Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin - Biographical sketches, 1880 (part 17 of 17)

JOHN KLOOSTERBOER, farmer, Sec. 23; P. 0. Waupun; born Dec. 14, 1817, in Holland, Province of Gelderland ; came to America in 1849, and settled in the town of Alto on Sec. 9 ; came to Sec. 23 in 1861; has followed farming ever since he came to this country; had no English education in Holland, but took an English-print newspaper (the New York Tribune), when he first came to this country, and soon learned to read and speak English. In March, 1841, he was married, in Holland, to Fannie Groothedde, who was born April 27, 1804, in Holland; her first husband's name was Deirk Van Wechel, who died in 1838, leaving four children - Ella (who died in January, 1875), Johanna (now Mrs. John Straks, of Alto), Arend (who lives io Iowa), and Anna (now Mrs. William Klumpers, of Alto). He has 374 acres of land in Alto, divided into three farms, worth about $15,000. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and a Republican.

WIIililAM KliUJlPERS, farmer. Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born March 28, 1827, in Holland, Province of Gelderland ; came to America in 1847, and lived'in the town of Sullivan, Jefferson Co., Wis., till the spring of 1857, then sold out, and bought the farm he now owns, where he has since resided. He was married, March 11, 1857, to Anna Van Wechel, who was born May 29, 1838, also in Gelderland, Holland, daughter of Derk Van Wechel, and stepdaughter of John Kloosterboer ; have five children - Johanna, Derk, Garret, Frances and Willie ; have lost two - Garret died March 20, 1863, aged 17 months, and Prankie, April 27, 1868, aged 10 months. Johanna is now the wife of John Neehel, of Alto. Has eighty acres of land, worth $60 per acre. Both members of the Reformed Church, and he is a Republican.

JOHN LiANDAAIi, farmer. Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born Jan. 15, 1824, in Gelderland, Holland ; son of Cornelius Landaal, who came to America in 1848, settled in Alto, and died Sept. 20, 1874 ; John came to America in 1847, and worked at carpenter and joiner work (which trade he had learned in Holland) one year in Milwaukee, Wis. ; in the spring of 1848, went to Ottawa Co., Mich.; Jived there till the fall of 1849, then came back to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Alto ; first bought a farm of thirty acres on Sec. 21, subsequently added to it, and sold ouc in the spring of 185S ; the next fall, he bought the farm he now owns, on Sec. 26 ; has 180 acres in his home farm, and 160 acres on the county line in Sees. 34 and 35 ; both faa'ms are worth about $20,0001 He has been Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Assessor ; was one of the originators of the Waupun Farmers' Insurance Co., and is now agent for the town of Alto. He was married, Nov. 14, 1850, to Berendiena Mensink, who was born Nov. 28, 1832, in the same place as her husband ; her parents came to America in 1846 ; lived three years in Saratoga Co., N. Y., then came to Wisconsin and lived in Alto till 1864, then removed to Fillmore Co., Minn., and died there ; Mr. and Mrs. Landaal have ten children - Mary C, now Mrs. Henry De Groat, of Alto ; Johanna H., now Mrs. John Duitman ; Henry B., married Mary De Groat, and lives in Alto ; Mina C, now Mrs. Anthony Loomans, of Alto ; John L., Bernard J., Garret A., Emma L., Cornelius H. and Louisa A. ; have lost four - Mina C, Cornelius H., Louisa A. and Benjamin. Mr. Landaal is a Democrat, and an Elder in the Reformed Church, to which they both belong.

DAVID T. McCIiAUGHEY, Sec. 30; P. 0. Waupun; was born Dec. 20, 1824, in Washington Co., N. Y.; he lived five years in Oswego Co. before coming West in 1839; his father, Daniel, and all the family, came to Wisconsin, and settled on Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha Co., on the 7th ,«f November, 1839 ; David T. remained there until the summer of 1846, when he took up land iu Alto ; he has been twenty-four years on the farm which he now owns. He was married, March 13, 1849, to Miss Susan E. Knight, of Alto ; her parents were among the very earliest settlers in this township ; he has 500 acres, all of which he regards as tillable, but about one-fifth is marsh, which yields an abundance of good hay ; he makes a specialty of stock-raising; has 125 thoroughbred and graded merino sheep; keeps grade Durham cattle ; has several horses of the Swigart breed. They have six children - Angeline B., Martha, David W., Maria, Jessie ¥., and Nellie V.; the two oldest daughters are married and live in Iowa; the other four are on the home farm ; he was a partner with William Knight in keeping the first hotel in Alto ; it was on Sec. 31, and for a dozen years had a large patronage ; he has been Side Supervisor, and also Treasurer several'times ; he never had a lawsuit in his life. He is a Republican, and is a member of Waupun Lodge, No. 48, of A., F. & A. M.; his father, Daniel, was born Dec, 21, 1802 ; came to Alto in 1863, and makes his home with his son, David T.; his wife died in 1869 ; he had a family of nind of whom six are living ; the youngest died in the army. All have been successful farmers and good

