The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 118

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 118

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M. F. PEASE, proprietor of Lowell flouring-mills, Lowell ; was born in tha town of Lee, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1817 ; in 1832, he moved with his parents to Lewis Co., thence to Jefferson Co., Wis., in 1846 ; in 1857, he came to Lowell, and has been engaged in milling ever since; his mill is three stories high, with four run of buhrs, and has a capacity of over one hundred barrels of flour per day, which is widely known for its superior quality. In 1843, Mr. Pease married, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Miss Elmira E. Gould, a native of Hanover, Vt .; they have three children, all residents of Lowell-Frank M., George and Sophia (now the wife of William Leese). Mr. Pease, in his business enterprises, is straightforward and energetic ; he is deeply interested in all that concerns the growth of Lowell, and persists in pushing forward all enterprises which he deems wise and expedient, and of benefit to the public. His father, Orrin Pease, served in the war of 1812. He married, in Springfield, Mass., Sophia Wilson ; they became pioneers of Jefferson Co., Wis., in 1846 ; she died in Watertown in 1857 ; he died in Lowell in 1873; they had seven children, two of whom are now living-E. O. Pease, proprietor of flour-mill at Ripon, Wis., and M. F. Pease, whose name heads this sketch.

C. REINHARD, Postmaster, also dealer in general merchandise, Reeseville; is a native of Prussia, born in the year 1838; in 1847, he emigrated with his parents (Peter and Julia Reinhard) to Dodge Co., Wis., and settled in the town of Lowell, Lowell Township, thus becoming pioneer settlers ; in early life, the subject of this sketch received a liberal education ; in 1865, he went to Manhattan, Kan., where he engaged in the mercantile business two years, at the end of which time he returnd to Lowell. In 1869, he married, in Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Miss Katie Shaffer, a most estimable lady ; they have two children-Julia A and Gustave. Mr. Reinhard has been engaged in the mercantile business in Reese- ville, since the autumn of 1869, and enjoys a large and constantly increasing trade. Aug. 7, 1879, he was appointed Postmaster ; he has been Secretary of the Reform Church, at Lowell, since 1876, besides attend- ing to his store ; Mr. Reinhard is extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock. In politics, he acts with the Republican party ; his father, Peter Reinhard, spent all of his active life as a farmer, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, which an upright life can alone permanently secure ; he was born in Prussia in 1801, and died in Lowell June 14, 1871 ; his widow is still living, and resides at Lowell ; she was born in 1805 ; they had five children-Peter (now a leading farmer of Lowell Township), Philip (who has been for a number of years a merchant and Postmaster, at Lowell), William (who was unfortunately killed April 7, 1878, by his team becoming unmanageable, and throwing him out of his wagon), Christian (whose name appears at the head of this sketch), Anna C. (now the wife of J. W. Lembgen, of Lowell.

PETER REINHARD, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Lowell; is a native of Prussia; was born in Obesleiber Neuweid, on the Rhine, Sept. 25, 1831; in 1847, he emigrated with his parents, Peter and Julia A. Reinhard, to Dodge Co., Wis .; they settled on Sec. 22, Lowell Township, where they lived a number of years honored citizens ; he died June 14, 1871 ; she is still living. Dec. 25, 1857, Peter Reinhard, the subject of this sketch, married, in Lowell, Miss Christiana Burger, a native of Prussia, born Nov. 1, 1829 ; she was a daughter of John and Christiana Burger, who were natives of Prussia, and emi- grated to this county in 1847, settling in Clyman, where he still resides ; she died in 1857 ; Mr. Reinhard

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and family are members of the Reform Church; they have nine children-Peter, born Sept. 24, 1858 ; Christiana, born Sept. 10, 1860; Albert, born Oct. 10, 1862; Edward, born Nov. 23, 1864; Julia A., born Nov. 27, 1866 ; Ferdinand, born May 13, 1869; Henry, born Jan. 17, 1872; Ernest, born Feb. 19, 1875 ; Lena, born Nov. 24, 1876 ; Mr. Reinhard owns 145 acres of land finely improved ; he is an enterprising and energetic citizen, and takes a deep interest in everything that tends to promote the pros- perity of the public. In politics he acts with the Republican party ; he was at one time Treasurer of Lowell Township, and performed the duties of that office with credit to himself, as well as to the satisfac- tion of the people in general.

