History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 46

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052

USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 46

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A. MOELLER, merchant, New Holstein. Born in Altoona, IIol- stein, Germany, May 20, 1828. While in the Fatherland he was en- gaged in mercantile business, and in 1848 he joined the Volunteer Army of the Revolution, and served till 1851, when he emigrated to America, coming to Calumet Co., Wis. He went to farming in 1857, and bought village property and opened a store in an old log house, in which he lived. In 1863, he built a store for general merchandise, and in 1866, his residence. The hardware store was built in 1871. He has an in- terest, also, in the firm of Schroeder & Co., doing a business of about $35.000 or $40,000 a year. Mr. Moeller was Chairman of Town Board in 1855, and is Notary Public. He has been married twice, the first time in 1852. His wife died in 1865, leaving three children, and he married Miss Schroeder, by whom he has seven children.

CLAUS OESAU, farmer, Sec. 11, P. O. New Holstein. Born in Holstein, Germany. Jan. 28, 1809; was reared on a farm, and served a while in the army. In 1848, having made preparations the year before, his party started for their western home. They arrived in New York, and took a special boat, there being sixty-seven in the party, and finally landed at Sheboygan, They there met Mr. Austenfeldt, then agent for Gray & Bentner, of whom he bought 200 acres of land on what are Secs. 10 and 11. Here he settled. He then started a store on the farm, but in 1850 bought twenty-three acres and a big log house, and opened a store in the village of New Holstein. This he kept till 1857, when he moved back to the farm. IIe has been married twice, the first time to Miss Margaret Albright, and then to the widow of Mr. Timm. He had five children-Cecelia (now a widow), Henry, Tyerk, Claus (deceased). Anna M. (deceased); his wife had two. Fritz and Betta. Mr. Oesau was a member of the first Town Board, and was Chairman in 1859 and 1860, also from 1864 to 1869. Ile is a passive member of the Turn Verein, and started the Lutheran society in 1857. and helped build the church in 1867.

AUGUST PAULSEN, farmer, P. O. New Ilolstein. Born in Ileide, Duchy of Holstein, Sept. 29, 1830; with his brother and Otto Arens, he came to America in 1848. Arrived at Sheboygan, they pur- chased each 160 acres in Calumet County. In 1860 he married Miss

Edens of llolstein. They have six children-August, Wilhelmina, Ernest, Ella, Helena and Otto. Mr. Paulsen taught school in 1866 ; was Chairman of the Town Board for six years, from 1867 to 1873, and has held other offices. His farm is highly cultivated and improved, having a dwelling that cost $4 000. He is now giving his attention to raising fine stock. He is a member of the Masonic lodge. Adolph his brother is on the old homestead with him.

RUDOLPHI PUCHNER, general store, New Holstein. Born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 24. 1829. His grandfather was a minister of the Duke, and his father a rich man. In 1848 he crossed the Atlan- tic, and arrived in New York, from thence he proceeded to Sheboygan, Wis, with a young man named Bruckman. He started for New Hol- stein, and arriving at Plymouth, met his future wife. He continued om

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HISTORY OF CALUMET COUNTY.

through the woods and came to his destination, where he luilt the first store, having to go to Chilton to get lumber ; this was in 1849. He and Bruckman kept their shanty store or trading post till 1851, when he went to Chicago, but in 1854 returned and opened a store with Charles Heins. In 1857 this partnership was dissolved, and he built a store and tavern together, his tavern being a resort for all the early settlers. He closed the hotel in 1859. and continued the store in his own name till 1879, when he took as a partner his son George. He carries a stock of $10,000, and is doing a business of $25,000 per annum. He married Miss Heins of Holstein. They have a family of five boys- George, Ed- ward M. D., Rudolph (now in Boston), William (a druggist in Chicago) and Alfred (still at home). Mr. Puchner was the first Postmaster of New Holstein. Beside his fine town residence, he owns a farm of fifty acres.

