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

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From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 783.

D. H. PALMER, liveryman, corner of Pearl and Second street; was born in Johnstown, N. Y., in 1847, and came to Sparta, Wis., with his parents in 1857; after trying various kinds of business, he went into the livery business with his brother in 1857, and has followed that business since. In the spring of 1880, he and his brother came to La Crosse and located in their present quarters, and are widely known as energetic, thorough business men.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 783.

EDGAR PALMER, dentist, Main street, over post office, is a native of Woodstock, Vt., born May 7, 1840, son of Walter Palmer. Studied dentistry in his native place with Dr. Rice, and in Fitchburg, Mass., with Dr. Palmer. He afterward attended lectures at the dental school, Philadelphia. Practiced in Newport, Vt., from 1860 to 1866, except when in the army, and has practiced in La Crosse since March, 1866. Dr. Palmer made the first move toward the organization of the "Wisconsin State Dental Society," as he drew up a petition and traveled through the State to obtain the signatures necessary for that purpose. He was the first temporary President, and afterward permanent President of the society, which was organized in September, 1870. He has also been a member of the "American Dental Association" for several years, and, in 1880, was elected an honorary member of the "Iowa State Dental Society." He is also a member of the La Crosse Board of Trade.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 783.

JOHN V. PALMER, liveryman; born in Johnstown, N. Y., in 1844, and came with his parents to Wisconsin and settled at Sparta in 1857; in 1862, he went to Pike's Peak, Colo., and from there to Idaho; returning to Sparta in 1865, he commenced the livery business in that place in 1867, which he continued until the spring of 1880, when he came to La Crosse and opened his present business on the corner of Pearl and Second streets. Mr. Palmer was married in Sparta to Miss Fannie Kemp, and has four children - Nora, Harry, Fannie and Mamie.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 523.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 826.

MONROE PALMER, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. West Salem. Mr. Palmer was born in Vermont, Sept. 14, 1819. He learned the trade of a millwright, which business he followed for a number of years. He went from Vermont to Maine, where he worked at his trade; thence to Massachusetts. He came to Oshkosh, Wis., in October, 1850; returned to Massachusetts; was married in Boston, June, 1851, to Miss Martha B. Cooledge, in Maine, born in August, 1826; returned to La Crosse County, and located his present farm, which formerly contained about 700 acres. In March, 1852, he built a cabin near his present residence, on the bank of the La Crosse River. Mr. Palmer is one of the earliest settlers, and one of the prominent men of the town of Hamilton. He laid out and named the village of Neshonoc, at one time quite a thriving little town. He built the Neshonoc Mill in 1852. This mill he owned and operated till 1872, when he sold it to Mr. Orrin Vanness. The mill is now owned by Alexander McMillan, of La Crosse. He was Chairman of the first Town Board of the town, elected in 1852; has been Town Clerk, and was Treasurer for five successive years. He was Postmaster of Neshonoc Post Office from 1853 to 1861; was also Justice of the Peace for many years. Mr. Palmer possesses an excellent memory, and having kept a diary of current events, from the time he first settled in this valley, to the present time, he is a valuable source of information. He was a brother of Dr. H. Palmer, a well-known physician, who came to La Crosse County from Massachusetts, in May, 1857. He practiced medicine at Salem till 1875, when he removed to Sparta, where he died, Dec. 23, 1880, leaving a wife and three children. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have two sons and two daughters - Hannah R., now Mrs. A. F. Smith; Minnie B., now Mrs. E. W. Congran; George A. and Monroe H.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 860.

LOUIS PAMMEL, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. La Crosse; was born in Prussia, in 1829; emigrated to the United States in 1854, and came direct to Wisconsin, stopping one year at Milwaukee, after which he came to La Crosse and engaged in keeping meat market until 1865, when he moved on his present farm, 200 acres of which he had previously purchased. His farm now contains 480 acres. In 1856, he was married to Sophia Freise, born in Hanover, Germany, in 1835. They have six children - Louis, Matilda, Gustave, Herman, Dora and Emma.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 783.

