The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 156

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

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THOMAS SEAMAN, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Eden ; born in Norfolk, England, Feb. 16, 1837 ; when 18 years of age, he resolved to seek his fortunes in the New World ; locating at Syracuse, N. Y., he began as a laborer, educating himself; came to Fond du Lac Co., in 1859. Enlisted Oet. 5, 1861, in Co. B, 10th W. V. I., operating against the Tennessee railroads for some time ; participating in the bloody battles of Stone River, Chattanooga and Chickamauga ; was on special recruiting service in Madison, Wis., six months, as acting Quartermaster Sergeant ; rejoined his regiment at Atlanta in May, 1864; at the expiration of his time, he came back to Wisconsin, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant by Gov. James T. Lewis Jan. 28, 1865. He married, in 1867, Mrs. Hannah Carr, born in Norfolk, England, who came to America when a babe, with her parents, settling in Wisconsin in 1849; she mar- ried, in 1853, John Carr, who bought Government land in Eden in 1848, the patent being signed by James K. Polk. Mr. C. enlisted, in 1864, in the 4th W. V. C., and died at Memphis, Tenn., April 25, 1865, leaving seven children-Joseph, Calvin, Ann M., John H .. James W., William W. and Hannah. Mr. and Mrs. Seaman have one child-Hattie G. Joseph Carr, the father of John, was the first actual settler in Eden ; his old homestead, now the Seaman farm of 156 acres, is one of the very best in the town, well watered and cultivated. Mr. Seaman was among the first to introduce the Lost Nation wheat, and sold his erop for three years for seed ; he is now testing other varieties, which he will, in time, offer for sale ; his wheat crop for 1872 averaged forty eight bushels per acre. Mr. S. is a stirring farmer, and a Repub- lican in politics.

GEORGE V. THOMAS, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Eden ; born on the homestead in Eden, Feb. 14, 1852; son of Edward T., who emigrated from Shropshire, England, to America, locating in an early day in Waukesha Co., Wis., removing in 1849 to Eden, with his family, and buying 131 acres of the homestead, and has since bought forty acres ; the farm was wild and as nature's hand left it; Mr. Thomas built a log house and sowed wheat the first fall; his wife was Ann Robinson ; they have nine children- Mary, Sarah, Richard, John, George V., Willam, Charles, Jennie and Anna. George V. Thomas was educated in the district and in the Fond du Lac High School; at 21 he went to Kansas, remaining two years, and was one summer in the Northwest, part on the United States survey, helping to lay out fifty- seven townships; has since resided on the homestead. Married, Nov. 11, 1875, Miss Belle, daughter of Isaac and Mary Nightingale, who came from England to America and Wisconsin nearly together ; married

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and settled on Government land in Byron; Mrs. Thomas was born in Byron, and educated in the High School in Fond du Lac, and has taught two terms; they have two children-Geneva and Ethel. Mr. 'Thomas, like all his and also his wife's relations, is a stanch Republican. Mr. Thomas, Sr., has been Justice of the Peace and Supervisor, and is now a resident of Fond du Lac; Mr. Nightingale has also held vari- ous town offices. Mrs. Thomas is a member of the Byron Methodist Episcopal Church.

GEORGE TITUS, farmer, See. 5 ; P. O. Edeu ; born in Orange Co., N. Y., March 1, 1833 ; son of Albert and Margaret Titus, with whom he came to Eden in 1857, locating on a farm on Sec. 10; Mr. Titus enlisted in Co. A, 14th W. V. I., Feb. 23, 1863 ; at Rome, Ga., Mr. Thomas was in the hos- pital three and one-half months, but was under Thomas in the bloody battle of Nashville, and did good service at Spanish Fort and Mobile, his regiment there being under fire thirteen days and nights; at the end of the war Mr. Titus again took hold of the plow. On the 24th of March, 1866, he married Miss Lydia, daughter of Martin and Mary Beas, who came from Erie Co., N. Y., to Eden in October, 1852; she is a native of Erie Co., and was married in Fond du Lac ; they have one son-Willie A., born Aug. 30, 1868; Mr. Titus is an enterprising farmer ; has an excellent farm of forty-eight acres and a good home. In politics a Republican. His father died in August, 1873 ; his mother is still living with him.

