Monroe County, Wisconsin - Chapter 55, 1912 (part 4 of 10)

Rev. Glaeser 's early education Avas received in the parochial schools: at the age of fifteen, he entered the NorthAvestern I'niversitv at WatertoAvn. Wis., a Lutlieran institutiiui. Avhere he acquired a four year classical course, which was supplemented by a course of two and one-half years at the Lutheran seminary at MilAvaukee. lie was ordained and became pastor of the Lutheran church at Paris, Kenosha county, Wis., December 26, 1887; in 1889 he accepted a call from the church at Town of Berlin. ]Marathon county, AVis., and remained in charge of that church for ten and one-half years. January 11, 1900, he accepted the pastorate of the Lutheran church at Tomah, and has since been its popular and efficient pastor. This church is a beautiful edifice with a seating capacity of six hundred and fifty. Liider the present pastorate, the church, parochial school and Young People's Society are all in a most tlourishing condition.

Rev. Glaeser is a member of the Board of Home Missions of the Lutheran Wisconsin Synod ; a member of the Board of the Northwestern College of Watertown, AVis., and Visitator of the Southwest Conference. On June 27. 1889, he Avas united in marriage with j\Iiss Frances Schultz, of Milwaukee. They have an interesting family of five children, viz : Frances is a teacher in the schools at Racine. AVis. : Alartin is attending the college at AVatertown ; Beata is employed by Burrows & Son in Tomah; Gilbert and Angelica are at home and are in attendance at school.

William C. Gould, prominent among the farmers of Greenfield township, resides in section twenty-four, where he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. His birth occurred near AVatertown. Jefferson county, N. Y.. May 12. 1861. the son of Charles and Frances (AIcQuillian) Gould, who were also natives of New A''()rk state, and who came to AVisconsin in 1867 with their family, and took up and homesteaded 80 acres of wild land in section two. (jreenfield t(nvnship. which was afterwards sold to Nehemiah Oakley, and the family moved to another farm in the southern part of the township where they resided for eighteen years, when the father moved to the village of Norwalk, and for nine years conducted the Norwalk hotel. He died there in 1899 at the age of sixty-five years; his widow, mother of our subject, passed away in September, 1911, at the age of seventytwo years. Daniel Gould, a brother of Charles, came to Alonroe county, and for a time kept a hotel at Tunnel City. A sister, Lucinda, and aunt of our subject, is the wife of Orland AYoodard, of Dodgeville. AVis.

others arc Ella, who inarried Ira Seibohl, of Tunnel Cit}'; Adelbert, of Norwalk ; INIattie is the Avifc of Theodore Lotterman, of Crandon. Wis.; Francis is tlic wife of Vent Wallace, and lives in Onlario. Wis.; llnrbert and Horace reside in Sparta, and Celia is the wife of Adolph Ilolderman. of Xoi-wallv.

]\Ir. Gould received his education in the inil)lic schools and remained on the farm until he was sixteen, when he began for himself and was variously employed until he reached the age of twenty-eight years, when he rented a farm in Greenfield township and successfully conductctl the same for some thirteen years. In 1!)()4 he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, Avhich is fitted out with all modern farming equipments and presents an up-to-date appearance. He has remodeled his residence and built a large and eonnnodious barn in 1 !>()!' and has since added other improvements. ]Mr. Gould takes an active interest in the affairs of his town and county; for the past five years he has been a member of the side board; has been clerk of the school district two years, and in social circles he is a mem})er of the INIodern AVoodmeu of America and the ]\Iystic AVorkers. On IMay 25, 1891, he was married to ]\Iiss Mary ]Mcj\Iullen, daughter of Joseph Mci\Iullen, of New York State, who about fifty years ago came to Tunned City, but later moved to Dodgeville, AVis.

Edward C. Graham, is a native son of AVisconsin, and ranks among tlie Avide awai\e and progressive farmers of LaGrange township. He was born in Tomah township. A})ril 11. 1868. to INIichael and Sarah (Nash) Graham, natives of New York state and Ireland, resjiectively. ^Michael (irahani. who settled in LaGrange township in the early fifties, and his brother, in company with their father, Thomas Graham, came to AVisconsin, Avhere ]\Iichael died at the age of forty-three years, in 1S79. His widow, mother of our subject, still (1912) survives. They reared a family of four cliildi-eii: Ella married Al. I'. Finuerty. and resides at Tomali : Edward (\. our subject; AVilliam. who lives on the homestead, and May, the Avife of Fitz Chapman, of Chicago.

Receiving his education in the district schools of his home town. Ah". (Ji-aham assisted his father on the farm, which, since his death, our subject has conducted. He lives now in tiie enjoyment of his model counli'v home; with his modern residence, erected in 1!>(!9. and his coniMiodioiis barn, buill in 1899. with other improvements in keepini: with these, liave been made. He carries on general farming, dairying and stock raising, making a si)ecialty of Durham and Ilolstein cattle, lie takes an active interest in the affairs of his township, has served as treasurer of lie was married in October, ISIM, to Miss Elizabeth Brennen, dautihter of Edward and Mary (Gillespie) Brennen, of Adrian township. To JMr. and Mrs. Graham have been born four children, viz. : Marie Grace, Irene Katheryn, Mildred Ellen and Michael Francis. I\Irs. Graham was a resident of Adrian township for many years, where lier father, Edward Brennen, died in November, 1909. and where her mother now resides.

Albert Gril?'', the wealthy and prominent young farmer who occnpies and owns the family homestead of 200 acres in sections ten, eleven and fifteen in Ridoeville township, where he was born on December 16. 1868, is the son of August and Wilhelmina (Summerfield) Grill, both natives of Germany, who came to America in 1858 and first located in New York state. Later they moved to Monroe county. Wisconsin, and settled in the town of Ridgeville, where they purchased eighty acres of land in section ten, and another eighty acres in section eleven, where they made their home for about twenty years, and on November 22, 1911, they moved to Norwalk and retired from active farm life. Mr. Grill has always been a hard working man, began life in the midst of "hard times.'' worked for small wages and endured the hardships of pioneer days, and in all respects has lived a truly strenuous life. In later years, however, he achieved a fair measure of success as a farmer and is liighly respected for his honesty and integrity. He and Mrs. Grill now live in comparative ease and are really enjoying the fruits of their early efforts.

Their son, Albert, attended the district schools while he was small, being only eleven years of age when he was forced to abandon his chances for an education on account of his home duties, as he Avas the mainstay of his parents, and as the result of his economy and perseverance and of his steady and gentlemanly habits, he came into possession of the homestead in his own right and since then he has made many valuable and lasting improvements on the farm in way of bringing the land up and rebuilding the residence, barns, etc., until now he has one of the ideal country homes of the township. His water supply comes from a drive well, 160 feet in depth, with Avindmill power; he is thoroughly up-todate in his farming methods and is considered a successful general farmer. He is a Democrat in politics and has held several local offices; was assessor for two years and a member of the school board for about thirty years.

Miss Bertha Peth. and thev liad a family of seven children, onlv three of whom are now (1912) living, viz.: Louis W., born February 15, 1892; George, born November 20, 1897, and Elma, born January 10, 18 - . Mrs. Grill died in 190:^.

The second Mrs. Grill was ]\Iiss ]Mary Kortbein, daughter of AV. F. and A. Kortbein, to whom he was married in 1904. They were the parents of four children, all of whom are living.

Fred Gross, of the well known firm of Gross & Schaller. druggists, is a native son of Wisconsin. He was born in Armena township, AVood county, on February 18, 1864. to A. L. and Louisa (Polansky) Gross. Avho emigrated from Germany to Wood county, Wisconsin, in the early fifties. l)efore their marriage. A. L. Gross, father of our subject. Avho was a baker by trade, and his brother. Jacob Gross, Avere the only members of a large family who braved the trials and hardships of an ocean voyage in those early days to become pioneers of Wisconsin. They were both I)rogressive and thrifty and were numbered among the most substantial citizens of Wood county. The father died in 1907 at the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Gross, mother of Fred and daughter of Herman Polansky, a well-to-do farmer of Wood county, is still (1912) living at the age of seventy-seven.

]\Ir. Fred Gross was educated in the public schools of his county and early entered as clerk the employ of Garrison & AVhittlesey, druggists and general merchandise, of Grand Rapids. Wis., and at the age of nineteen he had full charge of the drug department. Following this employment. ]Mr. Gross went to Dakota and jNIontana. but soon again returned to Wisconsin, and on October 1, 1884, located at Sparta, and at first was located in the store of AVilliam Potter Palmer for a period of four years, when he became a partner of Ali". Palmer and the firm was Palmer & Gross, also continuing until April, 1895, when Air. Paul Sehaller purchased the interest of ]\Ir. Palmer and the firm became Gross k Sehaller. The building occupied by them was bought in April, 1896. at which time the store was enlarged and many improvements made, and now ranks as one of the model stores in AVisconsin and the business a thriving success.

In public affairs Mr. Gross is no less active and influential than as a business man, in advancing the interests of Sparta. Believing it to be the duty of every citizen to contribute to the extent of his ability to the good government of the community in which he lives, and also that good municipal government is a matter of the greatest importance in any city, he took from his business the time necessary to serve as mayor of his city two years, supervisor of his ward for several terms and is now president of the board of trustees of the Monroe County Insane Asyhnn, is ex-officio superintendent of the poor and a director in the Bank of Sparta. He is now a director of the Monroe County Telephone Company and was its first secretary. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the LaCrosse Club.

