USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 25
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CHARLES KNEIERT.
Among the representative farmers of foreign birth, of whom such a large number have cast their lot in Walworth county, Charles Kneiert, owner of a splendid farmstead in Troy township, is deserving of special mention. He is carrying on the various departments of his enterprise with that dis- cretion and energy which are sure to find their natural sequel in definite suc- cess, having always been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of economical habits, and being fortunately situated in a thriving farming com- munity, it is no wonder that he has forged to the front and is comfortably situated.
Mr. Kneiert was born in Germany April 16, 1855, the son of Fred and Jennie (Orach) Kneiert, both born in Germany, in which country they grew up, married and spent their lives, both being now deceased. They were the parents of eight children, seven daughters and one son, all living.
Charles Kneiert, of this review, grew up in his native country and at- tended the public schools there. He emigrated to New York City in 1873,
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landing there on May 12th of that year with less than five dollars in capital, but he had determination and courage and, knowing this to be a land of un- limited opportunities, he soon had a start. On July 5, 1873, he arrived at Palmyra, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he began working on a farm by the month, at first receiving but eight dollars per month. He was eco- nomical and saved his money and in time bought a farm which he later sold, then bought and sold another; in 1901 he purchased the farm on one hundred and sixty acres in Troy township, Walworth county, which he still owns and which he had developed into a fine farm and has been rewarded with abundant success as a general farmer and stock raiser, and he has a good set of build- ings, keeping his place well improved. He has made his own property.
Politically, Mr. Kneiert is a Republican and he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
On December 7, 1877, Mr. Kneiert was united in marriage with Mary Witte, a native of Germany, in which country her parents lived and died. She came to America in early life. Her death occurred on February 19, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Kneiert six children were born, all living, namely: George, Fred and Frank, twins ; Jennie, Carrie and Lottie.
JOHN HENRY WINN.
We are glad to give space in this history to a brief resume of the career of John Henry Winn, one of the successful farmers of Whitewater town- ship, Walworth county, for since casting his lot with us he has been public spirited and loyal to our institutions, having always been found on the right side of questions looking to the development of his community in any way and at the same time has won a reputation for honesty and straightforward principles, advocating wholesome living.
Mr. Winn was born in England on February 21, 1851. He is the son of Robert Winn, well known pioneer citizen of this county, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
The subject came to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, with his parents. He grew to manhood in England and was educated there, and he was employed in a brewery in his native land. After arriving in America he devoted his attention to farming. He came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1879 and became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land in Lagrange township, which he purchased in 1896. He has made a specialty of fruit
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growing and dairying and has met with a large measure of success in each as well as general farming. He has a fine farm and a good home. Polit- ically, Mr. Winn is a Republican and in religious matters he is an Episco- palian.
On January 15, 1876, Mr. Winn was united in marriage with Bertha Hansen, who was born in Norway, October 4, 1848. She came to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, with her father, Hans Hansen; her mother died in Nor- way. The father finally moved to Minnesota where his death occurred.
To John H. Winn and wife were born the following children: Minnie Helena married John Boltz; Frank Emory, who married Ella Fuller, works the home farm, and is carrying on the general work of the same very satis- factorily ; he and his wife have three children, Emory Henry, Bertha June and Almond. Clara May, the youngest child of the subject, is the wife of James Cernahan, an electrician; they live in Lagrange township, this county. Mrs. John H. Winn was called to her rest on October 10, 1902.
JAMES MEANS.
No citizen of a past generation in Lagrange township, Walworth county, was better or more favorably known than the late James Means, long an enterprising farmer and stock raiser and a citizen who, while advancing the interest of himself and immediate family, never neglected his duties to the public. Whatever of success he attained was entirely owing to his individual efforts, his energy and natural ability. From small beginnings he gradually attained a prominence in his adopted county, which entitled him to the high esteem which he enjoyed among his neighbors, all of whom reposed in him the utmost confidence.