PETER REINHARD (deceased); was born near Neuwied, on the Rhine, March 18, 1801. He married, in his native country, Miss Julia A. Seusher ; they emigrated to Dodge Co., Wis., in 1847 ; settled in Lowell Township, where he died June 14, 1871; he spent nearly the whole of his active life as a farmer, and during his life enjoyed that respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, which an upright life can alone secure ; his wife is living in Lowell ; she is a woman of most exemplary character, intelligent, hospitable, and always studied the interests and welfare of those around ; their children are Peter, now a leading farmer in this (Lowell) Township ; Philip, Postmaster and merchant, Lowell; William, now deceased ; Christian, Postmaster and merchant, Reeseville; Anna C., now the wife of J. W. Lembgen, a leading citizen of Lowell.

PHILIP REINHARD,, Postmaster, also dealer in general merchandise, Lowell ; he is the son of Peter Reinhard and Julia A. Reinhard, whose maiden name was Seusher ; he was born near Neuwied, Prussia, in 1833; in 1847, emigrated to this (Lowell) township with his parents. He married Miss Henrietta, daughter of Henry and Caroline Cramer, who settled in this county in the early period of its growth ; Mr. Reinhard and wife are members of the Reform Church; their children are Julius P., Amelia, Fred W., Bertha, Arthur and Henrietta. Mr. Reinhard engaged in the mercantile business in Lowell in about 1864, and has constantly increasing business ; he was appointed Postmaster in 1876, and has since fulfilled the duties of that office with general satisfaction to the citizens interested ; he has never been an aspirant for office, but has frequently been elected to offices of trust in Lowell Township; in polit- ical affairs he has attached himself to the Republican party and has taken a most active interest in its career ; Mr. Reinhard is one of the representative men of Lowell, and one who has identified himself closely with its progress and the development of its religious and educational interests.

HON. JOHN RUNKEL, of the firm of J. & L. Runkel, dealers in general merchandise, also manufacturers, Lowell ; Mr. Runkel was born near Coblentz, Prussia, in 1837 ; in 1847, he emigrated to this (Lowell) township with his parents, Jacob and Maria K. Runkel. He married Miss Mary Weber in 1847; they have ten children-Eddie, Fred, Lena, Bertha, John, Jacob, George, Mary, Minnie and Katie. Mr. Runkel is a Democrat in politics ; he has filled various local offices, and was elected a member of the Wisconsin Assembly one term ; he has been in business in Lowell and vicinity for over twenty years and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

JACOB RUNKEL, a pioneer settler, and also a leading citizen of Lowell Township; was born near Coblentz, Prussia, April 13, 1807 ; he was a soldier in the German Army three years. June 15, 1832, he married, in Prussia, Miss M. K. Runkel; in 1847, they came to the United States, settled in Lowell Township, Dodge Co., Wis., which place has been their home since; their children are Philip, now a grain merchant in Reeseville; John, merchant at Lowell ; Louis, also merchant at Lowell; Kate, now the wife of Fred. Voedisch, manufacturer at Lowell ; George, a farmer in Lowell Township; Frederic, a dealer in agricultural implements in Lowell. Mr. Runkel, the subject of this sketch, owns a large and finely improved farm, located on the Lowell and Reeseville road, about half-way between those places ; himself and wife, though now at an advanced age, are in robust health, and are spending their years in peace and competence, enjoying the respect and confidence of the entire community, where they have lived so long old and honored citizens.