John L. Guthrie, who resides on his farm in section three, Oakdale township, is the son of William and Susan (Wright) Guthrie and was born in Genesee Valey. N. Y.. September 2, 1837. His parents were born in New York state, the father on July 18, 1803, and died on October 15, 1853. Susan Wright, mother of ]Mr. Guthrie, was born in Hebron, N. Y., February 7, 1808, and was married to William Guthrie at Salem, N. Y., July 11. 1831. She was the mother of four children, two sons and two daughters, of whom l)ut one, our subject, survives. She lived to a ripe old age and died June 8, 1896. At the age of twenty-three, in 1860, John L. came AVest from New York and located at Fox Lake, Wis. Diu'ing the same year he came to Oakdale township, Monroe county, and for a time engaged in getting out railroad ties and wood. He later purchased from the railroad company 160 acres of land in section three, where he now resides. He was married at Tomah, April 27, 3863, to Miss Caroline Leffingwell, daughter of Hiram and Julia Leffingwell, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Guthrie was born in Steuben county. New York, and is the fifth child in order of birth in a family of seven children. To Mr. and ]\Irs. Guthrie have been born six children : Julia S.. now the wife of Frank Snider, of Oakdale ; William L., married Florence Logan, of Oakdale. now deceased, and has three children ; Emma, at home ; Cora is the wife of Elmer Hill, of Tomah, and has five children ; Bertha is now Mrs. W. Wallace, of Oakdale, and Arthur J., who resides at home. AVhen Mr. Guthrie first located on his present farm it was a dismal looking swamp, which, by hard work and persistent effort, he has reclaimed and converted into one of the best farms in Oakdale township. He has built a fine residence and large and commodious sanitary barn and other outbuildings and keeps his place well stocked with a good grade of horses, pure bred Jersey cattle and hogs, and besides his general farming, he makes a specialty of dairyiiit;'. Altliouuh on the slijuly sido of lifo. ]\Ir. Gutlirie takes ^I'cat ])ride in koepintr liis fai'iii in a lirst-class and np-to-date condition. One of the very lirsl settlers in Oakdale township, Mr. (inlhi'ie pas.sed thronyh all the nps and downs of pioneer life, and is now reaj)in^ the Tniils of his privations ami the many years of toil.

A Kepuhlic.iii ill polities, ]\Ir. (iiithric lias jilways taken an active intei'est in the (Miniieils of his ]»arty. and has been called npon to till many offices of trust. He was ehairnian of the town board and a member of the side hoard for thirteen years, clerk of his school district for twenty-nim' years and was one of the or^ranizers of the Oakdale ( "o-operative Butter Association. His son, Arthui'. has tilled the office of treasurer. Since its organization, Angnst, 1862. ]Mr. Outhrie enlisted in Coiiip;ni\- G, Berdons First United States Shaip Shooters, from Uodge county, AVisconsin ; he was engaoed in the second battle of Bnll Rnn, Sonth ]\Ionntain. Antietam and Blackmail's Ford. He was discharged on account of disaliility in Febi-uary. 1868. He is a mendier of the Kilpatrick Post Xo. 2i). G. A. K.. of Camp Douglas.

William N. Guy, whose l)ii-th occurred in Canada. ]\Iay 27, 1853, is one of a family of twelve children, three of whom are now living, born of the marriage of Thomas and Anna (Spear) Guy. natives of P^ngland and Canada, respectively; the Guys being of French extraction. Besides William .\.. the others living are Orlean Jaiues. of Kansas City, ]Mo.. and Norman Wesley <;uy. of Sparta. The parents of Mr. Guy married in Canada February 27. 1843. and came to llliiKtis in an early day; thence to ]\Ionroc county, Wisconsin, when AVilliam was Init a mere boy. They first located and spent some time in the then village of Sparta, and subserpiently removed to a farm in S])arta township and engaged in fai-ming. Thomas (Juy. the father, wlio w;is one of the pioneers of ]Monro(> county, and a substantial and representative citizen, was boi-n in 1822, and died in .May, 1873, aged fifty-one years. Anna Spear Guy, inother of our subject, was born May 5, 1825, and died in June. 1892. aged sixty-seven years.

AVilliam X. Guy atti'iidcd the disti'ict schools of his neighborhood, was i-eai-ed on the home farm, where he renuiined for twenty-one years, when he located in section five. Sparta township. He was married January 1. 1876. to Aliss Isabella Nicol. She is the daughter of Alexaiuler and Aiuia (Denwoody) Nicol, who came to Sparta township. ]Monroe county, among the first pioneers. He was the son of Robert and IMary (Pringle) Nicol. and was born in Roxbury county, Scotland, in 1827. His parents were also natives of Scotland, where they spent their entire lives, and raised a family of two sons and three daughters; the father was by trade a shoemaker, and in religions faith Avas a Presbytertan. Alexander Nieol left the land of his nativity in 1852, and upon his arrival in this country settled first in Westchester county. New York, but afterwards came west to Wisconsin and located in Eock county, and worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1857 he came to Monroe county, and purchased eighty acres of land, and ever after made this county his home. Mr. Nicol was married in Scotland to Miss Ann Denwoody, a daughter of John and Ann (Stevenson) Denwoody. There were four sons and two daughters born to this marriage, namely, Alexander, Robert, John, who lives in Sparta ; James resides in California ; Isabella, now the wife of William X. Guy. and one daughter who died in infancy named Jennette JNIay. Mr. Nicol was one of the most substantial and highly respected citizens of Sparta township, and after a residence of fifty-three years in ]Monroe county, died in 1910 at the age of eighty-three years. It was he who erected the original building that stood on the lot noAv occupied by the Dodge & Davis store. The mother of IMrs. Guy Avas born February 14, 1827, and died ]\Iarch 9, 1910, aged eighty-three years.

Mrs. Guy Avas born at Janesville. Rock county. Wis., and Avhen three years of age mo\'ed Avith her parents to INIonroe county. At that time there Avere but three or four families in the toAvnship. AA'hich Avas then a dense Avilclerness, inhabited by Avild beasts and Indians. INIr. and Mrs. Guy are the parents of five children : Anna L. is the Avife of John Herring, Agnes is the Avife of Carl Pierce, and Charles N. and Harry AV., all of Avhom live in Sparta toAvnsliip. and Russell lives at home. j\Ir. Guy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Sparta, the Modern Woodmen of America, the ^Maccabees, Beavers and the Order of Good Templars.

Charles N. Guy Avas born in the toAvn of Sparta, March 4, 1881. He attended the district schools and remained on the home farm until he reached the age of tAventy-tAvo years, AA'hen he remoA^ed to the Teasdale farm. AA'here he remained for tAvo years. He next went to the Putnam farm, Avhich he conducted for five years, and in the spring of 1912 purchased his present farm of 120 acres from Joseph Heasty.

On April 21. 1903, ]Mr. Guy Avas married to ]\Iiss Elizabeth McGarvey, daughter of James and ]\Iary (Ryan) IMcGarvey, of Wilton, Wis. To this union have been born four children. James William, born July 26, 190-1; Isabella, born April 10, 1906; Thomas, born October 25, 1908. and Nelson Arthur, born June 19, 1911.

Harry W. Guy was born in Sparta township, February 20, 1890. lie received his education in the common schools and remained on the liome farm until 1911, when he removed to the Lawson farm, which he now carries on in conjunction with the work on the home place. He was married October 4, 1911, to Miss Lila Bur^r. of Sparta. He is a member of the ]\Iodern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Maccabees and the IMethodist Episcopal church.

Walter Roy Guy* belongs to the younger class of successful farmers of Sparta township, and was bom iti ]\Ionroe county April 26, 1886, and is the son of Wesley and Ella (Aylesworth) Guy, natives of Wisconsin. Walter was reared on his father's farm, and his experience was the same as that of most farmer boys. He attended the district school of his home town, and assisted with llic fanu work until 1906, when he Avent lo I. a Crosse and became manager of the Raiiid ^Milling Company, remaining in that position foi* three years, when he came to Sparta and purchased what is known as the Sam Biddeson farm, containing 120 acres in section twenty-seven, Sparta townshiji, where he now resides engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is thoroughly up to date in his fanning m<4hods. and keeps his farm well supplied with modern labor saving devices. Since purchasing his present farm he has enlarged his residence, built two new silos and made many other improvements, including a flowing well which furnishes an abundance of pure running water for house and stock.

Mr. Guy was married September 4, 1909. to ]\Iiss SopiiiM. daughter of Frank and Amelia Riser, of La Crosse county. Mr. Guy takes an interest in the affairs of the county, and in social matters is a member of the iModern Woodmen of Anun*ica.

William Henry Hanchett is a native son of ^Monroe county and has always lived on the farm where he now resides. He was born in 1867 and is one of a family of seven children born to George E. and Elizal)eth (Oakley) Hanchett. Of tiie others, Azaline is deceased, Helen married Christian Dahl and lives at Bismark, N. D. ; John O. ; Ruth ^I., now ^Irs. Edward Schmidt, of Crandon. AVis. ; George E., of Pierce county, North Dakota, and Hernum E., of IMadeline Island, in Lake Superior.

George E. Hanchett has been a resident of IMonroe county since 1856. He was born in Litchfield county. Connecticut, January 22, 1828, a son of Isaac and Chloe (Brown) Hanchett, who were also natives of Connecticut. The first Hanchett came to this country on the coaling ship ''Marion John" from

George E. Iianchett Biography 699

Plymouth, England, to Massachusetts in 1630 and was of English ancestry. Thomas Hanchett was a Puritan of Norman French descent, and was probably the ancestor of all the Hanchetts in this country. The father of George E. died in 1840, leaving a widow, four sons and four daughters ; the mother lived to be seventy years of age ; her death occurred in Dodge county, Wisconsin. One of the sons was a soldier in the late Civil War, member of a Wisconsin regiment. At the age of sixteen years, George learned the blacksmith trade, and in 1854 he joined the train of western emigrants coming to Wisconsin, and two years later settled on a farm in Monroe county which has since been his home. He erected comfortable dwellings and other necessary buildings and his specialty has been fruits and berry culture, and of this industry he and his son, William Henry, have made a marked success. The father began the fruit culture in 1886 and has had as high as sixty acres devoted to this line at one time, and holds the reputation of being one of the most successful fruit growers of the state. They have made a study of the soil and climate and the varieties best adapted to these, and hence their success. Mr. George Hanchett was married on November 6, 1862 to Miss Elizabeth Oakley, daughter of John and Eliza Oakley, prominent settlers of the county. Mrs. Hanchett was born in C'olumbia county. New York, and died in Monroe county April 6, 1902. She was the mother of seven children. Mr. George Hanchett has represented the people of his township as clerk, assessor, treasurer and chairman of the board, and supports the principles of the Republican party, taking active interest in all their movements. He is loyal to home enterprises, honorable and upright in all his dealings, and worthy of the confidence bestowed upon him by his fellow citizens.