Mr. Means was born in England in 1829 and there his parents lived and died. He spent his boyhood in his native country and was educated there. He emigrated to America when conditions at home did not seem to be encour- aging and he located in Herkimer county, New York, later coming on west and taking up his abode in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in an early day and here started life on a small scale in typical pioneer fashion. He worked hard in order to get a start, carving his home from the wilderness, and here he was married in 1858 to Mary Taylor, who, like himself, was of an excellent Eng- lish family, her birth having occurred in England, on August 24. 1836. She is the daughter of George and Ann (Greaves) Taylor, both natives of Eng-
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land, where they grew up, were educated and married, and from there they emigrated to America in 1853 and located in Lagrange township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, on a farm of eighty acres, to which they added until they had one hundred and twenty acres and here they established a good home in which they spent the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of seven children, six of whom are living. Politically, Mr. Taylor was a Republican and a member of the Methodist church.
James Means began life for himself by renting land; later he bought eighty acres of land which he improved and here his death occurred in 1871.
To the subject and wife four children were born, namely: Abram died in 1892; George died in 1891; Ellen married Frank Bishop, of Whitewater, this county, and they became the parents of four children, George, Alma, Arthur and Frank. Mrs. Bishop's death occurred in 1894. Jennie Means died in 1889.
George Bishop married in 1905 Marion Lawton, who was born in Lagrange township, this county; she was the daughter of Grant Lawton and wife, of Antigo, Wisconsin. They have one child, Jean. Alma Bishop, who married Herbert Lawton, has two children, Harvey and Marjorie. Arthur Bishop married Irma Fry and they have two children, one living, Hazel.
George Bishop, grandson of Mrs. James Means, manages the homestead, which now consists of two hundred acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He also carries on stock raising in connection with gen- eral farming.
FRANCIS . L. ANDRUS.
One of the substantial and progressive farmers and stock raisers in Troy township, Walworth county, is Francis L. Andrus. He belongs to that class of men who win in life's battles by sheer force of personality and determina- tion, and in whatever he has undertaken he has shown himself to be a man of ability and honor.
Mr. Andrus was born in the state of Connecticut, near Hartford, on September 7, 1844. He is the son of Elisha Leroy Andrus and Clarissa (Dean) Andrus, the father born in Connecticut, May 31, 1813, and there he grew up and was married on August 27, 1843. They came to Walworth county. Wisconsin, in 1845 and settled in Troy township, near Troy Center. on eighty acres. Here he began life as a pioneer and in due course of time prospered, adding to his little farm until he owned two hundred and forty-
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five acres at the time of his death, on March 6, 1854. His wife survived him over a half century, dying on December 26, 1899. Three sons were born to them: Arthur Denison, born in Troy township, March 29, 1847; Aaron S., . born February 22, 1853, and Francis L., of this sketch, who was the eldest of the three. Politically, Elisha L. Andrus was a Whig and he became active in local affairs, at one time holding the office of superintendent of schools in Troy township. He and his wife were members of the Universalist church.
Francis L. Andrus was reared on the home farm and, being the eldest child and his father dying early, much of the responsibility of tending the place and helping the rest of the family devolved upon him. In 1856 the mother moved to Racine and there the subject was educated in the public and high schools. In 1867 he returned to the home farm in Walworth county, but went back to Racine in 1871, returning to the farm in 1873 and here he has remained to the present time, keeping the homestead well improved and under a highi state of cultivation ; however, accumulating a competency, he has lived retired since 1892, in which year he built a commodious and attractive resi- dence, also built a fine home on the farm adjoining his residence at this writ- ing. He owned one hundred and forty acres of the old homestead which he sold in 1893 to Edgar B. Watrous.
