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    FRANKLIN B. PARKER merits consideration in this work by reason of his status as one of the representative farmers and well esteemed citizens of the town of Forest. He was born in Vernon county, Wis., June 8, 1868, and is a son of Archibald and Jane (Getty) Parker, the former of whom was born in Illinois and the latter in Ohio. Archibald Parker is a son of Joseph and Vermilia Parker, the former of whom was born in Kentucky, whence he removed to Illinois when a young man, there remaining until 1854, when he came to Wisconsin and numbered himself among the pioneers of Vernon county, where he eventually became the owner of a considerable amount of land, reclaiming a farm and passing the remainder of his life in that county, as did also his wife. He was a Democrat in politics, was a wagonmaker by trade and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The maternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were likewise early settlers of Vernon county, where they died. Archibald Parker was reared to manhood in Illinois; where he was accorded the advantages of the common schools and where he continued to reside until about 1854, when he came to Vernon county, Wis., where he developed a valuable farm and where he still maintains his home, being now retired from active labors and having his residence in the village of Lafarge. His wife also is living, as are four of their six children. Five generations of the Parker family have been resident of Vernon county, since the great-grandfather of the subject of this review there passed the declining years of his life. Franklin B. Parker was reared on the homestead farm in his native county and his education was secured in the public schools. He continued to reside in Vernon county until 1899, when he came to the town of Forest, Richland county, where he now has a well improved farm of 120 acres, devoted to diversified agriculture and the raising of excellent grades of live stock. He is a progressive and public-spirited citizen but has never sought or held office, though he accords a loyal support to the cause of the Democratic party. Mar. 24, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Parker to Miss Dice Dickson, who was born in Richland county, June 29, 1871, a daughter of Hiram and Hannah (Potter) Dickson, both native of Ohio. They were pioneers of Vernon county, Wis., having settled in Viroqua, whence they came to Richland county in an early day, the father here passing the remainder of his life. His death occurred Apr. 2, 1901, and his widow still resides in this county. Of the ten children nine are living. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have six children, whose names with respective dates of birth, are as follows: Sadie May, Jan. 3, 1895; Lester, Jan. 26, 1897; James J., May 31, 1899; Buford P., July 25, 1900; Alva Joseph, Sept. 10, 1903; Gladys Ruth, Sept. 16, 1905.
    MILTON PATTEN, of Viola, is a successful contractor and builder and is also the owner of a well improved farm in Clark county, this state. He was born in Clinton county, Ind., May 15, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Mehitable (Stout) Patten, both native of Indiana, the former having been born in Henry county, May 20, 1818, and the latter in Fayette county, in August, 1820. The paternal grandfather was William Patten, who passes the greater portion of his life in Pennsylvania and who was a resident of Lafayette, Ind., at the time of his death, which occurred in 1849. The mother of the subject of this review was a daughter of Charles and Lydia Stout, both of whom were born in South Carolina whence they removed to Indiana, locating near the city of Indianapolis and both continuing to reside in the Hoosier State until their death. Thomas Patten was a farmer by vocation, was originally a Whig in politics and later a Republican, and both he and his wife were devout members of the German Baptist church, in which he was an ordained minister. Of their nine children three are living. In 1864 Thomas Patten came with his family to Richland county, Wis., settling in the town of Forest, where he passed the remainder of his long and signally useful life, his death occurring May 14, 1896, and his widow passing away in 1901. He developed a good farm and was one of the honored and influential citizens of his town. Milton Patten, the immediate subject of this review, was reared on a farm and secured a common-school education, having been fourteen years of age at the time of his parents' removal from Indiana to Wisconsin. He assisted in the work of the home farm and as a youth learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed for many years, having done a large amount of contracting and building in this section of the state. He is a Republican in his political proclivities and has served as a member of the school board. He and his wife are zealous members of the German Baptist church. In 1873 Mr. Patten was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Parker, who was born in Illinois, Aug. 10, 1849, being a daughter of Joseph O. and Parmelia (Clark) Parker, both native of Kentucky. They came to Vernon county, Wis., in 1856, and settled on Bear creek. They passed the remainder of their lives in that county, where Mr. Parker died in 1891, his wife having passed away in 1889. Mr. Parker was a wagon-maker and cabinet maker, and in the early days in Vernon county he made many of the primitive coffins demanded in that section. Mr. and Mrs. Patten became the parents of eight children, of whom five daughters and one son are living.
