History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 102

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318

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Much of this public work has been done as secretary of the Trem-

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pealeau Commercial Club. The officers of this club are: President, George G. Gibbs ; vice-president, C. S. Ford ; secretary, Dr. E. D. Pierce ; chairman of the executive committee, L. M. Pittenger; chairman of the finance com- mittee, L. S. Sanders; chairman of the entertainment committee, A. A. Holmes. Through the Commercial Club the Farmers' Shipping Association was organized, a stock company was organized to take over the Lime Products Plant, the village has been supplied with electric service, the village library has been started, and a publicity campaign conducted.

Mrs. Pierce has mothered the public library, carrying the project on her own shoulders when there seemed little encouragement, and devoting her spare time to its care and growth at considerable personal sacrifice. A lady of literary and artistic tastes, and coming of a family that has been prominent in this region since the earliest pioneer days, she at once upon her taking up her residence here after her marriage, became imbued with the idea of establishing a library. Her constant endeavor was to interest her friends in the project, and her husband carried her enthusiasm to the meetings of the Commercial Club, until the members of that club were convinced of its desirability and possibility. The library came into exist- ence in the fall of 1914, as a reading room in the little village hall, with a few books bought by the Commercial Club and a number of periodicals donated by interested residents. In a short time, for greater convenience, the books were moved to Dr. Pierce's office, and the Commercial Club had shelves made and partially furnished a room. Arrangements were made for the securing of boxes from the Traveling Libraries at Madison and White- hall. A special effort was made to get good children's books. The library was well patronized from the first. Jan. 1, 1917, a library board was elected, and the village took charge instead of the Commercial Club, making a yearly appropriation to furnish new books and to pay the running expenses. There are now about 400 books permanently in the library, and about 200 additional from the traveling libraries. Mrs. Pierce is the librarian, as she has been from the first.

Henry E. Pierce, the pioneer, was born in Whitehall, N. Y., March 3, 1836, and when about six years of age was brought to the present site of Milwaukee, in the then territory of Wisconsin, by his parents, who kept the Buck Horn Tavern there. He was educated in the pioneer schools and as a young man crossed the plains on a gold seeking expedition to Pike's Peak. Then he filed a claim on the present site of Denver, and traveled over the old Santa Fe trail to New Mexico. While in the West he had many interesting adventures, and was accorded the pleasure of meeting Kit Carson. He retained in after life vivid memories of the West in the early days, and often described his adventures, telling with particular relish of the vast herds of buffalo that were then to be seen. At the outbreak of the Civil War he went to Cattaraugus County, New York, where his father was then living, and there he was married March 26, 1861, to Mary M. Morrow, who was born in that county, Aug. 15, 1840, daughter of John D. and Harriet (Simmons) Morrow. The young couple came to Wisconsin, and after living a time at Sparta, came to Trempealeau County and pre- empted a tract of land at Williamsburg, five miles up the Trempealeau

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Valley from the present site of Arcadia. Here he acquired in state and other lands 300 acres, and gained the reputation of being one of the most scientific farmers in Wisconsin. He later moved to a fruit farm at Arcadia. He died Feb. 27, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce had four children: Hattie E., now Mrs. Moseley, was born at Sparta, Feb. 25, 1862. Etta M. was born at Williamsburg, June 30, 1868, and died at the age of five years. Ira Frank was born at Williamsburg, June 27, 1872. Eben Douglas was born at Williamsburg, Aug. 13, 1874. Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Moseley and Ira F. live in Vancouver, Wash., while Eben D. practices medicine at Trempealeau, Wis.