LOUIS RUNKEL, of the firm of J. & L. Runkel, dealers in general merchandise, lumber merchants and proprietors of cooper-shop, Lowell; Mr. L. Runkel was born near Coblentz, Prussia, in 1839; in 1847, he emigrated with his parents, Jacob and Katherine M. Runkel, who settled in Lowell Township in the year 1847; his boyhood was passed mostly on a farm, and the rudiments of his edu- cation were received at the at the common schools, and he became proficient in all the common branches. April 2, 1862, he married Miss C. Weber ; they have four children-Ella G., Elnora, Frank O. and Charlie ; Mr. Runkel has been identified with the interests of the town of Lowell, as a business man for a period of several years, and has fully secured the confidence and respect of all with whom he has had to do ; he and his brother, John Runkel, have a large trade in their general store, which was first estab- lished by John Runkel, in about the year 1857 ; they also own and manage a cooper-shop, wherein

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

they give employment to about forty men ; they are also extensively engaged in the lumber trade ; every- thing they undertake bears the unmistakable impress of their energy and sound judgment; in addition to this, they are true gentlemen, and enjoy the abiding confidence of the people, for their unimpeachable integrity.

PHILIP RUNKEL, grain merchant, Reeseville; was born near Coblentz, Prussia, in 1833; in 1847, he emigrated with his parents, Jacob and Katherine M. Runkel, to Lowell Township, Dodge Co., Wis., then comparatively a new country. Determining to pursue the business of husbandry, they pur- chased a farm, and in real earnest set about taming the wilderness ; success rewarded their efforts, and they now reside on Sec. 22, Lowell Township, old and respected citizens. In 1856, Philip Runkel married Miss Catherine, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Breyer ; they have three children living-Louis L., Emma and Frank P. About the year 1867, Mr. Runkel engaged in the grain business at Reeseville, which he has successfully continued in since, doing a large trade. He was the second Postmaster of Reese- ville, a position which he filled to the entire satisfaction of the community. In politics he is Independent, though being in no sense a politician, he believes that all political action should be prompted and controlled by generous principles and unselfish purpose. His parents, Jacob and Kathrine N. Runkel, as before stated, settled in Dodge Co. in 1847; their children are John, now a merchant in Lowell, and at one time a member of the Wisconsin Assembly ; Louis, also a merchant in Lowell; Katie, wife of Fred Voedeisch Webber; George, a leading farmer ; Fredric, dealer in agricultural implements, Lowell ; Philip, a grain merchant in Reeseville. Daniel Breyer, father of Philip Runkel's wife, was a native of Prussia ; he married, in his native country, Elizabeth Hittle ; in 1847, they settled at Elba, Dodge Co., Wis., where he died in 1855 ; she died at Columbus, Wis., in 1874; their children are Daniel Breyer, who lives at Elba ; Elizabeth, now wife of Andrew Lapp, of Lowell ; Jacob, who now lives in Minnesota ; Catherine, wife of Philip Runkel ; Louisa, wife of F. Heidbreak, Columbus ; Josephine, wife of Charles Colonius, also of Columbus ; Charles, who resides in Elba.

AUG. F. SHOENWETTER, Secs. 2 and 3; P. O. Lowell ; is a native of Prussia, born in the Province of Badenburg May 6, 1848 ; when he was 8 years old, emigrated with his parents, Fred- rick and Wilhelmina Shoenwetter, to Lowell Township, Dodge Co., Wis., where Aug. F. received a libe- ral education at the district schools. Dec. 14, 1868, he married Louisa Huelbner, daughter of Christian . and Wilhelmina Huebner, pioneer settlers of Clyman Township, where they still reside ; she was born in Clyman ; their children are Amanda, Lydia, John, Edward, Bertha, Robert, and Alvira. Mr. Shoen- wetter owns 200 acres of land. He is, at present writing, Chairman of the Board of Township Trustees ; . has been Township Clerk several years, and has also held the office of Town Treasurer. Politically, he acts with the Democratic party. He is a man possessed of much energy, and is public spirited, and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the advancement of the public interests. Mr. Shoenwetter aud family are members of the Lutheran Church.