JOSEPH PARISEK, one of the firm of Parisek & Stortz, proprietors of the Third Ward Meat Market on Fifth street; was born in Bohemia in 1845. He came to America in 1866, settled in La Crosse in 1867, and has been in his present business since that time. He was married in La Crosse to Kate Holy, and has five children - Frank, Willie, Joseph, Annie and Mary.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 836.

JOHN H. PARRY, merchant; Bangor; born in Wales, May, 1829; came to the United States in the Spring of 1849, located in Waukesha Co., where he lived two years; thence to Rome, Oneida Co., N. Y.; he came to Bangor in November, 1864, and engaged in the mercantile business; has also been engaged considerably in grain buying. Of the business men now of Bangor, Mr. Parry has been the longest established in the business; his wife was also a native of Wales; they have three children - Laura, now Mrs. A. Mengel; John H., Jr., now in La Crosse, and Robert G.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 783.

A. PATZ, jeweler, has been in his present business in La Crosse since June, 1854, having the oldest establishment in that line in the city. He is a Hungarian by birth, and was born in 1823; came to America in 1848, and lived in Pennsylvania till he came to La Crosse, in 1854. He was married in La Crosse on Sunday, July 19, 1857, to Miss Sophia Neuman, and on the same day his store was robbed of $10,000 in money and jewelery, only a small part of which was ever recovered. Mr. Patz has only two children, both daughters - Lillie and Rebecca - the latter being the wife of H. Berger, of the dry goods firm of H. Berger & Co. He has been successful in business, and owns considerable real estate in the city. Mrs. Patz died of apoplexy, March 9, 1881, aged 43.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 783.

JOHN PAUL, lumberman, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, December, 1833. Here he attended school and commenced the learning of the machinist's trade, but the firm with whom he was learning soon afterward failed, so that he did not completely master his trade. In 1850, he removed to London, England, and there worked in machine-shops. In 1852, he emigrated to America, and located in Albany, working there and at Schenectady at the machinist's trade, until 1854, when he removed to Chicago, and there also worked in machine-shops. In 1855, he removed to Muskegon, Mich., and there became engaged in the lumber trade, by putting in machinery and operating a saw-mill for a Chicago company. Moved from Muskegon to La Crosse in May, 1857, and here built a small saw-mill, but finding that the mill business alone did not pay sufficiently, he formed a partnership in the foundry and machine business with George M. Leach, which, together with his mill, he conducted up to 1861, when he built a mill on his present location, and has been actively and successfully engaged in the lumber business since.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 852.

JAY PETTINGILL, farmer, P. O. Mindoro; son of Alonzo Pettingill; born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1837; came to La Crosse Co. with his father. Married Adeline Sage, born in Otsego Co. They have one daughter - Stella M. Mr. Pettingill owns the homestead where his father settled in 1856.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 783 - 784.

J. L. PETTINGILL, County Clerk of La Crosse County, was born in Ostego Co., N. Y., Nov. 10, 1840. His father, Alonzo Pettingill, was born Dec. 27, 1802, and his mother, Lucy, nee Davis, was born April 5, 1807, both in the same county of Ostego, and at this time are both residents of La Crosse County. In the spring of 1854, his father moved with his family to Flint, Genesee Co., Mich., where they resided two years, and on the 24th day of April, 1856, arrived in Lewis Valley in the town of Farmington, La Crosse Co., Wis., where he resided with his father up to the time of his election as County Clerk. Was married to E. Antoinette Kenrick Nov. 19, 1861. Was elected Town Clerk in the spring of 1863, of the town of Farmington, and was re-elected in the springs of 1864, 1865, 1866 and 1867, and in the spring of 1869. Was elected Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors in the springs of 1870, 1871 and 1872. Was elected Chariman of the Board of Supervisors of La Crosse County, June 7, 1871, receiving all the votes cast but one. Was elected County Clerk of La Crosse County Nov. 4, 1873, which office he has held since, and is now on his fourth term.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 852.

JOHN A. PETTINGILL, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Mindoro; son of Alonzo Pettingill, who was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Decmeber, 1802, where he was married to Lucy Davis; removed to Michigan in the spring of 1854, and to La Crosse Co. May, 1856, and settled in Lewis Valley, where his father still lives. Parents had seven children, four of whom are living - Mrs. Martha I. Mathewson, Jay, J. L. and John A. The latter was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Dec. 1, 1842. Married Ann E. Quiggle, daughter of James Quiggle; have two children - George L. and Eva. Farm contains 110 acres.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 784.