JOHN ALBERT MEEXK, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born Oct. 12, 1820, in G-elderland, Holland; came to "^ America in 1844, arriving in New York City in August; lived in Westfield, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., till 1845, when he was joined by his parents, two sisters and five brothers; the whole family came to Wisconsin and settled in Alto, except Henry, who went to Texas. Mr. Meenk was married, Feb. 2, 1850, to Henrietta Veenhuis, who was born in October, 1821, in Gelderland, Holland, and died July 24, 1857, of consumption, leaving two children - Jacob and Garret William, both living in Alto; Garret William with his father. Was married the second time, Nov. 17, 1858, to Anna Cornelia Wubbels, who died April 12, 1868, aged a'bout 52, leaving, one child by Mr. Meenk (her second husband), Gertrude. Was married the third time, Jan. 27, 1870, to Mrs. Alida Venhuis, whose maiden name was Droppers ; has 180 acres of land, $40 per acre. Member of Reformed Church, and a Republipan.

JOHIV D. MEENK (deceased) was born in Gelderland, Holland ; came to America, with his parents, in 1845, and settled in the town of Alto, being among the first settlers of the town ; lived first in the north part of the town, but sold out in 1865, and removed to Sec. 23, where he resided till his death, which occurred in the fall of 1873, of consumption, after an illness of several years ; he was but a child when his father, Garrett Meenk, came to America. He married Cynthia Loomans, daughter of John Wm. Loomans, who came to America from Holland in 1844, and to Alto in 1847, where he is still living. Mr. Meenk left ten children - Garrett (lives in Waupun), William, Jane (now Mrs. Garret Gyshers, of Alto), Mina, Delia, Hattie, Anna, Caroline, Hannah and Albert : all living on the homestead, except Garrett and Jane. Mrs. Meenk was married the second time, Feb. 10, 1880, to Derk J. Nigel, of Minnesota. The homestead consists of eighty acres of land on Sec. 23, with good buildings ; P. 0. Waupun.

(i^ERHARDES GEORGE NEEVEL,, farmer. Sec. 22 (formerly painter) ; P. 0. Waupun; born Sept. 16, 1827, in Gelderland, Holland; came to America in 1853, and settled in the city of iWaupun, where he followed painting till 1875, then went on his farm in Alto, and has followed farming since. Was married, Dec. 26,1859, to Alida Elizabeth Deunk, who was born in nis native place in 1838, and died July 29, 1874, leaving five children - John George, Edward, Mina Johanna, Gerret Christian (dead) and Frank Albert. Was married the second time Dec. 31, 1874, to Magdalena Anna De Mersseman, who was born July 2, 1840, in Zealand, Holland; she came with her parents to- Wisconsin in 1848. They have had three children - Janneke Elizabeth, Theodorus Isaac and Isaac Gerhardes ; lost one child of the first wife - Gerret Christian, aged 1 year and 4 months. Owns 160 acres of land.

J. BEmSIJfJK, farmer. Sec. 10 ; P. 0. Brandon ; was born in the Province of Gelderland, Holland, on the 3d of January, 1833 ; at the age of 13, he, with his parents, came to America; they settled on the present homestead in Alto, in the spring of 1846 ; the aged parents still live with their son, and half the land is still in their name, but he is the only heir; together, they have a farm of 320 acres, twothirds of which is tillable. He was married to Miss Julia Shalenski on the 28th of December, 1878. Both his parents and himself and wife are members of the Dutch Reformed Church. He has raised grain mainly, but intends to keep sheep ; he has good farm improvements. He has always been a Republican, but takes littlte interest in politics. J. W. Rensink is the father's name. All are moral, law-abiding citizens.

