The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 123

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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LOUIS GOLDSTUCKER, Justice of the Peace; born in the kingdom of Hanover, in January, 1819; came to America in October, 1849; came to Fond du Lac in April, 1853; elected Justice of the Peace first in 1857.

THOMAS GOUGH, groceryman; was born in Ireland in 1833, where he lived on a farm till 1852, when with parents he moved to Quebec, where he remained for three and one-half years ; he came to Fond du Lae in the year 1856 and began clerking in a hardware store for R. Deacon, with whom he remained for one year; he then clerked in different stores in the city of Fond du Lac till 1863, when he entered the store of E. H. Jones & Bro., for whom he clerked eight and one-half years; leaving them in 1871 he started a grocery store of his own, which business he has since continued. He married Miss Katie Kelly, of Elba Township, Dodge Co., Wis., in 1870, who died in June, 1872, leaving three chil- dren, whose names are as follows : Mary, John T. and Katie; Mary and John T. are now living, but Katie, the youngest, lived only about two weeks after the death of her mother. Mr. Gough married Miss Sarah Ford, of Rosendale, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., in 1876, by whom he has one child-Annie. Mr. Gough and all his family are members of the Catholic Church.

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JOHN E. GOULD, farmer ; was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1821. In April, 1846, he with his parents-John and Margaret Gould-set sail for America, and landed in New York June 8, following ; they stopped for one year at Minersville, Penn., where he engaged in coal mining ; thence to Clinton, Ohio ; thenee, in 1849, to Fond du Lac Co., and followed farming in the town of Eldorado till 1865. Hle then disposed of that farm and bought his present home of ninety-eight and one-half acres in Section 4, town of Fond du Lac, of which he sold nineteen and one-half acres, leaving him seventy-eight acres, valued at about $80 per acre. He married Miss Isabella Kendall of Eldorado, in 1861; they have had three children-George, Charles (deceased ), Martha. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

WENDEL GRAUS, proprietor of saloon; was born in Prussia in 1821; immigrated to America in 1845; landing at New York, he went to Pennsylvania; thence to Ohio, and there was employed as a molder in a foundry for about six years; leaving Ohio in 1856, he spent most of that year in traveling through Illinois, Iowa, down the Mississippi to St. Louis and back to Cincinnati, Ohio ; thence he emigrated to California, where he remained till 1861. He then returned to New York, and there set sail for Europe, where he visited Hamburg, Heidelberg, Baden, Ludwick, Paris and Southampton. and various other places of interest. He set sail from Southampton, and reached America again in 1863, and settled in Fond du Lac, where he soon began his present business. Married Miss Eva llalk, daugh- ter of Michael Halk of Germany ; they have four children as follows : Louisa, August (deceased ), George ( deceased), Joseph, now of New York. Mr. G. and family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mr. Graus was a member of Common Council from Fourth Ward, for one term-1869.

LEROY GRAVES is a native of Truxton, Cortland Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1830, and lived till 15 years of age. He moved to Waukesha, Wis., and was engaged in the manufacture of saleratus and pearl-ash for about two years; moved to Rochester, Wis., and was with his father in same business for about three years ; after which, he founded Gravesville, Calumet Co., and from which county he was a member of the State Legislature in 1861. From Calumet Co., he moved to Kansas, and was engaged in the horse and mule trade till 1866, when he began the dry-goods and grocery business at Fond du Lac. In 1867, he was appointed Chairman of the Committee of Councilmen of Fifth Ward; in 1868, was elected Chairman of the Board of Public Works, and has twice since been elected Chairman of the Council from the Sixth Ward. In 1878. he built a store at Coleman Station on Wisconsin Central Rail- road, which burned Jan. 6, 1879, since which time he has been engaged in looking after lands along the Weston & Lake Shore R. R. Married Miss Kate Baldwin of Lowell, Dodge Co., Wis., in 1848, who died in 1866. In 1868, he married Miss Marietta Cumming of Fond du Lac, by whom he has had three children-John L. and Edwin (now deceased), and Pearl II. Mr. Graves has been an active worker in the Greenback party, and was one of the Delegates to the State Convention at Madison in 1876.

