History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 52

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

USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 52

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Moses E. Ladd, a well-known and respected resident of Whitehall, retired farmer, former county official, and now engaged in the insurance business, was born in Unity, N. H., July 2, 1843, son of Philander J. and Ruth (Adams) Ladd. Philander J. Ladd was born in New Hampshire, and in 1857 came to Trempealeau County, where he engaged in agriculture until his death in 1896 at the age of 75 years, his wife Ruth, whom he married in his native State, having died in 1886 at the age of 54. Moses E. Ladd was 14 years old when his father brought the family to Wisconsin. He worked as a clerk and bookkeeper at Trempealeau for four years and taught school an equal length of time, in the meanwhile improving his education by attending Gale College. Turning his attention to agriculture, he then engaged in farming in Caledonia Township until 1899. Appointed county treasurer, May 8, 1899, he moved to Whitehall and gave his attention 10 the duties of that office, in which he served so efficiently that he was elected in 1900 and served an additional term. In 1903 Mr. Ladd bought the insur- ance agency of Herman L. Ekern, of Whitehall, and has since carried on the business successfully, writing fire, tornado, automobile and accident insur- ance. For many years Mr. Ladd has given a considerable part of his time to public service. He was a member of the county board in 1896, 1897 and 1898, was township clerk of Caledonia Township for seven years, and clerk of his school board there a similar period. In Trempealeau Township he was township clerk for two years. Since coming to Whitehall he has been village clerk two years. While still farming, he was also one of the organ- izers of the Galesville Creamery, serving seven years as director. Relig- iously, he is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, holding the

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office of trustee and steward. For half a century he has been a member of the Masonic order. It will thus be seen that his life has been one of activity and useful effort in various directions, and in whatever position he has been placed he has shown efficiency and fidelity to his duties. Mr. Ladd was married, March 30, 1870, to Libbie J. Bagley, who was born in Hayfield, Crawford County, Pa., Oct. 26, 1849, daughter of Phineas and Phoebe (Williams) Bagley. Her father was a farmer who came to Trempealeau County in 1856, and died in 1892 at the age of 85 years, after a long and industrious career. Her mother died in 1890. Mrs. Ladd passed away April 22, 1917. An obituary notice said of her :

"Mrs. Ladd may well be called a pioneer of the county. In her girlhood days the life of Trempealeau did not have the comforts and blessings of the life of today. But it had a delightful and wholesome Christian atmos- phere, and Miss Bagley early took advantage of this great blessing and took an active part in the church work of the neighborhood. At the age of 25 she joined the Methodist Episcopal church and has been a very faithful member ever since. After moving to Whitehall Mrs. Ladd became an im- portant link in the social, civic and religious life of this village. She has been especially industrious in the temperance cause, church work, Ladies' Aid and in work of the relief corps. In the death of Mrs. Ladd her husband mourns the loss of a loving, devoted wife, and the community suffers the loss of a diligent worker for the higher things of life."

The Central Trading Association, of Whitehall, conducts the "Model" store, and handles general merchandise, shoes, clothing, dry goods, groceries, notions and the like. The store occupies the basement, first floor and part of the second floor of a sightly modern building which the company has remodelled. It is constructed in the shape of an "L," 30 feet wide and 120 feet long, with a rear of 60 feet in width. The company also owns two lots near the store, whereon have been built sheds for the accommodation of teams. The Association was incorporated Sept. 25, 1913, with a capital stock of $50,000. The first officers were: President, P. H. Johnson ; vice- president, D. Wood ; secretary, C. P. Larson ; treasurer, C. B. Melby ; direc- tors, P. H. Johnson, R. S. Cowie, C. P. Larson, C. B. Melby and F. D. Hopkins. Immediately upon organization, the company bought out the general store of Torgerson & Sons, and established its present business.

