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

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

JOHN RACKELMANN, butcher, place of business Pearl street, between Second and Third, was born in Bavaria in 1852; son of August Rackelmann; came to America in 1871, and has resided in La Crosse ever since; learned the butcher's trade in the old country, and has been in the business in La Crosse since 1874. He was married in January, 1881, to Mrs. Mina Bower, widow of John Bower. She has four children by the first husband - Maggie, John, Ott and Oscar.

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

ALBERT RANDALL, farmer, Section 3; P. O. Onalaska; born in Cortland Co., N. Y., May 11, 1831; went to Pennsylvania, and to Wisconsin in 1836; worked in the mill at La Crosse for Coleman, two years; then to Onalaska, in the mill one year; then to the farm; now owns 400 acres of land, on 200 acres of this he has good improvements. His house was struck by lightning and burned, July 9, 1880; he now has a fine new house, and things in good style. His wife, Ester M. White, was born in Tioga Co., Penn., Sept. 7, 1836; married, 1855; they have four children - Charles, born Jan. 31, 1856; Ida, born July 31, 1863, died Sept. 16, 1865; Winifred, born July 28, 1867; Albert E., born April 25, 1872. Has been Supervisor.

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

J. B. RAND, lumberman and Deputy Sheriff, Onalaska; born in Brown Co., Va., Oct. 2, 1822; emigrated to Dane Co., Wis., in the spring of 1848, and to La Crosse Co. in 1852; has kept hotel at Onalaska and ran an omnibus to La Crosse, which he continued until 1856; then in the livery business. He lost his arm in a threshing machine at Sun Prairie, Dane Co. He owns 340 acres of land in La Crosse Co., also town property of 6 acres. His wife was Elizabeth Latimer, of Scotch descent, was born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1825; married in Jackson Co., West Va., in the fall of 1847; they have six children - George, Isabel, Artemus, Martha, Anna (twins), and Willie (deceased). Has held the office of Treasurer and Town Assessor; has been Supervisor; member of I. O. O. F. In religion, liberal; politics, Republican.

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

J. W. RANNEY, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. West Salem; born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1821; he came with his brother-in-law, Mr. Coburn, to Wisconsin in 1854. Mr. Ranney is one of the substantial and successful farmers of the La Crosse Valley. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Quackenbush. They have three children - Cassius, Mary and Jay W.; lost three children - Edwin (was killed by the cars near Salem while attempting to board a train while in motion, Feb. 25, 1876), Clara (aged 26 years), Minnie (aged 6 months, a twin of Mary). Mr. Ranney has 450 acres of land; is engaged in general farming.

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

CARL RAU, book-keeper at the Empire Brewery, was born Nov. 3, 1858, in Wurtemberg, Germany. His father, Gottfried Rau, died in Germany in 1868. Carl was educated in his native place, and came to the United States in 1872. He lived in Dubuque, Iowa, till the fall of 1878, since which time he has resided in La Crosse, where his mother, who came to the United States with him, also resides. The first two years of his residence in La Crosse, he was connected with the mercantile agency of R. C. Dun & Co., and has been in his present position since May, 1880.

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

JOHN RAU, son of Casper and Susan Rau, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 19, 1828. At the age of 24, he emigrated to America, landing in New York in the fall of 1852. He came West and located at Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, and there worked at his trade, that of a rope-maker. Four years later, he went to Galesburg, Ill., and started in business for himself, having established a rope factory at that place. He remained in Galesburg until 1867, when he came to La Crosse, and engaged in general merchandising. With his quiet, unassuming manners, strict integrity, and fine business qualifications, Mr. Rau has succeeded in building up an extensive and lucrative trade. He was married Dec. 7, 1852, at Wooster, Ohio, to Sebalia Merz, a native of Germany. They have two children - Mary and John. Mr. Rau is a member of the I. O. O. F., being one of the originators of the La Crosse Valley Lodge, as also a member of the Deutcher Verein. He was an Alderman from the Second Ward for nine successive years.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 785 - 786.