George Asbury Carsley, veteran and pioneer, was born in Springfield, Maine, April 21, 1840, and subsequently was taken by his parents to Port- land, and then to Westbrook, in the same state. He attended school in all three places. He also had the advantages of study in the Westbrook Seminary, for though he was not far enough advanced for this institution, the friendship of the principal of the institution with his family made possi- ble his taking courses there. From Westbrook the family moved to New Gloucester, in the same state, where they remained for five years. Then they decided to seek their fortunes in the West. Making their way by steamboat to Boston they went to Dubuque, Iowa, by way of Chicago, and then took a boat up the Mississippi. The scenes along the trip are ones never to be forgotten. At Boston they noted the ships of the world's trade lying at anchor, and from the Boston Monument a vast expanse of land and sea spread before them. In New York state they saw the old Erie canal, with its picturesque tow boats. At Niagara they crossed the suspen- sion bridge and viewed the falls. It was April when they reached the Mississippi, which was then full of floating ice. But the boats were run- ning, and, in due time, the family reached Winona County, Minnesota, where the father took government land on the ridge three miles directly south of Pickwick. George A. helped construct the large log house, and assisted his family in meeting the new conditions of pioneer life. Of those far distant days he has many an interesting tale to tell. He attended a few winter terms of school near Pickwick, and received a teacher's certifi- cate, but never cared to take up the teaching profession. In 1862 he enlisted in the Civil War, served through the conflict and was mustered out at the close of the war at Ft. Snelling. In 1870 he moved from Pickwick to the Big Tamarack Valley in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, where he built a mill and remained eight years. Then he built a mill at Pine Creek, in the same county, but this was washed out by the high water two years later. For a while he was employed in the car shops at Winona, and in 1880 he moved to St. Paul, where he became a general contractor and builder, in which capacity he was assistant superintendent during the building of the old State Capitol. In 1887 he went to Helena, Mont., where he assisted in erecting many beautiful residences, and where he lived until about 1900, when he moved to Portland, Ore., where he and his wife are still living. Mr. Carsley was married Aug. 27, 1865, to Samaria M. Grant of Trem- pealeau, and this union was blessed with seven children: Ella A., now Mrs. C. W. Clark of Portland, Ore .; Benjamin F., who died at the age of eighteen months; G. Hollis of Helena, Mont .; Hettie M., wife of Dr. F. D.

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Pierce, of Trempealeau ; Glen W. of Zion City, Ill. ; Myrtle A., wife of George Lewis of Hoquiam, Wash., and Ruth S., wife of W. A. Hicks of Portland, Ore. Mrs. Carsley was the daughter of G. W. T. Grant, the first settler in Pickwick, Minn., coming from Dubuque, Iowa, in 1853, chosing the site for the mill, then returning home, and the next year bringing his family and building the first house in the village, afterward building the mill with Webster Davis.

John Brownlee, an enterprising and successful farmer, whose home- stead is located in section 30, Arcadia Township, was born at Court Bridge, Scotland, May 28, 1841, son of William and Isabella (Cummings) Brownlee. He had to aid in supporting himself at the early age of nine years, as his parents were people of little means, but he was made of the right stuff and got along, so that when he was only 20 years old he found himself able to marry, taking as his wife Margaret, daughter of John and Sarah (Lindsay) Robertson. By this marriage he had seven children, the first four of whom were born in Scotland. These six children were: John, whose where- abouts is unknown; William, residing in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wis .; Thomas, an attorney who died in Boulder, Colo., in 1907; James, a merchant living in East Arcadia, who is now clerk of Arcadia Township; Isabella, who was born in Chicago, married Helmer Smart of Hillsdale, Wis., and died . in 1913, and Robena, born in Arcadia, who was a teacher, but who died in 1906. In April, 1871, Mr. Brownlee, with his wife and four eldest children, left their native land for America. Landing at Philadelphia, they pro- ceeded to Chicago, Ill., where they had the misfortune to be burned out in the great fire of October, 1871, which destroyed the greater part of the city. In 1872, having found Chicago too hot a place for them, they came over- land in a canvas-covered wagon to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, locat- ing on a homestead of 160 acres in Lewis Valley. It was all new land and on it Mr. Brownlee built a log house. The fire fiend still pursued him, however, as this first residence burned down, but, not discouraged, he erected a frame house, together with a small barn and granary, and went on with his agricultural operations. Here on this farm his wife died in 1880, and three years later he sold the property and for the next two years rented a farm on the "bottoms." In 1885 he purchased his present home- stead, which then consisted of 308 acres. This property is situated at the head of Trout Run Valley and the land is fertile and well adapted to the plow. Since buying it Mr. Brownlee has increased its size by adding 40 more acres. When he bought it it was slightly improved, and he erected on it a comfortable log house, hewn inside and out, which is still standing, and in which he lived until 1900. He then built his present residence, a two- story, 11-room frame house, also erecting a frame barn, 36 by 60 by 16 feet above full basement, a granary 18 by 26 by 14 feet and a machine shed 18 by 24 feet. He is engaged in general farming and for years has been a breeder of fine grade horses and cattle. In 1885 he married for his second wife Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Harvey Broehead. She died in 1907, having been the mother of six children: Robert, now living at Sentinel Butte, N. D .; Alexander, a resident of the same place ; Minnie, now Mrs. Frank Hess of Livingston, Mont .; Florence, wife of

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IHISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY

Edward Hess of American Valley, Arcadia Township; Margarite, a graduate of Arcadia high school, who is unmarried and is keeping house for her father; and Raymond, living at home with his father and working on the farm. Mr. Brownlee is independent in politics, voting for the man rather than for the party. He is a stockholder in the Western Wisconsin Tele- phone Company. Religiously he was reared in the faith of the Scottish Presbyterian church. His success in life has been well earned and he and his family are both widely known and respected.

