Page 54

PERSONAL SKETCHES. [page 54]
married to Charlotte Jennings, also a native of Devonshire. This mar-
riage resulted in the birth of two children: James (who was killed as a
Union soldier in the civil war) and Elizabeth. Mr. Pillar emigrated with
his family in 1850, and in the same year located in Winnebago county. In
1869, Mr. Pillar married for a second wife, Eliza Morgan, born in 
Monmouthshire, England, March 20, 1844, and with her parents [John and
Eliza (James) Morgan], emigrated to Anierica in 1851. The latter marriage
has resulted in the birth of three children: James A., George, and Mabel.
Mr. Pillar has for the greater part of his life been engaged in farming.
As one of the early settlers of the county, he is honorably identified with
its history.
SAMUEL PRATT was born in Beechin town, Massachusetts, February
11, 1818, and is a son of Sylvester and Esther (Fields) Pratt. The pearents
were natives of Massachusetts, and there married, and later died, leaving
the following children: Samuel, George, Harvey, Lemuel and Charles.
The orphan children were left to the mercies of friends and the world.
They were all fostered here and there, and experienced sorrows and hard-
ships in early life, which enabled them all the more easily to surmount the
many obstacles that appear in every career.  All the sons emigrated
at different times to this state; and all but the youngest, to this county.
The youngest went to Troy, Wis., and from there went into the army and
lost his life in the Pueblo war. Samuel was the first brother to emigrate;
he came to Walworth county, this state, in 1845, and in 1847 removed to
this county, where he has since resided. In Hartford, Counn, he was
united in marriage, in the fall of 1844, to Mary J. Bartlett, also a native
of
Massachusetts, born in Granby. They had the following children: Hattie,
Mary E., Frances, Electa and Lillis, of whom but two are living: Mary E.,
and Electa. Mr. Pratt is a representative citizen. He has followved farm-
ing for an occupation and has achieved good success. In politics he has
always been a republican.
R. ROBIE one of the earliest settlers in this county, was born in New
Hampshire, July 29, 1811. In Maine, he was married, in 1835, to Miss
Emeline Brown, who was born in the latter state, in 1814. They had one
son, A. F. The elder Robie came to this county in 1846, and entered land,
and the next year brought his wife and child, and settled upon his farm,
beginning the work of clearing it of the forest, and fitting it for the culture
which occupied his time during the remaining  years of his activity. His
industry and the opportunities of which he wisely availed himself have
made him prosperous, and enabled him to spend his old age amid comfort
and ease. He has served as chairman of  the board of supervisors. In 1832
he voted for Andrew Jackson for president, and in 1840 for Gen. W. H.
Harrison. Since the birth of the republican party he has adhered to that
organization. His religious connection is with the Baptist church. A. F.
Robie, the son, has also taken up the occupation of farming, and is one of
the highly respected citizens of the town. He was born in Somerset county,
Me., December 16, 1835, and was twelve years old when he came to this
county. He remained under the parental roof until twenty one years old,
when he began teaching school, leaving this after one term to learn the
carpenters trade. Later he attended school a short time in Dodge county,
an then returned home and settled down to agriculture as the occupation
of his life. In 1861 he was married to Eliza, daughter of David and Eliza-
beth Murray. She is a native of New York, born November 14, 1834, and
came to this county with her parents in 1817. They have four children,
Jennie M., Fred H., Grace H., and Zua G. In politics Mr. Robie is a re-
publican. He has held several town offices, serving as chairman one term.
SIDNEY SMITH,a farmer of the town of Vinland, was born in Wash-
ington county, N. Y., September 20, 1820, and is a son of Alexander and
Henrietta (Suttfin) Smith. Theparents were born and married in Washing-
ton county, N. Y,, and had eleven children, of whom Sidney is the oldest.
He was brought up on a farm, and received a fair education for his day in
the country schools. In 1840, he was married in Clinton county, N. Y.,
taking as his wife Julia Ann McKinney, born in Clinton county N. Y. This
union brought them sixteen children, of whom five are deceased. In 1862,
Mr. and Mrs. Smith and family emigrated to the west and settled in Vinland
township. Some twelve years later the wife was called away in death.