JOSEPH E. RAWLINSON, contractor and builder, has been a resident of La Crosse since the spring of 1860. From that time till 1870, he was in partnership with his brother, William Rawlinson, firm of Rawlinson Brothers; from 1870 to 1876, was in partnership with David Wallace, firm of Wallace & Rawlinson, and since that has been doing business alone; was in company with his brother in building the La Crosse Opera House and several other prominent buildings. In company with Wallace, he built the schoolhouses of the Third and Fifth Wards, and since he was in business alone, built the gas works, the pump house for the City Water Works, and superintended the brick work of the new post office building. He was born in Cheshire Co., England, in 1840; son of James Rawlinson; came to America with his parents in 1849; learned the bricklayer's and plasterer's trade in Jersey City. He was married Dec. 14, 1868, in La Crosse, to Lottie Barnett, a native of Brighton, England, and daughter of William Dowling Barnett. They have three children - Mamie, James and Mattie.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 786.

WILLIAM H. RAWLINSON, contractor and builder, has been in his present business in La Crosse since June, 1857. He was born in Cheshire, England, in 1837; son of James Rawlinson, who came to America in 1849; lived in Jersey City till 1858, then came to La Crosse, and died there Oct. 22, 1880, at the age of 66. Mrs. Rawlinson died Dec. 24, 1879, at the age of 60. Mr. Rawlinson learned the bricklaying and plastering trade in Jersey City, before he came to Wisconsin. Among the buildings he has put up in La Crosse, are the Edwards Block, La Crosse Opera House, Levy's Block, and the flouring-mill of Listman & Co. He was married in 1870, in La Crosse, to Miss Mary E. Holmes and has one child - William Henry.

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

GILMAN REDDING, teacher and farmer; P. O. West Salem; born in Vermont in 1848; parents were Stephen and Caroline Johnson Redding; they were also natives of Vermont; mother died in Connecticut in March, 1861; his father came to La Crosse Co. with his children - Moses and Gilman, the following May, and settled in the town of Burns; father now resides in Monroe Co. Moses died in Burns in 1864; a sister of Gilman's remained in Vermont, but afterward came to La Crosse Co. Mr. Redding was married to Hannah Francis, who died Feb. 14, 1881; has two children - Carrie and Maggie. Mr. Redding has lived in the town of Hamilton since 1869; he has taught seventeen terms in La Crosse Co.; thirteen terms in the town of Hamilton, and is now (March, 1881,) teaching his seventh term in District No. 5.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 786.

CHARLES L. REED, M.D., is a native of Rutland Co., Vt., born in 1821; studied medicine at Castleton, Vt., graduating in 1846. He immediately commenced practice in Wallingford, Vt., and afterward at Clarendon Springs; went to California in the winter of 1851-52, and practiced in Auburn, Placer Co., till the spring of 1855, when he returned to Vermont and practiced in Wallingford till the spring of 1856, then came to Wisconsin, and settled in Horicon, Dodge Co., where he resided till the fall of 1866, since which time he has been practicing in La Crosse. Was examining surgeon during the war, and is still examining surgeon for pensions. His first wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Ives, died in February, 1855, in California, and soon after, returning to Vermont, he married Miss Mary H. Nicholson, of Wallingford, Vt.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 786.

FREDERICK REHFUSS, butcher, has been a resident of La Crosse since June, 1856, and has been engaged in butchering during the whole time. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1826; son of Adam Rehfuss, who died in Germany in 1844. Mr. Rehfuss came to the United States in 1852, and resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Ind., before coming to La Crosse. He was married in Indianapolis in 1853, to Miss Barbara Siggel; has only one child, John, who is also in the butchering business in La Crosse.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 786.

DAVID REICHERT, saloon-keeper, corner of Rose and St. James streets, North La Crosse, was born in 1842, in Prussia. His father, Jacob Reichert, came to the United States in 1847; settled in Washington Co., Wis.; came from there to La Crosse in 1863, and died in 1866. David learned the tailor's trade in Schleisingerville, Wis.; went to Fond du Lac in 1862, and worked there till he came to La Crosse, where he continued to work at his trade for several years, and was in the mercantile trade three years before coming to North La Crosse, where he came in 1870; has been keeping saloon since that, and purchased his present place of business in 1874. He has five children - Julia A., Mary S., Cora C., Frank C. and G. Bernard. His wife was Mary Goslin, of La Crosse, married in 1867.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 787.

