USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volume V > Part 29
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In the city of Buffalo, New York, on the 10th of October, 1842, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hathaway to Miss Ann Jennette Hatha- way, who was his second cousin and who was born in Vermont, Sep- tember 1, 1818, and who survived him by many years. Mrs. Hathaway was summoned to the life eternal, at her home in Milwaukee. on the 25th of September, 1894, and her memory is revered by all who came within the compass of her gentle and gracious influence. Concerning her the following statements were published at the time of her death :
"Mrs. Ann Jennette Hathaway was a pioneer woman and one of the last of a coterie of Milwaukee women who were notable for their high character and womanly qualities during the years when the city was developing from a small frontier town to metropolitan pretentions. She was an exceptionally bright and capable woman, possessing the noble characteristics that drew to her a wide circle of friends. She lived in Milwaukee fifty-two years, having settled here in 1842. after her marriage to Joshua Hathaway. Her husband was at first a surveyor, afterward becoming a real-estate investor, and the rise in value of real estate made him a wealthy man. For many years the family residence was upon the corner where the University building now stands, but afterward Mrs. Hathaway removed to a new home, at the corner of Juneau avenue and Astor street, where she lived with her daughters and sons until her death. She was naturally of a domestic and social dis-
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position and many old residents remembered her as the life of social gatherings which she attended. In later life she remained a most attractive woman, by reason of her friendliness and geniality. Upon the death of her husband Mrs. Hathaway devoted herself to the man- agement of the important and complicated affairs of the estate, in which connection she developed a marked talent for business details. She was a daily visitor at the office of her deceased husband until her sons reached an age when they were able to relieve her of business responsibility, when she gracefully retired to the duties of her home, which she always made a center of hospitality. She was seventy-six years of age at the time of her death."
Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway became the parents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. The three surviving daughters, Mary L .; Jeannette and Sarah B., still maintain their home in Milwaukce, where they were born and reared. The surviving sons are Andrew A. and John E., the former of whom was born in Milwaukee and the latter at the winter home of the family, at Marietta, Georgia. These sons were afforded the advantages of a good education. John E. Hathaway is the executive head of the firm of J. E. Hathaway & Company, of Milwaukee, contractors for public works, and he passes a considerable part of his time in Milwaukee, though he now maintains his home at Easton, Talbot county, Maryland, as does also the elder brother, Andrew A., who is there engaged in the real-estate business and also owns a fine farm of three hundred acres in the immediate vicinity. Andrew A Hathaway removed from Milwaukee to Maryland in 1903 but still retains important interests in his native city, where he erected the Hathaway and the Clement-Williams buildings, as well as the University building, which is owned by the Hathaway estate and which occupies the site of the old family homestead.
HON FRANK A. Ross. Among the members of the Wisconsin bench who have risen to eminence during the past several years, Frank A. Ross, judge of the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Wiscon- sin, has won approval of the bar and of litigants for their able and digni- fied manner in which he has upheld the best traditions of his high official position. Judge Ross has been a member of the Wisconsin bar for more than thirty years, and as both lawyer and jurist has ever deserved the high regard and esteem in which he is universally held. He is a native of Grundy county, Illinois, and was born March 24, 1856, a son of George N. and Sarah A. (Hyatt) Ross.
George N. Ross was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and in 1845 traveled overland to Grundy county, Illinois, where he settled down as a pioneer farmer. The gold rush to California called Mr. Ross in 1850, and for three years he was engaged in prospect- ing and mining, but eventually returned to Grundy county, Illinois,
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where he resumed his farming operations. In 1857 he brought his fam- ily to Pierce county, Wisconsin, where he resided for some time, later came to Superior, and finally to Duluth, Minnesota, where his death occurred March 9, 1889, at the age of seventy-one years. He was a Republican in his political views, and for several years served as treas- urer of Prescott, Wisconsin. Mr. Ross married Sarah A. Hyatt, who was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and she died August 8, 1893, when sixty-two years of age, having been the mother of five children, of whom Frank A. was the second in order of birth.
