History of La Crosse County, Biographies, F

La Crosse Area Genealogical Society

Biographies from "The History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin," 1881

F Surnames

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 813.

Town of Onalaska

JOHN FAAS, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Onalaska; born in Lorraine, Germany, Sept. 15, 1829; came to Wisconsin in 1853; settled at Milwaukee; then to Onalaska; worked on the river and in the woods; now owns 160 acres of land, on which he has made all the improvements. His wife was Maggie Salter; born in Germany in 1844. They were married in 1858; they have eight children - Thresa, Eliza, Rosa, John, Henry, William, Maggie and Josephine; is a Democrat and Catholic. He has a nice place and good barn.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 752.

City of La Crosse

JOHN B. FAIRBANKS, M. D., is a native of Springfield, Vt.; born April 29, 1847; son of Roswell and Brittainnia (Burnham) Fairbanks, who came to Wisconsin in 1849; lived four years at Oasis, Waushara Co., and then settled in Easton, Adams Co. The Doctor was educated at the State University at Madison, and studied medicine with Bowen & Sugman, of that city. He graduated in 1878, from the Homeopathic Medical College of St. Louis, and also in the same year from the Missouri School of Midwifery and Diseases of Women and Children; practiced a short time in Juneau Co., Wis., coming from there to La Crosse. He was married at Linden, Juneau Co., Wis., in September, 1876, to Miss Olive A. Armstrong.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 752.

City of La Crosse

ALBERT FEHLBERG, cabinet-maker; was born in Prussia in 1830; son of Ludwig Fehlberg; learned his trade in Germany, and came to America in 1854. He lived five years in Canada; then came to Buffalo, N. Y., and came from there to La Crosse in June, 1860. He was married, in 1861, to Matilda Winkler; has seven children - Herman, Matilda, Bertha, Paulina, Ida, David and Annie. Mr. Fehlberg has been in the hotel business for several years in La Crosse, having kept the Union House seven years, and the Central Hotel two years. He still owns the Central Hotel, on the corner of Third and Vine streets, but has it rented.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 752.

City of La Crosse

W. R. FINCH, editor and publisher of the La Crosse Republican and Leader; was born in Walworth Co., Wis., Dec. 14, 1847; was educated in part in Columbia Co., and entered the office of the Portage Register, upon the completion of his academic course. In June, 1875, he became identified with the journal the affairs of which he at present directs, rising from a nominal position by the sheer force of industry and worth.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 752.

City of La Crosse

ANDREW FJELSTAD, of the firm of Dresen & Fjelstad, merchants of North La Crosse; was born in Norway in 1846; son of Jens Anderson Fjelstad; came to the United States in 1869; lived one year in Iowa, one year in Lanesboro, Minn., and since that in La Crosse. He clerked for different parties till Sept. 4, 1880, when the present partnership was formed. He was married, in 1862, in Norway, to Karen Augusta, daughter of Congressman Lars Blilie, of Norway, and has seven children, as follows; Jens, Nettie, Laura, Lars, Augusta, Alletta and Charlotte. He was seven years in the cavalry service in Norway under Oscar II and Charles XV.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 844.

Town of Burns

CHARLES W. FLETCHER, Section 28; P. O. Bangor; born in Crawford Co., Penn., in 1827; he is the son of Charles and Mary Fletcher; his parents removed to Illinois in 1838; they lived in Chicago the following winter, and settled in Kane Co., Ill.; his parents had twelve children, eight of whom - five sons and three daughters - are living. Charles came to La Crosse Co., and entered land in the northern part of the town of Burns. But this he soon sold, and, with his brother Sebastian, made a location near Burns' Corners. He returned to Illinois, where he remained till 1856, when he returned, and has since been a resident of the town of Burns; he bought his present farm of Jefferson Gifford, and has 360 acres of land. He was married to Ruth Ann Field, daughter of Norman Field; she was born in Cornwall, Vt., in 1835; she went to Kane Co., Ill., in 1851, and engaged in teaching; she was engaged in this occupation for a number of years in Northern Illinois. She came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher have five children - Cephas J., Kittie M., Ella F., Charles W. and Orion S.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 752.

City of La Crosse

FRED FLICK, painter, corner of Seventh and La Crosse streets; has been a resident of La Crosse since 1868. He was born in Switzerland in 1842; son of Charles Flick. Learned his trade in Switzerland; commenced when 16, and served three years; came to the United States in October, 1866, and lived in Menomonee, Dunn Co., Wis.; worked for Knapp, Stout & Co., and came from there to La Crosse in 1868. Was married, in October, 1868, in La Crosse, to Mrs. Mary Michel; has no children.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 844.