Politically, Mr. Andrus is a Republican and he has long been active in local affairs, being now township clerk, having held this office many years. He was the first town clerk in 1869 and he became chairman of the town board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Andrus was married on October 6, 1869, to Jennie E. Nobes, of Cleveland, Ohio, and to this union four children were born, namely: Eugene L., born June 24, 1870, lives in Troy Center; Nonna C., born February 12, 1872, in Racine, died September 7, 1872; Ida May, born November 1, 1874, died January 12, 1879; Jessie J., born August 4, 1876, died January 18, 1879: Pearl Isabel, born May 23, 1878, died January 22, 1879. The wife and mother passed to her rest on October 30, 1880, and on September 30, 1889, Mr. Andrus was married to Mary Viola Watrous, a native of Walworth county, born here September 5, 1863, the daughter of John G. and Anna (Bunker) Watrous, who came to this county in 1853 and located in Troy township, and here they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Watrous dying on June II, 1898, and his wife on October 16, 1892. Five children were born to Mr. Andrus and his second wife, namely: Alice May, born May 8, 1891 ; Sidney F., born May 14, 1893 ; Wallace Watrous, born March 16, 1897, died July 7. 1897 ; Orion E., born December 28, 1899; Elwin A., born March 28, 1904.
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KNUTE G. KNUTSON.
Among the representative farmers and stock raisers of Whitewater township, Walworth county, is Knute G. Knutson, who is successfully operat- ing a fine farm, carrying on his line of business with that enterprise and discretion which are sure to find their sequel in the attainment of a definite end. He has spent his life here and has wisely refrained from wandering about the land seeking "a better country."
Mr. Knutson was born in Lagrange township, this county, December 12, 1856, the son of Gullick and Ambjor (Olson) Knutson, both natives of Nor- way, where they spent their childhood, emigrating to America while yet single in the forties, and they were married at Palmyra, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and there began life on a farm, starting in a small way in the wilderness, taking up a homestead from the government. When the Civil war came on he went to the front, proving an excellent soldier. He was severely wounded by two minie balls in the head, from which he died while on a furlough, on February 4, 1864. His widow survived nearly thirty years, dying on November 7, 1903. After the death of the father the family came back to Lagrange township, Walworth county, after an absence of sev- eral years, the subject being at that time eight years of age.
Knute G. Knutson was educated in district school No. 9, this township, and he worked out on the farms of Lagrange township for a period of thir- teen years, though part of that time he was at Palmyra and in Dane county. Then he rented for some time and in 1885 bought forty acres where his present buildings are. About 1890 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres more. He built a good barn in 1897 and a house of ample proportions in 1905, also other substantial buildings have been put up by him and he has gradually improved his land until he has one of the choice farms of the township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has made his property unaided, the large success he has achieved being due to good management and hard work. He also carries on a good dairy business, and raises a fine grade of Guernsey cattle, which, owing to their superior quality, always find a ready market.
Mr. Knutson was married on March 14, 1885, to Maggie Nelson, who was born in Norway and who was two years of age, 1861, when she was brought to America. She was the daughter of Nels Gunderson and Olive Nelson. They came to Whitewater, Wisconsin, locating with Mr. Halvorsen for a while. Then moved where Tom Nelson now lives. The father of Mrs. Knutson has devoted his life to farming.
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The subject and wife are the parents of three children, namely: Helena Jenette, born June 2, 1886; Gilbert, born May 13, 1890; Minerva, born Au- gust 29, 1894. Mr. Knutson is a Republican, and he has been a member of the local school board. He belongs to the Lutheran church.
JOHN E. BURTON.