EDWIN C. GRAY, physician and surgeon; was born at Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., in April, 1838; studied medieine with his brother at Eaton, Madison Co., in the same State, where he began practicing in 1862; it the fall of 1867, Dr. Gray came to Fond du Lac, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession and in manufacturing. He is a member of the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor Lodges, and is the State Medical Examiner of the last-named order.

JAMES T. GREENE. abstraeter and insurance agent; was born at Rochester, N. Y .; came to Fond du Lac in 1847, which has since been his home; he was engaged in farming until 1863: in 1866, he entered the Register's office as Deputy, where he remained until January, 1871, where he was · appointed Enrolling Clerk of the State Senate; Mr. G. then spent one year in Oregon ; returned to Fond du Lac, and in May, 1862, became a member of the firm of Lamb & Greene, which lasted until January, 1875 ; he was then Deputy Register one year, after which he engaged in his present business ; recently the firm became Greene & Newton; Mr. Greene was City Assessor in 1878; City Comptroller sinee April. 1879; Superintendent of the Poor and City Purchasing Agent sinee February, 1880.

COL. THOMAS H. GREEN, architect; was born in East Greenwich, Kent Co., R. I .. April 2, 1828; reared in the town of North New Berlin, Chenango Co., N. Y .; on his 17th birthday, started for Fond du Lac, which has since been his home, arriving here May 1, 1845; after serving three years with Isaac Brown as carpenter, began contraeting and building, his first contract being to build Fry's first brewery ; in 1855, opened an office as architect, having done much of that kind of work previous to that time. Col. G. enlisted April 17, 1861 for ninety days, in Co. I, 1st W. V. I .; commissioned First Lieutenant April 23, 1861 ; at end of the ninety days, he re-organized the company for three years, and was commissioned Captain of Co. K., Aug. 28, 1861 ; was with his regiment in all its principal engagements ; was shot through the neck at Perryville, July 8, 1862; wounded in left foot and forehead at Chicka- mauga, September, 1863; promoted to Major July 1, 1864, having aeted as Major and had virtual

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command of his regiment after first year's service as Captain ; discharged Oct. 13, 1864; soon after entered Gen. George [I. Thomas' army, as Field Hospital Sutler, of the Army of the Cumberland, in which he served to the close of the war; he then speculated in oil during two years in Canada, returning afterward to Fond du Lac and his profession. Col. G. was married at Fond du Lac, April 17, 1851, to Sarah I., daughter of Selim Newton, who located in Fond du Lac Co. in 1844; they have three children -Charles T., born Feb. 2, 1853; Lucy A., now Mrs. C. W. Morris, born Jan. 26, 1855; Dwight E., born Dec. 24, 1860. The finest blocks, residences and public buildings in Fond du Lac, Waupun, Clinton' Escanaba and other cities, were from designs by Col. Green; in Fond du Lac, some of them are the High School, residences of M. D. Moore and W. B. Brand, No. 5 engine house, Bartlett's market, Mur- phy Block, La Belle wagon works, storehouse and many others. He served as Alderman of the First Ward in 1856.

DR. E. L. GRIFFIN, physician and surgeon ; was born at Hillsboro, N. H., Sept. 21, 1821 ; he was educated at Kimball Union Academy, of Meriden. N. H., and Dartmouth College; graduated at Pittsfield, Mass., from the Berkshire Medical College, in 1849; be practiced medicine in New Hampshire until 1855, when he came to Fond du Lac, where he has since resided and practiced his profession. Dr. (. was one to take initiatory steps in forming the State Board of Health, of which he is President ; he is also a member of the Rock River Medical Society, and a prominent member of the Congregational Church. lle married Abby M. Mason, of Newburyport, Mass .; they have two daughters living and two dead; the living ones are Abbie W., now Mrs. J. W. Bass, of Red Wing, Minn., and Susan M., residing with her parents ; the deceased were an infant and Helen T., who died Sept. 12, 1868, aged 15 years.