Peter H. Johnson, president of the board of directors of the Central Trading Association, conducting the "Model" department store at White- hall, is a man of wide interests and varied experiences. Aside from his position with the Trading Association, he is vice-president of the John O. Melby & Co. Bank, of Whitehall, and a stockholder in the State Bank of Galesville, the Farmers' and Merchants' State Bank, of Stanley, the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company, of Whitehall, and the Farmers' Co-Opera- tive Elevator Company, of Whitehall. He was born in Biri, Norway, April 2, 1862, second of the seven children of Hans and Martha (Halvorsdatter) Johnson. Hans Johnson came to America in 1864, lived in La Crosse County, this State, a year, homesteaded in 1865 a farm in section 5, town- ship 19, range 7, Ettrick, and there farmed until his death in 1896, his good wife dying in 1894. Peter H. Johnson attended the common schools

HENRY A. COX AND FAMILY

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and Gale College at Galesville, taught school for a while, and helped his parents with the work of the farm. In 1884 he became grain buyer and bookkeeper for Wilson Davis, the Galesville miller. Ten years later, in 1894, he and J. E. Wilberg, under the firm name of Johnson & Wilberg, opened a hardware store at Ettrick. While still a member of this firm, he was elected county clerk in the fall of 1896, and took office Jan. 1, 1897. He was re-elected, and served until Jan. 1, 1901. March 1, 1901, he was named as superintendent of the Trempealeau County Insane Asylum, at Whitehall, and served in this capacity for ten years. Then he was idle for a while, and then became manager of the Farmers' Elevator Company, at Whitehall, assuming the duties of his present position Sept. 25, 1913. Aside from his business interests, Mr. Johnson is notary public and justice of the peace, and has served as court commissioner since 1914. Mr. Johnson was mar- ried June 13, 1891, to Mary O. Heram, born in Norway, Feb. 16, 1862, daughter of Ole C. and Mary (Haakenson) Heram, who brought their family in 1869 to Trempealeau County, where the father still lives, the mother having died in 1914 at the age of 80 years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children, Hughitt, Mae and Miles. Hughitt is a student in the Chicago Dental College. Mae is studying music in the music department of the Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis. Miles is doing well at his studies in the Whitehall High School.

Henry A. Cox, a retired farmer residing on his old farm in section 11, Trempealeau Township, was born at Whitewater, Walworth County, Wis., Dec. 12, 1845, son of Jeffry and Elizabeth (Cox) Cox. His parents were natives of Somersetshire, England, and came to the United States in 1844, locating at Whitewater, Wis., where the mother died about a year after the birth of her son Henry. The father, who was born in 1798, survived his wife many years, dying in 1882 at the advanced age of 84.

Henry A. Cox was educated in the district school at Whitewater, Wis., which he left at the age of 15 years. At the age of 17 he enlisted in Com- pany D, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He took part in several battles and his regiment was with the Union troops when they took possession of Little Rock, Ark., but Mr. Cox was in the hospital at that time. After serving three years and two months, he was mustered out at Browns- ville, Tex., and returned to his home in Whitewater. In 1866 he came to Trempealeau Township, locating near Centerville, on a farm of 80 acres which he had bought of Hollister Wright, where he remained for five or six years, after which he sold that farm and bought his present home of 120 acres in section 11, on which he built a one and a half story frame house, together with a barn, silo and other necessary buildings. All the land is under the plow. In 1909 Mr. Cox turned over the farm to his son Frank. who now operates it. In the summers he resides on the farm and in the winters he lives with his son Clarence at La Crosse. In politics Mr. Cox has always been a Republican. He formerly served two terms as clerk of School District No. 13. His religious affiliations are with Centerville Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been an active member for a number of years. He is a man highly respected throughout this part of the county as a reliable citizen and good neighbor. He was united in holy

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bonds of matrimony to Jennie Ladd, who proved a loyal wife and loving mother. She passed away Jan. 16, 1895, leaving the following children: George H., born in 1876, who is married and is engaged in farming in Iowa; Frank, born in 1879, who is also married and is operating the home farm, and Clarence, born in 1883, who is married and lives in La Crosse, Wis., where he is engaged in the hardware business.

Thomas P. Huleatt was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Thomas and Jane (Harden) Huleatt, who brought their family to America in 1850, and after living in Rock Island, Ill., for a year, settled in Pepin County, this State, taking up their home in Bogus Valley. There the parents spent the remainder of their days, having achieved by hard work and frugality a position of influence and importance in the community. Thomas P. Huleatt spent his youth on the home farm, and as he grew to manhood determined to devote his life to farming. As a young man he acquired a good farm, which he successfully conducted for many years. He was well thought of in his neighborhood, and occupied a number of local offices in the county and on the school board. After a long and useful career in Pepin County, he came to Whitehall, in 1899, and here resided until his lamented death in 1906. Mr. Huleatt was married, in 1865, at Pepin, Wis., to Maria A. Clarke, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1845, and died in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Huleatt had two children: Clarence F., a merchant of Whitehall, and Eva, the wife of Watson Leach, a carpenter at Zion City, Ill.