William H. acquired his early education in the district schools of his neighborhood and grew to manhood on his father's farm, which originally contained forty acres and to which has subsequently been added 220 acres, making a total of 260 acres known as one of the most productive fruit farms in Wisconsin. The father began the raising of small fruits in 1886, and since reaching his majority, our subject has worked the farm in connection with his father, making fruit raising a specialty. The farm is highly cultivated and improved with a fine array of buildings, and besides general farming, they carry on a fine dairy business, the farm being at all times stocked with the best horses and Guernsey cattle. Mr. Hanchett, Jr., is a man of high standing in the connnuiiity, and his upright demeanor and cliaracter coiinnand the eonfidence and respeet of all "svho know liini. He was one of the organizers of the Sparta Fruit Growers' Assoeiation. and for s('^-el-al years lias been its ])resident. sui-- eeeding ]\lr. L. S. Fishci-. Tie has been township clerk, eluiiruian of the town board and is n iHeiid)er of the state board of public affairs, and in 1912 declined Die nomination to the general assenihly. lie is a nicndx'i' of the class of 1898, stale agricultural college, also of llic .Modern Woodmen Assoeiation, the l^eavers, and the Angelo Union einnch.

On Se]itember l(i. 1 !>()!». ^Ir. llanchett was married to Miss Bessie L. Anderson, daughter of Nels and Christina (AViiliams) Anderson, who came from Norway in IS")!) nnd located at Deerfield, in Dane county.

Michael M. Haney, county superintt-ndent ol' scliools of .Monroe county, AVisconsin, is an earnest and enthusiastic educational M'orker who has established for himself a reputation that has popularized him with the patrons of the schools over Avhich he has jurisdiction.

In 1870 they moved to the town of Sheldon, Alonroe county. "Wisconsin, and settled on a farm. Here they lived and died, he in the fall of 1903 at the advanced age of eighty years, and she in 1905 at the age of seventy-two years.

Mr. Haney 's parents were ])Oor and were unable to give him the educational advantages that he desiriMl. He. however, made the most of those otfered him. After finishing the conunon school he wallx'ed four miles to attend the village school and began to teach on a tliii'd grade certificate. He continued to teach and go to school during vacation until he secured a state certificate.- He assumed charge ol' liis first school in Hie township of Sheldon, in the district where he first attended school. This was followed l)y teaching in tlu^ district schools at Oil City, Lyon's Valley and Leon, and later in the villages of Glendale, Kendall and Norwalk in ]\lonroe county. Onlai-io in Vernon county, where he once attended school, and I^oaz in Richland county.

His long aud varied experience in teaching fitted liiiu for the office of superintendent, to which he was elected in the spring of 1905. By the choice of the people he has since been returned to the same office three successive terms. Some of the stronger features of the work during his terms of office have been closer supervision, the introduction of the graded system, and freearm movement in penmanship and emphasis on the "Three R's. "

Sever Hansen", a prosperous and loyal citizen of section twelve, Sparta township, iMonroe county, Avas born in Koljing, Denmark, February 12, 1849. the only son born to Hans and Jacobine Hansen, who lived and died in Denmark. The father was a soldier in the Danish army and was killed in battle during the war witli Germany at the age of twenty-six years. After the death of his mother, which occurred three years later when she was only twenty-five years old, Sever went to live with his uncle, John Hansen, where he remained until he reached the age of fourteen years. He then began to make his own way in the world by working on a farm for two years, after Avhich he Avent to sea and Avas a sailor for about tAVO years; farming, however, Avas the occupation Avhicli appealed most favorably to him, and he returned to Denmark and folloAved that line for some nine years. In 1876 he emigrated to America and arriA'ed in Sparta, Wis., on April 1, of that year; he hired out to Benjamin ]\Iorse, Avitli whom he remained tAvo years, and in 1879 Avas employed by the Chicago, Mihvaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company at construction work on the Viroqua branch of that road. After the completion of this he Avas employed at the same Avork in Iowa. Missouri and Canada, and later returned to Sparta and again took a position Avith the Mihvaukee road and Avhile thus employed, in 1882, he purchased his present farm, containing at that time sixty acres, to AAdiich he later added another forty acres and took up his residence there for two years. He again returned to the employ of the road for a short time, before taking up his permanent residence on the farm in 1886, and since then he has made many improvements in erecting buildings and clearing the timber land. He noAV has a good residence, barn, granery, machine shed, etc., and has brought the land to a higii state of cultivation, making it

0710 of the model farm homes in that s(M'tion of the eounty, and .Mr. Hansen is considered one oT the most sueeessful general farmers and stoek raisers.

Calvin L. Hanshaw, on<' of the progressive farmers of Portland township, was horn near Moiiinoiit li. Wan-en count \\ 111., and is the youngest and only living son of a family of four childr(>n born to Janu^s and Susannah (Osborne) Hanshaw. The others are Elizabeth, noAV Mrs. AVilliam AVhistler. of Iowa : .Maggie and AVilliam, both of whom are deceased. The pai-ents of All'. Hanshaw, who were natives of Indiana, moved to Ohio after their marriage, and thence to Illinois, Avhere our subject was born, and there the father died in 18()7. His widow, mother of our sub.ieet, survived until 1904, when she passed aAvay at the age of eighty-two years.

(.'alvin >vas reared on tln^ home farm in Illinois, where he continued to reside until 1872. Avhen he eame to Wisconsin and located on his ])resent farm of 155 acres in section se\('nteeii. Portland township. Here Air. Hanshaw lived for many years in a log house of the early day pattern which was rejilaced in 1900 Avith a beautiful and commodious frame residence, and with his modern barn and other outbuildings and the high state of cultivation to which he has brought his land, he has one of the best farm honu^s in the count \. He carries on general farming and stock raising and with his thorough methods of operating, he has nuule a grand success. He is recognized as one of l\)rtland"s best citizens, ever ready to aid in any enterprise for the benetit of his town and county.

Orlando H. Hastings, veteran of the Civil War, was l)orn at Charlestown, Orleans county, Vermont. March 7, 1840, and is the oidy surviving- mendjcr of a family of nine children born to Osmyn and Dolly (Buck) Hastings, natives of Caledonia county, Vermont. The other children were Dolly Ann. Osmyn, Delight, Climena, married Bernard Whitney; Ozro B., Orsino, twin brother of our subject; Josephine A., and Angelette J. When our subject was ten years of age. his parents moved to Wisconsin and located in Dodge county. In 1852 they moved to Juneau county and in 1859 to Monroe county where they settled on a farm of 150 acres of wild land in LaClrange township, which the father sold in 1867 to Levi Woodard. and thence moved to Minnesota, where they spent one year. Exchanging farms with their son-in-law, Bernard K. Whitney, they returned to La- Grange township and lived on the farm of seventy acres, where our subject now resides. They later returned to Minnesota, where the father died in 1878 at the age of seventy-five years and the same year his wife, mother of our subject, passed away at the age of sixty-nine years. He w^as prominent in his township, and was always an active man of affairs and Avas called to the various local offices of trust.

Orlando H. received his education in the district schools and remained on the home farm until he reached his majority, when he secured employment at farm work in Dane county, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty-two, on August 14, 1862, he enlisted in company F, twenty-fifth Wisconsin infantry, and was mustered into the service at La Crosse. After a few months spent in IVIinnesota and at Madison, his regiment went to Columbus, Ky., and the following May to Vicksburg. On account of illness Mr. Hastings went to the hospital in ^lemphis, Tennessee, and was given a furlough of three months, at the end of which time he returned to his regiment at Helena, Ark. ; thence the regiment proceeded to Cairo, 111., and was with Sherman in the Atlantic campaign. Again becoming ill, he was sent to several field hospitals and afterwards to the Jiospital at Rome, Ga., where, on account of disability, he was discharged on October 2, 1864. He then returned to his home in LaGrange township, where he soon after married and for three years conducted a farm in Glendale township, then returned to the town of LaGrange and spent three years. He then went, again to Glendale and in

He was married I\Iarch 7, 1866, to Miss Clarissa J. AVest, daughter of the late Hiram AVest. She died in 1882 in her thirty-fifth year. They IkkI six children l)()rn lo them, viz: George W., deceased; Lettie J. is the Avife of Albert Doolittle, of Vilas county, AVisconsin ; Lydia T., Avife of Fred TT. T^undy. of Sand Point, Idaho; j\Iary Josephine, deceased; Ella C, married AVilliam Kampman, of ]\Iinneapolis, and Orlando Jay is deceased. Mr. Hastings married for his second wife, ]\Iiss Christina Semersen, daughter of Christian Semersen, a native of Denmark. She died December 9, 1910, aged sixty-four years. J\Ir. Hastings has been active in the affairs of his town and has l)een director and treasurer of the school district. He is a member of the Henry W. Cressy Post, G. A. K., of Tomah.

Lyle H. Heath'^' lielongs to the younger elass of prosperous farmers of jMonroe county. He was born in Arcadia, Trempealeau county, Wis., and is the son of Edwin S. and Anna (Busby) Heath, of La Crosse and Trempealeau counties. The father removed from Trempeleau to La Crosse county, and in 1911 came to Monroe county. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Heath were Oscar B. and Ann (Miller) Heath, long-time residents of Marengo, Wis., and who later removed to La Crosse county, wdiere he died in 1902. His wife, grandmother of our subject, survived nine years and passed aw;iy April 2, 1911. Lyle H. attended the public schools and was reared on a farm in La Crosse county, where he lived until the fall of 1911, when he removed to IMonroe county and purcliased the Dedrick Langrehr farm of 160 acres in section five, Sparta township. He is engaged in general farming and takes pride in raising Holstein cattle. He is a member of the Modern "Woodmen of America, and the Yeomens. AVliile only a recent settler in Sparta tOAvnship, ]\Ir. Heath is interested in the affairs of his town and county, and is one of its most loyal citizens. He has one brother, AYilliam 0., Avho resides in Los Angeles, Cal.