C. E. TRIPP, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Eden ; born in the town of Floyd, Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1847 ; in 1853, his parents, E. R. and S. P. Tripp, removed to Walworth Co., Wis., remaining several years, Chester attending school; about 1863, the family came to the town of Fond du Lac, he then attending a seleet school in the city ; the family, after three years, located on a farm in Eden ; Mrs. Tripp died in Fond du Lac Township in 1863, followed by Mr. Tripp in 1876. C. E. Tripp married, Dec. 8, 1870, Miss Hannah J., daughter of William and Margaret Keyes, who left County Tyrone, Ire- land, in 1851, when Mrs. Tripp was a babe, coming at once to Fond du Lac Co., Mr. Keyes buying land in Osceola in 1853, when the forest was so dense that he cut a road to his farm ; then cut more for a build- ing spot ; Mr. and Mrs. Tripp have two children-Herbert E. and Rose B., Mr. Tripp, a progressive young farmer, has a most pleasant home and a good farm of sixty acres ; he is a practical butcher and stock-dealer, selling beef and stock in Chicago and Fond du Lac ; he is also a contractor for the Northern Wisconsin markets. In politics a Democrat, and a member in good standing of the Fond du Lac Lodge, No. 30, 1. O. O. F. Mr. Tripp, in company with J. J. and E. J. Tripp, is owner of a steam-thrasher.

H. W. VAN TASSEL, agent of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Co., and American Express Co., Eden ; born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 18-14. In 1852, his parents removed to Kenosha, Wis., where H. W. attended the public schools ; in 180I, he enlisted in the grand old 1st W. V. 1 .; was under Rosecranz and Sherman in the battles of Perryville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge. Lookout Mountain, Rocky Face Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Kingston, Marietta, Chattahoochie River and three desperate battles before Atlanta, also at Jonesboro, where the regiment made an unusually brilliant record, doing what several veteran regiments failed to do, and holding the rebel position ; this was not only the first Wisconsin regiment to go forward, but is the first on the pages of Wisconsin's glorious war record ; going into the service 1,204 strong, it came out in October, 1865, with 131 men all told ; Mr. Van Tassel lost but eight day in three years, and came out safely with a sergeant's commission. During the next six years he sailed on Lake Michigan ; kept a restaurant in Muskegon two years; then began his railroad life, helping to grade and fence both the M. & N. and the N. W. Union roads ; in October, 1873, he was appointed to his present position, which he has since held ; did the business for three years in what is now the well-house, as the depot was not built. Married Miss Sarah Guyou, of Kenosha, in 1870 ; they have one son-Louie, born in Ashford June 23, 1873. Mr. Van Tassel is a stanch Republican.

M. VANDERVOORT, M. D., Eden ; born in Clinton Co., N. Y., Aug. 24, 1840; son of Rev. Peter Vandervoort, who came to Eden with his family in March, 1846, buying a large tract of Gov- ernment land ; he built a log shanty which served in those days as a hotel, and for town meetings; roads were trails, and bridges very primitive in those days; Rev. Peter Vandervoort, preached the first sermon in the town, and the only ones for years; he is thought to have preached the first funeral sermon in the county, in the spring of 1846; the Elder now resides in Fond du Lac; has identified himself with the U. B. Church for many years. In the fall of 1849, the district schoolhouse was built, and of A. Briggs, the first teacher, Michael Vandervoort learned the rudiments of his education ; when about 16 he attended a private school in Fond du Lac ; was then in the city High School one year ; during the winter of 1858, he taught school, and in IS59, went overland to Pike's Peak, spending six years in Colorado, Mexico, the Northwest Territories and British Possessions ; he had made a study of medicine during his travels, and on his return to Eden devoted his whole energy to the study of his chosen profession ; in the spring of 1866, he entered Hahnemann College, Chicago, graduating from the full course as physician and surgeon in the fall of 1867; has since practiced in Eden, with the exception of the year 1875, when he practiced in Walla