Clarence F. Huleatt, secretary and treasurer of the Huleatt Mercantile Co., and a leading merchant of Whitehall, was born in Bogus Valley, near Pepin, Wis., March 30, 1866, son of Thomas P. and Maria A. (Clarke) Huleatt. He was reared on the farm, attended the district schools of Pepin County, and graduated from the River Falls State Normal School, in 1892. Thus prepared, he taught school for several years, part of which time he was principal of the Whitehall schools. In the spring of 1897 he and L. M. Ekern became owners of the hardware and furniture store of Peterson & Ekern, at Whitehall, under the firm name of Huleatt & Ekern. In 1899 Mr. Huleatt bought out his partner's interest, and with his uncle, Samuel Huleatt, established the firm of Huleatt & Huleatt. In 1900 the Huleatt Mercantile Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $6,000, the officers and owners being: President, Thomas F. Huleatt; treasurer, Samuel H. Huleatt, and secretary, Clarence F. Huleatt. Clarence F. Huleatt is now the secretary and treasurer, and his wife is the president. The firm does a large business in furniture, hardware and appliances, and has a large business in installing heating plants and doing general plumbing work. Mr. Huleatt also conducts a funeral directing department, having taken lectures on undertaking at Milwaukee and St. Paul under the leading embalmers of the country. The building, erected in 1900, occupies a promi- nent place on Main street, and is of modern construction, 30 by 80 feet. Mr. Huleatt has been a member of the village council for two years. He has passed through the chairs of the local I. O. O. F. Lodge. His religious affili- ations are with the Whitehall Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a trustee. Mr. Huleatt was married Dec. 23, 1896, to Mary E. Shane, of

MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. CROSEN

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Modena, county superintendent of schools, Buffalo County, Wis., born March 20, 1864, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (McEldowney) Shane, natives of Ireland.

Peter T. Herreid, a prosperous hardware merchant, of Blair, Wis., was born in Ettrick Township, Trempealeau County, Wis., Oct. 13, 1867. His parents were Thomas O. and Brita (Bue) Herreid. The father was born at Hardanger, Norway, and came to America in 1854, locating in Dane County, Wis., where he remained until 1858. He then came to Trempealeau County and homesteaded a farm in Ettrick Township, which place was his home for the rest of his life. He died March 20, 1898, when 69 years old. His wife died Aug. 14, 1914, at the age of 87. Peter T. Herreid at 16 years of age began work as a carpenter in Pigeon Township and was thus occupied until 1893. In 1895 he bought the hardware store of A. B. Peterson, at Blair, being associated with his brother Thomas, under the firm name of Herreid Brothers. The firm has since continued in business and has built up a good trade. Their building is a one-story frame 24x100 feet. They carry a general line of hardware, operate a tinshop and conduct heating and plumbing departments of their business. Peter T. Herreid has been a member of the village council five years, having served as its president for two years. He has also served on the school board ten years. He is a stock- holder in the First National Bank of Blair. His religious affiliations are with the United Norwegian Lutheran church, which he has served as treasurer since about 1900. He also had charge of the building of the church. December 27, 1895, Mr. Herreid was united in marriage with Hanna B. Hanson, of Blair, whose father, Martin Hanson Skyrud, was a pioneer farmer of Trempealeau County. To him and his wife five children have been born: Myron, Berdelle, Leon, Francis and Lyla. Myron is on the flagship Pennsylvania in the navy ; Berdelle is a proficient teacher ; Leon is with the L. C. Hyde & Britton Bankers, at Beloit, Wis .; Francis and Lyla are at home.

John H. Crosen, an elderly resident of Trempealeau Village, one of the surviving veterans of the Civil War, was born in Wheeling, Va., Aug. 22, 1833. His parents were William and Adelaide (Israel) Crosen. The father, born in Virginia about 1790, learned the cooper's trade, which he followed in Wheeling for a number of years, and afterwards in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was of Dutch descent. His wife, Adelaide (Israel) Crosen, was born in Pennsylvania of Scotch descent, and was nearly 90 years of age at the time of her death.