JOHN Q. GRIFFITH. lumberman ; was born at Pike, N. Y., March 1, 1818; came to Fond du Lac in 1850 and followed the transportation business between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan until engaging in the manufacture of lumber in 1856; he operated the old Wilbor & Henry mill in 1859, and, in 1860, purchased the Forest Street Mill, which he run until 1871, when he erected his present large muill on West Division street; in 1866, his son, Carver N., was admitted to partnership, and, in 1870, Wilbur A., another son, was also admitted, the firm being since that time, J. Q. Griffith and sons. 'Car- ver N. Griffith was born at Centreville, Allegany Co., N. Y., and Wilbur A., at Hume, in the same county. The maiden name of the first Mrs. J. Q. Griffith, who was born in Vermont, and died in Jan- uary, 1853, leaving four children, was Lucy Goss; the present Mrs. G. was Jennie M. Riddell, of Massa- chusetts ; the children are Carver N., Wilbur A., Albert G., Hattie S., now Mrs. J. C. Heitbahn, of Fond du Lac, and Jennie (a daughter by the second Mrs. Griffith ), now Mrs. Dr. Haucker of Oshkosh.

JOHN GRISSMANN, farmer, Sec. 21; was born in Germany in 1803; he learned the stone and brick mason's trade, which he continued there till 1847, when he immigrated to America and settled in Sheboygan Co., Wis., where he followed farming till 1876; he then bought his present farm of eighty- six aeres in Sec. 21. In 1847, he married Maggie Sittler, of Germany; they have six children-Her- man, Annie, John. Jr., Charles, Augustus, Jennic.

S. S. GUILE, veterinary surgeon ; residence on Twelfth street; office and stable on Third street ; he was born in Batavia, N. Y., May 11, 1832; in his native city he learned the profession of veterinary surgeon, and practiced there until 1853, in which year he came to Wisconsin, and practiced in Brandon, Fond du Lac Co., until about 1865, when he commenced delivering a series of lectures on the various diseases that the horse was heir to, and traveled over several of the Northwestern States and Canada; in 1872, he located permanently in this city ( Fond du Lac) and successfully followed the prac- tice of his profession here since ; he has several fine blooded stock horses that are unequaled in the State. Mr. Guile has been twice married ; his first wife was Martha Jones; she died in Rochester, Wis .; his present wife was Meta Paine ; has one child-Nellie, born in Fond du Lac Co., Wis. In polities, Mr. Guile is a Democrat. In his profession he has an extensive practice, and has attained a good reputation as a thoroughly qualified surgeon.

REV. FATHER HAAS, ex-Custos of St. Joseph's of the Capuchin Order; is a native of Switzerland; born Nov. 25, 1826 ; he received his preparatory education at Salura and Lucerne and pur- sued the higher studies of philosophy and physics, in the Lyceum at Lucerne, but completing that part of his education in the Seminary of Resoul, France; his theological studies were pursued in the Universities of Freiburg, Tubingen and Munchen ; he was ordained to the Holy Order by Bishop Solz- mann, of Basel, of Salura, Dec. 28, 1851; from the time of his ordination till 1856, he was assistant priest of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, Liesberg ; in 1856, he, in company with Rev. Father Bonaventura Frey, came to America to establish the Capuchin Order ; they located at Kenosha for six months, and, in the spring of 1857, returned to Europe to get the ecclesiastical approval of the establishment of the Order in America, and also to bring over seven brethren, with Antowine M. Gachet, the appointed

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Clinton Matteson ROSENDALE. (DECEASED.)

