleon's army, and Mrs. Taylor, our subject's mother, still retains the medal tendered to him at the time of his discharge by Queen Victoria which bears the date of 1793- 1814.
Robert McPherson, maternal grandfather of Mr. Taylor, was the fourth child of a family of seven children; the others were John, James, Samuel, Thomas, Adam and Joseph. Mrs. Taylor, mother of Robert J., resides in Sparta, well preserved for one of her years, and blessed with an abundance of womanly virtues which merits the highest esteem in which she is held. She is now eighty-three years old.
Fred W. Teall, is a prominent citizen of Sparta, and a leader in his special line, that of gardener. He was born at Geneva, in the state of New York, on March 31, 1859, and is the youngest of a family of three children born to James and Elizabeth (Allsop) Teall, natives of New York and England respectively. James, the father of subject, followed the occupation of tile and brick making, and was for several years manager of the Geneva Tile Works. He introduced the first machine-made tile into the United States from Scotland. Both Mr. and Mrs. Teall spent their lives in New York state, where Mr. Teall died in 1904 at the advanced age of eighty-five years, and his widow passed away in 1906 at the age of seventy-nine. Their sons, Edward S. and Fred W., are the only surviving members of the family ; the other child was Anna Teall.
Mr. Teall, our subject, received his education in the publie and Union schools of Geneva, and began business life in a nursery. In 1884 he came to Sparta and entered the employ of T. B. Tyler, as superintendent of his stock farm, which was then stoeked with Pole-Angus herds, and at that time was the most extensive stock farm in Sparta township. At the end of six years he embarked in the business of gardening and the raising of
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small fruits, which he continued for some eighteen years, and since then he has devoted his entire time and energy to garden- ing exclusively. Ilis ten-acre traet has been brought to a high state of cultivation, and is one of the most productive spots in Monroe county, furnishing the wholesale market of Sparta with various kinds of seasonable garden truck. The year of 1911 was a most prosperous and eventful one for Mr. Teall, as the success attained made it possible for him to erect a beautiful bungalow residence for himself at number 511 Jefferson avenue. The building is thoroughly modern in every way, finished in old mission, with a perfect hot water heating system, making it one of the model homes in the city.
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