    HENRY F. PAULS is one of the alert and enterprising members of the farming community in Orion township and has forges his way to success and independence through his individual efforts, being now the owner of one of the fine farms of his township. He was born in Richland township, this county, Feb. 13, 1873, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Rath) Pauls, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, their marriage having been solemnized after they had become residents of Wisconsin. The father immigrated to the United States when a young man and upon coming to Richland county he secured 120 acres of wild land, in Richland township, later adding forth acres to the farm and continuing to reside on his homestead until his death, which occurred in 1886. His widow remains on the farm, which is operated by her son-in-law. The subject of this sketch was afforded the advantages of the public schools and from his boyhood days until he had attained maturity he assisted in the work of the home farm, there remaining until he was twenty-five years of age, when he married and established his home on a farm which he rented. About one year later he purchased his present farm, which comprises 263 acres, and here he has put forth his best efforts and gained recognition as one of the most progressive and successful farmers of his township. He has made many improvements on the place, including the erection of one of the finest barns in this section of the county. He is a supporter of the cause of the Republican party but takes no active part in political affairs. Feb. 22, 1898, Mr. Pauls was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Emshoff, who was born in this township, June 16, 1875, being a daughter of Henry and Mary (Handel) Emshoff, honored pioneers of Orion, where the mother still resides, the father having died about a week after the marriage of Mrs. Pauls. Mr. and Mrs. Pauls have three children, named: Glen Albert, Elmer Leslie, and Gladys Freda.
    RICHARD H. PAULS, a prosperous young farmer of the town of Orion, was born in the town of Richland on July 2, 1875, and he is the son of James Pauls, an old resident of the county. Our subject was reared in the town of his birth and received his education in the excellent public schools afforded in the vicinity. Upon reaching man's estate he began his independent career by selecting the basic industry of agriculture as his life's occupation, and judging from the success that has attended his labors in his chosen field of endeavor he has no cause to regret his early decision. He first located on a farm in the town of Ithaca, but later removed to within eight miles of Muscoda, in 1901, and after remaining at the latter place one year he removed to the town of Orion, where he resided two years. In 1904 he purchased the place upon which he now resides, comprising 120 acres of choice land, and there he carries on the extensive farming and dairy business. In 1905 he had a herd of thirteen cows, and as an evidence of the profit to be obtained in that line they yielded him a monthly income of eighty-three dollars. Mr. Pauls was married on Apr. 9, 1899, to Miss Annie C. Keifer, a daughter of Charles Keifer, a highly respected citizen of the town of Orion, and to this union there have been born two children-Lorena and Lizzie. Politically, the subject of this review has independent view, and he supports the men and measures that meet his approval, regardless of the lash of a party whip or the fetish of a party name.
    CHARLES WESLEY PECKHAM, one of the venerable pioneer citizens of Richland county and long identified with the agricultural industry in the town of Bloom, is now living retired in Bloom City, where he has an attractive home and is enjoying that dignified repose which is the just reward for a life of useful and prolonged activity. He served two years as county treasurer and is held in unqualified regard in the county which has so long been his home and from which he went forth as a loyal soldier of the Union in the Civil War, sacrificing an arm in the service of his country. Mr. Peckham was born in Carroll county, O., Dec. 31, 1827, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Ellis) Peckham, the former of whom was born in Rhode Island, July 26, 1794, and the latter of whom was born in Pennsylvania, Mar. 15, 1793. Both were resident of Richland county at the time of death, having been numbered among the sterling pioneers of this section of the Badger State. Charles Peckham was a son of Charles and Rhoda Peckham, the former born July 26, 1769, as was also the latter. Charles Peckham (1st) removed to Ohio in the pioneer days and settled in Jefferson county, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives and where their son Charles, father of the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood on the home farm. Charles and Mary (Ellis) Peckham became the parents of nine children: Rhoda, who was born June 21, 1817, is deceased, as are also Joseph, William B., Alexander and Benjamin, whose respective dates of birth are -Apr. 2, 1819; May 20, 1821; July 7, 1823; and July 17, 1825; the subject of this review was the next in order of birth; Peter, who was born Apr. 8, 1830; and Mary and Keziah, the former having been born June 16, 1832, and the latter Nov. 7, 1835, are also deceased. After their marriage Charles and Mary Peckham lived in Carroll county, O., until 1839, when they removed to Allen county, Ind., where he reclaimed a farm of 100 acres from the wild state. In 1855 he sold the property and came to Richland county, Wis., settling in Bloom township, where he secured eighty acres of government land, in section 26, the subject of this sketch buying an equal amount, in the same township. No roads had been constructed and the entire section was heavily timbered. The work of reclamation was at once instituted and the family