Town of Burns

EDWIN FOSTER, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Rockland; was born in Sullivan Co., N. H., April 5, 1816, where he was married to Louisa Moody. She was born in Unity, N. H., but at the time of their marriage, was a resident of the State of New York. After his marriage, he removed to Muscatine Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming. He lived in that county about thirteen years. In 1854, he went to Winona, Minn., and purchased a claim, which included the present site of that city. His wife died at Winona. His present wife was Elizabeth Sawyer, born in Orange Co., N. Y. Mr. Foster had four children by first wife, three of whom are living - William Seward, born Nov. 2, 1842, was a soldier in the war of the rebellion; was a member of Co. A, 1st W. V. C.; was in the service three and a half years, but was a prisoner of war during a part of his term of enlistment; was a prisoner at Andersonville six months, and afterward at Florence, N. C. His second child, Clara Louise, now Mrs. Edwin C. Kneeland, and Marion H. Have four children by second marriage - Ella, now Mrs. Ellis Fulton; Flora, Edwin W. and Mary T. Several members of the family of Mr. Foster, were well-known and influential men. The family are relatives of Bancroft, the eminent American historian. A brother, Mr. Amos Bancroft Foster, was a graduate at West Point. He was killed at Green Bay, Wis., while in command at Fort Howard, by an insubordinate private soldier, named Doyle. This event occurred Feb. 7, 1832. Another brother, Dr. John H. Foster, settled in Chicago in 1832, where he died in 1874. He was a prominent and wealthy citizen of that city. Another brother, the Rev. Aaron J. Foster, was a graduate at Dartmouth College; was quite an eminent Congregational clergyman. He traveled quite extensively in Europe and elsewhere. Another brother, Suel, is an eminent horticulturist of Muscatine, Iowa. The father of Mr. Foster had ten children, five of whom are living, viz.: Mehitable, born in 1798, resides at Malone, N. Y.; Sarah T., born in 1809; Suel, 1811, and Edwin in 1816. A tenth child lives in Henry Co., Ill.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 851.

Town of Farmington

JOHN T. FOWLER, wagon-maker, Mindoro; born in Duchess Co., N. Y., in 1815; settled in Lewis Valley in 1855, where he has since lived. He is a wagon-maker by trade, but had charge of a saw-mill ten or twelve years after he came to the valley; he came to the village of Mindoro December, 1865; has worked at his trade here since that time; he came from Ohio to Lewis Valley. Mr. Fowler was married in La Crosse Co.; has one daughter - Mary V. Has been Notary Public about six years, and Justice of the Peace two years.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 752 - 753.

City of La Crosse

JOHN FOX, saloon-keeper, formerly contractor and builder; was born in Bavaria, in 1828; came to America in the spring of 1853; learned the mason's trade in La Crosse, and followed the business of contractor and builder up to 1876, since which time he has been in his present business. Among the buildings he put up in La Crosse are Gund's Brewery, City Engine House, Heasley's Block, Scharf & Ring's Block, Funk's Foundry, Heillman's Malt House, Michel's Brewery and Rau's Block. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Germany, and worked at it till he came to America. He is Secretary of the Wisconsin Odd Fellows Insurance Co. Has been Supervisor two years; Alderman three terms, and Coroner and Constable one year each.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 753.

City of La Crosse

W. D. FOX, landlord of the Cameron House; is a native of New York, having been born near Honeoye Lake, Ontario Co., N. Y., Dec. 6, 1824. When 20 years of age, having completed his education, which was obtained in the common schools of his native place, Mr. Fox removed to Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, where he resided two years, engaged in milling. He then removed to Watertown, Wis., and was similarly occupied until 1848, when he became a citizen and miller of Kingston, Green Lake Co., remaining here until the spring of 1858, when he went to Portage, and assumed charge of the Veeder House at that place. In February, 1860, he controlled the Railroad Hotel of the same city, which was burned in 1863, and, during the winter of 1865-66, was also identified with the management of the Union Depot Restaurant of Milwaukee. He remained there three years, at the expiration of which period he resumed his residence in Portage. In March, 1880, he came to La Crosse to take charge of the Cameron House, and has since been a resident of the Gateway City. Mr. Fox was married, in December, 1856, to Miss Alvina Smith, and has one daughter.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 822.

