USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 135
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HENRY EMDER is a native of Prussia, born Ang. 27, 1831 ; came to America May 1. 1850 ; was in New York and Boston until he came to Milwaukee. in 1851, where he remained until 1853 ; then removed to Madison, where he resided until 1855. when he came to Portage. Was engaged in the railway business before coming to this city. From 1855 to 1858. was clerk in a gro- very ; since in the hotel business ; was proprietor of the National Hotel for ten years. In 1870, erected his elegant hotel, which he has successfully managed up to present time. Mr. E. was mar- ried in Milwaukee, July 23, 1854. to Pauline Arsand : she was born in Prussia. They have five children-Louisa, Emma, Paulina, George W. and Charlie H. Is one of the oklest members of the I. O. O. F .; also member of Leiderkranz Society.
MRS. REBECCA L. EMERTON, widow of Thomas J. Emerton ; was born May 15, 1810, in Northfield, Merrimac Co .. N. H .; she is daughter of Benjamin and Lucy Hoegg Rogers. She was educated in the public schools of her native town. and taught several terms before her marriage. She was married Feb. 23. 1833. to Thomas JJ. Emerton, of Grafton Co .. N. H. He was born March 15, 1805 ; he was a successful farmer in the East, and enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens ; held several town offices, and was several times elected to the Legislature. In 1851. the family came to Fort Winnebago and bought the farm which he carried on seventeen years ; in 1868. he moved to Westfield, Marquette Co., where he died on the 14th of January, 1870, leaving one daughter and two sons-Benjamin J .. born Jan. 19. 1835 ; Lucy R .. born Sept. 21. 1838, and Andrew J., born Ang. 24, 1841. Her daughter married Robert Cochrane, and lives in Portage ; her sons are married, and are farming in Fort Winnebago. She owns some real estate in Wisconsin and a pleasant home on Conant street ; her young granddaughter resides with her. She is a Pres- byterian. She is threescore and ten, and is cheerfully nearing the sunset land.
FRANK B. ERNSPERGER. merchant, Opera House ; born Oct. 14, 1838, in Rock- ford. Wood Co., Ohio. His parents are of Swiss ancestry. Began commercial life as a dry-goods clerk. at age of 14 ; after 1841, his parents lived in Sandusky Co .. Ohio ; at age of 20, he located in Fulton Co., Ind., and continued as salesman : in 1861, he went into trade for himself, at Roches- ter. Ind .. with a large stock of general merchandise. He was married in May, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Lyon, formerly of Pennsylvania. He had a large trade for many years. being the leading house of the city. and doing both a retail and a jobbing trade ; he closed his business there in 1879, and opened business in Portage on Ist of January. 1880, in the elegant Opera House Store ; keeps good stock of dry goods, boots, shoes, and hats and caps. Has four children-Lillie V., Cecil R., Laura M. and Edgar B. He is a member of 1. O. O. F .. and is a Royal Arch Mason. Is a thorough tem- perance man and an active Methodist. Previous to 1880, his history was connected with another State, but he is rapidly becoming identified with the eity wherein are his commercial interests and his chosen home.
CHRISTIAN P. ETTEN was born at Muffendorf, Rhine Prussia, March 31. 1839 : was educated as a musican. and served in the military band of the Prussian Third Grenadier Guard. After leaving that. he played one year at home, and then came to America, arriving in Chicago in
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March, 1864, where he remained three years ; lived at Rockford two years, and then came to Port- age, where he has since resided, except one year spent in Madison, teaching music and as organist of St. Raphael's Church, which position he still holds. He teaches vocal and instrumental music. He was married at Kenosha, Wis., March 5, 1866, to Amelia Toemmel, who was born in Mering, Prussia, Nov. 1, 1847. They have six children-Fannie, born in Rockford ; Lizzie, John B., Mary B., Albert, and Emma L. M, born in Portage ; Joseph, died in Chicago, aged 5 months. They are members of the Catholic Church.