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Walla, Washington Territory ; the Doctor has always, when in the county, lived on the original homestead which he owns ; his residence is most pleasantly located, about eighty rods from Eden Station. In 1877, he married Miss Lois, daughter of Sumner Sweet, Esq , one of the pioneers of Byron. Dr. Vandervoort is a Greenback Republican, a most snecessful practitioner ; he has, by his unremitting attention to his pro- fessional duties caused a partial failure of his health ; he has been for three years a member of the Wiscon- sin State Homeopathic Society.

AARON WALTERS, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Eden; born in Plattsburg, Clinton Co., N. Y., Aug. 7, 1809; was educated in Plattsburg Academy ; was by trade a blacksmith; was in business five years at Rouse's Point ; in 1846, he visited Wisconsin, and bought his farm of Uncle Sam ; returning to his native State, he remained until August, 1849, then settled on his claim in the oak openings; he soon cleared and broke forty acres of this, also worked for many years at his trade ; as an early settler, he saw and can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer life. Mr. Walters is closely identified with the early history, as he was Chairman of Eden sixteen years, and as a stanch War Democrat, did his town good service in war times ; was a County Superintendent of the Poor twelve years, and a County Super- visor six years ; was a member of the Wisconsin Assembly in 1857 and in 1872; Mr. Walters is well known in his county, as a successful farmer and public-spirited eitizen ; his official record is above reproach ; with his only son, he owns and manages 200 acres, with the necessary barns, stock, implements, etc .; he built the second frame house in Eden, has remodeled it, added to it and made it one of the best. Married his first wife in 1831 ; she was Orpha B. Griswold, died 1839, leaving three children-Roswell W., Sarah J. and Mary (deceased ). In 1840, he married Rosanna Averill, who died in 1858, leaving two children-Mary E. and Aaron (deceased ). In 1859, he married Mrs. Mary Norman, born in 1818 in Bennington, Vt., and a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca Welch, she married Chester Norman, and settled in Waukesha Co., Wis., in 1843; be died in 1855, leaving three children-James C., Frances and Mary J. ; the mother of Mrs. W. was a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., and a near relative of ex-Governor Enos T. Throop (deceased ), of Auburn, N. Y.

BENSLEY WILLIAMS, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Eden ; was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 10, 1820; was educated there and resided there until November, 1855, when he came to Wis- consin, and settled on his present farm in Eden; began with forty acres of heavy timber, on which a shanty had been put up and left unfinished ; Mr. W. was something of a carpenter, and at once finished the house, then began the hard labor of chopping and logging ; burned the timber at first in order to clear a wheat field ; he has done " full tasks " as a woodsman, as his present farm of 234 acres was then a forest , has sold wood in Fond du Lac, and also burned large quantities for charcoal. Married Miss Lucy North, who died July 23, 1860, leaving five children-Emma F., Emerette M., Susan E., John B. and Mary H. In 1866, he married Mrs. Harriet L. Odekirk, a daughter of Justice Da Lee, of Washington Co., N. Y .; she married, in 1851, J. P. Odekirk, who died in 1865, leaving one son, William E .; Mr. and Mrs. W. have one daughter, Minnie E. Mr. Williams is independent in politics and religion ; he has devoted considerable attention to the improvement of his stock of cattle, sheep, etc.

MARSHFIELD TOWNSHIP.