Air. Heath was married on September 1, 1910, to Aliss Alartha LaFleur, daughter of Henry LaFleur, of New Amsterdam. AVis. They have two children, Alabelle A. and AVillard L.

M. 0. Heffernan, cashier of the Farmers' State Bank. Xorwalk, is the son of Morris and Elizabeth (Sims) Heffeiiiaii, natives of Canada and Kngland respectively. His father in early life lett his native counti-y and came to the States, and for some time after his arri\al. followed the occupation of a sailor on Lake Erie. His next move was westward, this time coming to Wisconsin, where he arrived in the early fifties, locating in Hazel Green township. Grant county, where he engaged in farming and continued to reside, and at the time of his death in 1904, owned one of the best farms in the county. His widow, mother of our subject, still survives. Mr. Heffernau, grandfather of M. 0., was also a native of Canada, where he spent his life in the occupation of farming. The ancestors on the Heffernan side were of Irish descent, while the Sims family were of English extraction (Cornish). "William Sims, the maternal grandfather, was for many years a resident of Hazel Green township, Grant county, where he died in 1890 at the age of ninety years.

M. 0. Heffernan was the ninth child of a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom are living; the others besides our subject are John, of Wilton ; William, deceased ; Albert lives at Ireton, Iowa ; Thomas, of Dubuque, Iowa ; Abbie, wife of E. J. Osborn, Carroll, Iowa ; James E. lives at Birmingham, Ala. ; IMary is the wife of Grant Wills and resides at Cuba City, W^is., as does Oscar ; Walter lives in Beloit ; Jesse E. at Black Earth, Wis. ; Clyde and Elmer reside at Platteville, Wis. Mr. Heffernan, our subject, received his education in the public schools of Grant county and at the Platteville Normal school, graduating from the latter institution with the class of 1901 ; he began teaching the same year at Hollandale, AVis., and in 1902 became principal of the Norwalk high school, continuing as such until 1909. In 1905 he was a candidate for county superintendent of schools in opposition to M. M. Haney, but was defeated after a hotly contested campaign. Closing his term as principal of the high school in 1909 he went to Hayti, S. D., where for two years he was engaged in the furniture business. Eeturuing to Norwalk in May, 1911, he became cashier of the Farmer's State Bank, which position he still retains. This financial institution was organized September 17, 1907, with a capital of $10,000. The total footings of this bank often reached the snug sum of $100,000, and is considered one of the soundest institutions in the county.

On August 16, 1907, Mr. Heffernan was married to Miss Mabel McGary, daughter of Eugene and Lydia McGary, one of the prominent and highly esteemed families of Norwalk, and whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and jMrs. Heffernan are the parents of two children, viz : Olive Lydia, and Eugene, who is deceased. Mrs. Heffernan was graduated from

Adam J. Heintz. Anionj? the many suceessful and public spirited farmers of Portland township. Monroe county, is Adam J. Ileintz. lie is the son of Peter and Barbara Ileintz. natives of Germany, whero Adam was born February 20, 1847. the eldest of a family of seven children. Of the others. Katherine is the wife of \\'illiam Jenson and lives at ( "ashton ; Caroline, widow of August ^Miller. Portland township: Adeline, wife of John Schmitz, of Portland township: ]\Iary, deceased, was the wife of Peter AVeber. \Vhen our subject reached the age of one .year, his parents emigrated to America, arriving here in 1848. They came to Wisconsin and first settled in Jefferson county, and in 186.S moved to Alonroe county, where liic fathei' i)urc]iased eighty acres of land in Portland township, to which he later added three 40 's, and here established the family home where they passed the remainder of their lives. Tlie mother died in 1882 at the age of seventy-six years; the father survived until August 2, 1892. when he passed away at the age of seventy-two years.

Our sub.iect was reared on the farm and attended the district schools, assisting in tlie farm work until twenty-three years of age, when he |)Hi-(]uised 120 acres of Avild land in section twenty-three. Poi-tiand township, and was one of the tirst settlers in that section. Starting in life with no cajiital l)ut his native ability, he endured the many hardships of the pioneer, and by the good graces of AV. H. Blytou and ]\lartin Erickson, of Sparta, who extended him a line of credit for supplies, he was enabled to clear his land and place the same under cultivation. The first successful crop raised was wheat. His farm is under a high state of cultivation and well improved with a good residence, barns and tobacco sheds and other buiklings. He has spent his whole life in farming and has been generally successful.

In August. 1872, ]\Ir. Ileintz was married to Aliss Victoria IMashak. daughtei- of Hartlemas ]\Iashak. ^Irs. Ileintz died two years later in 3874, leaving one daughter. Anna, who is now the wife of ]\Iatt ]Marx. of Brush Creek. Ilis second marriage was with Alary Schmitz. daugliter of John Schmitz. of Portland township. Of this union six children have been born, viz: John lives at home; Peter lives at Casliton : Lena is the wife of August Aleisner, of Portland township; Alaggie is the wife of Frank Alasenberg, of Jefferson township: Christ and Agnes Heintz are at home. In the early days of the township Air. Ileintz was a member of the side board and for thirty rears has been treasurer

Herman Heintz"', a ])roniinent farmer of Oakdale township, was born in ]\Ionroo county, Wisconsin, March 3. 1866, the son of John C and Caroline (Hubert) Heintz, both natives of Germany. The parents came to America in 1852, and located in Waukesha county, this state, where they lived for five years. In 1857 tliey moved to Monroe county, where the father purchased 120 acres of land in section thirty in the town of Oakdale, to which he later added sixty acres, all of which was wild land covered with timber. He erected a log house of one room, in which the family lived for twenty years, and with his own hand cleared eighty acres, and placed the same under a good state of cultivation. The trip from Waukesha to Monroe county was made in a second class wagon which contained all their earthly possessions, and which was drawn by an ox team. Some relics from this old wagon are now in possession of our subject. They were honest, hard working people, devoted to their home and family and were members of the Lutheran church. Their family consisted of eight children, five of whom are now living. As a man he took great interest in all public matters, and for twenty years Avas school clerk of his town, and secretary of his church. The mother was also born in Germany, and died in 1906.

Herman was educated in the district schools and at the age of twenty years purchased 180 acres of land in sections ten, twenty and thirty, Oakdale toAvnship, being the old homestead. Many of the improvements made by his father were on the place, the residence, which has been rebuilt by Mr. Heintz, w^as erected thirty-six years ago, and the barn was built thirty-eight years ago. A modern, up-to-date barn, 30 by 101, has recently been liuilt, and a large compressed air tank furnishes water through a system of pipes for both house and barn. Mr. Heintz has an ambition to run his farm in the latest up-to-date manner, and in his operations uses all the modern devices. He was the first man in Monroe county to use a manure spreading machine, which was ordered direct from the factory, and he is the first man in the town of Oakdale to engage in alfalfa raising. He makes a success of this adventure, and during this year of 1912 has cut three crops from five acres. He is an extensive dealer in and breeder of Holstein cattle, and now has a fine herd of 250 head. In addition to his general farming operations, he carries on an extensive dairy business, and is also an extensive raiser of full- blooded white leghorn chickens. In every sense Mr. Heintz is a model and influential citizen, and one of tlie prosporous and progressive farmers of the county.

John Heintz, who is one of the successful citizens of Jefferson township. ]\Ionroe county, Wisconsin . was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. July 17. IS^A. the son of Michael and Catherine (Boltz) Heintz. The parents were natives of Rhein Pfaltz, a province of Bavaria. The father came to America in 1849 and first located at Grand Haven, Mich., wliere he was employed in the pineries for four years. In the fall of 1852 he returned to his native country, got his wife and came back to America in the spring of 1853 and settled on forty acres of land in the town of Sullivan, Jefferson county, and there passed his life. He was born in March, 1824, and died November 6, 1870. His wife, mother of our subject, was born in 1836, and died ]\Iarch 3. 1898. The father had a liberal education, secured in his native country, and after settling in this country', experienced all the ups and downs of pioneer life. He was honorable and upright, and a man of genial disposition, and with his wife was a member of the Catholic church. At the time of INIichael Heintz 's death. ]\Irs. Heintz. mother of our subject, acquired 140 acres of land in Jefferson county, and in 1863 ^Michael Heintz purchased 160 acres of land, part of which was in Monroe and a part in Vernon county.

John attended the common schools until he was seventeen years old, and lived Avith his mother until 1884. when the family became separated, and he began to look out for himself. Has improved a farm and at present has one of the best, if not the best, orchards in the town. In 1911 liad a fruit yield of 300 bushels of apples. On ]May 6, 1884, he was married at Ottawa. Waukesha county, to ]\riss Barbara Bischel, daughter of Henry ami Barbara (Ruf ) Bischel. To this union has been born nine cliildren, viz. : Gertrude B., born September 22, 1885, graduated from the Cashton high school in 1905, and for five years she taught school in Monroe and Chippewa counties. AVisconsin, which she gave up to accept a position with ^Marshall Field & Co., of Chicago. At present (1912) Gertrude is employed in one of the departments of the Boston store, Chicago; Clara J., born October 31, 1887, is in business at La Crosse Steam Laundry; Bruno Henry, born January 21. 1890. is at home on the farm; INIichael P., born December 29. 1891; Agnes G.. born Deceml)er 22. 1893: Frances Emma, born INIay 12. 1896; Lucia M.. born September 17. 1899: Philamena. born :\lay 29, 1902; Francis, born August 7. 1904. Several of the children attended high school at Cashton.