MARTIN FARRAR, passenger engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- way ; was born in April, 1836, in Vermont. He began railroad life at the age of 19, as fireman on the Rutland & Washington Railway, and he continued with that road eight years, the last one of which was as engineer. He was married, in 1862, to Miss Hannah Driscoll, of Vermont ; came West in May, 1863, and engaged as engineer for the St. Paul Road, and lived in Milwaukee till 1866, when he moved to Portage, where he still resides and continues in the engineer service. Ile has one son, born October, 1865, and named George. Mr. Farrar belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers ; his neighbors report him as a reliable, candid man ; his residence is No. 28 Franklin street.
EDWARD FINK was born in Prussia Jan. 19, 1839 ; came to America in 1854; located in Cleveland, Ohio, one year, Sandusky two and a half years, Norwalk one year ; came to Portage, Wis. April, 1859, and has since been engaged in the bakery, restaurant and confectionery business, which he began in 1854, most of the time since. Mr. F. was married at Portage, March 24, 1861, to Teresa Kettler, who was born in Prussia. They have six children living-Amarudie H., Henry L., Anna M., Willie C., Freddie E .. Edward Daniel Emil ; Carl, born June 19, 1872, died at the age of 4 months and 11 days.
ALEXANDER D. FORBES. deceased, was born in Madrid, N. Y., in 1823. He early engaged in the mercantile business in Waddington, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he remained till he came to Wisconsin in 1856. lle and his brother, W. W. Forbes. engaged in general mer- chandising in Portage till 1870. Ile was married on the 7th of August, 1860, to Miss Carrie E. Baxter, of Prairie du Sac, Wis. They had four children-Frederick, born Feb .. 18, 1863, and grad- nated, in 1880, from the high school in Portage; William R., born June 22, 1865 ; Carrie A., born Dee. 17, 1867; Frankie, born March 13, 1870, and died April 9, 1871. He owned a farm of 320 acres, and one of 170 acres, both in township of Arlington, Columbia Co., and a fine brick residence on Conant street, besides other real estate in the city. This property Mrs. Forbes still retains. When Mr. Forbes began business here, only three stores were in Portage. He was a careful, quiet. successful business man. attended closely to his business, and was devoted to his family. He took but little interest in politics. He was a patient sufferer for five years with consumption, and he died Jan. 12, 1871. The residence on Conant street was built and fitted up in 1865, and Mrs. Forbes and family continue to live in their pleasant homestead. No family is more highly respected.
J. C. FORBES was born in "Aurora, Erie Co., N. Y., July 8, 1828 ; lived there and in the vicinity until coming to Kingston, Green Lake Co., Wis., in July, 1861, where he remained for seven years ; removed to Portage in 1867, and engaged in his present business, which he still continnes to follow, that of watchmaker and jeweler, the same business he has been engaged in for the last thirty years. Married in the town of Marilla. N. Y., Ang. 7, 1851, to Betsey M. Ells ; she was born in Evans, Erie Co., N. Y .; they have six children living-James S., Melissa M., Henry M., Samuel L., Frederick J., and George C.,-lost two children, one daughter, Amelia, who died at the age of 4 years and 5 months, and one son, Sherman, at the age of 10 months. Mr. F. is a member of the Temple of Honor.
CHARLES FOSTER was born at Fox Lake, Dodge Co., Wis., May 10, 1855 ; son of Lucius and Margaret Foster. His father was born in Watertown, N. Y., and settled in Jefferson. Jefferson Co., before the admission of Wisconsin as a State ; in 1848, located at Fox Lake, and engaged in mercantile business ; removed to Melrose in 1859, and carried on hotel and lumber busi- ness for seven years ; then went to Sparta and engaged in the mercantile business for several years. since which time he has been farming in La Fayette, four and one-half miles from Sparta. Charles. the subject of this sketch, remained with his parents until 1875, then became connected with the railroad eating-house at Sparta, remained there one year ; since that time, until Jan. 12. 1880, withi W. D. Fox in the Corning House at Portage, and at present with A. E. Smith in the same house. He is a member of the A. O. IT. W. Mr. Foster's mother was a native of Great Bend, Penn.