dwelling was a log house of the type common to the pioneer epoch. On this homestead the parents passed the remainder of their lives, both having been members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Charles W. Peckham, whose name introduces this article, had limited educational advantages in his youth, attending the common schools in Ohio as a boy and having been twelve years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Indiana, where he was reared to maturity. Sept. 17, 1850, he was there married to Miss Caroline Davis, who was born in Wayne county, O., Apr. 16, 1834, being a daughter of Samuel and Eunice (Coe) Davis, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 27, 1799, and the latter of whom was born in the same state, Sept. 6, 1802. About 1837 they removed to Wayne county, O., where Mr. Davis reclaimed a farm. About ten years later he removed with his family to Allen county, Ind., where he repeated his pioneer experience as a farmer, and in 1855 he came to Richland county, Wis., thus having been a pioneer of three different states. He here bought 200 acres of heavily timbered land, in the town of Ithaca, and the work of reclaiming the same was done by his sons. He here continued to resided until his death, his first wife having died in Indiana, where he later married Jane Orr, who died on the homestead in Richland county. Ten children were born of the first marriage and five of the second. Mr. Peckham and his wife came to Richland county in 1855, with the other members of the respective families, and he secured eighty acres of land in Bloom township, later adding another tract, of forty acres. He put up a log shanty on the place and began the work of reclamation. When the family moved into the house it had neither doors nor windows, and the first night the little cabin was half filled with snow. He developed a valuable farm, making excellent improvements on the same and so directing his efforts as to attain a distinctive success. He remained on the old homestead until 1897, when he sold the property and removed to Bloom City, where he erected an attractive residence, in which he has since lived retired. In August, 1862, Mr. Peckham enlisted as a private in Company B. Twenty-fifth Regiment of Wisconsin volunteer infantry, at La Crosse. His command was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps, and its first service was in fighting the Indians who were committing depredations in the northwest. Dec. 25, 1862, the regiment reported to Madison, Wis., thence went to Columbus, Ky., from which point it proceeded to Vicksburg, being in the rear and being present at the capitulation of the beleaguered city. Thereafter he was active service with his command in Tennessee and Georgia, taking part in numerous skirmishes and battles, including those of Resaca and Dallas, at which latter point he was wounded, being shot with a rifle ball while eating his breakfast. The ball entered the right shoulder and lodged in the arm, necessitating an amputation of the member. He remained in the field hospital until July 4, 1864, and then came home on a furlough, reporting to the headquarters in Madison, where he received his honorable discharge Sept. 27, 1864. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a stanch Republican and he served two years as county treasurer, also having been a member of the town board of Bloom and having held minor offices in the township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of four children, of whom only one is living; Priscilla, born July 8, 1853, is deceased, as is also Almira, who was born June 5, 1856; Luther E. resides at Soldiers' Grove, Crawford county; and Elgin R. was born Aug. 26, 1870, and died Mar. 15, 1888. Rev. Luther E Peckham is a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church and is pastor of the church at Soldiers' Grove. He has been thrice married,-first to Nellie DeVoe, second to Margaret A. Wallace, and third to Nellie Johnson. His first wife is survived by two children,-Vera May and Charles Luther. The second wife is survived by four children,-Cora S., William W., Leo E., and Russell. No children have been born of the third marriage.
    W. R. PECKHAM is another of the prominent farmer citizens of Richland county who is spending the later years of his life in comparative retirement, with residence in the beautiful little city of Richland Center, which place has also been the scene of an honorable official career, of which he may justly feel proud. Mr. Peckham was born in Hammondsville, a post-village in Saline township, Jefferson county, O., on Apr. 25, 1841, and he is the son of William and Matilda (Maple) Peckham, the former of whom was a native of Rhode Island and the latter of Ohio. The family remained in Ohio until 1855, when the subject of this review moved to Richland county, Wis., with his parents. They entered 160 acres of land on section 34, town of Bloom, where the father followed farming the remainder of his active career. William Peckham, the father, died in 1876, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother two years later, aged seventy-two. W. R. Peckham is one of a family of six children who were born to the above mentioned parents, and their names and other facts concerning them are given as follows: Levi died of small-pox at the time of the Civil War while serving as a soldier in the Union army; Elias served in Company H of the Forty-sixth Wisconsin, and died in 1903 at Richland Center; Benjamin served in the same company and regiment and spent the remainder of his life in the town of Rockbridge, where he died in 1903; Mary was married to William Parsons, of the town of Rockbridge, and is now deceased; W. R. is the immediate subject of this review, who served in Company B, Twenty-fifth Regiment, during the Civil War and now resided in the town of Ithaca. W. R. Peckham was educated in