Mrs. Heintz is the fourth child in a family of eleven children, eight of whom are now living. Hei- father came to America in 1851 and located in AYaukesha county, Wisconsin , he was born at Gallinsheim Hessen Dornistadt, Germany, on the Rhine, July 18, 1828. The mother was born August 20, 1831, in Bavaria, Germany, and came to America with her parents in 1849. They were married at Ottawa. Waukesha county. Wis., in 1857. and celebrated their golden wedding April 20, 1907. The.y have five sons, three daughters and forty-three grandchildren. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Heintz are members of the Catholic church, while in polities he is a Democi"at.

William Heiser, one of the influential and public spirited citizens of Jefferson township, is the sou of Adolph Heiser and Elizabeth (Fuhrmeister), both natives of Germany. The father came to America from Germany in 1851 with his brother William, and located at Beloit. Rock county. Wis. lie was a watchmaker by trade and followed this occupation for some time in Beloit, when in 1856 he moved to the town of Jefferson, in Monroe county, and purchased 120 acres of land in section twenty-three, and there made his home and engaged in farming for thirty-six years, when he retired from active labor and spent the remainder of his life enjoying the well-earned fruits of his many years of toil. He died at IMilwaukee in 1908. He had received a good education in his native county and was a man well posted on all current topics. He was well known in Monroe county as one of the most successful farmers: was prominent in public matters, and all worthy projects received his hearty support. He was a Democrat in politics and took a great interest in the affairs of his party. For several years he was f^hairman of the town board and clerk of the town, and no man stood higher in the estimation of the community than did he. The mother of our subject, who was a woman of many virtues, died in 1882.

William Heiser was born at Beloit. AVis.. October 5. 1854, and is one of a family of five children, four of whom are now (1912) living. He received his education in the district schools which he attended up to his eighteenth year, assisted his father in the farm work and lived on the homestead until his father retired. In 1844 the grandfather, Christopher Fuhrmeister, emigrated from Germany to America and first located at Rockford, 111., and afterguards, in 1856, removed to ]Monroe county and purchased a farm of 320 acres in sections twenty-two, twenty-three and twentyseven, in the town of Jefferson. He was a successful farmer and one of the pioneers of the county. After his death, the farm was acquired by one siiIj.jccI. avIio 1i;is since made many valuable iuiproveiiienls. In 1!U)4 a larye ham was built, the resilience was enlarged and the land iin])roved by cultivation so that now it is one of the most fei'tile and productive farms in Jetiferson township, and is located tive miles northeast of C'ashton, and the farm is well stocked with i^(»o(l cattle, horses and hogs, while the up-todate methods used in his opei-ations makes him one of the most successful fai'iuers and dairynieii in his town. J'ublic spirited and generous, IMr. Ileiser has alwa\s been active in atfairs of his county and has held several ot'tices of the town : he was constable for one year, assessor three years, clerk of the school tlistrict for twelve years and is now serving his twelfth term as chairman of the town board. He has also been connected with several business entei-prises; he was pi-esident of the Fai-mer's Creamery of Cashton for two years, and treasurer for eight y^ars; vice president of the ^loni'oe County Tornado Insurance Company of ]\Ionroe comity, and is president of the Amei-ican Society of Equity; he is a Democrat in politics and active in the councils of his party.

Mr. Ileiser has been twice married, first on July 26, 1890. to ]\Iiss ]Matilda ]\1. Smith. Two childi'en were born to this union, viz.: Frederick (J., boi-n October 2!). 18})1, and "William J., born April 29, i89'A. Mvs. Ileister died in 189:3, and he married for the second Avife ]\Iiss Adelia Smith, daughter of Jacol) and Kate Smith, October 2, 1899. Her parents were l)oth natives of (Jermany. The father died in 190-1: and the mother survives at the age of eighty years. They had a family of ten childi-eii. One daughter has been born to this second mai'i'iage - Elsie, born oMarch 7. 1900.

C. C. Helmke"-', a resident of Wilton. ^lonroe count.Y, is an extensive stock raiser and general farnuM'. and was born in the town of Wilton, SeptembiM- 17.'lSti4. His parents. Christum and Elizabeth (IMarten) Ilelmki'. came from (iernumy to America in 18r)0, with one child, and located in ('(iluiubus. Wis., for a short time, then moved to Monroe county the Following yeai'. wliei-e for five years j\lr. Ilelmke worked as a faiiii laborer. In 1855 he bought a farm of his own. containing eighty acres, in section nine. of the township of AVilton, where he lived for years in a log cabin of two I'oonis. and later added to his oi-iginal jiurchase another eight\-aere ti-aet. all ol' which was wild land and had to be cleared and brok'en Ixd'orc any pi-olits could be i-eali/ed. lie died in 1872 aiul the remaining ones oi' his laiuil.v continued to live there, ami in 1877 erected a new frame house in which they lived until our subject bought out the interests of the other heirs ami erected a fine lunv residence in 1899. which has since been his home. The mother died in 1906. They were well educated, thrifty and highly respected people and members of the Lutheran church. He was a Democrat in polities.

C. C. attended school until he was fourteen years of age and was the mainstay of his parents on the farm and instigated most of the later improvements. He was married on June 3, 1897, in the town of Wilton to Mrs. Hannah Pach. Her people also came from Germany and located in IMonroe county in 1870; they had eight children, seven of whom are living. They are now living in Wilton, the father at the age of seventy-three and the mother is seventy-one, and both are devoted members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Pach owns 160 acres of fine land in Sheldon township.

Mr. Helmke has been a successful stock raiser for thirty years ; he is a Democrat in politics and has served as assessor of the town of Wilton and was also treasurer for three years and for twenty years was a member of the school board.

David Hemstock, a jirominent drayman of Sparta, is the second eldest of a family of ten children. He was born in IMilwaukee county, AVisconsin. October 13. 1858, to William and Elizabeth (Steadman) Hemstock. natives of England and Canada, respectively. The parents came to Wisconsin more than fifty years ago and located in IMilwaukee county, where they remained for a short time and moved to La Crosse county and purchased a farm in Burns township, which by hard work and perseverance they brought to a high state of cultivation and made it their homestead until 1899, when the father died at the age of seventy-three years.

William Hemstock. the paternal grandfather, was a native of Canada, wdiere he spent his life and raised his family of four sons, the third being the father of David, our subject. IMr. Steadman, maternal grandfather, was a native of London, England, and was a captain on the high seas for some time. He came to Canada and made that his home for a number of years, and moved to La Crosse for a short time and later to Chicago, 111., where he spent the remainder of his life.

Besides David, the other members of his family are Elizabeth, now the wife of N. V. Jewett. of Monroe county. Wisconsin; Fainiie. the wife of F. A. Hubbard, of Barron; Sarah (deceased), wife of David Jones; William A., of Sparta: INIary Ellen, wife of Lemuel Jones, of Arkansas ; Lillie. wife of John Boweu, of Barron ; Ethel and George E.. who reside in Sparta, and Gertrude, wife of Chris Thompson, who resides at Ladysmith, Wis.

and t)ien took uj) t';ii'ining on liis own account in Burns township. La Crosse count\'. Nine years later lie moved to Sparta, and in 1894 i)urcliased. with his brother, William, the dray business oi Ilott'maii & Fich. wliii-h ihey successfully conducted under th<; firm name of Hemstock Brothers for some five years, when David ])urchased the interest of his bi'olhei- and has since conducted the business on his own account. 11(^ is a wide aw^ake, prosperous and energetic business man, thoroughly up to date. He takes an active part in the fraternal orders to which he belongs, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the ^Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Rebecahs.

]Mr. Hemstock was married in December. 1893. to ]\Iiss Clara E. Hulbert, daughter of Ira Hulbert, of Sparta. They have one child. Vena Ray Hemstock.

William A. Hemstock, liveryman and popular business man of Sparta, is a native of Wisconsin. He was born in Burns valley, La Crosse county, and is the youngest of a family of ten children, three boys and seven girls born to William and IClizabeth (Steadman) Hemstock. both natives of Canada, who came to the Ignited States in an early day and settled first at ^Milwaukee. From there they moved to West Salem, and nearly fifty years ago they came to Burns valley, La Crosse county, and located on a farm. They were among the early pioneers of this section and were considered substantial and successful farmers. Here they reared their family and lived nntil 1899, when the father passed away at the age of seventy-three. ]Mrs. Hemstock still survives and makes her home at Sparta.

AVilliam attended the district schools while living on the farm, and at the age of twenty-three he married ]\Iiss ]\Iaude Skelton, of Lewis valley. Wisconsin, on November 24. 1892. He then rented a farm, which he worked on his own account for two years. In 1894 he gave up farming and moved to Sparta, where he engaged with his brother, David, in the drayage business, under the firm name of Hemstock Brothers, continuing for about five years; he then sold his interests to his brother jiiul purchased the livery business of J. C. Hewitt, on Oak street, whidi Ik^ carried on for five years before moving to his present quarters on North Water street, and now conducts the largest livei-v business in INIonroe county. Beginning with nine horses, he now has a stock of thirty and other equipment in proportion, and is recognized as one of the leading men of Sparta. He is active in fraternal organizations, being identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern

George A. Henry, ex-sheriff of Monroe county, was born at Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y., March 18, 1859, to John and Hannah (Steanson) Henry, both of whom were born in Ireland. In 1850, while still a young man. he came to America and located at Kingston, where he served an apprenticeship for three years at the trade of currier, and after working with Neas & Teller for nearly twelve years, he came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1861 and purchased a farm of 120 acres four and one-half miles southwest of Tomah. Possessed with that thrift and energy common to his race, he brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, and there made his home until 1875, when he disjiosed of his land and returned to Kingston. N. Y. He remained there but a short time, and in 1877 came back to Monroe county, and on May 1 of that year purchased another farm of 120 acres near Jacksonville, and engaged in general farming and stock raising for about eighteen years, whence, in 1895, they moved to the city of Tomah, where Mrs. Henry died May 30, 1910. and where he still lives at the age of seventy-eight years. They had a family of two sons, George A. and William C, and both stood high in their community. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and the mother was a member of the Episcopal church.