LOUIS REIMANN, M.D., was born in Germany, on the 30th of May, 1841. He attended the High School at Weimar, Saxony, until his 20th year, when he entered the University of Jena, and attended this and the University of Geisen for several years. In 1866, he graduated at Wirzburg, Bavaria. He served one year as assistant physician in the army. Afterward he accepted a position as House Physician in the German Hospital at London, England. In 1871, he came to America and settled at Bloomfield, N. J., and began the practice of medicine, remaining there for two years, when, on account of ill health, he went to Augusta, Ga. Here he remained for seven years, all the while engaged in practicing medicine. During these seven years, he was a member of the State Medical Association of Georgia, and a member of the Medical Society of Augusta. In August, 1880, he was induced to go to Leadville, Colo., but on account of the high altitude of the place, was obliged to leave, whence he came to La Crosse, in January, 1881, and has, considering the short time of his residence here, a very good practice, and a fair prospect of a much better one. Dr. Reimann was married in Germany in 1868, to Mrs. A. Rumpler, formerly Miss A. Ehrenburg. They have no children.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 786.

REV. CARL GOTTLIEB REIM was born in Oberturkheim, kingdom of Wurtemberg, March 14, 1836; attended the schools in Stuttgart from 1842 to 1854; was teacher for three years, and, intending to become a missionary, went to the missionary institution at Basel, Switzerland, remaining there from 1857 to 1862; was ordained Aug. 17, 1862, and in October allowed to go to America with Pastor Muhlhauser, of Milwaukee; was ordered by the Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin to start a Lutheran Church at Green Bay; went to Green Bay Dec. 4, 1862, remaining till May, 1879, when he was called to La Crosse.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 786.

JOHN C. REMICK, general insurance agent, is a native of the town of Cornish, York Co., Me., born in 1819. From 1842 till 1856, he was engaged in the shipping business in Portland, Me.; was first a member of the firm of Simeon Pease & Co., importers, and afterward of the firm of Remick & Eaton, in the same business. In 1857, he came to Wisconsin, and was about four months in La Crosse; then returned to Portland, and remained there till 1862. He then came again to Wisconsin, and has been in his present business in La Crosse since that time; is at present inspector of illuminating oils in La Crosse.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 786 - 787.

BENJAMIN M. REYNOLDS, A. M., was born at Barnard, Vt., July 12, 1825, his parents being Ezekiel and Lydia (Barnes) Reynolds. He lived on a farm, more or less, until 21 years of age. At the age of 19, he began preparing for college, attending, at first, the Royalton Academy, and finishing his preparatory studies at the Thetford Academy, under Prof. Hiram Orcutt, then at its head. He entered Dartmouth College in 1848, and graduated in course, paying his entire expenses by teaching and different kinds of manual labor. Since graduating in 1852, Prof. Reynolds has been engaged steadily in educational work. He was Principal of the Windsor, Vt., High School, and of the Bradford, Vt., Academy two years; of the High School at Barre, Mass., a still longer period; of the Union School at Moline, Ill., one year; Superintendent of Schools in Rock Island, and Principal of its High School, nearly four years, being the first Superintendent in that city; Principal of the Union School in Lockport, N. Y., more than five years; Superintendent of Schools at Madison, Wis., six years; Principal of the graded school at Monroe, Wis., one year, and in 1873, became Principal of the High School in La Crosse, having at the same time charge of the Second Ward School. He has raised the grade of these schools more than 100 per cent. One of the leading citizens of La Crosse thus speaks of Mr. Reynolds' work here: "Prof. Reynolds' efficiency as an educator is noticeable in the noble purpose and diligent efforts of his scholars in attainments of knowledge and in the completeness of preparation with which his advanced students have entered various colleges, whose acknowledgments of his success in this respect are highly complimentary to La Crosse schools, whose enviable excellence dates from and is largely attributable to his connection with them." Since he has been in Wisconsin, Prof. Reynolds has held a prominent position among its educators. He has been President of the State Teachers' Association; has been on the committees appointed at different times to visit the Normal Schools; also on the committee to visit the State University, and in meetings of the State Teachers' Association and in other convocations of teachers has been one of the leading men. The Professor is preeminently a self-made man, and may truly be called the "architect of his own fortune." In his early years, he had good teachers who gave him wholesome advice, which he has not failed to profit by. He has an exalted idea of the mission of a teacher, and strives to be a model in the profession. Prof. Reynolds is a Master Mason. In his religious sentiments, he is a Congregationalist. He was reared in the Webster school of Whigs, was strong in the faith, and voted with that party till its dissolution, since which time he has been identified with the Republican party. His wife was Mary Ann Morey, daughter of Mitchell C. Morey, a prominent citizen of Windsor, Vt., and for twenty-one years Deputy Warden of the State Prison. They have lost one child and have two sons and two daughters living. During the time Prof. Reynolds had charge of the La Crosse High School, he sent to the universities at Madison and Chicago, and also to Beloit College, some of the best students who have entered these institutions. Physically, Prof. Reynolds is about five feet seven inches in height, rather heavy set, and weighs 185 pounds. He has gray eyes and a full, round face. He possesses most excellent physical qualities, being generous, genial, vivacious. He is a man of thorough culture, and his influence over his pupils is in all respects healthful and refining.