P. AUGUST SCHLEYER, priest in St. Anna's Mission, New Hol- stein. Born in Bavaria, Germany, May 30, 1835. Received his educa- tion in Wurtemberg, and at theage of nineteen commenced his church studies, and was ordained in 1858. He entered on his holy mission in Germany, coming to America in 1870. He first went to Covington, Ky., and took the Mission of St. Anna, where he had a cor gregation of about 120 families. Ile also served a mission at Kiel.

H. SEVERIN, teacher, New Holstein. Born in Holstein, Germa- ny, Sept. 30, 1848. In 1867 he came to his present home. He was ed- ucated for a teacher in Germany, and began at six een years of age to teach. On arriving in this country, he worked on a faim with an Amer- ican family, and while doing so, studied English. He taught Winter terms from 1868 to 1871. He then took the school in district No. 4, where he taught one term, and then entered on a term in district No. 1, that has lasted nine years. His school has two departments, having an enrollment of 120 pupils, and an average attendance of ninety. In 1873 he married Miss Langemak. They have two children, Johannes, now seven years old, and Herman H., two years. Mr. S. belongs to the Masonic lodge. and to the Turn Verein.

JACOB SEVERIN, County Surveyor, New Holstein. Born in Holstein, Germany, Jan. 31, 1842. Came to America in 1867, directly to his present location. While in the Fatherland he served in the Danish army in the engineer corps. On settling down here he bought a faim in Oconto County, and went to lumbering and farming, which he carried on till 1877, when he came back to New Holstein, and in 1878 was elected County Surveyor, and in 1880 was re-elected. Hestill owns 200 acres of pine lands, and a cranberry marsh in Oconto County. In 1870 he married Miss Tiedjens, of Holstein. He is a member of the I. O.O. F., and of the Turn Verein.

CLAUS THIESSEN, traveling agent, New Holstein. Born in Schleswig-Holstein, April 28, 1837. He came to America in 1852 with his parents, coming at once to Calumet County, and locating in town of Holstein, on a farm of 160 acres, where his parents still live. In 1859 he married, and went on to a farm of his own in the town of Eaton, where, by an accident, he lost his right foot. He then changed his oc- cupation to that of keeping hotel in Kiel, until 1869, when he took a traveling agency for a grocery house, hut since, travels for the Milwaukee Distillery. While in Winona, Minn., on the 4th of May, 1881, he was thrown down a flight of ten stairs, suffering a complicated fracture of the knee. He belongs to the 1. O. O. F., and also the Sons of Hermann. His wife was Miss Tams. of Holstein. They have had nine children, only three now living. He was one of a family of seventeen, of which there are nine living.

HENRY TIMMER, retired, New Holstein. Born in kingdom of Hanover March 13. 1828. Having received a teacher's education, he left Germany in 1848, and on arriving in New York stayed there till June, 1849. Ile then came to Wisconsin and located in Washington County, and began farming at which he continued until 1850. Ile then went to Milwaukee, and from thence to Illinois, and in the Fall of 1854 he returned to Wisconsin and bought a farm in Sheboygan County, town of Lima. While there he held a number of the town offices ; was com- missioned Notary Public, and took a license as auctioneer and bought and sold real estate till 1875, when he moved to New Holstein. Since coming here he has been Justice three terms, and is Notary Public. In 1870, he married Miss Oleemeyer, of Germany, who lived till Jan. 21, 1881. when she died leaving three children-Christina H., Henry W. and Martin. Mr. Timmer owns 400 acres in Calumet, 500 in She- boygan County, besides other land.

JOHN VOELKER, clerk with C. H. Holst, New Ilolstein. Born in Sheboygan Co., Wis., May 23, 1860. His parents had settled there in 1850, town of Rassell, and his father still lives on the old homestead. He had attended the school where his present employer taught. He went to Chilton and apprenticed himself to George Schleyer of the Volksbote pre-s, but returned home, where he stayed till November of 1877, when he entered the employ of C. H. Holst as clerk. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

HAYTON.

