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

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From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 803.

MRS. CHLOE VALENTINE, widow of John Valentine, who was born in the State of New York Sept. 17, 1817; came to Wisconsin at an early day, and was engaged in the lubering business for many years. He was married to his present widow (then Miss Chloe Marr) in La Crosse, in 1856. Mrs. Valentine came to La Crosse the same year. She was the second wife of her husband. She was born in Canada West, in 1832, where she resided till she came to La Crosse, in 1856. Mr. Valentine was prominently identified with the early history of La Crosse. He was fatally injured in the Packet Company's lumber mill, North La Crosse, and died May 30, 1875. Mrs. Valentine has four children - Flavius, Ellis and Laura (twins) and Byron.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 803 - 804.

D. W. VAN BERGH, dentist; was born in New York City in 1848. When about 5 years old, his parents removed to Rochester, N. Y., where they still reside. He commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. A. C. Wanzer, of Rochester, and was with him one year; came to Wisconsin in 1863, and settled in Madison, where he completed his studies and practiced till the spring of 1869, since which time he has been practicing in La Crosse - office on Main street, between Fourth and Fifth.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 819.

PAUL VAN LOON, dealer in general stock, and Postmaster, Midway; born in Holland May 6, 1849; came to America; settled in town of Holland, La Crosse Co.; enlisted in Co. I, 8th W. V. I., 1864; discharged, 1865; engaged in business at new Amsterdam; then to Midway, August, 1880; has a fine stock of goods, and doing a fine business. He was appointed Postmaster in 1880. His wife was Sarah Gillette, who was born in Wisconsin in 1860. They were married in 1875, and have three children - William, born, 1876; Albertus, 1878; Walter, 1880. In politics, Republican; in religion, Lutheran. A member of the A., F. & A. M. Lodge, and I. O. O. F. Mr. Van Loon attended school at Janesville, Wis., in 1875 at the Commercial College.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 804.

GILBERT VAN STEENWYK, President of the Batavian Bank, was born in the City of Utrecht, Netherlands, Jan. 13, 1814; he received an academic education, at the University of Utrecht, graduating in philosophy and classical literature in 1836; immigrated to the United States in May, 1849, and located at Milwaukee, remaining there until 1854, when he moved to Newport, Sauk Co., where he resided until 1858. He then removed to Kilbourn City, Columbia Co., and in January, 1862 removed to La Crosse. He was a volunteer in the Army of the Netherlands in 1830 and 1831, and commissioned officer of the National Guards from 1838 to 1849; was Brigadier of the Wisconsin State Militia in 1857; Commissioner of Immigration for Wisconsin, in New York City, by appointment of Gov. L. J. Farwell, from 1852 to 1853, under the law of 1852. Was appointed Consul of the Netherlands for Wisconsin in 1849 and also for Michigan and Minnesota in 1850, resigning these consulships in 1859. Was elected a member of the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1859, and was appointed Bank Comptroller in 1860 and 1861. Was elected Mayor of La Crosse in 1873 and 1874, and was elected State Senator from this district for 1879 and 1880. Mr. Van Steenwyk is in every respect a thorough business man and enterprising citizen, and very far-seeing in the management of his business, and all the details looking to its success. The latest enterprise is the erection of a fine building corner of State and Seventh streets, designed for four residences.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 831.

WILLIAM VAN WATERS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 27; P. O. West Salem; born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1817. His parents removed to St. Lawrence County when he was a boy, where they resided until their decease. He came from St. Lawrence County to Madison Wis., in the fall of 1853; spent the following winter in East Troy, Walworth Co., and soon after, purchased his present farm of Dr. Jacob McCrary, who entered the farm and was a resident of La Crosse City at the time. Mr. Van Water's brother, George, came with him to La Crosse Valley. He now lives in Jackson County. Mr. Van Water's first wife was Mary Campbell; born in St. Lawrence County. His present wife was Mrs. Mary Adams; has four children by first marriage - Mary, now Mrs. Edwin D. Wood; William U., Louise and Cora. Lost two children. Mr. Van Waters is one of the prominent and intelligent farmers of the town of Hamilton. Has served a term in the Legislature; elected in the fall of 1876. Has been Chairman of the Town Board several times. He raised the first field of clover produced in the town and owned the first steam thresher.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 804.