George A. Henry was raised on his father's farm and his experience was the same as that of most farmer boys. He attended the district schools and helped with the farm Avork until he was twenty-three years old, and for five years after his marriage, continued to reside on the home farm, then inoved to the city of Tomah and engaged in the milling business for some four years, and from 1892 to 1908 was engaged in the dray business, and for fourteen years was a local agent for the Standard Oil Company. Mr. Henry is a Republican in political views, and is active in the councils of his partj'^, and has been called upon to fill many public offices. He was school treasurer in the town of Adrian for two years and supervisor for one year; he was elected alderman of the city of Tomah from the second ward and served two years, and for four years was treasurer of the fire department. In 1908 he was elected sheriff of his county and served with distinction until 1911. Fraternally Mr. Henry is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the ^lodern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World.

George L. Herbst, a i)roniiiu'nl inerehant oi' Spai-la. was horn lici'i' on .May 7. IShS. the son of Fidel and P'lizaheth (Stauss) Ilerhst. lie atlcnch'd the public schools in Spai-ta. and early started in life as a clerk in ihc store of J. J. ]\Iason tJc ("o.; he i-eniained with this firm for some five years, then wcnl to Watertown. S. I)., where he remained for a short time, returninj? to AVisconsin he found employnu'iil with the Fostei- Lumber Company, of Fairehild. Wis. So well did he fuHiiJ liis duties here that he remained in tlieir ejnploy for twelve yeai's. lie next eno-ao'ed with the firm of Kei)ler & Co., of Eauclaire. Wis., where he remained for about two years, and moved to Sparta ajiain and took a position as clerk with the firm of Dodjre & Davis in the dry goods business. Durino' all these years, the one desire uppermost in the mind of Mr. IIerl)st was 1he ownership of a store; he had been attentive to business, and witli his natural energy ant! economical tact, at the end of two years Avith Dodge & Davis, he had accumulated sufficient funds, so tliat in 1002, associated with his brother, Edward, lie embarked in the dry goods business on his oAvn acconnt. wliieii they successfully carried on for a short time, when ]Mr. Herbst purchased the interest of his brother and became sole i)roprietor. On February 8, 1905, the business was incorporated luider the name of the Herbst Dry Goods Company, which it still retains, and Avith their new and up-to-date stock of goods, is one of Sparta's busiest and well known business establishments.

In June, 1898, IMr. Herbst married ^liss Winnie Kyle, daughter of H. H. Kyle, of Augusta. Wis. Three children have been born to them. viz. : H. Robert. George F. and Elizabeth Herbst.

Fidel Herbst. father of our sid).)eet. was a luitivt- of Preussen, Germany, boi-n Ai)ril 24. 1838. In 1S54. when but sixteen years of age, he emigrated to tiu- I'nited States, stopjiing first at Syracuse, X. Y.. where he was employed at the blacksmith trade; he remained there until 18G6, when he came to Sparta, and was actively engaged at his trade until a little uKU-e than a year prior to his death, which oeoirred October 3. 1901. A Hepnblican in his political opinions, he was interested in the afitairs of his i)arty anil held numerous positions of trust. He was for a time chief engineer of the Sparta fire department ; held the otfiee of city treasurer and alderman from his ward, was in the city council and was a member of the Cong-regation church, lie was the son of John Ilerbst, a native of Sigmaringen, German^', who was a forester and spent his life in Germany. His wife's maiden name was Katherine Knittel. Fidel Herbst was married November 30, 1861, to ]\Iiss Elizabeth Stauss, daughter of Hartman and Katherine Elizabeth Stauss, natives of Germany. He was a merchant tailor in his home country, where he died in 1866, aged sixty-nine years. Mrs. Herbst, mother of our subject, was born September 28, 1841, and was the youngest of a family of seven girls and three boys. Shortly' after the death of her father, when but ten years of age, accompanied by her older sister, Sophia, and two others, she came to this country and located at Hazel Green, Wis. She soon after went to Galena. III., where she was married to Mr. Herbst. They had a family of six children, viz.: Fred W.. of Fairchild, Wis.; Carl ('.. of ]Minneai)olis; Anna j\Iarie Pjlizabeth. wife of Congressman John J. Esch. of La Crosse, Wis. ; George L.. John L. and Edw^ard, all of whom reside at Sparta, where also the mother resides.

Fred B. Herrman, who has been a resident of Monroe county since 1888, is a prosperous and influential farmer of Sparta township. He was born in the town of farmington, La Crosse county, February 9, 1862, and is one of a family of thirteen children, born to William and Katherine (Williams) Herrman. Those besides our subject are : Amelia, now the wife of Frank Huber, resides in La Crosse county; Lucas B. is deceased; Frank A.; Anna, widow of Phillip Corelett ; Bessie is the wife of John Rhyme, of Sparta township ; INlary is the wife of William Kuhen, of Dodge county, AA^isconsin; Matilda is the wife of Kirt C. Squires and lives at Gladstone, N. D. ; AVilliani resides in Sparta, where he is engaged in the grocery business; Henry resides in Indiana. Robert in La Crosse, and Amos lives in La Crosse county, and Lillian Herrman in La Crosse. The parents were natives of Germany, and after coming to the United States in the early forties, located first in Dodge county, AVisconsiu, and later by ox team made their way to La Crosse county, where the father acquired a farm of 200 acres, and successfully engaged in farming, and there made his home until his death in 1900, at the age of seventy-three years. i\Irs. Herrman, mother of our subject, passed away in 190L at the age of sixty-three years.

They were high iiiiiided and progressive, and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of all Avho knew them. The grandfather of Mr. Fred Herrman was Bartle Ilerrman, also a imtive of Germany. He eame to America and settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he lived for many years, and died on a farm near "Waupnn.

Fred B. Herrman attended the district school at Farmington, La Crosse county, and remaincil on the liomc farm until he arrived at tlie age of seventeen. He was tlu'u employed at farm work })y AVilliam Storandt, of La Crosse county, and later entered the employ of Sawyer & Austin, in the lumber business, where he remained for three years. He next located on a farm in Burns township. La Crosse county, and there remained two years. He then, in ISSS. purchased his present farm of 160 acres, of which forty acres lie in La Crosse county, and 120 acres in Sparta township, in section nineteen, from ^Martin Flood. Mr. Herrman is one of the thrifty and well-to-do farmers of the county, and his farm is e(iuipped with the latest and modern labor saving machinery, and in 1897 he erected a large barn, to which during the year 3912 Avill be added an addition of 42 by 60 feet. In 1902. a new and up-to-date residence was erected, and this with his ninety-ton silo and other improvements, makes his one of the ideal couiiti-y homes in ]\Ionroe county. He is engaged in general farming and djiiiying. and makes a siiecialty of raising Jersey cattle.

On April U. 1885, Mr. Ilerrman was united in marriage witli Miss Ida J. Flood, daughter of ]\Iartin and ]\Iary (Ilanunond) Flood, natives of Vermont and Canada respectively. Pearly in the fifties they came to Ridgeville township, in ^lonroe county, and located on what is known as the Shulte farm. In 1865, when ]Mrs. Ilerrman was four years of age, they removed to the farm in Sparta townsliip whei-e .Mr. and ]\Irs. Ilerrman now reside. .\t that time the farm was in a wild state covered with a growth of timber, which ]\lr. Flood by hard work, thrift and perseverance, succeeded in clearing, and the land Avas ])rouglit to a good state of cultivation, and there made his home until 1902, when he died at the age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Flood, mother of .Mrs. Herrman. died October 24. 1890, aged seventy-one years. Bei-nai-d Flood, who resides in the city of Sparta, is the only bi-othei- of .Mrs. Ilernnaii. To .Ah", and .Mi-s. Ilerrman has been born three children. Harry F., born :May 11, 1888; Harriet, born Decend)er 7. 1892, is now a student at the State University, and Robert A., born August 11. 1902.

Mr. Herrman adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and while he has never sought or cared for office, he has been a member of the tOAvnship board for several years, and was at one time a director and manager of the Rockland creamery.

John Herring", who is justly ranked among the substantial and progressive farmers of Sparta township, is a native son of Monroe county, Wisconsin, and was born on section thirty-six, Sparta township, May 2, 1867, son of Peter and Mary (Smith) Herring, both natives of Germany. The father when yet a young man, left his native land for the United States, and upon arriving in this country, came to "Wisconsin and settled first in Leon township, Monroe county, where he found employment as a farm hand. Imbued with the determination to succeed, he went to work with a will, and by strict economy accumulated means with which he purchased a farm of 160 acres in section thirty-six, Sparta tOAvnship, and commenced farming on his own account. He fought manly the hardships incident to pioneer life, and by hard work, thrift, and judicious management, he mastered all obstacles, improved the farm with a large and commodious dwelling, and outbuildings, and brought the land to a state of cultivation where it produced enormous crops, and at the time of his death, which occurred January 7, 1887, he was considered one of the most influential and substantial farmers of his township, highly respected by all who knew him. His wife, mother of our subject, was a lad}^ of many womanly virtues, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of her large circle of friends. Her death occurred November 2, 1902. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living. Emma is the wife of Archie Doane and resides in Little Falls township ; John, the subject of this sketch ; Lillie, the wife of George Merrow, of Sparta ; Hattie, the wife of Fayette Baldwin, lives at Sparta ; William is deceased, having met his death in a dynimite explosion in December, 1903, at the age of twenty-five years; Mary is the wife of Roy Francis, and Frank, both of whom live in Sparta township. Mr. John Herring attended the district schools of his town, assisting in the farm work on the homestead, where he remained until 1900. In the meantime he had purchased a farm of 160 acres in section thirty-five, opposite the old home farm, which he continued to operate until his marriage, when he moved to his present home. Since residing on his present place he has changed and remodeled the buildings erected a new silo, and made other improvements, while bringing the land to a high state of cultivation. He is engaged in general

On April 12, 1 !)()(>, Mi-, llri-rin^- was miited in marriage with !i\liss Anna L. Guy, daughter of William \. and Isabella (Xicol) Guy, and granddaughter of ^Vlexander and Anna (Denwoody) Nicol, whose sketches appear elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Herring have been born foui* sons. Leo Nelson, John Petei', Spencer and AVilliam.