One of the most conspicuous figures in the recent history of the state of Wisconsin is John E. Burton, too well known to the readers of this his- torical and biographical compendium to need any formal introduction here, a man actively identified with the industrial and business interests of Milwaukee and vicinity, widely known as one of the leading financiers of this section of the state. Equally noted as a citizen whose useful career has conferred credit upon the state and whose marked abilities and sterling qualities have won for him much more than local repute, if not, indeed, a national fame, he holds today distinctive precedence as one of the most progressive men that ever inaugurated and carried to successful termination large and important under- takings in this locality. For over thirty-three years he has been a con- spicuous figure in the mining world, his extensive operations in Alaska bring- ing him up to the front rank of his compeers. Strong mental powers, in- vincible courage and a determined purpose that hesitates at no opposition have so entered into his composition as to render him a dominant factor in the business world and a leader of men in important enterprises. He is essentially a man of affairs, of sound judgment, keen discernment, rare acumen, far- seeing in what he undertakes, and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself has resulted in liberal financial returns. Mr. Burton's extensive business interests are but the legitimate fruitage of consecutive effort, directed and controlled by good judgment and correct moral principles. He has forged his way to the front over obstacles that would have discouraged and even thwarted men of less heroic mettle, gradually extending the limits of his in- tellectual horizon until he is not only one of our twentieth-century captains of industry, but also one of the best developed mentally, having always been a close observer and a profound student and kept fully abreast of the times. Taken as a whole, his career presents a series of continued successes rarely equaled in the state. In the most liberal acceptation of the term, he is the architect of his own fortunes and eminently worthy of the proud American title of self-made man, meriting the high esteem in which he is universally
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hield. This high position in the minds and hearts of the people has been won to a considerable degree through his marked ability as a man of letters and for his public benefactions. All will agree that the men most influential in promoting the advancement of society and in giving character to the times in which they live are two classes, the men who study and the men of action. Whether we are more indebted for the improvement of the age to the one class or the other is a question of honest difference of opinion; neither class can be spared and both should be encouraged to occupy their several spheres of labor and influence, zealously and without mutual distrust. The career of Mr. Burton would indicate that he combines in his makeup both the elements of the scholar and the public-spirited man of affairs.
John E. Burton was born October 19, 1847, in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York. His ancestors were natives of Conningsby, Lincolnshire, England. His father, John Burton, emigrated to the United States in 1829. He married Ruth Jeanette Allen, the daughter of a soldier of the war of 1812. She was a devout woman, the possessor of many commendable attributes of head and heart. The father was a successful business man of exemplary char- acter and was noted for his fortitude, courage and hospitality.
John E. Burton was reared in a most wholesome home atmosphere, and his early training beneath his parental roof-tree has no doubt contributed in no small measure to his success in later life. He was educated at the Caze- novia Seminary and at Whitestown, New York, having been graduated from the Whitestown Seminary with high honors in June, 1868. He won first prize for oratory in the Cazenovia Seminary. He began life as a school teacher at Cazenovia and during two years following was principal of the public schools in Richmond, Illinois. In 1870 he became principal of the public schools in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In 1872 he established the Geneva Herald and a year later resigned from his school work to fill the position of editor of this paper. He followed journalism for four years, when he sold his paper and devoted his time to the manufacturing interests of Lake Geneva. He has been identified with nearly every public enterprise in Lake Geneva, and has acquired the enviable reputation of having done more for the promo- tion of this beautiful city than any other individual.
Mr. Burton's next most important work was as general agent and man- ager of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York for the state of Wisconsin. He was very successful in this field of endeavor, writing eight hundred thousand dollars of business for the company the first year. He was then promoted by the company to general manager for Wisconsin, Minnesota