H. C. VAN WIE, contractor and builder, is a native of Albany, N. Y., born in 1840; son of Cornelius H. Van Wie, who belonged to one of the old Holland families, who first settled that part of New York. He was a carpenter and ship builder, and was for several years proprietor of the ship-yard at Greenbush, on the Hudson River. He removed to Iowa in 1853, and now lives in Texas. H. C. Van Wie learned the carpenter's trade of his father. He enlisted in the winter of 1862 in the 1st Iowa V. I., Co. C, and was in the service two and a half years. After he left the army he lived in Waterloo, Iowa, till 1870, since which time he has resided in La Crosse and worked most of the time for the C., M. & St. P. R. R. Co.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 849.

MRS. CHARLOTTE A. VAN WORMER, Sec. 19; P. O. Bangor; widow of Harry L. Van Wormer, who was born in Massachusetts in 1818. He removed to Ohio with his parents when he was 5 years of age. He was married to his present widow, formerly Miss Charlotte Adams, Jan. 5, 1842. She was born in Ohio in 1823. They came to Wisconsin the following February, and settled near Racine, where they lived a few months, and then returned to the State of Ohio; returned to Wisconsin, and settled in Oak Grove, Dodge Co., where they lived ten years; they came to La Crosse Co. in 1855, and settled on the farm which Mrs. Van Wormer now owns, which was purchased of Mr. Alfred S. Swartout; farm formerly owned by Victor Adams, a brother of Mrs. Van Wormer. Mr. Van Wormer died Sept. 18, 1871; had four children, three of whom are living - Clarence A., Clement H. and Jennie; lost one daughter - Florence E. Farm contains about 500 acres.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 831.

WILLIAM VAN ZANDT, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. West Salem; born in Columbia Co., Penn., Sept. 29, 1826. His parents removed to Lake Co., Ohio, when he was 10 years of age, and to the town of East Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., in 1842. They still reside in East Troy. His father was born in 1793, his mother in 1796. Mr. Van Zandt came to La Crose with Mr. E. F. Edwards, in May, 1852. He taught a school the following winter in the town of Neshonoc, in what is now the town of Hamilton. This was the first school taught in the La Crosse Valley, between the city of La Crosse and Sparta. The following season, he rented a farm in the town of Burns. This is the farm now owned by Mr. John Bradley. In the fall of 1853, he returned to Walworth County, where he passed the winter, and came back in May, 1854, and entered a farm in Section 2, town of Burns. This farm he owned for ten years. He removed to the village of West Salem in 1864, and engaged in the hardware business. In 1866, he took in a partner - Mr. V. M. Adams. Their firm engaged in the hardware and grocery trade till 1868, when Mr. Van Zandt sold his interest to Mr. Adams and purchased his present farm of Mr. A. Eldred, where he has since lived. He was married in 1851, to Lucretia Jewett, daughter of Marcus L. Jewett, who settled in Sauk County in 1854, and came to La Crosse County in 1862; her father, now deceased, was a soldier in the war for the Union; her mother is still living in La Crosse County. Mr. Van Zandt has two children - W. Isaiah and Edith E. He was the first School Superintendent of the town of Neshonoc; has held various town offices; was Chairman of the Town Board of Burns for five or six years; held the same office in the town of Hamilton for seven years; was Census Marshal in 1870; was County Commissioner in 1867.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 831.

JOHN VARNESS, retired; West Salem; born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., March, 1809. His parents died when he was a child. He was brought up in the family of his mother's brother. He lived in the State of New York until a young man, when he went to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where he lived about five years; thence to Canada, where he lived about four years. He removed to Waukesha Co., Wis., in August, 1847, and to La Crosse Co., in 1854. Mr. Varness has been generally engaged in agricultural pursuits; has also been intimately connected with the flouring-mill interests of this part of the county. He built what is known as the Badger Mills, in Lewis Valley, and with Mr. Lovejoy, built the Salem Mill. He removed to the village of West Salem in 1872; still owns a farm in the town of Hamilton. His wife was Miss Lucy Moulton, a native of Massachusetts, but at the time of their marriage, a resident of Greene Co., N. Y. They have four children - John, Margaret, Orrin and Rosa; have lost two children - Achsah, the oldest child, and two boys in infancy.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 837.