the public schools and remained at home on the farm until the outbreak of the Civil War. On Aug. 19, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company B of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, the place of his enlistment being La Crosse. The regiment was first ordered to report to General Pope, at St. Paul, to aid in suppressing the Indian difficulties in the sate of Minnesota, and it remained there until the following December, when it was sent to Madison, Wis., and encamped at that place until the following May, when it left on transports to take part in the celebrated Vicksburg campaign, forming the extreme right of the line of investment of the beleagured city. In May, 1864, it was transferred to the operations in the east and proceeded to join the army of the General Sherman in his ever to be remembered Atlanta campaign. Mr. Peckham participated in all the engagements around Atlanta, and was wounded on July 22, 1864, at Decatur, Ga., but did not leave his command. He moved with the regiment to Savannah, and there embarked on a steamer for Beaufort, S. C. From thence the regiment proceeded through the Carolina, touching Columbia and Raleigh, and finally reaching Goldsboro, N. C., near which place Johnston surrendered his army. Then joining in the homeward march, the regiment reached Richmond on May 13, 1865, and it crossed the Potomac at Washington on the 24th of the same month, where it took part in the grand review, and Mr. Peckham was mustered out of the service on June 7, 1865. He immediately returned to Richland county and engaged in farming in the town of Bloom, where he continued to reside until 1884, when he was elected county treasurer and removed to Richland Center, which place he has ever since been his home. He was twice re-elected to the position named and served three terms in that capacity, having previously served two terms as assessor of the town of Bloom. Since retiring from his office he has engaged to some extent in farming, devoting considerable attention to the feeding of hogs, and he has also given a great deal of time to the cultivation of strawberries. Mr. Peckham was married on Oct. 26, 1865, to Miss Catherine Allbaugh, who was born in Carroll county, O., Apr. 20, 1847, where she resided until 1861, when she came to Richland county with her parents, who located in the town of Bloom. Her parents were Jacob and Mahala (Sine) Allbaugh, both natives of Ohio and of German ancestry, being the children of early pioneers of Carroll county, O.. They settled in the town of Bloom in 1861, and there followed farming the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1886, at the age of seventy-two years, and the mother in 1888, at the age of seventy. Mr. and Mrs. Peckham are the parents of seven children, further facts concerning whom are given as follows: John A. Logan is deceased; James Wesley is deceased; an infant unnamed; Milo E. is a barber and resides in Richland Center; L. M. is a resident of Richland Center; Bertha resides at home with her parents, and O. B. is a resident of Richland Center. Mr. Peckham has the respect and confidence of his fellowmen and may be classed among the best citizens of Richland county. He has always adhered to the principles of the Republican party and is a prominent member of that organization, having filled, aside from the offices heretofore mentioned, the positions of town chairman three years and that of representative of the county board two years. Fraternally he is a member of W. H. Bennett post, G. A. R., at the Richland Center, and he and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church.    
SAMUEL M. PEEBLES, of Lone Rock, was born in Marathon, Cortland county, N. Y., on July 6, 1863, and he is a son of J. O. and Diana (Campbell) Peebles. The parents are of old New England stock, the Peebles tracing their ancestry back to colonial days, and the Campbells are of Scotch descent. The subject of this review was reared and educated in his native county and remained on the home farm until he reached the age of eighteen years, when, in 1881, he came to Wisconsin. He engaged in carpenter work at Lone Rock and has followed that trade considerably since, doing a great deal of contract work. He built the residences of Dr. Jamieson and D. Brainard at Lone Rock, and also was employed on the public school building at that place. He was engaged in the drug business in that thriving village seven years, and he has also been engaged to some extent in the business of painting and paper hanging. In addition to his other employments he has done considerable work of an expert nature in the machine business. He organized the Richland County Mutual Fire Insurance company, in 1904, and has been the secretary of the same since its organization, D. O. Shannon being the president. The parents of Mr. Peebles came to Wisconsin about 1885, and the mother has since died in Richland county, while the father, who still survives, is an invalid. Our subject is the youngest of four brothers, living, the names and places of residence of the others being as follows: J. E. Lone Rock; E. C., Nora Springs, Ia.; L. H., Newport News, Va. Mr. Peebles was married on June 16, 1886, to Miss Ada E. Beardsley, a daughter of J. F. Beardsly, who is given a more extended mention on another page of this volume, and to this union there has been born one child-Clara O. Our subject is a member of the F. & A. M. at Lone Rock, the I. O. O. F. at Lone Rock, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Beavers. Politically he has always given his allegiance to the men and measures of the Republican party, and in an official capacity has served as village clerk, member of the town board, assessor, marshall, constable, and as deputy sheriff for the county. He has served as a member of the village fire company, and in that organization has been chief foreman and captain.