This village is near the line of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, two miles below Gravesville, and the same dis-

tance east of Chilton. The first settler upon its site was O. J. Watrous, who located in June, 1849, and built a saw- mill. It happened that the land upon which the village was to grow was State school property, and it was accord- ingly platted by the Commissioners of the School Lands. It was first called Wallersville in honor of Parley Waller, a settler of prominence ; afterwards went by the simple name of School Section, and later Dicksville. It was named Hayton in 1853. The village now contains a population of about 300 inhabitants, has two hotels, several general stores, a tannery (Helfrich & Co.), a saw and grist-mill, with other trades represented. The Ormsby Lime Company manufac- tures some of its best material here, having run a side track to the main line of the railroad. Hayton had once fair expectations of being chosen as the county seat, Mr. Waller proving a bold champion in the cause.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

J. L. BARBER, farmer, Sec. 22, P. O. Hayton. Born in New Jer- sey, Oct. 10, 1827. In 1847 he went to Chemung Co., N. Y., and from there to Calumet Co., Wis., in 1851, going first to Holstein, and finally settling here on a farm of eighty acres. In 1847 he married Miss De Mouth of New Jersey, and has a family of seven children. Mr. Barber has held most of the town offices. He was Town Clerk for eight years and District Clerk for eighteen ; is a member of both the Masonic lodge and of the I. O. O. F.

C. N. IIUNTER, dentist, Hayton. Born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Sept. 28, 1853. When old enough he attended Woodhull Academy, and after finishing his course he taught in that institution. In 1873-4 was studying dentistry under his father, W. R. Hunter. He practiced first in Addison. In August, 1880, came to Hayton. In 1874 he married Miss I. R. Pulsifer. They have one child, Mamie. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, and was County Surveyor in Steuben County.

LILLIAN POTTER, teacher. Hayton. Born in Calumet County ; daughter of Thomas J. Potter, a prominent politician of this county. During his life he interested himself in the public school, and was County Superintendent for some years, and Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors ; also a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, being a lieutenant in the 18th Wis. V. I. He died in the army. In 1849, he married, and Lillian is one of three children living, Virginia and Ralph being the others. Lillian attended the Normal School and the Academy at Beaver Dam, and adopted the profession of teacher, having taught since 1873, and in Hayton since 1874.

JULIUS PUCHNER. general store, Hayton. Born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Aug. 7, 1831. Emigrated to America in 1849; on landing, came to Sheboygan, Wis., and thence to Holstein with his brother, and from there he went to the Lake Superior mines, in Michigan, working in the mines two years, and then as engineer on one of the shaft engines. In 1870, he established his store in Hayton, carrying a stock of some $3,000, and doing a business of about $10.000 a year. In 1865, he married Miss Mina Doepel, of Sheboygan. They have five children- Emma, Helen, Charles, George and Otto. Mr. Puchner belongs to the I. O. O. F., and has an interest in the German Land and Mining Com- pany, holding 1,600 acres in Michigan.

GRAVESVILLE.

Gravesville has about 400 inhabitants, and also had for several years strong hopes of being selected as the county seat. Leroy Graves settled here in 1849, and made it his particular business to see that his village was not forgotten. In 1854 and 1855 when Chilton Center and Chilton were having their contention, he nearly gained his point. In 1849 Mr. Graves erected a saw-mill. He removed to Fond du Lac in 1866. Besides several good general stores Gravesville contains a saw and planing mill and a furniture factory. The Charlestown Grange holds its meetings here. One of the oldest lodges of Good Templars in the county still flourishes in Gravesville.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EDWARD DEANS, M. D., Gravesville. Born in Cumberland, England, Nov. 22, 1818. IJe came to America in 1842, locating in Providence, R. I. From thence he went to Portland, Me., where he staid for a short time, and then went west to Keokuk, Iowa. In 1860 he went to Chicago, and graduated from the medical department of Lynn's University, and was appointed house physician in Mercy Ilos- pital. In 1862-3 was County Physician for Cook Co., III. He re-

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

mained practicing in the city of Chicago till 1869, when he came to Calumet County and practiced till 1879. Since that time he has dropped active practice. Ile has been married twice ; the second time, in 1864, to Miss Lewis, of Michigan.