Frank A. Ross was but an infant when brought to Pierce county by his parents, and here he passed his boyhood, obtaining his early educa- tion in the public schools. Later, having decided upon the law as his life work, he studied in the offices of White & Smith and J. S. White, at Prescott, and passed a creditable examination before Judge Bundy and an examining committee, being admitted to the bar at Ellsworth, December 13, 1879. In 1880 J. S. White left for the West, and Mr. Ross succeeded to his practice. On March 17, 1887, he came to Superior, Wisconsin, and here practiced alone until October, 1888. At that time he formed a partnership with W. D. Dwyer, under the firm style of Ross & Dwyer, and in 1890, C. Smith, now judge of the Superior Court of Douglas county, became a member of the firm. Two years later Louis Hanitch and George J. Douglas were received into the partnership, but during the spring of 1893 Mr. Smith was elected to the bench and Mr. Douglas retired, and the firm became Ross, Dwyer & Hanitch. From January 1, 1881, to January 1, 1887, Mr. Ross served as district attor- ney of Pierce county. When Superior became a village he was elected its first member of the county board of supervisors. On September 12, 1910, he was appointed judge of the Circuit Court, and by election has succeeded himself in office to the present time. He is one of the most popular incumbents of judicial office that Douglas county has known, and the fairness and impartiality of his decisions have never been ques- tioned. In 1892 Judge Ross was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and from 1898 until 1906 served as a member of the State Board of Normal School Regents.
Judge Ross was married December 19, 1878, to Miss Henrietta Viroque Newell, who died October 17, 1894, having been the mother of six children : Leslie G .; Myrtle P., who is the wife of Fred B. Tomp- kins; Mildred S., who is the wife of John A. Lonsdorf; Wayne A .. who died April 25, 1911, at the age of twenty-three years; and two who died in infancy. On June 18, 1896, Judge Ross was married to Carrie Blanche Newell, a sister of his first wife.
OWEN L. JONES. One of Waukesha's prominent young business men is Owen L. Jones, the able cashier of the Farmers' State Bank. A native of this county, Mr. Jones is very well known in Waukesha and
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its vicinity. He is of Welsh origin, the son of parents whose worthy lives require somewhat detailed mention preliminary to the facts of the subject's career.
William and Mary (Lewis) Jones were both born in North Wales and were characteristic representatives of that earnest, unpretentious, self-respecting and God-reverencing race. William Jones spent much of his early life as a seaman. In 1872 he and his wife came, with the five children who then constituted the second generation of the family, to this land of broader opportunities for the latter. He chose as liis home the location at Genesee, Wisconsin, which was the subsequent resi- dence of his family. For one year William Jones worked in Genesee, in the capacity of a laborer. At the end of that time he received an appointment as First Quartermaster of the United States Revenue Cut- ter Andrew Johnson. From that time until 1897 he continued to serve in that office of seamanship. In the last named year he retired from his long succession of voyages and spent his remaining years at his farm in Genesee township, where his life closed on December 10, 1905. He is remembered with much respect and affection in the community which knew him best, for his were the qualities of combined strength and gen- tleness that awaken such esteem. He was a sincerely interested and loyal member of the Presbyterian church and one of his deepest, truest pleasures was the daily and continued perusal of the Book which reveals so much of spiritual beauty to him who reads aright. Mary Lewis Jones, the wife of his earthly years, still lives, in the peaceful sunset of her life, having now attained the age of seventy-six years. Of the seven chil- dren who were born to William and Mary Jones, six are still living. The youngest of these was born on August 1, 1881, and was named Owen L.
The public schools of Genesee, Wisconsin, and St. John's Military Academy at Delafield, Wisconsin, engaged the youthful attention of Owen L. Jones until he had neared the age of twenty. He then studied for one year in the department of Law in Marquette University. Hav- ing thus obtained a general and practical education fitting him for life's activities, he spent two years in superintending affairs on his father's agricultural property. While there, he received appointment as deputy clerk of the Circuit Court, which he served for three years. At the end of that time he and other men of business ability in Waukesha county had formulated plans for the enterprise which now occupies Mr. Jones' attention.