Albert C. Kiekhoefer, a well-known agriculturist of Arcadia Town- ship, proprietor of a flourishing farm in section 24, is one of the estimable men of the county, who by diligently developing his farm is doing his full share toward the growth and progress of the community at large. Coming of a family widely known in agricultural, religious and educational circles, he has added substantially to the high regard in which the family name is held. His parents, William and Caroline (Tisch) Kiekhoefer, were born in Prussia, Germany, and were there married. In 1857 they bravely set out for the new world to establish their home among the broader oppor- tunities of America. The voyage across the water aboard an old style sailing vessel occupied four months and entailed many hardships. But in time they set their feet on land, found their way to Milwaukee, and thence came to Trempealeau County, where they homesteaded 160 acres of wild land in Trout Run Valley. Here the son, Albert C., the subject of this sketch, was born Oct. 29, 1859. Beginning work with an ox team, after the fashion of the pioneers, William Kiekhoefer grubbed and cleared his land, which had a very rolling surface, and built a log house as his first dwelling, subsequently replacing it by a two-story frame residence. After continuing his work on the farm until 1879, he died, having previously willed it to his son Albert C. Albert C. Kiekhoefer, who had one brother and five sisters, remained at home with his mother, assisting the latter on the farm until it came into his own possession, at which time he was 30 years of age. He had in the meanwhile acquired some education in the common school of the district, although able to attend only occasionally. The frame house built by his father was a building 16 by 30 feet in dimen- sions, and he has since added a wing to it, making it into a good ten-room house. He has also erected a silo, 14 by 28 feet ; a granary, 18 by 30; a machine shed, 30 by 50; a hog house, 26 by 50, and a corn crib. The barn built by his father was 32 by 90 feet. Mr. Kiekhoefer does general farm- ing and breeds high grade Holstein cattle, having a herd of 35 head, as well as a herd of Hampshire hogs. His farm is well equipped with machinery and teams, and presents a thriving appearance, the land being well culti- vated and the buildings kept in good shape. Mr. Kiekhoefer usually votes the Prohibition ticket, though reserving the right of independent action as he sees occasion. Since 1904 he had belonged to the Order of Beavers, and since 1891 to the Arcadia Lodge of Modern Woodmen of America. He is a stockholder in the Glencoe Co-operative Creamery, of which he is vice- president. March 11, 1890, Mr. Kiekhoefer married Augusta, daughter of Robert Luli and Henrietta Sitzman of Germany, her parents being natives of Germany. The children of this marriage, 13 in number, are:

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Ralph, born Dec. 24, 1890, now a carpenter, residing at Arcadia ; Leafe, born in 1892, who is a professional nurse ; Floyd, born in 1893, who lives at home, assisting his father on the farm ; Orpha, born in 1894, now a student in the Winona Normal School; Alta, born in 1896, who is residing at home; Beatrice, born in 1897, who is a public school teacher residing at home; Elsie, born in 1898, now a student in the Arcadia high school; Lillian, born in 1900, also a student in the high school; David, born in 1902, Frederick in 1903, Wilton in 1905, Doris in 1907 and Albert, Jr., in 1908, all living at home. Mr. Kiekhoefer was reared in the faith of the Evangelical church, to which he and all the members of his family belong. They are well known throughout this part of the county; the older children are success- fully making their way in the world and the younger ones are showing that application to their studies that will enable them in time to uphold the credit of the family name. All have received a sound moral and Christian training.