FRANK BEAU, Postmaster, also dealer in general merchandise, Calvary Station, was born in Champagne, France, Sept. 29, 1830 ; when he was 8 years of age, his parents emigrated to Arau, Switzerland, where he was educated ; after leaving school, he shipped on a mercantile vessel, and followed the set for about seven years, during which time he visited miny of the principal ports of the world. In 1853, he came to Sheboygan, Wis., where he married, in 1834, Katie Smitzbauer, a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in 1833, and who came to Sheboygan a few months prior to their marriage; in 1869, they came to Calvary Station ; their children are Maggie ( now wife of George Brown ), Mary, Frank, John, Joseph George, Otto, Frances, Rosa and Henry ; Mr. B. was foreman of the construction of the Sheboygan & Fond du Lac R. R., and held various positions on that road ; after its completion, in 1872, he engaged in the grain busi- ness at Calvary Station, and in the fall of 1877, he established a general store, and has successfully carried on both of the enterprises, and by his liberality and fair dealing, has secured a large trade ; he has been Post- master since 1873. He is a Republican in politics, His father, Alois Beau, was a native of Switzerland ; he married, in Champagne, France, Theresa Tressler ; she died in Arau, Switzerland; the elder Beau was a follower of Napoleon, went through all of his campaigns, and was with him a short time at St. Helena Island ; he came to Sheboygan, Wis., in 1853, and died there in 1862.

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MATTHIAS BOURGEOIS, Mt. Calvary; this gentleman, who has been for a number of years a leading business man at Mt. Calvary, was born in Zaubaugh, Kries Cochem, Germany ; he received a thorough education in his native village, and was book-keeper and general manager for a large mining company in Mullenbach, prior to his coming to America; in 1817, he emigrated to Green Bay, Wis., and clerked in a mercantile store at that place until 1848, in which year he came to Marshfield and engaged in farming ; during the years 1851-52, he had charge of the mercantile store of Aaron Leo- pold ; this was the first store in Mt. Calvary ; in 1856, he removed to Marytown, and took charge of a store at that place for the firm of Brownson & Laughlin, which firm he bought out about 1858, and engaged in the mercantile business on his own account until July, 1859, when he returned to Mt. Calvary and engaged in farming until 1875 ; he then bought a large brewery, located in the vicinity of Mt. Calvary, which he has operated since ; his residence, which is one of the finest in the northwestern part of the county, he erected in 1869, at a cost of several thousand dollars ; he is engaged in grain dealing at Calvary Station, with Wagner & Co., and does a large business; he owns valuable city property in Fond du Lac, also property in Calvary Station and Mt. Calvary to the amount of several thousand dollars. June 27, 1858, he married, at Sheboygan, Wis., Rosa Schrage; she was born in Schwelm, Germany, and was the daughter of Peter C. and Julia Sehrage ; their children are Mary, Julia, Barbara, Henry, Caspar, Matthias, Amelia, Edmund and Rodolph .. Mr. Bourgeois is a man of the sternest integrity, and executes all his plans with great promptness and nncommon energy ; the fruits of his labors will long survive him in the business enter- prises which he carried to completion ; he was always an active and public-spirited citizen, ever ready to render assistance to every enterprise that gave promise of general good; in religious and educational matters, he has always taken a deep and active interest, and he is a citizen that the town of Marshfield could ill afford to be without.

JOHN P. BUTZ, farmer, See. 21 ; P. O. Calvary ; was born in the village of Vossenack, Kries Montgoi, Germany, Jan. I, 1835. In 1847, he emigrated with his parents to America, and settled in the town of Marshfield, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where he has since resided ; Jan. 30, 1865, he married at Mt. Calvary, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., Katie Kommers, daughter of Adolph and Katrina Kommers, old and honored residents of Marshfield; she was born in Neumagen, Germany, Jan. 2, 1847; they have six children-Annie K., May, Marguerite, Clara, Regina and Gertrude. Mr. Butz owns 105 acres of land located on Sees. 21 and 22, and well improved. In polities, he is a Democrat. His father, John Butz, was born in Vossenack, Kries Montgoi, Germany, in 1800 ; he married in his native village, Annie G. Wirtz, they emigrated to this country in 1847, and settled in Marshfield, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where she died in 1850 ; he died in Hennepin Co., Minn., while on a visit to some of his children in 1870. Their children are Adolph (now of Hennepin Co., Minn., he served in a Minnesota battalion during the war of the rebellion ), Magdalene (wife of J. Linzen, Hennepin Co., Minn. ), John P. (whose name appears at the head of this sketch ), John J. (now of Hennepin Co., Minn., he was a soldier in a Minnesota regiment during the war of the rebellion), Frank P. (also of Hennepin Co., Minn.), Virginia, now deceased ), Katie ( wife of Peter Kommers, Hennepin Co., Minn., he was a soldier in the Union army during the war of the rebellion, and was severely wounded ).

