Dane County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1906 (part 16 of 29)

1834. The wife of William Fischer was Adalhaeide Klosterhalfer, who was born at Kerben, Prussia, December 31, 1790, and died October 14, 1889, at Waunakee, Wis,, having lived fifty-five years a widow. She came to Dane county in 1852 and settled in Springfield township, making the trip from Milwaukee with oxen. Michael Koltes, father of the subject of this review, grew to man- Tiood in Germany, and received his education in the excellent schools of that country. Realizing the greater opportunities to be enjoyed in the western hemisphere he migrated to America, and in March, 1853, came to Springfield townsh:p, Dane county, where he took up his abode on a farm and continued to reside there until 1866. In that year he located on a farm in Westport township, and continued the occupation of a farmer until 1879, when he changed his residence to the village of Waunakee and for three years conducted a butcher shop. In 1881 he also engaged in the lumber business and was so employed until 1886, when he retired from active participation in affairs. He is an extensive land owner, possessing about six hundred acres, and also owns considerable village property in Waunakee, where he lives, enjoying the fruits of a well spent and industrious life. He was married, January 4, 1855, to Miss Helen Fischer, of Springfield township, and more than fifty years of happy wedded life has been the good fortune of this honored and respected couple. On January 4, 1905, they had the comparatively rare pleasure of celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage in a happy golden weddmg. They are the parents of four children, viz : Mrs. Jos. Dorn of Westport township; Mrs. John Miller, of Springfield, township; Joseph H., who is the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. P. R. R:phahan of Waunakee. In political faith Michael Koltes is a Democrat, has served as supervisor, and was school district treasurer for a number of years. Joseph H. Koltes, our immediate subject, was educated in the common schools of Springfield township and in the Waunakee graded schools ; and in the Catholic parochial schools of Madison. After leaving school he worked in the butcher shop for his father about two years, and then for one year was in the meat business for himself. In 1883 he engaged in the lumber business at Waunakee, with his father, meeting with good success, and although other interests demand a portion of his time and attention, he has been closely identified with the lumber industry for a period of twenty years. He was also an extensive buyer and shipper of horses for about two years. In 1887 he engaged in the mercantile business with P. R. Riphahan, and in 1890 the latter became a partner of Mr. Koltes in the lumber business. In Marchr 1905, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Riphahan taking the mercantile business and Mr. Koltes the lumber interests of the firm. From 1890 to 1892 Lawrence Freney was also connected in business with Messrs. Koltes and Riphahan, during which time the firm name was Koltes. Riphahan & Freney. Besides other business interests, Mr. Koltes owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota. He was one of the organizers of the Waunakee state bank, and at present holds the position of vice president of the same. In politics he is a Democrat, and that his personal worth and efficiency have been recognized is proven by the positions of trust which he has held. He has been one of the trustees of the village of Waunakee for two years, and for seven years a member of the county board of supervisors, representing the village in which he resides. He has been treasurer of the school board for ten years, at present being the incumbent of that position, and for one year he also held the office of treasurer of Westport township. He and his family are members of the Catholic church, which is also true of Mr. Koltes' parents, mentioned above. On February 11, 1885, Mr. Koltes was married to Miss Mary Josephine Tierney, who was born in Westport, December 4, 1862. She is the daughter of John H. and Brdget (Malone) Tierney, both natives of Ireland, who came to Dane county and settled on the farm where they now reside, in Westport township. Mr. Tierney is a very prominent and worthy citizen, in politics a Democrat, has been for thirteen years chairman of the township board, and a few years ago was a member of the Wisconsin leg'slature. He and family are also members of the Catholic church. Joseph H. Koltes and wife are the parents of the following children: Edward M.. Harry J., Ida A., Raphael P., Grace D., Catharine C. (died at the age of three months), Florence J., and Eleanor M.

Andrew N. Korrison is a well known citizen of Morrisonville, where he has lived since 1903, and has always been occupied with farming. His father, Xels Korrison, was born in Leardal, Norway, November 17, 1824, was educated in the common schools and there married to Miss Ann Tolifson, who was a native of the same place, born in 1829. They made their home in Leardal, until 1855 and then came to America, continuing their journey as far west as Dane county, Wisconsin. After a short time spent in that locality, they moved to the township of Elba, Dodge county, Wis., which was their home until the year 1878. At that time they came to Morrisonville, where Mrs.

Korrison died in 1896 and her husband is still living, eighty-two years of age. Mr. Korrison has always been a farmer except for the few years he spent in the army at the time of the Civil War. He is a veteran of the Union army, having enlisted in September, 1861 as a private in Company H of the Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He received a wound in his right leg, from which he suffered a great deal but was not mustered out until April, 1863. Nels Korrison is a Republican in his political affiliations. With his wife and family he attended the Norwegian Lutheran church. The family numbered eleven sons and daughters, of whom four daughters and two sons are now living. Andrew N. was born in the town of Elba, November 9, 1857, attended the schools of Danville, Dodge county and early engaged in farming. He built up an extensive farming business which he carried on for a number of years and in 1903 came to Morrisonville to live, where he owns a substantial and attractive residence. Mr. Korrison is allied with the Republican party in his political sympathies but does not devote miuch time to active participation in political affairs. August 15, 1886, he married Miss Maria Hoist ot Peoria, 111., and one son, John Henry, was born to them. Mrs. Korrison died and in April, 1900, Mr. Korrison married Miss Julia Thon, daughter of J. H. Thori, (elsewhere mentioned). Mr. and Mrs. Korrison are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Charles Korrison, a prominent business man of Morrisonville, was born at Danville, Dodge county, September 7, 1863. His father, Nels Korrison, is mentioned in this work. He received his education in his native village, and his early life and the first years of his young manhood were spent upon the farm. In 1885, he came to Madison where he worked as an engineer for five years; following this he learned the trade of the painter which he has since followed, and has, in that line built up an extensive business. In 1891, he married Miss Carrie Grove, of Morrisonville, and they have two children, Elmer, born January 7, 1892, and Clarence Levi, born January 30, 1898. His church affiliations are with the Norway Grove church, and his political alliance with the Republican party. Mrs. Korrison's parents, Eric and Carrie (Oleson) Grove came to Morrisonville about forty years ago, where Mr. Grove practiced his trade as shoemaker. They had four children, all of whom are living. He was a Republican in politics, and all of the family are connected with the Norway Grove Lutheran church. Mr. Grove died in Morrisonville and his widow still makes her home in that village.

Anna Maria (Jordan) Kraft, natives of Germany. The father died in the land of his nativity in 1886 at the age of fifty-eight. The mother died some fifteen years earlier in her forty-second year. George Kraft received his education in the schools of Germany and in 1880 started for America, his objective point being Madison. Upon his arrival here he went to work for Thomas Regan at the plumbers' trade. After an apprenticeship of seven years he opened a shop of his own and his been engaged in that business ever since. Probably without an exception there is no more skilled workman in the city today than is Mr. Kraft. The quality of his labor has been such as to cause a demand for it from all sides, and as a result he has equipped the majority of the public buildings and a large number of houses, not only with the plumbing apparatus,, but also with the heating attachments. In October, 1880, he married Eva, daughter of Adam and Anna Marie (Spahn) Scholl, natives of Germany. Mrs. Kraft was the only member of her family who ever came to America. To Mr. and Mrs. Kraft have been born e'ght children ; George, Jr., and Charles are employed by their father; Anna, Louis. William, Mary, Caroline, and Joseph,, all at home. The family are members of the German Catholic church. Air. Kraft is a member of the Catholic Foresters.

Paul Krakow, a respected farmer of the town of Deerfield, and residing now in the village of Deerfield was born at Woltersdorf, near Stettin, Germany, December 2, 1868. He was the eldest son of August Krakow and his second wife, Augusta Arndt, natives of Germany. In 1886 August Krakow brought his wife and family to America, coming directly to Jefferson county. For four years he worked by the day at any job that offered and then rented a farm in Dane county for two years. When his lease ran out he returned to Jefferson county and rented another farm, which he worked until his death in 1899, leaving a widow and nine children. Paul Krakow remained with the father's family until he was twenty-seven years old and then started life for himself by buying the farm on which he now lives. Despite the fact that ill health and misfortune have been his lot for several years he has kept cheerful and worked hard, and with the help of his wife, has freed the farm of debt and made many improvements. Plis is a record of which to be proud. In politics he is a Republican ; in religion a Moravian. He united in marriage with Anna, daughter of William and Ida (Punzel) Liebenow, natives of Stendel, Germany. Mrs. Krakow was born November 2, 1870, and received her education in the public schools of Jefferson county. To Paul and Anna Krakow have been born five children, - Herbert Paul, Septem-.

ber 30, 1897; Esther May, September 11, 1898; Gertrude Dorothy, August 12, 1900; Carl August, October 3, 1902; and Paul William, March 19, 1904. Because of ill-health and for the better educational advantages offered the children, Mr. Krakow sold his farm of nintysix acres and moved into Deerfield village on March 4, 1906.