Mr. Smith is one of the enterprising and esteemed citizens of the county,
whose lives have been characterized by industry and integrity. in politics
he is a republican. He is a Master Mason in Wiuneconne lodge, No. 186.
TOWN OF WINCHESTER.
HANSE HENRY JOHNSON, who is one of the oldest residents of the
town of Winchester, was born in Denmark, April 14, 1821, and is a son of
Johan Titlo Markman and Anna (Hanson) Markman, who had a family of
four children. The parents died when the subject of this sketch was a
boy.  Mr. Johnson at the age of twenty-seven left his native country and
emigrated to America and for three years remained in Racine county.
In 1852 he located in Winnebago county and purchased a tract of land in
the town of Winchester, where he located in 1854. Here he has since
resided, engaged in agriculture. In 1874 he was married at Milwaukee to
Jacobina Christina Jacobson, who was born in Denmark, Februrry 18, 1823.
The marriage has resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Peter
William, Henry (deceased), Julius E., Anna M. Mr. Johnson is among the
earlier settlers of the county and is a a well respected and representative
citizen. He settled on a tract of land covered with a dense forest, and be-
gan preparing the land for cultivation. He has held several offices in his
town, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow townsmen. In
politics he is a veteran republican, having cast his first presidential vote
for
John C. Fremont. Though not a member of any church he has aided and
advocated churches and education.  He served his country during the
rebellion, enlisting February 21, 1865, in Company B, Forty-ninth Wiscon-
sin volunteer infantry, and was mustered out after the close of the war.
November 10, 1865.
PETER O. JOHNSON was born at Odegaarden, in the kingdom of Nor-
way, in the town of Toten, June 15. 1826, and is a son of Johann and Ber-
tha, to whom were born twelve children, of whom only four reached
maturity. At the age of twenty years Peter emigrated to America, and
came to this state in 1846, and to Winnebago county, in 1847, and settled
on a farm in the town of Winchester, and here he has since resided. He
purchased an eighty-acre tract of land and began farming, which he has 
since pursued, making more than an average success. He began the strug-
gle of life with a small capital but has surmounted the obstacles of life,
and is now a prosperous and well-to-do farmer. In the fall of 1850, he 
was united in marriage with Ingeburg Jensen, a native of Norway. Three 
children were born to the marriage, but in 1857, the mother was called 
away by death. One of the children is also deceased. In 1858, Mr. Johnson
married Oline Johnson, also a native of Norway. This marriage gave 
them one child, and in 1872, the mother's death occurred. In 1873, Mr. 
Johnson was again married to Agnette Lund, also a native of Norway. 
To this marriage has been born one child. The following are the names of
the living children: Bertha Helena, James, Julius Melvin, and Nora Lena.
Another named Johann reached manhood, married and had three children, 
but is now deceased. Mr. Johnson, who is among the pioneers of the 
county, is one of its representative citizens. February 23, 1865, he enlisted
in Company B, Forty-ninth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, and was 
mustered out of the service August 23, 1865, receiving his discharge at St.