VALENTINE PFEIFFER, of the firm of Luntz & Pfeiffer, proprietors of the Court House Meat Market, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1842; son of Jacob Pfeiffer; came to America in the spring of 1866, and has been in La Crosse most of the time since. He was married in 1874, to Mary Kriebs, and has two children - Rosa and Lizzie.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 784.

A. PFIFFNER, manufacturer of and wholesale and retail dealer in harness and saddlery; has been in his present business in La Crosse since May, 1853, his being the oldest establishment of the kind in the city. He was born in Switzerland, in 1828; learned his trade there, and came to the United States in 1849. He was engaged in business in Galena, Ill., till he came to La Crosse in 1853. He was married in Galena in 1853, and has three sons. The oldest one, Albert, being a member of the drug firm of E. Howard & Co., of La Crosse; the other two, Forrest and Ulysses are at home. Mr. Pfiffner has built and still owns several business blocks in La Crosse. No. 39 Main street, a two-story brick, 20x60, he built in 1868; No. 40, 20x80, in same year; No. 42, 24x80, in 1873, and No. 44, 25x80, in 1875, all two-story bricks.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 784.

JOHN PFLUGER, cooper, corner Third and Ferry streets; has been a resident of La Crosse since July, 1858. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1829, son of George Pfluger; came to United States in May, 1858, and settled in La Crosse. He was married in Baden in 1856 to Magdalena Simon, and has nine children - Johanna, Florian, Frank, Peter, John, Jacob, Mary, Gertie and Annie, all at home.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 784.

CHRISTIAN PFULTER, saloon-keeper, Third street, was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1831; came to America in 1870, and lived two years in Milwaukee, one year in Minnesota, three years in Cedarburg, Wis., and came to La Crosse in 1878. He was married in Milwaukee in 1871 to Mrs. Laura Winkler, widow of Fritz Winkler, who died in Milwaukee, leaving three children - Oscar, Bernhart and Laura. Has two children by the second marriage - Robert and Adolph (twins).

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

GEORGE PHILLIPS, farmer; P. O. Onalaska; was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, May 16, 1850; now owns 120 acres of finely-improved land. His wife, Mary Lee was born in Vermont July 21, 1865, and married April 6, 1872; they have had four children - George W., born Jan. 3, 1873, died Jan. 8, 1873; George D., born July 15, 1874; Charles E., Oct. 15, 1875; Rose Lulla, April 9, 1877.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 852.

H. S. PHILLIPS, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Mindoro. Mr. Phillips was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1849. He came to Kenosha Co., Wis., in 1851; thence to Dubuque, Iowa, for one year, and to La Crosse Co. in the spring of 1855. He enlisted, September, 1861, in the 8th W. V. I. He was in the service four years and six days, and was in active service nearly all of that time. He entered the army as a private, and was promoted, by successive steps, to a first lieutenantcy. He participated in nearly all the campaigns and engagements in which the noted "Eighth," the Eagle Regiment, were engaged. Among them may be mentioned the siege of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Corinth, Miss.; was at the siege and surrender of Vicksburg, etc. He had command of his company (Co. I), from December, 1864, to Sept. 16, 1865. After the war, he settled in Salem; removed to the city of La Crosse, January, 1875; was elected Sheriff of the county the following autumn and served two years. He purchased his present farm of Hugh McDonald, in 1876. Married Marion Gage, daughter of W. W. Gage, of West Salem, who came to La Crosse Co. from the eastern part of the State in 1854. He was formerly from the State of New York. Mrs. Phillips was born in Dodge Co., in 1848. Their children are William S., Hollister M., Lydia A., Marion G. and Ida M. Mr. Phillips is engaged quite extensively in the raising of sorghum, and in the manufacture of syrup. He has this year (1881) 15 acres of sorghum.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 826 - 827.