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Superior for the establishment of the Order in this country ; Dec. 2 was the day set for the investment of himself, Father Bonaventura Frey and one layman with the habits of the Order, at Calvary, Fond du Lac Co. After the departure of Father Antowine M. Gachet, May 19, 1859, Father Haas was appointed Superior of the institution of the Order; with its growth, he became Guardian Commissary and Custos of the Province till October, 1879, having thus safely guided the Province through the first twenty years of its life; it now numbers three convents and five houses with Superiors.

LOUIS F. HAAS, of the firm of Mclean & Haas; was born at Worms, on the Rhine River, Nov. 3, 1843; came, with his parents, in 1848, to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., ; three years later, came 10 Milwaukee; two years later, removed to Humboldt ; in 1857, removed to Kershena, Wis., where his father, Frederick Haas, was Government farmer among the Indians until March, 1861 ; he came then to Fond du Lac, and began learning the blacksmith's trade in April of that year, which he has since followed, having been in business for himself' since 1867. Mr. Haas was married at Fond du Lac, Nov. 3, 1870, to Maggie Vaughan, born in New York State. He is a Turner, and has been Foreman and First Assistant Chief Fire Marshal in the Fire Department.

JOHN HABERKORN, merchant tailor; was born in Prussia Nov. 24, 1830, and came from there direct to Fond du Lac in 1855, where he began work at his trade for others ; in 1866, he began business for himself, which he has since continued. He was married at Fond du Lac AApril 19, 1856, to Johanna Hundt, a native of Prussia; they have ten children, seven sons and three daughters- Charles, William, Hermina, Louis, Othelia, Gustav, Dora, Edward, Frank and Albert, all living at home with their parents. His father and mother, John and Maria Haberkorn, live on Sec. 18, town of Ashford, where they settled in 1854. Mrs. H.'s father and mother, Martin and Sophia Hundt, reside with Mr. Haberkorn.

ERNEST HAENTZE, gardener and florist, on Linden street ; is a native of Germany ; born in 1839 ; began his trade when 12 years of age, and followed it there for four years; in 1856, he set sail for America, and landed in New York Dec. 24, and January following came to his mother at Fond du Lac, who had preceded him three years ; in May, he went to Milwaukee, where he was in the employ of Mr. Jacob Mahler, florist, till 1861 ; he then returned to Fond du Lac, and for one year was interested in the sale of nursery stock ; in spring of 1862, he went to New York City, and worked as gardener on Staten Island during that year ; returning to Fond du Lac in 1863, he purchased three and two-fifths acres of land, and began the business of gardener and florist, with a capital of $4,000. In New York City, in 1863, he married Miss Caroline Beck, daughter of John Beck, a shoemaker of Germany; they have had seven children-Charles, Edward, Robert, Lena, Ernest, Richard, and Otto (deceased ).

REV. SABIN HALSEY, Pastor of the Division Street M. E. Church, is a native of Elmira, Steuben Co., N. Y., born in December, 1843 ; at the age of 12, he with his parents immigrated to Illinois. where he attended public school for a while; then entered the seminary at Evansville, but completed his theological studies at Evanston, Ill. in 1870 ; in the following year, he was ordained Deacon at Milwaukee, and two years after, at Whitewater, he was ordained Elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church ; his first was that of Pleasant Prairie, in 1869; in 1870, he was assigned to the charge at Pensaukee, and in 1871, to Waterford, and for the two years following at Union Grove; he was next at Waukesha, 1875-76 ; thence to Kenosha for two years, whence, by the Conference, in 1879, he was assigned to his present charge. He was married to Miss Ella Ward, daughter of O. M. Ward, a farmer of Walker's Prairie, Kenosha Co .. in 1871. They have one daughter, Ethel. Mr. H. has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for two years.

