ADOLPH G. SCHULZ, general merchant,
Tomah. Son of August Schulz, who was one of the earliest business men of
Tomah. Was born in Germany; came to this country in 1850. He first
located near Port Washington. He removed thence to Chicago, and engaged
in the tobacco business. He resided for a lime at other points in the
Northwest, Davenport, La Crosse, etc. He went to Black River Falls about
1858; came to Tomah and engaged in business in 1861. He died in the Fall
of 1878, leaving a widow and two children, Louisa and Adolph G. The
latter was born in Germany in 1849. He was associated with his father in
business for several years previous lo his death; is now engaged in
general merchandising. He was married to Mattie M. Weed, adopted
daughter of H. B. Howard. They have one son, Harry.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
REV. E. L. SEMANS, pastor of Methodist Episcopal Church. Born
in Randolph Co., Ind., September, 1844. he enlisted April, 1861, in the
8th Reg Ind. Vol., Co. C, and served till the close of the war. He
participated in many of the most important battles and campaigns in the
war of the Rebellion. Was in McClellan's campaign in West Virginia in
1861, took part in the battle of Rich Mountain; was in Fremont's
Missouri campaign, took part in the battle of Pea Ridge, and was present
at the siege and surrender of Vicksburg under Gen. Grant; afterward
transferred to the department of the Gulf, under Gen. Banks. Thence to
the department of the Shenandoah; was severely wounded at the battle of
Cedar Creek; afterward down the Atlantic Coast to Georgia, where they
met the army of Gen. Sherman, in the memorable march to the sea. After
the war, Mr. Semans returned to Indiana, where he attended school.
Thence to Minnesota, where he was for some time a student at Hamlin
College at Red Wing. Thence to Madison, where he became a student of the
State University at that city. He entered the ministry in 1870. His
first charge was at Black Earth, where he remained two years; then
followed three years at Monroe, and the same time at Viroqua. Came to
Sparta in 1878. Mr. Semans was married to Miss Sarah Walrath. daughter
of Adolphus Walrath, who was an early settler of Dane County, from Ohio,
having settled there in 1855. They have four children-Raymond L.,
Gilbert B., Clara E., and Francis M.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
JAMES SHANKLIN, farmer, near
Norwalk. Born in Ireland, April 8, 1833. His mother died in Ireland. He
came to Wisconsin with his father, in the Fall of 1846, to Fond du Lac
County, where his father died, three weeks after their arrival, leaving
two sons, John and James, in this country, and also two sons in Ireland.
John lives in Waushara Co., Wis. James went to Winnebago County, in
1848, where he was engaged in farming ten years. He came to Monroe
County in 1858. and settled on his present farm. He enlisted, January,
1864, in the 19th Wis. Vol., and served till August, 1865. Was in
Grant's final campaign of the war, in Virginia. His wife was Hannah
Beegle, born in the State of New York. They have two children, Frances
and Ella E. His wife has a son by a former marriagen John H. White.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
GEORGE SHEPHERD (deceased). Born
in Yorkshire, England, April 10, 1796. Married in England to Mary
Brookes. Emigrated to the United Slates in the Fall of 1843, and settled
in the town of Winchester, Scott Co., Ill. Removed thence to
Springfield, thence to Waupun in the Fall of 1845. Mr. Shepherd was a
business man, and when a young man, was engaged in his native town of
Barnesby, in the manufacture of linen goods. Was afterward engaged in
the manufacture of cutlery, in Sheffield, England. He came to Monroe
County with his family in the Fall of 1854, and settled in the village
of Athens. He died, Nov. 22, 1877. His widow resides with her sons. Mr.
and Mrs. Shepherd had seven children, four of whom died in England. The
surviving children are—Ann B., now Mrs. H. H. Pettis; William, born in
England in 1831; he enlisted in 1863 in the 19th Wis. V. I., and served
till the close of the war. He was married to Ann E. Southard, born in
Vermont. They have no children; have one adopted child, Archie C. Mr.