J. A. GRAVES, saw-mill, Gravesville. Born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Oct. 12. 1833. Came with his parents to Wisconsin, and located in Waukesha County, and from there went to Rochester, Racine Co., where his father engaged in farming and manufacture of saleratus and potash. He remained there till 1864, when he came to Calumet County, and bought forty acres of land, and in 1869 built his saw-mill in the village of Gravesville, which place was named after his brother Leroy. In 1867 he married Miss Mary Lyons, of Waukesha. They have five children. Mr. Graves has held the position of District Clerk and belongs to the I. O. O. F.

P. J. KROEHINKE, merchant, Gravesville. Born in Holstein, Ger- many, May 18, 1844. He came to America in 1864, and immediately proceeded to Wisconsin, locating in New lIolstein, Calumet Co. He established himself in the mercantile business in Gravesville, having Mr. P. J. Paulsen as a partner. Since 1877 he has conducted the business alone, carrying $6,000 or $7.000 worth of stock, and doing $25,000 a year in business. In 1874 he married Miss Tina Crawford, ol' Gravesville. They have two children, Lillie and Jessie. Mr. Kroehnke, in 1878, established a cheese factory in the vicinity of his store, and in one season manufactured 20 000 lbs. of cheese. Ile is a member of the I. O. O. F.

CHARLES LUTHER, shoemaker and Postmaster, Gravesville. Born in Dellafield, Waukesha Co., Wis., July 12, 1843. His youth was spent in the school-room, and at the age of sixteen he learned the shoemaker's trade, and at the age of nineteen he enlisted in the 28th Wis. V. I., Co. A. lle was discharged on account of disability in 1865, and returned to Waukesha County. He went from there to Watertown in December of that year, but returned to Dellafield, where he opened shop for him- self, continuing till 1874, when he removed to Gravesville. In 1874. Oct. 14 he married Miss Isabella Jacques, of Waukesha County. They have one child, Charles Martin. Mr. Luther was appointed Postmaster in April, 1879.

C. H. OAKLEY, farmer, Sec. 30, P. O. Chilton. Born in Pough- keepsie, Duchess Co., N. Y., Feb. 26, 1824. During his early life he lived in New York City, and in 1832 was taken over to England, re- turning to the United States in 1833. At the age of fifteen he went into a drug store, and at the age of seventeen went into the United States navy, shipping on board the " Columbus" for the Mediterranean Sea; and on returning was ordered on the "St. Louis" corvette, a sloop of war, and after a very adventurous voyage, returned to Norfolk, Va., in 1845. He then attended the Annapolis naval school, but finally left the service, and entered mercantile life. In 1848 he came west to Fond du Lac, where he remained till 1851, when he took a pre-emption claim in Calu- met County, where he now lives, having a farm of 133 acres. In 1864 he enlisted in the 43th Wis. V. I., Co. H., and was mustered out in 1865. In 1852 he married Miss Elizabeth L. Powers. They have had three children-Caroline I., now Mrs. Wilkinson, George E., and have lost a son named George. They are members of the Church of England.

GEORGE ORAM, retired, Gravesville. Born in Susquehanna Co., Pa., Nov. 29. 1819, where he remained till 1850, when he came to Calu- met Co., Wis,, and bought 100 acres in the town of Chilton, on which part of the city is now laid out. He lived on this farm till 1878, when he sold it and removed to Gravesville, where he now resides, having re- tired from active life. In 1839 he married Miss Jane Simpson, of Penn- sylvania. They had five children-Alvira, now Mrs. White, and Jennie, now Mrs. Potter, are living ; they lost the three sons, John, George and William. Mr. Oram has been Chairman of town of Chilton, and has held other offices. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HILBERT JUNCTION.

