History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 64

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

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Louis Johnson was born in Norway, came to America in 1858, and took up his residence on a farm near Viroqua, in Vernon County, this state. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and did good service for three years. After farming in Vernon County for some forty-seven years he retired and moved to Galesville, in this county, where he now makes his home.

Fred Schuman, a well known land owner and farmer residing in sec- tion 18, Caledonia Township, was born near Doering, Germany, Aug. 8, 1853. He is a son of Gottlieb and Johanna Schuman, the former of whom died in Germany when the subject of this sketch was eight years old. The widowed mother, with her four children-the three others being Edward, Louise and Frederecia-came to America about six years later, in Novem- ber, 1867. They settled at once in Trempealeau County, Wis., where Mrs. Schuman bought 180 acres of land in section 9, Caledonia Township. Eighty acres were already under the plow, and a log house, granary and stable were standing on the farm. About a year after her arrival here, or in 1868, she married Gustaf Keisling, who had accompanied the Schuman family to America. At the age of 16 years Fred Schuman left home to work for himself and was variously employed until 1876. Then, with his brother Edward, he bought the northwest half of the northwest quarter of section 20, Caledonia Township. There were neither buildings nor fences on the land and they lived in a one-room shanty on a rented tract of 40 acres adjoining, beginning farming operations on the 80-acre tract, of which they broke 18 acres the first year. In the fall of 1878 Mr. Schuman and his brother erected a frame house on this tract, it being an upright, one and a half stories high, just covered and enclosed. In this unfinished house they resided for several years. When Mr. Schuman purchased his tract of 80

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acres it was on an agreement to pay $100 down and the rest in monthly instalments. He had only $75 cash and had great difficulty in raising the other $25. He and his brother had no team, so they used their mother's the first year, and in the following spring bought one horse, not being able to procure another until a year later-in the spring of 1879. Now having a team of their own, they made good progress and continued in partnership until 1894, by which time they had added to the original 80 acres on section 20, an adjoining tract of 120 acres on section 2 adjoining, also acquiring · 240 acres (all improved but 30 acres) in section 18. His farm now consists of 340 acres, as follows: 240 acres in section 18, 84 in section 34 and 20 in section 24, all in Caledonia Township, in addition to which he owns 100 acres in La Crosse County. Mr. Schuman does general farming, keeping a herd of grade Durham cattle and a sty of grade Poland-China hogs. The wing of his present residence consists of a small house of two rooms, which was on the farm when he bought the land, and in which he lived until about 1912, when he built his present two-story, nine-room residence, a frame structure, painted and with modern improvements. Among his other build- ings are a barn, with cement basement, used for hogs and cattle; a horse barn, with wing attached; cattle sheds, poultry house, hog house, with cement floors, a brick milk house and a cement block silo. The farm is also well equipped with agricultural machinery and tools. June 23, 1914, a cyclone carried away seven of Mr. Schuman's buildings, all of which, how- ever he has since replaced. He is a stockholder in the Galesville Creamery. Mr. Schuman was married, July 3, 1879, in Trempealeau Village, to Maggie, daughter of Robert and Melissa Bright, of Caledonia Township. Of this union seven children were born: Dollie, April 18, 1880, who died June 5, 1889; Freddie R., Jan. 7, 1882, who died June 7, 1889; Millie J., Sept. 9, 1885, who died June 5, 1889 ; Harry J., May 5, 1888, who is a farmer residing near the homestead; Glenn, Sept. 7, 1890, now farming on a tract of 120 acres in this vicinity ; Mabel A., Aug. 25, 1892, wife of G. Roy Dale of Gale Township, and the mother of one daughter, Ruth ; and Ross L., born Feb. 2, 1899, who lives on the home farm. As will be seen from the above record, Mr. Schuman lost three children within two days, which was due to that dread scourge diphtheria. His daughter Mabel graduated from the Gales- ville high school in 1913 and was a teacher for one year before her mar- riage. Mr. Schuman was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church and his wife in that of the Baptist, but are not members of either. They are numbered among the prosperous people of the township and are widely known and respected. Mr. Schuman usually votes the Republican ticket, but is not a strong party man or active in politics.