    FRANCIS PELLETT is a member of one of the honored pioneer families of Richland county and is one of the successful farmers and dairymen of Sylvan township. He has held various offices of public trust and is held in unqualified confidence and esteem in the community which has so long been his home. He was born in Parke county, Ind., Nov. 19, 1847, and is a son of Lorenzo D. and Anna (Randall) Pellett, both native of Columbiana county, O., where the former was born Jan. 12, 1818, and the latter Aug. 23, 1816. The paternal grandfather was born in Ireland and after his immigration to America he was married, he and his wife becoming pioneer settlers of Ohio, where they continued to reside until their death. In 1842 Lorenzo D. Pellett removed from the old Buckeye State to Indiana, locating in Parke county, where he remained until 1850, when he removed with his family to Marshall county, that state, where he followed agricultural pursuits until the autumn of 1865, when he disposed of his interests there and came with his family to Wisconsin, settling in Forest township, Richland county, where he bought 160 acres of land, about fifty acres of which had been cleared. He reclaimed the remainder of the land and made good improvements on the property, there continuing to make his home until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-four years, his wife having passed away at the age of seventy-nine years. He was one of the influential and honored citizens of his township, where he served as assessor and justice of the peace. His political support was given to the Republican party, witch which he identified himself at the time of its organization, and he held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Of the nine children in the family all are now deceased except four, namely: Esther, who is the wife of David Mullendore, of Forest township; Francis, who is the immediate subject of this sketch; William, who is a successful farmer of Sylvan township; and John, who is engaged in the same vocation in Forest township. Francis Pellett was reared and educated in Indiana and has been consecutively identified with agricultural pursuits from his boyhood to the present time. He was eighteen years of age at the time of accompanying his parents on their removal to Wisconsin, and he rendered efficient aid in the reclaiming and cultivation of the farm, remaining at the parental home until he was twenty-eight years of age, at which time he purchased his present homestead of 160 acres, in Sylvan township, where he has since resided. He reclaimed the land from its wild state and has made all improvements on the same. He early made a clearing for an orchard and his first dwelling was a plank shanty of primitive type. He continued the work of reclamation as rapidly as possible and the fine appearance of his place to-day signifies how ably he has worked out the problem that confronted him. He has a good modern residence and other excellent building and all appurtenances of the farm are kept in the best order. In a generic way Mr. Pellett is aligned as a supporter of the principles and polices of the Republican party, but in local affairs of a public nature he does not hold to partisan lines. He has twice served as a member of the township board, was justice of the peace one term and also served as assessor one term. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Mrs. Pellett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the stockholders in the creamery at Ashridge and maintains on his farm a good herd of dairy cattle, which supply much cream to the creamery mentioned. He also raises sheep and Poland-China swine in connection with his general agricultural operations. Nov. 4, 1875, Mr. Pellett was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Merry, who was born in Ohio, Mar. 14, 1858, being a daughter of Elijah and Catherine (Hall) Merry, both of whom were likewise native of the Buckeye State, whence they came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1864, settling in Bloom township, Richland county, where the father died in 1896. His widow still resided in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Pellett became the parents of ten children, all of whom are still living except one, who died in infancy. A brief record concerning the others is as follows: Alta, who was born Dec. 29, 1876, is the wife of Eugene Reed; Ada, who was born Sept. 12, 1878, is the wife of Outa Sandmire; Lorenzo D., who was born Nov. 18, 1880, remains at home and is associated in the management of the farm; Anna Grace, who was born May 12, 1883, is the wife of William Shepard; Elijah, who was born Nov. 2, 1885, remains at the parental home, as do also the four younger children,-Lydia Rosella, born Nov. 18, 1890; Catherine, born July 10, 1893; Boyd, born July 27, 1896; and Leon, born in October, 1898.
    JOHN PETERS, of Boaz, as also his parents, Robert and Kaziah (Blichenstaff) Peters, were born in Tippecanoe county, Ind. The parents were married in that state, and in 1868 came to Richland county, where they reared their family of nine children, five of whom are living at the present time. Mrs. Peters died on this homestead in 1876, and there her husband still lives. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Peters is a Republican in his politics; His father, John Peters, was a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the early settlers of Tippecanoe county, Ind. The subject of this sketch was born July 21, 1864, was four years old at the time of the removal of his parents from Indiana to Wisconsin, and passed his school days in the district schools of Eagle township. On reaching manhood he spent two years working for the railroad, but abandoned that occupation for the more congenial one of farming. He owns a farm of eighty acres, which he devotees to stock raising, keeping the short-horn variety. He married Miss Johanna Conkle, a native of Iowa, Mar. 13, 1888. Mrs. Peter's father, John J. Conkle, was born in Ohio and her mother, Jane (Mackey) Conkle, in Indiana. They came to Richland county among the earliest settlers and now reside at Boaz. Mr. John Peters is a Republican and both he and his wife are attendants of the United Brethren church; they have two children, Walter and Neva. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peters are members of the Mystic Workers of the World.