John H. Crosen had but limited educational opportunities in his boy- hood, attending the common schools during the winters from the age of 7 to that of 16 years. He remained at home until he was 18 years old, assisting his father in coopering, and then worked out to some extent on farms, though still assisting his father at times. It was his desire to learn the machinist's trade, but could find no one to take him as an apprentice on account of his slight build. Through the influence of an uncle, however, 'he found an opportunity to learn boot and shoe making, which he started to do at the age of 22 years, and he continued his apprenticeship until he could make any kind of footwear, pegged or sewed. Then he went to Alle-

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gheny, Pa., where he entered the employ of James Spratley, a manufacturer and dealer, for whom he worked four years.

In 1856 Mr. Crosen came West to Wisconsin, traveling by rail by way of Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa, and from there by boat up the river to Trem- pealeau, then known as Montoville, arriving the 13th of November, 1856. Here he went to work as clerk for J. P. Israel, who had come West with him and established a grocery and dry goods business. Israel had bought goods in St. Louis, which were delivered to the Packet Company at Dubuque, Iowa, but as the river was frozen over so as to prevent navigation, they were not delivered at Trempealeau until the spring of 1857. After working for Mr. Israel a few months, Mr. Crosen bought him out. Not long after doing so he discovered that the goods bought in St. Louis had not been paid for, and as he was unable to pay for them, the St. Louis people closed him out. He then opened a boot and shoe shop, there being at this time only three business houses in Trempealeau, and resided at the hotel kept by D. W. Gilfillan. There was plenty of work to be had and he was kept busy in his shop, but business was done largely on credit and there was plenty of "wildcat" money in circulation, sound money being scarce. Mr. Crosen often had as much as $250 of this more than doubtful currency in his pocket, but couldn't pay a week's board with it. There were scores of banks organ- ized and existing on an unsound financial condition and failures were fre- quent. These conditions lasted until the Civil War, by which time Mr. Crosen found himself in bad financial condition, and with prospects no better. There was one thing every able-bodied young man could do, how- ever-serve his country ; so on June 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Sixth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, better known as the "Iron Brigade." He was mustered in at Madison, Wis., July 17, 1861, with rank of sergeant. Three days later the command arrived in Washington, D. C., and was stationed at Kalorama Heights, D. C., near the capital. Early in the fol- lowing March they took part in McClelland's advance on Bull Run, subse- quently returning to Alexandria, Va., where they were held for the protec- tion of Washington. They, however, cleared the State of the rebels as far down as Fredericksburg, the enemy burning all bridges and shipping. After the bridges had been rebuilt the command crossed the Rappahannock in the night, going to the vicinity of Orange County Courthouse. From there they marched to Spottsylvania Courthouse, and on to Waller's Tavern and Frederickhall Station on the Richmond Railroad. On this raid they destroyed "Stonewall" Jackson's commissary supplies and the station at Frederickhall, together with three miles of the railroad track. Making use of a "ground wire," they telegraphed General Jackson (the message purporting to come from Richmond) : "Send troops to protect railroad." Jackson's reply was : "Pope giving me enough to do here ; railroad must take care of itself." Having accomplished this work, the command returned to camp at Fredericksburg. The next movement was a feint attack made to deceive the enemy, so that the troops at Fredericksburg could rejoin the main army. This movement was successful, but in making it a New York . regiment lost their entire supply train, and sent back a courier with an order demanding horses-everyone that could be picked up. This order was