Lars C. Kravick has been prominent among Dane county farmers for a number of years and is the owner of a fine property in the town of Christiania. His father, Halvor L., was born in Nummedahl, Norway, and came to Wisconsin in 1843. He married Miss Christina Christopherson, who came with her parents in 1842, from the same place in Norway. They were married in October, 1845, and commenced their life together on a farm of forty acres of government land obtained by Mr. Kravick in the township of Christiania. Here they built a log house and later replaced it by a substantial stone dwelling. Some years later another tract of land was added to the farm and many improvements made. For many years Mr. Kravick served on the town board, was also an active worker in school affairs and those of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He was always a stanch Republican. Lars C. is the od-est of their children; Martin C. has a farm in section 36, town of Christiania; Ellen (deceased) married Rev. O. Lockensegard, principal of the high school at Madison, Minn, to whom two* children, Olaf and Camille, were born. Maria is the wife of the Rev. K. A. Kasburg of Riceford, Minn.; Halvor and his wife lived for about six years in Stoughton and left there to join their daughter, Airs. Kasburg, in Grand Forks, N. Dak., having made Minneapolis and more recently Riceford, Minn., their home. Lars O, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Christiania October 20, 1853, received his education at the home school and the Albion academy and assisted his father with the work of the farm. In 1876 he married Miss Johanna Christianson, who came to Wisconsin from Hedemarken, Norway in 1873. Her mother, Olga (Esarkson) Paulson came in 1888. Miss Christianson's father, Christian Paulson, died in Norway. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kravick. Herman C. is a merchant at Cambridge and married Lena Onsgard; Ludwig, a graduate from Valparaiso' College, Ind., and also a student of the Milwaukee Medical college, is engaged in the drug business at Springfield, Wis.; Osvald is deceased; Charlotte is the wife of the superintendent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for North Chicago and has two children, Junice R. C. and Norris L. J.; Lydia resides with her parents and attends the Stoughton high school; Asora, Arthur and Nina reside with their parents and attend the Albion academv; Elvin I. attends the home school. Mr. and Mrs. Kra- vick live on the old Kravick farm which consists of one hundred and twenty acres. They are prominent in the East Synod Lutheran church, of which Mr. Kravick has been secretary for many years. Mr Kravick is a Republican in political sympathy and has been supervisor, chairman of the town board, poor commissioner for several years and asylum trustee for six years. He is also president of the Hillside farmer's creamery.

Felix A. Kremer, supreme president of the Defenders and senior vice commander of the Sons of Veterans, was born near Mount Carroll, 111., October 18, 1872. His parents, John M. and Josephine (Fischer) Kremer, were both born in Germany, but were married in Freeport, 111. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was collector of customs at one of the large German ports. John M. Kremer came to America in 1848, the passage taking fifty-eight days, and went to work at the bookbinders' trade in Mount Carroll. Before the railroads had entered that section of the country he carried mail between Mount Carroll, Fulton and Morrison. During the Civil War he served as quartermaster's clerk in an Illinois regiment and after the close of hostilities returned to farming in Carroll county, 111. He was a fine Imguist. speaking French, German and English fluently. His death occurred December 18, 1900. Though a member of no church he and his wife were regular attendants at some religious service and were upright Christian characters. The wife and mother is still living, making her home on the old farm in Carroll county. There were nine children in the family. Herman W. is a leading farmer and stock raiser in Carroll county. 111.; Felix A. is the subject of this sketch ; Clara M. is a teacher in the Bozeman, Montana, schools ; Frank is a ranchman in Gallatin county, Montana ; Harry D. is an attorney of Bozeman ; William J. is a ranch owner in Gallatin county, Montana; John H. is a student in the University of Montana; Lucy is attending the public schools of Bozeman ; and Charles D., a young man with a brilliant future, was accidently shot in 1895 while hunting. Felix A. Kremer received his early education in the common schools. From the time he finished his schooling until he reached his majority he labored on his father's farm. With the money he had saved he attended the northern Illinois college of law at Fulton, and in 189G was admitted to practice in the Illinois courts. From 189G until 1899 he practiced law and taught school, incidentally doing some work with fraternal insurance. In the latter year he was elected state manager for Wisconsin of the Mystic Workers of the World. When

Mr. Kremer entered the insurance business he discovered the bad features of the business and became interested in working out some form of society or policy which would not only give protection at the time of death but would provide relief in case of accident, disability or old age. With this plan as a working principle he organized The Defenders and on January 28, 1905, incorporated the society, which is destined to become a great institution as it is the pioneer for reform in life insurance. Fraternally he is a well known, being identified with fifteen fraternal orders. He is a Mason, a member of the Eastern Star, Knights of Pythias, Rathbone Sisters, Modern Woodmen. Mystic Workers, Royal Neighbors, Sons of Veterans, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and other organizations. When he took the thirty-second degree in Masonry he was selected as orator of his class. He owns eleven hundred acres of land in Wisconsin and is deeply interested in agricultural pursuits. Through his work in the farmers' institutes he has gained a reputation among the rural communities that is state wide. On different occasions he has been asked to deliver Memorial Day, Fourth of July and other addresses. During the last three presidential elections he has "taken the stump" for the Republican party, of which he is a zealous and active member. Mr. Kremer says that some of the best insights into life which he ever had were received while editing a country paper and again while selling books. He is unmarried. He is a fine example of a "selfmade" man and has deservedly gained a position in the commercial and social life of the community of which he may well feel proud. Rev. Gnusten G. Krostu, the subject of this sketch, was born on March 3, i860, in Waupaca county, Wisconsin. His early education he received in the district schools of Waupaca county and at the Waupaca high school. He continued his studies at Luther college, Decorah, Iowa, 1878-1880 and at the University of Wisconsin 1880-1881. In 1882 he took up the study of theology at the Lutheran Seminary in Madison, Wis., where he studied, 1882-1884, and in the fall of 1884 he entered Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, where he was graduated from the theological department May 22, 1885. August 16, the same year, he was ordained to the min'strv by the Ohio Synod at "Grace Church" Columbus, Ohio. He came at once to Dane county where he Has ever since had charge of the East and West Koshkonong and Liberty Prairie Churches of the United Norwegian Lutheran church. He resides in the original home of the pastor of this district. It was built 1844, rebuilt in 1852 and 1867. It is the oldest Norwegian parsonage in America. It is located near the village of Utica. 34 - iii

June 24, 1887 he was married to Miss Clara Augnes Hartmann of Amherst, Wisconsin, a daughter of Richard and Wilhelmina Hartmann, who came from Saxony, Germany, to Wisconsin in 1853. Eight children were born to the marriage. The oldest daughter, Lydia,. and the only son, Loy, attend St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minn. Seda, Franciska, Paulina and Glades are at home and two children died in infancy. Rev. G. G. Krostu has the use of a farm of ninety acres which belongs to his churches, and which he manages successfully in spite of his manifold church duties. His parents, Gunsten T. and Sigrid Krostu came from Norway to Wisconsin in 1850. They were among the first settlers in Waupaca county where they have been residing ever since. They raised a large family of children - four sons and three daughters - all living in Waupaca county, except the subject of this sketch.

David A. Lackey is a well known farmer of the town of York, the son of one of Dane county's pioneers and a native of York. The family is of Scotch descent the wife and eleven children of Hugh Lackey all came to the United States. Three of lis sons are living, - all residing in Wisconsin, - Thomas in Williams Bay, Hugh in Elkhorn, and Robert in Milwaukee. Their brother Archibald, father of David A., was born March 1, 1820, came to Wisconsin with the family and lived for a time in Walworth county. There he married Miss Mary Kennedy, who was born in Scotland in 1823 and came to Dane county in 1855. They subsequently came to York, purchased an eighty-acre farm and proceeded to clear and improve it. From time to time he enlarged the farm until at his death in 1891, it consisted of one hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Lackey was a Republican in politics but never active in political affairs. He and his family belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. His family of five sons and daughters are all living, several in Dane county. David Lackey lives on the old homestead, where he was born June 2, 1862. He attended the district school and the York Center graded school and lias always engaged in the business of farming. His experience of many years in the bus'ness and his habit of keeping posted on all which concerns it has made him successful and he owns besides his homestead an eighty-acre farm in Taylor county, Wisconsin. He makes a spec'alty of Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Lackey is a Republican and active in the political world. For several years he served as clerk of the town and as assessor. December 16, 1891, he married Miss Hattie May Montgomery, who was born in York in 1872 and is the daughter of Cyrus and Mary (Webber) Montgomery. Mr. Mont- gomery came to York from Vermont in the early days, was a farmer there for many years and has now retired, making his home in Waterloo. Air. and Mrs. Lackey have one daughter, Gladys May, born in 1900. The family is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Lackey is a member of the Waterloo Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M.