Town of Hamilton

EVAN FRANCIS, farmer; P. O. Salem; born in Wales, Dec. 29, 1830; his parents emigrated to Ohio in 1833, thence to Upper Canada; his father, Daniel Francis, came to La Crosse Co. with Evan Jones, but returned to Canada soon after; he came back to La Crosse several years later, and bought a quarter section in the town of Hamilton; he is still a resident of that town. Parents had twelve children; five sons and four daughters still living. Evan was married to Susan Raymond, daughter of Sylvester Raymond; she was born in Madison, Wis.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 753.

City of La Crosse

JOHN FRANCKLE, grocer; is a native of Italy; born in 1813, in Venice; son of John Franckle, who came to America in 1830. He was a sailor, and was engaged in that business and steamboating till the spring of 1857, making his home in St. Louis, Mo., up to that time. Since that he has been in the grocery business in La Crosse, and has never had a partner, having been in that business without change the longest of any man in the city. He was married, in St. Louis, to Miss Eliza Hopkins, a native of Germany, and has two children; George is living in Madison, Wis., and his daughter, Elizabeth, is the wife of J. Stirneman, of La Crosse.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 753.

City of La Crosse

HENRY FRANKSEN, book-keeper for C. & J. Michel; has been in his present situation since March, 1880. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1847; son of P. B. Franksen; was educated in his native city, and came to the United States in June, 1871. He lived in Oshkosh, Wis., six months, Milwaukee one year, and came to La Crosse in 1874. He was married in 1877, to Amelia Emrich, of La Crosse, she was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, and daughter of Jacob Emrich, who came to the United States in 1870, and died here in 1878; his father, P. B. Franksen, died in Germany, in 1873; Mr. Franksen was four years in the Prussian Army, and held the office of Sergeant during the Franco-Prussian war. Has only one child - Henry.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 851.

Town of Farmington

LAWRENCE FRANK, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Mindoro; born in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer Co., N. Y., June 27, 1831. He removed with his parents to Jefferson Co., Wis., in 1842. He lived in Jefferson Co. till 21 years of age; came to Lewis Valley in 1852, where he has since lived. Married Margaret O. Lewis, daughter of Lorenzo Lewis, who was one of the original settlers of Lewis Valley, and who at present resides with Mr. Frank. Mr. F. has seven children - Corina, Stella, Ina, Lanata, Eber, Elvin and Ellis. Farm contains 80 acres.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 753.

City of La Crosse

AUGUST FRANZ, saloon and restaurant keeper; was born in Prussia in 1840. He lost his father in childhood, and when 13 years of age, his mother started for America, with her family of seven children; she, with one son and one daughter, died on the passage, and August, with three brothers and one sister, made their way to Wisconsin, and settled at Black River Falls. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 5th W. V. I., and went out as a private, and was in the service till June, 1865; he was wounded five times during his term of service, four times at Cold Harbor and once at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, by a ball passing through his body, striking his right breast and coming out near the spine; he received a captain's commission, dated April 2, 1865, for gallantry displayed at the charge on the works at Petersburg, Va., and at the battle of Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, he being the first man to plant our colors on the rebel works; when mustered out he belonged to Co. A, that company having been consolidated with Co. K and one or two others. Since the war, he has been running as pilot on the Mississippi River in summer, and spending his winters in the South, till the last three years, has been in his present business.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 753.

City of La Crosse

A. A. FREEMAN, of the firm of A. A. Freeman & Co., proprietors of the flouring-mill, corner Front and Mt. Vernon streets; is a resident of the city of New York, and a member of the commission firm of Charles Haight & Co.; he also owns a flouring mill at River Falls, Wis., and spends a part of his time in the West. E. ZEIDLER, the other member of the firm, has been a resident of La Crosse since 1876, and a member of this firm since September, 1878. He is a native of Bremen, Germany, and came to the United States in 1867. He resided in New York City till he came to La Crosse, except one year in Minneapolis, Minn.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 854 - 855.

Town of Campbell

JOSEPH FRENCH, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. La Crosse; he was born in England in 1821; in 1851, he came to the United States and to La Crosse; June 16, 1851, purchased land and commenced farming, which business he has followed to the present time. In 1843, he was married to Charlotte Rogers, daughter of Thomas and Martha Rogers, born in England in 1823; they have had ten children, six of whom are living - Martha, born Dec. 7, 1844; George G., May 4, 1849; Charlotte E., July 1, 1853; Joseph O., Nov. 21, 1855; Emily L., April 11, 1858; Robert R., Dec. 28, 1865. Mr. F. now owns 380 acres of land. Has been Treasurer of School District two years; is a Liberal in politics. Although 45 years of age, in 1865 he enlisted in Co. B, 53d W. V. I., and remained in service until discharged in August.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 753.