The Farmers' State Bank of Waukesha was established in November of 1911 by the following founders : Messrs. John A. Rodgers, Robert L. Holt, Thomas L. Jones, Dr. W. A. McFarlane and Owen L. Jones, with a capital of $30,000 and a surplus of $6,000. The bank's official directory is as follows: Mr. Rodgers, president; Mr. Holt, vice-president; Mr. Jones, cashier ; Verne E. DeRemer, assistant cashier ; Messrs. Rodgers,
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Holt, Milo Miekleston, John A. Becker, W. A. McFarlane, George A. Jones, W. A. Foster, John L. Morris, D. W. Roberts, Peter Swart, Jr., and Henry L. Gitner, directors. Mr. Foster resides on Rural Route No. 4, and Mr. Morris on Route 8; and the other directors in Waukesha. In the year of the bank's organization, Owen Jones entered upon the duties of cashier for this commercial institution and has even since con- tinued to hold that position.
Mr. Jones is a business man of that type of which a notable character- istic is close and careful attention to business, and his ineumbeney of his important position is a matter for congratulation to both directors and patrons of the bank. He holds membership in the Lodge, Chapter and Council of the Masonic Order; his church connection is with the Presbyterian of Waukesha; and his political affiliation with the Repub- lican party.
MORRIS FULLER Fox. In the solid virtues of citizenship and in sub- stantial accomplishment in the field of business and civil affairs there is probably no family more representative of the best in the life of this state than that of Fox, of which the member named above is prominent in financial eireles, and is now a resident of the city of Milwaukee. He was for some years a resident of Chicago, and during 1912 was secretary of the Wisconsin Society of Chicago, an organization of about seven hun- dred members who are prominent in their respective affairs in the city of Chicago, and whose lives are ereditable to the state of their origin.
Morris F. Fox is a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, having been born in Fitchburg township on his father's farm April 19, 1883. The Fox family have been residents of Southern Wisconsin since 1841. The par- ents were Arthur O'Neill and Anna Myra (Williams) Fox. The father was born on a farm adjoining that upon which Morris F. first saw the light of day, and the date of his birth was November 2. 1855. The grandfather of Morris F. Fox was Dr. Wm. Herriman Fox, who was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, and was one of the first settlers in Dane county of Wisconsin territory and a signer of the state constitu- tion. The mother of Mr. Fox, a daughter of the late Chauncey L. Wil- liams, another pioneer of this state. was born in Madison December 10. 1859. She died March 5, 1912, and her marriage occurred June 14. 1882. The seven children in the parents' family were as follows: Morris Ful- ler; Cornelia L., wife of Robert C. Brown of New York City : Anna Myra ; Catherine, wife of Samuel W. Burford of Hazel Green, Wisconsin : Neill Williams; Lueia Byrne; and Helen Williams, who died at the age of five years.
Arthur O. Fox, the father, spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Dane county, and was educated in the district schools. Subse- quently he attended a private school in Detroit, Michigan, and attended the University of Wisconsin for three years with the class of 1876. It
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was somewhat unusual for a young college man of that time to devote himself to farming, but it was to that occupation and to stock raising that Mr. Arthur O. Fox gave all his time and energy for a number of years. His farm was the old homestead in Fitchburg township of Dane county, comprising two hundred and sixty acres of land. To this estate he added other lands in proportion to the success of his business, until he was finally the owner of twelve hundred acres of land, and had a reputation all over the United States of an importer and breeder of Shropshire sheep. The college-trained farmer had gone far beyond all his contempo- raries in the success he had won in an industry which was not then thought to require learning or high technical skill. The thoroughbred bucks of his herd were sold throughout the west to the range sheepmen, and at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893 he received over $1,000.00 in cash prizes, besides many sweep-stakes medals on his sheep. He was also almost equally well known as a breeder of fine cattle and horses. In 1895 he removed his home to Madison for the purpose of educating his children in the city schools, and at that time he sold part of his farm. On taking up his residence in the city, he became actively identified with large enterprises there. He became associated with his brother-in-law, Col. William F. Vilas, and organized the Northern Electrical Manufac- turing Company for the manufacture of electric motors and dynamos. During the five years of his management, Mr. Fox advanced the output of the factory so that it amounted to $2,000,000 in value per year, and it was a very valuable plant when they sold it to the General Electric Company. Mr. Fox also became one of the directors in the Bank of Wisconsin, and is one of the directors in the Savings Loan and Trust Company, and the Central Wisconsin Trust Company, all of Madison. Since disposing of his electrical interests he has given much attention to real estate investments in the city of Madison, and is one of the largest owners of property in that city. He is a member of the Madison Park & Pleasure Drive Association, a member of the Madison Club, the Wis- consin Society of Chicago, the Union League Club of Chicago and is one of the most ardent boosters of his home city of Madison. In politics he is a Democrat.
