Dane County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1906 (part 3 of 29)

Michael Berg is a retired pioneer farmer of the town of Perry and a veteran of the Civil War. His parents, Iver and Carrie Berg, were natives of Norway, where Mr. Berg served for a time in the army. Michael was born in Norway, October 13, 1830, and came to Wisconsin in 1853 with several brothers and sisters. For a few years he worked out by the day and then purchased eighty acres in the town of Perry, where he lived ten years. He then sold this property at a considerable profit and purchased one hundred and forty acres also in the town of Perry, to which was later added one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Berg has now a fine property, wellequipped, and a large proportion of it under cultivation. His success has been earned by untiring energy and patience. Iver Berg had six children, of whom five came to America. Ever and Austin reside in Iowa; Ole in Trempeleau county. Wis.; Anna in Primrose and Ingebor in Norway. Michael served the Union cause during the Civil War as a private in the Twenty-second Regiment of Wiscons'n Volunteer Infantry. His detachment was engaged in guard duty and Mr. Berg served from October, 1864 to May, 1865, when he was discharged at Madison. In October, 1856, he married Miss Barbara Haaverud, born July 26, 1833, daughter of Knudt and Christina Haaverud, the former of whom never come to America. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Berg; Carrie (deceased) ; Ever married Emma Johnson and lives in Perry ; Knudt (deceased) ; Christine married Oliver Iverson and resides in Kossuth county, Iowa ; Carrie lives with her parents ; Anna Olena is the w'fe of George Matson of Moscow, Iowa county; Evan married Annie Stenseth and lives in Sioux county, Iowa ; Carena is the wife of John Jensvold of Kossuth county, Iowa ; Anna Berthine is Mrs. Edward Benson of Mount Horeb ; Ingebor married Theodore Johnson and lives in Clark county. Wis. ; Henry lives with his parents. Mr. Berg is allied with the Republican party and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

John B. Berge, a retired farmer, living in the village of Deerfield, was born at Voss, Norway, January 7, 1832. both his parents, Bungel and Mary (Golickson) Johnson, being natives of that country. Mr. Berge received a moderate education in the schools of Norway, and in 1850 came alone to America, making his way directly to Dane county. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from his brother, who had purchased it from the government a short time before, and began farming. In 1890 he bought some lots in the village of Deerfield and built the house in which he now lives. However, he still owns the farm, which is now conducted by his son. In politics he belongs to the Republican party ; has served five terms as town treasurer ; four terms as assessor ; and has several times been elected as a member of the board of supervisors. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and is a man of high moral principles, noted for his generosity. In the fall of 1855 he married Angeline Michelson Erdall, daughter of Michael Erdall, and they have the following children : Bungel and Michael on the home farm in Dane county ; Nickoli in Vernon county ; Tena, married Peter B. Winde of Deerfield ; Ellen, married Andrew Hollman, St. Croix county.

Ole O. Berge, who carries on a general farming business in the town of Dunn, is an experienced farmer and has lived in the vicinity of Dunn for nearly thirty years. Born in Tellemarken, Norway, June 14, 1862, he came to America when a boy of fifteen, with a cousin, and located in the town of Dunn. Two of his brothers and a sister came to America later but the remainder of the family, which in all numbered nine children, remained in Norway, where three have died. Mr. Berge's father, also Ole O., married Julia Osman and lived in Tellemarken, Norway, of which place both were natives. In 1866 she was left a widow and later married Ole Evenson of Tellemarken. They were members of the Lutheran church, in which they brought up their family. Ole O., the subject of this sketch, received such education as the common schools of Telle-' marken afforded and embarked for the west in 1877. For a time he worked out upon farms near Dunn and then rented a farm. In 1896 he purchased twenty-two acres of farm land to which he soon added another tract of thirty-seven and one-half acres, which is his present home. All of the improvements have been made by Mr. Berge, who has spared no pains to make his property valuable. He bu'lt the comfortable home and has made many other additions to the farm upon which he raises much fine stock, also grain, tobacco, etc. Mr. Berge started in with no capital but by his ambition and energy and his own unaided efforts has made himself one of the substantial members of the community. He is a Republican but has never been an active politician and is a member of the Stoughton Lutheran church. In 1889, he married Miss Gunil Knutson, a native of Norway. Seven children have been born to them ; Oscar, Carl, Gilmer, Alma, - who died in infancy, - Alma, the second, Clara and Olin. All attended the home schools and the Lutheran church.

Peter B. Bergum, owner of one of the large farms of Dane county, located at DeForest, Wis., was born on the old homestead at Bristol, October 4, 1856. His parents were Botolf and Betsy (Farness) Bergum, both of whom were born in Norway. Botolf Bergum left the old country and arrived at Bristol about 1846 where he passed the remainder of his life. His wife immigrated to America in 1844. They were married in Dane county, and had five sons and one daughter, all of whom are living. They settled on a farm and by thrift and diligence greatly prospered, finally becoming the owners of six hundred acres of land. Botolf died in Bristol, March 23, 1904, and his wife died April 8, 1903. Peter Bergum was thus one of a family of several children. He received such an education as the common schools afforded. His father had been a strong Republican and a member of the Lutheran church and the son followed in the foot-steps of his parent in politics and in religion, as well as in occupation. Farm-bred and farm-reared, he became an unusually successful agriculturist. He now owns two hundred and seventy acres of land, which he devotes to his extensive tobacco interests. He also makes a specialty of Poland China hogs, short-horned cattle, and thorough-bred Shropshire sheep, his interest in dairying having led him to serve as president of the creamery of North Bristol. He is honored and respected by the community and is one of the trustees of the Lutheran church. He married on October 30, 1879, Susan Amundson, who was born in Chicago, March 14, 1862, the daughter of Arne and Inger Amundson, both of whom were born in Norway. Mr. Amundson came to this country when a young man, living first in Chicago and then in California. He returned to Norway, but came back to Chicago where he was married. After his marriage he settled in Hamden, Columbia county, Wis., in 1865, where he died in 1889, his wife surviving him until September 2, 1905. Beside the father and mother, the family consisted of five children, three sons and one daughter of whom are now living. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bergum as follows : Bennie, educated at Stoughton academy and the Dixon normal school, engaged in farming; Albert and Andrew, educated at Albion academy and both farmers ; Emma, a student of Albion academy ; Arthur, Mabel and Lena, the last three being at present at home.

Charles Bernard, Sr. In retirement after a busy life covering a period of more than four score years, Charles Bernard, Sr., is enjoying his declining years at his home, 624 East Gorham street, living with his son, William P. Bernard, and family. His life of eighty-two years has been one of industry, frugality and thrift, and unt'l six years ago, when he fell and injured his spine, there were few days that he was not actively engaged in some useful form of work. Extremely fond of water and being connected with the boat building trade from his youth, Mr. Bernard finds a keen degree of pleasure, even at his advanced age, in gazing upon the broad ex- panse of Lake Mendota, a fine view of which his room at the family residence commands. In the summer months a favorite spot of the aged boat-builder was in an easy chair in the boat-house adjoining the pier where, with observation glasses, he would note the movements of the lake craft and watch the steamer Columbia, which was largely his own creation. Mr. Bernard was born in Baden, Germany, May 23, 1823, coming to this country when a lad of but eight years. He learned tailoring in New York city during a residence there of thirteen years and at the same time became quite expert in cabinet making, which was accounted a desirable trade in those days, everything being done by hand. Just as Mr. Bernard was arriving at man's estate the Mexican War broke out and he was among the first to enroll, enlisting in the Second artillery of New York, with which regiment he saw five years of active service. He part'cipated in many battles and was with General Winfield Scott at the bombardment of Vera Cruz. The storming of the fortress of Chapultepec and the capitulation of the city of Mexico, he remembers well, and the fight at Cherabusco, where he was wounded, is vivid in his memory. Mr. Bernard was shot in the right shoulder by one of Colonel Reilly's deserters, the ball penetrating the joint. After he felt the sting of the missile, he fired nineteen of the twenty cartridges in his belt, then fainted from loss of blood. After a hospital residence of several months, Mr. Bernard was appointed standing orderly under Colonel Monroe, a position he held until mustered out of the service.