J. H. COOLIDGE, merchant, St. Cloud ; was born in Hillsborough, N. H., in 1833, where he received a preliminary education which fitted him to enter the Union Academy, at Washington, N. H., where he completed his education ; in 1851, he went to Boston, Mass., and was in the mercantile busi- ness there until 1856, in which year he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he remained but a short time. in the autumn of 1856, he came to Fond du Lac, and was clerk in Register's Office about one year, afterward was express agent ; in 1859, he went to the town of Forest, and there engaged in teaching school and farming; in 1-69 he moved to St. Cloud and engaged in the mercantile business, which he has suc- cessfully continued in since. The first two years he carried on in connection with the mercantile business a flouring-mill and wood mannfactory ; in 1872, he was elected Clerk of Fond du Lac County, for a term of two years; he was appointed Postmaster at St. Cloud when the post office was established in 1869, a position he has since filled ; he has also held the office of Notary Public for several years. March 18, 1860, he married, in the town of Forest, this ( Fond du Lac) county, Elizabeth Davidson, nee Coleman ; they have had three children-Marshall H., Alton G., and Dana C. ; Alton G. died at the age of four years. Mrs. Coolidge had two children by her first husband ( Thos. R. Davidson, who was a former settler of Forest, and died there in October, 1854), viz .: Henry I., who died in 1876, was County Clerk at the time of his death ; and Charles C., now mail agent on the Sheboygan & Fond du Lac R. R. In politics, Mr. Coolidge is a consistent, intelligent, and active Republican. He owns 400 acres of land in the town of Forest, and large tracts of land in Lincoln and Chippewa Cos. Wis. He has led a very active and industrious life, and by his good management, his efforts in every walk of life have met with success. He

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takes an active interest in all public enterprises that promise in any way to develop the interests of his town and county, and the people in general.

ISAAC B. CLARK, farmer, and proprietor of a saw-mill, St. Cloud ; was born in Gloucester, Providence Co., R. I., in 1835 ; in 1851, he moved with his parents to Wisconsin, and settled in the town of Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., where he married, in 1857, Harriet Thachray ; she was born in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1839; in 1868, Mr. Clark erected a saw-mill in St. Cloud, which was the first saw-mill in the town of Marshfield ; in 1860, he moved his family to St. Cloud; thus Mr. Clark and family became the first residents of that village. His children are Clarence, Otis, William, Joseph and John. He owns 160 aeres of land besides his mill property. In politics, Mr. Clark was in early life a Whig ; he has acted with the Republican party since its organization ; he has been elected to various local offices. His father, Hazel P. Clark, was a merchant in Gloucester, R. I., for a number of years, also a large manufacturer of cloths, and was elected to many positions of power and trust in his native county ( Providence Co., R. I. 1. He was twice married ; his first wife was Elmira Darling. she died shortly after their marriage; second wife and the mother of the children below given was Thelotia Ballard; they moved the Sheboygan Co., Wis., in 1851; settled in Greenbush, erected mills, and the place was known as Clark's Mills until recently, when the name was changed to Glenbeulah ; he died in 1856; she died in 1877 ; their children are Isaae B., at Glenbeulah ; Isabel, now wife of R. A. Vanostine, Glenbeulah, Wis. ; Elisha ; William, who died in 1875 ; Abbie, wife of J. Donohue, Asst. Supt. of Lake Shore R. R.

