Biographies from The History of Columbia County,
Wisconsin, 1880 


Contributed by Carol carolann612@charter.net
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


From The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, 1880,
publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, Page 910

OTTO KRISCH, born in Bohemia, Oct. 4, 1831; came to
America in the latter part of September 1854, and in
November of same year came to Portage; commenced
saloon business here in 1855; in 1856 he was employed
by Charles HAERTEL, and remained with him two years
and two months; since then he has been in business for
himself.  Mr. K. was elected City Treasurer for two
years, 1870-71.  Was married to Madeline SIHLISS in
Portage, Feb. 7, 1857; she was born in Kleinwertzheim,
Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; they have four children -
Alois, Anna, Ida and Otto.  Mr. K. is a member of the
Leiderkranz and A.O.U.W. societies.

MRS. MARY J. LA ROWE, nee BRYCE, was born Jan. 5,
1834, in Albany, Oswego Co., N.Y.  Mrs. La ROWE was
born Aug. 2, 1831, in Amwell, Hunterdon Co., N.J.; the
family came West in 1848; before her marriage she
taught school several years in Columbia and Marquette
Cos.  She was married Aug. 14, 1854 to S. Hamilton La
ROWE, of Kingston, Marquette Co., where he was engaged
in general merchandizing; he removed his business to
Portage in 1862, and kept the express office in
connection with his mercantile business; he died in
1868, leaving three children - S. Hamilton, born Feb.
5, 1856, in Kingston; Mary Estelle, born at Kingston
Dec. 16, 1857, and Frank F., born on Dec. 25
(Christmas), 1867; the oldest son has bought land and
is farming near Sioux Falls, Dak.; the other two are
at home.  The family affiliated with the Episcopal
Church; she still owns a pleasant home on Conant
street, but has disposed of all other real estate; she
is the daughter of "Uncle Archie BRYCE," of Portage.

JAMES M. LAWSON was born at Glasgow, Scotland, March
28, 1849; came to America with his parents in 1852 and
located in Packwankee, Marquette Co., Wis.; in 1868,
moved to Kingston, Green Lake Co.; two years later
moved to Washington, Mich., where he was general
salesman for the Washington Mining Co.; six months
afterward, moved to South Saginaw, Mich., where, for
three years, he was bookkeeper, general salesman and
paymaster; came to Portage in 1873, where he has since
been with SCHUMACHER & SCHULZE.  He was married to
Sarah P. SMITH, at Portage, Oct. 11, 1876; she was
born at Racine; they have one child - Fred S., born
Oct. 5, 1878.  He is a member of the A.F. & A.M.
During the past ten years, Mr. L. has been engaged in
the fire insurance business, representing five of the
leading companies - Fire Association, Boston
Underwriters, St. Paul Fire and Marine, Continental of
New York, and Westchseter, of New York.

ALFRED LEE, carpenter; was born in London, England,
March 25, 1843; came to America in 1850, and located
in Portage, where he has since resided; he worked
three years in the car-shops and has followed
carpenter work and lathing the balance of the time.
He was married at Portage Oct. 24, 1868, to Mrs. P. A.
HARMON, born in Germany; she died Feb. 8, 1880,
leaving one son - Frank T. W., born Oct. 27, 1869.
Mr. LEE is a member of the M. E. Church.

PATRICK LENNON was born in County Armagh, Ireland,
March 27, 1817; came to America and landed in New York
City; spent seven years in Upper Canada; then resided
at Crown Point, N.Y., until he came to Wisconsin, in
May 1849, locating on Sec. 31, town of Ft. Winnebago. 
Mr. L. was married at Crown Point, N.Y., March 8,
1849, to Julia RUDDEY, who was born in Ireland; they
have had ten children - Catharine, Terrence, John,
Mary Ann, James, Margaret, Patrick, and Edward, now
living; James, aged 1 year and 1 month deceased;
Bridget, aged 15 years, deceased.  Mr. and Mrs. LENNON
are both members of the St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Mr. L. was Town Treasurer of Fort Winnebago six years,
Supervisor three years, School Director and Clerk of
the School Board for several years; he owns 240 acres
of land - 200 on Sec. 31, town of Ft Winnebago, the
balance on Sec. 24, town of Lewiston, being still the
owner of the land on which he first located in
Columbia Co.

FRANKLIN H. LEWIS, lumber dealer; was born in
Hopkinton, Washington Co., R.I., Jan. 9, 1848; came to
Wisconsin in the spring of 1865, locating at Werner,
Juneau Co.; was engaged in lumber business, having his
residence there until 1876, when he came to Portage;
since 1872 has been in business for himself,
manufacturing at Werner; since coming to Portage in
1876, has continued his manufacturing at Werner; he
has large lumber yards at Portage, and is owner of
extensive tracts of pine lands on Yellow River, Wood
Co.  Mr. LEWIS deals in salt, cement, sash, doors,
blinds, etc., in connection with his lumber business. 
Was married in Werner, Juneau Co., Sept. 17, 1874 to
Miss Virginia L. BACON; she was born in Lee, Penobscot
Co., Me.

Submitted by Carol