Elizabeth Heald, one of the estimable women of Trempealeau County, has seen pioneer life in two states and four counties. She was born in New York City, Jan. 1, 1854, daughter of Alonzo Morris and Mary (Schuy- ler) Merwin, and a great-granddaughter, on her mother's side, of Gen. Philip Schuyler, of Revolutionary War fame. In the fall of the year of her birth, the family came westward, and located at Greenbush, Sheboygan County, Wis., where they settled in the woods, and devoted three years to developing a farm. They cut down the trees, cleared up the land, erected

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a four-room house, and conducted pioneer farming on a small scale. Then they moved to Dodge County, in the same state where they rented a farm. From there the father, in 1862, went to Nicollet County, in Minnesota, not far from New Ulm, secured a tract of land, erected a cabin, and harvested a quantity of hay. Then he went back to his home, and thus escaped the massacre of August 18 of that year. In June, 1863, the family, consisting of the father, mother and five children, William, George, Elizabeth, Ida and Arvilla, set out for their new home with an ox team. To the parents the long trip entailed many hardships, but the children thoroughly enjoyed it, and met with delight the constantly changing landscape, and the many varied experiences. Upon reaching the claim, it was found that the cabin was almost a ruin and the hay gone, the place having apparently been visited both by the Indians and the fleeing whites during the terrible days of the massacre. The cabin was soon repaired, however, and before long a farm was started. Late in the fall of 1864 the family came back to Wisconsin, and settled on 43 acres at Centerville, in Trempealeau Township, this county. The land had been improved, but no buildings were standing thereon. The father built a frame house, and in this the family continued to live for many years. He died March 10, 1867, and the sons, William and George, assumed the responsibility of supporting the family. The mother lived for many years thereafter, and spent her declining years in Trem- pealeau Village, where she died Feb. 20, 1909, at over 91 years of age. The daughter, Elizabeth, the subject of this sketch, followed the family for- tunes until her marriage. Feb. 7, 1886, she married William E. Heald, who lived on a farm about a half mile from Trempealeau Village. Since his death, Feb. 6, 1916, she has lived in Trempealeau Village with her only daughter, Gertrude Mae. Gertrude Mae Heald was born on the farm near Trempealeau Village, Oct. 26, 1886. After passing through the common schools she was graduated from the Trempealeau high school in June, 1906. Then for three years she taught in the rural schools of the county. In the fall of 1909 she entered the Winona Business College at Winona, and was duly graduated from the stenographic and bookkeeping departments. In 1910 she entered the employ of the Cooper & Graves Lumber Company at Trempealeau as bookkeeper; in 1913 she started work for the Galesville Lumber Company at Galesville; from the fall of 1914 to the fall of 1915 she was at home, and since then she has been with the Trempealeau Mer- cantile Company at Trempealeau.

Carl T. Carlson, who is successfully engaged in farming in section 19, Gale Township, was born in Esther Getland, Sweden, Nov. 9, 1870, son of Carl John and Johana M. (Flood) Carlson. His parents were born in the same province, the father in 1844, and the mother in 1846. Carl J. Carlson learned the trade of shoemaker in Sweden. He served in the regular army but otherwise followed his trade there until he came to America with his parents' family in 1880, they locating at Galesville. Here he continued at his trade for about seven years longer, at the end of which time he home- steaded the farm where his son Carl T. now lives. This place remained his home until his death, which occurred Nov. 3, 1905. His wife died July 3, 1911. Their children were: Carl T., now on the old homestead; August

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M., residing in New York City; Ellen Elizabeth, who died at the age of 24 years in 1898; Oscar Robert of Wild Rose, N. D., who married Stilla Lindberg and has three children, Earl, Oscar and Eugene E., and John M., Marie and Alfred J.

Carl T. Carlson was the eldest of six children. He attended district school in Gale Township and worked out as a farm hand from the time he was 14 years of age, at times also working in the pine woods. His first employment was by Hiram Butman in Gale Township. About 1896 he pur- chased land in Polk County, of which he later sold a part, but still owns 80 acres of farm land there. Since the death of his parents Mr. Carlson has been a part owner of the old Carlson homestead, his brother, Alfred J., and his sister, Marie W., having an equal share with himself in it. The farm contains 200 acres, some of which is timbered land. It is operated as a stock and dairy farm and about 100 head of sheep are kept. Carl T. Carlson is a stockholder in the La Crosse Packing Company and a member of the Farmers' Shipping Association of Trempealeau County. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and in politics is independent.