HUBBARD GUELIG, farmer, See. 9; P. O. Ileinsburg; was born in Kries Adnau, Ger- many, in 1835 ; in 1846, he emigrated to this country, with his parents, and settled in the town of Marsh- field, Fond du Lae Co., Wis., which has been his home since. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Annie Wegestein ; she is now deceased; by this marriage, the children are Matthias, Joseph, Frances and Annie. His preseut wife was Gertrude Konz, daughter of Matthias and Helena Konz, pio- neer settlers of Marshfield ; she was born in this town ( Marshfield ) in 1848; their children are Fred, Louis and Mary. Mr. Guelig owns 152 acres of land ; he is a Demoerat in politics. His father, John Guelig, was born in Kries Adnau, Germany, in 1801. He married, in his native country, Maggie Nett ; she was born in 1804 : they settled in Marshfield, Fond du Lae Co., Wis., in 1846, and are now the oldest. couple living in the town of Marshfield; their surviving children are Mary, wife of N. Hubertz ; llub- bard, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Matthias, of the town of Calumet, Wis .; Katie, wife of N. Schmiddleeoffer, of this town ( Marshfield ) : Andrew, now living in Brazil.

JOSEPH HELZ, proprietor of harness-shop, Mt. Calvary ; was born in Richfield, Washing- ton Co., Wis., Feb. 14, 1854 ; when he was 13 years of age, he went to Milwaukee, and there learned the harness-making trade; in 1874, he came to Mt. Calvary and engaged in business, and has met with almost unprecedented success. He married, in Mt. Calvary, in 1875, Anna Flatz; she was born in Mil- waukee ; they have three children-Charlie J., John B. and Philip J. Mr. Helz keeps a full line of everything to be found in a harness-shop, and, by his strict attention to his business and good workman- ship, he has secured a large and an increasing trade. ITis father, Charles Helz, was a native of Germany ; he settled in Washington Co., Wis., in about 1843, thus becoming a pioneer settler of that county. Hle married, in his adopted county, Elizabeth Rosar; he was one of the most extensive farmers in Washing- ton Co., and a public-spirited eitizen ; he died Jan. 1, 1879 ; his children are Charles ( now of New lamp- ton, Iowa ), Katrina ( wife of M. Fisher, Milwaukee), Elizabeth (wife of Ww. Fogler, Milwaukee). Joseph, Henry, Anna, Frank and Jacob.

JOHN HENNEN, farmer, See. 21 ; P. O. Calvary ; was born in Gellbauren, Kries Cochem, Germany, April 18, 1808, in 1852, he emigrated, with his parents, Peter J. and Marguerite Hannen, to America, and located in the town of Marshfield, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where he remained about two years, at the end of which time he went to the Lake Superior region, Michigan, and there lived until about 1856, when he returned to Marshfield, remaining until 1859, when he went to Stearns Co., Minn. In 1860, he went to Houghton, Mich., where he married, on the 18th of August, 1864, Katie Lafon- taine; she was born iu Bartonicour, Luxemburg, Germany, May 31, 1842; after their marriage, they remained in Michigan until 1866, in which year they moved to where they now reside. Mr. Hennen is a Democrat in politics ; he has been Town Clerk of Marshfield since 1876; he owns a well-improved farm, finely located. His father, Peter J. Hennen, was born in Bauren, Kries Cochem, Germany, in 1804. He married, in his native country, in 1837, Marguerite Maas ; she was born in Gellbauren, Kries Cochem, Germany, in 1810 ; they settled in this (Fond du Lac) county in 1852 ; their children are : John, whose name heads this sketch ; Matthias J., of Forest; Nicholas, of Marshfield ; John N., now of Stearns Co., Minn. (he was a soldier in the 4th Mich. V. I., during the war of the rebellion ) ; Joseph, of Morrison Co., Minn .; Matthias, of Stearns Co., Miun. Mrs. J. Hennen's parents, Nicholas and Elizabeth Lafontaine,

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 156

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