Louis, Mo. He and family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
FERDINAND KLEBERG was born in the kingdom of Prussia, October 
1, 1838, the son of Peter and Christina Kleberg. The father is a native of
Prussia and now resides in the town of Winchester. His mother, a native 
of the same kingdom, died when Ferdinand was a small boy. She had 
five children, three of whom died in Prussia. In 1848 the father married
for a second wife, Wilhelmina Dreger, and they had three children. After
two of these were born, in the year 1855, the parents and children 
emigrated to America, and settled in the town of Winchester, where the third
child to Mrs. Wilhelmina Kleberg was born. The father, who has passed his
life as a farmer, is now in his seventy-ninth year. Ferdinand was raised
on a farm, and while in Germany secured a good education, which he has
supplemented in this country by the study of English. Until he was twenty
he remained with his father, and then started out for himself as a farm
laborer. In 1864, March 13, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Nine-
teenth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, and served until his honorable dis-
charge, August 22, 1865. After the close of the war he returned to Win-
nebago county and resumed his former occupation, and was soon able in
1867 to purchase a tract of land in Waupaca county, where he settled
down, taking at the same time to wife, Miss Emeline Schroeder, born Sep-
tember 25, 1847, daughter of John and Fredericka Schroeder, natives of
Prussia, who emigrated to America in 1857, and settled in this county in
1860. Mr. Kleberg and wife have had the following children: Julia (de-
ceased), Albert H., Cecilia E., Emma M., Edmund F. Esther E., and Mar-
tin F. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church, and are
among the prominent and respected families of their vicinity. Mr. Kle-
berg cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and has adhered to the
party with which he then united. He is very successfully managing his
farm of 143 acres in the town of Winchester, where he has resided since
1876. He has served his town as supervisor and taken an active and intel-
ligent part in all projects for the good of the community. He is now the
secretary of the Winchester & Wolf River Fire Insurance company.
GUNDER LARSON was born near the city of Arendahl, Norway, July
15, 1831, and is a son of forger and Anna (Gunderson) Larsen. They raised
four sons and two daughters. Our subject left the parental home in his
eighteenth year, and emigrated to New York city, where he landed
August 16, 1849. In the following September he located at Fond du Lac. In
1850 his parents emigrated to America, and in July joined him at Fond du
Lac, and one month later the family located in the county of Winnebago.
Our subject's life has been devoted to farming, with the exception of three
years, which he spent in the civil war. He enlisted August 21, 1862, as a
private in Company D, Thirty-second Wisconsin infantry, and was mus-
tered out as corporal June 12, 1865. Among the engagements in which he
participated were those in the campaign of Atlanta, and of the march to
the sea, the battle of Bentonville and others. After the capture of Colum-
bia, S. C., he was with Sherman when Johnson surrendered. He was mar-
ried on April 14, 1857, to Mary Jane Rogers, a native of New York. She
was born in Oswego county, May 7, 1839. the daughter of Samuel and
Mary M. (Enos) Rogers. She came to this country with her parents in 1846.
Their marriage has given them  five children: Samuel W., Adina L.,
Florence E., Arthur T. and Elmer, deceased. Mr. Larsen is a member of
the Norwegian Lutheran church, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal
church. He is a practical and successful farmer, owning a well improve l
farm of 125 acres, and as a citizen deservedly enjoys the esteem of his
neighbors. He has held several positions of honor and trust in the gift of
the people of his town, and for one term served as register of deeds at
Winnebago, and his faithful service won for him the confidence and re-
spect of the people of the county.
JOHN C. LARSON was born in the town of Clayton, Winnebago county,
September 19, 1848, and is a son of Ole and Anna (Jensen) Larson; the par-
cuts were born in the kingdom of Norway, thie father in the town of Toten
in 1812, and the mother in the same town in 1816. They were married in
their native country in 1835. This marriage resulted in the birth of five
children: Lena, Johanus, John C., Peter A. and Amelia. The first two
were born in Norway, and the last three in this county; of the five children
only our subject and the last survive. In 1846, the parents and the two
children came to America. Their youngest child was called away in death
while on their way to this country. In 1848, the parents settled in the town
of Clayton, thus becoming pioneer settlers of Winnebago county. Subse-
quently they removed to the town of Winchester, and here the father's
death occurred in 1863. The mother still survives, and resides with our
suoject. The father and mother both belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran
church, and reared all their children in that church. The father was a
farmer by occupation, and on coming to America, took up his occupation
under the disadvantage of want. His life was one of hard toil, and though
his trials were many, he bore all with patience, and by his sterling traits
of
character gained the confidence and respect of all who knew him. John C.
was reared on the farm and given a common school education. He has
followed farming as an occupation, and is among the leading farmers of
Winchester. In 1871, he was united in marriage with Asjer Thorson, who
was born in the southern part of Norway, on the farm of Asisland, Febru-
ary 22, 1851; she came to America in 1868. The marriage occurred in the
town of Winchester, and has resulted in the birth of the fllowing children:
Theodore, Amanda, Olga, John H. A. and Julius Kimball. Mr. and Mrs.
