USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 57
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Mr. Smith is a member of the Gardeners and Foremen's Association of Lake Geneva, which is composed of the men who look after this line of work for the fine homes about the lakes here. Mr. Smith is now serving his fourth term as president of the association, which has recently erected a large and attractive building on Broad street. Lake Geneva. The pronounced success of this important organization has been due very largely to his efforts. He is also a life member of the Wisconsin State Horticultural So- ciety. of which he was vice-president for two years, discharging the duties of this office in a manner that won the hearty commendation of all con- cerned.
Mr. Smith was married in 1899 to Hannah Brennan, of county Mayo, Ireland, and to this union one daughter, Hannah, was born. her birth occur- ring in January, 1900, at which time the mother died. and in August, 1905. Mr. Smith was again married, his last wife having been known in her maidenhood as Martha Sobbe, daughter of Joseph and Mary Sobbe. She was born, reared and educated at Lake Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both members of the Catholic church and he is also a member of the Catho- lic Order of Foresters and Knights of Columbus.
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Mr. Smith is a busy man, with a business way of doing things, yet finds time to give attention to the sociable side of his nature, and he is known as a frank, just and obliging gentleman, and an authority on all horticultural subjects.
GUSTAVE MEISTER.
Another of the progressive Germans who, coming to Walworth county in the days of its ascendency, cast his lot with us and thereby has benefited himself, his neighbors and acquaintances, is Gustave Meister, of Lyons town- ship, a man who, owing to his commendable traits of character and his per- sistent habits, would succeed in any community.
Mr. Meister was born in Pommern, Germany, August 11, 1857, and is the son of Christlieb and Charlotte ( Kuger) Meister. He grew up on a farm in his native land, and there he married, in 1882, Lena Schmidt, daugh- ter of William and Frederica (Freitag) Schmidt, and three children were born to them in the old country, Herman, Anna and William. In 1887 the family emigrated to the United States and located at Lyons, Walworth county, Wisconsin. Mr. Meister worked on the railroad for about two years, then worked four years as a farm hand for James Brett, then for four- teen years he rented Judge Buckbee's farm, then began farming for himself. In 1902 he purchased a farm in section 19, Lyons township. He is now the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres, which he has kept well improved and where he carries on general farming and stock rais- ing successively. He has a pleasant home and keeps an excellent grade of stock. There were no improvements on the place except the house, and he built barns, outhouses, fences, and in many ways improved and beautified the place, and there is no more attractive place than his between Geneva and Springfield.
Three children have been born to the subject and wife since coming to America, namely : Frank, Ida and Carl. The subject's children are all married except Carl. Herman married Bessie Morgan and they live a short distance north of the village of Lyons, where he rents a farm and operates it for himself ; they have three children, Clarence, Dorothy and Gladys. Anna married Andrew Bartelson and lives on a rented farm near the subject, and they have five children, Herbert. Frances and Frank (twins). Ailleen and Walter. William married Amelia Dorn and lives on the Buckbee farm near his father's home, which he rents. He has one son, Gustave. Frank married
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Freda Pagel, has one daughter, Florence, and lives on a rented farm a short distance west of the village of Lyons. Ida married Walter A. Papenfus and they rented the home farm and are living with her parents. Carl works for them on the farm. The Meister family belongs to the German Lutheran church at Lyons.
The subject is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accom- plished. having started in life with nothing and having a large family to support. He has been frugal. industrious and economical and is now well- to-do.
WILLIAM FURNISS BEST.
William Furniss Best. of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was born at Brid- port. county of Dorset. England. October 30, 1867. Ilis parents were Richard Henry Best and Ellen (Furniss) Best. His father was in the prod- uce and commission business and Mr. Best grew up in the business with his father and was with him till the father died in 1888. William F. Best remained in England till 1889, when he was encouraged to come to America, having heard much of the country here from his brother-in-law, whose home was in Walworth county along the shore of the Lake Geneva, and who was then back in England on a visit.