Nels A. Ladd, Mr. Lyons' partner in the conduct of the Lion Laundry, was born March 11, 1870, in Pleasant Springs town, Dane county. His parents were Erick E. and Bertina (Olson) Ladd. both natives of Norway, where the father was a farmer. In 1852 he came to Wisconsin, settling on the farm in Pleasant Springs, where he lived until his death, which occurred June 4, 1895, while he was in the sixty-sixth year of his age. All during his life he was an active Democrat, and as such was twice elected county treasurer, in 1890 and in 1892. Both he and his wife were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. The wife is still living on the old farm in the town of Pleasant Springs, and although she is nearly e'ghty years of age she retains wonderful possession of all her faculties. There were six children in the Ladd family, Mary, Mrs. Hans Ivers of the town of Albion ; Eric, a machinist in Stoughton ; Carrie, Mrs. Thomas Peterson, of Wallace, Id. ; Susan, Mrs. A. J. Lillesand of Stoughton ; Julia, Mrs. A. T. Townsend, whose husband is a machinist in Stoughton ; and Nels A., the subject of this sketch. The last named received his education in the common schools of the district and graduated from Albion Academy with the class of 1889. After the father's election to office Nels came to Madison to assist him, and while here took advantage of the educational advantages offered and was graduated from the law department of the state university with the class of 1896. He began the practice at once and continued in it successfully until 1905, when he entered the laundry bus'ness with Michael L. Lyons. Like his father Mr. Ladd has taken an active interest in the Democratic politics of the city and county. In 1902 he was the nominee of his party for the office of assemblyman from the Madison district, but went down to defeat before the Republican landslide of that year. He has been for five years and is now the chairman of the Democratic county committee. Fraternally Mr. Ladd is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is at present vice grand chancellor of the state ; he is also a past grand ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Madison Lodge, No. 416, and has represented that lodge in the conclaves in New Orleans, x\tlantic City and Salt Lake City. For five years he was head coun- sellor of Jurisdiction D of the Woodmen of the World, comprising the states of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and is now serving as a member of the board of fire and pol'ce commissioners of the city of Madison. On February 6, 1896, he married Miss Christena, daughter of J. H. and Henrietta Huppeler, natives of Germany. Mr. Huppeler has since died, but his wife is living in Muscoda, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd have one child, Vera, now eight years of age.

Will J. Ladwig is the owner of a large farm in the town of Medina and the son of an old resident of Dane county. Martin Ladwig, his father, was born in Germany in 1819, was educated in Germany and there married to Miss Christina Harman, also a native of Germany, born in 1822. They came to America in 1861 and made their home for a time in Waterloo, Jefferson county, Wisconsin. In 1865, Mr. Ladwig purchased a farm in the town of Medina which became the permanent home of the family. He now, at the age of eighty-seven years, lives with his son August Ladwig, at Lowell, Wisconsin. Mrs. Ladwig died in 1890. Their family of five children are all living. Mr. Ladwig was a Republican and interested in politics. He and his wife attended the Methodist Episcopal church. Will J. Ladwig was born July 4, 1857. in Germany and was brought by his parents to the United States when he was a little lad. He attended school in Dane county and assisted his father on the new farm in Medina. He has had many years of experience as a farmer and owns and supervises a farm of two hundred acres. Particular attention is given to the breeding of registered Poland China hogs, with one of which, Black No. 79099, Mr. Ladwig took first premium at the Beaver Dam fair. Like his father, Mr. Ladw'g is a member of the Republican party and takes an active interest in local politics. In 1885, he married Miss Catherine Naupert, who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Naupert, early settlers of Jefferson county, where their daughter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Ladwig have had three children; the oldest son, Arthur is deceased; Elma and Arnie are the younger ones, who live at home and attend the home schools. The family is associated with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Philip A. Laeser, of Sun Prairie, is one of a family of eight children, all American born, of Bavarian parentage. His father, John Michael Laeser. and his mother, Anna E. (Fisher) Laeser, as well as his paternal grandparents, Michael Laeser and his wife, and his maternal grandparents, Philip and Anna E. Fisher, were all among the early settlers of Dane. The elder Laesers came to Oregon and spent the remainder of their lives there, dying at the advanced ages of eighty-six and eighty years. Mr. Fisher and his family came in 1850, and after a year spent in New York came on to Columbia county, and afterward moved to Sun Prairie, where he now resides, his wife having died in that place in 1897. Philip Laeser received the rudiments of his education in the common schools and was graduated from the high school of Sun Prairie in 1892. He kept books for a short time in Madison, but soon entered upon the active life of a farmer. He has over two hundred and forty acres of land which is used for general farming and stock raising. He is a Democrat and a Catholic, as his father was before him, and he is now serving his fourth term as town clerk of Sun Prairie. Mr. Laesers parents were married in Madison, and settled first in the town of Roxbury, where the subject of this sketch was born, February 13, 1874, and where he now resides, - and later came to Sun Prairie township, settling on the farm now owned by their son Philip, and in the latter place, Mr. J. M. Laeser died in 1880; his widow, aged sixty-two, lives in Sun Prairie. Of the eight children, five are living. On September 23, 1902, Philip A. Laeser and Emma M. Mader were married. She is the daughter of Nicholas P. and Gertrude (Niederprim) Mader, and was born at Genoa Junction, October 18, 1884. The father was born in Fleasenlrine, Germany, March 26, 1860, and his wife in Kenosha, but at the time of their daughter's marriage they were residents of Sun Prairie, where they still live. The parental grandparents of Mrs. Laeser were of German birth, and came to Kenosha in 1861. There Mr. Theodore Mader died October 2, 1882, and his wife, Margaret (Shackmut) Mader in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Laeser have one daughter, Arabella Gertrude.

Robert Marion La Follette, three times governor of Wisconsin, and now junior United States senator, is a native of the state, having been born in a log cabin in the town of Primrose. Dane county, Wisconsin, June 14. 1855, of French Huguenot ancestry. He worked on a farm and attended district school, until he was nineteen, when he came to Madison. After some preparatory training in a private academy he entered the University of Wisconsin in 1875, and was graduated four years later with the celebrated class of 1879, of which his wife, Belle (Case) La Follette, and President Charles R. Van Hise are other distinguished members. While in the university he took an active part in the work of the literary societies, and was noted for his oratorical and dramatic ability.

He represented the Athenaean society at the junior oratorical contest, and the following year was the winner of the oratorical contest at the university, the state contest, and the ensuing interstate oratorical contest at Iowa City. He was editor and part owner of the University Press. The year of his graduation he married his classmate, Miss Belle Case, who was likewise noted for her oratorical ability, and a winner of the Lewis prize for the best commencement oration. She afterwards studied law, and was the first woman to graduate from the university law school. In addition to her charming social qualities, she has been the intellectual helpmate of her distinguished husband. After graduation Mr. La Follette entered the law school of his alma mater but attended lectures for only one term and then passed the state examinations for admission to the bar, and immediately opened an office in the city of Madison. From 1881-85 he served as district attorney of Dane county, and from 1885 to 1891, he represented the then third Wisconsin district in the 49th, 50th and 51st congresses, and was the youngest member of the house at the time of his entrance. His brilliant powers as a public debater soon brought him into prominence, and as a member of the committee on ways and means, he ass'sted in framing the "McKinley" tariff bill in 1890. He was especially charged with drafting the schedules on farm products, tobacco, linen and silk, and was also a member of the sub-committee which framed the iron and steel schedules. On his retirement from congress in 1891, he resumed the active practice of law at Madison, as the senior member of the firm of La Follette, Harper, Roe & Zimmerman. This partnership was dissolved in 1894, since which time he has been alone in the practice. In addition to his work as a busy and successful lawyer for the succeeding ten years, he continued to take a keen interest in public affairs, and was prominent in the councils of the Republican party. He was especially active in promoting a reform movement in Wisconsin, and advocated the adoption of a primary election law, the merit system with reference to holding public office, a law prohibiting the giving or receiving of railroad passes, the establishment of a railway rate commission for the state regulation of railway rates, and fiercely denounced what he termed the "Political Machine." In 1896 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention at St. Louis, where he was a member of the committee on resolutions. In 1897 he delivered an address at the University of Chicago on the "Menace of the Machine ;" the following year, at the University of Michigan, one on the "Nomination of Candi- dates by the Australian Ballot ;'' and at Milwaukee, before the State Agricultural Society, one on "Dangers that Threaten Representative Government." He was the candidate of the "reform" element of his party for the nomination for governor in 1896 and 1898, and was a persistent advocate of his reform policies before state and county agricultural fairs and similar gatherings, both in Wisconsin and in neighboring states. In 1900 he received the Republi can nomination for governor, and his plurality of 102,745 was the largest ever received by a candidate for that office. He was reelected in 1902 by a plurality of 47,599, and again in 1904 by a plurality of 50,952. He was elected, while serving his third term as governor, to the United States senate to succeed J. V. Quarles for the term beginning March 4, 1905.

