USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 94
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William Gibson, an early settler of Trempeleau County, was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, March 7, 1824. From Canada he came to Outagamie County, this state, about 1845, and there remained until 1864, when he came to Trempeleau County and secured a tract of land in Trem- pealeau Township. Here he remained until his lamented death, Dec. 22, 1907. His wife, Jane McGregor, was born in Scotland in 1830, was brought to this country by her parents in 1833, lived in Outagamie County, Wis- consin, until her marriage, came to Trempealeau County with her husband, and died here in 1895, at the age of 65 years. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson had six children: Thomas, a farmer of Trempealeau Township; Eliza, wife of Andrew Johnson, a farmer of Hale Township; Ann, wife of David Wright, a farmer of Little Falls, Minn .; Jeanette, who died in 1893 at the age of 35, the wife of Frank Johnson, a farmer of Trempealeau Township; Dan. P., superintendent of schools of Trempealeau County, and Robert, a con- struction engineer now working in California.
DR. AND MRS. C. H. ELKINTON AND FAMILY
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Dan P. Gibson, county superintendent of schools, is leaving the impress of his personality and enthusiasm upon the educational life of this region. Since assuming the duties of his present position he has begun the use of the telephone and rural free delivery in the rural schools, has introduced the warm lunch movement, has installed domestic science and manual train- ing departments throughout the county, and has emphasized the impor- tance of the teaching of scientific agriculture. That his standing is recog- nized outside of the country is shown by the fact that he had charge of the "School Management" section at the 1914 Summer School at the La Crosse Normal School, and by the further fact that he has been a vice- president and a director of the Western Wisconsin Teachers' Association. Dan P. Gibson was born in Hortonville, Wis., Feb. 25, 1863, son of William and Jane (McGregor) Gibson. After passing through the rural schools he obtained his higher education by farming summers, teaching winters, and attending school whenever his funds permitted him to do so. Thus by dint of hard work, perseverance and much home study, he was enabled to graduate from Gale College in 1883, and from the Winona State Normal School in 1893. Since the latter date he has devoted his time exclusively to educational work. After taking charge successively of the schools of Utica, Minn., Elba, Minn., Montgomery, Minn., and Melrose, Wis., he returned to Trempealeau County in the fall of 1908 as the head of the Ettrick Schools. In the spring of 1909 he was elected to his present posi- tion and has been successively re-elected every two years since that time. Fraternally, Mr. Gibson is associated with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen, in the latter of which he has filled all the chairs. He was mar- ried Aug. 15, 1885, to Emma Bowerman, who was born in Gale Township, June 3, 1864, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Betts) Bowerman, the pioneers. This union has been blessed with three children, Maida, McGregor and Marguerite. Maida, a graduate of the Winona High School, is a teacher of reading and spelling in the Junior High School of New Richmond, Wis. McGregor is a farmer of Pigeon Township, this county. He married Emma Hall, of La Crosse, and they have three children, Maida Harriet, Dorothy June and Ethel Marie. Marguerite graduated from the Galesville High School and is a teacher in the primary grade at Whitehall.
Charles H. Elkinton, M. D., physician and surgeon of Eleva, is a native of this state, born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, April 8, 1862, son of Mark and Nancy (Bush) Elkinton. Mark Elkinton was born in Lincolnshire, England, July 18, 1816, and after his marriage, Sept. 27, 1851, came to America and located in Rochester, N. Y., for two years, locating later at Schleisingerville, Wis., before coming to Lomira Township, Dodge County, this state, where he farmed until his death, Nov. 6, 1899, his wife, who was born Nov. 16, 1826, having died Nov. 24, 1881. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are now living as follows: Mark at Winne- conne, Wis .; Thomas at Jennings, La .; Evelyn at Glascow, Mont .; Frank and William at Eleva, Wis., and Lucinda at Brownville, Wisconsin. Charles H. Elkinton was reared on the home farm, attended the district schools and started teaching in 1880 at the age of 18 years. By working as a teacher for eight years he secured the funds necessary for further pur-
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suing his studies, and in 1886 he graduated from the Oshkosh Normal School. Thus prepared, he entered the Rush Medical College in 1891, and received his diploma from that institution in 1894. After practicing a few months in Neillsville, Wis., he came to Eleva in the spring of 1895 and has since been in active practice here. His standing in his profession is shown by his membership in the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society, and the Eau Claire County Medical Society. He is health officer of Albion Township in Trempealeau County, and Clear Creek Township in Eau Claire County, and has done considerable work in sanitation in addi- tion to his regular practice. For ten years he has been clerk of the Eleva School Board. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order. Dr. Elkinton is widely known as a fancier of fine stock. He has a large farm in Clear Creek Township and makes a specialty of raising Guernsey cattle, Hampshire sheep and Berkshire swine. On Feb. 24, 1897, Dr. Elkinton was married to Alice Brown, of Neillsville, daughter of David and Anna (Gra- ham) Brown. Mrs. Elkinton graduated from the Neillsville High School . after which she attended Oshkosh Normal School and was a successful teacher for three years. To Dr. and Mrs. Elkinton have been born four children: Carlos, born Jan. 24, 1898; Doras, born Aug. 14, 1900; Graham, born April 6, 1904, and Charles, born Aug. 13, 1909. Carlos is in the United States service, having enlisted June 18, 1917, in Company E, Third Wisconsin Infantry.