JOHN FOSTER was born in County Antrim. Ireland, March 16, 1820 : came to the town of Jackson. Washington Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1847 ; lived there until the fall of 1850, then came
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
to Buffalo, Marquette Co., Wis .. and engaged in farming. dealing in ive stock, butchering. etc .: resided there until the fall of 1869. then came to Portage in the fall of 1869 ; in the spring of 1870. commenced dealing in general produce and dressed meats for the mining regions of Wisconsin and Michigan, which he discontinued six or seven years ago; he has been dealing in live stock since 1870, which business he still follows. also extensive dealer in wool ; while a resident of Buffalo. was Supervisor and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Foster was married in Portage, May 2. 1861. to Margaret Galloway, a native of Fyfeshire, Scotland ; they have three children-James A., Jennie Il., George G. Mr. Foster and his partner. Mr. Reid. own a large ranch in Saline Co., Neb., on which they have 275 head of cattle.
W. D. FOX was born in Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y., Dec. 6, 1824, and lived there until 1843 ; then went to Black Rock, Erie Co., N. Y., remained there until 1845; then to Ohio near Wooster. Wayne Co .; came to Milwaukee in the spring of 1847, lived there a few months. then came to Watertown and lived two years, where he was engaged in the milling business ; from Watertown he moved to Kingston and continued in the same business until spring of 1857 : in May, 1858, came to Portage and engaged in the hotel business being virtually proprietor of the Veeder House, hotel was burned two years later ; in April. 1860. went to Faribault. Minn .. September. 1860. and took charge of the depot and eating-house, until it burned in the winter of 1862-63 : early in 1868, took charge of the railroad cating-house and hotel at Milwaukee until 1870. and was for a portion of the same time partner in the Plankinton and Newhall Houses of Milwaukee : after returning to Portage in June. 1870. he took charge of the railroad eating-house and hotel here : in 1873. sokl out the Milwaukee I'nion Depot eating-house business : in 1876, opened the Corning House. remodeled it and ran it until he soll it to .A. E. Smith. Jan. 1. 1880 : he took possession of the Cameron House at La Crosse, Wis .. March 1. 1880, which he now conduets ; he owns and runs seven farms in Martin and Faribault Cos., Minn. Married in Fond du Lac. Dec. 19, 1855, to Alvina Smith. daughter of Asa Smith, who settled in Fond du Lac in an early day. Mr. A. Smith died in St. Paul three years ago ; Alvina Smith was born in Mansfield. Ohio. Mr. F. is the son of George and Hulda (Sheldon) Fox ; both parents died in New York State at Richmond : they have one child, Hattie MI .. now attending Bishop Whipple's school at Faribault. Minn.
MISS DORA FRUND, pastry cook at the Corning House; was born in 1857, in Ger- many : came to I'nited States in 1865. Her parents are farmers. She has worked out since she was 14 years of age. and has been in the hotel nearly four years. She is a Methodist. She is responsible for the " pies and things " which are " taken " so freely from the tables of the Corning House.
WILLIAM FULTON was born in Keighley, Yorkshire. England, May 12, 1843 ; edu- cated to the drug and grocery business in Skipton, England; came to America Feb. 22, 1866, and to Wisconsin same year, and located in Portage about March 1, 1866. For some time after coming here. was employed by the ( .. M. & St. P. R. R. Co .: clerked for N. H. Wood & Co .; also for John Fulton ; purchased present business Dec. 26. 1872. with Alex Thompson; buying Thompson out in 1889. he has since carried on the business alone. Was married JJan. 22, 1869, in Waukesha Co., Wis .. to Agnes T. More : she was born in Glasgow. Scotland. They have two chiklren-Agnes 1 .. aged 10 years, and Mary IL .. aged 5 years. Mr. and Mrs. F. are members of the Presbyterian Church. and Mr. F. belongs to the Temple of Honor. Mr. Fulton carries on the business which was originally established by T. M. MeMillan.