Peter Lahm, Sr., retired, living at 743 East Johnson street, was born in Germany, June 22, 1837. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Horlander) Lahm, the father a farmer who saw three years' service in the Prussian war. The father died at the age ot sixty-five years, and the mother six weeks later. Of the five children in the family three are living, Catherine. Mrs. Frank Gans of Milwaukee ; Christena, Mrs. David Holler, resides in the town of Lake, Milwaukee county ; and Peter, Sr., the subject of this sketch ; Anna is deceased. Peter received his education in the public schools of Germany and before coming to America was engaged in farming with his father. In 1855 he landed in New York, and for the following thirteen years made New Brunswick, N. J., his home. In 1868 he came to Madison, and the following year engaged in the drayage business, which he followed successfully until his retirement in 1890. On August 17, 1862, he married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Clara (Funk) Gunzelman. Mrs. Lahm was born in Germany. April 28, 1841, and came to this country, settling in Woodbr'dge, N. J., with her parents in 1851. She was one of seven children. Bartholmew, deceased ; Mary, Mrs. John Mack, deceased ; Margaret, Mrs. Anthony Dumbach, resident of Long Island; Mrs. Martin Miller of New Jersey; Barbara; Mrs. Lahm ; and Minna. Mrs. William Smalley of New Brunswick, N. J. To Mr. and Mrs. Lahm were born five children, Clara is the wife of Rudolph Tracy, janitor of the Brown block, by whom she was five children, Olive, Sadie, Ralph, Dorothy and Donald, the last two named being twins ; Kate married Henry R. Lenz, who was born in Germany, and has been a citizen of Madison for twentyfive years and for twenty-three years has been a cutter for M. J. Hoven. butcher, of the city of Madison; Peter, Jr., married Mary

Ryan, by whom he has one child, Florence ; Sadie, Mrs. Hannibal Lacher of Madison ; John, of the Madison fire department. Mrs. Lahm passed away September 22, 1903. Mr. Lahm is a member of the United Workmen. He is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Madison.

John C. Lalor, of Oregon, is a native of Dane county' having been born in Dunn township. August 2, 1865. He is of Irish ancestry, his father, William Lalor, came to this country when he was twenty-five years old and his mother, Amelia (Fox) Lalor, when she was ten. They were married in Indiana, and in June, 1848, came to Wisconsin, and took up one hundred and fifty-four acres of government land in Dunn township, Dane county, which they cleared and improved. Here all of their family of eleven children were born ; of these all are living except one son who was killed in the Civil War. They are Mary J., Ellen and Ann of Dunn township; Kate (Mrs. Broderick), of Iowa; Emma (Mrs. Holmes) of Wisconsin ; Alice, of Washington, D. C. ; William of New Madison, town of Dunn ; R'chard of Iowa ; James H., of New Madison, and John C, the subject of this sketch. They were all educated in the public schools of Dunn, Fitchburg and Madison. Mr. Lalor has worked at various occupations, having been employed in a grocery, the lumber and the drug business, but in later years has interested himself in farming exclusively. - He owns a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres, situated about fourteen miles from the city of Madison, a little to the southeast ; this was an improved property when he bought it, seven years ago. June 24. 1896, he was married to Miss Mary M. Martin, daughter of John and Mary ( Luther) Martin, of Dunn township. They have no children. Mr. Lalor is an independent in politics, and a member of the Catholic church, but his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Her parents were farmers and are both deceased.

Christian Lammert, boot and shoe dealer of Middleton, was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, September 1, 1842, and educated in German schools. John and Mary Teda Lammert, his parents, were born in Mecklenburg, were married there and there spent their early married life. The mother died in 185!) and in 1S66 the family came to America and located at Middleton. John Lammert, the father, died in Nebraska in 1885 as did also their oldest son. John; the second, Frederick, now deceased, was a merchant in Schuyler, Neb.; Henry is a ranch owner in Oregon; Mary died in 1870; Christian, of Middleton, is the youngest. When "the family settled in Middleton, Christian immediately set to work at shoe-making, which was the trade he had learned in the Fatherland and in 1890 he opened his present store. November 5, 1866, he was married to Miss Sophia Kilgrast, daughter of Fritz and Sophia Kilgratz of Meckelburg Schwerin. Mrs. Lammert died in 11)02 and of their six children but one is living. Minnie, their daughter, is the wife of Oscar Engles and lives in Sun Prairie, Wis. The family have always been warm supporters of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Lammert is a Democrat but has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote himself to his growing business, which has flourished under his care.

William E. Lamont is an excellent representative of the kind of citizen produced when the sturdy stock of "York state" was infused with the virility which has characterized the life of the northwest. He comes of a line of pioneers, his paternal grandfather, Benjamin Lamont. a native of New York, being one of the earliest settlers of Canandagua county. There he spent the greater part of his life and there his son, Thair G. Lamont, was born in 1832. The latter married Miss Julia Ann Cook, and they came west and settled in Vienna in 1867. Mrs. Lamont died the following year and her husband survived her nearly thirty years, he dying in Lodi in October, 1897. Mr. T. G. Lamont was a prominent member of the community and of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged. He was a life-long Democrat and served as a supervisor of Vienna. Wm. E. Lamont. his son, received a liberal education in the common school, high school of Lodi and the University of Wisconsin. He taught school for nine years, beginning at the age of nineteen ; afterward he took up farming, and on his fine property of three hundred and fifty acres breeds Clydsdale horses, beside being largely interested in other stock. He is in the best sense of that over-used phrase, a self-made man, and beside attending well to his private affairs, has served the public in the capacity of assessor, treasurer and clerk of the township. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his wife, who was Miss Agnes W. Caldwell, daughter of John and Marian (Wardrop) Caldwell. She was born in Columbia county, May 7, 186B ; her father, a native of Scotland, born 1833, and his w'fe, born 1835. came to Columbia in 1851, and now reside at Lodi. They are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a farmer, a Republican and one of the wealthy men of the county. Of their large family of nine children, all are living. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. E. Lamont have one child, Marian Elizabeth, born April 10, 1898.

Albert T. Lamson, one of the representative farmers and fruitgrowers of Madison township, has been a resident of Dane county for nearly forty years and has won success and independence through his well directed efforts. He is an honored veteran of the Civil War and is a citizen who commands unqualified confidence and esteem. Mr. Lamson is a native of the state of Michigan, having been born in the village of Constantine, St. Joseph county, January 1, 1837. and being a son of Joseph T. and Mary T. (Terhune) Lamson, both of whom were born and reared in New York, the former having been a native of Livingston county and the latter of Chautauqua county. They removed from the old Empire state to Michigan about 1836, shortly before the admission of the state to the Union, and the father became a farmer and hotel keeper in St. Joseph county, where he remained several years, at the expiration of which he returned with his family to the state of New York, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of four sons and one daughter, and all except one son are yet living. Albert T. Lamson was afforded the advantages of the common schools, and the seminary at Lima, N. Y., and was a young man of twenty-four years at the outbreak of the Civil War. His loyalty and patriotism were forthwith quickened to action and he tendered his services in defense of the Union. Concerning his military career the following epitome has been previously published : When the war broke out he enlisted as a private in Company E, promoted and assigned to Company A as second lieutenant, One Hundred and Fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, in which he was promoted and assigned to Company A, as second lieutenant ; he was next promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and assigned to Company G. his command joining the Army of the Potomac. He took part in the battles of Cedar Mountain, South Mountain, Freder'cksburg, Chancellorsville and a number of other engagements, including the preliminary operations at Gettysburg. On July 1, 1863, he was captured and was taken to Libby prison, where he passed ten months. Fortunately he had a little money, with which he could purchase something to eat in addit'on to his miserable allowance, but the confinement caused him a great deal of suffering, nevertheless. Later he was confined for a short time at Danville, Virginia, after which he was taken to Macon, Georgia, and held in the stockade at old Fort Oglethorpe for three months, at the expiration of which he was sent, w!th five hundred union prisoners, to Charleston, South Carolina, and placed under fire of Union guns. Subsequently he was taken to Columbia, that state, where he was held until October 23, 1864, when he and two others succeeded in making their escape. Lieutenant Lamson, W. H. Shelton and Lieutenant Sill were recaptured, in the northwestern part of North Carolina, after seventy-one days of hardships in tramping through the swamps and forests. They were taken to the headquarters of Colonel Thomas, who ordered them to Goldsboro, North Carolina. They managed to escape again, however, and finally reached a Union settlement in the mountains of North Carolina, where they found friends. After passing about three weeks in this locality they succeeded in securing a guide and started for the Union lines in eastern Tennessee. Once inside the lines, they reported to General Stevens, at Chattanooga, and received an order to report to General George H. Thomas, at Nashville, Tennessee. There they received a furlough for thirty days, at the end of which time they reported at Washington, D. C, where Lieutenant Lamson was mustered out February 25, 1865. After the close of the war Mr. Lamson returned to the state of New York, where he remained a short time. In the summer of the year 1865 he went to Nashville, Tennessee, in the employ of the government, being assigned to railroad work, in the mess house. He remained there until autumn and then returned to New York state, where he continued to reside until 1867, when he came to Wisconsin and took up his abode in Dane county, where he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1870 he purchased what was known as the French farm, in Madison township, the same comprising seventy-seven acres of fine land, and here he has since maintained his home, having brought the farm under effective cultivation and having made excellent improvements in the erection of substantial buildings. He has been very successful in his efforts and gives his attention to diversified agriculture and stock-growing and to the raising of ftuits, making a specialty of the last mentioned. He has ever s^iown a loyal interest in public affairs of a local nature and his p<|)lif.ical support is given to the Republican party. He is one of the appreciative and popular members of Lucius Fairchild Post, No. li Grand Army of the Republic, in the city of Madison, and is ex-commander of the same. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Larson wis united in marriage to Miss Flora Jeanette Gorham, daughter of J James Gorham, whom came to Wisconsin from the state of Ndw York, becoming one of the pioneers of Dane county. Mr. an(l Mrs. Lamson have no children.