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

CALEB H. RICHARDSON, farmer, Section 17; P. O. Bangor; born in the town of Warren, Grafton Co., N. H., June 25, 1816. He resided in his native State till about 1846, when he removed to Dodge Co., Wis., where he lived seven years; he came to La Crosse Co., June, 1854, and settled on his present farm, a part of which he entered as government land. His first wife was Miss Rawlins, born in Haverhill, N. H.; she died in Dodge Co. His present wife was Miss Aurilla Hunt, born in the State of New York. Has two children by his first wife - Daniel H. and Emily A., now Mrs. Jones; both are residents of Laramar, W. T.; has six children by present wife - Ellen, William, Herbert, Matilda, Fred and Arthur.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 846.

E. B. RICHARDSON (deceased), was born in Washington Co., Vermont, Feb. 13, 1813. He came to Wisconsin about 1840, and to La Crosse Co. from Dodge Co. about 1853, and settled on Sec. 29, town of Burns. His wife was Sylvia Swett. Mr. Richardson was well known as a prominent and successful business man, and as an upright and worthy citizen. He began life in limited circumstances, but, by energy and industry and judicious management, he acquired a competency, including a beautiful home and valuable farm of about 500 acres. He was a prominent member of the agricultural society, and was Chairman of Town Board for several terms. He died Feb. 16, 1872; his wife died in November, 1871; they left nine children - five sons and four daughters. His son, Ira, who now resides at the homestead on Sec. 29, was born in Dodge Co. March, 1851; was married to Mary J., daughter of Ammon Darling.

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

JOSEPH RICHMOND, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Onalaska; was born in Canada Oct. 22, 1836; came to Wisconsin in 1855; worked on the river, then to farming; now owns 500 acres of land, on which he has made most of the improvements, and has a fine place. His wife, Delemas Morin, was born in Canada Oct. 15, 1840; married in 1862; children are Emma, Matilda, Ollivin, Leo (deceased), George (deceased), John, David. Has been Director and Treasurer; also Supervisor.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 855 - 856.

THOMAS RICHMOND, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. North La Crosse; was born in Scotland in 1832; in 1850, he was married to Jane Gray, born in Scotland Jan. 12, 1829, and, in 1853, emigrated to the United States, and stopped at New Albany, Ind., about twenty months; he then went to Louisville, Ky., and worked at his trade as machinist for eleven years, after which he came to La Crosse Co. and rented a farm for three years. He then, in 1868, purchased his present farm of 160 acres, the same being land that had never been broke, and has since followed farming. Mr. R. has been Chairman of the town of Campbell two terms, and is a Republican in politics. The children living are James, Henry T., Lizzie, Willie, Thomas and Mary.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 787.

FRED RING, Jr., ticket agent of the C., M. & St. P. R. R., was born April 24, 1834, at London, England; received his education at the City of London College, and was engaged in the railroad business in England for seven years; emigrated to America in 1858, and located in Waukesha, where he was for a short time on the swamp land survey, soon afterward entering the employ of the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railway. In 1861, he removed to Milwaukee, residing there until 1865, when he removed to Prairie du Chien, and for four years superintended the railroad elevator at that place. In the spring of 1869, he removed to La Crosse, and here also superintended the elevator until 1872, when he became freight and ticket agent. In September, 1880, this business had attained such immense proportions, that two agents became a necessity and Mr. Ring became ticket agent only. From 1875 to March, 1881, he was associated with C. F. Scharpf in the hardware business, but disposed of his share to Joseph Tausche.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 846.