WILLIAM SEAGER, manufacturer of cigars and tobaccos, Lowell ; was born in Germany Aug. 27, 1854; in 1860, he emigrated, with his parents, Charles and Doretha Seager, to Manitowoc Co., Wis .; thence to Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., in 1866 ; at Beaver Dam, William was educated and also learned the cigar trade ; in 1868, he engaged in business at Lowell, and has a fine, prosperous and constantly increasing trade. In October, 1878, he married, at Lowell, Miss Annie, daughter of John and Annie Drucks. Charles Seager, the father of the subject of this sketch, served in the German Army three years. He married, in his native country (Germany), Doretha Schmadbeck; they are now residents of Beaver Dam ; their children are Joseph (who lives in Des Moines, Iowa), William (cigar manufacturer, Lowell), Charles (lives at Beaver Dam), Henry (also at Beaver Dam), John (cigar-maker, Lowell), Louisa, Minnie, Dora, and Mary. Mrs. William Seager's parents, John and Annie Drucks, were natives of Germany ; they came to Dodge Co. early in its settlement; he died in 1873 and she in 1878; their children are Charles, who lives in Jefferson Co., Wis .; Minnie, now the wife of Henry Hertzog, Floyd Springs, Iowa ; Frederic, a resident of Lowell, and Annie, wife of William Seager.

W. H. SNOW, dealer in general merchandise and lumber merchant, Reeseville ; was born in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, in 1838. His father, James Snow, was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1779; his mother, Lucia Gloyd, was born in 1800; she married James Snow in New Hampshire; they moved to New York; thence to Ohio, and, in 1845, came West and settled in Lowell, Dodge Co., Wis., they having determined to make that place their future home ; he was a man fully identified with the various interests of the county, and was deeply honored for his integrity and goodness of heart; he died Sept. 22, 1872. His mother (now deceased,) was a member of the Congregational Church, and a woman of rare Christian virtues. In early life, W. H. Snow (the subject of this sketch) attended the district schools and acquired a good common school education ; he then learned the carpenter trade, and followed the business.

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LOWELL TOWNSHIP.

of contractor and builder for a number of years; in about 1868, he started a lumber yard, in which line he is now doing a large business ; in about 1872, he engaged in the mercantile business, in which he has met with almost unprecedented success ; he is a public-spirited, enterprising citizen, and much of Reese- ville's growth and prosperity is due to him. Politically, Mr. Snow acts with the Republican party. He married, in Lowell, Miss Mary J. Church, daughter of William and Caroline Church, pioneer settlers of this county ; they have three children-Harry L., Willie J. and Leta.

JOHN STURNER, proprietor of hardware store and manufacturer of harness, Lowell; was born in Aidlinger, Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, Nov. 18, 1846; in 1855, hecame to the United States with his parents ; they settled in Elba, Dodge Co., where he received a liberal education ; after he left school, he went to Cannon City, Minn., where he remained about thirteen months, at the end of which time, he returned home, and' in the spring of 1866, went to Dubuque, Iowa, returning in the autumn of the same year; in the spring of 1868, he went to Grand Rapids; remained there until February, 1869, when he again returned home; remaining at home a short time only, he went back to Grand Rapids ; went thence to Dubuque and from there to Sacramento, Cal., where he lived till 1873. when he again returned to Dodge Co .; in the spring of 1874, he engaged in the mercantile, lumber and hardware busi- ness, in connection with W. H. Snow, at Reeseville, and therein continued until Jan. 1, 1875, when he sold out to Mr. Snow, and, on March 15 of the same year, he engaged in the hardware and harness busi- ness in Lowell ; he is a man of stern integrity and high business qualifications, and he has attained well- merited success and is having a large trade. May 5, 1875, he married Miss Emily Loesh, of Recseville; they have two children-Annie L. and Hugo. In politics, Mr. Sturner is a Democrat ; he, at the present writing, holds the office of Town Clerk, a position he has been the incumbent of for two years. His father, John Sturner, was a soldier in Germany six years; he married, in Germany, Anna M. Shepple, and emigrated to Elba, Dodge Co., in 1855; he was born Dec. 11, 1813 ; has held various offices ; he now resides in Lowell ; she was born Aug. 24, 1816, died April 20, 1863; their children are John (whose name appears at the head of this sketch), Barbara (now the wife of Charles Schultz, Colby, Wis.), Louisa K. (wife of Frederick Potter, Juneau, Dodge Co., Wis.).