Warner R. Shonat, a prominent citizen of Galesville, who until recently was closely identified with the agricultural development of the township, was born at Decorah Prairie, Trempealeau County, Nov. 20, 1869, son of George B. and Jeanette (Dewar) Shonat. His education, acquired chiefly in the district school, was supplemented by student work at Gale College, which he attended two winters. After that he resided on the parental homestead, assisting his father until 1894, when, on March 14, he was married to Mary Cook, who was born near Duplainville, Wis., daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Wilson) Cook. Her father, who was born in Scar- boro, England, Nov. 6, 1829, was a merchant by occupation. After com- ing to America he settled in New York state, whence he came to Waukesha, Wis., at a time when the site of the present large and flourishing city of Milwaukee was but a swamp. After settling in Duplainville he engaged in business there as a merchant and was also postmaster of the village for a number of years, besides serving as justice of the peace. He died there June 20, 1876. His wife survived him many years, her death taking place at Pewaukee, Wis., May 10, 1905. Their daughter Mary was the fourth born in a family of five children, and was educated in the Lisbon school at Pewaukee, Wis. Warner R. Shonat after his marriage took charge of the home farm of his parents, which he purchased in June, 1894. He added to the improvements made on it by his father and developed it into a first-class piece of agricultural property, continuing to operate it until the spring of 1916, when he rented the farm and moved to Galesville. Here he had pur- chased a fine modern residence, formerly owned by his sister, together with five acres of land adjacent to the Arctic Springs Creamery. He is a stock- holder in the La Crosse Packing Company and the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company. His farm consists of 180 acres of highly improved land. Mr. Shonat is a director in the Farmers' Fire Insurance Company of Trempealeau County, and is head officer of the reserve fund of the Order of Beavers, belonging also to the Yeomen. He is a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church and for about 14 years served as clerk of the

MR. AND MRS. W. R. SHONAT

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Decorah Prairie school district. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. The family, of which he is a leading representative, has aided largely in the development of the agricultural resources of this part of Trempealeau County.

George Hull Squier of Trempealeau, Wis., whose name is inseparably connected with discoveries regarding the archaeology and geology of the "driftless area" of the upper Mississippi basin, was born in Southhold, Long Island, Oct. 15, 1849, son of the Rev. James and Eliza (Hull) Squier, who brought him to Wisconsin in 1851, to La Crosse County in 1853, and to Trempealeau Village in 1864. In the cultured atmosphere of the home of these good people, George H. was reared and early acquired habits of unsel- fish labor, strict economy and mental alertness. As a youth he was encour- aged by his father in intellectual pursuits, and he early determined to devote his life to geology, archaeology, anthropology and paleology. With this end in view, after passing through the schools of Trempealeau, Galesville, Alton (Ill.) and Beaver Dam (Wis.), he entered Harvard University, where for three years he pursued geological and palaeological studies, in the mean- time devoting his summers to field work in Kentucky, Virginia, New York and Maine. Failing health and financial limitations, however, forced him to abandon his university studies, so he returned to Trempealeau and engaged in dairying and poultry raising. In all the years that have passed since then, he has devoted a part of his time to research, investigation and writ- ing along the lines of his favorite branches of science, and his work has caused certain features of this part of Wisconsin to become known to scholars throughout the world. Mr. Squier now lives in partial retirement in the village of Trempealeau. He is a quiet, courteous, scholarly gentle- man of the old school, greatly revered in his own community and highly honored throughout the county. His more notable contributions to archaeology include "Certain Archaeological Features of Western Wiscon- sin" (Wisconsin Archaeologist, IV No. 2) ; "Archaeological Resources of Western Wisconsin" (Wisconsin Archaeologist, XIII No. 3) ; "Additional Archaeological Details, Remains of a French Post Near Trempealeau" (Wisconsin Historical Society Proceedings, 1915, pp. 113-117), and "The Geologic and Archaeological Features of Trempealeau County" (History of Trempealeau County, Dr. Pierce and Curtiss-Wedge, Winona, 1917). To geology they include "Erratic Pebbles in the Licking Valley of Kentucky" (Science, 1883, p. 436) ; "Studies in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin" (Jour- nal of Geology, No. 1, Vol. V, 1897, No. 2, Vol. VI, 1898, No. 3, Vol. VII, 1899) ; "Peculiar Local Deposits on Bluffs Adjacent to the Mississippi" (Report of Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, Vol. XVI, Part I). In 1880 Mr. Squier was engaged in a geological survey of the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia for a projected railroad. The survey was to have occupied two years, but the failure of the company cut it short. Both himself and Prof. Shaler, who held the contract, were losers. In 1881 he was making surveys near Eastport, Maine. In 1882 he made a survey of the iron resources of the Licking Valley, Kentucky, for an iron company. He was recommended by Prof. Shaler about this time for a position on the United States Geological Survey. There chanced to be