E. M. ROBERTS, Bangor; proprietor of Big Creek Mill; he was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., Dec. 25, 1840. His father, Edward Roberts, was born in Wales; emigrated to the United States when quite young. Mr. E. M. Roberts has been an extensive traveler; he began traveling when quite young; he went to Cuba with his father's brother, Robert Roberts, when only 11 years of age. His uncle was an engineer of the steamer, and he accompanied him on a trip to that island. This uncle was an engineer on the steamer Star of the West when that vessel attempted to relieve Major Anderson at Fort Sumpter at the beginning of the rebellion. E. M. went to California with his father when only 14 years of age. He was in California about three years, when he returned to Pennsylvania. His father died in New York on his return trip from California. E. M. came to Bangor in the winter of 1877-78; was absent nine years of that time, from 1862 to 1871, in Colorado, Montana, Idaho, etc. On his return, he settled in Fish Creek Valley; bought a half-interest in his present mill in 1877; purchased the remaining interest in the fall of 1880.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 852 - 853.

ETHAN ROBERTS, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Mindoro. Mr. Roberts was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1824; he removed to Michigan with his parents when a child; he first came to Lewis Valley in the spring of 1852; he returned to Michigan, was married to Sarah W. Dana, born in Amherst, Mass., in 1828; she went to Michigan in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts came to La Crosse County from Michigan, in the fall of 1855, and settled in the east part of Lewis Valley, Sec. 22, Range 5 west, which he bought of the Government. In 1862, he located on Sec. 22, Range 6 west; settled where he now lives, in 1865. Mr. Roberts has three sons - E. Dana, born 1854; George C., born 1857, and Fred L., born October, 1862. Mr. Roberts is a brother of Mrs. Clarissa Downer, who, with her husband, was the earliest settler of Lewis Valley.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 858.

MAURICE ROBERTS, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Barre Mills; was born in La Crosse Co., in 1861; at the age of 14, his father died, after which, he went to live with his grandfather, Ever Roberts. In 1880, Ever Roberts died, leaving the estate, containing 120 acres, to his grandson, Maurice. In 1880, Mr. R. was married to Sophia Bremer, born in Germany in 1862. Politics, Republican; religion, Methodist.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 858.

R. T. ROBERTS, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Barre Mills; was born in Wales in 1836; emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1851, and lived near Portage City, Wis., one year after which he came to La Crosse Co., and settled in the town of Barre. At the age of 21, Mr. R. went to Minnesota and lived near Mankato, where, in 1858, he was married to Margaret Edwards, daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Edwards, born in the State of New York in 1842. In 1863, he removed to Barre, La Crosse Co.; purchased his present farm of 120 acres, but has since purchased more land so that his total real estate now amounts to 360 acres. Mr. Roberts has been Chairman of the Town Board for 5 years. Is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which church he was elected Deacon at the age of 27; he was also one of the founders of the church in Barre. In politics, Mr. R. is a Republican. The children living are Elizabeth, born May 3, 1859; Margaret, Nov. 12, 1863; Anna, Aug. 4, 1865; Hugh, March 24, 1870; Emma, June 5, 1874; Edward, March 4, 1879.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 816 - 817.

W. H. ROBERTS, farmer; Section 29, P. O. Midway; was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 2, 1850; came to Wisconsin in 1855; now owns 80 acres of land, on which he has made the improvements. His wife, Alice Wright, was born in Indiana, Dec. 28, 1853; married, Sept. 14, 1873; they have two children - Emily, born July 2, 1874; Helen Gertrude, born April 1, 1877. Has been Clerk four years, and Worthy Chief Templar and Secretary of the lodge at Midway. His father was a native of Vermont, and was killed Nov. 10, 1879, by a runaway team; his mother, Emily, was born in Ohio, and died at the age of 45, in 1870, leaving a family of five children. His stepmother was Sarah Bemis; by their marriage they had one child - Francis.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 846.