At the hosp'tal the ball was extracted from the wound and given to the young man who treasured it as a keep-sake until more recent days, when it disappeared. At the beginning of the Civil War Mr. Bernard joined the Sixth Wisconsin Battery, but was not long in the serv'ce. The desire to better his position in life induced the young man to look to the west for opportunity and he came to Madison in 1851. He had accumulated some money and this he entrusted to a friend who promised to purchase with it a nice tract of land for him west of Madison, but he proved false to his agreement, took the money and skipped for parts unknown. This circumstance changed his plans and there was no alternative but to begin tailoring again until he could accumulate enough to begin building row-boats. His shop was located on the lot owned by George Stoner. where now stands the Bethel Lutheran church. Mr. Bernard acquired his knowledge of the proper construction of boats, while working in the Brooklyn navy-yard where he was employed as finisher on large vessels. The pointers thus gained stood him in good stead, for, with money gone, there was no prospect of getting a farm as he had planned and the boat business promised a livelihood. In 1890 he built his first steamboat, which he named Ann in honor of his daughter, who now lives in Cincinnati. After two years on Lake Mendota, the Anne was sold and was taken to Green Lake. In 18!).'$ the year of the world's fair in Chicago, Mr. Bernard built the Columbia, the work on both vessels being done by hand. Last spring the Columbia was dismantled and superseded by the new steamer, Wisconsin, built by the Madison Boat Company and owned by William P. Bernard. In 1849 at New York c'ty. Miss Margaret Cartes became the wife of Mr. Bernard, coming to Madison with her husband in 1851. Nine children were born to them, five sons and four daughters. Those now living are Charles Bernard, Jr., chief of the city fire department of Madison ; Henry Bernard, captain of the fire department; William P. Bernard, boat and ice-yacht builder of Madison ; and George Bernard of Sioux City. Iowa, superintendent of a telephone company. Only two daughters are living, - Mrs. H. J. VanKeulen of Madison and Mrs. F. G. Pfafr of Cincinnati. Catherine died at an early age and a few months ago Mrs. Frank Baker passed away. A son, George, died in Chicago, and Mrs. Bernard was called seventeen years ago. Mr. Bernard's parents died at a comparatively early age, his father being killed in battle and his mother died from grief soon after, at the age of forty-eight. He has but one brother living. This is Constantine, whose home is in New York city. Mr. Bernard is a member of the Mozart lodge, I. O. O. F., and has been connected with the old No. 2 fire company since 1859. Although seriously hampered physically by reason of the injury to his spine six years ago. this veteran of two wars finds enjoyment in reading and recalling events of earlier days. He is possessed of strength of memory quite remarkable. Mr. Bernard's career is one of that varied character common only to the generation now almost gone.

Charles Bernard, Jr., chief of the Madison fire department, and a son of Charles Bernard, Sr., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, was born in New York city on February 22, 1849. His early educational advantages were such as were afforded by the Mad'son schools and during the time he was not occupied in the pursuit of knowledge he assisted his father in his boating and fishing business. At the age of twenty-two he served his apprenticeship as a painter and followed that vocation continuously up to 1899. Six years of that time he was senior member of -the firm of Bernard, Dresen & Rhodes. Mr. Bernard's connection with the

Madison fire department dates from 1871. In that year, just one week before the great Chicago fire, he became a member of the old E. W. Keyes steam engine company. Upon the disbandment of that company he joined the S. U. Pinney hose company, and for some time was its captain and treasurer. It was while he was a member of the hose company that the city council in 1882 elected him to the position of assistant chief of the department. He served in that capacity for seven years, and then was placed in charge of the department, which position he has most capably filled since that time. When the exigencies of the city required a larger department Mr. Bernard gave up his other business interests so as to devote his entire time to the needs of the department. In 1900 the department was placed under civil service and he was chosen permanent chief by the board of fire and police commissioners. In politics the chief shows a preference for the Democratic party, but has never aspired to political office. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church. In 1873 Chief Bernard married Miss Mary McConnell, a daughter of Richard McConnell of Madison. Two children have been born to this union. - Bertha, the wife of Charles Warlike of Madison, and Henry, a stenographer for the Portland safe company of Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Joseph H. Bertrand s a leading physician and business man of De Forest, Wis., and. the descendant of a Canadian family. His father's father came from France to Canada and his mother's parents were early French settlers of Canada. Peter Bertrand, father of Joseph H., was born in Canada, educated there and there married to Miss Seraphine Courtmanche, also a native" of Canada. In 1855 they came to Chicago and made that city the'r permanent home. Mr. Bertrand died in 1883 and his wife in 1905. They were members of the Church of Xotre Dame (Roman Catholic) in Chicago. Two sons and one daughter were born to them, all of whom are living. Joseph H. was born in Chicago, September 27, 1862, attended the public schools in that city and was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of 111., in 1886. For a short time he practiced medicine in Chicago but, seeing a favorable opportunity in De Forest, has been ever since successfully engaged in practice there. Since 1891 he has been engaged in the drug business and also aided in the organization of the De Forest State Bank in 1902, of which he has always been president. A' Republican in political sympathy. Dr. Bertrand is first and foremost an active and public-spirited man, to whom De Forest can look for interest in her welfare. He is particularly accive in the promotion

-of the best interests of the De Forest schools. In the Hansann Lumber Co., he is president and principal stock-holder. With the following' medical societies he is identified: the Central Wisconsin Medical Society, the Dane County Medical Society, the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, and the American Medical Association. He is also a member of the Wisconsin State Pharmaceutical Association and was instrumental in the organization of the De Forest Mutual Fire Insurance Co., of which he was President for a number of years, November 26, 1891, he married Miss Tina Dahl, daughter of N. L. Dahl, an account of whose life appears elsewhere. Three children have blessed the marriage ; Pearl, born February 13, 1896 ; Norman and Joseph Bernard. The family are identified with the Lutheran church.

George Bevitt, an inventor of Madison, was born at Stanley Hill, near the city of Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, October 2, 1819. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Smith) Bevitt, both natives of Yorkshire. The father was a carpenter and mill-wright, and also built boats. The paternal grandfather, William Bevitt, lived near Thorn and was also a carpenter. He had a large family, owned considerable real estate, was the poor pay-master for two villages and kept a hotel. He also built and was the owner of several boats and two of his sons were sailors. George Bevitt, the subject of the sketch, is one of a family of ten children, and the only one to come to this country. He received a fair education in the schools of his native county, and after leaving school learned the trade of cabinet maker. At the age of twenty years he left home and for about two years worked at his trade as a journeyman in different localities. He then went to Bolton, where he found employment in an organ factory and later started in business for himself. In 1849 he came with his family to America, and on September 20, of that year, arrived at Madison. Here he worked for Darwin Clark and others as a cabinet maker, until he was employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company to look after the pumping stations, etc., in Illinois and Wisconsin. While thus employed he invented a tank-spout and valve which is now used by the leadingrailroad companies of the United States. He also invented a carcoupler and various other appliances, having taken out altogether twenty-two patents. Mr. Bevitt was a member of the old fire company No. 1, and was for six years a constable of Dane county. In 1841, at Leeds, England, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Robert and Mary Critoph, and to this marriage were born twelve children, only three of whom are now living. Mary E. is the wife of

Rev. Justin Thompson, of Poynette, Wis. ; Henrietta J. lives with her father; and Hannah is the wife of William L. Steele, a wholesale jeweler of Chicago, with offices in the Masonic Temple. The mother of these children died in March. 1902.

Ole Bilstad, a well-known Cambridge druggist, has been engaged in mercantile business for a number of years. He is of Norwegian descent, both of his parents having been natives of Telemarken, Norway. His father. Even, was a farmer in Norway and was there wedded to Miss Dagna Midgard. In 1813. they came to the United States in a sa'ling vessel, which was twenty-one weeks in crossing the ocean. After a very short stay in New York, where the vessel arrived at length, the young couple came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in Oakland, Jefferson county. Their property consisted of one hundred and sixty acres obtained from the government and on it they bu'lt a rude dug-out and proceeded to improve the farm. The first wheat they raised was carried ten miles to Lake Mills on the back of the pioneer farmer. Their efforts were crowned with success and later the dug-out was replaced by a snug cabin. In 1866 the farm was sold and the family moved to Dane county and purchased eighty acres of improved farm property. Five children were born, but two of the older ones, Stena and Tollaf, died. Tona, the second child, now lives at Seattle, Wash. Gunel lives at Neilsville, Wis. and Ole. the subject of this sketch, is the youngest son. The family attended the Lutheran church. Ole Bilstad was born at Oakland, Jefferson county, March 28, 1848, attended in the winter time such schools as the district afforded in those days and helped his parents on the farm in his spare time. October 24, 1872, he married Miss Ingobar Mandt and soon after came to Cambridge, where he was employed as clerk by T. C. Stagg, who owned a drug and general store. He became Mr. Stagg's partner and a dry goods department was added to the store. In 18"79, Mr. Bilstad bought the drug business and since that time has carried on a drug, stationery, paint and wall-paper business. Mr. Bilstad is a Republ'can in political sympathy and has served as trustee and school clerk in the village for a long period. With his family he attends the Presbyterian church of Cambridge. Mrs. Bilstad is the daughter of Gunder T. Mandt, a prominent citizen of Stoughton, Wis., whose sketch appears elsewhere. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bilstad: the oldest son. Gunerius E., attended the Cambridge schools, the Stoughton Academy and the University of Wisconsin ; was also graduated from the Northwestern Medical College and is a practicing physician of Cambridge. His wife was Miss Clara W ar- ren, daughter of Dr. George B. Warren, of Chicago, and they have a family of three children. George, Esther and May. The oldest daughter of Ole Bilstad is Sena D., wife of John Richardson of San Francisco, Cal. Clara, the next in age, is the wife of Will F. Krippen of Barron, Wis., and they have one child, Paul B. Florence O. Bilstad, the youngest daughter, resides with her parents at Cambridge. Mr. Bilstad is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge No. 135 of Cambridge and Dr. Bilstad belongs to the State Medical Society of Wisconsin.