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and northern Michigan and increased the business to three million dollars in one year. In four years his total business exceeded six million and five hun- dred thousand dollars. In 1885 he resigned this position and undertook the work of promoting the iron mining interests of the Goebic and Penokee range, making an exploration of this country in February of that year, traveling by rail to the end of the railroad line and the balance of the way on foot and snowshoes. His investigation satisfied him of the value of some of the properties, which he secured, and their development within three years made him a millionaire and the acknowledged chief promoter of the Goebic range. He gave Hurley, Wisconsin, its place on the map, being its pioneer pro- moter, and erected the Iron Bank building, thirteen stores, thirty-five dwell- ings, the big foundry and the Burton hotel, two hundred feet long and four stories high, the latter building alone costing fifty-five thousand dollars, and it still stands as the best in the iron country. He also erected the Burton Manu- facturing block in Chicago at an expense of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. He purchased large amounts of property in Lake Geneva, and in almost every instance improved the poorer grades of buildings and built some fifteen or twenty new ones, including the Florence Manufacturing building, the Odell typewriter factory, many dwellings, also costly barns on the various farm properties. Seventy-five thousand dollars was put in the Aguan canal project to connect the Aguan river of Honduras with the Caribbean sea, opening up the resources of the country to the commerce of the world; a creditable scheme and one which ought yet to be carried out by some American with money and brains. It was his aim to connect the canal at Truxillo, above the rapids of the river. The object of this enterprise was to make a useless river navigable for two hundred miles and by this work control the mahogany markets of the world. By virtue of this effort Mr. Burton has the distinction of having received mention in Herringshaw's "Encyclopedia of American Biography." This work contains no paid biographical sketches of any kind, and only a few lines are devoted to men who have won distinction or have done something for the progress of our country. A large interest was taken in the Oakwood Sanitarium at Lake Geneva, a big grist mill was pur- chased, the Ladies' Seminary bought, the steamer line on Geneva lake was also acquired. He organized the American Fiber Company, which aims to produce merchantable fiber from any form of vegetation which contains fiber. owning the controlling interest in the same. He also purchased a book store in Chicago, undertook the stocking of seven large farms with high grade live stock, the controlling interest in the First National Bank of Lake Geneva was purchased, as well as the principal interest in the bank at Hurley. A round
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million dollars' worth of various kinds of real estate was purchased for cash and iron stocks and together with the management of seven iron mines, en- ploying nearly a thousand men. For upwards of two years his average ex- penses were forty thousand dollars per month, yet during that time no one went without their pay.
Mr. Burton devoted five years to mining in Calaveras county, California, developing and operating a crystal mine, taking out the largest rock crystals recorded in geology, the product of twelve tons being sold to Tiffany & Com- pany, of New York. He also opened the Green Mountain hydraulic mine and extracted from this property gold to the value of over forty thousand dollars. Failing health forced him to return home in 1900.
Mr. Burton's attention having been directed to the northern Alaskan gold fields, he obtained all the information he could get about the Nome country, and decided that it was a promising field for exploitation, after spending the season of 1904 at Nome, Cape Prince of Wales, and visiting the graphite mine of Siberia. He accordingly acquired extensive interests of both gold placer and tin properties in this region, and thus became one of the potent factors in developing the resources of Seward peninsula. The gold mines are situated near Nome in the most promising part of the Nome district, and the tin properties are near Cape Prince of Wales on Cape Mountain. At this place the prospects for obtaining tin in commercial quantities possessed al- most infinite possibilities, as Mr. Burton was quick to see, and his company at once shipped a ten-stamp mill and concentrators to its mines on Cape Moun- tain, and a large quantity of ore was soon obtained. This energetic initial move marked the beginning of a new world supply of commercial tin. He later succeeded, in December, 1903, in combining the tin interests of the York district in northwestern Alaska, the consolidation being to the better- ment of all concerned.
Assuming nothing from rumors from the Nome country regarding the fabulous discoveries of tin, he went to Washington City and consulted the United States government geologist. He was shown accumulations in the geological department of tin ores gathered in Alaska, which showed that rich deposits were evidently there, of rich commercial tin, sixty per cent. pure tin or twelve hundred pounds to each ton of ore concentrated. He had no trouble in interesting capital in the tin fields of York which was then believed to contain deposits of tin aggregating possibly four hundred million dollars.
Mr. Burton has shown his strength in the successful culmination of the many financial enterprises in which he has been engaged. He has also shown his strength of character in other ways. At the age of twelve years he began
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a collection of coins, and when he was thirty-four years old he had the most valuable collection of American coins ever owned in the Northwest. This splendid numismatic collection was sold under the hammer in New York city to supply Mr. Burton with funds to assist him in paying a security debt of twenty-eight thousand dollars. The collection was sacrificed for ten thousand and eight hundred dollars-and this was the penalty he paid for endorsing a friend s notes. A writer, in referring to this act of Mr. Burton, says :
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