Mr. Best came to Lake Geneva and soon had quite a circle of friends and acquaintances with whom he became popular in a social way. Having such means of support that he could be idle if he wished to, the young man did what nearly all young men would like to do at the age of twenty to twenty-three-he looked more to the pleasures of society and enjoying life in good style while he could, and did not engage in any gainful occupation for some time. Older heads looked on with misgiving at his idleness. Mr. Best, however, rose above the handicap of having "nothing to do and suffi- cient money to do it with," after he had three years at it. In 1893 he began to show his true mettle when he took a place in the greenhouse on Mr. Leiter's lake shore estate. He continued at such work till 1962, learned a great deal about the work and showed that he was to be depended upon. In 1902 he took charge of the greenhouses owned by the Lake Geneva Floral Company, who then had about twenty thousand feet under glass. He re- mained in charge of the work there till the floral company sold out about three years later, when through a chain of peculiar circumstances he was induced to go into the piano business at Lake Geneva. In this be made a
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success right from the start. He sold thirteen pianos in the first thirteen days, and since then has sold hundreds of them in Walworth county, and in a modest way has prospered. In addition to his piano business he occasion- ally buys and sells a piece of real estate, as an investment.
December 1, 1889. Mr. Best married Loretta Bolsley, daughter of Theo- dore and Augusta ( Harkness) Bolsley. She was born and reared in Lake Geneva. Her parents, it is believed, came from the state of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Best have three daughters, Ethel Ellen, Mabel Charlotte and Maudie Marie, also one son. Lloyd Furniss Best. Mr. Best is a member of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Mystic Workers. He has made his home among us for about twenty-three years, and we have seen him grow- in those desirable characteristics of solid worth, his conduct in all the rela- tions of life entitling him to the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He was elected in 1910 to the office of justice of the peace. In England this office is held by the nobility, without compensation, the idea being not that of profit to themselves but that they shall honor the office by the courage and fairness of their rulings. Mr. Best has performed his official duties here in the same spirit, and shown those qualities that are so essential in any court. if respect for the law is to be upheld. He was again elected in .1912 and is now serving his second term.
AUGUST LUEDTKE.
Few farmers of Walworth county carry on their work with any greater degree of science than AAugust Luedtke, of Lyons township, for he is a close student of everything that pertains to his work, and he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having come here from a foreign shore with no capital. but with what amounted to more-a willing- ness to work, an ambition to succeed, and a strong constitution. He was born in Pommern, Wultendorf, Prussia, Germany, on October 9. 1855. He is the son of Fred and Louisa ( Blaedan) Luedtke. the father having been brought up on a large farm in the fatherland, but afterwards became a shepherd.
When the subject was eight years of age the father and mother and their children emigrated to America and settled near Burlington, Wisconsin, where they followed farming, later buying a farm in sections 12 and 13 in Lyons township, Walworth county, and here the parents spent the rest of their lives, and on this farin the subject grew to manhood.
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August Luedtke was married on July 18, 1878. to Anna Louise B. 4 Schmidt, daughter of William and Caroline ( Bushen) Schmidt. She was born and reared in Wheatland township, Kenosha county, this state. Her parents were from the same locality in Germany in which the subject was born. Her parents came to Burlington township. Kenosha county. Wiscon- sin, and here spent the rest of their lives. Four children have been born to the subject and wife, namely, Cora, Louis, Emma and Florence.
The subject has spent his life engaged in farming on the home place. having operated the same ever since his marriage. He has an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he has placed under a high grade of improvements and cultivation and where he has made a good living and has a pleasant home.
Mr. Luedtke has been a member of the township board of supervisors of Lyons township for two years. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Burlington.
JOHN C. BRENNAN.
Another of the sterling sons of the old Empire state who has come to Walworth county, and here found a pleasant home and a welcome from our citizens, and thereby has benefited himself and them, is John C. Brennan, a successful fariner of Linn township. He was born in Chenango county, New York, March 2, 1865, and he is the son of John and Bridget (Quinn) Brennan. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm in New York. Upon reaching manhood he came west and located in Linn township, this county, and has lived here ever since. In his boyhood he worked out for several years. About 1894 he began farming for himself and in 1903 he purchased the farm which he still owns in Linn township, sections 23 and 24. His place consists of two hundred and eighteen acres of excellent land which he has placed under splendid improvements and a high state of cultivation, and here he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale.