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no vacancy at the time, and suddenly recurring illness caused him to abandon that career. Mr. Squier was married, June 29, 1882, to May Button, daughter of U. S. and Minerva Button, and descended from early New England stock, one of her ancestors being Roger Williams. Mrs. Squier was graduated in 1877 from the Mount Carrol Seminary, located at Mount Carrol, Ill. To Mr. and Mrs. Squier has been born one son, Ulysses Button, who is now engaged in the railroad business in Chicago as traffic expert. He married Clara Belle Linard, Aug. 23, 1910, and has two children.

Rev. James Squier. It is a rather delicate task for a son to undertake to write of a father's life, and I have rather hesitated to attempt more than the barest outlines. Yet he was, I think, identified with the religious work of this part of the state for a longer time than any other, and in the con- duct of the work he displayed characteristics which entitled him to a high place among the workers. Although the more strictly pioneer work was part of the history of La Crosse County, he was for nearly thirty-seven years a resident of Trempealeau-longer than in any other single locality. Since both himself, and all those, his contemporaries, who knew of his work, have passed away, I remain, myself, the only source of information concerning his life; and since the substance of the article must be mine, it seems best that I should give it form and be directly responsible for its statements. The subject of this sketch was born in in Hopkinton, St. Law- rence County, N. Y., Sept. 21, 1808. His father had entered the state from Vermont when it was an unbroken forest, and an older sister was the first white child born in the vicinity. The life was, of course, that of the pioneer, and his boyhood training served to give him an intimate knowledge of woodcraft. He was converted in young manhood, and very soon felt him- self called to the ministry. One of his first acts, after having settled on his future course, was typical of his life. He had bought and cleared a farm and was expecting to have cared for his parents in their declining years. Knowing that would not be possible under the new plan, he gave the farm to an older brother on condition that he would care for them. His decision made, he entered Madison (now Colgate) University in 1832 and graduated in 1838 (this included two years in theology). In the fall following his graduation he was ordained at Tyringham, Mass., and soon entered on his first pastorate at Sandisfield, Mass. In 1839 he married Eliza Hull, a teacher, and a descendant in the fifth generation of Hannah Dustan of Haverhill, Mass., whose capture by, and escape from the Indians during the "King Phillip" war, formed one of the stirring episodes of early Massachusetts history. (Abigail Hull, mother of Eliza Hull, was a resident of Trempealeau for a number of years, dying in 1882 in her one hundred and first year.) In 1840 he was paster in Bristol, Conn .; in 1842-6 in Tolland, Conn. In 1846 he had a very serious illness, and when sufficiently recovered went, by advice, to a fishing hamlet (also something of a summer resort), becoming pastor of a little church there. This place, Southhold, was on a narrow neck of land near the eastern end of Long Island. The life, much of it on the water, was very beneficial to him. It was here that the writer was born, in October, 1849. In 1850 he was pastor in "Head of

L. S. SANDERS

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Mystic," Conn. His illness had, however, left certain permanent effects which rendered it inexpedient that he enter the foreign field, which had up to this time been his purpose, and being possessed in large measure of the missionary spirit, his mind turned toward home missions. His wife's parents, and sister, had already located at Elgin, Ill. Moving west in 1851, he soon located as pastor of the church in East Troy, Walworth County, Wis. It was about this time that the tide of emigration was turning toward the rich region of the La Crosse Valley, and a surprisingly large number of people from Walworth County were among the early settlers of La Crosse County. Among them were several of his friends and neighbors. In the summer of 1853 he visited the region, bought some land of the late George Edwards of La Crosse, a friend and neighbor who had preceded him by a year, and in September moved his family there. At this time a Baptist church had been but recently formed in La Crosse, and soon after one was formed in Sparta, but the extensive region lying between had no church organization, though there were a few scattered Baptists. To this region he undertook to minister. The demands on the Home Mission Society far exceeded their resources and he resolved not to apply to them. For six years he conducted this work without salary. This double burden of work was one that few would be willing to assume. That he was able to carry it alone may be ascribed to the severe school of his boyhood and the wise and devoted co-operation of his wife. The story of these years of work and privation would be well worth writing, but I will not attempt it.