    HARRY E. PIER, D. D. S., has been practicing his profession in Richland Center less than two years, but already he has established a reputation for excellent workmanship and close attention to business that is bringing him rapidly to the front in the professional circles. Dr. Pier was born at Wauzeka, Crawford county, Wis., on Dec. 21, 1877, and he is the son of J. F. and Clara Belle (Liscum) Pier, the former of whom is a native of Spring Valley, Greene county, O. J. F. Pier located in Crawford county, Wis., about 1870, and now conducts a general merchandise establishment at Eastman. He and his wife are the parents of two children, of whom the subject of this review is the eldest, and the other is Ora F., a resident of Eastman, in Crawford county. Harry E. Pier was reared in his native county of Crawford, and received his primary education in her public schools, after which he entered the Richland Center high school and was graduated there with the class of 1896. He there took a course in the dental department of the Northwestern University at Chicago and was graduated with the class on 1899. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession, selecting Prairie du Chien as the base of his operations, and he remained there two and one-half years, after which he went to Milwaukee and accepted a position as office manager for W. C. Young. In April, 1905, Dr. Pier came to Richland Center and established an office for the practice of his profession, and he has resided here since. He makes a specialty of crown bridge work, and has won enviable renown for excellence in every branch of the dental practice. He was married on Sept. 10, 1900, to Miss Ada Josephene Ludwig, daughter of D. H. M. Ludwig, M. D., of Chicago, but who formerly was resident of Richland county. The subject of this review is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having membership in Lodge No. 106, at Prairie du Chien, and he also is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at the same place. He has membership with the Beavers at Richland Center.
    CHARLES L. F. PIERSTORFF, a prominent farmer and dairyman of the town of Buena Vista, was born in the city of Milwaukee, July 10, 1852, and he is the son of Charles and Louisa (Frohm) Pierstorff, both of whom were born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a grand duchy of German Empire. The parents migrated to America and settled in Milwaukee in 1852, and there the father worked at the blacksmith trade one year, after which he moved his family to the town of Middleton, in Dane county, where he purchased a farm and followed agricultural pursuits the remainder of his active career. In 1898 he retired from active participation in the affairs of life, and he is now living retired in the village of Verona, at the advanced age of eighty years, his birth date having been May 2, 1826. His wife died on Sept. 5, 1892, at the age of sixty-nine. The subject of this review is the eldest of a family of nine children who were born to these honored parents, the names and other facts concerning the brothers and sisters being given as follows: Mary married John Albrecht, of Middleton, and is deceased; Henry resides in the village of Verona, Dane county; Henrietta marred William Fleming and resided in the city of Madison; Rosetta married Henry Prien and resides in the town of Middleton, Dane county; Louisa is deceased; Augusta married Matthew Marty and resides in the township of Verona, Dane county; Caroline married Henry Vath and resides in the town of Middleton, Dane county, and William resides on the old home place in the same town. Charles L. F. Pierstorff was one year old when his parents removed from Milwaukee to Dane county, and there was reared and educated. He remained at the parental home until he had reached the age of twenty-four years and then began him independent career as a farmer, which has been his chief occupation since. His first venture for himself was in the town of Windsor, Dane county, but he later removed to the town of Verona, where he resided twelve years, and then for the succeeding seven years his residence was in the town of Middleton. In 1898 he removed to Richland county and purchased the farm upon which he now resides in the town of Buena Vista. This farm, which he purchased of J. W. Martin, and which contains 250 acres, is devoted to the general agricultural pursuits, with the addition of the dairying industry, which is so profitable in that section of Wisconsin. Our subject was married on Feb. 20, 1876, to Miss Dorothy Wesenberg, daughter of William and Frances (Rhodes) Wesenberg, early settlers of the town of Middleton, Dane county, where the mother now resides with a daughter, the father being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pierstorff are the parents of nine children, as follows: William is a farmer in the town of Buena Vista; Henrietta married Walter Shirk and resides in the town of Buena Vista; Matie married Jesse Gordon and resides in the town of Middleton, Dane county; Carried married George Burnham and resides in the town of Buena Vista, and Charles H., Dorothy, Irvin, and Leslie, reside at home with their parents. Politically our subject allies himself with the Prohibition party and is an active worker in its ranks, having been at different times the candidate of that organization for the positions of sheriff and county treasurer. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Gotham, having been a communicant of that religious organization for thirty years, and he was officiated as class leader and Sunday-school superintendent twelve years.