Wenzl Binstock, a farmer in the town of Cottage Grove, was born at Waterloo, Jefferson county, Wis., June 11, 1863. His father, whose name was also Wenzl, was a native of Austria. He grew to manhood in his native land, married there Hannah Freidel, and June, 1859, located in Jefferson county. After nine years on this farm they sold it and bought s'xty-eight acres in another locality. Here they added to their possessions until they owned a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Of their ten children six are still living. They are August, living retired at Waterloo ; Peter, a farmer at Sun Prairie ; Wenzl, the subject of this sketch ; Hannah, now Mrs. Frank Veithr of the town of Medina ; Rose, the wife of Ferdinand Vieth, of Waterloo, and Anna, the wife of Anton Thomas, of Sun Prairie. At the age of twenty-five years Wenzl Binstock, the son, began farming for himself on a farm belonging to his father. This tract of land he afterward bought, and it has been his home ever since he commenced life on his own account. On April 17, 1888, he married Mary, daughter of Vincent and Victoria Semon, of the town of Medina, and Mrs. Binstock has been a real helpmate to her husband in all his undertakings. This, coupled with the fact that he is a man of super 'or judgment and untiring energy, accounts for his success. He and his wife have had the following children. Hattie, born March 2, 1889 ; Anna, born on March 28, 1891. and died on October 5. 1891 ; twins, born March 25, 1893, one of them died in infancy and the other. John, died on September 8, 1893 ; Cary M , born March 26, L896. Vincent and Victoria Semon, had four children, viz: Mary, now Mrs. Wenzl Binstock ; Joseph, living in Illinois; John, at Oconomowoc, Wis.; and Vincent, living in the town of Medina. Mr. Binstock is a member of the Catholic church and in his political amTations is classed as an independent voter. He belongs to the Lodge of Woodmen at Cottage Grove, and to the Catholic Order of Foresters.

growers of Sun Prairie township, was born :n Delafield, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, October 1, 1854, and is a son of Henry R. and May (Austin) Birkinbine, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, in 1807, and the latter in the state of New York, December 15, 1833. The father came to Madison, Wisconsin, in an early day and there erected the first saw mill for the late Andrew Proudfit. He later settled near the city of Milwaukee, where he owned and operated a saw mill for a number of years. * He passed the closing' years of his life in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was for some time employed as a machinist. He was both an engineer and millwright, and finally was placed on the retired 1st of pensioned engineers of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. His twin brother, William, was awarded a prize as an engineer at the World's Columbian Exposition, in Chicago, in 1893. Henry Birk'nbine was a Democrat in politics, in earlier life, but supported the Republican cause from the time of Lincoln until his death, which occurred in 1888. His w'dow now resides in Scotland, South Dakota, and of their four children two are living. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a native of Germany, whence he emmigrated to America, locating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he passed the remainder of his life, having been in independent circumstances financially. The maternal grandfather, Hezekiah Austin, was born in the state of New York, and came to Wisconsin about 1845, settling in Waukesha, where he engaged in the work of his trade, that of blacksmith. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Stowell, cont'nued their residence in Wisconsin until their death. William H. Birkinbine completed his educational trailing in the public schools of Sun Prairie, and he has made farming his vocation in life, while he has won his way to success and independence through earnest and well directed personal effort. He now owns a well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and ninety acres, one hundred acres of which are in the corporat'on of Sun Prairie and the remainder in Sun Prairie township, the tract being all in one body, however. In 1903 he erected his present large and well equipped barn, and in 1904 completed his fine modern residence. He gives his attention to general farming ard stock raising and is alert and progressive in his methods and ideas, while he commands the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. Mr. Birkinbine is a stanch Republican, but has never sought official preferment. He is identified with Sun Prairie Lodge, No. 143, Free and Accepted Masons, and attends and gives support to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Birkin- bine is a member; he assisted in the erection of the present church and parsonage of the denominat'on in Sun Prairie. On March 5, 1884, Mr. Birkinbine was married to Miss Emma Haner, who was born in Bristol township, this county, November 19, 1854, being a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Stroup) Haner, now residents of Sun Prairie. Mr. and Mrs. Birkinbine have five children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are here entered : Eva, January 27, 1885; Minnie, September 13, 1886; William Frank, October 4, 1888; Sarah, December 3. 1890 ; and Robert, November 10, 1893.

Adolph Birrenkott is one of the leading stock-growers and farmers of Cross Plains township, which has been h's home from the time of his birth, and no citizen of this locality is held in more distinctive confidence, while his progressive ideas and marked business acumen need no farther voucher than that afforded in the success which stands to his credit and the attractive appearance of h's fine farm. He was born on the home farm of his parents, in section 28, this township, June 7, 1855, and is a son of Michael and Clara M. (Kalshauer) Birrenkott, both of whom were born in Rhenish Prussia ; they came to America as young folk and their marriage was solemnized after their arrival here, both having left the fatherland about the year 1852. Michael Birrenkott was born in Kerpen, Germany. September 7, 1830, a son of Adolph and Margaret Birrenkott, with whom he came to America when about twenty-two years of age. The family made Dane county their destination, and Michael and his father first purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, in section 28, Cross Plains township, erecting a primative log house on the place and later making an addition to the same, while they grappled with the forest and improved a good farm. The parents of Michael here passed the remainder of their lives. Clara M. (Kalshauer) Birrenkott was born July 13, 1830, having been a daughter of John and Theresa Kalshauer, who came to Dane county about the same time as did the Birrenkott family. Michael Birrenkott became a man of prominence and influence in the community, having served as supervisor and assessor of his township and having been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, while both he and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church. His death occurred January 12, 1874, and his widow entered into eternal rest February 26. 1884. Of the nine children the subject of this sketch was the first-born and eight of the number are living, one having died in infancy. The names of the others are here entered in order of their birth : Theresa, Gertrude, John, Jacob, Peter, Michael J. and Joseph. All are still resident of Dane county. Adolph Birren- kott was afforded the advantages of the schools of his native township and after the death of his father he remained on the old homestead with his mother until the time of his marriage. He still continued on the old homestead, however, and eventually purchased the interests of the seven other heirs, and he now owns two hundred and eighty-six acres of well improved land. He has individually made many improvements, in the way of erecting and remodeling buildings and the farm is one of the model places of the township. He now gives his attention more especially to the raising of h'gh-grade live stock, having short-horn cattle, which he buys and feeds and then places on the market each year, while he also raises horses and swine and has a considerable dairy business. He is a great fancier of fine horses and has several standard-bred horses of distinctive beauty and value. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the Democratic party and he has been chairman of the township board twelve years, while he has held other local offices and is recognized as one of the political leaders of his township. He and lis wife are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic church, at Pine Bluff, and he was treasurer of the parish seven years. November 24, 1885, Mr. Birrenkott was united in marriage to Miss Anna J. Conrad, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1866, being a daughter of John J. and Katherine (Herchenroder) Conrad, who were born in Germany. They settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1868, when they came to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Birrenkott have seven children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Margaret K., May 1, 1887 ; Michael J., May 21. 1888; Clara M., February 6, 1892; Theresa ].r March 20, 1891; Katherine M., August 20, 1900; Anna E., September 3, 1902 ; and A. Verner J., April 18. 1905.

Grant E. Bissell operates one of the largest farms in Vienna township. His father, Henry H. Bissell, was a native of New York and a pioneer of Columbia county, where he came with his father, Uri Bissell, in an early day. Henry Bissell was married in Columbia county, to Miss Cacindra Wilkins, also a native of New York, and lived for a number of years upon a farm. For some years past he has been the owner of a hardware store and lumber-yard at Browntown, Wis., but has retired from active business and resides in Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Bissell are members of the Adventist church. Their family circle included nine sons and daughters, of whom all but two are now living. Grant E. Bissell, their son, was born at West Point, Columbia county. Wis., July 1, 1868, attended the common schools in Green and Dane counties and later the Northwestern Business College. For a short time he followed the profession of school-teaching but soon turned his attention to farming and at present rents the David Robertson property of eight hundred acres and carries on an extensive general farming business besides raising short-horned cattle, Clydesdale horses and Poland China hogs. His sympathies are with the Prohibition movement and he is allied with that political party. February 15, 1893, Mr. Bissell married Miss Addie Dodge, who was born in Roxbury, Dane county. Wis., daughter of George and Ellen (Brereton) Dodge. Mr. Dodge was born in New York and his wife in Ireland. They were early settlers of Dane county and now reside in Roxbury township. To Mr. and Mrs. Bissell were born five children and all are yet at home. Ellen C. is the oldest daughter and (in order of their ages) the other members of the family are Albert H., Grace E., Dorothy E. and George E. The Bissell family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they are active workers. Jerome Bixby is one of Dane county's pioneers, whose strong and hearty old age comes as the crown of an active and useful life. A native-born American, as were both his parents, Mr. Bixby is the son of George Bixby, who was born in Connecticut and Eunice (Taylor) Bixby, whose birthplace was near the Susquehanna river in New York. Their home was in Genessee county, N. Y., for many years and their later life was spent with their son Jerome, in Wisconsin. Five children were born to them : Mallisa, the eldest, is the wife of A. D. Stevens of Oregon, Wis. ; Hulda is Mrs. J. Smith and lives in Illinois; Jerome was the next son; the youngest son died and Elizabeth, the youngest daughter, married Mr. L. Miller and resides in Bureau county, 111. Jerome was born in Genessee county, N. Y., May 11, 1827, received such limited education as the schools of the district afforded at that time, and came west in 1845, When he was a boy it was customary for the children of the community to go barefoot to church and the mistress of the house considered herself fortunate if she had a calico dress to wear, homespun being the common garb. Jerome Bixby located in Ogle county, 111., for one year, then came to Janesville, Wis., and drove a team between Janesville and Milwaukee for three years. His first visit to Stoughton was made in 1847 and in 184!) he located there. He saw the first lumber hauled for Stoughton buildings the first store opened by Luke Stoughton, etc. In 1851 he purchased eighty acres of farm land near Rutland and became one of the first residents of that community. The original homestead has been en- larged and the farm now consists of one hundred and eighty acres of fine farm land, which has been improved in every way. It is known as the "Island Lake Farm," the name bestowed upon it by its owner, and upon it is carried on a general farming business, including the raising ol fine stock. Mr. Bixby also owns a large tract of land in Aurora county, S. Dak., and is heavily interested in Colorado mines. A Republican in sympathies Mr. 'Bixby has never devoted much time to politics, though he has served as a member of the town board for two terms. For three years he was delegate to the Farmers' National Congress and has attended county conventions. He is a member of the Stoughton branch of the I. O. O. F. February 14, 1892, he married Miss Mary S. Emmons, daughter of Isaac and Emily Emmons, whose home is in New York state.