Shepherd has been quite prominent as a teacher in Monroe County; has
taught about fifteen terms in Monroe County. Mrs. Shepherd was born in
Bridgeport, Addison Co., Vt.,in 1844. Came to Wisconsin with her parents
in 1859. George W. Shepherd, the youngest of the three children of
George Shepherd, was born in England, June, 1837. He was also a member
of the 19th Wis. V. I. The farm on which the brothers reside, is the
homestead where the father settled soon after he came to the county.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
JOHN A. SHOLTS, teacher, principal of
the Angelo village school, P.O. Sparta, was born in Springfield, Erie
Co., Penn., May 30, 1846. His parents removed to Wisconsin in the Fall
of that year, and settled near Madison, Dane Co, where they resided till
their death. Mr. Sholts began teaching in the Spring of 1866, in Rock
County. Has followed the profession of teaching since that time. Has
taught in Monroe County since the Fall of 1869. Began teaching the
school of which he now has charge, in 1878. Mr. Sholts is a popular and
successful teacher, and the school in Athens has prospered well under
his administration. Not less than eighteen of his pupils of 1880, began
teaching in the Spring of 1881. His wife was Miss Emma Kenyon. They have
four daughters.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
JAMES W. SMITH, retired, Sparta, Born at Northampton, Mass.,
in 1816. He went to Rockingham, Vt., when a young man, where he was
married to Katherine Ellis. He removed to Coudersport Penn., and engaged
in the mercantile business. Went to Sheboygan, Wis., in 1857, where he
was engaged in the same occupation. Came to Sparta, December, 1858, and
engaged in the hardware trade. His wife died May, 1881. Has three
children—Mary Nias, Katherine Farnham and James E.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
JOHN W. SMITH, farmer and
stock-raiser. Sec. 35, P.O.Sparta, was born in Schoharie Co., N.Y., in
1833; came to Wisconsin in the Spring of 1854. He lived at Beloit till
the following Fall, when he came to Monroe County; lived the ensuing
Winter in the village of Angelo; settled in Farmers' Valley in 1855,
where he has since resided. His father was K. G. Smith, and came to
Wisconsin from the State of New York in 1854. He died in the town of
Angelo, February 1879. Mr. Smith was married to Eveline L. West. They
have one son, Ansyl E. Mr. Smith has about 300 acres of land, and is
engaged quite extensively in dairying. He makes a specialty of the
Devonshire breed of cattle; has at present about thirty head of that
popular and valuable class of stock.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
ROBERT SMITH, farmer, Born in
Saratoga Co.. N. Y., in 1841. He was brought up in Saratoga County. When
a young man he traveled considerably through the Western States, and
settled in Sparta in 1855. He was engaged in various occupations for a
time. In 1856, and 1857, was engaged as clerk in Sparta. He finally
engaged as a partner with S. D. Jackson, in the firm name of Jackson
& Smith. They established a large business; had several branch
houses at other points and also did quite an extensive jobbing trade. He
continued in the mercantile business till the close of the war. He
purchased his present farm, in Leon Valley, of Nelson Carrier. He has
about 500 acres of land. Is engaged quite extensively in stock raising.
Mr. Smith has been very fortunate in his business adventures, and is
numbered among the wealthiest men of Monroe County. His home in Leon is
an elegant one, he having one of the finest brick residences in the
county. Mr. Smith has been Chairman of the Town Board for several years.
He married Mary L. Link, daughter of H. A. Link, one of the earliest
settlers of Leon Valley. They have two children, Howard R. and June
Bell. The former is a student at the State University, at Madison, which
institution he entered in 1880.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
HENRY C. SPAULDING, attorney,
Tomah. Son of V. Spaulding, who came to Monroe County, from Chelmsford,
Mass., in 1855. Henry C. was born in Massachusetts in 1844. He read law
at Tomah with Graham & Bleekman; was admitted to the Bar in 1874;
has practiced in Tomah since that time. He was married to N. N. Wells,
who was born in Michigan. Their children are—Clara B., Susie, Laura
and Henry A. Mr. Spaulding was associated with A. E. Bleekman for three
years. During the year 1880 was associated with F. E. Campbell.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
WALTER D. STANNARD, M. D., Tomah.
Was born in Lake Co., Ohio, in 1841, but brought up in Cuyahoga County.