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delivered to Colonel Cutler, of the Wisconsin troops, and was very thor- oughly obeyed, the command gathering in a large number of horses. This was one of the biggest infantry raids during the war, and was accomplished by Wisconsin troops. It lasted four days, and as the men had but three days' rations, the last 24 hours they were without food. On their return they were complimented by General Gibbons, who issued to Sergeant Crosen the following orders: "Find two rows of tents at right. Occupy these. Cook and eat to your heart's content. Pay no attention to taps, and I'll send up a present." The present was four buckets of whiskey, of which the last drop was drunk, though there was not an intoxicated man. They then turned in and were just asleep when an order came to Sergeant Crosen to notify the colonel to prepare three days' rations and make an immediate advance to Cedar Mountain, 50 miles distant, to the Rapidan River. Accord- ingly rest had to be postponed to a future occasion, the troops took up their march and in 48 hours were at Cedar Mountain ready for battle. On this occasion the subject of this sketch was a messmate with Major Charles Ford, they sharing half rations together, as he had none. The battle was a hard contest and the field was so piled with the bodies of men and horses that it could not be passed over. It was suspended by a truce. Two days afterward outriders came in reporting that the Confederate army of different divisions of 40,000 each were "advancing from every direction." The troops were immediately drawn up in line of battle on the Rappahannock River to prevent the rebels from crossing, and they held this position from 4 o'clock p. m. on one day to 10 o'clock a. m. the next. As the enemy did not appear, they took up the line of march back through Culpepper to the Rappahannock railroad station, and then up the river. This four days' march was made from Aug. 20 to 23, 1862, inclusive. Aug. 26 the "Iron Brigade" went to White Sulphur Springs, where they defeated a flank movement of the enemy. They then took up their march for Bull Run, on a report that the Confederates had got around their right. Reaching Gaines- ville, Aug. 28, 1862, they marched through the town. About a mile beyond the enemy suddenly opened fire on them, the attack being quite unexpected. Quickly forming line, they fought for three hours, the brigade losing 800 killed and wounded. Among the latter was Mr. Crosen, who was shot in the left thigh. Left on the field, he lay there nine days and on the tenth day was taken to Gainesville and laid beside the road to be parolled with others. The second battle of Bull Run took place as he lay on the field between the opposing forces, unable to get away. By the terms of an armistice the wounded were released, the Union wounded being conveyed to Washington, 39 miles distant, in 700 ambulances, holding from two to twenty-five people each. Mr. Crosen remained in the hospital until the spring of 1863 and was then transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, as being disabled for active service, and he continued as a member of this corps until his discharge, July 13, 1864. He took part in the battle of Fort Stevens, July 8, 1864, and at this time was brevetted first lieutenant of the Second Battalion of Veteran Reserves.

In the fall of 1864 Mr. Crosen returned to Trempealeau and reopened his shop. He was in bad physical condition, but his health slowly improved

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and he continued in the shoe business until about 1881. He then engaged in raising small fruits on a five-acre tract adjoining the village, erecting on it a settler's shanty to avoid having to pay rent. Here he lived six years, at the end of which time he took up his abode in his present residence, which he had built, a six-room house, with upright and wing. Mr. Crosen was married, November 15, 1866, to Cornelia F. Melhorn, at Washington, D. C. She was born at Harpers Ferry, Va., April 26, 1836, her father being Francis Melhorn, an old-time Virginian, who was for years an inspector at the Harpers Ferry arsenal, his connection with the arsenal being severed when the war broke out, owing to his sympathy with the South. He then took up his residence in Washington, where he engaged in the meat business, never taking up arms. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Crosen brought his wife to Trempealeau, where she is still living, though in somewhat feeble health, as she is now in her eighty-first year. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crosen: Luella, who married James B. McManus, of Trem- pealeau, and died leaving two children ; Francis, who is married and engaged in the auto livery business in Trempealeau; Cornelia, wife of Edward Carpenter, a farmer of Hope, N. D., who has six children-four sons and two daughters; William, married, who is a barber in Trempealeau Village; Warren, who was drowned several years ago in the Mississippi River, near Trempealeau, and Harry, who died when young. Mr. Crosen has never been active in politics or held any public office. Religiously he is in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church, though not a member of any church. Still at one time he was a class leader of the Methodist church and has professed Christianity for 32 years, during which time he has been a Bible student. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1866, being connected with Lodge No. 117, of Trempealeau, of which he was secretary for several years. Although in his eighty-fourth year, he is still strong and fairly vigorous, enjoying good health.

Elmer L. Immell, live stock dealer and automobile agent of Blair, has seen considerable public life. From 1889 to 1893, under President Benjamin H. Harrison, he was postmaster at Blair. From 1901 to 1903 he was sheriff of Trempealeau County. From 1903 to 1908 he was deputy State game warden. Since its organization he has served on the village council all except four years, and during a part of this period he was president of that body. He has also been village treasurer and township treasurer. In all of these positions he has done most excellent work, and has demonstrated his efficiency and ability in whatever line of effort he has been called upon to undertake. He was born in Alma Township, Jackson County, Wis., May 10, 1863, son of Francis M. and Anna (Storley) Immell, and spent his boyhood on the farm, coming to Blair with his parents in 1876. For a number of years he was occupied in drilling wells and installing pumps and windmills. During this period he operated a number of steam threshers. Gradually he became interested in stock buying, in which line he has since continued. In 1910 he purchased the hardware store of A. B. Peterson. In 1913, having sold this establishment, he became treasurer and part owner of the White- hall Auto Sales Company, of Whitehall, assuming the position of agent at Blair. He has built up a good business and is widely known for his honor-

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 52

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