Giles Cripps was one of the earliest pioneers of Burnside Township, being preceded only by the members of the John Markham household. He opened a pioneer farm, kept the pioneer postoffice, was an early justice of the peace, and served his township as chairman for several years. Giles Cripps was born in Oxfordshire, England, Nov. 5, 1833, and was but three years of age when he was brought to New York State by his parents. From there, in 1843, the family came to Waukesha County, this state, where, though a youth of but nine years, Giles Cripps assisted his father with his herd of 1,500 sheep. The next move of the family was to Dane County where they acquired a farm of 200 acres. There on June 9, 1853, he mar- ried Harriet Wood. For four years they continued to farm in Dane County. In 1857 they came to Trempealeau County and selected a homestead a few miles up Elk Creek, being the first settlers in the Elk Creek valley. At their home the Elk Creek postoffice was established, and the place became a pioneer center. They developed a good farm and took a part in every cause which had for its object the betterment of the community. Mr. Cripps continued to devote his life largely to agricultural interests and for some years he and Noah D. Comstock were interested in the grain and elevator business in Independence. A man of broad sympathies and genial temperament, he early became interested in the leading fraternal societies, and in time joined the Masonic, Pythian and United Workmen orders. After a busy and useful life, he died March 21, 1885, and the entire community joined in its regret, the funeral being conducted under Masonic auspices by Rev. T. Grafton Owen and attended by the members of the orders of which he was a member as well as by hundreds of other friends. An obituary notice in the Republican-Leader said: "Mr. Cripps was a man of
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unimpeachable integrity, honesty and uprightness in every phase of his daily life. In society he was a truly valuable citizen, and in his family a kind and loving husband and father. His agreeable disposition, pleasing manner, and clearly defined principles gave him a wide circle of friends as well as many personal admirers. The death of no man in the community could be more genuinely or profoundly mourned, his premature decease was the cause of universal regret." He was survived by his widow, his five chil- dren, and his aged father. The children are: E. A., of Medford, Ore .; Charles A., of Iroquois, S. D .; G. E. and Frederick E., of Independence, and Mrs. Emma Nicols. Harriet Wood, whom Mr. Cripps married June 9, 1853, was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, June 15, 1836, and was the inspiration and help of her husband in all his undertakings. After the death of Mr. Cripps, she remained on the home farm until Oct. 28, 1898, when she married J. W. Summers, and subsequently moved to Whitehall, where she died July 21, 1915. She was universally beloved and respected, and her gracious hospitality was an important feature of pioneer life in Burnside.
Frederick C. Cripps, a well-known and respected citizen of Burnside Township, operating a farm of 240 acres in Section 1, was the first white child born in this township, the date of his nativity being Nov. 23, 1858, and his parents being Giles and Harriet (Wood) Cripps, the pioneers. He was reared to agricultural pursuits. After his marriage in 1883 he moved into his farm in Section 11, Burnside. It was on Oct. 25, 1891, that he sold out and moved to his present place. It is a well-developed piece of property and is being constantly improved. Its fertile acres are devoted to general farming, a specialty being made of a fine herd of graded Holstein cattle. The residence is a two-story frame house with a full basement. It has been substantially rebuilt, and a furnace and other modern conveniences installed. In 1897 the barn was erected. It is a commodious structure of frame, 40 by 64 by 20 feet above the basement, the basement being of stone, with cement floors. In 1917 a large silo was built of Natco imperish- able hollow glazed black tile, the dimensions being 12 by 40 feet, and the capacity 96 tons. Mr. Cripps was married Feb. 25, 1883, to Lillian Dale, of Galesville, who was born in Caledonia Township, this county, May 9, 1863, daughter of Joseph and Albina (Fowler) Dale. This union has been blessed with two children: Arthur L., born June 19, 1888, who is residing at home, and Josephine A., born July 24, 1890, now the wife of Paul Van Horn, the merchant at Elk Creek, Hale Township, this county.