William H. Lansing, who died at his home in the city of Madison, May 7, 1905, was long identified with the business interests of the capital city and was a representative of one of the prominent and honored pioneer families of Dane county. He was born in Phelps, Ontario county, New York, December 10, 1834, being a son of Robert W. and Elizabeth (Hardy) .Lansing. Robert W. Lansing was born in the old Empire state, and was a son of Garrett Robert Lansing, who passed the closing years of his life in the famous Mohawk valley of New York, having been a farmer by vocation and a member of a family early settled in that commonwealth. Robert W. Lansing was reared and educated in his native state, having been a man of fine mentality and having gained his education largely through personal application outside the school room. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in New York, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until about 1842, when he was appointed receiver of the United States land office at Mineral Point, to which point he removed with his wife and their eight children. They made the trip by way of the great lakes from Buffalo to Milwaukee and thence by stage to their destination. They remained in Mineral Point about three years and then removed to Madison, which was then but a small village, while the surrounding country was sparsely settled and but slightly developed. Robert W. Lansing opened a hotel in Madison, where he also engaged in the practice of his profession. He finally purchased a tract of land in Blooming Grove township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1885, at which time he was eighty-five years of age. He continued in the practice of the law for many years after his removal to his rural home, and his name merits an enduring place in the annals of Dane county history. His wife was likewise born in the state of New York, of English parentage, having been a daughter of Will' am Hardy, who passed the closing years of his life in New York state, having been a farmer by vocation. Mrs. Lansing was summoned to the life eternal on March 11, 1873, at the age of seventy-four years. Both she and her husband were communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church. William H. Lansing, subject of this memoir, was about eight years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Wisconsin, and he here attended the common schools, supplementing this discipline by a partial course in the Univers'ty of Wisconsin, in Madison, the institution at that time being maintained or a very modest scale. After the removal of the family to Madison he initiated his business career by taking a position as salesnan in a dry-goods store, following this line of occupation until the time of his marriage, in 1859, when his father presented to h'm, as a wedding gift, a deed to a farm in Blooming Grove township. He and his bride forthwith, took up their residence on this homestead, to whose improvement and cultivation he continued to give his attention for the ensuing twelve years, at the expiration of which he again took up his residence in Madison, where he established himself in the meat-market business, on Williamson street. He continued to be identified with this line of enterprise about thirty years, becoming one of the best known and most popular business men of the capital city and being a man who ever commanded the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact in the various relations of life. He was a loyal and publicspirited citizen, a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and he served eight years as a member of the board of aldermen. Though not formally identified with any religious body, his views were in harmony with the tenets of the Protestant Episcopal church, in whose faith he was reared. October 23, 1859, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lansing and Miss Martha Francomb, who was born in New York city. December 27, 1840, a daughter of Samuel and Louisa (Nodine) Francomb. They came from New York to Dane county, Wisconsin, when Mrs. Lansing was a child, being numbered among the early settlers of Madison, and there she was reared and educated, having completed the curriculum of the graded schools of the day. Mrs. Lansing survives her honored husband, to whom she was a devoted companion and helpmeet, and she still resides in the old homestead in Mad' son, where she has a wide circle of cherished and loyal friends. In conclusion is entered the following brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Lansing: A'ddie Elizabeth, born May ll 1861, d'ed March 10, 1882; Emma L., born October 12, 1864. is trie wife of Henry Sprecher and they reside in Iowa, being the parents of four children ; William B., who was born Sept. 2, 1865, and w^o now resides in Faulkton. S. D., married Miss Anna Wilkie, ank they have four children; Charles B.. born July 1, 1866, is a representative farmer of Blooming Grove township ; he married M»s Clara Wandry and they have five children ; Frances May, born M4' 9, 1873, is the wife of William Judd of Mclntire, Iowa.

William F. Lappley is one of the firm of Lappley Brothers, of the village of Fitchburg, where they do an extensive business as dealers in lumber, farm implements, hardware, flour and feed, hard andlsoft coal, and also as buyers of grain, besides following con- tracting and building to a considerable extent. The father of these enterprising young men is John Lappley, who for years has been one of the leading farmers of Dane county, and it is fitting that herein appropriate mention should be made of the sturdy German ancestry through which our subject is descended. John Lappley,. the father, was born in Germany in 1825, and is a son of Lawrence and Heinreika (Shrade) Lappley, natives also of that' country. Lawrence Lappley followed the shoemakers' trade all his life in the Fatherland, and died there on April 28, 1888, at the age of eightye'ght years, his wife also dying there in her seventy- fourth year. They were the parents of fourteen children, four of whom grew toyears of maturity, one son and three daughters. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject. Melchoir Lappley, was also a native of Germany, a baker by trade, was twice married and the father of seven sons and five daughters. He lived to the age of eighty years, and at his death left a fine estate. John Lappley, father of him whose name introduces this sketch, received a good education in his native country. From the age of twenty-one to twenty-seven years he was in the employ of the German service, receiving three cents per day, and three cents for rations. During this six years he was three years at home, without pay, a practice that was compulsory under the German law. In the spring of 1852, at the age of twenty-seven years, he sailed from Havre, France, on the St. George, landing in New York after a voyage of thirty-four days, and with eight French dollars in his pocket. He soon found employment at his trade - that of shoemaking - for four dollars per month, but failed to receive his wages, and he afterward beg^n work at nine dollars per month. After spending one year in New York, Mr. Lappley worked in the lumber regions of Tioga county,. Pa., three months, was then employed in the pineries fourteen months, at sixteen dollars per month, after which he worked at lis trade in New York city for twelve dollars per month. He was a fine workman, and could make one pair of boots a clay, often working sixteen hours as a day's work. In April, 1855, he came to Wisconsin, where he was employed in the construction of a railroad in Madison a short time, farmed on the Indian reservation in the town of Roxbury ten years, erecting a log house, which was destroyed by fire one month afterward, with all the household effects, ani no insurance. He then erected another dwelling and purchased eighty acres of land, fifty acres of wh'ch were under cultivation. Mr.. Lappley then had $200 in money- and his stock, and out of ths he was obliged to pay $100 court expenses, which he consideied a.

robbing scheme. He next rented sixty acres of land in the town of Berry, one year, and then purchased one hundred acres, for which he paid $1,500, and a few years later added twenty acres more, paying $190 for the latter, and still later bought forty acres more for $450, making him a total of one hundred and sixty acres of land. In 1881 he sold that place and purchased three hundred and forty acres in Springfield, paying for the same $3,500. There he has continued to reside, adding to his landed possessions until he now owns five hundred acres, well stocked and improved, and he successfully carries on the business of general farming. He was married in New York city, June 15, 1854, to Miss Anna M. S. Schmidt, who came from 'Germany, her native land, to America the same year. They reared ten children, as follows : Louisa, wife of George W. Hall, a miner of California; John, who is mentioned more at length in this review; Henry, a jeweler and watchmaker of Mazoman'e; Mary, wife of James H. Froggart, a farmer of Dane county; William F., whose name introduces this sketch; Charles, a contractor and builder of South Milwaukee; Christopher, deceased; Caroline, Frederick and Alice. One daughter, Annie, died May 26, 1873, at the age of eight months. John Lappley, one of the brothers who constitute the business firm mentioned in the beginning of this review, and the eldest son of John Lappley, Sr., was born in the town of Roxbury, Dane county, Sept. 3, 1857, and received his education in the schools of Roxbury and Berry. For the past seven years he has resided in Fitchburg, where he and his brother are meeting with such signal success in the mercantile line. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church. He was married on April 28, 1892, to Miss Mary Holtcworth, a native of Germany, whose parents - Christian and Mary (Kurtz) Holtcworth - migrated to America when the daughter was but nine months old and settled in the town of Middleton, where the father now lives retired, the mother having died about a year after the arrival of the family in Dane county. Mr. and Mrs. Lappley are the parents of seven children, all living but the eldest, who died at the age of five months. Their names follow : Raymond, Paul, Melva, Herbert, Vera, Melinda, Walder. William F. Lappley, the other member of this progressive business firm, and whose name first appears in the beginning of this family memoir, was born in the town of Roxbury, Dane county, Oct. 2, 1862. and was educated in the schools of the town of Berry. In February, 1899, he and his brother establ'shed the business at Fitchburg, in which they have since been successfully engaged, and it may be said in truth that their establishment is the leading mercantile establishment of the place. He was married on July 4, 1898, to Mrs. Frances (DeBower) McChesney, daughter of Fred and Mary ( Ruffmyer) McChesney, of the town of Vienna. She died on May 31, 1899, leaving no'ch'ldren. Mr. Lappley then married, on April 17, 1901, Miss Adelia M. Schwenn, a native of the town of Dane, whose parents - Frank and Susan (Zimmerman) Schwenn - were born in Germany, but now live in the town of Middleton, Dane county. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lappley - Albert William and Lurene Alice. Mr. Lappley is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is filling very acceptably the positions of justice of the peace and clerk of the village school board, also notary public, and has been postmaster at Fitchburg since 1903. The society relations of both John and William F. Lappley are marked by membership in the I. O. O. F. and the Modern Woodmen of America.