    JOHN W. PiIZER is a native of Richland county and a member of one of its pioneer families, his father having been one of the founders of Bloom City and a man of marked influence in the community, where he took up his residence more than half a century ago. The subject of this sketch was born in Bloom City, Oct. 19, 1855, and is a son of William and Susanna (Bolinger) Pizer, the former of whom was born in Liverpool, England, and the latter near Pittsburg, Penn. William Pizer passed the first nine years of his life in his native land and then came with his parents, Isaac and Nancy Pizer, to America. The family located in Carroll county, O., whence they later removed to Huntington county, Ind., where the father passed the remainder of his life. In 1855 his widow came with her family to Richland county, making the trip with team and wagon. They forded Pine river, as well as other streams on the route, and had to cut their way through the woods for a considerable distance, no roads having as yet been constructed. They located on the site of Bloom City, the entire section at that time being heavily timbered. William Pizer and his brother Isaac laid out the town, in the winter of 1855-6, having been its first settlers. William secured an entire section of land and Isaac a half section. The former remained in Bloom City for some time and then removed to his farm, one-half mile west of the little forest hamlet which he had assisted in founding. He reclaimed much of his land to cultivation and became one of the representative farmers of the town. He was the first postmaster at Bloom City, where the mail was received only once a week. He also served as assessor and held other town offices, wielding much influence in the community and commanding the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He did much of the early surveying in Bloom township and did much to further the march of development and civic progress. He identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its organization and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. In 1890 they removed to the state of Oregon, locating near the city of Portland, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Concerning their children the following data are given: Nancy, who became the wife of Michael Henderson, is now deceased; John W., subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Sarah is the wife of Eugene Halsey, of Jasper county, Mo.; Dilley is the wife of Michael Henderson and they reside near Portland, Ore.; Emanuel is a resident of the same locality in Oregon, as are also Irvin, Isaac and Loren; and Martha died in childhood. John W. Pizer was reared on the home farm and attended the pioneer schools, his advantages being naturally limited in the matter of educational facilities. He remained at the parental home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-four years, and continued to work the home farm for three yeas thereafter. He then went with his father-in-law to Owen county, Ind., where he remained one year, at the expiration of which he returned to Richland county, renting land for a time and then buying 120 acres, in section 10, town of Bloom. The tract was unimproved and was covered with heavy timber. He reclaimed sixty acres to cultivation and made good improvements on the place, there continuing to reside until April, 1906, when he sold the property and bought his present fine farm, of 240 acres, in the same township,-known as the L. P. Kline farm. About 120 acres are available for cultivation, and he is giving his attention to diversified agriculture and to the raising of live stock, also making somewhat of a specialty of dairying. He has owned and operated a threshing machine for the past fourteen years and for four years operated a sawmill. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church. In 1876 Mr. Pizer was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Huffman, who was born in Licking county, O., being a daughter of William and Prudence (Denman) Huffman, who came to Richland county, about 1873, locating in the town of Bloom. Mrs. Huffman died in April, 1894, and her husband now resides in the town of Rockbridge, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Pizer became the parents of eight children, of whom three died in childhood: Della is the wife of William Smith, of Clark county; Ida is the wife of Jasper Spry, of the same county; Emma is the wife of Omer Deets, of Boom City; and Milo and Fredrick remain at the parental home.