E. Scott Hotchkiss, pioneer, business man, agriculturist, former sheriff and former United States consul, is one of the most prominent men in the county. In commercial life he has assisted in the development of the mer- cantile, milling and lumber business since his first arrival in 1859, and he has been actively identified not only with rural progress, but also with the intimate life of two prosperous villages. In public service, within the county, he most efficiently occupied the office of sheriff for a term, he was a valued member of the county board for four years, he was a capable town clerk for twelve years, he was justice of the peace and court com- missioner several terms, and in addition to this has held numerous local offices, and has been a member of various committees and delegations. As United States consul to two Canadian cities he assisted materially in exploit- ing and promoting American trade interests within the Dominion. As a Mason he has taken a deep interest in the Ancient Rites, and cherishes a number of important mementoes which have been handed down in his family from generation to generation. E. Scott Hotchkiss was born at Cairo, Green County, N. Y., March 27, 1837, son of Henry E. and Alice (Smith) Hotchkiss, and a grandson of Lemuel Hotchkiss, who served from Connecticut in the Revolutionary War, was a personal friend of DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York, and a prominent leader in Master and Royal Arch Masonry. The subject of this sketch was educated in the district schools, and has supplemented this training by wide reading and observa- tion. He was designed to follow his father's occupation as a cabinet maker, but deciding to seek the broader opportunities of the west, he left his old home in 1856, and located in Richland County, this state. In 1859 he joined a colony, and set out for Osseo, where he homesteaded the south- west quarter of section 14, Sumner Township. He broke, improved and developed this land, until 1868, when he sold out, and engaged in the general mercantile business at Osseo with W. H. Thomas. In 1870 he and Mr. Thomas, together with William Fuller, built the Sumner Mill at Osseo, now owned by J. N. Lee. Soon after this he traded his interest in the store for Mr. Fuller's interest in the mill, and took over its active management. In 1872 he and J. L. Linderman built the Linderman Mills, one mile west

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of Osseo, on the Beef River. The mills were destroyed by fire in 1880, but were a once rebuilt, and are still operated by members of the Linderman family. In 1876 Mr. Hotchkiss was elected sheriff of Trempealeau County, and so excellent was his record in this capacity that he was retained as under sheriff under K. K. Hagestad, his successor. In 1880, upon the expiration of this service, a favorable business opening presented itself at Independence, so, coming here, he purchased a lumber yard in the vil- lage, and a farm on the village limits. He still owns the farm, and he and his son Frank A. operate it, though both live in the village. The lumber yard was sold to John Sprecher and is now operated by the Sprecher Lum- ber Company. It was in 1902 that Mr. Hotchkiss received his greatest opportunity for public service. In that year, through the influence of Senator John C. Spooner, he was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as American consul at Brockville, Ontario, Canada. When that consulate was abandoned in 1906 he was sent to establish the consulate at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. When he went there American business represented but 45 percent of that city's imports. The official records show that owing to the work of the consulate during his administration the American busi- ness was increased until it represented 90 percent of the imports. In the fall of 1913, Mr. Hotchkiss retired, owing to the change of administration. In the meantime he had been offered, but had refused, the consulate at Hobart, Tasmania. Since then Mr. Hotchkiss has led a retired life at Inde- pendence, looking after his numerous holdings and interests. Mr. Hotch- kiss' career as a Mason dates from 1872, when he joined the Blue Lodge at Augusta, Wis., being raised in March, 1873. He is now a member of the Blue Lodge at Whitehall, has served as its senior warden, and has been presented with a beautiful token in acknowledgment of his long fidelity in the work. He belongs to the Chapter and Commandery at La Crosse, hav- ing originally joined the Chapter there and the Commandery at Brock- ville, Ontario. Mr. Hotchkiss was married Dec. 16, 1862, to Harriet A. Field, a daughter of Robert C. and Mary (Stoddard) Field, intimately associated with the early history of Osseo and Sumner. After a long and useful life, filled with good deeds and gracious kindliness, she died Nov. 6, 1915, leaving two children: Alice and Frank A. Alice lives in Milwaukee, and is the mother of two children, Claude and Albert Maurer. Frank A. is president of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Independence.

James Muir, a pioneer of Buffalo County, was for many years inti- mately connected with the life of this region. He was born in Franklin, Scotland, July 14, 1833, and was there reared and educated, coming to America in May, 1853. For a time he was employed as a miner in Penn- sylvania, coming to Buffalo County in 1856, landing at Fountain City, April 1, and homesteading a farm, where he spent the remainder of his days. He first erected a shack, then improved and developed the land, and in time had as good a farm as was to be found in the county. He died Sept. 2, 1916. His wife, Martha Faulds, to whom he was married in Glencoe Township, Buffalo County, June 2, 1860, died Nov. 5, 1906.