George Larkin, a farmer of the town of Madison, was born on February 8, 1844, in the neighborhood where he now resides. H's parents, Jonathan and Cynthia (Newcomb) Larkin, were both natives of the state of New York, but came to Wisconsin soon after their marriage, settling in Dane county in 1843. Jonathan Larkin bought two hundred and one acres of wild land, erected a log cabin, and began the l'fe of a pioneer. The cabin was soon replaced by a better one, which in turn gave way to a stone house of more pretentious character. He helped to lay out and construct the first roads in the county, driving an ox team to haul the materials for bridges, etc. At that time bear, deer and other game was abundant, and Indians were frequent visitors to the settlements. He also operated the first dairy about the capital city and run the first milk wagon in Madison. He' is still remembered by some of the old settlers as a man of high moral character and great influence in the community. The children of Jonathan and Cynthia Larkin were Helen, Louise, Lucina, Edwin N., George, Catherine and Frank J. Helen is the widow of Samuel Chase ; Louise, Catherine and Frank live together :n the town of Madison ; Lucina is the wife of J. H. Terry, also of the town of Madison ; Edwin N. is a farmer in the town of Verona, and George is the subject of this sketch. In his youth Mr. Larkin had meager opportunities to attend school, but by reading he has managed to keep about as well informed as most men of his day and generation. Always a great lover of horses he spent considerable time in his early life in breaking them to the saddle and to harness. He also broke a good many oxen. He continued to live at home until he was about twenty-eight years old.

when he married Miss Addie Sweet, a daughter of William Sweet, who came from New York at an early date and settled in Dane county, where he followed the life of a farmer the rest of his life. George and Addie Lark'n have an adopted son, Danford W., now a farmer in the town of Fitchburg. He married Emma Johnson and they have one son, George J. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Larkin bought the farm of one hundred acres where he now lives. Since that time he has made all the improvements on the place and carries on a general farming business. He devotes considerable attention to breeding fine horses and Shetland ponies, especially the latter, of which he has sold a large number. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring the less pretentious but more congenial life of a farmer. He and his family are w'dely known and highly esteemed.

Rasmus Larson, a well-known and successful farmer of the town of Rutland, is a native of Denmark. Lars and Anna Larson, his parents, were born in Rudkjobing, Denmark, where they were educated and married and spent their T.ves upon a farm in the neighborhood. Their oldest son. Christian, died; the two younger ones, Lars and Rasmus, came to America and both settled in Rutland. Rasmus was born near Rudkjobing, May 7, 1837, attended school in Denmark until he was fifteen years of age and then worked out. In 1866, he came to Rock county. Wis., where he worked out for four years. He then located in Rutland, where he obtained seventy acres of land, which he worked for eight years. This was sold and the farm known as the Cooper farm purchased, which has since been the home of the family. Mr. Larson is a Republican but has never interested himself actively in politics or desired to hold office. In October, 1866, he married Miss Caroline Christenson, daughter of Christ'an and Maria Christiansen, natives of Denmark. Mrs. Larson's father died in Denmark and his widow joined her children in America. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have five sons and daughters. Anna, the oldest, is the wife of John Anderson of Oregon, Wis., Augusta married Andrew Christianson of Stoughton, Hannah is Mrs. Paul Nelson and resides in the town of Rutland, William and Mary remain at home. All have been well-educated and the family is prominent in the Danish Lutheran church of Rutland.

and Jens in Rutland. Jens Larum was born in Sogan, November 25, 1832, received his early education in Norway and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age. He then went to sea and with a partner owned a boat with which they carried on a trade in farm produce along the coast of Norway and also fished in season. In 1873 he came to America and for a year worked out near Stoughton. He then decided to locate in Rutland and purchased eighty acres of wild land in sections 23 and 24, which he farmed and improved in every way. A successful farming business is now carried on by him at the same place. While still a resident of Sogan, Norway, Mr. Larum was married to Miss Dora Tufton, in May, 1867. Her parents, John and Carrie Tufton lived on a farm in Sogan, where their daughter was born, and they never left Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Lamm's first daughter, Bertha, was born in Norway, in 1869, and came with her parents to Rutland, where she married Henry Matson, a farmer of Rutland. The younger children, Carrie and Eddie, were born in Rutland, and have always, lived with their father and mother. All have received good educations and with their parents are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Larum is a Republican in his political sympathies but has never been an active politician.

John Cuthbert Latham, a progressive farmer of the town ot Fitchburg, where he has won an evitable position by dint of honest effort and superior mental qualifications, was born in Lancashire, England, on February 17, 1860, and is one of five children born to John and Mary Ann (Whaley) Latham, also natives of England, where the father died in 1878, aged seventy-seven years. He was an eminent physician and was twice marred, five children being" born to each of the unions, making a total of ten in the family, and u is proper to incorporate in this review interesting facts concerning them. Dr. P. W. Latham of Cambridge, England, a son of the first marriage and a half-brother of our subject, is the father of the wife of James Avon Clyde, Scotland's present solicitor general. Mr. Clyde is the second son of Dr. James Clyde, formerly rector of Edinburgh academy, and he was born in 1863, was called to the bar in 1887 and became king's counsel in 1901. His success as an advocate has been remarkable and it is said that he has acquired one of the largest practices of modern times. He is a unionist in Br'tish politics. Of the five children born to the second marriage of Dr. John Latham, Adah Anne is deceased ; Mary Zilla Eva Linda is unmarried and resides in the city of Madison ; Helen married Thomas William Oldham (deceased), and is given a more extended mention on another page in a review dedicated to her husband ; Vida Annette is unmarried and resides in Chicago ; and John C. is he whose name introduces this memoir. Miss Vida Annette Latham, mentioned above is a lady of much prominence, and was elected one of the vice presidents of the American Microscopic society at its recent meeting in Buffalo, where she took a prominent part. At the time of the meeting the Buffalo Courier gave her the following compl'mentary notice: "It is to be expected that a gathering of scientists from all over the United States would not fail to bring together some interesting characters, and the American Microscopical Society convening here this week brought to the city a number of people prominent in the world of science. One of the most distinguished and interesting scientists at the convention proves to be a woman. Dr. Vida Latham of Chicago, who was one of the most interested observers at yesterday's sessions, is a woman with an unusual history. Born in England at a time when women had not yet invaded the professional field, Dr. Latham became imbued with the idea that she would like to study medicine. She met with manifold difficulties, the strongest of which was the traditional prejudice against 'woman out of her sphere.' She however entered the doors of one of London's medical colleges and made a specialty of tuberculosis. Coming to America, she entered college at Ann Arobor, where she was graduated. On leaving college Dr. Latham went to Chicago, where she has since lived. She is considered by authorities to be one of the cleverest teachers of histology and pathology in the medical world. She occupies the chair of professor of histology in the Northwestern University ; she is a member of the American Medical Association and chairman of one of its sections ; a member of the Chicago medical soc'eties, and has a large practice. Dr. Latham is a striking example of grit and perseverance, and for one who meets her, a woman of delicate appearance and modest manners, it is difficult to believe that she has overcome almost colossal difficulties to attain such a degree of proficiency in her chosen profession. Dr. Latham has visited England several times since making her home in America." John Cuthbert Latham, who is the immediate subject of this review first attended the Wiggins grammar school at Lancaster, England, in which he received a very good education, and in 1882, at the age of twenty-two years, he migrated to America. Coning directly to Wisconsin, he worked as a farm hand in the town of Sun Prairie, Dane county, about one year, after which he purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land in the town of

Fitchburg and began general farming on a somewhat extensive scale. He remained on that farm about two years, and then sold :l and purchased the farm where he now resides, near Syene in the same town. He has made many necessary improvements on his present homestead, which comprises one hundred and eighty acres of exceptionally fertile land, and the progress which he has made and is making is a striking example of what can be accomplished by singleness of purpose and intelligent effort. Mr. Latham was married on October 24, 18S4, to Miss Theresa Hasler, born near Birmingham, England, July 22, 1867, daughter of William Fredcrick and Frances (Slater) Hasler, also natives of England, where they still reside, as do also their children with the single except:on of Mrs. Latham. In the Hasler family there were nine children, five of whom are living. Theresa, who is now Mrs. Latham, is the only one residing in America, the others, Ida, Winifred, Blanche and Gwendoline, remaining in England. To Mr. and Mrs. Latham there have been born four children : Gladys, Garnet, Nellie and Gwendoline. In politics our subject gives an unswerving allegiance to the tenets of the Democratic party, and his worth has been appreciated by his fellow citizens. Although he has never been an aspirant for public office he has served four terms as town assessor and for ten years as treasurer of the school district in which he resides. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church.

