BIOGRAPHIES: Moses E. LADD, Whitehall, Trempealeau Co., WI

====================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information 
on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as 
this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may 
NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other 
persons or organizations.

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes 
other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file 
contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, 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.

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb Coordinator,  6 May 2001      
====================================================================

Moses E. Ladd, a well-known and respected resident of Whitehall, retired 
farmer, former county official, and now engaged in the insurance business, 
was born in Unity, N. H., July 2, 1843, son of Philander J. and Ruth (Adams) 
Ladd.  Philander J. Ladd was born in New Hampshire, and in 1857 came to 
Trempealeau County, where he engaged in agriculture until his death in 1896 
at the age of 75 years, his wife Ruth, whom he married in his native State, 
having died in 1886 at the age of 54.  Moses E. Ladd was 14 years old when 
his father brought the family to Wisconsin.  He worked as a clerk and 
bookkeeper at Trempealeau for four years and taught school an equal length 
of time, in the meanwhile improving his education by attending Gale College.  
Turning his attention to agriculture, he then engaged in farming in Caledonia 
Township until 1899.  Appointed county treasurer, May 8, 1899, he moved to 
Whitehall and gave his attention to the duties of that office, in which he 
served so efficiently that he was elected in 1900 and served an additional 
term.  In 1903 Mr. Ladd bought the insurance agency of Herman L. Ekern, of 
Whitehall, and has since carried on the business successfully, writing fire, 
tornado, automobile and accident insurance.  For many years Mr. Ladd has 
given a considerable part of his time to public service.  He was a member of 
the county board in 1896, 1897, and 1898, was township clerk of Caledonia 
Township for seven years, and clerk of his school board there a similar 
period.  In Trempealeau Township he was township clerk for two years.  Since 
coming to Whitehall he has been village clerk two years.  While still 
farming, he was also one of the organizers of the Galesville Creamery, 
serving seven years as director.  Religiously, he is affiliated with the 
Methodist Episcopal church, holding the office of trustee and steward.  For 
half a century he has been a member of the Masonic order.  It will thus be 
seen that his life has been one of activity and useful effort in various 
directions, and in whatever position he has been placed he has shown 
efficiency and fidelity to his duties.  Mr. Ladd was married, March 30, 
1870, to Libbie J. Bagley, who was born in Hayfield, Crawford County, Pa., 
Oct. 26, 1849, daughter of Phineas and Phoebe (Williams) Bagley.  Her father 
was a farmer who came to Trempealeau County in 1856, and died in 1892 at 
the age of 85 years, after a long and industrious career.  Her mother died 
in 1890.  Mrs. Ladd passed away April 22, 1917.  An obituary notice said of 
her:

"Mrs. Ladd may well be called a pioneer of the county.  In her girlhood days 
the life of Trempealeau did not have the comforts and blessings of the life 
of today.  But it had a delightful and wholesome Christian atmosphere, and 
Miss Bagley early took advantage of this great blessing and took an active 
part in the church work of the neighborhood.  At the age of 25 she joined 
the Methodist Episcopal church and has been a very faithful member ever 
since.  After moving to Whitehall Mrs. Ladd became an important link in the 
social, civic and religious life of this village.  She has been especially 
industrious in the temperance cause, church work, Ladies' Aid and in work 
of the relief corps.  In the death of Mrs. Ladd her husband mourns the loss 
of a loving, devoted wife, and the community suffers the loss of a diligent 
worker for the higher things of life."

--From the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 385-386.