Joseph Dale was one of the earliest pioneers of Caledonia Township, and of Trempealeau County. He was born at Utica, N. Y., June 22, 1825, and was there reared and educated. As a young man he came west and settled in Walworth County, this state. After his marriage in 1850, he came to La Crosse County, and in 1854 settled in what is now Caledonia Township, this county. He acquired a tract of wild land, broke and developed a good farm, and took his full share in the pioneer activities of the community. In 1868 he moved to Galesville, where he died Aug. 28, 1889. He was married at Hart Prairie, Walworth County, Wisconsin, Dec. . 8, 1850, to Albina Fowler, who died Oct. 3, 1884.
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Nels L. Fredrickson, agriculturist, public official and man of affairs, is one of the leading citizens of the county. He did most efficient service as county sheriff in 1893-94, as under-sheriff in 1895-96, and as county treas- urer in 1907-11, and since the spring of 1914 has been a prominent member of the county board, sitting as the member from Whitehall, which village he has served for two years as president. The career that has involved this unusual amount of public work has been a most interesting one. The son of Fredrick Nelson and Isabella Larson, he was born in Christiania, Norway, Jan. 26, 1856, and after the death of his father, at the age of 10 he was brought to this country with the rest of the family, by his mother and step-father, George Reitzel. After a year in Ettrick, he came with the family to Preston Township, and was here reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he started out for himself by securing employment in the lumber and machinery business with C. N. Paine & Co. at Whitehall, remaining two and a half years. For a number of years he was in the hardware business. He had a part in the building of the block on the site of what is now the Model Block, later destroyed by fire. Upon his election as sheriff he moved to the official residence and at the expiration of his term purchased his present farm, where he has since continued to reside. The place consists of nearly a quarter of a section in the southeast corner of the village of Whitehall, and is a modern farm in every particular. He has a fine herd of high-grade Holstein cattle, a good drove of Poland-China hogs, and makes a specialty of breeding Brown Leghorn chickens. His interest in his herd led to his connection with the Whitehall Creamery Association, which he served for a time as president, and of which he has been secretary and manager since 1914. The success of this institution is a strong tribute to Mr. Fred- rickson's management. With all his busy work, he has found time for the development of his social qualities, and has taken a deep interest, passing through the chairs of the local order, serving as district deputy, and sitting as a member of the Grand Lodge of the State. Mr. Fredrickson has been excellently described as a useful citizen. Combining a genial disposition with sterling worth and an ability to make friends, he has won his way in the world and has achieved a most satisfactory degree of success. Mr. Fred- rickson was married Nov. 6, 1896, to Mary Allen, who died Nov. 3, 1902. Her parents were Martin and Elizabeth (Ackerman) Allen, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom is proprietor of the Allen Hotel at Whitehall. On Jan. 1, 1910, Mr. Fredrickson married Sigrid Kildahl, who was born in Norway, daughter of Ole and Martha Kildahl. Mr. and Mrs. Fredrickson have four children: Isadora M., born Oct. 6, 1910; Sigrid L., May 27, 1912; Nels L., Jr., May 11, 1914, and Junice Waunita, June 14, 1917.
Fredrick Nelson, father of Nels L. Fredrickson, a leading citizen of Whitehall, was born in Norway, and was there reared and educated. Com- ing of a long line of seafaring ancestry, he early took up work as a boatman on the sea and lakes, and after several years lost his life in this occupation, being drowned in Lake Mjosen, Norway, in 1861. In early life he married Isabella Larson, and to this union were born two children: Nels L. and Elisa.