ROELOF SliEYSTER, farmer and painter, Sec. 15; P. 0. Waupun ; was born Dec. 25, 1815, in Zutphen, Holland ; his father was a painter and grainer, and Roelof learned the trade and worked with his father till 1846, when he came to America and settled on the present homestead. He was married in Milwaukee, June 26, 1847, to Miss Johanna H. Liesveld, who was born April 6, 1822, in Al-nheim, Holland ; since that date, they have lived on the home farm, the carrying-on of which he has superintended and also worked at painting a portion of the time ; he has been twenty-one years Clerk of his school district, fourteen years Supervisor, and, in 1870, was a member of the General Assembly from the First District of Fond du Lac Co. They have had ten children, one of whom died in infancy, and nine are now living - Mary E., J. William, Johanna H., Liesveld A., Roelof H., Coba R., Henry J., Eva M. and Benjamin U.; four children are still at home in the spring of 1880. He has 140 acres of land; raises grain and good grade live stock. His son, Henry, is raising blooded poultry. Mr. Sleyster was one of the first settlers of Alto ; he has never been in a law-suit, either as plaintiff or defendant. He is a stalwart Republican, and so, also, is each son who has become of age. He gives due honor to his worthy wife for her counsels and co-operation in earning life's successes.

WIIililAM H. SMITHERS, farmer. Sec. 17; P. 0. Waupun; was born April 14, 1822, in Yorkshire, England ; came with his parents to America in 1837, and settled in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he remained eight years. He was married in September, 1844, to Miss Lois A. Knight, of York State. They came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1845, and remained one year in Bristol, Kenosha Co.; then, in the summer of 1846, they settled in the township of Alto ; bought his present farm in 1848; he has 222 acres of land, all tillable, except about fifty acres of marsh : he sells no grain, but raises live stock - sheep, hogs, horses and cattle ; has a large, well-planned barn, with basement, and good farm conveniences ; has a comfortable and hospitable home. They have had nine children - one daughter, Anna K., died in 1870 ; the living are Sarah E., Edna M., Ella M., Maggie D., Carrie Z., Willie F., Seba U. and Lois A.; four daughters are married. He has been many years Clerk of Elections, eleven years Town Clerk, two years Assessor, two years Treasurer and one year Side Supervisor ; he is a member of a temperance society and the Grange ; he passed through the privations and varied experiences' of pioneer life. He and several other old settlers related this story of the abundance of fish, especially "bullheads," in the Rock River below Waupun : When ice covered the river, people chopped airholes at some desirable \ point in the river, to which the fish would come in vast quantities, and from which they could be dipped up by the bushel. Several pioneers state a wagon-body full (twenty-five or thirty bushels) could be had for 25 cents - about 1 cent a bushel ; fifty wagon loads per day have been dipped out ; tens of thousands of bushels taken during the winter. Other kinds of fish at some seasons were nearly as abundant. They were obtained mainly to feed hogs. Many of the fish died of suffocation because of the immense masses and the want of aerated water. Wild fowls and deer were plenty. Mr. Smithers was one of the first to move out on the prairie away from the "openings;" his first house was built without nails, boards or glass - simply poles covered with hay, making a comfortable summer residence ; cooking, of course, was done "outside." Mr. Smithers has been a member of the Methodist Church for twenty years. He is a thrifty farmer, a capable man and a good citizen.

HENRY $!iTRAKS, merchant and teacher. Sec. 23; P. 0. Waupun ; born Feb. 13, 1853, in Alto; son of John Straks, who came to Wisconsin in 1846 from Holland, and settled in Alto in 1848, where he now resides. Henry lived with his father till he was 24 years of age, except when at school ; is a graduate of the State Normal School at Oshkosh, and has followed teaching about four years. Was married, April 1, 187?rto' Priscilla Neevel, who was born March 4, 1855, also in Alto; daughter of J. H. Neevel, a native of Holland, who came from Pittsburgh, Penn., to the town of Alto in 1848, where he stUl resides. Mr. Straks has a general store on the corners at the north line of Sec. 23 and employs a clerk to attend to that part of his business, while he is engaged in teaching in District No. 1, half a mile south of his store and dwelling. Has two children - John Hubert, born Aug; 22, 1878, and Nellie, Dec. 13, 1879. He is a Republican, and is now a Justice of the Peace ; both members of the Dutch Reformed Church of America.

