BIOGRAPHIES:  Earl F. HENSEL, Arcadia, 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 
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Earl F. Hensel, attorney, journalist and public speaker, former county 
judge and former county attorney, has been prominent in political and 
public affairs in Trempealeau County for many years, and being still a 
young man, his friends predict for him a still more brilliant future.  
He is a native of this State, having first seen the light of day in Glencoe 
Township, Buffalo County, Feb. 2, 1875, son of Julius and Sarah E. (Simpson) 
Hensel, who brought him to Arcadia, in this county, as an infant.  As a youth 
he passed through the public schools of Arcadia, and was graduated from the 
high school there with the class of 1892.  With this preparation, he became 
a teacher for seven terms, three in Buffalo County, one in Trempealeau County, 
and three in Lamoure County, N. D.  In 1897 he entered the law department of 
the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and was graduated therefrom with the 
class of 1900, receiving the degree of LL. B.  At Blair he hung out his 
shingle, and there began his professional career.  While at Blair he was for 
a while one of the editors of the Blair Press.  His practice soon assumed 
proportions of importance, his legal ability commanded attention, and when 
the death of Robert Christianson in July, 1904, left a vacancy in the office 
of district attorney, he was appointed to the position and moved his family 
to the county seat.  So faithfully and ably did he serve that he was elected 
to the office that fall and re-elected in the fall of 1906, serving until the 
close of 1908.  In 1912 he was again elected, serving until the close of 1914.  
In the meantime, July 3, 1909, he had been appointed county judge to serve 
out the term of Robert S. Cowie, giving universal satisfaction to the 
attorneys and to the people.  Since retiring from county office, Judge Hensel 
has devoted himself to the practice of his profession, as well as to 
journalism as local editor of the Whitehall Times-Banner.  In addition to 
the offices mentioned, Judge Hensel has been village attorney of Blair for 
four years, village attorney of Whitehall eight years, township attorney of 
several towns at various times, president of the village of Whitehall one 
term, and member of the county board one term.  His fraternal relations are 
with the A. F. & A. M. and the B. R. F. F.  Of commanding physique, 
compelling voice, brilliant oratory and broad kindliness, Judge Hensel is a 
man of marked personality, and it is natural that he should be a leader in 
local and county affairs.  His abilities as an orator are widely known, and 
in the dark days of the entrance of the United States into the Great War he 
has been of valuable service on the side of loyalty and patriotism.  Judge 
Hensel was married March 19, 1902, to Eunice G. Owen, daughter of Rev. T. 
Grafton Owen.  This union has been blessed with two children:  Alfred Harvey 
and Margaret C.  Alfred Harvey was born Dec. 31, 1902, endeared himself to 
all of those with whom he came in contact during his brief life, and died 
Dec. 24, 1916.  Margaret C. was born Dec. 20, 1909.  Mrs. Hensel is one of 
the leading women of the community.  She is prominent in all society and 
charitable work, was one of the founders of the Ladies Chautauqua Circle, 
has been very active in Red Cross work, and has been an important factor 
in the daily life of Whitehall for many years.

-Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," 
pages 775 - 776

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