Fred Heser, a i)i-osperous fanner of section one. Greenfield township, is the son of Fred and Barbara (Silverhorn) ITeser, l)oth natives of Germany, who came to America early in life, settling first at Cleveland, Ohio, where they married ; they afterward came to AVisconsiu and located at Hartford, remaining there but one year, when in ISofJ they moved to Neilsville, in Clark county; they remained there seven years, then in IStiii moved to Monroe county and settled on eighty acres in the town of P]aton, a farm of and a part of the 160 acres now owned by oinsubject, eighty acres of which is in Greenfield township and eighty acres in the original town of Eaton but which is now Grant township ; they first resided on the eighty lying in Eaton, but in 1868 moved to the eighty in Greenfield, where our subject now resides. He was energetic and thrifty, and l)y hard work subdued his wild land and brought it undci- cultivation. He was prominent in the affairs of his town and at one time was chairman of the town board. AVhen the Civil ^V;^- hi-oke out, he enlisted and served in the Wisconsin regiment until discharged. He died in 1875 at the age of fifty years, honored and respected by all Avho kncAv him. His widow, mother of our subject, still survives and resides at La Crosse. The maternal grandmother, Barbara Silverhorn, came to AVisconsin from Germany, died in Greenfield townsliip and was buried in Tunnel City".

Fred Heser was Ixun in Clark county, AViscousin. November 8, 1856, and came with his parents to ]\Ionroe county when seven years of age, and is the second child in a family of eight children, five of whom an^ now living, viz: Fred, the subject of this sketch: William, a resident of Greenfield township: Laura, married John Snowberry. and lives in La(irange township: George, also of LaGrange. and Barbara, who is the wife of C. H. Wiekland, resides at Tomah. Those deceased are Helen. Henry and AVallace. ]\Lr. Heser 's education was obtained in llic district schools, and Avitli the exception of three years spent in the lumber woods of Clark county, he has resided on the home< farm since boyhood. After the death of his father, he, in 1881, came into possession of the i)lace and has since made many improvements. While the original house built by his father still stands in a fair state of repairs, it was replaced in 1911 by a modern residence, ecpiipped with up-to-date appliances. A large and substantial barn was l)uilt in 1907. The place is now under a high state of cultivation and well supplied with everything that goes to make a model farm. ]\lr. Heser is a thorough and practical farmer and occupies a prominent place in his town and county. He has been a member of the side board for two terms and is still a member ; he has been treasurer of the school district for six years and in fraternal matters is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the ^Modern AVoodmen of America.

He was married July 2, 1882, to ]\Iiss Emma Purdy, daughter of Daniel and Susan (Savage) Purdy, of Greenfield township. To this Tuiion lias been born ('(^lia. wife of Albert AVoodard, of Tunnel ("ity: Earl E., of Greenfield township; Edna, wife of Paul RosenaAv, of LaGrange township; ]\Iyrtle E., Verna F., and Fred D. are at home ; Robert is deceased. Earl E. Heser married Edith Schuler. daughter of August Schuler, of Tomah. in September, 1909, and has one child, Kenneth R. Celia was the wife of the late Carr Johnson, and has three children, viz : Georgie, Ortis and Thelma, the latter is now the wife of Albert Woodard, by whom she has had two children. Alice and Margaurite ; Edna J. married Paul Rosenaw and has one daughter, Luceil.

E. Glenn Hesselgrave, editor and publisher of the Norwalk Star, was born at AVestport. Columbia county, AYisconsin, August 10, 1876. Son of David and Hannah (Armour) Hesselgrave, natives of St. Lawrence county, New York, and Baltimore Md., respectively. They came to AYisconsin in 1851, and located at Lodi, where the father followed blacksmithing, and where they remained for twenty years. He died September 19, 1911, in his ninetieth year. He was an ordained clergyman of the Universalist church, and was also well posted in law. His wife, the mother of our subject, survives at the age of seventy-four years.

E. Glenn was the eighth child in a family of ten children; the others are : Mary, wife of Niles Fellows of Aladison ; Clarence, of Lodi: Isabella, wife of Scott Xutting, Eldorado, Iowa; IMiles, Long Prairie, ]Minn. ; Florence, wife of AY. J. Harriman, Baraboo ; Blanche, Avife of Hon. C. L. Pearson, of Baraboo ; Alfred, St. Cloud, Minn. ; Claude, Prairie Du Sac, AYis. ; and Leroy. of Lodi. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Lodi, and early began the printers trade at Eldorado, Iowa; was then employed at Lodi, Baraboo, and various papers, and in November, 1907, purchased the Norwalk Star of \Y. J. Robinson, which he has since continued to publish as a non-partisan paper, changing the size from a quarto to a folio. He was married October 17, 1910, to Miss Anna McGary, daughter of Eugene McGary of Norwalk.

Ira A, Hill was born in Belknap county. New Hampshire, on November 26, 1841, and died at Pasadena, Calif., where he was spending the winter, on ]March 20, 1904.

He received his education at Gilmanton Academy, in liis native state, and later taught school. In 1862 he recruited for the Fifteenth New Hampshire Yolunteers, enlisted therein and was appointed third sergeant. His regiment being sent to New York, he was detached and detailed as commissary sergeant on board transport of General Banks' expedition to New Orleans, and after reaching there, continued in the commissary department until, stricken with fever ,he was sent to the hospital. Upon convalescence he re.joined his regiment at Carrollton, La., and was employed in the regimental ad.jutant's office. In the fall of 1863 he Avas mustered out from the military service, returned to his native state and spent an invalid year.

In 1864 ]Mr. Ilill managed the business department of the Galena (111.) Gazette, the editorial charge of the paper falling under a former New Hampshire acquaintance. After two years, meantime making the acquaintance of L-^. S. Grant and his brother, Orville, he was employed for one year with Grant & Burke in the leather and saddlery hardware business at Chicago. Entering the firm of Davis, ]\Iedary & Hill, who acquired the La Crosse, AVis., branch of the Grant & Burke business, ]\Ir. Hill spent two years, during which time he was married to ]\Iary E. Tyler, only daughter of Thomas B. Tyler, of Sparta, Wis., their marriage occurring December 8. 1868.

Disposing of his interests at La Crosse in 1871. he removed to Sparta and engaged in the wholesale grocery business, later entering the drug business. In 1874 he united with Thomas B. Tyler, under the firm name of Tyler & Hill, in the real estate and loan business, which, together with banking, occupied ]Mr. Hill during the rest of his life. In 1879 he became a director in the Bank of Sparta, was vice president in 1883 and president from 1886 until his death in 1904.

and intellectual growth of the community. He served for ten consecutive years on the school board of Sparta, was in the city council and the board of supervisors.

In 1891 he was appointed regent of the normal schools of Wisconsin by Governor Peck, of which board he was president, 1894-5. As a Democrat in politics, he was a delegate and again was alternate delegate to national conventions. He was a member and past commander of John W. Lynn Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.

As a Mason he took an active part in the lower bodies, being past high priest of the chapter and past eminent commander of the commandery. He was grand king of Wisconsin grand chapter and grand representative of North Carolina, near the grand chapter of Wisconsin. He was a member of Wisconsin Consistory and of the shrine at IMilwaukee.

Mr. and Mrs. Hill had two children, Louis T., who is a resident of Sparta and vice president of the Bank of Sparta, and Kittle, who is the wife of A. W. Barne.y, also vice president of the Bank of Sparta.

Merle W. Hill,* manager of the F. P. Mooney farm in La Grange township, was born in Tomali, Wis., December 22, 1888, the sou of Oliver Mason and Sophia (Sprague) Hill, natives of Cortland county, New York, and who were married in Illinois. He was a pioneer settler in Wisconsin, and came to Monroe county and Tomah township more than forty years ago, where he settled on 200 acres of wild land, which he improved and where he continued to live until his death in 1910, at the age of seventy-three years. He was one of Monroe county's thrifty and progressive farmers, a man of prominence and influence in his township. The mother of our subject, a woman of rare attainments and domestic virtues, died in October, 1909, at the age of seventy years, loved and esteemed b.v all who knew her. They had a family of nine children, as follows : Ira, Ernest, both of Tomah ; Emma, wife of Edwin Eaton, of Waukesha, Wis. ; Caddie C, of Tomah township ; Ella, wife of F. J. Mooney, superintendent of the Monroe County Asylum, and Merle W. Those deceased are William, Oscar and Jessie.

Merle W. Hill attended the district school of his neighborhood and remained at home assisting in the farm work until 1911, when he became manager of the IMooney farm, where he carries on general farming and dairying, conducting a milk route in the city of Tomah. He is a member of the ]\Iy.stie Workers, and on June 28, 1911, was married to ]\Iiss Blanche Dana, danohter of Edward and Ella Dana, of Tomah. They have one child - Bulah S. Hill.

Oliver Mason Hill, deceased, who was a i)ioneer settler of Wisconsin and was among that class of sturdy, thrifty and progressive farmers to whom ^Monroe county is so largely indebted for the high place it holds among the banner counties of the state. He was born April 14. 1837, in Cortland county. New York, a son of Samuel H. Hill, who was born jMareli 12, 1794. When Oliver Avas but three 3'ears of age his parents came west to Illinois and located in Kane count}', where they made their home \mtil they came to Monroe countA^ in 1865. Here the father purchased 200 acres of land and established the family home, and here they lived the balance of their lives - his death occurring in (Colorado ]\Iarch 12, 1870, whither he had gone in search of health. His wife, grandmother of our subject, survived him thirteen years, and died in Monroe county in August, 1883. He Avas a AVhig until the formation of the Republican partj'^, and e\'er after Avas a staunch supporter of this party, and in religious belief a Universalist.