August C. Laue has conducted a high grade merchant tailoring establishment at Middleton since February, 1904. A native of Ebstorf, Hanover, Germany, he came to America when a boy with his parents, Heinrich and Dora (Marvade) Laue. They were both born in Hanover and lived there until after their marriage, when with their young family they set out for America and soon located at Reedsburg, Wis., which was their home until 1874. At that time they moved to Madison. Wis., where Mr. Lane died in 1902. Mrs. Laue still makes Madison her home and one of her daughters. Sophia (Mrs. George Schneider) resides there also. Henry, the second son, died in July, 1884. and Mary, Mrs. Henry Niebnhr. in April. 1891. August C. was born August 3, 1865, and went to school in Germany for two years before his departure and subsequently attended Dane county schools until he arrived at the age of fourteen years. After some six years spent at home he spent two years in the west v' siting Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, hoping to find improvement in health. Mr. Laue learned the tailor's trade in 1879 and worked at various places along the Pacific coast. In 1887 he came back to Madison, working at his trade until 1893, when he went into business for himself. For a t'me connected with Charles G. Swanson at Madison he closed out his bus'ness in Madison in May, 1901, and went into business at Deerfield. The business outlook at Middleton seemed to offer him more inducements so in 1902 the store in Deerfield was disposed of and one opened at Middleton. August C. Laue was married October 1, 1887, to M'ss Catherine Noonon, daughter of John Xoonan of Limerick, Ireland. They have three children, Robert H., Maria and Roy. Mr. Laue is a Democrat and in March, 1905, was elected marshal. Mrs. Laue died October 19, 1905, aged thirtyeight years.

Allen R. Law, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Madison, was born in Port Dover, Canada, June IT, 184G. LLs parents Samuel and Catherine (Hodgkins) Law, both natives of Canada, where the father was a farmer. The father, co-operating with his neighbors, bought one of the early threshing machines of the vicinity. While feeding it one night about dusk his hands became entangled in the machinery and both arms were taken off, one at the wrist and one near the elbow. Undaunted, the father set about making preparations to engage in some other business and upon his recovery embarked in the grocery business wholesale and reta'l, overseeing and managing it himself. In the fall of 181G, in his twenty-sixth year, he passed away, leaving a widow and one son, the subject of this sketch. The widow married James Howey, of Nanticoke, Canada. By this marriage she was the mother of eight children, all living and two of whom are married. Allen R. Law was educated in the common and grammar schools of Port Dover. His medical studies were pursued under Drs. Eastman of Platteville, Wis., and William Howell of Jarvis, Ontario, and for three years he was a student at Rush Medical College, Chicago. Upon his graduation in 1870 with the degree of M. D.. he located in Belmont, Wis., and started the practice of his profession. In 188-1 - 5 he took a full course in the Xew York Polyclinic of New York city, and soon after his return to Belmont he performed on Oscar J. Blakley of Darlington, Lafayette Co.. Wis., the first successful bloodless hip-joint amputation ever performed in the world. In 1892 he removed to Madison and furnished the capital for a hardwood lumber and planing mill business and devoted part of his time to it for a year, and then went to Chicago for a time for advanced study in medicine taking a course in the Chicago Polyclinic. Dr. Law's specialty is surgery and the d'seases of women. For a number of years he has been an examiner for the leading: insur- ance companies. The doctor is a member of the Blue Lodge Chap ter and Commandery of Madison F. & A. M. He is a member of the State and Central Wisconsin Medical Associations and of the Methodist church. On December 2, 1885, he married Sarah, daughter of Dedrick and Maria (Melvin) Harms, and to this marriage five children have been born, William Allen, married, and connected with C. H. Canby in the banking and brokerage business in Chicago ; Blossom M., a student of the University of Wisconsin ; Emily, died in infancy, and Robert M., a student in the high school, and Jack died at age of eight years.

Harmon R. Learnard, the respected village and town clerk of Mazomanie, was born in Fairfax, Franklin county, Vt., August 1, 1841. His parents, Franklin Learnard and Clarinda (Walker) Learnard, were both natives of Vermont and came west in 1852. The father worked at the carpenter's trade for a time after coming to Mazomanie and then bought a farm of eighty acres, to which he added seventy acres soon after. The subject's mother died in Mazomanie in 1879. In the spring of 1884 the father went to Fort Collins, Colo., where he died in 1900 aged ninety-three. Beside Harmon there were five children in the family, Horace, who died 1'n Colorado ; Henry, a member of Company A, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, died in Montgomery, Ala., 1865 ; Heber, died in Colorado, 1890 ; and Porter and Perry, twins, the former station agent and postmaster at Chicosa, Colo., the latter engaged in the insurance and real estate business in Fort Collins, Colo. Flarmon R. Learnard's education was confined to district schools but his application was such that he became a teacher himself and offic'ated in that capacity for five terms, in the counties of Dane and Richland. On September 2, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A (Capt. D. E. Hough) Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry (Col. C. L. Harris). The regiment was under General Curtis in M'ssouri and Arkansas, then under General Grant at the siege of Vicksburg and later transferred to the Army of the Gulf, participating in the skirmishes incident to the siege and capture of Mob'le. On September 4. 1865, he was mustered out, having served just two days over four years. His brothers, Perry and Porter, were members of the Twenty-third AYisconsin infantry. Mr. Learnard is a zealous Republican and since 1879 has served the community as village and town clerk and has served on the county board. He is also a notary public and does some insurance business. He is not a member of any church but his wife belongs to the Episcopal church. On November 7, 1868, he married Mary G., daughter of Eben and

Sallie (Goodwin) Howard of Fairfax, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Howard had six children, four daughters and two sons. The sons were members of Company K, Eleventh Vermont infantry; both were captured and Keyes died in Andersonville prison. John survived and returned to Vermont after the war. Mr. and Mrs. Learnard have had three children, Pearly, died at age of ten years, Iva is the wife of Dr. H. A. Ellis of Mazomanie and Merton H. is the chief clerk in the office of the Southern Colorado Railroad Company in Denver. The esteem in which Mr. Learnard's neighbors hold him is evidenced in his continued election to an office of trust. He is a member of the A. R. McDonald post. Xo. 56, Grand Army of the Republic, Crescent Lodge, Xo. 97, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Order of the Eastern Star and Unity Lodge, Xo. 22, A. O. U. \\., all of Mazomanie.

John O. Lee is an able representative of the agr'cultural industry in Dunkirk township, where he has a well improved farm of sixtyeight acres. Mr. Lee was born in Xorway Ocotber 11, 1849, and is a son of Ole and Ingoleb Lee. In his native land he was reared to years of maturity and there was afforded a common school education. In 1870 he immigrated to America and came at once to Dane county, locating near Rockdale, where he continued to reside tor the ensuing eleven years. In 1880 he purchased his present farm of sixty-eight acres, on which he has made excellent improvements, having erected the various bu'ldings and being known as an energetic and successful farmer. He makes a specialty of raising tobacco,, having devoted nineteen acres to the same in 1905. In politics he is a stanch Republican and he and his wife hold membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church. In 1880 Mr. Lee was united in marriage to M'ss Gunil Berthena Olson, daughter of Tolef and Emma (Meikelsdatter) Olson, honored pioneers of Dane county, whither they immigrated from Xorway in 1844, settling in Dunkirk township, where Mr. Olson secured government land, a portion of which is the farm now owned by Mr. Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have eight ch'ldren. namely: Ella. Mary, Thea. Gertrude. Josie. Ole, Melvin and Sigurd. Ella is now the wife of George Erickson. Sigurd died in March, 1906, at age of two years.

John E. Johnson Lee, who was one of the very early settlers of Dane county was sixteen years of age when he came from Xorway with his parents and brothers and sisters. His father, Erick Johnson Lee, and his mother. Martha Larsdotter (Ottnernes) Lee, brought their fam'ly of eight children to the United States in 1845 and settled in the township of Christiania when the community was in its infancy. They purchased a farm of two hundred acres of wild land and kind neighbors sheltered the family until a dwelling of logs could be constructed. Air. Lee was a farmer in his native land and undaunted by the magnitude of his task, set to work to gain a living for his family from the new farm. He converted it into a profitable property and made it his home until his death in 1892. Mrs. Lee died in 1873. E'ght children were born to them. Breta. the oldest, died. Magnilda is the wife of James Berquam of Columbia county. John E. lives upon the old homestead. Ingobar died in 1866. Haaken served in Co. C, Second California Cavalry. Anna is the widow of John Onstad of Christian'a. Thomas served ;n the Third California Volunteer Infantry and died in 1897. John E. was born in County Bergen, Norway, March 16, 1829, rece'ved his early education in the common schools of Norway and helped his father in the work of clearing the new farm when they settled in Wisconsin. Lie has always been a farmer and succeeded his father in the management of the home farm. In 1900 he was obliged by ill-health to retire from active work and the farm istnow under the care of his son, Lars J., who is part'cularly successful in rasing fine cattle for which his farm is noted. Mr. Lee is a Republican in political sympathy and has served as chairman of the town board for many terms. In 1868-9 he represented his district in the legislature. In May, 1851, he married Miss Caroline Simonson, daughter of Atli and Assi Simonson of County Bergen, Norway, who came to Christiania in 1849. Six children were born to John and Caroline Lee ; Erick, who is a truck farmer of Edgewater, Col. ; Atle, a minister of the Lutheran church of Lake Mills, Iowa ; Martha, who lives at home; Louisa, Mrs. O. K. Lee, of Parkland, Wash. ; Annie, the wTe of M. J. Soberg and Lars J., who lives on the home farm. After the death of the first Mrs. Lee. John Lee married again, his wife being Martha Yeenan, who died in 1883. Three children blessed this marriage ; Gisle, a physician of Thompson, Iowa; John, a machinist at Madison, and Hannah. All are members of the Lutheran church, of which the family were adherents in Norway.