MRS. ADELINE E. ROBINSON, Sec. 30, P. O. Bangor; widow of George W. Robinson, who was born in Vermont in 1808. He removed to the town of Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., in the spring of 1837. He was married in 1839 to Miss Adeline Caldwell, born in Rutland Co., Vt. Her parents, Joseph and Sarah (Kellogg) Caldwell, removed to Kenosha, Wis., July 18, 1835, and settled on what was afterward known as Caldwell Prairie, in the town of Waterford, Racine Co., where they lived till 1855, when they came to La Crosse Co., and settled in the town of Hamilton, where her father died. her mother died in the city of La Crosse; Mr. Robinson came to La Crosse Co., November, 1854, and settled in Burnham Valley, town of Burns, where he remained one year. He then removed to Jefferson Co., where he died, in October, 1856. The family returned to the town of Burns in 1862. Mrs. Robinson has two children - George W., born in Walworth Co., Wis., in 1844, married to Imogene Colman, in 1869; she died February, 1880. He has three children - Flora A., Ira C. and Lelah. The second child is Adelia N., now Mrs. Cooper, of Bangor. She has one son - George H. Mr. Ira Colman, of the town of Burns, was born in Vermont, in 1809; removed to Wisconsin in 1837, and settled on Caldwell Prairie, in the town of Waterford, where he was married, in 1847, to Elvira S. Caldwell, a sister of Mrs. Robinson. She was born in Vermont in 1824; came to La Crosse Co. in 1854. They have lost two children. Mr. Caldwell, the father of Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Colman, died September, 1861, in the town of Hamilton. Mother died in 1876. The parents had thirteen children - three sons and ten daughters. All of the daughters were married in Wisconsin. The three sons and eight of the daughters are still living.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 788.

W. A. ROOSEVELT, plumber and gas-fitter; was born Sept. 17, 1833, in Oakland Co., Mich.; moved with his parents into Detroit in 1837, remaining there until 1840, when he removed to Sandusky City, Ohio; he learned the machinist's trade in Sandusky, and, in 1853, emigrated to La Crosse, where he arrived Jan. 17; upon his arrival at La Crosse, he chartered the steam ferry-boat Honeoye, which he ran during the first part of the season, when he purchased a third interest in the Delia, and was engineer on this for a short time, running between Dubuque and St. Paul; he disposed of his interest in this boat in the fall of 1857, and, up to 1860, was engaged most of the time as engineer and captain on the Mississippi River. From 1860 to 1869, he was constantly engaged as a steamboat engineer; Jan. 1, 1869, he established his present business in La Crosse, since which time he has successfully conducted it.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 788.

GEORGE B. ROSE, of the firm of Rose & Bro., jewelers; has been in his present business in La Crosse since June, 1856, and was joined by his brother, Louis Rose, in August, 1857. He was born in Nordheusen, Germany, in October, 1830; learned his trade in the old country, and came to the United States in August, 1852; he resided in Yates Co., N. Y., one year, then returned to New York City for one year; he then lived in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., and Madison, Wis., till June, 1856; then came to La Crosse and immediately engaged in business. He was married in La Crosse in 1856, to Miss Minnie Cursten, and has five children - Alletta B., Gustave B., Viarda B., Walter B., and George B.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 788.

LOUIS ROSE, of the firm of Rose & Bro., jewelers, No. 62 Main street, was born Jan. 1, 1820, in Halberstadt, Germany; son of Carl Rose, who died in Germany in 1852. He was educated, and learned his trade in Magdeberg, Germany, serving an apprenticeship of five years. He was in business for himself eleven years in Nordheusen and came to America in August, 1854. He resided in Chicago till August, 1857, then came to La Crosse and joined his brother, George B. Rose, who had already established himself in the jewelry business, and the present firm has existed since that time without change. Mr. Rose was married in Germany, in 1845, to Amelia Benekenstein, and has three children - Clara, Emil and Anna.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 788.

JULIUS ROSSBERG, dealer in groceries, provisions, liquors, etc., corner of Third and Mississippi streets, has been in his present business since 1875, and a resident of La Crosse since 1861. He was born in Saxony, Germany in 1841. His father, Gottleib Rossberg, came to the United States in 1866, and is still living in La Crosse, 76 years old in May, 1881. His mother will be 76 in December, 1881. Mr. Rossberg came to the United States in 1861, and settled in La Crosse. He enlisted there in September, 1862, in the 9th W. V. I., Co. F, and was in the service two years and nine months. After the war, was in the upholstering business twelve years in La Crosse, before commencing his present business. He was married in the fall of 1865, to Charlotte Naw and has had five children, of whom three - Emma, Eddie and Charlie are still living, and two - Otto and Emil, deceased.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 788.

L. ROSSITER, railroad contractor, residence, corner Main and Tenth streets, is a native of Prince Edward Island, British America; came to Wisconsin in 1852 with his parents; lived at Fort Howard till 1857, then went to Milwaukee. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the 5th W. V. I., Co. B, and served in that regiment three years and three months, the last eight months as First Lieutenant in command of his company. In December, 1864, he received a Second Lieutenant's commission in the 6th U. S. V. V.; was promoted to First Lieutenant in June, 1865; and Captain, December, 1865, and was mustered out of service in April, 1866. In a charge of the 6th Corps on the enemy's works at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 10, 1864, he was wounded by a cannister-shot in the right shoulder, which disabled him about forty days. He participated in seventeen of the principal engagements of the Army of the Potomac; fought under McClellan, Burnside, Hooker and Meade; has been railroading since the war closed, and in La Crosse since 1871.