REV. JOHN J. VAUGHAN, Pastor of the Baptist Church of Bangor, was born in Llanunchllyn, Merionethshire, North Wales, April 19, 1826; he emigrated with his parents to the United States in the spring of 1831, and settled at Remsen, Oneida Co., N. Y.; he received a common-school education in Remsen, and afterwards took a partial course in the Whitestown Seminary, near Utica, N. Y. He remained at home with his father, working on a farm, till he was 17 years old; then he spent several years in learning the carpenter's trade; he took a course of instruction in the science of architecture and in the art of drawing, under Prof. A. B. Stone and the late A. J. Lathrop, of Utica, N. Y. At the close of his studies, he passed an examination, and received a diploma from the above-named gentlemen; he was engaged in manufacturing lumber for several years; he has followed the business of house-building for a large portion of time during a period of thirty-five years. His parents were members of the Congregational Church at Steuben, N. Y. His mother died April 13, 1841, and his father died Feb. 5, 1854. He commenced preaching with the M. E. Church at Remsen, in the winter of 1863. After the lapse of a few years, he left that church, not from any ill feeling toward any of the brethren, but for the following reason: Early in the summer of 1863, he was drawn into the baptismal controversy, which led him to a careful study, and a patient investigation of the doctrine of Christian baptism. The result was his former views and belief upon that subject were changed; he became a Baptist in sentiment. On the 11th of October, 1874, he was baptized by Rev. Wm. T. Bunker, and became a member of the Baptist Church at Bangor. The church employed him to preach, and on the 22d of March, 1877, he was ordained, and settled as a Pastor of the Baptist Church of Bangor, and continues to serve in that office to the present time. In September, 1877, he entered the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, Chicago, Ill., where he pursued a special course in theology, which he intends to complete during the next ensuing year. He came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1865, and settled at Bangor, where he has since resided, variously employed as a preacher, house builder and school teacher. On the 25th day of December, 1867, he was married to Miss May A. Thomas, of Steuben, Oneida Co., N. Y.; she was born in Boonville, Oneida Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1841; they have had three children; two are now living - one daughter, named Jennie, born Sept. 24, 1868, and one son, named Richard Miner, born Aug. 28, 1870; the youngest child was born Sept. 18, 1873, and died Oct. 5, 1873. After a few years of happy union, his beloved wife died, at Bangor, Sept. 27, 1873, and was taken to Oneida Co., N. Y., for burial. In 1860, he was elected Supervisor of the town of Remsen, Oneida Co., N. Y., and in 1861 was re-elected to the same office; he performed the duties of that office in a satisfactory manner. In 1871, he was elected Justice of the Peace at Bangor, Wis., and served but one term. Perhaps one of the most noted things in the history of the subject of this sketch, is the fact that he has been a common-school teacher for a long period of years, both in New York State and in Wisconsin. He has taught twenty-three winters; eight of the above number he has taught in District No. 2, Bangor. He received, August 12, 1865, a State certificate from the late Hon. V. M. Rice, who was then State Superintendent of Public Instruction in New York State. Among the thrilling reminiscences of his past life, there is none, perhaps, which will touch his feelings any more than some of those incidents that occurred in connection with his experience as a school teacher. At several different times during his past life, he has experienced severe reverses and sore disappointments in business matters which blasted his most cherished plans and hopes. But amid all trials and troubles he has endeavored to exemplify those good principles which he has taught and inculcated in the school-room and from the pulpit, regarding the building up and preserving good character, as one of the dearest, highest and noblest objects to be attained in the present life.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 831.