JAMES FYFE, born in Scotland Ang. 8. 1837 ; came to America in 1854. and located in Chicago, where he remained until 1860 ; then going to Davenport, lowa, where he was employed in the ( .. R. I. & P. R. R. shops (then the Miss. & Mo. R. R. Co.) From Davenport, he went to Bloomington, Ill .. working for the ( .. A. & St. L. R. R. Co .; then returning to Chicago in 1864, and remaining there until 1865. when he came to Portage, where he started a general jobbing and repair shop (iron work) ; commenced the manufacture of plows in the fall of 1877 ; his step-son is at pres- ent associated with him in business. Married Marion Crow at Davenport, Iowa, Aug. 22, 1860 ; she was born in Dumfrieshire. Scotland. They have four children-George C., Fannie MeD., Marion C. and James L .; Mrs. Fyfe has a son by a previous marriage-John C. Anderson. Mr. F. has been Supervisor of Second Ward. and City Engineer ; he is a member of the A .. F. & A. M., and is also Secretary of the Curling Club.
STEPHEN P. GAGE (deceased) was born in Vermont in May. 1813; he removed to Pennsylvania at the age of 14. He was married. Jan. 1. 1834. to Miss Lavinia Maria Baird, of Craw- forel Co. Penn., who was born in Massachusetts in 181-1. Mr. Gage was a successful farmer, and a
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natural mechanic ; he lived on the old homestead in Crawford Co., Penn., till November. 1858, when he sold out. came West, and bought a farm in Medina, where he lived two years, and then rented the farm and began hotel life ; in 1860, he was keeping hotel at Beaver Dam, and afterward was four years at the " Blue Tavern," in Scott Township, Dodge Co., Wis; they had large patronage from the line of stage coaches running between Portage and Beaver Dam-was often called upon during the night to get supper for as many as thirty teamsters and travelers ; in 1865, he exchanged his farm for the City Hotel at Portage, which is now the property of Mrs. Gage. Mr. Gage died on 31st of May, 1873 ; at time of death had begun preparations to build a large brick hotel-much of the material being already on the ground ; a fire in 1877 destroyed the barn and a portion of the hotel ; by rebuilding and repairing; the property has been placed in better condition. Mrs. Gage and her son carry on the business. The hotel is favorably located, being on a corner near the business center. She also owns 60 acres of woodland. They had nine children-Wheeler W., Myron M., Richard, Julia (dead), William, Oliver, Stephen, Lavina and Lney (dead). The family affiliate with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gage was Alderman at time of his death ; his neighbors speak of him as a good man in all the relations of life.
C. R. GALLETT was born in town of Benton, Yates Co., N. Y., Jan. 6, 1833; lived there until 12 years of age, then moved to Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y,; remained there two years : then went to. Penn Yan, N. Y .; after remaining there a short time, he entered Lima Seminary, at Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y .; after completing his studies there, he was engaged as a teacher of public schools of his native county ; came to Wisconsin in 1854 ; came to Portage in 1855 ; his first business was surveying and engineering, which he followed until 1860, when he entered the mercan- tile establishment of N. H. Wood & Co., as clerk ; afterward with the firm of Wood, Loomis & Osborn ; in 1863, he commenced business for himself ; member of the firm of Wood, Loomis & Co. about two years; afterward N. H. Wood & Co., until 1869, Mr. Gallett being the only partner of Mr. Wood in 1869. when the present firm of Loomis, Gallett & Breese was formed. Mr. Gallett has given some attention to his farming interests since 1865. Married at Portage May 5, 1865, to Lydia V. Wells ; she was born at Pittsfield, Mass .; they have five children-Sarah, Henry W .. Anna, Robert M. and Charles H. Mr. Gallett is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W. and A .. F. & A. M .; for two years he was President of the Curlers' Club. He served as Bridge Com- missioner two years, Alderman several terms. Mayor three terms, member of the Assembly in 1879; while he was Mayor he held positions as follows : President of the Portage Manufactur- ing Company, President of the Waterhouse Manufacturing Company, C. P. of the I. O. O. F. Encamp- ment, N. G. of I. O. O. F. Lodge ; all these offices, together with his business interests, demanded more attention than it would seem possible for one man to devote to them. but in every position to which Mr. Gallett has been called, he has been found capable of discharging the duties thereof sat- isfactorily.