Larson and children are members of the Norwegian church, and are among
the well respected families of Winchester, where Mr. Larson owns a well
improved farm of 100 acres, and also one of eighty acres near his home-
stead. He also owns fifty acres in Outagamie county. So far as politics
are concerned he is not ardent, but always votes the principles of republi-
canism. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and fellow
townsmen, and is a representative citizen.
P. N. LUND was born in Loiten, Hedemarken, Norway, March 5, 1841,
and is a son of Necolai Pederson and Olia (Olson) Lund. In 1846 the
father's death occurred, and two years later the mother married a second
time; by the second marriage became the mother of two children. In
1868 Mr. Lund emigrated to America, and on the 6th of July, of the
same year, landed in Neenah. The year after his arrival, his sister
Agnette followed. As recently as 1888, the aged mother, now in her sev-
enty-fourth year, also cane to this county, and will spend the rest of her
days with her children. Immediately after coming to this county, Mr.
Lund began teaching Norwegian school. Subsequently he settled on a
farm, and since has, for the greater part, devoted his time and attention
to
farming. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Betsie (Olson) Hasnon, a
native of Norway. The marriage has been blessed by the birth of four
children: Charles, Martha, Eliza and Melvin. Mr. Lund and family be-
long to the Norwegian Lutheran church, of Winchester. Mr. Lund owns 104
acres ot land in the town of Winchester where he has his home. In poli-
tics Mr. Lund is a republican. He has held several positions of trust for
his fellow citizens, having served as town clerk in Winchester, twelve
years, and some eight years as justice of the peace. He has for a number
of years been the president of the Winchester & Wolf Piver Fire Insur-
ance company. He enjoys the esteem of a wide acquaintance, and is a
leading citizen of the county.
J. A. OFSTEDAHL was born in Vos, in the kingdom of Norway, Sep-
tember 6,1857, son of Andrew and Agatha (Lavik) Ofstedahl. The parents
were natives of Norway, and there were married and reared a family of
five sons and two daughters. Our subject was raised upon a farm in his 
native country, and there he received his early education. In 1878, in 
company with his parents and two sisters, he emigrated to America, and 
with the parents settled in Minnesota. Subsequently he entered the Norwegian
Lutheran seminary at Madison, Wis., where he completed a three 
years' course, and immediately afterward engaged in the ministry of the 
church, taking charge, in 1884, of the Norwegian Lutheran church in the 
town of Winchester, where he still remains, a faithful and devoted pastor.
He was united in marriage in 1884 with Anna Markusen, a native of Minnesota.
Unto their marriage have been born two children: Adolph and 
Clarence. Mr. Ofstedahl has won the respect and esteem, of the community
during his residence, and is valued as a citizen as well as a minister.
ED. REINERT, a member of the county board of supervisors of 
Winnebago county, and a leading citizen of the town of Winchester, was born
in Germany, January 8, 1848, and came to America with his parents in 
1856. His father, John Reinert was born in Germany in 1811, and died in 
the spring of 1883. His mother was Mary Roeder, born, in 1808, and died 
in 1886. The parents came immediately to Winnebago county upon 
arriving in America, and located on the farm where Mr. Reinert now 
resides. He has followed farming all his life. He has served as member of
the board of supervisors five terms, and three years as assessor of Winchester
town, one year as treasurer, and nine years as clerk of district. He was
married November 22, 1866, to Julia Wendtland, who was born in 
Germany in 1844. To this union six children have been born: Emily, 
Alvine, Charles, Theodore, Alma and Helena. Mr. and Mrs. Reinert are 
members of the Lutheran church, and he is clerk of the board of St. Peter's
church.
TOWN OF WINNECONNE.