City of La Crosse

LEONARD FREY, butcher; was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1835. His father, Jacob Frey, came to the United States in 1853, and located in Indianapolis, Ind., where he remained till September, 1856; then came to Wisconsin, and resided in La Crosse till his death, March 16, 1880. Leonard Frey left Indianapolis in 1855; lived one year in Chicago, and about a year in Madison, Wis., coming to La Crosse in the fall of 1857. He has been in his present business since March, 1863. He was married in 1857, in Madison, Wis., to Catharine Haahe, of that city, and has had one child, which died in 1866, 3 months old.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 754.

City of La Crosse

REV. J. B. FRICH, Pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of La Crosse; was born in Norway in 1835, the son of Rev. G. Frich, who died in the old country in 1863. Mr. Frich graduated from the University of Christiana in 1861, and was ordained to the ministry in 1862; the same year he accepted a call from the church of which he is now pastor, and arrived in La Crosse on the 16th of July. He resided in the town of Onalaska till 1872, having charge of twelve congregations in La Crosse, Trempealeau and Jackson Counties. He has resided in La Crosse since 1872, and is now President of the Eastern District of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod, which includes all of the States east of the Mississippi River, with 220 congregations. He was married in Norway, in 1862, to Caroline Nelson, has four children - Gerhard, Carl, Johannes and Lilla.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 754.

City of La Crosse

CHARLES FRIEDERICH, dealer in groceries, provisions, liquor, etc., corner Eighth and Hood streets; was born in Nassau, Germany, in 1806; son of Jacob Friederich, a teacher. He came to the United States in 1836, and lived in New York City till 1846; then came to Wisconsin and settled in Hustisford, Dodge Co., where he resided till 1864, and came from there to La Crosse. He is a cabinet-maker by trade, and has worked at that and carpenter work since coming to La Crosse, till he went into his present business, in February, 1880, in company with his son-in-law, Vincent Mairich. His wife, to whom he was married in Germany, died in 1876; he has four children - Louis, living in St. Louis, Mo.; George, on a farm near Chippewa Falls, Wis.; Caroline, now the wife of Vincent Mairich, his partner; and Louisa, now Mrs. August Strobel, of La Crosse.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 754.

City of La Crosse

JOHN J. FRUIT attorney and counselor at law, and a member of the law firm of Fruit & Brindley; is a native of Grant Co., Wis.; was born in 1849. He is a graduate of the State Normal School at Platteville, Wis.; came to La Crosse, in August, 1871, and taught as Principal of one of the public schools of this city for five years. He read law as opportunity afforded during the time he was teaching, and in 1876, resigned his position as Principal of the Third Ward School, and began the study of law in the office of James I. Lyndes; in 1877, he graduated from the Law Department of the State University, and commenced the practice of law in July, 1877, at La Crosse. He was of the firm of Fruit & Pfund for about six months, and then continued alone till June 1, 1880, when he and Mr. Brindley formed a co-partnership. He was City Superintendent of the Public Schools of La Crosse during the year 1880, devoting only a portion of his time to this work.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 851.

Town of Farmington

A. P. FULLER, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Mindoro; born in Alleghany Co., N. Y., in 1827. When 9 years of age he removed with his parents to Crawford Co., Penn. He came to La Crosse Co. in October, 1853, and settled where he now lives. He purchased his farm of his brother, H. F. Fuller, which the latter bought of Mr. Ilet in 1852. Mr. Fuller married Laura D. Tower, daughter of Rodney Tower. They have three children - Vivian M., Edgar P. and Earl R. Mr. Fuller's farm contains 100 acres; has also 100 acres of timber-land.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 855.

Town of Campbell

DAVID FULLER, farmer; P. O. North La Crosse; was born in England in 1824; in 1826, he, with his parents, came to the United States and made his home at Albany, N. Y., for about twenty-two years; in 1848, he came to Wisconsin and stopped in Waukesha Co. about three years, after which he went to Michigan and remained about two years; he then returned to Wisconsin and stopped about two years in Waukesha Co.; he then came, in 1856, to La Crosse Co., and lived in the city about fourteen years, after which he bought his present farm of 40 acres in Sec. 17. In 1849, Mr. F. was married to Naomi Watson, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Watson; they have four children - Mary Ann, George D., Alonzo W. and William H. He is a Republican.

 


From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 754.

City of La Crosse

M. FUNK was born in Germany in 1831. At the age of 21 years he emigrated to America; and in 1865 he came to La Crosse, where he established the La Crosse Steam Boiler Works. (See sketch of works under head of "Manufacturers.")

 

These biographies submitted by Roxanne Munns.

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