Claus Black is one of the highly respected citizens of the town of Oregon, and although more than two-thirds of his life was spent in the far-away land of his birth he is contented in the knowledge that his sons and daughters are enjoying the privileges and advantages guaranteed to all in their adopted country, America. It is to the citizens of foreign birth such as he who is the subject of this brief review, that we are indebted, in part at least, for our material advancement and national prosperity. Mr. Black was born on the island of Lolland, Denmark. August 12, 1825, the son of Ole Larson and Bertha Marie (Hanson) Black. He grew to manhood in his native country, was educated in her schools, and then showed his loyalty and allegiance to the government by serving as a soldier in the war between Denmark and Germany, in 1848-50. In 1882, with his wife and ten children, he migrated to America. Three children preceded him to this country, and one remained in Denmark for another year. He first settled in the town of Union, Rock county, where he rented land for one year, and then bought a farm in the town of Oregon, Dane county, where he is now living a retired life. The difficulties confronting this family can hardly be real'zed by the native-born American. When they arrived on Wisconsin soil none of them could speak a word of English, but with unusual determ' nation and natural ability of a high order they succeeded nicely and were soon reckoned among the substantial citizens of the community in which they lived. Aside from the subject that first self-preservation, Mr. Black early took more than a passing interest in American institutions and especially affairs of a local nature. He became a convert to the political faith of the Democratic party and has given faithful allegiance to that organization since he first 7 - iii exercised the high prerogative that goes with American citizenship. The date of his marriage, which was solemnized in the country that gave him birth, was in October, 1856, and the lady of his choice was M'ss Sena Hansenaskafta, who was also born in Denmark, May 16, 1835, the daughter of Hans and Anna Dorothy (Barcusson) Hansenaskafta. The names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Black, and other information concerning each of them are appropriately given in this connection : Theodore Olaf resides in South Dakota ; Theresa Maria is now wife of Mace Matson. of the town of Fitchburg; Rasmus lives in Minnesota; Louis is given more extended mention on another page; Dora is the w'fe of Peter Miller, of the state of Washington ; Wilmer married Francis Neibur and resides in the town of Rutland ; Sena became the wife of Henry Lutz, of M'lwaukee, and is now deceased; Hans married Ida Wood and resides in the town of Dunn ; Christian resides at the old home ; Anna Marie is the wife of Halvar Rhinedahl, of Sun Prairie, Wis. ; Fredrika Amelia is the wife of William Bates, ol the town of Oregon ; Mary is the wife of John Bjoin, of Stoughton ; Nels Peter married Sadie Hagan and resides in the town of Oregon; and Lovie C. remains at home where he has charge of the farm and of the general affairs of the family. He was educated in the district schools of the town of Oregon, and is a young man of more than ordinary intelligence. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Oregon, and is exceedingly popular wherever known.

Louis Black is one of the thrifty farmers of the town of Oregon, who, by his industry and careful management has won a position of influence in. the community in which he resides. He is one of the sons of Claus Black, who is given appropriate mention on another page of this volume, and with the family the subject of this review came to America in 1882. Louis Black was born in Denmark on December 20, 1863, and hence was eighteen years of age when the family decided to try their fortunes in the new world Having received a fair education in his native tongue, after locating in America he supplemented the knowledge thus gained by attendance upon the district schools of the town of Oregon, and w'th good natural ability and force of character he was thus equipped to solve the problems of an independent career. He made his home upon the parental farm until 1894, and then purchased sixty acres of excellent land in the town of Oregon, upon which he has since lived, and which he has greatly improved by the erection of a fine residence, barns, fences, and the addition of other improvements necessary to the making of an up-to-date homestead. On March 7, 1894, he was married to Miss Anna Barmhisel, a native of the state of Ohio, but reared and educated in Grant county, Wis., to which place her parents had removed a few years after the close of the Civil War, in which her father had rendered valiant service as a Union soldier. Mr. Black takes an independent position in political matters, not allying- himself with any party organization, but giving his support to men and measures as they meet the approval of lis conscience and good judgement. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church.

James Blake, a retired farmer of Mazomanie, was born in County Clare, Ireland, August 15, 1835. He is the eldest of three children born to Henry and Margaret (Mangen) Blake, the father a native of county L'merick and the mother of county Claire. The other two children were Mary and Henry. The mother died in Ireland in 1819, and the father married a widow named McGrath, but no children were born to his second marriage. In 1851 the family came to America on a sailing vessel, landing at Quebec, Canada, after a voyage of five weeks. From Quebec they came by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, and from there to Janesville, Wis., where the father went to work on the construction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, assisting to build the road as far west as M'ddleton. In 1855 he bought a tract of government land in the town of Vermont and lived on it for several years, when he went to Green county. Wis., and there lived the rest of his life. James Blake had but limited opportunities to acquire an educat'on. Soon after coming to this country he began driving team, grading the railroad on which his father was employed, and later secured employment as a farm hand. While thus engaged he studied nights and learned to read and write. He was next employed in a flour mill at Monticello for two years, after which he ran a mill for John Adams in Iowa county for some time. He then bought land of his father and began farming for himself. Five years later he sold this farm and bought two hundred acres in another locality, in the town of Black Earth, and lived there for twelve years. He then bought the four hundred and thirty-eight acres known as the "Summer Side" farm, and lived on it until 1889. He then sold this farm and took up his residence where he now lives, on ten acres of ground near the town of Mazomanie. In his political afhTations Mr. Blake is a Democrat. He has served on the town and village boards of Vermont, Black Earth and Mazomanie, and has been called at times to serve as a grand juror or a member of the jury in the United States district court. lie belongs to the Cathol'c church at Mazomanie and has been a liberal contributor to its many worthy charities. His brother Henry served four years in the Civil War as a private in Company A, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry. On July 5, 1857, James Blake and Catherine Denen, daughter of Jeremiah Denen, a native of County Cork, were united in marriage, and to this union have been born eight children. George is the railroad agent at Inman, Kan. ; Patrick H. is cashier of a bank at Orofino, Idaho; James W. is president of the Fidelity state bank, of the same place ; Jeremiah J. is an attorney at Boise, Idaho ; Margaret R. is the wife of J. B. Carey, of Cloquet, Minn.; Kate, deceased, married J. P. O'Grady, cashier of the state bank of Oberlin, Kan.; Helen is now the wife of J. P. O'Grady; Elzabeth is the wife of Edward L. Murphy, of Pennoc'k, Minn. All the children are well educated, six of them having taught school, and all are doing well.

Henry D. Blanchar is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of the town of Windsor which is his birth-place. He is the son of Williard Blanchar, who came from New York to Wisconsin in 1848. Horace Blanchar, father of Williard, was born in New York and came to Dane county in 1850. He married Miss Lovisa Pyer, also a native of New York. Williard Blanchar was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y. April 20, 1822, married Miss Elvira Cooper, born in 1824, and came to Dane county, Wis., in 1848. He obtained a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the town of Windsor and lived there until 1883, when he sold the farm and went to live in Madison. Mrs Blanchar died in 1851. The second wife of Mr. Blanchar was Miss Mary Reynolds and now lives in Madison, Wis. Mr. Blanchar died in 1888 in Florida. Four children were born to the first marriage, of whom three are living, and five children blessed the second marriage, of whom three are living. Mr. Blanchar was prominent in the comuunity, held the office of superviaor and treasurer in the town and was allied with the Republican party, as is also his son Henry. Henry D. Blanchar was born in Windsor township April 7, 1850, attended the home schools and the Northwestern business college in Madison, Wis. For a year he engaged in business in Souix Falls, S. D.. but preferred the occupation of farming and in 1S83, purchased the old homestead in Windsor, a farm of two hundred twenty-nine and one-half acres, which has since been his home. Mr. Blanchar devotes considerable attention to stock-raising and has Holstein cattle, Poland China hogs and Shropshire sheep, with which he is very successful. Mr. Blanchar is a Republican and has served as supervisor of the town for a number of years. April 12, 1883, he married Miss Anna Chambers, who was born in Springfield township, Dane county, in September, 1855, daughter of William and Jane (Dunlap) Chambers, who were natives of Ireland and came to Springfield in 1853. In 1880 they went to live in Madison and after nine years residence in that city came to live in the home of Mr. Blanchar at Windsor. One son, Stanley E. was born to Mr. and Mrs. Blanchar in 1885, educated in the Windsor high school and married Miss Grace Rob nson, daughter of Barber F. Robinson. The family attend the Congregational church.