JOHX STRAKIS, farmer, Sec. 23; P. 0. Waugun; born May 11, 1826, io Province of Gelderland, Holland ; son of H. D. Straks ; mother's maiden name Catharine Weenink ; came to America in 1846, arrivingin New York July 6 ; came direct to Wisconsin, and lived in Waterville, Jefferson. Co., till February, 1848; then came to Alto, and settled on Sec. 26 ; lived there till 1865, and then sold out and removed to his present location on Sec. 23 ; has 125 acres of land valued at about $40 per acre. Was married, June 2, 1851, to Johanna Van Wechel, who was born April 6, 1830, also in Gelderland, Holland ; daughter of Derk Van Wechel, and step-daughter of John 'Kloosterboer ; has six children living - Henry, Derk Van Wechel, John, Catharine, Wilhelmina and Johanna - the last four living with their parents ; have lost ive children - Henry, died in infancy ; Catharine, at the age of 5 months and 10 days ; Frederick, 5 months; Anna, in infancy, and Frank, Feb. 26, 1878, in his 16th year; he was of kind, obliging disposition, learned music readily, and wa^ a natural artist, leaving a number of sketches showing considerable ability in that direction. Mr. and Mrs. Straks are both members of the Reformed Church, and he has been an Elder in the church since 1865. Republican. Had seventy-five guests at their silver wedding, which occurred June 2, 1876.

BEEIV'ERD TER BEEST, retired farmer. Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born in Gelderland, Holland, June 6, 1806; came to America in 1856, and settled on a farm in Alto; lives with ,his son, Derk, on the farm which he bought in 1859. He was married, Dec. 9, 1829, to Miss Kathrina Louisa/ Bosch ; they have had seven children ; one died in Holland, and one died in the Unit-edl States Army ; the living are Evert, Henry, Derk, Alida and Diena. He is a Republican ; both himsejf ahd his venerable wife are members of the Reformed Church of Alto, and are in good health and a ha^y "'^ age.

DERK A. «-. TER BEEST, farmer. Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Waupun; he was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 8th of June, 1841 ; his parents came to America in 1847, and settled in Alto, where the entire family have since lived. He was married, March 13, 1879, to Miss Grada Johanna Heilsinkfeld. He has lived on their present farm since 1859, but did not buy it till 1878 ; he has 80 acres, fully 45 of which are under good cultivation ; he raises all kinds of grain and live stock. He is a_Republican ; himself and wife are members of >the First Reformed Church of Alto.

JACOB WEIiliHOUSE, merchant and farmer, Brandon ; he was born in Gelderland, Holland, Dec. 31, 1833; came to America with his parents in 1847, and settled in Alto; has. lived in that township ever since ; resides on Sec. 1 ; he lived at home until the spring after he was of age.. He was married. May 12, 1855 to Miss Johanna B. Terhurst, of Milwaukee. He has been a farmer from boyhood ; he has bought and sold several farms, and now owns three farms ; the one he lives on is located about one and a half miles south of Brandon ; he has 300 acres of land, more than nine-tenths of which is under cultivation ; he carries on all the land himself, raises both live stock and grain. He has five children, all living, named John, Henry, Eliza, Gerrit and Jacob, Jr. He has been five years Clerk of the School Board, and Township Treasurer twice ; he is a liberal Democrat, but takes no active part in poliljics ; himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church of Alto. During the present year he has bought a stock of goods in Brandon, and now has a fall stock of all kinds of goods kept in a general village store ; he has a liberal patronage, both from his countrymen and Americans.

GRIFFITH R. WILIilAMS, farmer. Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Brandon ; was born Dec. 25, 1833,, in Caermarthenshire, South Wales ; he landed in Milwaukee Sept. 9, 1850 ; his parents settled in Wausha'ra Co., in February, 1851, where they continued to reside until their death in 1878 ; subject of this sketch worked by the month four years as a farm laborer in Wisconsin, his parents belonging to that class so, largely represente^d in new countries; " poor, but respectable and industrious." . He was married. May 14, 1854, to Miss Susan O'Connor, of Jefierson Co., N. Y.; in fall of same year they removed to her native County, where he bought land, and carried on farming eleven years ; on the 13th of April, 1866, "he came to Alto, and settled on the farm which he'now owns ; they have had three children, one of whom died in infancy in 1866; the two sons are Edgar R., who was married Feb. 25, 1880, and Winfield S. ; has 120 acres, nearly all of which is tillable ; is a member of Brandon Grange, No. 52 ; is a Republican ; is a moral, law-abiding citizen.