    JOHN POPP is one of the sterling pioneers of Richland county, where he made his home for more than half a century, and he is one of the representative farmers of Sylvan township. Mr. Popp was born in Germany, July 23, 1832, and is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Letz) Popp, who came to America after he himself had established a home in Richland county, and both passed the closing years of their lives in Orion township. In Germany the father had been a teamster and after locating in Richland county he gave his attention to gardening. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in the fatherland, whence he immigrated to America in 1852, having been twenty years of age at the time. He had learned the tailor's trade in his native land and for a time he followed the same in the state of New York, whence he came to Richland county in 1854. Here also he followed the work of his trade until 1861, when he bought eighty acres of wild land, in Sylvan township, a tract heavily timbered, with deer, bears and other wild animals still plentiful in the locality. He instituted the reclamation of his land, erected a log house of the type common to the pioneer days and bent his energies to the work of developing his farm. After the Civil War he bought an additional tract of 160 acres and later added to his possessions until he brought his landed estate up to its present proportions,-250 acres. He has reclaimed his land from the wild state and now has one of the valuable places of the county. Three houses and other substantial buildings are found on his farm, and his son, Frank, owns and operates a sawmill. Mr. Popp showed his loyalty to the land of his adoption by going forth in defense of the Union in the Civil War. Feb. 25, 1864, he enlisted in Company H. Thirty-sixth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, in which he was promoted to color guard. He proceeded to the front with his command and was a participant in a number of engagements, finally being captured by the enemy and having been held as a prisoner for seven months; he was first taken to Libby prison, later was confined in the Belle Isle prison and finally he was taken to Salisbury, N. C., where he eventually received a parole. He received his honorable discharge May 19, 1865, and then resumed his farming operation, in which he has since continued with distinctive success. In politics he is a stanch Republican and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he is a communicant. Dec. 24, 1865, Mr. Popp was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Puhardt, who was born in Indiana, in April, 1836, being a daughter of Samuel and Nancy Puhardt, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio. They came to Richland county in 1853, settling in Orion township, where they passed the residue of their lives. Mrs. Popp died Feb. 2, 1902, being survived by eleven children, all of whom reside in Wisconsin except one daughter, whose home is in the state of Washington. In April, 1904, Mr. Popp married Miss Lydia Puhardt, a sister of his first wife.
    LUTHER W. POST has been a life-long resident of Richland county, and this is made the more remarkable by the fact that the farm upon which he resides and the house that shelters his family mark the surroundings that greeted his vision when he first beheld the light of day. He was born upon the spot where he now resides, on section 4 of the town of Buena Vista, on Mar. 26, 1852, and he is the son of Joseph H. and Mary A. (DeVoe) Post. The father was a native of Madison, Conn., where he was born on Sept. 13, 1821, the Post family being of English descent. The father removed from Connecticut to Utica, N. Y., in early life, and remained there for a time engaged in running a gin-mill, coming from Utica to Milwaukee in 1849. He made the entire journey from his Eastern home to the Badger State metropolis with a team, and after remaining in Milwaukee a short time he drove across the state and sought a location in Richland county, finally settling on the place where the subject of this review now resides, which at present is one of the fine farms of the county, comprising 220 acres. The father was very active during the Civil War, recruiting soldiers and contributing in every way within his power to the success of the Union cause. He served in various local offices, being a member of and chairman of the town board, and he also officiated as justice of the peace. He continued to reside on the farm mentioned, engaged in agricultural pursuits, until the time of his death, in 1867, his wife having passed away on Dec. 3, 1865. They were the parents of eight children, of whom it is fitting that their names and other facts concerning them should be given herein: Edwin is deceased: Luther W. is he to whom this review is more particularly dedicated: Walter is resident of Camp Douglas; Ella married William Clements and died in Eau Claire county; George Alfred is a resident of Spring Green; Emma married Clyde Welton and resides in the town of Orion; Frank is deceased; and James resides in Richland Center. Luther W. Post was reared and educated in the public schools, and after the death of his parents assumed charge of the homestead and cared for the younger members of the family. He has made farming his chief occupation in life and is largely engaged in the breeding of Holstein stock. In 1905 he established the Birchwood Family Creamery on his farm and consumes therein the entire product of his fine herd of cows. Mr. Post was married on Dec. 3, 1884, to Miss Kate B. Smith, daughter of Mathias M. and Elizabeth (Thomas) Smith, the former of whom was born in Litchfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1826, and the latter in Hamilton, Madison county, N. Y., on Feb. 20, 1831. When Mathias M. Smith was nineteen years old his parents removed to Bedford, Cuyahoga county, O. In 1854 he and his young wife left the latter place and came from Cleveland to Milwaukee on the lakes, and from thence by team to Sextonville. He then remained a resident of Wisconsin until the time of his death, Dec. 3, 1905, and his widow now resides in Osseo, to which place the family removed from Ithaca in 1896. They were the parents of five children, of whom the following facts are given: Frederick A., born Sept. 25, 1853, resides is Osseo; James W., born March 30, 1851; Kate B., born June 17, 1859; Frank M., born Nov. 1, 1866; Anne E., born Dec. 28, 1870, married A. H. Davis and resides in Excelsior, Richland county. Luther W. Post and wife are the parents of three children-Harry L., Verne W., and Ada Helen. Our subject is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is a member of the town board of Buena Vista. Fraternally he has membership in the F. & A. M. and also in the kindred order of the Eastern Star.
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