Henry Bliefernicht is a well-known farmer and stock-raiser of De Forest. He is the son of Daniel Bliefernicht, who was born in Germany, July 7, 1800, and there married Miss Sophia Radio, also a native of Germany. Their married life was spent on a farm in Germany and Mrs. Bliefernicht died there in 1850, forty-five years of age. Ten children were born to them, of whom seven are now living. Mr. Bliefernicht came to the United States with his son Henry in 1852 and lived for a time in Watertown, Wisconsin. In 1864 they located upon a farm in the town of Windsor and Daniel Bliefernicht lived until 1885. The family attended the Lutheran church of which their son Henry is a member. Henry was born in Germany, December 31, 1812, attended school there and afterward in Jefferson county. He early engaged in farming and commenced by renting, in 1864, the farm which is now his own. In 1868 he purchased the property, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and he has improved and equipped his farm until it has become a valuable property and a comfortable home. He makes a specialty of Polled Angus cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Bliefernicht has served the community as assessor and treasurer and supervisor of the town of Windsor and is allied with the Republican party. April 10, 1870, occurred his marriage to Miss Freada Klingenberg, born in Germany in 1850, daughter of John and Charlotta (Knutz) Klingenberg. who came to the United States from Germany in 1853. Mr. Klingenberg was born in Germany in 1830 and h's wife in 1827. After a short residence in Columbia county they moved to Morrisorfville, where Mrs. Klingenberg died in 1903 and her husband still resides. Three of their seven children are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Bliefernicht have been born six children ; Regina, William, Daniel, Amelia, Martha and Hulda.

since 1843 and was the birth place of the present owner. His grandfather came from Washington county, N. J. to Alfred, N. Y. in an early day and there Horace, father of John, grew to manhood. Of a family of eight children but three came west, Silas, Horace and William. Silas went to Nebraska. William made his home in Evanston and Horace settled in 1839 where the city of Milton now stands. He was a shoe-maker by trade but engaged in farming in Wisconsin. In 1813 he went to Albion and purchased a farm of eighty acres to which he added from time to time until the property comprised one hundred and eighty-six acres. His first home was built of logs but he was successful in his enterprise and soon converted his farm into a profitable property with substantial buildings. Mr. Bliven belonged to the Seven Day Baptist church and was instrumental in the organization of a branch in that community, was a charter member of the church at Milton and also at Albion. Carpenter as well as shoe-maker and farmer, Mr. Bliven was employed on many of the buildings of the neighborhood, gave his services as well as financial assistance to the erection of the Albion academy and was always a generous and public-spirited man. He was a Republican but never desired political office. In 1843 he married Miss Charlotte Clement of Dunham. Canada, and eight children were born to them ; William, who lives with his brother John, up on the old farm ; Mary J. who is Mrs. Buchanan of Jackson, Mich. ; Susan M., Mrs. Alexander Campbell of Albion ; John B. ; Amos, who resides in Carthage, S. Dak ; James G., also on the farm ; Eliza, Mrs. Chas. Smith of Albion ; John G. who died in infancy. Mrs. Bliven died in 1878 and her husband in 1881. John Bliven was born in Albion, attended the district schols and the Albion academy and has been occupied with farming since he was a a young man. January 15, 1875, he married Miss Julia Van Horn of Cambridge, who died November 10, 1893. The present Mrs. Bliven was Miss Jessie Van Horn, sister of Mr. Bliven's first wife and daughter of Nathan Van Horn, a pioneer of Jefferson county, who built the first woolen mill in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Bliven have three children : Marjorie, Marian and Doris. . The family are identified with the Seven Day Baptist church of Albion.

Aslak Bohle is a native of Norway but. has been a resident of Perry township since he was a boy of thirteen and has for many years been engaged in farming in that vicinity. With his parents, Ole and Enger (Kmultson) Bohle, he came to the United States in 1873 and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin. Ole was employed as a farm hand in Perry for several years and in 1883 purchased an eighty-acre farm, which he cleared and improved and made his permanent home. For twenty years he owned this farm and but recently retired, sold the homestead and went to live with his son, Aslak. Seven children were born to Air. and Mrs. Ole Bohle, of whom Alask is the oldest son. Alask was born in Ordahl, Norway, October 22, 1861, attended school in Norway and continued his education in the district school of Perry near his home. At the age of twenty years Aslak left his father's home and purchased a piece of land in the town of Perry, one hundred and nineteen acres in extent, which is his present home. To this twenty-one and one-half acres more were added and the whole farm improved and converted into a profitable and valuable property, on which Mr. Bohle carries on a general farming business. In August, 1886, he married Miss Mila Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. (Milam) Anderson, residents of Iowa. Of the twelve children who blessed the marriage, but eight are living, all with their parents. In order of their ages, they are : Inda, Oliva, Amanda, Albert Edwin. Anna Amanda, Otto (deceased), Carol. Matilda (deceased), Melvin, twins who died in infancy and Thea. Mrs. Anderson was one of a large family, attended school in Norway and came to America with her parents when a young girl. She and her husband preserve their association with the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Bohle is a member of the Republican party although not an active politician.

Hon. Hans Borchsenius, retired, who makes his home at 717 Langdon street, Madison, was born at Nestved, Island of Seeland, Denmark, September 19, 1832. His parents, Carl W. and Elizabeth D. (Arneson) Borchsenius, never came to the United States, the father remaining in the mercantile business in Denmark until his death. Hans Borchsenius received his educational training at the academy in Nestved and in 1856 sailed for the New World. After two months in New York, he arrived in July of the same year, at the Badger capital. In his native land he had been in the same business as his father, and after coming here had a hard struggle for a time to maintain himself, the difficulties of a new language and the other trials which a new citizen has to meet being hard to master. He was willing, however, and soon found opportunities to make a livelihood, doing any honorable work that came his way. For several months he drove the mail stage between Madison and Portage. He felt, however, that the best means of accomplishing his object was to learn a trade, so he served an apprenticeship on the Norwegian American, a Democratic publication, and soon afterward was enabled to purchase the controlling interest in it, changing its name to the North Star.

Through his publication he naturally became interested in politics and in 1858 was the candidate of the Democratic party for county clerk, being defeated by a small majority. Gen. Lucius Fairchild and Justice S. U. Pinney, both of whom later became famous in the annals of this commonwealth, were on the same ticket and were both defeated. In 1861 Mr. Borchsenius entered the army as adjutant of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry, but owing to severe illness he was compelled to resign before the cessation of hostilities. Before entering the army he changed his allegiance from the Democratic to the Republican party. After he returned from the war Governor Lewis, who was then secretary of state, appointed him to clerkship in his office, from which he was transferred to the state land department where he served for five years. He was then elected county clerk of Dane county and served as such four years. He was then appointed United States gauger and served one year. When Ludington ran for governor Mr. Borchsenius published a campaign paper called "The Wisconsin Banner", which was instrumental in electing the governor and secretary of state on the Republican ticket. The governor then appointed Mr. Borchsenius timber agent for the state to protect the railroad lands on the Chippewa and Red Cedar rivers. While serving in this capacity he became interested in northern Wisconsin and in 1877 he removed to Baldwin. Wis., to engage in the real estate and loan business. While residing in Baldwin, he was twice elected president of the village. He was also a member of the county board and was elected chairman of the same. In 1891 President Harrison appointed Mr. Borchsenius chief of the internal revenue division in the treasury department, Washington, D. C, in which capacity he served until Cleveland was elected. In 1896 Mr. Borchsenius was elected a member of the legislature from St. Croix county intending that this should be his last political office. At the end of his legislative term Mr. Borchsenius retired from active life and returned to Madison to live, building the home which he now occupies. In religious matters he is identified with the Lutheran church. On November 10, 1859, he married Miss Martha M. Bakke, born in Norway, a daughter of Hans E. Bakke, of Christiana. This union has been blessed with three children - William Carl, of Baldwin ; Dora H., widow of Emil Rasmussen, who now makes her home with her father; and George Valdemar, late clerk of the United States court in Alaska. Mrs. Rasmussen has a daughter Edith, who intends to enter the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 1906.