JAMES PITKIN, farmer, Section 34; P. O. Salem; born in Connecticut in 1815. He removed to the town of Hudson, Summit Co., Ohio, when 23 years of age. He afterward removed to Southern Iowa; returned to Ohio; thence to Illinois, in 1846; came to La Crosse in June, 1854; settled in the town of Hamilton and engaged in farming. Has resided in this town since that time. His first wife was Lucy A. Gillett, born in Fredonia, N. Y.; she died at Fort Madison, Iowa. His present wife was Jane E. Coe, born in Portage Co., Ohio, in 1827. He has one child by his first marriage - Milo J. Pitkin, now of La Crosse. Has four children by present marriage - Lucy A., now Mrs. John Veits; Francis N., resides in Hancock Co., Iowa; Ellen J., now Mrs. John Leet, and Eva M.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 816.

NATHANIEL PITTENGER, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Midway; was born in Richland Co., Ohio, Nov. 25, 1822; came to Wisconsin, 1865; now owns 213 acres of improved land; has house 16x24, wing 14x24 - two stories; also good barn. At the age of 17, he went and learned the trade of blacksmith, which he continued to work at until he came to Wisconsin. His wife, Ann Stephenson, was born in Richland Co., Ohio, March 7, 1821; married Nov. 6, 1845. They had six children - Alfred, born Oct. 10, 1846, died July 19, 1868; Levi, born Aug. 8, 1848, died Aug. 31, 1876; Abraham, born Aug. 20, 1851; Samuel, born Jan. 3, 1854, died July 15, 1873; Nathaniel, born May 31, 1857, died April 24, 1860; Mary E., born Nov. 2, 1864. Has held the office of School Clerk and Director; Supervisor, one year; Chairman four years. A member of the lodge of A., F. & A. M. at La Crosse. Patron of Husbandry, and Good Templar.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 784.

A. PLATZ, of the firm of Davis, Medary & Platz, proprietors of the La Crosse tannery, was born in Prussia in 1840, son of F. Platz, a tanner, who came to America with his family in 1855; went into the tanning business in Racine, Wis., in 1860, and still continues the business of that place. A. Platz learned the trade of his father in Germany, and was in partnership with him in Racine from 1860 till 1877, when he came to La Crosse and became a member of the present firm. He was married in Racine in 1867 to Miss Margaret Heck, and has three children - Minnie, Max and Albert.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 784.

P. M. PLUMB, foreman of round-house, C., M. & St. P. R. R. Co., at North La Crosse; has been in his present position since Jan. 12, 1867. He is a native of Bridgeport, Conn., born Aug. 10, 1833, son of Joseph and Nancy (Peck) Plumb; came to Wisconsin in February, 1861, from Aurora, Ill., where he had resided seven years. Was in Portage City till June 12, 1867, when he came to La Crosse. He was married July 3, 1862, at Portage City to Miss Hattie M. Pixley, daughter of Bemus J. Pixley of that place. Has three children - Fannie, Jennie and Nellie. Has been Trustee of village two terms, Alderman, six years, and a member of the School Board, on second term. Has followed railroading ever since he was seventeen years old.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 827.

R. J. POWELL, West Salem. Mr. Powell was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1831; he came to Racine Co., Wis., in 1858; thence to McGregor, and to La Crosse in May of that year. He moved to Bangor, where he lived about five years. Since that time has resided in Salem. Mr. Powell is a carpenter and builder by trade, but has been engaged in other branches of business. His wife was Laura Richards, of La Crosse. They have three children - Delia, John and Horace.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 784 - 785.