GEORGE N. GATES was born in Portage Sept. 18. 1852 : son of John and Almira (Austin) Gates ; his father died here Aug. 2, 1872 ; mother now resides in this city ; father carried on the grocery and livery business ; he came to Portage in the spring of 1851 ; when he first came, he carried on the dry-goods and grocery business for a time. He also hekl some positions of trust- Assessor, etc. George succeeded his father in business ; was in the grocery business for two years and sold out, and has since continued in the livery business.
FERDINAND GERSTENKORN, blacksmith, in machine-shops of C., M. & St. P. R. R., at Portage ; born Jan. 1, 1835, in Germany ; served an apprenticeship in the old country and reached the United States in 1854 ; spent a year and a half in Milwaukee; then in fall of 1855 went into the employ of old Horicon Railroad, at Horicon Junction, under foreman Alexander Thomas ; in summer of 1861. began work at Milwaukee, for C., M. & St. P. R. R .; in January. 1866, was transferred to Portage, Ed. Kilbridge being in charge ; and through all the changes of administration, he has remained continuously to date. He was married at Horicon on June 13. 1858, to Miss Bertha Jesse ; have buried four children ; three are living-Earnest, born in 1862 : Bertha, born in 1866 ; Paul, born in 1873. Since 1859, he has been a member of the I. O. O. F .: has a fine brick residence, No. 444 Wisconsin street.
B. F. GOODELL was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, July 12. 1843 ; when about 7 years of age, he removed with his mother to Marquette Co., Wis., where he was married, May 16, 1865, to Mary L. Waldref; two children have been born to them-Mary A. and Guy F. Mr. Goodell has been in the newspaper business for many years, being now one of the proprietors of the Wisconsin State Register.
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PHILIP GOODMAN, dealer in ready-made clothing and merchant tailoring ; was born in Bavaria Feb. 2, 1846, and came to America in 1861 to Pontiac. Mich., where he remained only a short time, moving to Port Huron, where he lived one year ; he then went to Rochester, N. Y., where he remained three years. Married Sarah N. Cardoza in Rochester in 1866; she was born in Lon- con, England ; they have two sons-Morris W. and Louis.
DARIUS A. GOODYEAR was born in Sopronius, N. Y .. Aug. 9, 1822 ; is the son of John and Julia (Bradley) Goodyear ; when an infant. his parents removed to Genesee Co., N. Y., near Batavia ; lived there only a year or two, when his parents died. and the children were taken back to Cayuga Co., where he remained until about 6 years of age. then to Chemung Co .; remained in that county two years, when he went to Ft. Defiance. Ohio. where he remained until a lad of about 15 years of age ; during the next five years, was in Brooklyn and New York City most of the time up to 1841 ; was employed as clerk and collector for a large lumbering and commission house. In the year 1846, he engaged in business with his brother-in-law. C. C. Waterhouse (lumber-yards in Brooklyn and commission house in New York). Mr. Goodyear took charge of the lumber-yard in Brooklyn, and continued there up to the time of coming to Portage ; in the spring of 1858. engaged in the lumber business, and has continued in it ever since, manufacturing now at Mather, or Good- year's Mills. He is the owner of large tracts of pine lands in this State. Mr. G. has been engaged in the lumber trade most of the time alone ; his son. Charles A., is now associated with him, and has been sinee 1876 in the mercantile business, which has been carried on in connection with his mills ; manufactures annually between four and five million feet. Mr. G. was married at Johnson's Settle- ment, near Havana, Schuyler Co .. N. Y .. in the spring of 1848, to Mary Ann Waterhouse ; she died in Brooklyn Dec. 7. 1849. leaving one son-Charles A., born Sept. 22, 1849 ; present wife was Saral Holmes, married near Ithaca, N. Y., April 16. 1851 ; she was born in Solon, Cortland Co., N. Y .. daughter of Linus and Mary (Lindsey) Holmes ; her father now resides with them ; he is a native of Colerain. Mass .. and was born in 1797 : her mother died in September. 1877, aged 81 years. Charles A. married Fannie. daughter of Alva Stewart. Sept. 11. 1872 ; they have three children- Alva, horn April 18, 1875 ; Mary Bell. Sept. 19. 1877. and Ella Josephine, boru at Tomah Feb. 23. 1880. Mr. Goodyearhas made two trips to California. He has been Alderman one term.