N. Y., February 11. 1824, the only son of Rufus and Hepzee (Foster) Braley. Rufus Braley was a native of Adams, Mass., and one of the early settlers of western New York ; Hepzee Braley was the daughter of Daniel Foster, a soldier in the Revolution, who fought at the battle of Monmouth church ; she was a Quaker and lived and died in that faith, her pure life aiding materially in the formation of her son's character. Arthur B. suffered the loss of his father when only fifteen years old, and thrown on his own resources, his opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited. He went to live with a wealthy relative for a short time and while in h's home found an opportunity to indulge his strong fondness for the immortal bard of Avon, a fondness which lasted to the end of his days, and rendered him in after life one of the most scholarly critics of Shakespeare in Madison. In the spring of 1846 he emigrated to Wiscons'n, first settling at Delavan, where he completed his law studies, and in 1848 was admitted to the bar in Madison. He moved to Madison in 1852. In 1856, when Madison was incorporated as a city, he was elected first police justice, and held that office for three successive terms of two years each. In 1864 he was elected a member of the Madison common council, serving for three years. During the presidential campaign of 1864, he was in editorial charge of the "Wisconsin Daily Patriot," and, on the close of the campa'gn, returned to the practice of his profession. In the spring of 1868 he was elected city attorney of Madison, and during the presidential campaign of this year again took up editorial work as chief political editor of the "Madison Daily Democrat." In the spring of 1869 he moved to the village of Waukesha, Wis., where he remained until the fall of 1870. He then returned to Madison, and in the spring of 1872 was re-elected police justice, without opposition. The legislature created the municipal court for the city of Madison and county of Dane in 1873, and Judge Braley was elected, without opposition, its first judge in 1874, for a term of six years. He was re-elected in 1880 and again in 1886. Meanwhile the criminal jurisdiction of the court was much enlarged in 1875 and made concurrent with that of the circuit court in all crimes except that of murder, and it now became a court of record.

Judge Braley was strictly honest in the discharge of his official dut'es, and those who knew him best say that, if he erred, it was from error of judgment as he had the highest regard for the duties of his office. He was a man of fine literary attainments, and his character sketches of the great poet Shakespeare are especially ad- mired. Mr. Braley was married February 11, 1855, at Madison, to Miss Philida Stevens; none of their three children survived, and Mrs. Braley died in 1879. In 1880 he was again maried, to Alta E. Jordan, of Allegany county, N. Y., and one son, A. Burton Braley, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, was born to them. Judge Braley died while serving his third term as municipal judge, January 31, 1889.

Prof. Thomas H. Brand, head of the Voice Building and Voice Culture Institute of Madison, was born in New York city, May 16, 1836. He is a son, and only survivor of three children, of Enoch Francis and Catherine ( Mahabe ) Brand, the former a native of England and the latter of Toulon, France. A' sister, Kittie, (Mrs. J. B. Merrill,) and her four children were burned to death in the Kenosha hotel fire of 1871. Prof. Brand received his preliminary education in New York, and was graduated from the Bacon school in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also attended Lawrence University at Appleton. Wis., and was for a time a student in the University of Wisconsin, having been a classmate of the Hon. Wr. F. Vilas at the latter institution. Upon the completion of h's studies he went into the office of Dr. Galan Rood of Stevens Point, Wis. For a time he engaged in the practice of medicine, but the work was not pleasing and he went into voice building. In 1860 he accepted a position as instructor in the Northwestern Military college of Fulton, 111. In this institution he lectured on political economy, general business and taught French for two years and at the same time was associated with the Lyons (Iowa) Female College. For the two years following he was deputy revenue collector for the fifth district of Iowa, having headquarters at Des Moines. In 1867 he came to Madison, his mother and sister having already located here. He immed'ately opened a conservatory of music, had charge of the music in St. Raphael's, the Congregational and the Baptist churches. He was also at the head of the music department of the city schools and had special classes in the University of Wisconsin. Some t'me later Prof. Brand was asked to take charge of the general outside business of the Redpath Lyceum bureau, and for twenty-three years he served in this capacity, severing his connection with the company in 1900. This work took him to practically every country of the world and he has visited at different times England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, France, Austro- Hungary. Russia. Poland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. He has managed the lecturing tours of Matthew Arnold, Cannon Farrer, Justin McCarthy, R. A. Proctor, the astronomer, Robert J.

Burdette, George D. Wendling, and Robert Mclntyre ; was for eight years special manager for T. De WittTalmadge, and for five years served in the same capacity for John B. Gough. Since 1900 he has "been in Madison conducting, with eminent success, a voice building institute. He has had many noted pupils, among them Hon. Robert M. La Follette, Hon. Emil Baensch, Judge Anthony Donovan and Hon. T. C. Richmond. Prof. Brand was married in 1866 to Martha E., daughter of Asa Goodrich of New York, and to this union have been born three children - Clarence I., the eldest - familiarly known as "Cad" Brand, and famous as the cartoonist of the Milwaukee Sentinel, - married Miss Ada Van Dusen of South Madison, and has one child, Clarence Van Dusen Brand. The second child, Kittie, is the wife of George E. Sullivan of Stillwater, Minn., and the mother of three children, - Catherine, Daniel and Goodrich. The youngest daughter, Bessie G., is the secretary of the University School of Music. Mrs. Brand is a member of the School of Music faculty, instructing in mandolin, guitar and banjo. For ten years she was at the head of the department of music of the city schools, and for twelve years was a member of the Congregational cho'r, of which church both she and her husband are members. Prof. Brand is also a member of the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He is a man of broad culture, exceedingly "well read, combining with rare good judgment an intellectual force seldom met with. A man of fine physique, his dignified carriage marks him as the embodiment of moral power. He has a keen insight into men and events, and into the motives which govern them. Genial, courteous, kindly, one who knows him does not wonder that he was picked from among hundreds of others for positions of trust and honor.

Selwyn Augustus Brant was born August 19, 1857, in Decatur county, Iowa, and is the son of Charles Alexander and Armina (Ensign) Brant. The parents moved to LaGrange, Ind., in 1863, where the mother died Sept. 4, 1866. Selwyn A. was reared at La Grange and educated in the public schools of that town. Since 1883 he has been engaged in publishing books and in 1887 came to Madison. He was married, May 29, 1889, to Anna Katherine, daughter of William and Katherine Alice (Dreher) Swint, of Boonville, Ind. Mrs. Brant was born Dec. 2, 1868 in Louisville, Ky.. and was educated. at the convent of Saint Mary's of the Woods, near Terre Haute, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Brant have four children : Charles William, born January 31, 1893; Selwyn Augustus. Jr.,

George H. Breitenbach, of the firm of George C. Breitenbach & Son, is a familiar figure in Madison business circles. The successful firm of merchants has borne its present name since 1800 and does a large retail business. George C. Breitenbach, father of George H. has lived in Madison since 1850. With his father, also George, he came from his native Bavaria in 1846, when he was three years old, and lived for four years near Rochester, N. Y. George C. was a wagon-maker and after his arrival in Madison- in 1850. worked at his trade and was for some time employed by the Fuller & Johnson Co. as foreman in the wood department. In 1800 he engaged in the grocery business in the 800 block on Williamson street and carried on that business until his death in 1004. Mr. and Mrs. Breitenbach have always been devoted members of the Church of the Holy Redeemer and Mr. Breitenbach was a charter member of St. Michael's Society of that church. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Breitenbach. George H. is the oldest son and manager of the grocery store at 851-53 Williamson street. John P. and Julius, managers of the shoe business of Breitenbach Bros., South Pinckney St., Anna T. is Mrs. J. E. Dengel and lives on Jenifer St., Madison. Amelia and Bertha live with their mother. Edward W. is a member of a theatrical company. Agnes is stenographer for Murphy & Kroncke, Madison. Otto works in the store. Mabel is a teacher of music. Louisa and Vera and Elizabeth reside with their mother at the old home. George H. was born in Madison, February 23. 1868, attended the Madison public schools and learned the book-binder's art with Grimm Bros. He was also engaged in the same work for a time in Chicago and in the United States printing offices at Washington, D. C, but returned to Madison to engage in his present business in 1800. October 18, 1808, he married Miss Bertha Mayer, daughter of Casper Mayer and sister of Mrs. Stephen Baas. Mr. Breitenbach takes an active interest in politics, has served on the county board and is a member of the Democratic party. With his wife he attends the Church of the Holy Redeemer and is a prominent member of St. Michael's Society. He is a member and officer of the B. P. O. E. of Mad' son and takes an active interest in the affairs of the order.

John P. Breitenbach, of the firm of Breitenbach Bros., was born in Madison. Aug. 3, 1868. His parents were George C. and Elizabeth (Kremer) Breitenbach, both natives of Germany, the father having been born in the village of Breitenbach, named after this family. The mother was born in Luxembourg. George C. Breitenbach was born Aug. 2, 1843, and left his native land with his parents when but three years of age. The family lived for short periods in New York and Milwaukee and arrived in Madison, May 2, 1850. George Breitenbach had one brother, Henry, and three s'sters, Margaret, Mrs. John Dickert of Madison ; Mary, Mrs. Joseph Splonskowski of Marion, S. D. ; and Teresa, who lives with her brother. The marriage of George Breitenbach and his wife, Elizabeth, took place in 1865, and to them were born fourteen children : George H., - one of the firm of Breitenbach & Son, grocers, of Madison, - who married Bertha Mayer; John Peter, the subject of this sketch; Ann T., Mrs. John Dengel, resides in Madison, and is the mother of two children, Irene and Philip; Julius Herman, member of the firm of Breitenbach Bros., married Mary Edgar and has three children, Janet Mary, William Edgar and George Charles ; Amelia C., Bertha M., and Elizabeth, living in Madison ; Edward M., lives in Chicago, where he is stage manager of one of the theaters; Agnes, a stenographer; Otto C, a clerk in the store of Breitenbach Bros. ; Mabel, teacher of music in Madison; Lou'se and Vera in the public schools. Frank, a twin of Bertha, died in 1881 at the age of four years. John P. received his education in the public and parochial schools of Madison. After completing his school work he was employed in a bank, serving as bookkeeper some fourteen years. In 1897 he entered the boot and shoe business in the firm of Breitenbach Bros. In 1901 and 1902 he served as alderman from the sixth ward of the city, and for the same time was the council's representative on the school board. On June 22, 1893, he married Matilda, daughter of Herman and Marie (Krueger) Schubring, of Sauk City. Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Schubring now make their home in Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Breitenbach have four children, - Arthur August, Lillian Gertrude, Robert Eugene and Florence Louise. Both Mr. Breitenbach and his wife are members of the Holy Redeemer Catholic church, and he is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, of the Woodmen of the World and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which latter organization he is the secretary. Mr. Breitenbach is a man of fine physique, unlimited good humor and an excellent example of the successful business man. He owns and lives in a fine residence in the sixth ward.