Oliver ]\lason Hill Avas educated in the public schools of Kane count}', Illinois, Avhich he attended up to his eighteenth year, remaining at home. At the death of his parents he inherited the family homestead and continued to carry on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of high bred Jersey and Durham cattle, Avhich he often entered in competition Avith others for first prize at stock exhibitions. He Avas a successful farmer, a man of sterling character, faithful in all his undertakings and no one in the community Avas more highly respected than he. In ]iolities a Republican, he Avas a strong adA^ocate in the cause of temperance and Avas formerly a member of the Grange organization and secretary and treasurer of the Eastern Monroe County Agricultural Society.

^Ir. Hill Avas united in marriage Avitli Miss Sophia Sprague, October 13, 1861. Nine children Avere born to them, six of Avhom are noAV living, viz.: Tna. born December 10. 1862; Ella, born NoA-ember 10, 1864; Ernest, born August 26, 1876: Emma, born December 10, 1878 ; Caddie C. born February 12, 1881. and :\Ierle, born December 22, 1888, and surviA-e the father Avhose death occurred in 1910 at the age of seventy-three years. Those deceased are William II., Oscar S. and Jesse P. Hill. William Avas droAA'ned in the LemonAveir river in 1881.

the district school until he was seventeen years old, and helped with the farm Avork. At the death of his father, he came into possession of the home farm of 200 acres, which he has successfully carried on, and since added 170 acres more. lie is among the younger class of Monroe county's prominent and progressive citizens. A Republican in political sentiment, he has never sought nor held public office. He has been secretary of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Tomah, and for one year served as president of the Monroe County Fair Association, and is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants' Bank, of Tomah. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hill being unmarried, the household duties are looked after by his aunt, Mrs. Mary Amidon. She was married June 1, 1862, to Llwellen Amidon, a prominent citizen, civil engineer and county surveyor of Monroe county and locator of Government and school lands, and in politics a Republican. At the time of his death in 1898 he was the OAvner of an eighty-acre farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Amidon were born four children, two of whom are now (1912) living.

William Hoard, one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of Wiltt)n, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. April 13, 1859, the son of Philander and Nancy (Reed) Hoard, both natives of the Buckeye state. They reared a family of three children, William, the subject of this sketch, being the only surviving member of the family. They were farmers by occupation and were among the ]n'ominent and most highly respected citizens of their locality. The father died in 1862 and the mother passed away in 1874. "

William received his education in the common schools, and was thrown on his own resources at the early age of thirteen years. He worked eight months on a farm at small wages, and was later employed by one man for eight years, the highest wages received during this time being $12 per month. He came to Wisconsin with his mother and brother from ^Michigan, and located in Wilton township, Monroe county, where, on March 15, 1882, he purchased 120 acres of land in section twenty-eight, where he lived, engaging in general farming until 1911, when he removed to the village of Wilton. In addition to his successful general farming, he has carried on an extensive dairy business, having a herd of twenty-eight Jersey milch cows. He is an extensive breeder and owner of Jersey cattle and Poland-China hogs, and is ivcpt busy managing his farm. He is one of the influential and public spirited men of his town, and has always taken an active interest in all matters for the betterment of his town and county. He is now president

He Avas niai-ried ]\Iarch 15, 1882, to ]Miss La Rue. daughter of S. B. LaRue. a i)i-oininent citizen of AVilton townsliip. ^Irs. Hoard is one of a family of seven children. Her parents were also natives of Ohio and emijirated to AVisconsin and settled in the town of Wilton in 1858, and were among the early settlers of that town. The father purchased 280 acres of wild land in section twentyeight, where the family lived for ten years in a log house of one room. They then built a small frame house, where they lived for thirty-eight years, and then erected a tine residence. The large and well constructed liarns and silo have recently been added to the im])rovements, all of which go to make it an ideal up-to-date country home. The father died in 1911 and the mother passed away in 1897. Three children have been born to Mr. and ]\lrs. Hoard, viz.: .Mildred, born March 24. 1883: Glenn, born June 18, 1886. and Ray. honi A])ril 28. 1889.

Reuben Hohn is another one of the native sons of ^Monroe county and was born in the town of Wells. April 17. 1864. the son of Cyrus Hohn and Sarah (Sherwood) Hohn. the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Wisconsin. The father came to Wisconsin when a young nuiii aiul Avorked on a farm and in a sawmill and later at the carpenter's trade, which he had previously mastered. He lived in Wisconsin until his children became grown, where he died in 1906. He was twice married, first to Miss Sarah Sherwood, by whom he had nine children. After her death he married for his second wife ]Miss Sarah Miller. Samuel Hohn. grandfather of our subject, also came to Wisconsin. Reuben attended the common schools during his boyhood and after the death of his mother lived nine years with ]Mr. Al. Fulton. He then found employment on a farm at .^10 jht uKuith. At the age of twenty-four years, in 1888. he was married to .Miss Cornelia ]\Iay Hudson, daughter of AVilliam. from England, and Lizzie Hudson, whose family canu^ originally from Vermont. ]\Ir. and ]Mrs. Hohn have two children, Ellis. Ixu-n Decendier 8. 1890. and Delia, born Alarch 18. 1892. In 1912 Mr. Hohn ]mrchased 160 acres of choice hiiid in Leon lownship. adjoining Wells, where he is well and favorably know n ;is oti<" of the progressive men of the county.

Hans C. Hoitomt, who is the son nf Adoli)h and Alaren (Skulei'ud) lloiloml. was born in Norway, .\ovendier 14. 1878. and when seven years of age came to America with his uncle and aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Guilder Olson, who located in the town of Portland,

]\Iouroe county, Wis., where our subject was reared. The uncle died in 1902. his aunt is still living at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. Hoitomt started out in life for himself and was engaged in running a thrashing machine, and also operated a sawmill for a time in Vernon county, and afterwards came to Monroe county and located at jMelvina, and Avith others engaged in the lumber business, dealing extensively in pine and hemlock lumber. Outside of the lumber business, he owns considerable property, among which may be mentioned several ice houses in Vernon and Monroe counties. He also deals extensively in cord wood, shipping many carloads to eastern markets each year. He also controls and operates the transfer line at Melvina. Besides his many business ventures. Mr. Hoitomt takes an active interest in the affairs of his town and county, and is treasurer of the IMelvina Creamery Association. He is the owner of the largest private fish pond in the state, which covers an area of five acres, and Avhich was eonverted from a mill pond by Captain Hunt in his lifetime, and is plentifully stocked with thousands of black bass and bull heads, weighing up to five pounds each. ]Mr. Hoitomt is figuring on marketing this product in the near future and will ship to eastern markets.

In 1898 ]\lr. Hoitomt was married to Miss Dora Olson, by whom he has five children, viz. : James. Morris, Viola. Harold and Gordon Hoitomt. In political sentiment Mr. Hoitomt was formerly a Republican, but now is independent in thought and action, while in fraternal matters he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Fred A. Holden, deputy register of deeds of Monroe county, is a native of New York State, having been born at Ellicottville, June 19, 1849, the son of Amos B. and Mary L. (Lynes) Holden, who were also natives of that state. In 1855, when Fred A. was six years of age, his parents came to Sparta ; soon after arriving at what was to be the future home, his father engaged in business with D. R. Wheeler and W. S. Newton as contractors and builders. Mr. Holden, Sr., had the honor of building the first hardware store erected in Sparta, but which was later destroyed by fire. He continued this business for some years and then engaged in farming. Among the many buildings erected by him besides the hardware store was the Congregational church, of which he was a devoted member. In 1905 he passed from this life to his wellearned reward at the age of eighty years. Not only did he stand high in the community as a citizen, but also in his home and domestic relations, and among his friends he was greatly beloved and esteemed for his loyalty and devotion to those near and dear to him. His wife, mother of our subject, preceded her liusband to the grave, liaving passed away in 1897, at the age of seventy years. She was a woman of charming disposition and many womanly virtues. Amos B. Holden was the son of Arnold Holden, a native of Massachusetts, Avho settled in Western New York in an early day, and there lived to the age of ninety-six years. His wife was Patience Tanner, who lived to the age of ninety-eight years. The paternal great grandfatlier of our subject was a native of Ireland, who came to this country and settled on Nantucket Island, where he mndc cloth after the plan of those early times.

Fred A. Holden was raised on a farm and received his education in the public schools of Sparta. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age, and then for eleven years was engaged as traveling salesman for a wholesale implement house. He afterwards purchased a farm of his own and besides farming, he worked at various times Avith his father at the carpenters' trade, and later took up civil engineering, which he followed for twenty-five years, twelve years of which time he was county surveyor, and during this period he became familiar with all parts of Monroe county. Since the fall of 1910 he has been deputy register of deeds under his son, AVilliam A., and has prepared a valuable map of the county.

On January 14, 1886, he was united in marriage with ]\Iiss Mary Miller, daughter of Samuel Miller, of Milwaukee. Their children are AYilliam A. and Mabel.

William A. Holden, register of deeds of i\Ionroe county, was born in Sparta township, Monroe county, February 6, 1887. His parents, Fred A. and Mary M. (Miller) Holden, are natives of New York state and Switzerland respectively, the former being born at Ellicottville, and the latter at Argon. His paternal grandparents also were natives of New Y'ork state, came to Sparta in 1855, where they lived until their decease ; his death occurred in 1905, at the age of eighty years, and hers in 1897, at the age of seventy years.

AYilliam A. was reared on the home farm, receiving his education at the Angelo district school. He followed farming pursuits until 1905, when he became rural mail carrier on Route Number Three, from Sparta, Avhich occupation he followed until the fall of 1910, when ho was elected on the Republican ticket by a majority of 1200 to the office of register of deeds, whicli position he is filling to the satisfaction of his many friends, and the citizens of the community generally. His term of office will expire in 1913.

Mr. Holden has been a member of company L, third regiment Wisconsin national guards since April, 1903, and is now, 1912, first lieutenant of his company. Also a member of Sparta lodge No. 94, I. 0. O. F. On November 22, 1910, he was married to Miss Anna K. Axelson, daughter of Asmus Axelson, a popular and prosperous citizen of Sparta township.