HOMER S. GOSS, a native of Vermont : born in Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., Nov. 30. 1838, and remained there until coming to Portage in April, 1861, and engaged in elerking for (). Ward in the dry-goods business : remained with him a year and a half; afterward with A. D. Forbes. dry-goods merchant, also remaining with him a few months, when he engaged with Miles & Co., and their successor, Jolm Graham, where he still remains. Mr. G. is a member of the A., F. & __ 1. M.
JAMES GOWRAN was born in Ft. Ann. Washington Co., N. Y., Oct. 13, 1833, and resided there until he enlisted in the 16th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Co. 1, at Troy, N. Y., Sept. 7. 1864 . was mustered out of the United States service at Alexandria, Va., Aug. 1, 1865, and out of State service at Hart's Island. near New York City. same month ; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1865. locating on a farm in the town of New Haven. Adams Co., when he came to Portage; was in business one year with HI. O. Lewis, and in trade by himself for last six years, selling agricultural implements. Mr. G. was married at Ft. Ann. April. 1856, to Mary Ann Stephens ; they have two children-Edward A. and Carlton C. Mr. G. is a charter member of the Temple of Honor and of the _1. O. I. W.
ROBERT GRACE, passenger engineer. C .. M. & St. P. R. R. ; born in Hyde Park. Dutchess Co., N. Y .. in July. 1841; he is a son of Patrick and Catherine Grace ; his father was 21 years and 6 months in the employ of one man. James II. Wilkes, in Dutchess Co., N. Y .; Robert is one of a family of sixteen children, of whom fifteen were boys; only three are now living-Joseph. Oliver and the subject of this sketch : he came West in the fall of 1855; began working for the rail- road company. in 1857, as engine wiper, then as fireman, and. since 1864, as engineer. Was married. June 15. 1868, to Miss Louisa Dall ; she is a native of Wisconsin, and was twelve years chief din- ing-room girl at Fox's Hotel, in Portage : have four children-Willie, born 1870 ; Oliver, 1875 : Myra L., 1877. and Horace Greeley, 1880. lle is an earnest and consistent Temperance man : was a leading organizer, and is a loyal supporter of. the Headlight Temple of Honor. No. 163. in Port- age ; he owns a neat briek residence near the depot.
JOHN GRAHAM, a native of Scotland, son of Alexander and Jane (Duncan) Graham : his father was born at Mulbirn. parish of Skerlig. county of Peebles, Scotland. March 22. 1800, died May 16. 1850. dying on his passage to this country ; his mother was born April 1. 1805. at Fordal. parish of New Battle, Scotland, and is still living and resides here. The subject of this sketch was
PORTAGE, CITY.
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CITY OF PORTAGE.
born in Edinburgh, Scotland, April 14, 1833; came from Europe to Portage in the year 1850 ; was employed at Ft. Winnebago in the post office for a short time ; afterward in the employ of Samuel Edwards as elerk ; in the fall of 1856, he commenced business for himself-drugs and gro- ceries-under the firm name of Miles & Co., W. K. Miles being his partner ; they continued business together until the time of Mr. M.'s death, which occurred in 1867, since then Mr. Graham has been in business alone ; he has one brother, James T., who resides at La Crosse, Wis. Mr. Graham married Fannie M. Edwards, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. G. has been Alderman of Second Ward several years ; Mayor one term, Supervisor, etc. Member of A., F. & A. M. Lodge and Episcopal Church.
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