NELS L. FREDRICKSON AND FAMILY
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George Reitzel, one of the early settlers of Preston Township, was born in Norway, and there grew to manhood. In 1862 he married Isabella Larson, the widow of Fredrick Nelson. Four years later they brought their family to America, and took up their residence in Ettrick Township, this county. After residing there about a year they moved to Preston Town- ship, and homesteaded a farm where they lived two years, from there going to Buffalo County, where they took land on which they remained for about the same length of time. They next spent a year in Ettrick and after that removed to Minnesota. In 1876 they came to Whitehall, where Mr. Reitzel died in 1879. In 1884 Mrs. Reitzel married Ole Larson. Since his death on March 7, 1908, she has lived in Whitehall. Mr. and Mrs. Reitzel had six children: Rosa, Anton F., George and Emil (twins), Frank and Rosa. The two oldest were born in Norway, and with Nels L. and Elisa Fredrickson were brought to this country by their parents.
Daniel Bigham is one of the earliest pioneers of Trempealeau County. Making his first trip to this State with his parents as a boy from his home in New York State in 1856, he became acquainted with some of the leaders among the first settlers in this region, and one of his greatest delights is in recalling incidents and events in the lives of the sturdy frontiersmen of those now far-distant days. His experiences also embraced pioneer lumber- ing when the great forest wealth of Wisconsin was first being developed, and when the La Crosse sawmills in which he was employed were the ren- dezvous of many of the early lumbermen since prominent in the industrial history of the State. He was born in Putnam County, New York, Nov. 25, 1843, the son of James and Catherine (McVoy) Bigham, and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He entered the schools of his native county as a youth, and at the age of 13, in 1856, was brought by his parents to Glencoe Township, Buffalo County, this State, where he assisted in developing a pioneer farm, and at times attended such schools as the time and place afforded. Al- though he left school at a comparatively early age, he has been a deep reader, and has thus acquired a substantial education. As a young man he worked during the lumbering seasons in the sawmills of La Crosse for ten years. In the meantime he purchased 117 acres in section 1 and section 6, range 9, in Arcadia Township, and in 1864 he took up his home thereon. This was entirely a wild tract, but he set to work with a will, firm in the purpose of developing as good a place as could be found in the community. His first house was a small frame structure, 16 by 22 feet. In 1875 he erected a more modern home, with an upright, 18 by 26 feet, and an ell, 16 by 22 feet, a 12 by 12 kitchen being added later, so that now it is a sightly, comfortable structure of 11 rooms. As prosperity increased he erected a fine barn, 30 by 74 feet, with 16-foot posts, and a full basement with 9-foot posts. He also erected a granary 16 by 24 by 12 feet, and other buildings of various descriptions. With the progress of years he developed an excellent farm, and for many years successfully carried on general farming, making a specialty of the dairy type of grade Shorthorns, and Shropshire sheep. In 1875 he rented his farm and moved to Arcadia. Three years later he returned to the place, but in 1909 he retired permanently. He has a beautiful home and two extra lots on the hill in Arcadia, and here
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he and his good wife are enjoying the fruits of their many hard years of incessant toil. His public service has been extensive. For six years he was chairman of Arcadia Township, and as such did most efficient service as a member of the county board. For seven years he gave satisfaction as township assessor. For many terms he was clerk of his school district. Now he is justice of the peace, in which position he has served for some time. His business holdings include stock in the Trout Run Farms, of which he is president, in the Trempealeau County Farmers' Mutual Fire .. Insurance Company, in which he is a director, and in the Farmers' Shipping Association of Arcadia. Mr. Bigham was married March 24, 1868, to Florence Caldwell, born in Clinton County, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1849, daughter of James and Jane (Stark) Caldwell, the former of whom, a carpenter, brought the family to Fountain City from New York State in 1855. Mrs. Bigham has been her husband's inspiration in all his undertakings, a splendid housewife, a loving wife and devoted mother. Mr. and Mrs. Big- ham have three children: Orrie May, Alice Myrtle and Roy E. Orrie May was born March 12, 1869, graduated from the Arcadia High School and the River Falls Normal School, and is now a proficient teacher in the public schools of La Crosse. Alice Myrtle was born July 21, 1871, graduated from the Arcadia High School and taught in the Arcadia schools for several years. Her special interest has been in the public library work in Arcadia. Her husband, Dr. J. A. Palmer, now a first lieutenant in the United States Medical Corps, is one of the county's most distinguished citizens. Roy E. was born May 30, 1879, graduated from the Arcadia High School and from the law department of the University of Wisconsin, and is now practicing successfully his profession near Portland, Ore. He married Tennie Talbot and has two daughters : Florence and Frances.