W. P. POWERS, son of David J. and Eliza A. (Harris) Powers, was born in Whitewater, Wis., Nov. 8, 1842. His father, who is well known in Wisconsin as an early pioneer of the State, built the first frame building in Whitewater, in which he kept hotel; he subsequently laid out the village of Palmyra, Wis., and there built the first saw and grist mill. Afterward he became a member of the State Legislature from Jefferson County; editor of the Wisconsin Farmer; Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, and President of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, and is now President of the Union Wire Mattress Company, of Chicago, Ill. W. P. Powers, the subject of this sketch, removed with his parents to Palmyra, Wis., in the fall of 1842, and remained there until 1850, when he went to Waukesha. In 1852, returned to Palmyra, and, during this year, his father was elected to the Legislature. In the spring of 1853, he removed to Madison where he received his education, having graduated from the State University as a member of the class of 1860. He served two years in the war of the rebellion. He enlisted at Madison and was mustered in as a member of Company A, 1st Wisconsin heavy artillery. In the fall of 1863, he was promoted to First Lieutenant of the 4th Wisconsin Light Battery, and served with them in the Army of the Potomac, and commanded the battery at the siege of Vicksburg during the summer of 1864. His health having failed him, he resigned in November, 1864, and returned home to Madison. He engaged in the agricultural machinery business at Madison, which he continued until 1867, when he came to La Crosse and established his present business. He was married November 18, 1865, to Maggie F. Knight, of Summit, Waukesha Co., and daughter of B. W. Knight, a pioneer of that section of the State. They have four children - Fred, Mary, Donald and Robert. Mr. Powers is a member of the Knights of Honor, and Legion of Honor.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 785.

ANDREW J. PRASTEQUARN, saloon-keeper, on North Third street, North La Crosse, was born in Norway in 1837; son of John Johnson (Prastequarn), a miller; came to America in 1861, and has since been a resident of La Crosse County; has been in his present business since 1870, and owns the building in which he is located. He was married in 1870, to Mary Johnson, a native of Norway, and has three children - John, Eddie and Thea.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 836.

WILLIAM PRICE, farmer, Section 3; P. O. Bangor; was born in South Wales about 1820. He came to the United States when 21 years of age; first to Schuylkill Co., Penn., thence to Meigs Co., Ohio, where he lived till April, 1852, when he went to California, where he engaged in mining; he returned to Meigs Co. in the fall of 1853; came to La Crosse Co. in the spring of 1854, and purchased his present farm of Michael Darms; was married in Ohio to Ann Jones, born in Wales; they have had eight children, seven of whom are living - one son and six daughters. They lost their oldest son, John T., who died Jan. 12, 1880. Mr. Price has 200 acres; only about 30 acres were improved when he purchased it; he first bought 120 acres.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 785.

CHARLES PRUTZ, saloon-keeper, corner of Third and Grove streets, was born in Prussia in 1850. His father, Herman Prutz, came to the United States, with his family, in 1866, and now lives in North La Crosse. Charles learned the machinist's trade of Smith & Merrill, in La Crosse, working there four years. From 1870 to 1875, he was employed in the Reliance Works of E. P. Allis, in Milwaukee; came back to La Crosse in 1875, and has worked for Thornely & James and William H. Smith most of the time since. He was married in 1872, in Milwaukee, to Miss Elizabeth Werel, of that place; has five children - Herman, Charles, Eddie, Annie and Clara.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 785.

HERMAN PRUTZ, blacksmith in the C., M. & St. P. shop at North La Crosse, was born in Prussia in 1830; was married there in 1850, to Louise Manthi; learned his trade in the old country, and came to America in 1865, since which time he has resided in La Crosse; has but one child - Carl. Mr. Prutz is Vice President of the Concordia Society of La Crosse.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 785.

W. R. PUTNAM, dealer in hats, caps and gentlemen's furnishing goods, No. 47 Main street, was born in Clark Co., Ohio, in 1846. His father, Rufus Putnam, born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1805, was a son of Judge Edwin Putnam and a grandson of Gen. Rufus Putnam, the first white man in Ohio. He was a brother of Gen. Israel Putnam, and, in company with Gen. Tupper, purchased 1,500,000 acres of land in what is now the State of Ohio, at 62-1/2 cents per acre, and in April, 1788, laid out the city of Marietta, this being the first settlement made in the Northwest. W. R. Putnam enlisted in the early part of 1863 in the 31st Ohio V. I., Company H, and was in the service about five months when he was accidentally shot and discharged for disability. He was afterward in the service about four months, under the hundred-day call, in 1864. He resided in different parts of Ohio till 1867, the last four years in Cincinnati; came from there to Chicago, and from Chicago to La Crosse, in 1873, to accept a position in the dry goods house of Mons Anderson, where he remained four years, since which time he has been in his present business.

These biographies submitted by Roxanne Munns.