Morris Fuller Fox during his boyhood attended the district schools of Dane county, and also the village school at Oregon, completing his public school education in the grammar and high school of Madison. He subsequently entered the University of Wisconsin, and was graduated in the class of 1904, being a member of the first class which graduated in what is known as the School of Commerce of the University. On leav- ing college he entered the employ of the Nash Lumber Co. in Ashland county, Wisconsin. After one year with this company, he became asso- ciated with his father in the real estate business at Madison. For two years he was busy with the varied interests of the property controlled by his father, and in 1908 he and his father organized the Interstate
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Light and Power Company of Galena, Illinois. The father became president and Morris F. secretary of this company, and held those offices until in 1910, when they sold out to H. M. Byllesby & Company of Chicago, bankers and extensive owners and operators of Public Utilities. At this point Mr. M. F. Fox became associated with the Byllesby organiza- tion and soon after was placed in charge of the financial operations of H. M. Byllesby & Co. in Illinois, and was located in Chicago up to Janu- ary 1, 1913, at which date he assumed the same duties in Wisconsin, and moved his residence to Milwaukee.
Mr. Fox is a member of the University Club of Milwaukee, The Milwaukee Club, the University Club of Chicago and the Madison Club, and is also a member of the Wisconsin Society of Chicago. Fraternally he affiliates with Madison Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. M., and with Madison Chapter No. 4, R. A. M., and Psi Upsilon, College Fraternity. In politics he is a Democrat.
He was married at Chicago June 4, 1910, to Miss Lucy Ripley, a niece and ward of Mr. J. J. Dau, a prominent wholesale merchant of Chicago.
CHARLES KRENZKE. For the past fifteen years one of the rising attor- neys of the Racine bar has been Mr. Charles Krenzke, whose success as a lawyer has been notable. Mr. Krenzke entered the practice of his profession, through the avenue of hard work, in preparation and study. Although of a family which has long been in comfortable circumstances, and noted for their integrity, Mr. Krenzke himself began life princi- pally on his own account, and through his own industry and native ability has won his way to his present prominence in the Racine bar.
Charles Krenzke was born in Racine March 2, 1871, and is a son of August and Wilhelmina (Reinke) Krenzke, both of whom were natives of Prussia, Germany. The paternal grandfather was named Friederich Krenzke, who immigrated to America in 1870. In his native land he had followed farming, and after coming to this country worked the farm owned by his son, August, for some years. Subsequently, he removed to Racine, and later to his son's farm in Milwaukee county, where he died at the age of eighty-eight years. The wife of this veteran farmer was named Fredericka Kuehne, whose death occurred ten years earlier than that of her husband, when she was sixty years of age. She and her husband were the parents of five children. The paternal grandfather had served as a soldier in the regular army of Germany.