Ole P. Christianson was born in Norway, Dec. 29, 1846, and was there reared. At the age of 21 he came to America, and located in Dane County, this State. Five years later he came to Trempealeau County and acquired 120 acres in Unity Township. This he successfully worked for a while, but in 1879 sold out and went to North Dakota. A year later, in 1880, he returned, married, and secured a farm of 120 acres three miles north of Strum. There he lived until 1911, when he moved to Strum. His wife, Paulina Olson, was born in Norway, March 20, 1865, and was brought to America by her parents at the age of 7 years. Mr. and Mrs. Christianson have five children : Malner P., the Strum miller; Johanna, who died in infancy; Josephine, the wife of Peter Smengson, of North Dakota; Otelja, who died in childhood, and Olga, a telephone operator.
Malner P. Christianson is the proprietor of the Strum Mill, one of the most important enterprises in the village. Born on the home farm three miles north of Strum, Jan. 7, 1881, he remained with his parents, Ole P. and Paulina (Olson) Christianson, until 1910. Then, after a year in the West, he bought the mill which he now conducts. The mill is a substantial struc- ture, 24 by 46 feet, erected in 1901 by Henry Ruseling, now of Eleva. Power is furnished by a 38-horsepower gasoline engine, and the equipment includes a 20-inch grinder and a cob cracker. The capacity is about 30 tons a day. In addition to doing a general grist-mill business, Mr. Christian-
"RONCEVAL," THE MARKHAM "CASTLE"
MR. AND MRS. JOHN MARKHAM
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
son handles Pillsbury, White Rose and Wingold flour, stock feed, flax meal, calf meal, middlings, shorts and bran.
George W. Graul, proprietor of the Maple Lawn Dairy Farm of 320 acres in sections 22 and 26, Burnside Township, has a large and well equipped place which will compare favorably with the best in the county. He is an excellent type of the modern farmer, and conducts his operations along the latest approved lines, taking pride in the appearance of his home, his barns, his farm and his stock. He was born in Fond du Lac County, this State, Jan. 24, 1877, son of Emil and Caroline (Schedler) Graul, the former of whom was born in Milwaukee, Sept. 2, 1845, and the latter in Germany, Dec. 13, 1846. Emil Graul, al- though born in Milwaukee, was reared in Sauk County, this State. He sub- sequently lived two years in Fond du Lac and three years in Winona, Minn. In 1881 he bought the farm now operated by his son George W. and con- ducted it until the spring of 1905, when he and his wife retired and went to live in Independence. George W. Graul was reared from early childhood on his parents' homestead, on which he found abundant opportunity to become acquainted with agricultural methods, finally developing into a good, practical farmer. For a number of years he helped his father and then, in 1905, rented the home farm, operating it on that basis until 1915. In the latter year he bought the quarter section in section 26, but rents the other quarter section in section 22 from his father. The residence on his property was built in 1893, and is a frame two-story and basement dwelling, well constructed and convenient. In 1916 a barn was built, 40 by 140 by 14 feet above stone basement, with cement floors, having room for 100 head of cattle and 20 horses. The south side of the basement is composed entirely of windows, giving an abundance of light. All the buildings on the farm are also lighted with electricity from Mr. Graul's own plant. The silo is of frame construction, 18 by 30 feet in dimensions. Mr. Graul raises graded Holstein cattle, having a herd of 60 head, of which he milks 30. He also has 50 head of Poland-China hogs, feeds 200 head of sheep a year, and keeps Buff Leghorn chickens and Toulouse geese. His farm is all fenced with woven wire fencing 42 inches high. April 7, 1905, Mr. Graul was united in marriage with Annie Loretz, of Buffalo County, Wis., daughter of John and Salome (Loretz) Loretz, the former of whom died in 1915, and the latter in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Graul have three children, born as follows: Morris, June 12, 1906; Emil, June 6, 1908, and Laura, Oct. 11, 1911. The family are members of the German Evangelical Church, of which Mr. Graul was formerly a steward, also teaching a class in the Sunday school. Since 1898 he has been school clerk of his district.
John Markham was born at "Becca" Hall, near Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng- land, on June 6, 1797. The family traces its ancestry from a period imme- diately anterior to the Norman conquest, down to the present time. The first published history of the family was prepared and the data accumu- lated by David Markham, a younger brother of John Markham, who had spent some twenty years in the work, but had not completed his task when death overtook him, and the final publication in 1854 was consummated by David's son, Sir Clements Robert Markham, afterward president of the
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