ALFRED K. HAMILTON, lumberman ; was born at Lyme, Grafton Co., N. H. ; spent two years at the West Point Military Academy ; came to Fond du Lac in 1863 ; followed the drug business two years, and then began the manufacture of lumber, which he has since continued ; in 1868, he became a member of the firm of I. K. & W. C. Hamilton & Co., which continued until 1871, when the firm became Hamilton & Finley-A. K. Hamilton and W. S. Finley ; in May, 1879, Mr. F. retired from the firm, and the mill and lumber business established in 1856 by I. K. & W. C. Hamilton, are now carried on by A. K. Ilamilton ; Mr. H.'s mill, which is located at Luco, just outside of the city limits, has been in operation for twenty-four consecutive seasons.

JOHN HAMILTON was born in the year 1812, near Newton Stewart, county of Tyrone, Ireland, his father being a weaver by occupation, to which trade his son was carly apprenticed ; his father was John Hamilton, his mother Jane Meekin ; when 21 years of age, the subject of this sketch. with his next younger brother, believing that free and generous America offered greater inducements to young men having their fortunes to carve and create by personal effort, than could be found within the crowded limits of his native isle, bade good-by to the loved ones at home, and set sail on the 6th of May. 1833, in the ordinary emigrant vessels of that day, for Quebec, where, after a stormy trip of forty-two days, they

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landed with but very little money ; of course, there was no opportunity to work at his trade, but with ready and willing hands he sought any employment which by the most diligent effort and closest economy promised a livelihood ; his first permanent engagement was probably as a farm hand to one Deacon Swift, to whom he engaged for six months at $5 per month ; more faithful service was never rendered, and the most complete satisfaction given, but the " Deacon " cheated his employe out of every cent, and during the remainder of John Hamilton's life, so strong was he-by his early experience-prejudiced against this common church title, that it is probable the most unfavorable impressions always followed any name having this prefix. The great object was to earn money to send back to his home to defray the expense of bring- ing other members of. the family to America ; at the close of his six months' engagement, he had just one shilling in money more than when he commenced, and earned in the following manner: After dark, at the close of a long, hard day's work, a person stopping at his employer's house said to young Hamilton, who was milking the cows, " Can you find me a boy who will carry a letter to Ferriburg (nine miles distant ), and bring me a reply before morning? I will give him a shilling." Hamiltou replied that as soon as the chores were done he would find some one to carry it. On foot and alone he made the trip that night, and earned the offered price. This, as before indicated, was the only pay he received for his first half-year's labor in free America. But here was demonstrated the secret of John Hamilton's coming success. When he left the Deacon's employ, he had every cent of his shilling in his pocket. The earnings of the first few years were all sent back to his home, to aid in the support of his invalid father, and in bringing over his brothers and his sisters with their families. In this enterprise he was always joined by his brother Henry, who, like John, got his start by severe manual labor, rendered for a remarkably low price. The brothers commenced and remained through life in business partnership. After three years. when they had saved for themselves a few dollars cash in hand, they united their capital and embarked in business-the sale of nice dress goods, silks, laces, fine linens, shawls, etc., goods in demand by the wealthier class of commnity, and for which high prices and corresponding profits were readily received. They were both excellent judges of the merchandise they handled, sold nothing but the best quality, bought and sold for cash, gained and held the confidence of their patrons, and, in comparison with their earlier efforts, accumulated rapidiy. When 31 years of age, John married Miss Mary A. Merkin, at Charlotte, Vt., while his brother Henry, on the same day, hour and place, married her sister Kate. The wedding, in fact, was appointed for Henry and his bride, the additional nuptials having the very briefest origin, love, courtship and marriage all within twenty-four hours, and which, nevertheless, proved from thenceforth through life a most pleasant and harmonious nnion. Though still in partnership, the brothers ceased merchandising, and in an unostentatious way retired from active business of any kind, further than the purchase of securities and loaning of their money. In 1851, they both, with their families, started westward, and finally located at Fond du Lac, continuing the same business, and rapidly won and held the highest respect and esteem of all with whom their business or social relations brought acquaintance. Financial prosperity rewarded their efforts, not fast, but steadily and surely. Mr. Hamilton raised a family of three children-Henry M., the oldest, now a banker at Mankato, Minn .; Kate, the only daughter, now the wife of C. K. Pier; George T., the youngest, in the U. S. Army, now stationed at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory. The pres- ent labor and land troubles in Ireland recall an incident characteristic of the man, and at the same time explain the troubles referred to. While riding with his danghter along a country road, past a farm he had recently purchased, having reached a point commanding a rich scene of fields, groves and streams, it reminded him of some familiar spot of his younger days in the old country, and he remarked upon the fact, but added, it was much nicer in Ireland with its groves all trimmed, its level roads and beautiful hedges. "Then, father, if it was so much nicer, why did you leave there?" "Ah ! Katie, your father stood no chance of owning them there." As a husband, parent and neighbor, he ranked among the purest and best. Although not a member, he was for years a regular attendant at the Presbyterian Church. In national politics, he was always a Republican ; in local elections, his vote and voice were for the man he deemed best fitted for the office named. Ilis social nature was most remarkable, his cup of happiness being apparently full to overflow when at home surrounded by his family, or neighbors, and his discomfiture simply indescribable when left alone. The influence of his kindness of speech and sterling integrity was felt and seen in a thousand different ways. Borrowers preferred to borrow from him, at even a higher rate of interest than their securities would readily command with banks or brokers. Lenders, those having a surplus of money, urged that he take and keep it for them. The confidence of the people in John Hamilton's word was simply unbounded and without limit. . His death occurred April 16, 1871, the result of a long and pain- ful sickness, apparently having its origin in a simple indisposition, occasioned by an ordinary cold. His widow resides with her daughter, surrounded by ample and merited comforts, not the least of which are six grandchildren, while two others are in Minnesota.

