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
907-908

SILAS S. JOHNSON, born in Boston, Mass, March 19,
1809; when about 10 years old, went to Leicester,
Addison Co., Vt., with his parents, Silas and Abigail
(RHODES) JOHNSON; resided in Vermont, two years of the
time in Montpelier, then returned to Leicester and
kept hotel for a time until he came to Wisconsin in
1845 to Eagle Prairie, Milwaukee Co. (now Waukesha
Co.), where he lived for six years, then coming to
Portage, where he engaged in blacksmithing and the
manufacturing of breaking plows; continued that
business for six years; during the next six years, was
Under Sheriff, and at the expiration of that time,
engaged in the grocery and provision trade, which he
still follows.  Married in Leicester, November 1836 to
Sarah T. TOWER; she was born in Shoreham, Addison Co.,
Vt., have one son, Albro S.

Page 908

MICHAEL R. KANE, born in Ireland, Sept. 29, 1805; came
to New York in September 1830; settled in Milwaukee in
September 1837.  On the 8th of September 1837, he was
married to Miss Mary COX, of Pennsylvania, who is of
Scotch parentage, but was born in Armagh, Ireland, in
1820.  Mr. KANE served three years and six months in
Co. D, 19th W.V.I; held rank of Sergeant; he was
commissioned Brevet Captain by Gov. Lucius Fairchild,
"for meritorious conduct on the battle field," on the
27th of April 1864; he was jailer of the first jail
built in Columbia Co., and afterward was gate-keeper
at Waupun Penitentiary.  They had seven children, five
of whom died in childhood, and a son, James, died in
St. Louis Nov. 23, 1870, of intermittent fever, aged
23 years; one daughter survives, named Mary J. who is
a native of Portage; was educated in the public
schools of Portage, and for several years has been an
acceptable teacher in intermediate departments of the
city schools.  On the 8th of January 1877, Mr. KANE
suffered a compound fracture of the leg as a result of
a runaway accident.  He is now at the Soldier's Home
in Milwaukee.  The family own a pleasant brick
residence on Wisconsin street.  Mrs. K is an
Episcopalian.

REV. THOMAS KEENAN, born in County Tyrone, Ireland,
April 15, 1829; lived in Ireland until 1844, then
emigrated to Philadelphia with friends; received his
education in part in the old country, studying
mathematics, grammar, Latin, etc., to some extent.
After coming to Philadelphia, was a student of Rev. P.
RAFFERTY, a priest, receiving instructions from him
for three years.  Then entered the seminary of St.
Charles Borrenea, located on Eighteenth street,
Philadelphia; was a student there for two years, but
on account of ill health, was compelled to leave the
institution.  At the solicitation of his friends, he
came West (as he had acquired a thorough German
education) to this Sate in 1852, ordained for the
Diocese of Milwaukee July 19, 1854.  Prior to his
ordination, since coming West, had been engaged in
teaching and being taught.  One of his teachers was
the present Bishop of La Crosse.  Attended lectures,
studied theology and attended school while he remained
in Milwaukee.  In 1855 he went to Brighton, Kenosha
Co., and remained there a year and a half; from there,
went to East Troy, Walworth Co., staying there one
year and a half, when he removed to Oshkosh, where he
remained nine years until coming to Portage in October
1867.  Has paid many of the debts of the numerous
churches he has been connected with.  Built the church
at Omro and Payden; commenced the church at Oshkosh.
Had charge of a mission that now has nine priests.
While at Oshkosh, in that city there are now three
parish priests, when there were none there but
himself.  He now has several missions that he attends
to - one permanent at Lodi.  In 1871 he traveled over
six countries of Europe - France, Belgium, England,
Holland, Scotland, and Ireland.  His father and
mother, Patrick and Bridget (OWENS) KEENAN, came to
Philadelphia in April 1847; his father died in 1848,
and his mother in 1876, both dying in Philadelphia.

ALONZO C. KELLOGG was born in Clinton, Vermillion Co.,
Ind., July 8, 1845, son of Orrison and Theodosia
KELLOGG; he came with his parents to Calamus, Dodge
Co., Wis., in 1852; received his medical education in
Chicago, and engaged in the practice of his profession
at Portage in 1870.  In 1875 he was elected a member
of the Democratic State Central Committee, and is
still a member of that body; in 1877 he was elected
Superintendent of City schools, and still occupies
that position.  The Doctor was married in this city to
Harriet B. ACKERMAN in September 1871; she was born at
Three Mile Bay, Jefferson Co., N.Y., they have three
children - Alonzo F., James Rossiter and Harriet Ruth.
Mrs. KELLOGG before married, was engaged in the
Hungerford Collegiate Institute at Adams, Jefferson
Co., N.Y., as a teacher of oil painting, and afterward
taught in the Wesleyan Female Seminary at Wilmington,
Del.

Submitted by Carol