BIOGRAPHIES: Augustus W. HENSEL, Arcadia, Trempealeau Co., WI ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb CC on 10 March 2004 ************************************************************************ **Posted for informational purposes only - poster is not related to the subject of this biography and has no further information. Augustus W. Hensel, a retired farmer now living in Arcadia Village, was born in Germany, Nov. 7, 1840, son of Ludwig and Frederica (Kiekhoefer) Hensel. The father was born in 1809 and the mother in 1812. In 1856 the family came to the United States, locating in Milwaukee, Wis., where they remained until the spring of 1857. They then came to Arcadia Township, Trempealeau County, where Ludwig Hensel pre-empted 160 acres of land in section 23, range 10 west. The land, of course, was "wild," and their residence was a dugout. Mr. Hensel gradually improved the property and resided on it subsequently until his death in 1886. His wife survived him about nine years, dying on the homestead in 1894. There were five children in their family - two sons and three daughters. Augustus W. Hensel was the second born child of his parents. He was educated in the common and district schools up tot he age of 14 years, and remained on his father's farm until 1864. He then became a soldier, serving in the Union army until the close of the war and taking part in the battle of Nashville. Being mustered out at Washington, D. C., he returned home unwounded and became a pioneer farmer, buying 160 acres of wild land on section 14, range 10, Arcadia Township. This land he developed and erected on it substantial buildings, residing there until 1906, in which year he retired and took uphis residence in the village. The old home he sold in 1908 to his son Lewis, who lives on the farm. Nov. 28, 1867, Mr. Hensel married Mary, daughter of William and Sophia (Supka) Wagner of Arcadia, who is sharing with her husband the comfortable prosperity of their declining years. The following are the children who have been born to them: Lewis, born Aug. 7, 1868, who is now living on the old homestead, of which he is the owner; William, born Dec. 12, 1869, who is a farmer at Black River Falls, Wis.; Erwin, born March 12, 1871, who is a merchant at Grand Meadow, Minn.; Lillian, born Jan. 11, 1873, and now Mrs. J. W. Kube of Winona, Minn.; Frank, born Jan. 14, 1875, who is a farmer at Burlington, N. D.; Edith, born Oct. 19, 1877, now the wife of A. L. Severence, a banker of Wausaukee, Wis.; John, born Oct. 10, 1879, who is now a railway ticket agent at Eau Claire, Wis.; Helena, born Sept. 19, 1881, who is unmarried, resides at home and is employed as a bank clerk; Edward, born Aug. 17, 1883, who is a farmer at Strasburg, Colo.; Emma, born March 15, 1888, who is now Mrs. Lester Kindsehy of Strasburg, Colo. Mr. Hensel is a Republican, but is not active in politics. He has, however, served as a member of the school board of district No. 2, Arcadia Township. He and his family are members of the German Evangelical Association, and all are widely respected in the communities in which they live. -Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 683-684 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm