Pepin County Wisconsin Biographies

Pepin County, Wisconsin Biographies
Source: The History of Northern Wisconsin (1881) submitted by Diana Heser Morse

CHARLES N. AVERILL, farmer, Durand, Sec. 31, 280 acres. Came with his family into Pepin County, in the Spring of 1855, the first that came through in a wagon from Osseo. There was no road, no track, no bridges, these he had to make as he went along. One McGuinn had entered an 80 in the Fall of 1854, but had not yet settled on it, and Mr. A. was the second to enter land, and the first to settle upon it, in the whole Bear Creek Valley. He was born in Bethany, Genesee Co., N.Y., Nov. 1, 1825. His father moved to Indiana in 1837, where his father and mother have since died. In the Spring of 1852 he moved to Oregon, Dane Co., Wis., and remained there nearly three years, then moved to Lima, Pepin Co., as before slated. He has been County Clerk, County Treasurer and County Commissioner three terms, and Chairman of County Board many years. He was married in Dane County, Nov. 1, 1848, to Miss Fanny Keenan. They have four children living—Kattie, Mrs. Black, of Fairfield, Iowa; Caroline, Fanny and Charles.

WILLIAM L. BACHELDER, photograph artist. Durand. Was born in Darien, Genesee Co., N. Y., Jan. 30, 1850; remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he came to Crawford Co., Iowa, learned photographing with his brother there, and in 1871 came to Durand. He was married. Dec. 25, 1873, to Miss Martha Bowman, daughter of Nicholas and Olive Bowman, of "Round Hill." They have two children, Frank and Clair. His father, Hilliard Bachelder, was a native of Vermont. His mother's maiden name was Sophia Mapes.

Carl Bashaw
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore

BASHAW Carl Oscar, Minneapolis. Res Hotel Atlantic, office 118 N 4th st. Broker. Born Nov 30, 1884 in Arkansaw Wis, son of Carlos and Mary Charlotta (Johnson) Bashaw. Educated in the Plummer District School Pepin county Wis; Stockholm Wis 1891-94; Dunn County Agricultural College 1901; Metropolitan Business College Minneapolis 1902. Engaged with S C Tooker & Co brokers as clk and salesman 1903-1905; with Green & DeLaittre Co 1905 to 1906; engaged in business for self under firm name of C O Bashaw & Co brokers April 1906 to date.

REV. JOSEPH M. BAUR, pastor of the Catholic Church, Durand. Was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 26, 1853. He was for four years a student of Calvary College, in Fond du Lac County, and for six years of St. Francis College, near Milwaukee. He was ordained October, 1877. He was at Sparta one year, thence to Hammond, St. Croix Co., for two years, thence to Arcadia. He assumed charge of the church at Durand in 1881.

CHRISTIAN BRUENN, carriage maker, Durand, son of Henry and Lisette Bruenn. Was born in Hirschburg, Germany, Oct, 8, 1836, he lived there until he was sixteen years of age, when he came to the United States and lived in Buffalo, N. Y., for two years; then came to Milwaukee, where he learned the trade of carriage maker. In 1857 he traveled through several of the Western States, then worked at his trade about two years in Jefferson City, Mo., after which he visited his home in Germany. Returning to Jefferson City, he worked there until he came to Durand in 1861, where his brother Henry had already settled and was engaged in the furniture and cabinet-making business. Here he concluded to settle and started a carriage and wagon shop which he still carries on. He was married in 1859 to Miss Henrietta Panzer, of Wunseidel, Bavaria. Mr. Bruenn has been Town Clerk off Durand since 1871.

HON. VIVUS W. DORWIN, miller and farmer. Was born in Champion, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Jan. 15, 1832. He came West in the Spring of 1854, and settled in Jackson, Adams Co., Wis. In the Spring of 1856 he came to Pepin County, and selected land for a farm, and settled on it, on Bear Creek, near Durand, where he has since resided. In 1857 he built, on Sec. 23, the first grist-mill in all this section of country. It contained two run of stone, to which he has since added another run. In 1865 he built a carding-mill, and in 1872 a cheese factory, which uses the milk of over a hundred cows, about one-half supplied from his own farm. He enlisted September, 1862, as captain of Co. G, 25th Wis. Vol., and continued in active service until he was compelled to resign, on account of ill health, September, 1863. He is now Chairman of the Town Board of Durand, and has been for many years. Twice elected member of the Assembly, in 1877 and 1878. He was married, March 15, 1854, to Miss Helen Van Hoesen, of Jefferson Co., N. Y. They have had eleven children, all living, and none of them have ever been seriously sick. Their names in the order of their ages, are as follows: William V., Helen Inez, Hattie Marietta, Marcellus, John, Lillian, Edward S., Laura, Ella Cora, Mary, and Roscoe.

JOHN FRASER, attorney and counselor at law, Durand. Was born on one of the Orkney Islands, Scotland, May 18, 1826. His father, James Fraser, came to the United States in 1839, and settled in East Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., where he resided until his death in 1876. Mr. Eraser studied law with A. O. Babcock, of East Troy, and was admitted to the Bar in Walworth County, in 1855. He moved to Durand in 1S62 and continued in the practice of law. He has been District Attorney for the county of Pepin several terms; Village Supervisor, and member of the County Board. He was married, Nov. 3, 1844, to Miss Jessie Dravier, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Dravier, of East Troy. They have five children living—Sarah, now Mrs. A. J. Wallace, of Durand; Frances, now Mrs. E. D. Page, of Honey Creek, Walworth Co.; Lila, now Mrs. E. D. Bon, of Blakeley, Neb.; Anna and Horace.

JACOB FRITZ, furniture dealer, Durand. Came to Durand in 1864, and has followed the business of making and selling furniture here ever since. He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, July 23, 1823. He learned his trade in Bloes, France, commencing at the age of fourteen, and continuing through a six years apprenticeship. Afterward worked at Stuttgart, Germany, and in 1855 came to the United States, and worked about two years in Philadelphia; then came West, and worked at Plum City and Menomonee, and as ship carpenter on a steamer for a while; then came to Durand, and entered into his present business. He was married. May 9, 1865, to Miss Caroline Hernann, of Downsville, Dunn Co., formerly of Baltimore, Md. Her parents came from Wurtemburg, Germany. They have eleven children—Amelia and Louisa, twins; Frank, Caroline, William, Louis, Albert, Rosetta, Jacob, Henry, and Martha.

RICHARD B. GOSS. merchant, Durand. Son of Philip and Huldah Goss; was born in Huntington, Luzerne Co., Pa., Sept. 30, 1826. He was employed as clerk in a store at Tunkhannock, Pa., for a few years, and then came to Springfield, Ill., and engaged in railroad bridge building for about a year; then returned to Wilkes Bare, Pa.; engaged for a while in a store; then went to farming and hotel-keeping, until he came to Wisconsin, in 1864, and settled in Durand. Here he was employed a short time as clerk, by George Tarrant, until he commenced in the mercantile business for himself. He was married, Aug. 11, 1861, to Miss Rosina Hille, of Wilkes Barre, Pa., formerly from Wurtemburg, Germany. They have five children living, one deceased.

GRIFFIN & S1NCERBEAUX, wagon manufacturers, Durand. This firm carry on wagon-making, blacksmithing, planing and sawing of both soft and hard wood; also have commenced the manufacture of hubs and spokes. Francis V. Griffin was born in Whitingham, Windham Co., Vt., June 17, 1834. At the age of nineteen went to New York. Was a machinist by trade. Also worked in Worcester and Ashburnham, Mass. Then engaged in the furniture business, at Clinton, Oneida Co., for seven years. Came West in 1869, and settled in Durand in 1871. He was married in 1860, in Keene, N. H., to Miss Sarah Winship. She died in 1868. In 1871 he married Miss Hattie Gilbert, of East Troy, Wis. Ira Sincerbeaux was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., July 19, 1847. His father moved to Auburn, N. Y., in 1848. Here he lived until 1875, when he came to South Bend, Ind., and lived there three years. Then came to Durand. He learned the trade of wagonmaking; then went into the army. He enlisted in the 9th Heavy Artillery, Co. F, Sept. 15, 1862. Was mustered out September, 1865, and returned to Auburn. He was married, Sept. 11, 1867, to Miss Hattie M. Post, of Auburn, N. Y.

JOHN HALVERSON, merchant, Durand, was born in Tins, near Christiana, Norway, Oct. 17. 1826. His father came to the United States and settled in La Salle Co., Ill., in 1837, and followed farming. In 1846, he commenced to learn the carpenter trade, at which trade he has since worked, until about a year ago. He came to Pepin County in 1855, and located at the mouth of Bear Creek, about a mile above the present village of Durand. In addition to working at his trade, he helped settlers to select lands, and followed surveying. Mr. H., in 1864, went overland to California, where he worked most of the time, at his trade, in the San Jose Valley. At the end of two years, he returned by the Nicaragua route and New York to his home in Durand. In 1873, he paid California a second visit, this time by railroad. He was married, Oct. 7, 1879, to Mrs. R. J. Haman, of Durand. Mr. Halvorson has been Town Clerk eleven years; Chairman of Town Board, one year; County Clerk, one term, and Deputy County Clerk, one term.

HORACE E. HOUGHTON, lawyer, Durand, was born at Alexander, Genesee Co., N. Y., April 6, 1835. He received an academic educational the Genesee, Wyoming Seminary; came in 1857, to East Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., where he studied law with John Frasier. He moved to Durand in 1862, and was soon after elected County Clerk. He has been District Attorney of Pepin County for the past ten years; was member of the Assembly in 1873, and of the Stale Senate for '79 and '80, during which term he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. He was also connected with the Sanitary Committee, in 1864, at Nashville and Chattanooga. He was married, Jan. 16, 1865, to Miss Alice Ide, daughter of F. J. Ide, of Naples, Buffalo Co., Wis. They have two children, Harry and Idell.

D. WINSLOW HUNT, physician and surgeon, Durand, was born in Mason, N. H., June 11, 1845. He is a son of Rev. N. A. Hunt, who moved to Marion, Ill., and taught the academy there, and afterward, one at Cottonwood, Ill. After the war broke out, he and his father joined the State militia for self protection in that part of the State, and they were finally driven out of the State by the copperheads there, and went to Iowa. He received an academic education under his father; then went to the University at Michigan, pursued a part classical and part scientific course, then entered the medical department, and was graduated in the class of 1871. He practiced medicine in Fairmount, Minn., and in 1880 moved to Durand. He was married, August, 1871, to Miss Lucy A. Stanton, of Durand. She died in May, 1872. In February, 1875, he was married to Miss Alice E., daughter of Orlando Skinner, one of the oldest settlers of Durand. They have three children.

WILLIAM H. HUNTINGTON, Durand, born May 8,1848,at Malone. Franklin Co., N. Y. In 1863, entered the Malone Palladium office, and served full three years apprenticeship at the printer's trade. In '67, worked several months at Barton, Vt. Came to La Crosse in April, 1868, remained two years. Went back to Malone, and came to La Crosse again in December, 1870. In April, '71, secured position as clerk on the "Minuetta," one of Heerman's Chippewa River steamers, and kept same position through the season of '71 and '72. In June, 1872, married Miss Jennie Ecklor, youngest daughter of George Ecklor, of Frankfort. August, '72, commenced work in Durand Times office for S. A. Foster, remained until April, '73, when he purchased a half interest in the Wabasha (Minn.) Herald. In October, '73, he bought the Times office, sold interest in the Herald and returned to Durand, where he has since resided. May, 1876, sold the Times to Matteson & Bon, and devoted his attention to the livery business, in which he had been engaged for a couple of years, in connection with his paper. In December, 1877, closed out the livery business, and established the Pepin County Courier, which he is still running. In August, 18822, purchased the Ecklor House of Durand, which he is now running. Has held several local offices. In 1880, after a warm canvass, was nominated by the Republican Convention for member of Assembly, but was defeated by the Independent candidate, who combined the dissatisfied Republicans and Democrats. They have three children—Amelia, Nellie, and Lucy.

GEORGE HUTCHINSON, physician and druggist, Durand, was born at Onondaga Hill. Onondaga Co., N. Y., April 1, 1823. He received a common school and academic education, and then attended the Medical College at Castleton, Vt., where he graduated in 1851. After graduation he practiced medicine in Pike, Wyoming Co., N. Y., until November, 1861, when he came to Manitowoc, Wis., and in September, 1862, went into the 27th Reg. Wis. V. as assistant surgeon, and in January, 1864, in the General Hospital at Milwaukee, until the close of the war. He remained in Milwaukee, with the exception of about three months spent in the oil regions, until 1866, when he came to Durand. He was married, March 30, 1852, to Miss Angeline A. Smith, of Pike, Wyoming Co., N. Y. They have two children living, George S. and Nellie P.

HENRY A. KNAPP, dealer in agricultural machinery, Durand. Came from Sparta by team to Durand, in February, 1860. At first he clerked for one Foster who had a small store, then for Smith & Prindle, afterward for Maxwell & Luton. In 1865 he commenced selling agricultural implements and also bought wheat. His grain warehouse having burned, he has since devoted his whole time to the sale of agricultural machinery, and has built up an extensive business in this and adjoining counties. He was Census Enumerator in 1870 and has served one term as Under Sheriff. He was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., May 14, 1824. His father, Nathaniel Knapp, who was a colonel in the war of 1812, died when Henry was two years old, and his mother also died two years later. Soon after he was adopted by H. C. Coburn, where he lived until the death of his foster parent. In 1852 he came to Portage, Wis., and clerked for Stewart & Anderson about two years. He was married, in October, 1854, to Miss Harriet L. Dunn, of Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., and returned with his bride to Portage, living there, and afterward at Sparta, then at Durand. They have two children living, Jessie and Harry. Their son Charles, a very promising young man, died very suddenly Dec. 6, 1879, aged sixteen years. He was very exemplary and faithful, and was universally beloved by all.

MILETUS KNIGHT, Under Sheriff Pepin County, son of Handy and Betsey Knight, was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., March 21, 1838, where he lived with his parents until May, 1859, when he came to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Pleasant, Eau Claire Co., and engaged in farming. In 1870 he removed to Arkansas, and in 1878 to Durand. He enlisted in 1863 in the 30th Reg. Wis. V. I., and served until the close of the war. The last eight months previous to his discharge (in October, 1865), he was detailed as clerk in the adjutant general's office, headquarters of the department of Kentucky, under Gen. J. M. Palmer. He has held various town offices. Was Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, also Postmaster of Arkansas for eight years; Clerk of Pepin County two years; was Assistant Sergeant in the Assembly during the session of 1876; held a clerkship in 1877; was reporter there for the Eau Claire Free Press in 1878, and is now Under Sheriff of Pepin County. He was married, November, 1865, to Miss E. N. Crandall, of Allegany Co., N. Y. They have five children living—Clifford, Anna, 0scar, Edward and Alice. His father came to Wisconsin in 1863 and settled near his son Miletus in Eau Claire County, and in 1870 removed to Arkansas.

PHILLIP LORENZ, brewer, Durand, was born on the Rhine, at Krentznach, Prussia, Jan. 16, 1837. He came to the United States in 1854, landing, Dec. 9, at New Orleans. He then came up to Iron Mountain, Mo., and lived there seven years working in a foundry, and then came to Alma, Wis., and worked there five years, then came to Durand and bought the brewery. In 1871 the brewery burned and he rebuilt it the same year. He was married, March 29, 1860, to Miss Christiana Ellsmann, at Iron Mountain, Mo., formerly from Hanover, Germany. They have four children living—Mina, John, Helma and Jennie.

MARTIN MAXWELL, lumber dealer, Durand, was born in Cuba, Fulton Co., Ill., Dec. 1, 1827. He lived there until 1849, when he went overland to California, where he remained four years. On his return, he commenced in the mercantile business in Bloomington, Ill.; then engaged in the lumbering business at Clinton. In 1857, he came with a drove of 325 cattle to Maxville, Buffalo Co., Wis. He was the second settler there, and in 1859 came to Durand. In 1861, he commenced manufacturing lumber on the Red Cedar, above the village of Menomonee, and in 1865, returned to Durand and engaged in the lumbering business, which he still follows. He was married in Bloomington, Ill., Jan. 15, 1855, to Miss Mary E. Coleman, sister of Charles and Milton Coleman, who were recently killed by the "Williams Brothers," in Durand. They have five children living — Albert D., residing in Dakota; Charles, William J., Etta H. and Alice C. at home.

ROBERT MORSBACH, druggist, Durand, was born in Ronsdorf, Cologne, Germany, Aug. 4, 1828. After passing through the public schools of his native town, he attended a private school in Cologne, and at the age of nineteen, he came to the United States. He went to Baltimore, and from there to Milwaukee, and thence to Sauk City, where he resided twelve years. Then came to Eau Claire, and in 1862, to Durand. In 1854, he was appointed Notary Public, which office he still retains. He has held the office of Town Clerk, was Deputy Sheriff of Sauk County, and Under Sheriff of Pepin County one term. He was married, Dec. 9, 1855, in Sauk City, to Miss Paulina Baumgardt. She died in Durand, May 1, 1868, leaving two sons, Ernst F. and Carl A. Jan. 16, 1870, he married Mrs. Elvira Sarah Sargeant.

MILES DURAND PRINDLE, liveryman and railroad contractor, was born in Derby, New Haven Co., Conn., Sept. 16, 1835. He went to Northampton, Mass., at sixteen years of age, and learned the trade of tinner. In 1855, he came to Lyons, Iowa, then to Fulton, and June 27, 1856, came to the place where now is the village of Durand, where he has since resided. Pleased with the location, he bought a tract and laid it out into village lots, and had it recorded as the village of Durand, after his middle name. He has been a member of the Village Board several times, and now is Chairman; also a member of the County Board. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the United Workmen. He ran a very light draft steamer, the "Idell Prindie," between Eau Claire and La Crosse for some time, the lightest draft of any steamer on the Chippewa. He operated the first mail route from Alma to Eau Claire, and has been quite largely interested in mail routes in this section of the country most of the time since. He started in the mercantile business when he first came to Durand, in June, 1857. Then he engaged in the hardware trade and steamboating. He has just finished grading the first mile of railroad in Pepin County, on the Chippewa Valley Railroad, just below Durand. He was married, May 8, 1860, to Miss Ida M. Ide, daughter of F. J. Ide, Esq., of Naples, Buffalo Co., Wis. Have had one child, Idell, who died at five years of age,

FRANK SCHUR, grocer, Durand, was born in Weidenden-Bruck Westphalia, March 6, 1832. Came to the United States in 1842; lived nearly five years in New York City. Then came to St. Louis and tended a store about two years. Then, in 1849, came to Chippewa Falls on a "keel boat" from Reed's Landing, and has lived ever since in the Chippewa Valley, most of the time in charge of a boarding house. He was married, May 3, 1857, to Miss Catherine Burrell, of Prairie du Chien, Wis. They have seven children living—Walter, Roland, Ernest, Jennie, Katie, Hurlburt and May. There was no settler at or near Durand when he first passed by there on his way to Chippewa Falls.

H. ROLLIN SMITH, ferryman, Durand. Came to Durand in September, 1857. Opened a store in company with W. F. Prindle, January, 1859, which continued until l86l, when he went to East Derby, Conn. Married and engaged in the mercantile business there some eight years. Came back to Durand in 1869, and in March of the following year bought an interest in the ferry across the Chippewa River at Durand. One Stokes started a "pole ferry," then " Sol Crosby" a "horse ferry;" this was bought by Babcock, then by Goodrich Brothers, then by Carlisle & Smith, who commenced to use a steam ferry-boat. Since the Fall of 1877, Smith has been sole owner of the ferry. He was born in Derby, Conn., June 12, 1831, and remained at home until he came to Durand in 1857. His father, Almon Smith, a merchant, died in 1862. His mother, Jane (Downs) Smith, continued to live at the old homestead until her death in 1880. Mr. Smith was married, Nov. 11, 1861, to Miss Emma Ide, daughter of F.J. Ide, Esq., of Buffalo Co., Wis. They have two children, Clara L. and Maud I. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Masonic fraternity ever since he was old enough to be received.

HON. GEORGE TARRANT, merchant, Durand. Was born in Woolhampton, England, Feb. 11, 1838. His father came with his family to the United Stales in 1850, and settled at Janesville, Wis., where he died in 1850. His mother is still living in Janesville. He came to Durand in 1863 and engaged in the mercantile business, in which he still continues at present, in company with Mr. Dorwin, having a store both at Durand and at Arkansaw. He has held various town and village offices in Durand; has been Chairman of County Board, and now represents this Assembly District in the State Legislature, session of 1881. He was married, in 1860, to Miss Clara, daughter of Bartlett and Margaret Runey, who were the first settlers in the town of Oregon, Dane Co., Wis., having settled there in the Spring of 1842. They have five children living—George, Warren D., Burr, Shirley B. and John L.

JACOB Van NORNAM, harness-maker, Durand. Came to Durand in 1862. Followed the river as engineer on a steamboat until 1871, when he commenced his present business as dealer in harness and harness hardware. He was born in La Cole, Canada, Aug. 16, 1845. His father, Lenman Van Nornam, moved to Vermont about the year 1859, and settled there, and in 1862 Jacob V. left home and came to Durand as above stated. He was married at Mondova, May 25, 1871, to Miss Fanny Douglas, formerly from Walsell, England.

ANDREW J. WALLACE, hardware merchant, Durand. Came to Durand in 1860. Enlisted in the Spring of 1861 in Co. I, 2d Minn. V. I. for one year. Was in Buell's Army Corps in Kentucky and Tennessee. Came back to Durand and clerked for Prindle in hardware store, and in 1867 commenced business for himsell, dealing in hardware, tinware, agricultural implements and sewing machines, and since May, 1880, under the firm name of Wallace & Hammond. He was born in Lower Canada, Feb. 19, 1840. In 1857, his father, Charles Wallace, moved to Minnesota and afterward to Durand, where he still resides. His mother (Lucy) died in Durand, June 5, 1876. He was married, March 7, 1871, to Miss Sarah A. Fraser, eldest daughter of John Fraser, Esq., of Durand. Mr. Wallace is a member ol the Masonic fraternity, and at present master of the Lodge in Durand; also member of the Chapter at Menomonee, and master of the A. O. U. W. at Durand. He has been Town Treasurer of Durand four years.

ROBERT B. WOOD, agent of the W. W. Kimball Chicago pianos and organs, Durand. Came to Durand from Walworth County in 1868. He was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., March 21, 1840. In 1853, his father moved his family to Wisconsin and settled on a farm near Delavan, Walworth Co., where he resided several years, then removed to Manchester, Delaware Co., Iowa. Here his father died in 1860, and the family returned to Delavan. In October, 1861, Robert enlisted in Co. A, 10th Wis. V. I. Remained in active service during the period of his enlistment (in the 14th Army Corps, under Maj. Gen. Thomas), and was mustered out, November, 1864, at Milwaukee. He then went to Decatur, Ill., and worked on a farm; afterward to Delavan, and engaged in the livery business, and in 1868 came to Durand and engaged in farming. For the last four years, he has been agent for W. W. Kimball, pianos and organs. He was married, in 1872, to Mrs. Louisa S. Congdon, formerly Miss Louisa S. Conway, of Eau Claire, Wis. They have three children—Maggie B., Florence E. and Mary Ella.