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

ANNA RUEDY, P. O. Bangor; widow of Florian Ruedy, who was born in Switzerland in 1797; married in Switzerland to his present widow, Anna Ruedy, who was born in 1795. They emigrated to Highland, Ill., in 1840, where they lived about four years; thence to the town of Honey Creek, Sauk Co., Wis. They were one of the few German families of Sauk Co. who were the first settlers of the town of Bangor, where they settled in 1851. They first settled on the farm where Mrs. Ruedy now lives, Sec. 8. They brought five children to this country, only one of whom - Mrs. Christina Wolf - is now living. The names of the four children deceased were Christian, born in 1823, died 1879; Margaret, Lucy, and John, who died in 1878. The wife of the latter, Ursula, daughter of Peter Saxon, resides at the homestead; her parents emigrated to this country from Switzerland in 1854, and came to La Crosse Co. in 1855; her father died in 1875; her mother still resides in Bangor. Mrs. Ursula Ruedy has four children - Anna, Ursula, Christina and Peter.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 788.

A. RUHOFF, book-binder, piano tuner, and dealer in pianos and organs; was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1837. Learned book-binding in Germany, and was three years in the piano factory of F. Helmholtz, of Hanover, where he learned piano tuning and repairing; he came to America in 1868; was nine months in Milwaukee, three months in Iowa, and came to La Crosse in 1869. He was married in 1877, to Adele, daughter of August Runge, and has two children - August and Ernest. In connection with his other business, he keeps on hand pianos and organs to rent.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 858.

WILLIAM RUNGE, merchant, Barre Mills; was born in Germany in 1840; in December, 1863 he emigrated to the United States and came direct to La Crosse Co., and worked on a farm for four years, when he went into the grocery business with his brother at La Crosse, which business they carried on for four years; they then dissolved partnership, and Mr. R. removed to Barre Mills built the store and house he now occupies, and has since carried on a grocery business. In 1868, he was married to Catharine Batz born in Germany in 1844; they have had eight children, three of whom are living - Ida, born May 31, 1875; Arthur, Dec. 18, 1878; Amanda, Nov. 22, 1880.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 789.

JACOB RUPLIN, contractor and builder; has been a resident of La Crosse since 1867; he was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, in 1843; son of Adam Ruplin, who died there in 1868. Mr. Ruplin learned the cabinet-maker's trade in his native place, and came to the United States in 1866; he worked in Washington D. C., till the spring of 1867, when he came to La Crosse. He was married in 1871, to Miss Mary Eckel, a native of La Crosse, and daughter of Adam Eckel, one of the early settlers of that place; has two children - Alfred and Carl.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 788 - 789.

CONSTANTINE RUPP, saloon-keeper, on Third street corner of Vine; was born in Baden, Germany, in 1811; son of Ignatz Rupp. He was married in Germany in 1841, to Frances Conert, and came to the United States immediately after marriage. He lived in Philadelphia, Penn., two years, and in Wilmington, Del., eleven years; was in the butchering business in both places; he then went to Newark, N. J., and was in the saloon business twelve years, and came to La Crosse in 1866, where he has followed the same business up to the present time. Mr. Rupp has had four children, three of them still living. His oldest son, George Martin, enlisted in June, 1861, in the 7th N. J. V. I., and was killed in battle near Petersburg, Va., on the 7th day of May, 1864; his second son, John, was also in the army, three months in the 3d N. J. V. I., and one year in another regiment. He is now married and living in Newark, N. J.; Julius (12 years old) and George William (7), at home.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 789.

E. B. RYNNING, book-keeper for N. B. Holway; has been in his present situation since April, 1879; he was born in Norway in 1858; son of Frederick Rynning, who is still living in Norway. Mr. Rynning graduated from the high school of Christiania, Norway, in 1873, and from the Polytechnic School of Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1876. He came to America in June, 1877, and followed civil engineering in Faribault Co., Minn., till he came to La Crosse in October, 1878.

These biographies submitted by Roxanne Munns.