Frank A. Hotchkiss, banker, public official, farmer, horse fancier and man-of-affairs, is well known throughout the county, and his advocacy

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of good roads, during his term of office as chairman of the county board, places him in the ranks of the county's most useful and constructive citi- zens. With keen business insight he combines a genial temperament, with a nature of unbounded enthusiasm in good work he combines a proper con- servatism, and with a thorough belief in progress he combines the sincere conviction that all progress must be founded upon the firm ground of expe- diency and common sense. A native of this county, and connected with several of its most prominent pioneer families, he was born in Osseo, this county, Oct. 18, 1866, the son of E. Scott and Harriett A. (Field) Hotch- kiss. He received a good education in the schools of Osseo, Arcadia and Independence, and early in life determined to devote his life to agricultural pursuits. As he grew to manhood he devoted his time and attention to the improving and developing of his father's farm at Independence, and as a hobby became more and more interested in the breeding of pure-blooded Percheron and Belgian horses, and developed a string of trotters and pacers that won many a prize at fairs and racing meets. Of late years, however, his attention has turned more and more to public and commercial life. In 1916 he with others organized the Farmers & Merchants State Bank, of which he became president. He is likewise president of the Independence Grain & Stock Company. Both of these institutions are important factors in the business and financial life of Independence, and under his fostering care are constantly growing in size and importance. In 1900 he became a member of the village council and served for several terms. It was in 1904 that he was elected to the county board, of which he was chairman in 1914, 1915 and 1916. He has served on numerous committees on the board, and his work is acknowledged as having always been for the best interests of the people of the county at large. Being of a fraternal disposition, he has affiliated himself with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic order, and he is likewise a popular member of the Independent Order of Foresters. Mr. Hotchkiss was married Oct. 18, 1893, to Agnes Muir, born in Buffalo County, this state, June 25, 1870, daughter of James and Martha (Faulds) Muir. This union has been blessed with three chil- dren: Ina A., born May 28, 1896; Eldridge Scott, born April 13, 1906, and Robert Addison, born April 7, 1912.

Philo J. Linderman, in the United States mail service at Osseo, was born near Troy, Bradford County, Pa., moved to Rockford, Ill., in 1859, and there lived until 1868, when he moved with his parents to Eau Claire, Wis., where he lived until 1872, then removing to Osseo, where his father, James L. Linderman, built the Linderman Mills in 1872. James L. Linderman died in 1905, and since that time Philo J. Linderman has been employed as a mail carrier. He married Stella Tracy, who was born in Richland County, Wisconsin, in 1855, and they have three children: Glenn O., a prominent attorney of Eau Claire; Phylancia, who married Dr. F. S. Maxson of Mil- waukee, and has one child, Josephine; and Marion, who died at the age of six years.

Glenn O. Linderman, prominent attorney of Eau Claire, is a native of Trempealeau County, and was for a number of years actively identified with the life and progress of this region. He was born in Osseo, Sept. 29,

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1875, son of Philo J. and Stella (Tracy) Linderman. As a youth he attended the schools of Osseo. Later he entered the schools of Augusta, in Eau Claire County. In that city also he studied law for three years in the offices of Attorneys I. B. and E. M. Bradford. The education thus obtained was rounded out with a summer course in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Mr. Linderman was admitted to the bar in 1898, and at once opened an office in Osseo. Here he successfully practiced for many years. His worth was soon recognized and he was called upon to serve in a number of important public positions. For thirteen years he was a member of the county board, three years of which time he was its chairman. While serv- ing on the Osseo school board he assisted in erecting the sightly building which is now the pride of the village. He helped to organize the Osseo Telephone Company, which is still successfully operating. He was presi- dent of the Citizens State Bank of Osseo during its entire existence. Mr. Linderman moved to Eau Claire in the spring of 1916. Deeply interested in Masonry, Mr. Linderman has passed through the thirty-two degrees of the Scottish rites, and he is also a member of the Commandery and of the Shrine. The Knights of Pythias also count him as a valued member. Mr. Linderman was married Aug. 6, 1897, to Bertha H. Bradford of Augusta, who died June 18, 1902, daughter of Rev. E. and Cynthia Bradford. Sept. 17, 1907, he married Hilda O. Halverson, a trained nurse, who was the daughter of Gilbert and Ingeborg Halvorson of Sumner Township, and died Nov. 2, 1913, leaving two children : Marion Abigail, born June 20, 1910, and Glenn Otis, born Aug. 8, 1908. Mr. Linderman was married April 5, 1916, to Jessie M. Stillman, daughter of Charles Wesley and Bertha Stillman.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 102

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318