STEPHEN ALLEN was born in Steuben county, N. Y., May 1, 1819, son
of William and Phoebe (Roberts) Allen, parents of twelve children. The
parents were of English lineage. and of New England birth. Stephen was
reared and educated on a farm, for his father was a farmer by occupatIon.
In September, 1839, he was united in marriage with Caroline Meeks, who
was of English descent, born in New York, February 20,1820. To this
union have been born six children. In 1846 Mr. and Mrs. Allen came west,
and in May of the same year located on section 11 of the town of Winne-
conne, where they have since continued. Mr. Allen has followed farming
for an occupation, and has been quite successful in life, as he is one of
the
most prosperous farmers of the county. He has never aspired to the hon-
ors of political life, but has always been a republican.
NILS ANDERSON was born in Norway, December 14, 1826. He was
reared and educated in his native country where he was married in May
18o5, to Mary Johnson, born in Norway, November 27,1832. This marriage
ehas been blessed by the birth of seven children: Andrew, Mary A., Bessie,
Henry and Ellen; and two that died in childhood. In 1856, Mr. and Mrs.
Anderson came to America, and in the same year located in Winnebago
county, where they have since continued' to reside. He has devoted his
life to farming, and now is one of the most prosperous farmers of the
county. In 1860, he took out his naturalization papers in Oshkosh, and
cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and since has remained
a republican. He and family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church. When Mr. Anderson came to America he was a poor man; but
by perseverance he has become prosperous, and now approaching the
decline of life enjoys the esteem of his neighbors and many friends.
MANFORD BENEDICT, farmer by occupation, was born in Monroe
county, Ohio, December 14, 1843, son of Cyrus and Susan (Doughty) Bene-
dict. When he was four years of age his parents emigrated to this county
and settled in Winneconne township. The father was a farmer and
brought up Manford to the same calling. Ten children, five sons and five
daughters, were born to the parents; of these children Manford is the sixth.
The father died a few years since, and the mother, who yet survives, re-
sides with our subject. In 1853, he was married to Mary Smith, and they
have four children: Lucy, Effie, Allie and Sydney. In 1862, Mr. Benedict
enlisted as a musician in Company B, Twenty-first Wisconsin volunteer
infantry, and continued ill the service till June 19, 1865, when he was mus-
tered out at the close of the war. In politics he is a republican, and he
is
also a good citizen.
O. W. BURNS, M. D., a prominent physician at Winneconne, was born
in the town of Washington, Knox county, Me., February 7, 1850, and is a
son of Thomas and Mary (Weed) Burns. Thomas Burns was a son of John
Burns (originally spelled Burnheimer).  John Burns was of German
lineage. Mary Weed was a daughter of Daniel Weed, of English origin.
Thomas and Mary Burns had five sons and four daughters; of these chil-
dren our subject is the youngest. He was reared in the town of Wash-
ington and finished his preparatory education in the Normal School of
Maine. Subsequently he attended for one year a medical college at De-
troit, Mich. fIn November, 1876, he graduated from the Dartmouth Medi-
cat College, New Hampshire, and in the same year began the practice of
his chosen profession, in his native town. He came to Winneconne in 1883,
and since has continued here, estahlishing a large practice. July 30, 1884,
he wedded Lizzie Krohn. At the age of twenty-one he became a Master
Mason in Union lodge, No. 31, at Union, Me. In politics he is a republican.
Though not a mernoer of any church hehas always been friendly to all
religious denominations.
W. G. CALKINS was born in Steuben county, N. Y., August 20,1823,
and is the filth of seven children of Ripley and Hannah (Barrows) Calkins.
The parents were natives of Connecticut, and of English and Scotch de-
scent. Their marriage occurred in Saratoga county, N. Y., where they
died. Previously, the father had wedded for his first wife a lady whose
maiden name was Kellogg, who died leaving one child. Our subject's early
life was passed on a farm. In 1847 he made Winnebago county a visit, and
in June of the following year he located on section 11 of Winneconne
township, and here he has since lived, being actively engaged in agricul-
ture, in which he has achieved more than ordinary success. In June, 1848,
Mr. Calkins a-as married to Salina Lean, daughter of William Lean, who
immigrated from England to America in 1848. Salina was born in Corn-
wall, England, January 4, 1831. Her marriage with Mr. Calkins resulted
in the birth of eight children, of whom two are deceased. Mr. Calkins is
well known by his fellow citizens and is universally respected. He is a
self-made man, and a republican in politics.