Samuel D. Brickson, a substantial farmer of the town of Pleasant Springs, was born in the town of Rutland, Dane county, December 5, 1867. He is a son of Daniel and Annie (Berge) Brickson. natives of Sorgen, Norway, where the father was a fiisherman and farmer. On coming to Amer'ca, Daniel Brickson settled first in Cottage Grove. Then he bought a small farm in Rutland and later sold it and located about half a mile east of Stoughton. Then he removed again to a farm of sixty-seven acres in Cottage Grove township, where he remained for twenty-two years. Daniel Brickson was always a farmer. He died March 7, 1902, and his wife passed away in 1892. He always voted the Republican ticket and was active in the work of the Lutheran church, of which he was a member. Seven children were born to him and his wife. They are Brick, of Stoughton, Wis. ; Belle, wife of Hans Wolf of Hartland,. Minn. ; Nels, a farmer near Janesville, Wis. ; Ole, who is farming the old place near Cottage Grove ; John, employed in a packing house in Lincoln, Neb. ; Samuel D. ; and Albert, engaged in the insurance business in Deerfield, Wis. Samuel D. Brickson received his education in the district schools of the vicinity, had the benefit of two terms in Albion Academy and one term in the Stoughton schools. Until he was twenty-four years old he lived at home,, and then he started farming "on his own hook." In 1897 he bought what was known as the Alma place of one hundred and ten acres in Pleasant Springs and later added sixty acres to it. He has made many improvements on the place, chief among which is the fine residence built in 1901. Politically he is a Republican and as such has served as school clerk for five years, and as road overseer. He is a regular attendant and member of Christ Lutheran church of Stoughton. On April 12, 1891, he married Cora, daughter of Iver and Adeline (Alderman) Anderson, of Pleasant Springs. This union has been blessed with seven children, Derby, Iver. Aves, Silas. Arthur, Walter, and Howard. The four eldest children attend the district school. By his energy and good judgment Mr. Brickson has risen to a place of influence in the community.

Stanley Jerome Briggs, "M. D., one of the able and popular physicians and surgeons of the younger generation in Dane county, is successfully established in the practice of his profession in Sun Prairie. He was born at Dodgeville, Iowa county, Wisconsin, October 11, 1877, and is a son of Melanthon J. and Eliza Jane (Edwards) Briggs, the former of whom was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 31, 1846, and the latter in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. March 27, 1849. Isaac U. Briggs, grandfather of the doctor, was born and reared in the state of Vermont, and became one of the pioneers of Michigan, while he passed the closing days of his life in Mazomanie, Dane county, Wisconsin. His wife, whose maiden name was Salome Hickox, was a native of Canandaigua, Xew York, and she died in Rockford, Illinois. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Briggs was William Edwards, a native of Wales, whence he came to America when young; he was one of the argonauts who* went to California in search of gold, and he died in that state, in 1860, while his wife, whose maiden name was Esther Davis and who was a native of Staffordshire, England, was a resident of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, at the time of her death. Melanthon J. Briggs secured his early educational training in the schools of Mazomanie, Wisconsin, after which he studied law under the preceptorship of Asa M. Eastland, of Richland Center, this state, being admitted to the bar in 1871. He was thereafter engaged in the practice of his profess'on for a number of years in Dodgeville, Wisconsin , becoming one of the representative members of the bar of the state. He and his wife, the latter now deceased, resided in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvan'a, where he is engaged in the work of his profession. He is a stanch adherent of the Democraticparty and was prominent in public affairs in Iowa county, Wiscons'n, for many years. He served as district atttorney, represented the county in the state legislature and was the candidate of his party for the office of attorney general of the state, being defeated by normal political exigencies. He served about two years as postmaster at Dodgeville. January 23, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Seventeenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, being madesergeant of his company, and served two years as color bearer,, while he took part in seventeen important engagements, continuing in the ranks of the brave "boys in blue" until the Union armswere crowned with victory. February 23, 1865, he was promoted' to the office of second l'eutenant and transferred to Company A, Forty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. His father served as a major in the war of 1812. Dr. Stanley J. Briggs completed the curriculum of the Dodgeville high school, after which he was for two years a student in the literary department of the University of Chicago, also taking a course of lectures in the medical department of that institution, while in 1900 he was graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, one of the most celebrated medical schools of the west, duly receving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. After the graduation he passed two years in most profitable work as interne in Cook County Hospital, in the western metropolis, and he then became house physician at the Wisconsin Hospital for the Insane at Mendota, where he served until December, 1901, when he lo- cated in Sun Prairie. There he has built up a very successful general practice, and he enjoys the esteem of his professional confreres, being a close observer of the unwritten code of ethics, and also enjoys marked popularity in social circles. He is a member of the American Aledical Association, the Wisconsin Medical Society, and the Dane County Medical Society, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Equitable Fraternal Union. In polit'cs Dr. Briggs maintains an independent attitude.

The military history of the direct ancestors of Dr. Briggs is remarkable. Beside the service of his father in the Civil War and that of his grandfather in the War of 1812, already noted, his great grandfather served in the Revolution and his great great-grandfather in the French and Indian War.

Charles Ilsley Brigham is a descendant of the family that gave to Dane county its first permanent settler, and the place where he now resides is near the location made historical by his greatuncle, Ebenezer Brigham, as the spot on which the first house was erected to shelter a white man in what is now the important county of Dane. David Brigham, a brother of Ebenezer and the grandfather of the subject of thns review, was also a very early resident of this section of the Badger state. He was born in Worcester county, Mass., August 15, 1786, and came to Wisconsin in 1839. He was a lawyer by profession, having been graduated from Harvard University in 1810, after which he was a tutor in Bowdoin College, and subsequently read law. In 1818 he became established in the practice of his profession at Greenfield, Mass., where he married his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Franklin Ripley. David Brigham and wife removed to the embryo capital of Wisconsin in 1839 and he continued in the practice of his profession there until his death four years later, the exact date of his demise being August 16, 1843, being at that time the senior member of the Madison bar, as well as an officer and leading member of the Congregational church. His wife survived him many years and died in Madison at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. H. G. Bliss, November 3, 1879, in the eighty-seventh year of her age. Ebenezer Brigham, who had the honor of being the first permanent settler in Dane county, was a younger brother of David and was born on April 28, 1789. He came west in 1814, and in 1828 settled at Blue Mounds (this region at that time being a part of the teritory of Michigan), and he resided there until his death, accumulating in the meantime a large tract of land. The parents of the subject of this review were Jerome Ripley Brigham and wife, the maiden name of the latter being Alary Noyse Ilsley. The father was the son of David Brigham, before mentioned, and was born at Fitchburg, Mass., July 21, 1825, and the mother was born at Eastport, Maine, June 8, 1838. The father came to Wisconsin with his parents but soon thereafter returned to New England and entered Amherst college, from which he was graduated in 1845. He was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi (Greek letter) fraternity. After his graduation he returned to Wisconsin and read law in Madison, being admitted to the bar soon thereafter, and wa,s appointed the first clerk of the supreme court. In 1851, he removed to Milwaukee and became a member of the firm of Wells & Brigham, the firm name afterwards being changed to Wells, Brigham & Upham. Mr. Brigham became prominent in his profession and also in public affairs of a political nature. He served as city attorney of Milwaukee, regent of the University of Wisconsin, and was a member of the legislature when the present charter of the city of Milwaukee was granted, being chairman of the committee that framed the same. He was also a member of the board of fire and police commissioners when the civil service system was inaugurated in Milwaukee, and he filled other positions of trust. He gave an unswerving allegiance to the principles of the Republican party and contributed in all honorable ways to the furtherance of the- interests of that political organization. Mr. Brigham died in Milwaukee in 1897. His son, Charles Ilsley Brigham, whose name introduces this memoir, was born in the city of Milwaukee in February, 1862, and is one of four children now living that were born to J. Ripley Brigham and wife - the latter died on August 13, 1894. Of these children Bessie married Charles W. Badgley and resides in Denver: the next in order of birth is our subject; Mary Ripley reresides with Charles I., who is her only brother, and Katherine married Dr. Philip R. Fox, a more extended mention of whom is given on another page of this volume. Charles I. Brigham was reared in Milwaukee and there received his preliminary education in the public schools and at private institutions. He was graduated from the Milwaukee high school in 1881. and in the autumn of the same year entered the University of Wisconsin, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1885. He then taught school for a time, after which he spent one winter on a ranch in Colorado. In 1888 he took charge of the farm where he now resides, one mile east of Blue Mounds and four miles west of Mt. Horeb, the place comprising about eight hundred acres of fine land, and there he carries on an extensive dairy business, which is his principal occu- 8 - iii pation. His farm is the largest division of land in the town of Blue Mounds. Although a Republican in his party affiliations, he is inclined to be independent in his views, and his worth as a citizen has been recognized by election to the position of chairman of the town board.