A. K. VEITS, druggist, son of Byron Veits, who was born in Connecticut in 1802, and removed to Ohio at an early day. The family removed to Dodge Co., Wis., in 1845, but returned to Ohio in 1850; came back to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Hamilton in 1851. Mr. Veits' parents had eight children - five sons and three daughters - all born in Ohio, except the youngest. The two eldest children are now deceased; one son and one daughter reside in Colorado; one brother in Kansas, another in Iowa, a sister in Trempealeau County. Their father died in 1869. A. K. was born in Ohio in 1833; came to La Crosse County with his parents; went to California in 1852 and returned in 1856; resided in Ohio till 1859; since that time has been a resident of La Crosse County. His wife was Aurelia Leet, daughter of George Leet. They have four children - Carrie, Jessie, Frank and George. Mr. Veits engaged in the dry goods business, and also in grain-buying, in 1860; disposed of his business in 1863; engaged in the drug business in 1864, which he still continues. He is the pioneer druggist of West Salem.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 804.

T. S. VICKERE, surveyor of logs and lumber, has been a resident of La Crosse since the fall of 1863. He was born in Somerset Co., Me., in 1844; son of Joseph and Susan (Small) Vickere; came to Wisconsin in 1863; was several years in the employ of the General Lumber Inspector, and since 1876, has been with P. S. Davidson. He was married in La Crosse Oct. 6, 1873, to Miss Abbie H., daughter of Charles Weston, of Somerset Co., Me.; has two children - Elgin H. and Talmage.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 849.

L. A. VIETS, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Bangor; was born in the town of Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., December, 1816. His father died when he was about 8 years of age. He removed with his mother to Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he lived till 26 years of age, and where he was married to his first wife, Lavina Kellogg. In Trumbull Co., he was engaged for a while as clerk in the store of his brother, Byron Viets; afterward engaged in the mercantile business for himself. In 1842, he removed to Lake Co., Ill., near Waukegan, where he lived two years. In 1844, with his brother Byron, he came to Dodge Co., Wis., and settled on a farm near Waupun, where he lived about seven years. He first came to the La Crosse Valley in July, 1851, and located a farm on Sec. 32, town of Burns. He took up one-half of that section, where he settled in November of that year, and where he resided till November, 1863. During a part of this time, he was engaged in the mercantile business at Burns Corners. Mr. Viets is not only of the very earliest settlers, but has been one of the most prominent citizens of the town of Burns. No man has been more prominently identified with the earlier and later history of this town. Has been Town Clerk twenty-five years, and Assessor for twenty years; was also a member of the County Board several terms. Settled where he now lives in 1863. His first wife died April, 1861. His present wife was Mrs. Julia Avery, formerly Miss Little, born in Vermont. Mr. Viets had four children by first wife, only one of whom is living - Henry L., who resides at Parker's Prairie, Minn. One daughter, Annis, afterwards Mrs. A. B. Cronk, died in Burns, Jan. 18, 1873; left three children. Mrs. Viets has two children by first marriage - Frances and Estella R.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 804.

JAMES VINCENT, lumberman, was born Oct. 16, 1828, at Half Moon Saratoga Co., N. Y. He remained here until about 20 years of age, attending the common schools, and during the last few years of this time, in working on a farm. He removed to Lansingburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and learned the carpenter's trade and commenced work for himself in 1847. In 1848, he removed to California, returning to Lansingburg in the latter part of 1850. In 1852, he again went to California, remaining there about eighteen months, engaged in contracting. In 1854, he returned to New York, and in the spring of 1855, removed to La Crosse, where he entered the lumber business, following it for two years; then worked at his trade for a short time, when he went into the wheat business, subsequently returning to the lumber business, which he has since successfully conducted.

From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 804.

CHARLES VOLNER, Land Agent, Conveyander, Notary Public, etc.; has been a resident of La Crosse County since August, 1855. He was in mercantile business in the city three years, then went into the town of Holland, village of New Amsterdam, and bought one-half interest in a saw-mill and remained there till 1862, then came back to the city and has been in his present business since. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1825; came to the United States in 1849, and lived in Oshkosh, Wis., till he came to La Crosse, in 1855. His father, William Volner, died in Germany, 1858. He has six children - Augustus, Ida, George, Theodore, Adella and Charles. He married in Milwaukee, in 1850, Miss Henrietta Gulden, a native of Ohio. Has spent three winters in Madison; one winter, Clerk of the Judiciary Committee; second winter, Assistant Sergeant at Arms, and the last, Assistant P. M. of the Assembly.

These biographies submitted by Roxanne Munns.