Mr. Brennan was married in 1893 to Anna Barlow, daughter of Ed- ward and Margaret (Creighton) Barlow, the father born in Linn township, this county. November 11. 1842. being the son of John and Catherine ( Smith) Barlow. John Barlow and wife were both born in Ireland, and they emigrated to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in an early day, being among the first. settlers of Linn township. Edward Barlow grew to manhood here
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and farmed most of his life. He married Margaret Creighton, daughter of Peter and Ann Creighton. She was born near Providence, Massachusetts. IIer parents were also from Ireland, coming here probably in 1843. spending the rest of their lives in this county. Mr. Creighton bought a farm in sec- tion 5, what is now the Dillenbeck farm, and there he lived until late in life. then sold out and moved to Lyons, where he and his wife spent their last days.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barlow: Anna, who married John Brennan, subject of this sketch; Katie, who died when about twenty- four years of age; Lillian is the wife of John Murphy, of Linn township; John, who is farming in the east side of Linn township: Edward died on December 28, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Brennan have one son, George.
Mr. Brennan has been a member of the board of supervisors for about thirteen years, filling this office to the satisfaction of all concerned, and he has been a member of the county board for about eight years. He and his family belong to the Catholic church.
OLIVER II. WALKER.
The life record of Oliver H. Walker, well known citizen of Lake Geneva, Walworth county, has been replete with success, because he has been very careful of his successive steps in the daily affairs of life, being careful not to do anything that would later require undoing. "Be sure you are right. then go ahead," has been, in substance. his motto, at least it would seem so to one at all familiar with his career, which is worthy of careful study by the youth at the beginning of their careers or by the man who is discouraged farther on the highway of life.
Mr. Walker was born at Plainfield, Otsego county, New York, Decem- ber 8, 1843, being the scion of a family prominent in business circles in Lake Geneva from the early days. He is a son of Austin and Dorcas ( Burdick) Walker, the mother having been born probably in Connecticut and she lived in Otsego county, New York, until her marriage. Her mother died in the East and her father came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and settled in Linn township. Austin Walker and wife were married in New York and they lived in that state until 1851 when they moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, reaching here in the spring of that year, having come by way of the Great Lakes to Kenosha. There were no railroads in this country at that
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time. They came by wagon from Kenosha to this county, locating in Linn township, where the father purchased eighty acres of land of James Bener- dick, near the center of the township, south of what was called the Big Foot road. The family lived there about three years, then moved into Lake Geneva and in 1854 Austin Walker entered the grocery business. also handled boots and shoes, later. After a time the boot and shoe business outgrew the grocery department and he closed it out, continuing only as boot and shoe merchant. Here he remained in business until his death and was quite suc- cessful. becoming the possessor of considerable town property, built a great many houses and various business properties and thus for years was one of the influential men in the upbuilding of Lake Geneva. His death occurred in 1895: his wife, surviving him a number of years, died on September 19. 1906, having reached the advanced age of ninety-four years. Their family consisted of seven children, six sons and one daughter, namely: Billings .1. lived most of his life in Lake Geneva: Charles E., who owns and operates a fine garden in the northern part of Lake Geneva, also owns considerable rentable property. In 1859 he and three others drove overland to California with ox teams, when there was not a house from Council Bluffs. Jowa, to Salt Lake City, Utah ; they were from April 19th to October 12th making the trip to Carson City, Nevada. experiencing many hardships and privations, having many thrilling adventures. At one place they were compelled to pay seventy-five cents a pound for both flour and bacon. Ile returned in 1862 and engaged in the dry goods, boot and shoe business in Lake Geneva, selling out in 1869. and then he engaged in the commission business in Chicago until 1871 when he returned to Lake Geneva. While in business here he had the first stock of clothing in the city. He was a member of the board of super- visors for ten years. The third child born to Vustin Walker and wife was George W .. who enlisted in the Union army in the spring of 1861 and died the following autumn of typhoid fever ; Oliver IL .. of this sketch : Alexander S. lived and died in Lake Geneva : Napoleon Decatur is unmarried and lives in Lake Geneva: Mary L. is the wife of Joseph Scheneck ; they lived in San Francisco several years, but now make their home across the bay from there.