The farm home was about a mile north of the present village of West Salem. The village, however, was not started until a few years later, after the construction of the Milwaukee road. The then village, known as Neshonoe, was on the La Crosse River, adjacent to the mills, from which the electric current used in West Salem is obtained. It is now only a memory. In the fall of 1859 he rented his farm and moved to Lewis Valley (La Crosse County, Mindoro, P. O.), preaching there and at Melrose. In 1863 he became pastor at West Salem. The next year-1864-the Baptist church at Trempealeau was organized, and he, one of those present at the council, was invited to become pastor. He entered upon his duties during the summer, but did not remove his family until fall, our arrival being on Thanksgiving Day. He remained pastor until 1871, when he retired from the pastoral work. It was during his pastorate that the church building was erected, he himself meeting about half the cost. His death occurred in 1901. I think all who knew him intimately recognized his outstanding characteristics : his unswerving devotion to duty, and his unselfishness in his relations to others. He asked but little of the world and gave much. Simple and unaffected in manners, he was nevertheless a man of refined tastes, and of well trained scholarly mind .- (Written by Geo. H. Squier.)

Leland S. Sanders, efficient and popular cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Trempealeau, and a prominent factor in the business and social life of the village wherein he makes his home, was born in Friend, Neb., Feb. 22, 1891, the son of Charles M. and Nellie (Steward) Sanders. He passed through the graded schools of his native place, took a two years' course in the Omaha (Neb.) high school, graduated from the Fairbury

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(Neb.) high school, and then attended the Lake Forest College at Lake Forest, Ill. In the meantime he had been considerably interested in bank- ing, having started his connection with the financial interests by becom- ing a bank messenger at the age of thirteen, working in a bank at Daykin, Neb., evenings, mornings and Saturdays, while attending the graded schools. After leaving the institution at Lake Forest he took a position with the accounting department of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. But finding that railroad accounting was not exactly to his liking, he sub- sequently secured a position as assistant cashier of the Clarion Savings Bank, at Clarion, Iowa, where he remained until Jan. 1, 1916, when he came to Trempealeau to assume the duties of his present position. Here he has thoroughly identified himself with that modern movement which has brought renewed life to the historic village of Trempealeau, and has become one of that little group of men who are infusing enthusiasm and zest into the plans which have for their object the development of the village as a thriving business center. His work is also establishing the Citizens Bank as one of the leading financial houses of western Wisconsin. Mr. Sanders was married in Clarion, Iowa, June 17, 1914, to June M. Bird- sall, daughter of Judge and Mrs. B. P. Birdsall, and to this union has been born one daughter, Ruth Sanders, March 30, 1915.

Judge B. P. Birdsall was born in Weyauwega, Wis., in 1865, and as a young man went to Iowa. He became prominent in law and politics, served in Congress as a representative from the Third Congressional Dis- trict of Iowa for eight years, and was circuit judge of the Tenth Judicial District of Iowa for ten years.

Charles M. Sanders was born in Waukegan, Ill., Aug. 23, 1861, and married Nellie Steward, who was born in Rockford, Ill., March 26, 1866, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Steward. Charles M. Sanders engaged in the hardware business in Friend, Neb., for 25 years, and is now in the lumber business at Daykin, Neb.

Peter Crogan, a general farmer residing in section 4, Gale Township, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, Dec. 24, 1845, son of Patrick and Mary (Bropsom) Crogan. His parents were natives of the same county. The father was a farmer, who died in Ireland about 1859, and his wife subsequently came to the United States, settling in New Jersey, where her death took place about 1893. Peter Crogan was the fourth born in a family of 13 children. He attended school in his native land and resided on the home farm until he came to America in 1864. For five years he lived in New Jersey, working for others and then, hearing of opportunities to acquire land in the great Northwest, he came to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. He did not immediately acquire land, however, but for some years worked in Trempealeau and La Crosse Counties until 1878, at which time he bought his present farm of 160 acres. Here he has since made a number of improvements, having cultivated and developed the land and put up good buildings of substantial and modern construction. Mr. Crogan was married in 1877 to Mary Jane McCormick, who was born in La Crosse County, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Finon) McCormick. Her parents were born in Ireland and came to the United States, being early settlers.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 64

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