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HENRY HAMILTON, capitalist ; was born in Ireland, thence he came to America in 1834, settling first in Vermont ; in 1849, he went to California and afterward to South America, returning and locating in Fond du Lac in 1853. Mr. Hamilton has, since he came to Fond du Lac, been extensively engaged in real-estate transactions and loaning money. He been a member of the County Board, but gives no attention to politics.

IRENUS K. HAMILTON, lumberman ; was born Dec. 1, 1830, at Lyme, Grafton Co., N. H .; came to Fond du Lac in the spring of 1855, where he was one of the leading citizens and lumber manufacturers until May, 1877, when he removed to Chicago to attend to the large lumber interests of the Hamilton & Merryman Co., of which he is President, in that city. Mr. Hamilton has held various local offices in Fond du Lac, and was a member of the Legislature in 1869. He was married at Brooklyn. N. Y., to Mary Louise Waterbury, a native of New York City ; they have four children- Amy ( now the wife of R. J. Orby IInnter, a prominent attorney of Kansas City ), Louise, Nathaniel W. and Irenus K.

WOODMAN C. HAMILTON, Inmberman and capitalist ; was born at Lyme, Grafton Co., N. H., Feb. 22, 1834; came to Fond du Lac in May, 1855, and at once engaged in the manufacture of Inmber ; in 1866, he began lumbering operations in Menomonee, Mich., which he has since continued on an extensive scale ; in 1870, Mr. Hamilton transferred his lumbering interests to Chicago and Northern Michigan. In 1873, he erected the Post Office Block, and the Grand Central Block in 1874. Mr. Hamil- ton has held various offices-among them, President of the Board of Public Works; President of the Board of Education ; Alderman, and is now a member of the Prudential Committee of Ripon College. He was married, Feb. 16, 1858, at Brooklyn, N. Y., to Mary Taylor Weed, who was born at Darien, Conn., but who was reared in New York and Brooklyn; they have had six children-William Irenus, Charles Woodman, Stephen Dolson (died January, 1868, aged 43 years), Herbert Weed, Edgar Lockwood and Arthur Little, all born in Fond du Lac. Mr. Hamilton gives his personal attention to every depart- ment of his immense mining, real-estate and lumbering operations.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 123

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082