Oliver H. Walker grew to manhood in Lake Geneva, and he was clerk- ing in the store of his father on the day of his fifteenth birthday, and from that day until the spring of 1896 he remained in the store, covering a period of thirty-seven years, during which time he became one of the best known merchants in the county, enjoyed a large trade and was regarded as one of the city's most enterprising men of affairs. He is still well known, but a very large number of his friends and acquaintances of the earlier years have passed from view over life's great divide.
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Mr. Walker has retired from active business and looks after his rental properties in Lake Geneva. His home is on the lake front. and for recrea- tion he enjoys fishing in the lake.
Mr. Walker was married on June 1, 1865, to Caroline P. Johnson. of Linn township. She was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. June 20, 1841, and was the daughter of James and Sallie (Staples) Johnson. Her people moved to this county in 1843 and located in Linn township about four miles from the city of Lake Geneva. The subject and wife attended the same school in the country and grew up together. James Johnson was born Aug- ust 10, 1805, in Darby, Pennsylvania, and her mother was born January 17, 1806, in Freetown, Massachusetts.
Three daughters and one son were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker, named as follows: Frederick Oliver died in the spring of 1879, as did also Caroline Louise : Jennie died early the following autumn, their ages having been about four, seven and ten respectively : Rose M. is at home with her father in Lake Geneva.
The wife and mother was called to her rest on Friday, August II, 19II. She was a worthy member of the Congregational church in Lake Geneva and was a favorite with a wide circle of friends. She was the last of her father's family residing in this county. Mr. Walker is also a member of the Congre- gational church.
FATHER JAMES NICHOLAS.
The well known and popular gentleman whose name introduces this biographical review has accomplished much toward ameliorating the condi- tion of his fellow men in Walworth county, often laboring with disregard for his own welfare if thereby he might attain the object sought-to make some one better or happier. Such a life as his is rare in this mercenary, work- aday age, and is eminently worthy of emulation, being singularly free from all that is deteriorating or paltry, for his influence is at all times uplifting. and thousands of people have been made better for having known him, and yet he is a plain, unassuming gentleman, caring nothing for the plaudits of men, content to know that he is following the footsteps of the Man of Gallilee and doing his will as best he can.
Father James Nicholas, priest of the parish of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was born in Limerick City, Ireland, June 9, 1863. He is the son of William and Sarah ( Fitzgerald) Nicholas. He spent his boyhood as a student in public
FATHER JAMES NICHOLAS
THE PUBLIC
ASTOR, 1 TILDEN FOU
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schools and academies. About 1879 he decided to take an ecclesiastical course and prepare for the priesthood. He accordingly entered the National College of Maynorth and in 1887 was ordained to the priesthood. He was at once appointed to the diocese of Milwaukee. Upon coming here he was assigned to the parish of Elkhorn, which has been his only assignment, for he has re- mained here continuously to the present time.
One not of his church who speaks from personal knowledge and voices a general impression, says of him: "Father Nicholas, though an uncom- . promising servant of the church and thoroughly a priest, has many non- Catholic friends who appreciate his qualities as a citizen and neighbor. His services as a speaker are given freely on Memorial Sundays, the annual meet- ing of the County Soldiers' Association, and other special occasions. He is familiar with the history of his adopted country and is loyal to our institutions. His public addresses are carefully prepared, showing depth of thought. ver- satility, a true conception of life and its immensity, and he is regarded as an earnest, logical, entertaining and not infrequently eloquent speaker."
Father Nicholas is a man of splendid physique, and would attract atten- tion in any gathering, and he is a good mixer, genial. obliging, friendly, and hence well liked by all classes.
The local Catholic church has grown steadily under his charge. and in 1905 a splendid new church edifice was erected, and it ranks well with other churches of this denomination throughout the state.
JOHN GILMORE SKEELS.
A name familiar to the people of Walworth county is that of John Gil- more Skeels, of Lake Geneva, known as a man of high attainments and prac- tical ability as an educator, which has been his principal life work, although he is now engaged in business. He achieved an extraordinary measure of success in his profession because he worked for it persistently and in channels of honest endeavor. His prestige in the educational circles of southern Wis- consin stands in evidence of his ability and likewise serves as a voucher for intrinsic worth of character. He has used his intellect to the best purpose, has directed his energies along legitimate courses and his career has been based upon the wise assumption that nothing save industry, perseverance, sturdy integrity and fidelity to duty will lead to success.