Hilbert Junction is a thriving young village whose birth dates from the time of building of the Wisconsin Central Road. It is here that the Menasha and Green Bay branches cross. A short time before the line was completed, O. D. Bishop built a saw-mill, which became one of the best in this section. Hilbert contains a church, a district school, three hotels, a marble yard, grain elevators, a stave factory, some good residences and business houses. It is improving rapidly.

Three miles east of Hilbert on the north branch of the Manitowoc River is the village of Rantoul Center. It has a population of about 300 inhabitants, and contains a stave factory, saw and grist-mill, a hotel and several stores.

The little village of Potters Mills was the only one in the town of Rantoul before the Milwaukee & Northern Road was built in 1872. The site of the village was the

farm of David Coy. He sold his land to H. N. Smith & Co., who laid out the village. Joseph Holt's hotel was the first building erected. In 1869 Bishop Brothers built a saw- mill just northwest of the village. The place contains a school house, a number of stores, and other conveniences of a small settlement.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOIIN BENIINKE, Jr., general store. Born in Potters Mills, Rock- land, Wis., April 25, 1857. He was reared on a farm, and in 1875 at- 1ended Spencerian College in Milwaukee, and then clerked for Benhnke & Reichart. In 1880, he bought grain for J. E. Benhnke & Bro. In 18Sr, he took his present store, and now carries ahout $9,000 ; this with his two cheese factories makes a business of $55,000 a year. From 1875 to 1881, he was Assistant Postmaster. He belongs to the Lutheran Church.

O. D. BISHOP, stave and lumber mill, Ililbert. Born in Brandon Co., Vt., Jan. 27, 1837. At the age of eighteen he started west, and came to Wisconsin ; from Menasha, in Fond du Lac County, he took the Indian trail to Sherwood, in Calumet County ; that was the only track in the early days. There was in that section only a few settlers among whom was his brother, William R., who came west in 1854. He built his first stave mill in Sherwood in 1863; then another mill in Hilbert in 1871 ; in 1872, he established one in Brillion ; has branches in Brant and Chilton ; his principal mill is in Hilbert, which has a capacity of about 20,000 feet of hard wood lumber and 8,000 staves for tight work. In 1861, he enlisted in the 10th V. I., Co. C, and was discharged on account » of disability, but he re-enlisted in 1864, and was mustered out in 1866. , He married Miss Celia Ballon. They have one child, Oriel D. W.

GEORGE DORN, machine agency, Ililbert. Born in Milwaukee Co., Wis., May 14, 1850. When three years of age he came with his parents to Calumet County, and located in Holstein, where he lived till 1856. In 1870 he lost his arm in a threshing machine. He came to Hilbert in 1872, helping to lay the sills for the first hotel, the Farm- ers' Home. In 1873, he married Miss Mary Somers. They have two children living, and have lost one. He has been Town Treasurer since 1879.

HENRY FEDERWITZ, farmer, P. O. Potters Mills. Born in Bremen, Hanover, Germany, in 1822. He came to America in 1853 from London, where he had been since 1848. He lived in New York for three years, and then came to Calumet Co., and bought an eighty, but now owns 197 acres, having cleared eighty. In ISS1, he built a residence on his farm that cost $1,025. In 1858, he married Miss Schellenback ; she is his third wife. The first one left two children and the last one has eight. Mr. Federwitz has been Justice, and is a member of the Lutheran Church.

RICHARD GAGE, hotel, Hilbert. Born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 25, 1822. He came to Wisconsin in 1847, settling in Green Lake County first, but removing to Calumet in 1848, he bought a farm in town of Chilton, which he held till 1873; while there he was elected to several of the town offices. Having hought a farm in Rantoul Town, he moved to Hilbert in 1872, being one of the first settlers in the place. Besides his farm here he owns 620 acres in Oconto County, and valuable property in the village. IIe is also proprietor of the Junction House. In 1853, he married Miss Simmons of Oakfield. They have a family of ten children-Ellen, Angy, Lawson, Clinton, Ida, Alice, Orville, Rhoda, Addie and Henry. Mr. Gage has held some school offices since coming to Hilbert.