John Q. Brigham, of Madison, comes of English stock who settled in America before the Revolution, and his grandfather took part in that memorable struggle. His name was Stephen Brigham, and that of his wife Sarah Harrington, both natives of Massachusetts. He d'ed in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1848, aged ninety-six years, his wife having passed away some years before. His parents were Stephen Brigham, Sr.. born in Massachusetts, in 1783 and Elizabeth (Stevens) Brigham. born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1803. Stephen Brigham, Jr., went to Oneida county with his parents when a child, and lived there until his death in 1850. His wife died in 1870; they had seven children, Eleanor; Richard H. L. ; George W. ; Marian C. ; Sarah M. ; Emma O. ; John Q. ; the subject of this sketch. Mr. Brigham was a farmer and surveyor, a Whig, and the family was connected with the Presbyterian church. He took part in the war of 1813. The maternal grandparents were of English birth, and settled in Oneida county, N. Y., where both died. John Q. Brigham received his education in Oneida county, first in the common schools, afterward in Aurora and Vernon Academies. He began life as a farmer of Oneida county, and at the age of twenty-six, - he was born March 7, 1848. - came to Burk, and located on one hundred and sixteen acres of land, from which he afterward sold a small tract of ten acres. He is a breeder of Holstein cattle and raises tobacco and sugar beets. Mr. Brigham is a Republican and has held a number of elective offices ; he was county treasurer for four years, chairman of Burk for two years and clerk of the town for two years. He is an attendant of the Baptist church of the city of Madison. He was married, January 15, 1876, to Miss Mary T. Carpenter, a native of Vernon township. One' da county, N. Y.. daughter of Orson and Harriet (Tilden) Carpenter, both natives of New York, and who died in Oneida county of that state; Mrs. Brigham was one of a family of three sons and two daughters, of whom one son and both daughters arc living. To Mr. John Q. Brigham and his wife have been born five children, Zayda B. ; John C. who died in infancy; Electa S. ; Stephen O. ; Horatio M.

and stable prosperity of Dane county, and he is now numbered among the representative farmers of Cottage Grove township, where he owns a fine landed estate of two hundred acres, in section 21. Mr. Brinkhoff was born in Germany, March 14, 1845, and is a son of Henry H. and Anna Catherine (Bode) Brinkhoff, both of whom were born and reared in Germany. The father was born in 1804 and died in 1887 ; the mother was born in 1805, and died in 1880. They came to America in 1865, and passed the closing years of their lives in Dane county, honored by all who knew them. Fredrick W. Brinkhoff was reared and educated in his native land, whence he accompanied his parents to America, arriving in New York city. September 24, 1865, and being twenty years of age at the time. The family remained in New York city one year and then came to Wisconsin and located in Sun Prairie township, Dane county. Here the subject of this sketch was employed in various labors for two years, after which he purchased a team and began working land on shares, thus continuing for one year. He then received nine hundred dollars from his parents and applied this sum to the purchase of his present fine farm, where he has ever since maintained his home, developing the place into one of the best farm properties of this part of the county. When he secured the land only a small portion of the same was cleared, while the improvements were of a very insignificant order. Years of earnest toil and endeavor have brought their due reward, and in surveying his attractive and productive estate today Mr. Brinkhoff may well feel that the deprivations and vicissitudes of the early days were not endured in vain. Mr. Brinkhoff has purchased lots in the attractive village of Cottage Grove, and he looks forward to taking up his residence there when he finally retires from active service, which time is in the remote future, for he retains his energies and ambition unimpaired and is best satisfied when on active duty in c'onnect'on with the supervision of his farm. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Prohibition party and both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church. He was for two years a member of the township board of supervisors, and was for a number of years a member of the school board. In April, 1864, Mr. Brinkhoff was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Wessellner. who was born May 9. 1843, being a daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Aspelmeier) Wessellner, both natives of Germany. In conclusion is entered a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Brinkhoff: Henry John, born July 21, 1865, is now a member of the firm of Wiedenbeck, Dobelin & Company, black- smith and wagon supplies, Madison; Louisa May, born January 3, 1866, became the wife of August Steffen, and her death occurred January 3, 1895 ; Carrie Wilhelmina, born October 3, 1868, is married and resides in Madison ; Frederick William, born December 18, 1871, died July 21, 1898; William Herman, born February 3, 1874, resides in the city of Madison; Emma Augusta was born June 17, 1876, and died July 5, 1896 ; Samuel Herbert was born July 26, 1878, and died June 3, 1897 ; Ella Amanda, born September 5, 1880, died January 3, 1886 ; Clara Gertrude was born March 31, 1884, and Milton Ellsworth, June 28, 1886.

Thomas Evans Brittingham, of Madison, was born in Hannibal, Mo., May 18, 1860, and is the son of Dr. Irvin Baird and Mary J. (League) Brittingham, the latter of whom is deceased. Thomas E. attended Hannibal college. In 1880 he moved to Clear Creek Gulch, Chaffee county, Col., and afterward to Lake county, Cal., in both of which states he followed the mercantile business. He located in Merrill, Wis., in 1885, and came to Madison in December, 1888, having been engaged in the lumber trade since coming to this state. At Portland, Jefferson county, Wis., on December 5, 1889, he was married to Miss Mary Lucy Clark, a graduate of the Un'versity of Wisconsin, born December 5, 1868, a daughter of James Adams and Mary (Hughes) Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Brittingham are the parents of three children : Margaret, born May 19, 1892; Harold Hixon, born March 21, 1894; and Thomas Evans, Jr., born March 2, 1899.

Andrew S. Brown, senior member of the firm of Brown Bros., livery, is a native of Dane county. He was born in the town of Verona, April 3, 1855, of good Scotch stock. His father was Alexander Brown, born in Fifeshire, Scotland, who learned the trade of ropemaker in the land of his nativity. In 1843 he sailed for the United States and after a stormy passage of eleven weeks he landed in New York. His relatives learned of the storm which had overtaken the vessel and had given up all hope of ever hearing of him again. His arrival was late in the evening and his worldly possessions consisted of a ten cent piece and the clothes on his back. He made the acquaintance of another Scotchman, William Brown, who secured him a position in a rope factory, and at seven the morning after his arrival he reported for work. This factory furnished him employment for seven years, six years of which he was its foreman. By the end of the first year he had saved enough money to have his wife and two children come over, the passage taking seven weeks. In 1850, a number of Scotch families in the east banded together and came west, forming a colony which settled in Verona, and Alexander Brown and his family came with them. Several hundred acres of land were entered by Mr. Brown and deeded by him to the colonists. For the first time in his life he undertook farming, but with characteristic energy he took hold and made a success of it, living and managing one hundred and eighty-seven acres until his death, a result of appendicitis, on December 14, 1882. In the early days the only market for his wheat was in Milwaukee, and he would make yearly trips with it. It is related of him that he would often walk three miles to the woods, cut one hundred fence rails, and return in the evening apparently unfatigued. He was a devout Presbyterian and a great Bible student, and was exceedingly well read and always spent his evenings in study, mathematics being his favorite diversion. His wife Margaret (Smith) Brown, was a native of the same shire in Scotland Although nearly eighty-eight years of age she is wonderfully well preserved in mind and body. She makes her home with her youngest daughter in the town of Fitchburg. Andrew S. Brown is one of eleven children, two of whom, twins, died in infancy. The other children were Jeanette, died soon after the family's arrival in this country; William, farming 1,200 acres in Mower county, Minn.; Anna, wife of James Leslie, a Brownsdale, Minn., farmer; Ellen, wife of James Henderson, a retired farmer of Verona; Agnes, wife of James Eddy, a retired farmer of Verona ; Elizabeth, wife of John Lemont, a coal operator in the British possessions near Washington ; Myron, in business with his brother, married Sarah Donkle, by whom he has four children, - Leslie, Mabel, Jennie, and Alexander ; and Emma, Mrs. Floyd Mutchler in the town of Fitchburg. Andrew S. Brown received his education in the schools of Verona, and then worked on Jiis father's farm until he was eighteen years of age. For seven years he was a salesman for Lamont & Roach in the hardware and machinery business ; four years were spent with the Fuller & Johnson Company and eleven years with S. L. Sheldon in the farm implement business. In the fall of 1892 he was elected sheriff of Dane county on the Democratic ticket, and no Democrat since that time has filed the office. During his term of office he took forty-five men and one woman to the state penitentiary. The two years following the incumbency of the sheriff's office were spent on the road for the Fuller & Johnson Company. In January, 1897, Mr. Brown started his present business and has carried it on with great success. His stock is valued at $10,000.