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Mr. Skeels was born in Benson, Vermont, on January 3, 1852. He is the son of William Norman Skeels and Betsey ( McCotter) Skeels, the father born in Whitehall, New York, in 1812, and died on April 24, 1893: the mother was born at Orwell, Vermont, on May 7, 1814, and her death occurred on March 21, 1856. William Skeels, the paternal grandfather, was born in 1778 in Woodbury, Connecticut, and he died at Whitehall, New York, Aug- ust 22, 1860. His father, Samuel Skeels, was born at Woodbury, Connecti- cut, May 29, 1755, and he died in Benson, Vermont, about 1814. He and his two brothers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. He spent most of his life at Woodbury. His father. Samuel Skeels, Sr., was born February 25. 1723. He served under Lord Howe in the French and Indian war and died while in that service, in 1759. Samuel, Sr., was the son of John, the second, who was baptized in 1678 and whose death occurred on May 25, 1727, having been born and died in the town of Woodbury, Connecticut. John, the first, was born in Reading, England, in 1643, and was a signer of the Covenant, and, because of religious persecution, he left England in 1670,. finally settling at Woodbury, Connecticut, and his death occurred in 1721.
The name Skeels was found away back in Danish legendary history, both before and after the Danish invasion of England, and as the Skeels fam- ily all come from around London, where the Danes settled, it is practically certain that the family is of Danish origin. Nearly all of this branch of the Skeels family have been farmers and soldiers. The name is sometimes spelled Skeele, and still others spell it Skeel.
When William Norman. Skeels, father of the subject, was a young man. he and a brother came to Wisconsin and located farms, when the country was still a wilderness, but Indians and chills and fever proved to be too much for him and he returned to Vermont, and in the town of Benson was united in marriage with Betsey MeCotter, who was a native of Orwell, but then mak- ing her home in Benson. Her death occurred in 1856, and in 1858 he mar- ried Mrs. Rebecca (Symons) Buckingham, who was born at Tavistock, Eng- land, on July 17. 1820, and died at the home of the subject in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, on March 24, 1909, when nearly eighty-nine years old. The subject's father died in Benson, Vermont, April 22, 1893.
Jolin Gilmore Skeels, of this sketch, grew to manhood in Vermont. He attended the Burr & Burton Seminary at Manchester, that state, later went to Barre Academy, at Barre. Vermont, from which institution he was gradu- ated in the year 1873. This early training has been supplemented by much home study, and among other accomplishments he has learned surveying. When a young man he farmed during the summer months and taught school
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in the wintertime, when the farming season was over. On April 17, 1877, he came to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where he remained about three years. Upon coming here he gave more attention to teaching, farming only during the summer months when there was no school. From Lake Geneva he went to Allen Grove, where he taught two years; from there he went to Sharon and remained about eighteen years and was principal of the Sharon schools thirteen years, with an intermission of two years during which he was county superintendent, having been elected in the fall of 1884 and taking office in January. 1885. He resigned in September. 1886, returning to Sharon as principal of the schools there, finding the work there more to his liking and also the salary was larger. While at Sharon he served one year as village supervisor. He gave up school work in 1893 on account of his father's death, and went East to look after his father's estate, remaining there part of the year. then returned to Sharon and continued his school work until 1897, when ill health compelled him to give up teaching. Ile was engaged in business until 1899. after which he taught one year at Darien, then spent a year in business at Whitewater and two years at Lake Geneva, after which he returned to Darien and organized the high school there. While at that place he was induced to apply for a position to establish and conduct a high school at Spooner, Wisconsin : he received the position and remained there two years. From there he went in 1906 to care for his step-mother, who was then in failing health, and also because his own health was failing. He re- turned to Walworth county and has lived here ever since, having a pleasant home in Lake Geneva, having been engaged in the insurance business, and also has done a great deal of surveying. He has filled the position of city engineer for the past year. He is assisted in his work by his nicce. Bessie M. Palmer.
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