He received his literary and medical education at the University of
Michigan, graduating from the medical department of that institution in
the Spring of 1865. He attended his first course of lectures in 1861. He
served in the army as hospital steward about one year, when he was
discharged for disability. After graduating in 1865, he entered the army
as assistant surgeon, where he remained about one year. He then
established himself in practice at Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He located in
Tomah June, 1878. He married Narcena Hunt, a native of Michigan. They
have two sons, H. Bert and John C.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
STEVENS H. STEARNS. Sparta, born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., in
1814. His parents removed to the State of Ohio, when he was a child,
where he remained till thirty-one years of age. He removed to Noble Co.,
Ind.. in 1845, where he lived till May, 1855, when he removed to
Columbia Co., Wis. In June, 1856, he came to Monroe County, and settled
in the town of Wellington, and engaged in farming. Mr. Stearns is a
millwright and machinist by trade, which he followed for many years. Was
elected Clerk of the Court of Monroe County, in the Fall of 1864; since
that time has resided in Sparta. He served as Clerk of the Court twelve
years, and as Deputy Clerk for many years. Was married to Matilda
Carothers, born in Ontario County. They have had three children, two of
whom are living, Orra, wife of Dr. George F. Hamilton, of Augusta, Clark
Co., and Elna. Lost second child, Mrs. Adna Ellis.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
W. B. SURDAM, Postmaster at Cashton,
born at Hoosac Falls, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., went to Massachusetts,
where he lived till 1844 thence to Saratoga County, thence to Chautauqua
County; He came to Wisconsin in 1853, and settled at Watertown,
Jefferson Co. In 1855, he removed to what was then Adams, now Juneau
County, and settled at New Lisbon, and engaged in the mercantile
business; afterward built a hotel in that town; afterward removed to
Fort Dodge, and engaged in the mercantile business; thence to Chicago;
came here November, 1871; was appointed Postmaster Dec. 18, 1879. His
wife was a native of Massachusetts. They have four children—Mary,
Dora, Georgia, wife of W. H. H. Cash, after whom the village was named,
and Wilbam F.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
PETER SYVERSON, grain buyer,
Norwalk, son of Ole Syverson. an early settler of Vernon County. He was
a native of Norway, emigrated to this country, settled on Coon Prairie,
Vernon Co., where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1879.
Peter was born in Norway, in 1840, His parents had seven children, all
living but one, and residents ol Vernon and Monroe counties. He was
married to Bertha Nelson. They have five children—Marcus, Albert,
Ella, Lute and August. Mr. Syverson has been engaged in grain buying for
a number of years. His father was one of the earliest settlers of the
town in which he located in Vernon County.
(History of Northern Wisconsin 1881)
GEORGE N. SMITH, a well-known
citizen of Cataract, emigrated from the Dominion of Canada to the United
States in 1854. He was born in the province of Quebec, November 13,
1825, a son of William Smith, also a Canadian by birth, who was a son of
George Smith, a native of Scotland; he was a paymaster in the British
army for many years, and obtained a valuable grant of land in Canada;
William Smith married Sarah Winchester, a native of Massachusetts and a
daughter of New England parents; they emigrated to Monroe county,
Wisconsin, in 1866, and there lived the remainder of their lives; he
died at the age of seventy-seven years, and she lived out the allotted
three-score and ten years. They had a family of six sons and three
daughters; the father was a blacksmith by trade and an expert workman.
George N. assisted his father at the forge and on the farm, and acquired
his education in the common schools. In 1854 he came to the West and
settled in Wisconsin. He spent several winters in the lumber camps, and
also worked on the drive and on the river; he was strong, active and
self-reliant, and made a valuable hand.
During the war he enlisted in the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery;
his company was stationed at Fort Lyon, Virginia. He was honorably
discharged at Milwaukee, after which he returned to Monroe county; here
he improved a good farm in New Lyme township, but later he came to
Cataract, and has resides here since 1886.
Mr. Smith was married at the age of twenty-four years in Canada, to
Drusilla Stanley, and six children have been born of this union: Sarah,
Ashley, Alice, Victoria, William and Henry. Mrs. Smith died in New Lyme
township on the old farm, in 1882. Mr. Smith was married a second time,
being united to Minnie Smith, a native of Waukesha county, Wisconsin,
and a daughter of David and Mary Jane (Harrison) Smith; they are the
parents of three chidren: George S., Minnie B and Bert Burdette. Our
subject is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party; he has been
chairman of the board in his township, and has filled the office of
assessor. He belongs to G. A. Fisk Post No. 235, G.A.R., being a charter
member of the organization. He is a man of genial, social disposition,
and has a host of friends in the community.
Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin
1892
CHARLES J. SOWLE, the efficient
and capable manager of the Grossman Clothing Store, Tomah, Wisconsin, is
a son of Orlando T. and Matilda (Bigelow) Sowle. He was born in Tomah,
Wisconsin, March 22, 1869, and was there reared and educated. In the
spring of 1889 his father made him a partner in the pension claim
business which he has established, but it was not long ere the hand of
death was laid upon the father, and the union forever dissolved. He was
thus left without the guidance of experience, and a partnership was
formed with H. S. Beardsley, with whom he was associated one year; Mr.
Sowle then purchased full control of this business, entering afterward
into a partnership with his uncle H. M. Sowle; they conducted the agency
until late in the autumn of 1891, when Mr. Sowle disposed of his
interest and took his present position.
He made a trip to California in the winter of 1890-91, but, with the
exception of four years spent in Red Wing during his childhood, he has
made Tomah his home. He is a young man of exceptional business
qualifications and possesses the entire confidence of his employers. He
had been with Mr. Grossman but three months when he was made manager of
the business at this point.
Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party; he is a member
of the Knights of Pythias, No. 45, Tomah Lodge, and of the W.N.G. of
Tomah.
Orlando T. Sowle, deceased, a son of Hiram A. and Harriet E. Sowle,
was born March 28, 1844, at East Dorset, Bennington county, Vermont, and
died in the city of Tomah, Wisconsin, March 28, 1889. In 1855 the family
removed to Wisconsin and settled in Monroe county, where Orlando T. grew
to manhood; his mother had died when he was but ten years of age, and
the father married a second time. When the Civil war broke out he was a
lad of seventeen years, carrying the mail over a route sixty miles in
length. He offered his services to the Government, fired with the zeal
of a true patriot, but was rejected on account of his youth. He waited
until his eighteenth birthday had passed, and then was admitted to the
Twentieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company A, from which he was
honorably discharged on account of disability. He re-enlisted in August,
1863, but spent some time in recruiting, finally taking his place as
private in Company H, Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served
in this capacity until March 12, 1865, when he received his commission
as Second Lieutenant of Company D, Fifty-first Wisconsin Infantry; he
held this office, a part of the time being on duty as Acting Adjutant,
until he was mustered out of the service, August 29, 1865. About twenty
years afterward when he applied for his pay as a member of Company A,
Twentieth Regiment, it was found recorded on the rolls that he had
deserted, an error that was corrected upon evidence being presented.
From hardship and exposure he contracted a disease which finally ran
into consumption of the lungs and ended his life. In 1884 he established
a pension and a war-claim agency, which he conducted with remarkable
success. He was a man of many sterling traits of character, and was
sincerely mourned by his comrades and the entire community. He was a
member of Henry W. Cressy Post, No. 42, G.A.R., under whose auspices the
last sad rites were conducted. "Life's fitful fever over, he sleeps
well."
Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin
1892
WILBUR T. SARLES, M. D., of Sparta is a member of the firm of Beebe & Sarles. The firm of Gage, Beebe & Sarles, was formed in the spring of 1882. Five years later, Dr. Gage withdrew, since which time the firm has been as above.
Dr. Sarles is a son of Rev. J. D. Sarles, the present presiding elder of the Portage district. The Doctor was born in Wisconsin, in 1856. He wass educated at the high school, at Prescott, Pierce county, Wisconsin, at the University of Minnesota, and at Galesville University. He studied medicine with Gage & Beebe, and took his first course of lectures at Rush Medical College, and his second course at Jefferson Medical College.
Returning to Rush Medical College, he graduated, in February, 1882. Dr. Sarles is a conscientious practitioner and an honorable and public-spirited citizen.
Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin 1892
Norman E. Sweet,
one of the early settlers and highly respected citizens of La Grange
township, was born in Hinesburg, Vt. His parents, Ezekiel and Cleora
(Mack) Sweet, were natives of Vermont, from whence they moved to St.
Lawrence county, New York, when our subject was two years old, and there
died. Norman E. was the youngest of a family of eight boys and three
girls, all of whom are now deceased excepting Levings N. Sweet, of
Lincoln township, this county. Mr. Sweet came to Monroe county with his
two brothers; Emery J. purchased 300 acres of land from the government,
in LaGrange township, which at that time formed a part of Lincoln, and
L. N. and N. E. Sweet purchased an interest later. In 1874 our subject
sold his interest in this land and moved to section nine, LaGrange
township, and purchased a farm of 120 acres; the residence having been
burned in February of that year, a new one was immediately erected,
which is still in use by his widow and son, Edgar C. Sweet. In 1904 a
modern barn was built and many valuable and lasting improvements have
been made. A pioneer in that section, Mr.
Sweet took an active part in transforming Monroe county from a wild
state to one of the highly cultivated farms and good homes. He took an
active interest in local matters and was known as one of Monroe county's
public spirited and high minded citizens, and his death, which occurred
December 27, 1893, was mourned as a great public loss.
On April 15, 1864, Mr. Sweet was united in marriage with Miss Diana
Barkley, a native of Upper Canada, and a daughter of Henry P. and
Catherine (Shaver) Barkley, also natives of Canada, where they spent
their lives. Mrs. Sweet is the sixth child in order of birth in a family
of nine children; those living are: Gordon, who lives in Ontario;
Margaret, Winchester, Ontario: George, of Waddington, N. Y.. and
Elizabeth, who resides in Manitoba. Those deceased are Amos and Laney,
Eliza and Almira. Mrs. Sweet is a lady of noble character, possessed of
womanly virtues and a factor for good in her community. To Mr. and Mrs.
Sweet were born three children, viz.: Carrie married Edwin J. Vandervort.
and resides in the town of Tomah: Edgar Charles lives on the home farm,
and Jessie Irene is the wife of D. C. Purdy. of LaGrange township.
John Peter Barkley, paternal grand father of Mrs. Sweet, was a native
of Schoharie county, New York, and lived to the age of seventy-five
years; his widow, Delliah (Sperbeek) Barkley, who lived to be 107 years
of age, died in 1867. John P. Barkley, his sister, and two children were
once captured by the Indians and held for ransom; one child, born while
in captivity, was never returned to its parents by the Indians, they
claiming they would make "heap big chief" of him some day. The
maternal grandfather of Mrs. Sweet was Michael Shaver, a native of
Canada; he married Miss Jane Baker, and both lived to be eighty years
old. The first spring after Mr. and Mrs. Sweet took up their residence
on the present homestead, they had some annoying experiences with the
Indians; Red Eagle came to the house one dav and demanded admittance,
and when refused on account of his intoxicated condition, immediately
took his hatchet and
proceeded to batter down the door. he was captured and taken to Tomah,
where he was fined $11 and made to pay for the door. While Mr. Sweet and
others were at the trial, Mrs. Sweet remained at home, and very soon
after their departure, the house was surrounded by Indians making search
for the unruly one; among them was Artichoke, Good Bear and others, and
after being made to understand the situation, and where the other Indian
was, they withdrew. An Indian trail ran across this farm and it was no
uncommon thing to see as many as twenty-five Indians at one time, and
three are now buried near the barn.
Edgar C. Sweet, proprietor of East View farm, in section nine,
LaGrange township, where he was born June 18, 1876, and has always
lived, is a believer in up-to-date methods in dairying and general
farming. He received his education in the district school, and after the
death of his father, assumed the active management of the farm, and
besides general farming and dairying, he is successful breeder of
Guernsey cattle, Percheron horses, Poland China hogs and Brown Leghorn
chickens. Mr. Sweet takes a commendable interest in the affairs of his
township, and has held the office of treasurer. In December, 1897, he
was married to Miss Jennie Carter, daughter of Arnold and Jane (Wilson)
Carter, natives of New York. They have one child, Doris M. Sweet, born
June 13, 1906.
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