JAMES CHAMPION, a prosperous farmrer, awas horn in County Cornwall
England, January 3, 1833, and is a son of Samuel and Martha (Tummun)
Champion. The parents were both English bors, and with their families
emigrated to America in 1842, and located at Milwaukee. In March of
1840 the father came to Winnebago county, and made a settlement on sec-
tion 10, of Winneconne township, and in the fall returned to Milwaukee to
bring his family to the county. He was taken sick and within a few days
after hs return to Milwaukee his death occurred. The widowed mother
and her children, eight in number, came to the settlement the father had
selected and here the mother continued to live till the fall of 1887, when
her death occurred. James is the oldest of the eight children, and began
his
life work on a farm and has so continued. As a farmer he has achieved
abundant success. ln 1877, Mr. Champion wedded Juannie Murphree, and
they have three children. April 5, 1885, the mother's death occurred. Mr.
Champion has never sought public life. In politics he is a firm republican.
E. CHENEY was born in Orange, Franklin county, Mass., January 2,
1820, and is a son of Peter and Abigail (Goodell) Cheney. Both parents
were born in Massachusetts, and were married in that state. Their mar-
riage gave them ten children who reached man- and womanhood. The
lives of thie parents were spent in their native state. The subject of this
sketch is thee fifth child, and was raised on a farm, and educated in the
country schools. He remained with his parents till he reached the age of
eighteen years. For nearly thirteen years thereafter he was engaged in
working in woolen mills, either in New York or Massachusetts. In May,
1848, he was married to Fatima Barton, born at Orange, Mass, November
30, 1821, daughter of John M. and Orpha (Town) Barton, both of Massa-
chuesetts nativity. The father died in Massachusetts, and in 1871 the
mother came with Mr. and Mrs. Cheney to this county, living with them
till she was called away in death in her ninety-sixth year. Mr. and Mrs.
Cheney, have had two children: Emma J. and Althea M., both teachers by
profession. Since, 1851 Mr. Cheney has made his home in this county. 
He has followed farming for an occupation, and has been successful, becoming
one of  the representative farmers and good citizens of the county. In politics
he has been successively a republican and prohibitionist. In early life Mr.
and Mrs. Cheney were of the Universalist belief; but of late years 
they have adhered to spiritualism.
GEORGE CROSS, a farmer of Winneconne town, was born in County 
York, England,  October 4, 1821, son of Wilson and Mary Cross, who 
emigrated to America in 1831. George began life on the farm, and farming
has been his occupation. In early life he assisted in making the govern-
ment survey of several portions  of Wisconsin, in which state he has re-
sided since 1835. His service  in surveying was given with ex governors
Doty and Dodge, and others. He came to this county in 1844, and in 1846 permanently
located in the county.  He owns 165 acres of fertile  land in the county,
and also valuable  real estate in other  portions  of  the state, 
though he began in life with no capital.  He  has  always  been an ardent
republican.    As to religious persuasion he is an Episcopalian.
JAMES CROSS, a leading farmer, was born in Waukesha county, Wis., 
December 24, 1843, and is a son of William and Ann (Coats) Cross. Both 
parents were born in County York, England, and in the early thirties 
emigrated with their parents to America. They married in this state, and
in 
about 1847, located in this county, where they lived until their deaths.
James has always been a farmer, to which occupation he was raised. In 
1864, he was married to Elizabeth Champion, who gave birth to two 
children: Nora, and one deceased, and then the mother was called in death.
In 1874, Mr. Cross married for a second wife, Maggie Minte, who is the mother
of the following children: Alta E., Arthur, Mary, Robert and Ava. Mr. Cross
is an enterprising man, and an industrious and practical farmer.