ALFRED SUTTON, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Reeseville; is a native of Cheshire, Eng .; was born near Glossop Feb. 14, 1839; when he was 3 years old, his parents moved to Derbyshire, where Alfred attended school until he was 19; he then enlisted in the 37th Infantry, in which he served three years in the Sepoy war in India ; at the expiration of the three-years service in the 37th Regiment, he volunteered in the Commissary Department, in which he served seven years; this was after his return from India in 1861 ; Aug. 31, 1868, he was honorably discharged from the service. He married, in Dub- lin, Ireland, in 1867, Miss Elizabeth Dix, a native of Glasgow, Scotland ; in 1868, they emigrated to Wisconsin and settled in Lowell Township, where they now reside ; they have four children living-James A., Lettie M., Charles E. and Elizabeth A. Mr. Sutton is a Republican in politics ; he owns eighty acres of land ; is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen. His father, William Sutton, has been a resident of the United States since 1842, and of Lowell Township since 1847; he was born in England in 1794 ; he married his wife, Lettie Sutton, in England ; their surviving children are Mary A. (now Mrs, J. Town- send, England), Harriett (wife of Joshua Sutton, England), Charles (lives in Boone Co., Neb.) and Alfred (the subject of this sketch). Mrs Alfred Sutton's parents, John and Eliza Dix, were natives of Glasgow, Scotland ; they moved to Liverpool, where he died, and she married a Mr. John Peters; they then went to Dublin, Ireland, from which city they emigrated to this country and now live in Ravenna, Ohio.

D. C. TERRY, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Lowell; is a native of New York; born in Hector, Tompkins Co., Sept. 16, 1824. In early life, he received a thorough education in his native country. Sept. 24, 1849, he married, in Hector, Miss Elizabeth Finton ; she was also born in Hector ; in 1851, they settled in Lowell Township, Dodge Co., Wis., where they have since lived ; they have two children- H. L. and Milton E. Terry. Mr. Terry is engaged in stock-raising and farming ; he owns 246 acres of land and is one of the heaviest tax-payers in Lowell Township ; he has been somewhat active, and heartily co-operates in all matters pertaining to the prosperity of the county ; personally and socially, he is a man of excellent qualities, and throughout his life has maintained an adherence to those principles of honor, that have secured to him confidence and esteem of all whom he is acquainted. In politics, Mr. Terry has been a Republican, but his faith in the purity of political parties has become modified, and he now acts independent of party and politics, voting for whom, in his judgment, will serve the interests of the country best. His father, Nathaniel Terry, was a soldier in active service during the war of 1812. He married Sarah Coleman ; both were natives of Morris Co., N. J.