August Krenzke, the father, who had followed the trade of wagon maker in Germany, on coming to America in 1869. located at Racine. where for fourteen years, up to 1883. he was in the employ of the Fish Brothers Wagon Works. For a year or two he followed building and contracting, after which he sold his residence in town. and located on his farm in Caledonia township. He had purchased this land. consisting of
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fifty acres, some years before, and the old homestead is still owned by Mr. Krenzke, although for the past ten years, he has lived on a much larger farm in Milwaukee county. August Krenzke married a daughter of Carl and Sophia Reinke, both of whom are natives of Germany. Carl Reinke had followed the occupation of shepherd, and his death occurred in young manhood. His wife subsequently married William Lueckfeld, who is now deceased though she still survives, being nearly eighty years of age. August Krenzke and wife had the following children : Charles; August; Louisa, the wife of George Stecher of Caledonia town- ship ; Friederich, also of Caledonia township; George of Racine; Leonard of Oak Creek township, Milwaukee county; Wilhelmina, the wife of Edward Berg of Oak Creek township; William (1) who died aged six years; William (2) of Oak Creek township; and Edward, attending school. Mr. and Mrs. August Krenzke are communicants of the Lutheran church. Reared in Racine, where he remained until about fifteen years of age, Charles Krenzke then began work upon the farm, receiving monthly wages. His education was further continued in St. John's Lu- theran School, and he continued at farm labor until he was twenty-four years of age. During his work on the farm, his spare time was spent in the study of law, largely through correspondence law and business schools, and for two winter seasons he attended the Racine Academy, which was then conducted by W. W. Rowlands. A little later Mr. Row- lands having discontinued his school, took up the practice of law, and Mr. Krenzke then followed him into his offices, as a lawyer, and studied law under his direction, for two years. His admission to the bar of Racine, occurred in 1897, and in the same year began his practice in this city, at first in the office of John T. Wentworth, and then for one year with Cooper, Simmons and Nelson. He then became a partner of Judge Max W. Heck, which relationship continued for two years, or until Mr. Heck was elected county judge, and took office, which was in January, 1902. Since that time Mr. Krenzke has practiced independently.
On November 30, 1899, Mr. Krenzke married Miss Ida Berg, a daugh- ter of Edward and Catherine (Seebach) Berg. To this marriage have been born five children named Martha, Carl, Theodore R., Alfred, and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Krenzke are members of the Lutheran church. His fraternal affiliations are with the Deutscher Maennerverein, and the Concordia Jünger Maennerverein. In politics he is a Democrat, and for two years was assistant city attorney. The family residence is at 1948 North Michigan street, where Mr. Krenzke built an attractive home in the fall of 1901
LUCIUS BOARDMAN DONKLE, M. D. Now a Chicago physician and surgeon of high standing and many successful connections, Dr. Donkle is a native of Wisconsin, grew up and received most of his early schooling in his home state near Madison, and belongs to a family
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which for three generations has been identified with Wisconsin from the early territorial period.
Lucius Boardman Donkle was born at Verona, in Dane county, Wisconsin, on his father's farm, October 30, 1877. His parents were Edward and Martha P. (White) Donkle. His father was born at Wilkes-Barre, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, and died in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1902. The mother who was born in New York state in 1840 is still living at her home in Madison. The parents were married in Wisconsin, and of their seven children five are living, Dr. Donkle being the youngest of the family. The father was a child when the family moved out to the territory of Wisconsin, during the decade of the thirties. Their journey was made overland with wagon and ox teams, and having entered the wilderness of southern Wiscon- sin, Grandfather Donkle bought land in Dane county at one dollar and a half per acre, being one of the first to establish a home in that section, and take his share in the clearing of the wilderness. Grand- father Donkle spent his days as a farmer, and his son, the father of Dr. Donkle succeeded to the same occupation. His boyhood years were all spent on the farm, and afterwards he was associated with his father, and on making a start for himself bought timber land, and went through the identical toil and stress of developing a farm which his father before him had undergone. The late Edward Donkle became one of the most prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Dane county. He was a lover of fine horses, and on his estate bred and raised many fine animals. The old home of one hundred and sixty acres is still in the family name. In 1893 the father retired from the farm, and built a beautiful home in the capital city of Madison, where he spent his last days. During the Civil war he went out from Wis- consin, as a soldier in Company K of the Forty-Second Wisconsin Infantry, and did not return home until the war was over. He never showed any inclination or aspiration for public office, but did mneh in the quiet way of a private and industrious citizen. He was an active member of the Baptist church, and assisted in the building and establishment of three churches in Dane county. He served as deacon in his home church for many years, and in matters of morality was a strong temperance man. During his early life he voted the Whig ticket, and afterwards supported the Republican party.
It was on his father's old farm in Dane county that Dr. Donkle spent his boyhood, working during the summer and attending distriet school during the winter. Later he was sent to the city sehools in Madison, and graduated from the high school with the class of 1898. He took his preparatory work for medicine in the University of Wis- consin, and then attended the Illinois University. Medical Depart- ment in Chicago, where he was graduated M. D. in 1903. Hle was elected to the honorary Scholarship Fraternity while at the University
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