BIOGRAPHIES:  August F. HENSEL, Arcadia Township, Trempealeau Co., WI

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Submitted by Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb CC on 10 March 2004
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**Posted for informational purposes only - poster is not related to the 
subject of this biography and has no further information.

August F. Hensel, one of the hardy pioneers of Arcadia Township, now passed 
away, was born in Prussia, Germany, Oct. 17, 1834.  His father, John F. 
Hensel, was born in Prussia in 1803, his mother being born in that country 
in 1801.  In 1839 they came to America with their family of five children, 
sailing from Hamburg in the spring and landing in New York after a tedious 
voyage of three months in a slow sailing vessel.  From New York they went 
direct to Buffalo, where they remained two years, John F. Hensel finding 
employment on the Erie canal.  In 1841, when the subject of this sketch was 
seven years old, they migrated to Milwaukee Township, Wisconsin, which place 
was their home until about 1847, in which year they came to Granville 
Township, where the father had secured a piece of land, and this, with the 
help of his sons, he improved.  In 1861 the family returned to Milwaukee, 
where John F. Hensel engaged in the house moving business.  That city 
remained his home for the rest of his life and he died there May 29, 1886, 
at the advanced age of 83 years.  His wife, whose maiden name is not now 
remembered, died in Milwaukee in February, 1881, at the age of 80.  There 
were seven children in their family:  Caroline, Edward, Julius, Matilda, 
August F., John A. and Charles A.  John Alfred was born on the voyage to 
America and was named after the ship on wich he was born.  Charles Albert, 
the youngest son, was born in Milwaukee in 1847.  August F. Hensel, while a 
youth living in Milwaukee, began industrial life as clerk in a store, and 
was thus occupied until May 5, 1854, at which time he removed to Madison, 
Wis., and continued as a resident of that county until he came to this part 
of the state.  While on a visit to his parents in Milwaukee he learned 
something about the natural resources of Buffalo County, and by the advice 
of his father decided to locate there.  His father gave him $300 with which 
to purchase land, and with his brother Julius he at once set out for Buffalo
County.  The journey was made by way of Chicago, thence by rail to Dunleith 
(now East Dubuque) and from there by steamboat to La Crosse.  At the latter 
place he secured the services of a surveyor and proceeded to Buffalo County, 
where he made locations.  Subsequently he returned to the same county with 
a wagon and a pair of ponies, then, selling his outfit, went back to 
Milwaukee, but in the same fall returned to Buffalo County with an ox team 
and wagon.  He was accompanied by his brother, John A., and by Thomas 
Simpson, William Johnson and two Piper brothers.  The Piper brothers, 
however, left the party at Sparta.  All the members of the Buffalo County 
company were unmarried, and all except John A. Hensel located on land in 
the county.  This trip was made about 1856.  The winter of 1856-57 was 
severe and the pioneers suffered many hardships.  Their provisions became 
exhausted, and the situation became so serious that it was necessary to 
make a heroic effort to reach Fountain City.  Accordingly August F. Hensel 
started with a sled and three yoke of oxen, accompanied by Henry Wertenberg 
and James Faulds.  The snow was covered with a heavy crust, which was hard 
to break, this crust continuing for the entire distance of 16 miles.  It was 
so hard that although Mr. Hensel wore three pairs of pants they were all 
cut through in pieces before the party reached Fountain City, which they 
only did after a terrible journey of six days, having left home on Monday 
and reaching town on the following Saturday.  Their experiences may be more 
easily imagined than described.  Mr. Hensel had to borrow clothes to wear 
on the return trip.  Even after all this trouble and hardship they only 
succeeded in procuring one barrel of flour, which cost them $16.  Mr. Hensel 
nearly lost his life on the trip and all the party were much exhausted, 
succeeding only by force of will and power of endurance.  It is well for 
the young people of the present generation, who are surrounded by all the 
conveniences of a high civilization - good roads, steam and electric 
railroads and automobiles, with convenient stores of all kinds within a 
mile or two of their homes - to read and ponder on such narratives as these, 
more especially when they are inclined to be discontented with their lot.  
They may then realize how much they have to be thankful for.  In 1862 August 
F. Hensel sold out his holdings in Buffalo County and moved to Trempealeau 
County, settling on land which he had purchased in Arcadia Township.  Here 
he lived until 1874, when, the village of Arcadia having been founded, he 
moved into it and erected a store, beginning mercantile business in 1876.  
At this time he had been married 16 years and had a family, and here he 
passed the rest of his life, dying in Arcadia, July 2, 1902.  He was a 
Republican in politics and cast his first presidential vote for John C. 
Fremont in 1856, subsequently voting for every Republican President up to 
the time of his death.  His wife died in Arcadia Dec. 17, 1908.  Her maiden 
name was Amelia Hensel.  She was a native of Prussia and daughter of Ludwig 
Hensel, and their marriage took place in August 1860.  They had a large 
family of children, as follows:  Ida, born Aug. 26, 1861, now Mrs. C. Studt 
of Arcadia; Emma, born March 30, 1863, who died in July, 1890; Alvah, born 
Aug. 10, 1865, who resides in Minneapolis; Ayris, born June 30, 1867, now 
Mrs. George A. Schneller of Arcadia; Eunice, born Dec. 19, 1869, wife of 
William Koenig of Waupaca, Wis.; Almira, born in 1871, who died when six 
months old; Dexter, born in 1873, who died in 1874; Jesse, born Dec. 20, 
1875, who is now living at Green Bay, Wis.; Ivan I., born March 4, 1878, 
who is now practicing dentistry in Arcadia Village; Myrtle,born March 25, 
1886, who is unmarried and lives in Arcadia, and another child, who died 
in infancy.

-Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," 
pages 681-683


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