MORITZ VON GEVSO, hotel, Hilbert. Born in town of Hermann, Sheboygan Co., Wis., June 8, 1848. When eighteen years of age he en- listed in the 19th Reg., Co. D, and served on the frontier in special warfare. He returned home in 1869, after three years' service. The family in the meantime had moved to the town of Rantoul. He opened a saloon at Potter's Mills, but returned to the farm where he stayed till 1873, when he started in the marble business. In 1877, he bought his present place called Farmers' Home, having a livery and sale stable in connection with the hotel. In 1870, he married Miss Della Beach, of Brillion. They have had six children and lost four. The two now living are Oscar and Ida. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Owns a farm of eighty acres in Adams County.

ANDREW GILSDORF, horseshoeing and blacksmithing, Hilbert. Born in Waupaca Co., Wis., March 9, 1851. His father moved to She- boygan County, and bought the farm where he now lives, Andrew went to Plymouth to learn his trade when he was fifteen years of age. He has always worked in the State. In 1875, he came to Hilbert and opened his shop, which is carried on in connection with the wagon de- partment managed by his brother. In 1878, he married Miss Mary Driessel, of Hilbert. They have two children, John and an infant. They are members of the Catholic Church.

J. KUNKEL, tailor, Hilbert. Born in Prussia, Germany, Sept. 4. 1849. He emigrated in 1871 to America; landed in New York, and came to Fond du Lac, where he remained till 1875, when he came to

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HISTORY OF CALUMET COUNTY.

Hilbert and began his present business. In 1874, he married Miss Emil, of Fond du Lac County. They have three children-Emma, Charles and Clara. They are members of the Lutheran Church.

CLAUS MENKE, retired, Potters Mills. Born in Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, July 2, 1819. He came to America in 1848, and came at once to Milwaukee, Wis. From there he went to Cedar- burg, thence to the town of Herman, Sheboygan Co., thence to Two Rivers, finally returning to his farm in Sheboygan County, where he re- mained till 1853, when he went to Franklin and built a brewery. In 1857, he went into a brewery in Menasha, and also kept tavern. In 1858, he returned to Franklin, and was appointed keeper of a toll-gate on the Calumet & Sheboygan plank road. He was there till 1866, when he came here. In 1875, he was elected County Treasurer. He now holds the office of Town Clerk ; was Town Treasurer from 1867 to 1875. In 1846, he married Miss Peterman. They had nine children, only three of whom are living-Margaret (now Mrs. Lnedtke), August and Amiel.

A. OLANDER, saloon and billiard hall, Hilbert. Born in Sweden, Jan. 19. 1847, and emigrated to America in 1871. Landing in New York, he proceeded to Chicago, and from thence to Green Bay, in the Fall of 1874, where he remained until 1875, when he came to Hilbert. In 1879, he went into the Central House. In 1880, he married Miss Mary Neihart, of the town of Woodville.

THEODORE ORPHAL, hotel, Hilbert. Born in Saxony, Ger- many, July 18, 1849. Coming to America in 1850, with the family, he stopped in Niagara Co., N. Y., on a farm, till 1857, when they all moved to Sheboygan Co., Wis. In 1864, he enlisted in the 39th Wis. V. I., in the hundred-day service ; served his time, and enlisted again in 1865, in the 14th Wis. V. I., Co. H, and was mustered out in October, 1865, when he came to Sheboygan, and went into a hotel. Ile came to Hilbert in 1872. He hanled the lumber for the first house there, and in 1875 built the hotel called the Central House, which he still owns. In 1870, he married Miss Charlotte Schlinz, of Manitowoc County. Mr. Orphal has been Constable in Hilbert. His family are members of the Luther- an Church.

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Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1052

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052