Nels A. Lee, a substantial farmer of the town of Deerfield, was born at Y'oss. Norway, April 26, 1841. His parents were Andrew- Nelson and Gunvor S. (Gielderhuus) Lee, natives of Yoss. Norway The father was born October 14, 1814, and is still living, making his home with his son in Deerfield. The mother, born in 1806, passed away in 1877. In 1841 Andrew N. Lee brought his family to Dane county from Norway. The first winter they lived in a due:- out, with Mjrs. Lee's uncle, in the town of Christiana; the next winter they lived with an aunt of Mrs.. Lee's, also' in the town of Christiana, and March 28, 1843, ne started on foot to the land office in Milwaukee and there bought forty acres in the town of Pleasant Springs, being the NE Va of NE % of section 1. On his return from Milwaukee he carried an ox-chain, scythe and snath and two large cowbells. Early in the same spring he built a log cabin and moved into it, being the first Norwegian that settled in that town. In the fall of 1844 he sold out and bought eighty acres in the town of Decrfield, being the E lA of NW /4 section 32, to which he gradually added until the place contained one hundred sixty acres. The first two years he worked for others, as he had only enough money left when he reached this country, to buy a cow, and the highest wages at that time was fifty cents a day through the harvest time. Andrew Nelson was the father of four children: Martha, deceased, wife of Helge Helgeson ; Sever, a veteran of the Civil War, who was captured and kept a prisoner in Andersonville prison for some time, is married and has eight children. He lives four miles west of Grafton, N. D. Andrew (Andres) is married and lives in Wells county, N. D. All the education in English which Nels A. Lee, ever had was received in the district school of the town of Deerfield ; but he attended a Norwegian school. His grandchildren speak both English and their mother tongue. In his boyhood he helped to thresh with oxen in a very primitive fashion. They laid the bundles in a r'ng about four feet wide and drove the oxen around on it, until the wheat was threshed out. At the age of seventeen he started to thresh as a business, and followed it for twenty years. At the age of twenty, in 1861, in company with Lars Iverson, he began working' with a breaking team and followed that work for four years in succession. Mr. Lee was married Jan. 22, 1865, to Mari S. Reqve, and the same year bought eighty acres of the old homestead, which he still owns. In 1867 he moved onto the farm where he now resides, working it on shares until 1882, when he was enabled to buy three hundred acres of it. In politics he has always been a Republican, he has served as town treasurer for six years, and is holding the office of justice of the peace at the present time. He has also been insurance agent in the Farmers' Insurance Company for ten years, and is director and treasurer in the Deerfield Creamery company. During the war Mr. Lee was drafted but being unable to leave, employed a substitute, paying him $300. In religion he is a Norwegian Lutheran. Mrs. Lee was born in March, 1839, and received her education in the district school of the town of Deerfield. She is the daughter of Sjur Styrkson Reqve and Anna Pedersdatter Gjermo, natives of Norway, who immigrated to this country in 1845.

She had three brothers and three sisters. Stark (Styrk) S. Reqve, was married, but is now a widower: He is a minister of Spring Grove, Minn. ; Rev. Peder S. was also married, but died about twentyfive years ago; Lars S. also married, was consul to Holland four years, and a professor at the Norwegian Luther College, Decorah, Iowa ; Brita married Ole L. Quale and is deceased. Martha, deceased, was unmarried. Anna Maria married Rev. Halvor E. Hustvedt, and resides at Decorah, Iowa. To Nels and Mari Lee (Lie), have been born iive children: Julia A. born Aug. 28, 1866, died two years later; Sever A. born Feb. 2, 1867, married Anna Eliason and resides on the home farm; they have five children, Nels C, Nora M., Henrietta M., Sarah A., Agnes S. ; Julia A., born April 8, 1869; Lauris P. S., born April 2, 1881, and died two years later; and Peter A. G., bom January 3, 1884. Mr. Lee is known as a public spirited citizen, a man of means and sterling worth. He is greatly interested in the preservat.on of Indian relics and he has one of the best collections in the state. N. A. Lee also built the first independent telephone line from Deerfield to Nora and Utica, about nine miles. This was in 1900 and the next year he built from Nora to Madison about twelve miles, and at Madison he got connection *with the Madison Telephone company. This line he owned unt'.l 1906 when he sold out to J. C. Bell.

Alexander Lemon. is not only one of the successful farmers of Cottage Grove township but is also a native of Dane county and a representative of one of its sterling pioneer families. He was born in the city of Madison, the capital of the state, June 16, 1842, and is a son of James and Margaret Lemon, both of whom were born in Ireland. They took up their residence in Madison in the year 1837, the capital at that time having been a mere village. James Lemon was among the first to institute the development of the agricultural resources of Dane county, having taken up his lesidence in Cottage Grove township in 1845 and having there secured a tract of heavily timbered land, which he began to reclaim and place under cultivation. He became one of the successful pioneer farmers of this township, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Alexander Lemon was reared 10 manhood on the old homestead, while his educational advantages -.vere limited to the curriculum of the somewhat primative district schools of the vicinity. He remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of twenty-two years, when he initiated his independent career, securing employment at farm work and being thus engaged about five years. He then rented land and worked the same on the sharing system until the spring of 1880, when he removed to Rooks county, Kansas, becoming one of the pioneers of that section of the Sunflower State, where he continued to follow agricultural pursuits for seven and one-half years, having become the owner of a tract of three hundred and twenty acres in the county mentioned. He then returned to his native county and took of the farm of his mother-in-law, finally becoming owner of ihe property, which comprises ninty-five and one-half acres of most fertile and productive land and which is one of the best farms -of Cottage Grove township, being located in section seven. Mr. Lemon is held in high esteem in the community, having passed the greater portion of his life in this township, and he shows a loyal interest in public affairs, though never a seeker of office. He is aligned as a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and his wife holds membership in the Presbyterian church. February 27, 1870, Mr. Lemon was united in marriage to Miss Katie Beecher, who was born in Dane county, April 16, 1849, being a daughter of Isaac and Jane Beecher, the former of whom was born November 22, 1821, his death occurring August 1, 1864; the latter was born June 12, 1822, and still resides on the old homestead, with her daughter, Mrs. Lemon. Mr. and Mrs. Lemon became the parents of three children: Isaac B., who was born December 15, 1870, died April 26, 1880 ; Eugene Clark, who was born October 13, 1873, married Miss Mabel Tomlinson and they reside in Fair Oaks, a suburb of the city of Madison ; Ray Alexander, born September 26, 1891, remains at the parental home.

George E. Lester, of Waunakee, is of English ancestry, his father, Starkey M. Lester, having been born in Leicestershire, and his mother, Rebecca Ann (Lomis) Lester, in Nottingham, Eng., in December, 1821, and October, 1822, respectively. They came to Dane in 1847, took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, and the following year bought, in Vienna, a claim of one hundred and sixty acres ; on the latter place they made their home and spent their lives, although Mr. Lester died at Waunakee, September 28, 1898. Mrs. Lester died January 6, 1891. Mr. Lester was a Democrat and held the office of treasurer and assessor of the township for seven \ears. Both were members of the Baptist church and of their seven children, six are living. George E. Lester, the subject of this sketch, was born November 8, 1860, in Vienna townsh'p. He acquired his education in the common school of Vienna and the grade schools of WaUnakee village. His boyhood was spent upon the farm which he assisted his father in developing and improving. After beconrng of age he was moved by the restless spirit of youth and changed his vocation, being employed by the C. & N. W. R'y Co. for eleven years; at the end of this time he returned to the farm, and resumed his former occupation for five years; in 1902 he engaged in the livery business at Waunakee, and has the leading business of the place. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and in religious matters with the Catholic church. He was married October 11, 188T, to Miss Anna Schillinger, a native of Germany, daughter of Anton and Barbara (Acker) Schillinger, both of whom were born in Germany and came to Springfield in L871. Anton Schillinger died in Springfield in 1896 and his wife in Waunakee in 1901. To Mr. George E. Lester and his wife have been born four sons, Leo E., Lewis S., Starkey A., George E., Jr. The family occupies one of the fine residences of Waunakee.