C. M. TERRY, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Lowell; was born in the town of Chester, Morris Co., N. J., March 31, 1831. In 1823, his parents moved to Hector, Tompkins Co., N. Y., where C. M.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

received a liberal education. He married in Lodi, N. Y., Miss Martha Townsend ; she was born in Town. sendville, N. Y., a town named in honor of her grandfather, Elijah Townsend, who was one of the first settlers of the town. They were married in 1846, and in 1851 they came to Wisconsin, and settled in this (Lowell) township, which has been their home since ; they have eight children-Francis A., resides on Sec. 19, Lowell Township; he married Carrie Ettinger ; Arvesta Maria, Clarence Dewitt, Mary E., Sarah E., Delos B., Wilbur S. and Oakley E. Mr. Terry owns 330 acres of land ; it is well located and finely improved, his residence being the best in Lowell Township. He has been an active participant in educational matters in his locality, and has been elected to various local offices. A portion of his farın he has fenced off into a park, and has several deer. He has acted with the Republican party, but now is not a party man, believing that all political action should be prompted of broad principles, and unselfish purpose.

FREDERICK VOEDISCH, a leading manufacturer, Lowell ; was born in Saxony, Ger- many, Jan. 1, 1832 ; was educated in his native country, also learned the baker's trade; in 1854, he emigrated to the city of New York and there worked at his trade about one year ; then went to Little Falls and had charge of a saw-mill at that place until 1856, in which year he came to Wisconsin and worked in Milford, Jefferson Co., about two years, at the end of which time he went to Minnesota, but remained there only a short time before his returning to Wisconsin and working in Watertown, until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. E, 20th W. V. I .; he participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Fort Morgan, Spanish Fort, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He married, at Watertown, Wis., in 1865, Catherine Weber, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Runkel, old pioneer settlers of Lowell Township, Dodge Co .; they have two children-Delia and Alfred. Mrs. Voedisch had four children by her first husband (John Weber, who died in the service), viz., Albert, Robert, Lena and Charlie. Politically, Mr. Voedisch acts with the Democratic party ; he has been engaged in Lowell in the manufacturing of lumber, staves, etc., since 1876, and does an extensive business in con- nection with John and L. Runkel, of Lowell ; he owns half a section of land in Wilkins, Minn., a portion of which is improved.

JAMES WADDELL, retired farmer ; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a native of Scotland ; born May 28, 1812; when he was 17 years of age, he emigrated to the city of New York, where he married, in 1838, Miss Mary Gamble ; previous. to their marriage, he had learned the carriage-making trade, and had worked at it in various towns and cities in the State of New York ; in 1848, they emigrated to Wis- consin, and, in the autumn of the same year, settled on Section 7, Lowell Township, where they still reside, old and honored citizens; by their enterprise, industry and good management, accumulated a large prop- erty and have now retired from farming, and are passing their old age in peace and plenty, and enjoy the confidence and the esteem of the community wherein they have lived so long. Their children are Will- iam, who married Miss Matilda Robbins, they reside at Beaver Dam ; Orlando, married Miss Alice Col- ton and resides in Martin Co., Minn .; Albert, married Miss Susan Smith, resides in this (Lowell) Township; Theodore, married Miss Orville Clark, reside in Elba, this (Dodge) county ; George, married Miss Addie Church ; and Charles. Politically, Mr. Waddell is a Democrat, but is in no way stringent in his political views.

JOSEPH WOLF, boot and shoe manufacturer, also dealer in wines, liquors and cigars, Lowell ; he is a native of Baden, Germany; was born March 17, 1830; was liberally educated in his native place, where he also learned shoemaking; in August, 1852, he emigrated to Chillicothe, Ohio, and there worked at his trade until 1853, when he went to Columbus, Ohio, thence to Watertown, Wis., where he married, Oct. 30, 1854, Miss Fannie Yeager ; in 1855, they came to Lowell, and he has been engaged in business at that place since, and has met with merited success; they have nine children-John, Theodore P., Joseph, Mary, George, Andrew, Annie, Emma and Laura. Mr. Wolf is Treasurer of the I. O. O. F. and Masonic Lodges of Lowell, a position he has held several terms in each of the lodges. In politics, he acts with the Democrats; he is an enterprising citizen, and takes an active part in the advancement of the educational and other interests of Lowell.

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The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 118

Author: Western Historical Co Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 774