HARRY C. WILliIAMS, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Waupun; he was born June 19, 1809^ in Lewis Co., N. Y. ; his grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and his father was in the war of 1812;, section of York State. He was married, May 1, 1833, to Miss Eobecca Wilcox, with whom he has happily journeyed nearly to the fiftieth mile-post; after marriage, he continued farming in the same county till 1847, when he came to Kenosha, Wis., then Southport; his parents and relatives, to the number of twenty-two, came about the same time, some by water, others by land, but all met at Kenosha. The subject of this sketch, and his parents, located on Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., where the parents died in 1865. Mr. Williams remained on Spring Prairie four years. In 1851, he settled in Alto, on some land which he had previously " entered," and which is a part of his present farm of 520 acres, three-fifths of which is tillable, the remainder is marsh, which is sometimes as valuable as the uplands. He raises cattle - has, at present time, one hundred head of graded Durhams ; keeps about fifty cows. For the last nine years he has also had a cheese factory, which uses the milk from 100 cows, and which is superintended by , his wife ; they have commodious barns ; within their fine residence are found evidences of refinement and wealth; they have two daughters - Sarah E. and Mary R. ; the eldest is married to G. W. Adams, a prominent business man of Chicago ; Mary R. is an amateur artist of ability and culture ; some of her paintings are worthy of a professional. He has been Chairman and also Side Supervisor ; he was never a member of any secret society. He is a Republican, and himself and wife are Congregationalists. He has passed through the " hard times " of pioneer life ; he remembers that, in 1853, he drew wheat to Markesan, and was unable to dispose of it, except for cotton bags, which he did, giving a bushel of good wheat for each bag. Now, blest "with competency and friends, they are cheerfully passing on to ripened age.

URIAH WOOD, farmer. Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Brandon; was born Dee. 25, 1830, in Schoharie Co., N. y. ; his parents removed to Wyoming Co., N. Y!, 1832, where he resided until 1844, when they came to Wisconsin, and settled in Kenosha Co.,- but remained only oneyear ; in the fall of 1845, they located on the farm which they now own in Alto. When migrating to the West, young Uriah, then 12 years of age, drove one of the teams from New York to Wisconsin. The next year, after becoming of age, he went across the Plains and spent two years in California. Was married, on the 17th of June, 1855, to Miss L. Agnes Mares, formerly of Canada. In December of that year, they settled upon their present farm, which is finely improved ; they have spacious barns, excellent farm conveniences and a fine residence; -the farm consists of 230 acres, mostly of choice prairie land; and 200 are under good cultivation. This land is conceded to be unsurpassed for beauty and fertility, and the owner is known for his energy, thrift ' and thorough farming ; raises both grain and live stock ; is somewhat of a specialist in sheep-raising ; thirty-three of his fine flock of merinos are registered in the Vermont Merino Sheep- Breeder's Association. Has seven children - Henry C., Charlotte M., B. Addie, Agnes A., Dora C, Uriah D. and Maud M. He has always declined official honors, but, notwithstanding his protest, he was sent to the General Assembly in 1878, from the First District of Fond du Lac Co. ; is a member of Brandon Lodge of A., F. & A. M. Himself and wife affiliate with the Methodist Church, and so also do the parents of both ; he is a Republican. His fellow-citizens pronounce him a successful farmer and a capable man.

Too- Late For Insertion In Proper Place Passenqers Bound For

Its Lines run from Chicago in so many directions that it ia necessary to designate its Linos by certain specific names, which will giv^ a correct idea to the passenger of the part of country each Line traverses. These Lines, numbering nine, are as follows;

These Lines enable the " CHICAGO & NOKTH-'WESTEBN " to reach all principal points in the WEST, NOBTHWEST, and, through its connections, the PAB WEST.

It stands second to no road iu the West, and offers inducemonts and advantages that are not and cannot be offered by any of its competitors.

Its management adopts every improvement known to the modern Bailway System, and is determined that the CHICAGO & NORTHWESTEBN RAILWAY shall remain the LEADING Railway of the GREAT WEST.

& IfOTtTB-WESTEItlf RAIZWAY. «®"BEAR IN MIND, no other road runs Pullman Hotel Cars, or any form of Hotel Cars, THROUGH between Chicago and the Missouri Eiver. This is the only Line that has THROUGH BATING CARS of any sort.